Cinderella's Fate | 🤍 seongjoong 🤍

Chapter 46

Hongjoong's POV

    My eyes were locked on the clock, following along The second hand which moved slowly, as it ticking closer to midnight. My patience was growing thin, and the lack of made me antsy and frustrated. Thoughts kept plugging my mind with doubts as my best friend ha omitted information, and it was harder for me to trust him, but I still wanted to believe him. Yunho had been by my side since childhood and had been a great help to me as my assistant and as my best friend.

Five... four... three... two... one.

The chime of the bell filled the room.

    Looking out of the window, I realised that it came from the old church's bell. As the hand hit twelve, I stood up from my chair, determination written on my face. I slipped on my jacket on, checked that everything was safely locked away, then closed the door behind me.

It was quite almost too quiet, no sign of what would have been the greatest revelation according to Yunho anyway. The halls were dim, the lights low. My footsteps were soft as I walked down the corridor, heading toward the library. Each step echoed faintly, and I slowed down even more to stay quiet.

    The main library hall was dark. Moonlight slipped in through the high windows, barely lighting the space. There were no lights here, and the cameras seems to be in their position, nothing out of place. 

    Along with my footsteps, I heard shuffling, but the deep manly voice meant that the guards were switching and about to restart the patrol. I paid them no mind and going through the library, I ended up at the gate of the secret library; which, funny enough, became the clue to the whereabouts of 'Cinderella' , the new's favourite nickname for my fugitive partner. I walked in confidence, until I heard something.

A quiet rustling, like fabric brushing against a wooden shelf.

I stopped. Listened. There it was again. Followed by pages flickering through quickly.

He was here!

    A part of me lit up with excitement, but another part was filled with doubt. There was no proof that tonight would give me answers or that I was even close to uncovering the truth about "Cinderella." Let alone anything as ridiculous as finding the so-called love of my life. But I didn't dwell on it.

    Instead, I got close enough to see his cloak. My eyes widened, and , without thinking, I broke into a run.

They noticed and tried to run too.

They were fast, but I was faster. I grabbed their arm and spun them around.

    The light shone brightly illuminating the face of the stranger, or should I say the mask that they wore. The hood was down, and I could make out the strings that held it together. They struggled, trying to break free. I pinned them gently but firmly to the bookshelf, holding their arm behind their back.    

    Slowly, the person turned. I knew that mask. Yunho had described it to me before, the same one that was facing me during the ball, but I couldn't believe it until I saw for myself. And the cloak was unmistakable , could he be?

"Are you here to steal something?" I asked, quite dumbly, honestly.

They paused, breathing hard. The run catching up to them. Then came the quiet answer.

"I was asked to", barely above a whisper. He was avoiding eye contact after the shock of being against the bookshelf.

"By whom?"

"... Yunho."

That name made my heart skip. I loosened my grip just a little.

No way... No way!

"Turn around," I said. He obeyed without complaints.

I reached for the mask, pulled it off ...

And froze.

"Seonghwa?" I breathed. Like a splash of cold water waking up my senses. Moment and snippets of our interactions started to jumble into what seemed to be a narrative to the moment we fought.

His eyes met mine, full of fear and something else. Guilt.

At this moment , I realised our proximity, in which I stood up quickly, my face burning.

"You," I began, but the words faded.

"I'm sorry," Seonghwa said softly. He stood too, brushing himself off. "I didn't mean for this to happen." 

"Then why are you here?" I asked., hoping that it will lead to a sound explanation.

He looked away. "Life's been hard," he admitted. "But... I've been trying to find you."

I knew he was lying, but I didn't know what to say.

Also, what a bullshit excuse.

Then, footsteps echoed in the distance.

"Who's there?" someone called.

Seonghwa's eyes widened in panic, and I grabbed his arm instinctively.

"This way," I whispered urgently.

    We ran quietly through the shadows. I led him back to my office, quickly pulling him inside and locking the door.

He stood near the window, still catching his breath.

    I turned to face him, the weight of the moment settling on me. There was a lot to talk about now, more than either of us probably realised.