Beneath the Surface

Part 18

The soft hum of Longtai's phone sliced through the stillness of the bookstore, a faint buzz that seemed too sharp against the quiet hum of the old building. The scent of aged paper and ink hung in the air, a comforting reminder of the countless hours he'd spent here, tucked between bookshelves, the world outside fading into the background. His fingers brushed the cool glass of his phone in his pocket, pulling it out with a fluid motion. The soft glow of the screen illuminated his face in the dim light as he read the message.

Yok: I'm outside. Waiting for you.

A small, almost foolish smile tugged at the corners of Longtai's lips before he could stop it. His heart gave a tiny flutter, a subtle warmth spreading across his chest. He hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard, before typing back with a casual ease.

Longtai: Coming.

His smile deepened as he tucked the phone back into his pocket, the corners of his mouth still betraying him. He let out a soft, amused breath, shaking his head at his own reaction. There was something about Yok that made the mundane feel just a little more exciting. He turned back to the bookshelf, slipping the last book into place with practiced care, savoring the sound of its spine settling against the others. The silence of the bookstore, filled only with the gentle rustling of pages and the soft creak of the floorboards, felt like a sanctuary.

With deliberate slowness, he moved through the store, switching off the lights one by one. The soft click of the switches echoed in the empty space, a sound that always made him feel a sense of finality, as if marking the end of a day, yet there was a quiet joy in it as well. The shadows stretched long across the shelves, creating pockets of mystery in the otherwise dim room. The faint glow of the streetlights outside spilled in through the windows, casting a muted amber light across the floor.

When he reached the door, he paused, breathing in the familiar scent of old wood and leather, allowing the stillness to settle around him. He turned the lock with a satisfying click, sliding the key into his pocket before stepping outside into the cool night.

The city felt alive in a different way at night-more intimate, quieter, as though the world was holding its breath. The air was crisp, tinged with the scent of rain that had passed earlier, leaving the streets glistening under the faint light of the lampposts. The sky was clear, stars peeking through the haze, distant and cold.

And there, leaning casually against the brick wall of the bookstore, was Yok.

The glow from the streetlights bathed him in a warm, almost ethereal light, catching the angles of his face, the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his nose. His dark hair was still damp from the earlier rain, stray strands clinging to his forehead, the rest falling in a messy, purposeful way. His black hoodie was zipped up halfway, and the paint-splattered shirt underneath added a touch of chaos to his otherwise laid-back demeanor. His gaze lifted as he heard the door click shut, a small, knowing smile playing at the edges of his lips as he raised one hand in a casual wave.

Longtai's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary, taking in the ease with which Yok seemed to exist in the world. There was a calmness about him, a confidence that was both unspoken and undeniable. Longtai's heart gave another small lurch, though he wasn't sure if it was from the way Yok looked or simply the fact that Yok had waited outside for him, in the cool of the evening.

He shook himself from his thoughts and locked the door with a quiet click, slipping the key into his pocket before stepping toward Yok. "You didn't have to wait outside," Longtai said, his voice carrying no real reprimand, just a softness that betrayed his warmth toward the other man.

Yok shrugged, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. "I wanted to," he said with a nonchalance that was entirely him. His eyes met Longtai's, and there was something in his gaze-a steadiness, a quiet warmth-that made Longtai's stomach flutter despite himself. Yok's smile shifted into something that was more private, more knowing. "Come on, let's go."