philophobia | j.hoseok

8

i arrived back at my house later that evening and threw the burgundy scarf on the couch. sighing softly, i ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. i need a bath.

the warm/hot water poured out from the faucet of the bathtub as i poured some bath soap into the tub, creating small white foamy bubbles on the surface of the water. once the water had filled up to its limit, i started to strip of my clothes until i was nothing but skin naked. quickly, i dipped my foot in after the other and settled myself into the warm waters.

i kept my hands above water as i grabbed my phone leaning over the side. after a long day of work, i definitely deserved this. it wasn't until i thought of the burgundy scarf. the image of his face popped in my head and i sighed in frustration. how idiotic.

i placed my phone down on a dry surface and slowly submerged my body lower into the water until the water reached my chin. and then i closed my eyes.

– – –

that next day at work, i had brought along that burgundy scarf from which that weird stranger had given me. but i didn't wear it. chaeri seemed to have noticed.

"yah, that's a nice scarf. why aren't you wearing it?"
"because it's not mine."
"omo! is it a present for someone? or did someone give it to you as present?"

"no, and no," i simply stated. "i don't believe that for one second," she said back.

"don't push it chaeri," i said and then turned my head to glare at her. she seemed to have gotten the message since she didn't say a word after that. instead, she gave a small smirk.

later after work, i walked down through the same park and came upon the same spot where it all had happened. i held the burgundy scarf in my hand and was about to place it on the bench when all of a sudden, a voice spoke up from behind me.

"you're not going to leave it there, are you?"

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tbh i dont wear scarfs :/