Puppetry - P.JM. [ON-HOLD]

One

My hand fell away from the oak down to my thigh, falling against the worn down denim that was covered in black ink. It instantly started tapping against my thigh, myself becoming impatient instantly. I felt uncomfortable, even though I had been at this place a million and one times. It still felt strange.

I looked around, my eyes watching out for anyone coming my way. There was a large, iron fence around the property, but I could easily see neighbors' yards. There was blooming trees and green grass. Flowers popped in and out of existence, vines running up and down things as a means for decoration. All I saw was messes. No curiosity. It seemed foreign. 

All the houses towered over me. Mansions, people called them. I thought of them more as castles out of fairy tales from when I was younger. Each region of mansions throughout our district had different themes. These ones were more natural, nature blossoming and dirt filling your nose. I wanted to wrinkle mine in disgust. This wasn't home at all.

The house I stood at was a light blue one, but it was huge. Too big, in my opinion. The windowpanes were a blinding white, seeming to take away sight. The doors to it were a white, both of them double doors with gold handles. Flowers bloomed along the sides of the house, fruit trees growing in the front yard. I could smell the sweetness come from them all. That was a delicacy in my opinion. You don't get much of that unlike the affluents. This seemed like one of those houses in a story but an upgrade.

I could hear the birds around me, their songs pretty as bees buzzed around the flowers. I wasn't used to this sort of noise. No sounds of the sluggish cars or clanging of carriages. The more that I took in my senses made me anxious even more than I was. I was easily standing out in this place, and everyone--even the animals--knew it.

I suddenly heard the door unlock from in front of me. I instantly turned my head, watching the door to my left open. I was expecting a male or female I had never talked to open the door, but a rare occasion happened where I was met face to face as a welcome between Taehyung and I.

The instant thing that caught my eye was his bright red hair he had kept all these years. It flattered him, to be honest. I thought it looked nice on him. He wore a white button-up shirt today, but the shoulders and upper part of the sleeves were covered in see-through mesh. I easily saw his dark tattoos, them covering all up and down his arms to his hands and over his shoulders, trailing down his back.

As soon as his eyes met mine, the usual dark sternness in them faded away, them lighting up. A huge grin covered his face as he opened the door more to where he stood in the doorway, somewhat exposing the inside of the house. "You came!"

I gave a dry laugh, elbowing my backpack. I heard my tools clink together in it. "I'm getting paid. Of course I was coming over."

He laughed at me, coming out and crushing me into a hug. As his arms enveloped me and pulled me to his chest, I felt at home once more. It had been a long time since I had smelled the pine that danced across his clothes, but when I did smell it, it reminded me of memories that led me to this place. This place was where I could be myself.

"I missed you, try-hard," he murmured, hugging onto me tighter. His voice had gone soft, telling that his excitement had been replaced with content. I felt the same.

"Missed you, too."

After a few more comforting seconds of our reunion, Taehyung pulled away, his hands falling away except for one that planted itself on my shoulder. He smiled down at me. "I haven't seen you in at least a month."

"It's crazy how my business is growing," I said, feeling my voice go to a different tone that I hadn't heard in a long time. I was relaxed for once. This wasn't any of my clients or acquaintances. This was one of my greatest friends I had ever had.