What the hell is this? How did I even manage to get here? A demon is after me just to spite a tortured angel, and that angel and I seem to have feelings for each other... but they seem invalid. How could love arise from this?
I gaze out at the galax...
"Pretty boring today, huh?" sighs Arazely, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
I nod my head in agreement. There hasn't been much business today at the café. So little, in fact, that I've finished most of my homework here already.
Michael Bublé is droning quietly in the background, a smooth jazz song causing me to feel lethargic. I hum along absentmindedly, tracing imaginary patterns along the countertop with my index finger. Have yourself a merry little Christmas...
The bright peal of a bell rings through my ears, shattering my daydream. I look up at the door reluctantly, not wanting to leave my comfortable position behind the counter.
"Hi Serris." chirps Jimin as he strides through the front door. He's clothed in a long inky t-shirt with a black leather jacket, loose black pants, and— surprise— black Gucci loafers. A bright red beanie droops from his blonde hair, adding a bit of color to the entirely black outfit. Black garnet studs pierce his ears to finish off the look.
"Jimin," I smile, standing up from my stool and walking around the counter. "The usual?"
He's come to the the café everyday for the past week and ordered a caramel brûlée latte each time. I don't know how a man can stomach that much caramel, but Jimin somehow manages to.
"Yep. No whip cream today, though." He pats his firm stomach, the solid thump suggesting a layer of hard muscle underneath. "I'm trying to lose weight."
I chuckle at the irony and whip up a nice latte. Jimin just eyes me tenderly as I speed through the coffee machine and jars of caramel like lightning.
"One caramel brûlée latte, no whip." I declare as I hand him his drink, which he receives with wife open hands.
"Thank you." His slim fingers wrap around the moderately-fine china and tilt the cup to his parted lips. I watch with satisfaction as he sips the steaming liquid like it's golden treacle, the foamy pattern I had drawn in it slipping through his lips.
"As delicious as ever." he extols with a bright grin. I return the smile and sit down at one of the little tables. I gesture for him to sit down with me, and he does so eagerly. His latte has nearly disappeared by the time he's situated in his chair.
"A nice day today." he starts, glancing out the large windows of the café. I follow his gaze to the wispy clouds shrouding the sun that hang in a thick mist over the snowy city.
"Nice... Yeah, whatever," I snicker. "if you consider gloom and drear 'nice'. Otherwise don't throw that word around during December in Seattle."
"But it's wonderful, don't you think?" he insists. "Beautiful days don't demand attention. If the sky is clear and blue and the grass is verdant, there's no real danger to anyone." He readjusts his beanie so that his hair is pushed into a thick fringe over his brows. "But when ice and snow blanket the bumps and holes below and everything in the distance is vague and obscured, it is mandatory for all to heed to their surroundings and pay attention for once. Disregard and carelessness is no longer allowed, causing for a more attentive world."
His dark eyes melt with some sort of sorrow that I don't understand. "If everyday were winter, then perhaps more people would be aware of the darkness around them."
I blink my eyes in surprise. Jimin has obviously dealt with some dark things in his past, things that I don't really wish to know about just yet.
He shakes his head as if waking up from a daydream and gives me an embarrassed, tight lipped smile.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to get all dramatic there."
"It's fine." I say, blowing off his grim soliloquy. "We all get to be little drama queens every once in a while."
"Well," Jimin starts, the pep returning to his voice. "what I had meant to say was that we should go on a little stroll. I think we both need some fresh air after being cooped up all day."
"What are you taking about?" I exclaim incredulously. "You always seem to be on the move. Haven't you had enough winter air?"
His tinkly laugh slips out as he replies, "Well, sure, but you're always sitting around here, in the university, or in your apartment. You need some exercise!"
"And you know what's best for me?" I shriek with playful skepticism.
"I know what's best for everybody." He hooks his arm though mind and pulls me up from my seat. "C'mon, we're going for a walk."
I whine in protest, but he doesn't cease his fierce stride.
"Wait, but— but Arazely!" I cry, struggling to get out of his tight grip. "She needs me!"
"No one came in for coffee today except me," Jimin says. "and no one will. Arazely can handle nonexistent customers."
I let out a huff of air in frustration as he drags me out of the café into the cold, frigid world outside. A light wind nips at my nose, freezing the tip.
"Ugh, I forgot my jacket." I gripe as we trudge through the heavy snow.
"Have mine." Jimin suggests, slowing his pace to peel off his leather jacket. I open my mouth to turn down his offer, but he tuts over me and insists I accept. I begrudgingly take his jacket in my hands and start to slip it on. The warm leather is soothing against my chilled skin.
We amble through downtown Seattle watching people rush by in a flurry. The hustle and bustle of the heart of the city is somewhat refreshing. It's bursting with much more life and action than the little avenues surrounding Sasha's will ever have. There it's calm and quiet, whereas here there's tension and adrenaline and speed.
"Do you wanna know something I find quite interesting?" asks Jimin. I nod my head, curious as to what that pretty little head has to contribute.
"Do you ever stop to think that each person that passes by you has a life as complex and intricate as your own? I mean, do you ever really think about it? You of course consider your own life very important and relevant, as does everyone else, because it truly is to you. But every person that brushes past you, insignificant and irrelevant to you, considers their own life worthy of as much attention and importance as yours."
I tilt my head in thought. It's true, obviously, but I've nearly really pondered the fact.
"Huh." I say, too stumped to say anything else. "You're right. You should write a book or something about all the interesting thoughts you spout."
He chuckles and looks up at the cloudy sky.
"I guess I could."
We continue our little promenade in silence, our arms linked together against the snowy Seattle air.
[A/N] Sorry I took so long to write this. I haven't had any ideas for a while and I've been super busy. Now I have new plot ideas, so this story should become really interesting soon! Also, I've done tiny little edits on all of the previous chapters. Thanks for reading, and I hope you had fun over the holidays!
Bonus:
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