A World of our Own | K.TH *COMPLETED*

Calm Before the Storm

The night was calm and peaceful— like the moment right before the day would dawn and paint the dark skies with newfound light. When I twist my head to the side to check the time, the digital clock reads an early 4:30.

"Go back to sleep."

V's quiet voice breaks me out from my dazed trance, its effects on me opposite than what he'd intended. Now I feel more wide awake than ever as I turn to face him.

"Hey."

His head is tilted downwards, which only makes his jawline seem more defined. The moonlight glances off of his eyes, lighting the iris a polar silver instead of the warm gold the sunlight brings.

One word— beautiful.

When he notices that my eyes now have  a glow of excitement in them, a reluctant sigh escapes his parted lips. Like that was his call for a break, he stretches and slouches against the armchair.

"I probably shouldn't have said anything."

"You're probably right." I say, smiling sweetly at his raised eyebrow. Knowing he'd absolutely hate it, I slide out of the bed and perch myself on the edge instead.

Swinging my legs like the mature person I am, I lean forward and hold out my hand. I'm feeling particularly bold tonight— whether it's the coming day or it's just purely his presence besides me.

A wave of ecstasy washes through my body as he carefully weaves his long, slender fingers with mine, knitting and interlocking like our fingers are not fingers, but they're silk and velvet strands to be made and unmade.

"You have very nice eyes," I blurt out, finding it harder and harder to keep my eyes off of his. It was like a fire and I was a helpless moth, drawn and circling around the deadly spark.

"How could it ever compare to yours?"

His voice shocks me— I can hear the deep, rich vibration that I'd been missing since the incident. Sharp, bubbly tingles shoot up my spine, undeniably pleased about his healing voice.

If it had healed enough for him to regain this, then it wouldn't be long before his beautiful voice would be restored to its originality.

"Why are you smiling so widely all of a sudden?" He pokes at me, face confused but curious. "Did I miss something?"

Not even attempting to dim the brightness of my grin, I clasp his hands even tighter as I shake my head.

"Nothing. It's just you."

"And what about me makes you smile so much, princess?" The sudden label makes heat rush through my cheeks, painting my cheeks in a fiery blush. It takes me so aback that I forget how to speak for a moment.

"U-uh, that's for me to know and you to never find out."

His expression gets devious at the challenge I've thrown at him— I have a feeling that he usually didn't let those get by him without a fight.

When I notice the dramatic change in his features, I immediately wave my hands to feign surrender. My voice seems higher than usual as I quickly make an excuse to get out of the hole I'd dug myself.

"It's really something silly— nothing big at all, I promise! I just noticed some differences, that's all."

A flame of curiosity burns across his face, sharp and intense. That's the moment I know that I made a grave mistake— I shouldn't have even spoken a word in the beginning.

He shifts from the couch, moving to sit beside me on the bed. His sheer height makes the furniture look like it's too small for him— like a teenager using a kid's bed.

It makes me flush, being constantly reminded that I was a child in comparison. My feet didn't even reach the ground, for heaven's sake!

"You have no idea how much I would give up just to read your mind." His sudden muse breaks me from my light reverie, making me look up to him in surprise.

"My mind?"

"Yes, your mind." He exclaims, only to lower his tone down to remove strain on his delicate throat. "Half the time you're encased in some different world than reality— like you switch back and forth whether you chose to or not."

He pauses to take a quick breath as he taps on my forehead.

"And I hate it when I can't tell what you're wandering off and on about."

I pretend to be lost in my thoughts as I offer uncertainly. "I could tell you what I've been thinking if you want. Although it might be a bit, um, filtered."

"I can't have that." He shifts on the bed so he sits cross legged on the dipping mattress. "It's all or nothing— no filters."

When I bite my bottom lip, he tucks his jaw into his hand and blows a frustrated breath out from his lips.

"Usually people are so easy to read," He recalls, drawing perfect circles on the rumpled bedsheets. "They're like an open book— I can just take a look at their eyes and tell what they're thinking of. Whether how hard they try or not, it always came easy to me."

The circles stop as he meets my gaze, eyes sparking with overwhelming curiosity.

"But you," He accuses. "You throw me off."

"I'm an usually unreadable person," I shrug nonchalantly as I motion at him in return. "But you know, you're also very unre—"

"You're not getting it, Tzuyu." He says, a hint of impatience in his vibrant tone.  "Everyone is exactly the same— eyes and voice and all. Their tone changes with their mood, and their eyes reflect their thoughts. Bring me anyone— for example, Kook, or any of the hyungs. I could tell their thoughts like I was reading their minds."

Confusion etches in the corners of my eyes, uncertain about what he exactly meant.

"You can read minds?"

"Basically. Not exact thoughts and words— but the exact emotion and gesture. I don't know," He shrugs, face clearly frustrated with the unclear explanation. "It's hard to explain. The voices inside my head helps with it."

Eyebrows still furrowed in concentration, I point at myself. "You can tell what people feel, but you can't tell mine? Is that what you're saying?"

He nods. "Exactly. I don't know if it has something to do with your eyes— but like their color, the mirrors seem different. It's like looking into two completely opposite worlds and trying to merge it into one thing. Very, very frustrating process."

I laugh. "Eyes are like mirrors for you? Mirrors looking into their minds?" When he nods, I purse my lips in a pure wonder.

"That's amazing, V."

He concentrates on me again, eyes searching deep into mine. But when I stare back, it's like I touch him with a highly electrified taser.

"I can't tell. I can't. All I can get is that you're happy, and I don't even know what you're happy about. It's such a... challenge, if you get what I mean."

My eyes dart towards the window when a streak of new morning kisses me on my back. The sun has risen— and when I look at the clock, it reads 7:02. Time had flown while we were talking.

Then something soft and warm touches my lips, and I hear him laugh silently aa he watches me realize he'd just kissed me.

"Good morning, princess. It's time to go back to sleep."