???? x reader

Chapter 4.

The image of the mysterious shop was still fresh in your mind, even the scent of the coffee lingered at random places you passed by. Yet you never seemed to wander into that shop a second time, as if a shield had been placed.

*clack clack clack*

You tapped at your keyboard. Assignments were pilling up but your thoughts were up in the clouds as they jumped from one idea to another. 

The morning sun melted the frosty windows and the excess water droplets ran across the surface racing each other. Steps would echo through the hallway not far from you, occasionally a person talking on the phone would wander back and forth and their happy tone would bounce off the walls. The soft worn out grey sofa would creak as you shifted your legs with your laptop on them. Though the library was open and it was much more comfortable to settle there, luck wasn't on your side and all the seats were taken. People were getting ready to defend their final paper.

Aside from that...

You felt watched. It was almost identical to the time when you took the bus to the library in the evening. Now, paranoia wasn't unfamiliar, and maybe you're just a bit jumpy, but... it was still unnerving to feel and sometimes see the lingering gazes from some of the library staff. Some you didn't even know and you've been here for a good 3 years.

There was also this "sense" of something closing in on you. 

Your hand freezes on the letter "k" as your gaze wanders to the window then back to the screen.

"*sigh*" you rub your face quite aggressively as if that would ease your mind and gather your thoughts. Mr. Selio said that there's no reason to overthink everything, but you just couldn't help it, maintaining low stress levels when life is boiling you in a soup almost every day seems almost impossible. Plus, you couldn't make light of various situations where one would question their sanity. 

Despite trying to be open minded and consider every possibility and explanation one could muster, fear that came with it was like an annoying tick which you couldn't get rid off and sometimes it overtook you.

Then again fear does keep a person safe from certain things.

"Thinking again?"

You gasp slightly and almost knock the bottle of water out of Kai's hand which was stretched towards you.  

"When did you appear out of nowhere?" settling down and taking the offered drink you thank him and twist the cap which lets out a satisfying pop. Kai takes a seat beside you and places his portfolio bag between you two, interlinking his hands he leans on them as he looks your way.

"No classes?" he asks grinning.

"Everyone seems to be concerned about my education these days" you place the half empty bottle on the floor then close your laptop and put it away. "But really, after all this education stuff is over then the question will change to asking about my job." scowling you slump further into the sofa. 

*ding, ding*

In the distance your ears pick up the ringing of the clock tower. It was one of those old town clocks which had a fancy yet simple design. The handles were black and the ends of them were in the shapes of hearts as the main plate of it was adorned with numerals and small squarish details. In the summer the vines entangled on its side would bloom purple, white and pink inviting bees to pollinate the flowers. The aroma of them would reach far and sometimes delight customers that sit outside the cafes with their meals. Was it of any importance? Not really. You just imagined how good it would be now to lay beneath the sun and take a nap surrounded by that scent. You imagined how slowly the handles would turn and every second would pass until a new hour would start.