Sanctuary

Eight. (Time Flies)

When I see your face, when I hear your voice
It seems like the world stops spinning round
Your embrace I finally found peace in my mind
Long days, short nights, heart rate, sky high
Time flies

An overcast Friday afternoon finds her in the quietest corner amidst a jubilant crowd, back turned to the masses for anonymity, a rare moment of peace. Her gaze drifts past the large arched window into the academy's well-kempt yard, and then to the pale, gray sky and its ominous reflection on Lake Brienz. The bleakness echoes her dark mood in a way that's strangely comforting. In the world's most neutral, most liberal country, she's still guilty of loving the one man who makes life worth living. She's in hiding when all she wants to do is shout it from the rooftops.

Sneaking around was fun when it was a game. She'd almost convinced herself that it was a choice to stay inside their little bubble at bay from the world, from eyes and questions and curiosity. The truth of the matter is it's not a choice. She knows that. Their love is practically treason. Ri Jeong-hyeok is a cautious principled man, who broke all his rules for her, but he wouldn't endanger his family. He wouldn't leave his family. He would leave her. It's a terrible, selfish thought that she quashes down the moment it surfaces, but it still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth that has her digging into her purse for a distraction.

She pulls out her phone, checks the screen and smiles at the message from her mother.

Umma: I'm so happy for you Se-ri-ya. This is such a beautiful photo! You two make quite a pair. I wish I could get to know him better. He sounds wonderful. Send more photos when you can.

She scrolls up to the photo she sent her mother yesterday and taps on it. The two of them are smiling brightly in a selfie taken just outside of Hotel Interlaken before they embarked on their fated, short-lived adventure. He's looking at her and she's looking at the camera, and the plainness of that story is heartbreaking. How can less than twenty-four hours ago be simpler times?

"There's something oddly beautiful about an overcast sky. It feels like it has so much to say."

Her heart trips in her chest as she turns around at the sound of his voice. Their eyes meet and hold, and the look he gives her says he could be talking about the sky or about her. It's disconcerting, how well he reads her and how much she loves him for it. She doesn't dwell because it's neither the time nor the place. Instead, she drops his stare in favor of taking him in. He stands tall before her, unapologetically handsome in his form-fitting maroon sweater, the collar of his white shirt neatly pressed below the round neckline. He mirrors her stance towards the window, his posture straight and confident, his dark jeans fashionably narrow at the ankles against a pair of short brown boots.

This morning, he woke her with a soft kiss on her cheek and the smell of coffee from the mug he left on her nightstand. When she turned her face into his and kissed his lips, he smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. Go back to sleep. You still have a half hour. And then he was gone.

At her perusal, Jeong-hyeok gives her a small private smile, drawing her gaze back to his clean-shaven face. "Hi."

She has to remind herself not to touch him when he hands her a bottle of water. "Hi," she says softly.

He studies her face, his brow creasing with worry. She knows she looks tired. She didn't get much sleep last night after they spent hours discussing the repercussions of the incident. "Did you have lunch?" he asks.

Her appetite has been notably absent all day. She could only stomach two bites of the smoked salmon bagel he left on her desk. It's better than nothing, so she nods. "Thanks for the bagel." Uncapping the water bottle, she brings it to her lips, takes a small sip, and then impatience gets the better of her. She dives right into the elephant in the room. "So, how did it go?"