The day continued with them, just hanging around in the neighborhood park, riding slides and seesaws, and playing like the little kids they are.
By now, they had settled on the swings, watching as the children much younger than them went home one by one.
The big smiles and wondrous laughs erupting with their high-pitched voices and innocent delight sent warmth to Ahrin.
She lovingly stared at every one of them, smiling and waving when one turned in her direction.
She sighed
And that made the demon turn to her.
"What's with the sigh?"
Ahrin looked back with a smile. "I was once like them." she softly explained.
"Mom will always shout at me, saying, Slow down with the slides! or don't leave your brother alone!" she chuckled.
"I never thought I'd miss those days. I once wished that they'd leave me alone because they always gave me an earful, yet they left me for the entire lifetime instead."
Jisung just silently listened while looking at her, head hung low, and Ahrin fumbled on the hem of her crinkled shirt.
"I hated mom for controlling everything I do; I hated dad for forcing me to study; I hated Leehyun's guts for acting like a baby to get their attention. I mean, I know they like him more than me; I don't know."
A tear freely escaped from her eye, alarming the demon. He obviously panicked but eased when she smiled.
"I just missed them. That's all."
"Well, what do you want to do?"
The girl looked at him confusedly.
"Do you want me to push your swing like fathers do? Or do you want me to nag you around? Just tell me everything."
that made her laugh, "You're unbelievable."
"You hanging out with a demon is unbelievable in the first place."
Ahrin hummed in agreement, "Still, you're slowly filling in the loneliness I endured for years." She fondly looked at him, "Thank you, Jisung."
Jisung's eyes widened in a fraction and he nervously laughed. "Stop it," he said, averting his gaze.
Ahrin smiled and got off, just to stand up in the metal hanging chair.
"Y-ya! You'll fall!"
"I do this every time I've got a chance to ride a swing. This is a basic style, Jisung-ah." She then slowly put enough force into moving back and forth.
"Still!"
"You know, the first time I got to properly look at you, you kind of looked familiar."
Jisung pushed himself up and stood in front of her, arms crossing. "Get off."
"Why?"
"You'll fall"
"I won't. Trust me."
He rolled his eyes.
"Aww, are you worried?"
"No, her gaze sharpened.
Ahrin just shrugged and happily swung back and forth.
"You know, Park, you need to unleash the inner kid in you. Your existence must be out of this world, but I bet you enjoyed this too when you were once a little boy."
Jisung just sighed and rhythmically whistled, looking up.
A strong wind suddenly hit the swings, like someone was purposely pushing her.
Ahrin screamed when she slipped off, falling forward.
Jisung took advantage of his fast reflexes and swiftly caught her—arms wrapping around her waist and hers around his neck.
Their mouths fell agape, not because of their current position.
But because of the way their lips met for a second.
Ahrin was the first one to blink and push herself away.
"I'm–"
"I told you you'd fall," Jisung cuts in and turns around. "Let's get you home."
He then walked ahead, leaving the girl still processing what had happened.
Jisung hits his head while cursing, "Stupid Jisung, stupid, you shouldn't play with the wind in the first place."
He rubbed his chest. "Good thing you're dead.. or she must've felt how crazy you beat."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
