▸　❛ library

@❛ yuko a。 Yua was drawn to the book, fingernails picking at each page when she was done. A few feet shuffled caught her attention but she pushed the sound at the back of her mind. It was then she was nearly done with a chapter when something came in contact with her. A small yelp tumbles from her lips as she completely stares at the figure, a hand farted in her direction. She takes a soft grasp of it, coming to a stance and dusts away the debris from her skirt. Her head tilts to the side to stare at the woman before clearing . “Um thank you, but I’m okay.” She chuckles, running a sheepish hand over her neck. “No one really sees me on the floor.”

@❛ jaehyun j。 Geniality permeated the smile embellishing Ten’s lineament, crown dipping scantly in gratitude before hand reached anew, the book slipping from its slot between two other opus. Umber gaze studied crimson hardback, drinking in cursive fonts comprising the title, glimpsing across sui generis intricacies. Lissom digits grazed sleek sheets, prints flaxen from time — tipping the tome, agog eyes espied as papers descended upon one another, until a muted ‘thud’ signalled the cover settled on the rear page.

Gracile palm reposed upon the novel’s front, pearly row chewing lower tier as umber orbs stared vacantly at the book, soaked in his train of thoughts. Posterior to much consideration, Ten raised his head to make eye contact with the unco. Hush be prolonged a beat as gazes were maintained, then the Thai parted his lips to speak.

“Why don’t we read this together?” One thin brow cocked inquisitively, one corner of his lips lifting into a slight smirk. “It seems like you wanted to read this book as much as I do. Why don’t we share? It’s not as if I’m busy and have somewhere to go after this- unless, you can’t stay here for too long?” Lips pursed for the briefest of second, before he continued, “Anyway, if you aren’t in a rush to go anywhere, we can read this book together. I don’t mind sharing! Plus, it’s fun to have someone to read with you of the same book, don’t you think so too?”

@❛ yua m。 The mix of old books and freshly brewed coffee had a scent that seemed to seduce Yuko back over and over again to this library. She had only come in to return a book, but she couldn't help resist the shelves upon shelves of books that she hadn't read yet. She browsed through the rows of books, looking for something to catch her eye when she stumbled upon something, no, someone in her way. Her shoulders jumped in surprise as she yelped and whispered immediately in apology, "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there." Yuko hadn't recall whether she was standing or already on the ground when she had walked into her and the fact that she was on the ground at all worried her. "Are you alright?" She asked as she offered her hand.

@❛ yuko a。 A typical day for the young woman: indulging herself into a fresh cup of coffee, straightening up a few things around her place and diving down toward the library. Yua enjoyed the scent of books that filled the place, the low pattering of footsteps and the corner she would usually sit in. Only this time, she had no idea what to pick. Her finger run across each spine, feeling the smoothness and layered bumps of words. She then perks in surprise of one she wanted to read, plucking it from the shelf and resting her back against the shelf.

@❛ ten l。 Starving for an acquaintance in the calm spring nights, when the lamp pierced the darkness, he kept vigil till the early hours when the dusk cracks the sky. dozen of versatile books he already had read never retained the ripple of lore, scrutinizing the small font of the old crunchy pages. The man glimpsed at the multitude of books and novels, he was lost in the sea of works that were collected over centuries in this small local library. The aroma of the paper still mastered the space, filling up his nostrils, and then the lungs inside the man's rib cage.

The entire process of assimilating the book information was astounding, yet taking a walk in the labyrinth of dusty shelves was the perfect adaptogenic remedy. Jaehyun wasn't looking for anything in particular, but for something that will first draw his attention since he wasn't the type to trust other people's opinions or reviews. The thick spine of a red volume lured his sight. Before he noticed another pair of alien hands captured the thickness of pages, the pads of his fingertips hit the stranger's cold skin.

"Oh", Jaehyun escaped when his hand withdrawn instinctively, letting it fall downwards. "I'm sorry", he was feeling uncomfortable for his actions, and as banal it looked, touching hands was fairly intimate; teeth sank into his inner cheeks nervously, when his gaze redirected to the boy's countenance. Bits of remembrance put together snapped realization into his head, the facial features were terribly familiar. "I think you should take this book, your hand touched it first". Nodding his head once, the taller man took a step back to create more space between them, and also unspoken permission to grab the volume.

@❛ jaehyun j。 Quietude mantled Ten on his excursion about the library, treads adroit even with arms conveying a profusion of books. Upon the spines of each tomes were titles in varying calligraphy, genres diverse with myriad of themes, writing styles differing per author. A precipitous fancy to read enkindled the youth’s mind the night prior, prompting his contemporaneous condition of ebullient escapade through the library.

Arriving to the succeeding ledge, umber gaze fleeted steadfastly across labels, swiftly registering their names and surmising the gists of the stories. At a particular heading however, Ten halted, discerning the familiar oeuvre instantly. Initially unearthed on the net about the freshest and in vogue novel, critics appraised the author’s idiosyncratic method of wording and riveting convolution in plot progression, said opus a highly endorsed read.

Bearing scarcely quelled elation, Ten extended for the volume-

Only to collide hands with someone else.

Pate snapping towards the stranger, a beat passed between them. Discomfiture imbued the hush around them as gazes were held. Finally, a grin broke out on Ten’s visage, musing, “Ah, it seems like we’re going for the same book?”