cloudy day

“Modelling is cool, though. Anyone who says it doesn’t count as work is a moron – excuse my language.” Sanghyuk just shook his head in dismay. “That’s one kind of job I’m not going to be able to do even if my height suffices.”

After all, it involves acting at the very least, and that’s just one of the many things he wasn’t able to do.

“I study IT - Information Technology. Computers, network, all those stuff. Geeky ones, I guess.” The male added with an almost indiscernible shrug. He had half a mind to ask what her field was, but then realized how she’s a card - in which she probably doesn’t have one. Either way, it’s a question better left unspoken.

Fortunately, he managed to prevent the question from slipping out, and falling silent momentarily, he wiped the beads of sweat forming on skin again.

With interest, she followed his words, but quickly made a face. It really did sound very interesting, but also very complicated. “See – while you might not be good at modeling, I could never do anything like that. My head hurts just thinking about it. It sounds so difficult.”

Truly, he didn’t—aside of his ever-weakening magic, that is, but never had it affected his physique before, so why should it be affecting him now?

“I can tell you my guess, but I’m not sure if this is the truth…” Leo began, eventually pushing himself to a sitting position, though then he just leaned onto her frames—only seeking the solace of her warmth, because the icy coldness came from inside him. There’s no other way, at least until it passed.

The Cloud being warmer than him is a new thing after all.

“It feels like a blackout… like I’m being suddenly rejected by my source of magic. If this continues…”

He’d never thought of the end because cards were supposed to live for ever, but…

It was as if time stopped, when he said that sentence. She couldn’t bring herself to talk – and even if, what should she say? Her mind was blank and her lips were slightly parted, when she stared at him with big eyes.

Tears filled her eyes again, the eyes that only just dried. “No.” her voice was inaudible, not even a whisper. How could this be, when she only just got him back? Not quite – she didn’t get him back, things were still difficult between them. They had only met again after a long time.

And yet, how could this be real? She knew this world wasn’t fair, but how could it be this unfair? And yet so many humans still believed in gods… weird creatures.

“Sorry! I really didn’t mean it—although personally I’d like it if he managed to date anyone.” The young boy chuckled. “Taekwoon hyung’s almost like a mother at home now, he probably needs that change. But I’m rambling.”

Yeah, it would be nice, if Leo could date, but if only he knew…

“Ah, yes that’s right!” she replied. “And that’s right as well, though more than enough people don’t see it as work.” she chuckled. “But they might only be jealous.”

Her tears, though - it hurts.

“Strange,” he replied, opening his eyes again and met her gaze. “I’ve never felt this cold before…”

Smiling slightly, he reached out with his other hand - the bandaged one - and tried to wipe her tears, although his move did little to fix the ruined makeup.

“I suppose you’re not going to believe me if I say it’s nothing, are you?” He asked.

At the contact of his bandaged hand on her skin, Soyee closed her eyes and shuddered. “Why is he so cold?”

“How could I believe tha-” her voice broke in the middle of the sentence and she had to swallow. “It’s obvious you’re not.” she whispered. “Won’t you tell me.”

It wasn’t until a moment later, after they switched places and she sat down, that he managed to give an identity to the face he was seeing.

“…Wait, you’re Taekwoon hyung’s girl—I mean, Taekwoon hyung’s friend, aren’t you?”

After all, he’d spent literally two hours looking at the couple while he was working, back then. It wasn’t that he had any bad intentions, though. The mentioned zodiac card had been an acquaintance at first due to his frequent visit to the cafe; he himself had never really seen cards as mere devices of magic, and so he and Leo quickly became friends.

Usually Soyee would’ve declined and continued to stand, as it weren’t that many stations, she had to drive - at least that’s what she always told herself, when no seat was available. But now where she was offered a seat - though tempted to decline at first - she could only smile and thank the boy that seemed somewhat familiar.

Wake up… I’m sorry…

The words came through his ears, but he couldn’t open his eyes. It felt as if he was submerged in icy waters; the pain was similar to having shards of ice piercing through his chest, and while he was still seemingly unconscious, a soft groan escaped his pale lips, his breaths hitching momentarily.

Don’t leave me again—

Truly, he would have embraced the end willingly had it not been for those words; he has to wake up, he couldn’t leave, she’d cry— And at the sound of her muffled sobs, he opened his eyes, weakly reaching for her frames and managed to rest his hand on her folded arms.

It took the girl a second, but she quickly let her legs down and leaned forward, looking at him with a soft yet worried expression. “How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice merely more than  a whisper. Soyee held his hand between hers, while trying to read his face.

Her eyebrows were furrowed and even though he was awake, she couldn’t fight her fear she was feeling since he’d passed out.

The heat was literally killing. Like, literally. What is it with global warming that even a day in August can be this hot when it’s supposed to be nearing the fall season?

Ugh.

Sanghyuk found himself wiping his sweats with a piece of tissue for the third time ever since he got into the bus—air conditioned, thankfully, but it’s his efforts to get there that made him look as if he just ran a whole ten kilometers without even stopping. Now stuck in his seat while the bus was filled by passengers, he could only thank his luck.

Because honestly, carrying his laptop everywhere he go is kind of tiring… and the heat isn’t helping either, although he was currently letting his head be cooled down by the aircon.

Since the last photo-shoot was over, the girl was on her way home, wanting to relax. She waited for the bus, while checking her phone every now and then.

When it arrived, it was packed as usual. Hadn't there been air conditioning inside, it would've been hellish and Soyee would've walked instead. But the chilled air was very welcomed.

And for a zodiac that supposedly was aligned to the light itself, and has been truly warm both inside and outside—this was enough clue to what he was facing. Admittedly, this wasn’t the first time, but he’d gone to the right place… again.

Leo was still and unresponsive even when she shook his frames; nor could he hear her broken pleas—but a certain young male server that had been keeping an eye out for them had immediately came over and placed a hand on the unconscious male’s neck without further ado.

And feeling the male’s weak pulse, the younger could only let a sigh out. Fortunately, they weren’t causing such a ruckus that everyone was looking at them, but he could feel a few pair of eyes training on their figures.

Time passed way too slowly, as she was sitting next to him – staring blindly, lost in thoughts. She couldn't get rid of the feeling of guilt.

What if he would never wake up again? She was far from having been nice to him and she couldn't stand the thought of this being their last conversation. Tears streamed down the girl's face, ruining her make-up, melting the black colour of the mascara down her cheeks, until the salty liquid dripped down from her chin onto her lap.

“Please... please wake up. I'm sorry, so please...” Soyee's voice was hoarse from all the crying, she couldn't bring out more than a whisper. “Don't- don't leave me again, I can't go through this again. Alone. Leo-” at the sound of her own voice saying his name, the girl's voice broke and  she covered her face with both of her hands. Her whole figure was shaking, as she sobbed uncontrollably, bending forward and enclosing her tucked up legs with her arms, burying her face.

“Maybe it’s fate… I wouldn’t know.” He chuckled, huffing a soft breath as he propped his chin against his hand. Or maybe it’s because I wanted to be found somehow…?

He shook the thought off, but just at the same time the scene he saw blurred for a moment… and Leo let himself curse inwardly as he felt his strength fading away by the second.

Shoot. Not now. Not while I’ve been able to keep this hidden from literally everyone including even Sunggyu… Fates, why now?

It was so unexpected and the girl didn't know what to do or how to help him.

She couldn't hate him – that much she already knew –  but it was to her own surprise, how much she actually cared. Even though she would have known, hadn't she tried to ignore it.

Nodding silently, the male took another silent sip of his coffee. The cup was half empty, and he didn’t know how much longer he could rely on the drink to calm his nerves. This whole meeting was pushing him to the edge of breaking down.

“I… I’ve been okay, I guess.”

Okay? Not entirely. But before he could think further about it, Soyee’s murmur made him look up at her with a questioning gaze.

Still avoiding his eyes, she nodded. “After you le- well we haven't talked for... who knows how long, yet we chose the same field of work.” she murmured and huffed. As if the universe wanted them to meet again.

Hell, she should’ve started hating him long ago.

Smiling sadly at the way she tried to console him, though—yes, he knew it was a lie, because the rain earlier told him as much—Leo took another quiet sip of the latte in front of him, letting silence settle between them for a while.

It hurts so much, but… what can he do about it, again? Nothing.

“I guess I’m alright as long as you’re not under chains…“

Unconsciously, his fingers traced the black choker lining his neck—aesthetically, it was part of fashion, but at the same time, it also held that meaning for him.

“I'm doing my best to not get caught.”Soyee replied. She knew he had seen through her lie and sighed.

“So... how have you been doing since the seal was broken?” she asked, still avoiding the question burning in her mind.

“I left you no choice, but I don’t have any either,” the male continued afterwards, accompanied by a slight shaking of his head. “If anything, it’s better that you hated me for trying to protect you than having you hate me for not protecting you.”

And the wry smile crossed his lips once more.

“Ironic, isn’t it? I protected you from the danger they pose to us, but I can’t protect you from the pain I gave you all these years.”

Another sigh, and he still couldn’t look up—and mainly because his eyes were glassy by the time he spoke again, his voice barely above a shaky whisper.

“I never hated you.” She earnestly said, while looking at him. She'd been angry – furious at times, but she couldn't hate him. He had just been too dear to her. Even if she had tried to deny that to go on.

As Soyee didn't know what to reply to his words – she wasn't sure, if she could still blame him for everything – her gaze fell on his hand and a bad feeling made itself known in her stomach, but out of fear for his answer she didn't dare to ask the question forming in her mind. “Have you been captured again?”

“Sometimes there is no right or wrong...” she whispered instead. “And don't worry... it wasn't that bad after you left.” She lied, staring at her coffee. Maybe she should pretend, to make him feel better and then disappear quickly? Until this very day, she'd doubted him, blamed him for leaving. Yet the only thing he'd wanted was to protect her.

The male model himself was silent throughout the walk; it was true that Clamp Cafe wasn’t the first thing in mind to go to when you’re a free card, but it’s the only public place he could think of. And if needed, he could pull a few strings there with the connection he currently has…

And so, minutes later, Leo sipped his latte carefully, holding the cup with his uninjured hand as he sat facing the female in a secluded corner of the cafe, far from anyone’s earshot. This day had come a whole lot faster than he’d expected, but perhaps destiny was being lenient to him—so that he could get the guilt out of himself faster, maybe.

Whatever the reason was, it’s time to face his past… and present.

“I was captured.” was his first word after a minute silence, his eyes staring blankly at the brown liquid inside his cup, which he had placed on the table. “I spent the first week recovering from the damage my captor did to me when we fought… and then I thought I couldn’t come back anymore. I must not.”

Surprised Soyee looked up from her coffee, at him. “Captured...” of course that thought had occurred to her – she would've been stupid to not consider it. Yet she hadn't given it that much thought – in her melancholy, much darker possibilities filled the cloud's mind.

“I... thought you died.” she said and took a careful sip, not paying too much mind to the liquid still being too hot. “Or that I was too annoying...”

“Wait!” Clenching her jaw, after Leo spoke, her hand stopped lifting her coffee to her lips mid air. “You- you tried to protect me?” Soyee didn't manage much more than a whisper. She'd doubted herself so often, thought that she'd made him leave through some of her actions. This was too unexpected and one emotion emerged out of no-where.

Is this not enough?

But Leo didn’t say a word in response—not until she asked him to explain, and after a moment of deep thought, he nodded.

“Very well. I’ll explain. But it’d be better if we don’t talk in public about this.”

The magical world has eyes and ears, after all. He just hope this wasn’t a wrong choice. Otherwise, those years - all those years - would have been for nothing if she was captured.

Then again, she’s right—who was he to decide this for her anyways?

“I've always felt I should keep my distance to that cafe, but I've heard about it.” Soyee replied honestly. In her anxiousness, she stroked a couple of her still curled strands of hair behind her ear – a habit she'd noticed a while ago and that formed since she had her human form.

Sigh.

His own manager was walking by his side, looking at him with curious eyes, but the male said nothing. Even when he was asked, the only thing he did was to shook his head—but then the very voice of the female came up from behind, and his confident stride came to an immediate stop.

“Hyung… you can go first without me. I need to talk to her for a bit.”

“…Okay. I’ll call you later, neh?” came the response of the manager, and with that, Leo nodded before turning around to face the female, taking a deep breath before he answered, and looked straight into her eyes.

“Not in a thousand years. No, I can never.”

And for once, the male looked ancient in his sharp features—an undeniable sadness in his gaze.

What has he done?

“I think it would be a hundred times better if you end up hating me after what I did earlier, and leave it at that,” he said quietly. “I don’t have much time left in this realm, after all.“

“Then why are you trying to make me hate you? What's the reason for- everything?” She didn't get it and even though she was still confused and sad, she started feeling a little annoyed as well – just what was going on in that mind of his?

“Why don't you let me decide, how I want to feel about this?” she furrowed her brows and crossed her arms. The reason for her annoyance was simple – after seeing him again, there was hope. Hope that they'd get closer again, even if she tried to bury those thoughts and feelings. But now where things were going like this, the hope she tried to ignore, was missing – leaving a hole.