The Embodiment Of Elegance

“Or to have someone to fill my life with death, but you know, who can really tell at this point?” he snickered quietly, shaking his head before shrugging when he was asked what reputation he was talking about. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think I actually have a reputation, I was just trying to make myself cooler than I actually am, but I’m not really cool at all, so there’s also that.”

“Fill with death, fill with honor same thing. Now stop talking about death! You’re focus is in the wrong spot, my love. Today we live.” she slid on her shoes before exiting the condo with her friend. “It’s useless trying to convince me that you’re cool. I’ve already seen too much of your dorky side. Which come to think of it only makes it more amusing seeing all the stares you get walking down the street. How many do you think you’ll get today?”

Minding her own business was something Charlotte was never very good at. In fact, the girl liked to keep herself business free just so that she could meddle her way into other people’s business. However even when she happened to be busy booking travel plans at a cafe bar she couldn’t help but to notice the fellow mumbling next to her. Her gaze was still plastered to the bright screen of the laptop in front of her, but her words traveled to the young stranger.

“Please, in this world we live in everything is broke. E v e r y o n e is broke. Don’t pretend like you’re any exception.” she raised her brows at him. “Besides look at this facade you put on. You’re just glued up pieces of broken glass pretending to be gold like the rest of us.”

It was fairly late and Charlotte had taken a shortcut behind some local businesses in order to find her way home. Usually on a night out she would have her driver take her back to her condo but alas he was out of town and the idea of an uber wasn’t screaming out her name. Besides, walks were always nice for the young model. They kept her slim without building bulky muscle and after drinking all night it wouldn’t help to shed whatever she gained from her drinks.

“Charlotte, you’re not in your right mind.” a friend would say, if there were a friend to save her from making idiotic choices. A group of three men seemed to have their eyes on her as she stumbled in her flashy short dress and diamonds galore. Her temper easily got to the best of her, saying things a sober woman would never even think of. Insults, threats, mockery, all of the bold stupidity lashed out at once but it was the men’s reactions that had her taken back. Any normal group of guys would have surely lost it on her and the ignorant girl would have found herself assaulted, even if it was just verbally. Yet these guys didn’t even flinch. Nothing but still expressions and silent lips came from the dark figures and Charlie couldn’t help but to laugh. “Weirdos.” she scoffed, and turned the other cheek, drunkingly stumbling off the other way.

     “You say that now,” he grumbled playfully back, though he was hardly joking. His pint sized apartment was nothing compared to the stunner of a house good old Mr. Lee had and he hated bringing anyone back to the dump. A satisfied grin was quick to replace his pout when the glorious words of surrender hit him. “That’s the spirit, you little rebel. We’ll be robbing banks next week.” By now, he was crouched down, eager fingers picking their way through the contents of the fridge. Exactly the way we found it clearly went in one ear and out the other. “Are you feeling…banana milk or–ew.” The disgust was at the sight of cheap alcohol that had his face suddenly twisting. “For a rich guy, he has terrible taste.”

   “I’d say that any day.” she tilted her head. Her words were truly sincere though she had no clue what would actually be in store for her if she visited his place. “My dear, you do know I have not the slightest need to ever even think about robbing a bank?” she laughed at probably the worst crime he possibly could have picked for her. “But I could get used to being called a rebel.” Her smile was genuine as she realized his first priority in such a beautiful house was a fridge. “Nearly three months in this country and I’ve never actually tried banana milk. Had I known in advance the shenanigans planned for tonight I could of brought some real wine.”

at the first sound of her friend starting to cry, maia’s grip around her tightened. the hand she had placed against her friend’s head lowered to her back. rubbing against it as a way to comfort her friend. she didn’t like seeing charlotte upset, heck, maia didn’t like seeing anyone upset at all. but it tore her heart in half to know that this was one of her best friends. maia quickly lowered her head, the short hair she had falling over top the others. a large frown was on her lips as she felt her own tears falling. ’ keeping it all isn’t good for you, charlie. ’ she muttered softly. she didn’t want to say anything else. she knew that nothing would really help but holding on tightly to her friend was something she was going to keep doing. even if at someone point charlotte pushed her away, screamed at her to leave, maia wasn’t going to leave. she’d pull the girl right back tightly in her arms. ’ you have to talk to me about it. ’ her voice barely above a whisper as her grip tightened. she didn’t want to hurt the girl, no, she just wanted her to know that maia was there for her. that she wasn’t about to brush her off because she was breaking. there was no reason maia would ever do that, not to anyone, let alone her best friend. ’ i care about you and i don’t ever want to see you hurting. ’ a tiny smile that neither of them could see grew on her lips as she turned her head a little to the side, pressing her lips quickly against her friend’s head. ’ okay? ’

   It was when her grip tightened that Charlotte decided to finally hug her back. Sooner or later the girl would go back to pretending that everything was okay and that there wasn’t a gaping hole in her heart that even money couldn’t fill. Maybe her friend was right, maybe talking about the things that tore her apart would help close that hole a little bit. However one rough night and a comforting friend wasn’t enough for her to spill every locked away thought that had been buried deep in her mind for twenty four years. She took a few breaths in silence as she held onto the other in order to halt her tears enough to speak. There was no chance the parent-less girl would open up completely, but to leave her friend absolutely clueless as to why she was such a wreck would just be cruel. “I know its not good too keep it in... I’m just not ready to accept this reality yet. I guess you could say I like living in this fairy tale. It’s much easier than whatever this is.” she sighed heavily, her breath shaky as it tended to be when she cried. “I’m surrounded by so many people who all seem to adore me... but I’ve never felt more alone. I’m here in Korea trying to find a purpose and I don’t even know who my family is. I could pass them by on the streets and I wouldn’t even know. What am I even doing here?” she laughed a sickly laugh, tears suddenly starting to fall down harder. “There’s no purpose for me in this country. I was a fool to think coming here would be some revelation in my life. But you know the funny thing? Honestly, truly, hilarious? It’s all purposeless anywhere I go. There’s really no place for me in this God forsaken world. Nothing is going to get better. No matter what I do it’s not enough. Nothing is working.” 

′ of course, i know that you can’t predict the future. do you really think i don’t know that? my life is a prime example of that. i’m sorry, didn’t mean to explode.  ′ sighed as she rubbed her hand against her face. ′ but i can tell you, that im not leaving you. ever. unless i die, you’re going to be stuck with me. got it? ′

“Wouldn’t everyone like to know?”

“Hi there, love.”

′ yeah but the only other person that uses me as a personal pillow is two-thirds your size and three years old! ′ she laughed a little before rubbing her hand against her face, the other patting her friend’s shoulder. ′ i know, i know. my life is a total mess and i’m always busy. ′

“Come on, come on. You love me which makes it all worth it!  It’s not like I’m some two million pound sumo wrestler crushing you to a pile of mush!” she laughed, poking fun at the girl. “Aw Livi, if you ever need help you need to make me the first person you call okay? Especially babysitting. You know I love kids.”