#ascellia

( sms -- joohyun. ) hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Time had been relative to him and most of the time, hisdependence on the things that he needs to finish. Leo doesn’t believe thatpeople can’t finish a task within a day, most of which would depend on itsdifficulty but for a man who knows a lot, Leo can’t waste such talent. Knowingthat, and knowing that he has the responsibility to bring out the news thatwere kept hidden by a lot of people (mostly the government), he had to pushhimself to the limit to make sure that they were exposed, to give the Koreancitizens a value of their worth, and their officials shouldn’t really be areason why they’re falling.

The reign of the South Korean’s president has come to anend, and the exposure was enough to put a stop to the religious beliefs thatwere supposed to be separated from the state. Moralities can’t be questionedand ruled by the law that doesn’t really follow anything but itself, and forits compensation, it compromises the law that keeps the Korean citizens’ safe.

Leo tries to scrutinize once again, and he started by thetime he came by to the café out of habit. He ordered black, as always, and aslice of a strawberry cheesecake because their croissants were sold out and theBelgian waffle doesn’t look tasty. He never bothered looking at time, he neverliked looking at it, it compensates the idea that he should be there for areason, despite not knowing what it is, and time is relevant to people who hasa lot to do but for someone like him, all the possible thoughts were: how tocontrol it for his own sake.

A whimsical fusion of raspberry, rose, and warm plum coalesced into one heavenly aroma, generously besprinkled across her neck and wrist as her thumb pressed down on the pump. Joohyun carefully returns the flowery embroidered bottle back to her collection of perfume after she finished using it, gaze subsequently averting over her reflection through the mirror. Turning her head from left, then to right, she runs a quick eye over her visage to ensure that her appearance is as well put together as she hoped. Her makeup was kept to a minimal whilst her long, chestnut-brown tresses were pulled back into a high ponytail and secured with a thin elastic ( though, she did not have much of a choice whilst working as a barista ).

Satisfied, the brunette set forth towards the bedroom door, fetching her jacket, purse, and iPhone along the way. Right when her phone was within her possession, Joohyun noticed that she had received a message from someone; not just anyone Joonmyeon. She pauses once she reaches the front door, slipping her arms through the sleeves of her black jacket, tugging the thick garment further over her petite frame. Maneuvering the strap of her purse over her shoulders, she then sticks her feet into her shoes before leaving her apartment.

( sms : Myeon ) Good morning. I’m going to give you a call, so please pick.

She figured that it’d be difficult ( and dangerous ) to text whilst walking, so she sought for an alternative. Skimming through her favorites list, she tapped his name; repeating the process when pulling up his number. With the screen of her phone now pressed to her ear, Joohyun grabs a seat on the unoccupied bench in front of the bus stop and tucks her spare hand into her pocket, combating the crisp winter air’s wrath.

“Hurry and pick up. My hand is cold,” she mutters to herself, as if he were there to hear her.

He was a bit jolly that morning, it was a new day and he’s convinced that it’s his to take, that’s why he initiated the conversation that most of the time, she takes charge of. Suho isn’t a person who’s too complicated, he isn’t wealthy to have a lot of things around on around him and he loves to have his simple life as it is, too much complication would only result with a blatant mind and he couldn’t really have that, not when he has a lot of things to think about. Either way, as he makes his way out, he’s sure to grab a paper bag from the side of his doorway, his lips curling to a smile as he checks if the item is still there, hiding from plain sight.

Taking a deep breath is what he does next, stepping out of his apartment building is the other. Once he sent the message to her, to Joohyun, he sprint over to the sidewalk to catch the bus that would take him over to the street of her very own apartment building. He wanted to surprise her, because it’s been days since they had such alone time, and what could possibly go wrong with a few minutes together while going to work? Nothing, or so he thinks.

The bus is crowded as always, and he had to give up his seat to an elderly woman who needed it more than him, it’s the little things in life like that woman’s smile to make him feel less alone, and the sincere gratitude was enough to actually push him further to do more good, and moreover, it makes him feel like he’s that of a good person to begin with. It took him a few minutes to get to the street, and as soon as he comes down from the bus in one piece (he felt as if someone touched his ass but he wanted to brush off the feeling instead of thinking about it further), he hears his phone ring. Immediately, he swipes his finger across the answer button, jogging further to where he sees a silhouette walking ahead of him, slowly putting more distance between them.

more texts — Accepting. // @ascellia

( sms — joo. ) Ohoho. Oh, really? Did you sent this to me out of impulse or something close to that because I really wouldn’t take any excuse… 

She struggled to keep her balance, staggered when she was abruptly dragged out of the café. But she regained her footing shortly afterwards, squeezing the hand that was ensnared within hers. Last week, on Christmas day, Joonmyeon promised her that he’d take her out on New Years Eve and spend the entire evening with her, counting down the final seconds until 2017. Joohyun has her chin upturned towards him, gaze leveled over the back of his head as she sauntered down the sidewalk, donning a small, sheepish smile.

It’s a silent walk, but the silence was anything but uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, really. They come to a stop near the end of the block, and curiously, she takes a small step forward, standing beside him. Joohyun turns to her side, freeing her hand from his grasp. Her smile gradually widens the longer she stares at him, though it isn’t something that can be helped. She’s discovered that it merely comes natural whenever she’s with him, much like breathing. “You never told me where we were going.” She comments, her voice as soft as velvet. For a moment, her lips purse and she tilts her head half a fraction to the left. “Is our destination supposed to be a surprise?”

Joohyun’s lashes flutter shut after the scarf was wrapped around her neck. The bottom half of her countenance was concealed behind the garment, so she curls her fingers around the material, tugging it down a smidgen. He’s always looking out for her, always thinking of her well-being. She’s starting to wonder if there’s ever been a time where a thought of her hasn’t crossed his mind, though she chooses not to brood over this, as there were things of more importance. When she opens her eyes, she’s met with the bottom of his chin ( that was all she could see as his lips brushed against the centre of her forehead ). They widen, hues of crimson bloom across her cheeks. “Joonmyeon,” she mutters his name underneath her breath, her hand involuntarily moving over her –– erratically –– beating heart. She swallows hard, her meek simper returns. It takes a lot of courage to pulls this next move, but once she has, her palms fall over his cheeks, she nods her head. “I’m always ready.”

Time stood still in the middle of the night as they stood in front of each other, and held one another’s gazes for the nth time tonight. There were a lot of things that he wanted to tell her but it wasn’t that easy, as he’s too cowardly in such way that he knew things would persist between them if he were to suddenly blurt out whatever his heart desired at the moment. The night is still young for them, the red streaks across his cheeks were enough for him to feel a little embarrassed because as much as he wanted her to feel warm, he’s the one who feels a little insignificantly cold, and all he could do is to draw himself close to her, with an arm wrapped around her shoulder and his dainty fingers idly tapping along the blade.

As always, the walk was enough to continue the communication between the silence that came undone, between them, it would often be Joohyun who talks about something and Joonmyeon would elaborate on it as they slowly descend to the thought that lingers in the air. He never thought he could feel this way, feel understood, but at a certain point of time, he knew that there was something that felt as if he’s yearning at the moment, although he wasn’t exactly sure as to what it was. “There’s no perfect place for a man to bring a beautiful woman he’ll spend his night with, honestly, I don’t know if there’s a place more beautiful than you…but I’ll try.” He teases, sending a wink to her direction as he lets his fingers run along his hair, gesturing her to sit down by the bus stop as he lets his hands set down on his own lap, pursing his lips ever so lightly so he could easily breathe through his pair, keeping his eyes on hers as he lets a small smile curl along the seams of his lips.

Hours were spent working, and the few minutes remaining werespent on looking at what he could still do before the year ends. They were bothworking, Joohyun and him, and they allowed themselves to work overtime for somepoint because some lonely souls found comfort in actually going in such place,and they were a lot of them. He hopes that the new year would do them good, ifnot, he would hope for the best. He was surprised at the tone of her voice,obviously pertaining to him as he should slow down with work because he’s beenfor a little more or less than five hours, and he hasn’t had any break, noteven a glass of water to suffice his thirst. “I’m fine, Joohyun, besides, I’m actually quite excited onwhat’s in store for us later on.” They’ve agreed to just walk around, watch thefireworks by the Han river, he never did that before, not with anyone,actually, and he knows that there’s nothing that could take the excitement awayfrom him this time, not when she’s around. She’s around to spend the New Yearwith him. But he can never say no to her, so he agrees with a sigh, followingher as he reaches for her arm to hold like a child needing leverage.

( sms -- joohyun. ) IT IS. ARE YOU EXCITED? Because I am.

( when he was done with his shift, his manager asked him to come to the office with him for a small talk: small talk meant him, sitting down in front of the manager’s table as she asked him, vividly about his future. what he told her was a blur, but it has something to do with trying to put his paintings together for everyone to see and be free from the debts that he has somewhat consumed over the past few years of living in seoul. joonmyeon was never a man whom would take things for granted, so with every opportunity given to him, may it be small or big, he will take it, because as he earns money, he’s also earning his freedom to live ahead without thinking of what there is with him now. 

the manager actually told him that he’s chosen to be assigned as a supervisor, a position that no one had, and they were actually trying to lure someone to apply for the position but being a supervisor is a lot of work and he knew that he couldn’t really handle the responsibility, so being chosen as one of the people whom were short listed to be promoted, he can’t help but to feel honored and nervous at the same time. when he leaves the room with a bow, he wasn’t sure how to face his coworkers, only by the time that he went outside of the shop that he heaved off a lengthy sigh, because he knew that if he ever was positioned in that part, he will have to get used to the idea that he’s a step ahead of his game, and despite being in a good spot, he doesn’t want to step on anyone who is eyeing the position before him. 

the minute his phone ring, he’s already immersed with thinking and it was a good distraction to actually look at his phone with a hand inside his pocket as it was cold, looking at the picture with a smile on his lips, he presses the call button instead of replying, putting the phone by his ear so he can listen to her, and she can do the same. )