#boreumdx

"boreum, your outfit today is giving, like...substitute teacher. cute, but..." soojung leafs through the clothing rack in front of her. she's very aware that boreum's fashion sense falls on the side of more modest and conservative, and this shop is...not conducive to that. but what's the point of bringing boreum to platinum mall if not to expand her horizons?

her eyes settle on a shirt that's immensely sparkly. she pulls it off the rack to get a closer look. it has mere straps for sleeves and an open back. it's so not boreum's style, but it would at the very least be funny to make her try it on. or maybe she'd look really good and help her to feel more confident! that would be lovely, wouldn't it?

"what size are you?" soojung asks boreum, then quickly settles on an answer herself without giving her friend a moment to speak. "definitely a 55." she turns back to the rack, searching for the second smallest size available. sure enough, they have one in stock! perfect.

"you should try this on!" she declares, turning back to boreum with the correct-sized shirt in hand. she practically shoves it into boreum's hands.

"should we find you pants to go with it so you can try on a whole outfit? maybe shoes too! that would be fun. what do you think, boreum?" soojung doesn't actually care that much what boreum thinks. she just knows it's the polite thing to do. she has no doubt she'll be able to convince boreum to do it, regardless of what she says. boreum has the backbone of an invertebrate.

( @boreumdx )

he hummed in peace, a short and disconnected melody as he was walking, his steps were measured and at eased, the evening air cooling against his skin. he wasn't sure why he felt the urge to stay within her nearby proximity, to match her pace even when they were in no rush. perhaps it was the quiet comfort of her presence that soothed him. but he knew he couldn't blow his cover in public, not when he was living the life as an engineer for n.e.p.a. and acting out as a normal civilian. he glanced at her, only briefly, before pulling up his hood a little higher, carefully masking his features. he tugged his hat down to make sure that he got enough cover. literally.

still, he wasn't used to this, walking home with someone, sharing the quiet moments… it felt different, unsettling even, but not in a bad way. if anything, it made him more aware of the space between them, how close they were getting. he didn't need to feel the need to pull—the desperate need to stay close to someone. but in these scenarios, outings, he needed to protect her cautiously. he didn't want to put a target on her back because he was associated with her, n.e.p.a. couldn't find out anything about his personal life. he'd grown paranoid if they were spying on his activities outside work, but it was better to be safe than sorry. for, it was this very reason, he couldn't allow himself to socialize, aside, from his antisocial tendencies.

his face moved closer to hers but neither intentional or planned. he just wanted to see close enough to see her tiny details in her expression, just close enough that he could feel her warmth. he observed, but not in a cold way but in the kind of way that made him forget who he was, and why this was so risky. his life set him up differently, he had to be hyper-aware of the consequences.

"you look… happy." his voice was lower than usual, a quiet tease found in his words. he wasn't sure why he said it but maybe it was her happiness that infected him, an infectious happiness…? something that pulled him closer. daehyun reached for her hand, his finger wrapping gently but securely around hers. it wasn't a grand gesture but an instinctive act of protection. he kept his gaze ahead, his expression hinting at the slightest bit of worry but unreadable, rather stoic still. just a slight crumble, eyes beaming with heartfelt concern.

it was as if, that simple gesture, he could shield her from everything—the danger, the world, and even himself.

(( 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝗍𝖾, @boreumdx ? ))

kali park didn't have a care in the world for the smallest affairs like people's names, small talk, or whatever passed for social pleasantries in the crumbling mess that was urban residence apartments--the cracks in the walls, the flickering of dying lights and not to mention, the worn out, uneven stairs that were waiting to trip and rip someone apart. she had her own life and secrets, and that's how she flowed. but today, the universe had other plans for her, and it started with a sharp, instinctual pang that she got whenever things were about to go south.

it was an instinct she couldn't shake off. she didn't even have to try. one glance at the girl in front of her, losing her balance. being closer to hitting that one loose step. kali could practically see it in slow motion, the trip, the fall, and the bloody aftermath.

typical, people. always so clumsy-never watching where they're carefully going. but I really don't want to see anyone's skull get crushed today... from eating... sh*t.

kali thought, smirking to herself. with her cocky attitude, she could just walk on by. it wasn't her problem. but then again, where was the fun in that? without a second thought, she was already rushing. her boots hit the concrete steps with a heavy thud and just as the girl's foot hit the warped step, kali's hand shot out. "sorry, it's not like that but." she grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back from what would have been an embarrassing and painful tumble down the stairs.

@boreumdx

today was a much more special visit though. he wanted to try out boreum's new dish that he'd been hearing about so much. daehyun wasn't particularly fussy about food as long as it had carbs, some kind of protein, and a good balance.

daehyun sat on his usual spot at the diner, his eyes looking around the familiar surroundings. the frequency of his visits had became ingrained in his routines: mornings before his shift, evenings after long, tiresome days. it was the kind of predictability that he needed to have to stay in order. here, he didn't need to hide any of his masks, nothing about his double life. just quietness filled the environment.

pushing the door open, the soft chime above him indicated his arrival. the sounds of small conversations and clinking dishes are what he's grown accustomed to, it was comforting to him as the diner was his favourite place. as he took down his seat, he looked around, waiting for boreum to notice his arrival.