The Soulmate Paradox ✔

eleven: rescue me

Panic instantly grips Jeong-Soon---he'd thought of taking Mia out, but he hadn't exactly thought of where to take her to. His eyes dart up, scanning the names of the shops. One catches his eye---a bright pink, neon sign with Snow Halation written across it in glaring rose letters. Magnus had mentioned it before, praising their ice cream to high heaven. At the thought of Magnus, guilt overwhelms Jeong-Soon again. Magnus hadn't showed up to school the day before, and neither had Aimee.

"How about Snow Halation?" Jeong-Soon suggests.

Mia seems to brighten even more. "That sounds great!" she proclaims, making Jeong-Soon mentally heave a sigh of relief. "My friend works there. You'll love her."

Jeong-Soon nods distractedly as he stares up at the glowing pink sign, basking in the artificial luminescence. Even in the glaring daylight, it's ridiculously bright. So bright it's out of place. He's instantly reminded of Gregory, sitting in the dingy corner of the cafeteria, fire stretching over his bones, scarlet embroidered into his soul. He shakes his head, but the thoughts don't go away.

Dang it. Focus on Mia, you dumbass.

He's interrupted by his girlfriend pulling open the door, the little cluster of bells looped through its handle chiming through the self-chastisement fogging his mind. "We'd better go, or we'll be late for class," Mia states, tone so light that Jeong-Soon's sure she couldn't care less if they actually ended up late for class.

Jeong-Soon swallows, nodding quickly before following Mia inside the shop. "Right. Class. Right." His insides churn at the idea of having to face Gregory again.

The ice cream shop is brightly lit, fluorescent lights lining the ceiling. It's mostly empty, save for two couples leaning over their seats in the corners. Everything, from the seats to the counter to the menu signboards, is bright pink, consuming Jeong-Soon's vision in a flurry of blush. Mia seems completely in her element, lips parting in an even bigger smile as she drinks in her surroundings. Then she squeals, rushing over to the lone figure at the counter. "Demeter! I'm so glad you're working today!"

The girl at the counter is tall and pale, with dark, pink-streaked hair pulled back into a high ponytail. A small pastel blue, pink, and white striped pin sits on the bosom of her rose-coloured apron, and startling green eyes stare out from her face, half-hidden behind thin coral glasses. Her mouth splits in a grin when she sees Mia. "I haven't seen you in a week. How have you been, Mia?" Her voice is soft, low, and husky, the kind perfect for singing lullabies to children.

"Awesome," Mia chirps. She pushes Jeong-Soon forward, and he instantly feels like a deer caught in headlights when the girl's striking emerald gaze focuses on him, lazer-sharp despite the midnight calm in her eyes. "This is my boyfriend, Jeong-Soon. Babe, this is Demeter. She's the friend I was telling you about!"

"Ah," is Demeter's reply, and Jeong-Soon balks when he notices the way her grin wavers ever so slightly, almost too quickly to be noticed. Then it's back, as bright as before, a winning smile framed by fuchsia lipstick. "So you're the boyfriend, hmm? Mia's told me so much about you. It's great to finally meet you, Jeong-Soon." Her tone betrays nothing but genuine friendliness, but Jeong-Soon gets the feeling that she really doesn't think it's great to finally meet him---though he doesn't know why.

Mia doesn't appear to pick up on it, clinging on to Jeong-Soon's arm tightly, as bubbly as ever. "We've got class in about half an hour, so I can't really chat right now, but---"

"Of course, that's perfectly fine." Demeter shoots Mia a wink. To Jeong-Soon, it seems almost forced---unwilling. "Anyway, you probably want a little alone time with the boyfriend, don't you?"