𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐒 | 𝐊- 𝐏𝐎𝐏

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗒 𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍

Chapter 39: No Talking In The Library

Taehyung runs across the dark campus toward the library building. He has Dongwook's ID in his hand, and he's ready to find her, and explain himself. It's a misunderstanding and she has to know that what they have is so real that it couldn't be a lie, it couldn't be just a fling. He wipes tears from his eyes as he finds the front door to the library. He stops on the steps, catching his breath and looking at the security guard on the other side of the door. He straightens his mask, making sure it covers most of his face, and he pulls his hat lower. He looks down at the ID, the picture shows a much rounder, heavier face, but he hopes no one will ask to see it.

He opens the door as casually as he can, and calmly walks straight to the entry gate. He holds out the ID to the scanner and it flashes, red. It flashed red! The gates remain closed. He tries again, and it flashes red again. The guard looks up from his phone, and studies him. Taehyung's heart is racing and he holds his breath as he watches the man rise up to his full height, and slowly walk towards him. He looks at him briefly and Taehyung tries to smile in a friendly way despite his mask and his growing panic. The guard takes the ID from his shaking hands and swipes it against the sensor. It beeps this time, and is still flashing red.

"Just a moment," he grunts. He turns and walks back around the desk holding onto Dongwook's ID and the only chance Taehyung has of getting into this building. He sits at the computer and types something. Taehyung's heart is now pounding so loudly in his chest that he's sure the guard can hear it. He looks up from the screen at him.

"Mr. Kim?" Taehyung's jaw drops behind his mask, and his veins are flooded with adrenaline in preparation to turn and run, but he stands silently in front of him unsure how to respond. How could he know?! "Kim Dongwook?" he asks. Taehyung breathes a heavy sigh of relief when he realizes that it's Dongwook's name.

"Yes?" His voice cracks as he answers and he swallows hard.

"You have a library fine you have to pay. Overdo book- says here 'Hyperbolic Knot Theory' was returned two weeks late." He stares at him blankly. Taehyung laughs a little at the idea.

"Oh, well, it was such a good read," he jokes. The man's face remains unchanged. "I can pay the fine." He pulls out his wallet. The guard shakes his head.

"I'm afraid you have to pay at the service desk." Taehyung nods.

"Sure."

"But they're closed now." The guard continues, disinterested. Taehyung's eyes grow more worried. His brow furrows.

"I need to get into the library. Can't I just leave the money for the fine, or settle it in the morning?" The guard looks at him suspiciously. "I'm meeting someone, a- a girl." He tries to lean casually on the desktop, tilting his head toward the guard, hoping he will understand and give him a break.

"Well, as important as meeting a girl may seem to you, it doesn't excuse your fine. Next time, return the book when it's due." He hands the ID back over the desk to him. Taehyung slowly reaches out to take the ID and looks down at Dongwook's face staring back at him. He sighs and turns away, stopping for one last try.

"And there's no chance you will let me in?" he asks looking back. The guard shakes his head 'no' and looks back down at his phone in his hands. Taehyung steps back through the doorway, wondering what he can do now apart from jump the gate and run into the library screaming her name as the Guard chases after him like in a Hollywood movie. He could wait for her to come out of the building, but there might be different exits. Then, an idea comes to him. If there are different exits, there are different ways to get in.

He runs around to the side of the building and sees a closed door. He continues to run to the back of the building and he sees another door, closed, but, he stops when he hears a noise as the rubbish bin lid slams shut. He looks at the man standing behind the bin, in a janitor's uniform.

"Good Evening!" he waves to him in a friendly way as he approaches. The man surveys him, his eyes narrow. "Could you help me, I need to get into the library." He stands quite close to him.

"The front entrance is around the corner." The man points in the direction. Taehyung shakes his head.

"Well, you see I tried that but," he holds up the ID in his hand. "I have a library fine and they won't let me pay it." The man looks at him suspiciously.

"Then come back tomorrow." Taehyung takes one more step closer.

"You see I am meeting a girl, and..." He grins from behind the mask, arching his eyebrows expressively toward the man. The janitor's eyes soften a little, and he nods. Taehyung smiles broadly as the man walks back toward the entrance, scans his own ID and opens the door. He turns and looks around him before motioning for Taehyung to enter. He quickly steps through the door.

"Thank you!" he calls back as he starts to move quickly through the hallway toward the main part of the library.

He steps through the hallway doors into the reading area and he looks around at the long tables, with dim lights, and at the students huddled over their books and notes. He checks his mask again, this would not be a good place to be recognized.

He looks at the labels on the shelves and sees a sign for Art History in the distance. He walks quickly toward the area and steps in between the shelves just as two girls walk past, whispering quietly to each other and giggling. He grabs a random book off the shelf, and holds it in front of his face as they pass by. He looks it over, 'The Art of Vermeer's Painting' and then he carries it with him to the small study tables. He looks around, not seeing her, or anyone else in this part of the library. He steps closer to the windows and suddenly sees an empty space, with the desk light on, and books spread out as if the student has only just left the area. He looks down and sees the book open on the table, 'The Art of Vermeer's Painting'. He looks at the same book in his own hands and smiles knowing this is her space. He hears a gasp and looks up to see Hana standing across from him, a new book in hand, a worried look on her face.

"Hana!" he says, dropping his book on her desk, and rushing to stand in front of her. He pulls down his mask to smile at her. She stands stiff as he takes hold of her arms and tries to look into her eyes as they seem to fill with tears. "Hana why haven't you read any of my texts? Why didn't you let me explain?!" He shakes her by the arms. She looks away.

"There's no talking in the library." She pulls herself from his grasp and returns to her table. She sets her book down, noting the second copy of the Vermeer book and looking back at him curiously as he steps up next to her. "We don't have anything to talk about Taehyung. You don't owe me an explanation." She sits down, and tries to busy herself with her books. He drops to an open chair next to her.

"But it's a mistake," he pleads trying to take her hand in his. She pulls it back.

"Yes it was." She looks toward the window to hide her tears.