Glow | Tokyo Ghoul

# 0 2 7 ⦋ Bathed in Possession ⦌

— edited 2023

word count — 2996

♫

An odd sensation clawed at my chest as we drove to the gate. Staring out the window, I was gently shaking my leg as thoughts of Mirélle, alone in the cabin, haunted me.

   She'll be fine on her own...I think.

   But I clenched my teeth as the scene of what happened minutes ago replayed behind my eyelids; did I like Mirélle enough to care for her, even after discovering such a...suggestive past?

   Jin coughed as he lowered his window and showed the guard his ID; however, this time, the guard asked for all of our IDs.

    "Maybe it's a precaution," the black-haired man muttered.

    "No biggie," I responded, pulling out my wallet and handing him my card.

   Sumie, seated at my left, reached over as well and gave Jin her ID. She appeared to have relaxed after the incident in the cabin; I just wasn't sure I wanted to be around her at that moment.

    "Where did they say they were waiting?" Norio questioned, claiming shot-gun as usual.

    "Yamashiro told me they were somewhere close by, actually,"

   As Jin drove down the hill and continued to answer Norio's questions, Sumie cleared her throat to grab my attention. I swallowed as I turned to her; my heart pounded further, wishing Mirélle was with us.

    "I'm sorry," she mumbled, her eyes going to Norio and Jin, and the couple behind us. "For bringing up the past."

    "It's not about bringing up the past," Jin was still angry, but he bottled it up the same way I had been, and the same way I had kept the 'Jin and Mirélle' questions to myself. "Did you hear yourself at all back there?"

   Norio picked up his can of beer and lightly sipped; it made me wonder whether he was used to drinking during the afternoon like that or if he was spiraling, almost like Mirélle with her alcohol.

    "Why would you say that about her?" Jin's voice was a mix of exasperation and despair. "Why would you call her that and say all of those things...in front of someone new, too?"

   I was marginally surprised that he referred to me at all; surprised that he even needed to.

   Was I already in too deep with them? Sure, I was glad to have joined, but I never knew that my presence meant that much.

   Or maybe...maybe he meant it on behalf of Mirélle.

    "I thought I was doing the right thing," her voice was small, but not exactly apologetic. "If Nagachika were to get into something serious with Mirélle, shouldn't he know about her past?"

    "Of course, but not from you!" he said loudly, letting out a chuckle that could only translate to frustration. "And that word that you used — that unnecessary word that you used. Is that really what you think of her? Knowing how much she loves and cares about you?"

   Sumie's anger pulled through, despite the position she was in. "If you're still mad at me, then why did you agree to me coming?"

    "Because I don't want you near her, not after the things you said about her."

    "You're overreacting," she huffed. Everyone else was silent as they argued; even if I wanted to interfere, I would've been shoved out of the conversation. "You know that saying, right? Sticks and stones—"