celestial strings | h.js

two.

Sucking in a deep breath, you let your arms fall limp at your side, and you nodded. "Okay," you told him. "I'll go. I need to talk to him for a little. Please."

The man looked at you suspiciously. He gave Jisung a shove, and the boy stumbled forward. Realizing that he was finally free, he glanced behind him at the intimidating man before his head snapped back at you. His heart broke when he looked at you, finding it hard to believe you chose to accept the deal instead of fighting against it. But when he made his way to you, his hands reaching desperately for yours, all he could do was giggle.

"You thought I jumped through the portal," he teased.

You pursed your lips to hold back a giggle. "I did. I'm sorry."

"I was going to, actually," he beamed a little. "To stay here with you."

You hummed out a low chuckle. Jisung was a precious boy. He was a lovely boy. He always has been. From his willingness to be fragile to his extraordinary capacity to love, from his loyal persistence to his forgiving nature, from the moment you met him until now. He has taught you everything you knew, and he has given you all that you have come to love, and you learned that the red string of fate was a mere suggestion. The affection that blossomed between you both were chosen. You loved each other even before realizing you were meant to be.

With your hand pressed against his soft cheek, your lips quirked downwards into a soft smile as it hit you just how much leaving him would tear you apart. Jisung mirrored your smile, pushing your palm against his cheek and pulling a face to lighten the mood before he dampened into a grim mood.

"Are you going to leave me?" he asked.

You sucked in a breath and pinched his cheek. "If you look at me longer, I might not."

Jisung grinned. You could see your reflection in his squinted eyes regardless. "But I'm always looking at you."

"Guess I will have to figure something out, then." You reached in to hug him around his neck, burying your face close to his neck to sniff his scent for a little. When you pulled away, Jisung looked apologetic, as if this had all been his fault. You stared at him fondly, but not without a tinge of bitterness laced beneath your equally apologetic eyes. You brushed the hair from his eyes. "I'm sorry, but you're just going to have to live without me for a little while."

He followed you after you took a peek at the councilman to notify him that you were ready to leave. He trailed behind you without letting go of your hand and approached the elder with you. His grip tightened when he felt the councilman's gaze on him.

"That boy will not be coming with us."

"I know," you said as you stepped closer to the man's side and turned around to face Jisung. You gave him a nod. "He's just holding onto me."

The councilman sneered faintly. Young love. He knew nothing of it, and you wouldn't be surprised that he didn't.

After he held up his hand and waved his slender fingers, the air around you picked up, gradually blowing a pile of fallen leaves on the ground from all corners of the area toward you. The wind pushed the weightless leaves into the air and circled them into a portal-shaped entrance that would gradually close around you and him. Jisung gawked at the phenomenon; he would have been so excited if you weren't leaving him indefinitely.

Jisung could feel his heartbeat as he anxiously waited for the closing portal to reach just a certain point below your head, below your nose and above your waist, a tiny circle of opening. Then he slammed his other hand around your wrist and pulled at you! Harshly! You ducked low so your head could go through the rapidly closing portal—you were right about the councilman panic-closing it. You hopped up, and with Jisung pulling on the other side, you barely grazed past the edge of the pressuring leaves and went out the other side.