The sound of the wind chime by the door welcomed Veta and Namjoon to the library as he pushed the door open and made way for her to pass. She did so while gifting him a thin smile then nonchalantly, she threw a look longingly at the shelves full of books.
The library was one of the places that she had most visited since she had arrived in this village, for despite how small of a space it had some pretty unique and interesting books. Books that she had borrowed a lot as years went by, for she never stayed to read them on the small comfortable table by the corner, despite how cosy it looked.
"Will you be choosing something new today?" Namjoon questioned her as she seemed lost gazing around.
"I hope it's not an inconvenience. I won't take long. " Veta looked over her shoulder briefly to see him, then went on and approached the small ladder that existed there.
She knew that she was losing time, and her agony was eating her up from the inside related to what was happening in the monastery with Dana and Jungkook but she could not escape from the situation since she had used the library as an excuse. Her true emotions however would never reach the surface of her face, for she was an expert at emoting her expressions.
"Maybe I could help. could you prescribe me what kind of book you are looking for? " Namjoon leaned against the desk that was placed by the side of the entrance as his eyes were travelling Veta's figure up and down. Shameful of him certainly, and he knew that, but still it was difficult for him to not take in her figure with every chance he got.
There was nothing provocative about her looking around at some books, but in his eyes, she looked appealing even while doing nothing much. The way her fingers kept brushing by the spines of books softly and delicately made him almost grow jealous of the lifeless objects that had the privilege to be caressed by her like that.
His emotions had once more betrayed him as Veta couldn't help but notice the way Namjoon was checking her out. Every time he had thought that she was not looking his way, she had always seen him for to his dismay she was trained to be hyper-aware of her surroundings. The condition of this man originally was unimportant to her but as time had gone by, she had grown fond of witnessing him suffering like that.
His eyes had been always louder than he had thought. And she knew just how to exploit his vulnerability with her cleverly crafted provocations, each one seemingly unintentional but with mischievous intent. Teasing him had become a game to her, a deliciously wicked one that brought her pleasure, and so she seized every chance to make his existence a little more challenging. She revelled in the power she had over him, taking every opportunity to make his life just a little bit harder.
For her, it was an addiction, a rush of adrenaline that she couldn't resist. And with each passing day, she found herself pushing the boundaries even further, determined to see just how far she could go and for how much longer he would hang on to his self-control.
" A romantic fantasy sounds nice. Do you have any recommendations ?"
" A what? ... Oh, we sure have some ... it's just... I don't think such books are appropriate for someone like you, Sister Veta." He tried to not scare her by telling her straight up that the books that he had around under that genre were not exactly holy but to his surprise, she laughed as she stepped down from the ladder and faced him.
"I can make an exception once in a while. How bad could they be?" Her ignorance on the matter placed him in a tight spot for if he was to really give her one of those books, she would know that he had read it. She certainly would not be thinking well of him after that, and Namjoon definitely couldn't allow such a thing to happen.
" Would you be pleased with some other genre? I do believe I have something fitting for you, but it's not fantasy. " He tried to bargain, and Veta pretended to think for a moment.
" I do trust your judgement. However, I am a curious being, so how about you take one of the fantasy novels you have and randomly open it to a page? I will read just that one page, and if it's not to my liking, I will take you οn your other suggestion."
She blinked innocently at him as he seemed to have frozen instantly once his mind had processed her request. If someone would have had him at gunpoint, he might not have felt as pressured as at that moment.
"Those books must be the new ones you were referring to, right? You didn't get the chance to place them on the shelves yet." She noticed four books lying on the corner of the wooden desk and before Namjoon had the chance to react, she had gotten one in her hold.
"That one, I have not read that one. The bookshop I bought them from recommended them all to me. They described them to me and I just took them to enrich our library. I would never really recommend them to anyone around here. " At that tight moment, all he could think about was to at least make himself have nothing to do with those books.
"Well, good thing that I am not from around here then." She replied right before she placed the book on the desk and opened it on a random page, or so she made it seem. She cleared her throat immediately after and took it in her palms, then looked at him briefly before starting to read out loud the page.
"She gripped at his skin as she arched her back, feeling him-"
"And that's it. There's really no need to read this book. I will return them first thing tomorrow. They are unworthy of anyone's time. Really." Namjoon snatched the book from her hold and closed it shut, seemingly nervous and awkward.
"Now now, have some mercy on the author of that book. Just because it may not be to everyone's taste that doesn't mean that their work is worthless.Such mean words." She pretended to be disappointed in him for his harsh criticism and Namjoon found himself utterly speechless at that moment.
"You need to think of the feelings of others too before speaking ill of someone. I hope you reflect on this behaviour of yours."
"Eh?- Oh yes. I am very sorry. I will do so..." He replied while he still had yet to understand how he even messed up and left a bad impression on her.
"Maybe I will pass later for a book. I am afraid I have no more time at my disposal. Have a good day." Her tone grow cold right before she walked out, letting him think that she had somehow annoyed her.
Somehow he had done what he was trying not to do and that left Namjoon staring at the door in awe for a bit before he cursed his luck under his breath and allowed an exhale to escape his lips in defeat.
---Change of set---
Serenity had gotten out of her house and had set eyes on the monastery for she wanted to meet Veta and apologise to her for her behaviour last night and the careless words she had spoken.
She had been unable to sleep well because of everything that had gone down and the scene where she had her knife right by Jungkook's neck had flashed multiple times before her eyes, making her get filled with regret. It felt so frustrating that she had lost such an opportunity but even that opportunity she had only because of Veta's help and she could not deny that.
As always she had done so much for Serenity and she had undoubtedly behaved ungratefully with her so she had to make things right.
"She won't be too mad with me, I am sure...she is not one to keep grudges." Serenity tried to encourage herself just as she reached atop the hill from where she could see the monastery laying before her eyes, a ten-minute walk further or so.
A smile reached her lips and she proceeded to go on, only to soon get distracted by the sight of someone galloping in a horse down the earthy path she was on. Serenity could not see from that far who it could be but she frowned upon the sight for only one person was known to exercise his hobby in the fields behind the hill and that person was certainly one she wouldn't like to see.
" If there is a god, I hope he makes him fall from his horse and twist his neck." She murmured under her teeth just as the rider approached more and she had become certain of his identity. Kim Taehyung.
"Oh well well. Look who we have here. How delightful to meet a lunatic so early in the morning." Taehyung slowed his pace once closer and spoke aloud so Serenity could hear him well, while he approached more and swiftly stepped down off his horse, standing in her way.
"You sure have some nerve to stand before me and insult me simultaneously." She glared at him and Taehyung couldn't help but smile.
"Look who is speaking. The one who literally attempted a murder yesterday." His comment left a bitter taste on her tongue, despite the fact that he had been the one that had taken her out of there safely after her wrongful actions.
"Even if you were to say that to everyone, no one will believe you." Serenity retorted as she couldn't help but feel threatened by the fact that her enemy knew of her wrongdoing and could potentially try to use it against her.
Her actions towards Jungkook yesterday may have been deserving according to her and she had been hatred driven but that was no excuse before the law. Despite how little she had cared about such last night, now she couldn't dismiss reality. She had put herself in trouble and she could easily fall prey to legal measurements if Jungkook of Taehyung were to go against her.
"Why so defensive? I never threatened you, now did I" Taehyung tilted his head as he replied, his cheerful facial expression pissing Serenity off even more for she felt like he was playing with her.
She found no words to spit back at him so she tried to step aside and leave but Taehyung swiftly stepped in her way. The two stepped from one side to the other a few times before Serenity's patience broke.
"What the heck do you want? Get out of my way!" She demanded in an angry and loud voice but the way Taehyung's face fell serious made her anger smoothen a bit.
"Why did you do that?" He uttered, leaving her eyes to grow wide as a wave of silence engulfed them for a bit.
"What kind of question is that?" She replied as her gaze fell low along with the tone of her voice.
"I know losing someone dear, hurts. You more than anyone know that on that we can definitely relate with each other...still...I would like to never see your hands stained with anyone's blood." His soft words came from his heart and as she met his eyes, she grew aware of the sadness that he held within.
"For the sake of our old friendship, I really hope next time you think of me before you take any such actions. For if you don't...I hope you know...I won't be on your side." He spoke his truth bitterly then turned around and got on his horse without sparing her a second glance and she stood there unmoved as he took off, for she didn't find the heart to face him.
Serenity had never thought that he would ever mention their childhood friendship, for from that day that he had helped Dana to carry her injured self back to her parents, she had met with him secretly. They were kids and they liked each other's company. Back then none of them cared much about their vendetta nor they quite understood it well.
Their little friendship was bound to not last forever for once another life was taken, they too had collided because each had kept the side of their family. Anger had torn that pure childhood friendship and the more they matured the further away they had grown from each other.
That childish foolish friendship meant nothing now and she had thought back on those days nor she had spoken about them with anyone. Hence Serenity was more than taken aback by the fact that Taehyung had mentioned those old times.
But maybe what had shocked her more was that he seemed to hold those past days dear and have some hope in him for her past younger self.
Hope for her to remain a pure heart just like the child he had once befriended. Pure as he hoped for his own self to keep his heart.
But in such a world, in the situation they were, his hope was nothing more but an illusion. And Their reality was already set in flames that were burning parts of her innocence day by day.
Serenity turned around and took a look at his figure that kept getting further and further away, and with an empathetic gaze, she spoke to the wind, the words she wanted him to have heard.
"I hope it doesn't hurt when the day comes, for the image of that younger me to break before your eyes...because we both know that it will break...for I have already changed...my dreams have all been killed and along with them your once friend has vanished, Taehyung-----So next time we stand on each other's ways, don't show mercy. For I certainly won't."
---To be continued...
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