_____ ✨ _____

ii. EPIPHANY

출현

THERE is a rose garden I often visit to catch a glimpse of him. He likes to sit under a peach tree and almost always brings someone with him - nameless girls with pretty eyes and lips. I've seen him murmur candy-coated lies into their ears, and I've seen him slide his hands under their skirts and press kisses to their lips.

I have always wanted to be one of those nameless girls. I've always wanted to sit beside him and let him do the things he does to those girls to me.

Sitting beside someone like him, is like being able to live your biggest dream, even if it's for a few seconds, it would be enough to make your whole soul explode with emotions.

Today, however, I find him sitting alone, licking peach sap off his fingertips. He looks heavenly under the radiant sun and something inside tells me to get closer...

closer...

closer-

- CRACK!

The branch under my feet snaps in two. He turns his head in my direction and squints at me.

"What are you doing here?" He asks; his voice is like honey, deep and soft...

I don't respond, my tongue is numb inside my mouth.

"Come." He says with lazy interest and my heart flutters in my chest.

My feet carry me almost mechanically to where he's at. It's like if he's put me in a trace with his gaze.

He pats down on the patch of grass beside him.

"Sit." He commands. And I do. He offers me his half-eaten peach, and I take it.

He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him, and leans forward. His breath smells of mint leaves and peaches.

"I've noticed the way you look at me." He murmurs as his tongue swipes out to lick away the juice that's dripping from my lips.

'Isn't this what you want?'

He doesn't say this question out loud, but it echoes in the intensity of his gaze, in the hesitant way he's holding my chin.

yes, yes, yes... The voice in my head screams.

He starts inching closer, and I feel my pulse beating a million miles per hour. I feel his lips touch mine, and my insides writhe with excitement, but before he can go any further, I rip away from him, eyes stinging and cheeks burning.

"Sorry, I have to go."

I run, peach in hand and heart pounding inside my chest. I didn't think his lips would be as soft as I'd imagined.

~*~