(Y/n) rubbed some dryness into her eyes as she inhaled a heavy breath before releasing it, along with her gloom. Her throat felt dry from the exhaustive gasping and weeping that seemed to prolong for more than she would have ideally liked. The girl gently rattled her head to rid some of the unpleasant residue of negative thoughts that were submerged into the deeper realms of her conscience.

She turned toward the boy who was patiently waiting for her to collect her composure and simmer her nerves. "Would you believe me if I just said I didn't take my meds today?" She uncertainly jested, presupposing that the boy might be diverted from lingering on the seriousness of her behaviour. Eban simply gave her an amused smile, whether it was from her quip or her feeble attempts at writing off her reaction she remained unsure.

"I wouldn't believe you otherwise." He reciprocated, lightly chuckling to ease the disconcertment in the atmosphere. (Y/n) mimicked his humorous reaction before petering her giggles out until the echo remained as the only indication of there ever being a joyful sound in the area. There seemed to be a subtle rapping drone that barely reached her perception, but remained clouded over as her mind detached itself from reality. The girl felt the silence sinking its teeth into her and clutching around her heart while she endeavoured to stray the topic from her personal dilemma. She strained her mind to locate an appropriate excuse for herself or even a plausible lie before the boy would start ascertaining the cause of her reaction. However, to her great relief, Eban performed a better job at it than she could. "The weather went crazy outside, it was raining so hard I was half expecting Noha to show up. Gennai went out so I hope he's alright."

(Y/n) carefully perked her ears to detect the tapping beyond the house as the weather seemed to gradually weaken as time progressed. "I guess that means I won't have to finish off working on the garden then." She optimistically figured, grateful for the ease in her schedule as she realised how much she seemed to be piling on her duties.

"It's a shame too. I was hoping to visit the bridge again." Upon the mention of the certain spectacle that had intrigued her, the girl eagerly edged towards the male with zealous interest.

"Oh yeah, I tried to look for the bridge but I just ended up taking a long walk through the forest." She frustratingly sulked, slightly disappointed at her own failing sense of navigation.

Eban simply petted the disheartened female's head before parcelling some optimism to her confined mind. "Well, after you know how to get there once, you'll remember for the second time." The concept implanted itself in the girl's mind as she fervently inched closer to him, eyes glinting with interest over the promising proposal.

"Could you take me there then? I'd love to see the place." She urgently inquired, her heart stirring with fascination while her mind blotted with the radiant image of the aged, wooden structure which was blanketed in lush foliage, and warm splatters of light that disseminated through the environment.

Eban granted her a warm smile, radiating hope onto her as soon as his head nodded in approved agreement. "Of course. Just come to me when you're free and I'll take you there through snow or fire."

(Y/n) gave a light chuckled right before sarcastically remarking back. "Yes, and when you die half way there then I'll really be screwed." Eban returned the hearty laugh while the young worker attentively sharpened her auditory senses to snatch some of the indicative sounds from the weather outside. "It's honestly becoming ridiculous with the weather. There's a higher chance for a typhoon to hit the area than actual sunshine." Eban gave an amused scoff at her light dissatisfaction and tepid mannerisms towards the dysfunctional conditions outside.

"Have you considered taking a vacation?" He curiously suggested, earning a slight snicker from the girl.

"Oh yeah, let me get right onto that with all that money and time I don't have." (Y/n) grinned back at the boy's placid smile before dismissively shaking her head. "This house is the closest thing to a vacation I have. I do love to go out with my friends though. I usually go into places I can't afford anything in and just watch the people and atmosphere." She discovered an unusual enjoyment in viewing the world of the wealthy and holding a futile wishfulness over ever finding herself as part of the luxurious dimension.

"Don't forget the park." Eban added in before she could fully immerse herself in the woeful dream.

"I thought that was too obvious to mention." She responded with a jest smirk, straying her gaze away to assess the state of her surroundings.

Eban closely observed the girl before curiously voicing out a seeded inquiry. "How would you like it if you got paid more for this job?" (Y/n) swivelled her attention back to the male with an almost enlightened expression.

"Is that a question or an offer?" She hopefully joked before receiving the disappointing confirmation of the inquiry's hypothetical context. The girl gave an exhausted sigh before replying with a dreary tone. "That would be amazing, the whole reason I'm doing this is to keep us supported until mum gets better-" She quickly caught herself until her entire body tensed up at the reminder of her revealing privacy. She internally scolded herself before forcing on an absentminded smile to stray the boy away.

"I see, that's understandable. And what if you earned more doing this than the jobs you would otherwise have?"

"False hope isn't going to get me anywhere." She sadly humoured the boy until the attention of the pair was captured by the front door angrily swinging open as a smaller form stomped onto the scene; dispensing water across the floor and belligerently tossing his soaking backpack to the ground to begin draining his drenched clothes with harsh motions.

"Gennai, you don't look too happy. Are you ok?" Eban curiously questioned the young boy who seemed preoccupied with resentfully shaking his dripping hair.

"Weather reporters talk more bulls**t than religions." Gennai spitefully bit back before swiftly unzipping his hoody so as to peel off a layer of moisture.

Eban disapprovingly frowned at the rude remark and regarded him in a calmly stern tone. "Don't be insensitive, Gennai."

The younger sibling passively grunted at his reprimand. "What? I didn't specify which this time-" As he turned to face his disciplinarian the young boy finally noticed his brother's company. Gennai stared at the girl with confusion as though her mere appearance was a cause for shock. After he had confirmed her physical presence, his face twisted into one of frustrated aggravation before he broke into a sprint to tackle into the unsuspecting girl. Once he had grabbed onto her he began tugging and writhing as irritated grunts flew past his clenched teeth. "Where were you?! You said you'll come back to us when you finished work yesterday! Why did you lie?" He irritably glared up at the worker, his grasping hands tightly clinging onto her with impatient expectation.

"I'm sorry Gennai. I got caught up with something...But I'm here now." She assuringly petted the frenzied boy's head who simmered in her touch but still remaining clasped to her.

Gennai's features sternly morphing into a callous expression as his hand tightly balled up and clenched, causing the fabric of the girl's clothing to strain and tense, causing the strands to nearly give. "You don't want to be around me..." He dreadfully whispered in a chilling, deep voice that froze the girl on the spot as a wave of recognition swept over her mind. "You want to avoid me on purpose. You've grown tired of us..." (Y/n)'s chest tightened as he looked up at her with a sharp and calculative gaze as he carefully assessed her face for physical indicators to support or disprove his assessment.

"What? No Gennai, I'm sorry if I made you think that. I didn't want my behaviour to come off this way." She anxiously explained to the dubious boy, continuously petting his head to soothe him. Gennai narrowed his suspicious eyes at her, scouting her concerned gaze for specific indicators that might answer his questions.

"Are you more interested in someone else than us?" He interrogated, prohibiting her eyes from breaking contact with his as he held her facing him.

(Y/n)'s skin rippled with pins that scattered through her body as her nerves began emerging through each pore. "What are you talking about?" She bemusedly inquired, trying to pull herself away to allow room to process.

"(Y/n)! Thank God I found you!" The girl in questioned winced at the familiar prim voice and warily turned back to confirm her suspicions. "My love, I've been looking everywhere for you. I hope nothing serious occurred while I was gone." Vince worriedly descended the stairs to join the young worker and dote over her. Once he reached her level the young man placed his hand against her cheek before breathing out a sigh of relief. "You had me so worried. I thought something happened to you." He tenderly grazed his thumb across her skin before his longing attention was drawn to a separate, aggravated voice.

"Who are you?" Vince had to look way down to notice the shocked, irked stare that the younger boy was sending him. The older male returned the stare as his mind attempted to conjure an explanation for his presence.

Vince looked towards the female with a blank visage in hopes of clearing up his confusion. "Why is that thing holding onto you?" Gennai's glare flared up at the young man as he involuntarily reinforced his hold onto the girl, heedful over the newcomer's influence.

"He's not a 'thing', Vince." (Y/n) gently rebuked him while Gennai quietly boiled at his presence.

Vince softly smiled at the girl before correcting himself. "I apologise, let me paraphrase then. Why is that child holding onto you?"

Gennai let a low growl rumble in his chest as he rounded his hands around the girl's waist before defensively glaring at the man. "I'm not a child! I go to the same school as everyone else here." Vince primarily seemed far from convinced by the truth and took a moment to assess the smaller male's stature. "I'm not short!" He shot back, accurately interpreting what the young man was thinking.

"I see. Then let me paraphrase again: why is that Napoleon Complex holding onto you?" (Y/n) couldn't help but give a small chuckle at the mockery while Gennai seemed far from amused. "In any case, I'm here to look after my sweetheart." As he proceeded to pull the girl towards him before feeling a force acting against his own as her body was tugged back and away from him.

"What?" Gennai hissed, protesting against the older male's actions by keeping the girl on his side. "I'm here, she doesn't need you." He objected, sending his opposer a razored look of disgust and aggression while (Y/n) could sense the keen readiness of a pounce in his agitated form.

Vince gradually became impatient with the younger boy's antics before tugging her towards himself, managing to loosen her away from the smaller male. Before Gennai had the chance to verbally impeach his intentions Vince looked down on him with a self-gratified smirk while sweetening his voice into disingenuous sympathy. "That's cute, I'm sure she would appreciate the extra 3 seconds of safety you can provide but she needs a real man by her side." (Y/n) perplexingly stared at the older male as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and minimised the space between them until she leaned against his chest. To Gennai's outrage, Vince proceeded to nuzzle the uncertain worker, stretching the younger boy's nerves until they threatened to snap.

"I can keep her away from everything." Gennai yanked the girl by the arm, causing her to stagger towards him until her stability was regained by another hand grabbing her shoulder, and pulling in the opposite direction, leaving her feeling like a rag doll without room to speak herself.

Vince impatiently reciprocated the younger male's glare as either of them locked in subconscious battle through eyes contact. The female worker could feel the air around her sizzle and compress them, indicating of a potential escalation. "Little boy, whatever you can do can't compare to the power I have." Vince dominated with a strong, authoritarian snarl as he stiffened his face in a glare.

(Y/n) sensed an immediate drop in temperature as she saw the younger boy's golden eyes sharpen as his face fell into a blank and unreadable expression that held a quiet, bubbling ferocity behind it. From his lips emerged a deep, icy voice that was reminiscent of the tone he would point at her during their earliest confrontations and it rendered the female catatonic. "You can't even begin to comprehend the things I can do." For the first time, Vince seemed slightly knocked back by the abrupt shift in mannerisms and his mind couldn't process the change and the speed of its appearance. He sensed the assurance behind Gennai's remark and caused a wary scowl to appear on his face.

"You're Vince Lamont?" A gentle voice fizzled through the thick atmosphere and broke down the tension in the air. Vince momentarily dismissed the younger student's presence to look back and notice his older sibling politely regarding him with a welcoming smile. "Good afternoon Sir, it's quite a surprise to have you visit two days in a row." He approached the older male with a hospitable air, silently being appreciated by the girl who had been mutely standing in the crossfire of the strain between them. "I can only assume (Y/n) has something to do with it." Eban glanced towards the female in question who already seemed exhausted by the older male's presence.

Vince was slightly surprised as he hadn't noticed the student's company up until that point and eyed the boy for a moment before raising an eyebrow towards him. "Who are you?"

"My name is Eban. And that is my younger brother, Gennai." He gestured towards the smaller boy who still focused his dagger eyes on the visitor.

"You live here as well?" Vince questioned the blond who nodded in response. The young man was slightly horrified at the reveal and defensively tightened his hold on the girl. "My God, where do you all keep coming from. Even you?" He looked towards the shorter boy and didn't need a verbal response to arrive at the conclusion. "There's no end to the horror. And you have to work here." He spun the girl around to look up at his anxious expression, running his hand across her head as he defensively pulled her in. "How could I have let something like this happen? I knew if I didn't involve myself enough in your life that something dangerous like this would come up." He grievingly muttered as he kept comfortingly rubbing her back.

(Y/n) felt squeamish at the tender actions and carefully pushed the eager male away. "Vince I appreciate you worrying over me but this doesn't concern you." She sternly informed him and cautiously laboured in peeling the younger sibling off herself. "I'm having a fine time in this job and since my summer holiday is starting it'll be less stressful for me."

"(Y/n)..." Vince uncertainly muttered as he placed his long fingers against his lips while entering deep contemplation behind his notions. When his mind couldn't bind around her assurance he suppressed an exhausted sigh and simply granted her a content smile. "Very well. Come on, let me take you to your next task." He optimistically chirped, wrapping his arm around the small of her back to eagerly join her on her journey. Vince ambitiously pulled her away from the scene, simultaneously ripping her out of Gennai's arms who was left bewildered and gaping at the actions.

The younger boy stared at the pair in confound silence as his mind raced too quickly for words to form. "Eban, where are they going?" He didn't even turn towards the person he was questioning as his eyes remained glued to the departing male and female. "Eban, why is he touching her like that?" As each question shot out of his mouth it became more frantic and cluttering, spilling out one after the other. "Eban, why is she with him? Eban, why is he here? Eban, why is she leaving us?! Eban, why is he taking her away from us?! Eban-?!" Gennai abruptly halted his onslaught of imposing questions as a hand was placed on his head, dissipating all the negative thoughts that scraped his mind. The boy's sedated stare drifted up to see the smiling expression of his older sibling.

"Gennai, are you alright?" He quizzed, tilting his head to the side while the dark haired boy blankly stared at him. The younger member seemed to be in a fixated daze before some recognition returned back to his eyes.

Hanging his head low, Gennai avoided eye contact with his older brother and prevented him from looking at his face. He remained quiet for that moment until his bitter tone was finally revealed. "No...I'm not."

"Vince, I don't think you following me around is necessary." (Y/n) bluntly implied, trying to regulate the distance between her and the enthused male.

"Oh, but it is necessary! You were getting harassed by an angry dwarf, that would never have happened if I was around. I wouldn't even let him come near you!" Vince giddily exclaimed with an assured smile while the girl sighed after she had suppressed a small chuckle.

"Well, I need to go take care of the library since I didn't get a chance yesterday. I'd like it if you-"

"Come with?!" He excitedly concluded, eagerly watching the uncomfortable girl as she shook her head.

"I'd like it if you could give me some time alone." She simply requested, guiltily watching the older male's face fall at her indirect request. She could indicate by his features how he was struggling to turn his mental gears in search of where he had gone wrong, and before he could question her on the subject a third voice interjected their conversation.

"(Y/n), I want to speak with you for a moment?" Padraig calmly declared, seeming less zealous and bombastic in his mannerisms than usual, leading the girl to feel slightly confused at his seriousness.

However, as she watched the male before her her mind flashed back to their last private interaction and her shoulders quickly raised to protect her vulnerable throat. "I'm busy Padraig..." She quietly responded, avoiding his eyesight as she prepared to retreat away from the area.

"It will only take a moment." Padraig quickly interrupted before glancing towards his older relative. "And I'd like it to be in private."

Vince responded with a cocky smile, demeaning the boy's demands. The young man placed a hand on the unnerved girl's shoulder before regarding the newcomer. "Padraig you clearly need to understand the signs when a girl has no interest in your company." (Y/n) frustratingly glared up at the man for his oblivious hypocrisy, holding in the urge to slap her hand against her face. "I'm sure you have much more prioritised matters on your mind. Like hiding yourself so as to not shame our family. Now that is something you should definitely be doing right now." Padraig's muscles tensed up as his teeth remained clenched behind pressed lips. The young worker noted the malevolent and hurt change in attitude which slightly reversed her own.

"Actually Padraig, I do have time to hear you out." She retorted, detaching herself from her companion to approach the relieved boy. "Vince, could you give us a moment?"

The young man gaped at her decision before quickly joining her to revert her resolution in a logical manner, as though what she was doing was inherently foolish. "My love, you don't have to feel obligated to follow his request. People don't pay attention to him anyway, he's used to being disregarded." He dismissively informer her while Padraig bit back his reprimands before turning his fuming gaze away. He knew better than to speak against, or impeach his uncle's comments.

(Y/n) sensed a grinding against her nerves at the verbal lashing the young man was giving to his evidently afflicted nephew. "I'm doing it because I choose to. Now please give us a minute." She sternly requested, earning a contemplative haze from her company.

After a moment the older male petted the girl's head with a content smile. "You're too sweet for your own good, (Y/n). You better appreciate my darling's charity." He disapprovingly informed the younger boy before reluctantly complying with the girl's wishes. "And you better be mindful of what you say to her." Padraig watched as his relative began leaving the scene before adding in his own final thoughts.

"I'll keep that in mind, uncle."

"I told you to address me formally." Vince bitterly bit back before fully departing and subjecting the two to their requested privacy.

Claws of anxiousness sunk into the girl's skin as it dawned on her that her spiteful backlash had subjected her to a lonesome confrontation with her assailant. She nervously watched the boy, anticipating his words while bracing herself to flee the area in the case of any overstepped boundaries. Padraig remained collected and tactful, searching in his mind for the most appropriate explanation to give to the fidgeting girl.

"I would like to apologise." He swiftly remarked, earning a doubtful glare from the awaiting worker.

"For what?"

"For my behaviour last time we were alone."

"Yeah, I'd like to know what that was about." She grudgingly interrogated while Padraig wandered through his brain to arrive at a proper response. He himself could not admit to the reasoning behind his actions and whenever he tried to make logic out of his irrational behaviour his mind would simply stop. As though it were reflexively preventing him from arriving to a rooted conclusion.

Padraig was wordless for a few moments before replying with the most basic of excuses. "I wasn't feeling myself-"

"Is that an excuse to nearly choke me?" (Y/n) cut through his response with aggravated frustration, causing him to clench his jaw at the rebuttal.

"I've apologised for everything I've done! What else do you want from me?"

(Y/n) felt she were a broken record, her irascible nerves prepared to sharply spit back until she realised it would end up being a battle of defence if she began insulting him, with no prevailing side. She fought her rage and diluted it before harshly presenting her demands. "I want you to stop treating me like a doormat! I don't want you to take your huffy tantrums out on me just because you decide that you're better than me."

Padraig looked at her with a vexing glare before turning his back to the female. "I've said what I had to. I don't need to explain myself to you anymore."

"After doing that to me you can't use that excuse." She retorted, remaining unanswered as the male began walking away. (Y/n) watched him departing before feeling a pang of concern within her, urging her to gently add a final comment. "Please don't do that again." She couldn't tell whether Padraig had heard her nor what his reaction to her last plea was, but the request brought some solace to her mind.

As (Y/n) retreated towards the dining area in a gruelling and laborious pace, her blank and distant stare was brought back to reality as she heard a familiar male voice regarding her from behind. "Princess, are you alright?" The tender inquiry buzzed over the girl's distracted head before she turned around to look up at Vince. "Did Padraig say something to you?" He irritably questioned, prepared to take action if his suspicions were confirmed.

"No, we just talked..."

Vince sadly watched the female, placing his palm against her cheek to bring her sights towards his. "Then why do you seem so unnerved?" (Y/n) wasn't sure how she appeared but neither could she explain what she felt.

"I'm not, really."

"Oh my God! There you are!" The pair's attention was drawn to an exasperated voice as an older woman rushed towards the two with specific eagerness to reach the young man. (Y/n) could recognise the older female as the same one she saw accompanying Vince on their last visit. "Mr Lamont, I have been looking everywhere for you! What are you doing here?!" She restrained herself from shouting, resulting in each word being whipped out through a heavy tone while she scowled at her superior.

Vince simply gave her a dismissive glare before focusing back on the girl while he brought up her hand to tenderly kiss it, ignoring his worker in the hopes of her disappearing. After a few more nettled words from the irritated woman he finally, absentmindedly regarded her. "Christa, I sent you a voicemail that I didn't want you to disturb me today."

"That isn't up for debate. We need to go, we need to choose the next designs for this season and the meeting is starting in 2 hours-"

"7." He calmly commanded, as though that were the required criteria to rearrange a schedule.

"This is not a joke, Sir! When did you become so irresponsible with your management?!" Vince rolled his eyes before looking back at his distressed assistant, preparing to grant her an explanation before halting himself. He looked over her scrunched brow and pursed lips, noticing the new imperfections in her appearance and her prominent irritation lining her features.

"I'll suggest you some night cream."

"Sir!" Christa fumed, preparing to lash out and scold him on his lax attitude before quickly composing herself as she sternly spoke. "Mr Lamont, can we please go. We need to be on time."

Vince let out a sigh before smiling back at the younger female. "I'll see you as soon as I can, (Y/n)." He promised, giving a last kiss on her hand before begrudgingly joining his irked assistant.

"Honestly Sir, I am not your mother."

"Of course not. You look way older than her." The woman growled under her breath, clenching her fists in a suppressed fit before she whipped her scowl towards the younger girl who only observed from the sidelines.

(Y/n) resisted from shrinking back by the glare and simply gave a polite greeting. "Hello." The woman huffed at her regard before quickly striding ahead to join the male in case he were to disappear once more. "Bye." The girl quietly muttered, irritably scrunching her brow at the attitude she was given before moving along with her tasks.

Once she had thoroughly primed and cleared the dining room the girl headed towards the area she had willingly chosen to leave unsettled after her lightheaded episode the previous day. She assumed the library would not require a hefty amount of work considering she managed to dust and wipe down most of the debris within the area. Once she neared the scheduled parameters, she noticed a clear, elegant swish from the corner of her eyes, prompting her to glance towards Seok's bedroom.

Looking down towards the floor, she noticed the distressed, porcelain white cat pacing around its owner's closed doors before cautiously propping himself on his hind legs to scratch at the wood, pleading for entry. (Y/n) hesitantly took pity on the creature and advanced towards it to permit it's requested visit. Montique hissed at her approach and immediately prompted the hairs on his back to stand on end while the female stared at his predictable display with disinterest. "What did I ever do to you?" She bitterly uttered before opening the door up for him, allowing the feline to bolt into the room without further regard for her.

(Y/n) prepared to return to her scheduled duties before her body reflexively halted once a call was picked up by her ears. "(Y/n)?" She turned back to peek past the male's door to address his beckoning.

"You called-?" As the girl's eyes landed on the boy her gaze was immediately caught by the strewn about sheets, duvets and pillows that scattered the floor and cloaked the furniture. She looked throughout the room to notice dozens of books flipped to arbitrary directions, dispersed across the room as though a gust had blown them off their shelves and thrown them out of drawers. (Y/n) noted even a majority of the furniture had experienced alterations, whether it was completely toppled to the ground or simply rotated by a few degrees. "Oh my- what happened in here?" She gasped, entering the room to spin around to each side and assess the chaotic scene. "Was there a fight or something? Why is everything a mess?" Seok strayed his gaze towards the furry feline flicking his paws against the male for attention. He shrugged at her bewilderment and transitioned to focusing on his cat instead. "I'll have to do something about this, I can't let you sleep amongst a mess. I don't condone the Gennai lifestyle, haha." She sadly shook her head as she automatically began picking up sheets and pillows to fold and store them in the open closet.

"Will you stay here?" Seok tentatively murmured, stroking his pet rather roughly and unwillingly.

"What do you mean?"

The boy paused his motions for a moment to subtly glance at her. "Will you stay with me?"

(Y/n) placed the last of the sheets into the upper level of the closet before regarding him with a sad smile once she had closed the doors. "Come on Seok, you know I have work to do. I need to earn a living somehow." Seok's brow lowered in a contemplative scowl, assessing her reasoning as she moved from one side of the room to the other in haste to pick up the dispersed literature.

(Y/n) entered the bathroom to survey its state and compare it with the rest of the connected area. However, upon entering, a quick glance informed her it remained untouched, unlike the rest of the bedroom. As she prepared to revert her attention to the boy's chambers she picked up on an anomaly with the confines of the tiled room. The image before her refused to match with the image in her mind of the previous visits she had made. It took her a thoughtful moment before realising the abnormality.

Approaching one of the walls she recalled a black sheet that once draped over a reflective item that was stuck against the tiles. However, there was no longer a dark veil covering an untouched mirror. There was nothing to be seen at all but merely the discoloured silhouette of the tiles where an item used to be attached. She slid her fingers against the naked surface as though it would manifest the object back into existence. 'It's gone.' Stating the confound but obvious, the girl apprehensively moved away from the area to re-enter the boy's room. "Why is your mirror missing?"

The boy didn't gratify her with a glance and awaited a few moments before coldly answering. "I don't like it."

"What do you mean?" (Y/n) received no response from the male who reverted his attention on the cat that harmlessly waked his hand around. Once she begrudgingly settled with the absent reply she transitioned onto the misplaced furniture. "Anyway, I'll sort out your furniture and then I really need to get going."

"You don't have to leave." Seok quickly voiced over, catching the girl's attention before she could progress. (Y/n) gave a humorous but valid retort.

"My schedule would beg to differ."

"I don't want you to leave me." He vehemently insisted, slouching his shoulders as all energy drained out of him; even his voice appearing hollow and submissive towards his company.

(Y/n) reacted with a somber frown as she attempted to graze away her conscience and commit to her assigned time constraints. "Seok, you're acting as if I'm abandoning you."

"You are."

Seok's firm and solid manner of stating his harsh remark sparked disconcertment in the conflicted girl. "Why do you say that? How am I abandoning you?" She approached the boy to deconstruct his impression, ignoring the watchful cerulean eyes of the feline who had promptly ceased his playfulness to glare at the nearing girl.

"I don't like it yet you're leaving me on my own anyway." He kept staring down at his lap, his shoulders raised high and tense while his vocals gently fluctuated in tone, as though struggling to steady themselves. (Y/n) had to have a few blinks before the reality of the situation could finally be grasped. "You like abandoning me, don't you?" He solemnly lulled, settled and resolute on the implications while the young worker gaped at him, speechless. His melancholy enveloped him in dark clouds as a mist manifested before his eyes, remaining isolated in murkiness. "I understand...I understand why. I know I'm selfish but I expect too much from you. Just don't lie to me." His monotone and ambiguous explanation left the girl further puzzled as she attempted to interpret his cryptic reasoning.

"Seok, what are you talking about? I'm not lying to you." She leaned towards the boy to pick up on any rationalising indications or a proper reply. Within the period of a split second, Montique's crystal eyes widened as he jumped away from his owner's lap to remain bolted right at the edge of the bed, his body leaning towards the precipice while his large pupils held laser focus on the boy. Just at that moment, the wary feline had sensed a shift in the atmosphere around him, a piercing change in aura that sent his instincts pulsing through his every muscle, a brief lapse of vague clairvoyance that urged him to dart away from the scene and hold a defensive stance. However, the issue was not held with the girl. The uneasy tension that sent his adrenaline pumping emitted from his owner.

To her downfall, the girl sadly did not experience such sensory foresight as her arm was swiftly grabbed and her balance was knocked off to lead her body to fall into her company. She remained stunned as he wove his arms around her and held the girl close against him, allowing himself to rest his head on her stiff shoulder while she writhed against the undesired action.

"Seok, what are you doing?" She panicked, attempting to push her way out of his arms while he seemed more than content with his intimate embrace where his nerves began to dissipate, leaving a serene blissfulness instead.

"It's cold. It's really dark. I need you here." (Y/n) was slightly startled at his collected and neutral demeanour that didn't seem to process her discorded reaction. Seok muttered quietly, almost laboriously as he encompasses his arms around her body, forcing her to lean against him. "Let me hold you. Let me calm down."

(Y/n)'s eyes burned as her shaky voice shouted at him with severe pleas, falling under shock at how strong he was compared to her initial impression. "Seok, I'm trying to be nice here but this is making me really uncomfortable. Let me go!"

"Tell me more stories." He absentmindedly requested, silencing the girl with the arbitrary invocation as he continued listing out further requirements in a composed manner. "Recite more fables and fairytales. Stay with me as if you actually enjoy my company. Act as if you're not annoyed by me. Look at me with those bright eyes. Let me rest in your arms." He melted into the girl's presence, disregarding her struggling and scuffling actions. "I only stay awake for those things. Don't let me fall asleep alone."

"What has gotten into you?! Get off!" Shoving herself to widen the vicinity between them, (Y/n) audibly gasped as she felt a piercing sharpness jabbing at her back, forcing her to reel back into him to avoid the pointed edge. "OW! What are you doing?!"

"I can't. Not yet. Everything is still there." (Y/n) stared at the pacified boy, bewildered at his unwavering composure during her apparent distaste. Seok closed his eyes, engulfed in their moment as he remained soothed by the most subtle of indications from her. Her jagged breathing, her trembling body, her heavy heartbeat, her light scent. He remained hypnotised by her presence and locked her in his grasp to covet all the pleasantries. "You need to stay here until everything goes away. Stop resisting."

(Y/n) clenched her teeth with resentment, performing a final attempt to thrust herself out of his arms, only to impale her back with a pointed sting. "Ah! What is that, it hurts?!"

"Stop struggling and it won't."

(Y/n) was almost petrified at his indifference to her protests and pain, incentivising her to wriggle and jerk about in an attempt to loosen his grip. "Let me go!"

"You're warm." A chilling shudder scuttled down the girl's back as the wistful whisper dripped into her perception. Seok rested his head against hers, sensing a drowsiness overtake him the moment he was cushioned by her soft locks and continued in a slow and careful voice. "I notice it whenever you touch me. Your body temperature is always higher than mine, it's so comforting and secure. So I like it when you touch and hold me."

"Seok, please stop!"

"I've noticed you talking to the others." (Y/n) froze up at the words as comprehension dawned on her, forcing her eyes to focus on him as she tried to catch any motion he made. "I don't care for them so I don't feel anything towards them. But I'm disappointed in you." Seok bitterly remarked, a coldness frosting over his tone while his unseen eyes glazed over with disappointment and distaste. "I have so many expectations of you, and watching you smiling at them makes me very frustrated. I hate getting frustrated with you." The paralysed girl felt the male shifting his head up until she could feel his breath caressing her ear, his words etching into her mind like a heedful warning. "So please don't make me frustrated with you."

(Y/n)'s breath deteriorated with each passing second until a final pump of adrenaline flooded her veins and forced her to give a firm and resilient push from the boy. "That's enough! Let me go!" As she shoved herself out of his arms the flesh on her back had to endure a sharp jab until she jolted out of his reach, a safe distance away. "AHH! That hurt!" She grunted, rubbing the searing point on her back that was unlucky to be stabbed with the pinning edge. Looking down at his hands she discovered a pencil, sharpened to a fine tip which had kept her subdued during her time in his arms. She shot her furious glare towards the unfazed male and could only burst out at him with her prime question. "What is wrong with you?!"

For a long while, Seok stared back at her; motionless and unswayed by her aggravated scowls and unnervingly unreadable to the girl's critical eyes. Once the heavy air began piling up around them he switched his gaze to look at the floor. "A lot of things." (Y/n) only allowed herself to leer at him, unable to recognise the boy that darkly slouched on his bed while a charcoal mist engulfed his body. Even as he raised his gaze to meet her wary one his eyes seemed dimmer as comprehension drove through his mind. "You hate me, don't you?"

There were various words forming within the girl's chaotic thoughts which could shatter the final bright ray of light in his world. Her emotions were fizzling beneath the surface as every negative disposition within her pooled up and lingered against the edges, just barely holding together. She knew once a word spilled out everything would flood onto the unsettled boy, she knew any response she gave would be further absorbed into him where it would fester and decay. So she choked back her reply, bitting down on her lip to deter the urge before backing away from him until she reached the door.

Once her hand grasped the handle she blurred out of the scene, slamming the entrance behind her. Seok watched the door for a while, seeming to be holding an expectation behind it, only to mute his interest once nothing occurred. He looked back at the snowy feline as Montique seem torn between approaching him or keeping his distance based on his recent outburst.

(Y/n) steadied her jittering legs and composed her inconsistent pants. Once she had settled her mind into a more pacified state she reached behind her back and under her shirt to touch the bruised point where the sharp lead had pricked her. It tormentingly stung and once she retracted her hand she stared at the residue of blood that thinly coated her finger. It was merely a flesh wound but she was more distressed by the shock of reality. 'What...what the hell has gotten into them?'