✯ park

@l jeno knowing that her words most likely didn't serve of any comfort for the man beside her, she can only offer a half smile for him to see as he straightens up with her aid. and at his own smile he allows her to see, she nearly fumbles her words, but manages to maintain her composure in front of him. "..anytime you need a listening ear or even if you are bored and want someone to talk to, i'm here," she reminds him, despite it well going against her new morals as olivia hye. lastly, she reaches out to thread her fingers through his cat's fur, nodding. "and promise you'll let me babysit sometime. i like her too."

taking a step back to gain some distance between them, she shifts her body slightly to signify her leave. "have a good day, alright? and remember, all smiles next time. bye, jeno."

@s hyejoo his cat seems to have grown weirdly fond of olivia, automatically leaning into her touch without any prompt. "she seems to like you," jeno says quietly, not really meaning for it to be said to anyone in particular, but she would most likely be able to hear him amid the tranquil air of the park.

he, of all, should know and understand that in one point in life, everyone has come to lose someone they hold dear to them, whether it was involuntarily like his, or voluntarily. the embarrassment and remorse in his gut continues to roil despite her comforting words, and he waits for her to finish before he takes his phone back.

"thank you," he mouths, voice low because he couldn't trust it to withhold. he picks his pet up and stands from his position with her help, an embarrassed laugh bubbling from his chest as he nods. "all right, i've cried enough in front of you anyway," he smiles bashfully afterwards, nuzzling against his cat as he rubs his thumb between its ears.

@l yangyang “Very nice to meet you, I’m Park Seonghwa,” Seonghwa replied as if the other did not know his name. He hummed and looked at the other. “I’d love to take the spot.” He winked at the other as he went inside with him, looking around. It was a beautifully decorated place, not too much, just the right amount and the light put the items in the museum into a beautiful light. At least that he knew how to do well, unlike others and Seonghwa was almost sad they had to kill him. Almost. Because those expensive items would be his then and he couldn’t wait for it.

“No, let me introduce you to that nasty old guy,” Seonghwa hummed amused. “He knows me, it only will go so much more smoothly,” he added and looked at Yangyang. The other was young and therefore their target would be rather suspicious – something Seonghwa had to go through before and he had still been older than the other. But he was now one of the older males favourites so it was only a good idea. “Let’s grab some snacks and then say hello to him,” he hummed and looked around, seeing the buffet. He grabbed Yangyang’s arm, linking it with his, before he made his way towards the buffet.

This entire spectacle was boring. The only good parts were the food and the items and Seonghwa was surprised that the food was not as underwhelming as the people here. “Drink?” he asked as he ate one of the very expensive looking little snacks with salmon. Not that he really cared what it was but at least this guy had made a good last investment into this grand opening – or more like his deathbed. “We can go over after that,” he hummed and grabbed some juice. Seonghwa loved orange juice so he decided not to take some champagne and just have some juice. He his lips and looked at the younger. “Excited?”

@p seonghwa When they finally met up, facing each other as if they had never seen the other before, he found himself being rather amused by the acting. "Why? Care to take that spot?" he replies with a soft chuckle, ushering him over as they joined the never ending line of people slowly filing into the museum in big groups. "Not at all, the name's Liu Yangyang. Nice to meet you," he mock introduces, offering a small smile before paying attention to his surroundings in order to get familiar with their current environment.

Despite the plethora of bodies dressed in glittering dresses and dark suits, his eyes narrow down on his target, fingers already itching to pull open the vial stitched neatly into the end of his sleeve. He spots the man conversing with a few other business men, all of which did not seem very happy to be doing so. Heck, it seemed like a lot of his sponsors were out to get him, though even if they were, Yangyang wanted to be the one to get to him first. Ever so casually, the younger leads them to a much more quieter corner, right by the refreshments where not a lot of people wanted to crowd just yet. "Should we split?" Is the boy's first inquiry.

"In thirty minutes, they're going to start bringing out wine and champagne," Yangyang recited as he checked his watch, having memorized the caterer's schedule beforehand. "I probably only have about a few drinks worth until he decides he's had enough, unless... I can convince him to have more, which... now that I think about it, shouldn't be a problem if everyone sitting with him doesn't seem to care," he deadpanned as he gestured to the table of businessmen one floor higher from the main event. They all seemed rather bored, quite a pity if he were going to be honest. But no matter, all it would take is one drink and Yangyang would be turning this event into everyone's nightmare, or maybe even their best.

@l jeno 'gather yourself,' she silently bombards herself as she diligently types in her given phone number (that's subjected to change every few months). in the midst though, she glances over to him, sporting a half smile to herself at the sight of him curling his cat against his chest protectively. '..but hyejoo or not, you're still his friend.' although he's saddened at this moment (and perhaps disappointed at her denial), she's just glad that her childhood best friend was holding up his end with her in absentia (up until her appearance), and possibly, this is what prompts her to set his phone down momentarily, lithe palms of hers reaching out for his cat. "no, i understand. i haven't been in your exact position before, but i know how it is to lose someone and convince yourself otherwise," she says, tone soft to fit that of his comfort, as she holds the cat in her hold. with her vacant hand, she retrieves his phone, pressing on the camera option and innocuously snaps a picture of herself and his pet—one with a silly scrunched face and another with a genuine smile. she sets one of the photos as her message icon, and respectively hands him back his cell.

"i forgive you, so don't beat yourself up over it," his cat tails its way back to him as she stands, hand splaying out to help him up. "and the next time we meet—i want to see you smile. a real smile. no more crying, okay?"

@s hyejoo jeno looks up at olivia when her hand comes into contact with the back of his fist, and he slides his phone into her waiting hands. the easiness he felt when doing so almost scares him. despite not knowing who she is, where she's from, or why she oddly resembled his dead friend, it beats him how he gave himself up to her with little resistance from his social anxiety, letting her see through his vulnerable state and finding comfort in her presence. he even went so far as to asking for her number. mind you, he only ever asks for someone's number when he absolutely needs to do—which is nearly never.

as olivia was busy entering her number into his contacts, jeno reaches down to capture the little brat of a cat that he went through all the trouble searching, holding it close to his chest. "no, i'm sorry for... insisting that you're hyejoo when you're not. i can't imagine how stressful it must've been to have to keep denying it over and over again," he mirrors her smile albeit pitifully, letting his pet nuzzle against his cheek.

Red. The color red covered his hands and the side of his face, he dragged himself to the nearest bench. Tired, it was the only word to describe Yuta at the moment, and god, was he so ing tired. He wanted to cry, to burst into tears but he wouldn't let himself do that, no, he refuse to be weak or at least, show any weakness in public. his chapped lips, tilting his head backward a she relaxes on the bench, closing his eyes. Everything was spinning, he was so tired.

Minutes passed by but he was still there, motionless. Yuta didn't want to move, he didn't want to do anything. His body ached and he couldn't bare to stand anymore than he should, his now moist lips as he cracked open one of his eyes, groaning softly as he tries to sit up. Luckily for him, it was nighttime and the sun wouldn't bother him this time. "What am I going to do..." He whispered to nobody, gritting his teeth as he places his red-stained hands onto his face, trying not to sob out. "I'm so tired." He crooks out, wiggling his nose slightly.

@l yangyang The soft wind felt nice on Seonghwa's skin and he couldn't even be mad that it only now started to get a little colder. He was wearing one of his favourite suits - bordeaux because it looked stunning on him and aside from that he rarely wore a black suit. He had taken his time to arrive as the beginning of the party was always a little boring and Seonghwa wasn't here for boring things. Lucky for Yangyang that he wasn't boring because otherwise Seonghwa might have decided to come even later, when people were already drunk and our of their mind.

"Hello there, handsome. Don't you have a date?" he asked Yangyang who was standing on the side of the entrance. Seonghwa wasn't sure if that was what Yangyang had expected him to act like but this was how he usually acted and people knew him like this. He had already met a few familiar faces from all around the world and he had greeted them, shortly talking with them before telling them he'd see them inside. Seonghwa hoped he could sneak a few drinks before he really had to talk to them.

It was still not too late, the sun slowly disappearing and turning the horizon into a aquarell painting. Beautiful but not long lasting. He shrugged slightly as he put his invitation away as they had checked him already. "Or am I bothering you? I'm Park Seonghwa." He offered the other his hand.

@p seonghwa "Don't worry, I won't. His own security isn't good enough to kill me," he reassured, knowing well that he would survive an easy mission like this. He was fortunate enough to not be facing against an actual mastermind, although he didn't really find that job intimidating either. Yangyang didn't fear death, at this point, he had nothing to lose, and a man who's not afraid of losing anything is a man to be feared greatly. If he was going down, he sure as hell was going to take the whole museum down with him if he wanted to. With a little manipulation here and there, he would have the world wrapped around his finger.

"So I guess we're set then?" the younger asked, biting the end of his straw out of habit. "We can see each other at the museum entrance, make it seem like we've just met. The less suspicion, the better." He leaned back once more, humming in thought. "I'll see... I don't have much of a dose to spare," he reasoned, mindlessly playing with the tightly secured vial in the inner pocket of his sweater, safely tucked under an absorbent layer of cotton. "I guess I'll see you tonight?" And with that said, with both their cups eventually becoming empty and filled with leftover ice, they parted for the timebeing.

When night came, Yangyang had already changed into a navy blue suit, styled hair slightly parted a little off the middle. He stood at the front of the museum, watching as people mingled about outside waiting for it's grand nighttime opening. An enormous red ribbon decorated an already open door, bright lights and camera flashes making the entire front seem almost white. He idly stood at the side, next to the bushes, waiting for Seonghwa at the back of the crowd.

@l yangyang An amused laugh left Seonghwa's lips as he heard Yangyang's words. Well, the other was right, the target was clearly an idiot. There were people one should not mingle with and this guy had clearly missed all the hints and had crossed all the lines. Idiot. "Sounds like a good back up plan. Just don't end up dead yourself," the older then says as he has seen and heard from enough people ending like this. Not that he expected Yangyang to be an idiot, but he barely knew the kid so he needed to make sure. Seonghwa took a sip from his cold coffee and closed his eyes for a long moment. Oh heck, this was heavenly in this heat. Summer had never been his favourite anyways.

"Mhm, you can do that, I am sure," Seonghwa hummed. "I have a seat reserved near him, you can have it. I don't plan to sit down. Say hello to a few, show my face as they expect me there and then, well, disappear." He smirked amused. "Oh, don't worry. I have everything planned. The cameras will malfunction and the digital list of our names will disappear as well. And the list with the items in the museum? Well, it will look like the missing once never belonged there." Seonghwa was good when it came to stealing artifacts and so he would be doing great here as well. "Will we meet in the hotel again or where?"

Even though it was hot right now, Seonghwa was actually getting quite excited. He was looking forward to the grand opening. He was excited for the panic in the eyes of the people. "Maybe poison another person, an innocent bystander. It will cause more panic and a little distraction too." He shrugged slightly. He had never been the morally nice one and honestly, it was just another measly life.

@p seonghwa "I would have if I had known earlier, but it's alright, fake credentials always work when your target is an idiot," Yangyang mused with a shrug of his shoulders, going silent when the waiter walks by with their orders. His coffee was cold, a refreshing icy relief that somehow made it easier for him to think through the effects of the summer heatwave. "I know they won't, but just in case they do get suspicious, I guess I'll have no choice but to poison him another way. A simple handshake route would do the trick," he immediately suggested, a backup plan already set in his head. "Smear the invisible poison onto my hand then cue a friendly business handshake. If he touches his face, he's done for."

Yangyang tilted his head, lips closed around his straw as he took a leisurely sip, looking towards Seonghwa for any more ideas or maybe even objections to the risky nature of his plan. "He's going to be surrounded by businessmen who hate him, so I don't think it would be all that bad. His sponsors list isn't quite long either, so if I manage to snatch a seat beside him, the event will end pretty quickly." Just the thought of it sent a rush of adrenaline through his body, coursing through him like newfound energy. "How about you? What's your plan on snatching stuff from the museum. I would have already disabled the alarms by then, so at least you have that out of the way."

At this point, he couldn't wait until tonight. But soon enough, when the hours pass and the day becomes cool enough as the sun begins to set, they would be able to move once again. This time, all for the sake of getting ready and making themselves look decent enough to fit in with the richest men and women in the party.

@l yangyang "You know you could have just been my plus one because I literally have a business pass and proper credentials, right?" Seonghwa chuckled amused as he heard Yangyang. They both weren't the best with talking to each other so there was that, therefore planning hadn't worked the best for them. Aside from the fact that they had gotten this mission last minute - Seonghwa hated last minute stuff, it always meant he had to cancel other plans. He sighed and shook his head. "What happens if you seem too suspicious?" he asked curiously. They always needed a plan be. "Want me to act as a bodyguard and kidnap him?" It was a joke, of course, though Seonghwa was tall and had gained quite a few muscles from working out recently.

"I figured," the older nodded when he heard that most of the things were stolen. He smiled satisfied when he heard they didn't want the artifacts back because, honestly, Seonghwa wouldn't care a damn bit. If he wanted something, he would get it. Just like the goods today. He would get them for sure. And he didn't doubt Yangyang's skills at all. The kid would get rid of that guy without any hassle. or so Seonghwa believed.

He looked up when their drink was finally served and he said a small thanks before grabbing his drink and taking a sip. This weather really needed some cooling and he was glad the party was just in the evening because he would definitely not put on some suit while it was this damn hot. Seonghwa was a stubborn man and he was too stubborn to put himself in fancy clothes that would turn him into a sweat fest.

@p seonghwa It seemed that a majority of the people walking down the street have decided that the heat was quite unbearable, crowding the shop enough to make it noisy. Although the plethora of voices were annoying to hear, it made a perfect planning atmosphere because no one else around them would ever be able to eavesdrop on them through all the commotion. Eventually, a waiter was called over after the poor employee had struggled through the masses, speedily taking their orders before disappearing behind the counters.

"Acting as a waiter was one option," Yangyang admitted, sitting back in his chair with a soft huff as he stared at the glass table, still in deep thought. "But I figured people would get suspicious of me when I try to mess with a certain tray of drinks, so I thought of something else." The boy made brief eye contact with the other, as if it were a silent reassurance. "I got a "business pass" less than a week before this, I'm supposed to meet him as one of his sponsors. I'll have the drug ready in my sleeve, offer to pour him a glass, then slip it in that way," he stated with a shrug, "He'll have one last toast and one last look at me when it finally hits his system."

"Gotta say, the man's rather desperate if he's taking me as a sponsor. I literally gave him fake credentials and he didn't bother to look it up," Yangyang scoffed, shaking his head. "But I heard he had a run in with some government folks. Half of those things in his damn museum were stolen from high ranks and instead of wanting them back, they just want him dead."

@l yangyang Seonghwa heard the small comments about Yangyang's memory but didn't say anything to it. He didn't know enough about the kid to actually contribute so he decided to stay quiet whenever the boy said something along the line. He walked towards the cafe with Yangyang and then sat down with him. The shade did them both some good. While he was really chill when it came to heat, the humidity was definitely killing him bit by bit. so he tried his best to just ignore it but it was hard. he took a deep breath and then checked the menu, just waiting for the waiter to come and ask what they wanted.

"How do you think you gonna do that though? Act as a waiter and just poison all drinks you have on your tablet or a different way?" Seonghwa was just honestly curious. This was the younger's expertise and he was always fascinated at how easy the people of Corvus could kill. No, not the "oh no I killed a person" way because, truly, Seonghwa could do that too. But how well they were trained and everything. He loved that. Maybe he could find someone who could train him a bit too. He did know how to operate a gun and he had a few belts in martial art but that was something entirely different.

"I do have a few things I have to take with me," Seonghwa said, letting it sound like he was just borrowing things from a highly guarded museum. "Bit yeah, I guess I'll sneak out other things too." He grinned at the other. He had checked what was around the area and what he could grab while on the run and he had found a few things that could be of interest. "I ensured that the cameras will be malfunctioning. And it will be less guards on the scene than usually so I guess we are good."

@p seonghwa It was quite refreshing to be standing on different soil, somewhat nostalgia-inducing, even though he doesn't recognize the scent of the city he was born in. Being isolated in an orphanage for most of his young life had rid him of every ounce of memory, made him believe that he grew up someplace else entirely. And although his tongue remembered slightly, his mind, unfortunately, did not. But either way, it was still rather comforting just to breathe that same air despite the lack of familiarity.

"Americano would be fine," he groaned under his breath as they walked, already suffering from the effects of a warmer weather, "I really don't remember it being this hot, but I guess it's not like I remember anything anyway." Stopping by a cafe for a cold drink and some much needed shade, Yangyang let out a sigh of relief, pulling back his sleeve to check his watch. There was still a couple more hours to go before their shared mission, and until then, they would have to bear the heat of the afternoon sun while night has yet to come upon the city.

"It's fine," Yangyang brushed off, knowing the other probably wanted to rest as well. "He's gonna hold a grand opening party of some sort, the museum will be packed tonight, expect some guards roaming," he muttered, low enough that only they could hear each other as they went over their plans. "I had planned to slip some poison into his drink, shouldn't be very hard," he huffed, narrowing his eyes in concentration, "When everyone starts panicking over his dead body, you can go ahead and take whatever you want by then. Sound good?"

@l yangyang It was summer and the air in the big city was sticky and humid. Not was as Seonghwa was used from home but Germany didn’t exactly make it any better. Summer was exhausting in any country and having to work amidst the heat was a job. It only added to the annoyance that he wasn’t alone but had a company he only knew slightly – it was just the two of them and while YangYang was really ing adorable Seonghwa couldn’t read him properly.

“You want some Iced Americano as well or something? Juice?” Seonghwa offered as he saw a shop nearby. They had been scouting all day, finding information left and right and for now the job seemed a lot easier than he had expected or anticipated. Seonghwa likes a challenge but this right now was none. He was here to steal the goods that were practically presented on a silver plate and the kid was supposed to kill that dude – or something along the line. And it was boring. Any other person could have done it so why sent the both of them to another country for this job? There has to be a twist.

“Do you want to go to the museum that guy owns and see what else we can figure out?” he then asked next, looking at YangYang. Luckily they both spoke a little German, YangYang a bit more confidently than Seonghwa, but Seonghwa knew how to hide his lack of words with just speaking words wrong very very very confidently. “Or wanna go back to the hotel?” After all they had been out for a few hours already and a break was something they deserved.

@l jeno he calls her nice and she's heard it all too many times before—when she'd offer help to a pedestrian on the way home, yet it'd been another opportune victim of hers. and this only reminds her of the life she leads right now; guilty of committing a multitude of felonies, the indirect cause of possibly many deaths and missing persons... he can't be next, she tells herself. he was untouchable, she was going to make sure. this thought crosses as he turns to her, eyes stained with threatening tears and she nearly reaches out to swipe them, but at the last moment, decides against it.

"have i really been so nice to you? i'm not sure i have," she mumbles out for him to hear. "but i'm glad to hear it, i guess."

just as her demeanor shifts, so does his as he urges for her attention and inevitably, she gives it because—he is lee jeno, and as much as she'd like to, she can't decline him. he apologizes, and for this, she seemingly softens in her posture, shaking her head. "don't be sorry, really," to further reassure him, seeing him in such a frenzied state, her smaller hand outstretches to lightly splay over his balled fist. it's soft, an innocuous touch that the inner 'hyejoo' in her merely sparks. "don't be sorry, ever," she whispers, sporting a half smile. "here, give me your phone."

@s hyejoo he silently considers her words, scratching the centre of his forehead. as heavy as his heart feels about this, he couldn't ignore the possibility that she'd changed. she wasn't wrong, you know? jeno tells himself. so what if she was still out there? so what if she was still alive? after being gone from here and from each others' lives for so many years, who is to guarantee that anything will ever be the same? he himself has turned out worse than before, so he can't deny the possibility that she'd be way different if they meet again one day.

jeno faces olivia again, tears heavy on the rims of his eyes, though he wipes them away before they could overflow onto his cheeks. perhaps the lack of social interaction was to be blamed—or the lack of empathy from the only family member he had—but it had been rare for jeno to have a shoulder to lean on. even with his few friends in high school, he'd been unable to fully open up to them, having all been passive and exclusive in their own ways when it comes to their own struggles. "thank you," he starts spinelessly. "you're really nice."

he notices how her soft expression was swapped in with one of perplexity, and it sends him spiraling down the 'have i said something wrong again' tunnel. her sentence made him realise how horrible he had been to her the short while they've met, making her feel like guilty for something she never should've felt guilty for. "no, you're not—" he'd wanted to comfort her, reaching his palm out to hover over her shoulder in contemplation when she suddenly sat straight. he swiftly retracts his hand, holding them both in front of him in balled fists.

"no, wait! don't go! i'm sorry," he looks to her, frantic eyes searching for hers for some sort of reassurance that he didn't upset her, which he pretty sure he did. then the idea came to him to whip his phone out of his pocket, and with a small voice, he speaks as he holds his phone out. "can i... can i at least get your number before you go? please?"

@l jeno there's a moment she remembers so vividly; a chance she had to escape from her kidnappers' clutches and return home. a momentous window of opportunity to rush through her grandmother's front door for security and reassurance that she'd be safe, but she didn't take it. not because she feared they'd return or she wouldn't be successful, but because she no longer wished to live in this said of a town. a household in absentia of her parents, a grade school that only narrated her as an outcast, and being a complete, utter burden on her grandmother's back—no, she didn't want to be that. perhaps, she thought everything would be better if she left.

but, all that oblivious pain and hurt roundhouses back to her right in the gut as jeno recoils his hand from hers in a fit of emotions, and she can only think that she did this to him. not because she's pretending to not be this hyejoo he remembers, but because she made him suffer a loss of an important individual in his life, and still, he hopes that she's out there in the void. and for that, she's sorry to him, to her grandmother, to anyone else that has grieved over her—the first time she has been.

"you're right," she murmurs. "there's a possibility that she's still out there, either living lavishly or in captivity, but the underlining point is that she isn't returning. at least not the same hyejoo you still remember." perhaps her attempts at having him come to terms with hyejoo's supposed death wasn't turning out too well, but to her, this is why she believes some silly string of fate has brought them together now—to help him fully move on. so, hesitantly, she scoots her way beside him, leans her head upon her knees and gazes up at him with this darkened, doe eyes of hers. "it's okay.. you know, not to be okay. you don't have to hold in your tears, you can scream if you need. i.. know we just met—" she says with a brief pause. "but, i'm here for you too."

her hand raises to feather over her eyebrow scar, almost speechless that he'd remember, and to him, it probably looks as if she's bewildered by the fact he's noticed. "o-oh," is what she etches out, swallowing the lump in subtly. she's the problem, she's convinced herself. lee jeno could've lived the entirety of his life forgetting about her, and he almost did. almost. and for that, she's most sorry. now, her gaze meets the tip of her shoes, guilt surmounting in her chest. "i'm sorry. i feel like a walking reminder of her for you and that must really be taking a toll on you."

the thought crosses her mind once more; maybe it'd be best if she left. maybe jeno would forget about ever stumbling upon olivia, and about his only friend hyejoo—she hopes. reaching down to her fingers through his cat's fur, she soon straightens her back and turns to him. "maybe i should go."

@s hyejoo he shakes his head weakly at olivia's attempt to comfort him. jeno calmly closes his eyes and tilts his head back against the tree they were leaning against with a sigh, a few strands of his hair catching in the rough barks enough to cause a sting at his scalp. for a moment, he couldn't bring himself to utter another word, afraid that if he did, the emotional dam he'd built block by block over the years would crack.

the contact of her hand against his wasn't unwelcomed, in fact, in a way, it soothed him, and he was able to gather himself back together before he bursts into tears again in front of olivia. this is only their second meeting, and he isn't going to let her see him cry again a second time. but upon hearing her words, jeno feels himself retracting his hand from hers in a flinch, as if he'd come into contact with a boiling pot.

"how can you be so sure about that?" he hissed under his breath without looking at her. "i mean, she could still be out there somewhere. she could've been kidnapped, and is still trying to find a way to escape her kidnappers. or maybe she's rich now, and lives in one of those houses on top of the hills and is too embarrassed to come back to this we call home," his words drip out sourly, jaw clenching towards the end of his sentence while he trains his gaze on his feet. somewhere in his mind, jeno imagines that his ignorance about the whole situation was foolish, but he couldn't help but still hold hope for that rebellious friend of his.

"... i'd almost forgotten about her, you know?" he faces her again with a wistful smile, then looks back down to fondle with the cat's paw. "then i saw you and i just... i couldn't believe my eyes. i thought i saw a ghost," he laughs to himself, then points towards the scar at her brow. "she had the same scar, right where yours is. that's why i was so sure you were her, but i guess i was wrong."

deep down, he was still hopeful, wishing that by reminiscing about hyejoo to olivia he would be able to snap her out of this amnesia of some sort. but he didn't want to keep his hopes up too high. after all, for all he knew, she could still be just olivia, a stranger who looked like his long-lost childhood friend in his fading memories of her.

Donghyuck sat quietly on the park bench. Just looking around. People watching. As he did when he was winding down for the day. After being in a bakery all day. Not that he hated it. But it was rather hot in there. Especially in the kitchen. And the breeze he was feeling... Felt so nice.

@b joohyun "yeah yeah, don't lie my ," he waves his hand dismissively, his face mocking her as he knows she was already far from the truth. his ears perked at her additional retort, another sigh escaping past his lips, arms crossed just by his chest. that thought crossed his mind, making him close his eyes with a hum. he opens his lids again only to see the feline being 'introduced' to him. "if he's full black i might have liked him all the way," he stated but proceeds to touch the kitten's nose. "where'd you even get him? don't tell me you were in the trash?"

@l jeno she regrets the prodding question as soon as it leaves her lips, for it means she's indulging in her past life, and god knows just how long it took her to forget existing as son hyejoo. all her photos, old wardrobe, memories—all forcibly locked and sealed to birth a new person; olivia, someone who voluntarily lures vulnerable victims to an impending death with no remorse whatsoever, someone under the rattenfanger gang, someone who was not in jeno's childhood.

but as he conveys such emotion for hyejoo, it strucks her in awe of just how much she'd meant to him. how he fawns over their brief time together, remembers something as simple as a small promise, and possibly more that she's been repressing in her own mind. she intently watches as he attempts to conceal threatening lip quivers and suicidal tears, and her heart seemingly sinks to her stomach. he mourned, he grieved, he cried over the loss of his only friend, taken from his clutches at such a crucial time in his life, yet here she was in the flesh and similarly, she wasn't.

it's there; the longing. a foreign feeling embedding in her chest just as the sight of him and it takes nearly her all to resist the temptation to embrace him, to reassure him, to comfort him in the ways she would. instead, she opts to meet his gaze, hand splaying over his cat as they aimlessly nudge her, and just—bask in his presence. it's selfish of her, she knows, to see him so traumatized and affected by her supposed death, and even more so now just to be a constant reminder of what he's lost, but, she can't help it. as of this moment, he's like a drop of innocence in her drought of emptiness.

".. i'm sorry for your loss," is what she mutters first, genuine. "she sounded like a good friend to you, and i'm sure you were to her, too. it isn't easy losing someone, it never is. everything of theirs still lingers—their scent, laugh, voice. and although you see her in me, i have to tell you she's gone." this time, fleetingly, her palm outstretches for his, as if that'd make a difference for him. "you must've been in a lot of pain for awhile, and maybe you're still holding onto the hope that she's out there, but she lies in your memories only, jeno."

@s hyejoo jeno wanted to reject her offer, dash off and hide the mortifying embarrassment he still feels from their last meeting. but the way she curled to herself, much unlike the rough and guarded behaviour she displayed the other day, has jeno giving in, cautiously plopping down at a slight distance beside her.

she was right. the more he looks at her, the more he's reminded of his first ever friend. he isn't sure why he would trust her with any information about hyejoo—he'd only just met olivia, and he wasn't even close to her. but the question she asked brings the sinking feeling home and he finds himself back down the memory lane he'd locked up and avoided for years.

who was hyejoo to jeno? "she was everything... and more," his best friend, his playmate, his first kiss... when his mother was at work and he's at home eating soggy leftover for lunch, hyejoo would secretly call him up with her mom's phone to keep him company. he remembers when she'd get in trouble, and he would take the blame with her because he didn't want to spend the afternoon playing alone.

"i was always scared, and hyejoo... she was fearless. she'd stand up for me when i get bullied. and when i was sad, she would listen to me and cheer me up with her lame jokes. we even made a plan to run from this town together," his hold on his pet loosens, allowing the little one to pad on his lap before it ventures a little further, off his legs to nudge at olivia. "she was my best friend, no—" he shakes his head, eyes closed tight before blinking a few times to suppress his tears. "—she was my only friend then," his voice gets quieter around the end of his sentence, his head lowering between his shrugged shoulders. "that was until they said she ran away... or got kidnapped. a few years later when they couldn't find her, they just gave up and told us she was dead. i tried to look for her, cause i thought, maybe she ran off to test if our plan works... but she never came back."

@k seokwoo irene raises her shoulders, blinking rather innocently as if she has no idea what seokwoo was saying. "how rude!" she says, scowling playfully, eyebrows furrowing at the other's 'accusation.' "i didn't lie. you know i don't tell lies—" which is, in fact a lie in itself. "there was actually someone who was following me earlier, but he went away after recognizing my face. it seems as if he's too much of a coward to try and deal with the law enforcements," she explains, letting her shoulders relax. she then holds the kitten in her hands, raising it up halfway to her face, and she tilts her head to the side to look at seokwoo. "but if i didn't tell you i was being stalked, you wouldn't have come, right? then you wouldn't have seen janus, the cute thing."

@b joohyun a tap on his shoulders stopped his pandemonium, the ethereal beauty of Irene greeting him. for a second he actually forgot what he came there for. he wasn't one who denies a woman's beauty, especially hers. seokwoo grabs her shoulder with one hand, frowning upon scanning her face. "you lied didn't you?" he asked, eyes panning to the creature she was holding. he heaves a sigh and rubs his temple in irritation, already finding it hard to contain his growing annoyance towards the sly female. "ing hell... i drove then ran. i'm not that stupid to run from the university to here, you minx."

@k seokwoo irene's ears perk up at the sound of her own name — quite a loud call, despite the silent and desolate place. heh, so he actually came, huh? she thinks to herself, amused, and she walks out from where she was hidden (along with the shadows of the building; it's one skill that she's perfected over the years). she comes out from the area behind seokwoo, and she walks toward him quietly, the kitten on her arms resting snuggly against her chest. she moves one hand to tap lightly at the taller man's shoulders, and she greets him with a smile. "you came," she says. "did you run here, hm?"

@l jeno he looks just like the youthful boy she befriended—minus the mere fact that his smile was entirely tense, muscles frozen as if she was a sweet apparition that was preparing to wisp at any given moment. that smile hidden in his eyes that once encouraged her to converse with him, albeit only about five years old, his chestnut tresses that she vaguely remembers perfecting mini braids on, and now his matured voice—this all puts her in trance that inevitably compels her to him, and it's bad, she knows. why was it jeno, of all people, to faze her like no other?

in a quick motion, she's reaching up to gently tug onto the hem of his shirt, beckoning him beside her over the tree she sits up against. "sit with me?" she manages to etch out, gathering her legs to her chest now without the warmth of his cat to occupy such. her cheek rests atop of her knees, facing him with a gaze so incredulously wistful that it's quite a different aura than the olivia he's witnessed nights before. "i know you.. still think i'm this hyejoo girl—and i'm not," she murmurs to him, her heart anchoring itself in her stomach. her next words come with a certain weight, one asking for nostalgic pain, but it crosses her mind so fleetingly that she doesn't give it another thought. "but who was she to you?"

@s hyejoo he was too focused on his cat earlier that when his name fell from her lips, it caught him off guard. there was a familiarity in the way she calls his name, much unlike someone who has only just met and heard his name once. he recalls the same night he got home, where he theorised the whole night up until he blinked off into slumber. the theories he came up with increase in bizarreness. they include: she has amnesia, is a hyejoo clone, a twin sister hyejoo hid from him, or the aliens abducted her and manipulated her brain in the years she went missing. he'd have come to the conclusion that he'd imagined her had he not bump into her again today.

"hyej—i mean, ms. olivia. it's... nice to see you again," his lips pull into a tensed smile, gaze flitting away from her, afraid that if he stares any longer that he'd lose himself in his theories again. he then flinches into action, coming closer to lure his cat back into his arms. he blames this on the universe, and his cat that brought him here. he really wants to scream at her, tell her that it's okay if she doesn't remember her, as long as he does. but then again she could really be a different person, and that would scare her away more than the incident that day. so he stands there, frozen, cat wriggling in his arms as he looks towards olivia.

@l jeno it's peaceful, that is what she gathers from her time in the city. although you ought to imagine it to be bustling, it's actually quite the utopia, even from under the limp shade of this tree she sits up against—keep in mind, this must've been a biased point of view from how tenderly she runs the pad of her fingers through the kitty's fur, gradually learning how to tune out other passerbys. but, what comes next is what catches her off guard. "oh? i'm sorry i just found—" her head lifts, eyes of hers meeting with none other than jeno, and once more does her heart seemingly freeze. "jeno.." without knowing, his name slips through her roseate tiers and that is her first mistake; allowing him to think that she, olivia, recognizes him, but this doesn't register through her head, for his presence stuns her more in broad daylight. momentarily, her voice is caught in and she's left with staring at him, blinking. "i, uh.. your cat, right."