"Clutching the steaming mug of Asad's usual black coffee, Lily threaded through the café's lingering patrons, her heart thrumming a nervous rhythm against her ribs as she approached his solitary figure, determined to finally ask about the collision." The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a suffocating presence, mingling with the scent of Lily's own anxiety. Each step forward was a battle against the rising tide of fear. Her steps, normally light and quick, were hesitant, each footfall a small act of defiance against the trepidation that threatened to consume her. She unconsciously wrung her hands, the fingers of one hand twisting the other, as if trying to physically wring out the fear. Her face, usually alight with a playful spark, was now a mask of nervous tension, her lips pressed into a thin line, her blue eyes wide and searching.
Aria, who had handed her the coffee, watched her progress with a curious tilt of her head. She leaned against the counter, her arms crossed, her dark eyes, usually so calm and observant, now reflecting a subtle question.
What's going on with Lily? Why the sudden change of heart?
The unspoken questions hung in the air, a silent accompaniment to the low hum of the espresso machine and the clatter of cups. Lily's gaze flickered towards Asad, then away, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of apprehension and determination.
Asad remained oblivious, a statue carved from shadows. He was still gazing out the large window, his profile a stark silhouette against the bustling city scene. It was as if he existed in a different dimension, lost in thoughts that were inaccessible to everyone else. The world around him seemed to fade into a muted background, leaving him isolated in his own private world. Lily cleared her throat, a small, almost apologetic sound, a tentative attempt to break through his silent barrier. The sound, a mere "Humm," was almost swallowed by the ambient noise of the café. She uttered it, the sound barely audible above the clatter of cups and the murmur of conversations. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry, the words catching in her chest.
He didn't react. Not a flicker of recognition, not a twitch of a muscle. It was as if she hadn't spoken at all. The weight of his indifference settled upon her, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
How hard is it to approach Senior?
The question, a silent plea, echoed in her mind, a testament to the years of unspoken tension that had existed between them. The thought, a heavy weight, made her want to run, to disappear back into the crowd.
Finally, she reached his table, her hand trembling slightly as she set the mug down on the coaster. Her fingers brushed against the cool ceramic, the contact a small, fleeting comfort, a reminder of the present. "Senior, your coffee," she said, her voice a nervous whisper, barely above a breath, the words a fragile offering.
Asad slowly turned his head, his gaze finally shifting from the cityscape to meet hers. His eyes, usually so expressive, were now a blank canvas, devoid of any discernible emotion. The black irises, usually reflecting a spark of intelligence or amusement, were now opaque, revealing nothing. She could not read what he was thinking, what he was feeling. His jaw was tight, his lips a thin, unyielding line, a mask of control.
Lily's thoughts raced, a whirlwind of confusion and frustration.
What kind of face is this? I don't understand anything. What is Senior thinking?
The impenetrable mask he wore was a constant source of frustration and fascination. It was a challenge, a puzzle she couldn't solve, and the mystery of it drew her in. She clenched her fists, the nails digging into her palms, a small act of defiance against his impenetrable facade.
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Suddenly, Lily's gaze snapped back to Asad's eyes. The dark, black irises, so familiar, so…wrong, had shifted. For a fleeting moment, a terrifying heartbeat of a second, she saw it. The pure, unadulterated black of the pupils had seemed to deepen, a void within a void, and a crimson glow, like embers in a dying fire, pulsed within them. Her breath hitched in her throat, a sharp intake of air that caught in her chest. Her hands, which had been clenched at her sides, now flew up to cover her mouth, as if to physically contain the gasp that threatened to escape. The image, a fleeting glimpse of something impossible, burned itself into her memory.
Ahh, what's that? I just saw…Senior's eyes look like my brother's…pure dark black and red iris.
The thought, a terrifying whisper in her mind, sent a jolt of icy fear through her veins, her pulse hammering against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. Her vision swam for a moment, the familiar café blurring at the edges, the faces of the other patrons becoming indistinct shapes. The world seemed to shrink around her, the sounds of the café fading into a dull roar.
Asad, oblivious to her internal turmoil, turned his head back towards the window, his expression once again an inscrutable mask, his movements precise and controlled, as if nothing had happened. He raised the mug, and slowly, deliberately, took a sip of his coffee, his actions a deliberate act of normalcy.
Lily's thoughts raced, a whirlwind of disbelief and denial. Her mind struggled to make sense of what she had seen.
Oh, what am I thinking? How is this possible? Senior's eyes changed? I'm just thinking about my brother too much just now, that's why I started daydreaming.
The rational part of her mind, the part that clung to logic, desperately tried to dismiss the vision as a trick of the light, a product of her own anxieties, a figment of her imagination. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was taking root, twisting in her gut like a venomous serpent, slowly constricting her. The fear was a cold knot in her stomach.
Aria, watching Lily's face, her own expression now etched with concern, her brow furrowed, her dark eyes narrowing. She took a step closer, her hand instinctively reaching out, her touch a silent offer of support. "What are you thinking, Lily?" she asked, her voice soft, laced with genuine worry, the words a gentle prod to break through her friend's inner turmoil.
Lily, still shaken by the fleeting vision and the sudden, overwhelming sense of unease, made a quick decision, a silent retreat. The image of Asad's eyes, that crimson glow, was branded in her mind. She couldn't bring herself to ask. Not now. Not yet. The words caught in her throat, unspoken. She took a step back, a silent retreat, her shoulders slumping slightly, as if the weight of the world had suddenly descended upon her. She turned away from Asad's table, her steps hurried, her movements jerky, as if she were trying to escape an invisible force, a presence she couldn't name. Her face was a mask of conflicting emotions – fear, confusion, and a desperate attempt to regain control, a desperate plea to return to normalcy.
How can Senior know about my brother?
Her mind raced, a frantic carousel of questions and anxieties, each thought a new turn in the labyrinth of her fear. The thought echoed in her mind.
"It's not like they're talking about me…they only talk about EMP." The words echoed in Lily's mind, a small comfort in the face of her growing fear. She returned to her place behind the counter, her face pale, her eyes wide, as if she were lost in the depths of a dark ocean, the familiar lights of the café failing to illuminate her. She leaned heavily against the counter, her hands gripping the edge, her knuckles white with tension, a desperate attempt to anchor herself to the world. The world seemed to shrink around her, the familiar sounds of the café fading into a dull roar, the faces of the other patrons becoming indistinct blurs.
Aria, her curiosity and concern now piqued, followed her, her brow furrowed, her dark eyes filled with a mixture of concern and a hint of something else, something she couldn't quite define. She placed a hand gently on Lily's arm, her touch a grounding force, a silent reassurance.
"Hey, Lily, what's happening with you? Why does your face look so pale?"
Lily's gaze darted around the café, avoiding Aria's concerned stare, as if she were afraid to meet her friend's eyes. Her lips were pressed into a thin, trembling line, a fragile barrier against the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
"Ah…nah, it's nothing," she stammered, her voice hesitant, the words a lie that tasted like ash in her mouth. Her gaze darted away, unable to meet Aria's questioning gaze. She forced a weak smile, a desperate attempt to appear normal, but it didn't reach her eyes, which were filled with a deep, unsettling fear, a fear that spoke of secrets and hidden dangers.
Aria's thoughts were a flurry of questions, a torrent of unspoken words.
How can I find out what kind of problem she's facing if she doesn't want to share?
The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken anxieties, the air crackling with the unspoken tension, the weight of the unsaid. Lily's shoulders slumped again, the last vestiges of her composure seemingly draining away. The fear was a cold knot in her stomach.
Lily, feeling Aria's concern, finally glanced at her friend's face. Aria's face wasn't good. Her usual bright expression was replaced by a mask of concern, her eyes filled with a worry that mirrored Lily's own. She looked like she was in pain, the weight of Lily's unspoken burden pressing down on her.
Okay, I can talk with her about this. She's my good friend, she can understand.
The thought, a fragile hope, gave her the strength to speak. Lily took a deep breath, steeling herself, bracing herself for the inevitable. "Aria…it's my brother," she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, the words a release of the tension that had been building inside her, a dam breaking after a long, silent drought.
Aria asked, her voice laced with curiosity, her concern tempered by a desire to understand. "Brother? Your little brother? You didn't tell me his name…what's with him?" The words were gentle, a soft invitation to share her burden.
Lily began to speak, her voice low, laced with a hint of sadness, her eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the café walls, lost in the memories. "No. It's not about my little brother. I'm talking about my brother who has half EMP ownership." The words, a simple statement, carried a weight of their own, a hint of danger. She hesitated, the words catching in her throat, then added, her voice barely audible, a fragile whisper, "The one…the one who disappeared."
The words hung in the air, a stark declaration of loss and uncertainty.
Aria, her brow furrowing in confusion, her mind racing to connect the pieces, interrupted her. "That's why you changed your mind and were ready to give Senior coffee to ask about him?" The question, a direct challenge, forced Lily to confront the truth.
Lily nodded, her eyes downcast, the weight of her unspoken fears settling upon her, heavy and suffocating. The fear, the uncertainty, the guilt, all coalesced into a single, overwhelming emotion. She ran a hand through her hair, a gesture of frustration and uncertainty, a desperate attempt to find an answer, to find a way out.
"Yyy…" she muttered, the sound a mixture of frustration and uncertainty, a sound of helplessness.
Aria asked, her voice now a little more confused, her brow furrowed, "Then why didn't you ask?" The question, a direct challenge, forced Lily to confront the truth.
Lily began to make an excuse, the words tumbling out of her in a rush, a desperate attempt to explain her actions, because in reality, she didn't know the answer herself. She wrung her hands again, her knuckles white, her fingers twisting, a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. "I thought…how can I ask about my brother when I don't know anything about…whether he even knows about my brother or not?" The words, a jumble of confusion and fear, revealed the depth of her uncertainty.
Aria pressed, her curiosity insatiable, her desire to understand unwavering. "Otherwise, what do you want to know about your brother?" The question, a direct challenge, forced Lily to confront the truth.
Lily's shoulders slumped, her voice a fragile thread in the bustling café. "I haven't seen him for a month…I don't know why he didn't come to see me. I just…I just want to see him." The words, a hesitant whisper, were a prelude to the storm brewing within her. She hugged herself, her arms wrapped tightly around her, as if trying to physically contain the pain, the fear, and the confusion that threatened to spill out. Her gaze darted around the café, avoiding Aria's concerned stare, as if afraid to meet her friend's eyes.
I think…I think he doesn't know where I am. The thought, a fragile hope, flickered and died. No…that's not possible. A fresh wave of doubt washed over her. He's bored with me as a sister. That's right…yeah, right. He doesn't want me. The words tumbled out, a cascade of self-doubt and unspoken fears, each syllable a painful reminder of her vulnerability. The rational part of her mind, the part that clung to logic, tried to dismiss the vision as a trick of the light, a product of her own anxieties. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was taking root, twisting in her gut like a venomous serpent.
Aria, watching her friend's reaction, her concern deepening with each word, felt a pang of empathy. She reached out and gently squeezed Lily's arm, her touch a silent reassurance. Her dark eyes narrowed slightly, her brow furrowed in concern.
I don't know what kind of person he is, what kind of thoughts he has. The thought, a silent question, echoed in her mind.
Lily took a shaky breath, trying to compose herself. Her fingers, which had been clenched at her sides, now flew up to cover her mouth, as if to physically contain the gasp that threatened to escape. She bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Lily, calm down," Aria said softly, her voice a soothing balm. She squeezed Lily's arm again, her touch a grounding force. "If I remember correctly from University, you have only one brother. And why are you feeling that much bad? It's only been a month. It's not even a year passed, and you say he's half EMP owner. He must be busy."
Lily shook her head, her dark blonde hair swaying around her face, a curtain of secrecy. Her reaction was different, more intense than Aria expected.
"No, no," Lily said, her voice rising slightly, a tremor of emotion in her tone. She clenched her fists, her knuckles white with tension. "It's not just one month. I lived with…him…for over three years, and there wasn't a month gap." The words, a confession of a deeper connection, hung in the air. Her gaze drifted, lost in the memories. "When I first saw him…he came to my house to see my father, and I was scared of him…because of his eyes." She paused, her voice softening, a hint of tenderness in her tone. "They were so intense, so…unreadable. But then…"
She closed her eyes for a moment, as if reliving the past. "After time passed, everything became normal. And…I wanted to talk with him. After I talked with him, I found he wasn't scary. I felt like…he was my brother, and he helped me in problems. We started becoming closer and closer."
Her expression softened, a faint smile playing on her lips, a wistful memory. "He was always there for me, always ready to listen, always…understanding. He was different from my other family members. He was my best friend."
She paused again, her smile fading, replaced by a shadow of confusion and a hint of something deeper, something she couldn't quite name. "But my parents said I needed to be more careful around him…and if it was possible to not meet with him. I didn't like my parents' warning. I was feeling good around him. We did a lot of fun together, and sometimes he took me to his house. I saw her house…it had a dark theme, but I didn't say anything. Only…we didn't go out. And I didn't like a person who lived with him…I don't know why?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of confusion, her brow furrowed, her eyes searching the past for answers. "When I started going to University, I couldn't meet with him as much, so I started asking him to go out with me, but he…declined. I didn't understand why he didn't like to go out. Then, one day, I wanted to cut his white silver hair. He said, 'Don't talk about cutting his hair,' but started talking about his heirs. Then…he looked at me in the room and said to my little brother, 'Open the gate when he leaves.' And after that day…I didn't see him." Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes, finally spilling over, tracing paths down her cheeks.
Aria became more and more concerned, her mind racing, trying to piece together the fragments of Lily's story.
What kind of brother is she talking about? It's clear from her listing…he's not a good person. I think he's too bad…
But for now, her priority was to comfort Lily. She reached out and gently took Lily's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Hey, Lily…you know where he lives, right? Then why didn't you go and ask him if he was angry or not?"
Lily shook her head, her gaze fixed on the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "No…I don't want to see someone on his place." The thought seemed to fill her with dread. She shuddered, a small, involuntary movement.
At that moment, Asad, finished with his coffee, rose from his table. He tapped his phone against the payment machine, the transaction a swift, silent gesture, and then, without a word, he turned and walked out of the shop, disappearing into the city night.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by his departure.
(Scene shift - Subway and Coffee Shop)
(Subway Train)
The rhythmic clatter of the subway train, a familiar symphony of steel and speed, filled the carriage. Sean, his eyes darting nervously, fidgeted in his seat. Beside him, Collie chuckled, a low rumble in his chest.
"You're still rattled about that anime, aren't you?" Collie teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Sean, his face a mask of apprehension, swallowed hard. "It's…it's just…subways, you know? They can be…unpredictable."
He glanced towards the far end of the carriage. Marco, their friend, stood there like a statue, a stoic figure amidst the swaying bodies. He was staring out the window, his expression unreadable.
"Sean see macro is standing like a poll i think he's not going home today."
Sean's voice trembled slightly, his knuckles white as he gripped the handrail. The anime he had watched, a tale of a subway tunnel collapsing, still fresh in his mind, fueled his anxiety.
"Calm down, Collie."
The train screeched as it approached a station, the brakes hissing like a serpent.
The doors hissed open, and the passengers began to flow out. Sean, his heart pounding in his chest, followed Collie, his gaze fixed on the platform ahead. He scanned the area, his eyes searching for any sign of…anything.
They stepped out of the subway and into the bustling station, the air thick with the scent of metal and stale air.
"Collie didn't you feel something odd in air?"
Collie paused, sniffing the air, his brow furrowing. "Yah i think it's hot and have different smell i don't know what is this."
Sean's voice, barely above a whisper, was laced with dread.
"Collie collie see the space is cracking."
Collie's eyes widened, his jaw dropping in shock. He followed Sean's gaze, his face mirroring his friend's horror. The very air itself seemed to distort, the space around them beginning to tear, revealing glimpses of…something else. The cracks, jagged lines of distortion, spiderwebbed in the air, a silent scream of reality fracturing.
The station erupted in chaos. People screamed, their faces contorted in terror, as they scrambled to escape the unfolding disaster.
"What's happening why their is not a sound of this what's that."
Sean's body felt heavy, as if anchored to the spot.
"Ahh what's happening why i can't move my body my body is stuck in curiousity i don't want see anything but my mind is blank."
Sean's voice was a desperate plea.
"What's Marco doing why he's taking out his camera in this situation?"
Collie, his own fear momentarily eclipsed by bewilderment, pointed towards Marco, who was calmly raising his camera, his lens trained on the collapsing space.
"Yah it's best to run but he's someone who like these types of things because it's his work."
(Coffee Shop )
Somehow, Aria had finally managed to calm Lily, her voice a soothing balm against the storm of her friend's emotions. The air in the coffee shop, once thick with unspoken tension, now felt slightly lighter, though a subtle undercurrent of unease still lingered.
"Lily let's close the shop and go in our apartment Ember is waiting for us," Aria said in a comfortable voice, her hand resting gently on Lily's arm, a silent offer of support.
Lily nodded, her face still pale, but her eyes were clearer, the fear somewhat subdued.
"Yes let's Go."
They began to close up the shop, the familiar routine a welcome distraction. But as they stepped out onto the street, Lily's unease returned, a subtle shift in her posture, a tightening of her jaw.
Aria sensed it immediately. She had felt this before, a subtle shift in the air, a feeling of wrongness, but she didn't want to make Lily worry again, not after everything she had just revealed.
"Yah i feel air is not like normal."
Unbeknownst to them, both their phones, inexplicably silent, buzzed with missed calls, the screens displaying Ember's name, a silent plea for connection that went unanswered.
"Let's buy something for ember so we can enjoy."
As they walked, they passed a figure, hunched over, seemingly oblivious to the world, their voice a distant murmur.
Aria, you didn't feel strange Ember didn't call us?
Aria answered.
"I think she's just busy."
Suddenly her voice change.
"Lily come closer to me see there's alot of people running from their."
Lily's thoughts.
What's happening why they're running like something big happened their?