envious, pining 

Steps amble winding streets lined amongst cherry blossom trees, its branches gently swaying in the wind, showers of petals embellishing them,  rays of the sun bathing lustrous ashy brown strands; Eliena stole a few glances at the stunner beside whose gaze was determined ahead-bellied in ascertainment. 

Sleek heels tapped on the cobblestone pathways while the rhythmic clump of ankle boots mirrored their synchronized pace.

Unspoken guidance for directions passes in secretiveness. Eliena was never much of a talker unless there was any need; she didn't ask where they were going but the familiar path did give her some presumptions.  

As they neared a small bistro adjacent to the college Moonyoung pushed the door with a radiant smile on her lips she turned inviting Eliena inside. 

Along the ambient sounds of the clinking of dishes and the savory aroma of freshly prepared meals, the bustling atmosphere greeted them, filled with the chatter of patrons.

Eliena looked around the crowded tables noting a group of giggling students from their college. A grey-haired stern-looking woman lunching alone frowns at the adolescent pupils, a family with their children, and another group of boys from their college. 

The lunchtime hurry and noise seemed to rush the waitresses, who had managed to hold a professional smile as they attended to the needs of each table, taking orders and delivering food and drinks efficiently. 

A young waitress appeared in front of them. Ocean eyes sparked joviality, lips curved into welcoming smiles to coat the tiredness. "Nyung," the voice softly greeted. 

"Ivy, hopefully, you saved a seat," Moonyoung inquired, returning a delighted demeanor.

"Yes, you're usual," Ivy replied, gesturing towards a table nestled at the end of the third row. Eliena noticed the empty seat there was much more cozy and less noisy. "Is that okay?"

"Perfect," affirmed Moonyoung with a kind nod. "Thank you," 

Eliena observed the innocent blush imprinted on the young waitress' cheeks by the simple interaction adorned with earnestness in her manner as she hurried off to help another waiter.  

Taking their seats, Moonyoung ordered their meal. "Right, then," she begins, running her fingers through her hair before gracefully settling her elbows on the table. Eyes bore into each other, a hint of apprehension in her gaze. "Now that I've saved you from Wave, do you mind enlightening me on what you want with my book?"

"Read, obviously," Eliena shrugs.

One thing she was sure of was — she didn't want Shin Moonyoung to know what was going on with her. Her gazes flitted away as if her senses had felt an unseen presence creeping nearby. Lilith is somewhere thus hidden. 

"Read," skeptically Moonyoung mummers. " Why are your simple answers raising my doubts, I wonder," 

Eliena cleared her throat; the subtle shift of mere words passing between them occurred to change the atmosphere. Her birthmark pulses. " Come on, what else could I use it for? It's a book full of someone's imagination. " She laughed it off hoping Moonyoung would buy the remarks. 

Which she didn't. 

" Fantasies are not made up with lies and imagination, Eliena. Sometimes they get inspired by real untold events," Moonyoung's voice deepens for a moment. Eliena sees something transient on her features. " And this is my favorite," she picked up the book, fingers outlined. " It has only one copy not for sale nowhere to be found. This is not a storybook. It has rituals and meanings. If you're looking for a fantasy then this is not for you." 

"Wait!" Hands clutch the edge of the book, eyes lingered upon the daring touches. " I want to know about the rituals," she confessed.  

" Why?" 

Again, the query hovers in the air, laden with an applicable explanation.

"What do you mean why?" Eliena blurts. 

"Everything has a reason, Eliena, so I'm just quite curious what makes the logical mind of Warner suddenly get so interested in some rituals from my book?" Moonyoung trails off.

"Um, well, it's.." her mind wanders, scrambling for excuses. Dammit! She cursed silently feeling Moonyoung descry upon her true intentions. 

"Perhaps it was your way to get my attention,"  Moonyoung quipped gently with a knowing tone

Confusion began to cloud Eliena's head as the latter continued.

 " You don't have to pretend I know it's you who left those sweet notes in my locker, My Secret Admirer," a soft laugh eased the tension, stating those words as matter-of-fact, leaving no room for denial. 

A frown forms between her eyebrows at the mention of the notes. She hasn't written anything or ever got close to the lockers, which means there's someone else who likes Shin Moonyoung and expresses their feelings. 

This is a misunderstanding. Whoever that is. The affection that gleams in Moonyoung's eyes is meant for them, not for her.

She opened her mouth to clarify the matters, but before words could be uttered, a single digit pressed against her lips. " I'll keep it a secret for now," Moonyoung confirmed gazing down at her lips 

Such hiss of irritation reverberates a warning from a clandestine figure. ' Hands off,' the voice commanded. 

Emerging from the shadowy corners."I said hands off you veil waste of oxygen!" sharply Lilith's voice rang out, amber eyes ablaze fixed on Irene's hand poised dangerously close.

Intently, Eliena obeyed the commands naively, her fingers closing around the svelte wrist with a firm, gentle grasp. " Listen, Moonyoung—"

"You can have this," with a contented grin, the thick tome surrenders into her hands. The pure, childlike, unconditional veneration in Moonyoung's eyes swells the guilt. "  And if you want anything else don't hesitate." 

Opportunities landed straight into her lap.  

"How cute," Lilith comments savagely, materializing behind Moonyoung. Eliena presses her lips quilling curses. " Ah, don't give me that look. Your little companion will get curious," 

Their lunch arrived at that moment. Both of them thankfully smiled at the server sitting in uncomfortable silence as she looked down at her food. "It means a lot," 

"It's nothing," 

She stares at the book. Could this thing answer her questions? 

"You can ask whatever is going on in your brain. I'd help you since I've already finished reading." 

Eliena raises an eyebrow. Can Moonyoung hear her thoughts? 

Moonyoung laughs again. "You quite easy to read," 

" She's right," The woman said, mannerly possessing a seat. 

"I'll ask later," she gradually nodded.

"I suppose you'll,"

An ancillary reassuring squeeze broke the equivocalness prompting Eliena to raise her gaze to meet Moonyoung's understanding eyes; the warmth of palms rested atop the back of her hand. She wondered if this gesture was innate of genuine care or a facade misguided by assumptions. 

If she played along, allowing Shin Moonyoung to believe in what her beliefs are and let the misunderstanding grow. Unsure of whether to speak the truth risking the awkward newfound comfort she had found before the situation got worse than better.

"Eat, Eliena, we have to go  before lunchtime is over," 

Again her thoughts cut short, and the soft smile gently embers in her soul. 

Just deal with it, deal with it. She told herself with a sigh of relief, turning her hands on top of Moonyoung, quietly expressing her gratitude.  

"Aww, heartwarming," Lilith spat almost closer against her ears. Eliena ignored hers, keeping her eyes set on the girl in front. Someone grinds their teeth. " So you're going to ignore me," this voice wasn't feminine, unlike how the woman usually speaks. " Fine, you asked for this!" 

Disdainful elegance and venomous whispers of malice shivved Eliena remained steadfastly focused. Negligence, menacing rage, a surge of energy emanated from the woman, followed by a chilling wind that clawed at her back through the layers of fabric to the skin and her birthmark.

She was composed but someone else wasn't as the glasses that were set on their tables exploded by an unseen force: shards of crystalline rain on her clothes. Simultaneously the overhead light bulb behind burst everyone flinched but her. 

Eliena has stopped being surprised by Lilith and her tantrums. She was oddly calm, fixated on Moonyoung, whose transfixed gaze was drawn upon something above her head. 

Turning to face the woman, her sharp amber eyes brimming with hurt, maniacal anger, hands clenched into fists by her side, a sight daunting. 

 " For a moment I thought there was…. Eliena?  Eliena, are you okay?" 

Sensing the sudden concern in the timber, Eliena frowned before she could process the escalating tension. Her initial impulse was to reassure Moonyoung to hold her hand, but a wave of exhaustion crashed strength and cajoled dizziness encroached to cling. 

"My god Eliena!" Moonyoung panicked. "Someone please help!"

That only added to her confusion: why was Moonyoung so much in panic mode? 

The world around her began to spin, the beating of her heart intertwined with the philharmonic of eccentric emotions.

Rushing blood pounding in her ears painting a vibrant backdrop to the unfolding scenes. Warming trails and sobs of someone's cries echo in the breeze, their desperate clutches grasping her hands, but then again, there's a solitary giggle soft away somewhere, weaving their puerile meander of joy.  They're happy. 

".....use me however you wish…." 

The syllable bore intent promises wrapped in blinded trust thriving delicate sense. 

"Aren't you afraid?" Someone implores. A yearning to soothe. 

"Why should I?" Came the babyish laugh. "I've devoted myself to you..."

The solid ground suddenly hit her cheeks. Consciousness slowly slipped away and the world faded into oblivion. 

Eyelids flutter open to unknown surroundings. She sits up, head throbbing with a halo of tingling pain. Fingertips seek to rub the contours of the temples.

She looks around the simple, empty wooden room filled with coffee bean fragrance by the ajar window curtain blows a pattern of lights shadow upon. Across from her Lilith occupied a seat. 

"Where am I?" She asks. " What've you done?"  

"A room in the bistro," the woman replied, tone indifferent, dismissing the question effortlessly nonchalantly, ignoring the second one, pretending to be unheeded and disinterested in talking further, her eyes staring away from Eliena. 

The sight halts her as she marvels at the incandescent visage of the woman, almost a portrait of elegance. The subtle play of light and shadows accentuates the contours of Lilith's jawline; the skin of her neck has a healthy flush and carotid pulse. 

Was that beating? Eliena mussed the waves of ravan hair framed a side of her face, a flicker of something achingly real she could bearly see through. 

The appearance betrayed the phantom status that the young lass normally witnesses. Right now, at this moment, Lilith looks human, a living human. The vividness in those amber eyes mirrored the depth of her soul. They stare. And stare only away.  

"How can you look like that?" She whispered. 

Gaze pierced, eyes held intensity yet voice mellowed. "Like what?"

'Divine,' inner thoughts imitate; however, lips remain stubborn in their attempt to articulate the ineffable. " You look different," she manages. " Nice. You look nice." 

An eyebrow arches acknowledging the young lass attempts to find the right phrases. " My my, your words flatter me, Sweetness," she responded, lips curling into a cheeky grin. 

Eliena rolls her eyes. " Never mind, I take back my words. You're ugly as fuck." She huffed in annoyance. 

"I believe you," Lilith's laughter fills melodically

Eliena finds herself tangled away, the corner of her lips quirked uncontrollably, a small smile erect seeing the woman so inviting, so angelic so beautiful to die for. 

Just then the door cracks open and Moonyoung walks inside. " Were you talking to someone?" She inquired. 

A hesitant nod veils the worriness. " Just myself. I talk to myself a lot." 

"Oh," setting down a bag as she walks closer to Eliena. " Well, how are you feeling now?" 

Tired. Exhausted. Endogenous turmoil cried out even so lips murmured. "Fine," 

With an understanding sigh, Moonyoung asked. " Do you usually faint like this?" 

"Not really," Eliena shrugs. " Sometimes. It doesn't matter much, I'm okay now," feeling doubtful eyes lingering, she attempts to divert the conversation. " I really can't thank you enough for what you did. I appreciate everything you—"

The gentle touch upon Eliena's knee causes her to stop Lilith in an instant by her side. " I don't like this at all," the woman hissed. 

Goosebumps ran down. Moonyoung's hand stayed."You should take care of yourself, Eliena, for a moment when you didn't respond I was scared," urged contract against soft alter then Lilith's growing annoyance. " it sounds silly I know," 

"It doesn't." The words rush; her breath shudders as she feels Lilith pressing into her side, cold to her skin in the clothes, cold breaths ghosting against her neck. Shit. " I-I mean. It must be your beauty that made me fall so hard  I fainted." 

Moonyoung's gaze meets her own, smile flattering, cheeks tinged with a blooming red hue.

 Lilith is muttering something, probably some more foul words.

Something flutters inside her belly seeing how Moonyoung is biting her lips to hide the grin. Even she has to chew the inner flesh of her cheeks to keep a serious face. 

" We should get back," Moonyoung says, moving her hand from Eliena's knee to her wrist. An audible soft gasp falls past her lips as she feels coldness from the student, her hand clenched instinctively. " You're so cold," she pointed with concern. 

Eliena shivered, it must be Lilith's presence that permeated her skin so cold she tried to pull back, but the grip only tightened eyes bore with unsettling potency. " It's cold in here," her voice began to tremble. " You're right we should go back." 

Stare tarried for a moment before Moonyoung released her with mild encouragement to move. " Let's go then," 

The student leaps up as soon as she can, clutching the bag of books.  Make sure to keep a cautious distance from Moonyoung. Thankfully Lilith didn't break another glass while they walked out or on the way back to the campus.