⊱Esprit calme⊰

Quiet mind

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Blinding neon lights and blaring noises of bass welcomed us when we sauntered inside the dark room. A sharp tang of alcohol permeated the thick air, mingling with the intense passion and excitement of the people swarming there.

The tingles I felt pulled me to the dance floor but I wasn't going to give in to them. As a respectable creature, I was supposed to be level headed.

"Okay, now I know you're shitting me," Envy shouted through the music as we passed through the crowds to find someplace to sit. "Are you getting sidetracked now? What kind of a 'heavenly virtue' goes to clubs like this? Are you choosing the dark side?"

I, too, was feeling quite a deal of shame and regret, but as long as I didn't commit sinful acts, a small hangout at the club wouldn't hurt, or so I thought. As the saying went, 'work hard and play hard'. But not too hard...

I just wanted to let loose for a moment.

Speaking to him from afar while walking would prove useless with the music, so I formulated my answers in my mind until we arrived at the lounge area with a handful of black, leather couches of which some were occupied by groups of drunken youngsters. Red lights illuminated the whole area, giving it a spicy feel.

"No no, you don't get it," I tutted him as soon as we plopped down on an empty couch. "We could find someone from youngsters who frequent clubs like this. Proud and haughty, they're definitely potential candidates."

Envy scoffed, placing an elbow on the headrest and crossing a leg over the other. The green of his hair was no longer distinguishable and his black shirt and jeans were painted maroon by the lights. A look of displeasure crossed his features when women who passed by checked him out with suggestive smirks.

"I might get devoured by these people's eyes before you can even do that," he sighed, rolling his sleeves and exposing his veiny forearms. "I hate clubs. No decent person who's actually above me and wouldn't envy me would frequent nightclubs. Ever. Your map sucks, Kindness."

"Now you're just exaggerating," I dismissed him and grabbed the menu on the glass table before scanning the various types of drinks I never knew existed, reading them with great difficulty because of the dim lighting. "I'll just... have soju."

Envy suddenly snatched it away and stared at me in bewilderment, eyes wide. "You're even drinking now? What are you, human?"

"Bitch, I might be." I rolled my eyes. "What were you even listening to during the meeting about the agreement? I'm entitled to drinking... Only to a certain amount though," I mumbled the last part and pursed my lips.

That 'certain amount' was just until I got intoxicated since I was still bound by the principles of virtues. Good for him, though, he didn't need to worry about it and drink as much as he wanted.

"You're crazy, woman... Gluttony would be proud," he muttered with disappointment and scanned the menu. "I don't want to drink but I'll just decorate the table with wine."

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I let out a loud squeal of delight after quaffing another glass of soju.

It was like the elixir of life.

The keen burn on my tongue and throat as it slid down to my stomach had me recoiling. My brain was drowning in the fuzz of intoxication. The soju turned down the volume of my raucous thoughts and melted my worries away. I let myself dwell in the present rather than think. Just for a moment... I was relishing in the now.

A lazy smile spread on my face as I lowered the glass to the table. "That's the taste! It really hits the spot," the words rolled off my tongue in weird slurs but I was too giddy to care.

"You've finally lost your marbles," the man beside me voiced out with a reproachful look, his eyelids lowered and lips pressed into a thin line. "You're already drunk, aren't you? You're smiling like a maniac right now."

"Hey hey," I giggled, scooting closer to him as he slid farther in caution, and grabbed his head to forcefully raise his furrowed eyebrows, pulling the skin. "Don't be a wet blanket, Tae. Don't be so grumpy."

He grabbed my wrists, trying to fight me off with an awkward expression. "I'm judging you, so I'm supposed to be grumpy. Stop it."

"Only one being can judge me."

"And that one being might just banish you from heaven, idiot."

I pouted and slapped his cheek, making him widen his eyes. "You'd be happy, wouldn't you?! Seeing me fall from heaven, you'd enjoy my suffering, wouldn't you?"

"What the actual-"

"Kindness, you're an idiot, Kindness, I hate you, Kindness this, Kindness that. Damn, I know we're enemies, but do you have to remind me of my mistakes over and over again like an executioner? We'll be in an endless loop of- Wow, your lower lashes are hella long," I whispered in awe, leaning closer to his face.

Looking at his features from up close, I traced all the small details, all the curves and edges, and all the beauty spots with my hazy eyes, drinking in the aesthetics. Grabbing his face, I turned it from side to side a little too forcefully, earning confused noises from him.

"This is harassment, Seoyun. I'd call the police on you," he rambled incoherently with his cheeks squished together, and I cackled loudly at how ridiculous but adorable he looked.

"But you won't, you're not human."

Envy lolled his head to the side and took my face in his hands to squish my cheeks in retaliation as well. His deep gaze pierced mine and captured me like a deer caught in headlights.

The giddiness in my chest flickered out.

My heart got tuned into the man who was less than an inch away from me.

"Can I ask you something?" His low voice rumbled as he let go of me. The blaring music had become hushed background noise.

"Sure."

His eyes seemed to have darkened or my vision was blurring. "Was it easy?"

Just when I refused to think, he asked me a vague question, making my head pound. Letting go of his face, I leaned backwards to frown at him. "Was what easy? Damn it, Tae, speak clearly. My ears are ringing."

His eyes were still fixed on me, darkening further. "Leaving me. Saying all those cute stuff, showing me just how beautiful life is, making me fall in love with you and then just walking away like it was nothing. Like I was nothing."

My heartbeat accelerated. I giggled under my breath to pretend I wasn't comprehending. "What are you saying?" Grabbing a full glass of wine, I downed it in one go and hastily stood up. "I wanna dance."

Envy didn't stop me to have his answer when I stumbled to the dance floor, diving into a crowd of sweaty bodies moving side to side. I originally did it to escape him, but I didn't see why I couldn't dance while I was at it.

Beneath the hazy smoke swirling with neon lights, the music blasting inside the house and the bass reverberating inside my ribs fused together with me as I swayed my hips, twisting and turning like my body had a mind of its own. A few invaders of privacy had me flinching in disgust but I wasted no time to drop them on the floor with a touch of my fingers. The place must be filled with no good pricks like them. Gluttony and Sloth must love places like this...

Moving to a different spot, I flinched again when two hands wrapped themselves around my waist. I whirled around to inflict illness on the person only to stop my hand mid-air when a familiar face came in view.

"Look at you hurting men left and right," the man chuckled, barely heard through the music. "I wouldn't call the police on you, but I'd call your sisters or brothers... Or even that one being who can judge you."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. They must've already known what I'm doing now. Especially Temperance."

Envy frowned deeply, searching my eyes. "...What happened to you?"

Before I could say anything, my vision blurred out and everything turned pitch black.

My consciousness slipped into the oblivion.

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"A heavenly virtue acting so immorally..."

I bit my lips, unable to look at God in the eyes. Guilt was an understatement to describe what I was feeling. A moment of unrestrained freedom just could result in an eternity of misery.

"Becoming a human shouldn't get into your head, Kindness. You are still a heaven creature and a role model one at that. Please act accordingly."

It was the first time I was being scolded by God and the first time I was hearing his chastising tone. He called for me and Temperance earlier when I woke up with a killer migraine. Even if I wanted to run away, I could never escape this consequence of mine.

"I'm sorry." I bowed, feeling deep regret and profound fear for my actions.

"Suddenly getting human qualities must be making you experience all types of new urges so I can't blame you for that. Just keep the main principle in mind and act accordingly."

Letting out a sigh of relief, I thanked him and we were fortunately dismissed. But I knew better to not make such mistakes again.

"Kindness, dear dear Kindness," the blue haired woman sighed as we walked away. "Why did you let me down and give in to over-indulgence?"

I winced and sheepishly scratched the back of my hand. "Sorry. I just liked how it felt to let loose... I went overboard..."

"Are you really sorry?" She gave me a side eye. "Over-indulgence is scary. Once you let go of yourself, you will have a hard time getting a hold of yourself... It's so tempting to give in to urges."

I nodded, offering her a warm smile. "I'll be fine, Bada. You can rest assured. I'm a heavenly virtue, too."

She patted my back. "So embrace it, Seoyun."

There might or might not had been another meaning to her words but the weight of them anchored me to the reality, refusing to let me go astray again.

An odd sensation took over me all of a sudden and I excused myself before teleporting to the earth where I found Envy watching someone from afar. His stance was relaxed but I was agitated from the way he eyed the person.

"What are you trying to do here?"

He slowly turned his head to me and a wicked smirk graced his lips. "Got scolded? You were so drunk last night that you even passed out."

My face flushed as memories of last night played in my mind. "You don't have to worry about that. Let's go."

He tilted his head to the side, his green bangs brushing against his forehead gracefully. "Where now?"

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If only I had her powers when dancing in clubs...