004 HOSPITALITY :

//

Zelda looks in the mirror and rubs her eyes. she reads a quote off her mood board on the wall and rolls back her shoulders.

'you belong in this world just as much as anyone else. no matter how others see you, or how you see yourself.'

that's how she starts the day.

everyday.

Zelda kisses her grandads coarse hand as he rests in a slumber. a restful sleep is what he deserves- she thinks to herself.

she walks out of his bedroom and walks to the kitchen to make sure his breakfast is covered with a plate. she grabs her work satchel that's substantial with papers, she wraps a scarf around her neck and she closes the door of her home.

Zelda is on her way to work. she enjoys her weekdays because she gets to do what she loves- writing about things that matter to her, that impact everyone.

just as she's about to walk down the stairs, Zelda notices a stranger who looks the same age as her. her modest frame is covered with a forest flannel, one that suits her figure. murky locks of hair down her back- naturally coiled around the sides of her face, around her pierced ears and as her face turns, Zelda notices how shiny her serene and golden skin is. the girls eyes are pinpointed on the cardboard box in front of her as she drags it out of an apartment.

Zelda swings her satchel around her back as she walks over to her. it looks like she's emptying out her apartment. she doesn't seem particularly happy about it as she rolls up her sleeves, wiping the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand as she huffs.

Zelda smiles, speaking up. "do you want some help?"

the girl meets her eyes- startled, before nodding. "yeah." brown meets blue and she's reminded of the flower boy.

Zelda moves a abundant cardboard box out of the doorway. she stacks it on top of the other boxes. there's still a few to get out of the apartment as they work together. "moving out?" Zelda starts a conversation- wanting to be welcoming.

the girls hair falls in front of her face as she bangs her boot into the corner of the door accidentally. fuck leaves her lips. "yeah, I'm moving back into my dads house .. since I spend more time there than I ever did here." she replies- not meeting Zelda's gaze.

Zelda didn't expect her to give such a detailed answer because the girl in front of her looks like someone who keeps to herself. she hasn't smiled once and the red veins of the white in her eyes, the dim eye circles and the dishevelled curls suggests that maybe she's not in a good place, that she is not okay.

not at all.

Zelda nods in agreement as they finish taking out her belonging filled boxes. the girl rises to her feet, her boots raucous against the wooden floor as she fishes out a single silver key. she bangs the door closed, an impassive expression on her face- it's hard to read her emotions.

Zelda thinks about how the stranger seems satisfied to leave her desolate apartment. did it really mean nothing to her?

"it's crazy how I just met you. I feel like we would've been good friends." Zelda admits- the corners of her lips turning up. they lived so close yet had no idea of each other's presence.

"I know right." the girl chuckles as her and Zelda move the several boxes to the outside of the lift. "but right now I'm not someone you want to be friends with."

and Zelda is clueless, a bit dismayed. she wasn't expecting an answer like that. the smirk playing on the girls lips demonstrate threat and vulnerability.

the lift arrives and Zelda helps her to shift her boxes quickly whilst a cautious silence surrounds the two very distinct ladies.

the stranger steps into the elevator too. "thanks." and she leaves with a mystery untold.

—

Zelda gathers her notebook with a pen from her desk before rushing to her pitch meeting.

at work, her boss gathers everyone to collect their article ideas for the week. Zelda never looks forward to the meetings because her boss is relentless- if she doesn't like your idea, she will dismiss it and expect you to come up with something new on the spot. she's critical which can be seen as a positive.

but at the same time, meetings like that are needed. it helps to create a specific aura for the magazine- bringing everyone's stories, articles, photographs together.

a girl with beige hair, rosy cheekbones and round eyes suggests a writing piece of different sex positions. since Taehyung tries to hold back his laughter- the boss points to him.

"sex positions article, to encourage our readers to be more active and discover just what they and their partner can do." Nora- the boss clicks her tongue. "-will be given to Taehyung. you're writing that, thank you very much."

Zelda presses her lips together and holds back a laugh. her eyes meet Taehyung's vast, appalled ones as he nods to their boss.

Nora claps her hands together before shifting her attention to Zelda which makes her sit up- gripping her black pen tight. "your article last week on the difference between love and lust was amazing, what have you got for me this week?"

Zelda's eyes scan over the notes in her notebook. she realises just how messy and insignificant they are- most of her ideas are stuck in her mind which seem to bubble to surface at the wrong time.

"urm-" she starts, flipping her book and ignores the ideas she had on her written pages. "I want to do something on flowers ... but I'm not sure." she admits.

Nora nods and crosses her arms- contemplating her idea. "what are you thinking?" so Zelda takes a few seconds to think.

Zelda coughs. "maybe the meanings behind flowers."

Nora thinks, looking away. the nimble formal attire she's wearing today makes her more pressurising- a blazer with sharp heels. "a bit boring. give me more."

Zelda's hands fist together unintentionally as she forces herself to think harder- her thoughts becoming more careless. "how flowers have lost their importance and meaning in today's society." she randomly blurts out.

Nora hums and smiles. "I like it."

—

Zelda never likes to feel like shit.

she never admits it to herself because it's usually over something she can't control or something petty. and when she acknowledges the fact that she's not okay-

she has to figure out how to be okay.

but today the music drowning in her ears, her seeing her only friend Taehyung show a boxy smile and skip out of their work building, witnessing a baby take their first steps today and seeing a dog hug it's owner, somehow didn't help her unwanted state.

but as she walks home in the lagging evening with her chilly hands in the pockets of her coat, her eyes on the ground- she's thinking about the girl she met this morning .. who is the reason for her sombre mood.

the girl rejected being friends with her. she was fierce and mean looking with her perfect eyebrows and cocky smile, but Zelda can't help but think she's the kind of person people write books, poetry about. her uniqueness and admiration shows that she's one of a kind. and maybe she has a story like everyone else.

Zelda knows that it's not her characteristics or anything about her that made her brush her off. it seems like the stunning girl is going through an internal struggle. 

maybe she ripped a page out of her most cherished book accidentally, didn't put sugar in her tea this morning, lost someone close to her, got her heart broken, fell in love with the wrong person or she might be on her period with the most horrendous cramps of her life.

Zelda almost stops in her tracks when she walks past Flores and sees a familiar face. a face that recognises her surprisingly.

Jimin's gazing out of the window, which he's cleaning with a dirty cloth in his hand. a soft smile is on his lips- a smile that's indicated at her. her. his platinum hair is rippled as it lies on his forehead and his eyes hold so much excellence- the sunset reflecting back in his pupils.

Zelda's palms turn moist as she starts to walk past slowly. Jimin raises his hand and waves at her and Zelda's heart jumps.

Zelda waves back, her cheeks matching the coral of the sunset as she grins widely because of another strong tug of yearning.

—

hey hey hey

although i'm having writers block with this book which sucks ..
i hope you enjoyed this chapter !!

those who have read Two Sides will know who the mystery girl is ;)

also can we talk about ocean boy and cherry blossom boy aka vmin
i'm in love

thanks for the support loves

have a blessed, safe week !!

A x