Luhan flits around the bookstore, rearranging misplaced books and helping customers with their orders. In the past few days, Luhan has learnt to familiarise himself with the surroundings, and he has learnt how to use the ladder whilst overcoming his fear of heights. Somehow, the job becomes enjoyable after a while, because it distracts. Luhan hums a tune under his breath as he goes about his job, pausing every now and then to sing to himself dramatically as he reaches a high note. (If he’s never going to be a singer, might as well enjoy imagining it, right?)

“God help the outcasts?” 

A slightly boyish, yet deep voice cuts Luhan halfway into the chorus. Luhan whips around to see a tall man with a small face looking at him, dressed pleasantly in a clean button-up and trousers. His hair is blonde at the top, and brown at the sides. 

“Ah, yes.” Luhan replies quietly. He feels the tips of his ear heating up. Luhan resists the urge to cover them up with his hands and continues slotting books into shelves. 

The man laughs. It’s not the kind of laughter that one would deem pleasant sounding, but Luhan likes it anyway. “You have a nice voice, so don’t be embarrassed,” the man says kindly, eyes forming half-moons as his grins at Luhan. Luhan grips the books in hands tighter. 

“Thank you,” he replies bashfully. Luhan is sure that the red has spread to his cheeks.

Luhan blinks rapidly when the man matches his gaze. He feels butterflies within him. “See you around,” the man says after a moment, and he turns around. 

Luhan swears that golden glitter drifts out of the man as he walks, and each step seems to shake off an excess of gold that pools on the floor. It disappears as quickly as it comes though, so Luhan is convinced that he’s just dreaming. Or maybe just star struck.

Luhan doesn’t even know the man’s name, but he already wants to escape his island.