the story

author's corner

TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, CAMPUS 

—  beijing, china; 21.7, 17:45 

  A paper cup filled with latte, the coffee beans grinded to perfection and just the enough amount of cream and milk mixed within. As Daehyun chatted up the barista behind the counter, a student one year below him with tussled brown hair streaked with pink hiding the tip of his pointed ears - a young and inexperienced member of the Seelie - he could feel the scent of newly ground coffee beans tickling his nostrils, and let out a sigh of relief as old memories re-surfaced and submerged him.

  A slight turn of his wrist, barely flicking to reveal 17:45 blaring in green. Slipping a quick and apologetic grin to the young boy, Daehyun grabbed his paper cup, mouthing the words see you later over the commotion gathering in the small coffee shop, and side-stepped a young woman hustling in with papers in her hand to the exit.

  As Daehyun hurried across the campus to get back to his dorm - three miles away from the tiny coffee shop tucked away just beside the library - he passed several girls, all of whom had gazes flitted towards him and quickly away, gigglings accompanied, and sighed in response, wishing he could get rid of the unwanted attention. 

  Nearing his dormitory building though, his spirits began to lift at the prospect of seeing Hyunwook. Daehyun chuckled quietly at the complaints and hell he'd likely to raise at smelling the coffee, and strode to his room as soon as he entered the building. When he raised his knuckles to knock at Hyunwook's door, Daehyun knew something was amiss when Zhengting opened it with Persephone napping in his arms. 

  "Looking for Hyun?" The Chinese boy cocked his head, with the older nodding. "He just ran out like hellfire was on his heels after this got delivered." Zhengting's slim fingers held up a piece of parchment, a red flower slipped between his fingers. He shrugged, and continued, "He took the jacket."

  Well, that explained a lot. The General took the paper silently, before reading the single line scrawled upon it. Somehow, in that window of time, Zhengting had acquired a mug of god-knows-what and sipped from it, waiting for a response. Looking up, Daehyun allowed his lips to fold into a thin line before muttering thanks, and heading back to his room.

  As he prepared to open the door though, his neighbour next door, who was leaning against his doorframe, toasted him with another mug of his own. "You got another admirer." The Chinese nodded towards the scroll he knew would be there. "Nice girl too, at the looks of it. Gave you a red rose." He chuckled, and took a swig of what Daehyun suspected strongly now to be alcohol. "Good luck on Friday night!" 

  Giving a friendly wave back as the guy headed back to the comfort of his own room instead of a response, Daehyun stooped and picked up the parchment while muttering words that the guy next door probably didn't need to hear. Knowing better to actually smell the rose, or indeed, even touch it, Daehyun nudged the blossom through the door while balancing the piece of paper and his cup of coffee.

  Collapsing on a chair just beside his desk, the General broke the seal and unfurled the paper, rubbing a thumb against the tension spreading through his forehead as his eyes scanned the scrawl so characterstic of his superior, before sighing in exasperation.

  General Jung, urgent summons to Diamantes by order of Carroll.