A cup of coffee on the right side of the table releasing its fumes, fading as it went up higher in the air. The dark colored drink remains untouched as Takuya was still focusing on his Macbook. Fingers still tapping and dancing on the keyboard.

For a moment, the 25 years old stopped typing. Stretching his neck and his limbs from sitting for too long. He glanced at the clock on the wall to his left.

“3 AM”

Late night writing again.

It’s not like he can do anything about that.

His writing beast usually woke up at this hour. Not in daylight.

This is his daily routine as a young writer.

[present]

[6 am]

A young man in brown leather jacket, walking calmly. Gesturing the officer in charge to raise the yellow line higher so he could cross into the prohibited scene. Once he got in, theres no space to be clumsy as everything there are potential evidence to figure out what had happened and what has caused the scene.

The flashing lights coming from cameras nearby didn’t distract him from doing his work.

Stepping slowly, he approach the dead body, surrounded by a few cops who was waiting for his arrival.

“Time of death is 4 am, sir. Cause of death is trauma at the back of his head, and broken neck that cause fracture on his skull from falling from a high place.”

Shin nodded. He then turned to another direction, a little to his right where in a car through the dimmed light, another man were talking to the two officers in the same car. He remained calm somehow.

How could this happen?

Two different men he get to know separately. And now all three of them are finally at the same scene. But the bad news is, one is dead while the other two lives.

He looked down to the lifeless body. Mumbling with a low voice.

“Who did this to you, Sangmin?”

Taking a short break from his writing, his eyes that sets on the screen in front has changed to the wooden shelves at a corner near his table.

He flashed a smile as he stare at the gold covered trophy placed on one of the many shelves.

The trophy he earned last year. The best moment of his life as an author.

He was awarded the best rookie author with the success of his first novel.

He gained a lot of fans and readers. Already carving his own image in the literature industry even as a newcomer. A dark horse who appeared out of nowhere and his debut makes the other senior writers worried of his capability.

But those were all a year ago. He is currently preparing his second novel.

Words of encouragement from his fans and readers. Anticipating how his next work is going to turn out. –All the support makes him stronger, but stressed him out at the same time.

What if his second novel failed to exceed their expectation?

What if he let his readers down?

What if it is not as good as his first novel?

__ __

“Just where did you fly?”

His mind had flew somewhere else.

“huh?”

He fixed his eyes back to the person in front.

“Sorry, hyung. I’m just tired.”

Seyoung giggled as he nodded. Stirring his hot chocolate.

It was nearly empty at the cafe since it's morning and they are one of the early customers that comes. The rain Takuya had been staring outside the window had just stopped. Leaving a few drizzles on the clear glass.

“Don’t overwork yourself. Get enough rest too. Or you will fall sick.”

-”I know, hyung. Don’t worry about me.”

He flashed a grin as it all went silent again.

Seyoung is just 2 years older than him, but that hyung took care of him like a brother. They studied at the same high school and university and even stayed in the same apartment for over 2 years, until Seyoung graduated from the university first and moved out.

But their friendship still lasted as they occasionally met on free times.

Seyoung has always been giving him support, all the way from when Takuya was still a writer who had a dream of becoming an author, and finally releasing his first novel, to present -a successful rookie author who is about to release his next novel.

Seyoung went through all that with him. Always by his side.

His parents supported him too. Sort of..

Growing up with a workaholic parents. And as the only child.

Loneliness was his old friend.

He spend his time alone playing with his own imaginary world. The world he created and ruled by himself. And he finally found his interest in writing. A platform to showcase his imaginary world.

“Actually.. I am worried.”

He speaks out. Breaking the silence between them.

The older one raise his head. His finger brushing away the few strands of hair that covered his right eyebrow.

“About what?” A husky voice, he replied.

“This novel. People have been waiting. And I just want it to turn out well.”

The young author let out a deep sigh. Resting his back on the chair. Eyeing on somewhere else instead of the good looking hyung right infront.

“Are you writing for your reader, or for yourself?”

His brow flinched. Their eyes catch each other.

“Is there an answer for that?”

A question for a question.

“Depends.”

They went back to silence as Takuya failed to digest the question and let alone trying to find an answer.

“Hey, I know you since you were 15. Everything needs to reach your expectation, or even higher. You are always worried about not being good enough, But in the end you made it through, right? You can do it this time too. Worry not. You can do this.”

Today is just another day where he received encouraging words and witnessing the warm smile from his hyung and also his bestfriend. He feels a lot better now.

He just need to proceed on his writing. Throw away all the worries.