Track 2. TRAMPOLINE (with ZAYN) by SHAED |  ♩

November 19, Friday night.

Baekhyun smiled, satisfied at the message he sent to Rara. It was a cold, chilly November evening. His watch read 7:33 pm, less than thirty minutes before Ye Olde closes. Christmas was approaching, and he was slowly buying presents for his family. The doctor in the Byun family was so immersed in medical books, he could tell she missed the bliss of reading fictional literature. And since Hyerin was a good friend of theirs, he’d do her a favor by buying from her bookshop. 

His hands were on the steering wheel, one hand clutching his phone. When Ye Olde came to view, he tossed his phone on the front seat and got out of the car. 

Baekhyun opened the door, the ringing of hanging bells above the door filling the entire room. Hyerin was just there at the counter, with that constant, half-smile of hers. He briefly stole a glance at the crystal ball that laid on the counter as he strode towards her.  

“Cool ornament.” He said, looking at the object with an amused grin.

“Thanks.” Hyerin said. “Helps me see the future!” She hissed, imitating an old witch’s voice. “Anyway, what’re doing here, wolf boy? I have no reservations from Rara.”

“Seems like it.” He said, “I came here to pick something for her, as a gift. I’m trying to loosen her grip on the scientific stuff.”

“Ah, our Doc Byun has been working diligently, I assume?” Hyerin said, smiling knowingly as she crossed her arms. 

“A little too diligent.” Baekhyun added. “So, um, can I trust you to pick something for her? I suppose you have an idea of the kind of book she reads?” 

“I do. Rara reads anything but—ah!” Hyerin took out a book under the counter and presented it to Baekhyun. “This one just came in this week. I remember Rara wanted the first edition of Stephen King’s IT. She's really into horror, right?” Hyerin said. A light bulb lit up above her head as another idea appeared in her mind. “In fact, I’ll fetch some of the other books written by Stephen King that just got in this week. They’re in the supply room; haven’t displayed them yet. You might want to choose from them. Between the two of us, I’m quite sure you know Rara better.” Baekhyun just smiled at her comment. “I’ll be back in a second.”

All of the new books, fresh from the boxes, were stacked neatly on one table. She gathered the books that she can carry with both her arms. It towered and covered her face but she knew her way around her shop. When she came back from the supply room, she carefully placed the tall stack of books on the counter. 

“Here are the books, Baek...” When Hyerin looked up, finding out she was alone. She hadn’t heard the hanging bells ringing, which would supposedly indicate that her only customer had exited. “...hyun.” 

She reached for the book that she first gave to Baekhyun from the edge of the counter; beside it was the key to his car. 

Hyerin grabbed his car keys and went out of the bookshop. His car was really parked just in front of