Coffee or Tea

Thunder rumbled outside and the plop plop of rain drops was heard through the glass windows of sir Ives’ home. A dim gray light shone through the windows of the quiet, still library. The picture of the stillness was quite ethereal. Columns of light illuminated the shelves stacked high right up to the room’s high ceilings with rows and rows of books. Special LED lights lit the pathway of the stairs to the second floor where in a small nock by the shelves a small figure was sleeping soundly wrapped in layers of quilt blankets.

All this was suddenly disturbed by the kreen of one of the large double oak doors. From its entrance came a figure clutching quite the amount of quilt blankets in one hand and a small mug of what seemed like tea in the other. She scooted her way through library's maze of bookshelves as if she’s known them all her life. Which she did. It’s musty smell welcoming and its warmly lit atmosphere soothing, drawing from her mind her most roundest memories of the place. She reminisced the path she had mapped out for herself in all the years she’s been here as she made her way to her favorite spot.

She arrived at a large windowsill, a dark blue flower patterned quit a top of the wooden ledge. There was a couple of stripped white and pastel pink throw pillows at one corner and in the other sat a small lap desk with small metal folding legs underneath it. Here she placed her cup gingerly onto the lap desk and prompted the pile of blankets she held near the throw pillows.

She then took one look at her surroundings. From her spot, she could see a glimpse of the library’s double doors to her right through a isle of bookshelves. On her left was a commons area decorated with dark oak tables along side a couple of small glass coffee tables. There were also a couple of bean bags as well as cushioned couches and chairs. Right above her she could spot the second floor and at he sight of it smiled knowingly of the figure who was probably asleep somewhere over there.

Satisfied with the peace and warmth the library had seemed to offered her this day she sat down into her pile of blankets and snuggled up into one of them, creating a mess of what was once clean. She propped herself up on one arm to adjust the throw pillows which sat behind her head of ombré hair. She sat up onto the pile of pillows she prepared and reached for her tea and took a sip s her eyes drifted to the sight outside her window.

The storm was really brewing outside. The trees danced in the wind, a wave of water flowed freely in the streets and occasionally, thunder and lighting would brighten up the dark grey skies. It was quite the beautiful sight. She snuggled closer into her nest of blankets and held her cup of tea closer.

There were many rooms to view the storm with perfectly cozy blankets and large beautifully shaped windows, but she’s always preferred this place. There were better things to view like a summer’s afternoon when the sunset kissed the land, or in the spring where flowers and trees flourished under the first light after winter. But no, Hyun-Ae liked it this way, in her quiet library, where the storm torn at the world outside, where there was beauty in its wake.

It was here her thoughts would tend to wonder on the more serious things in life. It was here she had found peace in the midst of a party her uncle had had one night. Where she had studied for her college exams til dawn. Where she had mourned the death of her mother. Where she had fight with thoughts of anxiety and fear which rattled her sleepless some nights. This was her safe place, where she could see the danger outside and touch the glass, giving her the assurance of her safety and security. The storms are outside, and i am inside where its safe.

The lightning and the thunder grew louder and brighter in a flash, which sent a shiver up her spine. She laid down her mug and pulled the blankets closer to her chest. It’s ok, its all outside. Your troubles and fears cant get you here. She shut her eyes slowly, shutting out the white noise. She stayed like this for a mere few seconds until a voice had interrupted her meditation.

“ Miss Ives? Is that you “

Surprised there was anyone else int he room she turned to see a tall boy with slightly grey skin. His eyes a deep blue and his cropped hair a slight mess. He wore a blue hoodie that day and a black shirt underneath which framed his toned body quite nicely, as always. He had dark ripped jeans and red sneakers on.

A small smile of relief crept onto her face “ Oh, Ethan, it’s just you... “

She had forgotten how the cyborg had always moved so silently, very much like an assassin actually. Well lucky fro her, he wasn't much of the killing type.

“ What are you doing here? “ she asked him relaxing a bit as the tension earlier had left her shoulders.

He rubbed the back of his head and motioned with his other hand to the commons area in the library. “ I was umm.. Reading then i think i felt asleep.. “ he said shyly

She couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on her lips once more “ Really? But I didn’t see you occupying any of the tables earlier? “ she said

“ I.. umm well, read by the the side of the bookshelves mam... the thunder and lighting a few minutes ago woke me and I uh, saw your shadow across the floor... “ he said in that signature soft tone of his voice.

“ Well I must’ve frightened you... I’m sorry “ she said while looking sympathetically at his eyes. She studied him, which wasn't an uncommon thing she did around Ethan. She remembered meeting him for the first time. Almost robot in the park hunched into a ball sat on the sidewalk. He looked miserable and tired. She remembered asking him his name and helping him up. He was quite childlike for someone so tall. She then remembered hearing her last name when he had mentioned ‘ Mr. Ives ‘, which was the two words which had gotten him home. The wariness he had, the question he had asked her on the way home and the smile he had given her upon her departure. How could something so sincere come form soothing robotic?

Her curiosity spiked and left her staring quite inappropriately into his eyes. He turned his head around from left to right “ Ahh mis, you alright? “ he asked her and she shook herself out of her thoughts.

“ Ahh, so sorry. How rude of me.. Here, how bout you come sit beside me and lets chat a little.. unless you’ve got someplace else to be “ she said apologetically, yet her curiosity of this strange man still nagged at the back of her mind.

He pointed his index finger at himself “ M-me? Of course miss Ives, a chat would be nice... “ he had said as she scooted over and tap tha new space beside her.

As she sat down she turned to face him “ Also.. if its fine with you.. maybe you could call me by my first name.. Hyun-Ae..” she said as her eyes suddenly couldn’t meet his gaze.

She looked back up to see him blush a little before smiling

“ O-ok.. Ms- I mean.. Hyun-Ae.. “

She smiled and wriggled off her blanket to prop her feet onto the windowsill, not before kicking her shoes off. She stared at the now proclaimed cyborg for the heart they had found inside of him. Curious about his past which was still shrouded in mystery by all of those who knew him. She stared again at his face as he looked off outside the window.

“ Quite the storm.. “ He said “ Isn’t scary being so near to it.. so near like you could touch it? “

Surprised by this question Hyun-Ae sat up a hugged her legs, like she always did when she was thing of an appropriate response

“ Well thats thing... It’s near but its not too near that it can hurt you... It’s like nightmares, fears and worrisome thoughts.. they feel so real sometimes it feels like you can touch it and that can be so terrifying.. “ She said as her eyes drifted off into space around her.

She stretched her left arm right in front of her continuing, “ But the thing about our fears and scary thoughts is that they cant touch you, they look and feel scary but they cant harm you from where they are. Only you do this to yourself.. you have power over these things. You cant control when the come up, but you can control how you respond to them... “ she said and looked at him seeing the lighting shift and change b the light reflecting on his features.

“ Do you do this with all your fears? “ he asked as he looked down into his hands which he rested on his lap. “ Does it work.. all the time..? “

“ Why do you ask? D-do you want to try this technique with your own.. fears? “ she asked as she stared at his hands as they fumbled with each other..

He nodded his head yes, still not looking back up. “ Well.. I mean.. I’ve tried to.. “ she says and plasters a weak smile on her face “ But.. I’m sad to say this doesn’t always work.. “ she says the tone around her changing, something that Ethan picks up. Her hands then drop to her lap as flashes of sad moments in her life flash in her mind’s eye. But then she feels a warm circle around her palm and is brought back into reality.

She turns to see one of Ethans hands around hers and she looks up and stares into his eyes “ But.. it is human to fear, and to hurt and to be sad.. “ he says to her.

“ It-it is one of the things that make humans.. human... “ she says as he looks down at his and her hands intertwined. “ But it is what also draws humans to be.. drawn to one another... finding help and comfort in each other.. “ he finishes and his eyes go back to stare into hers.

“ I call it brave when humans break down walls instead of building it up.. i think thats what is called.. vulnerability “ she feels herself smile at this, a real smile.

“ and from vulnerability and weakness can come learning and strength.. “ he said his eyes twinkling brightly, seeming so.. human..

“ So its ok that your sad.. and its ok that you keep it to yourself.. but if you ever need help.. I-I’m... “

“ here.. “ she says putting her other hand onto his free hand, understanding a little bit about what this cyborg might just be feeling. Fears and anxiety weren’t just common to her being. “ When did you get so wise? “ she asked comedically. A slight blush grows on his face as the cyborg gets tense and loses his sense of verbal communication. This sends a laugh out of Hyun-Ae as she lets his hands go, afraid of making him more uncomfortable. Although she did want to hold onto them longer.

“ Sorry, sorry was just teasing “ she said, her own hands now fumbling with each other “ Thank you for that Ethan... I think I needed to hear that.. “ a blush creeps onto to both of their faces as they stare in directions much farther opposite of the other’s face.

Hyun-Ae then leans her back against the warmth of the throw pillows before quickly changing the subject. “ So... Tea or Coffee? Which do you prefer? I heard you can taste stuff.. soo which one? “

This catches Ethan by surprise, but a god kind, as the change of subject fills him with relief as he pondered on this new question.

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It wasn't thunder and lightning that woke Hugo up. Laugher rang in the walls of the library, something Hugo quite rarely heard in here. He bounded up from his sleeping state before creeping over to the railing of the second floor. There, right below him just by one of he bigger windowsills was two familiar figure sitting quite closely.

He didn’t mean to but he stared and notices Blush from their faces which they had subconsciously hid from each other. Surprise fills his eyes and his hands move to cover his mouth. Untrusting of the noise it may make. After a few moments he brings his hands down, and steps away from the railing, and quietly walks back into the inner portion of the second floor. A knowing smile appears on his face as he moves back into his position, wondering and excited to see what is yet to come for the two figures right down stairs.