Xinyuan leaned forward onto the counter, a pen tightly held betwixt her fingers as she counted softly to herself. The register needed to be accounted for before she could go on to her next task of locking up the cafe, then, and only then, could the girl leave for the night. For the girl, this was considered an early night. Usually, her boss would ask her to stay overnight at the cafe to keep an eye on things and even prepare it for the next morning, which she’d agree to as she needed the money. For tonight, though, she could go home—back nearly into the forest in her run-down shack, yet a home to her nevertheless.
Turning her attention back onto the pen in her hand, she’d finally counted each and every bit of currency settled comfortably in the register, then marked it in the book before her. Thankfully, her register didn’t come up short, so she wouldn’t have to answer any unusual questions from her boss. Besides, if it would have, she would have just replaced it with what little money she had to her name anyways—just to keep the old man off her back.
Xinyuan regained her standing position, closed the register, and hastily walked into the back room to place the book into the safebox on the boss’ desk. Turning on her ballet shoes, the girl hurried to grab her keys and rid herself of the place, even if it would be for just a few short hours. Though the girl loved working there since she was surrounded by a friendly staff and the place was a source of income for her, she still relished in closing time when she could escape to her home in the quiet that surrounded the forest. Surely the hustle and bustle of her place of employment was a well-deserved change from what she’d previously experienced…forever surrounded by deadly silence, but she had grown accustomed to such a life that she often sought refuge in it.
Slipping on her light brown coat, Xinyuan stepped out into the chilly night air and turned towards the cafe to lock the door. Xinyuan was glad that it was finally finished. The girl was free—free to do what it was she wanted to do. Xinyuan’s heels clicked with the rhythm of her steps as she walked along the sidewalk. Eyes wide and observant, she scanned the streets. During this time, people were enjoying the nightlife. She’d always spot people with crowds of friends as they found places they wanted to spend their time. She often wondered how it’d be if she were to join in with those crowds of people, but they were of two completely different worlds—literally—so she knew that she potentially couldn’t partake in such activities that the Mundanes could. Looking around her, her eyes locked onto a bookstore she’d always encountered during her walk home, yet she never entered. While most businesses were closed during this late hour, the bookstore wasn’t. Oh well, though. How bad could it be to actually go into the shop and browse around, even if for a bit?
Slowly, she walked towards the entrance of the bookstore, a slight smile crossing her lips. She was truly curious over the works she’d find, the poetry she’d happen across, and even the artwork on the cover of some books. Either way, whatever she’d find, she’d be sure to enjoy it. She hadn’t read a book in quite some time, maybe she could find a little…hobby to indulge herself in aside from her constant drawing? Grabbing the door handle of the entrance, she slowly stepped inside as she was greeted by the doorway bell overhead and the warm gush of heat from inside.
The day had been a calm one. Not many customer had passed through the store, or fables for that matter. Though the silence was never a bad on, Won Bin reasoned. A silence so pure and quiet one couldn’t help but love being in it. Something he particular did, probably more than anyone else he knew off.
Hence, the exiled King had been able to catch up on his reading. Finally he had managed to finish the newest book, given it was published in 2009, by Haruki Murakami. 1Q84, so surreal but in a way so very understandable and relatable for the fable. Two paralell worlds and the danger from one side. The fable had read many works up through the time, ranging from where his own fable came from to the far east. And through the years he had set his love on the then, young boy at the mere age of 30 years, with his debut novel 風の歌を聴け, or as it was know in english; Hear the Wind Sing.
‘Ah the year of 1979’, the years of student rallies and communism. Perhaps it was the fact that he had always stood as an outsider and looked in, that he always found the Mundanes so intriguing— Perhaps. Alas they weren’t far from the fables in sense, the Fables back in the Homelands were victim to sudden rallies and such, but not in the same way. Something struck him as different as he watched men and woman alike step up to say their opinion. A half smiled grazed his lips as he looked down at the book cover of 1Q84, they were intriguing indeed.
As the sky turned orange, almost painted by the sun’s own shine the bell hanging over the door went off. He lifted his head to look at his late coming customer. “Welcome.” he greeted and took in her being. And the first thing that hit him was the all too familiar presence of a Fable other than himself in the store. But he was not one to comment on such a thing, not unless they decided to tell him themselves. He had no need for information he did not need or sought.
“Let me know if you need help, but I’d like to mention we will be closing in half an hour at the most”, but Won Bin was in the business of driving a store and some customer service was needed. He looked at her one more time, her pale skin and her long jet black hair, before he looked away. His gaze dropped down as he pushed the finished book over to the side of his counter. Moving his hand to the side he grabbed his log, and started writing down the purchases and changes to the store, yet few but still evident.