Chapter Text
Ah, Random Play; the one particular yellow-black structure on Sixth Street that embodies the very concept of randomness itself completely well, it even comes with an equally eclectic clientele from the good folks of Sixth Street to members of local armed forces. Within the heart of it is a duo of a (hardly) lady lacking an indoor voice and a man so dense had he been in Mohs hardness scale he’d be between diamond and 11; good fellows though, 10/10 would befriend.
Running a store is a never an easy day for a number of reasons ranging from restocking, customer feedback, advertising, expense, and the most dreaded of all… Taxes; although today’s particular gripe of our silver haired shopkeeper is the absolute imbalance of customer between the morning and afternoon to now. Which becomes quite the nuisance for a certain-
“Yaaaawwnn…” The royal azure haired shopkeeper didn’t even bother to stifle her certain blend of boredom and exhaustion; nay, she amplifies it with an exaggerated motion.
“If you’re sleepy just head on back and sleep.” Says Wise to his partner-in-business who have her head resting on her palm without even sparing a glance as he busies himself with his accounting book.
“I’m not! It’s just… Ugh!” She drives her feet down upon on the wooden floor. “Why must they all come at once, you know? The store was jam packed so much even 18 almost get kicked around like a ball.” Belle points to the bangboo in question who only gave a meek “Ehn-na…” before visibly shuddering from the memory and climbing onto Belle’s lap in search of comfort.
“It’s not too bad now, we reached our weekly target of income, and enough profit to keep the store running for the month, isn’t that g-“ he stops when Belle starts giving him a look made of dagger, plastic dagger, yes; but still not comfortable.
“Not now, Wise. Not now.” Belle slumps her body to the counter while 18 looks as if it just wants to go to his charging station already.
“O-okay, I get it, we still have,” Checking his watch, it’s still not that late yet, 2 more hours before closing hour but he can’t find it in his heart to exhaust the two anymore than they already do.
“Not that long before closing, how about both of you have an early night today?”
“Ehn-ne?” The bangboo ears perk up.
“You sure, Wise? I mean, I can still help if you want me to.” Belle is obviously weighing her options of staying and being even more exhausted or leaving and letting his brother run the store alone; sure, the guilt won’t eat her alive, but it will eat her appetite for her.
“It’s fine, everything for the day is already finished anyway, I’ll stay until closing and close up, okay? Just rest for now.”
“If you say so… Come on, 18, let’s get you cozy, 6 will definitely appreciate a resting buddy.” Belle scoops up the overworked bangboo and gives it an express delivery up to its charging port upstairs all while its ears swish back and forth in joy, her footsteps that is echoing through the store became Wise sole companion before it too fades away.
“Sweet dreams you two!”
Not long after Belle went to have her rest, Wise quietly regrets his decision not to join her to dreamland. The quietness of the store is enough to make him hear his own heartbeat and the sound of the neon sign on the street; either he is going mad or that AC’s humming is mocking his boredom, fortunately he still retains enough sanity to not pick a fight with the humming gizmo.
‘This is going to take a while.’ He thought to himself.
Grabbing a broom and dustpan, he decides to pull the last card on his ‘fight a boredom’ deck and prepare for closing time early. The accumulates dust and dirt on the floor from a day of busy store is no match for him, his tools, and years of shopkeeping experience.
Sweep sweep sweep, wipe wipe wipe
After a bit of elbow grease, Wise swear he can see certain parts of their store shining, yet now it becomes a new problem for him. Random Play is clean, yes, but his boredom now returns like he owed it money as he now sitting face down on the shop’s counter in a very convincing homage to Belle’s previously showcased brand of boredom. Either he sleeps and close his shop before it’s time, or he soldiers on and close when it’s time; an easy choice for a man with principle, surely.
‘Anyone, anything, please… Just do something…’ Wise thought as he raps his fingers on the counter to an impromptu beat and ruffle his hair just to distract himself and feel something. Maybe he could afford himself a few moments of rest… Just for a bit… Just…
Riiiinggg! Riiinggg!
‘The universe have answered!’ He thought to himself, certainly pleased with how things are developing. Hopefully this call isn’t some telemarketer trying to shill some questionable reading material to him again… Okay, he bought one… and another, but he won’t buy more! Even if they’re quality materials!
Launching his hand to his phone, he didn’t even bother checking the name of the caller; all he knows is that whoever is calling him now is his hero for the night.
Swipe
“Random Play Video Store, how can we help you today?” He knows whoever called this phone is definitely someone he knows as it is his personal number, but he just couldn’t resist it.
“Manag- Wise? I’m sorry for calling like this, is Random Play still open?” He knows that voice, and it brings a smile to his face.
“Miss Zhu Yuan? Oh, of course. We are still open right now.” Wise stares at the glass window on the front door as he answers.
“Good, good. Um… Are you closing up soon though?” The voice behind the phone can be felt softening slightly.
“We should still be open for the next hour or so; don’t worry, Random Play always sticks to it’s normal closing hours and never a minute earlier.” A fact that he is very proud about. Plus, for a friend like her, he sure has no issue opening up until dawn if need be.
“Is there anything we can help you with?” He continues.
“Yes, you see, last week I borrowed a couple of tapes, and I’d like to return them tonight,” Her voice slightly wavered at the end.
“Of course, let me check your rent records.” Wise picks up a ledger from the counter and a pen from his pocket. “Ah, yes. Rental record for two tapes: ‘Last Flight’ and ‘Oh, Sweetie’ Due for… Today?”
“That’s why I’d like to visit your store today, Wise. If it’s not a bother that is.”
“Oh, not at all, Miss Zhu Yuan. Really. But are you sure it’s fine for you to return it tonight? It’s quite the hour.” He couldn’t let himself to inconvenience his friend if he can help it. “If you want, you can return it tomorrow or whenever is good for you. Don’t worry, I’ll waive the late fees for you.” Twirling a pen with his fingers, he tried to give his best salesman pitch.
“Oh, I can’t do that to you, Wise,” Zhu Yuan tries to stand her ground.
‘But… Is he about to close for the night? In that case I can’t force him to wait…’ This simple return-the-tapes plan has become a bit more than what she expects. “How about I return it tomorrow but please don’t waive the late fees for my sake.”
“Please, you want to return it today, right? It’s no big deal. Really. I’ll just consider you return it today; you get no late fees, we get the tapes back and everyone lives happily ever after.” The last part of it causes a small giggle to leak from the opposite end of the call. Seems like happiness can leak through the phone as he too feels an arch forming at his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Wise. But I can’t accept such arrangements, if I missed a deadline then I can’t allow you to let me off like that.” She muses. “How about this, I will return it tonight but if I were to arrive after your closing hours then you can give me the late fees?”
“You dislike bending the rules that much?” Wise teases, raising his left eyebrow as if he’s talking face-to-face.
“Can I call myself a cop if I do so?”
“Still are to me, still the best one I know even. Don’t tell Seth that.” His remark rolls easy off his tongue, yet cause the receiver whom he cannot see to glow a faint blush with a fainter smile.
“If you can do your best? Why half-measure it?” She bites back, with a grin only her can see.
“I-“ no suitable retort came to his mind. “Fine, you win. Just don’t force yourself, okay?” He quietly curses his lack of debating capabilities as he senses the impending beep.
“Thank you, see you later.” She pumps her fist in victory, now the next step is to get to Random Play as soon as she can.
Beep
As the beep tone echoes, Zhu Yuan lowers the phone from her ear; the warmth of it is still on her cheek. She checks the time on screen, causing her heart to slightly sink as the time indicates that the city will sleep soon. But who would she be if she doesn’t do her best? She faced worse odds before and she literally just debated with Wise why she should return the tapes tonight.
‘From here to there is about… 5 kilometres…’ Staring to the sky she makes herself some mental calculation. ‘Alright! I can do this!’ She steels her resolve and starts a brisk jog that slowly becomes faster and faster as she rushes through the cold night air, drawing attention from bystander as she blitzes by on her path back home to pick up the tapes and then to her final destination, Wise.
As Zhu Yuan rushes back to her home, the trip feels slightly tiring but it’s no matter for her. However, she can feel her hair swishing back and forth and the sweat occasionally dripping down her face. Her tie is slightly knocked off centre as she ran. Zhu Yuan however doesn’t run at her best, for one thing is nagging inside her mind.
‘Hopefully I don’t get too disheveled…’ She thought as she cuts through the night.
As Zhu Yuan’s feet changes terrain from the street to her apartment’s tiles, its darkness should have been enough to throw anyone off their senses, but not her. Taking hurried steps, she barges into her bedroom to finally get the item she will be bringing back to its rightful owner. In her bedroom, lit by the moonlight passing through the curtain and right beside her prized framed picture of her and her dearest parents are the items she’s looking for. The moonlight also lights up her reflection on the cupboard mirror, showing her still clad of her PUBSEC field uniform; a visage which caught her attention by its entirety.
Her hair is unkempt and her appearance reeks of disregard to tidiness; a given after what she had just gone through.
‘I look like I fell into a washing machine…’
She instinctively fixes both her hair and tie that fell victim to her high-speed sprinting before once again looking up upon the mirror.
In the mirror now is a woman with picture perfect PUBSEC uniform, worn the way regulations dictate; cold, and professional with a hint of warmth in it. Officer Zhu Yuan is proud of this visage, but Zhu Yuan? She can find an answer for many things, but once in a blue moon, even she can stumble. She always wears the best smile in front of everyone, but right now, in front of herself she wonders ‘Where is it?’. This uniform made her nigh untouchable, a model PUBSEC officer; but when she’s untouchable, she’s unable to touch either.
In what she sees, is someone she would trust to handle a case or an incident; but would she take the one in the mirror to a fun day outing or even a candlelit dinner? She shudders at the thought. A harsh truth she refuses to accept, that to her, a mirror never lies; and she doesn’t like what it tells her. She forces a smile on her lips, and she could swear the mirror didn’t smile back; faking a truth is no truth, after all.
As the moon found itself shrouded by a group of stray clouds, the light shining upon the room leave its stage. With the light gone, so too the reflection in the mirror.
Zhu Yuan blinked as her gaze moved from the mirror back to the nightstand and the items she’s supposed to be bringing.
‘What was that? I-‘ She shakes her head, dislodging the thought. ‘I… Yes, I can’t show up like this; I should at least change… Wait, THE TIME!’
Hurriedly checking the time, she quietly utters a prayer that she’s yet to be too late.
21.48
How? So much time wasted and for what?
“Damn it…” She quietly curses her predicament
Just enough time, far too close for comfort but not exactly late. She can make it- No, she have to make it.
“I can still make it… I have to.”
She can’t afford anymore distractions. Shelving the plan to change outfit she bursts out her door, locking it and running full speed to her destination. Once again, she has to strain her still stinging legs, not that she pays it any mind.
Voices in the streets tonight is as follows: Zhu Yuan’s sprinting noise, her accompanying breathing as she sprints, and a voice crying from somewhere nearby. Wait, what?
‘What was that?’ She slows her sprint down to a jog. Looking to her left and right with her ear as directional finder. Her thought is now occupied with the possible citizen in distress; unknowingly pushing away her reason to be up so late, her instinct as an officer of the law is firm in command.
As Zhu Yuan investigates what might be the source of the noise, she finds a little girl clutching a stuffed animal. The little girl is spooked by her, but upon recognizing the uniform a look of relief washes upon the little girl’s face.
“Hello there, are you lost? Why are you here?” Zhu Yuan kneels in front of the kid.
“I don’t know… I-I want to go home…” She clutches her toy tighter.
“Then let’s go home, shall we?” Zhu Yuan offers the little girl her hand.
“N-no!” She shakes her head vehemently, swaying the toy side to side.
“It’s scary out there… There’s ghosts too, right?” She continues.
“It’s okay, I’ll protect you. Promise. I’ll carry you home, just show me the way.” Offering her hands but this time to pick her up.
“Okay… I think my house is that way.” The girl points to a distance which Zhu Yuan immediately rushes to.
Zhu Yuan cracks a small smile as she carries the scared girl back home to her parents who look worried sick about their missing daughter; reminds her of her childhood, even.
Glory is short-lived however, as she remembers why she even run around in the first place.
‘Wait! Wise! The, the tapes!’ Her eyes widen and she can feel her heart races once again.
Worse still, memory serves her right then she should be going opposite of where she should be going. Her hand shakes as she fishes out her phone out of anticipation; the time is…
‘Please don’t… Please don’t…’ She couldn’t bring herself to see it directly, but out of her corner of her eyes she spies that the time is…
22.13
She’s late, and still far from the store. A dull pain in her chest causes her to need a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. For the first time in a while she feels like a failure; she often read passages in a book of a character’s heart sinking, but now she’s living it first-hand.
‘He… He probably closes the shop already… I should ask him. I should…’ Her hand opens the phone password and opens her contact to call Wise.
However, the time reminds her of one detail, if someone closes a shop this late, wouldn’t they be absolutely exhausted? She didn’t have to close a whole shop from cleaning and the like and she only works an 8-hour shift yet she can feel her legs about to wobble; so what about Random Play that opens from 8 in the morning until 10 in the night? Who is she to demand him to open up so late just for her?
‘What am I doing… He’s waiting for me and I…’ Her hand stops moving, just one press away from calling him. Turning off her phone screen, and tucking it away in her pocket; she lets off a deep sigh.
Zhu Yuan’s gloved hands fell to her sides, heavy as though they are stone and resigned to the fate she condemned herself to. Officer Zhu Yuan didn’t let anyone down that night, but Zhu Yuan did. Taking opposite steps to where she shouldn’t be heading, she chose to return home. One nagging feeling still in her mind, she lets down Wise, true; but what if Wise doesn’t let her down? What if… That’s all it is, a what ifs.
‘He can’t be waiting for me, he can’t be…’
But what if he is still waiting? Then all she achieves is that she lets Wise down twice. Officer Zhu Yuan doesn’t make a choice on speculation alone, but for Zhu Yuan…
‘I shouldn’t...’ she thought to herself even as her steps return to the direction of Random Play. ‘But… What if?’
Thus she marches on, one foot in front of the other. For the thought of letting Wise down twice hurts her more than letting him down once; also turning back now proves she is both untouchable and cannot touch. She knows whatever her pace might be, all that will likely greet her is a turned-off shop lights and an empty store counter. Perhaps she is a fool for hoping; but to her, wishes do get true if you fight for it hard enough. In the end, that’ll have to do; a faint hope will have to do.
As her steps create thuds that echo throughout the street; a sliver of prayer slips in her mind. The night may wait for no one, but perhaps for her, he would.