The library was nearly empty that afternoon. The air was still, thick with the faint scent of old paper and rain seeping through the cracked windows.
Jujube stood by the return counter, stacking a small pile of books in front of the man seated there. He didn't look like a librarian. His name tag read Sora, but he wore a black wool cap pulled low over his head, tattoos snaking up to his neck, and a heavy jacket over a vest. He looked more like someone who'd wandered in off the street than someone who worked there.
He scanned the barcodes quietly, glancing up at her once or twice. Jujube slid another stack toward him, the next batch she wanted to borrow. "You already finished these?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She nodded. "You seem like a good student," he said, half-grinning. She nodded again.
He leaned back in his chair, curiosity getting the better of him. "You know, I've never actually heard you talk."
She nodded yet again and simply pointing at the sign on the board saying to stay quiet in the library. He blinked. "Yeah… fair point." He didn't seem like a person who would talk a lot as well let alone so calmly but he did. He wondered if her silence had less to do with library rules and more to do with him. Maybe she thought he looked like trouble.
Sora entered the books into the system and slid them back to her. "You've got a month to return these, If you damage or lose them. or even fail to bring them back you will have to pay fine." he said.
She nodded again. "I will make sure to bring them back. Thank you." with hose words Sora's eyebrow lifted and he smiled at her words. She picked the books in her hands and put them against her chest before walking towards the door.
Outside, the sky had darkened to a soft grey. When she stepped toward the glass door, she saw the drizzle had thickened. Her lips pressed together; her books would be ruined. Before she could step out, Sora appeared beside her, holding out a folded umbrella.
"Here." She hesitated, then accepted it with a small nod. "Thank you."
The umbrella was bent on one side, one rib sticking out awkwardly, Her mind went back to Sora who was standing at the door. It seemed he had hit someone with the umbrella and that was why it was broken but she didn't press on the matter and but she opened it anyway and stepped into the rain. The drizzle turned harsh fast. Water lashed against the street, soaking her shoes. She hugged her books to her chest even tighter, head lowered as cars sped by, throwing up waves from the puddles. She walked carefully on the pavement making sure that the water won't reach her. It was until she heard loud honking all of a sudden and in the next moment
A black car came out of nowhere.
It was on her too fast for her body to react. Her breath locked in her chest. The impact hit before fear could even catch up. Metal slammed into her side and threw her off balance, her body snapping sideways. Tires screamed. Her head struck the wall hard enough to turn her vision white. Her glasses flew off her face and skidded across the wet ground. The books slipped from her arms and burst apart, pages splashing into mud and rain.
The car did not stop.
It tore past her, horn blaring like an insult, and vanished around the corner.
Jujube stayed where she was for a moment, stunned. Pain rolled through her body all at once, heavy and suffocating, stealing the strength from her limbs. Rain soaked her hair and clung to her face. She tried to breathe and failed the first time.
When she moved, her foot screamed in protest. She gasped and nearly went down again, catching herself on the wall. Her leg shook as she bent, fingers fumbling through the rain until she found her glasses. One lens was cracked. She must have stepped on them. She wiped them on her sleeve anyway and slid them back on, the world tilting and blurring through broken glass.
Something warm ran down her temple.
Blood mixed with rain and disappeared into the puddles below her.
Her head spun, her stomach rolling, but her eyes caught sight of the books scattered across the street. Soaked. Sinking. Ruined.
"No," she whispered, already moving.
She dropped to her knees despite the pain and grabbed for them, hands shaking so badly she could barely hold onto the covers. Water poured from the pages. Red streaked through the paper where her blood had soaked in. Each book felt heavier than it should have, slippery and ruined in her grasp.
Her face stayed blank, even as her body trembled.
But when she saw the pages fully soaked through, swollen and unreadable, her jaw clenched hard enough to ache.
That hurt more than the car ever did.
Her face flushed red with anger. She looked in the direction the car had gone, breathing hard. Then, clutching the ruined books to her chest, she limped across the street.
At the next intersection, she saw it the same black car parked by the curb. Her steps were uneven, but she didn't stop until she reached it. Through the rain-smeared window, she saw someone inside. A man. And beside him, a girl leaning close.
She knocked twice sharp, hard. her muddy hands smeering the glass.
The window rolled down halfway.Kingston looked out, brows furrowed, his hair slightly messy, collar loose, and the faint trace of lipstick still smeared near his mouth.
"What?" he asked sharply, like she'd interrupted something important.
Jujube stood there, drenched, clutching the soggy pile of books to her chest. "You did this."
He blinked once, then leaned forward, frowning. "So?"
"Apologize," she said quietly.
A short, mocking laugh escaped him. he rolled the mirror back up as if she was nothing. Jujube felt her chest tighten so her hand curled into a ball and she knocked on the glass again but harder this time.
At this erratic behavior Kingston snapped and he pushed the door open. "You serious right now? What, this your little trick to get my attention? Gotta say, weird choice." the girl in his passenger seat staring after him, confused. Rain poured harder, splashing against his expensive shoes as he stood in front of Jujube. He was taller, smug, and so sure of himself it practically radiated off him.
"Pay for these," she said again, voice steady. "And apologize to me right. now!"
"Or what?" Kingston tilted his head, Now a grin playing on his lips because this way of asking from money from him was new. "Are you gonna call your daddy?" Jujube's jaw tightened when seh heard those words. He poked at her broken glasses as a mockery and then jabbed her shoulder lightly, then again, each time pushing her back a step. "C'mon. Say it. What're you gonna do, huh?"
Jujube didn't move. Her teeth clenched, but her eyes stayed locked on him. Her stared irritating something with in him.
"Say it!" he barked suddenly, voice rising, as if he couldn't stand her silence anymore. Then, smirking, he bent down, flicked the books out of her hands, and let them hit the wet pavement with a dull thud.
"Oops." He pressed his shoe down on the drenched cover. "You know, if you're that desperate for money, there are better ways to get it. This little act?" He leaned closer, his voice low and cruel. "Won't earn you more than a few bucks."
For a moment, the only sound was the rain pounding around them. Then ...sirens.
Two police cars screeched to a halt at the intersection, the red and blue lights slicing through the rain. The reflections rippled in the puddles, casting color over Kingston's stunned face.
"Miss, we received a call. Did you report an incident here?" one officer asked, approaching carefully under their thick black umbrellas.
Kingston spun around, disbelief written all over him. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Jujube didn't answer right away. She just lifted her hand, pointing straight at him. "That's him."
Kingston laughed, sharp and disbelieving. "You? You called the cops on me?"
"Sir, please step aside," one officer ordered.
Kingston's laugh turned bitter. "Are you kidding me? She's trying to scam me! Look at her! You people even know who I am?"
One officer stepped closer to Jujube, lowering his voice. "Miss, has this man threatened or hurt you? Did he do this?"
She nodded slightly, pointing at her head and feet. "He caused this with his car. A hit and run case." she said robotically almost unable to form full words with her mouth, then gestured to the soaked books on the ground. "Destruction of property too."
The officer's eyes flicked between her and Kingston. "You're sure it was him?"
Jujube pointed down the street. "You can check the CCTV footage on the street back there where he caused the accident."
That made the officer's tone shift, more businesslike now. "Alright, we'll verify that. We'll get you to a hospital first, then you'll need to come to the station to file a full report."
Jujube nodded quietly.
"As for you, sir," another officer said, stepping toward Kingston, "you'll need to come with us."
The girl from his car rushed over, clutching her bag. "Kingston, what's going on? Why are they..."
"Don't touch me!" he snapped, jerking his arm away from an officer's grip. "Do you idiots even know who my father is? You can't arrest me like this! I'll have your jobs!"
But the officers didn't even blink. "Mister you are threatening officers. This could cause you an extended jail time so I suggest you keep your mouth shut." They restrained him easily, ignoring his shouts as they guided him toward the police car.
Jujube stood still, soaked to the bone, her hair stuck to her cheeks, her eyes fixed on him.
Kingston turned his head just before they pushed him inside. His expression twisted and the look of pure revenge swan in his eyes.