• I walked up to the door of the bookstore and changed the sign to inform passersby that it was already closed. I turned toward my store and moved my eyes over the shelves filled from top to bottom with books. I had owned the place for only two months and there were still moments that I didn't believe it. When Ms. Kristoff first mentioned that she wanted to sell her bookstore I was heartbroken. I had grown close to the place and couldn't imagine working anywhere else. I had graduated with a good degree, after all, marketing and management was going to provide me with an excellent job, but when I got hooked on this bookstore during my studies to make a little extra money, I didn't expect this job to become so important to me. I walked over to one of the bookcases and moved my hand over the spines of the books on it. My bookstore was in a great spot, so in spite of the fact that people were reading fewer and fewer books I still had quite a large customer base. I owed this in part to Namjoon, who recommended my bookstore to his students and made a list for me of books he required them to know. I smiled to myself, remembering that it was through him that I met Jimin.
• I met Namjoon first when I helped him find the books on his long list. At the time, I didn't think I'd meet him again, so I didn't focus my attention on him much, but he started visiting the bookstore regularly. I remembered Mrs. Kristoff's meaningful smile when Namjoon would show up at the bookstore, and each time he would chat me up in a friendly manner. At first I thought I had caught his eye, and the day he asked me about my plans for the next day I frantically wondered how to politely refuse him so as not to offend him in any way. He was a great friend, but he was completely not my type. That's why I felt relieved when it turned out that he wanted to set me up on a blind date with his friend. At first I refused, but after much persuasion and assurances that his friend was a nice guy I agreed. And after meeting Jimin for the first time, I admitted he was right. Jimin was charming towards me from the very beginning, and in fact from the very first moment a bond of understanding was formed between us. We spent half a day in the park, and ended the evening with dinner at a nearby restaurant, as neither of us could say goodbye. From that first meeting we were inseparable, and I was extremely grateful to Namjoon for persuading me to go on that date. I was suddenly pulled out of my fond memories by the sound of the door closing.
• - Sorry, but it's already closed. Please come tomorrow, I open at eight o'clock - I glanced over my shoulder without turning around.
• - But maybe you could help me today? - I heard a male voice behind me, which seemed strangely familiar.
• - I'm sorry, but... - I turned toward the stranger and paused, struggling to control the shock that the sight of him caused in me.
• - I would be extremely grateful for your help - the man from my dreams smiled at me and took a step towards me - I heard from a friend that this is one of the best bookstores in the city and I can find a variety of literature here.
• - Your friend exaggerated - I muttered quietly, wondering if I was dreaming again - My bookstore is one of the smaller ones, so... I'm not sure if I will be able to help you.
• - So you will help me after all? - the man was happy and his smile became even wider - I will be immensely indebted to you, because I have to get a present for my friend by tomorrow. You will save me from quite a trouble.
• - Well, all right, then - I sighed resignedly - sir, please tell me....
• - Seokjin - he interrupted me and held out his hand in my direction - my name is Seokjin.
• - Y/n - I shook his hand quickly and looked into his black eyes, only to immediately turn my gaze away and focus it on the books - in that case, what book are you looking for? Do you already have a title in mind or at least a specific author or subject matter?
• - I'm looking for something about demons.
• - Demons? - I furrowed my eyebrows slightly, wondering if I have any interesting books in this area - do you mean some novels or...?
• - Scientific studies or something like that.
• - This already narrows down the choice a lot.
• I moved quickly toward one of the bookcases set up in the corner of the room, wondering what I could find on it. There had been several books on angels and demons recently, but in my opinion they were somehow not particularly reliable. I read a few of them and considered them just another literary fiction. The same as literature about aliens, supernatural phenomena and that sort of thing. I stopped in front of the actual bookcase and began to slowly move my eyes over the titles lined up there. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Seokjin was watching me intently, so I grunted quietly and reached for one of the books.
• - This one seems to be the most extensive, with the fact that there are also a few chapters on angels here - I handed it to Seokjin and reached for the next one - this one, on the other hand, focuses solely on demons, but has much less information than the first one. The others I still have here, in my opinion, veer too much towards literary fiction, but the choice is yours anyway.
• - Have you read them all?
• - Yes. Maybe not from cover to cover, but I get an idea of what can be found in them.
• - Do you find them believable? - He raised his eyebrow slightly, looking at me intently.
• - No - I admitted frankly - I completely do not believe in what is written here. If you choose any of them, I invite you to the checkout.
• I left him alone and with a quick step took my place at the checkout. I felt strange in the presence of this guy, and his questions bothered me a little. He was a perfect copy of the man who haunted me in my dreams, and they differed only in the color of their eyes. Even their voices sounded exactly the same and I felt so insecure about it all that I had the urge to call Jimin. Yet on the other hand... I had a feeling that something was drawing me to this mysterious man. He appeared out of nowhere, not only in my dreams, but also in reality. And the same way I felt in those dreams, I also felt now. For some reason, the sight of him, after the initial shock had passed, made me embrace a feeling of warmth and security.
• - Enough of this nonsense - I hissed quietly and opened the cash register to start counting money.
• - I think that this one will be suitable - Seokjin appeared in front of me as if from under the ground and I flinched, catching my heart - forgive me, I did not mean to frighten you.
• - It's all right - I quickly scanned the book he chose and packed it in a decorative bag, remembering that it was supposed to be a gift - the total will be $26.
• - You saved my life - he smiled broadly, handing me the money - Yoongi would have ripped my head off for forgetting his birthday.
• - Maybe it wouldn't be so bad - I laughed quietly, handing over the change - I hope he will like the gift.
• - I'm sure he will. Do you really not believe in them?
• - In whom? - I looked at him slightly confused by such a quick change of topic.
• - In demons ... and angels - he added quickly.
• - I really don't believe in them, or in any higher power that is supposed to watch over people.
• - Why? Maybe they do exist after all?
• - If they existed, they wouldn't let people suffer. None of us would struggle with death, suffering and disease. People wouldn't hurt each other for trivial reasons or just for fun. Angels would certainly not allow this to happen.
• - But demons would, after all, they are evil.
• - Therefore, they could punish people who harmed the pure and innocent. They would inflict on them the punishments they deserved, which they avoided for various reasons. In this way, they would be able to push some evil people against others, and the angels would take care of the innocent in the meantime.
• - Your point of view is one big utopia.
• - But then at least none of us would suffer. And especially me - I whispered quietly, but quickly reconsidered - I don't want to rush you, but it's late, and I still have some things to do.
• - I understand - he sent me a warm smile - thank you again for your help.
• - I'm glad that I could help. Have a good evening!
• I tilted my head and busied myself with the cash register, waiting in silence until I heard the sound of the door closing. But instead I felt his warm breath on my cheek and froze surprised, lifting my gaze upward. Seokjin leaned toward me and brought his lips close to my ear. I stood as if petrified, waiting to see what he would do next, and frantically wondered if I would be able to defend myself from him if necessary. Jimin and Hoseok had once given me some self-defense lessons, but I still wasn't sure I would remember them now.
• - We do exist, Y/n, and you will soon find out that you are one of us - he whispered in my ear before straightening up and moving toward the exit - See you soon, my queen.
• I heard the door slam shut as he disappeared outside. For several minutes I stood as if frozen in place, trying to understand what had just happened. I had met him. The man from my dreams was real and had just been in my bookstore. However, his words and this strange interest in demons made me not want to believe it all. I rested my hands on the counter, trying to cool down. He's probably just another crazy haunted type, like those who believe in aliens. I repeated this to myself several times in my head, but I still felt confused by the situation. Because if he really had appeared here by complete coincidence, he probably wouldn't have said goodbye to me just like that. If it was a mere coincidence, he wouldn't have called me his queen and looked at me exactly the way he did in my dreams.
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