...

In life, there are accidents, some can be happy while others can leave you in dismay. I believe they all happen not just by accident but sometimes by coincidence as well. There are just somethings you can’t explain. Whether you choose to or not you may come to terms with them eventually. But in this case, are our lives an accident waiting to happen as well? Or are we just expecting the worst so our outlook on life won’t be as bad? Whatever the case, sometimes we just can’t help ourselves. Especially when the answer is right in front of us….
After an hour of searching through the old office their curiosity slowly began to decay. Dust settled on Mikasa’s dark hair from looking through most its nooks and crannies. Until finally, Mikasa slid a dusty carpet out of the way. Something was odd about the flooring there were unique cracks that formed a square. When she pushed down on it the floorboard popped open, only had she realized she had found a trapdoor.
"I found one!" the girl exclaimed. The two opened it only to find a cellar full of rum and more wine bottles. It was a great find, however it wasn’t the gold or treasure they both had in mind. An idea had popped into Erwin’s mind, He searched furiously for something. Eventually, his fingers brushed over a pin on the wall. The book case on the wall popped open causing the dust to fall out. Erwin looked into the newly found opening and in it, he found a safe.
“How many years has this been here..” Mikasa asked
“I’m not exactly sure.”
“Well how are we going to open it? It has a combination lock.. So maybe we can listen with a stethoscope?” She chuckled. Erwin's face turned to stone again. She wasn’t sure whether she should snap him out of it or to step aside. The girl could only gaze into his dulled blue eyes and hope for the best.
Erwin was in a trance, the boy he had ignored earlier was smiling at him and his heart felt warmed by his presence. From the looks of it he could the boy’s smile could put the sun to shame. When he left from Erwin’s view his body ran cold. His eyes regained their color and he felt his ear tickle as if someone had just whispered in it.
“27-64-62.” He mumbled softly to himself as he reached for the combination lock. When he was finished, Mikasa watched in awe as she heard the lock click opening the safe.
“Erwin, how did you?”
“Lucky guess,” he replied with an empty smile. He felt the information should be kept away for the time being. What he had with Mikasa was special, having a possible connection to that boy would only cause turmoil in his heart. Luckily though,she was a smart young woman, She didn’t pick up on his feelings. Mikasa’s attention was on what was in the safe. Erwin pulled the small door open. The duo was shocked to find a small preserving bin, with a Hershey's kiss And a note.
"To be shared with another.." Erwin read it aloud, taking the small chocolate out.
"It says to share it but why? It’s probably turned to poison by now. There isn’t much to go on, Maybe if we search around something may come our way. It’s possible, but why would you share a thing like that?” she asked examining the tiny chocolate treat.
“How, is what pops into my mind. You could take a bite but even then it wouldn’t be enough. There are other ways as well, something unorthodox would be best if shared. What if it was meant for lip contact.”
The young woman blushes slightly and turns away.
“I could see how that would work…” she replied quietly. Erwin stared at Mikasa for a moment realizing he had placed embarrassing thoughts into his mind.
“Sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable..”
“No, I don’t mind it’s a really good suggestion.” she whispered. She secretly blamed herself for starting an uncomfortable silence. The two went their separate ways within the room to find more clues about the chocolate. One would stare at the other if they weren’t looking. Erwin went about his usual business unsure on how to speak to her again. In his search he would find books that weren’t his. Sometimes he would find a wrapper or two in them. The office held more secrets than one could tell. It was in that moment he had made a decision.
“I’m making this my office." He stated as he slid his fingers along the desk.
“I guess that means I should leave.” she chuckled.
"No, no, You can visit whenever you like." He laughed along with her.
“Then I’ll probably be here a lot of the time." She mused.
“Then I’ll be sure to leave the door unlocked.” Erwin spoke softly as stepped closer to her.
“It’s nice to hear that I’ll be welcomed.” She stepped toward him as well. The two inched closer and closer until finally they were side by side once again.
"How often would you like to visit?"
"Hmm... Maybe I'd just spend all day here, it's not like I have anything else to do.” Mikasa replied jokingly. She had just met the man the other day, this was a start at least.
"Then we could play video games all day. Oh wait, but if we play games all day, then I won't get work done"
"Yeah, video games are fun, but work is important."
He nods, awkward conversations put aside. Erwin felt at ease around the woman. He looked around the room and out the window. The hustle and bustle of life of the city passing by.
Mikasa slowly hooked Erwin’s index finger with hers. A slight hint of pink took to her cheeks. She felt queasy around him in that moment and shamed herself for even attempting to court the man. He was surprised, but clasped his hand onto hers with a gentle smile. She could feel his heat practically scorching her cold fingers. In the silence she swore he could hear the sound of her own heart beating out of her chest. She rested on his arm hiding her face under her dark locks.
“You know, if you’re uncomfortable it’s okay.” Erwin faced her. Her eyes avoided his gaze. Without a response she let go of his hands wrapping her arms around his torso. Erwin could feel his heart pounding through his rib cage. His arms around her waist and with a quiet whisper he said:
"I’ve never admitted this to anyone anyone before… so don’t take this lightly. When I first saw you, I t-thought you were g-gorgeous.” he stuttered in the last part of his sentence.
"You yourself are pretty handsome as well..” she replied relieved he felt the same way. Mikasa laughed at their combined awkwardness. He laughed along with her, enjoying their similarities.
"We should be awkward together, don't you think??" His hold on her tightened slightly.
"Yeah. That sounds good." Mikasa pulled him closer to the point of almost touching. He pressed his forehead to hers, wondering how it would feel to be pressed against her lips. His breath smelled sweet and his arms were welcoming. She couldn’t help herself when it came to situations like this. Mikasa’s eyelids dropped slowly submitting to Erwin. Their lips felt close but were far from meeting. Mikasa could feel her heart about to burst just touching Erwin. But as their lips were close to meeting a loud bang bang down the hall surprised the two causing them brake apart.
“What was that?” she stepped back into a defensive position immediately taking out her knife.
“It might have been Annie. It’s late.. Why don’t we get out of here?” Erwin suggested.
“Yeah sounds like a good idea.” she whispered as they crept out the building carefully.
Annie couldn't contain her anger much longer after what she had read. Before she knew it, her chair was flying through the air, and broke apart as it crashed onto the ground. “They left her to be by herself… alone,” She thought to herself. Back then did anyone bother with her grandmother? Did they try to reach her? Annie was in denial almost as if she herself had lived through it in that moment.
".. Dementia? There is no way." She denied the information for a while longer. She read and reread the papers, but there it was, in fine print. Her grandmother had dementia. She figured this Hanji person must’ve known and stolen the papers for her. She guessed that it was her way of coping and left the Mafia.
''She didn't want people to see her decay..." Annie set down the file with tears in her eyes. Her grandmother, the supposed god amongst men, was forgetting everything so she just went away without anyone to stop her. It pained her to know that woman lead such a familiar life to hers. Annie heaves a very heavy sigh and throws the folder onto the desk, still frustrated she knocks over an old computer monitor, shattering the screen. Realizing her mistake she curses herself.
“I probably should've looked for more files on that computer...” she sighs. She paces back and forth in the office as she read through more papers. Feeling distraught Annie puts her head down on the desk after a while. The news drained her energy, she couldn’t function well enough. Annie takes a few more deep breaths, the papers brought terrible memories to her mind. Voices started to whisper to her in her mind, some would laugh, others would yell. Trying to snap herself out of it, she applies all of her energy towards one thing she knows best. The crazed woman got up and kicked her foot through the wall as hard as she could. Luckily it was enough to make the voices inside her mind stop. She fell back onto the floor littered with papers.
“What sort of hell am I in?” she whispered closing her eyes.