It was the same when I broke up with Huijeong.
Come to think of it, when was the last time I cried? I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind immediately. Something stirred inside me.
I was originally a child who didn’t cry easily. Because I realized too early that nothing changes even if you cry. Instead of shedding tears, I swallowed sighs inside.
Rashanin’s figure in front of me blurred. Wondering what this was, I blinked, and only then did I notice something hot flowing down my cheeks. It was tears.
I was sad. I was angry. I felt wronged. That I couldn’t see my friend again, that I couldn’t answer the phone at 3 AM, that I still couldn’t purely grieve even so, that I’d lost love, because I was pathetic and foolish.
Saying nothing will change, tears shed for oneself are ugly and bitter beyond compare.
“You cry without making a sound.”
“……?”
Rashanin’s eyes looking down at me were strangely cold. Why are you looking at me with those eyes?
“It’s better to make a sound.”
Cry. Make a sound. The hand of the man giving orders with incomparable arrogance slowly moved and touched my tear-wet cheek.
It didn’t tremble like last night. Instead, I thought the hand wiping away tears was strangely cool, and wondered why this man was doing this. It was the same when Rashanin bent down and pressed his lips to the tears flowing below my eyes.
Why is he doing this?
“Why……?”
My lips moved. Why? At my question, Rashanin created a bit of distance. Rashanin’s eyes, tinged with gray rather than purple, smiled faintly.
“When a kitten cries, you want to hold it.”
That and this seem a bit different. But the question couldn’t come out as sound. Because of the lips touching near my eyes again, I had to close my eyes this time. My chin was held in his hand. A soft touch continued from my eyes to my chin. Because my eyes were closed, I could even hear the very small sound of lips touching moisture. Perhaps my heartbeat sounded even louder.
“It’s salty.”
Rashanin, who complained briefly, grabbed my shoulder and kissed me. With a dazed head, I wondered if this was okay, but I didn’t think about what to do with Rashanin, who was lightly sucking my lower lip. I just let him lick and suck as he pleased. The shallow kiss soon deepened. I couldn’t think of anything. With the feeling that my soul was slipping out, I left everything to him.
When breathing became difficult, Rashanin pulled his lips away.
“Your tears have stopped.”
Rashanin lightly kissed near my eyes again. When I barely opened my eyes, I saw Rashanin smiling.
“Pull yourself together.”
Rashanin, who whispered softly, slowly got up and then disappeared just like that. As if he’d teleported.
For a long while, I stared blankly at where Rashanin had disappeared.
He was here just a moment ago. We were kissing.
As soon as I thought of the word ‘kiss,’ my body and brain froze. We kissed. He and I. Kissed. Even though we’re both men. No, before gender, he’s a vampire. No, I mean……
I’ve gone crazy. Why did I do that? Did I drink too much?
All sorts of thoughts came at once, and my head became a jumbled mess.
“A kiss……”
Speaking out loud, the simultaneous goosebumps that rose weren’t just because of the cold night breeze seeping between my collar at the right moment.
The alcohol seemed to have worn off, but I couldn’t think of anything.
**Chapter 3. Sweet Temptation**
The most tactless bastard in the world is the bastard who calls once, and when you don’t answer, keeps calling until you do.
Thinking that such bastards could be shot dead with a gun, I opened my eyes. In the jacket pocket lying on the floor, my phone was vibrating like crazy. While I rubbed my puffy eyes, the ring stopped and then started again.
This was the fifth time.
“Ah… really.”
Annoyed, I picked up my phone to check and an unidentified number appeared. I momentarily thought of my stepmother, but you never know.
It was possible that a vampire I was managing might contact me from an unregistered phone for an urgent matter. I took a deep breath and answered the phone.
“This is Lee Unhyuk.”
―Unhyuk-ah.
The ominous premonition was correct. It was my stepmother.
“Mother.”
―Why don’t you answer when I call from my number? Are you avoiding me? Hm?
“Yes. I’m avoiding you. Don’t contact me. I have no money to give you, Mother.”
I spoke curtly without lingering attachment. From beyond the receiver came a sigh along with words like ‘how could you,’ but I didn’t care and pressed the end button. I was sitting on the bed sighing when my phone vibrated again. It was that number from before.
She was a persistent person. With it switched to silent mode, I registered it as spam just like that. I threw the now quiet phone onto the bed and rubbed my stiff face.
“First thing in the morning……”
My father’s insurance money was 250 million won. There were quite a lot of bank deposits too. There was no reason to call this persistently over a mere 7 million won. Moreover, I’d never once done what she asked.
There must definitely be some other scheme. I was sighing deeply when my phone vibrated again. I thought my stepmother might be calling from a different number, but I couldn’t help but check this time too.
This time, the phone number’s beginning was strange. It wasn’t an area code, nor a carrier number or advertisement number. It was a number similar to one of the missed calls I’d checked yesterday. With a feeling of ‘could it be,’ I answered the phone.
“This is Lee Unhyuk.”
―Hello, Lee Unhyuk-ssi. This is Manuel Wagrbut. Do you remember?
“Yes.”
There’s no way I could forget the guy who threw me between fighting vampires.
―The reason I’m calling is none other than that the Princess would like to see Lee Unhyuk-ssi. Would it be alright to have lunch together at 1 o’clock today?
“That won’t work. I have an appointment at 1.”
While answering, I checked the phone’s clock. It was 11:37. I’d arranged to meet Jinchul sunbae at 1 to go to Namsu’s funeral parlor once more. If I washed up, got ready, and left, it would be a time I could just barely make. I seemed to understand why Manuel kept calling like a tactless guy. But I didn’t want to meet them in this gloomy mood.
―Then how about dinner?
He’s persistent. I don’t want to meet them. Grumbling inwardly, I scratched my head vigorously.
“Since I don’t know when work will end, it seems impossible anyway.”
―It won’t be too late when you return, right?
“Ah, yes.”
I briefly considered lying that it would be very late, then told the truth. I didn’t know how long I’d be at the funeral parlor, but if I didn’t drink, it wouldn’t be difficult to arrive by dinner time.
―That’s enough. I’ll make a reservation at the Rudan Hotel restaurant for 8:30 PM today. Would that be alright?
Manuel proceeded with things swiftly. Like when he threw me, his drive seemed impressive.
“Um, I have something to ask before making an appointment.”
―Yes. Please speak.
“Why does she want to see me?”
We hadn’t even exchanged names, so calling her Elisabeth by name or calling her Princess didn’t feel right, so I referred to her as ‘she.’
I really don’t want to see her. Why does she want to meet?
―The Princess would like to apologize in person. She feels responsible that Lee Unhyuk-ssi got caught up and injured unintentionally.
“That’s……”
―Yes. Of course, it should be me apologizing, not the Princess. Since I was the one who threw you.
His tone was blunt beyond compare even while admitting his fault.
―I’d also like to apologize once more. Of course, in person, face to face.
“Understood.”
―Then I’ll see you in the evening.
The call ended without me being able to say a single word of refusal. I glared at the screen flashing with the call duration and frowned.
Only after hanging up did I remember that I hadn’t asked if Rashanin would also be there.
Rashanin.
“Haah.”
As I recalled the man’s name, a sigh naturally came out. More than Namsu’s death or news of Huijeong’s divorce, the fact that I’d kissed Rashanin kept occupying my mind.
Last night, so out of it, I couldn’t even think of returning to my hotel room and came fleeing to my goshiwon. I even brushed my teeth three times.
“Ah, this is strange.”
Until now, I’d never caused trouble while drunk. But at this age, to kiss a man, and a vampire at that. He said something about comforting a crying kitten, but why would that lead to a kiss? And also, why didn’t I push him away?
