Back home.

“What is this.” Ilay glares at me.

Those are the eyes I was expecting of a vampire! I can believe he’s definitely a vampire now. I would be scared of a glare like that, but I’m in an unreasonably good mood, haha.

“Hyung, who is this boy!?”

One of the boys ask.

‘cough’ I should stop laughing now. I regain my composure after laughing my ass off, “It’s just a random boy who I met while getting food.”

All the kids look at Ilay, “ehhh?”

”But he doesn’t smell like us?”

Three of the kids ask similarly.

“Oh that’s uh- because…..”

How do I come up with an excuse for this.. But it’s not like they know-

“That’s because I’m a vampire.”

!!!! “*Now, w***hy would you say that!?”**

Ilay shrugs.

“Vampire? Oppa/Hyung, what’s that?”

All the kids stare at me in confusion.

*“*Well, it’s a different species, different from werewolves, that’s all.” I smile, gently patting their heads.

I glance at Ilay, he looks at me with a surprised expression.

*I can tell he wants to ask something, *“Let’s talk inside.”

He nods and heads inside along with me and the kids.

***

With the help of some kids, we cooked meals out of the livestock I got earlier and evenly shared it to everyone. I tell Ilay to sit with me on the secluded table beside the window to talk.

I should just get straight to the point, no dilly-dallying.

“Well..What do you wanna ask?”

“Hm, well..”

Ilay taps on the table, as if deep in thought.

Is there alot of questions going on his mind?

I stare at him, waiting when he’ll speak.

“Haha.”

Ilay smiles.

That cold smile again, what’s he even thinking about?

“Tay.”

“Pffft..You pronounced my name wrong.”

Ilay stares at me in silence, slightly changing his expression.

”T-Tay.?”

“Hahaha! Didn’t you pronounce my name correctly the first time? What happened?” I chuckle while eating my meal.

Ilay looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.

pffft..Why is he so silly? It keeps making me laugh! A seemingly cold guy ever so slightly changing his expression because he can’t pronounce my name right..Haha!

I burst out laughing.

The kids look at me, curious as to why I’m laughing so much.

“Taeui, Jeong Taeui.”

Ilay furrows his eyebrows.

“Hm? Aha, yes that’s right.”

I wipe off the tears on my eyes from laughing so much.

“You finally got it! Congratulations.”

I pat his back as I walk to the kitchen to return my plate. I heard Ilay muttering behind me but I couldn’t hear it. Oh well!

I glance at the sky,

Wait, it’s dark out. And the kids..are still awake.

….

THE KIDS ARE STILL AWAKE!?

“Kids! Why are you all still awake? You could’ve just slept and I would’ve woken you guys up anyway or just waited till morning..”

The kids look at me with saddened expressions,

”We waited for you Oppa/Hyung.”

“We were worried that you would die!”

”Or get eaten!”

”Or get kidnapped!”

”Or..Be turned into a slave for all eternit-!”

”Okay kids, that’s enough.”

I interrupted this panicked pack of mine.

”I’m touched that you guys would care for me so much, but put yourselves first before me alright? Hyung/Oppa won’t go anywhere.”

“Oppa…”

”Hyung…”

The kids hurriedly hug me tight.

“Ack!! Are you guys trying to choke me?”

I chuckle.

“That’s what u get for worrying us!”

We all laugh happily.

….

But amidst that laughter, I could feel eyes piercing at me. Those eyes belonged to none other than, Ilay.

I glanced at him, he had a thoughtful, neither positive nor negative expression, and yet, I could feel somewhat loneliness in his gaze.

His expression, seems nostalgic for some reason..Like I’ve seen it before?

...************...

(something like this bg but pretend it’s 8 beds

I finish tucking the blanket of the last kid.

“Phew! Goodnight Anasthasia. Don’t let the vamps bite\~”

“Don’t scare me like that..” Anasthasia mumbles as she buries herself deep in her blanket.

I giggle.

“Vamps? Short for vampires, I assume?”

“That’s right!”

I walk over to Ilay who’s leaning on the door.

“I see, I guess vampires and werewolves hold a grudge against eachother.”

“Eh really? Vampires hate werewolves too?”

“Yes, we use the term “degenerate, unethical, irregular downgraded dogs.” for you werewolves.”

I thought he was mocking me but he said it in a regular tone.

”You sure did empathize the words though..”

I muttered.

“Hm\~? I guess I did out of habit.”

….

“Well..I guess that means we’re even! Let’s celebrate by having beer\~!”

I happily run downstairs and glance at Ilay to follow me, he just looks at me with a curious expression.

***

I take off the lid and drink.

”Ah, beer really is the solution for everything!”

I proclaimed joyfully. My mood really does get better with beer.

“Do you really like beer to that extent?”

Ilay asks as he takes another sip of his beer.

“Mhm! I could live with anybody if they had an infinite amount of beer!”

I jokingly answered, although, it’s not a bad thought..

Ilay stares at me, “Right..”

He keeps having that weird expression on his face..

”Gee, what’s with you and that expression of yours? Quit it! It’s getting weird.”

“Hm? Ah, I must’ve zoned out.”

“Okay, Mr. Refined Man.”

“Okay, beer lover.”

Ilay chuckles softly.

…

”Pffftt..You’re honestly pretty friendly for a vampire, not like the rumors I’ve heard at all.”

“…Friendly? Me? Haha, I can’t say I’ve heard of that before.”

“You should open yourself towards others, then you’ll be really likable! With personality and looks, you’ll be the ideal man every lady will yearn for!”

Ilay stares at me with a slight surprised expression, then smiles, in a somewhat teasingly tone,

“My looks? Are you saying I’m handsome?”

……

The room suddenly goes silent.

……

“Sure..” I awkwardly reply.

Ilay glares at me,

“…Hey, if you’re gonna say something outrageous and not talk when someone responds to it, it’s best you keep your mouth shut in the first place.”

……Is he..embarrassed?

I try my best to hold my laughter and keep my expression steady.

*“***Sorry sorry.”**

“You should be.”

Haha..This guy, he tries so hard to intimidate me.

*“***Well, I’m sleepy now so..”**

I rub my eyes.

”Hm? It’s gonna be morning soon, you’re gonna wake up at noon if you sleep now.”

“Eh it’s okay. Ah wait..The kids, right..”

I’m really tired because of this whole night..

”Hey Ilay, since I’m letting you stay here, can you cook breakfast for the kids? There’s still some leftover meat in the kitchen so you can cook just enough for them.”

“What about you? You’re not having breakfast?”

“It’s alright. What’s more important right now is getting a good night’s sleep.”

My eyes feel heavy now. I slowly close my eyes and drift off.

Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

...——————...

„Mmmm..What time is it.?”

I open my eyes.

“Afternoon.”

“Eh..Ilay!?”

“Yes?”

Ilay keeps his eyes on the book, flipping through the pages as if simply skimming it.

“Why are you still here?”