Chapter Text
"What are you doing here?"
"Didn't I just tell you? I'm lost."
Seriously, does he think I'm an idiot?
"Aren't you local? How are you lost?"
"I don't think I've ever been here before."
He said it like he had amnesia.
A few days ago he was talking about showing me some secret scenic spots. Good thing I didn't go with him.
"If you go straight and turn right, you should reach a bigger road."
"And then?"
"Then you can go home."
"I don't have a home."
"......"
"Not anymore."
"......"
Taeyi stared at the man in complete disbelief.
What kind of soap opera was he acting in?
What did he mean by not anymore?
Houses don't just disappear overnight.
Did he think I was stupid, or was he stupid himself?
Suppressing his irritation, Taeyi forced himself to speak calmly.
"There are hotels on the main road."
"I didn't bring my ID."
...Seriously?
He's doing this on purpose, right?
So he has nowhere to go.
No.
More accurately, he's decided to stick to me and refuse to go anywhere else.
Who would believe a story like that?
But I couldn't exactly leave him outside either.
The strange smell of blood he'd noticed at the hospital a few days ago was still bothering him.
If something really happened...
Tch.
Taeyi looked up.
The man was watching him with that subtle smile again.
...Fine.
Looks like I don't have a choice.
"You can sleep on the couch."
"Okay."
Not even half a second of hesitation.
...As expected.
"Let's make something clear first. You're only allowed to use the couch and the table. Don't touch anything else."
"Okay."
...Why is he being so obedient?
"Can I have some water?"
"Sure."
"Can I go into the kitchen?"
"Uh... sure. Just don't touch anything else. If things get moved around, I won't be able to find them."
A terrible excuse.
There were blood bags in the fridge.
He couldn't find out.
The man headed toward the kitchen.
Taeyi watched his back.
...Wait.
Why did I let a stranger into my house?
As he passed the refrigerator, the man paused briefly, as if he smelled something.
Then he casually poured himself some water.
"The bathroom is over there. You can use anything inside, just put it back afterward. By the way, do you have a change of clothes?"
"No."
"Then wash your clothes too. You can hang them on the balcony."
"Okay."
Right...
He doesn't have anything to change into.
I guess I'll lend him something.
Unfortunately, the man was far too tall.
The only thing Taeyi owned that would fit him was a pair of pants.
The two of them stood in front of the closet discussing the problem.
"The only thing that'll fit you is the pants..."
"Then I'll just wear the pants."
"Fine. Do you at least have underwear? I'm not letting you wear mine."
"No."
"Then... should we go buy some?"
"I can just go without."
What kind of thug says something like that?
Taeyi stared at him in disbelief, silently asking,
Are you serious?
The man simply returned a bored look.
"Fine. Just go take a shower."
The sound of running water soon came from the bathroom.
At last, the apartment was quiet.
Taeyi let out a long sigh.
"Finally..."
He walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a blood bag.
The straw pierced the plastic.
The dark red liquid slowly disappeared.
As the blood entered his mouth, his reflection appeared in the refrigerator door.
The dark brown eyes gradually turned rose-red.
Unlike the faint pink that appeared when he was hungry.
Only during actual feeding did the color become this vivid.
Sharp fangs slowly emerged beneath his lips.
Maybe it was because he kept smelling that man's blood lately.
His appetite seemed to be getting stronger.
Four bags left.
Looks like I'll have to visit the hospital again soon.
...
Inside the bathroom.
The man stood behind the door.
Hot water continued running.
Steam slowly filled the room.
Yet he hadn't even taken off his shirt.
That scent appeared again.
Stronger than at the café.
Stronger than at the hospital.
Lowering his gaze, he quietly opened the door a crack.
Light from the living room spilled in.
The figure standing before the refrigerator had his back turned.
A blood bag in his hand.
Dark red liquid slowly disappearing through a clear straw.
And reflected in the refrigerator door—
A pair of vivid rose-red eyes.
Sharp fangs beneath pale lips.
The man watched silently.
No surprise.
No reaction.
Only the slightest curve of a smile.
I see.
The door closed again.
Several seconds later, the real sounds of water and moving clothes finally began.
...
His clothes still weren't dry.
Taeyi glanced at the half-naked man wearing nothing but pants.
A strange feeling crossed his mind.
"Take the blanket."
"What about you?"
"I'll use a throw blanket."
"You won't be cold?"
"I'll be fine."
Besides, I don't really get cold.
And if this guy catches a cold tomorrow, he'll just become my problem.
Taeyi grabbed the blanket and headed into his room.
Locking the door behind him.
Just in case that guy tried sneaking in.
He definitely looked suspicious.
The curtains blocked every trace of light.
The room fell completely dark.
He sank into the soft mattress.
Thankfully he'd bought a double bed.
It was spacious.
Comfortably enveloping.
Pulling the blanket over himself, he closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
His consciousness faded.
Eventually, everything became still.
...
Somehow, the man opened the locked door.
Hearing the steady breathing, he looked at the sleeping figure sprawled across the bed.
He actually locked the door...
And he can't even keep his blanket on.
What exactly are you?
He reached out.
His fingers brushed Taeyi's cheek.
As though responding instinctively, Taeyi leaned into the touch.
"Mm... warm..."
The man paused.
Looking down at his hand.
The softness of that brief contact still lingered.
So this was what he was like while asleep.
Always pushing people away when awake.
Yet completely different once unconscious.
He pulled the fallen blanket back over Taeyi's shoulder.
Then left the room.
Opening the refrigerator, he picked up several blood bags and examined them.
Real blood.
After putting everything back exactly where it had been, he returned to the couch.
Pretending nothing had happened.
As he pulled the blanket over himself, he caught the faint scent of coffee.
A trace of blood.
And...
The scent of that unknown person.
...
The room was completely dark.
So quiet it was impossible to tell what time it was.
Taeyi buried his face in the pillow.
Rubbing against it comfortably.
...Why is it so quiet today?
...
Wait.
Isn't there a strange man in my house?
His eyes snapped open.
Instantly awake.
The bedroom door opened.
The living room was silent.
The blanket on the couch was folded neatly.
The man was gone.
Did he leave?
For some reason, relief mixed with a strange sense of disappointment.
Then a voice came from the kitchen.
"Good morning."
"......"
The silver-haired man sat at the dining table.
Holding a mug.
As though he lived here.
"Why are you still here?"
"You never told me what time I had to leave."
"......"
A completely valid point.
And somehow even more irritating because of it.
Taeyi walked toward the refrigerator.
His hand paused.
The refrigerator hadn't been opened.
The blood bags were still exactly where he had left them.
The table was clean too.
Even the clothes from last night had already been washed and hung up to dry.
...Seriously?
Taeyi walked to the balcony.
The silver-white shirt was hanging on the outermost side.
The black gloves were clipped beside it.
Right.
This guy always wore gloves.
For some reason, Taeyi's gaze lingered there for a few seconds.
Just then, a voice sounded from behind him.
"What are you looking at?"
Taeyi turned around.
The man was slowly taking off his other glove.
Long fingers.
Clearly defined knuckles.
Skin so pale it was almost translucent.
Faint calluses on his joints and palms.
"Why do you always wear gloves?"
"I'm used to them."
"Has anyone ever told you your hands are beautiful?"
"You're the first."
Huh...?
How is that possible?
Realizing his gaze was far too obvious, Taeyi quickly changed the subject.
"Did you wash those?"
"Mm."
"You know how to do housework?"
The man raised his eyes.
"Do I look like I don't?"
"Yeah..."
"......"
For the first time, Taeyi saw the man look speechless.
For some reason, it was a little funny.
"Your clothes are almost dry."
"Thank you."
The man stood up and picked up his coat.
"Then I'll be going."
Finally...
"See you tonight."
"Wait. What do you mean, tonight?"
The man's lips curved slightly.
"The fourth time."
"......"
The door closed.
The living room fell silent again.
Taeyi stood there, staring at the now-empty doorway.
...Has this guy already decided he's a regular customer?
For some reason, the thought of seeing that silver-white hair again tonight didn't irritate him as much as it had yesterday.
...
By night, the café was about to close.
Didn't that guy say he was coming?
...So much for see you tonight.
He gave up that quickly?
After finishing everything, Taeyi stepped outside the café.
And there stood the man he hadn't expected to see.
Tch...
The smell of blood was especially strong today.
Taeyi pretended nothing was wrong and looked at him.
"Uh... were you here the whole time?"
"You were about to close, so I waited outside."
"You're late today."
"You care?"
The man smiled like he had won something.
Taeyi froze for a moment.
...Has this guy been saying things like that more often lately?
"I don't."
He looked away.
"You said you'd see me tonight."
"I had more work today."
"So you really do have a job."
Taeyi chatted with him while locking the door.
"..."
The man's face was full of speechlessness.
"You keep coming to the café, so I thought you were just really free."
"Is that so."
"You said before that you help your brother with work, right? What do you usually do?"
After locking the door, Taeyi prepared to head home.
But the man seemed to have a different idea.
"How about we take a detour by the river? It's a full moon tonight."
"Hm? I want to go home."
"You insulted me just now. Shouldn't you make up for it?"
Huh?
What kind of new scam is this?
First he twists the conversation around, and now he's guilt-tripping me?
Taeyi frowned slightly and looked at the man.
The man simply looked back at him in silence, wearing a faint smile.
"Do we have to?"
"I feel very hurt."
And you're saying that with a face that looks like you're enjoying this?
"Come on. Taking a detour won't take too much time."
"Sigh... fine."
On the way to the river, the two chatted idly.
About the weather.
The customers at the café.
Their usual hobbies.
It was a quiet autumn night.
The stream moved slowly.
Aside from the gentle wind, the only movement there was came from the two of them.
"Do you like looking at the moon? Or do you like the river?"
"Neither."
"Then why did you ask me to come..."
"Because you seemed to like it."
There it was again.
That kind of answer again.
"How would you even know that... Never mind."
"I don't particularly like it. I just like how quiet it feels."
A life without waves.
No one interfering.
No need to accept anyone's death.
"Isn't death quiet too?"
...
Does he know what he's saying?
Still, he wasn't wrong.
Just like the quiet surrounding me now.
The dead were always silent.
Moonlight fell across that sharply defined face.
His silver-white hair shifted gently in the night breeze.
Those eyes remained calm.
As if what he'd said just now had been nothing more than an ordinary passing remark.
No way...
Does he really understand?
That feeling of nothing happening.
Of knowing no one would ever appear again.
That feeling of standing in an empty house after a funeral.
Knowing you would have to keep living alone from then on.
That feeling of even longing becoming blurred after too much time had passed.
For the first time,
Taeyi suddenly wanted to ask something.
But when the words reached his throat,
he didn't know how to say them.
In the end, he only looked away.
"...You're a really strange person."