Smile

Desire woke up while feeling the weight pressing on his body.

"Hmm?! J-jarina?"

It was Jarina, who was currently sleeping alongside him on her bed.

He then moved her gently to the side as he stood up.

Even though he just woke up, he could remember the events that happened just before he passed out.

"Scary...!"

And that was his most honest reaction about it.

Even for the monster loving Desire, he couldn't help but cower in fear when he felt the difference between him and Jarina.

Well, it wasn't as if he could help it.

If you don't consider his body that accelerated growth, his age is just one month old.

A baby wouldn't transform into a dragon overnight.

"Anyway, I would get killed, huh. That sounds pretty bad."

And because of what happened, the words spoken by Jarina was etched in his mind.

He couldn't forget it even if he wanted to. After all, face-to-face with Jarina was his first experience in coming into contact with death.

And because of that, he knew firsthand what it means to insult someone.

If Desire continued living his life normally, without changing his ways and improving himself, Desire would die somewhere down the line.

"Emotions should be the first thing I take care of."

If there were a thing that he gained from his conversation with Jarina, he now knew how to avoid desperate and dangerous situations.

That is to hide his emotions.

Desire wanted to be like Jarina, who could change her mood all of a sudden.

However, because of that, Desire had a regret that he could only keep for himself.

"Still, I wanted to see Jarina's real self."

Jarina told Desire that he should be mindful of his actions and emotions as if she could do it as well.

And if she could do those things like hiding emotions and intentions, Desire probably hadn't met the real 'Jarina.'

He only saw and talked with the Jarina, who was the 'young lady of the Suckus.'

Not Jarina herself.

"Hah. Anyway, how should I go controlling my emotions?"

Desire said as he walked towards the table. It seems the bed and where they ate were in the same room.

Well, Jarina probably brought the bed here so she wouldn't disturb Desire's sleep.

After a few steps, he reached the table and chairs and saw the food that wasn't eaten when they talked.

Desire took a seat where he saw before and ate the food that was still there.

Munch. Munch. The food was cold now, but it was still delicious.

After all, delicious foods are delicious, no matter if cold or hot.

As Desire continued eating, he soon took notice of the utensils that he was using.

Of course, he knew that it was something made by humans.

"Humans, huh. Will I...?"

Be able to hide my emotions?

Probably not. Desire thought as he remembered the day when the humans came invading the forest.

Whenever those times and images came into his mind, he would immediately be blinded with rage and hatred.

Could someone like Desire be able to control his rage?

Desire had no confidence in doing so.

However, that is only if he did it alone.

"Right, I should ask for a favor from her."

Desire took a look at the sleeping Jarina.

The dignity and pride coming from her couldn't be seen as she slept.

Her disciplined face was all loosened as saliva dripped from her mouth.

Her eyes were crescent-shaped as if she were having the highlights of her life.

It was a peaceful and beautiful face. However, that soon will fade as soon as she woke up.

"She's beautiful..."

Desire said as he continued watching the lady sleep.

His eyes were all over her, and even his focus loosened a bit in his control for his body.

However, despite that, there was no small sword waking up today.

After a while, Jarina woke up with a 'Yawnn~!' as she raised her body up.

She soon felt the gaze coming from Desire and turned her head towards his way.

"Desire! Good morning."

She greeted him with a smile quite unlike the face she made before.

'What happened?' Desire thought as he spoke.

"Good morning."

Jarina then happily stood up and walked with light steps as if she was having the best day of her life.

'Hmm~' She even hummed a playful tone as she then took a seat across from Desire.

"Oh, you ate already."

Seeing the clean plates devoid of any food, Jarina said as she looked at Desire again.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I could have made you a hot and nice meal."

"You were so beautiful as you slept that I dare not wake you up."

"Hehe. If you were a little bit older, I would have married you!"

Desire then went, 'Ah!' before speaking.

"I'm engaged to Liya. Although the marriage never came to be."

"Really? It's just a matter of time, though."

There, Desire coughed with his hands in front of his mouth.

"Anyway, can I ask for a favor?"

"What favor? Tell me; I'm in a good mood!"

Jarina then pumped her big chest with her hands and tried to reassure Desire as she said, 'I'm in a really, really good mood today!'

It seems what she did before sleeping was that good for her.

She had a big smile on her face as she watched Desire hesitate for a moment before speaking up.

Desire's eyes stared straight at Jarina's, speaking his determination to convey his will.

"Can...you teach me how to control my emotions?"

"..."

Desire's heart sunk, when after a few moments passed, Jarina still didn't answer.

'Stupid! I'm asking for a favor, yet I'm speaking like her equal!' Desire thought.

Desire was the one asking for a favor, yet his tone was normal, and his actions didn't seem to be sincere.

There's no way Jarina would accept something like that.

After all, Desire, in Jarina's perspective, was just a bug she can crush if ever she wanted to.

Besides, Desire didn't have anything Jarina would be interested in.

It was then.

Desire, having steeled his resolve, bent his back 90 degrees to the ground and shouted out loud.

"Please teach me!"

"..."

Desire wasn't a prideful individual who wouldn't bow to others. In fact, he doesn't even have any pride at all.

What's more, this favor that he was asking for was something that would save his life down the line.

It was only right for him to take the right actions, words, attitude to ask for a favor of this level.

The only people or race that he wouldn't bow to is probably the humans.

"Hah. Do you think learning how to do that is easy? You'll have to stay here for at least 3 years. Do you think you could stay here for that long? You're a human. Don't forget that."

"..."

Desire didn't move from his spot and kept his posture.

Of course, he knew what Jarina was talking about. No matter how much Desire loves a monster, in the end, he was a human.

He can't stay in a world that he doesn't belong to.

Besides, all Desire could think of right now was to do something about his 'hate' and 'love.' If he doesn't do it, once he starts walking out in the world, the only thing he can do is to die.

And if he dies, he wouldn't be able to meet Lyra, Liya, the women at the village, or even Percia.

And even though they only met today, not meeting Jarina is a hard thing to accept for Desire.

'Even if I have to bend my back for days!'

Even if I have to stay like this for months.

Even if my back breaks from my bowing.

Even if my life ends...

Either way, Desire has no way out if he doesn't learn right now.

If he lives now, he would only die later. And that was a fact for Desire.

As time passed on, the two stayed still as if they were part of a painting.

Second by second...

Desire could feel his back muscles hurt. He was going numb at the knees.

Minute by minute...

He could feel his bones screaming at him. His legs that support him were quivering as if it couldn't stand anymore.

Hour by hour...

He could feel his strength and soul going out of his body, but he held on. No...he wasn't even conscious anymore.

Bowing his head and body for hours isn't an easy thing to do. It wasn't the natural posture for a human.

It was amazing that he was even standing.

He was that desperate.

And just before a day passed, exactly at 1 second away from another day, Jarina finally spoke.

She didn't know if Desire could hear his words or not, for she knows how much it must hurt for him to stay like that.

Either way, Desire also didn't see, didn't see the smile hanging on Jarina's pink lips.

"Fine. I'll teach you."

Because of Desire's actions, Jarina was smiling from the bottom of her heart.