Vampire

[Diana's POV]

When did the hatred I held for him begin to intertwine with another emotion I couldn't dare name?

Initially, he was a stranger who haunted my nightmares like a demon from the stories I heard about.

Then, after the truth was unveiled, he became someone I still despised, although not to the point of wanting him dead as before.

But after that fateful day on the rooftop, when I was transformed into a vampire by Draven who terrifies me to this very day, our relationship was destined to evolve.

It was one thing for him to keep my new identity a secret, despite having no obligation to do so. He had nothing to gain by shielding me from the authorities or the academy. In fact, he might have been rewarded had he exposed me.

Yet, he remained silent, honoring his promise.

And when I succumbed to the blood frenzy and attacked a stranger in public after accidentally drinking fresh human blood, he was the only one I could turn to for support without feeling the pressure of the world on my shoulders.

What did I truly seek from him? Comfort?

Was it reassurance that everything would be alright?

Or was he simply a sounding board for my emotions?

To this day, I don't have the answer. Only my past self, consumed by profusely panic and out of her mind, could provide it and she is long gone.

What I do know is that from the moment I dialed his number that night, he secured another place in my already crowded mind.

Previously, he existed solely as the person I detested most, even if his actions weren't entirely his fault. Now, he lingered in my thoughts as someone I couldn't shake off.

He wasn't only there in my nightmares. He would sometimes visit in mundane dreams or even pleasant ones.

Is it love?

No, I can confidently claim that it isn't love.

At least — I believe it isn't love. The concept remains untouchable to me at the moment so it is a feeling I cannot claim nor deny.

Nevertheless, this new sentiment I hold for him is undeniably positive.

Reluctantly, I accepted his offer to be my blood bank, feeling somewhat coerced into doing so as he pressured me with harsh but honest words about the future my life would hold depending on the path I were to take.

I must admit, his blood was exquisite, bordering on addictive. However, I had no desire to drink it frequently, as it burdened not only him but also the lingering fragments of my humanity.

Then, I stumbled upon a picture and video of Bell with Ichiko, a person I knew of due to her fame regarding her looks, her clan, as well as her talent.

"Why are they sitting so close together?" I muttered aloud.

It wasn't my concern, so I tossed my phone onto the bed and proceeded to dress for school.

Less than a minute later, I picked up the device again, inspecting the images once more.

"Could they be dating?" I speculated, an uncharacteristic interest in the lives of strangers stirring within me.

"Yes, that's right. He's just a stranger," I reminded myself. "Why should I care about his love life or how pretty the girl he's with is?"

Chuckling at my own foolish behavior, I headed to school, bombarded by the chatter surrounding Bell, Ichiko, and their mysterious relationship that people could only speculate about.

'It feels like just weeks ago they couldn't stop discussing me and Bell. Now, it's this other girl who's on everyone's mind,' I thought, clicking my tongue in annoyance.

Abruptly, my thoughts halted as I realized what had just run through my mind, and immediately, it temporarily shut down.

When it rebooted, half an hour passed, and I realized I had missed the teacher's instructions regarding the final project.

'Pull yourself together,' I scolded myself, mustering all my focus for the remainder of the day.

But despite my efforts, the incessant gossip around me served as a constant reminder of what I was attempting to ignore.

'Wait... this is none of my business. Why am I so preoccupied with the idle chatter of others?' I questioned myself.

I repeated over and over in my head, 'None of my business. None of my business. None.'

Bewildered by the turbulence in my mind, I ate my lunch in silence, prompting my friends to worry about my well-being.

"This isn't like you. Your plate is barely touched and you haven't spoken a word other than 'hi'."

"Do you not have an appetite, my wittle baby?"

"Are you perhaps sick?"

'Am I truly unwell?' I pondered, reflecting on my nonsensical actions throughout the day.

"You may be right. I must be sick," I responded.

'Otherwise... I wouldn't be so fixated on something so meaningless. Finals are approaching. I need to study and be prepared.'

I was determined to do just that and yet, in the midst of a film session, where we reviewed our sparring matches and offered critiques, another thought infiltrated my mind.

'He mentioned he wasn't sure if he still had a crush on me because of the incident and the complications it brought to him. Could this girl perhaps be his new infatuation?' I pondered.

The question lingered, consuming my thoughts until the end of the day. By the time I snapped out of it, the final class had arrived, and my phone was open, displaying our text messages.

'Why is this open?' I wondered, my thumb hovering over the power button.

Curiosity overcame me, and I began going through our old text messages. They were short as expected of our awkward relationship, and the last one simply contained the location and time of our meeting that I provided him.

'I... I feel a little thirsty. That's right. I... I need some more blood.,' I concluded, rising from my seat.

I requested the teacher's permission to leave, which they granted without question.

'That's why my mind is so jumbled. The lack of blood is causing me to act strangely,' I affirmed, nodding to myself. 'I just need a little blood and I'll be fine.'

By chance, we arrived at the meeting spot simultaneously. Bell wasted no time, promptly fetching a chair and seating himself.

A seemingly simple action, and yet, why did my eyes fixate on the sliver of his forearm exposed by rolled-up sleeves?

I paced back and forth, questioning my sanity. 'Should I ask him about his relationship with that girl? No... that would be strange. We don't have the kind of relationship where we can ask such questions freely.'

I halted abruptly, scolding myself.

'What am I doing? I'm here for blood, nothing more.'

Feeling foolish for being distracted from our intended purpose, I approached him and began unbuttoning his shirt.

His neck was already exposed, and I couldn't help but swallow, feeling a thirst deep within me.

'I was right. Ha! I was simply thirsty for blood,' I assured myself as I could already smell that scent of blood hidden beneath his skin.

As I reached for the third button, he grabbed my wrists, confusion etched across his face.

"Uhm... what are you doing?" he asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I retorted.

'Wasn't it obvious that I called him here for blood? I mean... why else would I call him?'

He answered, "It looks like you're trying to take off my shirt."

We seemed to be on the same page, or so I thought. "Then you already know the answer. That's exactly what I'm doing."

I resumed unbuttoning, only for him to seize my wrists once again.

"What?" I asked, wondering if he was trying to tease me which would be a rude thing to do.

"Why are you unbuttoning my shirt though?" he inquired.

'Ah, so we weren't on the same page. Could it be because he was tired? Perhaps staying up late and dealing with the police has taken a toll on him.'

"So... I can drink your blood," I responded matter-of-factly. "You know, like the previous two times we've done this."

"But why do you need my blood? Didn't you drink a lot last time?" he questioned.

'I did drink a lot,' I thought to myself.

In fact, I had drunk so deeply previously that I wondered if Bell was in danger of suffering from blood or mana loss.

'Must I lie?' I contemplated, gazing into his perplexed eyes. 'No wait, I'm not lying. I am thirsty. That's why I'm here after all. Only that. Nothing else.'

"Yes but my urges are back," I answered truthfully.

His confusion grew deeper as he murmured, "Really?"

There were countless thoughts racing through his mind, evident in his expression. Yet, he kept them all to himself, opting for a simple response.

"Drink as much as you need. Drink a little extra so we don't have to do this so often," he suggested.

His words struck me as burdened, as though he didn't truly desire this arrangement. 'Why are you making it sound like you don't want to do this? You're the one who offered the choice to me.'

Then, it dawned on me. 'This is a burden, for both of us,' I reminded myself. 'Both... of us. Both.'

Apologizing silently to him, I sank my fangs into his neck, drawing forth his life-giving blood.

Whatever complex thoughts had swirled within me, they faded away as I relished in the sweet taste of his essence.

I drank and drank, until finally, I felt satiated. I briefly wondered if I had drained him completely, but as I observed him, I realized he remained alive.

Embarrassed by my voraciousness, I wiped my mouth, retrieved my backpack from the floor, and wordlessly exited the room.

I thought that drinking his blood and I would be fine.

I thought that my mind would clarify and I would return to normal.

Pausing in the bathroom for a moment, I caught my reflection in the mirror.

My cheeks held a faint rosy hue.

"Ah... that's what it was," I mused, letting out a sigh.

Closing my eyes, I attempted to recall the feeling I had experienced when I first encountered Bell after his suspension.

It had been a terrifying sensation, the most terrifying I've ever felt in my life, and yet, now, I struggled to summon it.

Such were the altered circumstances between us.

"I was jealous," I realized.

And now, we find ourselves in the present, with the much-awaited break between semesters finally upon us.

I've burdened Bell with my needs, and yet, he willingly accepts them.

He has to take time out of his day twice and meet me at this strange location just so my urges can be satisfied.

Sometimes, those urges aren't even real.

I just wanted to see him.

I can't label it as love, and I still harbor a deep-seated animosity toward him — but I confess, my heart flutters ever so slightly in his presence.

The second reason why I would lie about my urges: "And his blood..." I mumbled, wiping a hint of drool from my lips.

It truly is exquisite.