"Don't go anywhere and wander around, got it?"
The four teenagers nodded.
"I've bought a lot of snacks. If it's not enough, just order delivery, okay?"
The four teenagers nodded again.
"Do not get out—"
"Honey, that's enough. They understand," the soft voice of a grown man cut off the woman's words.
"But I'm still worried, Dad. I'm still traumatized by what happened when they got lost in Central Park last time," Tania, one of the Andaru twins' parents, looked at the four teenagers who were still sitting on their couch in front of the living room television.
"I understand you are worried, dear. However, what happened they got lost was not their fault," Prabu Andaru, the head of the family at home, walked in complete with his police uniform. Yes, he has a night shift today.
Tania sighed. "Why do we both have the same night shift, anyway? Can't you just tell your subordinates? So you can take care of them," Tania looked at Prabu, who just smiled with visible dimples.
Prabu walked over and took Tania into his arms, knowing that his wife was worried half to death. "Calm down, honey. They will be fine. Trust them, okay? After all, there is Rasya here, ready to report if something goes wrong. Isn't it, Rasya?" Prabu turned to look at Rasya, to which Rasya gave a quick nod.
Tania pushed Prabu and straightened her nurse's uniform. "But still, I'm worried," Tania grumbled. Prabu just smiled and glanced at the four watching them silently.
"You're not going to do anything, are you?"
The four youths shook their heads in unison. "See, right? That's fine. They'll just be doing group work after this. What could've go wrong?"
"Last, you said they were lost in the forest," Tania replied fiercely. Then he turned and walked the four teenagers who were still silent. Tania kissed her twin sons one by one, then ruffled the hair of the other two girls.
"Be careful, okay? I swear I'll send you both to Indonesia if anything happens," Tania's eyes narrowed sharply at her twin sons, enough to make Sadewa and Nakula's guts shrink instantly because they both know that Tania is serious.
"Say you promise," added Tania.
"W-we promise," the twins said in unison.
Tania nodded in satisfaction; after giving the four teenagers a look commemorating the last time, she left, followed by Prabu, who winked at them. After the four teenagers were sure that Prabu and Tania had left, they breathed a sigh of relief together.
"Guys," began Sadewa. The other three pairs of eyes stared at Sadewa.
"Shall we?"
***
"Okay, wow. What the fuck?"
Nakula looked at the strange objects lying in the middle of the floor of their television room. "Language, but I agree on tho. What the hell," added Sadewa; he turned to his twin brother, who had the same expression as him.
Yes, how not? Because the strange things in front of them were thick chains that were who knows how many meters long and the handcuffs attached to them. The chain and the cuffs had two pieces which explained that it was indeed used for the twins.
"This is actually simpler than Theo's choice yesterday," said Rasya, taking a chain and examining it. It was approved by Hema, who nodded quickly. "You'd be horrified at Theo's choice," she said.
Sadewa and Nakula looked at each other.
"Uh... I guess it's okay, anyway," Sadewa scratched the back of his head. "As long as that thing can bind us tightly," Sadewa approached Hema and took hold of the rather heavy chain.
"Yes, that's the point. So that you don't lose control," Rasya rolled her eyes and walked over to Nakula, who had been silently watching the other three in silence. Rasya then pulled Nakula's hand. "We have to hurry; it's already eight o'clock," Rasya glanced at Sadewa and Hema.
Because somehow, she felt something. She knew the twins might transform after this, but still. She could sense Nakula's discomfort, no matter how much Nakula hid it. And when her net collided with Hema, she knew Hema felt it too.
Because the twins don't seem ready.
"Are we going to be in the same room or following Theo's lead?" said Hema. Rashi paused for a moment. "I think we should follow Theo. I mean, he's experienced, isn't he."
Hema nodded in agreement, and they finally parted. Rasya and Nakula are in Nakula's room, while Sadewa and Hema are in Sadewa's room.
Get ready for a full moon.
**
Nakula tried to breathe and breathed a lot of air even though his chest felt hot and tight.
Ah no. His whole body felt hot and even itchy, and his instincts kept telling him to jump and run outside and howl. But as Theo said, he had to suppress those feelings firmly and remain calm. Because if he follows the ego, his rational possibilities will disappear, and he will survive in the form of a wolf.
Okay, wow, that's scary as fuck.
"Because it's terrible, then you have to focus, Nakula," Rasya's voice made Nakula turn quickly. Then Nakula's golden eyes found a tiny figure who was his partner sitting at the study table reading the comics from Nakula's collection. She looked calm and had no fear imprinted on her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rasya glanced briefly and flipped the X-men comic she was reading. Nakula still didn't respond and only watched Rasya's tiny body.
"You're cute," Nakula whispered.
Nakula had been trying to find something to distract himself from breaking the chains that were handcuffing him and jumping out the window.
"Okay," said Rasya, still reading the comic. She didn't even bother to look this time.
Nakula growled. "Come closer," Nakula ordered between his growls.
Rasya turned around and raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"I want you near me."
And that is right. In addition to Nakula's desire to jump out the window and howl in the middle of the night sky, he also wants his partner to be near him. He wants his partner. He needs a partner.
"Please..."
And Rasya closed the comic book she had been reading before, climbed onto the bed, and sat in front of Nakula. "I'm here," Rasya whispered and drew closer.
"Ah, what are you doing?" Nakula suddenly moved away, making Rasya stop for a moment. "Don't you want me near you?" she said, confused.
"Th-that's enough! Acha, don't get too close!" Nakula growled, and his canines were exposed. But Rasya looked at Nakula sharply. "It's all right, Nakula," and they came back closer. Nakula moved further away until his back hit the wall.
"Acha, I can hurt you! Acha!"
He panicked. He was really afraid that he would hurt her. He would rather die than hurt Rasya. But Rasya didn't seem to care and instead cupped Nakula's cheeks.
"Look, it's all right, right? You're all right, Nakula. You can see?" Rasya then brought her face closer and pressed their cheeks. Making Rasya's signature scent enter his chest cavity. Rasya's aroma is like the scent after the rain, cool and calming, addictive.
And somehow, he felt calm for a moment. He inhaled a lot of Rasya's scent and rubbed his cheek against Rasya's chubby cheeks, which hugged him tightly.
"See? You need me," whispered Rasya.
Her hand stroked Nakula's back. Nakula buried his face in the crook of Rasya's neck and exhaled. Then Nakula muttered. But the mumbling gave a shiver in his chest that spread throughout Nakula's body. Like—
"You're purring," Rasya giggled.
Nakula blinked, and then he realized. He made a sound like delicious snoring. Gosh, if Sadewa found out, he would be tempted to death. He groaned softly.
Rasya let go of their embrace, and her eyes sparkled when she saw Nakula was in good condition to control his emotions. They are just waiting for the final step, transform.
Rasya somehow felt proud. Maybe because he knew Nakula wasn't very good at controlling his emotions all this time or because he was able to help Nakula stay on his rational side. Either way, Rasya is grateful.
Then suddenly, Rasya cupped Nakula's cheek and brought her face closer. Success surprises Nakula and evades. "Whoa, no!" cried Nakula. No matter how much he wanted to kiss Rasya, now was not the right time.
"Nakula, I just wanted to—"
"Not now, okay? You can kiss me whenever you want, but not now. For fuck sake, Acha, I have canines!" Nakula exclaimed excitedly. And as if to make a serious point, Nakula opened his lips wide, revealing the four fangs growing in the rows of his upper and lower teeth.
Rasya burst out laughing for a moment.
Only Nakula could make him laugh at a time like this. "Okay, okay," Rasya giggled, then kissed Nakula's cheek.
"Focus back on me, okay?"
Rasya again embraced Nakula and, this time, lay down and let her head rest in Rasya's lap. Then Rasya gently stroked the honey chocolate strands. Nakula let out that delicious snoring sound again.
The chains were firmly tied to his wrists and locked tightly with padlocks at the foot of Nakula's bed. He was avoiding Nakula, who would run away. But after a while, Rasya thought maybe Nakula didn't need to be chained anymore. But he quickly put those thoughts aside.
He would rather follow Theo's instructions than accept bad consequences.
Rasya is still staring at Nakula's face, clearly desperately holding back his desire to get out of the window and into the full moon.