Serendipity's Embrace: Love Beyond Fates

"Ugh…" Azazel groaned.

He slowly opened his eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling above him, the bright sun shining through the white curtains he never bought.

"What the?" He mumbled.

The bed was soft but harder than usual, and it feels bigger too. He slowly sat up as he looked around the room, it was cold. He felt the cold blanket touching his skin and his long black hair in a tangled mess.

Where are his clothes? What the fuck happened last night? He couldn't recall.

He looked to his side where a man was sleeping next to him.

"No way…" Azazel's eyes widened.

He quickly jumped out of bed and tried to find a bathroom beforehand dropping onto the floor. His legs were shaking while his back was torturing him with pain. He slowly stood up with the bed as support.

With each step toward the bathroom, he couldn't escape the sensation of a sticky, gooey substance oozing down his trembling legs. He looked into the mirror to see hundreds of small hickeys around his neck and chest with more bite marks.

The flow of the sticky substance down his thighs intensified, Azazel didn't want to do it but got up his courage and scooped up a bit of it from his legs. The substance, white and thick between his fingers, revealed a chilling truth that Azazel instantly recognized.

"What the fuck?!" He shouted before covering his mouth up with his other hand and keeping the one he used far away from his face.

Azazel slowly looked out the bathroom door to check if the guy was awake. Luckily, he was still asleep.

Azazel crept back to the room to get his clothes that were scattered all over the floor. He ran out of the bedroom, walking everywhere trying to find a door to get out.

He quickly found the main door and dashed to it as soon as he saw it, he didn't even give a fuck with body dying already, he just had to get out.

He almost grabbed the door handle before a voice behind him made him stop.

"Going already, honey?"

Azazel turned around to see one of his students' older brother.

"Last night was…" Jake said.

"It's alright, Jake," Azazel replied with a panic. "I mean K-Kreo. It's alright Kreo,"

Kreo quickly noticed something was wrong. He took a step back and let Azazel breathe for a moment.

"Do you want to sit for a while before you go?" Kreo asked.

"Well…" Azazel answered as he slowly walked away from the door.

—

Two years ago, at the age of 17, Azazel Everlim's world was shattered when his family fell victim to a brutal murder. He seeked his vengeance by killing the man but made a terrible wish.

In a world where humans were given extraordinary powers, but all too soon became corrupted and fell into darkness, Queen Marylin made a system to restore order. As the first child born into the hero family would be chosen, this system would select one villain, tasked with maintaining balance and peace. The rules were simple, the villain's life must come to an end in the hands of the hero.

Azazel found himself in the role of the villain, his heart heavy with the weight of his tragic past. But fate had more in store for him than he could have imagined. A twist of bad luck brought him into a forbidden encounter with Kreo James, the hero chosen to bring him down.

Now 21, Kreo stood as the designated hero of the Tenawyuv realm, but unlike Azazel, he bore no unique powers of his own. This left Kreo a disappointment in the eyes of his father, further complicating the already tangled web of their relationship.

—

"Need anything?" Kreo's voice cut through the tense silence.

"Water, please," Azazel's reply was barely a whisper.

With a heavy heart, Azazel stared at his feet, overwhelmed by the weight of what could be his final moments. Thoughts of the daycare he tirelessly ran, the children who brought him joy, and the gifts he had planned for them flooded his mind, a bitter reminder of what he stood to lose.

Disappointment gnawed at Azazel's insides as Kreo settled beside him, offering a glass of water. Azazel accepted it with trembling hands, draining it in one gulp, surprising even himself. He couldn't bear to meet Kreo's gaze, hiding behind a curtain of his long hair that covered his troubled expression.

"I think you dropped this," Kreo said, interrupting the quiet.

Azazel glanced up and spotted his hair stick. "Oh, thanks," he replied, reaching for it.

Kreo smiled as Azazel secured his hair into a simple bun. As he watched Azazel, Kreo felt a strange sense of recognition, like they'd met before.

"Why are you staring?" Azazel asked, noticing Kreo's gaze.

"Sorry, but... have we met?" Kreo asked tentatively.

Azazel paused, then nodded. "Yeah, I see you every evening when you pick up your sister before I'm done here."

Kreo nodded, but pressed further, "Yeah... but anywhere else?"

"I don't think so," Azazel replied. "You're so famous, how could a guy like me ever meet you?"

Kreo shrugged and turned his attention forward.

"How old are you again?" Kreo asked.

"Nineteen," Azazel answered. "You're two years older than me, right?"

"Yeah," Kreo confirmed. "Are you Asian?"

"Chinese," Azazel replied. "But-"

"But your mother married an Englishman, that's why you have an English last name," Kreo interrupted.

Azazel looked surprised. "How-?"

"I knew I met you before," Kreo replied.

Azazel looked away, unsure how to respond.

"So, last night..." Kreo continued.

"I beg you, don't tell anyone," Azazel pleaded.

Kreo looked at Azazel in silence.

"Okay, since you asked me for a favour, you need to return one," Kreo insisted.

"No way, that is not a favour," Azazel objected.

"Should I tell all the children then? Let them know that you're dating Kreo James?" Kreo teased, leaning closer to Azazel's face.

"Don't push it, boy," Azazel warned, pushing Kreo's face away. "What do you want?"

---

4 months ago

"Kreo," Alexander's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade. "You know you're a disappointment to the family name already."

His heart sank as he replied, "Yes, father," his head bowing in shame.

"Yet I'm still surprised that somehow this world still accepted you," Alexander continued, his tone laced with disdain. "In a few months, their annual Hero's Gala will be held again, and I just read that the theme is 'Couples'. So, all heroes are bringing their lovers and instead of being an outcast, please find someone to bring."

"Yes, father," he answered once more before silently exiting the room.

"Young master!" a maiden called out, she ran up towards him in a hurry. "Your mother has suddenly decided that you will pick up your sister from daycare starting today."

He nodded, considering the sudden change. "That's not bad. What time?"

"Now!" the maiden exclaimed, pushing him towards the door and thrusting a set of car keys into his hand.

Without hesitation, he dashed to his car and sped off to the location his mother had specified. Arriving, he hurried out of the car and saw a young woman with his little sister, Karla.

"My apologies for being so late," he said breathlessly as he approached the woman. "You're the teacher, right?"

"Jake!" Karla exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes," Azazel answered with a smile. His hair was down due to Jane pulling his hair stick. "So, you're picking up Jane?"

"Yes," he confirmed as Jake.

Jake and Jane were the fake names they used.

"Alright," Azazel replied. "But may I know your relationship with her?"

"He's my big brother," Jane chimed in.

"Ain't that nice?" Azazel remarked, looking at her. "Off you go then, bye!"

"Thank you," he said, turning to leave.

They both got in the car and quickly drove away. He was focused on the road.

"You're thinking that my teacher is beautiful, isn't it?" Karla interrupted.

He glanced at Karla, surprised by her sudden comment. "Uh, well, she's... uh..."

Karla giggled, seeing her brother's flustered reaction. "I knew it! You were totally staring!"

He chuckled sheepishly. "Okay, she is very pretty."

"She's nice," Karla said with a smile. "But don't worry, I won't tell Mom and Dad."

"Thanks, Karla," he replied, feeling relieved. "Let's just focus on getting home safely, alright?"

Karla nodded, and they continued their journey in comfortable silence, with Kreo's thoughts drifting back to the encounter with the woman, his sister's teacher.