Be close to death

"Youpiii, I'm so happy to be here today! Did you invite me on a date to confess your feelings to me?"

The holidays started a few weeks ago, and I decided that today would be the day I'd invite Marie on a date.

Marie was so happy that it seemed like there was a sun shining behind her.

"I just want to make sure that this relationship can last. Relationships can be a big waste of time if they don't work out, and you realize everything that was sacrificed for something like that."

"But since there's a good chance that by the end of the day, you and I will be a very lovely couple, I'm so happy!"

I chose this day in particular, mainly because it's hard to see her. Especially after what happened two days ago.

Flashback:

The thesis competition was proceeding without any setbacks. My presentation was captivating, interesting, and impressive, especially considering that, from an outsider's point of view, I hadn't had much time to work on it since I had been in school for the vast majority of the year.

In fact, without the on-demand study room, I don't think I would have been able to defend my honor in the thesis contest.

"That was a nice presentation."

The person who said that to me was the next one to present their thesis. She was very beautiful, and her beauty could rival Marie's.

Her presentation was incredible; there wasn't a single piece of important information missing.

"Wow, this young blonde is amazing."

How is she blonde?

"But are you blind or what? She's a brunette!"

"Since when is someone like her considered young? Even my grandmother is younger than her."

Wait, what the heck?

It seems that everyone is seeing a different person. For me, I see a woman in her thirties with black hair.

Is this some kind of identity concealment spell?

I forced my mind to try and see her true form, as she might be presenting herself differently to each person. What I saw shocked me.

Her face was covered by a kind of fog. The only things visible were her eyes and mouth. She turned her face toward me for a moment and smiled, as if she knew I had uncovered her concealed identity.

But what shocked me the most were her eyes. How do I describe what I saw? It seemed like they were multicolored, and her iris wasn't very round but shaped more like a star. A twelve-pointed star, to be precise.

(Author's note: I know I said they were like sunrays before, but a star shape is easier to visualize.)

I was mesmerized by her eyes before I felt an overwhelming pressure, so strong that more than a quarter of my parallel thoughts vanished.

In her shadow, I could see eyes staring at me. These eyes had a symbol engraved in them, the same symbol in both.

I felt sweat forming on my back, and I couldn't breathe, knowing that I could die at any moment if this shadow willed it.

The person with the starry eyes kicked, and the mysterious eyes of her shadow disappeared.

It was at that moment I realized that only 10% of my parallel thoughts remained, and I was also hyperventilating from the lack of oxygen.

I couldn't focus because I kept thinking about those eyes.

The thesis contest ended, and the person with the dangerous shadow won. She left immediately afterward with a woman who radiated sensuality, capable of driving anyone mad. Even Marie wasn't as beautiful as she was, though Marie had been the most beautiful person I had ever met before.

On her right eye, there was something engraved, similar to what I had seen on the shadow, but it was different. I couldn't see her left eye as it was hidden by a fringe.

As they left, only one thought echoed in my mind: they are very dangerous.