The shadows of night stretched long over the city as a sleek black car cut through the deserted roads. Inside, silence reigned—only the quiet hum of the engine and Ji-Ho's nervous heartbeat filled the space.
Seung-Woo gripped the steering wheel, eyes on the road, but his attention kept drifting to the boy sitting beside him.
Ji-Ho sat curled up in the passenger seat, wrapped in a blanket, his gaze lost through the window. Thoughts of the Council, Elder Kim's warning, and… that kiss circled endlessly in his mind.
"Where are we going?" Ji-Ho asked softly.
"To my family's old estate," Seung-Woo replied. "It's deep in the forest. Off-grid. The Council won't reach us there… not immediately, anyway."
Ji-Ho nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think we're safe?"
Seung-Woo exhaled slowly. "Not forever. But long enough."
A heavy silence settled between them again.
"Are you... angry?" Ji-Ho asked.
"No," Seung-Woo said, glancing over. "But I am afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you."
The car pulled off the main road, heading down a gravel path covered in fallen leaves. A large, iron gate soon appeared. Seung-Woo stepped out, unlocked it manually, and they continued down a winding path until an ancient stone mansion emerged from the trees—lonely, beautiful, and timeless.
Inside, the air smelled of old wood and rain. Seung-Woo lit the fireplace, casting a golden glow across the elegant but worn-out room.
Ji-Ho looked around in awe. "You kept this place all these years?"
"It's been my retreat for centuries," Seung-Woo murmured. "When the world becomes too loud, I come here for silence."
He gently draped a heavier blanket over Ji-Ho's shoulders and gestured to the couch. "Sit. Rest."
Ji-Ho hesitated. "Are we... alone here?"
Seung-Woo smiled faintly. "Just you and me. And the storm outside."
They sat by the fireplace, the crackling of flames their only soundtrack.
After a while, Ji-Ho's voice trembled. "Do you ever wish... I could be like you?"
Seung-Woo's eyes narrowed.
"I mean," Ji-Ho continued, staring into the flames, "if I became a vampire too… then we wouldn't have to worry about time. Or death. Or losing each other."
Seung-Woo turned toward him. "No, Ji-Ho. I would never want that for you."
Ji-Ho blinked. "But why?"
"Because you still have light in you," Seung-Woo said softly. "You laugh. You cry. You feel warmth. I'm cold inside. I hunger. I survive. You… you live."
Ji-Ho's eyes watered. "What if I get old? What if I'm no longer strong or beautiful? Will you leave me then?"
Seung-Woo reached out, brushing a tear from his cheek with his thumb.
"If that day ever comes," he whispered, "I'll hold you even tighter. And if the world tries to take you from me… I'll burn it down."
Ji-Ho's breath caught in his throat. Emotions swelled between them like a rising tide.
And then, Seung-Woo leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Ji-Ho's forehead.
Ji-Ho closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Seung-Woo's lips hovered near his own.
"Do I have your permission?" Seung-Woo asked, his voice trembling.
Ji-Ho nodded.
And then their lips met.
There was no urgency—only tenderness. No fire—only warmth. And in that gentle kiss, something bloomed. Not hunger, not possession, but love.
Outside, the wind howled through the trees, shadows dancing on ancient stone walls.
But inside, two hearts had found shelter.
And in the quiet of the night… love took root.
To be continued…..