Year: 2001 – Winter
The next morning, right at 10:50 AM, Denial stood across the road from St. Martin College — just like she told him.
He wore a crisp white shirt, fitted blue jeans, and for the first time in years… he had removed his usual hat.
The soft winter sunlight glimmered in his silver-toned hair, and his glittering eyes caught the attention of many passing students.
But his gaze searched only for one face.
And then he saw her —
Eva.
She was walking toward the college gates with her books in hand, talking to a friend.
As soon as Eva noticed him, her steps slowed.
> "He's not wearing the cap today…"
"He looks so—beautiful," she thought, unable to look away.
Her heart skipped.
Why hadn't she noticed before how striking he was?
Those glittering eyes… that soft smile…
Why did he suddenly feel like a poem standing in front of her?
From beside her, a friend nudged her shoulder.
"Hey, aren't you coming to class?"
Eva blinked. "You guys go. I'll join later. Just… send me the notes, okay?"
Her friends gave her a knowing smile and walked off, giggling as they glanced back at Denial.
---
🩵 First Conversation by the Lake
Eva walked toward Denial and smiled softly.
"There's a lake nearby," she said. "Wanna sit there and talk?"
Denial nodded, quietly.
They walked together. The cold wind brushing their skin, the snow crunching softly under their steps.
Soon they sat beside the frozen lake, the world around them calm, the silence between them comforting.
Eva looked at him.
"So… who do you live with?"
Denial paused, then answered quietly,
"No one. My parents, my brother… they're all gone."
Eva's heart sank.
> "Maybe… maybe they died in an accident," she thought, watching his distant eyes.
Trying to change the topic, Denial asked gently,
"What about you? Who do you live with?"
"My mom, my little sister, and me," Eva replied, playing with the edge of her scarf.
"And… are you in college now?" Denial asked.
Eva nodded. "Yes. And you?"
Denial hesitated. "I never really studied. I didn't get the chance."
Eva immediately assumed the worst —
> "Maybe he grew up poor… maybe he had no opportunity."
Without thinking, she placed her hand over his and smiled.
"Then from today… I'll teach you. Every evening."
Denial looked at her — surprised by her warmth, by how gently she offered to hold a part of his life.
He nodded.
---
💫 A Routine of Bonding
From that day on, they met almost every evening near the lake.
Eva would teach him about history, agriculture, inventions, science, cultures of different countries… anything he wanted to know.
Denial listened to every word, his interest blooming like spring inside his cold, forgotten heart.
And as days passed…
Something else grew too.
A connection.
A closeness neither of them could name.
---
🩸 But the Curse Was Waiting
Then, as always —
The new moon began its approach.
The cursed 15 days returned.
The pain, the bloodlust, the tightening of bones and soul…
Denial locked himself inside the large box again.
He had no choice.
And Eva…
Eva waited at the lake. Every night.
Wrapped in her scarf, hands buried in her pockets, heart softly beating with new emotions she didn't fully understand yet.
But Denial never came.
Not even once.
---
💔 Doubt Creeps In
Eva sat alone, night after night, staring at the frozen water.
> "Why isn't he coming?"
"Did he lie to me?"
"Was everything fake?"
A sharp coldness spread in her chest.
> "Maybe Denial… was never serious.
Maybe he's already forgotten me."
---