Elara and Ji-Hoo stepped cautiously through the gate, the quiet of the evening hanging heavy around them.
Elara had reverted back to her human form—Nara—dressed in simple, casual clothes instead of her shimmering, icy robes.
The faint glow of sunset reflected off her calm face as they moved silently toward the house.
The door creaked open slowly as they pushed inside.
The warm aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, where Ms. Noh was busy chopping vegetables at the counter, unaware of their presence.
Suddenly, Ji-Hoo's voice broke the silence, soft but urgent. "Hello? Ms. Noh?"
Ms. Noh spun around, eyes wide in surprise, her expression softening into a gentle smile. "Yes, dear, what is it?" she asked, setting down the knife carefully.
Before Ji-Hoo could speak, his gaze flicked nervously to Nara, who looked down for a moment, her heart pounding.
He swallowed hard, then took a shaky breath. "Actually, Ms. Noh, I have something I need to tell you," he said, voice trembling with emotion.
Ms. Noh's brow furrowed, concern flickering across her face. "Go on," she urged softly.
Ji-Hoo hesitated, then gathered every ounce of courage. "Joy is like her father..." he began, voice cracking. "It's about Joy."
Ms. Noh's eyes widened, her breath hitching. "What… what about Joy?" Her voice trembled, suspicion and worry mixing in her tone.
Ji-Hoo looked down, then forced the words out. "Her soul… it's inside me."
Silence fell over the room like a thick fog.
Ms. Noh's jaw slackened, tears pooling in her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. "You mean… Joy gave you her… her soul? she is dead?" she whispered, voice trembling.
A heavy weight pressed on Ji-Hoo's chest.
"Yes," he admitted softly, eyes shining with unshed tears. "She sacrificed herself… for me."
Nara, standing quietly nearby, finally cleared her throat, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I think I should go now. I will let you two to handle this. I'll see you next time, Ms. Noh." Without waiting for a response, she turned and slipped out of the room, her footsteps echoing softly on the floor.
As the door closed behind her, silence enveloped the kitchen.
Ms. Noh's hands trembled, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Ji-Hoo, her heart aching with grief and confusion.
"Joy gave it to you? Why?" Ms. Noh's voice broke, trembling with disbelief and a breathless ache.
Her eyes widened, tears threatening to spill over as she struggled to process what she had just heard.
"Yes, she did," Ji-Hoo replied softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I was bitten by a zombie, and they had to kill me. After I died, she… she gave me her soul."
A single tear escaped down Ji-Hoo's cheek, shimmering in the fading light as he fought to keep his composure.
His shoulders trembled with the effort to hold back the flood of grief.
Ms. Noh's eyes blurred with tears, her vision swimming as despair overtook her. S
he staggered, falling to her knees, clutching her fist against her chest.
Her voice was a trembling whisper, choked with sobs. "Joy… I lost her father because of this… and now… I've lost my… daughter…"
Her words trailed off into muffled sobs, her body wracked with grief. Her heart felt shattered, every piece torn apart by the weight of loss.
Ji-Hoo hurried to her side, kneeling and wrapping his arms around her trembling figure.
She screamed in raw anguish, her voice cracking as she clung to her grief. "Why? Why do you have to take everything away from me? Why?"
He held her tightly, pressing his face into her shoulder, tears streaming down his face as well.
His sobs joined hers in a shared, heartbreaking symphony of pain, grief, and helplessness.
----
The shadowy night was quiet, the air thick with a sense of stillness, broken only by Fenrir's calm, probing voice.
"What happened, In-Su? You're sweating..." His face, illuminated faintly by the moonlight, carried a quiet concern, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied In-Su's expression.
In-Su winced softly, feeling a burning sensation on his face.
"Ouch," he muttered, grimacing as he touched his cheek lightly. Fenrir's gaze sharpened, and he gently stroked the tip of his tail, his voice gentle but curious.
"Why is your face so hot?"
In-Su answered calmly, trying to keep his voice steady despite the discomfort.
"I'm feeling a little under the weather. That's why my temperature's high. I need blood"
In-Su tilted his head, a faint flicker of concern crossing his face.
"Well, treat me," he said softly, a teasing tone creeping into his voice.
Fenrir blinked, surprised. "What now? you want my blood?"
''No I mean take care of Me''
In-Su chuckled quietly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. " Oh, I get it. Demons don't do that kind of stuff, but when I was normal—" he paused, a playful smirk forming—"Ha-Joon used to do it for me."
Fenrir rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the heat flushing his cheeks.
"Here we go again," he muttered, shaking his head but feeling a little more at ease with Fenrir's teasing.
FLASHBACK...
The soft glow of the morning sun streamed through the window, casting a gentle, golden hue across the room.
It's rays danced across In-Su's face, illuminating every detail with warm light.
On his forehead, a faint pink blush was visible, a sign of his fatigue and discomfort.
His eyes, usually sharp and vibrant, shimmered with exhaustion, their lids heavy and half-lidded from the toll of illness.
The sunlight caught the slight sheen of sweat on his skin, making it glisten softly, accentuating the tiredness etched into his features.
He lay on Ha-Joon's bed, looking weary but trying to maintain his composure. "I must eat," In-Su muttered hoarsely, his voice low.
"Ha-Joon, you don't have to take care of me. I'm a vampire—I know how to handle myself."
Ha-Joon entered quietly, carrying a glass of blood and a damp hankerchief.
He carefully placed the cloth on In-Su's forehead, the coolness soothing against his heated skin.
The sunlight highlighted the gentle, caring expression on Ha-Joon's face as he gently dabbed at In-Su's skin, his movements tender and cautious.
Afterward, he handed In-Su the glass of blood.
"You should really take good care of yourself," Ha-Joon said softly, a hint of concern in his voice. "When you can't resist it… look away."
In-Su nodded slowly, acknowledging his words. "Now you're scolding me," he said with a faint, tired smile.
Ha-Joon looked surprised. "I am not," he replied, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
In-Su chuckled faintly, his exhaustion evident. "Just get better soon, my bro. Then we'll have enough energy to go back to sleep again Because you kept me worried awake since yesterday night.."
Ha-Joon yawned softly, a sleepy smile on his face.
"You're sleepy?," In-Su observed.
Ha-Joon nodded, voice gentle. "Yes."
In-Su shifted slightly, scooting over just enough to make space. "Come and sleep here," he offered, his tone soft and inviting.
Ha-Joon hesitated for a moment before speaking. "If you don't mind, I hug whatever is beside me when I sleep," he said quietly, looking at In-Su with a gentle smile.
In-Su nodded again, giving him permission. "Go ahead," he said softly.
Ha-Joon then turned and gently placed his hands around In-Su, drawing him close as they both settled into a peaceful, intimate silence, bathed in the warm.
''Ooh that was awkward hehe....hmm....''
''What??''
''This. How are you feeling?''
''Better. I'm Less Hot. You know what I mean right?''
''Oh You're so funny..'' Their voices fade away as flash back is finished.