☾┋ 𝔞𝔲! 𝔳𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔢 𝖉𝖔𝖈𝖙𝖔𝖗

➳ 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 8

note: 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜 𝕠𝕗 𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.

Every year, the Death's Covet holds an annual blood ball. The Death's Covet is an organization of vampires from elite clans, governing the vampire system. The blood ball, on the other hand, is a celebration for the organization's anniversary. Jung Taemin, Aera's dad, is apart of the team that is spearheading the organization thus the family was always invited to attend. This year, Aera decided to go. She made her way down the stairs in a form-fitting ruby red strapless dress, bringing a clutch with her. She looked around the spacious ballroom, lights blinding her as she's in search for her sister. Unexpectedly, a man all dressed in a navy blue suit approaches her. The air filled with musky fragrance as he came nearer.

"Aera. It's me. "His smile wrinkling in his face, his dimples crinkling up the skin near his lips.

"You are?" Her brows furrowing upon response.

"It's Minjoon.'' Focused on her eyes, he stares at her deeply.

"I'm sorry... I don't remember you." She shrugged.

"It's been years. We were still children then when you promised to be my first kiss." Rubbing his hands together, grinning as he reminisces their childhood memories. As he mentioned the word "kiss", a vivid memory flashes on her mind. She recalls cherry plump lips that tasted her soul.

Brushing away those thoughts, she replied, walking side by side with him, finally reaching the banquet hall. "Huh? I'm sorry but... we can be friends again right?"

"It's fine. It's nice seeing you after 15 years. I was busy in Manhattan with my coffee business. Did you pursue your medical career?"

"Ah yes I have. I'm currently working in Seoul National Hospital." She nodded, positioning herself infront of the high table, looking at the surroundings.

"Life must be hectic as a doctor. You must be missing out on life!"

"Ah... well sir, I may be missing out on life but atleast I give life to others. It inspires me to know that I can be someone's hope. And, that, for me, is simply enough." Her voice reverted into a mellow and sweet tone, hinting a touch of sincerity in her words.

He was astonished by her words. " Oh so..." Suddenly his words get cut off, as the president of Death Covet stands in the podium to give few announcements.

"Tonight is memorable night for we are celebrating our millennial anniversary as an organization. Together, from different regions, we have collided because we have one thing in common. And that is we are vampires. Years ago, thanks to the HT virus that caused an epidemic worldwide, different species like us existed. Slowly discovering ourselves and realizing that we leech and live for blood. Although, the power of immortality prevails, we must all be watchful of our actions for the human beings are trying to put an end to all of us. I have received reports from different government organizations that some around here have been consuming human blood." The president, Mr. Seo Daehyun, delivered an effortless spiel to the public.

"I believe in everyone. We have all abstained from human blood, haven't we?" He cocked an eyebrow, moving himself closer to the microphone.

Director Jung Jim chokes in the middle of his statement.

"As of the now the government is looking for us and waiting to hear our side of the story. Gradually we are looking for information against the Hellsing organization. The detective teams are working hard to dig up their dirty little secrets and then we can expose them and clear our name. Secondly, on Jung Rita's case. We cannot save her yet, they're taking her as a hostage so that we would be ambushed by them. The spearheading body of the Death's covet will be thinking further of the next possible steps. Enjoy the night everyone." Leaving the stage with high impact, he fixed his collar as he went down the podium.

"Sounds sketchy." Minjoon talked under his breath.

"Sketchy indeed." Aera nodded, sipping on her glass of wine.

"Mmm... Aera, Can I get your contact number?" He asked.

"Okay." Her facial expressions hint nonchalance as she exchanged phone numbers with him before she left the place.

As she heads back home, she was ready to rest and indulge in a great night sleep however her phone doesn't stop buzzing. Notifications from Junho and Minjoon were flooding her phone's home screen. Squinting her eyes, she read "Aera, I'm sorry. " Figuring that was Junho,she decided to ignore his messages and went back to sleep for tomorrow would be her first day training for combat. Aera figured she had to sharpen her combat skills so that she wouldn't have to use her vampiric identity for her to be able to defend herself in certain situations.

Combat training is physically and mentally draining. It's been Aera's second week and she's striving hard to learn more techniques.

Wearing a helmet and her martial arts uniform, she was getting ready for her first spar with a muscular man named Kang Woozi. Knowing Aera's slender physique, she was ready to be severely injured by that man.

After starting the battle with a bow from one to the other, Woozi advanced on Aera with a jab targeting her face. Aera dodges and pursues her opponent with a roundhouse kick. Woozi, feeling a bit of discomfort squinted but planned to get even by giving Aera a kick on her ribcage. Back and forth. Right leg and left leg, his legs lifting with intensity in each kick. Wobbling due to her delicate and small frame, she let the adrenaline kick in making Aera ignore the ounces of pain she has been feeling. Taking advantage of Aera's vulnerability and fragility, he progressed forward, landing a hook on Aera's face, her upper lip bleeding due to its cut.Undeniably, Aera was losing the battle. Her vision getting fuzzy, as the punch jostled her. As Woozi targets to punch her one more time to knock her out, Aera resists his move, her body swerving away from his attack. She counters him by throwing a brutal yet skilled punch against his jaw, knocking him down on the concrete floor.

"One... two.. three.. KO." Their sensei timed them.

Woozi bows to Aera, apologizing for the lip cut. "I'm so sorry for that.""It's okay. I got this. Thanks!" She bowed back, walking to the bench where her bag was placed, getting the band aid, placing it on the afflicted area. Although vampires would regenerate skins and heal their wounds easily, it would take few moments until it will be fully recovered on the same day.

Taking a few breaks from the hospital rejuvenated her and gave her more energy rather than being enclosed by those four walls. She went to the dressing room, changing into a tank top and some sweatpants to make her feel cozy, later on covered by a running windbreaker jacket. She takes a seat on the bench, checking her phone for messages.

"Aera, I'm really sorry. Can we talk about it today? I know you'll be busy with a surgery tomorrow and so will I. So can we meet up?" A notification popped out coming from Junho.Aera taps her lips, contemplating if she would respond, consequently she replied. "Pick me up here at Muju Taekwondo center."

"What are you doing there? How on earth are you learning Taekwondo at a time like this?" He interrogated her.

"Why on earth does it bother you?" Her free hand rubbing her shoulder, the other one clicked send.

"Pick me up." Aera added another reply, the chat bubbles pinging in every reply.

Junho, being the man of less of words, sent a thumbs up to her message. In a few moments, he arrived. Junho made his way to her dressed in semi-casual attire, looking like a debonair, carrying a bouquet of sunflower bouquet.

"Seriously Junho... What is this?" Flinching her eyes at him, the urge to pull his ears were there because she wasn't fond of cheesy antics.

Junho notices the band aid covering her lip, "You mean... what is this?" He points at her lips.

"Ugh ignore that!" She dismissed his curiosity, by slapping his hands away.

"Well, roses are cliché. I guess you deserve a sunflower because you effortlessly burn and beam every morning bright." He takes her hands, slipping in the bouquet in it.

"So at night, I don't? Okay. You know Junho... sunflowers remind me of you too." Carrying the flowers, she bobbed her head at his direction while they head to his luxurious red convertible BMW.

Junho gaped into her eyes, wonder filled him.

"Sunflowers are colored yellow. Yellow is a bright color. Like color yellow... You are...Blinding. Straining. Irritating to my eyes. " Scrunching her nose as she playfully nudged him after teasing him, not wanting him to take it seriously.

"Well thank you, Aera. That was such a remarkable and positive comment for you to share. Usually, I would take these comments of yours negatively but I'd let this pass today. Thank you for looking at me despite the fact that I am... blinding... straining...and irritating to your eyes." He chuckled at his sarcastic remarks, opening the door for her to get inside.

The both of them entered his car. He leaned closer, buckling up her seat-belt for her, after he does the same for himself. He starts the engine, his foot placed on the pedal.

"So where do you want to go? " He asked.

"Impress me. Take me somewhere memorable."

"Okay." He replied, having ideas running in his head.

Junho came all the way for Aera to apologize for what he did, he opened up the topic once again. "Aera about the..."

Aera cuts his sentence, being straightforward as possible, "The kiss?"

He gulped, nodding to her statement.

"Junho, honestly, that was my first. I would never let a guy get a centimeter close to me usually." She revealed, looking down as she feels awkward to inform him.

"That was my first too. I was unable to refrain myself. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" His hoarse manly voice gave a sweet tone tingling in her ears.

"Hmm... I'll think about it." She bit her delicate soft lips. Junho's sight landed on her lips, his chest fluttering fast, making him feel giddy in the inside.

"So... are you finally allowing me to take you out on a date?" The innocence in his voice made her smile.

"Junho, why do you think I'm in this car for?" Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Hmm... for a ride?" He kids aside, his hands clutched on the steering wheel as he pushes his foot more on the gas pedal urging for speed.