Dima's tongue was hanging out of his mouth in concentration while Chris was trying to repress his laughter at the look on Dima's face.

"You look constipated," he blurted out eventually, half-laughing and half-trying to muffle that laughter. Dima looked pissed and not because he was laughed at, but because of how he was being disturbed at that crucial moment.

"Ludo is no child's play," Dima spoke slowly as if he was sharing something of knowledge. Chris turned his face away and observed the place with fake curiosity. If he looked at the vampire, he was sure to cackle.

The place they claimed in the park to sit at was pretty bright by the light coming from the lamp-post a few feet to their side. The lush green grass beneath them was soft and properly trimmed. The cold grass mixed with the damp ground was a relief in those beginning days of summer even if they were leaving brown and green marks on their butts. Dima didn't care about it and neither did Chris.

Unaware of their surroundings, Chris and Dima were bickering about how the latter was cheating in a measly game like Ludo and had the gall to hurl preaching words at the former. Completely lost in each other, they failed to notice anything around them - the elderly couple sitting a hearing distance away from them who was smiling softly, reminiscing their old days; failed to notice that a sixteen-year-old looking from afar was envying their bond which he thought was friendship, and lamenting his lack of friends; failed to notice someone lurking in the dark right behind the bushes with little blue flowers keeping an eye on them. The snooper wasn't stupid enough to attack them amidst humans. The bloodlust in his eyes spoke volumes of his intentions. He kept them in check for the sake of his own. Exposing himself to humans or mixing with them was as dumb as leaving meat in front of a tiger and expecting him not to devour it. Humans will experiment on any and every supernatural if they got the whiff of their existence. Humans are inhumane, to say the least. Taking a last look at the pair, he turned and set off.

"Let's go; we have one more place to go," Chris announced after they resolved their differences by flipping the board. The funny thing was they did it at the same time and both thought about the other - What a sore loser!

"There is more?"

"Obviously!" Chris said in a duh tone. "Did you think that I'd take you on an unromantic fun date?"

Dima answered by looking around and whistling a tune. Chris thwacked Dima who just chuckled.

----------×-----------

"How much more do we have to walk? Exactly how high up it is?"

"Oh stop complaining, you big baby. If you keep whining like one, I am gonna carry you up like one."

"You wouldn't dare." Dima squinted his eyes when Chris turned his head around while adjusting the strap of the bag he picked from the car on their way, leaving the old one behind.

"Woohoo! Here we are!" Chris fist-pumped the air.

"Fucking finally!" Dima suspired.

"Show some enthusiasm, it's not like I kidnapped you." Dima crossed his arms and cocked a brow. That was enough for Chris; he relented. "Maybe I did, but you are enjoying it. You are, right?"

His voice held nervousness which threw Dima off-guard. He couldn't help but want to soothe the werewolf. "I am." To not give much away about how Chris was melting his heart, he quickly changed the subject. "Now that we are here on the top of this hill, what's the plan?"

Chris opened the bag and pulled out a blanket that he laid on the ground. The good thing about the towns where werewolves lived was that there was greenery everywhere. The hill was no exception. It overlooked the town of San Warren which was looking picturesque with lights from the houses twinkling. The daffodil field in the middle was adding to the town's glory.

After Dima was done admiring the palpable beauty in front of him, he turned to Chris and found him sprawled out on the blanket like a starfish. Quietly, he went and plopped down beside Chris.

"Lay down Dima." Dima did without arguing. Chris turned on his side to face Dima, his head supported by the palm of his hand. "What's your favorite color?"

Dima turned to face Chris too. "So we are doing the typical date questions. Yellow."

"Why?"

"Umm...it just is."

"Let us see it another way. When or how did you realize that yellow is your favorite color?"

After thinking for a minute and making a few cute faces - according to Chris - Dima replied. "Sunflowers. It was when I realized sunflowers are my favorite flowers."

"I am getting you sunflowers the next time I come to your house." Chris grinned at Dima.

"It is my turn to ask. What about your poems?"

"What about them?"

"Does anyone know you write?"

"Just you, Elio and my uncle."

"I didn't know you have an uncle. What about your parents, do they know?"

"They died fifteen years ago. Now it's only me and Elio since uncle moved to Miami after their death."

Dima didn't say 'I am sorry for your loss', he simply changed the topic. Chris appreciated the change and relayed his gratefulness by giving Dima a soft smile.

The conversation was light just like the atmosphere. The breeze was flowing gently, caressing Dima's brown locks and making Chris' dark brown hair sway softly. The sky was moonless since it was a new moon. The stars looked to be enjoying the night more today. Why wouldn't they? Today they were the center of attention. They had an uncanny resemblance to Dima today. Both were glowing a little more, both had the spotlight and both had their own beautiful moon to thank.

"Dima."

"Hmm?"

"You don't hate me, do you?"

Dima glanced at Chris and took a deep sigh. "No, I don't."

"I don't think you are a plaything."

"Chris. I..." Dima was stumped as what to what say to Chris. He settled for "I know that." He'd be a fool not to know after this wonderful date. Dima swallowed the thick despair in his throat that was stopping him from speaking further. "It is hard Chris," Chris took his hand in his own and gave it a soft squeeze after hearing the emotion in Dima's voice. "I was ten when a battle ensued between vampires and werewolves living in this area. My dad had a best friend who was a werewolf, he tried to kill my dad. Hence, the battle. It was my coven who led the troops while my dad was laying on a hospital bed fighting for life. I cannot help but hate the species that almost took my dad away from me. I grew up hating your kind. I don't know what to do Chris. I can't hate you, I can never. I don't know what to do." Dima sounded choked and his voice muffled in Chris' chest where he subconsciously took refuge in. Strong arms wrapped around him held him tighter.

"We'll be fine, Dima."

"I lied earlier."

"About?"

"When I said anybody would hate to have you as a mate."

"I know that now."

"Now? Did you believe when I said that?"

"Yes." It was Dima's turn to hold Chris tighter.

Chris stuffed his face in the crook of Dima's neck to seek comfort.

The air was heavy, but their hearts were light. The rest of the night was spent in hushed whispers and happy chatter where they talked about stars, the sky, the universe, galaxies and pointing to various constellations and talking about them. It was spent chasing the dawn, a new dawn.

👑♥️♥️👑