• • •

Wooyoung

We don't hear anything from that Kangmin guy for the rest of the day. It's like he'd totally vanished altogether -- even Yeosang told me a few hours ago that he hadn't seen him enter their shared dorm since this morning.

And to be honest, it really worried me. And it still worries me, because why would he shapeshift into Jongho, get a forbidden book about Demons from the campus library, and ask San how he was under the pretence that he was one of our friends? Just what was he looking for?

"...Hey," a soft, pleasant voice enters my head at that moment. I look up from where I'm seated on the colour changing sofa, meeting San's muted red gaze, and all of a sudden, half of my worries melt away. Only he can do that, I discover. "You're thinking too much about this."

"I just -- " I start to ramble, the discomfort and unease I'm experiencing apparent in my voice. "I don't know this Jang Kangmin dude. He's just transferred here, yet he's already shapeshifted into Jongho and knows who you are. That's super freaking weird."

San keeps staring at me with a growing smile like I'm the cutest thing alive, and it messes with my train of thought until I ungraciously stagger out the rest of my sentences, my cheeks burning with embarrassment as a result.

"W-What?" I question, clearing my throat at the high-pitched sound. Now that I've paid attention to it, I realize San's gotten closer. Way closer. So close I can see the fine detail of his lustrous curved eyelashes, and the minimal freckles that dot his face like little stars. I gulp, darting my eyes away like a nervous admirer confronting their longtime crush.

Damnit, Wooyoung. You guys have already kissed like, more than once! Stop acting stupid. I want to facepalm myself as soon as I think those thoughts, because of course, San has probably already heard them.

My heart races, skipping too many beats to be healthy as San suddenly leans on my shoulder, face nestled on my warm neck. Oh my god. I feel like I'm gonna combust.

San giggles, and then guffaws out loud, shoving me further into the bottomless void of shame, even when I know I have no reason to feel that way. I just manage to fuck up and say dumb shit thrice as much whenever San's around.

"You mean 'your boyfriend'," San says with like, no warning at all. At my stunned, wide-eyed expression, he squawks, poking my possibly (or most likely one hundred percent) red hot cheeks. "Sorry -- that just came out of me. Ah, I should stop reading your thoughts, but I can't help it."

I look at him, forcing on my best nonchalant face. "It's whatever. I mean -- it's chill. Or cool. Whatever."

San grins, all crinkled eyes and dashing dimples, and fuck, I feel myself falling harder. He trails his hand down my wrist, causing a faint shiver to run down my back, and then lands it on my palm. I don't even have to think before we're intertwining our fingers.

"You don't need to worry so much, Woo," San speaks tenderly, words full of encouragement. He plants a light kiss on my neck, and my emotions go berserk. "I don't think that guy's doing anything particularly evil."

"Why else would he have a forbidden book about Demons in his possession then?" I can't help but reply. "What if he tries to harm you?"

"I don't think he can do anything. Protective magic exists literally everywhere in this school," San giggles, visibly amused. His thumb continues to stroke invisible crescents into the dip of my knuckles, and I'm not going to lie, it feels very good. "And plus, I'm a vampire. Like, half vampire, but still one anyways. I can defend myself, mister Jung."

I laugh at that, and he laughs too, before staring at me with such a sincere, heartfelt expression that I feared I'd blurt out something I'd totally regret later on. "...What?"

"Was just thinking of how if I ever ended up in a terrible situation with that Kangmin guy -- although I highly doubt it -- at least I'd have a very strong, very cute witch to help me through it."

I release a sound that's this horrid hybrid of a gasp and a choked scream, but before I can actually utter a spell that'll make me disappear from this planet, San leans in and kisses me square on the lips.

Instantly, I feel my legs turning into jelly like one of those Teeth-Melters even if I'm on the sofa with San, heartbeat accelerating to new heights at the sensation of San's -- of my boyfriend's plush, gentle lips on mine.

I don't know if I'd imagined it or not -- especially now that I'm distracted by him now climbing on top of me with his hands roaming my clothed chest and arms, his cool touch shooting pleasant sparks into my core -- but I feel him smile against my mouth, as if he's enjoying this. And to be honest, I'm enjoying this too.

"I like the sound of it..." San's airy voice is like the greatest healing potion, soothing every little crevice of my parched heart. I feel alive when I'm with him, like I can do anything I set my mind to. 

"Of what?" I ask dumbly, a bit in a haze. I chuckle when he lightly smacks my chest. The long, oversized black hoodie he wears gives him sweater paws, and it's devastatingly adorable. I grab his hand, feeling weightless inside. "No -- what? What is it, Sannie?"

"I like the sound of us being boyfriends," San admits, smile soft and shy like a satisfied kitten's. My heart skips another beat.

"You're so cute," I blurt like a broken dam.

But San shakes his head, regarding me with a fond, adoring look in his ruby speckled eyes. "Nah. You're the cute one."

Another skip. I scoff, making a show of looking unimpressed. "Pssh, what? Me? Cute? Never in a million years."

"You're cute." Hearing San describe me in that way yet again does things to my heart that magic can't even explain.

"Nope."

San cocks his head to the side. His eyes then glower, but not in an intimidating way. But totally in an intimidating way. It doesn't make much sense, but it does.

I swallow hard as those intense scarlet eyes of his survey my face, up and down, and then it appears again. That smirk; that goddamned smirk that sends me blushing like a schoolgirl seeing her crush half-naked.

"Do you prefer 'hot' then?" San asks, that deadly, attractive smirk still present on his features. It makes him look so different, so dangerous, but it was so him at the same time. He runs a finger along my jaw, stopping right at the curve of my lower lip. I feel like I'm gonna have a heart attack pretty soon. "...Or 'outrageously gorgeous'? Or maybe even...devastatingly sexy?"

"Uh -- " I cough like a dumbass. I'm nervous, anxious and very, very hormonal and it does not make a good combination, especially not when San is looking at me so divinely, as if I hold the stars in the sky. For once, he's not only adorable, but actually seductive. So seductive I feel not-so-innocent thoughts creeping into my head.

"Thanks." San's smirk widens.

The lights abruptly go off, swallowing us in darkness. It takes me a second to realize it's only the livingroom that's affected, and that just makes me more embarrassed, because that was all my doing.

"Oh my god." I can feel San's arms clinging to me, cheek pressed against my lips. I pull him closer. "What just happened? Is something wrong with the lights?"

"No," I answer. "Uh, it kinda has something to do with me."

The light from the kitchen dimly illuminates the immaculate contours of San's face. He's so pretty, so beautiful, I feel unworthy to even look at him at times.

His nose scrunches, amusement building up on his face. "How?"

This is so embarrassing. "You remember when -- when I saw you that morning and you kinda surprised me and then that mug fell over and smashed all over the floor? Yeah. Yeah, that's what happened."

"The bulb smashed?" San's looking up at the ceiling, and even in the dark I can spot the teasing grin he has on. "Can't really see anything."

"That's not what I mean." San giggles at my response, so I crack a chuckle too. "What I mean is, whenever my emotions get too out of control, sometimes things get...crazy."

"Huh." San smirks, dimples appearing. His hands land on my hips, and I have to wonder where this new bravery comes from.

"What are you doing?" My mouth formulates before the words have the chance to die in my throat.

For a moment, I'm afraid San would take offense to my probing, but then he just smiles, kissing me again.

"I hate seeing you worried or sad, Youngie."

Youngie. My heart fucking quivers just 'cause of that one word.

"Everything will be fine. Ma will find the spell and you won't have to lose your soul to me, and nothing bad will happen to me here, okay?" San continues, cool, blemish-free hands cupping my face. "Okay?"

I nod, and even if I'm still burdened with concern over these recent events, San's earnest gaze and bright smile makes them seem like a million light years away. Unimportant.

San notices the way I'm staring at him. "Woo?"

"Hold on." A stupid, corny thought pops into my head, but I disintegrate it into dust before San can hear it. I fling my hand behind the sofa, and then my wand appears, its matte exterior vibrating with new life as soon as I clutch it.

I feel San's attentive eyes on me as I chant a short spell, before waving the wand around. It creates an opaque swirl that looks like silver glitter, and than it spreads, weaving itself into every nook and cranny of the ceiling like shimmery cobwebs.

San's eyes reflect off my creation, lips parted in awe. He watches me. "They're stars in space. So pretty."

"Yep," I state, a little awkward. "That's...that's what I see when..." -- I can't believe I'm about to say this -- "when I look into your eyes. Those stars, nebulas, all shapes and colours, I see them when I stare at you, San. You're not just that, but an entire fucking universe. One I want to be a part of a long as you'd let me."

For a while, San is silent, contemplative. Then, he grins again, big and wide and warm it reminds me of the sun. He throws his arms around me, hugging me tight, and I nuzzle my head into his shoulder, inhaling his cologne.

"I really, really like you Wooyoung," San tells me, and although it's a confession I've heard before, this time it feels different. Rawer.

"I really, really like you, Sannie," I repeat, loving the way he relaxes into my touch when I run my hand down his grey hair. "Like, a lot."

San laughs, but I catch sight of the way his hands slightly tremble as he fists my sweater, not wanting to let go. "I like you a lot too..."

"Wanna go up to space with me? I mean -- it's a bit of an illusion, since ya know, we're not really going to space. But I can still take you there, though not actually, but with a little magic involved -- "

"Gosh, Woo, shut up," San chortles, pressing a deep kiss on my cheek. I pretend to be grossed out, but the facade falls short when he takes my hands in his and kisses them too. "You're so cute, oh my god. How did I end up getting someone like you?"

I pat his cotton soft hair. "You just got lucky. After all, there's only one Jung Wooyoung in this world."

"...And I'm glad he's mine," San adds after a beat, tone a bit abashed.

"I'm glad he's mine too." I pause. "Wait."

San laughs so hard he almost falls off the couch. And then he's on me again, taking my breath away with his lips on mine. I can't even be mad, not when he's touching me, looking at me with such care and affection. His sweater-pawed hands sneak in and run upwards and across my chest, igniting chills all over my skin.

The kitchen's light flickers off.

• • •

As soon as San and I approach where our friends are situated in the cafeteria with our trays in hand, their conversation ceases. It's brisk, so it's weird, and I cast a quick glance at the boy next to me. San doesn't look as bothered by it like I do, or maybe he hadn't noticed a thing.

"Hey guys," I greet the others with an amiable grin. I can feel their heavy gazes on me as I first pull out a chair for San to sit, and I clear my throat rather loudly. "Nice lunch, huh."

Yeosang nearly chokes on his laughter. Mingi, on the other hand, nearly chokes on his fries. I take my seat after San sits down, noting the repeated glances both Hongjoong and Yunho shoot us every other second.

I take a sip out of my soda can.

"...So..." Yeosang fixates his grey eyes on San, and then on me. They're like a storm brewing on the horizon. "Did you both have a nice night?"

I actually spit out a bit of my drink in shock. Hongjoong grimaces, before taking out a wad of tissue and passing it to me.

I dab my lips angrily, glaring hard at my best friend. "What the hell was that?"

"Hey, I'm not the one who got his saliva all over our food."

I give him a bemused look.

"What are you talking about?" It was San's voice this time, quietening down the table at once. Even Mingi and Yunho, who'd been engaged in some game involving Hongjoong's precious tissues, had now stopped. They all stare at San.

"Cut it out with the relentless staring. You guys are being creepy," I comment, mostly because I know that San doesn't like too much attention on him.

Thank you, Wooyoung. It's a whisper, but I still hear his voice as clear as day in my mind. It makes me smile.

"Oh my god. Now he's smiling at nothing," Mingi reports. I throw a fork at him, and it bounces off his head and into his tray.

"Hah! It's mine now," Mingi grins at me. I shake my head, smiling too. Mingi's happiness is contagious, no matter how much I try to deny it.

I then turn and see San, whose gaze diverts just as he notices my eyes on him. He picks at his food to distract himself, but I can see the frown on his face. Worried, I place a hand on his thigh.

You okay? I think.

Yeah, I guess.

"You guys seem... closer now," Hongjoong says, thumbs practically punching his phone screen. I wonder who he's texting so vigorously.

I look around in panic. "Uh -- "

"Screw that. They're definitely closer. Everyone can see the sweetness and love and sunshine gushing out of them both, rotting the insides of their brain and heart until there's nothing but candy canes, gummy worms and heaps and heaps of chocolate left," Yeosang responds, being his usual dramatic self.

"You guys are acting really weird," I try again, looking briefly at San. Now, he isn't poking around with his small sandwich, but instead staring blankly at...Mingi.

Yeosang tugs at Mingi's scarf. Mingi eyeballs him over his yoghurt, but Yeosang doesn't relent. "Spill."

Mingi shakes his head. "Nuh huh. It was Yunho that was there, not me."

Yeosang let out a long, drawn out sigh. "Spill then, Yunho."

I stare at Yunho, but he just avoids my gaze, seeming uncomfortable with whatever he'd seen. His reaction makes me more anxious than I've ever been before. "Okay -- if you guys have nothing to say, then let's discuss about that shapeshifter guy -- "

"Yunho showed up at your dorm last night 'cause he wanted to borrow your spell book. Fortunately, he saw you two. Unfortunately," Hongjoong pauses, looks up from his phone, "he saw, well, you know."

If my heart decided to pop out of my chest and migrate to Mars right then, I wouldn't have been surprised. I wouldn't have minded either. Anything at that moment would've been better than finding out one of your close friends had walked in on you and your boyfriend making out.

To make things more drastic, San holds eye contact with every single person at this table, and when his eyes finally land on me, his lips form a big, angelic smile. "Wooyoung and I are dating now. We're boyfriends."

Silence. For a second, the only things I feel include San's hand clasping mine and my heart rapidly racing inside my chest.

But, this silence's the kind that's more shocked than anything, because it doesn't last long.

Mingi's the first to react. He freaking hoots, an overjoyed smile splitting his face. "Yes."

"Suddenly I don't know who this guy is," Yeosang states, only to hiss like an annoyed cat when Mingi ruffles his blond hair.

"You love me," Mingi argues and Yeosang hisses at him again, fists clenched threateningly. Surprisingly enough, Yunho stares at the both of them fondly.

"Congrats, guys," Yunho then cheers, looking at San and I. His enthusiasm makes me flustered, but San's face distracts me. And it's not because of what you think, although he is very, very handsome. No, it's because that same dark, strange look he'd harboured in his eyes when I'd been laughing with Mingi had reared itself again.

Jealous? I ask with my mind, aiming for a joke.

San doesn't smile, but blinks instead. Repeatedly, like he'd snapped out of something. His eyes are red pools of panic when he looks at me. No. I -- Sorry.

"Guys, chill out with the intense bedroom eyes. I'm trying to eat here," Yeosang says. I stick out my tongue at him, wishing I had another fork to throw at him too.

"You're jealous," Hongjoong comes to my defense which I high-five him for, and at Yeosang's too-loud scoff, everyone at the table laughs.

"Nope. Shut up. Anyway, before you guys showed up," Yeosang quickly changes the subject, "we were talking about that book my roommate had with him."

The atmosphere turns a little more serious, and even the occasional harmless dissolving snow that falls around our table and the others doesn't lighten the mood.

"Yunho found something out after he'd read through a bit more of the book since Kangmin hadn't shown up yet," Mingi continues. "That's why he came to you guys' dorm for that spell book."

A stupid blush blooms across my cheeks at the reminder of what San and I'd been doing before Yunho came, so I hurriedly search for a response so it won't be that obvious.

"What did you find?" I question, staring at Yunho.

"Found a bunch of stuff regarding demons and what they do," Yunho answers. "Was pretty interesting, until I stumbled upon a section of soul earning."

"Really?" It was San's turn to speak up this time. Even without hearing his thoughts, I know he's thinking back to the conversation we had with his grandmother. "What did they say?"

"Some of the words and drawings were unintelligible, so I couldn't read them all," Yunho explains, "and there's a time limit to all spell-proof rooms so I couldn't search them for long. I wanted to look through Wooyoung's spell book to find something that'd unravel the language, but..."

My face flames up. "Okay okay. When our classes are done, we'll use my spell book to discern what those words mean if that Kangmin dude isn't back yet."

"It's weird though," Hongjoong speaks, placing his phone on the table. The device vibrates with new messages, but it's clear he prioritizes what we're discussing over whoever's currently texting him. It's sweet.

"Why would he leave that kind of book lying around and then disappear off?" Hongjoong continues, and then picks up his phone again. Or not.

"I know right," Mingi states. His eyes suddenly widen with an epiphany, and slams his peach yoghurt down on the table. "Maybe it's meant to be like that. Maybe... Maybe he wants us to see it."

"That doesn't make sense," Yeosang counters, but his brows are furrowed.

San's fingers curl over mine under the table, and when I look at him, he's chewing his lip, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

Should we tell them about what happened between us? His voice is all I hear now, its gentle and comforting timbre calming me down and convincing me that everything's okay, and always will be.

Yeah, I respond, and then we enter the conversation and tell our friends about San's mixed lineage and when he'd bit me. Leaving out all the details about our first kiss (obviously), I also add in my Wish Ball's reaction to me wishing to turn things back to normal. When we're finally done, everyone's quiet, a little overwhelmed.

"Is it that bad?" I blurt, their silence getting to me.

"Oh my god," Yunho exclaims. "I read something in that book about feelings of...of possession and stuff the demons would feel over the soul they'd claimed. I hope nothing like that has happened between you guys, because you are dating now after all."

I shake my head, while San's eyes are filled with something strange. "Uh, no?"

Mingi heaves an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Whew, 'cause that demon soul claiming thing sounds super scary. Demons are scary."

"San has demon blood in him you doofus," Yeosang snaps.

"Obviously San is an exception because do you see him? He's a walking aegyo machine."

"Shh," Hongjoong chastises, and then he's on his feet, putting his phone to his ear and walking off.

"Did something happen?" San asks, uncharacteristic bemusement shadowing his face when Yunho and Mingi coo at him like a bunch of grannies. I just laugh, leaning closer as an excuse to touch him.

"I'm pretty sure Joong hyung's seeing someone but he doesn't wanna spill," Yeosang answers.

"Hongjoong? Dating someone?" I gasp like it's a big deal. Which it is. Hongjoong's been single for as long as I've been alive. It's so bad I'm pretty sure -- or was pretty sure -- he'd live to be over 200 years old and still stay single.

"Yeah. He's almost always on his phone now, and then sometimes I catch him in the hall by himself with the biggest fucking grin on his face. Scariest shit ever." Mingi adds with a suppressed shudder, cracking open his winter edition, edible snow flaked fortune cookie. A disappointed pout forms on his lips when two scented candles fall out of it. "Not again."

"Here. Open mine. I'm not called a 'bag of luck' for nothing," Yunho says, passing his intact fortune cookie over to him.

I try to bite back my smile all to no avail. "No one calls you that."

"People do. You guys just aren't present when they do."

"Sure."

"Hey," San pipes up, and like a magnet he attracts everyone's stare. "Maybe Hongjoong hyung's dating a... ghost."

For a few seconds, no one speaks. But then the entire table erupts in laughter that earn sharp glares from the other students, but we don't care.

"Good one!" Mingi wipes the corner of his eye. "Oh my god -- I can see it now. Hyung with his arm around air, leaning in to kiss -- okay maybe I don't wanna imagine that anymore."

"Are ghosts even real?" San asks, and I can't help but grin broadly. He's so talkative now, which I love.

"It'd possible that they might be," I say, "just not around here."

"That makes so much sense now," Yunho concludes. "He's always texting someone on the phone, and I haven't seen him act all romantic to anyone else. Maybe he is dating an actual ghost."

"What are you guys talking about?" Hongjoong appears out of nowhere, causing Mingi to accidentally manhandle his fortune cookie and hurl edible snow dust right at Hongjoong's face.

Hongjoong slowly, silently rids half his cheek of the frosting.

"Oh god, hyung, you look like a ghost now -- "

Hongjoong chases Mingi out of the cafeteria, and it's just as hilarious as it looks.

• • •

The rest of the week goes by as smoothly as it can, with me working on my snow project for Potions, and then trying to discern the words and symbols in that book about demons with San and our friends. We refrain from letting the school administration know about it, mostly because the book can actually put an end to this whole soul earning thing.

Come Friday night, San is on my lap, studying a book on astrophysics while I play with his hair. He said he had a test on one of its topics next week, so I decided to be of as much support as I can, even when the equations sprawled across every other page of that textbook seem like utmost jargon to me. I've never been good at numbers, part of why I dislike Potions so much.

But San...San is a pure whiz with it.

"We should let Ma know about the book," San spills at one point, looking at me with those emotive, tender eyes of his. "Maybe she can help us."

"Sure. Of course. Anything for you." I continue to massage his scalp with my fingers, and he smiles, fangs flashing briefly.

San chuckles. "Simp."

I gasp out loud in disbelief. "Hey!"

"It was a joke, Woo," San laughs and squeezes my cheeks, giving me an apologetic kiss on the lips when I fake looking mad. "Wanted to see how you'd react."

"Whatever." I hug him. "You're forgiven 'cause you're cute."

San grins sheepishly, and then he's looking at me, eyes tracing over my features. It's daunting, and makes the butterflies in my stomach do somersaults.

"...Promise you'll be there."

I blink, snapping out of my daze. "What?"

"Promise me you'll always be around," San repeats, booping my nose. "Wherever and whenever. Whether as lovers or as friends, because...I don't want to lose you, Wooyoung."

His confession takes me aback, making me freeze for a moment. But I quickly compose myself and answer with a hundred percent honesty. "I promise, San. Promise me too?"

San smiles, and it's so genuine it fills my heart with warmth. "I promise, Wooyoung."

• • •

It's impossibly dark the next morning, and so cold goosebumps prick my skin the minute I open my eyes.

I step into my bunny slippers and head out of my room, noting how quiet it is. I'm kind of underwhelmed that San isn't already in livingroom, but I figure he's probably inside his room, not sleeping but not awake either.

I decide to go to his room and maybe try and give him a nice little surprise, but when I open the door, I see no one there. San's bed is made, which meant he hadn't used it.

Realizing his phone is nowhere in sight, I rush back to my bedroom and grab my phone, dialing his number as quick as I can.

San doesn't pick up, not even after the fifth call.

• • •

a/n: long time no see! sorry for the lack of updates on this fic, had huuuge writer's block that i'm slowly overcoming

thoughts?