PLEASE READ IN DARK MODE! ANY FONT STYLE. SECOND SMALLEST FONT SIZE!

and enjoy~!

" The place where the rough breath drove to,

Gathered in a tempting constellation...

Look at your surprised eyes,

Royal royal catch that royal... "

- CHECKMATE, THE BOYZ

- Park Soobin

It has been one week since Yeji's funeral and Ruby's note that I found in my locker. Many things have changed since then. Everyone who was friends with Yeji became distant in their own circles of friends, just like with Yebin and Leela. I may not be their classmate to know what had happened between the two. But they both had an argument with each other the day after Yeji's funeral which was the first day back in school. I was just returning back from my locker and throwing the note away in the trash bin when I heard two students shouting at each other in one corridor of the academy. When I quietly took a look, I saw the two vampires arguing about something between choosing Yebin and Yeji. I didn't want to eavesdrop any longer, but then I heard Leela crying and shouting that it is Yebin's fault for not answering Yeji's call from that night. I froze in my hiding spot behind the pillar in the corridor and crossed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeji noona called Yebin sunbae that night?" I thought to myself as I recalled my memories from that night.

flashback

"Hyung, I'm hungry," Haruto called out once I walked inside the bathroom in our room.

I shook my head at the younger boy and replied back while taking my toothbrush out of its holder, "Then head over to the kitchen and eat."

I heard the shuffling of feet on the wooden floor and then I saw Haruto's small head pop into the bathroom through the opened door. "Come with me, hyung... Please..."

I sighed and placed my toothbrush down. "I'm about to brush my teeth and go to bed. Why don't you get Sangmin to go with you?"

Haruto pouted and said, "Because Sangmin is a lazy bum. Plus, who knows what is roaming around the academy's corridor at 1 in the morning."

I thought about the possibilities of getting Sangmin or at least someone from our dorm to tag along with Haruto, but all I can think are the negative reactions and replies I would get from the boys in the West Wing. And I doubt that any of them would talk to me. After all, I'm an outcast of all Vladimir Academies.

I sighed again and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Then I looked back at the 17-year-old boy and placed a small smile on my face. "Let's go then," I told him and saw a bright smile on my roommate.

ততততততততততততততততততততততত

We quickly left our room and walked down the long corridor of the West Wing in the boys' dormitory. After 4 minutes, we took a left turn and walked down the flight of the stairs to the first floor. While walking, I looked outside each of the big glass windows that Haruto and I passed by. My eyes caught the crescent moon in the starless sky and a small smile found itself sketched on my lips. The moonlight welcomed all creatures and non-living things as it shines brightly in the night sky.

"Hyung, is that Yeji noona over there?" Haruto spoke up, pulling me away from my thoughts about the moon and its bright, calming light.

I looked back at the younger boy and saw him nodding his head at someone at the end of the corridor. My eyes moved to where he nodded and I instantly saw the familiar silhouette of my Guardian. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and whispered, "Where is she going?"

"Why don't we follow her, Hyung?" Haruto suggested and before I could stop him, he was already following Yeji down the corridor.

I sighed while shaking my head at him, but I followed him right away with curious thoughts about why my Guardian was still up at this hour.

ততততততততততততততততততততততত

"Huh? Where did noona go?" Haruto suddenly asked, making me stop in my tracks.

I looked at him in confusion and asked, "Did you lose her?"

Haruto pouts again and nodded his head. "I swear, I saw her take a right turn... She should be here..."

I then looked around the unfamiliar corridor of the academy and realized that we're in a dead-end. "Weird... There usually is no dead-end in this school," I whispered to himself while looking around again.

"Come on, Hyung, let's just head over to the kitchen and back to the dorm."

"Hm... Okay..."

Haruto and I then walked back to the main corridors, but before I could leave the unfamiliar corridor, I had stopped walking when I thought I heard someone sighing.

"Hyung! Hurry up! I'm hungry!" Haruto called out, making me chuckle to myself.

end of flashback

After getting some snacks to eat for Haruto that night, I found out that a couple of students were still awake. It was three minutes before two in the morning, and some 5th years and 4th years were having a small party over at the East Wings near the girls' dormitory. Haruto wanted to join them, but I grabbed the younger boy's hoodie before he would crash the upperclassmen's party. It was around that time when we were about to walk back to the stairs to the West Wing when I heard someone's phone go off. I remember hearing Leela's voice and how she sounded like she was hesitating to answer her phone. It stopped in the 6th ring and then Leela started to quietly sob in her own corner near the party. Haruto was too busy munching on his snack to have heard what was happening. I wanted to help, but with my background and everyone's beliefs about me being the school's bad boy and troublemaker, I took a step back and walked away back to mine and Haruto's room.

I now regret not asking Leela about what had happened and why she was crying.

I regret not checking that unfamiliar corridor more closely.

I regret not calling out to Yeji when Haruto saw her.

I regret so many things from that night.

Leela and Yebin were no longer on speaking terms and it made everyone feel like something was missing again.

Another new change was the Guardians' classes. Without Yeji, the top student, and their Professor for their Training is out on maternity leave, Bomin, Jaehyuck, and Doyoung were left with new projects. The three were chosen to be the temporary teachers for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Years. Minjung was also chosen as the temporary teacher for the 4th year while Keni was her assistant. These five Guardians were chosen not because of their family's background, but because they are in the Top Ranks. Bomin is currently in first- taking Yeji's rank, and the rest follows on. I honestly got nothing against them, but I hope that they won't play around with their new rankings. If it wasn't for Yeji, they wouldn't be promoted today.

Aside from the Guardians' classes, the Vampires are trying their best to focus on their own lessons. Even I, myself, am having a hard time learning the new names of the Council. I keep telling myself that it's just only been a week since Yeji's funeral, so of course, everyone would still be mourning and trying to get used to her absence. All we need to do is imagine that it is just another day in the academy... Or, maybe that is what I need to imagine.

"Hyung, you're out of it again," Haruto called out while snapping his fingers in front of my face.

I sighed and looked back at him. "Sorry... I was just thinking..."

Haruto bit his bottom lip and nodded his head. Then he looked away and chuckled. "Looks like you're not the only one zoning out in the academy," He exclaimed while pointing at a group of four.

I knew right away at who they were. But I still turned my head and glanced at the Oh siblings and their Guardians. Sungkyung was busy typing on her phone like the usual, Bomin was teaching Jisung how to hold a throwing knife properly, and the youngest, Keni was sitting down with her eyes on the ground, her forehead creasing once in a while as she was thinking about something. Then I saw her take something out of her hoodie's pocket and I froze on my seat. I didn't know what had happened next, but my instincts took over me and I was running. I ran faster and once I got near her, I grabbed the piece of paper and glared at the 18-year-old Guardian.

"S-Soobin!" Keni gasped in surprise.

"Where did you get this?" I asked with venom and a little fear laced in my tone.

Keni looked away from me and at the note that Ruby gave to me earlier this week. Then she looked back at me and sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry... I saw you threw it in the trash bin-" I raised my left eyebrow at her and cut her off, "So, you took it out of trash bin and kept it?"

"What? No! I saw you didn't get to throw it in the trashbin, so I was going to throw it in properly for you!" Keni explained, her words flying around as she talked quickly.

I looked at her and noticed that she was telling the truth. Then just when I was about to apologize, I felt someone push me away to the ground and heard Keni calling out to Jisung's name in shock. I looked at Oh Jisung and saw the lion look in his eyes. I know how protective he is of Keni, but seeing it in person... I didn't actually think it would be this intense and real.

"How dare you accuse her?" Jisung spat at me, his older sister and her Guardian walking over to us in worry.

"Jisung, enough!" Keni said as she tried to pull him away, but the male vampire didn't budge.

"What is going on here?" Bomin asked as he placed his hand on Jisung's shoulder.

"This prick here!" Jisung exclaimed while pointing at me with so much anger and hatred. "He started to accuse Keni of something she didn't do!"

Bomin and Sungkyung looked at all three of us and sighed. Then Sungkyung grabbed her younger brother away, the younger Oh sibling protesting against her grip, but Sungkyung just continued to drag Jisung to Vladimir knows where. Then Bomin stuck his hand out towards me and I just stared at it and stood up by myself. The 20-year-old Guardian faked a cough when pulling his hand back. Then he looked back at Keni who was looking at me in worry. I felt something in me stir as her soft brown eyes stared into my dark red eyes.

"Kei, why don't you tell me what exactly happened?" Bomin asked the younger Guardian, making her break the eye contact we were sharing.

So, the storytelling started and when it ended, Jisung came back with his clenched fists. He was about to punch me, but someone had stopped him. I thought it was Bomin, but I remember that Bomin was a little too far away from where I was standing. Keni was also with Bomin, so it definitely wasn't her.

Then I heard Jaehyuck's voice.

"Stay away from my Vampire."

Everyone's eyes went wide at what he said and when I looked at him, I saw my family heirloom pin on his school's blazer. A crescent moon with a Jaden gem on its side. That was Yeji's. How did he get that?

"What did you just say?" Keni asked both in shock and curiosity.

Jaehyuck looked over at her and answered with a serious expression, "I've just been assigned as Lord Soobin's Guardian."

This can't be happening...

A/n:

I was squealing at the ending scene- XD

oh... Spotify is playing I.O.I's Pick Me... lmaoooo AHAHAHA

Sooo, what do you guys think so far?

How did Jaehyuck get Yeji's pin which is Soobin's family heirloom?

It's quite obvious, but what do you think about Jisung's behavior earlier? And the little moment between Keni and Soobin? (squealed too much today xD)

The characters that weren't mentioned in the chapter will get a spotlight in the next one~

That's about it for my a/n. c:

stay safe!! xoxo, keni~

ps. word count is my birthyear AHAHAHA I was shocked lol

[ chapter edited ]