Chapter 1: A Strange Man

Akiro’s Point of View

“A PENNY for your thoughts, pretty boy?”

I laughed awkwardly when Jake wrapped his arm on my shoulder, setting aside my worries as I took the drink from his hand. “Nothing worthy to tell.”

“If it’s not worthwhile, then better not think more about it, yeah? We’re here to party and forget about university stuff! So stop brooding here and join the games!”

He left me with no choice when he pulled me inside the Morrisons’ mansion— a prominent name in our city because of their business and wealth. Jake directed me towards the pool at the back, where everyone was.

“'I’ve got a pretty boy here everyone!” Jake announced as soon as he stepped outside to the pool area, successfully grabbing all the people’s attention.

They applauded loudly, some even hollering and whistling. I chuckled at their reaction.

I was pulled at every corner, someone handing me beverages and joining me to their games. This is one of the few moments where I felt disgruntled over my popularity among the student body. I’d say it's because I ran for the student council once and won as the secretary, then I joined the volleyball team, left after winning one season, then joined the chess club and won the championship.

But if you ask the students, they’ll say it’s because I’m handsome. Or well, pretty. Being called pretty doesn’t bode well for me who attended a Catholic school during primary. They’re very strict with these things: boys are supposed to be manly and girls are supposed to be feminine. Boys are handsome, girls are pretty. Boys should work, girls should stay home. Boys belong to girls, and girls belong to boys. Same-sex relationships are not allowed because it would be a sin, an unforgivable one. It will lead you straight to hell.

And it didn’t help in high school because some people were blatant homophobic and bullies. Thankfully, it’s much more open-minded and accepting in college. I guess growing older makes some people like that.

Still, it didn’t lessen the uncomfortable knot in my stomach whenever they called me pretty. Though I can’t really say they're wrong about that.

Everyone says I looked androgynous because I looked handsome with short hair and I looked pretty with long hair. My grandmother told me I looked exactly like both of my parents depending on my hairstyle, so I tend to change hairstyles often so I could resemble the parents I never met.

When I could feel myself slowly getting dizzy from all the drinks I’ve consumed, I excused myself from the crowd. It earned a few disappointed sighs from the girls, but they all fell back to the game a second later.

I went out to get some fresh air. I left the gate open, so I wouldn’t have to bother anyone if I wanted to enter again. I sat on the pavement, my head hung low as I closed my eyes.

The few hours I spent mingling with the students distracted me from my whirling thoughts, but it all came crashing down now that I’m alone again. I sighed, lifting my head up and was about to stand up when I saw a man standing in front of me, his glowing red eyes staring directly into my eyes.

My heart pounded nervously at the unusual redness of this stranger's eyes. I couldn’t see his face either, despite the streetlamp shining directly on him. The hood he’s wearing is obscuring his view.

Wait, no. That’s not a hood. It was too long to be one.

I squinted my eyes, so I could see it better.

Is that a cape? Who wears a cape nowadays? It’s so out of fashion and the weather’s not even the slightest bit cold!

“Uh... hello. Are you here for the party?” I asked while standing up. “The party started hours ago already, but it wouldn’t end until the sun rises so you can still join. Though I advise you to remove your... cape because it’s crowded inside and you’ll feel extremely hot there.”

But the guy didn’t respond. He remained standing there, staring at me. It was starting to unsettle my nerves, and he was starting to creep me out.

“If you don’t have anything to say, then I think I’ll just…” I flashed him a small smile and then I hastily turned around, striding to the gate but I let out an embarrassing yelp when someone pulled me and slammed me on the wall.

I gasped in pain from the impact, but I didn’t have time to process it when a cold hand was wrapped around my neck, and another one was tightly holding my hand while pinning it on the wall beside my head.

I shakily lifted my head only to meet the same glowing red eyes that were staring at me earlier. My eyes widened in fear as the guy leaned closer.

“You smell so much of so many people…” he whispered. “You reek of mixed scents. It’s hurting my nose.”

“W...what are you doing— h-hey!”

I literally froze at my spot when he leaned his head closer to my neck. I tried to push him away using my free hand but it was a futile attempt, because he didn’t even budge a little. It didn’t help that my hands were trembling in fear, especially with the cold hand that was on my neck. If he puts pressure on it, I doubt I’ll be able to push him off.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked after a few seconds of mustering up my courage. My voice didn’t shake as I feared, but it wasn’t as intimidating as I hoped it was.

I shut my eyes tightly when I heard him take in a deep breath, then he sighed on my neck which sent thousands of ripples through my body. What the hell, Akiro. This isn’t the time for your body to react this way! You don’t even know this man! And you haven’t seen his face either!

“I’m your mate, Akiro Freniere.”

Almost immediately, everything went away. My brows furrowed in confusion.

Did he just say he’s my mate?

“A...are you insane?” I asked, looking at him incredulously. He had lifted his head to peer down on me, but because of his black cape and him towering over me which blocked the lamp post, I couldn’t see his face and the expression he was making.

I don’t know if he’s joking or not, but he wasn’t budging at all. I tried to push him away again, but to no avail.

We’re both men, so why can’t I push him away? He didn’t look like he was having difficulty when I was pushing him! He’s hard as steel.

“Look,” I said, giving up trying to break free from his hold. “Can we talk like civilized people do? You know, without pressing me to the wall like I’m a wanted criminal running away from you. Besides, if anyone sees us like this, they might have a wrong impression of us.”

I held my breath when he leaned closer to my face. I had no more space to move away, and his hands were still on my neck, which stopped me from looking away.

“I prefer talking this way,” he muttered, his voice deep. I felt goosebumps all over my body when I felt his hot breath fanning against my face. It was the only hot thing about him, because his skin was so cold, and his red eyes stared at me so frostily. Like a demon watching its prey.

“And besides…” he trailed off, tilting his head. His hand that was on my neck pressed slightly, which made me gasp. He didn’t put a lot of pressure on it, but just enough to make me gasp for breath. “... what's wrong if anyone sees us like this?”

“You're joking—” I gasped again when he tightened his hold on my neck. His eyes were hungrily staring into mine, as if he was cataloguing every inch of my face while he was choking me. “W-what— piss off, will you? I don’t remember doing anything to you, let alone knowing who you are!”

He didn’t speak, and then everything just suddenly turned cold. I swallowed nervously. Did I anger him even more? Is he going to choke me to death?

Much to my surprise, he slowly let go of my neck and hand. He seemed reluctant as he pulled away, seeing how his hands hovered around me. But with a shake of his head, he stepped away.

I caressed my neck gently, still feeling the coldness of his large and rough hand. I wasn’t hurt at all, but this stranger’s touch made my skin tingle for some reason.

“What’s up with you, dude? Do I know you—”

“Do. Not. Call. Me. Dude.”

I froze once again.

The hell— this man is terrifying. Why am I the unfortunate person who encountered this weird stranger? Is it because I’m not straight?

“F-fine, no need to get mad,” I replied. “Now, if you’re done messing up with me, I’ll go back inside before anyone sees us here.”

“What’s so wrong if anyone sees us here?”

I arched an eyebrow. “You know how some people don’t approve when two people who have the same sex get too intimate. If anyone had witnessed us in our position a while ago, they would’ve assumed something was going on between us and it wouldn’t be good for either of us.”

Because while students in college had been more accepting and open-minded about same-sex relationships, it didn’t mean it was easy to be so open about it.

Which is why until now, no one knows where my interest truly lies, and why I have no girlfriend.

“What?” the guy asked, confusion evident in his cold voice.

I gave the guy a confused look. “It is what it means,” I said. “Anyway, I’ll go back inside now.”

I didn’t let him respond; I just walked past him. But the same cold hand held my wrist, halting me on my track.

“Don’t…” the guy trailed off, sounding hesitant. He swallowed audibly. “... be too close to anyone else. Or I’ll drain them off their blood.”

My jaw dropped at what the stranger just said. I was about to confront him when I saw he was no longer behind me. Only then did I notice that the hand on my wrist was no longer there.

Everything turned warm again, unlike the sudden drop of temperature earlier.