CHAPTER 2- TEACH

I opened my eyes as I felt his warm fingers trailing my face. I was welcomed with the fascinated man who’s white as paper. His eyes are now full of serene as it gazes my face. His eyes twinkled in admiration when it held mine and slowly, a gentle smile formed in his lips. I blink rapidly as I stare at his lips and my brows furrowed when I didn’t saw the fangs. Is he really the vampire earlier?

He moved away from me and eyed my tied hands and feet and his eyes darkened again in fury. He freed me in a rush and caressed the cuts in my skin. My knees wobbled decadence and before I completely fell to ground, his arms caught me and carried my bride style like I am nothing at all. He didn’t seem to mind my weight and walked in a slow manner.

All I did was look and examine his face closely. He got this pointed nose and thin but red mouth watering lips. I felt my throat drying up while looking at him closely. He put me down gently after a while in a big root of a tree. He bended his knees and checked my cuts as he repeatedly clenched his jaw. His eyes was turning darker each time passing by.

He coughed a little before tilting his head and moved his gaze towards my eyes before lifting a brow. I nearly lost my breath when I saw his amber eyes. I am mesmerized by it and couldn’t help parting my lips as I observe it closely. It is rare. I almost jumped in shock when he intentionally coughed to awaken me from my embarrassing moment. 

I looked away hastily and saw how his lips curved which made me look at him again. He pressed his lips in a grim line and shook his head. 

“I’ll get something,” he sighed loudly. “Your cuts are… distracting me.”

He then stood and walk away from me while repeatedly clenching his jaw. I look above and saw the green leaves of the large tree swaying because of the wind. 

How come I am here? What did I do to experience this situation? My wounds felt cold and it stung as the wind brushed my skin. How come I didn’t feel any pain earlier when he was with me? And how can my heart be in peace while thinking about him? I used to be afraid and disturbed by vampires! 

My eyelids become heavy as I heard the crickets of the dry leaves and the footstep coming to me. My heart hammered in panic but I can’t do anything because I am mentally and physically weak at the moment. My chest heave when I felt a familiar warm hands caressing my face.

“Hmm… My sweetheart is tired. Sleep tight, my love.”

My heart raced again as if it just heard a reason for it to keep beating but my eyelids are too heavy for me to open my eyes. I heard him humming a song while gently combing my hair until I dozed off to sleep.

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the steel-like hands surrounding me. My pillow is a bit hard but I felt its warmth and something is beating on it too. I moved my legs because I also felt something heavy on top of it. I nearly jumped in shock when I moved my head sideway to check something and something fanned my checks!

I opened my eyes and it nearly gushed out of its sucket when I saw a beautiful man peacefully sleeping. His lips was a bit parted and I saw his two fangs. When I traced the heavy thing pinning me down, I noticed his arms and legs wrapped unto me. His coat was wrapped around my body, protecting me from the cold weather. I gently get his arms off me to check on my wrist and my lips went agaped when I didn’t saw the scars in there. I moved my feet to feel the sting from it but I didn’t feel any. 

I smiled and slowly look at the sleeping vampire on my side. The sun was up earlier when he fought with the werewolves. Right now, its dark even though the moon is shining brightly because of the trees that surrounds the forest. We are under the shade of the tree and it is dark here. Is it true that they get burned by the sun? Why is he out there if it’s true? I smiled gently and lifted my hands to touch his face. He moved a little which made me stop on my track. I breathed nervously but continued tracing his face when he didn’t open his eyes. 

“Am I handsome?” I saw how his lips curved after he spoke. 

My hands feel on his cheek and he tilted his head to my side as he opened his eyes. “Am I handsome?” he repeated, seriousness is visible on his voice.

My lips hung open and unconsciously wandered my eyes on his face before nodding absentmindedly. His chuckle made me blink repeatedly and I felt the heat spreading from my cheeks to my ear in embarrassment. 

He touched and lifted my chin and waited for my eyes to settle on his face before lifting the side of his lips. I can’t take off my gaze on it. His eyes carefully wandered on every edge of my face.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. “You are beautiful,” he repeated which made my heart beat faster again.

He then looked in daze while wandering his eyes around my face as his expression turned softer by the second passing by. When I saw him earlier, he has this hard and expressionless face but his gaze turned to my cuts and wounds, his eyes turned darker, blazing fire of fury visible in his eyes. He looked real hot that way but I didn’t know that a soft and gentle suits him too. He’s more princely this way!

We spent more hours just lying on the ground and staring at each other’s face until my stomach growled in hunger. My face heated and I buried it on his chest in embarrassment. When he didn’t even move nor chuckled to tease me, I lifted my eyes to him and saw a small smile vanishing on his lips. 

“Are you hungry?” he asked hoarsely. 

I nodded shyly. “I have a lunch pack but…” I looked up and saw the dark shades of the tree. It is already a night. 

He sighed loudly and nodded knowingly. A frown made its way to his expressionless face as he gaze around our place. Suddenly, his brows rose when he thought of something. 

“Do you want some fruits?” 

Fruits? Vampires know fruits? I thought the only food… I cringe, that can satisfy their hunger is blood. I unconsciously touched my neck as I think of it. Will he bite me too? 

As if he read what’s on my mind. He got up gently, making me move and decide to just sit too. He assisted me gently and I can’t help but wonder why he’s doing this.

“Don’t worry, I’m still not hungry.” His voice was icy and his expressionless face was back again. 

My eyes widen and I immediately felt guilty. He saved me, yet I can’t even offer my blood for him? But I will die! I still want to leave. My momma will be very sad if that happen. We were not in good terms last night. She’ll blame herself if something bad happens to me now.

“I will not die if you bite me, right?” I asked nervously. 

I imagined him leaning on my neck as he take a bite on it and suck my blood. It sent shivers down my spine and I can’t help but to fan myself because the temperature suddenly turned hot for me. I swallowed hard repeatedly before hesitatingly looking at the vampire. 

“You will not die. I’ll just sip a bit. You’ll not even get a scar but forget about it,” his forehead creased. “You watched too much vampire movies.”

I winced at that. That’s quite true. Ever since I dreamed of him and my father… during my childhood, I’ve become too obsessed watching vampire movies. I wanted to get to know more about them even though I still refuse to believe that vampires really exist.

“Are you a real vampire?” 

His lips lifted and fangs showed. “Ain’t it too obvious?”

“Well,” I remembered his speed, his fangs, the werewolves. “I just can’t believe it.”

“You better start to believe it now,” then he murmured more words that I didn’t hear clearly.

He stood up and lend his hand to me. I accepted his hand and he helped me stand. “We’ll get fresh fruits. We also eat fruits.”

I smiled as I stare at our intertwined hands and I felt him tightened its grip. I looked up to him and saw his Adam’s apple moving before uttering, “let’s go.”

He didn’t let go of my hand as we walk in a slow pace. All I did was to stare at our hands and feel his warmth and I didn’t care about the possible harm this forest can bring. I just felt so safe with him by my side, like nothing could ever go wrong.

“We’re here,” he announced which made me look in front of us and saw a tree filled with fruits I didn’t know.

“Can we eat that?” I asked hesitatingly.

His answer was a hum and a nod while gazing at the tree. “Wait for me here. I won’t take long.”

I looked at him and noticed his exceptional  speed in climbing the tree. He could race with some monkeys and I will bet that it is him who will win! Before I know it, he jumped from the tree and landed right in front of me. I pursed my lips. Why did his long hair suit him too much? He looked so hot while his hair bounced and a slow smile formed in his lips. 

“There.”

I nodded and looked down. Will I forever do embarrassing acts in front of him? Then my forehead creased. Crazy Rose, he will not be with you forever!

He gently pulled my hands towards a big roots and placed his coat, which I didn’t notice how he wore earlier on a certain part before patting it. “Sit there.”

Like an obedient child, I sat there without hesitation and anticipated on what he’s going to do next. 

He kneeled in front of me and gave me one fruit. “Here. Eat.”

I accepted the fruit and looked at him as he get another one. When he bit it, I bit on it too, imitating what he’s doing. We ate silently and I didn’t hear any noise except the creaking sound of the night and the crunchy fruits while we were munching. 

“What’s your name?” Do real vampires have names?

He stopped on his track to look at me before averting it away like he’s getting burned by my gaze. “Prin-,” he shook his head. “Dash Slaughtrus Vandelion.”

I pouted and bite on the fruit again when he didn’t asked for my name. Fine, I will introduce myself to you! 

I cleared my throat and swallowed the remaining food on my mouth. “My name is Rosella Hasneka Codinera. I am 18 years old. I just finished senior high school and will be taking up Education. I want to be a teacher,” the n I stop. “Do you know what a teacher is?” I can’t believe I can talk too much!

He shook his head but I noticed how his lips rose in amusement when he noticed how I made my voice enthusiastic.

“Ohh, it’s someone who teaches younger humans about-“ he cut me off.

“Can you,” he cleared his throat and creased his forehead in irritation. 

“What is it?” I want to know. Why does he look so frustrated and a bit… flustered?

“You’ll be a teacher, right?” I nodded happily because he just assumed I will be a teacher. He believes I can. “Can you teach me the meaning of love then?”

His mere question stopped my mind from functioning but his serious eyes gazing at mine made me weak. 

How should I answer?