“You’re late.” she said. I’ve lost all hope of seeing Bomi tonight after hearing that she have to see someone else. Meeting her here is in the far back of my mind. She sure caught me off guard making me unaware of what should I feel.

“Should I apologize for it? I was expecting to see you at Naeun’s, you know that.” I answered back as I flip the couch upright. And suddenly I can’t find the guts to look at her that I ended up seeing every misplaced furniture in the place. My eyes are constantly searching for every distraction just to avoid her piercing gaze.

“I’d rather talk to you alone.” There’s something different about the way Bomi speaks. It’s filled with authority, far from how shy and clumsy she was before. The unfamiliarity that I’m feeling is unsettling and I don’t like it.

“And we’re supposed to talk like nothing happened?” 

“You tell me. Are you mad?” Bomi asked and I felt her hands cup my face for me to see better of her. “Because if you are.. then I’m sorry.” she looks at me as if I’m her whole world, her universe. In every second that our eyes meet, I melt. My heart melt. Naeun was right, Bomi has the prettiest hazel eyes of all vampires.

Bomi continued holding me, caressing my face, and I felt myself loosen up by her touch. This touch that I longed for years. These hands that I wish would’ve embraced me during the lonely nights. 

Not being able to say a single word, Bomi continues “I’m sorry, Rongie. For jumping into a decision without you but please don’t ever think that you’re never in my plans. This is how I wish we’d be, living an eternity.” 

I can’t find myself arguing with her reasons, not when I’m starting to see how this must’ve been the best way to keep everyone safe. But one thing that I couldn’t accept in this situation that made my body tensed up just by thinking about it. 

It’s how Bomi, my Bomi, isn’t just a normal vampire. She’s the chosen one, the President’s successor. Yoon Bomi is simply out of my reach. I hate it, I hate it so much.

Then hint of bitterness at the edge of my tongue comes with the way I spoke, “You got lucky he likes you.”

“Sure did.” Bomi said and was the first one to let go of our eye contact as she looks down at my hands and holds them, “You’re shaking.. It’s just me. Still me.” This is so unfair. Having her in front of me but at the same time not. Bomi isn’t mine anymore for me to keep holding her like this. 

“I know.”

“Then stop being so distant, Rong.” Bomi said and this time her voice turns soft as she pulled my hands that's clasped between her own, pressing it close to her heart “Let me show you something, close your eyes.” 

Defenseless with no idea of what Bomi would do, I followed. I closed my eyes and that’s when I started seeing pictures and memories of the past.

“You have to learn how to live with them and not savor in everyone’s blood, unnie.” Naeun spoke in her mind as we started our first class in college with the humans. “Though I feel like it’ll be hard with this human, her scent is too strong. I wonder why..”

“Maybe because she’s pretty? Don’t worry, I won’t kill this one.” I answered back as I wait for the girl to sit beside me, the only vacant sit in this room.

“Hi! I’m Yoon Bomi!”

Memories of us spending time together during her first lifetime flashes, we were happy. The four of us together, out on dates. The time when I actually enjoyed living with their kind, the humans. The time when I realized that they were never our prey.

“No. Yoon Bomi, you’re not doing this to me! Wake up!”

I watched myself suffer from losing her for the first time, everything was shown clearly like how I remember this sight in my memory. I watched myself carry Eunji away from the accident, leaving Bomi’s cold dead body alone. I’ve recalled this setting a lot yet it still hurts like a fresh wound.

Another set of pictures flashed then stopped during Bomi’s 2nd lifetime when I tried to save her from dying, hoping that this time she’ll live longer.

Knowing that her cause of death was an accident, I forced her to stay indoors on the said date.

“Aren’t we supposed to go out with Eunji and Naeun?” she asked and I don’t want to risk her life from the tragedy set on her.

“I’ll call them. Don’t worry, they’ll understand.” I said and she nods as she crawls to bed and lay down