Mina took a deep breath before stepping through the gates of school. It had already been a week since she first arrived here, and other than her first day here, Sehun never walked her to school again. Not that she minded, because they hardly knew each other anyway. Mina was perfectly capable of walking through school without fidgeting because of the stares of the supernaturals, and she had grew accustomed to the way they looked at her like she was an outcast. She had always been on her own, and she didn't really need that to change even if she was at a different school. As long as they didn't bother her, she was happy.

Her mind drifted as she tried to ignore the whispers of the students around her once she stepped into the premises.

Miyoung had called her out the other day, with the intention of knowing about Mina's progress with the boys. The young girl didn't have much to say, because honestly, she hadn't spent enough time to know them. Sure, there were some incidents here and there, but those were just coincidences. Its not like she wanted to spend time with them, and its not like they wanted to spend time with her.

The older woman had given her a pleading look then, and Mina cursed herself for being weak. Miyoung was wholeheartedly keeping her end of the deal, and she knew that because the doctors hadn't been chasing her for payments ever since she was thrown into the world of the supernatural. Her heart told her that it was only right that she at least put in some effort, no matter how unwilling she was. But the logical side of her also told her that love couldn't be forced, and what was bound to happen, would happen. 

Mina sighed at her dilemma. What was she going to do?

"If it isn't the delightful little human."

A suave, smooth voice broke Mina out of her thoughts, and she felt her hair stand on end. The somewhat familiar voice was dangerous, and Mina's mind put out red flags. She needed to get out of here.

Without looking back and acknowledging the voice, Mina quickened her footsteps. A flash of a shadow immediately appeared before her eyes, and Mina jumped as she came face to face with a face she was vaguely familiar with. She gulped.

"It's rude to ignore someone, little one," the vampire from before said in a low voice before giving her a fangy smile. His sharp fangs seemed to shine under the light, and Mina shuddered as she imagined them being stained red.

She knew that he was enjoying her fear, relishing in it, tasting it. He would continue to taunt her as long as she showed that she was afraid, like a little psycho playing with his toy. Mina swallowed down her hammering heartbeats, and tried to straighten herself. She was still afraid of supernaturals, but she needed to know how to mask it.

"I have somewhere to be. I have no time to talk to you."

Mina tried to step sideways, and she mentally cheered when she managed to brush past his shoulder and get past. Her celebration was short-lived though, and her hands went clammy when her ears picked up the vampire's chuckle.

"A little fiesty, aren't you?"

Mina let out a squeak when she saw the vampire reappear before her.

"I don't like to play with my food," the vampire drawled out as he took a step towards her, and then another, and then another. Mina found herself backing away, and she knew she was in deep when her back hit the wall. A cold shiver went down her spine when he referred to her as food.

"W-What do you want?"

"You," the vampire's smirk grew, and Mina stood frozen with her eyes closed as the male closed the distance between them. She felt a breathy intake of air on the side of her neck, just above her collarbone, and Mina's legs grew wobbly. "You smell wonderful."

This is it. I'm going to die.

"And you smell hideous," Mina heard a familiar voice say, but she was too scared out of her wits to register who it was. The presence in front of her was removed, and once Mina could feel that the vampire was no longer in her face, she dared herself to open her eyes.

"I could say the same, werewolf," the vampire growled out at being distracted from his prey, and he swiped the hand that was gripping on his shoulder tightly. He forced out a friendly smile even though he was fuming with rage. "I was just welcoming the human."

Jongin rolled his eyes, his hand retreating back into his pocket. He spared Mina a glance before focusing on the vampire. "She doesn't look very welcomed."

The vampire let out a laugh, and Jongin frowned. There was nothing remotely funny that was going on.

"What is with you werewolves?" the vampire ceased his laughter, a playful, mischievous smile still gracing his lips. "First it was your younger brother, and now its you."

The vampire stepped closer, his voice low. "Is she your new plaything? You know Hyorin would be so di-"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence before he was held up by the collar by two strong hands.

"Leave her name out of your mouth, Lee Hongbin," Jongin growled out loudly, snarling. Mina slightly jumped at the dangerous expression on the werewolf's face, and she knew that must have definitely hit a nerve. Hyorin was definitely a sensitive subject.

Hongbin didn't look the slightest bit fazed. Instead, his chest rumbled as he chuckled. The vampire pulled the werewolf's hands off his collar, before adjusting and dusting off his uniform. He stared hard at the werewolf. 

"Then don't nose into my business," the smirk on his face disappeared and his lips pressed into a straight line. 

"I don't know if Sehun told you this," Jongin tried to compose himself, his glare still hard. "But Mina is off limits."

"Mina, is it?" Hongbin gave the terrified girl a knowing smirk, and Jongin snarled at how the vampire seemed to ignore the rest of his words. Jongin watched with caution as Hongbin walked back to the girl, much like a predator sneaking up on its prey. The vampire lowered his head, so that he was at Mina's eye level. She gulped.

"You're pretty special," Hongbin whispered. Mina stared back at him, a tinge of curiosity behind her terrified gaze. "They're usually not this protective."

Hongbin gave the girl a mischievous wink before pulling away. The vampire pushed past Jongin's shoulder before taking his leave, a smirk on his face.

___

What did he mean when he said that they were usually not that protective?

It had already been two hours since that encounter with the vampire, which Mina now recognised as Lee Hongbin. But for some reason, she couldn't help but think back to the sly vampire's words. They kept ringing in her head like a broken recorder, and she frowned as she walked to the cafeteria.

Jongin hadn't spoken a word to her after the incident, which Mina didn't find unusual. They were strangers, and the werewolf probably helped her out of goodwill. Now that she thought about it, it wasn't the first time that one of the werewolves saved her in school.

First it was Sehun on her first day at school. Then on the same day, Baekhyun helped her out of her predicament with Areum. And now, it was Jongin.

Mina's lips formed a thin line at the thought of being constantly helped by the boys. Sure, she was grateful that they looked out for her considering this was an entirely new environment for her, and that she wasn't used to conversing with supernaturals that thought they were superior to her. But she couldn't help but feel like a useless damsel in distress that had to be saved, and she hated that feeling. It just didn't sit right with her.

Granted, she couldn't help the feeling of helplessness and fear that gripped her heart whenever she passed by or interacted with supernaturals because after all, she was just a mere human that didn't believe that supernaturals existed in the first place. The fact that she was abruptly thrown into this world didn't help either.

But she needed to stop fearing her schoolmates. She didn't know how long she would be staying, and it would be mentally and emotionally draining if she continued being afraid. Mina's eyes steeled with resolve. She hated feeling weak.

I can't keep praying for help like this. I need to learn to protect myself.

Feeling newfound confidence in her heart, Mina took a deep breath and straightened herself before pushing open the doors of the cafeteria. The students instantly turned to look at the girl, but Mina stood her ground. She wasn't going to let them scare her anymore.

Multiple stares followed her form as Mina went to grab her food, their eyes burning with curiosity at the new human girl. Mina didn't let them faze her, and she continued with her business, resisting the urge to squirm at the attention. Most of the students went back to their business after that, and Mina internally sighed with relief. 

That's right Mina. They're just curious.

The girl retrieved her food and went to look for a seat, a small pout on her face. All the seats were occupied, and she wasn't ready to sit with a bunch of strangers just yet. She walked a full round before deciding to eat outside, and she her heel to exit the cafeteria when a foot stuck out from the table beside her.

Sharp pain shot up her knees as Mina's legs hit the ground harshly, her hands shooting out to prevent herself from faceplanting the floor. Her whole body was flat on the ground, and Mina could feel her food seep into her uniform, her stomach turning wet from the contact. Her bottled juice was thrown a few feet away from her, and Mina pushed herself up immediately at the feeling of her shirt getting worse by the second. 

Her eyes settled on the foot that tripped her, and her gaze trailed up to the culprit who didn't even look the least bit apologetic. Mina's eyes hardened even more upon seeing who it was.

Areum laughed along with her friends before settling on a smirk, her eyes finally looking at Mina with a playful glint. Mina knew then that she definitely did it on purpose, and her hands fisted by her side.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trip you."

Mina rolled her eyes at the obvious lie, and she slammed her fist down on the table, causing the occupants to jump. The whole cafeteria was surely looking at them now, but Mina didn't care. She was tired of being looked down upon and feeling helpless.

"What is your problem? You've been giving me the stink eye since the first day of school, and we hardly know each other!" Mina almost screamed in her face, rage building up in her heart. 

Areum scoffed in response. "Its because you aren't where you're supposed to be, human. Don't act all mighty here."

Mina bit down on her lip harshly in anger, and she could feel the faint taste of blood on her tongue. Was it such a sin to be human?

She spared a glance at the floor, and an idea popped up in her head. Mina picked up the unopened bottle of juice on the floor.

"It's because of Sehun, isn't it?"

Mina instantly knew she was right when Areum gave her a sharp look, as if she was offended that she even uttered out his name. "He wouldn't stoop that low to hang out with a human."

That was all Mina needed to know before she unscrewed the cap on the bottle, and her snicker was drowned out by a sharp scream from Areum.

"That's where you're wrong," Mina gave Areum a smirk as she repeated the words she said on her first day of school. The girl was absolutely furious as her friends scampered to get tissues for her to wipe off the juice that was dumped over her head. Mina threw the empty bottle on the floor, the bottle hitting the the ground with a thump.

"He wouldn't stoop even lower to hang out with you."