“So, who is it this time?” asked Chanyeol suddenly.

  Who will be the source of power to awaken the Krusnik Nanomachine inside Lara’s body once again.

  “Should it be Lay hyung again?” blurted Sehun.

  Lay seemed surprised and happy at the same time.

  “No.” opposed Lara.

  “He just recovered, I don’t want to endanger his safety again.”

  It was silence for a moment, until the oldest boy of the EXO Planet spoke.

  “What about me?” offered Xiumin.

  The other eleven boys and Lara then turned at him.

  “Look, I got my reasons okay.” added Xiumin, feeling flustered of having twelve people looking at him.

  “Because I’m the oldest here, I think maybe I have more stamina than the other boys.”explained Xiumin.

  Most of them nodded as if approve of what he just said.

  ‘Hm, that may be possible.’ thought D.O.

  ‘Is that so? Is that okay?’ asked Lara in her mind.

  “How is it?” asked Xiumin asking the other’s opinion.

  “I think that’s worth a try.” responded Kris.

  “Lara?” asked Xiumin and the other eleven boys, asking her approval.

  Lara released a long sigh before finally said, “Okay.”

  “Alright, so how are we gonna do it?” asked Xiumin again.

  Then Lara put off a confused expression and shook her head as if telling them that she herself wasn’t sure how to do it.

  “Can you try to remember what triggered your Krusnik Nanomachine when you were with Lay?” suggested Luhan.

Lara then tried to remember. It didn’t take long for her to remember, then she bowed her head and got embarassed all of sudden.

  “I guess when he tried to heal the wound on my lips and kissed me gently..” said Lara slowly and flustered.

  Hearing what Lara said, the other then flustered as well. Some of them cleared their throat to overcome the awkwardness after hearing it. Lay himself touched the back of his neck and also feeling shy.

  “Then...should we give both of you some privacy?” said Suho after a while.

  “Ah, no! How will we anticipate them if we weren’t close enough with them?” said Tao spontaneously.

  “Em, I mean..it’s not like you have to flirt in front of us, it’s just.. Well, how should I say it..” exclaimed Tao confused.

  “It’s okay Tao, I know what you mean. But, do you forget about my abilities? We can communicate easily with my telepathy, right?” said Luhan.

  “Oh, yeah..” responded Tao.

  “Okay, then. Let’s give some privacy to Lara and Xiumin.” asked Kris.

  It was silence right after they left Lara and Xiumin alone in the family room.

  Xiumin then offered Lara to go to his room and Lara agreed.

  She never really paid attention to Xiumin’s room. At least not as detailed as now. His room is so neat, well stacked and clean.

  “So, what..how are gonna do it?” asked Xiumin stuttered, trying to convey his question properly.

  Lara was still confused and shy.

  Xiumin then held Lara’s hand gently and took her to sit on one of the sofa.

  Lara felt that Xiumin treated her like a fragile bubble soap that could pop out anytime and she appreciated it.

  “So..our blood was the trigerred of your Krusnik activation, right?” asked Xiumin trying to start a conversation.

  “Yeah, I guess..” responded Lara while nodding slowly.

  “Should I bleed myself so that you can drink it right away? It may be easier..” suggested Xiumin.

  “No! I will never agree with that.” refused Lara spontaneously and held Xiumin’s arm with both her hands.

  “I won’t allow you to hurt yourself.” she exclaimed again.

  “Hm, if so.. What if you come closer and try to smell my blood from up close?” suggested Xiumin again.

  Lara nodded and slowly approaching Xiumin.

  He knew that Lara was going to approach him, but it was silly that he felt nervous nonetheless.

  When she was getting closer to Xiumin’s neck, she then just put her forehead on his shoulder and laugh a little.

  “What exactly that we are doing? Hahaha...” Lara said.

  Xiumin laughed too.

  “You feel weird, don’t you?” asked Xiumin.

  “Yeah...” responded Lara.

  “You know.. Maybe this kind of thing takes time. I don’t think you should rush it. Maybe it won’t work if we force it.” Xiumin said again.

  ‘Maybe he’s right. Why can you be so attentive?’ she wondered herself about Xiumin.

  Then she turned to take a look at Xiumin from below his chin with her forehead still resting on his shoulder.

  “Xiumin.. I really like your rounded cheeks when you smile.” said Lara suddenly while touching his cheek gently.

  “Ah, really?” asked Xiumin and raising his eyebrows.

  “Should I do it?” he asked it again.

  “You already did!” exclaimed Lara and laughed.

  She then pinched Xiumin’s cheek because she couldn’t stand of Xiumin’s adorableness. Xiumin then added it with a funny pose and they laughed together.

  After that Lara let out a long sigh (again) and spilled out mental exhaustion that she felt while leaning her head on Xiumin’s shoulder.

  “It would’ve been better if all of this isn’t happening.” whispered Lara slowly.

  ‘Being a normal human. Having a boring school life. My parents would still be around too.’ she said again inside her mind.

  “Well I disagree with that. Lara...regardless of what has been happened until now, I feel grateful of the life I’m living right now. Well, I know there were bad things happening. But, I’m sure it happened for a reason. The past is what makes us who we are now, right? So even if it’s hard I will enjoy the life I’m living, using the past as a reminder and a guide to make a better way. I’m glad that I’m able to meet you, Princess..” responded Xiumin.

  Lara felt a little bit surprised hearing Xiumin’s response. Xiumin’s words inspired her. Lara then lifted her head to look at Xiumin and smile at him.

  ‘Yeah, what was I thinking? I’m sorry for wasting the sacrifice that they had given to me. I’m sorry mom, dad. I’ll try to move on.’ she thought.

  “How are you feeling so far? I know it must be hard for you..” said Xiumin again.  

  Lara responded with a mumble. Didn’t deny or agree to Xiumin’s question.

  She then decided to share her worries she felt with Xiumin. Xiumin gladly welcome and attentively listened to all her worries. He also tried to give advices or suggestions.

  Lara felt comfortable being with Xiumin, the oldest guy from EXO Planet whom she thought the most wise and attentive.

  They chatted for quite some time, from the most unimportant thing to the thing she worry the most.

  She kept talking over and over until finally Xiumin interrupted her.

  “Lara, I’m sorry. But, you do realize that I and the other are actually monitoring our condition right now, right?”

  Lara gulped, then replied, “Yes, of course. Why?”

  “Well, you know they respect our situation right now and appreciate your effort to try to activate your Krusnik. But..you know, Luhan.. He monitors our condition with his telepathy...” Xiumin felt clumsy to tell Lara.

  “And..you know it’s not a good thing to postpone and distract your effort to activate the Krusnik with talking and slowly wasting the time. Sorry, but you have to try to activate the Krusnik.” said Xiumin finally while sighing a heavy breath, quietly waiting for her response.

  ‘Crap, they realize!’ responded Lara in her mind.

  ‘Of course we do, Princess.’ answered Luhan suddenly inside Lara’s mind.

  “Alright, I’m sorry!” said Lara after that.

  Lara then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She noticed that Xiumin was looking at her when she opened her eyes.

  “Xiumin, I’ll try to activate my Krusnik. Will you please close your eyes?” she asked softly.

  “Oh? Yes, of course.” asnwered Xiumin flustered with Lara’s sudden change of action then immediately closed his eyes.

  Lara smiled seeing Xiumin’s reaction that he would do anything she asked right away.

  ‘Don’t you feel suspicious that I might run away?’ asked Lara in her mind.

  “Here, take my hand so you know that I won’t escape.” Lara said.

  “Oh, okay.” answered Xiumin briefly but enthusiastic.

  ‘Okay, let’s do this. Now, how should I do it?’ asked Lara to herself.

  ‘Ah, before that. Luhan, please don’t use your telepathy for a while. I feel uncomfortable to do it with you supervision.’ asked Lara to Luhan.

  Lara waited for a second but there wasn’t no answer.

  ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’ she said again.

  She then looked at Xiumin. She took a closer look to every features of his face. His single-eyelid eyes, his small lips, his rounded cheek that looked like a bun when he laugh. She took a step closer, then finally kissed his lips.

  It felt dissatisfied to kiss Xiumin’s small lips just once. She then kissed him more and more. In compliance with that, Xiumin responded and kissed her back gently. A flash of blue light appeared on Xiumin’s arm.

  When their kisses getting intense, the Krusnik inside Lara’s body began to react. Xiumin realized Lara’s change of action and finally opened his eyes. That was when he saw Lara grew out her fangs in and was going to bite him right away.

  Seeing that, Xiumin whispered to Lara, “Lara, I believe in you.” and smiled before struggling a bit from the pain caused by Lara’s fangs on his neck.