I still could not believe. I made it. I might be seventeen, but the G.E.D. test resulted that I could match the learning curve of the university students. Passing the entrance exam of a nearby University was not a heck of a big deal. I chose architecture for my course. My happiness was doubled for not letting Master Kris' expectation down.

My first day of school became so awkward. The black movement my master enforced for both of us did not suit my new surroundings. I looked very weird. It forced me to visit the shopping center and buy colorful clothes with the allowance my vampire boss gave me — and I also needed a haircut.

I changed so much. Back on the first time, I looked my face

I wanted to fit in with everyone and it was not difficult to meet people to befriend with. Being together along them was fun, although I could only join them inside the school premises.

There were times they invited me hanging out with them off from the University. However, I always refused them.

“Even just once, can't you really go with us?” One of my friends asked. Our group walked our way to the gate under the orange sky.

I really like to say yes to their offer, seeing all of them in puppy eyes to plead me. But, a baritone voice spoke ahead of me.

“Chanyeol.” My master called, wearing a brown contact lens, and staring at us sharply.

I looked at my friends who all showed an awing expression. I did not know what was with their faces, but I thought of it again and remembered myself when I first saw him. I had no difference with their adoration to that vampire.

“I know you resemble that Mr. Wu.” My classmate from my side whispered. “But… are you sure he was your father?”

“He looks too young.” Another classmate added on the same volume of voice.

Before I could react, a long arm hooked on my shoulder. It was owned by a smirking master, who had a face so near to mind. We could bump noses.

“I took care of my skin pretty well while my son grew so fast.” His explanation made my eyes blinked in dumbfounded. “I noticed his face is getting older because of the stress and—peer pressure?”

My friends were taken aback and my master's word seemed to hit them with blame. Anxiety attacked them and they bid their farewell in a hurried manner. I was unhappy about the way he got rid of them.

“Satisfied?” My tone raised and walked away from him. He was quick to hold my wrist and stopped me. Facing him once more, I glared at him.

“Why are you staring at me that way?” He was chuckling but a grunt was at the end of it. “Let me remind you that you're here to build a base for your successful future, most importantly, your career. Making friends was not a part of what we'd agreed on.”

I rudely shoved his gripping hand off of me. “Good relationship was one of the factors for me to succeed. I thought you would get that.”

“Wu Chanyeol, that's not the point.” He firmly said. “Remember you're in the middle of two worlds right now. You accepted to be my servant so you should follow all my orders.  You don't know how dangerous for me and for you to let these mere mortals interact with you. Listen to me before it's too late.”

The storm was finally over. I was unaware of how the skies' color converted from tangerine to purple. He walked ahead of me and I kept standing from my spot. When he was aware that I did not follow, he turned back and as if waiting for me to move.

I deeply sighed; then loosely went along him, till we match the pace of each other's steps. He d the air before he could reach my hand and hold me. We did not attempt to open a conversation after our argument. It was the first time we had this kind of misunderstanding.

As we traveled our way home, I could not take the awkwardness that was why I spoke out.

“My last name was Park.” I blurted out—our environment became dead for the second time.

Out of the blue, he released a burst of loud laughter. It was insulting and I guessed he read my face so he shut himself up.

“Not anymore, kid. You're using my name now.”

I inhaled violently to what he said. “I could never have a father who almost looks having the same age with me.”

“Ha. I might appear youthful but I lived for a thousand year now.” It took 2 minutes for him to say the installment of his words. “I did not expect to send you to school will get you more stubborn.”

“You need to rely on me and obey my rules while you're under my care... Chanyeol.”

With a year that passed, new adjustments had to happen due to the unexpected situation my master had. One raining day, he arrived home with injuries. He wanted to keep the cause for it to himself, yet I was able to persuade him about the truth. He spilled out that he crossed path with a group of slayers and they clashed. They were sure skilled to incur pain at a thousand-year vampire like him. They did not trace our location but it was better to be safe so he decided to migrate and of course, including me.

From Seoul, we moved to Hong Kong and resumed our life there. I transferred to a local University while he was busier than ever before when we got to that country. To be able to harmonize my existence there, I studied Cantonese and Mandarin by myself. Those were his original language and he was not with me to learn them. It was upsetting.

He did not have time that he was letting me come and go to school alone. I felt my significance to him was diminishing. He must be too occupied because this was near to where he came from.

He mentioned to me that he was from Guangzhou. He must have some relatives here and he must be meeting them.

I suddenly became jealous.

I was not used to this insufficient attention from him. Although he still did not give me my own room and I kept on resting on the couch, being isolated like this was his most cruel treatment to me.

One morning, thinking he could be sleeping in his room, I entered there discreetly. The blinding darkness was nothing to me. I touched the bed and discovered how cold it was, meaning he did not rest there at all. If I opened the black-thick-curtains widely, there will be no one to turn into ashes.

The mattress was soft, so does the black-silk-layered-covers. It was inviting and I did not think somebody will mind me sleeping there. In a snail pace, I crawled forward until I reached the headboard. I patted the pillow and laid my head. I smelled his natural musk scent. I did not realize that I fell to unconsciousness, must have been because it was so nice to sleep on a real bed.

The dream I had was as if paralytic, my body was asleep but my mind was awake. I heard the door opened and a black figure came close to me. The air I breathed was suddenly polluted by a foul smell, was more like rust or blood. That person slowly put his hands around my neck. I gasped but I did not move.

My eyes opened a bit and saw those familiar grinning lips again. He was my rotting father.

He said. “Sally.”

I wanted to get away but I couldn't. I really couldn't move. I should have expected that this was where my slumber always ended up, yet I still let it happened.

If someone could only save me from this nightmare…

“Why you did not tell me about this?”

There was a loud impact of flesh when Master entered into my dream. He punched my already-corpse father who collapsed somewhere down the floor.

“Chanyeol?” He sat beside my petrified body. I could not respond so he lifted my head, placing my upper part to his arms. “Chanyeol wake up.” With one hand, he cupped my cheek while shaking me to bring my conscious back—and I did.

Tears were released with both my eyes as soon as I peeled it open. He was not carrying me to his arms but he was lying beside me. His face was serious but I could see the worry in his eyes as he stared at me. I wonder if he had the ability to penetrate my dream if he really did that.

We were drowning in the depths of our silent and stayed statue, only broke out when he lifted himself aided by his elbows. His brows furrowed that gave me chills. It felt like he was going to scold me.

This was his bed. It could be the reason his expression was irritated.

Wiping the tears away from my face, I was about to open my mouth to explain why I was resting there. But, he was the first to speak out.

“Since when are you having those kinds of dreams, Chanyeol?” He asked softly. My lips formed in a thin-straight-line. “If I did not travel what's within your mind, you would have ended up stranded there. Do you want that? Why can't you answer me?”

“I'm sorry.” I know my face was red in shame and my voice cracked with that simple reply.

“Are you having these nightmares from the start?” I nodded and he released a deep breath. He must be disappointed. “You need to sleep here with me from now on. I'll enroll you in the night class so we would have the same interval. Do you understand that?” I was alarmed and nodded.

Flabbergasted, I had his thumb brushing the residue of my tears off my face. It was so gentle.

“Damn, I thought I could leave you behind.” I could sense how upset he was with his voice. I felt so guilty but thankful for this moment.

I could not say directly that I was longing for him. After learning he was concerned with me, my loneliness faded away.

Come hell or high water, master's engagement was unstoppable. There were rest we could be together. There were that we could not.

I had a lack of courage to sleep if he was not with me. My father might pop up in my dreams and brought me out of my body and die. Alternatively, of falling to slumber, I occupied myself with the remaining house works and studying my lessons. I thought this would be the best way to prevent my drowsiness, but it was dragging me more because I pushed myself too much.

I presumed that I just took a break, sitting on the sofa; however, I was lying on his bed the next time I opened my eyes. He must have carried me there and his presence stayed along with me, finding myself inside his encircled arms around me, face pressed to his chest. I never remember him doing this but it riddled me how I ended up in the hospital in one of the moments of our first face-to-face encounter.

His temperature might be as cold as ice but I wanted to be stay wrapped by his limbs and sniffing his intoxicating and manly musk scent. I felt safe. He could be the reason why the nightmare did not come out. In fact, this was probably the first time I had a relaxing rest after many years of stressing life.

“Why are you smiling?” He muttered and I thought he was sleep-talking, but glancing up, his eyes were wide open.

He instinctually let go of me and we moved apart from each other like strangers. My blood was rushing up my face and I could not formulate an answer. Both of us sitting up, I stared at his eyes that seemed waiting for me to speak.

“I… don’t know.” I honestly said since I could not really think of an explanation.

He smirked and cupped my chin with his fingers in order to make my face move closer to his. My heart was beating abnormally. I did not mean but my eyes fall to gaze at his lips, so red and gorgeously small.

“Listen.” A bit trembling, I snapped from focusing my eyes to his lips as soon as he spoke another word. “I would like you to me in an upcoming gala night this Sunday. Wear one of those suits I bought for you and act like me so my clan won’t recognize you as a human. Got it?”

Why would he suddenly take his servant and even bother to allow me meeting his family? I was in doubt but I nodded.

“Good.” He ruffled my hair. It had been his habit to do that whenever I agreed to him like I was his pet dog. He got up from the bed to get some clothes and I knew he would be off to somewhere again.

I slumped my head down the pillow while watching him leave. Before he closed the door, our eyes met. He was smiling brightly at me.

“Can I stop you from leaving?” I meant to say that, loud enough for him to receive at his end. But, he still progressed to go off.

Why I feel so hurt? He must really have no care for his mere-human-servant. Yet, it was confusing that he was going to bring me to some party. Hot and Cold. On the second thought, glad he was taking me out, I was so bored. I should get up from here too before I dozed off again.

***