Yasuo
I woke up in the middle of the night, shivering all over. My heart was racing.
I was hot and short of breath. I had the urge to run my index finger over my lips. I closed my eyes, and in my mind I saw Caèl's lips brushing against someone else's. I trembled. I couldn't remember Reika meeting him again here in Ever'En. Why hadn't I sensed her presence? And Deyan had stayed quietly in his dwelling, just a few meters from where I was.
I reached out to touch a rose, but the barrier lit up, leaving a slight burn on my fingertips. I cursed.
For months, I'd been trying to find even the tiniest crack to escape from here, with no success. I was forced to stay, to watch everything in silence, without being able to intervene. I knew it, I felt it: sooner or later, he would strike Caèl again. I could feel it through Ever'En, which was slowly fading.
When Caèl was here, he made this world shine. It was as if Ever'En sought refuge in him, protection from the evil that was spreading. That's how he was: he radiated his own light. A light capable of bringing warmth to even the greediest, darkest hearts. I sighed. Maybe, deep down, he had been the one to create this world.
I had never been here before, even though I already knew how to cross portals. Of all the places I had ended up, Ever'En was the only one I reached by pure chance. I don't know how long it had existed. But it happened there, on my birthday.
The moon was at its peak, enormous, shining so brightly it blinded me. I glimpsed a small opening under the frangipani tree in my garden. I walked through it, and after a few steps, I saw him for the first time. Caèl.
Outside it was night, but here in Ever'En it was just before sunset.
I saw him on the lakeshore, mesmerized by the sun slowly descending on the horizon. He was wearing jeans and a tight white tank top. The sun was gently caressing him. I approached, captivated, then hid behind a rock. I watched him without a sound. He was stunning. He turned toward me, but didn't see me.
His face was perfect: fair skin, light brown hair tousled by the wind. He wore a rubber necklace and an earring. He smiled. He bent down to stroke a water lily. I swallowed the lump in my throat. The temptation to step out from my hiding place was strong. I was about to take a step forward… but I pulled back, my heart pounding.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Yasuo? Come on, go talk to him!"
I shook my head. When I tried to peek out again, he was gone.
Shocked, I left my hiding place and walked over to the shore where I had seen him. I sighed, disappointed.
"Damn… I just missed him!"
I heard a rustle behind me. I jumped. I was about to turn around when a warm, gentle male voice reached me.
"Who did you just miss, Phì?"
I turned sharply. In front of me, two sweet and piercing blue eyes were staring at me.
Embarrassed, I looked him over from head to toe, my mouth slightly open. Damn, he was beautiful. Maybe an idol, or an actor? We looked about the same age. But I couldn't get a word out.
He approached respectfully and greeted me with a wai.
"Sawatdee krub!"
I stared at him for a moment before replying with an awkward bow.
"S-Sawatdee krub!"
He smiled at me and walked past, heading toward the lake.
I turned to follow him with my eyes. He was barefoot. His feet slowly walked across the short grass to the water's edge. He paused to gaze at the horizon, then sat down, dipping his feet into the crystal-clear water. He held a small leaf between his fingers, which he let fall into the lake. He sighed and spoke:
"Caèl Aidan Theerawat. But you can call me Niran. You're about my age, right, Phì?"
I nodded, but I still couldn't bring myself to answer. In my head, I had already introduced myself a hundred times. I had taken the initiative. Or at least I thought I had.
He laughed again, shaking his head in amusement.
"Do you have a name under that neat mop of hair? Or should I guess it?"
I snapped out of my trance, trying to return to myself.
"No... ahem. Yasuo Poom Nawinrat. But you can call me Tay."
"Nice to meet you, Tay."
He turned toward me. His eyes pierced into mine. My heart, which had only just calmed down, started pounding again. Silence fell around us. I feared he might hear it too.
He was staring at the sunset, now gone, leaving a bright, starry sky. A little fish leapt from the water. My eyes followed it, then returned to Caèl.
He wasn't speaking. I watched him, trying to understand him. He seemed troubled. Or maybe he was hiding something that hurt.
I wanted to talk to him, but all I could do was sit next to him in silence, staring at the horizon.
He was the one to speak, after a while.
"This is the first time I've been here. I never have much time for myself."
He sighed, continuing:
"Everything is too frantic, too online, too... too much of everything. No one knows who they are unless they hide behind masks or social identities. I'm tired. Tired of everything that's part of my world: you have to be perfect, you have to be on time, you must, you must…"
He stopped, then looked at me and smiled, finishing:
"Sorry, I didn't mean to unload like that. What do you do, Phì?"
I hesitated. He'd caught me off guard. I didn't really know how to respond. Should I ask why he felt that way? Or would that seem intrusive? After all, I had just met him. I looked at him for a moment, then decided to answer his question.
"I go to Naorashi University."
He looked at me wide-eyed.
"I figured you weren't from around here. You're very different from the people I'm used to."
I raised an eyebrow. "Does he think I'm weird?" I thought. Then I spoke:
"Different? Who are you used to being around?"
He shrugged, tossing a small stone into the water.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
Was I the strange one, or was it him? What kind of comment was that out of nowhere? For a moment I wondered if he had some psychological quirk. I subtly moved away but answered:
"Nope… not even close!"
He laughed and came closer. He never took his eyes off me. His scent, carried by the breeze, reached my nose. I shivered and closed my eyes, as if to absorb it better. Honey and frangipani. Sweet, delicate… but bold. Sexy.
He was drawing me in. When I opened my eyes, he was still there, staring at me. I gave him a shy smile. He moved closer. Very close. Dangerously close. He stared. And the more he did, the more captivated I became. Then, suddenly, he stopped.
His gentle hand brushed my hair, then quickly pulled back. Between his fingers, a small petal.
"Sorry."
I nodded, embarrassed. My cheeks were on fire. I looked at him from the corner of my eye: he was calm, like Buddha himself. "I mean… how can he stay so calm? My body's on fire. What the hell is wrong with me?"
I brought a hand to my chest. My heart wouldn't stop racing. I tried to calm it. Pointlessly.
So I decided it was time to leave. I stood up. I was about to speak, when his grip caught my wrist tightly.
Instinctively, I was about to push him away, but I stayed. We looked at each other for what felt like endless seconds. Then I decided to speak.
"It's getting late."
He nodded, let go of me, and stood up as well.
He looked at the sky, then back at me.
"Yeah. I have to…"
He didn't finish.
Footsteps approached.
A male voice reached us from behind Caél.
"You shouldn't be out at this hour, kids."
Caél turned around. The face behind the voice was hidden in the shadows, but he looked like a guy just a bit older than us.
Caél took a step back slowly, greeted him with a wai, and apologized.
"Oh, of course, Phì. We were just leaving."
I did the same.
The guy looked us over from head to toe, but his gaze lingered on Caél, who was visibly uncomfortable.
He walked past him, then stopped to stare at me.
And left.
I followed him with my eyes.
Tall, athletic, dark hair.
I turned to Caél, who kept watching him until he disappeared down the path.
Then I saw him sway.
He brought a hand to his forehead.
He leaned against a tree.
I stepped closer.
"Hey, Phì… are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry. Just a little tired."
I didn't like the look on his face.
His skin was warm, his eyes a bit dull.
"Forgive me," I said, reaching my hand to his neck.
It was burning.
"You have a fever."
He quickly pushed my hand away.
He looked at me intensely.
"No. I'm fine. I have to go now, I'm sorry.
I hope to see you again."
I didn't have time to reply.
He was already gone.
---
I was yanked out of that memory violently.
Beyond the barrier, Deyan — just stepping out of his dwelling — was staring at me.
As if he had been there the whole time.
He smiled arrogantly.
Then raised a hand.
He was holding a piece of cloth.
I shivered.
I recognized it.
I searched my memory.
My eyes widened.
That handkerchief… it was the same one Caél had used to bandage my shoulder, months ago.
When the Alpha had started attacking the people of Ever'En.
"Exactly. That's the one," Deyan said, in a sickly sweet tone.
"I found it on the ground, purely by chance… after I wrapped my hands around his lovely neck.
Then I pierced him."
I burst with rage.
I lunged at him.
But the barrier repelled me, slamming me to the ground.
I got back up, trembling.
He made a gesture with his hand.
"Relax, Yasuo.
I'll bring him back here soon. Aren't you happy?"
I didn't understand.
But whatever he meant, I didn't like it.
"Don't you dare touch him. Ever again!"
"Oh… how threatening.
What do you think you can do, huh?
You pathetic, worthless little Alpha.
You're stuck here. Remember?"
My blood boiled in my veins.
He was right.
I couldn't get out.
I couldn't intervene.
Only watch, only feel.
Ever'En had turned hostile.
To everyone.
I was shaking, thinking of Caél.
He was back.
But Ever'En had struck him.
Damn it!
I clenched my teeth, let out a scream, and slammed my fist into the ground.
"I'll find a way through…
You won't lay a finger on him again!"
I shouted.
He laughed. Nodded, amused.
"Tick tock. Tick tock."
A vision flashed through my mind.
A hand touched Caél.
In that hand… there was desire.
Possession.
It vanished suddenly.
Nausea rose within me.
Then dawn came.
And I collapsed.
Into my cursed sleep.
While Reika awoke in her bed.