.HAPPY READING.
"Eungh..."
The morning sunlight slowly shines over half the earth.
A tan-skinned man opens his eyes carefully, disturbed by the sunlight.
"Ael! You're awake?" asks someone whose skin is paler than his.
"Up to you, darling..." Ael teases Renan for his first activity after the long sleep he is having.
"What's wrong with you, Ael!" Renan snaps, disgusted.
"Just kidding, Ren! You take life too seriously! I was gonna kiss—" he says, stopping mid-sentence. Last night's memories start flooding his mind.
'Speaking of kiss, isn't I in the forest getting kissed by a demon? How come I'm in a hospital?' Ael thinks foolishly.
"Renan!" calls Ael while Renan is busy bringing a glass of water for him.
"Hm..." Renan replies casually.
"The demon kisses me last night, Ren!" Ael says short, clear, and direct.
Renan, hearing Ael's foolish statement, can only sigh in exasperation and put the glass back on the table.
"Was the demon handsome?" Renan asks, responding to Ael's nonsense. His expression shows he is fed up with befriending someone with the brains of a foot.
'How can the police accept a dumb kid like him?' Renan thinks, disgusted.
"I'm serious, Ren!" Ael presses, but Renan considers his words just passing wind.
"Stop joking, Ael!"
"Do you know who brought you here two days ago?" Renan continues with a serious expression. The tension in the room grows as Renan's face hardens further.
"Brought me? I thought you and your crew find me and bring me back? How long am I unconscious?"
Renan pauses for a moment, observing Ael's face, which looks both scared and curious at the same time.
"Really don't remember anything?" Renan asks again.
Ael shakes his head, hesitating.
"The last thing I remember… someone kisses me. After that, I black out."
Hearing Ael's explanation, Renan slightly smirks before revealing what happens while Ael is unconscious.
"You are missing for three whole days. Me and the crew search the forest for you, but nothing. You are nowhere to be found."
Renan pauses slightly to enjoy Ael's anxious expression. His lips can't stop curling into a smile. For Renan, there is a special pleasure in seeing someone confused and frozen in anxiety.
"So… who brings me here?"
Renan's smile widens when he hears Ael's question.
"The one who brought you… the fugitive you've been looking for all this time."
As Renan predicts, Ael looks shocked. His eyes widen in disbelief at what he just hears.
"M-mean Ghost? Then who kissed me last night?"
"Ghost, duh! Who else? You really think a demon wants a model kid like you?" Renan says sarcastically.
Not stopping there, Renan walks to a medium-sized mirror attached to the wall and picks it up.
"Why are you taking the mirror, Ren?" Ael asks, curious.
Without a word, Renan places the mirror right in front of Ael.
"Look at what he did to you."
All of Ael's attention focuses on his reflection in the mirror. Red blotches spread neatly across his long neck.
"What you see now is nothing yet, Ael… Try taking off your patient gown," Renan orders.
With slow movements, Ael opens his pajamas from the top button to the bottom.
The red blotches aren't only on his neck. He sees his entire athletic body covered in purplish-red rashes. He also notices a tattoo that reads "Reagan's" on his collarbone.
Ael stares blankly at the tattoo. It feels very familiar. He is sure he has heard that name before! But where!?
"I'm sure the name on your tattoo is Ghost's real name," Renan says, sitting comfortably on the sofa.
Renan observes Ael, who still stares intently at the mirror.
A split second later, Ael rips out the IV needle in his hand roughly. Blood splashes everywhere. But Ael doesn't care. He is more overwhelmed by the reality he sees and hears.
Renan, in the same room, remains calm watching his friend's crazy actions. He seems to know exactly what his friend will do next, yet he stays silent.
'No point in advising Ael, he is as stubborn as a rock,' Renan thinks.
"Where are you going?" Renan asks calmly.
"Home," Ael replies shortly.
"Crazy guy!" Renan mocks as Ael leaves the room with his pajama buttons open and blood still dripping across the hospital floor.
.
The moon is high when Ael steps out of the hospital. Luckily, the hospital is quiet, making it easier for him to leave unnoticed.
"Ck! Where's my cigarette? It must still be in my uniform pocket! Wanna buy some but I don't have cash!" Ael complains, itching to smoke.
"Hah! Just go first… I can steal it later," he says mischievously.
With ill intentions, Ael walks toward the nearest minimarket to get the cigarette he wants.
.
Ael enters the minimarket bare-chested. Halfway, he throws aside his patient gown because he feels hot.
He ignores the red marks on his body and wanders around shamelessly.
People stare at him in shock and embarrassment. But Ael? He doesn't care! He is busy searching every corner for free cigarettes.
"No free cigarettes here?"
"Might as well ask the cashier in front," Ael mutters to himself.
At the counter, Ael winks one eye knowingly.
The cashier, seeing a bare-chested guy covered in red blotches, shivers from head to toe (explicit scene – edited for safety).
"Hey beautiful… sell free cigarettes?" Ael flirts.
The cashier immediately frowns, disgusted.
"S-sorry… nothing here is free," she replies softly.
She continues serving him politely, keeping her gestures professional.
"No big minimarket has free cigarettes…," Ael teases again.
The cashier holds back her frustration, still smiling politely.
"Sorry, sir, this is a MINImarket, not a SUPERmarket. Besides, looking for free cigarettes everywhere won't get you any," she explains patiently.
"Hm… If you give me free cigarettes, I'd marry you," Ael bargains confidently.
"Who's gonna marry you, idiot! Don't get cocky!" the cashier snaps, fed up with Ael's antics.
Finally, she releases her frustration on him.
"Won't marry a handsome guy, huh!" Ael teases, confident.
While they bicker, a tall man queues behind them.
His face shows exhaustion from listening to the constant arguing between the two since earlier.
"Excuse me, can I be served first?" the man asks politely.
"Ass!!" Ael curses, startled by the man's sudden appearance. He reflexively turns and yells.
"Just scared you, bastard! Take responsibility! My chest hurts! Buy me a cigarette!" Ael demands.
The man ignores Ael's rude tone, his eyes catch on Ael's Reagan tattoo.
A thin smile appears on his stern face. He examines the red blotches on Ael's body carefully.
"Did you just finish…?" the man asks flatly.
"Finish what! I was kissed! Where are you from anyway! Your wording is weird!" Ael snaps.
With quick movements, the man grabs Ael's waist tightly. The cashier freezes, shocked at the scene.
"Isn't it a bit too casual for someone who was just assaulted?" the man says, his tone calm but firm, staring into Ael's eyes.
"Let go—" Ael struggles, trying to free himself.
"Give me two packs of cigarettes," he interrupts, addressing the cashier who is still frozen.
"Y-yes, sir," she replies, distractedly handing over two packs.
Soon after, the man takes Ael out of the minimarket without taking any change.
"I've given you what you wanted. Now, what will you give me?"
"Hehe… I'll owe you for now. My wallet's locked in the office," Ael says, leaning against the wall and opening his cigarette pack.
"Lend me a lighter…" Ael requests softly.
The man sighs and tosses the lighter to Ael, who catches it and thanks him before lighting a cigarette.
Ael holds the cigarette between his lips. His brows furrow as he lights it.
Each puff carries a story—fatigue, anger, or just thinking. Smoke envelops his handsome face, while the tip glows in the dim light. He doesn't speak much, but each drag is a sentence.
Ael seems lost in his own world, unaware the man watching him with desire.
The way Ael inhales and exhales becomes addictive to the man).
His lustful eyes can no longer be contained.
Grep...
With swift movements, the man pins Ael against the wall. He is overwhelmed. Ael, shocked, doesn't resist in time and feels the aggressive touch.
"Ngh..."
The cigarette remains between Ael's lips. His hands freeze on the man's shoulders. As their heads move, the cigarette burns down, ashes falling onto the man's suit.
"Hah… hah… hah… what the hell are you doing, idiot!" Ael yells, breathless, after the encounter ends.
Instead of answering, the man presses his forehead against Ael's, despite Ael resisting slightly before his gaze meets the dark eyes of his opponent.
"Meet Ael… I'm Keegan Benediktus. Someone who might become obsessed with you," he says in a deep voice
.TBC.