I gasped, and he parted our lips, then looked down at me with an angry glare."Go back to sleep."His command was sharp, and within a second, I squeezed my eyes shut. But then Miguel brought his face back to mine, kissing me deeply.Why is he kissing me? Is this the first time this has happened? What should I do? Am I still dreaming?A swirl of questions raced through my mind as his kiss deepened, and I began to feel numb—except my heart was still pounding wildly, refusing to freeze completely.
His hand brushed over my breast, and when he squeezed, I involuntarily made a noise. He pulled away abruptly, levitating further out of reach.When I looked at him, his expression scared me. I had never seen him look so angry."You slut," he muttered.
I had no idea what I'd done wrong, but maybe I should have protested more. I could never tell what he wanted."I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Shut up! Don't talk to me." His voice was hateful.
"Is it… because I woke up?" I asked, unable to hold back the tears. His face darkened even more, fury blazing in his eyes.
"I told you to stop talking." He hissed.
I bit my lip as Miguel left the room. At first, I was relieved, but the emptiness soon swallowed me whole.Miguel didn't speak to me, but he didn't leave my side either—not once the entire next day. Every time I tried to speak, he just glared.Why did I wake up? And more importantly—why did he kiss me if he hated me so much?I thought I would be content just having him near, but even that was a cruel delusion.
He didn't cook for me when we returned to my apartment. He just floated upside down, glaring at the wall with clenched fists.I had no appetite, so I didn't eat. Restless, I lay in bed, wishing I knew what I'd done wrong. I wished Miguel would talk to me. It hurt knowing he was upset, but I didn't know how to fix it.
The next morning, Miguel was gone. In his place stood Tzadqiel.
"Good morning, princess. I hope you slept well."I looked down, not wanting to admit I hadn't slept, but I didn't lie."Miguel will be back soon, I assure you."He reclined casually. Today, his earrings shone like stars, and his all-white casual clothes made him seem ethereal."I heard you two fought," Kiel said.
"That's a lie," I corrected sharply. "Miguel got angry one-sidedly. I didn't have enough input for this to be called a fight."Kiel chuckled softly, as if everything amused him.
"You sound bitter," he noted."I don't know if this will help, but I wanted to talk to you alone. Miguel's in a fragile state right now—pure emotion without a physical body. He can't rationalize well, and when he's angry, it's almost uncontrollable. To calm him, you'll need to provoke another emotion—something to cancel out his fury."
His explanation made sense of Miguel's volatile bursts.
"Why tell me this? You're Miguel's friend, not mine."
"Because," Kiel said, "I want you two to get along. That's my only wish."The way he said "wish" made it clear he'd peeked into my thoughts.
I was silent for a moment, and then he added, "I'm not on anyone's side. I just want peace between you. So… if you can figure out what's wrong, you can calm Miguel easily."
I opened my mouth to ask questions, but Kiel checked his watch. "Oops, time for me to go."He vanished in an instant—and just as suddenly, Miguel reappeared.
My eyes stayed locked on him.
"Why are you staring at me?" His tone was as sharp as the day we met.
"This isn't fair," I stuttered.Miguel sneered and cocked his head.
"What isn't fair?"So he's listening to me now.
"I don't even know what I did! Plus, I should be the mad one… you did those things without permission!"I held back tears as I spoke.
"You didn't seem to dislike it that much. It doesn't matter that I didn't ask… or who I am… It's been so long since you've done it, so you were going to just let me have my way…"I gasped.
"That's not true! I didn't protest b-because… because… it was you… and! I've never even been touched like that before!"
Miguel's eyes widened in shock."What? Never?" I nodded rapidly. "Damien was convinced you were a whore, so when you so easily accepted me, I remember his words… Damn. I guess I should've listened to Kiel." Miguel muttered.
"Well… I'm still a virgin, you know." I confessed tearily.
"What? You are?! What the heck was wrong with Ja… your ex?!"He mumbled something incoherent, then added "I thought you'd been with someone by now."I would be a little offended if I didn't wear mini-skirts and low-cut shirts so often. Still, I was annoyed.
"So… I'm confused… are you still mad at me?"He rubbed his head, then looked into my eyes.
"No. I'm sorry… I was an asshole to you."He seemed sincere.
"It's alright, you di—" He cut me off with a kiss, pressing me against the wall, kissing me over and over. His body was flush against mine, not a millimeter between us.I wasn't sure what would kill me first—the cold or my racing heart.
When he pulled away, I stared at him, cheeks burning.
"You said if it's me, it's okay. Right?"He tilted his head, sucking gently on my neck.
I squealed and ran, hiding in my bedroom closet.I could hear his laughter.
I struggled to catch my breath when a cold hand touched my shoulder."Don't be so nervous…" he whispered.
Oh god, I forgot doors can't stop him.As if he could see me perfectly in the dark, his hands roamed over me.My instincts screamed to escape, but part of me didn't want to.
I knocked most of my clothes off their hangers as he pushed me back, and I fell onto my butt in the corner—him on top, kissing me gently.Slowly, the cold melted, replaced by a warmth spreading through me.
After several minutes of kissing and touching, Miguel finally let me leave the closet.He was smiling joyously, flying around my room like a mischievous ghost.Does this mean he's choosing me over that girl? Or has he simply forgotten her? Either way, I won't remind him.
"Lemon… I have something to confess…"My heart hammered, and I sat on my bed, trying to calm down.He floated down beside me as I nodded for him to continue. "That was the first time I kissed your lips. But I've kissed your cheek and forehead before… I'm sorry."
That explained the breeze I'd felt in my chest some nights ago when I caught him kissing my cheek.So he's been thinking of me more affectionately than I realized—all along.
"O-oh no… I'm upset," I mumbled.He frowned, looking remorseful.
"Of course you'd be upset. That makes sense. How can I make it up to you?"
"Just… kiss me while I'm awake from now on."
After I answered, he pounced on me and trapped me in a warm hug."I promise…"
For dinner, Miguel made pizza from scratch, smiling the entire time and the smell of fresh dough and herbs filled our apartmentBased on his mood, he must have liked me almost as long as I'd liked him.
In the middle of the night, hands shook me awake. The hand felt room temperature, but my skin beneath it burned like acid, and I screamed.Before me stood a woman—the most beautiful I'd ever seen. Flawless skin, plump pink lips, long black hair streaked with blue, and an unbelievably curvy body.
"You look like… Damien," I whispered.
"I prefer Dami, in this form."She wrinkled her nose as if smelling something foul, then pointed a razor-sharp nail at me.I stepped back instinctively.
"I won't have you corrupting Miguel. You need to learn your place—quickly, mortal."She sighed and moved her hand away. I relaxed, then watched her vanish in a puff of blue smoke.
I searched for Miguel. He was nowhere to be seen.I wandered the house, finally finding him asleep on the living room couch.I sat on the floor, staring at his peaceful face. He didn't stir at all.
"I had no idea he needed to sleep…"I thought, brushing his hair away from his forehead.
We've lived together for three months, yet I still don't know such basic things about him.
An idea struck me—I decided to get a little revenge.I pressed my lips lightly against his.In that instant, his hand was behind my head, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss passionately.
"How long were you awake?" I asked when he finally let me go.I moved into the corner, face to the wall, hiding my embarrassment.
"From the moment you touched me. Kissing someone asleep? You're such a pervert."He mocked.
"You did it first!" I retorted, and he laughed.
"Lemon… come here. I need to tell you something."He whispered playfully.
"Tell me from over there," I replied, too nervous to move.
"I can't." He sounded amused. "Unless you're closer, the words won't come out."
I didn't want to move, but I didn't want to disappoint him either.I got up and came to the couch, and as expected, he pulled me into his lap.
Then he bit my neck. I screamed softly, and he kissed the pain away.
"This way, if Jack sees you, he'll know you're with someone else. I wish I could tell him in person…"
My heart pounded as I moved away. His eyes roamed me, and I instinctively covered up—just like when we first met.It wasn't that I disliked the attention, but it made me nervous.
Miguel spent a few more minutes sucking and kissing the same spot on my neck.After he stopped, I put a little extra effort into my appearance.
It felt worth it when Miguel grinned and said,"You're beautiful. When you wear something you love, your happiness shines through. It's… adorable."I blushed.
"Thank you," I blurted.
"You must really like dressing up… You seem so energetic today."
"I'm just glad I look nice… to… to you."I coughed, tongue-tied.
Miguel laughed, nuzzling his nose against mine before locking lips with me again.
I feel so elated that our relationship has transformed like this.The future feels uncertain, but for now, I'm content.