"You know… I was born to people who have lived for centuries, right? When I was little, my mom used to tell me how my grandfather spent over a hundred years chasing after my grandmother…"
Autumn's brown eyes suddenly turned dreamy. Her mind seemed to drift away from reality, wandering off to some faraway realm.
Meanwhile, Ethan wanted to scream.
Because human boys don't have the kind of spare time to spend a hundred years courting someone. How was he supposed to give any fair judgment on Autumn's perception of love?
"Autumn, you… you do know humans have limited lifespans, right? Most of us don't even reach a hundred. And the time we remain young-looking, strong, and mentally sharp… is way shorter compared to Vampires."
Ethan spoke cautiously, because there had been a time Autumn became emotional when she realized Ethan's life was finite.
"I'm sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean…"
Autumn lowered her head, speaking in a tiny, guilty voice.
"Tsk. Don't apologize for that. Humans being born and dying - it's natural, Autumn!"
"But… when I think about the day I no longer get to see Ethan again, I… I…"
Her voice cracked, trembling on the verge of tears - sending Ethan into full panic.
"Right! After this, Ethan will go to college, then get a job, settle down, and quickly get married. Then a few decades - or a few centuries - later, I'll get to play with your children's children's children! Hehe!"
And just like that, Autumn's mood flipped instantly, as quickly as flipping a rice paper sheet - leaving Ethan stunned.
"So, what kind of girls do you like? I'll help you find them early! Do you like the mischievous-but-sharp type like Cherry from our class? Or the clueless-but-beauty-obsessed type like Amy?"
"They're both adorable, but…"
"You're pretty close with Camellia too, right? You always go to her library to nap, don't you? But listen - since I'm shipping Camellia and Royce, stay away from her, okay?"
"Uh… yeah. I ship them too, so…"
"Oh! I think Flora from Class 11C is nice too. She's always gentle with animals. She'd definitely become a great mom someday. What do you think about Flora, Ethan?"
"Flora is…"
Ethan faltered. He hadn't even had time to think of an answer before Autumn fired off her next question.
"There are plenty of cute, well-behaved girls in Grade 10 too! But dating someone younger means you'll have to spoil them a lot - pretty tiring, honestly. Or should we shift our target to the seniors in Grade 12 instead?"
"Autumn, this is…!"
"Huh? Ethan? Why are you frowning like that?"
"…"
"You need to tell me your type so I can help you! Wait - don't tell me you already have someone in mind? No? Oh my god! Then… then do you not like girls?"
"Haizzz…"
Ethan had no idea how to answer Autumn anymore. He let out a long, exhausted sigh as he pressed the last paper flowers onto his section of the backdrop.
Thank goodness he still had this task to focus on - otherwise he would have gone insane from Autumn's barrage of questions.
This girl was truly a mischievous little Fox Spirit!
One minute earlier, Autumn had been heartbroken at the thought of Ethan disappearing from the world someday. And right after that, she urged him to hurry and get married so she could play with his future descendants.
What exactly did Autumn take him for?
A friend?
Or a pet she planned to breed?
Hmph. Autumn didn't understand Ethan at all.
Wait.
Ethan's rational mind suddenly kicked in, giving him a lecture.
Think about it! How was Autumn supposed to know what he felt if he never told her anything?
He hadn't even managed to ask Autumn what she wanted as a gift for the 20/10 event.
Ethan's lips trembled slightly. He leaned his forehead against the backdrop, the things he wanted to say buzzing inside his head, begging to be released.
"All done! The very last flower's in place. What do you think, Ethan?"
Autumn spun around gracefully - so abruptly that the desk and chair beneath her wobbled a little.
Ethan snapped back to reality immediately. He stepped back several paces, putting some distance between himself and the backdrop so he could see the whole thing properly.
Under the soft October sunlight streaming through the classroom windows, the paper flowers - pink and white with little green leaves - stood out beautifully against the backdrop, even more graceful than the original concept design.
"It's gorgeous. Absolutely perfect."
A satisfied smile spread across Ethan's face, deepening the dimple on his left cheek as he admired the view. He truly loved how it turned out - because the whole thing felt like it existed solely to be the backdrop for the girl with those mesmerizing brown eyes.
And as always, his heart started doing somersaults the moment he accidentally met her gaze.
Yes!
She's perfect. Absolutely perfect.
But… was this creation meant for him?
A gloomy vision suddenly flashed through Ethan's mind.
He imagined a future where he was already old - skin wrinkled, leaning on a walking cane, his back bowed - while Autumn still looked youthful and full of life. Maybe she would seem a little more mature than she did now, but compared to him, the two of them would look more like a grandfather walking beside his granddaughter… not classmates.
And… walking next to her…
… was one of his own grandchildren.
Ethan frowned sharply, a painful twist shooting through his young heart. He hated that future. Absolutely hated it.
"Oof!"
Autumn paid for her carelessness immediately. Both she and the chair slipped right off the tabletop after she foolishly tried balancing on one foot like a ballerina on the wobbly chair.
The chair crashed loudly onto the floor, shattering the quiet of the empty classroom.
But Autumn herself…
…fell gently, straight into Ethan's waiting arms.
In the empty classroom at midday, with no one around, Ethan once again found himself holding her soft, warm, impossibly delicate body.
He could hear his own heartbeat pounding violently - so loudly it felt like it wanted to burst through his ribs - especially when her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck and shoulders.
In pop culture, Vampires were always depicted as cold corpses exuding the stench of death with hearts that no longer beat. But in reality, Autumn's body was warm - human-warm - and she always carried a soft lily fragrance on her skin. And right now, her heart clearly knew how to race from danger, just like anyone else's.
A warm, humid breath scented with lilies brushed against Ethan's neck, and his thoughts dissolved instantly - like they were drifting into a fog.
He could no longer control his own mind.
The bite mark she had left on his neck weeks ago suddenly pulsed wildly - so violently it hurt. But then, slowly, the pain faded, replaced by a spreading numbness… a dizzying sweetness that seeped through every nerve in his body.
The chaotic pulsing at his Bloodbound mark gradually steadied. Its rhythm synced - fast, strong, steady.
But was that rhythm his own heart…
or hers?
Ethan no longer knew.
It felt like their two hearts were beating as one.
Realizing that, Ethan's temperature shot up. His ears and cheeks flushed bright red even though the classroom AC was set to a cool 25°C.
The faint scrape of Autumn's sharp fangs brushing against his neck should have frightened him - but the softness of her lips awakened a forbidden longing deep within him.
He knew this was dangerous - terrifyingly so. Yet that desire burned like a fire consuming his soul. And he would gladly give up everything, even his own life just to feel it.
Ethan let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes tightly. He waited. Waited for the moment Autumn's fangs would sink into his neck and take his blood, his soul, and the feelings he had poured into her.
SLAP!
A sharp crack filled the room.
Someone had been slapped.
"Ethan! You idiot!"
Autumn's voice sounded distant - muffled, like it was coming from far away.
SLAP!
Another one.
"Oh my god! Snap out of it!"
But no matter how panicked Autumn sounded, Ethan still didn't open his eyes.
He didn't care who had just been slapped twice in a row.
Because the only thing Ethan wanted - the only thing - was to feel her bite him again. To be bitten. To be drunk from. By Autumn. And Autumn alone.