Side Story #2: A lesson about a relationship and how to keep it healthy (SILAS)

Believe it or not, Sebastian is the first person I've ever looked at in a romantic light. It's strange, really. I've never been the type to care much about romance. It always seemed… unnecessary, like something I could live without. But the way it happened with him was so sudden, so unexpected, that it caught me completely off guard.

I didn't seek it out—it just happened.

Still, I can't help but wonder why. What was it about me that made him take an interest? Even now, I don't have an answer. I've thought about asking him, but knowing Sebastian, he'd just smirk, tease me, and refuse to say anything. That's how he is—infuriatingly enigmatic.

We don't have any labels for what we are. He's not my boyfriend, but our relationship has long since crossed the line of platonic. It feels romantic in so many ways—especially with how touchy Sebastian always is—but strangely, we haven't even shared our first kiss.

Is that normal? I don't know. I've never been good at relationships. People always seem to think I have it all figured out, but the truth is, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm messing it all up. Like I'm not doing enough. Like I'm failing him somehow.

The thought lingers in my head as I step into the classroom, only to find my desk buried under a mountain of chocolates. I stop in my tracks, blinking in confusion.

"What… is this?" I mutter, staring at the mess in disbelief.

From the corner of the room, I hear a fit of giggles. A small group of girls is watching me, whispering among themselves. Their eyes light up when I glance their way, and I quickly look back at my desk, feeling a little overwhelmed.

Behind me, the door creaks open, and Kath walks in, her cheeks flushed and a small pink box in her hands. Her face brightens when she notices me.

"Silas! Hi!" she greets, her voice warm and cheerful. Then her eyes land on my desk. "Whoa, that's… a lot of chocolates." She lets out a laugh, shaking her head as she sits down in the desk beside mine.

I slide into my own seat, still staring at the pile of sweets. "What's this?" I ask again, plucking a pink sticky note from the center of the chaos. The note is written in bubbly handwriting, with the words:

Hi, I like you >_<

I fold the note in half, sighing as I set it back on the desk. Beside me, Kath giggles, clearly amused by the situation.

"Don't tell Seb about this," she says, patting my shoulder. "He'll get jealous."

I raise an eyebrow at her, skeptical. "Sebastian? Jealous?" I scoff. "I doubt it. He's not the jealous type."

Kath lets out a disbelieving laugh, crossing her arms. "Not the jealous type, my ass," she mumbles under her breath.

I glance back at Sebastian's desk, which, unsurprisingly, is empty. He probably isn't coming to school today. He skips so often that it doesn't even surprise me anymore.

Still, I wish he were here. School always feels dull and lifeless without him.

I push the chocolates to the side of my desk, already dreading the thought of carrying them all home. I don't want to waste them, but what am I supposed to do with so many?

Kath, meanwhile, sets her pink box on her desk, and I can't help but glance at it.

"What about you?" I ask, nudging her with my elbow. "Where'd you get that from?"

Her face turns bright red, and she stammers, "Ah—well, actually… I was planning on giving this to someone."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Someone?"

Kath sighs, her blush deepening. "Yeah. Someone."

I lean closer, a grin spreading across my face. "Oh? Who is it? Don't tell me you have a crush!"

"It's not a crush," she says quickly, her voice lowering. "I… found someone."

My eyes widen. "Wait, really?"

She nods, glancing around the room to make sure no one else is listening. "Shhh. No one knows yet."

"Not even Seb?" I ask, genuinely surprised.

"Nope," she says with a small, secretive smile. "Actually, Seb doesn't hang out with me much anymore—not since you came along~" She nudges me playfully, and I can't help but laugh.

"Okay, fine," I say, rolling my eyes. "So, who's the lucky person?"

Kath giggles, her excitement bubbling over. "It's a she, if you're wondering. We met at a concert."

A grin spreads across my face, and I lean in closer. "Come on, spill! How long have you known each other?"

"Just a week ago, actually," she admits, her voice soft and dreamy.

"A week ago? That's so sweet," I say, genuinely happy for her.

"She's really sweet, too," Kath adds, practically glowing. "She bought me flowers yesterday."

Flowers, huh? The thought makes me pause. Have I ever given Sebastian flowers? 

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I've never given him anything. No gifts, no thoughtful gestures. Nothing.

I must've made some kind of horrified expression because Kath gives me a weird look. "What's wrong?"

"I've never given Sebastian any flowers," I say pitifully, slumping forward onto my desk.

Kath bursts out laughing, flicking my cheek playfully. "Seb isn't the type to care about stuff like that. Don't worry so much."

"Are you sure?" I mumble, frowning. "I mean, we passed a sunflower field once, and he was staring at them for a while. Do you think that was his way of saying he wanted some?"

Kath tilts her head, considering it. "Sunflowers, huh? You should try it. I never took Seb for a flower guy, but people do change when they're in a relationship."

I hesitate. "Well… we're not exactly boyfriends yet. Does that even count?"

Kath's eyes nearly pop out of her head. "Wait. What? Are you serious?"

"What? Is that bad?" I ask, wincing at her reaction.

"It's been months, Silas!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up.

I bite my lip nervously. "Yeah, but… Sebastian said he wanted to take it slow. He said it doesn't matter how long it takes. That he'd wait as long as I needed."

Kath stares at me for a moment, then chuckles softly. "He said that, huh?"

I nod, pouting slightly. "Yeah…"

"Well, if neither of you are bothered by it, why rush?" she says with a shrug. "Sebastian's right. You don't need to rush. And don't worry—he's not going to get tired of waiting. I can promise you that."

I narrow my eyes at her, suspicious. "How do you know that?"

"I just do," she says with a knowing smile.

"Do you really think so?" I ask, still unsure.

Kath pats my shoulder, her expression softening. "Silas, trust me. Sebastian isn't going anywhere."

I scratch the back of my head, unsure how to take her words.

***

I'll admit, I felt a little guilty for forgetting our conversation. Life had been a whirlwind lately—work, school, and everything in between—and somehow, it slipped my mind that Kath had a girlfriend. I hadn't even managed to tell Sebastian about it. Somehow, I kept forgetting. Maybe it was the chaos of everything, or maybe… well, who knows?

It wasn't until the next time we crossed paths that I finally met Kath's girlfriend. She was tall, with shoulder-length curly hair that framed her face in soft waves. She wore a short skirt paired with a cozy sweater, a combination that somehow suited her perfectly. Standing beside her was Kath, holding an ice cream cone and chatting animatedly, her face lit up with a smile I hadn't seen in a while.

I stopped in my tracks, momentarily surprised to see them. I hadn't expected this encounter at all—I was just out running a mundane errand, picking up silicone molds. I'd recently remembered my plans to make Sebastian some molded blood candy. (Yes, it's still blood, just… shaped nicely. Being a vampire means the menu's pretty limited.)

"Ah, Kath!" I called out, waving enthusiastically.

Both of their heads turned toward me. Kath immediately perked up, waving back with a grin, but her girlfriend's eyes narrowed slightly, studying me with a quiet wariness.

I jogged over to them, a grin already spreading across my face. "Hey! I didn't think I'd run into you, especially on a Saturday."

Kath laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, I'm on a date," she said, gesturing to the girl beside her. "Oh! Silas, this is Khayla. Khayla, meet Silas—he's a friend of mine."

I extended my hand, and Khayla took it, her grip light but polite. I stepped back, my grin widening mischievously. "A date, huh?" I teased, my tone deliberately playful.

Kath flushed instantly, her cheeks blooming with color. "Hey, like you can talk!" she shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "You've completely bewitched Sebastian. He refuses to hang out with me anymore!"

Her words were a mock whine, but the happiness in her voice was unmistakable. I chuckled, waving her off with a grin. She wasn't wrong—Sebastian was clingy, and I wasn't exactly complaining.

Kath suddenly seemed to remember something. She hastily handed her ice cream cone to Khayla, who blinked in surprise at the sudden movement. "Wait! I forgot something. Be right back." She paused, pointing a finger at me. "Silas, don't you dare do anything to my girlfriend."

I snorted, giggling as I gave her a thumbs-up. "Scout's honor."

As Kath darted off, Khayla and I stood there in an awkward silence for a moment. I glanced at the sky—the sun was blazing—and then turned to her. "Do you want to wait under that tree? It's pretty hot out here," I said, motioning toward a shady spot nearby.

Khayla nodded silently, and we walked over together. The shade was a welcome relief from the heat, and I leaned casually against the tree trunk, trying to think of something to say. "So, you guys met at a concert, right?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Mhm," she murmured, nodding. Then, after a brief pause, she studied me for a moment before asking hesitantly, "You're… gay, I suppose?"

Her voice was shy, her tone uncertain, and for some reason, it reminded me of Sebastian. I couldn't help but snicker softly at the thought, though I stopped when I noticed her confused expression. I waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, I'm gay. Proud and loud," I said with a mock flex, grinning as she let out an amused snort.

"I see," she said, her lips twitching with a small smile. "Your boyfriend's name is…?"

I froze, caught off guard. "I—uh—well, he's not my boyfriend yet," I stammered, coughing awkwardly.

"Oh, I'm sorry for assuming," Khayla said quickly, her expression apologetic.

I waved a hand to reassure her. "It's fine. We're just… taking it slow," I explained, though the words sounded a little awkward even to my own ears.

"Ah, I see," she said, nodding thoughtfully. "Then… you've only met him recently?"

"No, actually," I replied, scratching the back of my neck. "We've been friends for a long time now. And, uh, we've had this sort of mutual understanding of our feelings for… about four months."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Four months? And you're still taking it slow?"

I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "I guess so," I said, clearing my throat.

Khayla tilted her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. "That's adorable. Have you at least shared your first kiss?"

I nearly choked. "Kiss?" I spluttered, my voice rising involuntarily. "We–We haven't even kissed yet…"

Khayla blinked at me, momentarily stunned, before breaking into laughter. "Really? Well, I suppose that makes sense. It would be strange to kiss without a label."

I frowned, crossing my arms as her words sunk in. She wasn't wrong. Who was I to ask Sebastian for a kiss when we weren't even officially together yet? Still, the thought gnawed at me.

"Did you?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief. "Did you and Kath kiss already? You guys only just met!"

Khayla laughed again, shaking her head. "We did, a couple of times now. But, well, we became official pretty quickly after meeting. I guess every relationship is different."

Her words left me feeling… conflicted. Should I be moving faster? Should I ask Sebastian to be my boyfriend? The thought lingered in my mind, heavy and persistent.

"I'm back!" Kath's cheerful voice rang out as she came sprinting toward us. She skidded to a stop, grabbing the melting ice cream cone from Khayla's hand with a panicked expression. "The ice cream's melting!" she exclaimed, trying to salvage what was left of it.

Khayla just laughed, watching her girlfriend with an affectionate smile.

I, on the other hand, stood there frowning, my arms crossed and my brow furrowed in thought.

Should I ask Sebastian to be my boyfriend now?

The sweltering, agonizing sun bore down on me all afternoon, making it almost unbearable to walk around. It wasn't until later that the telltale signs appeared—the breeze shifted, the air grew thick, and soon the sky opened up in a torrential downpour. I stood there, rain drenching me to the bone, my earlier discomfort replaced by a different kind of misery.

By the time I stumbled back home, I looked like a half-drowned rat. My clothes clung to me, my shoes squelched with every step, and my usually tidy hair was plastered to my face.

At least I had something to occupy my thoughts on the way back: the couples I passed, huddled together under shared umbrellas. Some of them exchanged amused or pitying glances in my direction, silently judging me for not bringing an umbrella. As if I'd had time to prepare for the weather's betrayal.

The door creaked open, and Shira's voice greeted me from the living room before I even stepped inside.

"Something the matter?" she asked, noticing my sour expression as I entered. Behind me, the last traces of sunlight had disappeared, replaced by the storm's looming darkness.

"Yeah," I groaned, shaking my head in frustration. "It suddenly rained." My voice carried all the annoyance I felt as I stood there, dripping water onto the floor. Muttering a short spell, I quickly dried myself off—clothes, hair, and all. But magic, as convenient as it was, could never replicate the comfort of a long, warm bath. I'd still need one later.

Shira, lounging lazily on the couch, raised an eyebrow at me. "Aside from that, you look annoyed."

"I'm not," I shot back, too quickly to sound convincing. I trudged over to the couch, where she had her legs stretched out, and promptly shoved them off to make room for myself. I dropped onto the cushion with a sigh.

"Hey! I was here first," Shira protested with a click of her tongue. She glared at me but shifted over to the smaller couch across the room. She sprawled out again, her legs now dangling off the edge, and grabbed the remote to change the channel.

After a moment, she glanced back at me, her irritation evident. "Okay, seriously, what's on your mind? You're pissing me off with all the brooding." She punctuated her words by tossing a pillow at my face, which I caught easily.

I hesitated for a second before blurting out, "Should I ask Sebastian to be my boyfriend now?"

The question seemed to catch her completely off guard. Shira froze mid-motion, blinking at me as if I'd spoken a foreign language. "What brought this on?" she asked, her voice slower now, more cautious.

I shrugged, leaning back against the couch's backrest. "I don't know. It's just… everyone I see lately is so obsessed with romance. They're rushing into it like it's some kind of race. I don't get it!" I groaned, gripping the pillow tightly before burying my face in it. My voice came out muffled. "It's exhausting."

When I finally lowered the pillow, I saw Shira sitting up straight, watching me carefully. "You do realize it's your decision, right? Sebastian likes you. I doubt slapping a label on your relationship is going to change that." She paused, looking conflicted for a moment before grimacing.

"He's…" she started but trailed off.

"He's what?" I prompted, tilting my head at her.

She let out a soft groan and shook her head dismissively. "Never mind that. Are you seriously worried that Sebastian might leave you just because you haven't asked him to be your boyfriend yet?"

I hesitated, my pout deepening. "...Yeah, I guess."

Shira sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead like she was dealing with a particularly difficult child. "Silas, listen to me. Sebastian likes you. Like, really likes you. So much so that it makes my skin crawl sometimes."

"Eh?" I blinked at her dumbly, unsure what to make of that last comment.

She waved me off impatiently. "My point is, stop overthinking it. If this is bothering you, just talk to him. Call him right now. I bet he'll drop everything to come over if you ask."

I hesitated, but the encouragement was enough to spur me into action. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled to his contact. Just as I was about to hit the call button, I noticed Shira staring at me expectantly.

"Uh… could you not, like, watch me do this?" I gestured toward the kitchen.

She rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath, but stood up and left the room. The faint sound of her rummaging through the fridge followed.

I pressed the call button. It barely rang once before Sebastian picked up.

"Silas? What's up?" His voice was warm, and hearing it made the tight knot in my chest loosen slightly.

"Hey, Seb," I began, trying to keep my voice casual. "I know it's raining right now, but… would you mind coming over? If not, I can—"

"Sure, I don't mind," he cut in, his answer immediate.

I spluttered, caught off guard by how quickly he agreed. "No, no! I mean, it's your choice," I added hurriedly, trying not to sound too eager.

There was a brief pause on the other end. When he spoke again, his tone was calm, almost amused. "Okay. I'll come then." With that, the call ended.

I stared at the screen for a moment, my heart thumping a little faster than usual. Shira peeked her head back into the room, one eyebrow raised.

"Well?" she asked.

"He's coming," I muttered, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

"Of course, he is," she said, rolling her eyes again before retreating back into the kitchen.

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head in amusement.

It hadn't even been five minutes when I heard the creak of the gate outside, followed by a sharp knock on the door. The sound cut through the quiet of the house, catching me off guard.

From the kitchen, Shira's voice rang out, loud and slightly annoyed. "Get the door, Silas!"

I sighed, springing to my feet. "Alright, alright!" I called back, making my way to the door. Peering through the peephole, I immediately recognized Sebastian. He stood there, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his worn jacket, his eyes half-lidded with that familiar sleepy look. His messy hair gave the impression that he'd just rolled out of bed—again.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself before opening the door.

Before I could even get a word out, his arms were suddenly around my waist, pulling me into a tight embrace. His face pressed into the crook of my neck, and I stifled a surprised giggle as his nose brushed against my skin, tickling me.

"S-Seb!" I squeaked, squirming in his grasp and trying to push him away, though my attempts were half-hearted at best. He only gave a low chuckle in response, leaning back just enough to flash me a small, lopsided smile.

"Hi," he said simply, as if nothing had happened, casually closing the door behind him.

Before I could respond, Shira's voice cut through the moment. "Tsk, not in front of me, will you?" she muttered, clearly unimpressed. I turned around to see her standing in the hallway, arms crossed, glaring at us with a look of pure irritation.

Sebastian, of course, was unfazed. He wrapped his arms around my stomach this time, resting his chin on my shoulder. With a mischievous grin, he stuck his tongue out at her. "Bleh," he teased, earning an exasperated huff from Shira as she spun around and stomped back to the kitchen.

I laughed, finally prying him off me. "Stop messing with her, Seb. I swear, you two are like cats and dogs."

"Woof," he said proudly, puffing out his chest like it was some sort of achievement.

Rolling my eyes, I grinned at him. 

He tilted his head, looking both curious and amused. "So…. Why were you calling me earlier to come here? Is something the matter?"

"Oh, right," I said, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "I just… realized it's been almost a week since we've hung out. I thought it'd be nice to catch up today. Sorry if I've been inconsistent with… well, everything." I forced a laugh, feeling a little guilty.

"It's fine," Sebastian said softly, his expression easing into something more tender. "What matters is that I get to see you. I missed you."

Before I could respond, Shira poked her head out from the kitchen again. "You two—do that in Silas's room, will you? Some of us are trying to exist in peace!"

Sebastian and I both burst into laughter at her dramatic tone.

"Alright, alright," I said, grabbing Sebastian's hand and pulling him toward my room. He followed without protest, his usual smirk tugging at his lips.

Once inside, we made our way to the seat by the large window. It had its blue plush seat under it that I usually sat on when I read my books.

The soft patter of rain against the glass filled the room, creating a soothing backdrop for our conversation. I pushed the window open slightly, letting the cool, damp air drift inside. The overcast sky ensured there was no harsh sunlight, much to Sebastian's relief.

He eyed the oversized window skeptically, as he always did. "I still don't get why you have such a huge window in here," he muttered, pulling his hood down and settling beside me. "It's weird."

"I like it," I replied with a shrug, crossing my legs. "It's aesthetic."

Sebastian snorted, clearly unconvinced. "More like impractical. You know I hate windows. And the sun."

I rolled my eyes. "Noted. I'll think about getting thicker blinds for you."

That earned me a quiet hum of approval as he scooted closer, his legs tangling with mine. Before I knew it, he'd draped his entire body over me, his weight warm and comforting. My hand instinctively found its way to his hair, combing through the messy strands.

For a while, we sat in silence, the rain filling the space between us. It was peaceful, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was gnawing at me.

"Something the matter?" Sebastian finally asked, his voice low and steady. He tilted his head to look up at me, his brown eyes searching mine.

"Hah?" I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Oh, no. It's nothing."

He didn't look convinced. "You sure? You've got that look on your face again."

I sighed, leaning back against the window frame. "Well… did you know Kath already has a girlfriend?"

Sebastian's brows furrowed slightly. "Eh? Really? Wow… that's… cool, I guess," he muttered, though there was an edge to his tone.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you sound like that?"

"Sound like what?" he countered, feigning innocence. "It's nothing. Just… what's that got to do with why you look so troubled?"

I deflated, realizing I couldn't dodge the question any longer. "I mean… I met her girlfriend. Her name's Khayla. She's really nice—kind and sweet. They only met recently, but they're already in a relationship."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly. "You met her?"

I laughed at his sudden focus. "Is that the only thing you heard? Yes, I met her. And no, it's not a big deal."

"It's weird, though," he muttered, his voice dipping into a low growl. "You've been acting off ever since. Plus, you brought home all that chocolate the other day—it was suspicious."

I rolled my eyes, placing a hand over his mouth and eyes to shut him up. "Relax, will you? Khayla is Kath's girlfriend, and Shira ate all the chocolate. Mystery solved."

Sebastian huffed as I removed my hand, his pout returning. "Then what's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head like a curious puppy.

My cheeks burned as I avoided his gaze. He looked so cute, completely unaware of how much he affected me. Ugh.

"I… it's embarrassing," I admitted, pouting as I fiddled with the hem of my shirt. "You're just going to laugh at me if I tell you."

Sebastian's teasing expression softened. "I won't laugh," he promised, his tone sincere. "Just tell me."

I hesitated, my heart pounding. How was I supposed to explain that I felt left behind in the whole romance department? That I didn't know what I was doing? And worse, that I was terrified of leading him on if he expected more from me than I could give?

In the midst of my inner turmoil, Sebastian's gaze remained steady, soft, and unyielding. His lips curved into a faint, tender smile as if to silently reassure me. Without a word, he reached out, his fingertips brushing against my face, smoothing the frown etched into my lips and the furrow deep in my brow.

"You're overthinking again, Silas," Sebastian mused, his tone light but teasing. He rolled his eyes playfully before flicking my forehead. The action was gentle, more affectionate than anything, but it still made me huff in mock irritation as I exhaled a soft breath onto his face.

He didn't waver. Instead, his hands found their way to the sides of my face, warm and grounding as they cupped my cheeks. Slowly, deliberately, he pulled me closer, his eyes never leaving mine. There was a quiet intensity in his gaze, a silent question that lingered between us.

"Tell me," Sebastian said softly, his voice carrying an almost melodic warmth. That small, knowing smile of his never left his face. The words I had been holding onto, the ones tangled on the tip of my tongue, evaporated in an instant. My eyes betrayed me, dropping shamelessly to his lips. The crisp cold of the weather should have chilled me, but instead, a bead of sweat made its way down my neck, its presence impossibly warm.

"I…" I stammered, breaking eye contact as I closed my eyes and shook my head. My voice was shaky, uncertain, but I forced myself to continue. "I don't understand it either. But… I thought—no, I feel like I'm leading you on. I feel bad," I finally confessed, the words tumbling out in a breathless rush.

Sebastian's expression shifted, tilting somewhere between confusion and curiosity. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence stretching out as we simply stared at each other. Then, unexpectedly, he snorted.

"Wait… sorry, what?" he asked, his lips twitching as if he were holding back a laugh.

My face flushed instantly, heat rushing to my cheeks. I leaned back, flustered and embarrassed. "I thought you said you weren't going to laugh at me!" I exclaimed, glaring at him.

Sebastian sat up, his messy hair ruffled from where he'd been resting on my lap. He let out a laugh, not even bothering to hide it this time. "I'm sorry," he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "It's just… funny. But seriously? You think you're leading me on?"

I nodded, guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. My teeth caught the bottom of my lip as I avoided his gaze.

The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement as he tried to stifle another laugh, coughing into his hand to mask it. "For the record," he began, his tone softening, "you're not leading me on. I like this—us. I don't need a label to know how I feel about you. And you definitely don't need one to know I like you too." He rose to his feet with ease, grabbing my wrist as he stood.

With a gentle tug, Sebastian pulled me to my feet, and suddenly we were standing chest to chest, his eyes locked onto mine. His smirk was playful, but his expression carried a certain warmth, a happiness that felt undeniably genuine.

"Wait," he said, tilting his head slightly, "did Kath say something to you? Is that what this is about?" He began leading me toward the bed, and before I even had a chance to respond, I already knew what he wanted—cuddles. My chest tightened at the thought. Sometimes, he was just too adorable for his own good.

"Mhm," I hummed, letting him guide me as I sat down on the bed, staring up at him.

Sebastian's brow furrowed slightly as he tilted his head, his curiosity evident. "Do you think I'd leave you just because we don't call each other 'boyfriends'?" His question hung in the air, and as I sighed, he seemed to take that as confirmation.

"Silas," he said firmly, his voice softer now. "That's not true, you know that, right? I wouldn't leave you—not for something like that." He leaned closer, his thumb brushing gently beneath my eye. "How can I prove it to you? Hm? Tell me."

"You don't need to prove anything," I murmured, shaking my head. "I know you like me just as much as I like you. It's just a stupid thought I had…"

Sebastian shook his head, cutting me off. "No. I understand you, really. But how about this—how about you listen to what I'm about to say?"

I blinked, confused, but nodded anyway.

Without another word, Sebastian lowered himself to his knees, his hands finding their way to my waist and thigh. He knelt there, staring up at me with an expression so soft, so earnest, that it stole the breath from my lungs. His hair shifted slightly as he moved, revealing the pale curve of his neck and nape. He rested his head on my thighs, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment before flicking open again to meet mine.

"What… what are you doing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sebastian tilted his head slightly, his hair falling to one side. His pale skin seemed to glow in the dim light, and his expression was both serene and mischievous. He didn't answer right away, simply continuing to gaze at me, unwavering and unashamed. 

"Did you know that many animals expose their necks as a sign of trust?" Sebastian starts, his voice soft but deliberate. He takes one of my hands and gently places it on his neck. I can immediately feel how cold his skin is, almost startlingly so. 

Slowly, he moves my fingers, guiding me until my hand rests lightly, wrapped around his neck.

My breath catches in my throat as I realize what he's doing. Heat rushes to my face, and I can barely manage to breathe properly. Sebastian notices, of course. He smirks up at me in that infuriatingly smug way of his.

"I trust you," he says, his voice low and steady, yet brimming with something raw and vulnerable. "I trust you so much that I'd offer you my neck. One spell—just one word—is all it would take to kill me." His eyes drift closed, and his head tilts, resting limply on my thigh as if to drive the point home.

"I—You're insane," I stammer, my voice cracking as laughter bubbles up from somewhere deep in my chest. It's wet, uneven, and shaky, and I don't even realize I'm crying until the tears slide down my cheeks. There's something overwhelming about the rawness of this moment, the sheer honesty of what Sebastian is showing me.

It's... such a strange way to express love. Yet, at the same time, it's just so him.

Of course, it's Sebastian who would use animals as a metaphor for his feelings.

"I've always been pretty crazy about you," he purrs, his voice a teasing drawl. His hand, resting lightly on my waist, begins to move in lazy circles. His thumb brushes against me gently, the motion almost ticklish but not enough to make me pull away.

The sensation sends a shiver racing down my spine.

"And I don't think I'll stop being crazy anytime soon," he murmurs, his tone softening. "You could push me out into the sun, and I'd still say thank you." His words are so absurdly tender that I can't help but let out a choked cough, my chest tightening with emotions I can't quite name.

"You crazy bastard," I say, the words lacking any real bite.

He hums in response, the sound low and content. "Mhm. Feels nice to sleep here," he mumbles, his voice growing heavier with each word. "Don't move."

And just like that, he falls asleep. His head rests lightly on my lap, and my hand remains on his neck, unmoving. One simple motion—one fleeting thought—and I could end everything. His life, his warmth, his stupid, infuriating existence.

But he knows I'd never do it.

He knows me.

Oh.

Oh…

I see now. So this is what love is, huh?

"Geez, Seb," I whisper, my voice trembling slightly. "You weirdo." My hand drifts upward, slipping into his hair. I begin to stroke it gently, the soft strands threading through my fingers. And somehow, as I do, the constant turmoil inside me quiets. It's as if his presence has smoothed out the jagged edges of my heart.

After all, animals never needed to add labels to their relationships, did they?

"Hah, I can't believe I'm comparing us to animals," I mutter under my breath.

But then, I hear a sharp snort beneath me. My gaze snaps downward, and I find Sebastian staring up at me, his ruby-red eyes glinting mischievously. His pupils are slitted, and there's that same cocky smirk tugging at his lips.

Ah.

Now I know why I love this idiot.

Geez.

***

In the end, Sebastian stayed over. He called his family, casually telling them he'd be at my house for the night, and ended the call almost as quickly as he made it. No questions, no explanations—just a simple statement. He joined me for dinner, nibbling on blood candies, which were really just bits of blood molded into sweet shapes. Meanwhile, Shira and I ate our own meals, the normalcy of it all strangely comforting.

Later that evening, he helped me wash my hair. His hands were gentle as they worked through the strands, and when it was his turn, I returned the favor, careful and thorough. The intimacy of such a simple act left me feeling warm, though neither of us said much about it. Afterward, we climbed into the same bed, settling under the soft covers.

We lay face to face, the dim light casting soft shadows across his features. "Go to sleep," Sebastian murmured, patting my thigh lightly. I couldn't help but giggle at the gesture. We burrowed deeper under the blankets, our faces just inches apart.

Somehow, all of this felt so utterly domestic that it made my heart ache and soar at the same time. It wasn't grand or dramatic—just quiet, ordinary closeness—but it was enough to leave me breathless.

I didn't even notice when I fell asleep. One moment, I was staring into the quiet darkness; the next, I woke up to the sound of Shira gently knocking on the door, her voice low but clear. "It's already 7:30 AM," she announced before walking off.

Groggy, I blinked a few times and turned my head, only to realize that Sebastian's arm was draped around my waist. One of my legs was tangled with his, and the covers had been kicked off at some point during the night. I wasn't sure if I had done it or if it was him, though I doubted it was Sebastian—he never moved when he slept, always staying perfectly still, like a stone.

Despite the knock and Shira's voice, Sebastian stayed asleep. Not even the morning's quiet stirrings could rouse him.

This was the first time we'd ever shared a bed, and it wasn't anything like the stories I'd heard from others about their first nights with their partners. There was no frantic exploration, no passionate moments of devouring one another. Instead, it was just… this. Us holding on to each other, neither willing to let go.

And somehow, I loved it. I couldn't imagine anything better.

I rubbed my thumb gently along his cheek, watching him sleep. His expression was so peaceful, so serene. He looked even more beautiful like this, bathed in the soft light of the morning. "Pretty," I murmured softly, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

His eyes cracked open at that, a small, sleepy smile tugging at his lips. "You mean you?" he whispered, voice rough from sleep.

I let out a startled, choking noise. "You're awake?"

"Have been since last night," he replied, his smile widening. "I watched you sleep."

"Hah… You're weird," I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Not as weird as you," he teased, his voice light and playful.

I couldn't help but laugh at that, the sound breaking the quiet intimacy of the moment.

Sebastian sat up then, rubbing at his eyes before glancing at me. "Ah, I think I forgot to tell you something," he said suddenly, his tone shifting just slightly. Curious, I raised an eyebrow and sat up as well, mirroring him.

"What is it?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Kath," he began, his voice tinged with amusement. "She's gone through at least three failed relationships in the past month. Right about now, Khayla's probably the fourth."

"Eh?" I blinked, processing his words.

"Yeah. Kath… that girl rushes into everything. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this one doesn't last either."

I stared at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond, before finally settling on a simple, resigned, "...I see."

Sebastian didn't seem too concerned. Instead, he flopped back onto the bed, his arm shooting out to grab me. "Anyway, let's just stay here forever. No getting up, no responsibilities—just this bed."

"Sebastian, no—!" I protested, laughing as he dragged me back down. I tried to wrestle away from him, but his grip was firm, and I couldn't help but let out the loudest laugh I've ever had.