chapter 2 - doubt and misunderstanding

The girls went back Inside, their minds buzzing with questions and a gnawing sense of unease. They were about to step into a world they didn't understand, a world where secrets ran deep and where appearances could be deceiving. The night was young, and the party was just the beginning.

The bass pulsed through the floorboards as Ri, Ash, and Shu arrived at the party. They were fashionably late, but the house was already buzzing, filled with people who'd arrived even earlier. Fairy lights twinkled, casting dancing shadows on the walls. As they navigated through the crowd, a figure detached himself from a group and approached them with a wide smile.

Three friends, Ri, Ash, and Shu, buzzed with excitement. They'd been eagerly anticipating this party, and when 8 PM finally arrived, they stepped out, dressed in their finest party attire. As they made their way to Fang's house, they noticed that a good number of people had already arrived, the house already humming with music and laughter.

Fang, a whirlwind of energy and charm, spotted them immediately and ushered them into the bustling living room. "Welcome, welcome!" Fang grinned, their eyes sparkling under the dim party lights. "Let me introduce you to a couple of my friends. This is Raven," Fang gestured towards a tall, brooding figure with dark hair, "and this is Jihu," Fang continued, pointing towards a gentle-looking man with kind eyes.

Ri's heart skipped a beat. Jihu. It was him. The man who had saved her from an oncoming car that terrifying night just a few weeks ago. The memory flooded back, of bright headlights and a strong arm pulling her back from the brink of disaster. It was him.

As the party progressed, Ri found herself gravitating towards Jihu. They talked, their conversation flowing effortlessly. They discovered a shared love for old movies, a penchant for rainy days, and the undeniable connection of that fateful night. "I still can't believe it was you," Ri confessed, a shy smile playing on her lips. "You were my hero that night." Jihu's cheeks flushed a light pink. "I was just glad I could help," he chuckled, his eyes twinkling.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, a different kind of energy was brewing. Shu, always the adventurous one, had found the drinks table and was downing shots with a concerning speed. Ash, ever the competitor, watched with a mix of concern and amusement. "Someone's in a rush to get drunk," she teased.

Shu, already a little tipsy, smirked, "You think you can outdrink me?"

Ash, never one to back down from a challenge, threw down the gauntlet. "Try me."

And so began their epic drinking duel. They went shot for shot, joke for joke, their competitive spirits fuelling the night. The air crackled with their laughter and taunts. After what felt like an eternity, Shu, proving her mettle, managed to push through, winning with a final, triumphant chug. Ash, defeated and giggling, lost her senses, her head spinning from the alcohol.

Fang noticed Ash's state and immediately stepped in. "Okay, that's enough for you, little champ," Fang said, gently helping Ash towards an empty bedroom. But somewhere between the door and the bed, Ash's drunken haze took over. She lurched, her arms finding their way around Fang's neck, and her body pressed into Fang with a giggle. "You're so cute, Fang, like a fluffy bear," she slurred, her voice oddly childlike. "I want to drown in your eyes."

Fang, caught off guard, tried to gently untangle them. It was a chaotic dance of near-falls and slurred compliments, but finally, Fang managed to get Ash safely tucked into bed. Fang, completely exhausted from the ordeal, watched her sleep peacefully and let out a soft breath.

Back in the living room, Shu, also quite drunk at this point, was slumped against a wall. Jihu, noticing this, considered asking Raven to take her home, but hesitated. He was enjoying his conversation with Ri and didn't want to leave her company.

"Hey, Raven, can you take Shu home? I want to keep talking to Ri."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Why would I do that for you so you can talk to your crush?"

Jihu, flustered, pushed Raven towards the slumped Shu. "Just do it!" he hissed, his cheeks burning. "I'll owe you one."

Raven, sighing dramatically, hoisted Shu onto his back and carried her out of the house. As he laid her on the couch, Shu, still in her drunken stupor, suddenly latched onto Raven and planted a smacking kiss on his lips. Raven, dumbfounded, stared at her in disbelief. "What the hell was that?" he muttered, his face a mask of anger and confusion. But then, a strange sense of responsibility washed over him. He decided he would stay for the night, for her safety, and settled into the armchair and tried to sleep.

The morning sun streaming through "he window woke Shu to a room, and to someone in her room. She bolted upright when she saw Raven asleep in the armchair. "YOU!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the quiet morning, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"

Ri and Ash, startled by the commotion, rushed into the room. They found Raven looking lost and slightly scared, and Shu pacing wildly, ranting about Raven being a creep.

"I didn't do anything!" Raven yelled over her tirade, his face flushed, "Okay, you kissed me, you got drunk. Why would I, like, want to touch you! You're not even my type. I hate you!" He directed his comment to Shu before storming out of the house, leaving a cloud of anger and hurt behind him.

Ri turned to Shu, her voice sharp. "What was that about? You were awful to him!"

Shu, still in a drunken haze, waved her hand dismissively. "I don't need anyone. Everyone should just leave me alone."

Ash, trying to reason with Shu was quickly scolded. "I don't need to hear anything from you, leave me alone, please. I don't need any friends." And with that, Shu turned away, leaving her friends hurt and confused. The hangover had only just begun, and the fallout from the party was clearly going to last much longer.

The slam of the door echoed In the small apartment, a harsh punctuation mark to the ugly word Shu had flung at Ash. Ash's breath hitched, tears welling in her eyes, hot and stinging. She felt a gaping hole open in her chest, a void where Shu's friendship used to reside. Blinded by pain, she pushed the door open and stumbled out, desperate for air, for escape.

And there, leaning against the doorframe, was Fang. His usual cheerful demeanour was replaced by a look of concern. He saw the tears tracking down Ash's face, heard the ragged breaths, and his voice was as soft as a summer breeze as he asked, "Ash, why are you crying? Did something happen? Who scolded you?"

Ash's heart, already bruised, now felt like it was being squeezed in a vies. His gentle tone, meant to soothe, only amplified her distress. It was too much, too kind, too… everything. The anger and hurt, simmering inside her since Shu's outburst, boiled over. She lashed out, without thinking, without meaning to, "Why are YOU here? Are you here to laugh at me? Or to offer your sympathy? I don't need your sympathy! Just get lost!"

The harshness of her words, the raw pain she had inadvertently inflicted, hit Fang with the force of a physical blow. He stood there, stunned, his face paling. He didn't say a word, simply turned and disappeared, a fleeting shadow in the hallway.

Meanwhile, Raven's arrival at his lavish abode was anything but quiet. He stormed through the door, his usually composed face contorted in fury. Jihu, lounging on a plush velvet cushion, watched him cautiously. "What happened, Raven?" he asked, his voice calm despite the storm brewing in the room.

"I told you!" Raven roared, his voice laced with venom, "I told you I don't want to help them. Those disgusting humans! They are nothing! They're incapable, they disgust me. You know I'm the Vampire King's son, the future Vampire King! I will rule the whole night. And you, Jihu, you're the Nine-Tailed Fox, the oldest creature in the world. And Fang, he's the most powerful fairy! Do you think we should bow down to these pathetic humans? I don't need them! I could kill them in a heartbeat, just –" He spat out the next words, "F*** off and get lost from my way!"

Jihu, wise beyond his years, said nothing. He understood Raven's volatile nature, knew that words would only fuel the fire. He simply sat there, his golden eyes fixed on the vampire, letting the storm rage.

A little while later, Fang arrived. His usually bright aura was dim, ashen. His steps were heavy, his shoulders slumped. He looked like a withered flower. Jihu, seeing his friend's state, immediately went to him. "Fang, what happened? You look terrible."

Fang's voice was barely a whisper, "Something happened with Raven and Shu. Shu was angry, I think… I think something happened between them." He didn't elaborate, didn't mention his encounter with Ash. He just walked towards his room, closed the door, and the lock clicked shut.

Jihu felt a pang of helplessness. He needed to know what was going on. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Ri's number.

"Ri, what happened?" Jihu asked as soon as the call connected, "What happened between Shu and Raven?"

Ri sighed, a weary note in her voice. "I don't know the full story, but… I think Shu was drunk last night. She… she might have kissed Raven. She doesn't remember anything. This morning when she woke up and saw Raven in her room… well, she got very angry and made a scene." Ri paused, her voice filled with regret, "I'm really sorry that Shu shouted at Raven."

"No, no, it's okay, Ri. Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault," Jihu reassured her, although his mind was already racing.

"I know, but… she's my friend, and it's her fault," Ri explained, a hint of distraught in her voice. "That's why I'm sorry."

"Okay, okay, I'll manage everything," Jihu said, his voice calm despite the growing turmoil in his gut. "I'll talk to you later, okay? After I handle things."

"Okay," Ri said, a note of relief in her voice. "I'll talk to you later too, after I manage my situation. Bye." The call ended, leaving Jihu staring at his phone, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had to bridge the widening gap between the humans and the otherworldly beings, but he knew it wouldn't be easy, not with the raw hurt and anger swirling in the air.