Chapter Five: The Guard

No smut - 3.3k words

I spent half the night on the phone with Jimin. I told her of the stand off between Joohyun and Seulgi and her worry skyrocketed again.

"You're getting caught up in two major Night Races, Seren," she commented softly.

"It wasn't exactly by choice," I replied, sipping a mug of hot chocolate.

"That's the only reason why I'm still with you," she replied.

"That and your nerdiness," I quipped.

I can hear her stifle a laugh from the other end.

"Seriously, where can you get first hand information from higher vampires? Do you also want me to schedule an interview with Detective Werebeast?" I teased and she's now giggling at the other end.

"Be serious, Seren, I care about your safety, don't push this anymore than you already have."

"It's nice to hear someone cares," I joked.

"Oh shut up. You're a good friend, and I—" she paused abruptly.

"You what?" I asked, my heart trembling in my chest as I placed the mug of chocolate on the kitchen counter.

"It's... it's nothing, just —"

Did she almost say it? Then again, what do I expect her to say? That she likes me? Yeah, wake up, Seren Vale.

"I know, be careful and don't tempt fate."

"Good."

"But what if fate tempts me?" I teased.

"You're hopeless," Jimin sighed although I could hear a bit of amusement in her voice. "Anyway, I'm going to go shower now, then get ready for bed."

"Any chance for a video call while you do?" I joked yet nervous of her reaction. I haven't exactly pushed her this far.

To my surprise, she laughed loudly and genuinely, "Don't push your luck, Vale. I thought you were chivalrous?"

"A chivalrous perv. You have to strike a balance." I joked as I breathe a sigh of relief that she was, at the very least not uncomfortable in me breaching these kinds of jokes, although I told myself not to overdo it or risk making me sound like a real creep.

Jimin laughed again on the other line. "Maybe next time. Goodnight, Seren Vale. Don't dream about me too much," and she hung the phone up.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'maybe next time' Yu Jimin?!" I yelled at the phone knowing I'm the only one who can hear myself. I finished my chocolate and placed the mug on the sink, washing it could wait — I was tired and needed some shut-eye. 

I texted Jimin goodnight one last time before walking to my bedroom, headed towards the window to close my curtains. Before I did though, I noticed two cats by my porch — one was pure white with a spot of black by its eye, while the other was ginger with brown stripes. I stared at them as they licked themselves clean. "You're not the guards Seulgi said she'd send, right?" I asked, getting no response from the cats whatsoever.

I chuckled to myself, here I am, talking to cats. Those cats are too small to fight even the smallest of fae pixies, let alone vampires. Am I becoming paranoid? Best not dwell on it, I'm just tired, I thought, and with a deep sigh, I closed the curtains and laid on my bed. Before I fell asleep however, my phone beeped and as I scanned the message, my smile widened from ear to ear. Jimin texted goodnight — and sent a photo of her lying in bed with cute pink pajamas — her eyes are closed as if she were asleep, but her lips are spread wide in a cheeky grin. Well, I thought, not a bad way to end the day. I fell asleep smiling, though part of me wondered why the night air still felt like it was watching.

Morning came with a light drizzle as I opened my curtains. The cats were gone, I observed — yeah, I was just probably paranoid last night.

I took my phone and texted Jimin good morning, though I didn't really get my hopes up for her to reply. I brushed, showered, and got dressed. I scanned my phone — yep — no message from Jimin. I grabbed my bag and keys, got out of my room, and jogged to school.

I arrived with twenty minutes left to spare. I sat down, laid my bag and did some light reading. I wasn't able to concentrate on Professor Zhang's lecture yesterday because of Joohyun, so I thought I should read to catch up.

"So he was teaching about the war of the dwarves and the giants," I jumped as Joohyun's cold voice pierced my ear.

"WHAT the hell — Bae Joohyun!" I exclaimed. She wore the exact same white robe as she did yesterday and two nights ago — only now, she wore a denim jacket on top of it. Baby steps in fashion I thought — who am I to judge with my usual shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie sprinkled on top — an already tried and tested combination.

Joohyun giggled, "Don't bother reading that, I know everything that happened by heart."

"This war happened five thousand years ago, you weren't even born yet, despite your... antiqueness," I quipped.

Joohyun smirked as she sat down, "I wasn't, but my father was — fought in it himself, or so he says."

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"He was a young vampire noble at the time, said he was a mercenary for the dwarven side. Narrated epic tales about it to me and my brother when we were young, even though only my brother seemed interested," Joohyun yawned. "So did Seulgi already send her 'guard'?" She asked.

"No, not that I noticed," I replied.

Joohyun giggled, "I'm excited with who she will send. A wolf werebeast, perhaps, or an avian?"

"Frankly, I don't care Joohyun. If she really does send one, I'm gonna make do with my promise to drag her guard to the station," I replied, already exhausted with the conversation.

Joohyun however, kept giggling, "Now that would be a sight."

Just then, Jimin finally enters the hall, my one ray of light in this otherwise bleak world — pretty poetically pathetic of me, I should say. 

She wore denim jeans that hugged her thighs and legs snugly, and a simple white shirt that hugged her voluptuous figure, faint traces of her black bra showed through as well as a hint of her cleavage. Her hair was still wet and she seemed out of breath when she sat beside me. And I must say, I was swept off my feet — figuratively, of course.

"That was close," she panted as she looked at her watch, the faint scent of her shampoo blessing my nose — a mix of lavender and rose. "Three more minutes and I would have been late."

"You're not usually this late," I observed.

"Had trouble sleeping," she replied as she set her stuff down.

"Were you thinking of me too much?" I teased.

"Perhaps," she replied without missing a beat.

"Wait, wha-?"

She then turned and gave me a wink, and I could swear the world ended and restarted when she did. Damn, I'm whipped — I thought.

Joohyun then elbowed me and I leaned in closer, "See those guys?" She gestured at a group of guys at least three rows below us on the other side of the hall. Her voice was sharp, making my hair stand on edge.

"Yeah. Why?" I asked.