NAPE - 19

“What is it? Where are you?”

And so, Namwon, having been called by his senior, drove to Doyoon’s house early in the morning. He grumbled as he opened the front door and looked inside. The interior of the house, as neat as a show home, felt completely devoid of life. Expecting to see a displeased vampire, Namwon immediately called Doyoon.

“Senior. I can’t see Bibi or Sisi anywhere.”

- Open your eyes properly and look carefully.

Namwon moved his feet quickly with an annoyed expression. He went through all the rooms in the house and even checked behind the curtains. But nowhere could he see the red-eyed, curly-haired vampire.

“I’ve searched the whole house, she’s not here. Not behind the curtains either. Is she good at hide-and-seek?”

- Did you check on top of the refrigerator?

“Why would she be on top of the refrigera- kyaaaah!”

Namwon, who had casually looked up at the refrigerator, screamed like a startled deer. The top of the refrigerator was a completely unexpected place. Seeing a woman with long, dark hair hanging down, glaring at him with red eyes, was enough to give him a heart attack.

“Holy shit! You scared the crap out of me! Why are you up there!”

Namwon shouted, half-foaming at the mouth. Bibi, who had been crouching down small, didn’t answer and just glared at him fiercely.

- Looks like you found her. Have lunch together. I’m hanging up.

Doyoon chuckled and hung up the phone.

“Wh-why on earth are you up there, huh? Come down quickly. Don’t scare people half to death. Your master sent me!”

Bibi glared sharply at the noisy Namwon before jumping down from the refrigerator. She scanned him up and down, as if checking if the hunter was pulling out a gun, and then quickly disappeared into the bedroom.

“Holy moly, damn it… I’ve never in my life…”

Namwon clutched his chest, where his heart had almost leaped out. He barely managed to stop himself from instinctively pulling out his vampire gun. If he had, they might have continued that strange standoff.

How can that vampire, Bibi, move so silently? Is this the difference between a mixed-blood vampire and a pureblood?

Namwon slumped onto the sofa, catching his breath. He glanced at Bibi’s closed bedroom door with bulging eyes and clicked his tongue.

“Yeah, go on in, go in! Good riddance. I won’t do anything weird. Won’t bother you either.”

He grumbled and turned on the television. A year-end special broadcast was on. For once, an actor Namwon liked was on it.

“Wait, wasn’t he all about being mysterious? What’s going on?”

His surprise was short-lived, and Namwon soon took off his coat and even drew the curtains. As the winter sun was blocked, the inside of the house became as dark as night. Thanks to this, the light from the television was even more brightly emphasized. Namwon sat on the floor with his back against the sofa and began to concentrate. His eyes were fixed on the actor on the screen, unable to look away.

“Wait, isn’t he a vampire? How can his skin look like a peeled egg even though he’s aged?”

His startled heart gradually calmed down. Namwon giggled to himself, admiring the actor’s face.

It was about an hour later that he felt a sense of unease. The drama had ended, and as he aimlessly flipped through channels, wondering what to watch next, a strange chill ran down his spine.