NAPE - 22

“Whatever... never mind. But Sunbae, what’s wrong with your face? Are you sick somewhere?”

“I think I have a cold. It’s winter, so it’s cold.”

Doyoon avoided Namwon’s gaze, which was seriously examining him, and brushed it off.

“Sunbae gets sick too? That can’t be right. It must be the effect of the ritual. Hehehe...”

“The association president said the same thing. Did you two really perform a ritual?”

“That’s right. In the middle of the night, I set out water and prayed to the ancestral spirits. To press down that unlucky Sunbae’s face real good.”

Namwon rubbed his hands together like flies and mimicked praying to the heavens and earth. Looking at his exaggerated gestures, a pathetic sigh escaped Doyoon involuntarily. Doyoon pushed him away and approached Bibi on top of the refrigerator, taking out a box from the shopping bag and placing it in front of her.

“Bibi. Here, take this.”

With a questioning look, Bibi looked down at the box. Judging by the packaging, it didn’t seem to be food.

“A phone. Figure out how to use it yourself.”

It was a kind yet unkind remark. A phone. Bibi was surprised and quickly accepted the box.

“Hey, damn it! She threw away the pizza I gave her earlier!”

Namwon jumped up again, looking wronged. Regardless, Bibi opened the box and held the cold, rectangular phone.

She looked down at the phone in her palm as if it were a sacred object. Not only humans but even her owners relied heavily on phones. Every night, they would watch videos on their phones and giggle, and they were constantly contacting someone. It seemed they felt less lonely and tormented with this thing. It was obvious how they could barely live without it.

A phone for her too... It felt strange, like she had become human.

“What about my present?”

Namwon nudged his side and asked sullenly.

“There is one. I’ll give you that waffle.”

“Wow, I’m so touched I could cry... This is the first present I’ve received in ten years of working together... Although Sunbae probably doesn’t know I hate waffles.”

Namwon mumbled with a look of deep emotion on his face, contrasting with his tightly clenched teeth.

“...Did I?”

“I should go home and finish my prayers.”

Namwon, who had haphazardly put on the clothes he had thrown on the sofa, left the house without looking back.

________________________________________

Maybe it was because she hadn’t drunk blood for the past few days, and she had been tense during the day because of the human hunter, but today, the thirst was even more severe. In the middle of the night, Bibi tossed and turned for a long time because of the thirst before stealthily getting up and heading to Doyoon’s room. She opened the door and tiptoed inside.

A fresh and vibrant scent gradually wafted into her nose. Inhaling deeply the pleasant aroma that made her mouth water, she headed for the bed where he lay. Doyoon was sound asleep, unaware of her presence. Standing by the bed, Bibi unbuttoned his shirt one by one with her fingers.

“No.”

A large palm decisively blocked her view. And it flicked away Bibi’s fingers that were resting on his collarbone. Bibi blinked and looked down at Doyoon.

“Not today.”

“......”

“I said no.”

He shook his head sternly despite Bibi’s earnest gaze. It was the first refusal she had ever experienced, and she was quite taken aback. Why was he refusing? He had always given it to her willingly before.

“There’s a blood pack in the refrigerator. Drink that today.”

“...But I want to drink your blood.”

“Not today.”

Bibi pouted. He was pushing her away so coldly. Why was he refusing? He had always given it to her willingly before. Puzzled, Bibi recalled what she had heard earlier in the day.

“Is it because I’m not your type?”

“...What?”

Doyoon chuckled at the unexpected question.

“A noisy human said that. Said I’m not Doyoon’s type.”

“What are you talking about...”

“Just one sip.”

“Hey,”

“Just one sip... huh?”

What should he do with this vampire who kept begging for blood? Doyoon clicked his tongue and pushed Bibi’s body away with his arm. His intention was to make her step back from the bed, but he lost control of his strength, and she fell backward with a thud.

“Are you o...”

The moment he asked if she was okay, he saw a flash of resentful fire in Bibi’s eyes as she lay on the floor. Bibi sprang up and unceremoniously straddled Doyoon’s waist.

“What are you doing?”

Doyoon let out a dry breath. He raised his arm again to try and push her away to the side. Instantly, two small hands grabbed his raised arm.

“Don’t push me away. Huh?”

Bibi knew how to seduce. For a vampire to seduce a human was an innate instinct. Like a blackbird that blocks out light to hunt at night, making them mistake it for nighttime, like a carnivorous plant that emits a sweet scent to lure its prey. When they craved blood, it was a vampire’s nature to seduce their target.

“Doyoon.”

Her innocently wide eyes gazed at him pitifully as she called his name. The voice that reached his ears was incredibly sweet.

“Doyoon...”

Bibi’s red eyes turned sorrowful. It wasn’t just a look asking for sympathy. It was clearly a gaze demanding deep interest and affection. In other words, it was a face that seduced men. Doyoon chuckled dryly. He thought she knew nothing. He had to admit she was quite something. He had been caught off guard.

Doyoon put strength into his hand to push Bibi, who was sitting on top of him, to the side. But Bibi rubbed her cheek against his large hand.

To dare seduce a hunter to suck his blood. This mischievous vampire had gone mad with fear. But why did he want to see how far she would go?

Now, Bibi reached out and gently stroked Doyoon’s hair with her fingers. The touch was softer than foxtail grass, making him smile involuntarily. Bibi continued to stroke Doyoon’s hair.

His breathing became slightly faster. Doyoon stared at her smile as if he were bewitched before snapping back to his senses. He felt a sense of crisis that he would truly be captivated if he stayed like this any longer. Was it because his body wasn’t its usual self, or was it because he hadn’t prepared for something so unexpected? A deep embarrassment washed over him.

“Stop.”

Doyoon clenched his fists tightly and tried to sit up. However, Bibi knew what she wanted. She pushed his shoulder back down, preventing him from getting up. He could have resisted, but Doyoon obediently fell back. Bibi quickly lowered her head and whispered in front of his face.

“I want to suck you, Doyoon.”

Doyoon’s breath hitched for a moment.

“Let me suck you. Huh?”

Her sparkling red lips pleaded for permission. Bibi clearly meant she wanted to suck his blood. But the atmosphere made it sound even more suggestive.

Bibi, leaning down, licked Doyoon’s neck with her tongue. She had a habit of sticking out her tongue before eating something. When eating cake, bread, ice cream, or drinking blood. Doyoon happened to be sensitive on his neck. A hot breath escaped him.

Ah... damn it.

Doyoon clenched his fists tightly. Eventually, a taut strength began to build in his lower body. To react to such a simple seduction. He was incredibly embarrassed. Above all, he had never placed Bibi in a sexual category. That was why it was even harder to deal with. So, a vampire is still a vampire, huh? In the end, Doyoon resigned himself.

“Just once.”

“...Once?”

Bibi’s eyes widened.

“Just suck once.”

“Okay.”

As soon as permission was granted, Bibi tore open the buttons of Doyoon’s shirt front. As his smooth and glossy chest was revealed, her thirst surged even more fiercely. Bibi immediately lowered her head and bared her fangs. She pressed her lips against the soft flesh and plunged her fangs in.

“Hiss...!”

A strange moan was heard. Soon after, sweet blood wet her tongue and flowed down her throat. While sucking Doyoon’s neck, Bibi rolled her eyes to check his condition. She saw Doyoon’s cheeks, which were flushed bright red. He flinched at even the slightest stimulation.

“Damn it, this is bad... The feeling keeps getting...”

Doyoon, whose blood was being sucked by Bibi, muttered softly. Seeing him react more sensitively than before, Bibi also felt a strange sensation. Her stomach tickled, and the blood in her body circulated rapidly. As Bibi, who was sucking his blood, stared intently, Doyoon chuckled and playfully tapped under her chin with his hand, pushing her away.

“That’s enough for today.”

“......”

“That’s all I can give you.”

Having quenched her immediate thirst, Bibi obediently backed away. Unlike when she was seducing him, her red eyes were now docile.

“You, from now on...”

Before he could finish his sentence, Doyoon closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The person who had always had a healthy complexion was pale today. Bibi’s heart sank belatedly. Had she sucked too much? He was human. No matter how healthy a man he was, there must be a limit.

Only now did she worry about him, and she felt sorry. She quickly placed her fingers under his nose. Thankfully, he was breathing properly. From tomorrow, even if she was thirsty, she would have to refrain from sucking his blood. Bibi gazed at the sleeping Doyoon with worried eyes.

My owner with sweet blood. The human who knows what I want so well.

Bibi felt increasingly comfortable being next to him. He didn’t make unreasonable demands, nor did he hit or neglect her. And... he was beautiful.

An impulse to make him her owner forever rose within her. At this moment, Bibi perfectly understood Selene’s feelings. She felt an urge to preserve the scenery she was looking at, not just maintain it but embalm it.

Bibi burrowed into Doyoon’s side as he slept soundly, inhaling his scent and closing her eyes.