NAPE - 40

Doyoon looked at his watch and closed his book. Turning off the computer, he said matter-of-factly, “I’ll be giving you assignments once every two weeks from now on. When I ask a question, just write down your thoughts on it. The length doesn’t matter, whether it’s ten pages or one line. Some questions will dissect and dismantle your inner selves. They might even make you realize how futile the things that support you are.”

At the sudden mention of assignments, the students’ faces turned ashen. Regardless, Doyoon’s face brightened. “If you want to become a bird that breaks out of its shell, fall to the bottom. Deep into the abyss.”

Looking around at the students, he lowered his voice. “Even if you have wings, you cannot possess the sky without experiencing a fall.”

Was it her imagination? It felt like she had made eye contact with Doyoon for the first time. Bibi had no idea what kind of discussion this was or what the topic was.

However, one thing definitely resonated with her. He wanted her to fall. Like the humans expelled from paradise, he wanted the foundation that made her who she was to be broken.

But... Bibi had no interest in the sky. So, she could just stay in her comfort zone. Unless someone pushed her.

“I’m going to break your world. I’ll smash it for you.”

His words flashed through her mind, but she tried hard to shake them off.

In any case, the university itself was interesting. Afterwards, Bibi visited the school with Nam-won several times, pretending she couldn’t resist.

She wanted to keep attending Doyoon’s lectures, but the students were gradually getting to know each other’s faces and names. She secretly attended the first couple of times, but later she just looked around the library, the cafeteria, the lawn, and the ducks floating on the pond.

The spring scenery was so diverse and beautiful that it couldn’t be compared to a large game screen. Watching the green sprouts emerging from the grass, the trees budding, and the cats basking leisurely in the sun was very comforting.

As if celebrating the end of winter, humans gathered in groups of three or five in wooden pavilions and held drinking parties. Bibi tried to avoid contact with them as much as possible. A hunting dog was a being that couldn’t blend in with humans.

But perhaps that was just Bibi’s thought. She had been trying to be inconspicuous and quiet. But in the first place, a tall, red-haired man and a woman with a unique atmosphere wearing a hat walking together were bound to stand out.

“Oh, hello.”

It was her fourth visit to the school. While exploring the campus with Nam-won, who was already complaining about the heat, a student who had been playing basketball ran over with a ball tucked under his arm and greeted them. This plump man, sweating profusely, was Doyoon’s student. The human who had boasted about wanting to break out of his shell like his grandfather.

She didn’t quite remember his name... but whatever. Bibi mentally named him ‘Plumpie.’

“Why are you at school on Founder’s Day?”

“Just because. Because of a promise.”

Nam-won answered instead of Bibi, who had a lock on her lips. When Plumpie spoke, not only Bibi but also Nam-won looked slightly bewildered. More than that, it was Founder’s Day. No wonder there were fewer people at school today.

“You two are always together. Are you a couple?”

At the man’s question, Bibi and Nam-won simultaneously scowled. That seemed to be a sufficient answer.

“Oh, you’re not. Sorry. But why haven’t you been coming to class lately? Aren’t you in the same department?”

“I’m auditing. I’m Professor Kwon’s acquaintance.”

Nam-won was confident. He had a theory that one should always be dignified and brazen in any situation.

“Ah. And the person next to you too?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

Sending a mischievous smile, Nam-won took a step to the side. Nam-won was very dissatisfied with Bibi not speaking. So he often tried to make her speak and tease her by creating situations where she had no choice but to talk.

Letting her choose drinks from the vending machine and school food as she pleased, or deliberately walking slowly to frustrate people. Getting someone to talk to her like now was also in that vein.

“Hello. I’m Kim Jung-hoon. I wanted to talk to you whenever I saw you at school. We’re in the same year, right?”

Plumpie tried hard to get a good look at Bibi’s face, which was covered by a deeply pulled-down hat. Bibi frowned at the curry-concentrated smell of his sweat and stepped back.

“Uh... you have a reddish tint in your eyes. Are you wearing lenses? I thought your style was good since last time.”

Good style? Bibi was bewildered but soon looked at Nam-won with a triumphant face. He had been criticizing her everyday outfits as old-fashioned and bizarre.

“You’re good at flattery. Take a good look at this mess. What’s so stylish about sweatpants and bare-footed sandals?”

Nam-won waved his hand, telling him not to talk nonsense.

“Why? I like this kind of unbalanced match these days. Right? You planned it all, didn’t you?”

Plumpie was quite sociable for someone who had acted so smart in class. Come to think of it, this was the first time she had a conversation with a human this close. She had only thought of them as tasty creatures with blood. He understood her fashion. He was quite commendable. She should make sure not to eat this human even if she got hungry.

“Have you had lunch? I was about to go eat, would you like to join me? I’ll treat you. There’s a really good barbecue place in front of the school, and there’s usually a line to get in? I’m a relative of the younger brother’s friend of the owner there, so we can get in right away.”

Plumpie boasted about his connection to the barbecue restaurant owner, who was practically a stranger.

“What do you want to do? You can eat if you want. I can call my senior.”

Nam-won asked. Bibi wasn’t interested in meat, but she wanted to hear more opinions about the clothes she was wearing. However... she was bothered by what had happened in the morning, so it was difficult to readily accept.

It wasn’t a big deal. This morning, Doyoon had suggested going to the sea to cheer Bibi up. Bibi had made a reluctant face, but inside she was very excited and was immediately ready to get dressed and go out.

However, just as they were about to leave together, Doyoon received a phone call. With her movable ears, Bibi tried her best to listen intently to the words coming from the other side of the phone.

- Are you off today? Let’s meet, I have something to say.

It was definitely a woman’s voice.

“It’s difficult for me if you suddenly tell me to come and go like this, Chairman.”

- I heard you contacted former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Su-hyeok. How am I supposed to take this?

“...Hah. You’re not investigating me, are you?”

As if a meticulously planned board had been shaken, Doyoon wore a troubled expression.

- You’re not denying it. Let’s meet. Otherwise, I think I’ll be quite suspicious of you? Including your recent sluggishness.

She was very curious about what was going on, but with her mouth tightly shut, she couldn’t ask anything. Bibi had no choice but to watch Doyoon cancel his plans and call Nam-won.

Actually, more than not being able to go to the sea, she was quite bothered that he was going to meet a woman. Her mood had become quite low, so when Nam-won suggested taking her to the sea and turned on the navigation, she reached out and selected the school.

She didn’t want to go to the sea without Doyoon. Once she felt like she had fallen, she couldn’t rise again. Where did this stuffiness originate?

“Barbecue? Are we going?”

Plumpie actively approached Bibi, who was lost in thought. She nodded, meaning she didn’t dislike the idea, and accepted lunch. Plumpie jumped up and down with joy and took the lead.

The university was large. Plumpie suggested taking his car, but Nam-won refused, saying it was difficult to park. The three decided to walk, even if it took time.

“Ah. Wait a minute, I need to call my senior... Oh, this guy called first.”

Nam-won took out his phone in front of the crosswalk.

“What’s your relationship with Professor Kwon?”

“Just. Well. Here and there. Senior and junior relationship.”

“Ah, are you from Cambridge?”

“Ahem, just a moment, I need to take this call.”

Nam-won trailed off and pressed the call button. Bibi moved close to him and pressed her ear against his. She wanted to hear Doyoon’s voice too.

“What? Get away. Aren’t you going to get away?”

Nam-won recoiled in disgust, but she stuck to his side. Plumpie, who had been staring at them, smiled awkwardly and then, seeing the traffic light turn green, stepped forward. At that moment,

Baaang!

“Oh, that motorcycle...”

Along with Plumpie’s startled voice, a loud honk and engine sound expanded loudly. Frowning and turning her head, Bibi could see a motorcycle fiercely rushing towards her and Nam-won in that instant.

Her breath stopped at the large object approaching in an instant. Adrenaline surged through her body, sensing danger. The vampire and the hunter flung themselves sideways in the blink of an eye, barely avoiding the approaching object.

Crash!

“Aaaah!”

A loud burst and a scream erupted simultaneously. Lying on the ground, Bibi slowly inhaled and exhaled, looking at the spot where she had been standing just moments ago.