After that night, Adrian stopped showing up.
At first, I told myself it was a good thing.
Peace.
Normal life.
No more confusion.
---
But it didn't feel like peace.
It felt like something missing.
Something I couldn't explain.
---
Even Tunde noticed.
"You're quiet these days," he said one afternoon.
---
"I'm fine," I replied automatically.
But even I didn't believe it anymore.
---
Because the truth was simple.
I was waiting.
Even though I told myself I wasn't.
---
That night, I couldn't take it anymore.
I went out.
Not thinking.
Not planning.
Just moving.
---
And there he was.
Standing where everything had started.
Like he never left.
---
Adrian.
---
My heart tightened immediately.
I didn't even know whether to be relieved or angry.
---
"So you still come here," I said quietly.
---
He didn't smile.
Didn't move closer.
Just watched me.
---
"I shouldn't have come back," he said.
---
Something in his voice felt… tired.
Different.
---
"Then why did you?" I asked.
---
Silence.
Longer this time.
---
Then he finally spoke.
---
"Because I couldn't stop thinking about what I did that night."
---
My chest tightened.
"You didn't do anything."
---
That made him look at me properly.
Like I had said something wrong.
---
"You don't know what I am," he said.
---
I swallowed.
"I asked you before."
---
"And I didn't answer."
---
Another silence.
But this one felt heavier.
Like something was about to break open.
---
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was afraid of what might happen if he got too close.
---
"You should be afraid of me," he said quietly.
---
"I am," I admitted.
A pause.
"But not enough to leave."
---
That hit him.
I saw it in his expression.
Something cracked.
Just a little.
---
"I'm not human," he finally said.
---
My body went still.
Even though I already suspected it…
hearing it was different.
---
"What do you mean?" I whispered.
---
He looked away for a moment.
Like saying it out loud hurt.
---
"I don't age like you. I don't live like you. And I don't survive like you."
---
My heart started beating faster.
Not from fear.
From understanding.
---
Then he said it.
Softly.
Finally.
---
"I'm a vampire."
---
Silence.
---
The world didn't feel real for a second.
Like everything had paused.
---
But I didn't laugh.
Didn't run.
Didn't speak immediately.
---
Because somehow…
a part of me already knew.
---
"You're serious," I said quietly.
---
He nodded once.
---
"And you didn't tell me?" I asked.
---
His jaw tightened.
"I shouldn't even be talking to you."
---
That made something inside me twist.
---
"Then why are you?"
---
He looked at me then.
And this time…
there was no hiding anything.
---
"Because I tried to stay away from you," he said.
"Over and over again."
---
He stepped closer.
Just enough for me to feel the cold coming off him again.
---
"But it didn't work."
---
My breath caught.
---
"Every time I see you," he continued, voice lower now…
"it gets harder to control what I am."
---
My heart pounded.
---
"So what happens now?" I asked.
---
That question stayed between us for a long time.
---
Then he answered.
Quietly.
Honestly.
---
"Now you decide if you're afraid enough to leave…"
---
He paused.
His eyes locked on mine.
---
"…or if you're brave enough to stay."
---
And in that moment…
I realized something terrifying.
---
I wasn't sure which answer I wanted anymore.