The Girl They All Hunger For

Chapter 4 Damn, I’ve Got Some Nerve

Our eyes met across the distance.

That soft, harmless “honey cake” face—

And this is what he was into?

We’d only met once.

Second meeting—and I walk straight into that kind of scene.

…Kill me now.

With a face like his, calling him trouble incarnate wouldn’t even be an exaggeration. The kind of guy who probably shows up on every campus confession page. The type who just has to crook a finger and girls come running.

And the way he’d casually struck up a conversation earlier—

Yeah. Definitely a player.

No refusals. No boundaries.

I didn’t even bother greeting him.

Just turned and walked away like I saw nothing.

—

I had no idea—

That was a very dangerous move.

Turning your back.

Walking away.

No guard up.

To any newborn predator interested in me…

That kind of posture?

It screams prey.

—

Savi glanced to the side.

The girl he’d been feeding on was slumped against the pillar, pale as paper. Barely breathing.

If not for the interruption, she’d already be a dried-out corpse by sunrise.

He clicked his tongue softly.

What a waste.

If Tessa had just come a little closer—

Just seen a little more—

He could’ve hunted her properly.

Fair game.

Savi licked the corner of his lips.

The sun was starting to rise.

For a Pureblood like him, this level of sunlight wasn’t much of a problem.

…Still hungry.

He didn’t like the sun.

But he followed anyway.

—

The ground on this side of the boundary wasn’t easy to walk.

Roots twisted through the path.

Uneven.

But for Savi?

Nothing.

He caught up in no time.

“Haah… you walk fast,” he said, slightly breathless, smiling. “Trying that hard to avoid me?”

I looked at him.

He moved like this terrain was nothing.

…Yeah. Definitely comes here often.

“Any normal person would leave after seeing something like that,” I shot back. “And you just left your girlfriend there?”

He blinked.

“Girlfriend…?” He tilted his head. “No. Not that kind of relationship.”

Who puts food in that position?

To most of the Vampire Kind, humans were just… different flavors.

And Tessa—

She smelled like dessert.

He smiled at me, all innocent.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

I took a step sideways.

Instinct.

Stay away from this one.

…You were literally biting her and she’s not your girlfriend?

Playboy. Absolute trash.

The sun was rising higher.

Shadows stretched long through the trees.

I turned, planning to head back the way I came—

And almost tripped.

A root hidden under fallen leaves caught my foot.

I stumbled—

Grabbed the tree beside me just in time.

“…Seriously?”

This is his fault.

Savi stopped too.

Then suddenly—

He smiled.

“If I remember right,” he said lightly, “your teacher warned you about this on day one.”

The sunlight peeked over the horizon.

He stood right at the edge of shadow.

His head tilted slightly.

That soft, playful look in his eyes—

Gone.

What replaced it was cold.

Sharp.

Predatory.

“Then why,” he asked quietly, “are you in a restricted area?”

My heartbeat kicked up again.

Way too fast.

At this rate I might actually have a heart condition.

I took a breath.

“First time at a night school. My schedule’s messed up. Couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.”

I met his gaze.

“You’re here too, aren’t you?”

If we’re calling people out—

He’s worse.

And I hadn’t even crossed the boundary.

His gaze lingered on my face.

Searching.

He didn’t see fear.

No panic.

…Interesting.

And for some reason—

That made him hungrier.

He should’ve drained that girl completely.

Savi’s smile returned, soft and sweet.

“Fair enough.”

He stepped a little closer.

“But this place isn’t restricted for nobles.”

A pause.

“If you can make the right ‘friends’…”

His honey-colored eyes seemed to pull you in. Like a quiet whirlpool.

“I’d be happy to be your friend.”

—

Back at the dorm—

My roommate was already asleep.

I climbed into bed quietly.

Took a while to fall asleep.

And when I did—

It wasn’t peaceful.

Maybe it was the messed-up schedule.

Maybe it was what I saw earlier.

But—

I dreamed about him.

The “honey cake.”

This time, I was the one by the pillar.

His soft, honey-colored hair right in front of me—

He leaned down—

And just before—

I woke up.

“…What the hell.”

I checked the time.

6 p.m.

I’d slept almost twelve hours.

I slapped my own face.

Not hard.

Just enough to snap out of it.

What is wrong with me?!

Seriously—what kind of nerve is that?!

I don’t even know his name!

And I’m dreaming about him?!

No.

No way.

I am not into him.

My heart races around good-looking people. That’s normal.

It did the same with Adrian.

With Theodore.

He’s not special.

So why that dream?!

I lay there, staring at the ceiling for a full ten minutes.

Then—

Sat up in one swift motion.

Still—

At least I got something out of this morning.

Information.

Maybe being in Class III wasn’t all bad.

Otherwise, I’d never get close to people like them.

If I needed a “noble friend”—

Two options popped into my head instantly.

Adrian.

Or that arrogant prince.

…Honestly, neither of them seemed normal.

But I’d figure out which one was easier to deal with.

—

My roommate’s eyes were swollen.

Before we entered the classroom, I patted her shoulder.

No transferring classes now.

Might as well accept it.

—

More people showed up today.

I spotted Theodore by the window.

Surrounded.

Of course.

Center of attention.

Meanwhile—

Adrian sat alone.

Almost… pitiful.

—Except he didn’t look like he cared.

The moment I walked in—

He noticed.

Before that, he looked distant. Untouchable. Like some holy angel.

Then I stepped inside—

And his pale face flushed instantly.

His gaze locked onto me.

Didn’t move.

At the same time—

Theodore and the three or four people around him all turned to look at me too.

The room went silent.

Instantly.

…Why is the pressure so high?

Are there no normal girls here? No neutral faction?

Because honestly—

Neither of these guys feels like a safe “friend” option.

Also—

Didn’t they fight yesterday?

Why do neither of them look injured?

That kind of damage doesn’t just heal overnight…

Right?

I paused.

Then decided—

Ignore everything.

I sat down.

—

Second period: horseback archery.

At the stables.

The moment class ended—

I slipped out.

My roommate trailed behind me, miserable.

“I hate this… I don’t even know how to ride a horse…”

“I grew up around one,” I said casually. “We had a farm.”

She blinked.

“…That’s oddly specific.”

“Pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese. Whole package.”

—

The stables were huge.

We had to pick our own horses.

Then ride to the training grounds.

I chose a black one.

Strong build. Good muscle.

Fast runner.

Experience.

Back on the farm helped.

Students who couldn’t ride had staff guiding them.

Plenty of staff, too.

More than enough.

But—

Something went wrong.

No horse would let Adrian touch them.

One was forced under control.

But the moment he got close—

It went wild.

Kicking. Thrashing.

Even the experienced handler couldn’t manage it.

“…At this rate, you’ll have to walk.”

Then—

Hoofbeats.

Rhythmic.

From the other side.

I turned.

Theodore rode in on a dark red horse.

Perfect posture.

Riding gear fitted clean to his frame.

Elegant.

Aristocratic.

That horse?

Expensive.

Definitely not from the school.

He glanced at me.

Subtle.

But when he caught the undisguised admiration in my eyes—

(for the horse)

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Then he shifted his attention.

Looked down at Adrian.

Scoffed.

“Pathetic.”

The people behind him laughed.

“Look at him.”

“Which family would accept trash like that?”

“You’ll be lucky picking scraps outside.”

“Why are you even at Elaris?”

In this class—

Theodore and his circle stood at the top.

Adrian came after.

The rest of us?

Didn’t even count.

This was bullying.

Plain and simple.

But no one spoke.

My roommate quickly dragged a staff member away with her.

Didn’t want to get involved.

The others followed Theodore.

Just like that.

Adrian stood alone.

I reached out.

Stroked the black horse’s neck.

Then—

Made a decision.

I turned the reins.

Walked toward him.

For some reason—

The horse didn’t resist.

It stopped right in front of Adrian.

He looked up.

Red eyes.

Cold.

But there was something else—

Confusion.

He didn’t seem angry about what just happened.

Honestly, my presence got more reaction out of him than the insults.

I looked down at him.

…Fine.

Since I need something from you anyway—

Might as well give the handsome guy a ride.

“Want to get on?”