To Want You

Chapter 5 : Whispers of the Hidden

It really does feel like luck has abandoned me today.

By the time I finish packing my books and stuffing loose papers into my bag, the red‑haired girl is gone. Her seat by the window is empty, chair pushed in neatly as if she was never there at all. I linger for a second, eyes scanning the room, hoping I just missed her slipping past me.

Nothing.

I sigh, shoulders sagging. So much for my plan of casually introducing myself and pretending I wasn’t overly curious. I guess it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. If she even shows up again.

Taking a deep breath, I sling my bag over my shoulder. If the rumors are right, she’s probably that transfer student everyone’s been buzzing about since morning. It’s not every day the school accepts someone in the middle of the semester. People love mysteries, and she fits the bill perfectly.

I head toward the left side of the hallway, already thinking about making a quick stop at the restroom. Before I can fully enjoy the quiet, familiar footsteps match mine.

Like an annoying habit I can’t break, Abel catches up to me.

“I told you to wait for me,” he says, voice light but pointed.

“I was distracted,” I reply without slowing down.

He arches a brow. “By who?”

“A cute girl.”

That does it. Abel stops dead in his tracks.

“A… girl?” he repeats, like the word itself needs processing.

I grin over my shoulder and shove my bag into his hands before slipping into the girls’ restroom. His protest dies behind me as the door swings shut.

The restroom is quieter than I expected, the hum of fluorescent lights filling the space. I barely take two steps before a stall door creaks open.

And there she is.

The red‑haired girl steps out, adjusting the strap of her bag. So she hadn’t left after all. She moves toward the wide mirror, turns on the faucet, and splashes water onto her face. Droplets cling to her lashes and darken the strands of hair framing her cheeks.

That’s when I notice it.

A faint bruise beneath her eye. She glances at her reflection, lips tightening, and quickly covers it with a bandage from her pocket. As she shifts, I spot another bruise—deeper, purple—on her arm. It looks like more than just an accident.

My chest tightens.

“Hi,” I say before I can stop myself.

She freezes, then slowly turns to face me. Her eyes lock onto mine, sharp and guarded. Water drips from her hair as she studies me like she’s deciding whether I’m a threat.

“Um… hey,” she replies after a moment.

I soften my expression, offering a friendly smile. She feels like the type who doesn’t speak unless spoken to. My bathroom needs can wait.

“You’re the new transfer student, right?” I step closer and extend my hand. “I’m Elka.”

Her gaze flickers down to my hand. Seconds stretch uncomfortably long.

“Van,” she finally says, her hand meeting mine briefly. Her grip is light, almost cautious. “I’m Van.”

“Nice to meet you, Van,” I say warmly. “If you need anything, you can always ask me. I hope we can be good frie—”

She pulls her hand away.

“Friends?”

The way she says it sends a strange shiver down my spine. Her tone shifts completely—cooler, sharper. She presses her tongue against the inside of her cheek before lifting her gaze fully to mine.

“Elka, was it?” she says flatly. “It was nice meeting you too. But don’t get ahead of yourself.”

I blink.

“I’m not looking for… a human companion. Not yet.”

Before I can respond, she grabs her bag and walks out, leaving nothing but the echo of her footsteps behind.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, heart thudding. Human companion?

Is she… not human?

After finishing up in the restroom, I step back outside to find Abel waiting exactly where I left him. One look at my face and his teasing expression fades as we walk past the school gates together.

He doesn’t say anything until I buckle myself into the passenger seat and he pulls onto the road.

“You look lost,” he says carefully. “Did something happen?”

I stare out the window, watching buildings blur past. “I was just wondering… are there more people like you in our school?”

Abel chuckles softly and stops at a red light. He turns toward me and, without warning, gently runs his fingers through my hair. The gesture throws me off completely.

Since when did he do that?

“And that’s what you’ve been thinking about?” he asks, amused. “Yeah. I can’t always pinpoint who they are, but there are at least four different species attending our school.”

I swallow. “Four?”

“Five, if we include humans like you.”

My thoughts snap back to Van. Human companion. The words make more sense now. Her otherworldly presence, her regal air, those dark crimson eyes.

“Werewolves, witches, goblins, and vampires,” Abel says casually.

My mouth falls open. “You’re kidding.”

He smirks. “Nope.”

I shake my head in disbelief. I’ve been attending the same school as supernaturals this whole time? And never noticed?

“How are they so good at hiding it?” I mutter.

“Practice,” Abel replies. “A lot of it.”

I glance at him. “Why are you telling me all this now?”

I exhale slowly, fingers threading through my hair. “I met someone today. She was… strange. One thought led to another.”

Then, quietly, “Can you do it again?”

He gives me a confused look. “Do what?”

I meet his eyes, steady this time. “I want to see him. Your wolf.”

It’s been years since the last time. Long enough that fear should’ve faded.

But curiosity? That’s only grown stronger.