The Blood's Elegance

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

FIRST LOVE’S INNOCENCE

Sometimes, someone needed to be threatened to secure what they think was theirs but give less care. They believed it was already their property; no one would try to steal them until a person dared, and that is when the right thing to do is to own it formally.

“Then how should I call you?”

“Call me yours,” I said.

His stare was melting me. “Are you serious?”

“No, I was joking.” I rolled my eyes. I looked courageous, but my fingers felt cold. “Don’t take it seriously.”

I averted my gaze from him and focused my attention on the unlit lantern, rubbing my fingers on its rough texture. I raised my head; some of our friends glanced in our direction.

“Seah.” He cupped my face to make me look at him. “Are you serious? Are you my girlfriend now?”

“Did I stutter?”

“God, Seah!” he shouted and pulled me to hug, then showered my hair with his kisses. He locked my face in between his palms and placed his lips on mine. “March 13.”

“Congrats!” the guys greeted us.

I smiled at them. Seth said his thanks. The guys, led by Drake, brought out an alcoholic drink and opened a bottle. They raised it in the air. “Cheers for Seth joining the team!”

“Cheers!”

We also grabbed our drinks. Where did they put these? I didn't know we had these with us.

“If you are wondering, Seah, Frank brought it,” Drake explained. “So cheers!”

The host arrived, halting our celebration of being in a relationship, and announced about lighting the lanterns. We, all, rose from the ground with the lantern in our hands. The leader of the dance troupe earlier, who also served as the host, together with his members, dispensed lit candles to every one person of each group. Gabriel received the candle for us. They told us to be cautious to avoid burning the place or causing an accident. Drake, who I bet was the most active-s***h-talkative in our group, stilled. We waited for the signal to light our paper lamps.

The host initiated it, and we followed. We held the lantern until he let it go, and all of us shouted, “Happy Aracebellos Festival!”

The festival officially ended. We did not find a problem while we return home because it was not that far. They still had energy as they rushed into the living room and searched for their spots to occupy. They opened the television and clicked the karaoke. Mary and Leslie searched for songs and entered a lot without asking anyone, saying that we surely know it, and if we don't, we could just escape the song.

Drake, Frank, and Liam sat on the ground. James, Gabriel, and Troy were on the couch together with the girls. Ayuna took the single couch.

I stood and told them that I will be upstairs in our room. I couldn't contain my excitement to tell my best friends about what happened for today and the last two days. I entered our bedroom first and took a new pair of clothes—an indigo tank top and shorts—and headed to the bathroom. After taking a bath, I went back to the room, locked the door, and jumped on the bed to dry my hair. As I blow-dry my hair, I opened my phone and a social media application, starting a video call on our group chat. Rose was the first to answer. Her face was in full makeup. Her eyelids with eyeliner and brown eyeshadow, lips with a touch of dark red, and cheek graced with blush. She tied her hair in a bun and bit her pen.

“Babes!” She rained kisses on her screen and distanced. “What's up? I miss you!”

“Miss you, too.” I made a smacking sound. “What have you been doing?”

She showed me her study table full of revisions and ballpens. “There's a quiz in our major.”

I grinned. “Our finals just ended, and the professors were chill ‘cause it's just the start of new semester.”

“I wish they give you a lot of activities.” She giggled. “What about you? How are you? Were you so busy?”

“Kind of. I was out of focused because of what happened...”

“Was it about the Beer Fest?”

I nodded. “I had to catch up and put an extra effort in my revisions. By the way, where's Andi?”

“Must be sleeping,” she said. “Let me call her to wake her up.”

I hanged my towel on a hanger as she drops the call to wake Andi up. A few minutes had passed, she joined the video call again, and Andi’s annoyed face appeared on the screen. Her forehead was furrowed as if she was staring directly at Rose who disturbed her. The latter raised her hands in defense and pointed me with her lips.

“She was the one who told me to wake you up.”

“I'm sorry, Andi,” I apologized with a smile. “It's just nine. Why are you already asleep?”

Andi rubbed her eyes and yawned. She looked so pale in front of the camera or maybe because of the lighting. “I had an all-nighter doing case reports and position papers.”

“Major?” I asked.

“Minor-feeling-major.” She yawned again. Her camera moved. I thought she placed it in a stable place, so she could lean on the bed. She faced us sideways. “How you doin’?”

“Good. I have something to tell you, but that can wait. Are you guys busy? Spring break is coming.”

“It's one month away, Seah,” Andi countered lazily. “I think I have nothing scheduled for that week. Do you have a plan?”

“I don't know what I'll be doing that time.” Rose picked up her calendar. Her eyebrows moved up and down, frowned and straightened, and her lips pouted and formed a thin line as she checks her schedule. “I am not sure, but there's no exam schedule a week after the Spring break, so I think I'm available. What about you?”

“I'm always free,” I replied and followed it with a laugh, causing both of them, especially Rose who has the energy, to glare at me. “Just kidding.”

Just when I was about to open up the news, a knock disturbed me from my dreamy look at what happened earlier.

“Seah, are you in there?” It was Leslie's voice. “Can you open up the door?”

I hopped from my bed; my feet reacted at the touch of the cold floor. I unlocked the door and let her in. I went outside after she went in and told her I'll be by the rooftop. She only nodded and glimpsed at my phone filled with Rose and Andi's face.

I took the stairs to the rooftop which I discovered earlier after we ate lunch. The wind brushed my hair backward as I turned the knob of the door. The chilly gust of air hugged my exposed skin; I shivered. I hugged myself to at least bring warmth to my body. I regretted going here, but there was no other place I could have privacy.

I walked to the edge and placed my arms on the railing, my hands holding the phone in the center.

Even with her small, tired voice, I heard Andi's concern. “Are you okay there?”

“I'm fine.”

I roamed my eyes around. The houses and buildings were visible from here. A lot of people were taking a stroll around the place. The bonfire in the park still glowed, and from the distance, I saw a lantern being blown by the wind.

“So what is it that you want to tell us?”

My gaze dropped down on my phone, and I chuckled. “Sorry, I almost forgot that I am already in a relationship.”

“It's okay. What's—”

Rose's eyes widened while Andi's serious and exhausted expression did not change.

“What?” she blurted out. “With who? With the guy behind your back?”

I turned around. In an instant, I was enclosed by a warm blanket, and the comfort spread on me as he hugged me from behind.

“With him?” Rose asked again with a face telling me she does not believe what I'm saying. She stared at the camera with her mouth gaped and eyes blinking before she processed the situation and screamed. “I'm so happy for you! Hi, Seth!”

“Oh, my goodness, Rose!” I made a face. He didn't know that I told them about him. “Can you please calm down?”

But the girl's energy was unfathomable.

“Hi, ladies,” he whispered beneath my ear as if it was meant for me. Something inside me took an indescribable beat as a reaction to his touch and closeness.

“My babes had told me so much about you!” she squealed. “I'm really so much happy for you.”

“That was redundant.” It was Andi's first words after I break the news. A small smile appeared on her face. “Congratulations. Seth, please take care of our friend.”

“Of course.” His lips grazed my neck as he changed the position of his head.

I pinched his arm, but he moaned. “Are you drunk?”

“Hmm?” His drowsy eyes peeked at me. “Not really.”

I sniffed his breath and hit him. “You are drunk. Did you drink with them?”

“The boys were forceful.” I glared at him. He poured me kisses in front of my friends. “You smell good.”

I pinched him again. “Stop. You don't get drunk easily, so don't fool me.”

Seth laughed and locked me tighter in his embrace. We stared at the phone upon hearing one of my friends snorted.

“I don't like what I'm seeing,” Rose commented, we chuckled, “and why are you together? Where are you?”

“We were staying at their house in Aran for a festival,” I answered.

“You mean, Aracebellos?”

“Yeah.”

“I'm so jealous!” She covered her mouth and lowered down her voice. “Good night, Andi.”

“Sweet dreams,” I added.

“Guess I got to go now, babes. You still need to study.”

She put her lips together. “See you later. Take care.”

“You, too.”

Then she hung up the call, and I was left alone in his arms. I heard him chuckled and felt his lips on the side of my neck. I faced him.

“Why are you here?”

“Just want to see you before I sleep.” He ran his fingers through my long hair. His eyes were half-opened. “I'm already tired, but I want to spend time with you.”

“You don't have to. I have all my time for you.” I smiled. I tiptoed and brushed his nose with mine. I raised his chin and kissed him. “Good night.”

He put his forehead on me, and under his breath, he said, “Good night. Best night ever.”

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