The subtle aroma of fresh white tea enveloped my apartment, blending with the soft hint of lavender rising from the candles I had so carefully arranged. I moved slowly through the spacious, open area, adjusting and perfecting every detail, even though I knew everything was already at its best.
My apartment wasn't luxurious. But I was fortunate enough to find a space that was quite roomy with an affordable mortgage. It clearly wasn't a middle-class apartment like Aika's, but it wasn't a bad one either.
My job as a fisherman and fish vendor wasn't all that bad. I could still eat regularly. It was just that, on days I didn't go to sea, I might not eat at all. I saved up a lot to be able to build a bigger business. That's why I lived simply and tended to be extremely frugal.
But for Aika, I would give everything.
Last night, I dreamt of my past. About how the dragon clan wiped out many kingdoms. The eyes of children filled with fear still haunted me constantly. And yet, I saw Aika cooking ramen. Serving it to me. Warming my heart once again.
Could God forgive my past sins? Forgive the sin of killing innocent humans simply because of my father's orders?
I shuddered.
I looked out the window. The night sea was clearly visible. Today, I hadn't gone out to sea again. But I had gone to the ATM to withdraw money for the sake of welcoming Aika today.
I would be the one to make her happy.
As a member of the turquoise dragon clan, I actually preferred the colors white and silver. I wasn't sure why, but those two colors reminded me of warmth. Of safety.
Maybe it was some sort of suggestion that I could still be cleansed. I didn't know.
The embedded lights emitted a soft glow, blurring the edges of every surface and injecting a quiet warmth into the atmosphere. Black accents broke up the white in my room, adding subtle contrast to the dominance of white and silver in my home.
Still, I doubted my earlier decision.
What had I been thinking, inviting Aika here?
I still couldn't understand how our love had bonded so quickly. I barely knew her; we had only met a short time ago. But the first time she looked at me, her eyes radiated light, bright and warm, like the first light of dawn. That gaze stirred a strange nostalgia and longing inside me — something powerful and mysterious, long buried — a part of me she must never see.
Or maybe, I just couldn't let her see it yet. That thought filled me with a fear I rarely allowed myself to feel.
No one knew who I was. I had changed my appearance. I had changed my name too.
But was hiding who I was the right thing to do?
A small voice whispered endlessly that maybe she already knew. She had once fainted when I was forced to shift — a primal reaction in the heat of a life-or-death moment. I had no choice; I unleashed the dragon hidden within me, the fierce creature folded deep within my soul. When she came to, I hoped she hadn't truly seen the full form — glistening turquoise scales under moonlight, eyes lit with blue fire.
But sometimes, I caught her looking at me with a gaze that made me wonder whether she had seen it all, whether she had glimpsed the beast within me. I clung to the fragile hope that, for her, it was no more than a dream. But doubt gnawed at me, as relentless as the fire burning inside.
With a breath, I reached for my phone on the marble table and opened our message thread. Aika's name glowed softly on the screen, her last message from the night before waiting for me. Were you out late yesterday? she asked, so simple, so natural, as if she truly cared. That question made me smile — a reaction I hadn't allowed myself in years.
Her curiosity was gentle, unforced, without hidden motive. She seemed genuinely interested in me, not the mystery or the power I hid. And that, more than anything, unsettled me.
The fear that she might pull away.
Therein lay the problem: I had hidden my true self from the world for centuries, yet here she was, slipping through the cracks in my walls as if they were nothing but mist.
"Will you come to my apartment tomorrow? I'll send the address," I had typed earlier. The message hovered unsent, a silent testament to my hesitation. We had already agreed to meet, but an inexplicable urgency drove me to reconfirm. I took a deep breath to steady myself and, before I could hesitate again, hit "Send." The message disappeared into the ether, and with it, adrenaline surged through my veins, stronger than I could contain.
I had lived through eras, met millions of souls, but this… this felt different.
My phone chimed, breaking the stillness with her reply: Of course. It's my promise! What time?
Relief flooded through me, followed by the quiet tension her presence always stirred. I typed quickly, my fingers uncertain over the cold glass screen. Is seven okay? It'll be quiet, just us. I'll pick you up at 6:30.
Her reply came instantly. Oh, no! Don't bother! I'll come to you.
I hesitated, a tight unease pressing into my chest. I knew she disliked it when I didn't respect her wishes. Alright, then. I'll wait for you at seven.
Perfect! she answered, adding a little heart emoji that made me freeze, staring at the screen, unsteady. That simple symbol shook something in me, as if the ground had shifted. My face flushed, and an involuntary smile pulled at the corners of my lips.
When was the last time someone made me feel… this alive?
I leaned against the cool marble countertop, closing my eyes to quiet the storm inside. Why was I allowing myself to feel this way for her? I was stepping into dangerous waters, risking a thousand years of restraint. My world was full of secrets and shadows, where magic simmered beneath the surface, barely contained. Aika didn't belong in that world. To bring her into it would mean inviting danger into her life — and the thought of her in danger was unbearable.
I had to rein in my feelings. Letting them grow unchecked would only bring pain, perhaps even destruction. But the fact that she wanted to be here, wanted to see this part of my life… that was enough. It was all I could allow myself — one fleeting moment of connection before the tide of my world swept it away.
The hours passed slowly, every second stretching like eternity. I wandered the apartment, unable to find peace. I adjusted the white pillows on the sofa, checked the mirrors for fingerprints that weren't there, even trimmed the fine threads on the curtains near the window. Every detail had to be perfect, as if the flawless state of the apartment could somehow make up for the secrets I couldn't share.
By nightfall, I trembled with nerves, a foreign sensation like wearing someone else's skin. I was supposed to be calm, unshakable — but Aika stirred the calm depths of my soul, making ripples I couldn't control. Dressing carefully, I chose a fitted black shirt and dark jeans, something simple yet meaningful.
Seven o'clock drew near. I paced near the door, tempted to check my phone again, as if she might change her mind at the last second. Doubt whispered dark thoughts: What if she sensed my otherness? What if she recoiled, walking away without looking back?
Then, as if answering my silent plea, the doorbell rang.
The sound pierced the quiet, sharp and resonant. I froze, heart pounding in my chest, breath caught between anticipation and fear.
She was here.