As my alarm rings, I finish dressing up in my attire today. Meanwhile, covering my neck is a bundle of gauze. My excuse? I got into an accident that injured my neck so I need to wear gauze.
Is it foolproof? No, but would it work? Maybe--I gotta try it out to see first though. I walk out of my room, walking down a flight of stairs after crossing the dark hallway of our second floor. Arriving down in the living room, I look at the couch, noticing my older sister, Amelia, sitting on the couch.
Of course, I walk over, leaning from behind the couch to look at what she's doing. What I stumble upon is a stack of papers, probably test papers, quizzes and other stuff like that which needs to be recorded.
She's always so busy, huh?
I think to myself, trying to keep the more serious thoughts on the side for now and distracting myself with the mundane stuff. I need a clear mind to think about my situation, after all.
"Good morning, dear creature whom I share our parents' genetics with," I speak, greeting her a good morning while she's still absorbed in her work. I noticed her jump slightly before looking at me with a stern gaze. Seems like I surprised her.
Fuck yeah! First time surprising her in all my years of living with her! In my last life and my current life, that is...
I celebrate in my mind, but on the surface, I simply smile. Although, my smile seems to have an effect on her.
Amelia grunts before clicking her tongue, "Please don't do that again... you fucking shit head..." She says to me, her gaze is strong and intimidating, but surprisingly, I feel no hostility from her. I guess she's not really angry.
Anyway, she seems to be looking at me way longer than usual, I wonder why...
"Are you okay? You seem... Pretty distracted," what Amelia asks surprised me at first, but I managed to fake a smile before I answered her question, my left thumb rubbing my right index finger.
"Huh? Ah, yeah, I'm fine!" I ask, faking an energetic tone, but still, she looks at me with that same gaze... Seems like she wasn't convinced by that.
When did she become this perceptive anyway? Or have I just not realized it?
"..." I stay silent for a moment, my gaze turning away from her own and looking down at the mahogany coffee table in front of the couch, "I'll... Be fine, don't worry too much," I mutter, straightening my tone as it shakes for a short moment.
The two of us stay silent for a couple of seconds, her pen and papers being the only sound accompanying the sound of the ceiling fan. Suddenly, she stops recording the scores of each paper, her demeanor softens as she sighs before I notice her posture slightly relax from its stiffness earlier.
"Alright, but do make sure to tell me if something's troubling you, is that clear, you secretive cunt?" She asks, looking at me with a soft gaze that betrays her sentence. I simply nod before I stand up, fixing my posture straight.
"Also, before you go, eat breakfast first," Amelia reminds me. I smile as I nod before walking off into the kitchen and eating the remaining breakfast. After eating my breakfast, I hurry out of the house, shouting my temporary farewell to my older sister before I head off to my college campus.
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Walking out of the bus, I let out a sigh before looking at the entrance of my college campus. I look down at my watch.
9 o'clock... Still have one hour to spare until my class
With that thought, I leisurely walk up to the entrance, passing through the metal detector without any problems and heading straight for the library. It's air-conditioned after all; the library's a good place to wait until 9:40 before I head for my class.
•
•
•
I sit on one of the tables in the library, taking out the school laptop from my bag and opening it just in case the librarian walks around. My body goes into autopilot as my mind starts questioning my situation. Luckily, my mind is already clear and calm.
What happened? How... Did I go back in time? No... Before that... How did I get this bite tattoo on my neck?! I've never had this in college as far as I remember! So what... What happened? I thought I've died... I can't even say that it's all a dream because even now... Every single sensation of that future war is ingrained inside my body...
My mind races with thoughts. Thoughts that have pervaded my mind since morning. I've tried avoiding these thoughts all morning... tried to not think about it, but every time I run from it, the more it tries to forcefully enter my mind and flood the other thoughts out.
I can't ignore my situation any longer. I can't just accept it and move on! Not when I know what's gonna happen to us in the future... Not when I am thirsty to know what happened to me... How I go back in time... And what will I do from now on.
I continue to think, my body acting on its own as I type in whatever in the word office. My mind wanders far, yet my body stays in one place, doing whatever is needed to be done today.
Suddenly, a hand reaches out from behind. It was fast, and I couldn't even react. The hand quickly stops me from talking, while the other hand slowly, and gently trails down my arm from my shoulder down to my hand, clasping it on their own.
"Shh... Stop talking... And stop moving..." Her voice trails down my skin, muscles, bones, making me shiver, tremble as a pain from the bite tattoo stops me from doing anything at all other than breathing erratically. I try to look, to move, to do anything at all, but... As if her voice is a command... I couldn't do anything at all.
.
.
.
A breath...
A breath trails down to my neck, sending shivers down my spine. The presence behind me... It feels... It feels cold, dangerous, intimidating... Yet at the same time... Just being near that presence feels me with a sense of satisfaction, energizes me, invigorates me... It makes me feel happy and fearful at the same time.
It's strange... Scary...
Yet it's so refreshing, exhilarating, invigorating and calming all at the same time.
"So... D'ya like my gift?"
A voice spoke. A voice from the woman behind me sends shivers down my spine and seems to stimulate the bite tattoo on my neck. That voice... It seems so familiar, yet not at the same time. It's as if it has been so long since we've met but also... It feels like it's just yesterday since we reunited.
"Ah right," with those simple words, it feels like a gag has been taken away from me, enabling me to speak once more, "Just... Don't shout... Or I'll fully corrupt your mind, Y/N~" she whispers, her words and threat sending fear and thrill throughout my body.
After she says so, she removes her hand and grabs a chair from another table before sitting down next to me, leaning forward on the table and resting her face on her fist.
"You... Who in the fuck are you?" I whisper, slowly calming my breath down as I look at her with suspicion. I don't know who she is--maybe I do know one time in my life but I forgot--but I feel a connection with her... One so deeply rooted that it feels like I've known her all my life. Not just that, but the moment she appears--no, even before that--I already feel the bite tattoo on my neck tingling--it's like a warm sensation coursing through my body... A feeling of warmth, like a lovely sensation of an embrace yet also a burning feeling, like the touch of a sun.
"My~ it hasn't been too long since we've met but you've forgotten about me already?" She teases, her velvety voice flowing like water, invigorating me, but at the same time choking me out. It's so exhilarating... Almost addictive, even.
I subtly breathe deeply, controlling myself and calming my emotions within. I think deeply, analyzing her appearance, and looking into my memories of someone who looks exactly like her.
A silky, wavy, and layered black hair with curtain bangs, a fair skin tone, crimson red eyes that seem to glow under the velvety lights, strong jaws, clearly defined strong yet soft face, soft lips, an athletic build, a tall body...
I just...
I feel like I know her but--
--Wait... I think I--
"Are you... Reiatsuka?" I ask, shock and suspicion spreading in my expression as I look at her with alert and worry, gritting my teeth and waiting for her next move. It's surprising, but at the same time, not really.
Reiatsuka had always been an enigma, a mystery to all of us, and what I mean by that is that she is a complete secret to everyone on campus, even those that are adept at reading the characteristics of people.
I look at her, finally recognizing some physical uniqueness. Her crimson eyes, her blood red teeth, those predatory eyes that also seem to hold some form of softness--like a special kind of adoration.
"Motherfucker..." I utter the word silently burying my face into the palm of my hands, and moving them up, combing my hair back before I lean back to my chair, feeling like this whole situation has just become weirder and much more complicated. However, I did finally get an answer as to who put this bite tattoo on my neck.
I let out a breath, closing my eyes and clearing up my head before speaking again, "I mean I am grateful for being alive again and for... This, but how?!" I ask in a hushed whisper, wanting to know what the fuck she did, and how the fuck she was able to do this type of shit.
"D'ya really want an answer for that or ya want an answer for something else?" Reiatsuka asks, her voice smooth and tough at the same time, and her gaze looks over at me as if I'm joking.
"Ya wouldn't even be able to understand a single bit of information if I explain how I reversed time. We'll just be wasting time in short," I guess she is right... I wouldn't understand a single thing, and it's just going to be an information influx.
I look at her, still suspicious about her. I mean, who wouldn't? I am grateful for being alive again, but anyone who resurrected someone--if they're not overly benevolent--would want something in return. Plus, she did give me this tattoo.
"Ho--How did you even give me this bite tattoo?" I ask, my voice whispering as I rub the side of my neck where the tattoo is, feeling it tingle, letting warmth flow through my body.
"I bit your dead body, of course," she mutters so casually that I almost do not double take, but once I realize what she says, I almost gag. My face scrunches, looking at her with disgust in my eyes.
"Ew! Why the fuck would you do that!?" I ask her, whispering forcefully and asking myself what the fuck is literally wrong with her. Depending on how long I was dead until she bit me, I'd consider changing my opinion, but still! That's a dead fucking body!
She looks at me, smirking before she scoffs and shakes her head, "Don't worry, you were not rotting when I bit your dead body," IT'S STILL A DEAD BODY!
I let out an exasperated sigh as she chuckles. Seems like she finds my concern amusing. I look down at the table, questions in my mind have been answered, but new questions begin to emerge.
Like who exactly is Reiatsuka? What is she? Is she even human? Why did she do this? Why me specifically?
As if she read my mind--she can probably read my mind, to be honest-- she looks at me, her hand extending to hold my chin between her thumb and index finger before she pulls me close to her. Her gaze, her scent... everything about her is intoxicating... It feels like I'm going crazy just by being near her right now.
"There's no need for those questions. Don't question every little thing, Y/N," she whispers, her gaze turning serious as she leans closer to my ear, "Lest your mind be corrupted beyond your control," her words speaks right into my mind... The bite tattoo tingles, pushing forth a relaxing sensation that washes over my body, relaxing my muscles, especially my mind that has been stressed due to questioning every single thing.
Right... There's no need for those questions right now... What matters is what I do from this day forward. I can feel my mind relaxing under the effects of Reiatsuka's words. I let out a soft sigh, my body relaxing from being tense and stiff.
Suddenly, I feel her gently bite my ear--wait, what the fuck!?
"Mm..." I let out while my hands move to her shoulder, the sensitivity of my ears suddenly skyrockets as she nibbles on it before kissing down to my upper neck.
Fuck... Why the fuck is she doing this now!? It's the second chapter for god's sake!
"Fuck... Reia... What the hell are you doing?" I mutter as she pulls away, looking down on me while she tilts my head up for me to look at her. I can't believe she did that... But I also can't help but relish the feeling.
Fuck... What's happening to me?
She did not answer, instead, she simply stands up, putting the chair in its rightful place, "Don't you worry too much about that~" she teases before gesturing to her wrist and walking away. With her gesture, I look down at my watch to look at the time.
9:35... I'll have to go to our first classroom soon...
I think to myself, packing my things up and walking out of the library.
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I open the door to our classroom, arriving at a noisy class that I have grown to be accustomed to. Instinctively, I move to a seat next to Reiatsuka . I put my things under the desk and lay my head on the desk. I breathe deeply, not realizing who I'm next with until a voice, one that I know so well speaks from behind me.
"Oh! Seems like you already have a seat mate, huh?" An arm slings down to my shoulder, and her chin rests on the crook of my neck.
Her voice makes me sit up straight, causing her to stand up. I look at her, and what greets me is the usual face of a brunette, her hazel eyes gazing straight down at me with excitement.
"Oh, uhm.." I look to my side, surprise that I am sitting together with Reiatsuka who looks at us with a lazy smirk, "Yeah--Yeah, I guess," I mutter, making her nod slowly before patting my back.
"Alright~! See ya later!" She says before she walks off. I look at her, smiling as I see the same energetic girl in my previous retry in life.
I guess Rio will always be Rio...
I think to myself before the professor walks into the room, and begins to teach.
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