"Humans,"
"Really are terrible creatures."
The air around her stilled. Her hair cascaded behind her, the leaves that touched a sliver of her skin frayed before dissipating into nothingness.
"What… do you mean?"
Did she read something she shouldn't have…?
I should've warned her about the things floating around on the internet… idiot!
Anathasia suddenly cleared her throat, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at me. Her eyes unreadable.
"I found out about these pieces…" she trailed off. "Doujins, was it?"
What?
"Eh?"
She looked elsewhere, her hands behind her back as she continued.
"I really don't understand how humanity can create such atrocities… especially the genre referred to as 'NTR'."
Her gaze turned distant.
"NTR…?"
I stiffened.
WHY WOULD SHE READ ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!
"The act of seducing one's partner, taking them away… thus letting the other party suffer the psychological and emotional damage that the act inflicted on them…"
She turned back to me, her expression was soft. But reality around her was already starting to bend.
"It was quite a shock… especially after finding out it doesn't only happen in books or comics, but also in real life."
"Okay… but why exactly were you reading those…?"
She paused.
"Curiosity," she said, looking down slightly before lifting her gaze.
"Still… I was once again reminded of why I never came in contact with any mortal civilizations after finding out about that."
Slowly, she walked toward me. Reality rippled with each step, then reverted, as if nothing had happened.
And in that moment, I remembered.
My girlfriend isn't someone I could physically stop if she really wanted to end everything.
"You're the only good thing this world has left."
Her crimson eyes bored into mine. But what I saw, unlike the twisted obsession in Marianne's—
…was cherishment.
The kind of look people had when they genuinely loved their partners.
The only reason she was still here.
Why she never bothered destroying this place, or ignoring it altogether—
Was me.
I'd always known that much. I just… never expected the intensity of it.
She defended me out of love. Out of protectiveness. Not obligation.
She could have erased everything simply by existing here, and yet, she restrained herself. On purpose. Trusted what I said and did without question. Acted only when I did.
And maybe that was why I trusted her more than anyone else.
Probably with my life, after she finally confessed what she really was, and I chose to stay anyway.
Looking at her now, I couldn't understand why someone of her stature would even glance my way. She'd said it had something to do with my resilience, who I was as a person.
But was that really all there was to it…?
Just as the thought formed, she cut in.
"You don't need to know right now," she whispered, her hands still gently cupping my face.
"I'll tell you when the time comes. So for now…"
She let go, then leaned into me instead, pressing herself gently against my chest as her arms slowly wrapped around my waist, her face buried there.
"Let's just stay as we are, okay?" she murmured. "I promise… I'll tell you everything afterward."
I stayed silent, then nodded, wrapping my arms around her in return.
I wasn't entirely sure what made me trust her so completely. Maybe it was her honesty—or maybe the fact that she wasn't human at all, placing her above the small, instinctive deceptions people relied on.
She did lie at times. And maybe that contradicted what she claimed to be.
But I could see the effort she put in, not to deceive me, but to understand me. To make herself easier to be around.
To become a little more human… even as she casually bent reality to wash the dishes or cook lunch.
—
The thought lingered in the back of my head. Even after a day had already passed—only to be immediately overshadowed.
While sitting in class, our professor suddenly announced.
"We'll be having a group presentation for next week. There should at least be three to five people in each group. I'll be giving out your topics tonight."
The announcement immediately drove everyone to flock toward the most reliable people in class.
Though, Anathasia and I on the other hand…
"A group of three to five huh…" I murmured.
"Sounds like a pain," Anathasia whispered before casually leaning against my shoulder, letting out a long yawn before slowly closing her eyes.
I paused, glancing at her.
"Did you pull an all nighter or something…?"
"No, I just wanna sleep."
"So just lazy…" I said, letting her lean against me like usual.
Anathasia scoffed, her gaze drifting to the girl sitting beside us, then looking elsewhere.
Arianne Auclait.
The twin sister of Marianne. Apparently also a model and the next in line for the Auclait legacy.
During the first day of my second year, hearing her name immediately made me stiffen. Or at least, the Auclait part. Though, after looking up why she was here in the first place through a few websites—
>"Three global families extending their reach to the Philippines. A new business collaboration and possibility to enhance the country's economy?"
That was what one of the articles said.
She isn't alone… but then again, I'll never understand how high society works anyway, I'm no businessman.
Arianne was quiet, but approachable. Exactly like her twin sister, which was slightly unsettling in its own way. Especially since they both had influence wherever they went. The only difference…
"Mr. Abe, would it be fine if the three of us formed our group? Of course, if your girlfriend doesn't mind…"
She seemed truly genuine.
"I guess…" I glanced down at Anathasia, who was quietly leaning against me.
"What do you think?"
"I'm fine with whatever," Anathasia casually said, waving her hand dismissively.
I smiled, then looked back at Arianne.
"Sure," I said. "Should we make a group chat for this activity?"
Arianne's expression visibly brightened as she nodded.
"Thank you, I was starting to get worried if no one was willing to take me in," her voice fell, expression turning solemn before perking up.
Damn, must be hard being a rich girl huh… people unconsciously distance themselves away, not out of malice, but out of intimidation…
"Okay, I'll be the one to make it. Your socials are already in the class group chat, yes?"
I nodded in response, occasionally tousling the ends of Anathasia's hair in my finger.
"I'll ask the professor early for our topic," I replied. "So we can start analysing it and—"
A voice suddenly cut in.
"Excuse me…"
A guy standing behind Arianne, sweating buckets, spoke up.
"I don't have a group as well. Is it okay if I join?"
[Who's this again…?]
[It's that Cruz guy, Joseph Cruz.]
[Ohh…]
I nodded, then froze, immediately glancing back at Anathasia.
[Since when did I have telepathy!?]
[It's not,] she corrected flatly. [There's a difference between telepathy and mind reading.]
[…Please don't do anything like this again without asking me.]
I gently shook my head, then nudged her to sit up properly, easing her off my shoulder.
Her eyes snapped open. She glared at me, cheeks puffing slightly before scoffing.
"I mean," I said, turning back to the guy. "If Arianne doesn't mind, then…"
Arianne simply nodded.
"Sure, I don't mind," she smiled. "The more the merrier, after all."
"Right, so… welcome to the team." I smiled.
Anathasia sat beside me with her arms crossed, pointedly looking away, while Arianne and I shook hands with the guy.
—
Back at the house, Anathasia stood casually in front of the stove, apron on, gently lifting a small saucer to her lips.
I sat at the dining table, chopping the vegetables she'd asked me to prepare.
"So, apparently," I spoke up, setting the knife down as I watched her turn, saucer still in hand, "we'll be studying here."
"Is that fine?"
"Sure. Why not?" she replied. "We're closest to campus anyway. If that's what they decided, I don't mind."
She shrugged, casually letting the lid float over the pot.
"It's just once anyway. And it's not like you have any porn mags hidden around—"
"Okay, stop," I cut in. "You know damn well I don't even consume that kind of media."
I sighed, watching as she turned back to the pot, ladle in her right hand and saucer in her left.
"Jokes aside," Anathasia said, "you're still wary of Arianne, aren't you?"
I slid the chopped vegetables into a bowl, stood, and carried them over, handing it to her. The lid lifted itself from the pot, floating aside to settle beside the stove.
"Maybe a little," I murmured as she took the bowl and added its contents.
"But I think I'll be fine. People are different anyway."
She didn't respond right away, only stirring the pot.
"If you start feeling uncomfortable around her," she said, "just tell me. I'll take over the team's leadership."
She glanced back at me.
"We're together after all." A small smile tugged at her lips.
Hearing those words, the pit that had formed in my stomach slowly eased.
"That's true…" I muttered.
I stepped in behind her, gently wrapping my arms around her shoulders and hugging her from behind.
"Thanks," I whispered.
"For being here."