CHAPTER 1

THE MORNING HAD barely broken, yet Sire walked through the campus as though in a trance—his feet moving on their own, carrying him forward while his mind drifted somewhere far away. He paid no mind to the heads turning, to the glances following him. Nothing seemed to register. Nothing mattered.

When Sire finally stepped into their room, Dae took one look at him and burst out laughing. Sire’s hair was a wild, unkempt mess, and dark circles hung heavy beneath his eyes—giving him the look of a weary, sleepless panda.

“What on earth is wrong with you?” Dae asked, still chuckling. “You’ve been like this since yesterday.”

Sire slumped into his chair, fighting a heavy, dragging drowsiness. He yawned again and again, his body screaming for rest, yet his mind refused to quiet. Dammit. He felt worse than someone with a brutal hangover when he’d barely touched a drop last night.

“You look like a panda who hasn’t slept in a week,” Dae teased, though his tone softened with concern. “Tell me. What is keeping you awake?”

Sire shot him a sharp, irritable look and yawned again. “Nothing.” Why wouldn’t his mind just let him rest? It was infuriating!

Dae rolled his eyes—he didn’t believe a word of it. “Come on. What is it that you can’t stop thinking about? I barely slept either, you know—you called me in the middle of the night and kept me talking for hours.”

Sire let out a long, ragged sigh. He’d6 tried everything to fall asleep—tossing, turning, counting, even calling Dae hoping the sound of a familiar voice would lull him but nothing worked. He had stared at the ceiling all night, wide awake, restless, consumed by one face, one moment, one scent.

And he knew exactly who to blame. That man—the one who had bumped into him. The one he had smelled again at the club. He couldn’t shake him. He couldn’t erase him. Damn it all!

He felt like banging his head against the wall. Why did this stranger affect him so deeply?

His thoughts scattered when the classroom door opened and someone stepped inside.

Silence fell over the room. All eyes turned toward her—she was breathtaking, radiating a quiet, luminous beauty. Tall and graceful, with fair skin, brown hair, and lips naturally tinted a soft, warm red. She wore no makeup at all; she didn’t need it.

The woman walked straight toward their desks—as if she knew exactly where they were—and sat down beside them. Every head followed her movement. She was striking—angelic, unmistakably foreign, impossible to ignore.

Sire admitted it freely: she was stunning. She looked like an international model—the very image of the kind of woman he had always imagined himself with. And yet his heart remained steady. Calm. Unmoved. He felt nothing. Not a flicker of attraction, not a spark, not even the slightest quickening of his pulse. Her beauty didn’t reach him.

“Hi,” she said, smiling gently.

“Hello!” Dae beamed back, his friendliest self shining through. “Are you new here? I’ve never seen you before. You’re so beautiful.”

“I'm an exchange student. My name's Demter.”

“So it was you. The exchange student everyone was talking about.” Dae laughed. “I’m Dae Ramirez.” He gestured to Sire beside him. “And this is my best friend, Sire.”

“Oh. Hi, Sire.” She offered a warm smile yet Sire only nodded, then rested his head against the back of his chair, heavy with exhaustion. Sleep was the only thing on his mind.

“Don’t mind him,” Dae said, surprised that Sire—who never missed a chance to notice a beautiful woman—was so indifferent. “He just didn’t sleep at all last night.” He turned to her. “Would you like to borrow my notes?”

Demter shook her head. “It’s alright. I probably won’t be coming in again after today.”

Dae frowned. “What do you mean? You’ve only just arrived. Don’t you like it here?”

“The truth is, I’m not the one who’s supposed to be here.”

Dae blinked, confused. “Huh?”

She leaned in slightly, her voice soft. “Actually… my name is Demeter. Demter is my twin sister. She was meant to come today, but something important came up, and I had nothing to do, so I’m filling in for her.”

Dae nodded slowly, beginning to understand—though he still wondered why she was telling him this.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here,” Demeter continued gently. “Creed treats you well, doesn’t he?”

Dae froze. His heart gave a sudden, hard thud. Creed? She knew Creed?

“I’ve never met you before,” she explained, “but I’ve seen your photo on his phone's lockscreen."

Sire, who had been half-dozing, lifted his head. He was listening now—wondering why she knew Dae’s boyfriend.

“We’re cousins,” she said simply.

Dae’s face paled. He shifted nervously in his seat, his chest tightening with sudden, sharp anxiety. He remembered meeting one of Creed’s relatives before—and he felt unwelcomed. What would she think? What would she say?

Demeter smiled warmly, reaching out to reassure him. “I’m not against it, Dae. Truly.”

“Y-you’re not… disgusted?” Dae stammered, swallowing hard. “We’re… we’re both men. And we’re together…”

Demeter shook her head firmly. “To be honest, I was surprised when Creed confessed. I always thought he's straight and will never be interested in his same gender. Everyone was surprised. But I’m not narrow-minded. I’m not disappointed, and I’m not disgusted. I’m happy—because he found happiness.”

Dae exhaled, all the tension melting away, replaced by a quiet, glowing joy. “Thank you..”

“And if we’re done with all that,” Sire mumbled, resting his head back down, “I’m going back to sleep.” He would have stepped in in a heartbeat if she had said a single bad word against Dae.

“You, Sire—no girlfriend yet?” Demeter asked.

“No. Don’t need one.”

“Ah. Well, I have a friend who doesn’t have one either. Maybe you two should get to know each other?”

Sire lifted his head, frowning. “What?”

“Nevermind. Come back to the club B again. I’ll be there. Vegas told me he saw you there, I was at work that day.”

“I’d love to,” Dae said immediately. Then he turned to Sire. “You’ll come too, right?”

Sire sighed, feigning resignation. “As if I have a choice. Your Father would have my head if anything happened to you.”

Demeter’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I hope to see you both there. And Dae—Creed might be there too.” She grinned, looking forward to the night. It was going to be wonderful.

*

*

*

 

LATER THAT EVENING, Sire and Dae returned to Club D. The crowd was just as thick, just as lively as before. They wandered through the lights and music, searching for Demeter—until finally, Sire spotted her at the bar counter.

Truth be told, he hadn’t wanted to come. But some stubborn, unspoken part of him had pulled him forward anyway.

Sire pointed her out to Dae, and they made their way through the crowd. Demeter smiled as she saw them approaching.

“Anything you like—on me,” she said warmly.

Sire gave a small, polite smile and chose a drink. Dae cleared his throat, unable to wait another moment. “Is he here?” He missed Creed so terribly. Two whole weeks apart felt like an eternity.

A pair of strong arms wrapped gently around Dae’s waist from behind, pulling him close. “I’ve missed you…”

Dae’s heart raced, his cheeks flushing instantly. “I’ve missed you too.”

Sire stepped back, giving them space, and lifted his glass to his lips. The drink burned warm and rich down his throat—stronger than he expected, with a lingering, unforgettable taste. It was delicious. “Another, please.”

“Are you sure?” Demeter asked. “This is powerful. Even I can’t finish one.”

“I like it,” Sire said. “What is it called?”

“Dem made it. She calls it Poison. She says at first it stings but once you’ve tasted it, you’ll keep coming back for more.”

Sire’s gaze lingered. There was something in those words that sounded like more than just a drink. He found himself wanting to meet this mysterious twin sister of hers.

“Are you alright being left alone?” Demeter asked, noticing the couple lost in their reunion.

Sire nodded. “I’m used to it. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen each other.” He didn’t mind at all—they deserved this happiness.

He lifted his glass for another sip when a hand covered his, stopping him.

He looked up—into eyes he had not yet seen, but had already dreamed of.

And then it hit him. That scent. The one he couldn’t forget. The one that had haunted his every thought.

It’s him!

“This is strong, babe,” the man said softly. “Two of these and you’ll be completely gone.”

Sire shivered—he didn’t know why. His voice alone sent a tremor through him that had nothing to do with alcohol.

And his face… how was it so perfect? Striking amber eyes framed by thick, dark lashes; high, defined brows; a straight, elegant nose; a jawline sharp and sure; hair golden and warm. He was a man—and yet Sire found himself breathless, struck by how breathtakingly handsome he was.

His gaze drifted to the man’s lips. He swallowed hard. His palms grew damp. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs.

What in the world is happening to me?

“Give him something lighter,” the man said.

“I thought you were leaving?” Demeter teased, glancing between them with a knowing smile. “Didn’t you have somewhere important to be?”

“I saw him here,” Joaquin said simply, his eyes never leaving Sire. “And seeing him matters more.”

Sire stood bewildered, understanding nothing of their exchange. This man spoke it was clear he was foreign. And he was still looking at him, as though he couldn’t look away.

Sire’s breath caught when their eyes met. He turned his head quickly, staring at anything else.

“I’m sorry I stopped you,” Joaquin said gently. “I didn’t want you to get drunk and end up in someone else’s arms.”

“I-it’s fine,” Sire managed, his throat suddenly dry.

“I’m Joaquin Rodriguez.”

“S-Sire…” His heart was racing so fast he was sure it could be heard. “…Garcia.”