Stretto: tight, narrow; also, a passage in a fugue in which the contrapuntal texture is denser, with close overlapping entries of the subject in different voices; by extension, similar closely imitative passages in other compositions
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It was the time for the full moon to greet the black sky of Beijing City again. Week after week passed until the perfectly round moon gracefully regained its seat in the starless city sky.
For most people, the full moon was a symbol of beauty. Although the original shape of the moon was filled with craters that were not beautiful, the bright light seemed to cover up the flaw.
Just like a saying by Mahmoud Darwish: "Maybe the moon is beautiful only because it is far."
It was flawless because it was far away from the Earth. Sometimes, people were also like that. They looked beautiful from afar, but their real look might differ from a close distance.
But, Yang Liu was not the same as most people. The moon was like an evil witch in his eyes, turning him into a monster that everyone would fear. Every time the full moon appeared in the sky, it reminded him that he was no longer a human now.
He was like the moon. People admired him from a distance without knowing his real identity. Yang Liu was a perfect guy in their eyes, but the reality was not the same. If they got close to him and found out his true identity, they would stop admiring him and would run in fear.
Yang Liu transformed again under the beautiful full moon tonight. His pair of dark orbs turned to bright crimson red, his sharp fangs stretch out gallantly, and his nails also lengthened and sharpened. He turned into a creature that was craving human blood.
The guy had transformed a few hours ago since the full moon arose perfectly in the city sky. However, the figure who had always been donating blood for him had not come until now. Did the older guy intend to leave him now?
They had come to a decision and everything seemed alright between them, so he couldn't believe that the older guy would leave him. He believed that his best friend wouldn't leave him in this situation.
The young guy, who was born in Tianjin, stifled his desire to suck human blood out there. If the evil desire couldn't be fulfilled tonight, then he would become a beast that even he would not be able to control.
No. That couldn't be happening. He believed that his best friend would help him tonight too. And, it seemed that his hunch was right because suddenly he heard the sound of the bell echoed in his previously quiet apartment.
The vampire rushed to the door as he didn't want to waste his time. His fingers, which decorated with long sharp nails, began to unlock the door hastily. He believed that Hwang Jihyuk was the one who came to visit. So far, only Hwang Jihyuk had visited him in his apartment, so he kept his guard down when he opened the door.
But, Yang Liu almost jumped in surprise when he found Zhou Yongliang standing stiffly behind the door. Obviously, the vampire was shocked. He was expecting Hwang Jihyuk, but someone else came instead of him.
Zhou Yongliang's eyes were perfectly rounded like a full moon, and his body moved backward reflexively, backed away from the monster in front of him.
"Yang... Yang Liu ?" The brown-haired guy asked in a trembling low voice. There was clearly fear in the look in his eyes.
Yang Liu's heart tightened when he noticed the expression. Of course, the other boy would be the same as other people who got scared after knowing his true identity.
The vampire hurriedly pushed the door to his apartment again, hoping it would close quickly so that the figure in front of him would not be subjected to prolonged shock.
But, Yang Liu's movements were apparently beaten by Zhou Yongliang's. As fast as lightning, the shorter boy broke through the door to Yang Liu's residence, and at this time, he was already inside the room. His thin hands were still trembling when he locked the door.
Yang Liu wanted to get away from Zhou Yongliang. It would be too dangerous if he saw Zhou Yongliang lingered. His vampire spirit grew stronger and allowed him to smell Zhou Yongliang's blood even though no blood came out of his thin body.
But, Yang Liu lost again to the other boy. At this time, Zhou Yongliang was already gripping his arm tightly.
"You are Yang Liu, right? Why did you—"
"Go away from here!"
"No! Explain to me fir—"
"Just go away from here!"
Zhou Yongliang was silent after he heard Yang Liu's loud shout, but his grip on Yang Liu's arm had not loosened.
"Yang Liu, why did you become like this?" The boy asked softly after a few minutes of silence.
Yang Liu did not answer. He tried to firmly suppress his desire to suck Zhou Yongliang's blood right now and right here.
"Yang Liu..." The low voice was heard again. "I-is there anything I can do for you now?"
This time, Yang Liu ventured to look at Zhou Yongliang. Those pair of red eyes slammed into Zhou Yongliang's brown eyes. "There's nothing you can do. You better go."
Yang Liu sounded like a growling beast when he answered the shorter boy's question. His voice was scary, enough to make the hair bristled.
Even though he was afraid, Zhou Yongliang did not move from his position. His grip even tighter and tighter around Yang Liu's arm.
"D-do you need... human blood?"