Adrian, Odel's charming college friend—the man who always became the source of jealousy among her fiancés—said something quite shocking.
Adrian knew the big secret they had been hiding all this time. The true identity of her three fiancés as vampires.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand, Adrian!" Odel replied, still trying to deny the truth.
"Are you still in denial?"
Adrian stepped closer and whispered, "I don't know what your deal with them is, but if they pose a threat to other humans, it cannot be ignored."
Odel was at a loss for words, her eyes revealing a whirlwind of emotions—especially when Clayton approached. He seemed jealous that Adrian had whispered to her.
"If you need help, call me," Adrian said before turning around and leaving.
Clayton walked up to Odel, his face full of questions.
"What did he say to you?" he asked.
"He said he had to go to his part-time job," Odel lied on purpose.
"Alright, let's go home," Clayton said.
Odel nodded, following her three fiancés, her mind filled with questions.
How did Adrian find out? Why wasn't he afraid of vampires? And why did he want to help her?
As Odel walked through the campus corridor with Clayton, Emilio, and Daffin, they attracted attention as always. Even though they were just walking normally, the presence of three strikingly handsome men beside her never failed to turn heads.
Their mysterious aura and unreal visual appeal made it impossible for any girl to look away.
Yet, the girl in the middle of the trio had her head down, as if searching for a missing button on the floor.
Odel was too lost in thought, replaying Adrian's words over and over again.
Unconsciously, her steps became hurried, and then—
Bang!
Odel bumped into someone.
She stumbled backward, almost losing her balance, but Daffin, who was behind her, quickly caught her.
"Are you okay, Odel?"
"I—Oh my God, I crashed into someone! I'm so sorry, sir!" Odel blurted out, realizing that the man in front of her was wearing a name tag that indicated he was a professor.
The man simply gave a faint smile without saying anything. He casually continued walking past them.
"Oh no! You bumped into a professor? Why were you walking with your head down?" Emilio asked in disbelief.
"I swear, it was an accident!" Odel said, watching the lean man, who seemed to be a professor from another class.
"He must be new. I've never seen him before," Clayton murmured.
"Maybe he's from a different faculty or works in administration," Odel guessed.
The mysterious professor was slender, dressed in a bright white jacket, expensive-looking sunglasses, and a cool baseball cap that partially covered his face.
"His outfit is pretty stylish," Daffin commented.
"Let's go home! I have things to do," Clayton said.
***
The moment they arrived at the apartment, everyone immediately got busy with their own concerns.
Daffin groaned as he rummaged through the bathroom cabinet.
"Why is the sun so hot today? I feel like my skin is burning!" He picked up a bottle of lotion, tilted it upside down, and sighed in frustration.
"Empty again! This is already the third bottle this week!"
Emilio ignored him. As soon as they stepped inside, he went straight to the bathroom. Pouring cold water over himself was the best solution for him.
Unlike the others who were complaining about the heat, Clayton turned on the television and sat on the couch, watching the news with a serious expression.
Odel sat beside him. "Is there bad news?"
Clayton shook his head. "No new reports about vampires."
Emilio, now fresh out of the shower with damp hair, leaned against the wall. "That's good. At least, no new incidents."
A brief silence fell over them. Then...
GROOKK!
Odel's stomach growled loudly, making her immediately cover it with both hands. Daffin, who had just come out of the bathroom, grinned at her.
"Are you hungry?" Daffin asked.
Odel nodded and walked to the kitchen, opening the fridge. Empty. There was no food stock at all.
"I need to go grocery shopping first," she muttered.
Suddenly, Daffin exclaimed, "Hey, how about we eat out instead? Hold on, I'll check the app!"
Clayton glanced at him. "Can you even do that?"
Daffin proudly held up his phone. "Don't underestimate me. I've already downloaded a food recommendation app! Darling Odel, you can count on me!" he declared.
Emilio sighed. "You're truly a modern vampire."
Odel chuckled. "Alright, you book the place while I get ready!" she said before heading into her room.
Half an hour later, after following the directions on Daffin's phone, they arrived at his chosen restaurant.
The moment they stepped inside, Odel immediately thought the place looked more like a haunted house than a regular restaurant. Dim neon lights glowed over dark tablecloths, and there were barely any windows to let in sunlight.
"Are you sure this is a steakhouse?" Odel whispered to Daffin.
Daffin chuckled. "Yes, this place is special. It's called Night Ember Steakhouse. They open from evening until dawn, so the ambiance is naturally dim."
Clayton glanced around suspiciously. "This looks more like a hookup spot!"
Daffin pulled out a chair and sat down casually. "As long as the meat is good, who cares?"
"How do you know? Have you eaten here before?" Emilio asked.
"Of course not!" Daffin answered with a grin.
A waiter arrived and handed them menus. They were about to place their orders when a woman suddenly screamed from the VIP room.
"Hey, what was that? Waiter, check inside!" Clayton ordered.
"A large man brought his girlfriend and booked the VIP room. They're on a date there. I don't dare check unless the woman actually calls for help," the waiter replied nervously.
Clayton and the others gaped at him, then simultaneously turned to Daffin, who had clearly chosen the wrong place—one meant for young couples looking for privacy.
"Uh… are any of you a couple? We can recommend our special couple's menu and offer a VIP room with a discount voucher!" the waiter offered instead.
"No, we'll just order here!" Odel quickly responded.
The three vampires observed Odel, but she shot them a sharp glare in return.
"I'll have a medium rare," Clayton said, trying not to look like a pervert.
"Same here!" Daffin chimed in.
"Me too!" Emilio didn't bother to argue.
"And what about you, Miss?" the waiter asked.
"I'll have it well done," Odel answered.
"Alright, we'll prepare your orders right away," the waiter said politely before leaving.
The four of them sat in silence, glancing at one another while unsettling noises from the VIP rooms sent shivers down their spines.
"Oh god, my ears! What on earth are these humans doing?" Emilio groaned, covering his ears as another moan came from one of the VIP rooms.
"What kind of place did you choose, Daffin?" Clayton asked, his tone sharp.
"A café full of love and pleasure! That's their slogan! So I figured the steak must be good!"
"You've lost your mind!" Clayton retorted.
Clayton glanced at Odel, curious about her reaction. But the moment their eyes met, Odel abruptly stood up.
"I'm going to the restroom!"
Odel, feeling awkward being with three men in such an inappropriate place, wanted to escape. She decided to wait in the bathroom until the food she ordered was ready.
At the dining table, Daffin and the two other vampires sat bored. There was no live music or any interesting entertainment to watch. The place was dimly lit, though their vampire eyes could easily see in the darkness.
"Why is Odel taking so long?" Emilio muttered.
"Maybe she's using the toilet," Daffin replied.
"But isn't she hungry? What is she going to get rid of?" Emilio countered.
"Are you planning to check on her in the women's restroom? Since when did your curiosity get this high?" Daffin shot back.
"I'll go check on her," Clayton said—not as a question, but as a decision.
"Hey, are you crazy?"
"I just want to make sure she's not being harassed by some pervert! What's your problem?" Clayton responded, walking swiftly toward the restroom.
Emilio glanced at Daffin before chuckling at his bewildered expression.
"Trust me, Daffin, whatever is in your head will never be the same as what's in Clayton's," Emilio remarked.
As Odel walked out of the bathroom toward the dining area, she was suddenly startled by a sound that made her turn. A woman with red hair, wearing a tight black dress, was sitting on a man's lap in the corner of the room. The couple was kissing passionately, which made Odel gape in surprise.
"How long are you going to watch?" Clayton called out as he appeared to meet her.
"Huh? I wasn't…!"
"If you want a kiss, I can give you one like ice cream!" Clayton said, leaning in closer to her.