Cursed Blood | Chaelisa

Chapter 12.

I was pretty convinced that I wasn't going to survive the lunch period. It seemed as if there were loudspeakers attached to every corner of the hall. And whenever someone walked past me, I found myself clenching my fists and held my breath.

The mixed scents of the place were too mind- boggling. I forced myself to walk, but I always saw figures flitting in and out of the corner of my vision. My vampire instinct was begging me. My teeth were itching so bad, I just wanted to bite something, and that horrified me to no end. It took every ounce of my willpower to keep to myself. Now, I was starting to worry about these innocent freaks. They didn't know their lives were completely exposed to jeopardy because of my existence.

"Chaeyoung, you look as if you are watching a bunch of cannibals," Joy said, jerking me to my senses. "No wait, that's not right. It's you who looks like a cannibal," she corrected herself.

Jisoo gave Joy a look, "How could you say that?" And then she turned to me. "Does Life Shock still have side effects?"

"No...no... not that at all," I said. "It's just...can we eat lunch outside today?" I asked, hoping they would agree to my desperate request.

"Oh sure, sure," Jisoo replied. As we turned to walk out of the lunch hall. I could feel my best friends's faces twitched in confusion.

I was too preoccupied that I didn't notice Lisa walking up to us from the opposite side. Her eyes were fixed on me.

"May I know where you are going?" Lisa asked politely as if she really was naturally nice.

"Oh, we're having lunch outside today," Jisoo answered.

"Chaeyoung needs to breathe fresher air to get her health back," Joy added.

"That's very thoughtful," she replied, "I hope you enjoy your lunch."

She smiled at us before turning her perfect body to walk elegantly forth, but when no one was looking, she slipped something into my hand. I looked down and realized that she had just given me a tube of sun block and a note. I had forgotten my new peeve with sunlight. But as I turned to look at Lisa again, She was already gone. I shoved the note into my skirt pocket to read later.

When we got our lunches outside, I had to cringe because of the giant furnace burning in the sky. But all I could do was adjusting my UV-absorbing sunglasses and applying the SPF 50+ sunblock I'd gotten from Lisa for good measure. We reached a white- painted picnic table under a huge chestnut tree. The heat started chewing on my skin, but finally I got to the shady side.

"Whoa, slow down Chaeng, you must be very hungry," Jisoo said. But I could not wait to drink my life-saving milk. I had brought two cartons instead of one today- just in case.

"She's convalescing, Jisoo, hunger is a good sign of recovery," Joy said. If only they had any idea of what a hazardous hunger I had. I grimaced to myself and continued drinking the milk to hold back my thirst.

"Joy, you sound a lot like our doctor," Jisoo said.

I had to think for a minute before I said, "Wait, that's my mom!"

They looked at each other and then burst out laughing. This felt like an old time. I felt like it had been many light years ago since I was this normal. Joy and Jisoo settled down around me. The throbbing feeling around my jaw subsided as I had downed my milk. I guess the milk could actually prevent my extendable canines from popping out, especially while I was within range of hearing and smelling my best friends's blood. It was very maddening to think that I was apt to endanger them too. But I had to overcome this. I knew I could make it through.

We started munching our lunches away. Despite the heat and brightness, sitting in the open air was a lot healthier. But there was something I had come to realize. I noticed that I was no longer frigid like before. All my movements were always in a swift, fitting motion. I thought that I was being careful with myself so that I wouldn't ruin everything I touch, but this reminded me of Lisa, how her elegant body always shifted with perfection.