Crimson Moonlight

XIX. University Challenges

   Balancing university life with my secret involvement with Sunghoon had become a juggling act that left me feeling stretched thin. The demands of classes, assignments, and exams, coupled with the constant threat of vampire attacks and the mission to find the Bloodstone, weighed heavily on me.

   One morning, as I hurried across campus to my history lecture, my mind was racing  with thoughts about our next steps. I barely noticed when Hyerin fell into step beside me.

"Hey, Eunchae," she said cheerfully. "You look like you've been through a war zone." I forced a smile. "Just a lot on my plate, Hyerin." She frowned, her concern evident. "You've been really distracted lately. I'm worried about you." "I'm fine," I insisted, though the tiredness in my voice betrayed me. "Really. Just a bit overwhelmed with school stuff."

   Hyerin gave me a skeptical look but didn't press further as we entered the lecture hall. Throughout the class, I struggled to focus on the professor's words, my thoughts continually drifting back to the map Elder Jihoon had given us and the impending dangers we faced.

   After class, Hyerin cornered me in the hallway. "Eunchae, we need to talk. Something is going on with you, and I don't believe it's just school stress. You're my best friend, and I want to help." I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt for keeping so much from her. "I appreciate your concern, Hyerin. Really. But there are some things I can't talk about right now." "Does this have anything to do with Sunghoon?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

I froze, taken aback by her question. "Why would you think that?" "Because I've noticed how close you two have become. And the way you look at each other... it's different. Plus, he's been becoming popular and people are asking me why you keep on missing from classes since he visited." I swallowed hard, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. "Sunghoon has his own issues to deal with, and yes, we're close. But it's complicated."

   Hyerin sighed, her expression softening. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? Whatever you're dealing with, I'm here for you." "I promise," I said, feeling a bit relieved. "Thank you, Hyerin."

꧁ ____________★____________ ꧂

  Later that day, after a particularly grueling study session in the library, I returned to my apartment to find an envelope slipped under my door. It was unmarked and plain, raising my suspicion immediately. I picked it up, my heart racing, and carefully opened it.

Inside was a single piece of paper with a cryptic message written in elegant script:

"Beware the shadows that whisper in the night. Trust no one, not even those who walk in the light."

   The message sent a chill down my spine. Who had sent this, and what did it mean? I quickly texted Sunghoon, asking him to come over.

   Within minutes, he was at my door. I showed him the note, and his expression darkened as he read it. "This isn't good," he said, his voice tense. "It's a warning. Someone knows about us and our mission." "But who? And why now?" I asked, feeling a growing sense of dread. "I'm not sure," Sunghoon admitted. "But we need to be even more careful. This could be from one of my brother's allies, trying to scare us or throw us off track."

"What should we do?" I asked, looking to him for guidance. "We stay vigilant," he said firmly. "And we don't let this deter us. We've come too far to turn back now."

꧁ ____________★____________ ꧂

   The following days were a blur of classes and covert meetings with Sunghoon. We continued to analyze the map, planning our next moves, all while keeping a low profile. The cryptic message weighed heavily on my mind, but I tried to push it aside and focus on the tasks at hand.