CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

"Wait! Wait!"

Pun nearly dropped the bowl in panic.

"Don't you see? He's going to hurt us!"

"Who?" Pun frowned. "Where?"

Ramil's dark eyes remained fixed on the television screen.

The actor in the drama had just pulled another man into an embrace, their faces drawing dangerously close.

To Pun, it was nothing unusual.

To Ramil, however, it appeared to be a life-threatening situation.

"The one behind that glass box."

Pun blinked.

Then blinked again.

Finally, realization hit him.

"Oh."

A laugh escaped before he could stop it.

Ramil immediately narrowed his eyes.

"What is funny?"

"Those aren't real people."

"They are moving."

"It's a television."

The confusion on Ramil's face only deepened.

Pun suddenly felt as though he were explaining modern civilization to someone who had slept for several centuries.

"They're recordings."

"Recordings?"

"Like... memories trapped inside a machine."

That explanation somehow made things worse.

Ramil stared at the screen with obvious suspicion.

The actor kissed his co-star.

Ramil instantly reached for the bowl.

Pun grabbed it first.

"Don't."

"Why?"

"Because that's my television."

The answer seemed reasonable enough.

After a long moment, Ramil reluctantly withdrew his hand.

Pun released a relieved sigh.

One television destroyed in two days would be tragic.

Two televisions would be a financial disaster.

"Eat first."

The bowl was pushed into Ramil's hands.

The vampire—at least that was what Pun suspected he was—looked down at the porridge as though it might attack him.

"Humans consume this?"

Pun almost choked.

"Of course humans consume this."

Ramil studied the steaming food.

Then studied Pun.

Then the food again.

Slowly, he lifted the spoon.

The first bite entered his mouth.

Silence.

A second later, his expression became indescribably strange.

Pun had never seen anyone look personally offended by porridge before.

"..."

"..."

Neither spoke.

Ramil lowered the spoon.

"This is terrible."

Pun felt attacked.

"It isn't terrible."

"It has no taste."

"It absolutely has taste."

"It tastes like warm water pretending to be food."

Pun stared.

Then laughed.

Loudly.

For the first time since meeting the mysterious stranger, he found himself genuinely smiling.

Ramil frowned.

"You are laughing at me."

"No."

"You are."

"Maybe a little."

The vampire looked deeply offended.

Eventually, Pun managed to stop laughing.

"Eat anyway. Your body needs energy."

"My body doesn't need this."

"Then what does it need?"

The moment the question left his mouth, Pun regretted it.

Because he suddenly remembered what Ramil probably was.

A vampire.

A real vampire.

The possibility sent a chill down his spine.

Ramil's expression became unreadable.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then the dark-haired man looked away.

"Not this."

That was all he said.

Pun decided not to ask any further questions.

At least not today.

After making sure Ramil wouldn't destroy any more electronics, Pun headed downstairs to open the shop.

The familiar routine quickly pulled him back into reality.

Doors opened.

Displays were arranged.

Customers arrived.

For a few hours, life almost felt normal again.

Almost.

Because every time he looked toward the staircase, he remembered there was an immortal vampire resting in his bedroom.

A vampire who had stepped out of a painting.

A vampire who appeared in his dreams.

A vampire who had introduced himself as Ramil Solay Jonoel.

Nothing about that was normal.

Around noon, business slowed.

Pun finally had enough time to check his phone.

Several customer messages.

Two missed calls.

One message from Jett.

How's the restoration going?

Pun immediately locked the screen.

Nope.

He wasn't ready for that conversation.

How exactly was he supposed to explain that the painting's subject was currently sleeping in his bed?

Even he sounded insane in his own head.

The afternoon passed peacefully.

Almost suspiciously peacefully.

Which was why the loud crash from upstairs made him freeze.

BANG!

The sound echoed through the shop.

Every customer turned toward the ceiling.

Pun immediately forced out an awkward smile.

"Sorry!"

Then he sprinted upstairs.

His heart pounded as he reached the bedroom.

The door was wide open.

Inside, books were scattered across the floor.

The desk chair had been knocked over.

And standing in the middle of the chaos was Ramil.

Holding Pun's smartphone.

Upside down.

The vampire stared at the device.

The device stared back.

Pun rubbed his forehead.

"What happened now?"

Ramil slowly looked up.

His expression remained completely serious.

"This object is possessed."

"...What?"

"It keeps speaking."

Pun looked at the phone.

A video advertisement was playing.

He closed his eyes.

For a brief moment, he wondered if this was punishment for every bad decision he had ever made.

When he opened them again, Ramil was still holding the phone like it might explode.

"That's called the internet."

Ramil's brows furrowed.

"The what?"

Pun suddenly realized this explanation might take several days.

RAMIL {Vampire}♡

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