CBS Chapter 5

Da-mi ended up doing something crazy—following a man she had just met into a hotel. The fact that she wasn’t in her right mind didn’t even register in her head. The hazy intoxication dominated her brain, leaving her dazed the entire time, and her gaze wouldn’t leave him.

 

The man was as captivating as an angel in a painting, or perhaps a devil. Once she was alone in a closed space with him, tension surged.

 

‘Coming to the hotel… it must mean that, right…?’

 

Even while imagining what might happen next, Da-mi’s feet were rooted to the ground.

 

— “What are you thinking about?”

 

Hyeon suddenly closed the distance and looked down at Da-mi.

 

Seen up close in the light, he was even more beautiful. Regardless of gender, she had never seen a “human” that beautiful. Could human skin really be that smooth without a single visible pore? She questioned whether they were even of the same race.

 

— “If I had a little more imagination… I’d have suspected you were like a vampire from a movie.”

 

That’s how abnormal the man’s charm was. He was like a devil, skilled at seducing people to do as he pleased by emptying their minds. Even if someone far wiser and more intelligent than Da-mi were in this situation, the outcome probably wouldn’t have been much different.

 

Da-mi knew that following a stranger like this was strange. But she had no will to resist. It was chilling.

 

—“You got one syllable right.”

  

“Huh?”  

 

—“Not a vampire, just a snake.”  

 

“…Haha. Even if your surname is Sa, it’s not the ‘sa (巳)’ that means snake.”**

 

Thinking it was just a silly joke, Da-mi chuckled. Hyeon didn’t laugh.

 

Ha. Ha. Ha-ha. Da-mi’s laughter trailed off awkwardly.

 

“Don’t joke around.”  

 

—“Would you remember if I showed you?”

 

Hyeon stepped back and mumbled to himself, “Will she be surprised if I go big?”, then disappeared smoothly.

 

No—was he disappearing? Or appearing?

 

Where Hyeon had stood, on the soft rug, now lay a jet-black snake as thick as a wrist. The snake with jewel-like gleaming scales looked up at Da-mi with golden eyes.

 

When someone is too shocked, they actually become calm. With a gentle smile, Da-mi nodded her head.

 

“It’s a dream.”

 

No wonder. He was absurdly handsome—of course he was, it was possible in a dream.

 

—“This is reality.”

 

The snake opened its mouth and spoke like a human. The surreal situation, if anything, made reality hit even harder.

 

“Kyaaah!”

 

Da-mi’s legs gave out, and she collapsed. The black snake slithered across the rug and gradually shrank in size. Now as small as Da-mi’s pinky finger, the baby-sized snake climbed up her body and, wearing a human-like expression, scrunched its nose.

 

—“See? I’m small. Not that scary, right? I do have fangs, though.”

 

You do have fangs?! Wait, if you have teeth like that…

 

“Are you… going to eat me? Like a v-vampire!”

 

—“I told you, I’m a snake.”

 

Hyeon sneered bitterly, then returned to the beautiful human form Da-mi had first seen. As Da-mi swayed from the sudden return of his full weight, Hyeon wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered,

 

—“I’ve decided to swallow you whole. From head to toe.”

 

His low voice pounded in her eardrums.

 

Swallow? Eat a person? How? Ah… am I going to die now?

 

Seeing Da-mi trembling with an obviously panicked face, Hyeon’s gaze darkened with a fierce undertone.

 

—“Even now, you still don’t remember?”

 

The face, half-covered by a large hand, twisted. He, who exuded an intimidating aura that was not easy to approach, suddenly asked something strange.

  

—“If the Pandora’s box humans talk about were in front of you, what would you do?”  

  

“I… I wouldn’t open it.”  

  

Da-mi mimicked locking her lips shut. It was her way of saying, ‘Whatever you are, I won’t tell anyone. I’ll keep it a secret for the rest of my life. Please spare me.’  

  

—“Even if it were a magical box that grants your wishes?”  

  

“I wouldn’t open it. Never!”  

  

—“…You haven’t changed. Just like back then.”  

 

Hyeon growled as if strangling his own throat.  

  

—“This is your last chance. You really don’t remember?”  

  

“Wh-what… memory?”  

 

Shock, despair, anger, resentment, sorrow… Of the messy, pitch-black emotions, Da-mi couldn’t comprehend a single one.  

  

There was a void between the two of them. No memories, no shared moments, no emotions.  

 

“……”  

  

The girl’s final wish had been to completely deny the identity of the snake. It was no different from trampling on the reason for his existence and pushing him away to shrivel up and die.  

  

He was never human to begin with, so her wish was unreasonable. But even so, he had decided to grant her wish at great sacrifice.  

  

And yet, she had completely forgotten who had created the abundant life she had enjoyed, what the snake had done to make that happen. Whether she was young or grown, she didn’t know a thing. She had conveniently forgotten everything.  

  

He hadn’t turned a blind eye just because she was naïve and ignorant. He had simply endured it. Because she was too young. Because she promised she’d be different once she grew up. Because he believed in her sincerity. But! But!  

  

Her frightened, innocent eyes mocked him. They sneered as if saying, “See? That’s what you get for foolishly trusting a human and giving away the most precious thing.”  

 

—“How could you not know me?”  

  

“……”  

  

— “You said it yourself—you wouldn’t abandon me. That was your promise.”  

 

  

— I promise . When I grow up, I’ll be your mate.  

 

  

Drip. Tears slid down his pale cheek.  

  

“……!”  

  

Hot teardrops fell steadily onto Da-mi’s face beneath him.  

  

No matter what kind of fancy words were used to describe it, the face now contorted in sorrow like a child was meaningless. Someone who seemed like they would never cry was now sobbing so pitifully that anyone who saw it would be heartbroken. That face, once so beautiful it felt ominous and alien, was now smeared with tears.  

  

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Maybe you’ve mistaken me for someone… Please d-don’t cry!”  

  

The more Da-mi shook her head, the more sorrow and fury deepened in those beautiful eyes.  

  

 

—I’ll never… leave you lonely again.  

 

  

It was all a lie. But clinging now would change nothing. The only one who remembered that time was the snake. In the end, what use was it to be angry at someone who didn’t remember, a coward?  

 

This was a new beginning. Just like when they first met.  

  

— “Humans… they’re all the same. You were no different… and I was the only one who didn’t know.”  

 

It had been precious because it was the first time. But now, that loveliness only deepened his hatred.  

  

—“Don’t regret it. From now on, I’ll do as I please.”  

  

Regret what? Do what as you please?  

  

All that was reflected in Da-mi’s eyes was confusion. A sharp sneer slipped from his pretty lips.  

  

—“Le… let’s just quietly mate.”  

  

Hyeon rolled his eyes for a moment in thought before picking a fitting word.  

  

“W-what… did you say?”  

  

—“Mate.”  

  

“…Excuse me?”  

  

—“You seem to like living stupidly, so stop thinking so hard.”