Chapter Text
It smells like salt, dirty sand and seaweed that tries to overtake the wind as it rushes across Jisungs face. He doesn't blink when the sea spray clings to his eyelashes. He should, so the droplets don't get into his eyes and infect them. The waves clash against the sand and Jisung digs his toes into the grains under his feet. His denim shorts sticking to his skin from earlier when he decided to run into the ocean.
He thought...maybe if he kept going he would get somewhere.
He can't swim. And the burn in his lungs drove him back to the sand, back to his spot. Back to his life.
"Jisung! Darling why are you here? Why are you wet?" The voice is high and if anybody heard it, they might think it to be worried. Jisung used to fall for the same trick. He blinks now. Trying to snap himself out of this nightmare. It hasn't worked, but he still tries.
"Your hair!" Then hands take through his hair roughly and Jisung closed his eyes and bites his tongue inside his mouth. The breath getting caught in his chest as his body freezes up and he purposefully makes his neck pliant. A habit he can't explain, a habit he has had since he was seven.
"You look like a mess. You'll have to wash up again." The mutters that leave her mouth are accented by a harsh tug to his hair. It stings and the words leave Jisungs mouth before he can stop them. They always do.
"Yes Ma'am." The hand leaves his hair and grabs his chin, angling it upward until the muscles pull in Jisungs back. Then the fingers squeeze, it's a sign for him to open his eyes. So he does. Looking into almost icy blue eyes.
"Look, this new place..." A sigh leaves her lips as her grip tightens. "You have to behave Jisung. This means a lot to us. A prominent figure like you, going to this school. Are-are you even listening?!" Jisung gets thrown into the sand behind him. He doesn't fight it, his body and mind too pliant.
"Yes Ma'am. Sorry." Jisung mutters, not yet moving as he apologizes.
"Honestly I don't believe you. Do you need one last lesson? Before you go?" That's when the fear really starts to set in. Jisung shakes his head, finding the ability to move again. Lips trembling as he scrambles up. Trying to stand on shaking legs.
"No. No, there is no need. I-I'm listening. P-please." His voice tapers off as he looks into emotionless eyes. "Please Eomma." Jisung whispers as his hands shake and he looks down into the sand.
The eyebrows scrunch as she blinks at him. Face cold.
"Fine, only because you have one scheduled for next week and I do not want you to show up for your first day shaky." A frown makes its way onto his mother's face, frown lines decorating it delicately.
Jisung hates to admit it, but she happens to be beautiful. In a timeless sort of way, even as she ages his mother retains her beauty. He wishes she was beautiful on the inside too.
"Say goodbye to the ocean, you leave first thing tomorrow morning darling." Then she walks off, not even leaving footprints in the sand. Like she floats. Jisung looks back towards the water.
Some days he wishes to let the water swallow him. He thinks it may be more peaceful down there. Although every time he has tried he wakes up on the sand, wet and tired. His mouth tasting like salt and seaweed.
His mother always told him he was special, he just thought it was the money. Their status that his mother always tried to ingrain into him. Through whatever methods she could. Jisung thinks he gets it now, after the amounts of times he's woken up when he shouldn't have. The amount of pain he will feel and still endure. But, in his mind special just means different. He is different and all that has ever gotten him is pain and trouble.
With the sand and the ocean it's different. The smell and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. When he was younger he would sneak off and look for pretty shells and sand crabs. His mother would scold him for his dirty hands and feet, but Jisung didn't care. The ocean was his friend, the ocean listened. It always did. And now...Jisung had to leave.
To go to some prestigious school because his parents had struck some deal and it was going to make them money. So much money. And now his bags were packed sitting on the ground next to his bed because he was told to be prepared. And he listens, he will always listen to what his mother says. Otherwise he gets lessons. He can endure once a month, but more than that takes too much of a tole on his sanity.
He digs his fingers into the sand and lets the grains get under his nails. He will clean them when he gets inside.
———
"Call me if you need anything. Food should be provided I believe, but if you need new shoes or a new jacket let me know." Always about impressions and appearances. "Don't mess this up darling."
Then he is off. His driver takes the side road so Jisung can look at the ocean one last time. Nobody has told him anything about this new school. Nobody will inform his what it is like or who goes there. He assumes upper class society. Seeing as it is a private university, but Jisung has no idea. It isn't like he was able to go out before either. He never really was allowed to leave his house. But he always had the ocean.
The drive transforms from the seaside to an on ramp and then eventually big city buildings appear. Jisung blinks tiredly as they pass one by one. The city buildings turning into trees as his eyes close.
"Sir, we're here."
Jisung takes a moment to assess the gothic architecture. It is pretty, reminds him of some movies he's peaked at when his parents were busy. He wonders where exactly he will be staying. He knows instead of dorms every student shared an off campus apartment. Per the university's rules. That means that Jisung will have a roommate, meaning he should make a good impression. So they will like him. Maybe he can make a friend.
All of this just to conclude that Jisung cannot in fact show up empty handed. So he quickly and politely requests the driver that they stop by a plant shop. That is how Jisung ends up standing in front of his apartment door with two suitcases and a little succulent plant in a clay cat vase. It was cute and Jisung feels like it should be the proper thing to give somebody, but then again he has never given anybody any kind of gift.
He uses the key to open the door and bring himself and his stuff inside. Nobody seems to be in the entrance and Jisung shuts and locks the door quickly. His whole body feels stiff. Unsure of what to do with himself as he walks around the already furnished apartment. He has never...been alone before. Away from home. It feels...nice.
One of the rooms with two windows and no blinds has no sheets, the other one is already decorated. Black satin on a nice big bed with a dark wood desk in the corner and blackout curtains on the window. Abstract paintings line the walls and there is even an easel stand that is empty. He takes the empty room and sets his suit cases down before opening one to take out his sheets.
They are a pretty blue that reminds him of the ocean and thankfully his mother had approved of them. It is the only comfort he has now. Once his bed is all set up he starts to unpack all of his clothes. Never having quite as much as his mother wanted him to have, but Jisung just didn't like what she wanted him to wear. It was all so stiff and horrible. He brought all of his soft t-shirts and a lot of his pants and shorts. He knows his mother will send him any clothes she wants him to wear. And then he will have to wear them, but for now at least he has some semblance of a choice.
It is after he is completely finished unpacking that he hears the front door open. Jisung quickly grabs the plant he bought and takes a deep breath before stepping out of his room.
"Hi, I am Jisung. It is nice to meet you." Jisung decides to go for a polite smile instead of a full on smile. His mother says it is unbecoming so he tries to keep it to a minimum. The man in front of him is tall, his hair is black and long enough for him to put it into a little ponytail. And Jisung has forgotten to mention that he is absolutely drop dead gorgeous. In a pair of black slacks and a loose white dress shirt that is tucked in. He stands staring at Jisung who is dressed similarly, but definitely does not look as good. The man's eyes travel up and down Jisungs body. Assessing him before humming to himself.
"Okay." Is what the man ends up saying. Jisung wonders if this is how a normal social interaction is supposed to go.
"I-I got this p-plant." The stutters start before Jisung can stop himself. A red flush coating his cheeks and neck as he thrusts forward the cat vase with the little plant inside. Strangely he wonders if there is an ocean nearby. His heart in his throat as he feels himself sinking.
This seems to take the man off guard. A frown etching its way onto his face as he studies the plant. He blinks a couple more times before looking at Jisung in the eyes. They seem to have an almost reddish hue. But then again-what does Jisung know.
"Why did you get me a plant? Are you trying to bribe me?" The man's mouth curves into a sinister smile.
Jisungs eyes widen as he shakes his head a couple of times.
"N-no! I...I just. The plant. I thought." He frowns before he sets the plant down on the counter carefully. Biting his lips as he looks back at the man. "I did not want to show up empty handed." He settles on saying. Knowing he has some kind of orientation at five, he has to be there soon or his mother will be pissed.
"Ah, so you were raised well." The man's smile drops as he looks from the plant back to Jisung. "I'm Hyunjin, your roommate as you already probably have been told." Jisung is not really sure when he would've been told but he nods along anyways. He doesn't want to seem stupid. He waits for the other to say something else, but nothing is said. He just walks into his room and shuts the door.
Jisung blinks twice before he grabs his phone from his room and walks off towards the event hall where the orientation is said to be held.
The voices meld together and Jisung follows everybody else around as he is ushered from room to room and told where he has to be. Then they are put into groups and Jisung just stays quiet until somebody pokes his shoulder causing him to jump startled.
"H-hello!" He ends up greeting the blond freckled man who is smiling at him widely. His eyes the same reddish hue as his roommates and Jisung tries his best to figure out why that means something in his brain. He can't seem to recall.
"I'm Felix! I like your earrings." Jisung blinks in shock at the forwardness of this man. He nods slowly before figuring out what to say.
"Thank you." His earrings are the one thing his mother let him have. He begged to get them pierced and she said fine. He just had to keep some kind of earring in the piercings other wise they would close. He is wearing dangly silver stars. His mother bought them for his 20th birthday.
"You're new here too! Right." The others enthusiasm makes Jisung do a double take because his voice is so deep that Jisung has a hard time processing what he is saying. But his smile...it almost makes Jisung smile too. He holds it in; thankfully because some man is walking towards the two of them and Jisung feels his body cave into itself as the person draws closer.
"Chris!" Felix says or yells really as the man comes up to them. He collides with this Chris and the other man who is very well built, Jisung sometimes wishes he could have a stronger physiche. He tries to work out pretty often, but it is hard. This guy also has a red tint to his eyes and Jisung wonders if that is a side effect of the school or the area they are in.
"Felix, I see you've made a friend." And now Chris is looking at Jisung, and he really would like to crawl out of his skin. Be anywhere else in the world because it truly seems like a better option than being perceived.
Chris has dark black hair, it is short, closer to his head and straight. He is wearing all black, a hoodie and some sweat shorts. He looks very comfortable. Jisung always wanted a pair, but his mother just laughed. Saying that someone of his status should never look like that. He wishes he understood what she meant by that, even now he has no idea what she means.
"I'm Chris, you are?" The other holds out his hand and Jisung freezes at the gesture. He doesn't-he's not exactly sure if he can touch this person. He has always been taught to keep his hands at his sides. He thought that went both ways until one day his mother told him it didn't, showed him it didn't. But he still had to keep his hands to his side.
Yet, it would be extremely impolite to ignore the friendly gesture. This man has a soft smile on his face and Jisung thinks he could be another friend. He could use those. So, he shakily holds his hand out. His palm comes to touch Chris's and his hand burns before flashes go off in his head. Red eyes and red liquid. The sand dyed red and Jisung screaming until he coughs up blood.
And then he blinks again and he is back in the event hall, holding Chris's hand while the other frowns. Jisung blinks again before bringing his hand back into his own space, feeling a little lost at the atmosphere.
"Those are very nice earrings." Chris says, voice deep. Not as deep as Felix's but it holds weight and Jisung starts to wonder if his earrings are actually ugly because nobody has ever commented on them. His mother just says he must always have a pair in. So he is wearing them. When Chris says it, the words don't feel like a compliment. Just an observation that makes Jisung want to hide.
"Th-thank you. I'm." Jisung has to take a deep breath before he continues. He has never spoken to this many new people before. "I'm Jisung. It is nice to make your acquaintance." Jisung offers a shaky smile, he is not sure why but he feels like he just ran a marathon.
"Jisung is such a pretty name!" Jisung nods as a blush coats his face at Felix's words. What is with these two? He feels uncomfortable.
"F-Felix is nice t-too." Jisung manages to state before Chris says something.
"What does your schedule look like Jisung?" The paper in his hand crumples as he looks down at it. Thumbs shaking he looks closely at the classes listed.
"It says Business Law, B-business licensing, Music theory 202, a-and Music production 101." Jisung feels embarrassed for the mentioning of music classes. His mother only agreed to let him join because he plays piano and she believes it can help sharpen his skills. He also plays acoustic guitar. But his mother does not know that. She likely never will.
All of this to say he knows that it is frowned upon. He is taking business classes so he can eventually take over the family business. Not that he even knows what their dealings are, as his mother has done a very good job keeping him in the dark. Away from anybody and everything. Jisung has been alone his whole life. He is not sure why she expected him to be fine now that he isn't.
"Oh! I am a student instructor for the music production class!" Jisung is thrown off by Chris's demeanor change and he almost runs away, but the man is smiling happily and he gets trapped in the invitation to stay. To sit. To talk.
He ends up learning that Felix and Chris grew up together on some island before they ended up moving here. Chris makes music on the side while he runs a small company that he inherited from his parents years ago. Felix owns a fashion line and is here to study more about the different types of designs and apparently he is also taking some dance classes. Jisung tries not to wince at the mention of dance classes. Remembering the ten years of contemporary dance that his mother forced him into. Feet bleeding and body tired.
Chris catches it though, he seems to see every movement that Jisung makes and Jisung wishes he was half as observant. If he could just have an inkling of that.
"It's okay I was forced to do ballet for years when I was younger." Jisung nods as he takes another sip from his coffee. He already ate his sandwich, the other two just drinking some kind of juice. Not that it is any of Jisungs business, he tries not to observe other people's eating habits. For all he knows they may be on some kind of juice cleanse
"So, how is your roommate?" Jisung cringes at the mention of his standoffish roommate that he has not been able to befriend.
"I...I don't think he likes me?" Jisung ignores the way Felix frowns at that and instead takes another sip of his coffee before going on to explain. "I...I got a plant?"
"You got him a plant?" Felix is smiling and Jisung wonders if that is the normal reaction because that is definitely not the one he got. He nods before he goes to continue.
"Y-yeah. But...he seemed confused and then he uh accused me of bribing him?" Jisung recalls feelings so small during that interaction. The same way he feels with his mother. The same way he feels in his home. He just wants to feel like he does when the waves swell and crash against the shore pulling the sand with them before bringing it back.
"You're so cute Jisungie!" Jisungs eyes go wide at the nickname. He has never had a nickname before.
"Do you know his name?" Chris asks with a neutral expression on his face, his juice finished.
"He said it was Hyunjin. And then he said I was supposed to already know, but I didn't receive any type of information. I...I am a little confused in that part." Jisung sheepishly admits as he hears Felix coo at him, the blond no doubt scooting closer into Jisungs space.
Chris makes a hum sound, now looking a little confused as well.
"When you signed up you didn't get the option of what kind of room you would have?" Jisung shakes his head before he goes to explain.
"Well, my mother actually signed me up. I...I was not aware I was attending until a week ago." His voice tapers off as he watches Chris's eyes go dark, the red disappearing from them and brown hue replaced by black.
"Jisung..." the way Chris is speaking makes the butterflies in Jisungs stomach turn to bees that buzz around violently. "Do...do you know where you are?" Jisung blinks. Does Chris think he is stupid? Is this some kind of test?
"I am at Maxident university." Jisung mumbles out, feeling unsure if that is the right answer or not.
"Right, but do you know what this school is?" Jisung feels himself flush before he rushes to answer, of course he knows. He isn't stupid.
"Yes, it is a university for the higher class. My mother told me the details of this university Chris." Jisung tries his best to sound firm, but he knows the way he is avoiding eye contact is not helping his case. Not one bit.
"Yes, it is...but it's more than that. Jisung did your mother tell you anything about what happens here? What you signed up for?" Jisung feels the panic stir in his chest as he shakes his head. He doesn't know why his eyes start to tear up, but they do. His pulse quickens, he's messed up and now his mother is going to find out and he is going to get a lesson and he doesn't want that they hurt and-
"Hey, you're okay. I'm just...I'm going to give you my number. If you're okay with that?" Jisung blinks himself back to reality and nods as he shakily hands Chris his phone. The other types in his number with the contact name saying Chris:). Jisung smiles at that. His first friend.
"Hey! My number too!" Felix says grabbing Jisungs phone from his hands causing Jisung to flinch a little. He does his best to hide it, but he knows that Chris sees it and he doesn't know what to do about that.
"I should get going, I know classes do not start until two weeks, but I am a little tired." Jisung grabs his phone and shoves it in his pocket. He feels a little bit better, but he still needs to go to the library to go pick up his books, and he would rather do it alone. "Thank you for the company." He gives one last smile before he leaves and heads towards the library.
At this point the campus is dark, it makes the architecture look even prettier. In some ways it reminds Jisung of sea caves and rock formations. In others it reminds him of coral. He walks down the empty quad to get to the library. When he opens the door he expects it to be empty. Finding plenty of people there who are openly staring at him causes his eyes to find the darkly stained wood floors very interesting.
Even after he gets his books he can still feel everybody's eyes on him and it makes him feel uncomfortable. He wonders if he asks Chris about this, what the other will say.
The door to his apartment is locked and Jisung feels like an idiot for forgetting his keys. But, he has to knock. So he does. Or he almost does, but the door opens before his knuckles can point against the door. Hyunjin looks...annoyed more than anything else as he lets Jisung in. Following him as he sets his books down in his room. The other doesn't enter his room, he stands right outside the door...just...staring.
"Is..is there something that I can assist you with?" Jisung asks hoping the other man will get the hint and look away. He has to get ready for bed soon. It is only nine pm, but he wakes up super early.
"I'm hungry." Hyunjin says, eyes glued to Jisungs face. As if...as if Jisung is supposed to do something about it.
"We can buy food? I'm not super hungry." Jisung shrugs as he heads out of his room and squeezes past Hyunjin who seems to want to be in his personal space. He goes to open the fridge since the other is not saying anything only to find it fully stocked.
"You could make something? O-or I could...make something?" Jisung says shyly. The other has not responded and Jisung looks at him only to be face to face with him. Jisung freezes on instinct, fear flowing through his veins as Hyunjin uses one of his hands to run through Jisungs hair.
His heart speeds up as the other slowly tilts his head until Jisung can feel the strain in his shoulder and neck. But, he can't move. It's always been like this. Jisung feels himself screaming inside, trying to run but unable to lift a finger. This happens in his lessons and then his mind goes fuzzy, and he wakes up in pain and nothing feels good.
Hyunjin leans closer to Jisungs neck and Jisung lets out a whimper before he can stop himself. He's scared. He hates being scared and he can't fucking run away. His mothers voice repeats in his head, stay still. He has to stay still and he hates it.
"It's okay, I'll be quick." The words are basically spoken into Jisungs neck before he feels a stabbing pain in his neck and then a pulling sensation. And it hurts, it hurts and Jisung feels his body snap out of the trance it was in as he grabs Hyunjins head and pulls until the other is no longer biting him. It hurts, he can feel the skin rip and he gets dizzy as he looks at Hyunjins blood covered mouth.
"Wh-what the heck?" Jisung almost slurs out. He sees...no. That cannot be right. Fangs. And red eyes and Hyunjin looks mad and...and something else but Jisung can't place it. Not when he is in pain.
"Why are you fighting? Is this some kind of kink?" Hyunjin snaps at Jisung. But all Jisung can focus on is the blood on Hyunjins mouth and he feels sick so he pulls out his phone and dials a number. Walking out the door ignoring the others shouts as he speed walks away from the sound.
"Hello? Jisung? Are you okay?" Chris's voice comes through the static and Jisung sniffles before he responds. Happy to not be alone.
"I-I need help. Please." Jisung mutters out as he holds one hand to the throbbing wound on his neck.
"Okay, okay where are you? I'm coming." Jisung gives a vague description of what he sees, trying his best not to pass out or throw up before Chris gets here. He just has to stay awake till then.
"Oh my-fuck. Jisung what happened?!" Chris says as he helps Jisung stand like he weighs nothing. Jisung blinks before the tears start to fall. No words coming as instead the only sound being his quiet sobs as Chris takes him back to what Jisung assumes is his own apartment. Or house. He is tired and in pain.
"Here." A glass of water is placed in front of him. Jisung sitting at the kitchen table of Chris's house. He feels dizzy and scared and cold. He drinks some of the water, his hand still covering his neck almost subconsciously.
"Jisung." Chris sighs. "Can you move your hand please?" Jisung shakes his head no at first, not wanting to reveal the injury. Not wanting to show the weakness. Not even knowing how to explain what happened. "Okay, that's okay. Can you tell me what happened?"
Okay, he can do this. Without sounding crazy.
"H-he bit me!"
Mission definitely not accomplished.
"Who? Who bit you?" Jisung thinks it's strange for Chris's first question go be who and not what kind of drugs Jisung must be on. Maybe he has always been crazy.
"Hyunjin. He bit me like as soon as I walked into the room." Jisung mumbles in between sniffles. His neck hurts and he is tired, he just wants to sleep. He watches Chris's eyes turn red before going back to brown as he surveys Jisung. There is a long sigh before Chris is sitting next to him. Jisung holds his hand tighter against his wound.
"I...I'm not going to hurt you I promise. I just...I need to you believe me okay?" Chris sounds worried and extremely sincere. "Jisung...do you know what a vampire is?"
What?
Jisung blinks a couple of times before dread fills his body. Vampires? Vampires are real? Why wouldn't any body tell him?
"Yeah, so uh...the school this university is for high society. You were right about that, but uh it is a lot of vampires and witches and see-ers." Jisung has no idea what Chris is saying. "I am surprised your mother wouldn't tell you. Seeing as having her bring her son here made almost national news."
National news?
Jisung was in national news.
What the fuck is going on.
"I...I don't understand. Vampires? They're real?" Jisung knows that he is still bleeding, and he can see Chris's eyes flashing red every now and then. "Please don't hurt me." Jisung begs as he scoots backwards.
This causes Chris to shake his head and put on a frown, his eyes turning brown as he looks over Jisungs face.
"I won't I promise. I have control over my cravings. And you already have a bite." Chris says like it is supposed to make sense. Like Jisung should know what he means by this. By any of this. Jisung decides to shakily remove his hand from the wound on his neck, cringing at how it stings.
"He didn't lick you." It's not really a question, Chris just seems to be talking out loud. Jisung is a little freaked out at the mention of licking him.
"No, he bit me." Jisung says, because maybe Chris forgot.
"I can see that." Jisung wants to roll his eyes. He wants to scoff and go to the hospital or something. "But, usually after a vampire bites, they will usually lick the wound to help it heal better." Chris explains as he looks at Jisungs probably bleeding neck.
Jisung isn't sure how to tell Chris, but he isn't exactly worried about the healing process. His body will be fine in a day or two, no evidence of being bitten by his crazy roommate. Then he can just sleep in peace.
"As great as that explanation is, the part that I am currently having trouble understanding is you know...he bit me." Jisung thinks that more people should be freaked out by this occurance.
Unless of course everybody here is a vampire and in that case they probably don't even care that Jisung has gotten bitten. Why wouldn't his mother say anything? He knows she does not necessarily care about him, but she hates when he looks stupid. He sure feels stupid. It is not like he would disagree and not go to the university. Jisung does not have any choice in the first place. His mother has made that very clear.
"He was hungry. I think..." Chris does not finish his statement and it makes Jisung worry. What could this possibly mean for him. "I think he assumed, like the rest of us, that you knew what you were getting into." Chris gets up and walks towards the sink where he wets some sort of cloth.
"Right...what exactly did I get myself into?" Jisung asks as Chris comes back to where Jisung is still seated. Nobody has really told him shit and for all he knows he is going to school with a bunch of cannibals.
"As a uh...non-vampire you have the option to live alone or with others like you. Whether that be see-ers, witches, or humans?" Here Chris pauses, his face seeming conflicted as he hands Jisung the wet cloth. "For your neck."
Jisung takes it. He starts to gently dab his neck, not that it really makes any difference.
"Thank you." He says quietly as he waits for Chris to continue.
"You chose to live with Hwang Hyunjin, a vampire." Jisung rolls his eyes at Chris's explanation. He knows Hyunjin is a vampire. "He's uh...pretty well known. I mean we all are. Especially you." Jisung will address that later. "But, uh, it was a big thing when you agreed to live with a vampire because you basically agreed to let him feed from you." Jisung stops mindlessly running the wet cloth over his neck.
He what?
Just a couple of hours ago he didn't even know vampires existed. And now...now he has to live with one? That is going to feed from him-bite him regularly. Jisung wonders if this is some kind of punishment from his mother, he knows that when he suggested he moved out she would not be happy, but he sincerely thought he had a choice. He didn't...he didn't think she would...do what she did.
And now...now this?
Jisung schools his face. He cannot act like he is affronted by this information. He feels sick and tired and his body is working overtime to heal himself. He looks at Chris before slowly standing up.
"I see." Taking another deep breath to steel himself. "If you wouldn't mind giving me a couple bandages to cover my neck, and then letting me use your bathroom to cover myself. I will be on my way." Chris looks like he wants to argue but Jisung keeps his face neutral. He needs to get out of here, and back to where his mother thinks he is. He can't...she can't know he ran away.
"You should really have somebody lick you." Jisung blinks once before responding.
"I will be just fine thank you. Now, some bandages if you do not mind."