CLICK!
I shut the door behind me as I took off my shoes. Haide's house had now become as familiar to me as my own home.
"You're back?"
Haide peeked out from the corner of the living room to greet me. His hair wet and a loosely hung towel was wrapped around his waist, revealing his toned muscles.
"Did you just take a shower?" Putting down the chicken on the living room's table, I asked as I fixed the towel that was on verge of falling down.
"Mhm." Haide nodded as he quietly watched me fixing his towel. "Let's eat."
"Wear your clothes first. You're an adult, don't go around flashing that thing down there even though I'm the only one here-"
My words were cut off because Haide gripped my chin and planted a kiss on my lips, slipping his tongue and licking the inside of my mouth.
'It's minty.'
The taste from his toothpaste spread inside, making me squint my eyes from the sharp tingle of its coolness.
"Haa…"
A string of saliva connected both our mouths. I gasped for breath as I gave a slight glare to the alpha in front of me.
"I'm talking, why are you cutting me off?"
Haide just grinned at me and guided my hand inside the towel.
He was hard.
"There's no need for me to wear my clothes if in the end I have to take it off again."
'This sex maniac.'
I sighed as I saw his beaming face. Since the start, his intention was to have sex right after we ate, that was why he was urging me to come home quickly and eat.
"Are you not feeling the same as me?" He stared at me with glistening eyes and a pleading tone. If he had one, I would definitely see puppy ears dropping on top of his head.
"Fine, I'll fulfill your selfish wish just this one time."
I answered as I stroked the hard cock inside the towel. That made Haide flinch, as the heat coming out from his body increased.
"Y-Yolan."
"We're going to eat, so bear with only a handjob."
I whispered in his ear as I kissed his nape, sucking on it and leaving a mark on his pale skin. While I stroked his shaft with one hand, the other freely roamed on his muscles and chest. A graze on his nipple was enough for him to let out a moan.
"Ngh…!"
Haide closed his eyes as he heaved a heavy, warm breath on my neck. He was sensitive when I touched his skin and with a little stimulation, he soon reached his climax.
White liquid splattered on my palm and clothes, but I stood still as I let Haide hug me and buried his face on my neck.
Haide held my head in place as his fingers played with my hair, "I know it's only been a few hours, but having you out of my sight isn't as pleasing as I thought. Especially the thought of people aiming for your life."
He sighed, "This War of Throne becomes a torture for me."
I lowered my head as I rubbed his back, the fear of losing each other was mutual. Haide was afraid to lose me just as much as I was afraid to lose him.
The constant burning in my hand reminded me of our relationship in this game. That's why I planned on giving my all to live a long life so we could keep our relationship as both lovers and enemy.
"You've met the other members of your faction right?"
"Yeah."
"Is Keith among the group?"
Haide released his grip and stared directly into my eyes. His blood red eyes seemed to carry a hidden turmoil – a mix of uncertainty and anger.
I slowly explained, "I saw Keith's car today. I don't know where he was going, but he passed by the chicken shop I was buying from." Then, raising my hand, I said, "And my crest acted up, indicating he is my enemy."
Haide fell silent as he observed my face. Brushing my cheek, he gave me an apologetic smile.
"Yeah, he's one of my members – my Queen to be exact."
I scrunched my nose.
'What a mess.'
Uola was really a cruel god. I suspect he was a God of Calamity rather than a God of Love and Purity. How could He just throw two dominant alphas as my enemies? And both of them were men who had complicated ties with me.
The future of this war was already looking bleak.
Haide touched my cheek as the corner of his mouth went up, "Don't worry, I'll try my best to hinder him and his plans. No one will be able to hurt you without my command."
I smiled as I patted his cheek, "You too, I won't let anyone hurt you other than myself."
We both had the same mindset when it comes to fulfilling our desires. Our only thought of settling things right was to march forward even under the weight of uncertainty.
Tenacity to struggle and live.
That's one of humanity's biggest traits.
.
.
11 : 55 P.M.
It's almost midnight on the second day. The sky had once again turned golden, wrapping the city with its light.
Then it happened.
Golden holographic board glowed with similar hue as the night sky above. List of names was soon inscribed on its flat surface.
[White Faction]
Yolan Carnel
Cassius Vassandra
Azazel Sylvia
Eliot Gibson
Samuel Wales
Jessie Byrd
Baretta Hinterland
Ornil Rust
[Black Faction]
Haide Ritcher
Keith Zylvar
James Heart
Catherine Lewis
Liam Cordon
Rachel Harper
Pietro Perez
Violet Amery
Each of their names had their crest embed beside them, signifying what role they were assigned with. The order from top to bottom was : King, Queen, Bishops, Knights and Rooks.
With this, the hunt for crest had officially begun.
"Today is the last day we can see each other."
Haide hugged me from behind and I returned the gesture by patting his head. Just like he said, we would be too busy to survive to have time for each other.
He released me from his grasp as he kissed my cheek, "I'll miss you."
"We'll see each other soon."
I went out of his house and said my goodbye. Even after shutting the door, my gaze still lingered on it – more precisely to the person behind it.
'I'll miss you too.'
Those were words I didn't dare utter back to Haide, because if I said it, it would be as if when we meet each other again in the battlefield, all his sweet whispers would turn into cold, harsh curses between enemies – just like how Keith was in my previous life.
And if that happened for the second time, my heart couldn't handle it.
"Tsk."
I gritted my teeth as I turned around and rummaged through my suit's inner pocket to grab my phone. The flat surface reflected my annoyed face, which made my steps even hastier.
Dialing a number, I rode my motorcycle as I turned on the engine.
"Cassius, meet me at the usual place."
[Yes, Yolan.]
I clicked the end call button as soon as I heard his affirmation. Without wearing my helmet, I drove to the nearby abandoned dock on the outskirts of the city.
Icy cold wind grazed through my cheek and my coat flapped in the air.
But I didn't feel like stopping soon.
70 km/h… 80 km/h…
The pointer in my speedometer kept on rising nonstop. It was still midnight and the road was empty so there was practically nothing that could stop me from speeding – except law I guess.
SKID!
I parked my motorcycle after I went deep inside the dock. Cassius had somehow arrived earlier than me.
"What do you want to talk about Yolan? Is it related to your plan?"
Cassius didn't beat around the bush and immediately asked with all seriousness. But I just glanced at him and rummaged through my pocket to pull something.
"Cigarette?"
At my offer, Cassius just stared at me blankly. He picked one from the box and so did I. Without saying a word, I walked toward the end of the dock as Cassius followed.
The smell of rust from the empty containers and small waves that crashed to the shore brought a salty smell to this dock. And the bitter memories that happened in this place…
It was all too familiar to me.
After all, this was one of my favorite places to cool my head and…
The place I drew my last breath before.
"Maybe I just need some fresh air."
Ten years…
It's been more than ten years since I started my struggle to gain my wish – a simple wish of obtaining a life full of happiness and love.
'My parents were taken from me by this shitty country, my comrades and beloved partners were taken from me by God's disgusting game, what else is Uola going to take from me?'
"Fucking assholes." I quietly cursed the Gods and fate itself. The bitterness of tobacco didn't even register in my head as I bit hard into it.
"Yolan…"
Cassius weakly called out my name. I knew what he was going to say, my eyes and nose felt hot, and water had been flowing down my cheek.
I guess I had been acting strong for too long, that's why the dam that had been holding in my emotions up until now burst like a flood.
Letting out a shaky breath, I forced a smile to form on my face.
Just one more time.
I just need to endure this one more time.