VI. YOUR NAME

William and I were on our way back to base camp. The man’s silver sports car drove off the highway. My hand has recovered enough, too. Finally, Dr Peter allowed me to go home. Being in the hospital is boring. I don’t like it.

“When we’re going to meet Master, Will?”

“This afternoon.”

“Really? Then let’s go home. Why we’re stopping?” I asked, realizing that our car was pulling over to the side of the road, turning into the parking lot of a convenience store.

“Wait. I want to buy something,” William said, pointing at the convenience store next to their car with his chin.

“I’ll wait here.”

“Don’t go anywhere. I won’t be longer.”

“Yes, Sir.”

William smiled and got out of the car. I can see him rushing into the convenience store. Snow blanketed trees, buildings, and roads. I wanted to get back to base camp quickly. At least there’s heating still working. So, I don’t have to feel as cold as I do now.

My heart is racing suddenly. I can feel the aura of a pretty strong vampire in this area. My blue eyes caught a girl sitting with a man with golden hair inside a café. The figure of them both looks familiar. I’m squinting, trying to sharpen my eyesight. It opened me, shocked.

“Claire? She’s dating that guy?!”

I hurried to that café a few feet away from William’s car. What are they doing? Are they met before? I shook my head quickly, getting rid of many questions that filled my mind. 

After reaching the entrance, I stopped. My hand reached for the glass handle and pushed it inside.

“Welcome,” greeted one server as I opened the door.

I replied with a smile. My eyes slightly glanced at the sitting position of the two of them. Claire and the mystery man sit at a table beside the café’s large window. I sat at one table close to where the two of them were.

“Do you want to order something, Miss?” asked one server.

My hand grabbed the menu list on the table, read it fast. “Hot chocolate classic one, please.”

“Okay. Hot chocolate classic. Don’t you want to order our food or dessert?”

“No, thank you.”

“Please wait a minute.”

I put my back on the chair. Then cross my hands in front of my chest. I took a breath and breathed it slowly, trying to concentrate. Then, I closed my eyes to make my hearing senses sharper.

“May I know your name?” the man asked.

“Claire Anderson.”

“Beautiful.”

“P-pardon?”

“Ah—I’m sorry. Your name is beautiful,” replied him while clearing his throat.

“Oh. T-thank you.”

“Gwan Yeongjun. You can call me, Yeongjun.”

“Nice to meet you, Yeongjun-ssi.”

“Don’t be so formal with me, Claire.”

“Is it okay to call you just by your name?”

“Of course. Claire, I want to get to know you better.”

“Hm? Why?”

“Because of—”

“Here’s your order, Miss.” said the server while putting my order on the table.

“Thank you.”

Damn. I grunted angrily while staring at the cup. The server went to the other customer. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I can’t hear the last sentence of their conversation.

“I shouldn’t have ordered anything,” I murmured quietly.

I glanced a little at the two of them who were laughing. Claire’s face looks more cheerful than usual. I feel like that girl does, like the man in front of her. Right, she was interested in Yeongjun from the beginning.

‘Yeong-Jun… His name is quite familiar. I’m sure I’ve heard this name before.’

Then I drink half the hot chocolate which I ordered. Claire and Yeong-Jun walk towards the cashier. The handsome man paid for their food and got out of the café. My eyes refocused on the hot smoke billowing up.

“What’s that man planning? Why did he come near her? Did he mean to steal information about us--“

A pretty hard hit landed on my head. I looked up and got a sharp stare from William. Oh, my—I forgot to come back right after stalking Claire’s date. I just smile awkwardly to him.

“I told you not to go anywhere. Why won’t you listen to me, Ara?!”

“I’m sorry. I was starving.”

“Why you aren’t waiting for me?”

“I’m sorry, Will. It is my fault.”

William sighed. I know that he was trying to hold back his emotions. Then he scrambled my black hair slowly.

“I forgive you. But remember, don’t repeat it. Are you still hungry?”

“No, I’m not. I have something important to do.”

“Important thing?”

“Please take me to the library, Captain.”

“Huh? Don’t you want to go home quickly?”

“Tch. You asked a lot of questions. Come on—” asked me while putting some money on the table.

I pulled William’s hand and walked out of the café. Wait. It's rarely for me to attract people like I do now. Embarrassing. I let go of my grip when we got to the front of the car.

“Ah—sorry.”

“For what?”

“I-it’s... Forget it.”

“Come on. You said you wanted to go to the library, right?”

“Of course.”

A few minutes later, we reached the front of the major library. We both got out of the car and rushed inside. A woman who was the keeper of the library welcomed us kindly. Red glasses always perched on her pretty face.

“It’s rare to see you, Ara. Is there anything you need to look for?” asked the woman with the name tag ‘Hyuna Kwon’.

“Hyuna, I want to find a book about the royal family lineage of pure blood vampires.”

“Hm? What are you looking for such a book for?”

“There’s something I want to know.”

“Just a second ... Let me remember it.”

“The royal family? What are you planning--“

I responded to William’s words by sticking my finger around his lips, telling him to shut up.

Hyuna snapped her finger. “Ah, it looks like I have one. Let me find it. Can you both wait a minute?”

“Yes,” I nodded in response to the woman’s statement.

“Is there a problem?” asked William again.

“Listen, Captain. I wanted to get information about a vampire who named Yeong-Jun and two fucking vampire’s back then.”

Five minutes later, Hyuna approaches us with two thick ancient books in her hand. She then put the two books on the table. The dust flies a little when the book hits the wooden table. We can guess how long it’s been there.

Hyuna justifies a little frame of her glasses coming down, “Sorry, Ara. Those all I have.”

“Thank you. It’s more than enough. Can I borrow it?”

“Go ahead. Anything for you.”

“Thank you so much!"

"Nope."

"We must go back, Ara.” William said.

“Be careful.”

William focused on the streets. Sometimes he glances at me who sitting next to him. One of his eyebrows raised when he saw me smiling while looking at two books in my hand. His outstretched right hand touched my forehead, making sure my body temperature was normal or not. I immediately pulled the man’s hand away. He chuckled.

“You’re out of your mind, huh?” taunted William.

“Whatever.”

***

Note:

*Ssi, is the syn ending of a name in Korea used to a person of higher degree or to a person who we respect and can also use when we meet people for the first time.