DrinkyL C14

Chapter 14

Ban Dayeong cast a sidelong glance at the pitifully trembling Baek Seolgu. Yet, he felt no inclination to stop what he was doing.

“Truly, I didn’t kn—”

“I get it, so keep your mouth shut.”

His brows twitched as he began lapping earnestly at Seolgu’s palm. In that moment, Seolgu realized that his state now was exactly the same as back when he had licked his ankle.

It was as if his eyes had turned ever so slightly wild—a harsh assessment, perhaps, but there was simply no better way to describe the current Ban Dayeong. Seolgu bit his lip, determined not to provoke him further.

But there was something more important still.

Do not lose consciousness. If he could avoid collapsing disgracefully as he had last time, Ban Dayeong would continue to seek him out. Resolving this silently to himself, Seolgu fixed his gaze on the crown of Ban Dayeong’s head.

How could hair be so perfectly black and so smooth? Completely unlike his own, with its light pigment and faint wave. It looked as if it would make a soft rustle if touched.

Under the fluorescent light, the hair gleamed, and Seolgu began counting each strand one by one. By the time he reached 237…

“What are you doing?”

Before he realized it, Ban Dayeong had finished feeding and was looking up at him with a reluctant expression. In preserving his consciousness, he had earned not approval but the judgment of a weirdo, and Seolgu’s brows drooped miserably.

Then he realized now was no time for sulking. His eyes lit up, and he asked,

“Did you enjoy it…?”

The wound on his palm was not so deep as to bleed freely, so Ban Dayeong hadn’t sucked at it the way he had before—but surely the fact that he hadn’t fainted was the most important detail.

At his question, Ban Dayeong’s dark brows twitched once.

“Enjoy it? It hardly even registered.”

But hadn’t he just been licking his palm with almost greedy vigor?

Seolgu recalled the scene, then shook his head to cast it out.

Still, it did seem the feeding had ended faster than last time. Watching Ban Dayeong’s face, Seolgu thought, He really does look hungry. With that quiet conclusion, he shifted his captive hand.

The movement irked Ban Dayeong, yet when he noticed the pale, bloodless skin of Seolgu’s palm, he released it as the boy wished.

The moment that firm grip was gone, both palms tingled with a sudden rush, as though electrified.

Ouch… ticklish… Screwing up his face, Seolgu shook his hands wildly before quickly crouching in place.

Watching him sink to the floor the instant his hands were freed, Ban Dayeong tilted his head. Was he about to faint again? He was about to ask if he felt dizzy when—

Seolgu picked up the sharpest shard from the broken pot and tried to press it against his palm.

“What are you—!”

Startled, Ban Dayeong seized his wrist. His still-aching wrist protested under the strong grip, and Seolgu’s face crumpled in pain.

Yet, unwilling to drop the fragment, he forced Ban Dayeong to twist his wrist sharply.

“Ack!”

With a short cry, Seolgu let go of the shard.

It fell with a heavy thunk, and Ban Dayeong kicked it aside before exhaling a deep sigh.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

The low, shadowed tone made it sound as though he could scrape the floor with his voice alone.

Seolgu, however, looked as if he couldn’t understand the anger—it was, after all, something he had done for Ban Dayeong’s sake.

“You said it hardly registered. I thought… maybe you should have more.”

He only intended to make a very small cut—just enough to let the blood flow.

He thought the explanation might make sense, but Ban Dayeong’s brows did not relax. Instead, he gave a short, incredulous laugh—more a scoff than anything.

Seeing him respond to his “generosity” with scolding instead of praise wounded Seolgu’s feelings further.

“Mr. Baek Seolgu.”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Ban Dayeong.”

His casual parroting made a vein stand out on Ban Dayeong’s forehead.

“Don’t talk back. Only listen to what I say.”

“…”

“Answer.”

“Yes, yes.”

When he obeyed the “no talking back” order too literally and stayed silent, Ban Dayeong fixed him with a glare and demanded answers instead. It was impossible to tell how to match his rhythm.

“I have no desire for you to harm yourself.”

“But—”

“Shh.”

Self-harm? Seolgu hadn’t done anything so frightening. He simply wanted him to drink enough to feel satisfied now that he was strong enough to handle it.

He tried to explain, but Ban Dayeong, perhaps anticipating such a protest, raised a finger to Seolgu’s lips, silencing him completely.

Forced into a pout, Seolgu puffed his cheeks in weak defiance.

It made no difference—Ban Dayeong did not so much as raise an eyebrow.

“There’s no need to go that far. I have plenty of ways to drink your blood without you doing something so foolish, so stop trying to use that not-so-bright head of yours.”

…Too much.

Seolgu had been called foolish every single day back in the forest, but to hear it even after leaving the woods—it was impossible not to get angry.

His wide eyes began to glisten. He wanted to shout, but with his lips sealed, all that fury surged upward instead.

Finally, heavy teardrops spilled from his eyes.

“Hh… uhh.”

With Ban Dayeong’s finger still pressed to his lips, Seolgu began to cry aloud.

Whatever sorrow he’d held back poured out, the tears falling like a torrent with time. Eventually, they ran down Ban Dayeong’s finger and streaked his forearm.

Seeing his sleeve grow damp, Seolgu reasoned that if he stopped now, perhaps he could salvage the situation—but his body ignored his mind, producing tears without end.

What surprised him was that Ban Dayeong didn’t tell him to stop or scold him for making noise. He simply watched him, his gaze steady, almost as if studying him.

After a long moment, Ban Dayeong spoke.

“What a waste… why cry?”

He licked the tears from Seolgu’s wrist.

Already unsettled by his earlier shocking actions, Seolgu stopped crying and stared wide-eyed in silence.

Once he had licked away every tear that had streaked his wrist, Ban Dayeong naturally leaned toward Seolgu’s face.

When the warm, wet touch of his tongue brushed his cheek, Seolgu drew a sharp breath.

“Y-you… Mr. Ban Dayeong… do you eat tears, too?”

“I told you—no talking back.”

Clicking his tongue, Ban Dayeong continued to lap at his face until every drop was gone.

Once his cheeks were dry, Seolgu turned his head slightly—a silent gesture in place of words.

Whether he understood it or simply had no more tears to drink, Ban Dayeong withdrew at once.

Freed, Seolgu let out a heavy sigh of relief.

It hadn’t been such a long time in truth, but to Seolgu, it had felt many times longer.

“Mr. Baek Seolgu.”

He quickly nodded at the sound of his name. Ban Dayeong raised one brow and said,

“From now on, answer my words without fail.”

“Yes, sir.”

Following the order instantly, Seolgu’s face returned to its usual clear brightness.

Satisfied, Ban Dayeong lifted one corner of his lips.

“From the way you dared to try bleeding yourself, can I assume you really have recovered your health?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Good. That’s a fine thing.”

Though he hadn’t confirmed it with another examination, Ban Dayeong agreed that Seolgu seemed in better shape than a few weeks ago.

He recalled the sweet flavor he’d tasted again today.

“Twice a week, I’ll come to your officetel in the evening. There’ll be no need for crude bleeding like tonight—just stay still until I arrive.”

Listening attentively, Seolgu nodded—and quickly added a bright, “Yes!”

“Still, we should confirm it. Tomorrow, go to the hospital with Secretary Yang and get checked.”

“But… what about work?”

“One day off will not hurt. Secretary Yang will handle it.”

“Alright…”

Lately absorbed in hotel duties, Seolgu licked his lips in faint disappointment.

“Well then.”

Ban Dayeong gave his tousled hair a light, almost playful pat before disappearing.

Touching the spot where his hand had grazed, Seolgu murmured to himself,

“Didn’t get an answer…”

It seemed his curiosity—whether vampires found tears delicious—was destined to remain unanswered forever.