CHAPTER 2
1547 Words
ARTEMIS CRUZ, a twenty-six-year-old undergraduate Doctor of Medicine, woke up to the sharp, insistent ringing of her alarm clock. She slapped slightly at the nightstand to silence the noise that disturbed her sleep. Again, it was a Monday morning, a new day of the week, and a new day for work.
She forced herself to open her eyes and dragged herself from the bed. Her movement was an act of deliberate defiance against the day ahead. But she was motivated when she smelled the delicious aroma of food coming from the kitchen.
Artemis fixed her bed and entered the bathroom, did her morning routine, and took a bath. After taking a bath, she wrapped herself with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. She wore her uniform and her shoes, combed her hair, took her bag, and stepped out of her room.
She was excited like a teenager as she was descending the stairs. Entering the kitchen, she saw her mother preparing breakfast while her father was having coffee.
“Good morning, Mommy, Daddy,” Artemis greeted her parents.
“Morning too, princess,” Stevan, Artemis' father, greeted back.
Artemia, Artemis' mother, smiled. “It's rare for you to wake up with a smile,” she said.
Artemis shrugged. “I was motivated by the delicious aroma I smelled in my room earlier, Mom.”
Artemia pinched her daughter’s cheek. “You’re really good at talking.”
“I got it from you, Mom.”
The mother and daughter laughed at each other.
As they ate breakfast, they heard the news on TV. A man was found dead on the abandoned lot with drained blood.
“What kind of monsters will drain someone’s blood?” Artemia commented.
“Maybe they need blood,” said Stevan.
Artemis grimaced. “Vampire?” she asked, chuckling. She never believed in those fantasies. They’re already in the modern world. There are no supernatural beings in this world.
They continued eating, and after eating, Artemis went to work. She had a car, but she didn’t want to drive. So, she commuted every day. It was a good thing to commute every day. You can see a lot of your surroundings.
Before going to work, Artemis dropped off at her apartment near the hospital to leave her things. She was living independently. And she could only go home to her parents’ house on Saturday afternoon.
Artemis arrived at the hospital where she works before her shift time. She was already in her third year of studying for a Doctor of Medicine. It was tiring to study, but it was worth it. She doesn’t have a choice but to study harder because this was her choice.
“Good morning, Doc.”
Artemis smiled and nodded her head.
She started her work by doing a routine check-up for the patient. Of course, after doing a routine check-up, she would study with her colleagues. This was her daily routine in the hospital. Like she said, it was tiring. It was not easy to become a doctor, but she had to continue to become successful one day.
MEANWHILE, Cassiel was cooking breakfast when he felt a presence that crossed the border between the Human Race and the Celestial Continent.
He’s finally here. Cassiel thought. It's been a month since their last talk in the Eastern Region.
He was already eating his breakfast when Theo arrived.
“What are you doing here?” Cassiel asked.
Theo sat in the chair. “To find my mate.”
“I mean, why are you in my house?” Cassiel asked.
“You’re the only one I knew in the Human Race,” Theo answered.
Cassiel thought of something. “Then you shouldn’t stay in my house,” he said.
“Where can I go then?” Theo asked. He couldn’t help but feel intimidated by Cassiel. Though Cassiel doesn’t look intimidating, he doesn’t know why he felt intimidated by him, as if he were a God. Or was he? But he doesn’t look like one.
“Come to me in the Milktea Shop. I need help. And restrain your speed. You’re too fast,” said Cassiel.
“Alright.” Theo agreed, then he frowned. “Why do I feel like you are scolding me for being too fast?”
Cassiel shrugged. “You want to eat?”
Theo shakes his head. “I want blood.”
Cassiel stood and opened the storage box. He took a blood pack and gave it to Theo.
“Are you a vampire?” Theo asked. “Why do you have this?”
“It’s for you.”
Theo smiled. “Thanks. I didn’t know you loved me that much,” he joked.
Cassiel sighed. Before, it was he who always teased Ezequiel. Now it was he who was being teased by Theo.
After breakfast, Cassiel gave Theo a set of clothes because his attire was not suited for working in his Milktea Shop.
Cassiel taught Theo what to do before they started working.
Theo could only shake his head while wiping the table. He doesn’t know why he let Cassiel make him his slave. In the Northern Region, he had never experienced this, but now that he was in the Human Race, Cassiel was making him work.
“Stop looking at me like that, Theo. I can feel your glare.”
Theo snorted and arranged the chairs and table after wiping them. Then he went back behind the counter to help Cassiel make Milktea.
“What’s this?” Theo asked when he saw the black thing being added to the Milktea. “Is this poison?”
“i***t. That’s a black pearl,” said Cassiel.
Theo frowned. “Black pearl? It’s not hard. It’s not soft like this.”
Cassiel face-palmed and didn’t answer Theo. “Just work, Theo. I will lose more customers because of you,” he said, and took the black pearls from Theo.
Theo was known for his intelligence on the Celestial Continent, and he didn’t know where his intelligence went after stepping into the Human Race.
Later, Theo stilled when a sweet scent entered his nostrils. His eyes darted into the entrance of the Milktea Shop. It was like his world suddenly became slow upon seeing the woman who entered the shop. His eyes stopped on her, as if she were the only one he was seeing. The woman had a unique beauty with her striking features, bright eyes, captivating smile, and slender figure. She carries herself with confidence, exudes kindness and empathy through her smile.
That woman whom Theo was describing was none other than Artemis.
Cassiel shook his head when he saw Theo’s eyes glued on the woman who had just entered the Milktea Shop. He nudged Theo. “Stop staring at her. You look like an idiot.”
Theo ignored Cassiel.
“Excuse me, where is Anya? The owner of this Milktea Shop,” said Artemis.
“She went home. I’m his brother,” Cassiel introduces. He knew Artemis because she was a regular customer of the Milktea Shop, but Artemis only knew him as Anya and not as Cassiel.
Theo snorted. “Liar,” he mumbled.
“Shut up,” Cassiel whispered. He smiled at Artemis. “Do you need something from her?” he asked.
Artemis shakes her head. “I was just curious why I couldn’t see her here.”
“Oh. She’s not here. She went home, and it will take months before she returns.”
Artemis nodded. She glanced at the man beside Cassiel. She suddenly looked away because she felt there was something in him that she couldn’t explain. But one thing that made her look at him again was because of his eyes. They were a unique pair of blue-green pairs. It was beautiful, and it can really get attention. She suddenly felt embarrassed and looked away when the man looked at her.
Theo’s eyes couldn’t leave the woman as if it was glued to her. She was just beautiful. And it occurred to him why he became attracted to a human at first sight.
Artemis ordered her favorite Milktea, and it was Theo who made it.
As Theo gave the Milktea to the woman, their eyes met. Both of them were stunned and stared for a moment.
“Mate…” Theo whispered. He couldn’t believe that he had met his mate.
Artemis smiled, paid the Milktea. What a handsome guy. She thought and left the Milktea Shop with her heart beating so fast.
Theo was about to follow his mate, but Cassiel held him.
Theo’s eyes turned red as he looked at Cassiel.
“Relax.” Cassiel stepped back. Theo’s eyes were scary.
Theo showed his fangs. “She was my mate.”
“I know. But does she know you?”
Theo took a deep breath to calm himself. “Sorry,” he muttered.
Cassiel patted Theo’s shoulder. “It’s alright. I will help you to meet her.”
Theo frowned. “Do you know her?”
Cassiel shrugged. “She’s Anya’s friend.”
“That’s you.”
Cassiel shrugged again and went back to her. But suddenly, Theo left the Milktea Shop. He sighed and shook his head. He knew that Theo had followed Artemis.
- Writer
