novelzi Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Perhaps Celeste could have arrived a little later. That way, Adele and Sharon might have at least managed to eat something before being forced to flee the restaurant.
But Adele didn’t dwell on it. She simply took Sharon to a nearby supermarket, bought a loaf of bread and a couple of yogurts, and then led her to a shady bench, where they enjoyed their impromptu lunch. It was a simple meal, but they ate with gusto, their shared laughter echoing through the air. They were like a down-on-their-luck couple, their love unwavering despite their poverty.
Sharon wasn’t picky. She had eaten her fair share of convenience store meals. She was more worried about Adele, who seemed to be enjoying the bread and yogurt with a surprising enthusiasm.
Sharon’s thoughts drifted back to the scene at the restaurant, her heart pounding with a mixture of gratitude and a strange, unfamiliar excitement.
Adele... she had protected Sharon, defended her against that other girl.
And Celeste’s words... they had revealed something important: Adele had a phobia of germs.
Which meant... she shouldn’t have shared her drink with Sharon. Especially not with the same straw!
But she had.@@@@
It meant... she didn’t mind sharing her drink with Sharon. She considered Sharon... acceptable. Clean. Pure.
*Maybe... maybe I’m special to her...*
The thought sent a wave of heat through Sharon’s body, her cheeks burning with a blush she couldn’t control. She quickly lowered her head, taking a large bite of bread, her silvery-gray bangs hiding her face.
She choked, her throat constricting.
Adele, ever attentive, immediately set aside her own food and leaned over, her hand gently patting Sharon’s back.
“Slow down, Sharon. Is it too dry? I’ll get you some water!”
“N-No, it’s okay.”
“I’m sorry. This is all I could afford.”
“I wanted to treat you to a nice meal at the restaurant, but... well, you know.”
“You know” referred to Celeste’s unexpected arrival and the ensuing drama. After that public confrontation, there was no way they could have stayed at the restaurant. So, they had left their food behind, a potential bonus for the waitstaff.
And now, Adele was... broke.
She sighed dramatically, hoping to elicit a bit of sympathy from Sharon.
Sharon, realizing that Adele, the one who was actually poor and vulnerable, had spent her precious allowance on her, felt a surge of guilt. The bread in her hand suddenly felt incredibly heavy.
“Adele, actually, I could...”
She wanted to tell Adele that even though she received very little support from her family, the human government provided her with a generous monthly allowance. And unlike the other Sequence Ones, who seemed to blow through their money on designer clothes and luxury goods, she was a simple girl, her expenses minimal. She had saved quite a bit of money.
If Adele needed it... she would gladly give her everything she had.
Her thoughts were an open book, her sincerity shining through.
If Adele had been a gold-digger, she would have pounced on this opportunity. But she was playing a longer game.
“Could what?” she asked, her voice laced with a playful curiosity.
“I just... I was just thinking that if you need money, Adele, I could give you...”
“Sharon, what are you saying?!”
“Eep...!” Sharon flinched, her shoulders hunching as Adele’s voice rose in indignation.
“How could I possibly take your money? Do you think I need your charity?”
“N-No! I didn’t mean it like that!”
“Whether you meant it or not, Sharon, if you think I’m only being nice to you because of your money, then I’m very disappointed in you.”
Adele bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with a carefully crafted vulnerability.
“Ever since Dorothy set her sights on me, I haven’t had a moment’s peace,” she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“Day after day, I’ve endured their torment, their mockery, their... touch.”
“Because of them, I can’t even have normal friends, normal relationships.”
“But I still crave those things. That’s why I believed Celeste, why I thought she was being sincere.”
“But now... it seems she’s just like the others, a shallow woman who thinks she can buy my affection with material possessions.”
Sharon’s heart ached. She felt like she had been stabbed.
*Shallow... I’m such an idiot...*
She should have realized that if Adele wanted wealth and power, all she had to do was submit to Dorothy. Dorothy could give her everything, far more than Sharon or Celeste could ever hope to offer.
But Adele hadn’t. Because she wasn’t the kind of girl who could be bought. She just wanted... a friend. Someone who cared about her.
And then, something unexpected happened. Something wonderful.
Adele... invited her into her room!
“Come in and sit for a bit~”
“This is the first time I’ve ever invited a friend to my room.”
“It feels... special. And... I’m happy!”
“Aren’t you happy, Sharon?”
“Or... is my room too shabby for you? Do you... disapprove?”
Adele’s emotions were always so intense, so genuine. When she was happy, her entire face lit up, her joy infectious. And when she was sad, or insecure... well, it felt like the world had turned gray, her voice as fragile as a flower wilting in the winter frost.
“You’re my most important friend, Adele... How could I possibly disapprove?”
Adele smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She was facing away from Sharon, so she didn’t have to worry about her expression betraying her true intentions.
She closed the door, the lock clicking shut, sealing them inside.
Sharon’s heart skipped a beat, a strange, unsettling sensation washing over her. It felt like... like she had become the prey, and Adele... was the hunter.
It was a frightening thought.
She couldn’t understand where this feeling was coming from. She didn’t believe Adele would ever hurt her. If there was any danger, she would assume it was coming from someone else, someone lurking in the shadows. She would protect Adele with her life.
But the feeling quickly faded, leaving her feeling foolish for even entertaining such thoughts.
*It’s Adele... There’s no way she’d ever hurt me.*
*Being with her... it’s always safe, always happy.*
“I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me, Sharon.”
Adele turned, her footsteps silent as she approached Sharon, her movements graceful, almost predatory. She wrapped her arms around Sharon’s waist from behind, her warm breath tickling Sharon’s neck.
Sharon shivered, goosebumps erupting on her skin. It was a pleasant sensation, a mixture of fear and excitement that made her head spin.
“A-Adele?”
“You smell so good, Sharon~”
“...!”
What kind of compliment was that? Sharon didn’t understand. She only knew that Adele’s embrace tightened, her body pressing closer, her touch possessive, almost desperate.
Something was wrong. Adele’s sudden shift in demeanor, her intensity... it was unsettling.
But Sharon couldn’t bring herself to pull away. She was addicted to Adele’s touch, to the warmth of her body, to the feeling of being wanted, desired.
Adele nuzzled against her neck, her breath hot on Sharon’s skin.
*It tickles... Ahn~*
After a moment, Adele seemed to realize what she was doing. She released Sharon, her body stiffening as she stumbled back, her back hitting the wall with a thud.
“Ugh...!”
It must have hurt. She was fighting her instincts, her vampire nature, with everything she had.
Sharon finally understood what was happening.
Adele was experiencing blood thirst! She craved blood, her fangs aching, her body trembling with a need she could barely control.
“Sharon... I... I don’t feel right. Go! Leave me alone!”
Her voice shook, her lips pale, her fangs extended. But even in her weakened state, she was trying to protect Sharon, to push her away.
She flung the door open, urging Sharon to leave, to escape.
Sharon’s heart ached. Her eyes, filled with a love that bordered on obsession, locked onto Adele.
She closed the door, locking it, her movements swift, decisive.
And then, under Adele’s shocked gaze, she bit her lip, her cheeks flushing, her resolve hardening.
She slowly began to undress.
Her shirt fell to the floor, followed by her skirt.
“I’m not leaving, Adele,” she said, her voice soft, her gaze unwavering.
“Let me...”
—“Help you with your blood thirst.”