"Mmm… Mom, what's for breakfast?"
"Nothing! Just buy something, I have work. There's freshly cooked rice there."
"Alright. Take care."
"Sheeesh, traffic again… good thing I got on an air-conditioned bus."
"Hello, good afternoon!" she greeted her team leader."Well, another day of pretending." she muttered to herself.
"Haaah… I should stretch a bit, my neck and shoulders are killing me."
"Hey, what are you having for lunch?"
"This? Egg with tomatoes. You?"
"Salt. There's no cooked food at home… I got too lazy to buy."
"Come on, share mine. You've got rice, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Psst, Sapphire." her co-worker nudged her lightly. "Skylark's staring over here again. I think he's looking at you. When I glanced at him, he didn't even look away."
"Maybe you're the one he likes, not me. You're just saying it's me." Sapphire defended.
"Girl, he's coming this way!"
A tall man with striking features approached them.
"Yo!" he greeted.
"Sapphire, I'll head out for a bit."
"Sure."
"Hey, wait... where are you going?" Skylark asked her companion.
"Just gonna buy something."
"I'll come with you."
"Told you. He likes you, not me." Sapphire concluded to herself.
Sapphire opened her eyes.
"So it was just a dream… I thought I was already home."
She slowly sat up, only to feel something under her blanket.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!" she screamed upon seeing a blue wolf lying on her bed, sleeping.
"What happened?!" Ghoth rushed to her door, breathless.
"This! What is this?!" Sapphire asked hysterically upon pointing on the wolf.
"Let me see!" Ghoth stepped closer, then immediately backed away. "Don't wake it. Let's step outside first."
Sapphire followed him, still shaken.
"Good thing it didn't hear you. Its hearing is sharp… maybe big brother is just tired."
"Big brother? You mean Dayesh?"
"Yeah, that's him."
"Then why is he in wolf form?"
"That's one of our abilities." Ghoth transformed into a gray wolf. "Like this."
"I didn't know that… no one told me."
"That was intentional. We were ordered to keep it hidden from humans. I'm just wondering why big brother was in your room."
"I didn't even feel anyone come in. That's why I got so scared."
"What was that scream about?" Khafa asked as he approached.
"Big brother was in Sapphire's room, in wolf form."
"Ah, I see… maybe he didn't realize. But why there?"
"She probably doesn't know either," Ghoth replied.
They then heard footsteps. Dayesh, still in wolf form, walked past them without a word and headed straight into his own room. Dayesh is just pretending he doesn't hear anything from Sapphire's scream up until he got up.
"Weird…" Sapphire whispered, a chill creeping up her spine. "Anyway, I'll prepare breakfast. What do you guys want?"
"Fried rice and eggs," Ghoth and Khafa answered in unison.
"Alright. Can you check on Lzith first? See if she's awake."
"I'll go," Khafa volunteered. "You help Sapphire cook."
In the kitchen, the two began preparing breakfast. It was still dim, around five in the morning.
"Crush this," Sapphire said, handing him garlic cloves while she prepared the eggs and leftover rice.
"Did you get the clothes from where I hid them?"
"Yeah, I did. Thanks, by the way. I said just one, why were there four?"
"They all looked nice, so I bought them. They were cheap anyway, don't worry about it."
"Thanks again."
After cooking, she called Khafa. She considered knocking on Dayesh's door, but hesitated.
"He's probably still asleep… I'll just call him later," she thought.
That night, after having coffee and a cigarette, Sapphire returned to her room to sleep.
Hours passed.
She felt movement on her bed. Uncertain whether it was a dream or reality.
Then… a touch.
Soft. Slow. Exploring.
Her body felt heavy, paralyzed. She tried to speak, but stopped when she recognized him.
"B-big brother… what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Their lips met. She didn't resist, but responded. Their breaths grew uneven as they pulled apart.
"I don't understand why you're doing this… tell me the reason. I don't want to be just someone you use."
"You're not just that, Sapphire," Dayesh said softly. "I'm not good with words, so I make up for it through my actions. I love you. I don't even know when it started… but the more I try to suppress it, the stronger it becomes."
Something in his voice convinced her.
She let go of her doubts.
A part of her wanted this too.
"I've put up a sound barrier," he murmured. "If you can't hold back your voice, don't. I want to hear it."
She could only nod.
His kisses drifted slowly from her ear down to her neck, each touch deliberate, unhurried, as if he was memorizing every inch of her. Sapphire's breath hitched the moment his lips lingered longer than expected, sending a subtle shiver through her body.
"Ahh… big brother…" she whispered instinctively, her voice soft and unsteady.
"Call me by my name, Saph," he murmured near her ear, his breath warm against her skin.
"Aah… Dayesh…"
The moment his name left her lips, something in him shifted.
The restraint he had been holding onto unraveled, replaced by something deeper, more consuming. His movements grew more certain, more intense, yet still careful, as if he feared breaking her even while wanting more of her.
"Dayesh… ahh…" Her body reacted before her thoughts could catch up, her fingers instinctively gripping onto him. "Don't stop…"
Her voice faded into quiet pleas, each breath uneven as sensation built within her.
"I'm… close…" she gasped, pulling him closer without realizing it. "That feels… so good…"
"I'm glad," he replied softly, his voice low, carrying a hint of satisfaction.
"You're too good at this…" she managed to say between breaths. "I might start looking for this again…"
"If it were up to me," he said, almost teasing, "we wouldn't have to stop at all."
She let out a faint, breathless laugh. "You still have work sometimes… it can't be every day."
"Right… I forgot." A quiet chuckle escaped him before his focus returned entirely to her.
Without another word, his attention shifted lower.
"Wait… I just came..." she tried to protest, her voice weak, her body still recovering.
But he didn't stop.
Instead, he continued with quiet determination, drawing soft, uncontrollable sounds from her. Her fingers tightened in his hair, her body responding more intensely than before.
"Don't hold back," he whispered. "I want to hear you."
"Aahhh… aaahhh…" Her voice rose freely this time, unrestrained, until her body trembled and gave in once more.
For a moment, everything stilled.
Her breathing was uneven, her chest rising and falling as she tried to recover. A faint warmth lingered across her skin, her body still reacting to the echoes of what he had done.
Then Dayesh moved again.
He removed the last barrier between them, his form now only faintly outlined in the dim light. Sapphire's eyes, already adjusted to the darkness, traced his figure with quiet curiosity and a hint of hesitation.
Will that even fit…? she wondered silently.
Slowly, she pushed herself up, her hand reaching for him. At first, her touch was unsure, but it didn't take long before it steadied.
"Don't force yourself," Dayesh said gently, watching her. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"I want to," she answered, more certain this time.
He exhaled softly and lay back, allowing her to take control.
Sapphire leaned closer, returning his earlier touches in her own way—slow, curious, gradually gaining confidence. A restrained sound escaped him, one he didn't bother hiding.
"You're making this harder for me," he muttered, his hands tracing along her sides, feeling the subtle tension in her body.
Encouraged by his reaction, she continued, learning him through every small response, until his breathing grew heavier.
"Saph…" he warned softly. "I'm close…"
Moments later, he exhaled deeply, pulling her away just enough to regain control.
But before he could fully recover, Sapphire shifted, moving above him.
"My turn," she said quietly. "I don't… get there if I'm not the one moving."
There was a brief pause.
Then, slowly, she lowered herself, careful, adjusting at her own pace. A soft gasp escaped her lips, her fingers tightening slightly as she steadied herself.
For a moment, she stayed still, feeling, adjusting, before beginning to move.
At first, it was hesitant.
Then, gradually, she found her rhythm.
"Ahh… aaah…" Her voice came out softer at first, then grew louder, more unrestrained as she continued.
Dayesh's gaze never left her. His hands moved to her waist, guiding her gently, helping her maintain balance, matching her pace without overpowering her.
Soon, he began to move with her, their rhythm aligning naturally.
"Haaah… aaah…""Aahhh…"
Their voices blended with uneven breaths, the tension between them rising again—stronger, deeper than before.
Until both of them finally stilled.
A quiet tremor ran through their bodies as everything released at once.
Neither of them moved immediately.
Sapphire slowly collapsed against him, her body still sensitive, her breathing unsteady. Without hesitation, Dayesh wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, holding her as if grounding both of them in the aftermath.
Silence followed.
Later, when everything settled, Sapphire rested against him.
"So… what are we now?" she wondered silently.
"You're mine from now on, Sapphire. Don't look for attention from anyone else. I can give you everything you need," Dayesh said. "I love you."
She fell silent. Felt that he heard her thoughts.
"I don't love you yet… I admire you, yes. But that's not enough," she admitted honestly.
"I'll wait," he replied gently.
He kissed her again, softer this time. Lingering, patient, like he was willing to take all the time she needed.