- I -

Have I set an appointment with the dentist?

What if he doesn't like me?

What the heck is she wearing? Seriously?

I scanned the café…

Shit, I left my keys in my car!

He's late again.

Hm… Chocolate or Vanilla?

…as I unwillingly trespassed into the minds of everybody within the radius of this unusual gift I've had since I was a child.

I'll get vanilla. But it's more expensive though.

He's finally here.

Some people would want this kind of ability but I personally think that it's a pain in the ass. It deprives me of peace. It defeats the purpose of going to a café, which is to find solace so that I can read in peace. Anywhere where I'm not alone is too crowded and noisy for me, most of the time. There are days when it just stops, but those days are rare. I wish they could come by more often because I need it in my life.

"One Americano for Karen!"

I grabbed my coffee, and went on my way, out the café and into the streets of New Orleans.

The streets were lively, as usual. People went about their businesses. You'd observe some people walking fast as if they're racing against time, while the others, walking slow, in their own pace. Regardless of their speed, it seems as if everyone is so detached from the present. Too occupied by what they have to do in the future; too occupied to connect with the people around them.

As if to ease the pain caused by my ability to read mines and to tone down the noise, I grabbed a book and buried my nose in it as I walked back to my house from school. I could get to my home with my eyes closed so I walked assured that I wouldn't get lost since I wasn't looking at where I was going. I failed to consider the fact that I wasn't the only person on the pavement. As I walked, I felt myself bump into what felt like I wall. I felt myself falling backward and so I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact… But it never came. Instead, I felt a hand wrap around my waist and a velvety voice with a British accent.

"I got you, love."

I opened my eyes to see a pair of beautiful brown eyes staring into my soul. His face was so tantalizing. There was something evil about his expression but at the same time, there's a hint of gentleness barely surfacing. As if he's trying to hide it. After what seemed like hours of staring into his eyes, my telepathy acts up. In a span of a few seconds, I felt his entire life story spill from his mind, and judging by his expression, he knew.

There were so many images. As if he has lived since the medieval period. So many memories of blood. Impossible. Vampires aren't real. They can't be.

He slowly unwrapped his hands from my waist.

"What are you?" I asked, dazed by a thousand years' worth of memories I had to absorb in matter of seconds.

"How did you- you cannot be a witch."

"Excuse me? Does this face look anything like a witch to you?" Despite the situation that I was in that could possibly pose as a threat to my life, I still managed to joke around. He chuckled.

"You can't be a vampire. They're just a myth. They're fictional. They can't-"

"Apparently they're real, and they're as real as the person standing in front of you, darling. Now tell me, how did you do what you just did a while ago?"

"I can- wait. Why should I tell you? I don't even know who you are."

I started to back away but he placed a hand behind my neck to keep be from getting farther and to lessen the gap between our faces.

"You are going to tell me who you are and how you were able to read my mind." He said as he looked me in the eyes intently.

"No way. I've seen what you're capable of and I will not make the mistake of trusting you."

He was obviously shocked at how I responded to his command as if things didn't go the way he expected them to be. I grabbed that short moment as a chance to run away from him. I turned my back and ran as fast as I could away from where he stood.

After what seemed like forever, I was able to reach my apartment in one piece without having to bump into that creature-whatever he may be. Despite knowing how dangerous he was, I felt something pulling me to him as if I needed to get to know him more; to understand him more. But I guess my instincts got the best of me and so I ended up running away from him.