Wednesday

NamJoon kissed me awake, his fingertips sliding up my dick as soon as my eyes opened. I fought the urge to just give in and squirmed beneath him, pulling my lips from his.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it feel like I'm doing? You've got morning wood, I'm helping you out."
His voice was warm and teasing, his eyes just inches from mine, dark and steady, smiling. It was the light of day and I was supposed to be pulling back, separating myself from the dream of the night before, defending my borders. But he was so close, his thumb sweeping over the head of my cock, dragging through my slit, tricking a moan out of my mouth.
"Fuck it," I thought, and pushed up to capture his lips with mine, closing on their plumpness, opening my mouth and accepting his tongue, greeting it with lapping and sucking. A delicious blend of relaxation, excitement and heat slid down my spine and my hips bucked up into his hand, chasing more of his touch.
I welcomed it, let it flow through me without reservation, let his strokes carry me higher, muscles tensing, slowly building until I exploded in his fist, shooting hot cum over his fingers. Sinking back against my pillow, I threw my forearm over my eyes to avoid watching him lick my jism off his hand.
"Fuck," I moaned. "We have to establish some boundaries."
"Oh? What kind of boundaries?" He sounded far too happy.
"Just...boundaries. Why do I have my own room if you keep sleeping in it? What are you doing waking me up with kisses and handjobs?" I pulled my arm from my eyes to look up at him accusingly, waiting for his answer.
"I told you I like to sleep with you. I think we should share a bedroom. After we fuck, I just want to stay. Next time we can do it in my room, then I guess you can leave if you want to." He shrugged. "But I want you to stay. And I told you I was just trying to help you with your morning wood. Don't pitch a tent and I won't be tempted."
I sat up to frown at him. Lying down was not the proper position to win an argument. "We'll fuck in your room and I'll leave immediately. Then you won't have to worry about me 'pitching any tents'."
"If you say so. We'd better start getting ready or you'll be late for school. And I've got a meeting. Wanna shower together?" He slid off the bed and raised his eyebrows in invitation.
"No," I said firmly. "I am not showering with you."
"Fine, I'll go back to my own room. Maybe next time, though. I'm sure it's hard for you to wash yourself with that cast on your arm and I think I'd be really good at it."
I stared daggers at him as he left the room, apparently planning to take the long walk back to his own suite completely naked.

"YoonGi DongSaeng, have I ever told you about the time Na BoYoung and I hung out with these two mixed-bloods from France? We met them at the airport on our way back from Thailand…"
I took another bite of my lunch and tried to block out the asshole's voice. It had been strange to come to school, I'd only been absent for Monday and Tuesday, but the four days that I'd been gone felt like a lifetime. So much had happened, and so many things had changed within me, that I felt as if I should be beyond school, as if I'd grown up over night and left the juvenile world of notes, worksheets and tests behind. But class was still in session, it was still the law that I attend, and the students and staff of Golden Mountain Academy had all been frothing at the mouth for my return.
If they'd been treating me like a local hero on Friday after NamJoon verbally staked his claim, they were now worshipping me as a demigod. A group of students had formed a clique with me at the center. They'd been up my ass all morning, chattering and laughing like they were in a backpack commercial, as if they were oblivious to the fact that I was mostly ignoring them.
The guy next to me gave my shoulder a light slap, breaking me out of my reverie. "We should come and visit you sometime at NamJoon's place. That would be awesome. We could have a party."
A direct question. I sighed and said, "It probably isn't a good time for that."
"Ah, yeah. What about a club? We could all go to a club together. What kind of music do you like?"
I thought of The Interlude and Natz, imagined them invaded by hoards of preening rich teenagers, pretending to like rap. It made me nauseous. "I like rap and hip hop, but I don't go to clubs."
"Not at all? You know, it makes a huge difference when you're able to get a VIP table. It's so much more fun." He looked over at one of the girls. "Doesn't Honey play rap sometimes? I swear Drake was playing when Choi MinSoo knocked over that champagne tower."
Before the girl could answer, another guy interrupted with a loud laugh. "That was the best fucking night of my life. I've never seen that place so turned up. Some random Low Mix just walked up and gave me head on the dancefloor. If she'd been a little prettier, I would've taken her home."
A second girl joins his laughter. "Her friends probably dared her to do that. I've played that game before."
"What do you think, YoonGi Dongsaeng? Come out to the club with us on Saturday night. And bring Kim NamJoon."
"Like I said, I'm not interested in clubs." I took another bite of my food and wondered if there was somewhere I could hide after I'd finished my plate. I imagined them whooping it up in the library, following me to the restroom and chattering at me over the door of the stall. They were determined to attach themselves to me.
"Ah, well, maybe next time. Give me your number and I'll text you when we get there just in case you change your mind and want to join us."
"I have to keep my number private," I answered. There was no way I was giving any of these idiots my phone number.
One of the girls started exclaiming stupid questions. "What? You can't go to clubs and you can't share your number? Is Kim NamJoon a dom?"
While I fought with my frustration, a guy jumped in. "A dom? I've never heard of him acting like a dom. Isn't he known for being nice when he fucks? He didn't give me orders or anything."
"Maybe that's what makes you special?" the girl asked, eyeing me for clues.
"He's not a dom," I said tightly and shoved another bite of food into my mouth.
"Too bad. He probably looks great with a whip in his hand."
I tightened my fingers around my chopsticks. I hated these people. I'd hated them since I started at GMA, hated them more because they wouldn't leave me the fuck alone now that I was NamJoon's...whatever...and really hated the fact that most of them seemed to have been fucked by NamJoon and weren't afraid of talking about it as casually as if they'd once lent him a pencil in class.
I told myself that it was only natural. That NamJoon had needed to feed and he'd been attending GMA for years, of course he'd made his way through a good part of the student body. But that didn't stop me from wanting to kill all of them and then go home and cut NamJoon's dick off.
"Hey, Dongsaeng."
I looked up to see one of the guys at the table looking at me, a High Vampire, most of the people who had the balls to congregate around me were high in demon blood. His eyes were intent and he said, "Just come out with us."
I screamed. A little from shock, but mostly because the words were like rusty nails piercing into my brain, razor blades swimming under my skin. I gasped for air, trying to push back on the agony, the sudden sickly, sticky need to agree to go with them.
"You fucking bastard." My voice was a mix of anger and the struggle to breathe, to maintain my composure. "You're using your Seduction on me?"
I forced myself to stand up. Everyone was staring at me, speechless. Rage was building in my blood, fueled by pain, and as I stared at them a switch flipped. They were not more powerful than me. I was no longer the poor scholarship student scurrying off to a corner to avoid the big dogs. I was the fucking big dog. They were gathering around me acting out the charade that we were friends because they were hoping I would drop a few crumbs of power. The power was mine.
"You're Kwon SungHoon, right?" I asked, staring directly at the idiot who'd thought he could fucking control me. He looked ready to shit his pants. He didn't answer, he was probably too scared to even open his mouth.
I grabbed my cell phone, unlocked it with my thumb, quickly took a picture of him and sent a text to Han Min Gyu. [ This guy, Kwon SungHoon?, used his seduction on me. It's very painful. ]
"He's probably going to kill you," I said calmly, glancing up from my phone to see that the guy was standing up shakily from his seat. "That's okay, right? You High Vampires think it's just fine to use, abuse and kill humans as you please. Isn't it time you had a taste of your own medicine?"
He ran, disappearing into the crowded room. A girl at the table started saying, "Wow. That guy was so out of line. He probably-"
I leveled a stare at her that had her choking on her words. "Pick up your things and get the fuck out of here. We aren't friends and we never will be. I don't want you anywhere near me."
I flicked my eyes around the table to make sure they all knew my words applied to each and every one of them. They scattered, leaving a weird silence in the packed cafeteria as everyone stared at me. I sat back down. Not because I was a badass who was going to calmly go back to eating after threatening a guy's life, but because the pain from the Seduction was still there, the nausea growing.
I thought back to the time the High Vampire had used his Seduction on me in the hallway and NamJoon had stopped him from taking me to the chem lab. The pain he'd caused had gone away when NamJoon touched me. What if NamJoon was the only remedy? Would the pain stay until he touched me? Would it just dissipate really slowly? Or maybe suddenly go away?
I decided I didn't want to wait around to find out. I grabbed my phone and stood up, all eyes on me as I stalked past the other tables and out of the room. I sent another text, this one to NamJoon, as I walked. [ Ru at your office? Omw there. Need u 2 make pain go away. ]
My phone started ringing just before I reached the front entrance of the school. I flicked a look at the guard who manned the little booth next to the doors. He wasn't trying to stop me or ask for a pass, instead he stood up to bow as I walked by.
"Are you okay? What's going on?" NamJoon's concern, laced with a ribbon of fear, was heavy in his voice.
"Yeah. Some prick used his Seduction on me. I think if anyone besides you tries to use Seduction on me it hurts like a bitch and makes me sick. If I'm right, you just need to touch me and it'll go away. I'm gonna take a taxi to your office." I reached up and rubbed the cast that encased my broken wrist over my forehead. The light of the sun was making my nausea worse.
"What the fuck? Who? Who tried to Seduce you?" His words were full of growl.
"Don't worry. I already contacted Han MinGyu."
"Alright. I'll get an update from him," he said after taking a moment to calm down. "Maybe we should install a helicopter pad at the school. Then, if you ever needed me again we could get to each other faster."
"That's insane. I really don't think anyone's going to fuck with me again. Han MinGyu will take care of this guy and send a message to the rest of the school."
I fought off feelings of guilt, reminding myself that the guy had no right to try to control me just because I'm human. I couldn't stop the words that suddenly leapt from my mouth. "I'm not doing it anymore. I'm not letting those bastards have the upper hand just because they have vampire blood. I can't do it anymore."
My voice came out in an emotional whine, weak and overtaxed. NamJoon was silent for a few seconds. I noticed a taxi coming up the street and waved it down.
"Okay," he said, his voice gently soothing. "We're not going to let them hurt you again. I'm not, and you're not."
"Okay," I repeated, moving the phone away from my mouth to give the taxi driver my destination. I suddenly felt very tired. "Hyung, I'm gonna get off the phone. I wanna lay down for the trip."
"That sounds good. Have the taxi drop you off at the front entrance. I'll be waiting for you."

He was on the sidewalk when I stepped out of the taxi, ready to pull me into his arms. I sighed as the pain immediately drained away. His embrace tightened.
"I want you to know that I don't think I have the upper hand over you. You have the upper hand over me. I think...No, I believe you always did. My life and my happiness, everything depends on you."
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed myself closer against him, not caring that we were in the middle of sidewalk traffic, just wanting to absorb a little more of his strength and comfort.

"Pull over here and drop me off. Find a place to park, I'll call when I'm ready to be picked up."
"Yes, Seonbi," my chauffeur answered and stopped so that I could get out of the car.
I slipped off my school blazer and tie before I stepped out into the sunshine to follow the sidewalk back to a small park that I'd noticed as we were driving. It was warmer than I'd expected. I unfastened a couple of buttons on my white shirt and rolled up my sleeves, wanting to feel more of the sun on my skin.
I had a lot to think about. Issues that wouldn't sit well on my mind unless I took the time to figure them out. I found a quiet bench in the sun, settled onto it and pulled out my phone to send Han MinGyu a text.
[ Don't kill him. ]
I waited for his answer, watching a mother play with her tiny little girl in the grass, wondering if my text would come too late and what that would mean for the weight that was settling heavier and heavier on my shoulders.
[ Yes, Seonbi. ]
I sighed as I read his response, feeling a little bit of relief, raising my hands to wipe over my face, trying to clear away the idea that I had basically ordered a sunbae's death. Maybe. I didn't really know what Han MinGyu had planned. I only knew the threat NamJoon had growled in the hallway. 'Anyone who touches this guy is dead.' Those were the orders that I'd expect Han MinGyu to follow.
My phone dinged and I looked back down at it to see another text from Han MinGyu.
[ How much did it hurt? ]
[ Like fucking hell. ] I answered. Choi SungHoon deserved punishment, he needed to be an example to others. This was right. This is what needed to happen. Even if it still felt shitty.
I sighed and thought about turning my phone off but couldn't do it. What if NamJoon tried to call me? What if Han MinGyu wanted confirmation on something? It didn't feel right to completely disconnect. Instead, I pushed my phone to the end of the bench, as if the short distance somehow made a difference.
I was on the other side. The fact was solidifying as each moment passed and I needed to figure it out, to get my feet firmly planted on the ground. To stop fighting it. I'd been whining and brooding about boundaries and defenses and it had all been a waste of time. There was no questioning or fending off my feelings for NamJoon. They'd been decided by fate, carved on my bones, they rose up from the deep and there was no sense running. Maybe it was going to take me some time to get used to it, to settle into it, but those tiny snowflakes...I wanted more of them. I wanted them to stay and never melt away. Even if it was scary, even if it changed everything, even if it changed me. Even if thinking about it made me breathless, I was going to close my eyes and sink into that ocean, learn to breathe and to swim moment to moment, day by day.
I was going to have to learn to function in this new world. A world that was wealth, power and opportunity. A life where I wasn't going to have to claw and fight my way towards my own goals, where I was no longer constrained by the opinions of others and the waiting maw of my future.
The problem was that I'd been defining myself by that struggle. I was MinYoonGi, poor bastard, trapped by my circumstances, hiding from the world, fighting alone. I'd been clinging tightly to that persona, as if my existence depended on it, not willing to give up even a hair of who and what I'd thought I was. It was all so ephemeral, once so solid that it felt like a dungeon, but vanishing in a moment. I'd tried to cling to it, but there was never really anything for me to hold onto.
I'd grappled with the question of who I was for so long, but here I was. I was just this. This body sitting on a bench in the sun. This mind that held a shifting collection of feelings, opinions and intentions. My circumstances were not me. My thoughts and emotions were not me. I was the one experiencing all of those things. And I could be a boat adrift in the ocean, trapped by my situation, swirling in my stream of consciousness, helpless in the grasp of my feelings, or I could stand tall and rule them all.
I could choose to accept those things that were unchangeable. NamJoon and I were bound by the A Doua Inima. I was no longer at the bottom, I was at the very top. I could make the best of where I was and continue to push towards my goals. Just as I always had. That was me, the determination, the hard work and the drive to succeed. That was pure. That was what I would fight to maintain. The setting didn't matter, put me in any station and I would strive to excel.
After I'd arrived at his headquarters, NamJoon had taken me to lunch and talked to me about being homeschooled. It was an option. It would get me out of GMA for good. But I'd been hesitant to agree. Now I looked at the opportunity and saw it for what it was, just another way for me to hide. I could close myself up in NamJoon's mansion and avoid the world, it would be one step deeper than I'd been just a month ago, speaking to very few people, hiding in my dorm room. In a prison that I'd created for myself and labeled a sanctuary. It was no longer enough.
I had to make the most of school, just like I'd learned to make the most of a handful of change, my skills and possibilities. I needed to learn to manage in my new position, to use power, to work with people, and where else to do that than in the microcosmos of a high school? The idea made me uneasy, but that was all the more reason to do it. Fighting through, growing and learning, those were the only ways to master my new station. Anything less and I would end up a bloodpet, a fate that I would defy until my last breath.

I felt easier, stronger, suddenly unbound. I'd been keeping myself in an invisible cage and now I was free. I went shopping, bought a bag for my mother, a laptop for my father and a fancy set of pots and pans for my brother. I had them sent to our little apartment in Daegu, an apartment they wouldn't live in for long. I had NamJoon's power and his wealth. My family would no longer struggle.
I bought myself a mixing board, a synthesizer and a laptop. I bought myself whatever the fuck caught my eye in the music store. I didn't hold back. There was no need.
When I got back to the mansion it was after dark and I was caught up in plans for a studio to work in, trying to make decisions. Should I turn the office in my suite into a studio? Should I ask the servants to prepare a separate room? Should I rent space somewhere close by, so that working on music felt serious and like 'going to work'. I could easily have a studio at the mansion and one at a different location, but would that be overkill? I wondered if NamJoon had an opinion, but I was sure that if I brought the issue up I'd end up with a production company and a set of offices. He never did things small.
I walked out to the terrace and looked up at the sky. The wind had picked up and blown the smog away, leaving a clear sky filled with scattered stars, burning bright against the darkness. I wondered about those stars, had they tied the strings of fate that bound me to NamJoon? If so, maybe I should be grateful to them. Maybe or probably. Things had changed for me, for the better.
I would make sure that it was for the better.