Chapter 16: Sweet Happiness

Happiness comes in all sorts of flavors, and everyone has a different feeling for it. My happiness is sweet, just like a full jar of "White Rabbit" milk candies, just like the feeling of being so close to Gareth right now.

"Are you tired?"

I shook my head and smiled foolishly.

Gareth adjusted his glasses and smiled back.

"Gareth."

"Mhm?"

"Can we... go take some photos? Please?"

Gareth looked at me with a bit of surprise, then nodded. "Alright. Whatever Rory wants is fine."

Such a doting tone.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"Then don't ever leave again. Stay with me forever, okay?" I pushed my luck.

"Silly child." Gareth pinched my nose and turned back to wipe the windows.

I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, holding him tight.

"I am a child."

"Rory," Gareth said, placing a hand over my cold ones as he turned around.

Feeling mischievous, I stood on my tiptoes and tilted my head up.

When my warm, soft lips touched his, Gareth’s rare smile froze on his face.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and refused to let go.

"Why are you so cold?" Gareth cupped my face and looked at me closely. "Are you sick?"

I startled and instinctively took a step back.

"What’s wrong?" Gareth watched me.

I shook my head and managed a strained smile.

At Gareth’s insistence, I sat to the side and did not participate in the grand cleaning mission. By the time the cleaning was finished, night had already fallen.

Sitting on the sofa, I stared blankly toward the bathroom, carefully blinking away the misty haze in my eyes.

Gareth is back. He... is finally back.

It wasn't a dream.

"The hot water is ready," Gareth called out, poking his head from the bathroom. "It’s the bubble bath Rory likes best."

I snapped out of it, gave a quick response, and stood up to walk into the bathroom.

"Take a bath first, I'll go make dinner."

Seeing him turn to leave, I hurried forward and hugged him.

"Rory?" Gareth paused, slightly stunned.

I slowly pressed my cheek against his warm back, holding him tightly and stubbornly refusing to let go.

"Why are you still so cold?" With a low sigh, he turned around and took my hands in his warm, slender ones.

I looked up at him and reached out to take off his glasses, which were fogged with steam. His eyes were very beautiful—deep grey eyes. When those eyes looked at me, there was a tenderness that felt as though it could drown me.

Standing on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips against his, kissing him somewhat clumsily.

His lips were very warm.

Gareth froze for a moment, then reached out to pull me into his arms. "What is really going on, Rory?"

"I'm just a little cold." I lowered my head against his chest and clenched my fists, biting down hard to suppress the fangs that were nearly out of control.

"Be good. Take a bath, and I'll go make dinner." He patted my head, took his glasses, and turned to leave the bathroom. His movements were so natural, just as they were five years ago, as if he had never left—as if those long five years were merely my delusion, and all the previous events were just a nightmare.

If only... it were just a nightmare?

Stripping off my clothes, I lay in the water, staring off into space.

"Rory, did you fall asleep?" After some time, Gareth’s voice came from outside the door.

"Ah... no." I hurriedly stood up, dried myself, and put on the pajamas Gareth had left aside.

Wiping the steam off the mirror and combing my damp hair, I looked at myself in the reflection and couldn't help but laugh. There was a large pink pig printed on the pajamas—plump and looking full of happiness.

In the eyes of a happy person, everything looks like happiness.

To me, Gareth is happiness. After drying my hair, I walked out of the bathroom.

The thick soup on the table emitted curls of fragrant steam. I sat down beside Gareth.

"Why are you staring off? Aren't you hungry?" Gareth tapped the table lightly and smiled at me.

I came back to my senses and stared blankly at him.

I am hungry...

I could even hear the sound of the blood flowing through his veins... I felt every cell in my body screaming; they wanted to drink...

"Rory? Rory?"

"Mhm." I gulped, forcing myself to distract my attention.

"Do you want some juice?"

I reached out to take the juice Gareth handed me and lowered my head to sip it slowly.

After dinner, Gareth stood up to clear the dishes. I got up and followed him into the kitchen, then back to the living room, trailing him every step of the way.

In one turn, he nearly collided with me.

"Rory, go to sleep first, alright?"

"Will you..."

"Yes?"

"Will you... leave quietly again?" I opened my mouth and forced the words out.

Gareth stared at me blankly. Behind the thin lenses, those deep grey eyes showed a moment of trance before he smiled. "Of course not."

Only then did I walk into the bedroom with a sense of peace.

"Rory, your room is next door."

I ignored him and went straight into Gareth’s room, disregarding his wry smile.

Lying on the bed, I stared out the window at the bright moon. Since being turned into a vampire, my hearing, vision, and sense of smell had become exceptionally keen; I could hear the sound of Gareth washing the dishes.

Just listening to that sound gave me an extraordinary sense of security.

A shadow suddenly appeared by the window. I blinked and saw Alastor hanging upside down outside like a bat.

Scrambling up, I opened the window. "What are you doing out there?!" I ground my teeth, keeping my voice low.

"You've abandoned me..." With his blue eyes staring at me, Alastor looked full of accusation.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Stop joking and go."

"Hungry?" Blinking, Alastor leaned in with a grin.

I subconsciously gulped, then hurriedly shook my head.

Alastor raised his hand; he was holding a bag of blood plasma. "I stole it from the hospital specifically for Rory. It’s Type O!"

Watching him wave the bag of plasma back and forth, my eyes followed it until I finally couldn't help but snatch it away and begin to drink greedily.

"Slow down, slow down. Poor child, you must be starving." Alastor patted my back gently with a pained expression.

I wanted to laugh, yet I also wanted to cry.

The bag of plasma was emptied in an instant, and I licked my lips, still wanting more.

"Come on, let me take you to get something delicious," Alastor smiled.

I took a step back and shook my head. "I'm not going."

"Does he know what you are?" Alastor narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

I bit my lip.

"You'd rather starve to death than come with me?"

Outside the door, the sound of Gareth’s footsteps grew closer.

I pushed Alastor away. "I'd rather starve to death. I'm not leaving."

"Do you know what he is?" Alastor suddenly leaned in and whispered.

"I won't let you hurt him!" I glared at him.

"Are you sure I even could hurt him?" Alastor chuckled lightly.

The doorknob turned gently; Gareth was already at the door.

Alastor gave me one last look and jumped out the window. I hurriedly threw the empty blood bag out after him, wiped my mouth, and lay down.

What did Alastor’s last words mean? What is Gareth? Gareth is human, of course.

Gareth opened the door and walked in. I closed my eyes.

A pair of warm, large hands gently stroked my cheek. "Rory, are you asleep?"

I kept my eyes closed and said nothing.

After a long moment of silence, I suddenly felt a warmth on my forehead—his lips had gently kissed my brow with a cautious tenderness.

If I could still have a heartbeat, it would be racing like a drum right now; if I could still have color, my cheeks would be burning like fire.

But now, I could only quietly savor this happiness.

I felt him lie down beside me, wrapping me carefully in his arms.

It was very warm.

I lay in his embrace, motionless. In the darkness, my vision was exceptionally clear; I traced the lines of his features and savored the warmth I had waited five years for.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Gareth suddenly opened his eyes.

Caught in the act, I lowered my gaze and mumbled, "I’m afraid you'll disappear."

"Silly child..." Gareth laughed and pulled me a bit closer. "Why is your body so ice-cold?"

I didn't answer and closed my eyes.

"Rory, shall we go to the amusement park tomorrow?" In the darkness, he held me and whispered in my ear.

I didn't move my eyes, but I instinctively gripped his sleeve tighter.

Five years ago, he had said the same thing to me, but when I woke up the next morning, he was gone.

And so, I waited for five long years.