Lured by the Moon

People could only gawk at the scenes, no words were said except for the drop-dead silence that fills the atmosphere. Some of the girls in the seats were stunned by the handsome man who was in their row. He had shoulder-length luscious hair that would make any female drool over his appearance. 

As his olive-brown chest was obscure through the thin, damp shirt that clings to the skin. Sebastian tries to take a deep breath. The day just keeps getting worse and worse. As if the world wants to test his self-restraint. 

Turning his neck around to see who was foolish enough to pour scorching, fresh coffee over his head accidentally or not. It was the same stunning woman wearing an all black outfit with piercings on belly buttons and striking red hair. 

She had a sheepish smile, as if she was truly embarrassed about what happened. She stutters, "Oh... I truly apologize for what happened."

She takes a napkin out of her pocket out of nowhere. She approaches him as she tries to wipe the damp coffee. Before she had the chance to touch him, he had reached out to clasps her hand and smiled sweetly, despite the mocking within his eyes. "It's alright. There's no need, but I'll be taking this."

The red-haired woman stepped back upon noticing the discomfort on his face at her distance, but she ignored it as if she didn't notice it. She offers with a soft smile, "I had an extra pair of shirts in my car. Why don't I grab it for you as an apology?"

Sebastian was about to refuse, but the woman was stubborn and determined. "Please let me do this. Or I will feel guilty." 

Before he could respond with a reluctant sigh, they were interrupted by some of the people in the back who said with an annoyed tone, "Hey. If you're going to continue talking, please leave. Some of us actually want to watch the movie, while you're fooling around."

The red-haired woman was about to retaliate, but Sebastian grabbed her wrist before she would have responded. "Hey. Let's just ignore them. I'll take that shirt."

How annoying! For once, I try to do something nice. How come this happens to me?

Sebastian tilts his head toward Atlas in a gesture for him to follow her out of the theater, where the sounds of the movie continue playing.

Ahead, the woman walks forward with a confidence that would have been a temptation for Sebastian under different scenarios.

Lost in thought, he didn't hear the woman's inquiries. Sebastian was kicked on the side of his ribs, an ache that lingers. 

He glares playfully at Atlas, "What do you think you're doing?" 

Atlas knew that Sebastian wasn't truly angry, so he wasn't intimidated by his scowl. He whispers in a soft voice, although he didn't hear the annoyance dripping in his tone, "She's talking to you."

Turning back to the woman who was looking at him with a frown, she realized that he wasn't paying attention at all.

His lips pulled into an apologetic smile, "My bad. I was lost in my thoughts."

She rolled her eyes, "Yea. I noticed that."

As they walked outside, they stopped before a large black truck with dark tinted windows. She walks on the side, disappearing for a while until she carries out a towel and folded clothes. 

As she passed the clothes and the towel over to him, he could see her pale, fragile neck. A scorching thirst spread through his throat, a sign that he's starving for fresh blood. 

As he curves his lips into a sweet smile, hiding his inner thoughts that wouldn't appear on his face. Taking the stuff into his hands, he whispers near her ears. His voice was soft and barely audible, yet his voice was alluring and sensual. 

He smiled upon the sound of her heartbeat that quickens at the sound of his voice. He knew—she fell for his trap like a beguiling human ensnared by a siren's song. 

Before he walked away, she had grabbed his hands and looked at him with the familiar suggestive glance. Hesitation flickers across her eyes before her eyes become determined, she takes a pen out of her pocket and writes on his hand. A phone number.

How much stuff does she have in her pocket? Too bad, it won't matter. She won't see the sun in the morning. 

He thought with a sickeningly sweet smile that the woman didn't notice his face before he walked away and saw that Atlas was waiting for him near the building where they walked out.

Arching a brow, he could see something unpleasant within Atlas's eyes, something he didn't understand. Approaching him, he grins mischievously at him, "What's the matter with you?"

Atlas huffs as he crossed his arms, "What did you whisper in her ear? What did she write on your hand?"

Sebastian snorts as he responds, "None of your business. Don't be too nosy."

Atlas follows Sebastian inside the building, irritation and flicker of unpleasant emotion rises to a new height, an unfamiliar feeling that makes his throat taste bitter. 

Sebastian turns around with a wave of his hand before going into the bathroom, "Stay here. Wait here while I change my clothes."

Atlas stays outside the bathroom. He didn't realize they stopped before the bathroom. He was absorbed in his thoughts. He didn't understand why he was feeling this way. He didn't like how he was feeling. Complication feelings ran through his heart, confusion and irritation burned inside his chest as he exhales a soft sigh. 

He realized he held some sentiment value for Sebastian in some ways. It makes sense. He's the one who saved his life in the darkest moment, where he never thought he would find a warm light in the dark tunnel, where he was filled with despair and resentment. 

Although he's aware that Sebastian is a complicated man. Someone who's cloaked with danger and suspicion. Although there's a part of him that denies it, but deep down, he's intrigued by him. He wants to know more about him, even though he feels apprehensive and wary toward him.