"Didn't you hear her say that she doesn't want it?" I recognized the voice immediately. It was Sansula.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" the guys retorted.
Before they could react, Sansula moved swiftly. In a matter of seconds, he had them on the ground, utterly defeated. They scrambled to their feet and ran off, clearly frightened. I hadn't realized just how strong he was.
"The cops have already been called," he said calmly. "So don't worry. Are you okay?"
I collapsed to the ground, overcome with emotion. Tears began to fall freely as humiliation and violation flooded me. Sansula knelt beside me, gently picking up my garments and headscarf. He walked me to the hotel, making sure I was safe.
Once we were inside the room, he positioned his body so he faced the door, deliberately avoiding looking at me. I sat on the bed, my body exposed and vulnerable.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Haniya," he said softly. "You should rest. Go back home tomorrow morning."
I felt a deep sense of dread. "Are you leaving?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I'm scared. Can you stay the night?"
He paused, clearly uncomfortable. "You know that's not an option," he replied gently. "You just attended a lecture about chastity."
"I'm only asking you to stay for my safety," I implored, stepping closer. "Please, don't leave me, Sansula."
I stood up from the bed and approached him, my heart pounding. He immediately averted his gaze, but I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.
"Are you perhaps attracted to me, Sansula?" I asked in a soft, seductive tone.
He pulled away slightly, his discomfort evident. "Don't do this..."
"I don't want any man's attention except for yours," I whispered, my voice low and enticing.
He hesitated. "I can't give it to you, I'm sorry."
"Why not?" I murmured, drawing closer. The natural musk of my fragrance, the allure of my honey-toned skin, my deep blue eyes and curly gray hair—all of it worked to draw him in.
"You are my Adam, Sansula," I continued, my voice growing more urgent. "I know we're forbidden from being in this situation, but please, stay with me. Just for tonight..."
There's an undeniable magnetism about me, a charismatic aura that seems to inspire a certain...devotion in others, sometimes manifesting in desires that could be considered depraved.
My presence seemed to stir something within Sansula. Perhaps it was my appearance, the timbre of my voice, the way I moved, or even the intensity of my gaze. Or maybe it was the musky scent I naturally possess, amplified to an almost intoxicating level. It felt as though I was subtly guiding him toward acts considered beyond the pale.
He moved closer, the moment pregnant with the possibility of a kiss, before hesitating. I closed the remaining distance, an unintentional stumble leading to us falling onto the bed. My lips met his in a surprising, intimate collision. From that accidental spark, a deeper connection ignited, a bonding that transcended the physical.
"You know I lead a double life, don't you?" I murmured.
"Oh?" He replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Yes, I'm Asaliy, the musician."
"That actually explains quite a lot," He admitted, a realization dawning.
"And your secret, Sansula?" I inquired softly.
"That I spent the night here, with you," he confessed.
"And any others?" I teased, a playful chuckle escaping my lips.
"I'm not sure..."
I drifted to sleep enveloped in his arms, my mind replaying a vivid dream: the world consumed by a meteor, the sky bleeding red. I couldn't help but wonder at the symbolism.
The next morning, at the train station, I offered a genuine smile. "Thank you for everything, Sansula. Until next time."
I was captivated by Sansula Badila. In him, I saw something akin to a savior, my Adam. As female homunculi, we are all inherently Eves, and I believed I had found my destined counterpart.
It turned out we both applied to the "Utrecht Metropolitan Self-Development School." The prospect of seeing him again filled me with anticipation.
A few months later, in Tokyo, I stood on stage for my concert. It was a milestone – my first song written entirely in Japanese. Adorned in a kimono, I began to sing this song titled:
"運命の予兆 (Unmei no Yochō - Harbinger of Destiny)".
Here are the lyrics:
赤い海に染 (some) る空 (sora)
Akai umi ni someiru sora
涙 (なみだ) の雨が死 (し) の滝 (たき) に なる
Namida no ame ga shi no taki ni naru
実在 (じつざい) のように僕の静脈 (じょうみゃく) から
Jitsuzai no yō ni boku no jōmyaku kara
血 (ち) が流 (なが) れゆく瞳 (ひとみ) も血 (ち) に染 (そ) まる
Chi ga nagare yuku hitomi mo chi ni somaru
これは一つの人類 (じんるい) の定め (さだめ) だっ た
Kore wa hitotsu no jinrui no sadame datta
壊 (こわ) れてしまった心 (こころ) の欠片 (かけら)
Kudakete shimatta kokoro no kakera
最初から失 (なく) され るはずだった命 (いのち) を語る
Hajime kara nakusareru hazu datta inochi o kataru
人依 (ひとより) に繋が (つなが) ってもそれは別れ (わかれ) のためだけ
Hitoyo ni tsunagatte mo sore wa wakare no tame dake
上から (うえから) の予言 (よげん) は下の (したの) 終わり (おわり) を予言 (よげん) した
Kami kara no yogen wa shita no owari o yogen shita
悲しみ娼婦 (かなしみしょうふ) と呼ばれた彼女は魔女 (まじょ) と言われた
Kanashimi no娼婦 (shōfu) to yobareta kanojo wa majo to sareta
しかしもとうとう彼女が正しかった (ただしかった) と気づくだけ
Shika mo tōtō kanojo ga tadashikatta to kizuku dake
An unforeseen impact Sky dyed crimson by seas coloring red Raindrops turn into waterfalls of death As real as the blood running out of my veins Turning the color of my eyes bloodstained This was all humanity's predestined fate The shattered fragments of broken hearts Speak of the lives meant to be lost from the start Why do souls mate, only to depart? A vision from above prophesied the end of what is below They called her a witch, the Whore of Sorrow Only to realize, in the end, she was right all along
The audience was completely captivated by my performance, as usual, but I couldn't help but notice a hint of fear in their eyes. The intensity of my own emotions during the song made it all the more unsettling.
I had to admit, I too felt a deep sense of unease about what I had just sung. It wasn't like me to create something so dark. I wasn't sure what had inspired it, but the dream I had about the blood meteorite months ago had to be a part of it. The imagery from that vision seemed to have seeped into the lyrics without my conscious control.
Amid the crowd, I spotted familiar faces—Sansula, Benesha, Maria, Tshikuta—and... Minah Sawada? I hadn't seen her in ages.