Hard pants accompanied his frantic and heavy steps as he ran. He couldn't even watch where he was going and took every dark turn there was, hoping to lose whatever was chasing him.
He ran as fast as he could, pushing his lungs and legs to their limit as if they were to fail him then it was the end.
Something was chasing him in the dark, but he couldn't even see who it was or rather... what it was.
It growled, its fangs glinting at the reflection of the moonlight and then there were those glowing red eyes that sent terror into the soul of anyone who came face to face with them.
It was a nightmare.
And then he stumbled, planning to get up and keep running, the creature appeared in front of him with its long fangs on display and eyes that mocked his pointless attempt to flee.
"There's nowhere else to run." It said with a deep and creepy voice causing him to scream.
"Ahhhh!"
"Beep-beep! Beep-beep!" The sound of the alarm clock echoed in the room, followed by the birds tweeting outside his window.
Lucas, a 22-year-old college student currently on summer break, had woken up to find himself on the floor next to his bed after screaming right out of his nightmare with half the blanket rolled over him.
He stared at the ceiling heaving heavily as his heart raced since the terror he felt from that nightmare was so vivid and terrifying.
It was one of those nightmares he had once in a while.
One of those nightmares that made him wonder if he was watching too many horror thrillers as of late.
"Welcome to Cafe De'Lux." Lucas announced with a beaming smile, standing behind the counter of the cafe he was just newly employed in, and watching the customers as they poured in one by one.
After spending a whole day watching YouTube videos and learning how to make espresso, as well as latte and cappuccino, he felt he was ready to start taking customers' orders.
But Devon wasn't going to let him do that until he had confirmed it himself. So, while he made the coffees, Lucas manned the register.
"You'll do fine." Devon said, in an act of encouragement, giving Lucas a bright smile.
That smile melted Lucas' disappointment and he was feeling very excited to do his best by the cash register. He would make Devon proud on his first day.
And he did. He worked with a polite smile, just as Devon had advised him to, but once it was lunch break, where they would lock the cafe for a few minutes thanks to being short-staffed, Lucas slumped at the back where no one could see him.
He was exhausted.
"Hah, who knew it was so tiresome working at a cafe?" He mumbled. "And all I did was man the register. How much more tiresome would it be if I made coffee as well?"
His eyebrows furrowed and he shut his eyes. He would just rest for a few minutes and then pick up something to eat.
Was what he told himself, but then he felt a shadow tower over him. He flickered his eyes open, only to find Devon staring down at him and smiling with his eyes closed.
"You did well." He said, but this startled Lucas.
He sat straight right away and turned his head to Devon.
"B-boss," he stuttered. "I didn't know you were there." Nervously scratching the back of his head, he avoided eye contact, feeling embarrassed that he got caught slacking off on the first day.
"Are you tired?" He asked.
"Oh, uh..."
"It's okay." Devon said and sat on the seat next to him, slumping tiredly. "It's normal to be tired even if all you did was stand next to the register." He sounded so sweet, and Lucas ended up blushing, but he threw his gaze away; he was scared that Devon would notice his blush.
"But I..." He started out again, "I'm not tired." He immediately got up, clenching his fists. "In fact, I'm so pumped up that I can't wait for the lunch break to be over."
"Is that so?" Devon laughed and got up as well. "Well, since you're not tired, then I guess this could be the right time for you to show me your coffee-making skills."
"Ah,"
Lucas gulped, his hand gradually shaking as he carried the little cups used for coffee practice. He was confident that he could make it great but with Devon's eyes on him... He couldn't really pay attention to what he was doing and he was getting increasingly nervous.
"Do you need some help?" Devon asked, out of goodwill but Lucas shook his head right away.
"N-no, I'm fine. I'll be done very soon." He took deep breaths. 'Okay, Lucas. You can do this. Let's show the boss what you can do.'
He soon forgot Devon's piercing gaze on him and focused on what he was doing till he finally made a cappuccino just as he learned.
"I'm done." He announced in excitement, only to turn his head to find Devon staring intently at him.
Lucas wondered if he was reconsidering, considering he took a lot of time to make just one coffee but then he noticed Devon's eyes weren't on the coffee, neither were they on his face but rather on his neck.
He gulped wondering if there was a spider on his neck or something like that.
"Uh, Boss," Lucas called, his voice mellow with uncertainty and Devon snapped out of whatever had kept him in a trance.
"Ah, are you done?" He asked and stepped closer to him.
Lucas gulped once more and nodded. Devon was standing so close to him and it made Lucas wonder what kind of shampoo he used because there was this nice fragrance coming from his hair.
Or was it a Cologne?
And his skin was so pale. It looked like glass.
He started glancing at the little details on Devon's skin. His natural eyeliner was sharp; his eyelashes were longer than an average person and his chin... He looked masculine, no doubt, but at the same time, he looked delicate.
Just like a porcelain doll.
"I think it's good." Devon said, after observing for a short time and Lucas blinked, snapping out of his admiration.
What had he been thinking about all along?
He watched Devon take the cappuccino from him and his eyes followed him.
He moved it to his lips but did not taste it. Rather, he sniffed it lightly and smiled, saying,
"It seems it's all good here. It's almost perfect."
Lucas blushed even harder and Devon raised his gaze, catching Lucas' blush and prompting him to laugh.
"Are you blushing at the compliment?" He asked and took Lucas' hand. "But don't be complacent yet. You still have to show me you can take orders just as they're made."
"Y-yes." Lucas stuttered and looked down at Devon's hand pulling him. 'It's cold.' he thought.
Devon's hand was as cold as ice. It was almost like he was lifeless.
"Forgive me if my cold touch makes you uncomfortable." Devon said, glancing back at him.
"Oh, no. No, it's fine. I..." He pursed his lips. 'Just feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest because you're holding my hand.'
He didn't notice it before but it seemed like what he felt when he saw Devon for the first time was more than just a deep infatuation for Devon's charms. His heart was beating so fast and hard that it almost hurt.
He had real feelings. Feelings that would make him want to burn. Feelings that could choke him up and flinch at the slightest gesture of the man in front of him.
His cheeks burned, but he lowered his head, fearing to get caught before he could even figure out what to do with these feelings.
He was in love with Devon.