Mon Amour // ATEEZ

5 Dinner with a view

(Hongjoong's pov)

I'm going, no I'm not, yes I am.

Ah, I dread the thought of attending that dinner. I can't even eat normal human. Um, I mean human food. It's all the same. As I continued to pace back and forth in my office, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. The prospect of attending a dinner with humans after so many centuries made me question my decision.

Why was I feeling so apprehensive? It's merely a dinner, nothing more. But then again, it's my first time attending one in 371 years. Just contemplating whether or not I should grace the humans with my presence tonight.

Just as I was about to make up my mind and cancel my attendance, Dalhae barged into my office. I sighed, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement at her presence.

"Are you going or not, mister? The team has been waiting for you for half an hour" She questioned, casually leaning against the door frame. Her attire consisted of a peculiar black cow skin vest paired with pants that seemed like they were made to suffocate her.

"I'm struggling with the decision" I admitted, averting my gaze to avoid her piercing eyes.

"Come on, it's just dinner. Besides, it's your first social outing in a what, a few hundred years?" She remarked, teasingly. "You might actually enjoy yourself, but please like, don't bite any necks..." She looked around. "For now"

That made me smirk, damn it.

I sighed, knowing she has a point. "Fine, I'll attend. But only if you promise to keep me entertained for the entirety of the evening" I conceded. Dalhae grinned mischievously. "Sure, vampire boy. Now let's go before the humans starve"

We made our way to the dinner venue, a grand mansion filled with chandeliers and hints of a lavish feast. As we entered, the chatter of human voices surrounded us. I couldn't help but feel out of place.

Taking our seats at the long, polished oak table, I found myself positioned opposite Dalhae. Compared to my own dining table back home, this one paled in comparison. Before I could even settle into my chair, a barrage of questions came hurtling towards me.

"So, mister Hongjoong, what's it like being a vampire?" A random man asked, a crew member I'm guessing. I clenched my jaw.

"Well, it's how I've lived now" I politely responded. I can't tell them everything, I don't want to.

Dalhae continued to observe me intently, her eyes narrowed. Sensing an opportunity, another crew member chimed in, eager for more details. "And just how old are you, really?" I clenched my fists, sharp nails digging into my palms.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Seonghwa approaching Dalhae, leaning in to whisper something in her ear. She giggled as if whatever he said was the funniest thing she had ever heard. I struggled to conceal the disgust that threatened to reveal itself on my face, quickly regaining my composure.

She's assigned to me. She is mine for now. She always wear a mask of indifference. I can sense her dislike for me, her distrust lingering underneath her polite facade. Well, polite when she wants to. It fuels my frustration and intensifies my struggle to keep my emotions in check.

Yesterday, Dalhae brought me to the sea. A swarmed of emotions went through me as I remembered my past. My home. The grip of this relentless torment refuses to release me. I yearn to break free, but fate has conspired against me since the moment I regained consciousness. I wasn't meant to wake up at all.

The relentless barrage of questions digging deeper into my past pushed me closer to the precipice of my sanity. The pressure built, threatening to consume me entirely. But just as I teetered on the edge of explosion, a deafening crash erupted from the kitchen, capturing the attention of everyone present.