The college classes were painfully dull, and time felt like it had come to a standstill. The minutes refused to move, and the lecture was unbearable. Renan had enrolled in college to get a decent job after finishing it, but the truth was he didn't even like the course he had chosen.
It was really just a way to secure a diploma and a stable future.
The professor kept speaking in her usual monotone, and to make matters worse, she didn't even have an appearance that could distract the students. She was one of those grumpy old women no one could bring themselves to like.
Even the nerds in class couldn't stand her, and by the look on everyone's faces, it was obvious.
Everyone seemed to silently thank God when the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class. Students quickly stood up and began leaving the room to grab something to eat during the break.
"Hey, Renan, are you okay?" a blond-haired guy asked, approaching him after noticing his friend staring absentmindedly out the window to his right.
"Oh, yeah." Renan replied with a smile, snapping out of it and turning his gaze away from the sky outside the building. "Why do you ask?"
"You look kinda pale, and your eyes… they seem a bit weird too."
"Huh? Really?"
The blond guy nodded.
"Yeah, man, you were acting kinda strange in class too. You were staring at everyone." A tall broad-shouldered student said, joining them.
Renan hadn't noticed it himself, but it was true
He had been acting strangely during class. He had been staring at people with a strange, almost vacant look in his eyes, and only when someone noticed and looked back at him did he shift his gaze elsewhere, as if lost in thought.
And wasn't like he was exactly the class weirdo, someone else already held that title. — A girl with pink hair, who was always quiet and never interacted with no one in class, not even with teachers.
But it was still enough for some people, especially his friends, to notice that something was off about him.
The trio left the classroom and headed straight to the cafeteria. When they got there, the place was packed, and a long line had already formed. Even though Renan hadn't eaten breakfast at home and it was already close to eleven in the morning, he still wasn't hungry.
It was strange since he was used to eating around that time, but now, nothing, he was just feeling thirsty. But every time he tried drinking water it felt disgusting, like someone had put something on it.
"You're seriously acting weird, man," the blond friend said with his mouth full, enjoying his food. "Even when you drink water, you look like you're about to throw up."
"Nah, I'm fine," Renan replied.
"You sure? I don't wanna catch whatever sickness you've got," he added with a laugh.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Renan said with a shrug and tried to drink a bit more water, but his body seemed to reject it even though he was still thirsty.
The stronger friend didn't say anything and just kept eating while Renan sat there, staring at the food that usually looked delicious—but this time, it looked strange and smelled awful.
"I think I need to get some air," Renan said as he stood up from the table where they were sitting and began to walk off.
"See you guys in class."
His friends replied with a casual "Alright," and stayed behind eating, while Renan left the cafeteria and made his way through the hallway, heading outside the main building of the college.
He thought that by stepping outside he might feel some fresh air, maybe relax a bit and refocus. Maybe distract himself from the thirst. But it didn't work.
"What's happening to me?" he muttered, leaning against one of the pillars at the entrance of the building.
When he closed his eyes, flashes of last night's memories hit him. It was strange—he could see from his own point of view, but at certain moments, it was like he was seeing through someone else's eyes. Through the Young Blood's eyes—the one whose blood he had drunk.
"Shit…" he clenched his teeth hard. He was still trying to fool himself into believing it had all been a dream. But that thirst—that horrible thirst—he knew exactly what it was. It was a thirst for blood. And he remembered all too well how sweet and delicious it had tasted.
"You okay?" A soft, sweet voice cut into his thoughts, startling him.
"Huh… yeah?" he answered, confused, turning to see a girl standing in front of him. She had pink hair and wore all white. It was the girl everyone at school called the weirdo.
"We have to talk... I seen you future...." The girl with weird hair said, taking a step forward getting closer to him.