บท 2: Crimson Eyes

I reached my apartment and checked the time on my mobile and it was 4.50 pm already.

I took out the key to my room from my left trouser pocket.

I pushed the key inside the keyhole and rotated it. I heard the clicking sound as the door unlocked.

I turned the knob, then opened the door.

I turned on the lights and put my bag beside my bed and laid down.

Staring at the monocolored roof, I sighed, realizing how empty my house was.

I wonder if a day will come when I will come home to a mother waiting for me or a dad waiting to ask how his son's day at school was.

That was a silly thing to imagine. What's wrong with me? Of course, I won't. They're busy with their own lives.

I turned on my PC and went to turn on the tap for hot water.

I took out my lunch and started washing them while the water was being warmed up. I put the lunch box on the kitchen counter and went inside the shower.

I turned on the shower, and the warm water fell on my body. A hot shower after a tiring day was one of the most comfortable things in the world.

I closed my eyes for a bit. I suddenly heard the flickering of the lights in the bathroom. It was weird. Maybe there's a power outage outside, and the inverter kicked in.

I didn't give it much of a thought until the lights went off and there was darkness and the sound of water hitting the floor.

"Quite comfortable, isn't it?"- feminine voice giggled.

I knew calling out whatever that was wouldn't be a wise idea, so I kept my mouth shut.

I didn't believe in the supernatural. Maybe my exhausted mind was playing games with me. I shouldn't have stayed awake last night to read that manga.

"Why are you ignoring me?" There was a slight pause.

"Sakamaki-kun?" The voice called out my name.

That thing knows my name? I'm so dead.

I slowly turned my head in the direction that voice came from and met with a pair of glowing crimson eyes staring right at me.

What the heck?

What the fuck!?

What's that? I was terrified, but I couldn't scream or move my body. I always thought that paranormal doesn't exist, but seeing it before my eyes, my body stopped responding.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."- the voice came closer to me.

That's what a serial killer would say. I don't trust whatever that voice was.

My eyes were steadily adjusting to the dark now, and I could make out the silhouette of a girl standing in front of me. Her red eyes were looking at me and it felt like her gaze was piercing through my soul. Her white hair was shining the moonlight off the window.

"W-Wh-Who are y-you?'- I gathered enough courage to speak.

"I'm Lilith." Her lips curved to form a creepy smile. And she knew my name, too.

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I'm here to inform you about our contract."- she narrowed her eyes.

I wanted to run away. I couldn't make sense of anything she was saying. All I could hear was something that the girl was saying, and her crimson eyes closing in on me.

I slowly started backing until my back hit the knob of the shower. I never took my eyes off her.

She was coming close. Fortunately, the light turned on in the bathroom.

Now I could get a clearer look at her. She looked like she was my age and was wearing a white dress with white knee-highs and a white cape on her back. The ribbons from her cape were hanging above her chest and her long white hair was flowing freely.

What the absolute hell?

"Don't stare at me like that." She said.

Her eyes met with mine and she again smiled in a creepy way that sent shivers through my spine. There was an invisible pressure in the air. Her aura wasn't intimidating but it was creepy enough to make me think otherwise.

"So about the contract." She slowly paced towards me.

What contract? What the hell is she talking about? How the hell did she enter my bathroom?

"Don't worry Sakamaki-kun, I will answer all your questions." She tilted her head sideways.

Did she just read my mind?

"Yes, I did."- she smiled at me.

What the-

"So from today onwards, your life isn't in your will anymore."

"Huh?" I could understand what she said.

"Your life is now binded with this contract."

I stood there for a few seconds, trying to process what she said.

"Wh...What do you mean?"

"In simpler terms, make specific girls fall in love with you and you'll be able to live."

I stood there silently, contemplating the words that escaped from her mouth.

Wait, what the heck!?

I looked at her as her smile got wider.

Making girls for me? What the hell is she even talking about? And she can read my mind too. She is real… whatever she is. I don't even know if it is a girl not yet.

"Wait, what contract are you talking about?"

"I will tell you, get dressed first. I don't really feel comfortable talking with a naked teenager."- she pretended to cover her eyes.