Chapter 36: Confession

Chapter 36: Confession Lethia’s eyes widened, and her jaw slackened as she saw who had been waiting for her outside the restroom. She still couldn’t believe a famous actor actually knew her, let alone turned into some kind of stalker outside the ladies’ room. "You... What are you doing here? Like... what the hell are you doing standing in front of the ladies’ restroom?" "Your aura pulled me here," Caelum replied with a wicked grin, winking as if he hadn’t just said something utterly insane. "Don’t mess around! You—" Lethia glanced left and right, lowering her voice. "Don’t talk to me like you know me, alright? And I don’t recall having any business with you. So let’s just go our own way. Bye." She waved one hand and strode off down the corridor, leaving him behind. "I’m hooked on you. So now you’ve got to take responsibility!" Lethia turned her head to Caelum who walking beside her. He looked slightly shorter than Renar, but still taller than her. Maybe it was the family bloodline, but they both had side profiles that made her knees weak. Lethia shook her head, annoyed at herself, then came to a stop and faced him. "If you say it like that, then you better take responsibility for all your fans too, since you’ve got them hooked on you just the same." Caelum just laughed, his feet shifting on the floor like a teenager smitten stupid. Then his eyes locked on hers, gentle, but laced with danger. "Your brain’s so sexy. You’re really my type, you know. I’m not as smart as you, so I don’t think that far ahead about fans or whatever. All I know is, when I want something—I take it. And I want you." The rumors must’ve been true—his words were dangerous. All his fans would’ve done anything for him, just because he was a sweet-talking bastard. "But I don’t want you," Lethia shot back coldly. "Ouch... that stings." Caelum winced dramatically, clutching his chest. Lethia couldn’t help but wonder—did his fans even know he could act like such a childish idiot? "But..." Caelum’s expression shifted, suddenly serious. Those sage-green eyes of his sharpened, cutting straight through her. "The deeper the wound, the sweeter the taste when it heals. You’re both the poison and the antidote, babe. The moment I saw you throw that stiletto in that video... I just knew, I liked you." Lethia frowned. "Oh, Goshh! You’re such a pain. Why the hell would you even like me?" "Because it’s you." He smirked, like the answer should’ve been obvious. "My queen, I’m a simple man. I don’t even have a reason for still breathing. So when I say I like you... it’s just you. No reason, no logic. Just you." Lethia parted her lips, ready to fire back, but no words came out. She’d never heard a reason so simple. Everyone she’d ever asked why they liked her always had some kind of reason. But this? This felt like it came out of a drama. And damn it, something in her fluttered. Just a bit. And... ’He’s insane.’ Lethia took a long breath. There was no point arguing with a madman like Caelum. "Thanks for liking me. And for wanting me," she said, her voice flat. "But that’s your problem. I’m not gonna be part of it. I’ve already got more shit to deal with than I can count." Lethia scoffed and turned away, quickening her steps. But it didn’t take long before she felt a sudden pull at her wrist, and in a blink, Caelum had her pinned against the wall. One palm braced behind her head, so protective, like he didn’t want her skull slamming the concrete. "You’re right, that’s not your problem," he murmured low, his breath brushing her skin. "But didn’t I tell you—I always get what I want? You know damn well how Renar was tortured by your scent... and it’s doing the same thing to me. Only worse. Because I wanted you first before I ever caught a whiff of that velvet-poison perfume of yours." Lethia gasped—her heart thudding so violently, she could hear it in her ears. The closeness of Caelum’s face made it impossible to think straight, especially when those sage eyes of his were so insanely beautiful. There was something... flattering about it. That someone like him—a man worshipped by thousands—was this obsessed with her. Maybe, if she wasn’t dragging the weight of the world on her back, she might’ve let herself enjoy being the centre of this kind of obsession. ["You can enjoy it now, you know? No ’maybe’ needed, darling—not for a sultry demon linside you. Ha ha ha..."] ’I wasn’t summoning you, Whisney! Shut the hell up!’ ["Oh but he’s perfect, sweetheart. Absolutely perfect... for my next bead’s host. Ha ha ha..."] Lethia’s eyes flew open wide. ’Wh—What do you mean?’ But the fox didn’t answer. She vanished. Left Lethia standing there, shaken and confused—just as Caelum’s face inched even closer, his lips nearly brushing hers. But— "And you’ll taste the real poison if you don’t let her go. Now." Renar’s voice cut through the thick, burning air like a blade—snapping the tension with violent precision. Caelum and Lethia turned toward Renar, whose fists were clenched tight—like he was two seconds away from smashing Caelum’s face in. Caelum chuckled and let go of Lethia. "Whoa... Calm down. What are you planning to do with those fists, brother? Paint the sidewalk with my face?" Renar didn’t respond. He just kept walking straight toward them and, with a firm grip, grabbed Lethia’s arm—clearly intending to drag her away from the scene. But Caelum caught her other wrist, pulling her back. That left Lethia stuck between the two beasts, trapped in their silent, growling tug-of-war. If her strength matched even half of theirs, She would’ve shaken them off and walked the hell away, leaving both of these childish beasts behind. The resistance triggered Renar’s glare, sharp enough to slit skin. "Let. Go." Caelum ignored him completely. His attention was locked on Lethia’s wrist, his fingers brushing over her skin like it was sacred. Slowly, deliberately, he raised her hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it—his lips lingering longer than they should’ve. "Till we meet again, my flying queen." Then, reluctantly, he released her. Without another word, Caelum turned and walked away, leaving her in Renar’s presence. It wasn’t like him to surrender so easily, especially not over something—or someone—he wanted. But he’d promised Callista he wouldn’t cause trouble. For now, he’d stay patient. Eventually, Lethia would fall into his arms. Of that, he had no doubt. Renar and Lethia headed to his car. Inside, Renar stayed silent, the tension thick enough to choke on. Lethia shifted awkwardly in her seat. Whatever just happened with Caelum, it wasn’t her fault—and she sure as hell didn’t owe Renar an explanation. If he wanted to sulk, that was his problem. Still, her mind lingered on the fox spirit’s earlier words... the next bead’s host. ’Whisney... Whisney, are you there? Don’t leave me hanging with that nonsense.’ ["You called me?"] ’What did you mean earlier—next bead’s host?’ ["Ah... that? Yeah, exactly what you heard. I need another host for another bead."] ’What?? So it’s not just with Renar?!’ ["Oh darling... how many stages did I say Renar would go through?"] ’Three.’ ["And how many tails showed up after you finished the first stage?"] ’One.’ ["Which means one bead ignited can awaken three tails, right? Do you still remember how many tails need to be awakened completely?"] ’Nine.’ ["So... how many beads need to be ignited inside a host to get those nine tails?"] ’Fuck!!’ ["Ha ha ha... Didn’t I tell you that upfront? Hm, well, I just told you now, didn’t I? Ha ha ha..."] Lethia couldn’t believe what she just heard from the fox. That meant... she had to carry out forbidden relationships with two men. She had to make two people like her, want her. She ran her hand over her stomach, trying to channel herself to her baby. She felt like absolute shit as a mother. ["Don’t worry about your pup. You can reach and complete the final stage after you give birth, so just... take your time."] ’You slut!’ ["Oh darling, I’m so sorry to tell you that I’m a proud slut. So don’t waste your breath hating me. In the end, I’ll reward you with the power you need."] Lethia clenched her teeth, refusing to engage in another pointless argument with Whisney. "Didn’t I tell you not to get involved with Caelum?" Renar finally broke the silence, his tone sharp. "I wasn’t. He and I just happened to be in the same place, and he started talking," Lethia replied flatly. Renar cleared his throat. "It’s not that I’m bothered seeing you with him. It’s just... he wants to play with you." "I’m not saying anything." Renar glanced sideways at Lethia’s uneasy expression. He felt like every word out of his mouth sounded like a jealous boyfriend’s rant. Was he jealous? He took a deep breath. "It seems... I really like you. Because I get scared when I think you’ll get hurt. Your bravery... it doesn’t match the strength of your body, and maybe that’s what makes me like you." His words made Lethia tense up and turn to him. Tonight was truly bizarre. Two beasts, both confessing their feelings, each for reasons she never expected, and yet somehow... it made her heart throb with a strange, shameful comfort.