He stepped on the brakes and brought the car to a halt. She had settled back in her seat calmly as if nothing had happened. While his heightened emotions were all over the place

He faced her and spoke: "A little warning offhand, next time you try something like that."

"Why? It was just a peck for winning the race. You earned it." She innocently blinked her eyes at him, several times. The way she looked at him told him she was enjoying teasing him.

"Aselia... you will be the death of me. Stop doing that."

"Doing what? Pecking you or teasing you? Why do I have to stop? You do it too, all the time. Just a while ago you were trying to flirt, to make me jealous." She raised her eyes at him.

"Fine, but I won’t guarantee to hold back next time you do something like that. Don’t beg me to stop." Now it was his time to smirk and raise his eyebrows at her.

"We will see old man, we will see." She flicked her hair backwards and raised her head in the air, like a Princess. Laughter filled the car as both of them couldn’t hold it back any longer.

"You hungry?" He asked after they had a hearty laugh.

"Always," she replied innocently.

"Let’s grab something to eat on our way back." He started the car with these words.

"Already?" There was a hint of sadness in her voice, which he instantly picked up.

"You don’t want to go back yet?"

"No."

"Where you wanna go?" He asked while extending his hand to take a stray lock of her hair in his hand and tucking it behind her ear.

"Nowhere, in particular, just a long drive." She wanted to hold his hand against her face but then decided against it. He slipped his hand back to the steering wheel.

"Your wish is my command, Ma’am Aselia." He gestured with his hand and bowed slightly, making her blush, and warmth crept up in her eyes.

"Don’t be overdramatic," she scolded playfully and he knew she enjoyed that in her heart.

The engine purred to life and off they went to an unknown destination.

Shadows of the evening were falling all around them when Xiran stopped at a ’mobile food truck’ he found on their way.

"What would you like to eat?" He asked glancing towards the truck and trying to read the menu they had printed in black ink on the red exterior.

"Whatever they have, I have no preference right now." She replied while trying to adjust her mask and stretching her legs. She was tired of sitting in the car and wanted to get out.

"How about fish and chips?" He saw them on the menu and wanted to know if she would be interested.

"Sure, I love them and a drink too. Something minty." Xiran nodded at her request and got out to bring the food. While Aselia waited in the car, peering outside at the sky whose rusty hue was turning purplish black with every passing second.

He returned after 15 minutes holding their food in both hands. Aselia opened the door and helped him by placing the food on the dashboard before both of them settled back in the car.

"Can’t we sit somewhere peacefully and eat?" She inquired eyeing the food with longing in her eyes.

"I think there is a meadow up ahead. Let’s go there and we can eat in relaxed surroundings." Xiran told her before as be started the car and they headed for the meadow.

Two to three kilometres ahead, there was a board that read: "Firefly Meadow."

He parked the car on the side of the road and they got out. Aselia observed that amidst two mountain slopes there was a small meadow. The grass was still green in patches but mostly golden and was strewn over with multi-tiny blue flowers. But the most mesmerising part of the meadow was flickering fireflies spread throughout, like stars in the sky.

Her heart fluttered at the sight and she felt warm inside. They took out the food and climbed the slope to reach the meadow. A few boulders were lying amidst the meadow, so they sat behind one. Hiding away from the world with just the heavens watching over them.

"This place is so beautiful, have you been here before?" Aselia inquired as she began to open the food boxes.

"Carios told me about it but I have never been here. I think he came here with Frila." Xiran helped her with food.

"Why does Carios call you Sire while everyone else calls you Señor?" Aselia questioned him as she took off her mask and tossed a french fry in her mouth.

"Because he is not a born vampire but a turned one. I turned him." Xiran had a forlorn look in his eyes as if recalling something from the past.

"Ohh!!! I see." Both of them were sitting side by side and Xiran still hadn’t taken off his mask so she couldn’t read all his expressions.

"Let’s eat now, or it will get cold." Xiran finally took off his mask, revealing his gorgeous face and Aselia felt like she hadn’t seen him in ages.

Xiran had brought so much food that even 8 people could eat it easily, this made Aselia smile. The way he wanted to feed her would turn her into a wrestler if she wasn’t careful.

"I am going to gain so much weight after spending all this time with you. You feed me too much." She spoke between a mouthful, chewing softly.

"You work out so I highly doubt that. Even if you do, I don’t care. You are too skinny, chubbiness will suit you. You will look even cuter." With these words, he pinched her cheek, making her glow instantly.

"Ouch! and no thanks. I am fine the way I am. I am a girl, not a teddy bear. Get one from the market, if you want something chubby." She rubbed her cheek in annoyance, her eyes sent daggers at him. This made him laugh wholeheartedly and he rubbed his thumb over her hand.

They ate silently for a while as it got completely dark. The fireflies danced all around them and Aselia felt she was in a dream world. It had gotten colder and she felt shivers all over her body. But she didn’t want to quiver in front of him or he would announce they should get back in the car.

He had stretched his legs and his hands were resting on the boulder behind him while his head rested on his hands. His eyes were closed as he spoke: "Aselia...you are cold. Aren’t you?"