CHAPTER 40: Welcome

**ALICIA**

Akihiro must have knocked his head somewhere. I was waiting for him to make a joke…or perhaps take back what he said yet he didn’t. He looked at me waiting for me to say something.

“You are not joking? I am expecting a laugh.” I said, trying to calm the atmosphere between us because I am already melting with his stares. “Surely, you didn’t mean it, right?”

“I mean every word I say, Alicia. Marry me. I know it is too soon but marry me, will you? I will kneel in front of you right now and there’s even a ring—”

“Stop!” I lifted both of my hands to stop him from the words he is going to say because I couldn’t manage it in one hand.

Woah! I didn’t expect to feel this way…but why am I reacting to his proposal?

Alicia, calm your heart because he can hear it. Well, I couldn’t and wasn’t sure if my heart was beating so fast because of nervousness or excitement…or maybe both.

“You gotta be kidding me, Akihiro!” I reacted. “You cannot propose to me like that.”

“What do you mean? I’ll make it right. How should I propose? Do you want surprises—”

“I didn’t mean it that way!” I cut him off, but a part of me wanted to see a proposal coming from him. Ugh, Alicia, this isn’t the time for you to be thinking of that.

“I am a human, Akihiro. I hope we are clear with that and there is no way I am going to be a vampire because it is not me!” I explained to him. “Second, you have Leah. She is your future wife and she is a vampire which makes you suit each other.”

Akihiro looked at me, waiting for me to continue but I could already see that he would do everything to make me agree. I’ll be stupid to marry a vampire.

“I don’t want to marry her and I will not marry her. It’s you I want to marry.” He simply said like it was nothing.

“She will kill me.” I responded. “She loves you and she will not—”

“If that’s the only thing keeping you from marrying me, then you don’t have to worry because I can arrange that. Leah —”

“That is not the only thing keeping me from not marrying you, Akihiro. Marriage is very important to humans because it is sacred and should be done when two people love each other. And, what about us? You probably are going to marry me because you want to protect me from those vampires who want me for them, especially your grandfather who wants to kill me.” I sighed.

“However, I don’t think that is protecting, Akihiro. I will be surrounded by vampires and your family will never agree to our marriage. It will be chaos…and I want to be normal. So, unless you appear normal in front of me, I will not marry you.”

Among all the things I mentioned, he only wanted to ask this, “Do you love me, Alicia? Setting aside what I am, do you love me as Akihiro, the one you—”

“I hate you, Akihiro. You shouldn’t forget that you are my greatest enemy since we met years ago. You always get into my nerves and—”

“I am asking you, Alicia.” He cut me off, seriously looking at me. If he can get inside, surely he would have held my hand or maybe done something but he is stuck outside, begging me to answer him. “It is answerable by yes or no. Why are you making it so complicated?”

“Why? Do you love me?” I asked him back. “Akihiro, do you love me?”

“I love you, Alicia.”

I was frozen on the spot. Akihiro was sincerely looking at me. Again, I am waiting for him to tell a joke…but he didn’t. At that moment, I wish he will go back to the cold Akihiro who doesn’t care about me. Time flies…we are now here…and I am hearing him the words I thought I would never hear.

“I love you, Alicia. I can tell it to you over and over again.” He said, looking into my eyes. “I am not sure how I am going to believe in you but I love you enough to make me forget that I am a vampire. If only I could turn into a human, then I would have done to be with you. Yet, I am so sorry…” He bowed his head. “I promise to love you…all my life.”
“Your love will surely kill me, Akihiro.” I said sadly. Even though I wanted to accept those words right now, I couldn’t. I have to think of a lot of things…and surely I don’t love him.

Alicia, do you love him? No. It can’t be. I am sure I am just feeling pressured.

“It might also save us. Tell me, just tell me—”

“I don’t love you Akihiro. I only see you as a person, the president of our club, my enemy, and a vampire. Aside from that, I don’t feel a thing. Well, my heart is beating so fast but it was because I am scared of you…and all your kinds because I am not when you are going to kill me.”

“I know you would say that.” He smiled a little. But, I can see relief in his eyes. “It’s okay. It’s the usual answer to my question. You don’t have to worry. I can propose again next time. Although, Alicia, I am telling you that I am here and I will never leave.”

“What?” I creased my brow. “I don’t need you by my side. I want all your kind to stay away from me. Why can’t—-”

“You are part of my life right now, Alicia. Your blood is flowing in me. You gave me power with that blood…and my grandfather had witnessed how your blood changed something in me. Sooner, he will come to get you…and who knows—”

“If I marry you, it means I will be a family to you and it will be easy for him to kill me! How sure I am that you are not just using me—”

“Alicia, I was tortured because of you.”

My jaw dropped when he started telling me the truth.

“I was locked in there because I chose you over my noble title to be the Crown Prince of the Pureblood Vampire. I am soon to be the king but I am willing to lose that title to be with you.” A drop of tears fell from his eyes and my heart was in pain seeing him like that.

“I didn’t know…” I blinked. “But, Akihiro…I am not worth it.” I shook my head. “I am just a human. I am not worth protecting, so please…go back to your grandfather and tell him you are sorry. I know they cannot erase my memory but I am willing to keep the secret for my family.” I said, that’s the only thing I know to survive.

“Let me talk to your grandfather, Akihiro. Maybe he will listen. I will tell him you can call me when you need some cure for your men. I will do everything to save my family. Please…Akihiro, just that. I want to have peace of mind whenever I sleep because—”

I shook my head and started to shake again upon remembering the things that I have been through. There’s a lot of images in my mind right now and I don’t know how I am going to handle them.

“Alicia, are you okay? What’s happening?” Akihiro was already panicking when he saw me on bended knees. He kept on entering but he couldn’t because of some imaginary barrier in our house. “Alicia!” He was already shouting.

Just then, someone barged in. It was my mother.

“Alicia? What is happening? Are you talking to someone else? Why are you on your knees?” My mother approached me looking around but Akihiro was already gone.

“You shouldn’t have stood up. Let’s get back to your bed. You need rest.” She helped me get up and wiped my tears.

“Mom, I’m sorry…” I whispered.

“What do you mean by that? It is not your fault. Can you stop blaming yourself? You are sick. You should get back to your bed and I will prepare something. The doctor said you lack blood so you need to eat healthy foods so you won’t pass out again.”

Passed out…so that is what Akihiro told them. I wonder what reasons Akihiro will tell them in case I die.

“I am sorry, Mom. I couldn’t remember what happened? Who brought me here? Is it Ross…or?”

“Akihiro brought you here.” It was my father in his serious look. “Care to share what is really the role of that man in your life? I even caught him jumping from the balcony. You were talking to him! Is he bothering you?”

I creased my brow, ignoring what he asked me because I saw the blood in his pants…and there are traces of some mud in his shoes that it wet my carpet. It seems like Dad rushed into our house afraid that something might have happened.

Alicia, you need to know what’s happening to your family. Now, I am sure that we aren’t normal. Could it be that they are hunters?

“He’s a friend, Dad.” I replied. “And he is just—”

“Courting you. Making you fall in love with him. Asking to marry you, what else, Alicia? Do you intend to hide it from us?”

“How did you know about it, Dad?” I widened my eyes. “That is not true. We are just working on something in school.”

“Ah, right, you are doing something about vampires.” He replied, and I sensed that he wasn’t pertaining to imaginary vampires but real vampires.

“Well, seeing him get close to you, I must see if he is worth it for you to waste your time. Follow me in the living room.”

Dad was mad already that even Mom didn’t say a thing until we went down the stairs. Akihiro was standing outside the door and he smiled at me.

“Akihiro! What are you doing here?” I said, surprised. My eyes tell him to just go home. “Shouldn’t you be at home?”

“I want to meet him since he told me he is interested in you.” Dad simply said looking at Akihiro. “Why not come and have dinner with us?” He invited him.

“It would be a pleasure, Mr. Reed.”

Akihiro didn’t move. I was already panicking because I didn't know how to properly invite a vampire when my mother said, “Welcome to our home, Akihiro Kuran.”