He’s The Campus Sun But Only A Monster For Me Chapter 03

He’s The Campus Sun But Only A Monster For Me Chapter 03

That fall senior year, the school organized a hiking trip.

A bus dropped us at the foot of a mountain on the edge of town, then we were free.

I found a quiet hillside and sat down, pulling a sketchbook and pencil from my bag, drawing the distant mountains and clouds.

The autumn wind carried dry grass, crisp and wide.

I pushed my bangs back with a hair clip, letting my face feel the cool wind.

Soft rustling came from behind me.

Before I could turn, something warm pressed against my back.

Lucas wrapped his arms around my shoulders, chin resting on top of my head.

He draped himself over me like a big dog, breathing hard from running all the way over.

“I’m tired,” he mumbled.

“Did you run here?”

“Yeah.” His breath tickled the top of my head. “Saw you were alone. Didn’t want you to be bored.”

I stayed still, letting him lie on me.

A second later, his hand slid from my shoulder to my wrist, fingers lacing naturally with mine.

He’d been holding my hand like this since we were eight.

I froze the first time, but it became our wordless habit.

His hands were much bigger than mine, long, defined knuckles, dry and warm, able to wrap completely around mine.

They were beautiful, like they’d stepped out of a manga, but not delicate—he held pens and basketballs, a thin callus on his fingertips.

Those pretty fingers held mine tight, like he was scared I’d run away.

“What are you drawing?” He moved his chin to my shoulder, peeking at my sketchbook.

“Mountains and clouds,” I answered honestly.

“Why didn’t you draw me?”

“You’re stuck in the crowd. Should I draw mountains or you?” I said flatly.

He laughed, a low, muffled sound vibrating against my back, like a bass speaker.

His little tooth brushed my earlobe. The warm touch made me shrink back.

“Then I won’t stay in the crowd anymore. Okay?”

His eyes were beautiful, shining extra bright.

I shook my head.

He smiled again, but turned to look at my drawing.

“Draw me,” he said, voice soft with a whine.

“I want you to draw me.”

I turned my face toward him. He was so close, his pretty eyes reflecting the mountains and my silhouette.

Too close. I could see every long, dark eyelash, casting a fan-shaped shadow under his eyes.

“I’ll draw you later,” I said, looking back at the mountains.

He hummed happily, resting his chin back on my head, quiet and still.

The wind blew, and his breathing slowed, like he was falling asleep.

Autumn clouds rolled thick across the sky, like big piles of cotton candy.

A flock of birds flew over the distant ridge, dark and fast, disappearing behind the mountain.

I wished time could stop right here.

No exams, no future, nothing to pull us apart.

I found out later what Lucas was thinking in that moment.

When he confessed to me later, he said as he lay on my back, all he could think was:

I want to melt her bones into mine. I want to eat her. Never be apart.

He smiled beautifully when he said it.

But every time I thought back to that autumn hillside, my back went cold.

You see, some things started so early.

I just didn’t know.