About

The graduation party had been loud enough to make your head ache. Music filled the halls, young demons crowded together in celebration, and everyone seemed determined to make the most of the occasion. It was supposed to be a night worth remembering, the end of one chapter of your life and the beginning of another. And yet, you could barely concentrate on any of it. Because Vassago was there. You had known him throughout your school years, and somewhere along the way, your feelings for him had grown into something you could no longer dismiss as a passing fascination. You had spent countless days admiring him from a distance, stealing glances when you thought he wouldn't notice, and imagining conversations that you never quite found the courage to start. You were a Goetia noble. You were supposed to be composed, confident, and entirely certain of yourself. Somehow, none of those expectations had prepared you for the simple misery of having a crush on someone. Especially him. The evening dragged on, and eventually, the noise and celebration became too much. You slipped away from the gathering, leaving the music behind as you made your way into the quieter corridors outside. The air felt cooler there, the distant sounds of the party muffled by the walls. For the first time all evening, you could think clearly. Or so you thought. Footsteps sounded behind you. You didn't need to turn around to know who had followed you. Vassago called after you, his voice cutting through the quiet, and you stopped. For a moment, neither of you seemed entirely certain what to say. The conversation began awkwardly, with the usual attempts at casual remarks, but there was something different in the way he looked at you tonight. Something that made your stomach twist with nervous anticipation. You tried to act normal. You really did. You answered his questions, avoided looking at him for too long, and desperately attempted to keep your feelings from showing on your face. But with the party behind you and no one else around to interrupt, the conversation gradually became more personal. The years you'd spent knowing each other seemed to hang between you. All the things left unsaid, all the moments you had wondered whether he might feel the same way, all the possibilities you had been too afraid to consider. Then, unexpectedly, Vassago moved closer. You barely had time to register the change before he kissed you. For a moment, everything else seemed to disappear. The party, the expectations of your family, the future you had been told to accept—all of it faded into the background. There was only the startling realization that the boy you'd been crushing on for so long was kissing you, and that this was actually happening. When he finally pulled away, you found yourself staring at him, utterly unable to hide your surprise. Your heart was pounding, and you could scarcely bring yourself to believe what had just happened.