I  scanned my surroundings and my eyes fell upon Imsoo. It wasn't necessary to call her out, as I knew she would approach me on her own accord. 

"Could it be her fiery hair or perfectly proportioned figure that draws everyone's gaze towards her?" Willow's unexpected inquiry caught me completely off guard.

“Is that jealousy I detect?” I teased.

“Don’t be absurd!” Her voice faltered. Willow noticed and averted her gaze.

"If that were the case, I would let you know that there is no need to be."

“But I am not.” Willow met my gaze again. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that sort of being caught your eye. Everyone gawk at her.”

“Eden!” Imsoo’s enthusiastic voice said. ”You finally returned after all this time.”

“Has it really been that long?” I asked, but my attention was on Willow.

“Yes. I thought you might have been ill or something. I was worried.”

"I am sorry.” I caught Imsoo's eye. "Recently, I have been quite occupied.”

“Well, I am glad you are all right.” She smiled warmly. “What will it be tonight? You are regular?”

“Regular?” Willow brow raised.

My cheerful waitress turned her attention towards Willow, as if she had only just noticed her.

“Imsoo,” I said. “Meet—”

“Your sister!”

“What?” Willow nearly exclaimed.

“Eden mentioned that she would introduce me to her sister during.”

“She is not my sister.” I clarified.

“Too bad.” Disappointment hitched in Imsoo’s voice. “Then who is she?”

“Just a friend.”

Imsoo brows curved downwards, her eyes holding protuberant fire as she looked at Willow. “What will Eden’s friend have?”

“Peppermint tea.”

“Tea?” I questioned. “That is all?”

“I can’t eat a full meal now,” Willow said.

"Would a dish from the children's menu be a good option? It’s smaller portion." I proposed. "My friend would like a grilled cheese sandwich and fries, please."

I had to get her to eat something.

“Will you be drinking tonight, Eden?”Imsoo asked.

“Yes. Same as usual.”

"She's well aware that there is no relation between you and me." Willow grumbled with annoyance as soon as our waitress left to place our order. “We happen to cross paths at school, and she is familiar with my family."

“Is that so?” I mused.

"She hates that I am here with you,” Willow concluded.

Upon Imsoo's speedy return, I took a moment to survey the diner and came to the realisation that it was only Willow and myself occupying the space at that moment. 

"Your sandwich is almost ready,” Imsoo announced, flashing a flirty smile at me. Willow rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Are you old enough to drink?” Willow asked, slowly sipped her tea.

As I pondered the question posed by her, a realisation struck me with a sharp force. I let out a small, bitter laugh at the irony of my situation — trapped in a seventeen-year-old body.

“Forever seventeen. It’s a harsh reality.”

 "Do you not find any enjoyment in being a vampire?"

 I did not response as I couldn't think of anything positive to mention.

In a hushed tone, Willow murmured, "Being unhappy for eternity is quite a daunting thought."

"Do my words trouble you?" I posed the question to Willow. "The thought of me existing in an eternal state of sorrow.“

“Yes,” she admitted. “It deeply troubles me.” I could see the sadness in Willow's eyes as she spoke those words. "I don't want that for you. I want you to find peace, to finally be free from all the pain and suffering you've endured."

How can I find peace when I am condemned to this eternal existence?

Imsoo sauntered over to our table, her apron slightly askew and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Here you go," she said in a playful tone, placing plate down. 

The grilled-cheese was perfectly golden and oozing with melted cheese, while the fries were crispy and seasoned to perfection. 

“Eat,” I instructed, and she obediently followed without speaking a single word.

I observed as Willow savoured every bite of her sandwich, thoroughly enjoying it. However, as my thoughts drifted elsewhere, her face slowly became a blur. Live or die were thoughts that consumed me. In my mind, I could not fathom anything left worth living for, especially not an eternity. The perpetual animosity towards Xavier, who I held in contempt, was not a motivation strong enough to sustain me.

For some time, while Willow ate, I maintained a state of quiet contemplation, allowing my thoughts to transcend my physical surroundings. The distant hum of the wind, the rush of passing vehicles, and the faint scraping of a chair as someone rose from it accompanied the creak of footsteps on the polished hardwood floor. When my thoughts finally returned to the present moment, I noticed Willow's intense gaze fixed upon me. A peculiar sensation crept over me, causing me to wonder if her eyes had been trained on me the entire time. 

“How was your sandwich?” I asked her.

 "I really enjoyed it. Thank you for the meal. It appears that I underestimated my hunger." 

 “It is important to prioritise your health. Neglecting to eat because you are too busy is not a valid excuse, as it causes concern for those who care about you. Maybe you enjoy being a source of concern for others,” I accused pointedly.

Willow shook her head in objection. “I don’t. It makes me feel like a burden to others, but at the same time it makes me happy that you worried about me.”

"I want to make it clear that I have no concerns about your well-being.”

Willow simply grinned, as if she held insider information that I was lacking. How irksome.

"I have some questions," I stated with a curious tone.

“What?”

"What happened in Greenland?" This question had been lingering on my thoughts ever since our encounter.

"Naturally, that night would pique your curiosity," she said, her hands clasped tightly around the now empty teacup. 

“Two things are used by Twilight Guards in their fight against vampires. Excessive injection of one will result in death, similar to an overdose.”

"What exactly are you injecting?" I asked, unsure if I wanted to hear the answer.

“Liquify sliver,” Willow replied, and my eyes opened in horror.

"The small dose you injected me with had caused such a dreadful experience. I shudder to think of what the full dosage would feel like."

"Don’t imagine,” she said, weakly. “It is a truly distressing sight."

My eyes immediately landed on Willow and a sudden sense of unease washed over me. “Don’t tell—”

"Please don't ask," she abruptly interrupted, her body language shrinking and withdrawing.

They actually attempted to use it on a vampire! It was obvious that Willow had seen it all go down. I almost couldn't contain my amusement. When it came to vampires, Aki exuded a sense of aggression that was impossible to ignore. I was certain that if I were to cross him in any way, he would snap and act impulsively. It was as if he was always on the brink of losing control and doing something reckless. In fact, I wondered if he was capable of taking drastic measures, such as killing a vampire, simply because he could.