I Want To See If I Can Be Normal, Too!

Chisaka Kutsuki

The morning sun has already risen as my eyes open. It felt like everything had been a dream. Yesterday, I awoke on my own bed in my mother’s run-down house living in a small town. Today, I awake in a million-dollar apartment on the top floor of a luxurious building surrounded by the city of Tokyo. It all started after I had been determined to prove my string of fate false, which led me to a fake relationship with a real vampire, and an ever faker title as a ‘Makeup Artist’ to the real vampire who is also a famous rockstar. At this point, all I want to do is sit with my hands over my neck and my face buried away from the world.

I didn’t want to show my face to them, or anyone. Yesterday might have been one of the most eventful days of my life, but today, I’d have to face things straight on.

I’m sure Ryota’s manager could get me out of school, but I knew, in the long term, I needed to graduate high school. If not for me, for my mom, who’d dropped school and dropped everything to take care of me after my dad abandoned us. I at least owe her that much, even if she pretends to not be burdened by me, and even if she is fine knowing I am here.

I smile and reach out to stroke Lucky who purrs loudly at the feet of my bed. I could always count on Lucky, even on my worst days. Just like any other day of school, I pull on my plaid skirt and tuck in my polo-shirt. Unlike any other day, I step foot into a large and expensive bathroom and prepare myself. I stare intensely at the small amount of makeup I’d owned from previous Christmas stockings and family gifts. Since I was a ‘makeup artist’ I’d have to play the part somehow.

I whip up a tube of concealer and place the creamy product under my eyes and spots of correction on my face, blending it down with a blending tool. Then swipe a few strokes of blush on my cheeks to give them color, finishing off with an eyelash curler and some mascara. It wasn’t much, but it was enough of an attempt.

“You look cute.” Ryota walks out of his apartment, my hands grip tighter to my school case as I notice a flash of red on his cheeks.

“You look-” I gaze over him from his perfect face decorated in silver piercings all along his ears and one on his brow. Today, he wore a silver coat atop an expensive shirt with a tie. He looked professional, and drop-dead gorgeous, from anyone's perspective. His hair dainty pulled back in a half-and-half style that excentrated his dark, almond eyes and perfectly styled eyebrows. “It doesn’t matter, right? It’s fake anyways…”

“Me?”

“No, that we're dating.”

He studies my face and sighs, “I really want to try this out, Chisaka. I mean, I really want to see if we are soulmates, like you said.”

“Why?”

He looks over at me and pulls me close to him, leaning down. Even though I’d been close to him, it just dawned on me how different our heights were. He towers over me so much that I have to tilt my head far up to look him in the eyes from this close. “Us, vampires, we aren’t allowed to love, or rather, we don’t love.”

Ryota’s eyes shift to the side, “My parents aren’t in love, but rather, they are together because my dad turned my mom. And I’m not exactly blood related to my family either. I was turned into a vampire by my mom when I was born…” he hesitates for a moment, “I was taken away from my birth parents by my vampire mom.”He pulls away from me, “It’s a normal thing to humans though, right? To love…”

I nod, and he almost whispers back, “I just want to see if I can be normal, too.” I felt sympathy for him, I knew what it was like to have a hard upbringing. Not that I can compare to being turned into a vampire, but my parents also didn’t love, at least, not in the correct way.

“I- I get it-”

“Anyways,” he says much more cheerfully, “Be ready after your school day, I have a rehearsal that requires your assistance, dear ‘makeup artist,’” he taunts. I groan before we separate ways and he goes to the elevator, while I take the much more peaceful way down the stairs.

It was going to be a long day, both at school, and as a fake makeup guru. At least, Ryota thought I was cute!