Kiss the Stranger

That day, what Kamar had bought wasn’t just food. In the envelope were all kinds of household supplies. After the meal, the steward went back to his room, and once we’d cleared away the plates, we checked the things Kamar had purchased. Standing beside him as he pulled each item out, I was startled when I saw clothes, shoes, and medicine.

“Did you have money left over after buying all this?”
“Yes.”
Kamar said casually as he dropped the last bag and then retrieved a set of tools for applying the medicine. Along with basic first-aid supplies, there were ointments meant for inside my mouth.

“You’re almost healed.”
He took a step back as he spoke, but it didn’t stop me from flinching. Kamar frowned and beckoned me closer. I tried to resist, but it wasn’t long before I shuffled forward, unable to refuse. He sat me in a chair so I couldn’t run, then took the opposite seat and dipped a cotton swab into disinfectant.
“Ah, ah, ah!”

“Bear with it.”
He said tersely as he carefully applied medicine to the remaining wounds inside my mouth. It hurt as much as when I’d first been injured. Maybe even more. I’d never felt pain seeping that deep before.
“Ugh, ugh….”

My groans made Kamar’s brow crease further. Feeling guilty, I opened my mouth as wide as I could, closed my eyes, and leaned my head back, silently begging for it to end. But Kamar stayed still. Just as I wondered why, he spoke.
“…Yohan.”
His quiet voice made me jerk. Still eyes closed, I waited for him to continue, and in the same low tone he ordered,
“Step back.”

“……?”
Confused, I did as he said, sliding my hips backward until I rested against the chair’s edge. With legs parted and eyes still shut, I placed my hands between my knees and tilted my face upward. Kamar didn’t react. As the silence stretched, I suddenly felt a shadow fall over me.
“Ugh… uh?”

A soft touch brushed my lips and my groan turned into a startled sound. Almost against my will, I opened my eyes but managed to stay in the kiss. Kamar broke off briefly, then turned and pressed his lips to the other side. This time I met him halfway.
My heart, which had quieted, began racing again. I timidly slipped out my tongue, and his coiled around mine. His palm that had been caressing my cheek moved to cradle my neck, then gripped the back of my head. His lips pressed deeper, rubbing against the tender flesh inside. His breath grew harsh and his pulse thundered against me. Even the sting spreading through my still-healing wounds felt strangely sweet. I reached for his shoulder, cautious.
A faint sweetness drifted to my nose. Was there fruit left? I wondered dully. It was so delicious that it made my head swim. Then I remembered. It was Kamar’s scent.

How?
It had vanished after he took the medicine.
Before I could think further, Kamar grabbed my shoulder. His tongue thrust in violently, and I opened my eyes in shock.

“W-wait.”
I tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. He leaned into me all the more.
Fear spiked and my body pitched backward.

“Uh….”
The exhalation escaped me, and together with me, the chair toppled. For a moment I was stunned, then I scrambled upright to run—but Kamar was faster.
“Ah!”

He caught my arm and yanked me back. I collapsed to the floor, limp. When I regained my senses, Kamar was already straddling me. Panic flared.
I’m scared.
His dark violet eyes, now flecked with gold, loomed above me. The sweet scent intensified, overwhelming me.
I’m scared.

I tried to shove and strike him, but it was useless. When Kamar pressed his lips to mine again, it was no longer gentle.
“…!”
He forced my mouth open and ravaged my insides with his tongue. Clamping his lips over mine like a prison, he grabbed at my clothes. I tried to resist, but it meant nothing. I felt like a tiny insect beneath him. He was enormous, dangerous, and overwhelmingly strong.

But the most dangerous thing was that sweet scent. It robbed me of my strength and scrambled my thoughts. My hands fell limp even as I tried to push him away; I gasped but could only produce a groan.
This is wrong.
Through the haze, I forced a thought.

This isn’t Kamar.
Then who?
That was all I could think. Kamar slid a knee between my thighs, prying them apart, and moved his hand to my waist. When it slipped inside, I realized I was soaked beyond reason. But I had no energy left to be surprised. His thick, long finger found the hidden opening. He traced around my curled flesh briefly, then without hesitation, pressed inside.

“…!”
I wanted to scream at the rough intrusion, but his lips sealed over mine. Even as panic filled my head, my body continued to betray me.
This isn’t Kamar.

I thought desperately.
This isn’t Kamar.
I tried to shove him away again. As I clenched my fist to strike, Kamar suddenly caught my arm.

“…ah!”
This time a real scream tore out as he snapped my arm without effort. My vision went black then white, and for several seconds I lost consciousness. When I finally opened my eyes, the oppressive weight was gone. The stranger who had threatened me was gone too.
Kamar knelt beside me, his face pale. His eyes were their usual violet, and he hadn’t pressed me down or threatened me. He sat back on his heels, stunned as I was. His wide eyes swept the room, then found mine, his expression twisting into confusion.

“What happened…?”
He asked in a daze. But that was the question I wanted to ask. The sweet scent that had flooded the air was gone. We panted silently, simply staring at each other.
Kamar recovered first. He reached out anxiously.

“Yohan, are you okay?”
He paused as I instinctively recoiled. Kamar froze too.
He’s back—he’s the Kamar I know.

I thought, but my trembling wouldn’t stop. I wanted to say I was fine, but I couldn’t speak. Even looking at him scared me.
Kamar seemed to notice. His face twisted as if hurt, and he bit his lip.
“…Yohan.”

He said my name again. I flinched but didn’t move back. Blinking widely, curled in on myself, Kamar gave an awkward smile.
“Sorry I scared you. I won’t let it happen again. Can I finish treating you?”
“…….”

“Yohan.”
He ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) called me again. I still couldn’t answer. If I’d really been terrified, I would have run. Instead I just curled tighter and watched.
“Yohan.”

In an even softer tone he spoke again.
“Please let me finish treating you. I swear I won’t do anything.”
“…….”

“You’re okay, right?”
Without waiting for my reply, Kamar picked up the medicine. He dipped the swab with exaggerated slowness. He avoided my eyes as he prepared it. It was a wise choice—our gaze meeting would terrify me more. He seemed to buy time, but dipping a cotton swab isn’t easily prolonged. Finally he looked up and our eyes met.
“Yohan.”

He repeated my name. I held my breath as he continued.
“I’ll come closer.”
He moved toward me as though underwater. I didn’t flinch and waited.

“Here.”
He held up the swab and I hesitated. I glanced at his face; he gave a short, reassuring smile. I looked back down, then, still trembling, opened my mouth. Gently, very slowly, he applied the medicine, as if to calm me. I sensed his intention and sat silently, waiting. When he withdrew the swab, he said,
“It’s done.”

He smiled at the word. It was a strained smile, as though he forced it. Seeing it broke down my last defenses and overwhelmed me with pity. I reached a trembling hand to his cheek.
“It’s okay.”
I whispered and Kamar looked at me.

“It’s okay, Kamar.”
He said nothing. He just took my hand and kissed my palm. But he no longer forced a smile. Instead, his expression crumbled.
“What kind of monster was I?”

A heavy silence followed. I should have said something, but nothing came. I just watched him.
‘Be careful, Yohan. You never know who someone really is.’
The steward’s warning flashed through my mind. And the next words too.

‘They could be worse than a criminal.’
Maybe Kamar thought the same. Seeing him look more wounded than me, I felt I understood everything. I wanted to comfort him, but the moment passed. He forced a bitter laugh, let go of my hand, and stepped back.
“Sorry. I said something pointless.”

“Kamar.”
I tried to seize the moment, but he’d already given up.
“Let’s sleep, Yohan. I have work to do.”

Then he turned away. Words caught in my throat, I lay back in awkward silence. As always, he kissed me good night but didn’t hold me. We lay apart on the bed as night deepened, and just as I began to drift off—
It rained.