C10 Why Different? Part 1

A sunny morning is always a magnet for many people to start their activities and for some children to play happily. They were laughing and shouting, and it was not uncommon for small arguments between them to cause noise. A noise that unknowingly disturbed the peace of a 10-year-old boy in his hut.

"Whoa, it's so loud out there." Cliff, who was reading, threw down the book he had been reading, looking annoyed that his peace was being disturbed. He knew the cause well, even if he didn't look at it. The noise was coming from some children playing near his hut.

Cliff, who had reached the age of ten, was no longer jealous of the children playing happily in front of his hut. He was no longer the seven-year-old boy who whined to his mother because he wanted to join them. The current Cliff had entirely accepted his mother's wishes. Ever since the incident three years ago when he fought with his mother over his small request to play with the children, he realized that his heart ached whenever he saw his mother angry or sad. He didn't want to make the same mistake again. He didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings because, for him, his mother was the only one he cared about in this world. Remember his grandmother, who is also very important to him. Yes, just these two women, the most important and precious people in Cliff's life.

Clara has taught Cliff many things like reading, writing, counting, and other things that she thinks are very important for her son to master. Although Cliff was different from other children who learned by going to school, he was no less intelligent than those children. One could say that Cliff was knowledgeable because he quickly digested and mastered everything Clara taught him. Clara was amazed by her son's intelligence, although she was initially worried about his ability to think since he was not human like her. However, her worries were eased when Cliff showed his intelligence at a very young age. Now, Cliff has mastered many things and spends his time reading.

Cliff, who had lost interest in reading due to the noise of the children near his house, decided to go to the window. He had no desire to join them. He just wanted to see what they were doing to disturb his peace.

Cliff looked at the children, squinting to see the object in their hands. As he watched them put the object in their hands into their mouths, Cliff realized they were eating it. But what is this thing? He thought.

The children were eating instant cup noodles, unfamiliar to Cliff, but he had never seen them because blood was his only food. He also never saw his mother eat before him, so he never saw others eat anything besides his food.

The sound of the door opening spontaneously caused Cliff to divert his attention. A woman, not his mother, entered the room with a bag in her hand. There was no need to ask. He already knew what his mother was carrying.

"Honey, what are you doing? What are you looking at?" Clara asked with a sweet smile. But the son didn't answer. Cliff just stared with a look that was hard to interpret.

"You must be hungry. I brought you some food." Clara quickly poured animal blood into the glass Cliff used to drink the blood that became his food. Clara frowned, surprised by her son's silence, for usually, Cliff would approach her cheerfully when he smelled the scent of blood that he liked so much.

"Honey, why are you so quiet? Come here," she said, gesturing for her son to come over.

Wordlessly, Cliff took the glass of blood that his mother held out to him. Without hesitation, he drank the blood greedily. But unlike usual, he left some because usually, he would drink all the blood. But not today. Something intrigued him, and he was determined to prove it.

"Why don't you finish it?" Clara asked with a raised eyebrow, surprised by her son's strangeness today. Clara realized that there was something different about Cliff today.

"Why, dear? Are you sick?" With a worried look, Clara held her son's forehead, although it was futile because Cliff's body was different from that of humans. He would not have a fever or any other illness humans suffered. It was her instinct as a mother that made Clara do it reflexively.

"You're okay, aren't you, Cliff?"

"Mom, do you eat the same food I do? I've never seen you eat in front of me." Cliff said it slowly but successfully, making Clara's eyes round perfectly. Of course, she was surprised. She hadn't expected her son to ask such a question.

"Mom usually eats at Grandma's," she replied, flashing a fake smile.

"So, do you eat the same food I do?"

Cliff's gaze pierced her, making Clara swallow saliva in panic. She was torn between answering him truthfully or lying. Cliff was an intelligent and curious boy, and Clara realized that if she gave the wrong answer, Cliff would be suspicious of her.

"Of course, our food is the same, dear. Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"

"Then try to eat this. I want to see you eat it in front of me."

Again, Clara swallowed her saliva and panicked even more when she saw Cliff holding the glass in his hand. There was still animal blood in the glass that Cliff had not finished.

"Why, Mom? Take it and eat it in front of me. You said we had the same food, didn't you?"

Not wanting her son to suspect her, Clara finally accepted the glass with trembling hands. She stared disgustedly at the thick blood in the glass. Not to mention the queasy feeling in her stomach from the rancid smell of the blood.

"Let's eat, Mom. What's that look on your face? I don't know why I'm disgusted with you."

"What are you talking about? How could I be disgusted? This is our food, dear," Clara said with a deceptive smile. She reluctantly raised the glass to her mouth, but the pungent, rotten smell immediately made her stomach feel queasy. She quickly abandoned the idea of doing something reckless by drinking the blood.

"You've only eaten a little. You'll be hungry again. You better finish your meal, Cliff. After all, Mom ate before coming here. I'll still be full if I have to finish all this." For the umpteenth time, she lied to her son. Her heart pounded with pain every time she lied to Cliff, but Clara always had to act and lie like this to keep the secret of being a vampire.

Annoyed, Cliff took back the glass his mother was still holding. He drank the blood again, leaving only a little this time. Then he handed the glass back to his mother.

"I ate it. There's only a little left. You won't be satisfied if you finish it now."

Clara shuddered at the thought of having to smell the stench of cow's blood again. Spontaneously, she stepped back, causing Cliff to frown in surprise. But he didn't just give up. He stepped forward, closer to his mother.

"Eat it, Mom. Even if it's just a drop, it's okay. I want to prove that you eat the same food I do." Cliff said again with a hand that brought the glass closer to Clara.

The disgust Clara felt made her unconsciously push the glass roughly until it broke. The glass and the blood in it splattered on the floor. Clara winced in pain as she felt a stinging sensation on her hand. Her hand was scratched by the broken glass, causing blood to drip out.