Clive scratched his chin, suddenly serious. "Well, there's another way—kind of like tricking yourself. Just stick close to him, pretend you can enjoy the vibe. Think of your food as his blood. It's all about the placebo effect."
I stared at him, not amused.
"Look, kid, that's the best I can do. Remember the pact we made with humans? No hurting them. Surely there's some human food you enjoy. Try eating next to him, it might just trick your mind."
Reluctantly, I nodded. It seemed I had no better option. After bidding farewell to the village elders, I made my way back to campus.
I hadn't sought out Jason yet when his friend request popped up on my phone. That saved me the hassle.
[Olivia, I've given it some thought. This mess is my fault. If only I hadn't botched the game, you wouldn't have called me out, and we wouldn't be in this mess...]
I was bewildered. Was he for real? Had he taken a page out of a cheesy drama?
I was about to respond with [Are you crazy?]
But recalling Grandpa Clive's advice, I erased those words and typed instead: [Then make it up to me with dinner.]
His reply was swift and affirmative.
He chose a restaurant with a great vibe, turning heads as we walked in.