By morning, I was left with an empty bed space next to me. It appeared that Adrian left just before I woke up. A part of me felt disappointed, that he left me alone. Great, what do I have now? A guy who likes to sneak in and out of my house whenever he pleases. Jeez, I think I need to teach him a manner or two.

Just when I was thinking about it, I notice a sound that had stopped. Was that the shower? I quickly dashed it off and got out of bed. Opening up the curtain, my eyes closed themselves quickly, shielding themselves from the summer sun before reopening.

"Morning, Sophia."

"Ahhh!" I yelled and turned to see Adrian standing at the door, drying his hair with a towel. Thank god, he is wearing clothes. But I noticed something else, "You're human again."

"Well, of course. Don't want the neighbours to see my other half turning the day." He answered. Damn me, how can I be so oblivious? Of course, he would need to do that. "However, I can only last at least 24 hours in human form before I have to return to my true form."

"Why's that?" I asked. He just shrugged.

"I don't know. Perhaps it's because our bodies are not designed to stay in with human legs for long." Wait, did he say 'our'?

"Are there more of your kind?" I asked. He hesitantly nods. Perhaps he isn't ready to fully answer my questions yet. Before he could respond, an unfamiliar ringtone went off. Adrian reached down into his back pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Hello, Adrian speaking." He said before leaving the room. Must be a very important call. As I could hear he faded voice, I decided to quickly get change and freshen myself as usual. It wasn't long before Adrian returned to my room.

"I've got to go for the day." He said, sadly. "A meeting with a few of the biologists at the nearby university has asked for me to help them with some of their students' works on snakes."

"Will...will you back tonight?" I asked. Crap, what is my mouth doing? Why did I ask him that?

"Perhaps." He answered. That's was a disappointing answer. He turns and leaves but then halts and turns back with s smile and points to the window. "Leave the window unlock." He winked then left.

I felt happy for a moment but then shook my head. What on earth is happening to me? Why am I drawn to him? He is half snake and yet, I'm becoming less and less afraid of him. How can I still trust him? I lay back on my bed and decided to lay there and think for a while before I got up and started my normal routine.

As the night got closer, I started to get more nervous. Adrian will be coming tonight and most likely in his naga form. As I was on my laptop upstairs, glancing at the window from time to time. Adrian's car was still missing from his home. He hasn't returned yet. It must be a long day for him. My eyes focused on the screen once more, checking the new messages and reading the latest news articles. But when I looked up out to the window, I became solid as stone.

Appearing on the other side of the street was a man. But all the signs were shown that he wasn't friendly. He wore dark clothes, hooded to hide his face and what was worse: he was staring at me. Quickly, I locked the window, closed the curtain and grabbed my phone. I held it close for a moment before I decided to check outside again and as predicted in any movie or book, he was gone.

Who was his? Surely, I have not made any bad intentions with anyone. If I knew, I would have been wary of it. Maybe, it's another criminal? No, it can't be. Seriously, this street has more than enough events already. Unless...he has some connection to Adrian. There must be someone else who knows about him as well. It's hard to keep things a secret these days. Perhaps I'll ask him when he comes back.

As it got later, Adrian still hasn't come back so I decided to go to bed anyway. Comfortable reading a book but the thought of that man still comes from time to time. Paranoid as I was, I double checked that all the windows and doors were locked. Or I think I did a triple. Whatever, I hope he doesn't come back. My body immediately jumped when I could hear something trying to lift the window. Crap, is that him already? It stopped but then light knocking on the glass came next.

Cautiously, I approached the window and peek through the curtains. My eyes were expecting some creepy dude with a mask except he wasn't wearing a mask. I sighed in relieved and fully opened the curtains and unlocked the window for Adrian. I backed away as he lifted the window and entered. A shiver went down my spine as I watched his snake half slide through.

"You scared me, you know that." I stated to him.

"And I thought I ask to keep your window unlocked." He answered back while using his tail to shut the door. Adrian noticed my sudden uncomfortable expression as I remember what happened earlier.

"There was a man, standing across the street." I told him, "He was staring at me and I didn't see his face."

"Oh, that's a good reason then." He murmured.

"Are there...any other people who know about your secret?" I asked him. He went quiet for a moment. At first, I was thinking that he was thinking of someone he knows but the expression told me that he was trying to think.

"Nope. I made sure that my secret was kept safe from any humans." He said, "But whoever that man was, you have nothing to worry about." With that said, he pulls me into his arms and embraces me. I return the hug and deeply relaxed as he rubs my back.

"I'm here."