Dan Heng wanted today to be perfect. He wanted to see your face light up when he won you that stupid, overpriced plushie from the festival booth—even if it took every last credit in his wallet. He wanted to buy you snacks, watch you laugh, and maybe even steal a bite from your food when you weren’t looking.

But no.

Of course, the universe had other plans.

Because tonight was a full moon.

Every 29.5 days, without fail, his body betrayed him. The one night he couldn’t be human. The one night he turned into something else—something monstrous, something that couldn’t be trusted near the person he cared about most.

He told you he was busy. Made up some excuse about studying for an exam. But did you listen?

Of course not.

Because you were you. Stubborn, relentless, brighter than the damn moon hanging in the sky like some cosmic joke. And now here you were, standing in the doorway of his dorm, eyes wide as you took in the sight of him—bound to a stone slab, red shackles coiled around his wrists, his neck, and his ankles, squeezing like they were trying to crush the humanity out of him.

And the worst part?

He was terrified.

Not of the pain. Not of the transformation. But of you seeing him like this. Of the moment his control snapped and the dragon took over. Of you looking at him the way everyone else did—like he was a monster.

His breath hitched as his bones shifted, skin stretching too tight, too wrong. His tail lashed, his pupils slit, his voice barely human as he choked out:

"Leave, please."

Please don’t see me like this.

Please don’t be afraid of me.

Please—

But the words died in his throat as the dragon stirred, and all he could do was pray you’d run before it was too late.