Chapter 5

Even now, I could still remember the ache in my tongue from being sucked on, and the tingling in my lips from being bitten.

Especially when I caught a glimpse of my lips in the mirror, all red and swollen, I couldn't help but shoot a look at Opal, who was lying stiff right beside me.

Opal was wide awake, head perked up.

But as soon as our eyes met, it instantly dropped its head and went limp, totally playing dead.

I ended up laughing at Opal, and honestly, at myself, too. The whole thing was just ridiculous.

Seriously, I must be losing it to even link last night's hot dream to this little snake.

But I still grabbed Opal's head. "Did you spend all night licking me with your tongue? Look at my lips; they're having an allergic reaction! From now on, stop playing with my lips, okay?"

Opal looked like it half understood, then bounced over like it was about to smooch me again.

I quickly grabbed it, stuffed the little troublemaker under my pillow, and headed to the bathroom.

I was always up for a morning soak, but just as I settled into the hot water, a sudden splash stirred up the tub.

Before I could even react, Opal had already slid right into the bath with me.

It started by wrapping around my arm, then suddenly made a beeline for my chest.

But with all the body wash making me slick, Opal slid right down my front and plopped onto my stomach.

I couldn't help but laugh at how silly it looked.

And Opal, feeling totally encouraged, started using me as its own personal slide, wriggling and climbing all over my front.

Its tongue kept flicking out, slow and steady, gently teasing every inch of my skin and making me feel all tingly.

Seeing how much fun Opal was having, I let it be and picked up my phone, which was buzzing with notifications.

But before I could even check who was messaging me, Opal suddenly sprang up and landed right on my face.

When our eyes met, its gaze was sharp, with a hint of annoyance, and even a bit of hurt mixed in.

I blinked in surprise and then laughed. "Wow, you're really jealous, huh? I'm just replying to a message."

With that, I peeled Opal off my face and dropped it onto my stomach, then picked up my phone and opened my message.

Maybe Opal was sulking, but it suddenly darted straight down toward my lower body, its head getting dangerously close to the forbidden zone.

I nearly jumped out of my skin, dropped my phone, and grabbed the mischievous little snake.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? That's a no-go zone," I said.

Opal was slippery as ever, wriggling its tail free from my hand and darting right back down between my legs.

At that point, I didn't care about the bath anymore. I jumped out of the tub.

Opal, not missing a beat, coiled itself tightly around my thigh.

It squeezed so hard around the top of my thigh that it actually started to go numb.

But more than anything, I was hit with a rush of shyness I couldn't even describe.

I quickly shook my head, dried off, wrapped a towel around myself, and headed out of the bathroom.

Then I yanked Opal off my thigh, cupped it in my hands, and looked it right in the eye.

"You little troublemaker, listen up; next time I'm taking a bath, you're not allowed in, got it?" I said.

Opal did its usual thing; its head, which had been perked up, flopped straight down onto my palm, playing dead like it always did.

I was so exasperated I could scream.

Just then, my work alarm went off.

I didn't have time to deal with Opal anymore, so I hurried to get dressed and put on my makeup.

After finishing everything, I quickly tossed Opal into its snake box, grabbed my phone, and rushed out the door.

Opal was totally clueless at first, but as soon as it saw me put the glass lid on, it started bouncing around like crazy, slamming itself against the glass box.

I had no choice but to stare back at it through the glass.

"Be good, alright? I have to go to work. If I don't, I won't have any money to buy you food," I said.

But Opal didn't care what I said; it just kept slamming itself against the glass, like it was about to bash its head right through.

In the end, I couldn't bear it and took it out.