DOMINIC ENTERED THE INFIRMARY. His raven hair was raked in an attractive and troubled manner. He undid his dark red necktie before sitting beside me. Nurse Judith felt Dominic wanted to have some private conversation, so she excused herself for a while, carrying down the glass of water before closing the door. 

His eyes suddenly stared up at my hands, soothing them before his expression turned into a frown, "Are you feeling well now?" He asked softly after Nurse Judith had exited the door--—there was an enticing and strange feeling when his skin touched mine. And it took me minutes to digest his words.

"I'm alright now," I smiled warily, feeling fragile and vulnerable. Dominic's dark eyelashes blend well with his gray orbs, but there are flickering emotions inside. "Thanks for your concern," I whispered shyly.

"You're too soft-hearted," he cooed deeply, kissing my hand. "It makes me want to protect you."

My air sacs halted, and my temperature rose. My chest felt strange like something was tightening. But simultaneously, skin felt numb and tickled, uncertain yet pleasurable.

Dominic knew I could not find my words, releasing my hands before speaking. "You should get home. It's getting dark."

I stood up straight and removed the blankets, covering my half. "I live in the dorms now. And I'll be going to my new room after I've recomposed myself." I explained thoroughly. After a couple of minutes, he put something in his pocket, placing it on top of my lap. It was the only time that I realized that I was still wearing my Gym uniform.

"I've bought some strawberries and chocolates," he said, referring to his gift. "You can eat them if you want to." His thin, rosy lips curved. But I leaned closer.

"Is eating allowed here, in the infirmary?" I asked, feeling uncertain with Nurse Judith. Dominic cocked his head, taunting me.

"There are no rules here. You can always do your thing as long as you're with me," he declared, opening the container. Now, Mary, eat what I've bought; it'll make you feel better."

I nodded and gently took my first strawberry, dipping it in rich, thick chocolate before the sweet and sour texture blended easily against my tongue. Dominic was just there, watching me. Before he crossed his legs and smiled softly.

"Say, how old are you, Mary?" He asked, putting his hands in front of his lips. I took another strawberry before dipping it thoroughly.

"I'm Nineteen, supposed to be in college. But I've missed too many school years." I explained. "What about you?" I asked back, pulling the fruit from the chocolate dip.

"I'm seventeen."

I halted and stared at him. Before a warm and smooth texture fell off on my bare skin. My eyes lowered, and I swore when I realized the chocolate had dripped. Dominic clicked his tongue in a teasing manner, standing up from his chair.

"I may be younger, but I can teach you a lot of things that no one has ever taught you," he whispered temptingly, placing his hands on top of my knees. The other one managed to wipe down the chocolate. "You just have to ask, and I will give everything that your heart desires," he proclaimed, cleaning his fingers with his tongue, showing dominance and protection towards me.

The school head gave me the room keys after I'd exited. I walked into my room, feeling embarrassed if someone caught me walking late in the evening with my uniform. The dorm was farther than I had expected, separated from the main building and a few feet further than the storage house. Only the moon and tall antique street lamps guided me toward the broad yet sophisticated pathway.

When I arrived at the dorm, it was twice as long as the main building and thrice the height of the gym. It's quite unfathomable how Mastema managed to establish it all. The structure itself was painted in cream. Five Dorian columns stood in front of the entrance, and long yet narrow windows surrounded it. It seemed gloomy and beyond my grasp to compress the idea of what the insides looked like.

I breathed deeply before I knocked gently on the tallest doors, nervous and anticipating to enter inside. An old and beautiful woman opened up the door. Giving me a few directions before she finally permits me to enter.

Several antiques and a priceless collection of paintings, elegant and translucent in theme, hang all over the walls, juxtaposed by the chandeliers on the ceiling. The floor is covered with red velvet carpet, and its edges are decorated with three layers of gold linings. It took me almost ten and a half minutes to reach my room.

A series of giggles and voices from the other end of the hall approached me. I managed to ignore them, but some familiar ones stopped me. Turning around, I saw Alexis with two strangers on her side. But my eyebrow furrowed when the triplets were behind them, walking nonchalantly and whispering some flirtatious word to either of their girls.

I have to enter now. I reminded myself, fumbling on my keys. The girls, including Alexis and the triplets, were too preoccupied with their business. Giving me the time to enter without being noticed—I locked the door and breathed deeply, leaning my head at the wooden door.

"That's close," I whispered between my sighs. I opened my eyes and saw that my room was large, enough for five or ten people. It was designed with an antique collection and themed with roses. The walls were painted in soft pink and cream. And the windows themselves were covered with thick and large beige curtains.

I tried to find the closet, and I was beyond astonished. It was already organized and filled with dozens of uniforms, nightgowns, and casuals. I picked the simplest nightgown and headed off to the bathroom, which was unsurprisingly elegant and filled with expensive bathing equipment. I closed the bathroom door before putting the dress on the hanging iron and turning on the tap, taking off my P.E. uniform.

I put some liquid soap in the tub. The bathroom was suddenly filled with strawberry scent, letting the bubbles increase before turning off the tap and hopping in—the warm, relaxing water tempted me to fall asleep. So I closed my eyes, letting my whole demeanor relax in my bath.

WHEN I WOKE UP after fifteen minutes of napping, I hopped out of my bathtub and wore my bathrobe, looking uncertain at the door. It's open. And I remembered closing it before. I tried to make up my conclusion to distract myself; perhaps I didn't close it properly. And it was rather open. After I agreed, I dried my hair and changed into my nightgown, brushing my hair before I opened the door.

The room was initially warm, the same as the water from the tub. I finger-combed my hair sideways and was startled when someone knocked on the door.

"Just a sec," I called out, tying my hair before opening the door. I poked my head and furrowed my eyes when no one gave me insight, determining to take a closer step.

"Is someone there?" I asked.

I waited for a reply but was only embraced by the deafening silence. Swallowing down my nervousness before speaking up again, "I said, is someone the"

"Gotcha!"

I screamed and jumped at the same time when Emily surprised me, chuckling on her own. "You should've seen yourself, Mary. You looked funny," she giggled. I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest.

"It's not funny, Emily." I scolded, but I stopped when I smelled alcohol on her breath. "Are you drunk?" I asked disbelievingly. She stopped laughing and nodded her head, biting down her lower lip. "Get in; you can just sleep here in my place," I muttered softly, feeling comfortable now that I had some acquaintance.

Emily entered nonchalantly, plopping herself on my bed. She sighed hopelessly before I closed the door. "You should at least clean yourself up first," I offered, sitting beside her.

She turned her head and looked at me, looking half-asleep before her voice slurred. "I'm already tired, maybe some other time." I frowned, standing up before gently taking her hands.

"Emily," I said, pleading that she regain her senses. It took me a couple of minutes to get her in the bathroom, and I felt obligated to guide her and make sure that she would never slip on the tiles.

After she finished bathing herself, I lent her one of my nightgowns and put her clothes together with my P.E. uniform, letting her share a bed with me. "Where's your room, by the way?" I asked.

"It's just twenty-nine rooms away from yours. Between Luca's and Esmeralda," she said, now gaining consciousness. She faced herself in my direction, and her drunken state was already fading.

"I see,"

There was a slight pause before Emily's eyes flickered in amusement. " You just missed the big party, Mary," she said. I was about to invite you, but then I heard that you fainted. All the Mastema students were there, except that we're missing two—you and the other student."

"Who is the other student?" I asked, bewildered. She nodded her head, and her expression became unreadable.

"Dominic," she started. "But we're already used to it because that guy never joined any of the school's activities, parties, or that sort of stuff. Simply put, he didn't like anyone; he was isolating himself. But what I know pretty well was that," she paused, recalling her mind.

"That?" I urged, feeling strangely enthusiastic about learning more about Dominic. She licked her dried lips before continuing.

"His attitude was more on control and dominance. Almost all of the girls dreamt of becoming his. Given that he's darkly handsome and deadly exciting, no girls succeeded. He's simply cold-hearted, taking all of his favorite possessions by himself and never letting anyone touch or even see them."

Dominic was not cold-hearted. I protest, wondering why Emily described Dominic in contrast to my perspective.

"But what if he's not cold and selfish toward me?" I asked. And what if that guy acts the exact opposite when it comes to our interaction?"

Emily paused for a while, having doubts. But she held down all of her questions, glowering intently. "Then you're already his."