Liev's POV

I started packing my stuff. With my mind blank, I swiftly finished as the school day came to an end. Some students had already left, while others lingered, chatting as they prepared to depart.

My gaze swept the room, landing on Ziel, who slouched to unplug his tablet. His movements were slow and sluggish, indicative of encroaching laziness. Irwin and Redd engaged in a bit of banter before turning their attention to me.

"Wait for us!" Redd called out, prompting me to already sling my bag before we left the room together. 

Standing in front of the elevator, we waited for a ride. Redd, Irwin, and Ziel chatted animatedly about the day's events. While I remained quieter than usual, my energy levels seemed to be noticeably low since they started commenting about it. 

"Are you alright?" Redd teased, a smile playing on his lips.

I gave him an exaggerated sad face, probably to make them think that since I could still pull off something like this, I was clearly well enough, as they could see.

"I know I look dead, but I'm alright, really," I replied, trying to muster up some energy. Pretending to sniff as if I were crying, I kept up the act of being in a fragile state. Judging by their amused faces, I'm pretty sure they knew I was just kidding.

"Do you want me to prepare your coffin?" Ziel quipped, as if it were perfectly normal to offer to prepare someone's coffin.

How nice of him to support me in my own death.

"I'll call the priest," Redd added with a chuckle.

Look at this asshole also contributing.

"Just play Renai as background music when you bury me," I joked back, trying to lighten the mood. If they're going to weep at my funeral, I'd rather have a light mood with everyone bopping to a cute song.

"Shouldn't it be the Coffin Dance?" Irwin proposed as if it made the topic any better.

As we entered the elevator, their laughter filled the confined space, prompting me to playfully scold them. "Hey, tone it down you shameless fools," I exclaimed, feigning annoyance.

They laughed, knowing I was only joking. Watching this man act all proper, as if he wasn't involved with the likes of them—of course, I meant myself.

At least they made an effort to quiet down, mindful of the other passengers in the elevator.

As the doors opened and closed intermittently, we occasionally had to step out to let others disembark on their floors. Once, I pressed the close button quickly, causing Redd to protest with widened eyes as he barely made it back inside before the doors shut. He glared at me, attempting to show his irritation, but failed when he gave in to our laughter anyway. I guess he found it amusing too. 

They continued to banter, though they made sure to keep their voices down.

As we neared the ground floor, Irwin scratched his head, looks like he remembered something. "Ah, right, Liev. I might not be able to catch up with you today. I have tuition," he explained.

Oh, he won't go home with me today then.

"Ah, okay, take care, and good luck with tuition," I replied, while the boys also wishing him luck.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out, saying our goodbyes before Irwin headed towards another exit, while the rest of us parted ways when we reached the outside.

I headed towards the bus stop, stood, and waited. Alone once again, I found solace in the solitude. But today, my mind seems out of it—I'm pretty sure I'm bothered, no? I sighed.

I still couldn't shake off the encounter with the blonde guy who had slapped my hand, his anger evident at my attempt to help the girl. I couldn't understand why my actions had provoked such a reaction. Bummed out, I boarded the bus, using the card behind my ID to pay for my fare. Sitting by the window, I gazed out at the passing scenery, lost in thought.

✦ — Flashback ————— ✦

"Hey, are yo—" 

Before I could finish, a hand slapped mine away. Surprised, I looked up to see a smaller, blonde man with a confused, slightly angry expression.

Ah...? Why is he looking at me like that?





Did I mess up?

My mind was racing.

Did I do something wrong? 

Was it not right for me to approach at all?

My thoughts spun with possibilities, trying to understand the blonde's behavior. I realized I'd been staring at him with a blank expression, trying to 'keep my cool.'

"Back off," he said firmly, despite his size. He stepped protectively in front of the girl, his stance leaving no room for argument. "I've got this."

I hesitated, unsure what to do next.

Should I go back to my seat? How was this guy going to help the girl? Was my help really not needed?

 
For a moment, I couldn't tell if it was pride or kindness fueling my thoughts.

"She's with me," the blonde added, his eyes narrowing as he noticed my hesitation. As if I can hear him say 'What are you doing? Get lost already.' 

"Thank you for your concern, but I'll handle it from here." He added, completely shutting me off.

Relieved but still worried, I stepped back and nodded. "Alright. I hope she gets well. Maybe helping her to the clinic would help?" That's the best I could come up with, at least. 

"I will," he replied curtly, already focused on the girl as if I was no longer relevant.

I watched as he helped her, offering some medicine and speaking to her in a voice too soft for me to hear. She nodded, and they headed outside. My worry spiked as they opened the door. If her scent was noticeable, wouldn't it be a problem getting to the clinic? 

She's like a magnet to alphas in her state. 

'Back off'

Blonde's words and the way he looked at me flashed back in my mind.

Maybe... I shouldn't really intervene any further. My brows furrowed, a contradicting smile playing on my lips. Well, isn't this what you call awkward?

I just hoped they would reach the clinic safely.

"What are you doing there?" Before I realized they had left, Redd's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He returned and looked at me, standing on the other side of the room, away from the seat where I was supposed to be, eating.

I shook myself out of my thoughts and settled back into my seat, feeling like the peaceful lunch break had been disrupted. "Nothing, just checking out something."

He scratched his head and slowly returned to the position we had a while ago. He must've been wondering but shrugged it anyway.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up my chopsticks again. "Thank you for the food," I murmured softly, trying to let the calm of the classroom settle over me once more.

✦ — End of Flashback ————— ✦

"Ah," I murmured, lost in thought. 

Questions and assumptions swirled in my mind as I leaned my head against the window, trying to make sense of the earlier incident. An idea came to me, and I sat up straight, looking ahead.

Maybe they're in a relationship?

I thought, trying to find the most logical explanation to finally put my mind to rest. But then another idea struck me, causing me to furrow my brows as I stared out the window, not really seeing anything outside.

Or did he... I began to wonder if the blonde knew my second gender.

Did he know I was an alpha?

But if he was an alpha too, he would emit pheromones to intimidate or dominate others rather than just glaring at me a while ago. And if he was that omega's partner, I would have known by the scent alphas leave on their partners, unless they were mates, in which case I wouldn't smell her at all.

But if the blonde was an alpha, wouldn't he be just as dangerous as I am?  The thought somehow ticked me off. 

What if he actually had ill intentions for that omega..? Wait—no no no... Scratch that. That omega then wouldn't willingly want to go with him—Was she forced with no options? 

What if she's already out of her mind since they say omegas in heat lose all sense of reason? 

Did I just leave her in another danger?

OR If he was a beta, he wouldn't recognize me as an alpha since I appeared like a beta. Or did he actually know?

I sighed, overwhelmed by the train of thoughts in my head. Maybe I should really just stop overthinking it.

———✦———

Third Person View

The train's automated voice droned, "Arriving at... arriving at..." The doors clicked open, and a few people shuffled in and out, the sound of their shoes tapping against the floor.

It was a new day, Friday to be exact. Lievon felt a bit relieved that the weekend was approaching, offering him a chance to move on from what had happened. After all, he kept himself busy on weekends. He worked part-time at a café, looked after kids, taught them how to sing and play instruments, and performed with a band at his gig. He'd also get to meet his childhood best friend, Eros Alcaeus—another beta. With so much going on during the weekend, it would surely take his mind off yesterday's events.

It was very early, and the sun had still yet to rise. Lievon had to wake up and leave early as his dad and sister dropped him at the train station before heading to work. He didn't mind, as he could nap on the way without worries since he'd be woken up when they were already at the station. Arriving early at school also meant some free time before classes started.

He is now at the station, having just gotten off at his stop. He'll then go to the bus shed later, where he waits for the bus that will stop by his school.

———✦———

Lievon occupied a seat by the bus window, leaning against it with eyes heavy with sleep. Wearing his cardigan, he wrapped his arms for more warmth and closed his eyes for a moment. Through his Bluetooth earphones, a song played softly:

My knee is still shaking like I was 12 ♪
 
Sneaking out the classroom by the backdoor  ♪

A man railed at me twice though I didn't really care  ♪

Waiting is for wasting for people like me  ♪

The earphones blinked red and blue as Lievon listened quietly, waiting for his stop. His phone lit up, displaying a wallpaper collage of black-and-white drawings his online friends had created. The time read 6:01 AM. Their class starts at 8 AM.

A notification briefly flashed:

Redd Sinclair: Have you left your house already?

Liev's POV

I opened my eyes, noticing my phone had just turned off.

Upon opening, it displayed the different applications neatly organized in folders, each with at least one notification. Clearly, this was because I never opened or checked them despite having them installed on my phone. Well... maybe I do... sometimes.

I paused for a moment, wondering what had caused my phone to light up. It only displays important notifications, excluding those from social media apps—so it must be a message directly from my email or my messages.

I suppose that settles it. I should text my mom to let her know I'm near school anyway.

Opening my messages, I noticed a new message—Redd texted me.

———✦———

As I stepped out of the elevator and neared the classroom, with nothing to think about, my mind started to be preoccupied with yesterday's events once more. Now that it hit my mind again, it might be impossible to 'unthink' about it. I tried to push those thoughts away, but they lingered, gnawing at me.

Why am I more bothered by the blonde guy than the omega? Isn't the omega that one in trouble?

I hoped this new line of questioning would distract me from overthinking. Maybe if I started to realize that I'd been dwelling on it too much and that my concerns were straying, I should just forget about it altogether. But it only seemed to add fuel to the fire since... aren't I still just thinking about it?

Oh god—don't tell me it's my alpha pride kicking in.

I shook my head, trying to shoo away all my thoughts.

Opening the door, I was immediately struck by the difference in the room. Counters, stoves, ovens—this place was full of kitchen materials.

The cooking club...? 

I mean, I don't know, but it definitely must be for cooking.

I must've entered the wrong room. But no, it's become a habit to end up in the right place. I would always turn right after stepping out of the elevator, and the past four doors would be our room.

Ah wait, could it be... I got off on the wrong floor?

I sighed, rubbing my face in frustration, I felt the irritation grow when I realized. I'd wasted time and could have been sitting in the correct classroom by now.

"Ah, sh*t. This is his fault..."  I muttered, my brain unconsciously seeking someone to blame. I knew it wasn't fair, but who cares? I was comforted by the fact that no one could hear me anyway.

Thankfully, I'm pretty early, at least. It's probably around 6:30 AM by now. I still have loooots of time to go to our room then.

I turned around and was about to leave when the scent of brewing tea hit me.



I love tea, but why does it smell like tea?


I mean yeah this is the cooking area or something but I don't see anyone cooking.

I glanced over the room again. The room was surely empty. Most of the tools were also electronic—had someone left a brewer plugged in?

Did someone just make tea? But it's too early for that, I mean who would come here this early just to brew tea?—Well, maybe someone might, but... it would be worse if it had been left since yesterday. That could be dangerous.

I stepped inside, scanning the counters and checking the circuits for a plugged-in brewer. I moved from counter to counter, and my senses heightened. The sweet, floral aroma filled the air—delicate, fragrant, soothing. Isn't that Jasmine tea?

I prefer Matcha or Green Tea but, oh well.

The scent grew stronger, and I started feeling hot. The air conditioner or fan wasn't on—maybe that's why. The doors are a bit heavy too, so they are shut completely leaving the room confined.

Should I turn the aircon or fan on or at least open the windows?

Ah, never mind. I wasn't planning to stay long anyway.

I couldn't pinpoint where the scent of the tea was coming from. The smell filled the entire room, making it impossible to locate the source. 

Something is not right. 

Maybe it was because the doors and windows were closed, causing the aroma to linger and spread. 

Thinking back, I realized I'd always been bad at finding things. My mom often asked me to hand her something, and I'd inevitably struggle. 

Shaking off the thought, I have to search harder then.

Mom, I'd probably need your finding skills here. 

It was probably my fault for only walking straight and glancing at the counters and plugs from this side. Maybe if I got closer to each counter, I'd be able to find the brewer that had been tingling my nose for a while now.

Determined, I started moving closer to each counter, scrutinizing every detail. The scent grew stronger as I moved, and I began to sweat slightly. My eyes scanned each appliance, each plug, and every inch of the countertops.

I still hadn't found the plugged-in brewer by the time I approached the last counter, the one near the other exit of the room. This is the last one, so it should probably be here... but as I looked, I realized there wasn't even a brewer there.

Huh? Then if it's not here, where could that—


I froze.

There, sitting on the floor between the counter and the door, was the blonde from yesterday. He was curled up, his face flushed red, almost silently crying, in a weakened state, and struggling.

Holy sh*t —curses started to pour into my mind as I realized the situation.