Chapter Three

Zoe’s Point of View

Dramont University is not as big as my previous university, but it looks fancier. My father is right, I do love it. 

Everywhere I go, it screams wealth and elegance. The hallways are clean even if there’s a lot of students who keeps on walking around, all the facilities had the latest edition machines and such, the plants and flowers were taken care of properly, classrooms were large enough to fit two classes, and there’s even a fountain right at the center of the campus, right in front of the main building. A statue of the Moon Goddess stood proudly in the middle of the fountain, making it more fascinating than how it already was.

The professors were excellent as well though they are really, really strict. I don’t mind it because I’ve learned from my previous university that strict professors are efficient ones especially to lazy students who think they can just pass everything so easily.

First day of my classes here and we already had a discussion. Now on my fourth day, I have so many papers to do. Thankfully, I have two friends of mine who’s as grade conscious as I am. I met them on the first day of classes and we shared two classes and we also have the same hobbies, so it wasn’t a surprise that we instantly clicked with each other. Since then, the three of us stick together during lunch time, vacant time, and after class hangouts.

We’re currently in the main building’s lounge, lazing around first before we head to the library to finish one of our outputs that are due tomorrow. Students rarely come here because the Main Building is a bit far from departments, so it means it’s quiet and peaceful here, and not many people around.

Apparently, my friends are pretty women who just presented months ago, and both of them are omegas. So it’s already expected that a lot of alphas and betas are on their tails, flirting with them non-stop even when they had already rejected them. They just wouldn’t accept a simple ‘I’m not interested’ and proceed to still woo them. Geez, men and their ego.

So we decided to stay here so we can be a bit far from other students.

“I want some coffee before we start with our output,” Amber said, pouting. “I feel like I’ll just fall asleep as soon as we enter the library. But if I drink my regular order of coffee, I’ll be less drowsy.”

“Me too. I need my daily dose of coffee,” Taliyah added.

“There’s just a cafe in front of the campus. Should we drink there first before heading to the library?” I suggested. Both their eyes brightened up as they sat properly from their seats.

I chuckled at their excited looks. 

We quickly headed to the cafe and ordered our respective personal favorite coffee along with some pastries. We sat near the entrance because it’s the only available seat left.

“Hey, wait,” Taliyah said, eyes trained somewhere.

Amber and I tried to follow her gaze but there’s a group of people who entered the cafe, completely blocking where Taliyah was looking.

“What’s wrong?” I worriedly asked.

“Did I see that right?” She mumbled.

Amber cocked an eyebrow. “What did you see?”

“The pureblood alpha.”

I felt chills all over my body upon hearing that.

Amber seemed excited about it as she lightly squealed, “What about him?”

“Oh my goddess!” Taliyah squeals quietly as she practically vibrates on her seat. “He’s coming here inside the cafe!”

My eyes immediately widened. When the bell chimes, indicating that a customer just came in, I turned around and faced my friends. I made sure my long hair would cover the side of my face in case that guy would recognize my side view.

The moment I smelled the sour scent of cedarwood, I already knew it was him. No one smelled the same as him, much more the sour scent.

“Oh my gosh, he’s so freaking stunning even in a plain shirt and jeans,” Amber muttered, biting her lips to prevent herself from screaming.

“But everyone’s right. He smells bad,” Taliyah grimaced. “Why does he smell so rotten all the time?”

That’s what I’m wondering as well. His scent is so potently sour which is why most omegas find it disgusting and intimidating. Although it doesn’t smell that bad… or that’s just me. Maybe non-omegas don't find it disgusting. 

“Maybe because he’s always not in the mood,” Amber said. “Our scents change depending on our moods, right?” 

Taliyah hummed, nodding in agreement.

“But his scent is always like that. I heard from some people how they never smelled his true scent even when he presented.”

My ears perked up at that. It immediately piqued my interest.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

Taliyah looked around first before she gestured us to come closer. So Amber and I leaned towards her.

“One of my blockmates said this when we were in her apartment for our group output,” Taliyah started, her voice just minimal and enough for only the three of us to hear. “She said that when he reached his legal age and presented, his scent was already bad. It smells so sour and bitter at the same time. No one knows why it was like that. It smells so rotten the moment he presented.”

“Maybe something bad happened to him? Like, something that affected him so much?”

Taliyah shrugged at what I said, “Who knows?”

“As in there’s no instance where they catch a whiff of his true scent?” Amber wondered, brows furrowed tightly.

Taliyah thought about it for a moment before she spoke.

“I think my blockmate mentioned something about it…” She closed her eyes, as if trying to recall something. “Right! There’s this thing she mentioned. Gosh, how could I forget that?”

“What is it?” I eagerly asked.

“You know how he’s always rude and such to everyone, right?” Amber and I nodded at her. “So there’s this one time where the town’s alpha, his father, visited the university for the monthly inspection or something like that. Someone saw them talking at the back of the main building. They saw Drake crying in his father’s arms for a moment. The one who witnessed smelled his true scent, his cedarwood scent. But that person just caught a whiff of his scent because it quickly turned sour and then he suddenly writhed in pain. He was screaming and whimpering but his voice sounds… somewhat, demonic? And his eyes turned black. I don’t exactly know, but that's how the witness described it.”

“What happened to Drake after that?” 

“He passed out,” Taliyah simply answered. “Then he was carried by his father back to their house.”

I leaned back on my seat, a frown etched on my face.

“Is the source credible?” I asked.

She just shrugged, “I don’t know. I don’t exactly believe it either. My blockmate just told us about it.”

They proceeded to talk about it while I stayed silent and just listened to whatever they’re saying. 

Although my eyes would drift on the table where the subject of our conversation was sitting from time to time. He was just sitting on the farthest corner of the shop, looking out by the glass wall. His face sports no emotion, not even when I’m sure he’s aware of the eyes ogling at him. It was as if he was so used to it that he wasn’t bothered at all. He doesn’t even spare anyone a glance.

Which is why I’m completely taken aback that I choked on my coffee when he suddenly snapped his head in my direction, our eyes immediately met. He looked directly at me as if he already knew I was staring at him for a while, which I didn’t realize at all. 

“Zoe? Are you okay?” Amber asked, looking confused as I coughed several times.

I waved my hands as if dismissing it, “I-i’m fine. Just… yeah,” I awkwardly chuckle.

“Gosh, you’re so clumsy,” Taliyah chuckled as she handed me a tissue to wipe my lips and our table where some of my coffee spilled. “Good thing it didn’t spill on your clothes.”

I just flashed an awkward smile.

“Should we get going? Both of you are done with your drinks and pastries anyway,” I said.

“But you haven’t finished yours…”

“It’s fine. I just ordered because you both did,” I started to gather my things, wanting to leave this place. I could still feel his eyes staring at me, and it makes me nervous. I don’t know if he remembers me but I don’t want to take chances.

Even though both of them were confused, they still followed me. I didn’t bother glancing at Drake’s direction, I just hurriedly left the store with my friends in tow.

“As far as I know, the library will close at eight, and it’s still four o’clock so why are we in a rush?” Taliyah asked while looking at me, as if she’s waiting for an answer.

I shrugged, “I just wanted to finish early, and I’m not really hungry.”

They seemed like they didn't believe it, but they just decided not to prod more about it. 

We stayed at the library until seven o’clock and we managed to finish all our outputs. It seemed the coffee did its magic and kept us awake and productive. 

Once we left the campus, the three of us parted ways. I decided to stop by at the old book shop, secretly praying to the Moon Goddess that Drake is not there.

I sighed in relief when I entered the shop and he’s not there. His distinct scent wasn’t there inside. Instead, the scent of mint leaves was what welcomed me. 

“Good evening.”

I turned around and almost ran out of the shop when I thought it was Drake that greeted me. But the kind smile on his face as well as the strong scent of peppermint made me realize it wasn’t Drake. 

“G-good evening,” I stuttered out of nervousness.

“Are you new here?” He asked. 

I nodded, “How did you know?” I mindlessly asked. 

He smiled, his eyes turned crescent as he did so. Cute.

“No one comes here in the shop.” Oh… “People in this town just passed by this place. So it’s surprising to see someone here.”

“But I saw someone coming out of here a few days ago when I first saw this place…” I muttered.

He narrowed his eyes at me, as if he’s trying to remember something. He suddenly exclaimed which made me flinch in surprise.

“Wait- I remember you!” He exclaimed. “You were the girl Yas-Drake was talking to outside the shop a few days ago! The one who suddenly ran away when I called him.”

My eyes widened, “You’re the one who called him?!”

“Yeah…?” He trailed off, looking confused at me. “Why did you run, by the way? Did he do something?”

I immediately shake my head, “No! It’s not like that…”

“Oh. Is it something private? You don’t have to tell me if it is…” He chuckled awkwardly.

“It’s nothing serious. I just… there’s just…”

“Yael.”

I froze on my spot when I heard that cold, menacing voice. I slowly turned around and just a few steps away from me stood the subject of our conversation, as well as the person I’m trying to avoid.

Only then did I catch a whiff of his sour scent. How come I didn’t smell him immediately? I didn’t even hear him entering!

“Why are you here again, Yashiel?” The stranger who welcomed me spoke.

I literally froze when I heard the name the stranger said.

Yashiel…

I felt my heart race the moment I heard the name. The thing that has been bothering me since the day I arrived here suddenly flashes in my mind. 

Unkindness.

Personification of anger.

Ocean blue eyes.

Yashiel.

My dream in the car suddenly starts playing in my head, letting me relive the forgotten nightmare. But this time, everything was clear to me. The face of the man in that dream was vividly clear.

It was him.

It was Drake.

He’s Yash. He’s the Yashiel I cried for in my dreams.

He’s real and very much alive, standing in front of me like how he described himself in that dream. Angry and unkind.

“You…” I finally spoke, my voice was shaking. “It’s you.”

He raised an eyebrow at me, “What the fuck are you up to, newbie? How dare you ignore what I was saying?”

“Hey, that’s not how you talk to a gir-”

I cut the stranger off from what he was about to say, ignoring everything that they said.

“It’s you!” I pointed at Drake- at Yashiel. “You were the man in my dream!”

“What the fuck?” He sounds so appalled by what I’ve said. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I dreamt of you one time. On my dad’s car on the way here to Dramont Town,” I started explaining. “I dreamt of you. You were standing at the edge of a building, looking so helpless and defeated. I was trying to convince you not to jump, that I’ll help you out! But you were so helpless that you still jumped despite-”

“Zoe…”

I paused when he suddenly said my name. My eyes widened as I turned to him, meeting his own surprised ones. 

“That’s my name,” I muttered, almost breathless.

“You’re that Zoe?”

My brows furrowed, “What do you mean-” I halted for a moment when it dawned on me. “Did… did you dream of the same thing? Did you dream of it too exactly a week ago at twelve o’clock in the afternoon?”

“So you were real…” He muttered, lacking the usual hostile and spiteful tone of his. “You are real, and you’re alive…”

“Yes, and so do you.”

For a moment, I think I saw how his cold and sharp eyes softened.

“I.. I- argh!”

I panicked when I saw him kneel down as he clutched on his shirt, his face contorted into something akin to pain. His ears were extremely red and his veins around his neck and on his arms were protruding.

“What’s happ-”

“Can you leave us for a moment, Miss Zoe?” The stranger- or better yet Yael, suddenly said, announcing his presence that I completely forgot.

“What?”

He flashed me an apologetic smile, “I’ll handle him. It’s better for you not to see him in this state, and he wouldn’t like it either if someone sees him like this. So if you don’t mind, can you leave the two of us for now?”

“But…” I ran out of words. So I just sighed and nodded. “Okay…”

“Thank you.”

Although reluctant and confused, I left the shop, leaving the both of them to settle whatever it is that’s happening. But not without glancing at Drake- Yashiel for the last time tonight.

And he glanced back despite what’s happening to him. Only this time, it wasn’t the same ocean blue eyes that were looking at me.

But a pair of pure black eyes.