Chapter 3: One Last Drink 

As soon as we step into our dorm, Sandro heads straight for the kitchen while I make my way to my bedroom to shower. 

After rinsing off and feeling somewhat human again, I walk out of my room in nothing but my boxers. 

Sandro’s already settled on the couch, a bottle of beer sitting on the coffee table next to a bag of snacks.

“Let’s have a few drinks before the auction starts,” he says, taking a long swig from his can.

I sit down across from him and study his face. “You’re nervous.”

It’s not a question, it’s obvious. He shakes his head immediately.

“Why would I be? I’ve been here long enough to know this is just how things are.” He avoids making eye contact with me as he speaks.

To be honest, Sandro is a good-looking guy. His tan skin brings out his features, and when I first met him, I actually thought he was gay because of how delicate he looks. He doesn’t have the bulky build most guys here do. His body’s lean and well-defined, and his face is almost too pretty for a man. 

“Then why are your hands shaking like that?” I ask, fixing him with a cold stare.

Sandro glances down at his hands as if just noticing they’re trembling. “They’re not… I was just… just—”

“Scared,” I finish for him.

“No!” he hisses defensively.

I just shrug and take a long drink from my own beer, watching him in silence.

“Stop staring at me, asshole!” he snaps, clearly upset.

“Why don’t you just admit you’re terrified?” I press him.

He glares at me but says nothing in response.

A heavy silence falls between us, stretching on for minutes, until three sharp knocks at the door shatter it completely.

I start to stand up, then pause when I see how badly Sandro’s shaking now, his face drained of color. I shake my head in frustration before heading to the door and pulling it open.

I lean against the doorframe and look at the two figures standing outside our dorm.

“What do you want?” I ask flatly.

“We’re here to deliver this to your roommate. He’s been chosen to attend tonight’s auction,” one of them says in a low, muffled voice.

I don’t say anything, just turn to look at Sandro. He’s staring at me, his eyes wide with fear and pleading. I want to help him, but I know there’s nothing I can do. I step aside and open the door wider to let them in.

They walk over to where Sandro sits and place the box on the table in front of him.

“These are the clothes you’ll wear tonight. Don’t try to disobey if you don’t want to face the headmaster’s punishment,” they warn before turning and walking out without another word.

Minutes pass before Sandro finally reaches out and lifts the lid of the box with shaking hands.

Inside, neatly folded, are the garments he’s supposed to wear. Along with the accessories that make my jaw tighten. A dog’s tail, a matching headband with ears, and a leather choker.

"If I get chosen... you won't see me again."

It's the first thing he says, and tears immediately start streaming down his face.

"I just wanted to tell you that somehow... I came to think of you as my friend. Thank you for teaching me how to fight back, how to stand up for myself, because no one else here in this hellhole would've done that for me."

Every word he says cuts deeper than it should. I shouldn't care. I should be numb to this. I shouldn't let his words get to me. But right now, looking at him, my chest feels tight and twisted.

"Klein, if we ever meet again... please let me be your first real friend, okay?" He looks up at me then, and despite the tears on his face, he's smiling wide.

His smile is bright, but his eyes tell a completely different story, full of sadness and fear.

"What the hell are you talking about? It's just an auction. No one in their right mind would pick an ugly Omega like you." I snap at him, looking away quickly before his tears can pull me in further.

"Fuck you, bastard!" He laughs through his sobs, and even though I didn't plan to, I find myself laughing too.

"Cheers?" He holds up his beer can toward me.

I meet his eyes, and all I see is the weight of everything he's carrying, sadness, fear, and a strange kind of acceptance.

"Cheers," I say, clinking my can against his.

Silence settles between us after that. I don't try to break it, I wouldn't know what to say to comfort him anyway. I've always known this day would come. 

Hours pass, and then a loud warning bell echoes through the university, shaking every wall in the building.

I watch Sandro's shoulders tense up the moment he hears it.

"Time to go," he says quietly.

He stands up and picks up the box holding the clothes he has to wear tonight.

"You don't have to go," I say, making him pause mid-step. I don't look up at him as I continue. "You could hurt yourself, make new bruises so they can't take you. Or... maybe I could beat you up bad enough that you won't be able to go."

"Are you being serious right now?" he asks, shocked.

I finally look up at him, raising an eyebrow. "It's the only way to keep you from being sold off," I tell him. "Unless you want to be bought like some kind of merchandise." My voice comes out sharper than I intend.

"Actually... I've been thinking about this for a long time, Klein," he says, his voice and expression dead serious. "I can't stay trapped here forever."

"What are you saying?. You'll just let them sell you to some high bidder and then kneel and obey them? You've already been through enough, Sandro. What's the point of getting sold when you'll just end up in another hell with them?" My voice rises as frustration builds inside me.

"That's exactly it. Nothing will change either way," he says calmly. "If I stay here, life will still be hell. If I get sold... at least I won't be stuck staring at the same four walls of this university hell forever. I'm tired, Klein..."

Those words hit me like a physical blow.

"I'm tired of fighting every single day in this place. I want to be free, but I know there's no other way out. No other choices left for me. I've seen how fucked up life is here, maybe it's time I see what kind of hell waits outside. And who knows... maybe out there, my suffering will finally end. Because honestly? I'd rather die from beatings and punishments than from the loneliness and pain I feel every single day here."

"Shut up," I whisper, but I know he hears me.

"Inside or outside this place... let's both face whatever cruelty comes our way. Then maybe we can die with a smile and finally be free."

"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" I roar, jumping to my feet and facing him head-on. "Stop spouting all that nonsense, Sandro!" I snarl at him.

Sandro just gives me a sad smile before walking over and placing a hand on my shoulder.

"See you in hell, Klein." With those final words, he moves past me, walks out of our dorm, and gently closes the door behind him.

My knees give out beneath me. I collapse back into my chair, my breathing ragged and uneven. 

"No... don't you dare cry! You're not supposed to care about him!" I tell myself, trying to steady my breathing, but hot tears start streaming down my face anyway.

This isn't like me. I shouldn't be hurting like this. He's just a roommate... nothing more. No reason to care, no reason to cry—

"FUCK YOU, BASTARD!!" I scream, shooting to my feet and racing out of the dorm.