When Friday rolled around, the day dragged painfully slow.
Eley felt that each passing hour felt like ten. Several times, he nearly fell asleep in class, but Cheng was there to jolt him awake every few minutes.
Exhausted, with a throbbing headache, he sighed in relief upon opening the library door, only to find his usual spot was occupied by someone else.
By an Alpha with hair as dark and glossy as the night, whose eyes watched him attentively, waiting for him to draw near. Eley swallowed hard, feeling his heart race again merely at the sight of him. The Alpha sat casually, arms behind his head, as if he hadn't a care in the world. A sleeveless shirt emphasized his well-defined biceps, triceps, and broad shoulders. He might as well have propped his feet on the table to showcase the full magnitude of his self-centered aura.
Eley almost turned to leave but instead clenched his fists and kept walking toward him.
He noticed the mocking expression on the Alpha's face and felt a strong urge to wipe off that smug, perfect smile. As he reached the Alpha, he paused for a second before sitting down and shrugged his backpack onto the chair back. Looking up, he met those scrutinizing eyes, examining him like he wanted to see right through him.
"Aren't you pleased? I was saving your spot to ensure no one else took it."
Eley gave him a brief glance before taking out a book from his backpack and starting to read.
Lukyan watched him carefully, noting how Eley's eyes moved across the pages, blatantly ignoring him. So, he just took out his own notebook and a pencil to start drawing. It wasn't something he did often, but at times, it helped him destress. Eley was oblivious, trying his best to ignore him, so the dark-haired one simply began to draw, occasionally looking up before resuming his sketch.
He felt like he had something truly beautiful to capture for the first time in a while; something special and unique deserved slow, deliberate strokes. Despite his usual fleeting encounters with Betas, none had piqued his interest in Eley this way. Why, he wasn't sure, so for once, he stopped overthinking and just focused on what was in front of him.
Overthinking often robbed him of sleep, yet even though Eley had taken his money and bank cards, it hadn't worried him. He'd been so nonchalant about it that he hadn't even counted the money or blocked the cards. The Alpha had even spent hours looking at the hoodie, and when he brought it to his nose, the redhead's scent was so intense it felt like the world's most potent drug.
Finishing the drawing, Lukyan was more than pleased. It was the best work he had ever done, solely because Eley was there. With his colored pencils at the ready, he began to paint. He had counted the number of pages Eley turned and the minutes spent on each, so after an hour of silence but comfortable presence, Eley propped his elbows on the table, his open book obscuring Lukyan's view. Suddenly, something slid between his arms. Glancing down, he saw a notebook. Narrowing his eyes at the sketch, he lowered the book to correct the angle of the notebook for a better look.
He blinked a few times at the drawing, his heartbeat erratic, because it was him, unmistakably. The backdrop featured bookshelves and the library's interior, and the drawing was so vivid it resembled a photograph. Everything was captured with such precision, it was almost frightening.
Looking up, he saw Lukyan offering a smile, resting his cheek upon his hand. Eley's heart seemed to skip beats, and although he didn't want to get carried away or feel special, it was impossible to resist.
"This is new. No one's tried to woo me with a drawing before," he quipped, sliding the notebook back—"Nice try, but no."
"So, will you go to eat with me now?"
"You drew me just so I'd say yes? Quite the effort on your part."
Eley lifted the book to cover his face again and closed his eyes tight. He inhaled deeply more than five times, repeatedly telling himself not to be a fool.
"You're very... difficult," Lukyan said, his curiosity only piqued further by such resistance—"But I didn't draw you to get a yes. I was rude to you the other day; I'm sorry about that."
Eley was tempted to knock his head against the book.
"Alright, you're making me feel guilty. Let's go," he said, packing his book into his backpack to stand up and tidy—"Get up and let's move."
The Alpha couldn't recall ever being spoken to so imperiously, ordered so directly, but he stood up and followed.
"Don't get this wrong, I don't like you, and I won't start liking you. So don't think a meal will change anything."
They began descending the stairs slowly.
"Also, I'm hungry. I'll order a lot. Once you see the bill, maybe you'll leave me be."
The Alpha remained silent, and then, reaching his car, stopped. He watched Eley walk past without realizing.
"Eley," he called, and Eley turned to see him a few steps behind, next to a dark red car—"Get in here."
Eley toggled his gaze between the car and him, overwhelmed at the thought of close quarters filled with his scent. He stepped back, viewing the car as a threat to his emotional equilibrium and delicate heart.
He tried to think of an excuse but drew a blank, blurting out the first foolish thing that came to mind:
"I don't like small cars. If you want to have a meal with me, we're taking the bus."
Continuing his walk to the bus stop, he sat down, partly hoping the Alpha would just go home, leaving him in peace. But that wasn't to be.
He sensed the Alpha sit beside him.
"Fine, we'll take the bus. It's not like I've never been on one."
"That's good. Now you'll know what it's like to be middle class and not have everything."
"You think I don't know that?"
"I don't know, you tell me."
"I see. And you, why won't you get into my car?"
"I already told you, I don't like them."
"Weren't you the one who got a ride in Jerley's car?"
Eley spared him a brief glance.
They locked eyes for a moment, and before Eley could react, he felt the Alpha touch a lock of his hair. His blood raced with all the strange sensations that came whenever the Alpha was near. He looked away, shaking his head slightly to distance himself.
Lukyan noted his flushed cheeks and obvious nervousness.
When Eley looked at him again, he couldn't look away. His grey eyes were shining, appearing sweet and lovely. His plump lips were parted, and he slowly lowered his gaze, his hair fluttering in the breeze. That's when the bus rounded the corner.
The journey was silent, and soon they arrived at the same restaurant as before.
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