I faced Aahmes as soon as our guests left.
"And since when did you begin researching about fated pairs?"
"Just recently," he replied, "I guess you could say that you inspired me, with that story about your brother."
"Huh... so I guess now, you've decided to search for your fated pair?"
"Oh, I've always been searching for my fated pair," he replied. "That's one of the reasons why I went traveling in the first place."
My world suddenly crumbled around me.
Whatever hope I felt earlier suddenly disappeared.
"Is that so?" I mumbled. "If that's the case, then why the hell are you wasting your time here with me?"
"But of course, it's because I want you to come with me," he replied with his sneering smile. "You're the one I look up to the most, I want you to be always by my side. That's why I'm here, waiting for you to finish your work with the Secondary Gender Testing Kit. After that, we can finally leave this country and travel together."
I wanted to curse him.
To angrily push him away.
But he came closer and held me in his arms and kissed my cheeks and I didn't know what more to say.
"Can you believe it, professor? I had no idea we had two potential test subjects right in front of us. Now we can begin our study in earnest!"
He stared at me and tilted his head, noticing that I have gone silent.
"Professor? Is there something wrong?"
"Your experiment."
"Huh?"
"It's your study. Your experiment, not mine. I don't want anything to do with that."
"Why not?" His brows actually frowned.
"I just don't want to touch that subject."
I took the food Dona brought us and went to the kitchen.
"Why? Is it because it's too personal? Because your brother suffered after meeting his fated pair?"
"Stop bringing my brother into this!" I yelled at him. "Why did you have to mention him in the first place?! I don't want other people to know about what my brother went through! Just because I told you about it, doesn't mean you can just blabber about him to everyone else!"
Aahmes stared at me, alarmed at my sudden outburst.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to offend you. I should have not mentioned it to others. Please accept my apology."
I look at him and sigh.
The lively look he had earlier had disappeared. His face was emotionless once more.
Good.
"Go eat your dinner and go to sleep so we can finally get to work tomorrow. I have neglected my work enough because of you!"
"I am truly sorry, professor, if I ever made you feel–"
He touched my shoulder.
I quickly moved away.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped at him. "Just finish your food and go to sleep."
"Where are you going?"
"To my room. I'm not hungry."
I went up to my room and locked the door.
I tried to compose myself.
To breath regularly.
To still my aching heart.
"Idiot. What did I tell you? That's what you get for expecting too much. What you get for hoping for the impossible! Now you've heard it from Aahmes himself... He's searching for his fated pair, and when he finds him..."
I couldn't say the rest out loud.
I didn't want to.
I dropped on my bed and dug my face into my pillow.
Everything's clear now.
He just wants to work under me.
As a fellow researcher.
As a professor he looks up to.
Nothing beats a fated pair, after all. Nothing can take the place of an alpha who could actually bond with him.
I am just an ordinary beta, even if he did look up to me. I could never measure up to someone destined to be with him.
But...
Why did he have sex with me?
Why is he treating me this way?
Is he really that desperate to take me back with him to UACME?
Is he simply using me to satisfaction his lust? Or rather, because I've got good genes, like he mentioned earlier?
As if I could get him pregnant.
An omega's egg cell can't be easily fertilized by just any sperm. That's why their alpha counterpart can produce more sperm compared to betas. In fact, when knotting, a healthy alpha can release about 75 cc or 5 tablespoons full of semen in a span of 10-15 minutes straight, sometimes even longer.
Just what can a beta do against something like that? When I can't even last that long when we're doing the deed?
"Fuck."
I punch the bed angrily.
It's okay, at least I'm not yet that far gone.
At least now, I know what to expect.
And that is...
Nothing.
I should expect nothing from Aahmes.
Perhaps right now, he wants me due to my intellect, while he's a still free. But as soon as he finds his fated pair...
As soon as he gets bonded...
He would obviously leave me.
Just like Kuya did when he got bitten my his mate.
And they weren't even fated pairs.
So...
What am I supposed to do now?
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Professor, can we talk for a while?"
"No. I'm sleeping."
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Aahmes answered from outside.
I sighed and got up to open the door. He stood there, staring at me, his eyes with a hint of concern.
"Professor, I am sorry if I have offended you, please, do not be angry... I was just excited when I found out that Pedro and his mate were fated pairs... I did not mean to tell them about..."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm not angry `bout that anymore," I mumbled.
"Are you sure, Professor? For it seems like you were really offended by my actions."
Well, that's not the only 'action' I got angry at, but I don't want him to know that.
I don't want him to know how he made a fool out of me by giving me hope.
"Professor?"
"Haay... Habibi, I told you, I'm not angry any more."
"Then, would you like to have dinner with me?" he asked. "The food Dona prepared is really delicious. We should ask her where she works so we can order some more in the future."
I gave another sigh.
"Okay... I'll try some of it."
Aahmes smiled at me – his real smile, not the scary sneer. He looked so happy once more, and I guess that's enough for me.
He took my hand and led me down to the kitchen where he served me some food and even prepared me some fruits.
He's definitely better now, as I watched him scuttle around. He's back to his usual self, and cheerfully serving me.
As if...
As if he truly belonged to me.
And I guess that's okay for me for now.
It's okay to play house while his fated alpha is still not around.
I better make the best of it.
And when the time finally comes when he leaves me...
I will willingly let him go.
I would even thank him for staying with me, even if it's just a week, or a month, or a year from now.
What matters most is that he's with me now, and that he had shown me that he needs me, too.
That's all I'll ever ask for.
That's all I have to do.
----------
Old Clothes and Stale Coffee
end of arc 1
arc 2 follows . . .