Adrian's gaze locked with Ash's. A beat then he seized Ash's wrist and pressed him into the mattress, pinning him.
Their faces hovered inches apart. Ash felt the weight of him, the heat, the vanilla on his breath. Adrian leaned in, voice a hush against his mouth. "Did you like it?"
The question stole the air from Ash's lungs. His mouth opened; unthinking, wanting. Their lips were nearing, that tiny space thinning to nothing, heartbeat loud in his ears, mind blank, caught and held.
Then Adrian's body went slack and dropped onto him.
Ash stiffened, confused until a soft, steady snore vibrated against his shoulder. He lay there, pinned and breathless, the almost-kiss burning on his lips while Adrian slept on his chest.
...
{In the morning}
A sharp knock rattled the door.
"Still today you're too lazy to wake up...Ash!"
It was his mother's voice.
Ash jolted awake, heart racing. He blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling and froze. He had slept in Adrian's room. But when he looked around, Adrian was not there.
The knock was followed by footsteps descending the stairs. His mother was leaving.
Ash glanced at the small clock by the bed. 7.46 a.m.
"Aah!" He scrambled out of bed in a rush, slipped out of Adrian's room and hurried into his own. He washed his face quickly, brushed his teeth, and pulled on his school uniform, and swallowed his supplement blocks.
...
Ash slipped into the classroom, breathless and sweating. He knocked softly on the door before pushing it open.
Every pair of eyes turned toward him. Groups of student, had already formed, Naomi and Martin among them, watching as he entered. Mr. Ian, their English teacher, arched a brow. "Strangely, you're late, Ash. I hope everything is okay?"
Ash nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
Mr. Ian gestured for him to take his seat. Ash hurried over to Naomi and Martin, sliding into the empty chair beside them. Both of them were staring at him, worry plain in their faces.
Ash let out a small laugh to break the tension. "What's with those looks? I hope you've already cracked the hard one without me; let me see."
He pulled the quiz paper closer. It was still blank.
Naomi bit her lip. Martin scratched the back of his head, sheepish.
"Err...how could we do it without our savior?"
Ash just shook his head, smiling faintly at their helplessness.
...
The bell rang for break, and soon the cafeteria buzzed with chatter. Students crowded into lines, trays in hand.
Naomi, Martin, and Ash joined the queue together, inching forward slowly.
When Ash's turn finally came, he stepped up to the counter, ready to order. But before he could speak, the server slid a neatly wrapped package toward him. "Espresso milk coffee and vanilla cake...ordered for you."
Ash froze, staring. "Ordered...for me?"
The coffee cup was warm in his hand, the cake carefully wrapped in white paper with a neat fold at the top.
Naomi frowned. "That's strange. Who would order it ahead?"
Martin smirked, elbowing Ash lightly. "Seems you've got yourself a crush somewhere."
Ash shot him a look, but his ears warmed as he carried the package away, still puzzled over who had thought of him.
...
Adrian leaned back in his office chair, phone pressed to his ear, lazily swaying side to side.
On the other end, Bravin's voice came through casual but respectful.
"I've delivered him breakfast as you requested."
Adrian's lips curved faintly. "Good. Then in the evening, make sure he doesn't go home on his own."
There was a pause.
"But...sir" Bravin's hesitated.
Adrian's voice cut sharp. "Or else you'll be in trouble."
The line went dead.
...
Outside the school compound, Bravin leaned against his car, staring at the busy yard. He scratched his head, muttering to himself, "As usual, he'll find a way to sneak away...unless I wait right at his class door."
...
{In the evening}
After classes, students poured out in groups, chatting noisily. Ash slung his bag over his shoulder. "You two go ahead," he told Naomi and Martin.
They didn't question it. They just nodded, understanding this was his usual way. Ash slipped toward the back gate, hoping for a quiet escape. But the moment he turned the corner, he froze.
Bravin was already there, leaning casually against the wall.
Ash's eyes widened, dumbfounded.
Bravin straightened quickly, his voice awkward. "Young master...where are you going?"
Ash stayed silent.
Bravin swallowed nervously. "Please, spare my life and let me take you home."
Ash rolled his eyes and tried to turn away, heading in a different direction. But Bravin darted forward, blocking him again. "Young master; please!"
Ash clenched his jaw, switched to another path, but once more Bravin's cut him off, determined.
Finally, Ash exhaled sharply and gave up, walking toward the car without a word. Bravin's face lit with relief as he hurried ahead, opening the sleek black Bugatti's back door for him. Ash slid inside, expression unreadable. Bravin ran around to the driver's seat, grinning in victory as he started the engine.
Around them, students who had been lingering by the gate froze in place. Gasps rippled through the crowd at the sight of the car and the way Bravin treated Ash.
Even Naomi and Martin, a few steps away, stopped in their tracks, staring in disbelief.
From the crowd, whispers broke out:
"Wait-that's...that's Alpha Adrian's personal car, isn't it?" an Omega murmured, clutching her friend's arm.
"Yes, you're not wrong. That's an S-ranked Alpha's ride," a Beta whispered back, eyes wide. "Look at the number plate-SR-01A. Only Alpha Adrian uses that code."
Another Omega gasped softly. "Unbelievable...even his personal confidant is bowing to him."
A Beta snorted in disbelief. "And to think Ash just some poor village boy -is the one being carried in it. Honored by Alpha Adrian's own car? That's insane."
"...It makes no sense," another Omega added, lowering his voice. "How could someone like him"
The murmurs swelled, a mix of awe, envy, and confusion, following the car as it rolled past the gate.