For the first time since meeting him, Zion looked genuinely speechless, fidgeting awkwardly when Earl hurled his questions at him.
Scratching the nape of his neck, he murmured, "I don't understand why I am being this way either…"
"It felt gross!"
The moment Earl spat those words, something flickered across Zion's face.
But then it vanished instantly before he regained his nonchalant expression. However, Earl still caught it.
That look on his face for a fraction portrayed as if he'd been hurt. And somehow...that realization made Earl feel quite guilty.
'It is obvious, anyone would get angry if they were in my stead!' Earl tried to get rid of that guilt, wondering on his own. 'This idiot deserved to feel bad for getting all handsy with me like that.'
But all of a sudden, Earl gasped when Zion suddenly started taking off the black shirt he was wearing, looking completely calm.
On the other hand, Earl's heart erratically drummed against his chest.
"..."
"...Why are you taking your clothes off now!?"
In a cautious voice, when Earl demanded, Zion calmly lifted his gaze towards him, "Your shirt is soaked, and maybe that's why your body temperature dropped. "
"Wasn't it your plan to welcome me with mop water!?"
Zion tossed the shirt at him, bearing a guilty look in those rolled orbs, "I know, that's why I am giving you this. Wear it."
Earl unknowingly caught his shirt, but then it hit him hard what he was actually holding!
The silver-haired bully, now standing shirtless before him while exposing his taut, muscular abs, held a prideful smile the moment he noticed Earl was sneaking glances at him.
The shirt omitted his intoxicating scent, making it feel strangely addictive.
Meanwhile, Zion stood there shirtless, and watching his annoyingly attractive body had started to piss Earl off somehow.
The sunlight highlighted his broad shoulders, but there were a few strange-looking scars scattered across his body, especially on both his neck and shoulders. And those old scars somehow made him look even more dangerous.
But then, a quick thought flashed across Earl's mind when he thought, only he hadn't woken up in this omega's body, but in his original bulked up body…he could've easily competed with this young boy who was somehow looking down at him.
"You could look at my body properly instead of stealing glances. I won't bite." When Zion teased him, Earl looked away instantly, clenching the shirt in his grip.
The faint smile that Zion had held while teasing him felt far more dangerous than his hostility.
First, this lunatic insulted him before others and splashed him with mop water. Then he saved him from a fall. Then he hugged him, and a moment ago, he almost…
Nope, Earl even refused to think about that part. Otherwise, it felt as if his blood would rush to his head.
With an irritated click of his tongue, he draped that shirt over his soaked white shirt, but at that moment, he felt a pair of arms snatch something from his bag.
"Hey–"
"Pearl Milton." Zion snickered mischievously while reading the name written on the ID Earl was carrying along with himself, "Your name doesn't suit your cranky attitude."
"Ugh! Stop looking at other people's stuff without their permission!" Earl snatched the ID back from his hand, while grumbling, "And my name is Earl. I am comfortable with this name."
"Why can't I look at it when I gave you my shirt?"
"That doesn't comply with the reason behind your actions!"
Zion smirked, moving a step closer, his orbs curiously gazing at Earl, who was tucking the sleeves of his shirt after wearing it, "Do you know my name?"
"I don't want to know it."
"Zion Clawrenge…or simply address me as Alpha Zion."
Slowly lifting his hand, he offered help to tuck the shirt collar. Earl flinched from how strong the scent of sandalwood and jasmine had filled the air.
It felt strangely comforting for him to breathe in that scent; however, a quick, dubious thought followed after that. Earl narrowed his eyes when he questioned, "Be honest, what do you want from me?"
Zion furrowed at his question, but Earl stood silent, because suddenly everything clicked with this thought.
This had to be another bigger prank.
There was no other explanation; no sane person's behaviour can ever change this quickly.
Unless Zion was planning something worse to do with him.
But a subtle smile crossed his lips when Zion mumbled, "You think I am doing this because I have a hidden motive?"
"Of course."
"Well…then I do want something from you in return." Hearing his curt answer, Earl deepened his frown, mustering himself for anything he might ask him for.
But Zion calmly moved closer and grabbed his arm, sounding quite relaxed from his tone, "Until I take you to the Teacher-In-Charge's office, let's keep holding hands."
'That's it. This person must definitely be a psychopath.' Earl feared, pausing for a second before he felt a hand quickly wrap around his wrist.
Upon raising his gaze, he saw Zion adamantly staring at him, but his dark amber eyes held a hint of curiosity and possessiveness tangled in them.
"Why are you being like this?"
Exhausted by the sudden turn of events, Earl murmured with a deep sigh, but without a moment of hesitation, Zion responded, "I just wanted to touch you again."
An awkward silence prevailed between them, as if Earl's brain had forgotten functioning.
"...Excuse me?"
The words came out several seconds late, but Zion glanced down at their joined hands and tightened his grip. Though his expression looked oddly troubled.
"I don't know because it's the first time I am being like this…"
"Being what? Behaving like a pervert?"
"No…but…" His voice dropped slightly when Zion looked up to meet his ocean eyes, holding a small, mysterious smile.
It didn't seem like the mocking smile from earlier, not like the arrogant one either. But somehow more intimidating as he muttered.
"What if I get addicted to this feeling?"
Earl suddenly forgot how to breathe, as his heart hammered rapidly.
Addicted? What kind of reasoning was that?
'Wait…is he actually flirting with me? Or threatening me?' The thoughts crossed his mind, making him gulp when he sensed Zion casually brushing his fingertips against his wrist.
What category of psychopath could this guy be?