It was the huge smile on her face that first caught his eyes.
"Wait, you are serious?" She asked excitedly. It was the first time he saw her smile so brightly since they met.
He wondered who was at the other end of the phone.
It couldn't be her summer lover, was it?
His eyebrows furrow at the thought.
"You are not even listening to me!" Erica's frustrated voice rang in his ear.
He turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
She looked toward the direction he had stared off,
"Yeah, the exact expression I had when I first saw her. She can't be the one can't she?" She said,
"You have met her before?" He was curious now.
He had tried to stop them meeting and now they met?
"When I came to look for you earlier in class. She was in there," she answered.
He looked back at the excited girl.
"Don't even think of it. Whether she is the one or not, there is no way I am going to let you do whatever you are thinking," She warned, pulling on him.
Unknowly Ezra found himself following.
She was right, the more he stared at her face the more he wanted to get close to her and…
'Thud…' the books scattered on the floor.
He had bumped into someone, no, someone bumped into him. Her.
He stood frozen for a few seconds, not knowing how to react.
Her step slipped the next seconds. Her eyes widened as she made for the ground.
Earlier that morning, he had warned himself to keep from Aelina and he was sure to keep to it. But in the next seconds his hand reached for her, steading her in her feet.
One second..,
Two seconds..,
Three..,
Four.
They stood for a while, she in his arms.
She blinked against his gaze, making him want to pull her close.
He could hear her heart beat, as it raced in her chest.
He could tell that she felt it too, the pull.
Just when he felt they could stay like this forever, Erica linked her hand in his, dragging him away.
"You really can't help yourself and have to embarrass me huh?" She said and her hand reached for his ear, pulling on it.
It was her way of disciplining him as she would put it.
"Erica let go!!" He breathed but she only smiled wider, satisfaction dancing on her face.
His ears were his most sensitive body part.
Erica knew this which was why she often derived much joy pulling on it.
She let go just as his claw appeared and kept a distance.
"Come on, don't take this too far, the pain will disappear soon," she said but he only advanced at her.
Her eyes flicker between him and the hostel just ahead.
He knew what she was thinking and blocked her way before she could take another step forward.
Panic surged in her eyes and he enjoyed the thrill even more.
He wasn't going to hurt her but the look of fear in her eyes was enough for him.
The role had changed now, he was no longer the helpless timid boy he was a century ago.
In this lifetime, he was stronger, faster, smarter and more ruthless.
___
"Here." She slammed the document in front of him.
He raised his brows as it flew across the table.
"The work you asked for," she said, her hands folded around her as she stood glaring at him. She was still mad about earlier.
"You haven't read it yet," he said.
Again, he threw the dice and watched it roll on the table. It became a three.
Erica shifted, the anger brewing within her, as she stood while shooting dagger his way with her eyes but he didn't care.
It was his punishment to her.
"First of you asked me to go digging for information concerning her, now you expect me to read it, never!"
"Rumie, her name is Rumie." He picked the dice and then looked up to meet her eyes.
"How else will I know that you did what I asked you to?"
She rolled her eyes.
"The document is in front of you, do go through it when you wish," she said, turning around to leave.
"Erica!!" He growled and she stopped. He was still her alpha afterall.
"Tell me what you found out." His tone was back to normal.
She picks up the document, flips through the pages.
"Ivan Lawson, the third child and second son of the Lawson family. He..."
"You can go now, I'll take it from here," he said. He had gotten the information he needed.
Erica stormed off, sparing him no more glance.
Ezra looked out the window, lost in thought. Ivan now, wasn't it?
His phone rang from the table.
He picked it up furrowing his brows as he saw the caller, 'His mom'. He felt an impending headache coming up.
Her voice came through as he clicked on the answer button.
"Come home for dinner," the call disconnected before he could argue.
He pressed his finger against his forehead.
Really his mom didn't want him coming up with excuses.
He picked the document from the table shoving it into the drawer chest, with plans to read it later.
He wanted to know who this Evan or whatever his name was and why he was hanging around much with his mate.
He did look simple to the eyes but Ezra was not one to be easily fooled, he could smell the cunny from afar.
As he walked out the hall, he sighted Evan coming from out of the hostel. He had a phone to his ear, his voice soft and hush.
"Rumie. Why aren't you listening." He facepalmed himself.
"You know I don't want anything happening to you, do listen to me," he said.
Rumie? Ezra face scowl at how passionate he called his mate's name.
"Alright bye, I love you," he made a kissing sound to the phone as the call ended.
That was it. Ezra stormed to him.
Speaking to his mate was one thing, telling her he loves her? That was more than a death wish.
"What the hell!!" Ezra lips twitched in a smile as Ivan fell to the ground.
Ivan glared at him, and stood up.
"What was that for?" He demanded.
"I don't know, you tell me." Ezra shrugged under his burning eyes.
Ezra turned to leave but Ivan stopped him with his hand.
Ezra lips curled in a smirk. Exactly what he hoped he would do.
Ezra held on to his hand, then flipped him over his shoulders and threw him to the ground.
Ivan groans in pain at the impact.
But Ezra wasn't done yet. He gave him a hand,
"Come on, you want some more? Get up," he said.
Ivan got up, cracked his knuckles.
Ezra smirk broadened, the fun was getting more interesting.
Soon other students gathered around them but none made an attempt to separate them.
Just as he made to strike Ivan's jaw again, he caught sight of her. She was still with her notes, obviously she had not gone back to the hostel.
She rushed to them, stepping in front of him, before his hand could land on Ivan. Her eyes were a bit moistened, as if she was about to cry.
She glared at him, her eyes betraying the anger in her heart.
He released his punch as she led Ivan away. To say nothing stirred in his heart when she looked at him that way would be a lie.
"Ezra," Gia rushed to him, taking his hand in hers.
"You are hurt, come let's clean you up." She pulled at him, but he just stood unmoving. The blood was not his.
"Don't worry," he said and turned around, leaving her there.
Meanwhile, Gia's gaze flickers to the way Rumie had left with Ivan.
She had seen the way Ezra and Rumie had stared at each other. There was something more to it and she was going to find out.
When he got to his room, he walked inside the bathroom. He passed his hands under the tap and the water poured on them, rinsing off the blood on his hands.
He didn't regret the fight, Ivan had gotten what he deserved.
___
"Are you ready to explain the meaning of the stunt you pulled out earlier?" His mom's strained voice asked.
Erica stood just beside her. Her eyes bright with smugness, the gloat obvious in them.
He had thought that he could escape the scolding when he decided not to go for dinner. Only for his mom to push open his door the next seconds, eyes redden in anger.
"I'm speaking to you, Ezra Molly Torres!!" His hand tightened around the cube.
"I'm sorry," He said as his hand stopped spinning the dice in his pocket.
She paused, looking between his brows.
Her lips opened and closed and then stormed out.
Erica followed her but not without mouthing 'you are fried'.
Ezra's lips twitch.
His mom already knew that his apology was half hearted and wasn't going to let him go without some punishment. Something that brought her the most joy.