Mated to Four

Duo Training

Phoebe

“I can handle this.”

I was still trying to calm myself, trying to make sense of my confusing feelings towards Hayden. Usually, he was cold, arrogant, and kept his distance, but today, something was different. There was a gentleness in his voice and a look in his eyes, as if he was holding back something he didn’t dare to say. And it made me feel even more uneasy.

“Pick Irithel; you need to practice using her today.”

I obeyed. It was for my own good, after all, as I wanted to improve my hand skills. As soon as I heard the game notification start, I focused on the screen of my phone.

Beside me, Hayden was watching, occasionally leaning closer to adjust my hand position or give instructions, and I couldn’t help the warmth rising in my cheeks. My concentration was shattered. I tried to focus, but his unusually attentive and patient behavior was really distracting.

Inside, I struggled to interpret all of this. What did it mean? Was this just part of the training, or was there something more? I couldn’t stop wondering—could his feelings for me have changed too?

“What other items should I buy?” I moved the analog on my phone, glancing at him. “Is it this one?”

“Not that one; go for the Great Dragon Spear,” Hayden replied, pointing at the orange icon on my screen.

He placed his hand on my shoulder gently, guiding my hand with a calm touch, and my heartbeat went haywire. His hand was warm against my skin, and I could feel his steady breath close to me. Thoughts filled my mind, and I felt a kind of nervousness I’d never experienced before.

“I lost.”

“Hey, no big deal. Let’s give it another shot.” He gave me a quick, reassuring smile, and I managed a nod, even as my hands were practically shaking.

Determined not to let him distract me, I dove back in, finally finishing with a win—okay, bronze medal. Hayden had shifted his focus back to something on his phone by then, so I let out a long, shaky breath and leaned back, feeling a bit of relief now that we weren’t so…close. But, of course, that didn’t last long. We caught each other’s gaze, and my heart skipped again.

“I won. Sort of. I mean, the enemy totally messed up, but still…”

“Good job. I knew you had it in you, Mathews.” He smirked. “Alright, let’s take a five-minute break.”

As soon as he said that, Hayden closed the distance between us again. The atmosphere became awkward all over again. My gaze was fixed on his sky-blue eyes—sharp, yet somehow different from usual. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as his gaze softened, his eyes shifting to a glowing yellow.

Without realizing it, I bit my lip, a mix of anxiety and curiosity swirling in my mind. His gaze held something I couldn’t interpret, something so deep and intense. And before I could look away or overthink it, his lips gently met mine, soft but meaningful.

The kiss was warm, comforting, but at the same time, it left me even more confused. His hand reached out, softly caressing my cheek, and suddenly, all the doubts and anxieties that had been bothering me faded away.

I was captivated.

My heart raced so wildly I couldn’t describe the feeling in words. The gentleness of his kiss revealed something I’d never expected from him.

As he pulled his face away, I stood frozen, looking at him with wide eyes. I could feel my cheeks growing warm, and my heart hadn’t quite returned to its normal rhythm. What had just happened? That question echoed in my mind, leaving me confused, yet strangely happy at the same time.

“I thought I misunderstood you, Phoebe.”

I blinked a few times, hearing his words clearly. Something inside me felt as if it were awakening, breaking through the walls I’d built.

“Do you?”

“Yeah, I’m still normal though. Suppressing feelings for a guy has disturbed me since you came to Livingstone. I thank the Moon Goddess that I still like… girls.”

I smiled. Feeling like a fool for a little while wouldn’t end the world. After all, Persephone had told me this from the beginning.

“Does that mean… you like me? I mean… you’re not mad at me anymore? You don’t hate me?”

“I was angry because I was confused. Why did you think I hated you?”

“I don’t know, maybe I’m just too sensitive. The way you acted on the first day at school… your tone, your aura, and your gaze made it seem like you hated me.”

“I never said that to you. Maybe you should think about it again.”

I tried to recall our first meeting and replay all the events. Hayden was right. He never said he hated me; it was just my negative thoughts drawing that conclusion.

Five minutes passed, and we spent an hour playing in a duo. With Hayden’s analysis and instructions, I became more comfortable with the game, mastering the hero character he suggested.

A sense of pride welled up in my chest when I won and played a pivotal role. A smile tugged at my lips as Hayden complimented me. Two joys came at once, thanks to Hayden, lifting a weight off my heart.

After putting my phone down on the table, I stretched to relieve the stiffness from holding it. Beside me, Hayden stood up and switched off the power connected to the electronic training equipment. I helped him put the table and chairs back in place.

“I think they’re already back at the dorm.”

“Who? Zion and Finley?”

“Yeah. Do you want to go for a swim? It shouldn’t be an issue for you now, right?”

I understood what Hayden meant. I had prepared a wrap to cover my chest, and maybe I could wear a loose T-shirt and regular shorts while swimming. With my mood lifted, staying in my room felt like a waste.

“Will there be any other students?”

“I’ll take care of that. Just get ready; I’ll wait for you by the pool.”

I nodded quickly and ran to my room. I grabbed a T-shirt, a white wrap, and Phoenix’s black shorts, putting everything on in five minutes. Then, I hurried to the pool and found Hayden adjusting the lighting. For the first time, I felt lucky to use the academy’s luxurious facilities.

To start, I sat at the edge of the pool, dipping my feet in the water. Moving my legs alternately, I glanced at Hayden, who had taken off his shirt. I couldn’t help but stare at his bare upper body. Swallowing hard, I found it difficult to look away from him.

“Come on in.”

“You go first; I just want to feel the water for a bit.”

“Alright. The water’s refreshing. We’ll race once you’re in.”

I nodded, watching Hayden dive into the water and swim to the far end of the pool. I purposely delayed joining him, wanting to get in the scene.

“Looks like you two are having fun, huh?”

I instinctively turned around. Adonis was standing there, hands in his pockets, staring at me intently. My heart started pounding as if it wanted to jump out.

Adonis stood with the same aura he’d had when we were in Zion’s room. I looked at his face, now without glasses. Remembering Finley’s comments about Adonis, I straightened up, meeting his gaze.

“We decided to relax after training. What brings you here, Adonis?”

“Of course it’s you, Mathews.”