The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Thirty Seven - Obvious

Crystal Raine Meadows

What Calyx said to me that day lingered on my mind. I just don't really understand what he meant about Liam not seeing me as his friend.

I thought about all the possibilities, but I just came to a conclusion where I couldn't accept it. Liam wouldn't look at me that way.

Liam wouldn't like me that way, would he? H-He's not my mate, I know it...is it really possible for us to like someone without feeling the bond?

I frustratedly scratched the back of my head before standing up on my bed, it's already morning anyway. I couldn't sleep thinking about it last night ever since we separated ways after we finished hiking that mountain.

All of them were also worried about Liam, most especially Rowen, they even thanked Calyx for helping him hike down the mountain unconscious.

I could feel how furious and disappointed Calyx was at me after they left, he didn't even bat his eyes at me.

Sighing, I just stretched my joints and decided to do my morning rituals to get ready for school. It didn't take me a while to wear my uniform before descending downstairs.

"Good morning to the happy family," I greeted with low energy, so all of them looked at me intently while tilting their heads.

"Someone had a rough night, were you that tired hiking a huge mountain?" Kuya Draven asked, so I just nodded at him even though I have other reasons why.

"Don't be silly Drave, it's obvious that she didn't get enough sleep because she's thinking about something really important," Ate Kathy teased, so I almost flinched before furrowing my eyebrows at her.

"H-Hey, I'm not thinking about important things aside from my studies, it's almost our exams and I have to be focused," I reasoned out before sitting on the chair, so she just laughed while giving me my hot chocolate.

I noticed that Kuya Draven was busy cleaning up the furniture that we're not going to use and covering it with some plastic bubbles and blankets.

They're starting to pack up one by one, maybe I should start packing mine too since I'm going to be really busy this week.

"We're really moving soon huh? D-Do they know about us moving?" I nervously asked. I know I asked this before, I just couldn't help but ask again.

"They don't have to know everything, they don't have the right now that you're almost living with us for years," Ate Kathy patted my head while she's giving me a big smile.

"Go on, eat your breakfast because you're almost going to be late!" Ate Kathy exclaimed, so I glanced at the time and sighed in relief that I'm still an hour early.

"D-Don't scare me like that Ate Kathy!" I complained, so she just laughed before giving little Trevy a kiss who's busy poking my arms.

"Yeah? Good morning little guy," I patted his head, so he cheerily giggled at me, which made me smile.

"I'm just releasing the tension in your body, now hurry up!" she ordered, so I just shook my head and ate some breakfast.

"And also," I raised my head after Ate Kathy mentioned those words, "Tell me if something's bothering you okay? I don't like to hear it from others," she firmly said, so I just smiled before nodding at her.

"Of course, I'm really lucky to have you, Ate Kathy," I sincerely said, so she just smiled at me as she ordered me to eat more. She's the best.

I heard that some of our classmates were suspended because of the Leader's orders and Ate Kathy's, some of them were expelled either, which I feel really anxious about. I didn't mind about it that much because I was busy thinking about the stupid kiss that Calyx gave to me.

What if they treat me worse if the others come back? I just shook my head, if something bad happens, I'll always tell them to this sweet, caring family.

After eating my breakfast, I brushed my teeth and grabbed my bag before bidding the happy family goodbye.

My eyes peered at the front right after I got out and saw Flash waiting for me at our main gates. I was scared that I might not see him today because Calyx was extremely mad at me yesterday because of some unknown reason.

I shook my head, "I shouldn't worry about what he thinks, I also have a lot of things to be mad about him, a lot that I couldn't count!" I stomped my feet that surprised Flash for a moment.

Flash waited for me to give him some breakfast, so I took out some roast veggies and waited for him to finish eating. 

I took out the key that David gave to me from Calyx to lock the doors of that place while I'm changing. I couldn't help to blush red recalling all the sweet things he did just so I would feel comfortable training in our special training room.

He even threatened our classmates, but it was all washed away because of his rude behavior. He's just so difficult to understand sometimes, wait, scratch that, all the time!

The kiss, he didn't even bother explaining to me what that is! He's making me really confused! I want to strangle the neck of that guy, jeez!

I just sighed, "I really don't get your master, he's difficult to understand," I mumbled while playing with some rocks on the ground.

"B-But, I'm confused because I can't be mad at him that long," I just sighed, so I noticed Flash just looked at me from my peripheral view before he continued eating again.

After that small red dragon ate his breakfast, he dropped me off at school and immediately left to probably fetch his master.

I glanced at the main gates of the University before exhaling out a lungful of air, "For now, I have to find out if Liam sees me as a friend or even deeper than that," I gripped my bag and nodded before pacing towards our classroom.

I didn't notice my surroundings because my mind was so lost up in the clouds, the rumors don't bother me that much again anymore.

But I'm still afraid of what others might do to me. I stopped at the door of our room before opening it.

It made a creaking sound and revealed to me our seats were already filled with my friends. I tried so hard not to look at our room before sitting beside Liam.

"G-Good morning guys," I greeted, so Jenny, Rowen, and Liam just smiled at me before waving their hands.

"Good morning," they greeted back. Rowen and Jenny talked with each other, so I glanced at Liam who looks like he's avoiding his gaze at me.

"Hey you, good morning, are you alright now?" I curiously asked, so Liam just sighed in relief before looking at me with a bright smile.

"Y-Yes, I am alright, I have to thank Calyx later," he scratched the back of his head as I saw his cheeks blushing because of embarrassment.

"I can't believe I was deceived by that snake," he sounded really disappointed in himself.

I bit my lower lip while staring at him intently, "I-It's alright, not everyone will escape that snake, it's about our deepest desire after all," I reassured him, so he just smiled.

He stared at me intently and I couldn't help but feel uneasy in the way he smiles and his chocolate eyes ignite whenever he stares at me, "Crystal, I think I want to go out with you again," he informed me.

I tilted my head at him, "You want to go hiking again?" I curiously asked, so he shook his head at me.

"Oh! You mean, you want to visit the library with me? Are you ready to hear my opinions? Do you want to invite Jenny and Rowen?" I beamed, but he just chuckled while staring at me intently.

He reached out to my cheeks and caressed them, which surprised me for a moment, "Crystal no, I want to go out with you alone," he smiled, so I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

I felt anxious about the way he stares and holds my cheeks, "W-What? B-But why?" I nervously asked so he sighed before closing his eyes, it wasn't a while until he opened them.

"Crystal, I think, I like you and I want to get to know you better," he admitted, so my eyes widened as I moved away from his touch.

"L-Like as a friend?" I nervously asked, some part of me was wishing that was his answer. He immediately shook his head before exhaling out a lungful of air.

"No, I like you to the point that I want you to be my mate," he admitted and before I could even react, I heard someone slam their fist on their table behind our backs. I didn't notice that Calyx was already there listening to all that he had said.

"D-Dude? Are you alright?" I heard Peter worriedly ask, but Calyx didn't answer any of them. They must be wondering why he acted like that.

I slowly peeked from behind. Calyx wasn't looking at us, but I could feel the anger radiating from our backs. I blinked my eyes before furrowing my eyebrows at Liam.

"U-Um, L-Liam I-I--" I was cut off when the doors went wide open and it revealed to us our professor. I don't know why I felt relieved.

"Good morning class, I hope you're already because all of the topics that will be discussed here today are included in your pre-examinations," Mr. Light announced, so I took out my notebook and pen while biting my lower lip.

"You don't have to answer right away, I can wait," Liam whispered, so I just sighed while gripping my ballpoint pen.

So Calyx was right, Liam does look at me differently. Not in a weird way, not as a friend, but someone I could never be, for him.

I should be focusing on class, but that was the only thing that lingered on my mind. How can I reject someone so nice and gentle? Liam is a good man, he cares about everyone close and not close to him. This was the first confession I have ever received for the years that I secluded myself from the world and the people.

I don't know what to do! How am I going to reject someone without hurting them? I exhaled a lungful of air before deciding to write down some really important notes.

The bell rang and luckily, I still managed to write down some notes but my thoughts were still up in the clouds.

A tap on my shoulder was to be felt until I saw Liam smiling at me intently, "Hey, you want to go eat lunch together?" he happily asked. If I didn't know about his feelings, I wouldn't hesitate to say yes.

Those romance novels we're right, if you realized or discovered something about someone based on what they feel about you, it would be really different.

"U-Um, I'm sorry Liam, I have to go and study at the library today because our exams are almost near," I didn't lie, I was really planning on doing that.

"Oh, do you want me to come?" he asked while fixing up his things. I immediately shook my head before giving him an apologetic smile.

"I-I really prefer to study alone, excuse me," I bid him goodbye and left to set tracks towards the library here.

"Crys! Wait up!" I stopped after hearing Jenny's voice, I turned around and noticed how she looked so worried about something.

"Hey? Are you guys not going to eat your lunch yet?" I curiously asked so she frowned at me before smacking the sides of my shoulders.

"O-Ouch hey! That hurts you know!" I complained, but she just shook her head at me.

"You're bothered about something, is this about Liam?" she interrogated, "I didn't mean to pry, but that dude looks really upset that you left a while ago," she informed me, so I avoided her gaze.

"I really need to study, there's nothing wrong and you know me when exams are coming, plus I have training that I have to attend daily," I've calculated it in my mind, I would have only approximately 5-9 hours of studying left for a day and it isn't enough.

"Are you sure? I know if you have problems Crys, you can't lie to me," Jenny insisted, so I just sighed while scratching the back of my head.

"I don't want to think about it, for now, I'm too overwhelmed with what's happening, I mean who confesses before the start of class?" I sighed, so Jenny's eyes widened.

"R-Really?! He confessed to you a while ago?! Oh! I'm so happy for you, Crys!" she cheered and shook my shoulders violently, but I glared at her.

"I'm not happy about it Jenny, he's not my mate and you should be aware of it too, right?" I remarked, so Jenny stopped cheering before looking at me intently.

"But he's a nice guy, he's good for you Crys, you should accept him," she firmly said, so I scoffed while shaking my head. I can't believe that she's saying this.

"Jenny, I thought you didn't want to pry? But why does it feel like you're pushing me towards him?" I bit my lower lip when I asked those statements, she stopped when she realized she stepped over some line.

"You know how bonds are important for me, I haven't found mine yet and I can't accept someone whom I'm just going to leave when my true mate comes and finds me," I gripped my hands before turning my back on her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept Liam as my mate in my life and I'm going to figure out alone how am I going to be able to reject him," after I said those words, I left her without saying goodbye.

To be continued...