Black Blood: Between Two Alphas

Chapter 3

Tightly pressing my lips together, I quietly listened to Noah on the other side of the line. I should have been used to it already, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed again.

“I’m really sorry, babe,” Noah apologized, sounding remorseful. “After this paper, I promise to spend the whole day with you.”

I licked my lips and leaned my back on the wall while staring at my nails. I wanted to end the call and proceed with my plans for the day without him. I should’ve expected that it was impossible to have him all to myself when he still had a lot on his plate.

I knew he was trying his best. He promised he’d come because he really wanted to be with me. But honestly, I’d rather him reject me than give me false hopes. It was more disappointing to hold on to a promise he couldn’t keep.

“Sorry, babe. I’ll have someone accompany you instead,” he said. “How ’bout we see each other for dinner?”

“No need, Noah. I’m good.”

Noah sighed heavily. “Paislee…”

“I need to go now. I don’t want to be late,” I said and stood straight. “I’ll just talk to you later. Bye.”

Before Noah could speak again, I finally ended the call and shoved the phone back inside my bag. I was about to walk back inside the complex to get my car keys when a familiar sedan stopped right in front of me.

With my forehead creased, I found myself staring at the car. I tried to figure out who was driving the vehicle. However, I didn’t have to try hard when the window rolled down, and Zero’s annoyed face greeted me.

“Get in,” Zero said.

I pressed my lips in a line.

He didn’t just look annoyed. He even sounded like one.

He must be that someone Noah talked about during our call.

“Are you getting in or not?” Zero snapped, and I knew I couldn’t keep him waiting for me.

I quickly moved, went inside the passenger seat, and buckled my seat belt. The car had already moved forward when I remembered what I had just done.

D*mn it, Paislee! Why did I do that?

I shut my eyes tightly and turned away from Zero. It was too late for me to realize that I didn’t have to come with him. I willingly got inside his car without thinking twice.

“Uhm, I’m sorry….” I quietly said after a long while.

Zero didn’t bother replying. His eyes remained on the road while driving. Deep lines were still present on his forehead, and I suddenly remembered how we still had an unsettled argument the day before.

“About yesterday… and for being forced to go out with me today….” I played with my fingers, embarrassed that I had to lower my pride because I felt guilty.

Zero still played mute while keeping his lips sealed. I was starting to feel frustrated, but I breathed slowly and calmly not to lose my patience.

“If you want, you can turn the car back to the complex. I can drive myself to the exhibit. I don’t want to be a nuisance,” I said, trying my best to be good to him.

“Who says you’re a nuisance?” he finally opened his mouth and asked.

“No one?” I creased my forehead. “I’m just being sensitive, you know.”

“Well, then, you’re wrong.” He renewed his grip on the steering wheel as he quickly glanced at me. “No one forced me. I also don’t find you a nuisance, and I wasn’t mad yesterday. You don’t have to apologize.”

Still doubting his reasons, I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Why do you look pissed off, then?”

“I’m not.”

“You look like it.”

“What do you mean? I always look like this,” he argued and raised a brow, proving something by facing me.

I pouted my lips and put my arms down when I realized he had a point. He was always serious and intimidating. I rarely saw him smile. It only happened every time he enjoyed teasing me. Aside from that, his face always wore a stoic expression.

Zero wasn’t lying about that, but even the slightest difference made it evident that he was annoyed with something. He just wouldn’t admit that, and I didn’t want to exhaust myself asking him the same thing repeatedly.

Since I had to spend the day with Zero, I should just probably be a good girl. I had been looking forward to that exhibit. I couldn’t afford to drag my mood down even deeper into the drain by engaging in another round of argument with Zero.

“Let’s talk about you instead.”

I snapped my head back to Zero. “Me?”

“Uhuh.” He nodded and turned his body toward me a little. “Did you talk to Noah already?”

When I finally realized what he meant, I just sighed for like a hundredth time and shook my head. “Not yet,” I said. “He didn’t drive me home yesterday. Now, he’s busy with other stuff. I feel like it’s not the best way to confront him through a call so….”

I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t bother finishing my sentence. However, I thought of something else, and before I could stop myself, I had already blurted the question out.

“Aren’t you and Noah on the same program? Why do you have so much time to spare?”

Zero’s jaw clenched. I even saw fire in his eyes, like he was mad or something. I chickened out and swallowed hard, but I didn’t make it look obvious.

“Whatever! Just forget about that. I’m already tired of thinking.” I bravely put a smile on my face. “I decided to enjoy this day. I’m expecting you to cooperate, Zero. Please be good to me.”

The creases on Zero’s smoothened out as he gazed at me again. He became less tense, and his expression turned soft and gentle.

“When was I not good to you?” he shamelessly asked with a smirk on his lips.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t play dumb with me.”

Zero chuckled at my reaction.

I got comfortable as the tension between us finally disappeared. I spent my time briefing Zero about the exhibit, and he just listened to me while driving safely.

It was around nine in the morning when we arrived at the exhibit. The morning session started at eight and would close at twelve. I bought the tickets for the first half of the day because there would be fewer visitors than choosing the afternoon session.

“Come on, Zero!”

Filled with excitement, I tugged Zero’s hand as soon as the organizers at the entrance scanned our tickets. I knew we had plenty of time to explore, but I was in a hurry to take in all the beautiful art pieces and connect with the artists.

The moment I stepped inside the hall, I was already in my element. I let go of Zero’s hand. I was like a child visiting the zoo or the aquarium. I always looked forward to art exhibits, especially those that featured aspiring artists like me who all deserve some recognition.

“Careful.” I was surprised when Zero pulled me toward him.

Both our eyes widened when our gazes met each other. Zero’s lips parted ever slightly.

My heart thundered inside my chest to see how we were so close. There was barely any space left in between. My body was pressed against his chest while our faces were only an inch or two away from each other.

I swallowed hard and naturally pushed Zero far. I could feel my cheeks heating up. I had to avert my eyes. Luckily, I noticed the old lady I was about to bump into. She also didn’t seem to see me approaching her at first because of the painting. She just turned to us because of the slight commotion.

I got so carried away while roaming around. I thought I was lucky that Zero was there to prevent a disaster from happening.

“Uhm, I’m sorry about that.” I apologized, feeling a little embarrassed.

The old lady calmly shook her head and smiled before heading to the next painting beside the one she was staring at earlier.

Pursing my lips together, I faced Zero again with reluctance. We quickly recovered from the brief intimate position we were in. He was already frowning as his brows were furrowed together.

I sheepishly smiled at him, who already looked stressed. We were just starting, but it seemed like he was already thinking of going home.

“Watch your step. I don’t want to keep catching you all the time,” Zero said as rudely as possible.

The smile on my face dimmed because of his unfriendly tone. “Excuse me. I’m not clumsy.”

“Explain what just happened then.”

“I was just excited!” I reasoned out.

I believed that was a valid explanation, so I was pretty confident about it. I was happy that Zero just went along and shook his head. He didn’t say anything else.

As I was satisfied with Zero’s silence, I smiled and finally shifted my attention to the painting right in front of me. My lips parted as I immediately felt an instant connection. I could understand the old lady being fully engrossed in the art.

“Run away to Paris…” I whispered the name attached below the canvas.

Filled with curiosity, I read the short description of the artist. She was a senior student at Paris College of Arts, coincidentally my dream school.

The painting pictured a woman wearing a red dress, running in the middle of a street in Paris. Seen in the background was the famous Eiffel Tower, the first landmark you will be reminded of when thinking about the City of Love. It was brought to life by dark vivid colors of oil.

I held onto the cold chains of my bag as I kept staring. I wanted to reach out and touch it, but it was prohibited. All I could do was to compromise and study it for a little longer while heavy emotions were sitting on my chest.

“I tried applying two years ago,” I suddenly spoke, not sure if I was talking to Zero or if I just really wanted to share my thoughts to comfort the longing I felt inside me. “It’s my dream to study arts there. I passed the initial evaluation, but my parents didn’t allow me to push through with my plans. So to compensate, they permitted me to transfer here in Fairbanks.”

Zero stepped forward and quietly stood beside me. In the side of my eye, I could see him staring at the same painting with a hint of interest.

“It was my fault, though.” I bitterly smiled. “I knew it was an impossible dream, but I still risked it. I couldn’t help it. I really want that. I have tried so many times to let go of that dream; it only comes running back to me over and over again.”

“Maybe that dream is really for you, then. If it keeps coming back to you, maybe it’s really yours, to begin with,” Zero said, which fanned my desire.

I tore my eyes away from the painting to look at Zero.

Those words sounded so pleasant to my ears that they made me feel so giddy. I could feel the dreams I buried deep inside me, slowly crawling their way up like they had been awakened from a deep sleep.

“You think so?” I asked Zero, very hopeful.

Taking a deep breath, Zero turned my way to meet my eyes. He then held my gaze, a smile forming on his lips while nodding.

“You should try applying again,” he encouraged me. “Dreams are there to be fulfilled, not forgotten.”