"Hey!" Kael said, squealing inwardly.
He hadn't meant for his voice to sound that way, as though it had just run a marathon.
"What's up? It feels like I haven't seen you in ages and you've changed…" Jaden said, his eyes on Kaelith.
Kael smiled and replied bluntly, "That's because I went back to my dorm and changed my clothes."
"Why?" Jaden's face shifted with concern as he asked, "Were you bullied?"
"Ehn…" That question made Kael angry. Any question that challenged his masculinity or Alpha nature always did. Still, he buckled his anger and didn't let it show.
Jaden was only concerned but Kael made sure to show he was slightly annoyed. "No… why would I be bullied? And even if such happened, I should be able to defend myself."
"Ah…" Jaden said, sensing the annoyance and perhaps understanding why. His next words left Kael in awe. "I know that you're an Alpha, and I never disputed that, but if you were truly bullied, trust me, you'd have no way out. If around five Alphas gang up on you—no, even just two—you would see stars."
"Ah…" Kael exhaled. It was as if Jaden was speaking from experience. His eyes darted around the hall again, scanning the others. Jaden had successfully made him painfully aware of the nuisance Alphas in their class who might want to bully him for whatever reason they had.
"Just be careful," Jaden said, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"Hmmm…" Kael shrugged but then asked seriously, needing to know what the Alphas had up their sleeves. "So, I'm seeing other seniors in here. Do you know why they're here?"
"Oh… for this course, it's our seniors, those who have completed combat training, who'll teach us. That's those in part four and above. The way this course is structured, each student will have a teacher. Sometimes, two students might share one teacher if there aren't enough seniors. These teachers will supervise their assigned students."
"Ah..." Kael breathed. With his luck, he just knew he'd end up under Leonhardt. Could they even choose?
"How is it decided?" he asked.
"You write your name on a piece of paper, and the same goes for the seniors. Each person picks. Either the student picks or the Alpha picks," Jaden explained.
"Ah… I see..."
"But I don't know how it'll be done this time," Jaden added. Kael just nodded, already in a sour mood. Jaden should've just kept quiet.
Just like Jaden had said, they wrote their names on pieces of paper. But this time, it was the names of the seniors that were written down, and the juniors—the students—had to pick. Whoever they picked would be their teacher for the rest of the year for Combat Training 101 and 102 (which covered the second semester), except in cases where a change was necessary. And even then, a solid reason would be required.
Kael sighed as it reached his turn to pick. He knew his luck. Without even selecting, he was already sure it would be Leonhardt. The universe had never been favorable to him, and whenever it had the chance to make him suffer, it always seized it.
Kael dipped his hand into the box and pulled out a paper. He opened it, and his heart plummeted. He raised his head and locked eyes with Leonhardt, who had the same smug smile he always wore around him.
'I know what to do!' Kael affirmed to himself. Anything to wipe that smug smile off his face.
"Such a small world," Leonhardt said, and Kael had to fight the urge to roll his eyes as he stood before him, holding the paper out. After picking, the students were told to go to their various teachers. On different sides of the hall, pairs of students and seniors could be seen talking.
Kael's mind was a fuzzy mess. He was deeply bothered about how to make Leonhardt stop calling him an Omega. If he could just get him to stop, he was certain he'd be able to breathe easier. He needed to wipe the smug smile off Leonhardt's face especially since they'd be together for an entire year. He didn't want to resort to requesting a transfer and sounding like the Omega they accused him of being.
"Just as you might've read in your manual, this course is about empowering you with combat skills so you can protect yourself and your partner in the future," Leonhardt began, "and also, should you go into the spiritual realm, to better defend yourself."
"Spiritual world?" Kael blinked.
'A new word I don't know. Now what's this about in this world again?' he mused.
"There's a certain course you'll take soon that will explain the necessity of what I just mentioned. For now, I'm your combat training teacher."
"Yes."
Then, Leonhardt looked Kael over from head to toe and said, "And I seriously don't expect much from you. I just need you to listen to my teachings attentively and try your best to follow my instructions. Do you understand?"
Kael had been trying to stay calm, reciting the mantra he lived by: Be calm, stay calm. But that smug face just had to ruin it.
Like Leonhardt didn't expect much from him. That was just asking for trouble.
"You don't expect much from me? What is that supposed to mean?" Kael flared immediately. If there was one thing about being an Omega he could accept, it was the tendency to get annoyed and hot-tempered easily. That was one Omega trait he didn't mind embracing.
Leonhardt studied Kael for a while, taking in his features: his furrowed brows and clenched fists and chuckled. "What am I supposed to expect from a first-year in combat training?"
"No, I'm very sure you didn't mean it that way. You said it like, 'What am I supposed to expect from a frail Alpha?' Not from a first-year. Because if you knew anything, you'd know we've been taught how to fight since birth, unless, of course, your family lacked that!" Kael snapped. He was really fuming. That smug smile—he wanted to erase it. Those assumptions—he wanted to tear them apart. His blood was boiling.
Leonhardt looked at Kael, brows furrowed. 'What is wrong with him?' he rubbed his temples. 'Am I wrong? He looks like he couldn't hurt a chicken. His mom probably begged his dad not to let him lift anything heavy at home...'
But Kael wasn't done seething. His words cut through Leonhardt's thoughts.
"Look, I'll show you that you've got to expect more from me. A hell of a lot more. Because I'm just like every other Alpha.
"Why are you always so quick to assume?"
Leonhardt didn't bother hiding his thoughts this time. "Because you look like you wouldn't be able to do much…"
'Oh… if he wasn't so damn tall, I would've jumped at him.' This was just the beginning.