The Hidden Lycan Prince

CHAPTER 2

My mouth watered at the sight of exquisite dishes in the canteen. I bit my lower lip, wondering if I could spare a couple of dollars to try something. Doing some quick calculations, I deduced that I could afford to spare about ten dollars.

I rushed over to the counter and picked the menu card in excitement. But as my gaze swept over the prices, my heart sank. There was nothing under fifty dollars. I put back the menu with a disheartened sigh.

“I am not feeling hungry,” I muttered in a flustered voice before filling the water from the cooler. At least the water was free. I had almost expected that I would have to pay even for it.

Another sigh left my lips as I walked over to an empty table. Since my mom was upset, I spend most of the morning preparing her favourite dishes. Unfortunately, I lost track of time and could only grab a sandwich on the way.

“Are you not eating?” A familiar voice sounded to my left, making my heart skip a beat. I spun to my left to find the boy with the brown eyes smiling at me.

My breath hitched, rendering me speechless. Now that he had cleaned up, he looked like a statue carved out of jade. His eyes swirled with warmth that melted my insides.

“I…I am…” I stuttered, fumbling for words. “I am not hungry….”

“Oh…” The smile on his face faded. “I wanted to buy you lunch.” He shrugged and took out my handkerchief that was neatly folded. “Um… to thank you for helping me out.”

“There is no need…” I smiled awkwardly and took the handkerchief. “I didn’t really do anything….”

“Are you really not hungry?” He asked again, leaning a little closer.

My lips parted, and I was about to answer, but my stomach rumbled, betraying me.

“Seems like you are hungry after all….” His smile was back. “What should I get for you?”

His smile disarmed me in a way I didn’t think was possible. I didn’t have it in me to refuse him. “Anything is fine.” I ended up saying before I could stop myself.

He gave me a curt nod before walking over to the counter. I bit my lip as my gaze swept over his broad shoulders. He towered over the others by at least a foot and his perfect built made me want to hug him from the behind.

I shook my head and averted my gaze, stopping my mind from going in that dangerous direction. Love was something beyond my reach. It was in my interest to accept it and focus on more important stuff.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?” His voice sounded, pulling me out of my thoughts. He set a large tray on the table before sitting opposite to me.

My eyes popped seeing the number of dishes on the tray; pancakes, red velvet pastry, burger, croissant and a plate of pasta. I was probably staring at my entire month’s salary.

“This is for both of us?” I said, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“No,” he shook his head, causing the stray strands of hair on his forehead cover his left eyebrow. My fingers itched to brush them off but I couldn’t just do that, could I?

I clenched my fingers and pursed my lips. “Then?”

“You didn’t tell me what you like. So, I bought a few dishes to try.” He smiled, leaning over the table. “This is all for you. I don’t eat here.”

“Don’t you like the food here?”

“No… I just can’t eat here.”

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I shrugged it off; too hungry to bother about anything else. The croissant was unlike anything I had ever tasted. It just melted in my mouth making me moan.

“You should really try these croissants once.” I spoke holding out a bite towards him. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked at me with a strange expression; almost as if I had committed some crime.

My face heated up, and I averted my gaze; directing my focus on eating. It would be a shame to let the awkwardness waste such a delicious lunch.

Once the meal was over, he got to his feet and gave me what seemed like a curt bow. “I have repaid your kindness and so I don’t owe you anything.”

My lips parted, and my eyebrows furrowed. What exactly was that supposed to mean? Before I could say anything, he spun around and left.

I got up intending to follow him but ran into Sierra. She shook her head and chided, “Wasn’t that the boy from yesterday? What were you doing with him?”

“Nothing, he just wanted to thank me and bought me some lunch.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “You let him buy you lunch? Are you crazy? If the Royals think you are with him, you are doomed.”

I realized that I didn’t mind being doomed if that meant having lunch with him again. Startled by my own thoughts, I changed the topic. “Do you know his name?”

“In fact, I do. It is Tristan Moore.” Sierra shrugged. “He is in my brother’s class. So, I had to warn him about the Royal’s new target.”

“New target?” My heart went numb. “Does that mean the Royals will try to bully him again?”

“They probably will. There are rumors that….” She suddenly went dead silent. A short gasp left her lips and she dragged me behind the wall.

Moments later, two boys came into view. With their perfectly styled hair and classy clothes, it was difficult not to recognise them.

“Royals! Royals! Royals!” A wave of hushed whispers went around. Everyone moved away, creating an open space for them as they walked along.

A pretty girl with blonde hair walked over and handed Eric a pink envelope. It was evident from her flustered expression and clammy hands that this action had taken a lot of courage.

Eric’s gaze raked over her as if he were looking at something disgusting. He crumpled the envelope and threw it at her face; his voice booming with anger. “What has happened to the standards of Alberton High? How can they let garbage like her enter?”

“I… I just wanted….” She stuttered before breaking down. Her knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground.

Eric took out his handkerchief and wiped his hand as he crossed over her and walked over; stepping on her foot as he walked ahead.

“That prick!” I cursed and was about to move towards him but Sierra held me back. “Ayame, No…” she mouthed and dragged me further. “Don’t do anything stupid. Think about your scholarship.”

My shoulders slumped and I let a sigh of resignation. How I wish I could do something for her.

The gathering of students burst into a peal of mocking laughter and started hurling insults at her. My blood boiled at their behaviour but all I could do was walk away with a dejected expression.

My heart felt so heavy, laden by helplessness. I wondered if there would ever be a time when the world was fair to everyone.

I was walking towards the library when I came across Tristan. My lips curved into a smile instantly; dispelling all the gloomy thoughts that festered my mind. Waving at him, I called out in an excited voice, “Tristan!”

His head snapped towards me, but he didn’t smile back. With a curt nod, he walked away in the opposite direction.

Over the next few days, I tried to approach him several times, but his reaction was always cold and stiff; quashing any hopes that we could even be acquaintances.

With tests approaching and an epidemic hovering in the locality, I became busier and Tristan’s memory faded, too. Once in a while, his face would light up my imagination, but that was that. I didn’t try to approach him again.