Mated with a human

chapter 10

After school, the hallway buzzed with talk about the assignment the teacher had just given. People were already stressing, some complaining loudly, others planning to copy during break. Luke, as usual, ignored everything.

June walked beside him, still clutching her books.

“Let’s go to the library now before it gets full,” she said.

Luke simply nodded.

Inside the library, the silence was comforting. They found an empty table near the window, sunlight pouring in. June spread her papers everywhere like she was preparing for war.

“This assignment… I think it will take us at least two days,” she sighed dramatically. “We have to submit it on the third day, so we need to start fast-fast.”

Luke didn’t respond. His eyes were already scanning the first question. June leaned closer to check, but the more she read, the more confused she got.

“Ahh this is too hard—”

Before she could finish, Luke had already written the full answer.

June blinked at it.

“Wait… how did you…? You didn’t even think!”

He continued writing. Calm. Focused. Not even lifting his head.

The questions she couldn’t even understand, Luke answered with confidence. His handwriting was neat, his explanations clear. June kept staring at him like she was watching a robot work.

“Are you sure you’re human?” she whispered.

He didn’t reply.

Within one hour… they were done.

June looked at the finished assignment with wide eyes. “We’re… done? But… I thought…”

Luke closed the book, stood up, and adjusted his glasses.

“If you want, you can submit it tomorrow morning.”

June nodded quickly. “Y-yes. I’ll bring it early.”

He walked away without another word, heading home.

---

Meanwhile, at Sofia’s house…

Sofia and Molly sat on the floor in her huge room, papers everywhere, music playing softly in the background.

Sofia stretched her arms.

“Please. This assignment? I’m going to kill it. And after I’m done, that nerdy boy will learn how to respect me. I’m the top student here, not him.”

Molly chewed on her pen.

“Sof… maybe be easy on him. He doesn’t look like a bad guy. Just… quiet.”

Sofia shot her a deadly stare, and Molly quickly zipped her mouth.

Sofia paced back and forth, tapping her pen on her chin.

“That boy doesn’t look simple. I know people… and he’s different. I need to show him who runs this place between us. But I’m going to need your help, Molly. We’re going to make his last year here unforgettable.”

Molly chuckled.

“Unforgettable like… falling in love with you?”

Sofia grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.

“What is wrong with you? If he falls in love with me, he’ll get obsessed. You know I’m a hazard. I attract crazy.”

Molly laughed louder.

“You’re just scared you won’t handle him. I mean… you like pretty boys. He’s not bad-looking at all. He just needs a makeover. Step one… throw away those glasses.”

Sofia dropped to her bed and laughed.

“If he throws away those glasses, he won’t even be able to see. How will I date someone who can’t see me? Please.”

She looked up at the ceiling, exhaling loudly.

“I think I’m losing interest in Jayson. He’s… boring. Always checking where I am, what I’m doing. I need to breathe.”

Molly rolled her eyes.

“I knew it wouldn’t last. When will you fall in love for real?”

Sofia sat up dramatically.

“Maybe in college. I swear my soulmate is far away. But when I find him? He won’t escape.”

Molly smirked.

“What if Luke is your soulmate?”

Sofia turned her head slowly, giving her a deadly stare.

“You’re making me hungry with this nonsense. How can that nerdy little boy be my soulmate?”

She stood up.

“I’m going to make food. Let’s go.”

Molly scrambled after her.

“What about the assignment?!”

But Sofia was already walking out, laughing.

_______

Gerald and Dyran – Crossing Paths

Gerald’s office towered above the city, filled with the quiet humming of machines and the controlled chaos of a global transportation empire. He sat in his leather chair, eyes fixed on the screen, buried in work. A soft knock echoed through the room.

“Come in,” Gerald said flatly.

The door opened. He didn’t bother looking up—he already knew the scent. Dyran stepped in cautiously, stopping in front of the massive desk.

“Good day, Father,” he greeted respectfully, bowing his head.

Gerald’s voice was calm, cold. “What do you want?”

Dyran swallowed, his throat tightening.

“Father… I was hoping we could talk. Like father and son.”

Gerald finally looked up—eyes sharp enough to slice through him. Dyran immediately lowered his gaze.

Gerald pushed his chair back and stood, walking toward the lounging area. Dyran followed without hesitation, though he kept his distance. Gerald noticed and beckoned him closer with a finger.

They sat—still a stretch of space between them.

“Talk. I don’t have the whole day,” Gerald ordered.

Dyran inhaled shakily.

“First… I would like to apologize. For everything. For breaking your rules, for causing trouble, for not listening.”

His voice trembled slightly.

“I came so we can clear things between us. Back then, I wasn’t ready to take responsibility. I wasn’t thinking of the future. I thought I was untouchable… that no one could command me.”

His fingers tightened on his knees.

“I looked up to you. The way you handle problems, the way people respect you. I wanted your strength. Your mindset.”

He paused, breathed out.

“I’m ready now. If one day you die… who will take over? Who will protect everything you built? I don’t want to be a disappointment anymore. I’m begging you… give me one last chance.”

He stood, then dropped to his knees before Gerald.

“Please, Father.”

Gerald’s jaw clenched.

“Stand,” he commanded.

Dyran stood quickly. Gerald rose as well, moving closer.

“Look at me.”

Dyran forced himself to meet those piercing eyes.

“Never look down when speaking to anyone,” Gerald said sternly. “Weakness is death. You stand tall. Always.”

Then after a moment—

“I will give you one last chance. If you fail this time… then you are no longer my son.”

Dyran’s eyes watered with relief. Gerald pulled him into a stiff, brief hug.

“Prepare yourself. I will call on you soon.”

“Yes, Father,” Dyran said, smiling brightly as he left.

But the moment he stepped outside the office, the smile vanished.

Replaced by a twisted smirk.

A dangerous one.

His fist tightening until veins showed.

He walked out of the building like a storm waiting to explode.

---

Evening – Luke

Luke cleared the dinner table quietly after eating with his grandmother. He began washing dishes, the warm water steaming around his fingers. Suddenly—

burning.

A sharp sting spreading inside his fingertips.

“Huh…? Maybe the water’s too hot,” he muttered.

But even after finishing, drying his hands, the burn didn’t stop.

He waited until his grandmother was asleep, locked the door, then ran upstairs. He turned on the cold shower full blast and jumped in. The freezing water hit his skin, soothing the fire in his fingers.

By the time he stepped out wrapped in a towel, the burning was gone.

He sighed, climbed into bed, and soon drifted off.

---

Night – Sofia

Sofia had just finished her assignment. She packed her books away and slid under her blankets, exhausted.

Her phone vibrated.

Ugh… not now.

It was Jayson.

She answered anyway.

Immediately, he began complaining—

“You don’t give me attention anymore… you’re acting different… what’s going on—”

Sofia rolled her eyes, too tired to care.

“It’s over between us,” she said plainly.

Then she hung up.

Turned her phone to silent.

And went straight to sleep.

---

Jayson

He stared at his phone in disbelief.

She didn’t just—

The call ended.

She hung up on him.

He tried calling back—no answer.

Texted her—no reply.

She wasn’t even online.

“No. No way. After everything I did for her?”

His chest tightened with anger.

He went to bed, heart heavy, jaw clenched.

We’ll see about tomorrow.