Fated to the Alpha's Touch

1- "Meeting Paul..."

I sighed when the car stopped in front of the school gate. This was the day. After six years of hiding and keeping myself from the world because of misery and grieving, I finally decided to step out again and go back to school.

Looking at the gate and the high buildings inside it, I realized how I missed going to the hallways while sharing laughter and happy moments with my classmates, and walking with Lucas after every class, and then, we would go to the canteen and create so many memories while doing assignments and studying together.

A part of me was having second thoughts about whether I could do it this time. What if I was already past the age to go back and succeed? What if I failed because I kept missing him? He was no longer around, and our batchmates had already graduated a few years back. I knew no one, and I had to start from zero again. Things would never be the same as they used to be back in our time.

This school brought me so many memories to cherish, but now that I was returning, all I could hear was eerie silence. I was so far behind my newer and younger schoolmates who walked past me, minding their own worlds and businesses, and going with people they were comfortable around.

It was difficult, and every step felt so heavy, yet I forced myself to take a step forward. I walked inside the gate, and the nostalgia overwhelmed my heart. I hugged the books I was carrying in my hands, like gaining courage to continue to walk further.

A flash of bittersweet memories came playing back in my mind as if I went back to that very time in the past where everything seemed fine and perfect…

Somebody’s soft hands made me stop walking. I couldn’t help but smile so dearly. Even though I couldn’t see him because he was behind me and covering my eyes with his hands, his gentle caress and manly fragrant scent had instantly made me recognize him.

“Lucas!” I said while chuckling.

He chuckled, too, and then removed his hands from covering my eyes.

The look I gave him was the usual one with admiration. I had always adored him.

He gently pulled me in for a hug, and I could just submit myself wholeheartedly. My safest haven on earth was here… in his arms…

“I missed you, baby!” he told me sweetly.

“How I missed you, too!”

After the hug, he patted my head, and we continued to walk further together. He put his arm comfortably on my shoulders, and I leaned close to him.

“Did you enjoy your summer vacation?” I asked him as we walked.

“Just fine. I think it’s still more enjoyable having you near me.”

I beamed. He really knew how to flatter my heart every single time!

“How about you? What did you do during your summer break?”

“Nothing that much. Honestly, I find it a bit boring. I still prefer school days because here in our school, I can always see the love of my life!”

He chuckled and planted a soft kiss on my head.

A bittersweet smile was on my face as the air brushed me back to the present. Those precious moments were lovely until they slowly became sad memories…

I wanted so badly to go back to those times, but what power did I have to be able to do that? Nothing. All I could do was reminisce.

I stopped walking when I saw I was about to pass by a familiar acacia tree. The bench beneath it, which used to be our lovers’ den, was still there, and it seemed like it remained a favorite place for lovers to occupy.

Looking at the couple seated there while they were having the best times of their campus lives, it felt like Lucas came back to life, and I saw the two of us being there again once more.

The girl and the boy reviewed their books while having a little fun chit-chat. Lucas and I used to do that during our class breaks. We would sit beside each other, and sometimes, I would even lie down and occupy the length of the bench while letting my head rest comfortably in his lap. Then he would read me a book, caress my hair with his gentle finger, and cup my cheeks fondly.

My chest felt heavier. The fact that I could just recall the time but could no longer go back to it made me feel lonely. I really missed him so badly. If only given another opportunity, I would’ve wanted to bring him back to life and ease this sadness away.

I chose to walk further, no matter how heavy the steps felt, because I wouldn’t be able to move forward if I didn’t take even little steps, right?

Six years of mourning since Lucas passed away, and each time that I refused to let him go was like preventing him from completely being at peace. I realized that the more I crucified myself to so much misery, the more he would not find peace, because I knew he always wanted me to be happy. He never wanted to see me be sorrowful. It would make him lonelier when he knew I refused to move on from the tragedy.

He wanted me to go on and continue with my life, although he was no longer in it. And that was what I was trying to do now, so I stepped out to finally face the world again.

“Damn it, Mike! We should’ve won the game!”

“Shut up, Dane! You were part of the game; thus, losing it was also your fault!”

“Move on, gentlemen! The game was over, so stop blaming each other now. Just do your best again on the next game so you could win, that’s if you’re finally going to beat Paul—-the best player in town!”

I heard a group of students passing by and walking to the corridor while talking loudly, not minding the other students walking past them.

In this particular group, there were three boys and two girls. They all looked cool, and I even noticed that every student, especially women, glanced their way with admiration. Some smiled and greeted them.

That girl with medium wavy hair whose hands were in the pockets of her jeans looked so friendly because she smiled and even waved back at her schoolmates. The other girl, with short straight hair, seemed like a snub. She didn’t care about anybody else except their group of friends. She just kept walking with her head held high without a plan to bow to anyone.

The seemingly carefree and happy-go-lucky guy in their group put his hands comfortably around the shoulders of the snub girl, which the snub girl didn’t seem to mind as if she was already used to it and comfortable with such a gesture from her friend. The other guy looked a little serious and a complete big bro figure to the rest of them, seeming to be the most mature one among them. However, the tallest man from their group was the one who unexpectedly caught my attention the most!

My world seemed to literally stop the moment my eyes landed on him. He appeared to be the most intimidating and gorgeous, with a lazy smirk on his lips. But that wasn’t the reason why he got my attention, it was the fact that he resembled the man I used to know so well!

I felt my chest pounding violently. How could this be possible? Did Lucas reincarnate back to life? How did it happen? I couldn’t be wrong! That person who was walking with the group was none other than the man of my life—Lucas Thomas!

I didn’t hesitate to run into him and hug him.

“Lucas!” I cried emotionally.

If this were just a dream, I wouldn’t want to be woken up from this any longer!

“Lucas, I missed you so much! Every day of my life feels empty without you!” Over and over again, I told him how much I missed him.

I knew people around us began to raise their eyebrows at what I did. Even Lucas's friends seemed surprised and confused about what was happening, yet I didn’t mind any of them. What just mattered to me was reuniting with Lucas, seeing him again after six years of sorrow!. I seriously didn’t know how it happened, or if this was even possible—that a dead person could be alive again, all I knew was I missed him so much, and I was so happy I found him again!

Although I felt that Lucas didn’t embrace me back, I didn’t care. I truly understood that he might have been surprised and overwhelmed that he wasn’t able to move immediately, but I knew for sure that he was also happy to see me!

When I gently pulled out of the hug, our eyes finally met. There was intensity and fire in his gaze while he was staring at me.

I cupped his cheek dearly. I couldn’t believe I would be able to see him again. I wouldn’t want to lose him ever again!

“Lucas, we thought you were dead already! It’s a good thing you’re finally back! But where have you been all this time? Why did you show up just now? Do you even have any idea how much I missed you, huh! I missed you so much, Lucas! Every day without you feels like a life with emptiness! And why didn’t you contact me? Where did you go for the past six years?”

He was emotionless while his brow arched. “Miss, what are you talking about? Are you high?”

The people around us who heard it laughed as if I were the biggest joke of the year!

I suddenly felt like my bubble had just burst! My tears felt like a fool!

Almost everybody seemed to mock me, especially the snub girl from their group. On the other hand, the nice girl wasn’t laughing; she looked like she sympathized with me. The big-bro figure remained serious, though, and confused. Meanwhile, the playful dude grinned like he was watching an exciting romance drama scene.

My eyes went back to the man standing close to me. The way his eyes pierced through me sent shivers down my spine. I immediately removed my hand from his cheek, and my cheeks burned in complete embarrassment. I just realized how foolish I was for what I did!

“Nice to meet you, too, Miss…” he said sarcastically with a mocking grin. “But my name is not Lucas. I’m Franklin Paul Maddison, to be exact. Paul in short.”

So, he wasn’t Lucas. He was another person.

But how come he looked so much like Lucas?

I froze in my feet when he lifted my chin.

“What a great way you have to get my attention…” he said with a smirk, using a low but deep and tantalizing tone.

I stared at his eyes deeply. There, I saw that he really indeed was not my man. I mistook him for Lucas, but he wasn’t Lucas! Yes, they might look so alike. His face resembled Lucas's a lot, but he was completely a different man!

I pushed his hand away from my face, and then I took a step back. It was clear that he was humiliating me because of what I did, and he thought I was just pretending to mistake him for someone I knew to get his attention. He was clearly mocking me!

“Sorry!” The only word I said before I hurried to walk away…