SOUL DORM

10

Everybody, move your feet and feel united, oh-oh-oh

***

CHAPTER 10: 

AN UNFORTUNATE THREAT

Ursa must have thought I was a total airhead. For the last minute, she'd been trying to explain who Mars was with overly elaborate descriptions. There, the golden-haired one. Eyes as deep as the ocean. Skin like sun-kissed wheat fields. Shoulders as strong as pillars. Like a Greek god, you know... And his smile...

"I got it!" I cut in, my voice unintentionally harsh. I didn't need to go over all these details I already knew; I needed someone to tell me there was a massive misunderstanding. The guy from the library couldn't be Mars. Mars couldn't be my soulmate. And my soulmate couldn't be that troublemaker from the library. Yet somehow, every path led back to the same person. I wondered what sin I committed in my past life.

"Alright then," Ursa said, touching my back. "Go introduce yourself."

With another unexpected burst of energy, she pushed me forward, and suddenly, I felt like I was on stage under the spotlight. But in reality, no one was paying attention to me. Not even Mars... He didn't realize I was trying to talk to him. He was busy petting the cat in his lap and chatting with the blue-haired girl sitting across from him. His ease only made me feel more awkward.

I heard someone call "Olive!" behind me. When I turned, Ursa was gesturing for me to go forward. She was correct; I had to move. My hesitation was childish. Even if Mars had seen me in the library, he probably wouldn't think I was spying on them. Obviously, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and as soon as I realized it, I left.

I adjusted my bag, straightened my posture, and took a deep breath. With determined but heavy steps, I made my way to the table where my soulmate and the blue-haired girl sat. First, the cat looked at me, then Mars, and finally, the girl. I couldn't tear my eyes away from Mars. Not because he looked even more handsome up close but because his eyebrows shot up, and he smirked the moment he saw me.

"You..." he said with interest. "Looks like you finally gathered the courage. I was starting to wonder when you'd manage to speak."

My mouth opened and closed. Excuse me?

The blue-haired girl had warned, "Mars!" scolding him like an older sister, but Mars seemed unfazed.

"Sorry, Blue," he said, smiling at me. "We've been having quite the unexpected encounters with the lady for the past two days..." He leaned in as if he was about to reveal a secret, lowering his voice. "I gotta give you credit for chasing me all the way to the library. No one's ever gone that far before. You were going great until that little mishap this morning..." He shrugged. "But... it's perfectly understandable to be nervous. Nothing I haven't seen before."

Once again, my mouth opened. This time, I couldn't close it. This pompous, narcissistic, spoiled brat thought I was one of the girls chasing after him. Supposedly, I was into him. Supposedly, I was in the library to chase him. Supposedly, I knocked over food out of excitement while watching him. Blood was boiling in my veins now.

He squinted and scrutinized my face. "You're new here, aren't you? I'm sure I would've noticed you before."

Excellent, as if what I already knew about him wasn't enough; my soulmate was also keeping tabs on the girls in the Dorm like some creep. He may have fancied himself as clever, but he completely missed one crucial detail. I narrowed my eyes like him, placed my hands on the table, and leaned towards him.