Check-Mate

43. Again

Terk Pov

"What's going on in here?" I can't help but ask.

I was planning to have a one-on-one talk with Gym about Chain. I feel that he deserves to know the truth. I don't want to be a reason for a misunderstanding and argument between them again.

Since he already made the blood oath, I feel that is it safe to leave my Nong's life and safety in his hands. Of course, I will be there to protect him as well in case of emergency, but having his mate to protect him will be a much better option, right?

 The noise coming from Warm's room is so loud that I can hear it from my room. It sounds like they are having an argument again. A fiercer one this time.

When I enter Warm's room, both of them suddenly turn quiet. I don't have to look at Warm to know that he was really emotional at this point. I can smell it in his pheromones. He is mad and sad at the same time.

"P' Terk," Chain runs to me with teary eyes. He looks really hurt and vulnerable. "It's good that you are here, phi. Do you know anything about this?" He shows me a piece of paper.

University dropout form? I look at Warm in shock. Why is he filling out this form? Didn't he love studying?

"P' Terk, did you tell him to dropout of university?" Chain asks me.

"No! Why would I do that?" I really can't believe that the thought of dropping out if the university even crossed Warm's mind.

"Then why does he have this form? How did he get it? Why is it filled?" Chain looks at Warm. "No matter how many times I ask, he is not telling me why he is doing this!" He turns to me. "So, you tell me why? I want to know1"

"I think you should go keep an eye on your mate than meddling in other's business." Warm grunts.

Chain looks at him with a helpless expression. "Warm, I~"

I squeeze his shoulder and interrupt him. "Chain, would you please step outside? I need to talk to Warm alone."

"Phi, I..." He glances at Warm for one last time and sighs. "Okay, I will leave," He leaves the room reluctantly.

I close the door after Chain leaves the room. Though the room is soundproof, I set up a shield as I don't want anyone to hear my conversation with Warm.

Warm had been staring at the floor ever since I entered the room. He had never once raised his head to look at me.

"Warm," I call him softly. The smell of his emotions on his pheromones is so thick.

"I am sorry," He says holding tightly onto the hem of his tee. "I- I shouldn't have gotten mad at your Nong. I am sorry."

My Nong? Since when Warm started addressing Chain as my Nong?

"I know you have been looking forward to him coming here and staying with you... and I shouldn't have created a scene like this on the first day here..." His grip on the tee tightens. "But he came in here and through my stuff. So... I am really sorry that I spoiled the day for him. I will go apologize to him right away."

"Stop!" I can sense something is horribly wrong here. "Warm, are you still upset about that day?"

He says nothing but his silence says volumes to me. 

"Look Warm, I understand that you are hurt, but~"

"You don't." He mutters.

"Huh?"

"You don't understand! You don't understand anything! So, stop putting up this show! I already told you that I would apologize to him. What more do you want me to do? Go massage his foot?" He stares at me with anger and hatred.

Why is he acting like this? Just why?

"I am sorry that I raised my voice just now," He apologizes again, lowering his volume to an almost inaudible one. "I..." He breaths in and out heavily. "I am really grateful to you that agree to take me in in my current condition and even letting me stay in your place. I don't know where I would have gone or what I would have done if not for you..."

He clenches his fist and raises his head and stare right into my eyes, "I don't want to you think that I am unthankful of all the provisions that you provided me with since the day I arrived here. But I would like request you sincerely that neither you nor your Nong try to cross my boundaries or nose around in my life."

"Are you saying that we both should just stay out of your business?"

"Khrab."

"Then, does that also mean that you are not going to tell us why you have decided to drop out of the university as well?"

"Right, Khrab."

"May I know why?"

"Because I don't think it is any of your business."

Seriously? Is he going to continue like this? I need to change my tactics. "I am really sorry to inform you this, but Warm... it 'is' my business. Everything related to you 'is' my business. From the moment you agreed to come here with me, 'you' became my business, Warm. You are my responsibility. I promised your parents that I will take care of you when I asked for their permission to bring you with me. So, there is no way I am staying out of this."

"I am not a kid that you have to take care of me," He says sullenly.

"I know that. I know that better than anyone else." I take a good look at him from head to toe. He is alluring as always. Even the pregnancy hasn't reduced his charm. Maybe this is what they call pregnancy glow up. "If not, you wouldn't be carrying my pup inside you."

I was expecting him to get angry at the last sentence, but nothing happened. Instead, I hear him sob.

There it goes again. Why is it so hard to communicate with him? I know that we didn't start on a good note, but we are going to be parents soon. Can't he just express himself to me for once?

The bitter smell on his pheromones is so overwhelming. What am I supposed to do now? I am seriously not built for handling stuff like this. "Warm, you see~"

"I won't be staying here for long." He says in a feeble voice.

"Huh? What did you say?" Did he just say that he won't be staying here for long?

"You wanted to know why I was filling out that form, right?" He wipes his tears and tries to look composed. "I am dropping out of the university because I want to work and support my pup. I don't think that nursing a baby, studying and working is something I can do simultaneously. So, I chose the two things that can't be discarded- nursing my baby and working to support myself and my pup."

"Why do you have to work in the first place?" I ask finding his attitude completely unreasonable. "I am not saying that you can't work. You can work but why now? Can't you work after you graduate from the university?"

"I just told you the reason. I want to support my baby." He repeats in an even firmer tone.

"Don't you have me for that? I am financially stable support both you and our pup. You don't have to go out and work for that."

"There is one more thing I want to tell you." His gaze is unwavering. "I don't want you to be part of my and my pup's lives."