The Beast's Rejected Wife (Under Major Revision)

Chapter 4

"Have you guys heard about vampires?" Zejin asked the class.

I snapped back to reality as the wave of complaints from my classmates washed over me, their incredulous reactions slicing through the air like a sudden chill. The atmosphere shifted, a blend of disbelief and mockery hanging in the classroom as Zejin stood there, unfazed, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Really, prof? At our age?" one student scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. Hindi ko siya masisisi.

"My God, that was just a scare tactic for me when I was a kid. Can you ask us something more realistic? This is so nonsense," another chimed in, rolling her eyes. Ewan ko na lang kung ano maging reaction nito kapag nakakita siya ng totoong bampira.

"You're handsome, prof, but that question is just out of this world! Seriously? Vampires? So weird!" Natatawang palatak ng isa pa.

Their laughter and dismissive comments echoed in my ears, but my mind was elsewhere, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. Did he really believe in such things? Or was it just a quirky way to grab our attention? The playful banter continued around me, but I felt a strange tension building, like an invisible thread connecting me to Zejin's curiosity about the supernatural.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his question than mere jest, an undercurrent of seriousness lurking just beneath the surface of the laughter. As I glanced at him, searching for a hint of his intentions, I wondered if he had stumbled upon something deeper, something that could change everything we thought we knew. Pinagmasdan ko ito na seryoso lang na nakatingin sa klase niyang punong puno ng maaarteng nilalang.

"He was just asking if we heard about vampires and not to believe if it was true or not. The answer was supposed to be yes or no, and yet you started with your complaints. Where are your brains, air heads?" I scoffed, full of sarcasm and boredom. Lahat naman sila ay natahimik at tila napahiya, kita ko ang pasimpleng pagngisi ni Zejin habang nakatingin sa akin at saka tumikhim.

"She's right. Well, miss Rogue, can you tell me an appropriate answer?"

"My answer is, yes Prof Laquesta."

"Can you tell us how have you heard it?"

"My aunt used to read books and stories about vampires when I was little," I said, my voice almost a whisper as I stared down at my nails, coated in glossy black polish. The memory washed over me like a wave, pulling me into a time when the idea of vampires felt both thrilling and terrifying.

As I recalled those late-night storytelling sessions, I could almost hear her voice, rich with suspense as she spun tales of creatures lurking in the shadows, of forbidden love and eternal darkness. My fingers absentmindedly traced the edges of my nails, grounding me in the present while my mind wandered through the corridors of those childhood fantasies.

The classroom buzzed with laughter and sarcasm, but I felt a curious connection to the topic, a flicker of intrigue sparking within me. Zejin's earlier question echoed in my mind, igniting a sense of wonder and nostalgia that I hadn't anticipated. I looked up, glancing at my classmates, their skepticism evident, but my heart raced at the thought of the mysteries hidden within those tales.

What if there was more to the stories than mere fiction? What if the world I had brushed off as fantasy held deeper truths waiting to be uncovered?

"Class, quiet! Thank you, Miss Rogue," Zejin said, his tone shifting to one of authority as he commanded attention. The room settled into a hushed silence, all eyes turning toward him, eager for what he would say next.

"The reason I asked about vampires is that they serve as one of the best examples of human imagination—an incredible measure of how vast our creativity can be," he continued, his voice steady and engaging. Hindi ko maikakakaila na magaling siyang magturo, being a professor suits him.