Alpha's Human Mate

Unintentionally avoiding Mew

"My boy, how's class?" Gulf asked, spotting Kokliang as he exited, backpack in tow.

Gulf swaggered over and snatched the backpack, thanking Kokliang as if it were a rare treasure.

"Shite, Gulf! You should have listened to me just now instead of staring at your... well, you know," Kokliang said, irritation bubbling beneath his surface.

"Geez, Kokliang! What's got your knickers in a twist? Anyway, do we have homework? What pearls of wisdom did the professor drop today?" Gulf quipped.

"Lucky for you, we don't have homework, but we do have a quiz tomorrow, so study what we've learned so far, and for the love of all that is good, don't start gazing at your, erm, package again. You look completely daft," Kokliang replied, rolling his eyes as Gulf chuckled.

"Okay, then! Study it all, basically," Gulf said cheekily, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Right, that's my cue. I've got to dash and study for tomorrow's quiz, plus my ride's here. See you tomorrow, mate!" Gulf waved at Kokliang, not wanting to waste a second.

"Swatdee pho!" Gulf greeted with a flourish as he hopped into the car.

"How was class today?" Thanayong asked, his eyes meeting Gulf's in the rear-view mirror.

"Okay, I suppose! Just want to get back home and cram for tomorrow's quiz. I'm absolutely shattered," Gulf replied, sinking into the seat like a sack of potatoes.

-4 days later-

"Right, class! I have your marks here for the two-day quizzes, and I'm disappointed with some of you. I expected everyone to score above 80%, but alas, some of you have proved that I clearly need to push harder for you to become the bright future doctors I envision. Don't worry! I'll just increase your workload, and by the end of this semester, you'll master this subject!" proclaimed Professor Aunty with an inflexion that suggested she derived joy from their suffering.

"Geez, at least no one's dying from her back-to-back quizzes. What an embarrassing way to go," Gulf whispered to Kokliang, trying to stifle a giggle.

"Gulf, shut up before we both get booted from her class!" Kokliang hissed back, eyes darting nervously.

"Geez, someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Gulf quipped, receiving a gentle nudge from Kokliang.

"Here are your marks! Look them over, and if there's any doubt or dissatisfaction, don't hesitate to ask or tell me about it," said Professor Aunty, handing out papers like they were lottery tickets.

"Pass this paper around, look at it, and pass it back to me. Don't be too pleased with your quiz marks; they're merely there to assist you in the final exam, so study smart and stop mucking about!" she added.

"Okay, madam!" chorused the students, half-heartedly, as if warding off a curse.

Right before the class ended, Professor Aunty announced that starting next week, there would be quizzes and pop quizzes on the spot for the entire week, all contributing to their final exam marks.

"She really wants to kill us, doesn't she?" Gulf whispered to Kokliang, eyeing the professor like a cat stealthily plotting its next move.

"Now I think she's gone too far! I'm dead tired, and my brain is like a fish brain—it can't hold that much information!" Kokliang replied, making a face that could curdle milk.

"Now you feel me, man. That's how I feel about this subject. We have labs, quizzes, and all sorts of madness from other subjects too," said Gulf.

"Final year, and it's like we're on the last spaceship out of here," Gulf added, sighing dramatically, earning an agreeing nod from Kokliang.

-After class-

"He'll be here any minute now," said Kokliang.

"No thanks, my dad's here, so see you later, okay?" said Gulf as he spotted Thanayong's car.

"But—"

"Bye, my boy," said Gulf, hopping into the car.

"Pho, please don't knock on my door until dinner time. I need to focus on my studying," asked Gulf.

"Baby boy, I know exactly what you're doing right now," said Thanayong.

"What? I did what?" said Gulf, looking out of the window as if it held all the answers.

"Can you stop running away from your mate? He called your mae and asked about you."

"I was studying, pho! And he keeps calling and messaging me. It's so annoying! Plus, our professor auntie is killing us with quizzes and all; he should know this because his brother is in the same class with me!" Gulf stated the bare facts as if they were gospel truth.

"I understand you, but try not to avoid him, okay?" said Thanayong softly.

"I'm not avoiding him, pho!" replied Gulf, desperately defending himself.

"If you say so, son," said Thanayong, not wanting to push Gulf further.

Gulf exhaled a long breath he didn't know he was holding and closed his eyes, wishing for a little peace before they reached home.

"Mae/Honey, we're home!" said Gulf and Thanayong in perfect sync.

"Welcome home, you two!" greeted Ampha cheerily.

"Baby boy, your mate called again and asked about you," said Ampha, a grin spreading across her face.

"Okay, mae, I'll call him later after I freshen up," replied Gulf, scurrying up to his room.

He dashed straight to the shower, determination in his every step. The moment he plopped down at his study table, his phone rang.

"Hello," said Gulf in a tired voice, as if the mere act of speaking required monumental effort.

"Why haven't you been picking up your phone the past few days? Are you avoiding me?" asked Mew, sounding equally worn out.

"No, I'm not! I was busy with my studying and all. Anyway, I need to go now. Bye!" said Gulf, practically hanging up without waiting for Mew's response, as if it was a race against time.

Gulf felt a pang of guilt towards Mew; he was both intentionally and unintentionally avoiding Mew.

He was deliberately sidestepping Mew because he needed to focus on his studies without distractions—and Mew was a distraction, even from a distance.

Little did he know, by keeping his distance, that both of them were heading straight for a disaster of longing sickness that could even take down a rhinoceros.