"Welcome, dear! Oh my! Hasn't my sweet boy grown taller since the last time I saw you?!"
Arthur smiled shyly as Aunt Carol who was a good friend of Aunt Kelly hugged him tightly and pulled him inside, the others following close behind.
It was always like this.
Even when Aunt Carol visited their house, she always asked for him first. Then she'd start teasing him, which Arthur never really minded. Aunt Carol was such a kind lady. Just like Aunt Kelly. They made a good pair of friends.
Arthur wasn't very chatty with others. Only Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kelly knew his true, chaotic self. To the outside world, he was just this quiet, innocent man. Not that he was pretending, he just shut himself off without meaning to. It just… happened.
He couldn't bring himself to act "normal," even around Aunt Carol, even though he knew she cared for him just as much. It was simply how he was.
"It's been such a long time."
Arthur heard Lily's somewhat familiar voice as she approached Natalia with a big grin. Natalia also returned it with a warm nod.
He remembered Lily and Natalia used to hang out sometimes, mostly because their mothers were close and brought their children together. That was also how Uncle Kevin ended up befriending Aunt Carol's husband, also an alpha.
Natalia never really had a big friend group, despite being popular and everyone trying to stand near her at any chance. Arthur actually thought she was cool for not acting like a celebrity just because others found her attractive.
Well… he was kind of scared of her too. Not exactly her, but… a lot of things.
Sigh…
Arthur looked around the beautiful living room, already feeling a bit bored. Everyone seemed busy with their own conversations and laughter. He felt kind of out of place.
He pulled out his phone to pass the time, updating his notebook, when he heard the sound of the front door opening and Aunt Carol's cheerful voice echoing through the room.
"Hello, Jax!"
Arthur looked up from his phone and watched as a teenager walked through the door. His face sparked a faint familiarity in Arthur's memory.
Arthur frowned, staring for a moment, until the boy noticed him and froze, eyes going wide.
"Teacher Arthur?!"
The boy's smile erupted instantly, his voice filled with surprise and excitement.
Arthur smiled and nodded, sudden realization clicking into place.
He was one of Arthur's students.
Arthur had taught his class. He remembered a few students clearly, but not all, so recognizing everyone was hard sometimes.
He felt a little guilty, but seeing how happy the boy looked, the guilt faded.
But now Arthur had questions. Why was he at Aunt Carol's house? From what he knew, Aunt Carol and her husband had only one child, Lily, who was the same age as Natalia.
"He's a cousin of Lily's. His house is just five houses away, but I kept him here because his parents went abroad to see his sick grandmother. Until they come back, he'll be staying with us. I didn't know he went to the same school Arthur taught at."
Arthur noticed the proud smile on Aunt Kelly's face as the student recognized him with such respect.
Aunt Kelly was definitely proud of him. And that made him proud too.
"Ah… I see."
Arthur replied with a small smile, his eyes accidentally meeting Natalia's. She was watching him too, expressionless, yet her gaze held him firmly.
Arthur's heart skipped and his cheeks warmed instantly. Trying to hide it, he lowered his head and pretended to scroll through his chats.
Seriously? He needed to learn to control this blushing. If he wanted to keep things a secret until he was ready, he couldn't just turn red every time she looked his way. Someone would notice. Worse, he'd look like some idiot who was obsessed with her.
'It's scary.'
Arthur sighed, lost in thought, until someone sat beside him.
Well… he would've been happier if it were Natalia, but she had just been called over by Uncle Kevin, probably to discuss something with Uncle Josiah.
"I didn't know teacher knew Aunt Carol. This is crazy. It's so nice to see you, teacher! You're my favorite teacher by the way!"
Arthur felt flattered by the boy's enthusiasm though it also felt a little intense. He'd never been this excited to see a teacher at that age though.
'Young people these days are so weird.'
"Don't lie. Nobody likes their teachers. I must be the least annoying teacher, right?"
Arthur asked with a chuckle, and the boy seemed surpised by his answer.
"No. Seriously. I respect you the most. Maybe teacher doesn't remember. But you once helped me and basically saved my life."
Arthur stared at the boy, obviously clueless and feeling kind of bad that he didn't even remember this boy let alone any interaction with him.
He seriously thought they had never talked before though.
"I'm sorry. I don't remember. But I don't think I'm such a hero. Maybe you're mistaken?"
Arthur asked with a gentle smile.
But the boy chuckled, pulling at his fingers.
"No. How could I mistake you for someone else? But it's fair that teacher doesn't remember. It's been like almost a year since then. I know teacher is kind and helps everyone you can. I was maybe just one of them you helped. Either way, you are seriously one of my favourite people."
Arthur couldn't catch onto the tone the boy was using because he sounded emotional, desperate, and also somehow happy. He obviously didn't remember, but maybe Arthur had somehow helped this boy back then in some way.
Also…one of his favourite people?
'Young people these days seriously love their teachers, don't they?'
Arthur smiled and patted the boy's head, feeling Jax was such a good kid. And this action seemed to make the boy taken aback, but he giggled, even blushing.
Arthur felt he was really cute. Chatty, outgoing, and somehow like a little kid even though he must be almost sixteen.
"So how are your marks this term exam?"
Arthur asked, like the sensible person he was which made the young boy look at him with his smile dropping in seconds.
Arthur found that kind of adorable too and chuckled.
Then he patted the boy's back, feeling apologetic, not so much though... for bringing up such a bitter topic, but still.
"Don't ask about marks when we're out of school, teacher. Gosh, thinking about them makes my stomach turn."
The boy smiled and said, which only encouraged nosy Arthur to tease him more by bringing up more topics like lessons and study plans.
The boy definitely regretted coming to talk to him.
Arthur was having way too much fun teasing him, yet the boy stayed, still talking with him. However, neither of them noticed that people around them had been quietly watching for some time.
It was impossible not to notice: the two males shared a similar personality, a perfect match that radiated an almost tangible cuteness.
The teacher-and-student duo now seemed more like friends, relaxed and easy in each other's company.
Natalia, now staring at Arthur, couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her lips. As she watched him, she realized that she just discovered something new about him.
It was silly and trivial, but she couldn't help it.
When Arthur chuckled, it wasn't like his smile. His eyes nearly vanished into slits, and somehow, it was devastatingly attractive...
Natalia found herself feeling an almost uncontrollable urge to pull him close, bury her face against him, and never let go.
'God, I really want to hug him right now.'
And...kiss him till he get all red and shy...
...
"Have some more."
"This is really delicious!"
"Mmm..."
"Wow! This smells so good."
As everyone settled in and enjoyed dinner, the room was filled with the soft clinks of glasses and plates, the warm aroma of food weaving through the lively chatter.
Well, except Jax.
He sat at the far corner of the table, his plate still untouched, his attention buried somewhere entirely different. Hidden beneath the table, his phone glowed as his thumbs moved in quick, urgent bursts.
"I changed my mind," he typed. "I'm not giving up. I only want him. And I found a way to get close to him."
He hit send, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips as he sneaked a glance at the older omega who had a shy smile on his face, directed at that alpha, the intimidating one. The one who was apparently close friends with his cousin Lily, too.
'When he and his whole family seem so sweet, why is it only his sister who somehow look so damn intimidating? I can't believe they're even related…'
Jax shook his head in disapproval, finally setting his phone aside as he silently dug into his food.
And just like that, the lively dinner gradually wound down, conversations fading, plates emptying, and the evening settling into a gentle close...