"Ugh!"
Sunshine is not a good friend for Ezra today. He pulls the blanket up to his head, crying like a baby. He lost his enthusiasm for today. Really lost it, like having an urge to bury himself in the ground.
Last night, it was a good game. But, the after-game was the opposite. As they shook hands, Ezra couldn't help but feel wronged about these two newcomers from the opponent side. From the moment he entered the court, till he yet himself outside, this crazy maniac kept bugging his mind.
Ezra whines again. Not only that he feel frustrated about that, but there was another incident that made him go even crazier.
***
Ezra ran inside the gym, panting like a thirsty dog. He kept looking around; under the bench, the court, and even in a trash can. He was definitely sure that he kept it safe with him, but somehow, he kinda lost that necklace.
How can this have happened? He can't afford to lose it just like that! The necklace is so precious to him!
"Looking for this?"
Ezra turned around and saw that dark vibe Beta, with his necklace in his hand. He purposely swings it, fishing Ezra to run closer to him. When the Omega scooted closer, he grabbed the necklace and kept it away from Ezra.
"Give me back! That's mine!"
"Seems like you really do treasure it. Who gave it to you?"
"None of your fucking business!"
"Must be someone special..." That Beta hunched a bit, bowing his head so he could see Ezra's face clearly. He uttered nothing, but somehow, his sight felt like judging.
"Is that too early for you to have a mate, little cub?" the man asked.
"Is that a bit rude to stick your nose in someone's business?" Ezra launched a counterattack. He is an Omega, but everyone knows he's not a polite one.
"You're a feisty one..." the Beta sneered. He stuck out his hand and gave the necklace back to Ezra. He grabbed it in haste and put it on at the instant. With no words—not even a generous goodbye— he walked away, only to halt after the Beta warned him.
"Don't be too spicy, little cub! Keep burning like this, and you'll ignite a wildfire you won't be able to control..."
***
"Ah! Why did he say that!" Ezra almost ripped a chunk of his hair. His mind keeps circling those words, unable to dismiss them from his brain. He feels his body is getting hotter. And his mind is getting crazier.
Ezra jumps from his bed, grabs a glass of water, and quenches his thirst. He tries to calm himself while grabbing a towel from the rack and storms into the bathroom. Perhaps, he might get a bang on the door soon, because he can feel the rattle from the impact after he slams the door.
***
"Ezra, did someone step on your tail?" asks Rei. She crinkles her forehead, watching the restless Ezra wilt in his seat.
"Ez? Are you okay?"
"I am fine. I just feel...moody..."
Reis bats her eyelashes, her mind is puzzling. Ezra never goes under the wind. He is a cheerful Omega, through sunshine and storm. This is the first time Ezra looks like a dried rose. Even his face is as white as a sheet too!
"Gosh, you're burning!" Tish shrieks when she accidentally touches Ezra's hand. He ignores her, hiding his face with his bag.
Rei and Tish exchange glares. They start to feel worried. Ezra's body is highly immune; it's rare for him to get sick. They remember, once, the whole school got measles, a serious case in the history of Ou Academy. But the only one who didn't get caught by that is Ezra.
"Are you thirsty, Ezra? Here, drink some water..." Tish hands him a bottle of water when she sees Ezra's chapped lips. That male Omega grabs the bottle, gulps the contents in one breath, yet he looks even worse than before.
Suddenly, Ezra loses his grip. The bottle slams onto the floor, and the water splashes everywhere. Ezra's eyes almost pop out of the socket as he feels a burning sensation inside his body. He almost strips down, unable to handle the heat.
"Ez? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Rei shrieks, grabbing Ezra from behind to calm him down. But, she can't even last a second. The heat that comes from Ezra's body is unexplainable. It's boiling hot, though not deadly.
One of the Ou Academy's personnel rushes into the classroom. That female Beta looks calm despite the commotion that happens. She calmly helps Ezra to stand up and ushers him to the sick room.
"A patient incoming!"
As soon as the nurse lays her eyes on them, she jumps in to help. They put Ezra carefully on the bed and stripped him, before covering his body with a blanket before injects him with some medicine to cool his temperature.
Yet, his condition remains the same.
"Where is he?" A female Omega, perhaps in her 60s enters the sick bay.
"He's here, Principal Star. Burning like a fire..."
Principal Star swipes the curtain to have a proper look at Ezra. As soon as her sight falls on him, her face falls in shock.
"This can't be!" Principal Star gasps. She pulls off the curtain, closing the sight of Ezra before taking a moment to think.
"What happened, Ma'am? Is it contagious?" the Beta personnel asks. Principal Star shuts her eyes tight, slowly inhales as she pats the female's shoulder.
"Prepare for Code Red..."
***
Ezra wriggles in pain. The chain that bounds him makes a loud clanking noise every time when he moves. The bed feels like an oven, although it is comfy, but nothing can ease that male Omega that is on heat.
They put a pile of clothes around Ezra to calm him down. Whenever someone gets closer, he will wail and grunt. At this moment, Ezra becomes too sensitive that he can smell pheromones from anyone inside the room. If they open the door, he can sniff a flood of pheromones even from the outside, too!
As Ezra is crying in pain, Principal Star and another medical staff member; Rosy, a female Beta, are currently studying Ezra's personal file.
"He's not of an age to be on heat. He has another few months to be 18..."
"Ma'am, for Omegas to be on heat before they turn 18 is normal, if they meet their mate, or are marked," Rosy explains.
"That's impossible! How can Ezra be marked? There are no Alphas in Ou Academy!" Principal Star flops on the chair. "Unless the one who marked him is a Beta."
"Beta can't mark, only mate. However, nothing is impossible. But, if so, we might already find out during the morning routine. You are aware that everyone needs to go through the screening, even our Beta personnel. No one has Ezra's scents on them," says Rosy.
"That's true. If one of us betrayed the academy, I'm the first one to know," Principal Star sighs, putting the file back on the table.
"Rosy, is it possible for us to track down the one who marked Ezra? Perhaps, they left any trace of pheromones on him?"
"I did try, but couldn't find any. Ezra is on heat, but there's no trace of any alienated scents on him, not even a grain of sand," Rosy glares at the room where they kept Ezra safe. "As if the pheromones blend inside him and disperse as it pleased."
Principal Star sighs. For all her life, she never meet something like this. The world revolves in such a weird way to the extend that everything seems almost possible. An Omega being marked with no marker, no trace, and activated the gland that cause a heat even before he's coming to age.
"I think, we have no choice but to hand Ezra to his Alpha before The Graduation. At this level of heat, he probably won't survive. He needs his Alpha to mate," the revelation from Rosy is shocking.
"We never dismiss out trainees before The Graduation! It's dangerous!"
"I know. But, at this stage, there's nothing much we can do. Perhaps, while waiting for his Alpha to pick him up, we can give him synthetic pheromone that can calm him down and ease the heat."
Principal Star taps her pen on the table. She has to make a radical choice. Administered such a powerful medicine is dangerous, especially for a teen Omega like Ezra. But,right now, she has no choice but to allow it. For the sake of Ezra's life.
So, with the green light given to them, Rosy starts the treatment right away. She carefully administered the medicine accordingly. Ezra's condition improves gradually, although he almost couldn't make it at the first hour.
***
Ezra feels much better at night. He slowly opens his eyes, looking around the room. The space is quiet, since this room is situated at the basement of the academy. His hands and legs are not bounded anymore. He is back to normal.
The first experience of going on heat scares Ezra. The horror and pain send shivers all over his fragile body. If this is what on heat means, he swears, he rather get rid of his gland and turn himself into a Beta. The dread feeling is surreal.
After a cold shower, he finally get some rest. As he lies his head on bed, the longing feeling sips into his heart. It's been days since the last time he had a good time with Sora. He misses his Alpha wife so much.
I wonder if she misses me too!
His finger traces along the pendant, imagining Sora's touch lingers all over his body. As if the Alpha hugs him from behind, fingers trace along his curves and edges. Sora's touch is unbeatable. It can cause a windwhirl inside his body and mind. With some sweet words purring into his ear, everything feels magical for an innocent Omega like him.
Ezra dozes off with that thought, hoping he can get through tomorrow at ease.