Hell University-Chapter 45 - 44: Too

Zein’s Point of View

My forehead immediately creased when I noticed that everyone’s behavior had changed. Usually, the girls would be giggling like they were feeling giddy.

I glanced at Supremo, who was just staring straight ahead.

"What’s going on?" I asked myself.

I excused myself from Supremo since I still had class. When I entered, the classroom looked the same, most of the girls were giggling. I sat next to Vanessa, who was fidgeting with her ballpen but gave a weak smile when she saw me.

Curiously, I watched as she and Mia arranged their chairs to face me. Meanwhile, the boys were talking, occasionally bursting into laughter.

"So, what is it?!" Mia asked, clearly excited.

What the hell is even happening in HU? I feel so outdated. I mean, I’m the SSG Secretary, I should be one of the first to know the news before it spreads.

"What do you mean, what is it?!" I asked, slightly irritated.

Mia and Vanessa exchanged glances, as if speaking to each other with their eyes. I just stared at them, bored, because I didn’t understand a thing.

"You don’t know?" Vanessa asked. I quickly shook my head, and her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe it. "Really don’t know?" she asked again.

"I really don’t! What is it?!"

"You really don’t know..." Mia whispered in amazement before giggling.

"Looks like you’re the only one who doesn’t know," Mia said.

I grimaced in irritation and held back from smacking them with my bag. Why couldn’t they just tell me already so I’d know what they were talking about? Not dangling it like this. Damn! Curiosity is killing me.

The two of them burst out laughing again, which only made me grimace further.

"We won’t tell you..." Vanessa said with a grin, making my jaw drop.

Like, what the fuck?! They were clearly trying to annoy me.

"Come on! Just tell me already!" I said, frustrated.

Mia shook her head and blinked, but she couldn’t hide the sly grin on her face. These girls! Ugh! What the hell is going on?

"What are you guys talking about?" Matt asked, looking at me.

I laughed when Vanessa tugged at his collar and whispered something. Mia did the same with Dave and Jerome, who were now both grinning.

"Y-You really don’t know?" Matt asked, surprised.

"If you tell me, I might find out," I said, annoyed, which made all five of them burst into laughter.

Ghad! This gang is really enjoying themselves right now! What the hell is happening? I couldn’t ask anyone else, because they seemed intimidated whenever I was around, stumbling over their words... sometimes even moving away from me.

Damn... Calm down, Zein. You’ll find out soon. Easy.

"I like your face..." Dave teased, giving Jerome a high-five.

"Like your face!"

I quickly looked ahead, trying to shift my gaze, but I could still feel their teasing stares on me.

"Supremo?!"

I immediately glanced where Jerome was looking, but my forehead furrowed when I realized Supremo wasn’t there.

I raised an eyebrow at him. They all burst out laughing, clearly delighted that I was annoyed.

I quickly slung my bag over my shoulder and gave the five of them a glare, but they were still laughing.

I was at the door when I ran into our teacher.

"Where are you go-"

"Somewhere!" I replied vaguely.

I heard their laughter again, so I quickly left the area. Damn them! I was the one they were messing with.

I couldn’t hide the irritation on my face and angrily kicked a stone. I sat down on a bench in the wide open space and stared at the emptiness of the place, now cleared out because of class hour.

"Oh my ghad!"

I covered my mouth as I remembered it was class hour. I couldn’t stay here, or Supremo might see me. Even though I was already at the high position, I still wasn’t exempt from the rules.

I hurriedly started to leave, but froze when I heard Supremo’s voice behind me.

"Where are you going?"

I gathered all the strength in my legs and ran, ignoring Supremo’s call. I just kept running until my feet brought me to the secret garden.

Out of breath, I collapsed at the base of a large tree.

"That was close!"

"Meow."

Damn it! I glanced at Hoy, who was rubbing its fur against my leg. "You are not helping, Hoy," I said irritably before picking it up and placing it on my lap.

"What’s the deal now?" I asked Hoy, hoping for an answer, but I heard nothing, not even a meow. I don’t know why, but I felt irritated again. "You’re not going to answer?!" I exclaimed, frustrated.

It just stared at me.

"Are you going to keep secrets too?" I said irritably as I picked him up and put him back on the ground. "I hate you! Go find a new owner!" I shouted.

I crossed my arms and tried to calm myself down. They’re so annoying! So irritating! So—ugh!

I felt Hoy rub his fur against my leg again, so I nudged him away with my foot, just lightly.

"Meow."

"Sorry... I need space. Leave me alone for now, Hoy."

"I want to believe you’re not losing your mind, but are you?" Supremo asked with a laugh, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. "Is my effect on you really that strong for you to go crazy like this?" he added with a grin.

Wow. The audacity.

"Careful, Supremo. Stay a little farther away from me, I might just hit you."

He burst into laughter and moved even closer to me. My cheeks puffed up in irritation. Is he doing this on purpose?! Ghad! I can’t take it anymore. This day is so annoying, I just want to lie in bed and sleep.

"Why are you so hot‑headed?" he asked, still laughing.

I was startled when he pulled me into a hug. I think I forgot how to breathe, and goosebumps rose all over my skin.

"Better?" he whispered into my ear.

OMG.

"S-Supremo... do you want to get punched?" I asked, struggling. I gasped for air because I was completely out of breath.

"Can you?" His hold around me tightened, and I could do nothing but feel him.

I don’t want to... I really don’t... I don’t want him to let go of me.

We stayed in that position for a few minutes until I finally felt his hold around me loosen. I couldn’t help but smile... now, I feel better.

"Feel better?" he asked.

This time, I nodded quickly. "Yeah..." I replied.

"That was my yakapsule..."

"Y-Yakap- What?!"

[Note: Yakap means hug. So yakapsule means = hugsule.]

He laughed, while I clearly didn’t understand what he meant.

"Let’s just say... Supremo’s hug is the most effective medicine ever. It can ease any kind of ache."

I swallowed and raised a finger. "Can I have one again, please?" I asked- but he quickly shook his head.

"You might overdose."

"That’s fine."

"You might get addicted. There’s no rehabilitation center here."

"That’s fine."

"Bu-"

I grinned when he froze, because I was the one who hugged him first this time. I felt his breathing grow heavy, like he was running out of air. Quietly, I leaned my nose closer to the nape of his neck and closed my eyes, breathing in his scent.

It really is addictive.

"You’re already taking chances," I said.

I quickly pulled away from the hug and playfully shoved him. "As if," I whispered.

Damn! He smells so good, I want more.

"Was that a yakapsule?" he asked. "I think it’s having the opposite effect on me... My heart might actually get sick from your hug. One more, maybe?"

I quickly stepped back, startled.

Damn! I shouldn’t have backed away if he hadn’t surprised me! Ghad! One more yakapsule, Supremo.

We returned to the SSG Office, where we found Vice Ty and Teacher Kath talking. Supremo went straight to his table, so I went straight to mine.

"What’s your plan for the weekend, Supremo?" Vice Ty asked, looking at him.

Supremo only gave a quick glance before returning his gaze to what he was doing.

"I have a better plan," Teacher Kath said, grinning.

I wanted to ask what they were talking about, but shyness immediately got the better of me. Could this be the reason for all the giggling and excitement throughout HU? What’s going on this weekend?

Supremo looked at me. I quickly looked away, feeling flustered. Why is he staring? Earlier, when Vice Ty was talking to him, he couldn’t even glance at him, but me? He stares like there’s no tomorrow.

"Don’t get too comfortable, President Ace," Teacher Kath warned. "Let’s just be thankful that, until now, you’re still in your position..." she added.

"Well, thank you then," he replied.

Vice Ty fell silent, and then returned his attention to what he was doing.

"If others find out that you saved Secretary Shion from the punishment she was supposed to receive for breaking the number one rule, then surely... those you previously punished will blow up."

I just lowered my head after hearing that.

"Could you please stop bringing up that topic again?" Supremo said, slightly irritated. "Miss Shion is right in front of you," he added.

"It’s better she knows the harm it-"

"Oh fuck!" I suddenly felt Supremo cover both of my ears.

"Don’t listen, please," he whispered to me.

I wanted to push Supremo’s hand away and listen to what Teacher Kath was saying, something I couldn’t deny made sense. If something bad were to happen to Supremo, it would be my fault.

"This is not a joke!" Teacher Kath shouted. "I just want Secretary Shion to keep an open mind!" she added.

I felt Supremo remove his hands from my ears.

"What do I need to do?" I asked, making Ace’s jaw drop. "How do I save Supremo?"

I heard Ace curse repeatedly as he grabbed my arm to stop me.

"You won’t do any-"

"Limit yourself," Vice Ty cut in to Supremo. "I know you already know that Supremo can’t be involved with anyone. He can’t show any emotion... any weakness," he added.

Limit myself? Do they really just mean I should restrain myself, or do they want me to stay away from Supremo? Why is everyone against us? Shit!

"Stay away from Supremo," Teacher Kath said bluntly.

I bit my lip hard. If I stay away, will Supremo be safe? Do I really have to distance myself from the man I desperately want to be near? Do I really have to sacrifice one thing for another? Is this really the right decision?

"Zein will not stay away," Supremo said firmly. "Even if I lose everything, she will not stay away," he added.

Do I really deserve this kind of treatment from him? Even if all I bring him is pain?

"So Zein should have been gone a long time ago?" I felt a chill as I saw Roxane at the door, grinning. "But Supremo saved her. How unfair," she laughed lightly. "I wonder how everyone will react if they find out Supremo shows favoritism?" she teased.

"Don’t you dare," Teacher Kath threatened, though Roxane only laughed.

"Of course I dare. Oh wait... do you and Secretary Shion have a relationship?" she asked Supremo.

"No-"

"Yes." Our jaws dropped at Supremo’s firm answer, with not a trace of joking in his voice.

Oh My Ghad! This is not happening! Wake up, Zein!

"The President has a relationship with the Secretary?" Roxane said in disbelief as she looked at me. "Do you know that this is the very reason why the former Supremo was removed?" she asked me.

I stood up quickly and dropped to my knees in front of her as tears poured from my eyes.

"N‑No, please," I begged.

"Don’t do this, Zein. You don’t need to kneel," Supremo said as he tried to pull me up, but I stubbornly refused.

If swallowing my pride and begging was what it took, I would do it.

"Please, I’m begging you."

"Too late, Queen Zein." She turned her gaze to Supremo. "Sooner or later... you’ll lose everything, Supremo."

Those were the last words she left before walking away.

I could do nothing but cry and blame myself for everything that had happened. Am I really just a pest? Maybe I am, maybe I’m nothing but a nuisance in Supremo’s life. He was fine before. Everything was fine, until I came and ruined it all.

"This is all your fault!"

I squeezed my eyes shut when Teacher Kath raised her hand to slap me, but Supremo quickly pulled me away. I let him drag me along.

We stopped, both of us trying to catch our breath. My tears had already stopped, but the fear kept growing.

I tried to shake his hand off my arm, but he only tightened his grip.

"Don’t. You. Dare. Leave. Me."

I shut my eyes tightly in frustration. Why is Supremo like this? He’s the one in danger, yet I’m still the one he’s thinking about.

"If I stay away, everything will be fine," I said without realizing it.

I heard Supremo let out a string of sharp curses. The subtle clenching of his fist, the narrowing of his eyes, the movement of his jaw.

"I can live without anything, but I can’t live without you."

"Yes, you can! You lived without me before, and you can live without me again!"

He smiled, even though I knew he was hurting. "I was alive, yes, but I couldn’t feel it. You were the one who made me feel how beautiful it is to live, how good it feels to wake up. You taught me how to love you, but you never taught me how to stay away from you... so I can’t." His eyes reddened and his lips trembled.

I felt the heat rise in my eyes again. "We need to set each other free," I whispered.

"Fuck, Zein. You’re the only thing I have, don’t deny me of yourself. I need you more than anything I have."

I didn’t know that this would be too hard yet painful. I don’t want to stay away, but I have to. Supremo deserves everything he’s earned, and I don’t want to be the reason he loses all of it.

"Darling, don’t do this."

I broke down in sobs when I felt him wrap his arms around me. I literally couldn’t breathe. I’ll admit it, I can’t do it either. I can’t be separated from this man.

"Stay with me until the end. Please, give this to me, just gift it to me for my upcoming birthday."

His embrace tightened, and this time, I returned it. I want to be selfish... I want him... I don’t want to be away... I want him beside me.

"You already took my heart, please don’t take yourself away from me," he whispered.

Ghad. Shit. Damn.

"I love you more than who I am and what I have. Don’t leave me breathless, darling."

I am more than in love with you, too. Ace.