Holy Protection

"You don't seem to have that annoying pest hanging around you today," Froilan, the cafeteria guy, commented as he handed Klein his order for lunch.

Klein gave an uncertain smile and accepted the tray. "He's not feeling well, I think."

It wasn't the first time someone pointed it out. He didn't think it would be a big deal, but apparently, Khalil's not being around him was a pressing issue.

And so was his perfume. Some found it mature and attractive. Some found it too much for their nostrils, adding up to his paranoia because Calix said werewolves were sensitive to strong perfumes.

Klein sighed and took a seat in front of Maya. At the very least, she wasn't commenting about the perfume he was wearing, so he found her presence comforting, as strange as that sounded in his own ears.

"What do you think happened to Khalil?" Maya wondered out loud, twiddling her fork around her pasta. "He hadn't answered my texts and calls."

"Same," Klein said, feigning ignorance.

Yesterday's events still hadn't sunk in fully. It still felt surreal. Perhaps it was because he was never truly hurt. If it wasn't for the lingering pain on his shoulder, Klein would assume he only had one of those dreams that came to him occasionally.

It wasn't the first time he had dreamed about wolves, beasts, and freaky nightmares. But in every bad dream he'd fall into, he would always wake up. Always. Except for today.

Calix's perfume that wreathed him like a protective spell was a reminder that they had an encounter with a supernatural being. A werewolf.

The silver pendant pressed against the skin of his chest; the pen hooked to the collar of his shirt for easy access, in case he needed something to protect himself.

It wasn't an ordinary pen. It was a tactical pen with a flashlight, a whistle, and a hidden knife. Normally, an item like it wasn't allowed in the school, and Klein wouldn't dream of bringing one, but held onto it as it gave him a sense of security.

The lunch hour rolled by and they finished their afternoon classes one by one. But there's still no sign of Khalil. He didn't show up at all, which meant he was possibly waiting for Klein at the Alpha Tower Condominium.

Given that the security was alerted yesterday, and there's a CCTV camera on the elevator, Calix wouldn't be able to accompany him inside. Unless Calix had backdoor access, which would explain how he was able to sneak in to confront Khalil.

Pushing open the door to the men's room, Klein trudged to the urinals and released a tired sigh as he emptied his bladder. "What a pain."

"What is?"

Klein froze at the unmistakable voice of the newcomer. He zipped his pants immediately, his heart rate increasing when he heard the click of the door lock.

"Are you that scared to see me? I can hear your heartbeat from here," Khalil said, leaning against the door, blocking Klein's only way of escape. "Or dare I say it's excitement you're feeling right now? I hope it is. Because it always excites me whenever you're around."

"W-What are you doing here?"

"You said you wanted to talk." Khalil unfolded his arms from across his chest and trudged forward with cautious steps. "Didn't you tell me to meet you here at school so we can talk?"

Klein nodded but took a step back. "Yeah, I did."

"Then why is your scent telling me to stay away?"

"It's not that--"

"You reeked of his scent! Of the same guy who stabbed me while I was trying to save you!"

Klein flinched as his back pressed against the wall. He looked up. For the first time since yesterday, he met Khalil's eyes and saw the hurt and betrayal in them. "Sorry. I didn't know what to do."

"So you trusted a stranger instead of me?"

Klein wanted to reason he weighed his options and trusted Calix was the best choice, but that might only enrage Khalil further, so he kept his mouth shut. Right now, he's still uncertain if Khalil posed a threat to him or not.

"Klein, it's still me," Khalil said, stopping a meter away from him. "Nothing has changed. I'm still the same guy who was waiting patiently until you're ready."

"You're not trying to turn me into someone..." Klein chose his words carefully. "You know..."

"A werewolf?" Khalil supplied for him. "Klein, whatever lies that guy had told you, forget about them. We're not monsters just because we're different from ordinary humans. We're more than that."

Klein noted how Khalil didn't give a direct answer to his question. But he took into consideration that he was speaking with an intellectual being, not a rabid beast, so he lowered his guard down a little.

"I'm sorry, Khalil," Klein said. "I'm sure you're aware I had no interest in all of this werewolf thing prior to what happened yesterday, so I'm not sure how to react."

Khalil laughed a little. "Well, I wish you'd react the way Maya would if she finds out. I guess you never touched the werewolf novels she forced you to read."

He was not even interested in romance in general, so why would he be interested in extreme fetishes like bestiality? Klein would have voiced that out, had it not for the knowing smirk playing on Khalil's lips.

"Don't worry, Klein. I don't transform into a wolf during sex."

Klein felt a blush creep up to his face and glared. "I didn't ask."

"Just letting you know." Khalil walked up to him and rested an arm on the wall above Klein's head. "So you wouldn't have to worry about it in the future."

"You—!"

"But I may grow some nails and fangs. I kinda have a thing for biting a mate." Khalil ran his tongue along his upper teeth, showing his sharp canine in a sexy smirk. "All werewolves do."

Klein held his breath when Khalil leaned closer to his neck as though he was about to bite him, but leaned away seconds later with violent coughs.

"But not when you smell like this. Gosh, that perfume is making me dizzy." Khalil covered his nose and coughed some more. "It's already a torture to be in the bathroom with all this disgusting smell. Ugh!"

Klein let out a sigh of relief. It's a good thing he had Calix's perfume. He's going to buy more perfume online once he got home.

"Can we leave this awful place now?" Khalil asked him, his tone almost pleading. "We're okay now, right? We're still friends? Back to normal?"

"Yeah, let's go. You're about to die," Klein said and went for the door.

"Can you change your clothes, too? I can't stand that smell on you."

"No. I like the perfume."

"Eh?"

"It can stop you from sniffing me. It's my holy protection."

"Are you being serious right now?"

The wolf-boy's stupefied expression made Klein smile a little. But it's a smile that lasted only for a second as Calix's words came to his mind.

'He's just trying to ease you up slowly with his fake gentleman act. You have no idea how many men and women had fallen for it.'

There were still questions that needed answers; secrets he had to unveil. Klein refused to rule out other possibilities so soon over sentimental feelings. He had to make sure he wasn't being led to a trap.

"You really are difficult to deal with," Khalil said, as soon as Klein reached for the doorknob. He slammed a hand against the door, his fingernails breaking, replaced by his wolf's claw.

Klein's back went rigid at the hot breath wafting over his shoulder, spreading instantaneous fear all over his body.

"Did you seriously think a mere perfume can protect you from the likes of me, Klein?"