Elijah Is Everyone's Father?

As they crossed the threshold of St. Peregire's, the crowd of students increased almost instantly.

It was like stepping out of a quiet library and into a chaotic nightclub. The contrast was almost absurd.

The chatter rose along with the sharp scent of perfume and cologne mingling in the air as the couples pressed against lockers.

They were kissing like they hadn't seen each other in decades, even if their last class had ended just twenty minutes ago.

The sheer loudness of it all was a bit much for Eli to bear. Yet it was the normality of this side of the university.

Well, Kingsmere Hall was the most popular after all, or rather, the most obnoxiously crowded hall.

Part of that was because it led to the Commerce Department, home to most of the trust-fund heirs and networking darlings.

The other reason was the Fans, who wandered over just to glimpse their latest crush.

Not that the other divisions were immune to this nonsense. It's just… this side outshone them by a ridiculous margin.

However, it wasn't the trinity of hormones, money, and competition that bothered him.

Eli wished it were. That would've been simpler to deal with.

But what truly bothered him was something far more uncomfortable.

Because, as soon as he stepped on the tiles of the hallway, countless eyes snapped at him.

Even the couples who had been mid-kiss suddenly froze, their lips parting as they looked over his way. Others looked confused.

A few even seemed mildly alarmed, as if they had seen their parents rather than just another student wandering in the hallway.

Perhaps it was the way he carried himself that wasn't quite like a student, nor was it like a proper priest. Yet somehow, he was both.

And his nominal home, Church, was a place of worship. No matter how unruly these freshly sprouted kids were, they still had some respect for the holy.

Of course, there were also those who didn't care.

Despite their varying thoughts, they couldn't help but cast their inquiring glances at Eli.

Meanwhile, Chase, as carefree and clueless as ever, had his head buried in his phone, thumbs dancing as he texted someone. Probably his latest crush.

Eli almost envied that kind of freedom.

He hadn't spent his teenage years going to parties, texting at 2 a.m., or worrying about which lecture to skip.

So, even when he tried to converse with them, the words would die almost instantly.

Ah, I want to go back.

However, it wasn't just the background he carried on his back that made him the center of silent attention.

Among the many eyes watching him from across the hall, a pair of piercing blue eyes lingered on Elijah.

If someone had told Alexei a month ago that he would be forced to attend the Kingsmere as a punishment for playing cards, he would have scoffed at them.

If someone had said that he and his friend, Anton, both would lose their mission target, he would have been angry enough to laugh aloud. Of course, after beating that person up.

And yet, here they both were. Walking up early in the morning to attend the damned classes on business management.

Fucking hell with the rubbish they were teaching.

They both had learned all this in high school, on the condition that they wouldn't attend any more classes.

So, why were they still being forced into university?

Just because they failed their mission.

Every moment Alexei spent breathing in the air of Kingsmere, his rage for that fucker thief grew.

"Wait until I find him..."

Anton chuckled, throwing his arm over the angry cub, his blonde hair brushing over Alexei's neck, making him more irritable, "Calm down, Lyosha. We're already here—might as well enjoy our stay."

He threw a wink at the passing girl, making her giggle.

Alexei sighed. If not for the blood relation that cursed them with the same blue eyes, he would have vented his anger on Anton first.

Then again, Anton was busy with his girl, so he really couldn't blame him. At least, when he told that to his father, it sounded better than saying, 'I was playing cards.'

Shaking his head, he walked down the stairs and toward the hallway. It was crowded, so much so that quite a few chicks fell toward them.

All ended up in Anton's arms.

Alexei flashed Anton a grin that said, 'See, my reflexes are so much better.'

"Childish," Anton said while exchanging his number with some students.

Before Alexei could snitch about Anton having a girlfriend to the new girl, Cindy popped right behind them.

"Hi, Alexei. Mind if I show you around?"

Anton was first to reply, "Sure. Take him or he might chew my ears off with all his grumbling."

Cindy giggled. "Let's go—" she started, then suddenly halted mid-step. Her eyes widened. "Oh… wow."

Now, Alexei was used to people telling him that he was handsome, and like every human, he liked hearing it too. Who wouldn't enjoy the flattery?

The problem was Cindy's gaze. It was on someone behind him, someone who had managed to silence the rowdy crowd.

Who the fuck?

Alexei turned around, and his gaze found the reason almost instantly. "Oh, wow."

Unknowingly, the same words slipped from his lips as his eyes drank in the stranger's face.

"Who?"

As if understanding his question, Cindy was quick to answer. All while staring at the person slowly walking toward them.

"Father Elijah."

"Whose Father?" Anton asked, equally curious about this strange person.

"Everyone's," Cindy sighed almost dreamily. "The way I want to worship him."

The noises in the hallways were back but they weren't loud like before. They were hushed, most likely whispering the same things as Cindy.

"Elijah. From the theology department, but everyone knows he will become a priest. There are even fan pages about his fights with ghosts. All are true."

Alexei only half listened as his entire attention was on the Father.

Perhaps his gaze was too strong, the person actually looked in his direction.

The moment he met those stone grey eyes, Alexei felt something stir in his chest.

An urge to...

"Fuck!" A curse escaped before his mind even processed it.