For the past few days, I always felt like someone was following me and watching me from the dark. Up to the point where I was convinced that I was being overly paranoid.

"What are you looking at?"

Another lunch session with Jaxton, he had been asking me out quite a lot — not quite a lot. He was asking me out EVERYDAY. But, he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet and made it official.

Yes, I care about this sort of stuff, okay?

"This might sound weird but I always feel like someone's following me."

He leaned back and sipped on his iced drink. "Paranoid much?"

"Hm, that's what I thought," I said, meeting his gaze only to realise his gaze was not on me, he was scanning the café with a glint of alertness in his eyes. I allowed a sly smile to slip onto my lips and quickly hid it by bringing my drink to my lips.

"Maybe I'm just tired. Exams are giving me a headache," I paused, watched Jaxton carefully. "Speaking of exams..."

I watched him cringe.

"How did you go with your Shadows thing."

He didn't say anything.

"Jaxton."

"I failed."

"Damn."

He let out an exasperated sigh, "I have to retake the whole course again next year. I really want to scream."

"With sympathies, my dude."

He laughed.

"Do you know Professor Allistar well?" Out of curiosity, merely, because I was asked to go to his office after lunch. "Besides the fact that you know he's Yoan's dad."

"I've only talked with him a few times. I've never had him as my Professor. How is he?"

"Smart, cunning and nice."

"Hm."

From the expression on Jaxton's face, I knew he had something on his mind. For some odd reason, even though we had kissed and we were moving towards this 'relationship' thing, there was this distance — awkwardness — that settled upon our shoulders. I didn't really show it, I knew the comfort and safety I felt with Jaxton was still there, the need of wanting to touch him, hold him and kiss him was still there, but I also felt like Jaxton was still hiding things from me. But there was one thing he was doing better — whenever I asked, he told me.

So I asked.

"What's on your mind?"

He looked at me softly, contemplating. Then, he sat up, leaned his elbow on the table to come close to me. I tried my best to keep my eyes on his, though there was an urge from my shyness to look away.

"I've had this thought on Yoan ever since our conversation that night."

"Which night?"

"Don't act like you have amnesia," Jaxton smirked and touched his lips with his index finger, pretending to make a shushing gesture, but the twinkle in both of our eyes already defined the moment. He glanced to the side and whispered. "It's not that convenient to talk about it here but I kinda have a theory about Yoan."

There were only a few topics that could be rendered 'inconvenient' in a public setting like this. One of them was Iridescent. And the reason I thought about Iridescent was that Yoan made me think of Professor Allistar and how he was the only Professor who knew about my powers and my real name. Professor Allistar also happened to be Yoan's dad.

There should be a better, a more legitimate reason for Professor Allistar to want to protect people like us, those who held the Weapons of Iridescent. And that reason came from his... son.

My eyes rounded and even without words uttered, Jaxton and I knew what was on each other's mind.

"You get where I'm going with this?"

I gaped. "Have you ever... ever asked or seen anything?"

He shook his head. Then, the furrowed brows broke apart. "You know... Yoan seems to be overly paranoid these days."

"What do you mean?"

"Overly jumpy with the smallest of things," Jaxton shrugged. "Like, I was jogging with him after class. We were just running across the woody tracks and Yoan got spooked by a forest bunny."

I suppressed my laugh. "S-Sorry, but I would be spooked too."

"Probably!" He paused to think. "Actually, me too. I would probably be spooked."

"Well, were you?"

"I got spooked by Yoan."

I broke into a series of chuckles, then when they died down, I grew serious. "Alright, you know Yoan more than I do, so I believe you when you say he's paranoid."

"This is probably a better example — now that I think about it — he's acting a bit like you these days. Looking around."

"Paranoid much?"

He looked guilty. "Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have dismissed it so quickly."

"Let me guess, you did the same with Yoan?"

"Well, Yoan didn't tell me. He just said 'oh, nothing' and just went back to his usual self," Jaxton leaned back. "Man, does that mean he doesn't trust me as much?"

My smile faded. "Hey, it's probably that Yoan doesn't know why he's acting this jumpy himself."

He nodded. "I'll ask him about it. Later."

"Well, I gotta go," I stood up, grabbing my bag. "I have an appointment."

As I was leaving, he grabbed my arm, blinking at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Can I book you in advance?"

"What?"

"Book you for lunch tomorrow. And tomorrow. And-"

"I'm a busy girl, unfortunately. I can't always be with you. Go hang out with Yoan or something."

His lips thinned. "Fine."

"Didn't take you to be so clingy, Jaxton."

"I'm not. I think."

By the time he finished, I was already taking steps away from him. Giving an elegant wave without looking back.

***

'Gotta go' actually meant I had to go and see Professor Allistar. Professor Allistar, cleverly, made up some sort of excuse to Professor May that he had to assess me and keep track of me every now and then. It convinced her, of course. She dearly wished to have someone on her team. Professor Mortimor didn't seem to want to be, so Professor Allistar saw the chance and leapt for it.

I also wondered, on my way to his office, whether... whether I could pick up something about Yoan in our conversation.

I knocked on the office door and went inside.

"Close the door."

I did that and sat down on the opposite couch across from Professor Allistar.

"I understand you've been getting quite close to one of our students."

Jaxton?

I smiled, "Afternoon, Sir."

"Good manners, my dear, but don't avoid the question."

"I'd like to say I'm not that type of person," I said. "But who are you talking about?"

He took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with a cloth, "Jaxton Dawn."

"Professor, have you ever asked anyone to follow me?"

"Follow you?" Professor raised his brows. "No, but I assume you have encountered this situation."

"I don't have proof. It was just a gut feeling."

"Gut feelings exist for a reason," Professor put his glasses back on, inching it up his nose bridge. "But do you admit you are growing close with Jaxton Dawn?"

"Yes, I am."

"Are you two dating?"

I faint blush grew, "I guess so."

"Ah..." Professor laughed. "He hasn't asked."

"I assume you know him well? He's Yoan's friend."

Professor froze, sensing the secondary meaning to my words, "And I thought I was being clever."

"You are clever, Sir," I grinned widely. "The reason you called me here is that you found out that I was getting close with Jaxton. I assume Yoan told you about this. If I'm getting closer with Jaxton, then there's a possibility that Jaxton will reveal the fact that Yoan is your son."

Professor was looking more and more amused.

"Do go on."

"Probably not a lot of people at school know you and Yoan are father and son, and I think you both hid it for a reason. Yoan only told Jaxton because he trusted him — and he is a man worth trusting, I'd like to say, but-" I cleared my throat "-when I hear this, I will start thinking."

"Thinking...?"

"That the motivation behind protecting people like us is because of Yoan." I left the rest for Professor to decipher.

Professor revealed a sly smile, "I know Jaxton is looking for Robin. So are we. For someone like you... you would not allow yourself to jump to a decision without knowing the truth. At least, the majority of the truth. I assumed you won't get close with Jaxton unless he decided to reveal parts of his findings on Robin-"

"But you aren't sure."

"I'm not. So... I was testing the waters..." He looked at me strangely. "Do you have some confessing to make, Cassie?"

I was taken aback and after a short moment, I realised what he meant. I gazed down at my lap. "I'm sorry. The thing is... Jaxton knew about my powers ages ago."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

I could not read a single thing on his face and it made me nervous. I didn't want to disappoint him.

"I don't know," I decided to be honest, "Jaxton was injured and he ended up in my dorm. We both had secret to hide and we exchanged promises that we won't share it with anyone."

Professor considered this with a thinned lip, then sighed, "It's dangerous, you know?"

"I'm truly sorry. I know I took a risk."

"Never mind. Time has proven that he is, as far as we can tell, someone we can trust."

"And I can be a witness."

I spun around in my seat, a boy walked from the corner, behind the bookshelves and revealed himself. He had golden hair, striking the light as he exited the shadows. His grey eyes narrowing when he grinned brightly.

"Yoan," I said, a grin on my face, "it is such a surprise to see you here."

"Welcome to the party."

***

A/N

Any guessed Yoan before this chapter? 😁🤔

L