THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Drake had followed the shy boy to class, his curiosity piqued by Alessia’s sudden flight. He had watched as Alessia practically sprinted down the hallway, his small frame disappearing into the classroom like a shadow. Drake couldn’t help but smirk. There was something undeniably intriguing about the way Alessia acted around him—like a skittish animal that couldn’t decide whether to flee or stay.
Unfortunately, the teacher had arrived before Drake could corner him, so he had to wait. But now, it was break time, and the classroom was empty. Perfect.
Drake made his way to the back of the room, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet space. He spotted Alessia almost immediately, though the boy had done his best to hide. He was crouched under the desk, his hoodie pulled tightly around him, as if he thought he could disappear into the shadows. Drake almost laughed. It was kind of adorable.
He sat down at the desk next to Alessia’s, leaning back casually as he cleared his throat. The sound startled Alessia, who jerked upright, hitting his head on the underside of the desk with a loud *thunk*. Drake winced sympathetically but couldn’t suppress a chuckle as Alessia scrambled out from under the desk, his face flushed with embarrassment.
“So,” Drake said, his voice smooth and teasing, “you were telling me something, and then you ran away.” He tilted his head, his piercing eyes locking onto Alessia’s. “Care to finish what you started?”
Alessia froze, his green eyes wide with panic. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, his hands instinctively flying up to cover his face. The action was so endearing that Drake couldn’t help but chuckle again, the sound low and warm.
“I… I… I like you,” Alessia blurted out, his voice trembling so much that the words were barely audible. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. His face burned, and he felt like his soul was trying to escape his body. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Drake, his hands still covering his face as if they could shield him from the inevitable rejection.
Drake, for his part, stayed quiet and calm, though his expression softened slightly. He had known, of course, that Alessia liked him. The boy wasn’t exactly subtle about it. But hearing the words out loud was different. There was a rawness to them, a vulnerability that Drake hadn’t expected. He didn’t know what he had thought Alessia would say, but this… this was something else.
For a long moment, Drake didn’t respond. He just sat there, studying Alessia with a thoughtful expression. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity to Alessia, who was convinced he had just ruined everything.
Finally, Drake leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a softer, almost gentle tone. “You like me, huh?” he said, his lips curving into a small, almost imperceptible smile. “That’s… interesting.”
Alessia peeked at him through his fingers, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure Drake could hear it. He didn’t know what to say, what to do. All he could do was wait, his entire world hanging on Drake’s next words.