Serina: The Alpha’s Mate - Chapter 67

No matter how many times she pushed him away Nicholas kept appearing in front of her. Sometimes, he’d appear in her dreams, too. It really annoyed her but she couldn’t do anything because he wouldn’t just leave.

One time, he bought her flowers. The bouquet was so huge that when it was delivered to her dorm, many students couldn’t stop their hearts to be jealous of her. The roses were pink and there was a letter that states how much he missed her.

Not even three minutes have passed from the time she received it and the bouquet had made its way to the trash bin. Serina threw them away.

Another time, Nicholas sent her a huge teddy bear. She likes it. She really did but she didn’t want to give him the happiness of accepting it. She couldn’t throw it away either. So, the stuff toy found its home in Sylvia’s arms. She gave it away instead.

Nicholas wasn’t discourages and disappointed at all. Once or twice, even a hundred times, no matter how many times she’d refuse him, he’ll counter it with thousand ways. He needed to show her that he was serious.

Even when her classes start already. Nicholas still stayed to pursue her.

“No wonder many women were disappointed back home. They said that Nicholas Vallardi has gone into hiding and wasn’t showing his face at work.” Lambert told Serina as they walked to their classroom. “How long has he been here?”

“Several weeks ago. I forgot. I didn’t pay attention.”

“Did you guys fight?”

“No. What’s there to fight for?”

“You were so sweet before and you always talk about him. Now, you are ignoring him. I honestly thought you like him.”

“I liked him. With D. The past form. Not anymore.”

“Really? It doesn’t look like that to me.”

“Then, don’t look. Why are you being gossipy? You are like a girl. Stop it. Even if you help him, it won’t change my mind. Not ever.” Serina walked even faster and left Lambert on his own. She knew that Nicholas talked to Lambert. She can see his efforts but no, she won’t fall for this tricks.

“What do you think should we get for her next?” Nicholas asked Kiro while flipping the pages of Hundred Ways to Pursue a Woman. It was a book he bought from a bookstore nearby and he was planning to try everything that was written in it.

‘Why don’t you make something special? Something that you just don’t buy outside.’

“Like baking? I can bake.”

‘Bake her some cookies or a cake. Then, ask Lambert to give it to her.’

“That’s a good idea. Then, let’s do that.” Nicholas stood up from his seat and went out of his room. He already rented a house where he could stay for the time being. It was cheaper than a hotel but still got lots of amenities. Besides, he was the only person living there.

He went to his kitchen and looked for ingredients to bake cookies. He decided to place some quotations in the cookies to let her know of his feelings. “I can only hope she’d eat them.”

‘I know a way. Trust me.’

“Alright then.”

Nicholas started baking the cookies while Serina was thinking how to avoid him. Her thought were futile, though. No matter where she goes, Nicholas would find her. No matter what she does, Nicholas has ways to counter her.

“Stupid Nicholas!” Serina mumbled as she took a seat. If he was beside her, she would have beaten him to death already.

“Just admit that you still like him.” Lambert whispered, teasing Serina only to receive a deathly glare from her. “Fine. Let’s focus on the class.”

That’s what he said but he was the only one focusing on the discussion. Serina’s mind was obviously wandering to somewhere else.

The next day, Lambert and Serina had lunch together. Before they finished their meal, Lambert took out a small box and laid it on the table.

“Would you like to have some cookies?” he said while getting one from the side that Nicholas said he could eat. The other side was off limits and was for Serina only. “They taste good.”

“Where did you get them?”

“I got this last night when I went to buy some food and snacks.” He wasn’t really lying to her when he said these words. He did go out to buy food and snacks but he didn’t buy this box of cookies.

“I’ll take your offer.” Serina stated and took one. Just one bite and her eyes lip up from the taste. “It’s good.” She said, munching them happily until she saw a piece of paper in between. “Are these fortune cookies?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t gotten one with papers.” Lambert replied nonchalantly.

“Cool.” Serina muttered upon reading the paper. “Love knows no bound. This isn’t fortune cookies but love cookies. You should have shared these with someone you like.”

“I don’t like anyone.”

“Impossible.” Serina answered while picking another cookie from the box. “This is really good. You wouldn’t mind me getting another one, right?”

“No.Not at all. You can even finish that one. I don’t mind. I’m not really fond of cookies. I just wanted to try some.”

“It’s a waste that you don’t like these. They’re really, really good.” She muttered and took another bite. There was another piece of paper and she excitedly opened it. “It says, love is just around the corner. What happened in the past may not be the same thing as you think it is. Don’t be so quick to give up.”

“Heh! That’s really meant for you.”

“The cookies know you are single so they didn’t bother showing the papers to you.” Serina retorted, still not doubting this event at all. She was so engrossed with the taste of the cookies which brought so much delight in her heart. She even forgot Nicholas.

She ate lots of them and gathered lots of papers. Most of them were quotations that really pierced her heart but they weren’t enough for her to reconcile with Nicholas.

Before she realized it, she ate so much of the cookies that there were only three left. She remembered that Lambert only took one of those.

“You don’t really like them?” she asked while eyeing the cookies hungrily.

“No.You can have them.”

“Are you sure?” She was still asking him but her hand already pulled the box of cookies. “I’ll take them, then.”

Lambert could only smile at her, making sure that he wouldn’t make a slip of the tongue and accidentally inform her that the cookies came from Nicholas.

The day after that, Nicholas made some home dishes for her. It was a specialty of his mom and he wanted her to try some of them. And just like the other day, Nicholas handed them to Lambert, telling him not to inform Serina about it yet.

It was for dinner so Lambert had to walk to women’s dormitory to find his classmate. Serina was busy practicing her magic when a knock came and followed by Lambert’s voice calling her. When she opened the door, she found him standing with a bag of topper wares.

“I cooked a little more than planned. I couldn’t finish them.” Lambert stated before she could ask him anything. “Maybe you like to try them?”

Serina narrowed her eyes and looked him straight in the eye. Knowing that she was measuring him up, Lambert could only pretend to be shy. Normally, he was shy around people – other people. But he wasn’t shy around Serina so it was really unexpected that he’s blush under her intense gaze.

“You are not pursuing me, aren’t you?”

“Jesus!” Lambert exclaimed loudly. “I would never put myself in harm’s way. I can still see that Nicholas likes you and you like him. Why would I put myself in between.”

“How do you know that he likes me?”

“Duh! Didn’t he send you flowers, chocolates, stuff toy and whatnot? Only a blind person like you wouldn’t be able to see his love.”

“But he stopped sending them and he stopped appearing in front of me.”

“Isn’t it your fault?” Lambert replied and handed over the bag. “Just eat your dinner and think about him. Think about what you should do before you’d regret anything.”

“And what if he’ll break my heart again?”

“He won’t. I can see it that he won’t.”

“Since when are you so close to him that you’d even defend him?” Serina questioned as she received the bag of food from him. “Thank you for this food. I’ll surely savor them.”

“You like them.” Lambert said and left.

Serina was still standing on the same spot, thinking that Lambert was being strange. She knew that he didn’t like cooking because he said it before. He hates being in the kitchen. “So, how is it that he likes cooking now?”

‘Maybe he was just trying to be independent.’ Brittislava told her but she knew that the bag of food came from Nicholas.. She just chose to keep the information to herself.