The Alpha Twins’ Obsession: Bound By Fate

•| CECILIA

I had thought college would be different. It wasn’t. It was a more complicated version of high school — except now, the drama was paired with late night study sessions, awkward run-ins with people I barely knew, and an overwhelming amount of caffeine. 

I’d barely been here two months, and already, it felt like everyone was living in their own little worlds while I was trying to figure out where mine began. 

Take today, for example, I was sitting in the lab, my textbooks spread out in front of me, attempting to drown out the noises around me. Every few seconds, I’d catch snippets of conversations, all revolving around parties, sports games, and some guy or girl that was apparently the center of attention. It was exhausting. But the most talked about was the homecoming parade today which means there was going to be loads of people.

I groaned and adjusted my glasses.

I hated crowds.

Why couldn’t I just focus on my pre-med program without all this social pressure? Honestly, I hadn’t come to college for the chaos. I’d come there to escape, to start afresh, to build something that I can be proud of. But I didn’t think it was working enough. The universe seemed to be against me.

My phone beeped, and I almost knocked over a textbook as I scrambled for it. It was a text message from Josh. My heart fluttered when I saw the text he sent. He wanted me to come along for a walk around the homecoming parade. I couldn’t believe it! Josh was finally asking me out. What should I wear?

I smiled and replied, telling him I’d definitely join him. 

“What are you smiling at, nerd?” 

The hair on my skin crawled with unease. I couldn’t will myself to turn, but I knew it was only a matter of time before they got to me and forced me to—

“Who are you texting?” One of the girls dragged my phone from my hand, wiggling her eyebrows at me with a mocking expression on her face.

“Hey! Give my phone back!” I snapped, my face twisting in annoyance. I reached out to take the phone, but the other two girls held me and pushed me back down to my seat.

Chloe, the one with my phone, burst into a fit of laughter. “Girls, little Cici got a date to the homecoming parade,” she winked at them, and they joined her to laugh at me. 

Don’t they have manners? At this age, they should know that it was wrong to go through someone’s private messages. My heart ached at the sheer fact that I’m unable to defend myself against these bullies. I should have gotten used to it by now, but each day, they come up with new tactics to break me and make me question why I had to be so pathetic.

Chloe leaned forward, her dark brown eyes boring into mine. Those eyes held so much hatred for me that I couldn’t help but scoff at. She grabbed a fist full of my hair and smiled wryly. “I hope you aren’t planning to go on a stupid date without finishing our group work… right?”

I mentally rolled my eyes.

If I don’t, what are you going to do about it? Steal my homework? Frame me for stealing lab equipment or “mistakenly” wipe out my research works from my laptop?

I wanted to say these words to her so bad. But I knew better than to tread that path.

“I already wrote it and made the reports.”

“And what about our homework?”

Lazy bitches! Y’all have hands but can’t even do your own homework.

“All done.” I replied.

Chloe grinned and pulled my hair, causing me to grit my teeth in pain.

“Come on, Chloe, let the girl go.”

I knew that voice anywhere. Anna. The nicest girl in the group. Sometimes I wonder why a nice angel like her would surround herself with bitter demons like these, but again, who am I to say anything about it? 

Chloe rolled her eyes before forcefully letting go of my hair. “Enjoy yourself, rich nerd.” she snapped her fingers and the two girls who held me down followed her.

I let out a heavy sigh and lowered my head.

“The homecoming parade is starting soon,” Anna said with a smile. “You don’t wanna keep your date waiting, do you?”

Seriously, I don’t know why she’s so nice to me and saves me, but I owe her one. With a quick nod, I closed my books, put them into my bag and rushed to get ready, the excitement of meeting Josh already over ruling the pain I felt from the bullying.

•*•*•*•*•

An hour of intense dressing and make-up later, I was already waiting for Josh in the lab so we could go to the parade together, but he was nowhere to be found. I had put a lot of effort into dressing the part and I could already hear the trumpets and music, accompanied by students’ cheers, but Josh… where was he? He said he’d wait for me here.

I took out my phone to call him when I heard voices coming from behind me. “I heard the girls saying you wanted to take Cecilia to the parade.”

“Cecilia?” 

That was Josh’s voice. They were in the equipment room. I tried to be quiet as I stood there, waiting to hear what he would say next.

“That weasel is not my type. I only made her think I like her because I wanted her to do my assignments and projects for me,” Josh snickered, his words cutting through me like knives. “She is too naive and foolish. Totally not my type, but you… you have everything I want in a lady.”

My chest tightened with hurt and I could feel tears heating the back of my eyes. I didn’t wait to hear more and walked out of the lab. This wasn’t the first time something like this has happened to me; wasn’t the first time someone used me and discarded me, either. I was stupid to have fallen for the same trick all over again.

I s*ckèd in a breath. Maybe I could just distract myself with the parade. As I left the lab and walked towards the stall, I saw parents and guardians who came to watch the parades and support their children. I watched how they poured kisses on the faces of their kids, their smiles and laughter, almost contagious. They took pictures in front of the floats and I could almost feel the happiness that radiated off them.

I smiled sadly and took in my bottom lip. So this was what a real family looked like. If only wishes were horses. 

“Oh this year’s game will be a great season with him as the quarterback! I heard he dominates the field like a pro, but I would rather he dominates me in bed.”

My ears twitched as the cheerleaders walked past me, my eyes narrowing slightly at their comments.

“I know, right? I can’t wait to cheer for him. I hope he notices me.” 

“And I hope you don’t get drugged,”

Two of the cheerleaders stopped in their tracks, turning to face the girl who made the last statement.

“What?” The girl threw her hands in her hair. “Haven’t you heard of girls getting drugged and not having memories of what happened to them?”

The two cheerleaders held the girl and dragged her away. I sighed and looked around. The place was crowded with people, and yet, I’m standing here in my short black gown and high heels. Now that I think about it, I’m overdressed for a parade; I guess people do crazy things when they have crushes or when they like someone.

I sighed and wrapped my arms around myself as I walked to stand in front of the stall, but once I was there, I couldn’t help the strange feeling that someone was watching me. I turned around and saw a man cladded in full football gear. My breath caught in my throat the minute we locked gazes. I couldn’t see his full face due to the helmet he had on. All I could see where his blue-gray eyes that seemed to pull me into their depths. He stood there as if he couldn’t be bothered by the noise around him; something about him seemed to captivate me as I held eye contact with him. My heart pounded, my cheeks flushed, and my palms became sweaty.

My eyes traveled to the number on his Jersey ‘07’ before trailing back up to meet his face. He was still staring at me. I changed stalls, hoping he would stop, but he was still staring.

Why was he staring at me? 

Great! Just great! First I find out my crush is a total *ssh*l*, now there’s a guy stalking me with his gaze.

I sighed and turned away from him. Almost immediately, the crowd burst into cheers as the college football team ran out of the stadium. I turned to see if the mysterious man was still staring at me, but he was gone. People were rushing to go meet—or rather—take pictures with the football team, but that was the least of my worries right now.

I strode into the crowd, but a group of rowdy students pushed past me, and before I knew it, I lost my balance and tumbled backward into the crowd. The next thing I knew, I was falling, the world spinning around me, my arms flailing for something to catch. The ground seemed to move closer, and I shut my eyes tight as I braced myself for the impact.

But instead of hitting the pavement, strong arms wrapped around me, and I was yanked away from there. I barely had time to register what happened before I found myself standing upright, my heart pounding in my chest and my breath short from the shock. 

And then I looked up.

A gasp escaped my lips as his blue-gray eyes locked onto mine. My eyes went to the ‘07’ on his Jersey, my breath catching in my throat.

It was him.

•| CECILIA

Before I could finish processing it, he scooped me into his arms and carried me away from there. My nose caught a whiff of something—aftershave—and also a scent of his cologne, masculine in a way that seemed to tingle my senses. When we got to a more secluded place, he dropped me and I let out a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling calm and returning to my right senses.

I was saved. I didn’t die. And I certainly didn’t get my head squashed by the stampede. I stared at this man, who had now taken his helmet off, his gaze locked on me the same way he did a few minutes ago, except now, I could see his full face.

My eyes scanned his chiseled features, taking in the mesmerizing sight before me. His hair, dark and glossy, framed his face, emphasizing his strong jawline, sharp nose, and intense gaze that was focused solely on me. 

A faint sheen of perspiration gave his skin a healthy glow, and his full lips hinted at a sensuality that I couldn’t ignore. My ga