Trapped In A Novel As The Breeding Mate For Four Powerful Alphas

(Okay, we're going to continue the special edition of Trapped In A Novel, featuring Jo-Pil and the Alphas in high school from this chapter. Take note that the last extra chapter of this special edition was chapter 214. Now, let's go)

"Didn't you hear?" Seo-Jun asked and grinned. "I said you should come sit. Or... Do you want me to come carry you instead?"

Just what in the marshmallow was going on?

I was reluctant. More like I didn't want to. Why would I go sit next to them? Everyone was staring and...

Ah, their eyes were piercing into my soul, trying to seek answers.

How did I know these Alphas when I just arrived yesterday? Good question.

I'd like to know as well.

Slowly, I got up to my feet and approached them.

Seeing this, Seo-Jun snapped his fingers in delight and said to the students who were acting like servants.

"Hey, bring a chair over here." He said, and they hurried to get it, placing the chair at the end of the table where no one usually sat.

From there, I could see all four of them and they could see me.

Let me explain how the setting was.

It was as if they had placed four thrones in front of a long table so they they could see the entire cafeteria when eating.

And then, there were empty spaces at both ends of this long table.

No one took it cause no one wanted to assume the position of head and get into a scuffle. Though it seemed neither would mind taking that position, to keep the peace, they stayed where they were.

And now... I was being asked to sit at that spot they were all avoiding to prevent a scuffle, as if I were the head.

Wow, great.

Why don't they just skewer me while they're at it?

"Alright, now sit." Seo-Jun was relentless and I glanced at the others. They weren't saying anything about it, which meant they weren't against it.

In fact, they were looking forward to it.

Just what kind of situation was this?

I sat down and pursed my lips.

There was a buzzing in my ears. I wasn't sure if it was the sound of everyone watching, whispering, breathing too loudly, or just my own brain short-circuiting, but it was buzzing and very uncomfortable.

I couldn't feel my legs after sitting down. Maybe it was because I was on my knees for more than five minutes, and then I just got up like everything was alright, when there was this numbing pain hindering my joints from functioning properly.

Still, I didn't want to look like a fool in front of anyone. I didn't want to fall either and give them one more thing to laugh about, so I pushed myself.

And then, as soon as I sat, my numbing legs went stiff, like I had been paralyzed.

Great.

I was seated at the royal damn table. Their table.

No one sat at the Alphas' table. Not even those they shared nights with... Occasionally. You could say no one caught their attention to that extent yet. But here I was, sitting with the four Alphas that ran this hellhole of a school.

And then you expect me to stay calm?

Sure, I can stay calm. Pretend nothing's going on and just... Act like a damn wallflower. As if.

I didn't know where to look. So I looked nowhere. Not at Seo-Jun, who had his chin in his palm and was staring at me like I was a new toy still in its packaging.

Not at Min-Cheol, who looked absurdly satisfied, like this was the outcome he had always expected.

Not at Jin-Yeok, whose grin widened every time my eyes wandered in his direction.

And definitely not at Ki-hoon, who said nothing and just watched me intently like he was counting every abnormality in my breath. It made my breath even more hitched as I remembered he had once stolen the breath from my lips.

I gulped, drawing my gaze to the table.

Let... let's just focus on the food instead since that's why I'm here anyway.

I picked up the apple that was right next to Seo-Jun. I don't know if it was because I was feeling stiff or uncomfortable but I didn't remember doing it. I bit into it and chewed.

It was like I had closed off my mind completely. I chewed like there was nothing there to distract me, swallowed, and then bit into the apple again.

I continued this till I was done with the apple. Maybe if I did this, if I paid them no need, they would get bored and see that I was nothing special. I finished the apple, and a little burp escaped my lips.

"E-excuse me," I said, covering my mouth but did not stop there and looked at the apple in front of Min-Cheol, who was sitting next to Seo-Jun.

It wouldn't be too much to just have apples for lunch and leave, right? I mean, I couldn't exactly order anyone to get me my meal.

"Do you want this?" Min-Cheol asked, grinning as he saw my eyes on it and I nodded. "Here." He stretched it, his hands passing the front of Seo-Jun and I equally stretched my hand.

We were acting like Seo-Jun was invincible, but he didn't complain and rather watched this transaction quietly.

I took the apple but didn't bite into it right away.

I stared at the red apple, as if I could see my reflection on it, and wondered, What exactly am I doing?

"You're really quiet," Jin-Yeok suddenly said, nudging his tray towards Min-Cheol. His voice was as smooth as ever, mixed with that hint of amusement he couldn't hide.

It was like he was talking to a stray animal that might bolt at any second.

"I remember your voice. It was definitely sharp even when you spoke so low. Why aren't you saying anything now? Are you broken now?"

I blinked slowly, my gaze slowly falling back to the apple.

Of course, I wasn't broken. But I'd very much like to avoid being so. And being involved with them would definitely guarantee that.

"He's not broken," Min-Cheol cut in, cheerful in spirit as he pushed Jin-Yeok's tray back. "He's just processing. This is his face when he's overwhelmed."

This is my face all the time, I wanted to say, but I kept staring. This meant I was on autopilot and my autopilot meant not engaging and surviving through my silence.

It worked most times.

"And take back your tray. I'm sure he would like to eat the food in my plate better." Min-Cheol said and then pushed his tray of hardly touched Lunch towards me. "Here. You shouldn't just eat an apple. Have this."

I looked at the tray he was pushing towards me and then Seo-Jun stopped it.

"Ahem, I'm the one who invited him to the table, so don't you think it'll be better if he eats mine?" He asked, his lips curled up.

Then, he started leaning into me, his elbows on the table, his scent obnoxiously spicy, like crushed pepper mixed with arrogance.

"Here, kitten, have this." He said as he pushed his tray towards me. It was very much the same as what was in Min-Cheol's tray and though Min-Cheol did not show it out, it looked like he was pissed that Seo-Jun pushed his tray back.

Ah, they were too much.

"Why aren't you taking it?" Seo-Jun asked but I did not respond. I lifted my gaze, the hair on my face covering most of my face, but my vision was still so clear.

If only they could see the expression I had in my eyes, they wouldn't try to force this on me.

If I ignore him, he'll just send me back, right?

"Wait, did you really try to sabotage our lunch, or were you just trying to get our attention?"

Or not.

These guys have the thinking of a fox and will make every situation fit into what they want.

"Because if it was the latter…" He smirked. "You succeeded."

I flinched internally, my insides screaming that I was in a very dangerous situation but I couldn't let it show on the outside. That would give them too much. I looked down at his tray and simply took it.

"Thank you for the meal," I said and then started eating.

"There we go." He whistled in satisfaction.

Ki-hoon was silent through all of this. It was as if he held no interest in my presence at the table but his stare was heavier than all their voices combined.

I could feel it, like a pressure on the side of my skull. Just what did he want from me? If only he said something, then this damn discomfort would go away. I was sure of it. And then, I finally looked up, just once, and he spoke.

"You should've just stayed down."