Chapter 12 12
Caesar's POV:
Among all the people Jenna and Nathan drilled into my head last night, there was one name I absolutely did not recognize, Mirabella or Mira Nightingale. And now, hearing Samuel casually mention her as my ex made something ugly twist inside me because I hated it that I apparently had someone else before Jenna.
I fought the urge to run my hands through my hair, and to slam my head into the wall for allowing myself to be with someone who wasn’t her. But I forced myself to stay still because Jenna had told me to always be composed last night. So, I inhaled deeply, steadying the storm raging inside me then turned to Jenna whose expression was tight and uncomfortable.
Maybe she was as bothered by this “ex” situation as I was or maybe she had some kind of past issue with this Mira girl I still had absolutely no memory of. Either way, I wasn’t letting her stay in that expression for even a second longer.
So, I tightened my arm around her shoulders and said. “Let’s head inside.”
She forced out a smile, so small I could barely see it and when she turned toward the door, I turned with her immediately, keeping my hand firm on her shoulder as we walked.
“Hey, hold on! Let me go with you guys!” Samuel called from behind, rushing after us. But I didn’t respond, I just kept my hand around Jenna and followed her into the departmental building, because I didn’t know a single hallway in this place.
She led us into a classroom and I watched her walk toward the front row, the seat at the far left, by the wall. She clearly had a specific spot she preferred, so I moved to follow her. But Samuel suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Where are you going?”
I pointed directly at Jenna. “There.”
Samuel frowned. “Why? We usually sit at the back.”
“Well, maybe not this time.” I shrugged. “I want to stay with her.” Then I yanked my hand from his grip and walked right to Jenna’s side, sitting beside her.
Soon, students began filing in, whispering, staring, murmuring toward our direction and I knew exactly why. From everything Jenna and Nathan had explained, this version of me who is glued to Jenna, was apparently unrecognizable compared to whoever I used to be. So of course they would talk, whisper and judge.
Jenna kept nudging my hand off her shoulder to place it on the table, but I refused and kept my arm wrapped around her. Even when the professor came in, he kept sneaking glances at us, maybe he was just as confused as everyone else. But I wasn't bothered, instead I just happily spent the entire time looking at Jenna, memorizing how she scribbled notes, how her fingers curled around her pen, andhow she pushed strands of hair behind her ear.
When class ended and the professor walked out, students began leaving in groups. Jenna packed her books, her iPad, her notepads into her bag. I simply watched her until Samuel suddenly ran up.
“Don’t move.” He said breathlessly. “Wait here, I’m coming with Jackson and Jerry.”
He rushed out.
I ignored him and kept watching Jenna until a random girl suddenly appeared in front of us. Her presence was abrupt, intrusive, and she stared at me like she owned the air I breathed but I didn’t recognize her at all. Thinking that maybe she was here for Jenna, I turned back to Jenna and then…
“Why the hell are you with her, Caesar?” The girl snapped.
I looked up slowly. “Who the hell are you?”
She scoffed. “Oh, now you’re acting like you don’t know me because you’re with her?”
“I genuinely do not know who you are.” Jenna leaned in and whispered. “That’s Mira.”
‘Ah Mira, the ex.’ I said, looking at her up and down and nearly grimaced.
What the hell did my past self see in this woman?
She wasn’t my type, not in this life, not in any life. And she couldn’t hold a candle to Jenna’s elegance, or beauty.
Mira slammed her hands on the table, leaning in.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, Caesar? Why are you with her? What’s going on?”
I stared at her. “Did I really date you?”
Her face twisted. “Excuse me?”
“Be honest.” I said plainly. “Did I really date you? Because you do not seem like the kind of woman I would date. So, was I forced into dating you?”
She blinked. “Are you even okay? What the hell is wrong with you?”
I was about to ask something else when Jenna stepped in.
“We were just leaving,” She said sharply. “Excuse us.”
She stood, nudging me, and I followed her immediately out of the room. Once in the hallway, she turned on me.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you ask her something like that?”
“I was curious.” I shrugged. “I wanted to know what I saw in someone like her when she’s clearly not my type.”
“How would you know she’s not your type?” Jenna shot back. “You don’t even remember who you are.”
“Well, the person I am now knows she’s not my type, so I wanted to know what could have possessed my past self to be with her.”
Jenna groaned. “Okay, but you don’t ask someone those kinds of questions, especially a girl. You have to respect her as a woman and wait until you recover your memories.”
She looked like she was upset, so I grabbed both of her hands gently. “I’m sorry.” I said. “I didn’t mean to upset you and I promise to never do that again.”
Her expression softened into a smile. “I’m not upset, I’m just telling you not to repeat that mistake.”
“As long as you keep smiling at me and never frown.” I murmured. “I won’t do it again.”
She laughed, and I swear that she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Just then, I saw Samuel approaching with two guys behind him, faces I recognized from the pictures as Jackson and Jerry.
Jenna turned when I tilted my head as Samuel reached us. “Hey! I told you two to wait inside so I could bring Jackson and Jerry. Why are you out here?”
“I wanted to get away from Mira.” I replied. “She was….” I stopped mid-sentence not wanting to get Jenna upset.
Samuel snorted and Jerry stepped forward. “When Samuel told me your mate turned out to be Jennifer, I couldn’t believe it.”
I stepped closer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jackson answered. “It’s just surprising since you’ve been in the same department since year one and you’re only finding out she’s your mate now.”
Samuel shrugged. “Maybe it's because he never really noticed her and when he finally did, they turned out to be mates.”
“I mean it's uderstandable.” Jerry laughed. “Who would notice her, right?”
I took one step forward, so close to Jerry that our faces were inches apart. “The next time you say anything like that about my mate.” I said quietly, “I will make sure every single bone in your body breaks and then I’ll feed your flesh to as many dogs as I can find.”