Chapter 24: Chapter 24

My mouth fell open after hearing my father's name. I flew silently after a few seconds. I only got back into my senses when Gabriela kicked my foot.

"He's... my f-father, Sir." I stuttered, still shocked. I cannot believe that someone knows my father. He has no friends. No one has ever visited us in our village. Aside from us, his family, he got nothing. So how does someone like him know my father?

He was surprised by my answer but nodded regardless, "So he had built a family, I see."

I was about to ask how he knew him but Sir Alejo did not wait for my response. He proceeded to discuss the things that we must remember before the formal classes begin.

My mind started to wander once again. All I could think of was how he had known my father... I waited impatiently as he discussed things about his subject that I couldn't comprehend. All I could think of is to ask Sir Alejo.

I am eager to know, I wanted to know how did he met my father.

After probably an hour or so, he dismissed the class.

"I'll meet you two later," I said to my colleagues and immediately went after Sir Alejo who had already left the room.

"Sir Alejo!" I shouted in the hallway despite the crowd of students hanging around.

I, then, dashed towards him who has now stopped because of my call.

I panted in front of him, probably from the running or because of the adrenaline rush within me.

"Sir Alejo, may I know how you knew my father?" I asked, still gasping for air.

He smiled and started to walk. I followed him, waiting for the answer.

"You see, your father was once my student..." He answered with a smile on his face as if he was reminiscing about the past.

That answer made everything more complicated. My father, who was a farmer in our village, has once studied in this prestigious school? That doesn't add up to the father that I know of. The information seemed to not fit how my father has lived his life. That sounded so wrong.

Why would my father choose to be a farmer in a Human Village despite that he is a werewolf?

"Are you sure it was my father?" I asked in disbelief.

He looked at me who was beside him, trying to follow his pace while he walked. "Your eyes looked exactly like your father," he answered.

I bit my lip knowing that it is definitely true. Everyone has mentioned that.

"He was once one of the smartest students here. He had a bright future ahead for him," he paused.

I remained silent, not grasping the idea that my father had studied here. I couldn't see him being called the smartest. Yes, he had taught me when I stopped attending my classes but still... the thought of it doesn't match. The father that I have known in me doesn't match it.

"However, Zoren, before graduating college, has gone missing. No one exactly knows why..." Sir Alejo added.

I couldn't respond to that, being confused with everything that he had just said.

"This is my next class. See you around, Miss Underwood."

I nodded. He, then, entered the room and I was left more than confused about my father and all that connects to him. My heart was pounding fast, it was as if it was going to explode. It felt like my world had stopped for a minute, the eagerness and determination to know more about my father combined at once.

My father... he never mentioned a thing about a university or whether he ever studied. I just assumed that he did not, knowing that he had become a farmer in a small village.

Hurriedly, I ran when I realized that he was once a student here, he must be in the history of this university. I immediately went to the library to search for a history he left.

I was gasping for air when I reached the main library of the university. It was larger and wider than the library where the girls and I went yesterday. I knew I could find something my father left behind... well, I hope.

"Where can I find the yearbooks?" I asked the librarian, still gasping for air as sweat pour onto my face.

"You can find it there." She pointed to the farthest section of the library.

Without a word, I dashed towards that section with my heart pounding so bad.

I don't know why I was eager, but I wanted to know more about my family... about my identity.

My father is in his late thirties... so probably he studied here twenty years ago. I looked through the annual book of the university twenty years ago.

It took me several minutes to dig at every book... looking for my father. When I got into the year 1999, I found his name after some pages.

I, then, saw him in a class picture. He was smiling widely, there were still no wrinkles on his face. Tears fell from my eyes when I saw that smile of my father. He looks carefree in the picture... but he has aged a lot.

I cried and cried as I stared at his old photo. I missed him... so much. I miss my brother Zonen, I miss my pet Sheon.

Oh God, why do you have to take them away from me? I won't blame God, because I have been living a good life with the family who adopted me but I really miss my biological family.

I sat there like a kid waiting for her father to come home, the only difference is that my father was already gone.

I still couldn't understand everything. The questions I have in me were never answered by those pictures of him. It just makes me miss him even more.

I wanted to ask him; I wanted to know why he left this university and stayed in a village surrounded by cruel human beings. But how could he ever answer that? Will I ever know his reason? Probably not.

It was only hours when I realized I had to look for my mother too. I looked in the same year, but my mother was not there. I, then, looked at the other years, but still no trace of my mother. She was not from here; she was not part of the Astrid University history.

When I was able to recompose myself, I stood up and left the library. I did not realized that I was there for a long time. It was already afternoon when I got out of the library. I missed two of my classes for today.

I also missed the time that was given to me to meet the administrator. But at this point, I am not sure if I really wanted to leave this place or stay. Am I going to leave and live my life peacefully? Or stay and know the reason behind my father's disappearance and choices in life? Part of me just wanted to leave and forget everything... but that's my father.

I have attended my last class for today. With the worry in their eyes, Anne and Gabriela hurriedly went toward me as soon as they saw me entering the room.

"Where have you been?!" Gabriela asked.

I pointed my finger outside, "Something just came up."

They seemed unconvinced with my excuse but nodded regardless. I know my eyes were still puffy from crying like a river. I am sure they noticed that too and choose not to force me to explain myself.

The professor hadn't arrived yet when I entered the room.

While I was quietly sitting at the back of the room, two girls suddenly stood in front of me. I shifted my gaze at my two colleagues to know what was going on. However, they seemed to be clueless as to why there were girls standing in front of me.

One of them pushed my shoulder. "You flirt!"

I gasped in surprise and shock, what did I do this time?