Chapter 20

It was after school hours, and I received an unexpected invitation from Terence. 
He extended an invitation to several of my classmates and friends, including Nina, Brittney, Jay, and Jake, to join him at a renowned restaurant. Terence mentioned we'd be enjoying special treats in a VVIP room.
Terence, ever the generous host, went all out when ordering the food. 
He ordered a variety of high-end dishes, each one more delectable than the last. From perfectly seared Wagyu steak to fresh sushi flown in from Japan, the spread was truly indulgent. 
The room was filled with mouthwatering aromas, and my stomach rumbled with anticipation.
Terence glanced around the table, his gaze lingering on each of our faces. 
“I have a question for you all," he began, his tone serious. "Who here informed Giselle about Kate’s family background?"
Jake, a determined look in his eyes, replied to Terrence's question.
"We were browsing through the school's social media group," he explained. "When we stumbled upon Giselle's gang's conversations. They've been gossiping about Kate and even spreading nasty rumors about her."
“What's even worse is that Giselle's gang has been spreading rumors that Kate's mom is Terrence's mistress. It's ridiculous, and obviously not true." Jay, joining the conversation, chimed in with a frown.
Terence's brow furrowed as he listened to Jay and Jake's comments.
"What kind of social media group is this that you were browsing?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Jake nodded in agreement, elaborating on the nature of the group. “It's a private social media group chat. But I managed to borrow someone's account to gain access. That's how we stumbled upon Giselle's comments and her gang's rumors."
My interest piqued upon hearing Jake's explanation, and I couldn't help but ask, my voice laced with curiosity.
"Did Giselle say anything else about me?" I inquired, my eyes searching Jakes’.
Jake nodded, his expression turning even more serious. "Yeah, there were other comments and rumors about you as well. It wasn't all about your supposed illegitimacy. Giselle's gang seems to have some kind of grudge against you."
"You should be careful, Kate," Jay chimed in, he warned. "Giselle seems fixated on causing trouble for you, and she'll go to great lengths to hurt you."
"This has gone on long enough," Terrence expression growing darker, interjected with a low growl. "Jake, Jay, I want you to take screenshots of those conversations and send them to me. We need to have concrete evidence of
Giselle's behavior."
Jake and Jay nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination.
"We'll take care of it right away," promised Jake. "We'll screenshot the conversations as soon as we get home and send them to you, Mr. Terence."
Terence chuckled softly, his expression turning more playful as he responded to Jay and Jake's formal phrasing.
"There's no need to address me like your boss, you know," he teased. "You can just call me Terence."
Jay, unable to suppress a soft smile, retorted, "Well, you're 27 years old, and we're only 18. It feels a bit impolite to call you by your name directly."
"Maybe you could call him 'Alpha Terence' instead of Mr. Terence?" Brittney suggested, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
I chuckled softly at Brittney's suggestion, finding her idea amusing.
"I have to admit, 'Alpha Terence' does have a nice ring to it," I chimed in, a sly smile on my lips.
"See? Even my mate approves," Terence chuckled warmly upon hearing my words with genuine delight. "Maybe I should consider the 'Alpha Terrence' nickname after all."
As we all shared a hearty laugh, Terrence held up his softdrink can, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"To 'Alpha Terence' then," he declared, raising his can. "Cheers, everyone!"
We all raised our own drinks, toasting to the newfound nickname, "Alpha Terence." 
As our cans clinked together, a sense of camaraderie filled the air, bringing a moment of lightheartedness to our gathering.
“Um, Kate," Nina, her eyes wide with curiosity, turned to me after taking a sip of her drink. "What happened when you bumped into Felix after meeting the principal?"
"Felix wanted to talk to me," I stated simply. "But I didn't want to, because I remember what he said before. That I'm the weakest omega, and I'm not worthy to be one."
"What did he want to talk about, exactly?" Terence gaze fixed on me, interjected with a sharp question. 
I shrugged, shaking my head. 
“I don't know," I admitted. "He didn't say exactly what it was about. All he said was that he wanted to talk, but I didn't want to hear it."
"You should ignore him as much as possible, Kate. I'm worried he might try to trap you for Giselle or something like that." Brittney advise me with a concerned expression.
"Brittney's right," Terrence voiced, "Felix has shown himself to be pretty dangerous lately. It's best to keep your distance from him."
We all finished our drinks, the conversation coming to a close. Terence, ever the gentleman, offered to drive me home. I nodded my agreement, grateful for his gesture.
As we made our way to Terence's car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and safety being around him.
Terence, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, suddenly broke the silence with a question.
"Umm, mate," he began, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Can I ask you something about your dad?"
I fidgeted slightly in my seat, feeling a pang of vulnerability at Terence's question.
"My dad..." I started, my voice soft and hesitant. "He...he left my mom for another woman."
"Does Felix know about it?" Terence's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly as he continued the conversation.
I nodded in agreement, a bittersweet sense of understanding passing over me.
"Felix does know," I confirmed, a heavy feeling settling in my chest. "We grew up together. I know his family and he knows mine. But ever since he rejected me, it felt like everyone in the Jungle Power Pack was treating us differently."
Terence exhaled softly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
"People sometimes wear masks," he commented, his voice tinged with a touch of melancholy. "They conceal their true selves and their true intentions."
“So?”
"You need to stop being so generous to everyone you meet," Terence, his gaze fixed on the road, shook his head in disappointment. "Not everyone deserves your kindness and trust. You have to be more cautious and discriminating with who you allow into your life."
Terence's words left me slightly puzzled, but before I could respond, we arrived at my home - a humble, yet visibly worn-down house in the heart of the less fortunate neighborhood.
Terence smiling while opened the car door for me with a gentlemanly air. He extended his hand, offering his assistance to help me out of the vehicle.
I smiled gratefully at Terence as I took his hand, stepping out of the car.
"Thank you for driving me home," I expressed with genuine appreciation.
Terence, his touch gentle as his lips grazed the back of my hand, whispered with a hint of a smile.
"It's just basic manner, as a grown man," he murmured. "I would never let you walk home alone, especially in these circumstances."
A shy smile tugged at my lips as my cheeks flushed with a slight tinge of pink. Terence's words and gallant gesture had an undeniable effect on me, stirring a mix of embarrassment and gratitude within my heart.
Terence, a hint of nervousness in his eyes, cleared his throat before speaking.
"How about tomorrow," he began, his voice soft yet hopeful. "Since it's the weekend, maybe we could go to the amusement park. It would be a sweet way to spend time together... a date."
Terence's eyes widened at my nonverbal response, a flicker of surprise passing over his face.
"You... you’re not answering?" he said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
But before he could utter another word, I eagerly nodded my agreement, a smile spreading across my face.
Terence's eyes widened further, a flicker of surprise giving way to a broad smile. His voice quivered with excitement as he responded to my enthusiastic nod.
"You accepted my invitation?" he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. "I can't believe it. I'm...I'm thrilled you said yes."
I found myself unable to speak, rendered speechless by my own nervous excitement. Terence, sensing my quiet distress, chuckled softly.
"It's quite late," he reminded me, a knowing smile on his face. "You should get inside and rest now."