I look around the air-conditioned room anxiously, prodding my mouth with long fingers as the anticipation in the atmosphere rises. I smooth down my prefect skirt, tapping my pocket to make sure that my precious piece of coconut candy hasn't been stolen.

So many probates this year... I wonder who I'll mentor.

I can hear muttered chatter all around me as the other prefects whisper to each other in hushed tones, though I haven't a clue as to what they are talking about. Perhaps they are going on about how a bird managed to snitch a fried egg when the lunch lady's back was turned during break.

"Firstly, I will call out the mentor's name, followed by the name of the probate. Raise your hands when you hear your name. Mentors are to guide probates for six weeks on everything that a prefect must do in Roar Ceria High."

The room was immediately silent the second Mrs Zuhaira spoke. I suppose authority comes easy when you're in charge of all disciplinary action in the school.

"Jory Tee, Hareet Aliman."

A cheeky smile curves upon my lips as my eyes flick towards the embarassed face of my friend Jory as her trainee-cum-future-beau shoots her a thumbs-up.

Jory and Hareet? That's bound to be news.

"Naagin Raj, Crystal Charvi."

My attention turns to Crystal, who is frozen with her eyes wide. I really don't know why. As far as I recall, whenever we mention Naagin she always starts rambling about how annoying he is whenever they run into each other at the local temple. Strange indeed.

Mrs Zuhaira proceeds to call more names. Trainees and mentors alike turn their heads this way and that, trying to spot their respective partners as they remain in their seats out of respect.

"Alyce Chen-"

That's me... oh my coconuts who will I get as a trainee? I hope that it's someone nice and cooperative, preferably not too handsome if it's a guy-

"-Sandev Kumar."

My left eyebrow quirks downwards, my mouth falls open. I glance at the olive-skinned boy who had raised his hand and is now staring at me. Stunned, I gawk back at him, unable to pull away from the lock.

His eyes call upon the echo of rustling leaves in an enchanted forest. Faint moonlight sifts through them as gentle mist surrounds me, and from there, I see a pair of eyes, dark brown upon white-

Sandev smiles politely at me, discomfort shifting into his gaze. Stirred out of my reverie, I return the gesture, though my chest has begun to tighten, constricting my chest and forcing my heart to beat a little faster.

We turn away, and I force myself to listen to Mrs Zuhaira's instructions on what basics to teach the probates.

I'll be seeing him every morning to write down the latecomers' names, teaching him when to close the gates. I'll be sitting at the stairs together with him to make sure the students don't enter their classrooms during break. I'll be standing beside him at break as he clears students from the canteen.

I try to sneak another peek at him, but Sandev catches me, his large eyes holding me captive as he offers me another polite smile. Dazed, I attempt to replicate Hareet's thumbs-up.

Instead, I end up jamming the back of my pen into my nostril.

My entire face goes beet red and I quickly swivel to face Mrs Zuhaira, yanking my pen out of my nose and acting as if I were taking notes. My free hand lifts the ends of my hijab to conceal my embarassment.

Dropping my pen onto my lap, I scrabble around in my pocket for the candy, stuffing it into my mouth. The coconut flavour calms me and allows me to gather my wits.

Think of the Coconut Song, Alyce.

C-O-C-O-N-U-T...

♡♡♡

"Sandev! I need your number!"

I run towards him, long hands flitting in the air like I am about to cast a spell. Startled, he spins in my direction, cutting off whatever his probate friend was saying.

I skid to a halt in front of him, catching my breath on a nearby pillar. I grin weakly at him. "Hey there. I'm your mentor, Alyce."

His broad shoulders stiffen as he smiles politely again. "I-"

"Aly-cee!" A pair of hands grab me from behind. I'd recognise that squeaky voice anywhere.

"Wynsa! What are you doing here?!"

Wynsa peers around my tall frame at Sandev, her beady black eyes glinting with delight. "So this is your trainee. Sandev Kumarrr."

I do not appreciate the way she purrs his name on her tongue.

The devil's daughter slips from behind me and slides up to Sandev, calculating and evaluating him as if he were one of the cricket-rat hybrids in her room. He regards her cautiously, his eyes taking on a spark of fire.

"You'd best be careful, Kumar. Guard that charm of yours. Else you'll find that your mentor has a crush on you in three seconds flat."

She winks at me, holding up three fingers as she counts in Chinese. "Yī. Èr. Sān. Alyce loves Dev!"

Wynsa snaps her fingers at us, giggling as she runs off before I can catch her. "Have fun, Aly-cee!"

I turn towards Sandev, wincing. "She's a little cuckoo."

He cracks a reassured grin. "I can see that." Sandev rubs the back of his neck as his eyes travel to the notebook in my hand. "Um, actually, I forgot my number."

My mind races for a response-

"How about you give me yours instead? I'll WhatsApp you and you'll get my number that way," Sandev suggests quickly.

"Oh, sure." I tear off a page from my notebook and scribble my phone number down. "There."

Sandev beams at me. "I'll text you later."

"Yeah." I find that I don't know quite what to do with my hands. "Bye."

"See you around." Sandev waves at me, beginning to get friendly despite his smirking friend giving him a nudge.

I manage a wave, my feet dragging me away. "Bye," I repeat.

Boy, this is going to be the longest six weeks of my life.

A/N: And that is the first chapter of Falling For The Wolf-Boy! Sidenote to readers who do not know me at all in real life, this entire story is based on a real one and may contain inside jokes. This is purely for entertainment so please excuse logical complications.

Also, this is my first time writing a story in present tense so feel free to correct any mistakes that you spot.

Hope you enjoyed it, #AliDev shippers!

- Scarlet