The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

There were only four contacts on her list.

'Mom. Dad. Sely. Virza. She… only has four contacts? Or she is just pitying me?'

Das took a deep breath as he sighed and said, "Why do you have only four contacts on your list?"

Elena forced a smile and said, "Well", she scratched her head as she said, "Because I am dumb… I guess?"

Das stared at her in amazement as he turned around and said, "Well now you have five contacts"

"..."

Das started walking to the elevator.

The elevator door opened, and as he was about to set his foot inside the elevator, Elena pulled him back, and they both fell down on the ground.

The elevator door closed.

Das clenched his face and said, "what the fuck do you think you are doing?"

When Elena pulled Das back, she lost balance and pulled Das with her. The fall was cushioned by Elena.

Das was fine, but Elena wasn't.

Das stood up and glared at Elena, who was about to cry from pain.

Das stared at her, and after staring for a while, he pressed the elevator button as he said, "Serves you right"

Elena sat up and grabbed Das' leg.

"Hey!" Das tried to shake Elena's hand off as he said, "What are you doing?! Let go"

"The elevator", muttered Elena.

"What?"

"The elevator is broken"

"Huh? What are you talking about? It was working fine---"

A loud crash was heard from the ground floor.

Das' eyes widened in shock as he gulped down and said, "How did you know that?"

Elena groaned in pain as she stood up and said, "It's broken from a week"

"What?"

"There was a sign… here…", she glanced around as she said, "It's not here right now"

"..."

'What the fuck? I have been using it every day, and I never saw such sign, '

Das inspected Elena with his eyes and thought, 'Could it be that it was done by her, and she just saved me here, so she can make demands to me for saving my life?'

Elena tried to walk, but lost her balance and slammed into Das' arms.

"..."

Das froze for a second, and then slowly made a distance between them.

Elena's face flushed a little as she said, "Sorry"

Das came back to his senses and started walking towards the stair.

'She smelled good… what the hell am I imagining?!'

Das walked down some stairs and glanced back at Elena, who was standing on the first stair, slowly placing her leg on the second stair.

Das groaned as he let out a sigh and said, "Are you okay?"

"I am okay, "

Elena placed her injured foot on the third stair and tried to walk down, she lost balance and fell down beside Das.

Tears fell down from her eyes as she gazed at Das.

Das stared at Elena who was crying in pain and said, "This is what happens when you try to act bravely"

"I just…", Elena groaned and said, "I just lost my balance"

"Get up now. I will drop you at the school gate. You can call your parents after that"

Elena tried to get up, but she couldn't.

"Argh!", Das gave a big sigh as he grabbed Elena's hand and pulled her up.

"Can you walk? I am not going to hold you or catch you if you fall. Walk down at your own risk", said Das.

Elena slowly walked down the stairs by using the wall as a support.

Das was watching her from behind in a confused look.

'What's wrong with this girl? She is so weak, but she wants to act bravely. I acted rude to her and insulted her many times. But she didn't try to fight back. I don't get it', Das thought as he walked down a stair.

'This girl is…. Weird. Like… really weird. And what is this feeling in my chest? I feel like destroying everything. Am I angry? But on what? Angry at this girl? No… I am angry at myself. But why?'

As Das was pondering, Elena had walked down all the stairs.

'She saved my life. If I had got into that elevator, I would have died'

'Dammit! Now I owe her. Dammit! Dammit! Dammit all!'

Das walked down the stairs and said, "Don't look at me like that. It's your own fault you are injured. No one asked you to save me. You should have just let me die"

'I would have preferred that. I have nothing to do with life. I am living in hell anyway. It would just be better to die than living this crappy life in this nasty world'

"How can I let someone die when I know I can save them?", said Elena.

"But why? Why did you save me? We have nothing to do with each other"

"That might be true, but I can't just let anyone die in front of me. If I can save them, then I will save them, even if it costs me my life"

'This girl… argh! What am I so angry about? Everything she says is pissing me off!'

"Would you not do the same if it was me?", questioned Elena.

"Huh?"

"If it was me in your place. If it was me who didn't know that the elevator is damaged and the service is going on. And if you had known that, would you not have saved me if you saw me going in?"

"..."

'Why would I save you? Seriously, what is wrong with this girl?'

"Hmm?", Elena was staring at him with a curious look.

'What's with that look? Does she want me to say, 'Yes, I would have saved you' or something? Well, no. I am sorry, but I am not as generous as you. But… argh!'

Das slowly opened his mouth and said, "Maybe… ?"

Elena smiled and said, "I knew it!"

'No, you didn't. You have no idea what I am thinking right now!'

Elena turned around and stood beside Das as she looked up at his face.

Das furrowed his eyebrows and said, "What?"

"Nothing. If I fall, then maybe I can grab you?"

"I won't grab you", stated Das.

"You don't have to grab me. I am the one who will grab you"

'Argh! This girl is just so…. Weird! She is getting on nerves'

They started walking to the hallway.

'But still, how did I have no idea about the elevator? I am pretty sure I never saw any sign. And if it was broken, then why was it working in the first place? This doesn't make any sense'

Das was thinking of the various possibilities of why this happened, but he couldn't think of any possible reason for it.

'It's too odd for it to be a coincidence' 

Das was unconsciously matching Elena's pace.

Das was still lost in his thoughts while Elena was sneaking glances at Das as she walked with him.

Elena placed her hand on her chest and said, 'What's wrong with me? Why does my body feel so hot? And why his words makes me feel… '

'He said so many harsh things to me, but I don't feel sad or anything. If it was someone else, I might have gotten angry, but…'

She glanced at Das as she thought, 'My leg is perfectly fine now, and I don't feel any pain. But why is my heart telling me to keep acting? Could it be…'

Her face flushed as she once again glanced at Das, but-- Das caught her glancing at him.

Elena quickly turned her face away and looked down.

'My heart is beating like crazily! The look in his eyes is… I want him to look at me more', Elena smirked inwardly.

"Are you okay? Your face looks red", asked Das.

'Is he worrying about me?'

"If you don't feel okay, then call the doctor here. I am going home"

Das increased his speed as he walked faster.

Elena's smile vanished into thin air as she quickly jumped and caught up with Das.

Das looked back and glanced at Elena's leg.

'I am sure I walked some steps. And with her injured leg, she shouldn't be able to catch up with me. Could it be that… she is just acting and trying to get something from me?'

Realizing that she has messed up a big time, Elena slowly crouched down and held her leg, as if she was trying to rub her injury.

'Maybe I am just imagining things?'

"What wrong now?", asked Das.

"The pain keeps increasing", Elena said as he rubbed her leg.

"Of course it will increase if you put pressure on that leg. Just call your parents"

Elena stood up as she said, "Okay"

Elena dialed her mom's number.

'Wait! If mom comes to pick me up, then I won't be able to go home with him. I want to be with him for a little more time'

Elena cut the call and said, "They are not picking up"

"You called your… ?"

"Mother!"

"Then call your old man"

"He is also busy"

Das raised his eyebrows and said, "How do you know without calling? I mean yeah, I get it that they must be busy. But I am sure they can make some time to pick up their daughters"

"My parents are lawyers, so they can be busy all the time. Sometimes, they don't even come home"

"Oh?!"

Das shrugged his shoulders and said, "Then just book a cab or something"

"..."

"What's wrong?"

'He just wants to run away from me. But I won't let him'

"I don't have any money on me", Said Elena.