The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Das scratched his head and said, "One, "

Elena opened her one eye and said, "What?"

"Tell me one valid reason of why you did that, and I won't do anything to you"

Sweat poured down from her face as she thought, What did I do? I was expecting him to go mad in rage and yell at me. And then I planned to ask him to eat cakes with me, but he is asking for a reason of why I did that'

'Should I just tell him honestly that I did that to ask him to eat cakes?'

"Hurry up"

"Uhh… gratitude! Yes, I wanted to show you my gratitude for helping me with my studies"

Das raised his eyebrows and said, "Seriously, what's wrong with you? You are acting a way weirder than usual"

"I will treat you to some cake! So please eat cake with me!"

Das' face twitch as he said, "Do you think I can't pay for my own cakes?"

Elena shook her head and said, "I don't. But today's' treat is on me"

Das sighed and said, "Fine"

Elena's face cheered up as she looked up at Das.

"But don't cry if the bill is too large for you", added Das.

"Don't eat too much", Elena muttered as they entered the cafe.

They sat on the empty table in the corner.

Elena was fidgeting nervously while Das was checking something on his phone.

Elena placed her elbows on the table and rested her face on the palms as she stared at Das.

She was trying her best to get Das' attention by doing various things.

She whistled to get his attention. She purposely bumped her leg on Das' leg and acted as if it was unintentional.

She cleared her throat. She tried tapping on the table. 

Whatever she did, Das paid no attention.

Annoyed, Elena raised her hand and yelled, "Excuse me!"

Her yell was so loud that all the other customers, including the butlers and maids of the cafe, jolted in surprise.

Everyone turned their gazes at Elena.

Elena didn't realize how loud her yell was. In fact, Das was staring at her with an annoyed look.

She gulped down and said, "Water please", in a soft voice.

Soon enough, everyone started doing what they were busy with. BUt Das was still glaring at Elena.

'What's with that glare? First you ignore me, and then glare at me.' Elena wanted to say that, but she couldn't bring herself to say that.

"What?", said Elena.

"Was there any need to yell this loud?"

"It was because a certain someone was ignoring me"

"Hmm?", Das glazed around and said, "You are meeting with someone here?"

Elena's face twitched as she said, "It was you!"

"Me? I am sitting right in front of you. There was no need to yell, you know?" 

Das then scoffed and said, "Oh! My bad", he smirked, "I forgot that you are an idiot"

Elena gritted her teeth as she tried to scratch Das' hand.

Das pulled his hand back, saying, "Whoa there. An idiot has gone crazy"

A couple was sitting around Das and Elena's table.

"Look Bryon, how cute that couple is. We should also act like that sometimes", said the girl.

"What do you mean by 'sometimes', Elisha?", said the boy.

"Like that. Teasing each other"

"We do that all the time, don't we?"

She tilted her head and said, "When did we do that?"

"Always, like right now"

The girl finally realized that the boy was making fun of her.

The girl sighed.

"What's with the sigh?"

"Everyone is looking at me and thinking that I am talking to myself"

"Well, you actually are"

The girl took a deep breath and said, "You can go now. I will meet you in the game"

"Alright"

The boy's figure slowly faded away as the girl stood up and walked out of the cafe.

"Argh!", Das groaned.

"What's wrong?! Elena stood up and tried to touch Das, but Das told her not to.

After a while, Das calmed down and said, "I am fine"

"Was it because of my yell? I am sorry I won't yell again", Elena said with teary eyes.

"No, it wasn't because of you. This happens sometimes"

"It's because you study too much"

Das rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, right"

"So why were you glaring at me earlier?"

"Because you yelled so loud that everyone was looking at us"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Everything is wrong with that! I hate getting attention"

Elena squinted her eyes and said, "You hate too many things"

"That's quite wrong. I hate everything"

Elena bit her lips and muttered, "What about me?"

"Did you say something? Speak louder"

"I said, why do you hate getting attention?"

"Just because", Das shrugged his shoulders.

"That's not a reason"

Das groaned and said, "Don't use my line on me"

"Tell, tell. Why do you hate getting attention?"

"People always judge each other just by looking at them. Some look down, some admire. And most just curses"

"That's true, but it's not like they say it on your face. So does it matter?"

"That's the point. They are all bloody cowards who don't have enough guts to speak in front"

Elena shrugged her shoulders and said, "Not that I get what you mean. But if you say so"

"You are just a teenage girl who doesn't know how the adult world is"

"Excuse me. I am--"

"Excuse me" A butler interrupted them and said, "May I have your order?"

"Ah! Yes," Elena quickly gazed on the menu and ordered some cakes and pastries.

'She eats too much! Given how much calories those cakes will have, she doesn't seem to care about her body'

'If I tell mom that I went to a cafe, she would start yelling at me not to go and eat calorie-free cake'

"Do you always eat this much?", asked Das.

"Huh?" Elena realized what Das meant and her eyes widened.

She shook her head and said, "No! I don't usually eat that much. I ordered for you too"

'Yeah, right. Like I will be convinced by that lame excuse'

"So? Why are you like this?", questioned Das.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why are you an idiot"

"I am not an idiot!"

"I know you are not"

"Wha--!"

Elena was surprised by Das' sudden statement.

"After tutoring you for a week, I can say you are not actually an idiot. If you study hard, you can easily get passing marks. So I was wondering why don't you study and stop being an idiot"

"I can't believe you insulted me during praising me"

'I wasn't praising you!'

"So?"

"Because studying is boring", Elena said with a straight face.

"Even if it is boring, you have to at least study enough to pass, you know?"

"..."

Elena just forced a smile at Das and said nothing.

"You must have some kind of dream, right? Something you want to become when you grow…", Das stared at Elena's chest and said, "Up"

Elena covered her chest as she shouted, "Where are you staring!"

"I was looking at your neck"

She moved her hands to her neck and said, "Why are you staring at my neck?"

"I don't know. My gaze just fell on it"

'What's wrong with me? When I look at her, a weird feeling rises in my body. And I can't… take my eyes off her'

Elena's face flushed as she thought, 'Could it be that he was wondering my breast size? But they are so small! Does he like big ones?'

"Hey… Das. Can I ask you one question?"

"Why are you being so formal?"

"What type of…"

"Hmm?"

'What types of girls do you like? Yes, ask that Elena. But what if his type of girls are the total opposite of me?'

"Stop messing around and ask the question already"

"What type of cakes do you like?"

Das stared at her as he scoffed and said, "Why were you being so nervous over this question"

'I can't do it. I am afraid of him answering something I don't expect. I would rather make him fall for me and then ask him rather than asking now and feeling discouraged, '

"I don't particularly like any types of cakes, but I guess… chocolate flavor?"

Elena's face cheered up as her eyes sparkled and said, "You like chocolates too?! I also like chocolates. See?! I told you! We have similar tastes"

"..."

'Why is she energetic all of a sudden?'

The cakes Elena ordered arrived and Elena started eating them with large bites.

'Wow. She has no manners. She is eating like she doesn't care about her surroundings'

Elena was so happy with Das' answer that she forgot about her manners.

'I am happy. We have similar tastes, so I am sure he likes my type of girls', Elena thought, as she finished eating one slice of cake.

Even though her logic didn't make any sense, seeing Elena eating cakes with no care, Das smiled a little and thought, 'She is really a weird girl'

After Elena was done eating three cakes, she came back to her senses and gasped as her face went red in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Das was quietly enjoying Elena's reaction. Elena cleared her throat and said, "Will you have some?" while sliding the plate with a half-eaten slice of cake'

Das looked at the half-eaten slice of cake and then sighed as he grabbed the cake and ate it in two bites.

Elena froze up as she averted her gaze from Das.

"What's wrong?"

Elena shook her head and said, "Nothing"

'He ate the cake! He ate it from where I had eaten. That's like an indirect kiss!'

Elena was both happy and embarrassed.

This was just one other day of Das and Elena's life, which in the future will get them together as overly obsessed lovers.