The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

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.

'Somehow, this feels kind of exciting, seeing him eat the cake from where I ate,'

Elena slowly raised her gaze at Das; who was now busy with his phone, and thought, 'Has he did not realize it? Or maybe he knows and trying to act dumb?'

Elena stared at him and shook her head as she thought, 'No, no. It's him we are talking about. He is so dense that he won't realize it unless someone tells him directly'

Elena then looked at the pastries and thought, 'Should I do the same with the pastries?'

'But what if he catches me?' She once again glanced at Das and thought, But he is busy with his phone, so he won't realize'

Elena slowly grabbed the pastries and leaned forward as she took a bit and put the pastry back on the plate.

She then slid the plate and Das and said, "Here, eat these pastries. They are nice"

Das glanced at the pastry and tried to grab the fork.

He then glanced at Elena, or rather her lips, which had cream stuck on it.

'She really should learn to eat', Das thought as he ate the pastry.

'He ate this one too!'

Something awakened inside Elena, and she wanted to keep doing it.

Sigh~

Das sighed as scrolled down his phone screen.

'My stocks are going down lately. I need to do something.'

He then glanced at Elena; who was hiding her flushed face and thought, 'Only if I could get some more time, I would be able to get back all the loss. But this idiot is beyond saving. If I don't tutor her, she will be expelled'

'Hmm?! What was that? For a second, my heart just ached a little. And why do I care if she is expelled or not? It has nothing to do with me. Even if she dies, I shouldn't feel anything. We barely know each other for like a week. We are merely stranger'

'Then..', he clenched his fist and thought, 'What is this painful feeling on my chest?'

In the meantime, Elena took a bite from another pastry and passed the plate to Das.

"Here, this is yours"

Das grabbed the pastry and moved it to his mouth, but suddenly stopped before eating it.

He then glanced at Elena; who was making a face he had never seen, and her eyes were focused on the pastry Das was about to eat.

'Maybe it's because of these pastries and cake that my heart is aching?'

Das put the pastry back on the plate and said, "I am full. You can eat the rest", as he slid the plate towards Elena.

'Did he realize that I was… if yes, then he must be thinking I am a creep? What if he ignores me from now on?'

Elena started trembling with her wild thoughts.

Looking at Elena freaking out for some unknown reason, Das asked, "What's wrong?"

"I….."

"What?"

"I am sorry I won't ever do it again"

"..."

'What is she talking about?'

He then looked at the pastry and thought, 'Is this because I denied eating the pastry?'

He glanced at Elena and sighed, thinking, 'Are all girls like this? Lier is so calm and innocent'

He grabbed the pastry and ate it.

"I ate it"

Elena came back to her senses and saw the empty place.

'He ate it? But why? He ate it even though he knew I had eaten from there. Could it be that he loves me too?'

Elena's face flushed more and more as she shook her head and thought, 'No way! That's impossible. Maybe he was really full when he said he was done eating?'

Elena gulped down and saw the last plate of the pastry.

'I did it three times, and he ate it. But if I think about it, he kissed me indirectly. I didn't kiss me. I want to eat his half-eaten pastry.

'But…' She glanced at Das, who was once again busy with his phone.

'How do I make him eat it?'

She cleared her throat as he slid the plate towards Das and tapped on it to get Das' attention.

"I am done. I can't eat anymore", said Das.

'What should I do now? He is not eating. If he doesn't eat, then I won't get my kiss. And I won't get the same chance again'

Elena gulped down and grabbed the pastry and moved her hand towards Das' mouth.

"Das,"

Das was so lost in his phone that even though he turned his face at Elena, his gaze was still on the phone's screen.

Elena quickly stuffed the pastry in Das' mouth.

It took three seconds for Das to realize that Elena had stuffed the pastry in his mouth.

Half of the pastry was in Das' mouth, and a half was sticking out of his mouth.

Das gazed at the pastry and then moved his gaze at Elena; who was hiding her face with a plate.

'Is this some kind of revenge for making fun of her earlier?'

Das took a bite and thought, 'Or maybe she couldn't eat more and gave it to me… forcefully?'

'Well, it doesn't matter', Das grabbed the pastry in his hand and thought, 'How dare she do that to Das Edens?! No one dares to mess with me unless I want them to'

Das moved his hand at Elena and grabbed the plate.

He pulled down the plate and stuffed the half-eaten pastry in Elena's mouth.

Elena was confused about whether she should be happy here, or scared. Because Das was intensely glaring at her.

Elena took a bite and gulped down.

Das was forcing the pastry into Elena's mouth.

She kept taking small bites until she ate the entire half-eaten pastry.

She then proceeded to lick Das' fingers.

Das' face flinched as he pulled back his finger and yelled, "What do you think you are doing?!"

Elena licked her lips as she smirked and said, "You were letting go of the pastry, so I thought I should eat your finger too"

Das stared at her and then glanced at his wet finger.

'It kind of felt good'

Das rubbed his thumb on the wet finger and realized how wet it was.

Das stood up and said, "I am going home now"

Elena also grabbed her bag and stood up.

As Das was on the doorstep, Elena stopped him and said, "At least wait until I pay. We can part ways after that"

Das groaned as she sighed.

Elena went to the counter and took out her card.

After a while, she hesitantly looked back at Das with her little flushed face and teary eyes.

'I knew it!'

Das groaned and went to the counter as he scratched his card.

He then grabbed Elena's hand and left the cafe.

Das let go of her hand as soon as they left the shop and started walking.

Elena slowly walked behind him.

"I am sorry", said Elena.

"It's fine"

Elena stopped and looked at Das.

Das tilted his head at Elena and said, "Just don't ever expect me to go with you somewhere, ever again"

Both Das and Elena then went their own way and reached their home.

Das straight went to his room without greeting Angela.

She thought maybe he had a bad day at school. But in truth, Das couldn't get the feeling of Elena sucking his finger out of his mind.

'Dammit! What's wrong with me?'

He then looked at the finger Elena sucked.

'It feels like it's still wet'

He opened his mouth and slowly moved that finger towards it.

He brought the finger to his lips and stopped as he said, "What am I doing?"

He stood up and grabbed a tissue paper.

"I don't know what's going on. But that girl is a danger to my future. I shouldn't forget that I am only her tutor and tutors don't go to the cafe"

He wiped his finger with the tissue paper and said, "I have to get hold of myself…"

He fell down on his knees as he muttered, "Dammit"

'Here is this feeling again. I should tell mom about this'

Das took a quick shower and sat on the living room sofa.

He then glanced at Angela; who was cooking dinner.

'Should I ask her? But what will I ask her?'

'My heart feels so tight from time to time'

"But my heart is on the right side, so it may be acting up?"

"What's wrong, Das? You look like you are in some deep thought." Angela sat on the sofa beside Das and continued, "You didn't even greet me when you came back from school" Is there something I can help with?"

"Well…"

"Hmm?"

"My heart feels weird from time to time?"

Angela's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean by weird"

"It feels tight once in a while and it aches. Sometimes, it flutters. And sometimes, it starts beating so fast"

Angela moved her hand to Das' chest and said, "How do you feel right now? Does it still ache?"

"It was a while ago, but not anymore"

'Is this what I think it is?', Angela pondered as she slowly opened her mouth and said, "When does this happen exactly?"

"When I am with her"

Angela's eyes furrowed and said, "Who is… her?"

"Uhh… what was her name again… El-Elena"

Angela gasped as she covered her mouth.