The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

"Can I ask you something?" Das questioned.

"Sure"

"First, promise me you won't get angry."

"Are you going to call me an idiot again?"

Das waved his finger and said, "Nope. Why would I ask your permission to call you an idiot?"

Elena frowned her eyes and said, "Speak up."

"Why are you always so happy and energetic?"

Elena's eyes widened as she had never expected such a question from Das.

"Well, I am just enjoying every moment of my life."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? I said it earlier, right?" Elena took a bite and said, "Life is meant to enjoy."

"No. I want to ask, how can you enjoy it? I don't see anything that can make anyone happy here. Yet, you look so happy."

"Well," Her face flushed as she said, "That's because I am with you."

"Hmm?"

"Did I pass a joke or something?"

Elena sighed and muttered, "Dense as always."

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Elena groaned.

Das took out his phone and checked the time.

"It's 18: 28. Won't your family worried about you?" Das asked.

"You should buy a watch; then you won't have to check the time in your phone every time."

'I had and have many watches. But they break every time I get into fights, so I don't wear them anymore.'

Das raised his eyebrows and said, "How about you buy me a watch as my birthday gift?"

Elena's eyes widened as she froze for a second and uttered, "You want a gift from me?"

"Well, if you want to give, then yes."

Elena's face flushed, and she said, "I thought I don't have the right to give you a gift."

"Well," Das scratched the back of his head and said, "As a token of our friendship?"

Elena's smiled dropped, and she squinted her eyes at Das with a glare and said, "So we  are friends?"

'Did I creep her out?' Das thought.

"If you don't want then--"

"You think of me as a friend?" Elena interrupted.

Das turned his face to the side and said, "You don't want to?"

Elena started at Das for a while, and Das glanced at Elena from the corner of his eye.

'Does she not want to become my friend?'

Elena quietly sighed and said, "At least, ai am getting close."

"Close to what?" Das asked.

"Close in your eyes."

"..." Das had no words to speak.

"You only thought of me as a stranger before, right?"

"Yeah"

"..."

Elena frowned her face with her eyes.

"I am sure you thought the same for me, right?" questioned Das.

"I am an idiot."

"What's with the sudden enlightenment?"

"If I tell answer you honestly, you would stop being my friend."

"Let's eat the cake," said Elena.

"Yeah"

As they were eating the cake, Das asked, "You didn't answer my question from before."

"You asked too many things; which one are you talking about?"

"About being late. Your parents must be worried."

"Don't worry about that. They told me today in the morning that they will be late tonight."

"What about your sister?"

"She doesn't live with us."

"Oh!" Das took a bite and said, "Then you will be alone?"

"It's not unusual. It always happens."

"I see."

"No need to feel bad."

"I am not particularly feeling bad. I was just comparing our lives."

"Oh?"

"They are a lot similar."

Elena flinched as she heard that.

"How?" she asked.

"Of course, not everything, but in certain aspects. Our life is a lot similar."

"Like?"

"We both are alone? We both have no life goals. We live every day without knowing what we are going to do for the rest of the day. We both are distant with our parents."

Elena choked on the cake she was eating after hearing that.

After calming down, she took a deep breath and said, "I won't say you are wrong, but you are not exactly correct here."

"Hmm?"

"How do I say it… uh… like…" Elena stuttered and said, "Everything is half true."

"Please explain."

"I am not exactly alone."

"Yeah… I forgot you have friends."

"No, no!" Elena shook her hand, making an 'X' sign, and said, "That's not what I mean."

"You are not currently alone, right? I am with you," added Elena.

"But--"

"No buts. You need to think positively."

"Fine"

"Second, I do have life goals. I am sure you have one too, right? Since you study so much, and  you are smart too."

"I don't."

Elena froze and uttered, "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I already said, I only study to keep myself busy."

"But you must have a life goal, right? Even a small one?"

Das pondered for a while and said, "I do have one."

"What is it?"

"Protect my family and loved ones."

Elena let out a short snicker and said, "What's with that. Are you some kind of knight or something?"

"Don't laugh, or I will smash this cake on your face."

"Aww, he is embarrassed now."

Das picked up the cake and moved it to Elena's face.

Elena smiled in response and said, "Do it if you want to."

Das furrowed his eyebrows and said, "I will really do it."

"Go ahead."

"..."

"I know you won't do it."

Das sighed and placed down the cake on the table.

"Now, let's pick up from where we left. The third was, we don't know what we are going to do in a day. Well, no one knows it, do they?"

"They do. Everyone has plans of what they are going to do."

Elena licked her fingers and said, "I think it's better not to have any plans."

"Why is that?"

"Because if you have plans, you will bind to that. And if you don't, you will feel the freedom."

"Easy for you to say," Das muttered.

"And the last one is also wrong. Your parents do love you."

"How can you be so sure?"

Elena placed her hand on her chest and said, "When I saw your monther's face when she came to school when you passed out, I could tell from her expression how sad and worried she was"