The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Elena glanced around and rubbed her eyes, then slowly moved her hand towards Das. She wanted to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

Das had told her that he wouldn't come to her party, and after seeing him there, Elena was reluctant to believe it because she wanted Das to be there.

She was afraid to touch him. She was worried because if Das turned out to be her hallucination, she would break.

Before Elena could touch Das, Das grabbed Elena's hand.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a gentle voice.

Elena didn't say anything and burst into tears.

Das pulled Elena's hand and hugged her. He was both angry and sad.

'What the hell no one came?!'

'She was so excited… dammit!'

Elena hugged back Das and squeezed him.

'Why… why? Why?!'

They stayed like that for some minutes before Elena said, "I am fine now."

Das didn't want to let go of Elena, but he wanted to see her face. He patted Elena and wiped her tears. "It's okay, alright?"

Elena nodded and spoke, "Why are you here?"

"I was just… I came here for you."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

She started crying again. "Why did no one came?"

"Our exams ended today, so everyone was probably tired." Das started to make the most logical and plausible reasons. "Or maybe, they didn't see your post on the forum?"

Elena smiled slightly and replied, "I can see the post's stats and tell how many people saw it."

'Dammit! I don't have any other reasons I can make to--'

"It's fine, Das" Elena smiled again.

Das' heart ached to see Elena like this. He wanted to see the usual cheerful Elena.

"I am here," Das stated.

"Yeah."

"I am here to celebrate your birthday."

"Yeah."

Das was still holding Elena's hand and rubbed it with his thumb. He was trying to calm down Elena.

"Are you okay now?"

Elena nodded.

Das smiled and stood up, "Let's cut the cake then. I can't wait to eat it."

Elena smiled and stood up. She grabbed the knife and stared at Das.

"What?" Das asked.

"Won't you cut it with me?"

"Huh?"

"Stand with me and hold my hand."

"Ok...ay."

Das stood beside Elena and grabbed her hand. 

"Not like this; do it from behind."

Das stood behind Elena and grabbed Elena's hand. Das could feel Elena's soft body and smell her sweet scent.

Das shook his hand as he threw out all the dirty thoughts from his mind. "Elena is sad here, and here I am thinking all that.'

They cut the cake together. Elena grabbed the piece of the cake and turned around. And when she did, she accidentally slammed the cake on Das' cheek.

"I am sorry,"

Das glared at Elena. Elena made a puppy face and said again, "I am sorry. It wasn't on fault."

Das kept glaring at her, then moved close to her and pinned her to the table.

Scared, Elena asked, "What are you…"

Das was being intimidating, but he was just trying to grab the piece of cake.

He grabbed the piece of cake and smeared it all over Elena's face.

"This was on purpose."

Elena then grinned and smeared the remaining piece of cake she was holding-- all over Das' face.

They still hadn't realized that their body was touching each other and they were sticking together like glue.

Das then grabbed another piece of cake and fed Elena.

"How is it?" Das asked.

"Hmm. It's great."

Elena took the cake from Das' hand and fed him. "How is it?"

"It's good."

"The cafe owner made it."

"Is that so?"

"Yup."

"What's so special about it? I mean, we eat cake here all the time, don't we?"

Elena nodded as she grabbed another piece of cake and fed Das. "We do, but this cake is handmade."

"Oh!" Das fed Elena and spoke, "No wonder it tastes different."

They ate some cake and kept talking for more than half-hour. After that, Ana started feeling sleepy. She dozed a couple of times while talking with Das too.

"Uhh… you should go home now, Elena."

"But…"

"I will drop you off, so don't worry."

Elena shook her head and spoke, "What if someone comes?"

Das felt pure anger after hearing that from Elena's mouth.

'How naive is she?'

'How kind anyone can be?'

'She still believes someone would come and…'

Das hated the fact that Elena thought about others more than herself. He didn't like it-- more because others didn't care about Elena.

"It's fine. I will stay here, and if someone comes, I will tell them that the party ended." Of course, Das didn't really mean it.

He gave no fucks to the people who don't care about anyone. He planned to leave as soon as Elena left.

Das reached his hand towards Elena and said, "Can you give me your phone?"

Elena gave her phone to Das as she said, "Sure, but why?"

"I will call your dad and ask him to come here to pick you up."

"I can tell him myself."

"No need, I will do it." Das didn't want Elena to answer the question her father would ask her.

Elena unlocked the phone and gave it to Das.

Das opened the contact lists and called Lucas. It rang for a while, and after three rings, Lucas picked up the call.

[Elena? Is everything alright?] Lucas asked over the phone. Das could tell that Lucas sounded worried.

"Uhh… It's me."

[Who is this?"] Lucas asked.

"It's Das, your---"

[What do you want? Where is Elena?] Lucas' tone immediately changed after Das told Lucas about him.

Das glanced at Elena, who had already dozed off. He got up and left the room while Lucas kept yelling on the phone.

[Hey! Are you listening?]

"Yeah, I am here."

[Why do you have Elena's phone? And why are 'you' calling me?!]

"Elena is sleeping, and I called you to--"

[You bastard! What did you do with my daughter! I am going to sue you!]

"Slow down, old man. Listen to me first."

[Don't call me old--]

"Shut up!" Das bit his tongue and then sighed, "Please," He added.

[...]

Das explained the situation to Lucas and asked him to pick up Elena from the cafe.

[Alright, I will be there in five minutes]

He hung up the call and saw the cracked skin on Elena's phone.

'I forgot to give her the present.'