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Consolacion Highschool.
"Rheyna, let's eat lunch together!" I declare with a cheeky smile on my face. Ever since I persuaded Rheyna to be my friend, I've been inviting her to eat together every lunch break for the past week. At first she seemed a bit closed off, but after spending more time together, she's opened up quite a bit.
"Alright. Canteen, again?" she asks with a small smile on her lips. Her eyes meeting mine without reservation. 'I'm glad she can maintain eye contact now. Maybe she gained confidence in herself? Either way, she's grown as a person.'
"Nope. Let's eat hanging down. Of course we're eating at the canteen, duh!" I joked, a wide smirk reaching my eyes. "Pfft- What are we? Bats?" Rheyna shot back, laughing at her own words.
"Come on, let's go!" I pestered, playfully tugging at Rheyna's shoulder. "Alright, alright. Let me just get my lunchbox." she replied, opening her backpack and taking out her lunchbox. In my right hand, I also have my own lunchbox. Once she closed her bag, I yanked her up and began leading her out of the room. "Let's hurry before the tables run out!"
Meanwhile, back in the classroom.
"Those two have gotten close, huh?" one boy comments. "Mhm. Didn't know that was Mark's type." another boy added. Unbeknownst to Mark and Rheyna, they've become the topic of their year's gossip. Mark Sanchez, the tomgirl who rejected multiple confessions, has been getting friendly with the unremarkable, quiet girl sitting next to him. It's so unexpected and interesting that it's no surprise their peers are talking about them behind their backs.
"Hm..." one girl hummed, staring at the door the pair had left from.
.
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(Rheyna POV)
Later, after school.
At the main gate.
"Take care, Rheyna! Message ya later!" Mark waved, his body turned sideways. "Alright! Keep safe, Mark!" I waved back.
Mark's lips curled into a smile before turning away and walking back home. For a couple breaths, I stared at his back. Making sure he's safe. Once he's made a good distance, I turn around and begin heading for the tricycle terminal.
Grab!
"Urk-!" I gasped. Out of nowhere, I felt an arm slide across my neck and rest on my shoulder as I was pulled against my will before colliding against something firm and tough. "Oi, Rheyna!" a girl's voice called out next to me, her tone seemingly friendly. I turn to the see their face. Or rather, I had to tilt my head up a bit to see their face. 'She's tall. A bit taller than Mark, 5'7 maybe?' I assessed. The person who suddenly grabbed me has short black hair in a barber's cut. Her black eyes looking down at me with an intensity any introvert would find uncomfortable. Her darker skin a considerable contrast to my light brown one. It would be browner if I wasn't a homebody.
And the way she acts like we're close, there's only one person I could think of. "What do you want, Maryan?"1Pronounced "Mar-yan." I'm not sure whether English vocab or whatever pronounces 'yan' the same way Filipinos do, but just in case, think of it as "yam" but replace the 'm' with an 'n.' I ask, despite how she looks, she's not a bully. She just treats every girl in school like they're pals. 'If this were a public school, then someone like her will probably be a bully, though.'
Maryan leaned, a smirk tugging at her lips. "When did you and Mark get so close? Everyone is dying to know your love story!" she asked, playful curiosity in her voice. "Huh?" my eyes widened at her words. "What are you talking about?" I ask, clueless on what she means.
Maryan raised a brow? "Huh? Don't tell me you haven't noticed? Everyone in our grade is talking about you two! Some people are even calling it 'The Iron Prince and the Scribe.' Hahah!" she teased, laughing at her own words. "... Is that really how people see us?" I ask, my little pride felt wounded. "Uh, huh." Maryan nodded. "Let's see... You're quiet, top student, and uh..." she trailed off, searching for another word. "Don't have many friends?" I guessed.
Finger Snap
"Yeah, that's the one!" she replied, jabbing a finger in my direction. 'Ha... I know she isn't being a jerk, but her words still hurt.'
"So... Tell me! What happened for you two to get so close?!" she pushed, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. Her question prompted a wave of memories to wash over me. From the first time I hypnotized Mark to when he befriended me. As for the former, I couldn't delete the hypnosis app. Whether I press on the icon or go through my apps list, there's no option to delete the hypnosis app. It's permanently stuck there. 'I just need to not use it. Simple as that.'
As for what I can tell others, "I don't know. Mark just suddenly wanted to befriend me and I said yes." I reply. It's not a lie, I'm just not giving the specifics. "
Blink
"That's it? You didn't do anything special??" Maryan asked, finding it hard to believe Mark just wanted to be my friend out of nowhere. 'In truth, I also don't know why Mark wants to be my friend either. I didn't do anything to warrant his attention...'
And I'm sure Mark doesn't remember what I did when he was hypnotized either. If he did, he would have reported me already, not befriend me like that. 'And I'm pretty sure he's not just acting either... So I have no clue why he did it either.'
"Huh... Okay..." Maryan muttered, her eyes narrowing on me. "So when's the wedding?" she asked, a smirk tugging at her lips again. "What?!" I exclaimed, eyes blown wide open by what she just said. "Come on! Mark suddenly starts getting close with you outta nowhere? It has to be love!" she declared, baring her teeth. "You're overthinking it! We're just friends!" I retort.
Maryan leaned closer, her lips near my ear. "When you get married, be careful. You have to be the dominant one! You're the girl in the relationship. Even if Mark is tough, he's still a boy. A boy must be submissive to his wife!" she whispered, or rather advised.
In the Philippines, even though our generation is quite progressive, most still believe a man should just stay at home, raise kids, and serve his wife. Our parents' generation strongly believe that. I'm in the same boat, but I don't mind Mark the way he is now. I guess you could say it's part of his charm. His tough, outgoing, girlish personality is part of who he is. And I don't want to change that.
'Wait- Why am I thinking like I'm going to marry Mark in the future?? We're just friends! And besides, I don't deserve someone like him. He deserves better.'
"Whatever. Just please don't go spreading rumors or gossip. Neither me nor Mark want to be gossiped about." with that, I push myself off Maryan, escaping her hold. "Sure, sure. I'm not a chismosa (gossiper). So don't worry about me." she replied.
"Alright. I'm going home now. Bye, Maryan, get home safe." I waved, already leaving before she could start another topic. "Kay. Bye Rheyna!" Maryan waved back.
As I make my way to the tricycle terminal, I couldn't help but recall the conversation just now. 'Marrying Mark... That won't happen. I don't know why, but I'm sure he doesn't see me more than just a friend. And I won't expect anything more.'
No matter what, I'll stay as Mark's friend for as long as he wants me to.
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