Chapter 003.7: To Replace Me Part 2

Ma'am Iris is our homeroom and math teacher. Mathematics is the first subject in the morning every weekdays from 07:20 to 08:20. What follow next is PE and Health then a 20-minute break and two more subjects before one hour lunch break.

Currently, it's 09:20 so it's our break time. And I am certain 20 minutes is not enough to make Mark flirt with ma'am Iris.

It will also be harder because ma'am Iris seems to be an emotionless machine. But she's the most worthy candidate to replace me so far.

And so I'll try until it's obvious that this isn't going to work. And in that case, I plan to turn to Rose.

With this, I'll start by noon— lunchtime. It's one hour and even if it isn't long, it's not short as well.

I could also make Mark and ma'am Iris eat lunch together. Eating together is apparently an effective method to intimacy. Eating together should be a great start.

Ah! I forgot.

Al's twin sister will be treating us lunch for today. Mark will obviously come because they're friends.

Damn it. She shouldn't have bothered.

Because of this, I need to adjust and start by tomorrow. So I'll just use this time to prepare things beforehand.

A dinner in a restaurant sounds nice. But eating alone seems dull and not enough. I should think of something that will make them spend their time together for all day and possibly until midnight.

And there's also that cliché trope of hero-saves-damsel-in-distress. The reason why it's used over and over again is because it proves to be an effective trigger for a romantic development. And so I'm gonna orchestrate something similar to it for Mark and Iris in their date as well.

“Eli-chan. Let's go eat at the canteen.”

He patted my head from behind. I didn't noticed him at all.

But what is he even getting intimate with me for? We already broke up so it's inappropriate.

I tilted my head away from his hand.

“No. I need to do something.”

“Oh really? You're just dozing off though.”

Because I'm thinking for your sake. So don't disturb me and instead use your free time to interact with ma'am Iris. That would help me at the very least.

“Mark-kun, Miss Hecate. Do you want to come with us?”

I heard an annoying voice from my side. I turned to it and saw Mae with Rose and Mary.

“Oh hell hello there Mae-chan, Mary, and my dear Rose.”

“Don't call me like that you disgusting bastard!”

“How harsh.”

“Hehehe. Mark-kun, you should apologize to Rose-chan. She still, apparently haven't forgiven you yet.”

“My dear Rose. Are you still mad at me?”

“I said don't call me that! And humph! Don't overvalue yourself. Who do you think you are for me to be mad at?! You're not worthy of my anger!”

“Then kiss me like the old times.”

“Wha—?! How dare you! Why would I do that?!”

“Fufufufu. You love me after all.”

“How-dare-YOU! I never loved you! Not even once! You're a disgusting cowardly bastard who cower in fear. You're not worthy of me!”

She speaks harshly but she's so red like a ripe fruit as if juices will come out of her face if you just squish it even a little. She's clearly embarrassed.

And Mark doesn't really take me seriously doesn't he? How dare he flirts with somebody else in front of her own girlfriend.

No!

I'm mistaken. It looks like I'm still not used to the fact that there's no longer ‘us’. We already broke up.

But... I just can't help but be hurt by this.

“Heh. You never? Not even once? Fufufufufu. I wonder who was that who said , ‘I love you’ along with the soft chilly breeze of the night with moistened bright loving eyes while basking in the silver moonlight?”

“You....”

Mark giggled and Rose's eyes started tearing up while her body is trembling. It looks like she's going to cry.

But she didn't.

Instead, she kicked Mark's face.

I wanted to get up and protect him but I am surrounded by chairs and I'm currently sitting so my mobility is restricted.

So I'll be too late.

*Swish~*

I thought Mark will be hit but he dodged. He only tilted his head enough to evade Rose's kick by hairsbreadth.

Ah........

I see.

I forgot.

Perhaps it's because I've been so use of protecting him all this time— fighting in his place, or that I really never saw him fight by himself that I forgot.

Mark never needed my protection at all. He's strong himself even before he met me.

He doesn't need me. I actually have no value for him huh.

Because he already have whatever I could give him.

So breaking up with him is a good choice. He needs somebody else.

“Why are you kicking me all of sudden?”

“Tch.”

“Uh, well calm down Rose-chan. Let's not be violent here.”

Mary immediately went in between them.

“Yours truly affirm.”

“And you should stop as well Mark-kun. Stop bullying Rose-chan.”

“I am not bullying her.”

“Humph!”

Rose turned her eyes away from Mark and stepped back a little.

“Mark-kun, will you come with us?”

Mae came forward.

I said I am to be replaced by somebody better but Mae isn't even worthy to be a candidate.

I won't allow her to replace me no matter what!

“No!”

I stood up jerkily. All of them looked at me with questioning gaze. Even my classmates stared at us.

“Miss Hecate... Is there a problem?”

“No. Mark and I just have something to talk about.”

“Do we?”

Yes we do. I need to know your preferences so that I can choose better.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him with me.

“Wait don't grab me. Uhhh, oh hell. My bad Mae-chan.”

“No it's fine.”

I walked faster.

“Eli-chan! What's with the rush?”

I ignored him and we went out of the classroom.

—At the canteen crowded by students and some teachers who are buying and eating dishes.

“Hey Eli-chan. Would you please speak to me now? We've been walking for almost 10 minutes in silence. ”

“......”

“Oh hell. Okay then. For now, what do you want to eat.”

“......”

I have no appetite.

“Fufufufu. Whatever.”

He giggled and went to one of the stalls.

“How much for one cup of ‘goto’ ?”

“It's 15 pesos each.”

“Uwaah. It went up. Back in grade seven, this is only 10 pesos per cup.”

“Boy, is this your first time buying here since then? Of course it will went up after all this years. Our country is even having— what was that again? Inflation or something.”

“Kinda. Is that the only remaining baked Mac you have now? It sure sold well. How much is it?”

“Same price boy.”

“I'll buy one plus one cup of goto as well.”

“Are you going to eat all of this by yourself? Can you finish this? Don't buy too much if you can't. There's a lot who starve out there.”

“I won't eat them alone. Eli-chan will eat with me.”

Mark pointed to my position.

“Eli-chan...? Oh—Eh? Miss Hecate?!”

“What are you screaming for kuya?”

“Because it's miss Hecate!”

“Huh?”

“Why did you not say she's with you?!”

“Again, stop screaming. Uh well you didn't ask.”

“Nevermind that. I'll give you a discount.”

“Oh hell why not? Fufufu.”

Because that guy screamed, many started to notice me.

“That's miss Hecate right?”

“Yes she is. She's really pretty.”

“This is rare. To think she'll come to the canteen twice in a row.”

“Do you think she'll agree if I invite her for lunch?”

“Why don't you try? Go ahead. I'll just watch from afar.”

“Okay. I'll just buy her a baked mac.”

He came to the stall Mark is buying from.

“Kuya, can you please give me one baked mac?”

“Oh I'm sorry. It's sold out.”

“Don't lie to me. There's still one over there.”

“Oh this one is for that boy beside you.”

“Fufufu. It is indeed mine.”

“Huh? Are you mocking me?”

“I don't.”

“Don't lie to me. Look at your expression. Your clearly mocking me.”

“Oh hell please. This is my default expression. You can asked him.”

“He's right. I don't also know why but he has been smiling since before he even came to my stall.”

“You both sounds like conspiring against me. Hurry up! What are you gonna do if she leaves?”

“We're not conspiring against you boy. It's just the fact.”

“Shut up and sell it to me!”

“Oh hell you sounds impatient. I wonder who's the lucky girl.”

“Stop mocking me!”

He pushed Mark away and Mark was knocked back by a few steps.

“Humph. Know who you're going against kid.”

How dare...

How dare he hurt Mark.

I won't allow it.

We broke up but I'll never allow this. Never!

I'll kill him.

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Illustration: https://bit.ly/3xzK9h6