"Fuck!" was all that Mara could say after the two monkeys started looking at Mark's and then her way.
"What's wrong with this guy? Why is he even talking to me?" there are so many questions in Mara's mind but she wasn't even interested at answering them. All she wanted to do was disappear, especially when Mark still decided to continue talking to her.
Mark has been a long time neighbour, but we have never been close. I even try to stay away from such a guy who I tend to call as an "attention magnet". He is so handsome for his own good that women sometimes mistake my house for his that sometimes they leave the chocolates and letters outside of my house. My mother always returned the letters. She didn't know about the chocolates because I always got to them first. Finders-keepers.
He is handsome but not as handsome as my Richard. His red hair I guess is the main reason why he attracts all these girls. Or it could also be his pretty brown eyes. Or his thin red lips. Or his high cheek bones. Or his long lashes.
You get what I mean. A typical pretty boy.
Not as pretty as my Richard.
"Hey! Mara! Nothing to say? They were bad-mouthing you about being ugly when they themselves haven't even yet completed the evolution. Dumbasses."
His voice brought her back to the present.
You can see the smirk in his face while looking at the two jerks. He looks like he is enjoying this.
He does have a point that they shouldn't be bad-mouthing her, but damn if she wants to tell them to stop. She is a wallflower for pete's sake. She doesn't want to attract attention.
It's a good thing that the two jerks didn't feel the need to make it into a bigger issue and just turned their backs from Mark after Mara heard "jerk" and "crazy".
Atleast he got away with just some insults. Mara couldn't help but release a sigh.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Now Mark is sitting on the seat right next to her. She did notice him move but didn't expect him to come any closer.
"Because it's a hassle to catch further attention and I also don't see the need to stop people from expressing their opinions." She was still trying to lower her voice. She doesn't know why but she has the feeling that she should.
"You should have said something. You seem to be just giving them reasons to keep on doing so." He was looking at her now.
"And give them further reason to talk about me? That I am also senstitive on top of being ugly and plain? No, thanks. I value my peace and quiet." She can't help looking at him now. He just sounds so rediculous.
That got him quiet. Well, good.
The teacher then walked in and started the discussion. She likes to listen to lectures because she can't do shit studying so she just makes sure to listen carefully. Her stock knowledge helped her in so many ways than one and she is quite thankful that her brain still has the capability to store info even though her studying skills suck.
Halfway through the lesson, she heard Mark say something. She didn't catch it so she kept on listening to the teacher and writing down notes. He was looking at the teacher so she thought he was just mumbling to himself.
He mumbled something again and this time, I can't help but notice that he is trying to address me.
Irritated, I can't help but snap at him. "What!? Can't you see I am making notes here?" It's quite unfair since this guy is naturally intelligent so even if he won't lesson, he can still answer a test and ace it.
"They were wrong. You aren't ugly. You aren't plain." He said while all looking at the board with his hand under his chin. "You are already pretty as you are."
All I could do was stare. And then wince. If that came from another guy, it would have been believable. But it's from Mark. The guy who even called her plain half an hour ago.
I scoffed at him before looking back at the board. "I know. My boyfriend keep on reminding me so."
I can't help but smile. It's true that Richard keeps on telling her so. It's his mantra towards me everytime he texts me in the morning. It's more like an encouragement for her 'cause God knows how much she needs it.
She isn't ugly just as those assholes said, but she also isn't that pretty. I think I can pass as basic. Basic light brown hair, that I more often than not forget to brush that's why they are tangled most of the time. Basic round-shaped face. Basic pert nose. Basic round eyes. Basic thick lips. They aren't even red. They are just basic brownish red.
Just... basic. Nothing special. And I even wear glasses on top of that because my eyesight may not be too bad, but it's also not too good. I am planning to have laser treatment in the next year to fix her eyesight completely.
But Richard did not see basic in her. He saw - a special Mara, behind all the basicness.
That's why Richard is the best.
Speaking of Richard, it's time for her to message him to check if they can eat lunch together.
"Hi babe! I have cooked pasta for lunch. Your favorite! Where should we meet?" Yes. I can cook. I thought that being basic is already too much so let's add cooking as a skill to make me much better.
After I hit send, I notice a heavy stare. Mark.
What's with this guy today? He is acting quite weird than usual. And by weird than usual I mean that he tends to do this a lot ever since we were in elementary school. He will just stare at me and say nothing. Whenever he does, it's only for a few sentences and then he will just leave without looking at me.
I can even remember one time when I was in high school. I was bullied by a group of girls because they told me to stay away from Richard who was still my best friend at that time. I didn't get a scratch from the biches though because I am insanely strong on my own already, but this guy, Mark, came after the girls started running after I punched their leader in the gut. He just walked towards me and said, "Don't make people worry."
See what I mean? Weird.
My phone beeped. Taking me away from my reminiscing.
"I can't today, babe. I have something to do and I will be skipping lunch. Thank you though. And love you. See you later after school."
Crestfallen, all I can do is type "Okay." and then hit send.
A sigh came out and the the bell rang, signalling the end of the lecture. I didn't want to pack my things yet. I can't eat all that pasta by myself. And even made it extra special.
"I read your text." The weird one said.
No answer from me. I don't want to talk to him.
"I like pasta."
So?
"I can eat it for you. I know you don't like pasta."
That got her attention. How did he know that? The pasta she made was only for Richard since she doesn't like the taste of the sauce at all even though she is the one cooking it. That's why she cooked her very own fish fillet for her own lunch.
Mark got onto what she was thinking and answered on his own. "I heard your mom talking about it to my mom when she gave us a bowl of pasta once. Saying it was for your boyfriend who was unable to come visit."
She remembers that time. Richard said that he had an emergency and can't come to dinner. My mother didn't want to eat all of the pasta I made for him and decided to give it to Mark's mom.
"So, can I eat the pasta?"