When Monday came, the entire school seemed to be aware of our victory during the SciTech festival. Every time I turned, the students would smile and point at my direction before looking at their phones. I haven't seen any banners around campus about it but I figured they must have posted it in the online community. I didn't have time to check because I was preparing for an exam for my History class.
"Mark!"
I turned and saw Haechan waving, running towards my direction. I was a little confused to see him because it's Monday. We don't eat together during lunch every Monday.
"How can you last a day without thinking how to treat me with your prize money?!" He exclaimed as soon as he reached my side.
I chuckled, nodding my head. "Did they really post it?"
"Post it?! It's already posted on every department there is! But yeah, they posted it on the website last night. I was supposed to call you but I remember you telling me you're having a quiz so I didn't. Congrats though!"
"Thank you, Haechan." I smiled.
"You're treating me lunch right?" He pulled my arms as we headed inside the cafeteria. "Of course you are. Even if you didn't win I'd still ask for a treat."
I laughed. This is the least I can do for Haechan for everything he put up with me. I can treat him every day if he wanted but he didn't.
When we got our food, we scanned for an empty table but I dragged Haechan with me when I saw Forest sitting in a table alone. Haechan couldn't really complain because I paid for his lunch and he loves me too much, I guess.
"Hi Forest!" I greeted but she doesn't even look up to me. I sat down across her with Haechan next to me. He was glaring at her like she was a demonic presence that was bothering his soul. "Ms. Khan said we'll be having dinner with her and Mr. Joule on Friday."
"Great." She replied coldly.
I looked down in shame. I was used to her ignoring me but it's a little embarrassing when you're trying to talk to someone and they just don't reply anything. Maybe it's more embarrassing because I expected she would.
"Hey Lucy. Congrats on winning." Haechan barked at her but she just shot him a glare. At least Haechan can make her look at him. I sound jealous, oh god.
"I have a name."
Haechan flinches. "Okay, geez, stop staring at me like you're about to kill me."
She shook her head and proceeded back to eating.
"You should pay for my drink since Mark paid for my food. That's fair right? Since I helped him look for you before and when this stupid guy passed out." Haechan suddenly said.
I turned to him, eyes wide. I never thought Haechan would have the courage to talk to her like this – so casual like they've talked to each other before.
"Get the entire fucking store if that makes you happy."
"In fact I will. Thank you for your kindness."
"Are you really?"
"You know that answer to that."
"Okay." I said, looking back and forth at the two of them as they throw each other sarcastic replies. "I'll buy you the drink Haechan so Forest doesn't have to buy it. She has a lot of things she needs to—"
"Oh please." Haechan wheezed. "Stop making excuses for this woman, Mark. I'd like this girl you like so much to buy it for me. I just need to see it for myself."
I felt like a background. Why do I feel like a background? Why are they both so heated? Why are they both so angry at each other? I don't understand. Did something happen between these two that I don't know about?
Forest looked away, snorting. "You got some balls talking to me like that. How interesting." She smirked. "I'll buy you your fucking juice box, ugly horse-face."
Haechan lips trembled. "U-Ugly horse— You're calling this face ugly h— wow…" He looked away in disbelief. "I can't believe you like this girl, Mark."
"Yeah, blame it on your boyfriend."
"I'd rather be his boyfriend than see him date you!"
My lips parted in shock. "That's enough. Really. Let's just eat peacefully okay?" My heart jumped when the two of them were glaring at each other like they're about to take it on the ring. What a messy lunch break.
Haechan and I parted after lunch. Forest left when she was done eating. I learned today not to have them both together in one table. That lunch was more chaotic than I imagined. It's a disaster. It was stupid of me to think that I'd get Haechan to get along with her. I should have known that was happening.
"Forest Young?"
I stopped from my tracks.
"Lucifer's daughter."
It was coming from a small room that I was passing by. I couldn't see the people inside but their voices were so loud, I can hear them from the small opening from the door.
"Why are you talking about that murderer?"
"Murderer?!"
"She killed someone?!"
"This guy she hangs out with exposed her in public. He said she killed a girl named Rachel and that she burned the cabin to get rid of all the evidences that could lead to her."
I clenched my fist. I wanted people to stop trying to ruin her name. She's not a bad person and only I know that. I'm so frustrated that I'm standing here listening to their crap.
"Didn't you hear the rumors? Seriously. What are you doing with your life?"
"No, I haven't! Except that she and Mark won the science thingy."
I hear someone grunt. "That's another issue too. She thinks everything's fine now just because a guy like Mark is biting onto her tail like a dog."
"No way, they're dating?!"
"What, since when?!"
"I honestly don't see why he likes her so much. Connie's been watching out for him but he's still rejecting her mercilessly. Mark can be so much more."
"Wait but did she really kill Rachel? Did someone actually saw her do it? Why is she not expelled then?" These girls… "And why would she do that to her? Were they friends?"
"Maybe she's jealous of her. Forest doesn't have anything, no money, no family, no boyfriend to love her and Rachel had everything she wanted. Maybe she was just too env—"
"Stop." I opened the door, catching all their attention. The three girls turned to me, eyes widened in surprise. "You girls," I eyed each of them in disgust. "—are worse than what you say about Forest."
The three of them were speechless. They looked taken aback by my sudden interruption but I couldn't stay there knowing they were talking bad about Forest.
"Don't talk bad about people you don't know." They look scared but didn't look guilty for saying all that. "You're all ridiculous. You should be ashamed of yourselves."
When Chemistry class came, I couldn't stop looking at Forest and feel sad about the things that are happening behind her back. I wonder if people talk bad about me like that too. It's sad to see people ruining each other just because of the cruel society we're taking part of.
I couldn't even process the things Mr. Oliver was talking about. I was so bothered. I was always bothered by everything that involves Forest but this just makes me furious. Everyone's just accusing her of doing something she's so guilty of that it made her shut herself from the world. I blame all these people for making her like this.
"Okay, that's all for today class." Class is over? Already? "Make sure you turn in your essays over this table before I enter the class tomorrow. Dismissed."
I sighed, bending my body over the table collapsing in distress. How am I going to finish the essay if I didn't pay any attention a while ago? I'm going to have to ask one of my classmates about the topic – and everyone knows I don't normally ask because I've always been attentive until today. What am I honestly doing with my life? I'm better than this.
"Ah! What the—" I yelped when something suddenly hits my head. I rose from the table, frowning only to be welcomed by Forest. She looked down at me with her brows creased. "F-Forest…"
She throws me something so I immediately tried to catch it. I've always been thankful for having fast flexes. "Are you on drugs or something?"
I blinked unable to respond to her question. D-Drugs?
"Tell your friend to suck that up to his ass."
I stared at the juice box she just threw at me and chuckled. "You really brought him this?" I asked her in disbelief. I knew Forest always stayed true to her words but I wouldn't think she'd be that way towards Haechan who showed her nothing but rudeness. Haechan's so lucky.
"You fucking friend surprisingly makes more sense than you so blame him," She raised a brow, crossing her arms at me. "That's his price for being a bitch in front of me."
I bobbed my head, ting out a small chuckle. "I'll make sure he gets this and tell him it's a peace offering."
"Peace offering, my ass." She whispered to herself but I heard her loud and clear. "You can tell him it's poison and I'm trying to kill him like how I kill roaches." She hissed and suddenly throws me another thing. I crouched back a little in fear of the sudden violence. I glanced up to her before I looked at what she threw me this time. Her—
"Return that tomorrow."
My heart was so happy, I can feel it pounding loud against my chest. I almost forgot I was so mad two seconds ago and with just this, I ended up feeling giddy and soft after all. She just gave me her notebook. I smiled at the leather notebook I had in my hand. Ever her things feel like her.
"If you're going to slack off during classes, maybe you shouldn't attend the class at all. You're so fucking troublesome. Do you know that?"
I smiled. "I didn't know I was bothering you—"
"Well now you know,"
My heart raced. I'm bothering her now but not the way it used to be. It's as if she was bothered because she was worried and not annoyed or irritated. I'm analyzing it right, right? How else can someone bother you?
"Go home. If I see you at a party tonight, I'm kicking your stupid ass."
I'll get kicked by Forest many times and I��d still like her.