"Yeah! Sister!"
Mark bolted upright in his bed, his heart racing as fragments of a long-forgotten dream faded.
Haha, what a stupid promise, he thought, running a hand through his messy white hair.
Why did he think it was stupid, you ask? Simple. His sister Rosa—now 18—already had a boyfriend: her so-called childhood friend.
They'd started dating when Rosa was 16, her boyfriend John was 15, and Mark himself was 14. How they found the time to begin their relationship, Mark never figured out. But he did know one thing—he was jealous. Not just jealous—furious. Furious at John, his former best friend, and a little resentful of Rosa for forgetting their promise.
Though, in truth, it was just a childish promise… wasn't it?
John, with his brown hair and sharp yellow eyes, was everything Mark despised. And Rosa, with her soft white hair and kind green eyes, was everything Mark adored. Mark himself had the same snowy white hair as Rosa, but his eyes were a piercing light blue.
Shaking his head, Mark pushed the thoughts aside. He climbed out of his bed, its white sheets adorned with Pikachu pillows, and began his morning routine. A quick change into his school uniform, followed by a 15-minute shower, left him checking his watch. 7:15 AM. Ten minutes to eat.
After finishing breakfast, brushing his teeth, and grabbing his bag, Mark stepped out into the brisk morning air and began his walk to Magnet University, a prestigious and expensive institution. Thanks to his father, a wealthy CEO of a tech company, tuition wasn't an issue.
"Mark!"
A cheerful voice called out as he entered the bustling halls. Turning, Mark saw Lisa, a girl with radiant blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She waved energetically.
Lisa was a lively and optimistic girl, though Mark had noticed her demeanor shift since John started dating Rosa. Once bubbly, Lisa had grown quieter, more introspective. Mark knew why—she had always liked John.
For the past three days, Mark had been spending time with Lisa, hoping to lift her spirits and perhaps carve out a little space for himself in her heart. Even if she only saw him as a friend, Mark was determined to make her fall for him.
Because Mark had a goal. A selfish, burning desire to ruin John's life.
I'll take everything from him. His happiness, his love—I'll steal it all. He doesn't deserve any of it.
Mark's thoughts darkened, a smirk curling at his lips. And if it comes down to it… Father could handle the rest. With his power and connections, John could disappear from this city entirely.
Mark pushed the vengeful thoughts away as he entered his classroom. Rosa was in Class A, while he was in Class B, and he preferred it that way. Their relationship had cooled over the years, especially after their mother's death when Mark turned 12. That was also the year John entered their lives, slowly winning Rosa's heart.
The very thought of it made Mark's fists clench.
Before Mark could sink further into his anger, Lisa broke the silence. Her desk was right next to his, and her cheerful tone was a welcome distraction.
"Mark! Did you finish the homework from yesterday?" she asked. Though she didn't sound too worried—she knew Mark was one of the smartest students in class, despite being infuriatingly lazy.
Mark smirked. "Yeah, I finished it. Want me to pass it to you? Let me guess—you couldn't finish it because of your part-time job?"
Lisa blushed lightly, laughing nervously. "Guilty as charged. Could you, um… let me copy it?"
Mark handed her the papers with a casual shrug. "Sure. It's not a big deal."
Lisa beamed. "Thanks, Mark! You're a lifesaver. I'll finish copying it before class starts."
"It's no problem," Mark replied, leaning back in his chair. "But since I'm being so generous, how about you treat me to a meal? Maybe a restaurant?"
Lisa's cheeks turned crimson, her eyes widening in shock. "Wha—what?! Stop joking, Mark! I'm just repaying you for the homework!"
Mark chuckled, clearly amused by her flustered reaction. "Relax, Lisa. I was only kidding. But if you do want to treat me, I'd be happy to call it a date with someone as charming as you."
Lisa turned even redder, stammering incoherently before burying her face in the notebook. Mark grinned, pleased with the effect his teasing had on her.
Ten minutes later, the teacher arrived, silencing the chatter in the room.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning," the students echoed in unison.
The teacher scanned the room before speaking again. "Turn to page 67 of Volume 1, Advanced Mathematics. Let's begin."
As Mark opened his book, he glanced at Lisa, who was still stealing embarrassed glances at him.
Mark smiled mischievously at Lisa, his light blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
Lisa quickly raised her book, hiding her flushed face behind its pages.
Lisa's Thoughts: Why does Mark suddenly seem more attractive than usual?
Truthfully, Lisa wasn't indifferent to Mark as a romantic interest. And Mark was far from unattractive. If John was a solid 7/10, Mark was easily a 9/10—his sharp features, confident attitude, and mischievous charm made him undeniably appealing.
Still, she harbored lingering feelings for her childhood friend, John. Yet recently, John had been distant, spending most of his time with Rosa—Mark's sister. As a result, Lisa had grown closer to Mark. They now shared a bond that went beyond casual friendship.
However, over the past few days, Lisa had been battling an unsettling reality: her thoughts about Mark were growing erratic… and undeniably dirty.
Her cheeks reddened further as her mind wandered to the dream.
In it, she had been cornered by Mark in one of the university's empty hallways. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with an intensity that made her knees weak. His voice, low and commanding, whispered her name as he leaned in. Lisa had resisted at first, but when Mark's lips found her neck and his hands gripped her waist, her resolve crumbled.
In the dream, she had reached out to touch him, her fingers brushing over his chest. Even through his shirt, she could feel the hard lines of his muscles, the defined curve of his pectorals.
Lisa shook her head violently, dispelling the memory before it consumed her. Why am I like this?!
Despite her best efforts, the question nagged at her mind. Does Mark actually have pecs that defined in real life?
The thought lingered for only a moment before Lisa shoved it away, horrified by her own imagination. Stop it, Lisa! That's just another dirty thought!
She took a deep breath, clutching her book tightly. But when she peeked over the top, she caught Mark still looking at her with that same infuriating smile.
Her heart skipped a beat.