Mark watched Lisa during recess. He saw her sitting alone at one of the patio tables, her elbows resting on her knees and her head in her hands. She didn't seem to notice anyone else around.
Mark approached her without making the slightest noise until he stopped close enough for her to look up. Lisa blinked in surprise but didn't say anything.
Mark dropped into the chair in front of her.
"I heard you work at that cafeteria at night," he told her so naturally that even he wasn't able to swallow his act.
Lisa nodded while playing with a napkin between her fingers.
"Yeah! Buen Sabor is a quiet place, although some customers are unbearable," Lisa revealed.
"Doesn't it bother you having to deal with guys who just want to hook up with you while you're trying to work?" Mark asked, following the plan he had drawn up to get revenge on Jhon.
—Of course it bothers me, but what can I do if I need the money and the tips help a lot? —Lisa said, letting a bitter smile show.
—Lisa, no one should treat you like that, especially when you're working so hard to get ahead in this university. John never understood that kind of thing, right? —Mark let out the words he was holding in and narrowed his eyes as if they were a negatoscope.
Lisa looked down, feeling uncomfortable, but something in her expression changed. It was true that John had never shown interest in how she felt with all the stress she was carrying.
—But I'm here, I care about you. You know that, right? I can't ignore what's happening to you —Mark continued speaking so naturally until his hands rested on Lisa's and their eyes met for several seconds— Let me help you suffer less.
Mark stood up, letting go of Lisa's hands and began to walk, leaving a whirlwind of confusing thoughts in the girl's mind, comparing every gesture, every word from Mark with what she once received from John. Everything seemed to revolve around the same point, Mark, he was there for her in a way that John never was.
Later Mark walked through the halls deliberately looking for Laila, Micaela and Leticia until he found them gathered near the lockers whispering about math problems that they didn't even understand.
They always ran to ask Jhon for help even though it was obvious that their intentions went beyond solving the damn equations. Mark had come to the conclusion that by wasting time trying to find validation in John they shouldn't even be at that university because they weren't capable of handling such basic concepts as that analytical geometry is a branch of mathematics that studies geometric figures in the plane and in space, and that it is based on mathematical analysis and algebra.
—The same thing again? Are you going to wait for John to come and solve your problems? Are you going to keep dreaming about that? —Mark said, letting out all the venom he had inside him once he stopped in front of them with an arrogant posture.
The girls looked at each other as if to say, What's up with this idiot?
But Mark didn't give them time to react and took the pencil from Leticia's hand without asking permission. He began to determine if the opposite sides of a parallelogram were parallel, in Micaela's notebook.
Mark's hands moved so violently that it seemed like he was going to tear the pages. When he finished, he slammed the notebook shut and left it on Leticia's legs as if it were an annoying insect.
It's done, the opposite sides of a parallelogram are parallel because they are the same distance from each other and they never cross —he spoke naturally as if he were a teacher— Now you can stop wasting your time chasing John, he will never pay attention to you, just like I won't either but at least I don't ignore you when you really need help.
They stayed silent processing Mark's words. Something in his tone made them feel small and insignificant but at the same time there was something magnetic in the way Mark challenged them bluntly. No boy had ever dared to speak to them like that before.
When Mark walked away he turned his head towards them throwing a last biting sentence They should focus on improving instead of looking for validation where they won't find it.
Mark felt a pang of discomfort with himself as he walked down the hall. He wasn't a cruel person but he couldn't stop himself. Especially since it was the only way to carry out his purpose: to hurt John.
Mark clenched his fists remembering how his childhood friend had betrayed his trust by becoming Rosa's boyfriend.
Anger boiled under his skin but there was something else too, he felt guilty. It wasn't like him to treat people like that or at least that's what he thought before. However now everything seemed to be justified under the weight of his revenge. Only Lisa seemed different, with her, he still kept something of the person he used to be. He couldn't allow himself to be so crude, so hurtful because deep down he wanted something more from her, something that went beyond his initial plan, but for the moment he couldn't admit it.
Mark's footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as he reflected on what he had just done.
In the worst case scenario the girls would start talking about his behavior, murmuring about how arrogant he was, but he didn't care. The only thing that occupied his mind was the image of John slowly losing everything he had. Starting by snatching away the love interest the girls had towards John.
As they crossed one of the hallways where the portraits of the students with the highest IQs of the university hung, Mark stopped in front of a window, looking out at the courtyard where Lisa still sat alone. A part of him wanted to approach her again to talk to her about something that had nothing to do with his manipulations or hidden plans. But another, darker part of him urged him to continue moving towards his goal no matter the cost.
He shook his head, dismissing those momentary thoughts. There was no turning back now. He had chosen this path and he would continue until John paid for having crossed the forbidden line. Until he knew what it meant to lose everything.
In the courtyard Lisa was still sitting watching the other students move around. Mark's last comments still echoed in her mind and mixed with memories of past moments with John. She was beginning to notice subtle but important differences in the way they both treated her. And although she tried to resist something inside her leaned towards the attention that Mark was showing towards her.
Lisa let out a deep sigh.
The hours continued to move forward without stopping and the school day came to an end. Mark walked out of the main building adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. The cool evening air hit him bringing with it a temporary sense of calm. He walked slowly towards the main exit where he knew Lisa usually waited for the bus.
From a distance he saw her standing by the booth insistently checking her mobile phone. He paused for a moment debating whether or not to approach her. Finally he decided to take a few steps towards her but keeping a certain visible distance.
Lisa looked up and noticed him immediately. There was a brief moment of hesitation in her expression but then she gave him a small smile. Mark responded with a slight nod before continuing on his way without saying a word.
Every interaction, every gesture counted in his elaborate plan was making Lisa feel attracted to Mark, but the problem was that something in Mark towards Lisa was forming inside him as well. Something that Mark would have to fight with later on.