Loving Lisbeth Salander (XIV Series #1)

The Boy and Regrets III

Mark.

Well, I’ll make sure I remember that name in case you use it against me again. Or maybe my impulse was telling me I wanted to remember him for the things he was surprisingly doing to me, the things he was doing to me so effortlessly.

I took my pen and started scribbling the seagull’s face in my notebook. I drew an off shape circle before I drew in ugly sunken cheeks and sharp jawlines. Then I drew his check shaped crooked brows with his tiny Asian eyes. Then his thin lips that were just popping out from his sunken face structure. His hair, I just stoke strands that covered his entire forehead as it seemed like it was his natural hair. I wrote down the letters M-A-R-K just below the sketch and smirked as I stared at my masterpiece.

It actually looked like him.

“Don’t worry, class. The exam will be easy as pie!”

My brows furrowed as soon as I glanced up to see what was happening in the class. Oliver had just announced and the students obviously didn’t believe him. It was a given that when professors say an exam would be easy, it was going to be hard as f**k. Oliver never gave an easy test and everyone knew that. No one even bought it the first time he said it, otherwise, they wouldn’t be grunting at his announcement.

“I’m gonna need you to explain concepts and theories so you better keep those ears open today so you don’t get a zero! Oh and,” He paused in suspense. “You just have to answer one question.”

At that, the students roared bitter complains for we all expected for the quiz to be orally taken. Worse part of it was it was going to be the one-type question. So there was a hundred of thousand possibilities of what question he would be giving to each student.

“Before I forget, could you all be kind enough to bring out a sheet of paper for a quiz from yesterday’s lesson.” Oliver flashed a wicked smile, making the class grunt louder. He knew the pain and suffering he was giving this class and he enjoyed every bit of it.

The whole class cried in misery. They were screwed, of course. Oliver loved pop quizzes that’s why I always try to picture every slide he shows for the class. Except when I really need some sleep and I don’t bother picturing his class plans. I depend on my stock knowledge most times when that happens which thankfully still works despite having photographic memory. I guess it was one of the great factors of having one. I had my fair share of advantages with my photographic memory. Sucks on them for not having it.

I sat watching everyone toggle with their bags to bring out their pens and papers. f*****g surprise tests are the worse, even for me. What more to them?

“That’s what you get when you just attend your class for attendance, my dear students!” Oliver laughed like a demon.

I didn’t know why they called me a demon when the real demon was standing before them. They were clearly biased on setting that title only for me. Oliver was worse than I was. If anything, he should be named after the worse demon there is because he sure did deserved it.

“Next time, maybe you should actually pay attention during class.” He eyed everyone who probably flunked every exam.

Mark’s chair moved a little back to face me. “I know you’re smart but don’t slack off during the exam.” He turned to me and handed me a piece of paper and a pen although I already have one. “I’m offering you a deal, Forest.” f*****g Mack. “If I beat you today, you’ll have to buy me a watermelon and you will not complain of me sitting close to you.” f*****g watermelon? “Sealed. Great.”

What made this guy think I’m going to lose to him? Did he f*****g forget that I have photographic memory? Once it was there, it was there forever. f**k this seagull who doesn’t even know what he was on about – always trying to act so strong-willed but he was just a f*****g wimp deep inside. “And you’re never gonna talk to me ever again if you don’t score higher than me, deal.”

“Deal.”

What the f**k did I just get myself into? And what am I actually scared for? I’m going to beat his ass. I’m all for this class. I’m fairly confident with myself but for some reason, having to bet and have to deal with this guy, still somehow made me nervous. Everyone knows I nail chemistry so there was no way he was going to beat me off a stupid pop quiz.

After the exam, I never felt so energized. A part of my energy comes from the relief I feel for finally getting rid of this Mark not Mack guy. Now I just have to wait ‘till morning before he’s finally out of my sight forever.

Getting sleepy during classes was only a natural reaction students were allowed to feel especially if the teacher’s f*****g discussing like an old turtle. I was about to step out when Mark blocked my way and flashed his stupid monkey smile. I glared at him scrunching the strap of my bag, tempted to take down this kid once and for all. But I knew I only had this day to control my anger towards him. So I had to be patient one last time and I’m again as free as a freed convict. After today, everything will be back to normal.

“Let’s head to the front together.”

I snorted out loud and said, “No,” before hitting his shoulders with mine on purpose as I walked pass him upon taking my leave off the room.

“But you’re going home right?”

Fuck. He catches up pretty solid. He should be working his way to the sprinting job and not annoy me every time he gets the chance.

“And I’m going home too. I don’t see why we can’t.”

I stopped from my tracks and turned to him, my body weight heavily concentrated to the right. “Because I don’t f*****g want to walk with you and be called a spawn of evil walking with f*****g God’s messenger.” I raised my hands in the air and let them fall down in frustration.

He blinked but I rolled my eyes and continued walking away despite the uncomfortable stares that I’ve been getting from being seen with this stupid kid. “Wh— But why? I mean, I can just walk with you even if you throw me off. It’s not really your position to tell me not to walk the same direction as you, you know—”

“HEY!” I exclaimed, finally unable to contain my anger any longer despite just telling myself I would be patient with him one last time. “I don’t need to hear you talk about f*****g authority, okay?” I’ve had enough of that s**t. “I know that s**t! You don’t have to f*****g tell me! You can follow me anywhere I want, for f**k’s sake. Just don’t f*****g talk to me!”

“Because talking makes you tired, right?” He smiled like he wasn’t, a bit, scared of the tone of my voice, of the way my eyes stared, of how I was towards him – and that was frustrating me even more.

I sneered at the guy and marched away, completely ignoring the fact that I could sense that he was trailing my tracks.

When my phone rang, I turned to see if Mark was around, and he wasn’t fortunately. I walked down the narrow alley between two separate buildings, pulling my phone out of my bag. As soon as I saw the name of the caller, I rolled my eyes and debated whether or not I should take the call. I didn’t want to make this day worse than it already did. “What?” I answered the call anyway. I needed to hear what she was going to say no matter how much I hated the b***h.

“I already sent the money.”

I felt my jaws tighten as I heard the supposedly good news. “You don’t have to call to tell me that you steal ninety percent of our money to buy Garnet all the s**t she doesn’t even need.” I wasn’t even talking to this woman face to face but my anger was at its peak. I wanted to get a hold of her f*****g neck so I could strangle her to death.

“And if you keep talking to me like that, I swear to f*****g God I’m stealing a hundred percent.”

“f**k you.”