“Why did you not invite Nica? I'd like to hear her love story you know.”

“I did invite her for your information. But she doesn't want to come. She's too busy chatting after all.”

“Fumufumu. Somebody's gonna cry for sure.”

“How rude. Don't just assume that her love life will end up badly.”

“Well who knows. But I just wanted to have a drink. Never tried that before. Drinking and comforting a broken hearted friend I mean fufufu.”

“Likewise Mark.”

“Mark, Al, stop that. Though, I did told her not too take it too seriously but she just frowned asking, ‘Why shouldn't I?’. I don't know what to answer so I just shut up.”

“I think I understand what Nica is feeling.”

“Mae-chan, you finally joined in the conversation.”

“Hehehe. Well, I can't relate to your topics earlier.”

“What do you understand about Nica's feeling Mae?”

“Well, you know, she just wanted to love. And so, she wants to pushed it 'till the end. So why would she not take it seriously? It's her own wants.”

“Fufu. I agree with Mae-chan. Desire is what compels human. Our fundamental driving force. So naturally, if they wanted something, they'll do something about it themselves. Because it's for themselves after all.”

“Okay okay. But let's not be philosophical here Mark. And change topic! Rose, Elizabeth, and Mary are being left out.”

“Very well fufufufu~”

“I'm fine Lyn-chan.”

“Humph! As if I care.”

“..........”

“Why don't you chat her Lyn? She might have forgotten to eat her lunch.”

“Oh that. I already thought of it. So I took out her lunch box and put it on her arm chair.”

“Oh. Speaking of lunchbox, have you gotten over your trauma for lunchbox, Lyn...?”

“Huh? What are you talkin— Hiiih! A-Are you planning on something again...?”

“Don't do it Mark. Lyn is really terrified by the sound of a sudden opening of a lunchbox.”

“Don't bully her Mark-kun.”

“How rude. I'm not a bully you know.”

“Really now? Humph. I wonder who was that who left us fight for ourselves.”

“You're still not done with that, my dear Rose. I told you I'll compensate you with a date.”

“Wha— I don't care! And I said not to call me that!”

“Wait wait wait! What are you all talking about? What's this ‘lunchbox trauma’? Why Lyn-chan? Is lunchbox scary?”

“Well Mary, Mark-kun once brought a bloody chopped rat and frog in his lunchbox back in grade seven.”

“What the hell! You're disgusting Mark! Remember not to touch me, humph. I don't want to be sick through you. Gross!”

“Uh.. hehe.. why would you even.. uh.. why would you bring that Mark-kun..?”

“Mae-chan, you told the story wrongly. I never did brought it myself. Crystal played a prank on me. She was just sad. It's because I moved up to highschool so of course she was left behind in our elementary school given that she's still in grade 5.”

“I apologize Mark-kun.”

“It's fine Mae-chan.”

“No no no! Something is also wrong with your story Mark-kun.”

“Really? I don't think I'm misremembering things.”

“I also don't think so Mary.”

“Right. That's how I remember it as well.”

“God! Stop reminding of that days. Although that's the reason why Mae, Nica, and I started becoming friends. But please stop reminding me of it. I still feel disgusted you know. However, Mark isn't mistaken Mary. That's how I remember it as well.”

“Not that! Am I seriously the only one who find Mark-kun's little sister pranking him with a dead rat a wrong thing?!”

Don't shout Mary. We're in a silent place you know.

Look at the customers, they're frowning. Most of them are teachers as well.

They're probably thinking ‘This kids lack manners’— or something akin to that.

And one of them is our granny— our very strict beloved teacher in UCSP.

“Oh right. That's pretty abnormal.”

“I guess we just got so used to it.”

“I'm sorry Mary.”

“‘Got used to it’? You're all strange!”

“Just accept it Mary. Mark just really brainwashed them.”

“I didn't. But I guess you're also one of them my dear Rose.”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Alright don't punch me.”

“It's actually better than Crystal attempting to electrocute Mark.”

“I didn't know of this story but it sounds dangerous.”

“Of course it would be new to you, Lyn. Mark just said this yesterday.”

“Tell me the details later.”

“I'll say it to you at home later.”

“What?! Why are you all acting too calm? Mark-kun, is your family okay?”

“Don't stress over it anymore Mary. They're all had been brainwashed by Mark as I said.”

“But you're too calm as well Rose-chan.”

“Humph!”

“It's not a big deal Mary. And stop shouting, the teachers are getting annoyed fufufu.”

“Because it is a big deal!”

“Alright then.”

“What's all this ruckus about?”

The granny ended up coming to us anyway.

“Uh, good morning po ma'am.”

“Hello po ma'am.”

“Good morning po ma'am.”

Rose , Mary, and Mae stood up immediately then greeted.

“Sorry po ma'am.”

Al nodded after standing up and Lyn also did.

“Fufufufu. Hello ma'am~ How's your day?”

I stood up as well and turned to Eli-chan but...

When did she disappear? Impressive. To think I wouldn't notice.

“Tellisha, Rose. What's with your attitude? You're ought to enforce public order yet... .Don't forget you're an SSG officer! You're supposed to be a role model for the student body. Especially you miss Mary. I could hear you shouting a ‘dead rat’ or something. We're all eating here you know!”

Rose and Mary lowered their head.

Granny turned to Mae-chan.

“You just transferred here right? What's with your behavior?”

“Sorry po ma'am.”

Mae-chan didn't shout though.

Granny then asked Al and Lyn.

“I can't seem to remember you. What's your name and who's your adviser?”

“Sorry po ma'am. I'm Lyn and he's Al.”

“We're both from HUMMS-3 po ma'am.”

“HUMMS? Yet you're attitude. I'll say this to your teacher.”

“Sorry po ma'am.”

Al and Lyn lowered their eyes. They look calm though. As expected of someone from a military bloodline.

And right.

I haven't really mentioned my class section to you. Because it's not that significant. But because granny opened an opportunity for it, then might as well discuss it now.

It doesn't need a long explanation. The sectioning was done fairly simple. The school management just took the strand name and added a number suffix with it as an individual identification for a class in their strand.

I, Eli-chan, Rose, Mary, and Mae are in STEM-2.

“And you Reverren. How dare you be so disrespectful.”

Eh.

“Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? I'm talking about your way of speaking to your elders.”

Oh.

The ‘Po’ and ‘Opo’ huh. They're basically affirmation verbs used to show respect especially to the elders here in the Philippines.

To date, I can barely hear these words. I, myself is guilty.

But it sounds fun. So I guess I should use it as well. It's polite after all. Makes it hard for others to be rude to you.

“Sorry po ma'am.”

“‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’.. all of you just say sorry. You shouldn't have made mistakes from the start! How disappointing.”

“Sorry po ma'am.”

“““““..............”””””

Mary and company said nothing so I did.

“Reverren, are you insulting me?”

“No po ma'am.”

Fufufufufufufufufu.

“Hmmp. You all should write an apology letter.”

We nodded then she walk back to her table.

I waved to the other customers who are still looking at us.

Then we sat back.

“This is your fault Mark.”

“How harsh. I didn't shout you know.”

Lyn just ate silently.

Al smiled while shaking his head.

Mary smiled wryly.

Mae-chan is just the same.

Rose is glaring at me. I bet she'll punch me later.

“Fufufufufufu. So silent. How boring.”

“Shut up and eat.”

Rose punched me while saying that. Of course I dodged.