Chapter 6 – The Mary Sue in Distress
I really hate that bitch of a partner.
And yeah, you could say I just pulled a complete 180 on her, because I did. Things seed fine as we wrapped up tea and polished off those pancakes, drenched in rich maple syrup, paired bizarrely with a Caesar salad. The flavors still lingered, the syrup’s sweetness mixing with the tang of dressing, when the bill hit the table like a thunderclap.
Myrrh’s eyes went wide, her pupils shrinking in disbelief as she stared at the numbers. It was like watching soone spot a ghost in broad daylight. Her hand trembled as she snapped open her wallet, revealing a hollow, empty space that echoed her next sound—a high-pitched, pathetic little "oopsie." I felt my stomach sink.
“Hey, Zaft…” she said, forcing a smile so strained that even her face didn’t buy it. A single bead of sweat rolled down her temple, trailing slowly toward her flushed cheek. It was all too obvious where this was headed.
“What is it?” I asked flatly, already knowing the answer.
She flipped her wallet upside-down and flapped it like it might suddenly produce cash out of thin air. Nothing—no bills, no coins, not even a card. Her face, still twisted into that fake smile, was practically begging.
“You’re a gentleman, right? And since you asked out on a date, you should cover this… right?”
I kept my expression deadpan, eting her eyes. “I’m pretty sure we both agreed this wasn’t a date. And if I recall, you were the one who asked out.”
“Ack…” Myrrh sputtered, choking on her own words. Then, in typical fashion, she narrowed her eyes, a sly, mischievous grin creeping onto her lips. “Fine then. I’ll forgive you for the sins you committed during the tutorial test earlier—if you cover the bill this ti.”
I let out a long, weary sigh. Part of wanted to see her in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes as punishnt for not being able to pay. The thought amused , but it wasn’t worth the hassle, especially since I’d probably end up back there beside her. It was getting late, and all I wanted was to go ho and leave this farce behind.
Resigned, I pulled out my wallet, thumbing through the bills. Myrrh, ever the opportunist, clapped her hands together in glee, her sparkling blue eyes lighting up as if she’d just won the lottery.
“Thank you for the save, Zaft!” she cooed, resting her head on the table, a rosy blush creeping across her cheeks. Her smile was sweet, almost adorable—almost.
“Just so we’re clear,” I muttered, glancing at her, “you’ll still have to pay your share.”
She waved it off with a carefree giggle, her blush deepening. “Fine, fine! Friday, I promise!” Her voice was light and playful. “Thank you, Zaft! You’re the best!”
I could hardly stand her manipulation. Not even an hour ago, she’d called a hooligan who drops common loot, and now she’s showering with praise, as if I’d suddenly beco her hero. The audacity of this bitch was almost impressive.
Myrrh and I walked back toward the university block, the quiet late afternoon air wrapping around us like a soft blanket. The campus dormitory area was split into two compounds: the left side housed the male dormitories, while the right was reserved for the ladies—a fact society must find amusing since they like to say won are always right. The towering buildings stood like silent sentinels as we approached the main gate.
When we reached the entrance, Myrrh flashed a cheerful smile, waving goodbye with that annoyingly sweet expression. “Thanks for your ti, Zaft. See you tomorrow!”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. As soon as we parted ways, I felt the weight of the day settle in. Glancing down at my wallet, which now felt pathetically light, I muttered under my breath, “Bitch.”
I continued my walk to the left compound, where the male dormitory lood ahead—a towering condo-like building that seed more imposing in the fading light. The automatic doors slid open with a soft hum as I stepped inside and made my way to the elevator. The ride to the fourth floor felt slow, giving more ti to stew in my thoughts. How had I spent over two hours with her? I originally couldn’t imagine lasting more than five minutes in Myrrh’s company without wanting to claw my own eyes out.
By the ti I exited the elevator, it was already five o’clock. I hadn’t realized how much ti I had lost.
Scratch that. As much as I hated to admit it, Myrrh had been the person I spent most of my ti with today. Here at this university on a foreign planet, making friends was tougher than I’d anticipated. The students here seed more self-sufficient, with their own goals and agendas that left little room for casual connections.
It’s a bitter truth, but knowing soone—anyone—in this place made things a little easier. Despite the bickering and constant trolling, I found myself actually enjoying Myrrh’s company. There was sothing oddly comforting about the banter, a distraction from the solitude that ca with being in a new world.
After stripping off my uniform, I tossed it aside, leaving myself in just boxers as I flopped onto the bed. I stared at the dirty white ceiling, its cracks and stains a familiar sight, then turned my gaze to the window.
The sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the room. That light… it was the sa golden hue as back on Earth. For a mont, it pulled into a not-so-distant mory of Myrrh Alicent, one that tugged at my thoughts like the last rays of the setting sun.
It happened a few months before our high school graduation, on the afternoon before prom night back on Earth. I rember the air was thick with excitent and anticipation, with preparations for the big event in full swing. While everyone else was bustling around, and the boys found ourselves in our usual hideout—the shadowy side of the bleachers by the basketball court.
The court was the closest spot to the gymnasium, where prom night would be held, and since we were early and the usual school rules had been loosened for the occasion, we had free reign. Naturally, we took full advantage, losing ourselves in the glowing screens of our phones, playing co-op gacha gas like our lives depended on it.
As we were imrsed in our virtual battles, a familiar silhouette caught our attention. It was Ephraim Park, the high school heartthrob. Tall, pale-skinned, and effortlessly handso, Ephraim had that classic Korean look—a perfectly sculpted face and spiky hair that always seed to fall just right. On top of his looks, he was the valedictorian and a star varsity basketball player. Mister Perfect, as we called him, wasn’t just so pretty face; he was genuinely kind, smart, and talented, which only made him seem more untouchable.
If and the boys approached Ephraim, we’d look like goblins standing next to an angel. Even though he was friendly and approachable, there was an unspoken rule among us—we kept our distance. He existed in a world we didn't belong to.
Ephraim stood by the court for what felt like ages, a red handkerchief clutched in his hand. He looked lost, his green eyes fixed on the ground, his usual bright deanor dimd by sothing we couldn’t quite place. It was strange seeing him like that, especially when he was dressed to perfection, as always.
"Hey, let's go," Jace, one of my friends, tapped on the shoulder, breaking the mont. "The class might need so help with the prom preparations."
“Okay then—” I started to reply. But just as I was about to push myself off the bleacher, my eyes landed on the last person I wanted to see: Myrrh Alicent. It was weeks after the infamous scolding session she’d put through, and the air between us was still thick with awkwardness. I really didn’t want to deal with her right now.
Jace, oblivious to the drama unfolding, slipped past Myrrh and headed towards the gym without a hitch. Myrrh, however, barely acknowledged either of us. Her usually vibrant blue eyes were now clouded with sorrow, and it looked like she might start crying any mont.
Curiosity got the better of . I decided to stay hidden behind the bleachers, letting Jace go on without . I was intrigued by what might transpire between these two. Both of them seed to be grappling with so heavy emotions, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the source of their distress.
Ephraim and Myrrh stood facing each other, a chasm of silence stretching between them. The quiet was so profound it made yawn.
Finally, Ephraim spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. “I’m sorry, Myrrh.”
Myrrh’s response was a tremulous whisper. “W-why are you apologizing, Ephraim?” Her voice quivered as she forced a shaky smile. “And why… why are you breaking up with ?”
Ephraim’s expression was solemn, his eyes steady but filled with a sadness that matched hers. “It’s not you. It’s , Myrrh. I’ve fallen out of love. You’re kind and righteous, but you’re such a Mary Sue that you don’t excite anymore.”
“Is that the reason you’re leaving for Clarisse?” Myrrh’s voice was strained as she clutched her chest, as if trying to hold her heart together.
Ephraim’s gaze dropped to the ground, his face turned away in a mix of sha and sorrow. “W-well…” He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “Clarisse makes my heart race with joy. I know she’s got a reputation—she’s notorious among the boys, and yes, she has her issues—but she brings a kind of happiness I’ve never felt before. With her, I feel alive. We complent each other in ways I never thought possible, filling gaps in our souls.”
Myrrh’s eyes widened with a mix of anger and pain, tears streaming down her face. “Y-yeah, right. Leave for that drug-addicted hooker who belongs in the streets,” she spat out, her voice cracking.
Ephraim’s face hardened, and his voice roared with a fierce intensity. “Don’t you dare speak about my love like that!” He advanced toward her, the raw anger in his voice trembling with each word. “That’s exactly the problem with you! You’re so obsessed with your sense of justice and perfection that you look down on anyone who doesn’t et your standards. You never consider what others feel or think!”
“Fine then! Leave ! Throw away all the years of our friendship for that woman of yours, you cheater!” Myrrh’s voice broke into a sob as she shouted, her heartbreak evident in every word.
Ephraim’s fists clenched tightly around the red handkerchief, his knuckles white with the effort. With a final, pained glance, he bowed his head and walked away, leaving Myrrh standing there, tears streaming down her face as he quietly exited the scene.
Man, this scene could have been ripped straight from a telenovela. Good thing I’m not into romance; otherwise, I’d be stuck navigating this lodramatic ss through my high school years. Maybe I should’ve brought so popcorn to fully appreciate the spectacle.
I was about to sneak away, eager to escape the emotional wreckage, when a piercing cry shattered the evening’s stillness.
“UWAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
It was Myrrh Alicent, the once-perfect girl—dubbed a Mary Sue by many—now reduced to a pitiful sight. She was on her knees, her pristine white gown now stained and dirtied. Tears stread down her face, mixing with snot as she cried uncontrollably. The raw, unfiltered distress was almost too much to bear, especially as she began her tearful monologue.
“You’re my childhood friend, Ephraim! We’ve been together for ten years! You promised you’d make your bride in the future! You said I’d be your wife! Your… wife! Uwaaaaah!”
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I tried to process the scene. Despite our hostility, I couldn’t stand to see soone so utterly heartbroken, especially soone who was usually so put-together. It tugged at sothing in , and I found myself reluctantly moved by her anguish.
Resolving to at least offer a semblance of comfort, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pink handkerchief my mother had given . It was a small, sentintal token that I’d kept with .
With a sigh, I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. As I approached the once-unapproachable Mary Sue now in distress, I offered the pink handkerchief to her, my initial intention of mockery lting away. Seeing her so heartbroken, my resolve softened, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for her.
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