The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

The class had come to an end. Everyone will go home or wherever they usually hang out and waste their time. And I… I will go straight back home and start studying. I am not one of those people who dawdled around.

"Hey, Das, guess who?" A soft voice that sounded right next to me.

Sweet-smelling, soft palms covered my eyes, blocking the view in front of me. It didn't take me much effort to guess who it was. She was my idiot girlfriend.

"Elena, how many times have I told you not to do that!" I growled.

She jumped in front of me swiftly, her long black hair swaying and blue eyes staring at me as she said, "Aw, you are so boring." 

"Don't call me boring." I said as I rolled back my eyes.

I started going out with her two months ago. Should I even call it dating? She literally threatened me to go out with her.

"Let's go home together today, Das." She pleaded.

"Don't want to." I refused her without dragging things out.

"Let's, go, home, together!" This time it felt like an order..

"Okay…" I groaned. 

See? So, we are on our way home right now. She always does this. And for some weird reason, I can't say no to her.

After exiting the school's main gate, I glanced at Elena, who was walking beside me and asked, "You were late again today. What were you doing? You didn't even take a bath today, right?"

"Huh? Do I smell?" She asked with a worried tone.

She started sniffing herself, her cute nose wiggled as she lifted her arms. 

What an idiot.

"You don't smell, but you had a bedhead," I replied.

"Eh? Really? I didn't notice that." She said in a muffled voice. 

"So? Why were you late today?" I prodded. 

"I just woke up late," Her eyes shifted around nervously like she was hiding something from me. 

"Uh Uh. By any chance, you weren't playing games till late at night, right?" I asked, knowing what the answer would be. 

"Haha, of course not, haha!" She hit my arm lightly, laughing as if I had cracked a joke. 

The reaction made it clear; she was playing games till late at night.

"You didn't forget our deal, right?" 

"I haven't! Don't bring that up" Elena played with a strand of her hair, an unknown look in her eyes. 

I term it as 'deal' but it isn't anything serious.

We are in our 3rd semester now. During the 2nd semester, a teacher told me to tutor someone who was in danger of getting expelled. 

That's right, it's exactly as you think, it was Elena. I tutored her for six months and barely saved her from getting expelled. 

One day, out of the blue, she asked me to come meet her, behind the school. At first, I thought she called me to say thanks, but to my surprise and shock… she asked me to go out with her. 

To be honest, it was the first time someone had asked me out. I honestly didn't have any plans to get a girlfriend, but for some reason, I couldn't say no to her.

At first, I tried to reject her by saying, 'I don't have any interest in gamer girls.'

With a serious look on her face, she replied, 'I will stop playing games, so please go out with me.'

Why would anyone go that far? 

So I told her if she minimized the time spent playing games and started studying, only then, I'd go out with her. She accepted that instantly. But she was playing the game till late at night yesterday. 

How am I supposed to take it now?

"Das." She asked.

"Hmm?" I turned to look at her.

"Do you love me?" She asked softly.

"Shut up." I replied.

Do I love her? 

Let's be honest. How can I like a girl who plays games all day? I will never fall for a gamer girl… or, so I thought when I started going out with her but now… I love her.

"Das." She said again.

"Hmm?" I said softly.

"Actually, I was playing a game the whole night yesterday." She said guiltily.

"..."

I know that already. 

Why are you saying it now?

"Hey Das, I know I promised that I would spend less time playing, but…" She took a deep breath and said, "I have been playing the same game for the last couple of weeks." She confessed solemnly.

"I see." I said.

"Please don't break up with me." She said softly.

"...."

Huh? Break up? 

"Listen, Elena...." I said slowly.

How do I clear up the misunderstanding? Wait, maybe if I say that I love her then...

"Elena, I...I...I won't break up with you for that reason, don't worry." I stuttered my way through.

Heh! I should start practicing. 

I would have never imagined I would fall into this state. 

How admirable I was six months ago, and how deplorable I am right now.

"Really?!" She exclaimed as she closed her distance to me.

I made some distance between us and said, "Yeah."

"Thanks, I really love you!" She said.

She hugged me tightly, snuggling close to my arm, a smile lighting up her face. How can she say I love you with such a straight face?!

"Das," She looked at me, biting her soft bottom lip. 

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you to do something?"

"Yeah, sure"

What will she ask? Go home together again? Go on a date? Maybe she wants some money? Or maybe she needs help with the study? As long as she wants, there's nothing I can't do.

"There is a VR game I am playing since a month, and I want you to play that VR game with me"

I take that back, there is something I can't do.contemporary romance

"VR game? You mean that virtual reality game where you put a helmet on your head and dive into the VR world?"

They have been getting more and more famous lately.

"It's not a helmet, it's called dive gear," She laughed. 

done.co