Chapter Text
Anya’s Monday morning started with a beautifully-wrapped box of cookies sitting atop her table.
The wrapping wasn’t something that Anya sees every day. It was smooth and shiny, a beautiful shade of pink laced with short white ruffles at the foot of the box. Atop was a white ribbon wrapped around on four sides, placed in the middle of the lid surrounded by a transparent plastic film where the cookies are visible to look at.
Judging by the look, this doesn’t seem to be hers. Too exsh-kwi-zit. “Eh? What’s this? Becky, is this yours?” Becky, following her from behind, took notice of the object after her question, then poked a playful finger onto her cheek. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just got here with you.”
While they were occupied with the mysterious object, Damian Desmond arrived by the doorway along with his friends, Emil and Ewen. They went to their seats, now quite aware of the commotion happening below them, also quite curious about the box of confectionary on Anya’s table, but decided not to bother. A Monday morning is a peaceful morning. His thoughts reached Anya’s mind, but she was too engrossed by the box that she practically threw his voice out of her head.
Not to be rude since they still haven’t figured out who owns the sweets, Anya only sniffed the box to satisfy her growing curiosity, and oh did her mouth water instantly. Chocolate! Wait no- Anya sniffed again, catching a mild yet distinctively crisp scent that slightly tingled the insides of her nose. Her eyes brightened. Mint chocolate! Anya beamed brightly.
She likes peanuts the best, but chocolate mixed with mint is also at the top of her favorites. She likes chocolate, and she likes how cool her mouth becomes whenever she eats mint candies. A mix would likely be better because the cookies on her table smelled heavenly.
While Anya ogled at the box, her nose almost touching the lid accompanied by her excessive sniffing, Becky, on the other hand, caught a small piece of pink rose-scented paper stuck beneath the box. Her tiny fingers reached for what seemed to be a note. She unfolds the paper and scanned its contents, staying unbothered while Anya rotates the box on the table.
Not a second later, a gasp escaped her lips, loud enough for the whole class to hear. Even Anya stopped sniffing the sweets on her table. “Anya!!!” Becky squealed, thrusting the paper so dangerously near Anya’s face she almost punched her. “You’ve got a secret admirer!”
A collective gasp, a particular Desmond shot up from his seat at the back, and then silence. Becky’s squeals of utter joy remained constant throughout this process while Anya stood still in her place, small and confused. “A what?” Her question was aggressively responded with Becky’s small hands shoving the note onto her chest. Gah! It was so painful her mind screamed for her while her mouth shut tightly. Becky looks energetic today. Anya whimpers.
She could still feel the painful tingling on the skin of her chest when she read the contents of the note, her hands shaking from Becky’s assault.
For you, because you are very pretty -TA. Anya raised a confused brow.
“Who’s TA?”
As if reading the note was a magic spell, hushed voices from their classmates filled the classroom. To a person’s average hearing range, they were quite inaudible, but for Anya, everyone was screaming at her.
A secret admirer? No way! Anya whipped her head side by side, her ears perked up and alert. Is this bad? Is Anya being threatened?? Those cookies looked so exquisite! Is it really for forger? Perhaps they mistook her for someone else? She looked at the cookies, eyes wide and quite confused. Wait, this is for Anya? Can Anya have it?! The thought of tasting the cookies already brought excitement to her. Whoever this person is, they have terrible taste in girls! Then Anya flinched, a nerve popping out against the skin of her forehead. Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? Why would cookies make Anya look terrible??
The hushed voices echoing around Anya’s somewhat amplified hearing range were getting louder and harsher, while Anya was increasingly getting annoyed too. She raised an arm, her hand clenching tightly into a fist. Maybe this is the time to show what I learned from mama’s training! Her eyes reflected a small fire blazing wildly, ready to punch the nearest kid except for Becky.
Luckily, this grim path was prevented successfully when Becky enthusiastically pulled her into their seats, bringing Anya back to reality while she pushed the box of desserts in front of her. “Oh, don’t mind them! They’re probably just jealous because someone finds you cute enough to give you a gift.” Anya was surprised. Wow, can Becky read minds too? Can she hear them too? She watched her friend give their classmates her signature haughty glare. As for their reaction, Anya didn’t bother since her attention was completely on the box of cookies Becky was currently working on opening.
“Come on, have a little taste! We’ll continue munching these later if the teacher comes. Besides, these look good to eat when they’re still warm.” Becky grabbed a piece from the box and placed them in Anya’s hand. “Go on…” She encouraged, elbows on the table while her chin plopped down against the top of her interlocked fingers.
Anya’s mouth watered again. The cookies were warm and smell oh so amazingly better out of the box. If this is Anya’s, then nothing is wrong with a bite! Anya patted herself on the back, unaware of the short, confused look on her best friend’s gaze, before finally taking a bite.
Oh, Anya was seeing heaven; it was as if angels shaped like peanuts were singing right next to her ears. The cookie was warm and moist, deep rich chocolate melting instantly in her mouth, followed by a refreshing mild aftertaste of mint. She inhaled slowly in delight, savoring the flavor, and thoroughly enjoying how her mouth felt familiarly cool as she did. Anya should leave one piece for papa so he can make lots of these!
“Becky, these are so tastyyy!” Anya practically blinded Becky with how bright and shiny her eyes were. Out of excitement, she grabbed one and almost shoved it onto her startled friend’s face. “Go, take a bite!” She swung the cookie side to side, happily munching the cookie with her other hand.
Mildly interested in how Anya reacted to the taste of the cookie, Becky gave in to her request. “Well, judging by how well-crafted these are, I suppose I’ll take one.” She carefully lay hold of the cookie with a tissue she snatched from her bag. She also explained how she wouldn’t want her hands soiled minutes before class starts when Anya stared in confusion at her pristine tissue before she finally took a bite, and Anya beamed at her when Becky’s reaction seemed to replicate hers, albeit not as bright and intense. She could practically see stars forming in Becky’s amber eyes. “Oh my gosh! These are delicious!” In her delight, she took another bite, hand on her cheek while happily munching.
Meanwhile, while the two girls enjoy a tasty treat, a fuming, red-faced Damian was watching from afar, hands clenched so tightly his nails could practically pierce his skin.
ANYA HAS A WHAT?!
Secret admirer? As if! Oh, his chest hurts. It was as if thousands of needles were piercing through his heart; too painful, too suffocating, he didn’t even mind the mildly sharp stinging pain sinking on the skin under his nails.
“Boss-man! What are you doing??” The voice of his friend became a blur when the black-haired girl shoved a suspicious-looking paper against Anya’s chest. What is it? What is it? What the hell is going on?? Oh, he wants to know what that paper says. He has to know or it’ll drive him insane in a few minutes.
As if the heavens weren’t satisfied with his present suffering and blazing curiosity, Anya finished the note with obvious confusion plastered on her face. “Who’s TA?” She said innocently.
Damian, on the other hand, exploded on the inside. WHO THE HELL IS TA?
“Boss-man!” Emil whispered sharply, tugging onto Damian's sleeve, which was terribly ignored. “Why are you standing? Some people are looking!” His statement finally brought his attention, swinging his head to the side to see that a few of their classmates in their row were indeed looking at him. He flashed them his bared teeth without a hint of hesitance, shooting daggers toward the onlookers.
His glare instantly made his looking classmates turn their heads to a full 180, most of them literally shaking at what they have witnessed.
His attention went back to Anya, and his face impressively went from sheer anger to panicked surprise. Anya’s head was swinging left to right, and when it looked like she was going in his direction, he finally let himself sit back on the chair in alarm, elbows on the table while half of his face was hidden behind his interlocked fingers.
“Boss-man, what was that for? Are you good?” Ewen whispered, visibly concerned. “I’m fine!” Damian whispered back sharply, his gaze not leaving the pink-haired midget.
He was quietly observing from behind, and secretly fuming on the inside as he watched the girls interact with what now looks like a box of evil incarnate in his eyes. Becky volunteered to tear the box open while Anya, that stupid dense shrimp, was watching in anticipation. Oh, Damian has never felt so livid looking at a chocolate cookie before. It looked so terrible and hateful in his eyes it practically grew limbs and laughed hysterically in front of him.
And Damian never felt so feral when that Lovecraftian thing was crushed by Anya’s mouth. How could she eat such a thing?! He was basically delusional at this point.
But then, even though he was only watching most of her back, he took notice of how she literally shined bright like the sun with a single bite; How she squealed in delight at how tasty the baked treat was; and how his walls suddenly crumbled, rendering him invulnerable while his eyes softened at that genuine smile that radiates throughout the room, even though he could only see half of it.
But then he realized moments after that all of it was because of the cookie, that abominable cookie, from a godforsaken secret admirer of Anya that Damian’s fondness towards her positivity turned into full-blown hatred.
How could she look so bright, so happy, eating those atrocities without even knowing who’s behind them? She’s so stupid! She’s so easily swayed when it comes to food! They aren’t even peanut flavored, why is she enjoying it like it’s the best thing! He ran a hand through his hair, staying at the nape of his neck while sweat trickled down his forehead. Ugh, I think I might’ve busted a nerve. Damian complained in annoyance.
Anya went for the third cookie, and Damian already felt like another nerve was going to snap. Oh, he’s done. “Boss-man, you good? Your face is red.” Damian whipped his head so fast that it almost hurt, projecting all his anger toward his poor friend. “Of course, I am!” He started loudly, earning the gaze of most of his classmates, including Becky and Anya, except for the few he has glared into death earlier. “I bet it’ll be way better if some people below me will keep their mouths shut!” On cue, the two hinted people acknowledged him: Anya blinking rapidly in confusion while Becky basically got into a glaring competition with him.
As expected, it was Becky who retorted back at him. “What’s your problem, you scion brat? We’re not even that loud! We’re simply enjoying these cookies from Anya’s secret admirer.” She emphasized the last three words with extra mockery, sticking her tongue out childishly, and then motioned Anya to ignore him, to which she did.
Damian almost stood up again in rage with how nonchalant she ignored him, his entire body gradually being consumed in a deep shade of red. OH? So you’re going to just ignore me because some unknown punk got you something as childish as cookies? His clenched hands shook in their place, almost turning white. Oh, they must have tasted good, don’t they? Then eat your fill! Peasants like you must be so starved of good food anyways!
At the last second of turning his head away, his eyes caught Anya’s head tilting towards his way. He froze, eyes watching closely in surprise and mild panic as she completely got her attention. Her eyes were big and doe-like, seemingly observing him from afar.
He can’t help but hold on to her gaze, face still flushed but reduced to its healthy color while he shot her one of his softest glares, somehow avoiding scaring her attention away. Anya Forger… He bit his lip, suppressing the deep urge to just snap at her. This stupid girl, who seems to know when exactly to pry into my private space whenever I think of her. It’s as if she reads minds…! His brows shot up in alarm when she visibly flinched, her eyes a little wider than before. What? What did I do? The heat in his face intensified. He almost looked away.
Instead, he furrowed his brows into a deep scowl, internally fighting the urge to look away. She, on the other hand, kept staring. Damian can’t help but become a little self-conscious. N-now she’s paying attention to me? W-what does she want? He noticed how she bit her lip, seemingly occupied with her thoughts for a second, before finally turning away from him, strangely looking at the cookie, but quite hesitantly.
Damian’s mind clicked so fast he could already feel his lightheadedness fading away. Oh, I get it. He leaned forward, elbows pressed against the table and face behind his locked hand., a growing smirk hidden from suspecting eyes. She’s weighing out her options. No matter how tempting those cookies are, she couldn’t resist the opportunities with a Desmond like me. Oh, that felt kind of good, he fully admits. His tense shoulders finally relaxed, as if the burdens of the world have been laid upon him for so many years with how comfortable it felt, with his brows raised smugly. Anya Forger, not bad- His thoughts halted. Anya whipped her head so fast in his direction he could’ve almost missed it with a blink of his eyes.
Her eyes were reduced into those annoyingly familiar crescent shapes, but strangely enough, unlike the usual know-it-all smile, her mouth was a straight horizontal line. It felt like she was judging him from afar.
And when chomped on that forgotten chocolate chip while she looks at him dead in the eye, then turned away, almost as if mocking him, his smile dropped.
Several nerves visibly showed against his forehead. If looks could kill, he would have obliterated the box into oblivion. That girl…! Even the nerves in his arms were throbbing painfully. He’s gonna explode.
Fortunately, their teacher, their goddamn teacher who’s late for 15 minutes, finally arrived. If it weren’t for him suddenly appearing by the door, he would have jumped right there and… and…
And what? Damian let out a shaky breath.
The school bell rang, and Damian heavily inhaled the air around him as if it wasn’t enough. Some people below him were already running towards the doorway, excited to eat their fill at the cafeteria after that long session of Mathematics.
Lunch, at long last.
Damian has never felt so relieved of lunchtime until now. He was very hungry for some reason and so so tired. Even focusing on the topic was quite a challenge. But luckily, he’s a Desmond. They are born for greatness, and perfection flows naturally within them like blood in their veins. So, despite the difficulties, his notes still ended up clean and organized. He already memorized the formula written on the board during math. He even forgot Anya Forger for a while.
And just like that, a nerve threatened to bust out of his forehead’s skin once more. But this time, he put great effort to calm himself. Forger… His eyes traveled mindlessly towards her, his brows furrowing into a scowl as he watched her carefully tuck the box of… He breathed in… cookies, those were cookies… against her chest. …and her goddamn stupid cookies!
He dragged his eyes away from her, not wanting to stress himself further. No need to strain myself over some dumb girl.
He was by the door when someone tapped him on his shoulder. He was ready to snap harshly at whoever it was when he turned around, only to visibly flinch in shock when it was none other than the most annoying girl of the day. “Sy-on boy!” She smiled happily, or rather that strange smile that she always has whenever she’s up to no good. Damian was feeling lightheaded again all of a sudden. “You look so tired today,” Anya stated innocently, tilting her head cutely to the side.
Damian blushed, gritting his teeth in irritation. “That’s none of your business!” He finally snapped, and it felt so good because he’s been holding it back since the first subject, followed by one of his harsh glares before stepping out of the door.
His steps halted, and his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets in utmost disbelief. Anya blocked his path, giving him one of her smug smiles, while she presented those goddamn annoying cookies in front of his face. The audacity! “Since Anya is kind, Sy-on boy could get a piece!” She proudly said as if it was the most heroic thing she has done.
It was at that moment that Damian knew he would get a tonitrus bolt. He could never imagine how a simple sentence could make his blood so intensely boil. As if I’ll be swayed by a cookie… His fists clenched tighter. …and from a secret admirer, no less…! He was so tempted to swat that annoying box out of his way if not for his friends interrupting his thoughts.
“As if boss-man would like a cookie made for a commoner like you!” Emil retorted on his behalf, crossing his arms. Ewen followed to back him up, stepping forward with a fist raised. “Yeah! Besides, commoners always enjoy average food!”
“Hey!” Becky finally went to Anya’s rescue, folding her arms in obvious disapproval. “Anya’s taste may not be as exquisite but mine does! These cookies are of fine quality!” She huffed, holding Anya’s arm and tugging her closer. Damian also noticed how unimpressed Anya looked at her best friend because his goddamn eyes have a mind of their own when it comes to her. “Come on, Anya. These jerks are not worthy of our time.” Huh?! Damian finally tore his gaze from Anya to her equally annoying friend. They were the ones who approached me in the first place!
Damian could already feel a headache forming in his head, his hunger and exhaustion already catching up to him. He pinched the bridge of his nose lightly to alleviate some of the pain, eyes shut in frustration. I can’t believe I was even ready to get a tonitrus bolt. I should be careful.
“Boss-man, are you okay?” Ewen placed a hand behind his back, voice laced with genuine concern.
“Yeah, I got it.” Damian opened his eyes, watching the two girls’ stature fading into the distance, more specifically to the box of vile now tucked between Anya’s arm and small torso.
So arrogant, for a measly box of sweets. Then go ahead, enjoy it all day. It’s not like you’re gonna get them every day.
Anya placed the box carefully onto the table, staring at it, then to the doorway, where she met Sy-on boy’s eyes. He glared at her for a good second before turning his head away, seemingly determined not to meet her eyes for the rest of lunchtime.
Anya was quite confused. She only offered the cookies to him because she heard his thoughts so loud, complaining about them before and during class. She guessed he wanted to have a taste, but as usual, Sy-on boy was hard to read.
A mint chocolate cookie. Loid stared at the baked treat, to Anya, then back to it, then to her. “Where did you get this?”
Anya beamed at him. “From a secret ant-rider! They are so tasty. You should try to make them too, papa!”
Loid was skeptical. Ant-rider? Is that a code name? Was he being threatened?