Chapter 261 - § MARCUS §

CHAPTER 008

The setting of the town was not so different from a rural community in northern Europe. The dwellings were constructed with bricks and tiles, each had enough distance from another. Also, there was a wide front yard and fences made of rocks. Although they seemed to prioritize tradition, the stores and establishment were filled with the latest techno-magic equipment and gadgets. It was amazing, she almost had a two hours walk within a fifteen minutes distance. 

"You're home." A man who seemed to be in his mid-twenties welcomed Yanarym as soon as she entered the house. He had dark hair that was invading his sharp eyes and unruly soft-arched brows. His plump lips were stern, however, when he smiled it was captivatingly pleasant. He radiated an air of elegance and manliness. It conformed to his deep, pleasantly husky voice that was soothing and masculine. Distinct from the two male leads, if the three were placed side by side, they all seemed to be the same age, nonetheless, he would appear to be more mature.

"Hi, Marcus. How's your day?" She greeted him back before taking off her shoes and putting on her slippers. 

The setting of the town was European but the vibes inside the house were pretty identical to the Philippines. Is the author of this world Filipino? She could even see the walis tambo or whisk broom hanging on the wall. Beneath there was a dustpan and a large trash can. The floor was tiled, the chairs and table were made of wood, there was a sofa, it was a varied style of seats. She did not even have to see the entire house. Because just by the entrance there was the infamous knitted rag and the pile of slippers, tsinelas—the flip flops. Though there were just three of them living here. Not to mention the Bagua feng shui mirror on the front door. There were foreign objects on the shelves that she presumed were magic gadgets, everything else felt like…what's the word? Homey. 

"As usual," Marcus replied with his deep, handsome voice. He was sitting on the couch fixing some mysterious device. 

Yanarym walked her way to where he was and glanced at everything that was scattered on the table in front of him. "What's that?" She curiously asked, intently gazing at the thing he was holding. 

"Your polygram," he answered. "You told me to fix it." He turned his head to look at her but was flabbergasted by how close their distance from each other was. No wonder he could easily smell her pleasant floral fragrance. 

She nodded her head and kept on staring at the thing called polygram. He tried to avert his gaze onto something other than her face and unfortunately, it landed on her chest. He felt his cheeks turn hot until he saw a dark purplish bruise. His expression glowered, darkened. "What happened to that?" His voice was already coarse but when he asked her, it blared menacingly. 

Yanaryn immediately felt the wariness—the chills. "Hmm?" He noticed her eyes were fixated on him. "What's what?" 

Furrowing his eyebrows, he pointed at her chest where the bruise was and said, "I mean that one." 

"Oh. It hasn't healed yet?" She casually touched her bruise, exposing the skin beneath her top. Marcus gaped at her injured chest with intensity as she examined it. "I guess the healing potion wasn't a healing potion at all. It just numbs the pain, huh?"

"It heals you unless it's not just a simple injury. Who did that to you?" He was upset, his eyes narrowed, and his calm demeanor became grim. 

"Nothing serious. We were doing our physical activity and I made a mistake," she quickly replied as she felt frightened by his anarchic response. Yanarym assumed that if she would mention a name, Marcus would storm to that person and do something eerie. 

Marcus' ominous aura faded, his expression softened—a kind of soft expression that still had strong and domineering features. His eyes were as intense as his jaw, he was holding back himself from saying or doing something. Either way, he looked up to her and stared straight into her eyes, he was irresistible. "Why would you make a mistake? Don't hurt yourself." He uttered and glanced again at her bruise, he looked more frustrated than she was when dealing with the perpetrators. 

"Yes, I'll be careful next time," she assured him and his dire expression did not flutter. What next time? There's next time?—was what his eyes were screaming at her. "I mean, it won't happen again," she added to assure him, He redirected his eyes to her face and held her hand, he caressed her with his thumb, and somehow that made Yanarym feel lighter, better. "Anyway, I'm gonna go get some sleep. I'm skipping dinner, so don't wake me up. I'm too exhausted."

"Go on, if you get hungry I will leave you some dinner so you can get a fill." 

He likes her, Yanarym concluded. The memories were obscured but she could say, Marcus likes the original. It was apparent as of the moment as well. The way he caressed her, the way he talked, and the way he looked at her. This man is fond of the original, isn't he? 

Guide-sama: "If that is what you think then maybe he is."

He is. Yanarym sighed, what's wrong with the memory? Why is it distorted if I try to think about him?

Guide-sama: "I don't know, I sent you the whole memory of the original and that is all I can do." She was curious but it would be unnecessary to think about it. Mainly because Marcus was nowhere in the task nor her list of vengeance. 

"Thanks," she said in a whisper. It was supposed to be the part where he must set her hand free but they were frozen in that position for some time. "Marcus, my hand…" he sighed and turned loose his grasp of her hand. 

"Drink another vial of healing option before you go to bed," he said and outwardly expressed his aggravation. "I don't want to see that bruise tomorrow." 

"Alright…" Yanarym obediently nodded her head and went straight to her mother's office and took a vial of healing potion. After taking it, she was supposed to walk to the living room which was the only way to her bedroom. But she halted at the hallway and leaned on the wall. 

She watched Marcus get absorbed in fixing the polygram as she quietly drank the potion empty. He had broad shoulders and lean back… sturdy neck and stoned but slick arms. He was wearing a black shirt that made him look a lot sexier. Presuming someone cared about her opinion, she would say Marcus had the physical quality of becoming this world's main male lead. Nonetheless, he was just an extra. Aside from that, he was not part of the storyline. 

That means, Marcus was rarely mentioned in the book; even the original had only a few memories with him. Why, though? I'm pretty sure he has always been there since the original's childhood. 

Marcus was adopted by Lena, the witch mother, not as Lena's son but as her brother; they were not blood-related. In legal terms, Marcus was Yanarym's uncle. In addition, in her memory from the original, Marcus was the most caring and thoughtful person to her. He didn't go to the academy because he didn't find it interesting. He was more inclined on traveling and practicing mechanical magic. Lately, he had been staying in their house for months since he finished exploring the globe. He said he might stay for about four to five years until his next journey.

... how old is he again? His age doesn't sum up with my memory. Yanarym frowned. Marcus is an odd character… she surmised. 

Despite being part of the family, the original didn't talk to him that much. But even though she was too shy and distant and all, she felt comfortable in his presence. If the original was a little bit more sensitive, maybe she would know how much Marcus liked her. That way, she wouldn't have to fall in love with those jerks at the academy and the tragedy of the original's fate would never occur. 

Though, he was the one to blame too. He was smitten with the original yet he didn't even make a move on her. He didn't confess his feelings for her and instead, busied himself with different adventures now and then. But why did he have to travel anyway? It was not like he was doing it for fun. He was traveling for a reason. She wondered, what could that be? Yanarym didn't bother to think about it anymore. For the time being, she would give anything for a good night's sleep.

She went to her bedroom. She didn't even dare touch a thing because she knew she would be completely thrilled to see how everything would work and forget about sleeping.. She cannot, she had a lot of work to do later.