Chapter 5 – Asshole with a Heart

The tutorial tests had finally ended, and with it, my first day at Orbital Tech. By two in the afternoon, the halls were already starting to empty as our classes wrapped up. It was a sharp contrast to high school. There were no tight-knit groups hanging around or lingering by lockers. Here, everyone seemed to have their own agenda, disappearing from the campus with nothing more than a quick nod to their partners.

Still, about half of the students stayed behind, chatting easily with one another. Just ahead of me, I overheard two of my classmates.

“Hey, Fei, there’s this ramen place everyone’s talking about. Want to check it out? I’d like to get to know my partner for the term a bit better,” my male classmate proposed, scratching the back of his head, his brown hair falling into his eyes.

Fei, tall and graceful with her long hair swaying as she turned, smiled. “Ramen’s nice and all, Neil, but I’m in the mood for grilled pork belly. There’s a spot two blocks from here.”

“Grilled pork belly? Yeah, I’m in!” Neil beamed, and they walked off together, their conversation dissolving into laughter as they left the classroom.

I watched them go, a small knot forming in my stomach. If only my partner were someone like Fei—sweet, easygoing. Instead, I was stuck with her. The so-called prima donna from high school, whose shadow I couldn’t escape.

I sighed, stuffing my books into my bag. Just as I was about to head out and make a beeline for the dorms—

"Wait."

The voice was unmistakable. I paused, turning slightly to see Myrrh standing there, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. She had the look of someone ready to deliver a lecture—like a parent about to scold their child for misbehaving.

And maybe I deserved it. I had intentionally screwed up earlier in the tutorial session, and now, here she was. But this wasn’t high school anymore. She wasn’t part of the student council here, and that thought gave me a smug sense of satisfaction. “This is college, she has no power here.” I muttered under my breath.

“I don’t like what you pulled during the tutorial tests,” she said, her brows knitting together, her icy blue eyes boring into me with the kind of intensity that could kill. “You might think you got away with it, but I was the one who smoothed things over. I won’t stand for that kind of backstabbing, you snake.”

"FYI, snakes can’t actually stab people in the back,” I shot back, letting sarcasm coat my words.

She huffed, a pout forming on her lips, which for a moment made her look... almost cute. “You know what I mean. That’s why I’m reaching out now. I want to talk things through, like adults.”

“We’re talking, aren’t we?” I said, leaning into my smart-aleck tone.

Myrrh glanced around the room, taking note of the few students still lingering. Then her gaze settled back on me, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “Let’s go grab some tea. I know a place.”

<><><>

I trailed behind Myrrh as we left the university grounds. For all my frustration with her, I had to admit, I was grateful she knew her way around. It was my first day on planet Xyraxis, and everything felt foreign.

The city unfolded before us—a sprawling cyberpunk metropolis. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting a colorful glow on the streets, even though it was still afternoon. Skyscrapers shot up into the sky, their metallic exteriors gleaming in the light. Pedestrians moved in perfect rhythm with the traffic signals, while CCTV cameras, perched on every corner, scanned the crowds with quiet precision.

As we crossed the block, I couldn’t help but take it all in. This place was a far cry from home.

We arrived at a small coffee shop tucked between two towering buildings. The contrast hit me as soon as we stepped inside. Myrrh pulled open the door herself, barely giving me a glance—probably because she knew I wasn’t about to play the gentleman. The soft crackle of an old vinyl record filled the room, playing music from an era long past. The furniture was worn but elegant, with antique chairs and tables giving the place a vintage charm.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

There were only a few patrons scattered around, most likely having finished lunch by now. Myrrh and I settled at a small, round table, just big enough for two. As I glanced around, I caught sight of a couple in the corner, sharing a smoothie with a heart-shaped straw, laughing softly between sips.

I shifted uncomfortably. It had the air of a date—but this definitely wasn’t. I needed to break the tension before things started to feel even remotely romantic.

“I know you asked me here to talk and enjoy some tea,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “So... where’s the tea?”

Myrrh shot me a sharp glare, her lips twitching with irritation. “Can’t you fucking wait?” she snapped, then immediately raised her hand, her tone shifting like a flicked switch. “Hi! I’d like to order, please!” she called out, suddenly all smiles and charm.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the whiplash. One moment, she’s ready to strangle me, the next, she’s the picture of politeness, talking to the waitress like they were lifelong friends. The absurdity of it almost made me laugh.

After our orders were taken, a cold glass of water appeared on the table. I drank half of mine in one go, the chill cutting through my thirst. Glancing at Myrrh, I noticed her gaze drifting across the café. She was staring at the couple in the corner, the ones with the heart-shaped straw, her face flushed slightly, a tight, painful smile tugging at her lips.

An idea—evil and irresistible—popped into my head. I leaned forward, smirking, and started singing under my breath, “Love hurts, love scars, love wounds, and marks…”

Her bittersweet expression vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, narrowed glare. “You really are immature, you know that?” she muttered.

I shrugged, my smirk widening. “Are we gonna talk about how Ephraim dumped you before graduation? 'Cause I’m all ears.”

“Shut up,” she hissed, her face flushing deeper as she looked away, the disgust in her eyes unmistakable. “I’ve moved on… or I’m trying to, at least.” She paused, exhaling sharply. “Let’s just address the elephant in the room, okay?”

Before she could say more, the waitress arrived with our tea. The cups were warm, an inviting orange hue, with a slice of citrus resting on the rim. Myrrh took a sip, and I followed suit, the sweet and sour blend dancing across my tongue. The warmth of the tea soothed my throat, momentarily melting away the tension between us.

Myrrh set her cup down gently, her eyes locking onto mine. “Look, we both know we couldn’t stand each other in high school,” she said, her voice calmer now. “We have our differences. But we’re partners for the midterms, and that means your grade is my grade, and mine is yours.” She paused, her tone growing more measured. “I’m on the Dean’s List Scholarship. If I don’t maintain a certain GPA, I’ll lose it. And if that happens, I can’t stay enrolled.”

That bit caught me off guard. Myrrh? On a scholarship? Meanwhile, my parents were working themselves to the bone to keep me enrolled in this outworld university. And here she was, studying for free—or close to it. But maybe it made sense, considering her mother was the so-called “Heroine of the Decade” and Myrrh’s skills as a WAIFU had probably helped secure her spot on that list.

She took a breath, her gaze softening. “I’m willing to set aside our differences, agree to disagree, whatever we need to do to work together. But I can’t have you slacking off. Not in academics, not in our practical operations. So please, don’t pull another stunt like you did today. I need you to be serious. If I fail, that scholarship’s gone, and my family… we’re going through tough times. Without the scholarship, I’ll have to drop out.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment, her blue eyes shimmering, the hard edges of her expression melting away.

“How high do you need to keep your grades?” I asked, taking a slow sip of the tea, its warmth settling into my chest.

“Eighty-five,” she said, her tone dead serious.

Yeah, I hated Myrrh Alicent, no question. And the thought of sabotaging our grades for the fun of it crossed my mind. But the reality hit hard—whatever happened to her would hit me, too. Looking back, the tutorial test wasn’t the place for a stunt like that. I hadn’t thought it through at all—it was reckless, like setting off fireworks without checking the wind.

Sure, I only needed a seventy-five to pass, but the idea of her dropping out because of financial trouble left a sour taste in my mouth. I might be an asshole, but not that much of one. I am an asshole with a heart.

I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Fine. I’ll do my best to keep up with the grades—at least until we’re done with this partnership.”

Myrrh visibly relaxed, her hand resting on her chest as she let out a soft sigh of relief. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice sincere.

Then, something I hadn’t expected: her smile. For the first time, I saw it up close—genuine and unguarded. She looked like the angel everyone used to rave about back in high school. Honestly, I could see why now. Somehow, she seemed even more radiant after that breakup with her ex. It was strange.

“To our partnership,” Myrrh said, raising her teacup.

“To our partnership,” I echoed, lifting mine in return.

The soft clink of our cups resonated in the quiet café, sealing the unspoken agreement between us. In that moment, it felt like a shift—something new, something different.