Love Like Woe Chapter 1
Mandark's POV
It was a bleak, Saturday afternoon and Susan Mandark Astronomonov was working in his lab. It was raining, and he had nothing to do, so why not work on one of his inventions? As he was turning a bolt on his unfinished project, a song that he d never heard came on the radio. To him, it sounded like another one of those boy bands that his sister Olga would listen to. He walked over to the radio to change it, but for once he decided to listen. The lyrics described a boy singing about a girl he thought was beautiful, but her being a girl, would deny it. He stood by the radio and listened.
The song he just listened to reminded him of something, rather someone, familiar. He wouldn't ever admit this out loud, but it reminded him of Dexter. He had given up on Dee Dee in junior high; he knew she didn't return his feelings. Around eighth grade, Dexter had finally hit his growth spurt. He was starting to look like an average sized person. He had adopted his mother's features, that pale skin, those baby blue eyes, that slender, feminine build, his essence was gorgeous to Mandark.
That's when his attraction for the young genius has started to blossom. At first it was just a mere crush, he figured it would pass. After about a year, he decided it wasn't a crush, that it was more of an obsession. He wouldn't ever call it an obsession; he would prefer to call it a deep appreciation. When he realized that, he also decides that the inevitable had finally happened.
He, Mandark, had fallen in love with Dexter. Everyday in class, he would keep his eyes on the young genius. Whenever Dexter would see Mandark looking at him, he would blush a light pink and smile, then look away. Mandark had no clue to what that meant, but he cherished the fact that he could make Dexter blush. It gave him a warm feeling inside. Now in high school, in their sophomore year, Dexter and Mandark had somehow become friends. At the end of eighth grade, Dexter had written a truce, which Mandark agreed to, saying the rivalry shouldn't last any longer. He was glad, considering that they would get to do things together and spend time in each others company.
Even though Dexter had grown up, he himself had also, they hadn't completely changed. Dexter had adapted his usual attire to fit the standards of the normal world by trading his signature white lab coat for a white hoodie, his purple lab gloves for fingerless gloves, his black slacks for black skinny jeans, and got black-rimmed glasses. Mandark had also conformed, trading his khaki short-shorts for black skinny jeans and his white dress shirt for plain colored tees, preferably colors like red or black. For once, they both looked normal. As Mandark thought about all these things, he didn't hear his sister Olga sneak into his lab.
Olga's POV
I can't believe Mandark hasn't noticed me yet. Usually he does, because I tend to trip over random stuff that he leaves on the floor, like pieces of metal and stuff. I make my way around a big chunk of metal, and I walk right up to him. He seems to be deep in thought, most likely thinking about Dexter. He really likes him. I can tell, because whenever Dexter comes over, he always stares at him, and when Dexter spends the night, Mandark doesn't go to sleep. He just sits there and watches him like some sort of creep. The reason I know all of this is because I watch my brother so he doesn't screw up somehow. I try to help him whenever he needs it, which is a lot. It s funny that he'll just be standing in the middle of his lab in a daze. Which is the perfect opportunity to scare the mess out of him. I m right in front of him, and he still hasn't noticed me yet. And he's supposed to be a genius!
"Mandark! Stop daydreaming about your boyfriend!" I screamed at him.
That certainly shook him out of it, because he doesn't look too happy to be out of his Dexter fantasy, or to see me in his lab.
Mandark's POV
I was having the most amazing daydream about Dexter, at least until I heard Olga screaming at me. Before she rudely interrupted me, I had pictured myself with Dexter, in the park at night, watching the stars, about to kiss under the moonlight.
"Olga! What are you doing my lab! I'm trying to work here!" I screamed at her.
What she screamed at me just registered in my mind. Did she say Dexter was my boyfriend? Well, he s not. He wouldn't like me, because I m just the nerd with the hippie parents. Not to mention I'm the guy with the bowl cut and the nasally voice. He probably only hangs out with me out of pity.
"He s not my boyfriend! And what are you doing in here? Trying to sabotage one of my inventions again, aren't you?" I said, eyeing her.
Olga had the biggest smirk on her face, like usual. She's always trying to meddle with my private life.
"I was bored, and I wanted to see what my big brother was doing. Is there something wrong with that?" She said, putting on her puppy eyes.
"Yes, there s definitely something wrong with that. Now then, what do you want?" I ask, wanting to know why she came down here.
"To help you with Dexter." She said, looking me in the eyes.
She wants to help me with Dexter? Although a girl's help would be appreciated, I don't think I want it from my little sister.
"You're joking. Cut to the chase and tell me what you re really here for." I snapped, wanting her out of here as soon as possible.
"Susan, I'm not joking with you, I really mean it." I want to help you. Even though you're really annoying, you deserve to be happy." She said, her whole demeanor staying even.
She never calls me by my real name, unless she's either angry or being serious, which isn't often. As I process what Olga just told me, I take time to ponder the situation. Would she really help me like she says she would? She looks sincere, but it's my little sister, she knows how to lie.
"OK Olga, you can help me. How do I get Dexter to like me back?" I ask, wanting to know how I can win him over.
"Mandark, he may like you back and you just don t know it. We need to get him over here so I can experiment." She said, smirking in a very mysterious way.
Yep, that s my sister alright.
"And how shall we go upon doing that then?" I inquire.
"Call him and ask him if he wants to spend the night tonight. She suggests.
Good idea, I I'll do that. Umm thanks for helping me, it means a lot." I mumble.
"No problem Mandark!" She says before she hugs me really tight then runs off, probably concocting a plan on how to lock us in the basement or something. That could actually work, and with Olga's help, I could finally win Dexter's heart!
*BANG!*
I just subliminally walked right into a wall. And I'm supposed to be a genius. And now I have to go call Dexter and put my sister's plan into action. I hope this works, because if it doesn't, I'll probably die alone.