However, conscious of the fact that her messages tend to come across as too rigid when compared to those of her peers, Mari likes to sweeten them up occasionally with kaomoji or cute, whimsy reaction gifs or stickers recuperated from friends or somewhere online. In any case she also resolves to loosen up a bit, trying to appear more relaxed as she goes on texting with someone she feels more at ease with. When texting Lohen it isn't any much different, but stay sure he will tease her from time to time over those quirks of hers.

On the other hand, Lohen is definitely more on the casual, nonchalant side. Always on the move, his messages reflect that by being short and hasty, straightforward in contents and words used. Without bothering pushing the caps lock on, and minding grammar and punctuation just enough to convey what needs to be conveyed while making himself understood (...or not. Lohen doesn't care much). Sometimes teetering on the dismissive if the matter isn't of interest.

When texting Mari though, you can tell that he is a bit more involved. A text messages after the other in quick succession if particularly involved in the topic at hand. Mari finds herself surprised to see those exact same stickers of hers at the other side of the chat one day. And while, after looking at the screen lost in thought for a bit, she has an inkling of the true reason behind it — that is, to get a reaction out of her — she can't help the consequent giggle all the same.

Example

Mari: No, not necessarily

Mari: Thank you, anyway

Mari: (cutesy sticker)

Lohen: ...heh

Lohen: a new one, huh

Lohen: lame

Lohen: (provocative sticker)

Mari: ...

Left stunned for a moment, she finds herself giggling, finding it odd yet endearing for someone like Lohen to use stickers simply just like that. But resolves to play along because she is having too much fun.

Varka would be the tired, unwilling kind. Unwilling direct receiver of scandalous reports from Lohen's traumatized subordinates about his ‘escapades’. Unwilling receiver of Lohen's shameless tangents when questioned about those reports.

Make no mistake, Varka is beyond glad to see those youngsters being each other's safe space. It's also true that since then though... his migraines had only gotten worse.

On another note, Varka also feels somehow guilty. He is convinced to be at fault in part for having pushed Mari into all of this. Her earnest, most genuine response to that is to slightly shake her head, smile warmly and say not to worry. Because she “likes it just as much”. It's so rare to see Mari radiate such pure, unfiltered happiness that Varka, beside the relief, can't help the boisterous laughter that came next.

...On the other hand, Lohen is already looking for the name of those behind those reports. Not to worry — in his words, those fellows are due for a mere “friendly chatter” with him... good luck to them.

As it happens Lohen seemed interested in borrowing her notes to catch up on something he had missed during the chemistry lesson. Mari, hesitating and distrustful because this has never happened before, hands them over anyway to avoid any kind of conflict, hoping only to get them all back in one piece.

However as he spoke her eyes flicks to the side, to those glittering, hard to ignore piercings he wears at the ear. An awe-inspiring spectacle of silvers, different shapes and size and designs dotting his ear and ripping into the earlobe. Horror at the thought of the pain he could have endured, mixed with a quiet sort of fascination swirl at her. That however coupled with a more visceral feeling as it starts to take root within, one similar to a “stranger danger!’ kind of feeling. Except, well... this is her classmate of quite some time we are talking about. Just one she didn't really share any common interest with.

Grimacing as her minds sounds in alarms she thinks, not good... not good at all. Whatever could a guy like him possibly want from me...

Next thing she knew, when Mari gets back at — or at least attempts to — looking right into his crimson eyes, for some unknown reason a barely perceptive, upward tug at the corner of his lips greets her back.

Beside the embarrassment of getting caught staring at his ear, her stomach makes a... weird flip at that. One she unfortunately knows too well, having secretly read fanfics upon fanfics of some type...

Ugh, she is too easy. She tries to ignore it for the moment as Lohen goes back to his seat with her chemistry notes in tow. To her relief, after lunch break she finds them back pristine as they came, placed right on top of her desk.

If not for a post-it attached at the corner of one of the papers, one Mari didn't recall being there.

It reads:

Thanks a bunch, ladybug. And look, this passage here wasn't exactly like you jotted down initially, but I went and corrected it for you. No need to thank me — chemistry is my forte after all.

...Huh?

So many questions started to brew at the back of her mind upon reading.

Why bother asking for her notes, if he had no problem in the first place?

And then, a strange warmth bubbled in chest as her eyes skimmed once again over that... word.