After parting with Lee Soo-hyeon, who seemed reluctant to leave until the very end, I walked alone.
A quick glance into the classroom showed only a few students still inside. Yoo Si-eon and Han Tae-ryeong were nowhere to be seen.
I headed toward the sports field and found a secluded bench to sit on. A cool breeze brushed against my cheeks.
Maybe I should take a nap here.
Since it was such a hidden spot, there was little chance I would run into Yoo Si-eon or Han Tae-ryeong.
But I still need to meet Han Tae-ryeong…
[Quest 3: Draw out a positive emotion from Han Tae-ryeong.]
[★ TIP: A sweet tip for the socially awkward you! ★]
[If you’re not sure what to say, why not talk about something you like?]
The quest kept flickering before my eyes.
The problem was, I had no idea how to go about it.
“Han Tae-ryeong.”
Before I realized it, I had muttered his name aloud.
Should I go find him now and kneel or something? Maybe then he would show some kind of positive emotion.
“Min Yu-un.”
At the sound of my name, I slowly lifted my eyes.
Han Tae-ryeong was standing right in front of me, looking down with a piercing gaze.
Speak of the devil.
“Well, you sure ran off like a rat.”
“…”
I slowly rose from the bench, straightened my back, and met his gaze with an expression stripped of emotion.
“Han Tae-ryeong, I—”
“Hey! Watch out over there!”
A sharp warning made both of us turn our heads.
The next instant, something slammed straight into my face.
Heat flared across my skin. My nose throbbed, and my vision blurred.
The ball that had struck me rolled away across the ground. From how hard it felt, it was probably a soccer ball.
“You’re… bleeding.”
Han Tae-ryeong stammered, sounding just as startled as I was.
Only then did I notice the warm trickle of blood dripping from my nose.
The metallic scent hit me, sharp and familiar.
Drip.
Drip…
Crimson droplets splattered onto the ground.
When I raised my hand, red began to stain my palm.
Tilting my head back slightly, I closed my eyes. The sky flickering into view was a vivid blue.
“Min Yu-un!”
A firm hand gripped the back of my head and forced it down.
Before I could resist, I found myself bent at the waist.
When I looked up, my gaze met Han Tae-ryeong’s. He immediately scowled and clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Seriously? You don’t even know the basics? You’re not supposed to tilt your head back when you get a nosebleed.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“…”
Han Tae-ryeong bit his lip for a moment, then let go of me with a rough shove.
He took a deep breath, as if suppressing his irritation, before speaking again.
“Whatever. Just go to the nurse’s office already. I don’t make a habit of insulting injured people.”
Do I really have to go to the nurse’s office?
I had never liked hospitals, or anywhere connected to medical treatment.
The pungent smell of disinfectant I had grown far too accustomed to. The endless application of ointment and bandages.
I was sick of all of it.
Compared to that, this level of pain was nothing. It was easier to just endure it.
When I made no move to leave, Han Tae-ryeong’s expression turned cold.
“Ha… And here I was trying to be nice. You’ve got a habit of ignoring people, don’t you?”
“I’m fine.”
I cut him off and wiped my nose with my sleeve.
“I’m used to not going. It’s easier to just endure it.”
Silence fell between us.
As I sniffled absently, a realization struck me.
I quickly lifted my head.
Ah.
I was supposed to draw out a positive emotion from him.
But I could not read the expression on Han Tae-ryeong’s face. His thoughts were a complete mystery, and I swallowed a sigh.
He’s probably annoyed.
That was my confident guess.
Even though he despised me, he had still told me to go to the nurse’s office. Whether he had been genuinely worried or simply wanted to get rid of the unsightly scene in front of him did not matter.
Either way, he had shown a bit of kindness.
I should have thanked him first.
At this rate, how was I ever supposed to clear the quest?
I would probably just keep making myself more unlikeable.
After hesitating for a moment, I slowly opened my mouth.
“…Thanks for worrying.”
Along with the words, I gave a small, simple nod.
Without waiting for a response, I turned to leave.
But I did not get far.
“Min Yu-un.”
Han Tae-ryeong grabbed me by the back of the collar.
With no room to escape, I was dragged back to where I had been standing before.
His face looked thoroughly displeased. This time, however, he neither pushed me away nor let go.
Once again, I felt his rough strength as he pressed my head down. Caught off guard, I could only blink in confusion as something soft touched my nose.
“Hold it there. Until the bleeding stops.”
Without thinking, I accepted the cloth from his hand.
It was a sky-blue handkerchief.
I glanced sideways at him for a moment before checking the system window.
No message appeared saying the quest had been completed.
So it was just pity.
Nothing more.
*****
“The bleeding seems to have stopped.”
When I lowered the handkerchief, the pale blue fabric was stained a vivid red.
It was not a pleasant sight.
Suddenly, Han Tae-ryeong grabbed my chin.
His firm grip left no room for resistance. He scrutinized my face, then let go as if tossing aside something unpleasant.
Rubbing my tingling chin with the back of my hand, I sniffed quietly and gripped the handkerchief tight.
Looks like I screwed up this quest.
To clear the quest, I had to draw out a positive emotion.
In other words, I had to build favor.
But instead of apologizing, clearing up misunderstandings, or earning trust, I had only managed to irritate him.
Forget positive feelings. I would be lucky if I had not earned even more negative ones.
“I’ll wash your handkerchief—”
“No need.”
Han Tae-ryeong cut me off sharply and snatched the handkerchief from my hand.
“You don’t need to bother with this. This handkerchief… This handkerchief is…”
He pressed his lips together and shut his eyes briefly, as if holding back irritation.
Then he muttered under his breath.
“Just stay out of my sight from now on. I’m already on the verge of wanting to kill you.”
Brushing past me, he deliberately knocked his shoulder against mine and walked away without looking back.
I stumbled slightly, caught myself, then slowly sank to the ground.
Yeah… He probably hates me even more now.
[Han Tae-ryeong, that crazy bastard.]
A loud, buzzing noise echoed through my head.
[He never lent that handkerchief to me, no matter what I did!]
Trying to ignore the noise, I slowly raised my head.
“What are you talking about?”
[I begged him so many times, but he never… Why… Why you?]
“Is that handkerchief really that important to Han Tae-ryeong?”
My voice came out louder than expected.
[Why else would he carry it every single day and refuse to lend it even to that oh-so-great Yoo Si-eon?]
The strength drained from my body.
I buried my face in my hands.
Great. Now I’m officially someone he can’t stand.
So that handkerchief was precious to him.
And I had stained it with my blood.
I should have just gone to the nurse’s office when he told me to. Maybe that would have been slightly better.
But I could not afford to fail this quest.
I had to succeed.
Only then could I finally reach the end.
“I don’t know anymore.”
No.
The truth was, I did know.
I knew I was someone who only brought trouble to other people.
*****
As soon as homeroom ended, I moved quickly.
Dealing with Han Tae-ryeong was already overwhelming enough. On top of that, I had no intention of running into Yoo Si-eon, Lee Soo-hyeon, or worst of all, Jin Ha-seong.
Should I buy a new handkerchief and give it to him?
I considered solving the problem with money, but it might backfire.
No matter how nice the replacement was, it could never carry the same meaning as that particular handkerchief.
Feeling restless, I stopped by a nearby café and settled at a secluded table.
I took a long sip of my iced chocolate latte.
The heavy emotions pressing down on me seemed to lighten, if only a little.
This is a first.
For once, I could relax and enjoy myself in a public place without worrying about curious stares, loan sharks’ threats, or my father’s unpredictable outbursts.
It felt unfamiliar and strange.
But not unpleasant.
[Quest 3: Draw out a positive emotion from Han Tae-ryeong.]
[★ TIP: A sweet tip for the socially awkward you! ★]
[If you’re not sure what to say, why not talk about something you like?]
Positive emotions… If only I could draw out even a little of that feeling…
Just as I sank deep into thought, a heavy thud shook the table.
A shadow fell over me.
“Min Yu-un.”
I slowly raised my head.
“…Jin Ha-seong.”