NOVEL NEXT Chapter 223
My head is pounding.
It’s not because someone is mentally attacking me, but rather this whole situation itself is making my head hurt.
Not only do I have to choose one, but what should I even say to that person?
‘The truth is, you looked the easiest to approach.’
Just thinking about it is horrifying.
That’s something I can’t say to the person, and it’s not something I actually want to say.
“…”
[I'm hoping each of you can do your best in your respective positions.]
As that thought crossed my mind, the world became clear again.
We were back on the university campus.
I wondered if everyone was reading the missions given to them.
Some were seriously looking around, while others shrugged it off as if nothing was wrong.
But what was certain was—
“Team Leader.”
“Uh, what?”
“…With me…”
“Huh?”
“…Never mind.”
Am I crazy to even think about that?
Who should I ask?
Ye Eun is too young. Aileen is…
“…You just broke up with your ex-boyfriend after barely dating for a while.”
Aileen looked at me playfully.
I feel a bit sorry for her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Well, it’s not really your fault.”
When Aileen met my gaze, she smiled slightly and waved her hand.
“Well, in the end, it’s just a role we play, right?”
“Still, it’s a little awkward for it to end like this.”
“Everything’s disappointing, I guess.”
Aileen chuckled at my words.
“Anyway, if you need anything, just say it. I’ll help you.”
“And what about you, Aileen? What’s your mission?”
She’s in the same position as me. Surely, she’s received a similar mission.
“Curious?”
Aileen looked at me.
“…You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“Well, it’s not hard or anything.”
Aileen waved her hand with a small smile.
“I wrote that I wore these rubber shoes backward, causing many people to dislike me.”
“…”
“So, I need to live quietly at school. That’s the content.”
“…”
“Another tragic situation.”
“Doesn’t this qualify as a tragic situation?”
Suddenly making someone appear as trash.
“At the end of the day, I’m the one wearing the rubber shoes backward, so why should you care?”
“There’s no process, that’s why—no process.”
If I had truly dated Aileen and then broken up, it would be one thing. But breaking up after briefly scoring points in school life doesn’t bring anything but guilt.
“Anyway, don’t think too much about it.”
Aileen waved her hand.
“You too, if you need anything, just say it.”
“…I don’t think there’s anything you can help with, Aileen.”
In any case, Aileen surely can’t assist.
“The way you’re saying that, it sounds related to me.”
Aileen smirked.
“…You’ve got a keen sense.”
“If you don’t have a keen sense, you’d die working in a team like this.”
She lightly poked my shoulder.
“Got it. I’m leaving first.”
With that, she stuffed her hands into her pockets and headed somewhere.
Ahn Sang Hyun—
He had already disappeared who knows where.
The Team Leader vanished too.
Park Ye Eun was also taken away by someone presumed to be a professor, pleading for her life.
In the end, only the four of us were left again.
“…You look uneasy. Are you okay?”
“No.”
It was clear to anyone looking at me that my expression was the worst.
As Jang Chae Yeon observed me, her concern deepened.
“If it’s tough, I’ll help you.”
“…”
What should I say here?
Should I just ask her to go out with me?
“…”
“…Why are you silent? Wasn’t there something you wanted to say?”
Jang Chae Yeon tilted her head curiously, looking at me.
“Well, you see…”
“Hm.”
“Uh…”
“Yeah.”
Jang Chae Yeon was looking at me.
As our eyes met, I concluded that I needed to speak.
“Actually—”
“Hey!”
Before I could finish my sentence, Song Ah Rin stomped over, looking furious.
“What’s up?”
You startled me.
As I caught my breath, I looked at Song Ah Rin, who had raised an eyebrow at me.
“I need your help!”
“Uh, well, it’s not too difficult.”
Is it really worth yelling about that?
As I looked at Song Ah Rin with hesitation, she nodded.
“I need to stop the professor from making me stay a year longer in grad school.”
“Is that even possible?”
Isn’t that like a death sentence?
“Maybe I can just put them under hypnosis?”
“If that works, sure.”
“Oh, then that could work. Thanks!”
With that, she spun around and walked away.
“Wait, A-Rin.”
“What?”
“…”
Is A-Rin really the easiest person to deal with?
I don’t think so.
“Come on, speak.”
“…No.”
“…Am I not good enough for it?”
With uncanny intuition, A-Rin glanced at me as if weighing me up.
“…Yeah, I might not fit well with you, A-Rin.”
“…That’s a bummer.”
As she mumbled that, she shifted her steps elsewhere.
What was that?
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon was staring intently at Song Ah Rin.
“…Do you plan to say something?”
“Well, you see…”
Thinking it over again, I don’t think I can admit it.
“…No.”
“…”
At my words, Jang Chae Yeon glanced at the spot where Song Ah Rin had just been, then waved her hand. A-Rin crouched down, holding her head as if something had hit her.
“You crazy girl!”
From a distance, A-Rin shouted, but Jang Chae Yeon ignored it, continuing to look at me.
“If anything happens, make sure to tell me.”
“…Sure.”
“Great. Then—”
“Kyah! Chae Yeon!!”
Before she could finish, someone rushed towards her and grabbed her, making Jang Chae Yeon quickly clutch my arm.
A swarm of people rushed toward her again.
With a ruckus, they surrounded Jang Chae Yeon.
“Chae Yeon! What are you doing today?”
“What are we eating? Want to have lunch together?”
“Then how about dinner with me?”
Wow.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon looked down at the ground with an exasperated expression.
“Yeah, this does not fit.”
“Right.”
“What’s up with this guy? Her boyfriend?”
People were murmuring, looking at me.
“Chae Yeon’s boyfriend?”
“Not like he has a particularly strong presence.”
“If Chae Yeon is dating him, she’d be wasting herself.”
People were buzzing while looking at me.
This is really hard. Is this what it’s like to be popular?
I don’t wanna be popular.
“Quiet.”
While I was thinking that, Jang Chae Yeon spoke in a firm tone.
Her words made everyone hush.
“…Let’s go.”
Jang Chae Yeon glanced around and grabbed my wrist.
“Uh, sure, let’s go.”
I followed her calmly.
After all, this is just a game.
As we pushed through the crowd, Jang Chae Yeon looked back at me.
“…Huh.”
She sighed.
“It’s tough, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
Unexpectedly, she answered honestly.
“We’re just not a match.”
“Seems like that.”
How did the person who seems least likely to fit in among us get into this role?
“…Then, help me with my mission.”
Jang Chae Yeon glanced at me.
“Oh, sure. Just tell me.”
Though I’m in a tough spot right now, this isn’t something that can be resolved by worrying at the moment.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon seemed to be contemplating, repeating the act of closing and opening her eyes.
“Well, you see.”
“Yeah.”
“…That is.”
Jang Chae Yeon sighed deeply.
“…Be someone I can share my feelings with.”
“…Oh.”
Not dating?
Someone I can share my feelings with?
That’s a very tough request.
As I pondered for a moment, Jang Chae Yeon hurriedly continued.
“Well, I also feel this way, but I don’t have many people to share my true feelings with…”
That’s quite a lengthy explanation coming from Jang Chae Yeon.
“…No, it’s fine with me.”
Sounds like we’re on the same page.
“Actually, I have something to tell you too.”
“…Yeah.”
“…Chae Yeon.”
“Yeah.”
As our eyes met, I felt it was finally time to speak.
“Would you go out with me?”
“…Huh?”
Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes went wide in surprise, and a chill ran down my spine.
What’s happening?
I looked around, but I didn’t sense anything.
“…Just, wait a moment.”
Upon hearing my words, Jang Chae Yeon visibly flustered as she kept talking.
“Uh, this… is this part of the mission?”
“Yeah.”
“…Oh…”
Her expression shifted rapidly as she processed what I said.
First, she looked shocked with wide-open eyes.
Then, she seemed defeated with her eyes closed.
Next, she shook her head.
Finally—
“…Okay, I’m good with that.”
She slowly smiled, looking back at me.
“…Is that alright?”
I’ve never seen Jang Chae Yeon this emotional before.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
She smiled.
“…”
Is Jang Chae Yeon really the easiest person?
I can’t define what easy is, but when asked, “Is she the person I can be most comfortable with?” that’s true.
At the same time—
-Ding ding!
A cheerful sound rang out, and a window popped up in front of me.
[You have successfully completed the mission!]
[You earn 100 points!]
[Kim Jae Heon: 130 points]
Oh.
So that’s how scoring works, huh?
I glanced at Jang Chae Yeon and saw her staring at the screen just like I was, as if she was experiencing something similar.
“Did you score?”
“…Yeah.”
She smiled softly at my words.
“Phew, thank you. It’s great that we reached an agreement quickly.”
At my words, Jang Chae Yeon smiled again.
“But we’re not done yet.”
“…What?”
“It hasn’t been said that our roles have ended yet.”
Jang Chae Yeon smiled and grabbed my hand.
Her gentle touch wrapped around my hand.
-Ding ding!
10 points added.
“I heard this is a lifelong game until the end.”
Jang Chae Yeon smiled.
“Then can I go all the way with you?”
“…Oh.”
What should I say? I was stuck in thought.
“…Oh, Jae Heon! Chae Yeon!”
A familiar voice suddenly called out.
“What are you doing here?”
Yu Da On appeared, looking at us.
She glanced at our clasped hands, and as I tried to pull my hand away, to separate our palms—
-Thunk!
Jang Chae Yeon didn’t let go.