Chapter 05
As I asked that, I recalled the contents of the novel. Story-wise, Min Yu-un probably hadn’t committed any terrible crimes yet, but seeing Yoo Si-eon’s reaction made me feel uneasy. Just then, Min Yu-un’s irritated mumbling echoed in my head.
[I already apologized. What’s his problem?]
“……”
[It’s not like I did anything that bad. Just send him away already.]
Honestly, I did want to send Yoo Si-eon away, just as Min Yu-un said. I was exhausted, my entire body felt heavy. But I couldn’t just kick out a guest after letting him in. Besides, I thought an apology would be enough, but I hadn’t expected Yoo Si-eon to react so ambiguously, which made me even more flustered. I subtly glanced at the system window in my field of vision.
|
[ Quest 1: Apologize to the main characters. (2/3) ] (★TIP: A sweet tip for someone who’s never apologized before!★) *How about gifting a cream bun as a gesture of your pure-hearted intentions to turn over a new leaf? |
It still hadn’t disappeared. It would probably vanish once I apologized to the last remaining supporting character.
“Haa.”
With a sigh, Yoo Si-eon roughly ran a hand through his hair. Despite having the delicate and soft features typical of a main protagonist, the firm lines of his neck were exposed. Maybe that was why the subtle pressure he exuded felt heavy.
“So, what I’m saying is—”
Ding-dong.
The cheerful chime of the doorbell cut off Yoo Si-eon’s words. Both of us turned our heads at the same time.
‘A guest?’
Min Yu-un lived alone, and his family was abroad. Just as I was getting confused, Min Yu-un’s voice slipped into my mind.
[It’s Lee Soo-hyeon.]
Lee Soo-hyeon. The name of the supporting character I had yet to meet in this novel.
[I called him yesterday. I had something to talk to him about.]
And you’re only telling me this now? My expression twisted slightly. As if making excuses, Min Yu-un quickly added,
[I forgot! It wasn’t to mess with you! I just… I was going to apologize to him myself.]
Fine, it must have been Min Yu-un’s best attempt at courage. Even though I had arrived before he could do so. Understanding the situation, I moved toward the door.
When I opened it, I was met with the sight of Lee Soo-hyeon standing awkwardly. He flashed a lifeless smile as our eyes met. He was a character who never lost his smile, no matter who he was dealing with—even Min Yu-un.
“Lee Soo-hyeon?”
Behind me, I heard Yoo Si-eon’s reluctant voice calling his name.
Upon spotting Yoo Si-eon, Lee Soo-hyeon’s face froze over with cold hostility. Then, without hesitation, he turned his sharp aggression toward me.
“Min Yu-un, you promised not to mess with Yoo Si-eon.”
His anger struck me like a blade.
“You said if I came to your house, you’d leave him alone.”
A twisted sneer formed on Lee Soo-hyeon’s lips. Hearing that, I couldn’t help but silently scold Min Yu-un.
‘You said you were going to apologize.’
What kind of threat was that?
Then again, maybe this was for the best. Now, I could take this opportunity to apologize to the supporting character as well.
“…I’m sorry.”
The words of apology that I had grown too used to saying slipped out again without hesitation.
“I called you here to apologize. To you, and to Yoo Si-eon.”
Ding.
The notification sound rang in my ears, and my eyes instinctively darted toward the translucent system window.
|
[ Quest 1: Apologize to the main characters. (3/3) ] (★TIP: A sweet tip for someone who’s never apologized before!★) *How about gifting a cream bun as a gesture of your pure-hearted intentions to turn over a new leaf? |
After blinking a few times, the text changed.
| [ Congratulations! Quest 1 has been cleared. ] |
A new window appeared in its place.
|
[ Quest 2: Make a friend. (0/1) ] (★TIP. A sweet tip for you, who has no friends★) *Do you really need conditions for friendship? Just go for it with the person in front of you! |
‘…A friend?’
While I stood there blankly, Yoo Si-eon stepped between Lee Soo-hyeon and me.
“Yeah. He really did call you here to apologize.”
“Yoo Si-eon.”
“He apologized to me too, just like he did to you.”
Yoo Si-eon, who had been glaring at Lee Soo-hyeon’s twisted expression, turned to look at me.
“Right, Min Yu-un?”
But his question barely reached me. My gaze was still fixated on the word friend.
The phrase ‘a sweet tip for you, who has no friends’ felt brutal but, at the same time, not entirely wrong. Neither I nor Min Yu-un had anyone we could truly call a friend. Even if we had in the past, it had been so long ago that we could barely remember. And now, the system was telling me to just go for it with whoever was in front of me? What an absurd suggestion.
Besides, what exactly is a friend? Just saying ‘let’s be friends’ doesn’t automatically make it true.
“Min Yu-un?”
Yoo Si-eon asked again, pulling me out of my daze. I lifted my head to take in the two people in front of me—Yoo Si-eon and Lee Soo-hyeon.
I needed a friend, even if just in name. And right now, there were two classmates standing before me.
‘Just go for it, huh.’
The quest hadn’t specified any particular requirements for a friend. There was no rule that said friends had to be close, or that they couldn’t dislike each other.
But I couldn’t choose Yoo Si-eon. He already had Han Tae-ryeong and Lee Soo-hyeon firmly by his side.
Even just a moment ago, it had been the same. The mere fact that Yoo Si-eon was in my house had nearly caused Lee Soo-hyeon to explode. If that was the case, only one option remained.
“Lee Soo-hyeon.”
As I called out to Lee Soo-hyeon beyond Yoo Si-eon, the latter’s expression shifted into something hard to read. Without noticing, I turned to Lee Soo-hyeon, who met my gaze with a smile mixed with both wariness and resentment. I silently looked at him before extending my right hand.
“Let’s be friends.”
Both Lee Soo-hyeon and Yoo Si-eon froze at the same time, their faces twisting as if they’d just seen a ghost.
“What’s with you all of a sudden—”
“Be friends with me. Please.”
Lee Soo-hyeon only stared at me without a word. When I took a step closer, he visibly flinched, his fingertips trembling.
“…Don’t joke around, Min Yu-un.”
“I’m not joking. I mean it.”
As always, it was undeniably sincere.
❤️🩹
I woke up to the warm rays of the morning sun. Perhaps because I had grown accustomed to it in just a day, my movements toward the bathroom were smooth. After putting on my school uniform, I bit into a slice of bread I’d bought the day before. Chewing diligently, yesterday’s events suddenly came to mind—the abrupt proposal of friendship. When he heard those words, Lee Soo-hyeon couldn’t hide his startled expression.
First, he had shoved Yoo Si-eon out the door, seemingly unable to stand us being in the same space. Ignoring the loud knocking that followed, Lee Soo-hyeon fixed me with a chilling gaze.
“Min Yu-un.”
I waited silently for him to continue.
“Sorry, but I’ll never forgive you. Not in this lifetime.”
I stared blankly at Lee Soo-hyeon, his hardened, resolute expression filling my vision. For some reason, a faint smile tugged at my lips. Their bond was truly strong.
Lee Soo-hyeon and Han Tae-ryeong despised Min Yu-un for one reason only—because he had bullied Yoo Si-eon.
Of course, bullying someone was no trivial matter. It was a serious wrong that deserved an apology. Yet, the world shunned not only the perpetrators but also the victims. Cornered and isolated, victims often sharpened their edges in defense.
I knew that all too well. Friends who once swore they’d never leave, kind neighbors, even the so-called father who suddenly appeared, preaching about family bonds—they had all abandoned me. Because I was backed into a corner, because I had grown defensive, because I was no longer of any use.
But those three were different. They had managed to preserve their friendship until the end. I couldn’t help but envy that.
“Min Yu-un.”
Lee Soo-hyeon’s voice brought me back to the present.
“You….”
As he stepped closer, I instinctively stepped back twice. Since I knew how much he loathed Min Yu-un, it was my way of showing consideration.
“Don’t feel bad that I won’t forgive you.”
At my words, the faint smile that had briefly lingered at the corner of Lee Soo-hyeon’s lips vanished as if it had never been there.
“Feeling bad is my burden to bear. Apologizing is my responsibility.”
As I watched him, I continued calmly.
“You guys can just forget about it. I’ll remember and keep making amends.”
Though I had done nothing wrong, I brushed a hand over my face to mask my thoughts. When I lowered my hand, the expressionless face reflected in his eyes once again concealed my emotions.
“I’ve said everything I needed to. So, you can go now.”
“…Friends.”
Breaking the silence, Lee Soo-hyeon finally spoke again, though slowly.
“Why did you ask me to be your friend?”
I paused briefly, unsure how to answer, before replying.
“Because I wanted to know what it’s like to have a friend.“
I shrugged nonchalantly. Since it was ultimately just for the quest, I had no intention of forcing the matter.
But to my surprise, that day, Lee Soo-hyeon accepted my request to be friends.
❤️🩹
Thank YOU for reading! ♡
Much ♡ to bloomin for helping with the editing. ( ੭ ˘ ³˘)੭°｡⋆♡‧₊˚
Thank you for the chapter!