— — — [System] — — —
The reward for completing this mission is 1 golden card and 1 silver card.
— — — — — — — — —
Amid the hallway bustle, walking. A girl appeared with an aura that made everyone step aside without her asking. Black hair, straight like a veil and down to her waist. Pale skin and her eyes are a reddish-brown that looked at no one.
She wore a tight shirt that outlined her body perfectly and a black skirt, just as tight, that ended right above the knee. Elegant, confident, untouchable.
"It's Baek Chaerin."
That was enough. I recognized her instantly. And now the system told me I had to approach her.
— — — [System] — — —
Kiss Baek Chaerin [0/1]
Reward: 1 golden card and 1 silver card.
— — — — — — — — —
"Is this a hidden camera, damn system...?"
I murmured, eyes fixed on the floating text. Although I already knew this was going to happen, I wanted to get mad at the system.
But fate, or rather the system, seemed to have no intention of waiting. Because before I could think of a strategy, chaos did it for me.
A poorly worn backpack, then an accidental stumble, a chain reaction of pushes... and by the time I reacted, it was too late.
"Damn it, idiot...!"
Smack!
My shoulder slammed directly into Baek Chaerin's.
For a second, the whole hallway seemed to fall silent. It was as if the students instinctively knew someone had just committed a sacrilege.
Chaerin moved slowly, as if it weren't worth doing quickly. She tucked her hair behind her ear with an almost ceremonial slowness and looked at me like I'd just stepped in shit.
"Eh...?" Her voice was icy. "Do you want to die?"
I looked at her. But not like the original Suhyeon would have: hunched, stuttering, apologizing before thinking.
I looked at her with my eyes wide open. Expectant. As if I were watching a cutscene finally happening live.
Chaerin narrowed her eyes, offended that I showed no sign of fear.
"What, are you deaf?" she spat. "I asked if you want to die, you little shit."
I didn't answer immediately. I just raised an eyebrow, analyzing every second as if it were a scripted scene.
Then, as if to seal the humiliation, she raised her hand. A slap was coming.
"Die!"
But just as her hand was in the air, with every gaze fixed on us, I spoke.
"Hit me," I said calmly. "Or are you scared, little girl?"
That line stopped her arm halfway. Not only was she stunned, but even those watching held their breath.
Her gaze fixed on me, trying to read my expression. There was no mockery. No submission. Just... calm.
A calm that puzzled everyone.
"What did you say?" she asked, lowering her voice, as if she couldn't believe someone like me could speak to her that way.
She took a step closer. So close I could smell her perfume. Sweet, expensive. Unnecessarily intimidating.
And then the unthinkable happened. A kid running with a tray from the school kiosk filled with banana milk, buns and suspiciously watery kimchi didn't stop in time.
"Careful!" the kid yelled.
Praaash!
The boy crashed into Chaerin's back.
The milk exploded like a grenade. The buns flew through the air. The kimchi... fell directly on her shoulder, sliding down her tight white blouse.
It took Chaerin two seconds to process what had happened. Then her face flushed red.
"WHO THE HELL WAS THE IDIOT?!" she shouted, turning furious.
The kiosk boy trembled, bowing at ninety degrees while babbling apologies nobody understood.
And I... well, I couldn't help it. I let out a laugh. Soft at first. Then louder and louder.
Chaerin turned to me, still drenched, with a look that could melt steel.
"What are you laughing at, idiot?!"
"At damn fate. Don't you think it's beautiful?" I answered, still smiling. "Today... it really gave you a very enriching slap."
Those watching let out a few nervous laughs, and that's when I knew I had crossed a line. And yet... I didn't care.
Because for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel at the bottom of the food chain... putting someone like her in her place.
"You think you're funny?" said a voice behind me, mocking and threatening. I didn't have time to turn.
SMACK!
A brutal slap hit me like lightning, straight across the cheek. My head spun from the force, and my body slammed against the hallway wall with a dry thud. I couldn't breathe.
I brought my hand to my face, feeling the skin throb.
"Hey, idiot! Who gave you permission to make fun of Chaerin?" spat the same voice.
When I managed to look up, I saw him. It was Choi Changdong.
A mastodon with the face of a spoiled pig, chubby cheeks and a sadistic grin. Beside him, two smaller followers, with stray-dog faces, escorted him as if he were a cheap emperor.
"This is Suhyeon Kim, right?" one of them said. "The school punching bag. Since when do you have a tongue, you damn loser?"
I didn't answer because I was assessing the situation. Analyzing, breathing calmly, trying to recover my energy.
Changdong took another step and grabbed the collar of my uniform, lifting me a few inches off the ground.
"You think you're different today? You think you're funny for looking at Chaerin?" he snorted, his breath smelling of spicy noodles.
"I'm not thinking anything, bitch," I murmured with some difficulty, looking him in the eyes.
He frowned.
"Oh, really? Son of a bitch. Then look down like before. Like the worm you are."
Several thoughts crossed my mind: "My pride was already wounded. But if I lowered my head, it would be the same as signing a sentence of humiliation. I didn't come to this world to live with my head bowed."
And before I could say anything else...
— — — [System] — — —
New side quest available.
Objective: Defeat Choi Changdong [0/1]
Reward: 1 silver card and 1 bronze card.
— — — — — — — — —
And just then, Chaerin's voice rang out again. Cold, but with something else... Nervous? Anxious?
"Changdong. Enough already," she said, taking two steps forward. "You don't have to hit him. It was just a bump. I can handle it."
He turned his head, annoyed.
"You again? Now you care about this insect?"
"I don't care," she replied dryly. "I just say you've already made your point. It's not worth it."
Changdong snorted, turning to his friends with a twisted smile.
"Did you hear that? She says I'm not worth it, ha ha ha," he mocked, as if the whole situation were a private comedy.
Chaerin pressed her lips together. But she didn't say anything more.
She could dominate the hallway with her presence... but she didn't dominate Changdong. Not this impulsive animal who only responded to brute force.
He looked at me again.
"All right, Suhyeon. Do you have anything to say before I disfigure your face?"
I took a deep breath. I felt a strange tingle... a mix of fear and excitement.
"Yes," I murmured, my voice still hoarse. "If you're going to hit me... make sure I don't get up... you fucking pig!"
His eyes widened slightly.
"Ah?"
And before he could react, I raised my knee.
Thud!
Right into the groin. Not with all my strength. But enough to make him grunt like an animal and force him to let go of me.
I staggered back, gasping. The hallway exploded into murmurs.
"He hit him?! Suhyeon hit Changdong?!"
"Are you crazy? He's going to kill you!"
"Is this a drama club joke?"