CHAPTER 6: APOLOGY

Finn cried and fell asleep under the tree.

His fragile body trembled slightly from the breeze, but it didn't wake him up.

His breath was a little shaky.

He felt a presence around him, but he felt too sleepy to care.

He was in school anyway, and no one could hurt him here.

He also didn't want to open his eyes. He was too exhausted.

His neck also hurt.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around him and lifted him from the ground.

Finn stirred weakly, his cheek brushing against a warm chest.

He painfully opened his eyes, and his blurry gaze settled on a familiar face... Niam's.

He tried to push him away, but his weak arms only rested on Niam's chest before he fell back to a deeper sleep.

Finn felt too exhausted.

[DING! FIRST TARGET'S FAVORABILITY +20]

[FAVORABILITY: 40]

[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST]

Robotic voice sounded in Finn's ears, but he only hummed in response.

Everything soon became peaceful.

Hours later.

Finn rolled around as a low grunt escaped his throat.

The thing beneath him was really soft and comfortable.

Also, the scent from it was really familiar, and it made him feel at peace.

Finn's eyelashes trembled.

The word familiar rang repeatedly in his head until a figure formed in his mind___ Niam.

His eyes snapped open. He looked around the room only to realize he was in an unfamiliar place.

Finn panicked.

Had he really been kidnapped?

"No, Host. This is the first target's home."

He heard the system's calm voice.

Finn's heart trembled.

Niam took him home.

But why?

Didn't he bully him like he wanted to kill him earlier? Why would he bring him home now?

While Finn was deep in thought, the door opened, revealing Niam with a set of clothes in hand.

His eyes widened slightly when he saw Finn, but it was soon clouded by a guilty feeling.

He approached and sat at the edge of the bed, looking at Finn, who was also staring at him.

Their eyes met, and air stilled between them.

None of them turned their eyes away.

It was like time had stopped.

Finn's heart raced, eliciting a slight fear in him as he clutched his chest.

His eyes shifted nervously, and he shifted his butt, trying to create a distance between himself and Niam.

Finn felt like the earlier choke had tampered with his heart.

Even his heart was starting to have a problem.

Niam was truly a bad person.

Finn didn't like him.

Niam dropped the clothes in his hand, and a rough sigh escaped his throat.

"I'm sorry, Finn." He said in a small voice, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

Finn glanced at him as a small light appeared in his eyes. "You're saying sorry?" He asked slowly.

Niam nodded.

The earlier coldness was nowhere to be found, and it had been replaced by the innocence of a youth.

At this moment, Finn really felt that Niam wasn't older than he was.

He was the same age as him, and their mentality wasn't so different.

Niam wasn't cold. He wasn't scary either.

But Finn still didn't like him. Niam hurt him.

Niam's eyes were filled with guilt as he lowered his eyes, and his hand remained at the back of his neck, rubbing nervously.

"I shouldn't have treated you that way."

"I shouldn't have hurt you." He kept mumbling.

Finn's lips pursed.

He touched his neck, and tears welled up in his eyes again. "But my neck hurts." He said pitifully.

Niam's eyes flickered as he stood up quickly.

He rubbed his hands on his trousers, and his eyes darted around the room as if searching for something.

"I will apply first aid right away." He said.

Finn tilted his head and nodded.

He thought first aid should help cure the pain.

Niam's eyes finally regained a little clarity, and he crouched down to open the drawer beside the bed.

He brought out a first aid kit and sat back in bed.

Finn shifted closer to him and raised his head to give Niam access.

However, he noticed Niam's eyes darkening.

Finn was taken aback.

It was the same expression Niam had when he bullied him inside the music room...

Could it be that the target wanted to bully him again now?

But his neck still hurts...

"You can bully me later when I'm healed." Finn found himself saying in a small voice.

He also wanted to be bullied that way, but now wasn't the right time.

He didn't want a scar around his neck.

Niam's expression turned awkward.

His fingers trembled as he slowly applied ointment around Finn's neck, and by the time he was done, his forehead was already covered in sweat.

Finn blinked.

The target looked like he wasn't feeling too well...

Finn felt like he might have made things too difficult for the target.

"Host, I can help cure the pain right away."

The system suddenly said.

Finn's eyes lit up. 'Really?'

"Yes. I only discovered the features now. I can help cure any injuries to the host, as long as the injuries are not too deep."

A smile spread across Finn's lips.

'Go ahead. I want to be bullied by the target again.'

"Got it!"