CHAPTER 7: EATING TOGETHER

Niam swallowed and stood up. "I should check on the cook. She's probably done cooking." He said, rubbing his hands on his trousers awkwardly.

Finn nodded, still waiting for the system to heal his bruises.

At the same time, he realized he was a little hungry.

He watched Niam leave the room, and a smile appeared on his face.

He slumped in bed and closed his eyes as a comfortable feeling rose from his neck to his chest.

The earlier pain from his neck disappeared, and even without checking it, Finn could tell he was already healed.

"Thanks." He said softly.

The system ignored him.

"The favorability is in 40%, right?" Finn asked.

[Yes]

"When will I meet the second target?"

[When the first target reaches a certain level, the next target will appear.]

Finn's eyes widened as he sat up in bed.

"Certain level?" The system wasn't even certain.

Wouldn't that take forever?

When would he ever be able to regain his memories, then?

Eight targets with each other reaching 'certain level' before meeting another. How long would that take him?

Finn suddenly felt depressed.

Living without a single memory of who he used to be wasn't a pleasant feeling, and it made him feel sad often.

He wanted to regain his memories as soon as possible. Finn wanted to know everything about his past.

Did he have a mother? A father, or even a lover?

He wanted to know everything, and he initially thought he would soon get what he wanted. But things weren't the way he expected.

Niam was already this slow. How would the rest be?

Finn felt the urge to cry.

The system appeared before him in the form of a white round object. [You should enjoy this moment as much as you can, host]

[Nothing is more fun than falling in love]

Finn rolled his eyes.

Right then, the door opened, and Niam walked in.

Raising his head, Finn's eyes fell on Niam, and the sadness in his eyes reduced significantly. "Food's ready?" He asked.

Niam nodded. "Let's go and eat."

Finn's eyes brightened.

He rushed down the bed and smiled beautifully at Niam. "Let's go." He agreed and took the lead out of the house.

Finn had already forgotten about his earlier depression. He was hungry, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

Getting downstairs, Finn couldn't stop the deepening of his smile when he saw the table filled with dishes.

He gestured at Niam to walk faster, and when Niam didn't, he grabbed Niam's wrist.

Niam froze.

Finn frowned.

His eyes fell on the wrist he was holding, and he tilted his head as concern flashed through his eyes.

"Your hands are so cold." He mumbled.

But Niam said nothing.

His eyes lingered on Finn.

"Are you sick?" Finn looked into Niam's eyes as he asked while his hands covered Niam, trying to warm him up.

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" Finn's lips parted as he said.

His large eyes turned slightly misty from worry.

[Ding! Favorability +5]

[Congrats, Host. The first target's favorability is 45%]

"No. I'm okay." Niam quickly said.

His eyes wavered as he abruptly pulled his hand away from Finn's.

Finn's brow twitched slightly. He ignored the system's notification as he looked worriedly at Niam, wondering what was wrong with him.

Niam walked toward the dining table and sat down. He pressed a hand on his chest and pointed to the meals.

"Let's eat." He said.

"Oh, right." Finn's mood got better again.

He sat beside Niam and smiled brightly as he ate.

The meal was delicious and Finn couldn't stop eating.

Ever since he woke up, he hadn't tasted such a delicious meal.

His mother wasn't proficient in cooking. She would either burn the food or add too much salt, and when Finn bought food from outside, they weren't delicious enough.

Finn glanced at the cook who was serving the drink, and he silently wished the system could have made her his mother instead.

But what could he do?

He could only push everything else behind his mind and eat as much as he could.

Who knew when he would eat something so good again?

After eating, Finn watched as the maids cleared the table, and his brows twitched.

The target was having a really good life.

But he had to leave now.

Finn stood up and waved at Niam. "I should leave now." He said to him.

Niam's jaw clenched. "Why?" He asked in a low voice as he also stood up.

Finn looked toward the door. "I don't want your parents to meet me here." He whispered.

Finn didn't want Niam's parents to know about his motive.

What if Niam's parents knew he was begging Niam to bully him, and they scolded him for that?

No, Finn hated to be scolded, and he also didn't want Niam's parents to think he was advising their son to bully someone.

Bullying is bad.

Niam frowned. "My parents don't come home." He revealed. "They won't come." He added.

Finn's lips parted. "They don't come?"

Niam nodded. His mood was a little down.

Finn's lips pressed into a thin line, and he blinked his eyes rapidly. "Then, can I stay over?" He quietly asked.