38th Rule, Expressing Sincerity to Marin on the Cliff's Edge (1) ♥Marin♥
It's been a while since I walked the campus corridor alone.
Before, I'd ignored my surroundings, desperately trying to forget the misery of being by myself, lost in thoughts of studies and future plans. But now, things were different.
The whole way to the lecture hall, I pictured that puppy's face.
Being with someone was such a novel experience that just having him by my side made my heart flutter like it was floating away.
So there I was, gazing at the floor while dreaming of a happy future with the puppy, strolling down the corridor—when it happened.
Thud.
Suddenly, my head bumped into someone's chest.
"Honey... didn't I say I was going to the bathroom?"
The only guy who ever approached me at school was the puppy. Without a shred of doubt, I looked up to chew him out.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
But the man standing there wasn't the puppy. It was some other guy with a vaguely familiar face.
"Honey? ...Ha, you've got some nerve."
!
The voice was hostile, completely unlike the puppy's kind and innocent tone.
As I stared at him, racking my brain to figure out who he was—
"You push someone down the library stairs and act like nothing happened. Are you even human?"
...I remembered. This was the guy who'd been around that woman who fell down the stairs three days ago.
So the "pushing" he mentioned must refer to that girl who'd tried to flip up my skirt not long ago.
"I knew you had a thick skin, but I didn't think it was this thick."
He clenched his fists, his face twisted in contempt. Maybe because of that, all the monkeys around us started staring our way.
His attitude pissed me off, so I crossed my arms and glared right back.
"...So? What the hell does that have to do with you?"
"What?"
"You're not hurt at all. Why are you sticking your nose into someone else's business? Got nothing better to do?"
His face grew more distorted, veins bulging on his clenched fists.
"Hansuyeon... she's my friend. If your friend got hurt, wouldn't you care?"
"Ha, friend? That's none of my—"
I was about to brush off the monkey's words like always when my words caught in my throat.
Suddenly, the puppy's face flashed in my mind. The past few days with him replayed in my head.
Normally, I'd have dismissed "friend" as a useless, inefficient relationship without hesitation.
But saying that here would mean deeming my relationship with the puppy inefficient too.
For the first time in my life, frustration welled up, and I bit my lip, unable to retort.
Then the monkey guy fired back.
"Yeah, a psycho like you probably doesn't have any friends. Not that you'd get it."
"...That's not true. I have... a friend now... too."
I hung my head without thinking.
The word "friend" still felt awkward on my tongue, and he wasn't a perfect friend anyway—there were too many caveats.
As if reading my mind, the guy scoffed mockingly.
"Since the other day? You mean that guy hanging around you? Ha, hilarious."
"...What's so funny about it?"
"That guy's just someone you hired with money. You thought we wouldn't know?"
My heart sank.
So... they found out. I thought it was perfect.
But where did I slip up?
Monkeys weren't smart enough to figure it out, so pinpointing the flaw was tough.
As I frantically racked my brain, biting my nails—
He stepped closer. "Your family's loaded. Everyone in the department's known it forever. Didn't you hear? Though I guess you never listen, looking down on everyone like that."
"..."
"Even in a big department, some random new guy suddenly shows up glued to the side of the girl everyone hates. Wouldn't you get suspicious?"
In short, the whole department had been watching me closely.
That was the fatal mistake that let the monkeys catch on.
"Just admit it. You hired that guy with money, right?"
"..."
"Better not try to deny it. We heard him using polite speech with you while you two were all clingy."
"...Fine. I won't deny what you said. But it's not entirely accurate either."
My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm and meet his eyes.
His logic was sound. The puppy was a slave from Dia Village from the start.
The purchase cost, the forged student ID for rations—all to show off that I had a friend.
No room for argument there.
But at the same time, it felt so unfair.
At least with the puppy, it was real—
"...What? You actually think the guy you hired with money is a real friend?"
"...!"
"Ha! No way."
His mocking laugh echoed down the corridor, spreading to the surrounding monkeys.
Everyone around me started whispering accusations, like they'd been waiting for this.
I had no choice but to lower my head.
Normally, I'd dismiss it as ant chatter, but now their stares got under my skin.
It was the first time I'd ever felt scared of the public's frowning glares. My heart stabbed like a knife wound, breath coming in gasps, throat tightening.
"No... the puppy..."
"Puppy? You don't mean what you call that guy, do you?"
"...!"
I couldn't even respond to his barbs anymore.
My mind went blank, thoughts grinding to a halt. I needed something to ease this anxiety.
Candy.
Yeah, popping a mint candy like always would calm me down a bit.
I reflexively reached into my pocket.
But...
...Gone.
No matter how I rummaged, no mint candy. I'd been so fixated on the puppy that I forgot to bring it.
As I glanced around unconsciously, the stares from everyone felt terrifying.
Surrounded, alone—that made hot tears well up in my eyes for the first time.
###
★Toilet★
Shaaaaah—.
"Ahh, refreshing."
I finished up nicely and washed my hands at the sink.
Marin was surprisingly sensitive to smells, so if I didn't wash thoroughly, I'd get an earful for sure.
As I soaped up every crevice, I glanced around the campus bathroom reflected in the mirror.
Not as clean or spacious as the public toilet in the management office, but there was a whiff of freedom in taking care of business out in society.
"...Should I dawdle a bit longer?"
The sweetness of reclaimed freedom tempted me to linger, but—
Zzt zzt.
The collar sent a jolt like electricity, and I gave up quick.
I was anxious. What if Marin tracked my location via the GPS on the collar and punished me for being alone too long?
Being outside the village meant I had to be extra careful.
There were probably bodyguards lurking around Marin, a village resident, watching secretly.
A chill ran down my spine, so I rinsed off fast and hurried out.
As I wiped the water from my hands on my pants, I felt something in my pocket.
Swish.
It was candy.
The mint candy Marin had given me during our nighttime walk, telling me to eat it while we sat on the bench.
Feeling fresh after my business, I whistled carefree, unwrapped it, and popped it in my mouth.
The candy rolled around, melting with saliva, filling my mouth with that sharp mint flavor.
The same taste as when I licked Marin's skin.
Her love juices must carry that sharp scent because of this.
Addicted to the refreshing taste, I headed to the lecture hall where Marin should be—
"Hm?"
Murmur murmur.
The corridor in front of the lecture hall was packed with people.
Unable to see ahead, I stood on tiptoes in a panic to figure out what was going on.
In the noisy crowd, I barely made out Marin's profile, head bowed, and the man standing in front of her.
"You think a guy like that would really see someone as self-centered as you as a friend? Nah, he's just a puppet chasing your money."
Drip, drop.
Droplets fell from Marin's chin to the floor.
Tears.
I didn't know what happened, but Marin was crying from the guy's harsh words.
