A man looked down. His white hair, with an old wrinkled face. His expression filled with disgust and disappointment.
"Na-Hee. You're useless."
***
Lee Na-Hee woke up, as she heard those words. She immediately raised her body. Her face was pale, full of sweat.
"Where am I?!"
She was inside what looked like a giant cave. She brought her hand to her face. Wiping the sweat off her face. She had no idea what happened before.
Creak!
A creaking noise could be heard. She looked around, looking for weapons. Eventually she found a wooden sword lying beside her. She instinctively took it. Aiming it at the direction the noise came from.
Eventually a shadow slowly appeared, she was ready to throw the sword in her hand. As the shadow got closer. Na-Hee quickly threw it.
A man appeared from the shadows. He quickly jumped to the side, as the sword was about to reach him. Dropping the tree branches he was holding.
He looked back and forth at the sword that was thrown by her and herself.
"Brat, I saved you! And this is how you repay me?!"
Na-Hee scanned the man's appearances and finally realized the man before her. She quickly avoided Lukas's gaze.
"...Sorry, Ahjussi."
"Tsk. Tsk. Well, whatever."
He bowed down, taking the tree branches scattered on the floor.. He walked and took a seat right beside Lee Na-Hee. Lee Na-Hee let out a sigh of relief.
She looked down, and noticed. That she wasn't wearing her uniform. Only a bunch of leaf were covering her body. She looked at Lukas.
"Ahjussi, where's my clothes?"
"I took it off. Why?" Lukas said, as he stared at Lee Na-Hee.
Lee Na-Hee gave a sharp glare at Lukas. Seeing this, Lukas quickly realized something.
"I didn't do anything to you. I took it off so you won't catch a cold. That's all. Nothing more."
"Also, I didn't fully take off your clothes. Your skirt is still there, if you haven't check yet.
Lukas said as he began to light a fire, using the tree branches. He began to spin one branch on top of the other one. Slowly smoke began to appear. He spun it faster. And finally, A small fire could be seen.
Lukas slowly placed his face near the fire. Blowing it little by little to create a bigger fire. After that he finally placed the other branches upon it.
"Wait here."
Lukas went outside once again. Picking up the wooden sword on the floor before going. After a while, he came back. With meat, skewered on a stick. He began to cook it with the fire.
"Here, you must be hungry."
Lukas Handed her the stick. Lee Na-Hee looked at the stick and slowly reached it with her hand. She looked at it for a while, as she was thinking about something.
"Ahjussi… why did you save me?"
Na-Hee looked at him. Her dark-blue eyes searching for answer. Her gaze landed on Lukas's mouth.
'Why did he save me?'
Saving her was really illogical back then, she was a stranger to him, she also used him as a bait. And yet, he still saved her? That thought sparked inside Na-Hee's mind.
Lukas stayed silent, before finally answering.
"...To be honest. I saved you because, I can't survive through this trial alone." He paused, before continuing "Not because of pity or anything. It's just, two people are better than just one. In this kind of situation, don't you think?"
Lukas looked at her and smiled.
"That seems… pretty logical."
Na-Hee looked at him before devouring her food. While tears slowly streamed down right from her eyes. She didn't understand the feeling she was having right now.. Atleast-thats what her mind thought. Deep down, there was something else withinnl her heart.
***
I always thought to myself, why was I born into this world? Into this family? Ever since I was a child, my parents always nagged me. Their voice felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart, cursing me, saying I was just a useless child.
Once, my father wanted to kick me out of the house, his figure standing tall. His gaze felt in a place that i couldn't reach. Every word coming out from his mouth stung my heart. His face filled with disgust, and exhaustion. I was on my knees, my hands were trembling, my legs were shaking.
I begged him. Tears flowing down from my eyes. Covering my whole shirt. I tried to convince him. "I will be better, Please… don't throw me away.." My tone was desperate, so I continued on sobbing. I wrapped my arm around his legs.
As I grew older, I finally realized. That, in this cruel world, being useful to others is a duty, once you're deemed useless. You're gonna get thrown out. Just like trash. Abandoned, and never will be looked upon.
Ever since then, I have started to learn many things. So, I wouldn't be thrown out, I won't be abandoned.
***
"Is the food good?"
"Yes…"
I smiled hearing her response. I began to devour my food as well.
"Unh!"
I heard a voice from her. She was trying to stand up.
"Hey, hey just sit for now." I placed her back to sit. Na-Hee looked at her left thigh wrapped in my sweater.
"How's your wound?" I lightly touched it. She began to close her eyes as soon as I touched it. Yeah no good.
"You should rest for now. I'll do the hunting. Until your pain goes down."
"Alright then, thanks. Ahjussi."
She finally lay down. As she placed her hand on her face, covering her eyes. I continue, eating the food in my hand.
"Ahjussi."
Suddenly, she called me.
"Yeah?"
"How was it like, being a streamer?" She asked.
"Nothing special really, you just do whatever to please the people watching, Entertain them."
"Isn't that hard?"
"Well, it's hard if you still have dignity within, as for me? Not really. After all, i make living by doing that."
Silence filled the space between us for some time.
"Now, can i ask you a question?"
"Hmm?"
"Why was your reasoning, to use me as a bait back then?" I asked.
She moved her hand from her face. Her eyes, looking at the ceiling.
"Ahjussi. What do you think is the first thing that come to your mind when you heard the word 'abandon'?"
"Abandon?"
I became silence, thinking about her question. I closed my eyes. After a while, i opened my eyes.
"It would probably be 'uselessness' or 'weakness'?"
Dang it, that brought some unpleasant memories. My expression turned sour.
She smiled, hearing my answer.
"Ever since i was a child, my parent always shouted at me, calling me a useless child."
"Slowly, my perspective changed. I began to see people from whether they are useful or useless." She looked at me, her eyes were crystal clear. "That's why… I used you as a bait back then. I'm really sorry, Ahjussi."
She sobbed, as she said those words. Now I knew, why she acted like that. But, what's this? I'm supposed to be angry about it, but why am I?
[Activating 'Emotion Reading' on 'Lukas Weiss']
[Target is expressing 'Empathy']
Ah, yes. I see it now.
"Brat, wanna hear a story?"
"S-story?"
"Don't worry about it. It's just a story about a pathetic person."
I looked at her and smiled.
7 years ago…
"Lukas!"
A teenager with jet black hair and gray eyes, was waving his hand.
"Over here!"