Food or... Me

"Hehehe."

A pleasant giggle reached my ears, and I tilted my head to find Selena, clinging to my arm with a bright smile on her face.

Damn.

Why did this world have to gift a lunatic such a face?

Just looking at her, I felt conflicted. She didn't seem like someone who could hurt a fly, yet she'd nearly killed me a few minutes ago.

[Did she really believe your answer?]

'Of course not... I know her too well. She's not someone you can deceive. She might not look it, but her IQ is terrifying. She probably saw through my lie the moment it left my mouth. But that just makes this whole situation more complicated. I don't know what's going on in that head of hers, and after what happened in the elevator... I can't even push her away for fear of what she might do next.'

Sigh.

I hated her unpredictability. There was no telling what she could do at any given moment. In the game, she was overpowered from the very start. I think it had something to do with her bloodline or blessing—probably a catalyst for her insanity.

Suddenly, she stopped, blocking the path ahead. Her hand still gripped mine.

"I'll give you two options," she said, mischief glinting in her eyes. "And you have to choose one within ten seconds."

"What?" I asked, a bit apprehensive.

"What would you prefer to eat right now? Food…" She leaned closer, her breath tickling my ear. "Or me~?"

Her sultry tone had an immediate effect, and my overly vivid imagination conjured up images I really didn't need. Heat pooled low in my body.

Wait—what?

Am I actually considering this?

"...I just want to go back to my dorm," I replied flatly, ignoring the chaotic thoughts in my head.

[This girl… I can't even tell what she's planning.]

'Don't bother trying to figure her out. You'll fry your brain.'

She puffed her cheeks in a pout, her expression almost childlike. Then, her arm moved so fast I barely saw it.

Thud.

A dull sound echoed.

Huh?

Oh.

She was just messing with me.

She'd punched me, but with no strength behind it. I barely felt her hand against my chest.

"Do you mean I'm not tempting enough?" she teased, grabbing the collar of my tracksuit and pulling me to her level.

Before I could respond, her lips brushed against mine.

CHU!

A quick peck.

She pulled back with a cheeky smile, grabbed my arm again, and headed in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going? The dorms are the other way," I said, trying to pull free, but it was useless.

"Stop pretending already. I know you're broke," she replied, pausing to look into my eyes. "I also heard what happened—the points that were stolen from you. So, I helped you get them back."

Her smile hit me square in the chest.

Damn.

She was acting an awful lot like...

[Your nameless lover?]

'Don't call her that.'

[But it's true. You refuse to say her name.]

'Because I can't remember it.'

[What?]

'Since I woke up in this world, I've had this problem. Her name's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't say it. I remember everything we went through together—her face, her voice, my name—but not hers.'

[...]

It was strange. This whole thing.

Just like before, how 'she' became the bane of my existence, refusing to leave me alone no matter what I did.

And then there was the jealous fool who'd always gotten on my nerves.

"Wait… how did you get them to return the points?" I asked, though I had a rough idea.

"I asked politely."

She smirked, pulling me toward a more crowded area.

"Then are you going to give them to me?" I asked, a flicker of hope rising.

"Nope," she said with a smug grin.

Well, great.

That's essentially the same as not getting them back at all!

"I'll hold onto them for you," she continued. "So events like that don't happen again. Don't worry about food, though. I've got you covered."

Oh.

I see.

Crap.

'She's using this to make me dependent on her. And it might actually work.'