I shook my head slightly, my eyes resting warmly on her.
"Hmm... so, where do you want to go?" I asked, my voice filled with sincerity and a hint of curiosity.
She looked at me, composing herself. Her brows furrowed slightly as she pondered, her gaze drifting toward the distance like she was weighing the entire fate of the universe. After what felt like a mini lifetime, she finally seemed to make up her mind. A spark lit up in her eyes, and without warning, she grabbed my hand.
"How about... we just go explore the town outside the Academy?" she said with a bright smile, her tone light, almost mischievous.
I was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, smiling in return.
"Sounds good."
Truthfully, I hadn't left the Academy grounds Since transmigration so I'm interested. But the moment we stepped outside, it was like entering an entirely different world. Just like in the game… only more alive.
The streets were bustling with people—students, locals, travelers. Street vendors lined both sides, calling out cheerfully, selling everything from sizzling skewers to glowing trinkets. Families laughed as they walked together. Children ran around, their laughter ringing through the air. The scent of grilled meat mixed with the sweet aroma of pastries. Everything was bright and vibrant.
I smiled gently as I watched them all.
What a contrast.
Back in earth...was so quiet, so isolated. A different kind of silence. Not peaceful. But Empty.
Having too Work then Go back home the street have no Life even when i meet people they are just the same as me tired in working
She grabbed my hand again, her fingers warm against mine. When I turned to look at her, she was beaming.
Her emerald eyes sparkled with mischief, and her golden hair swayed gently in the breeze. She looked like a character straight out of a dream—or maybe a goddess descending for snacks.
She'd apparently been trying out different foods recently and was excited to introduce me to one of her favorites.
"It's not exactly delicious," she admitted sheepishly, "but it's... fun."
I raised an eyebrow. "Fun food?"
"You'll see," she said with a mysterious grin.
We walked up to a peculiar little stall that sold food gambling—yes, gambling, but with candy. I squinted at the sign, unsure if it was some kind of scam or culinary experiment gone wrong.
"What's this?" I asked.
She giggled and suddenly bought a small paper cup for each of us. Inside were tiny white candy balls. They looked plain. Suspiciously plain. Dangerously plain.
"These," she explained with a gleam in her eye, "are mystery candies. Each one is randomly either sweet, sour, bitter, or spicy."
I stared into the cup like it held my fate. "And the catch?"
She grinned devilishly. "We each eat one at the same time. If either of us shows a reaction—any reaction—we lose. The winner gets to make the loser obey one command. No backing out."
"Interesting…" I mused, smirking. "Alright, deal."
She raised her candy. "One, two, three—go!"
We popped them into our mouths simultaneously. I chewed cautiously. To my relief, I got the sweet one. Easy win. My face remained a picture of calm serenity.
Then I glanced at her.
She was biting into hers slowly, lips pursed, eyes twitching ever so slightly. Her brows nearly twitched too—but she somehow held it together. Barely. I almost burst out laughing.
She definitely got the sour one.
Still, she was trying so hard to act like nothing was happening. I gave her a neutral look, pretending not to notice the silent struggle she was clearly losing.
With trembling fingers, she reached for the next one. Her face was a mixture of determination and adorable vengeance.
Oh? Is she trying to intimidate me now?
Was it because of all the teasing I'd done lately?
I bit back a grin. So, she wanted the upper hand, huh? Too bad I'm way too easy-going to care who wins.
We each picked another candy.
This time, I got the spicy one—and it was surprisingly hot. My tongue tingled, and my eyes watered just a tiny bit. But I had eaten way spicier things back on Earth. My face didn't budge.
Her expression as she bit into her second candy?
Well… let's just say she got the sour one again. Her eyes looked like they were about to cry. But she still forced that poker face, bless her stubborn soul.
Inside, I was already laughing.
Andrea, I thought with a smirk, you're going to explode.
She gulped it down like it was poison. Then we both picked another. I offered, "Wanna trade this time?"
"Sure," she replied, trying to sound indifferent—but her eyes were blazing with quiet resolve.
We exchanged candies and popped them in.
Her reaction this time was immediate—her entire face scrunched up like a kitten biting into a lemon. Her cheeks puffed out, eyes squeezed shut, and she let out a barely stifled noise of pure despair. For the third time… she got the sour one.
I couldn't hold it in anymore. I laughed. Out loud.
Andrea looked up at me with the most pitiful pout I'd ever seen. "If I hadn't traded, I wouldn't have gotten that one," she muttered, clearly blaming fate, me, and probably the universe.
She slammed the cup onto the stall counter. "I don't wanna play anymore," she grumbled, her voice muffled in the most adorable way possible.
I grinned teasingly. "Aw, but what about our agreement?"
Her eye twitched in mild annoyance. "Don't tell me… you're actually going to make me do something."
I nodded with an innocent smile. "Of course. A promise is a promise, isn't it?"
She sighed deeply. "Just say it already."
I shook my head. "Not now. The rules never said when the winner had to claim their reward."
Her glare could have melted metal.
"Fine," she muttered. "But I won't forget this."
And with that, we wandered off, our candy war momentarily over. We tried other foods after that—pastries, skewers, shaved ice, fried dumplings stuffed with mystery fillings. One turned out to be filled with spicy beans. I nearly cried. She laughed.
The town was full of flavors, lights, laughter—and something warm I couldn't quite describe.
I glanced over at her as she happily munched on something else. She had sauce on the corner of her mouth, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
Here and now, everything was… just right.