Something is Cooking

As their eyes landed on the source of the noise, each had different thoughts racing through their minds. This wasn't one of those cheap novels where the author decided both characters were thinking the same thing.

'I can't believe what we had going was interrupted by a stupid pen,' Linda thought, muttering a few curses under her breath.

'Maybe this is a sign that things were moving too quickly,' Kevin thought. Despite his reluctance, he knew that the moment had to end. As much as he didn't want to stop, he realized it was necessary.

Slowly, he removed his hands from Linda's chest. Her expression clearly showed a mix of confusion and disappointment, almost asking, "Why?"

'I'm not like some dumb protagonist who doesn't know what she means by all this,' Kevin thought, trying to keep his composure.

"It's okay. We'll continue later, after school... I'll walk you home," Kevin said, locking eyes with her, trying to convey sincerity.

Linda was slightly upset by the sudden end, but her feelings remained conflicted. Despite the unconventional situation and how others might view it as taking advantage, she didn't feel used or disrespected. What confused her more was the slight pause before Kevin mentioned walking her home, as if he was forcing himself to say it.

**[Students are approaching your classroom in 20 seconds]**

**[19 seconds]**

**[18 seconds]**

**[17 seconds]**

Kevin realized he had to hurry up and was grateful to the system for the warning.

He moved closer and gently kissed her forehead, a gesture that felt intimate and sincere. Though Kevin had little experience with such things, Linda felt a surge of warmth from the simple act, almost as if he was a pro at this. Or maybe it was just the moment itself that felt right.

After the kiss, Kevin ruffled her thick red hair and gave her a warm smile. "I promise. Now..." He escorted her back to her seat, which wasn't far from where they stood. He then quickly returned to his own seat, just in time.

**[3 seconds]**

**[2 seconds]**

**[1 second]**

Just then, the classroom door opened, and students began flooding in, taking their seats, chatting, and laughing about the usual teenage gossip.

Throughout that time, even when Linda's friends came over to talk, she was distant, barely paying attention to what they were saying. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Kevin. In truth, Kevin wasn't an expert in wooing girls, but Linda was convinced otherwise. He seemed like someone trained by a professional. He was beginning to appear more attractive to her, and though she didn't want to stare at him to avoid drawing suspicion from her friends, it was a struggle to look away from his face.

"Linda, what's going on? You're usually so into talking about new makeup," one of her friends said.

"Yeah, you always argue that this brand is better than that one," another chimed in.

"Yeah, girl, what's up with you?" a third added.

Her friends were concerned, noticing the shift in her usual lively demeanor. Though Linda wasn't the leader of their group, she was generally well-liked and central to their discussions.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just... my throat is dry," Linda stuttered, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse.

"I know what's happening—Linda has a crush on someone!" Martha, the leader of their group, exclaimed, instantly causing the girls to scream and giggle in their high-pitched way.

Linda's face turned an even deeper shade of red. That was the final nail in the coffin, confirming their suspicions.

"So who is it? Is it Jason, or is it...?" The girls began listing off names of the hottest guys and those who had shown interest in Linda. But as the list went on, it ended when one of them asked pointedly:

"Well, who is it? It has to be one of the guys we guessed, right?"

Linda was more than annoyed. Her friends had completely ruled out Kevin, and with a cold "No," she dismissed their guesses. Her mood shifted dramatically, leading Martha to suggest they give her some space.

Meanwhile, Kevin was over the moon, smiling at everything. Suddenly, the world seemed brighter and more beautiful to him, even the mundane school day felt exciting.

But during recess, Kevin was reminded of something—or rather, someone—he had totally forgotten about.

"Hey, Peanut Head! Aren't you happy to see me?" Jason called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kevin froze at the sound of Jason's voice, the all-too-familiar feeling of dread creeping up his spine. Jason had been tormenting him for as long as he could remember, and while he bullied others, it always felt personal when it came to Kevin.

Jason was everything Kevin wasn't—tall at 6'1", with black hair, a muscular build, and a face that seemed to charm teachers and the football team alike. But to Kevin and many other students, he was a nightmare, a monster hiding behind a handsome smile and athletic achievements.

"Hey, he's talking to you!" one of Jason's lackeys sneered, grabbing Kevin roughly by the collar and yanking him toward their group. The sudden pull made Kevin stumble, but he caught himself before falling.

"When did you start growing wings again, Peanut Head?" Jason's voice oozed with cruelty. His smile twisted into something sinister as he continued, "I might have to start breaking them off."

Kevin gritted his teeth, his heart racing in his chest. He'd always hated how powerless he felt in moments like this. Jason knew exactly how to push his buttons, and Kevin wasn't sure if he could take it anymore—especially after everything that happened with Linda earlier. Something had changed in him, and he wasn't sure he could stand by and let Jason humiliate him like this again.

But before he could say or do anything, the familiar blue screen flashed in front of his eyes.

**[You have been assigned a new quest by the Goddess of Love]**

**[Objective: Stand up to your enemy. Do not back down.]**

Kevin stared at the words on the screen, his palms sweaty. The system was giving him another push, but this time it wasn't just a silly, mischievous task. This was real. Jason was dangerous, and Kevin wasn't sure he could handle what might come next.

But something inside him—whether it was the system's influence or the confidence he'd gained from his earlier encounter with Linda—told him to act. He straightened his back, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Jason.

"F*ck off," Kevin said, his voice steady, surprising even himself.

Jason's smile faltered, just for a second. The room felt tense as the other students began to take notice, curious about what was happening between Kevin and the notorious school bully.

"Oh, is that so?" Jason's voice lowered, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He stepped closer, towering over Kevin. "You think you can talk back to me now? You think you've got guts?"

Kevin's heart was pounding, but the system flashed another message.

**[Reward for completion: +5 Confidence, +3 Physical Strength]**

"Yeah," Kevin replied, his voice firm. "I'm done being scared of crap like you."

Jason's expression darkened as he clenched his fists, ready to teach Kevin a lesson.