The Heart System Chapter 601

The vehicle came to a halt, and I exited into the downpour. Before entering, however, I paused, leaning against the car door to light a cigarette. The rain persisted, a gentle drizzle that mingled with the pervasive midnight fog blanketing the metropolis. Neon signs, blurred by the haze, cast smeared hues across the slick pavement like a poorly applied paint job.

My gaze fell upon my hand.

It was still trembling.

Frankly, I couldn't fathom how I'd managed the drive here after everything that had transpired. My nerves were utterly shot. Moments before, facing a firearm and four guards whose stares suggested they were merely anticipating a signal to shatter my bones, I had truly believed I was finished.

Yet, even then, I had acted correctly. I had stepped forward. I had intervened to prevent a man from bleeding out.

And in response, the system had rewarded my actions by purging my EXP, my credits—everything.

"Shit..." I whispered, the words barely audible.

Despite the setback, at least one positive outcome emerged from the night's events. Jack would finally cease bothering Nala.

Just before I departed my residence, I had overheard his father discussing plans to dispatch him somewhere "to seek God's light," or some similarly nonsensical religious pretext. Honestly, it was for the best. As long as he remained far removed from Nala, his destination was of no concern to me.

I drew another puff from the cigarette, exhaling slowly.

God, I was in desperate need of sleep.

As my eyes drifted towards the hotel, I detected a subtle movement behind one of the windows. The room's interior lights were extinguished, obscuring any clear view of the occupant. Then, a passing vehicle momentarily illuminated the glass.

It was Nala.

She stood there, gazing down at me.

I met her gaze for a brief period before releasing a weary sigh.

"Finally, huh?" I mumbled.

Discarding the cigarette, I extinguished it in a puddle with my shoe before proceeding into the hotel.

The lobby was eerily silent at this late hour. A listless receptionist occupied her post behind the counter, engrossed in her phone, while mellow jazz emanated from unseen speakers. The establishment presented a respectable facade from the exterior, but upon entering, its true nature as a budget business hotel posturing as upscale became apparent.

I made my way directly to the elevator and actuated the button for the third floor.

The ascent felt interminable, an exaggeration of the actual duration. My body ached with exhaustion, and my head throbbed from the accumulated stress and sleep deprivation. The preceding events replayed relentlessly in my mind: the gun, the enraged shouts, Jack weeping on his knees, the system notification that materialized immediately after I administered aid.

What perverse system would penalize someone for performing a benevolent act?

The elevator emitted a soft chime.

Stepping out into the corridor, I proceeded towards room 303. Fortunately, thanks to Emma, I was already aware of Nala's accommodation.

Arriving at the door, I knocked. Almost instantaneously, the handle turned, and the door creaked open a sliver, as if she had unlocked it and allowed it to swing inward without the formality of a greeting.

I remained stationary for a beat before gently pushing the door wider and entering.

"Nala."

The room was diminutive and, frankly, rather grim. The beige wallpaper showed signs of wear, the illumination was dim and yellowish, and the inexpensive carpet bore dark, noticeable stains near the bed. A small television was affixed to the wall, displaying muted news coverage. A solitary, untouched bowl of instant noodles sat on the desk adjacent to an open laptop. Her suitcase was positioned by the bed, still partially unpacked.

It conveyed the impression not of a temporary dwelling, but of a place of desperate concealment.

Nala stood by the window, her back to me, observing the rain-swept cityscape. The faint ambient light from the street below cast a soft silhouette around her form against the glass.

I quietly closed the door behind me and advanced closer.

The situation was undeniably awkward.

I had uttered numerous callous remarks to her prior to her departure. Cruel sentiments, the kind that couldn't truly be retracted. And despite all that, here I was, acting as though a return to normalcy was a simple matter.

I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, my gaze sweeping over the room once more.

"Well," I began, my voice low, "this place is a bit of a dump. Care to head back?"

Her response was not immediate.

She remained motionless, her attention fixed on the city outside, the rain tracing paths down the windowpane before her.

I folded my arms, adopting a posture of patient waiting.

Damn.

I had truly missed her presence.

The penthouse felt hollow without her; excessively quiet. Even the others seemed subdued during these past few days, Minne particularly so. A palpable sense of emptiness had permeated the entire residence since Nala's departure.

After an interval that stretched considerably, she finally turned her head, glancing over her shoulder.

Her eyes appeared moist, yet a subtle smile now graced her lips.

"Yeah," she replied softly. "Why not?"

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Scanning the keycard, I gained entry to the penthouse. The instant I crossed the threshold, Tessa charged towards me like a speeding projectile. She jostled me aside and launched herself directly at Nala. Given their comparable heights, Nala was unable to withstand the sudden impact, and both of them tumbled onto the corridor floor.

"My apologies!" Tessa chuckled, now settled quite comfortably atop Nala’s stomach. "I took a wager with Jasmine and lost. This was my consequence."

"Goodness, what sort of bet was it?" Nala grumbled, still flat on her back.

"That’s a secret," Tessa chirped with a playful wink, attempting to roll her shoulder. "Ouch. That actually stings a bit."

"Hey, I broke your fall. It’s me who’s feeling the pain here," Nala retorted with a whine.

Jasmine, Kim, and Minne emerged from the living space, converging around us. Their faces were adorned with beaming, authentic, heartfelt smiles – the sort I hadn’t witnessed since Nala departed the penthouse.

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WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

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Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60

Kayla: Interest: 38 / 40

Tessa: Interest: 40 / 60

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100

Delilah: Interest: 100 / 100

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100

Mendy: Interest: 20 / 40

Nala: Interest: 100 / 100

Penelope: Interest: 5 / 20

Minne: Interest: 38 / 40

Ivy: Interest: 50 / 60

Eleanor: Interest: 25 / 40

Amelia: Interest: 12 / 20

Esme: Interest: 60 / 80

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My heart meter is full with them again. Excellent.

"I’ve truly missed you, Mrs. Nolin!" Minne exclaimed, her eyes already welling up with tears.