ORV Fanfiction [UNNAMED] (Hiatus)

Chapter 20: Decision (3)

A/N: Nice save, I hadn't even noticed that I reposted a chapter by accident XD How come no one else told me earlier? -embarrassed-

"So...do you have something on your mind?"

After we exited the dungeon and obtained our rewards, Jie Kushin strayed behind to talk to me.

"Where's this coming from?" I said, caught off guard.

Like it was something habitual, Jie Kushin touched the back of his neck and continued, "You know, when I first saw you after you came out of Leader Lee's office, you looked down. If you want, I can listen."

He gave me a bright smile.

I studied him and contemplated his proposal, knowing it didn't hurt to hear someone else's opinion on things. But this was Jie Kushin, who was fiercely ready to fight with someone if they disrespected Leader Lee and her community, which I experienced first-hand. He would probably enthusiastically suggest that I join the community.

I most likely had to speak vaguely, but if he still caught on...

Oh well, I'll just have to take his words as a grain of salt if that was the case.

"Well, I'm currently feeling torn between an important decision. For example...it's like when you know you need to do something important, like study for an exam, but you also don't want to neglect your friend who's asking you to hang out."

Jie Kushin thought about that seriously for a moment before replying,

"Well, personally, I'm the kind of study slag that would try to put it off as long as possible, so I would just go hangout with my friend. But then I would cram everything the night before the exam, and then drag my other friends into studying with me. Though, I'll still flunk the exam the next day." Jie Kushin laughed, his sunny aura lifting my spirits too.

"So I take it you're talking with experience?" My lips curled up as well as we walked across the uneven ground.

"Uh, let's not go there - oop." Coughing into his fist, Jie Kushin's foot absentmindedly tripped over a spot sticking out in the ground before he stabilized himself.

"You okay?"

"Yep, I am - by the way, back to you. What I said was what I would do. Was the reason you asked this question something to do with what Leader Lee asked you about joining us?"

Jie Kushin hitting the nail on the head caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily flustered.

"Wha-You heard that?"

Jie Kushin smiled and nodded, a little embarrassed at eavesdropping.

I hadn't actually expected him to know what I was referring to when I used a round-about-method, but since I had told myself to take words with a grain of salt if he did find out, I calmed down quickly.

I sighed. "Ha..."

"Yeah, I'm still thinking of what to do." I glanced away to hide my discomfort before placing a softer expression on my face as I looked back at him.

Surprisingly, Jie Kushin did not hurriedly begin urging me to join their community.

He only said,

"I may not be the right guy to give you wisdom, but once you make a decision, don't regret it. What do you want to do with your life?"

I didn't have an answer to that question.

"Jie Kushin, the party leader, is calling for you." Su Peng hesitantly interrupted the conversation at the pause, and Jie Kushin shouted a,