It's raining with soft breeze. As far as eyes can go everything is covered with refreshed greenery and the sound of water drops.

To take cover from this soft rain two people were standing under a old pine tree.

"It's going to be challenging to get down for here."

"Maybe. . For me,Yes. But you can go down easily, right?"

He looked at her, angry from her ridiculous suggestion, but seeing her bright smile even with her injuries, he couldn't help but look away.

"You should stop coming to this type of missions with me." He couldn't look at her in the eyes for some reason. He himself didn't knew why his anger suddenly got replaced by this strange feeling. . .guilt, pain and sorrow maybe?

"What do you mean by that?? Look at me and say that again." She looked angry, trying to face him but he won't look at her. After all, he could feel his face burning because of those weird emotions, how would he face her..

_____

"--O!! Student Tien Mao!!!" A thunderous voice broke down the rainy atmosphere and brought her back to reality. It took some time for her to remember where she was. In her history class.

She stood up, almost jumping out of her sit. "Yes, teacher."

"Is my lessons that boring that you fall asleep??"

Some snicker can be heard all around the class.

The teachers face became ice cold, her gaze was enough to silent everyone.

"I'm really sorry for this shameful behavior." She bowed, voice apologetic.

She doesn't raise her head, and continued, " I'm really sorry, teacher nian. I, never, once thought your lessons were boring."

The teacher looked at, her gaze still announced she was pissed. "You are one of the promising student, so, I hope you will reflect on today's behavior."

Only then, she raised her head. With teachers continuing her lessons she took her sit.

The classes continued without any trouble after that.

The lukewarm autumn breeze was blowing peacefully through the window, left open by one of the students.

Lunch break is passing by, and most of the students either went to the library or the cafeteria. A girl with neat build and mild dark circle was sitting on one of the front row desk, looking completely consumed with the note book in front of her. It's just Tien Mao and a few others in her classroom.

She was trying her best to focus on today's physics problem. But the students at the back was being a bit too loud with their gossiping.

"How did you reach to level 18 so easily??"

A sigh escape from her without her consent. She glared at them, irritated inside. But was there anything she could do?? It was break time after all. On top of that, she was sleep deprived.

She closed the note book and finally gave into exhaustion, slumping her head down on the desk, softly, between her notebook and crossed arms. As her sit was beside one of the window, the sunlight was keeping her warm and the wind was peaceful enough to make her drowsy.

"I don't know why the hell they decided to put 'Otome Dating' tag on it!"

Although sleepy, their conversation, was keeping her awake. Games... were something that helped her to forgot about her reality.

"It's just a cultivation game, like... just level up!! So why the hell they gave it a name like 'Blood Pact: sacred heart' ?? Like why?"

"Yeah... And to enter in a pact with the characters, you have to reach at least level 30."

They all then sighed dramatically. Tien Mao didn't have to look at them to find their facial expressions. When she thought they were going to change the topic, one of them laughed proudly and said in a mocking tone-

"The game is easy if you focus on level. Are you girls unhappy, that unlike traditional otome game, it doesn't charge money on checkpoints?"

"But won't you get killed by your contractor for the slightest mistake.... and your level will restart???"

They all fall silent on that remark. Tien Mao laughed inwardly.

Right. . . That's how everyone likes to play. . .

At that moment, someone opened the door, sliding softly. She was tall and her beauty was something that made her unique from other students. Especially from Tien Mao, where she was normal and ordinary, that girl was beautiful and extraordinary. The student stopped in front of Tien Mao.

"Mao~ listen!!!"

This girl here was one of the few people who came up to her, Yi han. Who knows how, but one day she came across Tien Mao's gaming stream and somehow became her friend....or a fan perhaps.

Tien Mao raised her head, looking completely drained out from the classes and lack of sleep. Yi han was also shocked to see her like this.

"You were playing games all night again, weren't you ?"

"Nope-- I swear this time they weren't from gaming."

"Then?" She took the vacant sit beside Tien Mao.

"Nothing serious just some weird dreams."

Yi Han's eyes lit up with curiosity as she made herself comfortable in that sit, a smirk blooming on her face, " Tell me about it, Miss solo player."

Her smile was enough to take a guess.

"First of all, it's not about 'someone'. . . I don't even know what type of dreams those are."

"Like?" Her eyes sparkling with curiosity more then before.

It looks like this is going to be a long conversation- Tien Mao thought. She took out her bottle and took a sip. Organizing her thoughts, 'Those dreams. . . they felt really familiar yet weirdly. . .I can't remember mostly anything after waking up. . . Is it another side effect of playing too much game? Game lore or something?'

On the other side her friend was on her limit, waiting for Mao to fill out her curiosity. Tien Mao couldn't help but smiled at her.

"It's nothing much like....I don't even remember what I saw but ---" she paused, remembering those weird nightmares.

"B-U-t What??"

"Most of the time... I think I see someone crying... So badly and in a broken way .. that I woke up with tears in mine."

"For real??" Maybe that filled out her curiosity as her expression told she was shocked.

"For Real. But why are you here!!"On Tien Mao's questions she remembered she was here, on an important request. She fixed her posture,

"Look, my dear friend. I know very well you hate team~work. But hear me out please." She looked really serious for the first time in her life. But from the word 'team work' Tien Mao could guess what she wants.

"Nope."

"Please, we need a pro player. Just think it as you are doing a charity. Please. We need to show those bas*** girls don't need carrying." She looked determined.

".... But won't I be carrying your team?" a self mocking smile bloomed on her face.

"It's not the same thing. Okay, Mao??!"

Just then someone else opened the door, in a hurry making a little click at it's end,"Yi han!!! It's almost time. Come or we'll be late." Tien Mao checked the clock hanging in the middle of the class, above the board. Launch break is almost over.

"Coming!!" Yi han said smiling cheerfully as she got up from that sit. Then ran out of the class room, but before closing the door she looked back at Tien Mao, "Tomorrow at that Internet cafe. P~le~ase!" Without even waiting for her response she closed the door loudly.

Another sighed escaped from her. . . Guess I'll think about it. . .

After that, one of the students from the back suddenly asked,"Mao!! Aren't you good at game?? Can you help us out a bit?"

Startled, she turned around to confirm if they were talking to her. She met their gaze, sparkling, full of hope. "Yeah. . . But I play PvP game, not Otome game."

"Boo! Mao!! This game wasn't that different!!" Their expression changed. From, warm to annoyed. . .a bit too quickly.

What did I do this time. . .?

For some unknown reason, Tien Mao has never been able to mix in with the people around her. She was always there trying her best to help others but. . . they treated her as if she were a ghost. They were never harsh on her. . . nor kind.

'Lone wolf'. She got that title at the very beginning of her gameplay. It's one of her title till now. Whether it is game or real life... She is alone. At first, she thought she was the problem. . . but couldn't find what she did 'wrong'. . .

She turned around her head slightly, enough to look at her classmates. Although they were complaining about something... They were still smiling warmly at each other...

Sometimes I wonder. . . 'Lone wolf' does it really suit me ? I'm just a loner. . .

She slumped her head down again. In the back of her mind a memory flashed, her grandmother, old yet strong.

Her last family member... who took her in after that accident.... She used to say whenever Tien Mao was lonely "Being alone Is better than being surrounded by people who are backstabber and idiot. If you are strong, people will naturally gather around you."

Tien Mao raised her head and fixed her posture. 'Right, I need t'--just then she felt the her vision was becoming blurry, mixing the colors of her vision one with another, with a head throbbing pain. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths... but felt a burning sensation in her nostrils. Before her hands could reach to her nose, a few crimson drop fall onto her note book. She was having a nose bleed.

She mocked herself for staying up so late last night and hurriedly took a tissue to cover her nose.

Lunch break soon passed away and classes continue after that.