[Contest 2] Prehistoric Romance
Episode 1: I Made a Secret Friend
[If your daughter says no, don't approach her any further.]
Another rule that became known along with the proclamation was this: now that I could move around freely, I was able to express my opinions with a different confidence than before.
You might think that while you're keeping your father's proclamation, you're not going to achieve it because you need to steal my heart. That's what I wanted, and that's what I've always wanted.
Then, I was a fool to think that the number of men coming to me would decrease.
"Let's get married!"
여주
"no."
As always, the family of the female protagonist entered into an emergency meeting in a situation where nothing had changed.
부족장
"This... doesn't seem to want to fall off even for a moment, so what do you think?"
With all the tribes' eyes focused on the female protagonist, she opened her mouth and answered.
여주
"Please tell her that I'm going to marry the man I like."
I came out to conclude the meeting, which had ended so simply, to make one more point. As soon as the female lead appeared, she pounced like a hyena.
The female protagonist, who was standing proudly in front of the men who were only looking at her, shouted.
여주
"I'm not going to go to someone who likes me, I'm going to go to someone who likes me. That means you're not going to like me."
여주
"So now go back to your tribe. I don't have anyone like that yet."
As the heroine finished speaking, the disappointed crowd quietly went their separate ways. Seeing the crowd disperse, the heroine, finally satisfied, went out for a long walk.
The heroine, breathing in the air of the meadow, continued to chew over the words she had shouted out to the crowd earlier, as if she liked them.
I don't like people who like me, I like people who like me. Perhaps it was obvious. That's why I hated those who didn't try to realize that.
Because I wanted a marriage where everyone could be happy, not just one-sided. It's a happiness no different from the stories my parents told me when I was young.
"Marry me!"
Someone else approached me. It seemed like someone from the crowd I'd gathered earlier. As the crowd dispersed, he seemed to be approaching me.
I tried to politely say no and keep my distance, but he kept running towards me as if he couldn't see or hear anything.
여주
“No, no!”
But when it saw I was alone, it refused to listen and ran towards me. I had no time to stop it and had to run into the forest to hide.
I ran into the forest without looking back. The road was rough and I got hurt quickly, but it was a thousand times better than being caught.
chin-
Eventually, I stumbled over a tree root while running. The stinging wound on my leg stung, but the sound of someone running towards me without looking back was jarring.
Finally, I managed to drag myself out and hid under a large tree, holding my breath. The shade and abundance of trees made it the perfect hiding spot.
It was a man who looked around the area where I had fallen and then took a step back. I was able to avoid him thanks to hiding, but I was left with a scar along with my glory.
I simply assumed I should date someone who wouldn't care about hurt feelings. Perhaps I took it for granted because I'd been so driven around.
I looked around, hoping to find a pond where I could wash my wounds. But all I could see in the shady forest were trees and short grass.
The unending blood and raw skin felt quite disgusting. But the heroine thought it was even worse for them, so she considered it fortunate.
They had come running with the intent to kill, so even if they had been caught, it was clear they would have met a bad end. Judging by the pattern earlier, it was clear they were a tribe that kidnapped people.
The heroine sighed deeply in relief as she swept away the tattoo on the back of her neck.
Ah, I was wondering what to do now, when I heard footsteps and held my breath. Could it be that they haven't left yet?
Something rustled in the nearby grass, and then another man emerged. He looked back and forth between the wound on my leg and me, then tried to approach.
여주
"Oh, don't come."
As I stepped back, he stopped walking and spoke.
배진영
"I won't hurt you. If you don't like it, I'll just leave it at that..."
The man's words must have been painful, so I carefully extended my leg. He poured some water from the jug and applied some herbs to the wound.
When I flinched for a moment because it was so hot, he flinched back in return, which seemed innocent. Then he wrapped a small piece of cloth around my knee.
배진영
"It's done."
The man smiled faintly at me, saying, "It's all done." I glanced at him, dumbfounded, and he cautiously reached out his hand. It seemed like he was trying to help me up.
여주
"Ah! It hurts..."
My legs were completely worn out. He must have thought it was too much to just support me, so he slowly lifted me up.
Even though I could have easily refused, I didn't. It was a strange feeling to have received someone's kindness.
As we hugged, I noticed a small pattern engraved on the back of his neck. It seemed to be a tribal symbol. Curious, I asked him.
여주
"What tribe are you from...?"
Then, his once bright face quickly darkened. He felt guilty, as if he'd asked something he shouldn't have.
배진영
“I live alone in the forest because my tribe has disappeared.”
The female protagonist felt a kinship with him when he heard that she lived alone. After a brief silence, she spoke to him.
여주
"Then I'll be your friend. If you come to this forest, we can meet again, right?"
The man seemed a little surprised by my words, then smiled and nodded. I felt strange, as if I had made a secret friend.
Maybe it was my mood, but after saying that, my steps slowed. I thought it was the weight and turned my head away.
The man walked me back to our house in the meadow and then headed back toward the forest. I thanked him, and he just kept going.
By the way, I never specifically told you where I lived, so how did you know and come looking for me? Maybe you were just one person in the crowd.
But he didn't really care.
부족장
“What the hell is going on!”
My parents were shocked to see the wound on my leg. I tried to calm them down and told them I'd fallen in the woods.
Then he hugged me and walked into the house.
Before I went into the house, I looked out into the forest and saw the man from before waving at me.
He couldn't wave because he was hugging me, but when I looked at him, he quietly walked back into the forest.
Instead of all the hurt I've experienced so far, I feel like I've made a good friend.