They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 321: Complicated Feelings

Chapter 321: Complicated Feelings

This also made Karen think.

All her constant squabbles with Nnenna… they hadn’t mattered much before. Not when Abuchi saw Nnenna as just another teammate.

But now? Now it was clear, Nnenna meant something more to him. Whether it was the depth of their bond or just how much he relied on her, Karen couldn’t ignore it anymore.

If she ever wanted to win Abuchi’s heart, she had have to get on Nnenna’s good side. There was no way around it.

“I think I saw her eating this too,” Karen said suddenly, pointing at a pack of vegetable snacks. She offered Abuchi a smile that she hoped looked warm and genuine. “Let’s get it for her.”

Maybe if she showed how thoughtful she was toward his family, he would notice how well she could fit into his life.

Abuchi paused, then returned the smile, though it didn’t have the spark she had secretly hoped for. “No… she doesn’t like those,” he said gently. “She eats vegetables, yeah, but not processed ones. She especially avoids anything with unnatural mixtures.”

Karen blinked, a bit thrown off. “Really? But I think I saw her eating this…”

“Are you sure?” Abuchi raised a curious brow. “Because I’ve known Nnenna for years, she’s picky with stuff like that. If she was eating it, she must’ve been really hungry… or maybe just being polite.”

Karen awkwardly dropped the snack back into the basket, trying not to let her forced smile crack. Of course he would know her food preferences better than I would, she thought bitterly.

Of course he would.

At that moment, Karen realized the truth.

She hadn’t actually seen Nnenna eat that snack. In fact, if she remembered correctly, when Ekene offered her a vegetable snack back in Marka, Nnenna had frowned at the package and handed it right back to him.

What in the world was I thinking? Karen wondered, frustration bubbling up inside her. Why did I say she liked it without confirming first?

Her attempt to appear caring had backfired, miserably.

Not only had she failed to show Abuchi that she cared about his family, she had also unknowingly proven that she wasn’t very observant… and worse, that she could lie, even if unintentionally. She hadn’t meant to deceive him, she was just in a hurry to seem thoughtful. But now, it didn’t matter.

She could feel the weight of the mistake settling in her chest.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Abuchi hadn’t taken it to heart. He had simply smiled, brushed it off, and concluded she must have seen wrong. No accusation. No judgment. Just… a quiet correction.

That made it sting even more.

Karen looked away as they continued shopping, her thoughts loud in her head. I need to do better. If I really want to be a part of his life, I have to start paying more attention. I can’t fake this.

Not with someone like Abuchi.

“Let’s move,” Abuchi said, his voice now steady and serious. “The equipment shops are on the other side. The forest ahead is thick, filled with danger. We’ll need plenty of supplies.”

Karen trailed behind him, her head low, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She felt the weight of her earlier mistake, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed.

As they walked into the hardware store, she couldn’t help but feel out of place. The cold air inside made her uneasy, but Abuchi was already moving through the aisles, picking items with precision.

He grabbed a sturdy axe, testing its weight in his hand before nodding in approval. “We’ll need this for cutting through thick branches,” he said, placing it into the cart.

Then, he picked up a coil of strong rope. “This should be enough for climbing or securing gear,” he muttered to himself, continuing to load up the cart. A few heavy duty gloves were added, followed by a compact tent and a portable stove.

Karen watched in silence, feeling useless. She tried to focus on the task at hand. She grabbed a few waterproof matches, a compass, and some dried rations. Still, her mind kept drifting. Was she even prepared for what was coming?

Abuchi picked up a few extra things, a first aid kit, a large water container, and a machete. He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the shelves. “We’ll need extra clothing too,” he said, eyeing the section of jackets and boots. He picked a heavy jacket for himself and then glanced at Karen. “What size are you?”

Karen blinked, a bit startled. “Uh, medium?” she mumbled, still feeling the sting of earlier. She didn’t know why it felt so awkward, but she couldn’t shake the unease.

Abuchi picked out a medium sized jacket and tossed it into the cart. “Good, this should do.”

They spent the next few minutes collecting the rest of the necessary supplies, Abuchi leading the way while Karen followed quietly, her thoughts heavy. She didn’t speak much, only grabbed what she could, feeling the weight of their mission pressing on her shoulders.

As they made their way to the counter, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was ready for what lay ahead in the forest. Would her skills be enough? Would she be able to hold her own, especially when Nnenna seemed so much more capable?

The shopkeeper scanned the items one by one. “That’ll be all?” he asked. Abuchi nodded, paying without a word. Karen noticed the man’s indifferent expression and felt a brief flicker of hope, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

As they exited the store, Karen could only think about what awaited them. The black forest, the dangers… and the unknown.

“Let’s get going,” Abuchi said, his voice steady, his face unreadable.

Karen took a deep breath, pushing her doubts aside. It was almost time to face the journey ahead, no matter how uncertain or dangerous it seemed.

Throughout the rest of the shopping, Karen remained silent, focusing solely on carrying the items they had bought.

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