The hallway light had been flickering for three days.
Most tenants ignored it.Some thought it was haunted.I saw it as a divine punishment.
Because today, I was going to fix it.
With a screwdriver I barely knew how to hold.And a heart full of regret.
[SYSTEM QUEST ACTIVE: "WIN BACK THE LANDLADY"]
OBJECTIVE: Repair Trust (And Light)
REQUIREMENT: NO TOUCHING. NO FLIRTING. JUST EARN IT.
REWARD: +10 AFFECTION, +1 CHARISMA, UNLOCK PHASE II POSSIBILITY
Ms. Seo hadn't spoken to me since the night of the wine betrayal.
No morning greetings.No tea offers.No accidental robe slips.
She was polite. Cordial. And emotionally six planets away.
It sucked.
So here I was, standing on a wobbly stool, squinting at exposed wires like a man trying to defuse a bomb using a tutorial he barely skimmed.
"Are you sure you should be doing that?"
I flinched.
Nearly dropped the bulb.
Turned slowly.
She stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, laundry basket at her hip.
Pajama pants. Ponytail. No makeup.Still looked like someone who could ruin my soul and charge me rent afterward.
"Yes," I said. "No. Kind of. Probably not."
"You'll get shocked."
"Already have. Spiritually."
She didn't laugh.
Not even a smirk.
But she didn't walk away either.
Progress.
"I wanted to fix it," I said, forcing myself to meet her eyes."Because it's annoying. And you shouldn't have to. And I wanted to do… something right."
She tilted her head. Studied me like a puzzle she wasn't sure she wanted to solve anymore.
"You're not doing this because you feel guilty?"
"I do feel guilty," I admitted. "But I'm doing this because I should have helped you first. From the start."
She blinked.
That was the first crack.
[SYSTEM: GENUINE INTENT DETECTED]
MORAL REDEMPTION IN PROGRESS
+5 AFFECTION (YURA)
NEW STATUS: "HESITANT FORGIVENESS"
I fumbled the bulb into place.Screwed it in.
Flicked the switch.
Light.Warm, golden, steady.
I stepped down, wobbled a little, caught myself on the wall like a cool loser.
She stared up at it, arms still folded.
"Looks good," she said."No sparks."
"Except for the one between us?"
Silence.
My soul evacuated.
"Kidding," I muttered. "Ignore me."
But then…
She laughed.
Soft. Quiet. Real.
[SYSTEM ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
"FIRST REAL SMILE – YURA"
+10 AFFECTION
HEART SYNC: 51% — PHASE II NOW ACCESSIBLE
"You're hopeless," she said, smiling for real now.
"But handy," I offered, wiggling my fingers."Handsy, if needed."
"One light bulb doesn't make you a saint."
"Give me three more and I'll apply for sainthood."
She shook her head, turning back toward her apartment.
"Come by for dinner. If you want. Nothing fancy."
"Not wine?"
"No. Soup."
"I like soup."
She walked off.Didn't look back.
But her smile lingered.
I stood there like a man who just pulled Excalibur from a dishwasher.
The hallway light above me glowing like divine approval.My heart full.My system blinking.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
PHASE II UNLOCKED: "YIN SYNC MERGE – HEARTBOUND"
CONDITIONS: INTIMACY ALLOWED ONLY AFTER EMOTIONAL STABILITY
WARNING: DO NOT MESS THIS UP. SHE'S WORTH IT.
One light bulb. One smile.
It wasn't much.But in a world of MILFs and mayhem… it was the start of something real.