The weekend weather was nearly perfect. A soft breeze carried the scent of flowers and grass, the sky above was a serene blue without a single cloud, and sunlight filtered gently through the branches of the trees that lined the park paths. The kind of day that seemed to tell people: Slow down. Breathe. Be here.
Lee Jihoon was in no rush. With his hands tucked into the pockets of his light hoodie and a can of vending machine coffee in hand, he walked leisurely through the neighborhood park.
Unlike the noise and clutter of the city streets, the park was alive in a different way—children squealed with joy on the playground, a man played a mellow tune on a guitar under a sycamore tree, and a couple sat silently on a picnic mat, leaning against each other, saying nothing but saying everything.
Jihoon often found himself drawn to places like this. They didn't require much—just your presence. And for someone like him, who spent his weekdays surrounded by computers and conversations he didn't want to be in, this peaceful stroll was a form of quiet therapy.
Today, like many other weekends, he made his way toward his favorite bench—an old wooden one near the pond. It faced the water directly and was shaded perfectly by a tall ginkgo tree. The reflection of ducks floating on the rippling surface always calmed him, as did the sound of gentle rustling from the reeds nearby.
But as he approached, he slowed.
The bench—his bench—was an absolute mess.
Crumbs were scattered all over the seat, most likely from someone who'd eaten pastries there earlier. A half-empty juice box had been tipped over, leaving a sticky puddle that had attracted a few lazy flies. But worst of all, a smear of dried bird droppings streaked across the middle of the bench, making it clear that no one had cared to clean up after themselves.
Jihoon stood in front of it, lips pressed in a flat line.
He glanced around. A few other benches were nearby, but they were either directly under the sun or placed awkwardly with poor views. He could have chosen one of those—but somehow, he didn't want to.
It wasn't just about the seat anymore.
It was about how people could leave a public place in such a state. And how no one else seemed to care.
As if on cue, he heard it.
Ding!
[New Kindness Challenge]
Clean a public space so others can enjoy it too.
Reward: 40,000 KRW
He let out a soft exhale through his nose. "Even for a bench, huh?"
But there was no annoyance in his tone.
He turned on his heel and headed back toward the public restroom area. Adjacent to it was a small community cleaning station, a cart stocked with basic supplies—trash bags, gloves, wet tissues, and sanitizer. A laminated sign on the front read:
"Community Clean Corner — Feel free to borrow and return responsibly!"
Jihoon appreciated things like this. Quiet gestures from the community, asking for no recognition.
He pulled on a pair of gloves, grabbed some tissues, a small towel, and a plastic bag.
When he returned to the bench, the guitar player had started singing a slow ballad. The breeze carried the soft melody across the pond.
Jihoon kneeled next to the bench and got to work.
He started with the juice box—picking it up carefully, wiping down the spill with tissues, and placing everything into the plastic bag. Next came the bird droppings, which took a bit more effort. He sprayed the bench with sanitizer, wiped it down slowly, and used the towel to scrub the stain until it faded.
He wasn't doing it to impress anyone.
In fact, no one even noticed.
Most people walked past without sparing him a glance. A few gave brief smiles when they saw what he was doing, but no one stopped.
Ten minutes later, the bench was clean. Not perfect, but definitely usable.
He stood back, pulled off the gloves, and tossed them into the trash along with the used napkins and juice box.
The bench now sat there in the sunlight, waiting—just like it always had—for someone to rest.
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 40,000 KRW
Jihoon smiled faintly, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow.
But just as he was about to walk away, he heard a small voice behind him.
"Um… excuse me?"
He turned around.
A little girl, no older than seven, stood beside him. Her short black hair was tied up in uneven pigtails, and she clutched a clear ziplock bag filled with bread crumbs.
She was looking at him expectantly.
"Can we sit here?" she asked.
Jihoon glanced beside her and saw a woman—probably her mother—offering him a small, polite smile.
He stepped aside and nodded. "It's all yours."
The girl beamed and hopped up onto the bench, swinging her legs as she opened the bag.
"Thank you!"
Her mother bowed slightly. "Thank you for cleaning it."
Jihoon returned the smile. "Just didn't want to see it go to waste."
He walked a few meters away and sat on the grass, resting his arms over his knees. From a distance, he watched the little girl toss crumbs into the pond as a group of ducks waddled over in excitement. She squealed in delight, clapping every time they flapped their wings.
Her mother sat beside her, gently patting her head.
It was a simple scene.
But Jihoon knew that if he hadn't cleaned the bench, they might've walked away—or worse, sat on something they'd regret.
His phone buzzed again.
[Bonus Kindness Opportunity Unlocked!]
Kindness to your environment is kindness to everyone who shares it.
+10,000 KRW
Jihoon picked up his can of coffee, now lukewarm, and took a sip.
The breeze passed again. The guitar player switched to a livelier tune.
It wasn't always about helping people directly. Sometimes, it was about creating space for good things to happen—even if no one ever knew it was you who did it.
Another buzz.
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Kindness doesn't always need an audience. Sometimes, it's about doing the right thing, even when no one's watching."
Jihoon stretched his arms behind his back and lay down on the grass, one hand resting lightly on his chest.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 41
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