I scratched my forehead at the sudden comment and asked,
"What are you talking about all of a sudden? What did you do wrong?"
"You asked for my number, and I turned you down… so…"
"…"
This bastard—did he call me just to mess with me?
"I was wondering if you were avoiding logging in on purpose because I made things awkward."
Surprisingly, he was scarily perceptive.
I already knew he was sharp in games, but I didn't realize he was this quick-witted in real life too.
"…Why would I do that? Didn't you see the guild chat? I've just been busy with school since the semester started."
"R-Really?"
"Of course. You…"
I instinctively paused for a second, then continued speaking as casually as I could.
"So what if you turned me down? That happens. I told you I understood."
"Ah…"
"You thinking I stopped playing because of that is a bit much. That's just you being overly self-conscious."
"So I misunderstood, huh?"
Well, no, not really.
"Yeah."
"Phew, that's a relief."
Yuchae sounded genuinely relieved, his voice softening as he spoke.
"I was really worried you might never come back."
"Oh, please. Look at you, acting like you didn't even give me your number…"
"Still…"
Only now did he seem to fully relax, letting out a soft laugh at my joking tone.
Listening to that, I rubbed my lips and frowned.
'He wants to get close to me this badly?'
His words and actions were way too different. Is this all just an act? What if deep down he actually thinks I'm a total asshole?
"Hey, are we playing today?"
"That's why I logged in."
Just then, I got a message from Muljom.
[Muljom: Hihi]
[Muljom: I was actually gonna hit you up soon]
[I'mSleepy: Hiii lol]
[I'mSleepy: I heard from Soeso]
[Muljom: Yeah, you hadn't logged in for so long]
[Muljom: I wanted to ask if you were super busy or something]
[Muljom: And then boom, you showed up just now lol]
[I'mSleepy: New semester started, and I had a bunch of stuff going on]
[I'mSleepy: Sorry sorry]
[Muljom: No no, I wasn't trying to pressure you]
[Muljom: I honestly just wanted to check in]
[I'mSleepy: I'll try to log in more often now lol]
[Muljom: Cool]
[Muljom: Yuchae was seriously getting on my nerves since you weren't coming on]
[Muljom: He kept whining nonstop]
[Muljom: I couldn't take it anymore so I finally messaged you lol]
I let out a dry laugh as I read the messages.
What the hell had Yuchae been doing? I'd just been suspicious of him, but that doubt vanished in an instant.
[Muljom: I'll just save the number I got, yeah?]
[I'mSleepy: Yep]
"Then let's play together. Hyung, did you see the new event that just started? And there's a new raid coming next month. Also…"
"Hold up."
I cut off Yuchae, who was rattling off all the new game content excitedly, and grabbed the bottled water I'd left nearby. I twisted the cap open and chugged it down.
The hangover just wouldn't go away. My head was still pounding, and I couldn't think straight.
"Just wait a bit. I haven't even eaten yet. Still hungover too…"
"Hangover? You drank last night?"
"There was a department gathering, so I drank a bit. My body's not doing so great. I don't usually get hangovers, but I mixed drinks last night… I feel like I'm dying."
Yuchae, who had been quietly listening, suddenly looked completely deflated and said in a subdued tone,
"If it's too much, you can go rest. Just make sure you eat."
"You're telling me to just go?"
"You said you were dying. Let's play tomorrow instead. It's Sunday."
"You think Sunday automatically means I'm free?"
"…Are you busy?"
The hesitant question floated over after a long pause, and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
What makes this kid so confident doing this cute stuff?
"No, I'm not busy. I'm playing today and tomorrow. But I'm gonna eat something first, so just wait a bit."
"You don't have to push yourself."
"It's just a game, and I'm sitting still. How hard could it be?"
As I answered nonchalantly, Yuchae, who had been worried for me, brightened up again.
"What are you going to eat? How long will it take?"
"I'll just order something simple. Should take about an hour."
"I'll wait."
"Cool. You staying on Discord?"
"O-Only if you're okay with it…"
As I scrolled through my phone looking at menus, I used my hand to cover the smile creeping up my face.
This kid's like an excited puppy panting just because someone asked if he wants to go for a walk.
"Sit tight and wait."
"Yes!"
I muted my mic, took off my headset, and went back to choosing food from where I left off.
I should just order something quick and easy. I can't sit down to a full feast while the kid's waiting.
︻╦╤─ ҉ – – –
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Huh? Did you just curse at me, hyung?"
Exactly two hours after I thought Yuchae was cute…
Flat on the dungeon floor, I shouted, and Yuchae popped up an emote with a wounded look.
"Like I can hold it in, you bastard!"
"I'm not a bastard!"
"Then what are you?"
"A groom! It even says so in the title!"
At the moment, I had given in to Yuchae's whining and changed my title to "Sleepy's Groom."
F***. I am never equipping this title again.
[Party] Hwasoun: LMAOOOOOOOO
[Party] Hwasoun: Sleepy-nim, you're such a noob lol
[Party] TheHunter: ???
[Party] TheHunter: Did he really just die?
[Party] Staeric: There was nothing deadly there…?
[Party] Haeren: No way… did you pick green?
[Party] MocaBread: Sleepy-nim
[Party] MocaBread: Feels like you forgot how to play lol
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: ??
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: Didn't the guild master say he'd explain the patterns?
[Party] I'mSleepy: Ha f*…**
We had just entered an event dungeon together with the guild members.
Since it was an event dungeon and not a raid, it wasn't that difficult. But there were a few mid-bosses with specific gimmick patterns.
Still, Yuchae had done the dungeon earlier and was giving real-time instructions, so I thought there wouldn't be a problem… until just now.
"Is the title really the issue right now?"
"…I just mixed up the colors for a second."
One of the mechanics on the dungeon's second floor involved dodging based on color. A complex magic circle would form on the ground, changing colors over time. You had to step into the correct one to survive.
While choosing a magic circle, the rest of the screen was shrouded in darkness, so you couldn't follow anyone else—you had to rely on your own memory or judgment. I went into the green one, just like Yuchae said.
And I died miserably. Meanwhile, Kim Yuchae, the little shit who gave me the wrong info, moved to the red circle right before the mechanic ended and survived—leaving me as the only casualty.
"I-It's only my second time running it too…!"
Flustered by my cold tone, Yuchae scrambled to explain. But by then, I'd already been labeled as the noob of the group and had to endure relentless teasing from the guild until the dungeon run was over.
[Party] TheHunter: Ha… Sleepy-nim, I'm kinda disappointed~ Big time~
[Party] MocaBread: Fr tho lol
[Party] MocaBread: Like how did you even die to that?
[Party] Haeren: Sigh… I should've at least dropped a healing zone or something
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: Wouldn't have mattered—wrong circle = instant death anyway lol
[Party] Haeren: Damn~
[Party] Hwasoun: Sleepy-nim, you sure you're ready for the boss fight?
[Party] Hwasoun: The boss has three colors to dodge… glhf
[Party] Staeric: Come on
[Party] Staeric: It's totally possible to mix up red and green, right? Agree?
[Party] TheHunter: Agreed~
[Party] Yuchae: Cut it out, you f***ers
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: Sigh… Guess being married means he blindly takes his side now
[Party] Haeren: How are us single folks supposed to live like this
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: ?
[Party] Hwasoun: LMAOOOOO
[Party] Staeric: Is this… the power of marriage?
[Party] Staeric: Hunter-nim, your turn?
[Party] TheHunter: Nah
[Party] Hwasoun: Rejected again? Dang lol
Yuchae tried to intervene, but no one gave a damn. After taking all that public humiliation, I came out to the field and immediately swung my staff at him.
SMAK!
"Hyuuung… that hurt."
WHACK! THUMP!
[Party] Yuchae:!!!
[Party] TheHunter: What a lovely couple you are LOL
[Party] Hwasoun: You kinda deserved it tbh
[Party] Haeren: I mean, who else could've gotten Sleepy-nim killed in that gimmick except our guild leader? lol
[Party] Haeren: Look on the bright side
[Party] Staeric: That logic tho
[Party] Hwasoun: Sounds convincing
[Party] Hwasoun: Coping mechanism: activated
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: I took a screenshot of when Sleepy-nim died btw
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: Can I post it in the guild group chat?
[Party] I'mSleepy: Why the hell would you even screenshot that
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: You just looked so comfortable lying there haha
[Party] I'mSleepy: Delete it. Now. ――
[Party] ParkSeungjin99: Aww
[Party] Hwasoun: Aww
[Party] Haeren: Aww
"Aww" my ass.
Yuchae and the guild both were pissing me off to death.
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