After such a dehydrating lunchtime, Taehyeon gives up on concentrating in the afternoon lessons. Minjeong was nice enough to get him a bottle of water and she keeps answering any questions that might actually be for Taehyeon. Taeri keeps asking what's wrong but Minjeong's rankings of classmates who don't know how to keep a secret differs from everyone else's. She is insistent that Taeri simply won't be able to understand.
Despite almost murdering him yesterday, Taehyeon supposes Minjeong isn't so bad.
Maybe.
She nudges him and points to the indoor windows of the classroom. There is Minjun, just like always, waving and grinning widely.
Just like Taehyeon's heart hasn't been broken, Minjun is following his new routine of visiting throughout the day.
*
Tuesday isn't an exception. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are also filled with visits by Minjun. Minjun gets in trouble for it all just like usual too. The difference is that Taehyeon stays away from Minjun wherever he can. Bada is helpful there. He insists that Taehyeon must be involved in Hyejin's project to make good luck charms for the third years.
The excuse works well enough for Hyejin who is pretending not to be in over her head.
← Year 3 Class 7 Lee Minjun
Year 3 Class 7 Lee Minjun
It has been a long time since we last hung out.
You don't have to be considerate about my studies because of next week.
I want to see you anyway.
19:26
Taehyeon sighs. He locks his phone and places it face down on the desk. He should be paying attention. His parents aren't paying him to come to this after school academy just for him to text a cute boy.
"Is that him?" Eunji asks. Without waiting for a response, she says, "I wasn't kidding earlier. I have an army of girls who would kill for me too. They're extra vicious because they go to an all girls' school. They'll fight for your honour if I tell them to."
Considering his mom thinks he is a handsome loser, it is surprising just how many beautiful, popular people he knows with armies of girls on retainer.
"That's a really nice offer, thanks. I'm not sure if I'll need your army just yet. I'm spending time with my other friends. Well, they're my classmates from last year but they feel like they're my friends now. Hyejin volunteered our study group to make good luck charms for the third years. Look, they're kind of cute, right?"
Eunji watches as Taehyeon swipes through the gallery on his phone. Eunji is attentive, barely making interested sounds. Taehyeon knows it isn't interesting. He is still a bit proud of the charms made from paper and string.
Despite her initial disinterest, Eunji reaches for Taehyeon's phone to swipe back through the pictures, this time pointing out people. "Who is this?"
"Hyejin."
"And this?"
"Jeongwon."
"And this?"
"Bada."
"And this?"
"Hyejin."
"And this?"
"… That's me."
"And this one?"
"Hyejin."
"And this one."
"Jeongwon."
"And this?"
"Hyejin! Hyejin! Her name is Jo Hyejin! Why can't you ask questions like a normal person?"
"Who is causing a ruckus back there?" The academy teacher asks from the front of the room. Taehyeon makes sure to convey all his worst feelings towards Eunji through his eyes. She pretends not to look at him whilst the tutor flaps through pages and pages before reaching the student list.
"Who are you? Mo Taehyeon, is it? Get out. Take your things."
Taehyeon doesn't bother to defend himself. He sweeps his books and pens into his backpack and leaves the classroom whilst other students snicker and whisper. Eunji will pay for this. Or Hyejin will if Taehyeon isn't allowed to attend this class at the after school academy anymore. She might not know what she did wrong but that is a problem for her to deal with.
← Ha Eunji
Ha Eunji
Tell me more about that girl in your pictures.
21:32
If there's one thing Taehyeon can take away from this, it is the fact that Eunji really has some nerve. Taehyeon waits a minute or two to see whether Eunji will own up to being annoying. Nothing happens. Some kids seated by the windows are very obviously laughing away about Taehyeon. He doesn't prolong this any further. He decides to go home. He apparently has plans tomorrow anyway.
*
Taehyeon expects to be the first person to arrive because Bada said that they need to meet up ahead of time. Taehyeon doesn't know exactly who they are meeting today because it wasn't something discussed in that awkward group chat which led to that first Saturday. What Taehyeon doesn't expect is to be standing on a bustling street and freezing. He wrings his hands together before shoving them into his pockets again. He resists the urge to check for text messages because his phone would have vibrated by now if Bada cared about him at all.
His face is freezing to the point that it stings. He can only hope that his face won't be frozen into some ugly and miserable expression when he is finally saved from this cold and lonely Saturday.
Eventually, he is rescued. Bada arrives with someone at his side. Taehyeon needs to get over himself because being jealous over this feels excessively petty.
"Taehyeon, you weren't waiting too long were you?" Bada asks, chipper and breathless as he hops over and loops his arm around Taehyeon's. "I had to admit to Woobin that I planned to meet you a bit earlier than everyone else."
"Oh, okay."
"So it's just us for a little bit," Bada says brightly.
"Great."
Taehyeon is relieved to get indoors. Humans really did something wonderful when they created the marvels of modern heating. Thawing out is a slow process but sitting at a computer (another of humanity's greatest wonders) really makes things tolerable.
"Are you really big gamers?" Woobin asks. He needs to lean around the divider to speak to Taehyeon. Bada pulls a face but Taehyeon expects nothing less.
"Not really," Taehyeon says. "Bada usually comes to PC cafés against his will. I usually let him choose the game we play though."
Woobin nods uncertainly before asking, "So you met up early just to not have fun?"
Taehyeon turns to his other side to see the expression on Bada's face. He doesn't look too disappointed to be here. Taehyeon isn't sure where Woobin got the idea that they're here not to have any fun. They were supposed to discuss something but Taehyeon isn't going to admit to that aloud. He uhms and ahs his way through a response that doesn't say much before shuffling into his own little divide. At the very least, Taehyeon can speak to Bada silently by messaging him.
← Kim Bada
Mo Taehyeon
What did you want to talk about anyway?
10:46
Kim Bada
The… invitees for today
10:46
Mo Taehyeon
What do you mean?
10:46
Kim Bada
I wanted to hang out with Pilgyu. But he said he'd bring Woojin from his party
10:47
Mo Taehyeon
Do you not like him?
You literally said he was handsome.
10:47
Kim Bada
He's probably nice
10:48
Mo Taehyeon
Okay?
10:48
Kim Bada
And Siwoo is coming too
10:49
Mo Taehyeon
What?
Why?????
Tell him not to come!
What the hell is wrong with
him?
All of them actually
10:50
Kim Bada
It's fine
10:50
Mo Taehyeon
They're the worst
I'll fight them.
I'll do it.
10:51
Kim Bada
I can just
10:51
Mo Taehyeon
How is this fine?
These kids are the worst.
They're ridiculous!
10:52
Kim Bada
keep to myself
10:52
Mo Taehyeon
Utterly ridiculous!
10:52
Taehyeon rolls his chair backwards so he can glare at Bada around the little divide between the computers.
"What's wrong with you?" Taehyeon hisses. "You should have cancelled. Or stayed at home."
Bada is clearly trying his hardest to smile. This isn't the time for Bada to cry. It will take him forever to depuff after crying here. Unless he goes and stands outside in the freezing cold street.
That would be cruel.
Taehyeon doesn't banish Bada outside. He can't tell Bada off for having no backbone. He can't say anything. He settles on logging into Dynasty of Destruction. He makes some progress towards levelling up by swapping equipment. He doesn't have everything he needs to rank up and earn the Ungnyeo skins he has had his eye on for weeks. He still has hopes that something in his life will go well.
"Wow, Dynasty of Destruction? You're really good!"
Taehyeon takes a critical hit at the worst possible time. Whenever someone watches him, he loses all ability to do anything.
"Sorry, I'll stay quiet until the skirmish is done."
Taehyeon appreciates the consideration. He concentrates as much as he can and barely manages to get in enough hits to transform into a bear and savage his rival.
Out of breath from pressing buttons and keys, Taehyeon considers that he should work on his fitness. He quickly wipes his forehead and hopes that nobody saw the sweat beading on his brow.
Turning to look around, Taehyeon learns that Pilgyu is here along with the friends he brought along. He keeps his expression as neutral as he can. He glances at Bada and sees a bad impression of someone who is happy to see a friend. Bada is trying his hardest. Taehyeon should try harder too.
"We're all here," Bada says, brassy and overly cheerful. "It's great to see everyone."
"Yeah," Pilgyu agrees, parting his hair with his fingers so his smeary spectacles are visible. "You play Dynasty of Destruction? That's so cool. Bada never mentioned it even though you're really good."
Taehyeon narrows his eyes at Bada. He hasn't heard any mention of this either.
"So you play too?" Taehyeon asks.
"Yeah," Pilgyu says, excitement adding to the weight he presses against the back of Taehyeon's chair. "I used to play as Princess Pyeonggang because she had such a cool skin when I first started. She's actually pretty useless without teaming up with an On Dal player. I lost my access to that account anyway so these days I play as Choi Ri."
"Choi Ri? That's practically cheating."
Pilgyu laughs. Taehyeon decides against pointing out that he's serious. He has never won against a Choi Ri player. They have such a stupid advantage with their drums and horns which warn them about rivals and have frozen Taehyeon too many frustrating times.
Then again, it isn't as though Taehyeon can be sure any of those awful players who never let him live were Pilgyu specifically. Taehyeon lets it go. Bada would want him to be a mature and fun friend to these first year kids. Strange that he never once mentioned that one of the Eoleunjeol kids is cool. There's nothing cooler than playing Dynasty of Destruction (aside from being cool and having an actual life) so it could have come up any of the times Bada tried to awkwardly convince Taehyeon of the good points of making friends with these kids.
"You should give me your player ID."
Pilgyu pulls out his phone to check before searching his player ID on the computer. As Taehyeon watches, he notices the indulgent smile on Woobin's face.
"It is so nice that you are bonding like that," he explains, getting pinker by the second. "I think one of my other friends plays this game too, or maybe something similar. I had no idea it was so popular. It makes me think that I should start."
"I play too, Woobin!" Woojin shouts, raising one arm in the air in case Woobin suddenly loses the ability to see people jumping up and down right in front of him. "We could play together too."
"Woojin, that's the first I've heard of this," Pilgyu laughs. "You have to tell me who you play as. What is your player ID?"
Woojin clearly doesn't expect follow up questions. Not from Pilgyu at least. He flounders, mouth opening and closing so he looks like a poorly camouflaged fish. He doesn't play Dynasty of Destruction. Taehyeon can clearly see it is a lie he just told to sound cool and interesting. Who would have guessed Dynasty of Destruction was worth so much social capital? Not Taehyeon, considering the fact nobody has ever been impressed about him playing the game until right this second.