Chapter 58
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: I’m not AFK haha
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Oh, so you were here
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: You were so still I thought you went AFK
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Ah I was just spacing out for a moment…
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Are you tired?
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: No haha. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Me?
Sinu showed a playful, surprised reaction.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Wow… what’s the occasion that Girmu is asking me a question haha
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Ah it’s not a big deal worth being surprised about haha…
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Hahahaha it doesn’t matter, ask me anything you want
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: I don’t mind even if you ask about my private life
Beodeul hadn’t even thought about asking about life outside the game, but somehow Sinu seemed to be hoping he would ask. Of course, regardless of that, he probably meant that Beodeul could ask about anything comfortably.
‘This question might actually make him more uncomfortable.’
But Sinu was the one who said to ask anything. Beodeul didn’t hesitate for long and threw out his question as suggested.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Then… why have you been avoiding me lately? haha
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: ….???? What
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: No hahahahahahaha I was going to ask you the same thing if you avoided me for a few more days
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: What…?
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: You’ve been avoiding me lately too
Beodeul knew it would be hard to deny. But honestly, he hadn’t thought Sinu would notice. He had been confident that he hadn’t shown any signs.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: These days you’re only hanging out with SaltySalt and other people
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: And you’ve been refusing to do things with me like we used to, saying you already did them with someone else
The more Sinu listed what had happened, the more Beodeul’s head drooped. The disappointment Beodeul had felt toward Sinu wasn’t because of anything special either, but because of these same kinds of unusual behaviors.
‘Why did I do that?’
Even to himself, it seemed incredibly childish, so Beodeul deeply regretted it. Had he wanted Sinu to feel the same emotions he did?
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Now you don’t even pay much attention to me…
However, Beodeul’s reflection couldn’t continue in the face of Sinu’s chat that openly showed his disappointment. Not paying attention? Saying it like that made him sound like he was jealous and sulking.
‘Jealousy…?’
As he thought about it absently, Beodeul’s eyes widened. If that was the case, then the similar feelings he’d had about Sinu weren’t far from jealousy either.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: That’s not it. I was just hanging out with other people because I thought you’d be busy for a while…
He had never not paid attention to Sinu. On the contrary, this mess happened because he paid too much attention. The one who hadn’t been attentive was actually Sinu.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Haven’t you been doing the same thing recently…
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: You suggested we do various things together and then disappeared without a word…
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Of course, I’m sure you were busy
It was a pitiful addition, but necessary if he wanted to find out why Sinu had kept his distance for a while before approaching him again.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Were you upset?
“Up… set?”
Beodeul, who had been silently waiting for Sinu’s explanation or clarification, was taken aback. He hadn’t even thought of the word “upset,” but Sinu’s expression seemed right. If he had to describe the complex and subtle emotions he’d been feeling in one word, that is.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: I was more perplexed…
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Since you avoided me recently… it felt like we grew further apart after I joined the guild than before
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: I was also worried I might have made a mistake…ㅠㅠ
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: If you were sorting through your thoughts because I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry
Sinu was trying to act normally now that he’d returned, wasn’t he? Beodeul felt bad for bringing it up.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: It’s not like that
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: I should be the one apologizing
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: And I don’t think I can explain why I did that yet
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: What…?
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: I’ll tell you later, I’m sorry
What reason could it possibly be? And was that reason still affecting Sinu now? Beodeul was confused in many ways, but it was difficult to press for more from Sinu who was already apologizing.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: It’s not your fault, and you didn’t make any mistakes
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: It was just my personal business, so please don’t worry too much
If it was personal, he definitely couldn’t ask about it. But that didn’t mean it wouldn’t bother him. Beodeul let out a groan like someone facing an intractable problem.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: So are you okay now?
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Okay…
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: It’s not really a matter of being okay or not haha……
Usually Sinu would say everything was fine no matter what, but now he couldn’t easily affirm it. Beodeul thought it might be a more serious issue than he expected.
‘But he really seems like he doesn’t want to talk about it right now…’
It was definitely related to Girmu, but he couldn’t push further. Beodeul decided to be patient and made an effort to respond casually.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Then please tell me later haha
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Yes
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Was there anything else that upset you?
Sinu seemed to have concluded that the reason Girmu had been subtly avoiding him was because he felt upset.
‘Well, I don’t have anything else to call it.’
Beodeul lost the will to correct him and laughed weakly.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Haha……
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: No, nothing else
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: You’re being too definitive…
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Then do you want to do prestige quests with me today?
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: No, I’m going to hunt
When Sinu used the “dejected” emote, there was a thud! sound effect. The silver-haired male character sitting disheveled, wiping away tears, looked quite pitiful and atmospheric. Yet it was also the emotional expression that suited Sinu the least among all the ones he’d used.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: …ㅠㅠ
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: This isn’t a habitual rejection, is it? Because I made you feel upset…
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: It’s not hahahahaha I’m planning to focus on hunting since I have little left to reach level 140
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: I want to hit 140 soon and change my equipment
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Ah that’s right
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: To think Girmu is already preparing for end-game equipment…
Beodeul was often surprised whenever he checked Girmu’s level, so Sinu, who had watched his growth up close, must have even more mixed feelings.
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Hmm hahaha I understand
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: If you get bored while hunting, call me
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Me, not SaltySalt
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Yes hahahaha
Sinu didn’t even try to hide his jealousy as he kept insisting. That he should look for him, not SaltySalt or any other Grace guild member.
Why did such possessiveness put his mind at ease? Beodeul was enveloped in a subtle feeling as he pondered.
‘Am I becoming too dependent on Sinu?’
It wouldn’t be strange considering all the help he’d received. But Beodeul couldn’t help feeling awkward about how he became uncharacteristically childish in front of Sinu.
‘This doesn’t usually happen to me…’
He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish. He thought he should exercise some restraint, but Sinu seemed to want Girmu to be even more expressive, which was confusing.
‘Well, it should be fine, right?’
Sinu’s attention toward Girmu had become quite blatant lately. Enough that Beodeul could think such things despite his awkwardness.
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Sinu, don’t do too many prestige quests today
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: ????
[Whisper/Sinu] Girmu: Because you need to do them with me next time haha…
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ah
[Whisper/Girmu] Sinu: I’ll keep that in mind hahahaha
Thankfully, it didn’t seem to be just his imagination. Beodeul secretly felt relieved.
*
< Han Beodeul hyung
Han Beodeul hyung
Wooseok, have you arrived?
Yes hyung
I’m at exit 2, where are you?
Wooseok looked down at the screen showing the read receipt and then turned his head. Since it was the weekend, and a particularly crowded area at that, the street was packed with people. Finding Beodeul here would be—
“Found him.”
—incredibly easy. He was standing where people kept glancing at him as they passed by.
Snickering, Wooseok strode toward Beodeul, who was fiddling with his phone.
“Hyung.”
“Hmm? Oh, you found me quickly?”
“You’re easy to find, hyung.”
“Am I?”
Seeing him look away slightly before smiling, he must have been pondering what that meant. Wooseok had been able to read Beodeul’s little habits for a while now. Maybe because he’d been looking at him so often.
“But you’re easy to find too, Wooseok.”
“Well, I’m just…”
Just look for someone tall and gloomy. Wooseok didn’t think much of it.
“There’s usually no one within a 2-meter radius around you.”
…what exactly did that mean? Wooseok, just like Beodeul had done, glanced aside briefly before asking.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Hmm? Haha, no. It’s because you’re handsome.”
“Then if I’m walking with you, there must be no one within 4 meters.”
Though it was something he blurted out without filtering through his thought process, it was somewhat sincere. Wooseok didn’t stop there and added shamelessly with a hint of selfish intent.
“I like having space, so I’ll keep hanging out with you.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
