[Guild] Freedeal: No way, the Hunter is beating up the Priest ㅠ Save the Priestㅠ
[Killer has won the battle against Freedeal.]
Satisfied after toying with his opponent enough, Killer launched his final attack just before the battle timer ran out. Freedeal, whose HP was completely drained, collapsed onto the ground and pounded the floor in frustration. It was the defeat motion.
[Whisper] Freedeal: Chasa, you saw that, right?
[Whisper] Freedeal: Don’t get involved with that dirty bastard… Though I guess it’s already a little too late.
[Whisper] Chasa: LOL
They were really going at it.
From Sa-yoon’s perspective, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. The guild member who kept running his mouth even though he got beaten up all the time, and Killer, who would chase after him to retaliate every single time.
They bickered on the surface, but there was a bond built up over time, whether they liked it or not. That’s probably why everyone followed Killer when he bulldozed ahead with the server transfer.
While all that was happening, Killer had just finished his satisfying revenge and returned to Chasa’s side.
[Whisper] Killer: Hyung
[Whisper] Killer: Are you taking the screenshot here?
[Whisper] Killer: I want it to be just the two of us.
[Whisper] Chasa: Okay, leave the squad and join party chat.
What a stupid question. Screenshots were best taken in deserted places, where only the scenery and oneself appeared in the frame. That was the golden rule.
***
Taking the screenshot itself was great. The problem came afterward.
[A trade request has been sent.]
[Killer has declined the trade request.]
[A trade request has been sent.]
[Killer has declined the trade request.]
[Party] Chasa: ???
[Party] Killer: ???
Chasa had tried to return the item he received, but the trade rejection was lightning fast.
[Party] Chasa: What are you doing? Just accept the trade.
[Party] Killer: Why should I?
Uh… because it’s yours?
[Party] Killer: I asked you to take a screenshot, not to borrow my stuff.
He said it so naturally that even Sa-yoon momentarily wondered if he had actually agreed to keep it.
[Party] Killer: I don’t need two of them.
[Party] Chasa: Then sell it.
[Party] Killer: That’s a hassle.
What do you mean, a hassle? If he just posted in the guild chat once, people would swarm in like hornets begging to buy it.
[Party] Chasa: Even if I accept this, I still won’t meet up with you.
[Party] Killer: I never asked you to.
[Party] Chasa: For real?
[Party] Killer: Yeah, I don’t need it anymore.
[Party] Killer: If you send it back to me, I’ll just return it again.
And with that, Killer abruptly logged off, leaving Chasa stranded on the golden plains with the forcibly gifted item in his possession.
“What a mess.”
That was what had happened early this morning.
What should I give as compensation?
Sa-yoon had a personality that wouldn’t let him live with debt, so the unease sat in his chest like a pebble under the blanket, pressing uncomfortably against him.
“?”
“Huh?”
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. What did you say?”
“There seem to be a lot of people going to see the reeds.”
Only then did Sa-yoon glance out the car window. A long line of cars stretched toward the parking lot. The reed festival was ending this week.
“Guess it’s more crowded since it’s the last chance.”
It wasn’t polite to get lost in thought while someone else was driving. Noticing that the traffic was completely at a standstill, Sa-yoon turned fully toward his companion.
“You dressed nicely today.”
A trench coat, a gray knit sweater, and black slacks. A clean, minimal look without anything excessive. If he could dress like this, then why had he shown up last time looking like he was about to perform on an idol stage?
“…Do I look pretty?”
“Yeah, you’re pretty too.”
Even though he’d fished for a response, the moment he got the compliment, Shin-jae’s ears flushed red.
But the more Sa-yoon looked, the more something felt… off. Strange. Why did this look so familiar? It felt like something was just on the tip of his memory…
Resting his arms across his chest, Sa-yoon tapped his index finger against his arm before suddenly going, “Ah.”
‘No way.’
That’s Seon Seung-joo’s style.
No wonder—he’d even started putting his hair up lately. The color scheme was different, and the glasses and watch were missing, but the overall vibe was eerily similar.
Once he realized it, he was stunned. Who copies their ex’s fashion just to impress someone?
“You… never mind.”
Would it be crazy if he found even this adorable? The sheer ridiculousness of it made him chuckle. The thought that Shin-jae liked him that much sent a ticklish warmth through his chest.
“Hyung, um…”
“Yeah?”
Shin-jae, who had been unusually skittish today, finally spoke up with difficulty. What was it this time? Do I look mature? Do I look old?
“…Never mind.”
Clutching the steering wheel tightly, Shin-jae opened and closed his lips a few times before finally muttering something feeble.
“Why’d you stop mid-sentence?”
“It’s just… I think Hyung is pretty too.”
“I already know that.”
That probably wasn’t what he originally meant to say.
Sa-yoon, who had never been called pretty in his life—intimidating and handsome, sure, but never pretty—accepted the compliment without hesitation.
“Hyung, you know you can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, right?”
“Yeah, I know that too.”
Shin-jae, who had been watching Sa-yoon take the praise and teasing so effortlessly, let out a small laugh. Sa-yoon smiled back.
After exchanging a few more lighthearted words, he turned to look outside again. The car was still crawling forward at a snail’s pace, but the wait didn’t feel boring.
After what felt like ages, they finally managed to park. As soon as they got out of the car, they quickly made their way up the slope. And at last, they arrived at the reed field. The golden waves stretched endlessly before them, making their worries about coming too late seem laughable.
“Wow…”
Shin-jae’s eyes sparkled as he watched the reeds sway in the breeze.
There are people like that—people whose pure delight at receiving a gift makes the giver even happier. Right now, Shin-jae’s face was exactly like that. Just bringing him here was enough to make Sa-yoon feel satisfied.
“It’s really huge.”
“Right? Good thing we came, huh? Let’s hurry—most of the best spots are probably taken.”
Feeling good, Sa-yoon headed toward the main path. Though it was a wide road, it was still packed with people since it was the only way from the parking lot to the field. Soon, various branching paths would start splitting off from it.
“We’ll have to walk a bit, but if we cross that hill, there should be fewer—whoa.”
Sa-yoon stumbled mid-sentence as he pointed toward the hill. He’d been too focused on talking to notice a rock jutting out beneath his feet. His weight suddenly shifted onto one knee, sending an unpleasant sensation up his leg.
“Hyung!”
Shin-jae was by his side in an instant, grabbing his wrist to steady him.
“Whoa, that was close. Thanks.”
His warm hand slid down from Sa-yoon’s wrist, briefly brushing against his hand before letting go.
Wait. That was on purpose, wasn’t it?
It had happened so quickly that he hadn’t even had time to react. Sa-yoon glanced down at his hand, where the warmth had just been. They had held hands before—during a horror attraction at a festival—but it hadn’t felt like this back then.
Why did he feel disappointed now?
While he was lost in thought, Shin-jae had already walked ahead. With his hair pulled back, his exposed earlobes were glowing red.
“Shin-jae.”
He hadn’t even called out that loudly, but Shin-jae stopped immediately, as if he had been listening only for Sa-yoon’s voice. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly turned around.
And then, something strange happened.
In the midst of the vast, breathtaking field of reeds and the bustling crowd, Shin-jae came into sharp focus.
The entire world blurred, leaving only him clear as day—his face, flushed bright red just from a brief, stolen touch.
Watching him, unable to meet his gaze, Sa-yoon had the urge to stride over, take his face in his hands, and make him look up. At the same time, he wanted to keep watching, just like this.
…Oh?
Some realizations hit out of nowhere. Like a philosopher soaking in a bath and suddenly discovering a truth he hadn’t grasped before.
***
“Hyung, here.”
“Thanks.”
The moment he realized his feelings, a problem arose—he could no longer look Shin-jae in the eye properly.
His gaze slipped aside as he took the drink, and naturally, their hands brushed. Startled, Sa-yoon nearly snatched the can away.
Wow, this is insane.
It was just his fingertips. Just that, and his heart pounded while heat pooled below. Not even in middle school had he been this bad. Overwhelmed with self-disgust, Sa-yoon turned away with a deep sigh.
“Uh… Hyung, I have something to say.”
“Uh… huh?”
Me? Liking him?
At this point, the six-year age gap wasn’t even the issue anymore. When had this started? How did this even happen?
Memories flashed through his mind like a reel—Shin-jae’s confession during the fireworks, all the moments between them since.
And come to think of it, he’d gotten hard that time they’d slept on the couch together… He just hadn’t realized it at the time. But his body had already responded honestly.
Gay or not, a guy doesn’t just react to any man. There has to be at least some attraction.
Wow. I really am an idiot.
How had he not realized this sooner? The sheer absurdity of it made him chuckle under his breath. It was the consequence of never having considered Shin-jae as a romantic option in the first place.
“…I’ll tell you later.”
“Oh, sure. Take your time.”
Shin-jae hesitated, lips parting slightly before settling on an anticlimactic response. Meanwhile, Sa-yoon was still scrambling to pinpoint exactly when his feelings had begun.
That marked Shin-jae’s second failed attempt.
“Hyung, you know…”
“Yeah?”
It wasn’t until Shin-jae’s third attempt that Sa-yoon finally caught on.
Oh.
The setting—a picture-perfect date course. The atmosphere—ideal for a confession.
Somehow embarrassed, Sa-yoon ran a hand through his hair. Now that he was aware of his feelings, he found himself missing the warmth of Shin-jae’s touch from earlier.
I just want to start dating already and hold his hand.
But once again, Shin-jae backed out.
“…Never mind.”
Sa-yoon, who had been about to say something himself, shut his mouth when he saw the youthful uncertainty on Shin-jae’s face.
He was twenty-six, with a few relationships under his belt. Shin-jae, on the other hand, was only twenty. Barely twenty. Likely his first real relationship after becoming an adult.
Yeah… Rushing wouldn’t be good. Adjusting to his pace was the right move here—it was something an older partner should do.
An 8282 mindset (Korean slang for rushing things) wasn’t the answer. He reminded himself to be patient.
“Hyung, you know…”
“Yeah, Shin-jae?”
So Sa-yoon waited. He held back when they walked down the hill, when they got into the car, when they ate dinner, and even when they arrived at his house.
“…Get home safe.”
But after all that patience, this was the result?
They say if you endure three times, you can even avoid committing murder. By that logic, Sa-yoon had dodged murder twice today.
Honestly, he had yielded enough.
Sa-yoon placed his hand over Shin-jae’s, which had been fidgeting atop the gear shift. The larger hand flinched at the sudden contact.
“Shin-jae, look at me.”
And finally, those beautiful eyes turned toward him.
Sa-yoon leaned in.
With his seatbelt unfastened, it was easy to slide over the console and invade the driver’s seat. His nose brushed against Shin-jae’s first, and then—
Their lips met.
Just as he expected, they were soft.
