I’ve seen it often enough now that I don’t instinctively frown anymore. At least, I’ve gotten used to it. The problem is… I’ve only gotten used to it. I still wanted to fix it.
Ah, seriously, if I could just tweak it a little…
“Hey, did you customize the outfit you’re wearing now?”
I tossed out the question casually, as if I were just asking what they had for lunch.
[Party] a10235044: Yes
“Did you dye it too?”
[Party] a10235044: Yes]
[Party] a10235044: It looks nice, right?
After seeing that next message, Sa-yoon’s expression darkened. So it really was their personal taste. That was all he needed to know.
“I see… It’s flashy and looks good.”
So this wasn’t a scam. The character’s owner liked it—what could he even say? Personal taste should be respected. In this game, that was just basic etiquette.
Defeated, Sa-yoon held back his tears and clicked the “Hide Other Characters” option again.
“Does my voice sound weird?”
[Party] a10235044: No?
Then why had they suggested using voice chat in the first place if they were going to be this quiet?
[Party] a10235044: Hyung, by the way…
[Party] a10235044: You said last time that you’re thirty-eight, right?
“What? When did I ever…?”
Did I say that? Did I really? As he spoke, the memory resurfaced in Sa-yoon’s mind, making him trail off. He had just been spouting nonsense back then, but this kid had taken it as the absolute truth…
“I mean, hyung could technically be thirty-six or thirty-eight.”
[Party] a10235044: ???
[Party] a10235044: What are you even saying?
The confusion was practically radiating from the chat. How was this kid going to survive in the world being this gullible?
[Party] a10235044: So… you’re thirty-six?
Alright, maybe it was time to stop messing around.
“I’m actually sixteen.”
…Just a little more teasing first.
[Party] a10235044: Stop lying.
“Want me to start calling you hyung instead?”
[Party] a10235044: Nah, I bet you’re twenty-six.
How did they figure that out? The kid was more perceptive than he looked.
“Yeah, I’m twenty-six. That’s why I told you to use the money for snacks last time.”
No way he was actually going to take pocket money from a kid. Sa-yoon leaned back in his chair, finally telling the truth.
[Party] a10235044: I’m not a kid—
[Party] a10235044: I’m twenty.
“Ohhh, yeah, sure, sure.”
Whether they were six years younger or even more, it didn’t change anything. To Sa-yoon, they were still just a kid.
[Party] a10235044: So, are you working? Or are you still job hunting like you mentioned before?
Did I say that? Now that they mentioned it, I might’ve answered that way in the party chat before.
“Incoming mobs… Hyung’s still a student. Still in college.”
[Party] a10235044: What year are you in?
The moment I absentmindedly let the truth slip while hunting, 44 latched onto it like a hawk spotting prey.
They weren’t asking if I took an extra year, or even what my student ID year was—just straight-up what year I was in. Reading the awkward phrasing, Sa-yoon chuckled softly.
“No more questions.”
The kid might be young, but that didn’t mean he was about to spill personal details to some stranger online. Anything could happen in an MMO.
At Sa-yoon’s refusal, the other side went quiet for a moment. Did they get sulky? The silence lingering over the voice chat was starting to feel a bit heavy. Just as Sa-yoon was about to break it with a hesitant “Hey,”—
[Party] a10235044: Hyung, I’m curious about what you look like.
“…Me?”
[Party] a10235044: Yeah.
[Party] a10235044: Your voice sounds handsome.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that.”
[Party] a10235044: No, really. You sound handsome.
“Uh… thanks?”
Sa-yoon just brushed it off as the usual way guys hyped up older friends. Nothing unusual.
[Party] a10235044: I bet you have a mature-looking face.
But the other person had no intention of dropping the subject.
“Nah, I actually look super scary. People always say I have a nasty expression.”
[Party] a10235044: Hahahaha
[Party] a10235044: Nah, I bet you just have kind of a cold look.
Looked like this kid was just genuinely curious about their online gaming friend.
Well, when you’re young, everything seems worth wondering about. But online grinding and real-life appearances were two entirely separate things.
“How’s university? First year’s supposed to be fun, right?”
[Party] a10235044: It’s just whatever.
Figures. Probably because they weren’t actually attending. The unenthusiastic response only cemented Sa-yoon’s suspicions, and he nodded to himself.
[Party] a10235044: By the way, hyung.
[Party] a10235044: What sport was it again that you got injured doing?
Why did this feel like an interrogation? Maybe it was because they were using voice chat today, but the kid sure had a lot of questions. Since Sa-yoon had no intention of sharing real details, he decided to just make something up.
“Tripped while running?”
Well, he had been running, and Shin-jae had fallen—so it wasn’t a complete lie.
[Party] a10235044: Alright, let’s go for Medusa now.
Thankfully, the questions stopped there. Looked like they could at least knock out a daily dungeon together.
Watching Medusa collapse, Sa-yoon thought to himself—voice chat was kind of a hassle, but still way easier than typing.
Guess I’ll just stick to dailies and attendance rewards until I’m fully healed.
With that thoroughly gamer-like conclusion, he made up his mind.
***
[ sj ] Why haven’t you been coming lately?
Sa-yoon only saw the message long after it had been sent.
The profile was just the default one provided by the messenger app, the name was written in initials, and the content itself seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at it. Since it was from someone who wasn’t on his friends list, the chat window displayed both “Block” and “Add Friend” at the top.
They send spam messages through this app now?
Thinking it was just junk, Sa-yoon ignored it.
But less than a minute later, his phone buzzed again.
[ sj ] Don’t leave me on read.
[ sj ] 1
[ sj ] 1
[ sj ] 1
[ sj ] 1
[Who?]
[ sj ] 1
[ sj ] 1
[ sj ] Ah
[ sj ] Sa Shin-jae here.
I didn’t even reply, so how did they know I read it and left them on read? The message came in three hours ago.
[What do you mean?]
[ sj ] Why haven’t you been coming lately?
Where am I supposed to be going?
As Sa-yoon silently pondered, he belatedly realized they were talking about the theater club.
[ sj ] Did you stop coming because I got casted in the play?
[It’s not that.]
They already had enough rehearsal footage for the club’s promo video, and the deadline for all the assignments he had put off while trailing after Sa Shin-jae was approaching. Plus, he had the perfect excuse—his injured hand. He never expected them to actually be waiting for him.
[ sj ] You promised to give me the synopsis.
[ sj ] Why haven’t you sent it?
“Ah…”
Buried under the looming deadlines of his assignments, he had completely forgotten.
[How did you get my number?]
[ sj ] I asked Ha-rim sunbae.
[ sj ] Is it okay that I asked?
[ sj ] You were the one who first asked for my number, remember?
Watching the messages scroll up rapidly, Sa-yoon slowly typed out his response, one letter at a time.
[Why are you typing so fast?]
This wasn’t just a matter of typing with one or two hands—his speed was completely wrecked.
[ sj ] LOL, you’re just slow, sunbae.
[ sj ] 010xxxxxxxx
[ ? ]
[ sj ] Here’s my number.
[ sj ] You were the one who asked for it.
Did they suddenly eat something weird?
[You’re not Sa Shin-jae, are you?]
[ sj ] ?
[ sj ] Why are you picking a fight again?
[ sj ] Didn’t we already make up?
Sa-yoon felt like a porcupine bristling with spikes whenever dealing with this person—why were they like this? Even so, he still saved their number.
[ sj ] So, why haven’t you been coming lately?
[ sj ] Did you stop because of your hand injury?
[Because of assignments.]
[ sj ] If you’re really busy, take your time.
Having a normal conversation with Sa Shin-jae like this… So they were actually capable of proper human interaction. Feeling slightly unsettled, Sa-yoon hesitated before typing.
[ sj ] So, when are you going to eat? Is there anything you want to eat?
[At this hour?]
[ sj ] Not now— I don’t know.
Was this them being considerate, or not? Assuming he had no plans that day felt a bit presumptuous too.
[I have plans, though?]
[ sj ] ? But you made plans with me that day.
[Me?]
[ sj ] If we’re going to the hospital together, that means you’re meeting me.
Were we really supposed to go to the hospital together? When did I agree to that?
[Are you still hurt?]
[ sj ] ? I’m perfectly fine.
[Then why are you going to the hospital?]
[ sj ] I’m going with you.
[Why?]
After a few more questions, it became clear—this wasn’t a suggestion. They were insisting on going to the hospital together. Talking to them felt like hitting a concrete wall. A very stubborn, unyielding wall.
[ sj ] You’re injured, why would you make plans? Just cancel them.
[Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else? I’m walking around just fine.]
So he was just walking around sluggishly. And playing games sluggishly with his injured hand.
[ sj ] Sunbae, I just know you’re not resting your hand and probably doing something like manual labor.
How did they know?
[ sj ] Just looking at the plans you make, it’s obvious.
[LOL, I was joking. There’s no plan.]
[ sj ] Your personality is seriously weird…
“Wow…”
Hearing someone with that personality call him weird somehow bruised his pride.
[Sorry, I’ll lower the volume of my inner voice ㅠㅠ]
[ sj ] So, what do you want to eat?
Building some rapport with the lead actor wasn’t a bad idea. Relationships between the director and cast were important in these things.
Sa-yoon wasn’t picky, so it made more sense to go with whatever Sa Shin-jae wanted. He wasn’t sure if Shin-jae was actually picky, but based on his observations, the odds were high that he was.
[Is there nothing you’re craving?]
