Yeo Woo-rim added Ju Hak-beom to the group chat.
Yeo Woo-rim
Hello?
Jung Da-hoon
Hello.
Haru
Hello, High Priest. I’ve heard a lot about you.
Kim Teolbo
Hiiii
Yeo Woo-rim
Helloooo
The High Priest Fox, Ju Hak-beom, had joined Yeo Woo-rim’s group chat thanks to Yeo Woo-rim’s help. Despite having been incredibly nervous, he was met with such a warm welcome that his anxiety quickly melted into stunned disbelief.
Jung Da-hoon
Wait, is that your actual profile pic? Aren’t you the one who handed out custom stickers at the Pro’s birthday café?
Ju Hak-beom
Gasp… That’s right! Were you the one who made me that coffee blend?
Jung Da-hoon
That’s me.
Seong Juwon
(ㅇㅁㅇ)
Seong Juwon
The one who made the Baby Fox Series stickers?
Ju Hak-beom
“Yes!! Hi!”
Even Kessler, who had been silently watching the chat with quiet suspicion, relaxed and greeted them after seeing the exchange with Jung Da-hoon.
Kessler
Hello.
He remembered too—he’d also been at that birthday café.
That day, the stickers Ju Hak-beom brought were strictly one per person. But when Kessler asked if he could take five, Hak-beom had smiled and said yes without hesitation.
Kessler
Where do you get these kinds of keychains?
Ju Hak-beom
Oh, I made that myself. Want one?
And when Kessler had shown interest in the Yeo Woo-rim keychain Ju Hak-beom was using, he’d taken it right off and handed it over as a gift. That very keychain still dangled from Kessler’s backpack today.
To Kessler, Ju Hak-beom was a likable user.
Ju Hak-beom
Thanks for the invite.
Yeo Woo-rim
Of course. Let’s hope things go smoothly after some good teamwork.
***
For now, Yeo Woo-rim had done all he could in-game. Jung Da-hoon had promised to create a sculpture modeled after Ju Hak-beom, and in the meantime, Hak-beom was to continue instilling dreams and faith into the skeletons to survive, just as he had been.
With everything settled, Yeo Woo-rim finished getting ready to go out. Today, he had plans to watch a baseball game with Kessler and the Director.
It wasn’t like he’d done nothing but game during high school, so he had a basic understanding of baseball rules. Still, he did a quick review, just in case there were any details he’d misunderstood.
“I’m nervous. It’s my first time watching a baseball game.”
It was the home stadium of the LA team—the one the Director supported and sponsored.
They arrived an hour early and browsed the souvenir shop for the newest merchandise. Though “browsed” was putting it lightly—it was basically playing dress-up.
“This would look so good on our Woo-rim.”
The Director kept spotting things and immediately putting them on him, swiping her card left and right. At some point, it became unclear whether they were there to watch baseball or to go on a shopping spree.
“Baby Fox looks great in red, too.”
Kessler didn’t help—far from stopping her, he kept agreeing that things looked good on him and encouraged the purchases. Then he’d buy one more of each as a couple item, doubling the baggage.
They had to leave the gate twice to go back to the car and drop off the stuff.
After finally wrapping up the shopping ordeal, they made it inside the stadium. With the crowd packed tight, they joined in the cheering.
During a break from the energetic game, while sipping soda and munching fries out of a helmet-shaped cup, Yeo Woo-rim suddenly saw his face splashed across the big screen. Cheers and applause erupted all around.
He’d just been picked for the first round of the stadium’s Kiss Cam.
As he widened his eyes, caught mid-sip from his straw, both Kessler and the Director quickly turned toward him. Since he was seated right between them, they each kissed one of his cheeks at the same time, saying it had to be done now that he was on screen.
Laughter and cheering swelled as their moment passed. The Director, giggling uncontrollably, began wiping his cheeks with her palm as if brushing off something precious.
“Is it my birthday today or something? I got to kiss our Woo-rim and everything!”
“Mom, I do this every day.”
“I know.”
The people sitting around them chimed in with warm encouragement and small talk. Some American kids who recognized him asked for a few pictures, which he gladly took before settling back in to watch the rest of the game.
Then, finally, the home team hit a home run. Fireworks exploded against the darkening evening sky, and they all jumped up, hugging each other in a burst of excitement.
Time had flown by in the blink of an eye.
“Ah, today was seriously so much fun.”
“Our Woo-rim had fun?”
“Yes. I’d want to go to baseball games even when I’m back in Korea. It’s fun just watching, but I think it’d be even more exciting with a team to cheer for. I know it sounds obvious, but it’s kind of amazing—and comforting, too—not being the one everyone’s paying attention to for once…”
“You’ve always been on the stage. You probably never had the chance to see it from the audience.”
Kessler muttered from beside him. He was right.
Sure, he’d gone to plenty of other teams’ games before, but never like this—never with such ease. Back then, even when watching others play, it had always felt more like he was analyzing the game to prepare for his own.
“This is seriously charming. I want to come again.”
“Yeah? Should our Woo-rim just move in with Mom here~?”
“Then maybe during my next free agency, I’ll transfer to a U.S. team…”
***
At that very moment, on the community forum:
Title: Kiss Cam Caught Poksup at LA Stadium (127)
The High Priest Fox was gathering skeletons and praying at the time. Doesn’t seem like Yeo Woo-rim.
└ Wow, people really making up every excuse now.
└└ Poster: No, seriously, open your damn eyes—they were active at the same time.
└ Then who was that Fox?
└└ Poster: How the hell should I know, damn it?? Probably an impersonator.
└ Poksup fans getting defensive about Yeo Woo-rim, now calling it all fake.
└└└ OK fine, I’ll organize a timeline and post a breakdown thread.
Title: Why the High Priest Fox Isn’t Yeo Woo-rim (56)
—Evidence 1: Both were online at the same time.
—Evidence 2: Even assuming he was using a hand-tracked VR rig, Yeo Woo-rim had both hands full with fries and soda—busy stuffing his face.
—Conclusion: They cannot be the same person.
Also, for people saying he’s not explaining anything—Poksup never gives statements about game stuff or even his personal life.
└ Wait… so it really isn’t him?
└ Just antis trying to find anything to drag him with.
└ Of course posts like this get zero traction in the comments.
└ I don’t know… I rewatched the footage and they look way too similar.
└└ Yeah, no way that’s just a coincidence…
***
After the game ended and we left the stadium, the sun had already set. The three of us headed to a nearby bar. Since most people had already gone home after the game, the restaurant was relatively empty.
We ordered some casual-style dishes and kept chatting for a long while.
“I want to come again next year. The food’s amazing too.”
“Really? For real for real? That’d be so great. Should we bring your in-laws too?”
“Sure! My mom actually loves American food. She knows a lot about it too. Honestly, I think she’s done more sightseeing on this trip than I have for my tournament. Hawaii included.”
“Yeah, I saw the videos—she’s been all over the place. Ah, I really want to meet Woo-rim’s mom soon. What time is it in Korea right now? Should I call her?”
“Should I call?”
“No~ Mom will call.”
“……”
I reached up and touched my ear. Did I hear that right?
“You mean… you’re calling my mom right now?”
She meant it. A moment later, the familiar ringtone played, and my mom’s face filled the screen.
– Hey, Juwon’s mom~ Did you enjoy the baseball game?
Her first words left me stunned. Wait… how did my mom know we were at the game? …And since when were these two so close?
“We had the best time. Got on the Kiss Cam and everything—got to kiss Woo-rim, too!”
– Geez, he never lets me do that. Son, seriously?
“Then hurry up and come! Let’s go to the stadium together. Juwon and Woo-rim are both telling you to get over here already.”
– For real? Juwon? Should Mom come right away?
“Come whenever it’s comfortable for you.”
– Woo-rim’s dad! You’ve got a call!
“Mom, Dad’s there with you too?”
– Yeah, he’s out cold right now. Knocked out after drinking some makgeolli. Want to see?
She tapped his cheek a couple times, but he didn’t budge an inch. Did she seriously just show that to the in-laws…?
While the two moms chatted away, full of affection, Kessler leaned his head against my shoulder.
“Kessler, when did they even get so close? Did you introduce them?”
“Yeah. After your tournament match. Your mother-in-law asked me for your mom’s number.”
“Oh, she did? My mom’s such a social butterfly these days…”
Lately, I’ve been realizing how many connections around me were forming without my knowing.
Like how Ju Hak-Beom knew both Jung Da-hoon and Kessler, or how I had no clue our parents-in-law had gotten so close.
Have I just been too oblivious?
And when you add in the way I kept tuning things out, using game focus as an excuse, I kept finding myself several beats behind in understanding what was going on around me.
I zoomed in my face on the screen and waved at my mom. She waved back.
– Son!!
“Mom, I really had so much fun today. You have to come soon too.”
– Alright! As soon as things settle down here, I’ll come with your dad~
So… during this off-season, free from the pressure of the tournament, maybe I could try being a little more affectionate as a son.
“Okay. Love you.”
– Aww, Woo-rim, are you drunk or something?
With the warm mood still lingering, the video call ended. I leaned my flushed cheek on the table and kept nibbling on the side dishes.
On the way back to Kessler’s place.
Kessler was driving, and I sat in the back with the Director. Buckling in and resting back in the seat, the beer started hitting me, and my head kept nodding.
“Lean on me if you want. Our Woo-rim dozes off so easily.”
At some point, I felt warm and cozy. I think I’d leaned against the Director’s shoulder…
“Is our Baby Fox sleeping well?”
“Could tuck him in my pocket and he wouldn’t notice.”
“He’s like this when he drinks.”
“Didn’t your in-law say the same thing earlier? Said Woo-rim’s mom smacked his dad’s cheek and he still didn’t wake up.”
“Guess it’s genetic.”
Somewhere between the music, I thought I heard their conversation faintly.
***
When I opened my eyes again, I was on Kessler’s bed. A stifling weight and a damp sensation made me think for a second that a puppy was licking my face. But what I saw was Kessler’s face, not a dog—his lips grazing my cheek.
“……What are you doing?”
“Waking you up.”
“Oh, right. Today’s… an important day, isn’t it?”
The moment I realized that, I rubbed my eyes and sat up. It was already 1 PM.
Next week, we were inviting both our families for a small wedding. Our parents had been really considerate, understanding both my dislike for big events and my job’s particularities. Today, we were picking out our rings.
Just as I started to push myself off the bed, Kessler scooped me up in his arms.
“Heehee.”
“What are you doing?”
“Escorting you to the bathroom.”
I buried my face in his chest and closed my eyes. Before I wash up, I’m just gonna hang off him like this.
