91.
The atmosphere at the meeting was much better than I expected.
Water, the Guild master, and Harn, and the guild manager, did a great job of helping first-time visitors not to feel lost. As everyone started talking to each other about Zenoris, a topic that everyone could relate to, the awkward atmosphere began to disappear like melting snow.
I, too, am not a very shy person, so I was able to enjoy it in moderation. Two hours had passed as I ate meat and chatted with The Hunter and Staric, who were sitting on my sides.
I was full and lazily sat in front of the warm fire, but I got up from the chair to get some air since I felt a little stuffy. At that moment, Water and Harn stood up together and said.
“We’re going to go to the convenience store for a bit. Sleepy, do you want to come with us?”
“Yes.”
I put on a coat and left the restaurant with the three of us. In the newly overcast sky, snow was falling as I had feared.
‘It’ll be a hassle when I go home.’
Not only was it snowing, but the wind was stronger than before, so I felt like I would get quite wet without an umbrella. As I walked towards the convenience store that was 5 minutes away, I was the first to open my mouth.
“There are minors and people who are only going for the first round, so I wanted to give them a simple snack.”
Ahh. I nodded towards Water’s explanation.
I felt it before, but Water was a person with really good sense. So, she can probably manage a gaming guild while working at her job.
“Your name is Yoo Ji-han, right? I briefly heard you talking with Hunter earlier. I am Kang Ji-ye and Harn is Park Yoo-jun.”
I was secretly grateful for their consideration in telling me their names first without having to ask. It was already a bit burdensome for people to call me by my username.
“Can I call you Noona as well?”
“Of course.”
Kang Ji-ye and Park Yu-jun arrived at the convenience store and purchased several light snacks such as jelly and candy.
It was a time when I was debating whether or not to buy an umbrella while the two people were paying the bill. A message arrived on the cell phone I had in my pants pocket.
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Hyung, it’s been snowing since a while ago]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Did you take your umbrella?]
[Yoo Ji-han: No, that’s why I’m thinking about buying one.]
While replying, Kang Ji-ye and Park Yoo-jun finished paying and left the convenience store. I was so busy looking at my phone that I missed the right time to buy an umbrella, so I just followed along.
Now that I think about it, it was a bit annoying to carry an umbrella when I came to visit. It would be better to stop by the nearby convenience store later when I go home.
“Well, Ji-han. Would you like to talk to me for a moment?”
Kang Ji-ye, who returned to the restaurant again, handed the paper bag she was holding to Park Yoo-jun and asked. Park Yoo-jun nodded obediently, looking as if he had some business on his face, and went in first, holding the bag.
Kang Ji-ye, who was standing under the tent pitched next to the restaurant entrance and looking at the drifting snow, cautiously opened her mouth.
“It’s not that big of a deal, but I was curious.”
“What is it?”
“Yoo Chae quit the guild last month.”
Aah. Only then did I realize what Kang Ji-ye wanted to know and I answered as calmly as possible.
“I know.”
“He said he had to leave in a hurry for some reason, but he explained everything to you. Do you two still keep in touch?”
“No, we don’t.”
“Uh? You’re not keeping in touch?”
Kang Ji-ye was visibly surprised, probably thinking I would be as a matter of course.
“Why didn’t you two do it? Did you two fight?”
“We didn’t fight... I don’t know. It just so happened to be like that.”
There was no contact from Yoo Chae, so he thought about saying ‘That was it.’ but then changed his mind. If he thought about it, he didn’t contact him either.
If he was really disappointed that he didn’t contact me first, he should have taken the initiative instead of waiting in frustration.
“Noona does it, right? In touch with Yoo Chae.”
“Ha, of course.”
Kang Ji-ye, who was looking at me without knowing what to do, added sheepishly.
“I’m not in touch much either. I’ve known him for a long time, but we’re not close.”
“Is he doing well?”
“...It seemed so. Sorry. Even though he stopped playing games, I thought he would contact you because he was so close to you.”
“It’s okay. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”
“It’s a shame. You two had an enjoyable time. Of course, Yoo Chae did a lot of harm to you.”
“It seemed like he was terribly busy. It can’t be helped.”
Perhaps Yoo Chae wanted to put an end to the relationships he had earned through the game as he quit because he seemed like the type of person who completely separates games from reality. Whatever the answer was, it was now a thing of the past.
‘I’m glad you’re doing well though.’
Even though the relationship has ended, I hope everything goes well for him. He said he was quitting because he was busy with work, so it would be nice for him to make a lot of money.
As I looked at the white snowflakes falling in the pitch-black night sky, my cell phone, which I had forgotten about since I tucked it back in at the convenience store earlier, vibrated again.
“Wait a minute.”
It was Chae Yoo-jeong’s call. I asked for Kang Ji-ye’s understanding and answered the phone, and then I heard a familiar voice.
-Hyung, are you still eating?
“I just finished eating and taking a short break. Why?”
-I sent you a message, but you didn’t read it. Did you buy an umbrella?
“I’m going to buy it when I get home later.”
Why is he asking in such detail? I frowned slightly in confusion, and Chae Yoo-jeong, who hesitated, continued.
-Actually, I’m at Gangnam Station right now....
-Yes. Hyung, if you’re going home now, I’d like to give you a ride.
“What? Now?”
Oh my god. I let out a sigh and touched my forehead.
“Since when have you been out?”
-Not long ago. And since my accommodation is in Gangnam, it’s not that far away.
“Ha... Wait a minute.”
I took my cell phone away from my ear and asked Kang Ji-ye, who had a puzzled look on her face, with an apologetic expression.
“Noona. Now, if we are going to the second round, can I go first? A Dongsaeng I know came to pick me up because it’s snowing.”
“Oh, really? Of course I don’t mind. Well, I’ll give you some candy. Would you like to stay here for a while? Let’s eat together with that Dongsaeng.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you doing with this? I’ll come back, so just wait.”
Kang Ji-ye went into the restaurant to pick up the snacks she had entrusted to Park Yoo-jun. Left alone, I immediately informed Chae Yoo-jeong of my location.
“Just go straight from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station and enter the alley.”
-I’m near exit 11. I’ll be there right away.
Chae Yoo-jeong appeared holding an umbrella less than 5 minutes after I hung up the phone.
“Hyung!”
Chae Yoo-jeong spotted me and came running towards me with a bright smile. I followed suit and walked towards Chae Yoo-jeong, and he tilted the umbrella towards me.
“Can you go home? Isn’t there a second round or something?”
“Others will go. You came, so how can I not leave?”
“Is that why you’re not going to the second round?”
“Then I should ignore the person who came to pick me up and go for the second round? He came on his own without even asking me.”
Yoo-jeong just smiled shyly and chattered excitedly, as if he couldn’t even hear the sarcasm.
“I didn’t force you; I was just trying to give you a ride because I live in Gangnam and Hyung lives in Gangnam too! It’s snowing and windy, so it’s nice to drive in my car. I was about to give up when Hyung said he would go to the second round…”
“I understand, so stop. Where did you leave your car?”
“There’s a parking lot right in front, so I parked there for a moment.”
“Ji-han-ah.”
Kang Ji-ye opened the convenience store door with a bag of candy in her hand and came out. She was very embarrassed when she found Chae Yoo-jeong standing next to me.
Why are you looking at him like that? Did you recognize Chae Yoo-jeong? She gently handed the bag of candy, while covering her body.
“Thank you. I’ll just go now.”
At those words, Kang Ji-ye moved her line from Chae Yoo-jeong to me with difficulty.
“Ah, uh, un... take care and go. See you later at the game.”
“Yes.”
After the greeting was over, I immediately grabbed Chae Yoo-jeong’s arm and walked ahead.
I was so worried that someone would recognize him, but Chae Yoo-jeong, who was being dragged by his arm, seemed to have no idea. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was quietly following me, spoke in a soft voice.
“Hyung, is that the Noona you were with when you called earlier?”
“Uh-huh, she’s the Guild master.”
I thought he might be jealous, so I looked at his expression and didn’t see anything like that. Are you pretending not to be like that?
“If I was born a little earlier I would have been able to hear Hyung’s voice calling me Hyung too.”
In the parking lot, before Chae Yoo-jeong got inside the car, he stood facing me.
“Thanks. Thanks to you, I can get home without being snowed on.”
“No.”
I looked at Chae Yoo-jeong with a new feeling.
Even though the child has a few accidents, he is very considerate. He has a pretty face and did an excellent job, so he must be very popular. While I was leaving, I asked about something I had been curious about before.
“Chae Yoo-jeong.”
“Yes.”
“How many times have you been in relationships?”
“What?”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been standing blankly for a while, blinking, averted his gaze afterwards as if she was embarrassed.
“...Why suddenly?”
“I feel like you’ve been in one quite a bit.”
“No.......”
“How many times?”
He’s having strange delusions by himself again.
“Don’t talk nonsense. No matter how much older you are than me, I will never call you Hyung.”
“Why? What’s wrong with calling me Hyung?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”
When I asked this question while getting inside the parked car, Chae Yoo-jeong refuted it quite seriously.
“Given your personality, I’m sure you’ll call me Hyung, right?”
“I’d rather show courtesy to a dog than call you Hyung.”
“You’re too much!”
“You don’t have a conscience because you always cause accidents like that and want to be praised by your Hyung.”
We headed home, having a useless conversation with Chae Yoo-jeong that wouldn’t make sense even if I tried to make sense of it.
While eating the candy Kang Ji-ye gave me with Chae Yoo-jeong, I looked out the window. Meanwhile, the snowflakes became thicker and began to fall so hard that they piled up.
Chae Yoo-jeong also noticed that the weather was becoming increasingly rough and slowed down the car further. Due to the weather and the Saturday streets of Gangnam, the car moved very slowly.
We barely arrived at our room after nearly an hour. After parking, he followed me out of the car.
Chae Yoo-jeong pursed his lips and hesitated for a while, then he answered stiffly.
“I haven’t tried it…”
A cold silence fell between me and Chae Yoo-jeong.
As I watched in silence, Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been fidgeting for a while, closed his eyes tightly.
“Well, I guess I’ll just go now…”
“Where are you going?”
He threw a bomb and tried to run away. I grabbed Chae Yoo-jeong’s arm as I tried to turn his body.
“Are you serious? You haven’t been in a relationship?”
“……Yes.”
“Why not? What’s the reason?”
“……”
“Are you a believer in premarital chastity or something? I heard devout religious people don’t date well.”
“No. I don’t have a religion.”
“Then?”
Chae Yoo-jeong lowered his head with an expression of uncertainty and answered in his slow tone.
“There wasn’t a single person who wanted to do it. If I didn’t like it, it would be obvious...”
“Uh-huh. You have a bad personality.”
“How does Hyung know that?”
“Am I stupid? Not knowing that?”
I was convinced by the way he started cursing me right away when I tried to take off the belt, but I had a bad feeling about it many times before.
He’s the kind of guy who pays attention to me and argues with me right away even if he likes me. He would do more to others, not less.
“I never disliked being in a relationship with Hyung.”
“What did you do with me?”
As I laughed out loud, Chae Yoo-jeong glared at me even though he was sullen.
“You didn’t even give me a chance to try it.”
“What did you mean I didn’t give you a chance? It’s because I gave you a chance that you and I are doing this now.”
“We haven’t even been on a date yet.”
“Date? You’ve been through it a lot.”
“I didn’t do it......”
You didn’t? I was dumbfounded again.
“Why do you think you can only date after a relationship? Do you know how many times you and I met and ate alone?”
“That’s.......”
“When you were drunk, I took you to my room instead of sending you in a taxi alone. We slept together and had breakfast together.”
“……”
“You brought me a cake for Christmas, and we ended up spending time together, but you and I didn’t go on a date?”
The more I spoke, the more Chae Yoo-jeong’s ears became red.
The more I looked at this, the more curious it became. Unlike me, whose skin rarely gets red, Chae Yoo-jeong flushed very easily. His skin was unusually white, which made it stand out.
“Sorry. I didn’t know much. It’s true that we went on a date.”
“It’s all like that. There aren’t many people who start dating right away because they like the person. I especially value the time we get to know each other.”
Chae Yoo-jeong slowly raised his head. Chae Yoo-jeong’s face, looking at me with his lips tightly closed, showed so many complex emotions that it was difficult for me to explain.
Chae Yoo-jeong’s hair, standing under the yellow streetlight, sparkled like a jewel. I could see snowflakes falling from the sky over the shoulder of the guy standing close to me.
I could instinctively know what the atmosphere was like without having to say anything. Even if it was only in my thoughts, I was certain that this moment was perfect timing.
I stretched out my hand and grabbed the lapel of Chae Yoo-jeong’s coat and pulled it straight. Chae Yoo-jeong did not refuse and was dragged along obediently by that force.
His now familiar soft scent passed the tip of my nose, and a soft touch brushed my lips. I carefully kissed Chae Yoo-jeong and slowly fell apart.
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor: Meimei
Support on Kofi:
HM: I thought Water Noona knew him fr. wwwwwwww.
GX: I thought he was going to be revealed, but I guess not. But also, they finally kiss. I’m so proud (｡´ﾉω･`)
We made a Discord Server! please join us!
Omg they kissed! Finally 😫