HMLU Ch 6
by soapa《Update Notification》
Greetings to all travelers of Asyrus.
We are pleased to announce the update for the new main quest .
The quest can be started at the Kaolans Port,
and parties that successfully defeat Eglaws within the time limit will be awarded the title.
《System Update Notification》
— Mount trading is now available.
Travelers who wish to trade mounts can purchase <Kapivan’s Mysterious Orb (4,900 KRW)> from the cash shop to seal a mount and trade it with other users.
Trading is possible only once per mount. A mount that has been sealed in an orb even once cannot be resealed after being released. (Trading multiple times in orb form is possible.)
— Spousal motions have been added.
Ten exclusive couple motions for spouses have been added.
— A wedding venue has been added.
A wedding venue for travelers has been added at the Riolea Port. By purchasing the <Ring of Oath (4,900 KRW)> from the cash shop, you can hold a wedding ceremony at the venue. Travelers who are already married can also hold a vow renewal ceremony.
— Wedding attire has been added.
Gender-neutral tuxedos, dresses, and hanbok for traditional Korean post-wedding ceremonies have been added. These can be purchased at the wedding venue.
Title: Selling Mint Whale
Content: First come, first served.
Title: Buying Mint Whale, Pink Unicorn, Winged Lion
Content: Buying for 1 billion, 800 million, and 600 million respectively. Send a message.
Title: Mint Whale
Content: Thought I was selling? I’m buying too.
Title: Mint Whale 2 billion, quick sale
Content: No comment.
―Comment List―
Comment 1: 2 billion is insane, have some conscience.
Comment 2: I’ll buy it, send me a message.
└Comment 1: Sucker lololol.
└Comment 2: What? Can’t hear you, beggar, speak up.
With spiky hair sticking out and puffy eyes, he hadn’t even washed his face before booting up the game, driven by a faint hope that it couldn’t be true. But, as expected, it was. The moment he logged in, a notification popped up that his mailbox was full. Opening it hurriedly, he found 20 letters with attached items flooding in.
<…>
It was almost uncanny how perfectly they aligned, arriving in order of the most outrageously inflated market prices. Clutching his aching head, he hit the return button on each one. At the same time, his phone began to ring. It was Black Bear.
“Why are you sending them back?”
The voice, dripping with hurt, left him dumbfounded.
“And why are you sending them to me? I said I’m good.”
“But you like limited-edition items, don’t you?”
“No… Do you even know how much these mounts are worth right now? The ones you sent me alone are worth over a million won.”
“So what?”
The utterly clueless, saccharine response, delivered in the most charming voice, made his head throb. Clicking return diligently, he couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“I’m asking why you’re giving them all to me. Do you have so much money you can’t handle it?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“…”
“How did you know the mount trading update was coming? Are you actually a developer? Or do you know one?”
At a loss for words, he changed the subject, feeling a wave of defeat. Perhaps sensing his miserable state, the guy let out a low chuckle, “Pffft.”
“If I were a developer?”
“I’m serious… Buff Druids a bit.”
“Hahaha.”
As expected, no proper answer came. Instead, a notification pinged that a new letter had arrived. Man, this guy is persistent, he thought, reflexively reaching to hit return but stopping short.
<Reservation Voucher for the Traveler’s Wedding Venue>
“What the hell…”
Why is he spending money on such useless stuff? It’s making my heart race… After returning all the mount orbs, he finally accepted the tuxedo. It was an extravagant design with tailored lapels and rose decorations. When he put it on his plain, tiny human character, it looked so out of place that it was oddly endearing.
…Anyway, it seemed like he wanted to keep playing with me, so I wasn’t exactly upset.
“If we’re gonna keep talking, get on Discord.”
“Oh, hold on. I’ll hang up for now.”
Click, the call ended, and a party invite came through. At the same time, a massive white figure began moving from the entrance of Darkbear Village.
“…”
Black Bear, dressed in an identical tuxedo but with a long veil on his head, was charging toward him like a bulldozer. Thud, thud, the heavy hind paws shook the ground, making the transparent veil flutter with each step. Without thinking, he opened the party window and hammered the keyboard.
Meritocracy: lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
Meritocracy: Oh lolololololololololol
It wasn’t the fake laugh of a seasoned gamer. He was genuinely banging his head on the desk, laughing so hard he could barely type. Unfazed, Black Bear ran up gleefully, throwing both arms wide.
《‘Kkamamgom’ has requested a waltz. Would you like to accept?》
What’s this now? Clutching his stomach and laughing, he hit ‘Yes.’ Black Bear and his character clasped hands, extended their arms, and began spinning in a circle. The giant bear, draped in a flower-adorned veil, and the human Druid in a flashy tuxedo were trying to match heights, making his character flap like a paper doll.
Meritocracy: Oh my god, I’m dying lololololololol
Kkamamgom: lolol (^^)
Kkamamgom: I was waiting for you to try this! ㅇ(^^)ㅇ
Meritocracy: What the hell is that on your head lolol
Kkamamgom: They were selling it at the wedding venue hehe
Kkamamgom: I figured you wouldn’t wear it, so I did ^^*
Muffling his laughter, his cheeks and upper stomach ached. Man… the more I look, the crazier this is. How does a personality like this fit in that body?
Kkamamgom: Am I pretty? (^ㅅ^) lol
Meritocracy: lololololololololololololol
Meritocracy: Yeah
Meritocracy: Our bear’s pretty ^^
Kkamamgom: ^////^
Seemingly satisfied with the compliment, Black Bear suddenly raised both palms to his mouth and sent a kiss motion with a smooch. At the same time, his character clutched its chest and staggered. He had to bang his head and laugh again.
So this is why people do online relationships… There’s a certain sweet charm to it.
Meritocracy: Stop lolol
Meritocracy: Daily affection limit exceeded
Kkamamgom: My limit’s way higher than this ㅇ(>_<)ㅇ
Meritocracy: My limit’s right here
Meritocracy: Let’s hit a dungeon
Kkamamgom: ㅠㅅㅠ Yessir…
Pretending to cry, Black Bear trudged after him. Then, out of nowhere, he pointed to his head and asked.
Kkamamgom: This counts as affection too, should I take it off?
Meritocracy: lolololololol
Meritocracy: Keep it on ;
Kkamamgom: hehe
Kkamamgom: Wanna hop on Discord?
Meritocracy: Yeah, gimme a sec
He clicked the underwater tunnel and opened Discord. Creating a room and thoughtlessly joining a voice channel, a loud voice boomed out of nowhere.
“Hyung-nim!”
“Jesus, you scared me.”
Startled, he realized it was ‘Popuri12345’ who had opened the voice chat. He must’ve accidentally accepted an invite while clicking out of habit.
“What is this? I’m leaving.”
“Hyung-nim, wait. Just 10 seconds. Please look at this.”
Popuri rattled off like a machine gun and suddenly started a live stream. Meanwhile, Black Bear, left alone, had a question mark floating above the flower veil on his head. Sighing, he quickly typed.
Meritocracy: Bear, hold on
Meritocracy: Someone’s calling me, I’ll be right back
Kkamamgom: ㅇ.ㅇ Okay..
“Why, what is it? Seriously, 10 seconds.”
“So, I’m looking at Eglaws Phase 3 right now, but I can’t figure out the floor pattern mechanic.”
“How would I know?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Just take a look.”
He ended up clicking the live stream, partly because he was annoyed but mostly because he was reluctantly curious. He was a bit jealous of Popuri, who dove into the new raid the moment it updated. A brand-new subjugation raid that no one had cleared yet—how fun would that be?
He stared at the raid preparation screen. None of the names in the party list were familiar. Come to think of it, Popuri’s nickname didn’t have the guild tag anymore.
“You left the guild?”
“Yeah, for now, I’m just smashing it with a pug (*pick-up group).”
“Why not join another raid team?”
“I’m just waiting for you to come back, hyung-nim.”
Ignoring him, he focused on the screen. Eglaws is a humanoid beast with flaming horns on its head. It uses fire in Phase 1 and lava in Phase 2, but in Phase 3, the lava hardens, revealing various patterns. Phases 1 and 2 are mostly AOE floor mechanics and recycled raid gimmicks, so they’re not too tough, but Phase 3, as he’d heard, looked like a headache.
“The patterns spawn lava bursts that deal instakill damage (*one-shot damage). But I can’t figure out the order they appear. If we crowd on a patternless floor to avoid it, the ground cracks, and we fall to our deaths.”
Looking closely, the square floor was divided into four sections. Watching party members die here, die there, and fall to their deaths, he muttered absentmindedly.
“It breaks when the majority steps on it.”
“Huh?”
“The floor’s got four sections, right? It can handle up to seven people per section, but the moment an eighth steps on, it collapses.”
“Oh, really?”
“The pattern right now… Lava’s coming from top-left, bottom-right, then bottom-left.”
“How do you know that?!”
Before he could finish, lava erupted from the top-left floor. Scared party members rushed to the patternless top-right, only to fall to their deaths as it collapsed. Only Popuri, who dodged to the now-safe top-left, was hopping around, throwing debuffs at Eglaws.
“Eglaws was summoned by a corrupted sorcerer boiling the blood of his kin, right? It’s the moon clock pattern used in the sorcerer village. It seems to trigger in the order of the marked times.”
“What’s a moon clock? How do you even know this stuff?”
“It’s all in the Eglaws storyline, why don’t you know? Have seven people stand on a patternless floor and DPS, while the eighth waits on the last-to-erupt floor, then split four each to the earlier-erupting floors.”
“Hyung-nim, you’re an absolute gaming lunatic… I respect you.”
“Alright, we done? I’m out.”
“Hyung-nim, hyung-nim. One more thing.”
Popuri grabbed him again, sounding desperate. He pretended to be reluctant but kept watching the screen. Truth be told, he was having fun… He needed to hit max level soon so he could dive into the new raid too. His fingers were itching.
Leveling with Black Bear was going smoothly. Their tier progression was fast, so it was a breeze. At this rate, they’d hit max level in two weeks tops. First, he’d max out his character level, then naturally grind the nature tier, and dig into the dark tier storyline to round things out.
“But hyung-nim, be honest, you’re raising an alt, right?”
Lost in thought, he was caught off guard by Popuri’s sharp question. His delayed response must’ve tipped him off, as a snicker came through.
“How could you quit the game, hyung-nim? I had a hunch when you logged into Discord.”
“I said I’m not…”
“Another Druid? I searched by class, and there was exactly one Druid created across all servers around the time you came back to Discord.”
“You proud of stalking me?”
“You’re not denying it. I’ll clear Eglaws today and get you to max level. I’m serious, gaming without you is so boring and frustrating. Let me join you, please?”
He let out a soft “Hmm…” and propped his chin. If he kept playing, especially with Black Bear, forming a guild would be smart. Having skilled guildmates would obviously help. The problem was…
“…I’ve got a gaming buddy these days. I’ll talk to him first.”
For some reason, Black Bear and this guy… their personalities just didn’t seem like they’d mesh…
“Want me to send you my resume?”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Yessir.”
The real issue was Popuri. He’s only polite to people he respects; otherwise, he’s a loose cannon. With someone like Black Bear, a sheltered rich kid, they’d clash hard. Plus, this guy judges people solely on gaming skill… He’d probably laugh off Black Bear’s playstyle and dismiss him.
Popuri: Anyone not know what ‘majority’ means? Go check a dictionary.
Watching the chat descend into chaos in real-time, he realized his mistake too late.
“Hey, so you’re not in touch with the Legend guys anymore?”
“Nope, cut them all off ages ago.”
“Don’t tell anyone I’m back, even if they ask.”
“Of course I won’t, but once you hit max level and start smashing raids, people will figure it out. There’s no way two Druids that good exist under the same sky.”
“…”
He had a point. With Popuri around, it’d be even more obvious. Scratching the back of his head, he sank into thought. Games are mini-societies, and skilled players inevitably gain fame. Especially with a rare class like Druid.
Maybe just sticking to online dating vibes with Black Bear is the way to go? Lost in thought, he snapped back to reality. Glancing at the clock, he realized 30 minutes had passed.
“Oh, crap… I’m out.”
“Wait, hyung-nim! Just the final phase fire fist mechanic…”
He cut the call without listening. Clicking Black Bear’s ID and opening a voice channel, he got no response.
“Huh?”
Switching to the game, he saw Black Bear had logged off 10 minutes ago. Did he get mad because I ditched him? Feeling guilty, he grabbed his phone and called. After a long ring, it connected.
“Hey, hyung. You done with your business?”
The heavy, subdued voice made his heart sink. There was background noise, like he was outside.
“Uh… Where are you?”
“I stepped out to buy some medicine.”
“Medicine? What kind?”
“My stomach’s been acting up since dinner. I thought I’d grab some digestive pills while you were gone, but you’re back early.”
He checked the time again. It was creeping toward 9 PM.
“Is a pharmacy even open this late?”
“That’s the thing. All the nearby ones are closed, so I struck out.”
“No emergency meds at home?”
“Probably, but I don’t know where they are. My parents are out, and the housekeeper’s off work.”
“…”
“It’s fine. It’s just a slight discomfort, I can deal. I’m heading back now.”
He said it was fine, but it still nagged at him. They sell digestive pills at convenience stores, don’t they? He started to say so but paused. Last month, when he suddenly got indigestion, he remembered the plum extract his mom sent him.
“…Um…”
Guilt crept up for forgetting Black Bear, even briefly, while getting sucked into Popuri’s raid bait. As he hesitated, Black Bear’s puzzled voice came through.
“Hyung?”
“So, uh…”
“Yes?”
His mind screamed to stop, that this was too much, that he was crossing a line. But, as always, his mouth betrayed reason and followed impulse.
“How about… I make you some plum ade and bring it over?”
“…”
“If… it’s not too much trouble for you…? I had bad indigestion once, and a glass of this stuff fixed me right up. It works great.”
“Are you saying you’re coming now?”
The voice asking back sounded somewhat dazed. Of course. Even I would feel puzzled. I opened my mouth, thinking of retracting the plan, but a soft chuckle scattered by my ear.
“It’s exciting.”
“…”
“Where should I wait?”
Now that I thought about it, I realized my mistake. It gets chilly at night; is it okay to make him wait outside? Especially someone who’s not in good health.
“Uh…”
But asking for his home address outright feels like too much. With my foot already in the grave I dug myself, I racked my brain as hard as I could. Perhaps sensing my hesitation, he continued softly.
“I brought my car. Just tell me where to park and wait, and I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, really? But even if you leave now, it’ll take at least 20 minutes…”
“Want to come to the place where you took the bus last time?”
“Hmm… Okay. I’ll head out now.”
I hung up and hurriedly opened the cupboard. I grabbed a tumbler, mixed plum concentrate with sparkling water, and tossed in some ice with care. I threw on a hoodie and jeans, rushed toward the door, but froze when I caught sight of myself in the mirror by the entrance. My unwashed, scruffy face and wildly disheveled hair finally registered.
“Damn…”
There was no time to fix it. In a rush, I dug out a baseball cap from the closet and put it on.
Thankfully, the roads were completely clear. I arrived at the bus stop in just 10 minutes, looking around when I spotted a car parked across the street with its hazard lights on. Even at a glance, it was an imposing foreign sedan. No matter how rich his family is, would a 22-year-old really drive something like that? I narrowed my eyes, pondering, when suddenly the driver’s door opened, and a tall man stepped out.
“…”
It was Black Bear, dressed in a black sweatshirt. He must have spotted me already because our eyes met instantly. His features, smiling lightly and waving, were strikingly clear even from a distance. As if entranced, I crossed the street toward him.
“Now that I think about it, you’d be coming from the opposite direction.”
As soon as we got closer, he muttered to himself.
“I parked here without thinking and waited.”
“…Oh.”
I gave an awkward smile and held out the tumbler. Seeing this stunning guy step out of an incredible car made my gift feel embarrassingly meager.
“Oh, I forgot to mention… They sell digestive medicine at convenience stores too.”
“They sell medicine at convenience stores? Is that allowed?”
“They wouldn’t sell it if it wasn’t, right? Anyway, just in case, stop by one on your way back and grab some.”
“No, I think drinking this will make me feel better.”
Grinning brightly, he pretended to kiss the tumbler’s lid. …Guess he’s naturally a bit playful. Those chat messages weren’t for nothing.
“Anyway… Rest early tonight. I’m heading out.”
“Huh?”
Feeling awkward and wanting to leave quickly, I was caught off guard when his eyes widened. He looked genuinely surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to say that.
“You’re leaving?”
“I should, right…?”
“I don’t know how to drink this…”
His tone suddenly dropped, and I found myself flustered.
“Huh? Oh… It’s already mixed. Just pour and drink it. I added ice, so it’s nice and cold…”
I fumbled through my words, instinctively glancing at him. Is this not right? When I looked up, Black Bear had a sulky expression, like a kid whose candy was taken away.
“I thought you were coming to my place.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s not polite to just send someone away who brought you a gift. I even bought coffee and cake earlier to invite you over.”
He pointed glumly at the car’s interior. I glimpsed a franchise café shopping bag on the passenger seat. Too stunned to respond, I heard his voice, even more dejected.
“Are you busy? Do you have to go?”
“…”
All I’d do at home is play games, so calling that busy feels… With mixed feelings, I let out a small voice.
“I’m not… busy…”
“Then come over for a bit. Please? There’s no one at home.”
I don’t know why his pleading sounded so refreshing. After hesitating for a while, I finally nodded. Beaming, he grabbed the shopping bag from the passenger seat and moved it to the back.
“Get in.”
The car’s interior was as dazzling as its exterior. I instinctively shook off my shoes before sliding in. As I sat awkwardly, he climbed into the driver’s seat and suddenly leaned toward me.
“Hang on.”
A whiff of soap hit me from his neck, so close. My spine stiffened as I swallowed dryly. His right hand braced on the center console, his left reached over my shoulder, and he pulled the seatbelt tight.
“This car’s belt is in a weird spot, so it’s hard to find.”
He added an unprompted explanation, then clicked the belt into place. I wondered if I should thank him, but before I could speak, he started the engine.
“Here we go.”
“…Yeah.”
The car let out a deep hum and glided smoothly onto the road. The way he turned the wheel with one hand looked practiced.
“You drive well… Been doing it long?”
“About four years. Needed a car to get to school.”
“School?”
“The hospital I was treated at was in Boston. I went to high school there too.”
I recalled looking up the term “complete remission.” Does him sharing this mean he’s not shy about discussing his medical history? Worried it might be idle curiosity, I spoke slowly.
“Was it… cancer or something?”
“Yeah, lymphoma.”
What’s lymphoma? I couldn’t bring myself to ask and changed the subject.
“Did you go to study abroad too? Or because the U.S. has better medical care…?”
“There are good hospitals in Korea too, but in my case, it was about the medicine.”
“Medicine?”
“I was diagnosed when I was seven, but they couldn’t find the right chemotherapy, so treatment kept failing. It went on for almost 10 years until my doctor suggested a new drug. The catch was, it was only available in the U.S. So, we went there as a last resort.”
He spoke casually, but hearing about a decade of failed treatments felt overwhelming. It was a small relief that his family seemed wealthy. Without that, getting treatment in the U.S. without insurance would’ve been unthinkable.
“That must’ve been tough…”
I muttered thoughtlessly, and he gave a faint smile.
“It was. Back then, I even resented the suggestion. I just wanted to give up and rest, but they wouldn’t let me.”
“…”
“But it worked out in the end, right? Thanks to that, I’m better now and got to meet you.”
I was at a loss for words. For a moment, I felt the weight of something too heavy. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mean much by it and quickly changed the topic.
“You don’t have any plans tomorrow, right?”
“Uh…”
“Wanna stay over? It’s late anyway.”
“Yeah, sure… Wait, what?”
I answered on autopilot, then my voice spiked in surprise. Unfazed, Black Bear grinned and suddenly pulled the car over. Looking around, I saw a high wall in front of us. He pressed a remote on the dashboard, and a massive iron gate opened, revealing a garage.
“We’re here.”
He got out first, grabbing the shopping bag from the back seat. I belatedly unbuckled and opened the door. His casual “stay over” comment nagged at me, but I couldn’t find the right moment to object. Black Bear was already opening the door connected to the garage.
“Come in. My room’s on the third floor.”
He explained elegantly and pressed a button on the wall. As I shuffled closer, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was an elevator.
In a house… a residential elevator…? Wondering if it was a multi-family building, I peeked inside. But the space visible beyond a short staircase was unmistakably a massive living room. And didn’t he say his “room,” not his “house,” was on the third floor?
So this is the mansion of the rich I’ve only heard about… Unable to contain my awe, I stepped into the compact elevator. Black Bear, meanwhile, wore a constant smile, clearly in a great mood.
“It’s nice having you here.”
His comment, as if reading my mind, startled me. I glanced up, and our eyes met. His dark eyes gleamed softly, like melted chocolate.
“…”
Is he always this friendly with everyone? I felt oddly flustered, like I was the only one getting swept up in his pace.
“What kind of cake do you like? I just got what I liked for now.”
When we reached the third floor, a faint soap scent wafted in. It was the same one I smelled when he got close.
“Oh… As long as it’s not too sweet, I’m fine with anything.”
“Good. I feel the same.”
The elevator doors opened straight into a living room. A small kitchen and a few rooms were attached. It looked about 40 pyeong (roughly 1,400 square feet). A 40-pyeong room… The scale was so unreal I couldn’t even laugh.
“Sit wherever’s comfortable. Cheesecake okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
He washed his hands, headed to the kitchen, and pulled plates and cups from the cabinet. Amid the clinking porcelain, my tumbler looked pitifully out of place. Sitting at the island bar stool, I stared blankly at it and caught my breath. The tumbler had “Y University Sociology Department” emblazoned on it in huge letters. It was a giveaway from the department.
Why did I bring that one? Well, because it’s the only tumbler I own. Feeling a cold sweat, I averted my gaze. That guy definitely…
Didn’t he say he saw my post about ordering a graduation album on the department community?
“…”
Same school, same department, same first two letters in our names, and he hasn’t asked me about it once? Sure, he might not have noticed the text yet, but still…
“Here.”
A fancy plate with cake appeared in my dazed vision. Startled, I looked up to see a sophisticated cup being set down—an iced Americano.
“Oh… Thanks.”
I lowered my gaze and took a sip. Meanwhile, he sat across from me, opened the tumbler, and poured its contents into a glass. With a clear clink, the plum ade with ice flowed out. In the glass, the tea-colored drink looked like whiskey. His long, firm fingers held it elegantly, making it look even more so.
“Does it taste good?”
I glanced at him as he took a slow sip and asked cautiously. Black Bear narrowed his eyes as if savoring it, then grinned brightly.
“Really good.”
“…”
“I already feel my indigestion going away.”
“No way…”
I scoffed, incredulous, but he didn’t even flinch. Finishing the glass quickly, he tilted the tumbler for another pour.
“By the way, were you busy today?”
“…Huh?”
“It was update day, but you didn’t log in at all.”
I hesitated, sipping my coffee. My last memory was staying up all night gaming, stopping by the lab, and collapsing into bed.
“Without you, I couldn’t even try the new motions from the update. It was so boring.”
He pouted playfully, but I could tell it was half in jest. I wavered, unsure about explaining my situation, when his gaze met mine, and he gave a mischievous look.
“I was waiting so eagerly, but you ditched me so fast.”
“…That’s not, I mean, a friend called me… Oh, right.”
Popuri popped into my mind like a savior. The subtly uncomfortable air was getting heavy.
“Hey, should we start a guild soon?”
“A guild?”
Of course, I had an ulterior motive. I needed to keep him playing even after he learned the truth about my nickname. The best way to instill responsibility is to give him a title.
“Having a guild comes with a lot of benefits.”
“Like what?”
“Uh… You can increase your castle power, and there’s a guild-only chat window, so you don’t need to party up every time. Plus, the more members you recruit, the more advantages you get…”
“Members?”
He propped his chin, raising one eyebrow.
“Yeah. It’ll basically be you and me in the guild, so I’ll be the guild leader, and I’ll make you the deputy leader. Then we can recruit people to level up or raid with…”
“With a Druid and a Shadow Warrior as guild leader and deputy, will anyone join?”
His sharp question left me speechless. …Good point. Even if we recruit, the only person I had in mind was Popuri, so I hadn’t thought it through. Popuri would jump at the chance, no doubt.
“That’s true, but if we get one person, others will follow…”
I tried to brush it off, but a subtle unease hit me. Pausing to think, I raised my voice without realizing.
“How do you know Druid and Shadow Warrior are trash characters?”
He started the game knowing nothing and only played with me. At my puzzled question, he shrugged calmly.
“I saw some posts while searching. They said, ‘Leave Druid for Nickmer, but Shadow Warrior needs to go extinct.’”
“…”
“No wonder everyone I met at the start laughed and walked away. You were the only one who helped.”
I could picture it clearly. A clear newbie struggling as a Shadow Warrior—people probably teased him mercilessly. I clicked my tongue and cut a piece of cake, popping it into my mouth. The rich cream cheese melted on my tongue.
“Don’t worry about it. Once we hit max level, we’ll crush those guys before they can even squeak.”
“Really?”
“For real. I’m good at PVP.”
“What’s PVP?”
“…Oh. It’s short for Player Versus Player. Users fighting each other.”
As I bragged, Black Bear blinked quietly.
“You’re good at everything, huh.”
“…”
“Cool. Impressive.”
…It sounds like pure praise, but somehow it made me feel shy.
“By the way, you didn’t bring a change of clothes, right? I’ll lend you some.”
The topic jumped out of nowhere as I searched for something to say. “What?” I asked, startled, meeting his curious smile.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wear something comfortable?”
“No, I mean… I didn’t get to answer earlier, but I’m going home…”
“Wanna shower first? You can use the bedroom bathroom.”
At this point, I wondered if he was deliberately ignoring me. I took a deep breath, determined to be clear, when he suddenly spoke, as if remembering something, while closing the tumbler’s lid.
“By the way, you like Im Jungah, right?”
“…Huh?”
“I have Olga’s Secret Recipe in my room.”
I nearly dropped the cup I was holding. Olga’s Secret Recipe is a booklet distributed as an event by Im Jungah’s fan café. It’s a spin-off short story from The Saga of Isea, but since the event was small and early in the novel’s run, only a tiny number were made.
“How… do you have that?”
Because of that, by the time I discovered The Saga of Isea, it was already a rare, coveted item. There were tons of people looking to buy, but no one selling. Once, a copy was listed for 500,000 won, but it sold in 30 seconds. As a kid, I couldn’t even dream of affording it. Did I manage to get one as an adult? Of course not… I posted about wanting it 500 times and almost got scammed 300 times.
“I don’t know, it just happened…? I forgot about it, but I thought you’d like to see it.”
“…”
“But if you have to go…”
“I’ll shower first.”
I declared solemnly and stood up. Black Bear seemed to chuckle.
As soon as I opened the bathroom door with the clothes he gave me, my jaw dropped. It was easily twice the size of my studio apartment. The hotel-style layout had a separate shower and bathtub, all made of glossy marble. A warm, sweet scent filled the air. I recalled someone saying a house’s wealth is proven by its bathroom.
I felt like I shouldn’t even splash water. Intimidated, I carefully took off my hoodie when the door suddenly burst open behind me.
“The dryer and skincare are in the cabinet…”
Our eyes met, and Black Bear paused. My hoodie, half-removed, hung on my arm. I instinctively clenched my fingers and shut my mouth. He slowly scanned me, then opened the cabinet.
“Here. Use whatever you need. Toothbrush is here too.”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll use the living room bathroom. The book’s on the bed.”
Where did he say it was? Before I could react, the door closed again. I let out a long breath and finished undressing. My heart was pounding….It’s my fault for not locking the door. Calming myself, I glanced at the cabinet he’d opened. High-end skincare products with famous luxury logos lined up neatly.
No wonder he looks like that. Curious, I picked up a bottle to inspect it. It had a Korean label, but I couldn’t make sense of it. What the heck is “anti-shine toning lotion”?
“So complicated, so complicated…”
But this wasn’t the time. My mind was consumed by Olga’s Secret Recipe. I quickly stripped and stepped into the shower.
The blue checkered pajamas Black Bear gave me fit perfectly, which was odd since they’d probably be too small for him. Maybe he has a younger brother.
I dried my hair just enough to stop it from dripping and hurriedly stepped out. The room was a wide space with only a large bed placed in the center. In the middle of the soft, plush white bedding lay a thin booklet.
“…”
Swallowing hard, I reached out with trembling hands. The booklet, with its plain cover bearing only the title, exuded the scent of low-budget production from its appearance alone. The edges were worn, and there were patches of discoloration, but considering it was published nearly 20 years ago, it was in remarkably good condition.
I crouched on the floor and carefully opened the first page. The reason Olga’s Secret Recipe became legendary was partly due to its scarcity, but more significantly because, as the title suggests, it explores Olga’s feelings for Isea. Olga, Isea’s magic mentor and friend, is a grand wizard who has lived for over two hundred years. Having long lost interest in the world, his journey of rediscovering affection through Isea deeply moved many readers. (The fan café’s annual event was a near-warlike keyboard battle between those who shipped Isea with the prince and those who shipped him with Olga.)
As a result, Olga fans begged for the booklet’s content to be included in the main story, but Im Jungah firmly refused, stating that event-specific short stories should remain as events. The same stance held when an e-book was later released.
“What are you doing like that?”
I took a deep breath and was about to turn the page when a puzzled voice interrupted. Startled, I looked up and froze. Black Bear, his hair still damp like mine, was leaning against the doorway. He probably meant to ask why I was crouching on the floor instead of sitting on the bed.
But that wasn’t the issue right now.
“Your clothes…”
Seeing him in the blue checkered pajamas that fit me perfectly, I was so dumbfounded that words failed me. What kind of situation was this? Why did he have pajamas in the same color and design, just a different size? And why did he deliberately wear them to show up like this?
“Oh, these.”
Unfazed by my shock, Black Bear rubbed the collar of his shirt and spoke calmly.
“When I returned to Korea, all the clothes my dad bought were too small, so I had to get new ones. I guess he was still thinking of the size I wore in high school.”
“…Oh.”
“It felt wasteful to throw them out, so I kept them. They fit you well, though. That’s good, right?”
…Is it good? Unsure how to respond, I just blinked. Was I the only one finding this closeness so disconcerting? As I hesitated, he slowly approached and flopped onto the bed.
“Come up and read.”
He patted the spot next to him. That’s when I realized a truly important issue remained. Fine, I’d somehow ended up staying over, but were we sharing a bed? Really?
“…”
Sure, the bed was plenty big, and he might not think twice about it, but for me, it was inevitably overwhelming. As I pondered, my gaze landed on a bedside clock. It was already pointing to 10:30 p.m.
“Oh, speaking of which, it’s your bedtime.”
“Huh?”
“You sleep first. I’ll read this and head out.”
I rattled off the words like a machine gun and sprang up. Grabbing the doorknob before he could stop me, I flashed a grin.
“Good night.”
I turned off the light and closed the door. He just sat there, dazed. I crossed the hallway to the chilly living room, looked around, and settled on the edge of a large sofa. There was no sign of him following. Only then did a sigh of relief escape.
“I’m suffocating…”
For no reason, my neck felt itchy. It couldn’t be helped. Having to lie side by side with a guy who looks like that—even if I weren’t gay, it would’ve been uncomfortable.
Calming myself, I opened the book again. The 50-page short story was about Olga making sweets for Isea. Judging by the date, it seemed to have been released for Valentine’s Day. It was a quiet, gentle tale, but the process of a high wizard pouring the essence of his lifelong magic into a single sweet was anything but tranquil.
“…”
So heartfelt, so heartfelt… As a kid, I didn’t care whether Isea ended up with Olga or the prince (it’s not a major focus in the novel either), but if I’d read this now, I’d probably root for Olga too. Compared to the prince flaunting wealth and power, Olga, who steps back and sincerely supports Isea’s choices, feels better…
“Sigh…”
And the ending was phenomenal. After days of painstaking effort to make the sweets, Isea gratefully accepts them, only to give them all away to children he meets on the road. When Olga says it’s fine but can’t hide his disappointment, Isea, staring at him, takes Olga’s hand, lightly kisses it, and smiles.
―So that’s what it tasted like.
No wonder Olga fans went crazy. I carefully closed the book, held it to my chest, and sank into the lingering emotions.
By the way, how does Black Bear have this? With his wealth, he could’ve bought it, but he didn’t strike me as that intense an Im Jungah fan.
That weird ID, casually owning such a rare item… Is he really the son of an app developer?
“…”
No, at this point, isn’t he the son of a gaming company CEO? That would explain the wealth, the ID, and the Im Jungah connection. Curled up, lost in all sorts of thoughts, my vision gradually blurred. After weeks of staying up late and surviving on naps, even a moment of comfort made sleep flood in.
“Oh, the book…”
I can’t roll over and crush it. With effort, I pushed the book away. As I squeezed out my last bit of strength, my eyes closed again. The leather sofa was softer and plusher than my bed. Somehow, I felt like I’d have sweet dreams.
🕹️
The sensation of cloud-like bedding wrapping around me drew a contented sigh. I opened my eyes because warm sunlight fell across my face. A high, clean ceiling came into view first. Stretching my stiff body, I reached up, and my fingertips brushed a solid headboard. Yawning lazily, I turned away from the sun. Just a bit more sleep, and I’d feel perfectly refreshed. Burying my face in the bedding, I suddenly snapped awake.
…A bed?
I threw off the covers and sat up. Looking around, the room was unmistakably Black Bear’s bedroom. I definitely fell asleep on the living room sofa—what happened? As I sank into confusion, a knock came at the closed door.
“You awake?”
Black Bear’s gentle voice came from the other side. He was dressed in the blue checkered pajamas with a navy indoor robe. I barely moved my stunned mouth, managing a hoarse voice.
“When did I get here…”
“What’s that?”
“No, I mean… When did I come to the bedroom?”
“Hmm? When I woke up, you were sleeping next to me.”
“…”
His calm reply made my head spin. My goodness. I didn’t drink a drop, so how did I end up like this? Clutching my aching forehead, he asked with concern.
“Got a headache?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
“Wanna sleep more? I came to wake you since it’s almost morning.”
“I’m good, I’m good. Gotta get up. Sorry.”
The clock showed 9 a.m. Wow, I slept a long time. Scratching my head, I felt my messy hair tangle under my fingers.
“I asked for something simple like egg dishes—hope that’s okay?”
“Huh?”
“The staff came and left. They made coffee too.”
Oh right, he’s a young master… Pretending not to be fazed, I nodded and got out of bed. After a quick wash and brushing my teeth, I headed to the kitchen. With the sun up, I could feel the house’s incredible lighting. Bathed in light from the skylight, he was humming while setting out cutlery. He said simple egg dishes, but the table was filled with exotic dishes I’d never seen. Staring blankly, I suddenly looked up.
“By the way, you feeling okay?”
“Huh?”
“Your stomach… Any better?”
I gestured toward my chest, and he paused while folding a napkin. Then he grinned and sat on a stool.
“I told you, I was fine yesterday.”
“Good to hear… I thought it was bad since you went out to buy medicine.”
“I’m always dramatic.”
The dish was a tomato stew topped with a soft-fried egg. He scooped a portion, set it in front of me, and cut a piece of toasted bread in half.
“It’s good if you dip the bread.”
“Oh, thanks… I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“I just eat what’s served, so I don’t know much about it.”
He looked awfully skilled for someone who said that, but I didn’t call him out. Following his lead, I dipped the crispy bread in the sauce—it was savory and delicious. Eating Instagram-worthy food in a sunlit white house felt amusing, though.
“…”
And I was sitting across from a guy in matching couple pajamas. The realization hit, and I quickly swallowed what I was chewing, feeling choked.
“Uh… I enjoyed the book. Thanks.”
“Was it fun?”
“Yeah. I was really curious about the story.”
“Wanna take it? I have another copy.”
My fingers, tearing the remaining bread, froze. What did I just hear?
“…Huh?”
“I’ve got a well-preserved one stored away. The one I lent you is for casual reading, so you can take it.”
“No, I… No way. That’s a super rare item, worth a fortune…”
Swallowing the desire rising to my tongue, I struggled to maintain social decorum. Whether he knew my turmoil or not, Black Bear just smiled contentedly.
“Then how about buying it from me?”
“Huh? Really?”
This time, my interest was piqued instantly. The savings I’d built up working three tutoring jobs during undergrad—weren’t they for a moment like this?
“If it’s worth a fortune, the seller can name their price, right?”
“Yeah, exactly. As for how much I can pay…”
“How about a condition? Help me find my first love, and I’ll give it to you for free.”
My lips, ready to boldly name my entire savings, parted soundlessly. Black Bear’s standards might find it meager, but to me, it was everything.
“He goes to the same school.”
“…”
“Same department too.”
His glance landed on the cleaned tumbler.
“Even in the same department, you don’t all know each other, right? Still, maybe you could look into it—is that fair?”
“…Well…”
This might be the right moment. To say that “Nickmer” isn’t the first love he’s looking for…
“…”
Why would that be hard to say? If he quits the game, that’d be a shame, but if I wanted, I could make plenty of gaming friends. In games, skill is what earns respect, and I’m good at it.
The hidden story between Shadow Warrior and Druid doesn’t require him specifically to unlock. Natural tier leveling would be tougher, but I’ve done it solo before, haven’t I?
“…No, you don’t have to give me the book.”
But if I was hesitating, it was probably because…
“If I help you, no matter how your first love search ends, let’s keep playing the game together.”
I guess I’d just feel reluctant.
“How’s that condition?”
Somehow, despite the awkwardness and discomfort, I want to keep seeing him.
“Feels like I’m getting too good a deal.”
Black Bear, resting his chin, smiled with his eyes crinkled. That first love, whoever they are, must be lucky. To have a guy like him so devotedly smitten.
“So you’ll look into it, right?”
“Oh, yeah. About that…”
With his ID, tracking someone down wouldn’t be hard. Filtering for overlaps with my info wouldn’t take long either.
“Why are you so sure… Can’t you tell me even a little about why you’re convinced that person is your first love?”
“Nickmer”—that is, me—isn’t the person he’s looking for. Yet if he saw my SNS or community posts and was convinced it’s me, there must be a reason. Maybe similar ages.
After blinking silently for a moment, Black Bear let out a shallow sigh.
“He bought a cake on Christmas.”
“…”
The silence lingered because I was waiting for more, but he stopped there. It took a while to realize that was the whole answer, and I grew puzzled. A Christmas cake?
“So what? Doesn’t everyone buy those?”
My SNS was mostly food photos. I avoided posting pictures of myself, friends, or classmates. It became a habit after annoying incidents whenever group photos with classmates went up on their SNS.
“There’s something about it.”
Even when I pressed, Black Bear didn’t explain further. My mind only grew more confused. He probably saw the whole cake I posted last Christmas, but what about it?
“…”
As I racked my brain and opened my mouth again, a ding sounded from the hallway. Startled, I turned to see the elevator doors opening.
“Huh…?”
A burly man stepped out. His sharp, defined features and broad shoulders felt oddly familiar. As he strode closer, I realized he resembled Black Bear. His brother? Or uncle? I fumbled to stand and greet him when he abruptly asked Black Bear.
“Son, who’s this? A friend?”
Son? My jaw dropped. He didn’t look a day over late thirties. Glancing back in a daze, Black Bear gave a slightly awkward smile, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“You’re here early.”
“Yeah, it turned out that way. Eating breakfast?”
“Yep. With a friend.”
The man strode over and stared at me. Snapping out of it a beat late, I quickly bowed.
“Hello. I’m Shim Haemin.”
“Hey, nice to meet you. Wow, Chanhee’s got such a handsome friend.”
His voice sounded similar too. I shook his outstretched hand, asking dazedly.
“Uh, so you’re Black Bea… I mean, Chanhee’s father…?”
“Huh? Yep.”
“I thought you were his brother or uncle…”
“What? Oh, come on.”
He let out a dramatic sigh and burst into hearty laughter. His crinkled eyes were just like Black Bear’s. The power of genetics is truly remarkable… I stared blankly as he turned to Black Bear.
“Son, there’s a gift on the first floor. Can you grab it?”
“I’ll check it later.”
“Come on, don’t be like that. I picked it out with care.”
Black Bear glanced at me. I nodded to signal I was fine. He let out a dramatic sigh and stood up.
“Our kid’s a bit much, huh?”
After Black Bear disappeared into the elevator, the man spoke. Unsure what he meant, I pursed my lips, and his neat brow furrowed with regret.
“He doesn’t quite get personal boundaries or etiquette, so it can be tricky sometimes… If that happens, give me a call.”
“…Sorry?”
“Here, my card.”
He actually pulled a business card from his back pocket and handed it to me. Taking it reflexively, I was dumbfounded. What was I hearing?
“If anything’s uncomfortable, just tell me, and I’ll talk to him and sort it out. Okay?”
“…”
“Your name’s Haemin, right? This is the first time Chanhee’s brought someone home…”
It didn’t seem like a joke. As he earnestly pressed on, I was at a loss for what to do.
Tell him if I’m uncomfortable? Do people normally say this to their 22-year-old son’s friend? He was acting like someone who’d let an untrained dog loose in a neighbor’s yard. Unsure how to respond, I opened and closed my mouth as he pulled out his wallet.
“Oh, take this as pocket money. Get something tasty with Chanhee…”
From a leather wallet with a prominent luxury logo, a thick stack of 50,000-won bills suddenly appeared. Like a man electrocuted, I frantically waved my hands.
“No, no. I’m good.”
“It’s fine. You take what an adult gives you.”
“No, really, I’m fine. I can’t accept this. Sorry.”
“Don’t be like that. I’m giving it because you’re like a son…”
As he insisted on shoving what looked like hundreds of thousands of won into my hands, we grappled until a ding signaled the elevator again. Relieved, I darted back, and Black Bear, entering with a handful of shopping bags, froze.
“…”
His dark gaze swept over the man and his hands, followed by a long, heavy sigh. Somehow, I felt guilty and swallowed dryly.
🕹️
The shopping bags were stuffed with snacks and clothes. Staring down at them, I suddenly realized I was still in those darn pajamas and shuddered. My goodness, I met his father while wearing couple pajamas. How did I not hear anything about it…
Black Bear stayed quiet even after the house grew silent. He sat on the sofa, rubbing his forehead. Lingering awkwardly, our eyes finally met after a while.
“Sorry.”
“Huh?”
“My dad said something weird, didn’t he?”
I felt like I should deny it for politeness, but since he did say something odd, I couldn’t easily respond. He shook his head as if he knew.
“Since I’ve got some flaws here and there… He talks like that everywhere. You don’t have to mind it.”
“What? Why? What’s wrong with you?”
I couldn’t help but snap back sharply. Sure, the kid might not be the most adept at using figurative language, but that’s hardly something to make a fuss over. However, Black Bear lowered his dejected gaze and remained silent. He looked like a scolded puppy with its ears drooping. I quickly sat next to him, leaning in close.
“No, hey… Your dad was probably just happy to see your friend. Why overthink it?”
“…”
“You said you haven’t been back in Korea long, right? Then I must be one of the first friends you’ve made here that he’s met. He was just excited. He told me the same thing—that it’s the first time you’ve brought a friend home and that he was glad.”
Only then did he slowly raise his head. But his sunken eyes remained unchanged. Without thinking, I patted his broad shoulder and squeezed out whatever words came to mind.
“What’s flawed about you? You’re this good-looking, tall, and…”
I almost said “rich” but swallowed the words. Somehow, that felt like a no-go. As I racked my brain for something else, Black Bear gave a slight smile.
“And?”
“…”
“What else is good about me?”
“…And, uh…”
My diligent leveling shuttle… I had to rephrase that somehow. Fortunately, the answer wasn’t far off.
“You’re kind. You’re so kind.”
Haha, I let out a forced laugh and ruffled his dark hair. I worried I’d crossed a line, but thankfully, Black Bear only flashed a faint smile.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”
Then he leaned forward slightly. Thud, his forehead rested on my shoulder, and that familiar soap scent hit me strongly.
“…Uh.”
I nearly pushed him away reflexively. My heart felt like it leaped into my throat, the sound almost escaping. Luckily, I managed to curl my fingers just before doing anything rash. I clamped my lips so tightly that my philtrum ached.
“You’re kind too.”
I couldn’t respond to his whispered words. In the unavoidable silence, a large, cool hand wrapped around my waist.
“Of all the people I’ve met in my life, you’re the kindest.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“…Hey…”
When I finally managed to speak, a raspy, scratched voice slipped out. His long arm encircled my waist fully, reaching my side. I had no immunity to this ticklish sensation. As I hunched my shoulders, goosebumps shot up both cheeks as if it were a signal.
“…”
I was afraid swallowing would give me away. Blinking and floundering, I heard a heavy sigh.
“Anyway, sorry.”
With a brief apology, he casually pulled away. I stammered, scratching my still-tingling neck.
“Want some coffee?”
He stood up, asking in a perfectly natural tone. Somehow, I felt like if this went on, I’d end up staying for lunch and dinner too. Anxious, I quickly shook my head.
“No, I should get going.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? Home.”
His pitch-black gaze fixed on me intently. What are you talking about? His eyes seemed to say. I forced an awkward smile, pretending not to notice.
“Thanks for showing me the book. And for letting me stay.”
“…”
“I’ll come hang out again.”
I added words I didn’t mean, and only then did his sharp gaze soften.
“Really?”
“…Yeah, really.”
Even as I answered readily, I felt uneasy. It was like a kid who’d grown attached to a visitor in just one day, throwing a tantrum…
“Then I’ll drive you.”
Unlike a kid, though, this guy had a driver’s license and a fancy car.
“No, don’t worry. The bus is quick.”
“It’s a long walk to the bus stop from here. Plus, it’s uphill.”
“…”
“I’ll drive you.”
Repeating himself, he headed down the hallway. As I stared blankly, he gestured for me to follow.
“Your clothes are over here.”
“Huh? Oh.”
I hurried after him into a small dressing room. The custom-built wardrobe was neatly filled with color-coordinated clothes. It felt like something you’d see on a celebrity home tour show. Well, this whole house was like that.
“Here.”
He opened the clothing steamer and handed me my hoodie and jeans. A soft, warm breeze carried a pleasant scent. …My clothes, usually tossed in the washing machine, were getting the royal treatment in a steamer at a fancy house.
“Thanks.”
He smiled in response to my gratitude and pulled a t-shirt from the wardrobe. Without hesitation, he stripped off his pajama top.
I turned my head reflexively, but not before catching a glimpse of his broad shoulders, thick chest, slim waist, and flawless skin. Whether he noticed my shock or not, he calmly slipped on the t-shirt and gave a puzzled look.
“Aren’t you changing?”
“…I’ll change, here… I mean, yeah, I’ll change.”
Right, it’s not weird for guys to change in the same room. Come to think of it, everything since yesterday was like that. Friends can share a bed, lean on each other briefly, strip down casually… The couple pajamas were the only odd part.
Resolving to stay calm didn’t make me any bolder. In the end, I compromised by pulling my hoodie over my head while unbuttoning the pajama top. As I fumbled, he effortlessly changed his pants and walked past me.
“I’ll get ready. Take your time and come out.”
Those were welcome words. The moment his dark head disappeared from view, I let out a sigh of relief.
“This is killing me…”
Nothing’s more exhausting than being hyper-aware when the other person is completely oblivious. I need to get it together. With renewed determination, I finished changing.
“What’s your address?”
My composure wavered again the moment I climbed into the fancy car from yesterday. Address? I blinked dumbly, and he nodded, holding his phone.
“You’re going to your place, right?”
“Yeah, but you can just drop me at the bus stop…”
“From here, the distance to the bus stop or your place is about the same.”
After a moment’s thought, I gave him the building’s address. Refusing further might make it seem like I didn’t want to share it, which wasn’t the case.
“How long have you lived alone?”
The residential area, seen in daylight, felt quite different from the brief glimpse at night. The endless high walls gave it a quiet, almost desolate vibe.
“Since I started university, so about five years.”
“You never commuted?”
“Commuting to this school from my parents’ place would take four hours round trip.”
That’s why I chose the farthest school I could get into with my grades. The thought of seeing my family’s faces every day made my stomach churn.
“That’s cool. Living alone.”
He grinned, meeting my eyes. I was starting to get used to these random compliments.
“Cool? It’s just scraping by in a tiny studio the size of a closet.”
“No, it’s just… Everything you do seems cool.”
The distance was short, and the roads were clear. Soon, the familiar university neighborhood came into view. Driving that huge car into the narrow alleys by my place would be tough. As we reached a wider intersection, I quickly gestured.
“Pull over here. It’ll be hard to turn around if you go further in.”
“It’s fine… I’m a good driver.”
“My heart can’t take it. Us commoners get stressed in moments like this.”
He chuckled at my firm tone and pulled over to the shoulder. I opened the passenger door, but a voice stopped me.
“Wait a sec.”
Turning back, I saw him get out of the driver’s seat and open the back door. He hesitated, then handed me an A4-sized shopping bag.
“What’s this?”
“Your tumbler and some snacks. My dad got them.”
“Oh, thanks. I’ll enjoy them.”
I hugged the surprisingly heavy bag and gave an awkward smile. Standing face-to-face on the street, our height difference hit me anew. Black Bear, gazing down at me, had a faint smile too.
“I’m reluctant to say goodbye.”
“…”
“Come back anytime.”
At this point, it felt a bit much. He’s got some first love he’s head over heels for, so why act like this with me?
“…You too, if you’re ever feeling sick again…”
“Hey, Haemin!”
A familiar voice cut through my hazy thoughts. Startled, I looked up to see Sujung waving over Black Bear’s shoulder. Her cheerful smile faltered a beat late, likely because she called out to me before noticing Black Bear.
Following my gaze, Black Bear turned. I had no choice but to see it—Sujung’s suffocated expression the moment their eyes met.
“Oh… He’s my friend.”
I quickly introduced them and walked toward Sujung. She, frozen like a statue, only snapped out of it when Black Bear approached and greeted her.
“Hello.”
“Uh, hi, hello, hello.”
I’d never seen Sujung this flustered. Black Bear shifted his gaze from her to me, softly crinkling his eyes.
“I’ll head out then, hyung.”
“…Yeah. Drive safe.”
“You too. Take care, friend.”
He nodded politely to Sujung and climbed into the massive foreign car. Sujung stared at the car’s rear as it pulled away, then whacked my back with a loud smack.
“Hey, Shim Haemin… Shim Haemin, you…”
“Hold on. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not that… And that hurt like hell.”
“You sneaky little punk. No wonder you played so hard to get—you wouldn’t even glance at anyone less than that kind of guy? Is that it? And hyung? How old is he?”
“I told you, it’s not like that… He’s the game friend I mentioned.”
I denied it desperately, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Sujung grabbed my shoulders, leaning in close with an even slyer tone.
“So, he’s not your type?”
Honestly, I’d never admit it, even if my mouth were torn open. Obviously. Who wouldn’t find a guy like that their type? Sensing she’d caught me, Sujung’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
“Huh? You’re saying you’ve got no thoughts at all?”
“I’m telling you, you’re barking up the wrong tree. He’s got someone else.”
“If he didn’t, would you have thoughts?”
“Why make that assumption? Anyway, it’s not like that.”
Feeling oddly deflated, I trudged into the alley. Sujung, finally serious, followed close behind.
“Our Haemin, I didn’t poke a sore spot, did I?”
“If you know, just go… My heart hurts, and I need to rest.”
“I’d let you, but tomorrow’s the alumni meetup. The gang’s got their eyes blazing to drag you along this time.”
Sujung thrust her phone in my face. The alumni group chat was on fire. Sujung’s report of “Just saw Haemin” had everyone demanding I be tied up and brought in, venting their frustrations.
“If you’re busy, just show your face and leave. After graduation, your alumni are all you’ve got to lean on. What good comes from letting them feel slighted?”
Sujung coaxed with a forced smile. She wasn’t wrong. Since Sujung was the only one I kept in touch with, I could imagine how much flak she was taking on my behalf.
“Alright. Sorry for making you worry.”
I’d gone completely off the grid because JangDdo was the type to hunt me down at alumni meetups. He’d been quiet the past few months, but with our school social circles overlapping, the discomfort was unavoidable.
Still, I couldn’t keep dodging forever. More importantly, I had no reason to.
“Send me the time and place, and I’ll show up.”
“Want me to dry your hair?”
“What… No, I’m good.”
Sujung giggled. My gaze fell on the shopping bag Black Bear gave me. Opening it, I found it full of foreign snacks, as he’d said.
“Oh, take some of these to eat.”
I pulled out a few chocolates and cookies in tin cases, and Sujung’s voice shot up.
“Wow, this chocolate is super expensive. What’s the occasion?”
“Is it? Expensive?”
“Not giving it back. It’s mine now.”
She clutched the snacks to her chest and winked, making me chuckle. Maybe I should just give her the whole bag, minus the tumbler. As I rummaged through, my hand froze.
“…”
Among the colorful gift-wrapped snacks, I saw a tacky-designed tumbler and a familiar booklet. I didn’t need to check the cover to know. It was Olga’s Secret Recipe.
“Damn…”
I gasped, grabbed my phone, and, after a quick wave to a puzzled Sujung, dialed while rushing into my building. Sitting on the stairs, I waited through countless rings until the “The call cannot be connected…” message played, and I rubbed my forehead.
He probably did this without thinking. He said he wasn’t used to social boundaries because of his long illness.
The problem is I have no immunity to this kind of kindness. His casually warm words, his effortless smiles, his boundless generosity—each one catches me off guard and startles me every time.
It’s a bit frustrating too. He’s going to drop everything for that first love of his once he finds them.
“…”
With a heavy sigh, I ruffled my hair. It’s fine. This was bound to fizzle out anyway.