75.
I raised one eyebrow without replying to the offer that far exceeded my expectations. Then Chae Yoo-jeong immediately became sullen.
“You don’t like it?”
“It’s not a matter of whether I like it or not…”
I felt a headache and touched my forehead.
Why does today end like this? I think it was pretty good until now.
“You do know that you and I have only been hanging out for over a month, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you invite someone like that so easily to your home? Does the world seem that funny to you?”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who listened to me calmly, quickly regained his smile.
“You’re not anyone else– you’re Hyung, so what’s the matter?”
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about? If you don’t even know what kind of person I am, how can you suddenly invite me to your house?”
“Hyung, you’ve only known me for a short time, but I’ve always liked you since 5 years ago. So of course I trust you.”
“Can you trust anyone who you like?”
Calm down. Calm down. I let out a deep sigh and shook my hand to decline.
“I’m not going. It’s a burden.”
“I don’t feel burdened!”
“I feel burdened.”
“Ah, Hyung!”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who was in tears after seeing me coldly rejecting him, grabbed my arm and started whining.
“I’m not inviting you without a plan! I just need you to help me pack up my luggage for about two hours. So that you don’t feel burdened, I’ll take pictures of the inside of the house and send them to you in advance.”
“Why are you organizing your luggage?”
“I have to move to my dorm now... If I go now, I won’t be able to go back until my vacation, so I’ll just tidy up and go.”
Ah. He was a professional player, right? I keep forgetting because of all this.
“So… Do you want me to be your worker?”
“Ah, no! There’s nothing much to do, Hyung! All you have to do is organize my things. I will prepare all the meals.”
“As far as organizing things, you can do it yourself or call someone else. Why should I go?”
“I have no one to call. I don’t have any friends.”
“I heard in an interview that the coach I met at the wedding was your cousin. Ask your cousin for help. Or call your parents.”
As I shook off his hand and refused, Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes turned a little red.
He couldn’t bear to hold me again and let his shoulders droop down as he spoke helplessly in a voice full of heartache.
“My cousin is busy with team practice. My parents... I don’t have much contact with them about things like this... It’s been a long time since I lived separately from them.”
“......”
“I once had the experience of feeling lonely when I cleaned up by myself and returned to the dorm... I’m sorry. I won’t pester you any longer.”
“.......”
The sight of Chae Yoo-jeong standing under the light of the street lamp was extremely sad, as if he was about to shed tears at any moment.
My conscience ached tremendously as I felt as if I was tormenting my abandoned puppy. I don’t know what I did wrong to be in pain.
“No matter what, Going to your house is a bit...”
“Can’t you at least think about it instead of rejecting it right away? I’ll clean it up next weekend, so there’s still time.”
Big, round eyes were visible beneath long eyelashes. Chae Yoo-jeong asked again, with only the corners of his eyes turning red on his fair face.
“Hyung……”
“...If you are worried....”
“Yes yes. That’s enough.”
Oops. I was completely taken in by Chae Yoo-jeong’s watery eyes.
After getting the answer that I would think about it, Chae Yoo-jeong quickly got into the car with a smile on his face.
“Then I’ll get going. I’ll contact you, Hyung!”
Then he left before I could come to my senses. I stood there in a daze and only came to my senses after Chae Yoo-jeong left.
‘That abominable bastard.’
He must have been pretending to be weak on purpose. I’ve been through it before and fall for the same move again.
“Ha……”
Was I such a weak-willed person with a face? As the strings hit me like a wave, I instinctively reached into my pocket for a cigarette.
I guess I’ll have to smoke one and then go in. Just as I was about to take out a cigarette, my phone vibrated and a new message arrived.
[Kim Eui-chan: Yoo Ji-han]
[Kim Eui-chan: Are you still angry?]
“Oh my fu......”
After barely swallowing my swear words, I quickly added Kim Eui-chan to my blocked list and deleted the message history.
I should have done this a long time ago in the car. After the phone call with Seo Tae-young, I forgot to talk to Chae Yoo-jeong, so I only looked at the useless message one more time.
I suddenly lost the will to smoke, so I put the cigarette back and walked home. It was a tiring day one way or another.
***
<System> Trinity Raid Abyss Difficulty First Clear Completed! Congratulations! (Party Name: Early Evening)
The Puckle Challenge, which started at 2pm on Saturday, barely ended at 1am on Sunday.
As everyone expected, Trinity Raid was much easier than Loremha Raid that came out last year. Still, it took 11 hours, but it was better than Loremha, which took 48 hours.
[Guild] Drink some water: congrats
[Guild] Crazy hunting friend: congrats
[Guild] Manaolingnam: I almost died from motion sickness;;
[Guild] This is Dorahee: congrats~
[Guild] Mocha Bread: Thank you all for your hard workㅠㅠ
[Guild] Staric: I’m glad today is Sunday...
[Guild] Monster born from capitalism: congrats
Everyone looked tired, perhaps because they had been playing the game for a long time while focusing closely on aiming on Puckle.
For Loremha, it would take 48 hours, so I was now somewhat prepared, but I never thought it would be this draining... But thanks to this run, I got to experience Puckle, so I didn’t feel all too bad.
As I pressed my hands against my eyes due to intense fatigue, I heard the sound of a messenger.
[Yoo Chae: Hyung]
[Yoo Chae: Thank you for your hard work]
[Yoo Chae: Are you going to take a break right away?]
[I’m sleepy: I don’t think I can do anything more]
[I’m sleepy: I’m tired]
[Yoo Chae: ㅜㅡㅜ]
[Yoo Chae: Are you playing games next week too?]
Next week? Next weekend...
‘It’s the day Chae Yoo-jeong invited me to his house.’
I haven’t said I will go yet, but it was difficult to refuse because there were several obstacles.
In addition, since I and Chae Yoo-jung set out yesterday, he took several pictures of his house and sent them to me, so the burden flew over the sky.
Scratching my forehead and agonizing, I chatted without making a decision.
[I’m sleepy: I don’t know yet]
[I’m sleepy: I’ll come in if I’m free]
[Yoo Chae: ㅠㅅㅠ]
[I’m sleepy: What about you?]
Yoo Chae, who showed a tearful expression of emotion, replied with a regretful look.
[Yoo Chae: like always]
[Yoo Chae: I’ll just play a game]
[I’m sleepy: All weekend?]
[Yoo Chae: I’m an introvert unlike Hyung, so I don’t have any friends to meet. π.π]
I narrowed my eyes to see Yoo Chae’s slick excuse. This is a similar situation to the wedding ceremony before.
Yoo Chae was late accessing the game because he was going back to his hometown. Chae Yoo-jeong has long lived alone, separated from his parents.
On Wednesday, when Chae Yoo-jeong conducted his team interview schedule, Yoo Chae played Zenoris. Of course, I didn’t know the exact time when the interview was conducted, but he posted on the LVS team SNS account that he would be interviewed on Wednesday. What Chae Yoo-jeong said to me wasn’t a lie.
Are these two really the same person? Is it just a coincidence, or maybe I’m the only one who misunderstood?
‘...If this continues, there will be no end.’
I suddenly felt like I had to make a decision. So far, I have tried to get evidence from Yoo Chae or Chae Yoo-jeong without revealing that I was suspicious, but I have only failed in this way.
[I’m sleepy: ㅋㅋㅋ]
[I’m sleepy: I don’t have any friends either]
[Yoo Chae: Lie]
[Yoo Chae: You always leave me and go out to playㅜㅡㅜ]
[Yoo Chae: You haven’t forgotten about coming on friday, have you?]
In order to obtain clear evidence, I must pay the same price. After organizing my thoughts, I came up with a plan to get evidence from Chae Yoo-jeong and Yoo Chae.
[I’m sleepy: I’ll be busy next Saturday but I’ll be home on Sunday.]
[I’m sleepy: What about the Friday ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[I’m sleepy: And you’re here right now]
[I’m sleepy: So, let’s play a game with me if you’re awake?]
[Yoo Chae: ㅇㅅㅇ!]
[Yoo Chae: I’ll do it!!!ㅜ.ㅜ]
[I’m sleepy: ㅇㅇ]
[I’m sleepy: I had a hard time raiding, so let’s do some healing later]
[I’m sleepy: I guess I’ll have to do some Ganong quests later]
[Yoo Chae: Good! ^▽^)/]
After making a promise with Yoo Chae, I quit Zenoris and sent a separate message to Chae Yoo-jeong.
[Yoo Ji-han: You said next Saturday, right?]
[Yoo Ji-han: I’ll come, so stop sending me pictures]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: !!!]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: (emoticon)]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Really?]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: You’re not kidding, right? If you are, then you’re a really bad person]
[Yoo Ji-han: I’ll come]
Even though it was late, almost 2 a.m., the reply came right away. The black cat did a lively dance and sighed as he looked down at his favorite emoticon.
This is the last time. As much as I’ve decided to attack them head on, if I don’t get evidence this time, I’ll stop doubting them.
It is true that because of what happened with Kim Eui-chan, I became very sensitive to someone lying to me and causing me stress. However, that did not mean it was right to suspect someone without any evidence while wearing colored glasses for over a month(1).
It was something without any meaning or benefit. So it’s time to stop.
—-
Notes:
[1] The phrase “colored glasses” is a metaphorical expression that means to view something in a distorted way, often due to a preconceived notion or bias.
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor: Meimei
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