Returning home, flaunting the abundant DIY knowledge I collected from the internet.
After helping with moving some boxes, I returned to my comfortable home and flopped down in the living room.
It’s just been an afternoon after having lunch and making a quick run to the convenience store, yet I feel like doing nothing.
If only a monster wouldn’t show up, it would be a perfect day.
Ah, was today the day Shiyeon was out hunting monsters?
‘Well, should I just play a game then?’
Sluggishly crawling to my room, I pressed the power button on the computer.
After a long time, I clicked on the game icon with my mouse.
Maybe because I hadn’t logged in for a while, a lengthy update process began.
Among the friend list filled with offline statuses, one familiar nickname stood online.
[Searching for Mom]
‘What a ridiculous nickname.’
It’s Seonhyuk.
The nickname feels like it’s blatantly saying, “I’m a crazy guy.”
In my last memory, he was ranked silver in the game, but now he has somehow risen to top gold status.
How much has he been playing?
[Shit]
Just then, a game message arrived via personal chat.
In this situation, there’s only one person who would send a personal message.
Thud, I replied with a short three-letter chat to Seonhyuk, who was joking around even in the game.
[I’m dead]
[What can you do? lol]
[Blocked]
[Sorry]
After a round of back-and-forth banter, I started a game for the first time in a while.
Wondering what had changed in the game since I hadn’t played in ages, I spent some time thoroughly reading the character descriptions and items.
After a careful read-through of the explanations, I casually started a match against Seonhyuk.
Even though his character’s performance had been nerfed, it wasn’t unusable.
Farming appropriately, I began the battle.
Seonhyuk thought I’d make a couple of small moves before rushing in.
‘Oh?’
Contrary to expectations, he stepped aside from the attack timing and engaged in an honest exchange of damage.
With the character’s defense timing being crucial, I ended up suffering considerable losses.
Even when I tried to self-repair in a corner, he relentlessly pursued and canceled my healing.
I widened my eyes at his gameplay, which was markedly different from back in middle school.
But it was only a fleeting moment; I quickly adjusted to his attack pattern and executed a counter gradually.
‘Yeah, I can just wait out the misalignments too.’
[Ah]
Unable to withstand the prolonged damage exchange, Seonhyuk’s character took a beating as he steadily lost health.
Ultimately, a flurry of frustrated exclamations began flooding the chat.
[Seriously]
[Game]
[You’re playing like crap]
Unless it’s a team game, it’s going to be tough to beat me.
After leaving that chat message, I hastily exited the resolved fight and continued chatting.
Even though it’s been a while since we last met as students, the things to talk about were just what I expected.
How did the mock exam go? What’s the mood like at your school? And so on.
With someone like him, I’d guess he’s around a grade 4 or 5, and he’ll probably say school is just fine.
As I anticipated a mundane conversation, an unexpected reply rang out.
[I dropped out, you know?]
“What the hell?”
Swearing in surprise at a response I never imagined, it slipped out of me.
Reacting first to my spontaneous outburst was the Gomtaengi, who was closest by.
“Why are you shouting?”
“It’s none of your business, so mind your own.”
“Okay.”
“Huh.”
After telling him to mind his own business, I crossed my arms and let out a disheartened sigh.
From the perspective of a diligent student, it is behavior that can’t easily be understood.
In response to the question of what he was thinking, Seonhyuk explained that after being stuck at school during middle school, he felt studying was too meaningless.
He concluded that it seemed better to earn money as soon as possible after giving it considerable thought.
He hadn’t told anyone around him, but I heard he had many arguments with his parents.
Following that, without being prompted, Seonhyuk began sharing what he was doing now and how much he was earning each month, subtly bragging.
I understand — if a person earns 100 or 200 on their own as a student, their confidence naturally rises.
“I’m heading out!”
In the midst of our conversation, a voice called out from the entrance.
What could he possibly have to do at this hour? I pushed my chair back to see the entrance and shouted.
“Where to?”
“Going to hunt a monster!”
Shiyeon said she’s going out to hunt a monster.
As soon as she said it, I faintly heard an alarm from afar and saw a disaster warning message on my smartphone.
“Uh, be careful out there—”
Alright, I thought, turning my attention back to the monitor.
I get irrationally curious when I hear that a monster has appeared.
Seonhyun, who was snacking without a care while Shiyeon had opened the front door to leave.
Seeing him so nonchalant bothered me a little, so I threw out a few words as if scolding him.
“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“It’s an odd day.”
“That’s not it; you should still talk, you brat.”
Implying that it wasn’t my designated day, he murmured what I might have thought was unnecessary.
I glared back at that attitude as if to say he had done nothing wrong and turned my gaze back to the monitor.
Though he had dropped out, Seonhyuk still seemed to be doing well.
I left a few brief words of encouragement in a chat that could be seen as supportive.
[Just work hard]
[You’re leaving already?]
[Yeah Yeah]
[Bye]
Having played just one match but feeling an unexpected level of satisfaction, I quickly closed the game.
I left the computer running and started tidying up the winter clothes cluttering my view for no particular reason.
Just as I was sorting through the clothes to place in the washing machine and those that shouldn’t go in, the doorbell rang, causing me to turn my footsteps towards the intercom, which had been heading toward Shiyeon’s room.
I hadn’t ordered anything, nor had I received any deliveries, right?
Outside the front door, a familiar face appeared on the intercom screen.
Taehyun, holding a container of kimchi, must have been asked by his mom to bring something over.
Without any caution, I flung the front door open.
“What’s up?”
Pushing the front door wide open with my foot, I asked, and without hesitation, Taehyun stepped inside.
Seeing just the kimchi container, I could guess what was going on, but it felt strange to just let him in without asking anything.
“Mom made too many side dishes and told me to bring some over.”
“What all did you bring?”
“Stir-fried kimchi, anchovies, and what else was there…”
When I asked, Taehyun couldn’t even remember what he had brought.
While holding the crinkling plastic, my eyes scanned the list of side dishes he had delivered, and I noticed Taehyun looking around curiously.
Shiyeon’s room, my room, the bathroom, the kitchen.
After peeking around for a while, he finally asked something that piqued his curiosity.
“Where did Shiyeon go?”
“Uh, just outside for a bit.”
“Why? Isn’t she skipping the academy?”
When I told him she had just gone outside for a moment, he immediately shot back with another question.
What did she go out for? I found myself speechless.
What should I say here?
It wasn’t like he had to know, right?
Following my stream of consciousness, I let a lie spill out without even preparing my lips.
“Don’t you know? She probably went to the convenience store or something.”
“But isn’t there a monster outside right now?”
Taehyun, looking worried about Shiyeon being outside, stared at his smartphone to check the disaster text.
Well, it’s nice that he’s worried, but we’re the ones who need to head out when that alarm goes off.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud, so I silently ruminated on it and changed the topic.
“By the way, how did the mock exam go?”
“2 to 4 grades?”
“Wow, that’s pretty good.”
The conversation flowed naturally while transferring the side dishes into glass containers.
A score between grades 2 and 4 suggests he put in considerable effort for a mock exam.
Stir-fried kimchi, anchovies, assorted vegetable omelette, lotus root stew, and squid jeotgal.
The combination of steaming hot white rice served alongside them was sure to be irresistible.
While distributing the dishes into containers, my mouth watered.
Being on the receiving end of generosity, I politely expressed my gratitude.
“It looks delicious. Please tell your mom that I appreciate it.”
“Okay, she said not to hesitate to come over often.”
“Hehe, how could I?”
Hearing through Taehyun’s mouth how his mom openly said I could come over for meals, I chuckled and playfully rebutted.
After all, there is such a thing as shame.
In the midst of our conversation, the sound of the door lock beeping suddenly interrupted.
Just in time, I had finished transferring everything from the kimchi container.
“Looks like Shiyeon’s back.”
“Then I’ll take off?”
“Bye.”
As I exchanged farewells, I followed Taehyun to the front, ready to see him off.
From outside, the sound of the doorknob rattling in its latch resonated, followed by the front door swinging wide open.
There stood Shiyeon, returning home with the carefree demeanor of someone who had just gotten back, a mascot casually hanging from her shoulder.
“Oops.”
“Huh?”
Before I could even complain, everything unfolded so rapidly.
The time I had kept hidden felt in vain, and I had been terribly exposed.
