Only You in That Place (2)
Nari approached from far off, looking hesitant and awkward, as if she'd been caught trying to watch from a distance. Embarrassment clung to every unnatural step.
Well… running into me was never going to be pleasant for her. And the feeling was mutual.
But what could she possibly have to say to me? Honestly, I was the one who found this whole situation far more unpleasant.
She kept glancing around, reading the room, until she finally forced herself all the way up to me.
Facing each other after so long, we both seemed to feel how thoroughly awkward things had become between us.
We'd been so close… and yet it only took a moment for everything to turn this stiff. I'd already been through it once with Seoa, so I had a quiet kind of immunity to the situation now. Thanks to that, I didn't get particularly emotional about it.
"I'm… joining that team."
"Well, go ahead."
"…So contact the organizers and fix the team roster for me."
"Yes. I'll take care of it as soon as I can."
So that was it after all. It wasn't completely unexpected. The only reason another team's member and Nari would come to me together was something like this.
I'd figured they could just form their own team however they liked, but the reason she was bothering to tell me in person was probably because I was the one who had to inquire with the organizers.
The application already had the three of us listed… so to change that information, I'd have to send a separate email myself.
It was purely business, so I answered it like pure business and left it at that.
But if I'd already agreed, why was she still hovering here instead of leaving?
Even though our conversation was clearly finished, Nari stayed put, looking like she was hesitating over something.
"It was that easy? Back then you fought tooth and nail to stop her…"
One of the other team members who'd been listening nearby muttered that in confusion when the whole thing resolved so smoothly.
Back then I hadn't wanted to lose Nari either. But that was then. Now it didn't matter. Whether she went to another team or not—we weren't even a team anymore.
And from the way that teammate reacted… they clearly had no idea how things had gotten to this point.
I didn't need to step up and explain it. Getting that pathetic wasn't something I wanted either. From here on it was their problem to handle.
"Hey, can you guys go on ahead for a bit?"
Nari sent the others off first. And she left me behind. Of course she stayed planted right there herself.
It looked exactly like she had something she wanted to say to me alone.
"I need to head to the club room now too."
"Hey… am I really supposed to just go do it with that team?"
"What? That's why you came, isn't it?"
"So you're actually fine with me joining that team?"
"…I don't really understand what you're asking. I'm fine. I'll cheer you on."
What was she even trying to say? What did she want from me? She'd come and said she was switching teams… and I'd cooperated without hesitation. I wasn't exactly cheering, but I'd even said the words. So what was this attitude supposed to mean now?
"Forget it. I wasn't going to do it anyway… I'm leaving."
Nari bit her lower lip with her front teeth and said that.
She was all over the place by herself. Suddenly she was claiming she never planned to join that team in the first place.
Don't tell me… had Nari wanted me to stop her?
Unbelievable.
Thinking I'd grab onto you just because you said you were leaving for another team—isn't that a little too arrogant, Nari?
What position do you even think you're in right now?
Did you really think I'd just snatch you back if you pulled something like that?
Well… in her eyes I'd shown her plenty of times how easily I could be swayed. So maybe she could think that. But sorry—I'm a little different from back then. I didn't collapse after being betrayed this time. I overcame it.
That's why things got better with Nuna, and why I can focus only on her now. I'm satisfied with the life I have.
Someone like me isn't going to be jerked around by Nari. You're under a serious delusion right now.
Even if you showed up and begged on your knees, I'd still be on the fence about taking you back… and yet here you are, still too proud to get your head straight.
So very Nari. Yeah—she'd never been the type to bow easily to anyone.
"And… I can't cheer for you."
Nari huffed to herself and turned her back like she was leaving, then twisted just her head toward me and tossed that out.
Yeah. So very Nari.
It wasn't a line that needed any reply, so I just stayed silent. Then I turned the other way and headed for the club room.
"Nuna, I think I might be able to get a part-time job… but there's a catch…"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Trying to bring up Seoa with Nuna made me feel weirdly guilty. Still, I had to say it.
"It looks like I'll have to work with Seoa. Is that okay…?"
Just like Nari earlier, I was the one fidgeting a little as I asked Nuna. She fell silent for a while, clearly thinking it over.
"Hmm…"
She made that sound while staring into empty air, turning something over in her mind. The fact that she was deliberating at all already told me she hadn't liked the sound of it.
"I-if you tell me not to, I'll look for something else."
"But the fact that you came and asked me like this means working with Seoa is somehow more convenient for you, right? That's why you bothered asking."
"Ah…"
Nuna was sharp. Yeah—if I'd truly believed I didn't need to work with Seoa, I never would have come asking for permission. I would've just refused on my own.
She was picking out the hidden intention I hadn't even noticed in myself.
"Haa… honestly, I hate it. You working a part-time job with Seoa."
"Then I just won't. It's fine. I was going to do whatever you said anyway."
"But the fact that you came and asked me so nicely is also kind of cute, so I guess I should let it slide this once?"
Saying that, Nuna ultimately gave me permission to work with Seoa. It was a relief, but now that she'd allowed it, I couldn't let her down.
I needed to keep my head straight and actually earn some money.
"But! Call me when your shift ends."
"I will. That much I can do."
"Okay, then go ahead. Just don't overdo it."
With that, the part-time job situation seemed settled.
Still… asking me to call after work felt exactly like something couples did. Walking home after a shift, talking about what happened that day… what you planned to do before bed. Conversations like that always carried that kind of feeling.
Just imagining calling Nuna on the way home after work made something flutter in my chest. She'd definitely tell me I'd worked hard and soothe my exhausted day. What a sweet commute home that would be.
Some time passed in the club room after that.
"Nuna, want to leave early today and hit the PC bang together for once?"
"Really?"
"Yeah… we've been so busy just developing for a while. I figured we should play a little while we still have some breathing room. And once I start the part-time job, we won't have as much time to hang out like this…"
"Yes. Absolutely yes. Let's go right now!"
So Nuna and I left the club room a little early that day. On the way out I sent Seoa a text, just in case she decided to wait for me again on her own. That much consideration felt necessary now that we were just ordinary friends.
Nuna and I were playing games at the PC bang for the first time in a while.
Old memories drifted through my mind for a moment. Then I looked at Nuna, who was focused on her monitor like she'd sunk right into it.
From back then until now, Nuna had quietly stayed by my side the whole time. I'd received so much help from her.
Thinking that… I felt a sudden, baseless guilt toward her.
"Ah! This is so fucking annoying! Why aren't you looking?! Fine, then I'll just die until you do!"
"Nuna…?"
"No!! If you're gonna be like that just surrender already!!!"
And from then until now, Nuna was still the same person by my side. Still the same person who flipped one-eighty the second a game started. It was a little funny to feel this way just from watching that, but as long as I was happy, that was enough.
Then one question suddenly occurred to me.
"Nuna, how did you end up starting this game anyway?"
"Hm? Why?"
"It might be a stereotype… but most women don't play games this hard, right? And your rank is way higher than mine…"
"Is it…? I-I just started somehow. Yeah… somehow."
What was that? Was the reason she started somehow embarrassing to say out loud?
Or maybe hearing my comment made her feel self-conscious about how unusual she seemed.
I didn't know. Well, people didn't usually need some grand reason to start a game. And gender didn't matter either. My question had been pretty full of assumptions.
Finding fun in a game was natural and obvious. No matter who you were.
So I just let her answer slide. I also felt like I'd put her on the spot a little.
"Why? Is it weird…?"
"No, not at all. I actually like it. A girl who plays games with you is most guys' ideal type, right? And Nuna's even good at it."
We were still mid-game, so we kept our eyes locked on our own monitors while talking. But Nuna suddenly pulled her gaze off the screen and turned her head toward me.
I was still watching my monitor, but I could catch it in my peripheral vision.
"Then do you like girls like that too, Minjae?"
Nuna, who'd been staring at me quietly, said that. And because I was focused on the game, I didn't put much thought into the answer—I ended up being way too honest without meaning to. My real feelings just slipped out carelessly.
"Well… y-yeah? I like them too."
Only after the words left my mouth did I realize what I'd just said. This… sounded exactly like a confession…! There was a girl sitting right next to me who enjoyed games and was good at them, and I'd just said that…
I panicked. Worried that Nuna might have been startled by the direct hit I'd thrown at her… or worse, that she might have found it unpleasant, I carefully turned my head to check.
The second I turned, Nuna whipped her head back toward her monitor. So I never got to see what expression she'd been making.
"Nuna, you left without buying items…?"
"Ah! Yeah… thanks."
For once she made a mistake that wasn't like her at all… and luckily I caught it while turning to look at her.
I came home.
And right in front of my apartment door stood a familiar silhouette. This wasn't the first time, so even though I didn't want it, I'd built up a little resistance. It didn't even surprise me much anymore.
"Minjae—!"
"Yeah… why are you here? I texted you to go home first."
"I just… wanted to see your face. And make sure you got home okay."
"So you're leaving now?"
"Yeah, I won't bother you. But can we talk a little first? I waited a long time. Give me that much."
So I sat down next to Seoa, both of us with our backs against my front door. The reason was simple—I couldn't let her inside. I liked Nuna, after all. Bringing another girl into my place would be a problem.
"You were hanging out with Lee Sebin?"
"Yeah… and she's older than you, so call her unnie."
"No. We're not even close."
"…Anyway! She said I can work the part-time job with you. Nuna gave permission."
"I'm happy I get to work with you, Minjae… but the fact that you went and got Lee Sebin's permission first kind of pisses me off."
Seoa clearly couldn't stand Sebin Nuna. Well, it couldn't be helped. I'd hated that Woo-bin senior who'd been by Seoa's side too. It was only natural.
"Whatever. Just give me your arm. Since we ran into each other, I should check."
"But… if I'd cut somewhere other than my wrist, would you check that too?"
"What… are you even saying?"
"I've got a wound on my heart right now. Want to check that too?"
"…Is that how you were planning to seduce me?"
"I'm kidding, don't get all embarrassed~! Wait… did that make you flustered, Minjae?"
It wasn't that I was flustered—I was alarmed. If Seoa was really going to try seducing me like that, I'd have to rethink keeping these meetings going.
And if she kept joking around like this, I needed to draw a clearer line. So I deliberately brought up Sebin Nuna more.
"Today… I played games with Nuna at the PC bang. And without thinking I told her I like girls who play games. She must've been pretty startled hearing that, right? It sounded like I was aiming it straight at her."
It might have been a little mean… but I didn't have a choice. If I wanted to make it clear I wasn't leaving her any openings, this was the only way.
Instead of answering with words, Seoa suddenly rolled up her own sleeve and showed me.
Thankfully the wounds hadn't multiplied. I'd thought for a second she was about to show me some new cut that had appeared in the meantime. That she was trying to attack my mental state that way.
But that wasn't it. So now I was curious what showing them meant instead.
Seoa pointed with the index finger of her other hand to one of the thin, carved scars.
"This one… is from when you left without taking my birthday present. And this one… is from when you took a photo with the club people holding a birthday cake. And this one… is from when you were drinking and hanging out with the club people at someone's place…"