Burning Friday - Club

Club entry desire quests generated randomly in response to emotions. Those emotions could belong to the user himself or to someone nearby. Seo Joo-hwan had cleared two desire quests so far. The first, in December, targeted Jeong So-ra: "Defile Your Direct Superior". The second, in January during his end-of-service leave, targeted Han Su-ah: "Save Han Su-ah". These desire quests, which popped up once a month, raked in massive LP along with a huge surge in the Desire stat, pushing toward the next level. And now, as February neared its end, the third desire quest triggered.

Seo Joo-hwan eyed the triggered quest and thought,

'What a lame…'

His fantasies about clubs must have been bigger than he'd realized.

*

Seo Joo-hwan arrived at the meeting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spot twenty minutes early, as usual. While waiting for Lee Jeong-hoon, he reviewed his newly acquired talent and special ability.

The dance talent he'd gotten from Im Su-hee a few days ago. Excited about heading to the club, he'd leveled it up and bought the special ability too. But the effect of Multi-Dancing Line didn't quite click for him.

'I just can't get a feel for it.'

For someone like Seo Joo-hwan, who'd never cared about dancing in his life, he had no clue how important dance lines were. But for a dance major, Multi-Dancing Line would be drool-worthy. Even with the same moves, some people made them look long and elegant, alive down to their fingertips, while others came off stiff and short. Mastering beautiful dance lines meant spending years figuring out your body's natural lines and when they looked most stunning. And even then, dumping time into it didn't guarantee results—if you weren't born with it, no amount of practice could force those lines out, regardless of move proficiency. To dancers, dance lines were like a singer's innate timbre.

Yet Seo Joo-hwan's Multi-Dancing Line auto-corrected his body to fit any genre perfectly, no effort or body awareness required. Still, for a dance noob like him, it felt kinda wasted.

'At least I practiced a few.'

Not fully trusting the ability, he'd crammed some club dances from YouTube in crash-course style. With a pro-level B-rank talent, they'd come surprisingly easy. Meeting time approached.

- Joo-hwan-ah, where you at?

"Head straight to exit 9. Still inside the station."

- Ah, okay.

"See hyung? I'm waving."

- Yeah, yeah. I see you.

Lee Jeong-hoon, spotting him, waved back. As they got close, he froze, hand dropping, voice shocked.

"Seo Joo-hwan… right?"

A month had transformed him beyond recognition; even Lee Jeong-hoon wasn't sure. Seo Joo-hwan chuckled.

"Long time no see, hyung."

"…It's really you? Dude, what happened? You get discharged and hog all the good stuff?"

Seo Joo-hwan gave his now-familiar excuse.

"Guess my growth spurt hit late. You saw it in the army too, right? PT melted the fat right off."

"Whoa… can't get used to it. How much did you grow in two months? A few centimeters?"

"Like six in two months? Still growing."

Growth had actually stopped ages ago. But with future items that might boost height, he was laying the groundwork. Lee Jeong-hoon kept marveling as he led the way.

"Where we headed?"

Hongdae was the district, but no specific club yet. Lee Jeong-hoon grinned.

"Somewhere with young kids. February means tons of fresh 20-year-olds out of military service."

They were at the escalator to Hongdae exit 9. Gangnam was an option, but Hongdae had better "water" this time of year—younger crowd. Unlike upscale Gangnam, Hongdae's clubs buzzed with brand-new adults.

'Come to think of it, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I've only been with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠older women so far.'

Pre-regression age gap hadn't bugged him, but all three women he'd hooked up with were older now. Hell, the system had even unlocked Older Woman Killer achievement. Time to try some younger ones.

"Attention today."

"Attention?"

"Biggest hip-hop club around here. You know Show Me the Money? That show's boom means teens to 20s are all into hip-hop. Tons from 20 to 24."

Hip-hop had indeed exploded then. The rap survival show was a phenomenon, now on season 4, heat unrelenting—peaking in season 5 this year. Seo Joo-hwan liked hip-hop over classics, jazz, or ballads. But wait.

"Hip-hop means no electro?"

"Duh. Why play electro in a hip-hop club? Some hip-hop mixes in electro, sure."

Seo Joo-hwan scratched his eye corner, disappointed. He'd practiced shuffle and croak for nothing. No shuffling to hip-hop. Lee Jeong-hoon caught on.

"Not into hip-hop?"

"Nah, I am. Just wanna dance some."

He'd practiced; wanted to use it.

"You dance, Joo-hwan?"

"Kinda. Shuffle and croak, basic."

"Ooh. Change to Aura then. Hip zone and electro zone separate. Hang in hip, no girls? Switch to electro and dance."

"Works for me."

No way he'd strike out, but if so, dance all night. Buzz. Escalator topped out.

Hongdae at night first time?

"Whoa."

Hongdae's night street unfolded, unknown to him. Lee Jeong-hoon blinked.

"First time in Hongdae?"

"Came a few times, but never at night."

"Your place close, no? Under 30 minutes."

"Yeah, but I stick to my hood."

Born in Gwangmyeong, next to Seoul, but visits countable on fingers. Honestly, even Gwangmyeong was a mystery—holed up like a half-hermit, what'd he know?

'Maybe travel later.'

Domestic trips first, since he barely knew home. Lee Jeong-hoon smirked at his country-bumpkin act.

"Night vibe's different, huh?"

"Yeah. More people than daytime."

He gawked curiously. Daytime Hongdae was cultural enough, but night was freer, more electric. More busking, bolder outfits. Street drinkers shocked him most—pure culture clash. Gazing like a rube, Lee Jeong-hoon nudged his arm.

"Joo-hwan, check that."

"What?"

Following his finger: a woman down on the sidewalk in a tight short dress.

"What happened? Incident?"

"Nah, just wasted. See her crew nearby? Drunk collapse."

"Only 11 PM?"

"Early, but not rare. More by dawn."

Amazed so many in skimpy clothes sprawled defenseless. Perfect trouble bait. Skirt hiked, thighs flashing—guys stared, even girls with "what the" looks. More unseemly than creepy.

"Kinda dangerous."

"Is. But crew's there. And not our business anyway."

Lee Jeong-hoon shrugged it off—seen it plenty. Strangers' drama, and meddling backfired these days. Choi Mi-hwa was special. Staring at the passed-out woman, Lee Jeong-hoon poked his side.

"Don't touch the trash raccoon, whatever. Could ruin your life."

"Not into seafood."

"Pfft. Good then."

Laughing, they reached the club.

But…

"Line's insane."

"Yeah."

"Sigh. Forgot how bad after so long."

Lee Jeong-hoon sighed. The queue snaked three loops. They waited over 30 minutes outside before entering.

Now, time to party hard.