2. with wife
"What the hell does that mean?"
In that brief moment, I wondered if he'd groped the mage's tits or something, so I tore my eyes away from the receptionist and turned to Jun-sik. His panicked expression hit me right away. What the fuck, this guy. That look screamed trouble.
"Dude, my wife caught me secretly investing in crypto."
"You fucking... insane bastard."
"Shit. I'm totally underwater, and if she finds out the full extent, I'm dead."
"Ugh... whatever. Just get the hell out for now. This isn't the time to be hanging around."
I heard the sound of Jun-sik logging out with a curse. I decided to shut down the game too. Goddamn idiot... hope he makes it out alive.
What a psycho. Minus 100 million? How much did he even invest to begin with? Jun-sik came from a well-off family, but secretly rolling that kind of cash without telling his wife? No gaming with him for a while. Ye-na's got a sweet personality, but she must be pissed. Act clueless now, and I might never game with him again. Ugh... losing my one decent gaming buddy would suck.
After work, I met Ji-young for dinner. She must've dealt with Assistant Manager Kim's bullshit again today.
"Honey~"
Ji-young waiting in front of the office. Straight hair brushing her shoulders, yellow blouse, black slacks. A stunning office lady you rarely see in a typical company. We met during new hire training at the Korea Space Agency. I tried hard to get close to the pretty girl in our group, but nothing happened during training. After we got assigned to different departments, I found out she was dating someone internally—total gut punch. But when I heard they'd broken up, I went all-in, we dated, and eventually got married. Long story with plenty of twists.
"Hey, you're here. What're you craving tonight, my Ji-youngie?"
"Hmm... samgyeopsal?"
"Sounds good~ Piggy's?"
"Ooh~ You're on my wavelength, honey! Let's hit Piggy's."
At our usual spot near home, Piggy's, chatting with my wife. Stories about Kim's tantrums, Park's shitting next to me—whatever. When I mentioned Jun-sik, Ji-young shook her head.
"For real? Invested so much he lost 100 million? Holy crap, must be chaos. What happened to Jun-sik oppa? Divorce?"
"Ye-na's too sweet for that. No divorce talk at all."
"Wow, Ye-na's a saint. How can someone be that nice? Are all pretty girls just inherently kind?"
"Human Choi Jun-sik is basically dead now. No personal plans, no allowance, cafeteria food only, straight home to do all the chores—full loyalty mode."
"Ahahahaha, knew that oppa would screw up somehow. Not the type to play it safe. First time I met him, 'civil servant'? Didn't fit at all."
"Same. Jun-sik as a civil servant? Korea's future looks bleak."
"Still, not small change. Ye-na must be stressing hard... I should text her."
"Yeah. He's owning his mistake and groveling, so hopefully it blows over."
I meant it. Losing a solid gaming buddy would leave a huge void.
About a week passed like that. I killed time with VR war games like [War! Never War Again!] or FPS titles like [Battle Royale Jelly].
Ji-young must've talked her down. But this guy's jumping at dinner the second Ye-na softens? He's hopeless. Poor Ye-na. Gotta text Ji-young.
I texted Jun-sik again.
Quitting time soon. National rule: ten minutes before clock-out, shut down programs, tidy emails and files, slack off.
Met Ji-young after work, headed to sushi together. Jun-sik was already seated—with Ye-na beside him.
"Oh? Ye-na too? Ye-na-ya~~"
"Unniii~~ What's with you, so pretty? Even prettier after not seeing you awhile!"
"Kyaa, you're the prettier oneee!"
Why do girls grab hands, bounce around, and call each other pretty on sight? Social ritual for sure. Can't be genuine. Beyond me.
"You made it."
"What? Ye-na's coming too?"
"Said we're meeting for dinner, so she wanted to tag along."
"Vibes say she's over it mostly."
"All thanks to my tearful sacrifice."
"You psycho, what sacrifice? Ye-na's the one sacrificing."
Meal vibe was decent, thankfully. I asked Ye-na.
"Ye-na, how'd you forgive Jun-sik?"
"Secret crypto was shitty... but oppa said it's not a real loss till you sell. It'll bounce back if we hold."
Not a loss till you sell? Oof. Classic crypto bro line. Ye-na's too pure, buying it. So sad. Jun-sik chimes in.
"Dude, quit the pity face. It's really going up."
"A coin that's 'going up' loses you 100 million?"
"Crypto's like waves, crashing up and down."
"Why ride the wrong side?"
"Agh... it's just consolidating, shaking out weak hands. Massive pump soon."
"Suure~ whatever you say."
"Anyway, Fantasy World tomorrow night?"
"Ugh... even as my friend, you're nuts. Fine, let's do it. Quit right after starting—left me hanging."
Ji-young, mid-tteokbokki spot chat with Ye-na, pipes up.
"Honey, what's Fantasy World? Weren't you guys on some weird wuxia game?"
"Not weird... but burned out on wuxia. Trying fantasy now. Different game."
"Fair, you played it forever."
Ye-na adds:
"Fantasy's dragons flying, swords swinging, magic blasting?"
"Yeah... but sounds lame when you say it."
"Ahaha, still better than grandpas grunting with swords, oppa."
Bristled at dissing millions of wuxia fans, but bit my tongue. Girls wouldn't get it. Knowing fantasy exists is impressive. For the record, wives don't know we bang NPCs in-game. Think we're immature 32-year-olds gaming like kids. Then Ye-na drops a bomb at Jun-sik.
"Fantasy sounds fun? Honey, can I play too?"
Eye contact with Jun-sik. Ye-na joins, plan's fucked. Silent stare-down.
- Dude, talk your wife out of it. Our pussy paradise is toast.
- I'm in sinner mode, groveling. How?
- Fucking useless prick.
No one you can count on. Had to dissuade Ye-na myself.
"Nah, Ye-na, not fun for you. Ugly monsters, grinding levels. Boring as hell?"
"I had fun at PC bang with oppa, League of Legends."
"That was bot games, 20 kills. Wuxia bored you, why fantasy?"
"Wuxia's bearded grandpas grunting sword swings. Lame. Fantasy magic sounds cool."
What? Wuxia slaps. Bearded grandpas grunting? Rage rising. But focus: no excuse to stop her. Glared at Jun-sik again.
- Dude, she's serious.
- Can't say no to Ye-na ever. Let her join. Grind hard dungeons till she quits from boredom.
Fine...
Better than blocking a friend's wife without reason.
"Yeah, sure... if Ye-na wants, more fun together. Haha... Jun-sik and I start tomorrow, jump in. We quit right away last time—fresh start."
Overhearing, Ji-young jumps in.
"Hmm... then I'll play too. Curious since Ye-na is."
"Kyaa, unni joins—party time~!"
Fucked. Gaming life over. Christina, Erin, Floria... farewell, named NPCs. Stress relief pussy grind turns wife-hosting sim.
Excited girls hyped for first game in ~6 years. Depressing next day dawned.