Afternoon at the PC Bang
Afternoon on a weekday, at the PC bang.
I was here at this PC bang with someone completely unexpected—someone I never would have imagined bringing along.
Normally, I'd come here with Jisoo Kim and Seung-min Jeong. But today, there was one extra person besides them.
"Oppa, oppa. I heard the food at PC bangs is really good these days. What should I order?"
Na-eun Jeong, Seung-min's little sister, was with us.
"Hey, pig. Stop stuffing your face already. That's why you're all chubby."
"Ahaha... Seung-min, come on, she's your sister..."
"I'm not asking you, am I? I'm asking Seonwoo oppa."
I chuckled watching Jisoo shrink back from Seung-min and Na-eun's bickering, then recommended something tasty to Na-eun.
"The ramen here is pretty good. Try that."
"Ramen? Okay~ Hmm~ How about tteok ramen?"
"Sounds good. Go for the tteok ramen."
"Okay~"
Na-eun beamed at my suggestion and ordered the ramen. I nodded approvingly as I watched her. When it arrived, she dug in with a satisfied look on her face. PC bang ramen never disappoints.
Meanwhile, Seung-min started getting impatient with me, like he was urging me on.
"Hey, hurry up and log in already."
Today was supposed to be the day me, Seung-min, and Jisoo met up at the PC bang to game.
But somehow Na-eun found out and begged to come along.
And she even had a reason—one so personal I couldn't say no: she wanted help with her college applications.
"Just help her with the application submission."
"Help how? It's just submitting the form and done."
Na-eun shot Seung-min a fierce glare at his words.
To be brutally honest, Seung-min had a point. Submitting applications wasn't exactly a PC bang activity in the first place.
Still, the real reason Na-eun wanted to come was probably to hang out with us... or more specifically, with me.
She really enjoyed playing with me, after all.
"I'll help anyway. Na-eun, to start the application..."
I wracked my brain, dredging up old memories to guide her through it.
I mean, I really had to twist my neurons inside out, but I managed to help her submit it.
Na-eun followed my explanations step by step.
She logged into the application site and slotted universities into the first, second, and third choices.
For reference, Jinhan University's nursing program was her second choice. First choice was Jinhan University's liberal arts major.
Third choice was the only non-Jinhan spot: Sinchon University, the closest decent option from home.
Personally, I figured her first and second choices had a high shot at early admission or the first waitlist round. Third... Sinchon would be first waitlist at best, third at worst—or flat-out rejected.
Even factoring that in, just having a chance at Sinchon spoke volumes about how impressive Na-eun's scores were.
She finished paying and hit the 'submit' button.
The application went through successfully. Na-eun let out a deep sigh of relief and looked at me.
"Oppa, does this mean the application's done?"
"Yeah, now just wait till February."
"Haaaaah..."
All the tension drained out of her, and she slumped forward, staring at the screen.
"Nervous?"
"Kinda... but it's also kinda anticlimactic."
"How so?"
"All that studying I did last year was to get into college, right?"
"Right."
"So thinking about it, this application is just the starting line. It's basically checking if you meet the bare minimum qualifications."
"Yeah...?"
"And it makes me wonder if I really studied that hard just for the minimum qualification check."
I got what she meant, even if it sounded confusing at first.
Submitting the application doesn't guarantee admission.
But to even submit, you need at least the scores to be eligible for admission.
So yeah, it's like a qualification hurdle.
After all that effort just to clear the first hurdle, the past year might feel a bit empty.
But I also knew how much of a luxury complaint that was.
I playfully tugged at Na-eun's cheek and asked,
"No reason to feel empty. If anything, it's ungrateful. Plenty of kids couldn't even apply here with scores like yours."
"Eeeek... True, but... the tension just melted away..."
I rubbed her cheek a bit more. Honestly, her cheeks were so soft and chewy, it felt great.
After doting on her a little, I let go and said,
"We'll see if you say that after you get in."
"...No way that happens."
Na-eun smiled faintly and nodded. Seeing that, I made a suggestion that might make her hesitate.
"Hey, Na-eun."
"Yeah, oppa?"
"Wanna try gaming with us?"
"Gaming?"
"Yeah. I'll help you out."
Na-eun was done with her tasks now. The rest of us were planning to game anyway, so why not include her?
It'd be a shame to leave her out while three guys played.
Seung-min glared at me like I was an idiot—his look basically screamed don't say stupid shit.
I brushed off his anger and kept talking to Na-eun.
"If it's no fun, just quit and read webtoons or head home. But try it—if you like it, stick around. Sound good?"
Na-eun nodded eagerly, like she'd been waiting for this.
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
"And it's settled."
"Argh... whatever."
"Whatever my ass. If her queue drags us down, we'll carry."
With that, I had Na-eun make a game ID for Shooting Ground. Once she did, she logged in.
We finished the tutorial and jumped into a match together.
Side note: The tutorial made it clear Na-eun was a total newbie.
She was really bad.
Oppa Seonwoo's suggestion was perfect.
I wasn't uninterested in games. I'd even wanted to try them before.
But my brother... Seung-min told me, "You have no talent for games, so don't bother!" That killed it for me.
I even think it delayed me getting close to Seonwoo oppa. If I'd played games, we could've partied up just the two of us and bonded.
...Anyway, thanks to Seonwoo oppa, I was playing Shooting Ground.
It's a game where 100 players drop onto an island, loot guns and gear, and fight until one survivor remains. Apparently, with four players, that's the mode they play.
With three or five, they switch games. Guys play so many different ones, huh.
Seung-min just told me to "figure it out yourself" and ignored me. Jisoo oppa offered help but seemed barely able to handle his own stuff.
Only Seonwoo oppa—the guy right next to me, the one I like—handled his role while helping me out.
"Na-eun, take it slow. Use the hotkeys to pick up items."
"Not every gear is good, but for now, just equip whatever you grab. Gotta get used to guns anyway."
"Na-eun, this is perfect for newbies. Try it—should handle nice."
He taught me about items one by one, even fetching what I needed.
"Na-eun, wanna try this? It's fully kitted—ready to go."
"Uh... it's fine, oppa should use it."
"Nah, it's cool. It's a gun game—gotta feel the fun of shooting first."
There was probably fun in that. But just having Seonwoo oppa teach me so sweetly up close was already a blast.
It was different from tutoring sessions. Back then, he felt cool and detached. Now, he was super chill.
The common thread? Whether cool or relaxed, he was incredibly kind and great at teaching.
"...I'll use it well."
"Good. If you wanna try another gun, go for it."
"Yeah...!"
His praise and tips boosted my confidence, so I kept going...
-BRRRRT!
"Mommy!?"
I got shot and downed in an ambush.
Luckily, a wall was right in front, so I wasn't fully dead, but I felt like a burden and sneaked a glance around.
"Ah, damn it, Jeong Na-eun... Where'd you go down?"
"Na-eun, still in the farming zone."
"Argh... Hey, just ditch her. Seonwoo Lee, field's closing—let's bounce."
And my own brother said to leave me.
But one person nearby didn't—Seonwoo oppa.
"Hold up. Looks like one's alone. I'll clear 'em and revive Na-eun, then we go."
He zipped over to me in seconds...
-BRRRRT!
Downed the guy who got me, revived me, shared his meds, and said,
"You good? Pop those heals quick... Eat 'em up and wait here. I'll grab a car."
"Yeah, thanks, oppa."
I never expected to feel this way in a game, but Seonwoo oppa was insanely cool while playing.
Insanely, I tell you.