Online Masks and Real Faces
Long before the Virgin Beach destruction, there was an incident that set the internet ablaze over one user. That user was an anime figure collector—the kind of hobbyist commonly called an otaku. Was there a problem with that? Of course not. On the contrary, the guy worked diligently, earned his money honestly, and spent it on his hobby. He even handled the occasional hate comments with gentlemanly grace, which made him pretty popular.
Of course, like everything in life, it wouldn't have been any of my business if it stopped there.
It was from one of those terrestrial TV shows about domestic violence. The guy from the community's "that" man was a total scumbag who punched his own mother. And he used the money he extorted from her to buy and hoard figures. Once this came out, people were shocked. A guy who seemed decent enough online, even respected—turns out in real life he was beating his mom and blowing her stolen cash on figures.
Cases this extreme were rare, but plenty of people had gaps between their online selves and reality. Still, when I heard about it, I got curious. Your online self versus your real self—which one was closer to your true nature?
"What the hell are you talking about, you brat."
The gallery's so-called "saint" (not really) got all riled up at my words.
"I'm an adult! Twenty-one!"
"Twenty-one's still a kid."
"Wow, you see these killer tits and still say that? Ow!"
I flicked her forehead as she flailed around. Who the hell does this brat think she is, shoving her chest in my face? The three bonds and five morals had collapsed long ago.
"Liking peaches makes you a kid."
"That's got nothing to do with it! You dissing peaches? Ahh!"
"You get pissed over that?"
It felt just like dealing with a disobedient little sister. She was a full head shorter than me, which made it worse.
"Anyway, it's been less than a minute since I told you to watch out for guys."
"That's why you snag a reliable one in advance and keep him close."
"Oh, using me as a bodyguard?"
"Not a sweet deal? Just saying, I'm gonna be super popular soon. Better slobber now while you can."
"What a sly fox. You'd jump ship if a stronger guy showed up?"
"N-nooo... that's not it..."
A light jab and she tucked tail immediately. Yeah, she was still a kid in ways like that. Was this really the exhibitionist from the gallery?
If I weren't the admin, I'd never believe it.
The Han Ga-eul in front of me. The gallery's Ttakboki Jinri. Which one was the real her?
A question not worth answering.
Both are real.
I plopped down in front of the fidgeting Ga-eul.
"Anyway, you know how to butcher animals?"
"Uh... just pluck the feathers and roast it, right?"
"Total noob. Wanna chew on charred pigeon?"
"Hmm..."
Ga-eul eyed the pigeon with a weird look. She probably hadn't thought that far.
"I'll teach you the basics, so sit."
"...Treating me like a total kid is kinda lame."
"You hate it?"
"Not... really."
Ga-eul finally sat obediently. No idea why she scooted right up next to me instead of in front.
"Okay, watch. Don't freak out—start by chopping the neck clean off. Hesitate and it won't cut right, so do it firm."
-Thwack!
"Like this?"
"...Yeah, good job."
I walked her through it step by step: plucking feathers, draining blood, gutting. Knowing this stuff made a big difference in survival. She seemed decent at handling zombies around here too. I hoped she'd last as long as possible. Burying kids wasn't fun.
"Nice, you're getting it."
"Hehe, told you I'm good with swords."
Ga-eul was a great student. She picked it up quick even with rough instructions and put it into practice right away. Questions nonstop too.
"This safe, right?"
"Never thought I'd be eating pigeon in my life."
"I'm not usually like this, okay? I love animals. Birds too. For real."
"Penguins especially. What animals you like, mister?"
...Was this college girl chatter? My mental HP would be zero. Teaching her was wearing me out.
"Hmm, good job."
"Easier than I thought. Like this?"
"Yeah, perfect."
"And mister, your praise game's weak. Be grateful for this face, human."
This punk? ...Embarrassing, but true. Couldn't argue.
Anyway, Ga-eul mastered butchering fast. Pigeons would be easy for her now.
"Sear the meat just enough so it's barely cooked."
"Taste good?"
"Dunno. Come crying if you get sick. Got meds."
Ga-eul flashed a sly smile.
"Hehe~ So if it hurts, I can crash in your room?"
"Fake it and I'll kick you out."
"...Cheater."
"What'd you say?"
"Idiot, moron, disgrace to men, eunuch."
"...If you wanna die that bad, just say so. Wouldn't have bothered teaching you."
"S-sorry...!"
I stretched her cheeks out. Look at that elasticity. Young skin's so taut.
"Ease up on the weird jokes. Guys like me who let it slide ain't common."
"Not joking! You think I throw myself at every dude?"
...Not? Gallery posts made it seem that way. Huge gap between her real life and online.
"Nah, but thinking about it, it's ridiculous! Why you gotta play hard to get? Betting on that face?"
"Weird?"
"Totally! How many girls like me are out there? Any guy'd pounce!"
"Not desperate enough to fall for a brat's seduction."
"Not a brat! Twenty-one!"
"Plenty bratty. Come back in five years at least."
"Who knows if we'll even be alive in five years..."
Ga-eul clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence. She knew she'd slipped.
Friends or not, some lines you don't cross.
"Han Ga-eul."
"Y-yeah?"
"C'mere."
She sidled up, gauging my mood. The height difference was stark up close.
"For real?"
"Y-yeah, h-huh...?"
"You ready for this? Dead serious?"
This time I closed in. She backed up a step. I pursued, pressing close. No escape now. I lifted her chin with my fingers.
Ga-eul's face flushed red.
"M-mister?"
"You started it. Gotta be prepared."
"Ah... w-wait... Eek!"
She squeezed her eyes shut like a kid scared of a forehead flick.
Seduction, my ass.
Her reaction screamed zero dating experience, let alone guys. I chuckled and let go, rubbing her crown instead like a massage.
"Eek! S-stop treating me like a kid... H-huh? Wait, that feels weird... stooop..."
Worked on stubborn juniors back in the day too. Ga-eul melted just like them.
"Th-think I'd cave to thiiiis..."
"Shut up and focus on surviving. Got it?"
"Y-yeah... got it, so stop the heaaad ruuub..."
I finally released her. She panted, staring like I was a monster.
"Hiding skills like that. Bet you were popular with girls back then."
"Want another round?"
"P-pass for now."
We wrapped up the chit-chat, cleaned, and stood. I gave her all the butchered pigeons.
"You sure you don't want any?"
"I'm good. Eat up."
"Still feels bad."
"Repay me by grinding zombies hard. Show me you can handle it, and I'll teach you fishing later."
"You fish too...?"
"Learned from a friend once. Got an extra rod with no owner. Perfect for you."
Did I make a weird face? Ga-eul gave a wry smile.
"...You really just see me as a kid, huh?"
"What else would I see a kid as?"
She snorted a laugh, then bowed deeply.
"Thanks a ton for teaching me all this today."
As she turned to leave, she flashed a playful grin.
"Hey, mister."
"Yeah."
"Wanna come to my place for peaches?"
"..."
"Ah— ack— head rubs are cheating...!"
Me rubbing her head, her taking it—we were both laughing. In a world like this, laughter mattered. People who forgot how to laugh died first.
In that sense, my neighbor might last a while.
Huh, so that's it.
Suddenly, I got why Ga-eul posted those pics in the gallery. Just like everyone, she was flailing to survive. Not against zombies, but the monster called loneliness.
That night after our day together, as expected, Ttakboki Jinri got active. But today's post was different from usual.
Standard reactions. Maelmang Gallery folks only knew Ttakboki Jinri.
Only I knew both the online her and Han Ga-eul. And it... didn't feel bad.
That rejection hit her hard, huh. Gotta feed her peaches later.
I hit recommend on the post while picturing flustered Han Ga-eul (Ttakboki Jinri). She even got called out for self-upvoting, but oh well—not my problem.