End of the Golden Holiday
Recently, Han Jiyeon had been in a great mood.
It was partly because school was out, giving her a golden holiday to play Overlant with a clear mind. But the biggest reason was that she and Siwoo were keeping in steady contact.
She was proud of Siwoo for boldly becoming a pro gamer. He looked so cool dominating OCK with his overwhelming skill.
He's charging toward league first place!
With her friend soaring in the pro scene of the game he loved so much, how could she not be thrilled?
And she was grateful that Siwoo kept messaging her consistently, even during this tough adjustment period.
In reality, pro gamers often drift away from society and school, losing touch with old friends. Pros tend to bond more with fellow players than school buddies from back in the day.
The distance just makes it that way.
But Siwoo was different. He stayed in touch not just with her, but with all his other friends too.
Hadn't they even planned to hang out today?
Sure, time might wear things down eventually, but she didn't think Siwoo was the type.
I've known him for years!
Han Jiyeon puffed out her chest proudly.
They were practically childhood friends. They'd gone from elementary to high school together.
They hadn't gotten really close until recently, but they'd known of each other for nearly a decade.
That's why she knew. Siwoo might lack a bit of confidence, but he was affectionate, valued his friends, had a strong sense of responsibility, and was considerate of others.
Years of watching him gave her that certainty.
"Hehe."
A laugh bubbled up naturally.
Best friends with a pro gamer who's bombing the domestic scene—who wouldn't envy that?
Of course, she wasn't keeping the friendship just to brag. Siwoo was a good guy with a kind heart, and that's why she wanted to stay connected.
Who wouldn't want to hold onto a bond with someone great?
Anyway, was that why?
"Did I come too early?"
At the café near their meetup spot, Han Jiyeon gazed out the glass window, fixing her bangs.
Their lunch appointment wasn't for another half hour, but excitement to see Siwoo had her leaving home at 11.
Now she was thirty minutes in, just fiddling with her smartphone.
"Hmm."
Bored, she toyed with her phone and naturally opened KakaoTalk. Yesterday's chat with Siwoo scrolled into view.
His flirting still cracks me up.
She giggled at Siwoo's joke from yesterday. She'd laughed for ages then too. He was just too adorable.
Was he serious? Or joking?
She couldn't read his intentions, but it was fun. The way he'd changed as they grew closer was cute too.
Come to think of it, what does he think of me?
She'd pondered this all day yesterday, but her curiosity remained unsatisfied.
If anything, it had only grown.
Does he just see me as a good friend?
He messaged steadily, so maybe he liked her...?
Hmm, no clue.
Han Jiyeon closed her phone. What answers would come from mulling it over now?
Siwoo was already hard to read, always hiding his feelings.
...But that thought didn't last long.
Ding-a-ling—
The café door chime rang out. Han Jiyeon looked up instinctively. Siwoo was walking in.
"Siwoo!"
"Huh?"
Siwoo startled and spotted her, then hurried over and sat across from her.
"What? Why are you here already? We've still got twenty minutes till the meetup time."
"I was excited to see you, so I left early. Why'd you come so soon?"
Siwoo's face stiffened at her reply. His eyes widened, lips parting slightly.
"Uh, just...?"
He mumbled awkwardly. Han Jiyeon poked fun at him, chuckling.
"You came early 'cause you wanted to hang out with me, right?"
"...Well, yeah."
"Then say it like yesterday. Flirting!"
"That's a bit..."
"Ehh, I was looking forward to it—did you quit already?"
"Ahem."
Siwoo flushed, turning his gaze away sheepishly. His lack of boldness was cute too. Han Jiyeon laughed and changed the subject.
"Hehe, kidding. Don't order drinks. Let's head straight to lunch."
"Sounds good?"
"Yeah. I'm hungry."
"Then let's go quick."
They could chat over food. The golden holiday was only on day two anyway.
The word "Seol" connects to "seolda" (new), "unfamiliar," and "not yet accustomed." It carries the meaning of a fresh year.
Another interpretation traces it to "seonnal" (first day), the day that opens first.
It evokes the sense of being the day that first unlocks the new year.
In tradition, Seol wasn't just a single day. It spanned from New Year's Day to the full moon on the fifteenth—a long, drawn-out celebration in itself.
So it was natural for the festive air and sentiment to linger subtly for days after Seol proper ended.
Thus, Seol was seen as a "boundary moment" where the old year's energy yielded to the new.
In that sense, Seol passing meant the boundary closing and daily life resuming.
In other words...
The sweet-as-honey holiday was over.
Back already...?
The golden holiday felt painfully short.
Spending time with family made it fly by in a blink.
She and Jiyeon hit the capsule room for Overlant, bowled, explored local eats—washing away built-up fatigue.
He'd strolled the streets with Mom, watched his big sister study for her college return.
Good times flew fast.
Anyway.
On the last day of the holiday, Siwoo returned to the team HQ. To keep his senses sharp, he came a day early for ranked games.
Family time, Jiyeon hangout, holiday fun—now back to work. Siwoo had become the model pro gamer.
Even if it was just his second month.
Unfortunately, few others had returned. It was just him and Ho-jong hyung. No manager or staff either.
The chef who always cooked was on break too, so lunch meant eating out or delivery.
"Have fun on break?"
At Kaiserst dorms.
Ho-jong hyung asked.
"Eh, so-so."
"Met up with your girlfriend good?"
"Pfft...!"
Siwoo choked on his lemonade in shock, sputtering a bit.
"Girlfriend? What girlfriend?"
"What, not official yet? That friend from the call last time."
"What're you talking about...?"
Siwoo frowned, but Ho-jong hyung grinned slyly.
"Then you're in the talking stage?"
"No."
"Nah, you are. My instincts don't lie."
Siwoo avoided eye contact, focusing on his lemonade. But Ho-jong hyung pressed on.
"So, what stage you at? Starting to see each other as guy and girl?"
"What."
"C'mon, be real. No one's around—hyung'll advise."
"Advise on what."
"Quit playing dumb. Romance! You reek of it."
"Quit with the 'eternal solo' vibes every dawn... You still watching romance flicks, hyung?"
Siwoo sighed, shaking his head. When would this hyung's romance DNA fade? He'd been persistent lately.
Reluctantly, Siwoo answered.
"Just friends. She's also my benefactor."
"Benefactor?"
"She counseled me when I was debating pro gaming."
"Thanks to her you went pro?"
"Yeah."
"Oho, gotta be grateful then."
Ho-jong hyung sipped his iced Americano and continued.
"Girl?"
"Yeah."
"Ooo...!"
His eyes lit up.
"You like her?"
"Why's it going there."
"C'mon, spill."
Should he answer?
Felt like he absolutely shouldn't get caught...
Siwoo eyed Ho-jong hyung. His gaze burned with determination not to let go till he answered.
"...Yeah."
Overcoming embarrassment, Siwoo admitted. Ho-jong hyung's persistence won out.
"Kya, nice. Met alone during break?"
"Yeah, just us."
"Basic affection locked in then."
"Is it...?"
"Yep!"
Tap. Tap.
Ho-jong hyung drummed the table with fingertips, stroking his chin with the other hand. Narrowed brows suggested deep thought.
"Need details on your meets."
"What meets."
"How'd you first meet?"
"How? At school."
"When?"
"First grade elementary."
Ho-jong hyung's eyes sparkled again.
"Same middle and high too?"
"Yeah. Not close though."
"Connection solid, plot checks out."
Snap! He flicked his fingers.
"When'd you get close?"
"During winter class tournament."
Truth be told, up to middle school they were just faces. No real overlap, and kids teased for talking to girls.
Real talks started around third year middle? Teasing had died down by then.
High school, she helped him adjust big time.
"Not that long then?"
Ho-jong hyung groaned.
"Yeah. Last winter. Three months now?"
"Angle's tricky. But distance is close?"
"Pretty close...? She even made me an OCK player notebook when I went pro."
"Did that hassle? Pure devotion!"
Ho-jong hyung propped his chin on steepled fingers. Like an anime villain hearing the hero's bold move.
"She's into you big time. Why else that notebook?"
"...Not just helping?"
Siwoo tilted his head. She loved esports and Overlant—maybe she enjoyed making it?
She'd said so herself.
"Tsk tsk, that's the virgin mind for ya."
Ho-jong hyung disagreed.
"Girls don't waste time. She's interested, so she helped. Pro counseling too, right?"
Was that it? Siwoo nodded tentatively.
"Yeah."
"See? She's into you."
"That straightforward...?"
"Yes!"
Ho-jong hyung raised his voice. Clearly hyped. He never got this loud in games—was romance talk pumping dopamine?
The doubt passed quick. Calming, he spoke steadily.
"You need a hook right now."
"Hook?"
"Yeah. Something to etch you in her mind."
Siwoo tilted his head again. What was hyung on about?
What's a hook?
As the question swirled, Ho-jong hyung continued.
"You're jabbing, testing waters. Aware of each other now. Land a strong hook, she starts falling."
"...Strong?"
Two months with coach turning his speech weird? Random boxing metaphors.
But it clicked oddly well.
"How'd you know from bits? Lotsa dating experience?"
"Nah, virgin here too. But I've binged Soloda and romance movies."
"... "
Siwoo sighed deeply.
"...Gonna run ranked."
"Wait, not done!"
"More's pointless."
Ho-jong hyung grabbed his sleeve desperately, but Siwoo was done talking.
His fault for trusting hyung...
Still, advice on needing a strong hook to advance things? Kinda helpful maybe?
Anyway.
Thus, the golden holiday ended.