Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Picture Diary (2)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That guy standing at the door with a rotten expression on his face is my hyung, Wonseok.
Round glasses and wavy bob haircut.
He's got good fashion sense, stands tall at about 185 cm, and was pretty popular with the ladies, but he's a free spirit who's lived alone up to the ripe old age of 35 without ever dating.
I wonder if that's what my future looks like.
Man, getting caught crying my eyes out by that guy. I was so absorbed in the notebook that I let my guard down.
If I give the wrong answer here, I'm guaranteed to be his teasing material for the next ten years.
Just imagining the guild chat blowing up with lololol makes my vision spin already.
I've gotta play this off somehow.
"I was just yawning. Got a problem with that?"
"Yawning with tears streaming down your face, huh."
"It was a combo yawn. You got a problem?"
"What's up with you lately, Seonghyeon? You're doing all this stuff you never used to. Are you really going through menopause?"
"Come on, tears can happen with a yawn. Why make a big deal out of it?"
"That's one thing, but Suyeon came by the shop yesterday. Didn't you guys break up?"
"Suyeon came to your shop? Daytime or nighttime?"
"Night."
I was a little surprised to hear Suyeon's name come out of hyung's mouth.
His place is officially a bar, but it operates as a café during the day.
Coming at night means she was there to drink.
Why would Suyeon, who lives far away, come all the way to this neighborhood? It probably wasn't the booze—she must've been after Wonseok hyung.
Once, when we passed by his shop together, she mentioned it was a close hyung's place.
Did she come to ask him about me?
That's unexpected.
I figured the breakup wouldn't faze her at all. Why is that?
But I'm not gonna ask.
What's done is done.
"Got it. Just help me load these four boxes, yeah?"
"You're not gonna ask what Suyeon said?"
"What's the point? It's over anyway."
"Cold. But it didn't seem over on her end."
"What'd she say?"
"She was crying. Said you cussed her out and blocked her, that it shocked her bad. Like you'd never do that, right? Gotta be able to believe it."
She cried? That's out of left field.
I thought once we broke up, she'd happily move on to someone else without a second thought.
She always said I was lacking anyway.
Someone more laid-back, with cooler hobbies, a bit kinder and better at listening.
I didn't meet a single one of her standards.
What could she possibly be upset about enough to cry over?
Was getting cussed at and blocked that heartbreaking? Would she have smiled if I'd broken up more nicely?
I don't know.
I dragged out a relationship that ended ages ago for too long. I can't even imagine what she was feeling anymore.
It's been less than a week.
Now I don't even know what we were to each other.
Were we even dating?
In the last six months, she never really looked at me properly even once.
"Yeah, I cussed her out and blocked her."
"For real? Whoa, you can do that too? First new side of you in ten years... I'm shocked, so Suyeon must've been floored."
"Whatever. It ended a long time ago anyway. Better to cut it clean when you can, dragging it out just tires everyone."
"She looked like she might come back. What should I tell her if she does?"
"I told you, it's over. You're the one who has to treat customers."
"Sigh... Feels like I'm the only one getting screwed over someone else's love life... But damn, this is hilarious. Heh."
"If she shows up again, just give her a drink. She'll forget all about it in a few days anyway."
"How do you know?"
"Plenty of good guys out there to trip over, and I'm not one of them for Suyeon. Don't ask anything else right now—just help with these boxes. I don't wanna think."
"Fine, none of my business anyway. I just asked 'cause you were so whipped for her."
Yeah, right. You're just loving the gossip after so long.
Wonseok hyung started looking around the room without even trying to hide his grin.
Arms crossed, leaning against the door, no sign of helping with the packing.
Then he finally asked.
"So whose room is this? You hate goshiwons."
"Pokttal's."
"Pfft, what kinda name is Pokttal?"
"You kidding?"
"Wait... Pokttal? Kim Pokttal? This is Pokttal's room!?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, Pokttal lived in a goshiwon. But why're you moving her stuff? Where to?"
"Our place. We're gonna live together."
"..."
Wonseok hyung just shook his head side to side without a word, then started clapping.
He's dying of laughter inside.
The guy's whole year revolves around stirring up guild drama.
He'd charge into the colosseum chat at the drop of a hat—real-life cohabitation must be jackpot for him.
I knew he'd react like this, but I had to tell him eventually.
Shacking up without guild master's okay could get me kicked out, and I didn't wanna hide Dahye's situation from him anyway.
For all his antics, Wonseok hyung's the one I rely on most.
He's the only one who's jumped in to meddle whenever I've been down.
If I ever need help with Dahye's stuff, he'd be my first call.
Even if he pisses me off right now.
Look at that, that grin.
"You're doing all this new shit, it's hilarious. Fresh. Thrilling, Kwon Seonghyeon."
"I'm warning you now—if you spread this in guild, I'll go nuts."
"Whoa, how'd you know? I'm dying to log in right now."
"Serious warning. Don't."
"Why? Not squeaky clean, huh? Rebound shacking up?"
"Nothing like that. Goshiwon rent's pricey, I hate seeing Pokttal in one, so we're just room-sharing. Wait—did you know she was a girl?"
"Duh. We get personal info on guild joins."
"Yeah, now that you mention it."
"Pay attention to people around you. Everyone in guild figured it out quick—can't believe the closest guy didn't know."
"I was waiting for her to tell me. You know how close we are."
"Close, yeah. Skipping guild chat to duo everywhere. Ends in cohabitation."
"I'm heading down first. Grab a box."
Keep entertaining him and it'll never end.
I picked up two small boxes and left the room.
But no footsteps behind me. Looking back, hyung's just standing there by the door, not moving.
Chin in hand, lost in thought.
Then suddenly he yells at me.
"No way! The girl with you yesterday was Pokttal!?"
"You saw?"
"Dude, Pokttal's hot as hell. Thought she was some ad model you work with."
Ugh, I didn't mind him knowing about the cohabitation, but Dahye? No way.
His shop's in fashion district, but I figured she'd be asleep daytime.
Guess he saw our date.
"Whoa, Kwon Seonghyeon, you dog. How'd you snag her?"
"Snag what? I told you we're not dating."
"For real? Just room-sharing? You're not sleeping together at night?"
Ugh.
We do sleep together, but not like that—why does it stab at my conscience so hard?
My heart dropped for a second there from the shock.
But grit my teeth, don't let it show.
Can't let our Billion Saga life get wrecked by Pokttal and me. Never!
"What? You nuts?"
"Then what are you? Living with a girl nine years younger, not dating."
Good question. What even are Dahye and I?
Not dating, not crushing.
But friends? Hugging to sleep ain't that.
It's this twisted desire of hers and my complacency making some freaky bond.
Can't explain it any other way.
"Party members."
I thought that was a solid answer.
But Wonseok hyung's response made my heart drop again.
Thud!
"Just don't do any weird party play or whatever."
Ugh.
Keep this up and I might not hold my expression.
I haven't done a single shady thing to Dahye.
Why the guilt?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We set the stuff down in front of the house and I tried to send hyung off, but he rolled down the window, grinning.
"Seonghyeon, you sure I can't spread the word?"
"Obviously not."
"How about you two come to an offline meetup? Everyone's dying to see you guys."
"I'm fine with it—ask Pokttal."
"Cool, waiting on a yes. Oh, about Pokttal."
"Yeah? What's up with Pokttal?"
"Take good care of her. Logs in too much, rice-only diet every day—worrying. Ignores everyone but you, so you gotta look out."
"I will. Thanks for worrying."
"Worried about her, why you thanking me? You two dating for real?"
"Get lost!"
"Heading out~!"
Phew, finally gone.
Mountain climbed.
Told hyung about living with Dahye, tried to play it cool—think I did okay.
Heading up in the elevator, I thought it over.
Come to think of it, what are Dahye and I?
Why the guilt if it's nothing?
I'm just helping her out, she's prepping for independence at my place.
Sleeping together... just mutual aid.
I sleep, she borrows warmth.
No feelings, just fulfilling needs—why feel bad?
Be confident, Kwon Seonghyeon!
At the door, I punched in the code.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep.
Click!
Door opens, and my resolve from moments ago crumbles to dust.
"Seonghyeon! Welcome home, you worked hard!"
Because of the warmth monster charging straight into my arms.
I told her no skinship outside bed.
Sigh. Guess I need to remind myself too.
But looking at the back of Dahye's head as she hugs me, I finally get why the guilt hits.
Just tell her to set boundaries and back off.
Why do I wanna do this?
Dumb me's stroking her hair and smiling.
Am I really an idiot?
"I'm home."
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