HFS 38
by Emerlyn[Couple] Ittorang: Hello?
[Couple] Ittorang: This is Radish Market, right?
[You requested a trade with Seohee1]
[Seohee1 declined the trade.]
[You requested a trade with Seohee1]
[Seohee1 declined the trade]
[Couple] Ittorang: Why won’t you accept?
[Couple] Ittorang: I’m right here!
[Couple] Ittorang: Here.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, thinking Seo Hee-won hadn’t noticed him, jumped enthusiastically and used basic attacks to attract attention.
[Couple] Ittorang: Hello?
[Couple] Seohee1: No.
[Couple] Seohee1: That’s not it.
[Couple] Seohee1: Sigh…
[Couple] Seohee1: Come to Naram Station by 12 tomorrow.
[Couple] Seohee1: If you don’t show up, I’ll sell it to someone else.
Trading between characters in-game should count as meeting in person. Lee Cheong-hyeon scratched his cheek in embarrassment and replied that he understood.
* * *
“Hyung!”
As Lee Cheong-hyeon left home to head to the meeting place, he stopped at the sound of a familiar voice. Looking around, he saw Seo Hee-won peeking his head out from a car parked in front of the villa. Lee Cheong-hyeon quickly climbed into the passenger seat and cheerfully made small talk.
“Why did you come all the way here?”
“Just because. I had some extra time.”
Though his expression was indifferent, his voice sounded quite pleased. Perhaps that was why the face he was seeing for only the second time felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
“That’s good. There’s an Internet cafe nearby. Let’s trade there.”
“I don’t feel like trading anymore.”
Seo Hee-won replied brazenly while slowly driving the car. His voice was so nonchalant it was as if he had said, “Yeah, sure.” Lee Cheong-hyeon stammered in momentary confusion.
“Why, why…did you suddenly change your mind?”
“I think you lack manners, hyung.”
“…Me?”
Who else?
“Yes. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but you don’t ask how I’ve been, if I’ve eaten, or anything. You just get straight down to business.”
“Come on, we see each other every day in the game. What more is there to ask?”
“Ah, so heartless. Maybe I should sell it to someone else…”
As Seo Hee-won deliberately muttered loud enough for him to hear, Lee Cheong-hyeon startled and immediately put on a friendly voice.
“Our Seohee1, it’s been so long. First time since the meetup, right? How have you been? Have you eaten yet?”
“I haven’t. You haven’t had lunch yet either, right? Let’s go eat first.”
“The Internet cafe here has really good food…”
“…”
Seo Hee-won’s face turned cold.
“Not good, huh? So, what do you want to eat?”
“Western food would be nice, right?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon nodded with a “yes.” He had a feeling that to complete the trade successfully today, he would need to work hard to stay on Seo Hee-won’s good side.
The restaurant Seo Hee-won took him to was a Western-style place that looked expensive just from the exterior. It seemed like it would be popular for dates, and indeed, most of the customers inside were young couples. Guided to a table by a friendly server, Lee Cheong-hyeon sat down and opened the menu. As expected, the prices were quite burdensome for a single meal. Wondering if Seo Hee-won always ate at places like this, he stared at him, and Seo Hee-won, feeling the gaze, looked back.
“What? Don’t you like this place?”
“No, just wondering. Do you come here often?”
“First time. I usually eat near my home or order delivery. I don’t come to places like this unless it’s a special occasion.”
“So what’s special about today?”
“Today is…”
Seo Hee-won, half-hiding his face behind the menu, rolled his eyes as if thinking, then replied with a voice full of amusement.
“The day for Radish.”
That didn’t seem like something to say with such a pretty smile.
Seo Hee-won will probably pay.
During their time gaming together, Seo Hee-won consistently offered to buy meals as a way to request meeting up. Each time, Lee Cheong-hyeon always postponed with “Next time, when I have time.” It wasn’t that he didn’t want to meet with Seo Hee-won. Just…he’d rather spend that time playing more games.
“Order whatever you want. I said I’d pay next time, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
When Lee Cheong-hyeon responded with a bright smile, Seo Hee-won quickly averted his gaze. Resting his chin on one hand, he nervously folded and unfolded the menu, picked up and put down his water glass, all while stealing glances at Lee Cheong-hyeon.
Meanwhile, Lee Cheong-hyeon selected items from the menu without worry. Seo Hee-won obviously seemed well-off. The fact that he came to an expensive restaurant for a trivial reason like “Yeongeun day” suggested that a meal at a place like this wouldn’t even make a dent in his financial situation.
There was some embarrassment in being treated by someone two years younger, but this wasn’t the time to worry about that. Today, Lee Cheong-hyeon was planning to pay Seo Hee-won a large sum. The scary part was not knowing exactly how much it would be.
After arranging to meet and trade, Lee Cheong-hyeon had asked how much Seo Hee-won wanted for the [Flying Puppy], but he hadn’t answered yet. He had no other choice but to agree when Seo Hee-won suggested discussing it in person. If the deal fell through, Lee Cheong-hyeon would end up being the disappointed one.
Most of the food that arrived on the table was consumed by Lee Cheong-hyeon. Seo Hee-won, with his small appetite, only pretended to eat by nibbling, and eventually just watched Lee Cheong-hyeon eat. After the meal, Lee Cheong-hyeon approached Seo Hee-won as he finished paying.
“That was delicious. Shall we go to the Internet cafe now?”
At those words, Seo Hee-won’s already sharp eyes narrowed further. Until just a moment ago, his face had shown traces of a smile, but now it had suddenly turned fierce.
“Is that all you can talk about right after a meal?”
What else was there to talk about? Lee Cheong-hyeon blankly stared at Seo Hee-won, who was inexplicably angry.
“Well, we met today to trade, so…”
“All you can think about is buying that item, right? Do you know how much trouble I went through to find this…well, not that much, actually. But I specifically showed it to you first because I was thinking of you. Don’t you think you’re being too cold? You never showed your face even when I offered to buy you food, and now that you’ve finally come out, all you’re thinking about is completing the trade and going home.”
“…”
…Is that so? Was I too cold…He came to pick me up and even bought me food, and all I talked about was trading?
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had spent so much time with Seo Hee-won in-game that it had become tedious, had grown overly accustomed to their couple roleplay. Because of this, he didn’t find anything particularly strange about Seo Hee-won’s complaints, which sounded like someone expressing disappointment to their partner.
Seo Hee-won’s complaints poured out without stopping. Why are you so cut-and-dry, it makes me feel hurt, I was going to give you a good price because of our relationship, but if you’re like this I’ll have no other choice but to sell it at a heartless price. And so on…
Lee Cheong-hyeon flinched at the last comment, but sensed that now wasn’t the time to bring up the price. Inside Lee Cheong-hyeon’s head, dormant brain cells awakened. These long-inactive cells began working vigorously, commanding him to say something else, cells he used to employ when dating.
“Were you hurt? Mmm, I’m sorry. Should we go to a café and talk? It’s cold out here.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon was adjusting the lapel of Seo Hee-won’s coat when he paused. Right in front of him was Seo Hee-won’s Adam’s apple. Frozen for a moment, Lee Cheong-hyeon blinked, then looked down at his own hand gripping the edge of the coat. Returning his gaze forward to the prominent feature, then up to Seo Hee-won’s face. As if following this gaze, Seo Hee-won’s Adam’s apple bobbed once.
…What am I doing with a guy who’s taller than me?
Unable to understand his own actions, Lee Cheong-hyeon tilted his head to one side, feeling confused. The strange feeling didn’t last long, as Seo Hee-won primly replied, “Yes, well,” allowing him to quickly shake off the odd sensation. Seo Hee-won’s ears were bright red, perhaps from the cold.
The two entered a café filled with a warm atmosphere, ordered hot drinks, and sat across from each other. At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s suggestion, they also shared a slice of cake loaded with chocolate.
Seo Hee-won continuously asked Lee Cheong-hyeon various questions. Most were about things Lee Cheong-hyeon liked. This was different from their first meeting at the offline gathering. At that time, Seo Hee-won had mostly kept his mouth shut like someone in a bad mood, but whether he was in a particularly good mood today or had been in a bad mood that day, it was hard to tell. After remaining in the café for a long while even after finishing their drinks, Seo Hee-won checked the time and spoke.
“Should we go now?”
“…I guess so?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon put the small piece of cake Seo Hee-won had left on the plate into his mouth in one bite and stood up. He cautiously observed Seo Hee-won’s reaction. Are we finally going to trade now? Will he get angry again if I mention the Internet café? He wanted to ask if they were going to the Internet café but needed to be careful moving forward, not knowing what reaction that might provoke.
They had eaten at an excellent restaurant with great taste and atmosphere, and Seo Hee-won’s expression had been pleasant throughout their conversation at the café. This seemed like enough time spent together that he wouldn’t be called heartless anymore…Lee Cheong-hyeon pondered if there were any other places they could go.
…Movie theater?
After following Hee-won into the car, Lee Cheong-hyeon carefully asked, “Where are we going now…?”
Seo Hee-won just grinned without answering. So it is a movie after all. Lee Cheong-hyeon leaned back into the seat, thinking he was fortunate not to have mentioned the Internet café.