LG Chapter 45

Translator: She.Wee

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Chapter: 45

The rank-and-file guild members of Doom began to gradually drop out, worn out by the relentless attacks that came their way at every turn. It was only natural that the guild’s ranking started to fall as a result. When word spread that Doom had already been pushed out of the top 100, it almost started to seem pitiful. Then, right in front of the Isis Tavern, I ran into InvisibleMan. To make matters worse, Cheon Noeul was with me, creating an awkward three-way encounter.

Noeul was the first to stop and speak.

[Global] Sunset: Hello there^^

[Global] InvisibleMan: …;

Kyungsoo, who had intended to just pass by, had no choice but to turn back. The guy was someone you couldn’t take your eyes off, not even for a second. Members of Doom, unable to access their guild zone, were scattered across towns or fields where PvP wasn’t allowed. InvisibleMan was with another guild member who had the “AFK” title above their head.

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and come here.

[Global] InvisibleMan: Don’t go, wait a sec. I’ve got something to say.

[Global] Sunset: ?

[Global] Sunset: Spill it…ㅇㅅㅇ

Noeul, as if issuing a warning, played a skill that cast a curse buff on InvisibleMan. It was pointless, of course; no attacks worked here anyway.

[Global] InvisibleMan: I killed you.

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: ?

[Global] InvisibleMan: It was me who killed you that night and then ran off;;

Though I had suspected as much, I hadn’t expected him to outright confess. It was a bit surprising. He didn’t seem to be trying to apologize, though.

[Global] InvisibleMan: Satisfied?

[Global] Sunset: What’s supposed to be satisfying about that…

[Global] InvisibleMan: Just kill me and be done with it. Why go after everyone else?

[Global] Sunset: Meowie hates you guys LOL

[Global] InvisibleMan: ;; Then at least unblock whispers so we can talk.

[Global] Sunset: Meowie doesn’t like me talking to othersㅇㅅㅇ!

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: …?

[Global] InvisibleMan: ㅡㅡ

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: Hey, why are you dragging me into this mess?

[Global] Sunset: HAHA ♡!!

While Sunset wasn’t as excessive as Cheon Noeul, his quick slots still featured plenty of emoticons. Suspended in midair, Sunset landed on the ground, seemingly ready to do something. He soon used the “Kiss” emoticon, planting a kiss on MeowieMeowMeow’s cheek.

[Global] GreenEnergy: Ugh, my eyes…

[Global] HitMeAndYou’reADummy: Gross, I’m gagging.

[Global] PeaPea: Unbelievable.

[Guild] PeaPea: Channel 3, in front of the Isis Tavern, Sunset’s kissing Meowie!

“……”

Ignoring others’ reactions, my chest churned as if I was seasick from such a trivial act. In the past, I would’ve dismissed it as the behavior of a lunatic, but now I couldn’t help but assign meaning to every little thing Noeul did. And when I realized what I was doing, I wanted to tear my hair out.

[Guild] Ji9star: Too mundane, awarding you the Boredom Prize. See ya~

[Guild] PeaPea: But InvisibleMan is here too.

[Guild] Ji9star: On my way.

[Guild] PeaPea: LMFAO

[Guild] Neutaaaa: Are we ditching? Finish the run first T^T

[Guild] Ji9star: lol Solo it, honey><

[Guild] HalloweenEggplant: Don’t all crowd over; it’ll look bad. I’ll stop here^^

[Guild] ParkRoach: I’ve been here since the day before yesterday hehe

[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: Stop coming here, dammit;;

Most guild members online rushed over to watch. I had no idea what was so entertaining about it.

[Global] InvisibleMan: Stop being lovey-dovey in front of me, you wannabe-character freak.

[Global] Ji9star: When’s the fight? When’s the fight? When’s the fight? When’s the fight?

[Global] HalloweenEggplant: Someone just explode already, please!ㅎㅎ

Instead of replying, Noeul used the “Cute Pose” emoticon, with a character rubbing their cheek against their shoulder adorably. Without thinking, I muttered, “That’s cute,” before yanking my hair to snap myself out of it.

[Global] GreenEnergy: What the hell are you guys even doing, seriously.

[Global] InvisibleMan: I told you to stop it, you dead man walking.

For reasons only known to him, Noeul continued to spam emoticons, and InvisibleMan kept responding with a string of curses. Suddenly, the two of them disappeared.

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: ?

[Global] HalloweenEggplant: The abandoned Meowie scans the surroundings nervously… (Narration)

[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: Shut up.

[Global] HalloweenEggplant: LOL fine, I’ll shut up T_T

It seemed they had moved to a one-on-one PvP. Alone amidst the crowd, I stood awkwardly by myself.

“One-on-one… I used to do that a lot too.”

To be precise, it was more me picking fights with Cheon Noeul because I couldn’t control my temper. Memory has a way of glorifying things. Looking back, it felt almost nostalgic, though I still couldn’t fathom how he had played so convincingly as if he were bad at the game.

“…Seeing Noeul again like thi—ahhh!!!”

I slammed my head onto my desk, shaking it furiously. No! I hate this! I buried my face in my arms, flailing and shouting. The act of reassuring myself it wasn’t true only made me think of Noeul more.

I started to wonder—was this really what it felt like to like someone? Or had I just been brainwashed? …No, it didn’t seem like that. I needed some definitive moment to confirm my feelings.

[Server] Sunset: The Doom bounty event ends early~!!

With a server-wide microphone announcement, the two who had vanished earlier reappeared.

[Global] Ji9star: Nooo T^T

[Global] Neutaaaa: It was fun while it lasted….

[Global] HotCat: Did he just call it an event himself? LOL

The guild mark above InvisibleMan’s head disappeared—he had quit the guild.

“…Wasn’t he the vice-guild master?”

[Global] InvisibleMan: MeowieMeowMeow, you’re not at fault, but I’m sorry for killing you while AFK and running off….

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: ?

[Global] InvisibleMan: I couldn’t forget about apologizing. The real problem was that damn Sunset, but you were a victim too, and I took it out on you in a fit of anger at dawn. I’m sorry.

Amid the murmuring crowd, Noeul, oblivious to the tension, used the “Kiss” emoticon again.

[Global] MeowieMeowMeow: Stop it—ㅡㅡ

After sending that message, I widened my eyes. “This is it!” I thought. If I kissed him, I might finally know. With Noeul repeatedly pestering me for kisses, it wouldn’t be hard to test.

[Whisper] InvisibleMan: Good luck with him;;

Later that evening, InvisibleMan posted a formal apology on the game’s forums. Hidden within was a subtle mention that Noeul had blackmailed him into quitting the guild for the sake of minimizing damage. It also included a detailed narrative of his own love story with GreenAppleBlue.

“Apple, I miss you. I was serious.;; If you come back, will you date me this time?^-^”

But GreenAppleBlue, who had already quit both the guild and the game, didn’t reply. The comment section was filled with laughter and screenshots of iconic moments, propelling the post to fourth place on the monthly best list.

—

To execute his plan, Kyungsoo needed a certain level of determination. Although he had kissed Noeul countless times, those moments had been possible only because he hadn’t been overthinking them. What had seemed trivial at the time now felt profoundly significant upon reflection.

Every time Kyungsoo met Noeul, he found himself staring at Noeul’s lips all day. It wasn’t intentional. In fact, he only realized his actions when Noeul gave him a peculiar look. Noeul no longer initiated kisses. Before, he used to hold Kyungsoo tightly, refusing to let him go without at least a quick kiss on the cheek before saying goodbye. Now, even when he lingered awkwardly by the front door, hoping for Noeul to make the first move, Noeul would simply open the door politely and bid him farewell.

Kyungsoo thought this couldn’t go on. So, he lied, saying he was visiting his parents’ house, and spent an entire day holed up at home. Noeul couldn’t hide his disappointment, but Kyungsoo was just as upset. He says he likes me. If that’s the case, why isn’t he doing the things he used to? It’s baffling.

By the fourth day, Kyungsoo felt like he was turning into a zombie. His daily routine was in shambles, with him repeatedly dozing off and waking up during the day. His game login times became erratic, and he often failed to respond to texts promptly.

How long has it been since I last saw him?

Though it had only been four days, it felt like a month. The quiet around him felt eerie. As soon as the thought of wanting to see Noeul crossed his mind, Kyungsoo buried himself deeper under his blanket. He must be sleep-deprived, he reasoned.

Another three days passed, and a new month began. On the second Wednesday of March, Kyungsoo showed up at school with dark circles under his eyes. Barely making it in time to avoid being late, he walked into the classroom, prompting his friends to gasp.

“What happened to you?” they teased, but Kyungsoo didn’t have the energy to respond. He certainly couldn’t admit he was lovesick over a boy a year younger than him. Even their homeroom teacher’s advice to focus on his studies now that they were seniors fell on deaf ears.

“Kyungsoo, are you signing up for evening study sessions?”

“Do you think I would?”

“You really should.”

“Fuck off.”

Propping his chin on his hand, Kyungsoo muttered absentmindedly.

“Your lip’s bleeding.”

“….”

It must have been from biting his lip continuously. Hearing Suyoung’s comment, Kyungsoo ran a finger over his lower lip. It stung slightly. If I kissed him like this, it would hurt more. Noeul must’ve gone to school today. Should I call him after school? And if we meet… will we kiss today?

“Ugh, this is pathetic.”

Kyungsoo hated himself for even entertaining such thoughts. Asking Noeul for a kiss felt too desperate. What if he doesn’t like me? What if it was just curiosity? That would be torture. Letting out a long sigh, Kyungsoo groaned.

“What’s pathetic? Your life?”

“Yeah. Now fuck off.”

“Oh, darling… By the way, can you win me a claw machine prize after school?”

Suyoung slid into the seat next to Kyungsoo, leaning his head on Kyungsoo’s shoulder. Kyungsoo flicked him off with disdain.

“Gross.”

“You can leave after you win it for me. Juhyun really wanted one, but I couldn’t get it for her. I feel bad.”

“Why should I win something for your girlfriend? No way. I’ve got plans after school.”

“Please, hyung! You’re so good at it….”

“….”

Hearing Suyoung call him hyung reminded Kyungsoo of Noeul’s voice. The word sounded different coming from Noeul’s lips—there was a unique resonance to it that no one else’s could replicate.

“All right, fine, just don’t call me that.”

“So, you’ll come?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kyungsoo replied dismissively. He decided that only Noeul could call him hyung from now on.

—

“That’s not it! The stupid bunny with the tiny eyes next to it!”

“I need to stack the prizes first to get that one.”

“Stack them? Then why’d you get these?”

Suyoung held up two small plushies and complained.

“I can’t control what gets picked up if it’s in the way. Put in another 5,000 won.”

Kyungsoo expertly maneuvered the joystick, crushing the candy in his mouth before swallowing it. As Suyoung carried the plushies Kyungsoo had already won, the claw grabbed the bunny’s head. Suyoung gasped in excitement. A few college students, likely visiting after lunch, started watching Kyungsoo in action.

“Hey, friend, move a little more to the left.”

“If you get that Squirtle, I’ll buy it from you for 10,000 won.”

“No, not there! A bit back! Yes, there!”

Ignoring the random advice from the onlookers, Kyungsoo stacked several plushies to create a tower. Successfully pulling the bunny plush to the top, he noticed a smaller, light-pink bunny plush underneath, its eyes closed in a gentle smile.

It looks like him.

“Hey, what are you doing? Just knock the stack down now.”

“I want the one underneath. I still have a few tries left.”

Checking the remaining attempts, Kyungsoo saw the number 4 in bright red next to the release button. It was more than enough. I have to get it. I’ll give it to Noeul and take a picture. With its round blush marks, it’ll look even cuter—or sillier.

With renewed determination, Kyungsoo gripped the joystick again. The claw grabbed the plush firmly, but as it lifted, it slipped and dropped. Everyone around the machine groaned in disappointment. On his last attempt, Kyungsoo nudged the bunny closer to the exit.

The claw struck the tower, sending several plushies tumbling into the prize chute. Finally, the light-pink bunny also fell.

—

Squatting down, Kyungsoo reached deep into the chute to retrieve the plush. He smiled in satisfaction as he held it up. Just then, someone crouched next to him and spoke.

“Hyung, what are you doing here?”

“Ugh.”

It was Noeul. Why was he here? Startled, Kyungsoo glanced between the bunny plush and Noeul. Pouting, Noeul muttered, “You ignored my calls to play with claw machines?”

“….”

“Good thing I spotted you while passing by. You’re avoiding me, aren’t you?”

Had Noeul called? Kyungsoo must have missed it since his phone was buried in his bag. Noticing the bunny plush in Kyungsoo’s hand, Noeul scoffed.

“What’s this? It’s so ugly.”

Ugly? It looks like you, Kyungsoo thought. “…Want it?”

Standing up, Kyungsoo asked casually, intending to force it on him even if he refused. To his surprise, Noeul’s eyes widened. He smiled brightly, nodding enthusiastically as he accepted the plush.

“What’s with him…?”

Hearing the comment, Kyungsoo turned. Noeul’s schoolmates were staring at them in confusion. Meanwhile, Suyoung was busy sending photos of his plushies to his girlfriend. Noeul hugged the bunny tightly, his lips pressed together as if to keep from smiling too much. Kyungsoo’s heart tightened.

“I’m doomed…,” he muttered unconsciously. The fluttering sensation he had been feeling lately was becoming unbearable. Not understanding it made it even worse.

“Who’s doomed? You, hyung?”

This time, Kyungsoo resolved. He couldn’t go on like this. Noeul was driving him insane. Even sleeping or gaming couldn’t offer peace. At this rate, he wouldn’t live long.

“…I need to confirm something.”

“Confirm?”

Noeul tilted his head slightly.

“Yeah, confirm. So, let’s head to your place first.”

“…Alright!”

Kyungsoo snatched his bag from Suyoung and grabbed Noeul’s wrist, striding out of the claw machine arcade. Noeul followed him, glancing down at his wrist held by Kyungsoo, his face breaking into a wide smile for some reason.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The remaining group, seeing their friend’s unfamiliar expression, were left speechless, their faces frozen in bewilderment.

Kyungsoo threw his bag into the shoe rack, grabbed Noeul by the shoulders, and pushed him against the wall. Noeul, caught off guard, ended up pressed against the wall, his hands covering his mouth as he struggled to stifle his laughter.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“Because I like you.”

“…I know. I know you like me.”

Kyungsoo murmured seriously. Yes, it should have ended at just knowing that Cheon Noeul liked him. It should never have become mutual.

Could this shit be contagious too?

The moment he was about to kiss him, Kyungsoo hesitated. What if Noeul’s feelings had actually transferred to him? What would he do then? Feeling restless, Kyungsoo loosened the tie that felt like it was choking him.

Noeul glanced at Kyungsoo’s disheveled shirt and asked softly,

“…What exactly are you planning to do to me?”

If anyone overheard, they might think Kyungsoo was up to no good. Trying to reassure Noeul, Kyungsoo answered gently,

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything serious. Just close your eyes for a bit.”

“No.”

Noeul stared straight at him, his smile still lingering.

“…Fair enough.”

It didn’t really matter if his eyes were open. Though it was a bit embarrassing and awkward. If it wasn’t true, that would be great. If it was… he’d think about it then.

With one hand gripping Noeul’s shoulder, Kyungsoo leaned in. But suddenly, Noeul turned his head sharply.

“What now?”

“Not without compensation.”

“What?”

This from the guy who kissed him whenever he pleased without any warning or explanation. Faced with this blatant double standard, Kyungsoo was at a loss for words.

“Take off the remaining 400 years. If you do that, I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Honestly, you were the one who went too far with the 7,500-year deal.”

“You’re worse for cutting it down by 7,000 years in one go.”

“I don’t care. Am I supposed to reincarnate dozens of times? And you haven’t even told me what it is we’re trying to confirm. At least tell me that much.”

If Kyungsoo said it, everything would fall apart. It was bad enough as it was; telling Noeul would mean handing over his life to him. That was the one thing he couldn’t allow.

“That’s… personal. I can’t tell you.”

“Then leave. I want to be alone.”

Noeul murmured as he lowered his gaze. As if to emphasize his point, he hugged the stuffed toy Kyungsoo had won for him even tighter.

…This brat. Dumbfounded, Kyungsoo could only let out a dry laugh.

“Why do you suddenly want to be alone?”

“Because I’m heartbroken that you rejected me.”

“You bastard!”

Kyungsoo grabbed Noeul by the collar. Noeul, still stubborn, turned his head away and clamped his lips shut. All Kyungsoo could see were those red lips, moving as Noeul talked or pouting when sulking. It was driving him crazy.

“Fine! 400 years!”

Not even realizing what he was saying, Kyungsoo shouted impulsively. Noeul’s expression brightened as he parted his lips, seemingly about to say something. But Kyungsoo wasn’t patient enough to wait.

He tilted his head and pressed their lips together. It was the first time he’d initiated a kiss, and the feeling was strange. He nibbled gently at Noeul’s lips and brushed them softly with his tongue, repeating the motion as if it were his first time kissing. Noeul, in turn, entwined his tongue with Kyungsoo’s. He thought he’d be fine, but the sweetness made him feel like he was melting. A warmth welled up in his lower abdomen, and he pulled Noeul closer by the neck, his lips trembling as the kiss deepened.

This isn’t right. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be…

It was normal for Cheon Noeul to feel this way, but Kyungsoo was supposed to remain unaffected. Yet, his lips quivered with the strange sensation.

Noeul pulled back slightly, his long, elegant fingers brushing Kyungsoo’s cheek. Their faces were so close that Kyungsoo could feel Noeul’s breath. Gently cradling his cheek, Noeul whispered,

“Hyung… do you like me?”

—

[Online Post]:

Hello everyone. I’m just a normal high school guy. Please help me… So, I kissed a younger friend (he’s a guy and a year younger than me;;), and yeah, he does like me… (I don’t though). When we kissed before, I didn’t feel much, but today it felt really;;;; good…;;; So, I ran away mid-kiss, but now I’m panicking about tomorrowㅠㅠ Do I like him? Or could it be because I really hated it…?

Kyungsoo closed his eyes tightly and hit the Enter key. Moments later, notifications for replies popped up on his phone screen one after another.

-“Ugh, gross gay dude.”

Reported asshole.

-“0%.”

Lazy Asshole.

-“Hello, normal high school guy. Hmm… is this your diary?^^ You seem to already know the answer. Yes, you like him (this is what you wanted to hear, right?ㅎㅎ). If you really hated it, you wouldn’t have felt ‘nothing’ during your first kiss. Plus, if your younger friend already likes you, then it’s mutual. (Congratulations!) This was a funny question, so I had fun answering it. No need to select me as the best answerㅎㅎ. Good luck!”

…Creative Asshole.

-“LOL, this is hilarious. Just have a beautiful relationship~^^”

“Aaaahhh! Noooo!”

Kyungsoo screamed, clutching his face. He’d always wanted a pretty, kind girlfriend who liked games. But now it seemed like he was going to end up with a pretty, kind boyfriend who liked games. The gap between his expectations and reality was just too cruel!

—

“I have good news.”

“Spit it out.”

“Hyung likes me.”

“….”

Minjae silently took out his earphones, plugged them in, and slumped over his desk as if to say, “Don’t talk to me anymore.”

Unbothered, Noeul smiled as he plotted to make Kyungsoo propose to him during the Valentine’s Day event. More eyes than usual lingered on his rare smiling face, but he ignored them effortlessly, used to such attention.

Noeul often found Kyungsoo’s behavior puzzling. The way he patted his back felt cautious, and his usually sharp eyes softened when looking at him. He was probably not imagining it.

Kyungsoo had become oddly lenient with him. Even a slight smile would soften his expression, and when Noeul pretended to sulk, Kyungsoo would bite his lip, visibly distressed.

Clearly… something was changing.

In Noeul’s mind, several ways to make Kyungsoo open up and share his feelings floated around, but he quickly abandoned the idea. If there was something he wanted, his strategy was to confront it until he got it. After all, time was abundant, and he was certain that, in the end, everyone would love him. More than that, he wanted to see more of Kyungsoo’s kind side.

On his birthday, Noeul planned to go down to where Kyungsoo was. The thought of seeing him after so long made his steps quicken from early in the morning. When he arrived, he found unexpected guests and Kyungsoo hiding from them. After chasing the intruders out, he found Kyungsoo, crumpled in a closet, and it truly felt like a gift.

“Happy birthday. The gift is…”

“My gift is you.”

It was a spur-of-the-moment confession. Kyungsoo frowned and denied it, probably thinking that Noeul had meant he wanted Kyungsoo as a gift.

“How could you say that?” Noeul thought, simple and straightforward but warm. He was only growing fonder of him with each passing day. Maybe he had learned how to captivate someone without them even realizing it.

Noeul also found hope in the fact that Kyungsoo had purposely come early just to celebrate his birthday. So, he casually asked, “Do you dislike me?”

“No… it’s not that.”

If it were earlier, Kyungsoo would have probably reacted with something like “Ugh” or “Of course not.” Instead, he took a bigger risk. When Noeul asked for a kiss, Kyungsoo’s eyes widened in shock. Noeul heard him mutter something familiar, wondering if he had lost his mind. Maybe it was a little too much for now, but Kyungsoo hesitated for a moment before kissing him first. A few days later, he even called Noeul pretty. Noeul had heard that word dozens, maybe hundreds of times from others, but hearing it from Kyungsoo made it feel incredibly special.

“Pretty…”

That night, Noeul’s heart raced so much that he couldn’t sleep.

Then, about a week ago, Kyungsoo started avoiding him. He wasn’t joining the games anymore, ignoring his calls, and even went back to his parents’ house. Since it was the first day of school, Noeul figured Kyungsoo would be home today. Though he wouldn’t answer his calls, Noeul was determined to barge in if necessary.

As he walked toward Kyungsoo’s house, he happened to catch sight of him through the glass door of a claw machine shop, absorbed in something. At first, he was annoyed, but once he opened the door, he felt excited. When Kyungsoo was slightly surprised to see him, Noeul felt a little happy. As Kyungsoo picked out a large rabbit doll and handed it to him without hesitation, Noeul wanted to hug it tightly and never let go.

As soon as they entered the house, Kyungsoo dropped his bag and pushed Noeul against the wall. His face was full of tension. He was licking his lips as if thirsty. It was obvious what he intended to do.

Just before their lips touched, Noeul deliberately turned his head away. The look on Kyungsoo’s face was priceless. Honestly, Noeul was struggling to hold back laughter. He could tell that Kyungsoo had been agonizing over kissing him for a while.

Kyungsoo wrapped his arms around Noeul’s neck, closed his eyes tightly, and tilted his head to kiss him. At that moment, Noeul was certain.

“Hyung, do you… like me?”

He asked softly, his forehead pressed against Kyungsoo’s. Kyungsoo’s dark eyes flickered. He shoved Noeul away with force, grabbed his shoes, and ran off quickly. Noeul thought Kyungsoo would come back since he had left his bag behind, but instead, he went straight home. His agitation was enough to confirm his feelings.

Kyungsoo likes me.

To calm his racing heart, Noeul grabbed Minjae’s notebook and ripped off a page. Minjae glanced at him and, turning up the volume on his earbuds, muttered under his breath.

“Seriously, you really go for anything.”

With his left hand, he was writing a warning letter.

“Fuck…”

After receiving Noeul’s message at school, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but curse reflexively.

Noeul had sent two photos in quick succession. The first one was a picture of a rabbit, the one from Cheon Noeul, with just its head sticking out from inside Kyungsoo’s bag. The second photo was a picture of a note with crooked red handwriting that read, “Warning.”

[Warning!

Kim Kyungsoo, listen up.

Your bag is in my hands.

If you want to get it back safe,

come to my house today, hyung.

– Noeul, whom you like-]

He hadn’t even said he liked him yet, but he was already jumping to conclusions. What a cheeky asshole… His profile picture was cute enough that it didn’t even make him angry. Originally, there was no profile picture, but this morning, the new profile photo was of the pink Cheon-Noeul-rabbit he had picked out for him yesterday.

“What’s so funny?”

“Your face.”

Kyungsoo replied sideways to Taeyeol’s question and quickly wiped the expression off his face. It was good that he had someone he liked. But the problem was that it was a guy, and Cheon Noeul, at that. Somehow, Kyungsoo felt that once he got a hold of him, he wouldn’t let go. Noeul was oddly persistent, and if they started dating, it would only get worse.

Most importantly, Kyungsoo didn’t like Noeul that much. He just felt a little fond of him, enough to think about him all day and even dream about him. But in time, he believed his feelings would fade.

‘Today, I absolutely can’t let myself be swayed. As soon as I get home, I’ll say what I need to say.’

With that firm resolve, he blended in with his friends and made his way to the art room.

—

“What about your bag?”

“…I left it at home.”

So, he had come to school without his bag. Kyungsoo replied nonchalantly. Noeul blinked his eyes, as if surprised by what he said. But then he smiled slightly, took Kyungsoo’s hand, and led him. Kyungsoo didn’t want to hold his warm hand, but the decision he made earlier that morning came to mind.

‘I’m being dragged along!’

No! I promised I wouldn’t be swayed today, Kim Kyungsoo! I need to say what I have to say first! Kyungsoo pulled his hand away and, with a confused look on Noeul’s face, pressed his palm firmly against his mouth to shut him up.

“Hmm?”

“Noeul, listen to me carefully. If you twist my words or hear what you want to hear, I won’t let you get away with it.”

“Mmmmmm.”

“I…”

But when he tried to speak, his lips wouldn’t move. Noeul, with a smile in his eyes, stared at him, then removed Kyungsoo’s hand from his mouth.

“I already said I liked you first, so now it’s your turn to say you like me.”

The strange sound he had made while his mouth was covered… Was that supposed to be him saying he liked her? If that was it, he shouldn’t have blocked his mouth. Kyungsoo, still dazed, responded to his words.

“Yeah. I do like you… but.”

“I knew it.”

No, this isn’t how it was supposed to go. Kyungsoo frowned and continued his sentence.

“But! I don’t like you that much.”

“…”

Oh no.

“I don’t mean I don’t like you, so don’t cry, okay?”

“I’m not crying.”

“…Anyway, you haven’t won yet. There’s no guarantee that I’ll still like you after autumn. I might lose interest soon.”

At those words, Noeul tilted his head with a subtle expression.

“What did I win?”

“You said you would make me like you, right? But I still don’t like you that much!”

“…Oh, that? Then love? …Ouch.”

Kyungsoo pinched Noeul’s cheek before getting to the point.

“So, it’s a bit difficult to start dating right now.”

Noeul frowned slightly, his nose wrinkling with light creases. His expression was subtly changing. Kyungsoo, who had pinched his cheek, reached out with the same hand to press the wrinkles on his nose.

Finally, with a relaxed expression, Noeul spoke.

“When will it not be difficult?”

“Let’s wait until the bet you mentioned is over. I don’t think it’s wise to stake my life on a guy like you so soon.”

Maybe I was mistaken… He swallowed those last words inside.

“Let’s call it a game. You like bets, right? If you win, we’ll really date.”

Kyungsoo cupped Noeul’s cheeks with both hands. In Noeul’s brown eyes, Kyungsoo could see only himself. His face filled that gaze completely.

“Dating… is it a game?”

Instead of answering, Kyungsoo nodded.

“Then don’t date me yet, but please go out with me until then.”

“Go away, it’s the same thing.”

Do you think I’m an idiot? Kyungsoo pushed Noeul away and grinned slyly. Even though he was being pushed back, he muttered to his would-be lover, wondering if he was allowed to act this way.

“You’re allowed.”

You can like me on days like this…Those words remained unsaid in his mind. Instead, Noeul insisted that he give him a kiss, and Kyungsoo had never been able to resist Noeul’s persistence. As a result, he gave in and pressed his lips against his. The warmth of early spring began to fill the room.

---

Translator’s Note:

 

Everyone, I need you to listen to this very carefully. After much thought and deliberation I have decided to make a website of my own. I will post all the translations that I’ve done so far over there.

 

I know some of you might not be happy with this decision, as it changes the flow of your reading experience but I have my own personal reasons for doing this and I hope you will understand that.

 

All of the chapters except for chapter 1 will be moved to the new site. But on the bright side, I will go over my translation again as I noticed someone saying that the quality of the initial chapter’s translation isn’t as good. The patreon system or anything for the matter will not be affected.

 

If everything goes well by next week the new site will be up.

 

You can ask any questions that you may have in the comments.