Chapter 49: Stalking is bad (3)

The post by the gallery’s assistant moderator seemed to attract a lot of attention.

-oo: So, is she pretty?

–NotATroll: She’s seriously as pretty as an idol.

–ㅇㅇ: Then why isn’t she an idol? Don’t exaggerate.

–NotATroll: That’s a non sequitur, sorry.

-ㅇㅇ: Where did you meet her?

–NotATroll: I saw her while working part-time at a convenience store.

–ㅇㅇ: Convenience store workers should just work.

-ㅇㅇ: Hmm… Is that so?

–NotATroll: (Die emoticon)

The bickering between a user with a rebellious nature and the assistant moderator was funny.

It felt like watching a sitcom.

It looked fun, so I wanted to join in.

I put my hands on the keyboard.

Kim Jia: Who has time for first love? Just work hard.

Even though it was a post from a while ago, replies came quickly.

The only difference was that they came through a group chat, not the community.

My phone vibrated like there was an earthquake.

Kim Seoyoon: Hey, hey.

Kim Seoyoon: Hey, hey.

Isn’t it community etiquette to respond with a reply if you leave a comment?

Why are you scaring me with texts?

Kim Jia: You know this is WWE, right?

Kim Seoyoon: I don’t know, but why are you here now when you haven’t been around?

Seoyoon seemed quite angry.

Hmm… To explain this, I have to reveal that I’m a student.

Should I lie?

After a moment of concern, I realized that it would be revealed anyway when we met at the offline gathering.

I should just be honest.

Kim Jia: I was studying.

Kim Jia: I have midterms soon, so I couldn’t help it……

The reality is that I shouldn’t even mention the word “study,” but I’m the only one who knows that.

In other words, even if I say this, the moderators have no choice but to believe me.

Since I’ve already acted shamelessly once, I decided to keep pushing it.

Kim Seoyoon: What?

Kim Seoyoon: Was the head moderator at full health???

Kim Jia: Full health, how do you come up with such words?

Kim Seoyoon: Wow, so I’ve been working under someone much younger than me all this time.

Kim Jia: Is that how it is?

I felt like an emoticon screaming internally was appearing in my mind.

No, seriously, where do you find such words?

I’m one thing, but that person seems to be just as addicted to the community as I am.

By the way, this is the right time for a lecture, right?

The phrase “someone much younger” means it’s 100% certain.

Now, she’ll start with “back in my day” and give me all sorts of lectures.

I’m well aware of this pattern, as it’s quite common in the community.

I’m not sure if it’s like this in real life, though.

But based on various stories I’ve heard, it’s probably true.

I trust my community friends.

I made a firm decision and immediately ran away from the group chat.

Notifications were pouring in, but I ignored them and turned off my phone.

Ugh, it’s so noisy.

I should just turn off the notifications while I’m at it.

I looked at my phone with disgust and then turned my gaze back to the monitor.

The first love topic, once ignited, still showed no signs of going out.

Don’t these people ever get tired?

However, I had nothing to do, so I clicked on a post.

<At what age did you all have your first love?>

I think I was 15.

It was a time when my mood was all over the place, but I still remember falling completely for her.

It was a difficult time, so we fought a lot and broke up badly, but I miss her.

When did you all experience your first love?

-ㅇㅇ: When did you have it… that’s a bit suggestive.

–oo: Ah, Yuri average;;

-ㅇㅇ: I think I was 12.

–TaintedLove: You mean you had your first love at 12?

–oo: No, my first love was 12 years old.

–ㅇㅇ… How old are you?

–oo: I’m 26 now.

–TaintedLove: F*cking pedophile, die.

-ㅇㅇ: Shouldn’t you ask if they’ve even had a first love first?

–oo: …Oof…

Our Yuri fans, never serious for a moment. What should I do with them?

Should I send them to Dr. Oh Eun-young?

On a separate note, the person who said they like 12-year-olds seems real for some reason, and it’s scary.

It could be a joke, but it somehow smells real.

I got goosebumps for a moment and immediately left the post. Surely, it can’t be, right?

I immediately shook my head. It’s better for my mental health to take things lightly.

Anyway, the age when I had my first love…

The memory, which had been vague until now, seemed to come back to me faintly after reading the post.

It must have been during middle school.

I remember falling in love when I first entered as a freshman.

The reason being……

I fell for the only person who smiled at me, who was timid and alone.

But even though I liked her, I couldn’t even talk to her properly. I wondered if I was someone who could do that.

The famous “loser delusion” meme on the internet made me even more discouraged.

After meaningless time passed and I graduated from middle school, I felt a strange sense of confidence and tried to find out where she was.

I thought, “What kind of whim is this for someone like me?” but I didn’t give up at that time.

After wandering and searching, I found out that she had gone abroad to study.

When I heard that news, I felt a whirlwind of emotions that were hard to describe.

Once I recalled the memory, it came back vividly.

Of course, I was very busy during high school, so I didn’t have time to think about her.

Now, it’s just a memory without any regrets.

Come to think of it, what is she doing these days?

Since I didn’t have many connections during my school days, it was difficult to hear any news.

Russia is at war right now.

Surely, it can’t be, right?

I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that was creeping up and wished her good luck.

I should only think positive thoughts. Only positive thoughts.

It’s a miserable first love that only I keep to myself, but I hope she’s living a healthy and happy life.

I was lost in the lingering emotions for a moment, then slapped both my cheeks with a smack sound.

Ouch………

But I think I can get out of my thoughts now.

Ugh, I guess I’m getting older. I feel like I’m becoming sentimental like a fool.

Back to reality.

I need to go to school tomorrow, so I should go to bed soon.

First, I’ll turn off the community full of dawn sentimentality.

“Ugh….”

For some reason, I couldn’t sleep after thinking about those days, so I joined the dawn gallery and now I’m feeling terrible.

I thought I had completely forgotten, but it seems like I shouldn’t have taken my emotions lightly.

Jihyun was startled to see me slumped over the desk like a zombie.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know.”

“She was always a bit limp, but she wasn’t this bad. Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

Jihyun seemed to think carefully about Yejin’s words.

After a while, Jihyun let out an “Ah-” sound and her expression became serious.

Wait a minute, I have a bad feeling about this.

“She was stalked on her way home yesterday. Maybe it’s because of that.”

“Huh?? Jia, really?”

Yejin was surprised by those words. It was the moment my bad feeling became reality.

“Yesterday, already… Did you not sleep at all because of the stalker?”

Yejin’s expression also became serious. The two of them looked at me with worried faces.

No, guys, this isn’t a misunderstanding.

It might not have been stalking in the first place… It could just be my overreaction, so why are you doing this?

I blinked my eyes in confusion. If I stay still now, the atmosphere will solidify that I’m a stalking victim.

But I can’t tell them the truth………

I can never say that I was reminiscing about the past, got caught up in the dawn sentimentality, and enjoyed the Yuri gallery with other users.

The moment I say it, it’s social assassination. Really.

There was someone who boldly outed themselves as a gallery user at the mart the first time we met, but that person is special, so let’s make an exception.

Then what excuse can I make…

I quickly racked my brain and came up with an excuse that was easy to understand.

This is also a reason that’s hard to look at favorably, but it’s better than being a gallery user.

“I, I was playing games… I was playing games and went to bed late.”

“….”

“It was so fun… Haha.”

Jihyun’s expression instantly turned cold. That’s a look of looking down on someone.

However, Yejin was still worried and kept asking me.

“You’re not lying because you’re worried about us, are you?”

“Hey. I’m really not. I was going to play just one more round of a new game, but I ended up staying up all night.”

“But still…….”

Yejin trailed off, then lifted her head as if she had thought of something.

“Then, just in case, how about Jihyun and I walk home with you every day?”

“Huh….”

“Hmm… Leaving Kim Jia alone is like watching a child by the water.”

I knew I wasn’t reliable, but to that extent…?

Feeling wronged, I waved my hands vigorously.

“No, I’m really fine! If you’re worried about me, it’s okay. And you guys have friends you walk home with, right?”

“Is that the problem right now? Jia. Stalking is a much, much more serious and scary crime than you think.”

I ended up getting a lecture from Yejin. Yejin explained the seriousness of stalking to me with a serious expression.

After listening to Yejin’s lecture for about 5 minutes, I finally raised both hands and feet and announced my surrender.

“Then let’s walk home together starting today!”

“Mmm….”

“See, if you had just obediently complied from the beginning, how nice would it have been?”

Jihyun, who chimed in from the side, was annoying. Is this what they mean when they say that the nagging sister-in-law is more hateful than the abusive mother-in-law?

But even if I had complaints, there was nothing I could do.

In the end, the after-school trio was formed.

Regardless of my will.