Confessions and a Sudden Kiss

“—I’ll be careful when drinking.”

Nod, nod, nod.

His excessive agreement made me feel awkward.

Before the makchang arrived, I poured drinks into each glass, leaving the server who had brought the alcohol.
As Han Do-yoon gracefully received the glass with both hands, I thought, ‘It’s only a five-year difference, but it feels like ten.’

‘Why is he so polite?’
‘We’re both getting old, so he could just treat me as an equal.’

“So, what’s up? You wouldn’t have suggested drinks for no reason.”

“—That… I have a worry…”

‘A worry?’

I lightly clinked glasses with him, took a quick sip, and tilted my head sideways.

‘Did something really serious happen?’
‘Good thing I came out.’

Things might have gotten a bit awkward afterward, but hadn’t I suddenly called him last time because I had a worry?

‘I should listen to him, of course.’

He took a sip of beer with a slightly trembling hand, then set it down, lowering his eyes.

‘What is he trying to say that he’s hesitating so much?’

My curiosity grew, so I chugged the rest of my beer.
As I set the glass down with a clink, Han Do-yoon’s voice came.

“—There’s a friend I want to cut ties with… but their parents and my parents are close. So we’ve known each other for a long time… I don’t know how to cut ties…”

I refilled my empty glass with beer, listening to his words.

“—Since I was young, I’ve been swayed by them a bit. It’s still the same now.”

“You don’t want to be swayed anymore?”

“—Yes… It’s nothing much, but I couldn’t find an answer even after thinking about it alone…”

‘That would certainly be difficult.’

If their parents were close, they wouldn’t have known each other for just a day or two; it would be at least ten years.

It would take a lot of thought to cut such a person out of your life instantly.
I grilled makchang over the fire, carefully turning the idea over in my mind.

“But is that YearRoundNoRest-nim?”

“—…How did you know?”

“Well, he’s the only person I know that fits the description, and you’re close enough to come to meetups together, aren’t you?”

‘No way, was it YearRoundNoRest who was manipulating Han Do-yoon from behind the chat?’
‘If so, that’s truly amazing.’

I sipped my beer, rolled my eyes, and glanced at Han Do-yoon.
His clear look of embarrassment made me narrow my eyes.

‘I have a strong feeling he’s not telling me something.’

It was just a feeling, so I couldn’t pinpoint anything specific, but… he didn’t seem truly intent on breaking ties.

It was more like he was just bringing it up.

I wrapped a deliciously grilled, golden-brown piece of makchang in a ssam and spoke.

“Are you really going to cut ties?”

“—…What?”

“You have no intention of cutting ties, do you?”

“—That is…”

“You don’t need to watch my reaction. If you have something you want to say, just say it. Why would I bother to come out and do this when I could be playing games? I’ve received a lot of help from you, and I didn’t want to just shut my mouth and ignore it, so I came out to listen to you. So, if you have anything you want to say, say it openly. It doesn’t matter if you curse.”

‘Gossiping, well, isn’t that what everyone does these days?’

Talking about cutting ties was unexpected, but if a person gets pissed off at someone, they might think that way.

‘Anyway, this makchang is delicious. This place is a hidden gem.’

“I won’t go find YearRound-nim and tell him, so speak your mind. Frankly, I think I’m closer to you than to that guy, so I’ll take your side.”

“—You’re closer to me?”

“Isn’t that so? I don’t really talk to YearRound-nim separately, but you… you send me messages first, so we talk often. So, my internal closeness is higher, relatively.”

This makchang is really delicious.

The alcohol is also going down smoothly.
I finished my beer and ordered more, waiting for Han Do-yoon to speak.

It wasn’t a difficult task, so I could wait for him to open his mouth for as long as needed.
Unlike him, I’m damn good at drinking.

“—I’m happy.”

“—What? What are you happy about?”

“—You said we’re close. That makes me happy, so everything else seems fine.”

The part-timer, who was setting down the additional beer I ordered, paused and looked at Han Do-yoon and me with peculiar eyes, as he shyly smiled and finished his drink.

‘I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.’
‘Don’t look at me like that.’

“—Please continue to be close to me in the future! My internal closeness is also at its peak!”

“—Ah… yes….”

‘I see.’
‘That can happen.’

He had seemed dejected moments ago, but seeing Han Do-yoon suddenly perk up and give a bright smile, only a twisted smile escaped my lips.

‘I don’t know what’s what, but if you’re happy, then it’s fine.’

“—Hyung, I’ll pour for you.”

“—I prefer pouring myself.”

“—Yes…”

He looked dejected again because I wouldn’t let him pour the drinks.
His tension really fluctuated.

He was a truly pure and kind person… but if possible, could he just pick one demeanor?

Han Do-yoon ate makchang with a noticeably more relaxed expression and continued talking excitedly.

Of course, when two gamers met, there was nothing to talk about but games, so they mainly chattered about their shared interest, Frisia.

Things like which systems they liked and which systems they wished would be improved, etc.

Once they started talking, they had a lot to say.

It had been a long time since I had such a refreshing conversation about games, so I unconsciously got excited.

“—Right. I also thought that boss was seriously annoying, it was driving me crazy. The patterns sucked.”

“—Writing the guide was so hard. I couldn’t explain it with words, so that was the first time I uploaded a video.”

‘How long had we been chatting, saying ‘that was then’?’

It was still daytime before we came out, but now the sun had set.

I sipped my alcohol and looked out the window, then turned my gaze to Han Do-yoon.
Despite the heating running, his face, flushed from the alcohol, was red as if he had been standing outside in the cold for a long time.

‘If he drinks any more, this guy’s going to pass out…’

“—Should we stop here and go home? If we drink any more…”

“—Why…? Do you… dislike me…?”

‘Why did the conversation turn into that?’

The moment I thought he was going to pass out, tears welled up and rolled down Han Do-yoon’s eyes.
I was about to say something to his sorrowful face but bit my lip.

‘What is this? I didn’t do anything, but I feel like I’ve become the bad guy.’

“—I… want to play with you more, hyung… If we part ways now, who knows when we’ll see each other again…”

“We can see each other in-game.”

“—I want to see you outside… But hyung… you don’t like going out…”

‘That’s true.’
‘Why would I go out when my home is so comfortable and cozy?’
‘It’s dangerous outside the covers, after all.’

“—Just a little, can’t we stay just a little longer…?”

“—No.”

‘Who’s going to clean up the mess?’

Before, at least Moon Young-yoon was there, so I could ask Choi Young-soo for help, but today I couldn’t even do that.
At my firm words, Han Do-yoon started crying again.

At his tears, which looked not just sorrowful but truly heartbroken, the people at nearby tables began to whisper.

“Look over there. That person is crying.”

“—Wow… what happened that he’s crying so much…?”

‘Indeed, what happened?’
‘I said it was time to go home, and he’s crying.’

I smiled gently, watching Han Do-yoon rub his eyes and sniffle.

‘Anyone would see me as the bad guy.’

If I were at another table, even I would see myself as the bad guy.

“—Excuse me, Han Do-yoon-ssi? You probably have plans tomorrow, too, so shouldn’t you go home? Huh?”

“—I don’t…”

“—Even if you don’t have plans, you should sleep at home. Come on, I’ll even help you catch a taxi, so let’s get up. Please.”

I finished paying with a sigh, then coaxed and soothed Han Do-yoon out the door.
The cold air rushed in with a whoosh.

I prayed that Han Do-yoon would snap out of it after feeling this wind.
I literally only prayed.

He was heavy.

Being a homebody, I had never even exercised properly, let alone gone out. My frail body was too weak to carry the sturdy Han Do-yoon, who was a head taller than me.

‘This is why people need to exercise.’
‘You need basic stamina and strength to use in situations like this…’

I had never paid attention to such things except when raising strength and stamina stats in-game.

“—Argh… Snap out of it! I’ll really leave you behind!”

“—Talk…”

“—What did you say?”

“—Speak informally… hyung…”

‘I dislike polite speech. It feels distant.’

I sighed at his softly mumbled words.

“—Alright. I’ll speak informally, so please try to get up with your own strength. You’re really heavy…”

“—Really…? Will you really… speak informally?”

“—Yes. I’ll speak informally, so get up, you drunkard.”

As I painstakingly supported Han Do-yoon and nodded, he gave a radiant smile.

He then mumbled something about ‘that guy was right’ and so on, but honestly, his tongue was too twisted for me to hear clearly.

Despite it being evening, the surroundings suddenly felt bright, and as I squinted, he hugged me, as if truly happy, and swayed from side to side.
‘What are these two men doing?!’

“—Hey, hey, hey, hey! Aren’t you going to let go?! Argh, why are you so strong?!”

“—Heh…”

‘I should’ve just stayed cooped up at home!’
‘I came out for nothing!’

“—Hyung, today was really, really fun…!”

“—Alright, just let go!”

“—Play with me again next time, okay? Promise.”

‘Ah, alright!’

I struggled, trying to break free, then stiffened at Han Do-yoon’s next action.

He grabbed my shoulders, briefly pulled away, then, with a prettier smile than ever, left a light kiss on my cheek.