TWKH Ch 27

“Don’t go and ruin the mood.”

“This guy, he always pretends to be innocent in front of people. You don’t need to worry.”

Kang Yoonjae clicked his tongue at Ha Jaekyung’s words. Baekyung ignored the conversation between the two sitting in front of him and fiddled with his phone.

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13:12 Me [Sunbae, what do you do on Sundays? Want to watch a movie? Haha]

A series of movies that Shin Jehyun had enjoyed was being released tomorrow. Baekyung didn’t particularly like the genre, but since Jehyun liked it, he wanted to go watch it together. He wanted to see Jehyun’s profile, completely absorbed in the movie, looking straight ahead.

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Even though there was no reply, Baekyung knew that Jehyun would naturally accept. So he immediately opened the cinema app and booked seats where they could sit next to each other. Jehyun might ask why he booked such seats, but if Baekyung said there were no other seats available, Jehyun wouldn’t doubt it. Jehyun was a guy who believed whatever Baekyung said.

“I wonder what the guild master looks like.”

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…Unlike someone.

Baekyung frowned as he looked at the back of Matgom, Kang Yoonjae, who was curious about the guild master’s appearance. He was curious about many things. Of course, the healer wouldn’t look like a typical gamer. He would probably have a hunched back, wear glasses, and have a dull face.

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“Noona said the healer is really handsome.”

“Really?”

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“Yeah. She said he’s really handsome.”

Ha Jaekyung, despite being 27 years old, was acting immaturely. His tone was no different from Kang Yoonjae, who was seven years younger, and he believed others’ words without any doubt. Baekyung couldn’t believe that Ha Jaekyung was his hyung. Something seemed wrong.

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As Baekyung glared at the two men with disapproval, the car jolted over a speed bump. A white resort building started to come into view outside the window. It seemed like they were almost there.

“We’re almost there.”

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“Hey, hyung. You’re getting a call.”

“It’s Noona. Press the call button.”

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— Hey, Jaekyung. Where are you?”

Contrary to Ha Jaekyung’s claim that he wasn’t interested in the boss, the boss was calling him by name. Baekyung swallowed his astonishment, recalling how Ha Jaekyung had shaken his head, saying that dating within the guild was absolutely forbidden to maintain the guild’s ranking. He had thought Ha Jaekyung just went to PC rooms to eat ramen, not that he had gotten so close to the boss.

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“We’re almost there. Do you see the parking lot? Oh, is the white Cayenne Noona’s car?”

— Yeah, that’s right. I’m here with Healer and Myeol.

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“Got it. We’ll park next to it.”

— Okay.

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As the call ended, Kang Yoonjae giggled and asked, “The mood seems good. Is there something going on?”

“Don’t talk nonsense in front of Noona. We’re just friends.”

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“Oh, hyung. Does that mean you’ve already had some conversation with Noona?”

“No, it’s not like that. We’re just like really close friends.”

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“How can you say that to a girl?”

“Just shut up.”

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Ha Jaekyung punched him as he spoke, and Kang Yoonjae closed his lips, making a muffled sound. Ubbubbub, ubbubbub? Baekyung looked at him with disdain and turned his head away.

A white Cayenne was parked in front of the parking lot. Next to it, a boy who looked like a middle schooler was smoking a cigarette. He didn’t look like a gamer. He wore round, large glasses, giving off a bit of a nerdy vibe, but he didn’t look gloomy or mean.

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Could he be the healer…? If that was the healer, it would be a shocking event. If the person he thought would look like a hairy, bed-ridden demon actually looked like a hamster, the future of physiognomy in Korea would be bleak.

“Wow, damn… He’s so cute. I find it really cute when small kids smoke. It’s like they’re stealing their dad’s cigarettes.”

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As Ha Jaekyung parked the car, Kang Yoonjae quietly muttered while watching the scene. Baekyung realized that he hadn’t given up his dirty habit and was targeting that hamster, and he frowned in disgust.

“Do you not care what’s inside as long as it looks good?”

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Kang Yoonjae laughed as he ran his hand through his hair at Baekyung’s disdainful question.

“Yeah. As long as it looks good, what’s the problem?”

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“Countess forbids office romance.”

Ha Jaekyung, who had been listening to their conversation, turned off the engine and warned them. However, Kang Yoonjae seemed already smitten with the hamster. Squinting one eye and smiling, he asked, “As long as it’s not a relationship, right, Hyung?”

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Ha Jaekyung chuckled incredulously and got out of the driver’s seat. He must have taken Kang Yoonjae’s words as a joke. However, Baekyung knew his friend was serious. He frowned and asked,

“What if that’s the healer?”

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“What does it matter? Look at those small hands. Just thinking about him using skills with those is so cute.”

“Is he crazy?”

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“Thanks for the compliment, gay bastard.”

At Kang Yoonjae’s playful words, Baekyung clenched his teeth for a moment.

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Kang Yoonjae had seen Shin Jehyun in the officetel lobby. Since that day, Kang Yoonjae had been teasing Baekyung, calling him gay.

Knowing Kang Yoonjae’s sexual orientation, Baekyung had never mentioned Jehyun to him, but Kang Yoonjae guessed that if Ha Baekyung, who had never shown interest in anyone, considered this man so important, it must be romantic feelings.

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It didn’t matter what he thought, but if Kang Yoonjae approached Shin Jehyun just to tease him, it was a different story. Although it was unlikely, Baekyung glared at Kang Yoonjae and warned him fiercely.

“If you acknowledge Sunbae, I’ll kill you.”

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“Yes, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Kang Yoonjae replied, curling up as if scared. Although his answer didn’t seem sincere, it was enough. Baekyung relaxed his stiff face and got out of the car.

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A gathering of these overly immersed nerds was not something he ever wanted to attend. Such meetings were not helpful in life, and he didn’t want to face people in reality who had shown their worst sides in the game.

If he had hidden it from the beginning, it would be different, but showing his true nature and then pretending to be friendly face-to-face was disgusting hypocrisy and something he couldn’t do.

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But since he was already there, Baekyung tried to interpret this meaningless meeting as positively as possible. For example, being satisfied with seeing the healer’s face and no longer associating him with Shin Jehyun.

As he tried to think positively, Ha Jaekyung, who had gotten out of the car first and was talking to the boss, turned to Baekyung and gestured to him.

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“Baekyung, say hello. This is Boss Noona.”

“Wow, is this Habaek?”

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“Hello.”

“Oh, uh, hello?”

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In the game, they spoke casually, but seeing each other in person seemed awkward.

But Baekyung felt the same awkwardness and strangeness. He hesitated to act as he did in the game, knowing that the person in front of him was aware of his behavior and actions.

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In the end, Baekyung smiled slightly and bowed his head to greet again. Boss, feeling a bit more comfortable, smiled broadly and patted Baekyung’s shoulder.

“Wow, you’re really tall. I thought Jaekyung was lying. When you got out of the car, I thought you were a giant.”

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Wasn’t she 33 years old? Baekyung was inwardly surprised by Boss’s uncultured speech, just like Ha Jaekyung.

“Hey, Shin Jiwoo! Hurry up.”

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Boss soon turned her head and gestured to a middle schooler who had walked away to throw away a cigarette butt. He was the man presumed to be the healer. As Baekyung followed her gaze, Kang Yoonjae, who had gotten out of the car, stood next to him and said,

“Hello, Noona. I’m Matgom.”

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“Hi! Wow, why are you all so tall? Our Myeol will feel intimidated.”

“Myeol? Is he Contempt?”

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And with those words, Baekyung realized his guess was wrong.

Was that Contempt? If so, it proved that physiognomy was quite a scientific discipline. His slightly dumb-looking face and tofu-like impression represented Contempt, the party’s representative hole.

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“Where’s the guild master?”

The most curious person was nowhere to be seen. As Baekyung looked around and asked, Boss turned around and pointed behind her car.

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“Oh, Jehyun went to make a call.”

“…What?”

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At the name he heard, Baekyung frowned, doubting his ears. His face tilted slightly, wondering what he had just heard. Boss, not noticing his confusion, added,

“Oh, the healer. The healer! The guild master! Ah, forget what you heard. Or maybe it doesn’t matter since you’re meeting today anyway?”

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Her words sounded like the name she just mentioned belonged to the healer. No, that was exactly what she meant.

…No way. Baekyung thought it was impossible and asked,

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“Is his name Jaehyun? Ah, Lee, Jae?”

“Huh? No, it’s Jehyun. Oh, Je.”

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The healer’s name was Jehyun…?

The character ‘Je’ was rarely used in names. He had found it interesting that the character in Kang Yoonjae’s name was also in Jehyun’s name, but to think that the healer’s name also contained that character was unbelievable.

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“Is the healer’s name… that?”

Could this be a coincidence?

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Countless moments when Baekyung suspected Shin Jehyun of being the healer flashed through his mind.

Voice, Korea University, 24 years old. Besides those, there were many times when he felt the two might be the same person, but Baekyung had deliberately ignored those signals. He had confirmed several times with Jehyun that it wasn’t true and believed that Jehyun wouldn’t lie to him.

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But if the healer’s name is really Jehyun…

“Yes, Shin Jehyun. He’s coming over. Hey, can I tell them your name now?”

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At that moment, Boss turned around and looked at the man coming around the SUV. Baekyung, who had been mulling over the familiar name, followed her gaze and froze.

No matter how similar the voice was, he denied it, recalling the gentle tone that was always kind to him.

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He denied it, remembering how Shin Jehyun would lose contact every time he ran dungeons with the healer, saying he was usually studying at home.

He denied it, believing it was a typo even when Boss called him “Jje.”

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Even on the day of the university festival when they cleared the Black Tower at dawn, despite Shin Jehyun looking particularly tired, Baekyung denied that he had been running dungeons with him all night.

There was a reason he had to deny it. Every time, Baekyung’s mind would recall the screen of the Latere play that Shin Jehyun had shown him. Ha Baekyung believed that he wouldn’t lie to him.

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“I’m sorry. I got a call…”

But Shin Jehyun was here.

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Shin Jehyun, who said he was going to meet his family, was here.

“This is our guild master, the healer! Jje, this is Sangjae, Matgom, and your online boyfriend, Habaek. Say hello.”

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With the name of the healer, he was right in front of him.

It felt like his mind was going blank. Baekyung closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the rising sense of betrayal.

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* * *

An unbelievable situation was unfolding.

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“Hello, I’m the healer.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

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“Hello!!”

“Hello.”

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“Finally, we meet like this.”

Jehyun, unable to handle his complicated thoughts, greeted the guild members with a strange smile. They were the three members of the “Nim-ah” series and Nitath, who had come together from Gyeonggi Province.

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“Hello! I’m Boss. Nitath, hello.”

With Boss’s introduction, their attention shifted. Jehyun moved his stiff body and swallowed dryly.

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His gaze, which had been staring into space, slowly turned. In the corner of the living room of the large resort’s residence suite, which could accommodate up to 10 people, sat Ha Baekyung.

“……”

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When their eyes met, Baekyung looked at Jehyun with an expression that seemed angry, upset, and complicated. Then he bit his lip and turned his gaze away first. Jehyun’s eyes were drawn to his handsome profile, which he had seen many times in his dreams.

It felt like his head was going to explode. Jehyun, gripping the front door tightly, hesitated and then made an excuse to Contempt that he needed to make a call and left the residence. Leaning against the closed door, he looked down at his toes for a moment before slowly moving his steps.

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Although it was Friday night, the resort was quiet, probably because it had not been open for long. Jehyun walked into the laundry room he had seen while going to the room from the elevator.

Inside the coin laundry room, where everything was new, one dryer was running vigorously. Standing in front of it, Jehyun fixed his gaze blankly on the swirling scene.

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It was an unbelievable situation.

Ha Baekyung was Habaek? That couldn’t be. It couldn’t be, but it was happening.

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‘What?’

‘That tall guy is Habaek!’

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‘…What?’

‘Hey, did you come here drunk? I’m telling you, he’s your guy! Habaek from Korea University!’

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Unable to understand, Jehyun asked several times before he finally understood what Boss was saying. So, Chu Gaeul was introducing Ha Baekyung as ‘Habaek.’

That ‘Habaek.’

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The ‘Habaek’ Jehyun had thought was a morally bankrupt, ranking-obsessed lunatic.

The ‘Habaek’ they had mutually despised, insulted, and fought with.

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The crazy gamer bastard was Ha Baekyung.

‘Why?’

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That was the next thing Jehyun said. His thoughts didn’t continue, as if he had become an idiot in an instant.

The handsome guy in front of him was Ha Baekyung. The junior Jehyun cherished, the junior he found adorable, the junior he had a crush on.

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Ha Baekyung wasn’t arrogant like Habaek. He didn’t enjoy mocking like Habaek. He didn’t constantly say he hated things like Habaek.

Above all, Ha Baekyung was kind and gentle. He had nothing in common with a bastard like Habaek, so Jehyun couldn’t understand why he was being introduced as Habaek.

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‘Why is he Habaek?’

When he asked that, everyone laughed, thinking it was a joke. They seemed to understand it as a question of how such a decent-looking guy could be Habaek. Although it was a similar meaning, Jehyun’s question implied how that lovely Baekyung could be the bastard Habaek.

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Anyway, after a round of laughter, the leadership-filled Boss led everyone to the resort. Following her, Jehyun was half out of his mind. The situation was so unbelievable that he had no sense of reality.

However, Jehyun was the guild master, and he had things he had to do. Since Jehyun had booked the resort, he had to pull himself together to check in. After that, he gathered his belongings and went upstairs, recognizing the situation.

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It was unbelievable, but despite thinking it was impossible, the facts were clear. Even with his close hyung Sangjae in front of him, Baekyung didn’t deny that he was Habaek, which meant he really was Habaek….

“Fuck, does this make sense?”

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Thinking that far, Jehyun muttered as he grabbed his head with both hands.

It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be. How could Baekyung be Habaek? In Jehyun’s consciousness, the two were always separate. They had never been the same person. The reason was clear.

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Ha Baekyung and Habaek were so different!!

There was no trace of Habaek in Ha Baekyung’s appearance, and no trace of Ha Baekyung in Habaek’s appearance. How could this be possible?

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Jehyun thought in shock.

Could Baekyung have multiple personalities… that is, dissociative identity disorder? Otherwise, he couldn’t imagine that cute guy sitting in front of a monitor, typing gloomily on a keyboard and saying, “Even AI learns…” with a smirk.

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Yes, there must be something wrong. There must be a reason he couldn’t tell anyone.

Perhaps the personality currently dominating Ha Baekyung’s body was ‘Habaek.’ When he returned to the room, he would see Baekyung acting very much like Habaek. Jehyun was convinced of this and stood up abruptly.

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But when he returned to the suite and opened the door, ‘Habaek’ was speaking and acting like ‘Ha Baekyung.’

“What major is Habaek?”

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“Political Science.”

His face was almost expressionless, and his answers were short, but that was definitely Baekyung. His low, neat voice and calm eyes.

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And…

“Huh? Then you’re in the same department as Hyung?”

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“Yes…”

Even his faint smile.

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Jehyun stood dumbfounded at the entrance of the living room, unable to say anything.

How could this be? How did this happen? Why did Baekyung…

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Lie to me.

He had said he used to play Latere. Then he said he didn’t play games because they took up too much time. But even while saying that, Baekyung was spending dozens of hours a week with Jehyun in Caplet.

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Why? Because playing a game like Caplet was embarrassing? So he hid it?

Thinking back, a similar conversation had taken place just last Monday while running a dungeon. When asked if Caplet was embarrassing, Matgom had said that Habaek pretended to play Latere outside.

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So he hid it? Because he didn’t want to be ridiculed for playing Caplet, just like him?

But Jehyun knew. Habaek wasn’t the type to defend Caplet. Even if someone insulted Caplet right in front of him, Habaek wouldn’t bat an eye.

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And as he thought that, a forgotten memory resurfaced.

Habaek and Jehyun had already planned to meet. The day they were supposed to meet at the back gate of Korea University for a fight… Jehyun had met Baekyung in the elevator and waited with him for a long time at the back gate, not knowing Habaek was right next to him.

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A faint sense of discomfort spread through his body. Had he known it was him from the beginning? A chilling thought struck his mind.

Habaek had often joined Jehyun’s bus party to Qingdao. During the bus runs, there had been plenty of opportunities for Habaek to get used to his voice.

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So when they met at the orientation, or at the bar, he might have recognized his voice and realized he was the healer. No, he definitely recognized it. The reason he didn’t use the mic was probably because, just like himself, Jehyun would recognize Habaek’s voice and realize he was Ha Baekyung.

The thoughts connected organically. Jehyun bit his lip with a serious expression.

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Come to think of it, it was Habaek who first brought up the fight. What if he had called him out to confirm that he and the healer were the same person? If Baekyung had confirmed that fact that day?

Even after the fight incident, the relationship between the healer and Habaek remained unchanged. They continued to bicker, and there were times when they were deeply upset about losing guild wars.

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But even during those times, Baekyung was kind and gentle to him. So Jehyun couldn’t find the arrogant and rude Habaek in Baekyung. Their personalities were so different that he couldn’t think they were the same person. But what if it was intentional?

If Ha Baekyung had intentionally hidden that he was Habaek and approached him… it felt like his heart was sinking.

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Why… would he do that? To mock me? To mess with me?

In the suffocating pressure, Jehyun licked his dry lips and looked up again. He glanced at Baekyung, who was standing among the people, and when their eyes met, he didn’t avoid his gaze. The Baekyung who always looked at Jehyun with sparkling eyes was not there.

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“Who wants to go get the food?”

“Me! Noona’s buying, right?”

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“I want to go too.”

“Me too!”

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“Let’s all go then.”

“No, if everyone goes, who will buy the drinks? There’s a convenience store in the basement. We need at least two people to carry everything.”

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“There are exactly two people who didn’t raise their hands. Countess and Gongker, you’re up.”

“Wow!”

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“…What?”

It happened in an instant. Jehyun, who had been sitting blankly listening to the conversation, was startled and widened his eyes as he saw people clapping and pointing at him and Baekyung.

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But his guild members had no interest in what the two were thinking. They got up, put on their coats, and rushed out, leaving instructions.

“Jehyun, I want soju. You know that, right?”

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“I want beer.”

“Can we order? Guild master, I want something sweet!”

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“Wait a minute.”

“Buy it and put it in the freezer.”

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He tried to grab at least one person, but they all brushed him off and left. They were going to the sashimi center to get sashimi and pack food from nearby restaurants.

Thud, the door closed, and silence filled the suite. The awkward and almost dreadful atmosphere pricked at the skin. Jehyun stood still, staring at the closed door, then slowly turned his head. He saw Baekyung near the window, gathering his outerwear.

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Was he planning to leave? Jehyun felt suffocated. He couldn’t understand Baekyung’s intentions, who showed no gestures.

He couldn’t treat Baekyung as a crazy person with a split personality or a human trash playing with others based on his attitude and his own assumptions. He was scared of what answer might come, but this was something that needed to be resolved through conversation. It wasn’t something to conclude on his own.

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Jehyun, who had been chewing the inside of his mouth, licked his dry lips to ask if Baekyung had any circumstances. At that moment, Baekyung quietly passed by him, opened the door, and stood holding the doorknob, asking Jehyun,

“Aren’t you coming?”

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It wasn’t Baekyung’s tone. Somehow, the blunt and cold voice was Habaek’s.

Jehyun had been trying to ignore the assumptions that fit the situation perfectly and was thinking of having a conversation to clear up the misunderstanding, but it felt like the opportunity for that conversation was cut off. Baekyung, looking down at him, didn’t seem like someone who wanted to clear up any misunderstandings.

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Jehyun looked up at him blankly, like someone who had been slapped, then realized what he meant by asking if he wasn’t coming and grabbed his wallet to leave.

Thud, thud, only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway. Since the elevator had gone down to the first floor with the others, it took a while for it to come back up. In the suffocating silence, Jehyun finally got into the elevator and pressed the button for the basement floor. And as soon as the heavy iron door closed with a thud, Baekyung asked,

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“Why did you lie?”

It was a voice that sounded like an interrogation.

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…Is he blaming me now? Jehyun’s lips twisted. Thud, the sound of his patience snapping in two seconds, as if he were dealing with Habaek instead of Baekyung.

* * *

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Shin Jehyun looked up at Baekyung silently, his gaze questioning the meaning behind Baekyung’s words. Baekyung stared back, feeling his anger boil inside, and finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

“You said you were going to a family gathering. Since when were we family?”

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“…Are you questioning me right now?”

But the voice that questioned him didn’t sound like Jehyun. It was the voice of the Healer. Baekyung realized that Shin Jehyun was indeed that person, the truth he wanted to deny even after seeing it with his own eyes.

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As he recognized reality, something surged inside him. Emotions that couldn’t be defined in one word welled up and pushed Baekyung to speak. Clenching his fists, he shouted at Jehyun.

“Why did you lie to me? Why did you show me your character and pretend you played Latere? Why… why did you pretend to be someone else?”

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“And what about you?”

Jehyun raised his voice as well. Baekyung was shocked that the always kind Shin Jehyun was yelling at him. No, it felt like he was hurt.

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Is this really the Shin Jehyun I knew? In the midst of the question that struck his mind, Jehyun asked in a cold voice.

“Who are you? Are you Habaek? Ha Baekyung? How… how could you deceive someone so deliberately?”

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“The one who deceived was you, Sunbae…!”

There had been opportunities for Baekyung to accept that Shin Jehyun was the Healer. He had doubted him several times. But each time, Jehyun had uprooted the doubts growing in Baekyung’s heart.

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By showing his Latere character, showing his gameplay screen, showing a completely different side from the Healer, he had reassured Baekyung multiple times that he wasn’t the Healer. So the sense of betrayal was immense.

If Shin Jehyun hadn’t done that, if he hadn’t lied, Baekyung would have accepted that he was the Healer after much contemplation. But after deceiving him to the end, now he was asking why he did it…

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This wasn’t the Shin Jehyun Baekyung knew. The Shin Jehyun he knew wasn’t this childish or someone who blamed others. Shin Jehyun was more mature, kind, gentle, and he cherished and adored him…

“It must have been so much fun, right? Watching me try so hard to be good to you, it must have been insanely fun. Right?”

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He had never been so sarcastic or cursed at him… It felt like the world was collapsing. Baekyung’s face flushed with heat as he clenched his teeth and retorted.

“Why don’t you answer, Sunbae? Why did you lie?”

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“What! Saying I played Latere? I said that because I didn’t want people to call Caplet a trash game! Why? Is that important now? I’ve done enough. Stop making a fool out of me.”

Ding, the elevator door opened as Jehyun finished speaking.

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A fool… what? Baekyung’s mouth fell open at the rough tone he couldn’t believe came from Shin Jehyun. While he stood still, guests with plastic bags in both hands got into the elevator, glancing at Baekyung. Just before the elevator door, reflecting his image like a mirror, closed completely, Baekyung reached out, opened the door, and ran out.

He saw Shin Jehyun heading towards the convenience store in the distance.

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In this situation, is buying drinks for the guild members more important? Isn’t talking to me the priority? Baekyung, furious to the core, chased after him and grabbed Jehyun’s wrist.

“Don’t touch me. I’m pissed right now.”

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“I’m angry too. Sunbae… Sunbae…”

Feeling like a fool? That’s not just you. Baekyung wanted to say that, but when he met Shin Jehyun’s eyes, the words wouldn’t come out. He bit his lip and continued.

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“You’re not the only one feeling bad. I’m angry too. Buying drinks isn’t important right now. Let’s talk.”

“What do we need to talk about? How different Ha Baekyung and that damn Habaek seemed? Or do you want to share your thoughts on how perfectly you deceived me? Yes, I feel like crap. I’m so embarrassed I want to die. I want to punch you, so can you just get lost?”

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“Why are you talking like that? I feel deceived by you too! It’s not just you!”

“So what do you want me to do? I told you to stop, Baekyung. Can’t you hear me?”

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Can a person change this much? It was heartbreaking. Baekyung felt his whole body and mind sting under Jehyun’s gaze, which seemed to want to kill him.

Baekyung also had many things he wanted to question Jehyun about. Shin Jehyun and the Healer were completely different people. Feeling deceived wasn’t just Jehyun’s experience. It was Shin Jehyun himself who had perfectly deceived him by playing Latere, yet he was angry at him. But in the midst of feeling so wronged and angry, Baekyung noticed something unpleasant in Jehyun’s tone.

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“What… what did I do to make you so angry? I only found out today that Sunbae is the Healer. I didn’t know either. What did I deceive you about? Not saying anything is deception? Sunbae also said he played Latere. You’re not in a position to be angry at just me…”

“Ha.”

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Shin Jehyun seemed genuinely angry at the factual argument. He let out a hollow laugh and rolled his tongue slightly in his mouth. His usually gentle eyes turned cold, and he glared at Baekyung standing in front of him.

“You knew I was the Healer from the day we met at the back gate for the fight. Do you think I wouldn’t know you deliberately deceived me?”

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“What…”

“It must have been so much fun. Knowing I was the Healer, you deliberately acted sweet, enjoying how I happily accepted it. Right? You even called Matgom to show him how the Healer, who goes crazy in the game, doesn’t even know who I am and treats me so well in reality. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

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“……”

Baekyung immediately understood what Jehyun was saying. His neck throbbed. The pain climbing up his spine pounded his head.

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Shin Jehyun was accusing Baekyung of deliberately deceiving him. He was saying that he had deliberately mocked him and called Kang Yoonjae to see it, and that they had laughed about it together.

Shin Jehyun realized that there was a serious misunderstanding. However, Baekyung clenched his fists tightly, not even thinking of clearing up the misunderstanding. An overwhelming sense of betrayal was surging from deep within his heart.

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What engulfed Baekyung in such emotions was the fact that Jehyun thought of him as such a person. The Jehyun who used to believe and follow whatever Baekyung said now considered him as despicable, pathetic, and cowardly.

How can a person change so suddenly? Did he ever truly believe in me? The time spent with Jehyun seemed to lose its light and become blurry. It was doubtful whether there was ever any trust between them if it could be lost so easily.

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I feel completely deceived.

All the actions of Jehyun that had made Baekyung’s heart flutter and melted his heart lost their sincerity and crumbled. In the completely shattered trust, Baekyung gritted his teeth and answered.

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“…Yes.”

Meeting Baekyung at the back gate was the same for Jehyun. Shin Jehyun also had plenty of opportunities to doubt that Baekyung was Habaek. If, as Jehyun suspected, he had realized back then that he was Habaek, then all of Jehyun’s actions afterward could be seen as intentional. Just as Shin Jehyun’s suspicions were voiced, Baekyung could also suspect that Jehyun had acted kindly to mock and deceive him.

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“Yes. It was really fun to see Sunbae being so kind, unlike in the game.”

“…Do you want to get hit?”

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But he didn’t want to go that far. Despite everything, Baekyung wanted to believe that the prejudice-free kindness Jehyun had shown him was genuine.

His eyes were burning. His face felt like it was going to explode from the heat. Turning away from Shin Jehyun, who glared at him with murderous eyes, Baekyung walked away. The surging feelings couldn’t escape his mouth and got stuck somewhere in his chest.

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Where did it go wrong?

Was it when he tested him by asking if he played Latere instead of Caplet when they met at the bar by chance?

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Was it when they met in the elevator and he didn’t ask if he was the healer, hiding his identity instead?

Was it when he didn’t ask if he played Caplet when he showed his Latere gameplay screen?

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Whatever it was, it was in the past and couldn’t be changed. However, the thing Baekyung regretted the most at this moment was coming to the meeting.

After this weekend, Baekyung planned to quit Caplet. If he hadn’t come here, he wouldn’t have had a falling out with Jehyun.

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That hurt the most.

Losing the person he liked so much made Baekyung really, really sad.

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* * *

Habaek turned around and left Jehyun’s sight.

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Even as he watched the retreating figure, Jehyun didn’t think of stopping him. His head felt like it was melting from anger. If he tried to stop him now, he might say things he shouldn’t.

Finally, when Habaek disappeared somewhere down the long hotel corridor, Jehyun moved his reluctant feet. There was no time to stand around foolishly. There were things to be done.

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“Welcome.”

Entering the convenience store, he picked up the drinks as ordered. Soju, beer, vodka—he grabbed the alcohol and snacks with the thought of drinking to death and returned to the room with bags full in both hands.

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The room was empty. It seemed Baekyung had gone home.

He doesn’t have a car, so how does he plan to get back? Do taxis come here? Is there a bus?

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Such thoughts crossed his mind, but Jehyun shook his head to dispel his worries about Baekyung. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

The gathering was an event prepared for many people. If the guild master himself was distracted, the atmosphere would be ruined. He needed to regain his composure before they returned.

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“Where did Baekyung go?”

After a while, the guild members returned. They brought back bags full of food and snacks from the mart and found Jehyun alone in the room, looking puzzled.

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“…He left. Suddenly.”

It wasn’t a lie. He had disappeared suddenly after their argument. Of course, he had told him to get lost, yelled at him, and cursed, but he had left without saying he was going. So it was sudden. Jehyun avoided Sangjae’s gaze as he answered.

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Sangjae, with a mischievous smile on his neat face, looked at Jehyun and asked with a grin.

“Did you have a fight?”

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“Ah… it’s not like that.”

“It seems like it! Hyung, did you fight with Habaek and chase him away?”

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“Jiwoo, do you want to fight with me too?”

“I have a black knight! Fight Noona.”

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“Me? Sure. Shin Jehyun, bring it on.”

When the people returned, it was chaotic. Jehyun was startled and backed away as Boss took a boxing stance, suggesting a fight. Getting hit by Chu Gaeul might send him straight to the hospital.

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In the cheerful atmosphere, thoughts of Baekyung gradually faded. Jehyun could enjoy the first guild meeting of Countess with a relatively happy heart. However, there were moments when anger surged unintentionally, especially when he made eye contact with Matgom.

SpellChecker, Kang Yoonjae, had a face that was hard to forget. His playful, flashy face looked quite handsome up close, even to Jehyun. So the memory of meeting him in the officetel lobby became clearer over time.

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He couldn’t shake the certainty that everything had been planned. What had Ha Baekyung said to Matgom while showing him? Had he said, “This guy is the Healer, look how well he listens to me”? Thinking about it drove him crazy.

Unaware of all this, he had liked Ha Baekyung. He wondered if Baekyung didn’t just see him as a Sunbae, getting excited over his every action and giving meaning to his every word. Thinking about how much Habaek must have enjoyed watching that made him want to die of embarrassment.

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…No, actually, it made him want to die of sadness.

Making eye contact with Matgom again, his thoughts drifted back to Baekyung. Even knowing that he wasn’t the person he thought he was, his feelings for him remained unchanged. That was truly painful.

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Feeling conflicted, Jehyun rubbed his heated cheek with the back of his hand and stood up. They had already had dinner, and the drinking session was in full swing, so everyone was quite drunk. No one stopped Jehyun as he quietly disappeared.

Jehyun left the room and went to the laundry room again. Sitting in front of the wide-open dryer, he stared blankly at his toes.

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The moments he had shared with Baekyung felt like they had turned into bubbles and vanished. There had been happy and good times, but they had all disappeared in the blink of an eye, like being swept away by a wave.

Was it fun? Watching my face light up with joy, did Ha Baekyung really find it fun?

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He still couldn’t believe that Baekyung had done such a thing. Moreover, the ‘Habaek’ he knew, although rude, didn’t seem like someone who would do something so sinister.

So.

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So… maybe there’s a reason.

“You were here.”

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A strange voice interrupted his thoughts. Standing in the doorway, with a peculiar smile, was Matgom.

“……”

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Jehyun said nothing and met Kang Yoonjae’s gaze. Despite the cold stare, Matgom entered and closed the door. Shrugging his shoulders, he asked,

“Hyung. Can I call you Hyung? You met our Baekyung once, right?”

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It was unclear what he wanted to say. Whether he had come to mock him alongside Ha Baekyung or to probe him after seeing Baekyung go home, whatever it was, it didn’t feel good.

Jehyun turned his head without responding. Sighing briefly, he looked back at the floor, and Matgom, frowning, spoke.

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“Ah, why is the atmosphere like this? Did something go wrong between you two?”

“What went wrong?”

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“Did Ha Baekyung… confess or something?”

Confess? Should this be called a confession? Isn’t it more like an admission? Instead of pointing out the misuse of the word, Jehyun glared at Kang Yoonjae. He asked in a menacing voice,

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“What do you want to say?”

“No, I’m not trying to fight. I want to get along with you, Hyung. It’s just… Baekyung left when we came back, he doesn’t answer his phone, and you look like you want to punch me, so I’m curious.”

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“Curious about what? What happens between me and Ha Baekyung now? Use your imagination.”

It was a voice full of sarcasm, unlike the usual Shin Jehyun. He knew he had lost his composure, but the situation with Ha Baekyung was already frustrating, and now Matgom was here to stir things up, making him feel like he was going to lose it.

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“That’s strange. Why are you so angry?”

It was a voice full of leisure. Why is he doing this to me? With rising disgust, Jehyun sighed briefly and turned his gaze to Kang Yoonjae.

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But Kang Yoonjae was looking at him with an interested expression, like someone who had found an unexpected toy.

What. As Jehyun stared back at him, Kang Yoonjae spoke.

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“Did you really not know that Baekyung was Habaek?”

“Fuck, do you think I knew?”

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“Pfft!”

When Jehyun responded irritably, Kang Yoonjae suddenly burst into laughter. Jehyun, furious, stood up. Is this funny? They were both trying to mock him. His fingertips trembled.

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“Do you both really want to get hit? Right?”

“No, no. I’m sorry. No, it’s just that Ha Baekyung is really pitiful.”

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Who’s really pitiful? He was the victim, falling for Ha Baekyung without knowing he was being deceived. And now Ha Baekyung is pitiful? Birds of a feather flock together; friends were just as bad.

“You get lost too.”

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He had never hit anyone in his life, but today he was boiling with anger. He felt like grabbing him by the collar and shaking him. Jehyun, feeling like his head was going to explode, pushed Kang Yoonjae aside.

As he tried to leave the laundry room, Kang Yoonjae, like Baekyung earlier, reached out to grab his wrist. Jehyun, recoiling from the unpleasant touch, turned and glared at him with fierce eyes.

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“Don’t touch me.”

“No, Hyung. Don’t get angry. Just one question, just one.”

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“What. Fuck, what do you want to hear?”

Everything was unbearable. The incomprehensible situation, the effort to believe that Ha Baekyung had a reason, and Matgom’s actions, which seemed to pour oil on the fire, all made Jehyun feel miserable.

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“So, this is it, right? Hyung thinks Baekyung deliberately deceived you, right?”

Jehuyn raised his eyebrows and tightened his lips at the question. The nuance of the question was ambiguous. It seemed like Matgom was either trying to confirm that Ha Baekyung’s plan had been exposed or…

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Or he was asking if Jehyun was misunderstanding the situation.

For a moment, the assumption that had been tormenting Jehyun grew stronger. Could all of this be my misunderstanding? Maybe Baekyung really didn’t know I was the healer, and meeting Matgom in front of the elevator was just a coincidence?

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His mind was a mess. After a brief silence, Jehyun asked in a quiet voice,

“Then what is it? Didn’t you come to see me because he called you?”

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He was anxious. Matgom’s next words would determine the truth.

“Hmm.”

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Kang Yoonjae, with a peculiar smile, remained silent for a while. His eyes, which seemed to have a sinister glint, rolled lightly. Standing still, he observed Jehyun’s face for a long time before finally answering.

“Yes. Baekyung called me.”

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It was the confirmation Jehyun hadn’t wanted. The fragile trust he had been holding onto shattered. It felt like his heart, now ownerless, had fallen to the ground.

The reality that his suspicions had become true was horrifying. The time spent with Baekyung seemed to dissolve like a mirage. Jehyun, in a daze, closed his mouth.

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His face flushed, and he felt nauseous. He couldn’t tell if it was because of anger or sadness. At the same time, he felt suffocated.

They say you can know the depths of water but not the depths of a person’s heart. That was exactly it. Jehyun realized today that the seemingly clear water could be deep and dangerous. Seeing into Ha Baekyung’s true nature made him feel like he was suffocating.

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* * *

Time passed even though the sky seemed to fall. Several days had passed since the gathering.

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On Monday, after the weekend, Jehyun decided not to attend the class he shared with Baekyung.

Partly due to the emotional shock and partly because he didn’t want to sit in the same space with Ha Baekyung, who had done such things to him, and learn about each other. He had already learned too much.

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So Jehyun went to the hospital, got a diagnosis for a cold, and sent it to Professor Kim Gonghak, then stayed home.

He was so heartbroken that he didn’t even play Caplet. The people who saw him online every day were in a frenzy, thinking something was wrong, but after seeing the photo he posted saying he was sick, they sent messages of concern mixed with criticism. They said it was no wonder he was sick after drinking so much at the gathering.

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Jehyun responded vaguely and put his phone down. Ignoring messages from Seo Eunjae, he spent the whole day lying in bed, hoping that a day’s rest would help him forget.

But the wound from his first love’s betrayal was too deep, and Jehyun had to repeatedly go through cycles of anger and sadness like a madman.

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He couldn’t let go of the hope that there was a reason, but thinking back to his conversation with Matgom made him furious.

And Ha Baekyung’s attitude! Getting angry and then admitting the truth when Jehyun figured it out, and leaving… Thinking about it made Jehyun want to go down to the 14th floor and grab him by the collar.

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“Bastard.”

The more he thought about the past, the more resentful he felt towards Ha Baekyung and Matgom. Thinking back, Matgom pretending to be a girl in the game was probably a way to test him.

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They had done it to compare how he followed Ha Baekyung around in reality and how he was sharp with Habaek in the game. And knowing that he was supposed to meet Ha Baekyung, Habaek had gone out, and Matgom had naturally suggested drinking with him.

The fact that they had deliberately mocked him made his fists clench. He felt like he could really hit them if they were in front of him.

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His emotions were all over the place, like an unexpected menopause. He even tried taking some of his father’s menopause depression supplements, but they didn’t work immediately.

In the end, Jehyun had to skip school for the whole week. He had no appetite, couldn’t focus on anything, and his thoughts kept wandering, making it hard to concentrate in class.

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Jehyun finally got up on Sunday. The reason was…

It was the last day of ranking.

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He didn’t want to see Habaek or Matgom, but ranking was a must, even if the sky fell. After washing his face and sitting weakly in front of the computer, Jehyun logged into Caplet and summoned his fixed party.

“We’ll start in 10 minutes.”

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Matgom → What about Habaek, Hyung? This guy isn’t answering. What should we do?

But the empty spot in the ranking party was holding Jehyun back. Habaek wasn’t logged in. When he opened the guild window, he saw that Habaek hadn’t logged in since last Thursday. It seemed that Habaek hadn’t been playing Caplet either during Jehyun’s absence.

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Why…? His mind was a mess, but there was no time to question the reason. Jehyun was about to call Baekyung to summon Habaek but couldn’t bring himself to press the call button. Instead, he called Sangjae to ask him to bring his brother.

— Baekyung? Oh, he’s not going to play Caplet anymore. Didn’t you hear? He’s quitting the game.

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“…What?”

— I guess he didn’t tell you. I thought all the ranking members knew. He said he’d delete Caplet once he reached the guild hall of fame.

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And Jehyun heard thunderous news from Ha Jaekyung.