LS 58

by Nilu

Dohee sat among the shopping bags scattered across the living room sofa, clutching his head in earnest. His skull ached, not in the figurative way it did when Knockoff said something ridiculous, but a real, actual headache.

On the table in front of the sofa sat the blue tartan-check muffler he’d bought on impulse. The store had wrapped it nicely for him, but he’d torn it open the moment he got home. Because seriously, what the hell.

Dohee was half out of it.

“You’ve lost it, Baek Dohee.”

Even as he called himself crazy, he couldn’t stop laughing.

When Yeojin said his nose was pierced (getting led by the nose), Dohee had scoffed. Get real, he’d only seen the guy three times. But now his thoughts had shifted.

“Yeah, maybe it is pierced.”

Calling it a pierced nose was almost cute. At this rate, he was basically dangling off a hook.

The guy didn’t even know what Dohee looked like. He knew his name and age, sure, but beyond that, they knew just enough to call it a passing acquaintance. Recently they’d spent a lot of time together, but never in person. And yet… even with a relationship like this…

Could this be called liking someone?

Could it become liking someone?

— If you like spending time with them, get curious when they’ll show up, worry about what they’re doing, they piss you off but not really, and you want to keep bothering them and talking to them, and they’re cute, plus you said they’re hot! You love hot guys. Your nose is pierced, admit it.

There hadn’t been a single thing wrong with what Baek Yeojin had said. Emotionally, it all checked out. But rationally, Dohee’s brain was still protesting. Seriously? You’ve never even shared a meal. His head screamed for him to get a grip, while his heart tilted further and further.

He liked spending time with him. Got curious when he’d log on. Worrying, not in an annoying way. He was cute. Handsome. And now Dohee wanted to play even the smallest, silliest game with him. He wanted more of that shared time.

So then, what was it?

Wasn’t this exactly what it meant to like someone?

It wasn’t like Dohee had never dated before. Sure, he was a hopeless game addict, but that didn’t mean he was a stranger to romance. Maybe he’d never met a great guy, but he had liked people. He’d dated.

Thinking back on all those passing men, this one–Kwon Moonhyuk–was, without question, the best of the bunch.

“Goddamn.”

Fiddling with the blue muffler, Baek Dohee swore under his breath. He really must be crazy. Denying it would only waste more time. He tried to collect his scrambled thoughts and simplify things.

He liked him. That seemed to be the truth.

Realizing that made him laugh again, not out of joy, but disbelief.

“So you can really like someone like this.”

In all 26 years of Baek Dohee’s life, this was a first.

💎

Knockoff

AssaGo-nim!!!

I… I hit lvl 125!!!!!!! ㅠㅁㅠ!!!

When he woke up, the first thing he saw was a message from Knockoff filled with exclamation points. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Dohee glanced at the time: 11:28 a.m. The message had come in at 7:04 a.m.

He remembered ending the game early yesterday, exhausted from shopping, but Knockoff had said he was almost level 125. It seemed he’d stayed on an extra hour to grind it out.

Not the best way to start the morning.

He could’ve just said he wanted to hit that level. Dohee would’ve helped him. Knockoff had said goodnight and sweet dreams, then went and soloed anyway. That felt… a little annoying.

Slumping back under the blanket, Dohee muttered,

“What exactly are you mad about, Baek Dohee.”

Everything felt sentimental lately. Everything stung. So he played alone for an extra hour, big deal. His head knew it was fine, but he kept pouting.

Nice job.

How was hunting after putting me to sleep first?

Was it more fun?

Knockoff

Huh!? No… ㅠ-ㅠ

Honestly, I was sleepy too… and doing it alone wasn’t fun at all…

But you looked super sleepy, so… 8 ㅅ 8

It’s been a really long time since I hunted solo… ㅠ-ㅠ

It was seriously boring… ㅠㅁㅠ

And then suddenly, his mood lifted again.

Lol next time just ask to keep playing a bit longer.

It’s not like I’m gonna pass out from being tired.

It would’ve ended faster if we played together.

Or just call me on voice chat or something.

We can chat while playing, makes it less sleepy.

Maybe he could redirect himself smoothly with a game voice call. He smacked his lips. Knockoff never really called first unless it was important. Somehow, that bugged him too. Knockoff, totally unaware, was just living his life while Dohee played the drums and cymbals all on his own, getting upset, proud, emotional.

Knockoff

Uh… would that really be okay!?

What would?

Knockoff

Calling you… ㅠ-

I thought it might bother you… 8ㅅ8

Who the hell had crushed this kid’s confidence like that?

He’d said he had no friends, maybe that was part of it. Or maybe someone had raised him with constant passive-aggression. Who knew. Even though Dohee treated him as kindly as he possibly could, Knockoff still walked on eggshells. It was hard to tell if that was empathy or anxiety.

Not that it annoyed him, really. He just wished Knockoff didn’t feel the need to do that with him. He only felt sad that he always seemed so timid.

LOL you

Knockoff

Yeah!?

If I say let’s do something, just go with it.

I don’t even say things I don’t want to do, not even as a joke.

You don’t need to read the room or try to be considerate, lol

I seriously don’t get it sometimes lol

Why are you always so cautious?

Have I ever told you no or gotten mad?

Don’t think I have.

Knockoff

Ah… sorry…

I wasn’t telling you this to make you apologize, lol

Knockoff

I just tend to be really self-conscious…

I don’t like conflict and I get tired from clashing with people.

So I end up apologizing a lot too… 8 ㅅ 8

Yeah.

I don’t mind that that’s how you are.

I’m just saying, you can be relaxed around me. It’s not like I’m gonna scold you or get annoyed, so don’t misunderstand.

Dohee rolled once across the bed and let out a quiet chuckle.

Admitting he liked him was sending his mood into an endless rollercoaster.

According to Baek Yeojin, the almighty Baek Dohee was now trying to figure out how to seduce some nobody he met through a damn game.

He didn’t know if Knockoff was straight, bi, or gay. Whatever, he liked him, and that was that. But the whole thing felt frustrating. Even if he left a napkin with his number on it, Knockoff wouldn’t pick up on the signal. He was a clueless rookie when it came to romance. A long road lay ahead.

As he laughed at himself, a reply from Knockoff popped up. An unexpected message.

Knockoff

AssaGo-nim, you’re kind of fascinating… 8 ㅅ 8

How so?

Knockoff

You don’t seem like it…

???

Knockoff

You don’t seem like it, but you’re a good person…

That’s ridiculous.

LOL what do you mean “don’t seem like it” ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ=

Knockoff

Just… uh… hmm… like…

Like?

Knockoff

What if you get upset…? ㅠㅡㅠ

What is it, lol

I won’t get upset.

Even if I do, I won’t say anything.

Promise.

What is it?

Knockoff

Well, it’s just… um… AssaGo-nim, you kind of… the way you talk…

The way I talk?

Knockoff

It’s kind of rough…8 ㅅ 8

Lol??

How is my speech rough??

If anyone talks rough, it’s someone like that jerk Noodle or whatever.

I barely even swear.

Knockoff

Uh… that’s true…

But still, like… sometimes you do swear, and your words feel kind of blunt…

You say things really directly without reading the mood… like, you just say whatever you want…?

So honestly, at first I was kind of scared, just a little… really!! Just a little scared… ㅠ-ㅠ

Lol? What’s scary about me?

Knockoff

No no, I’m not scared now!!!

Because now I know AssaGo-nim is actually a nice person…

Even though your tone can be harsh and your words a bit rough or offhanded…

Knockoff

But you’re not like that at all!

Actually… you seem like a really kind person…

Knockoff

I’m sorry if I offended you… ㅠ-ㅠ

…What the hell?

Dohee shot upright. He blinked several times and reread the message.

A kind person…?

It felt weird to even read that out loud. He’d never once thought of himself as “kind.” No one had ever described him that way. His face grew hot. His cheeks flushed.

He must’ve done it unconsciously. Because he cared, because he wanted to be good to him.

Because he liked him.

Maybe that’s why, without even realizing it, he’d been a little kinder.

Dohee swiped the screen with a fingertip.

For a brief moment, he found himself really wanting to see Kwon Moonhyuk.

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