LS 60

by Nilu

Upgrading gear, getting new set items, creating an avatar, gathering ingredients for hidden potions….

As the Demon Hunter update approached, the guild members acted like ten bodies wouldn’t be enough to get everything done. Of course, Dohee wasn’t just sitting around doing nothing either. It was time to completely overhaul the settings on the GoingSupporter character. He’d been maintaining a ranking by focusing on PVP content, but switching to a PVE setup was no small financial burden. Plus, it would’ve been difficult to take on the new raid with the existing build.

Since they had no clue what kind of mechanics the new raid would involve, they had to prepare a variety of potions and items in advance just in case, and make gear adjustments to boost survivability and support builds that would maximize the damage output of their DPS.

On top of that, Dohee still had to help Moonhyuk with his quests and carry him through content. Daily and weekly quests had to be completed regularly, rankings had to be maintained, and Dohee spent a lot of time working with Yeohoo to unlock and level up useful guild-exclusive skills for the raid group.

But today was different.

The moment they woke up, Dohee took a shower and neatly trimmed his eyebrows. After living like a shut-in, his skin was dry, his eyebrows a mess, and even his lips were chapped. To save time, he slapped on a face mask and tore through the closet. Baek Dohee’s closet had over twenty coats. He needed something that didn’t stand out too much, wasn’t overwhelming, but was still warm. But nothing felt quite right.

After laying out over ten coats on the bed, Dohee finally chose a long black coat, a white turtleneck, a green sweater, and black corduroy pants. With socks, dress shoes, and a belt picked out, his mind finally felt at ease. He even chay his piercing for the first time in a while. A neat look, but not without style.

As he peeled off the face mask and got dressed, Dohee let out a dry laugh.

“As if Knockoff would even notice.”

A short sigh slipped out. Who was Moonhyuk, really? The guy who wore out-of-style jeans and the same tired checkered shirt like it was a school uniform. A guy with zero fashion sense. And yet here Dohee was, spending over thirty minutes picking out an outfit just to look good for someone who wouldn’t even recognize the effort. He rolled his eyes and threw on a scarf anyway.

Knockoff

Uh… are you on your way…? 8 ㅁ 8

About to head out.

Is it cold outside?

Knockoff

Yeah…ㅠ-ㅠ I just left the house and it’s so cold!

It feels like my bones are freezing…

Knockoff

Make sure to wear a scarf and a padded coat…ㅠ-ㅠ

How much do you have to like someone for a 27-year-old man saying his bones are freezing to come off as cute?

Dohee asked himself that, and quickly answered.

Yeah, I’m definitely crazy.

I don’t wear padded coats lol

Are you one of those ‘freeze-to-death-but-still-stylish’ people?

Knockoff

What’s that?

Exactly what it sounds like

Knockoff

8ㅁ8… That’s a real phrase!?

You think it is? lol

Knockoff

…You’re teasing me again…ㅠ-ㅠ

Dress warm, lololol

If you whine about the cold when we meet, I’m smacking your back

Wear your scarf and gloves

Knockoff

I didn’t wear gloves!!!

If I do, I can’t message you…

Dohee tilted his head.

What is he saying? Gloves these days are perfectly touchscreen compatible. Don’t tell me he’s wearing those huge thumb mittens or something.

What kind of gloves do you have?

Knockoff

Uh… what?

Do you walk around in thumb mittens or something? lol

Knockoff

8 ㅁ 8… How did you know!?

Oh my god. So it’s true.

Dohee shook his head and grabbed the shopping bag he’d left by the front door. Then he pressed his palm to his forehead, laughter spilling out again without resistance. Everything about him was just too cute.

He was starting to want to test how far this cuteness would go.

💎

When Dohee asked if he wanted to meet up for a meal, Knockoff didn’t respond properly. He said he didn’t dislike the idea, but it was so sudden he hadn’t mentally prepared. Dohee scoffed.

– What kind of mental prep do you need? Just get ready after you leave the house.

Knockoff stammered again. It was Dohee who pushed things forward. What’s the big deal about meeting for a meal and a coffee? Treating it like no big deal only left Knockoff even more flustered.

– Uh… Have you ever done this before?

Done what?

– What?

– Like… met someone from online in real life?

– …Knockoff. We call that going offline.

– Uh… O-offline?

It sounded so awkward hearing him say it. Dohee suddenly thought Knockoff was better off just being his clumsy self. He didn’t need to try and act all internet-savvy. Teaching him that lingo only made things feel weird.

– Just don’t say that word.

– Ah…

– And I don’t just ask anyone to meet up like this.

– Oh. Aha?

– You’re the one who said it felt weird to call you “hyung” without having met. So let’s just meet, and I can call you that. Why? You think that’d be more awkward?

– What!? N-no! It’s not that… just, a bit… embarrassing…?

– You’re embarrassed by everything.

Even as Dohee said it, his heart was pounding so hard he had to distract himself. He was dying for a cigarette, but he couldn’t go out while on the phone. Eventually, though, he managed to lure the shy Moonhyuk outside.

Somehow, he arrived at the meeting place early. He was never someone who was punctual, but without realizing it, he ended up 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Sitting inside the café they agreed on, Dohee anxiously sipped his Americano.

He’s going to be surprised, right?

Probably very surprised.

Dohee already knew who Moonhyuk was, but Moonhyuk had no idea that the online friend he was meeting was the same customer from the internet café. Hopefully he wouldn’t freak out and run. How do you explain something like “Nice to meet you, we’ve actually met before”? Moonhyuk wouldn’t even imagine it. Should Dohee pretend to be surprised too, or confess that he recognized him before?

When he first realized that Knockoff and Moonhyuk were the same person, he’d been utterly stunned. Luckily, it had only gone one way, so at least Dohee had time to quietly observe him. But Moonhyuk? He’d have to accept the fact that the guy who he once gave gummies and said “the green one tastes the best!” was actually AssaGo.

Trying to calm down wasn’t working. His heart was pounding so hard it made his vision blur. Dohee kept sipping his drink to soothe his nerves. Even on past dates, he hadn’t felt this tense. This wasn’t even really a date. And yet his heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Playing games together, exchanging messages, talking on the phone, all of it was fun. So maybe meeting in person, eating together, drinking coffee, and talking would be even better? That hope was what kept making Dohee so nervous.

Knockoff

Im almost there…! ㅎ ㅅ ㅎ

What are you wearing….? Uh… This is my first time meeting someone like this…

What if I don’t recognize you…? ㅠ-ㅠ

I can recognize you, lol

What are you wearing? Really wearing a padded coat?

Knockoff

Yeah! Black padded coat and a red scarf!

I’m in a black coat, cream scarf. Already inside and coat’s off

I’m sitting at the table right in front of the counter. Green sweater

Knockoff

Gasp, you’re already here!? ㅠ-ㅠ

I thought I left early…

Just need to cross the light!!!

Knockoff

I’ll be right there soon!!

Dohee turned off his phone screen and looked up. Through the large café windows, he could see the crosswalk. The two-lane road was quiet. And spotting a 187cm tall guy holding a phone was way too easy.

A long black padded coat, a red scarf wrapped up to his nose. His knuckles red from the cold, gripping his phone. His old white sneakers. Dohee took it all in.

Moonhyuk slowly lifted his head. As the light turned green, he looked carefully both ways before striding across with long steps. The closer he got to the café, the more visibly nervous he seemed. He fiddled with his hair, adjusted his scarf again, it made Dohee laugh out loud.

Moonhyuk passed right by the window and stood at the café entrance. Every move he made was within Dohee’s line of sight. He checked his phone, took a deep breath. A puff of white fog escaped his lips. Then, like he’d made up his mind, he grabbed the door handle.

Dohee slowly turned his head.

With a rush of cold air, Knockoff–no, Moonhyuk–stepped inside the café.

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