By Zephyria 
‘What the… why is he being so cringe? It’s just a small scratch on my hand, it’s no big deal…’
Feeling suddenly embarrassed, Mo Yeon-hu quickly pulled his hand away. The lingering warmth where he had been held felt stinging, and he fidgeted with his fingers for no reason.
“A-anyway, it wasn’t me. I don’t know that game, and I’ve never played it. What I played was… John Village. Got it?”
Blurted out a ridiculous excuse, Mo Yeon-hu held his head high. Kwon Mi-eon, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Mo Yeon-hu’s hand, finally looked up.
His gaze, staring intently, was strangely sunken. Because of his expressionless face, it was impossible to read his thoughts, but Mo Yeon-hu realized instinctively.
‘There’s no way he’ll believe this…’
Even by common sense, what he was doing now was just throwing a tantrum. There was no way a cunning guy like Kwon Mi-eon would overlook such a flimsy lie. And yet.
“Yes, I understand.”
…Huh?
“I understand that the game you played back then was John Village.”
What?
Mo Yeon-hu was the one who became flustered by his cool acceptance. It was because Kwon Mi-eon acknowledged his absurd claim so calmly instead of questioning it.
‘Does John Village actually exist?’
He was so composed that for a moment, that thought crossed Mo Yeon-hu’s mind.
But there was no way a game called ‘John Village’ existed!
“I must have misunderstood. I thought the game Hyung played back then was ‘Zombie Village.’ It just so happens that it’s a game I know a little bit about.”
Kwon Mi-eon’s tone was utterly nonchalant. Of course, Mo Yeon-hu wasn’t naive enough to believe those words.
‘He saw everything!’
Hadn’t Kwon Mi-eon seen the screen he was playing on? Furthermore, Mo Yeon-hu had something to say.
‘And he said he didn’t know the game either!’
It was absurd that he claimed to know a bit about it now, when he had said back then that he didn’t know the game.
“Uh, yeah. Right. The two games seem a bit similar. The one I played back then was indeed John Village, haha…”
He wasn’t in a position to argue. Mo Yeon-hu glossed over it, feeling as if he were shooting himself in the foot. He had already crossed the point of no return.
“Of course, Hyung.”
Kwon Mi-eon leaned slightly away from the wall. Then, looking at Mo Yeon-hu, he spoke as if making an attractive proposal.
“Since we’ve both misunderstood each other, it’s a kind of fate. Would you like to play a game with me?”
How is misunderstanding each other ‘fate’…?
“I’ve been free lately and was thinking of playing a game, but I thought starting alone would be a bit lonely. Since Hyung is also interested in games, I think it would be perfect if we did it together.”
“What game is it?”
“Zombie Village.”
Mo Yeon-hu’s thought process came to a complete halt.
“Not John Village, Zombie Village.”
Watching Kwon Mi-eon emphasize every single syllable, Yeon-hu’s mouth hung open in sheer absurdity.
“W-why would I? I’m incredibly busy. I’m not free.”
Play Zombie Village, and with Kwon Mi-eon of all people?
‘Am I crazy?’
The game and the person he most wanted to avoid in the world were now bundled together as a set. Just hearing it was horrific.
“Ah, I see. I guess playing with me is a bit much, right?”
Not ‘a bit,’ but ‘very’ much…! Mo Yeon-hu barely managed to swallow the answer he wanted to shout, while Kwon Mi-eon lowered his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
“Then again, I’ll be getting busy soon, so it might be difficult.”
Thank goodness! Contrary to Kwon Mi-eon’s darkened expression, Mo Yeon-hu’s face brightened. However, he froze instantly, as if falling into hell, at the following words.
“Actually, it seems like someone has been hanging around Ms. Mi-yeong lately. They go to the cafe regularly, keep trying to talk to her, and seem to be staring at her constantly.”
“What? What kind of crazy bastard…!”
Something like that was happening to our Ms. Mi-yeong? Mo Yeon-hu was enraged by the fact that some crazy pervert was clinging to Mi-yeong, whom he himself hadn’t even dared to speak to.
“Right, a crazy bastard.”
“You just watched that? How could you just leave her alone!”
“I tried quite hard. But the other person is just so persistent.”
“Why? Do they even follow her home?”
“Not that—well, it seems they’re even following her in the game she plays?”
…Huh? Mo Yeon-hu stopped moving. Meanwhile, Kwon Mi-eon continued talking.
“They’re showering her with all sorts of gifts in the game, making a fuss just to say a word… what was it, an Alliance? I heard they even joined the same group. And is that all? They apparently asked her to call them ‘Oppa.’ Even while giving her money.”
Mo Yeon-hu clenched his fists, his eyes widening.
‘When did I!’
I don’t think I went that far…
“They even followed her around in the game calling her Ms. Mi-yeong. Isn’t that creepy? It’s a relief that it wasn’t actually Noona’s account.”
Kwon Mi-eon said, his expression turning cold.
…The problem was that, frustratingly, it wasn’t entirely wrong!
‘W-was I that creepy?’
Mo Yeon-hu wanted to tear his hair out, cursing his past self. He tried to compose his expression, but he was someone who had no talent for hiding his inner thoughts.
Noticing Mo Yeon-hu’s expression becoming strange to anyone’s eyes, Kwon Mi-eon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why? Is this a story you know too, Hyung?”
“Ah, no. I don’t. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He had to pretend not to know. As Kwon Mi-eon stared at the face pretending to be innocent, he slightly turned his head and gave a small, fake cough. Mo Yeon-hu didn’t notice the faint curve of a smile forming behind the hand covering his mouth.
“The only saving grace is that Noona doesn’t know about this situation.”
Kwon Mi-eon lowered his body and approached. Then, he cupped his hand over Mo Yeon-hu’s ear and whispered secretly, like a whisper.
“From now on, I’m planning to thoroughly dig out who that person is and tell Noona everything… what do you think?”
“…….”
…If it was the Miu he knew, with that persistence, he was the kind of person who would find evidence that he was 0momo0 no matter what. Especially since he was already suspicious.
“But honestly, shouldn’t we report them? They’re a completely gloomy and strange person. If I catch them, I’ll post a flyer with their personal information at the cafe and spread it on social media…!”
At that moment, Mo Yeon-hu reached out and covered Kwon Mi-eon’s mouth. Kwon Mi-eon stopped talking and looked down at him.
Mo Yeon-hu couldn’t even look at Kwon Mi-eon properly, his entire face turning bright red. His eyes were brimming with tears as if he were about to cry, and his lips trembled and flickered as if he didn’t know what to say.
Kwon Mi-eon, unable to take his eyes off Mo Yeon-hu, felt his gaze darken slightly.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that. It was a coincidence… really a coincidence…”
Unaware of this, Mo Yeon-hu mumbled an excuse in a slightly cracking voice.
“…Ah!”
Startled by a sudden pain, Mo Yeon-hu recoiled and pulled his hand away. Kwon Mi-eon had lightly bitten his finger. Watching him jump like a small animal, the corners of Kwon Mi-eon’s mouth softened, but he soon asked with a nonchalant face, as if nothing had happened.
“Why are you jumping in here, Hyung? Wasn’t this a story unrelated to you? I really don’t know who the other person is… but I guess you do?”
Kwon Mi-eon tilted his head as if he truly didn’t know, but Mo Yeon-hu was certain.
He’s doing this on purpose. Definitely. One hundred percent!
“Ah, of course, looking for a person is tedious. I’m only trying to find them because I’m free right now. If I get busy, I don’t think I’ll have the energy to tell Kang Mi-yeong about this.”
“You… aren’t working? I thought you were a model!”
“It’s been a while since I stopped. Anyway, I’m bored, so I’m thinking of looking into it…”
What should I do? Would it be better to just come clean and beg for forgiveness now? Mo Yeon-hu, contemplating with a serious face, looked guilty to anyone watching. Seeing this, Kwon Mi-eon spoke in a seductive, drifting tone.
“Ah, of course… I think I’ll be too busy to find them once I start the game. I might get so absorbed in the game that I’ll find it tedious to search.”
Mo Yeon-hu’s ears perked up. Kwon Mi-eon continued.
“I’ve never played Zombie Village, but I heard it’s really fun.”
What do you mean you’ve never played it? You’re the one who played it more intensely than anyone! He wanted to scream that right now, but he couldn’t.
‘Why is he pretending not to know just to play the game together?’
Surely he isn’t doing this because he wants to play with him.
‘Could it be to catch evidence?’
Since he had gone as far as smashing his phone to pretend he didn’t know Zombie Village, it was clear that Kwon Mi-eon was pretending to go along with it just to catch evidence that he was 0momo0.
‘But if you think about it, Kwon Mi-eon was the one who deceived me first…!’
He felt a surge of indignation, but given the situation, he couldn’t open his mouth.
Kwon Mi-eon glanced at Mo Yeon-hu, whose thoughts were transparent, then suppressed a laugh, turned his gaze away, and naturally continued.
“Well… but how could I do it alone. I’m not very good at games, so I’m a bit scared to start alone.”
“…….”
“I feel like I could do well if someone played with me, then honestly, whether someone is following Noona or not, I wouldn’t really care…”
Mo Yeon-hu grabbed Kwon Mi-eon’s hand firmly. Then, unable to even open his eyes properly, he chattered.
“Let’s play. When do you want to do it?”
It felt like jumping into hellfire, but what else could he do! It seemed better to play the game together and interfere so that he couldn’t find evidence that 0momo0 was him.
“I really love games! Actually, I have an old dream I’ve held in my heart. It’s to be a game player. Being a game player was my dream!”
“A… player?”
“Yeah. A game player!”
“You mean a pro gamer, right?”
“……Uh.”
…How frustrating.
“……Kuk, yes. That’s right.”
So frustrating.
“Then play the game with me, Player-nim.”
So frustrating!