Episode 59

 

『A sudden event has occurred! (๑•̀ㅁ•́ฅ✧)』

『Depending on your choice, a target character’s affection level may rise or fall dramatically! Choose carefully!』

 

The system’s sudden notification didn’t end with just one message. The announcement of a sudden event alone was enough to cause confusion, but with this additional statement, the situation felt even more serious.

Lately, Haeun had become accustomed to the game environment and didn’t pay much attention to small fluctuations in affection levels. Nevertheless, it remained true that he had been doing his best to maintain affection levels through careful image management. 

An event that might significantly reduce the affection levels he had worked hard to preserve meant he needed to be on high alert.

As Haeun hurriedly tried to check the KaTalk notifications, he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t yet replied to Gyowon’s message.

 

[Kim Gyowon]

You did it, huh?

 

Yes~ Sunbaenim told me to ㅋㅋ

 

Would this alone satisfy him? Haeun recalled being questioned the last time he couldn’t reply while receiving other messages. Not wanting to create such a situation again, it seemed best to say something in advance.

 

Wait a sec plz

 

This should prevent any issues. Although it made him look like someone with urgent business to anyone who saw it, at least he wouldn’t question why he wasn’t replying.

Haeun checked the notifications with peace of mind. The three KaTok alerts that rang simultaneously really did come from different chat rooms. The senders were Yejun, Seongjae, and Ilhyun.

 

[Yejun]

Are you free this weekend?

 

[Seongjae]

Did you get back to the dorm?

 

[Ilhyun]

Can we talk for a bit?

 

The notifications were sent at such a clever timing as if orchestrated that it would have been an incredible coincidence in reality, but this was inside the game. 

After checking all the messages, he felt strange all over again. This was truly like an event from an idol otome game. In games too, when messages or meeting proposals came simultaneously from multiple characters, significant changes to the romance route would occur depending on whom you answered first or whom you met.

Games really are games…

Haeun thought, feeling slightly dazed. 

For now, he decided to reply to the messages in the order they arrived. First, Yejun. What did he want to do on the weekend? Speaking of the weekend, tomorrow was already Saturday. He was asking about his schedule for tomorrow and the day after.

Tomorrow and the day after were days with no filming or schedule. If the message had come only from Yejun, he probably would have replied “I have nothing planned!” without thinking and made plans with him. After all, she had been looking forward to having a meal with him for a while. 

However, with messages coming from multiple people and this being labeled as a sudden event, it seemed better to answer more carefully as the system advised.

 

[Yejun] 

Are you free this weekend?

 

What’s the matter?

 

It was a great response that delayed committing to an answer. But when he tried to send the reply as it was, somehow the send button wouldn’t work. Seeing that nothing changed despite pressing it multiple times, it wasn’t a mistake.

Could it be complaining about the lack of emoticons again? 

Haeun thought emoticons were no longer mandatory since he could send messages to Kim Gyowon without them, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

Is it that Kim Gyowon already knows his true nature so it can’t be helped, but others don’t yet? Does he still need to put on airs with Yejun, with whom he’s become relatively less comfortable? Or has the system realized that showing his true self to Kim Gyowon actually has a better effect on his affection level?

In the beginning, Haeun thought sending emoticons was undignified and hurt his pride, but now he became used to it. He had grown somewhat attached to the funny-looking rabbit, and apart from being a bit troublesome, it wasn’t really a problem.

Haeun accepted reality without bothering to argue with the system. When he sent the message with a rabbit emoticon that put its front paws near its mouth with a question mark, this time the KaTok message was sent smoothly.

‘Hmm… if I have to keep using these anyway, maybe I should buy another one.’

The repertoire he could cover with that rabbit was gradually running out, and there were probably funnier emoticons too.

…Somehow it seemed like he was adapting too easily. Is this really okay?

Haeun, who had been naturally contemplating buying new emoticons, paused for a moment. Still, his fundamental nature hadn’t completely changed. He decided to think positively since going with the flow would be more comfortable for him too.

Haeun wasn’t particularly tense about what answer might come, nor worried about unexpected responses while he was replying to Yejun. This was because he thought it would be a continuation of his previous offer to treat him to a meal. 

Yejun had clearly said he would arrange a meeting first, so that’s probably what this was about. Though he didn’t know why he suddenly thought of it at this particular timing.

Next, he opened Seongjae’s KaTok chat window in order.

 

[Seongjae]

Did you get back to the dorm?

 

It didn’t seem like he was genuinely curious about whether he had returned to the dorm. Lee Seongjae, while seemingly honest about his emotions and straightforward, tended to speak indirectly. This kind of testing-the-waters speech pattern was especially characteristic of him.

 

Yep I’m back ㅋㅋㅋ why?

 

So, there was probably a separate main point. As soon as he abruptly asked for the reason, the “1” disappeared and a reply came instantly.

 

[Seongjae]

What are you doing tomorrow? Or the day after

 

As expected. His predictions were accurate in many ways. 

As he thought, Seong-jae had a different main point, and this was an event that required a choice. Tomorrow would be Saturday. That meant the time overlapped with the weekend when Yejun wanted to make plans.

 

Why?

 

Haeun stalled again by asking a question instead of answering directly.

 

[Seongjae]

Why what? I’m asking what you’re doing–

 

Not giving a proper answer was something Seongjae did as well. Waiting for the other person’s answer to come out first instead of answering directly was one of Seongjae’s bad habits. Fans of Seongjae’s character in the otome game considered that part of his charm, but from Haeun’s perspective, it was frustrating.

 

ㅋㅋㅋ I’m busy

 

Haeun replied like that although he was not busy at all. This time, the “1” didn’t even appear from the beginning. It seemed he had kept the KaTok window open and was waiting for a reply.

 

[Seongjae] 

Haha, don’t be funny pretending to be busy. 

 

Since they’re close enough to know each other’s schedules, there’s no use in claiming to be busy. Then why did he ask what Haeun was doing if he already knew? 

Haeun tapped the screen with his fingertip as if it were Seongjae’s head. What should he do? Depending on who he chooses, he might have to give up on someone’s affection. 

It seemed necessary to consider what Yejun and Seongjae each planned to do on the weekend, and how serious they appeared to be. 

 

(Rabbit emoticon turning around quickly) 

What are you planning to do this weekend? 

 

Haeun decided to ignore him if he doesn’t answer properly this time either. After sending the KaTalk message, he decided to check Ilhyun’s message last. 

 

[Ilhyun] 

Can we talk for a bit? 

 

Oh! His heart sank for no apparent reason. This wasn’t the time to leisurely worry about the other two. 

“Can we talk for a bit?” 

It felt eerie, like being called by a teacher or parent. Usually, people who summon you with such polite phrasing are more terrible and frightening when they scold you. 

Haeun chose the most pitiful and miserable-looking emoticon to prepare for the shock. The chosen one was an emoticon of a rabbit shedding abundant tears. 

 

ㅠㅠ 

Why?? I haven’t caused any trouble lately 🙁 

 

He even added an 🙁 at the end to make a stronger appeal, which was unlike him. This should be enough to calm Ilhyun down even if he was truly angry. He would scold him less seeing Haeun’s face that looked ready to cry at the slightest provocation. 

Satisfied, he sent the message, and Ilhyun replied immediately. 

 

[Ilhyun] 

No^^; It’s not about that

 

It was a truly embarrassed-looking emoticon. He could almost see Il-hyun’s expression. Haeun, not feeling embarrassed at all, replied: 

 

Then??? 

 

[Ilhyun] 

About going on the variety show 

Are you sure you don’t need to prepare for it? 

 

Ah, so that’s what he was worried about. It made sense. Going on a variety show without the other members, there was concern about whether he might cause trouble like during the live interview. 

Although Kim Gyowon would be there, from the members’ perspective, they were complete strangers, so it essentially felt like sending Park Haeun alone to the broadcast. 

 

(Rabbit emoticon sweating) 

ㅎ Are you worried I’ll cause trouble? 

 

[Ilhyun] 

(Smiling puppy emoticon) 

Not trouble exactly, just worried because you’re going alone 

Want to prepare? Both of us are free this weekend, so our schedules should match 

 

When he replied jokingly, Ilhyun maintained a composed attitude in his response. 

The dog in the emoticon somehow resembled Ilhyun himself. It looked funny and would be nice to use, but it felt too much like something Ilhyun would use, so he hesitated to copy it. 

After briefly evaluating the emoticon, Haeun fell into thought. It seemed the event with Ilhyun would be preparing together for the variety show. Unlike the questionable intentions of the other two, Ilhyun’s proposal seemed very beneficial and straightforward. 

Though the term “preparation” felt awkward to Haeun, who had never prepared for anything in his life, it seemed he could somehow endure it since it wasn’t school studying.

As expected of a professional idol, should he choose the event of practicing for the variety show with Ilhyun?

While hesitating, he scanned through the chat list. Replies from others had arrived in the meantime.

 

[Yejun]

I was wondering if we could finally make plans this time

 

Unusually, Yejun had included a smiling emoticon with that message. Seeing the brown puppy smiling awkwardly, it seemed he hadn’t purchased it separately but chosen it from the basic emoticons. Was he trying to emphasize that it was a joke?

 

[Seongjae]

I’m going to buy a birthday gift for my sister

Let’s go together

 

Meanwhile, Sungjae had also clearly stated his main point this time. Haeun was about to bluntly ask, “Why would I go with you to buy your sister a gift?” but before he could type the message, one more message arrived from Seongjae.

 

[Seongjae]

You know you forgot my birthday, right?