CH 12

[Sesam: hey this ☆☆☆☆]

[Heejae: lololololololololololol]

[Sesam: what]

[Sesam: bullshit are you talking? Why are you suddenly bringing up a shower?] 

[Heejae: you said you were coming after taking a shower earlier lolol are you done?]

“You madman! That was a long time ago!”

I ended up yelling at the monitor. Of course, he couldn’t hear it because my mic was turned off, but I couldn’t help but scream.

[Sesam: why did you say that into the mic]

[Sesam: I said that a while ago you crazy bastard]

[Heejae: ah, I saw it just now lolol]

[Heejae: if they misunderstand me, I’ll explain everything ㅇ_ㅇㅋ isn’t that fine?]

Shin Heejae, after speaking so dryly, just left the Discord room. I immediately followed him out and into the room that was originally shared only by him and I. 

[Sesam: son of a b1tch I know you did that on purpose]

“Me? Why would I?”

Shin Heejae responded brazenly while laughing out loud. I was the only one whose fists were trembling.

[Sesam: you’re slandering me, you f*cker] 

“Ah, this is so funny.”

The guy didn’t deny it and laughed wickedly. The sound of his ringing laughter echoed in both my ears.

No wait. What’s with this brazen laughter after saying stuff that left room with such a dirty imagination? Was he not really that innocent enough for me to kill?

Shin Heejae suddenly held back his laughter and asked me as if he had been waiting for this moment. 

“But what’s wrong with that?”

[Sesam: what?]

“Noona was also bragging that I gave you a pendant.”

At that moment I stiffened at those unexpected words. Shin Heejae quietly lowered his voice and whispered. 

“Who embarrassed whom first?”

As soon as I heard that, I was truly grateful that I was facing him as a character in the game because I really wanted to die of shame.

This madman knew it all!

Perhaps knowing that I had refused to his face, but boasted that I had received an item to the clan members, he might have started to come on strongly to me from then on. He must have been convinced that ‘this noona must have liked it internally’. 

Qlat atja lc wlcv, la kjr ecvfgrajcvjyif atja tf tjv yfuec ab ygjhfcis milcu ab wf. Zfjcktlif, P kbcvfgfv tbk tf’r yffc ibbxlcu ja wf jii atlr alwf…

“Sffx!”

P uba eq ogbw ws rfja jcv rajgafv sfiilcu. Ktfc P mjwf ab ws rfcrfr jcv rja yjmx lc ws mtjlg, ktffhlcu. Lbkfnfg Vtlc Lffpjf, atf meiqgla bo jii atlr, mjiwis abbx j rfja cfza ab ws mtjgjmafg jcv kjr milculcu ab la.

I reached out and hit my keyboard. I was trembling at the thought that I had to somehow rectify this situation. 

[Sesam: I’m just saying this but??]

[Sesam: don’t get me wrong]

It sounded like an excuse since I missed the timing for a while. Both me and Shin Heejae knew that… However he didn’t want to listen to me desperately denying it

“What should I buy you next?” 

[Sesam: what?]

“I’ll buy you everything, so you can brag a lot.”

At the moment, I was at a loss for words. His attitude suggested there was nothing to fuss about, and his tone was of having fun. Shin Heejae, who had been humming a meaningless song, spoke to me again. This time it was in a tone that clearly showed that he was teasing me.

“Shall I buy you a staff this time too, Seyoung-ah?” 

[Sesam: Die. I told you not to make fun of me?]

[Heejae: lolololololololololololololololololololololol]

I had cursed reflexively, but after realizing that Shin Heejae was a naive person who bought women’s favors with money, I thought for a moment.

‘Is he really going to buy me something?’ 

Then… Can I do this as a high-income side job and get 3 million won in 6 months?

No. After all, this bastard was the one who sent me the pendant worth 1.92 million won a while ago. It seems that he is still young, so he has never had a bad experience with someone he met online.

I frowned and thought carefully. Was there anything at a reasonable price that would not be too burdensome when asked to buy it?

The guy said he would buy the staff right away, but just a few days ago I was upset that I received a pendant worth 1.92 million won. I didn’t know how much he would buy something for this time, but weapons are usually more expensive than accessories. 

‘If I keep asking him to buy expensive things… It would be difficult to make it seem insignificant in the long run, wouldn’t it?’

So, I threw some small words at him first, as if I were baiting him on a fishing rod.

[Sesam: never mind the staff]

[Sesam: then… buy me some chicken] 

“Chicken?”

[Sesam: yeah i’m hungry]

It was a very simple request, but honestly my hands were shaking as I sent that short message. Even though I knew I was screwing him over, I got a dirty feeling that I was acting strangely.

But that uncomfortable feeling got better when I saw his game character. When I think of the past a year ago when I was made a fool out of by this character, I was able to put up with this new reality. No, on the contrary, I was looking forward to it. 

After a few seconds of silence that felt like an hour, Shin Heejae asked me obediently.

“From where?”

[Sesam: what? just… anything]

“Do you have any favorite brands?” 

[Sesam: no, just get me anything]

“Boneless?”

[Sesam: mhm]

“Do you like spicy food?” 

[Sesam: mhm]

I’ve never ripped anything off anyone in this way before so it’s annoying and unpleasant for Shin Heejae to keep asking questions. Even though I knew it was not a big deal I felt like saying… Fuck, just half-ass it and give me anything.

Ring, ring, ring.

However, Shin Heejae did not comment on my impatient attitude and sent three kinds of chicken sets. While muttering to myself and thinking, “he really sent it…”. I swallowed my saliva. 

I wondered if the barcode was sent as a joke. However, there was no possibility that it was a fake, as it was in the message that came straight from the gift.

“I had a hard time choosing.”

I sat in front of my screen, staring at it in confusion while holding my phone, and listened to Shin Heejae talking playfully.

Now… what should I do? Just say thank you… or something like that? 

“Is he crazy? Why did he send three…?”

[Sesam: why send so many]

In the end, rather than saying thank you, I expressed my burdened feelings first. However, Shin Heejae did not show any snobby attitude and answered in his usual teasing tone.

“Noona is a pig. Will one be enough?” 

[Sesam: ?]

“Right. Just eat it. I carefully selected it.”

Then he chuckled and continued to hum to himself a strange tune. Throughout the rest of the day, I could clearly feel his energy rising as we went around the dungeon.

‘Is he suffering from a mental illness that makes him feel better when he opens his wallet?’ 

Although I clicked my tongue at his eccentric behavior, I felt like I had to say thank you for some reason…

But somehow I kept missing the timing.

I remembered that I hadn’t said anything until I turned off the game. I ended up tossing and turning for a while in bed. I turned on my phone and sent a message to him.

[Me: hey] 

[Heejae: hmm?]

[Me: I will eat well]

[Heejae: lololololol]

[Heejae: ㅇ_ㅇ yes] 

* * *

The next day.

I tried some chicken with one of the gift cards Shin Heejae gave me. As I was handed the hot chicken box from the delivery man, the room was filled with a delicious smell. I looked down at the shiny chicken with sauce and stayed still for a while without touching it.

Strangely the situation didn’t feel real. It felt different from when I had received the gift as a gift card yesterday. There is also something different about the food when my friends and parents bring it to me. It wasn’t because of my conscience that I was feeling weird… To be precise… 

“Wow… It worked?”

It was surprise.

I was feeling more and more excited.

The more I thought about it, the more fascinated I became. Shin Heejae really wanted to be liked by me, and I had used that to my advantage. 

And to be honest, I didn’t even do the really disgusting “netkama” things that other people usually think of. Was it unrealistic to be able to get a meal like this easily? Even though I had never particularly said any affectionate words to him?

“Hmm.”

I picked up a large piece with my chopsticks, squinted my eyes, and shoved it into my mouth.

Instantly, the deep-fried food crackled and crumbled in my mouth and the spicy flavor gently adhered to my tongue. It was a great chicken dish full of flavor. Indeed, it was so tasty that it showed Shin Heejae had carefully selected it. 

“… Really delicious.”

But my feelings weren’t just because the chicken tasted so good. It would be accurate to say that my excitement rose throughout the meal, and that feeling was reflected in the taste making it delicious.

This chicken was the first loot I stole from Shin Heejae. I picked up a couple more pieces of chicken to eat, and ended up rolling over onto the floor unable to contain my laughter.

“Ah—! It’s so delicious!” 

I didn’t know what exactly this feeling was. It was the first time I had so much excitement while eating chicken.

After giggling and eating about half the box I was full, I put the chicken box into the kitchen and checked my cell phone that I had left unattended.

The phone was filled with calls from Shin Heejae as if it were spam calls. Ignoring everything previous to his last message, the corners of my lips subconsciously rose.

[Heejae: you took the chicken and became uncontactable immediately?] 

[Heejae: what are you eating ㅇ_ㅇ]

Now even just by looking at the text, his voice played in my head. He pretends to be sulky, grumbles, and complains. But if I answer with a word, he’ll start flirting again as if nothing happened.

Then I got a little curious.

What part of ‘Sesam’ was this bastard into anyway? 

[Me: burp lololol]

[Heejae: ate?]

[Me: mhmm]

[Heejae: how much do you think about me while eating?] 

[Me: who?]

[Heejae: lolol]

[Heejae: lololololololololololololololololololol]