Chapter : Just Tell Them You Got A Girlfriend

Chapter : Just Tell Them You Got A Girlfriend

After a long time, I met my older brother:

Ha, Hyung, Im having a hard time.

Sitting in a corner of a noisy bar, I grabbed my head and said.

[ Note: Hyung is used by younger men to refer to older men. ]

I knew it was not going to happen, but I glanced at the door with anxious eyes in case I ran into them.

Whats going on again, Starchis?

My older brother, Stion, who was 9 years older than me and was the leader of an A-tier party, tilted his head at my complaint.

[ Note: Starchis might sound like a weird name but the flower Statice () - which means Eternal Love - is also written like Starchis (). And author-san is referring that Starchis/Seutachiseu () here. ]

Hyung had a lot of social experience, so there were many times when I felt comfortable consulting with him. It's also because he usually gave me clear answers or told me directly what to do; He was one of my spiritual supporters.

Is it because of those party kids again?

Who else is there beside them?

Who is it this time?

All three.

Huh.

However, even if he came up with one solution, the consultation with Hyung never ended; as if fighting a defensive battle, when one worry disappeared, another one arose.

And those issues always came from my party members.

Because I longed to be like my brother, the leader of the A-tier party, I organized my own party, and as a result, I found three female party members and stayed together for two years with that composition.

Though its been only 2 years since the party was formed, it was slightly different how long we had known each member face to face even before forming the party.

I want to take some time off.

?... Just take it then.

But its hard.

What are you talking about?... Just have a few beers, organize what you want to say in your head, then say it.

Hyung wanted to listen to my concerns seriously, but he didnt seem to understand.

As I drank my beer as he said, I thought about how to solve this question.

Just thinking about those three made my heart ache.

My party members. They cant see me taking a break.

What, inside the dungeon? Why are you running errands?

No. They cant do that in a dungeon. If everyone doesnt take it seriously, itll be a big deal.

If I kept running errands even in the dungeon, the whole party would shake: those three were not that stupid. If they treated me like a slave like that, I would have already lost my hand. Instead, inside the dungeon, everyone contributed their best even if they were angry with me and we were not on talking terms.

There is no problem in the dungeon.

Then? Are you saying outside the dungeon is the problem?

Yes.

What can they even do to trouble you so much outside the dungeon?

I mean, they always come to me on days off. Lets do this, lets do that, help us with this, lets hang out, etc I was trying to pamper them; we hang out together a few times before, but these days its too much.

?

Hyung was frowning and making a puzzled expression.

So theyre asking you to come and hang out on your day off?

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What, why is that a problem?

They come every day!!! Assuming I dont get hurt, if we go around the dungeon for 2 days and take 5 days off, theyll come for all 5 days off, got it? Taking turns.

Say you just want to rest.

Hyung, who spoke so simply, looked disgusting.

Okay. To others, thats normal. But if it was as easier as he said, would I have consulted?

Though I didnt have the strength to refute; I was still very tired.

Even Hyung cant help me?

When I looked at him with resigned eyes, Hyung quietly averted my eyes and said.

Yeah, but its not easy, that must be why you consulted with me. Well... Why cant you refuse?

I was annoyed, but I also felt sorry for Hyung who was looking after me. After all, Hyung was using his free time for me. But we were not having a good time, I was just talking dark things. Even so, Hyung continued to worry about me.

Tell me. Why cant you refuse?

Pooh Once I refuse, they get angry.

You're saying they get pissed?

Why not? They're calling you because they just want to see you and date you. If you refuse, they will get angry.

Hyung seemed to be organizing his thoughts already.

The hyung, who listened earnestly, went somewhere and tried to smile wrigglingly.

I must not let him get carried away here.

If I didnt break this claim here, he would give me advice that would make me look like an idiot.

I already began to hear the cold voice of my three party members saying things like Why are you so insensitive?

I took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

Hyung. Absolutely not!

What is absolutely not? It seems right.

Its embarrassing, but its not like I didnt think about it.

Oh, yes?

You know. I am also interested in dating.

And?

But when I meet them and see how they behave, its absolutely not like that. If you love someone, you'd praise them, go to places where you can have fun with each other, and eat something delicious, right? Their hearts beat too.

Well. Everyone expresses it differently, right?

Still if they like me, they should be a little considerate of me. If I'm tired, they should let me rest. Aside from that, even when we meet, they just do what they want to do and go where they want to go. Eat only what they want to eat; they just want to do things that would be embarrassing to do alone, so they take me with them... As a porter.

They even keep drawing the line. Who likes the other person but keeps drawing the line? Right, Hyung?

What line?

That we are not lovers. They keep reminding me as if never to cross that line.

Its ambiguous.

Hmm...

I felt like I was going to die of boredom. He didnt see how I was being dragged around, so Hyung said things like that.

Their actions were nothing but things that I could never understand from my perspective on dating.

Im doing this because I couldnt really explain it, hyung has to see it for himself.

You too, clear your head and observe again. I might be right.

Hyung. But, absolutely not. Even if they really liked me with a probability of 1 in 10,000. What does that have to do with me? Who expresses their liking that way? No, but even if it was a way of expressing their liking anyway, I have no intention of getting along with people who express it that way.

Well? That right.

I clenched my fists in my heart.

Yes, you are finally on my side.

I'll have even a harder time with them if they continue to act like that even after we become lovers. I support pure love, so I like the love where both are considerate of each other. Do you want me to suffer with them?

Ayu. No, why would I? You're my younger brother.

Right? But I keep wasting my break time because of girls who arent meant to be lovers, does this make sense?

I wanted to convince him, but his smile wouldnt disappear.

There are limits to hanging out with friends.

Even though it felt strange, hyung eventually told me how to solve it.

Starchis, my cute little brother. There is no way they like you?

Thats right!

Never?

Never.

When I said it firmly, he chuckled.

If they had feelings for you, wouldnt it be okay?

No.

And you wish you had some time off?

Uh. Give me some time to rest. What should I do?

Seeing my face like that, Hyung scratched his head and mumbled quietly.

Hey, yes, hell himself take care of the aftermath.

?

Starchis... Then try this.

What is it, Hyung?

Hyung said nonchalantly:

Just tell them you got a girlfriend.