“Oh, that’s not it. It says <Would You Like to Get Close?> here with the title and rules.”
Because it appeared slowly, from when the message emerged, the noisy people all focused at once.
<Welcome to the dormitory. Everyone gathered here can freely build friendships. While living together, if you choose someone compatible and make your final selection, you will embark on a new journey together in the full-fledged virtual dating program ‘Would You Like to Date?’.>
Those who had been carefully looking at the card with rules they’d already received in advance each gauged the situation. Among them, Hajin was the first to speak.
“So everyone is on equal footing, right? Haha. It would be like that originally, but Yeongwon here is the same too.”
“How coincidentally did everyone of similar age gather except for Yeongwon?”
“I know, right. Can I ask again what kind of resolution led you to appear? The timing keeps getting off.”
Literally, except for Yeongwon, everyone knew through brief introductions that they all had similar ages. Thanks to that, it was true that Yeongwon’s age stood out much more.
Of course, only the production staff would know how this composition came about, but it was vaguely felt. That if they were younger than this, they wouldn’t easily muster the courage. So they were even more puzzled, but gazes that concealed it all poured toward Yeongwon at once.
“I wanted to try appearing on a program like this, but I also wanted to try dating.”
Since he had a clear goal, Yeongwon naturally revealed his inner thoughts.
At Yeongwon’s attitude of answering nonchalantly, the other party’s difficulty also gradually disappeared.
“If Yeongwon treats us sincerely, we should treat him sincerely too.”
“What’s Yeongwon’s ideal type?”
“I mean, older, younger…….”
“If we ask like this, no that’s not right. What do we do asking now? It’s ambiguous to answer in various ways.”
“I like older people. Younger won’t do. That would be a big problem.”
Though Yeongwon himself hadn’t been past the standard he called “a big problem” for very long, his voice was firm.
For Yeongwon, it was all sincere. He was just removing all the sides he wasn’t interested in, and just wanted to emphasize that he also had the qualification of being an adult.
But to others, it came across like an appropriate joke. It also became an opportunity to loosen the atmosphere that had been somewhat frozen in bewilderment.
“Anyway, since we’ve gathered like this, we should all get along well. The program name is Would You Like to Get Close? after all.”
“What, does that mean you won’t set a limit?”
“A limit? Ah, of course. I’m still the youngest here. You know. Same twenties as Yeongwon.”
Jiwoo, the second youngest after Yeongwon, whispered in a playful voice.
Whether it was his original personality to approach well or not, he actively approached while forming a consensus with Yeongwon and loosening up comfortably.
‘I didn’t expect this.’
Jiseo’s expression, which had been wearing a comfortable look throughout while listening to the conversations, stiffened imperceptibly in bewilderment.
There were those who looked his age, but there were also quite a few who seemed not to have much age difference from Yeongwon.
Therefore, what made Jiseo bewildered, thinking things would flow smoothly according to his intentions, was the fact that everyone was his peers, not Yeongwon’s peers.
Even the one who approached Yeongwon most friendly, though having the smallest age gap, had a whole nine-year difference.
If possible, he thought there would be a few people around twenty-two, or at least twenty-five. How could there be not even one? Because of that, Jiseo’s head became quite complicated from the start.
‘They’re not partners to gain experience with.’
By Jiseo’s standards, they had essentially already been eliminated just by age. The condition of being completely similar to him made Jiseo feel bothered from the beginning. Still, for now…….
Just as Jiseo, who had been only listening rather than actively participating in the conversation, was about to open his mouth, someone else raised their voice first.
“I heard that Jiseo and Yeongwon are also acquainted. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes. We’re close.”
“Still, it’s good that you have someone to rely on. Even if we feel difficult, you have someone to consult with.”
“Perhaps Jiseo might have the most thoughts. A close younger brother appeared on a program like this together.”
“If you couldn’t imagine it, it would be sufficiently bewildering.”
“From our perspective, they don’t match right now.”
Since he said he’d be willing to accept Yeongwon if he turned thirty, Jiseo honestly conveyed his words. Even if others couldn’t understand, Yeongwon would understand. He immediately opened his mouth again.
“Yeongwon is still very young.”
“If you’re close, you’d see it that way more.”
“It’s not that I see it that way—it’s objectively so.”
“…….”
“It’s a waste. Yeongwon just turned twenty.”
Jiseo subtly conveyed that it wasn’t a story limited only to himself.
The Spirit of Twenty
“Should we also have the conscience that Jiseo hyung is maintaining?”
“That’s true, but let’s stop now. Honestly, Yeongwon will already be losing energy. Because we keep talking like this.”
Though not directly taking Jiseo’s side, everyone couldn’t help but have a similar position to his.
Eyes that belatedly held apology toward Yeongwon briefly glittered as they conveyed their apologies.
“This reaction coming out isn’t because you’re the problem, but because we’re the problem. If I want to date you, the thought that it goes against my conscience comes first.”
“…….”
“Like Jiseo hyung said, honestly speaking, it’s true that Yeongwon is a waste.”
It seemed they tried to take Yeongwon’s side in their own way, but all the words everyone spouted were the same as taking Jiseo’s side. Though no one would know that’s how it came across to Yeongwon.
“Actually, well, if Yeongwon is okay with it, everything is okay.”
Jiwoo, who had pulled the atmosphere softly with a smile, approached close to Yeongwon’s side as if they’d already become close.
While approaching friendly and making him feel comfortable, Yeongwon quite liked Jiwoo.
Yeongwon unknowingly grabbed his arm and shook his head while making eye contact.
“Isn’t this it? Hyung wants to take your side.”
Jiwoo, who only thought he’d misunderstood, deliberately brought his hand to Yeongwon’s ear and whispered.
“Has the youngest line already formed?”
“I’d like to have the position of a close hyung. The expression ‘youngest’ is awkward though.”
“Try having a broad range. Hyung is also in his twenties, you know.”
Yeongwon, who had been quietly listening to the other person’s words, added clearly.
Having heard the honest feelings of those who knew nothing, the fact that he’d been pushed back by Jiseo from the start was something he couldn’t help but acknowledge whether he wanted to or not. Well, he had no choice but to pass it off as similar reactions from similar age groups.
After all, the important thing was turning Jiseo’s heart around. However, when people with the same opinion met, they also tended to gain strength.
‘It’s not me who’s a waste, but hyung.’
Yeongwon was dying to let them know this.
‘First, I need to do my best to break that prejudice. Even if hyung is like that, if other people think the same way too, I feel like I’ll eventually be pushed back.’
It didn’t mean he would completely change the perception to the side that an age difference like his and Jiseo’s didn’t matter.
Important values that should be upheld could differ depending on the person. He wasn’t saying all of that was wrong either.
What Yeongwon was asserting was his relationship with Jiseo. To do that, it would be easier if he told them what kind of relationship they had, what kind of circumstances, but it was unfortunate that he couldn’t. Of course, if he gradually expressed his feelings toward Jiseo, they might take his side.
Rather than changing everyone’s perception, he wanted to hear that he and Jiseo were probably okay.
“What kind of person does hyung want to date? What’s your ideal type?”
Yeongwon, wanting to gain support starting from those showing him favor, casually struck up a conversation with Jiwoo.
All those gathered here showed good reactions to Jiseo from the start and had fan sentiments. That meant they might show favorable feelings toward Jiseo.
While his heart was anxious, the greed to receive the evaluation of being a good person himself also surged ahead.
When he chose Jiseo, he hoped for the not-quite-compliment compliment that “the two match so well there’s no room to dig in” to follow.
“Hyung likes someone who cooks well? Especially when a man cooks well, I think it’s sexy. Like the popular saying these days.”
Since they were wearing microphones, the viewers would hear everything, but Yeongwon didn’t realize it for a moment.
“We have to make our own meals, right? We have to go grocery shopping too.”
“Hey, this is strange. Are you flirting with me first? Why don’t you ask about my ideal type?”
Yeongwon belatedly realized that he had unknowingly put his lips to the ear of the person he’d just asked about their ideal type.
