“……Hyung……? You didn’t disappear, right? You’re here, right……? Right, hyung?”
He was asking the empty air in a state of utter dismay. Before him floated a notification stating that Heo Wonyoung had been deleted due to the bug ‘Ki Siyeon’. Seeing him, Wonyoung felt as if he were plummeting into an abyss.
“Hyung, please.”
Tears streamed down Siyeon’s cheeks. If he left him to spend the night like this, there was no telling what would become of Siyeon. He couldn’t deliberate any longer. Wonyoung rushed to the chat window with the game creator.
“Send me back. Right now.”
[Are you choosing the option at the top? Y/N]
“…….”
Wonyoung clenched both fists tight. His nails dug into his palms, spreading pain. Blood flowed from his lips that he’d kept biting.
He couldn’t forgive it. Not the game, not the game creator, not the system—none of it.
“……I’ll stake a different price. You said an appropriate price was needed to change the game, didn’t you?”
Then, after a brief silence, a message appeared in the chat window.
[What will you stake?^^]
Wonyoung slowly opened his mouth.
“My memories. Heo Wonyoung’s memories.”
* * *
‘I remember my name is Heo Wonyoung…… I’m 31 years old. A team leader in a large corporation’s planning team. I can’t remember the company I worked for or where I lived. Oh right, the name of the orphanage I came from was…… what was it? Who gave me my name? My birthday is…… I can’t remember that either.’
Wonyoung traced back through what memories had disappeared one by one. In his arms, Siyeon slept with reddened eyes.
Looking down at that face, Wonyoung smiled faintly.
‘That’s fine, this much is enough.’
It was fine since he remembered being Heo Wonyoung, and anyway, he still remembered his greatest identity—being an ‘elite’—so it was okay.
As long as he didn’t think things like ‘was I actually originally an abangsu?’ that would be enough.
Wonyoung consoled himself that way while stroking Siyeon’s curly hair.
Still, he was glad he’d protected him in time. That he could repay even a little of the debt he owed him.
For Siyeon’s sake, memories were nothing—he didn’t regret them one bit.
And as expected, his conviction solidified that Heo Wonyoung shouldn’t exist in this world. So when the time came, he would leave.
Regret and lingering attachment were all just greed. The game must end as a game.
As Wonyoung was organizing his thoughts that way, he suddenly thought of Taerim. Taerim still didn’t know he was Heo Wonyoung. So he wanted to protect at least that one person from getting hurt.
‘I absolutely can’t let Taerim-ssi find out.’
Wonyoung made that resolution and slowly closed his eyes.
* * *
A few days later, the three of them—Heegang, Siyeon, and Wonyoung—were gathered sitting in the cafe where Wonyoung worked.
Wonyoung cleared his throat with a cough and opened his mouth seriously.
“The reason I called you two here is…….”
“Rae-ssi, have some cake while you talk.”
“B-Boss.”
Wonyoung, who had finally set the mood, was flustered by the boss’s appearance.
“I made a cherry blossom cream cake as a spring special. This one on top is supposed to be you, Rae-ssi.”
“…….”
Looking at the curly-haired character with a round face and sparkling eyes, Wonyoung lost his words.
“Oh, it’s cute, Boss! I should take a picture and make it my phone wallpaper.”
“Can we eat this? Then at the very least, I want to eat the face.”
“Ah, it’s meringue so you can eat it!”
Watching the three of them excitedly chattering away, Wonyoung shouted, ‘Stop, stop!’
“Boss, I appreciate the cake but…… we have something important to discuss right now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry…… Meringue Rae-ssi just came out so well. How about calling this cake ‘Merae-i Cake’?”
Fuck, that’s terrible.
“Yes, let’s discuss that properly later.”
Wonyoung emphasized ‘properly’ and sent the boss away. With a serious expression once again setting the mood, Wonyoung opened his mouth.
“I am Narae. At least in this world, I have to live as such.”
“…….”
“So I’d like it if you two also wouldn’t bring up Heo Wonyoung or anything about him from now on.”
For Siyeon, who had already experienced it, it was a topic he could only nod his head to. But Heegang’s reaction was a bit different.
“I think it’s meaningless.”
“Why is it meaningless? Hyung hates it. If something goes wrong…….”
“Now, now, everyone calm down.”
Wonyoung hurriedly covered Siyeon’s mouth. Heegang already knew he had no choice but to leave, but Siyeon didn’t. So he understood why their reactions differed.
“If we reveal Heo Wonyoung too much…… Ha, even saying the name feels weird. Let’s call him H. If we reveal H too much, problems could arise. Heegang might not be able to keep his promise with you.”
The promise with Heegang was to remain in this world as long as he could endure. Heegang, who couldn’t have forgotten that, answered ‘Fine’ while making a slightly dissatisfied expression.
Then Siyeon asked with a flustered face.
“What kind of promise did you make with this psychopath?”
“……There’s something like that.”
“Hyung!”
“Don’t act like a child. How pathetic.”
Heegang shot back coldly at the bristling Siyeon. Siyeon glared at Heegang with a grimace.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
“It’s only a one-year age difference, so why are you so childish? I can see right through you. Your cheap jealousy and possessiveness too.”
“……What do you know.”
“More than you, at least.”
Oh boy, what a headache. Wonyoung smacked Heegang’s shoulder.
“Don’t be mean to Siyeon.”
“Why are you hitting me? The one acting stupid is that bastard.”
“Ha, I guess he doesn’t even remember how he acted like trash.”
Wonyoung clutched his head. He should have just met them separately. What riches and glory was he trying to enjoy?
Just then, the boss appeared again.
“Want some cookies? They’re bear cookies. Aren’t they cute?”
“…….”
“Eat these and stop fighting. Rae-ssi’s going to get hair loss.”
Only then did Heegang and Siyeon notice Wonyoung pulling at his hair from stress. The two of them deflated and apologized first.
“Sorry, Rae.”
“Sorry, hyung…….”
“No…… It’s fine. Thank you, Boss.”
“Everyone should get along well.”
He grinned and returned to his spot. Was this the abangsu effect? Wonyoung was genuinely impressed by the atmosphere that instantly regained peace.
“Anyway, what I want to say is let’s not bring up H. Whether it’s his name or his existence, just treat him as someone who doesn’t exist.”
“Got it.”
“Understood.”
This time the two answered obediently. Wonyoung let out a sigh of relief and added.
“Especially be careful in front of Taerim-ssi. That person doesn’t know anything. I can’t let him find out too.”
At those words, Heegang’s gaze turned cold again.
“……Is Kyung Taerim that important?”
“I just don’t want to make that person go through the hardships you two have. I don’t want to experience it anymore either.”
“…….”
“Forget H. What’s in front of you is Narae.”
Just then, the boss called Wonyoung saying a delivery order had come in. Wonyoung hurriedly got up from his seat.
“Then eat this before you go. Got it?”
Wonyoung pushed the cookies and cake in front of them and hurried behind the counter. Siyeon, who had been watching that whole time, let out a sigh.
“……You, don’t act up. Not if you don’t want to see something terrible happen to hyung.”
“I wonder. There’s nothing worse than this for me.”
Anyway, Narae—Heo Wonyoung—would disappear soon. Ki Siyeon probably didn’t know that, Heegang judged. Heo Wonyoung would have desperately hidden it. To avoid hurting Ki Siyeon.
Finding that somewhat annoying, Heegang smiled and said.
“You know there’s an end too, don’t you.”
“……!”
“This is just play. Anyway, after Heo Wonyoung leaves, he’ll forget everything.”
“Hyung is…… going to leave?”
At that question, Heegang snorted.
“I thought you weren’t completely stupid. Then did you think Heo Wonyoung, who isn’t even Narae, would stay forever pretending to be Narae? No, he’ll abandon us and leave soon.”
“……Hyung isn’t that kind of person.”
“Instead of talking nonsense, make it so you won’t be forgotten if you don’t want to be. How much will he remember ‘game characters’ and such.”
Siyeon lowered his head. Play, bug, stabilization, file…… No matter what, he couldn’t not know.
This was a game that hyung Wonyoung was playing. He was merely a game character. Hyung would have his original life. When he returned there…….
‘He might forget.’
He didn’t want to be forgotten. But, it might be better to be forgotten. Rather than having him keep thinking of me and being heartbroken, it would be better.
That was Ki Siyeon’s way. The way Ki Siyeon loved Heo Wonyoung. It was fine to be forgotten. No, he’d rather be forgotten.
Because I’ll carry my pain entirely on my own.
“If we have to send him off anyway, at least I’ll send him off well. To do that, I have to do as hyung says. Don’t let the nouveau riche find out.”
“I wonder.”
Baek Heegang would become Heo Wonyoung’s most cruel wound. He would become the dagger toward the world that betrayed him and crumbled. In the final moment, Wonyoung would realize. That too was one way of loving.
But he also agreed that it was better not to let Taerim find out. The reason?
It was just spite.
Because he wanted Kyung Taerim to let Heo Wonyoung go in vain.
‘I’m being just as childishly jealous.’
Heegang laughed bitterly while swallowing the sweet cake.
* * *
Leading his tired body home, Wonyoung spotted a familiar silhouette in front of his house. He unconsciously smiled and ran toward it.
“Taerim-ssi.”
Taerim, who was wearing a black suit, smiled seeing Wonyoung approaching.
“I was waiting.”
“Without contacting me. Please come inside.”
Wonyoung quickly opened the front door. As Taerim ducked his head to pass through the low door, Wonyoung pointed to one spot.
“This is the warmest spot. It’s the heated floor area. Even though it’s spring, it’s cold at night.”
But Taerim didn’t sit down and instead pulled Wonyoung over.
“I don’t get cold easily. Rae-ssi, you sit here.”
“I just came from working inside so I’m fine.”
“Then should I sit on my lap?”
“……Fine.”
Wonyoung pouted and sat down. Taerim chuckled watching that and likewise sat down.
