Ch.141Someone’s Memory (V)++

# 141. Someone’s Memory (V)++

“Tsk. This bastard knows I’m not interested in dating.”

But it was hard to just refuse outright since the one making the proposal was one of my closest friends.

The fact that he’d suggest this to me despite knowing my situation meant either this woman was really something special, or she was pushing hard from her end…

[Me: Wait]

[Me: This weekend?]

[Ddongdol: Yeah]

[Ddongdol: Either Sat or Sun]

[Me: Can I skip it?]

Spend money and time meeting some woman I don’t even know on a precious day when I don’t have to see those bitches? And right when my long-awaited gaming party has just been formed?

‘Since this guy introduced her, she’s probably not a bad person, but still…’

[Ddongdol: Hey]

[Ddongdol: Come on]

[Ddongdol: Don’t be like that]

[Ddongdol: Just meet her once]

[Me: Why]

Seeing him act like this, it seems the woman’s will is stronger than his. I’m not exactly a handsome guy, nor am I rich, and I doubt he’d go around blabbing about me… so why?

[Me: Hey]

[Me: Tell me the truth]

[Me: What did you tell her?]

[Ddongdol: What?]

[Me: Honestly, just from one photo]

[Me: It doesn’t make sense she’d ask to meet me]

[Ddongdol: Shit]

[Ddongdol: Hey]

[Ddongdol: Sigh]

[Me: What?]

[Ddongdol: What? Ugh shit]

[Ddongdol: Anyway]

[Ddongdol: I just told her we’ve been friends since school]

[Ddongdol: Your name and roughly what you like and dislike]

[Ddongdol: That’s all I said]

‘Isn’t that already saying a lot?’

I had no idea since I wasn’t interested in that stuff at all.

[Me: Hey]

[Me: Are you close with this woman?]

[Me: Like, would you feel bad]

[Me: If I turned her down?]

[Ddongdol: Yeah]

[Ddongdol: If we weren’t close I wouldn’t have introduced her]

[Ddongdol: I know you’re not interested in women]

[Ddongdol: But you never said you hated them]

[Ddongdol: Besides]

[Ddongdol: She’s been annoying the hell out of me saying you’re exactly her type]

[Ddongdol: But if you really don’t want to]

[Ddongdol: I won’t force you]

[Ddongdol: I’ll just tell her you’re gay lolol]

[Me: Fuck you]

[Ddongdol: Just kidding lol]

Make that joke twice and I might have to pay you a visit, my friend.

[Ddongdol: If possible]

[Ddongdol: Let me know by today]

[Me: In a hurry?]

[Ddongdol: Hurry?]

[Ddongdol: You bastard]

[Ddongdol: Do you know]

[Ddongdol: How much I’ve suffered because of you?]

[Me: ???]

[Ddongdol: I’ve been putting this off and off]

[Ddongdol: Shit I’m getting a reality check]

[Ddongdol: Anyway text me today]

[Ddongdol: She’s already asking what’s happening]

[Ddongdol: It’s a mess]

That was the end of my friend’s messages.

“Sigh…”

I was really conflicted. But first, I finished ordering chicken. I kept thinking about it while the chicken arrived, I opened a can of beer, and unpacked the chicken box.

‘If I just meet her once with no follow-up, it would save my friend’s face. I could meet her for lunch on Saturday, chat a bit, and part ways by evening.’

If it had been someone I wasn’t close with, I would’ve rejected it immediately, but he was a friend I owed a lot to. He wouldn’t have texted me if it wasn’t important. Though he spoke casually, he wasn’t a frivolous person.

So it seemed worth enduring the hassle just once.

That was the conclusion I reached after much deliberation.

[Me: Tell her to meet around lunchtime on Saturday]

[Ddongdol: Ohhhhhhhh]

[Ddongdol: OK OK OK OK]

[Ddongdol: You saved me lolol]

[Ddongdol: Where?]

[Me: Where does she live?]

[Ddongdol: She said she’ll come to you lol]

[Me: Then tell her]

[Me: In front of that Burger Queen]

[Ddongdol: Oh there? Sounds good OK]

[Ddongdol: What time exactly?]

[Me: Around 12?]

[Ddongdol: OK]

[Ddongdol: Hey, one more thing]

[Me: Skip the thanks]

[Ddongdol: Lol not that]

[Ddongdol: She’s asking if she can have your KakaoTalk ID…]

[Me: Just handle it well]

[Ddongdol: OK;]

This is already exhausting.

I closed the private chat with my friend and entered the freshly created gaming party group chat.

[JoanOfArcIsASaint: Our first raid will be this Sunday!]

[JoanOfArcIsASaint: Anyone who can’t play on Sunday, raise your hand!]

The number 6 disappeared instantly, but no one raised their hand. True gamers indeed!

[JoanOfArcIsASaint: I’ll post a poll for preferred time slots, please vote!]

Before I knew it, my head was filled with excitement—not for the blind date, but for the raid.

**

“Hello! Are you Ban Sunghyun?”

“Ah, yes. You’re Dongseok’s friend.”

“Yes! We’re college friends and work at the same company! Ah! Do you know my name?”

“No, I haven’t heard it.”

“I’m An Soyoung!”

Time passed, and it was Saturday at 12:30 PM.

When I arrived at the meeting spot right on time, the blind date woman was already waiting for me. Even though I’m not particularly interested in women or fashion, I could tell she had put in a lot of effort. Her attitude showed it too.

Respond to rudeness with indifference or greater rudeness.

Respond to kindness with kindness.

Even if I had no intention of dating, I didn’t need to be on bad terms with a close friend of my close friend.

“Let’s go somewhere you like, Soyoung.”

“Wow. I was thinking the same thing! I was about to suggest we go somewhere you like!”

“…Then there’s a place I’ve been to with Dongseok a few times, shall we go there?”

“Yes, sounds good!”

But her energy level is way too high.

I went with Soyoung to a nearby restaurant.

“Sunghyun! What’s good here?”

“I tend to order the same thing every time. And since everyone’s taste is different, I’m hesitant to recommend anything.”

“Ah, haha. That’s true, right?”

She was decent-looking, and being a close friend of my friend probably meant her personality was somewhat guaranteed. She was showing a very enthusiastic attitude toward this meeting, but… I just wasn’t interested.

So I mostly answered her questions during lunch, then we moved to a café on the first floor of the same building. Of course, we split the bill for both lunch and coffee.

“Do you like smoothies?”

“I don’t usually drink coffee. I just ordered something since I couldn’t order nothing.”

“Ah, I see.”

After that, we both just sipped our drinks through straws for a while. Sometimes staring blankly at people passing by outside the window, checking private messages or group chats.

When about 1/3 of the smoothie remained, Soyoung spoke up again.

“Sunghyun.”

“Yes?”

“Am I… bothering you?”

“Um. No. It’s not that.”

Soyoung suddenly threw a curveball. I was taken aback but tried not to show it. If I showed my surprise, it would confirm that I found her annoying.

“I don’t know what kind of man you imagined from my photo, but this is who I am.”

“…You seem quite different from what Dongseok told me.”

“I don’t know what he said, but that’s natural. How could I act the same way with someone I’m meeting for the first time today as I do with a friend I’ve known since middle school?”

“I guess that’s true. Haha. But… I’d appreciate your honesty. You’re not interested at all, right?”

I’m not sure if she was being genuine or not. Still, she was the most decent woman I’d met recently. It must have taken courage to ask such a question. Her pride might have been hurt too. So I decided to be more honest as well.

“I think you’re a nice person, Soyoung.”

“What?”

“But I currently have no desire, interest, or capacity for dating. And… well. You might find this unfair, but I have a pretty negative image of women because of two women I’m forced to meet five days a week. If the person asking hadn’t been Dongseok, I wouldn’t have come today.”

“Ah, I see… at your workplace?”

“Yes. Just talking to women is a bit overwhelming for me. I’m only talking to you now because I see you as a friend of a friend.”

That should be clear enough. She might feel disappointed after coming with high expectations only to meet a guy like me, but I don’t think I was being rude.

*Slurp-*

Conveniently, my smoothie was empty. It was time to part ways before things got more awkward.

Since she greeted me first when we met, I should at least say goodbye.

“Soyoung. It was nice meeting you.”

“Was it really nice?”

“Uh, umm. Well.”

“Hahaha.”

Two direct hits in a row—was she a fireball pitcher?

I didn’t know what to say and just stayed quiet, but after laughing for a while, Soyoung suddenly held out her phone.

“Give me your number!”

“Soyoung. As I said earlier—”

“Not as a girlfriend, but how about as a friend?”

“…A friend?”

“Yes. Like Dongseok. We’re both close friends with him, so couldn’t we become friends too?”

…Do female friends really exist? I’ve always been skeptical about that, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse this request.

[An Soyoung: (Cheerful dog greeting sticker)]

[Me: Noted]

“Wow. You’re formal even in texts!”

“Ah.”

“Haha. I’m not criticizing… Hey, Sunghyun.”

“Yes?”

“To commemorate this, can I speak more casually with you?”

“…”

“Ah… I guess I rushed things. I’m sorry.”

I wasn’t sure if Soyoung would tell Dongseok everything that happened today, but since she was his friend, getting upset over her wanting to speak casually would put Dongseok in an awkward position.

“No, it’s fine. Go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should speak casually too!”

“That’ll come later, gradually.”

“Come on, repeat after me! So-young.”

Even so, suddenly calling her by name is a bit… but why do I feel such a chill?

[You have glimpsed V’s memory.]