Ch.61Doyoung’s Favorite Random Game (8)

“Zero Lime Game…?”

It was a common occurrence.

Hamin tilting his head in confusion at something Doyoung said.

Like “solar person.”

Or “EMMIGI” [feeling sorry to mom].

But this time was a bit different.

Previously, when Hamin didn’t understand Doyoung’s words, they were literally things he had never heard before in his life.

Zero Lime and Game.

Combining two clearly understood words to create something incomprehensible.

Should we say this is typical of Doyoung, who once managed to turn eggs and sugar into an unidentifiable lump of charcoal?

“What, what? You don’t know what Zero Lime Game is?”

“Is… is it some kind of drinking game…?”

Hamin thought the game Doyoung was talking about might be a type of drinking game that adults enjoy.

From the name containing a beverage like lime soda or cola, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Of course, Hamin had no interest in or knowledge of alcohol or entertainment at drinking parties.

However, he had seen how a domestic idol group recently swept the popular music charts after releasing a song featuring such a game with a famous foreign singer.

If even Hamin had heard about such trends and stories,

it must have been quite popular indeed.

Someone popular among peers like Doyoung

would naturally be sensitive to such trends.

“My, my, not knowing Zero Lime Game and being so embarrassed… Do Hamin, at this rate, our conversation will never end.”

“Sorry… I’m hearing about it for the first time.”

“Actually, you’re right that it’s your first time hearing it. Because I made up this game, heheh.”

“…What? Then my reaction was correct. How could I know something I don’t know? Logically speaking.”

“Do you think logic applies on a day like April Fools’?”

In a moment when harmless pranks and lies are naturally permitted under the name of April Fools’,

Doyoung’s mood was quite elevated even before starting the game, just as his desire to play this game with Hamin was no joke.

“The rules are simple. Give me your cup.”

Doyoung took Hamin’s glass and poured cola until it was about half full.

Then he poured the same amount into his own glass before placing the remaining bottle on the table.

“This game has offense and defense. The offense is the person telling lies, and the defense is the person who has to drink all the cola in their glass while listening to those lies. Do you understand so far?”

“Um… I think so.”

“Until the defender finishes drinking all the cola in the glass, the attacker has to tell lies or jokes to make the defender laugh or be surprised. If you spill cola because you laugh, or get startled and hiccup, you lose. If you successfully defend, the roles switch and the game continues.”

The rules themselves weren’t difficult.

Although the term “Zero Lime” made it seem a bit unfamiliar at first,

to summarize, it was an April Fools’ prank played while holding a drink in your mouth.

For Hamin, who had already fallen for Doyoung’s pranks and spilled drinks from his mouth several times, it was a familiar yet somewhat embarrassing game.

In terms of making the opponent laugh or be flustered with lies or jokes,

it could be considered a “Of Course” game played while holding a drink in your mouth.

Even though Hamin was a novice when it came to games,

he had at least some experience with “Of Course” games, having been forced to participate in them at elementary school summer Bible school or school retreats.

‘Do Hamin, you’ve never kissed a girl before, right?’

‘….’

‘Hey, why so serious? It’s just a game! Don’t you want to play?’

‘…Of course.’

‘Kekeke! Look at this loser’s face! Let’s get him! Indian meal time!’

Of course, Hamin didn’t have particularly good memories of participating in these types of games.

“I understand, but… you kept me here until this hour because you wanted to play this?”

“Of course! Games like this are best played on April Fools’ Day so we can both have fun without any hard feelings afterward, right?”

“…”

No hard feelings, huh.

It’s probably not wrong.

At least for Doyoung.

For someone like Doyoung, who is honest with himself and has high self-esteem,

the provocations or jokes thrown in games like this could easily be laughed off and forgotten.

Because it’s April Fools’ Day.

Because it’s just a game played for fun.

Games should be seen as games.

Why take seriously something said in jest?

How can you take so seriously something meant to be laughed off?

If you don’t like it, you can just joke back at me.

These were the typical phrases used by children who forced others to participate in games they didn’t want to play,

and then destroyed what little self-esteem they had by claiming the rules of the game allowed it.

It’s a lie. It’s a joke.

It’s not serious.

But Hamin knew.

All the children attacking him in that game

were only attacking him with his own truths.

‘Hey, if you don’t like it, Do Hamin, you do it too. I said you can do it too if you’re upset!’

‘You… you’ve been rejected when confessing to girls….’

‘Heheh, are you talking about yourself? Fine. Of course I have.’

The only lies that existed in that space were the ones Hamin threw back

as feeble counterattacks disguised as jokes to the children who mocked him.

“Why are you turning your head away pretending to think about something else?”

“Ah, no… it’s nothing. By the way, what happens if you lose? Does the loser have to drink Zero Lime as a penalty, like in drinking games?”

“Hey! How is that a penalty? It’s a reward! Is Zero Lime some kind of poison?”

“Hiiik…!”

Doyoung’s outburst at Hamin’s suggestion that Zero Lime could be a penalty struck his ears sharply.

This guy really does love lime.

Come to think of it, he had shown off his lime-patterned underwear earlier,

and Doyoung’s pajamas thrown on the bed also had lime patterns on them.

At this rate, he might even name his future child “Lime.”

Such a ridiculous thought seemed somehow possible with Doyoung.

“The loser has to follow the winner’s orders for 10 seconds. Of course, only within reasonable limits that the loser can accept.”

“S-surprisingly gentlemanly rules.”

“Of course! How could a game meant to be fun have offensive elements? Definitely nothing sexual either! This is an all-ages game, so things like ‘kiss so-and-so’ or ‘take off all your clothes’ are absolutely not allowed.”

“O-of course I know that.”

The penalty was to obey the winner’s words for 10 seconds.

A time that could feel long or quite short.

“So, want to give it a try?”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Doyoung’s pitiful gaze, Hamin fell into contemplation.

Given his lack of gaming proficiency, Hamin naturally focused more on the potential downsides of losing rather than the benefits of winning.

‘But he did say he wouldn’t make requests that would cause discomfort…’

At first, he thought the penalty was quite risky, but

after hearing Doyoung’s conditions, the game didn’t seem as barbaric or dangerous as he initially thought.

If the biggest risk factor of the game was that Doyoung was the one who initiated it,

the content of the game itself was indeed wholesome.

“…You won’t play? I was studying hard because I heard you were coming to study at my house, and I wanted to play this game with you afterward… Are you really not going to play, Hamin?”

“Why… why are you using a pleading tone this time…”

Doyoung calling Hamin’s name with a pitiful voice.

This was so different from Doyoung’s usual attitude of saying “let’s do it” rather than making suggestions when he wanted something, that Hamin froze, unsure how to respond.

“I worked hard solving the problems you brought, but why won’t you play the game I thoughtfully created? That’s so unfair. How will you take responsibility for this tilted playing field? Won’t you break the glass ceiling?”

“Ah, fine. I said fine… I’ll play.”

“Woohoo!”

Hamin reluctantly nodded and accepted Doyoung’s Zero Lime Game challenge.

“Alright, let’s go out to the balcony. We can get some fresh air, and it’s easier to clean up if you spit out cola outside.”

Doyoung and Hamin each took their glasses of cola and headed to the outside balcony.

As soon as the window opened, a cool and pleasant night breeze gently brushed past their faces from the third-floor balcony.

“How do you want to do this? Do Hamin, you go first.”

“O-okay…”

The first move in a game is always given to the novice.

The first attack right was given to Hamin.

“Alright, let’s begin. Remember, even if you don’t get surprised by the lie, you lose if you hiccup while drinking the cola, so drink very slowly.”

Doyoung took a sip of the cola in his glass,

and the official [Zero Lime Game] began.

‘Let’s think. This is my chance to play a prank on him without hesitation.’

Realizing he was standing on equal footing with Doyoung for the first time,

Hamin’s hands gripping the glass unconsciously tightened.

Even if there’s a bit of a lie mixed in,

no, even if there’s no truth and only lies, it’s okay today.

Because this is just a game.

It’s April Fools’ Day after all.

“A-actually, you know what…! I like you!”

“Hmm…”

“W-what? What kind of reaction is that?”

“…I see, okay.”

“…I-I said I like you. That I like you…!”

“Mm-hmm, thanks. Thanks for liking me.”

Hamin’s April Fools’ confession attack, which took some courage.

Yet Doyoung continued emptying his glass of cola as if nothing had happened.

“Ah, I’ve already finished drinking.”

The attacker, Hamin, sat down with his face turning cherry blossom pink.

Doyoung, without the slightest change in expression, turned his empty glass upside down above his head, signaling the change of roles.

Why hadn’t he realized?

Those words that Hamin might have heard only a few times in his life from anyone other than family,

were words that someone like Doyoung had heard all too frequently.

“Now, time to switch roles.”

“Ah, what I said earlier was just an April Fools’ joke… Don’t feel bad about me saying I like you. It was your game after all. Th-there wasn’t any sincerity in it at all…”

“Thanks. Thank you for the sincere lie about liking me. Now it’s my turn to attack.”

“Ugh…”

Had he secretly hoped that Doyoung would show at least a little emotional response?

Having failed his first attack so miserably, Hamin picked up his glass with a thoroughly dejected face.

“Y-you’re just using words, right? No tickling or touching, like you said.”

“I know, just hurry up and drink.”

“…”

Though slightly tense, Hamin

was somewhat prepared.

The lies coming from Doyoung in this situation

probably wouldn’t be much different from what Hamin had tried.

“O-okay. Start!”

Hamin passed the attack right to Doyoung and calmly brought the glass to his lips.

It’s okay, he was now somewhat used to Doyoung’s pranks.

If he could just suppress his instinct to shout out,

and focus only on the cola in front of him, the attack right would return to Hamin.

Bring it on.

No matter what you say, I won’t even blink.

“I’m a boy.”

-Pffft!

The game director’s lie was on a completely different level from the start.