“Min-jae! What about this assignment? I seriously have no clue… Wanna do it together at a cafe?”

“…… No, try it on your own. I can’t keep spoon-feeding you forever.”

“Ah… Okay…”

Normally, I’d have jumped at Seo-ah’s suggestion.

But starting today, things were different.

And maybe she picked up on how off I was acting.

The usual Seo-ah would’ve nagged me a few more times, but she just trailed off, seeming a bit awkward.

I didn’t linger on it—instead, I bolted like I had something urgent.

Me, with no friends besides her—what urgent thing could I possibly have?

It was an obvious lie, but I used it to slip away anyway.

A few hours later.

I ran into Seo-ah again, by chance.

Of all things… Right after deciding to avoid her, I kept bumping into her more.

It felt like the world was testing me.

Like it was checking how long I could hold out this time.

And this encounter was different from earlier.

Maybe even if I hadn’t dodged, she’d have avoided me first.

She was with that guy.

“Seo-ah, that’s what I find hilarious about you.”

“Oppa… That’s not a compliment, is it?”

“It was meant as one. Probably?”

“Probably? That’s too much!”

The two of them, trading jokes as they walked.

Seo-ah looking up at someone, using formal speech, her voice laced with playfulness.

All of it felt foreign.

Nothing like the Seo-ah I knew.

Without thinking, I ducked for cover.

But there wasn’t really anywhere to hide, so I just ended up looking more conspicuous.

“M-Min-jae…”

For whatever reason, mid-walk with Woo-bin oppa, she spotted me and called my name.

She actually spoke to me, while I stood there awkward as a thief caught red-handed.

It was vicious.

Was she trying to rub her laughing and chatting with him in my face?

Even if that wasn’t her intent, it felt thoughtless to me.

“Who’s that? Friend of yours?”

“Just a friend.”

What? What did she just say?

I couldn’t believe my ears.

She’d just called me “just a friend” to my face.

Yeah, technically not wrong.

But… No, it’s not.

We’re not just friends.

That’s not something to toss out so casually.

Because of him?

In front of him, did our years together just downgrade to some random friendship?

I’d frozen, staring at her after she called, but then she seemed irked by my deadpan look and just brushed past.

While saying that crap.

It hit hard.

Felt like I was seeing a Seo-ah I didn’t know.

Yeah… Did I start this?

Were you showing your displeasure from earlier?

Nothing else explained this.

And I remembered it.

That line.

‘Just a friend.’

Yeah, I’d pay her back for that someday.

Maybe it was just impulsive anger, but I etched it deep in my mind.

I’d make a day where I said the exact same to her.

This was the first time I’d felt rage toward Seo-ah.

Me, angry at her.

Feeling this filthy emotion.

No matter what she did, I’d always been on her side.

Because Seo-ah was pretty.

Because she was my precious friend.

So even if she did something harsh to me, I’d never gotten mad at her.

But just now, for the first time, I did.

Maybe this showed I was changing.

Like proof of the resolve I’d made.

“Uh, hi?”

I eased open the club room door.

Se-bin-ssi was inside, sitting.

And so was someone I didn’t know.

So there were actually other active members besides her.

That’s all I thought—no big deal.

He didn’t seem to notice me either.

“Min-jae-ssi?! You came today?”

“Haha… You make it sound like I ran away or something.”

“Well, you didn’t show yesterday.”

Se-bin-ssi pouted a little.

I gave her a light bow by way of apology.

Then naturally sat next to her.

For some reason, that’s the only option that popped into my head.

Can’t just plop down by a total stranger member, right?

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and handed it straight to her.

First thing to do once here.

“Huh? Why the phone all of a sudden…”

“Figured it’d be good to have your number.”

Kept it simple and direct.

On second thought, too blunt?

Didn’t explain why.

But obvious, right?

Like yesterday—if I couldn’t make it, or had a question, no way to reach her.

I assumed she’d get it without me spelling it out.

Se-bin-ssi took my phone, her face flushing a bit.

Her fingers fumbled awkwardly as she punched in her number.

What… Did asking someone like me for her digits bruise her pride or something?

Yeah, now that I thought—another person in the room.

Could be embarrassing.

Maybe I lacked tact there.

Wasn’t why I asked, though.

Better clear up any misunderstanding.

Assuming everyone thinks like me is dumb.

“Like yesterday—if I can’t come, I wanna let you know ahead.”

I tacked that on late.

Didn’t seem to matter much—she’d already entered her number and was handing the phone back.

As she extended her arm, the air stirred, carrying her perfume my way.

Floral scent tickled my nose.

Probably jasmine.

“Feel free to text anytime, Min-jae-ssi.”

How could she smile so innocently?

Handing back the phone, her grin carried a warmth.

Seeing her like that eased my mind somehow.

Like being wrapped in a hug from somewhere.

Of course, she probably didn’t mean it that way—I just imagined it.

Maybe I was latching onto her kindness without realizing.

After that, I booted up the computer and went over the game she’d made last time.

Honestly, barely qualified as a game.

Not about programming skill.

More like, so focused on code that it lost the game’s essence.

A program crammed with superficial features to show off learned tricks.

Couldn’t call it a game.

No gameplay.

No hook to grab you, no goals, no rewards.

Lost the core of what makes a game.

“Um… So, what kind of game do you wanna make?”

“Ah… Haven’t thought that far.”

Figured as much.

Kinda frustrating from my end, but not her fault.

She started this as a pure hobby.

Wait… If it’s a hobby, shouldn’t she spend time pondering fun games, not grinding code skills?

What hooked her into game dev anyway?

“Then, why do you wanna do game development?”

“Hm… Kinda embarrassing to say…”

She propped her chin on one hand, like recalling the reason.

But seemed too shy to voice it.

“I wanted to make a game that I wanna play.”

After a pause, that’s what she said.

How beautiful a reason.

To create something she’d enjoy herself.

Not that rotten mindset of tweaking existing games for a quick buck.

Never pegged her for that type anyway.

Hearing her pure goal straight-up? It resonated.

But… The demo running now gave zero hint of what she wanted.

“What kind of game you wanna make…?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.

It was protecting her image.

“Cute, pretty female characters growing by slaughtering adorable animals in an RPG.”

“Pardon?”

H-Hold up.

What did I just hear?

I couldn’t hide my shock at those words from her—the pure, elegant image I’d locked in my brain.

My “Pardon?” wasn’t just repeating.

It was pure disbelief—an exclamation.

But she thought I hadn’t heard, so she repeated it verbatim.

Word for word.

That moment cranked my horror to max.

“So… Couldn’t find that vibe on the market.

I love games—played most of ’em…”

“Ah… Uh-huh.”

Once she got going, she didn’t stop—chattered excitedly.

Like she’d ramble forever unless gagged, but then she faltered, glancing at me.

Worried about something.

Finally realized how weird her pitch was?

“Um… Think it’d flop?”

Oh come on… That’s your worry?

Zero self-awareness of what she just declared.

Don’t announce an anti-humanitarian game so boldly with that innocent look.

“Sorry… I’m in the middle of work—mind keeping it down?”

We’d gotten loud, lost in talk.

Right—forgot the other guy here.

Ignored him so smoothly, blanked on his existence.

Glancing over now… Classic coder face.

Not dissing—just saying.

Huh… Someone here actually grinding seriously.

Thought this was a nominal club, but apparently not.

Se-bin-ssi and I locked eyes, signaling to quiet down.

We stayed another hour or so, then headed home.

On the way, habit kicked in—checked my phone.

[Where you at? Let’s go together]

Message waiting.

But it barely stirred me now.

Even though it’d been 30 minutes since it arrived—no gut drop.

Probably that line from Seo-ah earlier still reeling me.

Echoed vividly in my head.

Planned to ignore it.

Replying now? Lame.

Way past when she’d have left—telling her to go ahead at this point?

But Seo-ah must’ve been watching for me to read it.

Soon as I left it open, another text pinged.

[I need to talk. Waiting at the main gate—hit me up]