Online Date.

Chapter ➋: My Online Girlfriend.

*.·:·.✧ Haeun's POV ✧.·:·.*

On my way back home from school, I switched off airplane mode to check for new messages. As expected, Kin had replied. However, her response wasn't what I had hoped for. "Why so sudden? I'm sorry, I don't think I can at the moment." Her message had been sent a few hours ago, during my history class. I couldn't help but sigh. I replied, "Its ok. I get it."

I really wanted to see her.

Glancing at my wristwatch, I realized there was still time before my English tutor would be home. I could swing by the internet cafe if only my friends weren't there right now. We all play the same game, but I don't feel comfortable enough to show them my account. It's not that I lack items or have just newbie skins; it's a bit more complicated. My game character is... well, definitely on the girly side. No, scratch that – it's undeniably girly. I can't help it; the female outfits in the game are just so fabulous, with their small ribbons, sparkles, tiaras, and gowns. They give me this fancy feeling that I just can't shake off. That's why I end up spending my monthly allowance at the internet cafe, buying cute accessories for my character.

Unlike me, Kin is more focused on gaming skills and leveling up daily. She's like a cool breeze on a hot summer day – calming and refreshing all at once. Her energy is akin to that of a golden retriever: boundless and infectious, always lifting the moods of her guild members with her jokes and speeches. Yet, she always looks out for me. She's just that cool... I really want to meet her in real life.

The first time I met her in PWOMG is etched vividly in my memory. It was summer when my parents were away on a trip abroad, leaving me feeling lonely at home. Desperate for company, I reached out to my friends, only to find they were all busy with summer school, hobbies, or family trips to the countryside. That's when they sent me a link to try out this game called PWOMG. Unlike the casual games I'd played before like Ninja Fruit and Candy Crush, this one was a lot more complex. With numerous quests, items, players, and frustrating control settings, it took me a while to get the hang of it. But the moment I discovered the female skin shop, I just had to register again and create a female account.

Spending my allowance wasn't an issue for me in the game; after all, I used to save up a lot since I didn't have many hobbies to spend on. But once I got into the collecting hobby of cute outfits, I found myself getting addicted to the game. After school and my tutors' sessions at home, I would spend hours immersed in the game, exploring its servers and completing quests.

Unexpectedly, I found myself constantly harassed by a group of players who refused to leave me alone, no matter how many times I reported them. What was the report button for if it didn't do anything? I grew increasingly frustrated with their relentless messages and whispers. I tried to explain that I was a boy, but none of them believed me.

That's when Kin entered my gaming life like a knight in shining armor for my princess game character. She helped me fend off the unwanted attention and even pretended to be my boyfriend in the game to scare off the persistent players. She was so cool and still is, and I couldn't help but admire and respect her. We soon became friends, and she introduced me to her nice circle of friends.

Playing with Kin was always a blast; she was competitive and skilled. Our guildmates praised her abilities, and she even ranked in the top 10 players in several events. Kin was incredibly generous, often sharing her fortunes with me during raids and quests without any hesitation. As we spent more time together, I found myself growing increasingly attached to her, eagerly rushing home to play with her for longer hours than usual.

Realizing my feelings for Kin hit me like a ton of bricks, especially during my first exams in the second year of high school. Despite knowing my priorities, I couldn't bring myself to delete my game account, nor could I shake off thoughts of Kin. It was then that I realized just how much she occupied my mind. The realization hit me hard and intensely, and I knew I had to gather the courage to confess my feelings. Luckily, when I finally mustered up the courage to do so, she accepted my confession, and we've been dating ever since.

✦✧✦✧

When I finally reached home as usual, I rushed to my desk, dumped my backpack, changed my clothes, quickly skimmed through the lessons before the tutor session, and then fired up my laptop. I still had 5 minutes before I needed to join the game. Just as I was about to dive into the virtual world, my mother knocked on my bedroom door.

"Honey, your dad's back from work. Come join us for dinner!" her voice came through the door, followed by the sound of her footsteps retreating down the hallway. With a sigh, I shut down my laptop. As I was about to leave my room, I quickly shot Kin a message to let her know I wouldn't be online for a bit. I hoped she would reply back as I made my way to the dining room, but the lack of response left me feeling slightly dejected.

"Honey, how was work today?" Mother said as she puts more meat on both our plates. My father was silently eating, he only spoke after gulping. "Nothing interesting, the usual. How about you two? How was your day?" He said, a smile on his face.

"This morning, I visited my brother in his new apartment...but he might need a hand in moving some stuff in the house." Mother said as she placed her hand on her cheek, her voice expressing her concern.

"This weekend?" My father asked, raising his eyebrow. Mother responded with a head shake. "Tomorrow." She replied.

"Oh, sorry, I'll be tied up until late tomorrow. You know, the recent project i-" Before he could finish, mother shoved gently a piece of lettuce in his mouth. "Alright, I get it. You can tell me about it after dinner." Mother turned to my direction, "Honey, your schedule tomorrow is empty in the afternoon, right? How about you help your uncle after school?" She asked, her eyes sparkling.

Seeing her desperation, I nodded with slight sigh. Perhaps my luck isn't the best these days.