Try-Hard, Sin Harder

12. Gamer's Quarrel

 "So, tell me again, what's wrong with you?" 

 "Nothing's wrong with me, Oppa," I corrected him. "I was just born with a weakened immune system." 

 "Sounds like there's something wrong with you to me," he stated. 

 "It just means I get sick often." I sighed, pulling the blanket draped around my shoulders tighter. "Normally I don't let it get as bad as it did the other day, but it just came on so abruptly. I haven't been sick like that since I was a kid." 

 J-Hope suddenly cried in outrage, slamming his remote control down on his lap. "Damn red shells," he muttered under his breath. I coughed into my arm at the tightening feeling in my chest, and frowned, unsure if he was even listening to me. He leaned back against the couch, turning his head to face me. "You really aren't sick anymore, so why did they throw you with me today?" 

 "Jin-oppa said he wanted to keep an eye on me for the next few days, just to make sure I'm ready to go home," I told him. "Now I get to spend the next few hours watching you get your ass handed to you by a bunch of humanoid turtles in a go-kart game." 

 J-Hope laughed. "Shut up, those turtle thingies are viscous! And besides, if were you I was racing, I'd lap you seven times over," he said, punching me lightly on the shoulder. 

 I gave him a soft smile. "I've never actually played before." 

 His jaw dropped in genuine shock. "How is that even possible? Games like these were most kids' childhoods." 

 "Not for me," I said. "I've lived the majority of my life on a farm out in the countryside. I didn't even have wifi until I moved to Canada to live with my brother a few years ago. Even then, we hardly ever used it." 

 J-Hope combed his hair back with his fingers. What about when you were at school?" 

 "I was homeschooled through my elementary and middle school years by my grandparents. At thirteen, I moved to Canada with my older brother and his son, and attended my three years of highschool there," I told him. 

 "Three years? Aren't you supposed to go to highschool for four?" he asked. 

 "Normally, yes. But, I ended up taking tenth grade classes when I was technically in grade nine, then eleventh when I was in tenth, and twelfth when I was in eleventh. I graduated when I was sixteen." 

 "Are you a genius or something?" 

 I shrugged. "Their curriculum is just a simplified version of what I'd already been taught, it was like going over the basics again. I ended up graduating top of my class, but never went to college or university." 

 "Wait, why?" J-Hope inquired. 

 My hands tightened around the folds of the blanket. "Things were getting complicated back home. I ended up turning all the offers I had down, and taking the first flight back to Korea." I sniffled. "Lucas, my nephew, was devastated when I left; he and I were really close. We call each other every week, but haven't seen each other since I left."

 Tears stung my eyes, and I couldn't bring myself to go into further detail. I knew I'd start crying if I did. "I'll tell you what," J-Hope said, rising from his seat. "Let's go make ourselves lunch, and then I'll teach you how to play my game after." 

 He held a hand out for me. I smiled, nodded, and placed my hand in his. "Thanks J-Hope." 

 "Don't mention it. But please, just call me Hoseok." He pulled me on to my feet, and gave me a mischievous grin. "Or just Oppa, if that's what you prefer."