Staegma ✧ taejin

01

Seokjin was the last person to remain in the cafe as usual, stacking ingredients in the refridgerator and locking up doors. He had dismissed all his workers already, knowing that they have a big day ahead tomorrow, and the days after that — that was how they work. Open everyday.

He neatly arranged all the aprons by the staff room, before double-checking the sweets that were left unsold for today. Once everything was clear, he turned off the lights, grabbed his coat, and set off back to his shared apartment with an aspiring musician, Min Yoongi.

It wasn't exactly a long walk to their apartment, given that their apartment building had a shortcut that lead backdoor along with the garbage bins. He went to that exact route, as usual, and when he reached their apartment upstairs —

"What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for my notebook," Yoongi explained, referring to the mess dumped in the living room. Books, comic books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and the like were present.

Seokjin hadn't touched them in years. "Which one?"

"The green one. Hyung, there are already 24 people who bought my album online. I'm planning to resurrect my Twitter so that I could interact and stuff. I need the notebook for my password."'

"They're only twenty-four. You may only read one tweet." Seokjin left his coat on the arm of their couch. "When did you release your album, anyway?"

"A year ago. But I don't care."

"Alright." Seokjin crouched down, and began sorting piles. He found his old novels as a gift from a friend, comics he used to read, and Manga, even. But Seokjin's not having any of that sentiments.

All Seokjin could see were books, books, and books, but not a notebook. He checked the other side of the pile to find a VR equipment. Since when did they have a VR equipment?

"I'm also planning to promote it on Twitter, you know. Maybe I could get recognized and get a deal."

Seokjin smiled at Yoongi's ambition.

"Found it!" Yoongi announced, raising a notebook in the air. He turned to Seokjin. "And as for you, thank you so much for your help, so in return," he threw a box and instruction manual to the older, "you can have this."

It was a boxed game, a VR game, with a rather attractive 3D drawing of a boy's side profile on the front. The header read as STAEGMA, and below it were the words: YOUR VIRTUAL BOYFRIEND.

"St-Staegma? Virtual boyfriend? Why would I need a virtual boyfriend?"

Seokjin put the two and two together, realizing that the game must be in need of a VR equipment, the one he saw earlier.

"You're old and in need of marriage."

"You — I'm not that old, you flop!"

Yoongi was already back to cleaning up the pile of mess on the floor. "It was a gift from my rich friend."

"Who? The short, gaming one?"

"Park Jimin," Yoongi corrected. "He said it's supposed to help me practice for a boyfriend or whatever. But I only used it for a few times. That Staegma guy was dancing to my music and it was so uncomfortable."

"Dancing?"

"Yeah. That Staegma guy is well-drawn, and has a lot of emotions, like a normal person. You can't hear him, but he can hear you."

"So creepy," Seokjin said. "What if this is a technique used to spy on people?"

"It's not. Jimin himself created and developed the game, which is why he's rich. Just try it out — it's fun. Especially for desperate people."

-

agustd: hey guys. check out my music, link in bio. promise you won't get disappointed.

agustd: if you're in it for raps, hiphop, and r&b, check out my music. link in bio.

agustd: AGUST F BY Agust D: OUT NOW. LINK IN BIO

agustd: [replying to agustd] AGUST D**** Sorry typo

"I'm your only follower, Yoongi, how is this gonna work?"

Yoongi scowled from his seat. "Hey, you shouldn't treat your customers like that." Seokjin placed Yoongi's milkshake and sandwich on the table, and Yoongi drank from it right away. "I lived by rapping on the streets, didn't I?"

"Would you want me to make use of my account? I can promote it."

"I'm your only follower too, hyung."

"Wow," Seokjin laughed. "We're such losers."

From a table next to them, were two people flirting and enjoying their date. Seokjin would be lying if he said he didn't feel anything from inside. How did it feel like? Being in a relationship?

Wordlessly, he went back to the counter and entertained the customers.

-

A week had passed since Yoongi gave him that Staegma game, and it had been stuck on his mind for the following days, especially when he sees people in a relationship staying at the cafe.

He came home from work three hours early that day, and by two hours early, he meant coming home at eight. Yoongi was already eating takeout on the dinner table when he arrived.

"So, how's the promotion going?" Seokjin asked, looking for any ingredients in the fridge to cook. "any luck?"

"Hmm? I don't know. But I found this kinda popular dancing guy, with the name of J-Hoe or whatever his name was. He said my album sucked."

"What did you say?"

"I asked him to promote my album to his friends."

"One of these days, he'd be dancing to your music."

"Hmm," Yoongi dismissed. "I set up the Staegma game on your room, by the way. Don't embarrass me by giving you a gift and you not using it."

"I am going to try it out!" Seokjin laughed. "I'm feeling kind of lonely nowadays."

Yoongi smiled, satisfied. After eating dinner together (and letting Yoongi wash the dishes), Seokjin washed up and headed towards his room, wearing the VR glasses and the wristbands connected to both controllers.