Forcing himself to remember that he's just like anybody else isn't working. Before Taehyeon left, Minjun asked for a hug and insisted that it would count as an extra present. Pointing out the hug when Taehyeon arrived at Minjun's odd little tea party changed nothing, so Taehyeon gave Minjun a hug.
Taehyeon isn't quite stupid enough to think that they were a perfect fit. He unfortunately still remembers how tightly Minjun held on, and how Minjun tucked his head down so he could bury his face in Taehyeon's chest. If Taehyeon lets himself be stupid, he can draw stupid conclusions about Minjun trying to make them fit together perfectly. No matter how stupid Taehyeon allows himself to be, he can't forget that the two of them have different perspectives on perfect. Against common sense, Taehyeon's perfection would be a love story with a happy ending, whereas Minjun's perfection would be having a boy who is his friend.
Without asking, Bada knows that something is wrong. At least that has been the only reason in the past that Bada has been willing to go anywhere near a PC cafe. He even suggests playing Dynasty of Destruction. Taehyeon must look utterly atrocious.
"No," Bada lies, "I just really like the chicken wings they have here."
Bada hates the chicken wings at Taehyeon's favourite PC cafe. He is the best friend anybody could ask for. With a few hours to kill before heading to Pilgyu's birthday party, Taehyeon is glad to complete a couple of side quests that can help him on his way to meeting the Righteous Army. He's busy grinding away so he doesn't mind the fact that Bada is more preoccupied with texting.
"Oh no," Bada says before dropping his head on the desk.
Taehyeon leaves it a moment but after no follow up, he pauses the game. He knows that nobody in the rows of computers around them is paying any attention but Taehyeon is in the habit of looking around just to make sure. The PC cafe is dim aside from the neons above and the flashing lights diffusing from the computer screens.
"What's up?"
Bada groans and lifts his head. He pushes his phone over to Taehyeon and stops his head onto the desk all over again.
←Siwoo, my beloved
Kim Bada
I am looking forward to seeing you later.
Maybe we can sort out the plans for our hang-out, date thing whilst we're there.
15:47
Taehyeon looks at the miserable back of Bada's head. Gently, Taehyeon combs his fingers through the hair at the top of Bada's neck.
"He probably just wants to speak to you about it in person," he suggests. If this was one of his own messages which had been ignored, the world would surely be ending. As things stand, this is Bada. Nobody would ignore Bada on purpose, especially not the boy who is definitely about to become Bada's actual boyfriend.
Bada levels a dour stare at Taehyeon but there is no need to fall into the same negativity.
"He's definitely freaking out right now. He's nervous about saying something wrong to you. Look, you're going to have to be more understanding about this sort of thing when you become official."
Bada only allows the seeds of a smile to sprout at the corners of his mouth. He's too cautious about things like this when he should be reckless and excited about being young and hot and exciting.
The two of them do end up eating chicken wings and Taehyeon is surprised to see just how much Bada devours.
"You had better not be eating your feelings," Taehyeon warns him. For now only one of them knows for sure that the object of their affection sees them just like anybody else. Bada needs to keep up a positive attitude so that he doesn't look like a gormless fool when Siwoo inevitably begs to become boyfriends.
After stuffing themselves with the most average chicken wings in the world, the journey to Pilgyu's party isn't too bad. Taehyeon almost falls asleep on the bus but it is nice to rely on Bada's natural nervousness for being late to anything. Taehyeon is still half asleep when he's pulled into the futuristically dark laser tag place that he initially doesn't even realise there is a stranger standing with Pilgyu's current guests.
It takes Taehyeon a moment too long to spot the person out of the ordinary seeing as there are a lot of people milling about under the low ceiling of the foyer. An odd sense of claustrophobia hangs in the air as Taehyeon looks from the rotating lights chasing colours around the counter. Workers wearing futuristic military-lite uniforms of black and dark grey wind and wiggle their way through the groups of kids hanging around. The stranger doesn't look like a worker so Taehyeon wonders whether Bada is prepared to meet someone new today.
"Who is that?" Bada whispers after shaking Taehyeon's arm so hard he has no choice but to pretend to be alert. The real answer shouldn't matter because this is Pilgyu's birthday party and it would only make sense that he has other friends. He can invite whoever he wants to his party. Taehyeon doesn't want to say something like that. It would only sound insensitive when Siwoo looks like he's hiding behind this stranger.
Learning to distinguish between Siwoo and Pilgyu isn't quite as nice as Taehyeon thought it would be.
"Don't worry about it," Taehyeon says quietly. "We'll just go over there and everything will be fine, alright?"
Bada nods but he obviously doesn't mean it. Taehyeon pinches him but even the startled squirm doesn't lead to an encouraging smile. There is no point in delaying the inevitable. Taehyeon tries to look very awake and enthusiastic as he heads over. The fact his trainers stick to the floor every few steps doesn't matter, Taehyeon is here to have fun and say something nice to a boy who deserves it.
Pilgyu is very happy with the birthday card from Minjun. There must be something wrong with his eyes. Taehyeon can't see what is so cute. All Taehyeon sees is evidence that scissors and glue are Minjun's enemies. Forgetting that, the hard part comes when Taehyeon needs to speak up on behalf of his shy (and not nerdy) friend.
"Who is your friend? Is he from your geeky school too?"
"Who?" Pilgyu asks. "Siwoo? Yes, we go to the same school."
Birthday or not, Taehyeon can't bring himself to laugh at this bad joke. Pilgyu himself doesn't seem to mind, giggling to himself as he reaches to drag over a lanky boy with greasy hair. This new boy looks at a loss, gawping in the direction of Woobin (he's here too, instantly becoming Siwoo's new social shield. It is very strange of Taehyeon not to notice his presence before but that must be what being such a good friend does to a guy).
"This is Woojin. He's in the same class as me and Siwoo," Pilgyu offers. That might not be good news.
Taehyeon sends a cautious glance towards Bada but finds his friend is doing his best to keep his expression neutral. If anything, Bada and Woojin are both doing terrible jobs at looking cool and calm.
"It's nice to meet you, Woojin," Taehyeon says very deliberately. Bada just about manages to echo the greeting but he needn't have tried. This Woojin guy doesn't care at all and keeps turning around to look at Siwoo and Woobin whilst Pilgyu explains something allegedly funny which happened in their maths lesson. Taehyeon, a very polite person, fakes a laugh. Pilgyu grins and doesn't seem to notice the two weirdos paying no attention whatsoever.
"Now that we're all here shall we split into teams? My mom is at the counter sorting out the booking and getting our equipment."
"You decide the teams," Siwoo says before anyone else can butt in. "It's your birthday."
Pilgyu practically glows, his full cheeks squeezing with his smile. While he is only a year younger than Taehyeon, he's oddly cute. Taehyeon should have made him a hideous birthday card too. It would have been nice to have him smile like that because of Taehyeon. There might be another chance to offer more than that thoughtless 'happy birthday' message he sent in the group chat that morning.
"Okay," Pilgyu says, his eyes narrowing behind his huge glasses as his voice is almost drowned out by an announcement over the PA system. "Siwoo, you can be a team with Woojin. I'll team up with Bada. That leaves Taehyeon and Woobin. Does that sound good to everyone?"
A birthday card wouldn't be enough. Taehyeon should be on his knees, prostrating himself before this saint. Taehyeon gets to team up with Woobin. He wouldn't like to offend anybody else here but this is the best case scenario. Not for Bada, apparently.
"What am I going to do?" Bada hisses. "I wanted to, you know, speak to Siwoo today!"
The rest of the group are meandering to the counter where a woman is waving a handkerchief. Presumably she is Pilgyu's mom. Taehyeon hangs back with Bada. Even without his arm tingling from blood loss, Taehyeon would have stayed put anyway.
"There's no need to hold my arm so tightly," Taehyeon mutters. "Just ask Pilgyu to swap partners."
Bada's grip tightens. Taehyeon might lose his arm entirely at this point.
"Taehyeon, I'm partnered with Pilgyu. How can I ask him to give me a different partner on his birthday?"
That's a good point. Pilgyu wouldn't deserve a rejection like that on his birthday. Taehyeon thinks fast.
"Alright then. How about we suggest groups of three?"
"That's the same," Bada whimpers. "He'll think that I don't want to be alone with him. It's his birthday. I can't be mean to him on his birthday."
Bada has quite the conundrum but Taehyeon likes things like this. He has something to focus his mind on now that there is a problem to be solved.
"I'll make it happen naturally then. I will take care of that Woojin guy so you can talk to Siwoo. Deal?"
The suggestion isn't something Bada can refuse. They hurry over to join the others and Bada at least looks more cheerful when Pilgyu's mom greets them.
"It is so lovely to meet you too. I am so happy that my little Pilgyu has friends from other schools!" Pilgyu's mom is a fair bit shorter than her son, the top of her permed hair almost reaching Pilgyu's shoulder. She looks a lot like him too, her bespectacled face easily forming friendliness. Thank goodness Bada already got his guilt out of the way before meeting Pilgyu's mom. If he'd waited until after teams were set in stone, he would definitely have had a breakdown.
Actually, whilst being handed the clunky harness, Taehyeon can't help but keep an eye on Bada just to make sure. He doesn't look much more weepy and worried than before but that isn't saying much when it comes to Bada. He has a great talent of crying at the drop of a hat.
Things seem stable with Bada whilst Pilgyu's mom sees them off. In the safe hands of someone who isn't at all embarrassed about their work uniform, Taehyeon tries really hard to focus on the instructions. He doesn't try hard enough. Before he knows it, the group is being herded through to the main doors to the Laser Zone.
"Wait, what did he say?" Taehyeon asks, suddenly panicked and hurried. He's being led towards his demise because the employee didn't even show how to shoot the laser guns properly. "The music was too loud. I didn't catch anything after we were told to secure our Action Vests."
"I know," Bada laments. "I couldn't hear either."
"Don't worry, I'll help you work it out," Woobin offers with a smile. He's so kind. Thank goodness Taehyeon got teamed up with someone like him. The possibilities for what could happen in the dark with Woobin's protection are endless.
Taehyeon looks at Pilgyu hopping around at the front of their disorganised line into the hangar play zone. He looks very enthusiastic but isn't even holding the gun the right way up.
"Good luck," Taehyeon says to Bada.
Luckily Taehyeon doesn't have to feel too bad. The music in the play zone is loud enough to drown out Bada's pitiful groan.
"We were told to go this way," Woobin says, pointing down one mysteriously dark corridor.
Taehyeon follows Woobin along the dark, narrow corridor.
These makeshift walkways seem dangerous in Taehyeon's inexpert opinion. He trips several times on folds of heavy fabric draped to form these tunnel-like warrens. Regardless of the fact that Taehyeon is being led along a labyrinth created with duct tape, heavy curtains, and a dream, Woobin is turning out to be pretty cool. Taehyeon can't see him particularly well, but the red glint of the sensors on the back of his action vest is reassuring.
"Hold on," Woobin says quietly. He reaches a hand back to stop Taehyeon. For a long moment they are both silent. Taehyeon even holds his breath instead of asking what is wrong.
Eventually, Woobin turns back to look at Taehyeon. In the artificial gloom, his face looks very serious.
"How much experience do you have?"
"What?" Taehyeon splutters. That question came out of nowhere. He isn't stupid enough to feel flattered that he's being asked at this stage. This is the perfect segue to make fun of someone for being a loser who hasn't even shown Kim Minjeong his pants. Hypothetically. Woobin doesn't even know Minjeong so he'd have no reason to use that as a conduit for humiliation.
"I think there is someone camping up ahead. I'm good but I don't know how many there are so I'll need some help. How many do you think you can take?"
"I've never even kissed anyone. I think it's a bit—"
"What?" Woobin asks. He grins after a moment. "You're really getting into the right frame of mind by role-playing. I like it. Sometimes I like to have a storyline when I play too. Do you come here often? What's your average hit rate?"
Starting to put together the two different conversations they are obviously having right now, Taehyeon feels his body flood with embarrassed heat. He laughs, the sound clanging unconvincing against his own ears. This is the worst. No wonder he has never been kissed if everything he says is coated in cringe.
"I just wanted to try to get into the spirit," Taehyeon laughs weakly. "I've never done this before."
Woobin looks suddenly serious. "Alright," he says grimly, "I'll cover you as best I can. We won't get any points by hiding out here. Let's go and face it head on."
Taehyeon is struck by how cool Woobin is. He sounds like an expert and at the very least, Taehyeon is glad to be in safe hands. He follows Woobin along the odd tunnel which gradually becomes lighter. At a bend in the tunnel, a strip light floods the area with enough visibility to make Taehyeon confident. In a place this bright, he's sure he'd see anybody camping out, or whatever Woobin suspected.
In the light, Taehyeon notices that Woobin keeps making odd little shapes with his right hand, held up like secret agents in movies.
"Is that a signal for me?" Taehyeon asks.
Woobin comes to a stop and looks at Taehyeon with some confusion. "Yes," he whispers, "but the whole point is that we don't talk."
"Oh. Sorry."
Woobin gives Taehyeon a pointed look.
"Sorry," he whispers.
Whilst totally unable to decipher the signals Woobin is sending him, Taehyeon is fortunate to have a great teammate. He has the suspicion that Bada isn't having quite such a good time.
The tunnel opens up to a wide play area. Lights flash on overturned control panels. This area is definitely on theme with hanging wires and the jarring sounds of alarms and glitching warning messages playing every now and then.
Woobin holds his arm out to hem Taehyeon back. Taehyeon listens out but hears nothing of any concern. He takes a step forward and hears a battle cry before Woobin grabs him and shoves him against the nearest wall.
"What… are you okay?" Taehyeon asks. It's a totally ordinary question in a totally ordinary situation.
"Yeah," Woobin says, quiet and sounding almost sad. "I got hit. Only two lives left."
"Lee Taehyeon?"