Chapter 22: The Persistent Call from LA and the Misunderstood “Delivery Man

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: Hey, Macho

Having just regained his lost laughter from Palpal’s “useless” remark, the Engineering Guy, unable to hide his excitement, sought out Kyunghun. Kyunghun, preoccupied with whispering to Yaongi, didn’t even notice him at first, but as the chat background changed, he glanced toward the Engineering Guy. The moment he approached MachoKing, he started spamming the chat nonstop.

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: Did you block Bugilma on Talk?

Kyunghun tilted his head naturally while reading the message. How did he know? Before he could even wonder, another line popped up.

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: I can see all the nonsense happening next to me

[Whisper] MachoKing: Ah;;;; friend??

Recalling the chat with Seohyun last time, he tried to act familiar, and the Engineering Guy responded even more happily.

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: He’s still throwing tantrums lol

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: I’m saying, don’t unblock him ^^

Kyunghun, realizing he was invisible even in the guild chat, laughed quietly at the chaos happening in real life.

[Whisper] MachoKing: Tell him I’ll unblock him if he swears he won’t do it again

[Whisper] MachoKing: He has to ‘swear’

But the other side refused with a grin.

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: Nah lol, he needs to get his act together ^^

[Whisper] MachoKing: lolol

[Whisper] LA Engineering Guy: I’ll let you know when there’s a sign of reform

[Whisper] MachoKing: Sure lol

Though Kyunghun responded lightly, he felt a twinge of guilt thinking about the guy struggling with his phone for hours after being blocked in-game. He briefly regretted being too harsh, but pampering him would only make him spoiled. If they weren’t going to cut ties, a little discipline now would be better for both.

A few days later.

That day, instead of going home after work, Kyunghun waited across from a hotel. Two weeks of surveillance had been ongoing after a tip about illegal meth transactions in the area.

The suspected distributor was expected at this hotel today, and Kyunghun had already been waiting five hours. Though waiting for a vehicle to show up for hours was normal given his job, the persistent vibration of his personal phone started to fluster him.

Kyunghun looked at the screen carefully. The number didn’t start with 010 and seemed unlike anything he’d seen in Korea. He muttered:

“Scam call?”

Was someone trying to trick a cop? Judging by the unfamiliar foreign number, he thought ignoring it would be better for his sanity.

He let it go once.

But then three more calls came in, all from the same number. Kyunghun’s expression grew tense as he glanced at the relentless phone. Whoever it was, their persistence suggested they desperately wanted him to answer.

“Is this how foreigners do phishing? Am I about to lose five million won?” he wondered, and reluctantly pressed the call button.

Then he said coldly:

“If you’re trying to scam me, you’re dead.”

There was silence on the other end. The longer the silence, the more Kyunghun frowned. Just as he was about to hang up, a voice dripping with frustration came through:

[…Damn, you’re serious.]

And then a flood of words poured out.

[How much have I done for you, huh.]

“…Excuse me?”

[How can you ignore someone like this?]

“…?”

[Huh? You always give me grief while acting all high and mighty.]

Kyunghun looked again at the number and exhaled deeply.

[You know how annoying you are, right?]

He suddenly felt a headache coming on.

[Are you even listening to me?]

“…No way.”

Kyunghun lifted the phone from his ear and frowned at the huffing voice.

[Bro, I’ve done so much for you, fed and clothed MachoKing, and you repay me like this?]

“…When did I throw him away?”

[You ungrateful scoundrel, I thought I raised him like a human.]

“….”

Speechless, Kyunghun watched as the other side ranted like a runaway colt.

[Isn’t MachoKing supposed to be mine? Your account is with this guy.]

“…Hey, isn’t this Seohyun? Did your personality crack?”

[Don’t introduce yourself.]

Kyunghun, momentarily surprised by the deep, surprisingly mature voice, quickly judged that the sentences were consistent with a 24-year-old and let out a light laugh.

“Seohyun. Did you eat?”

[Don’t distract me. Why block me on Talk? Did I do something wrong?]

“…You little brat. Why put a bounty on me all of a sudden? And why bring up my ideal type?”

Thinking back, Kyunghun chuckled but barely held back.

“My ideal type isn’t you. I’m an adult, what would I do with a grown guy?”

[So what if you’re an adult? People even have same-s*x marriages in games.]

“Stop saying that. First, explain why your number is like this.”

[You threw him away but now you care?]

Kyunghun sighed.

“Since you’re 24, not in school, working, I was worried. Then I get an international call—what the heck? Where are you, working abroad? Australia? Canada?”

[USA. Not a working holiday, immigrated.]

The calm reply left Kyunghun momentarily speechless. A 24-year-old, not in college, working with friends, living abroad… Plus, from what Yaongi told him, a complicated family background. Kyunghun furrowed his brows and murmured:

“…USA.”

His fingers tapped the steering wheel slowly, but Seohyun was still fussing on the other end.

“Well, I guess I can’t even use the gift card you gave me.”

[…Don’t tell me you want a refund? I’m going to use it like a maniac, so stop caring.]

Seohyun seemed unaccustomed to receiving things and complained even over small gestures.

[From now on, I won’t talk about conscience. I’ll just eat.]

Kyunghun finally spoke quietly:

“Okay Seohyun, I’ll unblock you.”

[What? Why are you suddenly talking so low?]

“But don’t contact me again.”

He pressed his left hand to the back of his neck, feeling the stiffness after hours in the car. Kyunghun searched for the unfinished can of drink beside him.

No sound came from the phone as he looked for it. He smirked at Seohyun’s obvious fluster and started to scold lightly:

“Do you think you can act up when I’m busy?”

Seohyun, who had been frozen for a moment, quickly regained composure. Bad sign.

[You’re 24 acting up, imagine 34 acting up. Are you delivering today?]

A delivery motorbike sped past Kyunghun’s car. Seohyun knew he worked a bakery in the morning and delivery in the afternoon.

“Yeah. Delivery.”

[Don’t risk your life on the road. You said you’re tired from morning dough and evening rides. Are your clothes numbered in the wardrobe?]

“…?”

[And why keep sending chicken to someone struggling for money?]

“It’s just what I do. Why, do I get scolded for that?”

Seohyun, still complaining, had misunderstood Kyunghun’s intentions after the last chicken party.

At that moment, a black sedan, invisible for five hours, slowly rose to street level. Kyunghun started the car and muttered:

“Hey, hey. I’m busy, I’ll unblock you, hang up first.”

Seohyun’s surprised voice came through:

[Bro? Hang up now? Really?]

He confirmed, but Kyunghun was firm.

“Smart. Eat the chicken well.”

[No, wait! Bro! Hey! Bro!]

Ignoring her pleas, he hung up, and a car followed the black sedan like water flows.