[The End to the Beginning 一 Status: Completed]
So this is it?
The last two years I have spent on this god forsaken game.
Was this really the end?
[ THANK YOU PLAYER33 FOR BEING THE FIRST TO COMPLETE GHOST RAIDING WORLD ]
I had hoped this game had lasted longer, but some things never stay for long.
[The Developer would like to thank you for playing this game till the end of its time]
“Hello, my name is Junhyuk Baek. I would like to sincerely give my thanks to you, The Player that has completed this game.
I have spent many years developing and fixing this game so people are able to enjoy it to its fullest. This little secret message is made only for you, The Player, my little achiever. But, it would have been better if you had a different username other than Player33 don’t you think? And anyways, I’ve seen you work hard to finish this game for the past years. So, I wanted to give you something a little in return.”
Looking at the long message The Developer had made for me, all I could think of the gift I really wanted, was a continuation of the game.
Ghost Raiding World was my freedom since then.
I was bullied back in school.
Not for my looks, nor for my grades or my personality.
I could even say I’m a pretty charming guy.
But rather, it was because of my parents.
My parents had passed away due to an illness that was caused genetically. But, someone had spread rumors that I also carried the same disease, and that it could spread through contact.
And that was the reason the other kids excluded me from anything. I had no friends, no close people I could talk to.
I hated life.
*Hit一
“Dude! I already called for you multiple times, are you deaf?”
This was my colleague Choi Han
And the classmate who spread those exact same rumors about me.
“What’s wrong?”
“The marketing team guys over there wouldn’t stop nagging at us, barking their heads off like feral dogs! Can’t you do something with the files our team sent to them?”
“What’s wrong with the files? Wasn't Yoon Jae in charge of them?”
“He’s not answering his calls right now. And I can’t do it since I’ve already got a lot on my hands right now. So I was wondering…. if you could do it?”
This is bastard that ruined my life.
But, he is also my closest friend right now, the only one that I can confide in.
| Timestamp: 2 Years ago
“Hey everyone, look over here! We have a new recruit onboard the passenger plane~”
“Haha! What passenger plane? It would be better if you called it a suicide plane, I wish i could killmyself everytime I thought of going to work.”
“Hello everyone, my name is Kang Baek-Hyeon. I am very pleased to meet you all. I hope I will be a great addition to this team.”
*Whispers
“Hey.. isn’t he kind of good looking?”
“You’re honestly right, I can’t remember the last time we had a cute guy join the analytics team.”
“Well we have two now! Both him and ##### are pretty good looking”
During this time, I felt so welcomed at my first job.
Everyone was so friendly to me, it was such a great but unfamiliar environment, compared to when I was at school.
Finally sitting down in my own chair, my own desk, and finally, my own new little family.
“Mr. Kang, What’s your phone number? I’ll add you to the team groupchat.”
“It’s 0XXXXXXXX”
“Alright, I’m adding you right now.”
*Ding一
[ Kang Baek-Hyeon was added to the groupchat. ]
-Kim Hayoung: hey :)
-Haejoom Kim: Yoo
-Park Eunsung: Nice to meet you!
-Choi Han: hi
?
A chill had rushed through my spine.
This guy had the same name as the asshole who ruined my school life.
No way it’s the same person.
(Clicks on profile)
Choi Han.
It is the same person.
*Ding一
-Choi Han: long time no see Baek-Hyeon.
-Choi han: (´• ω •`) ♡
This fucker had to be taunting me.
-Baek-Hyeon: hello everyone.
-Choi Han: boo
-Choi Han: so dry!
-Choi Han: (´• ω •`) ♡
-Kim Hayoung: Mr. Han is such an asshole lol
[Are you sure to block this person?]
(Yes)
Now that the problems out of the way, I have better things to do that to focus on hi一
“Why’d you block me?”
A familiar face peeking over my desk.
The lousy voice I’ve had to endure in high school.
“Soooooo, what’s up?”
“I don’t need to concern myself with you.”
“That’s so mean man!”
“...”
“...”
“Look, I know what happened in high school was really terrible. I was an irresponsible kid back then, I understand how hard school was for you.”
“...”
“I know that you won’t be able to ever forgive me for what I did, and I won’t argue. But, I do want you to know that I’ve changed and you don’t always need me to think like I’m an asshole anymore.
The past me has long been gone, I really have fixed my ways and I want you to know that.”
“...”
“Can I treat you to a cup of coffee?”
“Leave me alone.”
“Ooookayy… I’ll be back!”
“Don’t.”
“Oh, and please unblock me.. I promise I’m not gonna bother you, it’s just unprofessional to unblock me since we are at work and I wouldn’t be able to send you work stuff if you’ve got me blocked no?”
“...”
“I Prooooomisee!”
“Fine.”
[Are you sure to unblock this person?]
(Yes)
“Yay! Thanks man.”
My luck had really run out fast. I thought I had hit the jackpot with a great team. But I guess every team has its disadvantages.”
*Ding一
-Choi Han: (￣▽￣*)ゞ
Broke his promise fast huh.
“Yawn”
I spent the next hour saving all of my colleagues' numbers and cozying up to the desk that I will stay with till I retire, or when I get fired.
I hope that will never happen.
[You have 1 new message]
> Stinky Landlord: When are you gonna pay the rent? You’re already 2 months behind! One more month and I will throw your belongings out.
Again, I hope I never get fired, or else I would be homeless in a heart beat.
Today has been rough, I might be behind on rent but I can definitely treat myself to an iced coffee right?
[BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE: 20.402 WON]
Fuck….
How am I supposed to pay rent with 20 thousand won? Should I pick up some errands for spare cash on the weekend…?
“HEY!”
*Craashh一
“Ouuuch.. Why is the floor so slippery.. Where's the wet floor sign?
Well at least I didn’t drop the coffee! Here, have one hahahaha .”
“No thank you.”
Iced coffee..?
“No seriously, I only got this for you. Seriously, that was the only reason I went all the way down to the first floor, a knight’s objective!”
“Why did you go down? Wasn’t there like a coffee machine on this floor? I saw one when I first got here.”
“That one’s actually broken, and I don't really feel like going to the other team's floors just for coffee, so I headed down to the first floor.”
“But, it’s been an hour since you last talked to me. Aren’t we only on the 10th floor? Did you go through a jungle to get down or something haha”
“You wouldn’t believe what happened to me down there! There was a whole line and they kept talking in front of the coffee machine. And!! When I wanted to go back up there was another huge line waiting to get on the elev
“Looks like I’m not the only one with bad luck today.” Scoffs.
Deserved.
“So that’s why most of the ice cubes have melted already?”
“Oh my god.. I forgot about the coffee!”
“Haha… it’s okay, thanks for the coffee. I appreciate it.”
Appreciate it?
Don’t make me laugh.
I don’t think a coffee that's worth 300 won could amount to the suffering and humiliation I faced back then.
No matter how poor I am, I could never bring myself to forgive this man, no matter how changed he is or how poor I am.
Anything given by him has already been tainted by his disgusting hands.
“Soo.. planning to get me coffee everyday?”
But, free is free.
I have to sacrifice a bit of my dignity for my survival.
“Haha! Only if you agree to open up to me~”
“That’s a hard request I don’t feel like agreeing to.”
“Fine…. But there IS something you can do for me.”
“What is it?”
“There’s this game called hahahaha that I play. If I invite another person to play it then I will get rewards.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah! I really need the rewards to clear the game. And, I’m sure you’ll like it too, it’s really fun!”
“Okay, what do I have to do?”
And so I spent the last of my work hours downloading this game and learning how to play it from him.
The game is called GHOST RAIDING WORLD.
It’s about killing monsters and completing missions.
Not a very unique name nor was the game itself different from the rest, but I have to admit it was fun.
As in, the game was fun, but playing with him by my side was surprisingly.. also quite nice.
“Oh you finally completed the tutorial!”
“What are you gonna set it as?”
“You’ll see.”
[PROFILE LOADING]
“Wow.. that’s an amazing name…. Baek-Hyeon.”
