Dusk (BL Light Novel)

Sure enough, rather than meekly accepting the bag I handed him, Gang Jaegyung instantly bristled again.
“You won’t even let me buy you anything, so why are you giving me more? If you’re gonna do this, at least let me give you something too.”

“You lost. That ship has sailed. Just take it.”
“But I… I wanted to buy you that plushie earlier. I didn’t because I thought you might hate it.”
So that’s why he kept asking if there was anything I wanted. No wonder he’d seemed so absurdly hung up on the whole gift thing for someone supposedly offering casually.

“…You’re sweet, Jaegyung-ssi. Thinking about me like that.”
“Why don’t you think about me?”
“I think about you a lot. Regularly, even.”

Gang Jaegyung’s mouth fell open for a second, like he was about to say something, then shut again. A second later, his brows scrunched up, visibly flustered.
That reaction was gold.
“That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, that’s what I meant.”
“…Take your plushie back. I don’t want it.”
“If you hate it that much, throw it out when you get home.”

“How could I do that?”
“Then I guess you’re stuck with it for life.”
Gang Jaegyung’s eyes flared pink again as he glared at me, likely out of sheer frustration over my smug grin. If I kept going, he’d probably throw an entire tantrum.

But instead, just when it looked like he was going to explode, he let out a defeated sigh and yanked the items out of my hands. A surprisingly soft reaction for someone with his usual temperament. I’d expected way more resistance.
His calm obedience left me weirdly dissatisfied, but I’d gotten what I wanted, so I was content. I patted him on the forearm and smiled sweetly.
“Thank you for shopping with us, customer. Let me know if you need anything else.”

I handed the paper bag back to Uncle. Jaegyung, meanwhile, avoided my gaze and bit down hard on his lip before mumbling under his breath like he was chewing on the words.
“You didn’t even let me buy you anything…”
“So you’re sulking?”
“I am sulking.”

Cute.
If he could read my thoughts, he’d probably throw another fit. But alas, Gang Jaegyung didn’t have psychic powers. He just sighed again.
“Then at least let me treat you to something good to eat next time we meet.”

“Go ahead.”
His mood seemed to lift a little at that answer, and he gave a faint, half-hearted smile.
I had said yes, but honestly, I didn’t expect to see him again anytime soon. I rarely left the house unless I had to. Maybe I’d accept a gift card now and then if he sent one. That was about the extent of my willingness.

With the gifts I’d shoved at him now tucked away in the paper bag, Jaegyung started chattering that we really had to head up now, and I followed him toward the elevator. While we waited for it to arrive, I listened to his grumbling and chuckled quietly in response.
Even if he’d only taken it under protest, he seemed to genuinely enjoy the plush. He kept petting the fur with his bare hands like it was therapeutic. I was just about to tease him again when I caught sight of his ears, slightly flushed.
All that blood must have gone rushing up earlier, so it made sense. Still, there was something oddly… suggestive about it. I swallowed the playful jab I’d been planning and stared straight ahead at the elevator doors instead.

What a ridiculous guy.
(DUSK 2nd Anniversary Part B4)
@vEJoeVflqpwemv · 3 hours ago
omg I was late and rushed into the elevator and there were two STUPIDLY good-looking guys in there???
Endangered species like that need to spend more time out in public.

(DUSK 2nd Anniversary Part B4)
@vEJoeVflqpwemv · 2 seconds ago
holy shit
***
We barely made it into the arena with four minutes to spare before 1 o’clock. The countdown clock on the main screen was already ticking down.

I left Uncle waiting by the entrance and followed the narrow corridor downward. I placed a hand lightly on Gang Jaegyung’s back to keep myself from tripping on the steps. He turned to glance at me, laughing for no reason. What’re you smiling about?
We used the screen and the low lights to guide us to the two open seats. The name tags on the chairs confirmed it—they were reserved for us. Mine was on the aisle, and his was next to me.
“These seats have a nice angle. Perfect for watching the trailer.”

“Yeah?”
Jaegyung leaned down toward the screen, gauging the view from his seat. I had no idea why he was bothering—he could just sit and look. I rolled my eyes and tapped his back.
“Just sit down already.”

He stepped into his spot first, then I lowered my seat and dropped into it. But just as I settled, a low voice from beside Jaegyung—not his—called out.
“Retaking-nim and Honeybread-nim?”
Bread Boss? It sounded like someone calling for a bakery owner, but it was definitely directed at me.

I craned my head back and peeked past Jaegyung. A guy I didn’t recognize, wearing glasses and wide-eyed like a squirrel, gave us a bright greeting. After hearing our nicknames, people in the next seat, the next next seat, and even further down all turned like meerkats to stare.
“Wow, how are you both this handsome? I’m Massacre, by the way!”
“Ah.”

The cheerful guy stuck out his hand and kept chatting. That was Massacre-nim. Right—this was the designated seating area for the event participants. I reached out and shook his hand, then peeked around him. The others gave polite nods but didn’t speak. They must’ve been shy.
Then again, we were the only ones here from Server 3. Even without being introverts, it probably felt awkward to greet total strangers.
“What took you guys so long?”

“Had to settle a fight.”
“Pfft. Who won?”
He didn’t seem to believe we’d actually fought, but his energy was high, and he seemed genuinely interested.

“Obviously I did.”
“Excuse me? I won the first round, so we’re still tied.”
“Oh, come on. That doesn’t count. Someone interrupted the fight.”

If Uncle hadn’t stepped in, we would've stared each other down until someone tapped [N O V E L I G H T] out. Whether it was him or me who’d lost, who knows. But either way, a third party interrupted, so Jaegyung didn’t get to claim a win.
“…You really fought?”
Massacre-nim blinked at us, his face screaming are-you-two-really-adults?

“Me and Honeybread-nim are 1:1 so far. We’ll settle it with the Arena demo.”
“Great. If I win in the Arena, it’s 3:0. If you win, 2:1. Deal?”
“Deal.”

“You two are exactly the same as in-game, huh?”
Massacre-nim chuckled at our childish bickering. But honestly, it only made sense. We had fun together in the game—no point pretending otherwise just because we were meeting in real life.
“Oh! Retaking-nim, you got that plushie?”

“Ah, Honeybread-nim got it for me. Cute, right?”
At the question, Jaegyung proudly thrust Omoknuni forward like a prized trophy. The same guy who’d kicked up a fuss about not wanting it five minutes ago was now all smiles, chirping about how soft and squishy it was. In front of me, he’d sulked and complained nonstop—yet here he was showing it off to a stranger like a gift from heaven. Ridiculous.
“Sounded like you two were fighting, but now it looks like you went on the world’s sweetest date.”

“Seems like it, yeah.”
Seems like it, yeah, he says. What the hell. I rested my chin on my hand and glared at him, but Jaegyung just turned with a smile and asked, “What is it?” in his usual sunshine tone. If it weren’t for that stupid grinning face, I might’ve said something, but his slightly curved eyes and smiling lips made the words dry up in my mouth.
I never really got the saying you can’t spit on a smiling face, but after today, after meeting Gang Jaegyung, I think I finally understood it better than anyone.

As Jaegyung chattered away about how cute the plushie was, the time hit exactly 1:00. The countdown, which had been running by the minute, dropped to seconds: 60, 59, 58...
Once it hit 0, the trailer would begin, and the event would officially kick off.
Noticing the timer ticking down, Jaegyung leaned toward me slightly and whispered,

“What do you think the trailer’s gonna be like? Do you think they nailed it this time too?”
They better. You know how much money they dumped into this?
“Game companies are always better at everything except making games. Of course it’ll be good.”

“I was so bummed about how the main quest ended, so I’m hoping they explain more of the story this time.”
Once he got on the topic of lore, Jaegyung started chattering even faster. He was still hugging the white plushie I gave him, nestled snug in his arms.