altimit | ›› 2nd round

That's even better. It means more dumplings for me. [ Brambles sounded a bit sad, so that's Joonghyuk's attempt at cheering him up. ] Spinach is great for dumplings too if you can eat it.

[ They don't sell these at convenience stores, but sometimes he makes them at home. ]

Don't tell me you eat potatoes and beans all the time.

[ Didn't he just say the same about dumplings, though... ]

Ooh, yes. I love spinach! We grow it in our garden.

[ He laughs! ]

I love them! But that would get proper boring. I also like to eat lentil cottage pie, butter on toast and jam sandwiches! [ THIS GUY, ]

Butter on toast...

[ That makes Joonghyuk snort as he figures out how the oven works to heat it up before drying the potatoes. ]

We eat completely different things. Well, maybe save for butter on toast.

Haha! It's a classic.

[ he is sniffing the potatoes. ]

These potatoes...! Mmmm. How is technology so incredible? I can't believe we can just stick potatoes in the oven and eat food on a game like this!

[ Mr. Brambles... how is he supposed to fall for you when you're sniffing the potatoes. ]

It's really amazing. I hope they're going to use this technology for something outside of gaming.

[ It really has a lot of potential. ]

And the mini games are a little bit like Cooking Mama, too.

[ the answer is simple: you fall for him anyway and acquire a cute (and slightly quirky) english boyfriend ]

Cooking Mama! [ he says excitedly as he springs up. ] Yes! Hehehe, this is the best chance we might ever have of playing it together! Unless we magically see each other in person and get the chance to, but I know the odds are pretty low.

[ MAYBE ONE DAY? WHO KNOWS?????? ]

So, are you ready to begin?

[ Potato sniffing Englishman is such a catch 😳 ]

Don't tell me you're going to say the lines from the actual game? [ Imagining Brambles with fire in his eyes almost makes him laugh. ] If we ever see each other in person, make sure you have your DS on you.

I might!

[ He laughs and looks up at him. ]

I mean, who knows. It could actually be a thing. My goal in life is to do my PhD abroad. If I did it in Korea ... [ they could play cooking mama! ]

That's very far from your home, so make sure to think it through.

[ The fact that it's time to stab the potatoes which is oddly soothing. ]

You might have to learn the language, too.

Travelling is part of my upbringing and who I am. The idea excites me, but it's nothing that I would leap into without consideration, of course.

[ He's the magical combination of fun but also considerate. Time to stab some potatoes! ]

I'd just adore that. What better way to learn about a country you're in than by chatting with locals in their native language?

[ Damn Brambles, why do you stab your potato friends like this. ]

That's actually very brave of you. [ Stab, stab. ] Not everyone can do that... just leave for another country and find it exciting. Aren't you nervous about going somewhere so far away?

Not really. My ancestors were Romani people. Their culture and very way of life is centred all around travel. My father isn't Romani, but he decided to allow me to grow up with the lifestyle my mother had. I didn't get to learn it from her because she died while giving birth to me.

[ He smiles a little sadly. ]

All things considered, it was a big decision for him to make, but one that I'm so glad he did. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's like ... I feel the desire to explore new places deep within my bones. You know?

I'm sorry for your loss.

[ Seeing that sad smile makes his heart sting a little. Joonghyuk opens his mouth to say something, but backs down and lets the silence linger for a few moments. ]

If that's how you feel... I might not fully understand it, but you know best what you want.

It's all right. I had a really happy childhood. [ pause ] Well, apart from all of the bullies. But happy enough.

[ He nods. ]

I definitely do. So, who knows. I'll have to take another look at the courses over there. [ Because he absolutely already googled. ]

Bullying is a huge problem here. I wasn't a victim, but I've seen... things.

[ He's stepped in a few times when the situation looked really bad. But ever since Mia appeared in his life, Joonghyuk is more careful about picking his battles. ]

I'm not telling you in which city I live, though.

[ It's a conscious decision—if he does, Brambles might just pick the city and then the univeristy and he'd rather have it to be the other way round assuming that he's going to study in Korea in the first place. ]

Oh ... [ He understands people have desires for privacy. But, why did that sting? ] I guess you really like to keep your real life separate, huh?

[ It's been on his mind a lot lately. Bramb has told Joonghyuk all about his university, the city he lives in - he's even given him access to his email and twitter. Finding him is so searchable. Seeing him in real life and the book shop he works in is also searchable. So ... is there really any room for secrets here? ]

Unless you, uh, don't want to meet. T-That's cool. [ He fidgets. ] Um, you can just forget I said anything ... just pretend it's a joke. We're just gamers ... I shouldn't make it weird.

I have my reasons.

[ Joonghyuk regrets saying that consideering what Brambles says next. ]

No, you got that wrong. I won't tell you because I don't want to affect your choice.

[ Most of the universities Brambles might consider are probably in Soeul anyway, but if he finds something that suits him better in some other part of the country, that's also fine. ]

If you have your reasons, I won't pry. I just feel like ... [ He scratches his cheek awkwardly. ] I don't know how an online gaming friendship is meant to be. Every day when I log on and see you here, I feel so happy. Like you're my real friend. But, like ... you know my email address, where I live, my name and if you've been on my social media, you know how I look in real life. I'm a real person who ... who likes playing on this game with you. And you're real, too. I feel like you know me ... but I don't really know you.

[ They should be cooking but it's time to cook up a discussion that Bramb has wanted to have for a while now. ]

Why would affecting my choice be a bad thing?

I don't know how it's meant to be either. But... at the same time, I don't think there's a recipe for that kind of thing.

[ He hates that he's made a pun unwillingly. But what Joonghyuk hates even more is that while he feels the same, he doesn't know how to express it. Brambles just laid bare the feelings he has and yet...

Joonghyuk shakes his head. ]

Because it's your life.

Well ... how do you feel about me? If I told you that I consider you a friend, do you feel that way also?

[ He's so nervous for a response that he can actually feel his heart pounding. ]

It is, yeah. And maybe I want to live it.

Yeah. [ That answer sounds a bit dry, so he adds: ] You're a friend.

[ What Brambles says next makes his chest feel a bit tight. ]

Just pick a place and I'll tell you if it's close or not.

[ The relief that washes over him is incredible. Brambles exhales a breath that he didn't even realise he was holding. And naturally, he smiles. ]

Really? Heh, I'm so glad ... like, really glad.

[ He is one happy boy. ]

Um, Seoul?

Close. [ A beat. ] Very close.

[ Actually, he's living here but the tsun in him is preventing Joonghyuk from admitting that. ]

Don't tell me you're going to pick Seoul because of my answer. You should choose what's best for you.

Ooh! Interesting!

[ He just laughs. ]

But anything could be best for me. I actually like the idea of travelling far away from England.

[ He looks away, flustered and clearly debating if he should say something or not. In the end, he murmurs something that Brambles might find surprising: ]

Then Seoul will be the best for you, I think.

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