Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Come on, Yunho!” Seonghwa tugs at his sleeve, the hint of a pout curving his lips as he pleads, “Just join me in the game! You don’t even need to do anything—I can do all the farming and grinding. I just need someone to be my partner for the status benefits, honest!”

Yunho pats the back of Seonghwa’s hand with only the slightest hint of exasperation. Despite having had his ear talked off for the past half-hour, Yunho still couldn’t find it in himself to get upset at the older. 

His eyes unwittingly flit over to the other person in the study room, who’s contributed nothing to the conversation thus far beyond the occasional disgustingly sappy smiles directed solely at Seonghwa. “If it’s just for the experience and material buffs, can’t you get Hongjoong-hyung to do it instead?”

“Joong’s useless,” Seonghwa counters bluntly without any hesitation, ignoring the affronted ‘hey!’ of protest from said useless individual. “There are some partner-exclusive events,” Seonghwa shakes his head. “Don’t even mention being of help, I think the day would come where pigs start flying before Hongjoong doesn’t end up being a hindrance.”

Hongjoong gapes soundlessly at his boyfriend, before crossing his arms and slumping into his seat with a noisy puff of air. Seonghwa winces, leaning over to gently press his lips against Hongjoong’s temple. The other looks away with a petulant glare. 

“Sorry, jagi. I went too far this time, didn’t I?”

Hongjoong sniffles, but tilts his head to brush his cheek against Seonghwa’s as a peace offering.

Yunho watches all this unfold in mute horror.

“I don’t play MMORPGs often, hyung.”

“You’re Radiant in Valo, Yunho,” Seonghwa deadpans. “If you can do that, you can do anything.”

Yunho looks at Hongjoong silently, hoping to convey a heartfelt plea through his eyes. If there was anyone who could convince Seonghwa otherwise, it would be his boyfriend.

“Hwa’s right,” Hongjoong smiles dopily. Seonghwa beams as he cuddles into Hongjoong’s side, the younger’s arm naturally draping around Seonghwa’s shoulder to pull him closer. “Just help him out, yeah?”

Fucking couples.

Yunho sighs, his fingers reaching up to rub at his temples. 

“Okay.” Seonghwa cheers, quieting when Yunho follows up hastily with, “But!”

“You’re cooking all my faves for the next three—no, five group dinners. If anybody complains, they come to you, okay, hyung?”

“Deal!” 

Yunho likes to think he got a good deal out of it, and so pretends he's spontaneously become hard of hearing when Hongjoong dubiously comments to Seonghwa, “Yunho likes everything you cook, though?”

…

Yunho loads up the registration screen of the MMORPG Seonghwa had so desperately bribed him into joining. Despite his initial reluctance, Yunho has to admit that the graphics look cute, exactly like the kind of game he would have played when he was younger before he got sucked into the neverending hours of Valorant. The gameplay seemed to promise a balanced mixture of dungeoning and life simulation, and Yunho could see how it had managed to get so popular over the years. 

Seonghwa wanted Yunho to join so that he could take advantage of the marriage system, which allowed players to earn exponentially more experience and drops based on their relationship level. It was still feasible to advance as a single player, of course, but why not take advantage of the meta when it was available to you?

Yunho sighs, but his fingers fly obligingly over his keyboard as he registers his email for a new account. 

Huh.

His brows furrow in a slight frown as he reads the error message.

That’s odd. Maybe I made a typo.

The error message persists.

“The email address you entered is already associated with a registered account. Please try again with a different email address or click “Reset My Password” for account recovery.”

Slowly, Yunho moves his mouse to select “Reset My Password”.

A notification pops up with a jovial ding, alerting him to a new arrival in his mailbox.

Huh.

Step by step, Yunho mechanically fills out the fields required to recover his (supposedly existing) account. His fingers are steady when he logs in to the game, with his email and the temporary password provided.

They do falter, however, when instead of the town square beginners are supposed to land in upon registration, he’s instead greeted by a towering mansion surrounded by lush, sprawling farmland. From his vantage point, he can even see the blurry, pixelated hints of a massive expanse of a lake in the distance, glittering golden tangerine under the artificial evening light.  

And there are cows.

So, so many cows.

One cow in particular rushes over to his character, which starts making a bumpy journey down the paved wooden path as the bovine knocks her baby pink snout across the fence against the avatar idling in stunned stillness. Despite not ever having played the game before, Yunho reflexively regains control of the character to step away from the cow. When he hovers over the animal, a tag pops up to show her name—Mumu—and a heart next to it. 

Whatever that is supposed to indicate, Yunho has no idea.

For the next couple of minutes, Yunho wanders around the estate he somehow found himself in upon launch. It’s gorgeous, evidently built with care, attention and a lot, a lot of time. It all seemed thoughtfully deliberate, the landscaping, the architecture, even the mechanical systems- heck, even every pixelated blade of grass seemed intentionally positioned where they were. When looking up the game, he knew that the developers had strongly prided themselves on their ability to provide their players with the best life simulation gameplay available on the market but even this was beyond Yunho’s expectations. 

It felt like someone had carved a life for themselves within the game’s universe, a pocket of repose tucked safely away from the hustle and bustle of reality, and the beauty and tranquility of it all left Yunho in a trance.

Whoever this belonged to must truly, truly love the game. 

Maybe that was why it took him so long to register the incessant pinging from the in-game chat. A minimized chat window had been pulsing every couple seconds with an incoming message, and Yunho decides to open it if only to see if there was some chance of figuring out what the hell was going on.

princessminmin

04-01-2022, 21:12

> yuyu ?
> …
> is it really u ?
> yuyu
> why are you just walking arnd tf
> ???
> …have u been hacked
> omg
> no
> i didn’t solo farm for 4 years straight for 
a HACKER to fuck all this up
> HELLO HACKER
> GET OUT OF THIS ACCOUNT 
> DON’T THINK I WON’T REPORT U
> HELLO

> omg
> pls calm down
> pls
> uh
> hi
> sorry
> im not a hacker
> promise

> …
> u’re not yuyu
> who are u

> uhm
> sorry im just really confused
> my names yunho, but
> uhm how do i explain this
> i managed to log into this account 
with my email but
> i have no memory of ever playing
> this game?

> u don’t rmb this game
> at all ?

> yes sorry
> so uhm
> if u dont mind me asking
> who are you?

princessminmin (Husband ❤️) has logged out.

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

Wait, what the fuck?

…

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

princessminmin

08-11-2015, 22:43

> tf ???!!!??
> that was my cow ???
> hello ?????
> DON’T IGNORE ME COW-STEALER
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> oh shit my b
> i didnt c u

> oh

> shit im rly sry
> uhm i cld trf u the cow?

> i don’t think u can…

> yea shit ure right i just checked
> im rly sry D:

> my cow… 😭😭😭😣😣😭😭😣

> ok uk wat
> how bout i help u look for another cow

> really ??//??? 

> ya

> but they’re so rare 🙁 and there’s so many spawn points
> i can’t stay up for much longer… 🙁

> its ok i can look myself
> dw bout it

> omg
> ok,,, if u say so 😣😣😣
> tysm !!!! it’s alright if u can’t find one
either,,, i’m sure i’ll find another daisy
cow at some point

> its all g 
> i need to make this up to u somehow

> u’re not that bad after all
> for a cow-stealer that is 😄

> ;D

09-11-2015, 05:21

> i found ur cow
> guarding it rn
> come claim whenever >:)

…

seven clowns in this madhouse

04-01-2022, 23:11

yunou._.u
so like 
i cant get married to u @starhwa

wooYO!!
???????
WHOS GETTING MARRIED TO WHO NOW

gummybearbby
who tf changed my handle AGAIN
show yourself
@sann:3e i know it was you SAN ADMIT IT

sann:3e
that's SAN-HYUNG to you
NO BUT WHY’S SEONGHWA-HYUNG GETTING MARRIED TO YUNNIE
@no1likeme STAND UP???? 🧍🧍🧍🧍

wooYO!!
@no1likeme GET UR MANS HYUNG

no1likeme
why is everyone so noisy my god
oh
oh yeah i already knew
but i don’t appreciate u ditching my lover like this @yunou._.u

starhwa
D: 
Why, Yuyu?

yunou._.u
Screenshots attached.

no1likeme
wow

starhwa
Oh my.

sann:3e
holy shit

gummybearbby
^ what he said

hehetmon’s god
+1

wooYO!!
not sangie lurking 😭😭
but damn yuyu
u been hiding a whole ass family from us??????

…

sannie😽

05-01-2022, 00:09

yunnie!!
hey
yunnie 
😾😾😾😾
don’t ignore me!!!
yunnie 😿

oh sannie
sry
didnt see ur msgs my b

oh
really? you’re not lying right?

no no im srs
was caught up w/ hw
wats up

hm ok
uh 
it’s about the ss you sent the other chat
are you ok?

huh
yea ig so?
why wldnt i be

UH NO REASON 
as long as you’re ok!!
😸😸😸😸

…
uk u have a tell right sannie

A TELL??? FOR WHAT

…lying

NO I DON’T

…ok 
if u say so
no but rly
im ok

ok ok i’m not going to push you on this
it’s just
we’re all worried for you
we all thought the worst was over, you know?

yea ik
im thankful
but im fine
rly
:) 

ok 
but remember
if you ever start feeling down
you can always come to us
alright!!!!

msg received sannie :)

😊
love you yunnie ❤️

love u sannie ❤️
thank u :)

…

princessminmin

20-11-2015, 17:04

> i finished the quest !!!! 
> omg it took SO LONG 
> but i got the sword now 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

> congrats!!!!
> welcome to the club >:)

> watch ur tone cow-stealer 😠😤 i wld
have gotten the sword earlier if u hadn’t taken my daisy cow
> i still can’t believe u stayed up the whole night 
looking for another one 😭😭😭
> i told u it was alright,,,

> and like i told u
> dw about it
> i owe u a cow, i find u a cow >:D

> still…
> 😣😣😣
> do u need any materials ??? domains to clear ??

> haha
> dont stress over it, rly
> tho

> YES
> WHAT DO U NEED
> PLS

> 😂
> since u brought it up
> i do need to clear ToF w/ a mage class

> ??????
> no f way
> who goes to tof willingly 
> WAIT

> 😂😂😂

> WAIT
> IS THIS FOR THE ARBITERS AMULET

> yea

> noooooooooooo 😭😭😭 ure crazy
> the clear condition is insane 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

> haha 😂😂
> u asked
> but srsly
> u dont have to do it if udw to

> no no it’s just…
> what if i just drag u down 🙁

> ive seen ur stats
> ure gd
> like, actually gd
> nbd nearly catches a daisy cow w/o skill

> “nearly” 😠

> 😂😂😂

> 😣
> ok
> ok !!!! i’ll do it 😤😤😤😤 
> u gotta protect me tho 😤😤😤

> haha 
> ok ok ill protect u
> anything for the princess :D

…

princessminmin doesn’t log in for the next few days. Yunho spends them familiarising (refamiliarising?) himself with the controls and the gameplay. At Seonghwa’s suggestion, he also started reviewing the chat logs to see if he could glean any insight on the history he may have had with the other player. 

From what he had managed to read, it was pretty obvious that he and princessminmin, whoever he may be, are friends. Or were friends , Yunho supposes, a mental correction that calls forth a complicated mix of emotions that he doesn’t like to dwell long on. The other player had first contacted him not long after Yunho had created his account back when he was 18. Their first interactions hadn’t been under the best circumstances—Yunho winces at the knowledge that he had stolen another player’s loot—but it seemed like they had gotten over those initial unpleasantries easily enough, becoming friendly enough to run domains together and even build a house and farm together after getting, uh, well.

Married.

It was also obvious that princessminmin had been diligently maintaining their home base throughout—and in spite of—Yunho’s absence. For the past four years, at least, based on the frantic messages the other player fired when he first saw Yunho’s avatar loiter suspiciously around the estate. Looking at the state of their shared inventory, princessminmin had also been kept extremely and painstakingly busy to ensure that Yunho’s equipment were well-maintained and upgraded according to the latest meta. 

Yunho may not know the specific mechanics of this MMORPG, but he’s familiar enough with games in general to know that grinding for a character that wasn’t your own class wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.

Yunho’s still not sure what to feel about the whole gaping-void-in-his-memory-re-this-game and he’s-apparently-had-a-gaming-husband-for-four-years aspects of his recent discovery, but he’s self-aware enough to feel somewhat bad that the other player had been tanking all the progress all these years. So he finds himself working even harder to pick up the controls faster, and beginning to farm some of the materials he’s noticed to be comparatively depleted in stock. Perhaps it’s because it’s not actually his first time playing this game, but it was more than easy for him to get back into the groove of the grind. 

Every single day, Yunho logs in, reads some chats, and farms some mats. 

It’s on the 5th iteration of this new daily routine when he sees the in-game notification he’s been waiting oh-so desperately for finally pop up on screen.

princessminmin (Husband ❤️) has logged in.

The other player’s avatar materialises next to him, barely taking one step before freezing on the spot when he notices Yunho’s own character running tiny circles around him.

princessminmin

09-01-2022, 20:02

> oh! hi!!!

For a fleeting, depressing, heart-sinking moment, Yunho thinks that princessminmin might just vanish on him again. His heart soars when he receives a cheerful ‘ping!’.

> hello

> !!!!
> i’ve been farming
> doing some upgrades
> do they look ok, princess?

princessminmin teleports away to check on their shared inventory. Yunho nibbles at his bottom lip, his fingers tapping relentlessly against his mouse as he waits for a reply, any reply. 

> yeah
> everything looks good
> uhm
> thanks

> great!! :D

Yunho doesn’t get another response after that, but he can see the other player’s avatar making his rounds around the farm, harvesting crops and replacing the hoppers with seeds for the new season. The movements are brisk, efficient, like the other player was working on auto-pilot without need to think twice of his next step. 

He decides to get out of princessminmin’s way, instead heading to the pastures to feed the animals. As the two characters meander around the expansive estate, working on their respective tasks, a swathe of serenity descends upon them. Fragile, and likely easily disturbed, but Yunho feels himself slowly lulled into a comforting sense of calmness as the minutes tick by. 

But, like he said—fragile.

The placidity lasts for half an hour. Yunho startles at the sudden ping when he gets a message from princessminmin.

princessminmin

09-01-2022, 20:40

> uhm
> why are u doing this

> ?
> wdym

> i saw inv
> u must’ve been farming almost every day

> oh!! that
> eh
> no particular reason ig
> i just thought
> since ik i hv an acc now
> i shld contribute? doesnt seem fair to
let u farm everything urself 
> thx for maintaining my stuff too, princess :)

> …
> dont call me that

> oh

> please
> sorry 
> i didn’t mean to sound rude

> no no dont be!!!
> i shld be the one saying sorry
> its just
> i read thru our chat logs
> seems like i used to call u that a lot
> uhm what should i call u then

> …minmin is fine
> u read the chats

> yea
> some of them at least
> thr were a lot
> seems like we were close???

It takes a long while before Yunho receives a reply. 

> yeah
> yuyu and i were 

‘yuyu and i'. The reminder that there was a massive, yawning chasm where Yunho’s memories should be hurt more than he expected it to.

> im sorry i dont rmb anything

Yunho somehow feels compelled to explain himself to the other player, even though he’s never hated anything more than talking about—

> i got into a car accident a few years ago

> a car accident? 
> are u okay now? how bad was it?

A small smile quirks at Yunho’s lips. 

> yea im fine now!!
> i think it made the news actually lol

> …that sounds like it was really bad
> are u sure u’re fine?

As a knee-jerk reaction, one cultivated from hearing the same cursory, perfunctory, uncaring question time after time after the accident, Yunho types ‘dw im good now haha’.

But his finger stills just before it lands on the ‘Enter’ key. 

Was he fine?

Yunho always thought that he had since long recovered from the car accident, long moved on from the excruciating experience of feeling your own life drain from your body, long made peace with the knowledge that he would live the rest of his life with an incomplete mind.

But perhaps he’s wrong. Maybe he’s lost more than he originally thought he did, and the evidence was currently staring at him right in the face. Maybe he hasn’t moved on, after all, because he hadn’t even known that he had to move on from this.  

Yunho deletes the message. 

> i lost like a good chunk of my memories 
according to the doctors
> brain dmg
> ig this was a part of them

> oh

> im sorry

> no
> don;t be
> please
> it doesn’t matter
> as long as u’re alright now

There are a couple seconds where the deluge of messages stop flooding in, when Yunho can see princessminmin typing, then stopping, before typing again, then stopping again.

> 🙂

The emoji is small on the screen, and hardly any exciting, but the cute yellow pixels still send the tiniest flutter through Yunho’s heart.

> thx, minmin

Abruptly, the other player’s avatar, having been idle during the course of their conversation, lights up as princessminmin prepares to teleport away. Yunho’s struck by a sudden bolt of panic, and his fingers fly over the keyboard as he hastily sends princessminmin a streak of messages.

> wld u like to run any domains
> since im ehre
> we can farm for thoes tht nede coop now

The avatar dulls as princessminmin cancels the teleport. Yunho breathes a sigh of relief. 

> uhm
> yea ok actually
> the amber lights need to be replaced soon
> go take a look at the guides for rol
> i’ll wait for u there

> ok!!! brb

A wide grin pulls at Yunho’s cheeks as he pulls up a separate window to look up the guides princessminmin suggested. He doesn’t know why, but he really doesn’t want his time with the other player to end. If getting his ass kicked in a domain is what it’ll take to convince princessminmin to continue playing with him, then Yunho was more than willing to be a lamb ready for the slaughter. 

princessminmin

09-01-2022, 23:23

> holy shit ure so gd
> u made urself sound like a scrub

> ?
> when did i call myself a scrub ?

> oh i mean
> in past chats

Yunho groans into his hand, peeking apprehensively at the screen through his fingers. Earlier, princessminmin hadn’t seem too impressed with the idea that Yunho has been looking through their chat history. Why did he have to slip up?

Stupid, stupid Yunho.

> oh
> i kinda had to get good, i guess
> since

Since you left me, is left unsent. Yunho palms at his face with another groan.

> uhm
> can i ask u a question?

> anything!!!!!

> ur car accident
> when did it happen?
> u dont haev to ans if udw ot
> have* to*

It’s adorable how princessminmin’s panic could be so apparent even over text, obviously afraid that the topic would upset Yunho. 

How adorably considerate.

> oh nah its chill
> 22 aug 2017
> i rmb bc it was like
> my 2nd day ever after moving to seoul??
> seoul hates me >:(

> u thr, minmin?

> oh
> oh soryr
> sorry
> got distarcted 
> thinking hwo to fix teh amber lights
> sry i gtg 
> a friend’s asknig me to run a domain
> bye
> thx for tdy

Before Yunho could even finish reading the slew of messages, princessminmin had already teleported away. 

It’s funny that the other player even tried an excuse, because as princessminmin’s husband, Yunho had access to some of his information.

Including his friends list—which was completely empty sans Yunho. 

…

princessminmin

10-01-2022, 03:11

This message has been recalled. 

…

princessminmin seemed more friendly after that night, despite how awkwardly he had escaped Yunho towards the tail end of the conversation. It’s crystal clear that the other player was still somewhat uncomfortable, their relationship bordering on almost professional but Yunho counts every tiny blessing with reverence—the other player no longer bolted like a spooked deer if he chanced upon Yunho roaming around the estate, and was more willing to engage in banal small talk if Yunho initiated a chat. 

The night princessminmin requests his help in clearing a domain unprompted, Yunho nearly breaks his chair falling out of it.

Yunho has never had more fun gaming than with the other player. Seonghwa had been downright jealous after finding out exactly who his in-game husband was—the reigning 2nd-ranked mage-class, according to the server’s leaderboards. The only reason why princessminmin didn’t lead the ranking after sinking so many years into the game was because the player often spent the hefty majority of his time and materials tending to his animals and crops, instead of upgrading his equipment. 

Ah, a tiny mistake—he only didn’t upgrade his own equipment. The same couldn’t be said for yunou._.u’s equipment. 

Owing to princessminmin’s tireless efforts, Yunho had somehow managed to retain a respectable ranking on most of the leaderboards, stats-wise at least. So these days, he spends his time getting used to the game’s PvP mechanics, determined to regain his dominion after princessminmin had commented offhandedly that he used to decimate the competition before he stopped logging in.

Yunho was competitive, if nothing else. Knowing that he had once dominated the game only served to further flare the embers of the fiery spirit that perpetually burned within him.

He alters his routine, just the tiniest bit.

Every single day, Yunho logs in, reads some chats, farms some mats, and kicks some ass. 

This server has had it easy for far too long.

As a result, he ends up spending hours and hours in-game. Sometimes, princessminmin is already online when he logs in. Others, he patiently waits for princessminmin to log in. 

At some point, it seemed like princessminmin was finally convinced that Yunho wasn’t going to pull another disappearing act on him, for Yunho started picking up tiny, miniscule signs that the frigid ice the other player cloaked himself in like a steely shield was finally starting to thaw, the other player's true personality gradually revealing itself like the peek of daybreak over the horizon. This new state of back-and-forth is a tentatively established one, sure, but it still made Yunho feel warm and fuzzy all over. 

princessminmin still isn’t as sassy or peppy or bouncy as he sounded in the old chat logs, bubbly like a bottle of sparkling soda on a sizzling summer day, but the other player feels less guarded, more bold, easily firing back witty retorts of his own in the face of Yunho’s teasing banter. 

And somehow, even if the joke is at his expense, Yunho finds that he still leaves the exchange feeling like he’s won something in return. 

Compared to the games Yunho normally plays, the MMORPG was far more slow-paced, which allowed ample time for the two players to chat while mining for ores or chasing a wild animal to tame. It didn’t take long for Yunho to find out that the other player was very serious about farming and landscaping, and would get mildly upset when Yunho screwed up—such as when he misjudged the positioning of a newly-planted tree, or when he nearly starved one of their sheep to death, or when he—

Yeah, you get the point.

There were never any harsh words, hardly a rebuke if even that, but Yunho could just feel the miffed pout emanating from his screen as princessminmin worked in silence to rectify his mistakes, measuredly ignoring Yunho flitting around him in nervousness. 

It wasn’t an aspect of gaming that Yunho typically paid attention to, but he found the experience surprisingly fun this time round, and was more than eager to learn the other player’s preferences if only to avoid making another mistake.

(Perhaps it spoke volumes of his companion, rather than the game itself.)

princessminmin is very cute, Yunho also quickly finds out, though he thinks that the realisation had likely been brewing in the back of his mind from the very first message he received from the other player. 

Perhaps it is his mannerisms, the way he inundates his speech with those stupidly-charming emojis to fully convey his sass and sentiment, or perhaps it is the cool and composed fashion in which he lords over the other players in the traders’ market, or perhaps it is his single-minded devotion to the lofty goal of raising as many cows as allowed by the game. Whatever it may be, there is something so endearing about whatever the other player did that stirred Yunho’s protective instincts, even though he knows full well the other player could definitely hold his own. 

Everything he did was just, well, cute.

princessminmin (Husband ❤️) has logged in.

princessminmin

23-01-2022, 12:05

> aftn minmin!! :D

> hello yunho 🙂
> u’re here early

> yea i finished all ym sch work ytd so
> thought id get started on the well
> the loc is correct right

> yeah 
> thanks 🙂
> u’re such a nerd lol

> hehe
> sch is boring 😭😭😭
>  u understand right minmin D: 

> law, right?

> yes!!!!
> oh right were the same age
> are u in uni too/???

> yeah
> math

> omg math
> i cld never

> i know
> it’s alright i guess

Yunho’s not sure if he should draw notice to the implied history veiled by princessminmin’s words.

He chooses to ignore it, in the end.

> i bet ure so smart minmin

> one of us has to be good at counting
> did u forget what happened with the wood 😒

> I SAID IM SORRY 😭😭😭

> 😒😒😒😒

> ILL GO BACK TO FARMING NOW 😭😭😭

> 🙂

It’s moments like these that Yunho look forward to the most—when princessminmin brings the walls that protect his wounded heart fully down for a fleeting instance and allows Yunho to catch a glimpse of what their friendship must’ve been like all those years ago. 

There’s no other way of putting it—Yunho’s obsessed. It’s always been in his nature to fixate—it’s how he clawed his way into law school, it’s how he climbed the ranks of Valorant, it’s how he cleared his competition in any domain he set his eyes on. The other player is probably clueless, but he has Yunho enthralled, bewitched, besotted, whatever under his spell. The most laughable thing was—there was no spell, was there?

princessminmin is just so… sincere, hopelessly kind, bordering self-sacrificingly so. The proof of it laid right there, in the sprawling mansion, in the flourishing crops, in the gleaming equipment. 

Yunho still has no memory of the other player but he can understand how they became so close. 

He yearns to be that close again, one day. 

Until that day arrives, all he can do is keep playing.

…

yunou._.u

14-02-2016, 15:13

> check ur inv
> shld hv 200 birchwood, 400 steel

> yuyu
> it’s vday…

> ????
> and
> is there some event

> wow

> ??????

> nvm
> u really like this game huh

> hm
> the games ok ig i dont usu play mmorpgs
> playing with u is fun tho 😂 

> oh
> uhm
> what games do u usually play then

> hm
> fps? LoL sometimes
> mainly this these days tho
> didnt expect so much farming for a house

> oh
> i guess it’s true most guys play fps and moba…

> ?

> it’s nothing 🙂
> thanks for the mats yuyu it’s in inv
> i can start my house now

> hey
> is sth wrong?
> u dont have to tell me if u dont want to
> but im here if u want to talk to sbd

> do u think i’m weird yuyu

> ?????????
> who said that????
> ?????????

> i confessed to my crush today
> he called me weird haha 
> ig he’s not wrong
> what kinda guy plays a mmorpg just to
plant veggies and raise sheep
> too scared to solo domains
> names himself princess haha

> dont do that

> ?
> do what?

> hide ur pain
> dont laugh it away
> ure not weird
> hes the weird one
> playing fps or moba doesnt make him more of a man
> neither does farming and animal rearing make u less of one
> theres no right or wrong way to play games

> yuyu…

> and if u want to be a princess then so be it
> ill carry u thru the domains
> its what a knight does anyway >:D

> 😭😭
> 😭😭😭😭😭
> 😭😭😭😭😭😭

> 😂
> ur crush is an idiot

> ex-crush* 😭

> 😂
> give me his ign
> ill destroy his ass if i see him in other games >:)

> stop 😭😭😭
> ure such a nerd 😭

14-02-2016, 20:22

> hey yuyu
> thank you for today
> and for everything
This message has been recalled.
> 😊

…

Tonight, Yunho dreams.

It’s not the first time he’s dreamt of the accident—they had been a constant feature of nightmares that plagued him right after the crash, more than one sleepless night huddled together under blankets on Seonghwa and Hongjoong’s couch, shaking and sobbing over tubs of ice cream and cheesy Disney films. 

They’re harrowing—in those twisted dreamscapes, he’s trapped with the scorching burn of asphalt scraping against the back of his knees, the sickening syrupy warmth of blood pooling under his head, the agonizing feeling of playing spectator to his motionless body, helpless even as the chill of death sank into and under his skin. 

They’re harrowing, and Yunho usually wakes up drenched in cold sweat, ice-cold fear coursing through his veins, his heart racing frantically as though trying to assure him that he’s still breathing, he’s still alive.

It’s different tonight.

Tonight, Yunho wakes up with grief weighing heavy on his chest, grief so acute, so profound, so overwhelmingly all-encompassing he can’t do anything but sit up in his bed, gaze drifting to stare vacantly at the wall.

For the first time in his life, Yunho hates.

He hates the errant driver that knocked him over, who sent him flying with careless speed and even more careless thoughts. 

He hates the unfeeling doctors that diagnosed his brain damage, who informed him of the severe memory loss that would likely follow him all his life with scarcely any trace of sympathy, ever so detached and glacial in their duty. 

He doesn’t hate his friends, though—he would never, could never—not when San’s the one who had cradled him, a complete stranger, in his arms, uncaring of the blood that stained his expensive polo shirt crimson red, and cried as he administered CPR to keep Yunho’s heart pumping and lifeblood flowing. Not when they’re the ones who had so generously taken him into their fold when he woke up to sterility and apathy, alone in a crowded city he had just moved to. Not when they’re the ones who nursed him back to health, held his hand to every single appointment and taught him how to breathe again. 

But he does hate himself. He hates himself most of all, the fool who doesn’t remember, can’t remember, probably won’t ever remember. He’s suddenly hit with a sense of loss so crushing it feels like a punch straight to the gut, a sense of loss so poignant, so vitriolic, so devastating it cuts to his very soul— 

Yunho cries. 

The funny thing is—

Yunho doesn’t even know what he’s crying over.

It’s as though he’s stuck in a never-ending chase, forever racing after a ghost of an entity that escapes Yunho’s grasp every time he thinks he’s gotten enough reach to curl his hand around it, only to have it slip right through his fingertips again.

At the end of it all, Yunho’s left behind with only faded remnants that leave a mockery of a kiss against the tips of his fingers.

Yunho’s left behind to grieve, alone. 

He doesn’t know what’s sadder—the fact that he’s lost so much—

Or the fact that he doesn’t even remember what he’s even lost.

How does your heart beat for somebody it doesn’t remember?

How can your heart break for somebody it doesn’t even know?

He doesn't know.

So Yunho sits, and stares, and silently weeps, until the morning light streams through his blinds.

…

“this family is a NIGHTMARE” - hj

26-01-2022, 04:07

wooYO!!
am i the only one who wants an update about yuyu’s hubby?
@yunou._.u @yunou._.u @yunou._.u @yunou._.u
!!!!!

hehetmon’s god
wooyoung
its 4am bitches are trying to sleep 
im bitches
so with zero respect
shut the fuck up
pls 😄

26-01-2022, 09:05

sann:3e
damn sangie popped off

wooYO!!
JAGI 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

sann:3e
sorry babe
u kinda deserved it ngl

wooYO!!
SANNIE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

starhwa
…why were you up at 4am, Youngie?

wooYO!!
i wasnt actually i just owke up in the middle of the night
thinking of yuyu’s family
WHICH HES HIDING FROM US @yunou._.u @yunou._.u @yunou._.u

yunou._.u
wtf woo
im not hiding anything

wooYO!!
THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEGEND
SPILL THE TEA
HAVE U TALKED TO THIS “PRINCESSMINMIN”

no1likeme
who tf is spamming at 9am
…why am i not surprised 

starhwa
Good morning 😊❤️‍ 

no1likeme
morning, hwa ❤️‍

imfinalhoE
ew my parents flirting 🤮
WTF
WHO CHANGED MY HANDLE
SAN

sann:3e
???? IT’S NOT ME THIS TIME
FR
OMG I’M CATCHING STRAYS 😭😭😭

wooYO!!
EVERYONE SHUT UP
@yunou._.u @yunou._.u @yunou._.u
SO WHOS HE
WHOS UR BEAU

imfinalhoE
‘beau’ 💀

yunou._.u
…fine
yes weve talked
no hes not my ‘beau’
idk his name but hes our age and hes studying math in uni

wooYO!!
ew math
my roomie takes math 

yunou._.u
AND hes a better gamer than u
😛

wooYO!!
WHAT
SLANDER
I DEMAND A DUEL

no1likeme
u dont even have an acc wooyoung 💀

wooYO!!
ILL CREATE ONE
TELL UR HUBBY TO WATCH OUT @yunou._.u @yunou._.u @yunou._.u
🤺🤺🤺🤺🤺🤺

yunou._.u
fucking fight me
ill beat ur ass before u can even try

sann:3e
👀

imfinalhoE
👀

wooYO!!
👀

yunou._.u
what

starhwa
Alright, everybody take a step back.
@wooYO!! Stop teasing Yuyu.
And @yunou._.u, calm down. Nobody’s fighting anybody today, okay?

no1likeme
listen to hwa, kids

starhwa
❤️‍ 

no1likeme
❤️‍

imfinalhoE
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

hehetmon’s god
hongjoong-hyung’s right
this family IS a fucking nightmare

…

princessminmin (Husband ❤️) has logged in.

princessminmin

01-02-2022, 21:45

> !!!!!
> MINMIN

> yes yes hello 

> THE NEW QUEST!!!

> u know
> for somebody who didn’t even know they had an acc
until like a month ago
> u’re sure invested in this game 😒

> haha im just competitive

> 😒

> SO
> CAN WE DO IT TONIGHT
> !!!!!!

> ok ok
> where does it start again ?

Yunho’s face lights up with a smile, unbeknownst to himself, dropping a location pin for the other player to teleport to. No matter how snarky princessminmin might seem in his replies, the other player was always so indulgent to Yunho, always a more-than-willing participant in his many, many schemes.

(Privately, though, Yunho thinks that the other man likes chaos just as much—he just didn’t want to admit it.) 

> hm
> looks kinda hard ngl
> ur armor better be worth it 😒

> !!!! thx minmin
> actually

Yunho doesn’t type anything for a long time after that, fingers hesitating over his keys as his teeth worry at his bottom lip in a nervous habit that he just could never shake. 

> ?
> u there ?

> wld u be open to voice chat?
> nw if ure not comfy w/ it!!
> just thought itd be easier for comms
> instead of typng
> actully
> jst ignore whta isaid
> typng si fine

> lmao
> chill yuyu
> uhm

Every second that ticks by feels tantamount to torture. Sweat beads at the back of Yunho’s neck, his hands clammy despite the AC blowing right at him at full blast.

> ok

Yunho barely has the chance to read, much less register, the message when—

Ring ring ring!~ Ring ring ring!~ Ring ring—

He picks up.

Complete silence cascades upon the line, blood roaring in Yunho’s ears as he waits with bated breath, before-

“Hello?” a voice asks quietly.

Something settles within Yunho.

“Hi!” Yunho’s voice cracks as he somehow manages to choke on his own saliva within the span of a singular syllable, ears fiery red as he prays his gratitude to every deity out there that he was not on a video call. “I mean, hi. Hello. I’m Yunho—shit, you already knew that, what am I saying—”

princessminmin giggles, honest-to-god giggles, and the small chime of laughter is so endearing it elicits a chuckle from Yunho himself.

“Hi Yunho, ah—I should probably introduce myself,” princessminmin says, low, dulcet tones trickling softly over the comms. His voice is deep, so much deeper than Yunho expected but he thinks it suits the other player somehow. 

“I’m Mingi.”

Mingi.

“Hello, Mingi.” The name rolls smoothly off Yunho’s tongue. The other player hums quietly, his avatar moving on the screen to rendezvous with Yunho’s in front of the quest-giving NPC.

“So, where do we start—oh wait, sorry, it’s my roommate—just hold on—“

There’s some stifled rustling as princessminmin—Mingi responds to the other voice that filters faintly through Yunho’s headset. It nibbles at the back of his mind, but Yunho is quickly distracted when he hears the other man put his headset back on.

“Sorry about that.”

“No, no, it’s alright,” Yunho reassures. “Is everything good?”

“Yep,” Mingi confirms, voice slightly raspy, and the sudden dip in tone makes Yunho just a tad dizzy. “Let’s start.”

It doesn’t take long for them to complete the quest—in fact, they set a server-wide record for the domain’s fastest clear. By the end of the night, Yunho was the proud owner of a new set of armor, which he is quick to equip.

“Looks good,” Mingi compliments, as Yunho directs his character into a twirl to show off the new equipment. 

High off their success, Yunho bursts into a bout of cackles. “Seonghwa-hyung’s going to be so jealous!”

“Seonghwa-hyung?”

“Oh, yeah, he’s the one that made me download the game,” Yunho explains, “He originally wanted to become partners with me, but then I found out that I was already registered and well. Yeah.”

Yunho trails off awkwardly.

“Oh,” Mingi sounds absolutely tiny when he finally asks, “Uhm. Is he, uhm, mad?”

Yunho raises his brows incredulously, “Mad? Why would hyung be mad?”

Mingi somehow sounds even smaller now, and Yunho is forced to crank the volume up to its highest possible settings to capture any semblance of the incoming audio. “He wanted to get married to you, right? In-game. But you-you’re already. You know. To me.”

“Oh!” Yunho laughs, the other player making a small sound of worry at his flippancy, “Don’t worry about it. He’s not mad. Actually…” Yunho’s voice drops into a conspirational whisper. “He’s kinda jealous. Of me.”

“Of you?” The twang of confusion is palpable.

“You’re the 2nd-ranked mage class in the whole server, minmin. Hyung was just about to rob me of this account if I didn’t pick it back up. But too bad for him, I’m never letting you go.”

“You’re my partner after all. The best partner.”

For the longest time, Yunho only hears silence. If not for the timer steadily ticking away on his screen, he would’ve thought the call had been dropped. When Mingi speaks again, there is an unmistakable wisp of wistfulness that coats his words.

“Yeah. You’re my best partner too, yuyu.”

…

princessminmin

04-12-2016, 14:47

> OMG
> YUYU
> CHECK DEV BOARD

> ????
> omg
> YES
> FUCK YES
> FUCKING FINALLY

> 😂😂😂😂😂
> calm down omg
> u’re acting like they just announced free 5* weapon
for everyone and not marriage system

> ITS FREE EXP AND MONEY MINMIN
> AND EXCLUSIVES
> = FREE 5* SHIT
> ITS THE SAME 

> 😂😂😂😂😂

> THERES EXCLUSIVE COWS TOO

> yes !!!!
> i’m so excited 🤩🤩🤩
> they both look so cute in the previews
> can’t wait to bring them back to our house !!!
> i already got their nametags ready
> nini and mumu 

> cute
> isnt it funny
> we met bc i stole ur cow
> and now were getting cows

> 👀

> ????

> ‘we’?
> getting kinda presumptuous, aren’t we?

> pls dont use big words in game minmin
> i came here to relax
> BUT WDYM
> U DONT EVEN HAVE ANY OTHER FRIENDS TO MARRY

> uhm
> RUDE
> that’s irrelevant 😤😤😤

> OK OK
> what do u want, my precious princess minmin?
> i have wood i have jewels i have ores
> ok nvm just checked im running low on ores again

> ????
> we just farmed for 6h on thursday ????

> think i used them to upgrade the irrigation sys
> or maybe the toilet idk

> …
> i’ll overlook it just this once since it was for the house
> but no 😤😤😤 none of those 😤😤😤
> use ur big brain yuyu

> pls
> my brain is tiny compared to urs minmin
> u know that
> oh
> ok
> i think i know
> BET

> 😨
> what is that supposed to mean ??

> >:D

> YUYU
> HELLO ?????

25-12-2016, 20:34

> I HATE YOU OMG
> I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT
> IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING 😭😭😭

> its what u wanted, right?
> told u i knew >:D

> NOT LIKE THAT 😭😭😭
> EVERYONE SAW
> I SAW SOMEONE IN WORLD CHAT SAY THAT
THEY WERE RECORDING 

> only the best for my princess minmin 😤

> 😭😭😭😭😭

> so

> what 😭😭😭😭

> u didnt answer
> at town square

> oh

> ya u ran
> 😢

> i do !!!!
> of course 😭😭😭😭

> !!!!!!
> YES
> HE SAID YES!!!!

> u’re so embarrassing 😂😂

> haha
> just for u

> 😊 thank u yuyu
> it was fun (still embarrassed tho)

> ure wlc
> like i said
> wtv u want
> ill get it for u :D

> 🥺
> merry christmas, my best partner ❤️

> merry christmas best partner ❤️

…

“They moved the Valentine’s event to 14th,” Yunho says, albeit distracted by the slime he was currently smacking for drops.

“I saw,” Mingi replies absent-mindedly, equally preoccupied by the diamond pig that kept eluding his capture. 

For a few seconds, only furious clicks could be heard over the voice call as both players focused on finishing up their tasks. Yunho checks his inventory, satisfied when he sees that all 1000 slime condensates have been collected.

“Pig tamed,” Mingi reports softly. 

“Nice. What are you naming this one?”

A contemplative hum trickles through Yunho’s headset as Mingi leans back into his chair. “Doodoo?”

“... Isn’t that slang for poop or something?”

“He was kinda annoying.”

Yunho chuckles. How cute. 

“So, are you still up for the event?”

There is slight rustling over the line before Mingi responds. “Huh—oh, yeah. I’m free. You?”

“Yep,” Yunho reclines against his armrest, popping the ‘p’ sharply, “No plans.”

“Really? You don’t have to reschedule if you do, you know, it’s just a game—”

Yunho cuts Mingi off, leaning forward with a cheeky smile, though he knows the other player can’t see it, “I’m single, minmin. Always have been. So don’t worry about it.”

“I’m all yours. For the event.”

“O-Oh,” the other player stutters, “Okay. If you say so.”

Yunho returns to their home to store all the slime collected, before moving on to empty the harvested crops from their silos. Mingi’s busy in town trading with (read: bullying) other players, based on the rapidly changing inventory levels and the aggressive clicking sounds from across the line. The trades (read: extortions) must be going well, because Mingi picks the conversation back up. 

“Do you already know what you want if we win the event?”

“When we win,” Yunho corrects absent-mindedly, earning himself a derisive snort from the other player for the brazen display of confidence, “but yeah. I was looking at the tiara, if you don’t mind.”

The clicking sounds pause as Mingi stills. “The tiara?”

“Mhm.”

“Why?” Mingi asks slowly. “The stats aren’t even good.”

“Promise not to scold me?”

“Yuyu.”

“Promise, first!”

“You’re acting like a child!”

“Promise, minmin!” Yunho whines shamelessly.

Mingi’s ensuing groan is muffled, like he’s pressing his face into his hands, but Yunho knows that it’s because he’s already won. As weak as Yunho is to Mingi, the leverage is reciprocal—Mingi was destined to lose the moment Yunho casted his dignity aside and employed aegyo. “Fine. I promise.”

It’s Yunho’s turn to bury his flushed cheeks in his hands, suddenly feeling a smidge embarrassed now that he had to admit his thoughts aloud.

“I thought it’d look cute on you—on your character, I mean. ”

“Yunho...”

“A tiara for a princess, okay! It just makes sense—”

“Yuyu.”

Yunho shuts his mouth. 

“Your reason is stupid.” Yunho’s lips part, indignant protests ready at the tip of his tongue. “Shut up.”

Yunho shuts his mouth, again. He fires an angry string of “!!!!!!!!!” in their chat instead.

Mingi heaves a sigh, “But okay. We’ll get the tiara if that’s what you want.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Yes!”

“... Besides, I think it looks pretty too.”

“I knew it!”

…

yunou._.u

15-02-2017, 19:36

> U READY TO KICK SOME ASS

> 😂😂😂😂
> check my equip?

> ok
> yep looks good
> these couples arent gonna stand A CHANCE 😤

> u better pray that i don’t choke

> nah
> ill destroy them even before they can even get close to u 😤
> u just sit there and look pretty
> and cover my dumb butt

> 😂😂😂😂
> ok ok

> just to make sure
> when we win were claiming the outfits for our prize right

> yea
> but are u sure 🥺
> i saw hg in the prize pool 
> isn’t that the current bis for ur class
> u can’t even craft it

> nah its fine
> HG is better but my current equips good too
> besides u rly like the skins so

> but

> i like them too
> i think the pink robes r gonna look v pretty on ur char

> …
> ok
> thanks yuyu ❤️

> ❤️

> how’s ur day been?

> boring
> until now
> i finished all my hw ytd so i didnt have anything to do tdy
> im such a good student 😜

> 😂😂😂
> what a nerd
> u didn’t have plans ytd?

> nah
> eh

> ?

> does farming upgrades for today count as plans

> …
> no

> then yea ig not
> u?
> u didnt confess to another idiot right…

> NO
> RUDE 😭😭

> 😂 thats good to hear

> 😭😭😭😭 
> uhm
> u don’t have to answer this if u don’t want to

> just ask, princess

> ok
> is there really nobody u would’ve
 wanted to spend ytd with?

> hm
> ig not
> havent rly thought about it
> i like gaming too much 😜

> u’re really such a nerd omg 😂

> no but srsly
> idk how to explain this 
> but like
> ive always had this
> feeling(?)
> that ive been waiting for sbd 
> and that ill know for sure when i see them
> if that makes sense
> idk
> feelings are hard 🙁

> mhm
> ok yeah i think i get what u mean

> 😆
> ure so smart minmin

> 😊
> thanks for answering, yuyu 
> i know it’s a personal qn 🥺

> np
> OH ITS TIME
> TIME TO KICK SOME ASS 😤😤😤 
SEE U IN THE ARENA MINMIN

> see u 😂😂 lets get it !!!
This message has been recalled.

...

star-hyung ⭐

13-02-2022, 14:09

Hey, Yuyu 😊
I heard from Youngie you’re not joining 99z tomorrow?
Are you feeling alright? You’re not sick, are you?

hi hyung!!!!
no!! i just have plans

😯
Since when did you have a boyfriend, Yuyu?
And why didn’t you tell me? 🙁

HUH
I DONT???
oh
oh ok yeah i see it

So you don’t have a boyfriend, then?

no hyung

But you have plans
?

yes hyung

Hm.
Ah.
Are you participating in the tournament event?
With princessminmin?

…yes hyung
pls dont tell the others 😭😭😭😭

Why not?

…its 99z
👿
^ this them

😂
There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Yuyu.
We all know how much you like gaming. 

…its not about that

Oh? Then what’s the issue, Yuyu?

idk
its confusing 

Hm.
I see.

???????
WHAT DO U MEAN ‘I see.’ 
WAT DO U SEE
HYUNG?????

🤭

omg hongjoong-hyung has corrupted u

Think about it, Yuyu.
Have fun on your date tomorrow! 😊

????? ITS NOT A DATE
HYUNG
fine!!!!!!
…
have fun on ur date w/ hongjoong-hyung tmr, hyung
❤️

❤️

…

“You’re insane, Yunho. Especially the last round, what the hell were you thinking?”

Yunho sticks his tongue out childishly at the screen, lamenting for the 1117th time that the game didn’t possess video call functionality. “We won in the end, didn’t we? Told you I’d protect you no matter what.”

“I had to solo the cleric at the end because you died! Dude resurrected himself like 10 times—I swear cleric is broken in this game—How can you even resurrect when you’re dead—”

“Don’t sell yourself so short, minmin,” Yunho’s eyes darken, tone uncharacteristically humourless as he cuts the other player off before Mingi could veer into a bout of self-deprecation. “You’re rank 2 for a reason.”

“Still—”

“It’s fine, it’s over, we won!” And just like that, the sombreness melts away. Yunho claps excitedly, directing his avatar to run circles around Mingi’s. “Equip the tiara now, minmin! Show me, show me!”

Mingi sighs, undoubtedly still hung up on their previous conversation, but nevertheless gives in to Yunho’s demands. The pixels on screen pulse for a split-second then shifts, Mingi’s character glowing before settling into a flurry of soft-hued pink and gauzy ivory, a glittering diamond tiara resting daintily atop his head.

“It’s pretty.” Mingi sounds satisfied.

Yunho smiles tenderly, settling his cheek against the palm of his hand as Mingi’s character twirls on screen, a delicate swirl of peaches and cream. 

“Y-It is.”

“Thanks for the gift, yuyu,” Mingi murmurs, in a sweet, mellow whisper that’s equally subdued.

The question escapes Yunho before he even registers exactly what he’s asking for.

“Shall we meet?”

It falls so silent that Yunho only hears his own breathing. 

Then, a shuddering breath.

Wrong—

A shuddering sob.

princessminmin (Husband ❤️) has logged out.

Fuck.

…

Mingi doesn’t come online for a while. 

Yunho has a new routine, these days. 

Every single day, Yunho logs in, reads some chats, farms some mats, and counts the days. 

He doesn’t have much time to engage in PvP anymore, not when he finds himself fully occupied just tending to the farm and house alone. There’s so many things to do, so many tasks to complete to ensure that the crops don’t wilt, the animals don’t starve, the gear doesn’t tear and the mansion doesn’t collapse into disrepair.

He feels so lonely, unused to the sheer lack of Mingi after having gotten used to the other player shadowing his every step. He’s taken the other’s company for granted, he realises at some point, likely around the 12th time he finds himself calling out to an empty room after successfully capturing a snowdrop cow, the latest exclusive for the winter season. The server’s chats are filled with congratulatory messages when the game announces his achievement, and Yunho thinks that maybe, just maybe, his heart would at least stir at the prospect of being able to flex on the other players.  

He feels nothing.

He feels as hollow as the halls of the mansion he finds himself roaming every waking moment. 

He feels as empty as the gaping hole that haunts his every move, the reminder of an absence that twists the knife in his heart further and deeper with each passing night. 

It doesn’t help that every single aspect of the game screams of Mingi, of princessminmin—the dandelions that took them more than three days and across the whole map to seed, the lights now refuelled with the amber they collected on their first domain run together, stupid Doodoo who chomps at his corn without a care that his owner might never return—

He’s angry, he’s sad, he’s restless, he knows he doesn’t has to continue playing this godforsaken MMORPG—he never played MMORPGs before this anyway—

But then he passes by the well, the first ever project that Mingi entrusted him with, the first sign of the ice thawing. His eyes linger on the armor his character is lined in, the first partner-exclusive quest they finished together, the first night he heard Mingi’s voice. He watches as Nini and Mumu bump their heads affectionately against him, finally, finally understanding why only these two cows do so—

And Yunho can’t bring himself to leave.

But he’s so lonely.

Yunho wonders if this is how Mingi lived for four whole years.

…

princessminmin

04-06-2017, 12:31

> SO ????
> WHAT DOES IT SAY ???
> YUYU

> OMG SLOW DOWN
> i havent opened it yet

> WHY
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> OPEN IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> im scared omg

> 🥺🥺🥺🥺
> u’ll get what u want yuyu 
> i believe in u

> thx princess
> ok OK
> here goes nth
> omg

> OMG 
> OMG ?

> YES
> FUCK YES
> IM GG TO SEOUL

> YES OMG !!!!!!!!! CONGRATS YUYU
> 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

> sry had to go tell my parents
> SEOUL
> !!!!!!

> no worries, of course !!! 
> i bet ur parents are so happy rn 🥺

> yea they r
> SEOUL!!!!!
> think my brain is fried rn tbh
> too happy
> haha 

> u deserve it, yuyu 🥺🥺 u’ve worked so hard

> thank u minmin
> idt i cldve done this if u didnt help me w/ school
> esp math
> idk how ur brain is so much bigger than 
 mine when were the same age

> 😂😂😂😂
> most of it was still u, yuyu
> be proud of urself !!!!

> HELL YEAH I AM

> 😂😂😂😂

> ure gg to seoul too right

> yes !!
> not snu tho
> ku

> hm
> ok theyre not too far apart
> an hour and a half

> ?

> i can make that work

> yuyu…

> princess
> shall we meet?

> …
> yes
> les’t
> let’s meet
> whne were both in soeul
> ❤️

> ok :)
> ❤️
This message has been recalled.

...

princessminmin

20-02-2022, 02:47

> hey
> i’m sorry i’ve been gone
> but
> let’s do it
> let’s meet

...

They decide on a cafe near Mingi’s university. The other tries to argue against the location, offering to travel half the distance between them but ultimately relents in the face of Yunho’s stubbornness to ensure that the younger not lift a single proverbial finger in this meet-up.

So that’s how Yunho ends up embarking on a one and a half hour journey across Seoul on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was thankfully cooperative, a perfect blend of balmy and breezy, and it isn’t long before Yunho finds himself walking down the street to the cafe they agreed on. His steps lighten with every stride he takes, his heartrate picking up for reasons unrelated to the jog he’s starting to break into as he nears his destination.

Turn right at the gym.

So close.

Cross the road when you see the entrance to the park.

He’s so close.

Continue straight along the left side of the road.

He’s so close.

Yunho’s suddenly hit by an odd sense of deja vu as he jogs down the sidewalk, even though he knows there has been no reason for him to ever be on this side of the city. As he turns the corner, his steps falter abruptly, his body seizing up into a standstill in the middle of the road, even before his mind could catch up to understand what he’s looking at.

Yunho’s so close—

To the junction where it happened. 

Where the accident happened.

“Watch out!”

Yunho startles, feeling himself getting pulled out of the way as a bicycle brushes past him. Profuse apologies spill from the cyclist’s lips, but Yunho barely registers them, not when his mind is fixated on something else entirely.

Something he had just heard.

Yunho turns to look behind him, his eyes settling on the other person's face. The broad arm wrapped securely around his waist relaxes, dropping to the side now that he is no longer actively in danger of getting knocked over by a stray vehicle. Yunho barely has to tilt his head to lock gazes with the other man. 

“Hey, you alright?”

The voice is deep, so much deeper than Yunho expected. 

Yunho’s heart soars.

He’s waited long enough.

“Mingi.”

The other man’s eyes widen behind his sunglasses, mouth parting wordlessly, somehow still looking unfairly suave despite his slack-jawed expression.

“Yunho? You—”

Yunho’s head pounds with the sudden onslaught of a headache, his legs giving out from under him. Vaguely, he hears Mingi let out a frantic yell, strong arms reaching out to pull him close before Yunho could collapse onto the concrete pavement. 

It hurts, it fucking hurts—

“Yuyu, fuck, what’s wrong? Shit, do I bring you to the hospital or—”

“Hey, princess.” Yunho smiles weakly, one hand reaching out to smooth the panic settling in between Mingi’s brows. It doesn’t help though, as the other continues to blabber senselessly. Anxious tears are already welling up in his eyes as Mingi reaches into one of his pockets to grab his phone.

Yunho’s heart yearns.

He’s waited long enough.

“You still like that café, huh?”

“What are you talking—”

Mingi stills. A complex amalgamation of emotions swirls turbulence in the deep recesses of his eyes as he stares, just stares at Yunho. Yunho doesn’t look away. 

“You remember?”

His voice is tiny and subdued. It's trembling.

In disbelief.

In fear.

In hope.

“I’m sorry I made you wait so long.”

Mingi’s bottom lip quivers, and anything he might have wanted to say breaks off into an aborted gasp as he presses the back of his hand against his face to stifle the heart wrenching whimper that viciously tears itself free from his chest. Yunho forcefully swallows the lump that's formed in his throat and blinks back the stinging in his eyes when he catches a glimpse of Mingi’s damp cheeks, teardrops glistening like diamonds under the afternoon sun. 

“Hey—”

Yunho stretches out a shaking hand to wipe at Mingi’s face, who instead rips his sunglasses off with a heated, teary glare, before shoving his head in the crook of Yunho’s neck. The other’s plaintive whine is muffled when he cries out against his skin. 

“Why do I always fall in love with idiots?” 

Yunho chuckles wetly, reaching up to cradle Mingi’s head, hands smoothing out the hair in gentle, repetitive motions. 

Yunho’s heart beats.

It’s a steady, comforting rhythm. Yunho’s never felt more content, more at peace, than right now. 

He feels... whole. 

“I remember now.”

Yunho had been right, in the end. He knew he’d be the moment he laid eyes on Mingi. 

After all, it was Mingi who he had been waiting for all his life.

Chapter Text

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

Chat request from princessminmin. Accept [C] / Ignore [G]?

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princessminmin

08-11-2015, 22:43

> tf ???!!!??
> that was my cow ???
> hello ?????
> DON’T IGNORE ME COW-STEALER
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> oh shit my b
> i didnt c u

> oh

> shit im rly sry
> uhm i cld trf u the cow?

> i don’t think u can…

> yea shit ure right i just checked
> im rly sry D:

> my cow… 😭😭😭😣😣😭😭😣

> ok uk wat
> how bout i help u look for another cow

> really ??//??? 

> ya

> but they’re so rare 🙁 and there’s so many spawn points
> i can’t stay up for much longer… 🙁

> its ok i can look myself
> dw bout it

> omg
> ok,,, if u say so 😣😣😣
> tysm !!!! it’s alright if u can’t find one either,,, i’m sure i’ll find another daisy cow at some point

> its all g 
> i need to make this up to u somehow

> u’re not that bad after all
> for a cow-stealer that is 😄

> ;D

09-11-2015, 05:21

> i found ur cow
> guarding it rn
> come claim whenever >:)

...

princessminmin

20-11-2015, 17:04

> i finished the quest !!!! 
> omg it took SO LONG 
> but i got the sword now 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

> congrats!!!!
> welcome to the club >:)

> watch ur tone cow-stealer 😠😤 i wld have gotten the sword earlier if u hadn’t taken my daisy cow
> i still can’t believe u stayed up the whole night 
looking for another one 😭😭😭
> i told u it was alright,,,

> and like i told u
> dw about it
> i owe u a cow, i find u a cow >:D

> still…
> 😣😣😣
> do u need any materials ??? domains to clear ??

> haha
> dont stress over it, rly
> tho

> YES
> WHAT DO U NEED
> PLS

> 😂
> since u brought it up
> i do need to clear ToF w/ a mage class

> ??????
> no f way
> who goes to tof willingly 
> WAIT

> 😂😂😂

> WAIT
> IS THIS FOR THE ARBITERS AMULET

> yea

> noooooooooooo 😭😭😭 ure crazy
> the clear condition is insane 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

> haha 😂😂
> u asked
> but srsly
> u dont have to do it if udw to

> no no it’s just…
> what if i just drag u down 🙁

> ive seen ur stats
> ure gd
> like, actually gd
> nbd nearly catches a daisy cow w/o skill

> “nearly” 😠

> 😂😂😂

> 😣
> ok
> ok !!!! i’ll do it 😤😤😤😤 
> u gotta protect me tho 😤😤😤

> haha 
> ok ok ill protect u
> anything for the princess :D

...

yunou._.u

14-02-2016, 15:13

> check ur inv
> shld hv 200 birchwood, 400 steel

> yuyu
> it’s vday…

> ????
> and
> is there some event

> wow

> ??????

> nvm
> u really like this game huh

> hm
> the games ok ig i dont usu play mmorpgs
> playing with u is fun tho 😂 

> oh
> uhm
> what games do u usually play then

> hm
> fps? LoL sometimes
> mainly this these days tho
> didnt expect so much farming for a house

> oh
> i guess it’s true most guys play fps and moba…

> ?

> it’s nothing 🙂
> thanks for the mats yuyu it’s in inv
> i can start my house now

> hey
> is sth wrong?
> u dont have to tell me if u dont want to
> but im here if u want to talk to sbd

> do u think i’m weird yuyu

> ?????????
> who said that????
> ?????????

> i confessed to my crush today
> he called me weird haha 
> ig he’s not wrong
> what kinda guy plays a mmorpg just to
plant veggies and raise sheep
> too scared to solo domains
> names himself princess haha

> dont do that

> ?
> do what?

> hide ur pain
> dont laugh it away
> ure not weird
> hes the weird one
> playing fps or moba doesnt make him more of a man
> neither does farming and animal rearing make u less of one
> theres no right or wrong way to play games

> yuyu…

> and if u want to be a princess then so be it
> ill carry u thru the domains
> its what a knight does anyway >:D

> 😭😭
> 😭😭😭😭😭
> 😭😭😭😭😭😭

> 😂
> ur crush is an idiot

> ex-crush* 😭

> 😂
> give me his ign
> ill destroy his ass if i see him in other games >:)

> stop 😭😭😭
> ure such a nerd 😭

14-02-2016, 20:22

> hey yuyu
> thank you for today
> and for everything
> ❤️
This message has been recalled.
> 😊

...

princessminmin

04-12-2016, 14:47

> OMG
> YUYU
> CHECK DEV BOARD

> ????
> omg
> YES
> FUCK YES
> FUCKING FINALLY

> 😂😂😂😂😂
> calm down omg
> u’re acting like they just announced free 5* weapon
for everyone and not marriage system

> ITS FREE EXP AND MONEY MINMIN
> AND EXCLUSIVES
> = FREE 5* SHIT
> ITS THE SAME 

> 😂😂😂😂😂

> THERES EXCLUSIVE COWS TOO

> yes !!!!
> i’m so excited 🤩🤩🤩
> they both look so cute in the previews
> can’t wait to bring them back to our house !!!
> i already got their nametags ready
> nini and mumu 

> cute
> isnt it funny
> we met bc i stole ur cow
> and now were getting cows

> 👀

> ????

> ‘we’?
> getting kinda presumptuous, aren’t we?

> pls dont use big words in game minmin
> i came here to relax
> BUT WDYM
> U DONT EVEN HAVE ANY OTHER FRIENDS TO MARRY

> uhm
> RUDE
> that’s irrelevant 😤😤😤

> OK OK
> what do u want, my precious princess minmin?
> i have wood i have jewels i have ores
> ok nvm just checked im running low on ores again

> ????
> we just farmed for 6h on monday ????

> think i used them to upgrade the irrigation sys
> or maybe the toilet idk

> …
> i’ll overlook it just this once since it was for the house
> but no 😤😤😤 none of those 😤😤😤
> use ur big brain yuyu

> pls
> my brain is tiny compared to urs minmin
> u know that
> oh
> ok
> i think i know
> BET

> 😨
> what is that supposed to mean ??

> >:D

> YUYU
> HELLO ?????

25-12-2016, 20:34

> I HATE YOU OMG
> I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT
> IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING 😭😭😭

> its what u wanted, right?
> told u i knew >:D

> NOT LIKE THAT 😭😭😭
> EVERYONE SAW
> I SAW SOMEONE IN WORLD CHAT SAY THAT
THEY WERE RECORDING 

> only the best for my princess minmin 😤

> 😭😭😭😭😭

> so

> what 😭😭😭😭

> u didnt answer
> at town square

> oh

> ya u ran
> 😢

> i do !!!!
> of course 😭😭😭😭

> !!!!!!
> YES
> HE SAID YES!!!!

> u’re so embarrassing 😂😂

> haha
> just for u

> 😊 thank u yuyu
> it was fun (still embarrassed tho)

> ure wlc
> like i said
> wtv u want
> ill get it for u :D

> 🥺
> merry christmas, my best partner ❤️

> merry christmas best partner ❤️

...

yunou._.u

15-02-2017, 19:36

> U READY TO KICK SOME ASS

> 😂😂😂😂
> check my equip?

> ok
> yep looks good
> these couples arent gonna stand A CHANCE 😤

> u better pray that i don’t choke

> nah
> ill destroy them even before they can even get close to u 😤
> u just sit there and look pretty
> and cover my dumb butt

> 😂😂😂😂
> ok ok

> just to make sure
> when we win were claiming the outfits for our prize right

> yea
> but are u sure 🥺
> i saw hg in the prize pool 
> isn’t that the current bis for ur class
> u can’t even craft it

> nah its fine
> HG is better but my current equips good too
> besides u rly like the skins so

> but

> i like them too
> i think the pink robes r gonna look v pretty on ur char

> …
> ok
> thanks yuyu ❤️

> ❤️

> how’s ur day been?

> boring
> until now
> i finished all my hw ytd so i didnt have anything to do tdy
> im such a good student 😜

> 😂😂😂
> what a nerd
> u didn’t have plans ytd?

> nah
> eh

> ?

> does farming upgrades for today count as plans

> …
> no

> then yea ig not
> u?
> u didnt confess to another idiot right…

> NO
> RUDE 😭😭

> 😂 thats good to hear

> 😭😭😭😭 
> uhm
> u don’t have to answer this if u don’t want to

> just ask, princess

> ok
> is there really nobody u would’ve
 wanted to spend ytd with?

> hm
> ig not
> havent rly thought about it
> i like gaming too much 😜

> u’re really such a nerd omg 😂

> no but srsly
> idk how to explain this 
> but like
> ive always had this
> feeling(?)
> that ive been waiting for sbd 
> and that ill know for sure when i see them
> if that makes sense
> idk
> feelings are hard 🙁

> mhm
> ok yeah i think i get what u mean

> 😆
> ure so smart minmin

> 😊
> thanks for answering, yuyu 
> i know it’s a personal qn 🥺

> np
> OH ITS TIME
> TIME TO KICK SOME ASS 😤😤😤 
SEE U IN THE ARENA MINMIN

> see u 😂😂 lets get it !!!
> could i ever be the one u’re waiting for?
This message has been recalled.

...

princessminmin

04-06-2017, 12:31

> SO ????
> WHAT DOES IT SAY ???
> YUYU

> OMG SLOW DOWN
> i havent opened it yet

> WHY
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> OPEN IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> im scared omg

> 🥺🥺🥺🥺
> u’ll get what u want yuyu 
> i believe in u

> thx princess
> ok OK
> here goes nth
> omg

> OMG 
> OMG ?

> YES
> FUCK YES
> IM GG TO SEOUL

> YES OMG !!!!!!!!! CONGRATS YUYU
> 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

> sry had to go tell my parents
> SEOUL
> !!!!!!

> no worries, of course !!! 
> i bet ur parents are so happy rn 🥺

> yea they r
> SEOUL!!!!!
> think my brain is fried rn tbh
> too happy
> haha 

> u deserve it, yuyu 🥺🥺 u’ve worked so hard

> thank u minmin
> idt i cldve done this if u didnt help me w/ school
> esp math
> idk how ur brain is so much bigger than 
 mine when were the same age

> 😂😂😂😂
> most of it was still u, yuyu
> be proud of urself !!!!

> HELL YEAH I AM

> 😂😂😂😂

> ure gg to seoul too right

> yes !!
> not snu tho
> ku

> hm
> ok theyre not too far apart
> an hour and a half

> ?

> i can make that work

> yuyu…

> princess
> shall we meet?

> …
> yes
> les’t
> let’s meet
> whne were both in soeul
> ❤️

> ok :)
> ❤️
> i think ive been waiting long enough
This message has been recalled.

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princessminmin

04-01-2022, 21:12

> yuyu ?
> …
> is it really u ?
> yuyu
> why are you just walking arnd tf
> ???
> …have u been hacked
> omg
> no
> i didn’t solo farm for 4 years straight for 
a HACKER to fuck all this up
> HELLO HACKER
> GET OUT OF THIS ACCOUNT 
> DON’T THINK I WON’T REPORT U
> HELLO

> omg
> pls calm down
> pls
> uh
> hi
> sorry
> im not a hacker
> promise

> …
> u’re not yuyu
> who are u

> uhm
> sorry im just really confused
> my names yunho, but
> uhm how do i explain this
> i managed to log into this account 
with my email but
> i have no memory of ever playing
> this game?

> u don’t rmb this game
> at all ?

> yes sorry
> so uhm
> if u dont mind me asking
> who are you?

...

princessminmin

09-01-2022, 20:02

> oh! hi!!!

> hello

> !!!!
> i’ve been farming
> doing some upgrades
> do they look ok, princess?

> yeah
> everything looks good
> uhm
> thanks

> great!! :D

09-01-2022, 20:40

> uhm
> why are u doing this

> ?
> wdym

> i saw inv
> u must’ve been farming almost every day

> oh!! that
> eh
> no particular reason ig
> i just thought
> since ik i hv an acc now
> i shld contribute? doesnt seem fair to
let u farm everything urself 
> thx for maintaining my stuff too, princess :)

> …
> dont call me that

> oh

> please
> sorry 
> i didn’t mean to sound rude

> no no dont be!!!
> i shld be the one saying sorry
> its just
> i read thru our chat logs
> seems like i used to call u that a lot
> uhm what should i call u then

> …minmin is fine
> u read the chats

> yea
> some of them at least
> thr were a lot
> seems like we were close???

> yeah
> yuyu and i were 

> im sorry i dont rmb anything
> i got into a car accident a few years ago

> a car accident? 
> are u okay now? how bad was it?

> yea im fine now!!
> i think it made the news actually lol

> …that sounds like it was really bad
> are u sure u’re fine?

> i lost like a good chunk of my memories 
according to the doctors
> brain dmg
> ig this was a part of them

> oh

> im sorry

> no
> don;t be
> please
> it doesn’t matter
> as long as u’re alright now

> 🙂

> thx, minmin
> wld u like to run any domains
> since im ehre
> we can farm for thoes tht nede coop now

> uhm
> yea ok actually
> the amber lights need to be replaced soon
> go take a look at the guides for rol
> i’ll wait for u there

> ok!!! brb

09-01-2022, 23:23

> holy shit ure so gd
> u made urself sound like a scrub

> ?
> when did i call myself a scrub ?

> oh i mean
> in past chats

> oh
> i kinda had to get good, i guess
> since

> uhm
> can i ask u a question?

> anything!!!!!

> ur car accident
> when did it happen?
> u dont haev to ans if udw ot
> have* to*

> oh nah its chill
> 22 aug 2017
> i rmb bc it was like
> my 2nd day ever after moving to seoul??
> seoul hates me >:(

> u thr, minmin?

> oh
> oh soryr
> sorry
> got distarcted 
> thinking hwo to fix teh amber lights
> sry i gtg 
> a friend’s asknig me to run a domain
> bye
> thx for tdy

10-01-2022, 03:11

> i’m so glad u’re alive, yuyu
This message has been recalled.

...

princessminmin

23-01-2022, 12:05

> aftn minmin!! :D

> hello yunho 🙂
> u’re here early

> yea i finished all ym sch work ytd so
> thought id get started on the well
> the loc is correct right

> yeah 
> thanks 🙂
> u’re such a nerd lol

> hehe
> sch is boring 😭😭😭
>  u understand right minmin D: 

> law, right?

> yes!!!!
> oh right were the same age
> are u in uni too/???

> yeah
> math

> omg math
> i cld never

> i know
> it’s alright i guess

> i bet ure so smart minmin

> one of us has to be good at counting
> did u forget what happened with the wood 😒

> I SAID IM SORRY 😭😭😭

> 😒😒😒😒

> ILL GO BACK TO FARMING NOW 😭😭😭

> 🙂

...

princessminmin

01-02-2022, 21:45

> !!!!!
> MINMIN

> yes yes hello 

> THE NEW QUEST!!!

> u know
> for somebody who didn’t even know they had an acc
until like a month ago
> u’re sure invested in this game 😒

> haha im just competitive

> 😒

> SO
> CAN WE DO IT TONIGHT
> !!!!!!

> ok ok
> where does it start again ?

> hm
> looks kinda hard ngl
> ur armor better be worth it 😒

> !!!! thx minmin
> actually

> ?
> u there ?

> wld u be open to voice chat?
> nw if ure not comfy w/ it!!
> just thought itd be easier for comms
> instead of typng
> actully
> jst ignore whta isaid
> typng si fine

> lmao
> chill yuyu
> uhm

> ok

...

princessminmin

20-02-2022, 02:47

> hey
> i’m sorry i’ve been gone
> but
> let’s do it
> let’s meet