Work Text:
2024. Jooyeon lays on his bed, reminiscing about his time in ♭form. The music competition never kickstarted his career as a musician like he hoped. But all those late nights logging into the game to jam with his bandmates, the friends he made were fun while it lasted.
When the pandemic subsided, everyone had to move on with their lives outside of ♭form. The aspiring band didn’t stand the test of time, so Xdinary Heroes is no more. Jooyeon slowly lost touch with his friends. Gunil, Jungsu and Hyeongjun are going to college. Seungmin just signed a contract with a modelling agency.
Jooyeon is still lost. He doesn’t see any future for himself, his music career never took off, and working an ordinary job feels like hell on earth. He never really moved on from ♭form, in fact, he still frequents this game. While it’s not as full of players as it was in its prime, it’s the escape from reality he really craves. He barely goes out, he spends most of his time in ♭form. He’s 22 now, so it’s not like his family can force him to go out or do anything about it.
As for his partner Jiseok, it’s somewhat complicated. During the day, Jiseok is doing an internship at a software engineering firm, but at night he still plays on ♭form. Well, mostly because he wants to spend time with his long-distance boyfriend, after all, playing his favourite game is one of the best ways to spend time with him.
But deep down, Jiseok is getting fed up of ♭form. Can this guy start doing anything other than playing video games all day? It’s getting tiring. His new friends keep on telling him to leave Jooyeon, that he’s no good, is that getting to his head? But he loves him, and obviously doesn’t want to leave Jooyeon just because his new friends don't like him.
[you got a message from Jjoo, 10:24]
“Yo. U hopping on ♭form tonight? Last night you said u got tired.”
“Idk we’ll see”
“So is that a yes?”
“Talk later. I’m not supposed to text anyone on the job.”
“:(”
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but he’s starting to grow apart from Jooyeon. His friends are right, they're both 20 something now and Jooyeon is still acting like a kid, he really needs to grow up and do something with his life. Go to college maybe? Get a job?
God, this guy is so fucking pathetic, which he found endearing and was what drew him to Jooyeon in the first place. Jiseok has to admit he was as much of a loser at the time but had slowly improved his social life over the years. He goes outside more, makes new friends and even got into a few new hobbies. But deep down, Jiseok still found his boyfriend endearing. Only if he can improve himself and stop staying in his room all the time.
But Jooyeon refuses to change his ways, as much as Jiseok loves him and wants him to. It’s getting harder and harder to ignore that the relationship will not work out. Jiseok was going to talk to him about this tonight. It’s going to be a hard conversation to have, especially with someone like Jooyeon.
That night, on ♭form
[your friend Jooyeon has joined your practice room]
Jooyeon spawns in the practice room. He greeted Jiseok and plopped down on a virtual chair. The room feels awfully tense today. He looks around a bit, before asking “You don’t have your guitar with you?”
“No it’s not plugged in, just want to talk.”
A pause.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Nah man, but we need to talk about this. I don’t think our relationship is gonna work out. If you-”
“So you don’t love me? Is that why you don’t reply to my texts? Huh?”
Jooyeon stood up, and was practically in Jiseok’s face at this point.
“No no no it’s not… like that. You know I have a life outside of this game, right? I have a job now, I can’t be replying to you 24/7 anymore.” Jiseok gently cupped his angry partner’s face, well as much as the wonky collision system of ♭form could allow him to.
“I really think you need to find something else to do besides being on this game all day, it’s not healthy.”
“But you’re not in my position are you? You said you have a job, and friends, I don’t. I only have you, and I love you.”
“...yeah, that’s pretty much why you need to get out there and find a hobby, I don’t think I can be in a relationship with-”
“Video games are a hobby too, and I play the bass, can’t you see? Just say you don’t love me anymore”
“No it’s not like-”
“Don’t make excuses, if you want to leave just leave. It’s not gonna change the fact I don’t have anything to live for without you”
That last sentence hit Jiseok like a truck. Was he the only reason for his partner to keep going? Was he the only lifeline? Everything started to make sense. He can’t help the tears that start to form at the corner of his eyes.
“Joo, you’re worth more than that.” His voice was shaky. “You know that, right?”
“Just saying shit to say shit.” Jooyeon replied, now sobbing too.
“I’m being serious. I don’t think we can continue our-”
“Relationship! I know that! You said that so many times already.”
“But live for me, okay?”
“It’s not gonna change the fact that you’re leaving.”
[your friend Jooyeon has left the practice room]
Jiseok takes off his headset that's now soaked with tears. Fuck, there’s a lot he needs to process. He was also naive, he didn’t pick up the signs Jooyeon was struggling, he brushed it off as laziness. It's getting late, he’s tired, and he has work tomorrow. He sobbed as he drifted off to sleep.
December 31st 2024, a new year. It’s been a few months since Jiseok last heard from Jooyeon. No texts, and most concerningly he hasn’t logged on to ♭form. God knows what he’s up to, Jiseok could only pray that his ex partner isn’t dead in a ditch somewhere. Regardless, he’s celebrating new year’s eve with his friends, cracking open a few beers and having a good time.
[you got a message from Jjoo 24:00]
“Happy new year. Living my best life for you.”