The Moment to Tell

A couple of days back, the night was quiet, the high-level map of NexaRealm cloaked in an eerie stillness. Joon-ho had been lingering in the shadows for hours, his nerves taut with anticipation. He had been here every night since that first encounter, hoping against hope that Jin-ho would return. It wasn't just curiosity driving him—it was a need to understand, to uncover the truth behind the man who had saved his life and revealed secrets that no one else knew.

Joon-ho's patience was finally rewarded. In the distance, the familiar figure of Jin-ho materialized, stepping out from behind a towering rock formation. Joon-ho's heart pounded as he emerged from his hiding place, his footsteps hesitant but determined. Jin-ho didn't look surprised to see him.

"Back again, huh?" Jin-ho's voice carried a teasing lilt, but there was an undercurrent of something more serious. "Well, you did say to meet again, after all."

Joon-ho swallowed hard, his thoughts racing.

"Yeah, I did," he replied, trying to steady his voice. "I... I guess I still have questions."

Jin-ho smirked as if amused by the younger man's resolve. With a casual wave of his hand, he ensured that their meeting would go unnoticed by the system. The air around them shimmered briefly, a subtle distortion that sealed them off from the watchful eyes of NexaRealm's security protocols.

"Fair enough," Jin-ho said, leaning against a rock and crossing his arms. "But before we get into that, there's something I've been curious about. I've been out of the game for a while, you know. Things must have changed a lot. What's the current scene like?"

Joon-ho blinked, momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected Jin-ho to be the one asking questions. "Uh, sure," he began, a little unsure where to start.

"Well, there's been a lot of changes. Still resolved around the five main roles, but there had been new classes, game modes, and that sort of thing. The meta's shifted too—everyone's talking about the new Specialist class. It's a big deal because it can adapt to any situation, but it's hard to master. And then there's Blitz mode, where everything happens fast—no time to think, just act."

Jin-ho listened intently, nodding occasionally.

"Specialist, huh? Sounds interesting. And Blitz mode... That sounds like something I'd enjoy." He chuckled, his eyes glinting with interest.

Joon-ho continued, feeling more at ease as he talked.

"Yeah, it's intense. But that's not the only change. NexaCorp Korea University has been a big part of the scene now. They've got this whole setup where they train the best players, preparing them for the World Championship. It's pretty intense—only the top players get in, and they're all monitored closely."

Jin-ho raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"NexaCorp Korea University, huh? So they're training players directly now. Interesting."

"Yeah," Joon-ho replied, feeling a bit more confident. "The university's pretty well-known. But... I guess I didn't realize how much of the inner workings I was spilling."

He paused, suddenly aware of how much he was revealing.

"I mean, everyone knows about the university, but maybe not the details."

Jin-ho's expression grew thoughtful, and for a moment, he seemed lost in his thoughts.

"Hye-su was the director right?" he said after a pause. "Still as ambitious as she is, it seems."

"Director Hye-su," Joon-ho repeated. "Like you said before, you do know of her."

Jin-ho's eyes flickered with recognition, and he nodded slowly.

"Hye-su, huh? Yeah, I know her. Old friend. And if she's there, I bet Hae-won is too."

"Secretary Hae-won? You know her too?" Joon-ho's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, we go way back. But just to clarify—she's not my sister or anything. Our names might sound the same, but we're not related. She's just an old friend, like Hye-su," Jin-ho let out a soft chuckle.

"I thought... well, never mind. It's just surprising, that's all. You seem to know everyone," Joon-ho felt a strange mix of relief and confusion.

"I've been around. But enough about that. What's the deal with this university? How does it work?" Jin-ho shrugged, a sly grin on his face.

"It's... well, it's a training ground for the best players in Korea. The university handpicks the top talent and puts them through rigorous training, all under the watchful eye of Director Hye-su and her team. It's intense, but it's the best way to make it to the World Championship," Joon-ho hesitated, but Jin-ho's easygoing demeanour made it hard to hold back.

"And you're a part of this?" Jin-ho nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah," Joon-ho admitted. "But it's complicated. My team... we've had some setbacks."

"Sounds like you've got your hands full. Just be careful, kid. The deeper you get, the harder it is to climb back out," Jin-ho studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.

Joon-ho couldn't shake the feeling that Jin-ho was speaking from experience. As they talked, he began to realize just how deep the connections ran, and how much more there was to this mysterious man than he had first thought.

Joon-ho hesitated for a moment, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He wasn't sure how much he should reveal, but he felt an overwhelming urge to explain, to seek out a glimmer of sympathy from Jin-ho. This might be his only chance to gain some sort of edge, some understanding that could help him navigate the mess he was in.

"Look," Joon-ho began, his voice wavering slightly. "There's something I need to tell you. Something that might make you understand why I'm... well, why I'm stuck in all of this."

Jin-ho tilted his head slightly, a curious glint in his eye.

"Go on," he prompted, his tone calm but attentive.

Taking a deep breath, Joon-ho started to explain.

"I got into NexaCorp Korea University because of you. Because I'm the only eyewitness to your arrival—the first time when NexaRealm went into shock. That whole event... it was you, wasn't it?"

Jin-ho didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. But Joon-ho pressed on, the words spilling out now.

"Director Hye-su, she... she wants to find out who you are. That's why she picked me. At first, I didn't know anything about you, nothing at all. But she saw me as her only lead, and she dangled this huge opportunity in front of me. It wasn't just the chance to attend the university—it was more than that."

Joon-ho's gaze dropped to the ground, his voice lowering.

"I took the job because she threatened to use her power against Soo-jin. My childhood friend. She's been working her whole life to get into that university, to be one of the top players. And Director Hye-su said... she said she could make that dream disappear, just like that."

Jin-ho's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't interrupt. He let Joon-ho continue, absorbing every word.

"So, I accepted the director's conditions," Joon-ho admitted, his voice trembling with a mix of shame and desperation. "Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn't let her ruin Soo-jin's future. I had to protect her, even if it meant playing along with Hye-su's plans."

For a moment, silence hung in the air between them. Then, Jin-ho let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.

"There's no way Hye-su would be that evil," he said, a hint of jest in his tone. "She's always been ambitious, sure, but to threaten someone like that? Come on."

Joon-ho's eyes flashed with frustration as he looked up, meeting Jin-ho's gaze head-on.

"You don't know what she's like now! She's been mercilessly strict, bending people to her will without a second thought. If she thinks it'll help her find you, she'll do whatever it takes."

Jin-ho's smirk faded, replaced by a more contemplative expression. He seemed to be weighing Joon-ho's words, reconsidering the image he had of Director Hye-su.

"I guess you're right," he finally said, nodding slowly. "Even back then, Hye-su was the type who wouldn't let anything stand in her way. If she's set her sights on finding me, she'll stop at nothing."

Joon-ho felt a slight sense of relief at Jin-ho's understanding, but it was quickly overshadowed by the gravity of the situation. He had laid everything bare, exposed his vulnerabilities, hoping that Jin-ho might offer some kind of support, some way out of this impossible situation.

"Jin-ho," Joon-ho said quietly, his voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't want to betray you. But I'm trapped between two worlds—the game and reality. I'm just trying to find a way to keep it all together, to protect the people I care about."

Jin-ho looked at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he pushed off from the rock he'd been leaning against.

"I get it," he said, his tone softer now. "You're in a tough spot, and I don't envy you. But just remember, every choice you make has consequences. Be careful who you trust, Joon-ho. Not everyone's as straightforward as they seem."

Joon-ho nodded, feeling the weight of Jin-ho's words settle over him like a heavy cloak. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken thoughts. Jin-ho's gaze drifted to the horizon, his expression distant, as if he were contemplating something far beyond their current conversation.