CHAPTER SEVEN POINT THREE

Oner walked into the dimly lit T1 gaming house, the familiar hum of computers and muffled sounds of keyboards filling the air. Normally, the place felt like a second home—a sanctuary from the chaos outside. But tonight, it felt heavy. The weight of last night's mess still clung to him, emotions swirling like a storm that hadn't yet passed.

As he passed the main living area, he saw Faker sitting quietly at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of green tea. Even at this hour, Faker's calm presence radiated something Oner desperately needed—clarity. Faker glanced up as he approached, his expression unreadable as always, but the slight furrow of his brow spoke volumes.

"You good?" Faker asked, his voice low but steady, like he already knew the answer.

Oner let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not really, but I'll figure it out."

Faker took a sip of his tea and gave a small nod, his gaze piercing but not unkind. "Keep your head straight. Emotions… they mess with your aim. Solve the problem first. Feelings can wait."

That was Faker—concise, practical. He didn't waste words or time. It was advice Hyeon Jun had heard a thousand times in-game, but tonight, it hit differently. He mumbled a quick "thanks" before heading down the hallway toward his room.

When he finally stepped into his space, the silence was deafening. The soft blue glow of his monitor was the only light, casting long shadows across the room. He tossed his jacket onto the chair and sank onto the edge of his bed, head hanging low. His body felt tired, but it wasn't the kind of exhaustion that sleep would fix. It was deeper than that—something gnawing at his chest, tightening with each breath.

As he sat there, his mind replayed the events from the previous night. The jealousy. The anger. The fight with Khynny. He had walked out on her, on his sister, on everyone. And for what? Because he couldn't handle seeing Min Hyeung joke around with her? Or because Ji Won, his ex, had shown up, dragging her mess into his already complicated life?

His thoughts drifted back to Ji Won, and how her sudden return had thrown him off balance. Every time she reappeared, it felt like she was pulling him back into a past he'd tried so hard to leave behind. He remembered how she used to make him feel—like nothing was ever enough. She had a way of keeping him guessing, playing on his insecurities. And each time, he let her. Hoped she'd change. She never did.

But now, it wasn't just Ji Won he was worried about. It was Khynny. Khynny, who had been nothing but patient with him, even when he didn't deserve it. Khynny, who had stood her ground while he spiraled into jealousy and insecurity.

And he'd snapped at her, pushed her away. Like an idiot.

A sharp knock on his door interrupted his spiraling thoughts. He looked up, half-expecting Hye Jin, but it was one of his teammates, Gumayusi himself, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. Concern mixed with amusement flashed in his eyes.

"Didn't see you at breakfast," the demon prince said, his tone light but probing. "You're not hiding from us, are you?"

Oner snorted, shaking his head. "Nah, just... needed space."

"Space, huh?" Gumayusi walked in, pulling up a chair and sitting backward on it. "Funny how the people who need space are usually the ones who need a talk." He grinned, though his eyes were more serious than his expression.

Oner raised an eyebrow. "Here to psychoanalyze me?"

"I'm here to keep it real." Gumayusi leaned forward, his voice softening. "Whatever went down last night, you're wearing it like a bad skin. You wanna talk, or should I just keep making fun of you until you crack?"

Despite himself, Oner let out a chuckle. "You're annoying, you know that?"

"I've heard worse," Gumayusi quipped, sitting back. "But seriously, what's going on?"

The words were out before Oner could stop them. He told Gumayusi everything—about Ji Won, how she was tangled in something dangerous, how seeing her again had stirred up all the old feelings he thought he'd left behind. He told him about Khynny, about the fight, the jealousy, the way he had blown everything out of proportion. As the frustration poured out, Oner found it harder to keep his emotions in check.

Gumayusi listened without interrupting, nodding along as Oner's frustration spilled over. When he finished, there was a long pause. The only sound was the faint hum of his gaming rig in the background.

"So," Gumayusi said finally, "let me get this straight—you got jealous because I was being myself, freaked out when your ex showed up, and then bailed on the girl who actually cares about you?"

Oner winced. "When you put it like that, it sounds pretty bad."

"Because it is bad." Gumayusi gave him a look that was both sympathetic and blunt. "Look, man, I get it. Ji Won messed you up back then, and you're still carrying some of that. But you can't keep letting her shadow creep into your life now. You're with Khynny, and if you want that to work, you gotta get real with yourself about what's going on here."

Oner nodded, feeling the truth of Gumayusi's words sink in. He had let Ji Won take up too much space in his mind. Every time she showed up, it was like he was dragged back into the past, into all the unresolved feelings he never dealt with. But that wasn't fair to Khynny—or to himself.

"I know," Oner muttered, rubbing his hands over his face. "But it's not that easy. Every time Ji Won shows up, it feels like—"

"It feels like you're stuck in the past," Gumayusi finished for him. "But guess what? Jealousy, possessiveness... that's not love, bro. That's insecurity talking. You think Khynny's gonna wait around while you figure this out?"

"No, and she shouldn't have to," Oner said quietly. "I know I've been acting like an idiot."

"Yeah, you have." Gumayusi's gaze softened, his tone less teasing now. "Look, I've seen it happen—people get stuck on old wounds, and it screws up everything good in their lives. Ji Won's not your problem anymore. Your problem is you. You gotta decide what you want. If it's Khynny, then show her. Stop dragging this baggage around."

Oner stayed quiet, the weight of Gumayusi's words sinking in deeper than he wanted to admit. His unresolved feelings for Ji Won had clouded everything—his judgment, his relationship with Khynny, even his own sense of self. And the truth was, Ji Won didn't matter anymore—not in the way she used to. What mattered now was Khynny, the woman who had been there for him, who had shown him patience and understanding when he least deserved it.

But what if he was too late?

He sat there for a long time after Gumayusi left, staring at the floor, trying to untangle the mess of emotions knotted inside him. He had spent so much time avoiding the real problem—his fear of vulnerability, his fear of losing control. He let that fear ruin everything. But now... now he knew what he had to do.

His thoughts drifted back to the argument with Khynny, the way her eyes had darkened with disappointment when he lashed out. He hated that he had made her feel like she was the problem when all she had done was try to help. And then he remembered how she stood her ground—calm, composed, while he spiraled into his insecurities. She deserved better than that.

"God, I screwed up," he muttered to himself, leaning back against the wall.

But now, the more he thought about it, the clearer it became. Ji Won wasn't his problem anymore—his fear of vulnerability, his inability to let go of the past—that was his problem. And if he didn't deal with it, he would lose Khynny, the one person who made him want to be better.

He knew what he had to do.

Standing up, determination replacing the fog of indecision that had clouded his mind for too long, Oner grabbed his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen, but instead of crafting some long-winded apology, he typed out something simple and real:

Can we talk? I need to explain. I owe you that much.

Before he could second-guess himself, he hit send.

As he tossed the phone onto his bed, a strange sense of relief washed over him. It wasn't over—not by a long shot—but it was a start. He couldn't change what had happened, but he could choose how to move forward.

But even as he waited for her reply, the nagging voice in the back of his mind whispered all the ways this could go wrong. What if she didn't respond? What if she was done with him?

His phone stayed silent. He stared at it, his stomach tightening with each passing second. What if it's too late?

Shaking his head, he pushed the thought away. It wasn't too late—not yet. He just had to face it. Whatever came next, he would deal with it. No more running away, no more excuses.

Sitting back down on the edge of his bed, the weight in his chest felt a little lighter. He still had to face Ji Won, still had to close that chapter once and for all. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was finally in control—not just of the situation, but of himself.

And that, more than anything, was what mattered.