Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Chaos was in full bloom. People scrambled around the dance floor in desperate search of an empty table or chair; they climbed onto anything they could to avoid the small rodents and insects scattered around their feet. Their arms clung onto one another for dear life as they screamed, which seemed to come in intervals whenever a rat or a cockroach got too close. It was a nice touch to the country classics blasting through the speakers; the DJ had already passed out at his booth and took the loud techno music with him.

   Food and drinks spilled from every corner of the tables, mushed up on the ground after so many footsteps had trampled on them. It created a weird stench, mixed with all the alcohol. It didn’t help either that the majority had too much to drink, and relieved themselves of the nausea right onto the pile.

   The party was a royal disaster, a hilarious shit show to Jisoo, who hid outside on the balcony. He was the one who caused the commotion, and now he had locked himself away to avoid the consequences. His only shame was that nobody could hear his maniacal laughter and genuine amusement. 

   Ding!

You have successfully completed your last task, Fuck Your Birthday.

You have completed your mission and fulfilled {HONG JISOO}’s wish: Crash Jackson Wang’s party!

You have 3 more missions until your objective is complete.

[SYSTEM 1230], thank you for your hard work!

   Jisoo glanced up at the transparent screen—a light blue rectangle, blurred around the edges—and laughed. He stretched his neck side to side and cracked his knuckles. Then, he grabbed onto the metal railings and climbed over, right off the twentieth floor. Below him was a busy street, bustling with cars and people as the night had just begun. 

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], would you like to continue as {HONG JISOO}?

   He pressed the red button to reject the offer without a second of hesitation. There was nothing left for him to do in this body; he had no family, no friends, and no money. If the original owner of the body were still here, he probably wouldn’t want to stay either.

   Jisoo glanced inside once more. The partygoers were still disoriented, their voices hoarse, their screams loud and cracked. Some had already passed out by the sofa, staining the white fur with cheap liquor. They were all too preoccupied to look in his direction, let alone notice when he jumped.

   The strong winds spread his arms and legs apart as he plummeted.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a new mission!

NAME: {JOSHUA HONG}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

ALLIES: {LOCKED}

ENEMIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {JEON WONWOO}

OBJECTIVE: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this mission?

   He hesitated—not out of doubt, but accepting the mission felt impossible mid-freefall. Instead, he gave a thumbs-up.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have accepted the mission!

You are now {JOSHUA HONG}. 

You are an ACTOR at VIVACE ENTERTAINMENT.

You are SINGLE.

Your bank balance is currently ₩744,532.

You will now be transported to SEOUL , SOUTH KOREA , EARTH—TIMELINE 27.

We will send an assistant to help you. Please be on the lookout.

[SYSTEM 1230], good luck!

•••

   Joshua held onto his head, throbbing with the familiarity of a hangover. He sat up in what seemed like a living room. It was hard to tell since it was unlit; the curtains were all shut, and the lights were turned off. There was trash—whisky bottles, beer cans, and chip packets—strewn about, leaving no space on the coffee table or floor.

   It was the first time he had woken up inside a home. Usually, whenever he accepted a mission, he would find himself in the hospital. It made more sense that way; the only way he could become a host was for them to be deceased. Then, he would inhabit their body and work toward fulfilling their last wish—something they wanted to do but couldn't because their life was cut short.

   Oftentimes, it was sentimental stuff like parents wanting to spend another birthday with their children, chronically ill patients wishing to travel to other countries, or maybe people seeking revenge for someone who betrayed them. He couldn’t tell what category the mission fell into this time.

   Joshua stood up and stumbled around the unpleasant darkness for a while until his hands found a light switch. He flicked it on and then immediately off; he wished his eyes were playing tricks on him, and that the room wasn’t completely trashed from top to bottom. He swore he saw a few bugs too.

   Since he had moved away from the dirtiness around the sofa, he could smell himself better as well. He reeked of alcohol with a hint of soy sauce, probably stained on his clothes somewhere. Somehow, his day was already ruined and it had just started five minutes ago.

   “Hey, is it too late for me to reject this mission?”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you can’t cancel a mission once you’ve started it.

   He brought the screen closer with some hand motions, gave it the middle finger, and opened another tab.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] Host Screen

NAME: {JOSHUA HONG}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

OBJECTIVE: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

TASKS: N/A

ALLIES: {LOCKED}

ENEMIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {JEON WONWOO}

CAREER: Actor at Vivace Entertainment

• Films: The Whisperer (BACKGROUND), I Saw You (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Little Blue (SUPPORTING), Crush Strategy (LEAD)

BANK BALANCE: ₩744,532

LIKES: Acting, Cinnamoroll, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

DISLIKES: Green, green, green

   Joshua couldn’t believe his eyes—not only was he completely broke, but the one thing that defined him most was his hatred for the color green. He didn’t know how the original owner of the body had died, but he understood it. Better yet, he fucked with it. If he were poor and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos ranked among his top three favorite things, he’d probably be better off dead as well. But he digressed.

   He turned the lights on once more and swung his head around out of frustration at the sight. Before his eyes could spot another insect amongst the spoiled food and drinks, he rushed toward the curtains. He opened them to broad daylight, blinding himself for a few seconds.   

   Outside was a small balcony with two chairs, rusted and riddled with spider webs. It was like he had woken up in an abandoned home. Well, if it wasn’t yet, it was about to be; he grabbed onto the railings and decided it would be in his best interest to jump.

    However, before he could execute his grand idea, a pair of sharp nails poked through his pants—scratching his bare ass—and pulled him back. He landed on the grimy tile floors with a grunt, unsure if the pain on his backside was from the fall or whatever had clawed him.

   Joshua looked around to find a black cat by his legs, nibbling on his jeans and tugging on it with as much force as its little body could allow. The sight was enough for him to confirm that whoever this body belonged to, they were a major asshole. Not only did they drink themselves to death, they left behind a poor animal, locked inside a shithole of an apartment.

   Once the feline stopped and walked closer, he held out his hand. His lips downturned into a frown, and his voice shot up two octaves. “You poor thing—”

   “I’m not a pet. Please don’t be mistaken.”

   There was a long and uncomfortable silence. Joshua didn’t know whether he should be more surprised that an animal spoke, or the fact that it sounded like a grown man whose lungs were destroyed by cigarettes. Something was wrong, and he was sure it was his head.

   Ding!

You’re not going insane, [SYSTEM 1230]. Please rest assured.

   Joshua couldn’t be sure, so he pinched himself. When that didn’t work, he slapped his cheeks.

   “Host!” The cat pressed on his thighs with its front paws. Fortunately, there were no scratches this time. “What’s wrong with you?”

   “Why are we pretending like a cat isn’t speaking to me right now?”

   Ding!

Please stop looking at the screen, [SYSTEM 1230]. There’s a limit to how many fourth walls you can break.

   Joshua pulled himself up with great disappointment. He considered attempting another jump, maybe with a cartwheel off the railings for flair. However, he would’ve been stopped again. Unless he had completed this mission and was granted permission to leave the world, The Interface would always intervene; the screen was his companion, his guide, and his overbearing boss. He wasn’t even sure if someone—or something—was behind it. If there were, he’d like to beat them up a few times, just for the satisfaction.

   The cat walked inside and jumped onto the sofa. It pushed off a few cans to make room for its round body and relaxed into a perfect loaf. “I’m your assistant, Twinkle. The Interface should’ve already told you, right?”

   “They did…” Joshua had his arms crossed as he rubbed his chin. He looked at the feline, sneaking glances at the screen in disbelief. “I just didn’t expect ‘help’ would come in the form of a stubby, obese cat.”

   “You shouldn’t make fun of me, Host. What if I don’t help you now?”

   “Damn, what a bummer.” He sighed dramatically and shrugged his shoulders. His nonchalance quickly threw itself out of the balcony once he saw Twinkle glaring at him, ready to pounce. “I’m kidding. I mean, what can you do? You’re a cat.”

   “I know a lot more than you think, Host. You can ask me anything.”

   He laughed. He didn’t need more than a second to develop his question. “Can you tell me what was up with this guy before I took over?”

   “He went through a breakup over two months ago and was coping by being drunk. Unfortunately, he got alcohol poisoning after drinking constantly for four days straight—and that’s where we’re at now, Host.”

   There was another drawn-out silence and awkward eye movements.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], please stop staring at the screen. 

   “Wait, you’re actually serious?”

   The cat nodded.

   Joshua laughed so hard he threw his head back, forgetting that his body was still suffering the effects of a nasty hangover. Simply put, he fell. It wasn’t even that funny.

   “Ugh… fuck,” he groaned, rubbing the side of his thighs. “So you’re telling me he died from a heartbreak? Who is it? Is it Jeon Wonwoo? That’s the only name I saw on the mission screen.”

   Twinkle shook its head. “His ex-boyfriend was—”

   Knock! Knock! Knock!

   Joshua crawled toward the door and pulled himself up using the handle; every part of him ached. He opened it to find a man whose expressions were worse than his when he took over this body. It was ridiculous. He couldn’t fathom how anyone would feel worse than him right now. Hell, he woke up in a pile of hot trash, and a cat scratched his ass.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {LEE JIHOON}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: ENEMY

RELATIONSHIP: Ex-Boyfriend

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: I Saw You (SUPPORTING),  Demian (SUPPORTING), Marker Memory (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Crush Strategy (LEAD), Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: The press, jazz music, fame

DISLIKES: Desserts, avocado, rain

FAVORABILITY: –637

   Jihoon pushed his way into the apartment, groaning and muttering unintelligible complaints under his breath. He stood out like a sore thumb. Then again, it wasn’t hard when he sported vivid pink hair streaked with white strands—it looked like strawberry wafer rolls, sweet.

   His clothes were flashy as well, loose and flowy; his blouse was buttoned up halfway, leaving most of his chest exposed. The most striking of all was his diamond earrings, flashing every time light found them. He was gorgeous, it was clear to anyone with eyes to see.

   “What are you doing? Stop looking at me and close the door. Do you want everybody to know that I’m here or something?” Jihoon clicked his tongue. “Fuck, it smells like shit in here. I told you I was coming to get the rest of my stuff. You couldn’t even do me a favor and keep the place clean? And you got a cat too? No wonder it stinks.”

   Never mind.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have unlocked a memory between {JOSHUA HONG} and {LEE JIHOON}!

Initiating memory…

   “What are you saying? You told me none of that mattered…” Joshua’s head was in his hands. He sat on the sofa, sparing glances at the suitcase nearby, spilling at the seams with clothes that were carelessly shoved in.

   Jihoon was at his wits’ end, pacing back and forth around the room. One hand rested on his hip while the other ruffled his hair in frustration. “Of course it matters. Why wouldn’t it? I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m happy with how things are in my life right now.”

   “But you said—”

   “Things change, okay?  I only said that because I had hope then. I had hope that we’d do great, and that our series would be a success. But we both know that’s not the case—and it’ll never be,” he groaned. “I don’t want to be in the background forever. You know that.”

   Joshua stood up, shaking his head. “You’re just signing with a different agency. I don’t understand why our relationship has to… end… because of that. It’s not like anything’s going to change.”

   Jihoon pulled the suitcase to his side, slammed it down, and zipped it shut. He’d wasted enough time already. “I don’t want to stress over unnecessary things like a relationship or hiding it from people. I know it sounds selfish, but I want to focus on my work—on myself. If this were you, I wouldn’t be upset.”

   Joshua didn’t answer or move. He kept his gaze down, muffling his suppressed sobs with his arms.

   The silence was instead filled by Jihoon’s struggle to pull the weight of all his belongings, and it wasn’t even everything. He still had a few more things lying around the apartment they shared, though he didn’t want to linger around in the tension any longer. Eventually, he managed to get all of the luggage outside and left without even a second glance.

Hey, isn’t this over?

[SYSTEM 1230] , this is a core memory to {JOSHUA HONG}.

What, is this the moment he realized he’s a loser?

[SYSTEM 1230], please don’t mock him.

I mean, who cries for that long? And why are you still showing me this?

[SYSTEM 1230], people are often emotional during breakups.

He’s trying to cling to a guy who clearly doesn’t care about him. If he’s not stupid, then I don’t know what—

Memory complete.

Returning…

   Joshua held onto his head—the scene felt like forever. But when he snapped back to reality, Jihoon was still in sight. A few faint memories flickered alongside an uncomfortable, sinking feeling in his chest; these were the emotions of the original owner. Usually, he couldn’t feel anything unless the emotions were extreme—and it seemed that was the case now.

   His body was warm, burning on the inside. There was a lump in his throat, but it didn’t matter since he didn’t have much to say. He remained stationary and watched from behind with crossed arms, leaning against the wall—the only clean spot in the entire apartment.

   Jihoon grumbled as he pushed into what looked like a bedroom. He rummaged through every compartment of the two bedside tables, tossing anything irrelevant onto the floor. After a few minutes, the room was a cluttered mess.

   “Where is it?” He asked, turning around. He was out of breath, worn out from the search. His eyes had narrowed in a way that screamed he was full of suspicion. At best, it looked like a small animal trying to appear tough, thanks to his baby face.

   “Where’s my necklace? I remember leaving it in one of these drawers. I know I left it here. Did you take it? Hey! You know how important that is, right? You didn’t sell it, did you? Answer me!”

   Joshua didn’t reply, not straight away. He didn’t even react; Jihoon went silent, visibly shocked. Judging by how meek and soft-spoken the original owner was, it wasn’t surprising. He could tell through the memory he had just seen and a few other small recollections, that this was probably the most confrontational anyone had seen him.

   Ding!

The original owner will be pleased, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He chuckled and dropped his arms by his sides. “I can speak now, right?”

   Jihoon’s brows furrowed in response. His lips twitched as well, but he didn’t say anything.

   “If you want answers to your questions, you have to give the person time to speak. Isn’t that common sense?” Joshua sighed, shrugging his shoulders at the rhetorical question. “I don’t know where your necklace is.”

   “What?” Jihoon stormed over with clenched fists. “I know I left it in one of these drawers, it’s always been there. If I haven’t touched them ever since I left, they should be here unless you’ve taken them. Did you take it? You stole it and sold it, didn’t you?”

   Joshua was speechless. He—the original owner—really didn’t know. No matter how hard he thought or looked through the memories he was given, he couldn’t find anything related to accessories or jewelry. With the attitude in front of him, he wouldn’t be surprised if this was all a ruse to frame him. Maybe the necklace was truly a friend he made along the way.

   He let out another deep breath, so long that it blew away the bangs on Jihoon’s forehead.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Chain Reaction

DESCRIPTION: Find the GOLD NECKLACE within the apartment and return it to {LEE JIHOON}.

TIME LIMIT: 24 hours

REWARD: 

• A chance to meet {JEON WONWOO}
• +20 favorability with {LEE JIHOON}

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

Chapter Text

   Jihoon spun around and continued his search. His expression suggested he had a lot to say—probably curses—but he must’ve been too shocked and lost his moment to speak. He terrorized the closet next, throwing clothes out as if the necklace might be dangling from the hangers. At this point, he just wanted to cause a mess.

   "What the hell?” Joshua mumbled, turning away. He glared at the cat, still loafing comfortably on the sofa without a care in the world. He stepped back and covered his mouth with his hand, whispering at lightning speed. “How does this have to do with Jeon Wonwoo? And what’s up with the ‘chance’? It’s not even confirmed that I’ll meet him even if I find the necklace.”

   Twinkle nodded. “Your target is hard to reach, Host. The easiest way to find him is through your ex-boyfriend over there.”

   “Why?”

   “You’ll see, Host.”

   Great. Joshua’s only companion was a useless, round cat with a smoker’s lungs. He glanced at the screen again, receiving no response. If he could keel over and die, he would.

   He deliberated for a while and eventually reached up, tapping ‘yes.’

   Ding!

You have accepted Chain Reaction.

Upon completion, you will receive a CHANCE to meet {JEON WONWOO}, and your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} will increase by 20.

TIME LEFT: 23h 59m 48s 

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   Joshua returned to the doorway, just in time to catch a cardigan flying out of his room. He walked inside and threw it down loudly, abruptly stopping Jihoon by surprise.

   “Look, I don’t know where it is,” he repeated. “But I’ll try to find it. If you left it here, then it’ll be here somewhere. Do you really think I’d steal your necklace when all I’ve been doing is drinking my liver away? Can’t you see the state of my place right now?”

   “Yeah? I wouldn’t be surprised if the alcohol got to your head and you decided to sell it for more.” Jihoon threw the shirts he had scrunched up in his hands on the ground and stood up. He had created so much of a mess that he had to tiptoe out of the room. “You’d better find it by tomorrow. I need it for an event later.”

   “Where?”

   “Why would I tell you? What if you turn up and embarrass me again?”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have unlocked a memory between {JOSHUA HONG} and {LEE JIHOON}!

Initiating memory…

   Screams and cheers erupted from the crowd that had formed a circle. Their attention was fixed on the couple in the middle, pressed close together.

   Jihoon was still, almost in a trance, as he stared up. He was in the other man’s embrace, laughing at something, his words lost amid the explosive reactions. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, and everyone else was rudely interrupting.

   The man holding him was tall, intimidating with his face and gaze alone. He seemed aloof, wearing glasses and keeping his smile to a minimum whenever he looked at fans—but he went all out for Jihoon.

Who’s that?

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , that is your target, {JEON WONWOO}.

   It was a small and unforeseen gathering, the kind that only happened when fans swarmed them after a promotional event. It was to be expected, considering how often it had happened before.

After Jihoon signed with Accolades, one of the top entertainment companies in the country, he was quickly swept up in the fame he’d always dreamed of. Within weeks, he landed a new gig in a boys’ love series with Jeon Wonwoo, a senior actor in the company.

  At that point, his experience was limited to a handful of supporting roles and one lead in a series he’d done with Joshua; unfortunately, it was a commercial failure. A flop. He wasn’t even sure how he had gotten to this point, but he wasn’t complaining; filming hadn’t even started, and his popularity was already skyrocketing.

Wait.. so they were dating and had a boys’ love series together? Why didn’t they just say that? They didn’t have to break up at all, what the hell. Seriously, the fans would’ve gone crazy.

[SYSTEM 1230] , Crush Strategy suffered from low viewership due to its plot and limited budget. They didn’t have many fans to begin with.

What is it even about?

In Crush Strategy , Cho Minhyun (Joshua Hong) tries out every technique from How to Win Over Your Crush in his mission to win the heart of Lee Hwan (Lee Jihoon).

Wow… no wonder it flopped.

   Jihoon finally broke away from an amazing fan-service hug and made his rounds to the fans nearby. He gave them hearts, kisses, and posed for the cameras—there wasn’t a single request he didn’t fulfill. That was when he noticed a familiar face in the crowd.

   Joshua had a mask on, though it was resting on his chin. He was in the back and looked just as surprised. He hadn’t meant to run into his ex-boyfriend while out grocery shopping; he’d only joined the crowd to see what was going on, thanks to his terrible eyesight. However, before he could cover his face and leave, the nearby fans had already noticed him.

Memory complete.

Wait, what? Are you serious? You can’t end it here—

Returning…

   Joshua turned away with clenched fists, gritting his teeth. He wanted to curse at The Interface, but he couldn’t. So instead, he gave it another middle finger, hidden under the long sleeve of his jacket.

   He had wondered what the connection between Wonwoo and Jihoon was, but now it all made sense. The original body wasn’t just heartbroken—he was incredibly petty. The breakup had hit so hard that instead of wishing for closure or even reconciliation with Jihoon, he’d rather ruin his career and relationship. Honestly, it was an admirable level of spite.

   Still, he couldn’t understand why Wonwoo disliked him enough to be considered an enemy.

   “Don’t worry,” he said, suddenly serious. “If I can’t find it in time, I’ll drop it off.”

   Jihoon’s distrust was oozing out of his eyes. If he narrowed it anymore, he might as well just close them. “If it comes to that, then I’ll message you the location and you can give it to my manager.”

   Twinkle meowed. “Host, he has you blocked.”

   Joshua nodded. He watched as Jihoon headed toward the door, still disgruntled by his unsuccessful search, grumbling to himself.

   “Don’t forget to unblock me first.”

   “Don’t worry. I’ll block you right after I send it too,” Jihoon scoffed. He opened the door and kept his hold on the handle, but he didn’t leave. He paused for a while before he glanced back, past his shoulders. “You’ve changed, you know that?”

   “Of course. Things change, don’t they?”

   There was a short silence.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 10.

•••

   After a night of searching and cleaning, Joshua found the necklace—no thanks to The Interface or Twinkle. It had been hidden behind the leg of one of the bedside tables, easily visible if Jihoon hadn’t made such a mess.

   Joshua picked it up and examined it. The necklace was rose gold, with a pink flower pendant and a small cut diamond at its center. No wonder Jihoon had been so desperate to find it and accused him of stealing. Just by the look of it, he could tell it was expensive.

   “Should I just steal it for real?”

   Ding!

Please don’t do that, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He also discovered a dead cockroach and a variety of bugs crawling around the opened cans, snack packets, and unwashed dishes. Since he couldn’t kill himself, he had to go on a grocery run—except the groceries were insect repellents and diffusers to purge the apartment of any smell.

   Ever since he’d taken over this body, he couldn’t catch a break. Just as he finished cleaning and his head finally hit the pillow, a loud notification blared from his phone—it was anything but pleasant. 

   He’d been so busy that he’d forgotten to tell Jihoon he’d found the necklace. In hindsight, that worked in his favor. If he’d said something sooner, Jihoon might’ve shown up at his door to grab it, and he would’ve missed his chance to see Wonwoo. He didn’t even need to look it up or ask Twinkle; now that they were on-screen partners, their public appearances would always be as a pair. That was the beauty of a boys' love couple.

   Joshua rummaged through his closet and got dressed with whatever was left, as everything was in the laundry basket. He settled for something basic and focused on his face and hair—they were his selling points, after all. If the original owner had one thing going for him, it was definitely his looks.

   “Show me the task screen again.”

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Chain Reaction

DESCRIPTION: Find the GOLD NECKLACE within the apartment and return it to {LEE JIHOON}

TIME LEFT: 05:32:14

REWARD:

• A chance to meet {JEON WONWOO}
• +20 favorability with {LEE JIHOON}

   “Good morning, Host.” Twinkle entered the bedroom. It had finally woken up, stretching after what was clearly an undeserved rest, yawning with its claws dug deep into the rug. Its eyes were barely open as it twirled around his leg, brushing its tail against him.

   “Morning my ass. It’s midday now.” Joshua stood with his arms crossed, frowning like a scolding parent. If anything, the cat sounded more like a father than him. “Seriously, why couldn’t you be anything else? I can’t even bring you outside to help me unless I want to look insane.”

   “I can transform into a human if you’d like, Host.”

   Ding!

Assistants can take human form for a limited time per day.

Assistant {TWINKLE} can transform for 3 hours per day.

Please proceed with caution, [SYSTEM 1230].

   “That’s not what I’m curious about.” Joshua shook his head. “Who are you going to turn into? Do you have a human body?”

   The cat nodded. “I’m also a system like you, Host. I failed my last mission, so now I can only assist other systems. Once I reach a certain quota, I’ll be able to work normally again.”

   “You’re telling me you could’ve transformed and helped me clean this whole time—and you didn’t?” Joshua sighed, picked up his bag, and brushed past the animal. “You’re lucky I have to leave right now. If not, you’d be dead. I don’t know how, but you would’ve been.”

   “Do you want me to accompany you, Host?”

   He shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m just dropping off the necklace. There shouldn’t be any problems. But if you want to transform and do my laundry while I’m out, I wouldn’t mind.”

•••

   Fans and reporters crowded the outside. From the sheer number of people and cameras held high above their heads, it was impossible to see what they were gawking at.

   Joshua thought he’d found himself in the standing section of a concert again. He’d had to attend ten of those during one of his missions, and he’d rather do anything else in the world than relive that. Somehow, this felt even worse—most of the fans were desperately calling out to Jihoon and Wonwoo, begging for interactions that ranged from blowing kisses to just outright making out. Today, he understood the true power of boys’ love fans.

   Thankfully, Jihoon had sent him an image of a secret entrance and informed the staff of his visit, which meant Joshua could legally sneak in. He made his way to the back of the building—a radio show studio, according to his memories. After a quick identity check, the security guard escorted him inside.

   It was easier than expected. Too easy. Easy enough that he started to worry that something would go wrong.

   Inside, he found himself in the middle of a warzone. Staff members were running around, shouting over each other, or lugging heavy equipment. He wanted to ask where the dressing rooms were, but he had a feeling he’d be better off finding them himself. Nobody seemed to notice him anyway, thanks to his basic outfit and a mask that concealed his jaw-dropping beauty.

   He wandered for a while before spotting a few rooms tucked off to the side. One door read ‘Lee Jihoon’, and the other ‘Jeon Wonwoo.’ He headed toward the first and knocked lightly. It took a while before someone heard and opened it.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {CHOI SEUNGCHEOL}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: {LEE JIHOON} ’s Manager at Accolades

LIKES: Coffee, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: Unpunctuality, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –213

   Joshua couldn’t contain his scoff. He’d already met two people who hated him, and there was no sign of the only ally he had. He wouldn’t be surprised if it were Twinkle’s human form, since it didn’t look like he had any friends at all.

   He pulled down his mask and smiled. “Why are you looking at me like that? You know why I’m here, don’t you?”

   Seungcheol nodded. “The necklace, right? You can hand it over, I’ll give it to him.”

   Like hell he could. He needed to give it straight to Jihoon for his task. “I can’t do that. He told me to give it to him.”

   He made that up. Jihoon didn’t say that at all. If anything, he said the opposite.

   “Well, he’s not here right now. I’ll pass it on.”

   Joshua decided it was a waste of time and just turned around. If Jihoon wasn’t in his dressing room, he’d be in Wonwoo’s. He walked to the next room and began to knock before Seungcheol could stop him. This time, the door opened within seconds.

   Jihoon greeted him with widened eyes, surprised. He noticed the red drawstring bag in Joshua’s hand and snatched it, confirming the necklace’s existence with his eyes.

You have completed Chain Reaction successfully.

You have received a CHANCE to meet {JEON WONWOO}, and your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has increased by 20. 

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   “Thank you…” Jihoon muttered. He turned around and held the necklace up to show it to the man behind him.

   Although Joshua could only see the back of his head, he knew that Jihoon was smiling.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: N/A

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)
• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)
• Series: Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –892

   Joshua was more than confused. From his earlier memories, he knew Wonwoo and Jihoon had partnered up after he joined the company. Before that, they’d only worked on one film together, but it didn’t look like they had any interactions; he couldn’t find anything about it online.

   The original owner of the body had never met Wonwoo face to face, let alone known him personally. Joshua couldn’t understand how someone he had never met or worked with could hate him more than his shitty ex-boyfriend. The only possible explanation was that Jihoon had cooked up the most nefarious insults and lies about him. Judging by his character so far, Joshua wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.

   “What are you doing?” Jihoon said. His voice was strangely soft and quiet. He had a confused expression as he backed away slowly as if cornered. He retreated so far back that he ended up behind Wonwoo, who shielded him with glares that could kill.

   Unfortunately, Joshua didn’t give a fuck. He didn’t even look at Wonwoo himself, but rather at the screen above his head, watching as his favorability took tick damage. In just a minute of the one-sided staring contest, it dropped to ‘–914’.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you’re supposed to earn favorability with {JEON WONWOO}. Please refrain from doing the opposite.

   Joshua chuckled and turned around. “You didn’t forget anything else at my place, right?”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO}  has decreased by 10.

   Jihoon frowned. “No…”

   “Good, I don’t want you storming in and making a mess again.”

•••

   There was something strange about the people in the original owner’s life—they all tended to barge into his home, angry about something. After three minutes of nonstop knocking, Joshua finally opened the door. Before he could process anything or see the face of his guest, they ran inside, huffing and puffing.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {RYU SERA}

GENDER: Female

AGE: 28

STATUS: Ally

RELATIONSHIP: Friend

CAREER: {JOSHUA HONG} ’s Manager at Vivace Entertainment

LIKES: Chocolate, cats, strawberries

DISLIKES: Pink, phone calls, milk

FAVORABILITY: 421

   Joshua couldn’t believe his eyes. His only ally hated pink. Ludicrous.

   Sera caught her breath for a moment and turned around, grabbing him by the shoulders. She looked like the girl from The Ring —her long black hair strewn about, tangled in her glasses.

   “So you are alive,” she muttered, creepily chuckling.

   “Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked, scratching his cheek as she shook him back and forth. Thankfully, he was no longer hungover, but he was about to get whiplash instead.

   “Why wouldn’t you be? Why wouldn’t you be?! Do you know how many times I’ve tried to call you?” Sera yelled. She finally let go, grabbing her head and contorting her body erratically. “I’ve been knocking on your door for the past week, and you never answered! I thought you died or something when you didn’t pick up my call yesterday.”

   That was Joshua’s fault. He’d been too busy exterminating cockroaches yesterday, so the only time he used his phone was to do research. He’d noticed a few missed calls and unread messages but hadn’t thought much of them. For all he knew, they could’ve been death threats from one of his enemies.

   “It’s fine. At least your place isn’t a shithole anymore. Were you cleaning?” She sighed, hands on her hips. “What’s gotten into you? Did you finally get over him?”

   He nodded. “You could say that. I can’t be hung up on him forever.”

   Sera smiled and patted him on the shoulder. She wiped away her fake tears and sniffled. “Good. This means you can start auditions again, right?”

   “If I say no, would it matter?”

   “Nope.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of papers, clipped into different sections.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Act Natural

DESCRIPTION: Find a way to audition for {JEON WONWOO} and {LEE JIHOON} ’s series, Kingpin.

TIME LIMIT: 1 week

REWARD: 

• Access to {JEON WONWOO}’s work schedule
• +100 favorability with {RYU SERA}

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

Chapter Text

   Joshua accepted the task immediately. It was useful, and he didn’t have to worry about gaining favors with someone like Jihoon.
      Ding!

You have accepted Act Natural.

Upon completion, you will receive access to {JEON WONWOO} ’s work schedule, and your favorability with {RYU SERA} will increase by 100.

TIME LEFT: 6d 23h 59m 02s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   “What are you doing?” Sera asked, crossing her arms. “Why are you pointing at me?”

   “Nothing.” He walked away and sat down on the sofa, scanning through the collection of scripts she had given him. They were all supporting roles in a variety of films and dramas, but they seemed to fall into the same category—aloof and reserved characters. From his memory, that was all Joshua ever played, even in the series with Jihoon, Crush Strategy. 

   He wasn’t sure if the original owner of the body just couldn’t act, but he was going to change that from now on.

   “Have a look through those and tell me which ones you’re interested in,” Sera said. “They should all be right up your alley—”

   “I’ll do it all,” Joshua interrupted. “I’ll audition for everything.”

   She slowly twisted her head to look at him in disbelief. “What are you saying? Don’t you remember what happened last time you tried that?”

   Joshua nodded. He didn’t.

   It took a few seconds for The Interface to add the memories to his head; Joshua had once tried to audition for over five films at once and overworked himself, passing out at one of the casting panels. The original owner had seriously been through many things, and most of them were embarrassing. It was incredible that he didn’t die of shame sooner.

   “It’s fine,” he waved her away. “I need to take my mind off things anyway.”

   “Are you sure?” Sera asked. She walked over and stared him down, her concern spilling onto the top of his head. “I’m not trying to pressure you into work by bringing all of these scripts or anything. Just choose one or two. I don’t want you fainting again.”

   Joshua nodded. The only way to land an audition for Kingpin was to find the director himself, and the best chance at that was to show up to every audition he could, even if they were for completely different films and dramas. He wasn’t too worried about what to say when he tracked the director down; after all, he had his face and charm to work with.

   “If you say so.” She turned around, swinging her keys around her finger. “Make sure you do your study. I’ll let you know when the auditions are, and come pick you up. Don’t change your mind at the last minute.”

   “I won’t.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {RYU SERA} has increased by 20.

   Joshua leaned back into the cushions and stared up, gesturing for another tab.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] Host Screen

NAME: {JOSHUA HONG}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

OBJECTIVE: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

TASKS: Act Natural

ALLIES: {RYU SERA}

ENEMIES: {CHOI SEUNGCHEOL}, {LOCKED}, {LEE JIHOON}, {JEON WONWOO}

CAREER: Actor at Vivace Entertainment

• Films: The Whisperer (BACKGROUND), I Saw You (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Little Blue (SUPPORTING), Crush Strategy (LEAD)

BANK BALANCE: ₩549,211

LIKES: Acting, Cinnamoroll, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

DISLIKES: Green, green, green

   “I’ve never had one of my dislikes be a color before. Does it even do anything?”

   Twinkle jumped onto the sofa and stretched before settling into a loaf. “Yes, Host. If you see any green—or worse, wear green—your mood will drop rapidly. You won’t be able to control your anger or anything you do.”

   Joshua laughed. The opposite must mean that he’d be immediately happy if he did or saw any of the things he liked in his life. Suddenly, an idea came to him like a truck in a transmigration manhwa. He sat up and yanked the cat by the tail, forcibly stopping it from slipping into another one of its many naps.“Transform into a human right now and go buy me any Cinnamoroll-related items. And get me, like, ten bags of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.”

   “Host? What are you thinking?”

   “I’m going to need to haul ass to memorize all these scripts. I need anything that’s going to keep my morale up and help me.” He held onto the feline as if it had proper shoulders, shaking it gently. “Come on, transform.”

   Suddenly, a flash blinded him.

   His hands went through a fuzzy, warm sensation as he held on. But now, he felt skin and collarbones—no more of the furriness he was used to. He opened his eyes to find a doe-eyed woman staring back at him. Her face was small and smooth, pale with naturally rosy lips. She looked like the most main character to ever main character in the history of main characters.

   The only problem was that she was naked. Joshua quickly reached for the throw pillows and handed them over.

   “Host?”

   He flinched. She didn’t sound like a divorcee with lung problems anymore. “What the hell? So this is your real voice? Why do you sound like that as a cat?”

   Ding!

That’s one of [SYSTEM 1023]’s penalties.

   “As if being a fat cat wasn’t enough,” Joshua mumbled. “What’s your name, anyway? I can’t call you Twinkle in this form unless you want both of us to look crazy.”

   “I’m System—”

   “No. I mean your real name. Like before you became a system.”

   “I’m Yuri, Host.”

   “Okay, Yuri. Go get me Cinnamoroll and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.”

•••

   Three down, four more to go.

   Joshua walked into countless studios, served his lines, and clocked out. His confidence was through the roof as he delivered his monologues without any flaws; it was all thanks to Yuri, who would exhaust her human transformation to help him practice. The Cinnamoroll plushes and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were great assistance too, boosting him with energy whenever he had them.

   He got into the car and eased back in his seat. It was late in the evening, and he had one more audition left for the day.

   Sera glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Are you tired?”

   Joshua shook his head and stretched. He reached into his bag nearby, rummaging for the right script to run his lines.

   “You know,” she said, starting the engine, “I haven’t seen you this passionate in a while. What’s gotten into you?”

   “I just…” He paused for dramatic effect. He needed time to think of some bullshit to say. “I didn’t want to burden you anymore. You’ve been supporting me even when I was just a drunken mess.”

   “Hey, that’s what I’m meant to do. I’m your manager! Don’t stress yourself out over it.”

   “Most managers drop their artists after one flop, you know?” Joshua laughed. Although he didn’t really mean what he said, he commended her for her loyalty and care. At least the original owner of the body had someone with him, even though you could barely call her a friend.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {RYU SERA} has increased by 10.

   “I guess.” Sera smiled, humming. She was more than happy with his words. “But I want you to do things for yourself. I don’t want you to end up hating your work, that’s what happens when you don’t keep your best interests in mind.”

   He nodded.

   “Do you have anything you want to try out? Like, a different character or—”

   “I want to be in Kingpin.”

   Sera almost crashed the car, braking suddenly. She turned around to look at him with furrowed brows and her lips slightly agape; she was so gobsmacked that nothing came out.

   Her reaction made sense; he’d spent over two months moping about his breakup with Jihoon, and now that he’d gotten better, he wanted to work in the only series his ex-boyfriend was in. To anyone, he just looked like an obsessed guy who couldn’t get over his relationship.

   Joshua sighed. If only everybody knew the original owner of the body was crazier than they thought—nobody’s dying thought would be to marry someone out of spite. Not even him, System 1230, and he prided himself on being petty.

   “I know what you’re thinking,” he began before she could go on a tirade. “It’s not because of him. I just found the plot interesting.”

   That was a lie. He didn’t even know the plot.

   Joshua glanced at the screen and whispered something to it. Fortunately, Sera didn’t hear him as she returned to the road, mumbling to herself.

   Ding!

In Kingpin , Kim Wookyung (Lee Jihoon) joins a mafia organization to pay off his debts. There, he meets the mysterious Yeon Sihyun (Jeon Wonwoo), who offers to settle his debt on one condition—that Wookyung leaves the organization for good. Three years later, the organization tracks him down, and its leader, Hwa Ryujin (TBA), is out for revenge.

Simultaneously, Ahn Sebin (TBA), a new member of the organization, escapes with the help of Yeon Sihyun's (Jeon Wonwoo) friend, Liu Yixiang/Yoo Ilsung (Wen Junhui).

   Wow. Joshua could see cheese and corn dripping from each corner of the screen. It was so unbelievably cliché that he was surprised the writers didn’t just make Kim Wookyung an omega, Yeon Sihyun an alpha, and add pregnancy into the mix. By the looks of it, the series was doomed.

   Ding!

Kingpin is set to be one of the highest-budget boys’ love series to come out of Asia, [SYSTEM 1230] . It’s backed by multiple investors, including {JEON WONWOO}.

   “How did you know what I was—”

   “Hm?” Sera looked at him.

   “Nothing. It’s nothing.” He turned away and focused on the screen again. At least one thing worked out for him—nobody had been cast for Hwa Ryujin yet. The Interface didn’t need to say it; it was obvious that his character was the villain, obsessed with the main character. It was perfect for Joshua—not that he wanted to obsess over Jihoon, let alone his character. But he had experience being the antagonist in his past missions, so he’d excel in the role. He loved being an asshole. It was one of his many joys in life.

   “Well,” Sera spoke again. “The auditions for Kingpin have already wrapped up. But if there’s anything similar, I’ll let you know.”

   “Hwa Ryujin hasn’t been cast yet, hasn’t he?” Joshua looked out the window, leaning on his hand. He already had a plan in mind depending on her answer.

   “No, but it’s pretty obvious. I mean, the moment Yoon Jeonghan stepped into that studio to audition, Hwa Ryujin was his.”

   Now that was a name he hadn’t heard of yet, and he didn’t care. Sure, he could break his neck falling from the height of his ego, but at least he was right. Once he figured out a way to contact the director, the role was his.

•••

   “Joshua Hong?”

   Joshua stood up and bowed to the assistant, who confirmed his identity. He headed toward the open door, and before he could walk through, the previous candidate brushed past him in tears. He wondered if they knew that it was never that serious.

   Sera cheered him on from the outside, giving him two thumbs-up and a wide smile. Somehow, he felt that it helped.

   He walked inside and kept his head down, bowing to the casting panel at a perfect ninety degrees.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 10.

   Joshua froze. He slowly rose and straightened his back.

   Among the long table of six people, Wonwoo was seated near the middle. His expression was no different than the last time Joshua saw him, but he was dressed more formally; he wore a navy blue suit, fitted so well that the buttons on his blazer were holding on for dear life. He also had glasses on. Simply put, he was an incredibly hot nerd.

   He glanced at the rest of the people on the casting panel—the casting director, the director, the producers, and the writers. Well, more like the screens above them. It was then that he noticed Kingpin among the director’s upcoming works. Bingo.

   Joshua introduced himself and began his performance. When he rehearsed with Yuri, it was one of those roles that he did the bare minimum for before. But now, he was acting with newfound passion, watching as his favorability rose among the casting panel. All except Wonwoo, of course.

   Once he was done, there was a short silence before the director clapped. She even stood up and walked over to give him a pat on the shoulder. This was the moment.

   “Actually,” Joshua said, stopping her in her tracks as she headed toward the tables again. “I know the auditions for Kingpin have already wrapped up, but I want to audition. Could you hear me out?”

   The director turned around.

   Ding!

NAME: {KIM TAEYEON}

GENDER: Female

AGE: 36

STATUS: Unclear

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: Film Director , Screenwriter

• Films: Proi Proi, Inheritance, Love in You
• Dramas: The Harbor, Sweet Melody, Disorder (UPCOMING), Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 42

   Joshua sighed in relief. Her favorability wasn’t going down, which meant he had a chance. He was always a good judge of character, and he knew she would like how bold and shameless he was.

   She laughed. “Who do you want to audition for?”

   “Hwa Ryujin.”

   “Hm… I don’t think that character suits the likes of you, though.”

   “You won’t know until you see it.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {KIM TAEYEON} has increased by 5.

   “Joshua Hong, right?” She smiled. “I’ll be in touch with your manager.”

   He bowed to hide his grin and left the room. The next candidate passed him, confused by his expression. Well, no one would get what it’s like being as great as him.

   Sera was nowhere to be seen, but he could hear her voice faintly in the hallway outside, probably yelling at someone on the phone. He tucked his hands into his pockets and hummed, walking toward her. However, before he could make it far, somebody yanked him back by the arm.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 5.

   Joshua gestured for the information screen with his other hand, hidden behind his back.

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: N/A

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)
• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)
• Series: Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –939

   His mouth hung open at the number—almost a thousand. Even Jihoon didn’t despise him to this level. Somehow, that pissed him off. It didn’t help that Wonwoo was someone he was supposed to flirt with and eventually marry as part of his mission. Just looking at his face alone ruined the rest of his night.

   Joshua shook his wrist free from Wonwoo’s grasp and massaged the skin to ease the pain.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Now, he was even more confused.

   “What do you want?”

   Wonwoo scoffed and leaned in. “I should be asking you that. What are you trying to do?”

   “I want to audition for the role of Hwa Ryujin. Didn’t you hear me back there?” Joshua groaned, standing his ground no matter how close Wonwoo got in an attempt to intimidate him. These days, intimidation doesn’t come from height; it comes from audacity, attitude, and the size of your third leg. Fortunately, Joshua had all three.

   “You’re just trying to wriggle your way into Jihoon’s life again,” he said, lowering his voice. “I won’t let you do that.”

   “Why? Are you going to tell the director to reconsider?” Joshua laughed, knowing full well that Wonwoo had the power to get him blacklisted if he really wanted to. He quickly turned around in case his ego was about to get him killed. “Look. I don’t know what Jihoon told you, but trust me, I’m not doing this because of him.”

   “Sure, I’ll believe that.” Wonwoo dragged his voice out in a taunting and annoying tone. “If you can even pass the audition. I’ve never heard of you doing anything aside from your usual, but you’re trying to steal the role from Jeonghan? You’re brave, I’ll give you that.”

   Joshua began to chant prayers in his head; only divine intervention could stop him from socking Wonwoo in the face right now. 

   “Come watch me then,” he smiled, looking back. “If you don’t believe me, why don’t you sit in and watch my audition? I’m sure you’d love to see me fail.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 10.

   Wonwoo was silent.

   Joshua figured Jihoon must’ve fed him some false information and acts, but he still couldn’t understand why Wonwoo hated him this much. He knew that going down the route of the kind, clueless person who was mistaken wasn’t going to work; he didn’t want to act like a weak airhead either, something that Jihoon seemed to be doing. Words weren’t going to get him anywhere, not when his favorability with Wonwoo took a hit for no apparent reason other than seeing his face.

   Wonwoo was serious about his work, no matter the genre or success. It was no wonder that he had mastered the art of fan-service so quickly. At least, that’s what Joshua learned during his research; the only way he was going to get through to him was to prove himself useful, that he had changed. Either that or he was completely talking out of his ass. Well, he’d find out.

   “Why the silence?” Joshua chuckled, looking at him smugly.

   “Aren’t you afraid of eating your own words?”

   “No. Even if Hwa Ryujin’s already been cast. I know I’ll do good enough to make the role mine.”

   “Hm,” Wonwoo scoffed. “I’d love to see that.”

   He turned around and waved, walking away. “Then I’ll see you at the audition. Oh, and come watch me on an empty stomach. I don’t want you to be too full after you eat your own words.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 10.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230]...

Chapter Text

   Joshua was in time-out. He didn’t even know that was possible, but he was.

    The Interface and Twinkle had scolded him for hours on end for his behavior toward Wonwoo, whose favorability was almost at a thousand. After careful deliberation, they’d timed him out in the corner of the living room, walling him off with multiple screens of rancid green. He had no choice but to stare at the wall or he’d feel sick.

   “Guys, this is crazy.”

   The cat ignored him and continued its nap on the sofa.

   “Guys, come on.”

   Ding!

You have 30 minutes left of your time-out, [SYSTEM 1230].

   “Seriously? It’s fine. I know I can win him over—”

   Ding!

You have 1 hour left of your time-out, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua closed his mouth. At least he had his script with him so he could run his lines. It was the scene where the male lead, Yeon Sihyun, confronted the antagonist, Hwa Ryujin, for the first time. A dramatic, tense moment as they argued over the protagonist, Kim Wookyoung. In other words, he was going to say some corny lines for about ten minutes.

   The director had reached out to Sera, as she said, and finalized a date for the audition—in two days, at the Accolades company building. It was a lot sooner than he’d hoped, but that just meant it’d be even sweeter to rub it in Wonwoo’s face if he succeeded. He’d have to find a way to do that without The Interface scolding him, though.

   Well, that was future him’s problem. His biggest issue right now was that he could be incapacitated at any time by green screens—like right now.

•••

   Sera paced back and forth with her arms crossed. At some point, she started praying under her breath. Then, she reached over and grabbed Joshua’s shoulders, rubbing her newfound beliefs into his skin.

   “What are you doing?” he laughed.

   “Giving you luck.” She patted his head next, still chanting incomprehensible words. “I don’t think you’ll be able to take the role from Yoon Jeonghan if he’s being considered. But I still want you to do your best.”

   Joshua glanced at the screen, squinting his eyes.

   Ding!

{YOON JEONGHAN} is one of the top performing actors alongside {JEON WONWOO}, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He chuckled; he wasn’t anxious in the slightest. Call him cocky, but he was sure that nobody had the range and experience he did. Not unless they’d lived twenty different lives like he had, acting as different people from different backgrounds. As far as he knew, he and Twinkle were the only systems here on this mission.

   Joshua gently removed Sera’s arms from his back and gave them a soft squeeze, smiling. He sat her down and closed his eyes, running through his lines in his head. He wasn’t sure if he’d be acting alone or if there’d be someone to bounce off of, so he had to prepare for everything.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   His eyes opened just in time to see Wonwoo walk past with Seungcheol, both of them glaring at him. Seriously, he felt like he’d receive less hate for mass murder.

   “Mr. Hong?” The assistant popped her head out of the door as Wonwoo entered. “You can come in now.”

   Sera gave him one last cheer, and Joshua went inside. He received one more judgmental glare from Seungcheol, who remained outside. This time, only the director and the writer were inside, sitting next to each other with their pens and clipboards. Wonwoo stood off to the side with a script in his hand.

   “How are you feeling?” the director asked. “I hope I didn’t catch you by surprise by making the audition so soon. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fit it into any other days.”

   “It’s fine,” Joshua said. “I’ve prepared well.”

   “That’s good. You won’t mind doing your audition with Wonwoo, would you? The scene I gave you is between Hwa Ryujin and Yeon Sihyun, so I thought it’d be easier that way. It’s not the final draft or anything, don’t be scared to make changes and improvise.”

   Joshua nodded. Easy, his ass. He wouldn’t be surprised if Wonwoo tried to sabotage him.

   The writer jotted down a few things and looked up at him. “Whenever you’re ready.”

   The lights dimmed around the middle of the room, creating a stage. 

   Ryujin began to walk away until Sihyun caught up to him, yanking him by the arm. He hissed and struggled, but he wasn’t strong enough to break free. His eyes didn’t waver as he stared, gritting his teeth. After a moment, he gave up and laughed.

   Truth be told, Wonwoo was supposed to release him by now. Either he was so engrossed in the scene—probably not—or he just wanted an excuse to hurt Joshua.

   “What?” Ryujin grinned. “Is this your way of asserting dominance or something? Let go of me.”

   Sihyun tightened his grip. “Is this all a game to you? Do you think Wookyung’s a prize you can win?”

   “Haha… you said it yourself. Are you sure that’s not what you think?” He broke away and flipped the scene, grabbing Sihyun by the collar. Somehow, Joshua felt like he wasn’t as intimidating as he’d hoped, standing next to Wonwoo’s height. “What makes you any different from me? Do you think you’re better because you paid off his debts? Do you think he’s staying with you because he likes you? You know the only reason he hasn’t left is because he feels guilty.”

   Sihyun chuckled, smirking. “I don’t care what he feels about me. The difference between us is that he hates you, Hwa Ryujin.”

   Ryujin let go and backed away, watching as the amusement grew on his face. He turned around, clenching his fists. Now, Joshua decided to improvise. “Seeing as you’re so confident, he hasn’t told you yet, has he?”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Wonwoo seemed taken aback but quickly adjusted. Sihyun scoffed and walked closer, cornering Ryujin. “I’m not fond of riddles. Especially when it comes to Wookyung.”

   “What do you want me to do about it? It’s not my place to say anything if he hasn’t told you.” Ryujin placed his hand on Sihyun’s shoulder, patting him. “Admit it, Yeon Sihyun. You don’t know anything about him.”

   “Cut! You’ve done well, thank you,” the director yelled. She turned to speak to the writer, nodding a few times. “Could you give us a moment?”

   Ding!

You have completed Act Natural successfully.

You have received access to {JEON WONWOO}’s WORK SCHEDULE, and {RYU SERA} by 100.

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   Joshua bowed at her and the writer, then once more at Wonwoo. He then gestured for his hard-earned reward.

   Ding!

Loading {JEON WONWOO}’s work schedule…

   Ding!

MAY 1: Filming for INNISFREE, KBS Radio with {LEE JIHOON}

MAY 5: Cheongju Zoo Expo with {LEE JIHOON}, {YOON JEONGHAN}, and {WEN JUNHUI}

MAY 6: Photoshoot for Gentle Monster with {LEE JIHOON}

MAY 8: Laneige Lucky Fan Event with {LEE JIHOON}, Read-through for Kingpin

MAY 10: Filming for The Manager

MAY 11: INNISFREE Pop-up

   Joshua was scammed. Robbed, even. He only got two weeks' worth of schedules for all his hard work; to be honest, even if he’d gotten an entire month’s, he wouldn’t really know what to do with all that information anyway.

   The two exited the room shoulder to shoulder.

   It took every fiber in Joshua’s body not to turn around and gloat about his incredible performance. He had to keep his cool, even if it meant clenching his ass and chanting mantras in his head.

   Sera rushed over, pulling him by the arm. She read every movement on his face, trying to guess the outcome.

   “Calm down.” Joshua laughed. “I didn’t bomb it, you don’t have to look so worried.”

   “How can I not?” She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. “This is your first time doing something out of your comfort zone, and I didn’t get to see it! At least I can tell you’re fine. You used to be so nervous before and after every audition, you know? Look at you now—you’ve been flying through every audition like it’s nothing! I feel like my child’s—”

   “Alright, alright. That’s enough.” Joshua turned her around, afraid he’d never hear the end of it if she went on any longer. It didn’t help that Wonwoo and Seungcheol were still there, standing behind him.

   “You’ve been doing multiple auditions?”

   Joshua froze. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling, cheered quietly in his head, and glanced back. While he expected Wonwoo to start belittling his performance, he didn’t expect this question at all. It was an improvement—he showed some interest in him.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} is -954.

   He glared at the screen; he wanted to ask The Interface was reading his mind, but he couldn’t look crazy in front of all these people. If it were just Sera, it’d be fine since she seemed crazier than him.

   “Yeah,” Joshua said, nodding. “I did three before the one where I met the director and you. I had one more this morning and then three in the next two days.”

   “Going to an absurd amount of auditions isn’t going to mean anything if you can’t properly do them.”

   “And who said I didn’t do it properly?”

   Wonwoo narrowed his eyes. “How could you have done any audition properly if you had so many lined up in such a short time? Didn’t you spend the past few months wallowing in self-pity, bothering Jihoon?”

   Joshua gritted his teeth. His chest heated up as he took quick, shallow breaths, increasingly annoyed by the second. This couldn’t have been the original owner of the body’s emotions, since he barely knew Wonwoo personally. It was he—System 1230—who was pissed.

   “And? Yeah, I’m doing a shit ton of auditions, probably more than my body can handle. So what? What’s it to you?” He said with clenched fists. He wasn’t that angry, but he just didn’t want to subconsciously grab Wonwoo by the shoulders and shake the living daylights out of him. Suddenly, a switch flipped in his head; he looked away solemnly, biting his lip. To everyone else, he looked hurt and offended. To him, he was putting on the performance of his life.

   “I don’t know what you’ve heard or why you hate me so much, but keep it to yourself. I don’t need you raining on my parade when all I’m trying to do is find work and put food on my table. I’m… a person with feelings too.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {RYU SERA} has increased by 10.

   Wonwoo’s hand reached out for him, though he stopped and pulled back. “I didn’t mean—”

   “Mr. Hong?” The assistant poked her head out of the door. “You’re free to leave for the day. The director will be in touch with your manager for any updates.”

   Joshua furrowed his brows. He had hoped she’d come and announce that he was cast with confetti and party horns, but life wasn’t that easy. He smiled and bowed to her before turning his back on Wonwoo and Seungcheol again.

   “Let’s go,” Sera said, patting his shoulders. She waited for him to take the lead and followed, glancing back briefly. She opened her mouth, probably to reprimand them.

   “It’s fine,” Joshua muttered. He made sure it was loud enough for Wonwoo to hear. “I’m tired.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

•••

   “I understand it now. I get it now.”

   Yuri stared at the screen. She didn’t get it. Joshua had told her to transform into a human just so she could sit next to him as he thought to himself and laughed maniacally every once in a while. That was it. That was her soon-to-be three hours for today.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1023], you’re doing well.

   “Thank you.” She nodded. Then, she looked at him. “What do you understand, Host?” 

   “Jeon Wonwoo is a weirdo freakazoid.”

   Ding!

…

   “Sorry, a what?”

   “A weirdo freakazoid.” Joshua nodded. “His favorability increases at random times. It’s literally impossible to figure out what he’s thinking. There was once when it went up after he saw me hurt from the grip he had on my wrist. If that’s not weird, then I don’t know what is.”

   “Host, I hope you haven’t called him that to his face.”

   “I haven’t, but thanks for the idea.” Joshua winked and crashed into the pillows on the sofa, muffling his face. It had been a while since the audition, and he hadn’t heard anything at all. He wasn’t afraid of not making it into Kingpin; he’d be fine—it wasn’t a task or anything. He was more worried that Wonwoo would get the satisfaction, especially since he had talked so big about himself. He wasn’t sure if he could take the humiliation; he probably could, but that would mean that Wonwoo would have to die.

   Suddenly, a Cinnamoroll plush appeared before his face. He grabbed its comically large head and pulled it out of Yuri’s hands, tilting his head in confusion.

   “I had a feeling you were thinking something devious, Host.”

   Joshua laughed. “Tell me the truth. You and The Interface can read my mind, right? You guys always seem to know when I—”

   Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

   “Joshua! Are you in there?”

   “I’m—”

   “Open the door! Are you there?!”

   He gestured for Yuri to hide and stood up, heading toward the door. He opened it to find Sera panicked. Honestly, there wasn’t a moment she wasn’t always sweating and shaking about something.

   “What is it?”

   “Look!” She shoved her tablet in his face. “You did it! You’ve got the role!”

   Joshua could only believe her since he couldn’t see the contents of the documents through her excitement. He pulled her into a hug and they jumped around in circles; The Interface even threw in a picture of a rainbow for the celebration.

   “I’ll just need you to come with me tomorrow to sign the contract,” Sera finally continued. Her hair was all over the place and her jacket was off her shoulders. “There’s a read-through this Saturday, so you’ll be meeting the rest of the cast there.”

   “They’ve cast everyone already? What happened to that guy then? The one who was supposed to take Hwa Ryujin.”

   “Yoon Jeonghan? I think he’s playing the second couple with Wen Junhui,” she replied. “Honestly, I was surprised when I found out he was being considered for Hwa Ryujin since he always acts with Wen Junhui.”

   Joshua glanced up at the screen.

   Ding!

{YOON JEONGHAN} and {WEN JUNHUI} are work partners like {JEON WONWOO} and {LEE JIHOON}.

They have acted in the series Apartment Complex together.

   “Maybe he wanted to do something different. Like me.”

   Sera shrugged. “Who knows? Well, who cares? Come here, let me show you what people are saying. The final cast list just got announced, so everyone’s going crazy right now.”

   He chuckled and followed her toward the bedroom. “You’re right.”

   She wasn’t right. He looked through every social media and news outlet he could find, and he’d come to realize that he was a modern-day witch. If there was a town square and a day when everyone was free, he was convinced they’d burn him at the stake.

   While most accused him of stealing the role from Jeonghan, some thanked him for taking the role so Jeonghan and Junhui could work together. Many were also focused on the fact that Joshua and Jihoon had worked together before, creating imaginary fights and predicting tension on set. He laughed while reading them—the scenarios were all very possible considering how much Jihoon and Wonwoo hated him.

   He was a little nervous, more than he’d like to admit. There was still one more person left that he had yet to unlock, and he was sure it was going to be someone in the cast. But according to his memories, he had no clue who it could’ve been. Rather than that, he was more concerned about how the filming would go; working with his enemies was bound to be troublesome.

   Well, it wasn’t anything he—System 1230—couldn’t handle.

•••

   Joshua was back at Accolades, except this time, he didn’t have anyone to show him around. The receptionist granted him an entry card, said good luck, and gave him the finger; she told him to find the room himself, so it was basically the same thing.

   Luckily, Sera remembered the layout from her past visits. They found the room in no time, but she was forced to wait outside again. She was used to it by now, although it still pissed her off.

   He slid the door open and entered with a bow.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer

DESCRIPTION: Introduce yourself to the cast of Kingpin, and befriend at least one person

TIME LIMIT: 8 hours

REWARD: 

• +20 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}
• +30 favorability with {RYU SERA}

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   Joshua cursed in his head. With the way the rewards were, it’d be easier for him to give birth and save the world than marry Wonwoo. Still, he accepted it.

   Ding!

You have accepted Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer.

Upon completion, your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} will increase by 20, and with {RYU SERA} by 30.

TIME LEFT: 7h 59m 21s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   He walked around the long table, filled with a mix of actors, directors, and producers.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {YOON JEONGHAN}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: Unknown

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Midas Touch (SUPPORTING), Miss Misha (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)
• Dramas: Sweet Melody (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –302

Chapter Text

   Joshua was confused, kerfuffled, higgledy-piggledy, even. He thought Wonwoo was a weird case, but this was even weirder. He was at odds with someone he had just met a few seconds ago. It could’ve come from the fact that he stole the role of Hwa Ryujin, but that wouldn’t make sense since Jeonghan was the last name that was uncovered—which meant he was hating even before that.

   He ignored the screen and introduced himself to the creative team with polite bows and handshakes. There was no use worrying about someone who wasn’t going to benefit him..

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have to introduce yourself to everybody, including {YOON JEONGHAN}.

   Joshua sighed and spun on his heel. There were still a few people missing, so the rest of the room broke off into clusters, discussing among themselves. Wonwoo was one of them, talking to Jeonghan. What a surprise—two people who hated him were good friends.

   Still, he bowed and smiled faintly. “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Joshua, Joshua Hong. I’ll be—”

   “Jeonghan,” he said and turned his back on him. He continued talking to Wonwoo as if Joshua weren’t there at all.

   Jihoon entered the room shortly, with glares and murmuring swears. Joshua hadn’t seen him since the time he returned the necklace, nor had they contacted each other. He had blocked his number as well, so he wouldn’t have known if Jihoon had decided to blow up his phone after the news of his casting. He wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case, considering Jihoon’s favorability had now reached an all-time low of –698.

   Jihoon gravitated toward Wonwoo, holding onto his arm as he spoke to Jeonghan. They were quite the deadly trio. As in, they’d probably jump him if given the chance.

   It seemed that he had something to say, but fortunately, there were just too many people around him. Joshua could almost cry, saved from Jihoon’s incessant rambling. Still, he felt his chest aching and empty. The original owner of the body must’ve really loved Jihoon, but somehow, his dying wish was to spite him. It was always admirable to think of.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have unlocked a memory between {JOSHUA HONG} and {LEE JIHOON}!

Initiating memory…

Shit, not this again.

   “Cut! We’ll take fifteen!”

   Joshua and Jihoon bowed to the staff repeatedly. Filming for their series was different now that they were together; there were no more awkward bouts of fan-service, where they weren’t sure if it was real or fake. Now, they could go all out, and people would still think it was their booming chemistry for the fans.

   The two headed toward their dressing room, walking next to each other as if there were no room around them.

   “Are you tired?” Joshua asked, placing a kiss on Jihoon’s forehead. He had him wrapped in his arms, hugging him from behind as they swayed side to side playfully.

Can I skip this? 

[SYSTEM 1230], this is a core memory to {JOSHUA HONG}.

I don’t care. IDGAF. You understand that? I literally don’t give a—.

Memory interrupted.

Returning…

   Joshua looked down to hide his smile. Then, a new face walked through the door. 

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered a relationship!

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {WEN JUNHUI}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Unclear

RELATIONSHIP: Unknown

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Miss Misha (SUPPORTING), Demian (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Apartment Complex (LEAD), Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 0

   Before Joshua could react, his newfound co-worker rushed over, waving.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {WEN JUNHUI} has increased by 5.

   “Hey!” Junhui greeted, taking his hands and shaking them. He led them away from the crowd a little, leaning in to whisper as quietly as he could; it was hard since he had too much enthusiasm. “You’re Joshua, right? I’m Jun—or Junhui, whatever you prefer.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 5.

   Joshua nodded. He hadn’t met someone with this much energy in a while. He didn’t mind it either, because somehow, his favorability bar kept rising by the seconds of him doing jack shit and fuck all. “You know me?”

   “Mhm! I mean, it’d be crazy if I didn’t know you from all the buzz recently. You’re popular, you know?”

   “Haha, for the wrong thing maybe.” He scratched his neck awkwardly. If his pitiful act were going to work on anyone, it would probably be Junhui, whose favorability had already hit 39. “You’re the… first to greet me here.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   Joshua wasn’t surprised anymore and shooed the screen away; he didn’t need to see his favorability taking tick damage and ruining his mood. Wonwoo was a variable that he couldn’t understand now, and probably never would.

   “Oh… it looks like we’re starting,” Junhui muttered. “I’ll talk to you again on our break, okay?”

   Joshua nodded and returned to his seat. His task was going to be a lot easier than he had thought. The only people he had to greet now were Wonwoo and Jihoon, whom he planned to do during the break in between their readings; he needed all the mental preparation and every divine being’s blessing to stop himself from slapping them later.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} is -987.

WARNING: If your favorability reaches -1,000, you will receive a penalty.

   Well, there went his dreams of jumping over the table and causing havoc.

   He eased into his seat and pretended to listen diligently as the creative team began to speak. Then, it was time for the main cast to do their introductions.

   Wonwoo stood up and bowed to each corner of the table. “I’ll be playing Yeon Sihyun. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

   “I’m Lee Jihoon,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be portraying Kim Wookyung this time, please look after me well.”

   “Yoon Jeonghan,” he said bluntly. “Ahn Sebin. I look forward to working with you all.”

   Junhui jumped up from his seat and bowed a perfect ninety degrees. “I’m Wen Junhui! I’ll be playing Liu Yixiang or Yoo Ilsung. Thank you for the opportunity, I look forward to getting to know everyone here!”

   Once it got to Joshua, he knew he had to bring out his groundbreaking skills. He bowed to everybody in attendance with his best smile, even tucking his hair behind his ear to flaunt his beauty. 

   “I’m Joshua Hong from Vivace Entertainment. I’m sure you probably haven’t heard of me, so I’m thankful for the opportunity today. I’m excited to work alongside the top actors of this company, and I know I’ll learn many things during the filming. Please look after me and let me know if there’s room for me to improve in any way.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 10.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 5.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {WEN JUNHUI} has increased by 10.

   Joshua chuckled to hide his annoyance. The screens were really too much.

•••

   “We’ll just have a thirty-minute break,” the director said, organizing the papers in front of her. “Let’s meet back here for the rest of the reading. Understood?”

   Everyone nodded and parted ways, with most of the creative team making a beeline toward the kitchen for coffee.

   “So, are you doing anything after this?” Junhui asked. He swayed left to right in front of Joshua, smiling. “We’re having a little dinner nearby. Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Jihoon, and I.”

   “I’m free, but…” he paused, glancing around. Guilt ate away at his conscience; he didn’t want to put up a front to normal people, but he needed to fulfill his task. “I don’t think I should go… I might just make everyone uncomfortable. I barely know anyone…”

   Junhui frowned, thinking for a few seconds. Then, he held onto Joshua’s arms. “Don’t worry! I’ll be your friend. Now you have Jihoon and me, right?”

   Ding!

You have completed Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer successfully.

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20, and {RYU SERA} by 30.

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   It seemed that Joshua didn’t have to introduce himself anymore, since his speech to the group earlier counted. Had he known that, he would’ve never approached Jeonghan, who was skinning him alive in his mind. At least he wasn’t confrontational about it, unlike Jihoon, who had walked over and taken him by the wrists, dragging him away. It seemed that he was angry enough to even ignore the fact that Junhui was watching.

   Joshua groaned, rubbing his skin. He wasn’t sure if everybody was just strong or what, but his body seemed to feel pain a lot easier than usual. Not only was the original owner weak mentally, but also physically; System 1230 could only laugh.

   “What the fuck are you doing?” Jihoon asked, reducing his anger into whispers and short breaths.

   “What do you mean, what am I doing?” He tilted his head, knowing exactly what he was doing.

   “Why are you here? I told you we’re over. What don’t you understand?”

   “If you think I’m here for you, then you’re sorely mistaken.”

   “Yeah, right. Why else would you be here?” Jihoon crossed his arms. His brows suddenly relaxed, and his frustration dissipated once he noticed something off to the side. Now, he looked sad.

   “You’re not the only one who wants to make it big here.” Joshua placed his hand on Jihoon’s shoulder, patting it lightly. “Who knows? Maybe I—”

   Swoosh!

   Wonwoo yanked his hand away, pulling him back. His scowl quickly subsided after he realized what he had done and let go.

   “Do you all have the hots for my wrists or something?” Joshua scoffed. He might as well cut off his arms.

   “What were you doing?”

   Suddenly, Jihoon was cowering and hiding behind Wonwoo, holding onto his sleeve. Joshua’s eyes twitched as he slowly glanced up at the screen. He was hoping a memory would suddenly trigger so he could talk to The Interface. Well, more like ask if it’s seeing the shit he’s seeing too.

   “I just…” Jihoon averted his gaze. “I just wanted to know why he was here…”

   “I don’t think that’s what he asked you,” Joshua laughed. “Here, I’ll do it for you.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 5.

   “I just answered his question. I told him he’s not the only one who wants to be famous, isn’t that a given?” Joshua wanted to say more, but seeing as how Jihoon was clinging onto Wonwoo for dear life, he figured he’d be better off silent. He wasn’t going to say anything worth listening to if they were together; whatever their relationship was, it was clear that Wonwoo was protective of Jihoon.

   “If you still think I’m here because I can’t get over Jihoon, then you’re wrong. Plus, I’m not as shameless as to cling onto someone who’s already taken.” He sighed and turned away. This was the most decent thing he could think of saying, as everything else he had thought of included pulling Jihoon’s hair and telling Wonwoo to go fuck himself.

   Joshua shook his head and straightened himself, ready to head over to Junhui, who had been waving to him for the past thirty seconds. However, it wasn’t even two steps until Wonwoo spoke again.

   “We’re not together.”

   A smirk crept up on his face. He glanced back to find Jihoon gritting his teeth; rather than shocked, he looked more angry.

   “I said we’re not together,” Wonwoo muttered.

   “Really? I thought you were dating, considering how close you were.” Joshua chuckled. “Well, if that’s not the case, it still doesn’t concern me. Congratulations, I guess.”

   “Con… congratulations?”

•••

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] Host Screen

NAME: {JOSHUA HONG}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

OBJECTIVE: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

TASKS: N/A

ALLIES: {RYU SERA}, {WEN JUNHUI}

ENEMIES: {CHOI SEUNGCHEOL}, {YOON JEONGHAN}, {LEE JIHOON}, {JEON WONWOO}

CAREER: Actor at Vivace Entertainment

• Films: The Whisperer (BACKGROUND), I Saw You (SUPPORTING)
• Series: Little Blue (SUPPORTING), Crush Strategy (LEAD), Kingpin (SUPPORTING)

BANK BALANCE: ₩426,572

LIKES: Acting, Cinnamoroll, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

DISLIKES: Green, green, green

   Joshua moved the screen away and stared at the ceiling instead. He had finally uncovered his last enemy and even made a friend. All in all, it was a day well done.

   “You look tired, Host.” Twinkle jumped onto the bed and lay next to him.

   “I am tired. I’m trying to figure out how the hell Jeon Wonwoo’s mind works. I don’t know what to do to gain his favor because his favorability seems to rise or drop randomly.” He sighed. “Why would it rise when he hurt my wrists? I can at least understand when it’s to do with work since he seems serious about acting. But when I get hurt or upset? He has to be sadistic.”

   “What if he just feels bad whenever he hurts you, Host?”

   “That would make sense if he didn’t hate me.” Joshua laughed. He turned around and lay face down on his pillow. “It wouldn’t be too surprising though. He’s overprotective of Jihoon even when they’re not together. What is this, a savior complex?”

   Twinkle didn’t answer, already fast asleep.

   Suddenly, Joshua held onto his neck with both hands and swung his body back and forth. He was erratic, giving himself whiplash. He was sick of playing mind games. In his past missions, the people he dealt with were usually easy—as in, he could figure out how to raise or lower his favorability pretty quickly. He had dealt with a depressed mage who was locked away for centuries before, and even she was easier to figure out.

   “Hey.” Joshua pointed at The Interface. “You’re useless.”

   The room was abruptly filled with green screens; he curled up, covering his head. There was nothing else for him to do aside from his classic—the middle finger. However, the time-out didn’t last long this time as he felt a buzz in his pants.

   Joshua answered the call and put it on speaker, distancing his phone as far away as he could—it was Sera.

   “Hey! Did you see the schedule I sent you? You have workshopping starting from next week, you know?”

   “I know,” he replied. He didn’t know. He hadn’t opened her messages yet and wasn’t really planning to. “I’m just trying to ignore it.”

   “What? You worked so hard for this, what are you saying?”

   “That’s not what I meant. I’m just dreading working with Jihoon and Mingyu.”

   “Jihoon, I understand. But what’s up with Mingyu? You guys seem to be on bad terms, but I don’t remember you two ever meeting until recently,” Sera said. “Or is it because of Jihoon? A love triangle—”

   “Don’t even joke about that.” Joshua faked a gag. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if it is because of Jihoon. I’m sure he’s told Wonwoo some lies about me. I just don’t understand why he would.”

   “Well, the only way to understand crazy is if you’re crazy.”

   “So you should understand Jihoon then.”

   There was a long pause.

   “You—”

   Joshua hung up.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {RYU SERA} has decreased by 1.

•••

   Joshua entered the practice room with nothing but his confidence and a shoulder bag full of water. He was ahead of time—way ahead of time. He didn’t want to beat the crowd or anything, but he wanted to take the small chance of meeting Wonwoo one-on-one; if he was such a hardworking guy, it wouldn’t be surprising if he turned up early too, to get a head start.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Dog and Pony Show

DESCRIPTION: Get your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} out of the negatives.

TIME LIMIT: 4 months

REWARD: 

• ₩20,000,000
• +200 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   “What kind of deal is that?” He laughed, pointing at the screen. He promptly declined it. “What am I going to do with all that money? It’s not like I’m going to stay here after I finish my mission.”

   Ding!

Most systems have accepted rewards like this, [SYSTEM 1230].

   “Good thing I’m not most systems then. After this, I’m going to be two missions away from completing my objective, you know? If I didn’t choose to stay as a rich noble with gold coming out of my ass, I’m definitely not going to stay as some actor everyone hates.”

   Ding!

Do you plan to continue as anyone, [SYSTEM 1230]?

   Joshua shook his head. He leaned back and lay down on the cold hardwood floor, making a star shape with his body. “No. I just want to be done with this cycle. I don’t want to live as anybody else, even if they’re… me from other timelines.”

   Click!

   He glanced at the door, greeted by Wonwoo’s surprised face. “Good morning.”

   “What are you doing here?” Wonwoo scowled. He must’ve realized how unpleasant he looked and quickly straightened himself with a cough. “I mean, you’re an hour early. Were you talking to yourself?”

   “To practice. I don’t have a pair in this series, so it’s not like I need to wait for anybody to workshop with specifically.” Joshua sat up and moved to the wall, leaning against it. He watched as Wonwoo set down his bag and did a few stretches in front of the mirror.

   Wonwoo was attractive, one of the most gorgeous men Joshua had seen in all of his different lives so far. It was a terrible shame that he was an asshole.

   “I’ll practice with you.”

   Joshua froze, his eyebrows twitching. “What?”

   “You’re not going to be talking to yourself the entire series, are you?” Wonwoo turned around, looking down at him. “Or are you too good to act with me?”

   “Ha,” Joshua scoffed. “Did you come early just to piss me off or something?”

   “If I had known you were going to be here, I wouldn’t have come early.”

   Joshua ruffled his hair out of frustration. He contemplated just running over and socking Wonwoo in the face, but he wouldn’t be faster than The Interface.

   “You look at me like I killed your family, and you’re telling me you’ll practice with me? I’d be an idiot to sit here and let you degrade me like you always do.”

   “I can separate work from personal life.”

   Joshua laughed, throwing his head back so hard he hit the wall behind him. He didn’t react though, he had to keep his cool and stay nonchalant. “Can you? I don’t think you can from our past interactions.”

   “We weren’t working together then, were we?”

   There was a short silence as Joshua prayed for a divine blessing.

   Ding!

Please maintain your composure, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He nodded and stood up. “Fine. Show me how professional you are then.”

Chapter Text

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: The Moment

DESCRIPTION: Impress {JEON WONWOO} at least three times during workshopping.

TIME LIMIT: 2 weeks

REWARD:

• The reason for {JEON WONWOO}’s favorability
• +50 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   Joshua smiled. Now this was a task worth accepting.

   Ding!

You have accepted The Moment.

Upon completion, you will receive the REASON for {JEON WONWOO} ’s favorability, and your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} will increase by 50.

TIME LEFT: 13d 23h 59m 26s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   He stretched from side to side and joined Wonwoo, staring at himself in the mirror. He was slightly shorter and had a smaller frame, but that didn’t take away any of his beauty. Although his face was still suffering from the aftermath of the original owner’s drinking problems and lack of care, he looked gorgeous. It was one of the more well-kept and beautiful versions System 1230 had seen, since all of his missions consisted of the same body and similar names—just alternate timelines.

   “Are you done checking me out?”

   Wonwoo’s eyes widened at the sudden callout and turned away.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   “I thought we were practicing,” Joshua continued. “You’re the senior here, aren’t you supposed to lead me or something?”

   There was silence. Great, he loved talking to the wall anyway.

   Wonwoo collected himself and glanced back. He suddenly started walking forward, forcing Joshua to slowly back away until he hit the wall.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   “You need to look at me,” Wonwoo said. He was so close that he could smell the shampoo on Joshua’s head. “You were so confident just then, now you can’t look me in the eyes?”

   “Sorry,” he said sarcastically, still refusing to make eye contact. “I didn’t expect you to corner me.”

   That was partially true. He was so shocked by Wonwoo’s favorability meter rising by the second that he lost his composure.

   “This is part of workshopping, shouldn’t you be used to it?”

   “Why would I be used to that?”

   Wonwoo tilted his head and leaned down slightly. “Didn’t you do workshopping before with Jihoon?”

   Joshua held his breath. The original owner did, System 1230 had no clue. His acting was only half as good because of all his different missions, not because he actually knew how to act. Well, it couldn’t be that different.

   “Yeah,” he replied. “I don’t remember being cornered and forced to look at him though.”

   “You need to hold eye contact. Sihyun and Ryujin will be glaring at each other for most of their meetings, you know?” Wonwoo was really committed, having not looked away once. He probably didn’t even blink. “We need to look at each other like we hate each other.”

   Joshua laughed. Finally, he returned his gaze.  “So, what you already do.”

   Wonwoo placed his hands on the wall, cornering him. “Why are you acting like you’ve done nothing wrong?”

   “Because I didn’t do anything wrong,” Joshua said. Joshua prayed. He was really hoping that the original owner didn’t do anything serious so he didn’t eat his own words. “Why are you acting like this toward me? Let’s not play ring around the rosie—just tell me what your problem is. How am I supposed to know what I’ve done wrong, which I didn’t by the way, when you haven’t said anything? All you’ve been is rude, passive-aggressive, and antagonistic toward me. I’m not a mind reader, you know?”

   Well, he was close enough to one. If he wasn’t able to see the information—especially the favorability—from The Interface, he would’ve never known Wonwoo disliked him to this extent. Not that he was dense or anything, he probably just wouldn’t care. Or in his words, “IDGAF”.

   Wonwoo hesitated. “Seriously, how can you not know anything? You’re the one who—”

   Click!

   The door opened and Jihoon walked in, flustered by the sight. “What… what’s going on here?”

   “Nothing.” Wonwoo shook his head. “I was just—”

   That was it. Joshua was done. Jihoon already had many offenses under his belt, and now, he was ruining a crucial moment.

   Suddenly, he ran over and started shaking Jihoon, holding onto his shoulders firmly. He threw him back and forth—even whiplash would be an understatement. 

   “SERIOUSLY! YOU KEEP PISSING ME OFF! WHAT IS THIS CONVENIENT TIMING?! I CAN’T EVEN GET THE LORE DROP NOW? STOP PLAYING WITH ME, YOU FUCK—”

   Ding!

Initiating pause…

TIMELINE 27 has been paused.

[SYSTEM 0227]: No way, haha!

[SYSTEM 0201]: He really did it…

[SYSTEM 0313]: I’m more surprised that he didn’t do it sooner.

[SYSTEM 1121]: Me too.

[SYSTEM 1107]: Right?

WARNING: You have committed CRITICAL OOC, [SYSTEM 1230].

Whatever.

As punishment, the host’s physical health has decreased by 50%.

Wait, what—

Rewinding time…

HOLD ON—

Completed.

Resuming TIMELINE 27…

   “Seriously, how can you not know anything? You’re the one who—”

   Click!

   The door opened and Jihoon walked in, flustered by the sight. “What… what’s going on here?”

   “Nothing.” Wonwoo shook his head and backed away. “I was just… helping him with something.”

   Joshua sighed. He had never triggered something like that before, but he’d heard of it. Whenever a system was too out of character in a way that would hinder the mission, The Interface would step in; he strangled Jihoon, knowing full well it was going to happen. He just didn’t expect to receive such a hefty punishment, or the fact that the other systems were in the array, watching him like he was an afternoon show. And he surely didn’t expect to feel the punishment so suddenly as he hunched over, coughing into his hands; this scared Wonwoo back a few steps. Still, he reached for Joshua’s shoulder with concern. 

   “What—are you okay?”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Thwack!

   Joshua slapped his hand away, coughing even harder until blood splattered out onto his fingers. At times like this, he really wanted to kill The Interface.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   Wonwoo looked even more shocked. He took hold of Joshua’s wrist to get a better look, only to be shaken off again. “What happened? You were fine just a moment ago! Are you—”

   “Excuse me,” Joshua muttered and stumbled outside, past Jihoon without even acknowledging him. He walked around in a daze until he found the bathroom and locked himself inside a stall. Then, he pointed at the screen, his finger shaking with fatigue and anger. Matter of fact, he pointed at it with his middle finger.

   “What the hell did you do?”

   Ding!

This is your punishment, [SYSTEM 1230].

   “What correlation does this have?”

   Ding!

The punishment was selected to deter you from repeating any similar situations in the future. If your health reaches 0 , you will die. Death is considered a mission failure.

   Joshua groaned. He wanted to strangle himself this time. 

   “What’s my health then? What was it even at? If it’s so important, then you should tell me in all of my missions.”

   Ding!

Your maximum health was at 218 out of 300 . Your maximum health is now at 109 out of 300.

   “What? So the original owner’s body was already weak. I thought I was crazy.” Joshua scoffed, which only gave him a coughing fit after. He had only seen his health status and bar whenever it was necessary—like when he was in a fantasy-like world, fighting against monsters and mages. He never saw them when it was for something mundane, like a human with no superpowers, because it wasn’t necessary. Of course, The Interface just had to be a pain in his ass this one time.

   “What am I supposed to do with this weak body? You’re supposed to help me complete my mission here.”

   Ding!

From now on, your health may improve by completing tasks.

   “Great.” Joshua closed the toilet lid with his foot and sat down, holding his head in his hands. Jihoon’s appearance was so convenient, blocking him from information that would explain why Wonwoo hated his guts so much. Whoever wrote the story of this life—he had cursed them to an eternity of warm pillows and chronic back pain.

   Bang!

   Joshua flinched at the loud noise, hitting his arm on the side of the stall. “Fuck…”

   “Are you in there?”

   It was Wonwoo’s voice, calling out to him in an unfamiliarly gentle tone. For once, he sounded normal. There was no trace of anger or the usual aversion he had whenever they talked. It was quite creepy, to be honest.

   “What—ahem! What do you want?” Joshua coughed again, splattering more blood onto the patches that had already dried up. He was more annoyed at the taste on his tongue than the pain in his throat.

   “You… are you okay? What happened?”

   “What’s it to you?”

   There was a long silence.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Joshua chuckled. This weirdo freakazoid or whatever he said. He finally gathered some strength in his leg and stood up, unlocking the door. Though he couldn’t help it when he lost feeling and fell forward.

   Wonwoo caught him with both arms, staring down in bewilderment.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

“That’s what I thought,” Joshua muttered. He pushed away and headed toward the sink, propping himself up with one hand as he used the other to wipe blood from the corner of his lips. “I won’t hinder the workshop or anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   “That’s not… what I was going to say.”

   “What then? Are you going to tell me you’re worried or something?” He laughed. “Look, if you’re not going to continue the conversation, then you should just go back. I’m sure someone’s missing you like crazy right now.”

   “I can’t tell you anything while you’re in this state.” Wonwoo turned around, sighing. “Call your manager and have her take you to the hospital. I’ll have the workshop moved to another day.”

   Click!

    The door closed, leaving Joshua stunned with his mouth agape.

•••

   In just a few days, Joshua was back at the practice room. This time, he was joined by the rest of the main cast—including their managers, whose favorability wasn’t any better. Seriously, if glares could kill, he would’ve been skinned alive and slow-cooked over a fire already.

   He stood in the corner with Sera, ignoring the glances that Wonwoo kept throwing over. If he didn’t know better, he might’ve thought this was the start of a budding romance—not some eccentric white knight.

   As expected, the majority of the workshop was split into pairs: Wonwoo and Jihoon, Junhui and Jeonghan, Joshua and fuck-all. He spent most of his time running lines with Sera or practicing with the acting coach. He was scheduled to act with Wonwoo and Jihoon later, something he dreaded. He almost wished he’d start coughing again just to have an excuse to leave, but he’d been taking extra care of his health ever since the outburst. He wasn’t as weak anymore.

   Clap!

   “Let’s take a break, guys!” Seungcheol clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Wonwoo ordered food for everyone here, so why don’t we head to the cafeteria?”

   The staff poured out their appreciation in bows and compliments.

   Joshua scoffed. Like hell Wonwoo did, he didn’t even touch his phone at all ever since the session started. Still, he followed as everybody headed outside. 

   There was a short line as Seungcheol handed out paper lunchboxes. The meals were sealed, steam fogging up the lids, but the smell was undeniably good. When it got to Joshua and Sera, there was nothing left. If anyone hadn’t noticed the antagonism, they were probably in on it.

   Joshua couldn’t even be mad. It took effort to be this hateful—he could learn a thing or two from this.

   “These bastards…” Sera mumbled, holding onto his arm. “Don’t feel too upset about it, okay?”

   “I’m f—”

   “They’re just petty assholes, so don’t let it get to you.”

   “I know, I—”

   “Just find a seat, I’ll go buy us something,” she nodded, patting him on the shoulder. “I’ll look outside. There should be places nearby. It won’t get here on time if I order.”

   Joshua didn’t even have time to respond before she was gone. He chuckled and shook his head. It was hard to take anything seriously with someone like her around.

   He glanced around for a table. They were either occupied or full of people glaring at him, silently making sure he stayed away. He settled for a table by the window, alone. He didn’t want to deal with unnecessary comments or judgment. It would’ve affected his mental—and therefore physical—health.

   Junhui kept stealing glances. His eyes were full of pity as he went back and forth with Jeonghan. He probably wanted to come over, but his overbearing partner wouldn’t allow it.

   Joshua gave him a reassuring nod and turned away. Loneliness wasn’t kind to anybody. No matter how he acted in his missions, it wasn’t really him—it wasn’t System 1230. The people around him only knew him by the name and body he was in, no more, no less. He made friends and families, but they lasted only as long as he remained in those bodies. He was always alone with nothing but his thoughts and the Interface. Somehow, sitting at this table by himself made his chest sink even deeper. It was normal that he was alone. It was strange that Joshua Hong had nobody.

   Clang!

   The sound of cutlery slid across his table, followed by an open lunchbox.

   “You can take mine,” Wonwoo said. He sat opposite him and leaned in on one arm, speaking quietly. Not that it mattered—everyone in the room had turned to watch the moment he stood up.

   “What are you doing?” Joshua muttered, staring at him with furrowed brows.

   “It was… my mistake, so you should take it.”

   “Don’t—”
  Ding!

Please remember that you have to raise your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} , [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua sighed. Right. He almost forgot his entire mission was to marry him.

   “As for what we talked about earlier,” Wonwoo whispered, “let’s talk. I want to hear what you really have to say.”

   “Surely you don’t mean now.”

   “Where else?”

   “Anywhere else? Can’t you see the eyes and ears on us?”

   Wonwoo glanced back at his original table, where Jihoon, Jeonghan, and Junhui sat. Jihoon and Jeonghan tried to hide their discontent by eating, but their gazes gave them away.

   “Then… are you free tomorrow evening?”

   Joshua tilted his head.

   “My bar. I’ll be there.”

   “Who do you think you are, a protagonist in a film? How am I supposed to know where that is?”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230]...

   Wonwoo dangled his phone between his thumb and index finger. “Give me your number. I’ll tell you.”

•••

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: N/A

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)
• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)
• Series: Kingpin (UPCOMING)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –862

   Joshua sighed in relief. He had gotten himself farther away from the thousand mark, all by losing half of his health and being pathetic. The Interface’s punishment had helped him a lot more than he’d like to admit, so he won’t. He won’t thank The Interface for it. He would never let it have the satisfaction—if it could even have that.

   “Twinkle, transform.” He jabbed the sleeping cat, ruffling its fur. “I need you to help me pick something to wear.”

   Yuri appeared in a quick flashbang. She rubbed her eyes and brushed the tangles out of her hair. “Your butt is quite nice, Host.”

   Joshua nodded. He was still naked after his shower, but it wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen by now. They were long past the point of modesty. He gave her a thumbs-up.

   “What are you—”

   “Your boobs look good too.”

   “Thank you, Host.” She laughed. “Please tell me you didn’t summon me just to help you dress.”

   “Not this time. I need you to accompany me, in case my health drops again. I can’t trust anything anymore. I lost some health earlier just from stubbing my toe,” he said. “If anyone asks who you are, just say you’re my sister.”

   Yuri nodded. “Where are we going, Host?”

   “Some bar that Wonwoo apparently owns.” Joshua checked his phone. Wonwoo had stayed true to his word. He sent the name and location. Nothing else. Not even a greeting.

   “I didn’t expect to advance like this, but look at me go. At this rate, I’m going to finish this mission in no time, don’t you think?”

   “Your favorability with him is still—”

   “That’s not important.”

   “But that’s the most important—”

   “It’s going to change soon anyway. I should be able to improve the low favorability once I figure out why he has such a hate boner for me. I might be able to find another way into his heart aside from just being in pain.” Joshua smiled at his reflection in the mirror. “But of course, if he gets an actual boner that’s fine too—”

   “Alright, Host.”

Chapter Text

   The bar was a lot smaller than Joshua had expected. It was more of a hole-in-the-wall kind of place—quite literally. He spent ten minutes trying to find the entrance, eventually walking into a dark alleyway and squeezing himself through a secret door disguised as a vending machine. If Wonwoo hadn’t come out to guide him, he would’ve thought he was as good as dead.

   It was cozier on the inside. The space was filled with wooden decor and curated artworks, creating a homey vibe under the dim lights. A few patrons were sitting at the bar, entertained by a mixologist who was definitely doing too much. Most of the customers were seated at private tables scattered around the floor, sipping their drinks and enjoying finger foods.

   “Find a seat you like,” Wonwoo said, raising his voice to compete with the jazz music. It didn’t help much through the scarf he had around his neck and the lower half of his face. It was a shitty disguise. If anything, it made him stand out even more. “I need to finish up something really quick.”

   Before Joshua had a chance to respond, Wonwoo disappeared into the back, behind some fabric curtains that likely separated the floor from the staff area. Joshua sighed and glanced around for an empty table; he’d rather not have such an important conversation at the bar, shoulder to shoulder with strangers. In fact, he wouldn’t have chosen a bar as the meeting spot at all, but beggars can’t be choosers.

   Yuri entered shortly after. She chose to hang back and watch him from a distance, in case anyone mistook them for a couple—which would be less surprising than if she claimed to be his sister. They just looked too different.

   “You can take my seat, I’m about to leave anyway.”

   Ding!

NAME: {KANG YIYOUNG}

GENDER: Female

AGE: 29

STATUS: Unclear

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: {JEON WONWOO} ’s Manager at Accolades

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 0

   Joshua squinted. “You’re Wonwoo’s manager?”

   “Yes.” She held out her hand in greeting. “I’m surprised you know me. I had Seungcheol stand in for me for a while.”

   “How could I not know the manager of one of the top actors in the industry?” He laughed, shaking her hand. That was a lie. He’d misspoken earlier when reading her career history. It had completely slipped his mind that he hadn’t met Wonwoo’s manager yet. All he’d seen was Seungcheol—and he was nothing short of annoying.

   Strangely enough, she didn’t seem to hate him. That was one thing he’d noticed about the women in this timeline: none of them disliked or resented him. As expected, women were just wonderful.

   “Wait, do you know who I am?” Joshua asked, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down.

    “A lot more than you’d think,” Yiyoung smiled. “Jihoon wasn’t exactly quiet about his relationship with you to Wonwoo, and me.”

   He knew it.

   “But I don’t know why Wonwoo called you here today,” she continued. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that he’s not necessarily fond of you.”

   “Well, that’s exactly why I’m here. I need to know what his problem is.”

   Yiyoung nodded and stood, her face now lit by the candles flickering on the nearby wall. Her features resembled Yuri’s, only sharper and more defined—like an older, more dangerous twin.

   “I haven’t touched this,” she said, pushing a glass of Old Fashioned toward him. “If you two get into a fight, just don’t punch him in the face. That’s his selling point.”

   Once again, Joshua didn’t get a word in before she left. Not that he could complain—he got a free drink out of it. By the time he finished it, Wonwoo returned and joined him. It was a miracle he hadn’t passed out from overheating; the scarf, jacket, and sunglasses were seriously overkill.

   “If you’re going to do all that, you might as well just scream your name,” Joshua muttered, taking another sip. “You’re the most suspicious-looking person in here, you know that?”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} is –862.

Please keep that in mind, [SYSTEM 1230].

   “I don’t usually do this,” Wonwoo groaned. “For some reason, there are a lot more people here today and most of them aren’t my regulars.”

   “That’s your fault for choosing—” Joshua stopped himself. “I mean, why don’t we change locations then? There’s a park nearby, isn’t there? I just passed it earlier.”

   “What if someone sees me?”

   “Who’s going to see you sitting on a bench in a dark park? Only a psycho or two people trying to secretly fuck would be there.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 2.

   Tough crowd.

   “Fine,” Wonwoo said, standing up. He grabbed Joshua’s wrist and led them toward the door.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 3 . Your current health is now at 106 out of 300.

   Joshua grimaced at the screen. He desperately wanted to flip it off, but he was too busy feeling the pain in his arm. “Ugh…”

   Wonwoo stopped and released him, seemingly realizing what he’d done. He quickly took off his sunglasses and placed a hand on Joshua’s shoulder, checking on him.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 5 . Your current health is now at 101 out of 300.

   “Are you okay? Are you still sick? I shouldn’t have told you to come—”

   “I’m fine,” Joshua coughed. “Just get me out of here already.”

   Wonwoo nodded and guided him outside. Unbeknownst to him, a black cat had started following them as they made their way toward the small park nearby; Twinkle watched them from a distance.

   “For someone who despises you, he really cares about you, Host.”

   “Huh?” Wonwoo stopped, glancing around.

   “Have you never heard a cat before?” Joshua said. Then, he slapped a hand over his mouth—him and his bad habit of being snarky.

   Once they reached the bench, he sat down, trying to keep his cool while suppressing the itchy cough building in his throat. “So?”

   “Haa… this is ridiculous. I can’t believe I have to tell you what you did wrong,” Wonwoo said, joining him. “Did you lose your memories from drinking too much or something?”

   “Let’s just say that, then.”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , would you like to listen to {JEON WONWOO}’s explanation through his memories?

   Joshua side-eyed the screen. His hand slowly dragged it closer to him to accept the notification.

   Ding!

This will cost 5 of your health.

   He flipped it off. He would’ve declined it too, but figured it was better to see how Jihoon was acting. Not because it would change anything, he was just curious how two-faced Jihoon could be. Nosiness was really going to get him killed properly one day.

   Ding!

You have accepted the offer. 

Your health has decreased by 5 . Your current health is now at 96 out of 300.

   Joshua covered his mouth with his hand. He couldn’t cough now, or someone would spiral into another panic. “How did you even meet Jihoon? You guys only acted together in Demian, but even then, he was a supporting character. He never told me anything about meeting or getting to know you then.”

   Wonwoo hunched over, resting his arms on his knees, hands clasped. “We only got closer when he joined Accolades, and the company paired us up. I didn’t know him before that.”

   “For how short you’ve known each other, you two are really close. Close enough for you to hate me like you do.”

   “You…”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have unlocked a memory between {JEON WONWOO} and {LEE JIHOON}!

Initiating memory…

   Jihoon entered the office with his head lowered, bowing politely. He wore a warm smile, glancing nervously around the room, clearly taken by the luxurious and minimalist style of the meeting space. The city skyline glittered outside the window.

   “Please, take a seat.” Yiyoung gestured toward the leather sofas, adjusting her glasses. She leaned against the glass desk behind Wonwoo, who sat at the head of the long table.

Wow. She looks even hotter now that I can see her face clearly.

   Jihoon and Seungcheol took seats nearby. After all, it was a private meeting to get everyone acquainted. It just so happened that Wonwoo could only squeeze it in on the day he was scheduled to visit the company.

   “There’s no need to be so nervous, Mr. Lee,” Yiyoung said.

   “Oh, you can call me Jihoon! Haha…”

   “Then, Jihoon, are you currently seeing anyone?”

   Silence

DAMN…

   Jihoon glanced at his manager, stunned. It was like he was waiting for someone else to speak first; all the media training he'd received had just thrown itself out the window.

   “Noona, I told you not to be so blunt…” Wonwoo sighed. “Sorry, we’re only asking so we can take extra precautions, since we’ll be paired up from now on.”

   “I—I see…” Jihoon lowered his head. He fidgeted for a moment before replying meekly. “I… am. But—but I’ve been trying to break up with him.”

   “Trying?”

   He nodded. “I told him I wanted to end things, but… he won’t let me go. He’s been calling me, trying to get me to reconsider for the past few weeks.”

   “Is it someone in the industry?” Wonwoo asked.

   “It’s… my first on-screen partner from Crush Strategy. We started dating during filming. But he’s a little… overbearing, haha. He didn’t want me to sign with Accolades because he thought I’d abandon him. I understand him... It must've been unfair for me to leave him. But... if he were the one who signed with a big company, I would’ve been happy.”

   Wonwoo frowned. He reached over and gently caressed the back of Jihoon’s hand.

   “Please don’t worry. I’ll find a way to break it off cleanly so this doesn’t affect our… partnership.” Jihoon smiled. “I’ve already moved out a few things. I’ll make sure he doesn’t say anything. I won’t ruin what we have—”
  “Don’t worry about that,” Wonwoo said. “You should worry about your safety. Are you staying somewhere he doesn’t know?”

   Jihoon shook his head. “I’m staying at my manager’s place for now. I haven’t found anywhere else yet…”

   “I’ll help you.”

Is this guy serious?

   “No… You don’t have to. You’ve helped me enough by being my partner. I’ve already gotten so many opportunities...”

   “You said it, right? We’re partners now. Isn’t it normal for partners to help each other?”

Do you think he’d bend over backwards for me too if I were a sad and pretty-faced twink?

[SYSTEM 1230], you’re already one of those things.

I am NOT sad.

…

   “Could you just give me a moment?” Wonwoo said, squeezing Jihoon’s hand. “I’ll sort it out now. I don’t want you staying somewhere he knows of. Your manager, either.”

   Seungcheol stood up and bowed deeply. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

   Wonwoo left the room, phone in hand. Yiyoung followed, placing her hand on his shoulder.

   “Aren’t you being too hasty?” She whispered.

   “Didn’t you see how scared he looked? The sooner he’s out of that environment, the better—for him and for us. I know you don’t want a dating rumor risk, and I’d prefer my work partner to be safe.”

   Yiyoung peeked back through the slightly ajar door; her eyebrows were furrowed as she watched Jihoon and Seungcheol whisper to each other.

   “Do you believe his story?”

   “Why would he lie? He’s already signed with Accolades and is locked in as my co-star.”

   “I don’t know,” she muttered. “I just don’t have a good feeling about him.”

YESSSSSSS! SOMEONE SMART FOR ONCE! No wonder she didn’t hate me. She didn’t believe the wet slop of shit he told every—

Memory complete.

Returning…

   There was a moment of silence, where nothing but rustling leaves and the muffled chatter from the stores nearby could be heard. Joshua didn’t know if Wonwoo was waiting for a response, but he couldn’t speak. He was too busy hunching over with abdominal pain.

   “You’d call him every time you were drunk, begging him to come back.” Wonwoo continued, glancing at him. 

   Fortunately, it was too dark for him to see the fact that Joshua had turned pale, puffing his cheeks. 

   “He couldn’t even get the rest of his stuff at your apartment until I accompanied him. I should’ve just gone up with him that day… Maybe he wouldn’t have to deal with you as much as he did.”

   “Host, you should probably say something.” Twinkle nudged his ankle before running away. For how heavy and fast it was, it had really silent steps.

   Wonwoo looked around, hearing only meows in the dark.

   Joshua let out a long sigh. It sounded like he had something important to say—but really, he’d just finally cleared his throat. “Is that it?”

   “ Is that it? That’s all you have to say?” Wonwoo stood up, raising his voice. “Do you think what you did was some minor inconvenience? Do you know how many times he came to me—scared? He couldn't eat or sleep some days. He was always anxious before our events because you'd show up to them!”

   “That’s not what I— ahem! ” Joshua hunched over, coughing hard. Pain radiated through his stomach and head.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   He raised a hand to stop Wonwoo from grabbing him again. Seriously, he must have the world’s sexiest wrists or something. 

   “I mean, is that all of what he’s told you?”

   “He doesn’t have to say anything else when I can see you followed him onto Kingpin. Do you seriously expect me to believe you suddenly wanted to act in a role like this? After only playing quiet, meek characters?”

   “You don’t have to believe it, but it’s the truth,” Joshua muttered through the burning in his throat. “What makes my words now any different from Jihoon’s back then? You barely knew him, but you believed him. With me, you’ve belittled me since day one without even hearing my side of the story. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

   “…What?”

   It was time for Joshua to, once again, give the performance of his lifetime.

   “Do you know what he told me?” His voice wavered, quiet and soft—like he was about to cry. Honestly, he just really needed to sneeze and cough. Hell, maybe fart too. “I won’t deny that I bothered him after the breakup. But I never stopped him from chasing his goals. I just couldn’t understand why… why he suddenly switched up on me. One day, we were cooking together, talking about our future. The next, he was yelling at me, saying our relationship was unnecessary.”

   He paused. “You know… I didn’t even realize he signed with Accolades and was paired with you until I saw it in a news article. He… didn’t even tell me.”

   Wonwoo’s mouth hung open. Nothing came out.

   “I guess he didn’t want to risk ruining his future career or the partnership with you. If we stayed together, I would’ve been a thorn at his side… something he had to hide.” Joshua continued. Most of what he said came straight out of his ass. He just took the facts he remembered and dramatized them a little. If Jihoon could do it, he could do it too.

   “I never stopped him. I just told him I couldn’t understand why he had to sacrifice our relationship, I was always… supportive. Sure, I might’ve called him a few times when I was a drunken mess, but I never stalked him or anything of that sort. Why would I go out of my way to see someone I… loved in the arms of someone else?” He had to pause. Not for dramatic effect or anything, he just couldn’t believe he said that. Even the thought of loving Jihoon was ludicrous.

   “What are you… saying?”

   Joshua stood and looked Wonwoo in the eye. Tears streamed gently down his face, and he smiled—bittersweet. “I know you won’t believe me. Just... think about it at least. I was... hurt too.”

   “But why…? Why would he do that?”

   “I don’t know. Maybe because he’s a—”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , please don’t insult {LEE JIHOON} right now.

   Damn it.

   “I don’t know. Maybe he just didn’t want to risk our relationship coming to light. I’m nobody, but you’re one of the top stars of the country. Wouldn’t it… be so much better for him to be associated with you?” Joshua continued. Yes, that was what he intended to say. The Interface was just overreacting. He’d never insult Jihoon in such a crucial moment. Crazy.

   It was obvious Jihoon hadn’t wanted to risk being outed. Not outed in terms of sexuality—but outed as someone dating a loser, no-name actor, especially when he was partnered with the Jeon Wonwoo. Of course, this was just Joshua’s speculation, but he was pretty sure he was right. 

   If he had still been like the original owner—meek and reserved—the story would’ve been unbelievable. But now that he was him, System 1230, he stood a chance.

   Wonwoo still looked conflicted. But slowly, his hand reached out and brushed a tear from Joshua’s cheek. Even he seemed surprised by the gesture.

   “Don’t do this,” Joshua muttered, turning his face away. “Stop treating me like you care about me.”

   “Why?”

   “Because you don’t.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 100.

Chapter Text

   If there were the happiest man in the world, it wouldn’t be Joshua, but he’d be up there.

   Although his conversation with Wonwoo was cut short by Jihoon’s call, he had earned himself a hundred favorability points. Yet somehow, Wonwoo’s favorability bar was still the lowest.

   “Rate my acting out of ten,” he said, poking Twinkle as they both lay on the bed.

   “Ten out of ten, Host.” The cat yawned. “If I were still in my human form, I would’ve given you two thumbs up.”

   “Of course, of course.” Joshua laughed. Wonwoo’s reasoning was exactly what he expected; someone like Jihoon couldn’t have thought of a better reason to slander his name. It was just a shame that Wonwoo believed him so easily, even going as far as to act hostile toward him. Somehow, he was meant to marry this guy.

   However, that concept wasn’t all too impossible now. Since he had planted some suspicion in Wonwoo’s head, sooner or later, he’d realize Jihoon’s real intentions and behavior. Luckily for him, Jihoon wasn't dangerous—just stupid and shallow. Seriously, the original owner of the body had a thing for bottom-of-the-barrel men. Not only did he date a guy who gave two and a half shits about him, but he also wanted to marry a gullible guy who bent over backwards for damsels in distress.

   It still didn’t make much sense to him, how Wonwoo could hate him to that extent. There was no way Jihoon’s words struck him that deeply. Joshua just couldn’t comprehend how he could feel for someone he barely knew. There had to be something else to uncover. If not, he’d just settle with undressing Wonwoo or something.

   “Whatever,” Joshua sighed. “Once I marry him, I’ll be done and onto the next.”

   Twinkle jumped up on top of him, crushing his chest with its heavy weight. “Host, how are you so detached?”

   “What do you mean? This is normal. Letting emotions get to you will do nothing for systems like us,” he said, struggling to breathe. “How did you even fail your last mission, anyway? I’ve been curious about that. Maybe I can prepare if I somehow fail a mission. I probably won’t, since I’m great, but you know, better safe than sorry.”

   Twinkle walked down and lay by his head. “My mission was to kill a woman the original owner of the body believed was her husband’s mistress. She was kind. Someone who fell victim to a misunderstanding. I couldn’t kill someone who didn’t do anything wrong.”

   Joshua was silent. He and his big-ass mouth. It was a good thing Twinkle told him this; had Yuri been sitting here, speaking to him, he would’ve died from guilt.

   “That’s why I’m surprised at you, Host. But I guess you’re right. I hope you can keep your mindset,” the cat continued, nuzzling its head into his hair. “It would be better if we stayed outsiders.”

   “Yeah,” he chuckled. “It would be.”

•••

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: The Moment

DESCRIPTION: Impress {JEON WONWOO} at least three times during workshopping

TIME LEFT: 7d 9h 37m 25s

REWARD:

• Reason for {JEON WONWOO}’s favorability
• +50 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}

   Joshua swiped away the screen and took a deep breath. At this point, he had a good feeling about why Wonwoo’s favorability was so strange. The task wasn’t that important to him anymore either, not after he had just earned a hundred points on his own. However, knowing how unpredictable The Interface was, he didn’t want to risk any penalties.

   Unfortunately for him, today’s workshopping involved a lot of physical activities. For the first time, he had a lot of things to do. After all, all his character did was fight, whether verbally or physically. He wouldn’t have had a problem with it, had he not been debuffed with terrible health.

   “You’ll be fine, right?” Sera asked, patting his back. “Your energy’s been low lately, and you’ve been coughing a lot.”

   “I’m just a little sick. Don’t worry.”

   “Yeah, well. Let me know if it’s too much.”

   Joshua nodded. According to his calculations, he could do at least ten minutes of choreographed fights and stunts without any damage to his health. He failed math.

   Wonwoo hung around the table, full of prop weapons. He had a particular interest in a prop gun, inspecting it up close. Jihoon was nearby, sticking to him like a fly on a fresh pile of dog shit; Joshua wasn’t sure if he should be thinking of his future husband like that, but oh well.

   Joshua walked up behind him. He reached over and adjusted Wonwoo’s hands on the rifle. “You hold it like this.”

   There was a brief moment of silence as Wonwoo glanced back, looking down at him in bewilderment. He held his breath, afraid that he had taken a mile when he was just given an inch.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

You have impressed {JEON WONWOO}. 

   He couldn’t believe his eyes. This was too easy.

   “How did you know that?” Wonwoo asked.

   “I watched a lot of videos on firearms for the workshop,” Joshua replied. It was a lie he yanked straight out of his ass; it was all personal experience. He had dealt with a fair share of weapons in his past missions. Hell, he even wielded a magical girl sword before. “I figured it’d be using a lot of these guns during the filming. But you aren’t, are you?”

   Wonwoo shook his head. “The script is still being finalized. Who knows?”

   Joshua nodded. He glanced at Jihoon, who had his fists clenched and his eyes narrowed. His brows were so knitted that Joshua thought he was trying out a unibrow look.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 30.

   What a satisfying sight to see.

   Well, that was all Joshua wanted to try today. He might’ve gotten an incredible amount of favorability from Wonwoo, but that didn’t mean they were friends yet—not even close. As he turned around, he felt a grasp on his sleeve. Finally, it wasn’t his wrist.

   “How are you… feeling?”

   “Huh?” Joshua tilted his head.

   “I mean, we’re going to be doing a lot of stunt choreography. Aren’t you still sick?” Wonwoo asked.

   “I’ll be fine.” He chuckled. “As long as you don’t purposely make it hard.”

   “I won’t.”

    “Then I look forward to fighting you, Sihyun.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 50.

•••

   Joshua stood with his arms crossed, grinning smugly. He watched as Jihoon and Jeonghan workshopped with the acting coach; they were simple and basic defense moves, as their characters probably wouldn’t fight as much—not when they had two love interests to jump in and protect them.

   He could see Jihoon occasionally glance at him, but he wasn’t sure if it was out of anger or if he just wanted to brag about his skills—which were mediocre at best.

   “You look confident!” Junhui said, appearing behind him.

   Joshua flinched, almost punching himself in the face.

   “Haha, did I scare you?”

   “It’s fine,” he said, collecting his heart from his ass. “What about you?”

   “It’s my first time doing scenes like this, so… I guess I’m a little nervous.” Junhui scratched his head awkwardly, sighing. “Still, I don’t think I’ll be doing as much as you are. You’re playing a whole mafia boss!”

   Joshua laughed. “If you’re going to fight anyone in this series, it’s probably going to be me too.”

   “Haha, right? You’re really admirable, you know?”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Hwa Ryujin’s a complex character to play. I couldn’t even see anyone aside from Jeonghan pulling him off,” Junhui whispered, leaning closer. “But… seeing you now… I think you’re way more suited to this role. Oh, but don’t tell him I said that!”

   “I won’t,” Joshua chuckled.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 10.

   Junhui noticed Jeonghan’s gaze burning into his head. He quickly bowed and left, running over like a lost puppy reuniting with its owner.

   Joshua also joined Wonwoo near the crash mats once the acting coach made her way over. He was ready—not to practice, but to give everyone a taste of the world’s most cliché moments.

   After a quick run-through, the two stood face to face. The coach hovered around them, correcting their postures and giving verbal instructions; Joshua didn’t really listen. He just waited for a moment they’d have physical contact.

   “That’s not it,” she said. “Sihyun, you’re not just angry at him. You’re confused too. You need to look at him properly. Ryujin too—I don’t want you to look like you want to kill him. You’re a bit more playful. 'Play with your food before you eat it' type of guy. Do you understand?”

   Wonwoo nodded.

   Sihyun picked up the foam stick and swung it at Ryujin, who dodged with a smile. It was a fleeting yet sinister expression that stunned Wonwoo briefly.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

You have impressed {JEON WONWOO}. 

   Joshua smiled. In Wonwoo’s moment of weakness, he reached in and grabbed Sihyun by the collar. He continued to walk forward, shortening the distance between them with his gaze fixated on him.

   “Narrow your eyes a bit more, Sihyun.”

   Wonwoo obliged. He could barely focus on his own acting as he looked at Joshua, who seemed like a completely different person. It was almost scary; Joshua was many years his junior in the industry. Yet here he was, with the expression of a veteran.

   “Don’t just stand there,” the coach said. “What did I say?”

   Suddenly, Sihyun pushed forward and flipped the dynamic. However, things went differently than he’d imagined when Joshua suddenly fell back.

   They landed on the hardwood floor with a loud thud, missing the padded mats by a little. Fortunately, Wonwoo had reacted fast enough and placed his hand behind Joshua’s head, saving him from a far more serious injury.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 30 . Your current health is now at 79 out of 300.

   Joshua chuckled through the pain and stayed in character. He still couldn’t believe his maximum health right now was 109 as a grown adult. Well, it would’ve been higher had he not strangled Jihoon earlier.

   “Haa…” Ryujin smirked, grabbing Sihyun’s arm and glancing at it from the corner of his eye. “Is this what you meant when you said you were going to take me down?”

   “You…”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

You have impressed {JEON WONWOO}. 

   Ding!

You have completed The Moment successfully.

You have received the REASON for {JEON WONWOO} ’s favorability, and your favorability has increased by 50. 

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   “Ha… haha…” Joshua reached for the screen, excited to finally have his question answered. Unfortunately, his hand never made it.

   “Hey, are you…? Hey! Joshua?” Wonwoo shook the unconscious body in his grasp. “Someone call the paramedics!”

•••

   “Seriously… what’s wrong with you?” Sera sighed. As a manager in a cutthroat industry, she had been through many hardships—but none as difficult as trying to stop an unconscious man from flipping the air off. She didn’t even know that was possible.

   After a while, he finally woke up, feeling sharp pain throughout his body—especially his hands.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], please put your middle finger away.

   Once Sera noticed his eyes were wide open, she jumped up in her seat. “You’re alive!”

   “You keep thinking I’m not,” he groaned as he sat up. “What happened?”

   “That’s what I should be asking you,” she said. “I went out for a call, and the next thing I saw was Wonwoo running out with you in his arms. What the hell happened in the ten minutes I was gone?”

   Joshua chuckled. He quickly looked away to maintain his composure. “I probably overexerted myself during the workshop. But you said he carried me out?”

   “Crazy, I know. He was sweating and panicking like crazy. Anyone would’ve thought you were already dead at that point.”

   “Stop speaking my death into existence.”

   Sera stood up and patted his shoulder, laughing. “Alright, alright. I’ll go talk to someone so we can get you out of here.”

   Once she was out of the room, he reached for the screen and enlarged it. It was time for him to receive the first part of his reward.

   Ding!

Finding {JEON WONWOO}’s favorability criteria…

{JEON WONWOO} is an empath.

   Joshua blinked. Once, twice, and a few more times. If he blinked long enough, whatever bullshit was in front of his face would change. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

   “Are you serious?”

   Ding!

Yes, [SYSTEM 1230].

   If it were possible, he would’ve reached through the screen and grabbed The Interface. He didn’t care if it was a person, a bunch of wires, or a blob of nothing. He had to kill this motherfucker.

   “That’s it? That’s all you’ll tell me?”

   Ding!

There are limitations to the amount of information given, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua rolled his eyes. “What limitations? Do you have a boss or something?”

   Ding!

The principles and balance of the array are strictly adhered to.

   Right. Whatever that meant.

   Joshua jumped up from the bed and slid open the glass doors. It was decided that he would die.

   Bzzt!

   A faint blue barrier blocked his Olympic-level jump, sending him back onto the balcony with a loud thud.

   “Is this déjà vu?” Joshua closed his eyes, throwing himself back and forth. He just couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know what he was expecting the answer to be, but receiving such a short response after all his hard work felt like a slap to the face. If anyone were looking at him from the building next door, they’d think he was admitted to the wrong facility.

   He stood up and headed back to the bed, dejected that he couldn’t kill himself. “What am I supposed to do then? Be a weak pissbaby? Ugh, I don’t want to act like Jihoon. But if that’s going to raise my favorability—”

   Knock! Knock! Knock!

   Wonwoo’s head poked through as he slid the door open. He invited himself inside with his manager. It seemed that he had an itch on his mouth, wanting to say something, but he couldn’t find the words.

   “Thanks,” Joshua spoke first, scratching his cheek. “I heard you helped me and even carried me out.”
  “It’s nothing. Are you alright?”

   Joshua quickly gestured for his health screen.

   Ding!

Your current health is now at 98 out of 300.

   Well, at least he wasn’t dead.

   “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

   Wonwoo nodded. “That’s good. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, so maybe you overworked yourself. Are you sure you can do this role? Filming’s starting soon, you know?”

   “Is this your way of telling me to quit?” Joshua chuckled. He really loved biting more than he could chew; he got a hundred favorability points, and now everything’s a game.

   “That’s not what I meant…”

   “I know.” He smiled. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just need to—”

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] , you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Lay It on Thick

DESCRIPTION: Get {JEON WONWOO}’s favorability out of the negatives by any means

TIME LIMIT: 5 months

REWARD: 

• +300 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}
• +50 health

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   Ding!

You have accepted Lay It on Thick.

Upon completion, your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} will increase by 20, and your health will increase by 50.

TIME LEFT: 152d 23h 39m 12s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   Joshua didn’t even need to think twice. If he could earn a hundred favorability points in one night, he could definitely get out of the negatives in five months—the end of Kingpin’s filming. And his health would improve, a far better deal than The Interface’s previous attempt of giving him this task with money as a reward.

   “Why are you… smiling like that?” Wonwoo stepped away.

   “Oh, I was just thinking of my cat,” he said. He really had a way of speaking nonsense quickly, and with a straight face at that. “But I was wondering… is it alright for you to be here?”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Jihoon. He probably wouldn’t like the fact that you’re with me,” Joshua chuckled. “Even when we were workshopping, he was burning holes into the back of my head.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   “He wouldn’t—”

   “Of course… You wouldn’t have noticed it. I’m not trying to create issues or anything. I just… don’t want any more tension between us on the set.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Yiyoung finally looked up from her tablet. “I heard the story from Wonwoo—”

   “Noona!” Wonwoo grabbed her shoulders. “You weren’t supposed to say that…”

   Joshua giggled and coughed, turning away.
  Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   Wonwoo must’ve been conflicted, but at least it was clear that Joshua’s words had somewhat of an impact on him. It was a good thing that he was still merely work partners with Jihoon; had they actually started dating, it would’ve been much harder for Joshua to squeeze himself in. It wouldn’t be impossible though, since System 1230’s charm and aura were off the charts. He could romance a dead plant if he really wanted to.

   “It’s fine,” Joshua muttered. “She’s your manager. It makes sense for her to know.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {KANG YIYOUNG} has increased by 5.

   “I didn’t mean anything by saying it,” she said. “It was just a surprise, that’s all. I only had some unconfirmed feelings about Jihoon.”

   “Noona…”

   “I’m not telling you to stop talking to him or anything.” Yiyoung turned away, shaking her head. “But I don’t have to like who you like, do I? He’s your partner, not mine.”

   Joshua nodded. Women were great, so great.

   “Anyway,” she continued. “Are we done here? You have a shooting to get to.”

   Wonwoo nodded. He glanced at Joshua briefly, as if it were a way to say goodbye.

   The two headed toward the door. While Yiyoung left, Wonwoo lingered around a little longer.

   “Let me know when you’ve been discharged.”

   Joshua furrowed his brows. “Why?”

   “Can’t you just—” Wonwoo stopped himself, sighing. He left without finishing his sentence, though anyone could probably guess what he was going to say.

   “Look at him.” Joshua laughed. “He’s confused. That’s… cute.”

Chapter Text

   Joshua leaned back in his seat, looking up with his head against the wall. His ears were bleeding, his eyes were watering, and his head was throbbing. The kickoff celebration was like no other, and he meant that in a negative way. Hell, his last mission had to do with crashing a party; he knew a thing or two about how loud and obnoxious people could get. But he just couldn’t stand it today.

   The entire cast, including supporting actors and staff members, had gathered at a barbecue restaurant to commemorate the start of Kingpin’s filming. It started with toasts from the director and producers, who then proceeded to pour everyone an absurd amount of alcohol.

   Liquor and meat—that was all he could smell. He couldn’t even see or focus on The Interface telling him that his health was taking tick damage through all the movements and conversations.

   “Are you still awake?”

   Joshua opened his eyes and wiped away the tears; he wasn’t sure if it was on purpose, but somehow the smoke from every table in the restaurant kept finding its way to him. Thankfully, the people at his table had disappeared somewhere. Forever, he hoped.

   “They all went out for a smoke break.” Junhui smiled. He was holding a bottle of water, offering it. “Are you okay? You look exhausted, haha.”

   “Do I?” Joshua chuckled, sitting up properly to accept the drink.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 5.

   “I have a question.”

   Junhui sat down next to him, nodding excitedly. He resembled a dog, but his face was closer to a cat's. If he were an assistant like Twinkle, he would’ve probably been a large, orange cat.

   “Are you and Jeonghan together?” Joshua leaned in close and whispered.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 10.

   “Wha—what?” Junhui held onto his ear, tickled. His cheeks quickly flushed as he shook his head. “We’re just work partners! Did it—did it seem like we were?”

   “I just thought you guys were. He glares at me every time we’re together, so I thought he was jealous or something.”

   Junhui continued to shake his head. It was a wonder how he didn’t give himself whiplash. “There’s no way, haha…”

   “That’s good then. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t unintentionally coming between your relationship.” Joshua turned away. He could still see Jeonghan’s gaze on him, so he gave him a little smirk.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {YOON JEONGHAN} has decreased by 5.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 3.

   “What?” Joshua muttered. He couldn't tell if he was imagining it or if he really lost favorability because of a wink. Empathy be damned, he still couldn't understand Wonwoo's mind.

   Junhui glanced around, confused. “Huh? What’s wrong?”

   “No… It’s nothing.”

•••

   Joshua wasn't quite sure what the entertainment industry was like, but it wasn't this. Maybe he just didn't care enough to look, but he wasn't aware of a show airing right after it started filming. It seemed like a ridiculous plan, but for a boys' love series, it would be a lie to say that he was surprised. The company probably wanted to release it as soon as possible while the hype was still there around Wonwoo and Jihoon.

   He even had a look online to see the reactions. Unfortunately, people loved the 'WonHoon' ship.

   Joshua might be a hater, but he wasn't a liar. Well, that was what he believed. He'd admit, they looked good next to each other. And the company really went into the kitchen for the dynamic they created. If he hadn't hated Jihoon and was planning to marry Wonwoo, he might've been sailing the ship too.

   “Here.” Sera sat down beside him, passing over the energy drink. “For a supporting character, you sure have a lot of lines.”

   “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Joshua smiled, leaning back. He wanted to savor his short break as much as he could, since he was going to finally act with Wonwoo next. Up until now, all his scenes consisted of him sitting in an office, staring menacingly at people, or beating someone up, and walking away fashionably into the darkness.

   “Yeah. I can already see my future after you finish Kingpin.” Sera looked up, holding her hand out as if grasping for something.

   He laughed. "It's bright, right—"

   "I'm dying."

   Joshua sprayed out his drink.

   “Once you get bigger, I’m going to be as good as dead. Free time? Gone. Love life? Gone. Money? Hopefully a lot.”

   "Look, you can blame me for anything but not your love life," he groaned. "You don't even have it now—"

   Smack!

   "I'm just saying—ack!"

   "Whatever!"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {RYU SERA} has increased by 10.

   "How about I introduce you to some of my friends?" Joshua continued, poking her arm.

   "Yeah, right. You don't have any friends."

   He paused. Suddenly, he pulled up a screen.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230] Host Screen

NAME: {JOSHUA HONG}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

OBJECTIVE: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

TASKS: Lay It on Thick

ALLIES: {RYU SERA}, {WEN JUNHUI}

ENEMIES: {CHOI SEUNGCHEOL}, {YOON JEONGHAN}, {LEE JIHOON}, {JEON WONWOO}

CAREER: Actor at Vivace Entertainment

• Films: The Whisperer (BACKGROUND), I Saw You (SUPPORTING)

• Series: Little Blue (SUPPORTING), Crush Strategy (LEAD), Kingpin (SUPPORTING)

BANK BALANCE: ₩426,572

LIKES: Acting, Cinnamoroll, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

DISLIKES: Green, green, green

   How could he forget?

   Joshua started this mission with only one ally, and it was his manager. There was Junhui too, but he couldn't consider him a friend—not when they barely talked, thanks to Jeonghan's obsessive gaze.

   "What about family?" he mumbled.

   Sera stared at him with furrowed brows. “Why are you asking me that? You’re the one who hasn’t told me anything. Wait, are you trying to tell me you have a hot sibling you want to hook me up with?”

   Joshua chuckled. He glanced at The Interface.

   Ding!

{JOSHUA HONG} is an orphan, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He almost scoffed at the sight. Out of all the variations he had lived in his past missions, he never recalled someone so pathetic. Joshua was alone, someone he loved abandoned him for fame, and he drank himself to death. Seriously, if The Interface ran an awards show for most pitiful host body, System 1230 would win right now.

   Joshua shook his head. "No. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell—"

   Smack!

   Sera repeatedly attacked his shoulders lightly. "You're supposed to—"

   "Hey."

   The two stopped their bickering and glanced up.

   “Can I talk to you for a moment?” Jihoon asked. He had his fists clenched by his side, biting his lip. It was hard to take him seriously when he was dressed in all pastels, with a teddy bear charm on his jeans. With his pink hair, he was truly made for Wookyung.

   Joshua could probably guess what he wanted to say—down to the way he’d say it too. Still, this was the perfect moment. “I’ll be back.”

   Sera grabbed his arm.

   "It'll be fine."

   Joshua followed Jihoon, who led them behind one of the dressing trailers. Once he was sure it was just the two of them, he shortened the distance.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 3. Your current health is now at 106 out of 300.

   "Let go of my shoulders," Joshua groaned. "You're not going to scare me. Just say what you want to say and—"

   "Who the fuck are you?"

   He froze.

   Jihoon let go, still glaring up at him. “You’re not the Joshua I know. I don’t get it! Ever since I went back for that necklace… it’s like… it’s like you’re a whole new person.”

   "What nonsense are you—"

   “You shouldn’t be here. Why the fuck are you here?” He paused, swinging his hands around in frustration. “Why are you always around Wonwoo? What are you trying to do?”

   There it was.

   Joshua scoffed. "What are you implying? I can't talk to my co-star now?"

   “You know that’s not what I fucking mean. You keep—” Jihoon froze, as if he had been hit by a great revelation. Knowing him, it was probably the opposite. “Are you trying to sabotage me? Through him?”

   Joshua looked at The Interface. For a moment, he considered slam-dunking Jihoon right then and there. But if the punishment was the same, he’d be as good as dead with his health.

   “Look,” he sighed. “You’re not going to listen to whatever I say, you know that. And I don’t know what you mean, I’m me. The only thing that’s changed is that I’m not a doormat for you to step on and yell at, got it?”

   Jihoon gritted his teeth.

   “Focus on your role.” Joshua glanced at him, smirking. He truly had the antagonistic look down. “Who knows? If you’re too busy thinking about useless things, I might just take Wonwoo off you.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 40.

•••

   Joshua stretched his neck from side to side and took his spot.

   The location was cramped, as the scene took place in a small alleyway. The staff team had a blast decorating the normal street into a mess, as if it had been ransacked and left to decay. It was a little dramatic for what was supposed to be a first meeting between Sihyun and Ryujin, but at least it was done well.

   After a few rewrites and discussions, their first scene together was changed from the one they did at the audition. Now, Wonwoo was going to beat up a few gangsters, looking hot as he did so—and then he’d finally catch up to Joshua, who was trying to escape the scene.

   "Are we ready?" the director yelled.

   Wonwoo nodded.

   "Alright. Slate… action!"

   Bang!

   Sihyun kicked the overflowing trash can down. Coincidentally, the wind blew and gently brushed his bangs back, revealing one of his eyes—glaring.

   “I didn’t expect the quality of your organization to be this poor,” he mocked, walking closer. “If you’re going to send people to stalk Wookyung, couldn’t you have chosen better?”

   Further down the alleyway was Ryujin, leaning against the wall as he let out a puff of his cigarette. He was surrounded by his lackeys, who guarded him like watchdogs. Once he was done, he scoffed. “Why do you think I came here on my own?”

   “You… haha… You really think this is a joke, don’t you?” Sihyun picked up his pace, tightening his grip on the wooden plank he had picked up earlier.

   One by one, the gangsters charged forward. There must’ve been at least a dozen of them, yet none were able to take down Sihyun. Once he was done, he wiped the sweat off his face with his shirt, revealing his toned body.

   Ryujin turned away and began to walk. He wasn’t upset that all his people were taken down, but rather the fact that they were useless, like Sihyun said. All he told them to do was trail after Wookyung, but they were stupid enough to lose him. He regretted coming over as well; he only wanted to see Wookyung’s face, not Sihyun’s.

   Thump!

   He paused in his tracks, staring at the beaten-up, unconscious body that was just thrown next to him.

   Sihyun caught up and grabbed his wrist.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 3. Your current health is now at 103 out of 300.

   “What do you want?” Sihyun muttered, low and cold. “Wookyung’s debt was already cleared, so it can’t be that. What are you trying to do?”

   “I don’t think that’s any of your business, is it?” Ryujin chuckled, breaking free. “I’m only trying to take back what’s mine.”

   “Haa… Do you think Wookyung’s a prize that you can win?”

   “You said it yourself. Are you sure that’s not what you think?”

   Sihyun walked forward, cornering him back onto a light pole with a loud thud.

   Ryujin glanced around for any possible outs, though there wasn’t much he could do if Sihyun decided to grab him and throw him down.

   “Haha… You think you’re so great,” he said, giggling like a maniac. “What makes you any different from me? Do you think you’re better because you paid off his debts? You think he likes you? We both know that the only reason he hasn’t left is because he feels guilty. That’s the kind of person Wookyung is.”

   Sihyun took hold of Ryujin’s collar, pulling him close. He couldn’t find any words to say as he stared down with gritted teeth.

   He had always heard about Ryujin from Wookyung; he never imagined that he was this kind of person. Ryujin was a criminal. Hell, he was the leader of a mafia organization. But somehow, his face and his voice were opposite to his image. In a way, it made him scarier—the fact that he could blatantly stalk someone and admit to it while smiling like a deer caught in headlights was eerie.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   “Cut!” the director yelled, then sighed. “Wonwoo, what are you doing?”

   Wonwoo pulled away, bowing his apology. He was supposed to say something by then, but completely blanked, staring at Joshua’s face. “Sorry! Can we take that again?”

   She nodded, and they hit the slate once more.

   Sihyun grabbed Ryujin by the collar, staring him down like he had found his prey. The distance between them was almost non-existent, and even their bangs touched.

   Ryujin maintained eye contact, looking at him with the corners of his lips slightly raised. It was almost sinister the way he treated everything like a game, even in a moment where he could be overthrown.

   “So it’s Wookyung that you want?” Sihyun sighed.

   “I guess your ears do work.”

   “Ha… haha… You can try whatever you want,” he continued. “But he’ll never go back to being your toy.”

   Ryujin tilted his head, almost teasingly. “Well, I’ll find out when that day comes. Won’t I?”

   “You—”

   “Hyung! Hyung! Where are you?”

   The two's heads snapped back at Wookyung's voice, calling from afar.

   “Cut!”

   Wonwoo removed his grasp. He noticed Joshua’s shirt and coat, ruffled by how tight his grip was, and reached over to pat them out.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 5.

   “Is this all you have for today?”

   He shook his head. “I just have one more scene. I’d ask you back, but I think I already know. You’re the main character, after all.”

   Wonwoo shook his head and turned away, pausing. “Your wrist…”

   “It’s fine,” Joshua said, rotating it a few times.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 1. Your current health is now at 102 out of 300.

   It wasn't fine.

   “It’s nothing you haven’t done before anyway.”

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

•••

   "Look! Look at this!"

   Joshua spat out his drink, yanked by Sera through his jacket. She shook him a few more times out of excitement, and he still didn’t know why.

   Twinkle walked out of the bedroom, yawning and stretching.

   “Wait… you have a cat?” Sera jumped up, throwing both her phone and his back onto the sofa. She rushed toward the black feline, picking it up and spinning it in circles as she kissed its stomach.

   Joshua gave Twinkle a thumbs-up for its sacrifice. He managed to get her phone, but before he could see anything, the screen shut off.

   Ding!

Loading current trends...

   Ding!

Naver Top Searches

1. Jeon Wonwoo

2. Jeon Wonwoo girlfriend

3. #WonHoon

4. Yoon Jeonghan

5. Kingpin

6. Wen Junhui

7. Lee Jihoon

8. Enemies to Lovers

9. Who's Joshua?

10. #Wonshua

   Joshua almost choked. "What…?"

   “You saw it, right?” Sera asked, muffled as her face was deep in Twinkle’s fur.

   "Host… help me. Please…"

   “What’s going on? Why are people talking about me and Wonwoo?” he asked in disbelief. He was happy about it though—very happy.

   “The scene where Sihyun confronted Ryujin is going viral,” she said. “I think it started as a small thing. You know how people ship anything, don’t you?”

   Joshua nodded.

   “Yeah, well. The clip’s everywhere, and people started shipping the antagonist with the love interest. Apparently, you guys look good together.”

   He quickly reached for his phone and did some research. Most of his mentions were from fans who started the ghost ship, making edits and think-pieces on the small interaction between Sihyun and Ryujin. It was incredible how they could come up with so much.

   Now and then, however, he noticed some bitter people. Hate comments directed at him, rather than his character. It was a given though—Wonwoo and Jihoon were established partners in the industry. He was just someone who randomly appeared, having acted with Jihoon once.

   "Don't look at things like that," Sera mumbled, looming over his shoulders.

   "I'm fine."

   “Still, it’s not good for your mental health.” Suddenly, she grabbed his head and forcibly massaged his temple. “Beautiful thoughts only! You need to stay positive.”

   Joshua laughed. "I know. I said I'm fine."

   “It’s not just going to be just online, you know that. They’re going to talk everywhere, including the fan meeting tomorrow.”

   “I won’t let it get to me,” he reassured. It was true. He didn’t care for those sentiments. He had better things to focus on—like seeing Jihoon all angry and bothered, or Wonwoo all flustered and conflicted. It was like taking down two birds with one stone, or whatever the idiom was.

   "You're thinking of something devious, aren't you?"

   Joshua smiled. Just the thought of Wonwoo's reaction had him excited.

Chapter Text

   A series, two couples, and one professional third-wheeler.

   If the original owner were here, he would've probably died a second time. Luckily, System 1230—as always—didn't give a fuck.

   On the stage, the cast stood in a row. The order was Wonwoo, Jihoon, Junhui, Jeonghan, and unfortunately for many, Joshua.

   He stood with the patience of a saint, calm and smiling even when he was treated like a fly on the wall. No, even that would have more action than he did.

   While fans ignored him and directed their screams and questions toward the two couples, his co-stars were too busy giving the best fan-service of their lives. In short, nobody was paying attention to him. It was a wonder why they even invited him here in the first place; his character was standing on a blurred line between main and supporting. Ryujin wasn't important enough to be considered main, but his role was integral to the story, more than supporting.

   Joshua stood with his hands clasped on his microphone, awaiting a moment he’d speak, but it never came. Well, it was better that way. If someone had asked him something ridiculous, he would've thrown the microphone at them.

   "Alright, alright!" the host laughed, almost obnoxiously, as she tried to quell the fans' excitement. "I'm sure everyone's dying to talk to them face to face, aren’t we?"

   Cheers erupted from both the ground floor and upper floors, where fans watched from the railings.

   "We're going to move on to the fansigns now! Are we alright with that, guys?"

   "Of course," Wonwoo smiled, placing his hand behind Jihoon's back, walking toward the tables that had just been set up. Once again, screams filled the mall.

   Joshua wondered how funny it'd be right now if he killed himself.

   "Look at them!" the host screeched, fanning herself. "You guys can't be apart for a moment, can you?"

   Jeonghan laughed, leaning into Junhui's shoulder once they sat down. "No. He'll die without me."

   "Haha… you can't just say that…"

   "Aw... he's embarrassed!"

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], please stop staring at the screen.

[SYSTEM 0313] and [SYSTEM 1107] are watching, they can sense your murderous intent.

   Good.

   "We're going to call out the lucky winners now! If you hear your number, please stand out and head to the left side of the stage!"

   One by one, fans gathered in a line. There were at least thirty people, mostly women, with different signboards and plushies in their arms. They all hurried onto the stage, starting with Wonwoo, then Jihoon, then Junhui, then Jeonghan, and once again, then Joshua.

   Whenever they reached the seat in front of Joshua, they suddenly became uninterested. Gone were the photos they wanted to be signed, the words they wanted to hear, and the excitement they had just three seconds earlier. By the time half of the fans had gone, the tables were full of gifts and accessories—except for Joshua. The space before him was so bare, he swore he saw a tumbleweed roll by.

   Jeonghan, who sat next to him, noticed as well. Though all he did was sneakily grin and turn away to make more hearts with Junhui.

   Joshua didn't want to admit it, but it stung. Still, he sat there with a smile, clinging to the hope that maybe just one person would give enough shits to talk to him. He even went the extra mile and tried to start the conversation first; either they gave him dry responses, or they just skipped his signing altogether.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   He scoffed. It was a surprise that Wonwoo even noticed him, considering they were at opposite ends of the table.

   "Alright! The first ten numbers I called out earlier, please come back here!" The host began again, playfully beckoning the fans back. "Don't leave yet! We have to take a photo, haha!"

   Then, she turned to the cast. "Let's see your best look, guys!"

   Junhui slid a bunny headband on Jeonghan's head, while he had a matching cat one. Wonwoo gave Jihoon a flower crown, while he held a singular rose to his mouth.

   Fans gathered in front of the stage, finding their positions and crouching down.

   Suddenly, Wonwoo stood up; it felt like forever the moment he walked over to the other side of the table. He leaned over from behind and placed a silver tiara on Joshua's head.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 30.

   "What… are you…?" Joshua looked back with his eyes wide. He was genuinely surprised.

   Wonwoo completed his look by giving him a matching wand with a pink heart in the middle. It must've been then that he realized what he had done, as screams and murmurs took over. The fans in front also began taking pictures and videos—some smiling, some confused.

   His cheeks suddenly flushed, and he returned to his seat.

   Joshua couldn't help but smile; he turned away, covering the bottom half of his face.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

•••

   "This is a problem." Taeyeon, the director, sat with her eyes closed. Her arms were crossed as her chest rose and fell with every deep breath she took. She was stressed; anyone could see that.

   It would be surprising if she wasn't, to be honest. It had been over a month since filming began, and the series had aired. She had worked her ass off, tirelessly, with the rest of the team to get it out as soon as possible—when Wonwoo and Jihoon, and Junhui and Jeonghan's popularity were still skyrocketing. That was what it should've been. But somehow, she was here in her chair, mid-shooting—distressed.

   While Kingpin was successful and received increased viewership with every episode, there was an undeniable demand for more. Although they weren't as loud, many people wanted Sihyun and Ryujin—more scenes, more interactions, and more tension. She didn't want to believe it, but Wonwoo and Joshua had a lot more chemistry than she had hoped for their two characters.

   Well, it would be harder not to notice the booming chemistry—Joshua was busting his ass off to make it happen.

   "Cut!"

   Joshua hunched over, exhausted. He didn't do anything physical today; he just spent the entire night reading comments under his blanket. He had become too engrossed in what people were saying about him. While the majority were still opposed to the rise of his ghost ship with Wonwoo, he had passionate fans fighting against them. If he really thought about it, they were definitely wrong to push forward the idea when Wonwoo and Jihoon were active partners. However, since it’s Jihoon, he didn't care that much.

   Junhui rushed over, patting him on the shoulder. "You were so cool just then!"

   "Speak for yourself," he said, chuckling. "You were like a whole new person. You're the cool guy here."

   "Are you saying I'm not usually cool?" Junhui pouted dramatically.

   "Well, no."

   "Hey, you're not supposed to be this honest!"

   Joshua laughed. He turned Junhui around and forced him to walk, pushing him by the shoulders. "I think you're more the adorable type. That's not a bad thing, is it?"

   Junhui seemed to think about it, scratching his cheek. "I guess so…"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {WEN JUNHUI} has increased by 15.

   "Anyway, this is my last scene for today. I'll see you next time—"

   "Aren't you coming to the dinner?"

   Joshua's eyes narrowed. "What dinner?"

   "Oh, it's a little get-together that Jeonghan's hosting. He told me and Jihoon earlier, so I thought he must've told you already. Haha…"

   Jeonghan and Jihoon must've been good friends. He always thought so, but he wasn't sure how close they were; whenever they hung out, it was the four of them, including Wonwoo and Junhui. It wouldn't be surprising if they were the bestest buddies in the world, though; both of them seemed to have a jealousy and staring problem when it came to him.

   "I don't know if he'd want me there—"

   "What are you saying?" Junhui grabbed both of his hands, shaking them in his grasp. "I'm not sure why there's tension with you guys, but… Jeonghan's nice! I'm sure he just forgot to ask you! You should really come!"

   Joshua gave up, nodding. He couldn't wait to go to dinner just to lose his appetite, and have himself cooked alive by burning glares instead. How thrilling.

•••

   Well, look at that. Joshua was right. He should've bought the lottery while he was at it, too.

   They were at a hot-pot restaurant with one large, split pot with two types of broth for the table. But somehow, the only thing that was boiling was his anger. Not only was he in the presence of two of the most insufferable people ever, but their fans had also flocked over, taking the nearby seats. Now, all he could see and hear were hushed cheering and camera flashes.

   Thankfully, he didn't have to deal with Jihoon and Jeonghan's unnecessary comments or glares, since they couldn't act up in the presence of so many people. Even if they did, Joshua couldn't blame anyone. It was completely on him to fall victim to Junhui's pleading eyes. Tall men and their animal-like features be damned.

   After a few more minutes of off-the-hours fan-service and women screaming all around him, he stood up.

   "Joshua?" Junhui looked up.

   "I'm going to the bathroom," Joshua said, smiling. It was so fake that the corner of his lips started to twitch.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   He sighed and left.

   "Wait," Wonwoo called out, stopping him by the arm. "I'll go with you. I… need to go as well."

   "Huh?" Jihoon glanced around and chuckled nervously. "Wait—"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 10.

   Joshua continued to beeline for the bathroom, ignoring as Wonwoo followed after. Once they were inside and finally free from the constant gawking and cameras, he let out a deep breath.

   Click!

   He turned back.

   "I locked the door," Wonwoo said, walking closer. "There's no one inside, right?"

   "Even if there were, it'd be too late now. Don't you think?" Joshua scoffed.

   "What's wrong?"

   Joshua walked to the sink and ran the warm water over his hands. "Nothing. It was just a little suffocating."

   Wonwoo loosened his button-up blouse, stretching his neck. He was a little sweaty; his collarbone glistened under the dim lights. "You'll get used to it. Fans are always like that."

   "It's not that," he mumbled. "I shouldn't have come…"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   "I thought it'd be a good opportunity to get to know Junhui and Jeonghan, but… I don't think that's going to work out."

   "What do you mean?"

   "Jeonghan doesn't like me, you know that, don't you?" Joshua laughed. "It's probably because of Jihoon. I don't think he likes me getting close to Junhui either. Seriously, why does everyone think I'm trying to steal their man? Even before that, Ji—"

   Wonwoo pulled him by the shoulder. "Even before what?"

   Joshua bit his lip. His bait was perfect; The Interface should give him a mission to do with fishing after he completed this one.

   "Even before what?" he repeated. "You were about to say Jihoon's name, weren't you?"

   "Forget it, I—"

   "Tell me!"

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 1. Your current health is now at 99 out of 300.

   Joshua hissed in pain, scaring Wonwoo's grip off his shoulder. He was faking it.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   "Sorry, I didn't mean to…" Wonwoo sighed, holding onto his forehead. "Can you just… tell me?"

   "He confronted me a while ago. He… thought I was trying to steal you away from him, so I could ruin his career or something."

   Silence.

   Joshua hugged himself and looked away. "See? This is why I didn't want to tell you. You don't believe me anyway—"

   "No." Wonwoo shook his head. He took hold of Joshua's shoulders again, gently this time. "I just… I'm a little confused. That's all…"

   "Why?" Joshua asked. His voice was soft, faint like a whisper. Under the warm light above his head, he looked different.

   Wonwoo had always seen him brimming with confidence. His words were always sharp, and he wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Yet somehow, out of nowhere, he looked hurt. His expression was reminiscent of the night they met up, when he first saw him cry.

   He couldn't answer Joshua's question. He didn't understand it either. He just couldn't figure out the strange feeling in his chest.

   Joshua turned his face away, looking at the stalls instead of the mirror. He should probably cry now to dramatize the scene he had set so perfectly, but he didn't want to ruin his makeup.

   Instead, he decided to place his hand atop one of Wonwoo's, still holding onto his shoulder. His fingers were long and slender, cold to the touch. They even flinched under Joshua's grasp.

   "What are you confused about?" Joshua asked again. "Do you think I'm lying? Or is it… because you're scared?"

   Wonwoo didn't reply.

   "You don't have to listen to me." Joshua removed Wonwoo's hands from his shoulders and headed for the door. "Jihoon's your partner. He needs you, and you… need him. I don't want you to hate him because of what I've said."

   That was a lie. He was practically on his knees begging Wonwoo to hate Jihoon. Hell, if it were possible, he'd sacrifice half of his health for it to happen overnight.

   Joshua chuckled under his breath and unlocked the door.

   "What… about you?"

   "…What?"

   "Who do you have?"

   Well, Joshua didn't answer. System 1230 couldn't answer.

   "Why?" He laughed. "Are you going to be on my side?"

   Wonwoo's face was full of conflict, and at the same time, upset.

   "Haha… I didn't think so."

   Click!

   Joshua breathed in deeply, leaning against the door he had shut behind him.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   A smile formed on his lips.

   "Show me his screen." Joshua pulled up his hood and quickly rushed out of the restaurant; luckily, the fans were too busy drooling over Junhui and Jeonghan to notice him.

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –598

   Joshua almost cried—he had truly come a long way. If he had any parents, they'd be proud of him.

   "Show me the task screen."

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Lay It on Thick

DESCRIPTION: Get {JEON WONWOO}’s favorability out of the negatives by any means

TIME LEFT: 111d 19h 41m 12s

REWARD: 

• +300 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}

• +50 health

   "Look at that," Joshua gloated. He was nodding with his head held high, crossing his arms. "I know you guys are watching in the array. What do you think? I'll be done with this mission in no time—"

Ding!

[SYSTEM 1107] believes in you, [SYSTEM 1230].

   He nodded. "Of course—"

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 0313] wants to see you fail, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua flipped the screen off.

   It was still a long way until the night was over. If anything, the streets got busier and more crowded as he continued to walk, lively with drunken conversations and laughter. It was a shame to go home now.

   He tightened his hood and hid his face further. He might as well make the most of his free time; he didn't have any schedules lined up tomorrow anyway.

   Bzzt! Bzzt!

   Joshua pulled the phone out of his pocket. "Ha… What is this?"

   He answered the call.

   "Stop walking," Wonwoo said, his voice stuttering through the device. He seemed out of breath as well. "I see you."

   Joshua glanced back. His hand slowly lowered the phone as he watched Wonwoo speed-walk over. "What are you…?"

   "You're not done for the night yet, are you?"

   He shook his head.

   "Then… do you want to go for a round of drinks?" Wonwoo said, still panting. "It's on me."

   Joshua grinned. He wasn't sure what Wonwoo was trying to do, but this was a chance he couldn't pass on. After all, people are most honest when they're drunk—he wouldn't know how that felt, though. He could drink fifty bottles of the world's hardest liquor, and his cheeks wouldn't even flush.

   "I don't know what you're trying to pull, but are you sure? I drink a lot."

   Wonwoo chuckled. "I know you do. It won't mean much if you're a lightweight, though."

   Oh, right. The original owner of the body literally died from alcohol poisoning.

   "You don't know that," Joshua whispered, leaning in. "Don't cry when I drain your card empty tonight."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   "…I won't."

   Joshua turned around again and continued walking, searching for their next stop. Somehow, his face felt a little warmer than usual.

•••

   "Ugh… Mm… mmph! Fuck…"

   Joshua covered his mouth, trying to shove his nausea back down his throat.

   There was one thing System 1230 overlooked. While he might've downed jugs and pots of alcohol in his past missions before, it was all reliant on the host's body. Unfortunately, this time, he wasn't as lucky—Joshua just wasn't one of those people.

   "So much for draining my card," Wonwoo said, not even fazed by the seven empty bottles nearby. It was as if he drank juice or something.

   "Asshole," Joshua groaned under his breath. He had his arms on the table, resting his head on top of them. His vision was surrounded by empty plates and glasses—their smells making his head hurt even more. Although he was still aware of everything, his body was taking the alcohol a lot worse than he had thought. If he had checked his health right now, he wouldn't be surprised if he were on the verge of death.

   Suddenly, he could feel a cool touch on his forehead, brushing away the bangs from his eyes. It was a shame; he didn't manage to get Wonwoo drunk, let alone get any more information out of him. He still wanted to try, as the moment might never come again, but it was too late; the cold fingers that grazed his cheek gently settled him to sleep.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

Chapter Text

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Ding!

wnhnluvr: look i love them but it's so obvious that they're just plain fanservice LMFAOOOOO hoon was literally in a different pair before this why can't we just enjoy them for what it is

   Ding!

qingqiuTOP: ngl if joshua was a woman him and wonwoo would have a dating schedule AGESSSSSS ago because wdym they were out drinking at night together??? AND THERE'S PICTURES OF HIM CARRYING JOSHUA???

   Ding!

jeonghangay: Can we PLEASE respect the couples? It's JUNHAN and WONHOON…

   Ding!

shuameister_: you guys are just mad wonwoo has more chemistry with joshua than * LOLLLLL

   Ding!

YAOIKINGTHE3RD: all this hysteria when they can just be a throuple…

   Joshua covered his ears and curled himself up, disappearing under the thick duvet to avoid the constant notification sounds around him. He couldn't stay down for long, though. For some reason, his blanket was a lot softer and thicker today, almost suffocating him with warmth in the minute he was under there.

   He quickly emerged, gulping down fresh air. Strangely, there was a faint aroma of jasmine.

   "You're awake."

   Joshua sat up—so fast that he twisted his back, hunching over in pain. As if on cue, the aftermath of his overconfident alcohol consumption kicked in. It was like a combo, taking him down on the mattress again.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Wonwoo placed his mug of coffee down nearby and rushed over, flailing his hands for a second as he tried to figure out which part to pat. "Are you okay? You—"

   "Hold on… Just stay quiet."

   Joshua's head was ringing. It must've been a good few minutes before he could prop himself up, leaning against the headboard, his back supported by a stack of pillows. "Am I… at your place?"

   "Yeah. I tried to call your manager last night, but she didn't pick up." Wonwoo scratched his neck sheepishly, avoiding eye contact. "I… didn't know where you lived, so I just took you back to my apartment."

   Joshua covered his mouth and turned away, suppressing his chuckle. He couldn't celebrate, not yet. All he knew was that Sera was going to get treated to a fine meal after this.

   "Why didn't you ask Jihoon? He would've told you—" he paused, looking down at his hand. His clothes were different than yesterday, as he was wearing oversized sweats and a t-shirt. Seriously, it was win after win. "Maybe not…"

   There was an awkward silence—only to Wonwoo, of course. Joshua was enjoying this.

   "Did you… change my clothes?"

   "That—I," Wonwoo said, stuttering. His cheeks were red again.

   Joshua crawled over to where he stood, leaning over just enough for the top to fall off his shoulder—exposing his defined collarbone. "Why are you suddenly shy about it? You're the one who changed me, didn't you?"

   "I just—you…" Wonwoo's eyes wandered around Joshua. "You reeked of alcohol, so—so… I had to."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Joshua couldn’t remember what happened before he passed out, but it must’ve been good. His favorability rating jumped from –598 to –531 overnight. Honestly, with a face like his, it was just a matter of time.

   However, he couldn't get too complacent.

   "Thanks," Joshua said. He got out of bed and quickly made it, patting it down. "Sorry for bothering you. I didn't think I'd be this weak to alcohol. I guess it's been a while."

   "You're leaving?"

   "Well, do you want me to stay?" he teased. "I'm sure having me in your bed was already disgusting enough. Surely, you don't want me to stay and eat breakfast or something."

   "That's not what I… meant," Wonwoo mumbled. "Why do you keep…"

   Joshua walked out of the bedroom. The apartment was nicer than he'd expected, though it was a bit bland—white and minimalistic. It looked more like a showroom than a home that was lived in. Considering Wonwoo's fame and career, it wouldn't be a surprise if he spent more time outside than at home.

   "I don't know what I'm supposed to think," he continued. "We're not friends. I know you don't like me."

   Wonwoo lingered behind, staring at Joshua’s small frame in his oversized clothes.

   "You're confused? I'm confused too," Joshua scoffed. He turned just enough for Wonwoo to enjoy his side profile. "You still hate me, but you keep going out of your way to help me."

   "I… don't know why I'm doing this either."

   Joshua knew exactly why. As much as he loved kissing his ass as a joke, he wasn't wrong. In all of his missions, he never struggled to make friends and was always approachable. Wonwoo was no exception. The only difference was that he started out despising Joshua; now, he was dealing with his desire to get closer against his preconceived prejudice.

   But of course, Joshua couldn't just say that outright. Unfortunately, he was just a normal human being, not some psychic mind-reader. So instead, he let out a pathetic chuckle.

   "I'll wash these and return them to you later," Joshua said, tugging on his oversized clothes.

   Click!

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Joshua chuckled. He glanced back at the door he had just shut and couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "You're starting to like me, aren't you?"

•••

   "Serious. This is serious."'

   Sweat dripped down Joshua's face, back, and legs. He almost thought he pissed himself for a moment, but it was just the incredible tension getting to him.

   He had gone up against the scariest of monsters and humans, but none as intimidating as the woman before him. She was the CEO of his acting company, or something like that.

   Ding!

NAME: {LIZE HWANG}

GENDER: Female

AGE: 41

STATUS: Unclear

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: CEO at Vivace Entertainment

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 127

   For someone who had a pretty decent favorability, she was glaring at him like he had flipped her off and told her to die.

   “Boss,” Sera sighed, “you really need to fix that look of yours.”

   “You’ve got some nerve!” Lize yelled, slamming her desk like a toddler throwing a tantrum. Then she stood, looming over him—a terrifying height advantage that made Joshua wonder what kind of genetics created someone like her.

   "What the hell did you do?"

   Joshua gulped. "What do you mean?"

   Suddenly, Lize grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him as excitement lit up in her eyes—only to pull him into a bear hug.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LIZ HWANG} has increased by 10.

  Ding!

Your health has decreased by 15. Your current health is now at 91 out of 300.

   Great. Not only was she big and terrifying, but she was abnormally strong, too. The entertainment industry must've really hit her hard.

   “Haven’t you seen the hype around you and Wonwoo?! People are going feral over that clip of him playing with your hair!”

   "He did what…?"

   Sera quickly turned on her phone and passed it over. It was a shaky video, taken from outside the restaurant they had eaten at a few nights ago, showing Wonwoo as he brushed back Joshua's bangs. It was definitely after he had passed out since he couldn't remember anything, and it went on for a good minute before Wonwoo realized what he was doing and noticed the cameras.

   "You should've heard that bastard's voice when he called me, haha!" Lize continued, roaring into his ears.

   "Bastard?"

   "The CEO of Accolades," Sera whispered.

   "You know what he told me? Their team wants to amend the script for Kingpin!" She laughed, shaking him even more. "They're adding more scenes of Ryujin! Did you hear that?"

   Joshua nodded, still stunned. He definitely had whiplash.

   "I don't know what the hell you did—or care, honestly. But you did well!" Lize patted his shoulders.

  Ding!

Your health has decreased by 10. Your current health is now at 81 out of 300.

   "Keep it up!"

•••

   Joshua's worst nightmare came true. It was real, and it was here right in front of him. While the scripts were altered to give him more screen time, he wished they had taken away his other scenes as well—like the one right now, where he had to kiss Jihoon.

   It was supposed to be a flashback, showing how obsessive and possessive Ryujin was, to contrast with Ryujin in the next scene. The cameras were going to focus on their faces separately as they smacked lips, but he'd rather smack his head on a wall and die before he had to do that. He couldn't believe it. This was harder than killing an ugly goblin with a magical girl wand—speaking from experience.

   "Alright, are we ready?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 2.

   Joshua nodded. He wasn't sure how he was going to hide his imminent disgust from the large camera that was positioned to capture every emotion on his face.

   Jihoon wasn't fond of the idea either. His favorability kept dropping by the second, yet he continued to glare at him.

   It didn't help that everyone decided to tune in; Junhui and Jeonghan stood next to each other, watching from behind the director's seat. Meanwhile, Wonwoo was off to the side. He was attended to by a dozen staff members, whether they were fanning him or touching up his makeup.

   Somehow, his gaze only landed on one person.

   "Okay! Slate… action!"

   Bang!

   Ryujin slammed Wookyung against the wall roughly. His hands were antsy, finding their way inside Wookyung's shirt as he kissed his neck; his lips were rough and impatient, tainting the pale skin with his desires. It was as if the frail body would slip out of his grasp.

   "S-Slow down…" Wookyung panted. His eyes wavered, staring at everything else in the room but the man in front of him.

   "Where are you looking?" Ryujin grabbed his hands and pinned them against the wall. He stared at Wookyung's eyes for a while, forcing him to return his gaze—full of thirst and hunger, like a lion that had spotted its prey. His eyes were almost violating as they moved around his body, stopping at Wookyung's trembling lips.

   There was a long moment of silence.

   "Cut!" the director yelled. "Joshua? What happened?"

   Joshua bowed his apology. He was supposed to kiss Jihoon by then, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Sorry, I think I missed my timing."

   "We'll take it from where we left off then!" she continued. "You're doing good with your expression, keep it up!"

   He pinned Jihoon to the wall again.

   "Action!"

   Wookyung bit his lip, still avoiding Ryujin's fixation on him. He felt like meat on display, like a butcher was ready to take him.

   Suddenly, Ryujin pulled him in, kissing him. Their faces remained still for a few seconds as they processed the situation.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 5.

   "Cut!" Taeyeon shouted, sighing this time. "What's going on? You don't know how to kiss or something?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {KIM TAEYEON} has decreased by 3.

   "S-Sorry," Jihoon muttered, lowering his head. "I think… he's just a little nervous."

   Joshua closed his eyes to hide the fact that they were rolling to the back of his head. Next time he opened them, he might be blind.

   The director continued to throw daggers with her eyes—though they quickly stopped when Wonwoo suddenly appeared beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

   "Why don't we have our lunch break a little early?" Wonwoo suggested. "We started filming pretty early today, so people are probably tired."

   "I guess so," she said, raising her megaphone. "We'll take an hour and run it from the top!"

   Joshua bowed. "Thank—"

   "Seriously," Jihoon muttered under his breath. "Stop fucking up on purpose."

   Silence.

   Joshua was so shocked that he was still stuck, bending ninety degrees. He didn't blink, nor did he close his mouth. For a moment, having about fifty health wouldn't be bad if it meant he could pick Jihoon up and throw him off the balcony right now.

   Unfortunately for the success of his mission, he had to take the higher road.

   "You think I want to kiss you or something?" he scoffed. "If I could choose, I'd rather… eat shit and live—"

   "You! What did you just—"

   Before Joshua was terrorized by unnecessary rambling, he fled the scene. He rushed past the equipment blocking the hallway and found the bathroom, running in. Once he got the sink running, he began to wipe his mouth.

   "Shit. I'm fucking up on purpose?" Joshua groaned, rubbing his lips red. "Like hell I want to ki—"

   Creak!

   "Ha," Joshua scoffed. "This is a familiar scene, isn't it?"

   Wonwoo chuckled and joined him by the counters. His bangs were still pinned up with hairclips; it was as if he had run after Joshua again, leaving the staff members behind.

   Joshua patted his lips dry and quickly reapplied his lip tint. As much as he tried, it was hard to ignore Wonwoo—who was staring at him through the mirror.

   "Do you… hate Jihoon that much?"

   Joshua wanted to yell 'bingo' and do a heel-click. "I don't hate him. It's just… a little strange. Working with an ex-boyfriend is already one thing."

   "So what is it? What's stopping you from doing the scene?"

   "I guess it's the way I have to do it. I've never been that aggressive toward him before," Joshua mumbled. He was half-lying. He could still see the memories of the original owner with Jihoon from the past; they were definitely the lovey-dovey kind, with gentle affection, so that part was true. However, it wasn't hard for him to pin someone up and kiss them like he was starving or anything—he just really couldn't bring himself to do it with Jihoon, who he wanted to fight at least once.

   "Are you sure it's just because you don't know how to kiss properly?" Wonwoo chuckled teasingly.

   "Why? Are you going to teach me if I said I didn't?"

   Silence.

   Ding!

Nice one, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Joshua turned away to hide his cheeks reddening by the minute. Even he was surprised that he said that.

   Wonwoo was also glancing around. He rested his hands on the sink, pushing himself back and forth slightly.

   "Forget it, I was just kidding—"

   "Is it going to help you finish the scene?" Wonwoo asked. "I just—I don't want to… be here all day."

   When Joshua managed to turn back, they made eye contact. "I—"

   He paused.

   "I think so."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Wonwoo grabbed his arm and led him to the stall at the end, locking it once they were both inside. Compared to the rest of the bathroom, it was dark, dimly lit by a small light fixed on the wall above the toilet.

   "I'll be Ryujin for now," Wonwoo said. "You're Wookyung. The best way to learn is to experience it, right?"

   "Wait, do you even know what the scene is?"

   "Yeah, I've read through everything, including everyone's lines."

   Now that was a top actor.

   Wonwoo slammed Joshua against the tiled wall, protecting his head with his hand. He started with rushed kisses against Joshua's shoulders and neck, holding his face up as he did so. Then, his hands moved around Joshua's torso to his upper thighs, squeezing them before pulling him closer.

   Joshua was already out of breath from sheer shock. There was a tingling sensation in his stomach, and he could hear his heart thumping loudly. However, he had to focus and quickly looked away, acting as Wookyung. "Slow… slow down…"

   Wonwoo took Joshua's wrists and pinned him back with just one hand. His other hand grabbed his chin, forcibly bringing his attention back—no matter how hard Joshua struggled, he couldn't break free from the lustful gaze that was undressing him. His heart raced just as fast as he panted.

   It was a shame that the stall was dark; Joshua would've loved to see what face Wonwoo was making properly. To study, of course.

   "I'm going to kiss you now," he muttered through short breaths. "Is this too much for you? Just tell me to stop when—"

   "I don't… remember having any lines like that," Joshua whispered, out of breath.

   "…You're right."

   Wonwoo pulled him into the kiss by the waist, anchoring his knee between Joshua's legs. His hands found the back of Joshua's neck, squeezing him briefly before he reached up and pulled his head back by the hair. He was desperate, almost feral, as he forced Joshua to follow the rhythm of his desires.

   Joshua gasped for air, but he was soon taken in by the sweetness of Wonwoo's lips again; they were soft and smooth, with traces of strawberry from whatever products he used. Before he even realized it, Wonwoo had taken his composure, his breath, and the strength in his body. He didn't even have time to shame himself over the involuntary noises that escaped his mouth—soft moans that he tried to suppress in case anyone were to enter.

Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   Neither of them could tell how long it had been. Nor did they know if this was still part of the scene anymore.

Chapter Text

   Wonwoo's hand was on Joshua's neck, pulling him away from the kiss that stole both of their breath—and the foundation around their lips. Their eye contact lasted for at least thirty seconds before embarrassment kicked in, and he backed away, covering his face. It was as if he were a shy teenager who had just had his first kiss; though that obviously wasn't the case, as Joshua could attest.

   "Do you… get it now?" he mumbled, stretching his shirt as much as he could as he pulled it down.

   Joshua almost burst out laughing. It was a little late for Wonwoo to hide anything; he had felt that third leg against his thigh ages ago. He was almost jealous, but he'd worry about that later.

   "I'll go first," Joshua whispered, leaning into Wonwoo's ear. He unlocked the stall, peering outside to make sure no one was there.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   "I'd tell you to wait a few minutes before coming out too, but…" Joshua glanced down. "I think you'd need more time than that."

   "Y-You—"

   Well, Joshua was out of there. He had better things to do, like think of reasons to tell Sera about why his makeup was suddenly gone from the lower half of his face.

•••

   Genius. Joshua was truly a prodigy. There was no one else like him. If he could bend over and suck himself off right now, he would.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 0000], some class, please.

   Apparently, laughter and whimsy were banned today.

   Joshua still couldn't believe what happened. Even though he was the one who started it, he didn't think Wonwoo would go along with it. Practice, his ass. Both of them knew the moment they kissed that it was no longer about the filming; Joshua proudly owned up to the idea, but he wasn't sure if Wonwoo would.

   Well, making out with someone he hated and getting hard from it was definitely a humiliation trial.

   "What happened back there?" Sera asked. She let her bag slip off her shoulder onto the back of her car before moving over to collapse into the driver's seat. She didn't act or anything, just being on set was tiring enough. Especially when people like Jihoon's manager surrounded her; it was incredible how two insufferable people could find each other like they did.

   Joshua joined her in the passenger seat. "What do you mean?"

   "The kiss!" She looked at him. Her face was distorting in ways that were probably asking him if he was serious. "You came back after the lunch break and ate Jihoon's face like you starved yourself or something!"

   "Let's not say it like that," he groaned, shivering at the imagery she had put in his head. It was true though, he went all out after the incredible lesson he was taught. "I just realized the more I mess up, the more I'd have to keep looking at his face."

   "You're crazy." Sera laughed. "Also, did you have another argument with Wonwoo or something? He was scowling when he was watching you guys. Oh, do you think he's like jealous because of Jihoon or something?"

   Joshua looked out the window as the car began to move. "Who knows?"

•••

   The entertainment industry was truly something.

   There was a witch-hunt for Joshua's head by half of the boys' love community, yet here he was, at a promotional event with them—again. He just couldn't understand what all their companies were thinking. On one hand, he was a great actor, with better visual and acting chemistry with Wonwoo, which was indeed true. On the other, he was a bitter ex-partner of Jihoon's who wanted to sabotage him, which was even more true.

   At this rate, he wouldn't be surprised if someone threw a tomato at him on the stage right now. He wouldn't mind it either; seriously, he couldn't figure out why they wanted actors to promote laundry detergent.

   "Alright! Should we move on to the guessing game?" the host asked, waving her microphone to the crowd. "We're going to blindfold you guys and have you guess the scent of our latest products! The winner gets a prize and the loser gets a punishment of the winner's choice!"

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Steal The Show

DESCRIPTION: Create a moment with {JEON WONWOO}

TIME LIMIT: 1 hour

REWARD: 

• +30 favorability with {JEON WONWOO}

• +20 health

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   Joshua accepted before he even finished reading. He didn't care about the favorability that much; he could get that amount just by winking at Wonwoo.

   Ding!

You have accepted Steal The Show.

Upon completion, your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} will increase by 30, and your health will increase by 20.

TIME LEFT: 59m 51s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   "How about you go first?" Wonwoo asked, looking at Jihoon, who clung to his arms.

   "Why me?" Jihoon whined, shaking his head. "You should go first. You always smell nice. It's probably because you use Downy detergent, right?"

   Joshua just threw up in his mouth. He sure as hell hoped no one saw that.

   "Haha, okay, okay. I'll go first." Wonwoo sat down on the chair and placed his hands on his knees as Jihoon blindfolded him.

   The fans' screams and cheers swept through the mall, watching the sweet moment through their phones, recording and taking photos.

   "Alright, are we ready?" the host yelled. "We'll start with the first scent!"

   It went just as Joshua expected. Jihoon was given five caps full of different detergents, and one by one, he'd bring them up to Wonwoo's nose for him to smell. Of course, they didn't forget the mandatory fan-service; Wonwoo would hold onto Jihoon's hand, massaging his wrist slightly during the time he was given to guess. Joshua almost applauded him for how committed he was, but unfortunately, he was too busy doing jack shit and fuck all. He had to focus on giving reactions so he wouldn't look awkward, standing off to the side alone.

   For the bonus rounds, the host pulled Joshua and Jihoon close; she wanted them to bring their clothes near Wonwoo and have him guess by scent. Simply put, she was a genius.

   "Are you ready for the next one?"

   Wonwoo nodded. "My nose is going to fall off after this."

   Joshua stepped up. He tugged his sleeve down and held it before Wonwoo, who leaned in.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 2.

   Joshua almost chuckled. It would be a surprise if Wonwoo didn't recognize him, considering the fact that he had been kissing away all the spots Joshua had perfumed a few days ago.

   "Alright, that's enough." The host pulled him back. "What do you think?"

   "It's different… This isn't one of Downy's, is it?"

   She laughed. "You really did your study on the scents we offer, didn't you?"

   "Of course! I'm a fan, haha." He entertained her some more. "Well, this is definitely—"

   Everyone went silent in anticipation. Joshua too.

   "Did you bring a staff member on stage? Haha, I don't know," Wonwoo said, tilting his head around as if he really had no idea. "Can I pass this? I don't know this one."

   Joshua stepped back, shocked, to let Jihoon have his go.

   Instead of pulling his shirt closer or using his sleeve, Jihoon leaned in and had Wonwoo take in his scent from his neck. He covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing, visibly enjoying the fans' reactions as he spared glances at Joshua.

   "This…" Wonwoo smiled. "It's sweet. Like candy, almost?"

   "Oh? You know this one?" the host asked, grinning.

   "You could say I'm very familiar with it, haha."

   Fans screamed again.

   "I'll answer," Wonwoo raised his hand. "Jihoon. It's you, isn't it?"

   He removed his blindfold to find Jihoon's face close up. He stood up and celebrated his win, hugging Jihoon.

   Ding!

   Joshua couldn't believe his eyes. He bit his lip as he watched the timer run out. He was pissed. Not so much with Wonwoo, but more with the fact that he failed a task—an easy one at that. He hadn't done that in a while. What a dishonor to his name.

   Ding!

You have failed to complete Steal The Show.

As a penalty, you will not receive favorability notifications for 7 days.

[SYSTEM 1230], better luck next time!

   He was so shocked that the rest of the event was a blur. Before he knew it, he was backstage, yanking the accessories out of his hair.

   Sera was by his side, reading him his upcoming schedules as he immediately headed out.

   "Wait!" Wonwoo called out. His voice was far, as he was still getting attended to by Yiyoung. "Hold on—"

   "I have somewhere to be after this," Joshua replied bluntly, turning back. He didn't know what kind of face he made, but it probably wasn't pleasant. He wasn't sure why either. "Do you need something?"

   Wonwoo's eyes narrowed and his forehead creased; it took him a few seconds to answer. "I… No, it's fine."

   Joshua spun around and continued to walk. He glanced up at the screen and gestured for something.

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Ding!

jihoonbread: THAT WAS SO CUTE anyways i need wonhoon kissing with sloppy sex on kingpin like today

   Ding!

MyWonu: Am I the only one thinks Wonwoo knew who it was? Like he was about to answer but stopped himself…

   Ding!

wonshuatruther: guys don't let this fool you this is a slowburn TRUST ME

   Ding!

junstar: anyone got the omega jeonghan photo

   Ding!

phaideislop: they need to stop inviting joshua to these events if they're just going to have him in the back… i feel so bad for him

   Well, at least other people shared his sentiment.

•••

   "Action!"

   Bang!

   The bullet grazed past Sebin's cheek, striking Ilsung—who was behind him—in the shoulder. They staggered back for a bit, scowling and hissing in pain.

   "Is that all you've got?" Ryujin asked, lowering his gun. He had one hand tucked into the pocket of his long leather jacket as he walked closer. The air was tense and almost suffocating as he stared down at them; his face, emotionless.

   "Why—why are you going this far?!" Sebin yelled, standing up to him. He wiped the blood off his cheek, almost in tears as he tried his best to look scary. It was like a rabbit facing off a lion. "I've barely—I haven't been here for long! I don't know anything! I promise! I promise—I won't say anything. I—"

   Bang!

   Ryujin shot him in the leg, bringing him down to his knees. "You talk too much."

   "You—" Ilsung lunged at him, taking another bullet to his shoulder as he tackled him. He couldn't do much as Sebin pulled him back, afraid he'd get too injured. It was almost nauseating how they could still worry about each other in the face of death.

   Ryujin jumped away and regained his composure. Before he could take another shot, somebody grabbed him from behind and raised his arm, sending the bullet into the light fixture above them. At the same time, he could see Wookyung rushing to Sebin's side.

   "Woo—"

   "That's enough," Sihyun muttered, twisting the gun out of his hand. "You guys—"

   "Ugh!"

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 10. Your current health is now at 87 out of 300.

   "Cut!"

   Wonwoo released Joshua and spun him around, barely holding onto his shoulders. He panicked as his eyes darted around; he was almost afraid to hold onto Joshua, in case he hurt him again.

   "Are you—are you okay? Did I do it too hard? I'm—"

   "It's fine," Joshua groaned. He had to be wary; the last time his health dropped below eighty, he passed out. "Can you just… do it a little softer next time? My wrists might break otherwise."

   Wonwoo nodded. "I will… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it that aggressively."

   "I said it's fine," he chuckled, smiling with his eyes. "Why do you look worse than the person who was hurt?"

   Although Joshua couldn't see favorability notifications at the moment, he was sure that it was rising; it was like time had stopped for Wonwoo, who stared at his face.

   "Are you alright?" the director yelled, ready to get up from her seat.

   "I'm good!" Joshua turned away. "We can keep going!"

   "Okay, just be careful! We'll take it from after Ilsung takes down Ryujin!" she ordered. "Slate… action!"

   Ryujin was on the ground on one knee, panting as he collected himself and his gun. However, he didn't get the chance to hit the bullseye again when Sihyun suddenly appeared behind him, pulling his arm away. He closed his eyes briefly as the bullet hit the lights above him, sending shards down.

   Sebin was by Ilsung's side, desperately trying to stop his bleeding, but he was too panicked to do anything useful. Wookyung joined him after Ryujin was subdued, tearing off a piece of his shirt to use as a makeshift bandage.

   "Woo—"

   "That's enough," Sihyun muttered. He pulled Ryujin back by the stomach, bringing his arm down. "You guys go ahead!"

   Wookyung shook his head. "But—"

   "Go! I'll deal with him myself!"

   The three reluctantly fled. Sihyun must've been distracted, focusing on Wookyung's back, that he left an opening for Ryujin to turn the tide on him.

   Ryujin pinned him down by both arms, sitting on top of him, slightly out of breath. He still had his gun on him, just sandwiched between his hand and Sihyun's left wrist. It was his turn now.

   "I keep seeing your face," he scoffed. "Why do you keep putting yourself in danger? None of this concerns you."

   "How does it not concern me? Sebin is Wookyung's friend," Sihyun replied. Truthfully, he should've struggled out of Ryujin's grasp and pushed him back by now. "Don't speak like you care about my safety."

   "Uh… Director?" Seungcheol watched the scene through the monitor, alongside the other staff nearby. "This isn't in the script—"

   "Quiet," she shushed and gestured for the filming crew. "Keep rolling."

   Ryujin laughed, leaning back slightly. It was enough for Sihyun to suddenly sit up and push him back, pinning him down instead. However, his hands were flat on the concrete instead of gripping onto Ryujin.

   There was barely any distance between them as they glared at each other.

   "Did it seem like that?" Ryujin smirked. "I can promise you that your safety and well-being are the last of my worries."

   "Likewise."

   Ryujin paused. His lips were slightly parted as he stared deep into Sihyun's eyes. Somehow, he couldn't stop himself from smiling—a devilish grin that sent shivers down Sihyun's back.

   "Well," he continued. "Your reactions are fun at least."

   "What are you—"

   "It makes me want to tease you," Ryujin whispered, pointing the gun at Sihyun's chin and pushing his face up. "Let's see… what kind of face would you make if I told you that I had a dozen men guard each exit out of this construction site?"

   Sihyun pulled away and stood immediately. He glanced in the direction Wookyung, Ilsung, and Sebin had run off in. "You—"

   Ryujin sat up, leaning on his knees, waving with just his fingers. "So what do you want, Yeon Sihyun? My head, or…"

   Before he could finish, Sihyun was gone.

   "Cut!"

   Wonwoo turned back and held out his hand, helping Joshua up.

   Junhui, too, rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"

   Joshua didn't need The Interface to tell him anything; he could tell that Jihoon's and Jeonghan's favorability was sitting down with demons underneath right now.

   "I'm okay," he sighed.

   "I don't think so," Wonwoo muttered, shaking his head. "I think you should get it checked out at least. You get hurt really easily."

   "It's probably just a light sprain." Joshua held up his arm and rotated his wrist to show him.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 1. Your current health is now at 86 out of 300.

   Well, that was a lie.

   Joshua's eyes flickered at the tinge of pain.

   Suddenly, Wonwoo slid his arm around his waist and dragged him away.

   Jihoon was flabbergasted, to say the least. He couldn't even hide his disdain either, as the staff members began to whisper amongst each other about the scene. Especially because they seemed to be smiling, and none wanted to stop the two.

   "What are you doing?" Joshua asked, whispering.

   "Taking you to the hospital. I can at least do that much when I'm the one who hurt you."

   "It's nothing serious."

   "Well, we'll know if that's the case soon." Wonwoo ushered him into the car—not his or anything.

   Yiyoung caught up to him, panting, and hunched over a pole nearby. To be fair, she had run after him in stiletto heels. However, by the time she caught her breath, her precious vehicle had already taken off; she didn't even know he had her key fob with him.

   Joshua sat in the passenger seat, holding onto his seatbelt. He was nervous now that it was just the two of them. He didn't know what to do now that he couldn't see any favorability notifications. It made him realize how much he relied on it; his confidence came from it.

   "Does it still hurt?" Wonwoo asked, looking at him instead of the road.

   He chuckled. "It doesn't. But if you keep looking at me, both of us are going to be hurt."

   Wonwoo let out a mixture of a scoff and a laugh, shaking his head. "That's good then."

   There was a short moment of silence as Joshua looked outside, enjoying the view of traffic and pollution. He rested his elbow on the edge of the open window, leaning his chin on the back of his hand. Quietly, he mumbled, "Why do you keep doing this?"

   Wonwoo reached over and gently pulled his arm back in. For some reason, he didn't let go.

   "I don't know why, but," he paused, "it's easier for me to... like you than to hate you."

Chapter Text

   "Hm…" The doctor rubbed his chin, channeling the countless years she spent studying and slaving away in laboratories for his career. She just couldn't understand how a patient came to her for wrist pain, but somehow, his heart was in a far more concerning state. She almost thought she was hearing things when she put on her stethoscope, listening to his heartbeat jump rope.

   "Are you sure you injured your arm and wrist?"

   Joshua nodded. He stared out of the window, avoiding the doctor altogether, so he could be as far away from Wonwoo's gaze as possible. Seriously, he felt as if he were some immature teenager in high school again, blushing over a single sentence. Well, it wasn't just him, though; Wonwoo had been silent ever since, and his easily reddened cheeks were selling him out.

   "Well, from what I've seen today, it doesn't seem to be broken," she continued, adjusting her glasses. "Just avoid any physical activity for a week and use an ice compress when you can. If you still feel the pain, please come back and I'll see what I can do."

   The two thanked her and bowed before they left. They could honestly wipe out this entire hospital with the tension between them.

   "I told you," Joshua muttered, chuckling. "You can stop worrying now—"

   "Do you—" Wonwoo interrupted, looking at him. His hands were clenched by his side, unraveling now and then as if he were playing with a stress ball. "Do you… have any plans after this?"

   Joshua smiled. "Not after you dragged me all the way here."

   "Sorry." He scratched his head sheepishly. "Then, are you… hungry?"

   "Hey, if you want to ask me out for dinner, then just say it." Joshua leaned in, glancing up at him with widened eyes. If only he could see Wonwoo's favorability right now, maybe he would've understood the conflict on his face.

   Wonwoo turned away and began to walk. When he realized Joshua hadn't followed him, he stopped.

   "What… do you want to eat?"

   Joshua laughed.

•••

   Joshua shouldn't have laughed. He should've saved all his energy for the moment he entered what Wonwoo called his favorite restaurant—a fine dining spot up high in a luxury hotel. He could've sworn the receptionist flipped him off and called him poor when she saw him walk in. Luckily, he was still wearing Ryujin's outfit, so he didn't seem too out of place.

   Wonwoo must've been a cherished regular with the way he was instantly welcomed and given a table, even without a booking or any prior notice. He just turned up at this five-star hotel like a food stall on the street, and they almost broke their backs accommodating him. Oh, the power of being rich and handsome—Joshua only had the latter, unfortunately.

   The booth they were given was hidden away in the corner, surrounded by plants and vines that shielded them from other guests. It was right by the window, overlooking the city and its bustling nightlife underneath. There was also a candle on the table, letting out a faint floral aroma.

   If Joshua wasn't hungry before, he was now. Honestly, he didn't even know how he got here.

   "What do you think?" Wonwoo asked, glancing out the window with a smile. "It's my favorite place."

   "It's beautiful," Joshua replied, staring right at him. "I think you should order for me, though. I don't know much about Japanese food."

   "You can pick whatever. It's on me tonight."

   Joshua nodded. Of course, the bill was on Wonwoo; there was no way in hell he could afford to dine here on his own money.

   He skimmed through the menu and mentally noted whatever sounded good. He was particularly excited for the drinks section, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for the hangover again. However, if it was going to give him an excuse to end up in Wonwoo's bed again, he wouldn't mind feeling like shit for a day.

   After a while, a waiter approached the table with a bow. He brought with him a tray with over a dozen small plates; on each were two servings of different entrees. There were also four different drinks, held in floral porcelain teapots. Joshua wasn't aware that being rich could make him akin to royalty; had he known that sooner, he might've accepted The Interface's task a while back for free money.

   "Good evening, Mr. Jeon!"

   "Oh, Taehyun!" Wonwoo's eyes lit up as he recognized the face. He reached over to pat the waiter's shoulder in greeting.

   "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he laughed. "It's a shame I wasn't working last time you came here with Mr. Lee."

   Joshua pursed his lips. He tuned out their little chat and just recounted his order once it got to him. Somehow, he was a little pissed.

   Wonwoo must've noticed it too, as he got antsy in his seat, opening and closing his mouth—probably thinking of a way to fill the silence. After a while, he sighed.

   "Jihoon… told me he'd never had Japanese food before," he said. "That's why I took him here."

   "You don't have to explain anything," Joshua mumbled. It was true, there was nothing between them that warranted an explanation. Still, it felt nice. "But… I took him to a Japanese restaurant before… on our first anniversary."

   Wonwoo was silent. It was hard to read what his expression was, especially without his favorability on display. Did he believe it?

   He shouldn't, since Joshua lied. But it'd be nice if he did.

   "If you took him here because he wanted to try, then why did you bring me here?"

   Wonwoo looked at him. "I just wanted to. I like Japanese food, so…"

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered one of {JEON WONWOO}'s likes.

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, Japanese food

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –464

   "What about you?"

   Joshua leaned on the table with both elbows, resting his chin on his clasped hands. "Anything as long as it's spicy? I'm not a picky eater."

   Wonwoo nodded. "I—"

   "But you know, I think I've developed a liking for strawberries recently," Joshua muttered, dragging his words out as he teased. He stood up slightly and leaned over to Wonwoo's side, reaching into the leather bag by his lap. His fingers rummaged around blindly until he pulled out the strawberry-scented lip balm that he had seen Wonwoo use on different occasions and just assumed it would be there. It was the riskiest thing he had done in all of his missions; he almost looked like an idiot just then.

   Joshua pulled the cap off and angled it toward Wonwoo, who watched him like he was hypnotized. He placed his pinky finger on Wonwoo's bottom lip, parting it slightly as he applied the balm to his top lip. Once he was done, he flicked the tube away, staining a bit of his cheek.

   "Do you like strawberries too?" Joshua asked, keeping his slender fingers on Wonwoo's chin.

   "I… don't know. I can't taste it," Wonwoo replied, chuckling gently. "Why don't you try it out and tell me what it's like?"

   This time, they weren't playing a character anymore.

   Joshua closed the distance and kissed him. Rather than the aggression and dominance they shared before, it was slow and deliberate; a warm sensation that they could feel throughout their bodies—especially in their chests. Now and then, quiet breaths and suppressed noises escaped their mouths.

   His hand moved from Wonwoo's chin to his neck as he leaned in, deepening the kiss. However, he soon stopped and pulled away; Wonwoo gazed at him with a dazed look, his mouth still slightly agape. He didn't pull away, as if waiting for more.

   Joshua quickly looked away. All he could hear was his heartbeats and the muffled chatter of other people nearby—it was why he stopped too. "Sorry. I shouldn't have done that. We're still in public."

   Wonwoo grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his neck, squeezing it gently. "Are you saying you wouldn't have stopped if we weren't?"

   "…You're famous, you know?" he whispered, sitting down again. He honestly couldn't care less if they were making out in the middle of filming, in front of the cameras. His mission was to marry Wonwoo, not be famous. "Aren't you scared of getting caught?"

   "Even if someone did see, it wouldn't be the first for a place like this. It's just that nobody talks." Wonwoo chuckled.

   Joshua nodded. "Well, I had to stop anyway."

   Suddenly, he slid off his shoe and slowly traced his foot up the leather seat. Eventually, he found Wonwoo's inner thigh, pressing into it. He watched as Wonwoo hunched over, leaning on the table to cover his face as he looked out the window. He could see his entire body shiver the closer his foot got.

   "I was just worried," Joshua said, lowering his voice. By now, his foot was massaging in between Wonwoo's thighs. He didn't know what he was doing anymore; it was as if he had lost control of himself too. "I was worried you'd embarrass yourself in the middle of your favorite restaurant. But… I guess you still—"

   Suddenly, Wonwoo stood up. He grabbed his bag with one hand and Joshua's arm with the other.

   "Oh, I got your drinks!" Taehyun said, proudly holding onto his tray of two colorful margaritas. He emerged from the bar to hand it over. It was a shame though, since no one was going to drink them tonight.

   "Hm… are they…?"

•••

   Thump!

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 1. Your current health is now at 85 out of 300.

   Now really wasn't the time. If Joshua could turn off The Interface, he definitely wouldn't hesitate. Especially since he was at a constant risk of being watched like a show by other systems.

   Ding!

For your privacy, the array to your mission will be closed until 8:00 AM tomorrow.

[SYSTEM 1230], protection is key!

   Joshua laughed, pulling away from Wonwoo. Seriously, The Interface didn't have to turn it off if they were going to ruin the mood like that.

   "What are you thinking of?" Wonwoo asked, his words muffled by the pecks he gave to Joshua's neck.

   Oh, Joshua didn't know. There were many things to think of, like how he had skipped a dozen steps of a proper relationship. Or maybe the fact that his ass was in grave danger—literally. Many thoughts, and some prayers too. Well, none of that mattered if it was all for his mission.

   "Look at me," Wonwoo mumbled. He was on his knees, on the hotel floor, resting his head on Joshua's stomach as he glanced up. It was the most yearning a man could yearn for in the history of yearning.

   Joshua grinned, placing his hand on Wonwoo's shoulder. "You know… you're a lot different from what I thought."

   "What do you mean?"

   "You were so confident when you first met me. Insulting me and treating me like I was nothing," he recounted. He could still remember the days he wanted to jump Jihoon and Wonwoo. "But look at you now… like a dog waiting for its next instructions."

   Wonwoo was a mess, to say the least. His shirt was crumpled, half-unbuttoned, and slipping off one shoulder. His eyes were in a daze, slightly narrowed as his body flinched every time Joshua's teasing finger touched him.

   "Haa… is this your way of getting back at me?"

   "No." Joshua slowly pushed Wonwoo back with his foot on his stomach and walked away. He got sidetracked for a moment as he enjoyed the luxurious feel of the room, including the large bed that faced the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up one entire side of the wall.

   He closed the curtains, feeling the intense gaze on his back. Then, he dimmed the lights.

   Wonwoo had followed him, hugging him from behind as his hands began to play tricks—fumbling to unbutton his slacks in the dark room. He dropped his head onto Joshua's shoulder. His desperation made him rush as he felt around, removing the leather coat from Joshua. He only managed to unbutton halfway before he just yanked the blouse apart, kissing his bare back.

   It was ticklish; Joshua let out giggles and gentle sighs. He reached up and caressed Wonwoo's cheek. Softly, he whispered, "What's wrong with you?"

   Joshua pushed Wonwoo onto the bed and loomed over him, propping his knee between Wonwoo's legs. The low light above shone over his backside, casting a warm glow on his bare skin as he undressed properly, finishing Wonwoo's job.

   "Look at you," he continued, tracing his finger on the stitching of Wonwoo's pants, pressing slightly. "Is this how you look under someone you hate?"

   Wonwoo looked away, covering the lower half of his face with his arm, suppressing the noises he was making.

   Joshua froze. It was as if a switch had been flipped, but he didn't know what to do next. He couldn't gauge anything from Wonwoo's face, his words, or his gaze. What was he thinking? Did he like it? Was this just a way for him to blow off steam?

   He couldn't tell if this was for the mission anymore.

   Wonwoo sat up, staring at him face-to-face. "Can you stop teasing me now?"

   He pulled Joshua in, forcing him to straddle. His kisses were greedy and hungry, showering all over Joshua's chest, neck, and lips. It was as if he had been deprived, waiting for this very moment. As much as he wanted to control the scene, he couldn't do much against Joshua, whose fingers kept playing around.

   "Haa… Stop…" Wonwoo muttered.

   Joshua giggled. He removed both of his hands and held them up as if he surrendered. "Hey. You know I get injured easily, right?"

   Wonwoo nodded, pleading with his eyes. "I'll… be gentle."

   "Good," he smiled. "Open your mouth."

•••

   All men did was lie. They were dirty, disgusting liars, and they deserved to be stoned for it. Joshua knew—he was a man, and he lied as if he breathed.

   "What's my… current health?" he asked, his voice hoarse and dry, like nails on a chalkboard. He couldn't even lift his finger to press the screen himself.

   Ding!

Your current health is now at 72 out of 300.

   Well, as much as he felt dead, he wasn't. Not only did his arms hurt, but his back, his legs, his ass—hell, even his head hurt. It was a miracle that he didn't die yet.

   He couldn't complain too much, though. He had woken up clean, and room service was knocking on his door with a five-star breakfast, brought right to him. Of course, there were benefits to opening his eyes and seeing a gorgeous man next to him. It was so refreshing and clarifying that the details of last night hit him like a truck.

   "Are you… okay?" Wonwoo asked. He distanced himself to the end of the bed, sitting as if he were being scolded.

   "Do I look okay?" Joshua laughed.

   "I'm sorry…"

   Well, now he felt bad. Something about a grown man, big and tall, sulking in the corner like a wet puppy was doing something to his chest. For some reason, it was scary—he had a feeling he'd become addicted to this.

   Joshua stood up and walked around to the bathroom, passing Wonwoo. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, still on the bed; he used Wonwoo's shoulder to balance as he leaned over, answering the call.

   "What's—"

   "WHERE ARE YOU?!" Sera's voice roared through, deafening him in one ear.

   "I'm at a hotel. What are you yelling for?" He chuckled, glancing down at Wonwoo, who seemed tickled by his voice.

   "What do you mean? You suddenly disappeared with Wonwoo and didn't reply to any of my messages. I thought you were dead!"

   "Hey, I can't die that easily, okay?" Joshua whispered. It was fun teasing Wonwoo, watching as he reacted with every part of his body. He must've taken Ryujin's role too seriously.

   "Yeah, right. You get hurt from someone grabbing you. Seriously, did all that alcohol deteriorate your bones or something?" she grumbled.

   Wonwoo turned away, covering his mouth as Joshua got closer. "You… Ugh…"

   "Anyway, where are you exactly? You have a schedule this afternoon. I hope you didn't forget that."

   Silence.

   "You did… didn't you?" Sera sighed. "I'll come pick you up."

   "I'm at Signiel."

   "Okay, Sig—wait… WHAT?! What are you doing there?! That's so expensive! Did you steal the company card or—"

   Joshua lowered the phone. "You don't have to pick me up. I'll see you in a few hours."

   Thump!

   Wonwoo covered his face, unable to look. It didn't help that Joshua was on top of him, moving slowly.

   "Why do you look scared?" Joshua laughed, moving his hand away.

   "What if I am?" he mumbled. "I feel like… things are going to change after all this."

   "Well, isn't it too late now?"

   Wonwoo nodded. They had already crossed that line long ago.

Chapter Text

   Joshua still couldn't understand what had happened. He wasn't too surprised with Wonwoo since he'd been conflicted with his feelings for a while, and the kiss in the bathroom must've flipped a switch or something. What he couldn't comprehend was himself—System 1230.

   Sure, he did it for the sake of the mission. But he couldn't lie; most of it was because of his curiosity. Many things confused him—all these new feelings he hadn't felt in a while—the feelings he once had before he became a system.

   "Host," Yuri said, bringing him back to reality. She sat down next to him, concerned. "What's wrong?"

   "I'm a sinful man, Yuri."

   "There's nothing sinful about taking it up the ass by the man you're supposed to—mmph!"

   Joshua covered her mouth with a pillow.

   "I'm kidding," she laughed. "You just looked really serious."

   "Ugh… I have things to think about, okay?"

   Yuri tilted her head. "Like what?"

   Joshua didn't answer for a while, pondering her question. Frankly, he had too many to ask.

   "Do you… remember what you were like before you became a system?"

   "It's been a while, so I'm not quite sure," Yuri muttered, scratching her cheek. "I was just an ordinary person, working a nine-to-five."

   "How did you… die?"

   She paused.

   "You don't have to answer it if you—"

   "My dad killed me."

   Joshua wanted to jump off his balcony again. At this point, he should just die. Mission be damned.

   "We always argued over money, and I guess… he just had enough." She chuckled awkwardly. "I died when I was twenty-seven, so I have twenty-seven missions to do. Well, technically, a few more now that I failed, haha. I'm stuck as an assistant for a while. What about you, Host?"

   "Me?" Joshua bit his lip. "I died at twenty-three. I was always sick and in the hospital since I was a kid. Isn't it funny? I spent my entire life ill, but I can't even remember what exactly killed me."

   "Well, it's no use focusing on those details." Yuri smiled. "I hope you'll succeed, Host."

   "You too," Joshua said, reaching over for her hand. "Let's hope our next lives are good to us. When we're all done with… this."

   "…Yeah."

•••

   Wonwoo was right. Things definitely changed between them.

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Enemy

RELATIONSHIP: Acquaintance

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, Japanese food

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: –82

   Joshua didn't know if he should feel salty or happy. On one hand, he was good enough in bed to raise his favorability by hundreds. But then again, it was so easy that had he known earlier, he would've found his way into Wonwoo's pants ages ago. Seriously, he couldn't tell if men were just simple or if Wonwoo was somehow so infatuated with him—which was ironic, considering his favorability was still in the negatives.

   He had better things to focus on, though, like how Wonwoo was avoiding him like the plague. He had walked onto the filming site three hours ago, and somehow, there hadn't been a single moment when he could talk to Wonwoo. Luckily, he could see favorability notifications again; Wonwoo must've just been shy or something, since his favorability kept rising whenever they made eye contact.

   Joshua felt like he was back in high school again.

   "You're fine now, right?" the director asked. The team had to change the filming order for a few days since Wonwoo insisted that Joshua needed to rest his wrists and arms.

   He nodded. "I told him I was fine but…"

   She laughed, patting his shoulder. "Yeah, Wonwoo was giving me hell for it. I said it didn't look that serious and he was all up in my face, telling me I needed to change the filming schedule. When have you heard of an actor doing that to the director?"

   Joshua chuckled and shook his head. When he looked up, he caught Wonwoo staring at him, even though he was talking to his manager some distance away.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   As Joshua opened his mouth to call him over, he was rudely interrupted by a demon sent straight from the eighth circle of hell, the fraud—oh wait, it was just Jihoon

   Jeonghan also joined them, pulling Junhui in with him by the arms.

   "I can't believe you ran off like that," Jihoon whined, hitting Wonwoo playfully. He glanced around quickly, making sure the staff members were watching.

   "Haha… Sorry," Wonwoo muttered in response. "I was just worried I accidentally hurt him."

   "Still…"

   Jeonghan consoled his friend, wiping away his fake tears as they joked around. "You need to make it up to us, you know? You left us out in the cold last time."

   "Oh, well…"

   Suddenly, Jihoon grabbed Wonwoo's hands, shaking them. "Can you take us to that restaurant you took me to before? I've been… wanting to go back ever since you brought me there…"

   Wonwoo looked at Joshua.

   "He's right," the director chimed in, yelling. "Treat me to a meal, you rascal."

   Wonwoo sighed gently, nodding. This single move earned him cheers from the entire set, and there were about fifty messages lined up, ready to praise him on the internet for his kindness.

•••

   "Well." Joshua lowered the glass of beer and smacked his lips. "This is awkward, isn't it?"

   Taehyun nodded, holding onto the metal tray in front of his apron. Not only was he there at the last unexpected appearance, but he was also unfortunately here when a booking was made for dozens of guests a week ago. He considered calling out due to the number alone, but didn't. He really should've.

   "How come you're sitting here, Mr. Hong?"

   That was a good question. Joshua sat at a two-seater by the window, on the opposite end of the table he had last time they were here. It wasn't like he was given a choice; people flocked to sit with Wonwoo, and by the time he got out of the elevator, Wonwoo's table and anything within the vicinity were full. Of course, Jihoon was glued by his side, joined by Jeonghan and Junhui.

   Even if he had the opportunity to sit next to Wonwoo, he probably would've avoided him again. Now that Joshua thought about it again, he was pissed.

   Taehyun must've noticed and quickly collected the empty glass. "W-Why don't I get you something else?"

   "Bring me your strongest."

   He nodded and quickly left.

   Joshua leaned on the table, staring outside. The view was just as beautiful, but for some reason, he didn't enjoy it like last time.

   He wasn't one to hang on to petty emotions, since it ultimately wouldn't matter in the end when he was done with the mission. There was no use for the relationships he made once he was gone, since he was never going to continue in the body he hosted. He had a goal, and he was close to it.

   This uncomfortably tight sensation in his chest scared him. It was new, and it was strong. Everything felt strange to him, and he hated it.

   Clink!

   Suddenly, Junhui's face appeared in the reflection of the window. He had two glasses of martinis in his hand, offering one to Joshua.

   "What are you doing here?" he laughed, accepting. No amount of deep and solemn thoughts could stop him from reaching for a free drink.

   "I saw you were alone," Junhui replied, taking a seat opposite him. "Why are you sitting so far away? I can move your chair over."

   "It's fine. I didn't want to ruin the mood or anything."

   "But you won't—"

   "Jihoon and Jeonghan hate me," Joshua said bluntly, swirling the drink. "Let's not pretend they don't. I'd rather not sit near them anyway. Being the fifth wheel for Kingpin's promotional events is enough already."

   Junhui lowered his head, and his lips trembled into a frown. "Oh… I'm sorry…"

   Joshua couldn't help but laugh. "What are you apologizing for? I'm not angry at you or anything."

   "But still… I noticed you kept getting left out during the events too," he mumbled. "But I didn't do anything…"

   "Hey," Joshua placed his hand on Junhui's arm, leaning in. "Your job is to focus on your partner and promote with him. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm not going to be mad at you for that."

   "But…"

   Joshua shook his head, smiling. "If you feel so bad, then just buy me a drink."

   "Really?" Junhui's eyes lit up and he immediately looked around, waving for the nearest waiter. Once he got a menu, he walked over to Joshua, looming over his back as they both had a look.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   "What do you want?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   "Hm…" Joshua hesitated. He didn't care what type of alcohol it was; he was trying to ignore The Interface as it kept moving in front of his face, blocking his view.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   "How about this?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   Joshua nodded. He looked up to find Junhui smiling, satisfied with the choice.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 5.

   Somehow, he had a feeling he'd throw up soon, and it wouldn't be because of alcohol.

   Joshua stared outside as he waited for the drinks, while Junhui watched him diligently. Surprisingly, it wasn't awkward or anything.

   "Hey," he spoke up after a while. "Why are you so nice to me?"

   Junhui lowered his head. "Haha, isn't it normal to—"

   "You go out of your way to be nice to me."

   "I just…"

   "Do you… like me?"

•••

   The taxi drove off, taking away its four drunken passengers.

   Joshua wiped his forehead, worn out after having to carry dozens of half-unconscious people into the car. The rest was up to them. He couldn't care less if they made it to their homes anymore. Had he known he'd be given this job, he would've had a lot more alcohol and less food.

   At least he wasn't alone.

   "Are you okay?" Wonwoo asked, also tired, as he’d been doing pretty much the same thing. The only difference was that he still had someone, Jihoon, clinging onto him. Though he was drunk, or that was what he wanted Wonwoo to believe.

   "I should be asking you that," Joshua scoffed.

   "Mm… where are we?" Jihoon mumbled, tugging Wonwoo's arm. He rested his head on his shoulder, staring right at Joshua as if to brag.

   Yeah, right. While Jihoon was hugging Wonwoo in front of the cameras, Joshua was getting his back blown out by Wonwoo—but he digressed.

   "I've already called a taxi for you too," Wonwoo said, pulling away.

   "Huh? What about you?"

   "I… have something to do after this."

   "But it's late—"

   "Oh, look!" Wonwoo pointed at the sedan that just pulled up. He quickly ushered Jihoon inside and slammed the door, leaving him no chance. Once the car took off, he sighed in relief.

   Joshua laughed. "What are you doing?"

   Wonwoo didn't answer. He glanced around to make sure there weren't people nearby before grabbing Joshua's forearm. "What about you? What were you doing with Junhui?"

   "He felt bad since I was alone."

   Wonwoo smiled.

   "And then he told me he had a crush on me."

   Wonwoo stopped smiling. Nothing was funny anymore. He suddenly turned to Joshua, holding onto his shoulders. "What did he say? What—what did you say?"

   "You've been ignoring and avoiding me all this time, and now you're curious?"

   "I just…"

   "What? Are you jealous or something?"

   Silence.

   If the wind wasn't blowing and there weren’t distant noises of cars driving by, Joshua would've thought time had stopped. It seemed that his words had hit the bullseye.

   Wonwoo stepped back, covering his face bashfully. His cheeks were red as his eyes fluttered, looking around nervously.

   Joshua chuckled, smirking. "Wonwoo, do you… like me?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 1.

   Wonwoo scoffed.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   "What?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   "What are you saying?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 25.

   "Why would I…"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   "… Like you…?"

   Ding!

You have completed Lay It on Thick successfully.

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 300, and your health has increased by 50.

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   Wonwoo suddenly dropped, crouching with his head hidden between his knees.

   Joshua covered his mouth in disbelief. If he weren't so flustered, he would've collapsed to his knees to thank the heavens and pray to every divine being—not to thank them or anything, since this was all a product of his hard work.

   His face was warm, and he could hear his heartbeat thumping loudly. It wasn’t like this was the first time he’d completed a major task. It wasn’t even the hardest either. He just couldn’t tell why he was so shaken up by it.

   "Is that what it is?" Wonwoo muttered, ruffling his hair. "Do I… like you?"

   Joshua laughed. Whatever he was thinking was out of his mind now. "You're asking me?"

   Wonwoo shook his head. Before he could get another word out, Joshua pulled him up and led him to a narrow alleyway nearby. To be fair, he should’ve done that ages ago unless he wanted high-quality photos of their interaction on the front page by morning.

   "But… didn't Junhui already confess?" he mumbled, still being dragged.

   "Well, more like I called him out for it," Joshua said. He didn’t doubt Junhui’s kindness had ulterior motives or anything, but for someone who looked like a kicked, wet dog every time Jeonghan looked at him—it was strange that he still kept trying to get close to Joshua. Either he was just really stubborn, or there was more to it. Luckily, Joshua was right and didn’t embarrass himself by thinking Junhui liked him. He couldn't live that down if he was so confidently wrong.

   "He just told me how he felt anyway. What does that have to do with the situation now? Plus, I already told him I had someone I liked."

   Wonwoo hesitated, biting his lip. It almost gave Joshua whiplash seeing how different he was now compared to how he was during their first meeting.

   "Why do you look so nervous?" Joshua sighed, making Wonwoo look up by pushing his chin. "I'm talking about you."

   "You… like me too?"

   "Do you think I'd just give up my ass for anyone?"

   "Don't say it like that…" Wonwoo averted his gaze. He couldn't hide his smile and let out an airy chuckle. "I mean… how could you like me? I was so…"

   "Rude? Annoying? An asshole?"

   He nodded.

   "What about you? How could you like me if you hated me?"

   There was another silence.

   "I guess we're both weird, aren't we?" Joshua turned around. "Well, I just don't like focusing on the past."

   That was a lie. He was very much focused on the past. If there was one thing he focused on, it was the past. He held onto grudges like he was superglued to them, and hated people until he died—or in this case, until his next mission.

   "Where are you going?"

   "Where else would I go at three in the morning? I'm going home."

   Joshua continued to walk, slow and steady.

   Whoosh!

   Wonwoo grabbed onto the hem of his shirt and followed after, resting his head on Joshua’s shoulder.

   He chuckled. Things always went as he'd planned.

•••

   Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

   "Are you in here? Hello!" Sera yelled, pounding on the door. Her fist almost landed on Joshua’s face when he opened the door abruptly. It was probably the fastest he had done so, which was why she was taken aback.

   Joshua was still groggy, his eyes barely open as he welcomed Sera in. She wasn't even sure if he knew who she was.

   "What happened to you? Did you drink too much last night?" she asked, settling down on the sofa. "I knew it. I should've sat with you. But you can’t blame me, okay? What was I supposed to do when a pretty woman asked me to drink with her?"

   Joshua laughed. "Don’t worry, I didn’t have that much. I didn’t think you’d have a thing for Wonwoo’s manager, though."

   "It’s not a thing. Not yet, at least. Anyway! Seriously, look at you." Sera pulled out her tablet. "You don’t even know what you did, do you?"

   He shrugged.

   She opened her device to a dark, semi-blurry photo of Wonwoo and Joshua. It was the moment Wonwoo had hugged him from behind, as they stood in the dim alleyway. It must've been taken by a fan or regular person, considering the fact that it was posted right away.

   Joshua was definitely awake now. Whoever it was, he needed to find them and thank them. He never looked so good in a photo before.

   "Hey! Why are you smiling?" Sera groaned. "What’s going on? Can you explain what the hell this—"

   Click!

   Wonwoo appeared from his bedroom, shirtless with just sweatpants—which were obviously too small for him—on. He yawned and ruffled his messy bed hair. His eyes were barely open as well, squinting at the bright light in the living room.

   Sera's mouth was on the floor. "What… WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Chapter Text

   Sera closed her eyes and rested her clasped hands on her chest. She almost looked like a painting when, in reality, she was trying to prolong her inevitable heart attack.

   "So let me get this straight. You two found out you liked each other last night, and now you're… getting to know each other."

   Joshua glanced at the screen nearby. "That's what it says, yeah."

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 25

STATUS: Ally

RELATIONSHIP: Love Interest

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, Japanese food

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 312

   "What do you mean, 'that's what it says'?"

   "My heart?"

   Sera threw her body down, holding onto the back of her neck as she groaned in pain. She was in disbelief, shock, and frustration—all at once, so much so that it felt like someone had slapped her silly.

   "How did this—I mean, what the hell even happened? Since when were you guys close? Plus, no offense, but…" She looked to her right. "You guys barely got along last time I remembered."

   "You can call me an asshole, it's okay," Wonwoo sighed.

   "Hey, you said it yourself."

   Joshua crossed his arms, rubbing his chin and occasionally playing with his bottom lip as he thought. "Are you sure you want the details?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 3.

   Sera shook her head, holding it in her hand. She had a feeling she'd hear even the things she shouldn't. As much as she liked Joshua, there were just some things a manager shouldn't know.

   "This is crazy… How are you guys going to go about this?"

   Joshua and Wonwoo looked at each other.

   "That's a good question."

•••

   To say the picture blew up would be an understatement. It was shared across every platform imaginable, so both Accolades and Vivace Entertainment couldn't do anything about it. Well, it was more like Accolades wanted to hide it, while Vivace Entertainment was thrilled and even spread the fire further. After all, the CEO—Liz—was known to be a bit of a madman, which was why Joshua avoided the company building as much as he could. He didn't want to run into her and get his back smacked into oblivion.

   Still, he spent whatever free time he had reading comments. Surprisingly, most people were in his favor, cheering for the possibility that he and Wonwoo might be together. Of course, some were upset that it wasn't Jihoon. There was even a third category of fans who were upset that Wonwoo was with a man. None of it mattered to Joshua. He couldn't care less if he got kicked off the cast of Kingpin and blacklisted tonight. He was one step closer to marrying Wonwoo, and that was enough.

   "Is it just me, or is the set a little chilly today?" Junhui asked, chuckling nervously. Sweat was dripping down his neck, but he wasn't wrong. The tension was strong and cold enough to freeze hell over as Jihoon kept glaring at Joshua, who couldn't give fewer fucks if he tried. While nothing concrete had been released to confirm or deny the photos, everyone was talking about it. Even though the staff members were all drunk, they could still remember what the two wore—it couldn't be anyone else, even if their faces were blurred.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: A Bone to Pick

DESCRIPTION: Lower {LEE JIHOON}’s favorability to at least -1,000

TIME LIMIT: 3 weeks

REWARD: 

• +20 health

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

   Joshua leaned against the wall with one leg up to balance himself. He chuckled at the screen. He’d even do the task one better and slap Jihoon on the way out.

   Ding!

You have accepted A Bone to Pick.

Upon completion, your health will increase by 20.

TIME LEFT: 20d 23h 59m 8s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   Sera's question was still stuck in his head. He wasn't sure how he'd complete his mission. Wonwoo was a famous actor with a long future ahead of him, so it was a given that he'd prioritize his work. For someone like him, dating—let alone marriage—would ruin everything he'd worked so hard for.

   The mission seemed so easy when Joshua first accepted it, but maybe he was wrong. It was hard, but he didn't know if it was actually difficult or because he cared a lot more for Wonwoo than he'd thought.

   "What are you thinking about?"

   Speak of the devil.

   "You," Joshua said, whispering.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   Wonwoo hunched over slightly, placing one hand on the wall for balance. His face was blushing red again. For an actor, he really wore his heart on his sleeve. "You seriously—"

   "Haha, you're not going to avoid me today?"

   Wonwoo shook his head. "It would look even more suspicious if I did."

   Joshua looked around. Everyone's eyes were on them. Honestly, regardless of whether they were together or not, it was too late.

   "Well, let's hope you can maintain your composure."

   "What do you mean?"

   Joshua placed his hand on Wonwoo's shoulder and leaned in, whispering, "I don't want you getting hard while fighting Ryujin later—"

   "Y-You—"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   "Wonwoo! Could you come here for a moment?"

   He nodded, sparing a glance at Joshua before leaving for the director.

   Joshua glanced at the screen and gestured for something.

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Ding!

wonshuatruther: you guys are too obsessed with the government assigned ship (wonhoon) to recognize peak (wonshua)

   Ding!

JEONPAN: It doesn't even look like Wonwoo… He literally likes women, everyone just keeps going with it because they want to fetishize men together

   Ding!

kavethamdaily: unrelated but imagine they change up kingpin so sihyun and ryujin end up together...

   Ding!

UriJihoon: Sorry, but Wonwoo would NEVER like that whore. He already did it to Jihoon once, I'm not surprised that he's doing it again to Wonwoo. Notice how he's still not famous? He's just trying to ride off of Wonwoo's coattails.

   Ding!

wonbootycall: ok but imagine being able to bag THE jeon wonwoo i wouldn't try to hide it either if i were him

   He would've continued reading more, but the director had called out for him too. Today, they had to film one of the many rewritten scenes—and Joshua made it his mission to add as much homoerotic tension as he could. Unfortunately, he didn't have many speaking lines. He didn't have many scenes left either. His character was planned to die soon as the series neared its end.

   "Are we ready? We need to make this quick!" Taeyeon asked, settling into her seat as everyone took their places. They were filming outside again, and it looked like rain was about to fall. Once everyone was in their spots, she raised the megaphone.

   "Slate… action!"

   Wookyung held onto his left arm as it bled, seeping through the space between his fingers. He was out of breath as he ran, looking frantically to the left and right.

   Thump!

   Suddenly, he bumped into something. Before he could fall back, someone had caught him by the waist.

   "So this is where you were," Ryujin said, smiling. He held onto Wookyung tightly and stopped him from wriggling free. Then, he noticed the wound, probably from a blade, as the fabric around it was tattered. "Haa… I told those bastards not to hurt you. I guess I need to punish them for—"

   Wookyung pushed him away forcefully. He stumbled back with a strong glare, full of disgust and anger. "Why? Why can't you just—just leave me alone?!"

   "What do you mean?" Ryujin chuckled. "I'm only trying to save y—"

   "I don't want it! I don't—I don't want it. Your saving, your love, I don't want any of it!"

   It was as if time had stopped.

   Ryujin began to giggle quietly, then laughed almost maniacally. He hunched over, trying to contain his amusement. His eyes had completely blanked. He looked no different than a madman.

   "What do you mean?" he repeated. "I did this for you. All you have to do is come back."

   "Who said I wanted any of that?!" Wookyung continued to yell. He tried his hardest to appear brave and strong, even through all the shakiness in his voice. "I never… I never asked you… I didn't want any of this… I just… I hate you."

   Suddenly, rain began to fall. It started slow, soaking into the thick coat on Ryujin's shoulders and washing away the blood on Wookyung's hands. Then, it was a downpour.

   "Wookyung! Woo—"

   "I'm here!"

   Sihyun ran over and pulled Wookyung into a warm embrace, sheltering him from the rain. He had one hand on Wookyung's head while the other supported his back.

   Ryujin was motionless. He didn't move. He didn't blink. He would've been akin to a statue if the white fog hadn't occasionally escaped his lips every time he breathed. Soon enough, his hair was all down, with water dripping off his nose and fingertips.

   "Are you okay?" Sihyun asked, brushing the bangs out of Wookyung's face.

   Wookyung nodded, biting his lips.

   "Sebin's waiting nearby, come on." Sihyun guided Wookyung away, walking behind him so he could serve as a barrier. As the rain picked up, he looked back.

   Ryujin finally moved, returning the gaze. It was hard to figure out what emotion he expressed. But somehow, Sihyun couldn't look away.

   "Cut!" The director yelled. "Quick! Get the umbrellas to them!"

   Wonwoo let go of Jihoon and rushed over. He attempted to shield Joshua's face from the rain by creating a house with his hands, hovering it above their heads. It worked just about as well as he'd thought—it didn't work at all.

   Joshua laughed. "You're a little too late, don't you think?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   "I'm not trying to shield you from the rain," Wonwoo muttered.

   Joshua tilted his head in confusion.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 2.

   "I thought… maybe you were crying during the scene just then," he said. "You looked sad."

   "What about you?"

   "What do you—"

   "Why do you look worse than me?" Joshua said, his voice barely audible under the rain. "Why do you look like you're the one who lost?"

•••

   "So," Joshua said, smiling with his eyes, "what am I doing here again?"

   He sat, prim and proper, in the CEO of Accolades’ office with a shit-eating grin on his face. He knew exactly why he was here. He just didn’t expect to be called in alongside Wonwoo.

   On the coffee table before him was a printed copy of the photo that had gone viral. It was a waste of ink, to be honest, since everyone already knew what the picture looked like. The setup was a perfect interrogation, with the CEO himself, Daehyeon, staring them down from his chair. There were at least five other people inside, including Sera and Yiyoung. Liz was here too, though she looked like she had better places to be, staring at her new set of nails in boredom.

   It took a while before any questions were asked. The people from Accolades were too busy, glued to their devices, answering calls and emails in frustration.

   Suddenly, the CEO approached, holding a tablet full of photos of Joshua and Wonwoo. Most were from the night they arrived at the hotel for dinner. A few were from the following morning, with the two leaving at least fifteen minutes apart.

   "Can you explain what's going on?" the CEO asked. "I just got sent these by a fan. Apparently, they didn’t know what to do with the pictures until they saw the one that was released earlier."

   Silence.

   Like hell they didn’t. No sane person would wait outside a hotel until morning to take more photos. Joshua could probably guess they hesitated to send them because they were too busy trying to think of a price.

   "What are you hoping to hear?" he asked. His bluntness scared Sera, who clasped her hands together, probably praying for him. "That it's not us?"

   "Seriously… you can't even pretend and try to save yourself for a second?" Daehyeon sighed. "Had I known you were going to cause all this trouble, I wouldn't have agreed when Taeyeon came to me about adding you last minute. If you're going to do something like that, couldn't you have waited until you were inside? And if you're going to meet, why would you do it in a well-known place? What were you thinking?"

   Technically, it was inside an alleyway, and Wonwoo was the one who chose the location—but Joshua feared Sera would have a heart attack if he tried to be a smartass.

   "Why are you directing that at him?" Wonwoo said quietly. His brows were knitted as he glared at Daehyeon. "You're acting like he's the only person in that photo."

   "How long have you worked under me, Wonwoo? You wouldn't do anything reckless like this if it weren’t for—"

   "You don't know that. I was the one who hugged him, you can see that in the photo." Wonwoo paused, looking at Yiyoung, who seemed to reassure him with a nod. "Plus, I was the one who took him to Signiel. So if you're going to be upset, shouldn't it be directed at me?"

   "Do you know what industry you're in?"

   "What do you want me to say?"

   Bang!

   Liz slammed her hand on the table and sent everyone jumping in their seats. There was just something so eerily scary about her. Joshua believed it was her bob, but he digressed.

   The CEO leaned back in his chair, taken aback. "What are you—"

   "Not only did you waste my time by calling me and my people here," she groaned, "you're speaking a load of hot shit."

   "You—"

   "Can you all give me a moment to talk to this bastard?" Liz asked.

   Well, it was more like a demand. She stood up and opened the door, ushering everyone outside before slamming it shut. People stared at each other in confusion, unaware that their boss was probably in danger.

   Joshua walked ahead and headed to the common area, where there were fewer staff. At least he didn’t have to feel like a witch on trial with all the stares. He must’ve looked upset, because Wonwoo followed after, his favorability increasing by the second.

   "Are you angry?" Wonwoo asked, holding onto his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to go off on you like that."

   Joshua smiled and shook his head. As much as the CEO pissed him off, he couldn’t deny the man had made some good points. Wonwoo was a celebrity. There was no way people could accept him in a relationship, let alone with a man. It was ironic, considering how much the fans loved him and Jihoon as on-screen partners.

   Joshua already knew that, and he knew he shouldn’t care. It was none of his business whether Wonwoo's career failed or not. He shouldn’t. He couldn’t.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 1.

   "What are you... doing here?"

   Suddenly, he could hear this agitating, grating mosquito by his right ear.

   Jihoon immediately gravitated toward Wonwoo, clinging to his arm. He didn’t need to do all that, considering they were inside and there were barely any people around. He probably wanted to show off their skinship or something, which, once again, Joshua really couldn't care less about.

   "I think it's pretty obvious why I'm here," Joshua said. He smiled with his eyes, tilting his head just enough to piss Jihoon off.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 5.

   "Oh… It's because of the photos, right?" Jihoon's face suddenly dropped. His hands slowly slid down Wonwoo's arm as he transformed into some weak crybaby. Luckily, he spared Joshua the headache and didn’t actually shed any tears.

   It was about time they met anyway. Joshua had been ignoring all contact from Jihoon and Seungcheol as he theorized ways to lower Jihoon’s favorability. It wasn’t hard to do or anything. He just wanted to cause a scene and be dramatic. The original owner of the body deserved that much.

   "Actually… I wanted to talk to you about that," Jihoon mumbled, holding onto the hem of Wonwoo's shirt. "You're upset with me, aren't you? I know… I shouldn't have broken up with you like that."

Joshua glanced at The Interface. He was in absolute shock from the sheer buffoonery in front of him. Honestly, he couldn’t wait to see what kind of bullshit Jihoon was about to prepare and cook in front of him.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], please stop staring at the screen. 

   "What are you trying to say?" Joshua sighed.

   "You're… getting back at me, aren't you?"

   "You think… I'm trying to get back at you? Like, me? By what? Getting closer to Wonwoo?" Joshua dropped his head into his hands. It was so ridiculous, but technically, it wasn’t even wrong. The original owner's dying wish was literally to marry Wonwoo just because he was Jihoon's partner. It wasn’t a wonder how those two ended up together before—they were equally as crazy.

   "Seriously…" he laughed, channeling Ryujin's character for a moment. "Why do you keep thinking everyone revolves around you? Would it kill you to find out that I don't care about you anymore?"

   "But we were together for so long!" Jihoon exclaimed, holding one hand to his chest. He looked as if he were truly tormented by the idea. "You couldn't move on even after months. How do you expect me to believe you're not doing this as revenge?"

   Well, Jihoon was right. But since Joshua hated him, he was wrong.

   "Fine. Let's say that that's the case," Joshua replied, sighing. "So what?"

   "I… won't let you use Wonwoo as a scapegoat for your anger. You can't play with his feelings like this! I know you don't like—"

   "I don't like him?"

   Jihoon gritted his teeth, nodding.

   Joshua suddenly reached over, grabbing Wonwoo's forearm and yanking him forward. Their noses almost touched as there was barely space between them.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 5.

   "Wonwoo."

   "What—"

   "Let's date."

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a task as {JOSHUA HONG}!

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LIMIT: 1 year

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

[SYSTEM 1230], will you accept this task?

Chapter Text

   These tasks were usually called the final tasks. Their descriptions were often the same as the mission, with a longer duration and a vague reward. Since it wasn't confirmed that the system would remain in the host body, The Interface would often give them an option of wishing for anything they wanted. Except, there was no telling when they'd give it out.

   Joshua had received it multiple times already, and he'd always ask for help in his future missions, or something petty and useless. It depended solely on his mood and how much he despised someone, and wanted to fuck them over one last time before he left.

   He hadn't gotten a final task with this much time, and he definitely didn't need an entire year. If Wonwoo's favorability rose every time they made eye contact, he could probably seduce him into a marriage next month.

   In any case, he accepted the task. Well, he couldn't really decline it, even though he wanted to do it just once to see what would happen.

   Ding!

You have accepted Happily Ever After.

Upon completion, 1 wish of your choice will be granted by The Interface.

TIME LEFT: 364d 23h 58m 49s

[SYSTEM 1230], happy working!

   Joshua smiled, unaware that two people nearby were about to go into shock.

   Wonwoo's favorability rose by the second as he continued to stare, mouth wide open. His body was pressed up against Joshua's arm as he stood, and his heart was almost beating out of his chest.

   On the other hand, Jihoon was angry. Joshua wasn't sure what kind of face he was making since he didn't care enough to look.

   "So?" Joshua continued, tilting his head.

   "Date…?" Wonwoo muttered. His hesitation must've given Jihoon hope, as he stepped forward with a smile. It was short-lived, though, since Wonwoo quickly nodded as if he had been asked a million-dollar question.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   Joshua laughed and leaned in, kissing the corner of Wonwoo's lips gently. "Is this clear enough?"

   Jihoon clenched his fists. "You…"

   Ding!

You have completed A Bone to Pick successfully.

Your health has increased by 20.

[SYSTEM 1230], well done!

   Rest in peace, original Joshua Hong, you would've loved this scene.

   Joshua cheered internally. His health was probably at a point where he could handle a few more wrist grabs and more intense bedroom activities—if necessary, of course.

   Before he could gloat about his success, Jihoon stormed off, with his favorability continuously lowering. Wonwoo's eyes tracked him, almost as if he wanted to follow. At least he had enough common sense not to chase after someone else right in front of his new partner. Well, old habits do die hard.

   "Are you worried about him?" Joshua asked, even though he already knew the answer.

   "…It's not that." Wonwoo bit his lip. "I'm just trying to think of where to go next. I can't continue being on-screen partners with Jihoon after Kingpin."

   "Why not? It's not like you have to stop because we're together."

   "I know, but I don't want to do that. You know how the fan-service and expectations are for this industry. I don't want to do that when I have you."

   Joshua never said anything else. He wasn't sure how he reacted and what kind of face he made. But his entire body was warm, especially in his chest, as he could hear his heartbeat. It was a strangely nice feeling that he had never had before.

   If Wonwoo was this kind and considerate, despite his awful first impression, it wasn't a wonder why so many people loved him—be it fans or the people around him.

   Joshua must've felt the same. But he wasn't sure if it was Joshua or System 1230.

•••

   Yuri was highly entertained. It was her first time as an assistant, where she would only transform into a human for useless things. Her main priority right now was to run a fansite for Joshua and Wonwoo, which was why she was amongst the crowd at this large-scale event, carrying a camera the size of her arm.

   Her tasks ranged from pictures to videos, to writing fanfiction to fuel the ship. Luckily, she did a bit of writing in her time—before she became a system and all.

   On stage were the usual, except there were two hosts this time, yelling into the microphones as they geeked out.

   The cast played all sorts of games for the event, promoting Kingpin. None of them were really relevant, just fan-service farming. But this time, Joshua wasn't so out of luck now that Wonwoo had realized his feelings. He wasn't a fifth wheel anymore, but a secret third, more sinister thing; Jihoon was now the one standing off to the side, fidgeting uncomfortably as Wonwoo barely did any fan-service, let alone touch him.

   Well, that wasn't any of Joshua's business anymore. He had better things to worry about, like this paper-passing game the hosts were introducing. Since he was moved to the stand in the middle between the couples, he was in a terrible position. While Wonwoo was on his right, Jeonghan was on his left. At least it wasn't Jihoon, but he wasn't fond of it either.

   "Alright, are we ready? Whoever drops the most paper will get a punishment!" the host yelled, preparing a stack of red, heart-shaped pieces of paper. He placed them on the table next to Jihoon, and there was an empty box on the other end next to Junhui, where they had to pass them into.

   "I'll start the timer in 3… 2… 1… Start!"

   Jihoon placed the paper on his lips, puckering slightly to hold it. He faced Wonwoo and tilted his head. It wasn't clear what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't Wonwoo taking it by the corner, completely avoiding his mouth. The fans probably didn't notice, but Joshua did, and he rejoiced.

   Wonwoo turned to him next and grabbed his shoulder. He looked down a little as Joshua bent his knees, trying to take it from below. They struggled for a bit as Joshua failed to pick up the paper with his lips; Wonwoo had to reach behind his back and push him up a little, transferring it as the corner of their lips touched.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   Then, Joshua's worst nightmare came. Once he looked at Jeonghan, he almost dropped the paper on purpose. He didn't hate him or anything, but he wasn't exactly a fan of the glares that Jeonghan gave him. Hell, he still wasn't even sure why Jeonghan disliked him. If it were truly because of what Jihoon had told him, then he was probably better off not knowing.

   "Tilt your head," Jeonghan demanded. He awkwardly shifted his head a few times before shortening the distance, sucking the paper onto his lips. It slipped down a little, and in a panic, he opened his mouth and it completely fell—the barrier between Joshua's lips and his was gone.

   Screams erupted and cameras went off.

   Joshua quickly backed away and covered his mouth. If he weren't on stage right now, he would've started wiping all the lip tint and makeup off his face.

   "Haha! What just happened?" Wonwoo asked, laughing as he pulled Joshua closer. His damage control consisted of making fun of Jeonghan and then quickly changing the topic.

   Unfortunately, the games continued for a while after that. They even pulled out the classic pepero game, pairing up Jihoon and Wonwoo, and Jeonghan and Junhui. Joshua thought he was safe and was going to be the judge or something. But the fans suddenly protested, asking someone to just play twice so he could have a turn too. He couldn't tell if they were his fans or people wishing for his downfall.

   "Okay… stop! Stop!" the host yelled, waving her hand frantically. "Don't measure anything yet! We need someone to do it with Joshua and then—"

   "I'll do it."

   Everybody turned to look at Wonwoo. Joshua chuckled; he might as well announce they’re dating instead.

   "Haha, you sound eager!"

   Wonwoo scratched his cheek and tried to laugh it off. Meanwhile, Joshua accepted the strawberry-flavored pretzel stick and held it between his lips, wiggling it around with his tongue.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   This time, Wonwoo grabbed onto Joshua's waist and pulled him in as he slowly bit off the other end of the pepero. He took his time and maintained eye contact, savoring every moment. Once their lips almost touched, the host waved her hand, expecting them to bite off and finish.

   They were unaware that Joshua was freak number one, and Wonwoo was a submissive, down-bad lover.

   Joshua parted his lips, and Wonwoo went further. It was no secret at this point that their lips were touching.

   "Oh—haha… Guys! I think that's enough!"

   Crack!

   Wonwoo bit off what he could, and Joshua spat the remainder out. They didn't even need to measure—the win was theirs.

•••

   "Here," Sera said, offering a bottle of water. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

   "I feel like it," Joshua groaned as he slumped into his seat. After all that, he still couldn't go home yet, as they had another event in two hours. He had to run away and hide in Sera's car in the parking lot for a moment of silence, since the fans were all up in his ass now too.

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Ding!

yoonity: WAIT GUYS WHY DO I LOWKEY FW IT….. JOSHUA JUST LOOKS SOOOOO GOOD WITH EVERYONE

WONSHUAfansworldwide: DID YOU SEE THATTTTTTT WONWOO WAS SO POSSESSIVE I'M TELLING YOU GUYS WONSHUA IS REAL

catji96: is it just me or did something look off with ji today :( wonwoo was kinda distant with him too…

yaoijesus: now this is some good yaoi THE TENSION THE YEARNING THE FORBIDDEN LOVE

lesbians4wonwoo: i wouldn't be surprised if accolades just came out and said wonwoo and joshua were dating tbh. the pictures and now this… like it's so obvious something's changed between them.

   Joshua smiled. Yuri was definitely getting a raise. Not that he paid her to begin with, but she’d get one anyway.

   "You're really not trying to hide your relationship, are you?" Sera said. "You used to worry about it so much when it was Jihoon. Now you're a whole different person."

   "He's the one who didn't want our relationship to be public," Joshua replied. "Wonwoo doesn't mind."

   "Yeah, yeah. You're a match made in heaven. But seriously, you need to be careful. It might be hard for you to get more roles in the future."

   Joshua shrugged. It didn't matter to him. He wasn't going to be here in the future anyway.

•••

   The divide between the two ships wasn't as big anymore. As Kingpin neared its final episodes, there were even more people begging for a different ending. It wasn't rocket science to figure out that no matter what, Wookyung and Sihyun would end up together. But it was more unheard of to have an antagonist end up with the love interest.

   The producer also considered it, but it didn't make sense for Sihyun to suddenly fall for Ryujin. So now, they were left with an unusual relationship that was open for the viewers to interpret. It was a great setup for a second season, but there wouldn't be one.

   Honestly, Joshua didn't care what happened. He just wanted to be done with filming so he could spend more time with Wonwoo, and so he wouldn't have to see Jihoon's face as much as he did now.

   Clang!

   Combs and brushes fell off the vanity, scattering around the floor of the trailer. One by one, everything was swept off by Joshua's restless hands, searching for balance as he also collected his breath.

   "Seriously…" He pulled Wonwoo away by the neck gently, stopping the kiss. "Why are you so impatient? It's not like I'm going anywhere."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 15.

   Wonwoo let out a few noises, whining. He dropped his head onto Joshua's stomach. Meanwhile, his hands were getting ahead of him and caressed Joshua's waist, squeezing him gently.

   Slap!

   "Come on," he mumbled. "This is your final scene. I won't see you again…"

   "On set, you mean. It's not like you're not going to see me ever again." Joshua laughed. "Don't act like I'm not basically living at your place whenever I don't have a schedule."

   Wonwoo groaned some more.

   Joshua played with his hair, massaging around his ear as he looked down. He was warm again. It was scary, and he didn't want to get used to this sensation at all.

   "What do you think you'll do after Kingpin wraps up?"

   Wonwoo removed his head and glanced up. "Yiyoung’s been sending me all these upcoming works, but… nothing sounds right. Should I just… sponsor someone to make a series for us?"

   "Don't joke about that," Joshua said, hitting his shoulder lightly.

   "I'm not! I'm not. Don't you want to?"

   Joshua bit his lip. There was no way his idea could come to fruition before the one-year timer ran out, and he wasn't going to stay once he completed his mission. He was sure he wouldn't.

   "Yeah… why not?" He smiled. "Let's think about it later though, when we're all done with this."

   Wonwoo nodded excitedly. He returned his head onto Joshua's lap again.

   "What should we do? Something cute? Maybe like next-door neighbors—oh, what about office romance?"

   "Really? Why don't we do something like enemies-to-lovers? That way it's accurate to how you—"

   "Stop mentioning those times! I know I was wrong…"

   "Haha!"

•••

   Today's set went all out, taking place in a large containment yard by the port. It was also nighttime, topped off with some artificial rain to get the solemn atmosphere going. Since it was a dramatic ending that Joshua liked, he didn't mind getting wet and cold for a few hours.

   The director ran through the plan again to minimize mistakes. If the actors didn't want to stay out late in the rain, the staff members didn't either.

   "Don't look so happy," Joshua said, chuckling as he walked up to the umbrella. "Just because I won't be on set anymore doesn't mean you have a chance."

   Jihoon clenched his jaw. "Don't talk to me."

   "I didn't want to either. But I saw you getting a little smiley and giddy," he whispered with a shit-eating grin on his face. "You hate me, I hate you. I don't want to see that."

   "You—"

   "Is everyone here? We're starting now!"

   Joshua quickly left the mess he had made and got into position. He was going to be doing a lot of running and jumping; thankfully, his health wasn't that bad anymore.

   Wonwoo was up ahead, giving him a thumbs-up for support.

   "Slate… action!"

   Bang!

   Ryujin fired a warning shot into one of the containers nearby, the sound reverberating around. He backed away slowly as he pointed his gun at Sihyun, slowly retreating into the protection of his lackeys, who were also armed.

   Now that he had Wookyung in his grasp, there was no way he was going to let him go.

   "Give it up, Yeon Sihyun. You can't do anything."

   "Who says?" Sihyun laughed. "While you're out here wasting your time with me, my people are probably already on that boat with Wookyung."

   Ryujin furrowed his brows. He glanced at the woman on his left, who quickly checked her phone and made a call. After a while, she nodded, confirming Sihyun's words.

   "Fuck."

   Ryujin quickly turned around and started to run, leaving Sihyun to fight with the team he had left behind. It didn't hold him back long, as Sihyun soon caught up, now with a gun he had probably stolen from one of Ryujin's lackeys.

   A dozen gunshots rang throughout the night as the chase continued deep into the rain. Ryujin didn't care. He had to get to Wookyung before he was taken away; he had worked so hard to capture him, there was no way he could do it again.

   "It's too late!" Sihyun yelled. Then he fired another shot.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 98. Your current health is now at 81 out of 300.

   Ryujin collapsed to the ground harshly, sliding forward against the wet concrete. Pain spread throughout his leg as blood mixed with the rain. Still, he pulled himself up and staggered, continuing toward the port nearby.

   "Ugh—"

   He fell again, but this time, Sihyun had caught him—keeping him up by holding on to one arm.

   Ryujin quickly shook him off.

   Sihyun's face twisted in all sorts of emotions. He was angry, he was upset, he was sad.

   Ryujin scoffed. "You're looking… ugh… you're looking at me like that again."

   "Like what?"

   "Like you… pity me."

   Sihyun crouched and grabbed Ryujin's leg, inspecting the wound as much as he could through the dimly lit night. It was a miracle his phone was still working after all the water and physical damage it had accrued.

   "I—"

   "Hyung!" Wookyung ran over, out of the umbrella and blanket that Sebin held for him.

   Ilsung was also behind them, just as shocked, trying to reach for Wookyung, but he was already too far.

   Once Wookyung was close enough, Ryujin quickly grabbed him and pulled him in front, holding the gun to his head. He managed to stand back up and back away slowly, closer to the edge of the water, where he could make a run to the right for his speedboat.

   "Back off… All of you."

   Sihyun and Ilsung aimed their guns at him as they obliged. Sebin, too.

   "Please…" Wookyung begged, in tears.

   Ryujin winced in pain as he slowly dragged the two of them away. There was a long moment of silence, filled with nothing but the rain.

   "Why isn't he speaking?" Sera mumbled, staring at the monitor.

   "Let him be. He usually improvises, doesn't he? This is probably another one of his—"

   Wonwoo dropped his gun and ran forward. "Joshua!"

   Splash!

   In a split second, the set was in chaos.

Chapter Text

   If System 1230 was anything, he was smart, gorgeous, likable—but most importantly, he was a fighter. He had gone against monsters in the worst conditions imaginable; surely, he could survive a turbulent ocean at night. Well, probably also with a broken bone.

   He wasn’t sure what had happened earlier, but his trip during the filming was real. His hands were stinging from grazing against the concrete, and his right leg ached with a sharp pain.

   This was the perfect moment for The Interface to step in and help him, but it seemed like that was only possible if he tried to kill himself. Nothing was happening. It was almost aggravating to see the screen float around so nonchalantly like he wasn’t fighting for his life.

   “Hey!” Joshua yelled. It was hard for him to interact with the screen while swimming, so he waited whenever he wasn’t getting his shit rocked by the waves. “Help—help me!”

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230], interference will result in another penalty. Are you sure?

   “Who gives a fuck?! Hurry!” he called out. His words were quiet, drowned out—quite literally—by the waves crashing against each other. “Come on!”

   Ding!

Initiating pause…

TIMELINE 27 has been paused.

[SYSTEM 0106]: His health is going to be so shit…

[SYSTEM 0313]: You're better than me, I would've just given up.

[SYSTEM 0201]: Me too.

[SYSTEM 1229]: He just keeps losing, haha.

[SYSTEM 1008]: He's about to have a crash out of the century too.

WARNING: This is your second timeline pause, [SYSTEM 1230].

No way, really? I can't believe I had to tell you to help me.

As punishment, the host’s physical health has decreased by 75%.

You better rewind me farther back if you're taking that much.

Rewinding time…

Completed.

Resuming TIMELINE 27…

   “Fuck,” Joshua muttered under his breath as he fell back again. Trust that once The Interface manifests into a physical body, he’ll lock it up and beat it into oblivion.

   At least this time, he was more prepared, grabbing onto the ledge with both hands, wincing in pain.

   “Joshua!” Wonwoo yelled. He ran over and grabbed onto one of Joshua’s arms, while Junhui joined him and took the other, dragging him back up.

   Once he was stable on land, he began to cough, and the wounds on his hands stung even more. “He…alth…”

   Ding!

Your maximum health was at 179 out of 300. Your maximum health is now at 44 out of 300.

Your current health is now at 23 out of 300.

   It was so over. He was so not back.

•••

   The faint rustles woke Wonwoo up with a jump. He had fallen asleep on the side of the hospital bed, holding onto Joshua. He must've been there for hours, as their hands were hot from each other’s warmth.

   Joshua only managed to open his eyes. His entire body was in indescribable pain, from head to toe, inside and out. One day. Just one day, he'd kill The Interface. Maybe he should use his wish on that.

   "You're… awake…"

   A single tear rolled down Wonwoo's cheek.

   “Don’t…” he muttered hoarsely, “don’t look… so—ahem!”

   Wonwoo quickly covered his mouth to stop him from speaking and called for the medical staff. He disappeared for a while as the nurses entered. They couldn’t do much aside from tending to the superficial scratches he had when he fell, and it seemed like they had already worked on whatever was broken in his leg.

   Once they were done, they left him to rest again—and rest he did. He was honestly waiting for Sera to burst through the doors, screaming about how he was still alive.

   Click!

   "You're… back," Joshua said.

   Wonwoo returned with a paper bag, and he pulled out a bowl of what looked like porridge and a bottle of water. He transferred the food onto the overbed table and pulled his chair in closer.

   "Don't speak anymore. You need to rest."

   Joshua nodded.

   Wonwoo mixed the food around before picking up a spoonful. He blew on it gently to cool it down before bringing it up to Joshua’s dry, cracked lips. It went on like this for a while before he spoke again.

   “You were unconscious for two weeks,” he muttered, looking down. “I was so scared… I thought you wouldn’t wake up…”

   Joshua reached out his hand, gently playing with Wonwoo's ear.

   "I'm sorry."

   "What are you… apolo—ahem, apologizing for?"

   Wonwoo lowered his head into his hands. “I didn’t even realize you got injured.”

   “It was dark, how would you—” Joshua swallowed—“how would you have seen? Plus, it wasn’t… your fault. You weren’t the one who… pushed me.”

   Silence.

   "What?"

•••

   "Hey… doesn't it look too realistic?"

   "There's no way that wasn't real! Why would Sihyun and Ilsung save Ryujin? That's obviously Wonwoo and Junhui."

   "But doesn't it look like Wookyung pushed him? That makes sense."

   "Can we not be dense? We know Wookyung wouldn't do that. It's a weird situation overall, but let's not point fingers."

   "If they used a real accident, then this is messed up. At least that was Ryujin's last scene. Joshua doesn't have to deal with any of that anymore."

   Joshua pulled up his mask as he tried to phase into the leather seat. He came out to meet with Sera over lunch, but somehow found himself between tables full of passionate fangirls.

   He didn't know that they had used his scene in the episode until it came out. It was dramatic and came out better than what the creative team had in mind. But many people caught on quickly that it must've been a real accident. Of course they did, Joshua was fighting for his life. If he hadn't had The Interface rewind time, he probably would've gone international and won a prize for his scene in the ocean.

   Well, at least he went out with a bang. He didn't have to do anything to Jihoon, since the netizens were already tearing him a new one. Honestly, he thought he had slipped when he first fell. But after The Interface sent him back, there was no way he wouldn't notice the second time.

   Since Jihoon was in front of him, held hostage as Wookyung, he was able to push Joshua back. It was a miracle that he didn't also fall. Looking back, Joshua regretted not holding onto him harder and also bringing him down. If there was a next time, he knew what he'd be doing.

   "Show me the task screen."

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 274d 18h 30m 2s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   "I've been wondering," he muttered, trying not to look crazy. "What exactly do you mean by marriage? Is it at the altar or when we're at the district office, legally signing our papers?"

   Ding!

You will need to do both, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua sighed in relief. For a moment, he thought he'd have to go out on a boring finale instead of a grand wedding. The original owner would've probably wanted something dramatic too.

   Thump!

   Sera sat opposite him, huffing and puffing as if she had run here.

   "Why do you look like that?"

   She downed a glass of water and slammed her fist on the table. "Why don't you ask that boyfriend of yours? What the hell is he doing around here?"

   Joshua looked down at his phone and saw a few messages from Wonwoo. Apparently, he had a schedule nearby and would be waiting for Joshua to finish his business so they could go home together. Something told Joshua that this was a big, fat lie; there was no way Wonwoo would have anything to do with a street full of restaurants and karaoke bars.

   Ever since Joshua was discharged, Wonwoo had turned into a worrywart. He’d drive Joshua around. Hell, he’d help Joshua walk to the bathroom, to the kitchen—he even offered to carry him at some point. Joshua wasn’t sure if Wonwoo knew he could still walk with a cast and crutches.

   "What did you want to say anyway?" Sera asked. "I don't think we should stay here for long, so let's just order light and go—"

   "I want to retire."

   She paused with the menu in her hand. Her head slowly turned, and honestly, it looked really creepy. "What? Wait—what? What are you saying?"

   "Let me rephrase that. I'm going to retire from the entertainment industry."

   Sera nodded. "I get it. It's because of the accident on set, isn't it?"

   "That's part of it," he shrugged. "I'm just tired."

   It was true. Joshua couldn't act anymore. His health was too low for him to do anything. He even lost some on the way while tripping over an uneven path. Plus, he didn't need to stay and do unnecessary things like being an actor; he had already won Wonwoo over. All he needed to do was progress their relationship.

   "Alright," Sera sighed. "You just have to finish the schedules we've already signed for. It'll only be a few weeks. Don't worry about Boss though, I'll talk to her first."

   Joshua smiled. He wasn't worried about her opinion, but rather her physical reactions. If she yelled dramatically and hit him on the shoulder lightly, he might be as good as dead.

   "Still, it's so surprising," she continued. "I didn't think you were going to retire after all the hard work you've been—"

   Thwack!

   Joshua looked to his right.

   Somehow, Wonwoo was there with his eyes widened, and his phone was cracked on the ground.

   "You're… retiring?"

•••

   Joshua lay on the bed with his legs up, kicking back. He rested his face on his arm, poking his grown boyfriend's back with his other hand. "Come on… Why are you upset?"

   "I'm not," Wonwoo mumbled. "If only the accident hadn't happened… I still can't believe Jihoon pushed you. I would've never expected that. But I guess… the him I know is a lot more different than who he is."

   "I was going to do this regardless," he said, lying a little. "I guess I just did it earlier than I had planned."

   "Is that why you didn't want to take any action against Jihoon? Then what about earlier? When we talked about having our own series, acting together? Is that why you… weren't really on board?"

   Joshua tugged Wonwoo's shirt and forced him to turn around. Then, he moved closer and rested within Wonwoo's embrace, nuzzling his head into his stomach.

   "We'll still be together without all that, wouldn't we?" he muttered. "Unless you're going to dump me because I won't be an actor any—mmph!"

   Wonwoo covered his mouth and pulled himself down. Once he removed his hand, he kissed Joshua. "Don't even joke about that."

   "Fine, fine."

   "I'll stay with you even if you were a rock."

   "Okay, maybe not that far."

   Wonwoo laughed and continued hugging him. They stayed that way for a while—in comfortable silence, in each other's warmth.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   It was a shame that this wouldn't last forever. This must've been the first time System 1230 had thought so. It wasn't like he didn't make any meaningful friendships and relationships in his past missions; he did. Was it because this was the first time he had to like someone? No, it was the first time Joshua liked someone—not the original owner of the body, not the system, but the Joshua that he was once before. The Joshua who was always sick, weak, and lonely. The Joshua who died under the cold hospital lights.

   Well, System 1230 didn't have to leave. He could continue as the Joshua Hong of this timeline. He could stay as a retired actor, who was as fragile as glass and had haters all around the country. He'd have his soon-to-be husband, a select few good friends, and the comfort of all his hard earnings.

   He shifted his head and glanced at the screen, staring at his profile. He had three missions left until his objective was complete; once he finished this one, he'd only have two. If he did everything, he could leave the system and be reborn, living as no one but himself. From birth to adulthood, it would be him again with his memories, goals, and relationships.

   All of the host bodies looked like him, sounded like him, and were just variants of him. Still, he never felt like they were him. It was strange. If all of them were him in alternate timelines, why couldn't he connect with them?

   "Hey," Joshua muttered. "What would you do if I suddenly… disappeared?"

   Wonwoo pulled himself down on the bed so he could look at Joshua face-to-face. "What are you saying? How can you just suddenly disappear?"

   "Just answer."

   "Obviously, I'd try to find you," he said, chuckling. "You can't hide from me. I'll find the best detectives to track you down."

   Joshua laughed, hitting his chest lightly. "What if you don't?"

   "Then I'd be sad. It's hard to say what I'd do or react now… but you can't just leave me now that you've got me like this."

   "I know, I know." Joshua pushed himself up and turned around, looking out the window as the sun set. "Should I… just… stay here forever?"

   Wonwoo slid his arms around Joshua's stomach and hugged him from behind. "What kind of question is that? Of course, you should. I'll look after you so you don't have to worry about anything."

   "What if I spend all of your money?"

   "I have enough."

   "What if I'm dirty and don't clean up at all?"

   "It's okay, I can."

   "What if I'm always sick and weak like I am now?"

   "Then I'll be here like I am now too."

•••

   Applause filled the hall. Kingpin had finally wrapped up, and despite the constant divide within the fanbase, it was a success—even more than the companies had hoped for.

   The cast was lined up on the stage, sitting on chairs. The director, producers, and the rest of the team were also there.

   Wonwoo raised his microphone and smiled. It was his turn to give his final speech. "For me, this series was the best choice of my life."

   The fans and reporters in the venue went crazy with cheers or murmurs.

   "I got to learn many things about the people around me, and even things about myself," he continued. "I've been in this industry for a while and always thought I knew everything there was to know. Maybe I did. But I wasn't good at dealing with my emotions."

   Hell yeah, he didn't.

   "Because of Kingpin, I got to meet someone special."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   Joshua raised his head. It seemed that everyone had done the same—it wasn't hard to figure out who Wonwoo was talking about, grinning with honey oozing out of his eyes.

   "Someone funny, headstrong, and who knew how to put up a fight." Wonwoo chuckled. "Even when I treated him badly because of a misunderstanding, he never did the same back. Not only that, he's beautiful from head to toe, inside and out—wait, is that too much information?"

   Everyone laughed awkwardly, glancing at one another.

   Wonwoo looked around too. "If you met someone like that, wouldn't you want to be near them all the time? I think I would."

   The host picked up her microphone. She was flustered but knew she had to do damage control. "I didn't know you were such a romantic, haha. Jihoon must be a sweetheart—"

   "I didn't say his name."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {LEE JIHOON} has decreased by 50.

   "Oh, uh—haha, that's—"

   "But… I don't think I have to say who it is." Wonwoo looked at the crowd and hunched over, resting his arms on his legs. "Isn't it obvious who I'm talking about anyway?"

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Joshua flinched. Suddenly, his vision was filled with multiple screens as they appeared throughout the venue.

   Ding!

WWSTARLIGHT: It's official then… Wonwoo and Joshua are together.

   The reporters stood up from their seats and rushed toward the stage, scrambling to get their microphones to Wonwoo.

Accolades_KR: Regarding the allegations between JEON WONWOO of Accolades and JOSHUA HONG of Vivace Entertainment, please see the attached document below:

   Wonwoo approached the edge of the stage and crouched to accept their questions.

shuamaid: this is straight out of like a movie omfg THIS IS CINEMA

   "What does this mean? Are you and Joshua dating?"

VivaceENT: Please stop emailing us. Our artists' personal lives are none our business. If it's true, we support them.

   He smiled.

juncat: imaginng coming out live in front of hundreds of people and thousands of online viewers… if i bagged a bad bitch like joshua i'd do the same tbh

   "You might as well ask me if the grass is green and the sky is blue, haha." Wonwoo reached down for one of the dozen microphones and brought it closer. "Yes. Yes, we are."

   Suddenly, they shifted their attention to Joshua, who was still sitting down with his mouth hanging open. He was shocked into stupidity—frozen with widened eyes. Seriously, it wasn't the face he should be making when there were hundreds of cameras on him.

   "Is this true?"

   "Please confirm! Are you and Wonwoo really dating?"

   "How long have you guys been together?"

   "What about Jihoon?"

   "How did you guys find out you liked each other?"

   Joshua leaned back and picked up his microphone from his lap. He brushed his bangs back, acting all cool and nonchalant as if he hadn’t looked a mess just earlier. "Sure, I can tell you."

   The staff on set panicked, scrambling to get up and stop the situation from going on any longer.

   "I can tell you," Joshua continued, "but I can't promise what I'll say won't get the livestreams taken down. Are you sure you guys want to hear it?"

Chapter Text

   To say the final event went viral was an understatement. It had blown up so much that Joshua was receiving private messages from celebrities he hadn't even heard of from other countries, who admired his bravery. A few loved how confident he was; it was a good thing they didn't notice the moments before, when he had his mouth open and was staring blankly.

   It wasn't too surprising. One of the top actors came out and announced his relationship simultaneously. No one had seen something like that before. It gave fans hope that other couples would soon come out too, with a majority cheering for Junhui and Jeonghan. Unfortunately for them, they’d have to wait a long ass time.

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 223d 11h 7m 45s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   Joshua had just over seven months left. Realistically, it was nowhere near enough. Hell, even wedding planning itself took over a year on average. But somehow, he was going to have to propose and marry in half that time. It wasn't impossible, but it'd take a hell of a lot of energy that he didn't have.

   He leaned back in his seat, sighing with his eyes closed. Well, Wonwoo's. He couldn't remember the last time he went back to his own apartment.

   Click!

   Wonwoo stepped out, still steaming from the shower he had. He had just a towel wrapped around his hips, and shook the water out of his hair. "What's wrong?"

   "What do you like?"

   He furrowed his eyebrows and made a confused expression.

   "Your likes and dislikes," Joshua mumbled. "I feel like we don't know much about each other."

   Wonwoo walked over and stood behind the reclined armchair. He leaned down and kissed Joshua's lips, wetting him with his hair. "I like you."

   "That's not a—"

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered one of {JEON WONWOO}'s likes.

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

STATUS: Ally

RELATIONSHIP: Lover

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: {JOSHUA HONG}, LOCKED, Japanese food

DISLIKES: LOCKED, LOCKED, LOCKED

FAVORABILITY: 721

   Joshua couldn't believe his eyes. "No way… how?"

   Ding!

It was recently changed from Work to {JOSHUA HONG}, [SYSTEM 1230].

   "What do you mean? I like you," Wonwoo said, frowning. "Aside from that… Well, Japanese food, but I think you already know that. Wait, do you even remember?"

   "Of course I do."

   Wonwoo narrowed his eyes as if he were suspicious. Then, he dropped his head and shook around, letting all the droplets hit Joshua's face.

   "Come on," Joshua groaned. "What else?"

   "What else? Hm… I'm into romance films lately, if that counts. I think it's because of you," he said, planting another kiss on Joshua's cheek. "I've never really thought about things like this. I don't think I have anything I don't hate."

   "It doesn't have to be anything serious. I mean, I hate green. Like, the color green."

   Wonwoo laughed.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   "That's cute. Let's say I hate green too, then."

   "It can't be the only thing you hate."

   "Well, is green the only thing you hate? What else?"

   Joshua closed his mouth and nodded. He wanted to yell Jihoon's name, but didn't want to ruin the moment they had.

   "Then I guess the only thing I hate is green."

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], you have uncovered one of {JEON WONWOO}'s likes, and three dislikes.

Loading Information Screen…

   Ding!

NAME: {JEON WONWOO}

GENDER: Male

AGE: 26

STATUS: Ally

RELATIONSHIP: Lover

CAREER: Actor at Accolades

• Films: Proi Proi (SUPPORTING), Kirin’s Breath (LEAD), Demian (LEAD)

• Dramas: In The Stars (LEAD), Sweet Melody (LEAD), More than X (LEAD)

• Series: Kingpin (LEAD)

LIKES: {JOSHUA HONG}, romance films, Japanese food

DISLIKES: Green, green, green

FAVORABILITY: 731

   Wonwoo was a lost cause. He'd probably jump off a bridge if Joshua told him to.

   Suddenly, he dropped his head again. "Are you really retiring?"

   "It's too late to change my mind anyway."

   "That's not true. If you want, I'll start a whole company—"

   Joshua leaned in and kissed Wonwoo, forcibly shutting him up. "Let's not do that."

   Wonwoo frowned, biting his bottom lip. "Fine. But you have to let me do something with Jihoon at least."

   "You're saying that as if I'd stop you," Joshua said, laughing. If he weren't weak and tired all the time, he would've found Jihoon and rocked his shit already. If anything, he was disappointed that he couldn't do much when all the gossip was about that scene. Maybe he'd ask The Interface to rewind time so he could do something, but his hatred for Jihoon wasn't enough to trade his life for.

   "What are you going to do? It's not like you can take legal action."

   "I wasn't thinking of that," Wonwoo muttered, smiling. It was probably the first time he looked scary—to Joshua at least. "He prioritizes his career and fame… don't I just have to take that away?"

   Joshua covered his mouth. He almost cried tears of joy, being able to watch and hear how he had influenced Wonwoo. In no time, Wonwoo was going to be a snarky asshole who couldn't give a fuck about anyone or anything.

   "That's crazy coming from someone who used to bend over backward and shit on me all the time because of Jihoon."

   Wonwoo walked around and crouched, resting his head on Joshua's knees. "I know, I know, I was wrong. If you're still angry, you can do whatever you want to me. I'll stay at a wall with my hands up for three hours if you want me to."

   Joshua laughed. "I think I have a better punishment."

   "What is—"

   Wonwoo flinched as Joshua's foot slipped under his towel. It rubbed against his thighs slowly, tickling him. He could feel the sensation throughout his body as he twitched, covering his mouth to suppress the noises he made. It was something he noticed when he started getting closer to Joshua—that he would always yield to him. Whatever Joshua did and whatever Joshua wanted to do, Wonwoo was always on board.

   They hadn't done anything since the accident on set. Well, Wonwoo wasn't that much of an asshole to try to sex up his injured lover, who had just been in a near-death experience. What he didn't know was the fact that Joshua had killed himself thirty times in his head, waiting for a sliver of action.

   "W-Wait…" Wonwoo leaned into Joshua again, holding onto his leg to stop him.

   Joshua listened. Then he stood up and walked away; he had already seen the reaction he hoped for.

   "Where are you—"

   "I'm going to take a shower." Joshua removed Wonwoo's grasp on his hand. "Wait until I'm done. This is your punishment."

•••

   Reporters and fans surrounded the outside of the company building with their cameras in hand. Ever since the final event, it was hard to catch any glimpse of Wonwoo. It was as if he were the one who retired, not Joshua.

   If Accolades hadn't called Wonwoo in, he wouldn't have set foot near the building, let alone with Jihoon. It was only because Joshua forced him to go.

   Everyone surrounded them with microphones, yelling over each other with questions and demands. It was incredible how they still wanted fan-service while ambushing people in the middle of the street.

   "Please! Everyone, back off!" Yiyoung stood in front of Wonwoo, trying to shield him as she waited for the guards from inside to move over. Somehow, her request made the crowd more passionate, and the guards couldn't make it through.

   "What's going to happen with guys now?"

   "So was all of your relationship fan-service?"

   "Joshua was your previous on-screen partner. How do you feel about all of this?"

   Jihoon finally stopped. He turned to find the reporter who asked the question, and smiled faintly. As always, he was dressed in his pastel colors and cute accessories; whatever style the company had put on him, it was working, as the reporters and fans calmed down, silencing themselves to listen.

   "Joshua and I are just… good friends," he muttered, looking almost sad. "I never expected that this would happen either, but I support them. It's a shame that he decided to retire… I'll always support whatever he decides to do next."

   "What about the final scene between Hwa Ryujin and Kim Wookyung? Many people are accusing you of pushing Joshua off. Is this true?"

   "That… Why would I do… something like that?" Jihoon stepped back. He instinctively reached for Wonwoo's arm, who stood nearby, only to be shaken off like dirt on the bottom of someone's shoe.

   "That's a good question," Wonwoo said, smiling. "I don't get it either."

   The reporters and fans glanced around before suddenly swarming them again.

   "What does this mean?"

   "Are you saying he did push Joshua?"

   "What else did you see?"

   Jihoon's eyes wavered. His hands were clenched by his sides as he stood, dumbfounded. He couldn't say anything, shaking. It was probably the first time he had seen an expression like that from Wonwoo.

   "It looks like we won't make it into the building at this rate," Wonwoo continued, smiling. "So I hope you won't mind if I just say it here, right? I'll save everybody the trouble."

   "What are you…"

   "Jihoon and I are no longer partners from today onward."

   Yiyoung closed her eyes and covered her ears, probably from the uproar around her. Oh, and Seungcheol was there too. It was hard to notice him due to his incredibly low aura and negative presence. He was also shitting himself, or whatever.

   Jihoon shook his head. He was so panicked and frantic that it was hard to tell if he was crying or not. "You can't just do this. What the—what are you saying? You can't just—"

   "Why not?" Wonwoo tilted his head. Then, he hunched over and leaned in, whispering into one of Jihoon's ears. "Or are you scared that you'd be nothing without me?"

   "Y-You…"

   "Don't cause a scene unless you want to be blacklisted from the entire industry."

   Jihoon lowered his head. His entire body trembled as he bit his lip, probably to stop himself from his usual vulgar speaking tendencies.

   "Or do. I don't really care."

   Clap!

   Joshua and Yuri high-fived. Then they turned around and did a heel click. Even The Interface threw in pictures of rainbows on multiple screens, flying around the living room.

   He figured something like this would've happened, which was why he forced Wonwoo to go. He just couldn't miss out on something fun—even if he had to watch it through a livestream.

   "You've done well, Host." Yuri wiped away fake tears and patted him on the shoulder. "You've been through a lot."

   Joshua nodded. Suddenly, he reached over for the Cinnamoroll plush on the sofa, grabbing it by the neck and holding it up before one of the screens. "Yeah, I've been through a lot because of this stupid thing."

   Ding!

You asked The Interface for help this time, [SYSTEM 1230].

   "Like I had a choice," he groaned. "I would've drowned if I didn't. Can't you just give me a mission so I can get my health back?"

Ding!

Your final mission is Happily Ever After, [SYSTEM 1230].

   "So you're telling me I have no way to get it back."

   Yuri tilted her head. "Why would you want it back, Host? You'll be done with your mission in a few months. You don't really need the extra health, do you?"

   Joshua's eyes flickered. Oh, she was right. In half a year, he'd be gone from this timeline anyway. It wouldn't matter if he left on full health or the shitty health he was at now, since the host body would die once he left anyway.

   "Right… I forgot about that."

   "I thought you wanted to stay for a second," she said, laughing. "But I guess it's tiring to live with such a weak body. Do you want me to help you, Host?"

   "How?"

   "Why don't I help you with the proposal? I think I can feed the idea into Wonwoo's head a little, so it doesn't look like you came out of nowhere with it."

   Joshua sighed. "He doesn't even know who you are. How are you going to do that?"

   "Just introduce me as a next-door neighbor you befriended when he comes to pick you up, Host. It's not like you have many friends, so he'll surely be curious enough to try and talk to me."

   He was almost insulted by how she said everything with a smile.

   "And then? I'm telling you, I don't think it's going to work."

•••

   It worked. Joshua was a little upset that it worked.

   Ding

You really don't have friends, [SYSTEM 1230].

   "You mean the original owner," he groaned, "not me."

   Ever since Wonwoo and Jihoon's 'breakup', Joshua was alone at his apartment a lot more. Wonwoo was too busy dealing with the consequences of his action, which wasn't much since he was too famous, to visit. But when he did, he ran into Yuri as they had planned—sitting comfortably in the middle of Joshua's living room.

   Although Wonwoo didn't say anything at first, he'd ask questions about her indirectly. Joshua couldn't tell if Wonwoo was curious about Yuri because she was one of Joshua's few friends or if he was jealous. He was hoping it would be the latter, so he didn't feel like a loser.

   Somehow, Wonwoo had grown more distant after he met her.

   "You." Joshua poked the cat, lying on its back. "What the hell did you say to him? Why isn't he texting me back?"

   "Host, it's only been an hour."

   "He used to reply in a second."

   Twinkle pushed his hand away. "I just told him about how you've been consulting with me about rings and stuff since you saw me wear one."

   Long story short, she lied to him. Joshua didn't even know she had a ring to use as a prop.

   "I just hinted at you being interested in marriage, Host. I didn't say anything outright or anything. I'm not sure why he's avoiding you either."

   "No way. What if he's afraid of commitment?"

   Ding!

Please be serious, [SYSTEM 1230].

   Joshua slumped in his seat. Of course, Wonwoo could also just be planning something on his own, too. Whatever it was, the distance between them was pissing him off. Honestly, the next time Wonwoo replied, he'd ignore it and give him a taste of his own medicine.

   Suddenly, his phone rang and he picked it up before a proper melody could even play.

   "Hey…" Wonwoo's voice stuttered through. "Are you free tonight?"

   "Where else would I be?" Joshua said. He might've sounded a lot angrier than he expected. Oh well.

   "Can I… pick you up? I need to talk to you about something."

   Joshua froze. "Yeah… sure. I… I'll be waiting."

   The call ended just like that.

   "Am I fucked?"

•••

   The car ride was just about as eventful as he had thought. Nothing. Absolutely jack shit and fuck all happened. Even the radio that Wonwoo had turned on to kill the silence struggled, stuttering every few seconds.

   As much as Joshua was nervous, he had a feeling Wonwoo was in a worse situation. It was so bad that he could see sweat dripping down Wonwoo's gorgeous, handsome, most attractive face. He was too busy admiring the beauty in the driver's seat to pay attention to the road. For all he knew, Wonwoo could've driven him to a forest to give him the most traumatic breakup of his life.

   After a while, they stopped, sitting atop a hill that overlooked the city, full of lights and bustling nightlife that was silent from how far out they were.

   Wonwoo coughed and choked, leaning on the hood of his car. He was the one who had something to say, but looked as if he wanted to run away instead.

   "Isn't this beautiful—"

   "Just spit it out."

   Wonwoo coughed and choked, leaning on the hood of his car. He was the one who had something to say, but looked as if he wanted to run away instead.

   "Save yourself the trouble," Joshua said, chuckling. "Look at how nervous you are. Just say what you want to say."

   He nodded and composed himself by grabbing Joshua's hands, squeezing them gently. It was still a while before Wonwoo said something; he kept glancing out at the view instead, probably mentally preparing himself.

   Joshua was also about to shit bricks. He thought he didn't care, but Wonwoo's anxiety must've rubbed off on him. It was incredible. System 1230 wasn't even this nervous and shaken when he was kicked out by his family in one of his past missions.

   "I… heard from your next-door neighbor."

   There it was. Depending on what Wonwoo said next, Yuri might be doomed.

   "She told me you've been looking at rings and asking her about her marriage," Wonwoo continued, mumbling almost. His hands were shaking as they held onto Joshua. One would think he was admitting to a federal crime. "I'm so… happy that you're thinking about things like that… with me, right? Haha, I hope it's me—ack!"

   Joshua flicked his forehead. "Who else would it be?"

   "I just had to make sure," Wonwoo groaned, pouting. "But seriously… I'm happy."

   "That's not it, is it?"

   He shook his head. It was a few more minutes before he spoke again.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 1. Your current health is now at 43 out of 300.

   Wow. It took Wonwoo so long that anxiety physically took a toll on Joshua's health. He didn't even know that was possible.

   "Okay." He sighed deeply. "I—It's just... I'm sorry… I don't think…"

Chapter Text

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 2. Your current health is now at 41 out of 300.

   This was dangerous. If Joshua died because he couldn’t handle the anxiety and anticipation, maybe it was meant to be. His heart was beating so loud that he could barely hear anything else. Strangely enough, it wasn’t the mission he was thinking of. Even if Wonwoo were to reject him right now, he wasn’t sure what was on his mind—but it wasn’t good. Hell, he was about to keel over from spoken words alone.

   "Are you alright?" Wonwoo asked, shaking him gently by the shoulders.

   "I’m fine," Joshua muttered. He wasn’t. "Keep going."

   "I just… I don’t know what to do." He let out a long, deep sigh, without realizing he’d just made everything worse.

   Ding!

Your health has decreased by 3. Your current health is now at 38 out of 300.

   "Same-sex marriage isn’t legal here," Wonwoo finished and slumped his shoulders. "I know you’ve probably been thinking hard about it, but we won’t even be able to get engaged—"

   "Wait." Joshua covered Wonwoo’s face with his entire hand, shutting him up physically. "Wait. Wait. Is that what you were trying to say this whole time?"

   He nodded.

   "Fuck…" Joshua fell to his knees and held onto Wonwoo’s legs for support. Otherwise, he might’ve fully collapsed. His heart was long gone, dropped out of his ass. He should’ve known, based on Wonwoo’s favorability, but his emotions had clouded his judgment.

   "I thought you were going to break up with me or something, the way you were going about that."

   "What? Why? I wouldn't—"

   "You looked so nervous and took so long! And then you apologized first? What else was I supposed to think?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   Wonwoo crouched and hugged Joshua, patting his back lightly. "I’m sorry. I didn’t think it’d come out like that… I was just nervous. Your neighbor told me you guys have only been talking about rings and weddings, so I was scared you might get upset."

   "It’s not like I didn’t know it’s illegal here," Joshua said. He couldn’t even be mad because Wonwoo was right. He had completely forgotten that same-sex marriage wasn’t a thing in this country. He hadn’t thought about it at all since the other timelines he’d been in never revolved around romance like this.

   "Then why did you say sorry?"

   "Well, I kind of ruined the surprise, didn’t I?" he mumbled, tickling Joshua’s neck as he leaned toward him. "You were probably planning something, and I just… ruined it. But I wanted… to be the one to propose to you anyway. I just thought I might scare you if I did it too early. I didn’t think that you were also… thinking about it."

   Joshua couldn’t tell what was weirder: the fact that Wonwoo had created such a big misunderstanding by himself, or the fact that he had already considered marriage, too. Seriously, Joshua knew he was charming, but he could at least admit that no one would fall head over heels for him like this in such a short time. This was a crazy ego boost.

   Wonwoo kissed his collarbone. "Apparently, your neighbor’s from Thailand, and same-sex marriage is legal there. She was offering to help me if I wanted to propose and have it done there."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

   Either Yuri was an incredible liar, or Wonwoo was extremely gullible. Or both. Even Joshua didn’t know where Yuri was originally from. Somehow, he was a little hurt that he barely knew anything about his own helper. Then again, neither of them really knew much about each other aside from the two-minute trauma bonding session.

   "Hey," Joshua said, glancing up. His favorability kept rising for no apparent reason. "Why do you… like me so much?"

   Wonwoo didn’t answer. Instead, he scooped Joshua up with both hands and placed him on the hood of his car. Then, he leaned over and boxed him in, trapping Joshua between his arms.

   "You're you."

   Joshua groaned and clicked his tongue. "Come on—"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   "I mean it. You’re your own person. You knew what you wanted to do, and you did it. You’re hard-working. You proved to yourself and everybody that you’re strong, and you won’t let anyone get in your way. That confidence is really attractive, you know?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   "You’re also patient and mature. Even with assholes like me." Wonwoo looked away. "I was childish and petty, insulting you like I had the right to. I even hurt you many times… but you’ve never taken it out on me. I was going to say that you’re kind, but you’re a little twisted too, you know?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   Wonwoo’s cheeks blushed a bright red. "From the first time we kissed, to when you teased me and embarrassed me in my favorite restaurant… You’re scary. I feel like whenever I’m with you, I could just do anything."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   "And… you’re beautiful. I feel like there’s an angel by my side every time I see you. The way you look, the way you smile, the way you laugh… I’ve never felt like this for someone before." He paused and moved closer, resting his forehead on top of Joshua’s, their noses touching. "It’s like a dream that I’ve met you, got to know you, and fallen for you in such a short time. It’s so surreal that I… feel like I could lose you the moment I wake up. Like you’ll… slip out of my grasp one day."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 20.

   Joshua closed his eyes. He could feel Wonwoo’s warm tears as they hit his cheek. He wanted to deny the last statement and reassure him, but he couldn’t. His nose tingled and his eyes flickered, but he couldn’t cry. Was he sad? Was he confused? Was he disappointed that even now, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay?

   He wondered how much of what Wonwoo described was really him. He just couldn’t tell if it was who he was or the image he had put out for this mission. Did Wonwoo like Joshua Hong, the original owner? Or did Wonwoo like Joshua Hong, System 1230?

   Who was System 1230?

   He wasn’t sure. But the least he could do was not lie and be honest.

   "Wonwoo."

   "Hm?"

   "I… really like you."

   Wonwoo laughed. "I'm glad. I love you too."

   There was nothing more romantic than a night full of stars and a gentle breeze. Wonwoo got down on his knees and plucked a few dandelions from the grass, fiddling with them in the dark. After a few minutes, he grabbed Joshua’s left hand and slid the makeshift ring he had made onto his fourth finger.

   Joshua laughed, watching him struggle for a bit.

   "This is probably not the proposal you had in mind," Wonwoo mumbled, dejected. "But if I don’t do it now, I don’t think there’ll be a moment like this again. So… will you marry me?"

   "Hm… I don't know, do I?"

   "Don't tease me…"

   Joshua ran his other hand through Wonwoo’s hair gently. He considered playing with him a little more to give him a taste of his own medicine. But there was a time and place, unfortunately.

   "Of course I do."

•••

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 201d 5h 21m 8s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   "So how long have you and your wife been together—"

   Beep! Beep! Beep!

   Yuri looked at her phone and turned off the alarm. That was her cue to leave. She never thought she would accompany Wonwoo and Joshua out for anything, let alone in search of a ring. Apparently, a ring she had found in the cracks of the apartment— as Twinkle—was so beautiful that Wonwoo wanted her help.

   Fortunately, her time was done. She didn’t have to entertain any more conversations about her made-up wife whom she had married in Thailand. She couldn’t complain much though. It was the first time she properly acted like an assistant, and not an overweight cat lazing around.

   "I have to go," Yuri said, sighing as if she were disappointed. "Let me know what you guys end up choosing. My wife’s curious as well."

   Before Wonwoo could even respond, she was off. He walked over to Joshua, who was still looking at rings on display. "Hey, isn’t it strange?"

   "What is?"

   "Your neighbor. Whenever we hang out, she always leaves after like exactly two and a half hours."

   "Aren’t you the weird one for noticing it?" Joshua laughed. "She’s probably going back for her cat."

   "She has one?"

   "Yeah. A fat, black cat that sleeps all the time. I've seen it before."

   Wonwoo chuckled. Well, he had gotten all the tips and tricks out of Yuri before she left anyway. He stood behind Joshua and looked past his shoulders. Luckily, he didn’t have to worry about hiding anything since they were at a high-end store, accessible only through reservations. Plus, the staff seemed to love that they were there—either because they liked the couple, or because they knew they were about to make big bank.

   "Which one do you like?" he whispered. "I think silver looks good on you. Should we get diamonds around the band?"

   "Let's go with that then—"

   Wonwoo shook his head. "What do you like? You don’t have to go with what I say."

   "What do you mean? I like what you like."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 10.

•••

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 172d 8h 12m 46s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   There was a reason why wedding preparation and planning took so long. Joshua understood it now; there was just so much to consider and do, even when they opted for a more private ceremony. If it was this annoying to plan for about a dozen or so guests, he couldn’t imagine how terrible it would’ve been for over fifty people. If he had his health, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but he didn’t, so it was shit.

   Not only that, he had to meet Wonwoo’s family. He had completely forgotten about that, probably because the original owner had none. He just assumed everybody’s parents were dead or missing too.

   "Are you nervous?" Wonwoo asked, squeezing his hand.

   Joshua was nervous, alright. He was worried about the amount of time he’d have to spend walking to the front door of this mansion. He knew Wonwoo was rich, but he didn’t know that his parents were modern-day royalty. They had already driven as far in as they could, but had to walk the rest of the way, past the astronomically large fountain and garden.

   Now, he just had to pray that Wonwoo’s parents weren’t the classic you’re-not-good-enough-to-date-him kind of people.

   Click!

   Suddenly, the front doors swung open.

   "Woo!" A middle-aged woman ran out with her arms open, pulling Wonwoo into a bear hug. She was much smaller than he was, but had enough strength to pick him up and spin him around a few times.

   "Don't forget about your old man here."

   Wonwoo turned to his father, who had joined them a few seconds later, and hugged him. He even got his hair ruffled like he was a little kid.

   Joshua was surprised. The couple looked a lot more normal than he’d thought. He wasn’t sure what he imagined, but he didn’t expect wealthy people living in a mansion to look like any average person on the street. He couldn’t deny that they had their charms though, since that was where Wonwoo got all of his fine features from.

   "So… is this your boyfriend?" she asked, turning slowly.

   Wonwoo nodded. "Fiancé."

   Joshua clenched his ass. This was the best he’d dressed ever since he took over this body. Even his hair was done, and he’d stolen one of Wonwoo’s colognes after hours of testing them—he still had a headache from it. He really wanted to make a good first impression.

   His mother reached out and pulled Joshua into a hug, patting his back. "It’s good to finally meet you. I’ve been listening to Woo speak about you for so long."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON ARAN} has increased by 15.

   "It took this rascal long enough. We’ve been wanting to meet you for a while." His father joined in. "You don’t need to look so nervous. Whoever he loves, we love too."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON INSUNG} has increased by 10.

   Joshua smiled and dropped his shoulders. He could feel the tension slowly slip away as he accepted their kind words.

   "I heard that your parents passed already," she continued quietly, keeping her hands on his arms. "If you don’t mind… you can consider us as your second parents. We’re going to be family soon enough anyway."

   "…Thank you."

   "Look, if Woo ever hurts you, just let me know. I’ll beat his ass right where it hurts—"

   "Mom!"

•••

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 121d 5h 21m 7s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   "Look to the left a little, please!"

   Wonwoo listened and followed the cameras. He struck more poses than he even thought, as they just came out instinctively. It was probably the only time he had this much fun with a photoshoot. He couldn’t tell if it was because the photographers were in a good mood or because he was doing exceptionally well. After all, Joshua was nearby, watching him.

   It wasn’t just him though—there was Junhui too. They had their duo photos taken already, and he was just waiting for his solo shots after.

   "You’re smiling a lot," Junhui said, chuckling.

   "I look stupid, right?" Joshua laughed. He hadn’t talked to Junhui in a long time. Thankfully, it wasn’t awkward. He just felt a little bad for some reason.

   "No? I think it’s cute that love changes you," he continued. "I don’t think you noticed, but… you used to stand around on set with a really scary look on your face. Your eyebrows were always furrowed like you were deep in thought."

   Well, Joshua had many things to think about. He was always plotting and scheming.

   "You must’ve been staring at me a lot then."

   "Haha… I guess so?"

   "Actually, I wanted to ask you something," Joshua muttered. "But I don’t know if it’s something I should—"

   "You’re going to ask if I want to attend your wedding, right?"

   "How did you know?"

   Junhui leaned back in his seat and sighed. "Wonwoo asked me already, haha. I’d love to go, if you don’t mind."

   "I don’t. I don’t have many friends, you know?"

   He laughed. "I'll be there then."

•••

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 97d 18h 49m 52s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   "What do you think?"

   Joshua stared at himself in the mirror, dressed in all white. Rather than a boring suit, he had a longer coat hugging his torso, clipped by a silver brooch. He had tried on many outfits in the store, but of course, the one he fell in love with was the one Wonwoo had ordered custom-made.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 30.

   "I think I’m lucky," Wonwoo replied. He nudged Joshua’s head to the left so he could kiss his neck, sucking on him gently.

   "I think I’m the lucky one here." Joshua laughed and pushed him away. There was no way in hell he could’ve done all of the preparation in such a short time without Wonwoo and his family’s black cards. They had gotten a venue so fast that he had an inkling the company had kicked out someone for their wedding instead. Oh well, whoever it was, they could always find another day.

   The guest list had been finalized too. Even Yuri and her imaginary wife made it; she was going to have to find someone to attend with, and somehow convince them to act like they were in love. Honestly, she was the best helper he could’ve asked for—even if she spent half of her time sleeping as a cat.

   "Can you guys not make out in there?"

   Joshua opened the curtains of the dressing room and walked out, stunning Sera before she could complain again.

   Yiyoung clapped for him.

   "Stop saying weird things," he groaned. "If he and I were making out, you would’ve heard it and left the room already."

   "Let’s not get detailed." Sera held her hand up, covering his face. "You can’t say something crazy while you’re dressed like a saint."

   "Right?" Wonwoo stepped out and slid his arm around Joshua’s waist. "He’s like an angel."

   "Sure," Sera sighed dramatically and shook her head. "Wouldn’t you like to know what he was like before—"

   "If you say any more, you’re booted from the wedding," Joshua said through gritted teeth.

   "What—look at him! He's threatening me!"

   Wonwoo tilted his head, smiling with his eyes. "Hm?"

   "I’m telling you he’s crazy." She ran behind Yiyoung and used her as a shield. Her acting and dramatics were so good that she should’ve just resigned as a manager and become an actor herself.

   "What are you saying?" Wonwoo buried his head into the back of Joshua’s neck. "Someone as beautiful and kind as this can’t be crazy."

   Sera looked at Yiyoung. They shared a wave of emotions together through eye contact alone.

   "Yeah, you’re a lost cause."

Chapter Text

   "What do you think?"

   Twinkle looked at Joshua, who was spread out on top of the duvet with his arms and legs splayed. It curled up beside his stomach, loafing comfortably.

   "Why do you want to stay here, Host?"

   Well, he had a good reason. Every time he was with Wonwoo, his heart fluttered, and whatever was weighing on his mind disappeared. He felt warm and fuzzy on the inside, as if he were a high school kid in love again.

   It would be a lie to say he had never felt this way before. Maybe not in his life before he became a system, but he had definitely fallen for people in previous missions. What was the difference now?

   He figured it might’ve been time. None of his missions before revolved around romance; he simply fell for people by proximity. Normal, fleeting crushes that didn’t matter since he was going to leave anyway. Still, this mission wasn’t that different if he really thought about it. Hell, he had spent half of it fighting and trying to win Wonwoo over. He couldn't really say that he spent all of it stupidly in love.

   "Do you love him, Host?"

   "Love…" Joshua repeated. "Isn’t that word too strong for people like us?"

   "It might be," Twinkle said. "But it’s not strange for us to feel it. We were once people with emotions, relationships, and lives. I guess a better question is… this Joshua Hong, is he you?"

   Silence. Of course not. He wasn’t an orphan. He didn't want to act. He had never dated Jihoon. None of the memories in his head right now were his.

   "I think you know the answer already, Host."

•••

   Joshua had prolonged the day enough. He dragged everything out as long as he could, savoring every day, every hour, every minute, every second with Wonwoo. But there was no time anymore.

   They had dealt with the legal aspect—the papers, translations, everything. All that was left was the ceremony, the last part of his task.

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 7h 1m 32s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   The venue was on an island in Thailand. Everything was set up on a wooden pier connecting the beach to the water. On the sand were performers playing with fire and drawing in the nearby locals. It was a small and humble event—warm and humid, but luckily, the ocean breeze kept everyone cool. Holding it in the afternoon helped too.

   All the guests had been flown in and given their rooms at a nearby resort, booked for three extra nights so everyone could enjoy a mini-vacation. A few photographers and videographers were present, with Sera on live-update duty. All of it had been advised by Yuri, decided by Joshua, and Wonwoo just went along with it.

   Ding!

Loading comments…

   Ding!

aouboomluvr: streets are saying a famous gay couple from korea are getting married in koh samui??? THIS is the level of fanservice i need my favs to be on

GOATSHUA: can she start a livestream or something these pictures aren't enough i'm getting fomo

wwjstruther: they look so good together… god i see what you've done for others

SwanSongPi: I hope they stay together for a very long time. Just look at the way they look at each other…

gayslovejun: losing the idgaf war i gaf so much about it's ruining my life THEY'RE MY PARENTS

   Joshua waved away the comments. He didn’t want to waste any time outside the moment.

   "There you are!" Junhui greeted him with a smile. He reached for Joshua’s hands and shook them excitedly. "Congratulations! You look—"

   Suddenly, a hand cut through the air and knocked his grasp away. Wonwoo stepped in with a sharp gaze, pulling Joshua to his side, arm wrapped firmly around his waist and shoulder.

   "Relax," Junhui laughed, shaking his head. "I don’t like him anymore."

   "I know. I wouldn’t have invited you if you did."

   Joshua pulled Wonwoo's ear. "Then stop acting like you're jealous."

   "But I am."

   "What? Can't people greet me anymore?"

   Wonwoo shook his head, nuzzling into Joshua’s shoulder with a soft whine. He was a true actor; he didn't give a single fuck that all eyes and cameras were on him.

   Junhui smiled at the sight. "I’m glad you guys found each other. But I’ll admit… I’m a little jealous."

   "What are you jealous of?" Joshua laughed. "You’re a good person. If you really want to, I’m sure you’ll find someone in no time."

   "You think so?"

   "Yeah. I’ll be—" he paused, swallowing. "I’ll be waiting for your wedding invitation too."

   "Haha! Isn't that too early?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has decreased by 1.

   The conversation didn’t get far before Wonwoo decided the next logical thing to do in his jealousy was to scoop Joshua up and run off. He dashed across the sand so quickly it was as if it were nothing.

   It was the first time in a long while that his favorability had decreased—and only by one. Oh, gone were the days when Joshua would lose points for breathing.

   "How far are you going to go?" Joshua chuckled, arms wrapped around Wonwoo’s neck, almost getting whiplash from the sudden sprint. "What are you doing?"

   Wonwoo finally set him down. "I just wanted to kiss you."

   And so he did. He backed Joshua up behind a thick tree that shielded them from view. Unfortunately, he couldn’t kiss him as roughly as he wanted, or their white clothes would be ruined by their surrounding.

   Wonwoo pulled away, resting his head on Joshua’s shoulder as he hugged him tightly. They should have been sweating from the heat of the island and their bodies pressed together, but somehow they weren’t. It was comfortably warm.

   Joshua wrapped his arms around Wonwoo, too. He couldn’t tell if it was his heart or Wonwoo’s that was racing, but he didn’t want to let go. He didn’t care anymore—about who he was, or who Wonwoo thought he was. He had wasted too much time worrying about useless things when he should have been living in the moment.

   "I love you," Wonwoo muttered.

   Joshua tightened his embrace. When he finally pulled back, he let his eyes roam over Wonwoo from head to toe: the way his short hair curled at the tips, the faint blush high on his cheekbones, the white rose pinned to his fitted vest. His hands, shaking as they clenched and loosened. His sweet, woody cologne that he spent all night choosing. And his eye, full of love and admiration.

   Even if Joshua left and never saw him again, he wouldn’t forget this moment, this person, or the memories they shared.

   "Why don't we go back now?"

   Wonwoo nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

•••

   As the sun began to set, guests gathered at their seats before the wooden arch, decorated with sheer drapes and white flowers. Their heads turned as they awaited the couple, enjoying the gentle melody of the violinist nearby.

   The wedding was so small that there were no official groomsmen, no flower girl, no ring bearer. Just Wonwoo, Joshua, their managers, and a handful of close friends and family.

   Maybe the Joshua from before would’ve wanted something grand and dramatic, just to rub it in Jihoon’s face on behalf of the original owner. But now, he didn’t care. He could’ve worn a trash bag and married Wonwoo in an alley, and he’d still be happy.

   Once the sky had turned orange-pink, the music shifted. Hand in hand, Wonwoo led Joshua down the flower-strewn path. He didn’t notice anyone’s reaction with his eyes locked on Joshua. Not even his parents, crying and sniffling in their seats. At some point, he realized tears were falling down his cheeks too.

   Once they reached the arch and faced each other, Joshua chuckled.

   "Why are you crying already?"

   Wonwoo wiped his tears. "It’s just… you look really pretty."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   Oh, how far he had come. Every system in the array better be watching this, applauding and praising Joshua for his efforts. He would’ve asked The Interface, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment in case System 0313 was there to be annoying.

   Ding! 

[SYSTEM 1230] Task Screen

TASK: Happily Ever After

DESCRIPTION: Marry Jeon Wonwoo

TIME LEFT: 4h 13m 7s

REWARD: 

• 1 wish, as long as it is within The Interface's capabilities

   Joshua gritted his teeth. He should’ve waited a little longer and held the ceremony at the very last moment. That way, he could’ve had just a few more hours with Wonwoo.

   The officiant nodded her greetings and urged them closer. She waited for the applause to die down before lifting her microphone.

   "First, I'd like to welcome everyone and thank you for being here. I'm duly authorized to solemnize marriages according to law, and to officiate your marriage today." She bowed again. "I've had the pleasure of meeting everyone earlier, and I hope you feel the same. It's an honor to be officiating today’s event. You know, it's not every day I get to marry two amazing actors. I’m trying hard not to freak out right now, haha."

   Joshua laughed. She wasn’t lying—her favorability score was well into the hundreds. He wished he could see her score toward Wonwoo too, since she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him. Unfortunately for her and everyone else watching, this gorgeous man was his. Maybe next time.

   "We’re here today to witness and celebrate the union of Wonwoo and Joshua, who have formed this incredible bond, even in such a short time. Friends, family, and loved ones, let this be a celebration of their love and the beginning of the next chapter of their lives."

   Joshua lowered his head, biting his lip as he smiled weakly. It was a shame that he and Wonwoo were on two different books, with two different endings.

   "Before we go further," she continued, "the two have each prepared small speeches for each other. Shall we begin?"

   Wonwoo accepted the microphone with a nervous sigh. He fidgeted for a few seconds before his parents hushedly yelled at him to get on with it.

   "Okay, just… give me a moment."

   "You're an actor," Joshua teased smugly. "Did you forget what you were going to say?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   "Don't tease me," Wonwoo groaned. He brought the microphone closer and took a deep breath. "…Who would’ve thought we’d get here, right? I know our first meeting wasn’t good. Honestly, our relationship started terribly because of how childish I was. Every day, I wish I could go back and stop myself from hurting you, from making you cry. But I know I can't change the past, so I promise I'll make sure your happiness is the last thing I do."

   He reached up and gently caressed Joshua's face.

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   "Ever since I got to know you, I’ve learned so much about myself and the world around me, more than just work. And it feels good. So… so good to know that after a long week of schedules, you’ll be waiting for me when I get home." Wonwoo paused and stepped closer. "I know our relationship has moved really fast, and we’re at a stage that usually takes other couples years. But I feel like I’ve known you my entire life already. Haha… is this what it feels like when you meet the one?"

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 50.

   Joshua took the microphone with one hand and wiped the tears from Wonwoo’s face. He waited until Wonwoo calmed down before beginning his speech; otherwise, none of his words would be heard.

   "Well, you’re not wrong about our first meeting. I remember seeing you for the first time in that dressing room. I thought you looked even better than the photos, and I was so excited for any chance of meeting or talking to you in the future. We know how that turned out."

   Wonwoo dropped his head on Joshua's shoulders.

   "But I want you to stop feeling bad about the past. You knew you were wrong, you owned up to it, and the you now means so much more to me than the times we clashed." He smiled. "The you now, who blushes too easily and falls victim to my teasing every day. The you now, who worries about my health and is always so accommodating. The you now, standing right in front of me."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 100.

   "We’re not perfect. We make mistakes. You’ve made them, I’ve made them. And in the future, if I ever make you sad or angry, consider it even. Okay?"

   Wonwoo laughed.

   "I know… you might be upset right now too. I’m not good at expressing affection. I’ve… never felt this way about anyone," Joshua admitted. "It feels so weird. My heart’s always jumping, my stomach’s always warm and fuzzy inside. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like? I think I get it now… when you said, ‘I love you.’"

   There was a short silence.

   "Haha…" Wonwoo held Joshua’s face, wiping away the single tear that slid from his left eye. He had seen him cry before, but somehow, this felt different.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230]…

   The officiant retrieved her microphone with a smile. "Thank you. It’s clear even to an outsider what your intentions are toward each other. Now, it’s your chance to share your promises and vows in front of all gathered here today."

   She looked to the right. " Wonwoo, what do you vow?"

   "I vow to love you, Joshua Hong, with all of my heart. I’ll share your responsibilities, your ups, and your downs. No matter what life sends our way, I’ll be by your side, supporting you. In sickness and in health, I will love you until the day I die."

   She looked to the left. "Joshua, what do you vow?"

   "I vow to love you, Jeon Wonwoo, with all of my heart." Joshua reached up and pressed his hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken. "I’ll share your responsibilities, your ups, and your downs. No matter what life sends our way, I’ll be by your side, supporting you. In sickness and in health, I will love you… until the day I die."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 300.

   The wind swept across the silence as they stared into each other’s eyes. They had spoken the same words, promised the same vows, but somehow it felt different. Joshua knew it, and Wonwoo did too.

   "Thank you for sharing your vows," the officiant said. "May these rings serve as a seal of the promises you’ve made today."

   Joshua and Wonwoo stepped back, looking at the tall table in front of her where a pillow sat with two beautiful rings engraved on the inside with their initials.

   Wonwoo picked one up and grabbed Joshua's hand.

   "Jeon Wonwoo, do you take Joshua Hong as your lawfully wedded partner in marriage and life?"

   "I do."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 500.

   Joshua’s fingers trembled as the ring slid coldly onto his finger. He picked up the last ring, closed his eyes, and breathed in deeply.

   "Joshua Hong, do you take Jeon Wonwoo as your lawfully wedded partner in marriage and life?"

   "I… do."

   "In light of your commitment and promises to each other, I now pronounce you married."

   Ding!

Your favorability with {JEON WONWOO} has increased by 500.

   "You may kiss your beloved."

   Joshua pulled Wonwoo in, wrapping his arms around his neck. His kisses were rushed, spilling onto Wonwoo’s cheeks before he held him in a tight embrace. It wasn’t the island’s heat that warmed him, but Wonwoo’s body and overwhelming love. Somehow, he still couldn’t cry, even though it felt like he was breaking apart inside.

   Wonwoo was confused, but he couldn't complain. He returned the hug and burrowed his head into Joshua's shoulder. Then, he slid his arms lower around Joshua’s waist and lifted him off the ground, spinning him in circles.

   The guests applauded. Wonwoo caught a glimpse of his parents, who were too busy wiping their tears to see anything clearly. Even the locals who had gathered on the beach cheered with their phones raised high to capture every moment. It wouldn’t be a surprise if their wedding ended up on the front page the moment they returned.

   When Wonwoo turned his head, he noticed the officiant quietly stepping aside, giving space for the photographers and videographers. There were both photos and videos of the two in each other’s arms as the sun lowered into the water, casting a golden hue across the horizon.

   Ding!

You have successfully completed your last task, Happily Ever After.

You have completed your mission and fulfilled {JOSHUA HONG}’s wish: Marry Jeon Wonwoo!

You have 2 more missions until your objective is complete.

[SYSTEM 1230], thank you for your hard work!

   Once Joshua opened his eyes again, he quickly gestured at the screen—Wonwoo's favorability was well into the thousands.

   He smiled. They had truly come a long way.

   Ding!

[SYSTEM 1230], would you like to continue as {JOSHUA HONG}?

   Will System 1230 stay?

   > If yes, proceed to the next chapter

   > If no, proceed to A Lie For Three

Chapter Text

   Joshua stared at the screen for a while. He was so close to his objective, so close. Once he completed it, he'd be himself again. Born as him, living a life as him, and creating relationships and careers as him. But what if he was sick? What if he were bedridden and suffering like he was before he became a system?

   It must've been an impulse that drove him to nod.

   Ding!

You have 2 more missions until your objective is complete.

If you choose to stay, your objective is considered ABANDONED. You will be removed as a system and taken off the array. This means that you will cease to see any screens, or anything related to The Interface.

Are you sure, [SYSTEM 1230]?

   He nodded again, tightening his arms around Wonwoo.

   Ding!

You still have 1 wish, [SYSTEM 1230].

Would you like to use your reward now?

   Joshua thought about it for a second. It didn't take him long to decide what to use it on. After all, his health was terrible.

   As quietly as he could, he whispered, "My health."

   Ding!

Your wish has been applied to your health, [SYSTEM 1230].

Your maximum health was at 44 out of 300. Your maximum health is now at 300 out of 300.

The Interface bids farewell and wishes you luck on your future endeavors as {JOSHUA HONG} of TIMELINE 27.

[SYSTEM 1230], please live happily!

   Joshua watched as the screens disintegrated into a thousand shards and faded into the air. Just as The Interface had said, he couldn't see anything anymore. Wonwoo's likes, dislikes, and favorability—they were all gone. It felt as if a part of him had been ripped away. He staggered back, clutching his chest as his stomach sank and his breath caught. For the first time, he was truly on his own, with no knowledge or guidance.

   "Are you okay?" Wonwoo asked, holding onto his shoulder. His brows furrowed, twitching as his eyes wandered around, trying to find whatever was wrong.

   It struck Joshua that this might be the first time he had ever paid such close attention to Wonwoo’s expression. There was no screen to lean on now, only him.

   "I'm fine," he muttered with a faint smile. No, he wasn't alone. He had Wonwoo. Even if this were a fleeting crush that he'd forget later, he would've at least learned what love was, and what it was like to feel human again. He was no longer a system, a concept, an outsider anymore.

•••

   "Host?"

   Joshua turned around, slightly startled. He had wandered off along the beach for fresh air, still trying to adjust to the world without his trusty, omniscient screens. He was surprised to see that Yuri was still here and in her human form; he thought her time had already run out.

   "Are you leaving now?" Joshua asked. "I completed my mission, so you should be done now too. Right?"

   "I'll be going soon. I just asked The Interface for more time," she said, standing in front of him. "How are you feeling, Host?"

   He chuckled. "It's strange. I feel so empty. Like I lost a part of me. Plus, I still haven't beaten up whatever's behind The Interface either. I knew it, maybe I shouldn't have stayed after all."

   Yuri laughed. "I'll do that for you when the time comes, Host. I just wanted to say goodbye before I left."

   "Thanks," he said. "Even if you spent most of your time as a cat sleeping on my bed, you were good support for my mental health."

   "Of course, Host. Actually… there was one thing I'd like to do before I left," she mumbled, fidgeting with her hands. "I still have a reward from one of my missions. It's just like yours."

   "What about it?"

   "I would like to use my wish now," Yuri said, staring up at what was probably her version of The Interface. "When the time comes and the host is to be reborn, please… ensure that his life is free from pain, suffering, and any—"

   "Yuri! What are you saying?" He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "You should use that on yourself! Why would you—"

   "Someone like me… will never finish my objective. I think it would be better for you to have this blessing, Host. That way, you can live happily and healthily for both of us."

   There was a short silence, and Yuri returned her gaze to the sky.

   "I'm sure."

   Suddenly, a bright light consumed her body and dissipated, taking her with it. He stood in silence for a while. As he recounted his past interactions with her, and the number of times he had accidentally brought up a sensitive topic—he realized that he was terrible, like shit from an ass.

   "Joshua! Joshua! Jo—"

   "I'm here."

   Wonwoo followed his voice and found him soon after. "Why did you go so far? It's dark out."

   "I was just a little overwhelmed."

   "Are you okay now?" He pulled Joshua in and hugged him. He planted a few kisses here and there too. "You seemed a little off since earlier."

   "I was just nervous," Joshua said. "Plus, you were worse than me."

   Wonwoo groaned. "Where did Yuri and her wife go anyway? Did they go back to the resort already? I wanted to thank them for helping us…"

   "She said there was a family emergency, so they're probably heading off right now." Joshua patted Wonwoo's arm. "Why don't we go back to our room as well? There's still a second part of the wedding, isn't there?"

•••

   There seemed to be a recurring scene of Wonwoo and Joshua scrambling through the doors, making out, and hitting every object in their path until they reached the bed. Luckily, it wasn't as bad today since Wonwoo carried Joshua in and placed him on the mattress gently.

   The only difference today was that Wonwoo was hastier than usual. He took the lead, hunching over Joshua with his knee between his thighs. As hungry and hurried as he was, his hands still moved slowly, as if he were afraid.

   "Are we fucking tonight or tomorrow?" Joshua scoffed and watched as Wonwoo backed away slightly, taken aback. "You're not going to hurt me. Stop holding yourself back."

   While Joshua asked for full health so he didn't have to deal with a weak body, it was mainly because he didn't want to faint mid-bedroom activity. His pride couldn't allow that. They don't call him the jack of all trades under the sheets for nothing. Nobody called him that. Matter of fact, he came up with that title in the few minutes Wonwoo kept teasing the buttons on his clothes.

   "You said it yourself."

   Suddenly, Wonwoo ripped apart the vest and blouse, then the rest of the suit; the beautiful, custom-made outfit was gone in seconds. He kissed his bare body from his shoulders to his collarbones, his chest to his stomach. Every time Joshua flinched and twitched under his lips, he couldn't help but smile.

   "What's… gotten into you today?" Joshua muttered, clenching the duvet with both hands as Wonwoo's kisses lowered even more.

   "Mm… I don't know." Wonwoo dragged his tongue along Joshua's inner thigh. He took a short break and rested his head, staring up with a smirk. "You're always teasing me. Isn't it my time to have fun too?"

   Joshua pushed him back and dragged himself further up the bed. He tilted his head and brought one leg up, leaving the other one by Wonwoo's knee, touching him. "Yeah?"

   "What's that supposed to mean?"

   "I'm just wondering what your version of fun is."

   "You'll have to find out." Wonwoo chuckled. "But I think it involves a lot of you saying my name."

   "Wonwoo?"

   "Woo."

   Joshua laughed. "Woo."

   "Good," he muttered and lowered himself. "Say it until we both get sick of it."

•••

   Joshua wanted to bring Yuri back and grovel at her feet to thank her for her services again. Aside from the wedding itself, she had helped him plan their honeymoon and given him a list of things to do in the country. He wondered how many times her mission was set in Thailand, considering how much she knew about it. Even when he had spent the majority of his time in South Korea, he still couldn't remember anything. Of course, it could just be because he didn't care enough, but that was going to change soon.

   Tap!

   He hissed at the cold touch on his nose; Wonwoo held a can of soda in front of him, waving it back and forth for his attention.

   "You're lost in thought again," Wonwoo said. He glanced around at the crowd that continued to form around them as they walked. At least they were decent enough not to completely swarm them and just watched from afar, taking photos and videos.

   Somehow, Joshua was walking blankly, leaving his safety up to Wonwoo, who had to guide him wherever they walked.

   "What are you thinking of?"

   "I don't know," Joshua said quietly. Suddenly, he smiled and grabbed Wonwoo's hand. "Should we give these people even more to talk about?"

   "What are you—"

   Joshua kissed him, right in the middle of the street, where hundreds of people had probably gathered. Fuck it, he guessed. He'd just do whatever he wanted to.

   Wonwoo laughed and picked him up. He sprinted away from the crowd, dodging people and vehicles as he crossed the street. He used to hate cameras on him whenever he was outside, enjoying his private time. Now, he didn't mind it so much if they were used to show the world how much he adored his partner.

   If there was a fool in love, it was him.

•••

   Safe to say that every photo and video related to them blew up overnight, still trending even when they returned a few weeks later.

   While Wonwoo had to resume his work straight away, Joshua was living the dream. He had moved out of his apartment and into Wonwoo's. Now, he was basically Twinkle—lazing around, sleeping, eating. His biggest activity of each day was reading the reactions online.

   He didn't know what to do or where to start, either. He never planned to stay, so he didn't have much of an idea of what he wanted to do aside from loving Wonwoo. It wasn't like he lived a normal life before he became a system either. Simply put, he just had no ambitions.

   Joshua even adopted a cat in honor of Twinkle. He didn't expect it to start acting the same though. All it did was eat, sleep, and wake him up by suffocating him every morning. The only difference was that it was orange and couldn't speak. Somehow, it was reassuring that it couldn't. He had a feeling that it'd be a lot worse if it did.

   Aside from that, Wonwoo reassured him that he could do nothing and drain his wallet dry, but Joshua had a conscience at least. Whenever he was extremely bored, he'd just stalk—legally, of course—Wonwoo and watch him do his thing on set, like right now.

   There was one thing he overlooked, though—Jihoon was here. But rather than a main character from a famous company, he was now a no-name background extra for a commercial.

   Joshua didn't need a screen to see that Jihoon was actively planning his murder. He must've been so angry that he ignored the fact that there were at least fifty people on set, both actors and staff members, and walked over.

   "What do you want?" Joshua groaned.

   "Are you happy?" Jihoon mumbled, gritting his teeth. "Are you happy… now that you've stolen fucking… everything from me?"

   Joshua stood up from his chair. It just kept on getting cheesier. "Let's get it straight. I didn't steal anything from you. How can I steal anything from you when they weren't even yours to begin with? Or are you saying that all this fame, attention, and Wonwoo were yours?"

   Jihoon couldn't say anything.

   "Look. I'll admit, I understood you at first." Joshua sighed. "You just wanted to be famous, I can't fault you for that. But the way you went about it was wrong."

   "What?" he scoffed. "Are you going to lecture me now?"

   Joshua laughed. "No, I'm just saying you're stupid. I mean, how did I, a no-name with haters filling up semi-trucks, manage to overtake you and bag one of the hottest men in the industry?"

   "You—"

   "I suggest you keep your mouth shut and move away," he said, whispering with a twisted grin. "You're already lucky enough that Woo didn't have you blacklisted from acting completely. I can't promise that won't change if you keep bothering me like this though."

   Jihoon glanced back; Wonwoo burned holes into the back of his head, still standing in front of the cameras as stylists attended him.

   "You're crazy… You're just insane. This isn't the same person I knew and liked before…"

   Joshua nodded. One thing about Jihoon was that he was dumb and right. "Well, you're right. That person died long ago, and I just took over his body."

   "What the fuck are you—"

   "It's true." Joshua brought his index finger up to his lips, as if shushing Jihoon to keep him silent. "I changed a lot, didn't I? There's your reason."

   "Yeah, right. And you'd tell me out of everyone else? You… crazy bastard…"

   "Because even if you spoke about it, who would believe you?" Joshua smiled and turned away. He decided to walk off before he enjoyed pissing Jihoon off too much. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to stop, and the conversation would've ended in a fist fight. He didn't care about taking the high road or anything.

   It did give him some food for thought, though. He wondered if he should tell Wonwoo as well, but he wouldn't even know where to begin or how to explain it. The only hope he had was that Wonwoo was just so in love with him and believed even his most ludicrous lies.

   Click!

   Joshua locked the door behind him, standing in Wonwoo's dressing room. "What should I say?"

   Silence. Right, there was no screen to talk to anymore. So instead, he walked to the mirror and stared at himself.

   "Hey. I'm some random dude who took over this body and seduced you for the sake of completing my objective, but I abandoned that because I fell for you."

   Joshua had a good laugh at himself. There was no way he could say that unless he wanted to sound completely insane. He couldn't think of a way to say it believably, and also not look crazy as he did so. If someone said that to him, he'd probably flip them off and drive them to a hospital for a mental checkup. Well, he would just have to die with his secrets then.

   Knock! Knock! Knock!

   He opened the door to find Wonwoo, who quickly invited himself in.

   "Shua?"

   "What are you doing here? Aren't you still filming?"

   "I saw you talking to Jihoon," Wonwoo muttered, peppering Joshua's neck with kisses. "I thought you guys might've argued or something, so I wanted to check up on you."

   "I was the one who insulted him, though?"

   "That's fine then."

   Joshua laughed. He stared at Wonwoo's face for a while, gently squeezing and pinching his cheeks. It was a strange habit he had started doing out of nowhere; he wasn't sure if it was because he found Wonwoo cute, or he was trying to make all the possible human expressions and study them. Luckily for him, Wonwoo was expressive, even more than before. He learned that Wonwoo would always look down and cover his mouth whenever he was shy, especially in the bedroom. If he were upset, he'd sulk by himself until he couldn't handle it anymore and hug Joshua. If he was angry, he'd confront whatever or whoever it was directed at. Unless it was Joshua, of course. He couldn't be mad at his gorgeous, perfect, wonderful husband anymore. He wasn't allowed to be.

   Wonwoo didn't mind either. If anything, he seemed to enable him. Joshua even had him run a lap around the apartment once for no reason, and he did it without any question.

   "Hey," Joshua muttered. He bit his lip and pondered for a while, furrowing his brows so much that he developed wrinkles in places he didn't even know possible.

   "Hm?"

   "What if I… was some alien who took over this body and I'm now pretending to be him?"

   Wonwoo laughed, putting all his weight on Joshua, and they stumbled back, landing on the sofa nearby. He kept Joshua in his arms, hugging him from behind.

   "Why are you laughing?"

   "Sorry, you just looked so serious. I wasn't expecting that kind of question from you." Wonwoo kissed his cheek, still chuckling. "Well, when did this alien take over this body?"

   "A long time ago. Even before we first met."

   Joshua closed his eyes in anticipation. Even with a stupid hypothetical, he was nervous.

   "Then I guess I fell in love with an alien."