TL/Editor: looloo
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: posted in discord
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"Be careful on your way home, Heena!"
"See you Monday!"
"You two take care as well."
After parting with coworkers who shared a taxi due to simr routes, I headed straight home. The conversation had stretched longer than the drinking, resulting in ater return than expected.
It was nearly midnight. When I called Yeonho before leaving, his voice sounded distracted, as if tired. It worried me.Even if I told him to go to bed first, he''d undoubtedly wait up for me. So I hurried my steps as much as possible.
Guilty about myte return, yet anticipating the smile that would greet me, I made my way home.
-Ding dong!
As I opened the door, I expected my husband to rush to greet me. But...
"Huh?"
No one was in sight. No one hade. Even though the living room light was on.
Thinking he might have fallen asleep waiting, I walked in quickly. That''s when I spotted the back of Yeonho''s head on the sofa.
Smiling, assuming he just hadn''t heard me, I approached.
"......"
I saw my husband''s profile, deeply engrossed in the game console I had bought him. He was probably doing this when I called earlier, exining his distracted tone. While I felt a twinge of disappointment...
It was also endearing to see him so absorbed in the gift I''d given him for his enjoyment.
But it was only fair that he be punished for not noticing his beloved wife''s return. So I stealthily crept up, putting my face right next to his cheek, and spoke.
"Honey?"
"Waaagh!!"
My adorable husband finally looked at me, startled. He immediately put down the console and stood up, flustered.
"Oh, when did you get back? Sorry. I got caught up in the game and didn''t notice at all."
"It''s okay. But what game is it? The one with animals?"
"No, not that... Heeseong hyung lent it to me. I was ying while waiting for you after putting Sarang to bed."
"Hmm..."
Although I bought the console for him to y, something felt off.
Why was I suddenly feeling this way?
What was this uneasiness?
Forcing a smile at Yeonho, I tried to ignore the unsettling feeling I couldn''t quite define. To keep him from feeling guilty. After all, he must be tired too, yet he stayed up thiste for me.
"Ah, right. I should do this."
"Hm?"
-Smooch!
And just like that, with his unfailing kiss, all the uneasiness from moments ago vanished, reced by pure happiness.
"Honey, I''ll be out soon after a quick shower. Wait just a bit, okay?"
"I''ll be right here. Take your time."
That''s right. Tomorrow starts the weekend, so I should hurry and shower so I can snuggle up to Yeonho. It''s fine to stay up a littleter tonight. We can kiss, enjoy some skinship, and...
Imagining Yeonho''s caresses awaiting me, I hurried to wash up and returned to the living room. There, my husband sat on the sofa, still absorbed in his game.
"Honey, I''m done. Let''s go to bed now."
"Hm? Oh, you go ahead. I''ll be there in a bit."
"...What?"
"It''s Saturday tomorrow anyway, so I''ll just stay up an hourter. You must be tired from thepany dinner, right? Go on to bed."
"......"
This isn''t right. I want to sleep with Yeonho.
But Yeonho didn''t even look at me after saying that, his eyes fixed on the game console. Not sparing me a nce.
For a moment, I couldn''t understand what was happening. He was sending his beloved wife to bed alone while he yed games?
Yet part of me tried to understand. After all, Yeonho had been so focused on studying for me and Sarang all this time. Maybe I should cut him some ck?
But I couldn''t help feeling hurt. Resisting the urge to smash the console right then and there, I spoke up.
"...Okay. But don''t stay up toote..."
"Got it~"
Seeing Yeonho''s beaming smile as he agreed, my heart softened again like a fool.
As I entered the bedroom, I tried tofort myself.
Sometimes.
Right, sometimes it can''t be helped.
He probably hasn''t yed games in so long. It''ll be lonely, but I should endure it just for today.
I tried to sleep, enveloped in loneliness. I thought I could bear it for one day.
But the next day.
Yeonho seemed to subtly try to get me to bed early, then slipped out of the room.
Leaving me alone.
---
Raei Trantions
---
(feat. Yeonho)
I had expectations for the game Heeseong hyung rmended, but I didn''t start ying right away. I thought it would be fun, but I didn''t think I''d get as absorbed in a game as I used to.
The fitness games we yed as a family and the animal game I yed with Sarang were fun. But if you asked if they were worth cutting into sleep time for, the answer would be no.
But now.
For the first time in years, I was feeling that sensation again.
"This is insane..."
The game was incredibly fun. Even though it was just the beginning, the vast open world, thebat that required some skill, and the various gimmicks you encountered while exploring everywhere.
All of itbined to keep the console glued to my hands. Because of that, I didn''t even notice when Heena came home, too engrossed in the game.
"...Okay. But don''t stay up toote..."
"Got it~"
I briefly considered stopping since Heena was back, but I felt like I was just about to reach a new area and couldn''t bring myself to quit. So I sent Heena to bed first, intending to y just a little bit longer.
Yeah. Just a little more. A little bit.
Ah, that ruin is close by, I''ll just go there... Oh, the main story continues from here. I''m curious, so I''ll just see this part...
What? I''m freezing to death and can''t progress? Is there no way around this... Winter clothes? Would just carrying a campfire work? I''ll try making this first...
Repeating "just a little more" endlessly in my mind, I yed the game in a trance. Only when I saw the battery indicator shing on top of the console did I snap back to reality.
And only then, when I finally looked up from the game, did I hear sparrows chirping outside.
Dawn had begun to break. I stared nkly towards the veranda, dumbfounded. It felt like I''d traveled through time.
It''s morning already? I really screwed up.
I immediately shut off the game. Having pulled an all-nighter, there was no way I could just power through. Trying to hang on until noon and then crashing would wreck my sleep schedule. So I quietly slipped back into bed next to Heena.
As soon as Iy down, a pleasant exhaustion enveloped my body. Even as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, my mind was still moving my character in the green tunic.
What am I going to do? I really want to y more.
It''s seriously too much fun...
---
Raei Trantions
---
When I finally woke up from what felt like passing out, it was well past noon. Having maintained a pretty healthy lifestyle for years, waking up at this hour was something I hadn''t done in a very long time.
As I opened my eyes, Sarang was right in front of me, staring. When she saw I was awake, her eyes curved into crescents and her tiny mouth opened.
"Daddy woke up!"
"Sarang... Good morning..."
"Daddy''s a sleepyhead!"
"Yeah..."
My body felt oddlynguid. As Iy there chatting with Sarang, Heena soon entered the room.
"You''re up? Hungry?"
"No, I''m fine..."
"I made some stew, so I''ll heat it up if you want to eatter. What time did you go to bedst night?"
"...A bitte."
"I see."
Unable to lie outright to Heena, I gave a vague answer. Fortunately, she didn''t seem inclined to press further. Instead, she came over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Sarang had already snuggled closer, hugging me.
"Daddy! Let''s go see the pretty ones with Sarang!"
"Okay... How about after Daddy washes up?"
"Okay!"
"Are you going to y games again?"
"...Should I not?"
"No, it''s fine. Just don''t stay up toote. It''s bad for your health."
"Got it..."@@novelbin@@
Staying up sote left my body feeling incredibly lethargic. As Heena said, I should probably avoid staying up to the point where it wrecks my sleep schedule like this.
Although I woke upte, I was still able to enjoy a peaceful Saturday. I yed with Sarang, and during her nap time, Heena and I snuck in some skinship.
But even as I spent time like this, I was secretly looking forward to nighttime. No matter what, I had no desire to y games alone during the day on weekends when the family was together.
Besides, since Heena was so busy during the weekdays, spending time together like this on weekends was important.
As time passed and night fell once again.
Worried that Heena might be concerned if I stayed upte gaming again, I held her close, patting her gently as I waited for her to fall asleep.
-Pat pat.
"Mom is on the ind''s shadow~"
"Hehe, honey. I can''t sleep because you''re making meugh~"
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah~ Just hold me."
"Alright."
The luby might have been overkill. Anyway, after Heena fell asleep, I carefully slipped out of bed. So as not to wake her.
Like I was on some escape mission, just like when I used to secretly turn on theputer as a kid behind Mom''s back. I quietly left the room without making a sound.
Then I went to the living room, sat in the corner of the sofa without turning on the lights, and started gaming again.
Even as I went about my day normally, thoughts of the game had been swirling in my head all day. What would happen next in the story? Could I craft better weapons? How many towers would I need to climb to reveal the entire current area?
That''s why I''d been waiting for this time. The hours after everyone was asleep, when I could leisurely game by myself before bed.
Of course, I didn''t n to stay up until dawn like yesterday. Getting too used to pulling all-nighters would wreak havoc on my sleep schedule.
So not to that extent. But two hours or so should be—
Totally doable, right?
It should be fine, right?!
With those thoughts, I resumed my adventure to save the princess.
-Swoosh
Unaware of the eyes watching me from the darkness.
Author''s Note:
??_? ? ...!