Chapter 57: Hassan


    "So what''s on your mind? It''s the first time seeing you invite me," Kim heeson said and took a sip from his can.


    "Well, just sorting out my affairs, you could say." Lee Dojin rested his head on the rail-guard. "I also wanted to talk with Kim Jyejin, but she seemed busy." The wind of the subway blew his hair back.


    "It sounds like you are going to die." Heughed. "Wait, you aren''t, right?"


    "Hell no. I can''t afford to do so." The two of them entered the train, leaving for Gangnam. There was a nice PC room Heeson wanted to try out.


    "Well, that''s what I thought." He crushed the can in his hands and threw it into the trash, missing his first try, but getting it the second time. "As far as Kim Jyejin goes, I heard she had a big confrontation with her uncle. Something about him providing Do Jiwoon and the Sivi gang with the warehouse. In general, something a lot moreplicated than I can understand." Heeson shrugged his shoulders.


    Lee Dojin gave him a questioning nce. "Now how do you know that?"


    "She wrote me on Ka-talk."


    "Aren''t you two good friends now." He chuckled. "And to think what we had been just before New Years''. I''d call this progress."


    "Can''t really say anything about that," Heeson said with a wry smile. "So, what happened to Oh Sanabek?"


    Lee Dojin stopped walking. His expression did not change, but a queer silence hung around them, wishing to break out. "He''s dead."


    "Oh." Kim Heeson nodded. He had nothing more to say, though innumerable thoughts swirled in his mind. After all, Oh Sanbaek was someone he knew and regrly hung around withthough he wouldn''t particrly call him his friend. If anything, he only hung around Park Wonho. Still, death wasn''t easy to swallow. Though a long goodbye, those, he knew quite well.


    The two of them continued walking, saying nothing. Almost as if to give a moment of silence for their ssmate that had perished. Only when arriving at the PC room did they turn cheery again.


    Kim Heesons eyes glimmered. This ce was everything he had been hoping for.


    "You do really love games, do you?"


    He nodded. "They are fun. They pull you into a different world and let you escape your current one. I don''t think everyone ys games just to run away from reality, but for me, it makes me forget for a moment all the problems I have." He inserted the money into the machine. "Though I suppose a lot of people say it''s a waste of time."


    "It''s not a waste if you enjoyed doing it." Lee Dojin lightly smiled. "I mean, what''s the point in surviving without something to live for, right?"


    "True. True." He took a seat in the corner. He liked ces like these as there usually was no light shining onto the monitor. "You know, I''ve been having a great ideately."


    "Would you look at that?" Lee Dojin took a seat right next to him. "Don''t hold out on me, what is it?"


    Kim Heeson mulled over his words. "Well, it''s hard to say. But I''ve been thinking a lot about what went on yesterday and what the cause may have been. Now obviously, I don''t know the whole story, but a story that ends in tragedy is never a fun one right?" He opened a MOBA game. "For that Do Jiwoon too, he only got so far because he used the darkness in the people''s heart. Hell, if I hadn''t changed, I might have gotten caught up in the whole thing too."


    Lee Dojin lightly pped Kim Heesons head. He ordered a cup of ramen from hisputer. "Get to the point, what are you trying to say?"


    "Well, how about we start our own group?" Heeson rubbed his hair. From his pocket, he took out a smoke. "You know, but more as a protector, for those with broken dreams."


    Lee Dojin gave him a surprised stare. Then, heughed. "You''re hrious." His eyes turned into little half-moons. "Really, you sound just like a person I know. It''s so strange. You wanna make a utopia or something too?"


    "Wait, are ya making fun of me?" He clicked his tongue and gave a wry smile.


    "Not at all. It was apliment." Lee Dojin shook his head. "I said it before, but it really is strange how fate works, I give you that." He leaned into the soft chair. "That idea bears a lot of responsibilities, you know? Can you handle it?"


    "Wait. Me? Why me?" His eyebrows shot up. "I was more thinking about you?" He nced at Lee Dojin. If it was him, Heeson was sure it would be fine. The old him was nowhere to be seen anymore. At times, he even felt an unknown sadness seeing his change, as if something had disappeared, but more often, he simply felt free. The mere sight of Lee Dojin, freely living his life even with all its burdens made him loosen up too. Heeson was sure he wouldn''t be the only one to feel so. That was why, if anyone could do it, it was Lee Dojin.


    However, that guy was quick to cut him down. "It''s your idea, shouldn''t you be the leader? I, for one, am tired of leading." He opened the MOBA game too. "But don''t worry. If you can promise to never go down the dark path, I''ll help you when I''m free. Or what, you just want to stay in the cushy passenger seat?"


    "Well, it isn''t that." He paused. "It just sounds.. . a little overwhelming." Truth be told, he had always been by the side of leaders, watching their backs and seeing them grow. "But, I guess, a little exciting too."


    "I can imagine." He nodded. "Alright, I''ll help you if you ever make a group." He chose his character. "Though in the future, you''d be calling these things a guild."


    ...


    After the Sun has left its zenith, Lee Dojin and Kim Heeson walked out of the PC room. Dojin stretched, while Heeson squinted his eyes, not yet used to the light.


    "That was fun," Kim Heeson said.


    "Well, you spent most of your time shouting at me."


    He scratched his head. "Sorry, I get a little heated up when ying games."


    The two of them talked about random stuff until they realized that a ck sedan van was parked in front of them. Unlike with the Sivi gang, this one did not look shady, even though the tinted windows gave it an air of secrecy. Surrounding that ce was a couple of paparazzi, trying to take a photo.


    "Maybe it''s a celebrity," Heeson muttered. But Lee Dojin felt differently.


    Stepping out, a few burly men with sunsses blocked the sight of any random passerby''s. However, coincidental or not, they left the sight for Dojin and Heeson free.


    Thest one to step out of the car was a tall, tan man wearing an expensive white robe. He had short ck hair, and his eyes were green, shining like emeralds. They did shine, as he eyes Lee Dojin with a smile.


    Kim Heeson stood there confused. He didn''t quite understand what was going on. These days, he got that feeling a lot. He turned his head to Lee Dojin, but he only saw his stony expression, letting out no emotion.


    Hassan hastily approached them, as if fearing they may disappear at any time. "There''s no mistake, it is you!" A grin formed on his handsome face.


    "Who?" Kim Heeson tilted his head. He would have remembered a shy foreigner like him, as he did not go to Itaewon that often. He wasn''t one to read or watch the news, so he was unaware of any Saudi Princesnding in Seoul.


    "Guessing by the timing of your rank-up and how the best way to earn points was at 1 pm, I guessed you were probably from one of the Eastern countries." He nodded. "However, I was unsure of where exactly you''d be, so I traveled around Asia looking for a clue. Thankfully, I had my ability by my side, otherwise, I could kiss my dreams goodbye." He stood in front of them, casting a shadow over their bodies.


    Kim Heesons brows furrowed. "You speak great Korean, even though you don''t seem from here." What was that guy bbering about?


    Hassan turned his attention to Heeson. His expression immediately turned cold and uninviting. "Excuse me, but I don''t do monkey shows."


    "Listen here," Kim Heeson grumbled with an angry smile, "This might work in your home country, but here in Korea, we aren''t keen on disrespectful behavior. So why don''t I teach you some manners?" He stretched his hand out. With such a conspicuous robe, he was asking to get suplexed.


    However, things did not go as nned. As he was about to grab it, Hassan disappeared, and all he touched was thin air. He almost stumbled from the leftover inertia. His eyebrows shot up, unsure of what happened. Turning around, he saw the tan man standing behind Lee Dojin and him.


    Hassan gave a slight bow, startling the security guard with his unorthodox move; But he could not care less, as he was currently at the apex of his excitement. A person like Heeson was the least of his worries. "It''s nice to meet you, Inheritor of the Universe."


    Lee Dojin sighed. He was currently beyond surprised. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he saw right. "Oh, it''s you. What was your name again? Hassan, right?" He gave a dry chuckle. "Or do you want me to call you The Prophet?"