Chapter Text
For someone who only plays the hit MOBA game League of Legends during his free time, you can say Yeosang is pretty good at it. He's currently ranked Diamond III, only three ranks away from the highest tier, which is impressive since he only plays for enjoyment and not for the sake of ranking up.
Yeosang doesn't really care about ranking up. As long as he gets to play his favorite champions and actually have fun during the games. That's how he manages to stay calm and composed, turning even impossible games winnable.
His roommate, Yunho, is a full-time photographer whose main game is Valorant, from the creators of League. And to say that Yunho loves the game is an understatement. He's addicted to it. Obsessed, even. But Yeosang guesses it makes sense because Yunho is actually good at it.
You'd think someone who has a full-time job and a whole ass boyfriend would be ranked around low Silver or Gold, right? Wrong. Very, very, wrong. Yunho is a beast at video games. He's in the highest rank, Radiant, despite being employed AND wife-d up. It's not even fair, like Jung Wooyoung says. How does he even find the time to play games, like Choi San exclaims.
And as someone who lives with Yunho and sees him everyday, even Yeosang doesn't have an answer to the questions San has. While if you ask his wife slash boyfriend Mingi, he'll just shrug and say "he's just good at games" like it answers the questions.
It really doesn't. But of course they're not going to keep questioning Mingi because he himself clearly does not know the answer.
Moving on from that, their city is holding a big convention and there's a confirmed showcase and dedicated floor presence for all games under Riot, which includes Valorant and League of Legends. Knowing Yunho, he would never miss the chance to go. Especially if it includes official merch.
So here is Yeosang, sitting on their living room couch next to Mingi who was munching on chocolates, facing Yunho who was standing in front of him. "Yeosang." Yunho says to catch Yeosang's attention. Yeosang hums, looking up at him. His attention was actually already on Yunho's. He was just waiting for him to speak up and Yunho was just awkwardly staring at him.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Mingi snorts. "He wants you to come with us to the Hala Expo." He says before taking a bite out of his chocolate bar. Yunho gives him those big lovey dovey eyes before looking back at Yeosang.
"You could've just said so." Yeosang says. Yunho shrugs. "I kinda forgot what I was gonna say after I called your name. But yeah, do you wanna come? It's on Saturday." He says, sitting down next to Mingi who feeds him a bite of the chocolate bar. Yeosang glances at the calendar hanging on the wall next to the TV, the cogwheels in his brain turning as the couple waits for his answer.
Is he free on Saturday? Does he have plans? No, he doesn't remember making any. But he has a job, though. He's pretty sure his boss doesn't like it when he takes a leave.
"Earth to Yeosang? Hello?"
Well, to be fair, it's because he's a really good worker and Seonghwa always ends up sulking when he takes a day off.
"Yeosang?? Yeosang???"
But Yeosang is pretty sure Seonghwa would allow him to take a day off. Plus, he works so much that he can take a day off and still get paid. And he's Seonghwa's favorite employee so it probably won't hinder their workplace dynamic. Though—
"Yeosang!"
Yunho exclaims, making Yeosang jump and snap out of his thoughts. He turns to look at the couple sitting next to him who's looking at him with worried looks on their faces. Yunho snaps his fingers in front of his face two times, and Yeosang leans back at the proximity.
"What's up with you?" Yunho asks, concerned. "Isn't Saturday your rest day? Do you have any plans or something?" He adds and Yeosang realizes.
Right. He doesn't have work on Saturdays. He forgot. How stupid.
He shakes head. "No, I don't have any plans…" He says and Yunho's face visibly lights up. "So are you coming, then?" He asks eagerly and Yeosang takes a good look at him, a random thought crossing his mind. If Yunho was a dog, his tail would be wagging out of excitement right now. So Yeosang nods.
"Sure."
Yunho beams and turns around to kiss Mingi. Which was completely unnecessary and not related to whatever's going on, says Yeosang in his mind.
Saturday arrives in a blink of an eye. Yeosang is dressed in simple white shirt and beige pants, topped with his Worlds 2025 T1 Faker jacket and a black beret, waiting in front of a restaurant nearby the convention center where the Hala Expo was being held. Yunho had left their apartment first, saying he had to pick up Mingi so Yeosang could go first.
The area was lively. You can see from a bystander's point of view that there is definitely an event happening nearby. There were cosplayers walking around, vloggers and famous streamers holding tripods, and the best of them all: fans with gazillion keychains hanging on their clear bags that's full of official merch. Literally perfect.
Looking at it now, Yeosang's not really sure why he agreed to come. I mean, yeah, sure, he has nothing to do inside the apartment with no work and he has no one to talk to. But now that he realized, he's going to look like a third wheel following Yunho and Mingi around.
If he's being honest, it doesn't seem that bad. He's dressed enough to avoid looking like a weird otaku and perverted nerd. He looks decent. It's enough to pass off as someone who actually has a job and sleeps instead of playing games every night. Other than the jacket, which was a pretty big flex considering how expensive it was and how it made Yeosang's wallet cry, nothing else he was wearing would point to him being a gamer.
Plus, since Yunho dragged him here as a third wheel, he just has to convince Yunho to buy him something. Maybe some merch, fan art, or even free food. Which works for him. Like Wooyoung says, food is tastier if it's free.
Speaking of Wooyoung, Yeosang can make up a Wooyoung-like figure who was slowly getting closer and closer towards him. He squinted and realized it is indeed Wooyoung, along with San… Which is even greater for him! Because even if that means Yeosang is no longer third wheeling but now fifth wheeling, he still gets free food, and a possibility of it being doubled by tagging along the two couples!
"Sangie!" Wooyoung says, running at him and hugging him. San follows, jogging to catch up and join the hug. "Hey, Woo. Hey, San." Yeosang hums, breaking the hug. "I didn't know you two were coming." He says with a big smile on his face.
"Oh, I think I forgot to tell you." Someone, who sounds like Yunho, and is probably Yunho, says behind them. The three turn around to find Yunho and Mingi, holding hands and side by side as usual, and another person who was following behind them. A completely new face. One that Yeosang has never seen before. Yeosang blinks at him.
"Oh! Jongho!" San says, fist bumping the man. The man named Jongho smiles. "Hey." He greets. They all stand in a circle and start talking. It seems like Yeosang is the only one who doesn't know this guy, seeing as everyone was greeting him. Yunho notices his look and nudges Jongho forward. Jongho frowns at him but notices Yeosang in front of him too, and he immediately stills.
"Oh. Hey." He says, looking like he's trying to act cool. Yeosang unintentionally tilts his head. Jongho gulps. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Choi Jongho, one of Mingi's co-workers and friend." He says, holding his hand out for a handshake. Yeosang gives him a small smile, accepting his hand. "I'm Kang Yeosang, Yunho's roommate."
Jongho stills once more. Wooyoung snorts, noticing Jongho's behavior. "If you guys are done, can we go eat now?" He asks while staring at Jongho with a knowing look on his face. Jongho's glares at him and Wooyoung just laughs, dragging San inside the restaurant they were in front of.
Yunho laughs as well, nodding his head to the direction of the restaurant. "Come on, let's eat. Mingi and I are going to treat you two because we basically dragged you guys into this." He explains. Jongho makes a fist of victory and Mingi rolls his eyes. "Do not get used to this."
Inside the restaurant, the couples had sat next to each other, leaving Jongho and Yeosang facing each other. They've already ordered their food and were only waiting for it to arrive. The food here is always served fresh, as per Yunho, so it takes a while for it to be arrive. Jongho takes this opportunity to get to know the most gorgeous man he's ever seen in his life.
"So," He starts, a little awkward but Yeosang's attention is instantly on him as the two couples beside them start flirting with each other. "Yunho mentioned we were going to the Riot showcase." Jongho says, one hand resting on the table and the other nervously rubbing his sweaty hand on his thighs under the table.
Yeosang nods, smiling. "Yeah. I play League on my free time so I agreed to come. It's my first time attending an expo too." He explains. Jongho blinks, surprised. "Oh, League? I thought you were a Valorant player, since you're roommates with Yunho…" He asks, now more interested.
"Ah, well, I play Valorant too. Only on some occasions, though, since I have a job." Yeosang says, and Jongho nods in understanding.
"You know, actually, I rarely play games. I've only played Valorant a few times but never League. Is it hard?" Jongho asks, and now it was Yeosang's turn to be surprised. Meanwhile, Wooyoung, who was discreetly listening in to their conversation, frowns. He makes eye contact with Yunho who shakes his head.
"You rarely play any games? Really? Then I assume you went with us just because?" Yeosang asks. Jongho nods, acting like it's the most normal thing ever. "Yeah. I've never played League befo—"
"Jongho, what the fuck are you talking abo—" Yunho shoves a piece of the complimentary bread in Wooyoung's mouth, effectively shutting him up. The entire table goes silent as Yunho makes eye contact with Jongho, who slightly nods his head, and then San, who looks utterly terrified. Yunho laughs awkwardly, leaning back, trying to act like he didn't just shove a piece of bread down Wooyoung's throat from across the table.
"Haha, complimentary bread, right Woo? Tastes so good, I swear." Yunho says, sending daggers through his eyes as he looks at Wooyoung with a smile. Wooyoung bites off the part of the bread that was in his mouth and puts the rest back on the plate as he realizes what Yunho was implying. He takes a look at Yeosang, and then Jongho who also nods at him. He quickly chews the bread inside his mouth before swallowing it. "Yup, yup. The best ever. Anyway, continue." He says, gesturing for Jongho and Yeosang to continue the conversation. Beside Yunho, Mingi looks away, burying his face in Yunho's shoulders to try and hide his laughter. Wooyoung glares at him.
"As I was saying," Jongho continues. "I've seen League in social media before, and almost all my friends plays it. It looks hard, though. Is it hard?" Jongho asks, leaning on the table. Yeosang hums, thinking for a moment, befoe shaking his head. "Not really, no. If you're someone who plays a lot of computer games, it's easy to get a sense of. But as you said, you rarely play games.. I think you'd find it pretty hard." Yeosang explains.
"People consider League a hard game, though?" San suddenly butts in. Jongho whips his head to subtly glare at him and Wooyoung gently nudges him with his elbow. San flinches, turning to look at Wooyoung who mouths something while glaring at him. "Actually, yeah. It's probably because I've played it for so long that I don't think it's hard." Yeosang hums, acknowledging San's point. Jongho nods in understanding.
"I'd love to try it out, but I honestly don't know where to start." Jongho says and Yeosang nods. "It's going to be a bit overwhelming, yeah. But if you play enough, I think you'll get used to it after a few weeks." He says, grabbing a glass of water while Jongho watches him drink. "Are you good at the game?" He asks, a slight smirk on his face. Yeosang blinks, putting his glass down.
"I guess? Diamond is a pretty high rank. I'm Diamond III." He says, feeling a little smug at seeing the look of surprise on Jongho's face. "Diamond in League is equivalent to Diamond in Valorant." Yunho adds, and Jongho gives him a look. "Okay…? Isn't that obvious?" San says. Mingi snorts while Wooyoung buries his face in his hands. Yeosang blinks, looking confused. Jongho shrugs and faces Yeosang again.
"Diamond does sound like a pretty high rank." Jongho says, leaning forward. "Say," He starts, and Yeosang hums, tilting his head. "If I start playing League, would you teach me?" He asks. The table goes silent. The other four starts sharing looks before their eyes land back on Jongho. And Yeosang thinks about it for a while. It sounds like a good request, to be honest. He gets to play League and make a new friend. That sounds good to him.
"I'd love to." Yeosang says with a smile, and Jongho freezes up again. "Of course, as long as it doesn't hinder my schedule."
Beside him, Mingi whispers a small 'Yes!' and him and Yunho high five. Across him, Wooyoung and San were also discreetly celebrating something. Yeosang decides to ignore them and focus on Jongho who was still frozen in front of him.
"Jongho?" He asks, a little concerned. There's a slight hint of pink on Jongho's cheeks, but Yeosang brushes it off. "You good?" He adds. Jongho shakes his head, snapping out of it. "Yeah, yeah. I'm peachy." He says, shaking his head a few more times before smiling at Yeosang.
"Can I have your number, then?" Jongho says while pulling out his phone from his pocket. Yeosang blinks, a little surprised at his straightforwardness but smiles, accepting Jongho's phone and tapping out his number. Underneath the table, San pats Jongho's lap, giving him a proud look and a thumbs up right after. Jongho smirks, mumbling something along the lines of 'I'm an expert'.
Yeosang hands him back his phone and pulls out his own. "I get off work at 5 PM. Saturday is also my day off, so it'd be nice if we can play during those times." He says, typing a few things on his phone. Jongho looks down at his phone, feeling it vibrate. The notification of Yeosang's text soon arrives.
"Of course." Jongho says as their food arrives, distracting everyone from the two. Maybe agreeing to come to the Hala Expo was the right decision after all. For once, Jongho is glad he didn't stay at home holed up in his room all day.