Who Dis?

Spring 7, Saturday (Mar 8)

Juwon: I”m destroying our relationship by the way I’ve been acting lately. Sure, I’m smiling and friendly with the rest of the crew. But with Tae? I can hardly bear to be near him without blurting out my bad news. It’s too early!

Juwon: I know I haven’t been around much lately but I’m feeling very unsatisfied with our relationship.

Tae: That's rich! You’re the one always running off. I invite you somewhere then turn around and you’re gone. You don’t give me the time to show you affection.

Juwon: No, it’s not that…

Tae: Maybe it’s time we reassess our relationship. Have you met someone else, Juwon?

Juwon (blurts): No but, in 4 weeks, I’m leaving Nordhaven and can't return for weeks (maybe never).

Tae: Whoa, whoa. Let’s back up here. Why don’t you explain what’s going on with you?

Juwon: You remember that I’m a week older than you? Since I age up to a young adult on Summer 14, I recently got my draft notice for mandatory military service. I fly out around the 15th of Summer.

Tae: Because you have Korean nationality? Isn’t the normal service length from 1-½ to 2 seasons?

Juwon: You’re right. I can’t even be here on your birthday. But I’ve volunteered for a shorter assignment.

Tae: Well, that’s good news. What’s the catch?

Juwon: I volunteered for a high-risk position. It’s classified; I can’t tell you exactly what I’ll be doing.

Tae: So, you leave in about four weeks and then we won’t see each other for even longer?
Juwon (to himself): Tae can't know about my assignment; he’ll only worry about my safety.

Tae: I’m  calling the LMS Roommate Service to cancel your roommate agreement?

Juwon (gasps): You’re kicking me out because I’ll be leaving anyway?

Tae: No, silly! I can’t ask you to be my housemate if you’re already my roommate.

Juwon: Yes, I accept! And it will provide a more stable environment for our baby! 

Tae: Uh, Juwon? We both know we’ve never….wait, Immaculate Conception?!

Juwon: Now who’s being silly? I got you a puppy as a Love Day gift for tomorrow. To celebrate my "housemate-hood," I’m giving you this puppy a day early.

Tae: Oh my, he’s adorable! How did you know I wanted a black-and-tan Shiba?

Juwon: Hard to miss you swooning over photos of them online! What’ll you name him?

Tae: Sasuke (Sas’keh, “a” as in “casa”), after that awesome shinobi who's Naruto’s frenemy. If our friends struggle to remember or pronounce Sasuke, they can use his nickname “Sass.”

Sasuke immediately falls asleep, so Juwon and I visit Jace’s Form & Function to ask for an archaeology class. Jace gives a riveting lecture; he’s obviously gleaned lots of experience during his weeks exploring the Selvadoradian jungle.

I lower my friendship standards to befriend a klepto paparazzi working for Clickbait Chronicle. It’s the third time my “Make a New Friend” goal doesn’t complete but I earn gold for Jace’s class anyway. After class, Jace is surrounded by customers, so we leave with the promise to get together soon.

A quick stop at Trashley’s alley, which is a short walk from Crafty Corner.

Before going to Honey’s Lookbook Lounge, we dash home to get Sasuke since Honey’s business is pet-friendly.  (It is, Isn’t it?)

In today’s Pet Training class, Honey goes over cat anatomy and how to deal with pet injuries.

I reach gold for Honey’s class although, as usual, becoming friends with her employee Gavin Richards doesn’t count for my last class goal. Le sigh!

There’s still hours left on our class timer, so I ask her employee Cannonball (who’s also my neighbor and BFF) to mentor me in violin. When the class ends, we thank Honey for an amazing class then the three of us head home. Sasuke, did you make any new friends tonight?

Spring 8, Monday

Juwon: We take Sasuke to Brindleton Pawspital for a general checkup, only to learn they don’t accept puppies.  Hmmph! What level is your Vet skill now, Tae? Can you examine Sasuke yourself?

Tae: I should buy an exam table to see what I can do with my L6 Vet skill. Before leaving, however, let’s buy Sasuke an Age-Up Treat and a bunch of Wellness Treats. I can’t craft those yet.

Tae: Tada!  Sasuke was adorable as a puppy but now he’s got gravitass! 

Juwon: Hurry and invite Cannonball over for your last two hours of mentoring!  I’m impatient to go on our Love Day date!

Juwon (whispers): Thank you, Tae, for taking the time to make Love Day so special for me! The nightscape from Stargazer Lounge is breathtaking!

Juwon (to himself): It’ll be so hard to leave Tae! What if he forgets me? What if, by the time I finish serving, Tae meets somoen else and marries them? No, no, no. I can’t think of that right now. I have four weeks to enjoy living with Tae and Sasuke. I’m gonna make the most of that time! And I’m gonna steal Tae’s First Kiss if that’s the last thing I do!