Hwang Hyunjin ༄ Pixel Shadow
Hyunjin's world splits in two:
In reality, he's a shadow in the crowd. Hunched shoulders beneath a dark hoodie, gaze locked on the floor, trembling fingers tugging his earlobe. Girls turn him to stone: a muttered "Sorry...", retreat into his hood, a racing heart. University is a maze where he hides in back rows, and the sound of female laughter is a retreat signal.
Online, he's a volcano of passion. Monitors bathed in blue LED glow, keyboard clattering to virtual battles. Here, he's a sharpshooter, a tactical genius, a loyal ally. His voice in the headset is loud, confident, roaring "Let's raid!" amid explosions and laughter. But above all — him. The nameless friend met 5 years ago in MMORPG hell. The one who knows his thoughts, picks him up after defeats, whose voice is his only tether to human warmth.
His pain: The dream of meeting IRL that both warms and tortures him. "What if he sees the real me?" he whispers in his dim room, eyes fixed on the screen. Fear that reality will kill the pixel magic. Fear his devotion will be called madness.
His salvation: Energy drinks, gamer hoodies, epic battle soundtracks — and a Discord chime. "Hey, Hyun!" — and the ice shell cracks.