Chapter Text
Beep!
“That’ll be 2.30 please.” “Enjoy your day.”
Kim Dokja was in fact not enjoying his day so far.
After the sudden realization that he was presumably killed by someone while he was mourning over his friend, he feels both stupid and pissed.
Did he get mugged at night? He was so busy thinking that he couldn’t get home last night, and avoided that whole ordeal! Now he’s dead but he had strangely woken up to his younger self.
Did he…?
His first thought was that this is a dream so like an idiot he was—he kept going back to sleep which of course didn’t work, which led to panic.
Now he’s outside getting coffee at 2am from a convenience store, where his former young self used to get most of his meals.
Why is he here you might wonder?
Because he would rather be anywhere else than his room right now. Really though, he needs to think straight. He’s an adult now; well, now a teenager again but he got the mind of an adult!
While he was busy clearing his mind, a sudden shout came.
“Kim Dokja!”
Here comes his first battle.
Which is what he initially thought he was about to face but seeing those familiar eyes again. He felt like a heavy sword was lifted off of his chest.
“Han Sooyoung…” He felt like crying then. But before he can get his sentence out, a slap came first.
“...”
“...”
“Ow! What–“
Han Sooyoung only gives him a glare.
“What the fuck?! That hurt!”
“Why are you even outside during such an hour you moron! It’s 2am for christ sakes!”
“But you’re the one who replied and agreed to it.”
“Agreed my ass! You were already there!“
Unlike Kim Dokja's reaction to seeing her, she looks like she’s ready to strangle him alive right now.
But it’s true, why was she checking her messages at this hour? He only did so ‘cause that’s the time he woke up from getting killed. It’s not his fault.
And due to his curiosity, he didn’t even think twice about messaging a friend who he had previously known as deceased.
But to the eye of the beholder, she’s alive and breathing. Even having strength to give him a full blown slap.
Oh no, now he’s crying, but from the hard slap instead. And Han Sooyoung seems taken aback.
“Oi oi oi, don’t cry now, I’m sorry okay? It’s just, don’t you know how dangerous it is at night?”
Don’t worry, Kim Dokja had his first hand experience already.
“And you just randomly text me at night saying ‘I’m grabbing coffee, want some?’ at 2 am. are you nuts? And when did you learn to drink coffee?”
Kim Dokja just shrugged at that while taking a napkin and blow his nose. “Well, first off, you’re not obligated to come.”
As for coffee, he takes a sip and straight up wants to spit it all back. He almost regrets spending his money on it.
Gross. Guess his taste buds haven’t developed for this sort of stuff yet.
“And let you wander alone at night? Hell no!” she hisses back. Kim Dokja wants to point out that she too is doing the same thing but he decides to save his face from getting another slap.
Kim Dokja however feels more strange about the fact that even after long years have passed, he seems to be conversing with this version of Han Sooyoung all the same. All too well in fact. No awkwardness, no shame. Just talking. And this familiar yet foreign feeling causes Dokja to spill another tear.
“Eh? I already apologized! Why are you crying again? You never cried this much.” She went to him and patted his back. Which, really isn’t helping considering that she’s the reason.
She was dead yesterday yet now here she is, comforting him. And he doesn't know what overcomes him to hug her instead. Hug her so tightly that Sooyoung feels an air knock out of her.
God please, if this is really a dream, he begs to never be awoken from it.
“Uhhhh… you okay?” confused Han Sooyoung has no choice but to slowly and unsurely hug back.
*Pat pat
After spending many minutes in silence hugging, Han Sooyoung decides to walk him back home. Albeit he tries to refuse, she doesn’t budge at all and insists that he would faint after crying that much.
Does he seem that weak?
“Get some sleep. I don’t know what made you go out at such an hour, and it’s not like you’d tell even if I asked, so get some sleep. We got history tomorrow y’know? That teacher is very strict when it comes to time.”
She was making her way out of his room before she turns back, “and really, if anything is bothering you, tell me.”
“Yes, yes~ thanks a lot.” And he gave a lazy wave. Just when she was nearly out; “Oh, Sooyoung-ah.”
“Hmm?”
“Happy birthday Sooyoung-ah.”
Her eyes seem to widen for a moment before she cools it down and grins from ear to ear. “I thought you forgot.”
And Kim Dokja feels like he was taken out of his element.
“I— see you tomorrow.”
“Hmm, see yah.” She hums to herself. She turns back once more to bid goodbye and the door closes behind her with a quiet click.
Kim Dokja didn’t move nor went to be. He is still stuck standing in front of his door, staring at where she last left. If this truly is what he thinks it is, then maybe, just maybe, he might save her.
He might save them all.
On the calendar, 2011, he felt like he saw a promise.
Just like Han Sooyoung said, the next day really is a school day.
And just like expected, Kim Dokja is incredibly sleepy. His younger self was already weak and tired, now mixed in with his tired brain it doesn’t really do him any better.
Now his door was getting loudly banged on and soon after broken through by very angry Han Sooyoung; because how the hell did she have his spare key? And moments later his body is being dragged to school by someone who’s way shorter.
Kim Dokja is almost sorry that he’s making them both late but his tired mind and body was too comfy in bed and after all he went through for the past hours, he is certain that he deserves a much needed sleep.
“Stop slouching and get moving, dumbass! We’re late!”
“Hahaa…”
He takes it all back about wanting to save her life. No, he just wants to rest instead!
Luckily the school let them off with a warning since Han Sooyoung was one of their top students and this was the first time Kim Dokja was ever late.
Just great, his perfect attendance was ruined on his first day back! He is alone in his turmoil.
Kim dokja didn’t wants to admit it out loud and has held so but, he’s truly back in time. 12 years back to be exact, and the same dreadful year of school is also in motion so he’s not all that keen.
Hell, he doesn’t even have enough time to make up his mind on what to do before school even resumes. Now he’s stuck in history class listening to his stupidly handsome teacher even stupider lecture.
And it seems that a certain person is supposedly late again.
“He hasn't come yet?”
“Tch, he thinks he’s all that just ‘cause he’s the principal son.”
“Oh please, you’re just jealous of him.”
“Kyaa~ doesn’t this make him so much more like a bad boy?”
“I already miss his handsome face~”
Yep, they’re already talking about him although he's only been here for a few months but he’s already the talk of the school. Which really saves Dokja himself from unwanted attention.
Dokja has been preparing his whole morning on how to handle this one.
They already met but today is Kim Dokja's first day seeing him after 12 years. Luckily he’s not as close to that boy as he is to Han Sooyoung so it’ll be fine.
It’ll be fine.
Just then, the classroom door slides open and the most anticipated person is finally here. The teacher doesn’t seem all that impressed though. “You’re half an hour late, you know that,
Yoo Joonghyuk?”