Chapter Text
The morning sunlight on a holiday really felt like a curse for sleep-deprived people. The warm rays slipping past the curtains only made anyone want to stay buried under their blankets forever.
And of course, that also applied to Cale Henituse.
The red-haired man was still curled up on his large bed, tangled in his blanket like a dying burrito. His short red hair was sticking out everywhere, and his black pajamas were completely wrinkled beyond saving.
The room was peaceful.
Until the violent ringtone from his phone shattered everything.
“Nggh…”
Cale groaned in annoyance and buried his face deeper into the pillow. But the ringtone kept going like it had no fear of being crushed by Cale's hand. Losing one or two phones was not a problem for him.
'Fuck'.
With half-open eyes and the expression of someone ready to commit murder, Cale grabbed the phone from the bedside table and answered without even checking the caller ID first.
“…Who the hell is this…?” he mumbled, his voice rough from sleep. He also rubbed his eyes, feeling a slight headache from being forced awake.
“Cale! Heheh, morning~”
The moment he recognized the voice on the other end, Cale groaned louder.
“Fuck…”
He kicked his blanket away before lazily sitting up. He narrowed his eyes when the sun hit his face with its light.
“What is it? Calling people this damn early just to ruin their sleep, asshole. Do you even know what time it is, Dokja?! This better be important or I swear I’ll punch your face in. Even my hyung’s personal butler is still sleeping peacefully. Hell, even the cats are still asleep, bastard. Why the fuck are you calling me?!”
The entire rant came out naturally without a filter. Still, despite sounding pissed, Cale kept his voice lower. He was angry, but not that petty to wake his hyung up this morning, because he knew how much his hyung disliked waking up in the morning.
Right beside him, Rok Soo was still sleeping soundly on the other side of the bed. The long darker red-haired man was facing away from him, his hair covering part of his face, while two cats, red and silver, were curled up together near the end of the mattress.
Kim Dokja only laughed softly after getting verbally assaulted first thing in the morning. He just felt more amused by his friend's misfortune. Besides, he was also curious about something, so he asked it right away.
“You’re still sleeping with your twin?”
Cale scoffed. Already feeling like this call was a waste of time for him.
“Sigh. Dokja, if that’s why you woke me up, I’m hanging up right now.”
“WAIT! No, no, that’s not it!”
Dokja sounded panicked. He quickly cleared the misunderstanding before Cale ended the call.
“I was just curious! Sometimes you two stick together like glue, and other times you act like strangers.”
Cale rolled his eyes. "When you see the same face for over ten years, of course you will get bored, so being a bit distant doesn't mean we have broken up." It was the same at school.
Sometimes he’d be with Alberu Crossman, Yoo Joonghyuk, and Choi Jung Soo, while Rok Soo would be with Fors Wall, Yoo Sangah, and Paseton. Other times he’d only hang around Rok Soo. Sometimes both twins would disappear in opposite directions doing their own business, without telling each other. But they would come home together, and because they were already comfortable with sleeping together, they felt a bit lost when they suddenly couldn’t hear the other breathing beside them. So they agreed to sleep together until they got married or separated to go work.
Meanwhile, Dokja was usually seen with Klein Moretti. Maybe because they were also together when they first arrived, they became friends easily.
Still, how those two became close friends was still beyond Cale’s understanding.
Because Dokja, well, while a bit polite on the outside, he was not a morally good person. He was only good to people when they had a use for him, but he would also warm up to them over time. Different from Klein, who happily helped people and got along with them without any intention of using them. Cale had to agree that Klein was a morally good person. So it was still baffling to Cale how those two got along so well.
'I'm not gonna be surprised much if Dokja and Rok Soo hyung are getting along too well. Heck, I need to make sure those two don't plan something together. The world will end if those two work together.' Cale lampooned, while also glancing at his hyung who was still peacefully sleeping.
He also focused back on the present.
“Too much talking. Just spit it out already.”
“Heh.”
Dokja chuckled. Amused by Cale’s persistence. He then reluctantly stopped his teasing.
“You remember the novel we read yesterday, right?”
Cale immediately became slightly more awake, slipping his feet into his soft slippers so he wouldn't feel cold when stepping onto the marble floor.
“…Yeah, I remember. Why?”
He tilted his head to the side while also walking toward the edge of the bed, gently petting one of the cats while yawning. Then—
“THEY RELEASED THE NEW VOLUME, CALE!!!”
“FUCK—”
Cale flinched and nearly dropped his phone from the sheer volume.
He immediately pulled it away from his dear ear, wincing in pain.
‘Poor my ears.’ Cale internally cursed Dokja. He then blinked. His half-asleep brain needed several seconds to process the information.
And when it finally did—
“ARE YOU SERIOUS, DOKJA?!”
Cale instantly jumped off the bed with wide eyes. A shocked expression could be seen on his face that still looked messy from sleep.
His loud voice made Rok Soo shift slightly in his sleep.
“…mmh…”
Cale froze. He momentarily looked back at his twin, a bit tense. No one could blame him when Rok Soo looked vicious when his sleep was being disturbed.
Thankfully, the man only rolled over and continued sleeping.
Cale sighed in relief before quietly heading out to the balcony with the phone still in hand. He couldn’t afford to be scolded in the morning by his twin if his twin woke up because of him. His eyes looked down at the bodyguards who were standing straight; his father was the one who assigned them there.
“How’d you find out?” he asked while enjoying how the sunlight made him feel a bit warm.
“Heh. Like news like this could ever escape me.”
Dokja’s voice was full of pride. Dokja was a total nerd! Well, a good-faced nerd indeed. Which made Cale’s eyebrows twitch.
“…Dokja.”
“Hm?” Kim Dokja calmly responded, but he felt a foreboding feeling with how Cale called his name out of nowhere. Alas...
“Don’t tell me you haven’t slept at all.”
Silence. The call suddenly went quiet. Kim Dokja looked at his phone, utterly shocked. How did Cale..? Welp... He let out an awkward chuckle. It echoed through the phone.
“…Hahaha… uh… ahem.”
Hearing those voices, which clearly panicked after getting caught red-handed, Cale narrowed his eyes. His grip on the balcony railing tightened.
'It's okay if I was the one who stayed awake for one or two days, but no, I will not let others do that thing on my watch!' Cale nodded to himself, ready to open his mouth to scold him with his beautiful words.
Dokja hurriedly changed the subject while his mind cursed Cale. 'Hypocrite bastard!'
“So anyway! You wanna come or not? I’m going hunting for the new volume. Meet me at *** *** mall in an hour, okay? Bye, Cale hahaha—”
Click.
The call ended before Cale could yell at him. Cale stared at the screen with visible annoyance.
“…Squid bastard.”
He seriously ran away before getting scolded. A typical Dokja.
Cale rubbed his face harshly before heading back inside because the morning air was freezing. Even though the sun had already helped warm his fair skin a bit.
It had already been about a week since those two transfer students arrived—Kim Dokja and Klein Moretti.
At first, Cale only waved and tried to get along. He never expected that it would be easy to get along with them. He thought that he would get along with Klein more, but somehow, he ended up getting close to Dokja way faster than Klein.
Maybe because Klein was too polite for a delinquent like him...
Meanwhile Dokja?
That guy was a bit timid at first, but he quickly warmed up when he found out that Cale and Rok Soo were twins from Stone Company.
And once Dokja realized they both liked the same absurd novels with ridiculous plots, Cale and him got close surprisingly fast.
Meanwhile, Klein became closer to Rok Soo instead. The two of them both loved money, silently judged people, and maybe because Klein was also a walking polite person, it made it easier for Rok Soo to avoid unnecessary conversations with other people when Klein had already handled them.
And Cale had no interest in understanding that friendship more. As long as they got along, then whatever.
Today was yet another day where Dokja dragged him out somewhere.
And as usual— Cale would be paying for everything.
Why?
Because he was filthy rich. And he had no mind against burning his money for his friends if that made things easier.
Simple as that.
One time Dokja refused him, like a few days ago—
“Uhm, Cale, I can pay for myself—”
Dokja had already taken out his money from his wallet, ready to pay for his meal by himself.
But Cale immediately flicked the cash back toward him like the small amount offended his eyesight. Which was true for him.
He casually pulled out his black card and handed it to the waiter.
“I’ve got too much money. Help me drain it.”
Dokja froze for several seconds. He couldn't help but snort at the person in front of him.
“…Crazy rich bastard.”
“Thanks.”
“…That wasn’t a compliment.”
But ever since then, Dokja got used to being treated.
Back to the present.
After showering and throwing on casual clothes, which still made Cale look handsome, Cale walked out while drying his hair. He then put on a bit of perfume before walking out from his room.
And just as he passed the kitchen—
“Cale.”
Rok Soo’s flat voice made him turn around.
The man was already awake, sitting at the dining table with black coffee in hand while staring at him expressionlessly. His glasses were shining under the lamp.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“With Dokja?”
“…Yeah.”
Rok Soo took a sip of coffee. He then leaned back lazily in the chair.
“Be careful.”
Cale raised an eyebrow. He looked at his twin with questioning eyes.
“You’re saying that like I’m going to war.”
Rok Soo stared at him for a moment. Then let out a sigh, as if looking at him today already made him tired.
“…I’ve got a bad feeling today. And besides, wherever you go, you always get into trouble here and there.”
Cale scoffed softly. He didn't realize that he puffed one of his cheeks while also pouting—much to Rok Soo’s delight—he was a grown-ass man! Not a child anymore... And it's not his fault if trouble fell in love with his handsome face.
“Overdramatic.” he curtly said, but still listened to his twin as he made it out of their big house.
In the back, his twin was still looking at his back, a bit frowning at his twin’s nonchalant attitude.
"Meow~"
"Meoww??"
Rok Soo’s eyes finally snapped from his twin’s figure to the cat who nuzzled its face against his feet. He nudged his glasses before sighing and carrying them onto his lap. "Hmm maybe I was overthinking..."
One black cat meowed back at him.
---
The mall was already crowded despite the early hour.
Cale spotted Kim Dokja standing near the entrance holding a canned coffee and his phone.
His short black hair was messy. The dark circles under his eyes were obvious. If only Cale had bad eyesight like his brother, he would need more time before realizing that this beggar was his friend.
Cale narrowed his eyes immediately. A tsk could be heard from his pink lips.
“…You seriously didn’t sleep?”
Dokja pretended not to hear him as he started to walk.
“Cale! Hurry up! They said the stock’s limited!”
“Answer my damn question first, asshole.”
But Dokja simply grabbed his arm and dragged him away.
And as usual—
Cale sighed, losing against Kim Dokja’s chaotic energy.
The two walked along the sidewalk toward the crosswalk while Dokja kept rambling nonstop about novels, protagonists, hidden pieces, and plot armor.
“…I’m telling you, protagonists always have insane plot armor that makes them almost impossible to kill.”
“Bullshit. Eren still died.”
“No seriously! That man is an exception! Think about it—”
Dokja stepped forward without looking left and right. Cale already faltered in his walk, ready to stop him, but—
A loud horn blasted through the street. A car was speeding directly toward them.
Cale’s eyes widened instantly. He looked so terrified.
“DOKJA! CAREFUL, THERE’S A CAR!!”
Reflex.
His body moved faster than his brain.
Cale grabbed Dokja by the shoulder and shoved both of them hard toward the side of the road.
THUD!
They crashed onto the sidewalk as the car sped past with screeching brakes.
Several nearby people gasped in shock.
Cale winced as pain shot through his scraped elbow and knee. Fortunately... They were still alive...
“…Fuck…” Cale muttered to himself while slowly sitting up and eyeing the truck, which had already disappeared from sight, in short, it ran away.
People encircled them before Cale waved at them that they were fine.
Kim Dokja blinked slowly. He was lying on the side of the road while Cale sat up beside him. Slowly, he also sat up.
Still slightly dazed.
Then, with a completely serious face full of disappointment—
“Report. Watashi has failed to get isekai’d.”
Cale stared at him. His mouth opened and closed for a moment before snapping at him.
“YOU SQUID, USE YOUR FUCKING EYES WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD, DIPSHIT!!”
Cale’s shout echoed loud enough for nearby pedestrians to stare again, but he didn't give a shit about the audience.
He was obviously furious. If he had been late by just one second, Dokja might have gotten crushed, and worse, he might die by how fast that truck was! And this said bastard was spouting nonsense right in his face?
But Kim Dokja only looked genuinely sad. He looked down at his hand which got scratched.
“Why did you ruin my ritual to get isekai’d?”
Hearing that Dokja was still spouting nonsense, Cale looked at him like he had finally gone permanently insane.
He immediately grabbed Dokja’s shoulders, his eyebrow twitching violently.
“ISEKAI MY ASS! DO YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE GETTING HIT BY A TRUCK SENDS YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD, YOU DUMBASS?! FUCKING IDIOT!!” His words had no filter and were basically full of foul language. He still didn't care though, he was a delinquent!
But Dokja only became more serious.
“Shh! Cale!” Dokja looked at Cale’s angry expression, and he obviously ignored it.
He quickly glanced around like they were discussing classified government secrets.
“This is the secret knowledge of isekai protagonists in novels! Don’t let other people know dying to Truck-kun sends you to another world!”
Several pedestrians started staring at them weirdly. One mother even pulled her child away.
Cale pressed a hand against his forehead in frustration. He felt like crying. He wanted to throw a tantrum or get carried back like a koala by Ron while crying. This was the closest he had ever been to a death grip.
“…Moron.”
Dokja still refused to back down. Which made Cale think that Dokja was indeed mad.
“You just don’t understand.”
“I DON’T WANT TO UNDERSTAND!”
Cale pointed at his face angrily. His face was red from how much anger he felt. His hand was trembling like a leaf.
“So you seriously think if you got sent there, you would become a Demon King, then you’d have OP powers and a harem?! A bunch of pretty girls obsessed with you?! Is that what you’re thinking, huh?! FUCKING IDIOT!!”
Dokja blinked. He looked at Cale with a thoughtful expression, which only made Cale want to strangle the man.
Then he looked at Cale with absolute determination.
Which somehow made Cale even angrier.
“Cale, listen carefully! Even if watashi becomes a Demon King, gets OP powers and many fans who totally daisuki watashi, watashi only wants to become a real protagonist!”
“DUMBASS! YOU’RE NOT PROTAGONIST MATERIAL! YOU’D END UP IN A COMA THE MOMENT YOU STEP INTO THAT WORLD INSTEAD, ASSHOLE!”
Cale shook him desperately. 'I think I need to send him to therapy later, or maybe I’m the one who needs therapy!'
Meanwhile Dokja remained stubborn.
“If it worked, maybe I’d already be meeting my beautiful heroine right now!”
“YOU’D BE MEETING THE FUCKING GRIM REAPER!”
“My plot armor would protect me!”
“PLOT ARMOR BULLSHIT!”
They started arguing right there on the sidewalk like two complete lunatics.
Dokja accused Cale of ruining his protagonist journey.
Meanwhile, Cale was fully convinced his friend’s brain had melted from sleep deprivation and too many novels.
People nearby had started secretly recording them.
But neither of them cared enough to notice.
“…A side character like you would never understand a protagonist’s feelings!”
“SHUT UP YOUR ASS, DOKJA!”
“I was this close to becoming Demon King, Cale!”
“YOU WERE THIS CLOSE TO BECOMING A CORPSE!”
After nearly fifteen minutes of nonstop yelling—
They finally called a truce.
“…Fine.”
“…Fine.”
Both of them collapsed onto a nearby bench in exhaustion. And only then did they realize—
“…Huh.”
“…Why does this hurt?” The two of them began checking their bodies, because earlier they never felt this kind of pain. It turned out Cale’s elbow was scraped. Dokja’s knee was bleeding slightly.
“….”
“….”
They stared at each other, feeling a tickling emotion rise from their hearts, and they suddenly burst out laughing.
“Fucking hell.”
“Hahahahaha—”
But their laughter died instantly when a cold voice spoke from behind them.
“…You two.”
Both of them froze.
There Rok Soo, with his gleaming glasses, stood a few meters away holding shopping bags with a completely expressionless face.
His gaze slowly moved down to their injuries.
Then back up.
A gloomy aura immediately filled the air.
“…Hyung.”
“Cale. Explain.”
“…It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Oh really?”
Rok Soo smiled slightly.
And somehow that tiny smile was the scariest thing Cale had ever seen. Cale shuddered while also holding up his hands in the air.
“You idiots almost turned into vegetables.”
Dokja instantly lowered his head, feeling guilty.
Cale unconsciously sat up straighter.
Rok Soo, after staring at them with his stern eyes, let out a long sigh while rubbing his temple.
“All this.”
He pointed at them. His eyes twitched behind his glasses, which looked vicious now.
“Over a novel, correct?"
“….”
“….”
“And you.”
He pointed at Dokja. His eyes looked at those obvious eyebags. He curtly said,
“Go sleep.”
Dokja laughed awkwardly.
“Haha…”
“You look like a zombie.”
Cale burst out laughing immediately, feeling somewhat better at his friend's misfortune.
“PFFT—HAHAHAHAHA—”
But his laughter died the moment Rok Soo looked at him.
“And you.”
“…Yeah?”
“Stop enabling stupidity.”
“….”
Cale quietly looked away.
“…It’s hard when it’s him.”
Dokja immediately protested.
“Hey! This is discrimination against protagonists!”
“Oh shut up. You are not even a protagonist!”
“Both of you, shut up.”
Rok Soo’s stern gaze fell on them once again. He then silently walked closer before pinching his dongsaeng’s cheek. He was still frowning. "You are grounded for 1 month."
"WHAAA? Ouch ouch, hyung! Don't pinch so hard!! I understand, I understand!"
Dokja looked at his friend with that kind smile which looked more like a scammer smile and was very similar to Rok Soo’s and Alberu’s smiles. Which only made Cale more annoyed.
And that was how their day ended.
Truly a peaceful holiday.