Chapter Text
Kim Dokja looked down at the phone again. He gazed at the bright screen, seemingly burning a hole in the mobile device. It was a bad habit.
The sound of the subway seemed to come from under the water column, from time to time, completely ceased to exist.
Plunging into the text, he completely forgets about the world around him, when a variety of actions unfold around him, the book seemed to suck him into its world, forcing him to lose touch with reality. The developed imagination did its job in the best way, drawing vivid pictures in front of his eyes. Sometimes he could stare at the touch screen for hours without moving, while a variety of emotions would flaunt on his face.
That's his hobby. He is a reader.
Coming back from work, it was also his relaxation - to feel how the story unfolds before him.
“Hey, Dokja-hyung, what are you reading?”
True, it is only necessary for someone to distract him and the world of words that enveloped him completely and completely, mercilessly spat out like a foreign body.
The man turns his gaze to the child and breaks into a sweet smile.
Today they drove home together, tired from a long day loaded with various worries.
“Are you interested?” He replies with a question to a question, waiting for Gilyoung's inspired reaction.
“Sure!” The boy exclaims. “If Dokja-hyung is reading this, it can't be bad!”
“The smile on the man's face only grew wider.”
“This is Han Sooyoung's new novel.” the man looks away, mixing again in the lines. “She sent it to me for processing. If you want, I can give you a read too.”
The boy nods vigorously and Kim hands him her phone. Lee's eyes sparkle more than usual, representing his admiration, which was due either to the fact that he was holding Hyung's mobile in his hands, or because he was in anticipation of reading Sooyoung's writings. For some reason, Dokja was leaning towards the first option, noting that the second one sounds too incredible.
The man just continued to watch the child and smile softly.
Working at Mino Soft took a lot of energy. But he never felt sorry for them, squeezing out the last juices from himself. His contract should end very soon, the extension of which is too unlikely, but Kim Dokja still gave all the best. Once you leave, you should proudly raise your head and look only ahead, especially when his life is getting better and ceases to seem as miserable as before.
He is already looking for a job that would suit his taste, but also generate income.
This is the least of what he was capable of now.
His hands, woven into the lock, tensed noticeably.
Especially if he wants to protect the smiles of his friends.
A thought rushes through his thoughts:
"I wish he saw them too."
Then Dokja involuntarily shudders.
***
Jung Heewon seemed like a mom among these kids. She was holding a plate of salad in her hand and chewing food, looked at the unfolding skirmish, not daring to interfere with it herself. She knew for sure that it would be a waste of time and nerves.
“How can you not understand, stupid Dokja!”
“No! I'm telling you once again! Those six "S" letters will not attract readers! On the contrary, it sounds very silly!”
“Of course! You are our reader, you know better!”
“Who asked me to give my opinion about the book?!”
“I did not ask to find fault with the name!”
“Hey guys…” Yoo Sangah looked lost, trying to calm her comrades. “I think you shouldn't swear so hard... The children are already asleep.”
Kim Dokja stumbled with his opinion. He knew that arguing with her was a lost cause, so when his colleague gave him another reason to be humble, he finally ended the argument with a heavy sigh and gave up.
Sooyoung smiled cheekily, reveling in the victory. She took a can of beer from the table, while continuing to stare triumphantly at the man in front of her, as if taunting, and took a few sips of the alcoholic beverage.
“Since you've all calmed down at last, can I say a toast?” Heewon cleared her throat into a fist before smiling. Lee Hyunsung followed suit. Within a few minutes, the tension created by the recent skirmish dissipated as if it had never existed.
This was what made Kim Dokja feel happy. See the smiles on the faces of your comrades, and understand that they looked just as happy as he did; feel warmth in his chest only from the awareness of the lightness that reigned between him.
That’s right. They are gathered here to celebrate something.
“No matter how boring Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung are...”
“Hey! What did I do?!”
“I would like Yoo Sangah to be glad that we are here. It seems as if we all met a year ago to get together like this and spend time together. I don't know why, but ...” Her eyes were noticeably sad. “for some reason, I have a feeling that we have known each other much longer, really. When I first met you and Dokja at the station, I felt as if we had not seen each other for a long time, and I was sincerely glad to meet you! I was then seized by the thought: "How cool that we are together again!" I understand that this sounds stupid, because we have never met before, but this thrill spreads in me every time I see what we were trying for”
The faces of the people at that moment looked just as understanding. They were sincerely happy with the girl's monologue.
But Dokja quietly held his breath, widening his eyes in surprise.
“Eh? What suddenly is it with me?…” She immediately hesitated, realizing that she was talking some kind of nonsense, but then she smiled her old smile. “Well, anyway, happy birthday to you, Yoo Sangah!”
The birthday girl accepted congratulations with curved lips on her face in the same happy smile.
Everyone raised their glasses into the air, saying with a loud sound:
“Cheers!”
Kim tightened his grip on the alcoholic beverage as he watched the waves emanating from the glass.
They all sparkled with happiness. So why doesn't he feel like this now? ..
***
Sitting in his room, he thought.
Kim Dokja, by nature, thinks too much.
Often he reflects on the books he read, and even more often on how they make him feel. But lately, he only thought about Heewon's words.
And the more he thinks, the more his head starts to hurt.
“You can't.”
Sometimes his own brain even starts to scare him.
But he strains his convolutions to the last.
“You don't need to know.”
But KIm Dokja wants to know. He just wants to understand why his chest is so tight. He tries to find out the reason for this déjà vu that he experiences from time to time. He needs an answer.
His head ached so badly that the man with a painful sigh sprawled helplessly on his bed.
“Just live your life, damn Kim Dokja.”