Chapter Text
Kim Dokja makes her way to her usual seat on the subway, phone in hand, opening the web-novel app while doing so. However, when she reaches her usual seat, she is lightly taken aback to see someone already in it.
A woman approximately her age sits there, phone in-hand. Dark locks of lightly wavy hair gently cascade down the woman's shoulders and reach slightly below her diaphragm. Obscuring the woman's visage is a black mask and cap, but Kim Dokja can make out sharp cat-like eyes in shadow, glaring down at the screen in-hand. Overall, the woman radiates a strong sense of confidence and hostility, something that Kim Dokja has always wished she could pull off but is unlikely with her often-described dulcet features.
Anyway, Kim Dokja isn’t bothered by the fact that her favorite seat was taken; that happens a lot already. What is bothersome though is that this woman strikes her as rich (judging by her obvious quality apparel).
Now, Kim Dokja has nothing against the rich, however, she does admit it’s somewhat uncharacteristic of someone that obviously owns a car to take the overly crowded subway. But hey, one less car on the driveway reduces the chances of a car incident. Or, even better, slows down global warming to a very miniscule extent.
Kim Dokja looks around for another seat, but unfortunately, all the other seats are preoccupied. So, she takes hold of a nearby vertical metal pole, uncomfortably cushioned in-between two men, and settles herself into her usual routine she finds herself in everyday as she heads home from work: reading her favorite web-novel.
The subway rolls into motion moments later and after a few minutes, the usual bumps rock the subway up and down and the accustomed Kim Dokja braces herself.
At one point, the subway rocks violently and Kim Dokja bumps into one of the men beside her, who casts her a reproachful look. However, Kim Dokja's attention has now been directed to somewhere else. To be exact, to the phone that has fallen on the floor and has slid in between a jumble of feet.
And before she can stop herself, Kim Dokja excuses herself through the multitude of people (which earns her a few nasty looks) and picks up the still-on phone. She then makes her way back to the seated dark-haired woman with the cap who had lost it moments earlier.
"Here you go" Kim Dokja offers politely while offering the phone back.
The woman stares for a few moments, clearly taken aback, but takes the phone back anyway.
She nods at Kim Dokja, but doesn’t lift her head. “Thank you.” she says flatly.
Kim Dokja bows her head in return. “No worries. I too lost my phone my first time here, but after a while you get used to the bumps.”
To this reply, the woman raises an eyebrow from below her cap, making her look even more menacing.
‘Flip--why did I say that? Now I’ve implied that I noticed she hasn’t been on this subway before.’
“Ah, I-I meant, I mean, I didn’t mean to imply that you were “new" Eh....” Kim Dokja stutters. God, she's terrible at small talk.
“By the way, I noticed that you had the web-novel omniscient readers’ perspective pulled up on your phone.” she adds hastily, and at this, both eyebrows of the woman rise.
Kim Dokja bows her head down quickly. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to overlook, but I actually read it too.” and as she says this, she fumbles at the pockets of her office blazer and takes out her own phone and switches it on, the screen facing the seated woman.
On-screen, it reads ‘Omniscient Readers’ Perspective by tls123’ in gold lettering tainted by ivory lighting.
The woman narrows her eyes at the screen before her but remains silent.
She simply nods in acknowledgment and continues to look at Kim Dokja almost expectantly.
Kim Dokja’s hand falters and she lowers her phone, her confidence having been drained.
To be sincere, she isn’t the type of person to usually initiate small talk like this with anyone. But the thought of chatting with a fellow reader about her favorite web-novel happened to fill her with renewed confidence. However, it was not reciprocated as hoped.
“Anyway, well, have a good afternoon.” Kim Dokja says rather downcast and makes to step away, bowing once more.
With her back now facing the woman, she takes only three steps to the left when she hears the woman’s voice behind her.
“My favorite character is the Demon King of Salvation.”
Kim Dokja stops in her tracks and turns to look behind her slowly, doubting her very ears.
The woman is staring at her, having lifted her head properly for the first time. And for a fleeting moment, Kim Dokja thinks that the woman doesn’t look nearly as mean as before.
With a smile, Kim Dokja makes her way back.
She pauses just a few feet from the seated woman, reaching above with one hand onto a hanging strap and clings onto it.
Then, while facing the woman, she says in her fondest voice, “my favorite character is the Supreme King.”
-
And so, time passes by in a blur while they chat back and forth about the web-novel (it was mostly Kim Dokja talking and the woman listening).
And every now and then, to Kim Dokja’s surprise, she finds herself laughing. It had been a while since she'd had such a fun conversation before; mostly because she knows very few people who can take the time to listen to her ramble on about her interests.
Throughout their conversation Kim Dokja also came to realize that this woman wasn’t as indifferent as she thought her to be. Instead, Kim Dokja figures that this woman just doesn’t feel the need to say as much and prefers to just listen; justifying their earlier interaction.
It's nice, at the very least.
And so, while Kim Dokja is in the middle of explaining why the Supreme King deserves to have his happy ending with the Demon King of Salvation, the automated masculine voice rings out throughout the subway to signify Kim Dokja’s stop.
She looks up with a disappointed expression to which the woman realizes it as well and looks up too. The subway screeches to a halt.
“I--well, I guess that’s my stop.” Kim Dokja smiles softly while awkwardly wrapping her hands around the shoulder strap of her purse.
The woman simply nods, also at a loss of words for their departure.
When a moment of a silence passes, Kim Dokja makes to say something else, but as soon as she does, the subway doors slide open and people start pouring out, dragging her with them.
She pokes her head out in the multitude of people, and within a small scan she spots the distant head of the woman who is peering out as well.
Kim Dokja smiles and waves out to her cheerfully, to which the woman also waves except a little less cheerfully. The woman then shouts something to her, but Kim Dokja cannot hear her amid the sounds of the bustle of people around her.
She tries to turn back but is dragged out of the subway along with everyone else.
The subway doors swiftly close in front of her and with a huff, the subway rolls forward and disappears within a horizontal blur of windowpanes.
Kim Dokja stands there for a bit, uncertain of what to do.
Then, after a moment in realization of her surroundings, she slowly begins to walk away and trudges her way back to her apartment. All the while a sense of disappointment eats away at her insides.
--
When she reaches the doorstep to her apartment, she isn’t surprised when she comes across Han Sooyoung stretched lazily across her doormat, sucking on a lollipop.
He's wearing his usual purple hoodie, his features (especially the beauty mark beneath his right eye) are brightened by the soft blue glow of his phone to which he is typing away furiously at.
He looks up to see Kim Dokja approaching him and cracks a smile. “Well, well, well, look who’s here—welcome home! I warmed up your doorstep nice and warm for ya, just the way you like it--By the way, why do you look like you witnessed an ice-cream truck drive into an abyss?”
Han Sooyoung steps aside as Kim Dokja drives a key into the keyhole and jams open the door to her apartment.
“Good evening to you too. Also, I don’t want to talk about it.” Kim Dokja says flatly as she flicks the light switch on.
She tosses her purse aside and lets herself collapse onto the surface of the thin mattress of what she proclaims to be her bed.
Han Sooyoung steps inside after her and carefully makes his way to the side of her bed and sits down.
“Did that annoying head department—what’s her name--Han Myungoh give you a hard time again? If so, Me and Yoo Sangah can take her head on and-”
“No.” Kim Dokja replies sulkily, cutting him off. Her voice comes out muffled against the mattress so instead a “Mooh” comes out.
“Well, did a good-for-nothing old guy harass you on the subway then? Just describe him to me and I’ll find his address and commit arson on his house with him in it.” Han Sooyoung says boldly.
At this statement, Kim Dokja sits up. “You’re a writer, Han Sooyoung. I highly doubt you’re in contact with a skip tracer.”
Han Sooyoung shrugs. “Who knows. Maybe I am or maybe I’m not. Either way, you’re going to tell me what happened or else we’ll be here all night long” and this time, his voice no longer sounds facetious.
Kim Dokja stares at him for a moment and ponders, wondering if she should tell him, but in the end, decides Han Sooyoung will find out sooner or later; so, it’s best to just say it from her own mouth.
And so, she starts from the beginning. From the part when she spotted the title of the web-novel on the screen of the fallen phone, to the point where she didn’t get to hear what the woman said to her last before departing.
When she reaches the end of her tale, she finds Han Sooyoung smiling. “What?” she asks, suddenly feeling regretful telling him all this.
“I can tell you really enjoyed hanging out with that woman.” He says fondly. “And don’t get your hopes down just yet. I’m sure you’ll get to see her again. And if not, there’s always that hitman I can ring up” he adds with a grin.
Kim Dokja looks at him while trying her best to remain expressionless, but instead her lips break into a smile.
“Yeah.”
- --
That night, Kim Dokja dreams about the dark-haired woman on the subway being a CIA agent, and together, they perform arson on head department Han Myungoh’s house.
It was a nice dream.
- --
The next morning, Kim Dokja wakes up drowsily as usual. However, her morning routine doesn’t feel as dragging as before. She even tries on her favorite blouse (technically the only slightly more well-fitted clothing she has in her closet), which she only ever spares for when she visits her father in prison.
And, when she makes her way to the subway, she isn’t as late as she normally is.
When she gets on, subconsciously, she glances at each woman she can view in her range of vision. But of course, the woman from yesterday isn’t there. However, she doesn’t let that small detail get in the way of her excitement over the prospect of a new friend.
And so, once she arrives to work and heads into the Mino Soft building, there is a small skip within each step she takes.
-
When she enters the depressed building of her office job, Kim Dokja makes her way into her department and heads into the break room where Yoo Sangah, her co-worker and friend, is perched beside the coffee area, sipping on a cup of coffee while (most likely) reading on his phone.
He looks up when he hears Kim Dokja walk in and beams at her. “Good morning, Dokja-ssi. I take it you slept well?” he says while handing her a cup of coffee.
“What makes you say that?” Kim Dokja asks before taking a sip of her own coffee.
“Hmm.... I’d have to say it’s because of how excited you look.” Yoo Sangah then gasps dramatically before adding, “perhaps Dokja-ssi has a date after work?”
At this statement, Kim Dokja gags on her coffee to which Yoo Sangah must pat her gingerly on the back a few times before she can speak again.
“I--no. Of course not.” Kim Dokja adds an awkward laugh, “I’m not yet cut out for that type of stuff. But, yes, I am just a teeny bit excited for after work, you see.”
She pauses to smile a little.
“After work yesterday, I met a woman. And guess what? She reads Han Sooyoung’s web-novel too! And we had a nice chat about it and-” Kim Dokja goes on to ramble once again about the interaction and by the time she finishes speaking, Yoo Sangah is smiling at her strangely.
“What?”
Yoo Sangah lets out a small kind-hearted laugh before replying, “I can tell that woman made your afternoon.”
Kim Dokja nods and smiles, feeling a bit strange that this response has happened twice already. Or maybe Han Sooyoung and Yoo Sangah were more connected than she thought.
“Anyway, enough about me. How is Sangah-ssi doing these days?” Kim Dokja asks.
Yoo Sangah’s smile falters. “So-so. Myungoh tasked me with planning out that famous pro-gamer YJH’s schedule for the whole week.” Yoo Sangah sighs before continuing. “That woman never seems to catch a break. She barely manages to get a few hours to herself at noon before she must stream again. Tch.”
Kim Dokja stares blankly at him. “YJH? Who....” Kim Dokja tries to recall all the pro gamer names and faces she’s been forced to remember, but this time, she cannot pinpoint who this so-called famous pro gamer is—let alone what they look like.
Yoo Sangah looks at her in astonishment, “YJH? Are you kidding? -- hold on.” He sets down his coffee and begins scrolling urgently on his phone. He then shoves his phone to Kim Dokja.
“This is YJH.”
On-screen, a video depicts what Kim Dokja assumes is a video-game tournament stage. On stage, neon lights illuminate a handful of what appear to be competitors.
A feminine host’s voice echoes loudly, “” Now, presenting... the undefeated YJH! -- the punisher...!"”
Loud screaming ensues immediately and on-stage a figure makes an appearance.
Kim Dokja squints, the video quality diminishing due to the excess movement of the camera.
A woman ascends onto the stage, each of her steps poised and self-assured. Her dark, lightly wavy hair bouncing with each step.
Like the rest of her teammates, she’s wearing a black polo shirt with neon green accents, which ultimately favors the woman's slender muscular build.
The woman pauses at the center of the stage and faces the audience, her face now illuminated in ivory light.
She cocks her head up, revealing a sharp set of dark obsidian eyes. A wispy thick strand of dark wavy hair lands between her eyes, adding to her rather hostile look.
The woman glares ahead of her for a few more moments before bowing.
At this point, the audience is losing it as they burst into chaotic fangirl screams. “Welcome! to Yoo Jo-”
The booming feminine voice is cut off. The video ends.
Kim Dokja raises an eyebrow to Yoo Sangah, “wow” is all she can say.
“I know. Apparently, she has such a large fan base that she even gets fanfiction made of her.” Yoo Sangah shudders. “But with such fans, there’s always a few stalkers in between --- you remember blinky?”
“Blinky? You mean that perverted university student who gifted a woman celebrity a teddy bear that contained a hidden camera in it? -- yeah, I remember.”
Kim Dokja grimaces, remembering the disgust she first felt when she heard about it on the news. Her department was in a fuzz about it for a whole week.
Apparently, the little brother of the woman who was gifted the teddy bear had felt strangely like he was being watched. And so, after a thorough search around the boy's bedroom, the older sister noticed that one of the eyes of the gifted teddy bear had a small red blinking light.
And so, the woman ripped open the teddy bear herself and to her horror, found a camera inside.
She called the police, insisting the perpetrator be caught and allegedly, she even began arguing with one of the police officers in a terrible fury that she had to be asked to calm down repeatedly.
In the end, in under a week, they captured the perpetrator who turned out to be a university student who had over one hundred tapes of recording material of the little brother in his apartment.
He was proven guilty in court and was sentenced to over three decades in prison.
Allegedly, the older sister (woman) while testifying in court had to be restrained by four police officers when she tried to beat up the convicted student.
In the end, overall, it was a disgusting case.
Yoo Sangah nods. “Well, blinky was the stalker of YJH. Since then, she no longer accepts gifts from her fans and has gone as far as placing security cameras around her house and has a bodyguard now.”
Yoo Sangah stays silent for a moment before continuing.
“To be honest, I found out about the cameras myself, you see. Since I’m planning her schedule, I got to visit her house.”
Yoo Sangah's expression turns from something solemn to something annoyed.
“The media portrays her as this narcissistic woman has no respect to anyone. But from the way I've seen her, she’s just someone who has gone through too much already and can’t find it in herself to open up to anyone anymore -- I wish they’d give her a break.”
Yoo Sangah stays silent for a long time before looking up to find Kim Dokja staring at the coffee table, cup-in-hand, her fingers slightly shaking.
"Dokja-ssi...?"
Kim Dokja is staring at Yoo Sangah’s phone; specifically, at the end frame of the video that displays YJH’s face.
---
By the end of the workday, Kim Dokja is exhausted, having been overworked by Han Myungoh as always.
She heads to the subway at an even pace, taking her time to practice poised steps as she’s seen in commercials of women’s deodorant.
When she enters the subway, as routine, she pulls out her phone and opens the web-novel app.
She heads to her usual seat and sits down.
Upon sitting, she then turns to the dark wavy-haired woman to the left of her, who is looking at her phone intently, and taps her shoulder lightly.
The woman flinches and turns to look at her with a sharp set of obsidian eyes.
Her eyes then widen in recognition as she stares at Kim Dokja, who is beaming at her.
--