Work Text:
It was quiet.
Kim Hajin sat on the small grassy hill overlooking the calm waters of the lake. His eyes were looking at nothing in particular as his thoughts spiraled endlessly.
It was his birthday today. For a couple more minutes.
Not a single person here wished him a happy birthday. No one even knew about it.
If this was his original world… he’d be celebrating his birthday across several days. First to get drinks with his army buddies, then to grab a catch-up dinner with his school friends, and lastly to visit his parents and younger siblings for a full tablespread of his favorite dishes. He could easily remember the previous birthdays he spent with them, amidst bright laughter, cakes, balloons, gifts, and birthday songs.
But now it was quiet.
Too quiet.
He felt so unbearably and utterly alone here. He wanted to return to that warmth.
Was time flowing in his original world as well? How were his friends and family doing? Did they know about his disappearance? Were they worried about him?
“I want to see them…”
Tears started spilling from his eyes. Before long, the silence was filled with his quiet sobs and hiccups.
He had tried his best to adjust to this world over the past few weeks, throwing his all into getting stronger and surviving, but today he finally felt the full weight of homesickness crush him.
Tap... tap…
Kim Hajin flinched when he heard soft footsteps on the grass and hid his face in his arms. He didn’t know who it was, but he hoped they would leave once they saw someone was already at the lake.
Contrary to his hopes, however, the footsteps stopped right next to him.
“Hajin?” The voice called out softly. “You’re Kim Hajin, right?”
“...”
Kim Hajin recognized that clear, youthful voice easily. It was Kim Suho.
“Are you okay, Hajin?”
“Just leave me alone.”
Embarrassingly, his voice was was hoarse and tear-stained.
“I can’t leave someone who’s crying alone," Kim Suho said as he settled down beside Kim Hajin.
“True, it’s not in your personality to do so,” Kim Hajin agreed with a self-pitying smile twisting his lips.
It was embarrassing to be seen crying like this by someone else. Kim Hajin was glad it was dark where they were, illuminated by only the faintest of light by the crescent moon hanging above them.
“What’s wrong, Hajin? Is something troubling you?”
“It’s stupid,” Kim Hajin admitted.
“No, it’s not.”
“You haven’t heard what it is yet,” Kim Hajin protested. He turned to Kim Suho and paused.
Kim Suho was patiently waiting for Hajin to open up without a single hint of judgment on his face. His gaze was full of tender kindness. Somehow, the look in his eyes made Kim Hajin start speaking.
“...My birthday just ended and no one celebrated it with me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Kim Suho said sincerely, “I’ll celebrate it with you from now on.”
Kim Hajin didn’t know how to respond to that. He felt touched, but also awkward at the same time. There were butterflies in his stomach after hearing such a cool line. “You should use such lines on cute girls instead of guys like me.”
“Is there a difference in saying that to a cute girl compared to a cute guy?” Kim Suho asked in confusion.
A cute guy? Startled, Kim Hajin asked, "Huh?"
Surprised by his surprise, Kim Suho also repeated, "Huh?"
The bewilderment of the situation completely wiped away any feelings of loneliness or desperation in Kim Hajin.
This kind of scene between two guys would never be seen in the original novel he wrote, where Kim Suho was surrounded by multiple outstanding girls for his harem. But it made sense for Kim Suho to not differ in his attitude towards different genders. After all, he was the most handsome, gentle, and kind protagonist to ever exist. He would be nice to everyone, including a selfish person like Kim Hajin.
How did he feel back then, designing such a character?
Perhaps he had wanted a person like Kim Suho to exist in South Korea.
Perhaps he had wanted a friend like Kim Suho.
And now here he was, interacting with the very character he had created.
“Pfft…” A chuckle of disbelief slipped out of Kim Hajin’s lips until it developed into full-blown laughter. He wiped the corners of his reddened eyes but his eyes still glimmered with a sheen of tears as he told Kim Suho, "Seriously… you're such a character."
Kim Suho smiled when he saw Kim Hajin laugh. “Is that a good thing?"
“Of course. You’re my favorite character.”
“H-huh?”
Kim Hajin flinched. Shit. He messed up. “No, I mean! I just think you’re a good person!”
“Ah…” Kim Suho covered the lower part of his face with a hand. It was too dark to see if he was blushing or not, but his voice was audibly flustered. “I think you’re a good person too, Hajin.”
“...” It felt too awkward to continue staying here. Kim Hajin cleared his throat with a light cough. “I’ll be heading back to the dorms.”
“Ah… yes! Have a good night and rest well!”
“...Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure what he was thanking Kim Suho for, but it just felt right to say.
“Of course! I’ll offer you a listening ear anytime, Hajin.”
Again with words like that. Kim Hajin laughed to himself as he walked away. “Seriously… What a natural flirt.”