Chapter Text
Walls. Countless shelves filled with books, endless writing contained in those very books, memories that the author engraves into those stories, the imagination and creativity flowing into what becomes a story. A writer makes up the story that is filled with their creativity, but the reader is who the book is written for, the one who gets the most enjoyment out of the book. Observing and relating to the characters constructed and drawn, described with each word.
For all his life, Kim Tae-Hyuk was a loner. Social anxiety never made it easy. He never remembered when his life became so miserable when he turned 15, but one thing was for sure. Fate was against him. Always against him. Reading was like an escape. Where he could block out all that negativity, and clear his mind, as he focused on non-fiction rather than reality.
Often more times than not, he found himself thinking about these so-called ‘characters’ that had been created by imagination and creativity…were they really just characters? When they had so much thought and personality, traits, and time spent making them? Sure. They don’t exist. Imaginary to use for the purposes of the plot, but emotions can’t help but flow out, sorrow over a death, or sadness for when misfortunate happens to the ‘character’. Happiness when the ‘character’ experiences joy, One can’t help but sympathize and love the characters in the book someone reads. That’s what Kim Tae-Hyuk thought and felt at least. He never saw them as ‘characters’, he saw them as people. And he would do anything for those very people that he grew to love.
Those very characters that he had grown to love were from a webnovel he read, Omniscient reader’s Viewpoint. It was a popular novel, so much so that the famous movie company, Star System was making a movie, or long episode shows for the novel. Many fans were very excited, but at the same time there were those who were doubtful, considering Omniscient readers' viewpoint of a long plot containing 551 total chapters, and that they could never finish the book. The screen light of the phone illuminated his face as he reread the information. The screen light was the only thing illuminating the dark room besides the moonlight shining through one of the windows, curtains open. Bright red neon letters were displayed his alarm clock, sitting on his dresser reading, 3:48 am.
He lets out a tired sigh and falls back onto his bed, the soft mattress enveloping his body, as he gets under the comforters and opens his phone, resuming to read his webnovel, ignoring the feeling and need to yawn. His eyes slowly drift closed as he struggles to keep his eyes open, slight tears forming in his eyes from the tiredness, and the many sleepless nights before, as he barely registers the fact that he fell asleep, his phone still on and in his hand, forgotten as he sleeps and the night falls and soon turns to day.
-
Beep-beep-beep
The familiar sound of Kim Tae-Hyuks alarm clock sounded, unpleasantly repeating the same tone again and again. He grumbles, sitting up and hitting the snooze button as he sits up and rubs his eyes, glancing over at the illuminated numbers that read out the time. 6:40 am. Faint light seeped through the open curtains signifying morning.
Kim Tae-Hyuk slowly stood up, as he walked over to the curtains, his hands grasping each end of the curtains as he pulled them back, exposing the outside world, as light beams through the window. He grabbed his phone off the bedside table, and turned it on. The white screen stared back at him displaying the time as he entered his password, 5149. The same home screen picture was set as he glances at it for a moment, before sighing and turning off the phone, as he heads down to the kitchen to eat.
-
He was about to put his food in the microwave, hands holding his food, in the middle of walking over to the microwave, when he got an incoming call from his friend, Soo-Hanyoung. He jumps a little in surprise, but sets the food down, as his hands glide over the phone, swiping the green call button. Putting the phone to his ear, he resumed his work in heating up his food, picking it back up and placing it into the microwave as he closed the door to the microwave, and entered in the time 2:30.
A loud energetic voice on the other side starts talking, or more like yelling before he could say anything.
”Kim Tae-Hyuk! Where were you yesterday? You texted that you would come and join us as our usual gathering place at First Murim, but you never came! Don't tell me where you end up reading your trashy novels again?”-Hanyoung yells through the phone, frowning, disappointment evident in her tone.
“Ah, sorry, sorry, I lost track of time, and I had something I needed to do...and on the contrary, the novels I read are not trashy. More like the ones you write are the trashy ones. Really? Overpowerd Tyrant King Reborn as the Crown Prince of the opposing country? What kind of title is that?” Kim Tae-Hyuk mutters, as he shakes his head in distaste.
“A good title, thank you very much, hmph your taste just sucks. Just like you.” Soo-Hanyoung counters, as she pouts slightly. She bounces back quickly, as her energetic energy comes back.
“Anyway! Are you going to the event for Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint? I heard anyone could go, you talk about it all the time and your eyes light up whenever ORV is mentioned..you should try out for one of the roles. I think you're very suitable for Kim-Dokja, Being a idiot squid, and not looking out for your health..seriously Tae, Convenience store food? Even I can do better than that.” Hanyoung exclaimed, the words teasing, but there was a hint of underlying worry as she spoke.
“Ah..Well…” Kim Tae-Hyuk gets interrupted by the beeping sound of the microwave going off, as he opens the door, and takes out the hot food carefully. Instant ramen, of course. he closed the microwave door gently as he speaks in response to Hanyoung’s comment.
“I'm not dead yet, and it's not my fault I got so invested into the plot of the book. As for the event..I might go, It will be cool to see the roles of who will cast for which ‘character’, but no way in hell am I trying out for one of the roles, and definitely not one of the main characters like Kim Dokja.” He grabbing chopsticks from one of the draws, as he started to eat.
“Well you should at least go to the event. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” Soo-Hanyoung comments. Kim Tae-Hyuk just hums in response.
———————-
The lobby to the try out area was packed with different kinds of people from different countries all gathered here to participate in trying to get a role for the movie of ORV. Kim Tae-Hyuk couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed at the sight of such a crowd, as he navigated his way through the lobby. The sea of people only seemed to grow, as Kim Tae-hyuk was getting overwhelmed. If only he could make it to the door- His body comes in contact with someone as the force pushes them both to the ground.
Kim Tae-Hyuk rubs his head in confusion before standing up, and looking down at a 23 year old male not noticing the sign he had dropped, who was on the ground. Panicking, He quickly heald out his hand and was about to apologize, but the man just scoffed, and stood up, facing Kim Tae-Hyuk. “Watch where you're going.” The man says as he then walks off, obviously annoyed. Kim Tae-Hyuk just stares at the ground and then to the man now not in sight, gone and now in the massive sea of people in the lobby. He then looks down again, noticing a sign with the numbers 1864, as he picks it up.
A few moments later, two people come out from a room on the top floor. The first guy looked sad, and slumped down, as he made his way to the exit, climbing down the stairs and out the door, sighing. He mostly got rejected by the Star System, and did not get the role, as some of the main Star Stream representatives were rumored to be brutally honest. The man standing outside of the door had white wavy hair, short, and going down to the neck. He had red eyes, and was wearing a black suit as he glances at a clipboard with a piece of paper on it, before clapping, twice getting everyone's attention, as the room goes quiet as he then calls out a number.
“1864?” The man calls out, his eyes scanning the crown before landing on Kim Tae-Hyuk, as they make eye contact.
Everyone turns to look at him, as he looks around and then down at his sign. The numbers 1864 where engraved in the sign. He was about to protest, but it was useless, as one of the managers grab his arm and bring him up to the Man in the suit.
“Ah..you look a little different than the file we were given, but thats okay…” The man mutters, looking Kim Tae-Hyuk up and down before nodding.
“I am Yungbi, one of the lead directors of the movie for ORV, and one of the higher ups for Star Stream. come with me. The others are waiting, and you don't want to get Paul angry. He's been quite stubborn as of late….” Yungbi mutters smirking slightly. Before Kim Tae-Hyuk can reject the offer and clear up the misunderstanding, Yungbi takes him into a room, where six other people sat behind a large table covered in black cloak, as there was a blank area in front of the table, and some boxes with props scattered around on the sides.
Kim Tae-Hyuk just stands there speechless still trying to possess what just happened. Everything went by so quick…
”So. On your file, it shows you are trying out for the main lead role Kim Dokja?” Yungbi’s voice snaps him out of his thoughts, as he meekly nods not really knowing what he was agreeing to.
“Alright then, show us your best acting.” One of the other people sitting in one of the chairs says, as Kim Tae-Hyuk takes a deep breath, and regrets his decision of nodding, as he starts to panic slightly. He did not want the role in reality. It would be too much attention, and he was already busy with other things..but being able to make his favorite novel become a reality?..Kim Tae-Hyuk calms his mind as he looks at the six main members of the Star System, now accompanied by Yongbi. All eyes were on him, as he focused, and tried to think about a scene to act out. His mind is immediately drawn to the 10th scenario or, The 73rd Demon King.
He walks over to the props as he picks up a prop sword that had its tip cut off, so when placed on one's stomach, it looked like the sword actually stabbed through them without having the person actually be stabbed. He takes the sword and pushes it against his stomach, as he mimics being stabbed, as he laughs bitterly, and acts like he is coughing up blood, as he chuckles slightly, and collapses against the ground. He can imagine Joonghyuk looking up at him with hidden panic and worry as Kim Tae-Hyuk smiles at Joonghyuk like he was really there. Kim Tae-Hyuk looks down at the sword slowly, and then looks back up at the Imaginary Joonghyuk, pretending to cup his cheek as he lets out strained words, as he acts like the sword was pushed deeper into his chest, letting out another fake cough of blood
“…It was a really great story…isn't that right?” He says, as he feels the emotions Kim Dokja had felt in those very moments. Fear, sadness, despair, but happiness that his companions were going to be okay. He looks up at the imaginary Yoo Joonghyuk.
“Let’s meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.” he says with raw emotion, sadness, as slight tears fall. He remembers the scene in the book, the fear in Joonghyuks eyes, and the sadness and loneliness in Kim Dokja. Just like the book, as he acts out the imaginary Joonghyuk grabbing him by the neck. He could imagine the words being yelled out with desperation, ‘Kim Dokja! No! Kim Dokja!” He then acts passed out as he slums to the floor, and lays there. A minute later he stands back up, and holds the sword prop in his hand, as he quickly puts the prop back, as he waits for the judgement of the Star Stream Company.