Work Text:
Time passed by fleetingly, the chaos caused by the scenarios were slowly getting better overtime. It led to a fresh new start for all.
7:45 AM—Kim Dokja was slightly running late for work. The cycles of his life were beginning to return back to its old routine, and he slowly got used to it.
But enough of that; today’s date is highlighted as a special day.
The 15th of February—his birthday, where he’d officially be welcoming his new age! And yet he still wanted to diligently work despite of it being a notable moment for him. Shouldn’t people normally ask for a day’s leave?
Either way, the day went so well that even workmates began greeting him individually. The feeling of it was nice, but he also wanted to hear their greetings coming from particular people.
The thought of his birthday definitely made him wonder if his fellow companions would fix up even a simple surprise for him. If they did, what would it honestly be?
Languidly paced, time continuously flowed. Being portrayed on the wall clock, it had already struck 1 PM.
2 PM—He was handling a stack of paperwork.
4:30 PM—He was helping others with trifling affairs.
5 PM—He began packing up his belongings for leave.
The day went agonizingly slow, but perhaps worth it?
“I’ll be leaving now.” Kim Dokja announced with a small bow. His co-workers nodded and exchanged brief smiles with him as he made his way to the exit.
Walking out of the company, he gazes to his right. The shared industrial complex wasn’t that far; and living in a huge home with his loved ones slowly became a fond, enjoyable idea. Although a part of him regretted taking on another job after all of what had happened, it was a little worthwhile.
Stepping in front of home after commuting, Kim Dokja pays close mind to his surroundings. There was a small sticky note placed on the door’s surface, just above the knob.
The following was written:
Dear Kim Dokja,
Sorry that we can’t attend your birthday today! Something important happened and we’re so sorry that we can’t come!! Really really sorry again!! As a compensation, please partake in some of the dishes we made in preparation!
- From: Sangah and everyone ♡︎!
As he kept reading, Kim Dokja felt a little letdown when he scanned the note’s contents. Perhaps he had been too expectant.
Twisting the doorknob, darkness of their home meets him; the quietness of it engulfing him. How he wishes that the silence faced in front of him were the loud cheers of the people he wanted to have there instead. Moving inside, a sigh escapes his mouth as he continues forward.
Freezing in place for a brief moment, a peculiar noise enters his ears.
Footsteps?
The noise draws nearer.
To his surprise, a person suddenly hugs him from behind; accompanied by the blinding brightness of the lights being turned on. As if in unison, both confetti and the shouts of people greet him. “Happy Birthday, Kim Dokja!”
Standing before him were the people that he had come to love, smiling happily.
Shin Yoosung, Yoo Joonghyuk, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, Lee Jihye, Jang Hayoung... And even Lee Seolhwa, Gong Pildu, and Yoo Mia were there.
But, where was Han Sooyoung?
“Happy Birthday, chuuni.” The figure that had still been clinging onto him mumbled in a soft yet prideful voice.
Ah.
Turning around, he returns back the warmth of her embrace. The exchanged grips were tight; it was as if they didn’t want to be separated from each other.
Letting go for a brief moment, Han Sooyoung catches a breath and points behind him. “Look at the cake we got for you; it’s vanilla.”
Gazing at it, a question leaves his lips. “Why vanilla?”
“Because it’s basic and boring,” she teased, “just like you.”
As he paid closer attention, another person approached with it in hand. Yoo Joonghyuk held out the cake with lips curved into a subtle smile, “Happy Birthday.”
With shared laughter and widening smiles, everyone began rushing towards Kim Dokja. Even party hats were placed on each individual for the event; Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon fit the job of distributing them quite well.
What a memorable scene.
. . .
[You look sad.]
Me? Sad? That shouldn’t be the case; this was clearly the ending that I had wanted.
The Fourth Wall remained by me; and we were quietly watching the lively scene just a moment ago.
[Do you regret your decisions?]
“What is there to regret? So far, I don’t think I have any.”
[If you could see your face, then you’d think otherwise.]
My eyes trail off to stare at my reflection. Had I always looked like this?
[See? Why won’t you believe me?]
[Kim Dokja is sad.]
I’d rather ignore those words before this whole thing drags on for longer.
“How old am I there?”
[34 years old.]
“And how about the me right now?”
[The time used in Earth has no value here.]
“Can’t you give a brief estimation?”
Pausing momentarily, the Fourth Wall remained quiet as if in thought.
[Several millenniums, I could say.]
Over thousands of years had passed; and that meant that I missed over thousands of birthday greetings too.
[You wanted to personally experience that scene.]
“I’ve known my boundaries, and I’m satisfied.”
[Satisfied? Or is it because of the fact that a ‘reader’ cannot be involved in the story itself because it will forever remain a reader?]
“You don’t need my answer; you already know what I’m thinking.”
[Then you’ve done yourself the doubtful consolation in thinking that you’ve done the right thing.]
“I don’t belong there.”
[Then does that mean that Han Sooyoung doesn’t belong there as well? She is an author after all.]
The idea itself made sense, but it was something I didn’t want to pry on for longer.
[You know, naivety won’t do any good results.]
What was it trying to imply?
[Either way, this has created quite the nice story. You’ve done well, Kim Dokja.]
[Happy Birthday.]
That was the first greeting that I had received in the past few years. However, even the Fourth Wall itself knew for a fact that, from the depths of my heart, I had wished to hear the same words coming from my companions instead.