Archive of Our Own

Like most of the dreadfully unfortunate events that unfolded in Kim Dokja's life, it had been Han Sooyoung's fault.

He sat with the writer in the far corner of the library, letting her doodle on his Calculus notebook as he opened her newest work on her phone, the screen cracked in ways he knew would give him a migraine later on in the day.

"This isn't your usual genre," Kim Dokja remarked, looking at the hearts littering the edges of the cover. In the past months he's served as Han Sooyoung's unofficial editor, he'd only ever received manuscripts of action-adventure and fantasy novels. It was difficult to imagine the younger ever writing anything romantic, let alone an entire book.

"I'm expanding my horizons," she replied blandly, "What do you think of it?"

She'd only shown him the prologue so far, but it was surprisingly consistent with other romance novels Kim Dokja had secretly read in the past. There was the usual flair he'd come to associate with her work, but aside from that, it seemed like a typical high-school romance.

"It's good," he answered, "Might be a little common, but it's good."

"Aren't you looking down on other genres like that? Fantasy novels are a dime a dozen too."

"Maybe so," he conceded, putting the phone down, "Still, if you write it well, it won't matter."

"Who do you take me for, of course I'll write it well," she scoffed, "In fact, this time, you'll just be my reader. I won't give you the manuscripts, so just wait like everyone else."

"What, are you scared I'll find it too cheesy?"

Despite his teasing nature, the reader had faith in Han Sooyoung's skills.

He could remember clearly how the girl had first asked him to be his editor. At the time, she looked like a polite underclassman, red in the face as she walked up to him with a determined expression.

That assumption was shattered the moment she opened her mouth.

"You!"

"Me?" Kim Dokja pointed to himself in disbelief.

"You read webnovels right?"

"What?" How could someone, a kid at that, even notice such a thing? Kim Dokja took pride in his ability to blend into the background, so how did she know?

"Don't play dumb, I saw it on your phone."

"Why were you looking at my—"

"Read my story," she said sharply, though her eyes looked unsure, "I'll post it tonight, so read it and tell me."

Not long after that, the writer affixed her position in Kim Dokja's life as the second most annoying person he'd had the displeasure of meeting.

The first, of course, was now walking towards them with his usual death glare that would've sent anyone with a sense of self-preservation running for the hills.

Unfortunately, as Yoo Joonghyuk would so often remind him, Kim Dokja was a fool.

"Kim Dokja."

He did not bother to acknowledge the writer sitting next to his companion. To her credit, Han Sooyoung didn't seem concerned with his presence either. Kim Dokja figured it was a typical interaction between the two of them.

"Joonghyuk-ah," the boy singsonged, "Didn't I already tell you? You'll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that."

Of course, he didn't tell the other boy that he would likely still be ridiculously handsome even with wrinkles.

Really, having such a face wasted on Yoo Joonghyuk's personality was unfair.

"Yoo Sangah is looking for you," he said plainly, "You have a council meeting."

Kim Dokja cursed, and quickly got up from his seat, leaving the other two behind as he rushed to the council room.

Yoo Sangah, who was standing at the library door with her usual demure smile, nodded at Yoo Joonghyuk and sent a polite wave to Han Sooyoung. Then, she chased after their frazzled friend, who hadn't seemed to notice her presence at all.

Yoo Joonghyuk's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

Han Sooyoung finally looked up at him, and then at her phone left haphazardly on the table, where the screen flashed the title page of her newest webnovel.

As Yoo Joonghyuk picked it up with a disapproving glare, the writer couldn't help the Cheshire Cat grin that crossed her features.

Its cover was like any other romance book, colorful art of a couple smiling at each other with the title Ways to Confess to Your Crush sitting in between the figures in big black letters.

Was this the kind of webnovel Kim Dokja enjoyed?

As far as he'd known, the reader usually preferred the fantasy genre, rambling on and on about his ridiculously overpowered protagonists. Perhaps he was embarrassed to talk about romance novels.

"You know," she drawled, "That guy in the story is the kind of lead Kim Dokja likes."

Yoo Joonghyuk scowled.

If you asked Kim Guwon, he would say it was entirely his English teacher's fault.

A surprise quiz was the last thing he needed, especially since he'd spent all night practicing a new piece and ignoring the assigned readings on his desk.

I'll read them tomorrow, he thought.

When tomorrow came, he'd forgotten his textbook at home.

He found himself in the school library, searching for a copy amongst the pitifully dusty shelves. Holding his breath, he began to climb the ladder, finding the textbook collecting dust on the shelf.

Guwon reached for the book, its weathered state making it difficult to pull it from the shelf. Suddenly, he fell, feet slipping from the ladder.

He braced himself for impact, arms coming up to shield his head, when he collided with another body.

He could hear his heartbeat, and even louder, the other person's own.

Nervously, he looked up to find Yoo Jonghyun staring down at him.

Yoo Jonghyun, his crush since his first year of high school.

He was handsome, the planes of his face sharper than that of a Greek god, with deep obsidian eyes and perfectly windswept hair. His appearance was only rivalled by his kind heart, nobler than any knight one could find in a fairy tale.

Simply put, he was out of Guwon's league.

Kim Guwon wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"Guwon-ssi, are you alright?"

"Oh, yes, I'm fine, Jonghyun-ssi," he laughed nervously, "Sorry about that."

"Please be careful."

It was then Guwon realized he was still leaning on the other boy. As if he'd been burnt, he quickly stepped away, nearly bumping into the shelf behind him.

"Thank you, Jonghyun-ssi, really, you're a lifesaver."

Yoo Jonghyun looked at the book in his hand and smiled, "Were you studying for today's quiz?"

"I was about to."

"So was I. Want to study with me?"

If Kim Guwon wasn't practically leaning on the shelf behind him, he might've fainted.

"Oh, so it's this kind of story, is it?" Kim Dokja wondered, having just finished the very first chapter of Han Sooyoung's newest novel.

"There's only so many things you can do with a highschool romance, it'll be a short story," the writer shrugged, "So?"

Dokja hummed as he organized his thoughts.

"It's cute, I guess. Isn't the lead a bit too perfect though?"

"He's a lead for a reason," Han Sooyoung countered, "He's supposed to be perfect."

"Well, I don't know, it just doesn't seem realistic," Kim Dokja continued, "Someone like that doesn't exist in real life."

For reasons unknown to Kim Dokja, Han Sooyoung looked as though she wanted to commit first-degree murder.

Worried, the reader attempted to assuage her, "But really, since it's fiction, it's fine if it's like that—"

"Han Sooyoung, you brat, stop bothering Dokja-ssi and help us," Jung Heewon yelled, "And you, stop letting her bother you!"

Between helping with the preparations for the school festival and running away to do whatever it was she liked, Han Sooyoung's choice was obvious, as she disappeared with nothing more than a wave and her signature grin.

Jung Heewon rolled her eyes. She was second only to Yoo Joonghyuk in their overprotective tendencies where Kim Dokja was concerned, and despite the two of them being in the same martial arts club, she'd met Kim Dokja first, when the other boy helped her in her first year. She'd trailed him like a little duckling shortly after, much to the older's amusement.

Dokja, who was unfortunately a member of the student council at Yoo Sangah's insistence, had no choice but to turn off his phone and help sort through the inventory.

He pulled out one of the bigger boxes of props for advertising the festival, huffing slightly at the unexpected weight.

Naturally, Jung Heewon noticed.

"Seriously, Dokja-ssi, you shouldn't be lifting such things with those noodle arms of yours."

"I'm fine, Heewon-ssi," he smiled, though it might've resembled a grimace, "Let's wrap this up quickly."

In truth, he'd begun to feel faint under the warmth of the afternoon sun, but if his friends could continue their duties, what excuse did Kim Dokja have?

Yoo Sangah's brows furrowed as she began to sort through their stack of posters, "That's right. We haven't eaten lunch, either. Is this really okay, Dokja-ssi?"

"If you're hungry, Sangah-ssi, I can take it from here."

The girl flushed in embarrassment, "Not at all, Dokja-ssi. I only meant that it's hot today, and you've been working hard all morning—"

"Really, guys, it's completely fine," he sent them another smile, still carrying the box as he walked to set it up, "I'm fine—"

As if to disprove him, Kim Dokja's feet stumbled, and his vision momentarily blacked out. He could feel the box slipping from his fingers, and a single thought crossed his mind.

Well, this is embarrassing.

It wasn't the first time Kim Dokja had fainted, and with his abysmal track record of looking after himself, it certainly wouldn't be the last.

However, instead of plummeting to the ground in a humiliating spectacle that would've dirtied his uniform, he found himself still upright, blinking slowly as his vision grew clearer.

Yoo Joonghyuk was standing there, his hands on Kim Dokja's waist as he steadied the other boy.

It took a few more moments for Kim Dokja to realize what happened, looking up at his friend with a dazed expression. When did he get here?

Yoo Joonghyuk's eyebrows were drawn together, his signature frown even more prominent as he scanned Kim Dokja's face. The reader couldn't help but smile, he was the only person Kim Dokja knew that could look handsome even while frowning.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, my hero," he laughed breathlessly, only half-joking.

For all that he berated Yoo Joonghyuk's cold personality, the other boy had always reminded him of the protagonists he'd so admired in his webnovels. Underneath his stoic exterior, Yoo Joonghyuk was the kindest boy Kim Dokja knew. Not that he would ever tell the other that, of course.

"Seriously, thanks, Joonghyuk-ah," his eyes shone in sincerity, "I really thought I was going to die this time."

"You're too reckless, Kim Dokja," he said, turning his head as his fingers twitched in annoyance, "You missed your lunch."

Yoo Joonghyuk let go of him and picked up two lunch boxes where he'd set them on the table. As long as he'd known the other boy, Yoo Joonghyuk had brought him lunch everyday, claiming he always made too much for himself and Mia.

It was one of the things Kim Dokja had come to look forward to everyday. Yoo Joonghyuk's cooking was like a dream.

He eagerly grabbed the white lunch box, "Have I ever told you you're the best?"

"Shut up and eat, Kim Dokja."

Dokja looked at his friends, as if to seek permission.

"We can take over from here, Dokja-ssi," Yoo Sangah smiled, dragging Jung Heewon over to the box Dokja dropped, "There's still a month left, after all."

"Go eat, boss," Jung Heewon scoffed as she picked it up, "Otherwise you might faint again."

"Heewon-ssi, let's not exaggerate," he smiled placatingly, as Yoo Joonghyuk glared at him.

"Right," she deadpanned, dramatically falling into Yoo Sangah's arms with a giggle, "Oh, Sangah-ssi, my hero!"

Kim Dokja looked on in betrayal as Yoo Sangah simply laughed under her weight, swatting Jung Heewon playfully, "Now, now, Heewon-ssi, you're making it sound like Dokja-ssi is some damsel in distress."

Kim Dokja could only pray that Han Sooyoung never caught wind of this incident.

As if to embarrass him further, Yoo Joonghyuk took the lunch box from his hands, replacing it with a cold bottle of water.

Kim Dokja was sure his face was only red from the heat of the sun. Begrudgingly, he opened the bottle, relishing in the cold as he drank from it.

As Yoo Joonghyuk began to walk, Kim Dokja noticed the other box in his hands.

"You could've eaten without me," he mumbled, trying very hard not to feel giddy about Yoo Joonghyuk waiting for him.

The other boy didn't reply, finding an empty bench for them under the shade of the tree. As he set down Kim Dokja's lunch box none too gently, the reader opened it with a delighted gasp.

"Murim dumplings?" It was Yoo Joonghyuk's specialty, and it had been Kim Dokja's favorite food ever since he first tried it.

"It was Mia's request."

"Remind me to give her candy next time I see her," he laughed at Yoo Joonghyuk's affronted expression, flicking his forehead gently, "She's a kid, dummy."

"Stop corrupting my sister with your unhealthy lifestyle."

Kim Dokja ignored him, eyes sparkling as he picked up a dumpling.

"Seriously, Joonghyuk-ah," he sighed after taking a bite, "Whoever you end up with is going to be so lucky. How are you so good at cooking? It's unfair."

Joonghyuk's eyebrow twitched, "If I wasn't so good at cooking, you'd be eating convenience store kimbap everyday."

Dokja rolled his eyes, his previous eating habits had always been a point of contention between the two of them.

"Don't look down on my kimbap, you jerk, it kept me fed for 15 years."

"If by fed, you mean on the verge of fainting, then by all means, keep eating that trash."

Kim Dokja felt his cheeks flush, "It's only been a couple of times! I'm perfectly healthy, thanks to your cooking."

Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't quite smirking, but the reader could sense his smug expression from the crinkling of his eyes.

Kim Dokja reached over to flick his forehead again. Yoo Joonghyuk caught his hand, still with a self-satisfied look on his stupidly handsome face.

If Kim Dokja's heart skipped a beat or two, who could blame him?

Maybe it's better he's always grouchy, Kim Dokja thought, I'd probably have arrhythmia if he was always like this.

"Whatever," he grumbled, pulling his hand back as munched on his dumplings, "You spoil me too much."

"Hey, you little rat," Song Woojin sneered, pulling at his hair and forcing him to look up, "Tell your dad to give us back our money."

Kim Guwon flinched. As the only child of a corrupt politician, such threats had followed him throughout his entire life. He could not find fault in the harsh treatment, not when he'd benefited from his father's wealth time and again.

When he did not answer, he felt Song Woojin lift his hand to strike.

Guwon braced himself for the impact as the sound of a crack echoed in the empty hall, but the strike did not come. Instead, Song Woojin was on the floor, holding his jaw. Blood was dripping from his nose, and Guwon quickly looked away, only then noticing the figure between them.

Standing in front of Guwon was his crush, Yoo Jonghyun, with bruised knuckles. 

"Jonghyun-ssi," he gasped. If Song Woojin made his escape, Guwon hadn't noticed, his eyes transfixed on his savior.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," he whispered, then grabbed Yoo Jonghyun's fist, "Your hand—"

"It's fine, as long as you're safe," Jonghyun wrapped his hand around Kim Guwon's own with a gentle squeeze.

"Still, let me help you," Guwon insisted, "please?"

Yoo Jonghyun looked down at their hands and smiled.

"Okay, Guwon-ssi," he nodded, "But please tell me if there's someone bothering you again."

Yoo Jonghyun, why would you do this for me?

Why do you care so much, when no one else does?

Kim Guwon felt himself falling even harder for the other boy.

"Okay, Jonghyun-ssi."

Next time, he promised himself, next time, I'll really tell him how I feel.

"Seriously, Han Sooyoung?"

"What?" his junior glared, "It's a popular trope!"

"It's cliche, that's what it is," he spluttered, looking at her newest update in disbelief, "Besides, no one wants something like that in real life."

"You don't think it would be cool to have a guy punch someone in the face for you?"

Kim Dokja sighed, pinching his brows.

"No, I really don't—"

"Dokja-ssi!"

Running up to them was Lee Hyunsung, one of Dokja's classmates and their close friend. He looked distraught, although Kim Dokja had always thought him to be the emotional type. 

"Dokja-ssi, come quick! Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi got in a fight!"

Kim Dokja had never ran so fast in his entire life.

He found Yoo Joonghyuk in the alley just across the school's gate, breathing heavily as he looked down on his assailants.

The reader recognized them as Song Minwoo's group, the ones who'd bullied him mercilessly back in his first year at school. They were lying on the ground, all blood and broken bones, and the sight stirred a mix of satisfaction and disgust in him.

Without a second glance, he looked over to Yoo Joonghyuk. There were bruises and wounds littering his face and arms, but it was evident that he'd suffered much less injuries compared to his opponents.

That stupidly strong protagonist of his.

Kim Dokja breathed out a sigh of relief and hit his shoulder, "You bastard!"

At the sound of his voice, Yoo Joonghyuk turned to him, eyes widening, "Kim Dokja—"

Dokja grabbed his hand, gentle yet firm, "Not another word, Yoo Joonghyuk! We are going to the infirmary and you are going to explain yourself, do you hear me?"

"Kim Dokja—"

"I said not another word!" 

He began pulling the other boy in the direction of the school, eyes still tracing his figure for any sign of injury.

"Now, how's he going to explain himself without another word, dumbass?" Han Sooyoung looked down at Song Minwoo, tossing her lollipop stick with a whistle as he groaned, "You really did a number on them, Yoo Joonghyuk."

From beside her, Lee Hyunsung looked as though he was going to faint, "Dokja-ssi, what should we do?"

"We are going to go home and pretend this never happened," Han Sooyoung replied in a patronizing tone. Seriously, she had no shame. There was a reason Joonghyuk called her a brat.

Kim Dokja sighed, looking back at his friends, "I'll deal with this. Thanks for looking out for him, Hyunsung-ssi."

Lee Hyunsung bowed, cheeks pink, "Of course, Dokja-ssi!"

"Good luck with that one, squid," Han Sooyoung cackled as she grabbed Hyunsung by the straps of his backpack and walked away from the alley, paying no mind to her heavily injured seniors bleeding out on the concrete.

On the other side of the street, Kim Dokja entered the building with Yoo Joonghyuk in tow, still prattling on about the latter's senseless behavior.

Yoo Joonghyuk barely seemed to be listening, instead focusing his eyes on their intertwined hands. Kim Dokja could feel the cuts as he held tight, sighing as he knew they'd likely scar.

Right as they were about to enter the infirmary, Lee Seolhwa stepped out, her intelligent eyes immediately examining the bruises Yoo Joonghyuk had collected.

"Oh, Seolhwa-ssi!" Kim Dokja greeted, as if he wasn't incriminating himself in whatever trouble Yoo Joonghyuk had inadvertently caused. 

"Hello, Dokja-sunbae, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi. Were you planning to use the infirmary?"

Lee Seolhwa, who was Han Sooyoung's classmate and one of Yoo Joonghyuk's friends from middle school, had been on track for medical school for as long as they'd known her. As the nurse's assistant, it was no surprise that she dangled the keys to the infirmary in her dainty hands.

"Yes that's right," Dokja nodded politely, "But if you were going to lock up, then—"

"If it's alright, I can leave the keys with you, sunbaenim," she laughed gracefully, dropping the keys into the palm of Kim Dokja's hand. She seemed unphased by their sudden appearance and Yoo Joonghyuk's injuries, simply shaking her head as Dokja sent her a bright smile.

"Thank you, Seolhwa-ssi," he said, "Take care on your way home."

She waved goodbye, seemingly amused. Dokja supposed he'd also find the situation absurd had he been in her shoes, although there was little amusement to be found in dragging an injured Yoo Joonghyuk around.

Kim Dokja let go of his companion's hand, allowing him to sit on one of the beds as he rummaged the shelves for first aid supplies. Yoo Joonghyuk watched him wordlessly as he set the supplies down on the bedside drawer, his eyes growing hazy. Maybe the adrenaline wore off, Dokja thought.

He sighed as he came up to the sink, running a washcloth under the cold water as he muttered under his breath.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, stupid bastard, what were you thinking," he squeezed the excess water out with far too much force, "Namgung-nim is going to kill us, you've really done it this time."

He returned to his companion's side, cradling his jaw with delicate hands as he began to wipe the dirt and grime away. Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes zeroed in on his own face, his gaze unreadable as the reader sighed softly.

"Look at you, Yoo Joonghyuk. What a waste of a handsome face."

Kim Dokja felt a pang in his chest as he looked at all the bruises and cuts, now visible after he'd cleaned Yoo Joonghyuk's face. Stupid sunfish. 

With the same gentleness, he held up the other boy's fists, wiping each one carefully. As Dokja inspected his bleeding knuckles, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in a rough tone.

"He said you were a murderer's son."

Dokja hummed, "Well, I am."

Yoo Joonghyuk glowered.

"Don't make that face," the reader suppressed a laugh, "Is that why you got in a fight?"

His heart stuttered when Yoo Joonghyuk stayed silent. Of course he would, that self-righteous protagonist.

Dokja picked up the bottle of antiseptic, pouring a small amount onto a cotton ball and gently pressing it to his companion's knuckles.

"You shouldn't have done that."

As he began to treat the cuts on Joonghyuk's face, the other boy replied.

"Why?"

Kim Dokja thought it over. What kind of answer would deter this stubborn jerk?

"Like I said, Namgung-nim is going to be mad."

"It was her that taught me how to fight, anyway."

Joonghyuk flinched slightly at a particularly deep cut, and Dokja's gaze softened.

"You would've been suspended if you were caught."

"It happened outside of school grounds."

Kim Dokja sighed, his starry eyes meeting Yoo Joonghyuk's own.

"Maybe I just don't like seeing you get hurt."

The times that Kim Dokja had been vulnerable with his friends were few and far between, but he could not help the truth that slipped from his lips, cheeks flushing at his own admission.

Yoo Joonghyuk's brow furrowed, his hand reaching for Kim Dokja's, still resting on his cheek.

"You should see the other guy."

Dokja broke the moment with a quiet laugh, "Yoo Joonghyuk, since when did you make such jokes?"

The other boy looked away.

In a small act of childishness, Dokja picked out the most obnoxiously colorful bandaids from the box, "At least tell me this, Joonghyuk-ah. Was it worth it?"

Yoo Joonghyuk didn't answer. If Kim Dokja had paid more attention, he would've noticed his companion's reddening ears as the reader began to patch him up.

It was Kim Guwon's luck that the sun was shining beautifully on the day he was scheduled to look after his neighbor's dogs. Although he was a homebody at heart, he could appreciate a walk in the park on a sunny afternoon like anyone else.

They had always been polite little puppies, so Guwon was taken aback when they began running all of a sudden, chasing after another dog walking in the opposite direction.

The dogs began to circle each other as much as their leashes could allow, playing together adorably.

When Guwon looked up to greet the other puppy's owner, he was shocked to find familiar eyes looking right at him.

Yoo Jonghyun.

"Guwon-ssi," he smiled, like a prince from the storybooks Guwon used to read as a child.

He could do nothing but smile back, as Yoo Jonghyun insisted on spending the day with him, his dog having grown attached to the ones Guwon was walking.

The boy had even offered him snacks when Guwon mentioned he hadn't eaten lunch. Guwon wanted to faint, how could someone be so perfect?

Much later, when they finally decided to part, Kim Guwon felt as though he was floating on a cloud.

"Jonghyun-ssi," I like you.

"Today was fun," Jonghyun said, "Let's do it again some other time."

"Right," he replied breathlessly, "Of course."

DO NOT REPLY: well did u read it yet

squid: i'm busy today with the kids.

DO NOT REPLY: so is that a yes

squid: isn't kim guwon too oblivious? it's obvious that yoo jonghyun likes him.

DO NOT REPLY: kim dokja u fjfhcjskhskksk

DO NOT REPLY: Sorry Dokja-ssi, Sooyoung-ssi dropped her phone ^___^

squid: she deserves that.

DO NOT REPLY: im ignoring ur last message

squid: also, why does kim guwon have to look after his neighbor's dogs? isn't he rich?

DO NOT REPLY: thats irrelevant

DO NOT REPLY: isnt it romantic

squid: it would be more romantic if the plot had any consistency.

Kim Dokja turned off his phone, ignoring the barrage of messages he was sure Han Sooyoung was sending to defend her latest chapter. A bright smile took over his face as his kids came running up to him.

"Ahjussi! Can we have ice cream?"

"Please, Hyung?"

Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung both lived in his apartment complex, and with their parents gone so often, the task of keeping them occupied fell to Kim Dokja. It had been that way since the two kids moved in.

It wasn't that he minded, after all, he'd grown fond of the children. While his neighbors may not be the best guardians, they certainly paid well enough, and neither Yoosung nor Gilyoung seemed to miss them when Kim Dokja was around.

He followed their line of sight to an ice cream truck parked in front of the playground, where other kids had already been pestering their respective guardians with the same request.

He smiled, gently patting their heads as he nodded, "Sure, let's go."

After some bargaining, he'd settled with letting them have two scoops each, passing their cones to eager hands as he took his own from the vendor. As he smiled at the taste of sweet chocolate, a familiar voice spoke up from behind him.

"Oppa, I want ice cream."

He turned to find Yoo Mia pulling at her brother's sleeve with a slight scowl.

It wasn't often that he saw Yoo Joonghyuk's younger sister. He'd always thought it was uncanny how much she resembled him, eyebrows furrowed the way Joonghyuk's did when Kim Dokja pestered him.

Speaking of.

"Joonghyuk-ah!" he waved with his free hand, "Hello, Mia-ssi!"

"Kim Dokja," the other boy greeted stiffly.

Three years ago, Kim Dokja would've taken offense at such an awful attempt at greeting. Somewhere along the line, he'd come to the realization that getting Yoo Joonghyuk to speak was an achievement on its own.

Honestly, he should win an award for putting up with that sunfish-turned human.

"It's that ahjussi," Yoo Mia said with a neutral face. Truly her brother's sister, he thought. At the very least, she had the advantage of being a cute six year old.

"Are you two having ice cream too? It's good," he gestured to his own cone. Yoosung and Gilyoung, who returned to his side, had already been halfway through their first scoops.

Yoo Joonghyuk glared at him as he fished his wallet out of his coat pockets.

Kim Dokja suppressed a chuckle, eyes twinkling as Yoo Mia ran up to the truck. It seemed she also wanted her brother to eat with her, as the two of them held a staring contest in front of the truck. The vendor sure looks tired, Kim Dokja thought.

As the kids sat together and ate their ice cream, Kim Dokja turned to Yoo Joonghyuk, who was now holding a singular scoop of vanilla with an unimpressed stare.

"I'll never understand your taste, Joonghyuk-ah," he teased, wrinkling his nose, "Isn't vanilla too plain?"

The other boy scoffed, "You eat too much sugar, Kim Dokja."

"You don't eat enough of it, that's why you're so bitter," the reader rolled his eyes as he finished his cone. In the distance, the three children ran around the playground, and Kim Dokja quietly pulled out his phone to take a picture.

Without another word, he opened his messages with Yoo Joonghyuk and sent the picture. The other boy, who had been watching him the entire time, left it on read.

Annoying bastard.

"Aren't they cute?" he pocketed his phone, sitting on an empty swingset. Yoo Joonghyuk followed him, still with his pitiful vanilla ice cream. He stood behind the reader, who shuffled in the cramped space uncomfortably.

Dokja swayed in the seat with the wind, smiling, "I don't think I've ever tried one of these. Not when I was a kid, at least."

"Ice cream?"

"No," he laughed, "A swing, I mean."

Kim Dokja very rarely went out as a child, and it had never been for trivial things such as a playground. After the incident, any public place was a place to be cornered by flashing lights and invasive questions.

Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to understand as he finally finished his cone. Wiping his hands, he settled them on the chains of the swing.

Then, gently, he began to push.

Kim Dokja felt his feet scrape against the dirt little by little, "That wasn't an invitation, you know."

Yoo Joonghyuk simply stared as the wind ruffled Kim Dokja's hair, "You don't sound like you're complaining."

"No, I guess not," he replied, as he felt himself swing higher and higher, his shoes leaving the ground, "Is this what flying feels like?"

What a ridiculous sight they made, Kim Dokja thought. Two teenagers playing around in the children's swingset.

"I doubt that," Yoo Joonghyuk said, "And I wouldn't trust you not to fly away."

Slowly, Kim Dokja felt the ground beneath him once more, tilting his head to look up at the other boy. He looked strange, with all his features upside down. 

Still handsome, Kim Dokja thought.

If Kim Dokja looked hard enough, he'd see the ghost of a smile on the other boy's lips.

He gestured to the swing next to him.

"Wanna try it?"

Yoo Joonghyuk raised an eyebrow. He shook his head, but took the seat next to Kim Dokja anyway, their shoulders knocking together as he swung lightly.

The reader thought he looked a bit silly, too tall to fit comfortably in the seat.

"Don't you trust me?" Dokja placed a hand over his heart with a dramatic sigh.

"No," he answered dryly, "This is enough."

"So boring, Joonghyuk-ah," he turned to the other boy, eyes bright as he smiled, "Isn't there anything you want to do?"

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him for a moment.

The strange expression he had earlier suddenly returned.

"Ahjussi!"

"Hyung!"

His lovely children all but barreled into him.

Mia, always her brother's mirror, stood a respectable distance away, waving at Yoo Joonghyuk as she called out to him.

"Yoosung-ie, Gilyoung-ie," the reader ruffled their hair, "Did you have fun today?"

"I did!"

"I did too! I had more fun than Yoosung-ie!"

"Liar!"

Kim Dokja chuckled, "Enough of that now, you two."

He met the other boy's eye and smiled, heart fluttering as though he was still flying, "I had fun, too."

It was past sundown, Kim Guwon knew, but his performance for the festival was still far from perfect, and so he'd begged his friends from the council to let him stay and practice.

He came to regret it later on when he found himself stranded in the waiting shed near the school, watching the rain fall harshly on the pavement.

His friends had warned him about a storm in the morning forecast, but Kim Guwon was sure he wouldn't stay out too late.

Look where that got him, he thought bitterly. He couldn't stay there, as the night grew darker, but it didn't seem like the storm would let up either.

Sighing, he clutched his schoolbag and decided to simply risk the rain.

Closing his eyes, he moved to step out of the waiting shed, waiting for the rain to soak him and and his belongings.

To his surprise, he was completely dry, and there was the sound of harsh raindrops nearby.

He opened his eyes and found Yoo Jonghyun, holding an umbrella over his head with a worried expression.

"Guwon-ssi, what are you doing here at this hour?"

"I was practicing," he replied, "I must've lost track of time."

"I see," Jonghyun grabbed his bag, linking their arms together, "I'll walk you home then, since you don't have an umbrella."

Kim Guwon felt his heart stop.

"No! No, you really don't have to do that, Jonghyun-ssi! My house isn't that far," he mumbled frantically, trying to take his bag back to no avail.

"All the more reason for me to walk with you," Jonghyun smiled.

Guwon all but melted at the sight.

"If you're sure."

"I am."

They walked in silence, and Kim Guwon couldn't help but lean into the other boy's warmth. 

When they finally arrived at his doorstep, Guwon looked up at him.

Yoo Jonghyun, I have feelings for you.

In the end, he wasn't able to say those words.

"Thank you, Jonghyun-ssi."

Kim Dokja sighed as he locked the council room, phone in hand as he shut the door with a click. In truth, he'd barely paid attention to their final meeting before the school festival, having been engrossed in Han Sooyoung's latest update.

Really, the writer was breaking out every cliche in the book.

Kim Dokja hated to admit that he somehow still found it romantic.

He'd yet to finish the whole chapter, trying to exercise self-discipline by saving the rest of the ending for when he got home. Contrary to what most of his friends believed, Kim Dokja did not have a serious webnovel addiction. 

As usual, he'd been the last to leave, ensuring their preparations were left undisturbed until the next day. It was the advantage of living alone, he supposed, that he didn't have a curfew and could stay as long as he liked.

Not that walking through the eerily empty halls was any fun.

When he reached the school's doors, he was greeted by a downpour of summer rain. Just his luck.

Standing on the far side of the entrance was another figure, watching the rain. Was there another student still out this late?

As he approached the other student, he recognized the familiar head of black curls and the little fish keychain hanging from his backpack.

"Yoo Joonghyuk?"

"Kim Dokja," he turned to the other boy, "It's late."

"So it is," the reader rolled his eyes, "I was hoping I could lock up before the rain started, but it seems like I didn't make it."

"Idiot," he looked at Dokja's empty hands, "You knew it would rain and you didn't bring an umbrella?"

Kim Dokja pouted, "It was too heavy. I had to bring a lot of things for the festival tomorrow."

The rain seemed to have no intention of subsiding, the air growing colder as the rainfall intensified.

"Anyway, what were you still doing here?"

"Club meeting."

Kim Dokja looked at him curiously. Hadn't Jung Heewon greeted him earlier on her way home? Was it after their club meeting?

He looked at the rain, and then back at Yoo Joonghyuk. 

"Don't tell me," despite himself, Kim Dokja smiled, "You didn't bring an umbrella either?"

The other boy simply huffed, "Lee Jihye took it."

Dokja's gaze softened. For all that Yoo Joonghyuk pretended to be bothered by his younger cousin, he had always looked out for her as much as he did Mia.

"Then I guess we're making a run for it," he replied. 

When Yoo Joonghyuk began to protest, he continued, "Just take a warm shower when you get home. Besides, there's nothing wrong with getting a little sick every now and then, it builds your immunity."

Yoo Joonghyuk glared, "The festival's tomorrow."

"Should we sleep in the council room then?" he countered, "C'mon, Joonghyuk-ah."

Without waiting for the other's response, he grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk's hand, scarred and warm, and ran into the summer rain.

Kim Dokja gasped as the raindrops settled into his skin, turning to the other boy as he led him across the street.

His protagonist reminded him of a wet dog, his hair a mess as he looked at Kim Dokja with unreadable eyes.

Kim Dokja couldn't help but laugh, the sound ringing against the pattering of the raindrops. Yoo Joonghyuk looked ridiculously charming, reduced to a teenage boy in the pouring rain.

At the sound of his laughter, the corners of Yoo Joonghyuk's lips twitched into a barely-there smile. 

Ignoring his stuttering heart, Kim Dokja kept walking until he spotted the streetlamp by Yoo Joonghyuk's house. It was only a few blocks away from the school, dark and empty as they stood at the gate.

"Namgung-nim and Mia-ssi aren't here yet?"

"Mia's having her first sleepover," the boy sighed, fishing out his keys from his bag and opening the gate.

"I didn't know you let her go to those now," he wondered, "Take a shower when you get inside, okay? It's too cold." He reached up to ruffle Yoo Joonghyuk's hair, laughing fondly at the other boy's disgruntled expression.

Then, as he turned around to leave, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke again.

"Your apartment is still ten minutes away from here. Just sleep over tonight."

"That's not necessary," he gestured to his sleeve, stepping away, "I'm already drenched, what's a little more walking?"

"Stay, Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk said, not letting go of his hand.

Dokja sighed. He'd always been weak for Yoo Joonghyuk.

"Okay," he replied quietly, "I'll stay."

As they entered the house, Yoo Joonghyuk all but pushed him to the bathroom, despite his protests.

"It's your house, you should go first. You'll get even sicker like that," Kim Dokja argued, even as Yoo Joonghyuk pushed a towel and clean clothes into his arms.

"It's dinnertime, and I'm not letting you burn the house down," Yoo Joonghyuk glared.

It wasn't as though Kim Dokja was a particularly bad cook, but for Yoo Joonghyuk's impossibly high standards, he knew the other boy would sooner starve than eat anyone else's food but his own.

Sighing, Kim Dokja relented, deciding to take advantage of their household's heater. Very rarely did he get to sleep over at Yoo Joonghyuk's house, but he'd always felt taken care of, in ways he seldom felt in his own home growing up. As he finished getting dressed, he stared at himself in the mirror.

He was no longer the sullen 15 year old Yoo Joonghyuk met, tired eyes and hollowed cheeks. While he was still quite pale, and their friends still thought him too thin, he'd grown into himself a little more. There was light in his eyes despite his dark circles, and a healthy flush that made him look warm. Alive.

Feeling as though he'd stared for far too long, Kim Dokja hugged himself and looked away. The shirt was warm, and it smelled like Yoo Joonghyuk, familiar and comforting. He sighed, letting the cozy sense of belonging wash over him as he dried his hair.

When he came out of the bathroom, the soup was already on the stove, so he opted to set the table as Yoo Joonghyuk washed up. While the other boy wasn't around to scold him, he quickly took a spoonful of soup, wincing at the heat. It's nice, like everything else he cooks.

Dinner was a quiet affair, with Kim Dokja eagerly finishing the entire bowl of broth the other boy had prepared. The warmth of the broth had helped in alleviating the cold from the rain, which had yet to pass despite having taken a shower.

Dokja sighed, was he going to get sick again?

He took his place at the kitchen sink, washing their bowls as Yoo Joonghyuk dried them next to him. 

When they finished, Yoo Joonghyuk began setting up his video game console on the couch, a pile of fluffy pillows and blankets already waiting. From his shelf of games, which Kim Dokja was regrettably forbidden from touching, he pulled out a familiar case that left the reader smiling softly.

It was a copy of SSSSS-Grade Infinite Regressor, Yoo Joonghyuk's favorite video game. Kim Dokja had gifted it to him two years ago, had painstakingly saved up all of his money to buy it on his birthday. For all that Yoo Joonghyuk chastised him for it, the other boy's appreciation was clear in the way he'd always replay it with shining eyes.

As the familiar tune of the title screen filled his ears, Kim Dokja settled beside Yoo Joonghyuk on the couch and pulled out his phone, deciding instead to finish the final chapter of Han Sooyoung's novel.

Kim Guwon could only bow, his heart in his ears as the audience's thunderous applause drowned out any other thoughts.

After all his months of hard work, he'd finally finished his performance for the school festival.

He smiled as he passed the backstage, politely bowing at the numerous compliments his schoolmates were throwing his way. As grateful as he was for the warm reception, there was little else he wanted to do than return to the dressing room and rest.

As he opened the door, a sight he'd never expected greeted him.

There Yoo Jonghyun was, a bouquet of red roses in hand.

"Jonghyun-ssi—"

"Guwon-ssi, you were amazing," he smiled, "These are for you."

He passed the flowers to Guwon's trembling hands. Kim Guwon couldn't even muster a word of thanks when the other boy spoke again.

"Guwon-ssi," he gently reached for the other's hand, "Would you like to visit the festival with me?"

Kim Guwon had every intention of going home immediately after his performance, but in the face of Yoo Jonghyun and his lovely flowers, he could only nod.

Flowers in one hand and Yoo Jonghyun's in the other, Kim Guwon spent the rest of the day exploring the festival booths, the smile on his face never fading even as the sun set.

They found themselves sitting on the grass, waiting for the fireworks, when Kim Guwon finally decided. He would confess to Yoo Jonghyun, before the day ended.

With a determined expression, Guwon turned to the other boy.

"I—" he stuttered at Yoo Jonghyun's expectant stare, "I really liked this. Thanks for inviting me."

It wasn't at all what Kim Guwon wanted to say, and he silently cursed himself for letting another opportunity pass. 

"Thanks for accepting," Jonghyun replied with a fond smile.

"That's not it," he tried again, "There's something else I wanted to say."

Yoo Jonghyun's eyes widened slightly.

"Yoo Jonghyun, I—"

"Guwon-ssi," the other boy interrupted, gently reaching up to caress his cheek, "Can I kiss you?"

For Kim Guwon, perhaps there was no right way to confess to his crush.

But perhaps it didn't matter, if Yoo Jonghyun understood him without words anyway.

Guwon nodded, and under the light of the fireworks in the sky, Yoo Jonghyun kissed him.

Kim Dokja set his phone down with a sigh. The ending to Han Sooyoung's latest novel was sweet, picture perfect, and it made him wish for his own happy ending. That crazy witch, putting things in my head again.

Dokja wouldn't even be able to attend his own school festival, having felt the beginnings of a cold settling in. Yoo Joonghyuk's going to kill me.

Said boy was still next to him, eyes focused on the game as if he hadn't played it a thousand times before. With his brows furrowed in concentration, Kim Dokja couldn't help but find him cute. Stupid bastard.

He sighed, and moved closer to the other boy, close enough that he could lean on Yoo Joonghyuk if he wished.

"Yoo Joonghyuk."

Absentmindedly, the boy hummed in response.

"Yoo Joonghyuk," he tried again, drawing out the last syllable. Slowly, he reached down to the controller in the other's hand, pressing the pause button. To his surprise, rather than attempt to throttle him, Yoo Joonghyuk simply turned off the screen and turned towards him.

"What is it?"

"I really wanted to go to the festival with you."

It wasn't quite a confession, but there was little to be expected from Kim Dokja anyway.

"Then you shouldn't have run in the rain."

Kim Dokja sighed. Of course he wouldn't get it.

"Maybe," he mused. Impulsively, he rested his head on Yoo Joonghyuk's chest, listening for the steady drum of his protagonist's heart, "But this is nice, too."

"Is it?" The other boy looked down at him, dark eyes softening as he wrapped his arm around Kim Dokja.

"Mhm," Dokja closed his eyes. He felt as though he could fall asleep to the sound of Yoo Joonghyuk's heartbeat.

"Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk whispered, "Did you really want to go to the festival?"

"No, not really," he admitted, rare honesty coloring his voice, "I just wanted to go with you."

Suddenly, Yoo Joonghyuk stiffened, and the heart that soothed Kim Dokja began to pound, loud and quick like a hummingbird's wings.

Dokja peered up at him, still soft, "Joonghyuk-ah?"

"What if I wanted to stay here?"

"Then I want to stay here with you," the answer came to him as easily as breathing, "Can't I?"

"You can," Yoo Joonghyuk brushed his hair, hands gentler than they'd ever been.

"Kim Dokja?"

Dokja hummed sleepily, he felt safe and warm in Yoo Joonghyuk's arms.

"Can I kiss you?"

Kim Dokja opened his eyes, meeting Yoo Joonghyuk's own. It was as if he held the night in his eyes, comforting and quiet. Kim Dokja could not think of a better place to call home.

Oh.

He couldn't help the smile that bloomed, as he watched the other boy's ears redden at his own boldness.

"You sound like a real protagonist, Yoo Joonghyuk."

"You like protagonists."

With trembling hands, he reached up, cradling his jaw gently, "I like you."

The other boy looked stunned.

Kim Dokja wondered why he was so surprised. Wasn't it obvious that Yoo Joonghyuk held his heart in the palm of his hand? 

Wordlessly, Yoo Joonghyuk leaned down, slow and unsure as he reached for the reader's rose-colored cheeks. Too slow, Dokja thought, as he held the other boy at a distance with an impossibly fond smile.

"You can't, Joonghyuk-ah," he laughed, "You'll catch a cold."

Yoo Joonghyuk kissed him anyway.

It was gentle and sweet, like the ones he'd read about in all his books. When Yoo Joonghyuk pulled away, he pressed another quick kiss to the tip of Kim Dokja's nose, reddening from both the cold and the other boy's affection.

"I like you, Kim Dokja," he whispered.

"The order's wrong, Yoo Joonghyuk," he laughed, feeling lightheaded, "You're supposed to say that before you kiss me."

In response, Yoo Joonghyuk simply kissed him again.