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The last thought Kim Dokja had before sacrificing himself was "I'm an idiot."
That may have been impacted by Yoo Joonghyuk holding his lifeless body tightly and whispering, "You're an idiot."
And the last thing he saw was Yoo Joonghyuk's face. Glaring, tense, lips quivering, eyes full of anger and hidden sadness. The last thing he saw before his vision went dark.
When he woke up again, the world was bright, much brighter than the apocalyptic world he was used to. And there were so many people around walking towards... a school?
A large white college that was surrounded in cherry blossom petals from the trees leading up to it. Kim Dokja stood up and looked around in confusion. Just where was he? Hell?
A hand tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his trance. He was relieved to see Yoo Sangah, except she was dressed much different, and holding a school bag.
"Sorry I'm late Dokja! Can you still walk me to class?" She asked sweetly.
He stared at her. Class? Was this some kind of scenario? He tried to activate his skills. A text description then appeared by Yoo Sangah.
Yoo Sangah- Your childhood friend
You've known Sangah since you two were children. She's very polite and always ready to make others smile! You secretly think she's cute~
"No I don't?" Kim Dokja said confused in response to that last sentence.
Sure, everyone saw Yoo Sangah as an adorable cinnamon roll but he was never really attracted to her. There was a hurt look on her face, then he realised he out loud just declined walking her to class.
"Sorry, I'm really tired. I meant yes."
Yoo Sangah disappeared. Before he could react, he was jump scared by a large text appearing in the sky. A pink title screen that said "Three Ways to Survive College: a dating simulator."
Kim Dokja wanted to die, again.
Was he... was he stuck in the game?! A romance one at that? He looked around the colourful world in horror. It was terrifying, and he felt waves of dread attack him. How will he escape? Will he ever return to the real world? He had to before- ...oh right everyone thinks he's dead.
Another window popped up in front of him. He skimmed it. It explained how he needed to progress and beat the game in order to leave, and also thanked him for being the first player as well as a tester.
A tester?! What was he, some kind of experimental rat? Who was behind this, anyway? From the aesthetic of the world he wondered if it was Uriel, but knowing her she'd dress him in a skirt and have all the romance options be variations of Yoo Joonghyuk. It had to be someone that despised him was all he could guess.
He huffed, and decided to play the game, desperate to leave the eye sore of a world. Once the title screen disappeared, Yoo Sangah appeared next to him again, having a creepy and static smile.
She grabbed his hand and chuckled, pulling him towards the building. A screen popped up in front of him, a detailed illustration of Yoo Sangah blushing and smiling as she pulled him along, causing him to roll his eyes. Again, he didn't hate Yoo Sangah at all (it was impossible for anyone to) the game was just getting on his nerves. Why couldn't he choose his own interpretations of the relationships with the characters? What was the point of this being a choice based game otherwise?
While he was lost in thought, the screen changed and he was in class sitting at the main character seat TM, while Yoo Sangah sat beside him. All the other students were blank outlines, so he assumed they weren't interact-able. He groaned from boredom, slumping on his desk. He hated school, why was he being punished like this?
"Are you okay Dokja? Would you like me to take you to the nurse?"
"Sure..." he grumbled and followed her out the room.
The two walked down the hallway in silence, mostly because Kim Dokja wasn't starting any conversation topics. He didn't know if he could survive any longer in this world. Then, he bumped into someone and apologised. He looked up and it was a detailed character much taller than him.
Lee Seolhwa- The most popular girl in the year
She always gets the best grades and receives at least ten love letters and many bouquets of roses per day. You try to get her attention but never can, she doesn't even know your name.
"Ah, hello Dokja-ssi."
"She literally does know my name..." Kim Dokja grumbled, then tiredly added, "Yeah hi."
"Oh." The girl looked surprised.
Yoo Sangah also looked shocked. Kim Dokja looked bored.
Lee Seolhwa had a blush on her face. "You're the first boy that didn't go head over heels for me talking to you... I actually feel happy that you're treating me normally and-"
"I need to throw up," he declared, walking away from her.
Yoo Sangah followed him flustered as Lee Seolhwa blinked, frozen in place.
"Wow Dokja! I've never seen anyone not be utterly in love with Seolhwa-ssi! Everyone wants to date her!"
"Why don't you date her then?" He grumbled.
She laughed. "Oh Dokja! We're both girls that's why!"
"Sangah, have you ever heard of the concept known as lesbianism?"
She titled her head in confusion. He tried not to laugh. Kim Dokja stopped walking and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Sangah, girls can kiss girls."
She looked surprised. Then, her movements changed. Instead of the static, default smile on her face, her facial expression became slightly more realistic. She stared blinking, and breathing a bit more notably. Kim Dokja backed away, wondering if he broke the game.
"So uh, the nurse?"
Her default smile returned as well as her stiff pose. "Ah, right! Sorry Dokja, I'm so clumsy!"
She hummed as she lead him down the hall. Then, she gasped and hid behind him. He looked ahead and another character appeared, one with a smirk and short, black hair.
"Didn't I tell you rats shouldn't go to college?" She said, which was a weird thing for a college student to say but he didn't expect the game to have good writing.
Han Sooyoung- Your academic rival
Sooyoung is the scariest girl in the year, no one dares mess with her, except for you. She annoys you a lot, although you sort of like the attention she gives you.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Kim Dokja exclaimed, reading that last sentence in horror.
Han Sooyoung jumped, not expecting that response. "Uh yeah- yeah I mean hell is where I'm going to send you!"
As she gave a dramatic villainous rant, he just rolled his eyes at her remarks.
"Deep down you don't actually hate me, you're just a little sarcastic and misunderstood." He predicted.
She blinked.
Then, a cut scene started.
"SKIP! SKIP!" He pleaded but nothing worked.
He was suddenly outside under a cherry blossom tree. Han Sooyoung was there, an annoyed look on her face.
"You're such an idiot for giving me a chance, you know? B-but I... I can't say I hated spending time with you..."
"You mean the three seconds we spoke to each other-"
She made eye contact, a serious expression on her face. "Kim Dokja, I'm sorry for being so mean to you, I'd like to be your friend. And help you confess to your true lover, i-if you'd allow me to?"
"Sure?"
The cutscene ended. He was surprised that wasn't a confession scene, and very relieved because he'd rather die (well he has) than date Han Sooyoung. He was back at the hallway, but she was gone. And Yoo Sangah stared at him, trying to hide her upset expression.
"S-so it seems like you two had fun... all alone..." She gave a sad laugh. "Of course, you only see me as a friend, don't you Dokja? You and Sooyoung are-"
Two options appeared for Kim Dokja.
One was "it's not like that!" the other "yes, I love her."
He sighed and picked the first.
"It's not like that!"
Yoo Sangah looked at him, hopeful and surprised. "R-really? Then... then does that mean-"
"Yes, Han Sooyoung is single," he answered, mostly as a joke.
He wasn't expecting Yoo Sangah to blush. "Oh- right yeah I suppose she is- uhm, h-hey do you think that she... ah never mind it's embarrassing never mind... I need to go!" She ran off.
Kim Dokja blinked.
"I ship it."
After school, Kim Dokja stared at the distorted pixels next to him. It seemed like Yoo Sangah was meant to walk home with him, but for whatever reason she wasn't there. He shrugged, he could just go alone.
Despite his seething hatred for the game, he supposed the cherry blossoms were quite pretty, and it was nice not having to do any life threatening missions. Although, he did miss his friends- the normal versions of them. Especially his kids. He hoped he wasn't dead in real life for too long.
He made it home in seconds because of in game logic, and that's when another girl greeted him... wait is that a high schooler-?
Lee Jihye- Your neighbour
Jihye is a very sporty girl who doesn't have a lot of female friends. She likes to spend most her time with her role model Yoo Joonghyuk. She hates you.
"...Sir that's a minor-"
"You're home early, ugly squid."
"Rude..."
While she went on a monologue, he walked away from her, not wanting to trigger any odd dialogue options or cutscenes. The only thing on his mind was the confirmation that Yoo Joonghyuk was in this game. He wondered if...
No Dokja no, bad Dokja. He groaned in embarrassment at his stupid fantasies.
He walked around every background made for the game in boredom, trying to trigger something for the story to progress. That was when a little girl bumped into him.
He paused.
"SHE'S A BABY!" He screamed at the sky.
Multiple frantic pop ups appeared of the anonymous developers notes, quickly explaining that she was a side character not a romance option. He released the biggest sigh of relief he's ever had.
“And Jihye isn’t a romance option either, right?”
”…”
”I will find and kill you when this is all over.”
Annoyed, he turned back towards the young girl.
Yoo Mia
She wants to be just like her older brother.
"Poor girl isn't her own person outside of other characters..." Kim Dokja muttered.
"I'm lost, can you help me find my older brother?" She asked in a fake, high pitched voice.
"Are all your dialogue options about him? Do you really not want to do your own thing?"
The girl thought for a moment. She glitched a bit, and her perfect pigtails became messy and uneven.
"I want candy!" She exclaimed in raspier voice.
He chuckled. "Sure I'll get you some."
After a couple of in game hours, he walked her home as she messily ate a lollipop, trying to finish it before she got told off. Once they arrived at her house, she ran over to the front door and hugged her brother.
"Oppa!" She said happily.
Said man looked up and glared at Kim Dokja. He stepped back, intimidated.
A cutscene appeared of a very detailed shot of Yoo Joonghyuk as the wind flew through his hair. Kim Dokja couldn't help but blush. Why did the game have to do this to him?
A text appeared.
Yoo Joonghyuk- The most popular boy in school
Joonghyuk hates attention, and coldly declines every love confession he receives. The only girl he seems interested in is Lee Seolhwa.
God I wish I was her, Kim Dokja thought to himself.
"Who the hell are you?" Yoo Joonghyuk demanded.
Kim Dokja couldn't respond, he was too flustered. Then, two dialogue options appeared.
"..."
"Why do you care?"
He frowned. How was he supposed to win this man's heart if the game was going to force him to be rude? He ignored the boxes and said,
"I'm Kim Dokja. We're in the same school."
Yoo Joonghyuk paused, not expecting the politeness. "Right, I'm-"
"I know who you are, who wouldn't?" He chuckled, wondering if he was imaging it when he saw the slight blush on Yoo Joonghyuk's face.
"Mia, go inside." He told his sister.
"Mia you're a free woman." Kim Dokja argued.
Yoo Mia smiled and ran off to play outside instead of listening to her brother. He glared at the shorter.
"You're a bad influence on her."
"Aw you don't think I could be a good parent?"
"Why are- why are you teasing me?"
He smiled and stepped closer to him, then whispered, "Because it's so cute seeing you blush."
Eyes widening, Yoo Joonghyuk went red and backed away.
"I... need to go inside..." He said quickly and rushed into his house.
Kim Dokja smiled. Who knew the stoic boy that glared a lot could be so cute? A note from the developer appeared but he ignored it.
Kim Dokja skipped his class the next day, not that it mattered, and went to Yoo Joonghyuk's class instead.
He felt something tap his shoulder from the seat behind him.
"Dokja-ssi, could you give this to Joonghyuk?" Lee Seolhwa handed him what looked like a love letter, a slight blush on her face.
He took the letter, looked her in the eye, then ate it.
Nothing could beat the shocked expression on her face.
At lunch, Kim Dokja hung around Yoo Joonghyuk by the lockers in the halls, not caring much about the other characters. They weren't real here anyway, when he went back to the real world he'll make sure to give his friends attention. Well, only if they weren't mad at him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the taller pinning him against the locker. Kim Dokja's heart rate increased. He stood there, waiting for what wonderful thing was going to happen.
Instead, Yoo Joonghyuk leaned in and said, "Stay away from Seolhwa." then he left.
Kim Dokja blinked. His thoughts spiralled in his head. That scene was very romantic, wasn't it? It had to be building up to a romance arc between him and Yoo Joonghyuk repressed homosexuality, he just knew it. He just had to wait.
Every in-game day, he'd spend it with Yoo Joonghyuk, and treasure all the detailed photos of the man drawn so beautifully. He was sure that Yoo Joonghyuk might've been the real protagonist of the game if it weren't for him being transported into it, as there weren't any artwork or design options of the player.
At lunch, he couldn't find the man so begrudgingly sat with Yoo Sangah.
"Dokja! I haven't seen you in so long. You didn't... get a girlfriend or anything, did you?"
"Could ask you the same thing."
Yoo Sangah went red. "I wish..."
Kim Dokja choked on his food, not expecting that.
The girl's voice changed from the stereotypically high pitch to a more raw tone. "I really like her but... I'm not good enough, am I?"
"It's the other way around. Seriously, what the hell do you see in her?" The girl chuckled at that. "Anyway you're the kindest girl I know, she'd be an idiot not to like you back."
Yoo Sangah gratefully smiled at him.
"Thank you. Uhm... could you help me confess to her?"
Kim Dokja's eyes sparkled and he whispered, "My ship."
Instead of hanging around Yoo Joonghyuk, he couldn't help but find the side quest much more enjoyable. In reality, the coding and scenes for what he was doing was meant to be used for Kim Dokja to help Yoo Joonghyuk confess to Lee Seolhwa, not that he cared about obeying the game.
He helped Yoo Sangah write a love letter for Han Sooyoung, as they found out the girl loves literature.
"You should join a club she's in, then she'll know you're really serious." Kim Dokja suggested.
"A-and then I could see her all the time..." Yoo Sangah mumbled happily. "Ah Dokja could you proofread this?"
He happily took the letter. It seemed like the letter was coded to be for him, as there were a few glitches in areas where Yoo Sangah altered it to address Han Sooyoung instead.
"It's perfect." He smiled at her. "Give it to her tomorrow and tell me how it goes."
"Alright, thank you Dokja!"
Kim Dokja was going to fall asleep in class when a cutscene appeared. To his confusion, he wasn't in it, and was actually watching Yoo Sangah giving Han Sooyoung the love letter.
He watched intently, hoping it'd go against the game's coding and actually work.
Han Sooyoung seemed flustered as she read it. Then she looked up at Yoo Sangah happily and the two girls embraced.
Before Kim Dokja could relish in victory, he heard,
"I'm glad you want to be my best friend, Sooyoung."
Kim Dokja wanted to scream. When the cutscene ended, Kim Dokja ran out the school and yelled at the sky,
"WHY DO YOU HATE YURI?!!!"
The developers note read, "STOP CHANGING MY STORY!"
"Who are you?!"
No more notes appeared, leaving Kim Dokja annoyed. He looked at the calendar and grew wary of the fact he had spent a couple of weeks in the game. He really needed to get out, and fast.
He looked at the menu screen and stared at the dating options.
Yoo Sangah was really kind but he'd feel guilty to date her, knowing she likes Han Sooyoung, both in game and real life.
He couldn't bring himself to date Han Sooyoung, even if it was fake, it was too repulsive.
Lee Jihye should never even be considered.
He wasn't good enough for Lee Seolhwa in any universe.
And Yoo Joonghyuk... wasn't listed as an option...
He blinked. Then… what was the point of all those official art of the two bonding? Why was there a scene where the man wiped crumbs off his face at lunch? Why was this developer queerbaiting him?! HE WANTED A BL FANTASY DAMMIT.
How could they let a relationship between him and a high schooler be allowed but not him with a man?!
He sighed, then stared up at the sky with a mischievous grin. He was going to change the course of the game, no matter how long it took.
Eventually, Kim Dokja started a reading and writing book club at school, inviting everyone he knew, which were his four friends. He made himself the president of the club, with Lee Seolhwa as the vice. It was a mistake to invite her, as he had to watch instances of her and Yoo Joonghyuk always being with each other. On the other hand, at least the club allowed for Yoo Sangah to spend a lot more time with Han Sooyoung.
Kim Dokja gave out the first activity of the club, which was describing your ideal partner.
After 30 in-game minutes, they all went in a circle to read out what they wrote.
"I used to want my partner to be as cool as me, and maybe a motorcyclist who didn't care about the rules but now..." Han Sooyoung had a small smile, "I guess there's nothing wrong with being soft and kind. N-not that I'm talking about anyone specific I'm just saying!"
"My ideal partner is anyone who loves me, really. And just lets me be myself and makes me feel good about the way I am," Yoo Sangah said shyly.
"Who'd try to change perfection?" Han Sooyoung argued, causing the other girl to blush.
"For me I... I had trouble thinking of anything," Lee Seolhwa said, bashfully.
"It's because you're out of everyone's league," Han Sooyoung said, leaning back on her chair.
"Not entirely that. I suppose I don't really want a relationship?"
"You can describe the ideal friend, if you want." Kim Dokja suggested.
"I suppose I'd just like someone who sees me as an equal, I don't really like being put on a pedestal."
"It's the same for me." Yoo Joonghyuk said, bored.
"Is that all?" Kim Dokja asked, frowning at him.
"It can't be, you wrote a whole paragraph!" Han Sooyoung peeked over at his paper, earning a glare.
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. "Fine, if I have to... I wrote my ideal partner as someone who understands me completely, even I don't say anything out loud. And would be by my side no matter what..."
Kim Dokja stared at him, eyes wide and sparkling.
"Your turn, Dokja!" Yoo Sangah said in a chipper voice.
He nervously stared at his paper. He hadn't actually written anything, he just doodled a picture of him and Yoo Joonghyuk with a family of 6 kids.
"So? Who's your ideal partner?" Han Sooyoung asked impatiently.
"...Dilf," he said without thinking.
Everyone stared at him.
He really hoped none of this was being streamed.
After the club, Kim Dokja was grabbed by Yoo Joonghyuk, who scolded him for forgetting his lunch earlier. Next thing he knew, the man was feeding him dumplings in the park.
He happily opened his mouth with every bite. Yoo Joonghyuk had a blush across his face.
"You know you could... feed yourself."
"It tastes better this way." He insisted.
"What way?"
"Being fed by someone else."
Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't tear his eyes off the crumb at the corner of Kim Dokja's mouth, he leaned over and pressed his lips there to remove it. Kim Dokja went completely red.
"You're right, it does taste better." Yoo Joonghyuk smiled.
Kim Dokja.exe has stopped working.
It was night. And the game actually looked a lot prettier at night, all the bright colours were toned down into something easier to look at. Under the moonlight, Kim Dokja noticed something at the roof of the school. A familiar figure that'd he follow to the ends of the world.
"What're you doing up here?" Yoo Joonghyuk asked when Kim Dokja made it to the roof.
"Just wanted to see someone." He teased.
Kim Dokja stood next to him, as they stared out into the distance.
"Dokja... I..." Yoo Joonghyuk looked away, a blush on his face.
The shorter stared with sparkling eyes. "Yeah?" He asked softly, leaning closer.
"You're my best friend and, and I need to tell you that I..."
Kim Dokja gently held his hand, waiting for him to continue.
"I like Lee Seolhwa."
...
What.
"I need your help to confess to her, I reject so many confessions but I've never made one before, and I know you've made plenty so that's why-"
"YOU IDIOT!" He groaned, holding tightly onto the man's collar, burying his face in his chest.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood frozen, unsure of what was happening.
"Dokja...?"
"W-why..." he took a breath, "Why do you always want her? Why do you n-never want... me?"
The taller put his hands on his shoulders forcing him to look at him. He had a blush on his face and a confused look.
"You like me?"
Kim Dokja let out a laugh. "You just realised?"
He didn't know why he was getting so worked up over it. It wasn't real, even if he won his heart in-game, Yoo Joonghyuk still hated him in real life.
This Yoo Joonghyuk however, gently cradled his face in his hands, unlike how roughly grabbed him in the real world. Then, leaned in. Kim Dokja stared, wondering if it would happen or if this moment would be taken away from him as well.
Yoo Joonghyuk leaned against his forehead and stared into his eyes.
"Dokja, will you be mine?"
Kim Dokja felt his heart skipped way too many beats. Trying to calm down, he gave a shaken nod.
"I love you, Joonghyuk-ah."
A pop up appeared, signalling he chose Yoo Joonghyuk as his partner. Kim Dokja smiled.
Finally.
He closed his eyes, waiting for a kiss.
When he opened his eyes again, he felt something wet on his face. Tears? Why would he be crying?
They weren't his tears, they were Yoo Joonghyuk's. His scarred hands holding tightly onto Kim Dokja's wounded body. Staring at him, begging him to wake up, and eyes widening when he did.
"Joonghyuk-ah..." the shorter coughed out weakly.
"Fool, stop trying to leave me." He warned, although there a weak threat behind it, especially by his worried facial expression.
Kim Dokja chuckled, reaching his arms up to wrap over the man. "Joonghyuk-ah, will you kiss me already?" He mumbled into his ear.
His brain was still unable to process his surroundings, and he couldn't register that he was no longer in the game. Yoo Joonghyuk went red, although fulfilled his wishes. He gently held the shorter upright, a hand on his back supporting him, the other cradling his head. He softly planted a kiss on his lips, trying to be careful with his injuries
Kim Dokja melted in his arms. Why did the kiss feel so... real? Like it was the real Yoo Joonghyuk? His warmth, he lips, him. The shorter pulled away, and his eyes adjusted to what was happening. Then, he went bright red.
"Did... did you just kiss me?"
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at him. "You asked me to."
"You listened?!"
"Do you regret it?"
"What? No! It was g-good- I mean no- I mean-" he groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I had a weird dream..."
"You died."
"Can we leave the past behind us?"
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, then carefully stood up, with Kim Dokja still in his arms.
"I need to get you to Seolhwa..." the man muttered, still annoyed.
Kim Dokja held onto him tightly, and stared at his face.
"Joonghyuk-ah..."
"What?"
"Do you uhm... what do you think of Lee Seolhwa?"
"She's a great teammate."
"That's all?"
He glared at him, annoyed. "How about you ask what I think of you instead?"
Kim Dokja blushed. "What do you think of me?"
"You're an annoying, self-sacrificing fool, who never shuts up."
The shorter chuckled. "And...?"
"...And I love you anyway."
Kim Dokja smiled, leaning up to press a kiss on his cheek, then frowned at how many marks were on his face from the battle. He caressed it with his other hand, smiling at the way Yoo Joonghyuk's face heated up from the contact.
"What was your dream?"
He chuckled. "You would've hated it if it was you in my place..."
"Did you hate it?"
"Most of it. There were some good parts, at least."
Yoo Joonghyuk decided not to tell Kim Dokja how he muttered "I love you, Joonghyuk-ah" when he was unconscious.
”But… I’m glad I’m back,” he softly added,
The taller gave him a small smile and kissed his forehead. “Me too.”