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Kim Dokja has a boring life.
He works at Mino Soft. A gaming company where all they do is test out games for the general public. Not to mention he works with a shitty finance head named Han Myungoh. He doesn’t do anything other than sit on his ass all day, harass his female colleagues, and pile a shit ton of work on him.
His coworker Yoo Sangah is one of Han Myungoh’s victims. She’s responsible and a warm face to see at the office. Due to the fact they were hired together, she always tries to get a conversation out of him. This however leads to Han Myungohs raging jealousy.
For the most part, he’s alone at his desk doing his work. When he’s bored out of his mind (a daily occurrence) he ends up reading web novels on his phone.
Once he’s home all he eats is convenience store food and nothing else. After he eats he takes a shower and gets ready for the night. His nights are spent reading web novels that he’s been keeping up with for months, even years. He reads until he falls asleep or accidentally pulls an all-nighter.
That’s Kim Dokja’s life. It’s nothing too special or special at all. It’s plain and boring.
On rare occasions, he’ll get a notification from a streaming platform that he knows all too well by now.
Yoo Joonghyuk has gone live!
Kim Dokja smiles to himself when he reads the notification banner. He pauses his reading and clicks on the notification. He’s brought to a new screen with a man he’s all too familiar with.
“I will be playing Valorant today. Stay if you’d like.”
Yoo Joonghyuk.
The man he’s loved since high school.
When Kim Dokja was a teenager he wasn’t the most popular guy at school or with the crowds in general.
“You’re the son of a murderer! How disgraceful!” Song Minwoo said as he kicked his stomach once more.
“I would be embarrassed to have a mother who profits off from murdering her husband.” One of his lackeys said as he grabbed a handful of his face.
“How can you even show your face to your peers?” Another chimed in with a laugh.
He received another kick to his stomach which left him coughing up blood. This was clockwork. He just had to endure it for a while longer and then they would leave him alone.
Song Minwoo pushed him onto his back and was about to go for a punch to his face before someone interrupted him.
“Leave him alone.” A voice called out to Song Minwoo and his lackeys. The whole group turned including Kim Dokja.
It was a boy. He was tall and he had black hair that was styled nicely. He had a slim build but broad shoulders, was it possible that he worked out?
His face was one he hadn’t seen before. His gaze, framed by black eyes, was unwavering and chilling. He had thick dark eyebrows that looked like strokes of a paintbrush. He still looked boyish though with a round face and no telling of puberty effects other than his deep voice.
“Why should I listen to you?” Song Minwoo eventually responded after analyzing the guy in front of him.
“Pick on someone your own size. You look pathetic going for someone who can’t defend themselves.” Ouch.
“Fuck off. Stick your nose somewhere else.” He grumbled and turned back to kicking Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja braced himself for the next kick to the stomach but nothing ever came. Instead, he heard a distorted grunt come from above him. The mysterious guy had stepped in and punched Minwoo in the face.
Minwoo stumbled back and touched his lip, he winced at the contact and noticed that his lip started to bleed.
He looked up to see the mysterious guy and gave him a twisted smile before lunging at him with a balled fist.
The mysterious man swiftly moved his body to the side. He barely managed to avoid the blow, but he countered with a swift jab to Minwoo’s ribs.
Minwoo crouched down and held his chest with one hand. The other male grabbed a fistful of Minwoo’s hair and forced him to look into his eyes.
“Pick on someone your own size next time. Leave this guy alone unless you want another beating.” He emphasized the word ‘another’ and gave Minwoo a small smile before walking towards where Kim Dokja was lying down.
Minwoo’s lackeys quickly ran to where their leader was crouched and helped him up. They carried a limping Minwoo out of the man’s sight. That ought to teach them a lesson.
The male reached Kim Dokja and held a hand out for him to grab. He hesitantly took it and was helped up. He winced at how swiftly he was helped up, he held his stomach where the new bruises were forming.
“Are you okay?” His savior asked.
“You came before they could do anything that would hurt for a couple of weeks.” Kim Dokja replied and paused before saying, “You didn’t have to step in to help me, I would’ve taken the beating. You didn’t have to deal with my burden.”
“Well, I did. They won’t bother you anymore.”
Kim Dokja stared at this guy and then looked away. He chuckled to himself which made the other raise an eyebrow.
“What’s so funny?” He eyed him. He was getting laughed at while he just saved him?
“It’s not you. They won’t leave me alone, they always come back.” Kim Dokja sighed despairingly.
“I’m Yoo Joonghyuk.” Mystery boy said, “Hang out with me and you’ll see that they won’t come back. Ever.” He followed up with.
Kim Dokja stared dumbfounded. Yoo Joonghyuk seemed so serious, his eyes weren’t wavering and his breath was still normal.
Kim Dokja started to laugh but he quickly stopped since his stomach started to hurt. He had forgotten he got a beating earlier…
“I’m Kim Dokja. Nice to meet you.”
The first few days were awkward. Kim Dokja often joked around (by often he joked every day) while Yoo Joonghyuk struggled to keep up with all the spews he would say.
Yoo Joonghyuk was frustrated by Kim Dokja’s unserious attitude on everything, and Kim Dokja couldn’t understand why Yoo Joonghyuk was so serious.
One afternoon, while doing a lab with chemicals, Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja accidentally created a small explosion that sent colorful smoke into the air.
Instead of panicking, they both looked at each other and burst into laughter. The tension that was between them melted away in an instant and hearing the stoic Yoo Joonghyuk laugh was music to his ears.
Kim Dokja smiled at the sight that was in front of him, his heart was racing. For the first time, he saw Yoo Joonghyuk as a friend rather than just someone who felt pity for him.
Since that day, Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk were attached to the hip. There wasn’t a moment where you wouldn’t see them together, bickering back and forth over the littlest things.
They had become friends to everyone’s surprise. Kim Dokja, the son of a murder, awkward and everyone’s scapegoat had become friends with Yoo Joonghyuk.
Yoo Joonghyuk, who was handsome, popular among the students (specifically the girls for his looks), and extremely stoic.
What an odd pairing to say the least but they clicked. Much to Dokja’s surprise, Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to think the same since he hadn’t left him yet.
As the weeks passed, Kim Dokja found himself looking forward to their time together. They shared stories about their lives, their dreams, and their insecurities.
It was hard to believe that Yoo Joonghyuk was opening up to him about his life. What was harder to believe was how he, Kim Dokja, ended up trusting another person enough to confide in them.
One evening, while working at Yoo Joonghyuk’s house for an assignment, Kim Dokja noticed a poster of a gaming convention.
“You’re a gamer?” Kim Dokja asked and Yoo Joonghyuk looked up through his eyelashes before looking back down at the work. “I am. In my free time though. It’s not a job or anything.”
Kim Dokja hummed in acknowledgment. “You know, it could be a job. There’s nothing wrong with turning a hobby into a career.”
Yoo Joonghyuk smiled, “I never thought someone would think of it like that.”
“Well, thankfully I’m the first,” Kim Dokja replied softly, and for a moment, the world around them faded.
Before Kim Dokja realized it, his feelings for Yoo Joonghyuk had grown beyond just a friendship.
How couldn’t he fall for his best friend? He was handsome, caring (in his own way), made good food, and was still there for him.
But he didn’t want to ruin the only good thing in his life. Not over some silly feelings. So he did the only reasonable thing that anyone would do.
He started to push Yoo Joonghyuk away.
Now, years have passed, and Kim Dokja’s feelings remain the same for Yoo Joonghyuk.
They aren’t as close as they used to be but they still keep in touch. Every once in a while they check up on each other but that’s all.
Yoo Joonghyuk ended up taking Kim Dokja’s offer to turn his gaming hobby into a full-time job. He is now a pro gamer and he couldn’t be prouder.
Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk had good looks, everyone with a functioning brain knew this. However, it wasn’t just his looks that brought him to the top of the world stage. It was his gaming abilities. He truly was amazing at everything he touched.
The map is Split and Yoo Joonghyuk’s team was on attack.
Yoo Joonghyuk selected his agent's abilities and he sprinted to A site. He carefully scanned for enemies around him and once he reached the site he threw the smoke which obscured the enemy’s vision.
Watching Yoo Joonghyuk play was exhilarating. His play style made his eyes glue to the screen. He never thought it would be satisfying to watch someone play Valorant but here he is now, fangirling.
Before Kim Dokja knew it, the final enemy appeared and Yoo Joonghyuk fired at them without a single doubt. He makes the shot and the victory screen pops up.
Soon after that, Yoo Joonghyuk closes the game. He answers a few questions and thanks the people who had donated throughout the stream.
“Thank you for joining today. Have a nice night.” Yoo Joonghyuk spoke into the microphone before ending the stream.
Kim Dokja knows he won’t have a happily ever after with Yoo Joonghyuk. Ever. But it was fun to think about.
He was in love with someone who knew of his existence and at one point knew everything about him. That has all changed now.
He now stares at Yoo Joonghyuk from his screen. He knows his love is unrequited and he accepts that. But it’s nice to imagine a life where he could be happy with Yoo Joonghyuk.
He knows he should let this all go. These are feelings from high school. It’s been years since then. He’s now a grown adult still pining for this high school crush who used to be his best friend.
How silly.
Yoo Joonghyuk
Did you catch the stream?
Kim Dokja
I did
It was a good one today
Yoo Joonghyuk
The others weren’t?
Kim Dokja
Don’t get me wrong they were
All of your streams are good
Yoo Joonghyuk
You think so?
Kim Dokja
Of course!
Your THE Yoo Joonghyuk
Everyone thinks every stream is a good one
Yoo Joonghyuk
I don’t care about what everyone says
Just what you think
Kim Dokja
How rude
You need to think about all your fans
Not just me
Yoo Joonghyuk
How couldn’t I think of you
Kim Dokja
Don’t say such absurdities
Anyone could get the wrong idea
Yoo Joonghyuk
I don’t care
I only care about your thoughts and feelings
Kim Dokja
Yoo Joonghyuk
It’s late
Yoo Joonghyuk
I mean it
Kim Dokja
Goodnight
Yoo Joonghyuk
Goodnight Kim Dokja
Just know that I only care about what you have to say
No one else matters to me
Just you