Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Kim Dokja’s life was a living hell. At just 12 years old, he endured daily abuse from his father and relentless bullying from his classmates. Small, weak, and malnourished, he had no choice but to accept his fate. He tried standing up to his bullies, but they were too strong, and he was always left battered and bruised. His only escape was through books—fantasy books and webnovels, specifically. Whenever he read them, he felt like he was being transported to another world, where reality faded away, even if only for a moment.
However, recently, even the solace of books seemed to be slipping away. Just earlier, Song Minwoo and his gang dragged him to the park near their school to demand his lunch money. He refused, knowing he’d be black and blue afterward, but it was his last bit of money, and his mother was already struggling to make ends meet while surviving his father’s wrath.
“Oi, oi, oi, why won’t you give me your lunch money? You know what’ll happen if you don’t, right?” Song Minwoo sneered, gripping Dokja’s collar and lifting him off the ground.
“I have nothing to give you, I swear. Why don’t you ask your parents for money instead?” Dokja glared back, trying to appear defiant despite the fear in his eyes.
“Tsk, tsk, he’s retorting now, boss,” one of Minwoo’s lackeys goaded.
“So, you’re talking back now, huh? You’re talking back to me?!” Minwoo snarled.
“Just kill me. I have nothing to give you,” Dokja replied weakly, his voice resigned as if he had already accepted his fate.
Just as Minwoo was about to strike, a voice from behind them called out.
“Hey!”
Minwoo and his gang turned around to see a tall, good-looking boy with raven hair around their age, glaring at them. His bangs were parted on his right side, perfectly framing his face.
“So what will happen next?” the boy asked, his tone cold.
“Huh?”
“I’m asking you, what’ll happen if he keeps refusing to give you his lunch money?”
“Then he’ll be borrowing his face from a dog, what do you expect? Wait, who the hell are you?!”
“Is it fun? Exercising your power over the weak?” the boy continued, unfazed.
“WHAT?! Are you mocking us?”
“Yeah. You all disgust me,” the boy replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Bastard!” Minwoo cursed, rushing forward to punch him. But the boy effortlessly dodged, grabbed Minwoo’s arm, and threw him to the ground.
Minwoo curled up in pain.
“What the hell?! You!!” Minwoo’s lackeys lunged at the boy one by one, but he dodged each attack with ease, delivering sharp kicks to their shins, causing them to collapse. As they struggled to get up, he struck them with precise elbows, knocking them down again.
Ashamed and humiliated by their defeat, the gang scrambled to their feet and ran off, cursing as they went.
“You’ll pay for this! We’ll be back!” Minwoo shouted over his shoulder, clutching his back in pain.
Dokja, who had been watching from the corner, initially trembling, was now astonished. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. The boy who had bravely fought off his bullies seemed like a hero, a protagonist from one of his books. He wanted to be just like him.
“T-thank you…so much. For helping me,” Dokja stammered, bowing deeply, his voice filled with gratitude.
“Sure. Are you okay?” the boy asked, his voice laced with concern despite the stoic expression on his face.
“Y-yeah, they didn’t get to hurt me, thanks to you. You were so cool back there,” Dokja said excitedly, as if he had just watched an action movie unfold before his eyes. It had been so long since he had interacted with someone his age like this. No one ever talked to him at school, except for his bullies.
“Really? Thanks,” the boy replied with a small, almost imperceptible smile.
“How did you do that?” Dokja asked, his eyes wide with admiration.
“Gaming moves,” the boy shrugged.
Dokja laughed heartily. “So you like video games?”
The boy raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by Dokja’s reaction. “Mmhm, I play a lot.”
“Cooool!” Dokja exclaimed, his excitement genuine.
Seeing that Dokja wasn’t mocking his hobby, the boy responded with a simple, “Thanks.”
Dokja noticed that the boy wasn’t much of a talker. He didn’t show much emotion, but Dokja could sense that he had a noble heart.
Feeling awkward and noticing that the boy was about to leave, Dokja quickly walked beside him, scrambling for something to say, desperate to make him stay.
“W-what’s your name?”
“Yoo Joonghyuk. You?”
“Kim Dokja.”
“Oh, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too!” Dokja replied, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Do you always hang out here?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked curiously.
“At the park? Not really. They…just brought me here. Probably because it’s the closest place outside of school,” Dokja explained, his voice tinged with bitterness.
“Oh…sorry. Do you live nearby?”
“Yeah, I live just a few blocks away.”
“Then come with me.”
Dokja, surprised by the sudden invitation, mouthed a confused “Huh?”
“You have wounds. We’ll treat them,” Joonghyuk said simply.
“Oh. Thank you,” Dokja replied hesitantly, worried that he was causing Joonghyuk too much trouble, but he couldn’t help but feel a warmth in his chest at the boy’s kindness. Shy as he was to admit it, he hoped he could be friends with Yoo Joonghyuk. After all, this was the first time someone had stood up for him. At school, countless classmates had witnessed him being bullied, and many knew what was happening, but no one had ever dared to intervene. They saw him come to school with bruises, but no one ever asked what happened at home. They didn’t care—unless it gave them something to gossip about.
After walking side by side for a few minutes, they reached Joonghyuk’s home. When he opened the gate, Dokja’s jaw dropped. The house was enormous, probably three times the size of his own. He followed Joonghyuk toward the door, still in awe.
“You live here?”
“Yes. Take off your shoes.”
“Oh, sorry!” Dokja quickly removed his shoes, embarrassed that he had almost forgotten. He mentally cursed himself, having been so distracted by observing Joonghyuk and the surroundings of the house.
They entered the house and were greeted by Joonghyuk’s mother. Dokja politely greeted her as well. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, as Joonghyuk had never brought a classmate or friend home before. Noticing the bandages on Dokja's face and elbow, she asked, worriedly, "Son, what happened? Is he your friend?"
Joonghyuk looked at Dokja, as if trying to decide what to say. Could they be considered friends already? He wasn’t sure, but to avoid more questions from his mom, he simply said, "Mhm. He got bullied by some kids."
"Come, have a seat." His mom smiled and guided Dokja to a chair at the dining table.
She immediately fetched antiseptic and cotton from a nearby cabinet and hurried back to them. Dokja observed her sense of urgency, touched by her kindness. Joonghyuk's mom seemed like a truly caring and dignified woman. She was really tall too—no wonder Joonghyuk was so tall and strong; he must have taken after her.
"Let me see your wounds," she said gently. Dokja raised his elbow. Joonghyuk’s mom carefully examined it, shaking her head at the sight of the injury. She then gently lifted his chin to check the bandage on his cheek.
“This one’s a deep cut. What did those bullies do to you, son?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Dokja hesitated, not knowing how to explain that the cut had actually come from his father slapping him, causing him to fall and crash his elbow against a glass table. But he appreciated how she called him “son,” feeling a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Uhhm…that one’s from an accident, Mrs. Yoo,” he replied with a sad smile.
Joonghyuk watched him intently as his mom treated his wounds, his eyes filled with worry.
Just then, a small girl, probably around 9 years old, peeked out from a room on the left. She looked like a chibi version of Joonghyuk, with the same raven hair and sharp features. “Who’s that ugly boy, mama?” she asked, her voice innocent but blunt.
“Watch your language, Mia!” her mom scolded.
“Oops, sorry,” she said, her tone sheepish.
“He’s my friend,” Joonghyuk added nonchalantly.
“Ehhh? Oppa has friends? I didn’t know,” Mia said, her eyes wide with innocent wonder.
Dokja’s heart warmed at the realization. So, he had finally gained a friend after so long? Joonghyuk’s sister might be a bit of a brat, but for now, he didn’t mind.
The day continued as Dokja chatted with Joonghyuk, Mia and his mom. Funnily enough, Joonghyuk and Mia also teased each other in between. Dokja couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to meet such a wonderful family.
He learned a lot about Joonghyuk, talked about their interests and slowly, they realized they have a lot in common. They enjoyed chatting about random things, and got along well. He also found out they’re of the same age, just different sections in the same school.
Before the day ended, Joonghyuk assured him that he’ll be there for him once more in case of trouble, paving the way for another meeting.
“Oh, by the way…” Joonghyuk blurted out, as if thinking of something serious.
“Y-yes?”
“If those bullies bother you again, just message me,” Joonghyuk handed him a piece of paper with his contact number.
Dokja, with mouth open, looked at Joonghyuk as if he just met one of his favorite protagonists.
“Thank you so much, Joonghyuk. Thank you so much Mrs. Yoo.”
“You’re welcome.” Joonghyuk answered.
“Just call me Aunt Minyoung.” His mom smiled kindly.
Later, as he left Joonghyuk’s home, he couldn’t help but reflect on how lucky he had been to meet Yoo Joonghyuk. Although the encounter started with pain and bullying, he had gained a friend—a friend who had come to his rescue and welcomed him into his life.
Finally, he arrived at his own home. The moment he entered, his father greeted him with another slap, but this time, Dokja didn’t cry. He had no more tears to shed. His father lashed out with his usual cruelty, but as Dokja sat in his room afterward, clutching his bruised cheek, he realized he wasn’t as upset as before.
He had something to look forward to now. He had a friend.
And that, somehow, made the pain a little easier to bear.
Over time, they began to eagerly anticipate spending time together after school, and their bond grew stronger. Soon, they were walking to school in the mornings and heading home together in the afternoons, becoming inseparable.
· ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── ·
At 13 years old, Joonghyuk discovered that Dokja was also being abused at home. It happened one day when he noticed that despite his efforts to threaten Dokja’s bullies since the previous year, and even after the bullying had finally stopped, Dokja still had fresh wounds or bruises from time to time when they met. Whenever Joonghyuk asked him about it, Dokja seemed scared, offering various excuses like slipping or breaking a glass. Over time, it became obvious that these were just excuses, as Joonghyuk knew Dokja wasn't clumsy or careless. In fact, Dokja was an incredibly intelligent child, his mind resembling a library filled with books of various genre. There was no way he would be that careless.
Determined to find out the truth, Joonghyuk decided to secretly follow Dokja home one day. He positioned himself by a tree near their house, even bringing binoculars to get a clearer view of what was happening. As Dokja entered his home, Joonghyuk watched and listened from a distance. He heard Dokja's father yelling at his mother, demanding dinner, followed by a barrage of curses and verbal abuse. His father then turned his anger toward Dokja, calling him a burden and another mouth to feed before cruelly kicking him in the stomach. Joonghyuk watched in horror as Dokja vomited a little while his mother screamed, trying to stop the abuse.
Joonghyuk clenched his fists, his whole body trembling with rage. He was ready to storm in and defend his friend, but he knew he couldn't. It would be trespassing, and Dokja’s father was a large, intimidating man. The sense of helplessness consumed Joonghyuk, as he felt powerless to protect his first real friend, the one person who didn’t want to be close to him just for personal gain.
The next day, on their way to school, Joonghyuk hugged Dokja tightly and quietly told him he knew the truth. Dokja broke down, sobbing into Joonghyuk’s shoulder. For the very first time, Dokja opened up about his struggles at home to someone—a dear friend.
“I’m sorry for lying to you. I was scared. You might fight him like how you fought Minwoo for me. But he’s stronger than Minwoo. He will hurt you,” Dokja confessed, his voice trembling with fear.
“Dokja, you can just live with us,” Joonghyuk offered, gently patting Dokja's back as he tried to comfort him.
Dokja shook his head, wiping away tears. “I would love to, and I’m grateful, Joonghyuk-ah. But I can’t. Without me, he might kill my mother. And I don’t want you or your family to get involved. Your life is peaceful, unlike mine. He might come after you too.”
“Should I just report him to the police?” Joonghyuk asked with seriousness in his eyes.
Dokja shook his head. “I’ve already suggested that to my mom. Unfortunately, she was afraid to do so. He owns the house, and he's the breadwinner too.”
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything,” Joonghyuk murmured, biting his lip in frustration.
“It’s okay. Just you being there for me…It’s already more than enough, you know?” Dokja smiled sadly, his eyes filled with gratitude.
Joonghyuk might not have realized it, but Dokja saw him as his light, his salvation. The only good thing in his life, something to look forward to every day amidst all the darkness.
From that day on, Joonghyuk made it his mission to make life a little better for Dokja. He started cooking lunch for him and inviting him to their house for dinner every day, trying to offer him an escape from his hellish home, even if only for a few hours.
“Huh, what’s this?” Dokja asked, peeking into the tote bag Joonghyuk handed him. Inside, he found a lunchbox filled with his favorite omurice, accompanied by expensive-looking sushi.
“Eat,” Joonghyuk instructed, his tone gruff but caring.
Dokja’s eyes widened in surprise. “Is this for real, Chef Yoo?”
“Shut up and just eat it,” Joonghyuk replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
As Dokja munched on the delicious food, he couldn’t help but mutter through a mouthful, “Thank you…mmmMMM!”
Before long, Dokja became a regular guest at Joonghyuk’s house, spending most evenings there, especially on weekends. Joonghyuk knew Dokja wouldn’t come unless invited, so he made it a point to invite him every single day. Eventually, Joonghyuk confided in his parents about Dokja’s situation, and soon enough, his family started treating Dokja like one of their own. He became like an older brother to Mia as well.
Every day after school, Joonghyuk and Dokja spent their time together, walking home, eating dinner, doing homework, playing video games, or reading books and webnovels. Dokja would often ramble about the stories he read, and Joonghyuk would listen intently. They would watch TV or movies together, cook meals, and walk to school together the next morning.
Whenever they were together, Dokja could forget his problems. He wasn’t Dokja, the abused child; he was just Dokja, a normal kid hanging out with his friend. A normal kid who loved reading books. With Joonghyuk, he could joke around, be his true self, without fear of being hit or kicked for making a mistake. Joonghyuk became his escape, just as much as his favorite books were.
In return, Joonghyuk found a sense of freedom he had never known. Free from expectations, free from the envious eyes that watched him at school.
Thanks to the Yoo family’s care, Dokja soon gained weight and muscle. Mrs. Yoo and Joonghyuk made sure he was well-fed, and Joonghyuk often used him as a taste tester for his cooking experiments.
One night, after dinner, they were in Joonghyuk’s room watching TV when a news report came on, featuring an interview with a drunkard who claimed he had been attacked by a demon on the street at 2 a.m.
“Huh? Demons aren’t real,” Joonghyuk muttered, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
“Yeah, they only exist in fantasy novels! The guy’s probably just too drunk and hallucinating. Unless those demons got reverse-isekai’d here or something,” Dokja joked, a playful grin on his face.
Joonghyuk chuckled, trying to suppress his laughter. “Silly. You’re reading too many isekai webnovels again.”
“Silly, huh? What if I told you I am one of those demons? RAWWWR!” Dokja raised his arms, pretending to be a fearsome creature, trying to scare Joonghyuk.
Joonghyuk simply raised an eyebrow and flicked Dokja’s nose.
“Hey! What was that for?!” Dokja exclaimed, rubbing his nose.
And just like that, they began wrestling playfully, pushing each other’s faces away, laughing like idiots.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Mia stood there, hands on her hips, staring at them in disbelief. “Ewww, what are you guys doing?!”
“I told you to knock first, Mia!!” Joonghyuk shouted, trying to push Dokja off of him.
Laughter filled the room as they continued to playfully bicker, the warmth of their friendship wrapping around them like a comforting blanket.
· ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── ·
At 14 years old, Dokja realized he was falling in love with Joonghyuk. How could he not? Joonghyuk had saved him from bullies, made him feel cared for, lightened his hardest days, and even saved him from his own inner demons. And never once did Joonghyuk ask for anything in return. Sometimes, Dokja wondered why Joonghyuk had chosen him as his best friend out of all the popular guys in school. Joonghyuk could have easily befriended the nice, popular varsity player or the charismatic pageant winner. Yet, here he was, spending most of his time outside of school with Dokja.
But Dokja had no plans to reveal his feelings. He knew Joonghyuk was just naturally kind, and that his actions were driven by friendship, not something more. If Joonghyuk ever found out, it might ruin everything. He might be disgusted, and Dokja couldn’t bear the thought. The idea of losing Joonghyuk, the only bright spot in his life, was too much to handle. He was sure Joonghyuk liked girls, and Joonghyuk deserved someone better. So, Dokja kept his feelings to himself, content to be by Joonghyuk’s side. He knew Joonghyuk would likely fall in love with someone else one day, but that was a problem for future Dokja.
One day, as Dokja sat in the park, cherry blossom petals drifting down around him, he found himself deep in thought. He was waiting for Joonghyuk, trying to keep his emotions in check. When Joonghyuk arrived, his sharp eyes immediately noticed the fresh bruise on Dokja’s face.
“Dokja! What happened? Did your father do this to you again?” Joonghyuk’s voice was thick with anger and concern.
Dokja placed a hand on Joonghyuk’s shoulder, trying to calm him. “Calm down, Joonghyuk. Yeah, he did,” he admitted, unable to stop the tears from welling up in his eyes.
Joonghyuk’s heart ached as he watched his friend cry. Without a word, he pulled Dokja into a tight hug, his hands gently patting Dokja’s back in a comforting rhythm. Dokja cried into his shoulder, and they eventually sat down on the park bench in silence, Joonghyuk’s hand holding Dokja’s. Just having Joonghyuk by his side made everything feel a little more bearable. Without words, they understood each other completely. Warmth spread through Dokja’s chest, and his heart began to race.
Unbeknownst to him, Joonghyuk’s heart was beating just as fast.
Joonghyuk vowed to himself that one day, he would save Dokja from his home and take him away from his demon of a father. The fear of losing Dokja to the abuse haunted him, and he felt an overwhelming need to protect his friend.
After a while, Joonghyuk broke the silence. He let go of Dokja’s hand and turned to him with a thoughtful expression. “What if we start a little business?”
Dokja blinked, confused. “Huh? What do you mean?”
Joonghyuk glanced over at a nearby lemonade stand and sandwich stall. “We could open a small stall like those. Something simple, maybe dumplings and omurice. I can handle the cooking, and you’re great at sales talk.”
“I am?” Dokja tilted his head, surprised.
“Yeah. You convinced me to buy your 1864 book recommendations, didn’t you?” Joonghyuk teased.
Despite the tears that had just dried on his cheeks, Dokja burst into laughter. “Okay, okay, that’s a great idea. We could run it after classes or on weekends. But why, though? Has Chef Yoo finally decided to share his brilliant cooking with the world?”
“No, idiot,” Joonghyuk smirked. “So you can save up and get out of that house with your mom sooner. Leave your demon of a father behind.”
“Joonghyuk-ah…” Dokja’s voice softened, his heart swelling with emotion.
“Hm?”
“You’re willing to cook…for that?”
“Of course.”
Dokja was taken aback by the lengths Joonghyuk was willing to go to help him. Joonghyuk truly was his salvation. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, at that moment, he just wanted to cry out of happiness—and kiss Joonghyuk so badly.
A few weeks later, they finally launched their “Omurice x Murim Dumpling Company.” Dokja had come up with the name after much banter, and Joonghyuk had eventually relented. They ran the stall after school and on weekends, as long as they weren’t swamped with homework. The business quickly gained popularity, and soon, many people were buying from them.
However, one evening, some elderly passersby warned them about staying at the park too late. They said demon attacks had been on the rise, and the demons were known to prefer children as their prey. Dokja and Joonghyuk exchanged a glance, recalling their conversation about demons around a year ago. They thanked the elderly for their concern, but once they were alone, they discussed it further.
“Aren’t those just rumors?” Joonghyuk raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“Yeah, probably just a hoax to stir up panic. Maybe clickbait? Old people are gullible to fake news, you know?” Dokja’s voice trailed off, his eyes distant. “The real demon is my father…and people like Song Minwoo.”
Joonghyuk was at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to comfort his friend.
But the warnings kept coming. A few days later, a group of adults also cautioned them, and then again the following day.
To be safe, they decided to run their business only on weekends, from morning until afternoon. The business had already built a solid reputation, and even with the reduced hours, they still made good earnings. Despite their skepticism, they agreed it was better to be cautious.
· ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
At 15 years old, Dokja had finally saved enough money from their little business to buy something special for Joonghyuk: a customized matching friendship necklace. It was the least he could do to show his gratitude—getting Joonghyuk small gifts from time to time. This time, it was a silver hourglass necklace with their initials engraved at the bottom—"KDJ" on Dokja’s necklace and "YJH" on Joonghyuk’s. Dokja had chosen the hourglass as a reminder that while time may pass quickly, their friendship would always endure. He had originally wanted to buy a gold necklace, but silver was more affordable. Still, he promised himself that he’d get Joonghyuk something better someday.
When he presented the necklace to Joonghyuk, he did so with a mix of excitement and nervousness, his hands slightly trembling as he handed over the small box. Joonghyuk opened it, his eyes widening as he saw the necklace inside.
“Thank you, Dokja. I love it. I will definitely cherish it,” Joonghyuk said, his voice soft with sincerity as he looked up from the necklace to meet Dokja’s eyes.
“You should,” Dokja teased, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Or else you’ll owe me 1 million won!”
Joonghyuk raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion crossing his features. “Why 1 million won? It’s not gold, and it didn’t cost 1 million either.”
“Because that necklace is priceless, you bastard. It has my love,” Dokja replied, forming a small heart with his fingers and holding it up to Joonghyuk, his smile widening mischievously.
Joonghyuk’s expression softened into something almost fond before he quickly masked it with a smirk. He punched Dokja lightly on the shoulder, shaking his head in mock exasperation. “Sure, whatever.”
But as they continued to chat, Joonghyuk’s mind wandered. He found himself thinking that he should get a gift for Dokja too. His birthday was coming up on February 15th, just a day after Valentine’s Day. A thoughtful gift that could double as a birthday and Valentine’s present seemed like a perfect idea.
As Valentine’s Day started to approach, Dokja couldn’t help but wonder if Joonghyuk had a date lined up. The idea made him feel uneasy, but he tried to push those thoughts aside.
One afternoon, with a teasing smile, Dokja turned to Joonghyuk. “So, how many love letters have you gotten this year? I bet there are a lot of girls who’d want to go out with you.”
Joonghyuk shrugged nonchalantly, though a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. “Yeah, I’ve gotten a few, but I don’t plan on dating any of them. They’re all ugly,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Dokja laughed, the sound light and genuine. “You’re definitely Mia’s brother.”
“Hey!” Joonghyuk protested, but his tone lacked any real bite.
Deep down, Dokja felt a wave of relief. He wasn’t sure how he would handle it when Joonghyuk eventually found someone special, but that was a problem for future Dokja to worry about.
Joonghyuk, trying to keep the conversation casual, asked, “How about you? Do you have a date?”
Dokja smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Yes. Dates.”
Joonghyuk’s heart sank at the answer, but he forced himself to nod. “I see,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. As he opened his mouth to ask about the girls Dokja was seeing, Dokja interrupted him.
“Want to see a photo?” Dokja teased, already pulling out his phone.
“Yeah, sure. I bet they’re pretty,” Joonghyuk answered, trying to mask his disappointment with a flat tone.
“Oh, they’re sweet too,” Dokja said, unable to hide the grin on his face as he handed Joonghyuk his phone.
Joonghyuk looked down at the screen and blinked in confusion. There, in Dokja’s gallery, was a photo of dates—the fruit, all dried and neatly arranged on a plate. For a moment, Joonghyuk just stared, and then he let out a huff of laughter, smacking Dokja lightly on the back.
“You idiot,” he muttered, but there was a softness in his voice, an affection that he didn’t quite know how to express.
Dokja grinned, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. He was glad to see Joonghyuk smile, even if just for a moment.
· ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
February 14, ⬛⬛⬛⬛
On Valentine’s Day, with snowflakes gently falling from the sky, Joonghyuk hurried home, his heart pounding with the resolve to confess his feelings to Dokja. The school event had been lively, featuring quirky booths like marriage and jail booths, and maid cafes. As part of the student council, Joonghyuk had been busy managing these activities, which meant he couldn’t leave until much later than the other students. He had asked Dokja to head home first and promised to meet him at his house around 8:30 p.m., where he planned to cook dinner. Joonghyuk was eager to prepare himself mentally for what he was about to do.
However, as he approached his house, he noticed something unusual. The front lights, which were usually on in the evening, were off. A chill ran down his spine. His heart raced as he heard muffled noises from inside—his father’s enraged shouting followed by Mia’s distressed cries.
“Mom? Dad? Mia?” he called out, his voice trembling with fear.
He flung the door open and was met with a horrifying sight. His mother, bleeding profusely, was slumped against the door, clutching her stomach. Towering over her was a grotesque demon, with crimson horns and eyes that glowed with malevolent intent.
Joonghyuk’s knees felt weak, and tears streamed down his face as he desperately wanted to help his mother but was paralyzed by fear. He stifled his sobs with his hand and turned, running toward the back entrance of the house, hoping to grab a knife from the kitchen. But then, he heard his father’s anguished cries from the back.
At the rear entrance, Joonghyuk found his father grappling with another demon—one with massive red eyes, long fangs, and menacing wings. His father fought valiantly to protect Mia, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Joonghyuk watched in horror as the demon lifted his father effortlessly and sliced him in half. The gruesome scene caused Joonghyuk to scream in terror, drawing the demon’s attention.
“Joonghyuk! No!” His mother’s voice was weak but filled with urgency as she crawled toward him, her blood pooling around her.
The demon, now aware of Joonghyuk’s presence, turned its gaze toward him. Joonghyuk fled, but just as he was about to escape, Dokja arrived, rushing toward him.
“Joonghyuk-ah, what’s happening? I heard you scream, and your house is dark!” Dokja’s voice was filled with concern as he approached.
Before Joonghyuk could respond, the demon grabbed him from behind. Dokja, though shocked, didn’t hesitate. With a burst of courage, he pulled a pen from his pocket, shouting, “Let him go!” and plunged it into the demon’s arm with all his strength. The demon recoiled, letting go of Joonghyuk, but retaliated by slapping Dokja with a vicious swipe that sent him crashing across the garden.
“Dokja!!!” Joonghyuk screamed, his voice trembling as he watched in horror.
Dokja landed in the bushes, which somewhat cushioned his fall and provided cover. Joonghyuk scrambled to his side. Dokja’s head was bleeding, and he was curled up in pain.
“D-Dokja… are you okay? Please, get up. You have to,” Joonghyuk begged, his voice breaking with fear and desperation.
Dokja opened his eyes weakly, struggling to focus. Despite his pain, he attempted to stand, but the demon’s heavy footsteps grew louder as it approached them.
Just as the demon was about to find them, Mia appeared, biting the demon on the leg in a desperate attempt to help. The demon kicked her away, sending her flying, and another demon, the one Joonghyuk had seen earlier, appeared and grabbed Mia. It sank its teeth into her shoulder, eliciting a gut-wrenching scream of agony from Mia.
Joonghyuk’s heart shattered at the sight. “Mia!!! Stop it!! Stop it!!!!!” he cried out, his voice raw with horror.
He grabbed a thick wooden stake from a nearby garden tool shed, a remnant of silly past gardening efforts with Mia. “Let her go!!!” he shouted, stabbing the demon that had bitten Mia. The demon bled but quickly healed, its powerful frame making Joonghyuk’s efforts seem futile.
“You think the same trick will work again?” the demon sneered. Then, with a horrifying display of strength, it tore Mia’s arm apart, its laughter mingling with her screams. Joonghyuk fell to his knees, gasping and trembling, unable to process the brutality before him. His body was paralyzed with cold fear.
Another demon emerged from the house, dragging Joonghyuk’s mother by her intestines, which hung grotesquely from its mouth. “Not yet done?” it taunted.
The demons continued their horrific feast, tearing into Mia and Joonghyuk’s mother with depraved glee. Joonghyuk’s legs shook uncontrollably as he sat frozen on the cold ground, his mind reeling with grief and rage. His entire family had been slaughtered, and the demons had shown no mercy.
Desperate and broken, Joonghyuk muttered over and over, “I’m gonna kill you all, I’m gonna kill you all, I’m gonna kill…”
A soft, weak voice interrupted his thoughts. “Joonghyuk-ah…” Dokja’s voice was barely audible, and Joonghyuk turned, tears streaming down his face.
“D-Dokja... you’re alive...” Joonghyuk whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
“Shh, I won’t die from just a slap. I’ve had worse at home,” Dokja replied with a faint, wry smile.
Joonghyuk hesitated, looking at Dokja’s battered form. Despite his injuries, Dokja managed to pull Joonghyuk’s arm, guiding him back to the bushes.
Dokja peeked at the demons, who were still engrossed in their grisly feast. “Now, Joonghyuk-ah, when I say run, you run, okay?”
“W-we’re running together, right?” Joonghyuk asked, hope mingling with fear.
“Of course, we should,” Dokja assured him.
“1, 2, 3… run!”
They sprinted toward the gate, but the gate’s creak alerted one of the demons. “They’re running away!!” it roared.
Joonghyuk’s heart pounded wildly, but he forced himself to run faster. The sounds of chaos and the cold air seemed to blur around him. As he reached a hidden alley several blocks away, he realized he was alone.
“Dokja? D-Dokja?” he called, his voice trembling.
He turned to see Dokja, several meters behind, standing defiantly in a fighting stance, trying to distract the demon. Dokja glanced at Joonghyuk, his lips forming the word “Run” before he leaped at the demon, hitting it with his elbow.
Dokja was acutely aware that his attack would be futile. He wasn't naive; he understood his own limitations. Despite having gained some muscle over the years thanks to Joonghyuk and his mother’s nourishing meals, he knew he was still no match for the demons. He knew he’s weak. At this critical moment, however, he was willing to do anything to draw their attention away from Joonghyuk. Even a seemingly pointless gesture might buy enough time to ensure Joonghyuk's safety. Dokja realized that if he and Joonghyuk tried to escape together, neither of them would likely survive. In this dire situation, someone had to be left behind to divert the demons, allowing the other a chance to escape. Joonghyuk saved him countless times, now he was going to save him. And he had come to accept that this was the price he might have to pay. Someone should sacrifice himself here.
The demon, annoyed, punched Dokja, sending him crashing through the air. Dokja landed hard, his head and body battered. “Survive… Joonghyuk-ah,” he whispered weakly before losing consciousness.
The demon advanced toward Dokja. “You pest!!” it growled angrily.
Joonghyuk wanted to stay and help Dokja, but his body moved on its own, driven by Dokja’s command. He ran, pushing himself as far as he could, until he collapsed in a hidden alley, overwhelmed by guilt, fear and grief. He was supposed to eat a hearty dinner with Dokja and his family! He was supposed to see his family's smiles! He was supposed to declare his feelings for Dokja! Why did all of these happen instead?
Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed, unable to shake the memory of the night’s horrors and the crushing realization that he had abandoned Dokja.
At the end of the day, he’s still just a helpless child.
· ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── ·
As dawn broke, Joonghyuk woke alone in the cold alley. He slapped himself, hoping it was all a nightmare. But the bloodstains on his winter coat—Mia’s and Dokja’s—confirmed the grim reality. He vomited, knowing his family was gone and fearing that Dokja might be dead too. But he had to try to find him. What if he was still alive?
Shivering, Joonghyuk emerged from the alley and made his way through the chaotic streets, avoiding the crowd and the growing stench of decay. The streets were eerily quiet, but as he neared his village, the smell grew more unbearable. He reached a major road leading into the village and was horrified to see corpses scattered everywhere, their innards strewn across the ground. A horde of demons feasted on the bodies in the street.
Joonghyuk’s heart raced as he saw the devastation and the demons’ gruesome feast. He covered his mouth, his body frozen with fear.
Then he ran again, as fast as he could, reaching the city’s largest crossing. Gasping for breath, he saw a breaking news broadcast flashing on a large screen—a report of demonic attacks spreading across the country.
The news anchor’s fearless voice was abruptly cut off as a massive demon with black wings and red horns appeared, mauling her from behind. And then the screen went dark.
The demon apocalypse has begun.