Thread by @No_OnesHo

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chapter v: da coda

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The sunrise blares through the open windows nearby the kitchen as Young Joohyuk continues stir-frying some onions with a nonstick pan, the glaze of butter that he previously placed in there coating the vegetable it as the day finally starts.

YSA and LHS were the first ones to wake up from their good night sleep, entering the scene with an awful bed hair as the two looked at each other before laughing lightheartedly, finding hilarity in each other's state of unkept.

"Good morning, Hyunsung-ssi." YSA greeted, voice–

hoarse from sleeping so soundly as she yawned for the third time that day, essence of sleep still seeping in her bones as LHS greeted her the same good morning back.

"Good morning, you two." the CEO warmly greeted to them, placing two empty mugs in a nearby counter and a tray–

filled with numerous kinds of tea, milk, and coffee for the two early birds to choose from.

YSA chose a classic black and creamer for her mug, thanking Young Joohyun for the warm hospitality as she guided her own way towards the water heater.

LHS chose milk and a bag of black–

tea for his own, meekly greeting back the CEO as he followed suit to YSA and patiently waited for his turn.

Young Joohyun hummed to himself before holding onto the pan's handle after simmering the flames into low heat, pouring down the now-sauteed onions onto an already cooked–

batch of omelettes before continuing his way in making breakfast.

The whole squad were currently situated in Young Joohyun's private cabin in Jeju; courtesy to the CEO suddenly inviting them in his own place out of nowhere, not taking any signs of declining his invitation as–

an answer.

The place was more a house than a cabin; grand and spacious in terms of just how big it is as they first entered the establishment, their jaw hanging from their own mouth as the CEO looked smug in their reactions, pleased with his purchase as the group slowly–

acclimated themselves to the unfamiliar environment.

It didn't take them long to get used to the rich-people vibes exuding all around them, finally letting go of themselves as they strolled around the island with no care while Young Joohyun follows behind them with KDJ tagging–

along with him.

Had they slowed down with their excitement in exploring the whole island; they could have had the chance to see two hands slowly intertwining with each other, the individuals behind them smiling freely at the warmth the other exudes as they gently made their–

way to follow the rambunctious group–surprisingly led by YSA, of all people–in front of them.

The doves fly freely along with them, cold sea winds blowing onto their skin as Young Joohyun laughs at how adorably messy his star looks after being attacked by the ruthless gust.

( temporary end )

hi. i know, i'm disappointed with myself too o(-(

but i have to stop in here for now, because my internet connection is pulling a kim dokja on me, what with this intense rainfall and occasional gust.

i will continue posting it tomorrow, TRUST, bye for now :')

Slowly, one by one; the rest of the members finally woke up from their good night sleep, going out of their room to find Young Joohyun whipping out a western-style breakfast for the day, greeting them a simple good morning as he continues cooking up a feast for everyone to share.

"Where's hyung??" LGY groggily asked while taking a chug from his chocolate milk, evidence of sleep still clear on his face as he rubbed his eyes.

SYS snickered at the sight of the bug boy, unaware that she's also just as groggy and looking like she just got mauled in her sleep–

at the moment as she drank her warm glass of milk.

"Should I go and wake Dokja-ssi up??" LHS asked, now fully awake after drinking his fill of classic milk tea and seeing how their leader hasn't come out of his room yet, probably too engrossed in reading his web novels–

last night to sleep early on.

LHS sighed to himself, wanting to go and lecture KDJ of his late night habits but doesn't have the heart to do so, too soft for their leader's sulking attitude once he was told of what not to do whenever his favorite titles update at the dead of–

night.

He was on the verge of standing up from his stool, already memorizing the route to KDJ's room when out of nowhere, Young Joohyun placed down another plate of food in front of them before wiping his hands with a clean towel as he spoke.

"I'll wake him up." he stated to–

the group and then walked away from them, not even waiting for a response as the rest of the company just stared at his retreating back with exasperation.

They were used to this too, the Plotter–now revealing his true name Young Joohyun to the company–going out of his way to–

do anything that concerns KDJ; from waking him up in the morning, to serving him anything that he fancies to eating at the time, or even providing him enough credits to buy his web novels under the guise of "allowing him to save his own money for future use," as he would reason–

out to their leader whenever he tries protesting against it.

KDJ would always fold though, the concept of free money too enticing for him to decline and could only pout at the CEO who just smiles back at him, ruffling his hair as he tells him,

"Anything you want, Dokja-yah."

The group could only look and take all this dog food unwillingly, a small price to pay for agreeing (being forced) to go along with the CEO's request of them to Jeju island.

"One more dog food and I'll actually cry." HSY said to them as she angrily munched on her scrambled eggs.

"Joke's on you, I already cried that day when we arrived here because I know we'll get fed with a lot of PDA by those two idiots." JHW retorted as she groggily drank her own glass of skimmed milk, resigning her fate to the gods as she tells the kids to eat slowly to avoid the–

possibility of choking.

YSA just sighed at the two's antics, forgetting the fact that the two ladies were spreading PDA with their respective partners themselves.

The kids continue eating their breakfast, too hungry for the food in front of them to care themselves with adults–

and their gossips.

Except if it's KDJ, they'll always lend their ears to their leader.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the company who's busy talking their early mornings with themselves as they ate their fill, Young Joohyun slowly enters the room of his reader, unlocking the door–

with ease as he sees him sleeping soundly on his fluffy bed, lines relaxed and body at ease as he laid there.

Young Joohyun, not being able to resist the opportunity laid out in the open for him to take, slowly walked towards the dozing reader and went up in his bed.

'He looks beautiful like this; face relaxed without worries as he sleeps soundly, softly snoring his drowsiness away.' the CEO concludes to himself as he gently ruffled the bangs of his reader off from his forehead, leaning down to the exposed skin as he steals a peck from KDJ.

"Good morning, Dokja-yah." he greeted with a smile, chest feeling warm with how vulnerable his reader currently looks right now as he slowly wakes from his slumber.

"Nghhh... huh??" his beloved asked, confused and disturbed from his peaceful sleep as his eyes slowly adjust to–

the blaring sunlight hitting his face; Young Joohyun chuckles at the sight, thinking how his reader looks more like a hamster than a squid at the moment as how the company introduces him as such.

"Breakfast is ready, amor." he told the latter as he slowly leaned away from his–

star much to his obvious disappointment.

"...oh." KDJ quietly responded as he rubbed the drowsiness off his vision, seeing Young Joohyun in front of him, smiling warmly at him and only him as KDJ felt a smile coming out of him as well.

"Morning, Joohyun-ah." he quipped back to–

him as he slowly stood up from his bed, not seeing the way the other's cheeks slowly get dusted with a light shade of pink.

'The things you do to me, my star.' Young Joohyun thought as he chuckled in amusement.

Outside, the morning glories bloom beautifully as the day starts.

• • • • •

JHW has always been observant of everything that happens around the people that matters to her, quite especially so when it comes to a certain squid.

She could see him smile more widely than he's ever done in the majority of their time knowing each other since–

they were schoolmates; eyes crinkling into twin crescents as he stretches his lips into a full grin, toothy and genuine as he laughs along with the group's antics.

It wasn't a bad thing per se, if you would ask JHW herself of her opinion regarding the matter; Gods know that KDJ–

deserves to be the happiest that he could ever be when all he's felt in life is pain and betrayal.

Really, she WAS happy with this development.

She just can't quite put a finger on it, not sure when it had started for the reader to be this open to alll of them when all he's–

ever been in the group is to be an idiotic schemer who doesn't give much importance to his own well-being.

"These coconuts are good." KDJ hummed appreciatively, bamboo straw in between his lips as he sips the water inside through the opened coconut husk, the others following–

suit as they each take their own share of the clean water.

"Hey, why is my coconut the smallest?!" HSY asked with indignation, seeing how the others' were relatively much bigger than her own fruit while hers was only around 70% of the mass that their coconuts had been.

No one responds to her antics, mind focused in drinking every last drop of the water as HSY huffs to herself with a frown before drinking her own share too; eyes twinkling with delight as to how refreshing the drink tastes in her tongue.

Even the oh-so-elusive Young Joohyun hums to himself as he drank from his own husk, looking contentedly in his own little space while everyone else other than the group looks at him with a small blush, giggles and excited hushes audible for anyone to hear as they look at this–

mafioso in front of them.

She could hear how HSY clicked her tongue, displeased at the sight of some girls slowly swarming their way while stealing glances at the CEO who's too busy attending their idiotic squid like the smitten bastard that he shamelessly is.

"Look at this girls thinking they got a chance." the writer snickered to herself, amused and anticipating with how those same girls keep trying to inch closer towards Young Joohyun, giggling to themselves and pushing each other like little kids trying to ask their parents for–

something they want from them.

JHW observed the whole fiasco, seeing one brave(foolish) girl finally braving her way in introducing herself to the mafioso that their group has been currently interested with at the moment.

"Hi there!!" the girl exclaimed as she strutted her way–

towards the group's resident CEO; flaunting her hips and cleavage with the way she presented herself, thin summer dress hanging loosely on her bikini body.

Truly, she was a beautiful girl if JHW says so herself; she was curvy in the right places, and she seems well-off herself.

It's just too bad for her and her little girly friends that the one they're trying to hit on right now doesn't even spare them a glance; mind and eyes too focused in attending KDJ's each and every need as he slurps the coconut meat with a wooden spoon, courtesy to Young Joohyun.

The girl frowned in her place, slightly irked that the hunk in front of them wasn't even glancing at her nor her friends, too busy caring for this otherwise plain guy he's with who seems way too engrossed drinking his coconut water.

JHW saw how the girl's eyes brightened for a–

split second, an idea seemingly forming on her mind as she walks her way quite literally in between the small space of their leader and the CEO's comfort zone, sauntering her way into the front and not even being subtle with showing her assets.

KDJ rolled his eyes at the sight–

of this other girl disturbing the peace and quiet of his group, annoyed at how someone can be this disrespectful to them when they're just here in Jeju to relax and have a good time with the beaches.

"I want one please~" the girl told the man in front of the counter, flaunting–

her backside to an unimpressed Young Joohyun, gaze cold and searing as he looked back to his reader and ushered him away from this vermin in front of them.

"Move closer to me, Dokja-yah." JHW heard the CEO tell her leader as he held KDJ's waist and moved him a bit near his own–

space, almost to the point of coddling him all for himself.

And maybe he was, JHW concludes as she sees how their squid looks unbothered by the sudden intrusion of his own comfort zone, like it was a natural occurence (and it was) for the two of them.

Too much dog food, but quite reasonable this time as the girl from earlier glared at KDJ like he was not supposed to steal her lightning; irked at this nobody destroying her chance to catch some big fish nearby.

Oh but that's what makes this scene funny for the group, as they–

witness her and her own company going their way and close the clear distance between them and the former Plotter.

"Hi there~" one of them, a different babe this time, greeted Young Joohyun as she placed her dainty hands on his shoulders, subtly feeling the hard-earned muscles–

hidden in such an offending piece of clothing that the hunk has been wearing.

"Don't you think it's too hot for you to wear some polo right now?" she voiced out, tone almost concerned and genuine as she looked at the unwavering gaze of the man, eyes and focus still on the–

nobody he's been attending as of lately, too lost in his own world as he hums in approval the tasty meat of the coconut he's currently eating.

"Does it taste good, byeol??" Young Joohyun asked his reader, already thinking of buying another husk for his Dokja-yah to indulge on.

KDJ nodded, eyes crinkling into twin crescents as he happily ate his share; the girls in the background fuming at being neglected like this, all because of some nobody twink stealing the CEO's attention all for himself.

The company slowly went on their way as they exited the–

scene alongside Young Joohyun and their leader's slow steps, leaving behind a fuming group of bikini chicks in front of a flustered but confused attendant.

"Do you want another one? We can have some again later." they heard Young Joohyun say to KDJ who just laughed at his–

eagerness to serve and provide, ruffling his wavy locks as they take their time following the others in front of them.

"Let's just go back later, Joohyun-ah." was all he said before making the taller man bend down on him, lips touching on flustered cheeks for the second time as–

Young Joohyun felt himself blush once again that day, ears turning red as he let out a fond sigh to himself before holding the back of his star, guiding them in their merry way around the island.

None of the company were the wiser, too focused in finding enjoyment around the–

place as they take ahold of their own respective touring map; the girls left behind however were not spared, gawking at the blatant display of affection between the two men, more so the twink as he looked back at them and grinned cheekily, eyes twinkling in mischief as they left–

them behind in the dust.

"What the fuck...??" one of them cursed out, mind unsure as to how they'll be able to grasp on the situation; or the way the two look way too content with each other's presence as they walk away.

The day continues rolling on as the group continues–

their fun times, running around the rocky pavements of the island and eating their worries out as they indulge this sense of unbridled happiness and freedom.

None of them were the wiser with how the two's gaze last a little bit longer when looking at each other, fond and warm.

• • • • •

YSA has always been vigilant with the Plotter ever since they met him that one time; anxious and wary for her colleague's safety after introducing the other man as someone he's been acquainted with for some time now.

She wasn't blind, nor was she oblivious to–

the way how the CEO prioritizes their leader's happiness over everyone else, always asking him if he's fine with anything in front of them at the moment and always, always checking up on him as they silently bond with each other.

No one points out the small changes between the–

two, seemingly not sensing the change of air around them whenever they're around the other.

But YSA can; how she always see the two leaning on each other's frame early in the morning when they think no one is around the cabin, how KDJ sometimes sit in the Plotter's lap without–

noticing, too engrossed in his new web novel's update as he makes himself comfortable into the warm cushion of Joohyun-ssi's lap, or even how the Plotter himself always search for their leader whenever he's got some paperwork to finish on time, not starting even a single–

document until he can finally take a seat around KDJ's vicinity.

She observed silently the small habits between the two; how the air around then becomes warm yet static at the same time, how they would always walk a few steps behind from the rest of the group as they bask in–

each other's presence without disturbance, and how they always secretly take ahold of each other's hand when they think no one they know is looking.

Like right now, when the group finally decides to eat some seafood grill in a nearby outdoor restaurant, the kids beaming–

with happiness and curiosity as they could finally taste some grilled octopus legs for the first time that same year.

JHW took the lead as they entered the place, already aiming for the most expensive and filling platter for eight people with Joohyun-ssi's approval.

"Buy the most filling out there, my account wouldn't even shed a tear losing a few coins." he told them nonchalantly, as if spending a few hundred dollars wouldn't even leave a dent on his bank account.

Then they remembered this bastard's updated net worth, filled with–

at least six or so zeroes.

It was safe to say that they let go of their restraints starting that day, always purchasing the fanciest and most filling from the menu in the restaurants that they eat from.

Young Joohyun couldn't even be bothered, knowing how his enterprise could–

always return to him the amount of money spent in their day with four times the original price rate.

YSA observed how smug he looks at that moment, as if showing off to their Dokja-ssi how he could always provide and give him whatever he wants with even the barest sound of plea.

Looking back at their leader however, who just shakes his head in fond but disapproving manner makes YSA smile to herself knowingly, as she takes a seat beside her own girlfriend who's too busy complaining how unfair the world was to her.

She just giggles at HSY's complaining–

antics, used to the way she would always have something to say against the world and its quote-en-quote "unfairness.",

LGY, ever the opportunist teaser of her girlfriend quipped out.

"That's because witches don't deserve nice things, Sooyoung-ssi!!" the young boy told her as–

HSY looked back in indignance, jokingly offended at the insult.

"How dare you call me a witch?! I'm a beautiful, jaw-dropping lesbian you squirt!!" she announced to the group as everyone else just chuckles in response.

SYS however, decided to torment her poor girlfriend–

further as she voiced out her own thoughts.

"But unnie, what beautiful in you are you talking about?" she said almost innocently, if everyone had missed the small hint of mischief in her tone.

"Yah! Were you two not taught on how to respect your elders, huh??" HSY asked at the–

two kids who were busy giggling by themselves to pay attention to the writer's indignance.

"I swear, you two are hellspawns by the squid himself." HSY muttered to herself right before the server prepares their grill as the ingredients slowly pile in front of the starving group.

Unbeknownst to the eyes of the group, two hands slowly intertwine under the table, two souls just happy chuckling along the enjoyment of their group as the sun slowly sets the afternoon mood onto the island of Jeju.

"Let's eat till we're about to burst!!" KDJ exclaimed as their–

seafood grill finally starts.

YSA could only smile gratefully while looking at the reason of her colleague's open happiness, thankful that he came into their leader's life and became his new foundation.

"Thank you for the food." she claps her hands as everyone eats their fill.

• • • • •

HSY cackles loudly in her place as KDJ hastily crawls back to the sandy shores of Gwakji Gwamul Beach, the cold waters of the sea too much for his hydrophobic ass to handle as he let out a screech in shock.

She was standing comfortably under the shade of the–

parasol, something she was so thankful that they brought along with them when the kids requested to play in the island's beach, the idea of running around barefooted too enticing for their childish antics.

KDJ, ever the weakest individual when it comes to his children easily–

approved as long as everyone else is supervising them, something that the rest of the group just obliged since they too want to feel the grainy textures of the shore.

That bastard Young Joohyun however wasn't too keen on seeing his reader sunburnt due to the lack of preparation–

and so all of them returned to their cabin first, preparing their own sunblock lotion with them and changing their outfits into something more comfortable.

HSY just chose a purple tee and some baggy shorts along the way, too lazy to go around looking so beautiful like–

the goddess she claims to be.

Who'd be able to know if some random guy suddenly bows down in front of her, too enraptured by her beauty if she ever actually dresses herself up nicely.

The group chose to ignore her boasting though, paying more attention to themselves rather–

than wasting their time listening to HSY's usual lies and her astounding amount of self-confidence.

HSY pouted to YSA, trying to coax out some sort of praise from her own girlfriend as the librarian smiled at her before handing a parasol for the writer to bring along.

"Do carry this for me, Sooyoung-ah." she gently told her with a smile as HSY grumbled, but acquiesced nonetheless.

Now she's actually grateful that her girlfriend made her bring the parasol along with them, what with the sun shining too brightly at them while the kids run–

around the place, too happy to care for anything as they play alongside the sandy beaches of Jeju.

LHS and JHW were quietly sitting on the sandy shores; content in spending with each other like the sappy soon-to-be-wed couple that they are, talking about the most random things–

they could find nearby and catching up on the time that they're with the other person.

HSY wanna gag so bad at the PDA, but stops herself from vomiting her entire lunch from the seafood grill.

Besides, the two were actually justified whenever they spread dog food wherever they–

go, what with the two finally engaged and are just waiting for the right time to actually say their vows and all.

KDJ and Young Joohyun however? HSY might and will gag at the two whenever she's nearby them; seeing them act like two teenagers in the early stage of being in–

a relationship always irks HSY, worsening her mood every time she sees them act so sappy and whipped with each other but not even dating yet, like what's about to happen now as Young Joohyun himself walks his way towards KDJ.

"Are you fine, Dokja-yah?" the rich bastard asked–

their squid who's currently lying face first onto the sandy beaches, unresponsive from Young Joohyun's calling his name for a moment before–

"GOT YOU!!" he screams loudly as he takes ahold of the CEO's wrist, minutely shocking the other person as KDJ let out a giggle to himself.

HSY rolled her eyes for the nth time that day, already fearing the possibility of it not reverting back to its original place if she rolls it a couple more times in the distant future.

"Were you scared?" KDJ had the gall to ask the former Plotter, grinning cheekily as–

Young Joohyun shook his head fondly, smiling in relief after knowing that his star is actually just fooling around with him.

"Of course I was." the former Plotter said softly, always honest to his feelings with his star as he nuzzled their heads together as KDJ laughed at him.

"What I wouldn't do to keep you safe and well with me, Dokja-yah." he cooed at his reader before finally standing up hand in hand with KDJ, smiling fondly at one another while the others could only look in shock at the display of intimacy between the two.

HSY briskly walked her–

way towards the two while everyone else followed suit, the same question hanging on their minds as she spoke it out loud.

"All right you two." HSY announced once she was close enough, pointing accusingly at the two men as she continued her words.

"Spill the fucking kettle to us because you guys are clearly hiding something." was the demand that came out of her mouth; the sun slowly setting into nighttime as KDJ looked back at her for a moment, confused at her antics before finally letting out a simple "ah," as if he–

finally addresses the elephant in the room.

Young Joohyun however, was the one who broke the ice as he asked the group.

"Aren't we supposed to do what couples are supposed to do?"

All Hell broke loose that day, confused screaming reverberating around the shores of Jeju island.

• • • • •

LHS has always been the sheep of the group despite his muscular form; always the one meek enough and easily embarrassed when tease, but also the softest and most gentle to everyone else in their group, afraid that anything that he'd do might hurt or offend them.

And maybe that's why when one day he sees Joohyun-ssi kissing the temple of KDJ in an unattended alley while they were still in their second day in Jeju, he didn't out them to the rest of the company like some would mostly do once something as intimate and controversial as that–

happens between their members.

It was not something done out of friendliness, the temple kiss that Joohyun-ssi had done with KDJ; it was gentle and full of love, like it was something only allowed between the eyes of a couple whenever it occurs.

LHS covered his eyes with both–

of his hands, trying to salvage the pair's privacy as much as he can before running away from the scene, ears red and cheeks dusted with pink.

JHW asked him that day what had happened to him, to which he lies that he was just running out of breath from his usual jog.

JHW, his precious fiance believed him albeit a bit more hesitantly as the two missing people in their group finally shows up to them; KDJ holding two sticks of sausage and tteokbokki while Joohyun-ssi brings with him two plastic bags of convenience store foods for their small–

casual snack at the time as the day rolls on.

LHS never felt any more guiltier than he was that day; both for lying to his own soon-to-be-wife and for invading such an intimately private scene between the company's leader and the CEO of N'Gai Enterprises.

It had haunted his mind ever since; the image of the two being in such an intimate space in an intimate position. It wasn't sexual, but it was somewhat sensual for someone as simple as LHS could ever be used to, even with him already having a fiance himself.

He's kept his–

silence all to himself though, the knowledge that their two leaders might be secretly dating now still wrapped in foils amongst the other members of the company.

'Maybe they're still biding their time.' LHS would always think to himself while stealing glances back at the two.

'Maybe they're actually just being friendly with each other.' a part of his own mind tells him in reassurance whenever the need to be honest consumes his being, always trying to push him into the edge as he valiantly keeps it to himself.

'I don't have the right to expose them–

like that.' he defies his own traitorous mind as he strengthens his resolve.

Yes, LHS will wait for the two to tell the whole company of whatever companionship they have with each other.

And if they keep it to themselves till the end of time, then LHS will die with their–

secret buried along with him.

He just... wasn't expecting the revelation to be this anticlimactic.

"Aren't we supposed to do what couples are supposed to do?" he remembers the way how Joohyun-ssi said it oh so casually, like it was nothing more than a trivial matter like the–

weather outside, like it wasn't something that costed the poor soldier's better half of his sanity as he tries holding it in to himself.

He's not mad though, he's just confused as to how nonchalant everything seems to be for the Plotter to actually give a piece of his care.

Even Dokja-ssi was shocked at the sudden proclamation of their companionship, disbelief written in his face as they all looked back at the other man who's way too calm for his own good.

Everyone decided to go back to their cabin early on while the sun is still setting behind–

them, this weird tension hanging around the atmosphere as they walked all the way back to the CEO's private place.

- - - - -

"How long?" HSY was the one who chose to break the silence this time as everyone sat around the small campfire, sparks of ember dancing in the air while–

they keep themselves warm in their source of heat.

LHS was cooking his own marshmallow in his little corner, eyes on his food while his ears attentively perk at any response that either of the two would voice out anytime soon.

Joohyun-ssi was the one who spoke out, voice clear–

as he told them that it's been for quite some time between them now, as KDJ reluctantly looked back at his company and meekly nodded.

YSA looks at the sight knowingly, LHS had observed, as if she was just waiting for them to reveal it to the rest of the group too.

His fiance was shocked at the revelation, not knowing how to react as she sat there beside him with wide eyes and slightly ajar mouth.

HSY was indignant, scolding the two men how they were such idiots for not telling them anything about them and their relationship all this time–

and for always keeping everything among themselves.

The kids were just shocked at the revelation too, not catching on to the fact that the Plotter-ssi that they've slowly been accustomed with is actually dating their Dokja-ssi too.

LHS felt pity at the two children, knowing–

how everything seems to be too much for them to comprehend at the moment as he tries placating them by voluntarily toasting their marshmallows for them.

It's the thought that counts, right?

LHS just hope they'll appreciate his small gestures, while everyone else tries on–

absorbing the fact that both Joohyun-ssi and their leader has been going out now, and no one knew until then.

Well, until YSA spoke calmly.

"I knew you two were hiding something from us, Dokja-ssi and Joohyun-ssi." she said as if she's relieved off of a huge burden hanging on–

her shoulders, smiling at the two as she congratulated them for being a couple after all those months and year of mutual pining.

"Wait, I wasn't even crushing on him that time!!" KDJ spoke out in indignation while Joohyun-ssi entraps him in a warm but seemingly–

bone-breaking hug.

"Don't go far away from me, Dokja-yah." Joohyun-ssi whined from his seat, holding the waist of his reader tightly and embracing him from behind as KDJ tried escaping his clutches.

The group looks at them, then at each other, as they let out a collective sigh.

"I'm so happy for you two, Dokja-ssi and Joohyun-ssi." LHS told the two as he let out a wide, toothy smile; hands still busy with warming his and the kids' marshmallows who's now trying to cuddle with their leader.

"Yah! Let me hug ahjussi/hyung too!!" they both exclaimed.

'All this dog food...' was some of them thought, letting the four do their small bickering as the embers from their campfire fly around them before snuffing away.

"Hyunsung-ah? Why do you look so relieved??" he heard his fiance ask him just as he finished sighing for the second–

time, her doubts now resurfacing as she remembers the way her fiance looks way too red for him to be exhausted by just a mere jog.

LHS felt his sweat drop; mind coming up for any way to placate the entirely new situation that he's found himself in this time.

"Uhh, Heewon-ah..."

• • • • •

Young Joohyun could still remember how his star started acting around with him; so gentle, so lively, so honest to himself as they both danced with each other's antics.

"You've been so lively lately, amor." he told the latter one day weeks after their dinner–

with the founders of Underworld went relatively well for the two.

His star hummed in response as they walk close to each other; out in the public but never caring for the prying eyes of other people as they both enjoy the good day ahead of them.

"Nothing much actually." was–

all that KDJ had told him before resuming his ministrations of drinking his boba tea, humming in approval with how it just stays right; not too sweet nor too bland for his liking.

Young Joohyun could only go and watch his reader enjoy the day, glad that his presence wasn't–

boring for the latter as they continued walking around the streets of Seoul.

Unconsciously, their hands slowly find its way with each other; slowly entangling themselves before reluctantly letting go as KDJ points back to his new favorite bookstore for them to go inside.

- - - - -

It was the twentieth day of October that year; the slow approach of winter finally catching up on them as everyone huddles up on their thick coats and sweaters, wearing multiple layers of clothes whenever they go outside the warmth of their own homes to avoid the cold.

Young Joohyun slowly blends in his cup of warm chocolate, all his piling work in the company already finished few days ago just so that he could enjoy the cold weather in his own place.

It was something that he didn't particularly like for a long time, merely just out of reason–

other than to hold his dozing star in his own embrace as they lay in the CEO's one of many couches inside his flat.

They were doing more than fine for the past few months now; him and his beloved reader, as they share almost everything that they know about themselves to–

each other, and so when KDJ himself asked the CEO if he could stay in his apartment for the better half of the winter, saying that he doesn't want to get used spending the snowy months alone in his apartment.

Who was Young Joohyun to refuse such a request?

His star sighs in–

content as he huddles closer to the warm chest he was laying on, mind too foggy with sleep as he dozes off to himself while the former Plotter could only look at him lovingly, gaze soft and lips tugging on a gentle smile as he watches his dearest be this comfortable around him.

It was a very positive leap of development between the two; as KDJ slowly lets him see the vulnerability hidden within his snarky demeanor, how he trusts the other his well-being as they both spend their days with each other, uncaring of the judging eyes of the public.

Young Joohyun felt his eyes sting through it all; thinking that maybe, just maybe, he's finally about to have his chance showing to his star that he's worth risking for.

That their bond can actually go deeper than this, that he can trust his mending heart for Young Joohyun to–

mend and heal together with him.

Young Joohyun slowly closes his eyes as he treasures this warmth inside his chest, wanting this memory to engrave itself in his body as he whispered in reverence,

"당신을 진심으로 사랑합니다, 나의 별" before slowly dozing himself off.

Had he been awake for a couple more seconds, he could've heard the small voice of someone in his chest telling him the same thing.

"나도 널 좋아하는 것 같아, 주현아." before closing his eyes as well, basking in this unwavering warmth of affection only for him, and for him only.

- - - - -

"Merry Christmas, my star." Young Joohyun greeted softly to his Dokja as he presented a small box to the other, both of them outside in the snow while the company continue in their merry way singing Christmas songs and eating fried chicken inside KDJ's small apartment

His star blinked once, twice, before letting out a small smile back to him; hands reaching out and passing by his small present and instead cupping his face.

"It's sad that I don't have any material present for you, Joohyun-ssi." his reader apologized to him as they look back–

at each other, gazes soft and chests warm despite the strong gust of winter winds.

Young Joohyun could only chuckle to himself as he shook his head, telling the other that he doesn't mind just being greeted back by his dearest and saying that it's more than enough for him–

as a Christmas gift.

KDJ tsked, disapproving of it all as he let go of the Plotter's face and instead pulled his scarf towards him, making the taller man bend low and look at him in the eye.

"I think you deserve more than that, Plotter." he stated in affirmation, eyes firm yet–

twinkling in mischief as Young Joohyun felt himself sweat at this close proximity.

"Dokja-yah, wait..." he reasoned out as he tried distancing himself away from each other, only finding himself being pulled back again by the loose scarf in his neck as KDJ chuckled in amusement.

"You're one of the strongest men I know, Young Joohyun; yet here you are bending your own will to someone like me." his star admitted, voice a bit bitter as Young Joohyun could see a small hint of teardrop welling in the corner of his star's eyes.

He panicked at seeing such a sight; bending himself willingly as he tried wiping the wetness of his reader's eyes away, cooing that everything's all for him, and he's worth all of his luxury in life as they slowly huddle close to each other.

He felt his Dokja cry softly in his–

chest, if the small hiccups of his form was any indication.

"I w–want to love again, t–too." Young Joohyun heard him whisper to himself as he moved closer to the CEO's chest, resting his head in there as the Plotter slowly covered him with his own oversized jacket.

Young Joohyun could feel himself sweat at what he was about to do, finding it ironic that he's suddenly being cowardly now after spending his year and a few more months with this star close to him.

He gulped his worries away as he hugged him much closer.

It was now or never.

"Then love me, Dokja-yah." he whispered in reverence, in desperation, in pure devotion; absentmindedly feeling how his star stilled in his embrace as he continued.

"Love me even by just the bare minimum, Kim Dokja. I'll provide the rest of it to you for us to work, my love.

Give me your one percent, and I'll go fill up the missing ninety-nine left for us. Give me a chance to show you the world, mi amor.

Let me give you the world, the beauty of my devotion, I'll give to you without doubts. Just let me in, Kim Dokja." he begged, voice straining as–

he lets his own desperation out in the open, one by one; while his own subject of devotion remains silent in their embrace.

"Let me love you, Dokja-yah." he asked once again, head drooping onto the other as he let out a quiet,

"Please." as the stars twinkled above them.

It was radio silence between the two of them for a couple more minutes, Young Joohyun resting his head onto the crown of his reader as he patiently waited for a response.

Any response, as he waited a little longer.

Even by just a small nod, or a hum of approval will do, as–

long as it means that he can.

Minutes have passed by, and all he got was silence.

Young Joohyun felt his heart slowly crack inside his chest; understanding this quiet as rejection as he slowly lets go of his dreamer, resigning his fate to a broken heart as he let out a–

painful smile to himself.

"It's okay, Dokja-yah." he started as he slowly lets his arms go from embracing this amazing person in front of him.

"I can always love you in the backline." he promised, eyes crinkling into twin crescents as he felt his smile crack, tears springing–

out of his own eyes at the hurt and the pain of it all.

"I will always love you even in the backline." was all he said before trying to usher the two of them inside the warmth of his star's apartment, resuming their lives as good friends once again.

And maybe, that would have–

happen, had KDJ not held his hands tightly right before they could even walk back to his own place.

Maybe then they'll return to their roles as the Secretive Plotter and Kim Dokja; two different individuals of two different backgrounds, who are just close with each other and–

nothing more.

But that was not enough for KDJ; as he quickly and harshly pulled Young Joohyun back to him with a strength he never knew he had, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he forcefully made the taller man bend in his height, fierce glaring eyes looking back at–

shocked yet tearfully resigned ones.

Young Joohyun was about to speak up, trying to ask his reader what's going on as he tried bending down comfortably only for his mind to blank out as soft lips crash with his wobbly ones as he felt his own consciousness blank out.

Ah, a kiss.

KDJ closed his eyes as he cupped the other man's face while they shared a moment of intimacy between them; lips molding onto each other as slowly, Young Joohyun lifted his shaking arms back into embracing his reader, teardrops endlessly falling from his eyes as he relishes at–

the moment.

'Ah, how sweet.' Young Joohyun thought to himself as they deepened in their kiss, feeling his own resigned heart slowly beat erratically once again as his reader slowly embraces back to him before finally inching away, albeit with Young Joohyun reluctantly.

"You can't give up on me, Joohyun-ssi." KDJ told him in conviction as he glared back at the CEO's tearful gaze before continuing.

"I don't want the best thing in my life letting go of me now, so please hold on to me a little more tighter for a little more longer, Young Joohyun.

I'll love you as much as you're willing to love me back, I'll give to you the same energy you're giving to me in this relationship.

I'll give to you my fifty percent as much as you'll give yours, so don't give up on me just yet, Young Joohyun." he heard him speak honestly as–

he felt a pair of lips lightly touch his own once again before he sees a small smile slowly stretching on KDJ's lips.

"Please take care of me from now on, Joohyun-ah." KDJ requested as he softly gazed back at the Plotter's own trembling eyes, as he nodded reverently before–

hugging his star once more as the night continues.

'Ah, he's finally mine now.' Young Joohyun thought to himself as he felt himself sob in pure bliss, arms hugging the star he's finally caught all for himself.

Christmas songs can be heard in the background, as people rejoice.

• • • • •

"Are you finally doing this now, Kim Dokja?" he heard HSY ask him from behind, box held in both his hands as he slowly sat down on the floor.

KDJ nodded back to his writer absentmindedly, eyes catching on to the small bouquet of white and yellow chrysanthemums–

that HSY had brought along with her after receiving that message from her idiotic editor.

LonelyReader: come here, i'm ready. bring the chrysanthemums too.

HSY never felt any happier bringing a bunch of pollen-infested plants along the ride as she did that day, even going her–

way to have it wrapped in the prettiest ribbon and tassel for that extra aesthetic and bad bitch energy.

What greeted her when entering the place was a bare apartment, furtniture draped with white plastic sheets and already looking more haunted than those houses that people see–

in horror movies.

"Give me the flowers, Sooyoung-ah." KDJ requested, hand out in the air as he fixed the item he placed inside the small carton box with his other hand; HSY gave it to him quietly, observing how the other guy laid down the bouquet around the two items he laid–

inside before finally closing the lid.

KDJ took out the roll of clear tape and pair of scissors placed near his left leg; packing the whole cardboard with it and sealing its content safely inside, humming in approval after seeing the result.

He stood up from his kneeling–

position with the box in his hand, smiling at HSY as she took it without a word; still looking at her editor with an unreadable gaze while all KDJ could ever do was look confused at her back.

HSY chuckled after a few seconds of blatant staring at seeing KDJ's unease, patting–

him in the back as she speaks.

"I'm happy for you, squid." a genuine yet still teasing smile etched on her lips as KDJ, as if finally catching on her drift, chuckled right back at his writer as he smiled wide.

"I'm happy for me too." he told her in all honesty as they both–

walked out of the apartment right through the open door, leaving behind the place as Young Joohyun patiently waits in his car right in front of the building.

"See you in your new sugar daddy's place next time, bastard." HSY joked around as KDJ laughed in her antics before–

quipping back his own retort.

"See you when I don't see another hickey on your neck next time, Sooyoung." as the other lady's eyes widened at the insinuation, frantically checking in her mirror at the obvious red mark in her neckline.

Young Joohyun laughs at the two's hilarity–

while sitting comfortably on the driver's seat, his reader now beside him as they slowly drove their way to their new home; HSY screeching in indignation in the background.

"YOO SANGAH!!" they heard her screech at the top of her lungs, making them laugh at the absurdity of the–

situation.

"Let's go home now, Dokja-yah?" he hears Young Joohyun ask him as he looks back to his boyfriend, a contented smile tugging on his lips as he nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah. Let's go home now, Joohyun-ah." he responded back as a new morning starts for the two.

Stuck in the closed door of Kim Dokja's former apartment was a piece of paper, neatly placed in the center of the woody surface.

Written in bold letters was the sentence that reads as,

"APARTMENT FOR SALE."

• • • • •

( end of chapter v: da coda )

hi. i can finally cry happy tears after all that pain i wrote for my bb squid's character development.

this is the happy ending chapter, BUT not the finale as i have one more title for keeps in the next update.

thank you so much–

for reading this far, loving and supporting virulence, panacea and this recent chapter of kim dokja's life.

i hope you're loving everything so far, and if you do, then i am so grateful that you do!!

shout out to the OG! that inspired me to do this fic of mine: @_keiroar with–

their socmed au 'TOXIC,' here's the link!! go and give them lots of love!!

https://twitter.com/_keiroar/status/1490202958868336643?t=tTKmzj8xf3jwSCcDw-uFzw&s=19

link to the top of the current chapter ( da coda ) here:

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1501510673989509125?t=tTKmzj8xf3jwSCcDw-uFzw&s=19

link to the very top of virulence, panacea here:

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1499674727547166721?t=tTKmzj8xf3jwSCcDw-uFzw&s=19

and link to my other orv related works here, too!!

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1499708729104957442?t=tTKmzj8xf3jwSCcDw-uFzw&s=19

thank you so much for reading this far, and thank you for holding on with me!! see you all in the next chapter of virulence, panacea!!

gibs yu luv and hug and kith 🥺🤲🏻❤

• • • • •

epilogue: doloroso

• • • • •

Yoo Joonghyuk is a man of his words; a man of commitment and a man who doesn't take back his promises, a trait that he's always been secretly proud of every time people point it out to him in a conversation.

He was strong-willed in his decisions, never the one–

to back down an obstacle in his life no matter the difficulty he could potentially face, nor the impact it might bring back to him.

For Yoo Joonghyuk, a life is a big virtual reality game; wherein everything he does complete his own character's tasks in order to level up, and–

be the absolute supreme amongst everyone else as the year slowly progresses.

He never settles for anything lower in his standards; as he would always try to gain the upper hand in everything he does and always coming on top because of it, pride elated and ego boosted in his–

every achievement, knowing that he'll never learn nor taste the bitter realization of defeat and loss.

He was foolish, naive, and utterly stupid for thinking that way; as he grovels inside the empty apartment that he's currently at, tears endlessly streaming from his eyes as–

he reads that one particular line in the letter he's shakily holding onto once again, wishing for time to turn back into the past and give him a second chance to right all the wrongs he'd carelessly committed.

"I loved you so, that's why I'm finally letting go."

• • • • •

Kim Dokja was someone who he met ever since they were kids; a frail and easily bruised kid who some of the children their age would always avoid like the plague, like his presence alone could bring misfortune to others, like he wasn't wanted by everyone else.

Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't get it at first, when he first met the older but smaller guy; they were both outcasts of their own school for being different to others.

Kim Dokja, a son of an abusive father and a mother who always shows up to school with patches and bandages to cover the–

black and blue bruises her own husband inflicts to her; while Yoo Joonghyuk a kid who wasn't wanted by his own parents, opting to give him to their distant relative Namgung Minyoung

His younger sister followed suit right after five years later, she at her tender age of three.

They weren't of similar interests; Yoo Joonghyuk more interested in playing his game and always choosing to be left alone in his own corner, while Kim Dokja is the one being shunned by their own classmates, pushing him away from their group as they play.

They were both lonely–

souls, both unloved by the community who's supposed to provide them the affection they never received from their own flesh.

But Kim Dokja, unlike Yoo Joonghyuk, truly lived to his name many years later.

Yoo Joonghyuk slowly grew up to become a handsome man, thick eyebrows and–

sharp eyes that could cut glass, a face that could make the other girls in their class swoon whenever they sneak glances at him.

He also tries in excelling and become the top student too, scores always the highest amongst everyone else and performance always the best in quality–

as how some of their teachers word it out.

Kim Dokja barely grew at all, still sickly thin and easily bruised; dark bags prominent under his eyes and patches now growing in numbers as some of the boys in their own class find him the most suitable substitute for a punching bag.

No one would defend him after all, he was the outcast of their school and their community; father now killed by his own mother, who's also now rotting in jail for the murder of her own abusive husband.

Kim Dokja, according to the cruel and uncaring harshness of Song Minwoo and his small gang; was nothing more than a nobody, a nuisance to the world, and someone who deserves every bad thing that comes after him in this world.

Yoo Joonghyuk for all his care, should never be–

bothered by this other kid he was long acquainted with, turning on a blind eye at the bruises and bandages slowly becoming a part of Kim Dokja's skin whenever he attends class the next day.

'It's not my business to mind on.' he would reason out to himself every time he sees him.

'It's not my business to mind on, not my fight to take on.' he would always think to himself every time the need to protect this lonely soul becomes stronger from deep within him, ignoring the pleading glances of Kim Dokja every time he accidentally passes by them, Song Minwoo–

and his rowdy group kicking and punching the helpless kid as he muffles his cries all by himself, eyes filled with hope whenever he sees Yoo Joonghyuk in his periphery; hoping that maybe, maybe he'll be saved soon.

And then Yoo Joonghyuk completely ignores him, eyes fixated to–

the front as he puts on a blind eye. Kim Dokja would always deflate right after, mind coming up with a lie as he dreams of the day that his protagonist would finally have the courage to help him escape this hellhole he wasn't willingly placed into.

'I am Yoo Joonghyuk.' he would always mutter to himself, braving on the painful assault of his own classmates as he crouch there in the floor, keeping his heart inside his small chest as he imagines the day of becoming something more than this.

This Kim Dokja lying down.

Their batch climbs up to middle school, his pleas of help never heard as Yoo Joonghyuk continues his day of perfecting his 'tasks and mini-objectives' while everyone watch him in awe.

Unbeknownst to them; Kim Dokja stands in the backline along with them, happy for the success–

of his protagonist despite everything he's been put through, bones weary and life barely hanging onto a thread, still wishing for that fateful day that soon, he'd finally have his hard-earned happy ending.

That day, Kim Dokja went home and hid in the small space his relatives–

told him was his room, weeping and praying to the gods out there for even a crumb of mercy. He slept with tears staining his cheeks, the world never told of his presence as everything around him goes back to square one.

Yoo Joonghyuk wakes up the next day with a frown, thinking–

that something is painfully wrong but cannot point it out even after he enters the school premises.

He would learn the concept of fear the very same day; mind still reeling him back to the memory of a smiling Kim Dokja who falls from the third floor of their classroom.

Kim Dokja who smiles through the pain, eyes resigned to fate as he closes them while he slowly descends like a fallen angel.

'Like a falling star.' his mind proposes to him even as he tries running after his falling figure, letting gravity take control of him from then on.

• • • • •

The two had met again three weeks after; Kim Dokja slowly limping his way back into his desk as everyone else only looks at him, unsympathetic and some even muttering how he's still alive after everything that had happened

"Should've died that day." he heard–

some of them whisper among themselves, uncaring if it was loud enough for the other boy to hear, as if taunting him to hearing how everyone despises his presence with them.

Yoo Joonghyuk watched along with them, gaze unreadable as he sees how Kim Dokja tried placing the barest–

school supplies that he have in his desk; covering the graffiti sprawled around the surface as their first teacher for the day enters the room, not even bothering to check up the condition of his previously hospitalized pupil as the class officially starts.

It had been one hour–

that had passed then that Yoo Joonghyuk had realized that something about how Kim Dokja looks is bothering him.

His eyes never returned its shine again whenever he passes by the other kid; gaze filled with exhaustion as he slumps in his seat, resigning his own fate to nothing–

and nobody, just like what Song Minwoo has always been taunting him with.

• • • • •

The second year of middle school had started; and Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't even care less for his academics anymore, mind reeling back and forth to his dreaming of being a progamer with his–

addiction of playing video games, and to one particular reader that he's long since been secretly acquainted with.

The same reader who had never glanced back at him again ever since; eyes finding purchase of the blaring screen of his cheap smartphone, smiling at whatever is–

posted in there as everything else stills around him, like nothing truly matters now other than his phone.

Yoo Joonghyuk finds himself feeling irked at the sight, previous thoughts of keeping distance between him and the other kid now pushed back in the corner of his mind as he–

braves his way towards Kim Dokja, sitting in front of his desk as the latter flinches in his seat out of shock.

Yoo Joonghyuk opens his mouth, brows furrowing as he introduces himself to the reader.

"I'm Yoo Joonghyuk, you?" he greeted the best way he can as Kim Dokja looks–

back at him with long lashes fanning along his wide black eyes, cheeks flustered with a dust of pink, mouth agape in disbelief all the while he awaits for the reader's response.

Yoo Joonghyuk learned the concept of jealousy that day against a small device, as well as the first–

signs of admiration towards a particular kid older than him, someone he's long since been quietly acquainted with ever since they were kids.

Kim Dokja stuttered out as if unsure of what to say, introducing himself.

"Uh... I'm Kim Dokja." he greeted back as the day continues.

• • • • •

They have since then been inseparable ever since; with Yoo Joonghyuk personally dealing with Song Minwoo and his lackeys after one time their leader raged onto him and complained how he's trying to protect some useless baggage and how he should just let them deal–

with it.

He beat them all in black and blue, making them run and trip in their trail away from him as Kim Dokja quietly whimpered in his little corner, crouched and trembling.

Yoo Joonghyuk slowly knelt in front of him that day, gently tugging away the arms covering him as–

he spoke.

"Don't worry Kim Dokja, I'll make sure that no one will hurt you ever again." he promised to the smaller kid as Kim Dokja sniffled and cried; Yoo Joonghyuk pulling him in a warm embrace as they bask in each other's presence that day, Kim Dokja hugging him tightly as–

he does the same back to the reader.

Too afraid to ask, and too proud to admit to himself; Yoo Joonghyuk insisted that nothing has changed between the two of them with the reader, ignoring this blooming realization stemming inside his chest and denying himself of

the warmth that he always feel whenever Kim Dokja is around as something far greater than /that/, only able to call the thing that they have with each other as companionship.

That day, Yoo Joonghyuk learned the concept of denial, as they slowly gain their friends along the way–

before the would-be-progamer inevitably left Kim Dokja behind for the next three years; fearing this slow manifestation inside his chest to grow and consume his being as he dated and dated random girls along the way, trying to erase from his mind the memory of Kim Dokja and his–

everything that he remembers from head to toe.

He'll come back three years after back to Kim Dokja, who's arms are still welcoming him despite the clear image of hurt displayed on his face after learning the fact that Yoo Joonghyuk had been with some other people within that–

span of time, while he patiently awaited for his protagonist–his companion's return.

Yoo Joonghyuk, three years later in their early years of high school; had learned the concept of guilt, promising to Kim Dokja that he won't do it ever again as they share a hug with each other.

• • • • •

Yoo Joonghyuk remembers how they finally started dating, Kim Dokja and he; at their latest stage of high school years as the two commemorated the whole memory with a photograph from a polaroid camera that Han Sooyoung apparently owned ever since.

He remembered–

the laughter the two of them had shared; the fond chuckles slipping out of their mouth as they hugged each other tightly while their group looks at them warmly, glad that the founders of their small company had finally found solace with each other.

Yoo Joonghyuk still remembers–

the short sentence that he wrote in the picture that they took at that time, mind still reeling on happiness of finally being with the reader as he wrote it down in his own handwriting.

"Day one of being one. He said yes!" he wrote at the rightmost corner of the photograph–

before finally deciding to buy a frame to preserve the memory.

Yoo Joonghyuk, in all his years of denying himself of this warm feeling bursting inside his chest whenever he's with Kim Dokja; had finally learned the concept of love, as the two shared shy kisses with each other.

• • • • •

It was an exhilarating experience at first, their relationship with each other.

It was hilarious with all the big leaps they were taking; always having fun in Yoo Joonghyuk's games as Kim Dokja would try it for himself and then pout right after suffering a–

grueling defeat, his boyfriend too good with the game as they chuckle lightheartedly without a care of the world.

They share shy kisses with each behind closed doors, always feeling this sense of happiness whenever they share a brief moment of intimacy however haste it may be.

"You're such a sight for sore eyes." Han Sooyoung would always tell the two of them whenever the company goes for a small reunion with one another while the rest of them laugh in her complaints.

Everything was lively around them, happy and colorful with the two of them around–

the other, Yoo Joonghyuk finding his own home around Kim Dokja as well as how his reader found solace in his presence.

It was such a shame really; when everything starts crumbling down in the ninth month of their first year as boyfriends, when Yoo Joonghyuk finds everything too–

monotonous for his own liking, their relationship too much and too little at the same time as Kim Dokja slowly busies himself with his salaryman job and Yoo Joonghyuk with finally being the number one progamer of South Korea.

He couldn't really point all the fault at the reader–

alone, what with both of them unused to this concept of love; being deprived of this ever since they were young kids.

But proud in his own judgement, and always thinking too high of himself growing up at the top of all; Yoo Joonghyuk dismisses the idea of communication, only to–

relearn the concept of 'boredom' in his companionship with Kim Dokja, discovering how annoying the reader can be with his antics of catching his attention in any way possible.

• • • • • •

Lee Seolhwa is a calm breath of fresh air in Yoo Joonghyuk's life, he concludes as–

the two met with Kim Dokja's help, introducing the other lady as his good acquaintance in college as she nodded in his claims in agreement.

She was composed in her seat, talking gently with them as the three engages on a conversation.

Yoo Joonghyuk finds himself slowly getting–

intrigued with her, mouth already opening as they both talk in their own world; topics of livestreaming, gaming, and the basics of conversation flowing smoothly between the two as they talked and talked until the sun goes down behind them.

Had they paid any attention with their–

surroundings, they would see how people gush over the two beautiful pair talking animatedly with each other; ignoring the third presence tagging along with them as he sits uncomfortably in his chair, lying to himself that this is a positive outcome for his friends to be getting–

along well, and that he would try asking Yoo Joonghyuk to confirm their relationship in the future, inwardly needing this sense of reassurance.

Yoo Joonghyuk denied his request in an instant, telling him how some of his crazier fans might come after him and how people might–

try to destroy the bond that they already had; claims that Kim Dokja readily agreed, afraid of the things that his boyfriend(?) had told him and still too cowardly to stand by his ground as Yoo Joonghyuk excused himself after hastily eating his meal without waiting for him.

He turned on his computer rather quickly, searching for a particular girl streamer's name in the search bar before finally clicking invite and started talking with her on the mic, their fans watching them interact while they play.

Kim Dokja sits alone in the dining room of–

their shared apartment, cup of noodles hastily shoved in his side of the table unlike the usual healthy meal that Yoo Joonghyuk has been making him eat for all those months that they've been together.

Yoo Joonghyuk, in all his brashness and this need to search and only aim for–

the best for him; had slowly instigated the concept of neglect to Kim Dokja for the next two years, while all his reader could pray and ask for was a crumb of his time and affection in all those time of being a secret to the public.

The cracks in his heart slowly manifest once–

more alongside the swirling doubt in his mind while watching his own boyfriend ignore him for someone else that he'd only met once, intoxicating the latter's mind of this need to ask himself.

"Was my love not enough?"

• • • • •

It took Yoo Joonghyuk two years of staying with Kim Dokja to finally tell him of his intentions with Lee Seolhwa, saying how he wants ro break up with him through their direct message and how he's sorry for suddenly doing this out of the blue, just days before–

Kim Dokja's supposed birthday, right before Valentine's no less.

He already expected that Kim Dokja might go and try to salvage their bond again, expecting him to suggest any ways of mending whatever the two had between them and going back like how they were in the past.

But what he wasn't expecting was how blunt the reader's response to him when he broke it off to the other; just asking him if they could keep pretending until his upcoming birthday right after Valentine's before finally ending things with the progamer.

Yoo Joonghyuk, despite–

all the mental imagery that he's already trained himself for this day; was left flabbergasted in his seat, mouth agape at how nonchalant Kim Dokja had been in asking him all these questions as if he was this obvious in his intentions of dating Lee Seolhwa.

(He would eventually–

realize that he indeed, was obvious; remembering how he would always livestream with the other streamer even when he's supposed to spend some time with his companion, how he would always go in a heartbeat whenever the other would go and invite him in hanging out with her while–

flat-out rejecting Kim Dokja's, excuses already in the tip of his tongue as to why they just /can't/ do any of it. How he would always call the poems the reader had dedicated to him as annoying and shitty, not realizing the change of his attitude to the latter; too engrossed–

attending Lee Seolhwa and all her needs; unaware that she was breaking off two people's relationship.

How ironic it was really, for him to realize everything he's done to him a little too late; when Kim Dokja was no longer his anymore and is already happy being with someone who

wasn't Yoo Joonghyuk.)

He cleared his mind of any thoughts, telling Kim Dokja of how sorry he was for leading him on this long and how he promises to not cross paths with the reader anymore as some sort of appeasement.

Kim Dokja just bade him goodbye before seemingly logging–

his account off, leaving Yoo Joonghyuk in the dark of what his actual reaction might be in their sudden(but unsurprising) breaking up.

Unbeknownst to the progamer, Kim Dokja cried his own exhaustion that same night until he finally relented to sleeping, heart already broken two–

years ago and reminiscing the irony of the young Yoo Joonghyuk's promise to him, chuckling to himself at the absurdity of it all.

"I'll make sure that no one will hurt you ever again."

Yoo Joonghyuk never learned anything in the two years of his pretending, the only thing–

he's achieved the whole time was breaking off the very heart he sworn to protect all those years ago when they were young; forcing Kim Dokja to build a wall surrounding his heart, protecting it from getting hurt any more than this.

Yoo Joonghyuk, a few weeks after breaking up–

with Kim Dokja had finally announced to the public his relationship with Lee Seolhwa, demonstrating his knowledge of the concept of deception; two years of lying to the reader of his reasons why they can't confirm their companionship to the public until it inevitably ended.

• • • • •

Being with Lee Seolhwa is like being in a field in springtime, the atmosphere around her peaceful and amiable.

They were doing nicely in dating with each other, their streaming schedules flexible enough for the other to slip in and do a usual collaboration with–

the other person, providing fan service to their shared community who wholeheartedly supports their relationship.

It should have been the perfect setup for Yoo Joonghyuk, being with a girlfriend who's this understanding with him, always trying to communicate with each other to–

avoid any misunderstanding, and is always willing to be there for him whenever he needs some mutual company.

Really, Lee Seolhwa is a good girlfriend and a good partner for someone in Yoo Joonghyuk's caliber.

So why then, does everything feel so empty to him now? Two years in–

being a part of this picture perfect relationship, like he's missing something so much better than what he has now?

Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't know the answer himself, as he tries to search for what he doesn't have anymore; learning the concept of yearning along the way.

• • • • •

He keeps searching for it from then on; this sense of something lost from within him making his blood run cold as time slowly ebbs away from his grasp.

There was this blank slot in him that he searches for every part of the day, gnawing at his senses and slowly–

affecting his life beyond his own spectrum; making him distracted from his gaming and even when he's streaming alongside Seolhwa, too dazed to not know how he looks so /lost/ to everyone watching him, like how he's not supposed to be there at the moment.

He doesn't know how it–

affects his own relationship with Lee Seolhwa as well, not realizing how they slowly distance themselves away from each other, their relationship slowly crumbling as Yoo Joonghyuk still, still tries to search for what he's been missing all this time.

He tried cooking his eggs–

the wrong way, burning one side of it and adding too much salt and pepper in his own liking.

Yoo Joonghyuk threw the food away the moment he tries taking a bite of it, the taste way too off for his own palate as he flushed the burnt disaster on the kitchen sink.

He even tried–

reading some articles in his own phone while the lights were dim, only to find himself dozing off while still on his way in finishing the first paragraph of the news he was reading due to how boring it is.

Everything seems off to him, how the place is too quiet for him with not–

even the barest of noise in between him and Lee Seolhwa, how he couldn't shake this phantom feeling of someone's hand endlessly tapping his shoulders, as if taunting him to look back only to see the empty space behind him, and how everything just seems so lifeless for him–

now, despite his own demand of wanting something so perfect like this.

And when Lee Seolhwa herself had calmly suggested that they break up; saying how the two of them haven't had any more time with each other anymore, and how she wants to try pursuing her dream in becoming–

a doctor, Yoo Joonghyuk could only mindlessly apologize to her with how lacking he's been in their relationship, stating along the lines of how she deserves to be happy in the future as she smiles back at him before eventually leaving him in his own apartment.

The two had then–

released an official statement to the public of their falling off, saying how it was mutual for both parties and they agreed into pursuing each other's dreams as two individuals rather than being partners.

Even then when the community had stated their supporting words to the–

two livestreamers, how they would always be there for them as their biggest fans, and how they wish for everything to eventually turn out fine; Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't find himself to care any lesser than this, as he could almost hear small bouts of laughter ringing in–

his ears, the tone familiarly jovial to him, something he's sure he's heard of in the past when he was still young.

Yoo Joonghyuk, in all his foolishness and reckless decisions five years after, realizes what he's been missing for in all his time dating Lee Seolhwa.

The clumsiness and the imperfection of a carefree life, and the carelessness of young, genuine love ringing in his ears as the progamer realizes what he's actually yearning for all this time.

It was Kim Dokja.

• • • • •

He hasn't heard of Kim Dokja ever since, now that Yoo Joonghyuk had realized it.

A stupid realization, considering that he's already promised to the reader how they won't be crossing paths anymore after their inevitable breakup; but a realization nonetheless.

The rest of the company weren't being active in their social media accounts too, he thinks to himself as he tried visiting their accounts; their last posts already weeks ago from the present as he scrolls down.

His mind has been relatively lighter lately, now freed from the–

thoughts of keeping everything with Lee Seolhwa.

In exchange however, was the reader continuously plaguing his senses of these memories the two of them have done in the past.

He's been trying to perform better in his livestreams now, compensating for his lack of presence in–

the past as he once again gets another quadra kill before destroying the enemy nexus, the title screen showing to their team the word 'VICTORY' in bold fonts.

"Good game." Yoo Joonghyuk quietly congratulates the team as he slowly stands up from his seat, arms aching for some–

good stretching after all that gaming session that they've been having for quite some time now.

The rest of the comp congratulates him back before exiting the practice room, mind too engrossed in eating some fried chicken and beer after finally having their Supreme King back.

Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon however barely glances back at him before they left the place; disappointment still evident in their body language ever since he announced to everyone how he was dating famous streamer Lee Seolhwa.

"What were you doing, Master?" Lee Jihye asked her–

one day, brows furrowing in confusion as she tries to comprehend whatever her master had done.

'Wasn't he supposed to be dating that ahjussi?' she remembers asking herself when Yoo Joonghyuk had announced his relationship with someone else, confused of the whole ordeal as she–

tries to defend him in her mind, to no avail.

'The Supreme King cheated??' was Kim Namwoon's immediate conclusion once it was announced to the public, knowing how his master is supposed to be in some sort of relationship with that other ahjussi too.

Yoo Joonghyuk never–

bothered clearing things up to them back then, mind still hazed in the thought of being with Lee Seolhwa at that time to care for anything and anyone else.

'They're already adults anyway.' he tells himself once the realization sinks in between the two teens, eyes in disbelief–

while looking at the man they're looking up on.

Now, he's tried mending the bond between the three of them; quietly inviting them in his lone times only to be declined almost immediately, excuses already at the tip of their tongues as they bade him goodbye.

It was then that–

Yoo Joonghyuk had another realization to himself, remembering how he's also done such a thing to Kim Dokja for two grueling years of negligence, excuses already awaiting at the tip of his tongue as he spends his time with someone else.

"Were you this hurt too all those years–

of being alone, Kim Dokja?" he couldn't help but ask himself, body leaning on the wall of his room as everything stills in awkward silence around him.

• • • • •

Some other man is walking along with Kim Dokja when Yoo Joonghyuk finally sees him at the snowy times of September, everyone huddled up in their winter clothes while the snow outside slowly piles up around them.

Yoo Joonghyuk tries approaching the reader when–

he sees the stranger inch away from him for a moment as the progamer walks near them; only to feel himself stand still when he sees the creeping hands of Kim Dokja intertwining itself with the other man, side view of his face seen in Yoo Joonghyuk's perspective as he smiles back–

to the other man, gentle and full of warmth as they walk away further from Yoo Joonghyuk.

Before he could even chase the reader once again; feeling something clog up inside his throat, chest tightening up at the sight as he watches their back slowly retreating and blending–

in amongst the crowd.

Yoo Joonghyuk feels the first signs of heartbreak in all his twenty-eight years of living, learning the concept of fear and dread in the most heartwrenching way possible as he helplessly stands there, frozen and unable to think.

• • • • •

It only worsens from then on.

Yoo Joonghyuk could barely get any response from the whole company as he tries reaching out to them, questions of the identity of the other man already in his mind while he message their accounts.

None had responded back to him.

He wasn't blocked per se, nor was he muted as much as he could tell; they just weren't responding to him and his messages.

They chose not to.

He could see some pictures and tweets posted in their individual twitter accounts; them spending their time basking in the sun and–

enjoying their vacation in Jeju islands, eating all this seafood grill and drinking coconut water, the kids running around the sandy shores of Gwakji Gwamul Beach.

None of them were from Kim Dokja's account; all of those images and videos taken and posted in the other members'–

while replying at some comments of people in their tweets.

There's always something prominent in those media however, that Yoo Joonghyuk had realized after looking at them many times; there stood in the background of the posts were Kim Dokja, holding hands with someone else–

as the group enjoys their time in the island, unknowing of how they were actually capturing the reader along the way.

Yoo Joonghyuk feels something churn inside him; eyes strained in looking through the posts once again, trying to decipher the bond between the reader and this–

mysterious guy along with him.

He felt himself snap in impatience at the loneliness of his apartment, lights dim and foreshadowing as he taps Kim Dokja's direct message, typing something in there before pausing almost abruptly.

Wait.

'Wasn't he the one who told him that they–

wouldn't contact each other anymore?' he asks to himself, shaking his head to clear it off of any thoughts fogging up his mind before slowly, quite reluctantly, laying down his device back to his table.

He should have messaged then, Yoo Joonghyuk bitterly thinks to himself in–

reminiscing all the stupid decisions he's acted upon all this time.

• • • • •

"Everything reminds me of Kim Dokja." he said out loud that one time when he finds himself alone with Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon, not noticing how his words have shocked the two before frowning–

at the implication.

"But didn't you break up with him because you're dating Lee Seolhwa?" Lee Jihye prodded back at him dauntingly, eyes glinting with bitter mischief as Yoo Joonghyuk shook his head.

"We already broke up." he shortly stated, both implications applicable to the–

names that the girl had mentioned.

Kim Namwoon clicked his tongue, not pleased with how much of an asshole his own master is right now; only realizing all this things when he's heard from Sooyoung-noona how the ahjussi has finally moved on now.

"Too late now, then." he told–

the progamer with a smug smile before dragging along his girlfriend outside, leaving Yoo Joonghyuk in his thoughts alone, reminiscing of what he had with the reader.

Of what he could have done to keep them in their companio–relationship, Yoo Joonghyuk corrects himself before he–

could even utter the same words he described their bond was at the time, denying the impending reality of his whole situation as he looked back at his phone and coincidentally saw the time and date in the center of his screen.

Ah.

"February 15." he nodded absentmindedly, mind–

too hazed and fucked up as he opens an app from his phone; fingers already tapping on multiple letters as his vision slowly blurs from the welling tears in the corner of his eyes, feeling himself get drunk in his own emotions.

Yoo Joonghyuk types some more, remembering with a teary chuckle how Kim Dokja would always be extra chaotic in his birthday; always sending him a ton of memes at the stroke of twelve in the midnight, and always, without fail, ask him for cuddles.

"Haha." he laughed on his own–

as tears slowly fall one by one, the anguish of the situation he's brought upon to himself too much even for him to handle as he sobbed.

"H-Hahhh... g-guhngghhh." he choked out in his own cries for a moment before typing some more; hoping that somehow, it'll reach Kim Dokja.

Hoping that it'll reach his heart once more; his pleas for another chance of a lifetime, as Yoo Joonghyuk continues sobbing his heartbreak.

He types out his own fear, fingers trembling in the shock of his own cries as he shakily types his pleas in his phone, pressing send.

• • • • •

Yoo Joonghyuk wakes up the next day in his own apartment, clothes intact and phone and wallet still with him once he checks his belongings.

A short message was written in a nearby notepad right where he was left alone in his couch that says,

"Get some rest, Master." – LJY and KNW

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed to himself at the thought of the two seeing him like that, crying his eyes out as he calls for Kim Dokja to come back to him in the exact date of his birthday.

It was embarrassing really, but Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't–

really care less as he groggily stood up from his position, legs wobbling in imbalance as he composes himself a second time.

The sun was already blaring outside his place, with people already crowding the busy streets of Seoul as the day progresses along with them.

Yoo Joonghyuk however has more important matters to take on; as he once again tries looking for any sort of response from the messages he's sent to the company, still waiting for at least a sign that he was still seen and not actually muted by any of them.

Then his notification–

popped up, signaling him that a tweet was posted by Jung Heewon two days ago.

He opened it, in hopes of seeing Kim Dokja once again, checking up on him and trying to figure out who the stranger actually was.

He wasn't expecting whatever this was that she posted in her timeline.

Yoo Joonghyuk felt himself getting dizzy at the tweet, seeing the familiar username of his reader and some other person's own as he clicked on it; seeing that it was some CEO from N'Gai Enterprises named Secretive Plotter.

Another notification had popped up; this time from–

Lee Hyunsung as Yoo Joonghyuk quickly tapped it open, only to see the same pair of usernames for the second time and a small message from the gentleman.

He felt the world around him spin wildly at the similarity of the two fiance's tweets, making him stumble on his backside as he fell from all this revelation laid out in front of him.

'What's going on, Kim Dokja??' he panicked to himself, still denying the harsh reality laid–

out in front of him as two more notifications pop up from his phone, with Yoo Joonghyuk frantically opening each one and finding himself break some more at the sight of it all.

He felt his own eyes betray him for the third time that same week; teardrops slowly welling up on the corner of his gaze as he wobbly held his phone up and clicked the images one by one, seeing his reader–his most beautiful reader–being happy with someone else.

'Someone that–

isn't you anymore.' his mind had supplied to him as he looked through each image with tears fogging up his vision.

He paused in his painful ministrations for a moment, trying to catch his short intake of breaths as he felt his own lungs clog up on him.

It was getting harder to–

breath with everything going on at him all at once, this sense of hurt senselessly attacking him over and over again as he chokes on his tears.

"H–Hangghhhh... hahhhhhh." he voiced out through choked breaths, trying to relax himself from all this pain as he laid there on his–

floor, miserable and in anguish of it all before finally clicking on the last two notifications that truly matter.

He clicks on his reader's tweet notification with much reluctance; heart heavy as he closes his eyes for a moment to take a breather, to prepare himself for...this.

He felt the world close in on him as he reads the line again and again; trying to come up with a lie of it all as he feels his own chest tighten painfully inside him, finding everything around him way too overwhelming as he cries harder in his position.

It was so, so painful.

It took him around five minutes of regulating himself again in the lone of his apartment, finding it hard to breathe whenever he remembers the words that Kim Dokja had posted in his public twitter account.

Yoo Joonghyuk steeled whatever resolve he has left, breathing in and out–

as he finally consoles himself to the Plotter's own side of the post; seeing his beautiful reader on the seashore of Jeju islands, the sun setting behind him as he sits relaxed in the sand, uncaring of being photographed this close by this man behind the camera.

Yoo Joonghyuk, in all his idiocy; slowly remembers his own memories with his reader back when they were still young and deeply in love.

He would always remember how they were so carefree with the opinion of others towards the two of them, too in love to give those people the–

satisfaction of breaking them up; only for him to be the one breaking everything instead.

He would always remember how they were this open to anyone who sees them, eyes only trained to the other as the company would just look at them in fondness despite the exasperation of–

being fed with too much dog food at the same time.

Oh how those days were the most fun, and how sad it is really; that Yoo Joonghyuk could only do nothing more than reminisce them as he cried harder that day, barely passing the afternoon the moment he woke up and–

he's already on the floor, anguishing the love he's finally lost for himself.

And then he sees a small cardboard box placed neatly on top of his table, taped on both flaps to seal it completely as Yoo Joonghyuk tried reaching it out from a walking distance away.

He knelt in–

front of the package, thankful for once that a cutter is also placed nearby it to ease him the hassle of walking wobbly towards his nearest cabinet to get some scissors.

He wasn't expecting any delivery that day, eyes still exhausted from all that crying he's done for the past–

few hours.

And it wasn't necessarily a delivery per se, if you would ask Yoo Joonghyuk as to what welcomes his sight the moment he shakily opens the box.

Inside was a bed of chrysanthemums, both white and yellow placed as a pillow; a small piece of paper covering a worn down–

photo frame from Yoo Joonghyuk's sight as he picked the two items out of the container, feeling himself tear up again at seeing the familiar photograph tucked inside the frame.

It was him and Kim Dokja in their high school times, both naive but genuinely in love with each other–

as they prepare a pose for the polaroid in front of them owned by Han Sooyoung, a smiling Yoo Joonghyuk hugging Kim Dokja tight in his embrace while the latter could only laugh back while facing the camera.

Written in his own handwriting back at the time was the phrase–

that says,

"Day one of being one. He said yes!" as they both commemorate their first day of finally becoming boyfriends.

Yoo Joonghyuk felt himself crouching in his position at the heartwrenching pain that he's been feeling in such a short span of time, the shock of it all–

making everything feel much, much worse than when Lee Seolhwa had broken up with him that day.

He was not even sad that it had happened; mind too preoccupied of his reader, who's not his now any longer as he wept through the hurt.

The handwritten letter falls from his lap as–

he continues his anguish for a love now forever lost from his grasp, letting the content of the paper out in the open as the scene slowly closes to an end.

"Dear Yoo Joonghyuk,

Hi. I'm going to apologize in advance if my writing sucks, you know how I am all this time. I've always been a reader, you know? I wasn't born to write stuff like Han Sooyoung, so don't blame me if this sucks okay?

Okay? Good, haha.

I don't really know when it had started for the two of us to crumble down like this, Joonghyuk. We started things out so fine and so good, we were so in love with the idea of being with each other too. Or was it just me, all those time?? I honestly don't know the answer

myself, Joonghyuk.

You were so cruel to me, don't you know that? Flirting with someone else right in front of your own boyfriend while all I could do was just, watch. Watch because we weren't out to the public yet. Watch because that's all I'm ever good at.
Watch how I

slowly lose you away while you quickly fall in love with somebody else that wasn't me.

You made me doubt myself, Yoo Joonghyuk. And I want to hate you for that so, so bad.

You made me think I was lacking, like I never did anything right to keep our relationship

going. You made me blame myself for seeing you fall in love with someone else, my own colleague even!! You made me feel unwanted whenever you ignore me for someone else. You made me feel like some waste of your time and space while I always go and tend to you whenever you let out

the smallest plea of my attention.

I so, so want to hate you for all the pain and hurt you costed to me. But I love you way too much, Joonghyuk. Way too much that I can't find it in me to hate you.

You've always been my dream man, the protagonist that you are.

You've always been the one I always dream to become ever since we were young at the time, too dumb to give myself importance and always wishing to just kiss the pain away. And maybe it's my own fault that it had hurt so badly that time for me when we broke up.

Because I never left a piece of me for myself, always trying to give you everything I have without thinking how I also needed some for myself too. I chained myself at the past, without thinking much of what I could be in the future.

But now I know better, Joonghyuk-ah and

I wanna thank you sincerely for that.

I learned to love me more now, love every imperfection I have and appreciated my little quirks better. I learned to love people with how much they loved me back. I learned to prioritize myself first whenever things become too rough for

me.

Maybe now I'm finally free of my own chains too. Now I can finally let myself go of all that pain and hurt of the past that we had, and don't get me wrong Joonghyuk with me not loving you.

I loved you so, that's why I'm finally letting go.

I'm letting you free now, of the memories we once shared with. Of every good and bad thing we had with one another. I want the two of us to finally move on our own pace now.

I learned how to love and be free because of the pain you gave to me, Joonghyuk-ah. And I want

to thank you for that, so so much. I learned because of you, and I will always know that the person I'll become today is all thanks to you and our past.

So thank you so much, Yoo Joonghyuk, and farewell.

Formerly Yours,
김독자."

• • • • •

( end of virulence, panacea )

hi, i just replenished the world's water system with my tears alone o(-(

this was such a pain in the tear ducts to write, i'm telling you 😭😭

i have finally ended my first long fic after all this time of updating and taking–

short breaks in between writings.

ahhh, i will miss this fic so much ;~;

thank you so much to everyone who have read and loved virulence, panacea this far!! 🥺🤲🏻❤ you're all amazing people and i applaud you for that!! 👏🏻🤩

thank you so much to @_keiroar-san once again for–

encouraging me to write my first fic after lurking for so long here in orvtwit, stanning all these amazing creators and their works (real)

thank you all to my dear moots and followers for being such awesome bitches, i love you all kiss kiss mwah 🥺❤

i'll see you all in my next work, and good night because it's currently eleven in the evening!! my eye bags are sobbing!! 😭😭

link to ria-nim's OG! TOXIC here:

https://twitter.com/_keiroar/status/1490202958868336643?t=iJzuUkuQOp5JP0vCdlqsCg&s=19

link to the first tweet of epilogue: doloroso here:

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1502155380461535232?t=iJzuUkuQOp5JP0vCdlqsCg&s=19

link to the top of the whole fic, virulence, panacea here:

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1499674727547166721?t=iJzuUkuQOp5JP0vCdlqsCg&s=19

link to all my other orv-related works here:

https://twitter.com/No_OnesHo/status/1499708805688737797?t=iJzuUkuQOp5JP0vCdlqsCg&s=09

once again, see you all tomorrow and good night!! will reply to all qrts and comments tomorrow I SWEAR 😭😭