Acceptance Part 3

Kim Dokja finds himself in an empty, dark space. The only area that was illuminated by light was the bench by which he was sitting on.

As he sat alone, his hands felt the sensation of rough paper. He looks down and sees the item he was holding on to. It was a small, worn-out notebook and it was filled with illegible handwriting.

"What is… I can't read this…"

His eyes squinted as he tries to read the scribbly notes on the current page. Eventually, he manages to make out a few words from it.

"A dream...waiting… for the ■■?"

He flinches in surprise as he hears a deafening screech rumble around the space. It sounded like a train had halted nearby. Gradually, the light spreads within the empty space, illuminating the darkness.

Dokja saw himself alone in an empty subway station, and in front of him was a stalled, vacant train. As he gazed through its glass doors, he felt an overwhelming terror crawl through his body.

There were phantoms inside the train, it looked like they were trying to escape and were violently hitting the glass. Cold sweat trickled from Dokja's neck while goosebumps grew on his skin.

Eventually, one of the phantoms manages to break through the glass and lunges toward him. The dark figure had a set of obsidian wings and a pair of elongated horns on its head. Its irises were blood red and it held a shining white blade on his right hand.

The phantom's blade was aimed at him and the entity charged, closing the distance between them.

The Oldest Dream recalls it, the dream when the 1864th Kim Dokja tried to kill him. He wanted to run away and escape but his feet wouldn't budge due to fear and his eyes were stuck at the figure in front of him.

"No! I want to run away! I don't want to stay here!"

[I know...]

The phantom spoke as it transformed into a young man. The Oldest Dream recognised its face. It was his older self. The phantom was wearing a white coat and a black shirt underneath.

Its face had a resentful expression, its mouth held a bitter smile and tears flowed from its crimson eyes that radiated with self-loathing.

[...But where to?]

Teardrops trickled from The Oldest Dream's cheeks as he witnessed the sword change it's target, the phantom then aimed the blade to his own neck.

[Everything… Our ■■ will come... with this.]

The Oldest Dream flinched and covered his eyes. He knew that if the phantom before him ends his life, his existence would follow suit. He couldn't bear to see his other self die by his own hands.

[Dying alone… is our rightful ■■…]

Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoes through the station, nulling out the voice of the phantom.

"KIM DOKJA!"

"No! Stay away! He crouches down and covers his ears. "Don't torment me! No!" Tears soaked The Oldest Dream's face and his body trembled uncontrollably.

"THIS IS JUST A DREAM! OPEN YOUR EYES, KIM DOKJA!"

The floors of the station shook violently as the voice spoke, cracks started to appear around the platform, while small debris and dust fell from the ceiling.

"WAKE UP!"

The ground crumbles apart beneath the Oldest Dream, and the sensation of free-falling overwhelms him. Jolting him awake from the nightmare.

***

'Why is it so warm?'

Kim Dokja opens his eyes and finds himself being covered in a thick thermal blanket. He was lying down in a hospital cot. Dokja sensed a dull pain on his chest and his lips felt a little bruised, his nose felt itchy as a nasal cannula was attached on his nostrils, pumping warm air.

He felt stuffy as he laid down, he sensed several heat pads attached on his torso and extremities. His body still felt heavy and his vision was a little blurry. Dokja winces as he felt a slight pain on his left arm, as an IV drip had been administered.

"Where…?" Dokja mumbles as his eyes scour the room. "...Is this?" He then notices something warm holding onto his right hand.

Dokja then glances to his side and sees Uriel sitting on a chair by his bedside. It looked like she was in deep prayer as her head bowed and eyes closed while she held onto his hand. Uriel didn't notice that Dokja had woken up.

"...Noona?"

Uriel looks up and sees Dokja awake. Teardrops started to flow uncontrollably from her eyes.

"K-Kim Dokja!" Uriel grips his hand harder. "Finally… you're awake!" Her soft whimpers sounded of joy and relief. "Thank goodness!"

"...Where is this place, Noona?" Dokja's eyes wandered around the room. It looked like a private hospital suite.

Uriel releases Dokja's hand and wipes her tears gently, her make-up bled and smudged due to her sudden outburst. It looked like she had just got back from a photo shoot.

"You're in one of the rooms for Omegas, Dokja... We're in Yonsei Severance."

"Yonsei…?"

"You almost froze to death three hours ago…" Uriel stands up from her seat and inches close to Dokja. She then cupped her hands on his cheeks, gently stroking them as she gazed at him with endearment.

"Then… these blankets?"

"The doctors said it was a case of hypothermia. You were missing for a couple of hours… We searched all around Yeouido for you." A warm smile then appears from Uriel's face.

"Fortunately, Yoo Jonghyuk found you in the nick of time and rushed you here." A relieved sigh escapes from Uriel's mouth.

"Jonghyuk said, you were unresponsive when he found you at the playground." Uriel groans as she recalls his story. "He said you weren't breathing at that time, thankfully he knew how to perform CPR so… Don't be shocked if you have a bruise on your chest and mouth, Dokja."

Kim Dokja's irises dilated in shock.

"J-Jonghyuk??... T-then he knows??" Tears of panic started to swell from Dokja's eyes. "N-no! He shouldn't have… He'll h-hate me a-and kick me o-out!"

The blood pressure monitor attached to Dokja suddenly emitted a warning beep, followed by the pheromone detector on the ceiling. The soft sound of exhaust fans echoes while a mild scent of aseptic gradually disperses into the room, neutralizing Dokja's pheromones.

"Calm down! Dokja, he doesn't hate you!" Uriel gives Dokja a hug, gently stroking his head to comfort him.

"...W-what?" Tears drenched Dokja's cheeks.

"He never hated you Dokja!" Uriel then releases her embrace. "In fact, it was actually the opposite… He lo-"

Uriel was cut off by the loud knocking coming from the door. Both of them turned their heads as the doors opened.

"...Hyung? Noona?" Dokja sees Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye enter the room.

"Thank goodness you're awake!" Jihye rushed to Dokja's side and held his right hand, her face was etched with relief.

"You had all of us worried you know!" Namwoon scratches his head and glances at Dokja with a concerned expression.

"Hyung… Noona… I'm sorry… for troubling you all." A feeble smile appears on Dokja's face. He then tries to sit up, but Jihye stops him.

"I'll adjust the incline, stay put Dokja!" Jihye pushes the button on Dokja's bed, raising his head a little higher. "Is that better?"

"Yes, thank you, Noona."

Uriel sighs in relief then turns her attention to the couple. "It's already getting late and both of you are still up? Don't you have jobs tomorrow?"

"Says the person who flaked out on a job earlier after getting a call from Hyunsu- Ooww!"

Uriel stepped on Namwoon's foot with her heel. "Shut up! Kim Dokja was my priority so I don't give a damn about my photoshoots!"

"Oh really? I thought it was because your Alpha-"

"Stop it both of you!" Jihye interrupts and glares at both Namwoon and Uriel. "There's a patient in recovery here, both of you should-"

The sound of heavy knocking distracts the group, as they turn their heads toward the entryway, they see a familiar silhouette on the door's frosted glass pane.

The door opens with a soft creak and the sound of heavy footsteps reverberates inside the room as the man walks in. It was Yoo Jonghyuk.

"All of you, get out. I need to talk to him."

***

Jihye sighs as they pass through the lobby of Yonsei Severance Hospital. She was leaving together with her companions from the 999th turn.

"Noona… do you think they'll be okay?" Jihye looks at Uriel with uncertainty.

"They'll be fine after all the two of them were Fated pairs in the first place."

"Wait, what? Fated?!" Namwoon interjects. "But how come Dokja only manifested now? If they're Fated, then they should have felt something five years ago!"

"I think Jonghyuk did… You do remember him smiling when he carried Dokja in his arms when we got out of Daehwa Station?" A smirk forms on Uriel's face. "Not to mention… during his 16th birthday, Dokja was sparkling back then."

"I knew it! No wonder! Captain's face was amusing during that time… And I thought I was the only one who noticed." Jihye scratches her head.

The group stopped outside the hospital's driveway, it was snowing and the trains had ceased. The trio checked on their phones while they booked a ride home. A cab then parks at the front, it looked like Jihye and Namwoon's ride came in first.

"Noona! We'll be going on ahead! Give Hyunsung-Oppa our regards!" Jihye gives Uriel a warm hug. "Stay safe, okay?"

Jihye then releases her embrace and boards the cab. Namwoon was already seated inside and waved his hand at Uriel to say goodbye. Shortly after, the cab departs from the driveway.

Uriel gazed at the cab as it sped away in the distance.

"Finally, those two… I guess both of them will welcome a blossoming spring this year." Uriel giggles.

"What about us?"

A stern, manly voice interrupts Uriel's soliloquy. She then turns her back and sees Lee Hyunsung behind her. Uriel's eyes dilated in shock and her cheeks flushed red.

"Will you finally watch the spring blossoms with me?" A sincere smile formed on Hyunsung's face and his eyes were filled with yearning.

"W-we'll see… I'll c-check with m-my manager if I can have a short break somewhere in March or April…" Uriel tries to hide her embarrassed face with her scarf.

"I came to pick you up since the trains have stopped." Hyunsung then holds Uriel's left hand and entwines his fingers with hers.

"Your house is in Gangnam so you won't be able to find a ride tonight with this snowfall." Hyunsung sighs, he then wraps his arms around Uriel and whispers to her left ear.

"My apartment is a few blocks away from here, if you don't mind, you can stay for the night."

"W-well… i-it is better than staying o-out here in the cold." Uriel covers her flushed face, it was as red as a ripe tomato. "Lead the way then!"

***

"Why didn't you inform me about your exam results?"

Kim Dokja felt his throat tighten as he tried to hold back his emotions. Yoo Jonghyuk stood at his front, by the footboard. Dokja then averts his eyes from Jonghyuk, as the man's sharp stare had been constantly badgering him. He felt like a helpless chick being bullied by a crow.

"Why didn't you tell me that you consented for a comprehensive exam on your own?" Jonghyuk crosses his arms and takes a seat on the vacant chair beside Dokja.

"And why on earth, did you not bring your phone with you when you went out to buy from the convenience store?" Jonghyuk groans, his eyes fixed at Kim Dokja's face.

"Answer me, you brat." Jonghyuk massaged his forehead, he felt like a headache was coming to him.

"I...I'm sorry Jonghyuk." Kim Dokja gripped the blankets hard. "I… I didn't really mean to hide it from you, it's just-"

Dokja's tears started to fall uncontrollably from his eyes, he found it difficult to speak as his throat tightened. He covered his face with both of his hands and tried to wipe his cheeks.

"I-I'm really sorry… I'm such a useless-"

Jonghyuk cuts him off. "You don't need to apologise." He then stands up and inches close to Dokja's bed.

He fixes the thermal blanket to the side, and takes a seat on the hospital cot, inching close to Dokja.

"I'm not asking you to say sorry." Jonghyuk then wraps his arms around Dokja's shoulder, embracing him. "I'm asking you, why did you not talk to me about the important things? Especially concerning your health..." His hug tightened and a bitter smile was visible from his face.

"Do you not trust me enough, Dokja?" He then released his embrace and gazed at him with forlorn eyes.

Dokja meets Jonghyuk's gaze. "No… it's not that… J-Jonghyuk, I-"

Jonghyuk cupped his hands on Dokja's cheeks, gently wiping his tears and stroking his face to comfort him. "Do you remember the first time we met?"

Kim Dokja nods in silence as he recalls his lonesome memories at Daehwa station.

"Every time I had to regress, I despised it. I had to start over and it was painstakingly difficult. At first, I lost my patience, and then eventually I lost my emotions and my rationality. I went mad and I started to hate everything."

Jonghyuk kissed Dokja's forehead.

"The thought of hating you never crossed my mind. Even when we met at the station, I knew that I wouldn't have the gall to despise you." A gentle smile forms on Jonghyuk's face. "I don't hate you, Kim Dokja… rather…" He pauses for a bit and takes a deep breath.

"...I'm thankful that my ■■, was to be with you."

An overwhelming feeling of relief hits Kim Dokja. His anxiety and his fear were instantly quashed by Jonghyuk's sincere words. Tears drenched his face once more, but it wasn't due to sorrow.

They were tears of joy.

"J-Jonghyuk!" Dokja leans on Jonghyuk's broad chest, and burrows his face on his shirt, drenching it with his tears. "I was so scared! I-I didn't want you to hate me for being a useless Ome-"

"Hush." Jonghyuk wraps his arms around Dokja, embracing him. "Whether you're a Beta or an Omega… You're still you, Kim Dokja! Why would I hate you just because you're different? Don't bother yourself with such crap." He then strokes Dokja's back to soothe him.

"B-but Jonghyuk, what if something happens since you're an A-"

Jonghyuk gently smacks Dokja's back. "I said hush! Stop with the what if's! I told you already, I won't hate you if you're an Omega." Jonghyuk scoffs, he then releases his embrace and grasps Dokja's hand.

"If something happens between us, I would welcome it with open arms either way." Jonghyuk's ears flushed as he assured Dokja.

"...Huh?"

Dokja's tears became still and his thoughts suddenly went blank as he heard Jonghyuk's smooth words. "C-can you s-say that a-again, Jonghyuk?" His irises dilated in shock, Dokja didn't expect that Jonghyuk would actually be relieved by his exam results.

Jonghyuk looks away and releases his grip on Dokja's hand. He then turns his back and walks toward the door. Dokja saw it, his ears and neck were red.

He changes the conversation to hide his embarrassment.

"I'll inform the physician that you've regained consciousness now. It will only be a few minutes, so stay put Kim Dokja."

Jonghyuk darts out of the room, leaving Dokja to contemplate alone.

Dokja leans back on the bed and stares at the ceiling blankly. Jonghyuk's reaction earlier baffled him, and it felt like a car had run over him.

"Wait… then does that mean…?" He then recalled Uriel's words earlier.

<He said you weren't breathing at that time, thankfully he knew how to perform CPR so… Don't be shocked if you have a bruise on your chest and mouth, Dokja.>

Dokja massages his lips, he senses a dull pain on his lower vermillion and his chin and nose was a little tender. An embarrassing realisation then sets in on him.

"J-Jonghyuk… kissed me?"

Dokja slaps himself in disbelief. 'Stop it, Kim Dokja! Jonghyuk had to do it in order to save my life. Crap, my brain… why are you thinking of such thoughts!'

He didn't want to admit it, but the words that slipped out from Jonghyuk's mouth a few seconds ago greatly shocked him to his core.

<If something happens between us, I would welcome it with open arms either way.>

Kim Dokja tried to shrug it off but he saw the signs. It was no use denying it, especially when the words came out directly from Yoo Jonghyuk.

"Is he perhaps... in love with me?"