Chapter 1 [ Wake up kdj ]

'The day we left that train was meant to be our new beginning.

We were going to follow your plans, remember?

We would buy a big house so we could all live together.'

"Please wake up, Dokja-ssi."

Huiwon said as she held the hand of a sleeping Dokja.

The beeping of the monitor being the only sign he was alive.

It had been 4 weeks 3 days and 5 hours since Dokja last opened his eyes.

"Unnie, Hyeonseong oppa is looking for you."

A teenage girl with long black hair stood right beyond the doorway of Dokja's room.

"Ah, right... I'll get there right away."

Huiwon let go of Dokja's hand and turned away. The faint beeping resided in her mind as she stepped out of the room.

"What no, I wasn't looking for you?"

Hyeonseong spoke to Huiwon bewildered.

-Why'd Jihye lie?-

They thought as they both made their way to Dokja's room.

Suddenly, Hyiwon paused, causing Hyeonseong to bump into her.

She held her finger towards her mouth as a way of telling Hyeonseong to be quiet.

Faint sobs could be heard from Dokja's room.

They sounded muffled as if the person tried desperately to hold them back but failed in doing so.

"Come back, Ahjussi.. Please come back."

The desperate cries made their hearts ache.

Though the voice was distorted, it was clear who was pleading so desperately for the man in the room to wake up.

The sobs became whimpers as if the person had gotten tired of crying.

Hyeonseong and Huiwon left, not wanting to interrupt the kid that could still be heard in Dokja's room.

Hours seemed to pass, and eventually, Jihye stepped out of Dokja's room, her eyes red and puffy.

Not long after, Jihey left Sangah stepped into the room. Her normally bright expression glum.

"Hi Dokja-ssi. The kids have been crying nonstop about you... They miss you a lot, y'know?"

"Why'd you have to leave us? Dokja-ssi..."

Tears welded up in Sangah's eyes. She stopped talking out of fear of them spilling.

"I miss you, Dokja-ssi, we all do... please come back."

The woman's voice cracked with every word she spoke.

Warm tears began spilling out of her eyes. She was no longer able to hold them back.

***

When Yoo Sangah opened the door to Dokja's room, ready to exit, she saw a man wearing a long black coat with a frown on his face.

The man paid no attention to her, only shoving past her to sit in the empty seat next to Dokja's bed.

You Sangah didn't mind his rudness, though; as she knew that, that man was the one who had been suffering the most.

The click of the door made yoo jonghyuk flinch something that was unusual for him.

He sat there watching Dokja. He watched as his chest rose and fell.

He was scared. Scared that Dokja's chest would eventually stay still like the rest of his body and the occasional beeping would stop.

'if only I'd been stronger...'

'If only I came sooner...'

'If only I could save you...'

Yoo Jonghyuk wasn't good with his words despite maxing out his communication skill.

But, Dokja...

Dokja was the only man, no. Only person, that could understand him despite his aggressive nature.

Maybe that was what made him treasure Dokja so much. Or was it how caring the fool was?

Nonetheless the companion he so deeply cared was the only person he failed to protect.

< Midday Trust >

Kim Dokja.

Kim Dokja, where are you?

Kim Dokja, where do you plan on dying?

Kim Dokja, fuck off.

Kim Dokja?

Kim Dokja... You better respond.

---

Yoo Jonghyuk continued to scroll through their messages.

His dry eyes grew damp. His frown softened and he hunched over to get closer to Dokja.

"Kim Dokja... Kim Dokja... Kim Dokja..."

He chanted the name. Repeating it over and over and over again. Hoping that Dokja would come to him since he called just like he always did...

But no matter how many time he called out no one came.

He brushed away Dokja's hair so he can see his companions face clearly.

The man who was always smiling now wore an emotionless face.

"You said you wanted to see the ending with us... The ending that you dreamed of... But you never imagined an ending with you with us did you?"

Yoo Jonghyuk paused. If he'd known that his companion wasn't part of this ending he would've never agreed to it; yet here he was.

" The ending you told us about... One where [everyone] was happy... Was it all a lie? Or..."

Yoo Jonghyuk grit his teeth hesitant to speak.

"Did you resent yourself so much that you couldn't believe an ending where people were happy with you?"

Oh...

He was crying.