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The time on the bottom-right corner of his monitor showed that it was exactly 6 pm when Yoo Joonghyuk paused the game he was currently playing. And with a simple “that is all for today”, he ended the stream. Truly, this world is a cruel and unjust place that only favors those who are good looking. A regular streamer probably wouldn’t get away with how Yoo Joonghyuk streams as easily.
Getting up from his chair, Yoo Joonghyuk wasted no time in getting himself to the kitchen, unloading whatever it is he needed from the fridge – chicken breasts, vegetables… and from the pantry – flour, butter, garlic, vinegar, honey… Yoo Joonghyuk prepared everything quickly and with utmost precision. Juggling the task between getting the chicken done, cooking the rice as it marinades, and make a simple vegetable salad. Before long, a whole two-course meal was done, complete with garnish that makes it look like it came out of a three-starred restaurant. Yoo Joonghyuk looked over everything he made once more, nodding to himself when satisfied. It was a little past 7. Kim Dokja should be home soon.
True to his calculation, the front door opened as he just finished up cleaning the kitchen. A plain, tired looking man in a cheap suit walked in. His eyes lighting up when he saw Yoo Joonghyuk.
“I’m home.”
“Welcome home.” Yoo Joonghyuk came up to him and took the bag out of his hands to put away. “Hurry and wash up. Dinner’s ready.”
“Thanks.” Kim Dokja gave Yoo Joonghyuk a peck on his cheek. “Smells great.”
About 10 minutes later, a refreshed Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk sat on the dinner table facing each other, ready to start their meal. Only the sounds of clinking utensils could be heard as a comfortable silence hung in the air. Occasionally, a delighted hum would come out of Kim Dokja. Once all that is left from his plate was the tomatoes however, all those previous happy atmosphere left him. For the past few moments, Kim Dokja had only been chasing the wedge cut fruit around with his chopsticks without any actual attempt of picking it up.
“Kim Dokja,” Yoo Joonghyuk called out, unable to stay quiet anymore. “Stop playing with your food.”
“I’m not!” Kim Dokja denied his wrong-doings, putting his hands up in a defensive manner.
Yoo Joonghyuk only gave him a pointed look.
“Hey, Yoo Joonghyuk.” Kim Dokja finally picked up a piece of tomato, bringing it close to Yoo Joonghyuk’s lips. “Say ‘ah~’?”
Yoo Joonghyuk was not amused.
“How stupid do you think I am to fall for that?”
“Extremely?”
Kim Dokja deserved the glare Yoo Joonghyuk aimed at him for that.
“I’m joking! I know you wouldn’t fall for it because you’re not stupid! Well, at least to that extent… I mean, lighten up, Joonghyuk-ah!”
There was no reply.
“…Joonghyuk-ah?”
“Eat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kim Dokja stared at the red abomination of what most people call food for a few more minutes, seemingly weighing his options thoroughly. Between eating a piece of tomato and angering an already pissed off Yoo Joonghyuk further, which would leave less damage to him? He glanced at the man in front of him. Yoo Joonghyuk was still staring. Intently. The answer was obvious. Kim Dokja gulped, having decided on his worldly hell, and slowly brought the tomato into his mouth, face scrunched up in disgust as he chewed.
0.
6 pm. Yoo Joonghyuk shut down his PC. Coming out of his shared bedroom with Kim Dokja, he was about to head straight to the kitchen when he saw a tuft of hair from the sofa’s armrest.
“Kim Dokja?”
Looking up from the web novel he was reading, Kim Dokja smiled at him. “I’m home, Joonghyuk-ah. Finished with the stream?”
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded.
“You’re early. I haven’t made dinner yet.”
“You’re such a wife,” Kim Dokja teased, grinning from ear to ear. “Look at how spoiled I am. How do you expect me to live without you now?”
“It’s not like I’d ever go anywhere. What do you want to eat?”
“Are you doing this on purpose? You know you’re being smooth, right?” he rolled his eyes, there definitely wasn’t the slightest tint of pink dusting his cheeks.
“Just tell me what you want.”
Kim Dokja fake-coughed to compose himself before answering. “Omurice, maybe?”
An answer so quick, it took Yoo Joonghyuk by surprise. It was as if he’s been thinking about it for quite some time now. He honestly thought Kim Dokja would’ve said something along the lines of “anything”.
But more importantly…
“…With ketchup and everything?” Yoo Joonghyuk questioned, slightly confused.
“Yes? I’m fine with ketchup.” Kim Dokja answered, like it’s obvious.
Huh.
“This is the first time I’ve heard about this.”
“Ah? Well, um… now you know?”
Yoo Joonghyuk squinted at him, letting out a displeased huff before leaving for the kitchen.
He took out eggs, garlic, scallions, homemade kimchi, ketchup, and other things he would need. Thankfully, there was still leftover rice from yesterday so he could just use that instead of cooking a fresh batch. Yoo Joonghyuk heated up some oil, finely chopped up the garlic, and threw it in, letting it sizzle as the aroma filled the kitchen. He added the rest of the ingredients in the wok, flicking his wrist to toss the rice up in the air and catching every single grain back.
Once he finished with the kimchi fried rice and was about to start on the omelette, a pair of arms snaked around his waist, Kim Dokja’s head resting on his shoulder, hair still slightly damp from his shower. His breath tickling Yoo Joonghyuk’s bare neck.
“Stop sniffing on my neck.”
“But you smell so nice! You smell exactly like me…”
“We use the same toiletries,” Yoo Joonghyuk pointed out.
Kim Dokja ignored him. “Really makes it feel like you’re all mine.”
“I am. Now let go.”
Kim Dokja only nuzzled his head further, the grip around his waist tighter. Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, defeated. Guess he’d have to deal with a clingy, full grown man as he finish the dish.
“Can you make one of those Japanese-style fluffy omelette?”
“The one that’s still runny on the inside?”
“Mm.”
“Of course.”
And so he did just that. Showing off his skills as a clingy Kim Dokja still watch from over his shoulder. Successfully producing two perfectly oval-shaped, jiggly eggs to place on top of the fried rice. The two made their way to the dining table, Kim Dokja appeared to have made himself useful by arranging the cutleries. Yoo Joonghyuk put down the plates as Kim Dokja took a seat. Just as Yoo Joonghyuk was about to sit down, Kim Dokja grabbed his sleeve, effectively stopping him.
“Aren’t you going to cut the omelette open for me?”
“You can do it yourself.”
“But what if I hurt myself with the knife!”
“Are you a kid.”
Despite himself, Yoo Joonghyuk took a small knife and ran it across the egg. The once oval omelette now draped over the fried rice beautifully. Kim Dokja let out an “oooh~” and clapped his hands together. Sometimes Yoo Joonghyuk found it hard to believe that this man was already in his late twenties.
“Now you have to cast a spell on it and write something for me with ketchup.”
“Why.”
“Please, Joonghyuk-ah? Indulge me just this once?”
Yoo Joonghyuk really was a weak, weak man.
“I am not ‘casting a spell’ on it.”
“Fine, at least do the thing with ketchup.”
Sighing, he did as he was told. Though not without expressing his annoyance. Drawing something that looked like a flattened-out squid instead.
Kim Dokja stared down at it, frowning. “You’re really bad at this.”
Ungrateful bastard. “…Eat.”
With a “I will eat well”, finally. Finally. They started with their food.
Kim Dokja scarfed his portion down like a man who had been trapped in outer space with nothing to eat for thousands of years.
“Slow down. You’ll choke,” Yoo Joonghyuk warned with a voice that sounded too soft to intimidate anyone, let alone someone as thick-skinned as Kim Dokja. The man in question only let out a hum and slowed down his pace.
“I didn’t know you like omurice this much.” Yoo Joonghyuk couldn’t hide the amusement and wonder in his tone.
“They’w my favowite,” came Kim Dokja’s reply, in the midst of chewing. And if he wasn’t hit by a sudden realization, Yoo Joonghyuk would’ve thought it was cute.
“I thought you said your favorite was murim dumplings?”
“Did I? Oh, uh… I mean, yeah. I can have two favorites, you know.”
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him incredulously.
“Did you really think that having the same favorite food would raise my affection meter?”
“What? No?”
“Then look at me when you say it.”
“What kind of games have you been playing anyway? Affection meter… Ha. Egoistical bastard, who do you think you are, some kind of protagonist in a dating sim? I swear to god, you and your stupidly perfect face.”
“Kim Dokja. Don’t change the subject.”
“You’re literally changing the subject right now! Why won’t you answer me, hm? Yoo Joonghyuk.”
Yoo Joonghyuk scowled. What Kim Dokja said was half-true. He did change the subject. Not that he’d admit it. And as if he, of all people, would ever back down. “I asked first.”
The two stubborn men started a staring contest. Alas, Kim Dokja could never compete against Yoo Joonghyuk whenever he stares at him with such intensity that could put the sun to shame.
“…Look, I really do like murim dumplings too!” Kim Dokja tried to explain himself. “It’s just that… back then, omurice was the fanciest dish I could afford from the convenience store and it holds a special place in my heart.”
For the second time that night, Yoo Joonghyuk was stunned. First it was the fact that Kim Dokja hates tomatoes but tolerates ketchup. And now this? They’ve been dating for a couple of months and yet Yoo Joonghyuk felt like he barely knows anything about Kim Dokja.
A disappointed frown formed on his face. Disappointed in who exactly, Yoo Joonghyuk wasn’t sure. Yes, Kim Dokja talks a lot. But whatever comes out of his mouth is almost never about himself. Hell, Yoo Joonghyuk might even know more about the characters in the web novels Kim Dokja reads than he does about Kim Dokja!
“Of course, yours are so much better than anything I’ve ever had! Well, anything you make is good, so…” Kim Dokja blabbered on, his voice getting quieter as he got nearer to the end, probably embarrassed from his sudden confession earlier.
“Tell me next time. I’ll make anything you want.”
Whatever sort of timidity Kim Dokja had a few seconds ago was now gone as he eyed Yoo Joonghyuk carefully before opening his mouth. “I want no tomatoes…”
“Vegetables are good for you.”
“First of all, it’s a fruit. Second, there are literally other vegetables to choose from.”
“You’re an adult. Don’t be picky.”
“You can’t make me. Not even the apocalypse.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s left eyebrow twitched. And had Kim Dokja not resumed his meal he would’ve noticed.
Their dinner continued without another comment from either of them. That is until Yoo Joonghyuk noticed a smear of red near Kim Dokja’s lips.
“Tch. Messy… you’re getting sauce all over your face,” Yoo Joonghyuk scolded.
Kim Dokja, instead, smirked. “It’s not my fault your cooking is so good, Joonghyuk-ah.”
“Clean up your face.” Yoo Joonghyuk handed him a tissue.
“You got the tissue, you clean it up.”
“Alright.”
Kim Dokja definitely was not expecting this outcome.
“Ah, wait–”
Yoo Joonghyuk did not. He leaned over the table, grabbed Kim Dokja’s face and brought it closer to his own. The tissue in his hand forgotten as he licked the sauce off of the corners of Kim Dokja’s lips. Startled, Kim Dokja pushed Yoo Joonghyuk away, pointing his finger accusingly.
“You…! You…!”
Satisfied with this reaction, Yoo Joonghyuk’s lips curled upwards. “Finish your food.”
Later that night, as Kim Dokja was sound asleep, Yoo Joonghyuk took out his journal and scribbled something down in neat handwriting.
[Get Kim Dokja to eat tomatoes in a month.]
1.
It’s the first day of Yoo Joonghyuk’s personal, self-made quest. Considering how Kim Dokja was completely fine with consuming ketchup, Yoo Joonghyuk planned to start out this journey by testing out just how far Kim Dokja’s limits goes. In other words, pizza. They’ve never had pizza together before. Well, maybe that’s because Yoo Joonghyuk absolutely refused to order one of those greasy… triangular-cut thing with questionable hygiene, but that’s not the point! Yoo Joonghyuk had never seen Kim Dokja eat pizza! Or marinara sauce, to be exact. In theory, if Kim Dokja can eat ketchup, he should be able to eat marinara sauce too, but Yoo Joonghyuk needed to make sure. And make sure he would. Rolling up his sleeves, he got to work.
“I’m home,” Kim Dokja announced his arrival, toeing his shoes off.
“Welcome home,” Yoo Joonghyuk greeted, helping Kim Dokja with his bag per usual.
“What’s for dinner?” Kim Dokja asked habitually. They may repeat the same lines every day, but if it’s with this man, Yoo Joonghyuk really thinks this kind of mundane life is everything he could’ve asked for.
“Pizza,” he answered.
Kim Dokja stopped in his tracks. “Pizza?” he repeated, thinking he might’ve heard wrong the first time.
There it is. “Yes. Do you not eat pizza?”
“No, it’s just… I thought you don’t,” he reasoned, rightfully so. “This isn’t your way to get me eat tomatoes, is it?”
“No,” Yoo Joonghyuk answered, not too quick that it was suspicious, and not too slow that it seemed like he hesitated. Just like he had practiced to. “It’s fine if I made it.”
Kim Dokja rolled his eyes. “I’m fully aware that your cooking is the best thing I have and ever will taste, but you’re making me want to put you in place.”
“You can’t even if you wanted to.”
“Prick. Be grateful your face helps with your personality.”
“Hurry and wash up before the food gets cold.”
With a dismissive wave, Kim Dokja left for the bathroom.
[Day 1: Kim Dokja was cautious. But marinara is also fine.]
2.
Second day. Yoo Joonghyuk thought over his plan. Just slicing the tomatoes in tonight’s dinner would definitely result in Kim Dokja’s refusal to eat them, but what if they were cut into small dices? And with that in mind, Yoo Joonghyuk decided to make a spicy beef stew.
“Joonghyuk-ah,” Kim Dokja called out. “Is it just me or have you been putting tomatoes in more often recently?”
“Nonsense.” Yoo Joonghyuk hadn’t really come up with a plan to dodge this one. He looked down on his plate. Specifically, on the a bit smaller than bite-sized tomato cubes. Yes, the tomatoes weren’t small enough to not be seen, but Yoo Joonghyuk thought Kim Dokja would’ve missed it. Maybe he underestimated Kim Dokja’s tomato hate. “Stew is better with tomatoes.”
“Hmm…” Kim Dokja hummed, not well-convinced, but decided to let it go. Offering himself a simple solution, he picked away any tomatoes he found to the side and continued eating.
[Day 2: Kim Dokja set the tomato cubes aside. Maybe if less visible…
Don’t serve tomatoes too many days in a row. ]
4.
With a loosely balled fist to his lips, Yoo Joonghyuk stood leaning against the kitchen counter. A thoughtful look on his face. Like a misplaced variation of ‘The Thinker’. To not further Kim Dokja’s suspicions, Yoo Joonghyuk had taken a day break from feeding him tomatoes. But if he wanted to successfully make Kim Dokja eat his tomatoes in a month, he can’t let Kim Dokja get away with them too much.
He knitted his eyebrows closer together. Even if Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t use any tomatoes on yesterday’s dinner, Kim Dokja might still be on edge if he sees anything red. And if Yoo Joonghyuk were to use tomato paste, Kim Dokja would surely recognize the taste. Tricky… Unless…? Experiencing an epiphany, Yoo Joonghyuk got to work.
The tomatoes wouldn’t be part of the main dish this time. A side was enough. He cut open a few and got rid of its pulp, leaving only the skin. He then proceeded to cut them, small. Once finished, he took out some red bell peppers and did the same thing. For sure, they looked similar enough. Yoo Joonghyuk wanted to give himself a pat on the back.
Throwing all those red into a pre-heated skillet, he sautéed them for a few minutes, sprinkled a generous amount of salt and pepper, and served. Yoo Joonghyuk nodded to himself, quite satisfied. Kim Dokja better eat this.
Speak of the devil, the sound of the doorknob turning was heard. Time to test this out.
[Day 4: Hiding them in plain sight and masking the taste worked.]
10.
“It’s Mia’s birthday,” Yoo Joonghyuk reminded, his tone sharp.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Kim Dokja apologized from the other end of the line, voice hushed and slightly echoing. Yoo Joonghyuk can imagine him curled up inside the supply closet. “I want to be there, I really do.”
“It’s a Saturday.”
“And I would rather spend the day with you and Mia-ya if given the choice…”
“This whole thing was your idea.” Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t know why he kept pressing either. Of course he knew Kim Dokja would choose them over work if he could.
Kim Dokja sighed, exasperated. “I’ll make it up to her, I promise. We can go to the amusement park or anywhere she wants tomorrow–Ah, yes!–I’m sorry, I have to go, tell Yoo Mia I’m sorry, see you two soon.”
“Kim D–” the line cut off.
Yoo Joonghyuk gritted his teeth, glaring down at his phone with such intensity as if it just told him his cooking tasted like shit. He was about to storm off when he met his gaze with Yoo Mia, eyes softening immediately.
Trying to calm himself down, he took a deep breath.
“He can’t make it,” he told her, wincing at how bitter he sounded. He tried his hardest not to, he really did.
Yoo Mia only nodded understandingly. “It’s okay, oppa. Not like that ahjussi would be useful in the kitchen anyway.”
Despite what she said, Yoo Joonghyuk caught the hint of disappointment in her voice. His sister may throw mean comments offhandedly like that, but he knows she’s actually quite fond of Kim Dokja. She would never have approved of their relationship otherwise.
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed and patted her head gently. Yoo Mia started going to an international boarding school in Jeju Island not long after Kim Dokja moved in, saying she wanted to be more independent. She should be spending her birthday away from home but since it fell on a weekend this year, Yoo Joonghyuk had asked the school to allow her to take a few days leave on Friday and the following Monday. Kim Dokja had suggested they bake whatever cake she wants together to celebrate.
“He said we can go to the amusement park tomorrow if you like.”
Thankfully for Kim Dokja, the girl’s eyes lit up.
“Pretty childish. But sure,” Yoo Mia said, trying to look indifferent. “I still want cakes, though.”
“What kind of cake do you have in mind?”
“Hmm…” she hummed thoughtfully. “Did you know tomato soup cake is apparently a thing?”
Without a doubt, Yoo Mia truly is Yoo Joonghyuk’s sister.
“Do you have the recipe?”
“I’ll look it up.”
It’s a great thing to be living in the 21st century when you can find out just about anything with just a single internet search. Yoo Mia handed over Yoo Joonghyuk her phone for him to read through the recipe she found. After comprehending everything that needed to be done for the cake, he nodded to himself.
“Can you do it?”
“It’s a very simple recipe.”
“You’re the best, oppa!”
Yoo Mia immediately rose up from the couch onto her feet, paving her way to the kitchen. Yoo Joonghyuk followed after her, a smile tugging on his lips.
The digital clock on the bedside table read 1 am when Yoo Joonghyuk finally heard the sound of the front door opening. He contemplated whether he should get out of bed and greet Kim Dokja, or give him the silent treatment and let him be when a thud resounded throughout the apartment.
Yoo Joonghyuk practically dashed outside.
“Kim Dokja…?”
[…]
11.
Kim Dokja got sick. It took everything in Yoo Joonghyuk to not storm into Minosoft and give whoever is in charge of his department a piece of his mind for making Kim Dokja work overtime this past week to the point of collapsing. Not to mention they made him miss Yoo Mia’s birthday…
Yoo Joonghyuk’s grip on the stirring ladle tightened. He was currently making a chicken and rice porridge with ginseng. No tomatoes. He decided Kim Dokja should be allowed to take a rest from (secretly) eating tomatoes as well.
Fixing a bowl full of porridge, Yoo Joonghyuk brewed a cup of yuja tea before bringing them over to their bedroom. Kim Dokja still laid there, not moving a single inch since Yoo Joonghyuk last checked up on him. If only Kim Dokja wasn’t visibly breathing heavily, Yoo Joonghyuk might’ve thought… he shook those thoughts away.
Yoo Joonghyuk put the food tray aside to let the porridge cool down a bit and sat down on the edge of the bed. The porridge would be better eaten hot but he wouldn’t want to risk Kim Dokja burning his tongue. He turned his attention back to the sick man. Kim Dokja looked absolutely terrible. His usually pale face was flushed red, sweat making his hair stick everywhere. He looked like he fell asleep in a sauna.
Yoo Joonghyuk brought the back of his hand to Kim Dokja’s cheek, caressing it. The fever is still quite high but it definitely has lowered. He picked up a clean towel, wiped the sweat off of Kim Dokja’s face and neck, then reapplied the cold compress on his forehead. The sudden coolness must’ve woken up Kim Dokja as he blearily cracked his eyes open.
“Joonghyuk-ah…?”
“Good morning.”
Kim Dokja tried to blink the remaining of his sleep away, though seemingly drifting back instead. “What time is it?”
“1 pm.”
At Yoo Joonghyuk’s answer, his eyes abruptly widened as he tried to push himself up. “Where’s Yoo Mia? Her birthday… our trip…!”
“She went with Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung. Her parents are with them,” Yoo Joonghyuk informed calmly, tucking Kim Dokja back under the covers.
“Oh…” he sounded conflicted. A mixture of relief and disappointment.
Yoo Joonghyuk handed him the now warm yuja tea, and helped him drink. Kim Dokja gave a small smile in appreciation.
“I can drink on my own, you know?”
Yoo Joonghyuk ignored him. “I made porridge.”
He didn’t even let Kim Dokja get ahold of the bowl, scooping a spoonful and blowing on it before bringing it up to Kim Dokja’s lips instead.
“Is it still hot?”
Still having to chew, Kim Dokja shook his head. “No, it’s perfect,” he confirmed after swallowing.
It continued on without any additional comments from either men.
Halfway through the bowl, Kim Dokja chuckled, unprompted. Yoo Joonghyuk doubted a fever could fry brain cells, but he was worried that was the case. “What’s so funny?”
Kim Dokja weakly grinned at him. “You’re really acting like a wife.” His voice lacked the playfulness that should’ve been there whenever he says these kind of things. He didn’t sound like he was taunting Yoo Joonghyuk at all. Instead, his eyes looked… sad.
Then, with a voice barely above a whisper, “Whoever gets to keep you for life would be very lucky…”
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned. “You will.”
Kim Dokja scoffed. “Will you marry me then?” he asked jokingly.
“Yes.” There wasn’t a slightest bit of hesitation.
Kim Dokja was frozen for a moment before a tear ran down his cheek. “Ah…?”
Yoo Joonghyuk wasn’t sure what to do, so he just watched. His expression showing he meant what he said.
“There must be something wrong with you, Yoo Joonghyuk. Seriously.” Kim Dokja tried to laugh it off. “I can barely do any house chores, my entire salary combined probably would still be lower than what you earn in a month, and I can’t… even keep my promises to your sister…”
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk gripped Kim Dokja’s hand with enough pressure to assurance. “That wasn’t your fault. And love is all about accepting your partner’s flaws.”
Kim Dokja burst out laughing then. “Gross. How could you say that with a straight face?” He managed to say between the wheezes, wiping away a stray tear from his eye. “Shit, I really want to hug you right now.”
Yoo Joonghyuk quickly climbed onto the bed without a word.
“Wh- hey! What are you doing, you sunfish bastard! You’ll catch my cold!”
“Shut up.” He paid him no mind and pulled Kim Dokja into his arms.
Kim Dokja tried to resist but even if he wasn’t sick, his tomato-hating salaryman body would’ve never won against a properly nourished pro-gamer who also regularly goes to the gym. After not even a minute of struggling, Kim Dokja resigned to his (much welcomed) fate.
“I’ll wipe my snot on you.”
“Mm.”
“Don’t blame me if you get sick tomorrow.”
“I don’t get sick.”
“Right, I forgot idiots don’t catch colds.”
“Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja shut up, finally allowing to let their bodies relax. Before the two fell into slumber, Kim Dokja whispered softly, “Thank you.”
And with that, the half-eaten bowl of porridge sitting on the side was left cold and forgotten.
[Day 11: No tomatoes today.
…
I want him.]
14.
Kim Dokja stared down at the dishes of in front of him. Tomato bruschetta… Tomato and egg stir-fry…? What is all these…?
“Joonghyuk-ah~” he cooed, voice fakely sweet. “Why are there tomatoes everywhere on tonight’s dishes?”
Yoo Joonghyuk did not stop eating, not even sparing Kim Dokja a glance.
“Hey… are you mad about something?” he asked carefully, genuinely not knowing what he could’ve done this time.
“Is there anything you wanted to give me?” Yoo Joonghyuk offered a hint, still not looking up.
“Um…” Kim Dokja thought, hard. “A kiss?” He doesn’t always kiss Yoo Joonghyuk
Receiving no response, he tried again. “A hug?”
Still nothing. Kim Dokja thought harder. The gears inside his head turning. So hard he must’ve thought something incredibly stupid that his face begun to flush red.
“Is… is it that time of the month…?”
“Last Sunday,” Yoo Joonghyuk cut him off, but left it at that. Kim Dokja should’ve gotten his message with it. And he did. Though he pretended not to.
“W-what about last Sunday…”
“Kim Dokja.”
“Weren’t we just joking around-?”
“Where’s my ring, Kim Dokja.”
“I was sick!”
“You were well enough to run your mouth.”
“I didn’t really mean it when I said-”
Yoo Joonghyuk slammed his chopsticks down on the table, patience run out.
“Get out of my house.”
“I pay half the rent so technically… wait where are you going- Yoo Joonghyuk, wait!” The bedroom door slammed shut in front of Kim Dokja’s face, the lock clicking into place.
[Day 14: Kim Dokja is a fool.]
25.
Kim Dokja was one and a half hour late. Usually he would tell Yoo Joonghyuk if he got off work even a little later than needed to, but there was no message or some sort received on his end. Just as Yoo Joonghyuk was about to give him a call like an easily irritable wife, the door swung open.
“You’re late,” Yoo Joonghyuk offered as a greeting.
“I had to pick something up,” Kim Dokja explained, walking towards Yoo Joonghyuk.
“Pick what up?”
Instead of answering, Kim Dokja got down on one knee, his hand fishing out a small box from his pocket.
“What are you doing.”
“Yoo Joonghyuk.” He looked up at him, expression serious as he opened the box to reveal a simple gold ring.
“…Kim Dokja.”
“This is all I can conjure up with my salary, but if you would still have me…”
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed him up by the collar, making the other man stumble forward, their faces only a few centimeters apart. “I am going to kiss you.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, can’t you accept my proposal like a normal human being? Just do it already, you bastard.”
They kissed. It wasn’t exactly soft. Eager but not heated. Passionate. Both looking forward to what the future holds for them.
[Day 25: …I forgot about the tomatoes. But, I am happy.]
30.
It was a lazy afternoon. A perfect day to just lounge around on the couch. Yoo Joonghyuk was watching whatever TV drama was currently playing. While Kim Dokja, with his head resting on Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap, was catching up with his web novels. Eyes completely glued on his screen. This was exactly what Yoo Joonghyuk’s been waiting for.
He reached over the bowl of grapes next to him and fed one to Kim Dokja. He didn’t even glance at what he’s being fed. Perfect. One more. And now… Yoo Joonghyuk picked up a cherry tomato he sneakily placed in the bowl beforehand and brought it to Kim Dokja’s mouth. He took it. Yoo Joonghyuk waited as he chewed and eventually swallow. No reaction. Yoo Joonghyuk felt smug.
“Kim Dokja.”
“…”
“Kim Dokja.”
“Hm?” The bastard finally responded, a few moments late.
Yoo Joonghyuk scowled. “You just ate a tomato.”
“Mmhm- wait, huh??” Kim Dokja sprang up from Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap like a jack-in-a-box, looking at his perpetrator in disbelief, trying to figure out how this could’ve happened.
“…You brat. Have you been poisoning me?” he accused once he came to a conclusion.
“Tomatoes aren’t poisonous.”
“Remember that time you said you’d make me anything I want and I said I don’t want any tomatoes? So that was a lie,” Kim Dokja continued his complaints, dramatically.
“I never said I’ll go through with that one request,” Yoo Joonghyuk reminded.
Kim Dokja huffed, planting his face into Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest. “I hate you.”
To his annoyance, Yoo Joonghyuk only chuckled, petting his head tenderly. “Are you calling off the engagement then?”
“No way! No take backsies, you’re stuck with me.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“…hyuk-ah.”
“…Joonghyuk.”
“Hey. Yoo Joonghyuk.”
A hand lightly shaking his shoulder finally took Yoo Joonghyuk out of his daze, his head snapped to his side. Kim Dokja’s slightly blurry face was what greeted him. He blinked, trying to clear the fog out of his eyes. He was sitting on their bed, and it was mostly dark save for the light coming from the bedside table. Yoo Joonghyuk looked down on his lap to find his journal opened, a pen in between his fingers. Apart from a single sentence, there wasn’t anything written on its pages. Yet.
“Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No, it’s fine.” Kim Dokja waved his hand in a dismissive way, sliding back under the cover to get comfortable. “What were you doing staring so intensely at your diary like that?”
“Journal,” Yoo Joonghyuk corrected before setting it aside and joining Kim Dokja, latching onto him like the greatly oversized koala that he is.
“Right, right. ‘Journal’. So, what were you doing? Forgot to close your eyes when you sleep?”
“Image training.”
“Ah.” Kim Dokja nodded as if that vague answer explained anything. “Well then, if you’re done let’s go back to sleep, yeah?”
“Mm.”
They snuggled closer. Bodies pressed onto each other there was barely any space left between them. The rise and fall of their chests synchronizing. Yoo Joonghyuk nuzzled his head to the crook of Kim Dokja’s neck, breathing in his scent. He sighed, content. Once the sun rises to mark the beginning of a new day, his month-long plan will commence.