'I... kissed Kim Dokja?'
Yoo Jonghyuk's mind had become blank.
He didn't know how to respond to such a situation.
But the blankness didn't last long.
Almost as if in daze he covered his mouth with one hand. The red from the tips of his ears spread from across his cheeks to his whole face. Yoo Jonghyuk's eyes were wide and a glint of gold could be seen in it. His ebony-colored hair hung down and cowered parts of his dazed and flustered expression.
It was a sight Kim Dokja never thought he would ever be able to in his whole life.
After Yoo Jonghyuk's psychological state collapsed, it slowly started to rebuild itself and Yoo Jonghyuk thought of what led him in to such a decision.
It was as if his thousands of years of battle experience had done everything to keep his mind straight. Blanking out to easily be akin to death after all.
When he had felt that something was missed, he had turned away from what Kim Dokja and Yoo Sangah had been doing. The way Kim Dokja acted, it was something odd about it. Kim Dokja wasn't one to drink a lot of alcohol in the first place and even if this constellation wanted them to drink, wasn't this just too much?
So, he started to think back to any encounter where Kim Dokja had drunken alcohol. To try and figure out if this was just how Kim Dokja was when he was drunk, but he couldn't remember any time this had happed.
Then he thought of what had happened in the 3rd round around the same time, but the memory was quite hazy. Almost as if it was something someone had deliberately erased from his thoughts.
Of course this 'something' could very well be himself. But since his memories are hazy he couldn't find the answer this way either.
By the time he checked back at the rest of the people present, Kim Dokja and Yoo Sangah... He could not see exactly what they were doing but with such an intimate position he could only guess. Since Kim Dokja was sitting on his right side and Yoo Sangah was on Kim Dokja's right side, with their heads tilted like that... From the position alone...
Yoo Jonghyuk's body acted faster than his mind.
He griped Kim Dokja's shoulder to turn him around, his back now facing Yoo Sangah instead. What he hadn't expected was that after turning Kim Dokja around, Kim Dokja would continue to lean forward.
The shock from such a intimate position left him unable to move after Kim Dokja leaned in.
And now, faced with reality, there was no escape.
The memory that was hazy just a minute ago resurfaced, the memory of when Kim Dokja and Yoo Sangah almost kissed.
'Almost.'
Yes, that was right. It seemed he had done something unnecessary.
It didn't even end there.
Yoo Jonghyuk was about to question why he even needed to intervene when he came up with the most logical explanation.
'Kim Dokja was about to do something against his own will.'
If Kim Dokja was controlled, then there needed to be someone to stop him from making stupid mistakes that he would later regret. Kim Dokja himself had told Yoo Jonghyuk how he didn't have any feelings for Yoo Sangah so it was perfectly fine to intervene.
Well, Yoo Jonghyuk's thoughts went somewhere offtrack but he was pulled back by a certain someone. Not one who was better at not getting offtrack, making excuses and running away.
"...Yoo Jonghyuk?"
Honestly, Kim Dokja just didn't even know where to start with all of this.
Really, really?
Looking at the over the level of usual hotness Yoo Jonghyuk, it was safe to say that it wasn't Yoo Jonghyuk who took the initiative.
But was it really Kim Dokja who took the initiative then? It seemed it wasn't only the alcohol affecting at that time.
If it wasn't for the flustered expression Yoo Jonghyuk was showing, then maybe he would of had the chance to laugh it off? Or at least not take it too seriously. If Yoo Jonghyuk's reaction had been any less than this, maybe they could of passed it of to whatever had taken control of himself.
But now, wasn't it to late for that?
It felt way to late...
Yoo Jonghyuk wasn't very responsive, not that usually was responsive.
'Was he ignoring me or is it that he is too caught up with himself?'
Kim Dokja turned to Yoo Sangah instead.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi, it would be the best if you went to rest."
"..."
Oh, Yoo Sangah-ssi wasn't responsive either, this was rarer.
Kim Dokja waved his hand in front of Yoo Sangah's face.
"Hey, Yoo Sangah-ssi?"
"...Huh, sorry Dokja-ssi."
Good, Yoo Sangah seemed to have recovered at least.
Yoo Sangah rose from her seat and left. Her shared tent wasn't far away and she was soon out of Kim Dokja's sight. Even if she didn't fall asleep right away, there shouldn't be any problem in being overheard.
"Hey."
Kim Dokja tried making contact with Yoo Jonghyuk again. This time Yoo Jonghyuk actually answered.
"...Kim Dokja."
Honestly, Kim Dokja really wasn't expecting much.
"About emm, the lip touching? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"No."
Yoo Jonghyuk refused to talk it seemed. Wasn't it you who created this situation?
"No nothing?"
"..."
Yoo Jonghyuk still didn't want to talk about it. If it wasn't for the flustered expression earlier, Kim Dokja would of thought that Yoo Jonghyuk didn't care. Since Yoo Jonghyuk had done this sort of thing before while Kim Dokja... only had experience from what he had read.
"Should I call you Jonghyuk-ah now that you took my first kiss?"
"..."
"Giving my only first kiss to a guy as cold-hearted as you, what should I do in the future?"
Kim Dokja felt that if this was to turn into a serious discussion, the world might just turn upside down. Even if the kiss happened due to special circumstances, it was still a kiss.
A kiss.
Kim Dokja felt himself turning flustered again.
[The exclusive skill 'Fourth Wall' is greatly shaken.]
Oh, yes he still had that skill. Was this wall the only thing keeping him sane at the moment?Kim Dokja felt that might just be the answer.
Yoo Jonghyuk didn't move from his spot, neither getting further away nor moving closer. It was as if he was rooted in place. Or more frozen in place.
"Kim Dokja..."
Yoo Jonghyuk had never been good with this sort of talk, never mind talk in general. The words couldn't work in his favor and he couldn't find the words he wanted. It was as if the only words that could roll of his tongue was Kim Dokja's name.
Like all words were forgotten except his name.
"Kim Dokja, I'll take responsibility."
If there was one thing Yoo Jonghyuk wanted, it was that this wouldn't created a distance between them. Having gone through enough with the earlier round, Yoo Jonghyuk wanted nothing more than to stay by Kim Dokja's side to keep him safe.
If they couldn't remain companions after this incident, then that would truly be the worse outcome.
Kim Dokja held his head. Maybe he was overthinking things, maybe he had read too many novels, maybe his fourth wall wasn't doing its work, but didn't it just sound as if he lost his purity?
And Yoo Jonghyuk was asking to take responsibility? Couldn't he just have remained quiet instead and let time take over.
Kim Dokja looked at his imaginary plate and sighed. It seemed his burdens increased.
Because of this sudden event, he had almost forgotten his purpose behind all of this. The reasons for drinking too many cups of alcohol and kissing Yoo Jonghyuk.
The reasons of talking with Dionysus.
The moment the conversation calmed down, the notes all stopped at the same time.
It was a serene silence, like the midnight festival had suddenly stopped. The alcohol bubbles fell to the ground and sparks flew.
It was just too much.
Kim Dokja knew he couldn't just ignore Yoo Jonghyuk, it was just that there really wasn't enough time.
Drawn between Yoo Jonghyuk and Dionysus, it seemed that dealing with a constellation was easier.
As he thought so, alcohol bubbles from before formed a string of words.
-This was better than expected.
Kim Dokja looked surprised at the string of words, all though it wasn't as surprising as what had happened earlier. Although it was indeed a feat for a constellation to be able to have such a massive source of probability. It certainly was a constellation from Olympus.
"It would be better to get straight to the point, God of Wine and Ecstasy."
The alcohol bubbles moved once more and formed another string of words.
-Rude Human.
The string trembled.
-Still, I like rude humans.
Kim Dokja had read Way of Survival. He already knew God of Wine and Ecstasy and what kind of personality he has. It was an easy feat to get on the good side of Dionysus.
-There used to be a human just as foolishly brave as you once upon a time, he could play the lyre very well. Shame it didn't end well for him.
Kim Dokja knew who Dionysus was referring to. There was an obvious answer to all of this.
"I'll be different."
There was no way he wouldn't be.
-Opening the entrance to the underworld isn't a problem, goddess of the underworld will listen to me even if Father of the rich night doesn't like me. However, there is no guarantee for you to come back alive, after all, the rest will all be up to yourself.
"There is no problem."
-Very eager aren't you? Good, I like eager people.
-Keep in mind the fact that I can't only give you a maximum of 12 hours. Anymore than that and your soul may never return to the scenarios.
Kim Dokja realized the scenario might start right now and hurriedly tried to get in contact with Yoo Jonghyuk.
Even going as far as grabbing his shoulders.
"Yoo Jonghyuk, there isn't much time left. I'll have leave for now, look after the kids."
"Kim Dokja, what did you do? Hey-"
[A new hidden scenario has arrived!]
A new wave of dizziness overcame Kim Dokja and he closed his eyes in order to stabilize himself. In the background, the drops of alcohol looked like they where laughing as they floated up and down.
The new string of words that formed was,
-I hope Father of the Rich Night will listen to you.