He blew out a low sigh of relief. At least he was successful in convincing him to not do it. As Yoo Joonghyuk slowly moved closer to him, Kim Dokja whipped out rope from absolutely nowhere—then his hands were grabbed and, tied behind him, followed by his legs. Unprepared, he collapses to the floor. What? He looks at Kim Dokja in confusion.

‘I’m sorry. I must do this. Or you’ll come right after me.’ He doesn’t meet Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes.

The sting of betrayal twists in his stomach. ‘Kim Dokja…’ he grits out. Strangely, his mind registers, something in the other man’s tone seems… tired?

‘It’s for your own good.’ Kim Dokja starts properly gathering the necessary materials, guzzling down the potions and buffing up his skills.

When he’s done, he turns back to him.

‘Whatever happens…. Don’t forget me again, okay?’ He says, and suddenly, in Yoo Joonghyuk’s vision, another face overlaps with his.

Again, he says?

‘Don’t forget me, okay?’

A voice echoes in his head, oh so familiar.

‘No. Don’t— don’t do whatever you’re going to do.’

Kim Dokja simply smiles at him sadly. The faces overlapped again, and then—they solidified.

It was true. No wonder he felt so comfortable around him. No wonder… They were and had always been the same person.

‘You know I will do it anyways, don’t you?’ Kim Dokja walked up to the door.

Yes, he would. He’d done the exact same before, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it again?

‘Stop— Kim Dokja!’ Yoo Joonghyuk struggled where he’d been tied up. ‘I’ll kill you!’ Somehow, rather than acting as the murderous threat it was, it sounded more like a weak plea—an attempt to reach a hopeless delusion.

Kim Dokja didn’t look back, nor did he show any external signs of having heard him. Yet, as always, he answered. ‘You can do that after we’re done, of course. That is, if I live.’

Getting desperate, he finally lets himself accept the person who was standing in front of him.

‘LEE KUMWON!’

Kim Dokja visibly flinches, and comes to a stop, right in front of the door. He slowly turns back and on his face is a look of true resignation.

‘Ha, and of all times, it’s now you remember it…’