11 Chapter 11: First meeting

Yoo Joonghyuk scans the front row as he steps out on stage. His expression is stoic, especially compared to the bright smiles and flailing arms of his fellow competitors. His team is, in general, more reserved.

"Stop pushing!" Lee Jihye spits out.

"You're the one walking slow trying to look cool!" Kim Namwoon retorts. He leans toward her like he's ready to get punched in the face. (If he were trying to initiate a fight, it's a horrible starting stance.)

"Guys, c'mon, don't fight, you're making us look bad." Lee Hyunsung tries to step between them.

"He's the one trying to stand by his 'master' or whatever! How many times did you get banned from his streams again? Like nine?" Lee Jihye snarks.

Kim Namwoon looks furious. "SHUT UP BEFORE I MAKE YOU!"

"Silence." Yoo Joonghyuk's command is pure authority. It's sharp enough to cut; he isn't in the mood for their antics. His eyes are boring holes in the empty seat in the front row: The only empty seat in the row. The only empty seat he can see in a sea of nondescript faces and movement. The neon lights are harsh, RGB partying across the air; he squints his eyes against it, glaring.

"Yes master," the three all say at once and fall silent. His mood is less than amicable today.

After the tournament finished and they received their prizes, the team went in the waiting room. Yoo Joonghyuk was a little disappointed that he didn't see Kim Dokja, and his teammates didn't want to disturb him since he was in a bad mood.

"Um, uh, Master, 'll go and get some drinks for everyone." Lee Jihye wanted to escape that serious atmosphere by making a excuse.

Lee Jihye went to buy some drinks when she saw their manager Pildu Gong was talking with a guy. It seemed like they were arguing more than normally talking.

"Why wouldn't you let me meet Yoo Joonghyuk? I'm saying I'm his friend."

A man who has a thin and pale face, thin and black hair, long eyelashes and dark circles under his eyes. His countenance was calm and fresh although somewhat edgy. The man who declared himself as Yoo Joonghyuk's friend non-hesitantly.

"Friend? Yoo Joonghyuk? You are telling me to believe your ridiculous lies? You've got some nerves, kid."

"Why? Is being friends with Joonghyuk really a uncommon occurrence? What the hell that bastard have been doing?"

Lee Jihye heard everything even though she didn't want to. That guy was cursing her master and mentioned him as a friend... Who the hell is he?

".... Excuse me." Lee Jihye intrupped.

"... Who... are you?

"Oh.. Aren't you Lee Jihye? Yoo Joonghyuk's teammate. Where is he now? Can you tell him that I came to meet him?"

"Master? He's busy right now. He can't meet anyone."

"Really? That's no good. He said he would meet me. I even skipped my office for that rascal."

Lee Jihye raised her eyebrows as she heard him.

"I'll tell him."

"Can you? It will help me a lot. Thank you."

Lee Jihye seemed a little agitated. She shrugged her shoulder and went away with a irritated face.

*

Kim Dokja was waiting in the backstage for Yoo Joonghyuk, the friend he had never met face to face.

"Dokja-ssi?"

A girl with cute voice and appearance was looking at Kim Dokja. Kim Dokja could tell right away who was she.

"Are you Uriel?" Kim Dokja gives a decent smile.

"Woah! So you are Kim Dokja-ssi! How can you recognize me right away?" Uriel gasped as she got startled.

Kim Dokja scoffs.

"I've good eyes for reading people."

"Haha. I should have known that. You are a good reader after all."

"Why didn't you come? Joonghyuk-ssi even booked a sit for you. I came here because I heard a friend of Joonghyuk-ssi was looking for him."

"I did come middle of the tournament. I was a bit late because of some stuff."

"Joonghyuk-ssi was really mad you know. He told me beforehand that you were coming. I was so excited to meet you."

Uriel grabbed Dokja's hand excitedly as she said.

"... I was excited too... To meet you guys.."

"Right? You were my favorite person ever since I first chatted with you. I could tell right away you are more amazing person in real life from that time. Haha."

Those words warmed Kim Dokja. No one ever told him like that before. She didn't know that the Kim Dokja who standing front of her right now how much suffered that time. Because Kim Dokja hid his emotions in his messages. Would she tell that he is an amazing person even after she knew what he had been through?

"Master! That guy! He is telling that he is a friend of yours!"

Both of them looked at the way the voice was coming from. It was Yoo Joonghyuk with his teammates.

"Wow, someone got the nerve to call master friend. Gotta teach him a lesson." Kim Namwoon clenched his fist.

Yoo Joonghyuk stood stiff after seeing Kim Dokja. He was more like surprised.

"Hey. I didn't know I would be ever happy after seeing that ugly mug of yours."

Everyone in the scene got their jaws dropped after seeing Kim Dokja talking casually to Yoo Joonghyuk. dream. They couldn't even imagine that in their dreams.

"Pfft! You are bold as ever!" Uriel laughed as she heard Kim Dokja.

Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed.

"That's what you say to someone when you meet them for the first time?"

"Dunno. I'm not good at communicating."

"Why? You are a employee though?"

"I'm simply not. Does it matter?"

"No. I see you are tenacious as ever."

"I'm joking. Don't take it in mind, haha."

And the reader had met the protagonist of the story who he was never destined to meet.