Chapter Text
The Mandatory Employment Form for Daydream Inc.
————
Name: (required)
Skill(s):
Partner's Name: (required. If you disappear into the Darkness, your partner may handle any important matters you leave behind.)
Partner's Skill(s):
Compatibility Percentage According to Both of You:
———
Soleum stared at the form carefully. He was seated among the other new recruits. Turning his head slightly, he saw the other newcomers quickly filling in the names of whoever they knew. Scratching the end of his pen against his hair, he realized that several recruits who were already married had not been given this form.
Damn.
It seemed Soleum had no chance to prepare himself after becoming a new recruit at this pharmaceutical company. Then again, this place was horrifying!
A partner...?
A chill ran down Soleum's spine. He turned to his right and saw the brown-haired man with wavy hair and one remaining eye cursing under his breath as he looked back.
Saheon stared at the paper while enduring the pain of losing an eye.
"This bastard company," Saheon muttered as he read it.
"If you want to keep working here and earn Hope Tickets, you need a partner. It would be even better if both of you work in the field exploration team." Yeongeun, who was sitting on Soleum's left, spoke up.
Ah, right. Yeongeun is still here—
"Luckily, I have a friend who's basically family. I think I'll write down their name."
Soleum had been doomed from the start.
If he wrote down a random name, he had no acquaintances here who would back him up if an officer questioned him.
Soleum turned to the side again. This time, he focused completely, his body tilting slightly.
Facing someone he should avoid.
Soleum must look insane. Even after tricking Saheon on the train, he decided shame was no longer an option.
"Saheon, let's date and fill out this form."
Soleum spoke calmly and somewhat intimidatingly when in reality he was far more frightened.
Yeongeun let out a faint sound of shock.
Was Soleum serious?
Baek Saheon, the person being proposed to, nearly fell out of his chair.
His eye darted everywhere as he thought about something Soleum couldn't know.
But Baek Saheon didn't have anyone in this place either, right?
Soleum's offer was clearly beneficial, assuming it didn't leave him with trauma on top of losing an eye.
"Have you lost your—"
Saheon's words were cut off by Soleum's next sentence.
"Oh? You're rejecting me? I was being kind by not choosing someone else, considering you've already made a terrible impression on our colleagues back on the train."
Soleum's voice sharpened.
"Nobody can save your position as a recruit, even if you try introducing yourself to new people."
Soleum pretended to observe the room.
"Look. They've already chosen their own partners."
The man with the red dot pupils spoke.
Saheon's teeth ground together in irritation.
This guy!
Kim Soleum was a lunatic stranger!
Soleum looked at Saheon while making sure the skin on his back wasn't touching his shirt.
Otherwise, the sweat on his back would be exposed.
Soleum wasn't lying.
Even though Saheon was called Viper, he really did have a face that could fool people.
Besides, in the future, Saheon would become one of the best recruits.
Keeping him obedient to Soleum was the correct choice.
He had to make sure he didn't die while they were in a relationship.
"Fine. I'll write your name."
Saheon pressed his pen against the paper.
"Kim Soleum..."
he muttered while writing down the name of the lunatic beside him.
Satisfied, Soleum wrote down Baek Saheon's name.
"What's your skill?" Soleum asked, tilting his head while keeping his voice steady.
Saheon hesitated to answer.
He was afraid it would come back to bite him.
But this was a risk he had to take.
Saheon needed to cooperate.
At least, that was what he interpreted from Soleum's two intact eyes.
"What about you?" Saheon asked in return, playing it safe.
"Can I say that I enjoy working?"
No!
Who honestly enjoys working?
Soleum had to maintain his personality.
"I enjoy seeing critical situations and having my adrenaline challenged. If possible, death drawing near would only make me stronger."
Inside, Soleum winced at his own words.
But they seemed effective enough.
Saheon was now staring at him in horror.
Saheon hadn't expected someone this honest while also being this awful.
"I already told you mine. What about you?"
Saheon looked away from Soleum and down at the paper in his hands.
Soleum already knew Saheon's skills, but this small talk was important for building their relationship.
He's a liar and a sociopath.
That was Soleum's assessment.
Quietly, Saheon swallowed.
"Ah, I'm fairly observant and good at running. I also follow the rules."
Soleum nodded.
So Saheon still didn't want to reveal his true nature.
Still, he had filtered his skills well enough and stayed mostly truthful.
Except for the part about following rules.
By now, Yeongeun could no longer hear their private conversation.
Even though she had been dying of curiosity after seeing how obedient and calm Saheon was around Soleum.
"Alright, please submit your forms to the officers."
The announcement prompted everyone to hand over their forms to the passing staff.
"What? What compatibility percentage did you write?"
Saheon asked as Soleum suddenly submitted his paper.
An officer then stood waiting for Saheon to hand over his form.
Didn't Soleum discuss it first?
Soleum smiled, his eyes practically disappearing.
"Of course we're 100% compatible."
... ... ... ...
Saheon wanted to snap his pen in half.
Didn't Soleum know that the higher the compatibility percentage, the more their work performance would be compared against that claim if their results failed to match it?
Soleum was really gambling.
With slightly trembling hands, Saheon wrote the same number.
Then he reluctantly handed it to the officer.
The officer read it.
Then alternated his gaze between the two young men.
"You two must get along extremely well to boldly write a perfect compatibility score."
The officer commented before walking away.
Saheon wanted to grab Soleum by the hair right now.
"Soleum... are you okay?"
Yeongeun whispered.
Without any fear, Soleum smiled faintly.
"Why? Saheon is pretty sweet."
??????
Saheon wanted to throw up.
A psychopath like Soleum saying something like that was a disaster.
Somehow, Yeongeun seemed to accept it.
She gave them a cute thumbs-up.
"I hope everything goes smoothly for the two of you."
"Thank you..."
Soleum responded immediately.
After that, they were led to the apartment building that would become their home while working here.
[#—#]
The second disaster.
They opened the apartment door.
Inside was only one bedroom and one large bed.
Soleum broke into a sweat.
Were they really not getting any privacy?
Seriously?
Soleum might need to sleep in armor if he wanted to survive the night and avoid being murdered by his own boyfriend the next morning.
Unlike Soleum, Saheon's expression was surprisingly easy to read.
He looked shocked.
"I'll sleep on the sofa." Soleum spoke quickly.
Their sofa was large enough and still suitable as a bed.
Certainly better than losing his life while trying to rest.
Did Soleum seem kind now?
Would it be okay to loosen up around Saheon and show a little sympathy?
Soleum didn't know.
Saheon didn't object.
Which meant he truly didn't want to sleep in the same place as Soleum.
The young man grabbed a pillow and blanket and tossed them onto the sofa.
Saheon opened the closet and found another blanket and bedsheet inside.
He immediately claimed the blanket for himself.
Silence settled between them.
Like a couple on the verge of divorce.
Soleum thought desperately.
"Are you entering the Darkness tomorrow?"
Soleum asked. "I can't wait for my first official Darkness."
Saheon didn't respond.
"Are you ignoring me?"
This time Soleum made the accusation much more direct.
Saheon flinched. "No. I mean yes, I'm entering the Darkness tomorrow."
"I'm going to shower." Soleum immediately headed into the bathroom.
Once inside, he rubbed his face in frustration. How was he supposed to survive this?
He had to endure living with Saheon!
[#—#]
After cleaning themselves up, Soleum and Saheon decided to gather in the living room of their apartment.
Saheon glanced at Soleum, who looked unusually serious as he stared at the blank sheet of paper between them.
So basically, they were going to try getting to know each other better (though Saheon wasn't interested at all) for the sake of surviving in this company.
"What are the things people are supposed to know when they're dating...?" Soleum asked hesitantly, though his expression remained almost completely blank, and Saheon wanted to punch him.
Saheon crossed his arms. "Well, maybe favorite food? Music? Hobbies?"
Apparently Soleum thought it was a terrible idea. Just look at those judgmental eyes.
"You think this is some kindergarten questionnaire?"
Saheon looked offended.
"Then what? You're the one asking and rejecting every answer. I'm just answering."
He leaned forward and stared at the empty paper too, as if an idea would magically appear if they sat there in silence long enough.
Then Saheon remembered something.
"Wait... what's your secondary gender?"
That should've been the most important question from the beginning. Saheon hadn't smelled anything despite being this close to Soleum.
Was he a beta?
"Do I look like a beta to you?" Soleum asked back.
Ah.
Saheon had been caught.
With his usual calm tone, Soleum continued,
"I'm an Alpha."
"I haven't smelled anything from you."
"I'm not stupid enough to release it whenever I feel like it, you know."
Soleum smiled in a way that looked downright terrifying.
"Why? Do you want to know what your partner's pheromones smell like?"
Baek Saheon shook his head immediately.
Damn it. He forgot this guy was impossible to predict. Dragging this conversation out would probably kill him.
"Saheon, are you an omega?"
The question stripped him bare without any warning.
Saheon snorted.
For some reason, whenever Soleum was the one asking, he felt strangely exposed.
"Yeah..."
He nodded.
Kim Soleum's eyes widened for just a moment—so briefly that Saheon almost missed it.
Apparently the man hadn't expected the answer he had guessed himself.
"I see."
His tone sounded softer now.
Saheon swore that if Soleum looked down on him now, he'd poison him tomorrow.
Fortunately, Soleum didn't say anything he hated.
"Can I know when your cycle comes?" Soleum asked. "It's important for arranging leave schedules. It'll be inconvenient for both of us if I end up working when you're on leave."
"Probably around the end of the month."
Saheon wasn't completely sure, but it was usually around that time.
Soleum nodded.
"Just tell me when it starts."
"And..."
He paused before continuing.
"Stick close to me whenever we go into the Darkness. No matter what happens, beg them to let you enter with me."
"What?"
Was Soleum joking?
Why would he have to follow Soleum around when he could move freely on his own? Saheon had no intention of becoming his assistant.
Soleum looked tired.
"Our compatibility rate is 100%. It'll be strange if neither of us looks attached to the other. Act like a lovesick teenager."
Soleum honestly wanted to jump out the window while saying that.
He really didn't want to be with Saheon.
But this was necessary for his sudden situation. This was even his first time being an Alpha.
"I'll handle it myself. You don't need to tell me what to do."
Saheon replied irritably.
"So basically, we just need to act like a couple, right?"
"Right. And think before you act. As long as you're working here, you're under my supervision, Saheon."
Before he could respond, Saheon instinctively covered his nose as Soleum's pheromones surrounded him.
It felt as though Soleum's scent was marking his body.
A fresh forest smell.
"This should be better."
Soleum looked at him completely innocently.
"Are you dominant?"
Saheon nearly choked on the spot.
The scent was strong, but not unpleasant.
Privately, Saheon was a little impressed by it.
Soleum didn't know.
Don't ask.
This was his first time trying to control it.
And apparently, he was surprisingly talented at it.
A small sense of pride rose within him.
"No idea."
Saheon was probably questioning his sanity at this point.
"Tell me when the scent fades. I want to know how long it lasts."
Soleum wrote several important points onto their paper.
Does Soleum not know that real couples usually mark each other?
Saheon wondered.
Should I tell him? Or is this enough to avoid suspicion?
Saheon considered seriously.
But if they actually marked each other, he'd be finished.
Right.
Let's save that idea until Soleum brings it up himself.
Saheon intended to keep his freedom for now.
The apartment doorbell rang, causing both men to turn toward the door at the same time.
"Who's here? It's not like new residents get welcome cookies or anything," Saheon grumbled.
He watched Soleum stand up and peek through the peephole.
Soleum looked back at him.
"It's a company employee."
Saheon immediately got up and hurried behind Soleum before he opened the door.
"Good evening."
The employee greeted them briefly before looking at both of them.
"I have a few things for Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon. Am I correct?"
With his usual blank expression, Soleum nodded and accepted the cardboard box.
It was heavier than expected.
What's inside?
Both Soleum and Saheon wondered.
The employee then pulled out two white envelopes.
"These as well."
This time, Saheon took them since Soleum's hands were full.
Putting on a fake smile, he said politely,
"Thank you for delivering them."
"It's part of my job."
The employee left shortly afterward.
The two exchanged looks before sitting back down on the living room carpet with the box and envelopes.
"Let's check the envelopes first. They look more important."
Saheon took the initiative this time.
Apparently Soleum agreed.
Saheon immediately tore both envelopes open and spread the contents on the floor.
It read:
Kim Soleum, Team D.
Baek Saheon, Team F.
"They're separating us even though there's a partner system?" Saheon muttered.
"If one of us dies during our first Darkness, at least our teams won't have to comfort the other."
Soleum answered.
That was true.
If they were on the same team, it would be harder for the remaining members to continue the mission while watching one teammate lose their partner right in front of them.
If they were on different teams, at least they could pretend to stay strong since they wouldn't witness their partner's death with their own eyes.
Still, wasn't Soleum being too harsh?
Was he really that confident he wouldn't die in his first Darkness?
Saheon couldn't die either.
Soleum grabbed the cardboard box and peeled away the tape sealing it.
Saheon immediately scooted closer.
Were they receiving some special item?
The two of them were outstanding recruits.
Both came from the field exploration team. Surely they'd receive something special.
And when they opened it—
Saheon and Soleum froze.
"Ah... let's just put this away, okay?" For once, Soleum had completely lost his flat tone.
Saheon quickly backed away and nodded just as fast.
What the hell was that?
The two of them silently cursed the contents.
A pair of baby shoes. A baby hat.
A baby bottle. And several baby toys.
"Haha."
Saheon laughed awkwardly.
To be continued...