⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 〔 @distopea 〕
⠀⠀ hanok-styled buildings carve out the weathered roads of hongok-dong— a neighborhood where survival feels etched into the cracked pavement and chipped facades. during the day, the streets hum with the rhythm of necessity, almost every corner uttering a story of struggle and deprivation. but when the low murmur of evening settles in, parts of the district transform, cloaking their shoddy edges in a vibrant tapestry of neon lights and pulsating energy.
⠀⠀ even after the sun disappeared behind jagged silhouette of rooftops, the day’s residual warmth lingered in the concrete and brick like a stubborn fever. a dense humidity clung to je-oh’s skin as he plodded towards home, his pace unhurried beneath the dull glow of streetlamps. his path well-worn and routine. yet, as he approached the corner of his quiet street, a faint, insistent tremor in his pocket broke his stride entirely. with a sigh of resignation, he fishes out the pink flip, thumb flicking it open to reveal a single notification:
⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ✉️ soon cheol - there are enough girls. don’t come in 2night.
⠀⠀ je-oh’s eyes traced the message— a small mercy wrapped in neat black text. ❝—lucky me. ❞ snapping the device shut, he returns it to his pocket before lifting his other hand to study the water-filled bag he carried. inside, a lone goldfish drifted, its fins gliding in slow, fluid arcs. ❝ you still need a name, ❞ he murmured as he resumed walking, voice barely rising above the soft crunch of his footfalls.
⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀* * *
⠀⠀ once je-oh stepped inside the single-story house, a thick, motionless heat enveloped him—stifling in a way that made the air outside feel almost forgiving. nonchalantly, as if accustomed to it, he slipped off his slides at the door and headed to his room, where a fishbowl sat underneath the window. he crouched before it, carefully untying the bag’s knot before gently pouring its contents into the glass container. as the goldfish slipped into its new home, it darted through the water in a frantic swirl before eventually settling, its tiny form hovering weightlessly.
⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ BZZZ ! BZZZ !
⠀⠀ the familiar vibration rattled against his hip again, but this time, he didn’t hesitate to ignore it. instead, he stands up to nudge the window open, allowing the barely cooler air to trickle in. another insistent pulse followed seconds later. despite knowing it was inevitable, he resisted, but only for a moment, until the vibration was accompanied by an airy ringtone.
⠀⠀ reluctantly, he retrieved the cell with a muttered curse before answering. ❝ what .ᐣ ❞
⠀⠀ ❝ cut the attitude— the hell you doing anyway .ᐣ you know you’re supposed to answer your texts. ❞
⠀⠀ je-oh rolled his eyes. ❝ i was taking out the trash. thought i’d do some cleaning since i have the night off. ❞
⠀⠀ ❝ yeah, about that— come in. someone’s requesting you. ❞
⠀⠀ it’s not that important, but he’s curious enough to ask ❝ who .ᐣ ❞
⠀⠀ ❝ does it matter who— just get your ass down to the club. ❞
⠀⠀ lips part to give a snide remark, but the line disconnects before he gets the chance. ❝ ugh. that really pisses me off. ❞