Omniscient Reader (Alternate Story)

A Bedtime Story

[Start Stream]

[SupremeKing's feed is flowing through the stars.]

[Viewers: 0]

Yoo Joonghyuk clicked play on the game.

[Viewers: 1]

[KimDokja: Hey, you're back! I was really hoping you would be.]

Yoo Joonghyuk huffed lightly into his small mic. A simple gust of air, yet it somehow felt friendly. His viewer appreciated that.

[KimDokja: To be honest, I was having a bad day, as usual. I thought your stream would cheer me up if you continued, so I was looking forward to it.]

Yoo Joonghyuk paused the game. He opened his mouth-

[KimDokja: Ah, what am I saying?! Sorry! Please forget that!]

Yoo Joonghyuk hesitated a moment longer, then hit continue.

[Viewers: 2]

[KimDokja: So, it's time for part 2? I can't wait to see where the story goes!]

Joonghyuk hummed. "You only care about the story."

[KimDokja: Not true! .... I just really enjoy stories ok? TvT ]

[KimDokja: Every night is better with a good bedtime story.]

Joonghyuk scoffed. "Childish. Real life isn't so interesting."

[....]

The chat was empty for a long while. His viewer had been sending messages every few minutes. Ten minutes passed without a word. Yoo Joonghyuk wondered if he'd offended them. Or did they leave? He double-checked the view-count.

[Viewer: 1]

He couldn't tell if KimDokja was still tuned in. Several more minutes passed. When Joonghyuk found himself oddly distressed at the idea he'd lost the viewer, finally there came a message.

[KimDokja: I'd rather be a child. It's better, isn't it? When nothing is your fault.]

Joonghyuk didn't know what to say, but, strangely, he felt he understood.

[KimDokja: Besides, you're the grown man playing video games!]

Joonghyuk snickered. "I'm 17."

[KimDokja: WHAT? But we're the same age and your voice is so much deeper than mine. No fair!]

[Viewers: 3]

Joonghyuk breathed a laugh.

When the time struck 1 am, Yoo Joonghyuk asked: "Do you have to go?" He didn't specify who he was talking to. His viewer already knew.

[Viewers: 2]

[KimDokja: Nah, I can stay up a bit longer. :) ]

"You have school."

[KimDokja: So do you if you're the same age! Right? Or are you a drop out?! A hooligan?! Gasp!]

Joonghyuk scoffed. "I'm not, you fool. I go to school." He just didn't find it difficult enough to worry over. "My grades are perfect. It's easy. I don't need much sleep."

He would normally go to bed before now though. Yet, for some reason, he didn't want to.

[Viewers: 1]

[KimDokja: Well, I guess some of us have a harder time in school than others. =.= ]

[KimDokja: Still, if you keep streaming, I'll stay up a little longer.]

[KimDokja: Make sure you sleep when you get tired!]

Yoo Joonghyuk nodded, even though the camera couldn't see it.

*

The stream continued late into the night, just as it had the night before, the SupremeKing playing mostly in silence, his viewer sending regular, near constant messages that received mostly only huffs, chuckles, and breaths in response, sprinkled with occasional short sentences.

[KimDokja: Gosh it's 3am already, you sure you don't need slep? I can stay up but how bout you? Young boys need the beauty sleep to grow!] The quality of his messages had been steadily going down as the night rolled on.

"Same age," Joonghyuk reminded with a tsk. "I'm 180cm."

[KimDokja: Completly unfare, Im barely 170]

Yoo Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes at the grammatical errors. He found a stopping point and saved the game. "Go to sleep."

[KimDokja: Goonight. :) ]

Joonghyuk's mouse hovered over the button to end.

[KimDokja: Thanks fr stream. made me happy.]

Yoo Joonghyuk felt his mouth twitch. He forcibly frowned.

[End Stream]

[SupremeKing's channel has gone silent.]