#daysense

Ever since you had found out that Dowoon played drums AND that his band was competing at Battle of the Bands too, you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him.

Well, it wasn’t as if that was anything new though. He was your in-game husband after all.

When you’d met in the game and he had suggested pairing up, you hadn’t given it another thought. It’s not as if it needed to be a real relationship, it felt more like a battle partnership.

But as you had fought alongside each other, you’d gotten to know your husband on the other side of the screen.

He was soft spoken at first, only messaging to talk. It had taken him a while to warm up to the idea of talking through headsets, and even longer to be comfortable enough to curse around you.

Even though the first time had technically been by accident.

He was competitive and funny and brilliant, so it was safe to say you weren’t planning to break up your marriage anytime soon.

But you also hadn’t thought of ever meeting in person. You had found out early on you two were on the same campus, but neither of you had mentioned meeting up in person, almost like it was a taboo topic. Even if you thought about what it would be like, you never asked.

So when you not only heard he played the drums like you, but would also be at the same competition, you were actually really excited. It was like the universe was trying to pull you two together.

And who were you to go against the universe?

You kept that calm and positive mentality as your band members picked you up to drive to the Battle venue. You even managed to keep it when you all checked-in and you noticed that Day6, Dowoon’s band, had also already checked in. You didn’t lose it until your band walked to check out the stage and saw a group doing a sound check.

Well, technically you lost it when you heard one of the front-men call the drummer’s name - Dowoon.

You actually dropped your drumsticks, as cliche as it sounds.

Your band members just gave you an odd look - you hadn’t told them what was going on exactly, just that you knew a drummer in another band. You just waved off their looks and moved backstage, distracting yourself by playing around and flipping your sticks around while you waited for your own sound check.

And that was just how Dowoon found you.

Or I guess technically it was you who still found him. 

You tapped him with one of your sticks as his band was walking by. 

“Hey Dowoon, it’s me - Y/N.” you said, averting your eyes and scratching your head with your drumstick because wow he was just too handsome up close and in person.

“Y/N?” he said, looking like an excited puppy. “It’s really you?? Oh my god this is awesome!”

One of his bandmates came up and slung an arm behind him.

“Yo Dowoon, who’s your friend?”

But the voice sounded a little familiar to you, so before Dowoon could even answer, you cut him off.

“Wait, are you Jae?”

“Um, do I know you too?”

“Well I guess you may not remember. I did knock you out pretty hard,” you said with a smirk pointed at Dowoon who was clearly enjoying your teasing his bandmate.

“You beat me up? Really??”

“Jae, meet Y/N - my friend from online.”

It took Jae a beat or two, but once he got it he got it.

“This is your wife?! She’s so cool though! Did you come to check out our band? My girlfriend can save you a seat if - ”

“She’s not here to watch.” Dowoon said, cutting him off with a smile before nodding at you to finish his thought.

“Yeah. I’m actually in one of the bands that is competing. It’s our first year.”

“Your girlfriend is in one of our competitor’s bands?” some guy said as he walked up to the group. “That’s pretty cool.”

“She’s not my girlfriend, Brian,” Dowoon said, acting like he’d said this a million times already. “She’s just - “

“His wife,” you threw out as a joke, making him blush red instantly.

“Y/N! We’re up for check - you coming?” one of your bandmates yelled.

“That’s my cue,” you said, flipping a stick between your fingers and causing Dowoon’s eyebrows to shoot up. “I’ll see you guys after the show? I’ll probably get called an traitor if I hang around any longer.”

Walking away, you heard Jae say “I like her!” while someone else shushed him, making you laugh as you walked behind your drumset and fell into your groove.

From sound check to backstage prep to the performance, everything flew by. There were only two times when time seemed to actually stand still.

The first was when you were playing live. Seeing everyone clapping at the end of your set, a set where you had played better than you ever had before, had felt so good you didn’t want to leave the stage.

The second time was when you watched Dowoon play. Specifically their closing song - ‘What Can I Do.” It has such a strange beat to it. It drove the song perfectly, but you couldn’t help but be impressed by Dowoon because each part, the verse lines and the chorus and the bridge and the final, all seemed to need completely different beats driving them. But Dowoon knew them all and the song sounded amazing!

Your crush may have been cemented in that moment.

You wanted to run and give him a hug as they came down from the stage, but his band was too busy clapping and hugging each other and you didn’t want to interrupt anything. So you just stayed off to the side with your own band, clutching their hands and waiting to hear the results while your eyes kept darting off to the side, betraying you.

But maybe that was a good thing. It distracted you so that you didn’t hear them call your band at first - for fourth place.

You all ran up on stage when they called it out, waved to the crowd with smiles on your faces, then trudged back down the stairs. It really wasn’t that upsetting - I mean all the bands were really good. But fourth place? Good enough you beat a bunch of bands but not quite good enough to get a medal? It was a bit of a weird feeling.

“You know,” Dowoon said after you got off stage and his band had moved closer to the stage, “we got fourth last year.”

“Yeah?” you asked, trying not to look gloomy.

“Yep! It kind of sucked and felt awesome at the same time. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I will tell you this. It was a great motivator for us when it came to moving forward.”

“Are you really comforting me while they are announcing the top three?”

Rubbing at the back of his neck, Dowoon looked down before he spoke again. 

“I just saw you looked a little sad, and that didn’t sit right with me.”

This man was being so sweet, you almost crushed him into a hug right there ont he spot, but you got interrupted.

By his group getting called up for first place.

Dowoon’s head shot up and his shocked eyes locked on yours as his bandmates pulled him backwards by the shoulders and up the stage.

You were laughing and clapping uncontrollably, even throwing a couple “Woos” in there. One of Dowoon’s bandmates started giving a little speech, looking a little shell-shocked himself while Jae and the pianist bandmate hugged each other and cried. Brian had his arm around the speaking member, with the trophy hoisted up in the air with the other. 

They all looked so happy that you decided to whip out your phone and take a candid shot of the moment for them for later. When you checked it you noticed Dowoon had the biggest grin on, pulling an even bigger smile across your own face.

When they thanked the crowd and judges one last time and came off stage, you couldn’t help yourself. Without a word, you jumped Dowoon, wrapping him up in the tightest hug.

And it felt amazing.

This was hands down THE best hug you had ever had. Dowoon stood shocked for a second and then returned the hug, making you feel all warm and cuddly inside in a way you had never felt when hugging family or previous boyfriends.

You nuzzled your face into the crook of Dowoon’s neck, snuggling into the hug some more as you felt his hold tighten on you. You had zero plans to leave this hug, absolutely none. 

And that was when you realized it. And Dowoon must have too.

Both of your heads pulled back, just your heads because still neither wanted to let go, and you just locked eyes.

It was clear that both of you knew. 

Everyone and everything else could wait. What couldn’t wait was more snuggling. Dowoon tightened his arms around you some more and cupped your head against his chest, resting his own on top of yours and starting to slowly rock back and forth. 

Maybe the two of you should have talked about it. Maybe you should have excitedly turned around to tell your bandmates while Dowoon explained to his why he was hugging a girl. But Dowoon had never been one who needed a lot of words, and frankly neither were you. 

One touch was all it took.

And just like that your in-game husband became your soulmate.

//

DaySense Series: Jae | Sungjin | Young K | Wonpil | Dowoon

“Well if we can get all the way through the second-half of our set cleanly, then you should still have time to change before your date,” Brian said, trying to help Sungjin out. 

“What’s wrong with my outfit?” Jae questioned, pulling on his shirt and hat.

“You mean you can see colors now and you still chose that?” Dowoon piped up, looking genuinely concerned.

“Guys! Can we please focus and agree to pick out Jae’s clothes later?” Sungjin snapped, trying to take a deep breath.

“Again, what’s wrong with my - “

Dowoon thankfully started the beat, cutting Jae off and setting them all in motion.

Despite the rough start, Sungjin was pretty happy with how well they did in rehearsal. He had promised a friend of his that they would play at the university’s “Halloween Bash" this weekend. It was their first time playing live since they had lost...wait...been third runner up at Battle of the Bands and they were all a little on edge.

Well, except for Jae. He was the happiest he had ever been - his vlog JaeSix was a hit, he could see in color, and most importantly, according to him, his girlfriend could speak in Vines although Sungjin wasn’t quite sure what that meant.

But Sungjin was sure they were ready, and it was his job to reassure everyone. And when he needed a little reassurance, he just went to the school’s cafeteria for a pick-me-up.

It wasn’t as strange as it sounded. All his bandmates just assumed it was because he loved food. Which he did! But it was more than that. 

Something strange had happened since the school year had started back up in the Fall. He hadn’t quite figured it out, but sometimes his food choices were just downright amazing! When Brian asked if he could try the quesadilla he had gone back for seconds on once, Sungjin couldn’t help but block off his fork.

He’d become downright possessive during some of his meals. The problem was, the foods he loved kept changing. So Sungjin had gotten used to getting a little bit of food from every station each time he went to the cafeteria, trying to figure out the pattern.

No luck yet. 

He hadn’t told anyone he fell in love with a different taste each day. Because that sounded strange right? So he just settled with continuously trying new things.

It wasn’t that much of a hardship.

Walking to the cafeteria though, Sungjin didn’t realize just how late they’d been practicing until he saw people turning the lights off inside. He must’ve looked really disappointed, or hungry, or both, because he caught a girl’s eyes and she held up one finger, telling him to wait. 

She reached behind the counter for a bit, then popped up and walked toward him at the entrance with a bag.

“Is this for me?” Sungjin asked, mentally berating himself for asking the obvious.

The girl blushed and passed it over to him, their hands briefly touching.

“You’re one of our regulars, and we had some leftovers.”

“Thank you! My band practice went a bit longer than I had expected.” Sungjin said, lifting the bag so he could peak inside. “Wait, I even get dessert?”

“I was experimenting with some treats for the Halloween Bash, so consider yourself lucky.”

“The Bash? That’s what my band is playing at!”

“Well then you’ll have to tell me what you think of the dessert when I see you there.”

“Y/N! You ready to go?” someone yelled at her from back inside the cafeteria.

“I’m coming!” she yelled back. “It was nice meeting you. I’ve got to go, but my name is Y/N. If you don’t see me at the party, just ask.” she finished, with a soft smile.

Her smile and overall attitude was infectious, bringing a smile to Sungjin’s face even though he was exhausted and hungry (although thanks to her one of those was about to be solved).

“I’m Sungjin. Thanks again, and I guess I’ll see you this weekend!” he said, backing away and waving.

The girl locked up and Sungjin left the way he’d come, heading to his car so he could go home. He couldn’t stop thinking about the dessert.

After he sat in the driver’s seat, he set the bag in the passenger’s seat and pulled the few pumpkin shaped cookies out.

“A little dessert first won’t ruin my appetite,” he muttered to himself.

And after the first bite, he was glad he’d caved.

It was that taste. The one he’d been chasing all over the cafeteria. Come to think of it, he almost always tasted it when he would pick up desserts. 

He scarfed down the first cookie and went to grab the second one when he paused, thinking.

He turned the cookie around, handling it gently while inspecting it before coming to a conclusion.

“I have got to ask her what her secret ingredient is!”

//

DaySense Series:  Jae | Sungjin | Brian | Wonpil | Dowoon

When he’d gotten back home after his run-in with the girl at the cafeteria, he’d had to fight off Brian when he tried to steal his cookie.

They were delicious for sure, but just like those other times with food, there was something more. And something was telling him it was more than just a secret ingredient.

Although he’d bet she totally used one.

He didn’t eat his cookie that night. Or the next. Sometimes he would be tempted to eat it, but then wonder why. Other times he would scrutinize it, as if it could tell him the answer.

But he always kept it safely sealed in a plastic bag while his mind mulled it all over - and that was just how Jae caught him the morning of the Halloween Bash.

“Sungjin! Can you help me load up the - what exactly are you doing?”

“I’ve got questions.”

“That you’re asking a cookie?” 

Stepping into the room, Jae swiped the cookie from him and opened the bag to check it out.

“Why haven’t you eaten this yet? It looks good!”

“Give that back! I’m not ready!”

Jae held the cookie behind his back and gave Sungjin a strange look until he finally caved and explained.

“I love the taste of that cookie okay. And some other things in the cafeteria.”

“So you like food. We all knew that - it’s not a big deal.”

Running his hands down his face, Sungjin took a deep breath.

“No no no. It’s not that I like the food. It’s that at random times there’s just something about the food that I absolutely love.”

“Oooookayyy..”

“And before you call me weird, this cookie has that same taste so I was trying to figure out if there’s a secret ingredient or something.”

“But how could a cookie have the same ingredients as the stuff we eat in the cafeteria? I mean we eat everything there.”

‘I know it doesn’t make any sense, I’m just telling you how I feel.”

Jae stopped talking and took a look at the cookie, brows knit as he turned it over in his hands.

“Do you know the baker?”

“Yeah, I met her the other night and she’s baking more for the Bash.”

"Well perfect! You can ask her for the recipe tonight then!”

“I guess,” Sungjin grumbled, mind churning again.

“This must be one special baker if she’s won over your stomach.”

Still not paying attention, Sungjin answered “Yeah, she must be special” when something finally clicked.

He grabbed the cookie, scarfed it down, then grabbed his jacket to leave.

“Whoa! Where are you going? We have to get ready for tonight!”

“Get Dowoon to help - I need to run to the store to get some things!”

Following him down to the front, Jae asked “What could possibly be so important? Sungjin!”

Sungjin was out the door and into his car in no time flat, muttering to himself a recipe that he hadn’t made in a while.

//

When Sungjin stepped into the venue that night, his eyes were scanning. Jae just assumed he was looking for some of those sweet treats to snack on, but Sungjin set his eyes on something, or rather someone, else.

“Can you guys manage set up by yourselves? I’ve got to go find someone.”

“Yeah, but where are you running off to? Shouldn’t we be focusing on our performance?” Brian asked, noticing Sungjin’s eyes were darting all over the place and he was gripping a little paper bag tight.

“I’ll be able to focus a lot better once I handle this.”

“He’s probably just looking for more of those cookies,” Jae piped in. “He really loved those.”

“Yes! Exactly!” Sungjin answered, without stopping his search. “Has anyone seen the dessert table? Or a baker?”

“How should we be able to tell they’re a baker? What if it’s their halloween costume?” Wonpil asked, looking genuinely concerned. 

“You mean to tell me you can’t tell a costumed baker from a real one? How embarassing,” Jae teased.

Sungjin would’ve scolded him...if he didn’t spot exactly what he was looking for - you carrying a tray of sweets.

Without another word he headed over, leaving his bandmates to bicker and set up the stage themselves.

“Y/N!” he shouted when he was a few feet away.

And then he kicked himself for it because he’d startled you.

Trying to correct his mistake, Sungjin rushed the last few steps and caught you, and the tray of cookies, before you all could fall.

Stunned, you just blinked a few times, white-knuckle grip on the tray and red blush blooming across your cheeks.

Righting you, Sungjin moved to help you set up the sweets on the table.

“Sorry, I was just excited I found you.”

“Me? You were excited to see me?”

“Well, yeah. I had something I wanted to give you,” he said, rubbing at the back of his neck and making the mistake of averting his eyes to a corner of the room where he found Jae giving him two thumbs up. 

Taking the bag, you slowly opened it up to find some chocolate heart pops inside?

“Did...did you make me candy?”

“I wanted to say thank you for the other night. I’m not the best cook, but I have a feeling you’re going to really like these.”

“This is so sweet,” you said, taking a pop out of the bag, “and cute!”

Carefully unwrapping it, you took a bite.

And your eyes immediately landed on Sungjin’s hopeful ones.

“Sungjin, this is amazing! What kind of chocolate did you use? Please tell me it wasn’t an expensive one!” you said, unable to stop yourself from taking another bite.

“Nope! Just your average grocery store chocolate.”

He was starting to smile now, but you were even more confused.

“How could this taste be from regular grocery store chocolate? It’s like it’s decadent but not overbearing. It’s just simply perfect!”

You scarfed down the pop as you saw Sungjin pick up one of your cookies and take a bite.

“Your sweets are the definition of perfect to me.”

At that you blushed uncontrollably, making Sungjin laugh a little, so you took out another pop to distract yourself.

“So when you’re done setting up, do you want to come hang out with us backstage?”

And now he’d made you almost choke. Either that or the plasticy tasting chocolate pop you’d just had.

“Me?! Why? Also did you make two different batches? This one tastes a little...different from the last one.”

With an even bigger grin on his face, Sungjin clicked his cookie against your pop like a toast.

“I made the first one with the red stick. My friend Wonpil made the one you’re eating now. Same recipe though.”

“Wait but if it’s the same how did - oh. Oh!” you started gasping, something in your mind.

Your parents had constantly told and retold the story of how they met. Your dad always bragged that opening a restaurant was the best thing he’d ever done, because it gave your mom a chance to try his food. You’d just never thought you’d have the same connection.

“I don’t think I’ve told you anything about me but my name,” Sungjin said on a smile, finishing off his cookie. “I’m Sungjin, and I think I’m your soulmate.”

A grin split all the way across your face as you reached your hand to shake his outstretched one, your palm feeling warm. 

“Nice to finally find you, soulmate.”

And just when you thought the moment couldn’t get any crazier, one of Sungjin’s bandmates, who had walked over dressed in a jumpsuit, shouted “the baker is your what now?!”

//

DaySense Series:  Jae | Sungjin | Brian | Wonpil | Dowoon

“Dude! We were in the middle of something!” Dowoon yelled back, leaning off his chair to grab his headset while keeping an eye on the screen and moving his player into position.

“Hang up with your girlfriend and go to bed I want to sleep!” Brian chimed in before pulling his blankets over his head.

Setting the headset back on, Dowoon heard someone calling for him?

“Dowoon? Are you there? Megora appeared and has already crossed the line. I’m going in.”

“I’m back I’m back. Let’s pull the guys over and take her out fast - my roommates are hounding me to quit soon.”

“I already sent them a message to group up. Let’s do this so someone can get their beauty rest,” you laughed out.

“If we weren’t on the same team I would kick your butt for that comment.”

“How about you give it a shot tomorrow?”

“Game on. Now let’s finish this.”

By the time Dowoon’s head hit the pillow, he had a smile on his face and some rare armour in his inventory.

He’d met you online a few months ago, and had to admit marrying you was the best decision he had made.

Marrying you in the game that is. More quests, better quality items dropped, and his wife was kickass and fun to play with. Dowoon definitely wasn’t complaining.

Even Jae had to admit you were good - mainly because you’d destroyed him one night when everyone had been online together. Jae had in turn thrown a tantrum - something about how it would be better if he was just a burrito inside all day?

You and Dowoon hardly got to hang out online anymore though. You kept saying you had to practice for something in the evenings and Dowoon was constantly prepping for the Battle of the Bands coming up. Dowoon was extra frustrated because last night had been the first battle you’d teamed up on in over a week.

And his dumb roommates had made him quit. 

So for a little payback, Dowoon hid Jae’s cereal the next morning and started copying everything Brian said, just because he could.

Sungjin nipped it in the bud after a little though.

“Dowoon, we perform at the Battle this weekend! You should be sleeping instead of staying up all night playing video games!”

“It’s not like you guys are resting up or anything! Wonpil was on the phone with his girlfriend until what time in the morning the other night?”

‘I just didn’t want to hang up on her,” Wonpil said.

Jae made a gagging noise at that, but then pulled himself together.

“I get it Dowoon,” Sungjin started, “but this is the crunch time. It’s been a whole year for us and we’re ready, but we need to be mentally preparing so we can deliver.”

Getting up from the table, Dowoon started to head back to his room.

“Remember we’re doing a dry run tonight!”

“I know I know,” he answered “but my class got canceled today so I’m going to go see if my partner is online so I can apologize to her for bailing last night.”

“What a nice husband,” Jae teased in a dreamy voice.

Dowoon just kept walking without looking back. Partially because the comment wasn’t worth acknowledging, but also because he wouldn’t be able to handle what they would say if they saw he was blushing.

He didn’t like to admit it, but sometimes he did feel like the nice husband his roommates all joked he was. He may or may not have started developing a bit of a crush on his in-game wife.

Totally because of your gaming skills of course.

Well, those and the jokes.

But that was it!

Well and the soft humming voice you had.

But really that was it!

Dowoon shook his head to snap himself out of whatever weird path his mind was going down and powered up his monitor instead.

Just about as soon as he logged on, he heard you in his ear.

“Hey! I was wondering if you would show up to duel today.”

“Yeah, sorry about last night. You were probably annoyed I had to log off so fast.”

“It’s really fine! I get it! Heck, my own roommates were giving me the stink eye to go to bed. They complain I’m constantly making noise whether it’s my music or battling online.”

“Wait, you play music?”

“Hehe, yeah.” you said, and he could hear how shy you were through his headset.

“What do you play? Piano?”

“No. The drums actually.”

Dowoon’s heart jumped.

“You play the drums?!”

“I’m even cooler than you had imagined aren’t I?” you teased.

“Um yes! I play the drums too!”

“Wait what?”

“Yeah! I play the drums for a band my roommates and I are in.” Dowoon said, nearly bouncing in his chair.

“You’re in a band too?!”

“What do you mean too? Are you?”

“Wow you play the drums and you can rhyme,” you joked with him.

“Focus!” Dowoon yelled, too excited to be sidetracked by your lame joke.

Laughing, you decided to put him out of his misery.

“Yes, I’m in a band too. Not with my roommates though, but with some friends from my school. We’ve got a huge performance coming up though, so we’ve been practicing all the time. I swear my wrists would snap off if I weren’t used to playing this much.”

Dowoon got silent all of a sudden.

“You’re...performing? Where?”

“Battle of the Bands in town. Have you ever been?”

Scrubbing his palms down his face, Dowoon tried to calm down.

“We’re playing there this weekend too.”

The headset went quiet for a beat, and stayed quiet for another. Dowoon was just about to break the silence himself when you finally did.

“Well I guess it was about time we battled in real life.”

//

DaySense Series: Jae | Sungjin | Brian | Wonpil | Dowoon