Chapter Text
i.
It all began with a small letter.
A letter from Bdd that had Sanghyeok thinking about the other midlaner in the late autumn nights. Sanghyeok didn’t think much about it at first, as it was part of some extra content the LCK was filming—writing letters to three other players that were randomly chosen for them.
But, Sanghyeok’s thoughts would drift off to the way the other seemed to put his heart in that letter; handwriting neat and pretty, his thoughts flowing on the paper like a waterfall, how every word and sentence seemed to have their own purpose and intention behind it.
It didn’t feel like just a letter, but more so Bdd’s inner thoughts.
It was different from what Sanghyeok usually heard.
It was—
Nice…
ii.
Sanghyeok didn’t have to write a letter to Bdd; he wasn’t chosen as one of the three players, but he did so anyway. Even though time had passed, the multiple videos had already been uploaded, he still sat down at his desk in the dead of night, lamp kindling his room in a soft golden glow, with a fountain pen in his hand. He let the thoughts flow onto the paper; he didn’t stop or hesitate, his emotions and feelings being conveyed in every motion. His eyes flickered from left to right; to the next row and the next and the next and—-
Until the bottom of the page.
He gently placed the pen on his desk and sighs, closing his eyes for a moment, the other player’s face engraving themself in his head.
iii.
When Boseong got the letter, he thought it was a scam; a fake. Except, the writer had a way with words in a way that could only be Faker himself. He read through it with a nervous heart, but each and every part of it felt so real, so genuine, and so vulnerable. When Boseong wrote that letter initially, he struggled to decide if he should make it more light-hearted and casual, or something more; something deeper and meaningful. And he realized in this moment, that Faker seemed to reciprocate his earnestness in full.
This letter wasn’t about Faker, The Unkillable Demon King; the five times Worlds Winner…not the celebrity or achievement-heavy Mid Laner of the LCK and most decorated player in the World. This was about Lee Sanghyeok. Single child of a single father, your regular high-school graduate, a boy with his own interests and hobbies simply living out his own unique life as time continues to go on and on.
Sanghyeok wrote about his life growing up; his struggles, his joys, his love and frustrations for the world.
He laid it all down to Boseong, and as he continued to read, he realized just how much he didn’t truly know about him, but wanted to know.
So, with a tender heart, he silently grabbed a piece of paper from the back of the streaming room, and exited out of the League client. He took a pen from Daegil’s desk, internally thanking the boy, and began to write.
iv.
Sanghyeok got an unexpected response back from Bdd about a week later. He figured it would be a polite and cheerful thanks and gratitude-filled letter, matching Bdd’s personality.
Except, it wasn’t.
The letter was heavier.
Not in a burdensome way, but rather, it made Bdd feel more human; more real; more Gwak Boseong and less Bdd—less professional League player and more average everyday citizen putting in the effort to be the best person they could be every day.
It made Sanghyeok feel seen and not alone.
He smiled under the dim lights of the streaming room.
v.
The main season began, and as Sanghyeok greeted the other man, something seemed different. Their pleasantries felt less general and out of obligation and so much more genuine. He didn’t know what fate had in store for them now, but Sanghyeok would take it all as it came.
He gave Boseong a soft smile and Boseong, though taken aback at first, took it in stride and gave him a bright gummy smile back.
They both went back to their respective waiting rooms, and Sanghyeok’s teammates all noticed his discreet but intense change in mood.
“It’s a secret,” he had responded when questioned about it.