By Zephyria Cold water poured into the sink. Ju-wan, who had been standing blankly, only began to wash his face once his hands turned bright red from the water. Only then did the stubborn drowsiness seem to fade. He washed his face thoroughly until no soap bubbles remained and let out a long sigh.
Despite sleeping as if he had fainted, he was tired. Even the slight movement of drying his face with a towel felt as if his muscles, stiffened overnight, were screaming.
It was just as he opened the bathroom door and was lifting his face from the towel. A massive, jet-black figure suddenly filled his vision and lunged at him.
“…Ah.”
Since he hadn’t expected anything to be standing in front of the bathroom door, he almost fell flat on his back. Fortunately, someone grabbed Ju-wan’s arm firmly, saving him from landing on his backside first thing in the morning.
He slowly opened his eyes, which had snapped shut reflexively. Soon, his vision was filled with a man who looked even more flustered than he was. Other men followed behind him. They were all wearing black suits. Ju-wan gave a bewildered nod.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Not at all. It was my oversight.”
The man and another beside him carefully helped Ju-wan up. Then, they apologized profoundly, as if they had committed a grave sin. Ju-wan looked strangely at the man who bowed with an almost burdensome level of politeness, then looked around, feeling a multitude of gazes.
Sure enough, men in black suits were lined up in the long hallway leading from the entrance to the living room. They seemed to be Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates. Because of their uniform appearance and identically stiff expressions, the air felt quite heavy.
The men, clearly Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates, all rolled their eyes in unison as if by agreement, scanning Ju-wan thoroughly. Even if he tried to ignore them, he could feel their blatant gazes sweeping from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Whenever his eyes met theirs, they would quickly look straight ahead, pretending nothing happened. A subtle silence flowed between Ju-wan and the men for a while.
It was around the time Ju-wan broke the tense silence and headed toward the living room. The men, who had been glancing at him, suddenly straightened their posture and bowed their heads in unison. Their voices thundered through the entire house.
“Good morning!”
Ju-wan, passing through them, flinched and stopped. His bewildered gaze landed on the backs of the men’s heads, which remained bowed.
This was the first time he had met Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates since the day Su-hyeok was seriously injured. But even then, they hadn’t been as formally polite to Ju-wan as they were now. At most, they had just glanced at him occasionally.
He felt a strange sensation. The sudden change was disconcerting, and he felt awkward, not knowing how to react. Who was he to receive this?
“Hello. Hello. Hello.”
Ju-wan nodded repeatedly, looking back and forth at the men lined up on both sides. In response, the men bowed their heads even lower.
Amidst this laughable farce, a large floral wreath greeted Ju-wan. Ju-wan stared blankly at the massive wreath filled with colorful flowers. On the ribbon attached to it, the words ‘Wishing a Speedy Recovery’ were written clearly. Only then did he realize why the men had swarmed in as a group since morning. It seemed they had come to visit Kwon Su-hyeok in their own way.
A man standing right next to the wreath cleared his throat to get Ju-wan’s attention. When Ju-wan looked at him, the man bowed slightly as if he had been waiting. He then handed Ju-wan a large fruit basket and some herbal medicine. As Ju-wan took them instinctively, both his arms sagged under the weight.
“Good morning.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Did you sleep comfortably through the night?”
“Huh? Yes, comfortably…”
“Please let us know whenever you need anything in the future.”
“Ah… thank you?”
The man abruptly handed him a business card. Ju-wan took the card without knowing why. On it was written his affiliation: ‘Baek Mu Trading, Accounting Team.’
If Jeon Mi-nam hadn’t come out of the kitchen around then, another strange silence would have fallen between Ju-wan and the men. The men gave a light bow to Jeon Mi-nam as well. Jeon Mi-nam didn’t respond to each of their greetings individually, but simply spoke to Ju-wan.
“Meal is ready.”
“Okay.”
Ju-wan nodded to the men once more and walked toward the kitchen. As expected, interested gazes pierced his back.
Shortly after, Kwon Su-hyeok emerged from the bedroom. His subordinates standing in the hallway greeted him thunderously again, as if by agreement.
“Are you awake, President?”
However, Kwon Su-hyeok’s expression as he looked at them was displeased. He looked as if his sweet rest had been interrupted.
“What are you all doing here so early?”
“We heard that you have recovered, President, so we came to visit and provide a business report.”
The man from the accounting team answered on behalf of the group. Jeon Mi-nam added an excuse that wasn’t quite an excuse beside him.
“I told them I would ask the President first, but everyone… it seems they were very worried.”
While the conversation continued, Jaguar also plodded out. Upon spotting Ju-wan near the kitchen, the animal approached him without hesitation. As Jaguar circled him leisurely, Ju-wan watched with a faint smile. When the animal sat down with its front paws neatly together, Ju-wan sat down to match its eye level and petted it vigorously. Jaguar narrowed its eyes in pleasure and even wagged its tail slowly.
The subordinates were quite shocked by this unexpected sight. It was no wonder, as Jaguar—the ferocious beast they had openly gossiped about, saying it was just like its owner—was acting like a mere house cat in front of Ju-wan.
“Eat first.”
Kwon Su-hyeok told Ju-wan in a tender tone and headed toward the living room. Jeon Mi-nam silently followed behind him. Some of the men, who had been staring blankly at Ju-wan and Jaguar until then, belatedly followed the two. They began a business briefing while handing over the documents they had brought.
Left with no choice, Ju-wan sat at the dining table alone. White steam was rising from the seaweed soup and stir-fried pork. The smell was appetizing enough to stimulate an appetite he didn’t even know he had.
Ju-wan quickly picked up his spoon and tasted the broth first. A deep flavor lingered in his mouth, and a warm sensation spread through him. His mouth watered, and he felt a craving for the food.
He was about to scoop up a spoonful of hot rice when he paused. He felt Jaguar’s blatant gaze from the side. Having received no food, Jaguar was staring intently at Ju-wan with its bright yellow eyes.
“Uh… do you want to try some of this?”
Ju-wan picked up a piece of pork and held it out near Jaguar’s snout. At the strong smell of the seasoning, Jaguar pulled its head back slightly. Then, perhaps becoming curious, it tentatively stuck out its tongue and licked the surface of the meat. After smacking its lips, the animal stretched its snout out again and snatched the meat.
Whether it was because the amount was too small to even register in its stomach, or because it preferred raw meat over cooked, Jaguar continued to smack its lips and looked back at Jeon Mi-nam in the living room with longing eyes.
“Wait a second.”
Eventually, Ju-wan put down his spoon and went to the refrigerator. He took out a suitable piece of raw meat and gave it to Jaguar. Jaguar approached, pinned the meat down with its front paw, and looked up at Ju-wan as if concerned.
“I know. Eat slowly and enjoy it.”
Ju-wan gently patted Jaguar’s head and stepped aside so the animal could eat in peace.
When he came out into the living room, Kwon Su-hyeok was engaged in a conversation with a fairly serious expression. Ju-wan stepped to one side to avoid interrupting and watched the scene. The talk was completely incomprehensible, and he didn’t have much interest in Kwon Su-hyeok’s work itself, but he simply enjoyed watching him work.
This was because Kwon Su-hyeok’s demeanor when handling business was quite different from when he was alone with Ju-wan. His gaze while checking the prepared documents was sharp, and his gaze while observing the reporting subordinate was calm yet cold.
“Then proceed with this matter as explained.”
“The items… will you be alright without checking them yourself?”
“I’m sure they did it well. Report immediately if a problem arises…”
While giving instructions, Kwon Su-hyeok suddenly stopped and looked toward Ju-wan. He gestured for the man to continue talking, but he stood up and approached Ju-wan anyway.
“Why? I told you to eat first.”
“I was taking care of Su-nam’s food first. Let’s eat together in a bit. Go back to your work.”
“It’s all finished.”
Kwon Su-hyeok gripped Ju-wan’s wrist and looked back at his subordinates. With a small but clear motion, he tilted his head toward the entrance. The subordinates took the hint and stood up.
“Is there anything else you’d like us to—”
“Nothing.”
“Then, if there’s anything you need—”
“Nothing, so you can go now.”
With that, he said. Around then, Kwon Su-hyeok’s gaze landed on the flamboyant wreath. A few men, exchanging keen glances, carried out the wreath that they must have struggled to bring in.
Regardless of the eyes around them, Kwon Su-hyeok led Ju-wan into the bathroom. Behind the two of them, his subordinates unfailingly bid their farewells.
“Then, President, please rest comfortably.”
“Please rest comfortably.”
Thundering voices poured from beyond the closed door. As soon as he entered the bathroom, Ju-wan, who was pressed firmly against the door, gave a belated greeting nonchalantly.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you.”
Kwon Su-hyeok took Ju-wan’s hand and pressed his lips to it. Ju-wan smiled faintly, held the hand back, and shook it gently.
“You should wash quickly and eat. Everything will get cold at this rate.”
“Right now, I’m craving this more.”
Kwon Su-hyeok murmured, gently pulling on Ju-wan’s plump lower lip. At that, Ju-wan unhesitatingly closed his eyes and tilted his head up. The corners of Kwon Su-hyeok’s mouth curved into a soft arc. Carefully cupping Ju-wan’s face, Kwon Su-hyeok slowly pressed his lips onto Ju-wan’s. When Kwon Su-hyeok pressed his lips firmly without giving Ju-wan room to open his mouth, Ju-wan blinked his eyes in confusion.
Then, Kwon Su-hyeok let out a dry chuckle, tilted his head, and fully locked his lips with Ju-wan’s. Only then did Ju-wan regain his freedom, his lips moving slowly to take in Kwon Su-hyeok’s lower lip. After sweetly pulling and releasing Ju-wan’s upper lip and philtrum, and sucking them again, Kwon Su-hyeok soon pushed hotly into Ju-wan’s mouth.
As Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue pushed in, Ju-wan closed his eyes tightly and entrusted himself entirely to him. His blood boiled every day at this devotion—whether it should be called naive or brave. If he could, he wanted to swallow him whole in one breath.
Reluctantly pulling his lips away, Kwon Su-hyeok pressed kisses sequentially around Ju-wan’s mouth. Then, he grabbed his wrist again and led him to the bathtub.
Kwon Su-hyeok’s wound had now completely healed. However, regardless of that, he often took Ju-wan to the bathroom. It seemed he truly enjoyed leaning on Ju-wan, receiving his touch, and chatting softly.
For Ju-wan, such requests were like Kwon Su-hyeok’s version of acting spoiled, so he was simply happy. This time too, Ju-wan took off his pants on his own and perched on the edge of the tub. Kwon Su-hyeok also whipped off his top and leaned his back against Ju-wan’s legs as usual.
He turned on the shower and let the water fall on his hand first to adjust the temperature. Then, he slowly soaked Kwon Su-hyeok’s jet-black hair. With his eyes closed, Kwon Su-hyeok’s face relaxed comfortably. A thin arc formed at the corners of his mouth. Consequently, a smile spread across Ju-wan’s face as well.
He poured a proper amount of shampoo into his hand. He first worked up a lather in his palm and then gently rubbed it into Kwon Su-hyeok’s hair. Once enough foam had formed, he applied pressure with his fingertips to massage various points of the scalp. A deep sigh escaped Kwon Su-hyeok naturally. The forehead, where veins had momentarily popped, soon softened again, and his thick eyebrows relaxed more than usual. A healthy color, which hadn’t been there before, returned to his face.
While diligently massaging Kwon Su-hyeok’s head and ears, Ju-wan tentatively brought up a thought he had been harboring.
“There’s something I want to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“I was thinking it might be time for me to find something to do as well.”
“Something to do?”
“When I was in the hospital, my only thought was that I absolutely had to get out. But once I actually escaped, I never thought about what I should do or what I wanted to do.”
“And you’ve thought about it now?”
“No, not yet.”
Even though Kwon Su-hyeok couldn’t see him, Ju-wan shook his head. He then turned on the shower and began to gently rinse away the foam. Once the bubbles had mostly vanished, Kwon Su-hyeok opened his eyes and looked up at Ju-wan. He seemed to be listening to him more intently.
Ju-wan carefully brushed through Su-hyeok’s hair, making sure no water got into his ears. He then softly rubbed and massaged his earlobes.
“For now, I’m vaguely thinking of finishing the studies I had started.”
“Entrance exam studies?”
“Well, rather than the exams… since I did enter high school, I felt like I should at least produce the result of graduating. No matter what it is, you have to bring something to a close before you can move forward to the next thing. It’s not that I suddenly want to attend high school again or go to college. Since I’ve come back out into the world, I don’t want to waste the freedom I’ve finally managed to get my hands on. And…”
“And?”
“I want to show Su-hyeok what kind of person I was, even if it’s just through that.”
Ju-wan’s expression looked quite solemn. A small smile spread across the lips of Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been watching him blankly. It was a handsome smile.
“I’m proud of you.”
Whispering in a low voice, Kwon Su-hyeok reached out his long arm and wrapped it around the nape of Ju-wan’s neck. He then pulled Ju-wan toward him. Their upper and lower lips met in a cozy embrace before quickly parting. Their gazes locked at close range. The look they shared as they caressed each other with their eyes was incredibly soft and tender.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Every time he comforted him like that, Ju-wan felt the fine hairs in his ears flutter. After nodding repeatedly, he willingly collapsed into Kwon Su-hyeok as he was pulled in once more. Just as they were tenderly sucking on each other’s lips and tilting their heads to kiss, the showerhead, freed from their grip, sprayed water in all directions. They were drenched before they had a chance to dodge. They both burst into laughter at the sight of each other looking like drowned rats in an instant.
That afternoon, several of Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates visited again. They carried various boxes, some large and some small, of unknown contents. As soon as they arrived at the house, they moved in perfect unison. They cleared out all sorts of junk from the small room used as a storage space and began cleaning it until not a single speck of dust remained. On one side, someone took parts out of a box and assembled something. A desk was completed in no time.
Ju-wan, who had been watching the scene while gently stroking the tail of Jaguar, who was asleep on the sofa, suddenly stood up. Kwon Su-hyeok’s gaze immediately followed him.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if there’s anything I can help with…”
Kwon Su-hyeok let out a short laugh, as if it were absurd.
“Does it look like we’re so short-handed that I need to borrow your hands too?”
“It’s not that… but they’re working hard because of me.”
“You just help me.”
Kwon Su-hyeok abruptly pulled Ju-wan toward him. Unable to resist, Ju-wan was dragged along and landed on Kwon Su-hyeok’s thighs. Kwon Su-hyeok pulled the laptop he had been looking at over to Ju-wan’s lap. In doing so, Ju-wan naturally ended up embraced by him.
Ju-wan had noticed he had been searching for something for a while, and on the monitor, there was a guide for some lecture packages.
“What is this?”
“I don’t know if you simply want to get a diploma or if you want to study properly. They say video lectures are essential these days, so take a look and see which one looks good.”
“Ah…”
Ju-wan tried to operate the laptop with awkward movements. It had been so long since he’d touched one that even moving the mouse pointer wasn’t easy. Kwon Su-hyeok wrapped his hand around Ju-wan’s and taught him slowly, one by one.
Meanwhile, bookshelves, a chair, and a computer continued to be moved in. Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates placed the assembled furniture one by one in the room, which had already been ventilated. Various writing utensils, notebooks, reference books, and workbooks they had prepared in advance were neatly placed on the shelves. Books that looked as if they had swept up all the bestsellers were lined up on one side.
“Why is it so noisy?”
It was around the time the study room was nearly finished that Baek Do-un’s voice rang out from the entrance. Ju-wan quickly stood up and went toward the hallway. Baek Do-un was walking inside, waving his hand to clear the dust in the air. Behind him followed Jeon Mi-nam, who had gone to pick him up.
“Teacher, you’re here?”
“Ju-wan, what on earth is going on? And what’s with all the trash outside?”
“Well…”
It was while Ju-wan was wearing a somewhat awkward expression. Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates, who had finished organizing the study room, came out in a crowd to greet them.
“President, we have completed the tasks you instructed.”
“Right. You may leave.”
“Yes. Please call us again if you need us.”
The men bowed their heads in unison to Kwon Su-hyeok. They didn’t forget to give a polite nod as they passed by Ju-wan and Baek Do-un. Baek Do-un remarked, “How noisy,” and flopped down onto the sofa. Startled, Jaguar snapped his head up.
In the meantime, Jeon Mi-nam went to the kitchen to prepare drinks, and Ju-wan went to look at the completed study room. Even though he knew it was his room, he couldn’t bring himself to enter and just lingered outside. Watching Ju-wan, Baek Do-un asked Kwon Su-hyeok with a skeptical look.
“Why did you call me? He doesn’t look like he’s sick anywhere.”
“Tell me your conditions.”
“Conditions? What conditions out of the blue?”
“Baek Do-un, I need you to do some tutoring.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Are you not fully awake? Or did you hit your head without me knowing?”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
“A perfectly fine guy suddenly asks me to tutor?”
“Not me. Tutor Park Ju-wan.”
“Ju-wan?”
Around then, Ju-wan returned to the sofa. Jeon Mi-nam also placed the prepared drinks one by one on the sofa table.
It seemed better to hear it directly from Ju-wan than to demand a detailed explanation from Kwon Su-hyeok.
“Ju-wan, why all of a sudden? Are you planning to take the GED? Or go to college?”
“It’s not that I have a specific goal. I just felt like I wanted to spend the time that stopped a long time ago. Since I was suddenly hospitalized in high school, I want to at least finish that first.”
“That’s a good decision. I was thinking it was about time Ju-wan started living his own life. Regardless of us. You’re not at an age where it’s too late to start something again. For that, your will is the most important, so I was secretly waiting to see when you’d make up your mind. If you need me, feel free to use me as much as you want. It’s been a long time since I studied for entrance exams, so I don’t know how much I can help, but still.”
Before Baek Do-un could even finish speaking, Kwon Su-hyeok pressed him.
“Now, tell me your conditions.”
“If it’s conditions, I have exactly one.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s make it once a week.”
“Are you talking about the learning cycle?”
“No. Your heat frequency.”
At Baek Do-un’s answer, Jeon Mi-nam coughed violently. He hurriedly covered his mouth, but once the coughing started, it wouldn’t stop. Jeon Mi-nam’s face quickly turned bright red. He seemed to have truly choked.
“Mi-nam, are you okay?”
“Ah, I’m sorr— cough.”
Ju-wan quickly pulled out a tissue and handed it to Jeon Mi-nam. There was only a worried expression on his face; no sign of embarrassment or shame could be found. For some reason, it seemed only Jeon Mi-nam was shocked by the explicit conversation between Kwon Su-hyeok and Baek Do-un. Jeon Mi-nam felt an indescribable, distant sense of despair.
“If you’re clingy all the time, it’ll interfere with the studying. Besides, is it just you, Kwon Su-hyeok? Su-nam is here too.”
Baek Do-un even crossed his arms, urging Kwon Su-hyeok to accept. In that moment, he was serious, without any intention of joking. No matter how he thought about it, obtaining a diploma safely amidst the interference of Kwon Su-hyeok and Jaguar was an absurd prospect.
However, Kwon Su-hyeok shook his head without much deliberation.
“There’s no way that’s possible.”
“You’re not an animal; why is it instantly impossible? If you’re human, try to endure it a bit.”
Baek Do-un argued as if it were ridiculous. Kwon Su-hyeok wasn’t in a mood to back down easily either. Amidst the untimely power struggle, Ju-wan subtly intervened.
“It’s okay, Teacher. I’ll try my best regardless of which side it is.”
At this strange ambition, Baek Do-un, Kwon Su-hyeok, and Jeon Mi-nam were all left speechless. Then, Jeon Mi-nam was the first to jump up and go into the kitchen. For some reason, his face was flushed bright red. Then Baek Do-un sighed, “Ah, Ju-wan,” and chuckled as if he couldn’t help it. Even Kwon Su-hyeok let out a small laugh and shook his head.
Only Ju-wan and Jaguar were left with bewildered expressions.
* * *
Every time he wrote in the notebook, there was a scratching sound. With all his attention focused on the tip of the pen, Ju-wan organized the concepts he had studied today. When he had filled a whole page, he looked at the notebook for a long time, seemingly proud.
Kwon Su-hyeok sat on the sofa next to him, gazing down at Ju-wan. Because he didn’t want to disturb him, he hadn’t said a word the entire time. It wasn’t that Ju-wan’s way of studying was particularly special. Yet, watching him like that was neither tiring nor boring.
Jaguar was different. The creature, who had been watching him from behind the whole time, suddenly poked its head out. Its long whiskers touched Ju-wan’s earlobe. Ju-wan raised his hand to fiddle with his ticklish ear, but his eyes remained fixed on the notebook. Jaguar tilted its head at the reaction, which was different from before.
For some time now, Baek Do-un had been appearing every morning. He would take Ju-wan to the study room and lock the door from the inside so that no one, including Jaguar, could enter carelessly. Even after waiting in isolation for hours, there was no harvest. This was because even after Baek Do-un left, Ju-wan was busy doing the homework he had assigned, just as he was now.
Since Ju-wan, who had been entirely his own if not for Kwon Su-hyeok, had been ignoring him for more than half a day, it was natural for Jaguar to be puzzled. When there was still little reaction from Ju-wan, Jaguar finally nudged the back of his head with its snout.
“Don’t do that, Su-nam.”
Jaguar, who couldn’t possibly understand those words, hit the back of Ju-wan’s head repeatedly. Then, quickly tiring of its own accord, it dropped its head onto Ju-wan’s shoulder. Only then did Ju-wan turn his head to look at Jaguar. Jaguar stared at Ju-wan, moving only its pupils while remaining in that position. It was exactly like a large puppy acting spoiled. Ju-wan whispered, “Cute,” and gently stroked the bridge of Jaguar’s nose. At that, the creature immediately relaxed and narrowed its eyes. Its thick tail wagged flexibly.
“Wait just a little. I’m almost finished, so I’ll play with you as soon as I’m done.”
Ju-wan soothed Jaguar and focused back on his work. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been observing the scene in silence, suddenly stood up. Ju-wan’s gaze naturally turned toward him. Jaguar also lifted its head.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to wash up.”
“Want help?”
Ju-wan looked ready to stand up at any moment. Kwon Su-hyeok chuckled and lightly ruffled his hair.
“Finish your work.”
He then added the condition, “For now.” It was a somewhat ambiguous nuance, but Kwon Su-hyeok walked to the bathroom without further explanation. Soon, the sound of the bathroom door closing and the sound of the shower followed.
Ju-wan focused on the math problems again. Baek Do-un required him to solve the problems but also to write down the entire process in the notebook without omission. When checking the homework, he didn’t just stop at grading; he made Ju-wan explain the solution process one by one. He said that was the only way to confirm if the concepts were properly understood. Indeed, doing so prevented him from getting lost, and once he grasped the content, the problems solved themselves smoothly. Consequently, he quickly found joy in studying.
Currently, he was relearning from the middle school curriculum rather than the high school one. This was because the basic concepts of the core subjects, math and English, are usually learned during the middle school process. The past ten years wasted in the hospital were enough to forget all of it.
Still, he didn’t feel rushed. He simply thought that he could learn slowly at his own pace and achieve things one by one. Of course, thanks to having a passionate teacher like Baek Do-un, he couldn’t go entirely at his own pace.
Since he couldn’t take up Baek Do-un’s time indefinitely, he had no choice but to work hard. He had to concentrate as much as possible and master the material firmly when he learned it.
However, such resolutions became meaningless because of Jaguar. Ju-wan looked back at the creature that was once again bringing its snout to the back of his head. The creature filled its bright yellow eyes with Ju-wan, then suddenly pushed its head in and rubbed its face against his. It seemed bored. Even so, there was nothing he could do for the moment.
“Sorry. I really only have a little bit more to do, okay?”
Asking for understanding once more, he squeezed Jaguar’s cheeks. As soon as Ju-wan turned his back again, Jaguar’s eyes twitched. Soon, the creature stood up, snatched the workbook in its mouth, and leaped down from the sofa.
It was so agile that there was no time to stop it. When Ju-wan reached out as if asking for it back, Jaguar slowly backed away. Left with no choice, he stood up and followed Jaguar, who was stepping backward as if teasing him.
“Su-nam, stop playing and give it back.”
He tried coaxing it as if it were a young child. Uselessly, Jaguar darted to the kitchen, then back to the living room, into the open study room, and into the bedroom, skillfully avoiding Ju-wan’s perimeter. Whenever Ju-wan blocked the exit, the creature would often knock him over and leap away.
“Stop right there!”
An unexpected game of tag began inside the house. Even though it was light play, because the opponent was Jaguar, he soon became out of breath.
After a long time, he finally succeeded in cornering Jaguar on the bed. With his arms spread wide, Ju-wan slowly closed the distance. Cornered, the creature shook its head wildly from side to side. The workbook, soaked in the creature’s saliva, quickly became tattered.
“No. Don’t do that, Su-nam.”
Desperate, Ju-wan lunged at Jaguar with his whole body. But before he could pounce, the creature leaped off the bed first. Jumping right over Ju-wan, it landed lightly on the floor and tilted its chin up at Ju-wan, who was looking back in surprise. Then it ran back out into the living room.
Ju-wan let out a low sigh and quickly followed. He had to rescue the workbook he had worked so hard on before it became a rag.
Jaguar was already sitting arrogantly on the sofa. It still had the workbook in its mouth. Ju-wan didn’t approach rashly and stopped a distance away. At that, the creature’s bright yellow eyes flashed as it began to be on guard. Ju-wan simply watched it, pretending not to notice. When Ju-wan didn’t move at all, Jaguar tilted its head.
Soon, the creature slowly climbed down from the sofa and trudged toward Ju-wan. It kept its body low, seemingly to flee at any moment. When there was still no significant reaction from Ju-wan, it lifted its snout and nudged Ju-wan’s hand. In an instant, Ju-wan reached out both arms, hugged Jaguar’s neck tightly, and practically climbed on top of its back.
“Got you!”
The game of tag that seemed like it would never end finally came to a close. Jaguar resisted, shaking its head as Ju-wan tried to take the workbook. When the workbook was finally snatched away, it struggled with its limbs to attempt an escape. The tables turned in an instant, and Ju-wan ended up pinned beneath the creature. Fully displaying its hunting instinct, Jaguar gripped the hood of Ju-wan’s top instead of his neck and shook it violently.
He was completely powerless against Jaguar’s rough and persistent play. In terms of size, weight, and strength, the creature overwhelmed Ju-wan in every aspect. Being tossed around helplessly, his head began to spin. After struggling for a while under Jaguar’s front paws, Ju-wan barely managed to squeeze out his voice.
“Su-nam, stop it. You’re stretching the clothes.”
However, Jaguar, absorbed in the fun game, continued to bite and tear at Ju-wan’s hood as if intending to rip it. He felt that if he played seriously with the creature just two more times, he wouldn’t live to see his natural end. Being crushed or suffocated didn’t feel like someone else’s story.
“Stop! Su-nam, don’t!”
No matter how much he tried to stop it, it was useless. Despite its size, it was still no different from an immature child and didn’t know how to end an exciting game.
It was around the time Ju-wan’s hood was almost torn off from the top by Jaguar. Suddenly, the weight of Jaguar pressing down on his whole body vanished.
With a puzzled expression, Ju-wan lifted his head, which he had been covering with both hands. Soon, his vision was filled with the sight of Kwon Su-hyeok, who had cast Jaguar aside.
“What are you doing?”
Kwon Su-hyeok looked at him with an expression of sheer absurdity. Ju-wan was completely exhausted, doing nothing but gasping for breath. He was so drained of strength that he didn’t even have the energy to respond.
Kwon Su-hyeok’s gaze soon flew to the highly excited Jaguar. Under that silent, glaring look, the beast, which had been waving its front paws in the air and attempting to pounce on Ju-wan again, hesitated. Kwon Su-hyeok continued to engage in a staring contest with the creature for a long while. Overwhelmed by his presence, the beast flattened its ears and obediently lowered its paws to the floor. It even slinked backward a bit.
“You should also know when to stop. If something were to happen…”
Kwon Su-hyeok started to say something to Ju-wan but couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. This was because a completely disheveled Ju-wan was panting and looking up at him. Through the gaps in his top, which had been messed up and torn by the Jaguar, his white neck, shoulders, and abdomen were fully exposed. Sweat-soaked hair clung to his forehead, and a subtle flush lingered around his eyes, cheeks, and ears. Perhaps because breathing was a struggle, his pupils were clouded. Kwon Su-hyeok’s prominent Adam’s apple bobbed slowly.
Stepping closer to Ju-wan, Kwon Su-hyeok grabbed his arm and pulled him abruptly to his feet. Then, as he pushed Ju-wan onto a nearby sofa, he supported his abdomen and pulled down both his pants and drawers in one swift motion. It wasn’t the first time Kwon Su-hyeok had suddenly gone into heat, but Ju-wan was unusually flustered, flailing his limbs.
“Ah, wait a second…!”
It wasn’t that he was suddenly mindful of the Jaguar’s gaze. Nor was it that he had no desire to engage in sex. It was simply that the workbook lying scattered about caught his eye. He had promised Baek Do-un that he would definitely finish all his homework.
Ignoring Ju-wan’s protests, Kwon Su-hyeok coated his fingers generously with saliva and brought them to the cleft of Ju-wan’s buttocks. As the wet fingers touched the area around the hole, Ju-wan’s entire body stiffened and he squirmed. Pressing his chest tightly against Ju-wan’s back and pressing his lips against the white nape of his neck, he caressed the folds of the opening. Because they had had sex every single day recently, the folds quickly became slick and relaxed. After teasing the opening longingly, he applied pressure and pushed his finger deep inside.
“…Ngh, ah, Su-hyeok.”
Ju-wan groaned, shaking his head slowly. The vivid sensation of foreignness made the two arms supporting his upper body tremble. As if to soothe him, Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly took the curve of Ju-wan’s ear into his mouth and released it, while slowly rotating his fully inserted finger. Ju-wan’s stiff body shuddered once more. The sensation of the inner walls tightly gripping the finger was tacky and soft. A desire to stir the place wildly until it became limp surged within him.
Suppressing his breath with difficulty, he slowly moved his finger back and forth to loosen the hole. Occasionally, he pressed firmly against various parts of the inner wall. A whimpering sound finally leaked from Ju-wan. While showering him with kisses, Kwon Su-hyeok, unable to endure his vivid lust, repeatedly nipped at his neck and ears.
“Ah, ngh… nn….”
The Jaguar sat with its front paws tucked, watching the scene of the two of them entwined. From time to time, it tilted its head.
“…Ah, ngh.”
Kwon Su-hyeok pushed in two more fingers and slowly swirled them. At that, Ju-wan turned his body halfway and looked at Kwon Su-hyeok. He had a pitiful expression. After kissing his flushed cheeks with several light pecks, Su-hyeok lowered his head further and locked their lips. Ju-wan also responded actively to the kiss, pulling Kwon Su-hyeok’s face close to his own. Their feverish breaths spread humidly inside their mouths.
He lightly took the sweet-tasting lips and tongue into his mouth and released them, then sucked them sweetly again while stirring the lower area with a wide range of motion. He continued to kiss him tenaciously, supporting Ju-wan’s abdomen firmly so that he wouldn’t collapse easily. The hole, which had barely managed to take three fingers, gradually began to wrap around them pleasantly. Kwon Su-hyeok’s patience finally ran out.
After withdrawing the fingers that had been teasing Ju-wan’s hole, Kwon Su-hyeok turned him over so they were facing each other. Meeting the eyes of Ju-wan, who was looking up at him blankly, he whipped off the robe draped over his shoulders.
“Hah, ngh….”
As he fully gripped Ju-wan’s erect member, Ju-wan’s waist jerked. With his thumb, he gently stroked and stretched the pre-cum gathered at the urethral opening. In the precarious atmosphere, Ju-wan even held his breath as he watched.
Kwon Su-hyeok stroked Ju-wan’s member, wiping away the thin trail of pre-cum. At the tingling sensation triggered from the center, Ju-wan squeezed his eyes shut and twisted his body. Kwon Su-hyeok collapsed his upper body over him, rubbing the bridge of his nose against his hot neck. He touched the soft earlobe with the tip of his nose, then extended his tongue to lick from the neck up to the area behind the ear. Then, opening his mouth, he bit firmly into the neck.
“…Ugh.”
Ju-wan swallowed his breath and groaned lowly. Because his waist was draped over the armrest, blood kept rushing to his head. Combined with the pleasure surging from his groin, he couldn’t regain his senses at all. While he was whimpering, he shuddered as Kwon Su-hyeok’s heavy member dropped onto his wet hole. His anxious gaze turned toward the lower area, which was hidden beneath Kwon Su-hyeok.
Gently crushing Ju-wan’s member, Kwon Su-hyeok whispered lowly into his sensitive ear.
“Relax.”
“…Ngh.”
Then, Kwon Su-hyeok’s member asserted its presence and pushed into the hole. Ju-wan squeezed his eyes shut at the sensation of the skin rubbing tightly from the entrance. A thick breath escaped Kwon Su-hyeok as well. Even though he had loosened it sufficiently, the inner walls remained tight. He pushed in doggedly, savoring the sensation of the clinging flesh. Finally, with a wet sound, Kwon Su-hyeok’s firm abdomen pressed against Ju-wan’s buttocks. Ju-wan’s entire body tensed at the fullness that seemed to crush his very breath.
“Ngh… ah, ngh….”
“Haa….”
After letting out a breath, Kwon Su-hyeok began to move his hips with his stomach pressed tightly against Ju-wan’s. He scooped up the inner walls deeply and leisurely, rubbing his ridged member against the sweet mucosa. The soft inner flesh trembled as if convulsing, then subtly clung to the surface of the member. Although he was using maximum patience to open Ju-wan’s body slowly, the sensation repeatedly incited his suppressed desire. He wanted to stir the inner flesh to his heart’s content and devour it all right now. The more he felt it, the more he took deep breaths and clenched his teeth.
Every time Kwon Su-hyeok thrust, Ju-wan’s member, crushed between their abdomens, was mashed and rubbed, sending a tingling vibration through his entire pelvis. His toes curled instinctively, turning white. His loose top was pushed up bit by bit with the repeated insertions. In doing so, his upper body, which had been bruised and marked from being sucked and bitten for days, was fully exposed.
Kwon Su-hyeok licked all the way up from Ju-wan’s side to the valley of his chest. Without fail, Ju-wan’s waist shuddered. Goosebumps rose on his skin. He didn’t hesitate to take the tense chest into his mouth. The flesh, sensitized from being sucked so much, distorted without shape as it met his tongue.
“Ah… nn, ngh, ah….”
Ju-wan arched his chest and moaned miserably. He couldn’t get used to the feeling that was both ticklish and aching. Kwon Su-hyeok easily pinned Ju-wan’s flailing wrists and firmly sucked on his nipple while steadily thrusting below. Ju-wan’s head, which had been shaking from side to side, was thrown back completely. When he closed his eyes, the stimulation became clearer; when he opened them, he saw the Jaguar observing him, leaving him not knowing what to do.
The more this happened, the more the inner walls contracted, egging Kwon Su-hyeok on. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been moving his hips leisurely out of consideration for Ju-wan, suddenly pulled his member out completely and then slammed it in to the root in one go. Then, he repeatedly hammered Ju-wan’s hole with the same depth. As the member that filled the inner walls was driven in indiscriminately, the ridges on the surface scratched the mucosa wherever possible. Each time, the inner walls twitched and squeezed the trapped member. Veins soon popped on Kwon Su-hyeok’s smooth forehead.
Due to the frictional heat, everything from the entrance to the deepest part was heated. Even when he pulled out for a moment, he wanted to go back in quickly to savor that sweet heat.
“Hah, ngh…!”
Ju-wan, who had been struggling just to take Kwon Su-hyeok while pinned beneath him, suddenly stiffened, twisting his limbs. His tensed shoulders trembled slightly. His eyes, now moist, searched for Kwon Su-hyeok. It was an anxious look, as if his weakness had been discovered.
In the next moment, Kwon Su-hyeok gripped Ju-wan’s waist firmly and thrust his member deep inside. His stone-hard glans repeatedly rubbed and crushed a specific spot, delivering an indescribable pleasure. Ju-wan’s entire body shuddered as if struck by electricity. Ju-wan’s mouth clicked open and shut repeatedly, letting out deep moans.
“Ugh… ah, ngh, nn, hah, nn, ugh, hah!”
“Haa, haa….”
As he violently stirred Ju-wan, Kwon Su-hyeok’s member occasionally slipped into the buttock cleft, touching the perineum or slamming into the scrotum. Then it would soon return to its original trajectory and grind and pound Ju-wan’s inner flesh again. The softened hole sweetly sucked his member, and the overheated mucosa clung to the hot skin like suction cups. Sweat dripped. His vision turned yellow, and it felt as if warning lights were flashing in his head.
Every time he drove his member in completely, it felt as if Ju-wan’s abdomen bulged by that volume. He hooked Ju-wan’s member between his fingers and pressed against the lean abdomen, accelerating his hip movements. With pressure applied from both above and below, Ju-wan’s entire face turned bright red. Seeing him react to every single movement, something snapped in Kwon Su-hyeok’s mind.
Gritting his teeth, he entered and exited Ju-wan’s belly explosively. His nerves, sensitized by instinct, stood on edge, wary of the Jaguar. He glared at the beast that tried to sneak closer to the deliriously moaning Ju-wan. At that, the beast paused and checked Kwon Su-hyeok’s reaction. While keeping a close eye on the beast to ensure it didn’t move, he slammed into him, thud, thud. It was a childish way of making the beast realize who was dominant and who rightfully possessed Ju-wan.
Perhaps because there was an observer, even if it was just a beast, his flesh boiled faster than usual. A severe urge to urinate gathered, making the muscles of his abdomen carve deeper. Letting out a deep breath, Kwon Su-hyeok plummeted into Ju-wan without hesitation. With a wet sound, his member slammed in to the root.
“Ah, ngh, ugh!”
Ju-wan flailed his limbs violently at the thrill that surged instantly to his brain. Kwon Su-hyeok hugged him tightly and kissed the top of his ear while repeatedly grinding their joined parts. As his scrotum rubbed against the highly stimulated area around the hole, Ju-wan shook his head quickly and let out a scream-like moan.
“Hah, ah, ngh!”
Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok’s member exploded, spraying the remnants of his desire into the belly. Ju-wan’s member, which had been aching between Kwon Su-hyeok’s fingers, also ejaculated in succession.
“Hng… ngh, ah, ngh!”
“…Ugh!”
Their bodies, having tasted climax, trembled. It felt as if every fine hair on their bodies was standing on end. The tears that had filled Ju-wan’s eyes finally rolled down. Kwon Su-hyeok licked those tears and kissed him tenderly, peck, peck. Ju-wan also raised his strengthless arms and hugged him tightly.
For a while, nothing but the sound of each other’s breathing could be heard in their ears. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly pressed his lips to Ju-wan’s cheeks, chin, and neck, waiting until his breathing stabilized. Then, he picked him up in his arms and headed for the bedroom.
The Jaguar, who had been watching the two of them the whole time, naturally followed behind. However, Kwon Su-hyeok closed the bedroom door right in front of the beast’s nose.
From beyond the closed door, the sound of the Jaguar scratching the door with its front paws could be heard. Ignoring it, Kwon Su-hyeok silently went to the bed and carefully laid Ju-wan down. Then, he arbitrarily removed the t-shirt that was awkwardly draped over Ju-wan’s upper body.
Ju-wan instinctively lifted his head to help with the undressing and looked up at Kwon Su-hyeok with unfocused eyes. Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok lowered his head and pressed his lips to Ju-wan’s forehead. Then, he pulled a pillow and placed it firmly under Ju-wan’s waist. It seemed he had no intention of ending it with just one round.
Kwon Su-hyeok pulled Ju-wan’s legs and rested them on his shoulders. Kissing the bare legs, he gripped the small buttocks tightly in both hands. The semen that had filled the inside leaked out slowly. He wiped it away with his thumb and pushed it back in, then gently rubbed his member against the slightly swollen hole. The flesh, which had not withered even after ejaculation, quickly regained its strength and hardened. Ju-wan frowned at the aching sensation that rose every time the hole was rubbed.
“I haven’t… finished my homework yet….”
Ju-wan, protesting in a voice that had grown husky in the meantime, bit his lower lip. It was because Kwon Su-hyeok had forced his member in, practically folding Ju-wan’s body in half. As the prominent veins on the surface of the member brushed past the swollen hole, Ju-wan’s lower body trembled. He tried to endure the subtle feeling between pain and pleasure, frowning bitterly and shaking his head, but it was of little use. His reddened ears were repeatedly crushed against the bed.
Kwon Su-hyeok looked down at Ju-wan’s face and asked, pretending not to know.
“Hmm? What was that?”
“Homework… ngh… nn, hah.”
“You said you’d be good at both this and that.”
He gripped Ju-wan’s chin to fix it in place and calmly pressed their lips together. In the process, Kwon Su-hyeok and Ju-wan’s bellies met, and the member was buried completely. Ju-wan’s teeth clenched instinctively. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly licked with his tongue as if trying to pry his lips open, and when that didn’t work, he pressed his cheek to open the mouth. Only then did the tongue, which had been longingly licking the gap between the lips, slide in in one piece. He inserted his tongue deeply and entwined it with Ju-wan’s retreating tongue. Ju-wan let out a small sound and took Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue in, though it was somewhat overwhelming.
Kwon Su-hyeok lightly sucked on Ju-wan’s tongue, which had merely been touching his own, and slowly began to move his hips. As Ju-wan’s body, impaled by him, swayed along, Ju-wan’s breath began to grow rougher. The whimpering sounds became more frequent.
Just as Ju-wan was getting used to the pace, Su-hyeok slammed into him so fast and deep that the mattress shook. Because of this, the tension in his body, which he had barely maintained, was completely disrupted. The inner flesh, which had already been heated once, became tingling faster than before.
“Ah… ah, ugh….”
Ju-wan’s hands, clutching the bedsheets, turned white. Kwon Su-hyeok gripped Ju-wan’s buttocks so tightly that his finger marks remained, and he drove in relentlessly. Even after repeatedly opening Ju-wan’s body and devouring the inner flesh, the boiling lust did not subside. Rather, the more he tasted it, the more intense his appetite became. Swallowing the saliva that pooled, he stirred the inside, scraping every bit. Driven by the onslaught without a moment to breathe, Ju-wan moaned miserably and convulsed.
“Ah, nn, ngh, hah, ngh, nn!”
“Haa, ha….”
The rock-like thighs and tacky buttocks rubbed violently, making wet, slapping sounds. Every time they met and separated, Ju-wan’s bright red buttocks shuddered. With insertions so deep and heavy it felt as if his insides were being eaten, he felt a sudden sense of fullness. Every time the hot flesh detached and reattached, his vision flashed and flipped incessantly. It felt as if his brain was boiling over and melting away without shape.
Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been stirring as if to crush Ju-wan’s inner walls, suddenly pulled his member out, leaving only the glans behind. As his belly felt empty, Ju-wan opened his tightly closed eyes and looked up at Kwon Su-hyeok. Their eyes met at a close distance.
As the thick piece of flesh disappeared from his belly, the inner walls squirmed. His body, which hadn’t yet reached a full climax, trembled. He felt as if his heated body and the blood that had been surging violently through him were cooling rapidly. He even felt a slight dizziness. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to be held a little tighter.
Ju-wan looked back and forth between Kwon Su-hyeok and their joined parts with an anxious gaze. His lips, which were faintly parting as he exhaled ragged breaths, trembled.
“Why, why… why….”
“Don’t rush me. When you can’t even handle it.”
“Quickly….”
Ju-wan subtly pressed his lower body toward Kwon Su-hyeok. In doing so, the member, which had barely been hooked at the tip, slid in just a little further. At this fearless provocation, a sigh escaped Kwon Su-hyeok.
“I guess I’ll just have to be resented a bit.”
Muttering an incomprehensible comment to himself, Kwon Su-hyeok pulled Ju-wan’s arms and wrapped them around his neck. Then, embracing his head and waist as he clung to him, he began to slam his lower body again. At the pleasure that swept away all anxiety in one go, a moan close to a gasp erupted from Ju-wan. Burying his nose deep in Ju-wan’s neck and savoring the deepened scent, he stirred inside him over and over.
It felt as if a hungry ghost full of lust had taken root in his belly. It seemed that even staying up all night would not be enough to satisfy the beast.
“I knew it.”
Baek Do-un, who had come to help Ju-wan with his studies and to get some breakfast, clicked his tongue upon discovering a workbook that had been torn to shreds by Jaguar. As if throwing a tantrum, Jaguar whipped his head away the moment their eyes met.
In the first place, trying to educate Ju-wan in such an environment was an absurdity. Between a four-legged beast that pestered him to play at all hours and Kwon Su-hyeok, who clung to him every chance he got, it would be a miracle if Ju-wan could even get a full night’s sleep.
Baek Do-un looked at the firmly closed bedroom door and shook his head. When he went to the kitchen and sat at the table, Jeon Mi-nam served him his portion of rice and soup. Kwon Su-hyeok continued his meal, indifferent to the stinging glare directed at him. For some reason, his complexion seemed remarkably polished. Though his expression remained as stoic as ever, he looked quite pleased.
Watching that sight left Baek Do-un feeling thoroughly dissatisfied.
“You animal. I’d rather entrust the meat to Su-nam.”
“I told you, that’s impossible.”
Kwon Su-hyeok responded brazenly, making direct eye contact. Then, he flipped a page of the newspaper and fixed his gaze back on it. Baek Do-un wished he would just vanish—to the office or anywhere else.
Around that time, Jaguar paced incessantly in front of the closed bedroom door. He seemed to be waiting for Ju-wan, whom he likely wouldn’t be able to see until the morning. It was certain that once Ju-wan emerged from the room, the beast would cling to him and refuse to leave his side for a moment.
One might say he was being drained from both sides. Despite living a life starkly different from before, there seemed to be no other reason why Ju-wan struggled to put on weight.
Baek Do-un let his shoulders slump and let out a heavy sigh. With two beasts who were not cooperative in the slightest, it felt as though Ju-wan obtaining his diploma would be a distant dream.