Park Hae-jun’s mother was an unknown actress when she was single. Though she was pretty and acted well, there were already countless similar actresses, and opportunities never reached her. Eventually, she gave up her dream and became someone’s wife.
When her son was born, she decided to make him an actor. She believed her son would fulfill the dream she couldn’t achieve herself.
That’s how Park Hae-jun became a child actor.
Although it wasn’t something he chose, Park Hae-jun enjoyed acting. More precisely, he loved seeing his mother happy when he acted.
His mother, who barely showed joy when he got a perfect score on dictation tests, was the best soccer player in the neighborhood, or won first place at sports day, would smile brightly and praise him when he acted. That’s why Park Hae-jun liked acting. Because it made his mother happy.
“Dawn’s Light” was an opportunity for Park Hae-jun too. He appeared throughout all eight episodes with substantial screen time. Park Hae-jun really wanted to do well in this role.
There he met Agon. Lee A-gon was being ostracized. A child noticeably smaller than the other child actors. A much younger child. A child he had never seen before. Yet a child who had secured the lead role in a major drama.
Koo Min-sung, who was the oldest with the most acting experience and had a famous father, disliked Agon. Koo Min-sung quietly bullied Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon was an outcast both in the show and in reality.
As the drama progressed, Park Hae-jun could understand why this child had been cast as the lead. Lee A-gon was an excellent actor. Exceptionally excellent.
When that child acted sad, Park Hae-jun felt sad too. When that child acted happy, Park Hae-jun felt happy too. That child knew how to manipulate the emotions of viewers.
Park Hae-jun felt inferior to Agon. The child who thought he was quite good only realized his limits after encountering an insurmountable wall.
As his confidence waned, his voice became meek first. When the camera rolled, he even forgot his lines. It was his first slump.
“Which of the five should we extend for more episodes?”
Overhearing this conversation was pure coincidence. While filming was delayed due to rain, the director and assistant director were smoking and discussing production matters.
“Go with the one who’s closest to the protagonist.”
The director answered casually as he snuffed out his cigarette. The two soon left.
Park Hae-jun’s heart pounded as he listened from his hiding place. The director meant that among the five villains, the one who was closest to the protagonist Lee A-gon would get extended episodes.
He wanted to appear for even one more episode. Because then his mother would be happy. She would be proud. Because he might never get another chance to appear in such a major production.
Park Hae-jun immediately went to find Lee A-gon. And proposed they play together. Though awkward at first, the two soon became genuinely close.
He told many lies he can’t even remember now. I’ve wanted to be friends with you for a long time. Let’s keep in touch even after this drama ends. He joked with and held hands with that child. He wanted to hear Lee A-gonsay that Park HaePark Hae-jun was his closest friend.
From then on, Koo Min-sung bullied Park Hae-jun too. Park Hae-jun didn’t care. The filming was nearing its end anyway. What mattered more was pleasing Lee A-gon.
Honestly, Park Hae-jun didn’t really hate Koo Min-sung. Park Hae-jun actually understood why Koo Min-sung hated Lee A-gon so much. Jealousy and self-loathing. Lee A-gon was someone who evoked such feelings in those around him.
Through certain events, Lee A-gon and Park Hae-jun truly became close. But Park Hae-jun’s role wasn’t extended. He later found out he never could have been extended in the first place. Since adult actors’ filming was already in progress, the roles for extension had already been determined.
Then there was an accident… and Park Hae-jun was hospitalized.
On the way home, Park Hae-jun told his mother, “I don’t want to act anymore.”
And no matter how much his mother pleaded, he never reversed his decision.
That was the end of his memories of Lee A-gon. Believing they would never meet again, those memories were forgotten in the accumulated dust of childhood. Or so he believed.
Beep-beep-beep— The alarm sounded.
Park Hae-jun fumbled to turn off the alarm clock before getting up. Eight o’clock. Time to wake up.
“Sigh.”
He felt stiff, and sure enough, this morning too Lee A-gon was sprawled between his legs. One hand on his thigh, the other on his cock.
After roughly pushing him away, Park Hae-jun got out of bed and washed his face and hair. Eight fifteen. November’s morning was slowly brightening outside the window.
Leisurely unlocking the front door and gate with two keys, Park Hae-jun picked up the green box at his feet. It was labeled porridge and curry. Today’s daily bread. Initially, meals were delivered with rice, soup, and side dishes, but after Park Hae-jun requested easier-to-eat food, they were replaced with one-dish meals.
After setting up by placing the food from the thermal container on the table, Park Hae-jun went upstairs to wake Lee-Agon. When he gently shook his shoulder, Lee A-gon stirred and opened his eyes. Those eyelashes, too thick and creepy no matter when he saw them, lifted along with his eyelids. After blinking a few times, he immediately reached out to grab between Park Hae-jun’s thighs.
“No. That’s only for nighttime.”
When Park Hae-jun dodged, Lee A-gon reached out again. And mouthed the word.
‘Cock.’
“No.”
‘Cock.’
“Cock is not allowed. Cock is only for nighttime. I told you that.”
‘Cock.’
“I said no.”
After some back and forth, Lee A-gon finally withdrew his hand. Groggily sitting up, Lee A-gon changed the subject.
‘Medicine.’
“That’s not allowed either.”
‘Medicine.’
“Can’t you say something else?”
‘Cock.’
“…Let’s just stop talking.”
Shaking his head, Park Hae-jun dragged Lee A-gon to the bathroom. Then he wet and soaped the face of the still half-asleep Lee A-gon.
“Now let’s go eat.”
Park Hae-jun held Lee A-gon’s hand and came down the stairs step by step. He seated the yawning Lee A-gon at the table and quickly warmed up the porridge. He needed to feed him while he was still drowsy. Otherwise, troublesome things would happen.
“Ah-.”
When Park Hae-jun mimicked opening his mouth, Lee A-gon followed and opened his. Good, Park Hae-jun smiled and brought the porridge to Lee A-gon’s mouth. Today seemed like it might go smoothly.
Just as the spoon was about to enter his mouth, with a clang, the spoon fell to the floor. Lee A-gonhad knocked it away.
‘Medicine.’
Lee A-gon mouthed the words.
‘Medicine.’
‘Medicine.’
And then added: ‘Give.’
Park Hae-jun grabbed Lee A-gonby the collar.
“Kid, I told you. There’s no more medicine.”
Lee A-gon ignored him and continued mouthing the words, ‘Give medicine. Give medicine. Give medicine. Medicine.’
“You’re never getting medicine again. You can’t even go outside until you eat properly, gain weight, and can live like a normal person.”
Thump!
Lee A-gon stamped his foot. Whatever you’re saying, he was expressing his anger at not getting medicine.
Regardless, Park Hae-jun scooped up porridge and brought it to Lee A-gon’s mouth. Lee A-gon shook his head violently. Park Hae-jun pressed on his chin to open his mouth and shoved in the spoon, causing Lee A-gon to sputter and try to spit out the rice. Park Hae-jun pushed in more porridge. He repeated this several times. About half was spilled and half was eaten. That was fine. He had anticipated this and requested double portions of porridge. Getting half into him was a success.
“Ptooey!”
Just then, Lee A-gon spat porridge right in Park Hae-jun’s face. In an instant, Park Hae-jun was covered with lukewarm porridge. It dripped down his cheeks.
“……”
Park Hae-jun quietly used the edge of his hand to wipe away the porridge running down his face. Lee A-gon watched with a cowed expression. Even though he’s dumb, he seems to know he did something wrong?
Ha, Park Hae-jun gave a hollow laugh moving just the corner of his mouth, then suddenly stood up and lunged.
“Eat!”
With one hand he grabbed Lee A-gon’s neck, and with the other he forced in porridge. He no longer used a spoon. He cupped his palm like an excavator to scoop porridge into Lee A-gon’s mouth.
The porridge bowl went flying. It didn’t matter. It wouldn’t break anyway. After experiencing this several times, all dishes had been replaced with plastic.
Lee A-gon resisted, pushing away Park Hae-jun’s fingers with his tongue. The two rolled around as if wrestling. In the process, Lee A-gon even bit Park Hae-jun.
After finally forcing all the porridge down, Lee A-gon looked at Park Hae-jun with an aggrieved expression, his face smeared with porridge. If Park Hae-jun had porridge dotted on his face, Lee A-gon was painted with it from head to toe.
“You’re dirty.”
Park Hae-jun wet a towel and wiped Lee A-gon’s face.
At the word “dirty,” Lee A-gonwrinkled his nose.
He understood a few words. Eat, wear, dirty, take off, wash, sleep, cock, punishment, and everything related to medicine. He was basically at the level of a dog that understands sit, paw, walk, and treat.
Except he hated eating. And instead of walks, he was obsessed with medicine.
“Stay still while I clean you.”
As the face-wiping went on, Lee A-gon began to resist. Another struggle broke out. This guy was incredibly disobedient except when allowed to touch Park Hae-jun’s cock.
“If you keep this up, I’ll punish you.”
Finally, Park Hae-jun played his last card.
At the word “punishment,” Lee A-gon’s movements stopped abruptly. His eyes moved to look at Park Hae-jun, his face full of defiance, but there was no more resistance.
Punishment.
That was what Lee A-gon feared most.