10. Lose Control (2)

Having finished a meeting with a client before heading to work, he arrived at the office later than usual. As the car came to a stop in front of the main entrance, a man waiting at the entrance rushed over in a single stride. He was the man serving as the resident secretary. Opening the rear door by hand, he first bowed deeply toward Kwon Su-hyeok.

Normally, he wouldn’t go out of his way to greet Kwon Su-hyeok like this—unless there was an exceptionally urgent matter. Kwon Su-hyeok stared at the man, his brow furrowed with a sense of unease. What is it? he thought, as the man held out his phone with both hands.

“It is Chief Jeon.”

“Chief Jeon?”

Given the nature of their primary business items, it was a rule to turn off the phones of all attendants, as well as the decision-makers, during meetings. The fact that Jeon Mi-nam had contacted him through the resident secretary rather than Kwon Su-hyeok himself was likely because he had kept that rule in mind.

The problem was that he had intentionally placed Jeon Mi-nam by Baek Do-un and Ju-wan’s side. What could be so urgent that he would contact him in such a rush? An ominous feeling washed over him. An unpleasant emotion spread through a corner of his chest.

He snatched the phone and pressed it to his ear. Then, he gave an instruction to Jeon Mi-nam, who had likely been waiting this whole time.

“Speak.”

He simply listened to the report that followed. He didn’t offer a single response. Before long, the wrinkles between his brows deepened, and the color completely drained from his face. His jaw tightened with sudden tension.

The attendants watching this stark change from the side exchanged puzzled glances, not knowing what was happening. Since Kwon Su-hyeok was a man rarely shaken by emotion, they couldn’t help but wonder what kind of news could possibly rattle him so instantly.

“…What?”

Jeon Mi-nam was not one to joke. Yet, unbelievable news was delivered. He had said he would come to pick him up without delay. He had said Ju-wan would be waiting with expectant eyes, yet he had been suddenly kidnapped by assailants.

In a tone devoid of pride, Jeon Mi-nam made him realize several times over that this desperate story was a fact. That Ju-wan had definitely disappeared, and that there could be no mistake about it.

Kwon Su-hyeok’s grip tightened. Eventually, he threw the innocent phone to the floor. The screen shattered.

While his subordinates were in a panic, Kwon Su-hyeok headed straight for the driver’s seat. He pulled the man out of the driver’s seat and sat there himself.

“P-President?”

His subordinates were at a loss, bewildered by Kwon Su-hyeok’s sudden action. Without telling them where he was going or what was happening, Kwon Su-hyeok slammed on the accelerator. The car slid back onto the road and sped off at full throttle.

The sight of him racing while ignoring traffic signals was precarious in the extreme. His subordinates, who had watched blankly as Kwon Su-hyeok’s car disappeared around a corner, hurriedly piled into another car and chased after him.

“…Ugh.”

With a small groan, he lifted his eyelids. A dull ache throbbed from the nape of his neck to the back of his head, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut. After catching his breath for a while, he opened them again. His vision was nothing but pitch black. It seemed his eyes were covered.

He tried to lift his body, but it wasn’t easy. His bound arms and legs wouldn’t budge. He managed to turn his head, but since his stomach and chest were pressed against the ground, it was difficult to survey his surroundings thoroughly.

He carefully retraced his memories. In the morning, he had taken Kwon Su-hyeok’s car to Baek Do-un’s house. It was to visit him, as Baek Do-un had gone to the emergency room during the night, and to spend the day together. After greeting Kwon Su-hyeok, he entered Baek Do-un’s house with Jeon Mi-nam. Jeon Mi-nam left immediately to go grocery shopping, and he had a conversation with Baek Do-un. Then, the laundry delivery arrived from the cleaners…

The events after that didn’t flow smoothly but surfaced as fragmented scenes. The attack by unidentified assailants, Baek Do-un losing consciousness, and himself rushing in to save him.

No matter how much he looked around, it didn’t feel like Baek Do-un’s house. It didn’t seem to be Kwon Su-hyeok’s house or a hospital either. Though he could see nothing, he could guess based on the smell and the air.

Had he been dragged here immediately after losing consciousness? Baek Do-un too? If so, where was Baek Do-un now? He wondered if the jaguar, left alone, would be frightened. And Jeon Mi-nam, who would have returned home late. Questions and worries followed one after another.

He tried to twist his head with all his might once more. A cold floor touched his cheek. It wasn’t a cement floor, nor was it wood. It felt like ordinary linoleum. Since he couldn’t feel any outside air, it was definitely indoors. However, it wasn’t a warehouse.

He lowered his breathing and tried to sense any presence. There seemed to be no one around. Not even Baek Do-un. His heart hammered anxiously. If the assailants had broken into Baek Do-un’s house to harm him, he couldn’t guarantee his safety.

“…was.”

How much time had passed? From a distance, he heard the sound of a front door opening along with someone’s voice. Then the door closed, and several voices mixed in intermittently. It sounded like at least two people were talking. He couldn’t make out the content of the conversation. However, he could sense them approaching as their voices grew louder. His body tensed instinctively.

“…not here.”

They couldn’t have been wearing shoes indoors; at most, they’d be in slippers, yet their footsteps sounded as loud as thunder. That was how sharp his nerves were.

Soon, the presence stopped in front of the door. It was clearly the momentary gap before opening the closed door. Without fail, the doorknob was gripped and turned down, and the door swung open. As the outside lighting spilled into the room, the surroundings seemed to brighten slightly.

“So, you brought back a small fry?”

His body stiffened at the sound of someone’s incredulous reprimand. It was a voice Ju-wan knew. He had not forgotten it for a single moment over the past ten years. The very voice that had smirked after harming an innocent person—it was Woo Hyeong-seok.

‘I made a bet with the guys. So tell me. Is he a human, or a dog?’

His breathing became labored. His stiff body trembled violently, regardless of his will. Even though his eyes were covered, he could clearly feel Woo Hyeong-seok looking down at him from a great height.

“…What, this is it? Is this really a small fry? Looks like he’s useless for anything. Fuck, look at this bastard shaking in fear.”

Woo Hyeong-seok chuckled basely and crouched down in front of him. Then, he ripped off the mask that had been covering Ju-wan’s face. In the light flooding into the room, Ju-wan’s face was fully revealed. Inevitably, their eyes met.

One second, two seconds, and three seconds.

“……!”

“…….”

Finally recognizing Ju-wan, Woo Hyeong-seok froze in shock. It was so unexpected, a development he had never even imagined, that his thought process seemed to stop for a moment.

Ju-wan clenched his teeth and glared at Woo Hyeong-seok. Soon, the other man hid his surprise and slowly let his lips curl into a smile. He had been scrambling here and there to find Ju-wan, and now Ju-wan had rolled right into his hands. It was as if the subordinates who went out to hunt a fox had accidentally caught a tiger.

“Look who it is.”

A glint close to ecstasy flashed in Woo Hyeong-seok’s eyes.

* * *

The front door rattled with a tremendous noise. Jeon Mi-nam, who had been tending to Baek Do-un in the bedroom, rushed to the entrance and opened the closed door. Through the slowly widening gap of the door, Kwon Su-hyeok was visible. Gasping for breath, he lifted his head and looked directly at Jeon Mi-nam. Jeon Mi-nam bowed his head deeply.

“I am sorry.”

Baek Do-un was unconscious and injured, and Ju-wan had ultimately been kidnapped. It clearly wasn’t his fault, but he couldn’t lift his head due to a sense of helplessness and defeat.

“I failed to protect Mr. Park Ju-wan.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jeon Mi-nam’s head snapped to the side with a sharp sound. Staggering from the immense force, Jeon Mi-nam soon stood straight again. Then, as if he were willing to take as many more hits as necessary, he placed both arms behind his back.

“I have no excuse.”

Kwon Su-hyeok’s shoe struck Jeon Mi-nam’s shin. This time, even Jeon Mi-nam couldn’t endure it and collapsed on one knee. A thick vein bulged on his forehead from the indescribable pain. Yet, he stubbornly kept his mouth shut and swallowed his groans.

Blood flowed from the wound on his forehead, sustained while saving Baek Do-un from being kidnapped, dampening his thick eyebrows. Not only that, but fresh, bloody wounds were visible on his jaw, elbows, and knees. His shirt and pants were torn to shreds and stained with yellowish dust, testifying to how urgent the situation had been. It was clear he hadn’t tended to his own wounds in that state.

Kwon Su-hyeok let out a deep sigh and irritably brushed back his hair. Blaming and punishing Jeon Mi-nam would change nothing. His mind was entirely consumed by one thought: how to find Ju-wan.

He strode inside, shoes and all. The jaguar sprawled on the sofa shifted its eyes slightly to look at Kwon Su-hyeok. Then, it soon cast its gaze gloomily back down to somewhere on the floor. With its tail drooping and both ears flattened, it looked utterly despondent. Seeing the blood clearly dried on its muzzle, it seemed the creature had also witnessed Ju-wan’s kidnapping.

Who was the person who took Ju-wan? For what purpose? There were too many suspects to make an easy judgment. Forces targeting Kwon Su-hyeok had always existed, everywhere and at any time. However, it seemed far-fetched to assume that someone among them had kidnapped Ju-wan instead of Kwon Su-hyeok to gain some advantage, and had raided Baek Do-un’s house for that reason. This was because it was only recently that Kwon Su-hyeok had realized his feelings for Ju-wan. Even if they had spies, it would be nearly impossible for those around him to have acted this quickly.

According to Jeon Mi-nam’s preliminary report, Baek Do-un had also almost been kidnapped but was narrowly rescued, so the target might have been Baek Do-un from the start. Or perhaps it was Kwon Su-hyeok himself, who lived using Baek Do-un’s name. If that were the case, Ju-wan had suffered a terrible fate because of Kwon Su-hyeok. He clenched his fist tightly.

His teeth ground together in uncontrollable rage and a sense of loss. He didn’t know what to do. He had never felt such a desolate emotion except when he lost his younger sibling.

Jeon Mi-nam mentioned a new fact to Kwon Su-hyeok.

“President. There was one person among them who looked familiar.”

“Who?”

“Someone I met once at the Central Psychiatric Hospital. According to the nursing assistant there, Mr. Park Ju-wan’s half-brother often sends that group to the hospital to look for Mr. Park Ju-wan.”

“Then the one behind this is Park Ju-wan’s brother?”

“When I returned home with Mr. Baek, there was a corpse at the entrance. I believe it was one of them. I couldn’t identify the face because it had been bitten by that creature, but…”

Kwon Su-hyeok’s gaze momentarily fixed on the jaguar on the sofa. This explained why the creature’s muzzle was stained with red blood. The animal had also rushed in to protect Ju-wan, and it seemed to have become depressed after Ju-wan vanished before its eyes.

He hadn’t found any bloodstains at the entrance when he entered. Jeon Mi-nam had already cleaned up, including the corpse.

Jeon Mi-nam handed Kwon Su-hyeok a phone.

“This is an item found on the corpse.”

“The ID?”

“There was no separate ID, so we are investigating the identity by searching the phone’s usage history.”

During the report, a vibration sounded from inside Jeon Mi-nam’s pocket. Kwon Su-hyeok nodded toward his pocket, as if telling him to answer it quickly. Jeon Mi-nam hurriedly took out his phone. It was a call from the company. It seemed the identity verification was complete.

While Jeon Mi-nam had a short call with another subordinate, Kwon Su-hyeok stared silently at the phone. Eventually, the call ended.

“They say the identity has been confirmed. The name is Kang Byeong-sik, twenty-four years old. After running away from home, he lived moving between juvenile detention centers, worked under several loan sharks, and joined Woo Hyeong-seok’s organization a year ago.”

Woo Hyeong-seok. With his appearance, the most unwanted inference became a reality. He didn’t know for what purpose Woo Hyeong-seok had tried to kidnap Baek Do-un. However, he felt dizzy at the fact that the man who had been searching for Ju-wan for so long had finally gotten his hands on him.

How could he get Ju-wan back safely? He was so anxious that it was hard to even stand on his own two feet. Suddenly, he felt as if the center supporting him was shaking. Even though he was breathing normally, he felt suffocated, as if his lungs were being crushed.

“…Park Ju-wan.”

He called Ju-wan’s name like a groan. There was no way an answer would return. It only added to the emptiness and sense of loss.

* * *

“Get out.”

“…Yes?”

“I said get out.”

Woo Hyeong-seok gave the instruction again, his eyes fixed on Ju-wan. Normally, he would have been irritated that he had to say the same thing twice, but a strangely deep smile was spreading across his lips. His subordinate, who had thought that since they missed Baek Do-un, they would surely be scolded, could only be bewildered. Just as the other man who had been at the scene said, he wondered if Ju-wan really was the half-brother Woo Hyeong-seok had been searching for so desperately.

Woo Hyeong-seok looked back coldly at his hesitating subordinate.

“Is this bastard deaf?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Woo Hyeong-seok’s subordinate quickly bowed and went outside.

As soon as the door closed, Woo Hyeong-seok’s gaze turned back to Ju-wan. He didn’t know how he had ended up rolling in here. He only guessed that the subordinates who went to catch Baek Do-un had brought back Ju-wan, who was with him, and thus Baek Do-un must have been the one who looked after Ju-wan so he could hide until now.

He didn’t know for what purpose Baek Do-un had been protecting Ju-wan, or if he was the party who had directly traded Ju-wan with Kim Je-guk, but none of that mattered. Now that he had Ju-wan in his hands, missing Baek Do-un wasn’t that important.

Woo Hyeong-seok grabbed Ju-wan by the collar—who hadn’t looked away from him for a single moment—and pulled him up roughly. Even in a situation where his throat was being squeezed, Ju-wan only frowned and did not let out any groans. Even though his limbs were all bound and he was as helpless as a rat in a trap, his gaze did not waver.

It was always like that. No matter how much he was tormented, he never feared his opponent. Even knowing clearly that he couldn’t win no matter how many times he lunged, he kept trying to resist.

“I really hate those eyes of yours. Every time I see them, I want to gouge them out.”

He wasn’t making empty threats. For a very long time, he couldn’t stand that look that viewed him as insignificant.

But was it because of the ten-year gap in time? Or was it because he had been locked in a psychiatric hospital for all those years? While that characteristic, resentment-filled gaze remained unchanged, the energy or atmosphere Ju-wan emanated felt quite different. To the point where he wondered if it was a different person.

“Something’s changed, hasn’t it? Park Ju-wan.”

He grabbed Ju-wan’s chin and turned it this way and that. Ju-wan openly frowned and ground his teeth.

“Don’t touch me.”

With a smirk, he let go of the face as if pushing it away. Ju-wan, with nothing to lean on, collapsed back to the floor. Turning his back on him, Woo Hyeong-seok went to sit in a chair. Then, he watched Ju-wan, who was struggling to get up again, as if observing an ant drowned in water.

“Do you know how hard I worked to find you? It was quite frustrating. I had no way of knowing where that woman had stuffed you. When I finally tracked you down to the hospital, they told me you’d already been sold.”

Ju-wan suddenly recalled Lawyer Lim’s words. He had sought Ju-wan to discuss the inheritance of his biological father and said he had contacted Woo Hyeong-seok first. It was probably around then that Woo Hyeong-seok had suddenly started looking for him.

“Why. Are you going to take my father’s share now too?”

Woo Hyeong-seok grinned.

“Still, we’re blood brothers, so it’s only right to share even a single bean, isn’t it? Don’t feel too wronged. I’ve done many good things for you. Think of it as paying the price for that. Do you know what’s happened in the meantime? Aren’t you curious about what happened to the man who used to grope you every chance he got, and the woman who was so jealous of that she threw you into a psychiatric hospital?”

“…….”

“That man is dead. In the end, that woman stabbed him. I helped a little. I thought that once he died, she’d naturally follow suit. I mean, her obsession was absolutely horrific, right? But it turns out she didn’t. Instead, she was jumping up and down, claiming she was the victim. You should have seen it, Park Ju-wan.”

It wasn’t surprising. The physical power dynamic between parent and child is bound to reverse over time, and it felt as though Woo Hyeong-seok would kill his father one day. That vague suspicion had simply become a reality. It was only regrettable that he was enjoying his freedom, unscathed, even after committing such an act of patricide.

“I kept thinking. If I wiped out the parents who fucked up my life like this, would this long-standing congestion finally clear? Would the feeling of every single day being shit suddenly vanish and leave me feeling refreshed? But even after I got rid of those two bastards, I didn’t feel refreshed at all. What on earth was the problem? Why was that? I agonized over it. Then, I found the answer. Because that old man—the lawyer or whatever—suddenly reminded me of your existence, Park Ju-wan, you who disappeared over ten years ago. There was one person who had upset me whom I hadn’t managed to deal with yet. One existence I had mistakenly believed was already dealt with.”

“No matter what you do, your past won’t disappear.”

“Of course it won’t. But just by having the bastards who shared those moments vanish from my sight forever, the number of times I’ll have to reminisce about that time will decrease significantly. Don’t you agree?”

It was absurd. Woo Hyeong-seok was still trying to shift the blame for all his evil deeds onto others. He had been that way in the past, and even now, he remained incomprehensible.

At first, Ju-wan had thought Woo Hyeong-seok’s mischievous behavior was simply a strong manifestation of a child’s typical wariness toward strangers. He thought that because he kept building walls out of fear that his safety might be threatened, his defensive instincts had unintentionally manifested as violence.

But in reality, he had simply needed a target to vent the resentment and rage built up inside him. First, it was objects, then gradually trees, bugs, carp, birds, puppies, and eventually people, including Ju-wan. Woo Hyeong-seok was no different from the parents he hated so much. He took after them perfectly, even in the way he justified his violence.

“Don’t you think you’re delusional?”

“Delusional?”

“Your unhappiness isn’t a pardon for all your evil deeds. Just because you were unhappy doesn’t give you the right to make others unhappy too.”

“There’s no way a guy like you would know. Unlike me, you were showered with love and never once got hit, right? Did my father happen to be fond of you?”

“…Disgusting.”

Ju-wan muttered softly. The expression of Woo Hyeong-seok, who had maintained a cynical smile, distorted slightly. Ju-wan glared at him with eyes full of contempt.

“Stop whining. ‘This is your fault,’ ‘that is your fault’—are you still a child? How long are you going to blame others, harass innocent people, and throw tantrums? Nothing about you has changed from before. You’re just pretending to be the most pitiful human in the world, digging and digging into wounds from decades ago, constantly complaining. Can’t you just get out of that tedious self-pity? Far from looking pitiful, you look disgusting and pathetic.”

Woo Hyeong-seok let out a thin, incredulous laugh.

“…You’re practically begging to die.”

“Things won’t go your way anymore. No matter what it is, I won’t give you a single thing you want from now on. Keep living like that. I’m going to endure stubbornly until the end, so I can clearly see you fall apart. When I meet that child again, I’ll tell them every single detail of how shabby and miserable your end was.”

The smirk at the bold statement lasted only a moment before Woo Hyeong-seok’s face suddenly hardened. In the next instant, Woo Hyeong-seok lunged at Ju-wan and throttled him. Even as his windpipe was crushed, Ju-wan managed to keep his eyes open and glare at Woo Hyeong-seok. He could not be broken by a mere threat like this.

Woo Hyeong-seok ground his teeth, gripping Ju-wan’s neck as if to crush it.

“Look at you. You should know when to stop acting up, shouldn’t you? Now isn’t the time to be putting on such a bluff.”

Because his arms and legs were tightly bound, he was helplessly exposed to the onslaught of violence. He might actually lose his life. Anyone would have instinctively writhed in futile resistance or begged for mercy, driven by the will to live or a lingering attachment to life.

However, Ju-wan stubbornly endured, clinging to the fraying thread of his consciousness. As the air in his body became desperately scarce, his eyelids twitched and his vision blurred. His heart, sensing the crisis, beat violently to circulate blood faster. His lip, caught between his upper teeth, tore, and red blood flowed. In contrast, looking down at Ju-wan’s face as it grew increasingly pale, Woo Hyeong-seok became intoxicated by a thrilling euphoria. His eyes widened instinctively, and a manic smile played on his lips.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t die? Huh? Then try escaping right now. How are you going to get out?”

Scoffing as much as he could, he tightened his grip as if to crush Ju-wan’s Adam’s apple. As the pain intensified, Ju-wan’s entire body began to tremble violently. His eyes snapped shut. As he ran out of breath, his gasping became more intense, and physiological tears burst forth, wetting the corners of his eyes. Woo Hyeong-seok, capturing every bit of that sight, felt a joy he had never known before.

It was then. The phone inside Woo Hyeong-seok’s jacket rang. Woo Hyeong-seok flinched as if waking from a hypnosis. Soon, his hand released Ju-wan’s neck.

“Cough… cough… haa… ha.”

Ju-wan’s face flushed instantly. As his airway suddenly opened, he coughed incessantly as if choking. The blood rushed back, triggering a faint dizziness. Even the figure of Woo Hyeong-seok, who had turned his back to answer the phone, seemed to waver dizzily.

“This is Woo Hyeong-seok,” he replied in a guarded voice. Because the surroundings were quite quiet, the voice of the person on the other end leaked out occasionally. It sounded like a man, but it was impossible to tell exactly what they were talking about.

Ju-wan rested his head on the floor, wheezing, and watched Woo Hyeong-seok with only his eyes. After listening to the other person for a while, Woo Hyeong-seok glanced back and looked down at Ju-wan. Soon, a strange smile spread across his lips.

“…Is that so?”

He chuckled as if he had received some interesting proposal. It felt somehow ominous. Ju-wan’s bound hands clenched into tight fists. He struggled to suppress the surge of nausea rising inside him and squeezed his eyes shut.

“…Ugh.”

A low groan escaped Baek Do-un. His brow twitched once, and things wavered behind his eyelids. His head throbbed due to the effects of the strong anesthetic. He groaned and tossed and turned for a long time.

“Augh….”

He opened his eyes while clutching his splitting head. A familiar landscape filled his vision. He looked around with a puzzled expression. He was certain he had been kidnapped by thugs and would wake up in some unknown place, or perhaps never open his eyes again.

However, no matter how he looked, the ceiling, the wallpaper, the furniture placed throughout the room, and even the feel of the bedding wrapping around his body were all identical to those of his own home.

“Are you awake?”

Startled by the sudden voice, he turned his head. He immediately locked eyes with Jeon Mi-nam, who was sitting beside the bed. Mi-nam looked down at Baek Do-un with a blunt face that lacked any particular expression.

However, his condition was also quite different from usual. His normally neat clothes were a mess, and raw scratches and abrasions, as if he had been scraped against a rough surface, remained on his forehead, chin, and around his neck. In his sunken eyes, one could glimpse disappointment, resentment, and self-reproach. These were all emotions sharpened toward Jeon Mi-nam himself.

An ominous premonition crawled down the back of his neck. Baek Do-un grit his teeth and forced his aching upper body to sit up. Then, as was his habit, he stared at Jeon Mi-nam, who was supporting him, and spoke. His voice, which had always been full of confidence, flowed out hesitantly.

“…Where is Ju-wan?”

“He was taken by those bastards.”

“Bastards?”

“The ones who stormed in here. It seems Woo Hyeong-seok is behind it.”

“Woo Hyeong-seok? Who is that?”

“He is Park Ju-wan’s half-brother.”

“……!”

Baek Do-un’s eyes widened. He knew very well from Ju-wan himself how much of a villain Ju-wan’s half-brother was. Because the life Ju-wan had endured was so bleak and pitiful, he had hoped Ju-wan would never return to that abyss. If possible, he wanted to protect and support him from the ill-fated ties of the past as much as his power allowed.

And yet, of all people, Ju-wan had fallen into the hands of Woo Hyeong-seok. This was all because of Baek Do-un himself. He gripped the blanket tightly. Even then, his hands trembled.

“Where is Su-hyeok now?”

“He was here until a moment ago, but he has returned home for now.”

“I need to go there.”

“Then I will prepare the car.”

Jeon Mi-nam stood up abruptly as if he had been waiting. Though he didn’t show it, it seemed he too had been unable to bear the anxiety. Baek Do-un grabbed the hand of the man who looked ready to run and start the car immediately. He knew the situation was urgent, and he felt the same helplessness and guilt dominating Jeon Mi-nam, but he couldn’t just ignore and condone his self-abuse.

Just by looking at Jeon Mi-nam’s extraordinary appearance, Baek Do-un could easily guess why he himself was safe. Baek Do-un let out a long sigh as he looked at the back of Jeon Mi-nam’s hand, which must have been scraped raw from shielding his head.

“Get treated first, then let’s go.”

When the two arrived at Kwon Su-hyeok’s house, he was sitting on the sofa, lost in thought, without even having changed his clothes. A deep frown was etched between his brows, and the area around his temples was turning from red to purple from how much he had been massaging them. His gaze was fixed somewhere on the floor, but in reality, he likely saw nothing.

Jaguar reacted to the sound of the front door opening by stretching its neck, but as soon as it confirmed that the person entering the living room was not Ju-wan, it dropped its head back onto its paws. The piece of meat someone must have provided for it lay untouched, without a single tooth or claw mark.

“Kwon Su-hyeok.”

“…….”

Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t react at all. He simply clenched his fists tighter. The veins protruding on the back of his hands looked as if they might burst at any moment. It wasn’t that they didn’t know why he couldn’t take any action. Normally, he would have gone to find Woo Hyeong-seok immediately and razed his base to the ground.

The only reason he couldn’t do that was because of Ju-wan. Because he couldn’t guarantee Ju-wan’s safety. If the opponent were to harm Ju-wan in response to Kwon Su-hyeok’s provocation… He was even more worried because the relationship between Woo Hyeong-seok and Ju-wan had never been good.

They didn’t try to comfort Kwon Su-hyeok. What he needed right now wasn’t clumsy consolation, but a practical way to get Ju-wan back safely.

No clear solution came to mind. They weren’t sure what kind of bait the opponent would respond to, or if he would remain interested in other bait after obtaining Ju-wan. The unknown variable called ‘Woo Hyeong-seok’ placed constraints on every method.

While the three of them were repeatedly agonizing in silence, one of the subordinates waiting outside entered. He handed his phone to Jeon Mi-nam instead of Kwon Su-hyeok and delivered some news in a low voice. Jeon Mi-nam approached Kwon Su-hyeok without delay.

“President, a man named Jo Jung-man has contacted us.”

“…….”

“I think it would be best if you took the call.”

Only then did Kwon Su-hyeok glance sideways at Jeon Mi-nam. With his mouth firmly shut, Jeon Mi-nam repeatedly and earnestly offered the phone in his hand. Given the situation, he wouldn’t be suggesting a call for something trivial. Kwon Su-hyeok snatched the phone irritably.

“Speak.”

Ah, President Baek? I am a man called Jo Jung-man.

“What is this about?”

I heard you were busy, but do you have no room for introductions? I called to say let’s get along well in the future, but my, my. I’m quite disappointed.

Jo Jung-man chuckled loudly for him to hear. It was impossible to tell what the purpose was that made him act so pompously. The hand holding the phone tightened.

“If you have no other business….”

Oops, you’re more impatient than I thought. Then let me get straight to the point. It’s nothing else, but a younger acquaintance of mine seems to have accidentally picked up a stray dog while passing by. I heard it’s a dog that President Baek was raising? Since it clearly has an owner, I suppose it should be returned….

Jo Jung-man laughed again, leaving the end of his sentence lingering. The ‘stray dog’ he mentioned was undoubtedly Ju-wan. If so, the ‘younger acquaintance’ meant Woo Hyeong-seok, but what on earth was his relationship with Jo Jung-man?

He hadn’t had any significant friction with Jo Jung-man, but they were in a competitive business relationship. At least, that’s what Jo Jung-man seemed to think. Perhaps he had commissioned Woo Hyeong-seok to kidnap Baek Do-un. In reality, Baek Do-un had only lent his name, and Jo Jung-man likely acted without knowing that the actual manager of Baek Mu Trading was Kwon Su-hyeok, and in that process, the innocent Ju-wan had been captured.

To Jo Jung-man, who didn’t know the relationship between Woo Hyeong-seok and Ju-wan, or between Ju-wan and Kwon Su-hyeok, it was a case of expecting a big catch but catching a small fry. So, rather than eliminating Ju-wan, he seemed to have decided to demand a small ransom for him.

If that deal went through, it was a gain for Kwon Su-hyeok. No, if he could get Ju-wan back safely, nothing he gave up would be a waste.

Would you be free around tomorrow? I’ve never raised a stray dog, so I think it would be best to meet as soon as possible to ensure it’s sent back without a single scratch. We can meet, introduce ourselves slowly, and have a deep conversation about business. Perhaps while looking at the contract President Baek signed with the Singapore Firearms Company three months ago.

“Fine.”

Oh? I must have heard a false rumor. I heard President Baek was a heartless man, but it’s surprising that you take such good care of your own people.

“No need for long talk. Decide on the time and place and notify me. And if there is even a slight defect in the trade item, you will regret ever deciding to meet me.”

Kwon Su-hyeok gave a unilateral warning and hung up. This was because if he showed impatience or lingering attachment, Jo Jung-man’s side would inevitably reconsider Ju-wan’s value.

Kwon Su-hyeok’s grip on the phone tightened. He vowed to get Ju-wan back without a single scratch. And he vowed to make them pay for making him taste this sense of loss and anxiety. He grit his teeth, resolving it again and again.

“What did he say? Does he have Ju-wan? Why did he do it? Is Ju-wan okay?”

Baek Do-un, who had been waiting for the call to end, poured out questions incessantly. Jeon Mi-nam also waited desperately for Kwon Su-hyeok’s answer along with him.

Around that time, Jaguar, who had been slumped over, suddenly stood up and moved between the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen in turn. The three of them could only follow Jaguar with their eyes. After confirming that Ju-wan was nowhere to be found, the animal walked to the quiet front door. Then, it sat down on its haunches in front of it. It seemed to be waiting for Ju-wan, who had no promised time of return.

Just because Ju-wan had disappeared, just because that one person was gone, neither Kwon Su-hyeok, Jeon Mi-nam, Baek Do-un, nor even Jaguar could maintain their composure. For all of them, Ju-wan’s existence had, without them noticing, gradually grown that large.

* * *

The dense roadside trees passed quickly through the car window. His gaze lingered on the bare branches for no reason. Although his body was inside a car running on the road, his heart felt as if it were trapped in the hospital again.

Since being captured by Woo Hyeong-seok, he had constantly thought of Kwon Su-hyeok, Jeon Mi-nam, and Baek Do-un. Jaguar, who would have been left alone in that house and confused, also kept weighing on his mind. Whether Woo Hyeong-seok’s subordinates had harmed Baek Do-un or Jaguar, and how flustered Kwon Su-hyeok and Jeon Mi-nam must have been upon learning the situation. Had they all eaten? Had they slept properly? He hoped they wouldn’t worry too much about him, but knowing they couldn’t help it made him anxious.

‘Have fun. I’ll come pick you up before it’s too late.’

‘Yes, I’ll wait.’

He couldn’t even keep that small promise. He had intended to convey his feelings once he returned home with Kwon Su-hyeok, but was that too much greed? Did this happen because he had been too greedy? A bottomless sense of self-loathing washed over him.

“We’ve arrived, Hyung-nim.”

While lost in thought, the car stopped. Woo Hyeong-seok, who had kept his eyes closed the whole time, opened the door and got out first. Then, he grabbed the collar of Ju-wan, who wasn’t following quickly enough, and forcibly dragged him out.

Ju-wan sharply brushed off Woo Hyeong-seok’s hand, which had been gripping his collar. Woo Hyeong-seok immediately raised his hand, looking as if he were about to strike and punish Ju-wan for his defiance. His subordinates instinctively tensed up, closely watching the hostile situation.

However, Woo Hyeong-seok clenched his raised hand into a fist once, opened it, and lowered it again. It wasn’t an action born out of consciousness of those around him. He simply didn’t want to ruin the pleasure he would taste shortly after with a momentary burst of anger.

“Walk.”

Woo Hyeong-seok pushed Ju-wan’s back roughly. Reluctantly moving his feet, Ju-wan looked up. A building with a familiar appearance filled his vision. The white exterior walls, the square windows with dense bars, and the bleak atmosphere lingering there. Naturally, the psychiatric hospital where he had been confined for the past ten years came to mind. The only difference was that this place was not a general hospital, but a ‘Medical Treatment Custody Center.’

“Why are we here…?”

“I heard she was transferred here.”

“Who?”

“Someone you’ve probably wanted to see at least once, Park Ju-wan.”

Woo Hyeong-seok pushed Ju-wan roughly again, wearing that same strange smile. For some reason, Ju-wan didn’t want to go inside, and his steps repeatedly faltered. Following his own temperament, Woo Hyeong-seok grabbed Ju-wan’s collar recklessly and dragged him inside.

After filling out the necessary paperwork, they moved to the visitation room. The room, barely six square meters, didn’t even have a window; it consisted only of a table and four chairs. Woo Hyeong-seok pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. Ju-wan did not sit beside him but stepped back and stood. The trapped air felt musty and suffocating.

After some time, the area outside the door became slightly noisy, and a middle-aged woman entered the visitation room, supported by prison guards. She was the mother of both Ju-wan and Woo Hyeong-seok. Perhaps because ten years had passed, or perhaps because she had suffered greatly during that time, her appearance had become unrecognizable and haggard.

The mother kept her head lowered, as if she lacked the strength to hold it up. Her vacant eyes were utterly clouded. She didn’t seem to be seeing anything properly.

Woo Hyeong-seok also gave a brief glance at his mother sitting opposite him. It was difficult to find any trace of affection for his ailing mother.

“How did she end up like this?”

“According to the officer in charge, she showed abnormal behavior from the beginning of her incarceration. She caused disturbances every night, claiming her dead husband came to kill her, and she reportedly self-harmed, saying bugs were crawling out of the walls to eat her body. At first, the prison authorities judged it to be temporary delirium, but her condition worsened, and she was eventually transferred here. She is currently receiving drug treatment and has regained stability.”

Despite the word ‘treatment,’ the mother didn’t seem like a living person at all. No vitality could be found in her empty eyes or her complexion. It was a sight he had seen countless times in the psychiatric hospital. Until recently, Ju-wan’s own situation must not have been much different.

The guards stepped aside, telling them to talk. Woo Hyeong-seok sat back in his seat. As he looked at his changed mother, his lips curled slightly.

Ju-wan remained standing in place, observing his mother. Her once beautiful skin was indescribably damaged. On her hands, slightly revealed beyond the long sleeves, were numerous scratches and gouges. He wondered what the state of the skin beneath the sleeves was.

Her hollow eyes remained fixed on some spot on the table throughout. Indeed, she never once raised her head to look at Ju-wan or Woo Hyeong-seok.

“I heard you said you wanted to see me?”

Woo Hyeong-seok spoke first. The mother remained silent with her head bowed. Woo Hyeong-seok let out a thin whistle to draw her attention. Because he was leaning far back in the chair and sitting crookedly, his posture was utterly poor. To a stranger, they would have looked not like a mother and son, but like a debtor and creditor, or enemies.

The mother continuously fidgeted with her scarred hands. She pursed and released her dry, chapped lips repeatedly, hesitating for a long time. She looked quite pitiful, but Woo Hyeong-seok’s eyes were filled only with hostility.

Ju-wan faced the scene with indifference. His mother was simply being punished for her own crimes. Spending emotions like regret or pity on her was a waste.

After a long while, the mother finally managed to open her mouth. Because her lips were so dry, they tore as soon as she spoke, and small beads of blood formed.

“Hyeong-seok, my baby…”

Woo Hyeong-seok looked around with an exaggerated gesture. Then, he pointed to himself for his mother.

“Me? I wondered who you were calling so sweetly. Just do what you usually do. Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Don’t be like this to your mother. I was wrong. Mom… Mom was wrong about everything.”

“What exactly were you so wrong about?”

“It’s all Mom’s fault. I shouldn’t have done that. I’ll apologize now. Please?”

“Forget it. Do you think a judge will give you a reduced sentence just because of this? Why do things you never used to do?”

“What on earth should I do? What do I have to do for your anger to subside?”

The mother clenched her fists as if frustrated, as if she were dying of unfairness. Before long, tears welled up in her eyes.

What meaning could a late apology have? The events had already happened, and they could never go back to how things were. Perpetrators do not know that the plea to be forgiven now is just another form of violence.

“It’s not happening. No matter what you do, it won’t work, so don’t waste your energy. Does apologizing now make those things disappear? Even if you repent now, does my ruined life start over? Honestly, no one is as shameless as you. You enjoyed as much as you could, so now it’s time to settle the bill. What’s so unfair about that?”

“Hyeong-seok…”

“Fuck. I might have to change my name. Stop putting my name in that mouth. I feel like my ears are rotting.”

“How can you do this to me? What did I do that was so wrong? That I couldn’t take proper care of you? That was unavoidable. I suffered a lot too. I worked until my body broke to feed you, clothe you… I tried to raise at least you without any deficiencies…”

The mother repeated a cycle of anger, pleading, and appealing. She seemed lost in her desperation to somehow change Woo Hyeong-seok’s mind.

The mother, who had been blurting out whatever came to mind in a disorganized manner, suddenly stared over Woo Hyeong-seok’s shoulder. Her eyes widened. It seemed she hadn’t noticed Ju-wan standing there because she had been clinging only to Woo Hyeong-seok. She was so shocked that her eyelashes could be seen trembling.

A multitude of emotions intersected.

However, facing his mother for the first time in ten full years, Ju-wan felt no yearning or longing, nor did he feel anger, resentment, or betrayal. That was why it was sad. That despite being the only existence in the world connected by the bonds of kinship, he could no longer feel any emotion. He felt he wouldn’t be this indifferent even to a pebble rolling on the street.

Could she not have been a normal mother just once? Even if he was a child born from a man she didn’t love, born for some reward, could she not have given just a little affection to the life that borrowed her body for ten months? Could she really not have protected her young child, who had no one to trust but her, just once?

“Ju… Ju-wan…”

The mother’s lips trembled as she called Ju-wan. The tears filling her eyes finally overflowed and wet her cheeks.

He didn’t know how much he had resented her. He had vowed over and over that when he met his mother again, he would pour out all the indignation he had harbored. Because of her, he was trapped in a hospital and spent ten years in vain. It was a life that could have simply vanished.

But when he actually faced his mother, he couldn’t say a word. He didn’t know what to say. No, he didn’t want to say anything at all.

Around that time, the guard who had been standing by the door approached the table.

“Time is up. Save the rest of your conversation for next time and please head back.”

The mother’s gaze, which had been fixed on Ju-wan, shifted erratically between Woo Hyeong-seok, Ju-wan, and the guard announcing the end of the visit. Another guard approached and took hold of the mother’s arms to lift her. At that, the mother shook her head violently and struggled, twisting her gaunt limbs.

“That child, that child is my son too! He’s my guardian! Right, Ju-wan? Please let Mom go! Mom isn’t crazy! That was self-defense, I’m innocent! You help Mom. Please? Ju-wan, my son! Can’t you hear me? That child is my son too!”

The mother screamed with desperation, resisting with her whole body. The guards looked troubled and stared at Ju-wan.

He had always thought about it. He had bitten his fingers to remind himself of his name countless times, and had even given up his body to return to the world, surviving however he could so that he would not remain a family with his mother or Woo Hyeong-seok. He vowed to definitely sever the chain of ill fate that connected him to them.

Ju-wan looked clearly at his mother, who was trying to hold on by clinging to the table, and answered. With an indifferent expression and tone, just as she had completely ignored him when he was being brutally violated by his stepfather.

“I don’t know this person.”

He couldn’t forget the mother’s final appearance. She, who seemed ready to wail and scream asking how he could do this, became unable to say a word, as if she had received a massive shock from Ju-wan’s denial. She simply let tears stream down while her slack lips trembled. After that, like a tree whose roots had been completely severed, she could no longer hold on and was dragged out by the guards. When the visitation room door closed firmly, Ju-wan felt that one tedious ill fate had been severed.

He wasn’t sad. His heart didn’t ache. It was just that the fact that this was the end of the only relationship he had was a bit bitter and empty. What had his mother done all that for, and why did Ju-wan himself have to undergo such hardships? In the end, everything returned to nothing. The things his mother had coveted so much were all ruined and broken. It was the common end of greed. The more he thought about it, the more bitter the taste in his mouth. And suddenly, he felt lonely. It felt as if he were truly alone now.

While he was alone, tying up the complicated emotions toward his mother one by one, Woo Hyeong-seok suddenly chuckled. The laughter, which had been on the verge of breaking out, burst out loudly as soon as they left the Medical Treatment Custody Center. He found something so funny that tears even gathered at the corners of his eyes.

“Did you see that woman’s face? She looked like she was falling off a cliff. If I’d known, I would have recorded a video. It’s a bit a shame since I won’t see her again. I was secretly curious about what you’d blabber when you met her, Park Ju-wan, but you’ve got a knack for feeding people’s egos while tearing them down, don’t you?”

“Now only you are left.”

“…What?”

“Your father and mother have both paid for their crimes. You can’t be the exception.”

Woo Hyeong-seok smirked and suddenly grabbed Ju-wan’s neck. At the sudden situation, his subordinates were quite flustered and looked around. Although it wasn’t a police station, it was strictly a correctional institution executing sentences handed down by a judicial body. They couldn’t help but be mindful of others’ gazes.

But Woo Hyeong-seok had no hesitation. He tightened his grip, choking Ju-wan’s windpipe further.

“Do more.”

“…Ugh.”

“Hmm? I said, blabber some more.”

In an instant, his face hardened and he pressed Ju-wan. Far from shrinking back, Ju-wan gripped Woo Hyeong-seok’s arm tightly with both hands and held on. It was a confrontation that seemed like it would only end when one side broke.

“Hyung-nim, you shouldn’t do this here.”

Eventually, one of Woo Hyeong-seok’s subordinates stepped in to stop him. He also looked back and forth at the CCTVs installed everywhere with an anxious gaze.

Woo Hyeong-seok dragged him to his car while still gripping Ju-wan’s neck. Then, he shoved him roughly into the back seat opened by his subordinate. As his windpipe suddenly opened, the breath he had been holding burst out in a mess. Ju-wan coughed incessantly while clutching his stinging neck. Soon, his stomach churned and his vision went white.

Meanwhile, the car door closed and it departed for Woo Hyeong-seok’s house.

After a long while, Ju-wan calmed down and let out a breath mixed with grief, frowning bitterly. Perhaps he and Woo Hyeong-seok were a connection that should never have happened. Even just because of the fact that they had become more unhappy than before after becoming unintentionally entangled in childhood.

“Anyway, Park Ju-wan, you really don’t know your place. Whether then or now, I wonder what you believe in to be so arrogant. All that does is hasten your demise. If you want to live long, you should know how to bow gently.”

“You’re still the same at blaming others. While only picking on the weak to bully.”

“Because being weak is a mistake. Being weak and not trying to become strong is a sin.”

“You’re the one who hasn’t changed a bit from then until now. You’re still despicable and pathetic.”

“…But this, I’ve put up with this long enough.”

Woo Hyeong-seok lunged his hand forward and shoved Ju-wan’s face hard toward the window. Because of that, his head collided violently with the glass. His entire skull rang.

“Do you really want to die?”

“…You can’t kill me.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re trying to parasitize off me again, aren’t you?”

Ju-wan glared at Woo Hyeong-seok, his brow and the bridge of his nose deeply contorted. Woo Hyeong-seok let out a scoff, as if it were absurd. However, he couldn’t choke Ju-wan like before. Whether it was because of the additional inheritance Ju-wan had received or because of his value, he certainly couldn’t kill him right now.

Woo Hyeong-seok seemed to withdraw his hand obediently, but he immediately pulled out a knife and pressed it against Ju-wan’s cheek.

“I might not be able to kill you, but I can rip your mouth open. You don’t die easily from just that. So if you don’t want to get hurt, stop fooling around and shut up.”

Pressing against his cheek just enough not to cut the skin, Woo Hyeong-seok smirked while twirling the knife.

It was loathsome. He didn’t want to stay in the same space as Woo Hyeong-seok any longer. Even breathing the same air as him was disgusting. And he was sickened by his own helplessness, still unable to escape him even though he was no longer a frail existence.

As soon as they arrived home, he was grabbed by Woo Hyeong-seok and dragged along like a piece of luggage. Whenever he tried to resist, Woo Hyeong-seok swung him around more violently. Because of that, there was no part of him—from his head to elbows, hands, knees, back, and feet—that wasn’t bumped or bruised. When he was thrown onto the room floor, he curled his body small, which was throbbing as if it would break.

“Acting tough while whimpering over just this much.”

“…In the end, you’ll be a loner.”

He murmured softly. Woo Hyeong-seok clicked his tongue as if it were pathetic.

“What was that?”

“You’ll die alone, lonely and miserable.”

“How are you any different? Aren’t we both the same, with not a single blood relative left? Or did you spawn some brat without my knowledge? Do you have some place to rely on? Don’t tell me it’s that Baek Do-un guy or whatever?”

“…….”

“I was curious. I wondered what kind of bastard would pay money to buy a useless piece of trash like you. Seeing as you dealt with a doctor named Kim Jun-oh, I thought maybe he needed your organs, but seeing as you’re alive and well without a single part missing, it doesn’t seem like that. Is it that way? Park Ju-wan, you know how to seduce a cock. My dead father was like that, and I heard there was one in the psychiatric hospital where you were trapped? A dog in heat who wanted to lick your asshole. Is Baek Do-un like that too? Were you living with him by giving him your back every day?”

Ju-wan threw a punch at Woo Hyeong-seok, who was sneering with his face shoved right in front of him. At the unexpected blow, Woo Hyeong-seok’s face snapped to the side. A thudding friction sound echoed, as if bone had hit bone. His tightly clenched fist trembled. The reddened skin already seemed to be swelling.

As if that alone didn’t satisfy his anger, Ju-wan screamed with all his might.

“Don’t insult him. He’s not a name to be mentioned by your filthy mouth!”

Woo Hyeong-seok rubbed his stinging jaw and turned his head back to Ju-wan. His face was stained with anger, irritation, and bewilderment.

He suddenly kicked Ju-wan’s shoulder. Ju-wan’s body jerked back, and the back of his head collided squarely with the wall. He groaned softly and struggled, feeling a dull ringing sensation throughout his head. Woo Hyeong-seok stepped on his shoulder again to pin him down so he couldn’t get up.

Even then, Ju-wan did not yield at all and glared at Woo Hyeong-seok with eyes full of contempt.

“What is it with you…”

The corners of Woo Hyeong-seok’s mouth twitched subtly. It had been ten full years since he had seen Ju-wan look so venomous. It wasn’t because Ju-wan had been confined in a psychiatric hospital for those ten years. Originally, he was far from the temperament of swinging a knife or fist because he couldn’t control his anger. If anything, he would ignore the opponent’s provocation; he rarely engaged in unnecessary wars of attrition.

Had his personality changed while they were apart? Or was Baek Do-un that precious to him?

While facing Ju-wan with startled eyes, a sudden knock sounded. When there was no response, the subordinate outside the door said, “I’m coming in.” He then opened the door, entered with a bow, and handed over a phone. It seemed an urgent call had come through.

“It’s CEO Jo Jung-man.”

Earlier, Woo Hyeong-seok had reported to Jo Jung-man that while he had missed Baek Do-un, he had captured one of his family members. This was to determine Jo Jung-man’s future course of action based on his reaction. Having secured Ju-wan, it didn’t matter if the deal with Jo Jung-man fell through. However, if Jo Jung-man ordered him to make Ju-wan disappear without a trace, he would receive a reward from him as well, making it a win-win situation.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

He listened to Jo Jung-man, immersed in the aforementioned expectation.

However, the instruction was completely unexpected. Jo Jung-man had decided to trade with Baek Do-un in exchange for Ju-wan, so he was told to bring him back safely and without a scratch. Just what kind of existence was Ju-wan to this man named Baek Do-un that he would so easily respond to Jo Jung-man’s obvious ploy? Something felt vaguely unsettling.

Woo Hyeong-seok gave a half-hearted answer to Jo Jung-man, who ordered him to bring Ju-wan to the office immediately.

“…I understand for now. We’ll head over right away.”

After finishing the call, Woo Hyeong-seok tossed the phone back to his subordinate. He then looked back at Ju-wan, who was still fuming at him.

It seemed Ju-wan would be a quite valuable card, at least in the trade with Baek Do-un. He couldn’t possibly return him for a mere contract. He was curious how much Baek Do-un would be willing to give up in exchange for him. Moreover, there were still matters that required Ju-wan’s help and grievances they needed to settle with each other.

Perhaps Baek Do-un intended to suppress Jo Jung-man by force while pretending to agree to the trade. That would be more like the conduct of a man with such a notorious reputation. He had to verify what the man’s true intentions were first.

With a smirk, Woo Hyeong-seok left the room, leaving Ju-wan behind. He then gave a stern warning to the man who habitually tried to follow him.

“You stay here and guard this place well. If that bastard disappears, I’ll bury you on that same day, so keep your wits about you.”

“I understand, Hyung-nim.”

The man answered with a solemn expression. Although he was the most reliable among the subordinates Woo Hyeong-seok led, one man alone wasn’t enough to put him at ease.

Woo Hyeong-seok only got into the car after positioning several more subordinates inside and around his house. He felt quite excited at the thought of meeting this ‘Baek Do-un.’

Jo Jung-man kept tapping his index fingers together, glancing incessantly at his watch. As the time to meet Baek Do-un approached, he couldn’t hide his anxiety. After chasing the second hand for a long while, he suddenly stood up. He then lifted the blinds by the window and looked outside.

Soon, two cars approaching the office caught his eye. The cars stopped, and a man who stepped out of the passenger seat opened the rear door. A man stepped out from there and looked up at the building.

Jo Jung-man hurriedly lowered the blinds and returned to his seat. He licked his dry lips and steadied his breathing.

Uselessly, his shoulders flinched the moment the intercom rang. He had tried desperately not to be nervous, but because the opponent had such a bad reputation, he kept shrinking instinctively. If he lost the momentum, he would likely be led by the nose. He steadied his mind once more.

“What is it?”

President, Mr. Baek Do-un has arrived.

“Show him in.”

After responding, he cleared his throat with a fake cough. He spread his shoulders wide, pretending to be relaxed.

Before long, the secretary’s voice was heard saying, “This way, please.” This was followed by a knock.

“Come in.”

Soon the door opened and the secretary entered. Following him, a refined-looking man appeared. Contrary to Jo Jung-man’s expectations, the man did not have a particularly sturdy build. He was tall and slender with porcelain-white skin, exuding an elite aura. The ‘Baek Do-un’ in the rumors was a manager in name only, with an image closer to a gangster, but the actual man was completely different. Then again, had he not said his primary profession was a doctor?

Of course, he had already verified Baek Do-un’s face. However, since the photos were all old, he thought the current appearance might be different. It seemed he had unconsciously changed the man’s image and imagined him as something far more imposing. Tracing back his hazy memories, the person in the photos and the man before him were indeed the same person.

The man offered a handshake first with a gentle smile. The fingertips extended toward Jo Jung-man were flawlessly clean. A mysterious sense of incongruity washed over him.

“Nice to meet you. I am Baek Do-un.”

He wondered if this calm voice really belonged to the same Baek Do-un he had spoken with on the phone last night.

However, there was certainty in the eyes of the man waiting for the handshake. His actions and manner of speaking were natural, without any awkwardness. At the very least, it didn’t seem like he was acting as someone else.

And that was because the man asking Jo Jung-man for a handshake was none other than Baek Do-un himself.

Woo Hyeong-seok leaned back deep into the rear seat, thinking about Baek Do-un. He wondered what the relationship between him and Ju-wan actually was. Judging by Baek Do-un’s choice to willingly accept a loss in exchange for getting Ju-wan back, and judging by Ju-wan’s behavior of rushing him in anger even after being slightly mistreated, it was difficult to think of the two as being in a simple symbiotic relationship. Then again, they couldn’t have built such deep trust in that short amount of time.

He tried to piece together the fragmentary circumstances in his head. The question seemed almost solved, yet remained unanswered. One hypothesis came to mind that could explain the current situation, but he couldn’t shake the doubt that it was too unlikely.

Around then, the subordinate in the driver’s seat reported while glancing repeatedly at the rearview mirror.

“Hyung-nim, the car behind us keeps following.”

He turned his head to check the rear. As the subordinate said, a black sedan was leisurely following them. However, it was hard to tell if they just happened to be heading in the same direction or if they were indeed tailing them.

“What should we do?”

“Just keep going for now.”

At Woo Hyeong-seok’s instruction, the subordinate continued to drive as before. Soon, a large road appeared. He stopped briefly in front of it, waiting for the left-turn signal. The distance to the following black sedan grew shorter.

The driver seemed quite bothered by the car behind. While glancing at the rearview mirror, his eyes suddenly widened. Even though the red light was still on and Woo Hyeong-seok’s car was stopped properly above the stop line, the black sedan kept coming. Far from slowing down, it seemed to be accelerating.

As the startled subordinate let out a confused sound, Woo Hyeong-seok looked back again. Soon, he too noticed the strange sign from the car behind. The black sedan charged fiercely, as if intending to crush his car. Collision. The moment the danger alarm rang in his mind, the black sedan and Woo Hyeong-seok’s car finally collided violently, producing a crash sound like an explosion.

In an instant, the car body crumpled like a sheet of paper, and Woo Hyeong-seok’s body was thrown forward. Screams and shouts erupted inside the car immediately. Glass shattered, shards raining down onto the seats, and the interior materials broke with a loud cracking sound. Airbags deployed tightly from all directions, striking his head and chest. The sound of tires not rotating grinding against the road surface echoed sharply, as if to tear his eardrums.

After the commotion subsided, Woo Hyeong-seok, barely composing himself, quickly assessed the situation. Warm blood streamed down the side of his face, perhaps from a head wound, but he had no time to dwell on that.

Soon, the black sedan wedged into the rear of his car entered his field of vision. The tinting was so dark that he could only see the silhouette of the occupants. And it would be the same for the other party.

There was no movement from the opposing vehicle. The occupants on that side might have been knocked unconscious or injured by the impact of the accident. Was it an accident caused by failure to keep a proper lookout or poor driving? Unless they were trying to commit suicide, there was no reason to cause an accident on purpose.

Just as he was trying to suppress the subtly budding unpleasant premonition and closely watching for any sign from the opponent, the sound of the black sedan’s wheels spinning in place suddenly echoed. Then, Woo Hyeong-seok’s crumpled car began to be pushed back little by little. It seemed the driver of the black sedan was stepping on the accelerator.

As expected, it wasn’t a simple accident. It was clear intent.

Left alone in Woo Hyeong-seok’s dark room, Ju-wan repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hand. Even though quite some time had passed, the stinging sensation didn’t fade. Seeing that the swelling around the bone remained, it seemed that something had finally happened to the muscles or ligaments.

He rested his throbbing hand quietly on his knee. To end up like this after hitting someone just once—it was pathetic.

In truth, the pain in his hand was nothing. Even if his bones had broken, he would have rushed Woo Hyeong-seok several more times in the same situation. Whether the person Woo Hyeong-seok referred to was Baek Do-un or Kwon Su-hyeok, he could not tolerate them being insulted. He didn’t want to helplessly watch precious beings get hurt and disappear again like before. He wondered how he could become strong enough to protect them.

It had only been three days since he was captured by Woo Hyeong-seok. Yet, it felt as if nearly three years had passed. Since leaving the hospital, every day had been precious, but perhaps because he had been so joyful and happy, he had forgotten that every minute and second could flow this slowly.

He was used to simply enduring indifferent time. Yet, the reason he felt more miserable and anxious than ever was because of longing. Kwon Su-hyeok, Baek Do-un, Jeon Mi-nam, and even Jaguar. His heart kept burning at the thought that they must all be worrying about him. He felt drained by the premature despair that he might never see them again.

It didn’t matter if Ju-wan himself was hurt or in danger. He just didn’t want to become Kwon Su-hyeok’s weakness. He didn’t want to remain as another wound for him.

‘I’ll come to get you before it’s too late.’

Kwon Su-hyeok’s final farewell had created a great wave inside the quiet Ju-wan. Because it was the one sentence he had needed most, which no one had ever said to him until now.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of emotion. It felt as if a spring of emotion, which had been submerged in a silent and distant abyss for a long time, was surging up during the sinking of daily life. He pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged them. He rubbed his forehead against them sorrowfully. The more he did, the more he realized he was alone.

“…I miss you.”

He wanted to hug Jaguar tightly just one more time. He wanted to meet Kwon Su-hyeok again for just one minute to convey his feelings. If his deceased Grandfather was looking down on him from somewhere, he prayed desperately for that opportunity. He closed his eyes tightly in earnest prayer.

Suddenly, a loud crashing noise rang out. Subsequently, it began to get noisy outside the door.

“…Huk!”

“Who is it! Aagh!”

Unidentifiable monstrous noises continued to be heard. Human screams and the sounds of hitting and breaking things were repeatedly and chaotically mixed. He lifted his head and looked at the firmly closed door. His heart pounded with a strange agitation.

Should he go out? Perhaps now was the perfect opportunity to escape. He slowly raised his body. His gaze remained fixed on the door.

It was then. A familiar beast’s roar echoed. His steps, which had been hesitantly heading toward the door, came to a dead stop. His heartbeat became even more fierce.

“G-get away! Get… aaaagh…!”

A final scream erupted and then subsided. Along with it, the outside became as silent as a grave.

Before long, a presence was felt just beyond the door Ju-wan had been watching. Ju-wan froze in place, staring at the door handle slowly descending. His lips parted slightly, but he couldn’t dare make any sound. Due to extreme tension, it was difficult to even swallow.

With a click, the door swung wide open. Before Ju-wan could even identify the intruder, a large black shadow lunged at him in one leap.

Unable to withstand the weight, he fell backward helplessly. The volume that filled his two arms, the texture of the fur, the body heat, and even the weight of the front paws pressing on his shoulders were all familiar. He opened his eyes, which he had reflexively closed, in bewilderment. At the sight of Jaguar filling his vision, Ju-wan’s face softened warmly.

“Su-nam.”

His voice choked up as he called Jaguar’s name. As if responding to Ju-wan’s call, Jaguar rubbed its face relentlessly against his. Ju-wan also hugged Jaguar tightly with both arms. It wasn’t a dream. His heart swelled uncontrollably.

Jeon Mi-nam, who had been cleaning up after letting Jaguar in first, finally caught his breath and looked on warmly at the two reuniting intensely. He was glad it wasn’t too late.

“Rumor has it you also hold a medical license; I wonder why someone like you is involved in such a rough business. Is it simply a family business? As a doctor, you could live well and be respected in a noble way. A family business is something you can just put a figurehead CEO in charge of. It’s better to have someone who makes money just by breathing and acts as a scapegoat, isn’t it?”

“You’re quite interested in me, aren’t you?”

“Your background is just so flashy and rare.”

Baek Do-un gave a nonchalant smirk.

“Doctors can legally put a knife into a person. If necessary, they can even issue a death certificate on the spot. I thought it would be useful in many ways.”

He didn’t openly threaten or flaunt his power. Even though he spoke playfully with a smile, it didn’t seem like he was bluffing or boasting. Perhaps Jo Jung-man had heard too many bad rumors about him and had become cautious in advance.

Around then, Baek Do-un rolled up his jacket sleeve and looked at his wristwatch. It had already been 30 minutes since he arrived at Jo Jung-man’s office. During that time, they hadn’t discussed Ju-wan at all.

If Ju-wan were in Jo Jung-man’s hands, there would be no reason to stall for time like this. Jo Jung-man would also want to snatch the contract with the Singapore Arms Company as quickly as possible.

“I assume you didn’t ask to meet me just to build friendship? We’re both busy, so let’s stop chasing clouds and get to the point. Before we trade, I want to check the condition of the product. Since that’s the basic principle and custom on this side, you’ll naturally comply, right?”

“Of course.”

Jo Jung-man answered readily, but he subtly avoided Baek Do-un’s gaze. As expected, it seemed he couldn’t show Ju-wan immediately.

Jo Jung-man licked his parched lips and glanced at the clock on the wall. Not checking his wristwatch by lifting his sleeve was a ploy to avoid showing his anxiety. While pretending not to, he anxiously chased the hour hand. Baek Do-un tested the anxious Jo Jung-man.

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Not at all.”

Jo Jung-man shook his head and cut him off. Yet, he took no action to call Ju-wan in. If Ju-wan were held at Woo Hyeong-seok’s base or coming here with Woo Hyeong-seok, Jeon Mi-nam or Kwon Su-hyeok would surely rescue him. That meant, in the end, he wouldn’t be meeting Ju-wan here. In that case, there was no need to waste more time.

Baek Do-un soon stood up without lingering. Jo Jung-man looked at him with wide eyes.

“I should be going.”

“Wait! President Baek, are you saying you don’t care what happens to your lapdog?”

“Do whatever you can. In exchange, you’ll have to handle what happens after that.”

Baek Do-un smiled brightly once more and turned his back. Just as he was about to leave Jo Jung-man’s office, the sound of a weapon being cocked was heard behind him. Then, Jo Jung-man said, “Stop.”

A long exhale escaped Baek Do-un. He soon turned slowly toward Jo Jung-man. A triumphant smile spread across Jo Jung-man’s face. The reason for the incongruity was that his face was flushed red, and even the muzzle of the gun was trembling slightly. He looked clumsy at handling the firearm.

“You can go, but leave the delegation contract behind.”

“I can’t do that.”

“What? You brat, do you want to die? Do you think I can’t do something about you?”

“I’ve told you repeatedly.”

Even with a gun pointed at his head, Baek Do-un remained composed. That point made Jo Jung-man even more nervous. The trigger under his fingertip was half-pulled due to tension.

Just then, the office door was flung open. Startled, Jo Jung-man shouted irritably.

“Who told you to come in!”

Jo Jung-man’s distorted face suddenly flattened. Baek Do-un was still staring at him intently. And from behind him, men in black suits extended their arms and aimed Colts at Jo Jung-man. Seeing that the secretary had been silent, it seemed the outside had already been completely cleared.

No matter how he tried to interpret the situation favorably, it was only desperate. The moment Jo Jung-man pulled the trigger, his body would become a honeycomb.

Baek Do-un took a Colt from one of the men and gripped it in his own hand. Then, he immediately pulled the trigger, blowing out the fluorescent lights on the ceiling. At the sound of the bang, Jo Jung-man reflexively curled his body and covered his head with both arms. Glass shards rained down on him with a sharp, crashing sound.

“Whether you make an enemy of me is CEO Jo’s freedom. As is regretting it too late. Let me be clear: this will be your final warning.”

Baek Do-un declared this with a chilling face, devoid of any trace of a smile. In that moment, he didn’t seem like Kwon Su-hyeok’s representative, but like the notorious President of Baek Mu Corporation himself.

Screeeech. A piercing metallic sound, like eardrums tearing, erupted as two different car bodies scraped against each other. Sparks even flew from the point of friction. Woo Hyeong-seok’s car, which had been pushed back helplessly, finally came to a stop as it got wedged against the guardrail. From the sedan, which had been pushing forward as if intent on completely crushing Woo Hyeong-seok’s car, the sound of wheels spinning in place could still be heard. It seemed they were determined to see this through to the end.

“Fuck… who the hell is that bastard!”

He looked back, venting his irritation. That alone brought on a wave of severe dizziness. It seemed his head had taken a significant blow when it slammed against the car body during the collision.

When the car caught in the guardrail didn’t budge despite the pushing, the black sedan slowly began to reverse. Once a certain distance had opened up, it came to a dead stop. The sedan’s high beams flashed as it caught its breath, and then its wheels suddenly spun rapidly. It looked as if it would charge straight in and flatten the back seat.

Woo Hyeong-seok’s subordinate gasped, looking into the rearview mirror with anxious eyes.

“W-what should we do, Hyung-nim!”

“What do you mean what do we do, you idiot! Step on it!”

The subordinate slammed on the accelerator as ordered. Sparks flew from the bumper wedged in the guardrail, and a violent metallic screech rang out once more. The severely crumpled car body trembled, unable to withstand the accelerating force.

While Woo Hyeong-seok’s car slowly broke free from the guardrail, the sedan that had backed away charged forward rapidly.

“Hyung-nim! It’s coming!”

“Fuck, step on it! I said step on it!”

Screeching and groaning, Woo Hyeong-seok’s car, which had been reversing slowly, managed to veer back onto the road just before colliding with the sedan. For a split second, the rear bumper was clipped, causing the car to spin violently, but they barely regained control and sped off, ignoring the traffic signals.

Whether only one side of the hit bumper had fallen off, the noise of it dragging on the road grew louder as they accelerated. But there was no time to worry about that. The problematic sedan was following closely behind Woo Hyeong-seok’s car, persistent as a bull in a ring.

The attacker must have known that charging blindly like that would put them at risk as well. Yet, they pushed forward without regard for the consequences; it was utterly reckless unless they harbored an immense grudge. Who on earth was it? Who was so desperate to kill Woo Hyeong-seok?

Woo Hyeong-seok’s car entered a nearby highway. The black sedan followed relentlessly, not letting him go this time either. Even with the accelerator floored, the distance to the sedan gradually closed, and they were rear-ended once again. The impact jolted Woo Hyeong-seok’s body forward. The steering wheel jerked sharply, and the car slid in a wide arc. Following cars barely avoided the collision, honking their horns loudly as they passed. In a situation where his life was threatened every second, his heart pounded erratically, as if it were about to burst through his skin.

The subordinate in the driver’s seat regained his senses, gripped the wheel, and stepped on the gas. The front of the car, which had been facing the opposite direction, finally returned to its original trajectory. The sedan pursued them as if it had been waiting.

“That son of a bitch….”

Woo Hyeong-seok, who had been hurling curses while constantly looking back, suddenly dragged the subordinate out of the driver’s seat. He was infuriated by the sedan’s provocation, which seemed to hover on the verge of crushing his car. He felt it would be better to clash head-on than to keep fleeing pathetically.

At Woo Hyeong-seok’s sudden attempt to switch seats in a moving car, the subordinate gripped the steering wheel even tighter.

“Hyung-nim, why are you doing this?”

“Get out, you brat!”

“It’s dangerous!”

“Fuck, I said get out!”

Woo Hyeong-seok seemed to have completely lost his reason. Switching seats in a speeding car was absurd in itself, but leaving the driving to him in his agitated state was a suicidal act. It was obvious that it could easily lead to a major accident, such as the car flipping over.

Driven by survival instinct, the subordinate stubbornly held on and slammed on the brakes. The sudden stop caused the car to lurch forward violently. Woo Hyeong-seok, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was thrown between the front seats. Even the following sedan seemed not to have expected such a move, barely avoiding a collision by swerving to the side.

Because the steering wheel—already sensitive from the speed—was jerked sharply, the black sedan also lost control and slid. It crossed the wide road helplessly and eventually crashed into the center median. It didn’t stop there, and the side of the car body was scraped along the barrier. The impact must have been significant, as there was no movement from the sedan for a while. Only the sound of an overheating engine could be heard intermittently.

In that gap, Woo Hyeong-seok took over the driver’s seat. He turned the wheel without putting on a seatbelt. Blood flowed again from his torn forehead, nearly obstructing his vision, but he had no leisure to care about that.

He glared at the sedan, which was quietly catching its breath ahead. The more the attacker charged without fear, the more it stimulated Woo Hyeong-seok’s appetite. With a smirk, Woo Hyeong-seok floored the accelerator. His car lunged forward with a loud scream.

If he charged at that speed, he couldn’t even guarantee his own safety. Knowing this full well, Woo Hyeong-seok rushed straight toward the sedan. His subordinates, sensing the end, closed their eyes tight and took defensive postures. Only Woo Hyeong-seok laughed loudly, never lifting his foot from the gas.

Just as the driver’s seat of the sedan filled his dilated vision, the sedan’s wheels spun violently with a roar of the engine. Then, the sedan quickly reversed, avoiding Woo Hyeong-seok’s oncoming car. In the split second their bodies tangled slightly, the sedan’s driver jerked the wheel hard to the right, pushing Woo Hyeong-seok’s car to rotate in the same direction. The sound of tire wear and screeching metal echoed incessantly.

The spinning car soon crashed into something with a loud thud. Black smoke began to billow from various parts of the vehicle. This time, even Woo Hyeong-seok couldn’t hold back a groan of intense pain. A heavy ache rose from his chest where he had hit the steering wheel.

“…Urgh.”

Woo Hyeong-seok frowned and struggled to lift his head. His car was precariously perched on a half-torn guardrail. The front right wheel had already slipped over the cliff beyond the road, and only the remaining three wheels were resting on the pavement. At any moment, he could be plunged ten meters down onto the bare ground. A chill ran down his spine.

He hurriedly looked at the side mirror. His ominous feeling was correct. The black sedan had already come up behind him. It looked as if it intended to knock the car off the cliff, like hitting a billiard ball with a cue.

He couldn’t just let himself be defeated. Woo Hyeong-seok turned the wheel as far right as possible and attempted a sharp reverse. If it worked as intended, he might be able to get the front wheel back onto the road.

But at that moment, a roar was heard from a distance, and two more sedans appeared. They were the same model as the problematic sedan and had completely blacked-out windows; they were clearly accomplices.

As if by agreement, the two cars pulled up tight on either side of Woo Hyeong-seok’s car. He was completely surrounded, except for the front, which faced the cliff.

If he stayed stupidly still, he was headed for a dog’s death. While he was desperately thinking of how to escape the crisis, the sedan behind him charged fiercely toward his car.

With a loud crash, the car jolted violently and was pushed further toward the cliff. In an instant, both front wheels were pushed into the air, and the car tilted. Woo Hyeong-seok gasped and slowly let go of the steering wheel. His subordinates were pale, unable to utter a word. It felt as if the slightest breath would cause the trembling car to finally roll over.

In the midst of this, a phone rang loudly. The caller was undoubtedly Jo Jung-man. Everyone let out a sigh that was almost a groan. They didn’t even know where the phone had fallen, and they couldn’t move a finger for fear that the slightest movement would send them on a journey to the afterlife.

It was then. The sound of police sirens, which had never once been welcome, reached his ears. Would the bells of heaven sound like this? Turning his head gratefully, he saw three or four police cars rushing toward them with flashing lights. It seemed they had been dispatched after receiving a report of reckless driving.

The black sedan, which had been backing up as if intending to ram Woo Hyeong-seok’s car once more, stopped moving. If they were caught by the police now, the perpetrator would clearly be them. After all, they were the ones who had caused intentional collisions from the start. Moreover, if they were punished for this incident, there was a chance their other crimes would be unearthed as well.

Having made the same calculation, the black sedan turned around. The two cars pressing Woo Hyeong-seok from the sides also turned and immediately left the scene. The remaining black sedan stopped briefly just past Woo Hyeong-seok’s car. Then, it abruptly rolled down the driver’s side window.

“What….”

“…….”

Before he could avoid it, his eyes met the driver’s. Jet-black hair, thick eyebrows, and sharp eyes set deep beneath them reminded him of a black panther. Thick veins stood out across his calm face, revealing a rage that had not yet fully subsided. It felt as if the sound of grinding teeth was coming from his tightly closed mouth.

Is this man Baek Do-un? A ripple went through his dazed mind. The question soon turned into certainty. It was undoubtedly Baek Do-un. He couldn’t imagine it being anyone else.

The sedan closed its window and departed just as the police cars arrived right in front of them. Then, it quickly vanished from sight.

Woo Hyeong-seok watched the scene blankly. That gaze… he felt a naked murderous intent directed at him. Showing his face was nothing less than a declaration of war, promising that he would surely kill him one day. His lips trembled. A sudden, chilling sensation raced down his spine.

“Haha… ahahaha!”

The police, arriving late, knocked on the driver’s window. Despite repeated requests to see if he was okay and to roll down the window, Woo Hyeong-seok only laughed like a madman.

* * *

Baek Do-un hurried into the house. On his way back from Jo Jung-man’s office, he had received a message from Jeon Mi-nam saying that Ju-wan had been brought back safely. The first thing he saw upon opening the door was Jeon Mi-nam placing a change of clothes in front of the bathroom. Behind him, Jaguar was pacing in front of the closed door. He was restless, not even glancing toward Baek Do-un.

“Where is Ju-wan?”

“He is washing up.”

Jeon Mi-nam approached the entrance and knelt on one knee. He then neatly straightened the shoes Baek Do-un had kicked off haphazardly.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Why? Were you worried about me?”

“Because your condition hasn’t been good lately.”

“Well, it wasn’t too bad. It was exciting to fire a gun for the first time in a while.”

Jeon Mi-nam’s head snapped up. He had sent the men accompanying Baek Do-un with firearms just in case of danger. But to hear that he had actually fired one left him visibly surprised. A mischievous smile spread across Baek Do-un’s lips.

“Don’t be so surprised. I just gave them a little scare. No one was hurt. Isn’t that enough?”

Baek Do-un replied nonchalantly and approached Jaguar. He greeted him warmly, saying, “Su-nam, welcome back.” Jeon Mi-nam shook his head with a deep sigh. As he passed by Baek Do-un, his eyes scanned him thoroughly to see if he was truly uninjured.

Noticing that gaze, Baek Do-un chuckled. It was enjoyable to see a man who rarely showed emotion react, even slightly. A strange desire for conquest arose, making him want to elicit a more definite and clear reaction. Perhaps Kwon Su-hyeok’s feelings toward Ju-wan in the beginning had been similar. Though it would be different now.

Around then, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Jaguar, who had been pacing in front of it, stopped abruptly and looked at the closed door. Soon, the doorknob turned and the door opened. Steamy vapor billowed out from the gap.

“Ju-wan!”

“Teacher.”

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see.”

Baek Do-un quickly pulled Ju-wan outside. Ju-wan was stark naked, but neither of them felt embarrassed. Baek Do-un held his arm and turned him this way and that, checking him meticulously.

“What is this on your neck? How did this happen?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Ju-wan subtly covered his neck, which was marked with fingerprints. Even his hand was swollen. Scratches and abrasions from being bound with cable ties were visible on his wrists and ankles. There were large and small bruises all over his body, including his knees. Baek Do-un suddenly hugged Ju-wan, who was trying to reassure him that he was fine despite his state.

“What do you mean it’s nothing? You’re hurt like this.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Is this something for you to apologize for? I was so worried. I’m sorry, because of me.”

Ju-wan quickly shook his head. This incident wasn’t Baek Do-un’s fault. Moreover, seeing his rarely disheveled appearance and the scent of wind clinging to him, Ju-wan could tell that he, like Jeon Mi-nam and Jaguar, had been rushing about to find him. He probably hadn’t fully recovered yet. Ju-wan was simply grateful that Baek Do-un, Jeon Mi-nam, and Jaguar were safe and unharmed by Woo Hyeong-seok.

Ju-wan put on the clothes Jeon Mi-nam had prepared and was led into the bedroom by Do-un. Jaguar followed behind them as usual.

Baek Do-un sat Ju-wan on the bed and suddenly held out his hand. Ju-wan hesitantly placed his hand on top of it. With a grin, Baek Do-un gently applied medicine to Ju-wan’s noticeably swollen hand. While doing so, his expression became quite serious.

“Let’s keep an eye on it until tomorrow. If the swelling doesn’t go down, let’s go take photos together.”

“Yes.”

Jaguar, who had been silently observing the two from behind, suddenly stood up and pushed his head toward Ju-wan. When Ju-wan gently scratched him as if tickling his cheek, the creature’s eyes narrowed into slits. His tail wagged languidly.

Soon, Jeon Mi-nam brought out fresh meat and placed it in front of the bedroom door. He mentioned that Jaguar had barely eaten while Ju-wan was gone. Ju-wan lightly patted the hip of Jaguar, who was trying to stick close to him.

“Su-nam, go eat your food.”

Only after being pushed by Ju-wan did Jaguar descend from the bed. As he trudged toward the food, he stopped abruptly and looked back at Ju-wan. It was as if he wanted to confirm that Ju-wan was indeed okay. Even while tearing into the meat to fill his hungry belly, he would occasionally lift his head and stare intently at Ju-wan. It seemed the shock had been great for him as well.

After the treatment, Ju-wan sat close beside Jaguar as he ate. Jaguar, who would have growled and been wary in the past, gently rested his tail on Ju-wan while focusing on his meal. Whether it was because he was that hungry, or because he decided it was better than constantly checking on Ju-wan, Ju-wan felt grateful and proud of the creature for softly sharing his space.

After some time, there was suddenly a commotion outside the front door. Ju-wan’s shoulders flinched instinctively while he was watching Jaguar with affection. Jaguar, who had been focused on eating, also lifted his head and looked toward the noisy entrance. Soon, the passcode for the door lock was entered, and the lock clicked open. The hand that grabbed and pulled down the doorknob lacked any composure.

The front door swung open. Ju-wan stared blankly at Kwon Su-hyeok, who was entering. Breathing heavily, Kwon Su-hyeok met Ju-wan’s eyes and walked toward him with heavy steps, not even taking off his shoes. Jaguar suddenly stood up and approached him. Then, as he always did, he slowly circled around him once.

However, Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t have the leisure to pet him; all his attention was focused solely on Ju-wan.

“…….”

“…….”

Watching Kwon Su-hyeok, whose shoulders heaved with labored breaths, Ju-wan slowly stood up. His gaze remained fixed on the other man’s face. Once again, a swelling emotion surged within him. He bit his lip, feeling an unexpected urge to cry. His fingertips tingled helplessly. It was no use even if he clenched his fists. Every cell in his body tightened until it ached. It was becoming too difficult to endure.

Ju-wan lunged at Kwon Su-hyeok and threw his arms around him in a tight embrace. He rubbed his forehead deeply against Su-hyeok’s shoulder. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been standing there dazed until that moment, reached out awkwardly and squeezed Ju-wan’s waist and back firmly. His head buried itself completely in the crook of Ju-wan’s warm neck. The scent of one another, which they had both missed so dearly, wafted over them. It was a heartache so intense it was almost painful. A lump formed in the back of his throat.

The more they felt, the more desperately they pulled each other closer. In that moment, no words were necessary.

It was only after a long while that Kwon Su-hyeok finally let Ju-wan go. Only then did Ju-wan lift his head from Su-hyeok’s chest. Perhaps because it had been difficult to breathe, his cheeks were flushed with a subtle crimson glow. His breath seemed a bit labored. His damp hair was a mess, sticking up in various directions.

Despite his appearance, the gaze with which he observed Kwon Su-hyeok was quite serious. His round pupils rolled slowly, meticulously scanning Su-hyeok’s forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips. It was a cautious look, as if he were confirming that this was indeed the person he had been longing for, and checking to see if he was hurt anywhere.

“Are you hurt?”

“You’re the one who…”

Kwon Su-hyeok stopped mid-sentence. It was the moment he discovered the vivid handprints left on Ju-wan’s white neck. He abruptly grabbed Ju-wan’s face and examined the marks on his neck in detail. His brow furrowed deeply. A bright red anger flickered in his eyes.

Ju-wan tightly wrapped his own hand around Kwon Su-hyeok’s.

“I missed you.”

A long, heavy sigh escaped Kwon Su-hyeok. Soon, he led Ju-wan into the bedroom. Jaguar, who had been trying to follow the two of them with clumsy steps, was suddenly caught by Baek Do-un. Immediately after, the sound of the bedroom door slamming shut echoed.

Jaguar, who had been wriggling to shake off the annoying Baek Do-un, stared blankly at the heartlessly closed bedroom door. Like him, Jeon Mi-nam seemed at a loss for what to do given the sudden turn of events.

Baek Do-un playfully messed with Jaguar, who was growling and twitching his eyes as if being shut out was his fault. Every time Do-un pulled on his cheeks, his sharp canines were revealed without fail, but like Ju-wan, Do-un was completely unfazed.

“Anyway, where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

Baek Do-un complained loudly enough for anyone to hear. However, Jeon Mi-nam didn’t react at all, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

“I don’t know when that crazy bastard will barge in again, so I can’t exactly go home with peace of mind.”

“…….”

“I know it’s shameless to ask, but could I stay at Mi-nam’s place just for tonight?”

He looked at Jeon Mi-nam with his eyebrows drooped in a fake, pitiful expression. Jeon Mi-nam maintained his iron wall.

“I refuse.”

“Wow, how cold. How can you reject me so bluntly without even thinking about it?”

“This isn’t something that will be settled in a day or two. If you intend to stay until the situation is resolved, a hotel would be more comfortable and safer. I can make the reservation for you.”

“I won’t make a mess of your house, Mi-nam. Don’t be so prickly between us…”

“No.”

He rejected him flatly once again. Baek Do-un looked at Jeon Mi-nam with dissatisfaction, then let go of Jaguar and stood up.

“Are you really going to be this petty?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Baek Do-un nodded exaggeratedly. Jeon Mi-nam remained completely unmoved. It seemed that even a sturdy retaining wall wouldn’t be as solid as he was.

Baek Do-un let out a long sigh and shrugged his shoulders.

“Fine. I won’t do any useless provocations. Is that enough?”

“…….”

“Ah, there’s no way a hotel would accept a rabbit!”

“If that’s the problem, I’ll take him and look after him.”

“What about Su-nam? You’re just going to leave him here? Who knows what’s happening in there. Are you crazy?”

Jeon Mi-nam’s eyes flickered toward the bedroom Baek Do-un gestured to, then quickly darted away. Even though he tried not to show it, his ears turned a burning red. Baek Do-un didn’t miss that opening.

“Or what, are you saying you’ll take care of both the rabbit and Su-nam, Mi-nam? Can you guarantee that not a single hair on my rabbit will be harmed?”

He emphasized repeatedly that the only reason he was insisting on intruding, despite the homeowner’s opposition, was because of the rabbit. Jeon Mi-nam sank into thought, his brow furrowing. There was no way he wasn’t concerned about the rabbit, which had been hiding in the corner of the sofa and refusing to come out to avoid Jaguar the entire way to Kwon Su-hyeok’s house.

Jeon Mi-nam soon let out a sigh that seemed to sink into the ground.

“You must keep the promises you made.”

“I told you, I will.”

With a triumphant smile, Baek Do-un crouched flat in front of the sofa. He then carefully pulled out the rabbit, which had been shivering and curled up underneath. Jeon Mi-nam firmly held back Jaguar, who was about to pounce on the creature.

“Let’s go.”

Baek Do-un led the way cheerfully, gently stroking the rabbit, which seemed even more adorable today. Jeon Mi-nam followed behind, coaxing and soothing Jaguar, who kept resisting, unable to understand why he had to leave the house.

As he was pushed against the closed door, Ju-wan’s eyes reflexively snapped shut. As he slowly lifted his eyelids, he saw Kwon Su-hyeok’s face right in front of him. Then, their noses brushed, and Su-hyeok’s lips landed softly on his philtrum. His upper lip was slightly sucked between Su-hyeok’s lips. Compared to his rough movements, the kiss was infinitely cautious.

Kwon Su-hyeok lightly held Ju-wan’s upper lip before releasing it and looking directly at his face from a close distance. His fingers, holding Ju-wan’s chin, gently caressed his soft cheek. Ju-wan, hesitantly lifting his gaze to meet Su-hyeok’s, was the first to softly close his eyes. Then, slightly lifting his heels, he was the first to press his lips against Kwon Su-hyeok’s.

Kwon Su-hyeok tilted his head and immediately pushed forward, pinning Ju-wan tightly against the door again. Pressing down on his chin, he thrust his lukewarm tongue into the naturally parting lips. The lips opened hot, and a sweet piece of flesh pushed inside. Ju-wan, with his head tilted back slightly, swallowed Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue as it pushed in relentlessly. His own tongue, crushed into a corner, moved intermittently, licking the surface of Su-hyeok’s tongue.

Unable to withstand that teasing stimulation, Kwon Su-hyeok crushed Ju-wan’s tongue recklessly. He pushed in so hard it felt as if his airway were being squeezed, then sucked and pulled, and again rubbed and mashed it mercilessly. Soon, saliva pooled in the mouth, creating wet friction sounds. It was difficult to breathe, but he didn’t dislike it. Rather, he wanted him to invade deeper, every single corner.

Ju-wan gripped Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm and shirt with both hands. Kwon Su-hyeok wrapped his arm around Ju-wan’s waist, which was subtly clinging to him, and pressed his knee firmly between Ju-wan’s legs. Without fail, Ju-wan’s small buttocks rested on his thigh.

“…Ngh.”

As the rock-hard thigh and groin pressed deeply against him, Ju-wan’s shoulders trembled. It seemed the stimulation had hit home. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been focused only on the kiss, slowly opened his eyes and watched Ju-wan. Out of breath, Ju-wan’s ears and cheeks were flushed red. In the eyes that captured Kwon Su-hyeok anxiously or impatiently, a faint moisture had already gathered.

A slight dizziness swirled in his head. As if something pulling him back had suddenly snapped, Kwon Su-hyeok pounced on Ju-wan again. At that, Ju-wan raised his hand and grabbed his shoulder.

“Wait. I have something to say.”

“Later…”

He lunged again, but this time Ju-wan slightly turned his head to avoid him. As he was stopped repeatedly, Kwon Su-hyeok suppressed his breath and looked directly into Ju-wan’s eyes. Ju-wan’s pupils wavered before reflecting Kwon Su-hyeok.

“I have to do it now. Because I don’t want to regret it again.”

“What are you trying to say now?”

“I like you.”

“…….”

“At first, it was a sense of kinship, then it was a strange feeling of solidarity… but at some point, I couldn’t put a name to the way my gaze lingers on you, the way I’m curious about every little thing about you, and my greed to keep staying by your side. I was so confused… but I love it when you hold me. Every time we kiss, I feel like my heart is going to explode. I think I like you a lot…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Kwon Su-hyeok’s face pushed in. Ju-wan’s lips, which had been hesitatingly parting, were softly enveloped by his. After a short kiss, Kwon Su-hyeok slowly pulled away and gazed intently into Ju-wan’s eyes. For some reason, Ju-wan had a groundless conviction that Su-hyeok had never looked at anyone so tenderly. Their cautious breaths spread ticklishly across their cheeks. Something invisible felt as if it were on the verge of snapping.

Then, Ju-wan urgently overlapped their lips first. Kwon Su-hyeok gladly accepted the clumsy kiss and suddenly lifted him up. Ju-wan, who had been holding Su-hyeok’s face, stretched his arms long and wrapped them around his neck.

As they moved toward the bed, they sweetly held each other’s lips and licked their tongues. There were soft kissing sounds, like a wary fish nibbling.

Kwon Su-hyeok laid Ju-wan on the bed. Then, while kissing him repeatedly, he loosened his tie and shirt buttons. As the scent of skin grew stronger, he could feel Ju-wan’s body becoming subtly more tense. Yet, Ju-wan boldly held onto Kwon Su-hyeok’s face and wouldn’t let go. Kwon Su-hyeok took Ju-wan’s plump lower lip and tongue together, sucked them in, and then straightened his waist. He then ripped off the shirt hanging from his shoulders.

The line from his long neck to his shoulders, thick chest, and slender waist was fully revealed. Muscles sculpted with appropriate volume and perfect shape writhed, boasting clear contours even in the darkness. Ju-wan’s Adam’s apple bobbed minutely. Kwon Su-hyeok chuckled and teased him for staring blankly at his body.

“Even a newborn puppy wouldn’t be as fearless as you.”

That smile was beyond wonderful. As if possessed, Ju-wan pulled Kwon Su-hyeok toward him. The mattress supporting them sank under his weight. Kwon Su-hyeok kissed Ju-wan’s ear repeatedly while rolling up his t-shirt. Long fingers swept up through his sides, stomach, and chest in turn. Because he had just bathed, the sensation of the moisture-laden skin felt more intense against the inside of the fingers. Ju-wan bit his lip and waited anxiously for a certain moment. Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok’s fingers lightly crushed his nipple. Ju-wan closed his eyes tightly and gripped the bedsheets.

While fiddling with the small, soft piece of flesh, Kwon Su-hyeok thickly licked the back of Ju-wan’s ear, which was rapidly heating up. Ju-wan let out a groan and squirmed. While nibbling on the outer rim of his ear with his lips, he mischievously rubbed and pressed with his thumb until the small piece of flesh was deeply buried. Ju-wan’s knees instinctively twitched, tightening around Kwon Su-hyeok’s waist.

“…Ngh.”

He kissed the jawline that was subtly sharpening as Ju-wan tilted his head. He continued to press his lips in dots, moving down to the neck and sucking on the thin skin once.

“…Ah!”

Ju-wan’s breath, which had been pleasantly floating, suddenly hitched. The moan he had been holding back was sharper than before. Startled, Kwon Su-hyeok reached out and turned on the bedside lamp. In the soft light of the lamp, a stain appeared—too vivid to be mere shadow. It was a handprint.

Kwon Su-hyeok looked at Ju-wan’s neck with dazed eyes and touched the bruised area. In his mind, which had been consumed by excitement, Woo Hyeong-seok’s face surfaced. He clenched his teeth. His eyes became sharply honed.

Ju-wan reached out with both hands and pulled Kwon Su-hyeok’s face closer. Only then did Kwon Su-hyeok meet his eyes.

“Please look only at me. Think only of me, right now.”

A low sigh escaped Kwon Su-hyeok. He then lowered his head and pressed his lips firmly against Ju-wan’s forehead. Then, he let his lips land sweetly on his eyebrows and eyelids. Pulling Ju-wan’s hand, he kissed the spot where Jaguar’s teeth had once scratched him and vowed in a low voice.

“I’ll make sure no one but me ever leaves a mark on your body again.”

Ju-wan nodded and smiled faintly. Pressing his lips to the corner of that mouth, Su-hyeok pulled up the rest of the t-shirt. Ju-wan slightly lifted his head to help him take off the clothes. His hair, brushed against the collar, stuck up in spikes.

Kwon Su-hyeok smiled faintly as he personally smoothed down that hair. Then, while pressing the center of Ju-wan’s collarbone, he suddenly took the protruding Adam’s apple into his mouth. He meticulously held the Adam’s apple and sucked it, as if peeling the flesh from a peach pit with his tongue. Meanwhile, the hand that had been pressing the lower part of the neck slid leisurely down, sweeping over Ju-wan’s chest and abdomen. Ju-wan’s shoulders repeatedly lifted at the tingling stimulation triggered by the sensitive areas and the touch moving closer to his groin.

Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand entered Ju-wan’s pants. He swept thickly through Ju-wan’s center, touching the soft penis and inner thighs in succession as he moved his hand down. The pants and underwear caught on the back of his hand were pulled down along with it. After sweeping down to Ju-wan’s knees and the back of his knees as if tickling him, Kwon Su-hyeok naturally removed the lower garments and grabbed Ju-wan’s ankle.

Kwon Su-hyeok extended his tongue and slowly licked down from Ju-wan’s neck to his navel. The hand that had been lazily massaging the ankle while holding it also swept up from the back of the calf, through the knee, the thigh, and up to the buttocks as if tickling. Ju-wan’s waist trembled at the secret and sensual touch he was experiencing for the first time in his life. Even though his genitals weren’t being directly stimulated, heat rushed fiercely to his center.

Moving up along the precariously shaking sides, Kwon Su-hyeok pressed his hot tongue against Ju-wan’s nipple.

“Ngh…!”

Ju-wan’s upper body jerked up, his hands clutching the innocent bedsheets in the precarious atmosphere. Watching Ju-wan’s reaction, Kwon Su-hyeok tightened his lips, squeezing the small piece of flesh tightly. At that, Ju-wan closed his eyes tightly and hugged his head. When he sucked with a popping sound, Ju-wan’s knees twitched and his feet slid repeatedly. Even though he clenched his teeth, moans leaked out uncontrollably.

“Hah… ngh… ahhh.”

Kwon Su-hyeok rubbed the small nipple with his tongue to flatten it, then sucked it again. Just as Ju-wan began to adapt to the feeling, Su-hyeok stimulated the soft flesh by nibbling it with his hard teeth. A ticklish yet tingling sensation surged through his entire body. Heat clumped together inside his thighs, and his penis grew harder and harder.

Kwon Su-hyeok pointedly extended his tongue and crossed the valley of the chest. He pressed the tip of his tongue firmly into the opposite nipple, making it concave. Ju-wan’s touch, pulling him closer, became significantly more desperate. Engraving every one of Ju-wan’s reactions in his eyes, Kwon Su-hyeok thickly mashed the still-soft flesh with his tongue, then sucked it powerfully. The small piece of flesh that had been buried deep inside stood up sharply, rubbing against the soft tongue and mucosa.

“Ngh, ah, hah…”

Ju-wan’s face turned bright red. While this would be normal in typical sex, he squirmed his limbs, not knowing what to do with the unprecedentedly long foreplay.

With the two hardened nipples covered in his saliva, Kwon Su-hyeok gently rolled them with his thumbs and licked his way up to Ju-wan’s neck. He took the soft earlobe into his mouth, pulled and released it, and then licked along the outer rim of the ear. As he pushed the tip of his tongue into the ear canal, Ju-wan’s abdomen heaved so much that it naturally pressed against Kwon Su-hyeok’s.

Ignoring this, he fiddled with the inside of the ear while gently rubbing his lower body against Ju-wan’s thigh. Soon, the sound of a zipper going down was heard, and a hard, massive piece of flesh dropped onto his thigh. Every time Kwon Su-hyeok rubbed against him, his already fully erect penis rubbed deeply against the tender skin. In the process, Ju-wan’s scrotum was also thickly swept.

Kwon Su-hyeok’s breathing, echoing in the wet ear, became labored. His shoulders and back also heaved breathlessly. The act of rubbing the inner thigh became deeper and more fierce. By all accounts, he was trying to suppress his own pace and wait for Ju-wan.

“Ngh, just…”

Ju-wan, groaning under the onslaught of stimulation, fearlessly pulled Kwon Su-hyeok toward him. The thighs and buttocks, hard as stone, did not give way under his fingers. He paused, startled. Only then did he realize his situation. He felt as if he would be crushed without a trace by Kwon Su-hyeok’s massively swollen body.

Kwon Su-hyeok took Ju-wan’s hand, which had been awkwardly pulling him, and pressed a kiss upon it. Then, looking up at his face, he reconfirmed his intention.

“…Just?”

Ju-wan nodded. A faint sigh escaped Kwon Su-hyeok. On the other hand, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly.

In the next moment, Kwon Su-hyeok flipped his lower body over. His knees pressed against his chest, and his waist folded sharply in half. The sudden movement sent a rush of blood to his face, turning it bright red. As Ju-wan lifted his head to see what was happening below, a look of deep bewilderment spread across his features.

“Ah… why, uh….”

Kwon Su-hyeok gently stroked Ju-wan’s exposed hole. At the touch, Ju-wan’s legs stiffened. His eyes trembled with anxiety as he peered down between his own thighs. Watching those eyes clearly, Su-hyeok slowly buried his face in the cleft of Ju-wan’s buttocks. Realizing the purpose of the action too late, Ju-wan shook his head frantically.

“Hng, no, please… ngh, ah, ah!”

As the sensation of lukewarm moisture soaked into his sensitive spot, Ju-wan’s head was jerked back. Kwon Su-hyeok pinned both of his legs down with one arm, gripping his calves to subdue him, and repeatedly licked the exposed hole with thick, lingering strokes. The folds around the opening became glossy and wet, tightening further. He pushed the tip of his tongue inside the hole, which twitched at the unfamiliar stimulation.

“Don’t… ngh, don’t do that, ngh, please… hah, ngh….”

Ju-wan flustered, startled by the raw sensation. His toes curled repeatedly at the feeling of his hole being probed softly and densely, and the subtle stimulation of a sharp bridge of a nose repeatedly rubbing against his perineum. As if tasting a piece of fruit, Kwon Su-hyeok unhesitatingly licked and sucked Ju-wan’s hole while gently stroking his penis up and down.

“Ngh, ah… hah… ngh….”

Ju-wan’s waist twisted incessantly. His flushed ears were repeatedly pressed and flattened against the bed. The feverish moans echoing in his ears didn’t even feel like his own.

Soon, the area around the hole relaxed, becoming soft and supple. With a light popping sound, Kwon Su-hyeok kissed him briefly, licked up from the perineum, and pressed his lips against Ju-wan’s penis once more. Ju-wan’s erect member trembled slightly with a faint sense of anticipation.

As if responding to that expectation, Su-hyeok licked the length of Ju-wan’s penis thinly to the tip. Ju-wan’s knees shook, trying to press together.

“Ah… ah….”

Kwon Su-hyeok gazed at Ju-wan’s face while taking the flushed glans into his mouth. Ju-wan’s cheeks were crimson as he looked at Su-hyeok anxiously. While maintaining eye contact, Su-hyeok slid his fingers into the cleft of his buttocks. Ju-wan’s brow furrowed slightly. As Su-hyeok rubbed the hole, which was glistening with saliva, and began to push inside, Ju-wan squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. It was as if he recognized a moment of endurance was approaching and was bracing himself in advance.

Su-hyeok deliberately made loud sucking sounds as he sucked the glans, then opened his mouth to take the entire shaft inside. The penis scraped against the roof of his mouth and pushed deep into his throat. Tightening his throat and lips simultaneously, he moved his head to suck the penis with devotion. He poked and prodded the hole, occasionally swirling his finger to steadily widen it. Rubbing and pressing against the sweet, enveloping inner walls, he sucked the penis in his mouth even more greedily.

“Hah, ngh, ah… that, ah….”

Ju-wan’s body trembled as if an electric current were running through him. His jaw, shoulders, and elbows all grew tense under the relentless onslaught of stimulation. Ju-wan struggled, confused about how to endure this overwhelming and endless surge of pleasure.

Kwon Su-hyeok slowly rotated his hand to widen Ju-wan’s hole before pushing in another finger. The inner walls, which had gained some leeway, became tight again. Patiently probing and massaging the intimate inner flesh, he repeatedly stroked the scrotum and perineum with his thumb as if soothing the tense Ju-wan. He also looked down and stroked the penis that was shaking in the throes of pleasure.

“…Haa-ah!”

After some time, Ju-wan’s body gave a violent lurch. His chest, which had been heaving and melting under the pleasure radiating from everywhere, froze in its expanded state.

In that instant, their eyes met. With a distorted face, Ju-wan shook his head slightly. He also instinctively curled his body inward.

Keeping his gaze on Ju-wan’s face, Kwon Su-hyeok pressed firmly against that same spot from a moment ago. Without fail, Ju-wan’s lower body jolted. A distant gasp escaped him. Panicked, Ju-wan half-raised his upper body and grabbed Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand.

To no avail, Kwon Su-hyeok moved his embedded hand to deliberately crush and rub a specific spot. Ju-wan writhed, his limbs flailing as he came undone.

“Ah! Ngh, hah… haaa… ah, ngh, no, ngh….”

“…Haa, I can’t take any more.”

Kwon Su-hyeok hurriedly withdrew his hand from Ju-wan’s hole. He then brought his own penis, which felt as if it were about to burst, to the opening. The hole, twitching from the sudden void, clamped onto the penis and swallowed the pre-cum gathered at the tip. The shallow point of contact felt as if it would melt away instantly.

Kwon Su-hyeok took a deep breath and looked at Ju-wan. Ju-wan nodded silently. Maintaining eye contact, Su-hyeok thrust his hips upward. As the penis forced its way through the narrow hole, Ju-wan’s lean body began to tremble violently. His eyes shut tight, and his lips pressed firmly together.

“Auuu… ngh.”

“…Ngh.”

Despite the widening, Ju-wan’s interior felt incredibly tight. The inner walls, stretched to their limit, writhed heavily and squeezed Kwon Su-hyeok’s penis. His deeply defined abs rippled once. After catching his breath for a moment, Su-hyeok gripped one of Ju-wan’s buttocks firmly, pulling it open, and slammed the half-inserted penis home.

In one breath, the entire length was driven in, and Kwon Su-hyeok’s abdomen collided hard against Ju-wan’s buttocks. As the inner walls were filled without a single gap, Ju-wan’s stomach bulged. No matter how deeply he inhaled and exhaled, he couldn’t find comfort. Even opening his eyes felt like a burden.

After savoring the sweet tightness of the inner walls for a moment, Kwon Su-hyeok grabbed Ju-wan’s chin to fix his gaze on him. Then, he began to slowly grind his hips, tasting the inner flesh. Ju-wan, barely managing to look up at Su-hyeok, squeezed his eyes shut again.

“Hng, ngh… ah, ngh….”

“Haa, ha….”

Veins popped on Kwon Su-hyeok’s smooth forehead as he let out rough breaths. He sighed deeply at a thirst that would not be quenched, then lifted Ju-wan’s legs and rested them on his shoulders. He leaned his upper body completely over Ju-wan to increase the closeness. Because of this, Kwon Su-hyeok’s penis was pushed into depths where no one had ever reached. His insides felt completely full, pressing against his lungs. Ju-wan shook his head with a bright red face, suffering.

“Hng… too… deep, ah.”

As if to soothe him, Su-hyeok kissed his neck, chin, and cheeks repeatedly while twisting his hips to change the angle of insertion. He then probed the tightly gripped penis in a slow, distant manner. The ridged surface of the penis scraped firmly against a sensitive spot. Each time, Ju-wan’s crushed body jolted.

Kwon Su-hyeok braced himself with both hands on the floor and pressed his lower abdomen flush against Ju-wan. Then, the hips that had been moving leisurely until now began to thrust deeply and rapidly, ruthlessly churning through the ripe mucous membrane of Ju-wan’s stomach. The thick penis was sucked out until only the root remained, then slammed back in, creating wet, slapping sounds as flesh collided. Ju-wan moaned dizzily, unable to keep his senses as he felt the void in his stomach instantly filled with hot probing, followed by tingling friction and a force so strong it made his knees weak.

“Ah! Hng! Ah, ngh, hah…!”

“Haa, ngh, kgh, ngh… ha….”

A fierce urge to release made his penis ache as if it were about to burst. As he curled his whole body to try and endure it, the inner walls contracted in tandem, kneading Kwon Su-hyeok’s penis. Kwon Su-hyeok grit his teeth. He ran out of breath, and his vision blurred.

In the next moment, Kwon Su-hyeok’s abs became suddenly wet. It was because Ju-wan’s penis, which had been rubbing frantically between them, had suddenly ejaculated.

“Haa-ah…! Ah…!”

A deep moan erupted from Ju-wan. His body trembled, unable to withstand the tingling afterglow. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly kissed Ju-wan’s shoulders and cheeks to soothe him.

Even so, below, he held onto Ju-wan’s body, which was starting to go limp, and thrust into the hole so violently that his scrotum was nearly crushed. Ju-wan collapsed, groaning miserably at the pleasure that vibrated through his entire body with an almost painful intensity.

“Ah, ngh, hah, ngh, ngh, mmm… ah!”

“…Ha, ngh, ngh, kgh!”

Suddenly, Kwon Su-hyeok gripped both of Ju-wan’s buttocks tightly and threw his lower body forward as if falling. Because of this, the flesh driven in deeper than ever exploded white inside Ju-wan’s stomach. As thick semen was splashed into his heated interior, Ju-wan’s body shook faintly.

Kwon Su-hyeok grit his teeth and caught his breath for a moment before grinding his hips again to pump out the remaining semen. Immediately, his sweat-soaked body covered Ju-wan. The boiling thoughts in his head suddenly calmed, and a faint dizziness washed over him. Ju-wan groaned softly, rubbing his face against Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand. It was impossible to tell if the moisture in his eyes was tears or sweat.

Kwon Su-hyeok leaned down to kiss the corners of Ju-wan’s eyes, then layered his lips over Ju-wan’s, who was looking at him through wet eyelashes. Ju-wan swallowed a moist breath and pulled him close. It was the first time. The first time he didn’t feel miserable after sex. The first time he felt full inside, not as a mere outlet for dirty desires, but with the certainty that he was loved.

Kwon Su-hyeok tightly hugged Ju-wan, who was rubbing his head against his neck like a spoiled child. Even after one climax, the heat in his body did not subside in the slightest. Rather, he felt an even greater thirst, shamelessly craving more. Due to Ju-wan’s now deeper scent, his thin patience quickly ran out.

Ju-wan gave Kwon Su-hyeok small, pecking kisses on the lips. Then, he nonchalantly stirred the desire of the man who had been barely suppressing his excitement.

“Hold me more.”

Kwon Su-hyeok’s weight overlapped on Ju-wan’s sweat-soaked back. Held by him, Ju-wan couldn’t move. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly kissed the white nape of Ju-wan’s neck while moving his hips. Ju-wan’s plump buttocks were flattened and repeatedly ploughed through. The bed mattress shook slightly, bringing on a wave of dizziness.

He had no idea how much time had passed since they lay down together, or how many times they had ejaculated. Reason had long since snapped, and their bodies, heated to the limit, were so ripe that even a brush of skin felt tingling.

“Auuu….”

Kwon Su-hyeok nibbled on the rim of his ear and thrust his hips deeper and heavier. A low groan escaped Ju-wan. Because of the prone position, his chest and stomach were pressed, making his breathing labored. No matter how much he inhaled, he felt suffocated. Perhaps it was because of Kwon Su-hyeok’s penis, which repeatedly pushed in to fill his stomach. He was so dazed, as if his brain had melted from the excessive heat, that he couldn’t think of anything.

As if to soothe the struggling Ju-wan, Kwon Su-hyeok calmly stroked his stomach, then kissed his shoulders in spots as he gently lifted his upper body. Then, Ju-wan, looking back with somewhat glazed eyes, instinctively propped himself up on his arms.

During the change of position, Kwon Su-hyeok’s penis partially slid out. Consequently, Ju-wan’s hole slowly twitched, spitting out the semen that had filled it. The cloudy fluid flowed down, licking Ju-wan’s thighs thickly.

“Ah… wait, ah… ngh, ah!”

Driven by the sight that was hard to resist, Su-hyeok slammed the penis back in. The swollen entrance swallowed Kwon Su-hyeok with some difficulty. The soft inner walls fit perfectly, as if they had been molded exactly to the shape of his penis. If possible, he wanted to stay like that forever.

Licking his own lower lip while feeling the tight, sweet squeeze, Kwon Su-hyeok gripped Ju-wan’s waist and thrust rapidly. With deep-plunging insertions—pulling out until only the glans remained and then slamming back to the root—the tender hole was swept away. Whenever it tried to close, it was forced open, and when it opened, it sucked in the inner mucosa, triggering constant stimulation.

“Ngh, ngh, ah, hah, ngh…!”

“Haa, ngh, ngh, ha…!”

He plunged the entire length in repeatedly, gorging himself on the inner flesh. The semen that had filled the inside clung to the surface of the penis, creating opaque bubbles. Some clung white around the hole before dripping down the thighs.

“Ah, no more… more, hng, mmm, ah….”

Ju-wan’s trembling arms gave out and collapsed. His head sank back into the pillow. Kwon Su-hyeok held his waist and accelerated his pace. Licking deeply up Ju-wan’s sweat-beaded spine, he greedily nibbled on the nape of the neck, which was already mottled with his bite marks. Ju-wan writhed his head and groaned incessantly. While nibbling on the hot earlobe and thrusting below, Su-hyeok suddenly twisted the joined area and pierced a specific spot forcefully.

“Ah, haa-ah!”

“Ngh… kgh…!”

Kwon Su-hyeok’s body swelled greatly, and a moan like a beast’s roar poured out of him. Ju-wan, who had been limp with only his buttocks lifted, rubbed his forehead against the pillow, trembling at the terrifying pleasure. Because he had been so hot, goosebumps broke out all over his body immediately after ejaculation. His jaw trembled.

Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly nibbled on Ju-wan’s earlobe while stirring shallowly inside Ju-wan’s stomach with his spent penis. At the languid yet sweet sensation, Ju-wan’s ragged breathing became sugary. Su-hyeok buried his head between Ju-wan’s shoulders. Their ears brushed softly, followed by cheek to cheek. He lay completely overlapped on top of Ju-wan, feeling his breath and body heat. He lightly ruffled and patted the head of the breathless Ju-wan.

Ju-wan’s eyes were flickering. He wasn’t hungry because his stomach was full of semen. He was thirsty, but he didn’t have the strength to lift a finger. He felt as exhausted as if he had done heavy labor, and he just wanted to fall asleep like that.

Then, suddenly, his body felt light. At the same time, the warmth of Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been pressed against his back, vanished. Ju-wan’s eyes, which had been drifting shut, snapped open. Startled, he half-raised his upper body and saw Kwon Su-hyeok heading toward the door.

“…Where are you going?”

A voice, unsightly cracked from moaning all night, flowed out. He tried to clear his throat with a cough, but it had little effect. Kwon Su-hyeok looked at Ju-wan and walked out without a word.

Ju-wan quickly sat up. He hesitated just as he was about to follow Su-hyeok. The moment his feet touched the floor, a throbbing pain spread from deep inside his buttocks. Perhaps because of that, his knees shook helplessly, and he didn’t dare try to stand.

He just sat there, staring blankly at the door Su-hyeok had exited. He was used to being left alone, like a condom discarded after sex. He had never felt sad about being treated that way. He had only felt miserable and wretched as a human being with dignity.

But this time, he felt restless. As Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t return even after a long wait, he felt lonely and solitary. It felt as if his heart were aching, as if he had become the most useless being in the world.

“…….”

Sitting alone in the bluish darkness, Ju-wan slowly lay back down on the bed. He pulled the blanket, which had slid down to his feet, up to his chin and turned away. His body instinctively curled into a small ball. He never wanted to repeat such an experience again.

“Wake up.”

Startled by the sudden sound of Kwon Su-hyeok’s voice, he looked back. Having returned without a sound, Su-hyeok was looking down at Ju-wan, holding something in his hand. Ju-wan only looked at him curiously and didn’t get up quickly. Then, Kwon Su-hyeok sat on the edge of the bed and personally supported his back to help him sit up. He even firmly placed a stray pillow behind Ju-wan’s waist.

After staring at Ju-wan’s bewildered face, he lightly touched his parched lips. Then, he picked up the round object he had set down. Though he couldn’t be sure in the dark, the size and fragrant scent suggested it was an apple.

Kwon Su-hyeok took out a knife and sliced the apple thinly. He then brought a slice close to Ju-wan’s mouth.

“…Why.”

“It’ll be a problem if you’re already exhausted.”

Ju-wan went blank at the unexpected answer. Kwon Su-hyeok pushed the apple slice between his slightly parted lips. Sweet, fragrant juice touched his tongue. Ju-wan moved his lips to fully take the apple, which had been awkwardly held, into his mouth. The crisp sound of the flesh breaking refreshed his dry mouth. His parched lips regained a bit of color.

Kwon Su-hyeok sliced another piece of apple and handed it to Ju-wan. This time, Ju-wan silently accepted and ate the apple he offered. Having been trapped in bed for nearly half a day, it was only natural that he felt thirsty. The apple quickly dwindled to half, and then to a quarter.

“Why are you giving it all to me? Aren’t you thirsty?”

Ju-wan, who had been obediently moistening his throat, indirectly suggested that Kwon Su-hyeok eat some as well. At that, Kwon Su-hyeok set the knife and the remaining half of the apple down on the bedside table. Before Ju-wan could wonder what he was doing, his face was suddenly gripped. A soft tongue parted his lips with heat, invading the mucous membranes of his mouth, which were filled with the scent of apple.

As Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue relentlessly entwined with Ju-wan’s sweet one, his body was slowly pushed backward. He collapsed onto the bed and looked up at Kwon Su-hyeok, who was sucking his lips with a tenacity and desperation akin to someone who had discovered an oasis in a desert.

He knew all too well the pain of the moment when vain faith returns as betrayal. He thought he would never again rashly trust or rely on anyone. It wasn’t a resolution he had made by gritting his teeth; it was a kind of defensive wall built by a body and mind that had suffered fatal wounds beyond repair.

Yet, ridiculously, a blind faith was beginning to form once again. Even though he knew clearly that if he were hurt this time, there would be no turning back.

Hesitantly, he raised both arms and hugged Kwon Su-hyeok’s neck. Kwon Su-hyeok pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around Ju-wan’s waist and back even more firmly. He had come to a state of resignation because he liked him so much. It felt as if it wouldn’t matter if he were swept away in a mess or completely broken, as long as it was by him.