9. Lose Control

The swing hanging from a massive tree swayed lightly even in a gentle breeze. Looking down at the village from there, people looked as tiny as pinky fingers. Grandfather’s hanok was located at the innermost part of the village. When evening came, it was the first place to send up smoke.

Running around frantically while breathing in the clear air steeped in the thick scent of earth, his hands and face would quickly become blackened with dirt. Even if he slipped into the dinner table in such a state, Grandfather wouldn’t scold him; instead, he would smile, creating deeper wrinkles on his weathered face. Just as he would follow along with a smirk and try to pick up his spoon, Gangneung Grandmother would grab his hand and lead him to the outdoor sink. Only after scrubbing his hands clean and passing Gangneung Grandmother’s inspection could he finally fill his hungry stomach.

It was a daily routine he had taken for granted, one that had continued naturally. He never imagined that this life would become a memory he would long for forever, or that it would be overlaid with a terrible nightmare, making that nightmare even more cruel and horrific.

“…….”

He slowly opened his eyes. His throat felt tight and muffled. Even though he hadn’t had a nightmare, it felt as if his heart were being carved out. Because he had been too happy, and because he could never go back to that time.

Since dawn had not yet broken, the surroundings were filled with a bluish hue. As his senses slowly returned, he heard steady breathing in his ears. One belonged to Kwon Su-hyeok, and the other to Jaguar. Today, as always, he was squeezed tightly between the two.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, he shifted his body slightly. Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok’s body touched his shoulder. Wondering if he had woken up, he slowly turned his head. Fortunately, Kwon Su-hyeok’s eyes were firmly closed.

No wonder it was hard to move; the weight of the arm wrapped around his waist was considerable. He carefully unwound Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm from his waist. He also detached Jaguar’s tail, which occupied the space below. At that moment, Jaguar suddenly lifted his head, snapping his bright yellow eyes open. Startled, Ju-wan flinched.

“Su-nam, sleep more.”

He covered Jaguar’s eyes with his palm and patted the thick nape of his neck. After wriggling his large body for a moment, the creature fell back into a deep sleep under the languid touch of the hand stroking him.

After confirming Jaguar was completely asleep, he quietly raised his upper body. He sat back, leaning against the headboard of the bed. Looking down, Kwon Su-hyeok’s face came into clearer view.

It was a fresh realization, but he was handsome. His thick, sharp eyebrows and deep yet piercing eyes were impressive. His high bridge of the nose, firmly closed lips, and overall facial lines were like a sculpture carved with precision, without a single error. He had never seen a face so perfectly formed without any excess in his entire life. Was that simply why physical contact with Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t feel uncomfortable?

Ju-wan’s eyes slowly rolled, taking in the philtrum and the lips below it in turn. The thin lips that completed his cold impression were, ironically, warm and cozy. Without realizing it, Ju-wan gently bit his own plump lower lip.

He knew what kind of emotions Kwon Su-hyeok held toward him. Although it had never been expressed in words, the atmosphere flowing between them, the clearly changed gaze, and his actions gave him certainty. Kwon Su-hyeok’s offensive of affection was so direct that there was no room for error.

When exactly did it start?

Ju-wan was not an ignorant child. He was just a bit slow and took longer than others to accept things because he had been disconnected from the world for a long time. Therefore, there was no way he wouldn’t know what Kwon Su-hyeok wanted from him.

That was why it was more bewildering and confusing. Until now, no one had ever wanted such things from Ju-wan. More accurately, there had been no one who craved him with their whole body yet restrained themselves and endured not touching him. It was too difficult and daunting. Regardless of the fact that Kwon Su-hyeok was a man like himself, or a benefactor who had restored his freedom, he didn’t know how to accept him or how to react.

He didn’t want to disappoint Kwon Su-hyeok. He wanted Kwon Su-hyeok to smile at him more.

Lost in thought while staring blankly at Kwon Su-hyeok, Ju-wan suddenly stiffened. Without realizing it, his hand had reached toward the sleeping Kwon Su-hyeok’s face. There was no hesitation, just as when he stroked Jaguar.

The moment Ju-wan tried to quickly withdraw his hand, Kwon Su-hyeok’s calmly closed eyes opened slowly and clearly. Kwon Su-hyeok silently stared at Ju-wan’s hand, which had come right in front of his nose.

“Ah, you’re awake?”

“…….”

Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t answer and looked up at Ju-wan. Even in the half-darkness, his pitch-black pupils looked vivid. His long bangs almost poked his eyes.

Could I touch him just once? Ju-wan slowly brought his hand, which had been awkwardly extended in the air, to Kwon Su-hyeok’s smooth forehead. Then, he gently brushed aside the long hair with his fingers.

Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t mind Ju-wan’s hand touching his face at all. By the time Ju-wan’s hand, which had been tickling his forehead, slid down to trace his eyebrows, he closed his eyes completely as if telling him to do as he pleased.

Relying only on the sensation in his fingertips, Ju-wan traced down the bridge of Kwon Su-hyeok’s sharp nose. As his finger passed the philtrum and lightly caught on the dry lips, Kwon Su-hyeok suddenly reached out and pulled Ju-wan’s nape. Ju-wan’s upper body tilted sharply forward, and his upper lip met Kwon Su-hyeok’s lower lip. Then, a hot tongue pushed firmly through the lips.

Since their lips were completely offset, the tongue that pushed in in a clump thoroughly swept under Ju-wan’s tongue. He took the plump lower lip fully into his mouth and stimulated the underside of the tongue by nibbling with the tip. Saliva quickly pooled in the mouth. When Ju-wan sucked back the tongue that was lightly rubbing against him, a low moan escaped him.

Then, Kwon Su-hyeok released Ju-wan’s tongue, which he had been suctioning strongly enough to be painful. He then gently and sweetly entwined his tongue with Ju-wan’s wet one. Ju-wan’s tense body gradually relaxed, accepting Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue much more comfortably. The saliva thickened and became sweet.

“…Haa.”

Ju-wan pulled his head back slightly and looked down at Kwon Su-hyeok. Kwon Su-hyeok was still holding his nape, but he wasn’t pulling him with force like before. Their gazes locked at a close distance. It was precarious, as if something was bound to happen.

Just then, a presence was heard outside the door. It seemed someone had opened the front door and entered. It appeared Jeon Mi-nam had arrived. Although he was the type to wait until Kwon Su-hyeok came out on his own unless it was very late, it seemed they couldn’t maintain that state any longer with someone outside. Moreover, Jaguar, who had woken up at some point, was staring intently at the two of them with glowing yellow eyes.

Ju-wan straightened his back and held Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand around his neck, slowly removing it. Then, Jaguar raised his front paws to lift his upper body and suddenly pressed his snout against Ju-wan’s mouth. It was as if he were imitating the act Kwon Su-hyeok and Ju-wan had just performed before his eyes.

However, without any suspicion, Ju-wan simply rubbed his cheek against the creature’s face as the whiskers tickled him. Even when Jaguar pushed his snout in again, Ju-wan merely kneaded the creature’s cheeks as he always did.

Jaguar tilted his head, but when Ju-wan stroked him, he narrowed his eyes and shuddered his large body. As Ju-wan stroked him from head to back, he offered a word of thanks to Kwon Su-hyeok, who was watching the scene in silence.

“Thank you.”

“…Suddenly?”

“For many things, thank you truly.”

For readily allowing him to visit his hometown, for providing a comfortable place to sleep so he wouldn’t suffer from terrible nightmares anymore, and for allowing him into a side of himself that he had let no one else enter.

* * *

He had no memories of his father or mother from his childhood. He had lived with his grandfather from around the time his ego began to form. Since it was a quiet rural area, there weren’t many children Ju-wan’s age. Even the few friends he had were mostly cases where parents had left them with grandparents due to reasons like both parents working. Thus, he didn’t feel the void of parents strongly. Though he often wondered why he only had his grandfather when he saw the parents of his friends coming to meet them on birthdays or holidays.

As long as he had his grandfather, it didn’t matter. Because he had never received parental affection, he didn’t know how it differed from a grandfather’s affection. Along with Gangneung Grandmother and Mr. Choi, who looked after the housework, they were a warm family with nothing lacking. He couldn’t have asked for more.

When he opened his eyes, he would start his day by watering the flowers and trees planted in the backyard. Soon becoming hungry, when he sat at the dinner table, he would be chased away by Gangneung Grandmother to wash his face. He would wash only his eyes and mouth like a cat and quickly finish a bowl of rice. Around that time, friends would come to the house and call for Ju-wan. After putting the last spoonful in his mouth, he would shove on his slippers and run out excitedly.

He played with his peers, running and rolling on the dirt ground without any toys. No one forced him to study. It was a time of endless laughter. He regretted the end of each day, and at night, he grew anxious because the next day didn’t come soon enough. It was a daily life he thought would continue forever.

Recalling the past, he aimlessly followed the skeletal trees passing by the window. Soon, an old rural bus appeared in front of the car. The bus moved slowly, belching black exhaust, but Jeon Mi-nam simply followed quietly behind without attempting to overtake. Even when the bus stopped in a place that wasn’t a station to let passengers off and on, he waited calmly.

After passing a few old bus stops in the sparsely populated rural village, even the signposts disappeared. Jeon Mi-nam slowed the car further and asked Ju-wan for confirmation.

“According to my research, it’s around here. Do you happen to remember?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t really know yet.”

“Since 20 years have passed, there might be many differences from your memory. There’s no rush, so let’s look around slowly.”

He nodded and carefully observed the houses, trees, and the mountain terrain. Because the village in his memory was surrounded by deep green foliage, the skeletal branches and dormant fields felt unfamiliar. There were also many houses that had been demolished and rebuilt, making it hard to be certain.

Jeon Mi-nam’s car stopped in front of a small general store located at the entrance of the village. Turning off the engine, Jeon Mi-nam got out of the car and headed toward the store. He seemed intent on asking the residents. The store’s ceiling was so low that he had to hunch his neck to enter. However, as if there was no one inside, he came back out quickly. Then, he looked around repeatedly, searching for the store owner.

Ju-wan, who got out shortly after, also slowly turned in a circle, observing the surrounding scenery. Soon, something caught his eye.

“That is….”

It was a hill high enough to overlook the village. The zelkova tree standing alone there also evoked a deep nostalgia. The swing that had been hanging from that tree was gone, but that tree was definitely the one.

As if possessed, Ju-wan walked toward the hill. His steps, which had been somewhat slow, gradually picked up speed, and soon he began to run. His gaze remained fixed on the zelkova tree atop the hill. Soon his legs grew heavy and his breath became labored, but he gritted his teeth and climbed the hill. He was blind in his pursuit, as if it were an illusion that would vanish if he didn’t arrive quickly.

Finally reaching the top of the hill, he caught his breath, his shoulders heaving. His lungs throbbed as if they were tearing. Jeon Mi-nam, who had followed Ju-wan late while searching for the store owner, also steadied his breathing and observed Ju-wan’s movements.

Ju-wan approached the tree, which had grown thicker and larger, and looked around carefully. Then, discovering letters carved around his waist height, he knelt on one knee. As time had passed, the letters had become blurred. Because of that, it was difficult to read exactly what was carved, but at a glance, it seemed to be someone’s name. There wasn’t just one or two such carvings. Seeing that each had a different shape and height, it seemed several people had measured their height and left their names. He didn’t know if his own name was among them.

He reached out and fingered the flattened letters.

“It’s here. This is the place.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Looking down from here, I could see the whole village. Mr. Choi coming out to sweep the yard, Gangneung Grandmother making and sharing food with the neighborhood ladies.”

Ju-wan stood up and looked around the surroundings again. He could see the general store where Jeon Mi-nam’s car was parked, the large and small rice paddies, the orchard, the greenhouses, the cattle shed, the farm machinery, and even a dog poking around here and there in the village.

Then, a large hanok with a small mountain behind it like a folding screen came into view. It might have become a bit worn since so much time had passed, but it still looked calm and serene.

Ju-wan stared down at the hanok for a long while, unable to say a word. It felt as if his grandfather, calling for his immature grandson; Mr. Choi, holding a broom; and the Gangneung Grandmother, with a basket tucked under her arm, might step out through the main gate at any moment.

“Would you like to go and see it yourself?”

“…Yes.”

Without hesitation, Ju-wan nodded repeatedly. The two of them immediately walked down the hill toward the hanok they had seen from above. Although it was midday, there was no one on the roadside. It was likely because it was the off-season.

According to Jeon Mi-nam’s prior research, the hanok where Ju-wan had lived as a child had been put on the market immediately after his paternal grandfather’s death and was soon sold at a high price to a buyer. As expected, the person who signed the sales contract was Ju-wan’s biological mother. After that, the ownership changed several times before passing to the current owner five years ago.

Up close, the hanok was even more magnificent than he had imagined. Despite being quite an old building, not a single section of the wall had crumbled, and the main gate remained sturdy without a single dent. Not a single cobweb could be found under the eaves. It seemed the homeowner had hired people to maintain it meticulously.

That was why it was strange. The current owner’s registered address was not that location. In fact, since the hanok had been sold by Ju-wan’s biological mother, not a single person had resided there. Ownership had simply been registered and extinguished repeatedly. Jeon Mi-nam wondered why the current owner had spent so much effort maintaining a house they had merely held onto for several years.

Unaware of this fact, Ju-wan looked up at the nameplate just in case. The Chinese characters engraved there were different from what Ju-wan remembered. When he tried to push the main gate, it was firmly locked from the inside. Feeling disappointed, he peeked over the wall, when he suddenly felt a presence behind him. Jeon Mi-nam, sensing it before Ju-wan did, whipped around.

A man who looked to be in his thirties was staring at the two of them suspiciously. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a local resident. Jeon Mi-nam bowed politely, as he usually did.

“Do you live here?”

“I do. And who are you people? Who are you to be loitering around someone else’s house?”

“Ah, then by any chance, are you the owner of this house?”

“…No. I’m not.”

As the conversation between the man and Jeon Mi-nam dragged on, Ju-wan also glanced back. The man, who had been wary of Jeon Mi-nam—whose frame cast a deep shadow over Ju-wan’s face—glanced at Ju-wan. His gaze, which had been about to drift away, snapped back and became completely fixed. His eyes, which had been blank with surprise, widened in shock.

“Park Ju-wan?”

“…Yes?”

“It is Ju-wan, right? It is, Park Ju-wan. Don’t you recognize me? It’s Seon-yong, Lee Seon-yong.”

“Seon-yong?”

“Yeah, you punk. Don’t you remember? Lee Seon-yong from the orchard house. We played together every single day until you moved away.”

“Ah!”

A friend’s face instantly surfaced from his hazy memories. He had lost his baby fat, his features had sharpened, and he now had a shadow of a beard, but his gentle impression remained the same. In early spring, they would spend all day splashing in the stream until their hands and feet were pruned, trying to catch tadpoles; in summer, they would jump into the valley water naked and splash around until they were exhausted. In autumn, they would roam the mountains and fields until the sun went down to catch insects.

For a moment, a part of his memories that had been entirely grey seemed to revive in vivid color. Ju-wan’s bewildered expression gradually softened, and a bright smile blossomed. Lee Seon-yong also broke into a wide grin, revealing his white teeth. Stepping forward, he grabbed both of Ju-wan’s hands and shook them vigorously in delight.

“Hey, you brat! How have you been living all this time? Huh? Not a single word of contact. After you moved, no one knew how you were doing, and since there was no news from you, I thought you’d died, you punk!”

The innocent eyes expressing his disappointment grew slightly moist. Feeling that the man might actually cry if left alone, Ju-wan could only mutter, “I’m sorry.”

Lee Seon-yong insisted that they shouldn’t stay here and led Ju-wan to his house. Jeon Mi-nam followed from a distance, careful not to interfere with their reunion.

Lee Seon-yong brought out steamed sweet potatoes, corn, and sikhye that he had prepared in advance to serve Ju-wan. He even called over Jeon Mi-nam, who had been standing far off, with great sociability and personally handed him a sweet potato.

“What brings you here today? To see the old gentleman?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been able to come until now.”

Ju-wan smiled bitterly as he took the corn Lee Seon-yong offered. Lee Seon-yong threw out a clueless reproach, asking if he had been locked up somewhere.

“I’ve just had a lot of work. How have you been?”

“Me? Well, my father passed away right after I graduated high school, and with the help of the village elders, I took over the orchard and I’m farming apples. What about you? Are you making enough to eat?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why do you look like you haven’t had a scrap of porridge? Where did that spirited Park Ju-wan from before go?”

Ju-wan, biting into the corn, smiled faintly as if to say not to worry. He even shook his head.

“No, I’m doing really well now. I’ve met a good person.”

“Oh? Someone you’re going to marry?”

A mischievous expression appeared on Lee Seon-yong’s tanned face.

“…Just someone I want to keep by my side.”

“You brat, you’re head over heels. Introduce me when you get the chance. Bring them here sometime, too.”

“Yeah, I will.”

Lee Seon-yong stood up, telling Ju-wan he should at least have a meal since they had met like this. As he was about to head to the kitchen, he suddenly remembered something and paused.

“Right, come to think of it, have you met that person?”

“That person? Who?”

“That gentleman called Lawyer Im.”

“Lawyer Im?”

“What? You haven’t met him yet?”

Lee Seon-yong tilted his head and began rummaging through a drawer in the room. Ju-wan watched him in silence with a puzzled look.

Jeon Mi-nam’s expression stiffened. The fact that Lee Seon-yong, whom he had met after a long time, abruptly asked if he had met a ‘Lawyer Im’ allowed for the inference that this ‘Lawyer Im’ had visited Ju-wan frequently and asked the village residents, including Lee Seon-yong, for news of him.

Normally, a lawyer looks for someone to resolve a legal issue. He couldn’t help but be wary of what the matter was and whether blood relatives, including Woo Hyeong-seok, were involved.

Soon, Lee Seon-yong handed Ju-wan a business card he had managed to find.

“What is this?”

“That lawyer gentleman’s contact information.”

“Who is he?”

“Well, he told me he’s the old gentleman’s attorney. He was an old man with white hair.”

The person Lee Seon-yong consistently referred to as ‘the old gentleman’ was Ju-wan’s grandfather. When his grandfather was alive, everyone in the village had called him that.

Ju-wan didn’t know if his grandfather had a personal lawyer. He had been too young at the time to know such things.

He looked closely at the business card he received from Lee Seon-yong. The name ‘Im Jeong-sik’ was written there along with two contact numbers. Ju-wan stared intently at the numbers before tucking the card safely into his pocket.

Lee Seon-yong quickly prepared lunch, boiling a spinach soybean paste soup. It was a humble table consisting of freshly picked green peppers, lettuce, ssamjang, a few types of pickled vegetables, kimchi, and dried radish strips. Despite that, both Ju-wan and Jeon Mi-nam quickly emptied their bowls. No feast could have felt as warm as that meal.

After the meal, guided by Lee Seon-yong, they climbed the small mountain behind the hanok. He said his grandfather’s grave was there. As soon as the funeral had ended, Ju-wan had been led away by his mother to her house and had never been able to return. Far from tending to his grandfather’s grave, he hadn’t even been able to visit once.

Lee Seon-yong told him that since then, the village residents had taken turns managing the grandfather’s grave. Without a single complaint, those grateful hands had continued their work for twenty years. As if to prove this, a narrow path had formed on the mountain. The traces of people passing by over a long period had remained as a path.

Following those footsteps, they reached a prime spot overlooking the village. The grave was located in the sunniest position. In front of the grave, which was neatly kept without a single weed, a tombstone had been erected. Since the engravings were entirely in Chinese characters, he couldn’t decipher the exact phrasing, but he clearly recognized the three characters of his grandfather’s name. Ju-wan gently stroked the deeply engraved name. It felt as if warmth was pooling in his palm.

Lee Seon-yong tidied his clothes in front of the grave and bowed deeply and respectfully. Ju-wan, glancing at him, offered his first bow to his late grandfather. Jeon Mi-nam bowed his head behind them as if in silent prayer.

“Grandfather.”

After finishing the bow, Ju-wan called out to his grandfather. There was no answer. He bit his trembling lips hard. A squeezing pain spread numbly deep inside his chest. He felt a sudden surge of emotion, and the tip of his nose stung uncontrollably.

Lee Seon-yong kept his mouth shut and busily walked around the grave, pulling out the few weeds that had grown. Jeon Mi-nam remained standing behind Ju-wan, silently watching his back, which seemed unusually small.

Ju-wan approached the grave on his knees and embraced the burial mound with both arms. The scent of moisture-laden earth rushed into his nose, but that actually made his heart feel more at ease. He slowly closed his eyes. His eyelashes grew damp, and soon a single tear rolled down. The sunlight, warm like his grandfather’s embrace, endlessly patted his back.

On the way out of the village, Ju-wan didn’t say a word. It was difficult to even guess how he felt or what he thought when he embraced his grandfather’s mound for the first time in twenty years. A whirlwind of emotions must have crossed his mind. He must have felt moved yet sorrowful, and while grief welled up, he likely felt a touching sense of warmth.

After a while of stillness, Ju-wan took something out of his pocket. Jeon Mi-nam’s eyes shifted to the side. What Ju-wan was looking at was the business card he had received from Lee Seon-yong.

Jeon Mi-nam looked straight ahead again and tentatively checked Ju-wan’s intention.

“Would you like to meet him?”

“…Pardon?”

“That person who is a lawyer.”

“I’m not sure.”

Ju-wan looked down at the card without certainty. The letters and numbers written there didn’t seem to register, as if they were floating. It felt surreal.

“If you’re even slightly curious, it would be best to meet him. If you don’t, the questions will remain. And we don’t know how long the opportunity will stay open. Didn’t he say that lawyer had white hair?”

As Jeon Mi-nam said, if the lawyer named Im Jeong-sik was already elderly, he wouldn’t be able to wait for Ju-wan forever. Ju-wan gazed at Jeon Mi-nam for a moment before turning his gaze back to the card. He fiddled with the small piece of paper for a long time, as if hesitating.

“I may not be of much help, but I can make the call for you.”

A silent smile spread across Ju-wan’s lips. For some reason, that one sentence from Jeon Mi-nam felt more reassuring than any other consolation. He must have looked troubled enough for Jeon Mi-nam to suggest it so proactively.

It wasn’t that he was suddenly afraid of the news he would hear from Im Jeong-sik. Rather, he was curious about the stories of his grandfather that the man could tell. Though he didn’t know for sure, he would likely hear the inner circumstances that the young Ju-wan hadn’t known. He didn’t know when another opportunity like this would come.

Of course, it might not be pleasant or welcoming news. However, he felt it was better to know everything, even if it were somewhat shocking, than to be hurt because he didn’t know. He wanted to hear what words his grandfather had left for the current Ju-wan.

“Then, Mr. Mi-nam, please stay by my side.”

Ju-wan finally made up his mind. Jeon Mi-nam nodded with a reassuring voice, saying, “Yes.”

Kwon Su-hyeok was on his way back to the office after an external meeting. Normally, he would have been reviewing work documents or checking real-time news in the car, but today, he cast a vague gaze out the window.

He figured Ju-wan must have arrived in his hometown by now. He would have visited the old house he had missed so much, and if he were lucky, he would have visited his late grandfather’s grave. What was Ju-wan like when he lived with his grandfather? Was he more vibrant than he is now? Did he giggle at trivial things and run around energetically like any other child?

Twenty years later, Kwon Su-hyeok couldn’t imagine how it felt to visit that place again. Was he sad? Did he cry? He furrowed his brow bitterly. It was difficult to concentrate on work all day due to the worry and thoughts regarding Ju-wan. If it were going to be like this, he should have just taken Ju-wan there himself.

His thoughts were entirely occupied by Ju-wan. Since when had he become an idiot who thought of someone at all hours and grew restless? And toward a man, no less. It was absurd.

He didn’t suddenly pity Ju-wan’s situation. Kwon Su-hyeok himself didn’t have the luxury to feel compassion for others. Nor was it that he had turned his eyes elsewhere because the way to satisfy his lust was far off. He swore he had never once felt the desire to have sex with the same sex.

It was an emotion whose origin was unclear. Because Ju-wan often acted impulsively, his gaze naturally drifted toward him, but the feeling of urgency was a relatively recent development. Looking back, it had happened. Silently, without a trace, it had changed gradually.

He felt an unprecedented thirst and hunger. Since it was an unknown existence he had never experienced, he feared it might cause trouble. Even so, he wanted to swallow it in one bite. It had been an eternity since he had craved something that much.

“Stop for a moment.”

“Yes, President.”

The man in the driver’s seat pulled the car over to the side without knowing why. The place where they stopped was on the road, about 10 meters away from an elementary school. The man in the passenger seat looked back at the rear seat and asked, “Is something the matter?”

Kwon Su-hyeok’s gaze was still fixed beyond the window. Following that gaze, a small street stall was visible. It was a place selling bungeoppang, a representative winter snack.

“Go and buy some of those.”

At the following instruction, the two men in the front seat looked at each other. Both were completely dumbfounded. It was understandable that they were flustered, as a man who often skipped meals, let alone snacks, was suddenly showing interest in bungeoppang.

However, as if to show it wasn’t a mistake, Kwon Su-hyeok gave a silent urge to the hesitating man in the passenger seat. The man said, “Understood,” and quickly got out of the car.

When the man returned after a while, he was carrying what looked to be over thirty bungeoppang in his arms. Kwon Su-hyeok carefully placed the bag he handed over in the seat next to him. Then, as if nothing had happened, he looked out the window again.

The man, who had been glancing at Kwon Su-hyeok’s mood, widened his eyes. This was because a subtle smile had spread across Kwon Su-hyeok’s lips. He seemed to be imagining something pleasant.

Ju-wan and Jeon Mi-nam were sitting in a quiet cafe on the outskirts of Seoul. It was a place where one could overlook a wide lake through windows on three sides. There were quite a few people even on a weekday; it seemed that getting a window seat on the weekend would be unthinkable.

Ju-wan glanced anxiously at his watch. The appointment time was imminent. He had thought he might not be able to reach him today, but he had managed to speak with Im Jeong-sik on the first attempt. When he expressed that he wanted to meet as soon as possible, the other side asked if today would be okay. Thus, they had set the appointment and were waiting for him.

After some time, a car entered the parking lot in front of the cafe. Ju-wan’s gaze naturally followed the vehicle. An elderly man with white hair stepped out of the car after the engine stopped. Ju-wan’s heart began to pound in anticipation.

“Welcome.”

Soon, the cafe door opened, and an employee greeted the new guest. The elderly man, after scanning the interior, spotted Ju-wan and Jeon Mi-nam staring at him and strode toward them.

“Excuse me. Are you perhaps Mr. Park Ju-wan?”

As soon as his name was mentioned by the elderly man, Ju-wan stood up abruptly. Jeon Mi-nam also rose and bowed. The elderly man also bowed politely to the two of them and reached out his hand for a handshake.

“I am the one called Im Jeong-sik.”

“Hello, I am Park Ju-wan.”

“Yes, I can tell at a glance. You still have the look of your childhood.”

Im Jeong-sik smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling. For some reason, he seemed to know Ju-wan well.

After the handshake, Im Jeong-sik and Ju-wan sat facing each other. Jeon Mi-nam did not sit down, instead volunteering to attend to the two of them.

“I will order some drinks.”

“Ah, then I’ll have an Americano, please.”

“I’ll have one more of this.”

“Yes, then. Please go ahead and talk first.”

After Jeon Mi-nam left, Im Jeong-sik continued to examine Ju-wan meticulously, his face still full of smiles. For some reason, Ju-wan felt he mustn’t disappoint the man, so he straightened his posture and tried his best to relax his stiff expression.

It was a while later that Im Jeong-sik finally spoke.

“It has already been twenty years since the old gentleman passed away. Back then, Park Ju-wan was just a mischievous little boy, but now you’ve become a fine young man. I was worried because I couldn’t hear any news of you anywhere. I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you again.”

“Do… do you know me well?”

“Of course. You probably don’t know me, though. I had a long relationship with the old gentleman and visited your home often, but my encounters with you were merely passing ones. You were so young back then. So, how are you doing these days? It seems you aren’t in contact with your younger brother.”

“…Brother?”

“You know, you have a half-brother on your mother’s side, don’t you? I first visited the address on your resident registration to find you. That’s how I got in touch with your brother, Woo Hyeong-seok. I asked him where you were, but he said he couldn’t tell me. He just kept prying into what this was all about… It felt suspicious, which left a bad taste in my mouth.”

“…I haven’t been in touch with him for over ten years. But why were you suddenly looking for me…?”

Im Jeong-sik smiled, his eyebrows drooping. The long breath he let out afterward sounded almost like a sigh.

“I don’t know where or how to begin this story… In life, the old gentleman was always worried about you. He said there would be no one to look after you once he passed. He constantly agonized over how he could close his eyes in peace, even if it meant leaving you alone.”

Had his grandfather foreseen the hardships Ju-wan would face after his death? Ju-wan wondered what the old man had felt while looking at his young, innocent grandson.

Im Jeong-sik took a small box out of his bag and held it out to Ju-wan.

“Would you accept this?”

“What is this?”

“It is the inheritance of your biological father. He passed away a few months ago.”

“Biological father… are you talking about my father?”

Ju-wan thought he had misheard. He had never once imagined that his father might have been alive. Im Jeong-sik nodded slowly, as if understanding that reaction.

Around that time, Jeon Mi-nam returned. Im Jeong-sik gazed blankly at him as he placed a coffee in front of him. Jeon Mi-nam set down a grapefruit tea for Ju-wan as well and prepared to step back.

“I’ll be in the car.”

“…No.”

Ju-wan quickly pulled on Jeon Mi-nam’s sleeve. Then, he broke through Im Jeong-sik’s guard.

“He is someone who has helped me a lot. You can trust him.”

Im Jeong-sik nodded. He moistened his lips with coffee, as if preparing to begin a long tale. Soon, he began to reveal things about Ju-wan’s father that his grandfather had never mentioned.

“The old gentleman had one son. He was a precious child, born late in life, and one he gained even at the cost of losing his wife. People remember him as having a straight and kind nature, much like the old gentleman. They say he was a brilliant student. That was why it became a problem. The times were so turbulent that parents who sent their children to university spent their days trembling and praying out of worry. The old gentleman was likely the same. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he lived for his son. Then one day, contact was lost with his son, who had faithfully called once a day to check in. Cruelly, the very thing he feared happened. When his son finally returned home three months later, he was in a state that is difficult to describe. A young man whose dream was to return to his hometown after graduation to create a better agricultural environment had, overnight, had his tongue crushed and become unable to use his limbs properly. Not only that, but he suffered from auditory and visual hallucinations at all hours; no one could possibly understand the sense of loss the old gentleman must have felt. It couldn’t have been easy to nurse a sick child, but rather than leaving him in the hands of others, the old gentleman kept his son in the annex, vowing to keep him in his arms until death.”

“…….”

For a moment, Ju-wan was speechless. His eyes widened in shock. His grandfather had never once told him about his father. Furthermore, he had been forbidden from even going near the side door connected to the annex. His father had been right there, beyond that door. He had been completely unaware, despite being separated by only a single door.

How long had he lived there? Until the day his grandfather died? Or even after? He didn’t know. His body trembled. Goosebumps broke out all over his skin.

Im Jeong-sik continued the story with a heavy expression.

“At the time, there was a young man in the village around the same age as the old gentleman’s son. They had been close since childhood, and even after the son’s mind and body became impaired, the young man visited often to check on him. Because the son became calm and didn’t have seizures when he was with that young man, the old gentleman didn’t block their interaction. The problem was that the young man was a loafer more interested in pleasure than work. At some point, young ladies began appearing in the quiet village. Some said they were college students, some said they were employees from some industrial complex, and others said they worked in the entertainment industry… there seemed to be many rumors. The women always came in pairs or threes and were said to have met that young man. It seems your biological mother was among them. Of course, the old gentleman and the village elders eventually found out, and once the young man in question left the village, such things didn’t happen again. Then, about a year later, your biological mother came to see the old gentleman. She was holding a newborn baby in her arms. One look was enough to tell it was the old gentleman’s bloodline. The baby looked exactly like the old gentleman’s son. Your biological mother left the infant with the old gentleman, promised never to return, took some money, and went up to Seoul. Of course, that promise was not kept.”

Hearing that, all the circumstances became clear. Why his mother had visited him once in a while whenever she seemed to have forgotten, clutching his hands and saying she would surely take him away one day, and why she had never cherished or loved him as much as she did Woo Hyeong-seok. Ju-wan was not a life born out of his mother’s love for his father.

He felt he now understood what his grandfather had feared. After his grandfather passed, there was a higher probability that the mother would gain custody rather than the father, who was not sound in mind or body. What the mother wanted was likely not the bloodline itself, but the grandfather’s inheritance that would come with it. He must have been anxious and heartbroken, wondering how miserable a life his young grandson would lead under her.

“The old gentleman tried to keep his son by his side until the end, but as the son’s condition worsened day by day, he eventually had to send him to a nursing hospital. That happened when you were five years old. The old gentleman arranged in advance so that upon his death, a portion of the inheritance would go to you, and the rest to his son. And so that even if his son passed away, you, as the sole remaining blood relative, would inherit the rest. That is why I asked to see you.”

Im Jeong-sik fell silent after finishing the story. Ju-wan opened the box that had been passed down from his grandfather to his biological father, and then to him. Inside was a key to a bank vault.

He just stared at the key for a long time. He couldn’t even think of reaching out to touch it. Too much information had poured in, and all sorts of thoughts and emotions were so tangled that he couldn’t move a single finger.

Around then, Jeon Mi-nam’s phone rang. It was a call from Kwon Su-hyeok. He seemed to be checking why their return was delayed. Jeon Mi-nam asked for the two men’s understanding and stepped outside.

Ju-wan, who had remained silent, finally managed to speak.

“My father….”

“According to the attending physician at the nursing hospital, he closed his eyes as if falling asleep. I personally took custody of the body to handle the funeral, and he looked truly peaceful. He must have suffered a great deal, trapped in that uncomfortable body for so long.”

Ju-wan only nodded. If he hadn’t been confined to a psychiatric hospital, perhaps, just once in his life, he could have seen his father. Even though it wasn’t his fault, regret washed over him. He gripped the box tightly.

Im Jeong-sik reached out and stroked Ju-wan’s hand. The warmth he had received from his grandfather as a child was conveyed exactly.

“I will ask one thing. Are you happy now?”

It was a question that required no deep thought. Quietly closing the box, Ju-wan faced Im Jeong-sik calmly.

“Yes. I am happy. And I will become even happier in the future.”

He vowed to do his best, with all his might, to find his own happiness. Only then did Im Jeong-sik’s face soften with relief.

“That’s a relief. Thanks to that, I think I can spend the rest of my days with a light heart.”

At Im Jeong-sik’s request to let him know how he was doing whenever he remembered, Ju-wan replied that he would gladly do so. Only then did Im Jeong-sik look truly at ease.

After parting with Im Jeong-sik, Ju-wan stood in front of the cafe and gave him a one-sided send-off until his car was out of sight. A biting wind blew, but Jeon Mi-nam did not rush Ju-wan to return. He simply stayed silently by Ju-wan’s side.

Only after a long while did Ju-wan turn around.

“Let’s go now.”

“Let’s do that.”

On the way back, he was immersed in thought the entire time. Even though he tried not to, one thought led to another. His grandfather’s worry for him, the loneliness that must have followed his father his whole life, and the background of his own birth. At the end of these drifting thoughts, only a lump of emotion remained. His heart swelled uncontrollably, then turned cold, and then hurt as if something sharp were poking at it.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand his grandfather’s heart. His grandfather probably hadn’t wanted to separate him from his biological father either. He had simply worried that Ju-wan’s young heart would be scarred by seeing his sick father. He might have feared that his biological father, who showed violent tendencies due to auditory and visual hallucinations, would hurt Ju-wan.

Perhaps it would have been different once Ju-wan grew up and became an adult, ready to understand and accept his father. But he likely didn’t want to suddenly place a burden on a grandson who grew up without knowing parental affection. That was why his grandfather must have borne that weight alone.

Though he was a father whose name and face he didn’t know, he felt a sense of affection. The more he chewed over the fact that his father had spent over ten years alone in a nursing hospital, just as he had, and passed away recently, the more his heart ached. If only he had come into the world a little sooner, so that he could have held his father’s hand just once.

While he was repeating these thoughts, the car entered the parking lot in front of the house.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes.”

He was about to get out absentmindedly when he noticed the sedan parked nearby. It was the car Kwon Su-hyeok usually drove. He glanced at the clock on the center fascia. It felt as though Kwon Su-hyeok’s return home had been earlier lately.

Reaching the front door, Ju-wan stepped aside for Jeon Mi-nam, who was following behind. He had to open the door lock.

“Would you like to open it yourself?”

“Ah….”

“Just press the password and then the asterisk. The password is….”

“I think I know.”

Ju-wan touched the numbers one by one, the ones Jeon Mi-nam had pressed every time they returned from an outing. After a while, the door lock opened with its characteristic mechanical sound.

As he opened the door and entered, Jaguar had come out to the entrance. Saying, “I’m home,” Ju-wan crouched in front of Jaguar, grabbed the animal’s face, and rubbed its cheeks vigorously with both thumbs. Even though it must have been annoying, the animal simply accepted Ju-wan’s touch, slowly wagging its tail from side to side.

Around then, Baek Do-un walked out from the living room.

“Ju-wan, you’re home now?”

“Oh, you’re here, Doctor.”

“Yes. Kwon Su-hyeok called me.”

Beaming, Baek Do-un reached out to Jaguar, who was being kneaded like dough by Ju-wan. Before his hand could even touch its back, Jaguar whipped around and walked away down the hallway.

“He’s so cold, really. Come in.”

When he arrived in the living room following Baek Do-un, Kwon Su-hyeok was leaning back on the sofa. He was completely shirtless, with a needle inserted in his arm. The hose connected to the needle was bright red. Following it with his eyes, Ju-wan saw a blood bag filled with blood. For a moment, he thought he was receiving a transfusion, but the blood bag wasn’t hanging on a stand.

His eyes met Kwon Su-hyeok’s. However, Kwon Su-hyeok soon looked away, repeatedly clenching and unclenching the fist of the arm where the needle was inserted. Ju-wan looked at Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm, where the veins were prominent, with a confused gaze. He had no idea why the man was drawing blood from his own body.

“Stop drawing. It’s really going to burst at this rate.”

Baek Do-un scolded him displeasedly and pulled the needle out of Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm. Then, he applied a thick piece of gauze and said, “Press down hard.” He carefully packed the plump blood bag into the medical bag he had brought. Jeon Mi-nam helped Baek Do-un clean up.

In the meantime, Ju-wan went in front of Kwon Su-hyeok and knelt. Then, he took the arm and the hemostatic gauze in each hand and applied steady pressure. Kwon Su-hyeok simply gazed at Ju-wan, who was focusing all his attention on his arm.

At the tingling atmosphere, Baek Do-un’s eyes narrowed mischievously. Then, to Jeon Mi-nam, who was looking at him curiously, he gestured toward the entrance and made a request.

“I’m going home now, could you give me a ride?”

“…Did you not bring your car?”

“No. I worked so hard that I don’t have the energy to drive.”

Since it was Kwon Su-hyeok who had the blood drawn, it was a difficult story for Jeon Mi-nam to understand why Baek Do-un was the one exhausted.

“Do that. Go back from there.”

But with even Kwon Su-hyeok pushing him, he had no choice but to stand up. After bowing in greeting, Jeon Mi-nam led the way, saying, “Let’s go.” Baek Do-un waved to Ju-wan, who was staring blankly at them, saying, “See you next time,” and followed him briskly. Soon, the front door opened with a familiar mechanical sound and then closed.

The surroundings became abruptly quiet. The gazes of the two people, with nowhere to escape, became fixed on each other.

“…….”

“…What happened?”

“I’m just preparing in advance. I’ve always done it this way before.”

“Still, this should be my part.”

Ju-wan’s eyebrows flattened. He seemed unable to accept the current situation. Kwon Su-hyeok chuckled and toyed with Ju-wan’s earlobe as if tickling it.

“Not anymore.”

“Then on what grounds am I staying here now?”

The smile faded from Kwon Su-hyeok’s lips. His gaze deepened. His pupils rolled slowly, capturing the bold image of Ju-wan. The hand that had moved from the earlobe to the jaw gently touched the plump lower lip.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

Heat rose from where Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand touched. It felt as if a fire were igniting inside him, which had been dizzy with too much information and emotion all day. Fearing he might be swept away by a momentary impulse and burn up, he quickly stood up.

“First… I’ll go wash up.”

Kwon Su-hyeok looked up at Ju-wan without a word, then slowly nodded.

He entered the bathroom and closed the door. He took off his clothes while filling the empty tub with water. Then, he sat inside and hugged his knees. Hot water soon filled the tub, emitting a thick mist of steam.

As his breathing gradually slowed and his mind went blank, his insides became calmer. However, his troubled heart would not settle. It was because of Kwon Su-hyeok. Was it okay for Ju-wan to continue staying by his side? With his current feelings, he wanted to tell him everything that had happened today and how he felt, without leaving a single thing out. If possible, he wanted him to hold him tight like before. He wondered if it was okay to rely so selfishly on his kindness.

Ju-wan only left the tub when dizziness began to wash over him. He cooled his heated body under the shower and washed his hair.

He roughly removed the moisture from his body and hair with a towel and tried to put on a robe. However, the hanger was empty. He thought about putting his worn clothes back on, but since he had been out all day, he didn’t feel like it. Left with no choice, he covered only his private parts with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. Since only Kwon Su-hyeok and Jaguar were home anyway, there was nothing to be hesitant about.

With every step, there was a damp sound of footsteps. Noticing that small presence, Jaguar walked toward the hallway. As expected, the beast didn’t seem to mind that Ju-wan was naked. It seemed to have become immune to Kwon Su-hyeok. Perhaps nudity felt more natural to the creature.

The problem was Kwon Su-hyeok. Sitting on the sofa drinking whiskey, he froze in the very posture of lifting his glass the moment he saw Ju-wan.

“I’m sorry. There wasn’t a robe inside.”

Ju-wan apologized nonchalantly and headed toward the bedroom. Kwon Su-hyeok stared blankly at that fair backside before springing up from his seat. He set the glass down carelessly and strode after Ju-wan. Then, just as Ju-wan entered the bedroom, Su-hyeok grabbed his arm and led him toward the bed.

“…Ah.”

Dragged along as if walking backward, Ju-wan’s leg caught on the bed, and he ended up flopping backward onto the mattress. As soon as his swirling vision stabilized, Kwon Su-hyeok’s face filled his sight. Su-hyeok’s full weight pressed down upon his naked body.

Kwon Su-hyeok gazed intently down at the flustered face of Ju-wan, gently rubbing his wet ears and hair. At that, Ju-wan’s eyes, which had been slightly open in a daze, slowly fluttered closed, deepening in color. The reflection of Kwon Su-hyeok became clearer within them.

“I’m… out of it right now.”

“Then don’t think about anything.”

Kwon Su-hyeok lowered his head and pressed his lips against Ju-wan’s. Ju-wan’s lips were softly pressed inward. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly and lightly nipped at Ju-wan’s hesitant upper lip before letting go. As the philtrum became slightly damp, a ticklish breath settled clearly there. Then, he slowly tilted his head and pushed through the gap of Ju-wan’s slightly parted lips. Ju-wan’s downcast eyes slid shut. He then sweetly accepted Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue as it pushed in thickly with a wet sound.

They repeatedly rubbed and licked each other’s soft tongues. The bitter scent of alcohol spread and then gradually faded, replaced by a sweet taste. Every time their lips parted slightly, a wet friction sound—chok, chok—echoed. Heat quickly rushed to his ears and the nape of his neck. Kwon Su-hyeok licked up Ju-wan’s tongue and upper lip together before pulling away for a moment. Then, Ju-wan opened his tightly closed eyes and looked back at him. The way he slowly looked between Kwon Su-hyeok’s eyes suggested he needed some kind of reassurance.

“Is it really okay for me to keep staying here? I’m not very useful anymore, and there’s nothing I know how to do… is it still okay?”

He wasn’t used to receiving one-sided kindness and affection. Whenever he received something from others, he usually had to pay a price. It was a truth he had learned firsthand through a long life. Even parents and siblings related by blood were no exception. Let alone Kwon Su-hyeok. He had never paid the price for the freedom, happiness, and peace Su-hyeok had bestowed upon him. He felt his heart would be less uneasy if he could pay it back somehow, but Su-hyeok now said he didn’t need any such thing at all.

He didn’t want to leave. Nor did he want to be alone again. Even if it was shameless, he wanted to stay here forever.

“I wondered why you looked so troubled.”

Kwon Su-hyeok let out a short, incredulous laugh. He was offering everything, yet Ju-wan kept hesitating, barely holding onto the edge, asking if it was okay to receive it. He didn’t know what to do with this overly cautious creature. His mind went blank. He just wanted to swallow him whole.

“Why don’t you check for yourself.”

Kwon Su-hyeok whispered low. For a fleeting moment, a sound like a boiling throat escaped him.

“Hngh….”

Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t hold back any longer and clamped his mouth over Ju-wan’s Adam’s apple. Simultaneously, he stroked up Ju-wan’s white thigh with a somewhat rough touch. At the unfamiliar touch, Ju-wan’s knees trembled. His entire body tensed at the grip tightening around his thigh.

While repeatedly pressing his tongue against the rapidly heating Adam’s apple, he gave Ju-wan’s buttock a firm squeeze. Ju-wan let out small, repeated moans and squirmed his limbs. He seemed lost, overwhelmed by the stimulations that crashed over him like waves, consuming his entire body.

Releasing the Adam’s apple he had been tightly gripping with his lips, he moved steadily upward. He kissed the sharp line of the jaw step by step before pressing down on Ju-wan’s lips, which were clattering incessantly as he exhaled ragged breaths. Ju-wan let out a groan and struggled to accept Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue. While densely mixing their sweet membranes and tongues, Su-hyeok slid his hand between Ju-wan’s legs. Ju-wan’s waist twisted instinctively. A husky moan burst through their overlapping lips.

“…Ngh!”

He gently crushed the still-soft member. Ju-wan’s lower body twitched. Even though he was stroking him carefully as if coaxing him, Ju-wan pressed his knees tightly together and grabbed Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm. His body trembled in anticipation of the coming pleasure, yet his face was contorted in pain. It was impossible to tell if he wanted more or wanted him to stop.

“Relax. I won’t hurt you.”

Kwon Su-hyeok murmured as if sighing. Then, the sound of a zipper going down was heard, and a heavy piece of flesh dropped onto Ju-wan’s thigh. It was so large and hard that if he hadn’t felt the warm body heat, he surely would have mistaken it for something else.

As Ju-wan looked down in a daze, Kwon Su-hyeok looked him straight in the face and rubbed his member against Ju-wan’s. Against Kwon Su-hyeok’s already stiffly erect member, Ju-wan’s was helplessly rubbed and crushed. With the pre-cum leaking from the glans, even the scrotum became glisteningly wet.

“Hngh, ugh, ngh….”

At the intensifying tingling sensation, Ju-wan thrashed his lower body and pushed Kwon Su-hyeok away. He bit his upper lip so hard it turned white. His eyes, alternating between looking down and looking at Kwon Su-hyeok, shook in confusion, not knowing what to do with the surging pleasure. Kwon Su-hyeok’s mouth clamped shut. The sound of grinding teeth came from his clenched molars.

Slowly, Ju-wan’s member stood erect. Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand was already drenched in pre-cum, though it was unclear whose it was. As the two pieces of flesh blended, a squelching friction sound began to form. His entire body suddenly flushed with heat. Even his vision inverted to yellow and wavered dizzily. Ju-wan’s legs slipped repeatedly. He felt as if his mind were melting away from the pleasure surging from his groin.

“Haa, ha….”

“Haa-ugh, ngh, ah-ngh….”

His toes repeatedly splayed out and curled tight. The hands clutching the sheets turned stark white. Kwon Su-hyeok grabbed those hands, pulled them up to kiss them, and then calmly pressed his lips to Ju-wan’s forehead. His thick body completely overlapped with Ju-wan’s. More pressure was added to the hand gripping both their members.

Every time Ju-wan’s lower body thrashed, his sharp pelvis jabbed into Kwon Su-hyeok’s thigh. The small buds of his chest also stood pointedly. Kwon Su-hyeok gently rubbed the nipples, which were so small he was cautious about touching them, and then crushed them formlessly. Ju-wan shook his head stubbornly at the tingling sensations hitting him from above and below.

“Hngh, st-stop….”

As if trying to calm Ju-wan, he repeatedly pressed his lips to his forehead, the space between his brows, and his cheeks, while rubbing against him below with more speed. Ju-wan looked at Kwon Su-hyeok precariously with furrowed brows. It was a dangerous look. The center, where heat was rapidly gathering, felt too stinging. He couldn’t keep his senses due to an intense urge to urinate.

Kwon Su-hyeok stuck out his tongue and licked long up Ju-wan’s neck. Ju-wan’s eyes snapped shut. His lips were pressed tight. Not stopping there, he traced the outer rim of the ear with the tip of his tongue before suddenly pushing his tongue deep into the ear canal. As the inside of his ear became hot and wet, a moan close to a gasp burst from Ju-wan.

“Haa-uh….”

Soon, his entire body became slippery with sweat. Consequently, his body scent grew stronger, fueling the excitement. His breath was so short that his head throbbed and dizziness set in. He wanted to reach the end quickly. As he clung desperately to Kwon Su-hyeok, as if by magic, Su-hyeok’s back arched significantly. Along with it, the movement of their tightly pressed lower bodies accelerated.

“Haa, ha, ngh….”

“Haat, ngh, ugh. Ah-ngh, ah!”

He moaned frantically. Ragged breaths burst repeatedly in each other’s ears. It felt as if a warning light were flashing in his head. Before long, Kwon Su-hyeok collapsed onto Ju-wan as if falling. Simultaneously, something hot erupted.

“Uuuugh…!”

“Haa-ugh… ugh…!”

The overlapping bodies of the two froze like stone before relaxing as they exhaled their held breaths. His entire body trembled violently from the intense shiver. Goosebumps even broke out on his skin.

Kwon Su-hyeok slowly kissed Ju-wan’s wet forehead, eyebrows, and cheeks as Ju-wan barely breathed with fluttering eyes. Their breath did not calm easily and continued to come out roughly. The heat that had once surged continued to boil in his mind, inciting a desire to bond even more deeply.

However, Kwon Su-hyeok let out a long sigh and pulled Ju-wan’s face toward his shoulder. He held him tightly and steadied his breath, as if trying to calm down that way. It was different from Jang Jin-woo. No, it was different from anyone. It couldn’t be the same.

While forcing himself to cool down, Kwon Su-hyeok suddenly felt his shoulder becoming hot and wet; he lifted his head and looked at Ju-wan. Ju-wan was covering his eyes with both hands, his mouth pressed shut. Even so, tears leaked through his fingers, soaking Kwon Su-hyeok’s shirt. Ju-wan’s entire body trembled piteously. For some reason, it seemed he wasn’t even used to crying.

He must have been confused. So many things had happened today alone. He had been tense without realizing it, felt complicated upon hearing unexpected news, and his thoughts must have wandered without conclusion. Then, finally feeling at ease, the emotions he had been suppressing all this time seemed to burst out all at once.

“…I’m sorry.”

Ju-wan squeezed out his voice, sounding tearful. A sigh escaped Su-hyeok, wondering what he was sorry for in this situation. Looking at him cry, it felt as if the depths of his heart were being carved out. Day by day, it only grew deeper, helplessly.

Kwon Su-hyeok pulled the blanket over Ju-wan and hugged him tightly, blanket and all. Ju-wan burrowed into his embrace without hesitation. He patted him, waiting for the tears to subside.

Before long, the trembling coming from Ju-wan stopped. His unstable breathing also became steady. Peeking at his face, he saw that Ju-wan had fallen fast asleep, breathing softly. The corners of Su-hyeok’s mouth curved into a faint arc.

“I’m an impatient beast; I can’t wait for long.”

He murmured, lightly touching Ju-wan’s cheek where the tears had dried. Indeed, he wondered how much longer he could wait. A long exhale escaped him.

It was so cozy and comfortable that he thought he was having a sweet dream. It felt as if his entire body were enveloped in a warm energy. But even after opening his eyes, that sensation did not disappear.

He tried moving his body slightly. His ear was softly pressed into a fluffy pillow. As he moved his legs, the well-dried blanket rubbed pleasantly against the soles of his feet. Drenched in a languid energy, he indulged in laziness for a moment. He felt as if he could sleep all day if left alone.

Feeling his body was a bit heavy, he realized Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm was wrapped firmly around him over the blanket. He peeked his head up. Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok’s face filled his vision. While his eyelids remained still in deep sleep, long, dense eyelashes fluttered with his breath. The steady sound of breathing wrapped peacefully around his ears.

After staring at Kwon Su-hyeok’s face for a long time, he wiggled his body and escaped from his embrace. Thanks to the blanket, escaping was much easier than before.

Descending from the bed, Ju-wan looked worriedly at the uncovered Kwon Su-hyeok. If he pulled the edge of the blanket Su-hyeok was holding, he would surely wake him up. As a compromise, he lightly placed nearby pillows and cushions over his body. It seemed better than leaving him uncovered. If he got cold, he might instinctively pull the blanket in his arms over himself.

His body shivered instinctively. That was because he had been naked since last night. He hurried to put on his clothes. As he reflexively tried to put on his underwear, he discovered the white traces of ejaculation remaining on his thigh. He touched it slightly, but it had dried completely and wouldn’t rub off easily. He took out a wet wipe, gently wiped it away, and finished putting on his pants. Then, he tiptoed into the living room so as not to wake Kwon Su-hyeok.

Sensing a presence at the door, Jaguar, who had been lounging on the living room sofa, abruptly lifted his head. It seemed he had fallen asleep there because Kwon Su-hyeok had closed the bedroom door last night, preventing him from following. Ju-wan felt unnecessarily sorry.

“Su-nam.”

He lowered his body and called Jaguar. The beast, who had been staring at Ju-wan with bright yellow eyes, immediately jumped off the sofa and ran over in one breath. Because he leaped into Ju-wan’s arms with the same speed he had been running, Ju-wan couldn’t hold his ground and flopped backward. Not stopping at landing on his buttocks, he practically sprawled onto the floor. Even then, he pulled Jaguar’s face close and rubbed it frantically against his cheek. Jaguar slowly wagged his tail while pressing down on Ju-wan’s shoulder with his front paws.

Just as Jaguar’s expression of affection began to feel a bit overwhelming, the beast was suddenly yanked to the side.

“……?”

Wondering why the weight pressing down on him had vanished in an instant, he lifted his head. What filled Ju-wan’s vision was Kwon Su-hyeok, kneeling on one knee and stroking Jaguar. Jaguar, who had been pulled from Ju-wan to him, gladly enjoyed the touch without knowing why. Looking closely, Jaguar’s attitude toward Kwon Su-hyeok and himself was quite different. If he thought of Kwon Su-hyeok as a guardian, he seemed to regard Ju-wan as a friend or a sibling.

“Don’t let him look down on you. Otherwise, he’ll climb over you again.”

Kwon Su-hyeok gave this unexpected piece of advice and entered the bathroom. Watching the bathroom door close, Ju-wan frantically kneaded the cheeks and snout of Jaguar, who was approaching him again. Then, after a long while, he stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Jaguar watched this blankly before returning to the sofa and lying flat on his stomach. He even let out a wide, lazy yawn.

He had clearly slept deeply and woken up later than usual. Checking the clock, it was well past 8 o’clock. The fact that Jeon Mi-nam hadn’t come yet made him wonder if he had received separate instructions from Kwon Su-hyeok. Making a vague guess, he took out some bottled water and drank. As the cold sensation spread throughout his body, his mind quickly cleared. As Ju-wan was about to go back to the living room with the remaining water, he paused upon discovering something on the dining table.

Four paper bags were filled to the brim with bungeoppang that had already gone cold. Had Baek Do-un bought them? But he had clearly said he came after receiving a call from Kwon Su-hyeok. Since the purpose of the visit was blood collection, it was unlikely he had stopped elsewhere on the way. And Jeon Mi-nam had been with Ju-wan all day.

Then, did Kwon Su-hyeok buy them? It wasn’t as if a man who usually had little appetite suddenly thought of bungeoppang, and judging by the enormous quantity, it seemed he intended to feed someone plenty. He wondered if it was okay to arbitrarily assume that Su-hyeok had been thinking of him.

After hesitating, he took one paper bag and went into the living room. As a rustling sound came from Ju-wan’s hand, Jaguar’s yellow eyes flashed, and he watched the paper bag intently. He seemed curious about the object he had never seen before.

Ju-wan sat lightly on the edge of the sofa occupied by the beast. Jaguar didn’t push Ju-wan away as before but quietly gave up space, merely tapping Ju-wan with his tail.

“Su-nam, do you want to try some? I heard cats are omnivores, but is it okay to eat this?”

Ju-wan took out one bungeoppang, which had become hard from cooling, and held it in front of Jaguar’s nose. Because it looked like a fish but the color was completely different and it lacked the characteristic smell, Jaguar slowly pulled his head back. When Ju-wan repeatedly brought the bungeoppang to his snout, asking, “You’re not going to eat it?”, Jaguar took a bite as if reluctantly, then immediately spat it out. The way he repeatedly licked his snout suggested it wasn’t to his taste.

Ju-wan unhesitatingly put the bungeoppang that Jaguar had half-bitten into his own mouth. The outside had hardened and the inside was cold, but it was edible enough. The red bean, which he hadn’t eaten in a long time, was still sweet, and the dry bread part tasted nutty as he chewed it long. As Ju-wan finished the remaining tail and immediately took out another one, Jaguar observed him intently with curious eyes.

While Ju-wan was eating his second bungeoppang, the bathroom door opened. Ju-wan watched the hallway while chewing the food in his mouth. Soon, Kwon Su-hyeok appeared, shaking the moisture from his hair as he came into the living room. As usual, Su-hyeok made eye contact with Ju-wan, then frowned upon seeing the bungeoppang in his hand.

“What are you eating? Throw it away.”

“Didn’t you buy these for me?”

“…They’re all cold.”

“If they’re mine, I’ll just eat them.”

Kwon Su-hyeok grabbed Ju-wan’s wrist just as he was about to take another bite of the cold bungeoppang. Ju-wan looked him straight in the eye, stubbornly persisting.

“No matter what you say, I’m going to eat it all. This, and the ones in there too.”

“Don’t do that. I’ll buy you new ones, so…”

He tried to persuade him soothingly, but it was useless. Ju-wan became subtly sullen, gripping the bag of bungeoppang tenaciously. Su-hyeok let out a sigh.

Just then, Kwon Su-hyeok’s phone rang. He seemed intent on ignoring it, but Ju-wan quickly picked up the phone and handed it to him.

“You have a call.”

Kwon Su-hyeok suddenly pulled the arm he was holding, leaning his upper body in. Naturally, his lips pressed firmly against Ju-wan’s before pulling away. After the light kiss, he stepped back as if nothing had happened and took the phone. Then, he naturally answered the call.

Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Ju-wan froze, only snapping out of it when Jaguar nudged him with his snout. He slowly pushed half a piece of bungeoppang into his mouth. In the meantime, his ears had subtly flushed. For some reason, the red bean filling seemed to have grown sweeter.

Throughout the call, Kwon Su-hyeok simply replied with a single “Yeah” after listening to the other person. The call ended quickly. He then spoke to Ju-wan, whose cheeks were now puffed out.

“Get ready. I’ll take you there.”

He didn’t explain where he was taking him or why. He simply walked into the bedroom as if preparing to leave.

Ju-wan didn’t pry and stood up. He carefully sealed both the bungeoppang he was eating and the ones left on the table and put them in the refrigerator. He intended to take them out and eat them one by one whenever they came to mind.

Then he went to the bathroom and washed up as quickly as possible. He didn’t want to cause any disruption to Kwon Su-hyeok’s schedule because of him.

By the time he had finished all his preparations, Kwon Su-hyeok’s subordinates arrived at the house. For some reason, Jeon Mi-nam was nowhere to be seen. Ju-wan lightly grabbed the edge of Kwon Su-hyeok’s sleeve as he was about to leave. Kwon Su-hyeok looked back with a puzzled expression.

“I don’t know where we’re going, but if it’s okay, I want to take Su-nam too.”

Listening quietly, Kwon Su-hyeok let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“Do as you wish.”

He added a word while lightly ruffling Ju-wan’s hair.

“And I told you not to ask for permission.”

The fine hairs on Ju-wan’s ears prickled. Feeling ticklish, he reflexively touched his neck. His subordinates, who had witnessed Kwon Su-hyeok’s tender side by chance, couldn’t show their surprise, but their eyes widened.

Because of Jaguar’s large size, Kwon Su-hyeok and Ju-wan took the sedan, while Jaguar had to ride in an RV with a high ceiling and a spacious back seat. The place they arrived at was Baek Do-un’s apartment. Having come here before to leave the wild rabbit, Ju-wan recognized it just by the surrounding scenery.

As if he had been notified in advance, Jeon Mi-nam was waiting outside. As the car stopped, he quickly approached and opened the door.

After exchanging brief greetings with Ju-wan, Jeon Mi-nam bowed his head toward Kwon Su-hyeok, who was sitting inside. Meanwhile, Ju-wan helped Jaguar get out of the car. The beast behaved obediently, as if he had grown accustomed to these kinds of outings.

“Have a safe trip.”

Before Kwon Su-hyeok left, Ju-wan leaned over to look into the back seat and greeted him. Watching Ju-wan intently, Kwon Su-hyeok suddenly reached out. He gently wrapped his hand around the nape of Ju-wan’s neck and pulled him sharply toward himself. Because of this, Ju-wan lost his balance and his head leaned forward abruptly, thumping against Kwon Su-hyeok’s shoulder. Their ears brushed and pressed against each other. Simultaneously, Kwon Su-hyeok’s scent rushed into his nose.

Kwon Su-hyeok held Ju-wan like that, took a deep breath, and then reluctantly let him go. Jeon Mi-nam and the other subordinates looked away in different directions as if they had seen nothing.

“Have fun. I’ll come pick you up before it gets late.”

At the unexpected answer, Ju-wan looked at Kwon Su-hyeok blankly for a moment. Then, his stiff expression melted like snow in the sun, and he beamed.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

The daze lasted only a moment; a deep smile spread across Kwon Su-hyeok’s lips at Ju-wan’s bright smile.

* * *

In Woo Hyeong-seok’s bedroom, glass shards, empty syringes, and white powder were scattered in disarray. Even the rumpled bed was stained with blood and bodily fluids. Woo Hyeong-seok lay half-on the bed, entangled with unconscious women. His mind was hazy and his breath was shallow, causing him to wheeze. He was thirsty.

Pushing the women aside like cushions, he staggered toward a chair. He flopped down onto it and grabbed a bottle of liquor.

Around that time, there was a knock. Without responding, he put the mouth of the bottle to his lips and gulped down the liquor. Then, a voice from outside said, “I’m coming in.”

Soon the door opened and a man entered. He didn’t flinch at the scene, which was familiar if anything, and simply bowed his head silently. Woo Hyeong-seok swayed violently just by setting the liquor bottle down in front of him.

“I’m resting. What is it?”

“I’ve found out about Baek Do-un.”

Woo Hyeong-seok paused and stared at the man. Then, with a flick of his finger, he lifted the bottle again to moisten his throat. Because the drug made it hard to control his strength, half of the alcohol streamed down his chin.

The man tried to hand him the prepared documents but gave up and instead recited Baek Do-un’s personal information written there.

“Baek Do-un is the only son of Baek Jang-hun, the CEO of Baek Mu Trading, which died eight years ago. Baek Jang-hun, whose family had run a gun and knife shop for generations, greatly expanded his business area in the 90s based on existing import and export channels, and it has now grown into a fairly large trading company. There are rumors that since Baek Jang-hun lived a life in the underworld before inheriting the family business, most of the employees are from that side. It seems he sent the talents needed for corporate operation to college and abroad. So, you can think of them as a kind of corporate gang. The public company revenue isn’t that impressive, but if you add the illegal transaction funds, it seems they make more profit than most mid-sized companies. These bastards played it smart; they’ve consistently lobbied various people, including political funds, so there’s no one among the powerful high-ranking officials who isn’t entangled with them. That’s why they’ve never had a proper tax audit, and even when major incidents occurred, they were hushed up. Officially, they manage the company at a level that doesn’t break the law, so it seems outsiders didn’t bother touching them.”

“I don’t care about some ghost named Baek Jang-hun, so just tell me about Baek Do-un.”

Woo Hyeong-seok picked at his ear with a bored expression. The background of Baek Do-un explained so far was essentially a warning that he shouldn’t be touched recklessly. Whether looking at the scale of the organization or the backing, there was no chance of winning.

However, Woo Hyeong-seok didn’t listen at all. He simply glared fiercely at the hesitating man and urged him to report quickly.

“Baek Do-un is a genius who graduated top of his class from Hankuk University College of Medicine and completed both the surgical internship and residency at the university hospital. He also received his specialist certification several years ago. However, his whereabouts have been obscure since then. He isn’t affiliated with any hospital and moves around, practicing for periods ranging from a year to a few months.”

“What about the company? Money would crawl in just by breathing, yet he leaves such a family business to be a mere doctor? That’s strange. Unless he’s put some puppet in his place.”

“I find that point suspicious as well.”

“The more I know, the more curious I get. Well, I can just meet him and ask.”

Woo Hyeong-seok put down the liquor and took off his alcohol-soaked shirt. He then went to the broken mirror and looked at his drug-worn face. He raised his hand and lightly tidied his messy hair. A faint smile spread across his bloodless face.

“Don’t make a scene. Just bring him to me quietly.”

Jeon Mi-nam entered the password of the door lock with familiarity and opened the door. As he stepped inside after taking off his shoes, something like a ball of fluff ran quickly toward the entrance. It was the same wild rabbit he had left with Baek Do-un before. The creature, innocently dashing toward Jeon Mi-nam, flinched upon seeing Jaguar following Ju-wan inside. Jaguar also tried to pounce on it without hesitation. Ju-wan barely managed to stop him by hugging Jaguar’s neck. Jeon Mi-nam averted the crisis by picking up the cowering rabbit with one hand.

Unlike before, the inside of the house was neatly organized. It was comparable even to Kwon Su-hyeok’s house. Just by looking at the rule for organizing books or the position of the remote control, one could guess that Jeon Mi-nam’s touch had been involved. Sure enough, he immediately cleaned up the small, round droppings the rabbit had left behind.

“It’s become very clean.”

“…I felt that if I left it as it was, I wouldn’t be able to tell where or how this fellow was buried.”

Ju-wan nodded at Jeon Mi-nam’s pointed remark. The animal was already busy hiding; if it went missing in a dirty house, it would likely starve to death.

Just then, Baek Do-un came out to the living room, saying, “Why are my ears itching so much?” He was in pajamas, as if he had just woken up. With dry lips and a pale complexion, it seemed he had a severe cold.

Despite this, Baek Do-un smiled warmly as soon as he spotted Ju-wan and Jaguar.

“Oh? Ju-wan is here. Did you come to visit the sick? Oh my, our Su-nam came too.”

Perhaps Baek Do-un’s appearance, looking as if he might collapse if touched, felt a bit pitiful. Even when Baek Do-un crouched in front of him, hugged his neck, and rubbed cheeks, Jaguar only slowly backed away instead of growling as usual. Because the beast kept retreating, Baek Do-un fell to his knees on the floor. Ju-wan quickly helped him up.

“Doctor, are you very sick?”

“Just, a bit. It happens once in a while. Shall we call it a chronic illness that one must inevitably endure to enjoy the freedom of being single?”

“To be clear, it is malnutrition.”

“Stop being so rigid. In the end, it’s the same thing.”

“Being rushed to the emergency room in the middle of the night and freedom cannot coexist. It wouldn’t matter if the price of freedom only negatively affected you, but it’s a nuisance to others as well.”

“I didn’t take you for that kind of person, but Mi-nam is quite the nagging type.”

Baek Do-un waved his hand as if to tell him to stop. Though he didn’t know for sure, it seemed he had been suffering through that the whole time. Ju-wan silently supported Baek Do-un until he sat on the sofa, looking at Jeon Mi-nam with a surprised gaze. As Baek Do-un said, it was the first time he had seen him talk so much. Was it because Kwon Su-hyeok was his boss, but Baek Do-un wasn’t?

Ju-wan didn’t know if Baek Do-un had suddenly collapsed on the way home last night, or if a problem arose afterward and he had urgently asked Jeon Mi-nam for help. However, setting aside the fact that he had been to the emergency room, he could guess how serious it had been just by looking at his current state. A doctor with malnutrition. He recalled hearing that medical staff aren’t always good at managing their own health.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah. I had nausea and couldn’t see straight in the early morning, but I’m all better after the IV. Now, if I eat, take my medicine, and rest a bit, I’ll be fine.”

Baek Do-un dismissed Ju-wan’s concern, complaining about how crowded the emergency room was and that he had only just returned. When Ju-wan suddenly placed a hand on his forehead, he laughed and said, “I don’t have a fever.”

In the meantime, Jeon Mi-nam, who had gone into the kitchen, came out quickly and abruptly grabbed his coat. Ju-wan and Baek Do-un watched him curiously.

“I think I need to go grocery shopping for a bit.”

“Ah, shall I go with you?”

“No. I’ll be back quickly on my own.”

Jeon Mi-nam put on his coat and strode toward the entrance. Ju-wan followed to see him off. Jeon Mi-nam’s instructions continued until he stepped out in his shoes.

“I’ll be back soon, so make sure the door is locked. Try not to open the door for anyone.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve put the rabbit in the bedroom.”

“I’ll make sure Su-nam doesn’t go in there. I’ll be careful when opening the door too.”

“I’m counting on you. And…”

“I’ll keep a close eye on the doctor too. Don’t worry.”

Ju-wan answered first, sensing the intent. Only then did Jeon Mi-nam say, “Then,” and opened the door to leave. As the front door closed, the door lock automatically engaged. From outside, Jeon Mi-nam pushed the door handle once more to check if it was properly locked. Ju-wan stayed by the door until his presence faded and then returned to the living room.

He locked eyes with Baek Do-un, who was playing by touching Jaguar’s tail. Ju-wan asked, with his body half-turned toward the kitchen.

“Doctor, would you like something to drink…?”

“No, that’s fine, just come sit here.”

Baek Do-un smiled, his eyes curving, and patted the spot next to him. Ju-wan went and sat there quietly. Jaguar immediately stood up and burrowed between Ju-wan’s legs. While he was diligently petting the beast, he felt Baek Do-un’s blatant gaze from the side. When their eyes met, Baek Do-un smiled mischievously.

“What is it?”

“Did you talk a lot with Su-hyeok last night?”

“No. We couldn’t talk much.”

“Ah, you couldn’t ‘talk’ much.”

Baek Do-un simply repeated Ju-wan’s words exactly. Yet, it felt like he was being teased. That was why his ears felt ticklish and grew hot.

Looking up at the air for a moment, Baek Do-un scratched the nape of his neck. He seemed about to bring up something difficult.

“Hmm. I don’t want to be nosy and interfere, but I’m a little worried. You’re not being dragged along against your will, are you, Ju-wan?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, did you just resign yourself to it because you felt you had to accept Su-hyeok?”

Ju-wan shook his head slightly. Then, while gently stroking Jaguar’s face, he candidly revealed his inner thoughts.

“I don’t know. I just like everything he gave me. Su-nam, Mi-nam, you too, Doctor… I don’t want to part with any of you.”

“Ju-wan, that’s…”

“I don’t know since when, but I keep becoming curious about him. What dreams he has, what he does and where, what he’s thinking, how he sees me… Whenever he hugs me tight once in a while, it feels like this place is going to burst.”

Ju-wan slowly placed his hand on his chest. Baek Do-un’s eyes widened. Ju-wan then turned his head and looked into his eyes. It was as if he were seeking confirmation.

“I like him, right?”

“Did you tell Su-hyeok that too?”

“…I’m going to, now.”

A slightly embarrassed expression spread across Ju-wan’s face. Watching this, Baek Do-un covered his own mouth.

“Doctor, what’s wrong? Do you feel sick again?”

“No, no. It’s nothing.”

Baek Do-un hurriedly shook his hand. While covering his eyes, he muttered something like, “Why am I the one getting fluttery?”

Just then, the intercom suddenly rang. He wondered if Jeon Mi-nam had already returned, but then he thought that if it were him, he wouldn’t use the intercom.

Ju-wan approached the intercom and looked at the small screen. A small-framed man was visible. He didn’t look particularly suspicious. He pressed the response button.

“Who is it?”

It’s the laundry.

The man slightly held up the laundry wrapped in plastic. Ju-wan didn’t open the door immediately and looked back at Baek Do-un.

“Doctor, did you leave some laundry?”

“Ah, I did leave a few shirts… let’s see.”

Baek Do-un stood up and staggered toward Ju-wan. Then, he looked at the person on the intercom over his shoulder.

“It is the laundry man.”

Baek Do-un opened the door immediately. Then, he walked slowly toward the entrance.

“Please stay seated. I’ll go get it for you.”

“No. I have to pay and check if the count is correct.”

“Then hold my hand.”

“Thank you.”

Baek Do-un didn’t refuse and grabbed Ju-wan’s arm. By the time the two arrived at the entrance, there was a sound as if the elevator had arrived outside. Then, the doorbell rang.

“Ju-wan, please get Su-nam.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ju-wan let go of Baek Do-un in front of the door and held Jaguar, who had followed the two, in the hallway. It would be troublesome if Jaguar encountered the laundry man while exchanging the clothes.

Without even putting on shoes, Baek Do-un said, “I’m going out,” and pushed the door handle down. Outside the opening door, as expected, the laundry owner was standing.

“Hello.”

“…Ah, yes.”

The laundry owner, who would normally have greeted him with easy sociability, had a strangely troubled expression. Just as Baek Do-un felt a peculiar sense of dissonance, the front door was suddenly flung wide open, and dark-clad men swarmed him in an instant.

“What—!”

He didn’t even have time to grasp the situation. As his arms were seized and pinned, something was slammed over his defenseless face. As he struggled and gasped for air, the pungent smell of a powerful anesthetic stung his nostrils. His consciousness faded rapidly, and his entire body went limp.

Witnessing this sudden kidnapping at an unexpected moment, Ju-wan leaped from his seat and lunged at the men.

“Teacher!”

“Who the hell is this brat?”

“Just grab him first!”

Before Ju-wan’s hand could reach Baek Do-un, he was struck in the nape of the neck. A dizzying sensation shot straight to his head, and his consciousness promptly cut out.

One of the men grabbed the limp Ju-wan by the hair and yanked his face up. He then asked, “What should we do with this brat?” The field leader, looking at the face without suspicion, let out a low exclamation.

“Huh, this kid? Where have I seen him?”

“Do you know him?”

“Doesn’t he look like the guy Hyung is looking for?”

“No way. Does he?”

“Take him along so we can check.”

It was then. Jaguar approached the group with a growl. The men, facing an unexpected predator inside a house, flinched instinctively.

“Wha—what is it? A leopard?”

Jaguar, wrinkling his nose, kicked off the ground in a single bound and lunged at the man holding Ju-wan like a piece of luggage. He opened his jaws wide and bit down hard on the man’s arm. Crimson blood splattered everywhere. The man whose arm had been bitten let out a piercing scream.

“Aaaagh!”

“Fuck! What are you doing? Move them now!”

“B-but…!”

“Do you want to die? Move it!”

The remaining men backed away, leaving their colleague behind to be ruthlessly bitten on the arms, legs, face, and neck by Jaguar. Jaguar huffed, baring blood-stained fangs at them. One of the men grabbed a long coat from the laundry and threw it over the animal’s head. With his vision suddenly blocked, Jaguar shook his head violently. Cruelly, the coat would not come off easily.

In the meantime, the men closed the front door. Inside the house, behind the locked door, Jaguar repeatedly slammed his head against the door. The front door shook violently with loud thuds.

“Hurry!”

Before things got any louder, the men dragged Baek Do-un, Ju-wan, and the laundry owner to the parking lot. They crammed the three of them into a waiting van and hurried away in separate cars, one in front and one behind.

Leaving the parking lot with the loud screech of tires, the vehicle stopped briefly in front of the shopping center. Then, it opened the door and spat the laundry owner out. The laundry owner fell helplessly to the ground.

Just then, Jeon Mi-nam, who was coming out of a nearby shop, witnessed the scene. Jeon Mi-nam rushed to the laundry owner in a single breath. He was conscious, but his eyes were unfocused. It seemed as if he had been drugged.

Mi-nam looked up and locked eyes with a man sitting in the back seat of the van. For a moment, both of them frowned. They looked incredibly familiar to one another.

However, they had no time to recall where they had seen each other. It was because Mi-nam discovered a familiar face sitting next to the man. A chilling sensation licked the nape of his neck and flowed down to his chest.

“We’ve been spotted, move out!”

At the man’s shout, the van began to speed away before the door could even be fully closed. Jeon Mi-nam hurriedly chased after the vehicle. He was almost catching up to the rear. Gritting his teeth, he threw himself forward and grabbed the open car door. As if trying to shake him off, the car attempted a sudden stop. Due to the impact, he slid while holding the closing door and braced himself against the doorframe with his hand and both feet.

The man by the door swung a knife. After narrowly dodging the blow, Mi-nam grabbed the man’s wrist and twisted it backward. Then, he drove his fist mercilessly into the man’s face. The man let out a short scream and was knocked away. Taking advantage of that moment, Mi-nam looked inside and saw Ju-wan in the back seat alongside Baek Do-un. He, too, was unconscious.

In the next instant, the driver stepped on the accelerator and sped off, causing Mi-nam to lose his balance. His body swayed as if he were about to fall off the car at any moment. Determined, he lunged his arm forward again. He barely managed to grab Baek Do-un by the collar. The man who had been punched in the nose struck Mi-nam’s arm with his fist. The driver, also intending to shake him off, rounded a corner without slowing down. In a flash, Mi-nam concentrated all his grip strength and clung tightly to Baek Do-un’s collar. As the car tilted to the right, both Baek Do-un and Jeon Mi-nam were flung out of the vehicle.

“…Ugh.”

Reflexively shielding Baek Do-un, Jeon Mi-nam took the full impact of the fall. But he didn’t even have time to groan.

“Teacher! Are you okay? Teacher!”

He shook the unconscious Baek Do-un violently. Baek Do-un showed no signs of waking up. He first moved him to a safe place and then stood up.

By then, the van had already disappeared into the distance. Yet, he did not give up and chased after it. He was frantic and blind in his pursuit.

Suddenly, a car jumping out from a side alley blocked Jeon Mi-nam’s path. Barely avoiding a head-on collision, he rolled over the hood.

“Are you okay?”

The startled driver quickly got out and expressed concern for Jeon Mi-nam. Without answering, Mi-nam simply glared at the van, which was now almost invisible.

“Haa, haa… haa.”

Rough breaths escaped him in a mess. Finally, the vehicle that had kidnapped Ju-wan vanished from sight. His fists clenched in uncontrollable frustration.