By Zephyria 
After a long wait, Ak Mujin entered Mae-yeong’s room and was a little surprised by what he saw. Jin Geum-ryeon seemed to have tried to tidy up, but the furniture was in worse condition than he had expected. The handle of the bed frame seemed to have been broken off long ago, revealing its pale interior, and all four handles of the drawers were torn and dangling.
Even if he wasn’t good at taking care of things, was his personality so bad that he would break things? Ak Mujin was reconsidering Mae-yeong’s personality.
“Ahem. Well. I’ve tidied up a lot… but if you’re still uncomfortable, I can give you the study where I stay.”
Jin Geum-ryeon stood behind Ak Mujin and said cautiously, perhaps a little embarrassed by what he saw. Ak Mujin shook his head. He was just grateful for Jin Geum-ryeon’s kindness in making it this clean.
“No. It’s alright. This is fine.”
“I should probably do some repairs before I leave.”
He strode over and fiddled with the broken handle for a moment before covering it with a thin blanket.
“This way, you won’t get scratched while you sleep. Then, I’ll be going…”
Ak Mujin watched Jin Geum-ryeon’s actions silently. After hesitating for a moment, he quickly turned to Jin Geum-ryeon as he was about to leave the room.
“Tea.”
At that one word, Jin Geum-ryeon stopped abruptly and turned to look at Ak Mujin.
“Won’t you offer me tea? I need something to cleanse my palate…”
Ak Mujin thought. If Jin Geum-ryeon were to be poisoned by the Meridian crippling poison, his residence of 15 years would be the best place. If he were to suffer the pain of unrequited love, this place, with things that could comfort him, would be the best.
Ak Mujin felt his palms getting clammy and clenched and unclenched his fists. Whether he knew his inner thoughts or not, Jin Geum-ryeon’s face was beaming with a smile.
“Of course. Please wait a moment.”
*
Even though he had asked first, Ak Mujin felt a pang of conscience and couldn’t concentrate on the tea ceremony, stopping his hands repeatedly. It had been a while since Jin Geum-ryeon had brewed tea for him. In the days since leaving the clinic, Jin Geum-ryeon had stuck close to Ak Mujin but hadn’t been as affectionate or tried to create time alone together as much as before. ‘Time alone together’ definitely included the simple tea ceremony after meals.
Ak Mujin was also uncomfortable thinking about what had happened that night, but Jin Geum-ryeon seemed to be particularly concerned this time. He certainly wasn’t offering Contraceptive Medicine right away.
More than that. When should he put in the medicine? No… Could he even do it? He was now hiding the medicine packet in his sleeve, with both hands concealed inside. Jin Geum-ryeon, who had been watching Ak Mujin as if he were lost in thought, asked, examining his complexion.
“Is there something wrong somewhere?”
“No… Ahem. No. It’s just that… I never thought the day would come when I would drink tea with you in this room… It feels new.”
At Ak Mujin’s vague words, Jin Geum-ryeon smiled and looked around the room. It was still full of drawers with dangling handles and broken furniture, but somehow he seemed a little happy that he had invited Ak Mujin to his own residence.
“I might have died if it weren’t for you.”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s hand tilted the teapot, pouring tea into the Tea Pitcher. A fragrant aroma rose subtly. Listening to Jin Geum-ryeon’s voice, which seemed to genuinely feel grateful to Ak Mujin, made Ak Mujin feel uneasy.
“At first, I thought it was just the interest I felt in the Candied fruit that Master used to buy me.”
With a gentle sound, the tea in the Tea Pitcher filled Ak Mujin’s teacup.
“How foolish of me. By the time I realized that my heart was deeper than I thought… I was already submerged up to my head.”
He stopped pouring tea and put down the Tea Pitcher, lost in thought. After pondering something, he looked at Ak Mujin and said.
“If I had known this feeling beforehand, I wouldn’t have let you suffer so much.”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s voice was very heavy as he said that.
“It’s my fault. It’s my mistake.”
Ak Mujin stared at him, wondering if he truly thought so, and then swallowed his tea. Honestly, it wasn’t Jin Geum-ryeon’s fault that Ak Mujin’s fate had gone awry three years ago. Rather, if he traced it back to the root, wasn’t it closer to his own fault for firmly believing that this world was his original work? But Jin Geum-ryeon seemed very upset.
Jin Geum-ryeon took a deep breath and carefully opened his mouth again.
“So, to avoid making such mistakes in the future… would you allow me to help you?”
Ak Mujin’s hand, which was putting down the teacup, suddenly stopped. He looked down at the teacup. There was still tea he hadn’t finished drinking.
“You’re speaking out of turn.”
Ak Mujin scoffed. Jin Geum-ryeon still seemed to have lingering feelings for him. He suddenly felt that he couldn’t let things continue like this. If he kept being kind to him, Jin Geum-ryeon would only cling to his lingering feelings even more, so it seemed better to cut him off now.
And that thought happened to help Ak Mujin with the evil deed he was about to commit. If he went this far, Jin Geum-ryeon would feel betrayed. All affection would surely disappear.
Ak Mujin spoke slowly, with clear pronunciation.
“Since when has my fate been in your hands? You’re thinking arrogantly. You can’t help me. Even if it’s just as a bed partner, I don’t want you.”
At the cold tone that was even harsh, Jin Geum-ryeon lowered his gaze powerlessly. Ak Mujin stared at his dejected appearance for a while, then steeled his heart, thinking he couldn’t let it go on any longer.
He pretended to make a mistake and spilled his cup, and Jin Geum-ryeon, seeing Ak Mujin’s clothes getting wet, hurriedly tried to wipe it off, but he couldn’t find a cloth. He quickly got up from his seat.
“…Please wait a moment.”
“……”
Jin Geum-ryeon hurried out of the room to find a cloth. Ak Mujin, left alone in an instant, blankly stared at the teapot and Tea Pitcher.
Yes. This is for Jin Geum-ryeon’s sake. Cutting off his feelings for him is helping him. If he doesn’t use this kind of method, Jin Geum-ryeon won’t come to his senses and will keep chasing after nothing. Ak Mujin muttered inwardly and finally dissolved the Meridian crippling poison powder in the Tea Pitcher. His heart was racing too fast, and his head was spinning. He sighed only after confirming that the medicine was well dissolved.
The deed was done. He didn’t know if Jin Geum-ryeon would notice, but the die had been cast. Even so, he wasn’t feeling confident about this, but soon the door to the residence opened, and Jin Geum-ryeon returned.
Whether he had been crying outside or not, it was noticeable that the corners of his eyes were a little red. He held a cloth in one hand and examined Ak Mujin’s clothes.
“…It’s too late, it must have all been absorbed.”
“You went to a lot of trouble.”
Ak Mujin cleared his throat and gestured for Jin Geum-ryeon to sit down across from him. Jin Geum-ryeon examined Ak Mujin’s clothes once more before sitting down. And with quick movements, he picked up the Tea Pitcher and filled the empty cup. Ak Mujin fidgeted with the teacup several times, feeling unnecessarily anxious. Noticing this, Jin Geum-ryeon lowered his eyes and said.
“…Am I making you uncomfortable by being here?”
At those words, Ak Mujin raised his eyes to look at Jin Geum-ryeon’s face. He was smiling with a slightly lonely expression. It was a face that naturally evoked sympathy.
Ak Mujin’s heart stung because of what he had done. Was he really going to leave him behind in this state of low self-esteem? Even after secretly giving him medicine? Was that okay? Guilt swept over him in an instant.
“…Since you don’t say anything, I guess it’s true. I’ll leave now.”
With those words, Jin Geum-ryeon raised the teacup to drink.
“Wait, hold on!”
Indeed, this didn’t seem right. It was the moment Ak Mujin was about to stop him.
Jin Geum-ryeon seemed to pause for a moment, then stared straight at Ak Mujin and drank what was in his small teacup without hesitation. Then he smiled faintly.
“Still, tea with you is always delicious.”
Ah… It was truly irreversible. Ak Mujin blankly stared at him, then slowly got up from his seat, only to then strike Jin Geum-ryeon’s Acupoint to immobilize him. Jin Geum-ryeon didn’t even try to stop Ak Mujin’s actions.
“…You didn’t have to use Pressure Point Strike. I wasn’t going to chase you anyway.”
Jin Geum-ryeon looked up at Ak Mujin with a resigned tone, but still with a smile. Ak Mujin’s heart grew heavier at that sight, and he bit his lip tightly before releasing it.
“…I’m sorry. But still, I shouldn’t be with you.”
“I don’t know why you think so. Am I harmful to you?”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s two eyes were directed at Ak Mujin. His eyes contained earnestness, but Ak Mujin ignored it and looked elsewhere.
“No. I’m harmful to you.”
Now that the escape plan had begun, and since the effects of the Meridian crippling poison were temporary, he couldn’t delay any longer. Ak Mujin turned away without regret.
“Don’t go.”
Jin Geum-ryeon said.
“Please don’t go…”