BAI Ch 17
by mimiKwon Sehyuk thought of Shin Haebeom, the Disciplinary Training Corps Commander. He wondered how he would judge this situation. Shin Haebeom, with his uncle’s full confidence and immense popularity, was the perfect role model for Kwon Sehyuk, who was just starting out in politics.
“Why are you thinking so hard?”
The man said.
“Just do what you feel like.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“That’s because you’re overthinking it.”
The man’s hand rested on his shoulder. His palm was warm.
“We’re friends now.”
“…”
“Aren’t we?”
Kwon Sehyuk sighed.
“If you’re thinking of ripping me off, forget it. I know the market prices.”
“Don’t worry.”
Kwon Sehyuk didn’t shake off the man’s hand.
“Okay. We’re… friends now.”
The truth was, he’d been drawn to him from the first moment he saw him. From the moment the man stepped out from under the trees in the Howollu garden. No, even earlier, from when he first heard that deep, husky voice. It was rare to meet someone who commanded attention just by standing still.
Perhaps dropping the cigarette case hadn’t been an accident. Perhaps it was the beginning of a new connection. A relationship formed by his own will, not through his uncle’s network or his mother’s wishes. With this man, he could easily forget about his high school friends, the ones he’d callously cut off.
Kwon Sehyuk beamed at the passenger seat.
“Can I drop the formalities now? Since we’re friends?”
“Casual speech is fine, but I don’t like ‘friend’. Call me hyung. I’m a year older than you.”
“Ugh.”
“What’s with that face? Hey, it’s better to be clear about these things from the start, so we don’t fight later.”
The man wasn’t backing down at all. Yet, Kwon Sehyuk wasn’t offended. It was strange how much he was enjoying this whole situation. He shrugged.
“Fine, whatever. I’ll treat you like a hyung.”
The barrier at the back gate lifted. A black Range Rover shot out, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Shin Haebeom gripped the steering wheel with one hand, pressing his other hand against the still-bleeding wound on his ear.
He was glad he’d grabbed a towel. The cutter knife and Desert Eagle he’d tossed carelessly on the passenger seat clattered against his own revolver.
The road was unforgiving to large vehicles. The surface was uneven, the road narrow, and overhanging branches obscured his vision.
But precisely because of that, because it was a rarely used road, the traces of a single person’s passage remained clearly visible. He didn’t even need to get out and examine them closely. The broken twigs and footprints were distinct. He was lucky. If it had rained, these traces would have been washed away, and this behemoth of a car would have likely skidded on the wet road and slammed headfirst into a tree.
Shin Haebeom chuckled. If Jung Ryujin thought he wouldn’t be found in the dark, if he thought Shin Haebeom wasn’t familiar with this road, he was mistaken. This was the tiger’s territory. Did he think Shin Haebeom had impulsively purchased this vast property based on a few maps and satellite images?
Soon, he reached the main road. Shin Haebeom checked the time. Past midnight. The flow of cars to Howollu would have almost completely stopped. Once again, he felt a sense of victory. Jung Ryujin would have definitely taken this route. Injured and without any other means of transportation, a well-lit, paved road was a hundred times better than a rough, dark mountain path. He might even hope for a ride from a passing car.
But at this hour, with Howollu’s second round of business underway and most of the reserved guests already seated, the chances of a lucky break appearing to rescue Jung Ryujin were slim to none.
The Range Rover picked up speed, Shin Haebeom’s eyes scanning the roadsides as he drove down. He planned to take a leisurely drive around. He wasn’t planning on running Jung Ryujin over. He just wanted to startle him. The thought of seeing his face turn pale with terror, as if he’d seen a ghost, sent shivers down his spine.
Just as he pressed down on the accelerator, anticipating his victory, Shin Haebeom’s eyes widened.
He’d made the mistake of assuming he’d be alone. The Range Rover, which had been drifting slightly over the center line, nearly collided with an oncoming car. The screech of metal and the shower of sparks indicated a definite impact. Shin Haebeom slammed on the brakes, but the momentum carried the vehicle forward before it finally came to a stop.
He flung open the door and jumped out. Shin Haebeom wasn’t sentimental about his car like Jin Chiwoo, giving it a name and cherishing it. But he wasn’t magnanimous enough to laugh off the long, horizontal scratch he saw. He glared at the taillights of the other car as it sped away. A fundamental question shook him. Why aren’t they stopping?
The tiger held its breath in the darkness. He had two choices: Continue pursuing Jung Ryujin, or chase after the unexpected intruder.
The hunter didn’t hesitate. There were no witnesses, but there was more damning evidence: the dashcam. It was a problem that could be postponed. Shin Haebeom got back into the driver’s seat.
He pulled over to the side of the road again. Kwon Sehyuk rested his head on the steering wheel, gasping for breath. His hands and knees were trembling. This was the second time tonight. Twice he’d brushed with death. How could this be happening? It had to be some kind of celestial prank, initiating him into the world of driving with a harsh lesson.
He looked at the passenger seat.
“We almost, just, died.”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you tell me not to stop?”
“…”
“Hyung, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
The man wasn’t okay at all. His face was pale, his lips trembling, and he looked like he was about to faint. Kwon Sehyuk quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and rushed to the passenger side, gripping the man’s shoulders and turning him to face him.
“Breathe. Breathe, hyung.”
“I’m fine.”
“What is going on tonight? Am I cursed or something?”
“…Your car?”
“Oh!”
Kwon Sehyuk scrambled out. Under the harsh glare of the streetlight, his cherished gift from his grandfather bore a horrific gash. He groaned and slumped to the ground. Ryujin sighed, looking at Kwon Sehyuk sitting on the asphalt.
“Are you okay?”
“No…”
“What are we going to do? This is a really expensive car.”
“That’s not important right now.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Kwon Sehyuk stayed still, soothed by the gentle, comforting strokes.
As he calmed down, anger surged. He should have at least gotten the other car’s license plate number. He buried his face in his knees and yelled,
“That crazy bastard, what kind of driving was that?!”
“I know, right?”
“Why do they even give licenses to people like that?!”
“Exactly!”
“He must have been drunk. Did you see him crossing the center line? I seriously thought a cannonball was coming at us. That’s definitely drunk driving.”
“You’re right!”
Kwon Sehyuk cursed the unknown driver. I hope he crashes into the guardrail and gets his license revoked.
“Get up when you’re done. It’s not good to sit on the cold ground for too long.”
Kwon Sehyuk sighed, but then stood up with a smile, dusting off his pants and shrugging as if nothing had happened. He felt he needed to be composed to reassure the other man.
“Where are you going, hyung?”
“Do you like night views?”
“What?”
It was a strange question. Kwon Sehyuk joined him at the guardrail.
He was looking down at the city below.
“…It’s beautiful.”
The cityscape stretched out to the horizon. Kwon Sehyuk replied casually,
“Not many people dislike them.”
“…”
“Do you dislike them, hyung?”
“It makes me think there’s nothing but superficial glitter.”
“That’s what’s good about it. The glitter.”
“It’s a waste of electricity.”
“Aren’t you being too negative?”
Instead of answering, the man returned to the car and got into the passenger seat. He did it so naturally that Kwon Sehyuk felt like his chauffeur.
The car stereo turned on automatically. Kwon Sehyuk reached to turn it off, but the man stopped him.
“Leave it.”
“Do you know this song?”
“I don’t speak English.”
He said, buttoning his coat.
“Do you like listening to music?”
“God, you ask a lot of questions.”
“Let’s talk about something. I’m still shaken up.”
Kwon Sehyuk hesitated, then added,
“Actually, I just got my license.”
“But your car looks like it’s been driven accident-free for 30 years.”
He started to explain about it being a gift from his grandfather, then stopped. He was sure the man would think he was spoiled. He changed the subject.
“I like music.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Just go with it.”
Kwon Sehyuk cleared his throat.
“This song, you know it’s banned?”
“What?”
“I don’t know the exact reason, but I can guess. The lyrics have words like ‘freedom,’ ‘walls,’ and ‘resurrection.'”
“…”
“It wasn’t this bad before. Censorship got really strict after the Ryu Yeonbi incident. I was able to find this because it’s in English, but the Korean versions have been completely erased. The singer, he was an amateur singer-songwriter who posted videos on his website. He posted a notice that he was going in for questioning and disappeared. Haven’t heard from him since.”
“…”
“I doubt he got jail time, right? He just translated and sang a song. He’s probably lying low because of a hefty fine.”
“…”
“Hyung, are you asleep?”
Ryujin shook his head.
“No.”
“When I get into the Jeok Rim Bu, I’ll ease the regulations on arts and culture. Even if I can’t get rid of them all, I want people to be able to listen to music freely. They play this song at concerts overseas. Does it make sense to ban it just because of a few words? How are musicians supposed to make a living?”
“Right…”
“People complain that all the songs sound the same these days, that you can’t tell singers apart. It’s all because of the regulations. ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that.’ It restricts creative freedom. I think the golden age of Korean music was during the Ryu Yeonbi and Kang Yeojun era. Especially Ryu Yeonbi, if it weren’t for his personal life…”
“Just be quiet.”
Ryujin felt nauseous. He stared out the window, chewing on his lower lip.
When tiled roofs started to appear through the dense trees, he said,
“Stop the car.”
“How are you going to walk in that condition? Where are you staying? I’ll take you.”
“I doubt I’ll get a warm welcome showing up in a car like this.”
Kwon Sehyuk pouted.
“You care about what other people think, too?”
“Are you comparing yourself to me?”
Kwon Sehyuk didn’t argue. The man was being considerate of him, worried about him getting caught up in rumors.
“Think a little before you speak.”
Despite his words, he was a thoughtful person.
Kwon Sehyuk pressed the blanket and snacks into the man’s hand as he tried to get out.
“Eat on your way.”
“It’s okay. I’m almost there.”
“Take it when I offer it.”
When Kwon Sehyuk shoved the snacks into the trench coat pockets, the man gave him a strange look.
“Take my clothes and shoes, too. I’ll just say I lost them somewhere.”
“…Thanks.”
“After all this, you can’t rip me off with the drugs, okay?”
The man chuckled, holding up the blanket with the cartoon characters.
“Interesting taste.”
Kwon Sehyuk’s face flushed.
“That’s my brother’s!”
“Who said anything? Why are you getting so defensive?”
“I’m not!”
“Come tomorrow morning. Before lunch service starts. I’ll return your things then.”
Kwon Sehyuk scratched his cheek.
“Ah, tomorrow’s a bit… I have a really packed schedule. Actually, I gave up sleep to come out here today.”
“No. You have to come tomorrow.”
“Why?”
Ryujin tried to sound casual, but gave Kwon Sehyuk a reason he couldn’t refuse.
“Because I might change my mind.”
He swallowed the words he really wanted to say. Kwon Sehyuk, if you don’t come, Shin Haebeom might beat me to death.
The cell phone he’d tossed on the passenger seat rang. He answered, and Shin Yena’s low voice came through the speaker.
—Ryujin’s here.
“Where was he hiding?”
—Just come to the annex. He won’t talk to me.
He replied that he understood. It was surprising that Ryujin had returned of his own volition. But that didn’t mean Shin Haebeom intended to forgive him. He’d make him pay for the all-nighter Shin Haebeom had pulled and the car repairs, with his measly body. He sped up.
Shin Yena was waiting outside. He was smoking and turned his back wordlessly when he saw Shin Haebeom. Shin Haebeom followed him silently. At the door, Shin Yena said,
“Keep your voice down.”
“We’ll see how he behaves.”
“If there’s a commotion, I’m coming in.”
“Shouldn’t you be focusing on business?”
“You caused this mess, and you’re saying that to me?”
Shin Haebeom opened the door. He saw Jung Ryujin huddled in the corner. His hair was wet, as if he’d just showered. There was a scent of fragrant soap. Bandages were plastered on his arms and legs, visible beneath his shorts and t-shirt.
“Hide-and-seek was fun.”
“I have something to tell you.”
They spoke almost simultaneously.
Shin Haebeom let out a hollow laugh. He looked at his reflection in the mirror across the room, then back at Jung Ryujin huddled on the floor. The fragrant scent of soap underscored how disheveled he himself looked. His hair was a mess, and he reeked of sweat and blood. And then there was the bloody wound on his ear.
Shin Haebeom pulled off a loose bandage dangling from his earlobe.
“You know why I’m angry, right?”
“Don’t make me regret coming back.”
“What choice did you have?”
Shin Haebeom sneered.
“If you run, innocent people get hurt. You should think about your aunt, who fed, clothed, bathed, and sheltered you when you were a child.”
“I know.”
“What do you have to tell me?”
Shin Haebeom lit a cigarette. If it wasn’t important, he was going to teach Ryujin a lesson. His fists were already itching, and his groin was throbbing.
Gray smoke enveloped Ryujin’s pale face, then slowly dissipated.
“I met Kwon Sehyuk.”
“Oh really?”
Shin Haebeom replied calmly, but he almost dropped his cigarette.
“He gave me a ride back here.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t that obvious? If you see someone lost…”
“Is that what I’m asking?”
Shin Haebeom snapped.
“Why is MVP here at this hour? You need to make your lies believable.”
“It’s not a lie!”
“Do you have proof?”
Ryujin nodded. Shin Haebeom raised an eyebrow.
A scratched, silver cigarette case was placed before him.
“What’s this?”
“This belongs to Kwon Sehyuk, no, MVP. I picked it up in the garden the day you guys came for dinner.”
“Did I or did I not tell you to stay out of it?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
Ryujin glared at Shin Haebeom.
“Believe me!”
“You should have acted in a way that made you believable. All you ever think about is how to betray me.”
Shin Haebeom pointed to his left ear. Ryujin bristled.
“You started it!”
“Shin Yena is outside.”
“…”
Shin Haebeom opened the case, cigarette still dangling from his lips. Small, flat pills spilled out. There was no way Shin Haebeom wouldn’t recognize them.
“What proof do you have that this belongs to MVP?”
“That’s…”
“You don’t, do you? You little punk, who are you trying to fool?”
“I do! I just can’t show you right now.”
“Proof you can’t show is just suspicion, not evidence.”
“I told you I have proof!”
As Shin Haebeom started to get up, Ryujin’s voice became urgent.
“He’s coming here tomorrow. He promised to return this. And he’s going to start dealing with me.”
“What?”
“I knew it the moment I saw the drugs. They’re the ones sold at <White Swan>. You know, right? The club run by <White Lion>.”
Shin Haebeom sat back down.
“Explain everything.”
“It’s a long story.”
“The night is young.”
He listened to the whole story. It wasn’t as shocking as he’d expected. But it was unpleasant, unexpected.
Shin Haebeom heard the cracks forming in his plans. The fissures had been there all along, but he’d been oblivious. A hollow laugh escaped him. He lit a second cigarette.
“So, you became friends with MVP?”
“He’s a bit strange.”
“That’s because his head is in the clouds. He and I live in different worlds.”
“He was very different from what I expected.”
“And that makes you go soft?”
Ryujin lowered his gaze. Shin Haebeom’s hand reached out.
“…”
Instead of slapping him, Shin Haebeom stroked his wet hair.
“Pathetic.”
Ryujin opened his eyes. The smell of cigarette smoke filled his nostrils. Shin Haebeom’s face was right in front of him. His eyes were smiling.
“It’s all an act.”
Despite his mocking tone, his hand stroking Ryujin’s hair was gentle.
“Everything he does and says is calculated.”
“I thought so too. But what if it’s not? Maybe that’s his real personality. He’s only twenty…”
Shin Haebeom was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to shake Ryujin violently. But he was too exhausted, so he simply pushed back his wet hair and gently pressed his finger against the scar on Ryujin’s temple.
“I know why you feel that way.”
Shin Haebeom said.
“Kwon Joohyuk is a natural image maker. He used to be a journalist. He’s a master of fabrication and manipulation. You know, right? Ryu Yeonbi and Gwak Jaeheon…”
“Don’t talk about Noona.”
“You little punk. You’re interrupting me?”
“Just finish what you were saying. What about Kwon Joohyuk?”
Shin Haebeom glared at Ryujin, then exhaled a plume of smoke.
“Ouch!”
“You’re asking for it.”
“…”
“MVP takes after his maternal grandfather. Jang Doohyun. He’s a retired big shot now, but he apparently doted on his first grandson. The Pyeongan Jang clan is a prestigious family, traditionally related to royalty by marriage. Growing up surrounded by all that privilege, his values are bound to be different from his siblings who were born in the capital.”
It was ironic. That the first in line for succession had grown up outside the fierce power struggles.
Shin Haebeom said in a gloomy voice, “Jang Seunghee played her cards right.”
Kwon Joohyuk was the president’s aide. It was a strange position for someone with ambitions to become the supreme leader of Shinryonggwan.
“Kwon Joohyuk is grooming MVP to be the successor he wants. Exploiting his youth and naiveté. Whenever he ascends to power, as the president’s uncle, he’ll gain even more power than he has now.”
“Like a regency?”
“You even know that word?”
“Don’t underestimate me.”
Shin Haebeom stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Does he know? That Kwon Joohyuk is using him?”
“How would he?”
Ryujin closed his mouth. It was clear he’d only be met with more sarcasm.
“The role model Kwon Joohyuk is trying to impose on MVP is Gwak Jaeheon.”
“What?”
“Gwak Jaeheon was one of Iron-Blooded Il Sung’s core figures, but since he came from a social enterprise background, he also had ties to the Republican Party. He was a two-faced bat, playing both sides. He gets a lot of flak in political circles, but that kind of image works well with the public. He always plays it safe.”
Ryujin burst out, “So you’re saying it’s understandable if he’s like Gwak Jaeheon?! Even if he’s Kwon Ilhyuk’s son?!”
A dictatorship sustained without bloodshed. A transfer of power that ignored the atrocities of the previous generation. Shin Haebeom scoffed.
“People don’t care about bloodlines. What matters is political ideology. Whoever the next president is, as long as it’s not Iron-Blooded Il Sung’s reign of terror, they’ll welcome him with open arms.”
“But!”
“Are you getting it now? We have to hurry. If MVP takes power and gains public support, the atrocities of the past will be forgotten. And then what about you and me? We’re finished.”
Shin Haebeom drove the point home.
“That’s how dynasties whitewash their history.”
No matter how populist Kwon Sehyuk’s policies were, or how much respect he garnered from the public, he would try to cover up the past, not correct it. Reopening closed cases would be an admission of wrongdoing.
“MVP can’t tarnish his father’s image.”
Shin Haebeom urged him to brace himself.
“You really like Gwak Hyeonwoo, don’t you?”
Ryujin frowned and asked what he meant, but Shin Haebeom just smiled without answering. He shook Kwon Sehyuk’s cigarette case and changed the subject.
“Where were you hiding this?”
“In the bathroom.”
“Speak of the devil.”
Ryujin yelled at Shin Haebeom’s back as he headed for the bathroom.
“Are you going to sleep here?”
“You want me to drive home at this hour?”
The tone suggested that any further remarks would be met with a fist. Ryujin gathered a pillow and stood up. He couldn’t touch the only bedding in the room, so he picked up the cartoon blanket Kwon Sehyuk had lent him. He was looking at the cute print when Shin Haebeom suddenly poked his head out.
“What are you doing?”
Ryujin was startled but tried to sound nonchalant.
“You said you’d sleep here. I’m going out.”
“Out where?”
“The hallway, anywhere…”
Ryujin trailed off, muttering internally that he could sleep on the streets as long as Shin Haebeom wasn’t there.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“What! Then you go out!”
Shin Haebeom strode towards him and snatched the pillow and blanket from his hands, throwing them on the floor.
“Why are you being such a pain… Ow!”
As he bent down to pick them up, he was sharply hit in the solar plexus by Shin Haebeom’s knee. He spoke from above Ryujin as he clutched his stomach and collapsed.
“Stay here.”
“Use your words! You fucking bastard!”
“You don’t understand nice words, do you?”
Shin Haebeom carelessly peeled off his dirty uniform, even ordering Ryujin to make the bed. The words “go to hell” rose to his throat, but he had no choice but to endure.
Ryujin lowered his head and replied, “Fine.”
There was nothing else he could do but endure. At least for now.
Listening to the sound of running water, Ryujin thought, Someday, I’ll make that arrogant face crumble. I’ll make those confident, shining eyes weep tears of blood. That monstrous man, he can’t have been invincible from the start.
Sounds are clearer in the dark, from the ticking of the clock to the soft sounds of breathing.
Ryujin swallowed hard. Shin Haebeom was within arm’s reach. His breath kept brushing against his neck, making him shudder and turn over.
“…….”
It backfired. Shin Haebeom’s face was now right in front of his. He looked utterly peaceful, sleeping with the thick cotton blanket pulled up to his neck.
Sleep wouldn’t come. Unsurprisingly. Ryujin carefully slipped out from under the covers, trying to make as little noise as possible. Taking only the blanket Kwon Sehyuk had given him, he went to the corner. It was the only thing in this room he could call his own. Everything else belonged to Shin Haebeom.
Ryujin raised the blinds. Moonlight poured in.
Wrapping the blanket around his shoulders, he leaned against the wall and started counting sheep.
One sheep, two sheep.
Three sheep.
It was useless.
Ryujin pulled his knees to his chest, burying his face between them and holding his breath. After some time, Shin Haebeom stirred in the darkness.
“What are you doing?”
His voice was thick with sleep.
“…Trying to sleep.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
A hook-like hand grabbed his ankle. He was pulled back without a moment to react. A startled yelp escaped his lips, met by a chuckle.
“Let go!”
“I don’t want to.”
Ryujin struggled, but Shin Haebeom wouldn’t release him. The bedding was in disarray. He was playing with him like a cat with a mouse.
His legs were spread, and Shin Haebeom settled himself between them. Ryujin pushed against his shoulders.
“Get off.”
“Let’s just sleep.”
Shin Haebeom’s weight suffocated him. Ryujin struggled before giving up, his arms falling limply onto the bedding.
Shin Haebeom chuckled.
“Ah!”
A hot hand slipped under his loose t-shirt.
“Stop it.”
Shin Haebeom ignored him. His hot, firm palm tickled his side, caressed his stomach, then moved up to his chest.
“It hurts, stop…!”
“You’re just too skinny.”
His t-shirt was pushed up to his neck. Shin Haebeom laughed as he touched his hardened nipples.
“How does it feel when I touch you here?”
“How does it feel? It feels fucking awful.”
“…….”
“Stop bothering me and get lost! How am I supposed to sleep like this?!”
Ryujin grabbed Shin Haebeom’s wrist. At that moment, his other hand slid into his pants. He gasped. He whispered in his ear,
“Do you like Kwon Sehyuk?”
“It’s not… It’s not like that.”
“How are you going to get the drugs?”
“I have friends from the club. I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry. Just give me a pass when I need to go out…”
“That’s not going to happen. How do I know what you’ll do outside?”
The fingers exploring his groin slipped inside his underwear. They were long and prominently knuckled – fingers he knew well.
“Don’t…!”
Shin Haebeom’s voice softened.
“We have a lot of the drugs you guys used to sell.”
He said they were confiscated goods. A considerable amount in value, and they’d been having trouble with insiders stealing them. Shin Haebeom started to masturbate him.
“I’ll help you.”
Ryujin gasped.
“I… I don’t need it. I worked at the club, I’m used to it.”
“You’ll need my help.”
“How… How are you going to help? You don’t know anything… anything about this… Ah!”
“This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an order.”
Shin Haebeom’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“I won’t tolerate you acting alone. And if you don’t know yet, <White Swan> is closed.”
Ryujin squeezed his eyes shut. His curled toes gripped the bedding. Shin Haebeom bit down hard on his sweat-dampened neck.
“Ow!”
“Are you hurt?”
Ryujin shook his head. Gasps escaped his parted lips. Shin Haebeom quickened his movements, teasing him until pre-come beaded at the tip, clinging to the underside of his nails.
“Stop, stop…!”
“I know this world better than you do.”
“Hngh, uh, ah!”
“Do you think those back-alley friendships are anything special? Brotherhood, loyalty? There’s no such thing. In the end, the ones chosen in crucial moments are family, blood relatives. Blood is thicker than water, don’t you know?”
Shin Haebeom chuckled.
“Be honest. You didn’t just give it to Ha Seongrok because you were forced, did you? You liked it too, didn’t you? Huh? Tell me, Jung Ryujin. You like being with older men, don’t you?”
“No, no. I don’t.”
“Don’t lie. I barely touched you and your nipples are already hard. You asked Ha Seongrok to touch your chest, didn’t you? Did you suck him off too? Did you climb on his desk and shake your ass? What did he say when he saw you were sterile?”
“No, I didn’t…! You fucking bastard!”
Shin Haebeom opened his palm. Sadly, Jung Ryujin didn’t climax. A small amount of pre-cum pathetically coated his hand.
He quickly turned over and looked at Ryujin, who was hiding his lower body with the blanket. His spine and shoulder blades were prominent on his thin back.
“You fucking bastard…”
His voice was almost a whimper. Shin Haebeom smirked and wiped his hand on Ryujin’s bare back.
“Go to sleep.”
“I hope you die in your sleep.”
“Do it yourself if you want to.”
“…….”
“Wishing won’t solve anything.”
Ryujin woke to the sound of birds chirping. He turned his head to look beside him. Shin Haebeom’s place was cold.
His body ached, and his head was dizzy. There was no trace of him in the room.
There was a kettle by his head. A little cold water remained in a glass. As he poured himself a drink, something next to the kettle caught his eye. It was Kwon Sehyuk’s cigarette case.
As Ryujin picked it up, he paused. There was a folded piece of paper between the case and the floor.
“What’s this?”
Ryujin unfolded the note. A single line was written on it.
Study hard.
Shin Haebeom.
“That crazy bastard.”
Ryujin crumpled the note and threw it in the trash can in the corner.
From the moment he woke up, Kwon Sehyuk began his performance. He claimed to be feeling chills and having a stuffy nose, certain he was coming down with a cold. Afraid of being suspected of faking it, he put a thermometer in his mouth and placed a wet towel on his forehead. Then he pulled the covers up to his neck and groaned theatrically.
Kwon Joohyuk, summoned by the commotion, clicked his tongue and launched into his usual lecture about how he used to be able to chew rocks at Sehyuk’s age. Sehyuk, with the thermometer still in his mouth, thought to himself, If you suffer when you’re young, you’ll be riddled with illnesses when you’re old, Uncle.
With the threat of no future schedule adjustments, the unwelcome visitor left. Jang Seunghee, acknowledging that Sehyuk had indeed been overworking himself lately, decided to brew him some tonic and began getting ready to go out.
His younger brother, clutching a stuffed cube toy, crawled into bed with him. Sehyuk removed the thermometer and wet towel, extending his arms to hug his brother tightly. He was much smaller than other kids his age. Sehyuk, who’d been told he was tall his entire life, worried about his brother’s stunted growth.
“Hyung-ah, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Hyung-ah, are you going to die?”
“I’m not going to die. I just have a headache.”
Kwon Sehyuk sighed deeply.
“Hyung’s been having a complicated time lately.”
“Because of your friends?”
“I don’t care about them anymore.”
Kwon Sehyuk stated firmly.
“If I don’t contact them, they’ll be the ones missing out. And I have a new friend.”
“Really? How? Where? You don’t go to school anymore.”
“Do you have to make friends only at school? People just come up to me and stick to me, even if I just stand still.”
Kwon Sehyuk poked his silent brother’s cheek.
“What’s with that reaction? You don’t believe Hyung-ah?”
“What’s your friend’s name?”
“I haven’t… we haven’t exchanged names yet.”
“You’re friends with someone you don’t even know the name of?”
“Actually, he’s a year older than me.”
“Hyung-ah’s Hyung?”
“Yeah.”
“So he’s my Hyung-ah too?”
“Yeah, sure.”
It wasn’t entirely untrue. Kwon Sehyuk had no intention of introducing his new supplier to his little brother.
“Are you guys going to hang out together?”
“We’re not that close yet.”
“What do you like about him?”
“He’s handsome.”
“…….”
“Of course, I’m much more handsome!”
“Do you make friends based on looks, Hyung-ah?”
“Hey! I’m not like that!”
Kwon Sehyuk hugged his brother tightly and ruffled his hair. His brother giggled in his arms, then suddenly looked up.