BAI Ch 6

“What do you think? You agree?”

Ryujin couldn’t answer. Shin Haebeom’s weight felt like it was suffocating him. Blood wasn’t circulating in his hands. His fingertips were nearly purple.

Shin Haebeom, gnawing gently on Ryujin’s earlobe, whispered.

“What’re you thinking about right now?”

“The watch…”

“Hm?”

“Yours. It looks nice.”

“Oh, you like this?”

Shin Haebeom laughed. It was a gift from Kwon Joohyuk when he took office as the Disciplinary Task Force Commander.

“Expensive, right?”

“Something like that.”

“That idiot… he had one too. He’d freak out and go wild if it even got scratched… you like that too?”

Shin Haebeom knew who Ryujin meant by “that idiot.” Ha Shinsung. The image of him dressed up in a Hugo Boss suit made bile rise in his throat.

“You’re thinking about another guy right now?”

“Can’t I?”

“No, you can’t.”

Shin Haebeom’s lips twitched.

“Who’s the bastard on top of you right now?”

“Ugh!”

A strong force pressed down on the back of his head. Ryujin barely turned his face, and his vision caught the cold gleam of a Vacheron Constantin.

There was a time he’d forcibly kissed Ha Shinsung. It was the night they closed up the club. He’d been in a good mood after scoring expensive liquor from the bar manager for free. He couldn’t recall the name of the drink. Only that it burned his throat like fire, and the pungent scent of Ha Shinsung’s cologne when he suddenly lunged after the second glass.

The bar manager cheered through cupped hands. The other staff weren’t much different. Ha Shinsung’s tongue, forcing its way into his mouth, was wet and revolting. His resisting arms were yanked above his head, his torso bending backward.

Ryujin was laid out on the bar table. A hot body pressed between his legs. Glass cups crashed to the floor, shattering loudly, but Ha Shinsung didn’t care. His eyes were completely rolled back.

Ha Shinsung’s hand slipped under his clothes. A large, rough palm caressed his chest. Ryujin shook his head, struggling. He flailed his arms, kicked his legs, twisted his waist.

The oversized sneakers he wore slipped off. Ha Shinsung’s hand undid his belt buckle. Ryujin burst into tears. The others thought it was a joke. The team leader messing with the newbie.

In that moment, with everyone laughing, Ryujin bit down hard on Ha Shinsung’s lower lip.

He couldn’t do that now. The best he could do was bite his own lips, holding back any moans from escaping.

“Hah… ah.”

Ryujin trembled like an aspen tree. His body, propped up by elbows and knees, teetered precariously.

“Take it.”

Shin Haebeom hoisted his collapsing waist. The penetration deepened. Ryujin gasped, slamming his forehead into the mat. Shin Haebeom patted his lower back.

“Relax. Tensing up makes it harder to go in.”

“Stop… stop.”

“Let the tension go, breathe slow.”

“Hic. Sob.”

“Good. You’re doing well.”

Shin Haebeom leaned forward and moved his hips. The sound of wet flesh rubbing together was loud.

“Ah, ah, ah…!”

A slender nape quivered right in front of him. When he licked it with his tongue, fine hairs stood on end. Shin Haebeom could feel himself swelling inside Ryujin. It was painfully hard. He wanted to escape this ache, this urgency, as soon as possible. He grabbed Ryujin’s hips, pulling them back as they kept slipping forward.

“Ah!”

Water splashed from slick skin. The thrusting grew fiercer. From the torn opening between Ryujin’s hips, blood-mixed semen trickled out.

“Ah, ahh…!”

Ryujin shook his head.

“It hurts, ah, it hurts, stop, ah!”

Desperate to lessen the pain, Ryujin rocked his hips. As if mocking the attempt, Shin Haebeom’s pace quickened.

“Ah, ah.”

His breath caught. His lungs felt like they’d burst. Nausea surged.

“Ah. Ah, ah, ahh, ahh…! Ah…!”

Ryujin collapsed limply. It felt like an invisible hand had pried open his throat and yanked out his guts. His mouth gaped, but all that came up was yellow bile.

“Guhk!”

As he retched, Ryujin’s head jerked back. Shin Haebeom gripped his hair with a rough hand.

Shin Haebeom looked down at Ryujin’s anguished face.

“Hah… ugh. Hnng. Uh.”

“Hot.”

He was smiling.

“You’re burning up.”

A wet towel caught on Ryujin’s fingers as they scratched the floor. He clutched it. Right now, he needed something—anything—to hold onto.

The organ that had scraped his insides pulled out, only to plunge back in.

“Huk!”

“Wonder when you’ll get used to this.”

Their silhouettes reflected in the steam-fogged mirror. Now, Shin Haebeom didn’t pull Ryujin back when his body slid forward. He moved with him. Ignoring the blood seeping from torn flesh, he thrust his lower body as if entering Ryujin was his entire world.

“Ah. Ah, ah, ahh, uh… ah, ahh…!”

Ryujin braced a hand against the wall mirror. In the misty glass, he saw himself and Shin Haebeom moving like a beast.

“No… no.”

“Try enjoying it.”

He couldn’t stop the hand reaching for his chest. Shin Haebeom pinched the stiffened nipple between his fingers, twisting it, pulling it sharply, then stroking it with his whole palm.

“Ugh. Uh. Ahh!”

“You’re so soft here.”

Ryujin grabbed Shin Haebeom’s wrist with one hand. The fingers tugging his nipple stopped.

“What?”

“Don’t touch…”

“You really treasure it.”

Shin Haebeom snickered.

“Makes me wanna touch it more, punk.”

The hand teasing his chest slid to his abdomen. Ryujin sucked in a breath. The pressure made him feel like he’d wet himself.

“Hahk.”

Shin Haebeom moved his hand freely. As if confirming the presence of the organ piercing the helpless body, he clawed at Ryujin’s lower belly. His fingers dug into pubic hair.

“Uh, ah!”

“You’ll let me touch here, right?”

Ryujin moaned as Shin Haebeom gripped his manhood. The palm was rough, hot, and hard.

“Ah, don’t. Don’t… no, stop, no.”

“No way.”

Shin Haebeom rocked his hips while kneading Ryujin’s member. After a while, he tilted his head.

“You numb or something?”

“No…!”

“Then why’s it like this? This state?”

“Let go!”

Shin Haebeom didn’t. Rubbing the tip with his thumb, he shouted.

“You’re impotent!”

Shin Haebeom laughed; Ryujin burst into tears.

“No wonder. No wonder… no wonder!”

If he knew it didn’t feel anything, he could’ve let go, but Shin Haebeom shook Ryujin’s member even faster. Ryujin screamed. It felt like his lower half was being torn off.

“Ah, ahh…! Stop!”

“Open your eyes.”

Shin Haebeom reached out. He wiped the fogged mirror with steam and breath, then grabbed Ryujin’s chin to face it.

“Eyes open, look close.”

Ryujin bowed his head. Shin Haebeom seized his red hair.

“Let go…! Hands off!”

“Look good. This is you.”

Ryujin’s cheeks were wet with tears.

“This is you right now.”

“No. No. No!”

Ryujin shook his head wildly. In the motion, Shin Haebeom’s fingers brushed the burn on his temple.

“Ahh!”

Shin Haebeom released Ryujin’s head and member, wrapping both arms around his struggling body. He kissed the temple scar. Knowing Ryujin would carry that mark forever thrilled him. How could it not? Every glance in the mirror, every casual brush of fingertips—this pretty thing would think of him.

Shin Haebeom pulled his hips back. But he didn’t withdraw fully. With the tip still at the entrance, he breathed heavily.

“Pretty… you.”

Ryujin’s chest heaved rapidly. His waist and hips felt like they’d shatter.

“Hnng. Hic.”

As air filled his parched lungs, Shin Haebeom thrust back in.

“Ahh!”

The heated inner walls were scraped raw. Semen inside splattered out. White droplets dotted Ryujin’s inner thighs.

“Huk!”

Shin Haebeom’s lips twisted. He looked down at Ryujin, sprawled flat with only his hips raised. Like a deer flung onto asphalt by a dump truck.

Shin Haebeom licked Ryujin’s nape. His lips slid to the shoulder. When he bit hard into the bony, emaciated shoulder, the limp body convulsed. Clenching his teeth, Shin Haebeom released inside Ryujin.

“Hey.”

Shin Haebeom grabbed Ryujin’s shoulder and flipped him over. He’d bitten his lips so much that his cheeks and chin were smeared with blood.

Shin Haebeom plopped onto the floor, laughing. He had to admit his mistake. All that washing for nothing.

He stroked Ryujin’s head as he slowly curled up.

“Messy. I’ll cut it later.”

“…Don’t need it.”

Ryujin replied in a sunken voice. His whole body ached like it’d been slashed apart. The blood and semen soaking his thighs were horrific.

The culprit of all this misery said.

“Get up.”

“Get lost.”

“Get up.”

“Go away! Please!”

Ryujin squeezed his eyes shut. His eyelids burned.

“Don’t touch me…”

He couldn’t take it anymore. Just being in the same space as Shin Haebeom choked him.

Walking the cold, long corridor, Ryujin stumbled several times. Each time, Shin Haebeom’s hand forced him upright. His waist throbbed like it’d break, his knees trembled. Cold sweat poured like rain.

At the iron door marked “Visitation Room,” Shin Haebeom turned to Ryujin.

“Wanna know who?”

“Don’t need to.”

“Could be someone you don’t wanna see.”

“After dragging me here? Cut the crap.”

Shin Haebeom shrugged. The door opened.

Ryujin staggered inside. The “VIP” beyond the glass shot up.

“Ryujin-ah.”

It was Ha Shinsung.

“What’re you doing here?”

“Your face is a mess.”

“What’s that got to do with you, boss?”

Shin Haebeom didn’t leave. Ha Shinsung glared as he leaned against the window, lighting a cigarette. But there was nothing he could do. As the man himself said, here, Shin Haebeom was the rules.

Ha Shinsung turned to Ryujin.

“Eaten anything?”

“…….”

“I put money in your commissary. It’s tough, but take care of yourself.”

“Don’t need it, so get lost.”

“Ryujin-ah. Look at me.”

Ryujin closed his eyes. The vivid sensation of Shin Haebeom’s hot palm sliding down his spine lingered. The semen soaking his hips felt vile, driving him mad. Sitting before Ha Shinsung like this was humiliating. He couldn’t believe this was his body. He wanted to deny every part Shin Haebeom had touched. This isn’t me.

“Seriously, why’d you come?”

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s why you came?”

“I’m sorry… really.”

Anger surged. Nothing would change now. He couldn’t forgive the past either. He didn’t even understand why Ha Shinsung was saying this. Since when were we close enough to tear up across a glass pane?

“So what?”

“…….”

“You’re sorry, so what am I supposed to do?!”

Ryujin slammed the glass, making it shake.

“Don’t make that face! It pisses me off!”

“Yelling at me won’t change anything. So…”

“So get out! What’re you doing right now?! Here to gawk at the kid who didn’t listen and fucked up his life?!”

Ha Shinsung watched Ryujin thrash. He looked like he’d collapse any second.

“No. Calm down and sit. Let’s talk. Ryujin-ah, you look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Yeah! I’m about to collapse from exhaustion. So leave!”

Shin Haebeom smoked silently. Ha Shinsung had messed up from the start. He got not wanting to look weak here, but showing up polished in front of a subordinate turned criminal?

“Looking for a lawyer. We’re going to trial.”

“Pointless. I’m dead now.”

“Don’t give up. There’s gotta be a way.”

“Why’re you always—!”

Ryujin gritted his teeth. Ha Shinsung’s empty hope was sickening.

“Making promises… you can’t keep…!”

Tears he’d held back poured out. Ha Shinsung’s brown eyes wavered.

“Ryujin-ah…”

“Leave me alone.”

Shin Haebeom frowned. Something felt off. A deep, creeping unease spread from within. He chewed the cigarette filter.

“Leave me alone!”

“How could I?!”

Ha Shinsung exploded. Shin Haebeom nodded inwardly. Still, he’d held it in pretty long.

Shin Haebeom eyed the trembling Ryujin. Gasping, sobbing, yet stubbornly enduring—he wanted to applaud that grit.

“I said I don’t need it! I don’t want anything!”

“Please don’t say that. If you do, if even you do, I can’t do anything for you!”

Ryujin spat harshly.

“I’m gonna die here.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Who’re you?! What’re you?! You never treated me like a person, and now you act like you know me?!”

The security chief shot a questioning look. Shin Haebeom waved it off.

“You think I don’t know anything?”

Ha Shinsung ground his teeth.

“You don’t know… what I’m feeling, coming here right now…”

The faces of Cha Moeun, Lee Rohan, and Baek Sayul flashed by. It hadn’t always been good with them. With their own positions and responsibilities, they’d clashed, fought, conflicted.

But they hadn’t become sworn enemies because, at root, they were comrades on the same boat. At least, Ha Shinsung thought so. He had no idea they’d shared secrets behind his back.

“How! How, out of all people, with my father?!”

If it’d been Gwak Hyeonwoo, he could understand. He’d be mad, but he’d get it. A special bond from enduring hardship together—he could accept that.

But not with Ha Sungrok. That was just wrong.

“Did you hate me that much?”

The more he thought, the more absurd it felt. He’d tried to bury it, pretend he didn’t know, but he couldn’t. Seeing Ryujin flail shattered every resolve. Ha Shinsung wanted to slap the dazed Ryujin. Acting so proud, so high and mighty.

“What’d you think while screwing my dad? Felt good screwing me over? Or what, that old man slipped you some cash? Kept it secret from me?”

Ryujin didn’t move. He just stared at Ha Shinsung, veins bulging in his neck.

“What the hell were you thinking?!”

Ha Shinsung pounded the glass. The anxious security chief grabbed his arm, only to crash into the desk and fall.

“Tell me, Ryu Yeonwoo.”

His frenzied eyes blazed.

“That why you were cold to me? ‘Cause you were sleeping with the boss?”

The cigarette slipped from Shin Haebeom’s fingers.

“Speak if you’ve got a mouth! Even an excuse! You’ve always talked back, so why’re you mute now?!”

The door burst open. Ryujin watched burly Disciplinary Task Force members pin Ha Shinsung to the floor. His mind bleached white. He couldn’t think or speak. Yet tears kept streaming.

“See?”

Shin Haebeom, unnoticed until he was close, spoke.

“Told you it might be someone you didn’t wanna see.”

Shin Haebeom lifted Ryujin up. He dragged the limp, swaying body to the door. As his left hand gripped the knob, Ryujin shouted.

“She paid off Noona’s debt!”

Like he was vomiting it out.

“I wanted to repay her ‘cause I was grateful! But I had nothing!”

To use that as an excuse now…

The hand on the knob trembled. Shin Haebeom recognized the unease he felt. Rage. Whether it was at this pathetic kid or Ha Shinsung, groaning on the floor, he couldn’t tell.

A stifled voice pleaded.

“I do what I can. No matter how hard or shitty it is, I endure. ‘Cause there’s no other way. ‘Cause there’s so little I can do.”

“…….”

“But isn’t it weird? The result’s always a mess.”

Ryujin looked up. Teary eyes gazed at Shin Haebeom.

“Jung Ryujin. Stand straight.”

“…….”

“Stand straight!”

Shin Haebeom caught the collapsing body in his arms. Beyond the glass, Ha Shinsung cried out. Jin Chiwoo, bursting in, stared blankly at Shin Haebeom and the Ryujin he held.