CHW Ch 4

“Is it ten thousand won per game here?”

“Yes. Sometimes the agreement goes higher, but we never go below ten thousand.”

Room 3. Chu, who had me sit right beside him, asked Kim Jeongsuk about the rules of this place.

“Anything else?”

“Nothing. It’s the same as anywhere else.”

“Betting?”

“Always maximum full betting. Multiplied by three.”

Maximum full betting meant no half bets. Multiplying by three meant that when raising or calling, you had to bet exactly three times the previous amount. For example, if the person before you bet one hundred thousand won, a player wanting to raise the stakes had to bet as follows: raise, take ten, add thirty more. Whether it was baduk, poker, or hula, full betting with a three-times multiplier was the rule at Mugwang. As a result, the pot grew quickly.

“How do you decide the dealer?”

“It’s done fairly, rotating. Want to try?”

“No need. Let the madam handle it.”

With a cigarette in his mouth, smoke curled up every time Chu spoke. The hulking Jangbae stood behind his boss, hands clasped, watching us like a guard. It felt like he was making sure I couldn’t escape, and cold sweat broke out.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, but this is our first time meeting like this. I’m Park Deokhyeon. By the way, our boss here looks like he works out a bit, doesn’t he? Tall, and wow, that physique is impressive.”

“I do a little to stay alive.”

“No wonder. You don’t look like you just rolled out of bed with that body.”

Mr. Park, who ran a small heavy equipment company, dealt cards to Kim Jeongsuk while talking to Chu. His face showed genuine admiration for Chu’s massive, solid frame.

“I mean, those pecs popping out, those beefy forearms, and those shoulders like a highway—it feels like you’ve been training for at least ten years. Am I right?”

“The shoulders are genetic. The rest, you figure out, Mr. Park.”

“Genetic, huh? Well, you need good bones to make a masterpiece. Anyway, it’s great to have you here. I’m in construction too, but my operation’s so small I can’t even rub shoulders with you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Have you played baduk much? Not your first time, right?”

Chu’s hand slid down my back, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray, answering as nonchalantly as ever.

“I’m good enough to keep the game going, so just play as you normally would. But don’t fleece me too hard.”

“Haha, would I do that?”

It was around two in the morning, and Chu said he’d only play one session, so in two hours, when the session ended, my fate would be decided. Would I meekly suck his dick, or cause a scene even Chu couldn’t handle? It felt like standing at the crossroads of life and death, my insides burning to the point of madness.

Six of us, including me, sat at the round table. Without Chu, it would’ve been spacious, but with him taking the center, our shoulders were practically touching. So imagine how it was for me, sitting right next to him. On my right, the fat butcher shop owner, Mr. Go, made the space even tighter, leaving no room to shift sideways. Every time Mr. Go moved, my shoulder got pushed into Chu’s side.

There weren’t enough cards for six to play, so I just sat there. This was rare, making me feel awkwardly embarrassed. Mr. Go’s annoyed glances made even blinking feel stiff and uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Chu seemed in a great mood, as if he’d already gotten a firm yes from me about sucking him off. Per house etiquette, he kept both hands on the table, not touching me directly, but the excitement was clear in the way our shoulders and thighs pressed together.

“Let’s start.”

Kim Jeongsuk, the dealer, gave each player four cards and opened the first round of betting. After betting, it was time to swap cards.

“Alright, let’s eat breakfast. I’ll cut first.”

Saying that, Kim Jeongsuk swapped one of her cards and said, “I’m taking one.”

In baduk, you can swap cards over three rounds called breakfast, lunch, and dinner, known as cutting. Swapping one card is called “one,” two cards “two-card,” three cards “three-card.” If you don’t swap anything, you say “stay,” and if you swap all four cards, you shout “box.” Then you take new cards to make a hand with different suits, aiming for the lowest numbers.

Following Kim Jeongsuk, Kang Munsu, her perfect match, also said “one.” Mr. Park said “two-card,” Chu said “stay,” and Mr. Go, with a sour face, grumbled, “Not even a dog would eat this much food,” and called “box.”

I snuck a peek at Chu’s cards and accidentally locked eyes with him. He grinned at me, then leaned in close. A very low, soft voice murmured.

“You must be damn tired. How many hours have you worked today?”

“I’m… fine.”

“Fine, my ass. Your eyes look like you’re about to pass out.”

“….”

“I was gonna skip this, but I’m glad I came. When this is over, come out with me and sleep. I’ll let you rest real good.”

“…Huh?”

My eyes widened involuntarily, and I blurted out a response. Chu chuckled, turned his head, and called, “Call.”

My heart started pounding like crazy. Going from sucking his dick to sleeping with him in an instant—damn it, who could stay calm through that? My throat burned, and I chugged the bottled water meant for Chu. Across the table, Kang Munsu looked at me, openly smirking, covering his mouth with his hand. Then, glancing at Jangbae, he slipped his middle finger in and out of his mouth, mocking me. That bastard…! Rage surged, but Kim Jeongsuk spoke.

“Let’s eat lunch. Cut.”

Kang Munsu, acting like nothing happened, casually looked down at his cards. Saying “stay,” he pretended to focus solely on his hand, as if he’d never provoked me.

While my insides boiled, the game went on. The first round went to Mr. Go, who lucked out and won about two million won. His flushed, drunken face turned even redder with thrill and excitement. “Damn, this is the real deal!” His sweaty armpit kept roughly bumping into me.

I really wanted to escape this place. It was crawling with lunatics. Chu, keeping me glued to his side like an accessory, was the craziest of all.

He kept talking to me intermittently, leaning in so close his whispers gave me goosebumps, dripping with sleazy softness.

“Why’d you change your pants? They were cute.”

“They… were pajamas…”

“Pajamas? You sleep with clothes on, huh. I sleep with my dick hanging out.”

“….”

Mr. Park glanced over, maybe catching the word “dick.” Ignoring it, Chu came so close his lips nearly brushed my cheek, continuing to murmur.

“That’s something we’ll figure out later, but you did good. What’s the point of showing it off? From now on, wear long pants when I’m not around. Don’t flash that thing carelessly unless I’m there to see it. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

His scent kept hitting me, making my face burn. My face must’ve heated and cooled as often as a grill at a barbecue joint. It happened so much my skin felt tighter than a winter without lotion.

“You’re even prettier at night.”

“…Th-thank you.”

“Lay you down, and it’d be over. Damn, I’d probably bust the moment I got you under me.”

“….”

I’d heard countless crude remarks before, but Chu was the first to say them with zero playfulness, one hundred percent serious. Not a single word could be brushed off. Especially not this:

“Since we’re talking, wanna try it today? No touching my dick, just looking at your face to see if I bust or not. I’m game. You?”

That kind of talk hit even harder.

Amid the chaos, I noticed something odd—Chu seemed to be losing on purpose. Even with a strong hand he could’ve won, he’d call “die” at the end or drag a weak hand to the last moment, jacking up the pot. My suspicions were confirmed when he held a rare Golf 2 and still called “die.” “This bastard’s doing it on purpose!” I was sure. Everyone had good hands, and that round’s pot soared past twenty million. Damn it, Kim Jeongsuk took it all.

This time, too, Chu called “die,” flipping over a made hand. He furrowed his brow, acting upset or something, then grinned at me.

I wasn’t even playing, but I couldn’t hide my frustration and stared at Chu’s profile. Why? For what? He wasn’t here to hand out charity to pitiful folks. He’d lost at least three or four million by now. That was no small sum in Kim Jeongsuk’s house.

Today, the players were getting unusually good hands, and the pots kept climbing. Ten million coming and going was standard.

As tension rose, Mr. Go, who never called “die,” got increasingly irritable. In this mess, Chu had blown two million in cash and was even borrowing from Yoo Kichul. My unease grew worse.

From experience, I could tell from how someone held their cards whether they were a rookie or not. Chu Gioh wasn’t a master, but he was well above average. The way he pulled strong hands wasn’t the work of someone who’d only played a few times. So why would he throw away his money unless he had some ulterior motive?

“Wow. Handsome, huh.”

Feeling my stare, he turned and spoke. Realizing my mistake, I quickly looked away. Except for Mr. Go, everyone here was sharp enough to read Chu’s hand from my expression alone. I swore not to glance sideways again until it was over, but Chu’s face pressed close again, his whispering voice pouring out, tender and soothing.

“I get it. Why wouldn’t you want to eat it? Damn, I’m dying to suck you off myself.”

That’s not it, I never thought that—the words spun in my throat, going nowhere. Swallowing what I wanted to say felt like a sore throat from a cold. It hurt. Unaware of this, Chu Gioh kept spewing filth. At least he had the shame to keep it quiet, just for me.

“My dick’s about to burst, right now. Because of you. You know that?”

Switching his cards to his left hand, he grabbed my hand under the table and pulled it to his crotch. Making me rub its clear outline, he whispered thickly.

“This. Later, I’ll let you do whatever you want with it. A dick ready to explode.”

“….”

“Suck it, ride it, play with it however you like. I’ll handle it all, so don’t stress. Got it?”

“…Gasp.”

I couldn’t help it—a sound slipped out. Overwhelmed by the urge to cry, I let it escape. Instantly, everyone looked at me. Kang Munsu narrowed his eyes. Kim Jeongsuk glanced under the table. Mr. Park, lighting a cigarette, casually asked, “Something hurt?” Mr. Go, true to his prickly nature, snapped, “If your stomach’s acting up, go shit and come back. Damn it, don’t mess up my luck with your whining.”

The only one staying still was Chu Gioh. Still, my ass. Now he was loud enough for all to hear: “What, can’t hold it? Wanna call it quits?” Then, irritated by Mr. Go’s words, he got serious. “But, Mr. Go, do you always talk like such a prick? All this damn cursing since earlier—it’s really getting on my nerves.”

Knowing what kind of group Kimoon was, Mr. Go quickly waved his hands. “S-sorry. I get a bit touchy when I play cards. Especially since I keep losing today.”

“Who the hell’s swimming in winnings? If we’re comparing, haven’t I lost more? Huh?”

“I’ll… be careful.”

“Don’t talk reckless. That’s how murders happen.”

“Y-yes, yes.”

This was it—I had to get up. Chu’s one session was almost over. I needed to get out of here and think seriously about what to do next. Carefully standing from my chair, I said in a small voice,

“I’ll… just go to the bathroom for a bit.”

As I moved to leave, my arm was grabbed. Chu, eyes suddenly bloodshot, held me and looked up, saying,

“I’ll come with you.”

His voice was rough and hot, like scraping metal. My head shook frantically on its own.

“…N-no. I’ll be quick.”

“I’m real pent-up.”

“…Huh?”

“Don’t keep me waiting.”

“….”

His hand, hotter than his voice, let go of my arm, and I turned, bolting out of the room. Faintly, Chu’s voice followed.

“Let’s do the final round.”

I sprinted down the hallway, glancing back to see Jangbae following. His face, lit by dim lights, was terrifying, and my steps quickened naturally. Before I knew it, I was running.

🍀

I ducked into the bathroom next to the back room, locking the door to keep anyone out and stepping back a few paces. My heart pounded like it would burst. My head spun, like thousands of lugworms wriggling together. What now? What do I do?

I couldn’t go out with Jangbae there, but escaping through the back door connected to the bathroom scared me with the consequences. Clutching my head with both hands, the locked doorknob rattled with a click-click. …It had to be Jangbae. Moments later, the figure beyond the door revealed himself.

“Why’d you lock the door? Hey, you in there, right?”

It was Jangbae. I deliberately flushed the toilet, replying, “Huh? Yeah. I’m, uh, taking a shit right now…!”

Outside, I heard, “Ugh, this bastard,” followed by loud banging on the door. Jangbae’s voice, laced with irritation, came next.

“Hurry up and come out!”

“Y-yeah. Got it.”

Cautiously, I pressed my ear to the door. Faint footsteps receded. This was my only chance to escape. Chu, who’d gone out of his way to chase me here, was terrifying as hell, but I couldn’t just let myself be dragged off to do that. My life might be a clogged drain full of hair, but I wasn’t greasy enough to live off sucking someone else’s dick. One dick to look at and touch—mine—was plenty.

Breathing anxiously, I thought, Screw it, damn it, and headed for the back door. Opening it, I raced up the stairs to the surface. In all my life, I’d never fled from debt collectors—this was the first time I was running to avoid sucking a dick. They say sucking a guy’s dick makes you live long—what a load of crap. It’s more like it’d kill you early.

I tore up the stairs, bursting into the dawn air outside the building. About to jump into the café’s car to flee, I ducked into the public bathroom in the next building. Running down the street, I could get caught by bad luck, and I needed at least one excuse. I was taking a shit and flushed, but the toilet clogged. Piling more on top didn’t seem human, so I had no choice but to use another building’s bathroom. That’s all, sir. I swear, I wasn’t running from you. Really. Of course, unless Chu Gioh’s head was full of shit, this excuse wouldn’t fly.

The bathroom reeked from drunks carelessly pissing and shitting everywhere. In the dark, I checked each stall, picking the least smelly one, and locked the door. Tomorrow scared me, but wrong was wrong.

Suddenly, my butt felt heavy. Groping around, I found the wallet from this morning in my back pocket. To think I only noticed now, after sitting unevenly on it for two hours. True, Chu’s relentless perversion left me no room to notice anything else.

Pulling out the wallet, I crouched in a corner. I’d checked the money inside long ago. It was the same amount as yesterday’s tip: two million four hundred thousand won, minus coffee costs. If I were a woman, I might’ve been touched, thinking, Our Chu Gioh, didn’t seem the type, but he’s a man who knows love. Such a warm-hearted guy. But as you can see, I’m a man. It just looked like madness. No need to overthink—his actions were nothing but a perverse scheme to screw a young guy’s ass. That’s all it could be.

Sighing heavily instead of breathing, I crouched for about fifteen minutes. My legs started cramping, so I stood, stretching my knees, when footsteps entered. The lights flicked on brightly. Thinking it was Jangbae, my heart sank. Damn it… Covering my mouth to stifle any breathing, a voice came.

“Not coming out, you damn bitch? I know you’re hiding here, so get out now.”

It was Kang Munsu. The sound of him kicking bathroom doors echoed, and soon my stall’s door was kicked hard. The vibration through the wall I leaned on made me flinch.

Mine was the only locked stall. Kang Munsu spoke without hesitation.

“Open the door before I break in.”

“…Where’s Chu?”

“What, for real?”

Across the door, Kang Munsu laughed in disbelief. The next moment, a loud bang came as he kicked the door hard.

“I’m counting to three. One. Two.”

Bastard, I cursed inwardly, opening the door. One solid kick from him would rip the lock off. The shaky screws in the lock were just like my situation. Click—I unlocked it, and the door flew open as he grabbed my neck. His furious face pinned me against the wall. In the chaos, the wallet I held splashed into the toilet.

“Three, you filthy bitch.”

Slamming my head against the wall, Kang Munsu spoke. I didn’t know why a guy who’d made decent money thanks to Chu was so pissed. He shoved his twisted face close to mine.

“A dog like you can ruin business, but there’s a limit. You couldn’t take it and ran? Why? Trying to shut down the house?”

“….”

He must’ve been drinking; the smell of soju came from his breath. His ugly face, so close, was revolting, and I turned my head. His grip on my neck tightened, and I started to choke.

“Da…mn….”

“You bastard, just know I’m pissed as hell.”

“…Get off, you… ugh!”

His choking hand let go, only to grab my bangs and slam my head against the wall with a thud. Twisting my head, Kang Munsu glared down at me, ranting.

“Made a mistake, huh, you crazy bitch. A mistake!”

“Dam…n…”

“You damn bitch, what’re you saving it for? Is sucking a dick that hard? You shove anything in that mouth, but a dick’s too dirty for you?”

Then his body pressed against mine, no gaps. As I tried to yell for him to get off, he clamped his hand over my mouth. Pressing his lips to the back of his hand, he spoke, his eyes wild with madness. What came next was…

“I’ll keep it short. With this, your debt’s now six million.”

“….”

“He says he’s coming back tomorrow, so try that again. Not one hundred million, but two, three hundred million. I’ll roll you like a damn dog.”

“….”

I squeezed my eyes shut. His ragged breathing hit my face fully. …Kang Munsu was hard. Realizing the stiff thing was his dick, nausea surged. It was the most disgusting, filthy moment ever. Then Kim Jeongsuk’s voice came from behind.

“Stop and get out. Scratch him up, and we’re screwed.”

I kept my eyes shut until Kang Munsu backed off. I didn’t breathe. If he felt my breath, I was sure he’d try something.

Finally, muttering, “Damn bitch…,” Kang Munsu let go. Pulling his hand away, he jerked my face aside.

Opening my eyes, I saw his back as he turned. Pausing on his way out, he flushed the toilet with his foot. He must’ve noticed the wallet. Whether lucky or not, the toilet’s pressure was broken, barely working. Only the sound of water rising came, no flush. I gritted my teeth, staring down at it.

Kang Munsu left, and Kim Jeongsuk came in. Lighting a cigarette, she fished the wallet out of the toilet, unfazed by the filth, and handed it to me. When I didn’t take it, she grabbed my hand and forced it into my grip. Water dripped from the leather, pooling in my palm. It was disgustingly wet. As I fought back the urge to gag, her wet hand landed on my shoulder. Blowing smoke like a sigh, she said,

“Every debtor lives like this. You’re not special. I did, your mom did, all the girls at our café do.”

“….”

“But an opportunity like yours doesn’t come often. Money or not, most just want a cheap fuck.”

Her voice, mixed with smoke, was mechanical, like her. No emotion. Having started by selling her body, she wouldn’t pity my situation. The barely smoked cigarette fell into the toilet.

“That dick chasing you isn’t just a dick—it’s Kimoon. You don’t seem to get what that means yet, but I’m asking you. Wake up quick, alright?”

“….”

Then you take it, the words surged to my throat. But afraid something else might burst out, I didn’t dare open my mouth. I just clenched my teeth. Patting my shoulder, Kim Jeongsuk turned and left the stall. The sound of her washing her hands followed.

As the water stopped, silence flooded in. The bathroom’s pervasive stench had already become familiar to my nose by then.

Through the open door, I saw Kim Jeongsuk leaving. Her steps on the filthy floor paused briefly.

“I didn’t mention earlier, but your mom called yesterday.”

Kim Jeongsuk spoke to me without turning around.

“You damn bitch. You crazy bitch. Pay me back my money, you filthy bitch I’d tear to pieces. Do you know what she said?”

“….”

“There’s no money for me to give. Take it all from our Minjo. Jeongsuk, didn’t you do the same back in the day?”

“….”

Her words, unsurprising, poured smoothly from Kim Jeongsuk’s mouth. Whether lies or truth, it didn’t matter. Lies or truth, was there ever a day it wasn’t like this? I wiped the water from the wallet with the hem of my shirt and stuffed it back into my pocket without opening it. Piss or shit on it, money was money. Searching for a cigarette to light, her final words fell from her unseen mouth.

“Compared to a bitch like that, isn’t Chu Gioh, who at least spends money on you, a better person? That’s what I think.”

Don’t kid yourself. The worst beast is your mom. Listening to Kim Jeongsuk’s retreating footsteps, I lit the cigarette. Then I sank into thought. Hmm… Nodding, I muttered to myself. Well… maybe so.

Laughter burst out. Truly, what a damn shitty life.

🍀

Room 3 was a mess. The round table and chairs were smashed, and the door had cracks from being hit hard. Kim Mincheol, clicking his tongue, told me it was the work of a guy Chu brought. Chu had sat quietly smoking, then suddenly got up and left, leaving only this:

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Cleaning up the wrecked room, I returned to the café around eight in the morning and tried to sleep. My body trembled. Despite sunlight streaming through the storage room window, hitting me directly, I felt a bone-deep chill.

“You made a mistake, you crazy bitch. A mistake!”

They say enduring three times prevents murder, but what happens after three mistakes? Does it summon murder?

I barely slept, my troubled mind spawning endless dreams. Chu slapped my face, forced his dick in my mouth, and dunked my head repeatedly into the toilet where the wallet fell. As he ripped off my pants to shove his dick into me, I woke. A wave of regret hit hard. Maybe I should’ve gone along quietly when he was being nice. Then, like he said, I might’ve been treated gently.

🍀

All day, I poured water into my parched mouth, then headed to the house at seven in the evening. My fingers shook so much I had to enter the passcode twice.

Inside was still quiet. Only Room 5 was active. Kim Mincheol was serving Baccarats to customers, while Kang Munsu, Kim Jeongsuk, and Yoo Kichul sat in the back room talking. When I entered to deliver cigarettes, their mouths shut simultaneously. They were clearly discussing me or Chu. I set the cigarette pack on the table and turned to leave when Yoo Kichul called out.

“Hey. You.”

“Yes?”

Turning back, Yoo Kichul crumpled something and tossed it at my chest. It fell to my feet—two ten-thousand-won bills.

“Tip. Do your job right. Don’t pull yesterday’s stunt again. Got it?”

“….”

“Got it or not?”

“…Yes.”

The frontman, acting like he owned the place, crumpled another bill and threw it, this time hitting my forehead. Then, scowling, he lowered his voice.

“If the shop gets trashed one more time, it’s you and me both dead. Got it?”

“….”

Without answering, I picked up the money, bowed, and left the room. Yoo Kichul’s nasty voice echoed behind me.

“Look at him, Jeongsuk. A little scolding, and he won’t even answer. Ugh, I swear! If I had my way, I’d beat him dead already.”

Smaller than me, his words didn’t even sting. I walked out, standing in the hallway to unfold the money, when Kim Jeongsuk’s voice, calming Yoo Kichul, reached me.

“Come on, when was that kid ever sweet? He’s always like that, so you’ve got to understand, oppa. By the way, no word from Chu’s side? They trashed the place and left, so they should take responsibility.”

I paused, hand on the wallet I’d scrubbed clean with soap, dried with a towel, and aired out all day. My ears naturally tuned to their conversation.

“Around ten this morning, one of their guys called, saying, ‘About the damage yesterday, we’ll cover it all, so just open the door early.’ Like that’s some big deal. Those bastards. Did they think we wouldn’t make them pay? Talking obvious nonsense.”

“Make sure you get the money. Not just for the damage, but for the days we can’t take customers—calculate it all. Why hold back with Kimoon? Munsu, right or not?”

“That’s for you and hyungnim to handle. I’m just here to play cards with the guy.”

Following Kang Munsu’s flat reply, Yoo Kichul spoke.

“Jeongsuk’s dead right! What, does he shit gold? All he does is crap black filth. No talent whatsoever. But, uh, do I have to say that?”

“Who else would, when you’re the boss here?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

Oh, come on, you idiots. Shut up already. Listening to their back-and-forth, laughter slipped out. Whether they could pull off their scheming or not, I’d bet my entire fortune if this were a gamble. Not just my fortune, but every organ in my body. They wouldn’t say a word, yet their mouths kept flapping. Kang Munsu, at least dodging what he wasn’t confident in, was the most honest of them.

Chuckling, I opened the wallet and stuffed in the crumpled thirty thousand won. The total inside was now two million four hundred thirty thousand won. Even holding such a large sum for the first time, my heart didn’t race. Neither I, nor the scum chatting in the room, nor maybe even Chu Gioh himself, knew what form his “sincerity” in this wallet would take today.

While I suffered this mental torment, their trashy conversation droned on endlessly.

“By the way, that guy’s absolute shit at cards, huh? Acts all high and mighty, but how much did he blow?”

Kang Munsu snickered, and Kim Jeongsuk, acting like an all-knowing god, ran her mouth.

“I saw it coming. Think about it—where’s he got time to play cards? Too busy playing with that big dick. Throwing money at a hopeless case to screw Minjo—pure lunatic.”

Idiots, that’s not it. Lunatic might be right, though.

“Anyway, Munsu, play along nicely and keep dealing cards. It’s like luck rolling in.”

“Luck? More like a sucker, damn it.”

Pointless talk—listening further would only dirty my ears, so I left. The more I eavesdropped, the more I’d laugh, but my heart would only grow heavier.

🍀

Eight thirty. I was leaving Room 1 after serving coffee. Chu, with the massive Jangbae trailing him, entered the shop. Kim Mincheol, who opened the door, swallowed hard and quickly stepped aside.

“Ugh…”

Frozen in place, Chu, eyes fierce, strode toward me and grabbed the back of my neck without a word. His hand was so big it enveloped my entire neck.

“S-sir…!”

Chu dragged me, almost as if to slam me somewhere, into Room 2. Yesterday’s smirking lips were now tightly shut.

Inside Room 2, the same players from yesterday were already seated: Kim Jeongsuk, Kang Munsu, Mr. Park, Mr. Go. They all stared at me, dragged in by Chu’s hand. Their expressions were uniform—not a hint of pity, just anticipation for today’s game. Disgusting faces full of greed to fatten their wallets. This must be how cows and pigs feel before slaughter.

Stiff as a wooden puppet, I was roughly shoved into a chair, and Chu sat beside me. The grip on my neck was monstrous. His anger toward me pulsed through his fingertips. My heart pounded so hard I thought I’d die from it bursting, not from being choked. Kang Munsu’s shout rang like a siren in my ears: You made a mistake, you crazy bitch. A mistake!

“Come on in. Good to see you again. Did you get home alright yesterday?”

Mr. Park took off his cap, greeting Chu first.

“Yesterday, well… seeing you leave like that, I was a bit worried. Did you manage to sleep? You feeling okay?”

“No wife, no kids, so why’s Mr. Park worried about me? Mixing personal feelings doesn’t do us any good, does it?”

Chu replied with an annoyed look, his grip tightening. His fingers dug into my flesh like they were clawing it out.

“Y-you’re right. My mistake. Learned something new today. Haha.”

Mr. Park forced a laugh, looking embarrassed, and glanced at Jangbae behind us. Like me, a faint sheen of cold sweat seemed to glisten on his forehead. But I was the one dying. Chu’s grip grew stronger, pressing a pressure point, making my head numb and my vision darken. Desperate not to collapse, I widened my eyes and clung to the green tablecloth with both hands. Chu, crushing me like this, spoke dryly.

“Let’s start.”

Mr. Park, as if he had more to say, cleared his throat and rubbed his palms together. His grinning face began to blur in my vision.

“Uh, Mr. Chu, before we start, I’ve got something to say.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s not a big deal, but we’re thinking of raising the stakes a bit… maybe three times yesterday’s.”

“Thirty million?”

“Yes. Everyone here’s agreed, so it’s just up to you. How’s that sound? Alright?”

My vision filled with black spots, and Mr. Park’s voice grew distant. A groan, hrrgh, escaped my mouth. At that moment, Chu released my neck and grabbed my shoulders, catching me as I swayed. Pulling me close like merchandise, he said,

“Do it. Higher stakes make it more fun.”

A hint of laughter laced his voice. Until my vision cleared, my face was buried in Chu’s chest. My hands, loosened from the tablecloth, now gripped his thigh tightly. I felt a rough pulse near my temple from his neck—or was it mine? Confused by the throbbing, I breathed heavily. If this was a taste of fear, what would the main game bring? The thought darkened my vision again.

Chu’s arm around my shoulders let go once I sat up straight. I didn’t dare look beside me, staring only at my thighs under the table. My fingertips trembled. Every time his thick thigh beside me brushed mine, I flinched.

Unlike yesterday, Chu didn’t say a word to me. No leaning in, no baring his teeth in a grin. He just sat, terrifyingly, raising the pot. “Raise. Take it and add twenty-four hundred more.” And he lost money like pouring water.

By the end of the session, he’d lost close to one hundred million. With the starting amount tripled, the pots grew massive. A rough estimate put it well over one hundred million. One hundred million—losing that much at once was unheard of in Kim Jeongsuk’s house.

It wasn’t a rigged game. That’s a life-risking move, so I could swear it wasn’t. Not a rigged game, yet a player well above average kept losing hand after hand… It felt as terrifying as my own situation. Maybe all this was because of me.

“Final round.”

The heart-dropping words finally came. Then he ordered Kim Mincheol, who’d come to pass out Baccarats.

“Get me a bottle of soju and a glass.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kim Mincheol took the hundred-thousand-won tip Chu offered, bowing ninety degrees and shouting, “I’ll be right back!”

Hunched over for two hours, my neck ached like it’d snap. My lips, chewed raw, were in tatters.

Soon, Kim Mincheol returned with a soju bottle and a beer glass.

“Here you go, sir. Shall I pour?”

“Fill it to the brim.”

“Yes, sir! Th-thank you, sir! I’ll work hard!”

Another hundred-thousand-won tip was handed to Kim Mincheol, and in less than a minute, a glass full of soju was carefully placed before Chu. He chugged the leftover soju straight from the bottle, then handed it back to Kim Mincheol.

Moments later, the glass was moved in front of me by Chu’s hand. Tossing a stack of cash into the table’s center, he looked at me for the first time and said,

“Finish it before the round’s over.”

The order to drink it all threw my breathing into chaos, my breaths coming fast. No one would help, but my eyes instinctively darted to the others. Kang Munsu smirked and looked away. Kim Jeongsuk didn’t even glance at me. Mr. Park watched with interest, then focused on his cards. Mr. Go, struggling to swallow harsh words, grimaced, then yelled at me, “What’re you staring at!” Damn it…

Beside me, Chu discarded all four cards, muttering,

“Box. Not much time left.”

“….”

“If it’s still there, you’re dead.”

“…Gasp.”

The same sound as yesterday escaped my mouth, but no one looked up. They’d likely already agreed among themselves to ignore whatever happened in this room.

The final round, dinner, came, and betting began. It was truly the end. When they revealed their hands to rank them, it’d be over. There was no time to hesitate. Anxiety pushed me to the brink of tears. Kang Munsu, who’d died at lunch, stared at me, subtly tapping his watch. With a slight nod, his narrowed eyes said, You’ll die, huh? Drink it, quick.

I know. I get it, you damn bastard. Glaring back, I reached for the glass. Bringing it to my mouth, I chugged without breathing. As if a guy who’d downed two bottles of soju straight would hesitate over one glass out of fear.

I emptied the glass and set it down as the round ended. The situation was so terrifying I didn’t even taste the soju’s bitterness.

The final win went to Mr. Park, with an A245 hand—the third-strongest baduk rank, “one-two-four-first.” The forty-five million pot went entirely to him. As Mr. Go huffed hot breaths, yelling, “Mr. Park! What’s on your fingers? You’re a different man from yesterday!” Chu grabbed the back of my neck.

“I’ve lost one hundred fifty million between yesterday and today. I’m in a damn awful mood, madam.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you have a break room or something? My chest and dick are full of filth, and I need to let it out.”

“A b-break room?”

Kim Jeongsuk jumped up at Chu’s blunt words and headed for the door. Mr. Go, who’d been about to pick a fight, quickly shut his mouth, reading the room. I’d lost a few million through wins and losses, but Chu, dying every time, had lost one hundred fifty million, so I wasn’t in a position to get mad. Kim Jeongsuk pointed to the end of the hallway.

“If you go to the end of the corridor, there’s a waiting room with a small sign on the door. It’s a bit cramped, but there’s a mattress, a sofa, blankets, and pillows. Uh… want a bottle of liquor too?”

“No need.”

Chu said curtly, standing. I thought he’d drag me by the neck again, but he cleanly let go, saying one word before turning.

“Come.”

As Chu left, Jangbae grabbed my arm hard, pulling me up. “Get up, you traitor bastard.” He seemed deeply hurt by my escape yesterday, his face even grimmer than usual.

My legs, pushed toward the door, stumbled forward. Fear crashed over me like waves. My breathing burst out like sobbing. Hrrgh… No tears fell, but I might’ve been crying. Kang Munsu’s low mutter was the last thing I heard as I was fully shoved into the hallway: “Let’s just get our meal.”

Each step toward the waiting room felt like walking over flames. After a few steps, I grabbed Jangbae, clinging and shouting, “Hyungnim, hyungnim!” Shaking my head, I begged for one chance. Jangbae’s face hardened, and he said,

“I’m not your hyungnim. I don’t take traitors as brothers.”

“Hyungnim…! Please, please….”

My voice echoed through the hallway. From the next room, Kim Mincheol and some customers came out to look. Jangbae snapped threateningly at them, “Mind your business and play your cards.”

Then it happened. Chu emerged from the waiting room, walking toward me as I struggled. His scowling face, puffing cigarette smoke, grew closer with each second, terrifying enough to stop my breathing. My pleas and thrashing froze. All I could think was I’d die.

Chu grabbed my collar, nearly dragging me off my feet, and hauled me along. Like a sack, I was pulled into the waiting room.

Throwing me inside, he dropped his cigarette, crushed it underfoot, and locked the door. As I tried to stand, he came over, pressed my head down, forcing me back to the floor. With his other hand, he undid his belt, buckle, and zipper.

“Kneel and open your mouth.”

Rubbing his erect dick through his underwear, Chu issued a commanding order.

“Y-yesterday, I-I really messed up. I shouldn’t have left like that…!”

The excuse I’d prepared was long gone. Only idiotic admissions of fleeing spilled from my mouth.

“F-forgive me. I won’t do it again. I swear, I swear…!”

“Enough. I don’t talk with disrespectful bitches. Shut up and open your mouth.”

“Sir, sir…!”

“You think I didn’t know this would happen, damn it?”

A massive dick sprang out. Facing it up close was shocking. It was a different beast from seeing it a step or two away.

“Hrrgh… sir…”

“Don’t cry like a coward and open your damn mouth, alright?”

His fingers, gripping my head, slid into my hair. Painfully yanking my hair, he pulled my face close to his crotch. The huge dick, wrapped in bulging, snake-like blue veins, pressed against my entire face. His taut, excited balls brushed my chin.

“You damn bitch.”

The hand gripping my hair moved to the back of my head, pressing my face even harder. My face was shoved so close to his hairy crotch I couldn’t breathe. The distinct musk, mixed with his hair, stabbed into my crushed nose.

“You’ll learn to take a beating on the back of your head. Hard enough to make your skull ring.”

With that, an excited voice poured from above, half curses, half aggrieved misunderstandings.

“Was it fun playing with me? Who’d you fuck in that bathroom yesterday? Who’d you give your ass to after ditching me, you filthy bitch? That bastard Kang Munsu? Or Mr. Park? If not, then damn Mr. Go, huh? Right?”

“Hrrgh, no, no…!”

Tears I hadn’t shed since childhood streamed down. Sobs naturally spilled from my mouth. But Chu showed no sign of mercy. He just rubbed my face harder against his crotch, venting his anger through his words.

“Damn it, you’re the one who teased me first! Don’t you remember smiling at me in those shoes? Think my money’s too precious to lose? You wanted this, damn it!”

“Hrrgh…!”

“But a bitch like you, driving people crazy like that, pulling shit even a dog wouldn’t do to me. Right?”

“Hrrgh…, hrrgh….”

“I warned you from the start that playing with me means death, yet you still acted like a prick. You’ve got no right to resent me.”

“Hrrgh….”

Chu thrust his hips, rubbing his dick over my face like he was jerking off. The erect shaft, rooted strongly and pressed against his stomach, dripped fluid. The liquid slid down the shaft, smearing stickily across my face with each thrust. He kept muttering.

“Did you know I didn’t want to curse at you? I didn’t want to hurt you, not even a little. You didn’t get that and pulled this shit. You’re not just a damn bitch—you deserve worse curses and still say, ‘Yes, I understand.’ Even if it’s not a dick but a knife in your mouth, you take it all. Got that?”

His hand left the back of my head, only to grab my hair again. Pulling my face, which he’d been recklessly rubbing against his dick and balls, he said grimly,

“So open your mouth nicely. That’s your repentance.”

“Hrrgh….”

“If I force it in, you’ll get hurt. Want your mouth torn open?”

“Hrrghh….”

Tears streamed down my face. Only now did I realize how hot tears could be. Only now did I understand that such terror existed. All the humiliations I’d endured before were mere child’s play. That’s why I hadn’t shed tears back then.

He rubbed the blood-engorged, darkened tip of his dick against my lips. Smearing sticky fluid around my mouth, he raised his eyebrows as if doing me a favor and said,

“Want to live drooling spit? Never eating solid food, just drinking water?”

“Hrrgh, sir…”

I shook my head. Tears flowed so heavily that Chu’s face, looking down at me, kept blurring. Because of the tears, I couldn’t tell if his eyebrows were still raised or lowered, if his eyes had grown fiercer or if he was scowling—nothing was clear.

Suddenly, the sinister air dissipated, and a gentle, murmuring tone came through.

“No, no. I lost my head and misspoke. To think a guy who’s eaten his years would say such things to a pretty kid like you—what am I even saying?”

Calling himself “a guy who’s eaten his years,” he retracted his words and even wiped my tears with his hand. He patted my head a couple of times. His sudden actions sparked a small glimmer of hope. Surely, even a gangster would feel some guilt for such coercive acts…

“Don’t be like that, and just sleep with me. Does sucking a dick make you attached? You’ve got to stick it in a pussy and shake it to feel something.”

“N-no! No, sir…!”

“No way. I’m taking you down today, so don’t struggle and just spread your legs quietly. Lie still, and I’ll handle the in-and-out myself.”

“Sir! Sir!”

I cried out desperately, but Chu, as if he’d already decided, just nodded. Then he bent down, stretched out both arms, and lifted me up. In an instant, he threw me onto the nearby sofa.

“Gasp…!”

Briefly stunned at being tossed like a cotton pillow, Chu climbed onto my thighs. Pinning my lower body with a weight like steel beams, he forced me to lie back on the narrow sofa. Then, as if his hands were scissors, he began not just to remove but to tear off my jeans. The belt buckle ripped away, and the zipper tore open at the end.

“Sir, sir…!”

I shook my head, frantically calling for Chu, but all that came back was greater force. My legs, crushed under him, wouldn’t budge no matter how I strained. Only my upper body and arms could flail, though compared to Chu, that strength was nothing. The thought that being stripped meant the end made me grab the waistband of my jeans in a panic. Amid the flooding terror, regret poured in. I wanted to go back to yesterday. To open my mouth willingly under that gentle, smiling face instead of this ferocious one. The fear of being raped forced such thoughts into my mind.

“Hrrgh, sir…!”

Blinking once to let tears fall, Chu got up from me, stepped off the sofa, and suddenly flipped me over. As easily as flipping a palm, he grabbed my ankles. In the next moment, my jeans were yanked down to my ankles. This was bad, really bad. If my underwear came off too, it was over. My blurred vision turned completely white.

Taking advantage of the moment he stepped away, I sprang up like a coil, dropping to my knees on the floor. Desperate to escape this moment, I clasped my hands like a begging fly and spoke through my own mouth.

“I-I’ll do it. I’ll do what you say, sir. Everything, I’ll do everything!”

Saying this, I crawled on my knees toward Chu, who was watching me intently. Positioning my face before his now even larger dick, I grabbed the thick, hefty shaft with both hands. Swallowing my sobs, I pressed my lips to the tip. Soon, a large hand landed on my head. A muttering voice came. “Should’ve done that from the start.”

Under the fluorescent light, the glossy, oiled-looking tip went into my mouth. A groan mixed with curses erupted from above.

“Haa, damn…”

A salty taste hit me, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the fluid leaking from the tip or my tears. I just focused on opening my jaw as wide as possible to suck and swallow the dick. Even with only a little inside, my mouth was already full. And there was still a tunnel’s worth left to take.

Chu, groaning with curses, suddenly let out an irritated sigh and flicked my forehead with his finger.

“Don’t cry while sucking my dick. I don’t like that.”

These were just physiological tears, but I was crying too much to explain. Sobbing and clumsily sucking his dick, I must’ve been a pathetic sight.

“This is your last warning. Don’t make crying noises.”

I forced myself to stifle the sobs. I pushed the dick to the back of my throat and pulled it out, repeating. Hoping he’d finish soon.

It was my first time sucking anyone’s dick, so I was awkward. On top of that, his dick was so massive—unlike anything I’d ever seen—that I couldn’t do anything properly. No matter how wide I opened my mouth, my teeth kept grazing the shaft. The tip, even thicker than the shaft, was already being scraped by my teeth. But oddly, that seemed to stimulate him, as every time I scratched the shaft or tip with my teeth, Chu Gioh let out beastly groans.

“Haa, damn bitch.”

Filthy bitch. Groaning roughly, he suddenly grabbed my head with both hands. Fear surged, and I looked up to see Chu Gioh, eyes reddened, glaring down at me like he’d kill me. Not just his eyes, but the whites were bloodshot, like he had conjunctivitis. His jaw muscles bulged and relaxed, like balls during climax. Oh, please…!

“You. Ignored. My sincerity.”

“Ugh…!”

“Trampled. My heart. Like a beast.”

“Ugh…! Ugh…!”

“Agree?”

With each broken phrase, his dick rammed into my throat, threatening to pierce it. My eyes stung, feeling like they’d pop out, and nausea rose. Saliva dripped from my chin, and a filthy gurgling sound echoed in my ears. My jaw creaked like it was dislocated, and my tongue, pushed back by the thrusting, curled into my throat, choking me.

“Why’d you do it. Making me feel betrayed.”

“Guh…!”

“Think I’m some emotionless pig? I’m human too, Minjo. I eat, piss, get hard for pretty things—a human, not a stone!”

“Guh…!”

I couldn’t breathe, feeling like I’d die. I frantically pounded Chu Gioh’s thighs with both hands. Begging for mercy, pleading for him to stop, I clung to his thighs. The pain of nearly drowning once came rushing back. No, this was two, three times worse. Even though I wasn’t underwater, my body felt submerged. I clawed at his tightly fitted suit pants, pinching and tormenting his flesh, until finally, the dick came out of my mouth.

“Gasp, gasp…!”

I collapsed to the floor, mouth open, gasping for air. Saliva dripped onto the filthy ground. My entire mouth stung like it’d been stung by bees. Pain radiated from my jaw, like it’d been hammered.

But before a few seconds passed, my hair was grabbed, and I was forced upright. The dick slid back into my gaping mouth.

“Yesterday was my birthday. I was that happy. You wouldn’t get it, but days like that don’t come often for me. Hardly ever, or more like never.”

Chu’s face, glimpsed briefly, was ferocious. The phrase “eyes burning with fire” must’ve been made for this.

“But then, what birthday for a guy like me? A bastard who slits people’s throats, overstepping his place.”

The second round of thrusting continued relentlessly until he came. It went on as if to kill me. By the time my jaw and mouth lost all sensation, Chu shoved the tip deep into my throat, his body trembling violently.

“Haa, hngh… damn…”

The spurting semen slid down my esophagus on its own. The tip was lodged so deep I couldn’t even swallow. Choking, I sent it all to my stomach. Tears fell like rain. His thighs, gripped tightly, trembled wildly as if in a final act of defiance. Violating me, he was genuinely aroused.

With a heavy exhale, Chu Gioh loosened the dick he’d jammed in and looked down at me. His rough breathing dragged on. Each breath made his protruding chest muscles heave, hiding and revealing his face. As his breathing calmed slightly, the hand that had tormented me painfully caressed my cheek gently.

“See? Disobey, and this is what happens, Minjo.”

“…Sob.”

“What’s this? It could’ve gone nicely. Tch.”

“Hrrgh….”

My chest churned. Chu Gioh spoke as if his actions were justified, all my fault.

“You’ve learned something now, haven’t you? How to act from here on.”

Chu Gioh said this, stroking me with the softest touch. But his voice and eyes remained fierce. The heat on his face was unchanged.

Finally, the dick fully left my mouth. He tore off some tissue rolling on the floor to wipe his dick. Even after coming, it stood rigid. That something so massive had been in my mouth was unbelievable. My state now was probably worse than I could imagine. Something must be torn. My mouth corners, stinging badly, were surely ripped… Should I be grateful I at least protected my lower half? No. No, Minjo. Your lower half, you’ll probably have to offer up yourself…

Chu Gioh forced his still-erect dick into his pants and came back to me. Kneeling on one knee, he met my eyes. His large hand firmly gripped my jaw.

“Three days. Come to me on your own by then.”

“…Sob.”

“If you miss the deadline or try to run in the meantime.”

Pain shot through both sides of my jaw under his grip. Wincing, he applied more force, shoving his face closer.

“You know I only touch hair, right?”

“…Sob.”

“But for you.”

“….”

“Not just that—I’ll slice everything below your knees. Got it?”

“Hrrgh, yes. Yes.”

His threat, scarier than death, made me nod like a possessed man. Yes, yes.

Releasing my jaw, he stood and stepped back, staring down at me. His polished shoes, facing me, didn’t turn away for a long time.

“….”

“….”

Chu Gioh stood, smoking, watching me for what felt like over five minutes. As acrid cigarette smoke filled the room, I stared only at my pale, exposed thighs. Like someone crying for the first time as an adult, my chest heaved and fell erratically. Strange sounds came from my mouth. Hic. Hic-hic. Feeling so pathetic, I swore never to shed tears again. If I could even manage that.

He left his final words and turned.

“Don’t make me hurt you anymore. It pains me too.”

Click. Chu Gioh left, and the door closed. It took so long to be alone. Such cruel steps. Unable to breathe properly with him there, my breaths burst out, and my body collapsed to the floor. Ugh, nausea surged, and I clamped my mouth. The fishy stench of semen slithered up my esophagus like a snake.

“Da…mn…”

Feeling like a child about to wail, I gritted my teeth and chewed out curses. Forcing myself up, I muttered, Bastard, damn bastard, over and over.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and Kang Munsu appeared. My face twisted at the sight of him. The last tear, pooled, fell. His gaze followed the streak down my face. I wanted to die of shame. The memory of him lusting after me in the bathroom made it worse.

“….”

If he said anything vile, I was ready to lunge at him. Getting beaten might help me overcome the tears. But uncharacteristically, Kang Munsu just rolled his tongue in his mouth, saying nothing. Then, as if letting it slip, he said, “Just go home,” and vanished from my sight.

What was it about my state that drew pity from a self-absorbed bastard like him? A hollow laugh escaped. This happened because of what I went through, but still.

I picked up the jeans Chu Gioh had ruined and slipped them on. The broken buckle and zipper wouldn’t close, so I pulled my shirt down to cover them. I’d shed tears, but more were clinging already. Swearing this was the last, I wiped my eyes and cheeks with the back of my hand. There were so many they didn’t wipe away easily.

I turned off the light, went to the hallway, and headed to the bathroom. Locking the door, I checked my face in the mirror by the sink. Blood smeared the torn corners of my mouth, and my lips were swollen. My hair, grabbed so much, was worse than a bird’s nest. My eyes were as bloodshot as Chu Gioh’s in his frenzy. My overworked jaw seemed slightly swollen too. My whole face was puffed up. Everything was worse than I’d thought. Looking like this, even Kang Munsu hadn’t messed with me.

Seeing my wrecked state, I felt tears welling again and squeezed my eyes shut. I took a deep breath. I didn’t know who to blame. Chu Gioh? My mom? Kim Jeongsuk? Kang Munsu? Or myself?

The alcohol finally hit, making my body sway like a flag. Cruelly, my mind stayed clear, unable to escape reality.

…If I’d willingly opened my mouth to suck Chu’s dick instead of being forced, would I feel less wretched now?

🍀

The next day, my mouth, battered by a massive club, swelled twice as much. The inside was unspeakable. Spots crushed by the tip were white and peeling, like sores. Chu Gioh might think he went easy on me, but in the end, his words—“Want to live drooling spit? Never eating solid food, just drinking water”—came true. No, I couldn’t even swallow water.

All night, I clutched my mouth and jaw, groaning, unable to sleep. More than that, it was the realization I’d finally hit rock bottom…

In the morning, Kim Jeongsuk saw my even more swollen face and gasped.

“Good lord, how hard did he go to tear your mouth like that? Can you even eat? Don’t you need a hospital?”

She might’ve meant it as concern, but it sounded like mockery. Ignoring her, I went to the bathroom and showered. Brushing my teeth would’ve made me faint from the toothpaste’s sting, so I rinsed my mouth with water only.

Around noon, Kang Munsu, flush with money thanks to Chu Gioh, showed up at the café with a smug face. Sitting with his woman, he put me on the table, mocking me relentlessly.

“I’m gonna treat you right now. Seeing you cry yesterday… my heart was breaking. Someone else messed you up, and even I was tearing up.”

Kim Jeongsuk was no less. Matching her lover, she chimed in.

“Good thinking. We should go easier on him, or he might die. Look at that mouth—how big a dick does it take to do that?”

“Whale-sized, they say. Two forearms thick. I kinda wanted to peek yesterday.”

“Why didn’t you sneak a look?”

Ignoring their loud, cackling chatter was surprisingly easy. Pretending I heard nothing, I went to the kitchen. Grabbing three coffee bundles the kitchen auntie had packed, I headed to the car and saw Jin Yang, who wasn’t supposed to be out for days, in the passenger seat. She must’ve been avoiding Kang Munsu and Kim Jeongsuk. I felt guilty, ashamed to show my face.

Jin Yang silently lowered the window and smoked. Her mouth opened only when we reached the delivery spot.

“I’m working till the end of this month, then I’m done with this scene for good.”

“…Oh. Okay.”

“With the money I’ve saved, I’ll open a small clothing shop and live off that. If I see more filth here, I won’t die a natural death. I’m telling only you, so just know.”

“…Okay.”

She clearly knew what happened to me yesterday. All I could manage was an “okay” to Jin Yang. I’d done nothing wrong, but everything felt like my fault. Maybe I should’ve fled, ready to die, before things got this bad.

As if reading my mind, Jin Yang paused while getting out of the car and spoke like an older sister comforting me.

“It’s tough, but don’t think it’s tough. That makes it harder. Instead, curse out Kim Jeongsuk and Kang Munsu, those damn bitches. Pray they both drop dead. Got it? This didn’t happen because you didn’t act right, so don’t think weird thoughts.”

“…Got it.”

“Also, just between us, after I quit, I’m suing Kim Jeongsuk first. That bitch. I’ve sent a certified letter, and I’ve got plenty of proof she didn’t repay my loans. She thinks she’s untouchable. Forcing kids into prostitution, running gambling dens every damn day—I’m reporting it all. I’ll screw her good to wake her up, or she’ll live like that till she dies. No need to hold back with scum like them. Right or not?”

Finally, my swollen lips managed a small smile. Nodding, Jin Yang reached out and patted my shoulder. Unlike the other girls with their colorful nails, she had neatly trimmed, bare ones. Their color was a kind pink, like her heart.

“So just focus on yourself. I’ll handle screwing them over. Got it?”

“Yes. I will, noona.”

I knew she probably wouldn’t bother with lawsuits or reports, wanting to cut ties completely, but her saying it for my sake was deeply comforting. It gave me strength. Like her pink nails, I hoped her life would be pink from now on.

Before Jin Yang left, I resolved to give her my own heartfelt thanks.

🍀

Another day passed, and the next arrived. Two days left. I wasn’t debating whether to go—it was about mustering the courage for what I’d face there. He said he’d cut off everything below my knees, not just my ankles—how could I not go?

Around ten, when all the girls had left, the café’s lights went out. Kang Munsu, on the phone with Yoo Kichul, glanced at me while I cleaned up in the kitchen.

“That guy’s probably not coming today. No word, right? Try calling, and if he doesn’t pick up, just say he’s not answering. Then you set up the game, hyungnim. I’ll make some calls and head to Godae with noona. Yep.”

“That guy” likely meant Chu Gioh. No other reason he’d glance at me.

Kang Munsu sauntered over, looking at me across the counter. Ignoring him, I kept tidying, but he snatched the tray from my hand.

“If you drag that guy to the house, I’ll settle your six-million debt.”

Crazy bastard. As if being a pimp wasn’t enough, he wants to play debt collector too. Without answering, I took the tray back and wiped it with a rag.

The past few days’ feasts must’ve stuck in his craw. Animal bastard—stick to fleecing your own kind. He hasn’t learned that reaching too high gets you burned.

“If you don’t like that, give your mouth to me too.”

“Damn it, are you insane!”

His nonsense triggered a reflexive curse. I snapped my head up, glaring at Kang Munsu like I’d tear him apart. Because of who did I suffer that horror? Because of who do I have to keep enduring it?

I thought he’d grab my hair or neck in anger, but he just grinned smugly, stepping back and glancing at the bathroom where Kim Jeongsuk was.

“I took a hit for you, you bastard. That day. In the shithouse. You felt it too, didn’t you?”

“….”

“I’ll leave your hole for that guy to break in, so let me use your mouth a bit. I won’t rip it like that brute. Promise?”

“…Shut your crap and get lost. If you don’t want to die.”

His patronizing tone sparked a murderous urge. If I didn’t at least talk back, I might’ve actually lunged and killed him.

“Minjo, you filthy-lucked bastard.”

The vile sensation of his body on mine that day returned, and my fist clenched. At the same moment, the faint sound of the bathroom flushing came. Suddenly, Kang Munsu’s face pressed close to my ear.

“I’m starting to like you. You look so pretty. I want to eat you up. Did you know I jerked off to you yesterday?”

Kim Jeongsuk came out of the bathroom.

“You suck me off, I settle your debt. Think it over.”

Kang Munsu whispered low, then quickly returned to the sofa. Acting like nothing happened, he called someone, saying, “It’s Munsu. Got some time? If so, bring the guys to play cards.” I was about to hurl the tray at him when Kim Jeongsuk popped up beside me. My raised hand froze, then slowly lowered.

“Done cleaning?”

Unaware of the shifted mood, Kim Jeongsuk just gave instructions.

“If you’re done, turn off the lights and sleep early. Kimoon might call tomorrow, so brace yourself while you rest.”

“….”

Nodding, I looked not at Kim Jeongsuk but at Kang Munsu. Right. That’s not how it works. I’m not some filthy public toilet—I’m at least clean enough to be someone’s exclusive, you garbage bastard.

“I’m borrowing the car.”

I grabbed the car keys from the counter. Ignoring Kim Jeongsuk’s “What’d you say?”, I left the café. Before she or Kang Munsu could chase me, I jumped in the car and sped away. Destination: the dark, eerie Kimoon office in the forest.

If Chu Gioh wasn’t there, I would park the car and wait until the next day when he showed up for work.

🍀

Driving quickly, I secretly hoped Chu Gioh wouldn’t be there. I didn’t know his work hours, but at least I could buy time until dawn.

But I arrived neither too late nor too early—perfectly timed. As if this moment had been fated since my birth.

The moment I entered Kimoon, I was confronted by dozens of thugs gathered in the front yard of the office. They spread out widely around Chu Gioh at the center. The unexpected, dizzying sight made me slam on the brakes instinctively.

As the headlights from the café’s car blazed, the crowd parted, revealing Chu’s scowling face. His eyes, staring through the car’s windshield, were as fierce as when he’d forced his dick into my mouth.

Seeing them gathered like this, it must be a day for some kind of job. A few thugs held shovels with gloved hands, while others brushed off something from their bodies. In the headlight’s glow, the stuff floating in the air looked like fine dirt.

My heart sank. They looked exactly like they’d just buried something.

“…I’m screwed.”

I’d picked the worst possible day. I should’ve come tomorrow morning. Just how low could my luck sink?

Sitting still in the car, I watched as Jangbae, standing beside Chu Gioh, started walking toward me. Startled, I dimmed the headlights. It was too late to turn back. If I fled now, my last chance would vanish, and those hulks might have to work overtime because of me. With the shovels in their hands… In short, if I ran, I’d die by Chu Gioh’s hand.

I turned off the engine and opened the car door. Breathing heavily, I stepped out. As I did, Jangbae stopped approaching, and Chu, cigarette in mouth, tilted his head crookedly while a lackey lit it for him.

Forcing my trembling limbs to move, I mustered courage and walked toward Chu. Straightening his head, Chu glared at me as if he’d crush me on the spot. Smoke poured from his mouth, but his fierce expression didn’t waver. Suddenly, his words echoed in my mind.

‘Three days. Come to me on your own by then.’

I nearly forgot. I shouldn’t be so bold as to walk on two feet. With a few steps left before him, I dropped to my knees on the dirt. My knack for kneeling, honed over time, was still firmly attached to my legs.

The surroundings were silent. Only the occasional rustle of trees in the breeze broke the quiet. In that stillness, dozens of eyes were fixed on me. The unnervingly oppressive stares slithered around like eels. I’d never dealt with this many people—could I handle it? At least it wasn’t asphalt, which was a small mercy.

Feeling dirt seep through the worn knees of my jeans, I crawled toward Chu. That was my true destination. Arriving, I stared down at his shoes, blacker than the night, and murmured quietly.

“…I’m here, sir.”

I started to keep my head bowed, but recalling he seemed to like dramatic tones, I delivered the first line with gravity. Scoring even one point could help my situation.

“I should’ve come yesterday. I should’ve come that very dawn… I dared to show up only today. I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t overly groveling, just reasonable. I thought I’d spoken well.

But a fierce grip seized my arm, yanking me to my feet. Looking up, Chu was scowling even harder than before. I thought empty flattery might not please him but at least wouldn’t anger him. Maybe I’d chosen the wrong day. Perhaps he was irritated at being interrupted…

The scar by his eye twitched, and Chu spat out the cigarette he was smoking.

“You could’ve just walked, but you actually crawled? Sticking your head under my balls and slinking through—why’d you stop?”

“…I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t mad about me showing up during a busy time but about crawling to him. I did what he wanted, for his sake, and he gets angry? What a baffling guy. But part of me felt relieved. Even if he’s hard to please, his fickle temper might make his interest in me fade quickly.

As if one of the gang, I mumbled, “I’ll… correct it…” Bowing to feign remorse, my slanted body was straightened. My arm was released, and my jaw was grabbed instead. His face came closer.

“Don’t act like you’ve lived kneeling before me. You came to see me, not to pay a debt. Got it?”

A faint fishy smell wafted from him as he spoke. I’d smelled it before. He must’ve really dealt with someone. Maybe he’d washed off blood, as he was oddly damp. His usually swept-back bangs hung heavily, disheveled.

I felt I should avoid his gaze. Fixing my eyes on his brow, I answered softly, “…Yes.”

Chu stared at my torn lips for a long while. Then he spoke to the guy beside him.

“Get me a cigarette.”

“Yes, hyungnim.”

Quickly putting a cigarette in his mouth, Chu, as expected, had it lit by the guy beside him. The instant response suggested familiarity. I shouldn’t act stubborn, I thought, as he took a few puffs and shoved the cigarette between my lips. Unsure if he meant for me to hold it or smoke it, I just kept it in my mouth. He scanned the crowd, looking for someone.

“Where’s Doojik?”

“Here, hyungnim. Right here.”

From the back, a heavily built man with a thick frame lumbered to Chu’s side and bowed. He was as big and scary as Jangbae. Fittingly, his name was “Doojik.” Was it “Doo” for two or more, and “jik” for beating? I grew curious about the other thugs’ names and why he’d called this one, my heart starting to race. Chu turned to Doojik and gave orders.

“I’m heading to the room salon upstairs. Get it ready.”

“Got it, hyungnim.”

Room salon? Go up right after work?

He likely meant a hotel or lodging tied to the room salon. They’re often in the basement of hotels. In short, Chu had some kind of hosting at a room salon today. He said “work,” so it didn’t seem like fun—probably business hosting.

Hosting or not, it didn’t matter. What mattered was I’d be sleeping with Chu Gioh tonight. My heart leaped. I knew nothing about that act. Only that my asshole would be wrecked by Chu Gioh’s dick.

Afraid I’d drop the cigarette, I clamped my lips around it. Chu snatched it back and smoked it himself. Then he flicked it away and bent to meet my eyes.

His lips, which had looked furious, suddenly… grinned. From that mouth came an unbelievably gentle voice.

“Go wash up and wait. I’ll come up quick after I’m done.”

The angry face he’d shown me vanished like the flicked cigarette butt. I should’ve said “Yes,” but his sudden shift threw me, and no sound came out. I could only nod awkwardly, even that feeling stiff.

Chu handed a car to Doojik and ordered another guy to return the café car I’d driven. He put me in the backseat of Doojik’s car. Leaning into the car, he gently stroked my torn mouth, gazing deeply at me.

“Can you eat with that mouth? Can your jaw open?”

“…Yes.”

His touch was hot. His body leaned closer. Despite the night, his shadow darkened my vision. The finger lingering at my mouth slipped between my lips.

“You know I waited like crazy for you that day? Couldn’t sleep a wink, like a sick bastard.”

His whispering voice was hotter than the finger grazing my inner lip. Hotter still were his eyes on me.

“Damn, the desperate one’s supposed to chase, so how do you make a tough guy like me wait? I was gonna drag you here tomorrow.”

“….”

“You pop up out of nowhere and tease me again. You’re trying to screw me over, right?”

“….”

The finger probing my wet flesh slid out. His black eyes, sucking the saliva from his fingertip, gleamed sharply. Not lively, but unhinged. Nothing like Kang Munsu’s lustful gaze.

In a flash, the thought hit like an arrow: I’m screwed. Screwed. So damn screwed. Look at those crazed, wild eyes, Minjo.

“I know you came. It’s mine—how wouldn’t I know, huh?”

…Mad ecstasy.

Chu Gioh wasn’t just pleased—he was utterly ecstatic that I’d come.