EMP Chapter 21

Kwon Jiwook was staring blankly at the vibrating phone in his hand. Even after snapping out of it, it took him a long time to bring the phone closer. He had hesitated for too long. He needed to answer before it disconnected, but just as he thought that, the call ended—only to start again immediately.

The phone buzzed steadily in his hand without making any other sound. Kwon Jiwook glanced around, trying to sense any movement outside. He could vaguely tell someone was in the living room, but there was no sign of anyone near the door. Carefully, he pressed the call button.

— Hello? Hello?

“……”

— Park Juyeon?

“……”

— …Kwon Jiwook? Is that you?

He bit his lower lip hard, unable to speak. He had answered the call—secretly, without Park Juyeon knowing. His chest suddenly began pounding uncontrollably, far more intensely than when Park Juyeon had gently stroked him. His ears, perhaps his entire body, seemed to reverberate with the relentless thudding.

— Who is this? Please, just say something.

“…It’s me.”

After a long hesitation, Kwon Jiwook finally spoke. His voice was barely audible, not only because he had to keep quiet but also because it was hoarse and cracked.

— …!

Even so, Kim Suhyeok recognized him instantly. As soon as he was certain it was Kwon Jiwook, his voice grew urgent.

— Ji—Jiwook, it’s you, right? Okay, listen, just listen. You don’t have to say anything. I’ll talk fast and hang up.

“……”

A sudden premonition washed over him—a feeling that he shouldn’t listen any further. Kwon Jiwook cast anxious glances between the tightly gripped blanket in his hand and the closed door. His gaze scattered aimlessly through the air. His pounding heart didn’t let up. Still, Kim Suhyeok’s words kept coming.

— In a little while, when Park Juyeon leaves, don’t look back. Just get out. Go out, and instead of heading toward the main road, take the path behind the building. There’s a park there. Go there. You can do it, right? You can do this.

“……”

— Kwon Jiwook, are you listening? You bastard… Damn it, what kind of mess is this…?

He heard him, but it was hard to grasp what Kim Suhyeok intended. Go out? Now? Even though it was just a leash around his neck now, Park Juyeon wouldn’t hesitate to strap a belt to his wrists or ankles if things didn’t go his way. He wanted to argue, but he couldn’t raise his voice, so his lips merely trembled.

“…The leash…”

— What?

“The… leash is on.”

Kwon Jiwook, who had been whispering while keeping an eye on the outside, rubbed the leather strap around his neck. Was this okay? Would nothing happen even if he secretly continued the call like this in this room? At the moment when all his attention was focused on the person outside the door, a word suddenly snapped him back to reality.

— What, are you locked up with a padlock? Is the leash tied too tightly, making it hard to untie?

Kwon Jiwook, who had been fiddling with the leash, froze for a moment. The long cord extending from his neck seemed to start near the bed, and upon closer inspection, it was just tied in a simple knot.

It wasn’t nailed in place, just tied like a regular knot someone might make. Like tying a dog up.

Kwon Jiwook hastily touched his neck. There was no tiny padlock that would have prevented him from pulling it off. Had it never been there? It felt as though someone had hit him hard on the back of his head.

“That…?”

Why had he thought he couldn’t untie it himself? Slowly, something seemed to click in Kwon Jiwook’s mind.

“…No. Keep talking.”

— Right. From what I know, Park Juyeon is leaving today, so make sure you get out at the right time. You won’t get another chance today. Really. I’ll beg you. I’ll help you, so let’s go together. Jiwook, really…

Kwon Jiwook swallowed dryly. He knew this was all a test from Park Juyeon. The lack of a special mechanism on the leash, the fact that his body wasn’t restrained by a belt, and that the door outside was no longer locked. Even the fact that he had left his phone behind could have been part of it. But…

But his patience had already reached its limit. He didn’t want to be played with anymore.

Yes, he would leave. Using the so-called compassionate pretense as a stepping stone, he would make a clean break from Park Juyeon.

“…Kim Suhyeok.”

— Huh? Huh?

“Why are you helping me?”

At the sudden question, Kim Suhyeok couldn’t respond. Just as Kwon Jiwook was about to question him further, Kim Suhyeok hurriedly ended the call. Kwon Jiwook could feel his flustered movements through the phone.

— Let’s meet and talk. We’ll meet soon. You have to come!

And just like that, the call ended abruptly.

Looking at the time, it was still only 2 PM. Kwon Jiwook let out a hollow laugh, feeling as though the call had been a dream. What had they talked about? What had Kim Suhyeok said? As he slowly replayed the conversation in his mind, the door suddenly swung open.

Park Juyeon looked around and then, as if it had been there all along, picked up the phone that was neatly placed in its original spot and began fiddling with it in his hand.

“Ah, here it is.”

“……”

“You didn’t touch it, right?”

Kwon Jiwook nodded silently, feeling his throat burn. The moment the call ended, he had deleted the call log and placed the phone back on the nightstand. How lucky he was.

He glanced at the bed where the leash was connected but didn’t make any further moves, turning to leave. As he was leaving, he even casually patted Kwon Jiwook’s head. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until—click. The sound of the door locking, a sound that hadn’t been heard in the past few days, echoed. The unexpected turn of events left a look of dismay on Kwon Jiwook’s face.

“Fuck, what the hell…?”

The curse slipped out uncontrollably. Why the hell would he lock the door suddenly, out of nowhere? Kwon Jiwook, momentarily stunned, tried to calm himself. Maybe he could wait until Park Juyeon came back into the room before leaving. That was the plan.

He didn’t know how much time had passed. When you’re stuck in a state where nothing feels alive or dead, time seems to drag on, and today, it felt even slower. Had he already left? Was that why it was so quiet outside? Just as a chill ran down Kwon Jiwook’s spine, the living room suddenly became noisy.

Not being able to open the door by himself was a heavy feeling of despair and helplessness. But if he didn’t act now, he might lose his chance to escape altogether. So, Kwon Jiwook had no choice but to call out desperately for Park Juyeon.

“Pa, Park Juyeon. Park Juyeon! Cough, cough, cough.”

For the past few days, or maybe weeks, Kwon Jiwook had been barely able to make a sound, whispering quietly, but now his throat couldn’t handle the sudden burst of noise and he broke into a coughing fit. Then, he heard the sound of slippers scraping the floor, growing closer.

“Cough… Park Juyeon, open the door. I need the bathroom…”

“What?”

Park Juyeon walked up quickly. Kwon Jiwook’s eyes widened slightly as he watched. Dressed in all black, he looked as if he were ready to go to the hospital. That made it even more strange. How did Kim Suhyeok know that Park Juyeon was planning to leave?

While still coughing, Kwon Jiwook’s mind was spinning. It didn’t matter now; the priority was to keep the door from closing. He had to say something, even if it was something he couldn’t bring himself to say. For example…

“The… the pad, um… it’s all wet, and there’s no room left.”

“…”

“Can… I go to the bathroom?”

Park Juyeon, looking down at Kwon Jiwook, had a slightly tilted expression. Don’t look at me like that. Fuck. I’m the one who wants to die. He had said it in anger, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that those words weren’t something a person should say. Kwon Jiwook felt a sharp pain in his chest. He knew this feeling well now. It was shame.

Park Juyeon, biting his lips tightly, glanced at his metal watch in frustration and muttered under his breath.

“Why now… of all times…”

Park Juyeon seemed to hesitate for a moment, unsure whether to grab a new pad. But it didn’t last long. He stared down at Kwon Jiwook with unreadable eyes before reaching out and untying the leash.

…Huh. He hadn’t expected this…

Kwon Jiwook blinked in surprise. With a tired expression, Park Juyeon grabbed Kwon Jiwook’s wrist and pulled him into the bathroom. He stood in front of him, arms crossed, leaning slightly to the side.

“Let’s hurry up. I need to leave soon.”

“…”

It seemed like he wasn’t going to leave until the task was done. Kwon Jiwook wiped his tired face with his palm. Thinking was a luxury now. He soon bent down and made a move to sit on the toilet.

“My stomach… hurts.”

“Seriously, you’re going too far…”

Did he really have to say something like that? His already nonexistent pride seemed to be breaking through the very core of him. It was even worse as he watched Park Juyeon, who was smirking as if it was ridiculous.

Kwon Jiwook sat quietly on the toilet, staring into Park Juyeon’s eyes. People say that you can’t live without lying, and those black eyes, which were no different than usual, seemed to pierce through him. As cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, he tried to focus on Park Juyeon’s pretty face, but surprisingly, it was Park Juyeon who turned away first.

“I’m such a nice person, it’s a big problem,” Park Juyeon said.

Yeah, think whatever you want. Fuck. Park Juyeon probably didn’t even know what he was thinking. Kwon Jiwook gritted his teeth inwardly, but outwardly, he pretended to be suffering from stomach pains. Park Juyeon shook his head and, as if it was a routine, said, “Don’t do anything stupid, just stay still,” and left the house.

…

Now that it had come to this, it felt like anything was possible. Was it unfounded confidence? No, this was confidence backed by something real. Even if he had lived his life in self-centered isolation, he had confidence that there would be at least one person who would stand by him.

He had only been holding his breath in the bathroom for a moment. Once the house grew quiet, Kwon Jiwook slowly peeked his head out the door.

…No matter what the reason, from here on out, it was about luck. He could go downstairs and meet Park Juyeon, who hadn’t left yet, or maybe he’d miss Kim Suhyeok and wander the streets empty-handed. Or he could hesitate and never leave the house at all. Whatever the option, it had to be better than staying stuck, so he had to move.

People can’t just sit around helplessly. Even if it’s something small, putting it into action gives the body the will to move. His lost strength or stamina didn’t return with that will, though.

Kwon Jiwook stepped out of the bathroom and moved quickly. His body, worn out from being overworked for so long, sometimes trembled, but his condition wasn’t that bad. He searched through Park Juyeon’s room, grabbed some clothes to cover himself, and then grabbed a bag to search for cash or anything of value.

…

Then, suddenly, he stopped in front of a small photo frame on the desk. Kwon Jiwook slowly approached the frame.

It was a photo taken from a distance, showing the two of them with the background clearly visible. A young Park Juyeon, wearing a school uniform, was smiling brightly next to a middle-aged woman. The beautiful Park Juyeon, whose face made anyone’s heart race. But for some reason, the wide-open background seemed familiar.

An uncomfortable sense of unfamiliarity washed over him. Tilting his head, he picked up the frame and examined it closely. No matter how many times he scanned Park Juyeon’s full body from top to bottom, the conclusion was the same.

“What? Could it be… we really knew each other…?”

A place he knew. A school uniform from his middle school years, which he had worn for three years. Park Juyeon was wearing the same thing. The only difference was that the uniform was neatly pressed and fit properly, unlike his own, which had been worn out and tight.

…

His mind, which had been moving quickly toward escape, suddenly stumbled. But he couldn’t linger on it for too long. Time didn’t stop, and even though he wanted to know more, he had to keep moving. Kwon Jiwook shook off the thoughts and quickly ran out of the office.

“Ha…!”

The feeling of freedom after two months, though it was unsettling. Kwon Jiwook breathed in the noticeably stuffier outside air. He discarded any doubts, such as whether this was okay, the moment he stepped out the door.

‘Don’t go on the main road. If you go around the back of the building, there’s a park. Come there.’

Kwon Jiwook looked around. He noticed the CCTV camera mounted in front of the shared entrance. …He probably wouldn’t bother checking those things. With a stiff expression, he glanced up at it, then, as if to say “fuck it,” he flipped the bird and ran toward the back of the building.

It wasn’t long before he came across what could barely be called a park, a somewhat dilapidated empty lot that looked like construction had been abandoned. He also spotted a suspicious van parked there.

“…?”

That wasn’t Kim Suhyeok’s car. Kwon Jiwook, panting, approached it, feeling uneasy. Now that he thought about it, Kim Suhyeok was the type who wouldn’t have the guts to pull something like this off on his own. He was probably someone without connections or any sort of backup—so where did he get the courage to do something like this?

As if reading his thoughts, the passenger side window rolled down at just the right moment. Kwon Jiwook immediately saw Kim Suhyeok’s anxious face and…

“Hey, we meet again.”

From the driver’s seat, Lee Sangjin’s face appeared, grinning maliciously, as if he had something on him.

“…You…”

Kwon Jiwook’s face twisted in a way that suggested he’d seen something he shouldn’t have. He looked so disgusted that, unless you paid close attention, you might not have noticed. Kim Suhyeok, stuck between them, nervously looked back and forth between the two. He was probably even paler than Kwon Jiwook.

Kwon Jiwook hesitated for a moment. This really was a no-win situation. Having people he disliked in front and behind him was difficult. His gaze, which had been silently glaring at Lee Sangjin, shifted to Kim Suhyeok. What kind of guts did he have to contact someone like this? Kim Suhyeok, looking guilty, flinched.

“What is this?”

For the first time, Kwon Jiwook felt a mix of fear and excitement. But in the end, all that remained was a sense of misery. Was there any point in escaping with the help of these assholes when he couldn’t do anything right on his own?

Kim Suhyeok got out of the passenger seat, looked around, and approached, but Kwon Jiwook, feeling cornered like a trapped wildcat, hesitated and took a few steps back.

“Jiwook, let’s get in. Okay?”

“I’m asking what this is. Don’t look at me like that. Just talk. Why the hell is that asshole here?”

“Jiwook, let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.”

“Are you all fucking insane…?”

Kwon Jiwook muttered to himself, still watching Kim Suhyeok, whose eyes were filled with anxiety, as if he was still worried about someone watching them. Only then did he realize that he couldn’t do anything else. His school was 20 minutes away by car. If he were unlucky walking, he could end up getting caught and stuck in the streets.

He locked eyes with Lee Sangjin, who was grinning and smoking a cigarette in the driver’s seat. He too knew that Kwon Jiwook had no power in his current state, which is why he was so relaxed.

How miserable could one person get? Kwon Jiwook muttered bitterly in a tired voice.

“You guys… fuck… you’re all the same. Kim Suhyeok, stop pretending like you’re trying to help me. You’re just the same as him.”

“We came here, didn’t we? We came to get you out of here. How was I supposed to know when he’d figure it out and come back?”

Kim Suhyeok, seemingly in a hurry, raised his voice, which was unusual for him.

“You came to get me out? Ha.”

Are you asking me to believe that? Kwon Jiwook had been dealing with people like Lee Sangjin for over ten years. He knew their nature well. They wouldn’t help without expecting something in return; they wouldn’t do it this easily. As Kwon Jiwook hesitated, Lee Sangjin, who happened to meet his gaze, arrogantly spoke.

“Hey. You not going? Should I just leave without you?”

“……”

Kwon Jiwook looked at him coldly, his face frozen. But unlike before, Lee Sangjin only shrugged nonchalantly, showing no sign of fear. It was strange that he wasn’t intimidated by Kwon Jiwook, who was covered in wounds and clearly not in good shape.

“Wait!”

It was actually Kim Suhyeok who seemed to panic. Unable to stand the tense situation any longer, he grabbed Kwon Jiwook’s arm and climbed into the backseat of the car. Surprisingly, Kwon Jiwook didn’t resist and followed. Lee Sangjin, who had been waiting for them to get in, started the engine but didn’t seem to be planning to leave immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette.

“Why do you think I came here?”

Kwon Jiwook, who had been wondering the same thing, stared hard at Lee Sangjin’s reflection in the rearview mirror, waiting for him to continue. But Kim Suhyeok kept interrupting.

“Later! We’ll talk about it later!”

Clearly, Kim Suhyeok was the most frightened of them all. He looked like he couldn’t wait to leave. What a coward. Kwon Jiwook, feeling sorry for him, looked at Kim Suhyeok with pity, and Kim Suhyeok, as if trying to justify himself, added:

“No, I mean, we can talk when we get there. We need to get to a safe place before Park Juyeon shows up. Right, Sangjin?”

“Ugh… Hyung, you’re really working hard to pretend to be nice, huh?”

“……”

Nothing irritates a person more than hearing things they don’t know in front of others. Kwon Jiwook considered getting out of the car and running away, or just staying quiet. Meanwhile, the car started moving, as if waiting for him to make up his mind.

“……”

Inside the rattling van, Kwon Jiwook silently stared out the window. He realized that if he had just walked through this unfamiliar place, he would have gotten hopelessly lost. He had never been the type to pay attention to things outside of his own little world, so not knowing the area was no surprise. While lost in such thoughts, he could feel Kim Suhyeok fidgeting beside him. He ignored it.

“Are we going to my place?”

“No, no, to my place… Do you know where it is?”

“I’ve been to your place a couple of times.”

Lee Sangjin responded gruffly as he drove the car. After answering, Kim Suhyeok wiped the cold sweat from his hands onto his pants.

In a desperate attempt to get out of this situation, Kim Suhyeok had made an unreasonable request to Lee Sangjin, offering him some kind of misguided compensation. There was no other choice. Among the people he knew, Lee Sangjin was the only one with enough power to stand up to Park Juyeon. Kim Suhyeok, who had lived an ordinary life, had no one else like that in his circle. In that moment, he was sitting on a very uncomfortable seat, more than anyone else.

“Hey. Your name’s Kwon Jiwook, right?”

At some point, Lee Sangjin spoke. It felt like a sentence to Kim Suhyeok, as if he were being judged.

“……”

“Hah, you fucking bastard. Look at you pretending to have some pride.”

“If you came to help, just shut up and drive. Damn, running your mouth like you’re worth something…”

Before Kwon Jiwook could even finish his sentence, Kim Suhyeok quickly grabbed his hand. He could feel a sharp gaze coming from the side, but Lee Sangjin’s mouth showed no signs of stopping.

“Does this crazy bastard still not know his place? Does he want to die or what? You think I came here just to help you out of the goodness of my heart? Damn, I thought you two had sorted things out, but I guess not.”

“What?”

Kwon Jiwook frowned and shot back, his eyebrow furrowed. Whether it was fortunate or not, Lee Sangjin’s rant stopped there. Silence filled the van afterward. Kim Suhyeok’s tense lips twitched slightly.

The van’s destination was Kim Suhyeok’s house. As soon as they arrived at the small villa, they hurried up the stairs, entered the apartment, and locked the door behind them. Panting heavily, Kim Suhyeok checked the time, trying to catch his breath. It was just past 6 p.m.

According to the information Lee Sangjin had heard from his Hyung, Park Juyeon would be home soon. Kim Suhyeok held his pounding chest, trying to calm himself.

Unlike the tense Suhyeok, Kwon Jiwook felt his stiff body relax. Too much relaxation could be dangerous, though. Clicking his tongue lightly, he looked around the room and let out a deep breath. It was probably because he was in a space that lacked any sense of threat and faced people he considered insignificant. His gaze, sharp and menacing, shifted to Kim Suhyeok.

“Start talking.”

“About what…?”

“Why you helped me. And why you brought this guy along.”

At that, Lee Sangjin pouted exaggeratedly in mock humor. But his eyes didn’t miss the chance to size up Kwon Jiwook. Compared to the last time they’d met, Jiwook’s features looked sharper. He seemed to have lost weight, and his face, once relaxed, was now tense and brimming with irritation. His physique remained sturdy, but he didn’t appear as robust as before.

Still, he looked like someone you’d want to torment. But judging by his appearance, he probably couldn’t endure it as well as he used to. As Lee Sangjin narrowed his eyes and entertained these sinister thoughts, Kim Suhyeok approached Kwon Jiwook and gripped his wrist tightly. But that was all he did. He kept his mouth shut as if it were glued shut.

This was one of the many reasons Kwon Jiwook found Kim Suhyeok insufferable. Those sly, fox-like eyes that darted around when he was in trouble. The cowardly demeanor, curling up at the slightest harshness. There was nothing about him that didn’t annoy Jiwook, but the most frustrating thing was his constant hesitation.

Just as Kwon Jiwook was about to unleash his frustration, Lee Sangjin’s mocking laughter interrupted him.

“Ah, me? I only came because he said he’d let me have a go if I helped out. But wow, this bastard is as quiet as ever… Hyung, I thought he was so desperate to run away that he’d let us have some fun. Guess not?”

“S-Sangjin, I never said—”

“Or did you know my preferences and keep quiet on purpose? Damn, now I’m really into it. Thinking about raping this guy again after so long, damn, I’m already getting turned on. Huh?”

As Lee Sangjin’s words continued, the air in the room grew heavier. The tension in the atmosphere was palpable. Kwon Jiwook’s muscles tightened as he processed what he was hearing. Slowly, he turned to look at Kim Suhyeok, disbelief etched across his face. Suhyeok instinctively began to back away, his steps hesitant. The look on Jiwook’s face, filled with incredulity and barely contained fury, seemed to gnaw at Suhyeok’s already-fragile sense of guilt.

“Hey, Kim Suhyeok. What the hell are you saying?”

“What, you really didn’t know? Wow, this is… Suhyeok-hyung, what are you doing? You’re gonna get hit just standing there. Hurry up and grab this bastard.”

“Lee Sangjin! Why are you bringing that up now?!”

Kim Suhyeok yelled, his face pale with shock. So, as he’d expected… Lee Sangjin wasn’t the type to help just because someone asked. There had to be a price. And judging by what that bastard was saying right now, the price was probably…

“What? You’re curious, aren’t you? Hey, you bastard. Been keeping that ass of yours safe?”

Suhyeok disappeared from his vision. Everything around him went black, except for Lee Sangjin’s mocking smirk floating in the void. That filthy, slimy voice clung to Kwon Jiwook’s ears. His eyes widened as his breathing grew shallower, unconscious of it. His heart started pounding faster.

“No one else got there first and wrecked it, right? Oh, yeah. Suhyeok-hyung mentioned that pretty boy you were with last time.”

Lee Sangjin twisted his cruel grin and leaned in, bringing his face dangerously close to Kwon Jiwook’s ear as he chuckled.

“Used him as your little dildo, huh? Or… don’t tell me, you let that guy f*** you?”

“What?”

“Wahaha! Why? Are you pissed off? Look at you flying off the handle because it hit a nerve. Damn… you look like the kind of guy who screws around all the time, but your ass is worse than a ragged mop.”

“You piece of shit…!”

There’s only so much someone can take when being treated like absolute garbage. If Park Juyeon had said something like this, he might have just brushed it off. But hearing this trash spew from someone like Sangjin made his blood boil. Fury surged, and before he knew it, his fist flew.

Thud. The dull impact of bone colliding with bone reverberated through his knuckles. Kwon Jiwook staggered back a couple of steps, but the blow seemed to have landed. Sangjin was clutching his jaw, his head jerking slightly. Confidence swelled within Jiwook—he could handle this bastard, even in his current state.

“What? You still got more to say, huh?”

“Hah, this crazy bastard still doesn’t know his place…”

“The one who doesn’t know his place is you, you asshole. What, you desperate to get your ass kicked?”

The satisfying sensation of landing a punch. The thrill of it, something he hadn’t felt in so long, came rushing back. This was what he’d craved all along. Groveling under someone else, barely surviving—that wasn’t who he was.

Without hesitation, Kwon Jiwook lunged forward, grabbing Sangjin by the collar. He could feel Sangjin’s fist aiming for his stomach and instinctively twisted his body, dodging it. Using the momentum, Jiwook swung his leg up and drove it into Sangjin’s midsection. As Sangjin’s bulky frame stumbled backward, Jiwook took the chance to throw another punch at his face.

But snap—his wrist was caught. Jiwook blinked rapidly, surprised. In that instant, Sangjin didn’t miss a beat and delivered a crushing blow to Jiwook’s face with his free hand.

“…!”

“Look at you now, dumbass. You never used to let your guard down like this, huh?”

There was a time when Jiwook had beaten Sangjin senseless. Back then, Sangjin hadn’t even tried to avoid the hits—he’d just taken them. A pathetic loser who couldn’t even imagine countering. But now, Sangjin’s ability to anticipate and block attacks was something Jiwook hadn’t expected.

Improving in a fight doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a skill honed over time, and for Sangjin to close the gap so much—it stung Jiwook’s pride.

Groaning low, Jiwook struggled to focus his blurred vision. He tried to shake off the hands gripping him, but they held firm.

Lee Sangjin didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he slowly rubbed the inside of Kwon Jiwook’s wrist, which he had gripped tightly. When Jiwook instinctively tensed up at the subtle contact, Sangjin grinned slyly, clearly amused.

“What’s this? All your muscles are gone, no strength in your punches. Damn… if you don’t shape up, you’re just gonna die like this. Can I even use you for anything?”

“Let go, you bastard! Shut your damn mouth!”

It was true—Jiwook had spent days bedridden. It was a miracle his body wasn’t falling apart, but Sangjin’s taunts, hitting all the wrong nerves, sent rage boiling to Jiwook’s head. He clenched his teeth and threw his remaining fist at Sangjin’s face and body over and over. The dull, unsettling sound each punch made echoed, but Sangjin wasn’t just any ordinary man. For someone with his build, he had an unnatural resilience.

Sangjin even mocked the blows, joking about how they “felt good to get hit,” and Jiwook couldn’t hate his iron-clad durability more. Punching him felt like punching a wall. It wasn’t the same helpless feeling Jiwook had when dealing with someone slippery like Park Juyeon—this was a different kind of frustration.

At some point, Sangjin decided to fight back. With his massive, frying-pan-like hands, he curled them into fists and slammed them against Jiwook’s small head. But Jiwook wasn’t intimidated. Instead, he resisted fiercely, fueled by a reckless determination. Sangjin couldn’t help but be puzzled at where this stubbornness was coming from. Ultimately, Sangjin resolved to change his tactics.

“Look, even if it hurts less than before, if I keep getting hit, I’ll get pissed off too.”

“I… Lee Sangjin—”

“Argh…!”

It was then that Kim Suhyeok, trembling in the corner, tried to intervene with a stammer, but Jiwook was suddenly shoved forcefully. His back slammed into the wall with a loud thud, and a shockwave coursed through his entire body. As he struggled to gather his senses, his vision filled with Sangjin’s massive frame. The larger man grabbed both of Jiwook’s wrists and leaned down, sinking his teeth into Jiwook’s neck.

The bite was so ferocious it felt like his flesh was being torn away, and Jiwook let out a pained scream. The bitten area throbbed with an unbearable heat.

“AAAAH! You bastard! Get off me! Get the hell off!!”

“Why are you yelling so much? You’re gonna burst my eardrums.”

Sangjin spat blood-mixed saliva onto the floor. Judging by the sharp pain, he had indeed ripped into Jiwook’s skin. In shock, Jiwook glanced up at Sangjin, then turned his blazing eyes toward Kim Suhyeok.

“Kim Suhyeok! Explain, now! What the hell is this? Is this some kind of joke?! What the hell are you doing?!”

“Ji… Jiwook-ah…”

Kim Suhyeok, trembling in the corner and watching the situation unfold, was hit with Jiwook’s thunderous roar. He, too, was in shock. He hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point, let alone to the point of blood being drawn. Watching Jiwook’s feral outburst made him wonder if he’d made a mistake. But still… Kim Suhyeok swallowed nervously and replied hastily.

“You just have to endure this for a little while, right? Huh?”

“What?!”

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! Please… I just wanted to help you. I thought… instead of staying there, if you just did this once—”

“That’s right. If you’d just close your eyes and let it happen once, this whole thing would be over. Why are you making such a fuss?”

“Hah… Haha… Hahaha… Wow, you sons of bitches…”

This world was full of lunatics. Was it better to remain bound to Park Juyeon, living a subhuman existence, or to be raped by Lee Sangjin? The choice should have been Jiwook’s to make, but here he was, forced into these options without any say. Being told to spread his legs under these circumstances was utterly absurd.

“Kim Suhyeok… who the hell do you think you are…!”

“In exchange for helping, I promised not to care if you let me do it just once. Just have sex once and forget about it. Right? That’s better. I want to help you!”

“You’re the worst asshole. Fuck, you saw how I was treated by this guy. You took pictures and everything, so what are you going to do about it? Were you lying when you said you were sorry to me?!”

“Go ahead and make a melodrama, the two of you. Just talk it out between yourselves.”

I’ll take care of it myself, Lee Sangjin muttered. Licking the blood clotted on the nape of his neck, he stripped off Kwon Jiwook’s pants. As expected, sexual contact was much more effective than mindless punching. This body responded appropriately to even the slightest explicit stimulation. Although his body trembled, he didn’t dare resist, probably because he had been beaten up for standing up for himself before. He was Park Juyeon’s dog, not Pavlov’s.

“Please, don’t do this… Just go away…!”

“Good. That’s right. I prefer doing something to being quiet, so try to resist. Let’s have some fun for the first time in a while.”

“Ugh, kuh…”

“You must have missed my cock too, huh? Wow, fuck. No panties? You were prepared to show me, weren’t you.”

Kim Suhyeok, unaccustomed to such explicit language, gasped. That reaction made Kwon Jiwook even more humiliated. With his now-free hand, he tried to push Lee Sangjin’s shoulder away, but the heavy body didn’t budge even with his knuckles turning white from the effort. Only his weakened muscles trembled.

“Seeing you up close like this, our Jiwook is even cuter.”

“Fuck you, asshole…”

“Your mouth is still so foul. But your pussy is all ready.”

The sight of his face so close made me want to puke. The hand that had been slithering around down there moved to the valley between his buttocks. Two thick fingers circled the hole before suddenly plunging in all the way to the base. Kwon Jiwook’s hips jerked, but there was no sign of pain. It was definitely different from the past. The brutal tightness was gone, leaving only a loosely gaping hole.

He wiggled the two inserted fingers around. Stimulating one spot persistently made his lower body throb lewdly, as if it were fully functioning as a sexual organ. Could this even be called an excretory organ anymore? How much had he been fucked to change like this? Lee Sangjin laughed in disbelief.

“Two fingers are nothing to you, huh? You don’t even feel pain. You’re completely ruined.”

“This, this can’t be happening… ugh, ugh…”

Kwon Jiwook still clung to Lee Sangjin’s shoulder, hanging his head low. His wide-open eyes stared at the floor as if he couldn’t believe reality. The reason his buttocks trembled with every careless movement of the fingers was because his body had learned that whenever something entered his hole, an overwhelming pleasure would follow. Lee Sangjin’s knee suddenly pushed between his vaguely spread legs, pinning him like he was trapped between a wall and a body.

“Suhyeok hyung. Come closer, hyung. You’ve only seen this in videos.”

“…! No, don’t come. Don’t come!”

“Come over here. Come and try it once. Men’s assholes aren’t usually like this, but this bitch is really different.”

Kwon Jiwook reached down and desperately felt the wall, screaming in a shrill voice. Kim Suhyeok couldn’t bear to watch the scene unfolding before him. The reality of someone being raped right in front of him was unbelievable. His chest pounded uncomfortably. Suddenly, he felt like crying. The fact that he was involved in this, no, that he had planned this, made him shiver in fear.

Meeting Lee Sangjin’s eyes made him break out in a cold sweat. Those were the eyes of a man pursuing pleasure without reason. It was as if he was beckoning the observer to join in the act instinctively. Kim Suhyeok, filled with fear, was about to step towards them as if possessed. That’s when it happened.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Kim Suhyeok snapped to attention, looking at the front door as if waking from a dream. At first, he thought he might have heard wrong. A cold sweat broke out for a different reason. No one should be visiting at this hour.

“…….”

Considering the possibilities, his breath stopped as if he were frozen. He wasn’t the only one who heard the knock. Lee Sangjin, who was about to push his cock into the hole, frowned and looked up. There was a faint murmur in the hallway.

Knock, knock, knock. The ominous knocking sound rang out again, and suddenly a man raised his voice loudly and noisily. Soon, the front door rattled violently. Someone outside seemed to be kicking the door repeatedly. The metal door visibly dented under the continuous strong force.

They were just about to penetrate. Lee Sangjin was about to enjoy the ripe hole when he was interrupted. He tried to ignore it, but the loud banging was too disturbing. Lee Sangjin pushed Kwon Jiwook’s body away and approached the door.

“Whoever it is, they’re fucking rude…”

Despite his words, he seemed to have an idea of who it was. Kim Suhyeok’s urgent voice rang out loudly.

“Lee Sangjin! Don’t open it!”

“Oh, but I already did.”

Lee Sangjin had no intention of listening to him. He pressed the door lock button and turned to Kim Suhyeok with a smirk. The door slowly opened, revealing two familiar faces in the gap. Kwon Jiwook, still dazed by the sudden situation, slowly widened his eyes.

“What the fuck were you doing inside that you’re reacting so slow, asshole.”

“Why are you here already? Fuck, we hadn’t even started yet. Ah…”

Amidst the smoke, the intruders entered noisily. Among them was a face very familiar and frightening to Kwon Jiwook. It was a face he had seen just a few hours ago. Now, it was cold and sunken, exuding a sinister aura.

“Park Juyeon. You must be happy?”

“Why.”

“That bastard almost got fucked by the guys you hate. Good thing we came before that. Anyway, keep a better eye on your whore.”

“Is that so. ……Whatever.”

A dark gaze, fiery yet coldly sharp, slowly turned to Kwon Jiwook, whose lower body was exposed.

“This time, I plan to roll with him, so don’t worry unnecessarily.”

Lee Woojin shrugged. His nonchalant eyebrow raise was identical to his younger brother’s. He then looked at his brother with disappointment and said:

“Huh… I thought you were asking useless questions for no reason, but you were planning to use it for this? Is this fun? This kind of thing?”

“No, I didn’t know Hyung was this serious about this asshole. If I had known, Suhyeok hyung would never have contacted you!”

Lee Woojin, initially taken aback by the resentful tone, eventually laughed and squatted in front of Kwon Jiwook. Kwon Jiwook still seemed dazed, his lips barely moving as if he had stopped thinking altogether.

Gently stroking Kwon Jiwook’s delicate eyes, Lee Woojin suddenly grabbed his bare legs and spread them apart. He pressed the lit cigarette against the tender inner thigh, filling the room with a horrifying scream and the smell of burning flesh. Kwon Jiwook thrashed and tried to escape, but Lee Woojin held him firmly until the smell of burning skin filled the air. Kwon Jiwook’s legs trembled violently; he had done this to others but never experienced it himself. Lee Woojin smirked and stood up.

“It’s not me; it’s Park Juyeon who is serious. Let’s go.”

“No, fuck, I was about to fuck him first. You barged in and ruined it, and now you’re talking shit. Can’t you see I’m fucking hard?”

The complaint was thoughtless. Park Juyeon’s gaze, which had been fixed on Kwon Jiwook, suddenly turned to Lee Sangjin. The grumbling stopped as soon as it met Park Juyeon’s cold, dark eyes. After all, Park Juyeon had released the dog he had been keeping, so he wasn’t entirely blameless.

“Get out,” Park Juyeon muttered softly, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. Lee Woojin shook his head and dragged Lee Sangjin out. The priority now was not to interfere with him.

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Lee Woojin grabbed his brother’s shoulders and spoke seriously:

“I’m telling you this just in case… Don’t mess with Juyeon and just live quietly. He’s not as simple as you think.”

“Why do you grovel to that asshole? Kwon Jiwook looks scarier.”

How to explain? Lee Woojin scratched his head. His brother, though not as bad as Kwon Jiwook, was also quite reckless, so he had to resort to vague old memories.

“Do you remember when Hyung almost got fucked up?”

“Yeah. The scouting thing that almost ruined you?”

“Yeah, when I messed with the wrong civilian and almost got kicked out by the hyungs.”

“I remember. You were shaking every day. You said you won the fight but your life was ruined. It was hilarious…”

Lee Sangjin stopped talking, looking like a person stuck in a buffering loop. After a moment of searching his memory, he exclaimed in shock:

“Wow, that guy who saved you with money was him?! Is he that rich?”

“It’s not just money. There’s more to it. I taught him how to fight, made him exercise, did all sorts of crazy shit to raise him.”

“…….”

“But now, that miserable task is finally over.”

If my brother says this much, there’s nothing I can do. The fact that Lee Woojin, who is under a gang, personally taught Park Juyeon means his body must be well-trained. However, thinking about his elegant appearance made Lee Sangjin smack his lips in regret.

If you’ve lived quietly without attracting attention or have been very lucky, you probably won’t experience having your flesh crushed or your bones shattered by someone’s fist. That was the case with Kim Suhyeok. He had never been hit before ending up in the hospital. He lived quietly, but he was also not particularly unlucky. At least, that’s what he thought until now.

“Ugh, cough…”

Blood gushed from his nose as his head drooped weakly. His face was already numb. Kim Suhyeok could barely feel his whole body burning up. His head was spinning so much that he could hardly meet the gaze of the demon-like figure in front of him.

“I should have… dealt with you from the moment I first saw you.”

Park Juyeon’s mouth twisted. Even after grabbing Kim Suhyeok’s hair and slamming his head against the wall several times, he wasn’t satisfied. At first, he thought Kim Suhyeok was just someone jealous of Kwon Jiwook. He shouldn’t have dismissed it like that. He had underestimated how much people could be drawn to Kwon Jiwook. After all, he himself was one of the moths drawn to that flame, and he had forgotten that.

“I was going to let it go if you just stayed still. Why did you keep buzzing around me? Huh? You didn’t think it would come to this? Did you really think you wouldn’t get caught?”