EMP Chapter 24

“Are you coming or not?”

“…….”

Kwon Jiwook, with a confident expression, looked at Park Juyeon and asked. His tone seemed to openly challenge: How could you dare not come? It was only natural for Park Juyeon to feel intimidated.

“……I’ll come…….”

“Wow! Park Juyeon listens to Kwon Jiwook so well!”

“See that? That’s my power, you idiots.”

“But doesn’t Jiwook Hyung’s mom say anything about this?”

“What could she say? Screw it, I live however I want. What’s she gonna do about it?”

Park Juyeon let out a sigh mixed with a laugh. It was true that he had a soft spot for Kwon Jiwook, so perhaps the claim about Jiwook’s “power” was half true. Still, he chose to ignore the fact that Kwon Jiwook was inherently skilled at applying psychological pressure.

Yes, that was it. Faced with the rather tricky matter of staying out overnight—a challenging issue for a middle schooler—Park Juyeon was currently in escapism mode. When people are under extreme stress or reach a crisis point, they sometimes just give up and let things happen as they will. That was exactly Park Juyeon’s situation. Feeling resigned, he nodded and chuckled in defeat.

Park Juyeon’s mother, Park Yewon, regularly took medication after dinner, which caused her to fall asleep before 10 PM. This made it the perfect time to slip out unnoticed. That evening, Park Juyeon stayed holed up in his room, glued to his phone, waiting for her to fall asleep. His phone was practically overheating from all the messages asking when he could come.

“…….”

After a long while, the sound of the living room lights being turned off reached his ears. Peeking through the crack of his door, Park Juyeon saw the hallway quiet and dim.

I’m not hurting anyone, but sneaking around like this makes me feel like a terrible son. He scratched his cheek at the sudden pang of guilt. Once he was sure Park Yewon was asleep, he began to move stealthily, like a cat. As he padded softly across the dark hallway, he murmured under his breath, “Mom, I’m sorry.”

When he reached the designated meeting spot and texted to announce his arrival, a reply with the door code came almost immediately. As soon as he opened the door and stepped inside, the chaos before him made him blink in astonishment. Snack wrappers and leftovers were scattered across the floor, and several empty liquor bottles were strewn about. Whoever cleans this up is going to have a hard time, he thought as he carefully navigated through the mess, looking for Kwon Jiwook.

The noise inside was loud enough to make him question the building’s soundproofing. The faint smell of alcohol from the earlier messages now made sense—everyone here was clearly drunk. They had likely badgered Park Juyeon to come over while already inebriated. Feeling awkward, he cautiously scanned the room until he spotted Kwon Jiwook and scurried over.

“You’re here?”

“You guys are really something else…….”

Kwon Jiwook’s face was unusually flushed, and his eyes seemed slightly unfocused. He clearly wasn’t in a completely sober state, prompting Park Juyeon to frown slightly.

Just then, one of the half-dozen people sprawled drunkenly around the room noticed Park Juyeon and beckoned him over with a slurred voice. Though this person usually wasn’t so assertive, their behavior made sense when Park Juyeon realized they were the host for the evening.

“Hey, Park Juyeon. Do you think Hyungs’ words are a joke? Why are you so late, huh?”

“Sorry. I had my reasons.”

It wasn’t a particularly serious remark. That’s why Park Juyeon laughed along and bantered lightly before sitting down. The seat happened to be next to Kwon Jiwook’s.

At that moment, the host of the gathering picked up a beer glass lying on the floor and suddenly began pouring soju into it. Park Juyeon’s eyes widened in shock as he watched.

“If you’re late, you’ve got to drink. Right?”

“All… all of this?”

“Yeah. Hurry up and take it. My arm’s going to fall off.”

“…….”

A groan escaped involuntarily from deep in his throat. Park Juyeon wasn’t a fan of alcohol, so he could only look at the concoction with a weary expression. Hoping someone would intervene, he glanced at Kwon Jiwook. But instead of helping, Jiwook rested his chin on his hand and watched him intently, eyes gleaming with interest. His look said it all: Come on, drink it.

“Drink it! Drink it!”
Even the ones who had been lying around like zombies suddenly sat up, chanting for him to drink. They had finally found their chance to force alcohol on Park Juyeon, who usually stopped at one or two sips before bowing out.

“…….”

Why are they so eager to see me drink? It’s all just alcohol anyway. Does it really matter how I drink it? Such thoughts passed through his mind, oblivious to the fact that chugging this much alcohol would only accelerate intoxication. Carefully, he lifted the glass to avoid spilling any, and, succumbing to the pressure, began gulping it down.

It was his first time drinking such a large amount in one go. His throat burned, his nose stung sharply, and, above all, it tasted terrible. Somehow, he managed to finish it. As he set the glass down, dizziness washed over him.

“Ha…”

“Wow! Damn, you actually drank it all. You’re better than those guys.”

The boy who had handed him the glass laughed heartily, clearly proud of himself. Heat flushed Park Juyeon’s face as he wiped his mouth, forcing a smile. That was probably the last thing he did while still somewhat sober.

As the alcohol hit him hard, Park Juyeon quickly lost his composure, swaying and slurring. He clung to anyone nearby, calling them “Hyung” and showering them with aegyo and flattery. He clumsily reached for snacks, only to drop them repeatedly. His antics seemed adorable to the others, who kept refilling his glass without pause. And, of course, Park Juyeon didn’t refuse.

The others, already heavily drunk, eventually passed out one by one. As the room fell into silence, Park Juyeon, thoroughly intoxicated and unable to hold his liquor any longer, had to rush to the bathroom to throw up. Fortunately, he managed to crawl to the toilet in time, avoiding a disaster on the floor.

“Ugh… huh… ugh…!”

After vomiting multiple times, only liquid came up. He realized he’d barely eaten any snacks. Every time he buried his face in the toilet, dry heaves racked his body. Exhausted, he slumped against the toilet lid, his cheek pressed against it.

“Ugh…”

His drained body refused to cooperate, and his eyelids grew heavier. But Park Juyeon had a goal: to sneak back home by dawn. Falling asleep here was not an option… or so he thought. But alcohol has a way of betraying even the strongest resolve.

Just as his eyes closed and he was about to pass out, a familiar voice echoed in the bathroom.

“Until I met you, I didn’t know it was possible to call someone truly pathetic.”

“Uh… Jiwook Hyung…”

“I was watching to see how much you’d drink, but I didn’t expect you to down everything handed to you.”

“When did you get… h-hold on a sec… ugh!”

Park Juyeon waved his hand frantically in the air, cutting off Kwon Jiwook mid-sentence. He was sorry, but resolving his physiological crisis took priority. As nausea surged again, he buried his face in the toilet and threw up. Even after emptying his stomach, the fact that there was more to vomit amazed him.

The sound of the toilet flushing echoed. Only then did Park Juyeon lift his head to look at Kwon Jiwook. He sighed wearily, only to realize the stench of alcohol clung to his breath, which triggered another wave of dry heaves. He barely managed to suppress it.

“Hyung… I’m so dizzy, I feel like I’m going to die…”

“Don’t exaggerate. You’re not dead, are you? Get up. Rinse your mouth and get some fresh air.”

Kwon Jiwook helped the pale-faced Park Juyeon to his feet and guided him to the sink. Supporting him to keep his balance, he let Park Juyeon wash his face and rinse his mouth. He seemed to be regaining his composure—on the surface, at least. Internally, Park Juyeon’s vision was still spinning.

By contrast, Kwon Jiwook looked much steadier than when Park Juyeon had first arrived. When asked why he seemed unaffected, he replied that he’d paced himself earlier in the evening. Park Juyeon nodded weakly. So he drank a lot before I got here.

“You idiot. That’s why you should’ve started drinking earlier. How do you expect to build your tolerance if you always dodge it?”

“…Ugh…”

“Put some strength in your legs.”

Kwon Jiwook grabbed Park Juyeon’s shoulder firmly and helped him walk. Deciding that some fresh air might help, he steered him toward the balcony. Every time Park Juyeon wobbled, Jiwook steadied him and made sure he didn’t trip over the bodies sprawled on the floor. Even in his hazy state, Park Juyeon felt tense, worried he might accidentally step on someone.

Though the season was warming up, the night air was still cold. As the cool breeze hit him, Park Juyeon felt slightly more alert. However, his stomach churned and his vision wavered, so he slumped over the balcony railing, looking much like laundry hung out to dry.

Meanwhile, Kwon Jiwook lit a cigarette. A sudden impulse struck Park Juyeon. He watched Jiwook with unfocused eyes, then waved his hand feebly. Noticing the movement, Jiwook glanced over, cigarette between his lips.

Seeing Juyeon’s pale hand flopping weakly in the air, he smirked, grabbed Juyeon’s fingertips, gave them a playful shake, and let go. But Juyeon didn’t stop. He continued gesturing insistently.

“What?”

Juyeon’s gaze was fixed on Jiwook’s lips. With a doubtful expression, Jiwook pointed to the cigarette in his mouth. Juyeon nodded eagerly. This kid’s really lost it now, Jiwook thought, scratching his head. Still, he handed Juyeon the cigarette. When it was just the two of them, Jiwook tended to be much more lenient.

Having grown accustomed to the smell of cigarettes around this crowd, Juyeon figured, Why not try it once? It was a reckless idea born of intoxication.

“…Cough, cough, hack…”

“You can’t even smoke, so what the hell are you trying to prove?”

The sharp, acrid smoke hit his lungs, forcing Juyeon into a fit of coughing. Eyes watering, he handed the cigarette back to Jiwook with a defeated look.

“Uh… Here.”

“Doesn’t even look like you smoked it. Why’d you ask for it in the first place?”

“…”

Finally regaining some composure, Park Juyeon slowly slid down from where he had been leaning and crouched, resting his forehead against the railing. His small hands clung tightly to the metal bar. His vision was still too unfocused, so he closed his eyes slightly to soothe his swirling head.

This was an indirect kiss.

A warm breath escaped through his lips. The whole world felt like it was spinning out of control. His chest continued to churn, and keeping his eyes closed felt like the only way to handle it. Park Juyeon stayed still, as if frozen in time.

“…You…”

The voice that broke the silence carried an odd tinge of bewilderment. Even silence changes the atmosphere, and this one was markedly different. The earlier calm of a peaceful early summer night had been replaced by a tension so palpable it was suffocating.

Park Juyeon slowly opened his eyes. That thought just now… Did I say that out loud?

“Hyung.”

“For fuck’s sake, don’t say stuff like that with a face like yours. You’re gonna make me think you’re actually gay.”

Park Juyeon jerked his head up, his lips parting in surprise.

“Wait a second, Hyung—”

“…”

“I, Hyung—”

“Shut up.”

Park Juyeon, his face flushed from the alcohol, kept his dazed gaze fixed on Kwon Jiwook. But the person he was looking at refused to meet his eyes. The playful warmth from earlier, the fleeting touch on his fingers—those moments now felt like distant, hazy dreams.

Park Juyeon’s mouth opened as if to say something, but Kwon Jiwook spoke first.

“…I’m heading in. Just cool off and sleep.”

“Jiwook Hyung.”

“Just think of it as a mistake and let it go. Now go to sleep.”

Kwon Jiwook’s voice was curt, almost biting. It was a clear signal he didn’t want to continue the conversation. But Park Juyeon knew that if he didn’t speak now, he might never get the chance. Driven by the alcohol loosening his tongue, he spoke softly but with a clarity that cut through the tension.

“I like you, Hyung.”

Kwon Jiwook, who had been on the verge of heading back inside, froze. Slowly, he turned to face Park Juyeon.

The hazy veil of drunkenness that had clouded Juyeon’s mind lifted, and his vision cleared. For the first time, he could see Kwon Jiwook’s expression without distortion.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Are you a goddamn homo?”

The look on Kwon Jiwook’s face wasn’t just shocked—it was full of disgust. It shattered the “kindness” Juyeon had foolishly attributed to him, breaking the illusion completely.

He didn’t even need to do anything; the alcohol-induced warmth in Juyeon’s body vanished in an instant.

What… what did I just say?

This was an undeniable mistake. Park Juyeon stared wide-eyed, covering his mouth with both hands. Neither Kwon Jiwook nor Park Juyeon could think of anything to say in such a situation. The heart that had always fluttered joyfully whenever he faced Kwon Jiwook now felt like it had frozen over.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Park Juyeon, who had been standing frozen like a statue, suddenly leapt to his feet. He pushed past Kwon Jiwook, who was blocking the space between the balcony and the living room, and bolted out of there in an instant.

Thud! A loud noise echoed. He caused as much commotion as possible as he fled the house in a hurry. Bang! The front door slammed shut behind him, but the building remained steeped in silence. It was only after reaching the parking lot that he stopped to catch his breath, glancing back over his shoulder. He felt like a misplaced stone that had rolled free after being wedged improperly.

His legs, suddenly relieved of their tension, wobbled. He couldn’t get Kwon Jiwook’s expression out of his mind—the look he had seen in that last moment. The way his eyes had swept over him, filled with disdain, as if looking at something revolting. Park Juyeon had been left speechless in the face of that contemptuous gaze.

Walking aimlessly down the darkened street, his head throbbed, and his body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton. At some point, tears began to well up. It was probably the alcohol’s fault.

“Ugh…”

Why had he done it? Why hadn’t he resisted the urge? No matter how much he blamed himself, it was water under the bridge. He hadn’t meant for things to end up like this. In fact, he hadn’t even known those words would leave his mouth. The saying that alcohol was the enemy wasn’t unfounded.

“Then why were you so nice to me, Hyung…?”

Why did you care about me? Why did you look after me?

Wiping his tear-streaked face with trembling fingers, Park Juyeon sniffled. His soft voice trembled mournfully. Now that he was finally facing reality, memories he had denied came rushing back, like old film reels playing in his mind. The way Kwon Jiwook’s expression hardened whenever they interacted. His disgusted reaction to words like “homo” or “gay.” The stark contrast between Kwon Jiwook, who was overly conscious of others’ opinions, and Park Juyeon, who had placed him at the center of his world.

But it didn’t matter anymore. There would be no second chance to face him, so such thoughts were meaningless. As another sob broke through, Park Juyeon bit down hard on his lower lip. His first love, at just fourteen, had ended before it could even begin.

This was truly the end.

* * *

The version of himself that had chased after Kwon Jiwook for so long wasn’t going to disappear overnight. Park Juyeon had to force himself not to go up to the rooftop during lunch breaks and had to fight to keep memories of that night at bay.

“…”

Though he was still technically part of the group, Park Juyeon now kept to himself, draped in the hollow label of a delinquent. No one dared bother him, even as he spent entire class periods slumped over his desk, drained of energy. In truth, he wished someone would talk to him. As he lay with his head on the desk, staring listlessly at the blue sky outside the window, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Juyeon-ah.”

A hesitant hand gently tapped his shoulder. Park Juyeon slowly straightened up, his movements sluggish. When he looked up to see who it was, he found a classmate with glasses and a kind demeanor, nervously fiddling as they spoke.

“Uh, there’s a third-year hyung looking for you.”

“…Really?”

Park Juyeon offered a pale smile, pressing his fingertips to his puffy eyelids. He’d thought no one would seek him out since he’d been nothing more than an outsider forced into their circle. It was unexpected. Even so, he wasn’t ready—his heart was still far from settled. For now, he didn’t want to see Kwon Jiwook or anyone connected to him.

And he was terrified that others might react the same way as Kwon Jiwook. In hindsight, he had been far too naive. It wasn’t normal to take teasing remarks like, “Are you two dating?” so seriously.

“Could you tell them I’m not here?”

“Uh, okay.”

Thanks. Park Juyeon curved his eyes into a smile—a habit by now. After sending his friend off, he slumped back onto the desk. Moments later, a familiar voice echoed from afar.

“I can see you sitting right there. And you expect me to believe you’re not here? Seriously?”

“Well, um…”

“You think I’m joking around, don’t you?”

The voice he had longed to hear was now angrily growling at someone else. Still lying down, Park Juyeon hesitated. He didn’t have the courage to face Kwon Jiwook, but he also didn’t want an innocent student to get caught in the crossfire.

The decision didn’t take long. From an objective standpoint, Kwon Jiwook seemed like the type to actually throw a punch. Park Juyeon slowly got up and made his way toward the back door.

“Honestly, I ought to just—”

“Hyung.”

The raised hand of Kwon Jiwook froze at the familiar call. He turned his head, and though he had been loudly demanding to see Park Juyeon moments earlier, his expression was now unnervingly calm—closer to cold than composed.

“Well, Park Juyeon. You’ve been going out of your way to avoid me, huh?”

“I thought I was making you uncomfortable, Hyung…”

“Gee, what gave you that idea?”

Still, it was a face he hadn’t seen in a while. Still as good-looking as ever, Park Juyeon thought. He felt an odd joy just from seeing Kwon Jiwook again. But at the same time, he couldn’t shake the memory of the disgusted look he’d received before. He couldn’t let his emotions show.

“Hey. I never gave you my answer back then, did I?”

But something was strange. To Park Juyeon, Kwon Jiwook’s expression seemed… complicated. Though it was technically blank, there was an odd mix of tension and excitement in his eyes—like a mischievous child on the verge of playing a prank, or a kid who had just found a new toy.

Why? Park Juyeon felt a surge of frustration. He must have forgotten about that day or brushed it off as a joke. But no matter what, how could he toy with someone’s feelings like this? As Park Juyeon’s face gradually hardened, Kwon Jiwook smirked, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him out of the classroom.

“Come with me.”

“Hyung, wait. Class is about to start.”

“So what?”

“Where are we going? Where are you taking me?”

“You’re seriously loud. Can’t you shut up for a second?”

Kwon Jiwook didn’t stop chuckling, as if he found Park Juyeon’s anxious demeanor utterly amusing. That was when Park Juyeon felt for the first time that something was definitely different. He dug his heels into the ground.

“I’m not going.”

“What?”

“I’m not going. Let go.”

Kwon Jiwook let out a dry laugh, his lively expression as vivid as ever, reminiscent of a child’s. That very expression filled Park Juyeon with unease. The gleam of curiosity in Kwon Jiwook’s eyes, fixed intently on him, made him feel small and vulnerable. As Park Juyeon not only stopped walking but began to shuffle backward, Kwon Jiwook tightened his grip on his wrist and growled.

“Hey, you brat. Who do you think you are to decide if we’re going or not? What’s with the fear? You don’t even know where we’re going.”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you to tell me. Is that so hard?”

“You know you’re being really rude right now, don’t you?”

“…”

“What’s wrong, Juyeon? Didn’t you say you liked me? Is that how you talk to someone you like? You’re hurting my feelings, you know.”

“…What?”

Park Juyeon’s eyes widened. He couldn’t comprehend why those words were coming up now. The tender feelings he’d drunkenly confessed had turned into daggers aimed at him. That wasn’t why he’d said those things. He hadn’t shared his feelings just to have them treated so lightly. His slightly parted lips trembled, and shallow, unsteady breaths escaped him.

“Then… does Hyung think it’s okay to treat someone who likes you like this?”

“Listening to you, someone might think I hit you or something. Huh? What’s with you?”

Park Juyeon couldn’t say a word. His pale, desolate face lowered as he bit his lower lip hard. How could someone change their attitude so easily, like flipping a switch? His mind was a chaotic mess.

That’s right. This is who he really is. This is who he’s always been. I was just fooling myself.

Kwon Jiwook stared leisurely at him, then abruptly yanked his arm and started walking again. Park Juyeon, now drained even from that brief exchange, let himself be dragged along, his words stuck in his throat.

The place they arrived at was secluded yet familiar—a storage shed they often visited with their group. It was a dingy, dusty gym equipment shed, sparsely filled with old mats. The musty and oppressive air of the place only added to the unease. As they reached the entrance, Park Juyeon stopped in his tracks and looked up at Kwon Jiwook, who began speaking as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Hey, Juyeon. After what you said, I asked around about this stuff… and man, it’s fascinating.”

“…What is?”

“They say gay guys have sex through their butts.”

Park Juyeon stared blankly at Kwon Jiwook, his expression slowly twisting. Then, as if realizing something instinctively, he flinched and tried to back away, but Kwon Jiwook’s grip held him firmly. He leaned in, his face inches away, menacingly close. Park Juyeon couldn’t escape and shrank into himself, his wide-open eyes quivering with fear.

“Is it true? Answer me. You’re gay, aren’t you?”

“I-I don’t know anything about that!”

“Don’t give me that. A guy who looks like you is still a virgin? That’s even harder to believe. Stop lying, will you?”

“Jiwook Hyung, wait—ugh!”

Kwon Jiwook shoved Park Juyeon through the half-open door of the storage shed. As Park Juyeon tumbled to the floor and tried to crawl backward in panic, Kwon Jiwook swiftly climbed on top, gaining the upper hand. Even though the backlight obscured Jiwook’s face, the barely concealed vulgarity in his demeanor was unmistakable.

“Ha, damn… I should’ve known from the way you were all smiles and batting your eyes at me. How did you even hold back this long, wanting this with me?”

“Hyung, this isn’t right… this isn’t…”

“Why are you acting like you hate it? You know I’m good at this, don’t you? I’ll do it for you. If someone you like offers, you should be grateful and just spread them wide.”

“I don’t want to! Hyung, I don’t want this! This is—ugh!”

“Wow… haha. Actually thinking about it now, I’m getting a little queasy. Not sure if I can even go through with it.”

Muttering to himself, Kwon Jiwook pressed his lips against Park Juyeon’s collarbone. Despite everything, Juyeon knew he still hadn’t let go of his feelings for Jiwook. He still liked him. But this… this was something else. Did Jiwook not understand how such reckless actions could shred someone’s mind to pieces, especially when it came from someone they loved?

From the spot where their skin made contact, a wave of revulsion coursed through Juyeon’s body. Overwhelmed by instinctive fear, he let out a piercing scream. Annoyed by the sound, Jiwook clamped a large hand over Juyeon’s mouth. He began to trace his trembling body with deliberate touches, inching downward.

“Hey, you brats! What the hell are you doing in there?”

“…Ah, fuck…”

“…Ugh-!”

The voice of the student supervisor echoed from nearby. Kwon Jiwook muttered a curse under his breath. Clicking his tongue, he pressed his lips firmly against the delicate skin of Juyeon’s neck, sucking hard to leave an intentional mark before pulling away. It was a deliberate act to leave a bruise.

Park Juyeon lay sprawled, breathing heavily, his body curling into itself. He looked pitiful, his trembling frame emphasizing his vulnerability. Jiwook, however, seemed indifferent. Glancing briefly toward the noise outside, he said,

“Listen up and listen well. You said you liked me, didn’t you?”

“Hic… sob…”

“You didn’t like me without knowing I was this kind of person, did you?”

“Hyung… If you’re really like this, I… I won’t like you anymore. I’ll just stop. Please… I was wrong…”

“Take responsibility for what you said, huh? You come back here after school.”

“If you run, you’re dead.”

In an oddly nonchalant tone, Jiwook spat on the ground next to Juyeon’s face before striding out of the shed without a hint of hesitation. The cramped and musty space now felt vast and empty, with Juyeon left behind in its eerie silence. From outside, the muffled sound of the supervisor scolding Jiwook reached his ears. Juyeon wondered if the man had heard his scream.

Struggling to sit up, Juyeon’s shaky hands caught his attention. He clasped one hand over the other, trying desperately to calm himself. His vacant gaze wandered aimlessly through the air.

It had all happened so quickly. It barely felt real.

The class must have started long ago by now. Did he even need to go? What if he just went home instead? But Jiwook had made it clear—he was to return to the shed after school. Jiwook knew his phone number, his home phone, even his address. Juyeon doubted Jiwook would leave him alone.

Even so, he felt he had to get out of this place. But where could he go?

“……”

Even though Park Juyeon had managed to lift his upper body some time ago, his legs refused to move. They were as limp and powerless as his dazed expression. He couldn’t stop thinking about Kwon Jiwook’s hand that had covered his mouth. It had gripped his jaw so tightly it left his skin stinging, devoid of any gentleness.

Once, Kwon Jiwook had tousled his hair playfully, and other times, he’d poked Juyeon’s cheeks as a joke. But that same hand had changed in an instant. The touch that had tenderly teased him had morphed into something vile, groping him just moments before crossing the line. How could it change so completely? How could it become something worse than an insect crawling over his skin?

Ju Yeon had no idea how long he sat there in the aftermath, paralyzed by the overwhelming exhaustion. He didn’t want to go back. Crawling to the farthest corner of the storage shed, he leaned against the wall and sank to the floor. Dust from the mats stuck to his uniform, but he didn’t care. He sat there in that state, lost in thought.

It was around then that the noise outside started to grow. The storage door, nearly shut save for a small gap, creaked open slowly with an ear-splitting sound. The silhouettes of five or six figures, backlit by the sunlight, flickered at the entrance.

“Did Park Juyeon run off?”

“What do you mean, run? He’s not the type.”

“Wait, but seriously? Jiwook, you’re not lying, are you?”

“If I were bullshitting about something like this, I’d rather clock Lee Woojin in the back of the head again,” Kwon Jiwook said with a laugh, his tone dripping with mockery.

The sound of that laugh instantly dragged Park Juyeon back to the events of just a few hours ago. Curled up with his knees pulled to his chest, he flinched visibly. The sunlight streaming through the open door felt cruelly out of place.

“See? He’s right here.”

“Ugh, gross. He didn’t even run away.”

“Honestly, the way he looks at you always gave me the creeps.”

“Yeah, he’s always staring at Jiwook.”

Kwon Jiwook stomped confidently across the dusty mats, stopping right in front of Park Juyeon. At the sound of his footsteps, Juyeon slowly raised his head. The face he had once drawn in his dreams and admired in reality, so dazzlingly handsome, now bore a smile.

It was no longer the smile of an angel. It was the smile of a devil.

At Jiwook’s gesture, the boys closed in, encircling Juyeon. Each familiar face now seemed to carry the sneering expression of a devil. The storage shed, unchanged physically, began to feel like a blood-red hell. Even though there was nowhere left to retreat, Juyeon still instinctively tried to back away, stumbling and scrabbling at the floor.

“Hy-Hyung. Jiwook Hyung… I was wrong, I really was—”

“Did you know?” Jiwook said, cutting him off. “There are plenty of guys desperate to get it on with you.”

“Please, don’t do this. It’s scary… I’m scared…”

Feigning innocence, Jiwook widened his eyes as he looked down at Juyeon. Slowly, he crouched, bringing their faces closer together.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly. “You’re a homo, aren’t you? A little bottom boy who loves it when someone goes at you. That’s why I’m indulging you. So, what’s there to be scared of?”

“…Hyung…”

“Why? Do you hate it?”

As if he had been waiting for that question, Park Juyeon nodded, tears streaming down his face in sobs. His head, which he had barely managed to hold up, drooped again. Even expressing his emotions seemed like too much, and he wept uncontrollably, choking on his cries.

“I hate it. Please, Hyung, this is terrifying…”

At first muffled sobs, Park Juyeon’s crying grew louder, his tears falling like raindrops as he cried like a child.

“Hey, keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t try to run,” Kwon Jiwook muttered as he climbed back onto Juyeon’s body, just as he had earlier. Juyeon struggled harder, thrashing around, screaming, and eventually crying out in despair. In response, the other boys grabbed each of his limbs, pinning him down.

“Stop it! Please!”

“What’s the matter? You’re acting like we’re beating you up or something, huh?”

Initially tense when entering the classroom, Kwon Jiwook now seemed relaxed, as if confident everything was going his way. While he laughed openly, his lackeys still appeared hesitant and uncertain.

How could he laugh like that in the middle of all this? What was so amusing? Juyeon couldn’t understand.

After struggling for a while, he noticed something unfamiliar in front of him: a camcorder. His tear-filled, reddened eyes widened in shock. The running device was capturing every tiny movement in detail. Realizing what was happening, Juyeon swallowed dryly and stammered through his tears.

“Please… I-I was wrong. I won’t ever say I like you again. Just let me go, please. Stop this…”

“You can’t hate it that much,” Jiwook replied with a sneer. “All the girls who said they liked me had to film one of these, too. You’re not an exception just because you’re a guy. Hey, check this out. No, seriously, pay attention.”

He gestured to the others, who couldn’t look away from the crying, desperate Juyeon.

How are kids this young already like this? Jiwook thought, unable to suppress a smirk. This filthy homo had made him feel disgusted, though it was less about revulsion and more about the unfamiliar frustration he had experienced for the first time.

“Juyeon, how about a year? Just one year. Do everything I tell you to, and I’ll delete this and anything else we record.”

“Hyung… Please, can’t you just stop? Please…”

“If you keep interrupting me like that and ruining the mood, I’ll send it straight to your mom.”

“That’s… that’s not…”

The despair on Juyeon’s pretty face was more thrilling than any other he’d broken in the past. At the same time, it made Kwon Jiwook laugh under his breath. Even though Juyeon was the only boy among all the people who’d passed through his grasp, he found it disgusting that the thought of wanting to violate him crossed his mind.

This is what happens when you wag your tail like that, he thought bitterly.

It was best to handle dirty scandals like this discreetly. He couldn’t afford any noise about homos or anything else while expanding his influence and making connections. Above all, he found this entertaining.

Watching people who once pined for him grovel and beg at his feet was amusing. What better way to assert power than this? Jiwook, now properly seated atop Juyeon, laughed as he unbuttoned the boy’s shirt.

“Alright, let’s see how photogenic our Juyeon is.”

The boys holding Juyeon’s arms and legs hesitated briefly but ultimately followed their leader’s lead, prying into Juyeon’s uniform. Realizing that pleading would get him nowhere, Juyeon clenched his entire body and stifled his sobs. His tightly shut eyelids trembled.

At the start of summer, Park Juyeon was dragged into hell overnight. The stifling heat was the only thing anchoring him to the bitter reality.