USU Ch 6

Something warm and soft brushed lightly against my cheek. The ticklish sensation made me think it was a bug, so I swatted at it lazily. Then, a faint, breeze-like chuckle came from above. The light, playful sound gradually cleared my mind. It was a laugh I knew all too well. Seo Kijoon had somehow slipped into my place.

But I didn’t care much either way. My body felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton, and I was utterly exhausted. Even with my eyes closed, my vision felt bright, suggesting the sun had been up for a while, but I still wanted to linger in bed a bit longer.

After resting briefly at Seo Gihyun’s place yesterday, I’d headed straight to the café. The new manager’s solid experience was reassuring, but just to be safe, I went to check on the vibe of the place.

Of course, my physical condition was far from great. I’d had my first light play session with Seo Gihyun, and above all, I’d had sex two days in a row. And not just any sex—a massive cock with beads embedded in it had thoroughly ravaged my thighs and hole.

While at the café, I ended up helping at the counter during the weekend rush and got to chatting with Manager Lee Hayeon. That’s when Min Sua suddenly piped up from the side.

[It’s the manager’s first day. Aren’t we having a welcome party?]

If it hadn’t been for that comment, I would’ve gone straight home to rest my overworked body. But unfortunately, I couldn’t ignore it. How could I say no when she asked so eagerly right in front of Lee Hayeon, her eyes sparkling? Even Lee Hayeon, who usually seemed so composed, had a subtle glint of anticipation.

So, I stayed and helped with café tasks until closing. That’s the thing about being the owner. If I were just a part-timer or employee, I’d leave on time, but as the one in charge, I stayed until the end. If I hadn’t caught a brief nap at Seo Gihyun’s, I might’ve bolted halfway through.

By the time I got home, my body was a wreck. Drinking while exhausted didn’t help—my stomach felt off, and my head throbbed. The pain in my lower back and backside went without saying. I barely managed a shower before collapsing onto the bed and passing out. For once, I planned to sleep in.

But here was Seo Kijoon, showing up unannounced to pester me. I waved my hand in the air to shoo him away, but he just chuckled softly, poking my cheek or gently stroking it.

No matter how much I showed my annoyance, his teasing didn’t seem likely to stop. For some reason, Seo Kijoon loved it when I was limp and at his mercy, and judging by his amusement, he was clearly enjoying this moment. Which meant he had no intention of stopping.

I cracked my eyes open just a sliver, barely awake, and looked up. Seo Kijoon was gazing down at me, his eyes crinkling prettily.

“Sleep well?”

“Mm…”

Still groggy, my voice came out slurred, trailing off like a child’s. For whatever reason, Seo Kijoon’s eyes curved even more. So damn pretty it’s annoying…

I mumbled grumpily, “Why’re you here…”

He was standing tall by the bed, looking down at me, but then he bent one knee to meet my gaze. His handsome face came startlingly close. I must look like a mess right now… It was a bit embarrassing, but we’d known each other for years, so he’d seen me in worse states plenty of times.

Seo Kijoon propped his chin on one hand and ruffled my hair gently. His steady gaze made my insides tingle. Moments like this always made me feel like I was his lover.

“Get up, baby.”

“Go away. I’m sleeping more…”

“No way.”

When I whined, he answered firmly. That sparked a flicker of irritation. No way? I’m dying of sleepiness, so why’s he waking me up?

“I bought breakfast.”

That explained the faint rustling I’d heard. Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand, I turned my head. Seo Kijoon held up a white paper shopping bag.

“Let’s eat together.”

“You think I’d want to eat right after waking up…?”

I grumbled at his urging, but nothing changed. Instead, Seo Kijoon pulled me out from under the covers. He carefully slid a strong arm under my armpits, supporting me as I barely sat up. I let him help me move without protest.

He snickered, his voice dripping with mischief.

“Such a baby.”

“Shut up…”

I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to, so I wasn’t in the mood for teasing.

‘I shouldn’t have given him the passcode.’

Since we’d known each other for so long, Seo Kijoon and I had each other’s passcodes. To be more precise, since we usually hooked up at his apartment or my officetel, we’d shared them for convenience.

“Ugh…”

Anyway, with my low blood pressure making mornings sluggish, Seo Kijoon’s sudden appearance was less than welcome. Why’s this guy here so early…?

But there was definitely a comfort in knowing someone for so long. Seo Kijoon knew well that I struggled to snap out of it in the mornings.

Suddenly, he tapped the tip of my nose and asked, “What’re you thinking about?”

“…Huh?”

Lost in thought, I blinked slowly and looked ahead. While I was gradually coming to, Seo Kijoon had neatly set up breakfast. He’d warmed up the jangguk from the restaurant and transferred it into bowls from my place. He had a manager who oversaw his every move, but he still cooked his own meals. That made him surprisingly adept at preparing breakfast.

What he’d brought was a Korean meal set. The rectangular lunchbox was filled with neatly arranged, easy-to-digest foods. He often brought these when he showed up early at my place.

I stared at the lunchbox, inspecting the dishes. Today’s main side dish was grilled mackerel. It happened to be one of my favorites, so my appetite stirred. I usually ate lightly in the mornings, but mackerel was a different story.

“Let’s eat.”

“Sure thing.”

Seo Kijoon replied playfully from across the table.

The restaurant’s lunchbox had different side dishes every day. Once, it was full of things I didn’t like, so I told him to eat it himself. That must’ve scratched his lofty pride because we had a huge fight. He snapped about why I wouldn’t eat what he’d brought, and, feeling slighted, I shot back that I hadn’t asked him to bring it, so he shouldn’t force me.

In the heat of that argument, Seo Kijoon worked off his pent-up frustration through my body. I resisted fiercely, telling him to stop, but in the end, I was too busy wrapping my legs around his waist and feeling everything.

After that fiery sex, which felt like it could explode, I changed my passcode, and Seo Kijoon, busy with overseas recitals, didn’t contact me for a while.

Eventually, we made up, eating the lunchbox he brought over. Honestly, seeing him after so long melted away my lingering resentment. Since that big fight, whether by chance or not, the lunchboxes he brought never had side dishes I disliked.

After eating, Seo Kijoon sat on the living room sofa, scrolling through his phone, while I cleared the dishes. He’d bought the food and set it up while I was out of it, so cleaning up naturally fell to me.

Even after shaking off the water, my hands were still damp, so I carelessly wiped them on my pajama T-shirt as I headed to the bathroom. We weren’t strangers, but there was too little tension. Eating together in my pajamas, without even washing my face?

Suddenly, I recalled what Seo Gihyun had said yesterday.

[From what I saw, you were desperate to have him.]

I didn’t exactly doubt Seo Gihyun’s insight, but… maybe my first love had grown so old that I’d become numb to it? Or did I just want to stay friends forever without fear of losing him? I hadn’t felt the urge to date Seo Kijoon in recent years, which left me confused.

After brushing my teeth and returning, I found a deep red drink on my spot. I frowned.

“Beet juice again?”

“Drink it.”

Ever since he heard somewhere that beets were good for low blood pressure, Seo Kijoon had been bringing me beet juice now and then.

So annoying. If he was going to give it to me, why not before I brushed my teeth? Why right after? Both he and Seo Gihyun seemed to enjoy putting me in awkward spots.

Still, I was touched and grateful that Seo Kijoon thought of me, so I picked up the glass without complaint. I sat beside him, keeping a careful distance—close enough to almost touch, but not quite. A distance that hid my desire to touch him while satisfying my selfish urges.

“Ugh…”

The bitter taste of beets lingered in my mouth. I let out a groan and stuck out my tongue, and Seo Kijoon chuckled softly. I thought he was looking at his phone, but he’d been watching my reaction with just his eyes raised.

After finishing the beet juice, I rinsed my mouth with water and returned to the sofa. My mouth still tasted bitter.

“So, why’d you really come?”

Only then did he set his phone on the side table, turning toward me with a question.

“You don’t know, baby?”

“Huh?”

“You met up with Seo Gihyun alone yesterday.”

I blinked blankly at his words. He came to my place this early just for that? I studied his expression carefully. He loved teasing me, so I half-expected him to mock me, saying I’d already slept with Gihyun or that I was getting wild.

But contrary to my expectations, Seo Kijoon was silent. That was odd. When I stared at him, he just raised one eyebrow as if asking “What?” and stayed quiet.

Was he… bothered? Because I’d willingly slept with Seo Gihyun without his suggestion?

My heart started pounding loudly. This was a pretty good sign, wasn’t it? I’d never provoked Seo Kijoon like this before. He’d misunderstood that I had other fuck buddies like him, casually fooling around whenever I felt like it, but those were just illusions. We’d never openly discussed such topics in front of each other.

Maybe there was a sliver of possibility for me. Why else would he rush over first thing in the morning? And the first thing he mentioned was Seo Gihyun.

“…Why does that matter?”

I tried to keep my voice calm. Showing how excited I was wouldn’t do me any good. Seo Kijoon was a seasoned performer, used to standing before crowds worldwide, and just as skilled at hiding his true feelings. If I seemed too eager or acted differently, he might bury whatever emotions he was showing.

That’s just how he was. For ten years, consistently. In front of everyone, including me, he mixed what he liked and disliked, making it impossible to guess his tastes.

I’d heard from his manager that fans would flood him with unwanted gifts if they knew his preferences, so he deliberately acted ambiguously.

Being that kind of guy, he could easily hide his current feelings. If I reacted too noticeably now, he’d likely conceal the emotions he’d just revealed.

That’s when it happened. His fingers brushed the back of my hand as I was lost in thought. He was leaning lazily against the sofa’s backrest, giving me a sly smile. It was an utterly unreadable expression.

“…What’s up?”

Thanks to his blessed genes, Seo Kijoon had a natural charm that drew eyes without any effort. His bangs, covering his forehead, made him look unusually youthful today.

He grinned and asked, “Have fun with my brother?”

What fun would I have had with Seo Gihyun? We’d met for a threesome, not to hang out like friends. Seo Kijoon knew that better than anyone.

Yet he asked indirectly, “Hm? What’d you guys do?”

When I didn’t answer, he tapped my nape lightly. His fingers, used to dancing across piano keys, created a small rhythm. The memory of how he kissed my nape, how he moved while gripping it as he pushed deeper, flashed through my mind, heating my body.

‘Why’s he asking that?’

Seo Kijoon wrongly assumed I had a lot of experience with guys. The reason was simple—he lived a promiscuous lifestyle himself, so he projected that onto me. Plus, when he first suggested we hook up, I, having pined for him for so long, accepted without hesitation, which probably fueled his misunderstanding.

But we had an unspoken rule not to pry into each other’s other hookups. He’d jokingly ask if I’d slept with other guys, and when I was annoyed, I’d snap back to find his own fuck buddies, but that was it. We never interrogated each other about who we’d been with or when, nor did we make an issue of it. After all, we weren’t lovers—just fuck buddies. We didn’t have the right to pry.

But today felt off. Was it because it was his brother? Or maybe he was asking not about me but about Seo Gihyun. Their relationship didn’t seem bad, after all.

Whatever it was, the unusual atmosphere left me just moving my lips, unsure what to say. Seo Kijoon didn’t seem to expect an answer either, simply staring at my flustered face. What the hell.

That’s when it happened. The phone I’d placed on the side table buzzed. Needing an escape, I turned away from Seo Kijoon and picked it up.

[Thought about it?]

The message, blunt without even a greeting, was from none other than Seo Gihyun. I froze, and Seo Kijoon asked, “My brother?”

How’s this guy so perceptive? It’s a wonder he never noticed my feelings. It wasn’t something to hide, so I nodded.

“What’s he say?”

Since they even shared sex partners, I doubted Seo Gihyun would’ve hidden his kinks from his brother. So I answered casually, “He’s asking me to be his play partner.”

“Partner?”

“Yeah.”

“What’d you say?”

“What would I say…”

As if I’d just agree right away. I was about to say that, exasperated, when I caught sight of Seo Kijoon’s expressionless face.

‘What’s that…?’

He seemed subtly upset, but I brushed it off as no big deal. A guy who’d come over in the morning asking if I’d had fun with his brother wouldn’t suddenly get offended over the term “play partner.”

Still, seeing the excitement drain from his face made me a bit smug. Instead of answering, I fiddled with my phone.

“Why’d you stop talking?”

“Hm…”

Maybe it was my imagination, but Seo Kijoon looked a bit anxious. He was always the one looking down at me, so even if it was a mistake, I wanted to savor this fresh feeling a bit longer.

“I said I’d think about it.”

I hadn’t actually said that. His brother, of all people—it wasn’t even worth considering. Play partner? No way. I’d only have sex with Seo Kijoon from now on. I didn’t need anyone else.

“Sounds like my brother really likes you.”

Seo Kijoon muttered, still toying with my nape.

“Why not give it a try?”

“What?”

“Play partner.”

“…”

He was acting strange today. Showing up unannounced in the morning wasn’t new, but not meddling in each other’s hookups was our unspoken rule.

A peculiar silence followed. I didn’t respond, rolling the phone in my hands, while he persistently touched my nape.

Suddenly, a strange irritation twisted inside me. Why was he acting so out of character and unsettling me? If he was going to keep things light, he should stay light. He seemed bothered by my relationship with Seo Gihyun yet suggested I try being a play partner. There’s a limit to toying with someone.

My annoyance grew. His attitude made me feel fed up all over again. The quiet displeasure I’d been harboring sparked an impulse.

Fine. If Seo Kijoon had multiple fuck buddies, why couldn’t I be a bit reckless too? Unfortunately, even then, the partner was his brother, so I couldn’t fully escape his boundaries, which was a pity.

“Yeah, sure.”

“…”

“Now that I think about it, it might be fine. Whether I sleep with five or ten people, it’s all the same, right?”

My reply was a direct jab at Seo Kijoon. The pretty hand touching my nape pulled away abruptly. I smirked and sent a reply to Seo Gihyun.

[Yeah, let’s do it.]

I was opening my body, which only knew Seo Kijoon, to Seo Gihyun too. As he’d said, my body had responded to the spanking, so it wasn’t a bad deal for me.

After that, Seo Kijoon lingered at my officetel, killing time aimlessly. The TV blared endless variety shows. On the screen, people laughed their heads off, but neither of us joined in.

The uncomfortable silence stretched on. I glanced at Seo Kijoon out of the corner of my eye. His finely sculpted face came into view. When he smiled playfully, the crinkles around his eyes made him look boyish, but when he wore that blank expression, I’d shrink back, fearing his anger even when I’d done nothing wrong.

Under his well-groomed, thick eyebrows lay lush, long lashes and a sharp, straight nose. It was the same face as Seo Gihyun’s, yet it evoked entirely different feelings. The face I loved most in the world.

“Why’re you staring?”

Of course, he wasn’t watching the variety show either. It was just white noise to fill the suffocating silence. Seo Kijoon laughed easily, but he was stingy with it in front of things meant to make him laugh.

I must’ve stared too openly. I always tried to be careful, but today’s strange vibe made me slip up. I both feared and wanted Seo Kijoon to notice my feelings—a contradictory desire. Today, fear seemed to win out.

“You hate that stuff.”

I tried to sound casual. Pointing at the TV, I saw him look at me instead of the screen. The usual easy smile was nowhere to be seen.

“Wondered why you were watching it.”

“You weren’t watching either.”

Fair point, damn it.

With nothing to say, I clamped my mouth shut. I couldn’t say I was looking because I wanted to see him. If he asked why, I’d have no answer.

I rubbed the blunt edge of my thumbnail, pretending to watch the TV. It was a trivial question, so I figured I didn’t need to respond.

But today, his gaze on my profile stung. It was impossible to ignore. Embarrassment and flustered heat rose to my face against my will. In my peripheral vision, I saw Seo Kijoon reach toward me.

“…Hey.”

My heart pounded. Thinking about it, everything had been off lately. Bringing Seo Gihyun into this out of nowhere was already unusual. He wasn’t even here for sex, just wasting time by my side watching a show he didn’t care about.

His long, pretty fingers reached to grab my arm. Just then, my phone vibrated between us on the sofa. The cold friction sound saved me once again.

I grabbed the phone, pretending not to notice his hand almost touching me. I saw his outstretched fingers curl back, displeased.

Checking the message, I stood and asked, “You staying longer?”

I tried to sound calm, but my heart was still racing. What was Seo Kijoon about to say?

I was curious, yet not. Given the strange vibe between us today, I had a hunch it wouldn’t be anything good for me. I was always a coward in front of him. A huge one.

A question flickered in his deep, sunken eyes. He tilted his head slightly, looking utterly harmless and unguarded, nearly making me laugh.

“What?”

“I’m heading out. Don’t you have practice today?”

“Where you going?”

He didn’t answer my question, deflecting instead. So weird. Since when did he care about my plans?

“None of your business. Go practice.”

“Baby.”

As I turned toward the bedroom, Seo Kijoon stood, following me. His shadow loomed over me. Standing so close, I was keenly aware he was a full head taller. That might not sound like much, but it’s intimidating up close. I blinked up at him, an inexplicable tension making the ground feel distant.

Why’s he like this today? He placed a hand on my nape again. I’d recently cut my hair short, leaving it fully exposed. Taking after my mother’s side, my skin was unusually fair for a guy, especially since I hadn’t been outdoors much lately.

In middle school, I’d been teased for my pale skin—told I should change with the girls for gym. I beat them up, of course, but fair skin was never a point of pride for me. More like a flaw.

Seo Gihyun had said he’d send a car within twenty minutes. I could’ve taken a taxi, but rejecting it felt like a hassle, so I agreed. He’d been quiet when I accepted his offer, so his sudden request to meet was odd, but it seemed better than enduring the strange tension with Seo Kijoon.

I needed to get ready. I brushed Seo Kijoon’s hand off.

“Tickles.”

“…”

Too cold? I cleared my throat softly and added, “Say something if you need me.”

That softened his sharp gaze a bit. Unpredictable guy. If I could fully understand Seo Kijoon, I wouldn’t have teamed up with Seo Gihyun to get him.

He toyed with my nape again, his touch oddly persistent, like my neck was coated in honey.

He grinned, his eyes narrowing. The face I loved.

“Have fun.”

His hand, lingering on my nape, grazed my ear.

“Don’t think about me.”

＊＊＊

When someone tells you not to think of an elephant, you can’t help but picture one. He’d found a brilliant way to make me think of him even in his absence.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

I swallowed the question. If it wasn’t a big deal, asking might expose my feelings. I wanted him to know, but not in a vulnerable moment like this.

I wanted to confess only when everything was perfectly set, when I was sure Seo Kijoon felt the same—not recklessly, rendering years of hiding my feelings meaningless.

A black sedan was parked in front of my officetel. It wasn’t the car I’d seen Seo Gihyun drive recently, so I looked away, but someone stepped out of the driver’s seat. A person in a black suit approached me.

“Are you Yeo Eungyeom?”

“Yes.”

“This way, please.”

Following the tall man, I realized—someone like an LS Corporation executive director wouldn’t have just one car. And not just any executive—Seo Gihyun was the CEO’s son. Starting as an intern, he was likely to keep rising and inherit the top spot.

We headed to Seo Gihyun’s penthouse. The security was so tight you couldn’t just ride the elevator up. Yesterday, it was easy with the homeowner present, but today, with his staff, it required access cards and guard verification—quite a process.

“You’re here?”

Having been here once already dulled the shock, but the place was still staggeringly vast, echoing with his voice.

“Why do you keep summoning me?”

No explanation, just sending someone to fetch me after we’d hooked up the day before and the day before that. If he had any conscience, he wouldn’t call me again. Or at least come to my place himself.

I’d planned to rest all day, but these twins had me running around since morning. I hadn’t thought much of it when I left, but now I felt a bit wronged.

Taking my words as a petulant complaint, Seo Gihyun chuckled and countered, “Should I have gone to you?”

“…”

“I’d love to see where you live, Gyeom, but I figured you’d be uncomfortable. Invite me next time—I’ll come.”

As if he couldn’t talk his way out of anything. The mountain of papers on the table made it clear he couldn’t just up and leave. He was swamped with work even on a weekend.

I pursed my lips slightly and plopped onto the sofa.

“Want a drink?”

“No, I’m good. Why’d you call me?”

Surely not just to see my face out of boredom.

Then, Seo Gihyun slid a silver file folder toward me. I blinked. Not all those papers were work-related, it seemed. He was offering it for me to look at.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Following his prompt, I flipped open the folder. The top sheet was labeled “Contract.”

“Contract?”

I looked at him, silently asking for more explanation. He nodded toward the contract.

“Keep reading.”

That’s when I realized this contract was about the play Seo Gihyun had mentioned. It listed the duration, whether D/s was involved, aftercare methods, and more, but the focus was on the play itself.

The most important thing in professional life is to read contracts carefully. After skimming it once, I flipped back to the first page and began examining each clause closely.

The first thing that caught my eye was the duration.

“One month?”

“Why?”

“No… is there a reason you set it for one month? Why one month?”

Suddenly, I recalled what Seo Gihyun had said yesterday. He’d given two reasons for wanting me as a play partner: his public status made it hard to find partners openly, and the other…

[Your crying face was so pretty.]

[You cried so beautifully, it was totally my type.]

I hadn’t expected him to set such a short duration as “one month,” especially after what he’d said. Of course, thirty days could feel short to some and long to others, depending on perspective.

As if reading my mind, Seo Gihyun chuckled and asked, “Too short?”

“Huh?”

“Alright, let’s make it two months then. That okay?”

With that, he strode toward me. The scent of his cologne hit me sharply. Involuntarily, I recalled the moments we’d been intimate, and tension gripped me. I’d agreed to meet him to escape the uncomfortable silence with Seo Kijoon, but I’d forgotten that Seo Gihyun was just as unsettling in his own way. Both of them were impossible to read—what were they thinking? It was like fleeing a wolf only to stumble into a tiger’s den.

He sat beside me and suddenly toyed with my nape. A pretty smile curved the corners of his eyes.

By the way, why were both of them so fixated on my neck today?

“It left a nice mark.”

“Hm?”

I echoed his murmur, but he blatantly changed the subject.

“With your personality, I bet you haven’t slept with anyone besides Seo Kijoon.”

“…What’s wrong with my personality?”

“You’re upright. Pure-hearted, stubborn, a bit rigid… No?”

“…”

I couldn’t disagree, but having my inner self dissected after just a few days of knowing him didn’t sit well. It wasn’t just me—anyone would feel uneasy.

I held off on responding and countered, “So?”

“What I mean is, has someone like you ever properly tried SM play? Seo Kijoon’s the type who can’t stand anything but his own dick being involved.”

Seo Gihyun was right. Seo Kijoon had plenty of casual relationships, but he wanted complete focus on himself during them.

“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”

“I’m saying we should set boundaries for the play. It’s not just for you—this is standard for anyone engaging in play.”

Come to think of it, next to the yes/no checkboxes, “spanking” was listed. Below it were paddle, cane, crop, whip, vibrator, waxing, bondage play, neglect play, role play, and more, all neatly written out.

“It’s about feeling good, not torture. The safe word is similar—it’s about setting limits we can both enjoy.”

Hm, that made sense when he put it like that. But one question nagged at me.

“But I’ve never used a paddle or cane. How am I supposed to know my limits?”

Seo Gihyun looked at me with a gentle gaze, like a teacher proud of a student keeping up. My stomach fluttered for no reason. If I were dating Seo Kijoon, would he look at me like that? I indulged in that fleeting fantasy.

“Start by checking off what you think you can handle. It’s important to pick things you don’t feel averse to. Then I’ll gradually expand from there.”

He added that since he’d had play partners before, I shouldn’t worry too much about this part. I recalled how skillfully he’d adjusted the intensity of the spanking yesterday. That did inspire some trust.

“Hm…”

But what good was that? The entire list of play items felt alien to me. I’d only just learned about spanking yesterday—paddle, cane… I didn’t even know what they meant specifically, so how could I decide what I could handle?

Seo Gihyun seemed to read the confusion on my face instantly. He chuckled and stood up, tossing out a cryptic remark.

“I usually don’t bring anyone here before signing the contract.”

“Huh?”

“Come with me, Gyeom.”

I followed him as he walked down the hallway with his back to me. This place was massive. We passed the parlor and living room, moving through a corridor lined with framed pictures. He stopped abruptly in front of a door at the end. Gripping the sleek silver handle, he pulled something from his pocket—a key.

What kind of room required locking inside the house? Curiosity piqued, I watched as Seo Gihyun, hand on the handle, half-turned toward me.

“I hope you don’t get startled.”

“…”

“I want us to have fun during the contract period.”

I couldn’t fathom what was behind that door to warrant such a warning. I gave a vague nod, casting a curious glance at it.

Quickly picking up my cue to open it, Seo Gihyun swung the door wide. The hinges moved smoothly, revealing the room’s interior in full.

“This is the playroom.”

“…”

I was quietly stunned. Without windows, it felt like a storage room, but it was far too pristine for that. One wall was a full-length mirror, and the opposite wall was lined with menacing tools that looked like torture devices. The grim scene made me squeeze my eyes shut before opening them again. Seo Gihyun let out a breezy chuckle.

“That’s why I hoped you wouldn’t freak out.”

“Ugh…”

A groan escaped me. I didn’t want to sound weak, but this time, I couldn’t help it. The fact that all the tools were uniformly black made them even more intimidating.

As I hesitated, unable to step inside easily, Seo Gihyun strode in confidently. He picked up a long, thin rod from the wall. At its tip was a small, triangular piece of what looked like leather. That’s probably what I’d be hit with, right? I swallowed hard, my throat bobbing.

Holding the rod, Seo Gihyun approached me. I knew his personality—he wouldn’t strike without reason—but seeing him come closer with it, I couldn’t help flinching. Instinctively, I stepped back. But he didn’t stop.

“This is called a riding crop.”

“Oh…”

“You’ll get to know it well. Say hi.”

With that, he gently stroked my cheek with the triangular plastic tip of the crop. I’d thought it was leather from a distance, but it was plastic. Its cool touch spread across my skin. I shrugged my shoulders, and Seo Gihyun chuckled softly.

“Not gonna say hi?”

“Huh?”

“It just greeted you. Said, ‘Nice to meet you.’”

He was so shameless, I wondered if this was standard etiquette among SM players. Being new, how would I know? Feeling dazed, I greeted the crop as he instructed.

“Nice to… meet you?”

“Haha.”

His clear laugh made me realize I’d been teased. This lunatic. No wonder he’s Seo Kijoon’s twin—trouble runs in the family.

I suddenly remembered how Seo Gihyun had pretended to be Seo Kijoon at the restaurant to mess with me. Annoyed, I furrowed my brow and snapped, “Don’t tease me.”

“Alright, sorry. I won’t do it again. Wanna come in?”

I could’ve sworn he said that last time too. I kept my eyes slightly narrowed.

But my body dutifully followed his lead. Maybe because I’d “greeted” the riding crop, it felt a bit less scary. He’d said he’d adjust things well, so maybe I didn’t need to be afraid in advance. On the other hand, the thrilling sensation of yesterday’s spanking, with me bent over in the living room, sent a shiver down my spine.

Would it hurt a lot? I idly toyed with a tool fixed to the wall. Seo Gihyun tapped the contract with the crop’s tip.

“That’s a paddle.”

I opened the contract. Hm, paddle. It looked like a spatula. It’d probably hurt, but it seemed like it’d feel similar to a hand. I picked up the pen attached to the folder and checked “Yes.”

Come to think of it, he’d called that thing a riding crop. It was somewhere around here… Ah, there it is.

When I voluntarily marked the riding crop as acceptable, Seo Gihyun smiled. His approving look wasn’t exactly welcome.

“What?”

“You marked it because you said hi to it?”

Not for such a cute reason, but…

“Think what you want.”

“Haha.”

He laughed out loud again. The more I saw him, the more he resembled Seo Kijoon. Both had such easy laughs. Not at all what you’d expect from their appearances.

Seo Gihyun pointed out the play tools on the wall one by one, naming them. Thanks to that, the empty checkboxes filled up quickly.

Rotors and vibrators were more familiar than SM tools, but assuming I wouldn’t know, he showed me those too. Right across from the door was a large metal cabinet, waist-high but with many shallow drawers. The most frequently used tools were in the top one.

“This is work, real work.”

Dog play, neglect play, role play—I checked off what I could guess without explanation, but it still took a lot of time. After filling every blank, I sprawled on the sofa. Seo Gihyun, seemingly tireless, sat upright beside me, reviewing the contract.

“It usually doesn’t take this long.”

Well, sure. What sadist would patiently explain each tool and check preferences together?

“By the way…”

“Hm?”

“What about helping me?”

Seo Kijoon’s words—don’t think about me, just have fun—came to mind. Damn it, things were going his way again. Even the slightest pause had me thinking of him.

At my question, Seo Gihyun slowly blinked and let out a soft “Ah.”

“Right, I said I’d help.”

This guy… The whole reason I kept crossing paths with Seo Gihyun was because of Seo Kijoon. If he hadn’t offered to help me get with Kijoon, I wouldn’t have entertained the play partner idea.

“Well, how do you want me to help?”

When he turned the question back on me, I lay stretched out, staring at the ceiling. Asked like that, I had no answer. I’d thought about wanting things to work out with Seo Kijoon, but I’d never dwelled on specifics.

Sitting up, I propped my legs on the sofa’s armrest. With a light sigh, Seo Gihyun’s gaze, previously on the contract, fixed on me. Since he’d asked what I wanted without offering a plan, I figured I’d take what I could get.

“For starters, share as much as you can about Seo Kijoon’s daily life.”

“Daily life?”

“Yeah, like… who he’s with. I can’t ask him stuff like that.”

Our sex lives were practically sacred ground. Plus, I couldn’t ask too much without risking my feelings showing. I’d tried probing him once, clumsily, and failed miserably—he didn’t even respond.

“Wouldn’t knowing who he’s with hurt more?”

Fair point.

“Knowing or not, I’m miserable and anxious either way.”

Who’s he with? How long were they together? Where and how did they meet? Why did he choose them over me this time? Those questions always clawed at my throat.

“And tell me things I don’t know about Seo Kijoon.”

“Like what?”

Thinking about it made my blood boil again. How could a so-called best friend not know he had a twin? Even if his parents had been divorced for ages. I lowered my dangling legs from the armrest and sat up.

“I’ve known him for almost ten years, and I didn’t even know you existed.”

“…”

“I didn’t know his parents were divorced either.”

Not to mention, I had no clue he came from a chaebol family. Was that even possible?

“I only found out three days ago. If we’d known each other for a year or two, I wouldn’t feel this betrayed. Am I even his friend? That’s what I’ve been wondering.”

Some people don’t like sharing personal details, sure. But I think friendship should be mutual. If Seo Kijoon didn’t want to talk about himself, shouldn’t he at least not pry into my life?

Of course, when he subtly asked about me, I’d get excited by his rare interest and overshare, so I wasn’t blameless.

Still, it irked me that he knew everything about my life—my family, even my nephew studying in Canada—yet kept quiet about having a twin.

Seo Gihyun smiled faintly at my words.

“You’re probably the first to use me as an informant.”

“Feel honored?”

He’s the one who offered to help, not me asking. I let out a dry laugh, and Seo Gihyun burst into laughter, finding something hilarious. His boyish, unguarded laugh stirred my heart a bit. Probably because he shares Seo Kijoon’s face…

“Should I?”

“It’s not hard. Alright, I’ll do it. It’s an honor.”

For whatever reason, he smiled again, eyes crinkling softly. He’s laughing a lot—makes it easy to get attached. His pretty smile, with its long, curved eye corners, made me smile back unconsciously. Then, his smile froze briefly before loosening again.

He tossed the contract onto the table and circled around to my side. His dark eyes seemed to deepen. When I tilted my head, he gave a slightly chilly smile. I flinched without meaning to. Even though it was the same smile, the temperature felt different.

“Since we’ve finalized the contract, shall we play a little?”

“Uh… huh?”

We’d been joking and laughing moments ago, but the sudden shift in mood caught me off guard, making me stammer stupidly. Seo Gihyun, already aroused, didn’t seem to care about my flustered state.

He sat beside me and grabbed my wrist. Nibbling the soft skin on the inside, he looked up at me. His slightly upturned eyes resembled a large feline predator.

“Why so sudden…”

“I’ve wanted to do this since you walked in.”

“…”

“When you were fiddling with the paddle and looking around, I wanted to bend you over and fuck you right there.”

His blunt desire hit me hard, leaving me speechless. He hadn’t shown any hint of this before. Glancing at the contract, he continued.

“Now that I know what you like, Gyeom…”

His gaze burned quietly with fervent devotion, as if courting me.

“I’ll make you feel even better. So good you won’t forget me even after two months.”

With that, he bit my wrist harder. If his earlier nibbling was like a young animal teething, this was a sharp, electrifying pain that jolted my whole body.

“Ah!”

I yelped in surprise, and he released my wrist. Red teeth marks stood out vividly. The pain brought a sting of tears. Taking advantage of his loosened grip, I shook him off.

The dense marks began to swell redder. Rubbing my wrist, I pulled it to my chest and glared at him, warning, “Don’t leave marks on me.”

“Hm, no good?”

“Are you serious? Of course not.”

“You’ll be spanked plenty, crawl like a dog for me, have your front blocked while your hole’s stuffed with rotors and dildos—and you’re worried about a little bite mark?”

“…”

His retort left me speechless. I looked at the contract. He was right—I’d agreed to let him use paddles, canes, crops, and more.

But there had to be a line between everyday life and play. Getting hit during play was consensual, so I wouldn’t feel wronged, but I couldn’t let him treat me casually otherwise.

“I don’t mind being hit or bitten during play. But outside of that, I want respect. Like you said, this contract isn’t about tormenting me, right?”

His eyes widened briefly before relaxing.

“You’re smart, Gyeom.”

Was that a jab or a compliment?

“Alright, then… during play, you should call me Master.”

“What?”

I frowned, and Seo Gihyun shrugged, widening the distance he’d closed.

“It’s a common title in D/s relationships.”

Since he didn’t seem to be teasing, I smoothed my furrowed brow.

“You’ll call me Master only during play to keep things separate. When you call me Gihyun, I won’t cross that line either.”

Calling him Master wouldn’t turn the world upside down, so it didn’t matter much. Plus, it seemed better for me to maintain boundaries than rely on him to, so I nodded readily.

He gently brushed my eye with his thumb, smiling softly.

“Good boy.”

It was a tender touch, completely unlike when he’d bitten my wrist.

Then, in a cold tone, he commanded, “Go to the playroom, strip, and kneel while you wait, Gyeom.”