SANN | Chapter 7.4

After ensuring that Gureum was sound asleep, Sieon rose carefully from his seat. He brushed a hand gently across Gureum’s forehead and placed a soft kiss there. Gureum, who had been through so much, was now sleeping peacefully in an upright position like a child who finally found some comfort.

Since Gureum’s delicate inner cheek was torn from being slapped, Sieon had painstakingly cooled and fed him porridge, spoon by spoon. Like a baby bird, Gureum obediently accepted each bite, finishing the entire bowl without a single complaint about being full. Afterward, Sieon made sure Gureum took all his medication and even engaged him in light, meaningless chatter to help with digestion. The casual conversation seemed to ease Gureum’s tension, and before long, his head began to nod as drowsiness overcame him. Eventually, he succumbed to a deep sleep.

Just in case Gureum woke up while he was gone, Sieon left a note instructing him to call. He also stationed security guards outside the hospital room for additional safety. After retrieving his car keys from one of the guards, Sieon made his way straight to his club.

It was time to handle some unfinished business.

There was no Gureum sitting next to him, so Sieon drove however he wanted. He swerved here and there, overtaking cars at will, racing toward his destination. Even the ear-splitting sound of the exhaust wasn’t enough to ease his frustration.

After recklessly parking his car in the lot, he took long strides toward the club’s back door. The pounding music grew louder as he approached. As soon as Sieon entered the club, his face twisted in irritation. No matter how many times he came here, it was always obnoxiously loud.

“Oh? It’s the boss! Boss Chae!”

Someone who had spotted Sieon first approached with a voice laced with playful charm, trying to cling to him. Clearly ignoring the foul mood Sieon was radiating, the guy dared to grab his arm. He was promptly kicked and thrown to the floor.

“Aaagh! B-Boss Chae!”

“Cut it out. You’re disgusting. Hey, where’s Manager Park?”

“Manager Park…? He’s in one of the rooms….”

“Bring him out.”

“Huh? Oh, yes, right away…!”

Recalling the last time he’d gotten hit for asking dumb questions, the guy scrambled toward the room. Soon enough, Manager Park appeared, fumbling to pull up his pants as he greeted Sieon with an awkward stance.

“Well, well, look who it is! I was about to forget what your face looked like, Boss Chae.”

“Don’t make it so obvious you’ve been screwing around.”

“Oh, come on, give me a break. You used to call me out whenever you had your hands full too, Boss.”

Still adjusting his belt, Manager Park smirked as he scanned Sieon’s face. It was obvious Sieon was in a terrible mood. Park, who was quick to catch on, offered a sly suggestion with a wide grin.

“We’ve got two of your favorites here tonight. Should I set up a room for you?”

“Set it up. Leave those two out. I’ve got something to talk about.”

“Huh? You’re not going to? That’s a surprise…. They’ve been waiting all day just for you to show up. You could at least give them a good time. Lately, they’re itching so bad, they’re about to lose their minds. They say no one else satisfies them like you do….”

Sieon, reaching the end of his patience, spread his palm wide and smacked the back of Park’s head. Despite his considerable build, Park let out a deep grunt of pain.

“Do I look like a dildo to you?”

“…My apologies. I’ll set up a room immediately.”

It seemed like lightning had struck. Refusing something he never used to turn down and throwing a tantrum—Park couldn’t help but think Sieon had really snapped this time.

“This way, Boss.”

After a quick phone call, Manager Park arranged a room and guided Sieon to it. Striding into the room, Sieon sank into the sofa and put a cigarette between his lips. Park, quick on his feet, pulled out a lighter and lit it for him. Sieon crossed his legs lazily and took a slow drag.

“So, Boss Chae. What’s so serious that you didn’t call the boys and wanted to see me alone? Surely, you didn’t summon me personally, right? Hahaha.”

The dirty joke made Sieon’s face twist in disgust. He took another deep drag and blew the smoke directly into Park’s face.

“Strip, you bastard.”

“…What?”

Park, genuinely bewildered, wore a dumbfounded expression. Sieon smirked at him and spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I said, strip.”

“Haha… Oh, come on, Boss. That’s a joke, right?”

Sieon was infamous for not being a “normal human.” His manners in bed were just as outrageous, leaving those who approached him unprepared to cry their eyes out and quit altogether. Of course, the more seasoned ones lived for the days Sieon would show up, yearning for his rough treatment. They claimed it drove them crazy, the way he’d mercilessly wreck them.

Ugh. Park shuddered as he gauged Sieon’s mood. Even if he was a top, Sieon’s command was law. He owed Sieon his life, after all.

“Are you seriously asking me to strip…?”

Sieon kicked Park’s shin mercilessly, the sound of the impact echoing dully.

“Argh! Boss, my bone’s cracked!”

“Do you really think I’m serious? Why the hell would I touch a pig like you?”

“A p-pig? This is all muscle….”

“What?”

“Haha! You’re absolutely right, Boss Chae. A pig like me is nowhere near your taste, absolutely!”

Yeah, Sieon was known for surrounding himself with only the prettiest guys. There was no way his preferences had suddenly changed. Relieved, Park laughed nervously, patting his chest as if his heart had nearly given out.

“So… what’s the reason you called me?”

“We’ve got a target to work on.”

Park’s eyes widened at Sieon’s straightforward words.

“Wow, you’re really pissed off, huh? How long are we looking at?”

“Make it long and drawn out. Keep it natural. Minimum two or three months.”

“Man, you must be really furious, Boss. You’ve never asked for something like this before. Who is it? The more info you give me, the smoother the job’ll go.”

“Some drunkard living off booze. I’ll give you the address, and you handle the rest.”

Park chuckled.

“Leave it to me. Drunks and gamblers are the easiest to break.”

“I don’t care how far you take your nasty hobbies, but make sure the body’s found.”

“Any connections?”

“…Consider them gone.”

“Wow, Boss! You’re just handing out bonuses today. I’ll give it my all!”

Park exaggerated his gratitude with an overly dramatic bow. It was crazy that he even thought of this as a bonus, but that was exactly why Sieon kept him around. Park’s specialty was handling dirty work without Sieon lifting a finger. Already picturing the profit he’d rake in, Park smiled ear to ear and added:

“If it’s a timeline job, squeezing them dry might not be enough to kill them. Humans are tougher than you’d think. I’ll need some tools to speed things up. Once I get everything sorted, I’ll report back on the progress.”

“Fine. Just keep it quiet and clean.”

“Yes, Boss. You can count on me.”

“Good. I’m leaving.”

As Sieon stood to leave, Park made one last suggestion.

“Are you sure you’re just going to leave? If you’re in a bad mood, we’ve got some guys who won’t mind if you’re rough. They’ll spread their legs the moment they hear you’re here….”

“No thanks.”

Without sparing Park a glance, Sieon left the room. Watching his boss walk away, Park let out a deflated sigh and shook his head.

“Man, he must’ve been struck by lightning….”

It was the first time Sieon had come all the way here and refused to have sex. Not long ago, he’d always grab a room, bring in at least two or three, and mess around wildly. Something serious must’ve happened. But Park didn’t dwell on it for long, dusting himself off and following Sieon out of the club.

***

Gureum wandered around the hospital room. Sieon had stepped out for a bit. They had been watching TV together when Gureum muttered, without much thought, about how delicious the strawberries looked as someone on screen ate them. Sieon, as if on cue, grabbed his coat and said he’d go buy some strawberries.

“Wow….”

Gureum let out a gasp of amazement. The hospital room, which was bigger than his house, felt almost magical. There was even a living room and a spacious bathroom. He plopped down on the sofa in the living room with a bounce and slumped his shoulders. It felt like ages since he’d been able to move around freely without worrying about being watched.

Peeking out the window, Gureum saw patients and their caregivers enjoying a stroll. Sieon had mentioned that the hospital even had a rooftop garden. Gureum thought it’d be nice if they could visit together during a quiet, people-free time. With that thought, he moved to the door and carefully opened it just a crack.

Poking his head out, Gureum cautiously looked left and right. It seemed deserted. Just as he was about to step out with a little more courage, the sound of wheels rolling came from down the hall.

“Ah!”

Startled, Gureum quickly pulled his head back inside. Thinking better of this impulsive idea, he began closing the door to retreat back into the room when a faint sound, like crying, caught his ears.

“Hmm…?”

Even though it was very far away and very faint, Gureum’s sharp ears perked up. The childlike tone in the crying voice made his hand tremble slightly.

“Uh, uh….”

The crying continued, unabated. It sounded like a child. Was it during a treatment? Were they in pain? Still listening with his ear barely outside the door, Gureum shifted uneasily, tapping his feet at the never-ending sound of sobs.

“What should I do…?”

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to check out what was going on. The crying, being that of a child, tugged at Gureum’s conscience. After peeking both ways to ensure no one was nearby, he cautiously stepped out.

Quietly, on tiptoe, he followed the sound, keeping his footsteps as silent as possible. Nurses at the desk noticed him with puzzled expressions but didn’t stop him. Couldn’t they hear the crying? Feeling awkward, Gureum dropped his head and quickly slipped out of the ward.

Maybe his hearing was unusually sensitive, a skill he had developed after a lifetime of paying attention to others’ moods. Even he was surprised at how far away the sound seemed to be coming from—it appeared to be near the emergency stairs.

“Wahhh! Huhuh, Auntie’s mean…!”

“……”

Sure enough, a little boy was squatting near the emergency stairs, bawling his eyes out. He was wearing a hospital gown. Shocked, Gureum hesitated, his hands twitching nervously. Finally, he approached the crying child and spoke carefully.

“Uh, hey…”

“Wahhh! Huhuuu!”

The boy, startled by the sudden appearance of a stranger, burst into even louder sobs. Flustered, Gureum panicked, trying to calm him down with gentle, clumsy movements. His hands were cautious and soft, his touch comforting despite his inexperience. Something about Gureum’s face seemed to break through the child’s defenses, and the crying slowly subsided. The boy looked up at him with curious eyes.

“Who are you, hyung? What are you?”

“Uh, me…? I’m just…”

“Just? Just what?”

“Well, I mean, I’m… Seon Gureum.”

“Gureum? Your name is Gureum?”

“…Yeah.”

“Wow, hyung, your name is so pretty! I’m Shin Minjae! I’m six years old! I go to Areum Kindergarten!”