Empathy

This work has NO-LOVE trope, containing potentially triggering themes, including coercive relationships, relationships with multiple partners, gaslighting, and Stockholm syndrome. Please practice discretion as you proceed.

From birth, Kwon Jiwook has lived life on his own terms, with striking looks that draw attention and fighting skills he wields without hesitation. At a club gathering for the new semester, his gaze is captured by a freshman.

“Sunbae, did you know? You haven’t been able to take your eyes off my face since earlier.”

“It’s because you’re so damn pretty, damn it… do you even have a dick?”

“That’s sexual harassment.”

“Sexual harassment, my ass. Always finding fault with everything. If you don’t like it, report me…”

“Do you want to see my dick?”

“What? Damn… this freshman’s really… not afraid of me…”

He’d meant to put this annoyingly pretty freshman in his place… but Kwon Jiwook wakes up under a strange ceiling, covered in a stranger’s fluids.

“This… this is insane… fuck… who the hell, fuck… damn it… who’s the bastard?!”

“Just looking at that pretty face, unable to keep it together… it’s the same old story.”

“…”

“They all get that same crazy look when they find someone they’re willing to screw.”

It’s okay. Just get through this and don’t act this way again. I’ll fix him.

[To explain the translated title choice–역지사지 (the raw title) refers to “to put oneself in someone else’s position and think about it” and in short, Empathy, which also means putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to grasp what they are going through emotionally or mentally.]