Payback 3

Chapter 2.

His hand grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up. When I finally opened my eyes, which were tightly shut from pain, I saw a face leaning down, right in front of mine—I didn’t know how long it had been there.

Meanwhile, he began moving his hips slowly but continuously, while using his hands to push my inner thighs apart. Suddenly, he withdrew his penis again before thrusting it back in all the way.

“Ah!”

I moaned before wrapping my legs, which were dangling in the air, around his waist to support my body as it was pushed upwards, and I could feel his lips pressed against mine.

Our bodies were pressed together in an upward curve, and he murmured, his hot, humid breath spreading across my mouth.

“That’s it. That’s a beautiful voice.”

“Damn it! If you’re going to do it, then… pant gasp… just do it! Ah!”

His lips pressed against my parted lips before his tongue invaded. I clung to him, digging my nails into his back as he quickened his pace.

With the forceful thrusts that made the crude sounds he spoke of, pain and pleasure began to swirl in my lower abdomen. As my breathing became tinged with moans instead of cries of pain, he kissed me passionately before pulling away and speaking.

“Tell me, uh, how do you feel?”

He asked, his breath coming in short, laboured gasps as if he’d been running, but I didn’t answer immediately. The only sound that came out of my mouth was a low moan.

It blended only with the wet, squelching sounds of penetration from the lower part.

“Ah…hic!…Aaaah!”

“Every time I thrust into your body, ah, it just flows out, doesn’t it? How is it, Him?” How is it? My body swayed, and the intense arousal in my back passage filled my lower abdomen. I couldn’t think of anything but the feeling of ecstasy surging up so rapidly it felt like I was going to explode, even before I’d felt my own penis was touching. Because he was thrusting his penis in without caring about anything, I didn’t feel the need to lie.

“Damn it…again…ah…I feel good…again.”

Although he expected to hear the answer he wanted, he didn’t hear any laughter. He glanced up briefly and saw an emotionless face, devoid of a smile.

He was looking down, but it seemed like his true face. The raw, animalistic movement of his hips and the dark eyes that reflected only my image suited his character perfectly.

I stared at him until the very last second before he ejaculated, then closed my eyes for a moment. A mass of white semen shot out from his core in one swift motion.

With his lower abdomen tensing and his back muscles contracting, he tormented my rear end for a little longer before releasing in that position, his lower bodies still pressed together, twitching and shaking a few times.

He withdrew slowly, causing the cloudy white fluid that had been released inside to ooze out. The feeling was so vivid it sent shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes, feeling the signs that his animalistic behaviour was over, and felt a little tired. But before I could rest, he immediately flipped me over as soon as he withdrew his penis. I turned to look at him, startled.

“W-what are you doing? Are you going to do it again?” He tilted his head and smiled with a wicked grin.

“Didn’t you say you felt good?”

One of the habits I had working as a delivery driver was answering every incoming call and checking as many messages as possible, after that crazy guy had been gone for a while.

I lay sprawled on the bed, feeling like I was dying, when suddenly the thought of my phone popped into my head. Where’s my phone? The moment I sat up, pain shot up from my tailbone all the way to my lower back, making me curse involuntarily. I gritted my teeth, put on my wretched robe, and walked out of the room.

The hotel room was probably about the size of a house. As I walked through the hallway, a large living room appeared before me. I saw that…

My cell phone lay on the floor there. Although I wondered how I got there, my memory was vague. All I knew was that as soon as I entered the room, that crazy guy grabbed me and kissed me… that’s it. I quickly dismissed the thought before sitting down on the sofa and checking my phone out of habit. But it was off. I wondered why. After turning it on, a flood of notifications popped up.

“Why are there so many notifications?”

There were a couple of voicemail messages that aren’t usually received. I tried to recall how to listen to them before…

I entered the password, and then immediately heard the first message.

“Hello, Mr Two Hundred Won.”

Just hearing the name made me want to close it immediately, but because I had some unfinished business with the club manager, I listened to him continue speaking, frowning and scowling.

“I’m the manager of Alice’s maze club. How are you?”

I thought it was a very ridiculous greeting. Suddenly, a voice interrupted, expressing the same opinion I was thinking.

“Hey, stop talking nonsense and hurry up and ask about Jay.”

The person who interrupted was Alice’s boss; his voice was louder than the club manager’s, who was still glued to the phone.

“Boss, I’m the manager of Alice’s Labyrinth Club. I can’t be so impolite as to get straight to the point without greeting anyone first.”

“No, I guess.”

“Uh-huh, well… huh? But yesterday, as soon as you called, you got straight to the point without even greeting me, didn’t you? You said President Hwang had arrived and that…”

“Hurry up and come here!”

“I said, ‘Please hurry up and run here,’ that’s what I meant!”

“Uh, yeah…Huh? Hey!”

After the word “Hey” was uttered, the voice message was cut off abruptly. I listened to the next message feeling stunned.

“Hello, Mr Two Hundred Won. This is the manager of Alicina’s Labyrinth Club.”

The moment I heard that voice, I thought I was going to hear the same message again, but then another voice interrupted.

“Hey, I told you to hurry up and ask about Jay! My Jay has turned off his phone and is unreachable. And that 200 won guy is just going to live peacefully and without a care in the world!”

“What’s going on?”

So they left a voicemail on my phone just because that lunatic turned it off? But there’s some truth to what they said; I’m not…

“Finally, some peace and quiet. Damn it, I’m all bruised,” Alice’s boss said without hesitation, unlike me who was suppressing the pain in my heart.

“I can’t believe Jay rushed out at a time when he should be swamped with work at the company, and he’s not even answering his phone. My Jay!”

“He’s not the type of irresponsible person! Even if he rushed to the bathroom because of diarrhea or constipation, he wouldn’t be out of contact for this long… Ugh, or maybe he fell while he was out on his business?!”

The club manager quickly responded to the worried owner.

“That’s probably not the case, boss. When I’m running errands, I absolutely need my phone. There’s no way I’d leave it lying around.”

“Oh, oh, Club Manager, your investigative skills have improved…”

“I observed the boss’s sharp analytical skills and learned everything from him.”

“Yes, I’m pretty good at stabbing people in the heart, and I’m also good at using a needle to prick them.”

The second voicemail ended with such a nonsensical story. I gathered my last ounce of patience and pressed play on the third voicemail, just in case.

“Hello, Mr. Two Hundred Won. I’m the manager of Alicina’s Labyrinth Club.”

At this point, I felt like I was being harassed.

“Ah, never mind. Let’s get straight to the point. Tell them that if they find out where Jay is, please contact me. The people at the company said he suddenly rushed out. How strange.”

“Something big is definitely going to happen.”

I could hear the voices of people who were just as disbelieving as I was.

That’s not it at all. But the boss said that crazy guy just suddenly ran out of the company, right? I can’t believe it. Before…

“My Jay works himself to the bone, he’s never dated anyone, and no matter how famous he is, there’s no way he’d skip work to go hang out with a girlfriend.”

“Yes!”

Even though it was a voice message, I involuntarily flinched. The club manager agreed and immediately continued in a firm tone.

“Of course. Girlfriend? Skipping work? Those words are never in Director Yoon’s dictionary.”

I wasn’t annoyed now, but felt so ashamed I couldn’t bear to listen any longer. And the boss’s booming voice interrupting us sounded even more unpleasant.

Just a little bit.

“So he really did fall in the bathroom, huh, Him?”

After that, I didn’t even need to press the stop button because the phone was suddenly snatched away. Looking up in shock, I saw that crazy guy…

He looked down with a cold, icy gaze.

“Who are you talking to?”

Why would you ask something so scary? I was confused and replied in a bewildered tone.

“There was a voice message that came in, so I just listened to it. Does that mean I can’t even make a phone call?”

“Cannot.”

He replied so shamelessly that I flinched and glanced around.

“Why? Don’t they allow phone calls in the rooms at this hotel?”

He stared at me intently before speaking again.

“One.”

“..”

“Get up now. I was just about to call you. The food is ready.”

“Hey, you’re joking, right?… You’re lying, aren’t you?”

 

I asked in a firm voice as he grabbed my arm to make me stand up, but instead he led me to the dining room which was connected to the living room and changed the subject.

“It’s Korean food. Are you okay with that?”

“Wait a minute, are you lying? Didn’t you say you didn’t like to joke around?”

I asked angrily, but he just dragged me along. What really pissed me off was his expression, which looked like he was trying to suppress laughter.

He’s usually so cheerful, but why is he holding back his laughter now? I wanted to say something, but the moment I entered the dining room, I couldn’t speak.

How many people is this meal for? I stood frozen, staring at the food laid out on a medium-sized table that could seat about seven or eight people, unable to take my eyes off it while he told me to sit down. This much food could probably feed ten people and still have leftovers. How much is the total bill? This room looks very luxurious too; there are several separate rooms. I looked around before picking up my spoon and chopsticks. The aroma of the food immediately made me hungry. There were many side dishes. I scooped some rice onto my plate.

My mouth came first, perhaps because when I’m tired I usually eat, so I felt like I smelled the aroma of cooked rice before anything else. After that, I ate grilled ground meat, battered and fried food, and fish stewed in sauce. Of course, I’m not a picky eater, so I also ate a vegetable salad. After eating for a while, I realised he hadn’t gotten his food yet, and was just staring at me silently.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just feel like you have a good appetite.”

“Because I’m just hungry.”

“You kept pestering me non-stop until I got really hungry,” I grumbled to myself as I scooped up my spoon to eat, when I heard a question from him.

“Is that all?”

When I looked at him questioningly, as if to say, ‘What do you mean?’, he rested his elbows on the table and leaned towards me.

“You reject everything that makes you comfortable, whether it’s pleasure, laziness, or extravagance, yet you still can’t stand it.”

“It was all sold out, so I made sure to choose the best room.”

“Intentionally.”

I’m not stupid enough not to know the meaning of that word. He’s saying he intentionally chose a nice room to bully me, right? But at least there’s food.

Instead of cursing him out loud, I glared at him, and he met my gaze with eyes full of a smile.

“By the way… what’s the reason you don’t feel uncomfortable?”

I chewed my rice while looking at him, then averted my gaze and continued eating without saying anything more, because I had no answer to give him. That’s right, why?

I don’t feel uncomfortable. I’m someone who doesn’t deserve to be comfortable in a place like this, yet strangely, I don’t feel restless about my current situation at all.

In the past, if I had to lie on a bed on a holiday that only happened once or twice a year, I would feel like a sinner, overwhelmed with guilt, even though I was surrounded by…

The air is dry, yet no matter how hard I open my mouth, it feels like I can’t breathe, as if I’m drowning. When I feel terrified that I’m struggling and sinking deeper and deeper into the sea like someone about to drown, I usually run out into the street.

Even standing amidst the crowd, I still couldn’t rise from the deep sea. But I wasn’t afraid of this feeling, for it was the punishment a lazy person like me deserved. In fact, I felt the pain was the reward for the rest I’d spent on vacation curled up in bed.

That’s why I have to pay the price for letting myself get carried away by the beautiful surroundings and for my heart to beat so wildly that I have to keep it bottled up for now.

But why…? Ah, so that’s how it is. The reason I didn’t feel restless was because I already knew, wasn’t it? Because my revenge is nearing its end. If that’s the case, then I really will have to sink to the bottom of the sea.

“I can’t read your mind, but why are you so upset?”

I was jolted out of my daze by his chilling voice. Realising I was sitting there lost in thought, my hand still holding the spoon, I found myself moving again as if I hadn’t existed.

What happened?

“What a ridiculous premonition. You’re not related to Alice’s boss by name at all.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

He asked back, utterly astonished. His face clearly showed a rare display of annoyance, but I found it amusing.

more than

“Aren’t you two related?”

I asked jokingly, but his jaw twitched as if he were clenching his teeth. Wow, that’s why teasing is so fun—that’s why everyone loves making kids cry.

But of course, not only did the crazy guy in front of me not cry, he also pouted and went back to the same topic he’d been discussing earlier.

“Tell me, why don’t you feel uncomfortable?”

“What makes sense about that? I eat because I’m hungry, and I came here because I can sleep. For me, whether it’s a model costing a few tens of thousands of won or this place, it’s all the same.”

“Is that all?”

There was a hint of suspicion in his voice. I nodded listlessly before adding…

“And one more thing. I’ll pay half of the hotel bill. What? Why the long face?”

“How does my face look?”

What happened? I clearly saw a fleeting glance and a smile pass across his face.

“You’re laughing at me, aren’t you? Do you think I wouldn’t be able to pay for the hotel?”

“You’re completely mistaken. You’ve met Alice’s boss so often that you’re starting to resemble him more than I, his relative, am.”

Ah, this guy really asked for it. I got knocked out with one punch. He provoked me with that same smile in his eyes as Don, the one I used to tease.

No mistake.

“Well, you see the boss quite often, don’t you?”

Surprisingly, I felt even more annoyed than being directly insulted. Going to Alice’s boss regularly was really pointless. I swallowed my defeat before glancing around the room. How much is this room? A million or two million won a night? Suddenly, he warned me, as if reading my mind.

Mine came out.

“Stop thinking about the hotel bill and finish your meal.”

“I’m full now, and I’ll even contribute one million won. So don’t brag about the hotel bill next time.”

“…One million won?”

“Why? A single night’s stay shouldn’t cost more than two million won, right?”

He slowly curved his lips into a smile before looking at me as if I were looking at something adorable and charming.

“Ah, that’s right.”

I became even more suspicious when he admitted it. Was he smiling like that because he liked that I helped split the hotel bill? It was then that I…

I heard a loud thud before he pushed the uncooked food right in front of me.

“Eat more.”

“No, I’m full.”

“Anyway, we have to eat more.”

I stared at him when I heard the firmness in his voice.

“Why do you keep telling me to eat? I’m not an animal to be fattened up just to be caught and eaten!” But the man paused for a moment. Snow?

“What are you talking about? Did you really give me food because you thought that?” He smiled shamelessly at my question.

“No, why would I fatten you up like a pig?”

I still have a little bit of doubt, but I also feel like he’s right. He wasn’t trying to eat me, was he? I’ve just been having some ridiculous paranoia.

Is this from the boss?

“But you’re a little too thin.”

I, who was lifting the glass of water, had to slam it back down again.

“Whether I’m skinny or emaciated with skin and bones, what does that have to do with you? I remember you boasting so much about even my decaying corpse,”

“Isn’t it possible to have it?”

I said it sarcastically, but the look on his face showed amusement.

“You actually remember what I said?”

“You looked like a complete lunatic, how did I remember? Huh…why are you laughing at me?” I felt uncomfortable with his laughter and leaned back.

“I guess I’ll have to keep acting crazy so you’ll remember me forever.”

Do you remember that? Why did he keep repeating those words as if they were of some kind of importance? Did he want me to think of him and wonder about him?

Always, and he also wanted me to remember everything about him.

“Why aren’t you smiling? Are you afraid to see how crazy I can be with you?”

Seeing his eyes turn icy, as if he’d never been in a good mood before, I thought to myself, “This guy really isn’t an ordinary person.” The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end again.

I’ve often wondered if the change in his demeanour is all I know, but you can’t judge a book by its cover. And I’ve only ever seen him when he was wearing that mask of a smile.

too

“I just don’t understand.”

I mumbled it in a flat tone before he tilted his head as if surprised.

“About the fact that I like you?”

How could he say “I like you” like it wasn’t a big deal or anything? Compared to that lunatic, I’m not that shameless.

He concluded that he was better than that guy, before hearing another question in a relaxed tone.

“Or is it about you liking me?”

I froze before averting my gaze, not wanting him to see my reaction. Actually, this was another thing I didn’t understand either.

She mumbled it out unconsciously.

“Love has no reason, does it?”

Even when I said it out loud, I thought I was talking nonsense. I cursed myself in my mind, “Damn it, what kind of love is this…?”

“No, every love has its reason.”

I wasn’t the only one talking nonsense anymore, so I looked at him in surprise, and then he pushed a plate of fruit towards me.

“Eat the apple.”

Without thinking, I immediately picked up an apple from the plate and put it in my mouth. Even though I was full, I still lingered on the slight sourness that spread throughout my mouth.

“What is the reason?”

“Love is a feeling that can arise from a strong bond and from an unconscious lack of something in childhood.”

“It was discovered on the opposite side; it didn’t just fall from the sky.”

I stopped chewing my apple and stared at him with a stunned expression.

“Don’t joke around. I never met anyone as crazy as you when I was a kid.”

“’Freud[] once said.”

“Who is that? An American friend?”

His expression remained neutral for a moment before he replied slowly.

“What a clever Austrian friend.”

Ah, so he lives in America, that’s why he has friends from other countries, huh? He’s not getting boycotted by his American friends, is he? I shook off the thought…

He quickly dismissed the most pointless worries in the world before picking up the other half of the apple and taking a bite.

“Even if it’s the words of the smartest friend, it’s not entirely true. When you were a kid, you’d never meet anyone like me.”

together”

“Never, but you’re the only one who has feelings I lacked as a child.”

“What feeling?”

“Feeling guilty”

This word has been brought up so often it should be tiresome, but I find myself breathless every time I hear it. His smile, too, vanishes completely, as if…

He gets upset every time he hears it, and he knows that this word always affects him.

“Even though I’m frustrated that I don’t understand your feelings of guilt, conversely, I feel they are even more noble because they are feelings I’ve never experienced before.”

Before… that’s why part of me wanted to destroy it completely. But if I did that, you’d shatter like glass, wouldn’t you? I’ve thought about it. If I were to do that, I would ask…”

He paused, then rolled his eyes in the air as if deep in thought for a moment, until I couldn’t take it anymore and asked him.

“What do you want?”

“I’ll tell you next time, because I need to keep it as my last resort.”

“Keep that trump card for when you face Chairman Kim…”

I swallowed the last word before my mouth could speak, but worry seemed to appear on my face, causing him to smile.

And then getting up from the chair.

“What would you like to do after we eat?”

“I want to rest a bit. I’m tired now.”

“Hmm, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go on a vacation together.”

I thought he was trying to change the subject, so I asked again.

“So you really are keeping your trump card hidden?”

“You should have one too, shouldn’t you? A trump card hidden away, waiting for the day to overthrow Myungshin.”

What is he talking about? I blinked in confusion.

“No, I have none. I’ve given you everything I have. I don’t have as many allies as you do. That’s why I said this is…”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I have to make it a success.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll definitely succeed.”

And you? Will you succeed too?… Even though I’m humiliated, I can’t help but worry about him. Even though I didn’t say it out loud, it seems like I’m hiding something.

I couldn’t hide my own anxieties.

“There’s another bedroom, so go sleep in that one…Damn it, didn’t you say you were tired?”

He suddenly cursed and walked closer, grabbing my shoulder.

“Then don’t look at me like that.”

“What’s wrong with my eyesight… Oops!”

My words were swallowed by his lips as he pulled me in and pressed his own against mine forcefully. After a passionate kiss, it was as if he wanted to steal the air away.

As he breathed, he lifted his head and mumbled curtly.

“What was it like? Well, the look in her eyes that begged me to hug her.”

Ding! The notification sound indicated that the elevator had arrived at its destination. I struggled to close the tightly closed doors while in the elevator, even though it was a short distance.

It was only a few short floors, but my body feels so heavy. Even when I do manual labor with almost no rest, I’ve never ached this much. It’s because that jerk kept going non-stop until midnight… damn it!

I cursed him in my mind as I walked out of the elevator. The hotel check-in counter is on the first floor, but yesterday that idiot came up here separately to pick up his key card.

As far as I remember, there was an employee at a small reception desk. As soon as he saw me, he bowed his head in greeting. I bowed back and explained the purpose of my visit.

“I’d like to buy a T-shirt. Do you know where I can buy one?”

Then I was about to tell him which room I was staying in, but he smiled and explained as if he already knew.

“Please tell us the brand and style you’re looking for, and we’ll find it for you.”

“Just a black T-shirt will do, and I want a cheap one, the cheapest one possible.”

“Understood. I’ll send it to your suite this morning. Is there anything else you need?”

I wondered where he would find the shirt now that it was already past 2 AM, but I thought he must have a way, so I shook my head.

“No, that’s all…”

“Oh? Lee Taemin?”

Suddenly, I heard my name called from behind me. Although I couldn’t see their face, I could tell from their voice who it was. Cha Jung-woo? When I turned around, I saw someone else.

The person standing there had the expected expression of shock.

“Haha, what’s this? It really is Lee Taemin! Why are you here?”

That’s the question I was about to ask him instead.

“Then why are you here? I heard the manager said you went to the province for volunteer work.”

Frustration spread across his face when he heard my words.

“That went well. You don’t have to worry.”

“If things are going well, you shouldn’t be going in and out of the hotel so frequently. The manager has to go through so much trouble cleaning up your messes,” I said bluntly, and he retorted just as harshly.

“Ugh, damn it. I’m having a hard time too. And that manager just told me to smile and say what needed to be said. He’s usually such a complainer.”

“Is that it?”

“No, not at all.”

“…That old man keeps complaining about me all the time.”

He cursed again under his breath in frustration. Should I punch him?

“He’s complaining because he deserves to be beaten up. If you’re unhappy with the manager, just tell me. I’m happy to be your opponent.”

Suddenly, Cha Jung-woo’s expression changed strangely. He looked at me as if he were amazed by something.

“That manager is just average, but you’re really defending that old man.”

“If there was that jerk who hit his former manager with a golf club right next to him, anyone would protect him fiercely.”

“Damn it, watch your mouth.”

“Just be careful not to get caught by the reporters.”

He chuckled at my answer before glancing around.

“Don’t worry, I arrived here smoothly without being caught at all. And this is the suite lounge, so nobody’s following me.”

Sure. The staff here are extremely strict about maintaining confidentiality, so they tend to be quite reserved.”

I don’t know what the suite lounge is like, but I think it’s probably a separate area for those staying in the more expensive rooms. No wonder I checked in here.

Actually, if they’re getting paid more than one million won a night, they should be treated like this.

“Oh, why are you here?”

I paused at the other person’s question before answering simply, as if it were no big deal.

“If you can stay here, why can’t I stay here too?”

Hmm, he smirked again.

“I’m here because the chairman summoned me unexpectedly. Just a short stay. And you really do have a sponsor, huh?”

He widened his eyes in surprise as he stared at me. I cursed inwardly, “Damn it,” and turned my back.

“Stop paying attention to me and go see your chairman.”

“I arrived early, so I still have some time. Wait a minute, I have something to ask about Director Yoon.”

Director Yoon? I paused, and he pointed to a sofa in the far corner of the lounge.

“Sit and wait while I get the key card. Don’t go anywhere yet, understand?”

Even though there was absolutely no reason to obey Cha Jung-woo, I didn’t want to go anywhere because I was curious to know what he would ask about Director Yoon, so I just stayed nestled on top.

I sat on the sofa, closing my eyes for a moment, feeling drowsy. Physical exhaustion wasn’t as important as the fact that it was the middle of the night. That jerk probably wasn’t awake yet, right? I hoped he was still sleeping soundly, because I didn’t want to be mistaken for having run away again. I sat there waiting for who knows how long.

“Hey, you…”

Hearing Cha Jung-woo’s voice nearby, I forgot about my daze and looked up. At that moment, he was staring at me.

“What’s up”

“Was your partner a man? A woman couldn’t leave marks like that.”

A mark? Ugh, this crazy guy. I pulled my dishevelled robe up to cover just below my neck, while Cha Jung-lu slumped down beside me with a curious look in his eyes.

Dem-gae

“I’m really curious to know who your partner is.”

“You said you wanted to ask about Director Yoon, so go ahead and ask.”

I didn’t want to discuss trivial matters, so I got straight to the point. But when he heard the name Director Yoon, his expression instantly turned furious.

“Ah, Director Yoon, damn it! How’s that guy doing now?”

“…Donnie? She’s probably asleep.”

I spoke in a serious tone without realising it. Luckily, Cha Jung-woo interpreted my words in a lighthearted way before bursting into laughter.

“Haha, he’s probably asleep by now. You’re cute.”

“look for?”

I glared at him, but he wouldn’t stop smiling and continued speaking as if he were explaining something to a child.

“I didn’t ask that. I asked how things were at the company.”

Then you should have asked ‘these days,’ not ‘now.’ Why ask ‘don’t you? It just confuses people.

“I heard he’s in a tight spot because of Dream Production, but he’s still the same, isn’t he?”

“I didn’t see him at the company, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Actually, a trainee like you will never meet him in this lifetime. I was wondering if you’ve heard any rumours about Dream’s inner workings?”

I averted my gaze without saying a word. Ah, so I’ve been waiting in vain?

“So you were wondering about that?”

“No matter how many negative thoughts I have, it still seems strange.”

He spoke as if muttering to himself, before looking at me and lowering his voice.

“Shall I tell you something interesting as a memento of our meeting here?”

“No.”

“Haha, you’re still the same, aren’t you? You know what? Your reaction is so interesting that it makes me want to tell you even more.”

I refused because there was no need for him to know. And what was so interesting about my refusal anyway? I just don’t understand this guy at all. I don’t know why.

He looked at me before letting out another sarcastic laugh.

“Hey, you’re staring at me like you want to devour me. Ugh, that’s terrifying.”

When I kept a straight, emotionless face, he raised his hands in a signal of surrender.

“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you something interesting instead. The chairman who called me in is someone you’d be shocked to know if you knew him.”

“I don’t need to know, and I don’t see why I should be surprised.”

His eyes sparkled.

“You’re still as indifferent as ever. Usually, people who say things like that are suppressing their curiosity to make themselves look good in my eyes, but you don’t seem to be.”

“Wow, I’m really interested.”

He’s lived his life receiving overwhelming attention all his own way. Is it strange that he’s so delighted to finally encounter someone who doesn’t pay him any attention? He looked at me like that for a moment.

First, I felt strangely annoyed by that pair of eyes, so I said one sentence.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, then shut up.”

“Ah, you said there’s no need to know and no need to be surprised, so I’ll tell you simply. The chairman of the board of directors…”

“I’m a very powerful person, so when I was in a desperate situation like the problem of enlisting in the military, I had to send you an SOS requesting help.”

Even if the chairman of the board were a highly-ranked general, it’s unlikely he could help him.

“Of course, I wasn’t asking for help with my military enlistment problem, because even that aunt knows she can’t help with that. But I was begging for help.”

“The pressure came from the company. To put it bluntly, it was Director Yoon who kept me confined to my house.”

I perked up my ears when I heard something unexpected.

“But the company doesn’t force you to be chained up at home, does it?”

“They said that if I didn’t keep quiet and stay home, I’d become just another trashy doll featured in the headlines of low-quality media.”

“I’ve been using abbreviations for clickbait my whole life. For me, those words are like an iron cage,” the voice of that lunatic overlapped with the furious tone of Cha Jung-woo.

“A top star like Cha Jung-woo? I can promise I can help you get there within two years, because there are so many of them walking around in the industry…”

“They’re all just dolls, but those with sky-high egos often don’t realise that and forget their origins. Those Dukes, for example.”

I mumbled to myself without realising it.

“So Director Yoon really said that.”

“Yeah, you might not know it, but he likes to talk in a slow, drawn-out tone, and he does it with a smile, as if it’s not a big deal.”

Ah, Cha Jung-woo was right…what a mess.

“Besides that, his smile is absolutely stunning. Damn, he even has dimples, even though he’s not a celebrity. How can he be so ridiculously handsome?”

Why would anyone go there?

Dimples…they’re cute, aren’t they? Damn it.

“Therefore, during my confinement, I wasn’t just waiting for the company to contact me, but also waiting for the chairman to contact me, even though it was a request…”

“It’s a bit of a challenge, but I think it’s doable. I believe that if the board of directors knows how to use their power wisely, they can probably remove one of the directors of Dream Entertainment.”

“Are you poking it?”

He simply responded, “Hmm, yes,” as if it were no big deal, and snuggled into the sofa.

“I’m asking for your help in preventing Director Yoon from wielding power in the company. Even though he’s Director Yoon, he’s not the owner of the company. If someone higher up than him…”

“If someone stepped on him, he’d probably be completely flattened.”

But in the end, Cha Jung-lu agreed to sign the contract drafted by Director Yoon. So that means…

“But the chairman’s authority was completely useless.”

Cha Jung-woo’s eyes clouded over as he recalled that moment. That’s when I understood why he signed the contract so easily. It was because I provoked him.

The pictures in designer magazines and the manager’s persuasion were completely ineffective. He had simply been blocked from escaping at every turn; there was no way out for him anymore.

“Then the chairman of the board suggested that I go and bow to Director Yoon instead. Although he didn’t give a reason, what that old woman said meant that…”

Director Yoon also has a lot of powerful backing.”

A powerful backer? Is that his hidden trump card? My brain processed the information quickly, while Cha Jung-woo continued talking about himself.

“Remember what I told you earlier, about being careful of Director Yoon? Back then, he was being attacked from all sides, but he wasn’t easy to bring down. I experienced it firsthand. So believe me, if you want to reach a higher position, Director Yoon is someone you can’t avoid.”

Let alone avoiding it, just not getting caught and cornered any further is incredibly lucky.

“So what should we do?”

“How? If you meet Director Yuk, there are only two things you can do: either you have to be subservient and do as he orders, or you have to find…”

“He’s a really big fullback, and his body is bulging like Cudru’s.”

He called that kind of talk “moon words”? I was so taken aback that I immediately retorted.

“I won’t do either.”

“Then make Director Yoon fall head over heels for you, and control his thoughts.”

“….”

“But someone like him, who’s unlike most, is as hard as stone. He’s not the type to do anything for others. For Director Yoon, nothing is too important.”

“It’s more than work.”

I was speechless, like my mouth was glued shut, but Cha Jung-woo burst into stunned laughter, completely unconcerned.

“Haha, even if he had a girlfriend, he probably wouldn’t go on a date with her. He’s not the type to quit his job.”

Well…because I’m not his girlfriend.

“So, who is it?”

“meaning”

“Someone’s so deeply in love with you, to the point of paying for such an expensive hotel…”

I maintained an emotionless expression, averting my gaze to the side, and mumbled a soft reply.

“Well, there are some. People who aren’t like other people.”

“Huh? Haha, you’re secretly quite the deadpan comedian, aren’t you?”

I looked at him, utterly clueless, with pity.

“Don’t talk nonsense. And that person isn’t completely in love with me. Absolutely not,” I denied firmly, before Cha Jung-woo’s smile faded, replaced by a strange look in his eyes.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me you have feelings for them. Hey, get a grip. There’s nothing better than giving your heart to a sponsor. Think of it as just a performance in a place where there’s no real entertainment. Just setting up the camera is enough. Anyway, their appearance is probably just so-so.”

If that crazy guy had a plain face, it would be better. I sighed softly before standing up. Just as I was about to walk away, Cha Jung-woo also stood up and grabbed my arm.

“Hey, Lee Taemin, wait a minute!”

“release”

I swung my arm so hard that I managed to swing his hand free in one go. Suddenly, Cha Jung-woo took a step back and looked down at his hand with a strained expression.

“Wow, how do you exercise? You’re so stubborn and strong, but… kind of cute.”

Ugh, damn it, there’s nothing but nonsense from everyone around me. And then, suddenly, he said something that was starting to irritate me.

“You’ll be tired soon enough.”

When I looked at him questioningly, asking what I was so tired of, he gave me some serious advice.

“I mean, doing something like that, even without cameras, acting is incredibly draining. The people who fund you are even more sensitive than the director; they can sense sincerity as if they have psychic abilities. So, if you want to stay in that room for a long time, you need a way to release your true feelings.”

“Never mind.”

“Wait a minute, you’re useless at everything. Don’t you know what I’m talking about? I’m telling you to find time to have some fun with someone who’s arousing. Actually, and he’s undeniably good-looking.”

He stared at me and added…

“Like me, for example.”

Huh? I was too stunned to laugh. What the hell does that mean?

“Normally I’m not interested in men, but strangely enough, I’m tempted to try playing with you once.”

He lowered his gaze and glanced inside my robe, then whispered in a low voice.

“If you like it done quickly, I can give you a really hard blowjob.”

I wasn’t angry at all, but rather puzzled. Did I really seem that easy? I thought I lived my life well, without belittling myself. But why is everyone saying such crazy things about what they should do to me? Then, for a moment, I felt regret, realising I’d lived too easily for the past five years, only to end up in this situation.

“I’ll contact you before I enlist. Make sure you answer the phone.”

He smiled, glancing at my arm. I glanced at his hand, then took a step forward and grabbed him by the collar, even though he was taller than me, but being shorter gave me a perfect grip on his collar—enough to slit his throat.

I didn’t let go of him as he frowned and tried to escape, but instead yanked him closer. With my other hand, I grabbed his outstretched wrist, which he used to push me away. His eyes widened in shock at my strength. I seized the moment he was off guard and grabbed his neck with my other hand.

“more!”

He cried out when he was being choked, his face turning bright red. I smiled and made an invitation.

“Why wait for you to contact me? Let’s do it now. You have the key card, right? You just have to grovel like a dog in front of the chairman.”

“Use your influence, and then show the other person a picture of themselves being taken advantage of by a man.”

“That jerk…again!”

Cha Jung-woo grabbed my hand and tried to pry it off, so I squeezed his neck harder. Suddenly, his face turned red like a ripe persimmon. In an instant, I kindly told him, as he was struggling to free himself from my grip,

“I don’t exercise, but I’ve practiced with knives a bit. If you don’t want your throat slit, live quietly and do as the manager tells you. Don’t come around. You’re asking for trouble with me.”

I pushed the other person away after that argument ended.

“Damn it…Damn it!”

I left him coughing and muttering curses as I went, then walked out of the lounge. What a waste of time. I thought I hadn’t been in the lounge long, but twenty minutes had passed. I cautiously opened the door to the room, thinking he probably wasn’t awake yet. But I stopped short, unable to move, because I felt a gentle breeze. I hadn’t left any windows open when I left. I kept walking and saw the crazy guy leaning against the window in the spacious living room at the end of the short hallway. Perhaps he was leaning against the pane.

The large windows made it seem like I was standing in mid-air, or perhaps the airy, open view briefly reminded me of him, whom I’d seen on Dream’s rooftop. Back then, I never imagined there would be a day when that lunatic would be waiting for me in the hotel wearing only a robe. Ah, that irritated look for heaven’s sake! I tried to ignore the intense stares and walked over to sit on the sofa, then pre-emptively spoke up.

“I didn’t run away.”

“I know.”

Why did such a terrifying aura emanate from him? Just his slow walk beside me created an atmosphere like holding your breath in a scene where a murderer is approaching. It was a horror movie, and just as he was about to say I’d gone to buy a T-shirt, I noticed a cigarette in his hand.

“Smoking is prohibited here, isn’t it?”

“I know, that’s why I’m just holding onto it.” A mocking sneer came from his mouth as he replied. Feeling slightly annoyed, I tilted my head to look at him.

“Why”

“I was just wondering when you became so strict about rules.”

“I’m usually a rule-follower.”

“A guy who held a knife to his debtor’s throat, yet claims to be strictly enforcing the no-smoking rules in this area?”

Well, not exactly strictly. Upon closer inspection, the cigarette looked like it had only just been lit. But when he taunted me to my face, I started to get angry.

“Lately, I’ve been following the rules and haven’t had any problems.”

“No, that’s the problem.”

“Look for?”

“The reason you uphold small rules isn’t because you’re a good or moral person, but because of what’s holding you back, whatever the rule may be. Regulations, laws, or whatever, they all have penalties. You just have to follow them, that’s all.”

Sometimes I feel his sarcasm is too harsh, but he’s right. I’m not really a virtuous person; I just hold it down.

“So you want me to smoke here right now?”

“That’s better. It’s more exciting to be a little out of the ordinary,” he replied coldly, without a smile. Then he offered me a white cigarette, tracing it between my fingers like a ballpoint pen. The gesture felt incredibly familiar, as if he were holding it there to suppress his craving for a cigarette. Had he been sucking on a candy before? If he followed the rules so well, why was he picking a fight with me? Or was he deliberately trying to annoy me for sneaking out in the middle of the night? Damn it, he’s deliberately looking for trouble. I swallowed my frustration, glaring at him.

“If you like going off the rails that much, then you smoke yourself. I’ll gather people to watch you with bated breath.”

“Do you have anyone in this hotel that you can call?”

I was taken aback by his question, because of the recent encounter with Cha Jung-woo. He stared at me and asked in a chilling tone.

“Why? Because you have to sneak out to meet Cha Jung-woo secretly, so you can’t call?”

What? Didn’t they say the staff in the suite lounge were extremely strict about confidentiality? Just then, he suddenly reached out and covered my face. I suddenly jumped and instinctively looked away, my head tilted back.

“Why are you running away? Doing this is just like you secretly went to meet Cha Jung-woo, isn’t it?”

“Who secretly found him? I was shocked when I ran into him at the lounge.”

“But I heard you talked to him in a way that was too friendly to be surprised.”

He raised his hand and grabbed the back of my neck. He didn’t use any force, but it felt like he was holding me tightly, unable to move. I didn’t want to get caught. Feeling anxious, I averted his gaze to the side and grumbled to myself.

“You probably didn’t hear how much of a friend I am, to the point of grabbing that guy by the collar.”

“Why did you grab his collar? Did Cha Jung-woo say he’s interested in you?”

At that moment, I was so engrossed in what Cha Jung-woo had said that I replied a split second too late.

“Nothing.”

“That bastard was chatting non-stop with you!”

The deeper, more resonant tone sounded gentle, but instead, it sent shivers down my spine.

“When did I ever talk to him? It seems like his hobby is just talking nonsense to everyone.”

“Then why does nobody know about that hobby except you?”

“How would I know… Are you jealous?”

I suddenly realised what was happening and turned to look, seeing him staring blankly into the air as if deep in thought for a moment.

“That’s right. Jealous, huh? This is the first time I’ve ever been jealous.”

This is the first time. What is this? Why does it feel so good? I couldn’t take my eyes off his face, but the moment he looked at me, I quickly averted my gaze.

“Why? Do you feel good that I’m jealous?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I could easily stomp on and deal with someone like Cha Jung-woo. It’s just that you’re bothering me and being annoying.”

“Well, you’re too soft-hearted to really push it aside, aren’t you?”

What is he talking about? All I’ve ever heard of in my life is the word “tough guy.” While I was still confused, he asked.

“So how did you stomp on that foul-mouthed Cha Jung-woo? How many of his teeth did you manage to knock out?”

Just because someone says a few nasty things, who would go around knocking someone’s teeth out?… Wait a minute, come to think of it, when we first met, this guy… He misunderstood me and immediately threw a punch at me.

“Do you constantly knock out other people’s teeth?”

He readily agreed, “Of course,” before continuing, “Except for you and Chung Myungshin.”

“Why make an exception for Chung Myungshin?”

“Isn’t that your victim?”

Hmph. I automatically let out a laugh. Putting that aside for a moment, it’s quite normal that he doesn’t resort to physical violence against his own actors. Isn’t that right?

“Should I thank you for sparing Myungshin?”

“You’re saying ‘Myungshin this, Myungshin that’ again.”

The hand gripping my neck tightened, causing my body to stiffen unconsciously from the tension.

“Didn’t you say his name first?”

“The name that comes out of your mouth is a completely different story. At first, I let it go because I saw him as your victim, but I’m starting to regret it more and more.”

“I want to go and stomp on it right now.”

“Your senses have improved a lot, haven’t they? Judging by the fact that you didn’t tell me ‘Don’t go’ anymore.”

Because you’re incredibly reckless. We’ve had a similar conversation before, and I immediately told you to stay out of it. Because revenge is my duty. Yet now, I don’t even dare to say those words aloud, because sometimes I feel a chilling terror from him. Would I be crazy to say that he’s like someone who would murder anyone without hesitation, with a smile on his face?

“Because Chung MyungShin isn’t worth that much attention, and stop worrying about Cha Jung Woo’s oral health. He’s going to enlist in the military anyway. So, there’s no need to do anything at all, right?”

“Now that he’s in the military, it’s even more suitable to handle it.”

He wasn’t planning on following the other guy into the army anyway, so what were they talking about? I looked at him in bewilderment before he spoke as if it were nothing at all.

What is important?

“The military is the best place to shoot someone dead and then cover it up as an accident.”

“…Just because someone said something disrespectful once, do you really need to pull out a gun?”

“Well, I had to trample on it before he started that hobby with you,” he said gently, tracing his thumb along my skin.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be enlisting. Are you worried about Cha Jung-woo getting killed?”

“I don’t care what happens to anyone, whether they live or die.”

“But aren’t you more concerned about Myungshin’s well-being?”

“Of course. I have to get revenge if Myungshin dies…” I paused, glancing at him. He smirked and urged me to continue. “Speak up.”

Is he really jealous about something like this? I felt a shiver run down my spine, but at the same time, I was so angry I wanted to keep repeating Myungshin’s name. I didn’t stop, yet I chose to keep my mouth shut. I wasn’t bothered by that jealousy, and it was always like this with that jerk. No matter how negative my emotions were, I always felt differently about him than with anyone else. It was like a new feeling, unique to Yoonjae. So now I was annoyed by the jealousy, but at the same time, my heart was racing, and I wanted to touch him. So I turned away and murmured softly.

“If Myungshin dies, it would all be in vain, because the revenge would end immediately.”

“Lee Yoohan”

“That’s all.”

I spoke briefly and reached out to touch the other person’s long, slender fingers. He remained still, not moving. Because of that, I deceived myself into thinking that the person in front of me was the doll… I thought I could touch it a little more. I felt like I was tracing my fingers along a winding path from one knuckle to two knuckles. The hand was so warm, and that warmth told me he was a living person, not just a doll. And it seemed to be giving warmth to my body, which was numb from the cold.

“Aren’t you sleepy?” I asked without looking at him, and received an immediate answer.

“Hmm.”

“I’m a little sleepy and tired, plus I have to go out early in the morning. Even if I sleep now, I’ll probably only get a few hours of nap. But I don’t really want to.”

“How much sleep did you get?”

I heard the question, “Why?”, and immediately thought of the answer, but couldn’t say it out loud because I felt that this moment might never return.

“I just don’t want to sleep,” I murmured softly before turning his hand over and placing my own palm on top of it. Although our hearts should have been quite far apart, I could feel it. The throbbing pulse and the vibrations felt so good that I didn’t want to let go.

“Can I do this?”

I realised in the next split second that I had blurted out what I should have kept silent, but I heard no response, and his hand rested on top of mine, motionless. I felt like he was silently waiting, watching to see if I would try to escape.

“Why not? I ran out to find you while I was working!”

Did he really run out? I’m starting to understand a little why Alice’s boss was making such a fuss. He’s a workaholic.

It felt strange to hear it from his own mouth. The voice that spoke the next sentence was deep and low, and the room was dimly lit, with only a small light illuminating it, making it even more unsettling. Part of it might have been because the rapid beating of his pulse, felt against my palm, giving me warmth.

“Work is important to me, that’s true, but I can let it go anytime. Everything in the world is like that. If you take one step back you can see it’s not a big deal, but if you can’t back away, know that there’s still room to retreat,” he said, holding my hand. When I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, he tightened his grip. “I mean, you need some space to breathe. You still need to breathe and live, don’t you? You can do that.”

The emotionless tone, as if stating the truth, didn’t sound like comfort at all, but I thought it was the most caring he could possibly show.

It can be done for someone, so there’s no need to refuse by saying no, “No, I can’t do that,” or “I’m not fit to do that.”

“If you don’t want to sleep, what else would you like to do with me?”

I glanced at the clock. It was 12:25. I had to leave early in the morning, so I only had a few hours left. Greed crept into my mind.

I realised that during the remaining time, I really needed to catch my breath, so I got up and straddled his legs. I looked directly into his dark eyes and leaned down to press my lips against his. The hot breath that filled his mouth moved into mine. We kissed slowly and tenderly, but he didn’t rush anything. Instead, his hands tried to remove my robe.

“I’ll take it off myself.”

I stopped him and used my own hands to unbuckle my robe and belt. The unusually cold air in the room hit my skin. I took off my pants.

Then she lunged forward towards his lips, completely forgetting the lingering kiss from moments before.

“Take your time.”

He murmured as he stroked my head. The reason I paused for a moment wasn’t because I was following his orders, but because I recognised it. I recognised that voice and…

He said those words to me five years ago when I put on a mascot mask, straddled him, and impulsively tried to insert my penis into him.

“Take your time.”

He really is that person. It’s the real him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just like your voice.”

He chuckled in a deep voice at my evasive answer.

“If you like it, then I’ll keep talking. I can talk about anything you want to hear.”

“About anything I want to hear,” I murmured vaguely.

“Then it’s just lighthearted and pointless.”

His lips touched mine as I whispered my request. He slipped his tongue inside, immediately transferring his heat to me.

“Try doing it alone, and then I’ll tell you all sorts of useless stories.”

“Hack,” he said. I flinched, and then he gave a small smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Do you need any help?”

“Never mind. You can keep talking.”

A low, deep laugh escaped his lips. That short, frequent laugh tonight sent a shiver down my spine, no matter how many times I heard it.

“Rest your head on my shoulder.”

I rubbed my forehead against his shoulder as instructed and began to masturbate, sitting with my legs wide apart on his lap and using my hand to pleasure his penis.

Going along with my own body was embarrassing and ridiculous, but that moment changed completely when I heard his voice in my ear.

“When I was at university, I had a friend who loved French short stories. She told them over and over until I memorised the entire plot and got tired of them. Just a few strokes of the hand and fingers, and the still-not-fully-erect penis became fully erect in an instant. Masturbating oneself isn’t difficult, but…”

My breathing gradually became rapid and shallow.

“That novel was about stars. My friend always described how beautiful they were, but I wasn’t into it at all.”

He paused and kissed the nape of my neck. As I breathed softly through my lips, my hand slowly stroked my own penis to arouse myself. Meanwhile, his lips kissed my neck again before moving down to my shoulder, licking and sucking on my skin. Even though I was overwhelmed by the increasing arousal, I still managed to remember where he had left off in his story.

“Hacking? Why?”

“The stars are so far away that the beautiful light we see as images from the distant past, yet we still glorify stars that we don’t know if they have now faded.”

“No, it’s funny, isn’t it? The universe is wondrous, but for me, that’s all there is to it.”

As he slowly told the story, he moved his lips to press a kiss to my ear.

“Because daydreaming about the light of the past is pointless.”

He spoke while placing his hand over the back of my moving hand. As the pressure from his hand suddenly increased, I gasped for breath and twisted my body violently.

Before my body trembled and tensed as he began to grasp my penis and stroke it, the stimulation from another’s hand made me dizzy as usual, followed by a rapid surge of pleasure. A burning, agonising feeling of ecstasy, as if about to be released, was concentrated in my core.

Flap flap flap

His hand, wet with the fluid I had ejaculated, stroked my penis rapidly and intensely, and soon I stopped breathing and let out a loud cry.

He groaned.

“Hiccup…”

My hips tensed and convulsed in sync with the release of my semen, after I had buried my forehead on his shoulder and ejaculated for a while.

I was lost in a whirlwind of tingling and weakness that overwhelmed my body, but soon I had to tilt my head back as I felt fingers touching my backside. The fingers, wet with my fluids, circled the entrance before immediately pushing inside.

“Again,” I groaned, my body stiffening.

And then, the story I thought was over continued.

“But I wondered how my friend felt. Not long after, I went to a place where I could see the stars scattered across the sky.”

He paused, then pressed his fingers inside, widening my opening. Then the number of fingers gradually increased. Even though I had embraced his many times today, I could still feel the foreign object when something was inserted into my body again. However, because he spoke in such a soft, slow voice, I didn’t notice. It was only later that I realised he wasn’t relaxed at all, judging by the way his fingers were hastily exploring my opening. The evidence was his rock-hard penis pressing against my thigh.

“Lift your hips up quickly.”

He grabbed my hips and lifted me up the moment he gave the command. I sat in a kneeling position and felt the tip of his penis touching my anus, then…

I squeezed his shoulders tightly with my hands.

“Never mind, I’ll do it myself.”

I heard laughter again, and in the meantime, I used my hand to guide his penis to my own opening. I had to gather my courage to press my hips down into the position.

Knowing how big and tight his penis was inside me, I gritted my teeth and pushed his wet head in.

The first time you insert something is always breathless. I know I’ve stopped moving even though only the tip has gone in, but I can’t bring myself to push my hips up.

I could go on immediately. I needed to take a few deep breaths before trying to relax my body. He didn’t say anything to rush me, unlike the hands that caressed my waist and hips, indicating his urgency. Seeing him like that, I felt like I was going to be pulled down at any moment. The moment I pressed my hips down a little more, his thick, hard penis immediately pushed into my body.

“Relax a little.”

“We haven’t even gotten halfway in yet.”