Chapter 15

Proofreader: TT

cw: noncon

Tak~

Like a porter, I put the two boxes of tonics in my hands on the cluttered table. His office from the previous time was still occupied by piles of papers. At first I didn’t know what they were so I didn’t care, but now I could see them. The scripts the manager showed me over the past week to get used to in advance. Everything piled up in the whole office were scripts.

“What did you hear from the boss?”

I looked away from the scripts at that question. Standing at his desk, he was checking something on the screen. Not to mention the boss’s unusual personality, even his attitude towards the madman was a bit strange. Under the guise of that gruff tone and harsh expression, I could notice a caring heart. Why didn’t he show it outright? Such dishonest behavior did not seem to be the result of that unusual personality. At least he didn’t hide his true feelings in front of me. That is to say, he only acts strangely in front of the person involved.

I made a brief conclusion before opening my mouth. It’s the madman who must have rejected it. The heart of the other person who treated him with affection as though he was a family member.

“He asked me how I seduced you.”

“And what did you answer?”

“I said I seduced you with 200 won.”

He slowly lifted his lips and raised his eyes from the monitor.

“That’s true. And then?”

He must have been asking, ‘so what’s the secret that the boss told you?’. The director told me to keep it a secret, but I didn’t even consider it a secret. But of course I didn’t want to let him know that easily.

“And then what?”

When I asked back coldly, he laughed.

“If you tell me, I’ll halve your work today.”

Work? As soon as I wondered that, he stepped away from the desk and threw something in front of me.

Clatter.

They were CDs. At first glance, there seemed to be around ten. When I remembered those boring short films, I looked up bitterly and he laughed and added.

“After watching them, read the scripts in the room. Of course, all of them.”

“…”

“If you need, there are tonics here, you can drink it and work.”

Before I knew it, he stood in front of the door and pointed at the tonics given by the boss. I recalled the boss’s threat, “If you eat ”Jay’s”, you’ll die.”

“Until when do I have to do this?”

He stared at me as if I was something fascinating for a while without speaking and then smiled with curved eyes.

“Until you’re done, of course.”

My eyes scanned the room once more. How many texts were there? Even if I exclude half of them which were in English, it would take more than a month to read them all.

“By the way, I’ll bring you this much more tomorrow.”

“…”

“If you have anything to say, say it. I’ll halve the work.”

A languid and calm tone was added to a gentle voice, and it had a strange power to control the other person. And that smile. If it was someone else in front of him, they probably wouldn’t be able to refuse. If I wasn’t guarded against him for 24 hours, I might meekly tell him everything he wanted to know.

“I have nothing to say. How long do I have to finish the whole thing?”

The fake smile he had was gone, at least in my eyes. But why does it seem more like a smile?

“Anytime. But I’ll give you permission to leave after finishing for the day.”

He opened the door as if he was about to leave, and I spoke quickly.

“Then give me permission in advance today.”

I made the request because I saw him leave the desk a while ago and turn off the computer. It meant he wasn’t just going out for a while, and I didn’t want to bother calling him later. However, the one who turned around holding the half-open door made a bright smile.

“I don’t want to.”

———

As expected, I had tried not to doze off watching the boring films, but when I looked at my watch, it was 2 a.m. I thought it was time to find him, so I stood up stiffly. Tomorrow was the day of the official class, so the manager told me to come early to advise a few things. I thought I would be able to sleep even for a few hours if I went home by now. The problem was permission. I turned my old cell phone on and pressed the call by selecting ‘Madman’.

After several signals, the familiar female voice kindly informed me that the phone was off. I folded the phone and tried to put it in my pocket, but I noticed something by his desk. A black bag that appeared to belong to him. Did he not leave the store completely? As I stepped out the door to check, I saw an employee just in time. I called him, who was busy, and pointed my hand to the room where I came out.

“Do you know where the owner of this room is?”

“Director-nim is currently in the room with the client.”

Director? He said he had a stake in this store, so it seemed like he was a director, that’s why he was acting like he owned the place. It was somewhat unfair that he was drinking now. However, the next explanation from the employee made me stop.

“We usually entertain work related matters here.”

Work related matters. Was he working until this morning? Then, suddenly, the boss’s words came to mind. The exaggeration that he worked too hard and that the employees would imitate him seemed like the truth. Did you work like that every day? In the office or even at an entertainment place. It was something unexpected. Because he was so arrogant and full of self-confidence, I imagined that he would just sit in a high seat, give orders, and in the evening drink expensive alcohol at a high-end bar and sprinkle money. Like a typical example of the son of a wealthy family who has never failed and walked the path of success with the help of the family.

But the scripts, movies, and all kinds of broadcasting-related books piled up in that room were already telling me that my assumptions were just my prejudice. What the hell was his identity? I didn’t like the easy answer that he just had innate wealth and confidence as well as being sincerely hardworking.

“But, as I was passing by a while ago, I saw the director go out.”

“Was he going somewhere?”

“Yeah, probably obviously…”

He confidently said “obviously” and suddenly shut his mouth with an embarrassed face. He seemed to know where he was, so I couldn’t afford to question why he stopped. First of all, I was tired and I needed sleep.

“Where is he?”

“It looks like he went to where he usually goes to, but to tell you that…”

When he had said this much, another employee came to ask what was going on, and the first employee whispered. I could only hear two or three words; ‘there’, ‘no access’, and ‘with a smile…’. I only heard a few words, but I seemed to understand what he was trying to say. The word “smile” meant something had made him angry. Maybe an unspeakable place I shouldn’t approach. However, the employee who came later whispered something for a while and then turned to me, and headed toward me as if he were going to step out.

“Ah, you are Lee Baekwon who works with Director-nim in his office, aren’t you? Director-nim is on the rooftop now. I will guide you.”

His friendly smiling face was right in front of me, but my eyes turned to the first employee next to him. Contrary to his smiling mate, he was standing back with a worrisome look in his eyes. However, the employee who came forward to guide me urged me.

“Follow me.”

As I turned around and followed him, I looked at him with curious eyes. He clearly grinned before stepping forward.

The rooftop wasn’t an intimate place in my life, except for the time I often went up to play hooky when I was in high school. But as soon as I entered Dream, this place started to intervene in my life again. I was already feeling like I wouldn’t have a very good relationship with rooftops, but the smile of the employee who was seeing me off from behind reinforced that thought. The two nightmares that I had already met on Dream’s rooftop also played a part. So, I was nervous and walked on the rooftop decorated like a garden just like that in Dream.

Tap, tap.

I tried not to make a sound, but my footsteps echoed in the quiet night air. Standing in the center of the dark rooftop, I looked around and found a bench on the left. And sitting there was a dim human figure. As I got closer, I saw him reclining in his chair, tilting his head completely back, and looking up at the sky. One arm spread across the back of a chair, making him appear larger.

And unsuitably, he was holding a candy in his mouth.

Maybe it was a funny sight at first glance, but I took a moment to catch my breath because he looked so relaxed. For a moment, I felt as if I was a disturbance. But I soon moved forward and stopped a few steps away from him. And quietly gave strength to the body and tensed.

Judging by the behavior of the employee who sent me to this place, it was as if he was intentionally bringing me here. I thought that there might be abusive language or fists flying first. Perhaps this was the place where he rests every time, and if he was disturbed, he would relentlessly punish people with a smile. I’ve already had a similar experience while trying to get a cigarette. But it was not right this time. I shouldn’t injure my face, but after grabbing him and knocking him down…

“Do you want to eat?”

“Uh?”

In the midst of all that tension, I asked the question out of the blue, like a fool. Then, when he lowered his head and pulled the candy stick from his mouth, I thought he was finally starting to act, so I gave strength to my hind legs and took a step back. But he just held out his hand. He held out the candy he had bitten into his mouth.

“No smoking here.”

“…”

“Surprisingly delicious.”

I stared blankly at his face and the candy. While I was tensing my body up, the other party only offered candy.

“What, do you hate sweets?”

He barely opened his mouth to let out a small complaint.

“Is that all?”

I added, looking around the empty space.

“Don’t you dislike it when you get disturbed when you’re alone here?”

At the question, he put the candy back into his mouth and pursed his lips.

“That’s right. I swear first, and then I go out with my fists.”

“…”

“Then why did you come here knowing that?”

“Because I’m not afraid.”

His smile as he bit the candy made him look innocent like a child. But that was only the appearance. His eyes were shining like snakes under the light.

“It makes me excited to hear that.”

I frowned, and I thought that I would rather just fight. On the contrary, the guy’s smile grew even bigger.

“That look.”

I stopped. I immediately straightened my frown, but he took out the candy and pointed at my face.

“I like that rebellious look. Those eyes make my lower part throb.”

The plainly explicit words were said in a gentle voice that did not suit. The problem was that I lowered my eyes subconsciously at those words. I quickly looked back up again, but I saw that his front had really rosen. Fucking hell. Unlike me, who was swearing inwards, the shameless opponent spoke in a laugh.

“There is nothing to look at like that. If you want, I’ll put it in your mouth and confirm it for you.”

I was a man too, so I immediately recognized the meaning of his words and stared at the other person again. Even though I was getting caught up by him, it was difficult to control myself.

“If you want it to be cut off by my teeth, put it in.”

I threatened in an utter lowly voice, but the other party smirked.

“If your mouth is dangerous, what about the back? Is it tight enough to cut off too?”

“Quit joking.”

“How many times have you told me? I don’t joke.”

He smiled and cut off my words, expressionlessly turning the candy in his mouth.

“You, do you still not understand that I want to fuck you? What do you think is the reason why I didn’t say no when you asked for help in the first place? To wait for you and believe that your value will grow?”

A low laugh blended into his voice and continued slowly.

“I’m meeting you obviously just because I’m horny.”

Contrary to his light tone, his eyes looking at me were intense and I could not turn my gaze away. It was as if he was conveying his feelings that he really wanted to fuck me in this place with those eyes. I was aggravated, but even more so, I got goosebumps from those eyes that revealed inner tenacity.

“There’s nothing to be so afraid of. I’ll take care of that pretty body right now.”

“Take care of your own body.”

At last, I spat out and looked away first. To be honest, I felt suffocated when I met eyes like that. Damn it.

“It’s interesting to see an innocent response, considering that you provoked me first, saying that you’ll give yourself to me.”

By that, I meant that I would do anything, but I honestly hadn’t thought that it could mean entangling bodies at the time. Why not? I was a person who had only the tension to fight when I met him.

“On that note, is your revenge going well?”

He turned his pale face to the changed topic. I was in a situation where I had to get his help, so I should be pleased with his interest, but I couldn’t welcome it because it felt like I was hearing a middle-aged man’s harassment. Deciding to help me because he was horny… As I was thinking this far, I suddenly felt something strange. It was like I was missing something. What was it? I was quietly concentrating on my thoughts, but a voice calling me interrupted me.

“Lee Yoohan.”

When I raised my eyes, he spoke in a dry tone with an expressionless face.

“When you’re with me, focus on me.”

“…”

“So, I heard that you are taking classes from today. Do you have any plans?”

I knew what he was asking about. That’s why he showed me the footage of Myeongshin. Besides, he knew what happened after it stopped. Who the person, who was going to get in my way, was.

“Not really.”

After I answered shortly, he smiled and took a big bite of his candy.

“If I knew who was going to bother you, I would come up with a countermeasure quickly. Don’t you think? Tell me what I want to know. Then I will tell you.”

Naturally, I shook my head, thinking it was about the conversation I had with the boss a while ago. I had no intention of soliciting something just by knowing his name. I had never thought that it was a secret.

“It’s not a big deal. What the boss said.”

“I didn’t ask for that.”

Then? I questioned him with my eyes and he jogged my memories.

“The first man to fuck you.”

“Why are you so curious about that?”

I was really curious about the surprising amount of tenacity he had, so I asked. Then he looked into the air and wondered if he could think of an answer, and then he opened his mouth.

“Well, it just bothers me. It doesn’t make me feel good. Don’t you feel that way too?”

About what? I tried to ask but I instinctively swallowed the question, feeling an eerie feeling as his lips slowly curved.

“The fact that I fucked a man other than you. No?”

No. Again, the answer disappeared in my mouth. He stood up from his seat and approached with a deep smile until his dimples showed. Stopping close, he bowed slightly and whispered.

“Tell me. How do you feel?”

I raised my eyes and looked straight up at him, smelling the faint candy.

“I don’t feel anything.”

At my answer, the eyes seen up close shone with delight.

“I saw your profile picture. You know what? Except for that expressionless expression, all your facial expressions are awkward.”

The sudden change in topic made me a bit bewildered and responded.

“So?”

“In today’s class, you will be pointed out right away. Shall I give you a special solution that can change that immediately?”

Then he held out the candy he was eating in front of me. The sweet smell of the candy that was held out as if it was about to touch my lips entered my nostrils.

“No need… Mmph!”

In an instant, a sweet taste like the scent from just now entered my mouth. But it wasn’t some candy. My lips, which had been attacked while I was off guard, opened my mouth in an instant and a sweet tongue was pushed in. I tried to turn my head, but before I knew it, a hand gripped my head and held it tight and wouldn’t let go. All I could do in that state was to push him away with my arms, but while I was trying to move my head, his other arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer to him, leaving no room to push him away.

As I struggled in an ugly way, the tongue in my mouth entered deeply. Funny enough, the first thing I felt was the sweet taste. Really sweet. It was also unpleasantly delicious. His tongue just came in, and after the brief stirring kiss, he moved away, but my lips and mouth were filled with sweetness.

“Isn’t it sweet?”

As I raised my displeased eyes at the question, he curved his eyes. When the smile that seemed sincere somehow felt like a child, I heard additional words.

“When you want to elicit emotions, recall the sweetness. And think again.”

I could feel his body moving back, letting go of my waist, but I felt his previous contact burning from my waist. The body that was in contact with the other had become rigid. And I got a little aroused by it too. Fuck, was it because I’ve been abstinent all this time? I was blaming myself, but he recognized my reaction, and I heard his whispering voice in my ear.

“Do you still feel nothing?”