Just then, the front door bell rang. Seeing Yoonkyung go out calling his name, he thought he couldn’t avoid it forever. It was the moment when, after making up his mind, he was about to go out holding Dokyung to at least briefly exchange greetings.
But when he went out, the baby’s father wasn’t there. According to Yoonkyung, he backed away as if he’d seen a ghost, then suddenly ran away through the emergency stairs. She said there was no time to say anything or catch him. Then a text came and when she read it, he’d sent a text with a strange nuance as if he’d never see her again.
“No, look at this. ‘Thank you for everything’? Of course, Jeong-ssi is someone who often says things like he’s grateful, he’ll repay the kindness… but isn’t this a bit strange?”
“…Right.”
Replying half-heartedly, Wookyung unrolled some tissues. It was because Dokyung had just spilled his milk. Hurriedly lifting Dokyung’s arm so the baby’s clothes wouldn’t get wet and wiping the table and under the table with tissues, Wookyung didn’t even properly hear what Yoonkyung was confiding.
“Oh my, our Dokyung. Did you spill your milk?”
“Everything’s fine, so can’t you do something about that way of talking?”
“Oppa, you’ll end up like this too if you take care of a baby?”
Even while bickering meaninglessly, the two quickly finished preparing for work. They also dressed Dokyung warmly in clothes, and personally packed and prepared the daycare bag that was usually sent with Jeong. Admirably, Dokyung didn’t whine or cry looking for his father.
“Aww, how pretty. Dokyung-ah, should you be imo’s son? Hm?”
“Mm.”
Yoonkyung smiled as she kissed Dokyung’s forehead with a smack, dressed like a snowman in layers of clothes and even wearing shoes. Wookyung also couldn’t take his eyes off cute Dokyung. It felt like the cuteness was doubled since he was wearing the shoes and outerwear that Wookyung himself had chosen.
“Let’s go, Dokyung-ah.”
“Mm.”
Holding the hand of the child who was trying to run off, they carefully got on the elevator. Just before scattering toward their respective parked cars in the underground parking lot, Wookyung bent down to meet Dokyung’s eyes.
“Dokyung-ah, have a good time at daycare. Uncle will come again.”
“Mm.”
Stroking the head of the child who smiled while speaking brightly, Wookyung habitually showed his cheek and tapped it with his finger.
“Dokyung-ah, kiss.”
“What, you still haven’t given up?”
Yoonkyung thoroughly mocked her oppa who couldn’t give up and kept clinging even though he was rejected every time. As expected, Dokyung went “mmm” in a sly manner and shook his head from side to side.
“You’re really going to be like that? When uncle loves you so much. You’re going to act like this over one kiss?”
“Mm.”
Wookyung smiled weakly watching Dokyung who turned his head away without hesitation.
“Fine, you little brat. I’m leaving. You have to do it next time, okay?”
“Mm.”
“You promised?”
Chuckling, Wookyung slowly straightened his crouched body.
“I’m going. See you again.”
“Okay. Oppa, you’ll come to see Dokyung again, right?”
“Yeah.”
She didn’t even scold him for coming often anymore. Dokyung had already taken a small place in Wookyung’s daily life. Even Yoonkyung, who was amazed at first by such a change in Wookyung, had now adapted and asked if he’d come again as if it were nothing. Smiling faintly, Wookyung started the car.
As he turned the wheel and backed out of the parking spot, he could see Yoonkyung putting Dokyung in the car seat. Wookyung opened the window to greet her once more, then slowly exited the underground parking lot.
*
Deeply sunken consciousness was binding his arms and legs like thick iron chains. With hazy consciousness, Jeong opened his eyes.
His eyelashes scraped stiffly against the cloth covering his eyes as they lifted. Even with his eyes open, all he could see was darkness without a single point of light.
And a violin melody coming from somewhere.
He thought the heaviness he felt in his body was just a feeling, but when he slowly tried to move his hands, they were actually firmly fixed with something and wouldn’t move. Only then did his head belatedly recall being bound with his hands behind his back by the men in the car earlier. Unlike before, now even his feet seemed to be tied. Both ankles were stuck together uncomfortably and wouldn’t move.
“Mm, mmph, mmm…”
Making moaning sounds, he flailed his body like a fish. With his eyes and mouth covered and both hands and feet all tied, he couldn’t do anything. It was the first time his body felt this powerless. Only panting and breathing out, nothing attached to his body could function actively.
Where is this place?
The dark field of vision where nothing could be gauged further fueled his anxiety. In a situation where he couldn’t control his body as he pleased, only the tragically rising violin and cello sounds echoed loudly in his ears. The seductive melody echoing in the darkness felt somewhere gloomy and eerie rather than beautiful. The high notes that were sharply edged scratched and stimulated his nerves, then sometimes sobbed in low sounds as if pleading.
The classical music filling the eerily quiet space and the smooth floor with no dirt or water. The peacefully adjusted indoor temperature. And now the scent like a burning campfire that had become familiar to his nose.
This was all the senses that his limitedly open five senses could accept. However, Jeong felt he could vaguely tell whose space he had entered. At the same time, Jeong stopped struggling and smoothly relaxed. If his guess was correct, such struggling would be meaningless.
“Are you done exploring?”
A caring and gentle voice was heard from above his head. At the same time, the blindfold covering his eyes was removed.
“I was hoping you’d be more curious and scared. Jeong-ssi, you’re quite perceptive.”
The darkness in his vision was swept away at once. As expected, in front of his eyes was that beta man with glasses crouching.
With his mouth blocked, Jeong panted while rolling his eyes to quickly explore the inside of the house. Behind the man, he could see large windows completely covered with curtains and the interior of the house that felt dry. His body seemed to be thrown in the middle of the living room.
The man smiled brightly and spoke.
“It’s nice to see you here instead of always at the establishment, isn’t it?”
“Uh, uh. Haah…”
“I wanted to play with Jeong-ssi, so I paid extra to bring you here. It’s okay, right? Anyway, Jeong-ssi, you’re a whore who sells his body for money.”
The man smirked and affectionately stroked Jeong’s hair.
“From now on, let’s have fun time together with me. I took today and tomorrow off work to play with Jeong-ssi. The day after is my regular day off anyway.”
At the man’s voice that even seemed excited, Jeong got goosebumps all over.
What on earth was this crazy man talking about now? When was he planning to let him go, why was he telling him in advance that he was taking off for several days like this? Jeong only rolled his eyes in anxiety.
“I’ll pay you enough money, so don’t worry. I’m not a bad guy who holds a whore without paying.”
“Uh, uh!”
“I’ll play with you nicely and send you back to Yeodanhwa. That’s all there is to it, right?”
Even inside his own house, wearing a white shirt and cotton pants neatly, he looked quite happy. Fingers that were delicate and white, as if they’d never done hard work in their life, slowly stroked up and down Jeong’s hair, cheeks, and neckline as if enjoying them. It was an affectionate touch unlike usual. With a satisfied smile, the man lightly tapped Jeong’s cheek.
“Ah, look at me. Why would I cover the mouth of someone who can’t speak anyway?”
It was a tone full of mockery. His hand slowly removed the string moistened with saliva from the mouth. The breathing that had been difficult because of the cloth covering his mouth became much easier. Jeong panted and let out several short breaths. Uncontained saliva flowed down his neck and dripped onto the floor.
“You’re dirtying the floor, Jeong-ssi. Really…”
Chuckling, he continued speaking playfully.
“Like a dog.”
He slowly stood up and disappeared beyond his field of vision. Coughing, Jeong blinked to shake off the tears that had gathered physiologically. It was more unsettling because he could hear clattering sounds of him doing something but couldn’t see it.
The words the man had just poured out rang in his ears again.
For several days, play with him?
This man is definitely not in his right mind.
At the eerily felt conclusion, goosebumps rose all over his body. Trying to slowly control his breath colored with fear, Jeong widened his eyes. Lying prone with his stomach on the floor and his hands and feet tied, he felt short of breath even though his blocked mouth had been freed. Panting, Jeong kept repeating to himself. Chewing his lips, he pressed himself harshly.
Pull yourself together. You have to stay calm. Think. What does that man want? And escape safely. For now, that’s enough. That’s…
“What are you thinking about?”
Just then, a gentle voice was heard right behind him. At the presence of the man who had approached close before he knew it, all the fine hairs on his body stood on end. Jeong breathed heavily and with difficulty turned his head to look at the man.
“I can see you racking your brain. You’re thinking about how you can escape from here now, right?”
“……”
“It’s simple. I told you earlier. Just play with me happily for a few days. Then I’ll send you back to Yeodanhwa nicely, okay?”
The man laughed as if pleased. Then he reached out his hand and gently wrapped around Jeong’s neck to fasten something. The feeling of leather touching the nape of his neck was unfamiliar. His eyes widened automatically.
