“Heheh…… hek, congrats…… keh, on your…… deliberate, debut……!”
Only then did Gi-hyeon come to his senses and looked around. Everyone in the hall was staring at him. The venue had fallen silent because the orchestra members had set down their instruments. The crowd rebuked him with their silence. Even the Yale gallery director, who had been favorable toward Gi-hyeon, wore the same cold eyes as the rest of them. Gwok Un’s face, standing beside her, looked like it was about to crumble to dust. Only then realizing he’d been stopped, Gi-hyeon shook off the Butler and took Do-gyeom’s hand, retreating to the studio.
Gi-hyeon was left speechless at the sight of a man and woman tangled together on the studio sofa. Even as he entered, they continued sucking and nibbling at each other without a care in the world — unable to bear it any longer, Gi-hyeon kicked the door. At the dull thud, the pair only shifted their gazes while still latched onto each other’s lips.
“Get out.”
Pushed by his murderous glare, they straightened their clothes and left the studio. Gi-hyeon absentmindedly moved to brush back his falling bangs, then lowered his hand. He let out a long sigh and headed to the bathroom. When he emerged, he was carrying several towels. He laid the towels out on the sofa and sat Do-gyeom down.
“Pardon me.”
Gi-hyeon placed a towel over Do-gyeom’s head and began shaking the alcohol out of his hair. With every movement of his hands, he could vividly feel the rustling texture of the hair. After roughly wiping off the alcohol, Gi-hyeon pressed a fresh towel into Do-gyeom’s hands.
“Use this to wipe down your body.”
The towel in Do-gyeom’s limp hands fell weakly to the floor. At the sight of Do-gyeom’s helplessness, the anger Gi-hyeon had barely managed to suppress surged back up. Gi-hyeon let out his rage, not quite sure at whom it was directed.
“Do-gyeom-ssi, don’t you even know how to get angry?”
“……”
“Why are you just blinking — just slap someone like you did before!!”
His heated voice echoed through the studio. Even after venting his rage, the anger continued to boil in his chest. Gi-hyeon steadied his ragged breath and knelt down in front of Do-gyeom. When he took Do-gyeom’s hand — stained with red wine — the dry hand trembled pitifully. He wrapped it completely, from Do-gyeom’s wrist to the tips of his fingers, without leaving a single gap. The wine, like blood, soaked into his shirt sleeve.
“Ask me for help.”
“……”
“Ask me for help. Okay?”
At the command-like plea, Do-gyeom bit his lip.
“You can’t live like this — so miserably — so ask me for help.”
“……”
“If you just say the words, I’ll help you without asking anything. So please, just say it.”
“……”
Watching Do-gyeom give no answer to the very end, Gi-hyeon rose to his feet. He rubbed Do-gyeom’s lips, which had gone white. Life returned to what had looked like a corpse’s lips. Gi-hyeon picked up the towel and pressed it back into Do-gyeom’s hands.
“……I’ll go clear my head for a bit, so rest while I’m gone.”
“How could I do that.”
“……”
“How could I possibly do that — ask for help, how could I……”
At the voice drowning in self-loathing, Gi-hyeon knelt down again. Clinging to Do-gyeom’s downcast lashes was something — wine or tears, impossible to tell. Gi-hyeon looked into the face of the man he loved. Every time he saw the despair soaked into that thin skin, a wave of heartache crashed over him. Impulsively, he took Do-gyeom’s hand.
“Just do whatever you want. Love me when I’m loveable, use me when you want to use me.”
At his words, Do-gyeom was reminded of the blind devotion he had once given to Gwok Un. It was unbelievable that a man so much stronger than his own wretched self was pledging such dedication.
“So say it — ask me for help.”
“……Can you forgive me, Jakka-nim?”
Eyes eroded by deep self-hatred turned toward Gi-hyeon. At Gi-hyeon’s unwavering gaze, Do-gyeom’s lashes trembled.
“You’d really forgive me so easily — for the day I sold you out? Someone this cowardly and disgusting……?”
Gi-hyeon gripped Do-gyeom’s hand and laced their fingers together. Do-gyeom’s fingers struggled to push him away. Gi-hyeon squeezed with the force of someone about to break his fingers.
“You’re the same.”
“……!”
“You loved that piece-of-trash Gwok Un for over ten years. I’ve reached the point where I can’t help it, even if you curse me and call me disgusting trash.”
At the confession that sounded like resignation, Do-gyeom let his hand go limp. Gi-hyeon gently stroked between each of his fingers.
“So it’s okay. I can do anything — just like you.”
At Gi-hyeon’s words, a single ray of light seeped into Do-gyeom’s eyes. Looking at those eyes that seemed to wish for salvation from this filthy gutter, he reaffirmed his resolve.
The party ended, and for the next few days, Gwok Un was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he wasn’t even coming back to the mansion — his study and bedroom remained firmly shut. He appeared to be busy dealing with the fallout of the scene Gi-hyeon had caused. Every time Gi-hyeon descended the stairs for a meal, he would pause for a moment and stare at Gwok Un’s study and bedroom. When he recalled the study with its lights blazing even in the early hours of the morning, an uncomfortable feeling settled over him. Lost in thought, Gi-hyeon’s ears caught the sound of knocking. The Butler, who had knocked, flung the door open without even waiting for permission.
“The Young Master is calling for you. Please come down to the drawing room.”
Gi-hyeon glared at the Butler’s smug, bruised face, and the Butler gave a sly smile. His task done, the Butler turned away. Gi-hyeon wanted nothing more than to wring the Butler’s neck right then and there — but he held back. Gi-hyeon rose from his chair and let out a long breath. As his breathing settled, the murderous glint in his eyes faded away. He made his way with heavy steps to the drawing room.
When he opened the door, Gwok Un was standing in the middle of the drawing room. His already-sharp jawline was even more pronounced — as if he hadn’t been eating properly. Gwok Un, who had been rubbing his tired eyes, saw Gi-hyeon and broke into a bright smile. He strode over.
No sooner had Gi-hyeon’s cheek been struck and his head snapped to the side than another palm came flying sharply. With a ripping sound tearing through the air, Gwok Un’s nails raked across his cheek. Despite the sharp pain, Gi-hyeon stared at Gwok Un without protest. Even after having his cheek struck multiple times, his eyes remained clear and steady. Gwok Un, suppressing his boiling fury, opened his mouth.
“You trying to make a fool of me?”
“……”
“Thanks to you, I had quite a time cleaning up the mess. I only get to see your face now after spending all this time soothing those faint-hearted old geezers. Do you know how much I missed you in the meantime?”
Gwok Un roughly stroked Gi-hyeon’s swollen cheek. The reddened skin was mercilessly contorted.
“I could barely hold back from striking you like this right then and there.”
“I’m sorry.”
At his meek apology, Gwok Un blinked. His eyebrows shot up as he stared intently at Gi-hyeon. He seemed to find the sudden change in attitude incomprehensible.
“What are you scheming?”
“What do you mean.”
“It’s strange — normally you’d be saying something like ‘I’m done with this’ or ‘I’m quitting.'”
Gwok Un’s characteristic tenacious gaze followed closely. His eyes slid from Gi-hyeon’s eyes down the bridge of his nose, tracing along the philtrum and sweeping across his cheek. Wherever his gaze lingered, it felt as though a thick, viscous film had been left behind.
“I was being reckless, so.”
Gwok Un met Gi-hyeon’s eyes. As Gi-hyeon, who had been quietly enduring that relentless stare, finally looked away, Gwok Un’s eyes curved. He drew his slanted nail along Gi-hyeon’s jaw. A chill ran down his spine and goosebumps rose.
“You’re too transparent. It’s obvious you’re saying this while hiding your real intentions.”
Gwok Un grabbed Gi-hyeon’s jaw. His thumb pressed against Gi-hyeon’s lower lip, prying between his teeth. His well-manicured nail was aimed as if about to scratch his gums.
“Tell me before I upend everything.”
“I’d like for us to have a more… amicable relationship.”
As if displeased with the veil draped over Gi-hyeon’s introduction, Gwok Un’s anger gradually began to heat up. Just before the flames filling Gwok Un’s eyes reached their ignition point, Gi-hyeon spoke.
“Share your power with me.”
At the blunt demand, Gwok Un’s anger subsided. He withdrew his hand.
“What, all of a sudden? Whatever happened to that pathetic pride of yours — saying you don’t need a car, a card, or sponsorship.”
Gwok Un leaned his face against Gi-hyeon’s shoulder. Staring at Gi-hyeon, who kept his mouth tightly shut, a peculiar light appeared in Gwok Un’s eyes. Interest spread across Gwok Un’s face like ripples forming on a lake.
“Ah, so you were this kind of man all along?”
“……”
“Alright! I was getting a bit stressed out too, honestly. Tell me what you want.”
“I’d like the Butler to be dismissed.”
“Sure.”
Gi-hyeon’s eyes went wide. He’d thought some degree of power play would be necessary — he never expected it to be this easy. He fell silent, and Gwok Un blinked, seemingly not understanding.
“That’s seriously all? Here I thought it would be something, the way you were being so dramatic about it.”
“……Is that really all from your end too?”
To dismiss so easily someone who had served him for so long. Gi-hyeon stared at Gwok Un in disbelief, but Gwok Un’s eyes held not a trace of guilt — they sparkled with nothing but interest.
“Why?”
“Nothing.”
“How anticlimactic.”
Gwok Un smiled brightly. It was a smile with no trace of the cold-bloodedness of someone who had just severed a loyal limb without a second thought. He subtly stroked Gi-hyeon’s shoulder.
“If there’s anything you want, tell me anytime — anything at all, I can grant it. But in return, you can’t refuse me. I’m not used to being refused.”
“……Alright.”
Gwok Un stroked Gi-hyeon’s cheek. Unlike the hand that had scratched and struck it, this touch was tender.
“How lovely you are when you’re obedient.”
Gwok Un seemed satisfied with Gi-hyeon’s subdued state. As if to secure a promise, he pressed a light kiss to his lips.
“Let’s get along well from now on.”
