“Get down.”
A crack split across Gwok Un’s arrogant face. Gi-hyeon nudged the scattered fragments on the floor with the tip of his shoe.
“We’re proceeding according to the esquisse.”
“……We had agreed beforehand that you’d overlay me onto the esquisse you drew of Do-gyeom.”
“Agreed? When did we ever agree? You gave me a notification, not a discussion.”
“…….”
“You were the one who said I should use my body for inspiration — but right now, I don’t feel any inspiration whatsoever.”
The eyes that had been loose with pleasure sharpened. Provoked by Gi-hyeon, Gwok Un’s upper body lurched forward as if he might spring up at any moment. Gi-hyeon tilted his head.
“Now it’s your turn to try harder.”
Gwok Un, who had been glaring fiercely at Gi-hyeon, finally stepped down from the sofa. The red rug crumpled in his hands. With a venomous expression, Gwok Un lay face-down on the floor. He raised his hips like a beast on all fours. Gi-hyeon watched coldly, then grabbed Gwok Un’s waist and yanked it up higher.
“……!!”
When Gwok Un tried to turn his head, Gi-hyeon pressed his face down against the floor. He murmured in a chilling voice close to Gwok Un’s ear.
“Why are you acting innocent, worn-out thing that you are.”
Even with his face ground into the floor, Gwok Un still glared up at him with sharp, vivid eyes. Gi-hyeon felt like he was riding the back of an uncontrollable beast. His heart pounded — with the conquest of holding the leash, and with the tension of knowing his throat could be bitten at any moment. Gi-hyeon pressed his weight harder into the hand pinning Gwok Un down and said forcefully.
“Hurry up.”
Gwok Un’s pupils moved slowly. Those pale eyes looked as though they were deliberating what to do with Gi-hyeon. The tension hanging in the studio made Gi-hyeon swallow dryly. Reading his tension, Gwok Un curved his eyes into a smile. He reached one arm back and traced along Gi-hyeon’s elbow. Long, slender fingers slowly pressed into the curve. Goosebumps rose along Gi-hyeon’s arm — and then Gwok Un rubbed himself against Gi-hyeon’s lower abdomen. Gwok Un moved his hips in a rhythmic, suggestive manner, as though hinting at what was to come. A dull heat spread through Gi-hyeon’s lower belly under the subtle pressure. Gi-hyeon gritted his teeth, and Gwok Un’s face lit up with arrogance. He smiled the smile of a victor.
“Your body is more honest than your mouth.”
Gwok Un smiled with satisfaction and parted his lips. His red tongue moved lewdly inside his mouth. As if he’d seen something he couldn’t unsee, Gi-hyeon released the hands restraining him. Gwok Un rested his cheek against the floor and gazed up at Gi-hyeon.
“You don’t look it, but you’re more ascetic than I expected.”
“…….”
“I’m looking forward to when you’ll come crawling into my bedroom.”
“I can guarantee that will never happen.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Please just shut your mouth.”
“How cold.”
Gi-hyeon summoned his focus to finish the work as quickly as possible. His pencil-holding hand moved like the wings of a hummingbird. Countless lines gathered on the canvas, drawing an elegant savage. Having finished quickly, Gi-hyeon set down his pencil. He picked up an eraser and rubbed out the stray lines.
“You may get up now.”
Having finished the work, Gi-hyeon returned to his businesslike manner. Gwok Un gazed at Gi-hyeon for a moment, then rose from his spot. He let out a small laugh and shook out his wrinkled clothes.
“By the way, why do you dislike me so much? It’d be nice if you showed me even half the warmth you show Do-gyeom.”
“Because there’s simply no need to.”
“You do realize that the more you keep this up, the more it whets my appetite, right?”
Not feeling the question was worth answering, Gi-hyeon dusted off the canvas. The hand smoothing out a smeared line paused for a moment. Gwok Un, not missing it, asked.
“Is there something you’re curious about?”
“No.”
“Say it.”
“……Why don’t you sleep with Do-gyeom-ssi?”
“You don’t know?”
Gwok Un’s loaded words made the back of Gi-hyeon’s neck go stiff. Seeing how genuinely serious he looked, Gwok Un burst out laughing.
“Because someone I’ve already slept with once gets boring — I’m keeping him for sensual appreciation.”
The sheer nonsense, delivered with the gravity of a philosopher pondering great truths, left Gi-hyeon speechless. He flicked the canvas irritably. Eraser dust fluttered and fell to the floor.
“Let’s stop here for today. What’s your schedule like this week?”
“I’m heading to Shanghai tomorrow — not sure when I’ll be back. The Butler will contact you as soon as I return.”
Having said his piece, Gwok Un stepped in close to Gi-hyeon. The sudden narrowing of distance made Gi-hyeon’s eyes fly wide open — and Gwok Un curved his eyes warmly in response. He cupped Gi-hyeon’s cheek and kissed him in an instant.
“It’s a shame I won’t be seeing you for a while.”
“……!”
“Wait nicely. I’ll be back before you know it.”
At the unfamiliar sensation, Gi-hyeon stood there with a dazed expression, and Gwok Un laughed deeply.
“You’re insane—̄!”
Gi-hyeon snapped back to his senses and shouted, but Gwok Un had long since walked out. Gi-hyeon scrubbed at his lips so hard it was as if he was trying to generate heat through friction. Then he suddenly sensed a presence and turned his head. Whether a servant who had come to clean the studio, the man was holding cleaning supplies. When their eyes met, he quietly spat out a curse.
Who was that.
The familiar face made Gi-hyeon tilt his head. The man who had entered the studio without permission began roughly tidying up around him. Throwing objects, stepping on laundry — as though staging a protest — and at the sight of it, Gi-hyeon had a eureka moment.
Ah……
He was the man from the kitchen — the one who had been harassing Do-gyeom in front of Gwok Un’s bedroom. Right, he’d really wanted to run into him, and here they were meeting like this. Gi-hyeon smiled his most calculating smile and began thinking about how to give this man a piece of his mind. Having made up his mind, Gi-hyeon walked over to the pile of laundry and, without hesitation, poured kerosene over it. Gi-hyeon watched with satisfaction as the pretty young man’s face crumpled.
“It was going to be washed anyway, so it’s fine, right? Wash this for me too.”
He tossed the empty kerosene can at the man’s feet, and the man ground his teeth. He shouldn’t be losing his temper over something this small — because this is still just the preview. A vicious smile spread across Gi-hyeon’s face.
Gi-hyeon set about making a proper mess of the studio. He tore up scraps of paper, knocked over the easel, and stamped paint-stained slipper prints across the floor as if dancing. He had expected the man to snap at any moment, but contrary to his expectations, the man quietly cleaned up the studio — and Gi-hyeon clicked his tongue. As a final move, he stuck out his leg to trip the man as he was about to walk out carrying the laundry. Just as Gi-hyeon had planned, the man went rolling across the floor in a ridiculous tumble.
“Are you okay?”
Seeing Gi-hyeon laugh without a trace of an apology, the man’s patience finally snapped. Having lost all reason, the man threw a punch. Gi-hyeon dodged it lightly and slammed the man to the floor. He drove his knee into the man’s back, pinning him down — and the man growled like a beast.
“You little bastard…… I gave you an inch and you took a mile. You wanna die?!”
“Go ahead and try, you male prostitute — all mouth and nothing else.”
“Male prostitute?”
At Gi-hyeon’s words, the man burst out laughing. The booming laughter rang out, and though Gi-hyeon pressed his back down harder, the man only laughed louder and hurled profanity.
“The male prostitute would be you, you idiot! You think you got in here on talent?”
“What?”
For just a moment Gi-hyeon’s grip loosened, and the man flipped himself over. From beneath, pinned under the man, Gi-hyeon was met with merciless blows. He raised his arms to block the relentless fists raining down. The man yanked him up by the collar and grinned like street trash.
“There were over a hundred painters on that list, and you want me to tell you why some nobody who hasn’t even debuted got picked??”
The man’s rough breath hit him in the face. His eyes gleamed with the light of a madman.
“Because you’re the youngest and the prettiest. You think you’re something? Know your place, you worthless little whore!!”
“Enough.”
At the cold voice, the man flinched and trembled. With a look of dismay, he climbed off of Gi-hyeon. The Butler addressed the man sharply as he bowed his head, now looking utterly wrecked.
“You’ve worked hard all this time. Your wages will be sent by tomorrow.”
“No, Butler-nim. That bastard started it……”
“Get out.”
At the firm words, the man muttered curses and slammed the door hard enough to break it. The Butler came to Gi-hyeon’s side and helped him up.
“Are you all right?”
“……Tell me first whether it’s true.”
“I have no obligation to answer that, but——”
Gi-hyeon shook off the Butler’s hand, sending a sharp friction sound through the air. The Butler looked down at his empty hand, then placed it on Gi-hyeon’s shoulder. He offered a benevolent smile, like someone gently scolding an unruly child.
“Please enjoy yourself in moderation, for your own sake, Artist.”
The Butler patted Gi-hyeon’s shoulder encouragingly. Gi-hyeon caught the threat hidden beneath those courteous words. The Butler left, and Gi-hyeon, now alone, let his head drop. His pride lay scattered on the floor like dry weeds.
Gi-hyeon spat out the blood that had pooled in his mouth and headed upstairs.
When Gi-hyeon arrived at the second floor and kicked open the door to Gwok Un’s bedroom, the servants and Gwok Un all turned their gazes toward him. His straight brows had risen sharply at the unprecedented rudeness. Gwok Un scanned Gi-hyeon’s haggard appearance and issued a low-voiced warning.
“I’ve been calling you cute, and it seems you’ve lost all sense of propriety.”
“Is it true?”
“Don’t cut it off at both ends — speak plainly.”
“Someone just told me — that I wasn’t selected on merit.”
