“But why is Dogyeong hyung’s fuck buddy here?”
He stopped in place. Closing his mouth and looking at the man with a flashy appearance, Doctor Choi turned his head.
“That person is not.”
“Lies! That’s the fuck buddy exclusive phone. I used to use that before.”
The man, who stretched out his arm fully, said while pointing at the feature phone in Joo Seonghan’s hand. Due to the large motion, the jewelry hanging on his bare upper body sparkled with light. Joo Seonghan only now understood why Doctor Choi had asked before the examination if he had piercings. Piercings weren’t only done on ears. Like that man, they could also be done on nipples.
“That person is not.”
“Don’t say the same thing again. Doctor Choi, fix that habit.”
“But really, that person is not.”
“Really? Really not? You didn’t sleep with Dogyeong hyung?”
The man’s and Doctor Choi’s gazes touched Joo Seonghan. Joo Seonghan lowered his eyes without saying anything.
“That person is not.”
Doctor Choi said once more. The man, who had folded his arms and tilted his head completely, looked at Joo Seonghan quietly. Then he straightened his body and opened his mouth.
“Sorry if I offended you. But you should sleep with hyung once too if you get with a guy. His tastes are a bit that way, but still, it’ll feel good.”
The man, who unfolded his arms, grinned and flicked his own nipple with his finger. The bright red jewel hanging on the gold ring made a clinking sound.
“I pierced this too because hyung said it would look pretty if pierced. The way he sucked on it, that hyung’s tastes are really weird…”
“I’ll see you out.”
As if unable to watch anymore, Doctor Choi, who cut off the man’s words, took steps ahead toward the entrance. Joo Seonghan, who had bitten the tip of his tongue inside his mouth, followed him and left the living room.
“How so cold… Hey, take care!”
Leaving behind him who was scratching his head and greeting, he took out and put on the still-damp sandals.
“I apologize.”
Doctor Choi didn’t have anything to apologize for. Joo Seonghan answered no and picked up his umbrella.
“Please go home safely.”
“Yes. Goodbye.”
He bowed his head shallowly, then opened the door and went out. Without delay, he stepped down the stairs and put the feature phone he had been holding into his pocket. His feet were cold.
* * *
The autumn rain continued until the evening of the next day. In the unseasonably cold weather, Joo Seonghan, who had finished his meal, made a cup of hot tea and went out to the terrace. He sat in the chair under the awning and watched the rain falling. He fumbled on the table and picked up a pack of cigarettes.
During his university days, he learned to smoke from his first girlfriend. She didn’t force him. She just said it would be less boring if oppa smoked with her, and hearing that, Joo Seonghan asked her to teach him. Even when he first learned, he thought he wouldn’t become addicted, but he continued to smoke even after breaking up with her.
He could endure it, but couldn’t quit. Still, he didn’t smoke much—about a pack a month. It was a self-rationalization with no benefit, but now even that seemed wrong. From the late noon when he had risen to now when the sun had set, Joo Seonghan had already smoked six cigarettes.
“I must be crazy.”
White smoke that slowly spread along his lips rippled in front of his eyes. Todok, tok, tok. Listening to the irregular sound of rain, Joo Seonghan covered his eyes with his hand. He did think he seemed experienced. The hands touching Joo Seonghan’s body were natural and he was skilled at following the steps.
The phone Joo Seonghan received from Yeon Dogyeong wasn’t just a phone but a fuck buddy exclusive phone. Woo Yoomin, whom he had thought might be an ex-girlfriend, might also be Yeon Dogyeong’s sex partner. Both Woo Yoomin and the man with piercings had said without hesitation that they had slept with him and were curious whether Yeon Dogyeong and Joo Seonghan had slept together or not. What it implied was clear. He goes around doing that often.
Even knowing it wasn’t a part Joo Seonghan should be involved in, his stomach felt bad. He felt uncomfortable, and his heart was damp. At the absurd feeling, strength entered the hand covering his eyes. Joo Seonghan bit his lips, removed his hand, and pressed the half-remaining cigarette into the ashtray to put it out. He picked up the mug and stood up from his seat. Looking at the dark blue-green mountain visible in the distance, he tried to empty his mind.
It didn’t work well.
In Joo Seonghan’s head, Yeon Dogyeong kissed Woo Yoomin. Just as he had done to Joo Seonghan, he grabbed Woo Yoomin’s face with his large hands and kissed her deeply. He changed the direction of his head. Then Woo Yoomin’s face changed to the yellow-haired man. Yeon Dogyeong’s lips went down the man’s neck. The tip of his tongue touched the bright red jewel. The protruding nipple disappeared between Yeon Dogyeong’s lips. Joo Seonghan set down the mug as if throwing it and went inside the house.
Taking off his clothes, he went to the bathroom, turned on lukewarm water, and stood under the showerhead. He stood still with both hands covering his face. And he forcibly dragged out the yellow-haired man panting while clutching Yeon Dogyeong’s head. Then Yeon Dogyeong, who licked his lips, approached Joo Seonghan.
He, who had roughly laid Joo Seonghan on the bed, came between his legs. Touching the inside of his thighs, he stroked the damply wet bottom. Why are you already wet? Asking with a laugh, he pushed his rigidly erect penis into the hole. Joo Seonghan threw back his neck. Moaning, he received his endlessly pushing penis. Yeon Dogyeong, who lowered his upper body, exhaled low breath by Joo Seonghan’s ear, and Joo Seonghan embraced his firm back. The bottom heaved. The bed creaked. Breathing scattered and Joo Seonghan’s erect penis swelled even larger. Narrowing his brow, he opened his mouth. Just when the sexual sensation rushed to his head and semen was about to exit the urethra, Yeon Dogyeong snorted.
‘You weren’t jealous, were you?’
“Ugh…!”
He opened his eyes. He saw the hand pressed against the bathroom’s tile wall. Joo Seonghan, who swallowed dry saliva, raised the hand that had been quickly stroking his penis while receiving the water pouring from the showerhead. Thick semen was tangled on his fingers. Urgh. Nausea welled up.
Leaving from under the showerhead, he ran toward the toilet. He stuck his head in and vomited up what he had eaten intact. Heaving at the pit of his stomach, he squeezed his stomach for a while. There was nothing more to come out. Joo Seonghan flushed the water and sat down in front of the toilet. Biting his lips, he forcibly, forcibly sent down the surging emotion. Then, feeling like it absolutely wouldn’t work, he got up and grabbed his car keys.
He didn’t want to think about anything. He wanted to mechanically move his arms and legs and quietly swim through deep water. Joo Seonghan left the house and got in the car.
There weren’t many people at the pool on a weekday close to closing time. Joo Seonghan adjusted his goggles and dove deep, holding his breath. He cut through the transparent water with nothing obstructing his view. The softness brushing past his face cleared his mind. He surfaced to breathe, then went back under. He moved his arms and legs incessantly. He felt like he could finally breathe a little.
After several laps of the short lane, he fully lifted his face out of the water to catch his breath. He saw a woman swimming in the center lane pull off her swim cap and exit the pool. A familiar lifeguard standing nearby glanced once at Joo Seonghan, once at his wristwatch, then approached him. Joo Seonghan grabbed the edge of the lane and looked up at him.
“Um, I’m not trying to abandon my post or anything, but my stomach really hurts, so could I step away for a moment…? There’s no other staff left here either….”
“Ah, go ahead.”
“Yep. Please swim safely. I’ll be right back!”
The lifeguard hurried away. Left alone, Joo Seonghan removed his goggles and lay back in the water. His relaxed body swayed gently, and the lights on the high ceiling dazzled his eyes. He emptied his mind and just blinked. His head reached the opposite end of the lane. He lowered his legs and put his goggles back on.
One lap, two laps, three laps…. After a while, he grabbed the edge and stopped. He pulled off both his swim cap and goggles at once, gasping for breath and shaking his head. He swept back his bangs that had fallen haphazardly. He put strength in his arms to get out of the water and pulled one knee up. Thud. That’s when he heard the footsteps.
A red stream touched Joo Seonghan’s knee. He raised his head. The breath that had been escaping rapidly stopped. Thud, thud. A semi-human with goat legs looked at Joo Seonghan and approached closer. Blood that had started on his hands stained the pool floor.
Haa. His breath burst out belatedly. Joo Seonghan went back into the water. The semi-human raised his blood-covered arm and rubbed it under his nose. Sniff. He blinked and made a sound. Joo Seonghan backed away while keeping his eyes on the semi-human. The water that had been so familiar obstructed Joo Seonghan’s movements. He led his stiffly frozen body deeper and deeper. His feet didn’t touch the ground. Just as he tried to hold his breath, the semi-human opened his mouth.
“…Where are you going?”
“……”
“Child, did you… hear the scream too?”
“Over there, over there! He went that way!”
“Yes! Please wait in the back for a moment! I’ll take care of this and come find you!”
A loud voice came from beyond the door. The semi-human watched only Joo Seonghan as if uninterested. He could guess who was coming. It was a voice he’d never heard before, but the person must be from the Semi-Human Department. Clang! The door opened. The semi-human instantly lowered his body. Then he rushed at the man in a black suit holding a knife.
“Whoa!”
The man, who almost slipped on the wet floor, steadied himself and swung his knife at the semi-human. The semi-human jumped high to avoid the knife and kicked the man with hard hooves. The man fell back hard but quickly got back up.
“Wow, that was really close.”
The man laughed heartily and readjusted his grip on the knife. He threw the knife at the semi-human without any preparatory motion, at the semi-human who was growling with bright red eyes shining. Thunk! The knife lodged in the center of the semi-human’s chest. The semi-human collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. The man approached the semi-human.
“That’s why you shouldn’t come over…. I’ll finish this quickly!”
