For the entire week, Haewon didn't receive a reply from Seo Haeyoung. It was unusually quiet for Haeyoung, who would usually keep trying until he got a response or even make a phone call. As the days without a call continued, Haewon became increasingly anxious. There was no contact from Taegyeom either.

During the agonizing 14 days, Haewon quit his convenience store job and found a new part-time job. He was too restless to stay still. He felt like he would lose his mind just sitting alone in the convenience store, staring blankly and doing nothing when there were no customers. He chewed his nails nervously, staring at his silent phone until he got scolded by his manager.

He hesitated countless times with Seo Haeyoung's number on the screen, unable to make the call. He hesitated until his thumb, marked with bite marks, nearly bled. He wished to be insanely busy instead. Then, he received a call from Hyunjung, Ju Hyunwoo's sister.

"Haewon-ah!"

"...Yes!"

If you walk about 15 minutes past Seo Haeyoung's house, there is an area lined with bustling shops along the street. It's generally quiet during the day, but as evening falls, atmospheric pubs and bars open up.

Hyunjung ran a pub near the roadside and often suggested that Haewon should work there whenever he visited. Hyunwoo also encouraged him, but Haewon felt uncomfortable accepting the offer, feeling like he was taking advantage. Despite his repeated refusals, the smirking Hyunjung continued to extend the offer as a friendly gesture. This time, Haewon couldn't afford to refuse. He was even grateful for the opportunity.

"This is for table 3. This one's for table 8."

He carried the neatly arranged white plates filled with appetizers across the dimly lit space toward the tables.

"Your food has arrived."

"Ah! Thank you."

It was clear to anyone that they were a couple on a date. He passed the smiling pair and turned to another table. On this busy Saturday evening with many customers, he could keep himself occupied as much as he wanted. It allowed him to forget about Seo Haeyoung, if only for a moment.

He took orders, served food, and handled payments relentlessly. There were only three staff members moving around the hall, and they were definitely short-handed. As Hyunwoo had mentioned in passing, business was booming.

During his rotation break, Haewon stepped out through the back door of the store and checked his phone first. As expected, there was no contact from Seo Haeyoung. After some hesitation, he tapped the screen.

[Hey. I found a new job]

No, that looked strange. He deleted the finished message and wrote a new one.

[I'm working at Hyunjung-noona's place]

Ah, Ju Hyunwoo. Hyunjung was also quite fond of Seo Haeyoung, and if the two were to keep in touch, his lie could be exposed. It was a dilemma. Haewon let out an annoyed sigh. He shouldn't have brought up Ju Hyunwoo that day. He deleted the message again and quickly wrote a new one with his eyes closed before hitting send.

[Do you want to hang out tomorrow?]

Ah, it sounded too much like a notification. He felt anxious about sending the message and fidgeted, but the read receipt appeared almost immediately. And within ten seconds, a reply came through.

[Sure]

"Wow..."

Haewon clenched his phone tightly with both hands and silently cheered. He was saved. A bright smile appeared on his face, which had been filled with worry and concern.

Hyunjung's pub opened at 6 p.m. and closed at 2 a.m. In exchange for working full-time and taking on the final cleaning duties, Hyunjung paid him a fairly high hourly wage. He couldn't refuse the several white shirts and black suit pants that were handed to him as uniforms. Hyunjung had always been considerate of his situation, even attending his father's funeral, so Haewon gratefully accepted the offer and expressed his thanks.

Although Hyunjung was a carefree owner who only showed her face briefly, her fiery personality hadn't changed.

"Ah, our Haewon! Finally getting to work here."

"I survived thanks to you, noona."

In the pub after closing time, a drinking session was spread out on the table with the best view. At dawn, when all the employees had gone home, Haewon, who was greeted with a shout and a hug from Ju Hyunwoo as soon as he entered the store, and embraced from behind by Ju Hyunjung, burst into laughter for the first time in a while. Haewon giggled, his cheeks already flushed from drinking. He was happy for the first time in a long while.

"Is work tough? Your face looks completely drained."

Hyunwoo, resting his chin on his hand, scanned Haewon, who was dressed impeccably. Thanks to Hyunjung's selection of fine clothes, Haewon's already handsome face shone even brighter. The comment about looking exhausted was just a casual remark.

"No, it's good. I'm just busy."

His pleasant voice remained the same, and the atmosphere was still comfortable even after a year apart.

While the three of them were sharing updates and laughing, Hyunjung checked her phone and let out an annoyed sigh.

"I have to go. Your brother-in-law is scratching the bar so badly. Ugh..."

"Didn't you say his shift isn't over yet, noona?"

As Haewon nonchalantly ate a roughly cut apple, he conveyed his reluctance to say goodbye. Hyunjung raised her eyebrows and, thinking 'what a cute guy,' pinched his plump cheeks before grabbing her bag and standing up.

"I want to do that too. You two have a few more drinks. Make sure to clean up and lock the doors, okay?"

"Should I drive you? Need me to call a designated driver?"

Hyunwoo put down his beer glass, dusted off his hands, and reached for his phone, but Hyunjung shook her head with a tired expression.

"He's already here. I'm leaving!"

After escorting Hyunjung to the door, the two men returned to their seats and continued their interrupted conversation over the remaining beers. They talked about trivial things, like how well Hyunjung and her husband got along despite their constant bickering, or the antics of difficult customers at the convenience store. The conversation flowed like water, but eventually, it reached an unpleasant topic.

"How's Seo Haeyoung? Is he cooped up at home again since it's vacation?"

"Ah... well, he's just playing around every day."

He's probably asleep right now. He replied to my text at 11 o'clock, so he must have fallen asleep right after sending it. What could he be thinking? He must have noticed the lie. But why did he reply anyway?

"...-won, Yoon Haewon!"

"Huh?"

Hyunwoo, whose eyes met Haewon's as he lifted his head from his thoughts, gave a faint smile. His sun-kissed face bloomed with a tender smile. Haewon mirrored the smile and stuffed the remaining apple into his mouth.

Ju Hyunwoo.

If Ko Taegyeom was close to Seo Haeyoung, then Ju Hyunwoo was close to Haewon. Originally just Taegyeom's friend, Hyunwoo began to frequently visit Haewon's humble apartment, and their friendship grew. Whenever Hyunwoo came over, he brought a large amount of fruit, but Haewon had a habit of letting it rot in the fridge. Not intentionally, but because he missed the right time to eat it. Then, the next time Hyunwoo visited, he would scold Haewon and clean it up. He was fundamentally a warm-hearted and caring guy.

"Do you meet Ko Taegyeom often?"

Haewon froze mid-bite.

"...Me and Ko Taegyeom?"

"Yeah. When I contacted him a few days ago, he said he was hanging out with you."

No. Ko Taegyeom had been out of touch with Seo Haeyoung for two weeks. They weren't even close enough to bother contacting each other, and he had hoped the phone wouldn't ring. The clothes he had hastily washed were dried and tossed into the trash can, and the tied-up garbage bag had been taken out that night.

Haewon laughed awkwardly after swallowing an apple. Scolding him here would only result in taking out his anger on innocent Hyunwoo.

"Ah, right. I forgot, we were drinking..."

"Quit drinking so much and eat properly."

Hyunwoo threw a dry snack at Haewon, who was getting thinner by the day. Although it didn't hurt when the peanut hit his forehead and fell, it felt awkward. A premonition that something was going wrong. He couldn't tell what it was yet. It must be his imagination. Haewon clinked glasses with Hyunwoo and drank the cold beer.

The drinking session ended past 3 a.m. Thanks to Hyunwoo, Haewon quickly finished cleaning up, locked the back door, and grabbed the keys. Hyunwoo, who had been carrying Haewon's bag for him, reached out and grabbed Haewon's swaying shoulder.

Hyunwoo knew from the moment Haewon couldn't handle his liquor that he was in trouble. Holding Haewon upright, Hyunwoo pushed him from behind and headed toward the familiar home. Hyunwoo, supporting Haewon's back and walking slowly, opened his mouth.

"Let's just meet in the morning now."

"Why? I like the night."

For Haewon, who had been used to a reversed day-night schedule for a long time and usually woke up late in the afternoon, the night was familiar. Hyunwoo patted Haewon's shoulder, who was playfully tipsy.

"You only drink more when we meet at night."

"That's true."

With unfocused eyes, Haewon stumbled up the steep hill. Hyunwoo, having no choice but to support Haewon's arm around his shoulder and embrace his waist, unknowingly inhaled the soft scent that wafted toward him. It used to be a sweeter smell, but it seemed that time had passed. A bitter smile appeared on Hyunwoo's lips.

Arriving in front of Haewon's house and supporting him, Hyunwoo searched for the key in the bag and inserted it into the keyhole. The lock only opened when it was turned firmly at once. When they were young, not knowing this, Haewon would sigh deeply when he fumbled with the lock.

Hyunwoo entered the opened door with Haewon, stepped on the back of Haewon's sneakers to take off his shoes, and dragged him into his room.

"Ah... I'm exhausted... How am I supposed to get home?"

Hyunwoo laid Haewon down on the floor, his eyes almost closed as if he were about to fall asleep, and caught his breath. He was a grown man, but simply supporting Haewon had drained his energy. Hyunwoo stretched his legs, flexed his feet, and looked around.

It was still the same, Yoon Haewon's space, which he used as a refuge on days he didn't want to go home. The reason he frequented this place wasn't solely because it was comfortable. Rather, it was the opposite, but there was a reason he had to come.

Hyunwoo glanced at Haewon, who was fiddling with the buttons of his shirt as if it were uncomfortable, and reached out his hand. Haewon frowned and tossed in his sleep.

"The shirt is uncomfortable..."

They had to wear white shirts with the sleeves rolled up all year round. This was Hyunjung's business rule. Hyunjung, who ran the kitchen and the hall, had a penchant for tall, good-looking guys, and she filled her establishment with them, taking pride in her choices. After dealing with her stout husband at home, her eyes lit up whenever she saw the handsome staff at her place. She had her eyes on Haewon since he was eighteen and had finally "caught the big fish" a few days ago, dancing in celebration. The memory brought a smile to Hyunwoo's face.

"Noona is like that. She'd probably lose her mind if her husband died."

As Hyunwoo undid the buttons one by one, he hesitated when he found a white T-shirt underneath.

Aren't you hot? Take it off. Alarmed by his sudden thought, Hyunwoo shook his head to dispel those strange words and removed the shirt. After roughly folding the white shirt and setting it aside, he turned his head to see Haewon struggling with his pants.

"Hey... I can't... the belt..."

With his hands stretched out, Haewon closed his eyes and snickered. Hyunwoo licked his drying lips. His eyes darted around the cramped room before returning to Haewon, who was kicking his legs and fumbling with the belt. He slowly reached out and unbuckled it. The pounding of his heart rang in his ears. A desire he thought had withered long ago suddenly knocked on the door.

"...Is that better?"

Without answering, Haewon slightly lifted his hips. His powerless hand gestured on the floor, as if urging Hyunwoo to hurry and take them off.

"Ha..."

Hyunwoo let out a deep sigh, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Haewon's waistband and pulled his pants down. He thought there might be another pair of pants underneath, but instead, a tight pair of underwear appeared. They were short, black briefs. He carefully removed Haewon's pants along his smooth, outstretched legs. As the pants reached Haewon's ankles, he kicked them off with a couple of taps. Only Hyunwoo's hand remained in mid-air, awkwardly clenching and unclenching.

Freed from his uncomfortable clothes, Haewon lightly tapped Hyunwoo's knee with his foot as Hyunwoo sat curled up. They lived close enough to Seo Haeyoung that they could walk, but Haewon tapped the floor, seemingly too lazy to move.

"Sleep over, then."

"...Huh?"

Hyunwoo's eyes widened as he lifted his gaze from his long legs. Haewon, with a puzzled expression, rolled his aching body and staggered to his feet. He needed to brush his teeth before sleeping. Cavities would be a big problem if he let laziness take over. He had no money for the dentist.

"You sleep over all the time. Your toothbrush is in the drawer."

As Haewon's backside disappeared into the bathroom, Hyunwoo, who had been staring blankly, slapped his own cheek.

Get a grip. I'm not into men's butts. He repeated this to himself as he crawled towards the drawer. Upon opening the first compartment, Hyunwoo's eyes narrowed as he reached past the six toothbrushes and grabbed the box of condoms. He tilted his head and opened the box to find five remaining. He checked the box again. It was a 10-pack.

So, he used five...?

Yoon Haewon? ...With whom?

Hyunwoo was confused. He didn't dry himself after showering and sat by Haewon's side, biting his lip and fidgeting with the condom box. He spent the night beside Haewon, who was breathing softly without even snoring while asleep, just like when Haewon had Seo Haeyoung beside him.

Condoms are important. They're crucial during sex. But with whom? Condoms are essetial. With whom? He used five out of ten. Does that mean he did it five times? But who?

He agonized, scratching his head. Do I like Yoon Haewon?

I can be sure. I don't.

It was just a brief bout of confusion regarding his sexual identity during puberty. Yoon Haewon was handsome, athletic, good at games except for rock-paper-scissors, and had a decent personality because he was so calm. Even though he frequented Haewon's house for years, it was still just a 'brief' period.

Somehow, after graduating, he went abroad, and his friends even dragged him to a gay bar where he went wild. Since then, he's dated both men and women, gaining certainty. It was just a temporary confusion. Yoon Haewon was handsome, so he just wanted to get a taste of that handsome guy once.

"Damn it..."

But why? Why is he curious about Yoon Haewon's butt again, especially when looking at a condom box?

* * *

After a quick shower, Haewon glanced at Ju Hyunwoo, who was getting dressed while drying off his wet hair. He had lent Hyunwoo his largest clothes, but even those fit Hyunwoo perfectly. Haewon wondered if Hyunwoo had just been playing around during his study abroad, as his tanned skin and impressive muscles were hidden beneath his t-shirt.

"Hey, what kind of workout did you do?"

"...Huh?"

Hyunwoo, who had turned around, quickly averted his eyes upon seeing Haewon in nothing but his underwear. Haewon nonchalantly approached and playfully pushed Hyunwoo's broad shoulders, spinning him around.

"I want to look like this too."

He thought that if he could build an amazing body, maybe Seo Haeyoung would glance his way at least once. Even though he doubted Haeyoung would be interested, he couldn't help but indulge in such vain fantasies. Just in case.

"Did you go surfing?"

"Ah, yeah... Wanna join me next time?"

"Got no passport, brat."

Haewon smiled and turned away, while Hyunwoo muttered under his breath that there was surfing in Korea too. Suddenly, Hyunwoo noticed faint, brownish bruises on Haewon's back that looked like hickeys.

Haewon rolled up his shirt sleeves after locking the front door. He had planned to stop by Seo Haeyoung's house and then head straight to the store, but he felt extremely uncomfortable. He tapped Hyunwoo's silent, sturdy arm and began walking ahead. Seeing Hyunwoo following silently, Haewon cautiously started a conversation.

"Hyunwoo, I have a favor to ask."

"...Huh?"

Hyunwoo, who had been staring intently at Haewon's back, still appeared puzzled even as their eyes met.

Do people usually... have those on their back? To press their lips against someone's back, usually from behind... He thought he saw hand-shaped bruises as well, but maybe he was mistaken. It's not easy to leave a bruise even with considerable force, let alone handprints.

Haewon, who hadn't noticed Hyunwoo's preoccupation, awkwardly scratched his neck and continued.

"You know, a couple of weeks ago... Can you say that you stopped by my house?"

"Your house? To whom?"

"No, just... If Seo Haeyoung asks, can you do it?"

"Well, sure. But..."

Hyunwoo nodded, unaware of the strangeness of the request, his mind elsewhere. Unable to contain his curiosity, Hyunwoo glanced at Haewon walking beside him and casually asked.

"Do you have a girlfriend? Are you dating..."

Upon hearing Hyunwoo's question, Haewon, who had been walking towards Seo Haeyoung's house, contorted his face. It was an expression of ridicule.

"Like that would happen."

Haewon arrived in front of Seo Haeyoung's house, dragging a dazed Hyunwoo. Ju Hyunwoo was a sacrificial offering to be thrown to Ko Taegyeom. Haewon had made the excuse to visit after a long time, knowing that if Seo Haeyoung was with Taegyeom, it would be a disaster. As soon as he rang the doorbell, he felt sweat on his hand. The door opened.

Haewon, who had told Hyunwoo to come up to this floor after he had visited the bathroom, slowly walked up the stairs.

Why had there been no contact this week?

Condom box. Gel. Men's belt.

It was a strange combination for a man to bring to another man's house and leave behind. But Seo Haeyoung was the type who couldn't even think about what two men might do together, so he might not know. He had to.

About a month ago, Haewon wished that the time he spent walking the hallway with Seo Haeyoung would never end, and today was the same. The thrilling day back then, the fearful today. He walked slowly like a child afraid of being scolded, but soon found himself in front of Seo Haeyoung's room. The door was open, and Haewon, who had clenched and relaxed his fist, took a deep breath and stepped forward with a heavy foot.

"Seo Haeyoung."

His awkwardly raised smile dropped down in an instant.

Seo Haeyoung on the bed. Ko Taegyeom under the air conditioner. Haewon knew this would happen. He let out a short sigh and hesitated for a moment before entering the room. The atmosphere was strange.

Taegyeom, who Haewon thought would smirk at him as soon as he saw him, stared with a blank face, and Seo Haeyoung, who he thought would be lying down with his back turned, was leaning against the bed's headboard, quietly sending his gaze.

Two pairs of eyes, four eyeballs, were fixed on him as he stood at the door. Haewon slowly rolled his eyes, fiddling with his short-cut fingernails with his clenched thumb. From Seo Haeyoung to Taegyeom. And then back again.

That's right, the atmosphere was strange. Instinctively, Haewon looked for a clue in Seo Haeyoung's eyes. In those beautiful eyes, there was no contempt or disgust. However... Haewon inadvertently took a step back. The emotion he felt at that moment was fear. The fear that the hand stretching out in an instant would grab the back of his head and drag him into the darkness. It seemed like he shouldn't go in now. As he hesitated, unable to grasp the situation, a cheerful voice rang out.

"Hey! Ko Taegyeom!"

The one who shattered the strange atmosphere was Ju Hyunwoo, who had come up to this floor. Hyunwoo, swinging his arms, brushed past the frozen Haewon and rushed into the room. It was then that Haewon finally let out the breath he had been holding.

What had happened during the two weeks when contact had been cut off? Why on earth were they looking at him like that?

After exchanging light greetings with Seo Haeyoung, Hyunwoo followed Haewon's instructions and grabbed Taegyeom, continuing their noisy conversation. Half of their conversation was filled with curses, but Haewon didn't hear any of it. He cautiously entered the room and stood in front of the bed. Seo Haeyoung looked up at him with a pretty face. His heart raced inappropriately.

"...Seo Haeyoung."

"Informally."

Seo Haeyoung smiled, but there was an uncomfortable feeling about him. As he touched his still shivering neck, Haewon called his name again.

"...Haeyoung-ah."

"Yes?"

"Hold on."

He gestured for them to go outside, but in truth, he didn't know what to talk about.

Why haven't you contacted me? Condoms, they could be at home. The gel and belt... those could be there too. You didn't contact me because of that, why? You always send weird pictures. And I always replied. Maybe... you're tired of me? Well, those are just some of the foolish things. Things he couldn't bring himself to say out loud.

Seo Haeyoung, who had been silently blinking, slowly got up from the bed and headed towards the hallway. Having summoned him, Haewon followed him into the next room, chasing after Seo Haeyoung as he entered what they called a study but used as a storeroom.

After closing the door, Haewon approached Seo Haeyoung, who was sitting on a chair. He stopped five steps away, but Seo Haeyoung gestured towards the desk with a nod.

"Sit."

Haewon sat down at the desk Seo Haeyoung was pointing to. He picked up a framed graduation photo and aimlessly fiddled with it when he felt a light weight on his thigh. A large hand stroked his thigh, wrapped in thin fabric, from his hip down to his knee.

"Why are you dressed so nicely?"

"Uh...? Oh. Is this okay...?"

Putting down the frame, Haewon suppressed a smile and fumbled with his square-patterned shirt. He felt like his ears were burning from having dressed down too much lately. His heart, full of worry, evaporated in an instant due to the unexpected compliment.

I should always dress like this. Gratitude towards Hyunjung welled up inside him. Believing he didn't have any clothes like this, she had bought him a bunch using a gift as an excuse, and he had playfully expressed his appreciation. He loved the sound of Hyunjung's laughter. If Hyunjung had stopped by the store today, he could have given her a kiss.

While desperately controlling his twisting body, Seo Haeyoung, who had rolled his chair closer, took a position right in front of him. Haewon's legs fit snugly between Seo Haeyoung's spread legs. Touching his ears, Haewon softly recounted the events of the past two weeks. He quit working at the convenience store and started working at Hyunjung's shop. He had come dressed in his uniform because he planned to stop by and then leave immediately.

"Is that so?"

Seo Haeyoung, who had been silently listening, asked again, and Haewon nodded. The strange atmosphere he had felt earlier now seemed like a mere illusion born from fear. Everything was the same as usual, after all. There seemed to be no need to make up implausible excuses. They exchanged one last glance and smiled at each other. It was so good. Seo Haeyoung. And the reality that they could still be close. As Haewon laughed softly, a smile appeared on Seo Haeyoung's lips as well. Soon, his red lips parted.

"Haewon-ah."

"Huh?"

"Try this. Like this."

Seo Haeyoung clenched his teeth and demonstrated. Startled, Haewon imitated the gesture and followed Seo Haeyoung's gaze as he stood up from his chair. Seo Haeyoung used his fingertips to gently lift Haewon's chin, checking the position before pushing the chair away with his foot.

"Bite down harder."

"Uh...?"

Haewon's eyes rolled around in confusion. He couldn't understand the purpose. As he obediently looked up at the standing Seo Haeyoung, in the blink of an eye, a slap flew across his cheek. His upper body spun around with a loud smack.

"Ugh...!"

His staggered body almost fell, but Haewon reflexively braced himself on the desk and prevented himself from collapsing to the floor. His mind blank, he couldn't even cover the slapped cheek. A ringing sound echoed in his left ear. The force of the blow had been enough to make his bones vibrate. Seo Haeyoung, who had turned Haewon's head back to its original position, looked at his already flushed cheek and spoke.

"How many more do you want?"

Haewon couldn't hear well. With blurred vision, he stared blankly up at Seo Haeyoung.

"Why...?"

Although he had only been hit once with the palm of a hand, the taste of blood filled his mouth. His wandering gaze flashed to a long-forgotten memory. Brushing off the dust and bringing it back into focus, a hazy but intense moment unfolded.

This wasn't the first time Haewon had been hit by Seo Haeyoung. It was back in middle school when he had made a new friend. They were classmates. At that time, the excitement of the new environment had inevitably led to Haewon's neglect of Seo Haeyoung. Since they lived in the same direction, Haewon began walking to and from school with his new friend instead of Seo Haeyoung, and the same happened on weekends. When Seo Haeyoung invited him to hang out and Haewon refused for the third time, Seo Haeyoung called him out. To where? An empty music room.

That day, Haewon was beaten to a pulp. At the time, Haewon, who lived under the fists of his father, was no match for the swimming athlete Seo Haeyoung. He couldn't even move and was sprawled out on the floor. Seo Haeyoung crouched beside the battered Haewon and made a few requests.

Don't ignore his calls. When he asks to hang out, don't refuse, just come. Listen well and obey.

Not sure if he was giving the poison or the cure, Seo Haeyoung laughed softly as he fed Haewon chocolate after treating him clumsily at home. Since the day he ate the sweet chocolate with his swollen face, Haewon was never hit again. He kept the promise Seo Haeyoung asked of him.

Soon, Haewon drifted apart from his new friend and returned to his everyday life. Going to and from school with Seo Haeyoung, and on weekends, visiting Seo Haeyoung's house to play video games—a normal routine.

Was he angry or resentful? Not really. Haewon was inherently submissive. If anything, his environment had made him that way. As he was exposed to violence for an extended period, Haewon became indifferent. His father, who would catch him like a rat when drunk; the bullies who picked fights calling him a beggar; the bosses with bad habits.

Seo Haeyoung would gladly cover for him when it came to fighting with other students, but there were many opponents he couldn't face. Realizing this, Haewon took the beatings and quickly let them go. Crying and getting angry over injustice wouldn't solve anything. It was easier to just take the hits and move on.

At some point, Haewon's ability to stand up to violence and protect himself, to seek proper recourse from institutions, had been broken—although he himself didn't know it.

"Answer me. How many hits do you want?"

And now, after several years, Haewon had been slapped by Seo Haeyoung. As his senses slowly returned, Haewon rubbed his busted lip with the back of his hand. He glanced at the blood-stained back of his hand as he fiddled with it with his other hand.

"...Because I didn't reply?"

I was too scared to go first, I didn't want to be pathetically dumped. If you had just called, I would have run to you barefoot... As he swallowed the words he couldn't say, he shrank back. Seo Haeyoung tilted his head and lifted Haewon's downcast head.

"So, how many?"

"I have to go to work..."

His bruised face would certainly be a sight while serving. It was his fault for not replying, and in this kind of fight, the one who loves loses. It was also his fault for liking Seo Haeyoung, even knowing his filthy temper. He fumbled with his fingers and looked for Seo Haeyoung's reaction. Haewon, consumed by confusion, couldn't even consider the option to rebuke out of anger with, 'Why are you hitting me?'

"I'm sorry. I'll reply properly from now on."

"No."

Seo Haeyoung shook his head.

"How many hits?"

Haewon bit his split lip and winced at the sharp pain. There seemed to be no mercy. First came the slap, then the punch, and finally, the kick. It would be a relief if he could end this with just a few slaps to the face. Haewon gently spread out three fingers. Seo Haeyoung raised his eyebrows as he looked down at the neatly spread fingers on Haewon's thigh.

"Three?"

As soon as Haewon, with his lips tightly pressed, nodded, a palm came flying. The long arm shot up high and struck his cheek in an instant.

One.

"Ugh...!"

The sound reverberated through the study. Haewon gasped for breath as not only his head but also his upper body turned from the impact. He couldn't adapt easily to the pain, having not experienced it for a long time. It hurt more than the time his father had slapped him in the distant past.

"Huu..."

Biting his lower lip to suppress the pain, Haewon couldn't control his trembling body. Seo Haeyoung grabbed the back of Haewon's head, who couldn't regain his composure after just one hit.

"Stop biting your lip."

As Haewon reluctantly clenched his teeth, Haeyoung slapped his cheek in succession. At a steady pace, with a consistent force, his left cheek.

Two.

"Ah...!"

Haewon, with his eyes tightly shut, clenched his fists and endured. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Three.

The palm, without losing any strength, struck his cheek for the last time. This time, not even a moan came out. Haewon couldn't open his eyes even after the hand gripping the back of his head let go. His stunned brain seemed to roll around inside his head.

Having slapped him three times refreshingly, Seo Haeyoung clenched his teeth and snapped his fingers next to Haewon's left ear, which was trembling and cold. Then, he snapped his fingers once more next to the right ear.

"Can you hear me?"

Although his left ear was ringing and he felt dizzy, he could somewhat hear. Haewon nodded with his eyes still closed.

"...Yes."

"Ah."

Following the thumb pressing his lips, Haewon obediently opened his mouth. Seo Haeyoung, who bent down to check inside, rummaged through the desk drawer after glancing at Haewon's red cheeks with satisfaction. Haeyoung picked up a single piece of chocolate, unwrapped it, and gently pushed the small, square, brown chocolate between Haewon's bleeding lips, whispering,

"Reply properly."

"...Yes."

Haewon answered meekly as the chocolate melted on his tongue. Seo Haeyoung, who had been looking at Haewon's teary eyelashes, murmured in a low voice.

"Wipe your tears."

Haewon immediately wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand. The tears had welled up due to the pain. Seo Haeyoung, with the hand that had just slapped Haewon's cheek, brushed through Haewon's light-colored hair and smiled pleasantly.

"How can you cry when I didn't even hit you that hard?"

Even though he had been careful not to hit Haewon's nose and ears, Seo Haeyoung barely held back laughter as he gently patted Haewon's tearful cheek. Feeling a brief moment of pity, Seo Haeyoung comforted Haewon in his usual gentle manner and then changed the subject.

"Let's eat. You haven't eaten, right?"

With his swollen eyes barely open, Haewon got up from the desk where he had been sitting. As Haewon approached, tapping his ringing ears, Seo Haeyoung, who had been waiting, draped his arm around his gentle friend's shoulder.

As soon as the two stepped out of the room, they ran into Hyunwoo, who was about to go downstairs. Hyunwoo's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Haewon's face. Taegyeom, who followed, also saw Haewon's reddened cheek and snickered.

"Hey...! What happened to your face?"

Only Hyunwoo reached out towards Haewon's face with a worried look. Haewon, dodging the approaching hand, nonchalantly spoke up. His split lip was throbbing.

"We fought. It's over now."

"Right. Yoon Haewon did me wrong."

Seo Haeyoung, who had been arm-in-arm with Haewon, casually added with a smile. Hyunwoo frowned as he looked Seo Haeyoung up and down, seemingly unable to break his habit of acting impulsively when displeased.

"You're crazy. Who hits someone like that? Fix your habits..."

"Why do you care if Yoon Haewon says he's fine?"

Each time Seo Haeyoung responded while gently patting Haewon's shoulder, Haewon was enveloped in a whirlwind of emotions. He felt excited and his heart raced from the touch, but his swollen cheek hurt. His confused mind brought up sadness rather than anger. He felt miserable.

Haewon slipped out from under the arm around his shoulder and headed down the stairs alone. As Hyunwoo was about to follow, he turned his head towards a finger poking his shoulder. It was Seo Haeyoung. Seo Haeyoung smiled enigmatically, pointing to the end of the hallway. Glancing back at the stairs Haewon had gone down, Hyunwoo reluctantly followed Seo Haeyoung.

* * *

Haewon, not even touching his swollen cheek, walked past the large dining table by the window and entered the familiar auxiliary kitchen.

Seo Haeyoung's parents were often absent from home. It was not uncommon to go an entire month without seeing them even once. His older sisters had long since moved out, and the only person who came and went was the man responsible for managing the large house. The man would stop by during the day to clean and fill the refrigerator before quickly leaving, while Seo Haeyoung, averse to inconvenience, would often opt for either skipping meals or eating something quick.

Haewon had not been around for two weeks, and he couldn't help but wonder if Seo Haeyoung had managed to eat properly during that time. It seemed absurd to worry about Seo Haeyoung even after being hit, but Haewon didn't want to think too deeply about it. He simply accepted that he had made a mistake, and Seo Haeyoung had merely given him a warning.

Swallowing the sudden surge of sadness, Haewon opened the refrigerator and pondered over the neatly arranged side dishes and ingredients. Since Seo Haeyoung would eat anything given to him, Haewon just had to make whatever he felt like eating.

What should he make? As he bent down to check the vegetable compartment, he felt something touch his hip. Before he could turn around, a thick arm pulled his waist, pressing their lower bodies together.

"I want eel."

It was Ko Taegyeom. Irritated by the unpleasant sensation, Haewon casually replied while looking at an unopened package of cabbage.

"Do you see any eel here? I don't."

"Hyung has no energy these days. I need to make our Haewon see stars."

Ignoring the sarcasm, Taegyeom laughed as he rubbed his forehead against Haewon's shoulder. Clenching his teeth to hold back his anger, Haewon spun around and struck Taegyeom's head with the cabbage he was holding. Taegyeom, who yelped in pain, rubbed his forehead and grinned mischievously.

"Samgyetang then?"

"Just die..."

Haewon threw the now misshapen cabbage back into the vegetable compartment with a disdainful glance at Taegyeom. Neither samgyetang nor grilled eel were possible, and even if they were, there was no way any of it would end up in Ko Taegyeom's mouth.

Heaving a deep sigh, Haewon searched the refrigerator and found a few cleaned fish. They were different types. Seo Haeyoung couldn't tell the difference between mackerel and rockfish anyway, so after some consideration, Haewon picked up the rockfish.

He pushed past Taegyeom, who was blocking the way and lingering around, and prepared to grill the fish at the kitchen counter. Haewon always loved the spacious counter, unlike his own cramped kitchen where cooking was like going to war.

"Hey, hey. Haewon-ah."

Taegyeom was relentless, refusing to tire of getting on Haewon's nerves. Haewon looked down at the arm that had wrapped around his waist again and threw the green onion he was holding. It was all because of this guy that he had been slapped in the face. He couldn't help but curse.

"...Why? Seriously, why?"

"That must've hurt. Seo Haeyoung hit you really hard."

Taegyeom, leaning his chin on Haewon's shoulder, touched his swollen red cheek. That wasn't all. He subtly moved his waist, rubbing his genitals against Haewon's buttocks. Haewon leaned heavily on the kitchen counter, his head bowed.

"No, it must have been good... that bastard hitting you."

Trapped between Taegyeom's thick arm and the counter, Haewon swayed helplessly each time Taegyeom thrust his hips.

"You like that, don't you, Haewon? Then maybe I should try harder too."

"Fuck, seriously..."

Haewon forcefully released himself from the arm around his waist and grabbed Taegyeom's collar. He pulled it down to meet his gaze and whispered quietly.

"What are you trying to do, you fucker... We had sex. And the belt, fuck...! Why did you leave it behind?"

Taegyeom, who had been staring intently at Haewon's angry face, gripped the wrist that held his collar. He rubbed the protruding wrist bone with his thumb, chuckling, and pressed his genitals against Haewon's front.

"This is what I like."

Without taking his eyes off Haewon's expression, Taegyeom quickly undid Haewon's belt. Startled, Haewon let go of his collar and grabbed Taegyeom's forearm. Taegyeom leaned in closer, pushing against Haewon, his whole body bearing down. It was maddening. There was no doubt that he was out of his mind.

"Are you crazy? Seriously, ugh..."

"It'll only take a moment, just a moment."

"Bullshit...! Fuck, don't do it!"

Caught between Taegyeom, who was unzipping his pants, and the counter that blocked his escape, Haewon twisted his body and struggled. But Taegyeom, who had already slipped his hand into Haewon's underwear and grabbed his buttocks, was now nibbling at his nape with his lips.

Haewon quickly glanced at the hallway. Although it was a secondary kitchen, and one had to enter the restaurant to see the space, he wasn't certain that Seo Haeyoung wouldn't come. Anxiety grew, making his heart pound unpleasantly. Taegyeom rubbed his half-erect genitals against Haewon's thigh and sucked on his earlobe.

"I'll settle it in a jiff. Alright?"

"What are you... What, fuck, hurry up and finish, you crazy bastard...!"

It felt like he was going insane. It was a waste of energy to struggle against someone who exercised when they were bored. Haewon impatiently checked the hallway and pushed Taegyeom's shoulder with force. His lower body continued to be pressed and rubbed against, but he managed to distance their faces. He forced a smile and muttered through gritted teeth.

"Tomorrow, no. Just come in the morning when we're not doing anything... Don't do it here."

His priority was to get Taegyeom off him as soon as possible. With a resolve to even grab a knife if necessary, Haewon felt around the counter and focused on Taegyeom, whose eyes were filled with lust. Taegyeom seemed to contemplate for a moment before pressing his lips against Haewon's tightly clenched cheek.

"Fine, but instead..."

Taegyeom whispered lewd suggestions into Haewon's ear, describing how he would like to be pleasured, what positions to try, and so on. As Haewon listened quietly, his eyes widened, resembling the fish eyes on the cutting board. Taegyeom chuckled and then sighed.

"Ah... I really want to do it here. What a pity."

Haewon hastily tucked his rumpled shirt into his pants and fixed his expression as he straightened his clothes. He blinked away the tears that threatened to spill, his eyes burning. He couldn't understand how he ended up in this situation. One foolish decision had led to this unbearable predicament. His cheeks stung, and his chest felt heavy.

After their flirtatious exchange, the four of them sat at the dining table. Haewon expertly deboned a well-cooked fish with his chopsticks, revealing the white flesh inside. He transferred the clean fish meat to a plate and stacked it neatly before offering it to Seo Haeyoung. With his task complete, Haewon slowly began to eat. Hyunwoo furrowed his brows as he watched.

"Hey, do you really have to keep doing that? He's not a child..."

Seo Haeyoung calmly put the fish Haewon prepared in his mouth and smiled without a sound. Haewon glanced at Hyunwoo and shrugged.

"He can't do it well."

"It's not that he can't, it's that he doesn't."

Hyunwoo was annoyed. Seo Haeyoung was old enough, yet here was Yoon Haewon, taking care of him as if he were a child. What an idiot, especially after just being scolded. It was enough to ruin his appetite.

While Hyunwoo clicked his tongue, Haewon chewed on the white rice and looked at the pieces of fish.

Seo Haeyoung didn't eat fish well. When asked why, he said it was bothersome to debone it. He wouldn't even touch shrimp, ribs, or chicken with bones. It was all just too much trouble.

Back when Haewon considered Seo Haeyoung just a friend, he had scolded him and deboned the fish for him. He had done it for years, and it became a habit. He didn't think it was strange. It was all just too natural.

"Why? Haewon likes doing it."

As Haewon contemplated whether he should stop, Seo Haeyoung spoke up. Hyunwoo grumbled as he burst the egg yolk, glaring at the smiling Seo Haeyoung.

"You should do it yourself. It's not a pleasant sight."

"Really? Haewon-ah, does it look strange?"

Seo Haeyoung glanced at Haewon, who was quietly eating his meal, and asked. With three pairs of eyes focused on him at once, Haewon swallowed his food and lowered his head. Seo Haeyoung asked again.

"Do you not like it?"

"...No. It's fine by me."

"Right?"

Seo Haeyoung's eyes twinkled with a gentle smile. Haewon awkwardly took a sip of water, unable to look away from that face. Watching this, Hyunwoo eventually grew irritated, and Taegyeom snickered. Under the table, Taegyeom's foot stealthily stretched out and brushed against Haewon's shin. As Haewon glanced across the table and drew his leg back, Taegyeom only responded with another displeased laugh.

In their high school days, the table had been filled with boisterous cursing and pranks, but after a few years, the four friends' table creaked with an unidentifiable strain.

If you made it from prologue, good for you!

* * *

Traumatised yet? Well it'll only get worse

A week flew by like an arrow as Haewon adapted to the store work and diligently replied to Seo Haeyoung's meaningless texts. It was a fortunate week, in which he managed to avoid being caught by the unpredictable Hyunjung for his bruised face. The dimly-lit store was a blessing in disguise.

After the day they all had dinner together, Taegyeom only sporadically sent text messages and never showed up in person. The contents of the messages were... all vulgar. Haewon had read them a few times, but at some point, he stopped reading and deleted them all. The uneventful week provided just enough time for the tension to ease.

So when Haewon finished the store work, had a drink with Hyunwoo, and returned home alone, he couldn't hide his astonishment at the sudden appearance of Taegyeom. Taegyeom, squatting in the corridor in front of the entrance, smoked a cigarette and then crushed the short stub on the floor. A rough voice followed.

"You're damn late."

A dreadful fatigue suddenly washed over Haewon, and he rubbed his forehead. As he fit the key into the lock, he mumbled in an exhausted voice.

"Go away. It's nighttime."

"Exactly why I came."

Taegyeom slowly stood up and clung to Haewon's back. As soon as the door opened, Taegyeom pushed the resisting Haewon inside and followed him in, taking off his shoes.

"Ah. It's a bit cooler in here, feels like I'll survive."

The heat had subsided enough that a fan sufficed. While Haewon remained standing at the entrance without taking off his shoes, Taegyeom threw off his T-shirt. Turning on the bathroom light, the dim illumination faintly brightened the room.

"Do you want to wash up first? Or do it now?"

Sweeping back his loose hair, Taegyeom glanced at Haewon's annoyed face and flashed a shameless smile. As he unbuckled his belt and approached Haewon, Taegyeom playfully tapped Haewon's cheek with his palm.

"No. Let's do it now. Our Haewon looks perfect like this."

Humming an unrecognizable tune, Taegyeom began to unbutton the shirt Haewon was wearing.

"...Hey. What are you trying to do?"

Haewon grabbed Taegyeom's hand that was unbuttoning the buttons and twisted it with force. Taegyeom's hand seemed to fall away but then slipped out like a snake and returned to the buttons.

"Ah, Haewon-ah."

Finally tearing off the shirt and dropping it to the floor, Taegyeom gripped the hem of the t-shirt he was wearing.

"Let's take this lightly, okay? Now, arms up."

Haewon neither replied nor raised his arms, just glared at Taegyeom. Taegyeom pursed his lips and forcibly removed the t-shirt, dragging Haewon into the house. After Haewon hesitantly took off his shoes and stepped inside, Taegyeom pulled him into the room and pushed him to the floor, hurriedly taking off his black pants. As Haewon tried to stand up, Taegyeom kissed every corner of his upper body and fondled Haewon's beautifully shaped genitals that were revealed above the underwear. A voice mixed with moist breath and mockery fell.

"Who bought you these clothes? They don't suit you at all."

The hand that was pushing his shoulder stopped. Haewon rolled his eyes and looked at the crumpled white shirt. It was a shirt he had meticulously washed and ironed even though he couldn't take it to the dry cleaner. Hesitating for a moment, he finally opened his lips that didn't want to speak.

"...It doesn't?"

As Taegyeom nibbled on Haewon's protruding collarbone, he propped himself up on the floor and straightened his back. Haewon, who was waiting for an answer with rolling eyes, looked so ridiculous that Taegyeom could have died laughing. Just from that one comment, he was asking so many questions. Taegyeom pinched Haewon's high nose with two fingers and gently shook it.

"Did you drink?"

"A little."

A dull voice followed. For some reason, Taegyeom felt relieved. As he took off his pants, which felt uncomfortable due to his erection, he hid his laughter and replied.

"Yeah. It really doesn't."

Loose short-sleeved shirts and shorts were much better. Because they revealed his flesh every time he moved. However, Haewon completely misunderstood the meaning of Taegyeom's words.

Seo Haeyoung said it was okay... Was it actually sarcasm? Saying these clothes don't suit him. Since Hyunjung gave them as a gift, they must be expensive. He began to feel anxious. What if he looked ridiculous?

"Haewon-ah. Eyes over here."

Taegyeom, who had been licking and biting at Haewon's side, roused him from his deep thoughts. Whenever he drank, he would get lost in other thoughts. And although Taegyeom found it endearing he needed to keep him focused. Leaning against the wall, Taegyeom pulled Haewon's head down pressing the already erect penis with prominent veins pressed against Haewon's nose. Taegyeom, who missed the moist warmth of Haewon's mouth, grabbed his penis and slapped Haewon's cheek.

"Suck it. Just like you said before."

"I don't want to."

Haewon, who was lying between Taegyeom's legs, turned his head to avoid the glans poking his cheek and lips. The nausea caused by having it shoved down his throat was still vivid. As he tried to pull his head back, he heard a sigh from above.

"You're so damn stubborn, Haewon..."

Taegyeom inserted his thumb between Haewon's lips, and pushed the glans into his wet mouth.

"You know I can't control myself. You have to stop me."

"Ugh...!"

As Haewon's mouth opened wider, the hot glans pushed in. Taegyeom stroked the back of Haewon's head as if to show some mercy, refraining from shoving it in deeply without warning like before.

"If you do well, I'll finish quickly."

Vacantly blinking with his dull eyes, Haewon sucked the member that had been lodged in his mouth. He straightened his bent legs for comfort and mechanically moistened it with saliva before enveloping it with his open mouth. He felt no emotion – not humiliation, not anger. He was simply filled with a strange guilt towards his pathetic self, much like this house. His nerves were focused on his stripped clothes. Ah. Maybe that's why he slapped me. Out of annoyance.

"Mmpf, mmh..."

Whether Haewon sucked Ko Taegyeom's cock or let him shove it into his hole, Seo Haeyoung wouldn't care. Haewon had no energy to refuse nor fight back the tiresome Ko Taegyeom. He just wanted to get it over with and send him on his way.

"Haa..."

Haewon's head bobbed rhythmically as he sucked the member between Taegyeom's legs. Taegyeom continued to stroke Haewon's head, who was still lost in thought. His weak sucking lacked enthusiasm. It wasn't unpleasant, but he needed more stimulation. Taegyeom clenched his fist as he pushed his hand into Haewon's hair.

"Haah...!"

As his head was tightly gripped, Haewon spat out the glans. A thread of saliva fell from his lips and onto the penis boasting its size. Taegyeom, who had been rubbing the wet glans on Haewon's face, whispered.

"Condom."

With unfocused eyes, Haewon pointed to the drawer. Taegyeom immediately reached for it, rummaging through the drawer to get a condom. As he tore open the packaging, he lifted Haewon up. Haewon let out a pained moan as his scalp was pulled taut.

"Ugh..."

"Yoon Haewon."

Haewon, with his eyes slightly open, met Taegyeom's gaze. Taegyeom sighed and patted Haewon's bruised cheek. Seo Haeyoung's thick and heavy hand pinched Haewon's cheek, shaking it back and forth.

"Do you want to get hit?"

His expressionless face was eerie. He wasn't someone who couldn't fight back. Suddenly, Haewon thought of Hyunjung who had once told him not to endure any bullying, as they can pay the settlement money anytime. A hollow laugh escaped Haewon's lips. Taegyeom playfully tapped Haewon's nose and chin with his fingers.

"Are you laughing? Do you think I can't hit you?"

No. He seemed very capable of hitting.

Haewon murmured, avoiding Taegyeom's gaze.

"...Just get it over with and go."

"Alright, then."

In an instant, Taegyeom pulled Haewon's waist towards him, making Haewon sit on his thigh, and smiled. Haewon, unintentionally supporting himself on Taegyeom's firm shoulder, cursed under his breath. But Taegyeom only smirked mischievously.

"I don't feel like hurrying anymore."

Is it even a spoiler: None of them are good

* * *

To the manhwa readers, read the prologue yet?

"Ah...!"

Hyunwoo stopped walking after having a beer and reaching his doorstep. Somehow, his pants felt heavy, and he found an old cellphone in his pocket. He had managed to use it for years without breaking the screen. He looked at Haewon's phone and put it back in his pocket.

Hyunwoo glanced alternately between the path he had walked and his front door, then decisively changed direction. It would seem to make a detour and return it. He hadn't drunk much, so Haewon would probably come out if he knocked. The summer night, with its heat gone, was refreshing, and his steps light.

The day Haewon came out of his room with a bruise on his cheek, Hyunwoo was asked a question.

"Have you ever been to Yoon Haewon's house?"

Seo Haeyoung, leaning on the railing, asked while looking down at Taegyeom's head heading towards the kitchen. At first, Hyunwoo didn't understand what he meant, but then he remembered. Haewon's request. Hyunwoo nodded, and the questions continued.

"When?"

"About two weeks ago...?"

Though he couldn't understand why Seo Haeyoung was asking such questions, he found himself answering because of Haeyoung's persistent gaze. Hyunwoo brushed it off quickly, but the conversation they needed to have wasn't about this trivial matter. Scratching his forehead, Hyunwoo pointed his chin toward the stairs below.

"But why did you hit Yoon Haewon? Has he ever done you wrong?"

Seo Haeyoung, leaning against the railing, slowly shook his head.

"No, he did."

"Hey... Then you should've talked it out, you crazy bastard. He's already... "

Skinny as a stick, Hyunwoo recalled Haewon's body clad only in his underwear. His frame was straight and his limbs were long and slender, so he didn't look too bad, but there was no denying he was lanky. Of course, Haeyoung wasn't the type to say 'there's nowhere to hit' just because Haewon was thin. He'd probably find a spot to hit anyway.

As Hyunwoo thought about Haewon's naked body, Seo Haeyoung, who had been tapping the railing and looking in the direction of the kitchen where Haewon had disappeared, muttered quietly.

"He won't listen unless he's hit."

Hyunwoo frowned as he glanced at Seo Haeyoung, who was chuckling to himself. They had known each other for years, but sometimes Haeyoung seemed to be far from normal. Feeling that continuing the conversation would only hurt his pride, he turned to leave and head down the stairs, but Seo Haeyoung asked one more question.

"How's Yoon Haewon?"

Hyunwoo hesitated involuntarily at that question. He couldn't laugh it off. Seo Haeyoung laughed, seeing the obvious confusion on his face. And it was an unpleasant laugh.

"Anyway..."

He was one of his closest friends, among the top ten. But even after spending so much time together, it was impossible to know his true feelings. He never imagined that Haeyoung would go so far as to raise his hand against Yoon Haewon, who had been clinging to him like a lost puppy. Shaking his head quickly to dispel the lingering thoughts, Hyunwoo soon found himself in front of Haewon's house.

As he walked through the hallway where a few wilted flower pots were scattered, the sensor light at the end of the hall did not turn on. He looked up at the ceiling to see a dusty light fixture, but it didn't turn on, even when he waved his hand. Standing in front of the door at the end of the dark hallway, Hyunwoo hesitated to knock and lowered his hand. A worried smile escaped his lips.

"At least he locks the door properly."

The door was slightly ajar. Even if there was nothing to steal, he should lock it properly. With that thought, he opened the door and entered. The sensor light in the dark entrance, doubling as a shoe rack, also did not work. Just as he was about to call out Haewon's name...

"Hae..."

"Ah... Uh... "

His throat tightened. As Hyunwoo bent down to take off his shoes, he detected a strange sound. The noise of a sticky liquid sticking and then falling, heavy breathing, and the sound of skin colliding.

Hyunwoo stared stiffly at the two shoes entangled in the narrow entrance, and an absurd thought crossed his mind. Sneakers that looked bigger than Haewon's shoes. He said he didn't have a girlfriend... His feet are really big. Lost in trivial thoughts, Hyunwoo heard someone's voice.

"It hurts, it freaking hurts..."

It was Haewon's voice. Something was off. Hyunwoo knew he had to leave quickly, but his feet wouldn't budge. He had been staring at the shoe rack when he slowly raised his head. The light leaking through the crack of the bathroom door illuminated the clothes scattered from the entrance to the bedroom. His head turned creakingly to the left.

"I can't do it anymore..."

In a corner of the living room just ten steps away, a slender back was visible. And beneath it, long legs. Yoon Haewon was straddling someone. Hyunwoo felt as if he had been struck in the back of his head, unable to even move a finger.

That person below, isn't it a man?

As he stared in shock, a pair of large hands grabbed Haewon's waist.

"This is how you work, Haewon..."

"Ugh...!"

A familiar voice. A casual tone. Then, Haewon's body moved violently up and down. The hands gripping his waist lifted him up lightly and thrust him down deeply. Haewon clutched the other's shoulders and twisted his upper body. The slender, muscle-rippled back shimmered in the dim light, and a pained moan burst forth.

"Ah, ugh! It hurts...! It hurts, you son of a bitch!"

"Stop whining..."

Why does it hurt? Every thought circuit in Hyunwoo's mind had come to a halt, and he dropped his gaze toward the source of the squirming sound. Haewon's buttocks, hidden by his underwear, revealed pale flesh. And between them, something as thick as an arm was inserted. It was exposed as the firm grip lifted his waist and disappeared again when he lowered, and at the same time, Haewon cried out in pain.

"Ah... ah...!"

The movement grew faster. Haewon, who swayed severely every time his waist was thrust upward with a thumping sound, blocked the view of the other person.

"Stop, wait...! Just stop...!"

"Happy? Fuck... I've been holding back so much, like hell..."

Haewon's back arched. Hyunwoo's nape broke out in goosebumps as he alternately watched the thrusting penis make a wet, squelching sound between the protruding spine and the curve of the buttocks. The tone and voice of the man lifting Haewon's waist from below were all too familiar.

"Hah-!"

Haewon trembled as he leaned on the other's shoulder. For a moment, Hyunwoo caught a glimpse of the man's face, pressing his groin against Haewon's buttocks. Hyunwoo wanted to rub his eyes or pinch his thigh, questioning whether the scene before him was real. But his body was rigid as a rock, and he struggled to even blink.

"Hey... What if you came first?"

The man, laughing, rubbed his lips against Haewon's earlobe and swiftly sat up, his upper body extending. He pinned Haewon's head down, wrapping his arm around the back of his neck, holding him in place on the floor. As the well-built man lay on top of Haewon, all that could be seen were Haewon's legs spread wide apart. Haewon tried to close his legs and push the man away, but when that didn't work, his long legs kicked at the floor.

"Ah, wait... Don't... Ah!"

"No, screw it... We should both enjoy it, not just you."

Their laughter and the twitching of well-defined muscles filled the air. With each thrust of the man's hips, Haewon's body squirmed beneath him. The man forcefully pressed down on Haewon's trembling limbs, lifting the back of his head with one hand while sucking on his nape, striking his lower body without any consideration. Haewon's lost hands crawled on the floor before gripping the man's neck.

"Guh, uh...! Taegyeom, go slow, please!"

That's right, Ko Taegyeom...

Hyunwoo was torn between whether to be grateful to Haewon for confirming his suspicions or to shout at him for what he was doing. Gasping, he stared down at his friend, Ko Taegyeom, who was thrusting between Yoon Haewon's buttocks. Suddenly, their eyes met – Ko Taegyeom's eyes were clouded and pale.

As their eyes locked, Taegyeom furrowed his brow briefly before lowering his head nonchalantly. He then kissed Haewon's temple and continued to thrust his hips with force, as if he didn't care whether Hyunwoo watched or not.

"Ah! Gently... Taegyeom, please...!"

"Fuck, it's so good..."

The two of them collided with great force. Hyunwoo's mind returned to him as he heard the slapping sound, and he quietly placed his cellphone on the floor. In the meantime, Haewon, clinging to Taegyeom's neck, continued to sob and plead. His pitiful voice echoed in Hyunwoo's ears. Stepping back, Hyunwoo opened the door and exited, silently closing it behind him. As soon as he did, the strength left his legs, and he sank down in the hallway, covering his mouth.

"The hell is this..."

Yoon Haewon and Ko Taegyeom? Could this be real? Hyunwoo slapped his own cheek, feeling the stinging pain as he tightly closed his eyes and then opened them. It wasn't a dream. He pressed his ear against the front door, holding his breath. He faintly heard his friend's moans coming from beyond the door. Stunned, Hyunwoo wiped his face with his cold, numb hand.

"Wow..."

Were they dating? Since when? Then why, when Seo Haeyoung hit Haewon, did Ko Taegyeom just laugh?

Questions piled up, threatening to drive him mad. A year ago, when he briefly visited Korea, there was no indication of anything between them. It could be that he didn't notice, but they both seemed uninterested in men, and yet they were so close. Did Seo Haeyoung know about this?

No answer came to him, and then.

Why on earth did this turn him on?

He felt the thick bulge of his erection beneath his pants. Haewon's ass enveloping his member, the suppressed moans, and the trembling body were all vividly replayed in his mind. As his thoughts deepened, his erection seemed ready to break through the fabric.

"This is seriously, messed up..."

With a deep sigh, Hyunwoo buried his face in his palms and stayed for a long time in front of the door where his close friends were having sex.

Please do not shit on the MC if you're only into 'strong' MC (Why you are even reading this)

* * *

Understand it'll get worse onwards

Hyunwoo couldn't concentrate on the games at Taegyeom's house, where he had turned an entire room into a gaming den with all kinds of equipment, claiming the internet cafe was too far. The air conditioner set to a chilly temperature, the smooth graphics, and the controller that fit perfectly in his hand all felt uncomfortable.

"Ah, if Yoon Haewon were here, we'd easily win."

Taegyeom, who had just thrown his controller after seeing the 'FAIL' sign on the screen, leaned back against the soft sofa. Once exclusively into computer games, Taegyeom had recently become obsessed with console games. It was a game where one levels up by beating one stage at a time.

Hyunwoo, who would have normally pressed restart for another round, put down the white controller and glanced sideways at Taegyeom. After not hearing from him for several days since that incident, he had called him over to play games but kept mentioning Yoon Haewon's name.

Were they really dating? But why hadn't he said a word about that day? They had definitely made eye contact. Was he supposed to keep quiet about it? Or did he want him to bring it up first? He couldn't figure out what his longtime friend was thinking.

Unaware of Hyunwoo's furtive glances, Taegyeom rummaged through his phone and asked irritably.

"Hey, is Hyunjung-noona's store going bankrupt? Why's he always at work."

"Would it? It's doing really well."

By now, Haewon must be incredibly busy. Judging by how Hyunjung fusses over him, saying "our Haewon, our Haewon," he seems to be doing quite well at work. Hyunwoo hadn't had the courage to visit the store since he saw them having sex, so this was only a guess. Afraid that it would be difficult to hide his emotions upon seeing Haewon, Hyunwoo had refused Hyunjung's insistent invitation to come to the store. Taegyeom, unaware of Hyunwoo's inner turmoil, called out to him.

"Hey, Ju Hyunwoo."

"What."

It was complicated. Two friends were dating. Both men. And he had gotten aroused while imagining his friend, who was on the bottom. It was a shameful act that deserved criticism. As Hyunwoo was pulling at his hair, tormented, Taegyeom rested his chin on his arm, chuckling softly.

"So, how was it?"

Hyunwoo, with his hair standing on end, slowly turned his gaze. Taegyeom was gently moving his hand over his thigh. It was a gesture as if grasping something and shaking it.

"...What do you mean?"

"Yoon Haewon, how was he?"

'How's Yoon Haewon?'

The question was similar to the one Seo Haeyoung had asked. Sensing something strange in the air, Hyunwoo straightened his back but didn't speak first. Taegyeom, who had been watching Hyunwoo's increasingly furrowed expression, sneered.

"You saw everything, you bastard."

Please read without a moral compass

* * *

Turn the other way round if you can't handle this novel

After locking the store's door, Haewon pounded his aching lower back with his fist. His entire back was bruised due to Taegyeom, who had visited his home a few days ago and pushed him down onto the hard floor, pinning him down with his entire body. With trembling knees, Taegyeom had bitten down until there was only one condom left, claiming he would be quick.

"Let's go to the sea."

As if he had been waiting, Seo Haeyoung sent a text message the next day.

[Haewon-ah]

[Let's go to the sea]

Somehow knowing that Hyunjung had planned to close the store, he had picked the exact day for a group vacation. The destination was a villa used by Taegyeom's family. The villa was located on the East Sea, with a clear view of the ocean and a considerable distance from tourist spots, making it quiet and peaceful. They had been there every summer break during high school, but it wasn't as exciting as it used to be. They were older now, and summer was coming to an end.

Moreover, the strange relationship with Taegyeom that had been going on for over a month weighed heavily on him. Time and time again, as his genitals were thrust into the orifice, his body trembled, and he gasped for breath, he realized that it was all terribly wrong. Embracing Taegyeom's neck, he stared blankly at the ceiling, where a long, rectangular light formed, and involuntary moans escaped his lips.

The figure that appeared on the ceiling was Seo Haeyoung. The gentle curve of his eye-tails, his pale skin, and his firm arms. The lips that uttered resolute words in a soft, sweet tone. The friend he had secretly admired for years, who would slap his cheek and then feed him sweet chocolate... Haewon buried his face in Taegyeom's shoulder, imagining that Seo Haeyoung was the one he was having sex with. Merely thinking about it brought an appalling wave of pleasure.

"Shit..."

He must have been so tired that his mind was playing tricks on him. Memories of his forehead pressed against the wall in embarrassment while he wrapped his legs around Taegyeom's waist flooded back to him. Whenever this happened, he would try to erase the memory by slamming his forehead into a hard surface. Feeling too ashamed to live, Haewon, who had hit his forehead on the door four times already today, sighed and moved on. Today, he would not be staying in the cramped, gloomy house.

Upon arriving at Seo Haeyoung's house, Haewon crossed the dark garden, adjusting his disheveled clothes. Though the ill-fitting garments looked ridiculous, he had no time to change. He had been summoned right after finishing work.

The lights on the first floor were all off. Haewon hurried upstairs, lifted his arm, and sniffed to see if he could smell food. The strong scent of the perfume that the brother who took charge of the restaurant had given him wafted up. He figured it was fine. He quickly entered the room where light was seeping out and spotted Seo Haeyoung sitting on the sofa.

Seo Haeyoung, whose nape was even lovable. A smile tinged with fatigue appeared at the corners of his mouth. Haewon, who had completely forgotten being slapped in the face a few days ago, stealthily approached him.

Seo Haeyoung, engrossed in the movie playing on the large monitor, seemed oblivious to Haewon's approach. Just as Haewon was about to place his hand on Haeyoung's shoulder from right behind him.

"Go wash up."

The air changed. Haewon dropped the hand he had intended to use to surprise Haeyoung. As Seo Haeyoung turned around abruptly, a beautiful smile formed on his face, and he tilted his head slightly. Then, he playfully scrunched up his eyes while pretending to cover his nose.

"The perfume is nauseating."

"...Ah. I'm sorry."

Taken aback, Haewon retreated and sniffed his arm again. Though the scent was cool and pleasant to him, it apparently didn't suit Seo Haeyoung's taste.

"Come on, hurry."

Seo Haeyoung, with his arm resting on the back of the sofa, waved his hand impatiently. Like a well-trained dog, Haewon immediately left the room and dashed to the bathroom faster than ever before. He hurriedly took off his uncomfortable clothes, neatly folding them before turning on the shower quickly. After thoroughly washing his hair, he squeezed a generous amount of body wash.

He scrubbed his wrists, which were deeply infused with the perfume scent, with a shower ball. Only when his skin turned bright red and the body wash scent covered the perfume did Haewon proudly finish his shower. He wiped off the water and walked towards the tidy shelf.

There were always clothes prepared in advance by Seo Haeyoung in a wooden basket on the shelf. It was Haeyoung's way of caring for Haewon, saving him the trouble of searching for clothes. Haewon, rummaging through the basket as usual, slightly furrowed his eyebrows.

There was no underwear. He usually kept a few pairs because he often stayed overnight, but today he seemed to have forgotten. Moreover...

"Why this..."

He had not only underwear but also clothes to sleep in, yet the clothes that Seo Haeyoung had prepared were pajamas – a matching set that Haeyoung himself doesn't even wear.

Picking up the soft pants, Haewon found it difficult to go out bare or wear the clothes with the scent Seo Haeyoung disliked. The navy blue checkered pajamas were Seo Haeyoung's size. The pants, which should fit snugly at the waist, were loose, and the sleeves hung down. Looking down at the cloth covering his feet, Haewon folded it up a few times and quickly went back to the room.

"Quickly—come here."

Somehow knowing he had finished his shower, Seo Haeyoung, who was watching a movie, gestured to him. Running to the sofa, Haewon was startled once by Seo Haeyoung pulling his wrist and making him sit, and twice by the ghost that appeared on the screen with a loud bang. With wide, surprised eyes, Haewon stared at the ceiling where the ghost hung. His heart pounded.

"Scary, right?"

The arm draped over his shoulder felt heavy. The head leaning on his right shoulder was also heavy. His heart raced not because of the approaching ghost but because of Seo Haeyoung. He wasn't one to rub his body against others like this. He also wasn't one to be unable to watch horror movies. That's why it was more embarrassing.

"Haewon-ah."

He couldn't react quickly when the hand holding his shoulder went up to the back of his head. His bare feet, without slippers, fidgeted as his head was suddenly pulled back. His hair was pulled tightly, and Haewon's gaze met Seo Haeyoung's, who looked down at him from above. It was another strange atmosphere.

Ah. Haewon rolled his eyes and remembered one thing: he hadn't answered. He lifted the trembling corners of his mouth into a smile. He didn't want to be hit again. It took him a long time to get rid of the bruise, after all.

"...Yes?"

"Are you deaf?"

Instead of letting go of his hair, Seo Haeyoung sat even closer as he propped up his upper body. Haewon couldn't hide his surprise and swallowed nervously before hesitantly opening his mouth. The long arm wrapped around the back of the sofa was bothersome.

"No... I was just startled."

A slow touch reached his slightly bruised cheek.

"Haewon-ah. You're good at answering..."

Fingers trailed along his jawline and dropped down at the end of the sentence.

"Before I start."

Seo Haeyoung, who flicked the collar of the pajama shirt, blinked at Haewon's stiff expression. Soon, the suppressed laughter mixed with a scream from the movie. Seo Haeyoung leaned on the arm draped over the sofa and laughed heartily, but the sound of his laughter could not be heard. The monitor on the wall flashed its light on his twisted eyes and lips, turning them red, then white, then blue. The high-pitched scream drowned out Seo Haeyoung's laughter.

With a short breath, Seo Haeyoung stopped laughing and turned off the noisy movie. His face had already returned to being expressionless.

"It's not fun."

Silence fell in the spacious and pleasant room in no time. In the dimly lit space, Haewon clenched his tense hands and squeezed them meaninglessly. Although Seo Haeyoung's comfortable days had ended years ago, today was particularly more uncomfortable.

The arm that had been draped over the sofa's backrest returned to Haewon's shoulder. Seo Haeyoung crossed his long legs and tapped his toes. He opened his mouth while staring at the blank monitor.

"Are you going to the store tomorrow?"

"I go every day. Around 5:30..."

Without being asked, Haewon revealed his starting time and glanced sideways. Seo Haeyoung's hand gently moved on his chest. Seo Haeyoung leaned to the opposite side as if contemplating and then spoke as he tapped his thigh with his palm.

"Tell noona..."

"...Huh?"

Seo Haeyoung, who straightened his waist, fiddled with the carefully buttoned pajama shirt while embracing his neck. They were close enough for the sound of his heartbeat to be heard. The soft breath tickled Haewon's cheek, and a gentle voice fell next to his ear.

"That you can't go because you feel sick."

"What are you talking about..."

The tension drained, and Haewon let out a weak laugh. He had barely secured the job, and it was Hyunjung's store on top of that. It wasn't a situation where he could simply notify whether he was going or not. Dismissing Seo Haeyoung's nonsense, Haewon moved away from beneath his heavy arm, putting some distance between them. It would have been a big deal if they were caught too close.

Seo Haeyoung smiled wryly, resting his chin on his hand. It was unusual for him to be awake at this hour when he would normally be asleep. Intrigued, he reached out and playfully tapped Haewon's broad shoulder.

"Aren't you sleepy? Did you take a nap earlier?"

Haeyoung, still propping his chin, looked cute as he nodded. When he was in a good mood, he could be endearingly playful, but when the opposite happened, he would become as aggressive as a stray cat that roamed outside their house.

The cat only appeared in the winter and not during the summer. By providing it a box and a blanket with food, the cat would act affectionate whenever it felt like it. When trying to touch it, thinking they had become close, it would scratch their hand, but they couldn't bring themselves to hate it. Because the occasional affection it showed had a way of touching their hearts.

Seo Haeyoung was like that. He had a way of getting under one's skin, making it impossible to hate him no matter what he did. It was pointless to deny that they were smitten.

Feeling more stable as the distance between them grew, Haewon leaned back against the armrest of the sofa and hid his expression with a fake cough, fluttering the hem of his pajamas for no reason.

"I can't sleep either. Want to play a game?"

Though it was bitter to admit that being good at games was his only redeeming quality, he didn't let his jealousy show. It was enough for him to be able to help Seo Haeyoung a little when he was struggling. He fiddled with the soft cloth and watched for Haeyoung's reaction. Haeyoung, who had taken his hand off his chin, suddenly smiled and went "Ah," as if a good idea had come to him.

"Alright. Let's play a game."

As Seo Haeyoung sprang up from the sofa, Haewon looked up at him before being abruptly pulled to his feet. The sleeve he had carelessly rolled up slid down, covering the back of his hand.

"You want me to stand up?"

Haewon asked, glancing up at Seo Haeyoung as he rolled up his sleeve again. Haeyoung took off his slippers and held out a fist. Haewon, puzzled, held out his fist as well. With his other hand, Haeyoung ruffled Haewon's hair and lightly tapped their fists together.

"The one that's tagged runs."

"...Tag?"

It was getting close to three in the morning. Haewon usually slept late and woke up late, but he knew that it wasn't the time to be running around. He looked at Seo Haeyoung with a nervous expression, but Haeyoung's face was so childlike smiling that Haewon couldn't help but chuckle.

"Isn't the one tagged usually 'it'?"

"Not today."

"Well, if you say so..."

Haewon nodded and slightly raised his clenched fist. As he lowered it again, he found himself plunged into an inescapable dilemma.

Hurray for making this far, remember the prologue