1.

| 𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐧. |

Eunjae P.O.V

"You were amazing, darling."

I heard my client's voice. I sighed after wearing my previously discarded jumper.

Yes, that's my job. Have sēx with random strangers. It wasn't the best one out there, but I'm helpless. I can't do anything, but continue with it.

I prefer being called a 'sēx worker' rather than a 'prōstitūtē', because that word sounds straight up rude and offensive. A sēx worker describes my job perfectly, without it being offensive. A person who earns money by having sēx.

I turned around and was met with the sight of a half naked man, sprawled out on his bed, grinning cutely in my direction. I hummed, smiling softly.

Is he the same person growling and grunting in my ear while we were. . . being intimate?

His duality amazed me.

"Are you okay, Eunjae? Did I go too hard?" He asked, sitting up straight and looking at me worriedly. My heart swelled at that.

Most of my clients weren't like this. Half of them didn't even know my name and would just call me vulgar names. Many of them didn't even care if I was hurt because of their wild and animalistic actions.

I was just a toy for them. A doll to play with, who also satisfies their needs. Something to throw away after you get bored of it. Just a mere object.

"You can freshen up, and stay here for the night. It's too late now for you to be roaming around alone."

None of them let me use their bathroom or spend the night in their house.

"I'm fine, thank you so much. And no, I don't wanna be a burden. I can just take a taxi back," I finally spoke.

"Taxis aren't safe either, especially at this time. Stay here. I insist," He said.

I was about to open my mouth to answer, but he beat me to it.

"And, no, you won't be a burden. We could probably even go for a third round," He added, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I'm kidding!" He exclaimed laughing, after seeing my widened eyes.

"You better be, Lee Minho!" I huffed.

"There's the bathroom, all the spare shower equipments are in the second shelf." Minho gestured towards the door.

"I'll be quick," I said, heading towards the door, anticipating the feel of hot water on my sore body.

"No, take your time, babe." He winked playfully.

I giggled and closed the door of the bathroom, seemingly in a good mood. He didn't make me feel uncomfortable. In fact, he was like a friend to me now. All the flirting felt harmless.

Most of the time, my clients were complete āsshōlēs. Sometimes though, I get lucky and have sweet and caring clients like Minho.

But my friend, and fellow sēx worker, Choi Sunhee, wasn't always lucky.

She was always given the clients who didn't seem nice or gentlemanly.

Sometimes I felt as if she purposely chose to go to them, because if she didn't go, I would be sent there.

And considering the fact that she's aware of how traumatised I was when I came back from my very first assignment, who turned out to be a kïnky bastard, I'm more than sure that she willingly goes for them all.

And I'm really grateful for that.

Although it hurts me indescribably when I see her return, all bruised up and tired. Once, she even fainted after returning from someone's house, the time having just crossed half past two in the morning.

But I can't do anything about it. I'm just as helpless as her. But I had vowed to someday free myself from the nasty manager's grasp and take Sunhee with me.

But that day doesn't seem to be anytime soon.

I sighed, setting myself on the commode. I winced a little at the pain in my inner thighs.

It hurts. But it was worth it. Today, I weirdly had fun; I enjoyed every moment I had spent with Minho.

He's a good man.

I began undressing once again, more than ready for the hot shower, when I felt a familiar stinging pain in my lower abdomen.

Oh no.

I looked inside the commode. Red.

I groaned loudly. My period wasn't due till the 18th, and that's two weeks from now.

Guess I'll enjoy the shower even more now.

I looked around the bathroom for some paper towels which I could use as a substitute for pads, but my search ended in vain.

"Minho? Are you there?" I called out from the bathroom, hoping he would hear me.

"Yeah?" I got a distracted response.

This is gonna be embarrassing.

"Could you get me a packet of sanitary napkins?" I called out feebly, nibbling on my lower lip. I heard a notification go off, and assumed that Minho was busy in his phone.

"Try checking the bottom shelf," He said. I frowned.

Maybe he didn't hear me properly.

"Behind the toothpaste packet," Minho added. No, he surely must've heard me.

Sceptically, I opened the bottom shelf, and looked behind the toothpaste packet to see. . .

A packet of pads?

Why does he have a packet of pads in his house?

I pushed away those thoughts and jumped under the shower, much too eager for my bath.

-

Sometime while I was enjoying the feel of the hot water running down my sore body, Minho had stealthily sneaked in and kept a pair of black shorts and a long black tee shirt on the counter, for me to change into after I was done showering.

I had no choice but to wear my own pair of used undergarments, especially now that my uterus had decided to betray me.

Oh, well. It's just for the night.

I got out of the bathroom feeling relieved and stress free, never having taken such a hot and prolonged shower before.

I saw Minho crouching on the ground, setting up a mattress.

"Feeling better? Want some chocolate?" He asked, straightening up, and dusting his shirt.

"Loads better, and no, I don't want chocolate, I'm okay," I said, halfheartedly declining the tempting offer.

"Just say that you want chocolate, don't be a stubborn brat," He said.

"Fine. Give me chocolate," I said authoritatively.

"See? It's that simple." Minho laughed, and I laughed alongside.

"Minho, I have a question," I said, following him to the kitchen.

"Shoot." He rummaged through the shelves, searching for a chocolate, I assumed.

"Why did you have a packet of sanitary napkins in your bathroom? Don't you live alone?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, you see, it's for me." He deadpanned after a slight pause, holding out a chocolate bar.

"What? What do you mean it's for you?" I asked, perplexed.

"I said what I said."

"How can you use the pads?" I pressed.

"Exactly! How can I use them? Use some sense," Minho said tsk-ing.

"And, do you want the chocolate or not?" He asked, waving the chocolate bar in my face.

"Oops. Thank you," I said, taking it from his grasp.

He hummed in response. I opened it and gingerly took a bite. And immediately felt better.

Chocolate is magical food. It always makes me feel better.

"Indeed, God bless whoever invented chocolate," He agreed, and I realised that I had spoken my thoughts out loud. That's a very bad habit of mine.

I have no filter in my mind and speak whatever comes to my mind.

"I'm tired," I said, still nibbling on the delicious chocolate.

"You should be, it's past midnight. Come on," Minho said, gently grabbing ahold of my hand and dragging me to the room.

"You're gonna sleep there," Minho pointed at the now neat and clean bed. "And I'll sleep here," He said pointing at the mattress on the ground.

"Why?" I asked, mouth full of the heavenly chocolate.

"I don't wanna make you feel uncomfortable," he said. I cooed internally.

"I think we've already gone past the uncomfortable stage," I joked, after swallowing.

"Are you sure? I mean, I can't control if anything happens in the middle of the night, you're sexy, you know?" He said, raising his hands, an amused glint in his eyes.

"Yes, I'm sure. I mean, if something does end up happening, my leg is always ready to kick," I said, matching his playful tone.

"Oh, I'm so scared now." He feigned fear, picking up the pillow he had previously laid out along with the mattress and a blanket.

"You should be," I said, automatically walking over to the left side of the bed, and comfortably laying myself, as if I owned the place.

Minho shook his head and sat on the other side of the bed, arranging the pillows, till I eventually felt the bed dip, indicating that he too had laid on the bed.

There was a peaceful silence for a while, during which I realised that he never really answered my question.

"Minho. You didn't answer me," I said bluntly.

"What?" I heard his groggy voice.

Guess I woke him up. Oops.

"The pads. Why did you have them with you?" I asked.

I was met with brief silence. He probably doesn't wants to answer.

"Okay, I'm sorry if you don't wanna ans—"

"I had them here because of my best friend. Her name was Yoona," Minho answered, his voice laced with wistfulness.

"She was almost always here. Once she had a period accident, so ever since, she's made me keep a packet of sanitary napkins here, in case of similar emergencies." He added, smiling softly, his expressions nostalgic.

"That's sweet. What happened now? You both aren't friends anymore?" I asked, noticing that he used past tense while speaking about her.

"She's dead."

"What?!" I quickly turned around to face him and saw him staring distantly at the moonlight flooding in through the window, illuminating the room.

"Well, her body wasn't found when she went missing about two weeks ago. But there was a letter, which hauntingly seemed like a suicide note. So, we all assumed that she's dead," Minho said, his voice soft.

"I'm. . . sorry for your loss. You both seemed close," I said, fiddling with my fingers.

"Oh, we were. We met at a dance academy, but I left a year early. That didn't matter to her, she would either always be here at my house, or at the academy. Nowhere else," He said, gingerly smiling.

"Was she always like that? I mean, did you have any idea that she was. . . suicidal?" I asked, hoping I wouldn't offend him.

"Not at all. She was the most cheerful person I knew. In fact, she never stopped talking about a guy in our academy. She was set to go on a date with that person the very next day, and she seemed to be over the moon about it." He laughed a bit, recalling her bubbly persona.

"Then why would she. . .?" I trailed, perplexed by her actions.

"I don't know." He seemed miserable.

"What if it was a murde—"

"Can we not talk about this," Minho snapped suddenly. "Please." He added, his tone softening.

I stopped myself. I could see how much Yoona meant to him. Not romantically, their relationship was something much more meaningful.

And I could see how much it hurt to talk about her and her apparent death.

"I'm sorry." I softly apologised.

"It's fine. Let's sleep, it's getting late," He said, coughing lightly.

"Minho?" I called out, getting a hum in response.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me today."

x x x

A / N

Okayyyy it's out! My most anticipated story sksjksdksk (or maybe second most👀)

The amount of hints and clues in this chapter is unbelievable-
Tho y'all won't understand anything till the whole series is out🤡

I have NO update schedule, so they'll be out whenever I feel like it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm going to complete this book, before I start with the other members' parts. And I am serious this time.
(Watch me publish the next story before this is complete💀)

Vote and comment and share and spam because y'all make me feel loved <3

Ciao~

-xo-
:]