Looking down at Ihyeon, Seunghyeok stepped closer one step at a time.
His own tense reflection showed in those blazing eyes. When Ihyeon clenched his fist, Seunghyeok spoke without taking his gaze off him.
“Hey. Go outside and bring in some guy with permed brown hair.”
“Yes, boss!”
The taut standoff lasted only a moment before someone with frightened eyes was dragged in without even knowing why. After lifting his eyes and confirming the face, Seunghyeok finally stepped back.
Ihyeon unknowingly released a short breath he had been holding. The lingering scent of Seunghyeok’s cologne still brushed faintly past his nose.
“Uh… why… did you call me…”
The wary, anxious voice was familiar. Turning his head, Ihyeon met Subin’s darting, terrified eyes.
Upon spotting Ihyeon, Subin’s eyes widened in shock, and then seeing Jinseok barely breathing in a crushed heap, his lips parted in horror.
“W-why am I suddenly—”
“Ah. Kwon Ihyeon here turned out to be pickier than expected.”
Pointing at Jinseok with his chin, Seunghyeok curved his eyes and smiled sweetly, as if manufactured.
“If you don’t want to end up like him, hurry up and press lips with him and mix some tongue.”
“……”
“Not exactly hard for people like you.”
Seunghyeok had already returned to the metal chair and rolled the lighter in his hand with soft clicks. Subin, glancing between Ihyeon’s stiff face and Seunghyeok’s humorless one, hesitantly began stepping toward Ihyeon.
“…Don’t.”
The small murmur still reached Seunghyeok’s ears. The voice sounded almost pitiful — though that couldn’t be — and he let out an empty laugh while checking his wristwatch.
“It’s during your working hours, like you said. And you said you don’t take money.”
“……”
“Ah… I’m starting to get bored, Ihyeon.”
It was Subin, not Ihyeon, who tensed at the soft voice. After gauging the situation, he gathered his brows pleadingly and lightly grasped Ihyeon’s arms.
“Ooooh,” jeering laughter rang around them. Humiliation clenched Ihyeon’s fists tight and he ground his teeth.
Let’s just finish it and get out.
Subin seemed to be saying that with his eyes. Fear appeared greater than the humiliation of being displayed before people like a zoo animal.
Subin’s hand cupped Ihyeon’s neck and jaw. Noticing the hand touching his skin trembling, Ihyeon met Subin’s gaze. Dark pupils shook. He couldn’t drag an innocent Subin into this any further.
Resigned, Ihyeon averted his eyes and stared at a spot near Subin’s ear. Subin’s face moved closer toward Ihyeon’s rigid one.
Click, click, click. With the steady turning of the lighter wheel, Seunghyeok’s gaze fixed there as well.
Tap, tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The lighter struck the armrest with short, hard sounds. It was something Seunghyeok did unconsciously while suppressing the unpleasant disgust boiling up from below his navel.
Watching coldly as if forced to see something he didn’t want to, Seunghyeok gripped the Zippo tightly just before their lips touched.
At nearly the same moment, creeeak — the door that seemed like it would stay closed forever opened its mouth.
“So this is what you were doing, gathering everyone in the storage room.”
A voice slightly higher than Gu Seunghyeok’s yet similarly flat cut through the air. The nearly touching lips separated. Ihyeon finally released the breath he had been holding.
“Suddenly interested in homo shit? What’s this supposed to be.”
The moment he saw the newly arrived man, Seunghyeok’s face twisted terribly. The crew standing nearby also looked shocked and quickly bowed their heads.
The only ones still standing upright were Ihyeon, Subin, and Seunghyeok. Seunghyeok looked up at the man with his fist clenched on the armrest.
The man was slightly shorter than Gu Seunghyeok but dressed in a far more refined suit. Judging by the others’ reactions, he seemed connected to Gu Seunghyeok’s company. Instinctively, it felt like nothing good would come from being involved.
“What brings you here.”
“What brings me? Word spread there’s a kid caught messing around in my father’s workplace. Came to see the face.”
Jinhyeok’s gaze swept once around the storage room and paused briefly on Jinseok tied in the corner. Despite the planted errand boy being beaten into a mess, his expression didn’t change at all.
He slowly looked Jinseok up and down, then patted his shoulder as if encouraging him. Terror filled Jinseok’s swollen eyes, but Jinhyeok had already turned away.
“And these two?”
Next, Jinhyeok’s attention moved to Ihyeon and Subin. As that curious gaze landed on them, Seunghyeok’s eyes sharpened.
“Didn’t you come because you had something to say? Gwak Taesik, send them all out.”
“Why? Let me see their faces too. Are the three of them a team? I’m curious what kind of guts it takes to pull that off.”
His relaxed steps began approaching Ihyeon and Subin. Watching, Seunghyeok growled,
“You bastards. I said get them all out. Want me to repeat it?”
“Leave them.”
Jinhyeok’s firm voice cut off Seunghyeok’s rising tone. Caught between the conflicting orders, the crew stayed put, obeying the higher-ranking Jinhyeok. The muscle in Seunghyeok’s jaw bulged.
Passing Subin indifferently, Jinhyeok lightly grabbed Ihyeon’s chin and lifted his head. Heat and tension flushed around his eyes red. Seeing it, Jinhyeok said flatly,
“You’re pretty.”
The face looking down at Ihyeon was handsome, but the gaze strangely cold. Ihyeon sharply knocked his hand away, and amusement flickered across Jinhyeok’s face. He gave a short laugh and left without hesitation.
Jinhyeok slowly approached the chair where Seunghyeok sat and stopped in front of him. Looking down, he let out a faint scoff and spoke.
“Gu Seunghyeok. When the chairman gives you a good opportunity, you say thank you and just do what you’re told. Why do pointless things.”
He tilted his neck side to side as if loosening up. Seeing that, Taesik quickly pushed Subin and Ihyeon toward the door.
As Subin hurried out supporting the unconscious Jinseok, Ihyeon turned back and took in the sight of Gu Seunghyeok and Gu Jinhyeok. Gu Seunghyeok sat with his head turned, while Gu Jinhyeok in front of him loosened his wristwatch.
Ihyeon hesitated, unable to take his eyes off them, and Subin urgently grabbed his arm. The moment he turned his head, thud — the door shut behind them.
“…Fuck.”
A low curse slipped from Subin. Ihyeon only quickened his steps with lips tightly sealed. In the awkward silence, only Jinseok occasionally groaned.
“Oh my—! What happened?! Isn’t that Jinseok?!”
As they reached the hall, someone broke the tense atmosphere with a startled cry. A group of staff rushed over and quickly reached for the unconscious Jinseok.
The heavy weight left his arms, yet something still seemed to press on Ihyeon’s shoulders. He lowered his head and dragged a hand over his face.
“Hey, Mijeong! Call an ambulance, now!”
“Yes! I told them to come to the back entrance! Are you okay? What happened…!”
Worried looks and curious eyes flew from all directions as a large man carrying Jinseok hurried up the stairs. Other staff followed noisily behind.
And just as after a storm passes the silence feels deeper, an awkward quiet heavily filled the space between Ihyeon and Subin, left behind.
“Kwon Ihyeon. Do you know that person?”
They were in the brightly lit waiting room now, yet Ihyeon’s mind still felt trapped in that dark storage room. The last scene wouldn’t leave his head, and he bit his lip hard.
“Kwon Ihyeon!”
“Hyung. Later.”
“……”
“Let’s talk later.”
He doubted there would be anything he could actually explain later, but even standing was torture right now. The forgotten feverish heat burned up his throat, and hot breath escaped his parted lips.
It felt like the smell of blood clung to his nose. Each swallow brought up a metallic taste, and Ihyeon staggered as he turned away.
“If anyone asks for me, tell them I went to the hospital.”
He had no confidence he could keep working today. Closing his lips tight, Ihyeon turned his back. He spoke in a faint voice, but no answer came from behind. Without hesitation, Ihyeon started walking.