Three Eight-Chapter 24

"......."

Should I run?

Of course, there was nowhere to run. And even if he tried, he’d be caught in an instant.

Fifteen years. He had tried to escape dozens of times, and not once had he succeeded.

Hongju’s fingers, gripping the door handle, slowly relaxed. It might be smarter to pretend to comply and look for another way out.

After all, Mu-gyeong was someone who could be reasoned with—if you played along.

"Where are we going?"

"Would you even understand if I told you?"

That response. He had heard it before.

Hongju couldn’t relax for a second. He kept his eyes on the darkened city outside, trying to piece together their destination.

"I... I have to go to work tomorrow."

"And?"

So much for trying to reason with him.

Hongju clenched his jaw and turned to the road signs flashing past. This wasn’t the way to the staff dorms. Not that Mu-gyeong even knew where those were.

Then where—?

"Then..."

"You really don’t have any other questions?"

The way he spoke—low, deliberate—was accompanied by the soft tap, tap of his fingers against the steering wheel.

Hongju instinctively pressed against the bruise on his cheek, swallowing down the dull ache.

The car slowed to a stop at a red light.

With no other cars on the road, the world outside felt eerily empty—as if he were stranded on an isolated island.

The silence was too heavy.

Hongju turned slightly toward him and, hesitantly, asked the first thing that came to mind.

"That hand earlier... how did you do that?"

Mu-gyeong laughed through his nose.

"I played exactly how you told me to."

The response was short, but Hongju didn’t look convinced.

The game had been rigged. The dealers had set it up perfectly. There was no way Il-sam-gwang-tteng had appeared by chance.

"Maybe because Gu Hongju begged me not to go bankrupt."

"......."

It had been a joke, but Hongju’s lips pressed into a thin line.

It wasn’t a prayer, but... it was true that he had wanted Mu-gyeong to win.

The silence between them stretched.

The only sound was the roar of the accelerator slamming down, the car lurching forward with a violent jolt.

The force shoved Hongju against the seat.

"If I were you, I would’ve asked something else."

"...Like what?"

"What I’m planning to do with my collateral. Why I suddenly felt like taking your virginity. Why I touched your leg. That kind of thing."

The way he drove was reckless—his hands on the wheel were smooth, but his movements weren’t.

With the sudden turns, Hongju’s body tilted to the right.

"Or maybe if I’d use my winnings to pay off your debt. You know, something like that."

He was still staring at the road.

Hongju gripped the frayed hem of his coat.

Everything he’d just listed—those were things Hongju couldn’t bring himself to ask.

"......."

"But I guess that’s why you’ve been a pushover for fifteen years."

The mocking words cut deep.

After that, the silence became suffocating.

Hongju remained rigid, unable to relax his back against the seat.

Every little movement Mu-gyeong made—**a shift in his grip, a lick of his lips—**made Hongju flinch.

It was freezing, yet he was starting to sweat.

"Get out."

When the car finally stopped, they were at a hotel.

Hongju had been here before, but only to collect payments.

He had never stepped inside.

Now, he had no choice.

"......."

Should he run?

His eyes darted around, but Mu-gyeong’s hand was faster.

He grabbed the back of Hongju’s neck and yanked him forward.

"You want to end up like Yang Siljang? Stop rolling your eyes around and get the fuck inside."

"I was just looking—"

Wuuuung.

The elevator hummed softly, the only sound in the dead silence between them.

Mu-gyeong didn’t explain.

Didn’t say a word.

Not even to mock him.

When they reached the 25th floor, Mu-gyeong grabbed his coat and pulled.

The way he did it felt like grabbing someone by the collar.

Like he was dragging him by the throat.

The room number read 2506.

Mu-gyeong pushed the door open, not bothering to turn on the lights.

Hongju followed, teeth sinking into his lip.

"If you’re doing this because of something Guppping said..."

"What’d he say?"

Mu-gyeong turned as he pulled off his coat, tossing it onto the couch.

"That I’m good at sucking dick? Or that I’m a virgin?"

"Either one. I’ll—I’ll do my job better. I’ll be more useful. This isn’t—this isn’t something I’ve ever done before, so..."

Mu-gyeong laughed.

A deep, low rumble from his chest.

Like he had been expecting that answer.

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Then, he started undoing his tie.

Jacket. Tie. Then vest.

One by one, they piled onto the armrest of the couch.

"You were so stiff earlier. Now I see why."

Mu-gyeong’s fingers loosened the top button of his dress shirt.

Then, he took a step forward.

"Take it off."

Hongju’s breath caught.

"......."

As Mu-gyeong stepped closer, Hongju stepped back.

One step. Another.

Until—

His back hit the door.

The big hand swiftly pulled down the zipper of the padded jacket. The wind escaped, rustling the padding as it was stripped off by his hand. As he began to unbutton the shirt, Hongju quickly grabbed his wrist, looking up at Mu-gyeong with swollen eyes.

"What are you doing to me?"

Holding onto the shirt button, Mu-gyeong grabbed the collar as before and pulled it hard. The place Hongju was dragged to in an awkward stance was the bathroom, as big as a studio apartment, which made Hongju busy looking around.

"Take it off, quickly."

"......"

Hongju clenched the front of his shirt and shrugged his shoulders. The bones on his pale hands were prominently sticking out. Mu-gyeong looked at the frightened Hongju as if he was ridiculous and then ruffled his hair.

"Strip and wash. I’m annoyed by the fucking smell of the house."

He probably meant the smell of cigarettes, alcohol, and the musty odor characteristic of abandoned buildings. It made sense if Mu-gyeong had pushed him into the bathroom to strip because of cleanliness.

But it was uncomfortable to strip in front of him. Especially in front of someone who made strange remarks about him. When Hongju hesitated, Mu-gyeong bent down to meet his eye level and tilted his head slightly.

"Gu Hongju doesn’t do things at once. Do you need to be hit to listen?"

Quickly shaking his head, Hongju threw off his shirt. Mu-gyeong stood by the entrance of the bathroom, arms crossed, until Hongju had taken off his underwear. The intense gaze that scrutinized his naked body made Hongju lower his eyes. After a long stare at his thin body, Mu-gyeong looked between Hongju's legs for a moment and then burst out with a ridiculous laugh.

"It's maddening."

Hongju slightly twisted his body, turning his back on him. He wasn’t often seen looking at others' bodies, but the gangsters he lived with, like Choi or the soldiers, had hairy bellies. Knowing that he was a bit different from other adult men was an automatic response. Then, Mu-gyeong chuckled and pushed his dry back.

"You're not a kid who can't wash alone, right?"

The sound of the bathroom door closing made Hongju turn around in an awkward position. Mu-gyeong wasn't gone; he was leaning against the closed door.

"......"

Not planning to leave? As their gazes met, Mu-gyeong gestured with his chin again. Although he had bathed with the gangsters or Choi when he overslept, the atmosphere was distinctly different now. They had no interest in his body, but Mu-gyeong was different.

Thinking it better to wash quickly and leave, Hongju lifted the lever. Water poured out. The hot water that took ages to come out in the basement room was now gushing.

Under the relentless gaze, Hongju showered. As he rinsed off the remaining suds, he kept glancing towards where Mu-gyeong was standing. The steam now obscured the hot intensity of the gaze.

"I have nothing to wear..."

"Put something on. Your body is more worth seeing than your face."

Mu-gyeong chuckled and stepped forward. Hongju tightened his grip on the lever, frozen. Mu-gyeong reached over the sink and picked something up, then placed it over Hongju’s head. Feeling around, it wasn’t a towel but a robe.

As Hongju quickly wiped the water off and put on the robe, Mu-gyeong had already taken off his shirt that was loosely hung around him. He even began to unbuckle his belt, a sight Hongju caught as he quickly fled the bathroom with wet feet.

"Ha ha."

Fortunately, there was no hand that grabbed him, but the sound from behind him was as clear as if someone was laughing right next to his ear. Hongju, covering his right ear, almost ran out into the living room. Soon the bathroom door closed, and Hongju was left alone in the vacant space.

"Phew."

Hongju pressed hard against his right ear with his damp palm. Thump, thump. Mu-gyeong was out of sight, but his heart was racing at a steep pace.

Should he run away while he was gone? As Hongju surveyed the surroundings, he realized his clothes were still in the bathroom. It was nearly dawn; he couldn’t just wander outside in a robe.

Hongju headed to the furthest corner of the living room. He pressed himself against the glass door separating the indoor from the veranda. Beyond the window, the deep blue sky was visible. Dawn was breaking. From such a high place, the dawn sky seemed quite a sight.

"Lucky you, getting to enjoy the view outside."

Suddenly hearing that, Hongju stiffened his shoulders and quickly turned around, guarding himself as he stared at Mu-gyeong and clutched the front of his robe tightly.

Mu-gyeong was casually wrapped in a towel below his waist. His exposed upper arms were well-sculpted, and a large scar crossing his side was visible, a bit longer than a span and seemed quite old due to the fresh flesh over it.

The phone on the table vibrated. Mu-gyeong grabbed it with his large hand and checked the screen.

"How about it?"

With the phone tucked on his shoulder, he pulled a bottle of water from the minibar. He then popped the cap and extended it towards Hongju, who suddenly realized his thirst. However, Hongju didn't ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) reach out but shook his head slightly. Then, Mu-gyeong squinted his eyes, making a curious expression.