Red Mansion

“Hey.”The rough hand shoving his shoulder woke him up. Sung-kyung pressed his bleary eyelids. He hadn’t had proper sleep lately, so why was he so drowsy? He couldn’t easily lift his sluggish body. He saw a large figure against the sharp dawn light.“Why are you here…?”Sung-kyung blinked his heavy eyes and looked around. There was no cool air conditioning, no bed with soft sheets, and no green-eyed cat. Only the moldy smell and sticky linoleum of room 422. But why was Kwon Chungrim here?“Stop sleeping and get up.”Chungrim tilted his head and massaged his neck. He looked very tired. Sung-kyung finally began to grasp the situation. It seemed the call he made last night about hearing things wasn’t a dream after all.“Ah… okay.”“Go down to the first floor.”He quickly got up. Today was the day Chungrim told him to follow the undertaker. Sung-kyung hurriedly opened the bathroom door, washed his face, and brushed his teeth, then came out, pushing back his damp bangs.“…He’s already gone.”Chungrim was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was waiting on the first floor? Holding onto faint hope, he quickly changed his clothes. He wanted to clean up the clothes strewn on the floor but decided to leave it for later. Worried Chungrim might be waiting, he rushed out of room 422 like a chased man.But Chungrim was nowhere to be found. Not in front of the first-floor store, not in room 109 at the hospital, and not at the back gate. He had simply left. His mouth tasted bitter. Chungrim wasn’t obligated to stay with him. It was his fault for expecting him to come along. Yeah, he didn’t really need Chungrim anyway.His mother was loaded onto the back of a Porter truck. She was so tightly wrapped in some cloth that he didn’t recognize her at first. He thought it was a rolled-up linoleum mat, but they said it was his mother. A green net, the kind used for moving goods, covered her. His mother looked like a piece of cargo.Sung-kyung kept his mouth shut and watched the scene, then climbed into the truck’s front seat beside the undertaker. The blue truck rattled noisily as it left Red Mansion.Today was the day his mother was finally freed from Red Mansion.His memory started to cut out again. He remembered riding the truck to the outskirts, but when he came to his senses, they were at the columbarium. His mother, who had been wrapped in cloth, was now in a small urn. She had always been skinny, but it felt strange to think this was all that was left of her. How much of him would be left if he died?Just a moment ago, he had been staring at the small urn in his hands, but now, after blinking, he found himself clutching an apron. He was in room 422 with a flickering light.“Why am I holding this?”He tried to remember when he had returned to Red Mansion, but he couldn’t. He didn’t even know how much time had passed. His throat felt itchy, and he was incredibly thirsty. He scratched his neck in frustration, but his weak hand quickly gave out.Sung-kyung hurriedly opened the short refrigerator. He drank a whole bottle of water right there. After wiping his wet lips and chin, he opened the plastic drawer at the bottom of the fridge. He was sure he had put money there, but it was gone again. It seemed someone kept stealing his things. It was strange.“Ah!”Maybe it was because he drank the water too quickly. A sudden pain gripped his insides. He crawled on the floor in agony, then his mind went blank again.His awkwardly bent neck ached, waking him up. He had been lying there so long his body had stiffened. As he rubbed his neck, he saw an apron lying far away. Sung-kyung’s eyes widened for the first time in days.He managed to pull the edge of the apron towards him. Fortunately, there was money in the front pocket. He unwrapped the newspaper-wrapped bundle of money and grabbed about half of it without counting. Then, clutching his aching side, he stood up.The fabric of his clothes, damp and clinging to his skin, brushed against his fingertips. His bloodshot eyes scanned the room and landed on the drying rack in the corner. His eyes gleamed. It was Kwon Chungrim’s scent on those clothes. Hastily, he stripped off his old, shabby T-shirt and reached for the dry clothes.After changing, he immediately left room 422. He kept his phone in his pants pocket in case Chungrim called. He couldn’t remember the last time he charged it, but the battery probably wasn’t dead yet. He hadn’t felt it vibrate once. Maybe not much time had passed.Bang, bang! His hand throbbed with the effort. Despite the pain, Sung-kyung kept knocking. If his memory was correct, Dari lived here.“Who… who is it?”A lazy but amused voice came from inside. The rusty door slowly opened, letting out a smell similar to cigarette smoke. Sung-kyung’s face brightened as he took a deep breath.“Speed, please, give me some leftovers. I’ll pay you.”He thrust the bills he had held onto since leaving the house at Dari. Startled by his forceful entry, Dari hesitated.“Store?”“Just a little. Really, just a little.”They had been planning to enjoy the leftover powder themselves. It wasn’t enough to sell, so they mixed it with water to increase the quantity. Adding one more person wouldn’t hurt. Besides, Dari was sure something was going on between this guy and Kwon Chungrim. If he could get closer to Chungrim through this guy, business would be easier. Maybe Chungrim would give him a more respectable job. Even in his haze, Dari’s mind worked well.“…Come in.”The easy permission made Sung-kyung smile. Money really could buy anything. He happily entered the cramped room.Pushing the plunger, he drew blood into the syringe, then pushed it all back in. Blood quickly beaded at the needle hole. Sung-kyung threw the syringe aside and leaned against the wall. A few people were already giggling, high on the drug.He closed his eyes and focused on the tingling spreading through his body. His head felt light and then drowsy. It felt like rubbing his face against a soft blanket. Naturally, he thought of Chungrim’s bedroom. It was fragrant, soft, cool, and… the sex was good.“I want to go again.”Sung-kyung smiled with his eyes closed. The dark thoughts that had filled his mind began to fade one by one. The time he was beaten up for being accused of stealing drugs, the sight of his mother wrapped in stiff cloth and loaded onto the truck, losing the store key—all faded away in meaningless laughter.In this state, he felt like he could bring his mother back from the urn. Why not? If he took more drugs, it might be possible. His wild imagination spread endlessly in his small head.Bzzz, bzzz. The vibration continued. At first, no one noticed the sound. It was only after a while, when someone nudged him, that Sung-kyung opened his eyes.“It’s you. The sound is coming from you.”A man lying on the floor fumbled with Sung-kyung’s thigh. Ah, right, he had put his phone there. It must be a call. Sung-kyung slowly leaned over and took the phone out of his pocket. The sticky hand that had been caressing his thigh now slipped under his loose pants, but Sung-kyung didn’t notice it at all.“…….”Now that he had the phone in hand, he didn’t have the courage to check the number on the screen. He squeezed his eyes shut. What if it was the hospital again? What if they were calling to say his father had passed away this time? While Sung-kyung hesitated, the call seemed to end, only to start ringing again. The persistent vibration finally made him grit his teeth and open his eyes.“Ah.”It was an eleven-digit number he had memorized. Chungrim. It was the call he had been waiting for. Sung-kyung’s eyes sparkled as he pressed the call button.“It’s Chungrim.”―……Ha.A chuckle came from the other side. Sung-kyung recognized Chungrim just from that small laugh.“Yes, it’s me. It’s me.”―Did you take drugs?“Yeah. They said they’d give it to me cheap.”Sung-kyung couldn’t stop laughing for some reason. There were some bustling noises coming from the other side of the phone. As he listened, a strange hand suddenly invaded his pants, groping him over his underwear.“Stop touching me.”―What?“They said they’d kill us if we both took it. Isn’t that great?”Despite the crude words making him feel uneasy, Sung-kyung found himself laughing again. Right, taking drugs heightens all your senses several times over. When he had sex with Chungrim, the excitement was almost unbearable, like his head was about to explode. If he took drugs and did it, wouldn’t he just explode and die? He had such a foolish thought. The man with glazed eyes pushed his hand further under Sung-kyung’s underwear.―Hey.“Yes? Ah, I said stop touching me. Don’t touch me.”Sung-kyung tried to pull the rough hand out, but it wasn’t easy. Huh. A deep sigh came through the phone.―What room number are you in?“My house? Or the hospital?”―What room number are you in now? Understand my words, dammit.“Ah, okay.”Despite the annoyed tone, Sung-kyung remained calm. What room number was it? He looked around but had no way of knowing. He had found his way there by floor and location, not by remembering the room number.“What’s the room number here?”“317! Three, one, seven!”A voice from the floor, filled with laughter, loudly spelled out the numbers with his fingers. His face was full of smiles. What was that person unconsciously watching?“They said it’s 317.”―You stay put, alright?Sung-kyung nodded. Every time he did, his bangs poked his eyes. The hand inside his pants was now roughly kneading him below. Ah, the pain finally registered, making his toes curl inward.― Answer me with words, damn it.“Yes, yes.”Sung-kyung nodded vigorously as if Chungrim were right in front of him. The call abruptly ended. He held onto the silent phone for a long time. He was told to stay put. He pressed his back against the wall and closed his eyes. The hallucinations that had been tormenting him faded, and the harsh reality blurred into darkness.＊＊＊Several hours had passed. Sung-kyung hadn’t called back. Of course, he knew Sung-kyung must be overwhelmed with his mother’s death, but he found his patience running thin. He wasn’t usually the kind to care about such things, yet he’d stopped himself from calling several times already. He kept remembering those empty, dark eyes looking up at him.Finally, he gave in and called. The reason for the call wasn’t anything significant. He’d only realized that he still had the key to the store. It had been several days since the funeral, so he thought he might as well return it if Sung-kyung had regained some composure.―They said it’s 317.The voice he heard after nearly a week was heavily slurred and slow. No way he was okay. The noise on the other end of the line was chaotic. Chungrim pressed his temple with his curled finger.“You stay put. Got it?”He stood up abruptly. Mero, who had been quietly sitting next to him, was startled and scurried to the edge of the sofa but didn’t leave. He stood there, one foot raised, staring at Chungrim.“Answer me with words, damn it.”―Yes, yes.It was a response that sounded like sleep-talking. Chungrim muttered a curse and hung up.“Fuck.”The conversation he overheard was a mess. What kind of trouble was this guy in now? Didn’t he say he wouldn’t mess around with others? He grabbed his car keys and headed to the parking lot, every step brimming with irritation.He ran into the Red Mansion, drenched in monsoon rain. 317. 317. He repeated the number in his mind as he climbed the stairs. Damn it, how many times had he come and gone because of that unsophisticated store kid? Chungrim scanned the numbers on the doors with annoyance.Bang! Bang bang! He pounded on the door of room 317. There was no response. Frustrated, he kicked the door. After a while, a voice full of annoyance came from inside as the door slowly opened.“What the hell, fuck! Who’s banging on someone’s door?”“Move.”He kicked the swaying legs of the dazed man. The state of the room was a mess. On one side, a couple was already half-undressed and having sex, while on the other, things were just getting started. A burly guy was pinning down a skinny guy, who turned out to be Sung-kyung, which made Chungrim curse through his teeth.“That damn bastard.”The problem was that the skinny guy, lying there with his eyes closed, was Sung-kyung. Chungrim immediately kicked the burly guy. The weight of his foot was heavy.“Argh!”He grabbed the head of the lump lying on the floor and slammed it against the moldy wall. With a loud “bang! bang!”, he heard someone shouting from the opposite wall. But his anger wasn’t appeased, so he started kicking again. The crazed guy kept laughing despite being beaten, as if he had completely lost it. Meanwhile, the two men having sex next to them were busy moaning.“Fucking bastards.”He kept beating the guy until his hand went numb, until his hair was disheveled, and until the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt came undone and covered his wrists. The guy, who was showing his bloody teeth and laughing, eventually stopped moving.“Fucking bastard. Should I just cut off your hands?”He stomped on the thick, limp hand with his shoe. With a sickening crunch, he stomped hard enough for the sound to echo. The guy seemed to scream something, but it was hard to hear with the red foam bubbling from his mouth.Still, his anger wasn’t easily quelled. Why was that? Chungrim panted heavily, his shoulders heaving. His sharp gaze scanned the faces of the junkies sprawled around the room.“Ha, ha.”His bloodshot eyes finally fell to the floor. Sung-kyung was lying there, his pants half-down, with his eyes closed. Chungrim bit his already red lips hard. The spot pressed by his teeth turned white and then red again as blood rushed back.“Hey, aren’t you going to wake up?”He knelt beside Sung-kyung’s head and lowered his body. He gently tapped Sung-kyung’s cheek with his large palm. There was no reaction. Sung-kyung’s T-shirt, which belonged to Chungrim, was rolled up to his chest, revealing his white skin. The thought of a junkie’s hand touching that made Chungrim’s anger flare up again.“How dare you let someone else touch you?”He had said he didn’t want to share. Didn’t he understand? His hand, which was tapping Sung-kyung’s cheek, gradually applied more force.“You crazy bastard, asking for a beating.”Smack, smack! He slapped Sung-kyung’s cheek hard enough to make it red, causing his heavy eyelids to flutter. Chungrim wondered what he had been worrying and stressing over the past week. This crazy bastard had been pulling this crap.“Damn it, won’t you open your eyes properly?”“…….”Finally, Sung-kyung seemed to recognize Chungrim’s voice and abruptly opened his eyes. Chungrim’s face appeared upside down in Sung-kyung’s vision. The blurry eyes gradually regained focus, and a slow smile spread across his face.“You’re laughing?”His cracked lips stretched to a grin, almost tearing.“You don’t get the situation, do you?”“I stayed still.”Sung-kyung’s eyes sparkled as if seeking praise.Damn. This store kid always did the useless things well. He provided money, let him stay, and even left clothes for him, yet here he was, rolling around and getting on his nerves. What was he laughing about? No, actually, the worst part was Chungrim, who had come all the way here himself.“Get up.”Chungrim grabbed Sung-kyung’s hair and pulled him up. The skinny body followed without resistance, despite the tight grip that made the veins in Chungrim’s hand bulge. There was no complaint of pain or demand to be released. He simply slipped into a pair of slippers that didn’t even belong to him and let himself be dragged along.The image he had seen earlier lingered. The sticky gaze that had looked down at Sung-kyung. The blurry eyes without focus made Chungrim feel dirty, as if he wanted to gouge them out. Did living in a place like this drive people crazy? He swallowed his curse.Chungrim hesitated as he dragged Sung-kyung up to room 422. If he left him here, he’d just end up doing something stupid again. He needed to clear his head quickly, open the store, and think about repaying the money. He might start taking drugs again, saying he was hearing things.Of course, he didn’t care if Sung-kyung lost his mind from drugs, but it bothered him that he wouldn’t know what would happen afterward. There were no CCTV cameras in Red Mansion.Chungrim hurriedly descended the stairs. His destination was his car, standing in the summer rain.“Ouch.”He shoved Sung-kyung into the passenger seat. He didn’t remember where he had left his umbrella, so he was drenched. He sat in the driver’s seat, shaking the water from his head. It felt gross, but he felt relieved to have gotten this guy out of that wretched place.“Do you not care if someone dies, you fuck? Hanging out with junkies?”A sane person wouldn’t start taking drugs just because their mother died. But the people at Red Mansion were unstable. They needed greater pleasure and stimulation to escape their anxiety. They would hurt themselves, have sex, or, if that wasn’t enough, take drugs. They destroyed themselves like that.“My mother. Her urn isn’t even full. Is that what happens when you die?”And that was a process Chungrim, born in Red Mansion, had gone through. When his father died, it was hard to cope with the helplessness that followed the loss of the most significant person in his world while sober.Chungrim sometimes saw himself in Sung-kyung. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, suppressing the rising anger.“I can’t remember where it is. I have to go again.”On the short drive home, Sung-kyung kept mumbling that he couldn’t remember where the columbarium was. Then he laughed again, sometimes groping his chest or slowly rocking his hips back and forth. Chungrim tried not to look. He hated the cramped, humid madness. He had long left Red Mansion behind.“21st floor. 2, 1, 0, 7, 2, 1, pound.”Sung-kyung muttered the information of the person in the driver’s seat intermittently. Chungrim found it impressive that he remembered even in that state.Despite being so skinny, Sung-kyung repeatedly lunged at Chungrim on the way up to the 21st floor. Chungrim was busy peeling off the limbs that clung to him, dripping with clear intent.Chungrim’s expression grew increasingly sour. Sung-kyung’s actions were grating on his nerves. It was almost to the point where Chungrim wondered if he had been the one to ruin the moment with his earlier interference.“How can you act so loose like this?” Chungrim grabbed Sung-kyung by the collar and threw him into the bathtub. The scrawny body tumbled with a clatter. Sung-kyung lay sprawled out, staring up with dilated eyes. When his gaze met Chungrim’s, he grinned lazily, his mouth slack.Sung-kyung’s face was completely out of it. While Chungrim occasionally used drugs, he hated seeing someone high when he was sober. The sight of Sung-kyung’s slack expression made his head boil with anger.Chungrim turned on the shower and aimed the water at Sung-kyung, soaking him from head to toe. Wet hair hung down heavily, and droplets ran down, making Sung-kyung squint his eyes shut. His bony hands waved futilely in the air.Chungrim continued dousing Sung-kyung until his t-shirt and pants, which belonged to Chungrim, were thoroughly soaked. He focused the water stream persistently on the area where another man’s hand had touched earlier.“Are you wearing my underwear too?”Chungrim reached out and yanked up the hem of the baggy shorts clinging to Sung-kyung’s wet legs. Pale, skinny thighs were exposed, and underneath, familiar underwear came into view.“This is ridiculous.”Sung-kyung had said he couldn’t return them because they weren’t dry yet. Apparently, as soon as they dried, he’d put them on. The sight of the scrawny body awkwardly clad in his clothes made Chungrim’s throat itch with irritation.When the water reached Sung-kyung’s ankles, Chungrim turned off the shower.“If you come out looking dirty again, I’ll throw you back to the junkies.”He realized he needed to clean himself too, to wash away the rising, jumbled thoughts.When Chungrim finished drying off and emerged from the bathroom, Mero was still the only one in the living room. The sound of running water still came from the bathroom. He tossed a robe onto the bathroom floor as a token gesture, then headed to his room.In the cool room, thanks to the air conditioner, Chungrim reluctantly opened the window halfway. Despite disliking the humidity and the sound of rain, he allowed the lukewarm breeze to flow in, creating an ambiguous temperature. He reached for a cigarette from the windowsill, lit it, and sat back on the armrest of the long sofa, positioned right below the window. From there, he could easily see the room’s entrance.He had brought in this new sofa after Sung-kyung’s last visit. He couldn’t stand the sight of him failing to adjust to the bed, huddling pathetically in a corner. It was to avoid the pitiful spectacle that he had put the sofa there.“Phew—”Smoke drifted out through the half-open window. Chungrim quietly watched the raindrops shatter into tiny fragments against the window.After some time, he heard Mero’s meow from the living room, followed by the sound of slow, hesitant footsteps. Chungrim closed his eyes, his senses keenly attuned. The quiet footsteps crossed the threshold, passed the bed, and came close to the sofa. Then, something soft brushed against his skin.“It’s all undone,” Sung-kyung said. Chungrim opened his eyes. The loosely tied robe hung open, revealing Sung-kyung’s naked body. He climbed onto Chungrim’s thigh, the weight of his thin frame settling there. Chungrim watched Sung-kyung’s actions with narrowed eyes.“What are you doing?”The robe fell open, fully exposing Sung-kyung’s bare body. Chungrim’s gaze penetrated the gap with relentless intensity.“Ah.”Realizing something, Sung-kyung shifted his body, turning his back to Chungrim and settling on his lower abdomen. As the heavy weight pressed down, Chungrim’s eyes crinkled in irritation.“Don’t show your face.”“……”“I haven’t forgotten.”With a sly smile, Sung-kyung dropped his head, loosening Chungrim’s robe. He revealed the thick, long shaft nestled between Chungrim’s muscular thighs. Unable to bring himself to touch it, Sung-kyung busied himself adjusting his own clothing.Didn’t Chungrim say that last time? To come out fully undressed. Not to show his face. And not to touch. He was dutifully following orders, as best as he could remember. He lifted his robe to his waist, revealing his pale, bruised buttocks.“But how am I supposed to, um, put it in without touching it?”Sung-kyung edged closer, settling himself in a kneeling position. The coarse pubic hair brushed against his buttocks.“How should I know? Damn, shouldn’t Mr. Sung-kyung, who has experience with men, know? Why ask me?”Chungrim replied coldly, exhaling a long plume of smoke. Sung-kyung hesitated briefly before slowly moving his hips. The stiffening member prodded his perineum and the entrance of his hole, making his vision blur.He squeezed his eyes shut. Red, black, and white lights flashed chaotically behind his eyelids. Grabbing the hem of his robe, he used his other hand to grasp his own shaft. He began to masturbate, imagining Chungrim, just as he had done in the cramped, muggy store. The difference was that now, Chungrim’s body heat was real.“Ah, mmph—”Chungrim watched the obscene display through the haze of cigarette smoke. The way Sung-kyung thrust his hips, getting himself off, was ridiculous. His buttocks mashed down, his toes curled inward, and his head lolled back. The movement was so intense it made Chungrim’s view wobble. Despite the intensity, Sung-kyung stifled his moans.“Mm, hm.”Leaning forward, Sung-kyung braced himself between Chungrim’s knees, rocking his body vigorously. Chungrim’s erection slipped between his white buttocks, growing darker with arousal. The lewd sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room. He pressed down, grinding against the entrance, and they both became increasingly excited.Even as Sung-kyung frantically sought the entrance, Chungrim’s thick head couldn’t find its way inside. Frustrated, Sung-kyung sat back and started to rock his body back and forth. When the hot shaft swept across his perineum and reached his scrotum, a wave of pleasure caused Sung-kyung to tremble all over.“Is it because you’re high?”“Mm…”Chungrim exhaled smoke, his eyes glinting through the haze.“You’re acting like more of a slut than usual.”As Sung-kyung leaned forward, raising his torso, his buttocks lifted completely. Chungrim’s gaze that dug into that gap was exceedingly sharp. Is it just because of drugs or because he’s had sex with men? This bastard just seems to be excessively lustful and lewd.Seeing the hole pressing down on the dark red penis made Chungrim want to shove his fingers and cock inside. Has he developed a taste for it after a few times? Chungrim licked his hot lips.“You’ve really developed a taste for getting fucked, huh.”He felt disgusted. Everything was because of Kim Sung-kyung, who was shaking his body like a whore on top of him. He felt a surge of anger watching him blindly chase after pleasure in his drugged state. Perhaps it was what he had desired, but still. Chungrim stubbed out his cigarette on the window sill. The flame died with a hiss, leaving a dark gray streak on the sill speckled with raindrops.“Damn it.”Chungrim sat up. He then shoved the thin body that kept writhing on top of him. Bang! Sung-kyung rolled off the sofa with a loud thud. His gown came undone, fully exposing his naked body. Looking down, Chungrim saw that Sung-kyung’s furious movement had caused his own gown to come loose, revealing his erect penis.“Ha.”It wasn’t even funny. Chungrim irritably yanked the gown to cover himself again. He tightened the loosened ties firmly.Even then, Sung-kyung, sprawled on the floor, was masturbating, shaking his penis. His tip glistened with a bit of pre-cum. His pale, swollen face had his eyes tightly shut. He seemed utterly focused on his masturbation, completely oblivious to Chungrim standing before him.Is this bastard really imagining things and jerking off even with someone in front of him? How many times has he jerked off thinking of me? Curses slipped out through Chungrim’s clenched teeth.“Hey.”Chungrim got up from the sofa and swept his disheveled hair back. He kicked Sung-kyung’s belly lightly, watching him jerk off furiously with a frown of irritation.“Oof.”Even then, Sung-kyung only let out a small groan, quickening his pace. He seemed to get more excited when he was hit, rubbing his thighs together.This guy had completely lost his mind. His relative had just died, yet here he was, doing drugs and getting horny like a beast. Every action seemed that of a madman. Chungrim smirked bitterly and gave Sung-kyung’s thin shoulder a light shove with his foot. Sung-kyung’s body flopped over, lying on his back. Only then did Sung-kyung slowly open his eyes. His unfocused pupils came into view. Chungrim’s eyes narrowed fiercely as he looked down at Sung-kyung’s red lips curling into a smile. He saw the gown’s ties scattered on the floor.“You get cursed at for not following through with even one of the ten rules.”Don’t show your face, don’t touch, don’t make a sound. Those were things he adhered to even in a drugged state, but he didn’t recall permitting masturbation.He yanked off Sung-kyung’s poorly draped gown. He grabbed the skinny hand that was slick with pre-cum and shaking his penis. Chungrim quickly bound Sung-kyung’s wrists together with the soft gown tie and pressed them above his head. The moist fingers wriggled helplessly.“Bastards like me get even angrier at that.”To follow nine rules perfectly but fail the last one—he must have done it intentionally. Chungrim clenched his teeth and tightened the knot with a force that made the veins on his hand stand out. Then, pulling the ends of the gown tie, he dragged the bound body toward the bed. The tie grew taut as he pulled, dragging the thin body across the floor.“You shouldn’t do drugs alone.”He swiftly tied the gown tie to the bedpost.“You look ridiculous. It suits you.”Lying naked against the bed, hands tightly bound, he looked excessively lewd. His erect penis continued to drip with pre-cum. As if he couldn’t contain his arousal, he twisted his hips and crossed his legs tightly.Even then, Sung-kyung laughed. He kept smiling at Chungrim. His swollen lips, bruised cheekbones, and blurry eyes half-hidden by his hair were barely visible. Chungrim, tilting his head and watching him, walked away.When he returned much later, he held a pair of scissors. Roughly grabbing Sung-kyung’s bangs, he cut them off. Snip snip. His forehead, scabbed over, was revealed.Chungrim tossed the cut hair into the trash and shook his hands off. Without those bangs in the way, it felt somehow refreshing. The ridiculous bastard suited his mess.＊＊＊“Get up.”A voice accompanied by a nudge to his feet made him open his eyes. His eyelids felt stiff and hot, like they were swollen. His eyelashes were matted with tears, making them heavy. Sung-kyung slowly lifted his head in the direction of the voice. The first thing he sensed was a cool scent, followed by sharply creased trousers, a colorful shirt, and neatly styled hair. He blinked again. He slowly recognized the familiar face. Kwon Chungrim.“Uh……”Sung-kyung mumbled stupidly. He remembered bits and pieces, but nothing was clear. He hurriedly looked around. It was Chungrim’s room, a place he had pictured countless times after his first visit. There was an extra sofa that wasn’t there before, but it was definitely his space. It was clearly room 422. Where had he been before this? His head was foggy as if filled with smoke.“You look like you remember nothing.”At the cold tone, Sung-kyung clamped his mouth shut. Had he made a mistake? But he couldn’t figure out what it was. Lowering his gaze, he saw his naked body. A cloudy substance had dried around his groin.Did we do it again? I shouldn’t forget that. Sung-kyung quickly wiggled his body. His waist was stiff, but there was no soreness or flow below, indicating there was no penetration. His buttocks felt sore from sitting, and his shoulders ached.He tried to move, but his arms wouldn’t budge. Raising his gaze, he saw the gown tie wrapped around the bedpost. The problem was that the tie was fastened to his wrists. Why was he tied to the bed? He struggled to recall missing fragments of his memory.“Store, you’ve become a full junkie, huh?”“……”Did he get the drugs from Dari? Was that real or a dream? If he checked for needle marks, he would know instantly. Sung-kyung raised his head and searched his forearm for a mark.“Ah……”So he did use drugs. That’s why his mind is so foggy.“I’ve got some work to take care of.”“Then, I…”“You’re staying put.”The tone implied it was obvious. Sung-kyung shifted uncomfortably in surprise. Chungrim stomped lightly on his skinny shin. The pressure wasn’t strong, but it was enough to prevent him from moving.“You’re being punished for acting on your whims.”“Punished?”