Red Mansion

However, those emotions that were supposed to be simple started to spiral out of control. Just the thought of Kim Sung-kyung stepping out of the rectangular screen or imagining him taking drugs and fooling around with other guys in the same space made Chungrim furious. It was as if he was claiming ownership without actually bringing him into his territory.Whenever Chungrim took a step outside, he couldn’t help but think of the old, shabby convenience store of Red Mansion. Shaking his head in frustration, he tried to clear his mind, but it was useless.“Ha.”A stifling sigh escaped. Chungrim might subconsciously realize this too. If he was being swayed by Kim Sung-kyung to the extent that even his brothers could notice, and if this interest turned into genuine feelings, his brothers might take Sung-kyung away someday. Maybe that’s why he didn’t want to acknowledge this curiosity as genuine feelings.Staring intently at the numbers on the elevator panel, Chungrim slipped his thumb under the loose watch strap. Rubbing it slowly over his pulse point as if scratching, he tried to calm his anxiety.＊＊＊Something fell with a thud over his head. He raised his hand to see what it was. His attention was first drawn to the red marks left on his wrist instead of the watch strap.“Take a shower and come out.”Leaving only those words, Chungrim left the room. Sung-kyung pulled down what he had grabbed. Soft short-sleeved shirt and shorts, underwear. They didn’t look too big as the ones borrowed before.It didn’t seem like something Chungrim would wear. Did someone with a similar build to him stay here? Dark thoughts quickly spread like shadows but didn’t grow larger. It didn’t matter anyway. He was the only one in Chungrim’s space now.After showering in the ensuite bathroom and putting on the clothes, they fit better than expected. They even smelled like him. Burying his nose in his forearm, he sniffed deeply for a long time. It was all his scent, as if he was held in his arms. His heart pounded rapidly.Chungrim was sitting on the sofa playing with Mero. As Sung-kyung approached, the cat scurried behind the sofa. Chungrim watched the scene quietly and then took something out of his shirt pocket and threw it. A few keys of different sizes scattered across the table. They were the convenience store keys.“Why are these…?”Sung-kyung didn’t remember Chungrim taking the keys. He thought he had lost them, so why did Chungrim have them? The absence of time cut off caused a headache.Even though he had been forgetful, he rarely didn’t remember at all, but recently, these symptoms had gotten worse. Writing on post-its and notes didn’t help. Sung-kyung’s heart started racing in a different sense. His fingertips turned cold.“Since you seem to be in your right mind, open the store.”Checking the time on his phone, Chungrim continued.“What?”He had thought about it for days. Due to the annoying tasks related to some golf resort or whatever, there were many occasions where he had to be out and about or meet with his brothers. If his brothers had already sensed something, they would definitely do something unnecessary. They might send someone to the house while he was away. Then it would be clear that he couldn’t prevent them from taking Kim Sung-kyung.They only knew the other party was a man; they wouldn’t easily guess that the man was a resident of the mansion, and specifically the guy running the convenience store at the corner. Sending him there before his brothers figured it out seemed like the best option. It would be safer in the mansion than at home, and he would have a valid reason to go there.“You need to repay your debt.”Of course, sending Sung-kyung to the convenience store might cause more trouble, but Chungrim decided it was a price worth paying. He was willing to endure such efforts for this toy that required more care than expected.Chungrim began dictating Sung-kyung’s schedule as if it was the most natural thing. There was no consideration of Sung-kyung’s will.“Open from 11 to 5. Come back here after closing.”“…”“Don’t have more than three conversations with customers. There’s no reason to talk while selling things, right?”When Sung-kyung blinked, Chungrim smirked the familiar delinquent smile he often wore at Red Mansion.“Why? Don’t you like it?”“It’s not that…”“What if you take drugs again and behave recklessly?”Chungrim elongated his words, slightly closing his eyes.“…”A vague memory of taking money to Dari’s place surfaced in Sung-kyung’s mind. Already half-intoxicated, Dari had let him in. He handed over a syringe… that much he remembered. But how Chungrim found him, brought him back to this house, what he did that night to end up tied up naked—those details were all hazy.“If you get attached to another guy and run off…”As Chungrim continued speaking, a faint delight spread across Sung-kyung’s face. He couldn’t hide his expressions anymore since his bangs were cut off, but he didn’t try to suppress his smile either.“Who am I supposed to get the money from?”His lips kept twitching. His cheek muscles quivered. What he hadn’t noticed before was now becoming apparent.“I’m not lending you money from digging the ground. Right?”Kwon Chungrim was really not honest.“I won’t. Never.”Chungrim’s hypothetical scenarios were all impossible. With a firm answer, Chungrim shrugged.“Seems like it.”He lightly tapped Sung-kyung’s hand and got up from his seat. Even the small touch made Sung-kyung flinch.“…”“If I really didn’t trust you, I would have made you promise by hooking fingers. Right?”Sung-kyung lowered his eyes. He saw his own fingers with protruding bones.“Ten minutes left until departure.”Checking the time again, Chungrim took the lead. As he passed, the scent of skin and shampoo overpowered his cologne. It was a strangely beautiful and soft fragrance. Sung-kyung’s vision blurred dreamily.In the morning, he could smell the real scent of Kwon Chungrim, not masked by cologne.This was really information only he knew.Under the thin skin of Sung-kyung’s wrist were numerous red spots. Although Chungrim had stopped him from scratching further, Sung-kyung kept stroking them with his fingertips. The sensation of the bumps was quite pleasant, making him behave like a child playing with a toy.While sweeping and cleaning the store, he kept touching his wrist intermittently. The action was obsessively habitual. Whenever memories of his mother, who had existed in this space, began to surface, he would touch his wrist to revive the stinging pain. That way, he could focus solely on that sensation.The late monsoon season, which had reached its peak, had gradually subsided, indicating that Sung-kyung had spent quite a long time at Chungrim’s house. He believed that if he could endure just a little longer, even this oppressive heat would eventually fade away.“…”He mopped the rainwater off the floor with a dry mop. Only when most of the moisture had evaporated did he finish mopping. Dragging the mop, he passed by the open store door.Inside, Chungrim and a man wearing a hat were still there. They said they were installing something, but he didn’t understand why they were doing it inside the store. Wouldn’t it make more sense to install it outside to prevent theft? But Sung-kyung didn’t say a word. His role was simply to watch if Chungrim decided to do something.“I’m going.”He placed the wet mop upside down against the wall. At that moment, the man in the hat emerged from inside. It seemed he had finally finished. Despite being the store owner, Sung-kyung hesitated to go inside. Instead, he busied himself rearranging the plastic table and chairs in the hallway. Amidst this commotion, he heard footsteps approaching.“Five o’clock.”A force pressed against his cheek, pushing his head to the side, and he felt something sticky. When Sung-kyung raised his head, Chungrim had already turned around. It was a precise and swift exchange.“I’m leaving.”With his hands in his pockets, Chungrim walked down the hallway. Sung-kyung watched his retreating figure intently.As if reluctant to touch the door handle, Chungrim pushed the glass door with a single finger and slipped through the gap. With regret, Sung-kyung turned his head in the direction Chungrim had disappeared, but he was already out of sight. Only after losing the chance to catch another glimpse did he touch his cheek.“What’s this?”He peeled off the sticky note stuck to his cheek. It was a label that Sung-kyung frequently used.“Five o’clock back door.”Neatly written words filled the small square box. Staring at the tiny label stuck to his fingertip for a long time, he couldn’t help but feel joy at the thought of this handwriting intervening in all his future plans.Business wasn’t going well, perhaps because the store had been closed for several weeks. The area around the corner store was eerily quiet. To avoid sinking into his thoughts, Sung-kyung busied himself organizing the small store, sweating profusely. But his focus was fleeting and didn’t last long.Hence, he found himself straining to hear even the smallest footsteps in the hallway. The dragging sound of a foot indicated someone approaching. He recognized it instantly.“Hey, you.”Instead of approaching the counter, Dari barged in through the unlocked store door. Sung-kyung remembered the time Dari had barged in, claiming a mistake with the drug delivery and hitting him. He unconsciously grimaced.“Can’t you fix your expression?”Dari’s face was a mess. It was swollen and cut in various places, and his already dark face had deepened circles under his eyes. His cheeks were sunken, making his cheekbones prominent. Despite the humidity, his lips were white and chapped. Sung-kyung avoided his intrusive gaze, pretending to sort through the cigarettes piled next to the counter.“Back then, huh? I wasn’t in my right mind. I need more money.”“Money?”Immediately regretting his response, he remembered Chungrim’s rule: no more than three sentences. Using one up to repeat a question was incredibly foolish. Judging by Dari’s appearance, he had no intention of leaving soon.“The drugs you took, you idiot.”Sung-kyung had thought the amount he took was substantial. He had taken about half of the cash bundle. Where was the house key, anyway? Trying to recall the lost memory, he rubbed his forehead.“…How much more do you need?”“Twenty.”The amount was higher than he expected, given that the quantity was small and the effects didn’t last long. While he didn’t understand, he didn’t feel anger. Strangely, he hadn’t felt angry recently. His nerves, once sharp and tense, had dulled. Not long ago, he would have been furious over trivial matters, but now he was calm and composed. His hand went to the scratched marks on his calf again.“I’ll give it to you when I find my house key. The money is at home.”“When will that be?”He wondered if he should start by searching Dari’s house. Lost in thought, he clutched the edge of his apron tightly. Buzz. Just then, his phone on the counter vibrated loudly. Sung-kyung’s face lit up as he checked the screen. Forgetting he was in the middle of a conversation with Dari, he quickly put the phone to his ear.― You’re still up to your old habits. Letting guys in?“Pardon?”― What are you doing instead of selling stuff?Sung-kyung looked around hastily. He spotted a small black object resembling an inverted cup. It looked similar to the camera in Chungrim’s living room corner.“I’m watching everything on CCTV, so don’t try anything funny.”He recalled what the man who had brought him to Chungrim’s house said on the first day. Was Chungrim watching him now?― What are you chatting about instead of selling?“I’ve only said three sentences. But, are you… watching?”― Yeah. Why? Is that a problem?The blunt and audacious reply came immediately. It wasn’t a problem. Not at all, especially if it was Chungrim.― Do you think I’d just leave you alone, not knowing what kind of trouble you’d get into? I’ve invested a lot in you.Sung-kyung knew very well that to Chungrim, the money he had invested was insignificant. Nevertheless, he didn’t argue with him, who used money to justify his control. This control was more than welcome.“No, it’s fine.”No matter what reason was given, the fact that Kwon Chungrim considered him special didn’t change. Sung-kyung smiled silently, brushing his hand through his awkwardly short bangs.— Send him out. “Yes.”He quickly answered and gently pushed Dari’s shoulder. This wouldn’t count as a conversation, right? When Sung-kyung mouthed ‘leave’ cautiously, Dari’s face contorted. Practically shoving him out, he managed to get Dari out of the store.After pushing him over the store’s threshold, Sung-kyung turned back and hurriedly locked the door. Although the lock was loose, it wouldn’t be easy to open from outside. The door rattled with a dull thud from Dari’s kicks.“He’s gone.”Dari, apparently having given up on the door, now stood before the counter, his fists hitting it with nervous, jerky motions. His eyes, wide with fury, were bloodshot.“Hey, you! You kick someone out while they’re talking? Are you kidding me?”Dari banged on the counter impatiently, and Sung-kyung glared at him sharply. His pointed look pierced him.“Where do you get off looking at me like that, huh? Disrespectful punk! You think I’m a joke? Dari here?”— Hmm.The sound of a long breath from the phone seemed to demand an explanation, so Sung-kyung quickly began to speak.“He came for the money, but I can’t give it to him now. He’ll leave if we let him be.”— You’ve got so many creditors, don’t you?Despite the sarcastic tone, Sung-kyung almost blushed. Did it sound like concern?“Damn, you should sell yourself or something.”Then it happened. The voice he’d been hearing over the phone now spoke right next to her. At first, he thought it was a hallucination, like when he heard his mother’s voice from Room 422. But Dari’s startled reaction suggested otherwise.“Hey.”A large silhouette appeared in the counter’s glass reflection. Sung-kyung’s lips parted slowly. A large fan placed in the hallway was pointed towards the counter, causing Chungrim’s shirt to flutter.“Yes?”Dari stepped back slightly. Chungrim closed the distance with a stride, prodding Dari’s shoulder with his phone. The gesture was utterly disdainful.“Wait your turn.”Each prod of the phone made Dari wobble.“If we’re talking about who’s owed more, wouldn’t it be me?”Dari’s eyes darted to Sung-kyung sitting behind the counter. As always, all the blame and anger were directed at the weaker party. Sung-kyung, familiar with this, met Dari’s gaze and silently absorbed his looming fury.Smack! The sharp sound of a slap echoed, and Dari’s hollow face crumpled instantly. He barely managed to keep from falling by grabbing the counter’s sliding door. Sung-kyung could see his hand, pale from the pressure on the glass.“I’m talking to you.”Chungrim leaned closer to Dari, their faces inches apart. His smile was chilling.“Where are you looking?”“No, I…”“You little punk, are you ignoring me? Because I’m a thug?”His drawn-out tone mingled with a mocking laugh as he tapped Dari’s cheek with the edge of his phone. The wide surface stuck to his face, making a slapping sound.“No, it’s not like that.”“If you screw up deliveries, you should at least do them properly. Don’t act tough.”Standing face to face, the difference in their builds was obvious. Dari couldn’t even meet his eyes. Despite the bruised and bloodshot eyes, Sung-kyung felt no pity for him. he was too preoccupied suppressing the urge to retrieve his notebook from the drawer.“No mistakes, I…”“Ha.”Watching Dari’s mumbling annoyed Chungrim even more. He briefly considered shoving him, but figured he’d cross the line on his own soon enough. The junkie wouldn’t last much longer, and Chungrim saw no need to dirty his hands.“Instead of wasting time here, go hammer nails or something, okay?”Chungrim patted Dari’s shoulder dismissively. He might as well have told him to go grind up his drugs. With the violence not escalating further, Dari bit his lip and left. Sung-kyung watched his retreating back, only to have his attention quickly consumed by the imposing figure now dominating his view.“What are you staring at?”“…”“You’ve got a way of asking for trouble, you know that?”He roughly swept his hair back. His shirt still fluttered in the weak fan breeze. Without further instructions, he headed to the table in the hallway, leaning back in the chair and propping his long legs on the table. With him there, customers were unlikely to come. But that didn’t matter.“Instead of messing around, keep an eye out for customers.”“Yes.”Chungrim had given him the store key to make money. But all he did was chat with a junkie. Moreover, that junkie had been particularly annoying lately.Chungrim, with a hint of irritation, turned on his phone. He checked the live CCTV feed from the store. Leaning on the plastic armrest, he comfortably observed the store. On the small screen, Sung-kyung’s thin back appeared. Glancing beyond the counter, the same figure was visible.“….”On the screen, Sung-kyung quietly bent down and pulled a notebook from the drawer. Chungrim already knew what was written in that notebook. He was curious about what he would write today.The letters were not clearly visible on the screen, but Chungrim didn’t take his eyes off. He kept looking at the screen until the low battery warning appeared. The phone was hot and sticky. It was a perfect fit for the temperature in the Red Mansion.The only one who benefited from Chungrim’s presence at the mansion was Sung-kyung. The business didn’t do well, but there were no unnecessary disputes, and he could visit the hospital in between. For some reason, Chungrim was the one who suggested he visit the hospital first.Although the store’s door wasn’t locked, Chungrim watched over the store again. There wasn’t much expectation for him to sell many goods. Just having him sit there ensured that nothing would get stolen, and that was enough.His father, who used to sleep all the time in Room 422, was often awake in Room 109. It seemed they took better care of him because it was a hospital. They didn’t talk much. “Are you in pain? Are you taking your medicine?” That was all.“The breeze… is nice.”Sung-kyung, who had his ear close to his father’s mouth, straightened up. He had become adept at understanding the faint muttering.“Oh, you mean it’s cool here?”“Yes.”For the first time in a long while, his father had a dry, refreshed face. Even if he sweated, the cool breeze from the fan would quickly dry it off. His mother would have liked it too. How unbearably hot it must have been for her during the harsh summer.The old, creaky fan at home was useless. His parents, unable to move much, must have given up eating porridge because it made them sweat so much. He had known this vaguely but still resented wasting the porridge.“….”His throat felt tight. He wished he had borrowed more money to bring them to the hospital sooner. They wouldn’t have had to endure rainwater pouring in through the window or spend empty hours looking at a broken clock. If he was going to repay the debt anyway, a few hundred more wouldn’t have made a difference. Sung-kyung coughed and lowered his head. His father’s thin hand was trembling slightly.“….”What did his parents talk about in his absence? They must have sat by the window, waiting for their son to return. What did they discuss during all that time? They probably preferred staying in the hospital over dealing with their irritable, rough son. The hospital must have been more comfortable than Room 422.“Why aren’t you saying anything?”While he was regaining his composure at Chungrim’s house, his father must have been staring at the empty bed. Why didn’t he ask anything? Why didn’t he cry or say anything?“….”His father just slowly closed and opened his eyes. It was a gesture close to resignation. Maybe he had already made up his mind. Both parents had fallen ill around the same time, and although his mother’s condition was worse, their progress was similar. During the long days spent sitting by the wall, they might have already had that conversation.“Father, the monsoon season is over. Summer will pass soon.”“…Yes.”His father’s blurry eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Eyes that looked empty, too weary to feel pain. Eyes that seemed burdened even by breathing. It was hard to bear.With a wrist that was red and swollen with no signs of healing, Sung-kyung saw a hallucination of a bug crawling. When he blinked, the vision of Hyung-tae disappeared. But the itchiness remained. He wanted to scratch it with his nails but couldn’t.“I’ll be going now. Rest well.”His father responded by slowly closing and opening his eyes. Sung-kyung couldn’t endure any longer and left the room. On his way back to the store, he stopped by the undertaker’s office. The sun was high, but it felt as if the undertaker had just woken up. He scratched his messy hair and wrote down the address of the columbarium where his mother was. Sung-kyung folded it neatly and put it in his apron pocket. His steps toward the store felt both heavy and light.Chungrim, leaning on a blue table, turned his head at Sung-kyung’s arrival. He checked his watch immediately. It looked just like the habit Sung-kyung had of checking the time whenever Chungrim stayed over.“You took a long time.”This time, it was because he had also stopped by the undertaker’s office.“I went to see the undertaker.”Chungrim, with his chin resting on his hand, tapped his cheek with his fingers. He had been staring at his phone the whole time, but now it was flipped over.“I don’t remember telling you to go there.”“It was right next door. I just asked for the columbarium address. I couldn’t remember it.”“…I see.”“I didn’t say more than three sentences. I asked for the address, and that was it.”Chungrim didn’t look satisfied, but he didn’t say anything further. I should have spoken first, thought Sung-kyung, adding another rule to his list of things to remember.Call on time. Don’t talk back. Don’t ask why. Don’t touch. Don’t make a sound. Don’t look back. Don’t say more than three sentences. And always ask for permission before moving.Chungrim remained silent. Even as Sung-kyung busied himself mopping the floor and wringing out the cloth.“Not a single customer. At this rate, we won’t be able to pay the residency fee this month.”The voice that broke the silence sounded no different from before. He didn’t seem angry, and that relieved Sung-kyung. He got agitated when Chungrim was angry, but he didn’t want to upset him.“I can pay it.”The thought of money slipping away was ever-present. But the store was reopened, and there should still be some money left in Room 422. He vaguely remembered giving half of it to Dari, but he hadn’t handed over everything, thankfully.Even though one family member was gone, the burden on Sung-kyung’s shoulders was the same. Residency fees, interest, debt—it was all still there, just as it had always been.“I’m not forgetting the interest either.”His memory was hazy, and his mind felt clouded, but he couldn’t forget what he wanted to. He had to carry the heavy burden.＊＊＊5 PM, back gate. That was their usual arrangement. But it was unnecessary now, as Chungrim idled in the store’s hallway until 5 PM. Sung-kyung cleaned up the store earlier than usual, while Chungrim watched from behind.They both got into the car and headed to the same place. Reaching Chungrim’s residence on the 21st floor, Sung-kyung watched from a step back as Chungrim entered the code.“Even though I told you not to memorize it, you memorized it, didn’t you?”Despite entering the code in plain view, Chungrim subtly pressured Sung-kyung.“How did you… know?”Should I not have memorized it? Instead of a normal response, Sung-kyung was more curious about how Chungrim knew. How did he know I memorized it?“I know everything.”Chungrim didn’t provide an answer. He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter whether Sung-kyung knew the code. Chungrim entered first, and Sung-kyung awkwardly followed. The passage of time felt strangely smooth.Usually, after closing the shop, Sung-kyung would sweat profusely climbing to the 4th floor. He would press his ear to the front door, listening for any signs of life before turning the doorknob. He would then clean up the meal, bathe his parents, give them their medicine, and only after that would his day end.What happened today? After leaving Red Mansion, he had been enjoying cool air conditioning the entire time. From the car, to the elevator, to the hallway, and even in Chungrim’s house that had been empty all day. It was cool enough that there wasn’t even a chance to sweat.Even after returning, there was nothing for him to do. Just taking a bath in the same kind of bathroom as in Room 422. The scent of the soap was on a different level, permeating his entire body. Sung-kyung kept sniffing his arm. The itchiness and sting in his wrist had now faded away. Everything was undoubtedly getting better.After taking a bath, he heard Chungrim’s call at the perfect timing.“Come here.”It was from the bedroom. Holding onto his awkward robe, Sung-kyung quickly moved. Chungrim was perched on the edge of the bed. He tossed his phone, which he had been staring at, onto the sheets and spoke.“Take it off. I need to check something.”“…Check what?”Sung-kyung asked dumbly. He didn’t understand what Chungrim wanted to check. Sitting at the edge of the bed, Chungrim tugged on the tie of Sung-kyung’s robe, closing the gap between them so their knees touched.“If you don’t know, just take it off.”“W-Wait a minute.”Sung-kyung untied the knot. Sensing his slow movements were unsatisfactory, Chungrim assisted.“Ah!”The force in Chungrim’s movements made Sung-kyung’s thin frame waver. Chungrim’s gaze traveled slowly from the bottom up. Feet, calves, knees, thighs, flat stomach… His sharp, thorough eyes caressed Sung-kyung’s body. Finally, he grabbed Sung-kyung’s arm and swiftly turned his slender body around.Feeling the warmth from Chungrim’s touch on his wrist, Sung-kyung swallowed dryly. He stared intently at the blank white wall in front of him. Behind him, apart from the sound of breathing, there was no other noise. Despite Chungrim’s sticky and hot gaze running over his body.“Ugh…”A sudden touch on his buttocks made Sung-kyung almost let out a moan. He quickly bit his lower lip to stifle the sound. Without being able to see, his senses were heightened. The warmth of Chungrim’s thumb slowly rubbing his buttocks was clearly felt. His toes curled inward, and he tensed his waist.“…”Their breathing intertwined. Sung-kyung worried Chungrim might hear his rapidly beating heart.Chungrim’s thick thumb gradually pressed inward. The sensation of his flesh being pushed was vivid. Sung-kyung squeezed his eyes shut and covered his mouth. His eyelashes trembled with strange anticipation.“Mmph.”A groan escaped as Chungrim’s finger pushed inside. Sung-kyung’s shoulders trembled. Instinctively, he tensed up below. Even with just a knuckle inside, his inner walls gripped it tightly. He yearned for that warmth to delve deeper.“Still not stretched out.”After pressing and sweeping around a few times, Chungrim’s finger withdrew. The intrusion, which seemed like it would stretch him, ended abruptly. The emptiness left Sung-kyung feeling hollow.“Huh?”Sung-kyung tilted his head slightly, his gaze still fixed on the white wall. He hoped this angle meant he hadn’t looked back.Chungrim, however, didn’t seem to think so. He slapped Sung-kyung’s buttocks hard, making him reflexively cover his lower abdomen with his hand. The area felt tingly as if electrified.“For a moment, you weren’t caught on the screen, so I wondered.”Sung-kyung didn’t fully understand Chungrim’s mutterings. The only times he left the store were during the morning cleaning, a bathroom break at lunch, and to chase Dari out. That was all. Did he think I did something in between?As he dumbly rubbed his lower abdomen, Chungrim grabbed his thighs tightly. Chungrim slowly stroked the flesh under his buttocks with his thumb.“You act like you’re worn out.”“…”A sensation similar to the one he felt during self-pleasure washed over him. Now, he could almost climax from Chungrim’s voice alone.“Move aside. I need to wash up.”Sung-kyung stepped to the side, his face flushed red. Chungrim passed by without looking back even once. However, Sung-kyung felt relieved by his indifference. At least he hadn’t noticed Sung-kyung’s growing erection.It was really troublesome. He became aroused so easily at Chungrim’s touch or even a single word. He rubbed the spot on his buttocks where Chungrim had slapped him. The area felt hotter than the rest of his body.“What am I going to do if I keep getting turned on like this?”It was a self-deprecating remark with no sense of reflection. Sung-kyung faintly smiled. He picked up the robe that had fallen to the floor and put his arms through the sleeves. No matter how many times he wore it, it felt awkward, but he had to get used to it. Only then would Chungrim not find him annoying, and he could stay here longer.＊＊＊Sung-kyung had a restless night. Not because he slept on the sofa, nor because of any strenuous activities from the previous night. It was because Mero had been running around like crazy. It was usually like this, but last night was particularly bad. At first, he even thought a thief had broken in.Peeking through the partially open door, he saw a gray furball darting around. Its loud meowing was quite annoying. Since Sung-kyung was a light sleeper, he found it hard to fall back asleep. As a result, he spent most of the night awake.Suppressing a yawn, Sung-kyung ate the toast Chungrim had made. It was savory and delicious, but perhaps due to his sleepless night, it felt gritty and dry.“Something’s wrong with it.”Chungrim tilted his head at the sudden remark. Sung-kyung pointed at Mero sitting on the cat tower.“It was really noisy last night.”“Ah.”