Red Mansion

Young Chungrim, as always, waited for his father and brothers in the cramped corner of the Red Mansion. His twin brothers, who prevented him from hanging out with bad friends, forced him to spend time alone.For several days now, he couldn’t sleep and stayed at home. Sometimes, he stood by the window, staring outside. The pitch-black night sky showed no stars. After standing like that for a long time and feeling chilly, he finally closed the window.“Are they not coming home today either?”There was no one to answer his small murmur. Chungrim reluctantly crawled into the spread-out blanket and closed his eyes. How long had he been lying like that? He started to feel like water was pooling on the floor. He quickly opened his eyes and looked around. Water began to rise rapidly, as if during a flood.“What, what is this?”Chungrim quickly got up. But the water filled the room at an unrealistic speed. It was already over his knees. When he took a step to leave the room, the water poured in faster. In no time, it reached his waist, and soon his shoulders were submerged.Fear and terror wrapped around his whole body, and he couldn’t move as if his feet were tied. His trembling eyes looked towards the front door. Whether it was his father or his twin brothers, or even the men his father brought around, he wished someone would open the door.“Please, help…”His weak voice couldn’t reach beyond the door. Brother Gyurim, Brother Surim. Father. No, please, anyone, help. Open the door. Save me. Get me out of this water. His murmurs stayed inside his mouth. The water reached his chin, and tears began to fill Chungrim’s eyes.“Ah.”Am I going to die like this? What are my brothers doing that they’re not coming home? Are they fighting again? They don’t let me hang out with my friends, so why are they always out so late?What is Father doing? Doesn’t he care what his child eats or how he lives? Is it enough for him to come home just once in a while? There are so many people living in the Red Mansion. Why am I alone?Pale-faced Chungrim sank to the bottom of the deep water. He held his breath and tightly closed his eyes. It was suffocating. So suffocating. Chungrim finally opened his mouth and took a deep breath.“Ha, ha—”Just like being trapped in a nightmare, his body, which couldn’t move, loosened, and Chungrim sat on the blanket. Even though the water was nowhere to be seen, he had to catch his breath. He opened his eyes wide and looked around. The room was clearly filled to the ceiling with water. He fumbled with his trembling hands on the floor, but he couldn’t feel any moisture.“…”His heart was beating so fast it hurt his head. Chungrim clutched his head in confusion. What was that? Was it a dream? No. He clearly felt the water tickling his chin. Kneeling, he pressed his head against the floor, trying to catch his breath. Yet, he couldn’t close his bloodshot eyes. What he had just experienced was too terrifying for young Chungrim to bear.He couldn’t sleep until dawn. He feared the water would rise again if he closed his eyes. Moreover, his chest felt too tight, and he was afraid he might die if he fell asleep. Chungrim endured the dawn without moving an inch from the blanket, and only in the morning did he start to move. Maybe he thought he had been abandoned in this room.He needed to get rid of the anxiety and fear that filled his body. Tears were useless no matter how much he cried, so this time he decided to let something else flow. He opened the sink and took out a knife. Without hesitation, he slashed his wrist. Red blood beaded up where the blade passed, and he looked down at his drenched arm. Strangely, he felt pleasure amid the pain. It felt like the scary and terrifying moments were being washed away with the blood.At that moment, the door, which he thought would never open, did. His eyes met with the twins, who reeked of alcohol. A smile, almost like delight, spread across Chungrim’s face. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the twins, who looked shocked and sober. The twins shouted something in a panic, but he couldn’t hear them. It was like being submerged in water, with only a buzzing vibration in his ears.When he came back home from the shabby Red Mansion hospital after getting stitched up, his father handed him some money, and his brothers took turns staying with him. He realized then that this was how he could get his brothers’ and father’s attention.Even after leaving the Red Mansion, Chungrim sometimes hurt himself. The reasons varied each time. To feel a sense of release. Sometimes to confirm that he was alive. Perhaps it was because he could feel euphoria faster and stronger than any drug.The scars have faded to the point where they can be covered by a watch, but he still remembers that feeling. The pleasure spreading through his body as his blood circulated quickly. The dazed feeling was similar to being high on drugs. After that, he started using drugs too.But now, he didn’t need to do that anymore. There was no reason to feel satisfied in such a way. He now constantly received attention and affection, felt liberated from his brothers’ shadows, and was assured of his existence.Chungrim’s eyes snapped open.“Ha.”Maybe it was because he hadn’t had that dream in a long time. His body felt heavy. He quickly blinked his stiff eyes. As his blurred vision cleared, the first thing he noticed was the empty space next to him. Chungrim hurriedly sat up. Seeing the neatly made blanket with no sign of anyone lying there, his heart sank.Am I still dreaming? No. Sung-kyung was definitely here before I closed my eyes. The pounding sound in his ears made his heart even more anxious. He threw off the blanket and swung his legs off the bed. At that moment, a faint whisper came through the slightly open door.“Shh. Be quiet.”Meow. He also heard Mero’s whining cry. But what if it was an auditory hallucination? Chungrim bit his lower lip and grabbed the doorknob.“I’ll give it to you. I said I’ll give it.”When he abruptly opened the door, Sung-kyung turned around in surprise, and Mero flattened herself on the floor. They were both sitting in front of the food bowl, seemingly about to feed her.“She cried for food. That’s why I came out.”Since he had been moving according to the time he set, starting from opening his eyes, he quickly added an excuse, fearing he might get scolded. Chungrim glanced at the clock on the wall. Normally, Sung-kyung wouldn’t be up yet.“…”“Can I feed her?”What if the Sung-kyung in front of him was an illusion, and he was moving on his own? His chest heaved as he breathed heavily.“…Okay.”With permission granted, the tousled back of Sung-kyung’s head leaned towards the food bowl. As the kibble poured out, Mero, seemingly enticed, moved away from the trickling water fountain to wet her mouth. Chungrim still couldn’t shake the doubt that the scene before him might be an illusion.He stealthily walked behind the two. As he stood close behind Sung-kyung, the latter looked up with a curious expression. Chungrim reached out silently, his index finger trembling slightly. Only after feeling the strands of Sung-kyung’s hair did he finally exhale. His finger traced from Sung-kyung’s forehead, along the eye line, down to the ear before slowly pulling away. His fingertip retained the lingering warmth, confirming it wasn’t a hallucination. Unlike the water that had filled the room in his dream, Sung-kyung remained. Chungrim let out a small sigh.“Who told you to walk around alone?”He knelt down and embraced Sung-kyung, causing him to fall on his backside. Although Sung-kyung winced at the pain, he managed to stifle any groan. Ignoring Sung-kyung’s fall, Chungrim pressed his body closer.“Uh-uh.”Unable to hold his balance, Sung-kyung fell backward. Before his head hit the floor, a firm hand cushioned the impact. Chungrim loomed over him, their chests pressed together, heartbeats resonating through.“Who said you could leave me?”Why is he doing this? Sung-kyung blinked rapidly. Such behavior usually appeared when Sung-kyung said something nonsensical. Why now?“Wake me next time you leave. Got it?”Though curious about the reason, it didn’t matter much to Sung-kyung. Chungrim’s behavior indicated it was because of him.“…Okay.”Sung-kyung wrapped his arms around Chungrim’s back and buried his nose in his shoulder, taking a deep breath. He bit his lower lip to suppress a smile. He stayed there, feeling Chungrim’s weight, until he calmed down.They stayed home all day, foregoing their usual walks and instead clinging to the sofa or bed. It was peaceful, until Chungrim’s phone rang.“What?”Chungrim raised an eyebrow, more curious than angry. Sung-kyung, pretending to drink water, focused all his attention on Chungrim, worried something else had caught his interest.“How many years did he spend with the twins?”At the mention of “the twins,” Sung-kyung hastily put down his cup. The twins were always adept at diverting Chungrim’s attention. They had been quiet for a while, but now they were reaching out again?Instead of sitting beside Chungrim, Sung-kyung sat at his feet, wrapping his hands around Chungrim’s calves. He blinked slowly, feeling Chungrim’s large hand in his hair.“Why eliminate him? Give him money, as much as possible. Set up a place for him to run.”Chungrim’s voice was filled with excitement. Sung-kyung was curious about what had him so thrilled. As Chungrim’s hand moved from his hair to his nape and inside his shirt, Sung-kyung wondered what it was all about.“Set up a hideout near the twins’ office. It’s better if it’s close by; it’ll make them more pissed.”Chungrim continued talking to the person on the other end of the line while his hand roamed Sung-kyung’s body. He paused when he felt the protruding bones. Even after gaining some weight, they were still noticeable. Chungrim wondered if he needed to get some medicine for him.― Should we just hide him? Give him money and leave him?“Yes. Until the twins catch on.”A middleman who dealt drugs in large quantities had double-crossed the twins. To outsiders, he might seem like a regular employee selling luxury goods, but he had worked closely with the twins long enough for Chungrim to remember him. He had stolen money and drugs, but Chungrim’s men had caught him before the twins did. Chungrim planned to hide the traitor and provide him with plenty of money.― Alright. We’ll keep an eye on him.Just like how the twins had hidden an old doctor in the Red Mansion, Chungrim would do the same. The twins were likely furious, hunting for the man. Chungrim thrilled at the thought of how they’d react once they found out it was him who hid the traitor.“Contact me when the twins start sniffing around. I don’t want to miss the fun.”The quicker the twins found out, the better the entertainment for Chungrim.― Will do.Chungrim ended the call and squeezed Sung-kyung’s neck before patting his shoulder.“Get on the scale.”Sung-kyung stood up slowly and walked to the scale. Chungrim followed closely, watching the numbers flash before settling. Chungrim frowned. Despite everything, Sung-kyung was losing weight.“Let’s go out for dinner.”“Yes.”“We’re having Korean food.”Sung-kyung hesitated for a moment before nodding. At the Korean restaurant, the table would be filled with dishes, and he would have to eat everything. It wasn’t that the food was unappetizing, but overeating made him uncomfortable. Still, Chungrim loved that place, so he endured. It was also the food he enjoyed the most.Recently, Sung-kyung had been indulging in pizza, leading to fewer outings. But now, it seemed they’d be frequenting the restaurant again. As he pondered this, Chungrim mumbled while caressing his waist.“Why do you keep losing weight?”“…”Eating heavily and then being exhausted before sleep was why, but Chungrim had no idea.“I’ll eat more.”Chungrim smirked at his words. His grip tightened on Sung-kyung’s waist as they walked out.“Get dressed quickly.”“Yes.”Sung-kyung moved without hesitation, though he walked slowly to feel the touch on his back.＊＊＊The meal was satisfying. Today, the food tasted especially good, and the strawberry-filled rice cake for dessert suited Sung-kyung’s palate perfectly. While he ate, Chungrim watched, resting his chin on his hand. Chungrim, who had been sipping tea, placed his portion of the rice cake in front of Sung-kyung.“You like strawberries. This is delicious…”Chungrim always chose strawberry-flavored ice cream and often ate strawberry jam. So why wasn’t he eating the rice cake? Did it not taste good? Why was he giving it to Sung-kyung instead? Puzzled, Sung-kyung blinked.“I’m saving it to eat all at once later.”Chungrim stretched out one leg and tapped Sung-kyung’s knee, urging him with a nod.“Just eat it already.”“…Okay.”Not knowing what Chungrim meant by eating it all at once, Sung-kyung took the small wooden fork and started chewing the rice cake thoroughly. Chungrim continued sipping his tea, even though he had already finished one cup and still felt thirsty.Maybe it was because the room was warm, or perhaps the color of the rice cake matched Sung-kyung’s cheeks. His fingertips and earlobes also seemed to match the strawberry color. Chungrim’s mouth watered as he watched, like a predator eyeing its prey.“I’m done.”Despite feeling Chungrim’s intense gaze, Sung-kyung drank the entire cup of water. Chungrim reached out, wiped the moisture from Sung-kyung’s lips with his finger, and stood up, grabbing his coat. His movements seemed a bit hurried.“Let’s go. I’m craving dessert too.”He laughed at the end of his sentence. Sung-kyung didn’t fully understand but didn’t want to lose Chungrim, so he grabbed his coat and followed.Chungrim left the room first, waiting as Sung-kyung slowly put on his shoes. Chungrim wrapped his arm around Sung-kyung’s shoulders and whispered, though it wasn’t much of a whisper.“Hey.”“Yes?”Chungrim continued, looking down at Sung-kyung mischievously. A staff member was approaching with a tray from the end of the hallway. Sung-kyung’s eyes met the staff’s.“Did you know that if you eat strawberries, your semen tastes like strawberries?”Chungrim, ignoring his surroundings, spouted nonsense, not caring if he embarrassed Sung-kyung. The staff member was getting closer and would soon hear Chungrim.“Even if you suck and bite your chest, it tastes the same. You didn’t know that, did you?”Leaning in closer, Chungrim chuckled. The staff member, perhaps startled by the atmosphere, quickly averted their eyes and bowed. Luckily, they entered a room before passing by the two.As they walked past the open room, Chungrim continued his teasing, glancing sideways to see if anyone inside could hear him.“It’s better than using strawberry-flavored condoms.”Sung-kyung quickly stopped and covered Chungrim’s mouth with his hand. Chungrim responded by licking Sung-kyung’s palm.“Ugh.”The hot, slippery tongue made Sung-kyung withdraw his hand quickly. He clenched his fist, trying to retain the warmth left behind.“Why? You don’t like it?”“Someone might hear us. They shouldn’t…”With that, Sung-kyung quickened his pace. As they neared the counter, more people were in the hallway. They all seemed to glance at Chungrim, curious about his voice.“They shouldn’t?”“Not that they shouldn’t, but… they’ll imagine things.”Seeing Sung-kyung’s anxious glance around, Chungrim burst into laughter.“Haha.”A staff member carrying a tray greeted them.“Did you enjoy your meal?”Chungrim responded with a casual thumbs-up. Several people passed by, glancing at them, but Chungrim couldn’t stop laughing. Even without remembering, he was still crazy.“I don’t want them imagining you like that… because of you.”When the drug delivery mishap happened, Sung-kyung had said something similar. He could have just admitted to having sex in the small store, but he kept silent and got beaten up. The reason was absurdly simple: he didn’t want anyone imagining Chungrim in a lewd way.Sung-kyung was crazier than Chungrim thought and still was. Laughing, Chungrim bumped his forehead gently against Sung-kyung’s, just like Mero used to do.“You’re so damn funny to watch.”“…”Expecting a laugh or eye contact, Chungrim was surprised when Sung-kyung flinched and stopped. He seemed scared or confused, staring at something. Chungrim turned to follow his gaze.“Oh―.”It was an unexpected encounter. Chungrim straightened up.“Well, look who it is. The twins are here for a meal too?”Following the leading staff into the corridor were Chungrim’s twin brothers. They, too, stopped abruptly, surprised by the unexpected encounter.“Hey, Chungrim. So now you’re completely ignoring us, huh? Mesmerized by one guy? You’re the problem, as always.”It was Gyurim who stopped Surim from almost hitting Sung-kyung.“Why the hell?”“Just stay out of it.”Chungrim casually inquired about his brothers’ well-being.“How’s work going for you guys? How’s it feel to be betrayed by your one and only brother?”Chungrim had been a solid pillar in the future the twins had planned. It amused him to see it crumble so easily with just a flick of his hand.“Everything’s running smoothly.”Gyurim responded in a gruff tone, hiding his complex feelings.“Is that so? I doubt it.”Their gaze was directed not at Chungrim, who was speaking to them, but at the small figure clinging to his side. Chungrim snapped his fingers to capture their attention. His previously cheerful expression had turned into a crooked smile. How dare they not look at him when he was speaking?“You know about the plan to demolish the mansion and build a hotel, right? I’m thinking of selling drugs at the casino there too.”“What, are you planning to take our share and screw us over? Do you think it’ll be that easy?”Gyurim laughed cynically. It seemed Chungrim was aiming to take over their business entirely. Even among drug dealers, there was a code of ethics that Chungrim was blatantly disregarding. But the twins weren’t ones to be easily outmaneuvered. They had invested time and built connections in the drug trade.“So what? We were dealing drugs at the mansion anyway. What? Are you eyeing that hotel too? Want to take it from me? Contact me through your lawyer. I’ll give you a good deal.”He tapped Sung-kyung’s shoulder with his fingertips.“I can sell everything except him.”“…”The staff, who had been walking ahead, noticed the twins weren’t following and called out in a puzzled voice.“Guests?”“They’re waiting. You should go. The meal was good today.”Chungrim gripped Sung-kyung’s shoulder firmly and walked past his brothers. As he brushed by, he slipped a bill into Gyurim’s coat pocket and patted his shoulder.“Thanks for the meal, bro. Let’s do this again sometime.”Making eye contact with the distant staff, Chungrim pointed to the bill in Gyurim’s pocket. The staff quickly nodded in understanding. Despite meeting his brothers for the first time in almost a year, Chungrim left without a second thought.“…That crazy bastard. He still looks normal, though.”Surim muttered, feeling both hurt and astonished. Gyurim felt the same. From the moment they entered the restaurant, they had recognized Chungrim immediately. He was leaning completely towards the store guy, whispering and laughing like something was genuinely funny. Gyurim had rarely seen him look so genuinely happy. Usually, he only smiled mockingly or sarcastically. Although he had lost his appetite, he couldn’t cancel the dinner appointment.“Let’s go. Boss Kim must be waiting.”Surim patted Gyurim’s shoulder and led the way. They were already dealing with the fallout of a middleman disappearing after a major betrayal. Plus, the golf resort Chungrim had been preparing fell through, making it difficult to secure a new deal location. Despite having a strong foothold in the Red Mansion area, things were falling apart. They were too busy focusing on their side business to worry about drug trafficking.“…”Gyurim paused at the entrance, staring. Chungrim and Sung-kyung were already gone. If he had them followed now, he could find out where they lived.“…”Gyurim slowly licked the inside of his cheek and sighed. Chungrim’s smiling face kept flashing before his eyes. Maybe he should wait a bit longer. In a few years, Chungrim might come back to them, along with that hotel. Gyurim started walking again, catching up to the already distant Surim.“Damn, that ruined my mood.”As soon as they left the restaurant, Chungrim cursed under his breath. Running into them here had put him in a foul mood. Why was Sung-kyung staring so intently, and were they planning to take him away? Thoughts of the twins’ intentions made his head throb. He pressed his fingers against his eyebrows to relieve the tension, then suddenly stopped.“…”He released Sung-kyung’s shoulder and began searching his coat pockets. Sung-kyung watched, puzzled.“Don’t follow anyone, no matter how much money they offer you. Got it?”After a moment of silence, Chungrim repeated his warning. This time, he handed Sung-kyung car keys and a card. Sung-kyung, caught off guard, blinked in confusion. Just as he was about to respond, he remembered how tenderly Chungrim had patted Gyurim’s shoulder earlier and kept silent.“Do you understand?”Chungrim’s harsh tone made Sung-kyung nod reluctantly. Chungrim clicked his tongue and stood in front of Sung-kyung, gripping his thin cheeks tightly, enough to leave an indent.“Answer me.”He stomped his foot threateningly. His eyes were fierce, and his handsome eyebrows were furrowed. Sung-kyung’s lips, stubbornly closed, parted under the pressure of Chungrim’s fingers.“…Yes. I won’t go, even if they offer me money.”“I’ll give you more. So never…”Trailing off, Chungrim’s eyes quickly scanned Sung-kyung’s face. Unlike when he deliberately provoked him, Chungrim’s anger and anxiety seemed different this time. The thought that the twins were the cause of Chungrim’s distress didn’t sit well with Sung-kyung.Chungrim slowly released his grip and roughly rubbed his reddened cheek. It hurt more, but he didn’t bother mentioning it.“Yes. Let’s go now.”“…”He handed the car keys back to Chungrim and slipped the card into his coat pocket. Sung-kyung looked up at him and smiled.“I won’t go even without these.”A cold wind blew, and Sung-kyung’s unevenly cut bangs fluttered slightly.“And you didn’t get to have dessert.”It seemed like there was a hint of strawberry scent in the air. Chungrim couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.“Ha.”He had completely mastered the art of toying with him. Chungrim used to be confident he wouldn’t be swayed, but now he was easily influenced by Sung-kyung’s every word and action. If he had to find a reason, it might be because Chungrim was also sincere now.“Damn, I’m going to suck until there’s nothing left.”No wonder he wasn’t gaining weight. Chungrim chuckled dryly and pulled out the hand half-poking from under the padding sleeve. His fingertips were still strawberry-colored. The emotions that had hit rock bottom after meeting the twins now surged hotly again.＊＊＊There were no major changes, but the counseling sessions continued steadily. Sung-kyung no longer felt uncomfortable going to counseling. However, Chungrim still found it awkward. At some point, Sung-kyung began giving vague answers about the counseling content.Instead of detailing the questions he received and how he answered them, his reports had become noticeably brief: “They asked about my childhood,” “They asked how I feel about my parents.” Chungrim couldn’t help but contemplate whether to bug the sessions. He’d like to do it immediately, but there were more pressing matters at hand today.After sending Sung-kyung into the counseling room, Chungrim headed to the back of the hospital. A black sedan was parked there. Chungrim opened the back door as if it were his own car and got in. Inside, there was a skinny man with his hands and feet bound and his eyes covered. Sensing someone had entered the car, the man tensed up.Ignoring him, Chungrim reached out and removed the blindfold. The man, blinking at the sudden release, locked eyes with Chungrim. Chungrim glanced over his scarred face. The man’s eyes widened, and he began to tremble. They were familiar with each other.“I-I’m sorry…”“My brothers are really pissed off, you know?”Thinking about the brief encounter with his brothers at the restaurant, Chungrim’s anger hadn’t subsided. They had tried to hit Kim Sung-kyung and still treated him like dirt. They clearly hadn’t learned their lesson.In the past few days, the twins seemed to have roughly figured out that Chungrim was hiding the guy who had betrayed them. Though they hadn’t pinpointed his location yet, Chungrim wanted to keep hiding him to further aggravate them, but it seemed a decisive move was needed.“I haven’t received the money yet! I’ll give it all back once I get it.”“Hmm.”Chungrim crossed his arms and leaned back into the seat, eyeing the man sharply. His prominent brow bones made him look constantly angry. The man swallowed hard, pleading for his life.“Please, spare me. I was blinded by money for a moment. It won’t happen again…”Ha ha. Chungrim’s laughter cut him off. The man glanced up at Chungrim with rolling eyes.“Who said anything about killing you? Why make me out to be a monster?”“Please give me a chance. If you give me one more chance, I’ll work properly. I’ll devote my life to it—”“Will you do well if I give you a chance?”“Yes, yes. Absolutely.”The man, hands bound, clung to Chungrim’s sleeve. Looking down, Chungrim saw the red marks on the man’s hands. He must have tasted the drugs he was supposed to deliver.Without answering, Chungrim rolled down the backseat window. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled smoke out the window. He smoked silently for a long time before finally speaking.“Alright, I’ll give you that chance.”“Thank you. I swear I’ll be loyal. I’ll never be blinded by money again—”Chungrim cut him off ruthlessly.“I’ll give you enough money to live on. If you want to go abroad, tell me where. But—”The man, who had been bowing his head, looked up at Chungrim.“Go to the police station right now and confess you delivered drugs.”“Excuse me?”“Tell them the twins’ company isn’t actually selling luxury goods but drugs. Go and spill everything.”Did he mean for him to be prosecuted and become a criminal? Was this Chungrim’s idea of a chance, to let him rot in jail for a while?The man had noticed the rift between the twins and Chungrim. But he hadn’t expected Chungrim to go so far as to involve the police. And he would be the bait. The man, unable to completely abandon his remaining greed, kept his mouth shut.“If you don’t want that, you can die at the twins’ hands. They already suspect I have you.”The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. If the twins caught him, he wouldn’t get even a chance to beg for his life. He should have run off with the drugs and money as soon as he stole them. Being too high to think straight for a while had landed him in this mess. The man glanced around nervously, unable to decide.Chungrim tapped the front passenger seat.“Give me the documents.”The person in the front seat opened the glove box and handed Chungrim a yellow envelope. Chungrim took it and leafed through the papers inside.There were toll receipts, photos of transactions, and records of straw purchases all indicating the twins’ involvement in the drug trade.“You… you have all this…”“Do you think you’ll live longer or the twins?”The evidence indicated that the twins were directing everything from the top.“If you’re locked up, even the twins can’t kill you.”“…But.”“When you get out, you can go abroad like I said. Or you can work for us. The latter would piss off my brothers more, don’t you think?”The man hadn’t realized the brothers’ relationship had deteriorated to the point of plotting against each other. He quickly calculated his chances of survival, deciding where his allegiance should lie. He started using his drug-addled brain to figure it out.“…Yes, yes. I’ll do that.”