PV Ch.3 Part 4

“Hng… It hurts… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

He let the tears flow freely, his body trembling convincingly as he channeled the memory of Han Biseong’s rough touch, the violation he’d endured on the rooftop. He was a good actor.

He shifted, turning slightly, ensuring that the worst of his bruises, the ones on his waist and hips, were visible. 

“What the…”

As he’d hoped, Shi Yu-hyeon sounded shocked. He’d purposely left the bruises untreated, wanting them to be seen. 

In the heat of the moment, the pain in his ass had been overshadowed by the searing agony in his gut. But in the shower, he’d seen the full extent of the damage, and it had been horrifying.

He felt the bed dip as Shi Yu-hyeon moved.

“No, this isn’t… that place…”

The sight of his injuries had clearly triggered something in Shi Yu-hyeon. Bomin’s hand tightened on the sheets. He’d buried his guilt, but he couldn’t help but feel a pang of remorse for the pain he was causing. 

He gritted his teeth, listening to the sound of Shi Yu-hyeon’s ragged breathing, waiting for him to compose himself. 

After what felt like an eternity, he felt a hand on his waist, gentle but firm. Shi Yu-hyeon was back. 

His pants, and then his underwear, were pulled down. He shivered as the cool air hit his bare skin, his fever making him acutely aware of the temperature change. 

Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Shi Yu-hyeon’s gaze on him, traveling slowly down his body, lingering, before settling on the most vulnerable part of him. 

He whimpered as he felt that gaze, the intensity of it making him tremble. 

“Hng… Stop… Please…”

A blanket settled over him, soft and warm, a simple gesture that brought unexpected comfort. 

“Just… wait here.”

He heard the sound of running water, distant and muffled. The sweat on his skin cooled, leaving him chilled. A warm cloth touched his skin, the touch featherlight, soothing. 

He felt a tingling sensation as something cool and soothing was applied to his skin, followed by a gentle vibration. Shi Yu-hyeon was even dressing him, his hands surprisingly steady despite their earlier trembling.

He was cocooned in warmth, the blanket tucked around him. He bit his lip as he felt a hand brush against his cheek, wiping away a stray tear. 

“I don’t even know your name… But you don’t have to worry anymore,” Shi Yu-hyeon whispered, his voice close, intimate. 

And in that moment, Bomin knew. Shi Yu-hyeon had fallen. Just like a moth drawn to a flame, he’d flown straight into Bomin’s trap, oblivious to the danger. 

***

Bomin opened his eyes, his eyelids heavy as if weighed down by stones. The apartment was shrouded in darkness, even the bedside lamp extinguished. 

“Ah…”

He tried to speak, his throat parched, but only a soft moan escaped his lips. The last thing he remembered before drifting off to sleep was the feeling of a gentle hand stroking his hair.

He couldn’t recall the last time anyone had done that. The touch, so unexpected, so tender, had brought unexpected tears to his eyes. 

“Are you awake?” 

“W-Who…?” 

The voice was close, but he felt no warmth beside him. He turned his head towards the sound. Shi Yu-hyeon was standing by the bed, a folded blanket visible on the sofa behind him. 

It seemed his host had given up his bed for him, choosing to sleep on the sofa. Bomin wondered if Shi Yu-hyeon’s inherent goodness was the reason the male leads were so… morally bankrupt. As if the universe needed balance, and Shi Yu-hyeon’s virtue had drained all decency from the others. 

“W-Where… Where am I…?”

He forced his eyes to widen, his body trembling convincingly as he pulled the blanket tighter around himself, feigning fear. Shi Yu-hyeon took a step back, his hands raised in a gesture of reassurance, a harmless smile on his face.

“Don’t you remember? You collapsed at the bar last night.”

“The bar…?” 

His eyes widened, as if the memory was suddenly returning. He looked at Shi Yu-hyeon, his expression a mixture of gratitude and fear. 

“T-Thank you… If you hadn’t helped me…” 

He trailed off, his shoulders shaking as if the unspoken threat hung heavy in the air. Then his gaze fell on his clothes, and his face paled.

“You were sweating a lot, so I changed your clothes. I’m sorry.”

Shi Yu-hyeon’s voice was apologetic, tentative. He’d only done what he thought was best, but he wasn’t sure how Bomin would react. 

“Could… Could I have my clothes back?” 

Bomin pulled the blanket up to his chin, hiding himself, his lips trembling as if he were terrified of being seen. 

“They’re still wet. I just put them in the dryer. Will you wait a little while?” 

Bomin nodded silently. Shi Yu-hyeon hurried to the laundry room, retrieved his clothes, and put them in the dryer, his movements quick and efficient. 

“It’ll take about an hour… Are you hungry?”

“I-I’m okay…” 

“You were really sick last night. Even if you don’t have an appetite, you should eat something.”

Shi Yu-hyeon disappeared into the kitchen and began pulling ingredients from the fridge. The apartment wasn’t large, and Bomin could see him clearly from the bed. 

He could tell, just from watching him move, that Shi Yu-hyeon was a good cook. 

Bomin, on the other hand, was hopeless in the kitchen. In fact, he was terrible at anything that required manual dexterity. Except for sex, of course. He was a natural at that. 

His stomach grumbled loudly, betraying his earlier claim of not being hungry. He pressed a hand against his abdomen, his face flushing as he held his breath, hoping Shi Yu-hyeon hadn’t heard. 

He caught Shi Yu-hyeon’s eye and saw a small smile touch his lips. 

He was beautiful. The word came to Bomin unbidden.

Bomin himself was often told he was pretty, but he was nothing compared to Shi Yu-hyeon. Shi Yu-hyeon was so delicate, so graceful, he could easily pass for a woman. 

Except for his height and broad shoulders. He was tall, over 180 centimeters, and his build was lean but athletic, giving him a distinctly androgynous allure. 

Bomin himself was a little under 180 centimeters. 

All the male leads were taller than Shi Yu-hyeon, Won Seongwoo being the tallest at over 190 centimeters. Bomin wasn’t short, but he was naturally slender, lacking the muscular physique of most Espers. Even compared to Shi Yu-hyeon, he looked small.

And Shi Yu-hyeon was about to awaken as an S-rank Guide, destined for wealth and power. He was the protagonist, in every sense of the word—not just in looks, but in abilities as well. 

Bomin could finally understand, viscerally, the emotions the original Bomin had felt for Shi Yu-hyeon. 

Bomin himself was only a B-rank. It was better than being a C or D-rank, but A-rank was the minimum for proper recognition. B-rank Guides were easily replaceable.

The only reason he’d been able to maintain regular Guiding relationships with the S-rank Espers was their unusually high compatibility rating with him. 

And Shi Yu-hyeon was highly compatible with all the male leads. 

That’s why they’d all fallen for him, unable to resist his allure. They’d showered him with affection, vying for his attention, driving him to the brink of a mental breakdown with their obsessive love.

The original Bomin, used to being treated as nothing more than a convenient object, had seen Shi Yu-hyeon as someone who had everything he could never have, yet took it all for granted. 

“I’m not a bad cook, so it should be edible.”

Bomin’s thoughts were interrupted by a delicious aroma, and he looked up to see Shi Yu-hyeon approaching with a tray. There was a bowl of porridge, garnished with finely chopped vegetables, a spoon, a glass of water, and some pills.

“These are fever reducers. Your fever’s gone down, but you still have a slight temperature. It’s best to take these. Would you like some water first?”

Bomin took the glass and sipped the water, grateful for the cool liquid soothing his parched throat. He felt his energy returning. 

“…Thank you.”

Shi Yu-hyeon seemed pleased that he hadn’t refused the offered kindness, even though he was still clearly afraid. He brought over a bedside table, placed the tray on it, and went back to the kitchen, his steps light and buoyant. 

The porridge tasted of home, of comfort. 

It was made with the same ingredients as the store-bought kind, but there was a depth of flavor, a warmth, that spoke of care and attention. 

As he ate, Bomin realized, with a strange pang of longing, that he’d missed this. He’d missed having someone care enough to make him a meal, someone to fuss over him when he was sick.

He swallowed the last of the porridge, his throat tight with emotion. He’d finished the entire bowl, even though it had been a generous serving. 

He took the pills as well, downing them with a gulp of water. Shi Yu-hyeon, who had been watching him subtly, smiled. 

“Um…”

Shi Yu-hyeon turned back to him, his expression questioning. Bomin hesitated, his gaze darting nervously, and Shi Yu-hyeon sat down on the edge of the bed, as if sensing his discomfort. 

He was acting more like a guest than the host. 

“You should get some more rest. I have to run out for a bit, but you can…”

He stopped abruptly as Bomin leaned forward, capturing his lips in a soft kiss. His golden eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. 

Shi Yu-hyeon’s eyes widened in surprise, his lips parting slightly. Bomin’s tongue darted out, teasing the seam of his lips, the unexpected contact sending a wave of heat through Shi Yu-hyeon. 

“W-What are you…?” 

He could push him away. 

He knew he could. But he didn’t. He could only stare at Bomin, his voice a shaky whisper, his thoughts disjointed, scattered by the warmth of those soft lips against his own. 

Bomin’s arm slid around his neck, pulling him closer, and Shi Yu-hyeon instinctively pushed back, his hand resting on Bomin’s shoulder, his touch hesitant. Bomin bit his lip, trying to suppress a smile. 

“…Do you not like it?”

He’d checked Bomin’s temperature earlier that morning, just before sunrise, and the fever had been gone. Perhaps it had simply… relocated, settling in his eyes. Those eyes, dark and feverish, made Shi Yu-hyeon swallow hard. 

“I… want to keep kissing you…” 

Bomin’s voice was a soft murmur, his eyes glazed, unfocused, as if he wasn’t fully aware of what he was doing.

Anyone else, and Shi Yu-hyeon would have pushed them away. But he felt… compelled, as if invisible strings were pulling him closer, guiding his actions. 

His hand, which had been pushing Bomin away, slid up to cup the back of his neck, pulling him closer. He closed his eyes, his head tilting instinctively as Bomin’s lips met his again, their breath mingling.

“Hnn… Haa…”

A soft moan escaped him as their tongues tangled, the heat of Bomin’s mouth intoxicating. Bomin sucked on his tongue, making a soft, wet sound, and Shi Yu-hyeon’s brow furrowed, a shiver running through him. 

He savored the feel of Bomin’s soft skin beneath his fingertips, his breath catching in his throat as the kiss deepened. 

Bomin shifted, his tongue swirling against his own, the touch deliberate, teasing, and a low growl rumbled in Shi Yu-hyeon’s chest, the sound surprisingly deep, sending shivers down his own spine. 

He opened his eyes to find Bomin straddling his lap, his legs parted, his gaze intense. He was only wearing underwear and an oversized t-shirt, his slender legs and pale thighs exposed. 

Shi Yu-hyeon’s hand slid down Bomin’s leg, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of his ankle, his calf, his thigh, before coming to rest on his hip.

“Haa…”

The lingering fever made Bomin’s skin sensitive, and he shivered at the touch. He pulled back slightly, his head tilting back, his throat exposed. 

Shi Yu-hyeon’s lips brushed against his Adam’s apple, the touch searing hot, and Bomin shifted, his er*ction pressing against Shi Yu-hyeon’s thigh, the friction sending a jolt of pleasure through them both. 

Shi Yu-hyeon’s sweatpants tightened around his own hardening c*ck. Bomin’s eyes fluttered closed as he pressed closer, gauging his size. 

Despite his delicate features, Shi Yu-hyeon was well-endowed, easily on par with the other male leads. The realization made Bomin’s throat tighten with anticipation.