SHUDDER 6

After completing all the funeral procedures and returning to the island, the Gijeong brothers had nowhere suitable to go. The small house, which had never been particularly warm, had been reduced to a handful of ashes and vanished, and in the village, there were neither reliable relatives nor even friendly neighbors to depend on.

Since the house burned down, until the funeral for their father was completed, Hwang Jangyeop had quietly stayed by their side, but somehow their relationship had soured. It started precisely after Gijeong’s homeroom teacher visited the funeral parlor.

“So. Are you going?”

Upon hearing from Gijeong that he had been accepted into the university he wanted, Hwang Jangyeop, after a long pause, asked just that one question. He had hesitated and stalled for a while, then abruptly posed that single question.

Without much deliberation, Gijeong nodded. The dream he had painstakingly nurtured for so long was on the verge of coming true. There was no way he could give it up easily.

Hwang Jangyeop, looking at Gijeong with an odd expression, as if he were stunned or perhaps shocked, soon stood up abruptly and left. He returned to the funeral parlor hours later, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. Without saying a word, he stayed through the funeral and the cremation of the body, then left for the island without so much as a goodbye.

Gijeong felt a bit hurt by Hwang Jangyeop’s suddenly cold attitude. Though he knew he shouldn’t feel this way, he couldn’t help but resent him. To begin with, Hwang Jangyeop had no reason or obligation to help Gijeong. For someone with no connection or relation to offer both material and emotional support, Gijeong should have been nothing but grateful.

Yet, as Hwang Jangyeop suddenly turned cold, Gijeong couldn’t stop thinking about him, his emotions simmering. They weren’t friends or anything else, yet Gijeong felt arbitrarily hurt. It seemed he had unknowingly relied on him quite a bit. It was absurd. He didn’t understand why he had come to take someone’s kindness for granted.

Holding his younger brother’s hand, Gijeong stood at the harbor. All he could do was stand there, aimlessly enduring. He had no particular place in mind to go, no destination that came to mind. Even though it was the familiar neighborhood where he had lived since childhood, it felt utterly foreign.

It was a bewildering situation. All that had happened was that their father, who always drank and, when drunk, resorted to senseless violence, was gone. The man who had barely fulfilled the role of a protector was no longer there. Yet, with just that one change, the small island village felt as unfamiliar as if they had no ties to it at all.

Giyeong raised his head and gazed up at his older brother. He playfully swung their tightly clasped hands back and forth.

Now, the only family left in the world was Giyeong and Gijeong, just the two of them. Since the university Gijeong had been accepted to was a national one, the tuition was relatively affordable, so if he worked hard during breaks, he could cover the fees. While studying, he would likely need to balance academics with part-time jobs to earn scholarships and living expenses.

Cutting down on sleep was hardly an issue. To live with Giyeong, he couldn’t stay in a dormitory, so he would need to find a small room near the university. That meant he would need to prepare a deposit and monthly rent right away.

In a reality without their father, the most immediate issue was, unsurprisingly, money. Even though their father had never properly fulfilled his role as a provider, it was still the case. Gijeong had no clue what to tackle first.

It seemed he should find a job first, but perhaps finding a place to stay was the priority. The only thing he had in hand was a few tens of thousands of won he had received from Hwang Jangyeop for some work.

Even with a nominal guardian and a dilapidated house, the reality Gijeong had tried to ignore now weighed heavily on his shoulders. The result of prioritizing studies over earning money was just this. What was Gijeong supposed to do now?

“Hyung, it’s cold.”

Giyeong shook Gijeong’s hand again, whining. His cheeks were flushed red, and even snot was dripping from his small, round nose.

Gijeong crouched down to wipe Giyeong’s nose. Then, he scooped the boy into his arms and stood up. There was still nowhere to go. He had thought that getting into university and moving to Seoul would change everything. But in reality, nothing had changed.

Gijeong stared blankly at the island village. Fierce winds blew from all directions, pushing him around. The day was so bitterly cold that tears stung his eyes.

“I told you, didn’t I? I’d let your kid stay in my room just once.”

Hwang Jangyeop shot a sharp glare at Gijeong, who had come uninvited. His pants were undone, his shirt completely off, and a young woman peeked out from beside him. It wasn’t Jeonghwa, whom Gijeong had met before, nor was it the owner of the tavern.

Gijeong briefly glanced at the woman, who was watching him with curious eyes, before shifting his gaze to Hwang Jangyeop. Hwang Jangyeop merely looked down at Gijeong with an emotionless stare, his arms firmly crossed like a locked gate.

“There’s no place for a guy like you to crash, so stop loitering and get lost.”

With his lips tightly shut, Hwang Jangyeop waved Gijeong away, telling him to leave, then turned around. He slammed the door shut with a bang.

Soon, the sound of the woman’s ticklish laughter came from inside the closed door. Gijeong glanced back at Giyeong, who was asleep on his back, and adjusted the boy to carry him properly. Just then, Hwang Jangyeop’s mother, entering the house, spotted Gijeong and approached, sizing him up.

“What are you doing here, trying to mooch something again?”

She didn’t hesitate to speak harshly to his face. It seemed the appearance of the Gijeong brothers was almost welcome, as if she had been bored. Who wouldn’t want someone who would quietly endure whatever verbal onslaught she unleashed? Hwang Jangyeop’s mother circled the brothers slowly, hurling criticisms and even pointing accusingly.

“That tight-lipped mouth of yours probably only moves when you’re mooching off someone else’s living!”

She treated everyone who came looking for Hwang Jangyeop as a freeloader. To be fair, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Silently enduring the sharp insults and scorn poured upon him, Gijeong suddenly walked toward Hwang Jangyeop’s room. Hwang Jangyeop’s mother paused at his unexpected action but quickly raised her voice again.

“I’m not done talking yet! Where are you going?”

Standing in front of the firmly shut door, Gijeong hesitated for a moment before knocking. Then, without waiting for Hwang Jangyeop’s permission, he opened the door and stepped inside. Fearing he might be thrown out, he quickly closed the door and calmly settled into a corner of the room.

“What the hell, kid?”

Hwang Jangyeop, who had been groping the woman’s chest, turned to Gijeong and growled. Unfazed, Gijeong carefully set his brother down from his back and laid him gently on the floor.

Hwang Jangyeop, scoffing in disbelief, abruptly stood up. Striding over to Gijeong, he grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the door, flinging it open.

Hwang Jangyeop’s mother, who had been about to head back inside after losing her source of amusement, turned her attention to the sudden commotion. Hwang Jangyeop looked ready to throw Gijeong out at any moment.

“Get out.”

“Please, just let us stay a bit.”

Half-pushed out the door, Gijeong desperately grabbed Hwang Jangyeop’s hand, which was clutching his collar, and pleaded. Hwang Jangyeop, seemingly indifferent to whatever Gijeong was saying, roughly shoved him away.

He was someone who was going to leave anyway. Even in this situation, he was the type who couldn’t give up on Seoul. They’d likely never see each other again, so Hwang Jangyeop decided to cut ties for good. Just as he was about to toss Giyeong, who was asleep on the floor, out as well, Gijeong dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together and begging.

“Please. I’ll do whatever you say.”

It was a single sentence powerful enough to halt all of Hwang Jangyeop’s actions and thoughts. Hwang Jangyeop froze, staring at Gijeong as if he could pierce through him. His brows and forehead creased deeply.

Gijeong, head bowed low, refused to meet his gaze. Perhaps he had only just realized the reckless offer he had made. His tightly closed lips trembled faintly in despair. Hwang Jangyeop’s thick eyebrows and forehead twitched. Still keeping his eyes fixed on Gijeong, he abruptly gestured toward the woman behind him.

“Hey, you, get out.”

“…What? Why all of a sudden?”

For the woman, it was an utterly bewildering situation. Until now, no one who had claimed Hwang Jangyeop’s room first had ever been kicked out. Hwang Jangyeop was a notorious rogue who neither held back those leaving nor stopped those coming.

Yet today, this man was acting in an incomprehensible way. That was why the woman stood there, dumbfounded, instead of getting up immediately.

“I said get out. Do I need to drag you out?”

“Ugh, you crazy bastard. What a jinx.”

The woman threw a pillow at Hwang Jangyeop’s back and stormed out of the room, huffing. As she passed Gijeong while putting on her shoes, she muttered under her breath, loud enough for him to hear, while eyeing him up and down.

“Filthy guys.”

Gijeong’s face flushed hot. Hwang Jangyeop roughly yanked his collar. He slammed the door shut and locked it to keep anyone else from coming in.

Pulled back into the room, Gijeong took a blanket from a stack in the corner and covered Giyeong with it. Exhausted and cold, Giyeong was sleeping so deeply that he wouldn’t have noticed if someone carried him away. Patting his younger brother gently, Gijeong was soon dragged away by a forceful pull. Hwang Jangyeop, standing at a distance, had suddenly grabbed his ankle.

Hwang Jangyeop pulled the limp Gijeong toward him by the collar. Gijeong’s face was forcefully pressed between Hwang Jangyeop’s bulging thighs. Hwang Jangyeop’s distinct scent grew overwhelmingly intense.

Gijeong shuddered slightly and shook his head. Hwang Jangyeop, showing no mercy, gripped his jaw tightly and kept pulling his face toward his groin. The front of his pants, already loosened from earlier with the woman, revealed an imposing bulge that seemed ready to burst through his underwear. The coarse pubic hair peeking out from under the fabric looked prickly just to see.

Gijeong stared blankly at Hwang Jangyeop’s member looming right before his nose, then looked up at him. There was a glimmer of expectation in his eyes. But the command that soon came from Hwang Jangyeop shattered that faint hope in an instant.

“Suck it.”

Hwang Jangyeop’s shoulders heaved as he roughly kneaded Gijeong’s cheek. Gijeong’s eyes, which had been holding him, wavered dangerously. Gijeong clamped his lips shut and shook his head.

“No way.”

“You said you’d do whatever I tell you. Suck it.”

“No…! Mmph, ugh…”

This wasn’t the time to indulge Gijeong’s defiance. Things had gone completely awry. Hwang Jangyeop kept rubbing his bulging groin against Gijeong’s lips as he tried to turn away. When Gijeong still refused to open his mouth, Hwang Jangyeop roared.

“Suck it, you bastard!”

The thunderous voice made Gijeong’s shoulders flinch. His limbs trembled with a fear he had never felt before. But it was Gijeong himself who had said he’d do anything. There was no room for negotiation.

Trembling all over, Gijeong reluctantly parted his lips. His unsteady breathing further provoked Hwang Jangyeop’s member, hidden behind the underwear. Seeing Gijeong only half-opening his mouth without extending his tongue, Hwang Jangyeop shoved his fingers deep inside to keep it open. Pressing down on the soft, lukewarm tongue, he pulled down his underwear, revealing a dark, engorged member.

Just touching Gijeong’s mouth made Hwang Jangyeop too impatient to wait calmly. Forcing Gijeong’s mouth open, he shoved his massive member inside. Gijeong’s eyes squeezed shut. The thick, hard flesh pressed against his throat, bringing a suffocating fear. Coarse pubic hair grazed his nose and lips, and the sour smell of sweat emanated from the hot groin. Saliva pooled at the strained edges of his jaw, and a wave of nausea surged up.

“Ugh… gack.”

As soon as Gijeong took the member in his mouth, Hwang Jangyeop’s chest heaved, and he pressed his lower abdomen even closer, despite Gijeong’s gagging. The member, filling Gijeong’s mouth, pushed past his throat, sliding deeper. Gijeong’s face turned bright red from breathing difficulties. He coughed uncontrollably, veins bulging on his forehead, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Hwang Jangyeop grabbed Gijeong’s head and pressed his face down hard. As the member filled his throat, Gijeong’s body trembled as if electrified. His hands, clenched tightly, turned white.

“Ugh, uhh… gurgh… mmph.”

It went beyond mere disgust. It was sheer agony and terror. There was no room for arousal or sexual impulse.

He felt like he was going to die. It really seemed like he might die if it continued. Hwang Jangyeop looked disdainfully at Gijeong, struggling to survive, then pushed him down to the floor. Straddling him, he pinned Gijeong’s shoulders and thrust his member into his gasping mouth.

Gijeong, helplessly pinned under Hwang Jangyeop, sucked the member thrusting in recklessly, his mouth agape. The member hitting his throat repeatedly triggered waves of nausea, and his limbs trembled. Breathing through his nose might have helped, but Hwang Jangyeop’s massive member, moving in and out, blocked even that.

“Haa, ha… ugh, ha…”

“Ugh, ugh, gaaack… cough!”

The wetter Hwang Jangyeop’s member became, the worse Gijeong’s suffering grew. Coughs erupted, his face and neck flushed, and thick veins stood out. Saliva, neither swallowed nor spat out, gurgled in his throat and dripped down his open jaw.

Each time his airway was completely blocked, his chest heaved upward. His legs kicked the floor repeatedly. His eyes, wide open then tightly shut, streamed with tears.

Hwang Jangyeop easily pinned down Gijeong’s hands, which instinctively pushed against him, clenched his teeth, and intensified his thrusting. The member, which had been slowly stirring inside Gijeong’s mouth, now rapidly scraped against his palate, tongue, and mucous membranes. His jaw ached unbearably, as if it might dislocate.

“…Haa, ugh.”

“Ugh…! Cough, cough.”

Reveling in the intense pleasure, Hwang Jangyeop hurriedly pulled out his member. Gijeong, finally able to breathe, coughed wetly without stopping. Hwang Jangyeop’s member, slick with Gijeong’s saliva, glistened and throbbed. No lubricant was needed.

Hwang Jangyeop looked at Gijeong, who was barely gasping for air, and suddenly clamped his mouth shut. The rough grip felt like it could crush his jaw, harsher than dry tree bark.

Hwang Jangyeop lifted Gijeong’s lower body and slid his sturdy thighs underneath. He gripped Gijeong’s buttocks tightly, as if to crush them. They felt firm and enticing.

“…Ugh!”

Feeling his lower body suddenly exposed, Gijeong hurriedly looked down. His pants and underwear were rolled down to his ankles.

Hwang Jangyeop’s erect member rubbed stickily against the inside of Gijeong’s thighs, as if it could pierce the skin. It seemed ready to plunge into any small opening it found.

Hwang Jangyeop’s fingers, wet with Gijeong’s saliva, probed the crevice of his buttocks. He pressed and kneaded the tightly clenched opening, preparing it for what was to come. He even tried to widen it slightly by prodding. Gijeong flinched, unsure of what to do. Hot breaths repeatedly escaped against the palm covering his mouth.

Inserting a second finger, Hwang Jangyeop spread the opening wider, whispering low into Gijeong’s trembling ear. His voice, unchanged from before, somehow felt more raw.

“If you want to scream, go ahead and scream. I don’t care if the kid wakes up and sees.”

Gijeong struggled to turn his head to look at Giyeong, sleeping far off. The thought of the boy waking to this scene sent a chill down his spine.

Hwang Jangyeop turned Gijeong’s face, now with closed eyes as if resigned, toward him. Eager to delve into Gijeong’s flesh, he aligned his ravenous member with the narrow opening. Sensing its target, the member, with its flared tip, began to invade.

“…Ugh!”

As the stone-like glans pushed in, Gijeong’s eyes widened, then squeezed shut. His buttocks, struggling to accommodate the member, trembled under the heavy sensation. His lower body twitched, as if trying to escape, kicking repeatedly. A near-scream escaped his mouth, still covered by Hwang Jangyeop’s hand.

Hwang Jangyeop gripped Gijeong’s flailing thighs and slowly pressed his hips down. Gijeong’s tender flesh stretched painfully to take in the thick member.

The tight grip of the entrance and inner walls elicited a heavy exhale from Hwang Jangyeop. Veins bulged on his smooth forehead and jaw. Even after loosening, the impossibly tight opening gripped his member fiercely, as if it might tear.

Taking a deep breath, Hwang Jangyeop thrust with full force, his entire body trembling.

“…!”

Gijeong’s eyes shot open, then clamped shut. It felt like a red-hot iron was being forced in, grinding against him. It was unmistakably part of a human body, yet it felt impossibly hard and brutal.

Gijeong’s legs, spread wide by Hwang Jangyeop’s hips, trembled limply. Clenching his teeth to keep from waking his brother, the sound of grinding teeth leaked through his lips.

With a wet smack, Hwang Jangyeop’s pelvis met Gijeong’s buttocks perfectly. Savoring the sweet grip of the slick inner walls, Hwang Jangyeop paused to catch his breath. Any slight movement caused Gijeong’s body, barely containing the member, to shake, intensifying the pain. Gijeong held his breath, tears in his eyes ready to spill.

After steadying his breath, Hwang Jangyeop looked into Gijeong’s terrified eyes and resumed thrusting his hips forcefully. Without restraint, he plunged the barely-contained member deep inside, grinding the tender flesh and ravaging his insides.

“Ugh, ugh, uhh, ugh…!”

Even with his mouth clamped shut and covered by Hwang Jangyeop’s thick hand, pained moans broke through. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.

“Ah, ugh, hng, ha, ugh… damn, it’s tight.”

Each thrust wrapped the soft, tender mucous membranes tightly around his aroused member. The exquisite pleasure made his vision blur. Pulling out swiftly after plunging deep drew dying gasps from Gijeong’s blocked mouth. The sight was pitiful yet stirred a strange sadistic thrill.

Hwang Jangyeop lifted Gijeong’s sagging lower body, hooking his legs over his shoulders. Blood rushed to Gijeong’s face, turning it bright red. His chest felt constricted, making breathing difficult. Still, Gijeong pressed both hands over his mouth, now free from Hwang Jangyeop’s grip.

Staring into Gijeong’s trembling eyes, Hwang Jangyeop slowly lowered himself. As Gijeong’s body folded in half, the loosely held member was driven back to its root.

“Haa, ngh, ugh…”

“Uhh… ugh… uhh…”

The raw flesh, dragged inward, writhed and nibbled at the member’s surface. The more he thrust, the tighter and slicker it became, pulling him deeper. Hwang Jangyeop, sweating heavily, let out a dry chuckle.

“…Damn, a masterpiece with a dick.”

Soon, Hwang Jangyeop’s member, which had been steadily stirring inside, pulled out, leaving only the tip. But moments later, it plunged back in, hitting deep with force. Repeatedly, it ravaged the softened flesh with the same intensity. Gijeong bit his arm to stifle his screams.

“Mm, uhh…! Mmph, ugh! Nn…!”

“Haa, ha, damn, ha… what is this… feels good? You like it? Ha… ugh!”

More excited than usual, Hwang Jangyeop pressed Gijeong harder. The searing heat coursing through him seemed to melt his brain and eyes. Even his first time hadn’t made him this wild. For some reason, the more he indulged, the thirstier and hungrier he became.

Shaking his head fiercely to dispel the clinging heat, he roared like a beast. His boiling body writhed with even greater thirst. Unable to withstand the intense friction, Gijeong’s tender skin tore, and blood mixed with slick fluids trickled down, pooling at his waist and dripping to the floor.

Intoxicated by the raw scent, Hwang Jangyeop clung to him more ferociously. Gijeong, helplessly shaken by the onslaught, soon passed out. His arm, marked with nail and bite marks, fell limply.

Hwang Jangyeop smoked a cigarette. Thick smoke quickly filled the room. Gijeong, lying face-down with his buttocks exposed, coughed faintly, his frail body trembling with each cough. His white thighs, buttocks, and deep spine were smeared with glistening semen.

Hwang Jangyeop silently watched Gijeong, who, even after regaining consciousness, only coughed dryly without moving. He stepped out and returned with a towel from the clothesline and a basin of water.

“Damn hilarious. Never thought I’d be wiping down a guy’s crotch in my life.”

Scoffing self-deprecatingly, Hwang Jangyeop crouched beside Gijeong, cigarette angled in his mouth. He wrung out a towel roughly soaked in water.

First, he scrubbed the semen splattered on Gijeong’s thighs and back. Then, pulling one buttock aside to clean deeper, he gently wiped the dried semen in the crevice, revealing a swollen, raw opening. Frowning unconsciously, Hwang Jangyeop smacked his lips awkwardly.

No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t like him. Getting turned on by a guy was a first, as was unloading inside a body that couldn’t conceive, multiple times no less. Last night, he’d followed pure instinct. No, he hadn’t had the clarity to think rationally. He felt angry for no reason. It was also the first time he’d ravaged someone until they bled and passed out.

“…All firsts.”

A dry laugh escaped him in disbelief.

Gijeong didn’t move as Hwang Jangyeop repeatedly wiped his buttocks or tickled his soft buttocks and perineum. Whether he lacked the strength to move a finger or had given up entirely was unclear. Perhaps he was gravely ill. Those who spent a night with Hwang Jangyeop often ended up groaning and bedridden.

Nonchalantly, Hwang Jangyeop slid his hand between Gijeong’s thighs, openly fondling the hidden member. Holding a cigarette and staring at the distant ceiling, he exhaled thick, acrid smoke. Gijeong remained limp, even as Hwang Jangyeop toyed with his balls like rolling walnuts.

Hwang Jangyeop deeply inhaled his cigarette until his cheeks hollowed, then exhaled a long stream of hazy smoke as if sighing, before speaking. Perhaps due to smoking, his voice was lower than usual.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“…….”

There was no clear response from Gijeong. He didn’t seem eager to engage in conversation. Perhaps he simply had no proper answer to give. How desperate must he have been to come to Hwang Jangyeop, despite knowing the rumors about him?

Gijeong, once bound by the shackles of his father, had absurdly become a helpless fool now that the man was dead, unable to do anything on his own. What was so great about that drunkard who squandered their meager assets and swung his fists every day?

Hwang Jangyeop scratched his forehead roughly with the hand holding the cigarette.

“Just stay holed up at home. Don’t go dragging your useless body around trying to earn money. If you stay put quietly, I may not pamper you, but at least you won’t have cobwebs growing over your mouth.”

Those were words he had never said to anyone before. Not even to Chunae, whom he had considered keeping by his side for life. What a bothersome and troublesome thing it was to have a freeloader taking up space in the house, eating your food. And not even a wife who could bear a litter of rabbit-like kids, but a dark, rough man with nothing but a dick.

Hwang Jangyeop shook his head repeatedly while letting out a foolish chuckle.

Some days in life are particularly lucky. Today felt exactly like one of those days. Hwang Jangyeop’s fishing boat, the Daechung-ho, always boasted an impressive catch, but this morning, besides the main catch of pollock, they hauled in several crates of valuable octopus and flounder. Each one was robust, likely to fetch a high price.

After handing over the haul to the fisheries cooperative’s direct market, he bought five geun of meat on the way back. Thinking of the young animal who never fussed about side dishes and would happily eat anything, especially meat, made his shoulders straighten with pride. With his pockets heavier than usual, Hwang Jangyeop brushed off the workers urging him to splurge on expensive liquor and returned to the island alone.

He hurried home, his steps almost a jog. As he opened the gate, the little animal was crouched by the faucet, playing lightly in the shallow water. With no peers around, he must have been bored, yet the boy managed to entertain himself. It seemed a habit formed from a young age.

“Mister!”

Hearing footsteps, Giyeong turned and leapt up from his spot. His round face lit up with joy. Hwang Jangyeop peeled the boy’s head off his sturdy thigh as Giyeong rushed over to hug him tightly. Then, scanning the unusually quiet house, he looked for Gijeong.

“Where’s that guy?”

“Hyung said he’d be back after stepping out for a bit.”

Giyeong answered readily, grinning. His eyes then fixed on the plastic bag in Hwang Jangyeop’s hand. Abruptly, Hwang Jangyeop handed it to him. Giyeong cautiously opened the bag, saw the heap of meat inside, and let out a cheer, running around the yard. Watching him, a satisfied smile spread across Hwang Jangyeop’s face, not unlike that of a parent proud at the thought of filling their child’s belly.

Soon, a faint sound came from beyond the gate, and someone entered. It was Gijeong. Walking with his shoulders slumped, staring only at his feet, he froze when he saw Hwang Jangyeop in the yard. His eyes darted sideways to avoid contact, and he gave a quick bow.

It had been like this ever since that day. From the moment Hwang Jangyeop took in the two homeless brothers, Gijeong hadn’t met his eyes properly. He barely spoke first, answered vaguely when asked anything, and when Hwang Jangyeop left for or returned from work, a silent bow was all he offered.

He seemed thoroughly sulky. Was it because he considered himself a man? It appeared his pride was deeply wounded by having to spread his legs for another man. Though Hwang Jangyeop had mocked him as a softy, he had never met anyone like Gijeong in his life. He had no idea how to handle him, how to appease him to make him less resentful, or perhaps a bit softer. As days passed, it felt like Hwang Jangyeop was the one growing increasingly anxious.

“Where’d you go?”

Crouching by the faucet, he asked casually. Gijeong, still lingering near the gate, answered vaguely.

“Just out, for a bit.”

At the ambiguous response, Hwang Jangyeop paused while filling a basin with water and stared at Gijeong. But that was all; he didn’t press further. He simply scrubbed his face, neck, ears, hands, and feet clean with the water. After washing up, he placed the meat and some lettuce he’d bought into a rice-washing bowl, soaking and rinsing them.

“Don’t just stand there gawking, go set the table, kid.”

Hwang Jangyeop prodded Gijeong, who was still motionless by the gate. Only then did Gijeong slowly shuffle into the kitchen. After some clattering, he brought out a simple meal with kimchi and seasoned greens.

Picking fresh chili peppers and cucumbers from the garden and preparing the meat grill was Hwang Jangyeop’s task. Giyeong followed him around eagerly, clutching the heavy meat bag tightly.

By the time Gijeong set the table on the outdoor platform, the pork belly was sizzling on the heated pot lid. Giyeong quickly sat at the head of the table, pulling Gijeong, who stood blankly, to sit beside him. Hwang Jangyeop munched on raw chili peppers and flipped the pork belly deftly.

Soon, savory smoke wafted into the air. Hwang Jangyeop picked the best-cooked piece and handed it to Giyeong, who was shifting excitedly. Giyeong pursed his lips, blew on the meat, and gobbled it down. Hwang Jangyeop piled more cooked meat into Giyeong’s bowl and placed the rest in an empty dish in front of Gijeong. Meanwhile, Gijeong held a spoon, seemingly counting rice grains.

“Don’t pick at it annoyingly, scoop it up and eat. Whether you’re hungry or not, eat it gratefully so I’ll feel like buying more next time.”

Grumbling, Hwang Jangyeop placed several pieces of well-cooked pork belly in Gijeong’s bowl. Gijeong stopped his half-hearted spooning and stared at the pile of meat. His gaze then shifted to Hwang Jangyeop, who was stuffing a large wrap into his mouth, half-turned away. Chewing, Hwang Jangyeop asked without meeting his eyes.

“What? Got something to say?”

As if struck, Gijeong’s shoulders flinched. But he clamped his mouth shut and shook his head. It seemed he was hiding something. Hwang Jangyeop scanned him up and down, as if trying to read his thoughts, then turned back to chew on a chili pepper.

Gijeong quietly stuffed an envelope he’d been fiddling with under the table into his pocket. Then, he resumed moving his spoon, shoving rice and meat into his mouth. Glancing at Gijeong eating, Hwang Jangyeop wordlessly piled more meat into his bowl.

After a while, he cleared his throat unnecessarily and scratched behind his ear. It was strange. Just seeing greasy rice and meat enter Gijeong’s mouth filled him up uncomfortably, though he hadn’t eaten half his own rice.

After finishing work, Hwang Jangyeop sat at the tavern with Mr. Park. They drank rice wine in silence until Mr. Park lit a cigarette, clicked his tongue, and brought up Gijeong’s plight.

“Lately, that older kid from the Yeom family’s been running around busy. The more I see him, the more pitiful he seems.”

“What’s with that kid?”

“What do you mean? Gijeong’s barely an adult, still a kid. Lost his father, house burned down, nowhere to go, and with a young sibling to care for, can he even work in peace? You can’t let your mouth go hungry, and with his urgent situation, he’s probably trying to borrow some cash. But will that scrape together enough? It’s just wasted effort. Poor thing, really.”

“What money?”

“Come on, what money? He got into that tough university, didn’t he? To attend, he needs tuition, so he’s scrambling to gather it. And that’s not all. To study in Seoul, he and his little brother need a room. Rent in that expensive city isn’t cheap. How’s he supposed to manage that? Half the people here lent money to the Yeom family and never got it back. Who’s going to help him?”

“So, that kid’s still going on about going to Seoul?”

“Yeah, that’s what they say. Haven’t you been taking care of the Yeom brothers? Didn’t he mention anything to you?”

Hwang Jangyeop hadn’t heard a thing. Even if he had, he’d likely have snapped in anger.

It was infuriating. How was a kid with no money for food planning to go to university? Lately, Gijeong had been slipping out whenever he could, often returning from the mainland looking dejected. It must have been his desperate struggle to gather tuition money. He surely knew there was no way to raise such a sum, yet Gijeong hadn’t let go of his foolish hope.

Hwang Jangyeop stood abruptly, cursing.

“What? There’s still liquor left. Leaving already?”

Mr. Park looked up, puzzled. Hwang Jangyeop nodded, paid for the drinks, and left the tavern.

His mouth bitter, he lit a cigarette and trudged along. In the dim harbor, he saw a figure loitering. Even squinting, he couldn’t make out the face from that distance, but he knew instantly who it was.

Sucking hard on the cigarette filter until his cheeks paled, he threw the stub down irritably. Exhaling smoke, he strode toward the harbor.

As expected, it was Gijeong pacing the dock like a restless dog. Whether waiting for a ferry or hoping for something else, he stared anxiously at the sea. He was so lost in thought he didn’t notice Hwang Jangyeop approach.

“What are you doing here?”

Hwang Jangyeop tossed the question casually as he passed Gijeong’s back. Startled, Gijeong turned to look at him. Hwang Jangyeop glanced at him briefly and continued toward his boat. For some reason, Gijeong followed closely.

Hwang Jangyeop touched up the chipped paint on his boat, watching Gijeong out of the corner of his eye. Gijeong, head bowed, fidgeted with his fingers, unable to speak clearly. A long sigh escaped Hwang Jangyeop.

“What is it, kid?”

Spurred by the prompting, Gijeong clenched his fists and shouted.

“Lend me some money…! Please.”

“What?”

Hwang Jangyeop frowned and turned fully to face Gijeong. He had guessed Gijeong’s anxiety and that he might ask him for money, just as he had others. Still, he pressed him for clarification.

Avoiding Hwang Jangyeop’s sharp gaze, Gijeong hesitated, then looked at him desperately, pleading.

“I need to register. Today’s the deadline… I have to register somehow. So…”

He rambled, omitting key details. Hwang Jangyeop openly scoffed.

“How the hell are you going to attend that university?”

“…Whatever it takes, I’ll make it work. Just let me register. The money, I’ll… I’ll pay it back somehow.”

“Somehow. Easy to say.”

Hwang Jangyeop mimicked Gijeong’s reckless words with a mocking laugh.

He’d chosen the wrong person to beg. How desperate must he be to cling to Hwang Jangyeop? After they’d been so close, planning to live together, and now he wanted to up and leave for Seoul. Who in the world would welcome that?

“Please.”

Gijeong grabbed Hwang Jangyeop’s shirt, pleading. His voice trembled with desperation, his eyes on the verge of tears.

Hwang Jangyeop clicked his tongue irritably and shook off Gijeong’s hand. He climbed onto the Daechung-ho as if escaping.

Or he tried to. Gijeong suddenly grabbed his leg, clinging tightly. Hwang Jangyeop tried to shake him off, but Gijeong held on even harder, his eyes shaking pitifully.

Even when begging shamelessly or eating humbly, Gijeong had clung to his meager pride. Yet, for Seoul, he acted like he’d give up everything. It sparked anger in Hwang Jangyeop.

“Let go.”

“Help me. You’re the only one I’ve got.”

“I said let go.”

“I’ll come back. I swear I’ll come back. Every break, every weekend, I’ll come back. So…”

He didn’t want to hear it. The promise to return grated on his nerves. Gijeong’s desperate words lit a fuse in Hwang Jangyeop. His already fragile rationality snapped.

Hwang Jangyeop clenched his fists, trembling with barely contained force. The next moment, he grabbed Gijeong by the collar and dragged him to a nearby warehouse.

Flinging open the warehouse door, he threw Gijeong onto a pile of nets. Gijeong collapsed limply. As he tried to beg again, Hwang Jangyeop pinned him down and yanked off his pants and underwear in one motion.

Gripping Gijeong’s throat, Hwang Jangyeop unzipped his own pants hastily. His eager member rubbed against Gijeong’s thigh, as if recalling his scent, causing Gijeong to tremble convulsively.

“Please. Please…”

The bank’s hours were running out. This wasn’t the time to be entangled with Hwang Jangyeop. Gijeong begged him to stop, clasping his hands.

The problem was that Hwang Jangyeop’s eyes had gone wild with rage, seeing nothing.

Spitting into his hand, Hwang Jangyeop rubbed it between Gijeong’s buttocks. Gijeong clawed and pushed at the arm pinning his throat, trying to escape, but Hwang Jangyeop didn’t budge.

Whether from tension or resistance, Gijeong’s opening wouldn’t loosen. Still, Hwang Jangyeop pressed his massive member against it. Sensing the imminent intrusion, Gijeong kicked futilely, his half-removed pants tangling his legs, struggling to escape.

“No, no… let go! No!”

“Stay still, you bastard!”

Hwang Jangyeop roared at Gijeong, who kept kicking. Normally, Gijeong would have cowered, but today he resisted stubbornly.

It must have been that desperate. Knowing this was his last chance, he fought even if it meant death, trying to escape the reality, fate, and chains dragging him into an endless abyss.

His pitiful struggle left a bitter taste. Frowning deeply, Hwang Jangyeop pressed his member’s tip against Gijeong’s opening and thrust it in to the root in one go.

“Aaagh!”

The indescribable, heavy, searing pain and nausea flipped Gijeong’s insides, his body momentarily lifting off the ground. Thick veins bulged on his arched neck. His gaping lips trembled with the intense burning. His legs stiffened and shook from the overwhelming shock.

“Haa, haa…”

Consumed by excitement, Hwang Jangyeop thrust relentlessly without pause. Gijeong’s barely accommodating opening stretched forcibly, inflamed. Blood seemed to have torn again, dripping onto the dry warehouse floor. Hwang Jangyeop’s thick pubic hair quickly became wet.

“Ugh, please…”

Gijeong pleaded in a near-faltering voice. His bloodless lips trembled, and his tear-filled eyes barely held Hwang Jangyeop’s gaze.

He was furious. Insanely furious. He wanted to grant Gijeong’s every wish, whether it was fetching pearls from the deep or stars from the sky.

But the one thing Gijeong wanted was to leave Hwang Jangyeop’s side. His shameless plea for that alone felt unfair. There was no place for Hwang Jangyeop in Gijeong’s distant dreams. He’d known that, but having it confirmed so starkly hurt and irritated him.

“You bastard, how could you… to me…”

Unrestrained anger flickered in Hwang Jangyeop’s eyes, impenetrable to any plea. His member, fully lodged in Gijeong’s insides, twitched eagerly.

Pinning Gijeong down with his body, Hwang Jangyeop thrust with heavy force. The member, pulled out to the tip, plunged back to the root, ravaging the unyielding walls. The stone-like member struck fast and hard, scraping the smooth mucous membranes.

“Ah! Aagh…! No, ah! Ugh…!”

Crushed under Hwang Jangyeop, Gijeong thrashed and screamed with all his strength, struggling against the brutal force.

Hwang Jangyeop thrust mercilessly, overpowering all resistance. The member’s veined surface scraped the mucous membranes, pulling out and clawing back in repeatedly. It felt like a hole could be torn inside. The sense of disconnection, where no words would reach, brought a flood of tears.

“Hnng… hnng…”

“Where are you going? Where the hell are you going, you bastard? You’re not going. You think I’ll just watch with my eyes wide open?”

Hwang Jangyeop growled, as if he’d bite Gijeong, who squeezed his eyes shut, enduring the violence. Burying screams and moans in heavy sobs, Gijeong shook limply with Hwang Jangyeop’s movements, like meat skewered, devoid of life or will.

Suddenly, Hwang Jangyeop yanked out his member. Slick with fluids and blood, it nodded regretfully, missing the sweet heat inside.

He turned Gijeong over, roughly spreading his buttocks. Clicking his tongue, he saw the blood-soaked opening writhing slowly.

“Hk…”

The next moment, Gijeong’s eyes widened, trembling, then closed in despair. Hwang Jangyeop had buried his face between Gijeong’s buttocks, licking the opening voraciously, like a predator lapping blood from prey.

The metallic taste filled his mouth, but he kept licking persistently. When Gijeong’s opening was clean and slick with saliva, Hwang Jangyeop thrust his aching member back in.

Gijeong only swayed his back under the strain, not even moaning. Hwang Jangyeop flattened him with his heavy body, biting his exposed neck savagely while continuing deep thrusts.

Panting and marking Gijeong’s neck, Hwang Jangyeop suddenly froze. Gijeong’s body, pinned lifelessly beneath him, was trembling uncontrollably—not from sensation or pain.

Grabbing Gijeong’s chin, he turned his face. Tears streaked Gijeong’s face as he bit his lips, swallowing sobs, until he burst into wails like a child, mouth wide open. Hwang Jangyeop, flustered, tried to soothe him awkwardly.

“Stop crying, kid. You won’t die from a torn hole.”

“Hnnggghhh… hnnggghhh…”

But Gijeong cried harder, as if the world had collapsed. It was a raw, exhausted cry, not childish whining or solely from physical pain.

The weight and shadow of his twenty years of life, the fierce struggle to break free from those chains, had been crushed in this moment, and a piercing regret struck his heart.

Watching Gijeong tremble and wail broke Hwang Jangyeop’s heart. He hugged Gijeong tightly, as if to stop the shaking or crush it with his strength.

He didn’t want to see Gijeong cry anymore. But he couldn’t let him go. Even if it was the only way to lift the shadow over Gijeong, he couldn’t bear to release him. He didn’t want to repeat the empty longing, futile hopes, and foolish expectations that hollowed him out.

Gijeong sat motionless before the prepared meal. After crying and fainting in the warehouse, he woke after a full day, silent as a mute. His sunken stomach growled, but he didn’t touch the food. His eyes were unfocused, his face expressionless. Unable to stand it, Hwang Jangyeop threw something in front of him—a bankbook.

Giyeong, sensing the tension, picked it up and handed it to his brother. Hwang Jangyeop sat back at the table, scooping fermented soybean paste and muttering.

“University? What’s that? You can live well without pouring money into that nonsense. I won’t make a useless guy like you go earn money. Just spend what I give you and live. Starving in Seoul, scraping by with books, is worse than living off what a crazy pervert like me hands you. Drop that damn Seoul talk and live quietly. You think I can’t support your kid brother’s studies just because it’s ‘cute’?”

Gijeong looked up at Hwang Jangyeop. His blurry eyes held nothing clear. Hwang Jangyeop forced a spoon into his hand. Quick-witted Giyeong added deboned fish to Gijeong’s rice.

“If you get it, pick up the spoon and eat.”

Listlessly, Gijeong moved his hand, mechanically shoving rice into his mouth. As if rebelling, he kept stuffing in only rice. Even grains that spilled out, he stubbornly scooped back in.

Hwang Jangyeop frowned, watching. It felt like his throat was closing, his stomach heavy. Perhaps the food in his mouth hit his throat. Finally, Gijeong clamped his mouth shut, gagging.

“Do your worst, kid.”