As Heewoon parted his lips to object, Kangwoo was faster to add on.
“Just imagining you wandering around in places where I’m not around…”
He said quietly, slowly approaching him. Heewoon felt as if his throat was being choked.
“…I don’t feel that great.”
Kangwoo lazily stroked Heewoon’s hair. His fingers moved along his scalp and reached the back of his neck. Heewoon shrunk his shoulders.
“If I break your leg, you’ll cry nonstop again.”
Heewoon looked up at Kangwoo in fear. He felt like the beastly body hidden by the thin fabric was going to crush him at any moment.
“So, when you go somewhere other than around the house and school, make sure to ask me first.”
His voice was so gentle that it seemed like he was genuinely looking out for Heewoon.
Kangwoo sighed as he watched Heewoon, who was silent and looking at him.
It’s worrisome because it seems like you’ve forgotten this lately, Sunbae.
“What should Sunbae answer when I say something?”
The hand that had been petting his head lightly tapped his cheek. The eyes that met him were dark and sunken. Heewoon trembled and spoke.
“…Yeah, I understand.”
“That’s right.”
Seo Kangwoo smiled and patted his head again.
Like a mouse caught in a trap. Under the pressure of Kangwoo’s intimidating wide shoulders, Heewoon recalled that phrase.
Kangwoo stepped back to sit on the sofa. His slow movements were relaxed. Heewoon watched as Kangwoo leaned against the sofa back, crossing his legs. Now, he finally felt like he could breathe.
“It’s still a bit early, so let’s rest for a bit before we go.”
“…Yeah.”
“Why aren’t you coming in?”
Kangwoo turned his head and looked at Heewoon, who was still standing at the entrance. Heewoon flinched and cautiously asked.
“Are you not angry anymore?”
He felt terribly pitiful for himself as he asked that after being told to ask permission to go somewhere. Heewoon bit his lip. However, he thought that even if it were someone else, they would have done the same.
It wasn’t that he lacked courage or was groveling. Seo Kangwoo was just too dangerous and frightening.
Kangwoo, who had been staring intently at Heewoon, chuckled softly.
“Are you standing there because you’re afraid of getting hit by me?”
“It’s not exactly that…”
“You’re amusing. Have I ever hit you for fun, Sunbae?”
“No, no!”
Heewoon shook his hands. He vehemently denied it even if he thought Kangwoo did kind of hit him for fun.
“Come here.”
He gestured to the side, and Heewoon approached hesitantly. The spacious sofa had plenty of room to sit, but Heewoon sat where Kangwoo had pointed. Swoosh, Heewoon moved backward and accidentally brushed arms with Kangwoo as he fell onto the plush sofa.
Kangwoo watched Heewoon haphazardly straighten his posture, then wrapped an arm around his shoulder and softly spoke.
“It wasn’t your fault that you went to the airport. It’s just that I was in a bad mood.”
“Ah…”
Kangwoo patted Heewoon’s shoulder as he nodded. Heewoon felt himself becoming a little less tense.
“Is there anything you want to say, Sunbae?”
Kangwoo gazed at Heewoon. Not knowing what to say, Heewoon stared back at Kangwoo and stumbled over his words.
“I’m sorry for going there without saying anything…?”
Kangwoo pinched Heewoon’s cheek as he snorted.
“That was something we already talked about earlier. Not that.”
“Not… that…?”
Unable to catch on, Heewoon looked at Kangwoo in confusion.
After that, they engaged in their usual conversation.
It was odd, but that was how it went. Caught in a trap, Heewoon didn’t dare to escape. He remained still, holding his breath.
Perhaps he feared that if he made a futile attempt, the sharp teeth would dig into him. Rather than his whole body becoming a mess, he figured it might be better to just clench his throat and endure this frustration.
“Let’s go now.”
Heewoon surreptitiously glanced at his watch as he got up to follow Kangwoo. It was slightly past 6 pm. He should probably send notice messages to his students. Considering how tight the schedule was, it would be best to avoid upsetting Seo Kang-woo as much as possible today.
Therefore, bringing up his tutoring job today wasn’t a good idea. If he wanted to bring that up, at least, Kangwoo’s mood needed to be as gentle as the night Heewoon slept over at his house.
While hovering behind Kangwoo’s back, Heewoon succeeded in sending two quick messages.
[I’m really sorry, but could we reschedule the class for another day? I’m not feeling well today.]
He hadn’t received a reply yet, but just sending the messages made him feel relieved.
“Who are you texting so intently?”
Kangwoo, who had been quietly observing Heewoon, asked suddenly. Words popped out of Heewoon’s mouth before he could stop them.
“A friend.”
“Ah. You must be treating your tutor students like your friends.”
“…Huh? Uh, yeah.”
His heart sank deep. Did Kangwoo see the sender’s name? But he shouldn’t have seen the content of the messages.
“There’s nothing else you want to say?”
“Huh? No…”
Watching Heewoon’s awkward expression, Kangwoo let out a hearty laugh. He unclasped his wristwatch and placed it on the table, making a rather loud sound as the metal and glass collided. At the sound, Heewoon’s chest seemed to constrict.
With a slightly mischievous smile, Kangwoo said.
“I was curious how far you will go with this, but you’ve exceeded my expectations.”
Did Seo Kangwoo find out? Heewoon racked his brain. But for now, he felt he should pretend not to know.
“I don’t really get what you’re talking about.”
“Ah. You don’t get it?”
Seo Kangwoo walked closer and met Heewoon’s gaze.
“Yeah. I don’t…”
It happened in an instant. His hair was grabbed, and then his forehead slammed against the wall.
Thud! The sound was too loud to be just his forehead hitting the wall. His brain felt like it was shaking. He couldn’t think properly. Even his own groan didn’t register in his brain.
Kangwoo pulled his head back. He looked at Heewoon’s face, and said.
“Do you get it now?”
Those confusing words floated in Heewoon’s head. The eyes that met his were cold, and his slammed forehead was burning hot.
“Uhhh…”
You still don’t get it? Kangwoo muttered casually, then he slammed Heewoon’s head against the wall with even more force.
Bang! A louder sound echoed.
With a firm grip on his hair, Kangwoo pulled Heewoon upright, preventing his collapsing body from falling. Kangwoo examined Heewoon’s forehead carefully. It was red, but there not bleeding. As Kangwoo applied pressure again, Heewoon’s hand fumbled to grab Kangwoo’s hand.
“Why? Do you get it now?”
“Uhhh… ngh… yeah, yeah. I-I get it now.”
As Kangwoo’s hand released his hair, Heewoon slumped down without any strength left in his body. In his disoriented vision, he saw Seo Kangwoo’s face. He gestured for Heewoon to speak.
“I-I lied about quitting the tutoring.”
Heewoon’s body trembled. Kangwoo, who had sat down on his knees, tilted his head and stared intently at Heewoon’s face. After a long pause, he slowly spoke.
“Lies, they eat away at relationships.”
“…Uhhh…”
“Relationships are built on trust. But when a lie slips in, it gets complicated.”
“Yeah… yeah.”
Heewoon nodded as if Kangwoo’s words were undeniably true.
“That’s why I don’t like lies.”
“I-I’m sorry. I won’t lie again.”
Heewoon clasped his hands together. Kangwoo, with an indifferent expression, continued his somber explanation.
“I don’t understand why you are refusing the money I’m giving you. It’s also annoying that you’d lie about something as trivial as that.”
“I just, I don’t trust promises of money… A-and, to suddenly quit tutoring, it felt burdensome. I thought you might get angry, so I…”
Terrified, Heewoon continued to babble.
“I was thinking about what to do when Sunbae quit your job. I was a total fool for that, right?”
“Ah, n-no.”
No? Kangwoo chuckled and sighed as he tilted his head.
“I told you I was going to be easy on you and now everything’s a mess. I thought wrong. You’re being like this because you’re getting less scared of me.”
“No, you… you’re really scary.”
R-really. You’re really scary, seriously.
At Kangwoo’s words, Heewoon was surprised and vehemently denied them. Kangwoo’s gaze landed on his trembling cheeks.
“You’re scared of me?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Heewoon nodded as if he had just seen a glimmer of hope. Kangwoo raised the corners of his lips.
“Then, be a little more scared of me.”
With that statement, Kangwoo stood up. Heewoon, who had sat down, stared dazedly as he saw Kangwoo leave to the veranda.
Should I just run away now…
Heewoon heard the sound of a drawer being opened, as if Kangwoo was searching for something. The thought that it might be a knife flashed through his mind. Let’s run away. The moment that thought arose, Heewoon managed to gather his trembling legs and stand up. However, just as he was about to head to the entrance, he heard Kangwoo’s voice.
“Sit on the couch.”
I should be running away.
Contrary to his thinking, Heewoon’s body turned around and sat on the couch. The leg he placed his hands on trembled sweetly. His heart was racing so fast he felt like he might die. Heewoon’s body wouldn’t move, possibly because he didn’t know what Seo Kangwoo might bring with him.
Coming from the veranda, there was something like pliers in Kangwoo’s hand. Kangwoo noticed Heewoon’s gaze and lifted it up to show him, then he opened his mouth.
“Sunbae. Do you know why that bastard turned out like that?”
“Uhhhh…”
Heewoon trembled so much that he let out a faint groan.
A scene that he had buried in the back of his mind suddenly flashed before him. A man on his knees and several other men surrounding him.
“It’s strange how the money falls. I followed the trail, and when I reached the end, that bastard appeared.”
That stifling atmosphere and the dim lighting resurfaced in his mind.
“No matter how much I asked, he wouldn’t tell the truth. So, I crushed his fingers one by one.”
The bloody hand that was covered in despair followed.
Kangwoo approached a step closer. Heewoon whimpered, dragging his butt back. The scene of blood gushing out flashed before his eyes.
Seeing Heewoon trembling in fear, Kangwoo chuckled softly.
“I wouldn’t do that to Sunbae. It’d be a pity if your pretty hands got ruined.”
“Y-yeah…”
“Your mouth should be punished for telling a lie.”
I’ll pull your tooth out. Hearing Kangwoo’s strange words, Heewoon became dazed.
“…Tooth?”
Kangwoo’s tone was so casual that Heewoon thought he had misheard.
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