Chapter 24
by Gideon“…Fine, I get it.”
Taemo swept Juhyeon with a fierce gaze, his displeasure evident. Then, as if perfectly timed, he strode forward just as the elevator doors slid open. Juhyeon scrambled to keep up, following closely behind.
Though there were only two rooms on the floor, Taemo stopped before one with practiced familiarity. The door swung open as if it had been waiting for them.
“You’re here?”
An excited voice and a fragrant scent wafted out. A man peeked his head out, wearing nothing but a loosely tied bathrobe. His hair was still damp, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. To an outsider, they looked like close friends, but Juhyeon, who knew the truth, saw this “coincidence” for exactly what it was.
“You invited a guest over, and this is how you’re dressed?”
Taemo yanked the door open with a sharp tug, his voice flat and scolding. He strode through the opening, gesturing for Juhyeon to follow. But this time, Juhyeon hesitated.
“Ugh, you’re such a fucking nuisance, always tailing me.”
Taemo’s gaze swept over him, blatantly critical. Juhyeon felt an awkward chill, like he was the unwanted third wheel to a lovers’ spat. He forced himself to ignore the fierce glare, keeping his eyes fixed on Taemo’s broad back as he finally moved forward.
“What makes you think I’d ever come here alone, knowing what you’re capable of?”
The scene inside was even more ridiculous. Two wine glasses sat on the table before a spacious sofa, and a romantic melody played softly in the background. Taemo, seemingly unfazed by the atmosphere, flopped onto the sofa and leaned back, his expression utterly indifferent. Lee Taemo was the last person you’d expect to fit into such a romantic setting.
“Ugh, just wait. I’ll be out in a second once I’m dressed.”
Jinyoung grumbled, tugging at the loose tie of his robe. The knot gave way, and the fabric slid open. As expected, he wasn’t wearing a single stitch of underwear. Startled by the sudden flash of naked skin, Juhyeon’s eyes darted away.
Just then, a large shadow fell over him. A broad set of shoulders blocked his view, shielding Jinyoung’s exposed body from sight.
“Should we talk while I change?”
“What, you want to do this as a trio?”
Jinyoung’s giggle sounded like a joke, but there was a hint of genuine intent behind it. He approached, the hem of his robe fluttering, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness of making such a suggestion with someone standing right there. Juhyeon peeked around Taemo’s shoulder and saw Jinyoung’s eyes sparkling. His brown irises shimmered with blatant desire.
“That’s a scary story for a kid to hear.”
Unlike Jinyoung, who radiated a sweltering heat, Taemo was ice-cold. The two men, possessing temperatures that could never mix, stood facing each other. Jinyoung, who had been staring intently at Taemo, leaned forward and craned his neck.
Why’s he looking at me like that? Jinyoung’s brown eyes fixed on Juhyeon with relentless intensity. Not wanting to back down, Juhyeon stared right back. In response, the corner of Jinyoung’s mouth quirked up in a crooked smirk—a clear expression of contempt and ridicule.
“You still look like the ink on your ID hasn’t even dried yet.”
“…”
“Why don’t you eat some cookies, kiddo?”
He jerked his chin toward the sofa. Just a moment ago, he’d been oozing annoyance, but now Jinyoung’s steps were incredibly light as he followed Taemo toward the private room. The way his robe fluttered with every step made him look almost… excited.
Suddenly, Juhyeon found himself alone in the unfamiliar space. He could hear movement from the direction they had disappeared, but they remained out of sight.
“……Is this some kind of lovers’ spat, or what?”
He felt like the clueless third wheel crashing a date. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Juhyeon flopped onto the sofa. Since he didn’t know the first thing about expensive wine, he just munched on a few crackers. He couldn’t fathom why they’d gone to the trouble of arranging them so meticulously on a platter instead of just serving them straight from the bag.
Before he knew it, he’d polished off nearly half the crackers. Still, the two showed no sign of returning. He couldn’t see inside, so he had no choice but to wait, wondering if their conversation was just running long.
“……”
Or maybe they’re not talking at all.
Interest, huh? I guess I do have some.
Taemo’s words about Seo Jinyoung echoed in Juhyeon’s mind. Are they doing something like… that in there? If so, why did he even bring me along? He would’ve been better off coming alone in the first place.
His imagination ran wild.
Juhyeon strained his ears, listening through the soft music playing in the background. He caught faint voices occasionally, but there were no heavy breaths or moans. Thank goodness, he thought, it seems my imagination is just playing tricks on me.
“Am I a voyeur or something?”
He found his own posture—straining to hear the two who had disappeared into the other room—ridiculous.
“Alright, enough.”
Shaking his head vigorously, Juhyeon stood up from the sofa and stretched. He twisted his body, glancing around the room. One entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling window, offering a stunning view even in broad daylight.
How much do they charge per night here? Jinyoung wondered. It’s got to be hundreds of dollars. Did that person spend all that money just to meet Lee Taemo? Or is this kind of expense nothing to them? Without knowing, it was impossible to even guess.
“The scale of their seduction game is on another level,” she muttered softly, watching the river flow by and the endless stream of cars below.
She had been mesmerized by the view—a stark contrast to the shantytown she knew—for what felt like an eternity when she finally sensed their presence.
Jinyoung was now dressed in a sharp, clean-cut suit. Taemo, meanwhile, stood with his hands shoved in his pockets, his expression impassive. There was no hint of any strange tension between them. Thank goodness, she thought, nothing awkward happened.
“What’s wrong? Not to your liking?”
Taemo spoke to Juhyeon, who was standing by the window. He gestured with his chin toward the plate of cookies on the table.
Juhyeon hesitated. He’d already eaten half—too many to say he didn’t want any—but half were still left, making it awkward to say he was finished.
“I can’t really finish them all,” he said.
“What’s wrong? It’s his money anyway,” Taemo said, feigning generosity with funds that weren’t even his to spend.
The air between the two men suggested they were more than just a client and a contract killer. They should have been keeping their distance and hiding their true identities from one another, yet the atmosphere was anything but professional.
As they continued their conversation, Jinyoung began searching around the sofa. He checked the table, then lifted the cushions, clearly looking for something.
“Hey.”
Juhyeon’s gaze shifted at the sharp call. Jinyoung ran a hand through his hair, his expression strained with annoyance.
“What did you do with my watch?”
“My watch?”
Did I leave the watch with him? Juhyeon asked stupidly, his eyes darting around.
“Where did it go? It was right here. Did you steal it?”
“What? Me? I didn’t steal it!”
Caught completely off guard, Juhyeon waved his hands frantically in a gesture of innocence. His face flushed crimson with panic, and the corners of his mouth trembled.
“Then did it grow legs and walk away?”
“I don’t know! I just grabbed a few snacks and left. I didn’t even know there was a watch here!”
“Hmm.”
Even as he made his excuses, Juhyeon found himself stealing glances at Taemo. He knows I’ve made a living as a pickpocket. He wanted to prove his innocence with every fiber of his being, but Taemo wouldn’t even look at him. His eyes simply followed Jinyoung as he searched the area.
“How am I supposed to steal a watch I’ve never even seen?”
Taemo had said he liked Jinyoung, so he’d probably trust him more than me. To be honest, Juhyeon was used to being misunderstood. He’d been through it while hanging out with delinquents—no, even before that, back when he was still in school. Whenever something went missing in class, he was the first one blamed. Even the teachers did it. They probably figured that since he had nothing, he’d naturally be coveting other people’s things.
He was sick to death of those kinds of looks, but he still didn’t want to be misunderstood like this in front of Lee Taemo. Juhyeon chewed his lower lip.
“Hey, Minsu. I told you not to bring just any old randoms along, no matter how close we are, didn’t I?”
Jinyoung ran his hand through his hair after thoroughly checking under and behind the sofa.
She’s dragging Taemo into this just to pin the blame on him too, Juhyeon thought. I don’t know what she’s trying to get out of this, but…
“Look, I’m telling you, I didn’t touch it! God, this is driving me crazy! Search me if you don’t believe me!”
Frustrated and desperate, Jinyoung pulled his empty pants pockets inside out. He flopped onto the sofa, shooting Juhyeon an annoyed glance. She didn’t seem the least bit convinced of his innocence.
“Where did you find this lowlife, anyway?” she muttered loud enough for everyone to hear as she refilled her wine glass.
The crimson liquid filling the transparent glass mirrored Juhyeon’s rising blood pressure. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, but he was Taemo’s guest—and a source of income.
“…”
Juhyeon opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, swallowing a sigh. It was hard to tell if his face was flushed red from anger or humiliation.
“Forget it. How much could it even be? Just consider it a donation to the poor.”
He’s trying to play it off, but his words are fucking cruel.
No class, a donation… Juhyeon clenched his jaw. Sure, he’d come from the streets, but wasn’t this a bit much for someone he’d only met twice?
“…It wasn’t me, really.”
But that was the only protest he could muster. He felt utterly powerless against Lee Taemo’s unwavering conviction that he was the thief. Still, this was a matter involving Taemo—he couldn’t just let it end like this.
The only way to clear her name was to find the watch. Juhyeon moved toward the sofa, determined to search the area more thoroughly. But Taemo’s sudden grip on her wrist brought all her movements to a halt.
“Hey.”
His cold voice made her breath hitch. Is Lee Taemo going to doubt and blame me in the end, too? Juhyeon, who had been chewing the inside of her cheek, finally managed to part her lips.
“I’ll look for—”
“I said she didn’t do it.”
At his short remark, Juhyeon and Jinyoung’s gazes met. Their startled expressions were so identical they could have been stamped out of the same mold. Taemo, who had been standing with an unreadable expression the entire time, defended Juhyeon. He even pulled her by the wrist, hiding her behind his back.
“She’s already said she didn’t do it, so why the fuck are you hounding her like a cornered rat?”
Juhyeon’s heart began to pound. The heat that had already flushed her face intensified, turning it a deeper crimson. Was it because he’d believed her? Or because he hadn’t doubted her like everyone else? The sight of his broad shoulders blocking her from view made tears threaten to spill over.
“What’s your problem? The situation is suspicious. It’s obvious she’s from some trashy background.”
The man clicked his tongue, his gaze sweeping up and down her body. There was no real contempt in his eyes. It meant he was just spewing insults without any real emotion behind them. There was no reason to get hurt by words spoken so thoughtlessly. It gained her nothing and wasn’t worth the emotional cost. Besides, with Lee Taemo taking her side, she didn’t need to bow her head anymore.
“…”
But this was about money, and it was a lot of it. Juhyeon’s clenched fists trembled uncontrollably. As he tried to hide the shaking, Taemo’s gaze drifted downward. He stared at Juhyeon’s hand, where the knuckles were white from the strain, before looking back up.
“I don’t know how much you’re owed, but take this and get lost.”
Taemo unbuckled the watch from his wrist. His movements were swift, devoid of any hesitation. The heat that had been rushing through Juhyeon’s head vanished, replaced by a sudden chill. That watch is worth at least the price of a car. He knew. He’d seen older guys—the kind who thought they were big shots—wearing knock-offs with that same brand name. It was a watch that even the wealthy couldn’t easily acquire.
“Keep the change. Consider it a tip.”
Taemo tossed the watch he’d just unstrapped onto the sofa. If it had been Juhyeon, he would have wiped it clean and cradled it like a precious heirloom, terrified of scratching it. But the watch’s owner, Lee Taemo, didn’t bat an eye.
“What the hell is this?”
Jinyoung, who had been sipping his wine, lowered his gaze. Unlike when he had been pressuring Juhyeon, his composure was now cracked. His furrowed brows betrayed his irritation.
“What do you mean? Since you’re the one who picked up the trash, you’re the one who takes responsibility for it. Fuck, ‘customer.'”
“…”
“We’re leaving. Don’t contact us until we reach out.”
Leaving Jinyoung to scoff in disbelief, Taemo turned and strode away. Juhyeon, still frozen in shock, was pulled along as Taemo tugged his wrist, leading him out of the hotel.
They had barely crossed the hallway after leaving the room when Juhyeon’s mind snapped back to reality. An image of the expensive watch floated in his head. He couldn’t even remember the insults Taemo had thrown at him.
He braced his legs and yanked his wrist back. Taemo, who hadn’t even stumbled, merely glanced at him.
“Wait, at least let me take the watch. I swear on my life I didn’t steal anything.”
“I know you didn’t,” Taemo replied coolly.
Then, he tugged Juhyeon’s wrist again with such force that Juhyeon was dragged along, unable to resist. Red handprints bloomed around his captured wrist.
“Then why are you taking the watch…?”
“If I didn’t do this, you’d just keep bitching every time you saw me. You’d never let it drop.”
Taemo scrunched one eye shut and tugged his earlobe, looking utterly fed up. It was clear he’d been thoroughly tormented, yet Juhyeon still couldn’t wrap her head around it. After all, they’d only just met. Why would he give up something so expensive just to clear her name? She was touched, of course, but this was absurd.
“You could have just ignored it,” she argued. “Why give away such an expensive watch? What a waste.”
Taemo stepped into the elevator as if he hadn’t heard her. He pressed the button for the basement level, and only when the elevator began its descent did he finally release her wrist. The red imprint of his hand remained, but strangely, she felt no pain.
“Don’t just ignore it next time. Hit back.”
“…What?”
“You’ve got a nasty temper. Why are you holding back when it doesn’t suit you?”
Taemo kept his hands shoved in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the dashboard as the numbers counted down.
“But he’s a customer. You said he’s our source of income.”
“Exactly. He’s just a customer we can cut off the moment he turns his back on us.”
“…”
Just a customer. Those words made it sound like, unlike the client he could choose to never see again, I was… special.
Special? Perhaps it was because I’d never been treated that way by anyone before, but even the mere thought sent a strange ripple through me. Even the thugs who swore loyalty to one another always bailed when things got serious. But Lee Taemo was different.
Seeing his bare wrist, my lips went dry and a strange itch stirred in my chest. He didn’t have to take my side this far. Yet, I also felt a sense of security… Was this gratitude, or embarrassment? I couldn’t find the answer to why my heart was fluttering so wildly.
Ever since Lee Taemo had intruded into my life, the number of unanswered questions had only grown.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
The door burst open as soon as the sun rose. I no longer bothered locking the door handle or blocking it with a table. All that effort had been useless against Taemo anyway, and the walls around my heart had already crumbled.
“Hey, rookie. Get your money.”
A hand tapping his shoulder roused him from sleep. Even through the haze of his grogginess, Juhyeon could tell Taemo looked remarkably fresh—which was strange for this early in the morning.
“Yes?”
“Get up. Grab the money.”
Juhyeon rubbed his still-sleepy eyes. Why the hell is he talking about money? Taemo’s urgency made him look like someone preparing to flee in the dead of night.
Flee in the dead of night?
Juhyeon’s eyes snapped open, and he forced his limp body into an upright position.
“Don’t tell me… Did they find us? The police?”
Is that why he’s telling me to grab the money and run? I barely helped out a few times—if I flee with him now, won’t I be considered a full-fledged accomplice?
While Juhyeon’s face drained of all color, Taemo’s expression was one of pure bewilderment.
“Bullshit. Hot? What’s hot? It’s not like you’re fucking burning up.”
Taemo’s words were harsh, but his hand gently smoothed down Juhyeon’s tousled hair. Juhyeon didn’t even flinch at the unexpected touch anymore.
“My heart almost stopped. What’s with you, this early in the morning?”
The tension bled out of Juhyeon at the realization that it wasn’t the police. He slowly pushed the blanket aside with his limp arms. Taemo’s gaze followed his every sluggish movement as he shifted his legs. His oversized shorts had ridden all the way up his inner thighs.
“Hey, move it.”
“Ah…”
“Get out of bed. Now.”
Taemo yanked down Juhyeon’s shorts, which had ridden up his thighs. Still reeling from the sudden rush, Juhyeon clumsily scrambled off the bed.
“Call me when you’re ready.”
“…Okay.”
With a sharp turn, Taemo strode out of the room.
“Damn, he’s always in such a rush…”
Juhyeon scratched his forehead, staring at the empty space where Taemo had just been.
He washed up, changed his clothes, and tucked his folding knife—a constant companion these days—into his pocket. He slid his check card into the clear case of his phone.
He’d thought Taemo was rushing off for something important, but his morning meltdown seemed a bit much given their itinerary. Instead of a budget-friendly baekban or gukbap place, they ended up having brunch at a cafe and lingering over coffee.
Afterward, they stopped by a department store for some unplanned shopping. Or rather, Taemo bought everything. Whenever Juhyeon found something he liked and checked the price tag, the amount was so shocking he had no choice but to put it back. It wasn’t just because Juhyeon was naturally frugal; the clothes were objectively overpriced.
Taemo grabbed every single item Juhyeon had put back in horror. He gathered the clothes into a massive pile, pushed Juhyeon into the fitting room, and staged an impromptu fashion show. Juhyeon thought Taemo would ask him to pick just one favorite, but instead, he bought every single thing Juhyeon tried on.
“Seriously, this is way too much,” Juhyeon protested.
“What’s too much?” Taemo asked, spinning around to face Juhyeon, who had stopped dead in his tracks.
“I don’t need this many clothes.”
The pile in Juhyeon’s arms already cost well over 300,000 won. It was more than the monthly salary of an average office worker. He was impressed—and a bit baffled—that Taemo was spending such a large sum without a second thought.
“Just take it when I’m giving it to you. That way, I can fleece you in return.”
“Huh? Fleece me? Can’t you just… refund this and buy your own things? You know I don’t have much money compared to you, right?”
He’s got an ulterior motive.
That explained why he’d been swiping his card so recklessly. But couldn’t he just save the money he was spending on Juhyeon and buy his own stuff? Juhyeon couldn’t stand seeing money wasted, so he kept talking.
“If you don’t want clothes, should I ask him to buy me a motorcycle instead?”
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