Love Born of Pity Chapter 25

Kwon Yoon Taek hooked his finger into Kwon Jiho’s clothing. He tugged at the neckline, inspecting the deep hickey, and laughed.

“As expected, earning with your body is the fastest way. Our Jiho’s already figured that out, hasn’t he? Poor thing.”

“Uncle…!”

“I’ve got some shame, you know. I won’t ask for anything big from you.”

As Kwon Jiho adjusted his disheveled clothes and leaned back, Kwon Yoon Taek closed in, pressing his lips to Jiho’s ear. His grip on Jiho’s shoulder tightened with force.

“I’ve racked up some debt.”

“…”

“Just help me pay it off. Must be because it’s a loan shark—those interest rates pile up too fast, Jiho.”

Pulling his face away from Jiho’s ear, Kwon Yoon Taek grinned. Wrinkling his nose, he lightly wrapped an arm around Jiho’s shoulder.

“Would your uncle act like this if he had a choice? I don’t want to do this to you either. But… you killed your brother, your sister-in-law, and nearly killed Heeyeon too. I lost my whole family overnight and got no compensation. So… think of it as a consolation payment. Let me live a little decently too.”

“…I don’t have any money. Why are you doing this, really…?”

“If you’ve hooked a rich sugar daddy, you should’ve asked him to clear your family’s debts first, you idiot. Did you spread your legs without even getting paid properly? Once you’re used up and discarded, do you think you’ll find a better sugar daddy than the one you’ve got now? The first time’s always the most expensive, you fool.”

“What…?”

“You’re not even an omega. Who’s gonna pay top dollar for a worn-out beta like you? How are you still so clueless, then and now, with nothing you’re good at? It should’ve been Heeyeon in your place instead! If it was her, she wouldn’t have been stupid enough to just pile up debts like you.”

Kwon Yoon Taek lowered his voice to keep the conversation from leaking outside the academy. To an outsider, it might’ve looked like he was offering encouragement. His venomous words ended with a pat on Jiho’s shoulder.

His glossy lips curved. A faint trace of pity flickered in his eyes as he looked at his wounded nephew. Reeking of cloying, almost nauseating cologne, Kwon Yoon Taek pulled away.

“I won’t wait long. I hear Heeyeon’s being moved to a new hospital. I know where that is too.”

“…”

“You remember how much our Heeyeon adored me, don’t you? It’d be bad if I just showed up to see her, right? That’d be awkward. My mouth’s too loose for that. If I’m gonna visit, I should keep it quiet.”

Raising his rough, calloused hand, Kwon Yoon Taek yanked off Kwon Jiho’s mask, winking at him. A stale stench spread with his breath.

Only after the mask was gone did Kwon Jiho realize—the foul odor he’d found repulsive was an imitation of pheromones.

“Looks like someone’s got wandering hands. That’s good—you can charge more. Some guys feel guilty after touching you and fork over extra.”

Seeing the bluish bruise spreading across Jiho’s slightly less swollen cheek, Kwon Yoon Taek laughed, clearly amused.

“Jiho. Next time I come, I won’t be empty-handed.”

His voice dripped with feigned affection.

“So make sure you’re ready to make me happy. Got it?”

Waving his scrawny arm, exposed under a short-sleeved shirt, Kwon Yoon Taek turned and left the academy. The moment the door closed, Kwon Jiho stumbled forward. With nowhere else to hide, he rushed into the counseling room and curled up under the desk. Covering his mouth, he struggled to breathe, but even that failed, and his face turned ghostly pale.

“Hic, hng… hic, hiiik…!”

Burying his face between his knees, he held his breath. Maybe if he stopped breathing, it’d be okay. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. His pale face was soaked with tears. His body trembled. Despite the sweltering summer heat outside, his hands and feet felt frozen.

“Ugh, hic, hng…!”

That’s when it happened. The counseling room door opened, and a familiar scent flooded in. A large man knelt in front of Kwon Jiho, who was curled up like a pill bug.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho.”

The voice he heard every day rang out. Still, Kwon Jiho couldn’t lift his head easily. He curled up even smaller, as if trying to hide.

“…Hic, ugh, hng…”

“What’s wrong?”

“…D-Director. Hic, Director…”

His voice sounded muffled, his mouth covered. Do Yeonjae pulled Jiho’s trembling body toward him. Jiho’s back heaved rapidly, as if he were struggling to breathe. Though Do Yeonjae had seen the footage of Jiho’s vile uncle and their conversation, he pretended not to know, soothing him with a gentle tone.

“Look up. Tell me what’s going on so I can understand.”

Lifting Jiho’s face, gasping for air, Do Yeonjae pressed his lips to Jiho’s trembling ones. Holding down Jiho’s struggling arms, he breathed into him, and the grip pushing against Yeonjae slowly weakened.

“Slowly.”

Without fully pulling away, he shared another breath. Jiho, coughing, eagerly took it in. The short, shared breaths turned into a sticky kiss once Jiho’s breathing calmed. Pulling his young beta, crumpled under the desk, into his arms, Do Yeonjae smiled with satisfaction, entwining their tongues.

The kiss was softer and sweeter than ever. Do Yeonjae coated Jiho’s feverish mouth with pheromones, letting him swallow them with saliva. Jiho, trembling hands clinging to Yeonjae, eagerly gulped it down, his throat bobbing repeatedly.

Something unfamiliar, never felt before, lingered in the saliva sliding down his throat. Something hot, ticklish. The sensation spread along the tongue rubbing against wet membranes. Jiho’s teary eyes widened.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho.”

In that moment, Jiho finally understood what the doctor’s confident words meant. As Do Yeonjae wiped his tear-soaked eyes and lifted his chin, Jiho barely met his gaze.

“…M-My uncle came, Director.”

“That piece of trash came, and that’s why you were crying?”

Jiho opened his mouth to respond but clamped it shut again. He couldn’t say that his uncle demanded money or threatened to expose to Heeyeon that Jiho was selling his body to pay hospital bills.

“…I was scared he’d go to Heeyeon.”

“He can’t?”

Do Yeonjae didn’t let on that he already knew. Sitting on the floor, entwined with Jiho, he simply comforted him like a child. Holding Jiho’s sweat-soaked, sweet-scented body tightly, he gently stroked his hair.

“…I don’t want that.”

Do Yeonjae pressed his lips firmly to Jiho’s tear-streaked cheek, softly caressing his reddening eyes.

“He’s family too. Why don’t you want that?”

“He’s… changed so much. I think Heeyeon would be shocked.”

Jiho, still unable to stop crying, swallowed sobs but didn’t confess the truth. No shame, no pride. He had nowhere else to turn but me. His stubbornness was pitiful, laughable. Stroking Jiho’s sweat-matted hair, Do Yeonjae nodded, murmuring, “Is that so?”

“Should I stop him from going?”

“…What?”

“Your uncle.”

At the low question, Jiho recalled that voice—threatening to make him behave by showing him his dying sister. Terrified eyes turned to Do Yeonjae. It felt like one word could make his uncle disappear right then and there. Tears streamed down Jiho’s face again. That wasn’t what he wanted.

“Hic, no, no. It’s not… like that. I was just… startled…”

“I can give you anything you want. You know that. Something like this is nothing.”

Jiho’s confused, trembling eyes hid behind quivering eyelids. Nodding, he burrowed into Do Yeonjae’s arms, muttering repeatedly that it wasn’t like that.

“Alright, then.”

Do Yeonjae could see Jiho’s future clearly. Kwon Yoon Taek would keep tormenting him. Jiho would scrape together what little money he had, hand it over, and get brief respite before being hounded again. His life would drain away day by day.

“Do what you want.”

Kissing Jiho’s damp temple, Do Yeonjae smiled. You’d think he’d learn after enough repetition. Maybe it’s been too long, and he forgot. It’s strange he doesn’t realize asking for help could easily fix this. Adding to his already overflowing debts wouldn’t change his life much anyway.

Isn’t it easier just to be tied to me?

Kwon Jiho couldn’t calm down easily. Only after Do Yeonjae held him and soothed him for a long while did the tears finally stop. Sitting tangled in the corner of the counseling room, Do Yeonjae slowly stroked Jiho’s back and lifted his face.

His long lashes sparkled with tears, his eyes and nose red. As Yeonjae touched his puffy eyes, Jiho instinctively burrowed deeper into his embrace.

“Wanna go home?”

“The academy…”

“We’ll close it.”

At the curt words, Jiho stared blankly into space, then shook his head. It was too late to announce a closure.

“It’s too sudden. It’ll inconvenience everyone.”

“Should I make it so it’s not inconvenient?”

“…What?”

“Keep it open, take the kids. Is that what you mean?”