Love Born of Pity Chapter 95

Nevertheless, it took quite a while before he brought the cup to his lips and tilted it. Do Yeonjae had, without a doubt, endured the longest, most drawn-out moment of his entire life. The baffling part was that he wasn’t the least bit angry at Kwon Jiho for not easily opening his mouth; in fact, he found those few hours of coaxing and soothing rather pleasant.

After several attempts and whimpers, Kwon Jiho let out a long sigh and raised the cup.

“Hold your breath for a moment.”

Do Yeonjae confirmed the small nod and feigned composure. In reality, he was more nervous than Kwon Jiho. His palms were so wet they were clammy. The water that half-filled the cup and sloshed around began to tilt. When it touched the parched lips, Do Yeonjae held his breath along with him.

Gulp.

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. The expression on Kwon Jiho’s face, which had been a slight frown, slowly smoothed out.

“How is it?”

His dry cheek puffed out and then deflated, as if he were swishing his tongue along the inside wall.

“Does it seem okay? Don’t drink any more.”

Kwon Jiho’s eyes widened at the hand that stopped him from tilting the cup. It was just water. Without a fishy smell. A thirst he had suppressed all this time surged up. The water Do Yeonjae gave him had a bitter yet savory taste. His mouth followed the hand that was taking the cup away.

“It seems fine. Just a little more…”

As Kwon Jiho licked his lips with his thoroughly wet tongue, Do Yeonjae’s gaze stuck to him intensely. He was seized by the thought of wanting to kiss the lower lip, now slick with glistening saliva. A thirst arose. In a different sense than Kwon Jiho’s.

“Just a little more.”

Kwon Jiho, who had lowered his gaze, slightly lifted it and met the dark, sunken eyes. The pitch-black pupils, in which even the pattern of the iris surrounding the pupil was invisible without light, always made it difficult to guess what he was thinking.

But he could discern the lust that was overflowing from them now. Do Yeonjae usually had those eyes when they were in bed. Kwon Jiho held his breath and quickly averted his gaze. He let go of Do Yeonjae’s wrist, which he had been holding unconsciously, and lowered his head.

“…Drink.”

Do Yeonjae, whose gaze had been stolen by Kwon Jiho’s lips for a long while, belatedly offered the water. Kwon Jiho, his earlobes flushed red, hesitated before reaching out his hand. It was because he was too thirsty to refuse. After taking another sip and confirming for certain that there was no fishy taste, he drank it down quickly, gulp after gulp.

Until the full cup was completely empty, Do Yeonjae did not take his hand off it. Without uncreasing his furrowed brow, he stared intently at Kwon Jiho’s face. His gaze rested on the slightly closed eyelids, then, pretending not to have been looking, he moved his hand to wipe Kwon Jiho’s mouth.

The once-rough lips were now moist. At the soft texture that spread from his fingertips and the moisture that clung to them, Do Yeonjae felt as if a red warning light was flashing. He had only intended to make him take the supplement, but sexual tension spread throughout his body.

“Want more?”

Kwon Jiho nodded at the low question. He told him to wait a moment. Kwon Jiho, who was about to follow him out naturally, corrected his awkward posture as he watched Do Yeonjae walk away.

“…Hah.”

Like a reflex, he rubbed his cheeks, which had grown hot under his gaze, and let out a sigh. Whenever Do Yeonjae was just a little bit kind, he would tear down the embankment he had painstakingly built himself. He would easily let down his flimsy guard and let him in, only to realize his heart was always hurt afterwards.

Ah. That’s the kind of person he was, he’d think.

Even as he steeled himself, telling himself it wouldn’t be any different this time, the weak ground crumbled again. It was a miserable feeling.

♬⋆.˚

He had been on guard against Do Yeonjae, extremely tense, but a few days passed peacefully. Kwon Jiho relaxed a little. Even though they shared a bedroom, Do Yeonjae didn’t demand or initiate any acts in bed.

The only skinship was him pulling Kwon Jiho into an embrace in his sleep. There was no talk of going to the hospital or of what to do with the baby.

Kwon Jiho was prepared to part with the baby at any moment, but as time passed, he began to think that Do Yeonjae didn’t intend to get rid of the baby. The suspicion slowly turned into certainty. Around that time, the question ‘Why?’ began to consume his mind.

Is Do Yeonjae going to let me have the baby? Is he planning to let me give birth and then not let me see the baby? Is he going to let me have it and then put it up for adoption so I can’t even meet it?

The end of his thoughts was always terrifying, but Do Yeonjae was always nonchalant. Sometimes, he even seemed like a well-fed cat. Especially when he would sit in the sunny living room and handle his work without even going to the company.

Whenever he tried to step out of the bedroom and saw Do Yeonjae like that, he couldn’t take another step, as if there was a line he must not cross. In the end, all he could do was retreat back to the bed. Kwon Jiho spent his days feeling himself gradually withering away inside the familiar confinement.

Even when he was in the same space as Do Yeonjae, he consciously refrained from asking what he intended to do. It felt as if nothing would happen as long as he didn’t bring up the baby. It felt like the bad things would only happen in his imagination and then end.

Amidst the growing anxiety, the morning sickness stopped. It hadn’t disappeared, but it had entered a lull. Now, at least, the smell alone didn’t make his stomach turn.

Even so, Kwon Jiho did not readily accept the food Do Yeonjae gave him. Except for the ramen he had cried for on the first dawn he came here, he always refused when asked if he wanted to eat something. Do Yeonjae’s insides were burning to a crisp day after day from the mounting anxiety.

It was clear that he no longer gagged or threw up at the smell of food, but his tightly shut mouth would not open.

“What’s the problem now?”

Kwon Jiho’s shoulders flinched at the irritated voice. He had been lying in bed just blinking, but Do Yeonjae pulled him up and questioned him threateningly.

“You can’t leave this place. Still don’t get it? Do you think I’ll let you go just because you’re acting like this?”

“…”

“What are you so unhappy about that you’re keeping your mouth shut? Tell me. What do you want to eat?”

“…I want to leave.”

The answer to the question was wrong from the very first syllable. Do Yeonjae continued to study the small frame, wondering what method he should use.

“I asked what you want to eat.”

The morning sickness had clearly subsided, but whenever Do Yeonjae asked, he didn’t want to eat anything. Isn’t this not the time to be leisurely thinking about what I want to eat or what I don’t want to eat? The baby was growing bigger in his belly, and Do Yeonjae was getting married when winter ends. The seasons were passing by as quickly as one hops across stepping stones.

He’s a man who has no intention of having a child, especially with him, so he should give him a clear answer as soon as possible, as quickly as possible… but he’s the only one who’s always stewing in anxiety like this.

“I don’t want to eat…”

It seemed Do Yeonjae had forgotten why he had brought him here in the first place. He was acting like someone who couldn’t find a place for an item he’d bought on impulse. He felt like he had become a useless object bought at a high price, even though it was not needed.

On top of that, he was worried about Kwon Heeyeon. Kang Gyumin had said he would protect her, but right now, it seemed there was no chance she was being safely protected. If Do Yeonjae had managed to find him, it was safe to assume that Kwon Heeyeon had also already been captured by him.

“…I want to talk to Heeyeon.”

“Then will you eat something?”

“…”

“I asked if you’ll eat then.”

It was a one-way conversation. He was sick and tired of his way of talking, which was always just pushing forward, but he had no way of confirming Kwon Heeyeon’s safety. Kwon Jiho reluctantly nodded. Do Yeonjae added the condition that he could have the call after he had eaten enough food.

It was a very ‘him‘ way of doing things.

After going out to the living room and waiting for a bit, several people came into the house. They gave Do Yeonjae a silent bow and all went into the kitchen. As time passed, the smell of food filled the entire house. Among them, a distinctly recognizable one was the spicy scent.

Without any sense of propriety, saliva pooled in his mouth. Kwon Jiho touched his neck, swallowed what had gathered, and lowered his head deeply. In the midst of all this, was the emotion he felt now, being hungry, self-loathing or disgust? Suppressing a sigh, he traced the engraved pattern on the living room table with his eyes.

He felt Do Yeonjae’s gaze land on him from time to time, but he didn’t bother to meet it. He sat blankly without moving for several tens of minutes, until one of the people who had gone into the kitchen came out and informed him that everything was ready.

“Get up.”

Do Yeonjae, who had put down his tablet, grabbed the wrist of Kwon Jiho, who was slowly getting to his feet. He walked slowly toward the dining room, matching Kwon Jiho’s small strides. As soon as they entered, he saw a table laden with all sorts of food. Do Yeonjae felt his stomach churn at the mixed smell of food and sat Kwon Jiho down in the middle.

“Eat enough.”

“…”

“‘Enough,’ I said.”