Formless Chapter 18

Heewoon reflexively struck away Gangwoo’s hand. Clack, a sound was made. Gangwoo looked down at his hand, which had been pushed away into the air, and let out a forced laugh.

“Is this thing crazy…”

The low mumble was chilling. Heewoon’s complexion immediately turned pale. What did I just do. He knew well enough that Seo Gangwoo could change at any moment, even when acting kindly.

Heewoon felt like Gangwoo was scanning him, contemplating where to hit him.

So, he hastily opened his mouth.

“Yo, you.”

“What.”

“You kept playing tricks on me… not letting me come…”

Heewoon’s voice trembled with injustice and fear. Seo Gangwoo always played with his penis. Without any regard for his feelings.

“…”

“Squeezing it painfully…”

The tip of Heewoon’s nose was red as he trailed off and lowered his eyes. Gangwoo’s gaze lingered there. Watching the silent Gangwoo, Heewoon pulled the blanket and covered his body.

“Why are you covering up?”

Gangwoo tilted his head slightly and asked.

“Because I thought it might hurt less even if I get hit.”

“…”

Gangwoo motioned with his hand. Heewoon gritted his teeth and moved slightly closer to Gangwoo, who was sitting in the middle of the bed. He held the blanket tightly.

“Closer.”

His knees touched Gangwoo’s thigh. Where will I get hit. Heewoon only stared intently at Gangwoo’s hand. But the pain was felt in a completely different place.

“Ouch.”

Gangwoo had bitten his nostril. Gangwoo, who wrapped his arms around Heewoon’s back as he reflexively recoiled, kissed the now redder nose. Smooch, a light sound was made.

“See. It’s true you wanted to cry because I squeezed you painfully.”

A hint of a smile was in the low voice. Heewoon stared blankly up at Gangwoo. The eyes they met were also gently shimmering.

“Because I promised to go easy on you and treat you affectionately.”

“Yes.”

When Heewoon quickly answered, Gangwoo laughed out loud. The hand not embracing his shoulder moved busily. Pinching his cheek, stroking it, messing up his hair.

“Sunbae’s nose is completely red. It looks like you’ve been drinking.”

Gangwoo whispered, fiddling with Heewoon. Heewoon, who had been stiff, finally relaxed, relieved. And he clung tightly to Gangwoo’s embrace. He thought, If I stick this close, he won’t be able to hit me.

Gangwoo’s hand, which was stroking his cheek, paused. Gangwoo looked at Heewoon’s soft cheek, mashed against his chest, and his white hand clutching his clothes across his waist.

Gangwoo leaning against the headboard and Heewoon snugly nestled in his arms. The two looked like lovers enjoying a weekend night.

After staying like that for a long time, Gangwoo quietly asked,

“Aren’t you hungry?”

He had come to Gangwoo’s house after finishing his Saturday evening tutoring session. As soon as he arrived, they had sex, washed, and he was being subjected to Seo Gangwoo’s trickery again.

Heewoon shook his head.

The hair rubbed against his chest was tangled. Gangwoo gently untangled the matted parts with his fingers and said,

“Stay the night.”

He hated it. However, Heewoon answered softly, “Yes.” This was because he knew that if he said no, the gentle and languid voice would quickly turn cold.

“Stay the night, eat breakfast. Eat lunch too before you go. You only eat ramen if you’re at home.”

“Yes.”

“Your answer is too short.”

Gangwoo said sulkily, tugging Heewoon’s hair without hurting him. Still, Heewoon let out a sound of, “Ouch.”

“Such an exaggeration.”

Seo Gangwoo clucked his tongue and stroked his head. Surprisingly, the exaggeration seemed to work.

“From next week, we can go out a bit farther to eat.”

“Why?”

Heewoon slightly lifted his head and looked at Gangwoo. When their light-colored eyes met, Gangwoo pressed a light kiss on his eyelid.

“Because sunbae won’t be working anymore.”

“Ah, yes.”

Heewoon blinked a few times, pretending to be uncomfortable with the eye that had been pressed by the kiss.

“But shouldn’t they be dropping off one by one by now?”

“They asked for supplementary lessons since I suddenly quit…”

He mumbled, hiding his face in Gangwoo’s chest.

“Why did you agree to that?”

Fortunately, Seo Gangwoo seemed to believe him. What on earth am I doing. Heewoon bit his lip. His heart was beating furiously.

Fearing that the sound might be heard, Heewoon moved slightly away from Gangwoo’s embrace. But the large hand pulled his shoulder back into the hug.

“I wasn’t mad.”

Seo Gangwoo seemed to have misunderstood. When Heewoon secretly looked up, Gangwoo smiled, his eyes curving.

“Anyway, there are only a few days left. What else should sunbae do when he has more time?”

Seo Gangwoo, contemplating while smoothing Heewoon’s hair, looked pleased. Heewoon felt miserable. I should have just said I quit. I almost got hit just now. Money is a good thing to receive, so why am I worrying so much.

Whether entangled by money or not, if he died, all of that would be useless too. He might not be killed, but he might become crippled somewhere. At that moment, Heewoon recalled the mashed, bloodied fingers. Lee Hyukjin’s beaten face followed.

Heewoon tightly shut his eyes.

“Are you sleepy?”

Gangwoo asked in a whisper. When Heewoon made a sound of, “Uh-huh,” his body moved slightly. The surroundings darkened, likely because he turned off the switch.

There are 4 days left this month.

🧸

Heewoon’s eyes shot open.

“Eugh…”

Startled by the sunlight immediately piercing his eyes, he tightly closed them again.

“Are you awake?”

Heewoon’s eyes shot open again at the voice right beside him, and he experienced the glare once more. Covering his eyes with his palm, he blinked a few times, and tears welled up.

“You’re an idiot.”

Gangwoo snickered and smoothed Heewoon’s hair. Gangwoo, who stood in front of the bed, was wearing a comfortable T-shirt and pants. Looking at his hair, which was a little damp, suggesting he had washed, Heewoon realized he had fallen asleep just as he was yesterday.

I didn’t even contact Mom.

Heewoon abruptly sat up, looking around. Where did I put my phone.

“What are you looking for? Your phone?”

“Yes. Because I didn’t contact Mom.”

Heewoon anxiously touched his forehead. Gangwoo looked at him intently, then handed Heewoon the phone that was on the table.

“Sunbae slept soundly last night, unaware that a call was coming.”

“Ah…”

Although he had never mentioned it to Heewoon, his mother becomes anxious if he doesn’t respond to calls. This was because his father, who hadn’t been reachable for several days, was found in the Han River.

“It rang a few times, so I answered it.”

“…Huh?”

Heewoon’s eyes widened. His face gradually hardened and paled.

“I told her that you fell asleep because you were tired from working on your assignment, and that you’ll go home around lunchtime tomorrow.”

“…”

“…But why do you look like that?”

Gangwoo gradually furrowed his brows, looking at Heewoon’s hardened face.

“What did you talk about with Mom?”

Heewoon mustered up the courage to ask.

Gangwoo stared intently at Heewoon, still frowning. Touching his chin, he, in turn, asked Heewoon,

“What are you afraid I might have talked about?”

Heewoon started to speak, then closed his mouth again. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed dryly. The voice he finally uttered, after moving his lips several times, trembled miserably.

“You, you said you would kill Mom…”

“Speak louder.”

Gangwoo said coldly to Heewoon, who was clearly anxious. Heewoon lowered his eyes and strengthened his voice.

“You said you would kill Mom.”

“…”

“I really didn’t tell anyone, Gangwoo.”

Gangwoo, who had been looking intently at Heewoon, sighed. At that, Heewoon’s thin shoulders flinched. The slipped blanket only covered below his pelvis, and his white upper body was covered in bruises. His large, tearful eyes looked up at Gangwoo pleadingly.

“That’s all it was.”

Gangwoo spoke to himself. The breath flowing out between Heewoon’s lips trembled faintly. Gangwoo’s eyes moved lightly, examining Heewoon’s face. After a moment, he opened his mouth.

“Do you know that sunbae clung to me all night?”

“Huh?”

“I even turned on the heating because I thought you were cold, but you kept burrowing into my arms.”

“I, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

It was an irrelevant comment, and he still hadn’t answered Heewoon’s question. However, Heewoon had no choice but to humor Gangwoo.

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

Gangwoo said indifferently, stroking Heewoon’s head. His unruly hair was firmly pressed down under the large hand.

Seo Gangwoo was looking into the air, God knows what he was thinking. It felt like it must be frightening thoughts. So, Heewoon urgently grabbed Gangwoo’s clothes.

Gangwoo looked at the hand tightly clutching his T-shirt. Woo Heewoon’s hand was so pale that blue veins were visible.

“G-Gangwoo.”

Gangwoo’s gaze shifted to Heewoon’s face. His moist eyes shimmered softly, catching the morning light.

“It’s all my fault…”

“Shh.”

When Gangwoo placed a finger on his lips, Heewoon tightly sealed his mouth. Gangwoo stroked Heewoon’s head as if praising him and then bent his waist. Meeting the eyes of Heewoon, who was sitting on the bed, he spoke in a gentle voice.

“What I said to your mother was everything I just told you. I introduced myself as a junior, said goodnight, and hung up.”

“Ah…”

Relief spread across Heewoon’s face as he nodded. The hand clutching the T-shirt remained there, as if he had forgotten.

“I am worried that you won’t listen to me, though…”

Gangwoo drew out the end of his sentence, looking at Heewoon. A straight mark was left on his left cheek. Gangwoo lowered his eyes and let out a light, breathy laugh.

“I won’t touch sunbae’s mother.”

“Huh?”

As Heewoon’s eyes widened, laughter spilled out again between Gangwoo’s lips. With a smiling face, he said,

“Even if I get angry, I’ll only beat sunbae.”

It was a frightening thing to say. But Heewoon felt relieved by those words. It seemed his way of thinking had become a little strange since he started being with Seo Gangwoo.

“Th-thank you…”

“Thank you?”

Gangwoo repeated Heewoon’s words, laughing faintly.

“Wash up and eat breakfast.”

The large hand messed up Heewoon’s hair.

“Let go of my hand.”

“Ah! S-sorry!”

Heewoon was startled and released the T-shirt. When he looked helpless at the sight of the wrinkled fabric, Gangwoo hugged Heewoon and pressed light kisses smooch, smooch on the top of his head.