Formless Chapter 26

Gangwoo moved a brightly decorated cheesecake in front of Heewoon. He also placed fruit in front of him and set a drink that looked like orange juice within easy reach.

Heewoon stared at them, tightly pressing his lips together. Clatter, Gangwoo gently asked as he put ice into a glass.

“Does sunbae want alcohol too?”

“Yes.”

At Heewoon’s answer, Gangwoo let out a chuckle and poured amber-colored liquor into the glass. It looked like whiskey. Heewoon took the glass and immediately poured the sloshing liquor into his mouth. The bridge of his nose involuntarily wrinkled because it felt like his throat was burning.

He drank the glass that Gangwoo immediately refilled in one go. Gangwoo slightly furrowed his brows and said,

“If you start acting drunk, I’ll throw you out the window.”

Heewoon silently nodded his head. Gangwoo glanced at Heewoon’s face, filled another glass, and started eating.

Gangwoo occasionally wet his throat with whiskey. Inside the large hotel room, only the sound of gentle knife strokes and the clatter of ice could be heard. All the sounds were made by Gangwoo.

Heewoon, who had been bowing his head, finally opened his mouth after a long while.

“You…”

A relatively calm voice flowed out.

“You made me get fired.”

Perhaps it trembled a little.

The cutting stopped. Blood leaked from the sliced cross-section of the meat. Gangwoo lifted his head, stared at Heewoon, and gently asked,

“And?”

Seeing Gangwoo not deny it, Heewoon bit his lip hard.

“Since this happened because of you, you should take responsibility.”

Gangwoo drank whiskey, staring at Heewoon, who spoke quite firmly. He didn’t take the glass away from his lips and slowly swallowed everything. Clack. He set the empty glass, which only had ice left, down onto the table.

Clack—.

At the sound of the glass bottom hitting the table, Heewoon clenched his fist. Seo Gangwoo’s glass was refilled with alcohol. When the long, slender hand shook the glass, the amber liquid sloshed as if dancing.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something…”

A slow voice flowed out.

“Your way of speaking is wrong.”

Gangwoo lifted his head. The eyes that met his were so chilling that goosebumps rose all over Heewoon’s body. Seo Gangwoo spoke with an expression and tone similar to that gaze.

“You are in a position to be begging me right now.”

Heewoon drew a short breath.

Leaving Heewoon frozen like a stone, Gangwoo picked up his fork and knife. He resumed eating leisurely.

Heewoon, who had been staring rigidly at the table, stood up shortly afterward. Gangwoo didn’t even glance at him. Heewoon clenched his fist tight.

Enduring his steps, which felt heavy, he knelt down beside the table. Only then did Seo Gangwoo cast a sidelong glance, then continued eating as if uninterested.

Heewoon remained kneeling there until Gangwoo finished his meal. His legs were getting numb. The fists resting on his thighs kept trembling.

Seo Gangwoo threw the napkin down onto the table. The wind created by the thick cloth slightly ruffled Heewoon’s bangs.

“Do you think that would satisfy me right now?”

His tone suggested Heewoon was pathetic.

Heewoon bowed his head deeply. His tightly clenched fists were shaking violently.

His life, which had already been a mess, had recently been ruined to a severe degree. He had thought that the many events that occurred three years ago, and the hardships that began afterward, were the lowest moments he would ever face in life. He thought things couldn’t get any worse than this, and that now only going up remained. That’s what he had thought.

But that thought was wrong.

What he thought was the bottom was actually empty space, and he was currently rapidly piercing through it and plummeting downward. So quickly that he couldn’t even harbor the hope that things wouldn’t get worse.

Heewoon, who bit his lip hard, lifted his head. The handsome face, shadowed by the orange lighting, was intently watching him as if observing him. Heewoon opened his mouth.

“I have money to pay back every month,”

He coughed, his throat tight, and continued speaking.

“If I don’t pay it back, those people will come to my house. My mother is a little sick, and if that happens, she might collapse again from shock. I have to give my mother living expenses, so I absolutely need money.”

The edge of his voice cracked badly. He spoke with effort, but his voice was miserably shaky in the end.

Haa. Gangwoo sighed deeply and said,

“Who said I wanted to hear that?”

Heewoon chewed on his lips. He couldn’t figure out what Seo Gangwoo wanted.

It was due tomorrow. No matter how much he thought, there was no way to get the money. The sight of his household goods being destroyed by the intruders and his shocked mother collapsing repeatedly came to mind. His head felt numb.

“Th-Then… What do you want to hear?”

Heewoon looked up at Gangwoo’s indifferent face. The silhouette momentarily doubled, then overlapped into one. Heewoon rubbed his eyes. Something damp was on the back of his hand.

“Sunbae should figure that out.”

At the unkind words, tears finally streamed down Heewoon’s eyes.

Seeing him tightly close his mouth and shed tears profusely, Gangwoo leaned his upper body forward. Resting his arms on his knees, he quietly looked down at the weeping Heewoon.

“Huuuu…”

Seeing Gangwoo just watching him like a spectator without saying anything, Heewoon roughly rubbed his eyes. When he opened his mouth, a sob abruptly burst out, so he swallowed and regulated his breathing.

“G-Gangwoo.”

“What.”

“I, I only have 6,200 won.”

“…”

One of Gangwoo’s eyebrows went up. Heewoon quickly wiped the tears on his cheeks and spat out words mixed with crying.

“Heeeuuk… Ah, no. When I came here, hu… I took the bus, so I have 3,600 won….”

Gangwoo, who had been silently watching Heewoon bowing his head and crying sorrowfully, let out a hollow laugh. He straightened his bent waist.

“Woo Heewoon.”

“Uh-huh.”

Heewoon lifted his head. His face was entirely red and damp. When Gangwoo gestured, Heewoon staggered and crawled on his knees toward Gangwoo.

He sure crawls well. Gangwoo muttered, sounding dumbfounded. To Heewoon’s ears, it sounded ominous. Heewoon, already scared, said,

“N-No. I’ll just talk to those people nicely. I can find a new job, so…”

Gangwoo snorted, making Heewoon close his mouth in surprise.

“You’re going to go to those bastards and shed tears?”

Heewoon became confused by the incredulous tone. Gangwoo, clicking his tongue as he saw Heewoon seemed completely unable to grasp the situation, lifted Heewoon’s chin.

Seo Gangwoo, who came into Heewoon’s view, sighed. The nuance was that he was giving in.

“Who is the person sunbae needs to cling to right now?”

Heewoon stared blankly at Gangwoo, then let out a moan.

“…You. It’s you.”

Then, the corners of Gangwoo’s mouth lifted gently. Gangwoo placed his hand on Heewoon’s head as if praising him and said, I’m telling you because you keep acting stupid.

“Say, ‘Gangwoo,’ okay?”

Heewoon parted his lips.

“G-Gangwoo.”

“Yes.”

A low answer returned. The large hand resting on his head moved up and down gently. Seo Gangwoo’s eyes, which met his, fixedly stared at Heewoon as if urging him to speak.

Heewoon let out a shaky breath and said,

“…Help me. Please. I’m begging you….”

If you just help me this one time, I’ll really be good. I’ll listen well, and also… I won’t lie….

He felt the tears flowing down both sides of his eyes. He was uttering words that sounded wretched even to himself. He was basely clinging to the person who created this situation. The cruel situation felt like an extension of a nightmare.

“Good. That’s how you should talk, prettily.”

Heewoon watched Gangwoo, trembling violently. The corners of Gangwoo’s mouth curved gently. He wiped away Heewoon’s tears and spoke kindly.

“There’s no way I could refuse your request.”

Seeing hope fill the wet eyes staring at him, Gangwoo smiled satisfactorily. Gangwoo’s palm became damp with Heewoon’s tears. Cupping Heewoon’s cheek with his hand, he whispered,

“Remember this well right now.”

I helped sunbae.

Looking at the deep smile, Heewoon realized it. The strange premonition that made him avoid using his card was becoming reality.

“How much do you need?”

“Ah… Uh, 1 million won for my mother’s living expenses and 2 million won for the money I have to pay back.”

Heewoon spoke quickly, perhaps afraid that Gangwoo might change his mind. Gangwoo, who was listening quietly, tilted his head.

“What about you.”

“Huh?”

At Gangwoo’s words, Heewoon asked curiously in a nasal voice. His round eyes were fixed on Gangwoo. Gangwoo pressed the tear drop pooled at the corner of his eye and said,

“You only have 3,600 won.”

The lips that uttered the gentle voice curved slightly.

Heewoon’s eyes widened.

“Ah, no. I’m fine. I can walk around… I-It’s okay if you just give me that money…”

“Walk around? That distance?”

Gangwoo asked with a scoff, but Heewoon nodded as if it were obvious. Gangwoo rubbed his brow, his expression suggesting, No way.

“Sunbae walked around?”

“Yes. Lately.”

“If you’re walking around because you don’t even have transportation money, doesn’t that mean you haven’t been eating either?”

“I-I ate at home.”

Heewoon quickly answered.

“That means you’re starving outside.”

It was a chilly voice. Heewoon blankly looked at Gangwoo’s crumpled frown. Words flowed out before he could collect his thoughts.

“Didn’t you know?”

Heewoon felt puzzled.

“I thought you would know…”

The frown crumpled a little more.

“I’m not sunbae’s stalker.”

“Ah, right.”

He was the stalker. But Seo Gangwoo knew much more about him than he knew about Seo Gangwoo.

“Why don’t these idiotic bastards report this?”

Gangwoo muttered roughly. Heewoon blinked a few times, chewing over the words. It meant he had assigned people to monitor him, regardless.

“…You said you weren’t a stalker.”

At the words Heewoon suddenly spat out, Gangwoo’s gaze dropped. He was about to open his mouth, but instead he looked closely at Heewoon’s face. His wet cheeks were red and the speed at which he blinked was slower than usual.

“Sunbae.”

“…Huh?”

His answer was also slow. Gangwoo frowned and said,

“You’re drunk.”

“…Huh? No?”