The World of Contrasts Vol. 4 Chapter 4

―The North Pacific High is expanding earlier than usual, leading to an early start of the monsoon season.

Listening to the announcer, Jaemin turned his gaze away from the television screen.

Even though it was midday, the sky outside was dark enough to mimic early evening. It was now June on the calendar, but the weather had been humid for days, and recently, rain had been falling steadily from the pitch-black sky. He leaned back on the sofa, checking the air conditioner’s temperature once more.

“I really hate this.”

Even when he was in Japan, he despised humid weather the most. On rainy days, he felt as if an unpleasant odor clung to his body, particularly the fishy smell that nauseated him. He’d rather have the intense sun that scorched his skin; it would be a hundred times better. If given the choice between UV radiation and acid rain, Jaemin would choose the former 100% of the time.

His phone buzzed with a cheerful notification sound, displaying a message.

[If you get too heated, it’s bad for the baby.]

Jaemin let out a sarcastic laugh. Talking about prenatal care when he wasn’t even pregnant.

There was only one person who would send such a ridiculous message. Apart from the occasional message from Mama, Jaemin’s contact list was practically reserved for Daeyoung alone.

The number of Daeyoung’s mother was saved after they met a few times, but… there had never been a need to use the contact she offered if something was needed.

Ignoring the message, the phone kept buzzing with Daeyoung’s name. Jaemin wasn’t in the mood to hear his voice right now.

In the morning, feeling unwell, he got annoyed because Daeyoung kept trying to spread his legs, claiming he had a fantastic dream last night, so he kicked him. Daeyoung, as usual, didn’t seem to care about such things, ducked under him, and started flicking his tongue like a snake. Knowing that another night of torment would leave his body even more exhausted, Jaemin desperately resisted, but Daeyoung, seemingly annoyed, gripped his thighs with brute force.

Jaemin told him that he’d never seen such a selfish bastard before, especially since Daeyoung was glaring at him with fierce eyes, asking if he was going to make him go to work in such a shitty mood when he had something important to do today.

Daeyoung looked at Jaemin, who was shouting and then catching his breath in surprise, muttered a low curse, and left.

The notification sound rang again, and the chat window popped up once more.

[Is it my fault the weather is shit? Cool down and answer the phone]

Fuck. What’s with this completely mismatched emoji?

Jaemin responded with silence and a smirk.

Unlike Daeyoung, who had good dreams, Jaemin had been having strange dreams for several nights in a row, making his sleep restless. Two days ago, he woke up in a cold sweat with a horrific feeling of centipedes crawling all over his body, as if he were burning in fire.

When he had bad dreams, there was no one beside him to embrace him; he was alone in bed.

When he went out to the dark kitchen to get some water, he smelled faint tobacco mixed with the scent of rain. The sound of Daeyoung’s voice, coming from a room he usually didn’t enter, drew his steps.

―Let’s do it the day after tomorrow. I’ll let you know the location then.

Was he so busy that he had to take work calls until dawn? Jaemin thought Daeyoung’s life must be quite exhausting as he approached.

―A birthday? That’s convenient. Turning your birthday into your death anniversary.

Daeyoung turned around, sensing someone’s presence, and their eyes met, cutting off the conversation abruptly. Jaemin watched as Daeyoung ended the call by pressing the side button of his phone. Daeyoung quickly stubbed out his cigarette and approached him with an expression that feigned nonchalance.

“Did you wake up because you missed me?”

His tone was slick, completely erasing any prior fierceness.

“…What do you mean by death anniversary? Are you going to kill someone?”

“Jang Jaemin, did you have a habit of eavesdropping too? How cute.”

“…Don’t change the subject.”

“It’s just a metaphor. Boring business talk.”

Daeyoung explained that saying he was going to “fuck someone up” didn’t necessarily mean he was going to kill them biologically, calling Jaemin’s imagination cruel. But to Jaemin, Daeyoung’s tongue seemed longer than usual, and it left him feeling unsettled.

The sound of the heavy rain was like someone being beaten up. Maybe he was just sensitive because of the weather.

Jaemin forced his heavy body to get up and made himself a hot cup of tea. Then, he called Mama for the first time in a while. He would still be at home since it was before his work time.

―Moshimoshi. It’s Tomoko.

Mama sounded like he had just woken up. Jaemin’s lips curved into a smile at his characteristic way of elongating the ends of his words.

“It’s me.”

―Who? Not Yukito, the guy who decided to erase his past after running away with a Korean yakuza, right? Right?

Jaemin burst into laughter at Mama’s playful tone. Listening to his voice, he felt a wave of nostalgia he hadn’t recognized before.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with a lot of things.”

―Mmm. Busy doing it day and night, huh? Yukito’s lover didn’t look like he’d cum easily.

“Stop with the dirty talk. I’m preparing to get pregnant.”

Mama let out an “Eek,” with genuine surprise, his voice turning from the usual exaggerated tone to a rough male voice, clearly shocked.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but you’ll cheer for me, right?”

―Of course! Congratulations, Yukito! The baby will be so cute. You’ll come visit when you have the baby, right? I broke up with Shun and now I’m dating a new part-timer who’s 19 years younger. Seeing the age gap widen, it’s clear my oral sex skills are evolving…

After finishing the call with Mama, laughing out loud, an hour had already passed.

Jaemin realized once again how long it had been since he had such a long conversation with someone other than Daeyoung. This must have contributed to his heightened sensitivity.

While he was comfortable being alone, he belatedly realized that reducing social interaction to this extreme might make anyone’s mind a bit off. Honestly, it was impressive that he only felt it now. So, for nearly six months since reuniting with Daeyoung, Jaemin hadn’t really communicated with anyone except for him.

Even without meeting others, Daeyoung took care of everything like an extension of himself, so there was no inconvenience in daily life. Not even a bit.

Rustle.

Jaemin turned on the gas next to the induction cooker and put a pot of water on it. He hadn’t eaten anything since morning, so he felt hungry and decided to cook some ramen, but it didn’t taste as good as when Daeyoung made it.

“…That’s bad.”

Since reuniting with Daeyoung, all of Jaemin’s thoughts revolved around him. It was hard to admit, but it was the truth.

His sensitivity might have been due to the weather and nightmares, but the main reason was undoubtedly the conversation he overheard from Daeyoung two days ago. Today was the day Daeyoung was supposed to make someone’s “death anniversary.”

“Ha…”

Jaemin left the half-eaten ramen with the chopsticks still in it and picked up his still-hot phone. With his sharp eyebrows furrowed, he called Daeyoung. Surprisingly, Daeyoung, who usually answered quickly, took longer to respond.

―Hey, honey.

The call quality was poor, like it was blocked. Was he at a construction site instead of the office? Construction usually stopped when it rained, but sometimes Daeyoung would go out for site inspections even in bad weather. He said it was for safety oversight.

Anyway… he works hard in an uncharacteristic way.

―So, are you finally not angry anymore?

His voice, sounding like he was catching his breath, was accompanied by the distant sound of rain in the background. Jaemin cleared his throat out of embarrassment before bringing up what he was curious about.

“Is the important thing done?”

―Important thing? What kind?

Daeyoung asked back. He seemed happy that Jaemin called, as his voice was filled with laughter, devoid of any seriousness.

Indeed, the conversation from a few days ago was just one of the harsh business talks, and Jaemin’s worries had been unfounded.

“No, when are you coming home?”

―Do you miss me?

“…I made ramen, but it doesn’t taste as good as when you make it.”

―I season things perfectly.

“Are you showing off your ramen pride now?”

―You always liked confident people.

Daeyoung chuckled low. Jaemin, without realizing it, scratched his temple, his neck turning red because his words didn’t feel like just a jest.

―But let’s have something better than ramen today; I’ll bring champagne.

“What’s there to celebrate with champagne?”

After a moment of hesitation, Daeyoung whispered with a wet laugh.

―Every day with you is a festival for me.

“Fuck, hang up.”

Jaemin cursed with a flushed face. Loving Daeyoung was one thing, but these cheesy lines he whispered would never get familiar, no matter how much time passed. As he shivered, Daeyoung added something to his ear.

―I love you.

A loud “Bang!” was heard just as Jaemin pressed the end call button. He blinked for a moment, still holding the phone after the call had ended. He thought he heard a dull sound but maybe he misheard.

Bang!

Jaemin involuntarily flinched and looked up. Lightning flashed, and thunder roared as if it would tear the sky apart. It seemed they were entering the full influence of a typhoon, but the foul weather was making his mood even worse by constantly affecting it.

Jaemin grabbed his wallet and car keys. Inside his wallet, the initials “Jang Jaemin” were clearly imprinted on a heavy metal credit card, and the registration in the glove compartment of the car was also in the name of Jang Jaemin.

Daeyoung had said that Jaemin had amassed quite a bit of money before he disappeared. He added with a hint of bitterness that it was only natural since Jaemin had worked hard from a very young age.

So, he wanted Jaemin to rest well now and be devoted to the potential new family member.

“You can do that,” he said, his eyes unusually serious, implying that Jaemin didn’t need to feel indebted to him. When Jaemin asked what this feeling was, this sense of being like a useless human or a defective product, Daeyoung concluded the conversation by saying Jaemin had been a severe workaholic.

“You were burnt out.”

Jaemin let out a short sigh after getting into the driver’s seat.

“Fine, I’ll do as you want.”

He could feel the approach of his heat cycle in his body. The frequency of feeling wet down there was increasing, a sign of it. Having his first heat in half a year since reuniting with his spouse, getting pregnant with his child might not be a bad idea.

Jaemin started the black sports car through the rain.

Looking in the rear-view mirror, he saw his hair covering his neckline and brushed it back with his hand.

He knew without being told that Daeyoung loved his hair. At first, it was annoying when Daeyoung used his thick fingers like a comb, but now it was comforting, even lulling him to sleep, especially after intense lovemaking in bed.

“Should I buy a headband?”

With the weather getting seriously hot, it seemed like a good idea to have something like a wire headband or an elastic band. He made a mental note not to forget to buy one at the supermarket.

Honk-!

Someone from the opposite lane honked loudly and charged forward. Jaemin swerved in surprise, narrowly avoiding a collision.

“What the…!”

Jaemin shouted, watching the luxury sedan fade into the rain.

“Fuck, driving like an idiot…”

His blue eyes narrowed. He shifted gears, accelerating and making a U-turn to chase after the receding car. The raindrops fell fiercely, cascading down the windshield like a waterfall. Even with the wipers at full speed, visibility was almost zero.

So, shouldn’t one be more careful behind the wheel on days like this?

“When did you get your license, damn it…”

Jaemin frowned, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The thought that he could have died made him press the accelerator even harder.

The car in front was no pushover either, moving at a speed that would justify having police sirens on. The thought that the driver might be drunk made Jaemin even more determined to catch up.

If left alone, a major accident was bound to happen. Since there was only one road and no way to get onto a main road, the other driver was like a rat in a trap.

Jaemin, while trying to teach the other driver a lesson, was also cautious not to flip his own car as he chased the Rolls-Royce to an unexpected place.

“…”

An old single-family house with a classic architectural style came into view. The red brick house must have been quite nice when it was built, but now, due to lack of maintenance, the trees in the garden had grown over the walls, creating a jungle-like appearance.

The car Jaemin had been chasing was parked right in front of this house.

“…”

Jaemin blinked, his face frowning. Next to the car that was parked messily with its high beams still on, there was another car, neatly parked, identical to the model Daeyoung used when he went to work. Though there might be more than one G-Wagen in the world, the coincidence felt odd.

His hand moved automatically to open the car door. Thunder and lightning continued to make a loud racket in the sky. Without an umbrella, Jaemin wiped the rain off his face as he walked, then stopped abruptly.

“…What’s this?”

The moment he checked the license plate, Jaemin muttered to himself. His steps quickened as he entered through the open gate.

He couldn’t imagine why Daeyoung would be at a strange house just 15 minutes away from their home.

✽ ✽ ✽

Jaemin approached the building that clearly looked like an abandoned house, passing through the overgrown garden. As he cautiously neared the door, he noticed an expensive door lock contrasting with the old door. Was it locked? Wiping the rainwater from his face, Jaemin realized the door was slightly ajar.

Was the driver of the car that had been speeding earlier inside here?

Both Jang Daeyoung and an unknown racer are here.

―But let’s have something better than ramen today; I’ll bring champagne.

The call he had with Daeyoung just a little while ago was also bothering him. Why would Daeyoung come to this dilapidated house when there’s something to celebrate with champagne?

Jaemin frowned when he checked his pockets for his phone and found them empty. He must have left it at home.

Without hesitation, Jaemin pushed the door open and stepped inside. The foyer closed with a quiet sound.

The place seemed to have once belonged to a wealthy family, but now it was filled only with old, unused furniture. Seeing a house like this, common in America, here gave him a strange feeling, which was exacerbated by the weather.

Click.

Seeing that the electricity didn’t work, it didn’t seem like anyone was living here. However, the open door clearly indicated someone was or had been inside.

Where are they, then?

Jaemin felt for the knife in his back pocket, grateful for his habit of always carrying a weapon even if he forgot his phone.

Creak.

He opened doors one by one, but all he saw was furniture covered in dust, no sign of people. After checking even the bathroom, enduring the unpleasant smell coming from the sewer due to the rain, Jaemin furrowed his brows.

It was odd that someone had entered but no one had left.

“…!”

It was then that he heard a faint thud from somewhere.

Jaemin frowned and quickly left the bathroom. Where did that sound come from? It was faint, like hearing someone’s conversation through headphones, but there was definitely a humming sound coming from somewhere. Jaemin wandered through the kitchen following the sound until he found its source.

“… ”

The marble table was moved askew as if someone had struggled, and below it, a carpet with chaotic footprints was visible. Lifting the carpet with the tip of his shoe, he saw a small handle.

Jaemin, furrowing his brow, lifted the handle. A set of iron stairs leading down to a well-like space appeared, causing his face to contort further.

What the hell. This space looks like crap at first glance.

Even if he had lost his memory, he hadn’t lost his instincts. A hidden basement clearly reeked of something sinister going on down there.

Despite the overwhelming sense of dread, Jaemin quietly descended the stairs. Though steep, his movements were agile; he didn’t even have time to hesitate because his mind was cluttered with other thoughts.

Fuck. What the hell is Jang Daeyoung doing here?

At the bottom of the stairs, a spacious area like a warehouse appeared. Various tools that looked like implements, along with plastic, unknown chemicals, and large stacks of dog food were piled up. The incongruous combination made Jaemin frown.

Now that he thought about it, there was also a stench of dirty livestock mixed with the smell of concrete.

“Beg. Beg for your life!”

A woman’s voice, almost tearing, echoed at that moment.

“… ”

Was this a voice he’d heard before? The source of the noise was a door at the corner of the warehouse. Jaemin’s steps quickened as he confirmed the presence of another room.

“Ha ha ha! Kkuk-kuk… Ha ha!”

Jaemin’s feet stopped abruptly. The cackling laughter wasn’t unfamiliar, but it wasn’t Daeyoung’s voice either.

It was a little older, a bit more vile, a tone that seemed to crush the listener’s spirit with mockery.

“Heeya… Wake up.”

Suddenly, goosebumps ran down his spine. His heart seemed to fall to his feet before pounding against his ribs like a drum. The heated breath seemed to freeze, stopping at the tip of Jaemin’s nose.

Somewhere, there was the sound of something clattering. Realizing it was his own teeth chattering, Jaemin covered his mouth. What is this? He couldn’t understand the sudden fear, yet he felt like he might collapse at any moment.

The chilling voice, coupled with the musty, damp smell of the basement, made him freeze in place. The owner of the voice was definitely an alpha, but as far as Jaemin could remember, he had never encountered an alpha with such a repulsive odor.

What drove him even crazier was being caught in an inexplicable fear, making him stand there like an idiot, unable to move. Honestly, Jaemin wanted to turn around and crawl back up the stairs to escape this suffocating space.

At that moment, Jaemin bit his lip and nodded. Yes, he was going back.

“Fuck… What are you two doing?”

The low curse caught Jaemin’s foot just as he was about to turn back.

“Having a reunion?”

Hearing Daeyoung’s voice, Jaemin’s pupils dilated even more. With the sound of a lighter clicking, accompanied by the familiar smell of cigarettes, Daeyoung spoke slowly, seeming annoyed.

“If you want to see someone dead, you can make it happen.”

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot finally made Jaemin’s frozen feet move. His body reacted instinctively to Daeyoung’s voice and the gunshot.

“Huh…! Fuck…”

The man inside, panting in agony, wasn’t Daeyoung. But it wasn’t enough to shake off the anxiety. Every cell in Jaemin’s body was sounding an alarm in his mind. Without knowing the exact cause, Jaemin forcefully opened the door.

“Jang Daeyoung…!”

As the door opened, a bare bulb flickered, blinding Jaemin. His distorted eyes widened in shock at the sight of the man kneeling with blood dripping from his leg.

“What the hell is this…?”

The old man, looking almost on the brink of starvation, was an unsightly figure that could hardly be called human. His skin clung to his bones like a skeleton covered in leather, with yellowed eyes that gleamed as they looked at him.

“Our little boy…!”

The moment the man let out a grotesque laugh, Jaemin staggered, feeling as if someone had hit him on the head with a shovel. Blood seemed to drain from his brain, and he gasped for air from his constricted throat.

“Ja… Jaemin!”

Joohee, who had just noticed Jaemin, raised her voice late, and Daeyoung turned around, cursing with a contorted face.

“Fuck…”

Although Daeyoung had his gun pointed at Chairman Jang, Jaemin was faster. With bloodshot eyes, Jaemin pulled out the knife from his back pocket and rushed toward the old man whose leg was caught by an iron spike.

“Jang Jaemin, get out!”

Daeyoung shouted, but Jaemin didn’t stop.

“Huh…! Ah…!”

Jaemin screamed as he stabbed Chairman Jang with the knife. Despite the sharp blade piercing his belly several times, Chairman Jang’s cackling didn’t stop.

“Now… Kkuk…! I finally smell you properly, my son…”

“Jaemin…!”

Joohee tried to run to him but was blocked by Daeyoung.

“…Leave him be.”

Daeyoung watched with clenched lips as Jaemin swung the knife at Chairman Jang. Jaemin, who was screaming loud enough to shake the basement, had lost his reason.

“Shut up!”

Chairman Jang’s eyes, covered in blood, still fixed on Jaemin.

“You bastard… Where have you been hiding all this time? Cough… Are you that scared of your father…?”

Jaemin’s hand, holding the knife high in the air, trembled.

“Look into the eyes of the fucker who stabbed you until your guts spill out. Then you’ll know if your anger is satisfied.”

The words Chairman Jang had said echoed in Jaemin’s mind, and red tears mixed with blood streamed down his cheeks.

“Anyone who wants to fuck our Director, raise your hand?”

“Kkuk… Fuck… In the end, my son fucked you.”

Jaemin’s blade swung through the air again. As he slit Chairman Jang’s vocal cords, blood spurted like a fountain. Watching Jaemin cry out, Daeyoung’s jaw clenched tightly. He put down his gun and approached Jaemin.

“Die…! Die!”

Gently pulling Jaemin away from behind, Jaemin struggled, veins popping in his neck.

“I’ll kill you… I’ll grind you to dust, you fucking beast of a devil!”

“He’s dead. You killed him, Jaemin.”

“You killed him, you killed him,” Daeyoung whispered into his ear, but Jaemin didn’t hear it. The middle finger, waving between half-severed fingers as if showing cruel torture, seemed to speak to him. Chairman Jang was shouting at him.

You can’t beat me.

The horrific pheromone smell emitted by Chairman Jang climbed into his nasal cavity and up to his brain. It felt like his brain was soaking in it; he wanted to die.

“Arghhh!”

Bang!

With the sound of a gunshot, a hole appeared in Chairman Jang’s forehead. As blood flowed down, covering his eyes, the wide-open pupils finally hid.

Jaemin looked back with his dry, pale lips parted. He frowned, watching Joohee lowering her shaking hands.

“Will you… forgive your mother…?”

Tears from Jaemin’s eyes mixed with the blood staining his face, dripping down. The ghosts of his past memories revived in his mind, stabbing like daggers.

“No matter what, no one should know you’re an omega. Understand?”

He recalled Joohee whispering to him like a spell as he lay in the hospital bed.

“From now on, you will live as an alpha. As Jang Wonjung’s son, an alpha who no one doubts.”

Next, he remembered the sweat-drenched faces of the subordinates who pinned him down, panting.

“Fuck, Director… How’s the alpha dick taste, our distinguished omega Director, huh?”

It was his parents, sharing not a drop of blood with him, who had pushed his life into the hellfire. If they had abandoned him upon discovering he was an omega, his life would have been a stinking cesspool, but not this hell.

“Shut up… Shut up!”

While being held by Daeyoung, Jaemin strained his neck. He tried to slash his wrists with the knife, but Daeyoung had thrown it away, making it impossible.

“Fuck off, let go…! Let me go!”

Seeing Jaemin in a similar state to when he had seizures in the hospital after the incident, Joohee shed tears. Then, she raised the gun to her temple.

“Ahhh!”

Jaemin howled like a beast, watching her. Daeyoung turned his head, pressing it against his shoulder, and Jaemin’s vision went dark. In this situation, the sweet smell of Daeyoung’s pheromones only brought more pain to Jaemin.

“Fuck…!”

Jaemin lifted his head, gasping for breath. His eyes, looking at Daeyoung, were contorted in agony.

I want to die.

Daeyoung, I want to die.

There was a time when he felt the same as today, wishing to die in Daeyoung’s embrace. But the one before him now was different.

“It’s okay, Jang Jaemin.”

The beast, donning the shell of the 23-year-old Seol Daeyoung, told him.

“It’s okay,” repeating the same words calmly. All the noises in the space gradually faded away as he looked at his face. Then, he felt like someone was tearing through his mind with a razor blade. In the excruciating pain, his eyes reddened, and his body convulsed violently.

“Huh…!”

This fucking bastard!

He wanted to scream for him to shut up, but only choking sounds came from his strained neck. Seol Daeyoung just held him tightly, repeating the same words. It’s okay, it’s all over.

…It’s okay? Did you just say it’s okay to me?

Looking at the one who had concealed all truths while whispering sweet nothings about being his lover and spouse, Jaemin trembled with his lips parted.

Seol Daeyoung, knowing all his dirty past, shouldn’t have done this to him.

He shouldn’t have made him say he loved him, nor made him utter the nonsense about being grateful for being an omega.

“Huh, huh…!”

In the end, Jaemin’s molars ground together, making a cracking sound as he squeezed his eyes shut. Remembering all the shitty things he endured because he was an omega, that fact alone was enough to make him want to bite his tongue and die.

“Will I ever remember all the memories we had together?”

“Why look back when you have so much more life ahead of you?”

How many beasts were in your black heart as you climbed on top of me, laughing lazily?

He didn’t even wonder why his lover wasn’t enthusiastic about him regaining his memories; he thought Daeyoung was just being broad-minded. Why could he think that? Because this fucking conman, Seol Daeyoung, had completely turned him into a fool.

“Breathe, Jaemin.”

Despite having him by the throat, Daeyoung continued to pretend to be his loving partner until the end, but Jaemin couldn’t muster the strength to plunge a blade into his neck.

“Ha, huh, fuck…”

Daeyoung’s large hand covered his tear-filled face. The image of the monkey Jaemin last saw at Mama’s house wasn’t a coincidence.

“Ha, ah…”

In the end, he had played along like a performing monkey in the crude cage Seol Daeyoung had set up.

How could I not have known? How could I have not known? Overwhelmed by anger and self-loathing, Jaemin couldn’t contain his hatred for Seol Daeyoung. He didn’t even need to choke himself to escape this reality; he was already struggling to breathe.

“Jaemin, Jang Jaemin!”

As Jaemin writhed in pain, the strength left his head. Hot tears streamed down his covered eyes. Even as he lost consciousness, Jaemin thought:

I will not forgive you for deceiving me. Never.

Click.

The sound of the gun hitting the floor was heard. The empty gun, having used all its bullets, didn’t pierce through Joohee’s temple.

“I… I’m sorry, Jaemin.”

As Joohee sobbed, Daeyoung exhaled deeply, tightening his grip around Jaemin.

If she had died here, it would have been even more of a headache, so Shin Joohee’s failed suicide attempt was a good thing. But there was little joy in this situation given the mess in front of them.

“Shin Joohee.”

Daeyoung spoke lowly as he stood up with Jaemin in his arms, and Joohee looked at him with trembling eyes.

A river of blood flowed from Chairman Jang’s corpse, forming a pool on the floor. Looking at her, still in shock, Daeyoung spoke clearly with a broken voice.

“Mother.”

Joohee’s expression became even more bizarre. Daeyoung, clenching his trembling fist, tried to regain his composure as he faced Joohee.

“Are you going to commit suicide?”

Jaemin was buried in Daeyoung’s embrace, so the only thing Joohee could see was Daeyoung’s expression, hardened with irritation at the situation.

“Get a grip, Jang Jaemin’s mother.”

His calm voice actually made Joohee’s breath catch in her throat. At the same time, her mind, which had been like a tangled thread, began to slowly untangle.

“Since you were born a parent, how about acting like one at least once?”

Daeyoung didn’t raise his voice, but Joohee could vividly feel how much anger he was suppressing.

“I killed… Jang Wonjung.”

“Save that talk for the police station.”

Looking at Daeyoung, whose eyes were black with intensity, Joohee realized he was looking for a different answer. With the corpse beside her in a pool of blood, Daeyoung holding the unconscious Jaemin and gently stroking his back, his image was chilling even to her, who shared his blood.

“What… should I do?”

Daeyoung twisted his lips as if he understood her heart well.

“I would like to ask you to handle the aftermath. As cleanly as possible.”

Without waiting for her response, Daeyoung stood up with Jaemin in his arms and turned away. As the footsteps faded, Joohee finally lit a cigarette with her trembling hands.

In the empty basement, there was only her and one mutilated corpse. A hollow laugh escaped from Joohee’s lips as she looked at her dead husband.

Why had she postponed this until now out of fear? Daeyoung, impatient with Joohee’s hesitation and excuses, finally gave her the date. He said to wait a few more days because of the bad weather, but Daeyoung said he couldn’t wait any longer. So, she rushed through the rain to witness Chairman Jang’s end, to see with her own eyes his last day becoming his death anniversary.

“Ha…”

Joohee bit her lip with a contorted expression. Why did it have to be today of all days?

She couldn’t understand how Jaemin had ended up here, but one thing was certain: he had remembered everything.

Joohee exhaled a long stream of smoke while looking at the corpse lying on the floor. Giving such a shitty gift as his last act was truly something Chairman Jang would do.

She slowly approached and stood by Chairman Jang’s body. She spat on the dead husband, then stabbed the heel of her shoe into his left earlobe where the bullet hole was, stomping on it several times until the trembling in her hands subsided.

After finishing her cigarette, Joohee pulled out her phone with a much clearer expression than before. As Daeyoung had said, the only one who could handle the aftermath now was her. He had other matters to deal with now.

Being called ‘Mother’ by Daeyoung instead of her name at such a moment; life is truly ironic.

Of course, Daeyoung immediately switched the context to Jaemin being his son, but that first moment when he called her was definitely not that. He was cornered enough to invoke a kinship he had never acknowledged before.

She knew all too well how painful it would be to lose something you desperately wanted to hold onto. She had always weighed every situation, leaving only the worst and the less bad options, making the best out of her choices.

But now… what will you do, my son?

✽ ✽ ✽

It was a day when the cold winter wind coexisted with the sunlight. The faces of students sitting in the auditorium in their school uniforms were filled with the excitement of impending graduation. Among them, one stood out with a displeased look, legs crossed.

It was Jang Jaemin, watching Seol Daeyoung receiving an award as the valedictorian. Park Sejun, sitting beside him, asked:

“That bastard, he said he’s going to the military academy, right?”

“What does it matter, fuck.”

The only important thing was that he wouldn’t have to see that face anymore.

Park Sejun chuckled, saying that Seol Daeyoung was well-suited to be stuck in the military, and Jaemin clapped sarcastically. He firmly remembered the image of Seol Daeyoung, who threw his blue award book in the air and caught it with a laugh.

“Congratulations, young master.”

As they left the crowded auditorium to the schoolyard, Seonho, who had come in place of his parents, handed Jaemin a bouquet of flowers. Jaemin muttered “How embarrassing,” turning his gaze away.

“The car?”

“It’s outside, it’s too crowded here.”

“…Let’s go.”

At the end of his gaze, he spotted someone conspicuous even from afar. Jaemin tried to look away, but it was too late. Seol Daeyoung handed his award to someone in shabby clothes before running towards them.

“Jang Jaemin!”

As they stepped out of the school gate, his voice caught Jaemin by the back of his head. Jaemin ignored him and walked faster. Just as he was about to get into the car, a hand touched his shoulder. The heavy hand stopping him made his body tense instinctively.

“What the…?”

Turning around quickly, he saw Seol Daeyoung, breathing heavily with a pale face.

“Jang Jaemin. Ha… Congratulations on graduating.”

Jaemin frowned as if hot water had been poured on his face.

“Fuck off.”

Seol Daeyoung forced something into his arms. It was a bouquet of roses with a poorly done wrapping, likely grabbed from one of the stalls lined up at the school gate for the graduation. In the middle of it, a heart-shaped pompom was attached to a spring, swinging around.

“It was fun being with you.”

His warm breath whispering in Jaemin’s ear felt vivid through the winter air.

“Live well from now on.”

His ears turning red could be excused by the cold, but there was no explanation for the heart pounding in his chest.

“Hey…”

“I’m going.”

“Take this, you bastard!!”

Yelling, Jaemin threw the bouquet down, but Seol Daeyoung didn’t even look back as he walked away. Watching the large hand on his broad shoulders move side to side, Jaemin bit his lip.

The hellish high school life was now over. He wouldn’t have to see Seol Daeyoung, whom he was forced to share a classroom with, ever again. Although their future paths might cross since one was becoming a professional soldier and the other a mob boss, it was better to keep them separated.

But why this strange feeling? He couldn’t admit or understand the sense of loss, like one of his arms had fallen off.

The spring heart on the bouquet lying on the ground seemed to mock him as it swayed.

However, Jaemin’s expectation of a permanent farewell with Seol Daeyoung was shattered just a month later.

The classroom was filled with dominant alphas from all over, and from the first lecture, Jaemin felt exhausted by the sheer number of people he had to deal with.

Tap, tap.

What the fuck.

Feeling someone tap his shoulder, Jaemin, who had been lounging in the back row, turned with a frown. And there was the unbelievable face in front of him.

“Hi, Jang Jaemin?”

Seol Daeyoung made Jaemin’s headphones fall around his neck as he greeted him. As the muffled noise suddenly flooded his ears, Seol Daeyoung’s voice echoed in his mind like an echo through a bad microphone.

“You look even better in casual clothes.”

“…Fuck off.”

Dressed in a checkered shirt that looked like it had come from some thrift store, Seol Daeyoung walked to the front of the classroom.

“What, did that bastard come to our school?”

Park Sejun, who reeked of alcohol and was sprawled next to him, blinked.

It wasn’t an illusion; the dull air of the classroom had indeed changed with Seol Daeyoung’s arrival.

Jaemin’s breath, which had been frozen, finally burst out, heating up.

Fucking bastard, damn bastard!

Seol Daeyoung’s face was smiling as he took out his textbook, as if he knew exactly how Jaemin felt.

✽ ✽ ✽

Jaemin groaned as he repeatedly dreamt of the past. He wanted to wake up but couldn’t. When he tried to regain consciousness, he felt a sharp pain in his hand, and then he was engulfed by sleep again. He didn’t want to sleep. Every time he did, strange dreams tormented him.

“You need absolute rest.”

The doctor, spouting nonsense.

“Shouldn’t you wake him up?”

The voice of Seol Daeyoung, whom he wanted to kill. Yeah, wake me up right now, you bastard. I’ll cut your throat first.