Vol 1 Ch 14

‘You’re asking for it.’

 

Seo Sang-il had said that when he had saved Kim Jinkyung about three times from getting beaten up for butting in where he didn’t belong.

 

‘Me?’

 

‘Yeah. You have a way of subtly pissing people off. You seem like you’re going to listen well, but in the end, you don’t listen and do whatever you want.’

 

‘When do I ever do that?’

 

‘You’re doing it now. No, why does a guy who can’t even make eye contact with thugs normally butt in there? You tremble and say everything you want to say, so are you asking for a beating or not?’

 

Seo Sang-il had said that while looking at his friend who had been beaten up for stopping high school students who were spitting on and mocking a homeless man.

 

‘Then what should I do? Just walk by?’

 

‘Walk by!!!!’

 

He couldn’t forget Seo Sang-il’s angry outburst that day.

 

…Should I have walked by?

 

Kim Jinkyung recalled the memories of the past in a situation where he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

 

“That’s all as I’ve explained so far.”

 

Secretary Kang read out the long contract and handed it to Kim Jinkyung.

 

“Sign here. And here, here, and here again.”

 

Kim Jinkyung only gave an awkward smile while holding the pen.

 

“Why? Isn’t this what you wished for?”

 

“Rather than a wish, I just wanted to help…”

 

A sneer hung on Secretary Kang’s lips.

 

What are you going to help with?

 

After the incident at the Han River, Kim Jinkyung expected Mok Seongha to refuse to go out. He had even said things like he was scary, his teeth were sharp, and even nonsense like his eyes were too yellow and scary, right in front of him.

 

When Mok Seongha had told him to wait outside for a bit, Kim Jinkyung thought it was all over. He thought that he would be fired this time, let alone tutoring outside.

 

Maybe it was for the best. Right. There were times when he had been trying to figure out all sorts of ways to get fired. It was only natural that this would happen because he was acting out of line without knowing his place.

 

…But why do I feel so bad? I shouldn’t have lied. What’s so scary about yellow eyes? I’ve never seen such beautiful eyes in my life. …I should have honestly said that his teeth and his crazy mind were scary.

 

Kim Jinkyung, who was sitting on the sofa gloomily waiting, suddenly realized that this wasn’t the time to worry about getting fired.

 

Wait. Am I going to die this time? Are those people choosing a sea right now? No, they told me to choose the sea.

 

It was Secretary Kang who pulled Kim Jinkyung out of his fear, imagining the surging black sea.

 

‘Here, this is the contract. Read it and sign it.’

 

‘What contract? Why? Why am I…’

 

When Kim Jinkyung hesitated and refused to sign, Secretary Kang picked up the paper and began to read it out.

 

The gist was the ‘university entrance’ guarantee and the code of conduct outside when tutoring outside.

 

…Are we really going to continue? Do you need to get into university that much? You’re not even going to go anyway?

 

Kim Jinkyung held the pen in his hand, drawing question marks in his head.

 

“Well, do you have any questions?”

 

“Um, this is a question outside of the contract.”

 

“Then don’t ask it.”

 

Secretary Kang cut him off firmly. Kim Jinkyung shook his head, “No.”

 

“I feel like I need to know this to decide whether to sign the contract or not.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Secretary Kang scoffed and continued.

 

“Whether you sign the contract or not is not for you to decide.”

 

“……”

 

Ah, that’s right. That’s how it was.

 

“Ask the person involved, Young Master, directly about questions outside of the contract.”

 

“…I’m scared.”

 

Secretary Kang raised his eyebrows at Kim Jinkyung’s muttered words.

 

“No, why is someone who is so scared taking a child, no, taking Young Master out? How reckless. Besides, you said that if you tutor him outside, you’ll take responsibility and get him into university.”

 

Secretary Kang muttered, “Crazy bastard,” in a small voice. Kim Jinkyung didn’t even think about arguing and just agreed quietly, “That’s right.”

 

He had heard that he hadn’t been able to go outside since he was a child and had only lived alone at home, so he wanted to take him out somehow.

 

“…What happens if, by any chance, I can’t get him into university?”

 

“What do you mean what happens? There’s nothing left but to die.”

 

Kim Jinkyung, looking tearful, protested, and Secretary Kang sighed.

 

“Do you know how many years it’s been since Young Master volunteered to go outside for anything other than what’s really necessary?”

 

“Uhl… two years?”

 

He thought that he would have gone out once or twice no matter what.

 

“It’s been twelve years.”

 

“……”

 

The weight of twelve years rested on his chest, and he was momentarily breathless.

 

“This is also the first time he’s getting proper tutoring from a teacher. Young Master sincerely believes that you will get him into university.”

 

“……”

 

“So take responsibility and get him into university.”

 

Secretary Kang crossed his arms and glared at Kim Jinkyung. Kim Jinkyung swallowed his tears and signed the contract.

 

***

 

There were a few things he had learned while living with Mok Seongha.

 

Mok Seongha doesn’t trust promises well. So he writes down all matters in a contract and leaves them as documents. And as Secretary Kang said, he doesn’t go out except when it’s really necessary. Except for tutoring outside with Kim Jinkyung, he had only seen him go out three times, and all three times he had gone to see the Chairman.

 

Mok Seongha’s obsession with getting into university was abnormal. And that obsession grew as he went to see the Chairman.

 

“We’re here.”

 

When Kim Jinkyung made a sign, a tall man opened the cafe door and walked in.

 

“The traffic is terrible.”

 

“I’m sorry. This area is a bit like that.”

 

“Why did you pick a place like this?”

 

“…You insisted on coming all the way here.”

 

It was good to tutor, but Kim Jinkyung also had to take exams. Even while preparing for the midterm exams, Mok Seongha asked for tutoring all the time. At Kim Jinkyung’s advice that he had to work really hard to make up for the lost time, Mok Seongha devoted himself to studying almost all the time except when he was sleeping. He even came to the front of the school to match Kim Jinkyung’s free time.

 

“You can’t come tonight either, right?”

 

He had two major exams the next day. Kim Jinkyung was at the point where he had to cut into his sleeping hours to study.

 

“Yes. I have exams back-to-back. I have to pull an all-nighter at the library.”

 

“Ah, just wing it. You’re a college student.”

 

Mok Seongha furrowed his brow, as if displeased.

 

“Shall I order you a coffee?”

 

“I don’t drink it.”

 

“Then some other drink.”

 

“I don’t drink it.”

 

“…I’ll go order one more for myself, then.”

 

Since it was one order per person, Kim Jinkyung stood up from his seat. As he walked to the counter, he could feel people glancing toward where he had been sitting.

 

…He certainly does stand out.

 

Even though he was wearing a cap and a mask, the moment Mok Seongha had walked in, everyone’s attention had focused on him at once. Mok Seongha, for his part, paid them no mind and just kept reading his book.

 

“What would you like to order?”

 

“One Americano, please.”

 

After placing the simple order, he received a pager and returned to his seat. In that short time, a crowd had gathered around Mok Seongha.

 

“Excuse me, are you a celebrity?” a student in a school uniform asked, her eyes full of curiosity. Mok Seongha didn’t even lift his head.

 

“Excuse me. Are you a foreigner?”

 

“I think so. He’s so damn handsome.”

 

“Try speaking English. You’re good at English.”

 

The uniformed students swarmed around, vying for a chance to talk to him. Kim Jinkyung quickly approached and apologized to the students.

 

“I’m sorry. We’re in the middle of a tutoring session right now.”

 

“Then is that oppa really Korean? Why isn’t he answering, pretending he can’t understand?”

 

“It’s because he has an introverted personality. I’m sorry.”

 

“Then can’t you give us his contact info instead, oppa? Or at least his Instagram ID.”

 

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do that. I’m sorry.”

 

After Kim Jinkyung apologized politely several times, the female students grumbled and returned to their seats.

 

“What are you sorry for?”

 

Mok Seongha asked, leaning his body all the way back against the chair.

 

“…I wonder.”

 

The sin of letting you, a man with no boiling point, out into the world.

 

“There aren’t many men here.”

 

“……”

 

“Oh, there’s one coming in now.”

 

One more thing he had learned about Mok Seongha.

 

He truly believed Kim Jinkyung’s words at face value. At first, he’d thought he was being teased, but he soon realized that he was genuinely cheering on Kim Jinkyung’s promiscuous love life.

 

“Am I wrong?”

 

“Yes. You are not. Just read your book. Read the parts I checked for you, and ask if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

 

“Why are you telling me to read it instead of explaining it yourself?”

 

“You also need to develop the ability to read and understand on your own. That’s the only way you’ll be able to read and solve the problems.”

 

Mok Seongha didn’t talk back and began reading the passage as Kim Jinkyung instructed. Kim Jinkyung took the opportunity to scan the printouts he needed to study.

 

Just then, someone placed a tray on their table.

 

“Your drinks are ready.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was supposed to go get it.”

 

Had the pager gone off? Kim Jinkyung checked the pager he had placed on the table.

 

“It’s no problem. But we’re out of mugs right now, so I put it in an iced cup for you.”

 

“That’s fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

 

“Enjoy your drinks, then.”

 

Kim Jinkyung spotted three slices of cake next to the coffee and his eyes widened.

 

“Excuse me, I think there’s been a mistake. I only ordered one cup of coffee.”

 

Kim Jinkyung tried to show the receipt he had put in his pocket.

 

“It’s not a mistake. It’s on the house. Enjoy!”

 

The employee scurried away. Kim Jinkyung looked back and forth between the cake and Mok Seongha. Lately, Kim Jinkyung had been witnessing every possible scenario of how proactive and favorable women could be toward a handsome man. Of course, this was limited to cases of men who were not just moderately handsome, the kind you might see around, but so devastatingly beautiful that people would talk about them for the rest of their lives.

 

Those people, too, would surely brag about seeing Mok Seongha today for years, or even decades, to come.

 

“…Would you like some?”

 

“You eat it.”

 

One last thing he had learned.

 

Mok Seongha did not eat food given to him by others. Whether it was chocolate, coffee, or anything else, he had never seen him consume food outside.

 

Ah. It’s a sin to waste food.

 

Kim Jinkyung forced himself to start munching on the cake. Then, he suddenly felt a gaze on him.

 

“…What is it?”

 

He tapped his own lips with his finger.

 

What, why, my lips, why…

 

“Wipe it.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Finally understanding the gesture, Kim Jinkyung quickly wiped the cream from the corner of his mouth. Mok Seongha tapped the other side of his lips again.

 

“The other side, too.”

 

Kim Jinkyung rubbed his lips with a napkin.

 

“Still dirty.”

 

His gaze lingered around his lips, making Kim Jinkyung’s face flush for no reason. Kim Jinkyung scrubbed his lips hard with the napkin.

 

Just then, a white hand tapped the table.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Kim Jinkyung, who had been rubbing his lips, looked up. A woman with striking features smiled and sat down next to him. A strong citrus scent wafted over.

 

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

 

Her gaze was fixed on Mok Seongha. He had to sort this out and send her away before trouble started. Kim Jinkyung put down the napkin and apologized, “I’m sorry.”

 

“What? Why are you the one who’s sorry?”

 

“Ah, my friend here is introverted, so he doesn’t really talk…”

 

“Even if he’s introverted, he must have a phone. Give me his number.”

 

The woman held out her phone. It wasn’t a question of whether he could give it, but a demand that was close to an order. It was the attitude of someone who had never been rejected by another person. …She had the looks to back it up.

 

“This person doesn’t have a phone,” Kim Jinkyung answered for him.

 

“He doesn’t have a phone? What kind of nonsense is that?”

 

“……”

 

Right. I thought it was nonsense at first, too, but it’s true.

 

“Just reject me outright if you’re going to. This is really pissing me off.”

 

“I’m sorry,” Kim Jinkyung apologized quietly.

 

“Excuse me, was I talking to you? Why do you keep butting in?”

 

“Ah, I’m sorr—”

 

Kim Jinkyung’s apology was cut short. Mok Seongha had stood up. Mok Seongha had long legs. So when he was standing, he felt several times more intimidating than when he was sitting. The woman, too, flinched for a moment and looked up at Mok Seongha.

 

“Teacher.”

 

His heart plummeted. Kim Jinkyung managed to answer calmly, “Yes.”

 

“Move.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It smells.”

 

Mok Seongha said, his expression twisting slightly.

 

Kim Jinkyung knew. It wasn’t that he meant anything else by it; it was the fact that Mok Seongha had a hard time with other people’s scents, especially citrus. He had even said that strong scents were tantamount to violence for him. It was only natural, as he had the body of a human but the blood of a beast mixed in. The problem was that no one else could possibly know that.

 

“What did you say? What kind of person….”

 

The woman’s face instantly flushed red with humiliation.

 

“That’s not what he meant…”

 

Kim Jinkyung tried to make an excuse, but the other person’s anger came first. She shot up from her seat and picked up the cup of coffee.

 

No, that’s not iced!

 

Before Kim Jinkyung could stop her, the coffee he hadn’t even had a sip of was flung through the air. Kim Jinkyung reflexively threw himself in front of Mok Seongha. He had to prevent Mok Seongha’s body from getting wet, no matter what.

 

“…Ngh.”

 

Kim Jinkyung swallowed a groan as a searing heat spread across his thigh.

 

“She must be crazy.”

 

“What’s going on? What’s with her? Shouldn’t we call the police?”

 

The people around them began to murmur.

 

“It’s all right. It’s nothing.”

 

Kim Jinkyung quickly tried to calm the situation. Secretary Kang’s words, that he would bury him if he caused another incident, came to mind.

 

The police are not an option. Absolutely not.

 

“Are you okay? You didn’t get wet…”

 

Kim Jinkyung checked on Mok Seongha first. Then his eyes met his. Pitch-black, sunken eyes were staring blankly at the woman. Kim Jinkyung could tell. He didn’t know the man’s boiling point, but he knew he was on the verge of boiling over right now.

 

“Don’t.”

 

Kim Jinkyung grabbed Mok Seongha’s arm. He had noticed his hand was on the table. This was a guy who wouldn’t hesitate to swing the table.

 

“Let go,” Mok Seongha retorted curtly.

 

“You can’t.”

 

As Mok Seongha swallowed a loose smile, his Adam’s apple moved slowly. Kim Jinkyung tightened his grip on him and desperately cried out.

 

“…If you get angry, I’m quitting the tutoring.”

 

He was ashamed to use something like this as a threat, but he had no other choice.

 

“What did you say?”

 

“I’ll quit. For real, absolutely.”

 

Mok Seongha’s smile vanished. In that time, a cafe employee rushed over, asked Kim Jinkyung if he was okay, and handed him a towel soaked in cold water.

 

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Mok Seongha spoke calmly, then turned his head to the woman. She, too, was quite flustered, her face pale.

 

“I know you spilled it by accident. Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

The woman’s lips trembled before she said, “No,” and hurriedly left. Mok Seongha glared coldly at Kim Jinkyung. Kim Jinkyung smiled weakly and said, “Shall we call it a day?”