Chapter Text
at twenty-four years old, doh kyungsoo already felt so defeated, that he had completely given up on a life that had barely even begun. he swore he did not want to live, but he also could not bring himself to die. that was his harsh daily reality as he drifted through guryong, a neglected slum. the area was dirty and stayed completely ignored even though it sat right next to the bright wealthy lights of seoul. kyungsoo never got to experience any of that city's wealth. instead, he felt trapped because the massive skyscrapers blocked all the fresh air, leaving his tiny rented room unbearably airless and depressing.
that morning, the sky was gloomy, but that didn't stop him from going about his day. with his thin legs shaking from the effort kyungsoo forced himself to climb the fragile wooden stairs while one of his arms gripped a heavy plastic basin full of damp laundry.
stepping out, he still had to bend his body to avoid the hanging clotheslines belonging to the other tenants, and when he finally reached the very end of the rooftop where a single rope still remained empty for him, he stopped and drew a shaky breath before wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, staring at the small space left for his life.
kyungsoo started wringing the clothes, humming a low sorrowful hymn, a song meant to bury his tears and hide the painful whimpers he couldn't speak aloud. his heart broke with every cough that came from his mother downstairs, and before the sound could even fade, the violent clash of kitchen utensils followed hit him like a thunder, making him flinch as his grip clenched around the damp fabric in his hands.
“kyungsoo, are you stupid!? i’m fucking starving! why haven’t you order anything.” the thrown objects repeatedly crashed against the walls of their house.
“the food is on the way, so stop screaming. my mother just fell asleep." kyungsoo called out. he was hungry too, so deeply emptied by hunger that he had forgotten the sensation of being full. those endless work made it difficult for him to finish everything all at once, but still there was not even the slightest understanding from the man who would not stop yelling his name from below.
“you bastard, why the hell should i care about your dying mother? get down here right now, or i’ll drag her out of her room myself!”
kyungsoo’s breathed in teriffied gasps fearing that things would get worse downstairs, so without wasting a second, he snapped the wet clothes straight and slammed the wooden clips down then he ran off, thinking about nothing else but getting done as fast as possible.
“fucking useless. you should’ve just died!” those words made kyungsoo fall freeze, his steps stopping right at the wooden stairs that would bring him down to face that monster, his knees felt so weak that he collapsed, crouching down on the cold floor just to keep from falling.
to him, degradation was simply a constant presence in his life. cruel slurs were hurled at him so often that he became completely used to them. he no longer even flinched at those words, because they had stopped sounding like insults and started feeling like the definition of who he was allowed to be. he realized that neither his social status nor his behavior would ever clear his reputation in the eyes of society. no matter how hard he tried to hide or act properly, people had already judged him poorly long ago. left with no other option to survive, kyungsoo was forced to sell his body and allow himself to be abused for money, and if there was ever a soul who should have begged for forgiveness for the wreckage of his life, it was the mother who had brought him into this world.
her name was yoon bora. she used to be an elite sex worker in her prime, she had gone through so many horrific things where both her past and her present had always been marked by tragedy, and her curse had already begun from the moment she was born into a cold world alongside the death of her mother during childbirth. raised by her father as her only remaining family, she grew into adulthood in a quiet village, but when he passed away she was left entirely alone. with nothing left to lose, a desperate bora made the reckless choice to move to seoul at just twenty years old, hoping the city would save her life, but oh the cruelty of it, that poor girl with a naive soul arrived in the bustling metropolis perfectly innocent, yet, in the end, she thrived in the darkness.
to the outside world, her life looked so powerful. but behind that glamorous life, her reality felt deeply exhausting. even after enduring so much, the ultimate blow came on a night that felt colder than any other when she discovered that she was pregnant. it was a truly tragic twist of fate for a woman who made a living selling pleasure, because the unwanted baby inside her felt like a cruel punishment. how much more could one broken soul take? her suffering, it seemed, would never truly end.
there was no celebration for the situation, it just brought a clear realization that she could not escape this fact. the world she knew, which was based on temporary encounters and fake affection, suddenly felt different, as if it was no longer suitable for a woman who was going to have a child. and as the weeks passed, bora resisted the pregnancy. she tried every desperate measure to end it, but every effort ended in the same results, that she was still carrying what universe refused to let her erase.
and when the time came for her baby to finally enter the world, she named him doh kyungsoo. it was an entirely meaningless name, completely detached from any paternal lineage or respectable heritage. there was not even a little bit of joy surrounding his birth. truth be told, everyone already knew he was born simply from the transactional fluids of a passing stranger, making him a child branded by disgrace long before his arrival.
over the course of his youth, kyungsoo grew up in a miserable space that never once offered the basic comfort of a home. the heavy smell of alcohol inside the house, and the constant whispers of transactions regarding his mother’s business with different men accompanied his daily life until adolescence. even worse, he was frequently harassed by his mother’s guests, who routinely groped his butt while he studied, or slapped him when he denied them a kiss. but as the same time his mother cant do nothing except watched in silence, selfishly trading her own son’s dignity just to protect their money.
______
“please, just stop, i’m tired of seeing all of this.” kyungsoo said one night, “you don’t have to keep doing this anymore, i’ll try harder.”
but the woman laughed bitterly. “then what are we supposed to live on, kyungsoo? hm? tell me?” she replied, pouring the remaining alcohol into her glass even though her own hands were already trembling too badly to hold it. “with those unsold paintings of yours?”
“do you think im not tired”
“if you’re tired then why do you keep doing it?”
“because we’re poor!”
the bottle in her hand slammed against the table, hard enough for the alcohol to spill across the wood. “because the world doesn’t give a damn about the poor!” she shouted, her voice trembling.
kyungsoo clenched his fists hard, fighting against the deep and painful sadness inside his chest that had existed there for years. and how could he not? he was sickened by those men who came and went from their house every midnight and he couldn't bear it anymore, it was truly heartbreaking for him to hear his mother cry quietly in the bathroom and vomit after everything was over. but what he hated most was his own helplessness, the reality that he could not save anyone, including himself.
“don’t speak as though you understand my suffering.” his mother whispered with reddened eyes and a smile that concealed tears. “all that remains of me is this body." she whispered while in the corner of the room, kyungsoo’s canvases just stood in silence, filled with beautiful colors that were never valuable enough to save their lives.
the painter truly believed they could endure the unending torment of their lives forever, thinking that as long as they had each other, the storm outside their door did not matter. until it came to a season when all of his mother’s bad habits slowly stopped, he felt beyond happy that those drug dealers no longer showed up at their doorstep with her usual orders. yet again, that peace arrived by demanding a far more painful price in return, as a fatal illness attacked his mother, bringing another disaster in their miserable little family.
and from then on, the entire burden fell completely onto kyungsoo’s shoulders. he, who used to help with finances by selling quick portrait sketch services on the roadside, was now forced to become the sole support holding up a house on the verge of collapse while life continued asking more from him, just more, more, and even more, as though they would always be trapped in this relentless panic over money.
20.00 Guryong
eight in the evening had become the closing mark for kyungsoo’s search for job vacancies. after wandering around and bringing back no good news whatsoever just like the previous days, he dragged himself off the bus with broken steps, feeling every muscle in his legs aching from being forced to walk on and on.
not in a hurry, he sat down hunched over upon a long iron bench at the bus stop, his fingers massaging the tense muscles with gentle pressure. “i'm so hungry. mother must be hungry too,” he complained to the wind. then he braced himself to stand, thinking that complaining was useless anyway. but by chance, his gaze drifted across the street.
his eyes widened when he discovered a building that looked entirely different from its surroundings. its walls, built of red bricks, seemed to strongly refuse to blend into the dullness of the environment around it. along the edge of the roof, small lights blinked slowly, casting a glow of blue and purple into the dark.
the place was quiet that night. kyungsoo counted only four cars parked outside, and a lone man pacing back and forth in the front yard, busy with something kyungsoo could not quite see from a distance. then, everything suddenly clicked. he remembered the rumors he had overheard from the neighbors, whispers about a new bar that was set to open soon.
he was certain there was still an opportunity inside there, because a new establishment like that would surely need more people to work, he did not care how small or humiliating his role would be. even if he were ordered to sweep floors, scrub toilets, or clean up vomit, he truly would not mind at all. so without wasting a single second, kyungsoo immediately stood up, and crossed the street while forcing himself to ignore the sharp pain throbbing again in his calves.
once he arrived in the middle of the parking yard, kyungsoo stopped for a moment, straightening his slightly wrinkled shirt then combing the strands of hair covering his eyebrows with his fingers, then politely he began greeting the man standing with his back facing him. “excuse me, sir.”
the man did not respond at all, too wrapped up in setting up a banner board promoting beer from a famous brand. he was far taller than kyungsoo, with broad shoulders and a firm body wrapped inside a thick black jacket. his hair was neat and slicked back, to the point that even from behind, kyungsoo could easily catch the sharp lines of his profile.
since his initial greeting was entirely ignored, kyungsoo kept moving closer behind him, desperately hoping to be noticed. but, he miserably failed to attract even the slightest bit of attention, and it was so frustrating until finally, out of pure impatience, he dared to clear his throat much louder.
"excuse me, sir.”
without turning around, the man said. “hey, what’s with you, can’t you see i’m busy? go home, this place isn’t open yet, don’t you see the banner there? the grand opening is tomorrow night.”
kyungsoo looked toward where the man pointed, reading the inauguration date that fell on tomorrow night, then looked once again at the cold back before him. “i’m sorry if i’m bothering you," he answered, his voice sounding confident even though his heart was full of doubt. “but i wanted to ask, are you the owner of this bar?”
and once again the man did not turn around, still busy adjusting the position of the banner until it truly looked perfect in his eyes. “if i were the owner of the bar i wouldn’t be struggling to do this.”
kyungsoo lowered his head. “i know this isn’t the right time, but could you help me meet the owner? i want to apply for a job.”
upon hearing that, the man stopped moving and turning his body completely until their eyes met then scanning the figure of the man shorter than himself, observing him from the white shirt that was no longer neat to the black pants whose lower parts had been sewn carelessly, even his shoes were worn out full of dirt stains and the laces looked dull.
“you want to apply what?” he asked, his face lifting upward from kyungsoo’s feet until it reached his sincere face.
kyungsoo lifted his face. “a job sir, my name is kyungsoo, i graduated from garam arts high school, majoring in fine arts, i-i have my diploma if you want to see it.” he said without a single hint of pride.
honestly, it was heartbreaking because without a full scholarship, someone as poor as him would never even have come close enough to stand at the gates of that prestigious institution. he still vividly remembered the agony of how he had to survive, forcing himself to win competitions through paintings that made his fingers stiff and painful, just so he could continue sitting in those classrooms until graduation.
the man laugh. “all of that is useless here, you came to the wrong place.”
“i know,” kyungsoo answered without hesitation, locking his eyes with the stranger. “im just telling you, in case you were worried that i’ve never received an education, but sir, i can also use these same hands to clean the worst mess in your bar, and i will never complain about it.”
that unexpected boldness finally made the man approach him he even letting the banner behind him fall to the ground, but the disgusting part is when his gaze traced over kyungsoo’s body, and from the way he looked at him it made the smaller feel violated. "you have such a pretty face." he murmured with his eyes narrowing as he drank in every detail of the boy's features. "how old are you anyway?"
"i am twenty two years old, sir." kyungsoo answered, he hold his breath for a moment to ensure his voice stayed clear to show he was legally ready for any job inside the venue.
“so u want a job huh?” the man asked then circling around him with relaxed steps, kyungsoo can feel his stare lingering on his butt for quite a while, then walked again until he stopped right in front of the tense body. “what do you want to work as?”
kyungsoo swallowed hard, his fingers gripping the strap of the bag on his shoulder. “a-anything, if there’s still anything left, i can clean toilets too.”
“toilets?” a small laugh escaped the man’s lips. “we already have cleaning staff.”
“then what else is still needed here, sir?”
the man folded both his arms across his chest. “depends, do you really want to work here, or are you just playing around.”
kyungsoo’s head nodded right away. “i’m very serious.” he confessed the fear clearly visible in his eyes. in truth, he was far too exhausted to lose another opportunity, his sick mother at home was waiting for him to return bringing good news or at least a little hope, because they did not even have anything left to eat.
“i live there.” kyungsoo turned his body slightly, pointing toward the small alley with dim streetlights before looking at him again. “i swear i’ll do anything, i’m begging you, my mother is sick, we have no one, if i don’t get a job we could die, and i don’t have the money to start painting again, please sir, give me any job, anything i will accept.”
jungsuk observed how quickly tears pooled in the young man’s pleading eyes, his gaze narrowing as a sudden wave of pity hit him seeing the painfully thin body in front of him. “so your life really is that terrible, hm?”
kyungsoo nodded, swallowing his pride completely. “yes.”
the older man let out a long sigh. “alright, come with me.” he said and not long after, he took the first step while kyungsoo still froze on the spot with his face tilted upward just want to make sure that the bar before him was truly real and not just a cruel illusion.
realizing there were no footsteps following him, the man stopped then turned back. “hey, come on, why are you still standing there?” he asked. “what was your name again?”
“kyungsoo.”
he smiled. “kyungsoo. my name is jungsuk.” jungsuk lifted his chin toward the entrance of the place. “if you really are that desperate, let’s meet my boss inside.”
jo jungsuk, the only man who now wore a ring on his finger with kyungsoo’s name engraved inside it, he is a club manager and a ruthless pimp, from his hands as well, kyungsoo was dragged brutally into the dark world his mother once indulged in, and it all started when jungsuk first saw the absolute destruction in the boy's eyes even before kyungsoo himself realized it, to jungsuk, allowing the painter into his life felt exactly like bringing a lost lamb into a city full of wolves, because the youth was still far too young to understand, that once he stepped through the gates of hell, he would never again be allowed to leave whole.
taking advantage of the boy's desperation, jungsuk and his boss spent hours whispering the perfect solution into kyungsoo’s ear, persuading him to become a dancer at the club. at first kyungsoo hesitated, because he did not have a single talent for dancing, but crippling poverty robbed him of the right to refuse. besides, there were simply no other choices left for him, it was either surrender to the stage, or let starvation take both him and his mother.
______
“don’t keep your hips stiff.” the dance instructor tap kyungsoo's shoulder while standing behind him, his curly red hair is wet, already looking far too exhausted after teaching his students all day, and to make matters worse, that night kyungsoo became the only student who still was not allowed to go home because he kept failing.
that night kyungsoo wore a thin black tank top and right below a thin leather belt with small silver chains was wrapped around his waist and the tall black boots stretched up to his knees, his black shorts also showed his pale thighs under the yellow lights, where his knees looked red from falling many times during pole practice, overall he just looked so gorgeously wrecked, and perhaps that was why everyone in the room couldn't stop staring at him.
“hey, look at me.” the instructor yanked kyungsoo’s arm to forcing him around. “what’s with that pathetic sad expression? your ass is literally built like a perfect expensive slut, now please fix that tragic face and start using your gorgeous body right.” he sneered drawing soft giggles from the other instructors resting nearby.
kyungsoo quickly lowered his head. “im sorry.”
“don’t apologize. do it again.”
as the loud music started up, kyungsoo stood stiff in front of the grand mirror trying to catch his breath, he waited for a few seconds and closing his eyes to calm his racing heart before gathering what little strength he had left to force his exhausted body to follow the deep rhythm.
at first, each movement was cautious and filled with hesitation, but as he finally found the pulse of the track, the tension began to melt and his hand drifted upward into the air while his hips began to sway with the beat.
“no,” the instructor cut him off abruptly while stopping the music. “come on, you’re selling fantasy, fan ta sy.” he spelled it out, hoping kyungsoo would understand and then stepped closer to held the painter's chin, forcing him to look directly at his own fragile reflection in the large mirror.
"look at your face, it has been looking like it is about to cry this whole time, those bastard aren't paying for your fucking trauma, they're paying to get turned on. they want you to look like a whore, do you understand?” he whispered, and kyungsoo could only stay still, he was afraid even his movements would be judged as wrong.
“i’m doing my best.”
the instructor shook his head. “no, if this bullshit is your best, there is no way it will ever pay for your fucking bills."
meanwhile across the room, jo jungsuk sat draped over a black sofa, casually playing with his lighter, his long legs lazily crossed and a cigarette resting between his lips as his eyes locked on kyungsoo from the moment the training began, even so, he stayed detached offering no defense against the harsh words kyungsoo received and doing nothing to break the tense silence.
the instructor let out a long sigh before restarting the music and now the rhythm changed into a slow pulse that practically dripped with sex. “chair dance,” he commanded. “sit.” he shoved a metal chair into the center of the room and kyungsoo stared at it for a second before dragging his feet toward it.
“drop the stiffness.” the instructor muttered, slapping the seat of the chair before stepping closer into kyungsoo's space. “now i want you to picture a man who wants to choke you with his bare hands while he takes you, make yourself look like a sin.”
kyungsoo flinched, his face twisted in discomfort. “i can’t do that."
“why the hell not?”
“it feels,” kyungsoo swallowed hard, “embarassing.”
the instructor laughed in his face. “oh darling, shame is the first thing you kill if you want to make it hustling in the club, because if you can't make them hard, you're useless. now do what i said.”
choosing survival over pride, kyungsoo slid onto the chair, his thighs pressing against the cold metal then he gripped the sides of the seat, and through the wide mirror there he could see jungsuk blowing a lazy ring of smoke, those dark eyes never leaving his silhouette.
“mr jungsuk..” kyungsoo’s called. “is there really no other way?”
“if you want to take this job, you do it.” the man finally speaking for the first time in five hours.
hearing that the instructor touched the nape of kyungsoo’s neck, guiding his posture with a firm grip. “listen to the boss. now, part your legs.” swallowing his discomfort, kyungsoo nodded, his muscles burning with tension as he obeyed.
“i said a little.” the instructor murmured as he stepped closer and parting his knees just a little to exude confidence before arching his back into a provocative curve. “see? easy." he exhaled, stepping back just an inch. “now you. give it to me."
kyungsoo tried his best to imitate the movement until his muscles tight and trembling from the vulnerability of it. “slower,” the instructor’s voice came like a dark whisper near his ear, sending shivers down his skin. “make them hungry for it. drag it out.”
with a shaky breath kyungsoo let his fingertips brush against the skin of his own neck then his hand trailed downward, tracing the line of his throat past his collarbone to the point his skin flushing a deep burning crimson from the raw embarrassment of exposing himself like that.
“eye contact with the mirror. don't look away from your own desire,” the instructor commanded softer than before, then kyungsoo forced his lashes up as his gaze locking onto the glass.
but he didn't see himself, instead his eyes instantly collided with jungsuk’s reflection from behind, its confusing how the sight of the man whom he had only known for a week sent a sudden violent jolt straight through his chest, making his heart race like crazy, it was breathless yet exhilarating, blooming inside him like a wild, heavy garden catching the first downpour of the rainy season.
“good,” the instructor looking proud now as his tone suddenly dripping with satisfaction. “right there. that exact expression.”
kyungsoo’s chest heaved violently as he tried to catch his breath. “sorry, what expression?”
“the one you’re wearing right now. pure temptation.”
the instructor finally gave him a proud smile, then his eyes shifted over to the dark sofa. “where did you find him, jungsuk?”
jungsuk flicked his cigarette ash onto the floor while his intense gaze still capturing kyungsoo through the glass. “the streets.”
those endless, shattering nights would never leave his memory, burning deep inside his mind, and when his debut at the club finally came, a sudden wave of paralyzing terror hit him so hard, it was such a thrilling shock that made his entire skin shiver and ache with anticipation as he was frozen, trapped under the devouring gaze of unfamiliar men.
meanwhile jungsuk, oh that man, he never once tore his eyes away whenever he was up on the stage, his gaze full of lust that practically undress kyungsoo naked under the neon lights. his eyes grew darker as they swallowed every curve and movement of that dancer's body. and heaven help him, kyungsoo absolutely fed on it, craved it with a desire he couldn't deny. just so little that man knew that kyungsoo used his lustful stare to fuel his own deepest most wild fantasies, letting the heat of those eyes touch him, right where his hands couldn't yet reach.
with every sway of his hips, kyungsoo was visualizing exactly how jungsuk would stretch him open, imagining the brute force of the man fucking him senseless against the wall until he was completely ruined, and im some crazy twisted way through that disgusting humiliation, love began to take root in his heart, a tragic deeply shameful kind of love born, from the very heat that threatened to destroy him.
over time, kyungsoo’s innocence was stolen piece by piece. it began with accepting the casual touches, followed by the stacks of cash until the desperation for his mother’s recovery pushed him to the brink of sanity. and of course, that breakdown gave jungsuk the perfect opening to play the master manipulator. jungsuk was smart. his first move was subtle, weaving himself into kyungsoo’s life until the boy liked him, trusted him, and ultimately surrendered his innocence under the guise of falling in love to the point the boundaries blurred entirely, and kyungsoo allowed jungsuk to exploit him, letting the older man market his body to exclusive clients who paid for far more than just a touch.
with the earnings always split evenly between them, kyungsoo tried to view it as professionalism. they had an agreement that outside of their feelings, this was strictly business, even though the truth was that kyungsoo had no choice. he was terrified because his mother was nearing her final days. he desperately needed more money to get her the proper, immediate care she required, so he would do anything that paid better than his regular club shifts without a second thought.
yes, foolishly, kyungsoo was like someone under a spell. he knew perfectly well that he shouldn't love a man who made a living off his body, but he couldn't help it. having grown up starved for affection, kyungsoo already saw jungsuk as his first love. his heart softened at even the smallest gestures, feeling genuinely loved through jungsuk’s embraces, his kisses, or the flowers he always handed him right before he went on stage.
after one year passed, their feelings could no longer be hidden, becoming so intense and desperate that they frequently lost their minds behind closed doors, fucking like complete maniacs until their bodies were bruised and exhausted. the raw, unhinged passion became an addictive cycle that was impossible to avoid, until one night, jungsuk suddenly proposed to kyungsoo in front of the other dancers just as he had stepped down from the stage, asking him to become his lifelong partner while bringing beautiful promises like heavenly songs to his overly exhausted ears.
and kyungsoo, not knowing what devil’s whisper had crept into his mind, happily accepted that false proposal without any resistance, not even needing time to consider whether he wanted it, as though his rational thoughts had been erased by a sweet illusion, accepting the ring jungsuk placed on his finger with pride. with every heavy thrust jungsuk had given him in the dark, and every beautiful lie told under the stage lights, it only made kyungsoo fall so much deeper into him.
truly a bitter irony, yet not entirely careless, because deep in his heart, kyungsoo greatly hoped that the strong bond called love would transform into a sharp knife that could cut the chains of suffering that had bound him all this time. but that hope remained only an empty echo now, realizing that love did not necessarily free him, but instead bound him until he suffocated, until there was no room left for him to breathe. every confession spoken by jungsuk, every gentle touch on kyungsoo’s body once felt warm and deeply convincing. but day by day slowly unveiled the filthy truth he had long avoided, until that truth stood naked before him, making him fully realize that the love brought by jungsuk was not a blessing, but a body he could control and calculate within the scales of profit and loss. everyone will agree that such matters were not a normal order within a bond called love, no one, in full consciousness, willingly hands over their other half into another man’s hands to be possessed. much less using something so disgusting as an excuse so they could survive.
_____
that night, kyungsoo forced his mind back to reality as he let out a exhaustion sigh, trying to shake off the bitter regret that was only weighing him down, and after closing his eyes for a moment to clear his head, his fingers moved to rub a bit of moisturizer over his dry lips, knowing he had to get back to work because the routine never really stopped for him anyway.
as deeply as kyungsoo hated his job, there was one specific night that he dreaded above everything else and its no other than wednesday night, because on that nightmare of a night, his whole world turned completely upside down, where every single worker without exception, even the cleaning staff, was forced to look and dress like a woman, it is gross and the thought of it made him feel sick to his stomach, but he knew all too well that he had no right to say no to that, after all, it was only through these shameless acts that he had managed to survive for this long.
stonerock inn was where kyungsoo had chained his life for the past two years. it was such a wild place, totally alive with splashing water shows, the super smooth amazing moves of pole dancers, energetic gogo dancers, dramatic drag finales, and many more. yixing, the founder, built this club as a real sanctuary for the city’s forgotten souls, choosing raw, real talent over the fake, boring luxury of high end lounges.
however, that insane success quickly made them the ultimate target. there were so many ruthless rivals actively trying to sabotage their events while greedy syndicates monitored their cash flow like starving vultures, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. and because all that crazy pressure, yixing finally decided to look at the bigger picture, handing over the keys to keep making money while leaving the mess behind to launch a fresh high potential business in his country.
though he left, the founder still kept tabs on the bar so the inn wouldn't just disappear. and right there, caught in the middle of this messy tangled web, jungsuk was stuck at the very bottom. he was just a servant bound to the club, carrying the entire burden of keeping it alive against all odds.
kyungsoo sat slumped in the vanity chair, looking at his own face in the mirror, his pale skin looked so clean and pure, it breaks angels' hearts to see him bleeding from hurts no one can see, but while he was deeply lost in thought, the dressing room door burst open, he watched grimly as the other workers who were all trapped with him in this living hell, began drifting in and out of the room one after another.
"hei gorgeous." a voice called out, along with a light tap on his shoulder. that single touch radiated the electric energy of the club's premier drag queen performer. even off the stage, a guy named heechul carried a fierce flamboyance, bursting into the room like a splash of yellow.
heechul pulled up a chair to sit beside the pole dancer. the bold makeup and the glossy sheen on his eyelids gave him the look of a delicate doll. it was such a perfect illusion until the second he opened his mouth. "so, the whole backroom is talking about your private show yesterday," he said, leaning in with a curious grin. "now tell me, how much did you make that night?"
kyungsoo offered nothing but a modest smile "i just got lucky, it wasn't that big of a deal."
"of course it's a big deal! my wallet is crying just thinking about it." heechul snorted, waving his manicured hand before eyeing kyungsoo up and down. "anyway, why the hell are you still in your homewear, your slot starts in two hours, right? you haven't even touched your makeup."
"i just got here, hyung. i literally just walked in."
heechul reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from kyungsoo's eyes to fix his bangs. "well, hurry up then. anyway, what's your fits for tonight?"
kyungsoo letting out a sigh instead of answering, he glanced toward the edge of the mirror where his costume hung inside a opaque black garment bag, right away heechul’s eyes followed his gaze, and without a shred of hesitation he rose to his feet, glided over to grab it then zipped the bag open before pulling the outfit out into the light.
"shut up, a lingerie? and not just any cheap stuff, oh my god." he said leting out the dramatic gasp.
breaking into a smile, kyungsoo shook his head. "hyung, please don't ruin it before i even get to wear it, i just know you want to steal it away from me."
"i mean, if the laces fits, im wearing it" heechul said completely ignoring the warning as he held the piece up against the light to inspect it.
"wow, look at this soo, it’s actually a super tight corset. it’s like some kind of dark, gothic fantasy. velvet trim i see, and ugh i love this dark silver glitter! it even came with those ridiculous, complicated garter straps attached to the waist."
kyungsoo watched him while rubbing the back of his neck with shrug. "i dont know, it looks like a nightmare to put on."
hearing how easily the younger resigned himself to his fate caught at heechul's heartstrings, yet, knowing that pity would only make the boy feel worse, heechul tossed the outfit back into the bag and offered him a smile through the mirror. "no, it's not a nightmare. you’re going to do so well tonight, so get that cash and buy me a drink later since i'm jealous, okay?"
-
on wednesday, right at that same hour when the clock hands struck nine, stonerock inn was just as packed as any other night, to the point jungsuk found himself exhausted by the endless noise as he walked around the entire bar, busy moving from one table to another to greet everyone, meanwhile the upper class guests were competing for the limited vip rooms, naively thinking that buying an expensive room could actually hide their darkest secrets.
on top of the stage, money flew through the air, scattering freely above the dancers heads like chaotic storm of cash as high praise surrounded several beautiful men who were swaying their hips on stage, while a few other guests simply just watched and held back from throwing away their money too quickly, faithfully waiting for the usual graceful figure who had not yet arrived to soothe their sorrows.
kyungsoo, his name spread from mouth to mouth, his moves lingering in the minds of anyone who had ever seen him. besides that, the customers had become far too familiar with the fact that the night would never truly reach its peak without the presence of the innocent man with a beautiful body as wicked as the provocation of the devil, there is no exception even for those who came for the first time, swept away in anticipation for the figure famous as a magnet, drawing anyone back to him like a daily routine.
“jungsuk!”
jungsuk squinted within the darkness mixed with flickering lights sharply glaring into his eyes, from afar he saw someone unfamiliar with a towering tall body, where the man was walking toward him, his height standing out from the average, and when he arrived a wide smile greeted him, followed by an outstretched hand asking to be shaken.
“you came tonight, mr. kwangsoo.” said jungsuk while shaking their hands, then releasing it with a fake smile.
“i need to talk to you, jungsuk.” the man requested.
jungsuk merely stared at him in silence, his expression remained calm but his body language reeked of absolute disgust, and kwangsoo caught that subtle ugly shift, then without wasting a single breath the tall men tilted his head, signaling for the man shorter than him to follow.
at the other side, away from the chaotic crowd, there is a man stood quietly on the second floor, blending into the dark shadows near the vip lounge. the club lights occasionally caught the sharp gleam of his silver watch as he tightened his grip on the balcony railing. from up there, he had a perfect view of the entire floor below, including the two guys walking side by side toward the quieter area.
two large men stood dangerously close on either side of him, wearing identical sharp formal suits. their towering frames were broad and solidly built, and they held themselves in chilling silence that showed their ruthless military grade training. then, the man on the right spoke. "leader, the tall one is a business partner of mr. insung. yesterday, i was detailed as backup security to escort mr. insung at pandora, and i saw that man lingering by the bar."
the man called leader slowly pulled his gaze away from the two figures he had been watching all this time, about to give a response his head turning to the right alongside the laser show lights that had just begun. “thankyou for the information.” he said.
with hasty steps the tall men guided the manager of the bar toward the corner of the club where the sound of music did not dominate their ears too much, not far enough from the center of the dance floor, yet drawing less attention, blind to the fact that their movements were being watched.
reaching the spot kwangsoo leaned his back against the wall, his brown suit parting open as he reached into the inner pocket of his expensive coat, pulling out a pack of cigarettes along with a gold lighter, while in front of him, jungsuk stood with a lazy posture.
click.
the flame lit up, a red ember glowing at the tip of the cigarette as kwangsoo inhaled deep. "i’m serious, jungsuk." he said through a cloud of smoke. "kyungsoo. my investor is very interested with him."
jungsuk stood several steps away from him, both hands tucked into the pockets of his black pants, keeping his distance between them as though the air around kwangsoo had already been contaminated by toxic intentions. “again? it hasn’t even been two days since you brought him there.” said jungsuk, filled with absolute reluctance. “i rarely ever give him the chance to leave this bar, but yesterday i let him go, and that was also under yixing’s orders.”
kwangsoo gave a slight nod, taking another drag, the ash glowed brightly before fading back to gray. "yes, i know. but this time, they want exclusive access, and one day isn’t going to cut it jungsuk. my investor wants a long term arrangement."
hearing that, jungsuk shook his head. "i already told you, one day, or you get nothing."
tilted his head up kwangsoo studying the man through the haze of smoke drifting between them. "come on, jungsuk. yixing clearly doesn't want to push you, he even told me to deal with you directly because you're the one holding the leash on your little diamond here. so this time, i made sure we cut yixing out of the deal completely, alright?"
jungsuk stared at him, his eyes burning with pure rage. "of course you did, because when you went through yixing for kyungsoo last time, the money went straight to the house, and i didn't see a single fucking dime."
kwangsoo chortled as he flicked the ash onto the floor then slipping the cigarette back between his lips. "hey, how many times do i have to tell you, that payout was for a private show"
"a private show?" jungsuk spat, cutting him off with a mocking laugh. "yixing only knows that kyungsoo won because of what he did there. but i wasn't even allowed through the door, left standing outside while whatever shady, fucked up shit was actually going on inside, so don't bullshit me, what about the price for letting people put their hands all over his body?"
hearing that, the tall men face soured into raging glare that showed he was on the brink of losing it. "what the fuck are you talking about? kyungsoo was selected out of all the representatives from the seven competing bars. you brought in a massive payout along with heavy sponsorship backing because of it, and you need to remember something," kwangsoo said, pointing his cigarette aggressively at jungsuk.
"this place is nothing but trash compared to the six five star clubs that sent their top talent. you and yixing should be thanking me instead of making my life difficult." kwangsoo’s scowl deepened at jungsuk's bullshit, since at that time he was well and truly done playing it nice.
wasn't enough, the tall men took a long drag before speaking again. "and don’t play dumb about the fact that kyungsoo came back with more bonus. he is my biggest investor, jungsuk. the man is a corporate titan, not some cheap bastard, and i know for sure you snatched that cash from that poor boy the second he walked out through the door. you really are a greedy piece of shit."
jungsuk snapped his face away at those words, his jaw clenching so hard the bone looked like it ready to break, but annoyingly, kwangsoo, however, still pulling on his cigarette as if he hadn’t just dripped pure venom all over the pimp. "okay look, im sorry, just forget it. the point is, this time around i’m making sure that money goes straight into your pocket." he said, straightening his posture, forcing himself to remain calm to ensure the deal stayed on track, then he dropped the still burning cigarette onto the floor with jungsuk’s gaze followed it down, watching blankly as kwangsoo crushed and twisted the tip under his shoe, grinding it into the dirt until the spark died.
"think it over, jungsuk. clock’s ticking." kwangsoo patted the shorter men shoulder a few times before walking away without a little care in the world.
can hold it anymore, an annoyed hiss slipped out from jungsuk’s lips, if that bastard weren't yixing’s friend, things would have turned bloody and he would have ripped that loud mouth of his apart by now, but lucky for him, jungsuk knew better than to let his pride cost him everything, because at the end of the day, his position mattered far more than his ego. “crazy maniac, old bastard, fucking asshole!” he cursed to himself before glancing at kwangsoo when he was about pulling the doorknob, slipping out from the noisy room without looking back at him anymore.
and as if kwangsoo’s disturbance was not enough to ignite his anger, his name was called again from another direction, it even felt like he had only taken a few steps, yet someone was already bothering him, demanding the remains of his patience that were growing thinner.
“jungsuk!”
a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, making him spin around instantly to see a handsome guy with thick familiar eyebrows, that night he looked highly masculine, wearing a clean black suit and a tie that felt way too formal for such a chaotic mess of a club, even his black hair was perfectly slicked back, showing off a smooth forehead and eyes full of pure confidence. "i’ve been looking for you." the man said.
everything inside him froze on the spot, but his eyes flicked past the man, what threw him off even more was what stood on either side of him, two huge guys with sharp eyes locking down the perimeter, so obvious that these two weren't just buddies he invited out for a casual night for fun, then with a scowl, jungsuk leaned his face in a little closer to make sure he wasn't mistaking him for someone else. "sehun?"
the man smiled. "yeah, it's me. no way you forgot me, right jungsuk? it's sehun, your old friend, we used to share a single bowl of ramen back in the day."
jungsuk could only shake his head, trying to process the ridiculous transformation in front of him. his eyes scanned every single detail of that familiar person's polished look. it was honestly hard to believe that this guy had once dragged himself through the same trashy environment as him, comeback with this effortlessly classy vibe.
"oh sehun!" finally accepting it, jungsuk opened his arms and the man named sehun stepped in, giving a hug and patting his old friend's back a few times before stepping away just a bit too quickly.
"seriously, sehun, what kind of miracle happened to your life for you to show up looking like a millionaire?" jungsuk joked, though his voice was entirely blunt.
sehun’s professional mask locked into place as he pulled up a smile, burying the urge to scream in the guy's face. "look at you, still as funny as always,"
jungsuk rolled his eyes. "no, i'm genuinely curious. what does a sudden executive looking guy like you actually do for a living?"
"just working for someone." sehun answered that perfectly friendly, yet annoying smile never leaving his face.
"be serious," jungsuk frowned, his eyes sliding over to the two guards standing at sehun’s sides. "if its true, then why the fuck did you show up with personal guards? how important is the elite feeding you?"
"let's not talk about it now, i’ll tell you later. we need a drink first, my treat." sehun said throwing an arm around jungsuk's shoulders to guided him toward the bar, leading him around as if the fierce faced manager were a total stranger who didn't even know the layout of the very venue he ran every single day.
"alright, what's the deal here? this sounds pretty damn interesting, especially since you suddenly showed up out of nowhere just to find me." jungsuk said, dragging a tall barstool closer to where sehun was sitting.
the pimp's face practically screamed suspicion as he waited for an answer, he leaned back emphasizing the distance between them as they sat side by side at the bar with amber lights glowed over the long black marble counter, reflecting off rows of expensive liquor bottles.
"relax, i’ll explain." sehun said, noticing how jungsuk’s head kept turning to glare at the two massive guards standing right behind them.
"did we have some beef i forgot about? do you hold a grudge against me or something? you didn't bring these two dogs here to jump me, right?" jungsuk asked bluntly, which instantly made sehun laugh.
"no, of course not. you were good to me back then, jungsuk, so stop stressing. they won't touch you. just pretend they don't exist."
jungsuk shrugged. "fine. anyway, what are you drinking? rosé?"
"wow, you actually remember my favorite?" sehun asked, sounding amused.
"obviously." jungsuk replied. he tapped his index finger sharply against the marble table, immediately catching the attention of the bartender who was busy mixing drinks for other people.
"get us two glasses of your best rosé. the guy in the fancy suit is paying." jungsuk told the bartender, pointing his thumb at sehun, which made them both chuckle.
but looking at jungsuk only dragged sehun straight back into a past full of dark memories he hated. it didn't surprise him at all that jungsuk was still just as ignorant as before, still talking and acting like an annoying prick who always had to win. honestly, sehun felt a deep wave of disgust burning in his chest every time he looked at him, because jungsuk's stupidity wasn't just irritating, it made sehun want to snap for no clear reason. but sehun wasn't the kind of guy to let his emotions take over anymore. he had a promise to keep to someone, a major goal, so he forced himself to stay perfectly calm and collected, at least until this little chat was over.
"so, tell me. what do you actually do now?" jungsuk asked.
sehun pulled the pinkish glass that had just been served closer, start with a slow sip. "i’m just taking care of things for someone."
"really? so you're basically a babysitter for a boss, just like me?" jungsuk asked, staring at sehun with zero filter. "but your boss looks way more powerful than yixing. what is he, a businessman?"
"yeah, pretty much. honestly, you've definitely heard of him lately. the guy is literally trending everywhere right now, television, newspapers, social media, you name it."
that statement made jungsuk’s eyes widen, “no way, is it that businessman? not long ago i read his article in the newspaper, chairman dominic group?”
sehun nodded in confirmation. "yeah. chairman of dominic group."
jungsuk blinked in surprise, staring at sehun before bursting into a disbelieving laugh. "no wonder you're dressed like a million bucks. your boss, many people talk about him in this place. you know me, sehun, i fucking love eavesdropping." jungsuk said with a grin, though his face turned serious again real quick. "but hey, i heard a rumor that he and his older brother used to be miserable market workers just to pay for school after their dad’s business went bankrupt?"
sehun gave him a proud smile. "that’s actually true, he’s never been ashamed to admit how brutal his past was, his hustle is pretty phenomenal if you think about it."
jungsuk stayed quiet for a second, listening to sehun’s obvious admiration, but then his curiosity kicked in, and he needed to confirm something that had been bugging him. "but in that same newspaper, its like confirmed the rumor that his mom was a prostitute who slept around with a rich guy. it's fucking insane. the moment her husband went broke, she packed her bags and abandoned her own kids."
jungsuk laugh at his own words. "seriously, when i read that interview, the guy didn’t even try to deny the rumors. i bet he really hates that bitch." the harsh words flowed out of jungsuk’s mouth without a second thought. sehun however, just stayed silent, he didn't bother reacting to the ugly rumor at all.
after a few seconds of silence, jungsuk now realized his big mouth might have crossed the line. after all, the guy he was trash talking was still his old friend's boss anyway. "my bad if that sounded offensive, but seriously hun, i just think the way he handles it is pretty cool."
"it’s fine, jungsuk," sehun replied calmly. "not everyone has the guts to survive a messed up past like that."
jungsuk leaned in closer to sehun so his voice could actually cut through the chaotic noise. "yeah, you're not wrong. but i’m seriously curious, what kind of companies does your boss actually own? the guy is in the news literally every single week with a completely different business."
sehun nodded. "all kinds. everything from services and manufacturing to extractive and agricultural sectors," he answered. he glanced over at jungsuk, who had gone completely quiet. sehun figured the clueless guy probably didn’t understand a single word he just said.
"the bottom line is, his businesses are massive, and they're definitely not as simple as they look." sehun lifted his glass, catching the scent of wilted roses and citrus before taking a much bigger gulp this time.
trying to be playful, jungsuk aggressively nudged sehun’s arm, causing the expensive liquor to spill right past the corner of his lips. "come on, hun. looking at how rich he is, there might be a chance that he’s involved in some illegal business. there is no way a guy gets that goddamn rich honestly."
sehun wiped his lips with the back of his hand, his gaze turning on serious mode as he locked eyes with jungsuk. "not every tower of wealth is built on mud, jungsuk." sehun’s sharp comeback was so instant that it made the man beside him choke on his next words he was about to spill.
"you're free to have your opinion, but you can't just judge the entire world based on the place you're used to seeing every day." sehun concluded. he turned his head around, staring back at the messy crowd of drunk guys shoving each other just to get a cheap touch of the dancers on the stage.
sehun watched their wild euphoria in silence over his shoulder, his long gaze made jungsuk look in the exact same direction. "look at that. i know exactly who they all are, what they do, and where their companies are located."
"that one over there, he recently came begging to my boss." sehun pointed with his eyes.
it wasn't hard for jungsuk to spot the guy sehun was talking about. over there, a man was laughing like an idiot while shoving cash into the waistband of a belly dancer. the guy looked around thirty, staggering around with a wine bottle in his hand, chugging it so sloppily that the red liquid spilled all over his clean white shirt.
watching such a pathetic scene, a smile showed up on sehun’s face again before he turned back to jungsuk. "and you, i'm pretty sure you know guys like him inside out. their names, the exact routes they use, and all the shady, illegal businesses they run from there."
and all of sehun’s assumptions were dead on. jungsuk knew the guy very well. the man was a regular customer at the bar, and he was definitely not just some harmless property businessman like his official paperwork claimed, he was the real monster behind why cheap lands on the city outskirts were suddenly wiped clean, also why residents of old houses vanished overnight through intense pressure, or never ending debts he deliberately trapped them in.
thinking that he was right, his gaze still locked on jungsuk. "he actually showed up at my boss’s company looking like a total beggar, pleading for an investment. but unfortunately for him, he got rejected straight to his face. and then, what a coincidence, i find him hanging out here, wasting cash like a fool."
the words hit hard enough to make jungsuk’s shoulders stiffen up as his mouth half opened, but he couldn't even find a way to argue back, then sehun shook his head did not give a flying fuck. "but honestly, i’m not even surprised." his eyes casually swept around the chaotic room. "a club like this really is the most his pathetic wallet can handle."
it felt like a real low blow, jungsuk’s eyes flickered unsteadily as he processed sehun’s words. but since everything sehun said was the hard truth, the impact just crushed any defense he had, he don't know for sure, but it felt like sehun were secretly taking shots at him without a single mocking look.
"here, let me tell you a little fact about my boss," apparently sehun wasn’t finished, so eager to clean the dirt jungsuk thrown at the man he respected above all else, but before speaking again, he drained his glass to savor every sour and bitter drop on his tongue before speaking again. "he built a totally clean business jungsuk. he bustled his way through school all the way to university and taking big risks just to master everything he could, he fucking did all of that just for one thing, to bring his family’s dead business back to life."
jungsuk couldn't handle the pressure sehun was putting on him anymore so he finally snapped and threw both hands up in the air. "okay, okay, my bad, i didn't mean anything by it. i was just saying what makes sense to me. you know how it is sehun, wealth that fucking massive rarely comes from a clean place."
sehun nodded, showing a bit of understanding before giving jungsuk’s shoulder a firm pat. "its fine, but don't assume everyone is dirty just because they're successful. some people actually work their asses off. and in this case, i know the person im talking about inside out."
with a heavy sigh, jungsuk was forced to drop it and agree, even though a piece of him was still suspicious, but again he cant help but stopped himself from dragging the argument out any further. "alright, i know exactly where this conversation will end up if we keep going. and i'm pretty damn sure that's not the real reason you come to find me. so say it straight, sehun." the blunt demand came with an intense stare that locked onto sehun. "what are you actually looking for me tonight?"
sehun held his gaze, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he watched jungsuk drop his casual act and grow more and more restless, he adjusted his posture and spun his barstool around to face jungsuk until their knees were almost touching. "alright, i will go straight, so jungsuk, i came here to talk about the boy that currently living with you. i'm here to offer a massive opportunity for the both of you."
“kyungsoo.” sehun added to complete his meaning.
“you know him?” jungsuk asked that quickly, immediately met with a nod from sehun.
“yes, otherwise i wouldn’t be here.”
jungsuk’s lips moved, forming a sly smile. “how do you know?”
one of sehun’s brows lifted. “i always keep tabs on you jungsuk.”
jungsuk curled his lips into a smile. “yeah, of course.”
“is he here now?”
“yes, he will go up soon.”
sehun nodded, his expression hardening. "you let him work in a place like this even after you got married? and i heard you're still selling him out, too?" the question was thrown out cruel, dripping with judgment, he clearly wanted to make the pimp disgusted with himself, but it didn't work, instead, he looked like he is so proud with his crime.
"yeah, but it's exceptionally rare, like only for specific offers." he replied "and if your whole point of coming here is because of him, i can give you a good price, but keep in mind, it's only for his private performances." he emphasized, not wanting sehun to misinterpret things and start pushing him the way kwangsoo did to him.
as someone who had once been trapped in the exact same circle of prostitution, sehun knew exactly how that world worked, what jungsuk just described used to sound completely normal to him, such a human trafficking, bargaining, and all that had once been his daily activities.
but things were different now, after being pulled out of the dirtiest rock bottom by someone he never imagined would show up, the way he viewed the world had changed to the point those words that used to feel so familiar now sounded so bizarre to his ears. "that sounds cruel."
jungsuk frowned, can't even believe sehun just said that. "the fuck? cruel? so just because you hit the jackpot and got a fancy new position, suddenly things like this sound cruel to you?" its so annoying he let out his mocking smile. "our world doesn’t change, hun. only your view from the top does."
the silence between them turned incredibly tense, but sehun decided to move past the comment without giving jungsuk another answer, because if he didn't, the sudden urge to choke the life out of him would actually become reality. "fine, just my opinion, but since we're on the topic, you actually have legal papers? i mean officially?"
jungsuk nodded quickly. "yeah, my boss helped make it happened and handle everything." then, jungsuk paused, his brows furrowing as he caught on to something weird. "wait, what is this? why are you asking about that? that's a weird question."
sehun waved his hand to brush it off. "oh, it's nothing like that." he replied. "i just need to double check because whatever paper you hold is one of the main requirements."
jungsuk tilted his head, feeling more skeptical. "requirements? requirements for what exactly? just straight to the fucking point, sehun."
sehun rubbed his temple. "listen, jungsuk. lets say, there is someone who wants kyungsoo for an indefinite period of time? and remember, i don't mean some casual client who wants him for a night. i'm talking about a huge life changing deal."
"what do you mean? someone is actually eyeing kyungsoo?"
sehun nodded. "as long as you have the official documents or a legal agreement with kyungsoo, there won't be any issues. that thing is useless to you here anyway, but i still wanted to check with you first."
leaning forward, he scanned sehun's calm expression for any sign of a trap. "just what kind of money are we talking about here? big enough to bring you back from the dead after vanishing for years?"
sehun didn't hesitate. "insanely big, jungsuk. so big that i would feel so bad if i didn’t deliver the news to you myself."
jungsuk narrowed his eyes, sizing him up to ensure he wasn't being made a fool of. "and you think i'll just take it?"
sehun leaned his upper body forward, resting both forearms on the bar counter as he slid closer into jungsuk’s line of sight. "im pretty sure you will, because you're a guy who always chases the highest offer."
the pimp stared at him for a long moment before finally speaking. "i don't know. he's my best money maker right now."
"that’s exactly why i’m here. to tell you that the boy you're holding onto is about to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams."
sehun's words gave jungsuk a little pause, he then crossing his arms into a defensive posture. "I'll have to think about it."
this won't help, sick and tired of pretending, sehun almost lost his temper and barked at him, but he decided to buried his anger with taking a breath before letting out a a fake laugh. "what is this, jungsuk? since when do you hesitate to trade up? what, are you catching feelings? do you actually love him?"
"it's not about that, okay? that bitch is a fucking brat and out of control now. i don't see any way in hell i can force him into another agreement. plus, i don't want him messing things up and turning me into a scapegoat." he said reached for his glass, lifting it halfway before setting it down again without taking a sip then sehun suddenly reached out, grabbing both of his shoulders.
"listen, jungsuk. this is entirely different. the person you and kyungsoo are dealing with is in different league. he has enough money to make both of you rich overnight, even if kyungsoo completely burns the contract to the ground."
jungsuk's eyes bulging as his jaw went slack, making him look ugly in his confusion. “what? contract?”
sehun nodded, as if he had already repeated this explanation a thousand times. “yes, a contract.”
“you’re joking, right?”
“do i look like i’m joking?”
jungsuk observed him searching for any signs of a comedy, and found none, which immediately gave him chills. “it’s been a long time since i heard that word come out of your mouth.”
sehun let out a breath to relax more. “it’s also been a long time since you received an interesting offer, like this right?"
“you’re wrong, everyone always says that whenever they want to offer something.”
“this one is different.”
"they all say that. right before you walked in, someone else was trying to pitch me the exact same line."
sehun narrowed his eyes, the pieces of a puzzle starting to click in his mind. "who? the tall guy you were talking to earlier?"
jungsuk stiffened, his eyes widening. he clearly didn't expect sehun to catch that, and for a split second, his face went completely blank, wearing the undeniable look of someone caught red-handed. "n-not him. we were just talking about something else, okay? you don't need to know."
sehun cleared his throat and adjusted his watch, moving past the lie. "fair enough. but you're going to take my offer, right? we go back a long way, jungsuk. you know how i work."
back to that again, jungsuk’s jaw tightened as the stupidity of the plan finally sunk in. "i don't know, sehun. this sounds dangerous, what if things go sideways? you know how rich people are, they can buy anything with enough cash, including making guys like me completely vanish from the world."
sehun shook his head, trying to brush jungsuk's panic away. "look at the reality here. this contract is clean, everything is black and white on paper. it's completely safe, zero coercion, and the client is at the top of the food chain. and there’s no way i would harm my own friend.” sehun waited in jungsuk’s silence, then asked again, “so, what do you think?”
the pimp eyes lowered, staring at sehun’s face, trying to see even a glimpse of sincerity he still did not know whether it was real or not, because honestly, they had just met again after being separated for so long, so he had not found the right answer to give. but as if sehun could read his thoughts, he spoke again.
“i’m serious, trust me i swear this is huge, jungsuk, even bigger than the money you need to build two clubs like this,” he said while his eyes scanned the inside of the bar, successfully pulling jungsuk back from the edge of confusion.
“exactly how much is he offering?”
sehun looked past jungsuk’s shoulder and after a few moments he moved, leaning in until the scent of his cologne filled the space between them as his hand landed on jungsuk’s shoulder, the sudden weight forcing jungsuk forward, bringing his ear right against sehun's lips. then the next second, jungsuk’s eyes widened.
"are you fucking kidding me?" jungsuk’s voice shook and he didn't even bother to hide them.
“that amount makes absolutely no sense." he even let out a laugh because he still could not believe something too absurd for common sense.
sehun smirked at the reaction. “i didn’t come here for something so trivial jungsuk.”
“okay, now tell me who that person is?” jungsuk asked again, his voice reaching sehun’s ear through the increasingly deafening music.
“who would dare spend that much money just for-” his words stopped. “honestly, the previous guy offered a fantastic price, but this? that much for a prostitute? sehun, i know you’re not joking, but i’ll make sure this doesn’t end smoothly if you try to play with me.”
before getting an answer from sehun, jungsuk leaned in again, his gaze sharpening at sehun. “and why kyungsoo? yeah, i know he’s been a target for many people lately, but what makes him so valuable to that person?” sehun had not yet answered jungsuk’s question, but judging from his smile, sehun looked satisfied, succeeded pulling jungsuk deeper into a pit of curiosity.
“what does he see in kyungsoo? and how do all of you know about him? since when have you been watching us?”
jungsuk’s fingers tapped the table, his cunning mind starting to calculate the huge profit he could gain, then a final question appeared, full of dark curiosity. “seriously, who is he? what is that person’s goal to the point of wanting to pay that much for kyungsoo?”
in the midst of the music pounding against the walls, jungsuk’s face was filled with turmoil he could not explain. sehun’s offer turned into a devil’s hand extending a paradise in the form of fantastical numbers. so tempting, until his conscience felt unimportant in his mind. that dazzling golden opportunity sparkled in his thoughts, just too expensive to let go.
of course it was already clear that jungsuk would choose sehun’s offer over kwangsoo’s in any chance, not only because of the amount, but also because he wanted to show that his loyalty to sehun still existed even though they had been separated for quite a long time.
“i will explain everything from the beginning, but before that, i will ask once again, jo jungsuk, are you interested”