RB 104

Eunho covered his face and burst out laughing. Tears trickled down his palms. He was on the verge of going crazy. Despair, tears and laughter erupted simultaneously.

“Until when?”

“…There’s no set period.”

“Ah, I might be locked up until I die.”

For Choi Yoonho, it was enough reason to stay isolated for a lifetime. He’d only harmed people, so the ones who locked him up would want “Choi Yoonho” to stay inside as long as possible.

Eunho realized his situation and laughed again. He knew better than anyone how long Choi Yeorok must’ve planned this and how precisely he must’ve arranged it.

“Let me make… one phone call.”

“I’m sorry. Your guardian asked us not to let you contact anyone.”

How many more times would he need to get hit in the back of the head for this to end? Eunho buried his face in his hands without saying anything. His throat bobbing up and down as he swallowed his tears.

“If you can’t sleep or if you feel very anxious, I can prescribe a sedative. For today, try to rest and start meeting with me tomorrow.”

The doctor spoke gently and gave Eunho time to calm himself alone. As soon as he left the room, several locking mechanisms clicked.

Eunho slowly lifted his head at the sound. The room looked no different from a hotel room. The bed looked soft and the space was pretty wide.

But the iron door had several locks. The CCTV in the corner of the ceiling aimed at him too. He couldn’t help but laugh in amazement.

He crawled on the floor and leaned against the bed. He ignored the wide room and chose to hide in the corner. His head was spinning. His body and mind felt disconnected.

Eunho leaned his head against the wall and stared into nothing. Yeorok’s gentle behavior filled his empty mind. They weren’t even old memories. Only a few hours ago, they had kissed, held each other, and shared warmth.

‘I guess you were really looking forward to it.’

‘France, Nice is good. The weather’s nice, the beach is great, and there are many tourist spots that Sim Eunho would like.’

‘You did well today. You must’ve been nervous, so go rest.’

And then he sent him to a psychiatric hospital. How ridiculous must his expectations have looked.

‘I won’t abandon you, don’t worry.’

‘If Sim Eunho-ssi stays with me, I won’t have to feel lonely. We’re family anyway, and no one will find it strange even if we stay together for life.’

He said he’d never abandon him, said they’d stay together for life. As soon as he finished using him, he threw him away. In the cruelest way.

From the viewpoint of the objectivity Yeorok valued so much, this was correct. Ending the role of “Choi Yoonho,” then disposing of the person who played him. It was Choi Yeorok typical solution.

‘I think… I’d be satisfied as long as I can stay with you.’

‘That’s already a given.’

Was there ever sincerity in anything you said? Did you ever like me?

‘Eunho, you should believe me now.’

He believed him. He didn’t even know he was being deceived. He didn’t know Yeorok was only waiting for the moment to stab him in the back.

He thought he’d become Yeorok’s lover. He thought a man who knew nothing about emotions treated him specially.

“……”

When he thought about it, Yeorok had never once told him he liked him. He only let Eunho misunderstand. The smile he saw this morning, the hug, the affectionate kiss were all lies.

“You bastard… If you’re gonna throw me away, just use me and discard me. Why say you’ll stay with me forever?”

Eunho hit the side of his head against the wall.

“You shouldn’t have treated me kindly. You know how much I like you…”

Every time he cursed, he hit his head again. His anger getting more intense as he accepted the fact that he’d been abandoned. He hurt his body because he had no way to release it, but the pain couldn’t compare to his heart tearing apart.

“I’ll never forgive you. Even if you come and beg, I won’t forgive you.”

He slammed his head several more times. His forehead felt hot. Even when his skin split and blood trickled down, Eunho didn’t stop.

The one he thought would come save him was actually the one who dropped him into hell. Reality was too miserable. Staying sane at this moment hurt unbearably.

Good for you, Sim Eunho.

When blood smeared all over the white wall, the nurses watching the CCTV rushed in. Eunho cried and struggled. Even after they gave him a sedative, his desperate crying lasted for a long time.

‎

‎ ***

At that moment, the Haegang headquarters was holding a board meeting.

The resolution passed unanimously and Choi Yeorok became the head of Haegang. The press release went out immediately. He’d taken the title of the youngest corporate chairman in the country, so the backlash would obviously be fierce.

The press conference was scheduled for an hour later. The one who would receive all the attention moved to the chairman’s office to prepare.

Yeorok sat in the chair and turned around. He quietly looked at the forest of buildings outside the window. He’d been waiting for this day to come, but now that it was real, he didn’t feel much.

He didn’t get excited because that was his personality. There was no reason to swing between moods over something that went exactly as planned. Yeorok turned the chair back into place and checked his wristwatch. By now, Eunho should’ve been boarding the plane.

A guide was waiting in Paris. When Eunho arrived at the airport, the guide would pick him up and bring him to the hotel. He’d stay there for two days and then fly to Nice with Yeorok. Yeorok could picture his face even without seeing him. A small smile appeared on his indifferent face.

Knock knock, Secretary Hong came in with a notebook. Yeorok hadn’t even formally taken the chairman title yet, but Secretary Hong was already carrying an armful of documents.

Yeorok’s inauguration ceremony would be held a week later. Starting tomorrow, he’d be gone. They needed to get approval on the important matters beforehand. Secretary Hong arranged the papers and asked:

“Are you really taking the whole week off?”

Yeorok took out a fountain pen and smiled.

“It’s a reward for myself.”

Honestly, he was more excited about the week he’d spend with Eunho than any other time. Yeorok skimmed the papers and signed the last box. The pen tip left a black dot. He finally had everything. If he added Sim Eunho to this, he was sure he’d feel completely fulfilled.

‎

‎

“Call Choi Yeorok. Bring… Bring him here.”

Eunho mumbled for a long time with drooping shoulders. His hair, stuck with dried blood, clumped in places as if he hadn’t washed it for days, and a big gauze pad covered his forehead.

Eunho still wore a restraint suit to prevent self harm. Anyone would see the bound limbs and think he was an isolated patient.

A couple hours had passed since they’d given him a sedative. He’d behaved quietly, and only recently started mumbling to himself. A voice kept whispering in his head.

You think he’ll take you out if he comes? You still trust Choi Yeorok?

Choi Yoonho laughed loudly. The voice he’d heard in past nightmares crawled into reality and tormented him. Eunho closed his eyes.

“Please shut up.”

If you’re gonna imitate me, at least do it right. What’s this, how disappointing.

“I said shut up!”

That bastard Choi Yeorok’s worse than me. Seo Taehwa even warned you. You’re stupid and you didn’t understand anything. This is all your fault.

“…No, the chairman likes me. I’m sure of that.”

Did he ever say that to you? Maybe you’re just imagining it.

“He said we should stay together. He said he liked it when I came to meet him.”

Funny. Then why are you here now?

His body stiffened inside the restraint suit. Tears streamed down Eunho’s cheeks. The corners of his eyes didn’t get a chance to dry.

The doctor watched Eunho’s condition closely through the monitor. The way he talked to himself like he was speaking to someone else needed careful attention.

Admit it, you got thrown away. Maybe you should get burned up and washed down the drain like me. You think Choi Yeorok will leave someone who knows his secrets alive?

A face identical to his hovered in front of him. The ghost of dead Choi Yoonho clung to him nonstop.

You want to kill Choi Yeorok? You hate him? Should we kill him together? Huh? Huh? Should we?

“Stop it.”

You liked having sex with him that much? No way. How could you do that with your uncle? Disgusting.

“You’re the disgusting one.”

No, at least I didn’t sleep with family. Anyway, that bastard Choi Yeorok’s really insane. Poor Sim Eunho. The insane one’s living comfortably while you’re locked in a psychiatric ward.

“No… no…”

You should’ve killed yourself back then. You already killed someone. You’re a murderer. And now you’re a lunatic too? What’s all this because you got involved with Choi Yeorok?

How about now? Do you yeel like dying? Bet you can’t because you’re too resentful.

Should I help you? Do you want revenge on Choi Yeorok?

You still like him? You don’t hate him?

Don’t you want me kill him? Should I do it?

I’ll do it!

Suddenly, Eunho’s head fell back behind the pillow. His dry lips split open, and a giggle escaped his lips.

Brownish eyes were revealed between slightly open eyelids. Their lustrous shine was quite different from their usual gentle gaze.

“Ah, fuck, my head hurts.”