RB 49

“……”

His eyes stayed fixed only on Sim Eunho. That gaze was so merciless it almost stirred pity.

The man sighed inwardly. At some point Eunho’s eyes had grown wet. Without a word of refusal or a cry, tears simply fell, showing how hard it was for him to endure.

But there was no choice, so the man pulled himself together and leaned in to Eunho. He pressed down with his weight, pinning him flat. The sofa was wide enough to roll around on. Their knees tangled and their bodies shifted against each other.

When he tried to kiss him, Eunho’s head drooped down. Even then, both of his hands weakly pushed against the man’s chest. Embarrassed, the man glanced at the others for help.

“Can you hold his wrists? If I kiss him, he’ll probably thrash again.”

“Ah… but won’t that be too much like rape? Contract or not, forcing it like that feels wrong…”

While they debated, Eunho, crushed under the man’s weight, held his breath like he might suffocate to death. He told himself he had to endure it, no matter the fear or disgust, but his last thread of reason was about to snap.

As his throat burst open and he gulped air, a cool fragrance touched his nose. Cold and clear, like dawn air wet with dew. Eunho reacted unconsciously. He pushed away the body pinning him down and rolled onto the floor.

Half out of his mind, he looked around. Choi Yeorok was sitting not far away. His gaze was icy, but to Eunho it was the only hope.

“Ch-chairman.”

Eunho crawled to him like a dog. Reaching his feet, he dropped to his knees and grabbed his trouser hem.

“S-sorry. I can’t do this. Hhh, I really can’t do this.”

Miserable words spilled out. They were words he had never wanted to say in front of Yeorok. But the feelings he had held back reached their limit and broke out in the most pitiful form.

“Please… just this once, please let me go. I really don’t want to do this.”

His sobbing plea was so wretched it would tear the heart of even someone who did not know his situation. Each time his eyelids fell and rose, heavy tears scattered. His wet lashes clumped together, making them darker.

His pale face, flushed nose, and trembling lips were not reactions that could be faked. The despair he showed was so vivid its depth could not be measured.

“I’m very disappointed.”

At the thunderous words, more tears dropped onto Yeorok’s slippers.

Eunho gasped, his mouth open. His heavy breathing seemed not to reach his brain. His mind was foggy, and he could not think at all.

“You were obedient until now, so why this?”

Yeorok bent and grabbed his chin. His long, smooth fingers were wet with Eunho’s tears. As if he was annoyed, he wiped Eunho’s damp cheek with his thumb.

“This way, everything I’ve done for you is meaningless.”

“…Please.”

“What’s the problem?”

Yeorok asked knowingly, merciless, untouchable. His tone made clear begging would change nothing.

Faced with his certainty, Eunho’s limbs lost all strength. Endless despair swallowed him.

“Now you’re afraid? Weren’t you fine when I touched you?”

“……”

“So it depends on your will, after all.”

Still holding his chin, Yeorok tapped Eunho’s wet cheek.

“If you truly can’t do it even if it kills you, say it now. I won’t waste any more time.”

The words sounded like a notice. Depending on his answer, Yeorok would decide whether to discard him.

“……”

Eunho closed his eyes. Warm tears trailed down his long lashes. He let out ‎ hollow sigh.

He could not bear to see Yeorok disappointed in him. That was more hopeless than anything.

He let go of Yeorok’s trouser hem, which he had been holding like a lifeline. It was choosing the lesser evil over the worst–he had already done that before.

The chills in his body did not leave, but his mind was calm enough now. Since the path was clear, he made his choice.

He stood on shaking legs and slowly walked back to his place. His staggering steps looked like a man going to throw himself off a cliff.

Yeorok did not blink as he watched his every move.

Sim Eunho went to the man sitting on the sofa and undid his own shirt buttons in front of him. His trembling hands moved so slowly it was frustrating. His fingers slipped often, dropping the fabric.

The man, unable to watch any longer, undid the rest of the buttons for him. The shirt hung half off, draped on his arms. His pale, clean skin begged to be touched. When Eunho let out a shaky breath, as if it were a signal, hands stretched toward him from all sides.

Eunho looked like prey being torn apart by beasts. His neck, his chest, his soft wrists, were all crowded by dark heads. The prey stared blankly into space, his will to survive already broken.

Someone lifted his chin. His face tilted back and revealed the flushed nape of his neck. His suppressed breath made the veins stand taut, ready to explode.

Yeorok saw every detail of his reactions.

Fingers clenched so tight the bones showed, chest heaving, cheeks wet whether from tears or cold sweat. All of it proved Eunho was enduring with everything he had.

Watching him force himself to bear it was exactly what Yeorok had wanted, yet for some reason he could not look away, bothered by a vague discomfort. Half-lidded eyes that seemed not to focus anywhere.

When Eunho’s gaze suddenly met his, he shut his eyes completely. Seeing him abandon all thought, Yeorok shoved his chair back, scraping the floor harshly.

Just as someone reached for Eunho’s belt buckle, Yeorok pushed through the group and pulled him out from under them. Eunho’s limp body shook faintly, too dazed to even realize who held him.

Yeorok held his cheek hard. It was not only the strength but the feel of his skin, the coldness, even the faint scent in his breath that made it different. Realizing it was Yeorok, Eunho sluggishly lifted his eyelids.

The glare hit him directly, piercing enough to tear his skin.

Why was he so angry?

He had obeyed without protest. What more did Yeorok want from him?

Seeing his flushed face up close, a hot lump of grief rose in Eunho’s chest.

“Get a hold of yourself.”

“…No.”

The words slipped out. He was past the point of holding himself back. With his mind blank, Eunho blurted everything he wanted to say.

“How am I supposed to… huhhh, endure this in my right mind?”

“I won’t use someone insane. You’re about to lose it right now.”

“I feel like I’m going insane, so what do you expect me to do?”

Eunho’s breath grew ragged. The sorrow he had been suppressing, exploded spilling through his throat and his tears. Even his open hands began to shake.

Now anyone could see he was on the verge of a breakdown.

“You know what I went through! You saw it all! You make me do this and expect me to stay normal?”

“…Shut your mouth.”

Yeorok ground his teeth. His hand on Eunho’s jaw tightened. The pain was sharp enough to crush bone, forcing Eunho to open his mouth.

“I have a mouth too, and words, hhuhhh, I can speak. I’m a person! Not a fake, a person, mmph!”

Yeorok’s large palm clamped over his mouth. Holding down Eunho’s thrashing body, his eyes narrowed coldly.

“Everyone out. Now.”

The men scrambled out of the room.

At that moment, the only one left outside was Secretary Hong. When Yeorok had stepped in to watch personally, he had dismissed all other aides, leaving only Hong Namyeong. As always, the cleanup would be left to him.

Only after the door slammed shut did Yeorok return his gaze to his true target. Even then, his left hand stayed pressed over Eunho’s mouth.

“Sim Eunho, how far do you think I should let this slide?”

Each word he said was heavy. Yeorok was barely holding down his anger.

“Even if you’ve lost your mind, shouldn’t you still know which words can and cannot be said?”

“……”

“Are you planning to expose to everyone that you’re a copy of Choi Yoonho?”

Yeorok swallowed his restrained breath between words. Eunho’s cheeks, crushed under his grip, bulged between his straight fingers. His tears flowed so much that shallow pools formed in the gaps of Yeorok’s hand.

Eunho cried until it seemed he would collapse. His sobs were quiet, broken only by rough gasps. Each slow blink brought down a flood of tears along his cheeks.

Yeorok finally calmed his breathing and removed his hand. While Eunho gulped at the lacking air, he pulled out a handkerchief and glanced at him. Knowing the tears would not stop just because he lent it, he instead used it to wipe his own damp hand.

He tossed the soaked cloth roughly to the floor and raked his fingers through his hair. His bangs hung in a messy, unkempt way over his forehead, but he had no time to fix his appearance.

He sighed and looked at Eunho, who was still drenched in tears and unable to calm down.

He had expected difficulties, but not to this degree.

One thing above all weighed on Yeorok. He needed to confirm it right away.

He suddenly stepped in and wrapped his arm around Eunho’s waist. Since his shirt hung half off, it was easy to grab bare skin.

Eunho jolted violently at the touch. He was so startled that one teardrop hung at the center of his eye, perfectly round.

He froze, unable even to breathe, but he did not push Yeorok away. He only stared at him with a half-vacant face.

“Why don’t you recoil when I touch you?”

Yeorok kneaded Eunho’s waist with a curious look. His hand carried a distinctly impure intent.