Part 32
When morning light finally bled through the heavy curtains, Felix opened his eyes. He lay still for a long time, staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind drifted through the wreckage of his life, the memory of his family, the ruins of his past and the suffocating reality of his current state. With a heavy, trembling sigh, he turned his head slightly to look at the man beside him
Hyunjin was still asleep but even in his dreams, his possessiveness was absolute. His right arm was thrown over Felix's chest, pinning him down with a heavy, suffocating grip as if his subconscious feared Felix might dissolve into the morning mist if he let go for even a second
Felix winced as he tried to shift. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, a sharp, throbbing ache radiating from his lower back a brutal reminder of the night before. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to sit up, his hand reflexively clutching his spine to steady the pain.
In an instant, a hand clamped around his wrist like a shackle
"What are you doing?" Hyunjin's voice was raspy with sleep, but his eyes were instantly sharp, locking onto Felix with a predatory focus
"I want to leave" Felix said, his voice thin and fragile, yet carrying a desperate edge
Hyunjin let out a dark, mocking chuckle that sent a chill down Felix's spine "You aren't going anywhere. From now on, your life is within these walls"
The shock of those words hit Felix like a physical blow. He stared at the floor, his throat tightening as he cleared it, his hands gripping each other so fiercely that his knuckles turned white. He was trapped and the weight of that realization was crushing
"I... I promise I'll come back" Felix whispered weakly, his pride crumbling into a plea "I just need to find the evidence. I have to finish what I started"
Hyunjin sat up, his movements fluid and imposing. Felix immediately averted his gaze, unable to look at Hyunjin's powerful, naked form in the morning light. It felt too intimate, too wrong
"You look exhausted" Hyunjin said softly, reaching out to cup Felix's cheek. His thumb brushed against the pale skin with a terrifying tenderness "You aren't going out today"
Felix snapped his head back, his eyes blazing with a sudden, sharp fury "You ... know everything! You know exactly what happened so why are you doing this? I can't just sit here like a ghost while the truth remains buried. I need those documents. I need to expose them!"
Hyunjin searched Felix's eyes, his own expression unreadable and cold "I said not today. Eventually, I will let you see Jae-bum. I'll even give you the evidence you both found... but only on the condition that you stay here. With me"
"You've mapped out my entire life without even asking what I want!" Felix spat, his voice trembling with pure hatred "I don't want to be with you! Why can't you understand that? I despise the very thought of you!"
Hyunjin didn't flinch. He didn't yell. He simply stared at Felix, his silence heavier than any shout
Felix hissed, his heart racing. "I might be forced to stay for now but don't get comfortable. This won't last....I will leave"
At those words, Hyunjin's hand went limp against Felix's cheek. He looked at Felix with a gaze that suggested he knew Felix was telling the truth and that realization seemed to wound him more than any physical blow ever could. For a moment, the mask of the monster slipped, revealing a man who knew he could never truly own what he loved
"I'm going downstairs to make breakfast" Hyunjin said, abruptly changing the subject to mask the sting "Get yourself ready and come down soon"
He walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out a pair of black lounge pants and slid them on, leaving his chest bare. He tossed a pile of clothes onto the bed "These are some of my old things. Wear them until I can get you something new"
He turned and left the room without looking back. Felix wringing his hands until they hurt. He knew he was trapped in a game he couldn't win by force. He looked at the door, then at the clothes, knowing that to survive, he would have to be as cold and calculated as the man who held him prisoner.
Hyunjin walked downstairs, his footsteps echoing through the silent mansion. He moved toward the kitchen counter, intending to start breakfast, but he froze. He leaned forward, bracing his weight against the cold marble with both hands, and tightly shut his eyes. Felix's words...the raw, unfiltered hatred were echoing in his head, clawing at his composure. He let out a shaky breath, rubbing his temples to soothe the throbbing ache behind his eyes before reaching for a glass of water. He drank it in one go, forcing his mind to clear, and began to cook with mechanical precision
A while later, Felix appeared at the top of the stairs. He moved slowly, gingerly as if every step was an effort. Hyunjin didn't notice him at first, his back turned to the foyer
Felix stopped on the final step, his gaze landing on Hyunjin. He hadn't put on the pajamas Hyunjin offered, he was still wearing his own clothes. He watched Hyunjin work, the man was surprisingly skillful in the kitchen, moving with a calmness that felt surreal given the storm they had just weathered
Felix's eyes drifted across Hyunjin's broad shoulders, which looked like they were carved from stone, reminiscent of a Greek god statue. But as he looked closer, his heart skipped a beat. Across Hyunjin's back and arms were deep, red welts and scratches, the marks Felix's own nails had left in the heat of the struggle the night before
Hyunjin turned around, carrying a tray to the table and his eyes met Felix's ...
Felix flinched, snapping his gaze away to the floor, Hyunjin's gaze swept over Felix's clothes, noting he had rejected the change of attire but he chose to stay silent about it
"Come sit down" Hyunjin said. His voice was oddly soft, yet it carried a subterranean chill "You must be starving"
Hyunjin took his seat. Felix approached with hesitant, leaden steps. He reached for the chair, pulling it out to sit but suddenly he froze. He squeezed his eyes shut as a sharp, biting pain flared through his body, a physical consequence of Hyunjin's brutality
Hyunjin looked up, his expression shifting as he realized why Felix couldn't sit. He stood up immediately, his movements startlingly fluid
"You can't sit" Hyunjin noted, his voice flat. He didn't apologize but he didn't mock him either "Fine. Then we'll eat standing up"
Felix bit his lower lip, the humiliation burning hotter than the physical pain. He looked away, refusing to meet Hyunjin's eyes as Hyunjin began to eat as if this were a perfectly normal morning
"You're really... you're really going to let me see Jae-bum? And give me the evidence?" Felix's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with a mix of hope and fear "Where is he... where is Jae-bum right now?"
Hyunjin didn't look up from his plate "He is with my cousin. And yes... I keep my word. You will see him and you will have your evidence"
"I truly don't understand you!" Felix burst out, his frustration finally cracking through his exhaustion "Who are you, really? How can you do all this and then act like... like this?"
"Eat your food" Hyunjin replied coldly, completely ignoring the question as if it were nothing more than background noise
Felix took a small bite of the Korean dish Hyunjin had prepared. The food was delicious but his stomach was tied in knots. He was overwhelmed, terrified and confused by the man standing across from him.
Hyunjin finished his meal and wiped his mouth with a clinical precision. He stepped away from the table, putting some distance between himself and Felix before pulling out his phone to make a call
"After Jae-bum speaks to Felix on the phone and they finish, you can release him" Hyunjin commanded into the receiver
"Aish!" Taejin let out a long, heavy exhale on the other end "Are you out of your mind, man? If you're just going to let them talk and then have me set him free, why did we go through all this trouble? Did you scare Felix into a deal or something?"
"Just do exactly as I say" Hyunjin replied, his voice dropping to a freezing temperature
"But if I let this guy go, he's going to tear me apart. He's beyond furious" Taejin muttered, glancing warily at his captive
"I'm handing the phone to Felix now. Give yours to Jae-bum" Hyunjin said, ignoring the complaint
Hyunjin walked over and extended the phone to Felix. Felix looked at him with wide, disbelieving eyes, paralyzed by confusion. Without a word, Hyunjin turned and walked toward the stairs, leaving Felix alone with the device
"H... Hello?" Felix whispered, his voice trembling
"Felix?! Felix, are you okay? Did that bastard do something to you?!" Jae-bum's voice exploded through the line, thick with desperation
In the small room, Taejin widened his eyes and gave Jae-bum a classic bombastic side-eye, clearly judging the intensity of the man's outburst
Felix's eyes flooded with tears at the sound of a familiar, caring voice. His breath hitched as he struggled to maintain his composure "Jae-bum Hyung? What are you doing? I... I'm okay" he said
"Ah... I was going insane. I thought something terrible had happened to you. How did he even find you?" Jae-bum asked, his voice cracking with relief
Felix went silent for a moment, the guilt of his reckless actions finally catching up to him "I'm so sorry, Hyung" he whispered "I... I took the money you and Dong-seok Hyung saved to buy a gun. I wanted to go to Jun-ho's mansion and... and kill him. But he appeared out of nowhere and stopped me. I don't even know how he tracked me down"
On the other end, Jae-bum went dead silent. He closed his eyes, his heart sinking as he realized how close Felix had come to throwing his life away or losing it entirely.
"Where are you right now?" Jae-bum asked, his protective instincts flaring up again
"I'm at... I'm at his house" Felix admitted, his voice barely audible
"Don't worry. I'm going to find you, okay? I'm coming for you" Jae-bum promised, his voice hard with resolve.
Suddenly, the line went dead. The call was cut
"Hyung? Hyung!" Felix cried out, staring at the blank screen of the phone, feeling the sudden weight of the silence returning to the house
Taejin shoved his phone back into his pocket and turned his gaze toward Jae-bum, his expression unreadable
"Hyunjin said to let you go" Taejin muttered
Jae-bum stared at him, stunned. The sudden shift from being a captive to being free felt like a trap
"Fuck, I don't even know why I got involved in this mess from the start!" Taejin sighed heavily, leaning down to undo the thick ropes binding Jae-bum's wrists and ankles
The moment the last cord fell away, Jae-bum didn't hesitate. Fueled by hours of suppressed rage, he lunged forward and landed a devastating punch squarely on Taejin's jaw. The force of the blow sent Taejin stumbling several steps back
"Where is that piece of shit?!" Jae-bum roared, his voice echoing off the walls
Taejin squeezed his eyes shut for a second, his head ringing from the impact. He slowly straightened up, wiping a smear of blood from his lip
"Shibal! Who the hell do you think you are hitting me like that? You son of a bitch!" Taejin barked back, his own temper finally flaring
Taejin didn't hold back. He charged at Jae-bum, returning a powerful punch that sent Jae-bum reeling. Within seconds, the room turned into a chaotic blur of limbs and anger. They tore into each other, blood soon dripping from Jae-bum's lower lip and Taejin's nose
"Tell me where that bastard took Felix!" Jae-bum hissed through gritted teeth
He lunged at Taejin again, but his foot got tangled in the very rope Taejin had used to bind him. Jae-bum tripped, his momentum carrying him forward until he crashed directly onto Taejin's chest, sending them both sprawling to the floor
Both men were panting heavily, their faces inches apart. For a long, tense moment, they just stared at each other. Jae-bum suddenly froze when he realized his lower body was pressed firmly against Taejin's. The intimate contact sent a jolt of pure embarrassment through him. He scrambled to his feet instantly, his face flushing crimson
Taejin, however, remained remarkably unfazed. He sat up slowly, wiping his nose with the back of his hand
"Go find him yourself. I'm done with this whole business" Taejin said, sounding more bored than angry now
Jae-bum stood there, his hands clenched into trembling fists, still reeling from the awkwardness of the fall
"You're so damn rude even though I took good care of you, gave you food, gave you water... this is how you thank me?" Taejin stood up, dusting off his clothes "What? Why aren't you talking? Am I wrong, Mr. Romantic?" A mocking smirk played on his lips
Jae-bum stared at him, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. He finally snapped out of it and pointed a threatening finger at Taejin "I'm leaving. It's better if I never see your face again. If I do, it'll be the last thing you see"
Taejin let out a dry laugh. He grabbed his jacket and walked past Jae-bum, stopping just long enough to pat him twice on the shoulder "Don't worry, this was definitely the last time. I don't want to see you either"
Jae-bum closed his eyes, exhaling a sharp breath. He turned to watch Taejin walk away toward his car
"Wait!" Jae-bum called out
Taejin stopped and turned, a cigarette already dangling from his lips "What now?"
"I... I don't know where the hell we are. There are no cars out here. So... I'm coming with you until we reach the city" Jae-bum said, his pride stinging as he admitted he needed help
"What, do I look like a charity to you?" Taejin scoffed "That sounds like a 'you' problem"
Taejin turned back around and started walking but Jae-bum sprinted forward and grabbed his arm, spinning him back around
"You said you took 'good care' of me, right? Then finish the job" Jae-bum said with a defiant smirk, heading straight for the passenger side of the car
Taejin stared at him for a second, bewildered by the man's audacity "Hah! Look at this bastard"
Shaking his head, Taejin climbed into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, and the two of them drove off together into the morning haze
Hyunjin descended the stairs, having finally dressed. He wore a deep blue shirt tucked into wide black trousers, topped with a structured jacket. Even in his older clothes, he carried an air of cold, lethal elegance
Felix was still reeling from the phone call, standing frozen in the kitchen. The rhythmic sound of Hyunjin's leather shoes hitting the floor made him snap his head around
Hyunjin reached out and took the phone back from Felix's trembling hand "I'm leaving" he said shortly
Felix cleared his throat, his voice small and uncertain "Where? What... what am I supposed to do in this house alone?"
Hyunjin fixed a sharp, warning gaze on him "I have matters to attend to. And don't forget, I warned you about trying to run. Don't make me regret leaving you here"
As Hyunjin stepped closer, Felix instinctively recoiled, taking a step back until his hips hit the edge of the dining table. There was nowhere left to retreat
Hyunjin leaned in for what Felix thought would be a quick, perfunctory kiss. Their lips met briefly and Hyunjin pulled away just an inch. Felix stared at him in shock, his breath hitching. But before he could even process the contact, Hyunjin lunged back in
Felix's eyes snapped shut as he was slammed hard against the table. Hyunjin's mouth crushed against his with a bruising force, his large hands locking around Felix's waist, pulling him flush against his firm body
Felix didn't move. He stood like a statue, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides, his fingernails biting into his palms. He didn't fight but he didn't respond, he simply prayed silently for the kiss to end, for the air to return to his lungs
Finally, Hyunjin broke away. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the entrance. The heavy thud of the front door echoing through the mansion signaled his departure.
The moment he was gone, the tension broke. Felix lifted his arm and violently wiped his mouth with his wrist, rubbing until the skin was raw and red. His vision blurred as hot tears finally spilled over, trailing down his pale cheeks