TIN 111

It wasn’t that things had become easier, I had just become more desperate. Since I had always been the type to use any means necessary, it would be incorrect to say I had changed now. Besides, if this looked easy, that would be laughable in itself.

“I don’t know when it was that you got disappointed…”

At these slowly spoken words, Theo raised his eyebrow sharply. More precisely, as soon as he heard the word ‘disappointed,’ his expression hardened as if he had just been struck in the face. Unfortunately, this was all I had to say to him.

“The kisses we shared weren’t exclusive to you.”

I couldn’t bring myself to add “So don’t act like you’ve been rejected.” This time, Theo’s demeanor changed ominously.

“…”

His distorted face no longer showed even a trace of mockery. Theo’s lips moved slightly as if he had something to say. However, what came out next was just a dejected sigh.

“…Ha.”

I could feel the strength leaving his hands that had been holding my waist. He lowered his gaze, closed his eyes tightly, then reopened them again. At the same time, his Adam’s apple moved slowly, as if swallowing something.

“Well, you’ve certainly left me speechless.”

With that, Theo slowly withdrew his hand from inside my clothes. He straightened his forcefully pressed body and muttered in a lukewarm tone.

“Right, you were always this kind of person.”

He didn’t seem angry. If anything, he seemed more peaceful than before.

I picked up the document envelope that had fallen to the floor while leaving him be. Thanks to the tightly sealed opening, the money hadn’t spilled out. Come to think of it, there was something fragile inside. I’d need to check it once I got outside.

“What are you doing?”

Theo asked as I turned and grabbed the doorknob. The doorknob was as stiff as the rusty hinges and wouldn’t turn easily.

“The conversation’s over, so I should go.”

“…You’re leaving?”

“Yeah.”

I gave a cursory reply and tried turning the doorknob again. Wondering why it wouldn’t open, I realized the lock in the middle was still engaged. Watching I belatedly unlock it, Theo let out a laugh.

“Wow, such a clean break. Guess that was all you had to say to me.”

He was half right and half wrong. While it was true I had nothing more to say to Theo, leaving this house wasn’t just for that reason. I just felt uncomfortable being indebted to someone in a relationship where we both knew everything about each other.

However, instead of explaining these things, I just moved my hand. With a creak, the firmly closed door slowly opened.

“Well then…”

I couldn’t finish saying “Take care.” A presence suddenly emerged from behind, grasping the hand that held the doorknob. As soon as the slightly opened door slammed shut, he planted one hand beside my face.

“Bada.”

A shadow loomed behind my back. Theo had trapped me within his arms and lowered his head to close the distance. He whispered in my ear with a subtle tone.

“Do you remember our last conversation that day?”

There was no need to ask which day. When he said “last,” there was only one day that came to mind.

‘If you’re so concerned, why don’t you buy me yourself.’

I remembered it well. Though he was trying to make it sound significant, it wasn’t really a remarkable incident. The words I had said to him when he was furiously angry after seeing me beaten by the boss, the day I was sold to Joo Do-hwa.

‘Don’t make such a fuss, Theo.’

After that, I received treatment from Lingling, and as soon as I returned to the counter, Joo Do-hwa bought me. Though it was an awkward parting, I hadn’t said anything particularly wrong, so I didn’t bother to dwell on it.

However, hearing about it now did bring something to mind.

‘Bada, I…’

What was he going to say then? His serious expression from that time was as clear as if it were yesterday. Though I had completely forgotten about it until now, the memory could be quite peculiar.

“I was planning to buy you from Joo Do-hwa.”

Theo casually revealed the words I hadn’t heard back then. The heavy statement, which momentarily made me hold my breath, came across too clearly.

“Come to think of it, yeah. This is a profitable deal. The item I was planning to buy has rolled right into my hands.”

I couldn’t give any response. I couldn’t get angry and tell him not to treat me like an object, nor could I urge him not to buy me. I just silently bowed my head and focused on the sound of the voice flowing into my ear.

“How many chances would I get in life to take something from a young master like that?”

Though his tone was light as air, its inner meaning was full of thorns. Although I hadn’t given any explanation, he must have guessed what had happened between me and Joo Do-hwa. At least the fact that I had run away from him.

“Go wash up. I prefer things clean too.”

“…”

The meaning behind those words was obvious. I let go of the doorknob and turned around. This time, Theo didn’t stop me as I headed to the bathroom.

***

Though the bathroom didn’t have hot water as Theo said, it was still much more pleasant than the one attached to Oceans’ dormitory. It was just big enough for one person, but that wasn’t a problem at all. Throughout washing with lukewarm water due to the summer heat, my wounds stung terribly.

I didn’t bother washing thoroughly. I wasn’t in the mood for it, nor did I want to put in that much effort. Though I had accepted it nonchalantly, actually washing made me feel conflicted.

Outside the bathroom were a T-shirt and pants that presumably belonged to Theo. He’d even prepared clothes for me. I had been worried about having to go out naked, so I quietly put on the clothes and entered the room.

“Wait a moment. I need to wash too.”

Theo said only that before entering the bathroom I had just left. On the table in the corner, I saw a neatly folded envelope and stacked bundles of money. He must have checked the amount while I was washing.

“…How meticulous.”

Despite his emotional outburst earlier, he still took care of business. Like a true businessman. Being precise with calculations, he wouldn’t pull any scams like taking the money and running.

I found a small glass vial beside the sorted money bundles and sighed in relief. The vial that Chairman Joo had given me for suppressants now contained fever reducers prescribed by the doctor. I had collected them just in case, planning to sell them if I needed extra money in the future.

“Why are you standing there?”

Theo soon returned to the room. Without a shirt, his scarred upper body was fully exposed. The clear knife marks across his well-muscled body gave a glimpse into his past life.

“Go to the bed. We’re not doing it here.”

How different from someone who was pristine like a sculpture. Catching myself thinking this, I quickly snapped out of it and moved. Dragging my right foot, I sat on the bed. Theo, who had approached without me noticing, grabbed my shoulders and laid me back. As I fell onto the bed, Theo climbed on top of me.

“By the way…the soundproofing here isn’t great.”

“…”

As if proving his point, various noises had been coming from outside, the screech of metal against metal, footsteps of someone walking, the click of a door closing.

“Make noise if you don’t mind others hearing.”

Theo warned lightly as he lowered his head. With one hand cupping her face, he drew closer as if about to kiss me. Though I would have normally accepted it, I instinctively stopped him and turned my head away.

“…This isn’t necessary.”

It felt awkward somehow. What I had been doing without thinking suddenly became conscious. More precisely, memories of what happened with Joo Do-hwa came flooding back, making me reject it instinctively.

‘…What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to kiss you.’

Those lips that had met were still vivid in my memory. The memory of how just a kiss had made my lower body react embarrassingly.

“Just put it in. Don’t do this.”

“You’ve become quite the businessman.”

At my matter-of-fact words, Theo chuckled and pulled his face away. However, he didn’t move away completely, just shifted to my neck. His lips slowly touched the thin skin there.

“…”

Ah, why does this feel so disgusting?

I had done this many times with Joo Do-hwa and thought it wouldn’t affect my time with Theo. Although it had been an act full of shame and pain, it had never been unbearably unpleasant until now.

Maybe it had all been the effect of pheromones. The lips gently exploring my neck, the hands delving under my T-shirt, every point of contact with him made my skin crawl like insects were crawling on me.

‘Or did he put it somewhere else too?’

I wondered how Joo Do-hwa, who had thrown a fit over me sucking someone else off, would react if he knew about today. The thought that I might die made me irritated as soon as it occurred. Why should I bother myself worrying about such things now? I felt indignant about that too.

“…Bada.”

At that moment, Theo called my name. I had been gritting my teeth and enduring my revulsion, and looked at him a beat late. Theo, who had been touching my bare skin with his calloused hands, spoke with a slightly reproachful tone.

“I know you’re doing this against your will, but how about showing a little effort?”

It was what he used to say whenever I bought information from him. He would say it with eyes full of excitement, then clicking his tongue as if disappointed.

“This much…”

I was about to say to him wasn’t this sincere enough, or ask wasn’t it enough to just insert it and be done with it?

But just as I parted her lips, there was an unknown loud noise outside the room.

Bang!

The loud sound shattered the precarious atmosphere. Both I and Theo startled as if suddenly doused with cold water and turned toward the door.

Beyond the open bedroom door, through the gap in the tightly closed front door, someone coldly issued the command, “Open the door.”