IS Vol 1 Ch 1 Part 3

Woken from a light sleep by the sound of a commotion, Seo Dong-eun looked around with a bewildered expression. He had fallen fast asleep as soon as he sat down on the bus home, and for a moment he was confused about where he was. The bus had stopped at a station, and people were filing out.

“Student, you should get off too. They say the bus broke down.”

Following the advice of a kind elderly woman beside him, Seo Dong-eun quickly stood up. It was a bit of a shame though. The bus Seo Dong-eun took didn’t run very frequently and was always crowded with passengers. If he hung around now, it would certainly be a longer wait for the next bus. Looking around, it seemed like he was only three or four stops away from his house. Deciding that walking would faster than waiting, even if it was only by five minutes, Seo Dong-eun gave up on the bus and chose to walk.

His body, which he thought had improved when he first woke up, turned out to be nothing of the sort. If anything, it felt like his fever was getting worse. He touched his forehead and the nape of his neck, but he couldn’t gauge his own temperature. Still, he could tell that the breath leaking through his lips was hot.

“Haa…”

Ra Ju-o might nag me again for not taking care of myself. He wondered if he should buy that guy’s favorite beer on his way back. It happened while he was preoccupied with such trivial thoughts, walking and walking along the tedious road.

A group of people were gathered not far away, effectively blocking the road ahead. Damn it, the situation felt truly bleak. He wondered how he could be so unlucky. It wasn’t like this sort of thing was new but dealing with it while so physically exhausted made it feel just that much more discouraging. Seo Dong-eun kept his mouth shut and approached the people blocking the road.

“Can you see him?”

“No, I can’t.”

“Ah, just his face, at least.”

As he drew closer, the murmuring voices became clearer. Seo Dong-eun tilted his head at the excited faces and eager whispers, wondering if something had happened. He vaguely wondered if there had been an accident, but judging by their expressions, that didn’t seem to be the case. Just as he was starting to question the whole situation, he spotted a sign that said ‘Filming in Progress’ placed in front of the huddled crowd. It turned out the crowd itself wasn’t the problem. The road was completely blocked off. He should have just waited for the bus. While beating himself up, Seo Dong-eun watched the onlookers and the filming crew managing the scene with a resentful gaze before turning around.

He certainly didn’t feel good about taking a detour through a secluded alley when there was a perfectly good main road available. Sighs kept escaping and his legs, still dragging along, wouldn’t listen to him. In a fit of frustration, he considered catching a taxi, but he couldn’t since his wallet was always practically empty.

How long do I have to live like this? After deducting the monthly interest payments from his contract worker’s salary, along with the minimum living expenses and the room rent, there was nothing left. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon to occasionally wind up in the negative, making Seo Dong-eun feel suffocated. Was it a relief that his debt was gradually decreasing thanks to working at President Wi’s shop every weekend?

Is that really a relief? Seo Dong-eun asked himself. If he hadn’t gone there to begin with, he wouldn’t have run into Kwon Woo-kyung. He wouldn’t have had to dig up past events and wallow in self-loathing.

No. Seo Dong-eun shook off the complicated thoughts and gathered himself. Kwon Woo-kyung doesn’t know Seo Dong-eun anyway. There’s no way he’d recognize him. It was better not to waste energy on something like this. Seo Dong-eun deliberately walked with a brisk pace.

But that only lasted for a moment. A large vehicle filling the narrow alley appeared in front of Seo Dong-eun and his resolve was immediately crushed. Seo Dong-eun parted his lips slightly, then clamped his mouth shut, allowing not even a sigh to slip out. Could he really be this unlucky?

It was already an alleyway nestled between houses where vehicle access was difficult, yet a large, black car was completely blocking the road. While it might barely be possible squeeze past… Isn’t this illegal? Seo Dong-eun narrowed his eyes and glared at the car’s license plate before quickly looking away. He wasn’t in a position to report it anyway. Holding his breath as much as possible, he moved slowly, sidestepping carefully and making a concerted effort to not touch the car. It wouldn’t take more than a glance at the gleaming finish to know the car was incredibly expensive.

Isn’t this the sort of thing celebrities ride in? Isn’t it a van or something? As that thought crossed his mind, he recalled the ‘Filming in Progress’ sign he had seen earlier. Was someone actually inside?

“Kyaak!”

The moment he finished that thought the door swung open. Seo Dong-eun, who had just turned to leave, found himself trapped between the open door and the wall, while the person stepping out of the car collapsed in surprise at the unexpected presence.

“Oppa?! Oppa!”

The woman, trembling as if she had encountered a molester, eventually raised her voice. Then, someone else emerged from inside the car.

Ah, a deep sigh escaped from his defenseless, parted lips.

The woman who had fallen brushed herself off and glared at Seo Dong-eun, but Seo Dong-eun was so stunned by the sudden situation that he was at a loss for what to do.

“Ah, seriously. What are they doing not even managing the crowds? This is annoying. Oppa, I got hurt here.”

The woman pointedly held out her injured leg and clung tightly to Kwon Woo-kyung. Her knee-length skirt slid up, revealing a slightly scraped patch of skin. The act of whining for him to look at her wound while pulling the man’s hand toward her leg was very intimate and suggestive. Only then did Seo Dong-eun realize that the woman was the celebrity who had kissed Kwon Woo-kyung just yesterday. Feeling the gaze fixed on her, the woman turned her head and their eyes met unexpectedly. He quickly looked away in surprise, but the woman seemed to have already picked up on the fact that Seo Dong-eun looked familiar.

“Wait. Oppa, I think I’ve seen this person somewhere.”

“You, go.”

“Huh?”

“I said go. Get into your own car.”

Kwon Woo-kyung didn’t say another word. He simply gestured with his chin, dismissing the woman who was pointing at herself. The woman glared up at him, looking hurt and resentful, but she couldn’t protest and turned to walk away. Watching the woman’s thin silhouette as she easily slipped through the narrow gap, Seo Dong-eun thought that he, too, should leave. Even with his mind spinning slowly and erratically, he was aware that he needed to escape for now.

But Seo Dong-eun couldn’t escape. Kwon Woo-kyung immediately blocked his exit. In a single stride of his long legs, he cut him off, leaving Seo Dong-eun with nowhere to go. Standing beside the black car in his black suit, Kwon Woo-kyung exuded an aura so imposing that his mere presence felt crushing.

“I-I’m sorry. I took a wrong turn, I’ll leave now. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The words spilled out before he had time to think about what he was saying. He was just glad they seemed to make any sense at all. He prayed they could let this pass like nothing had happened. Seo Dong-eun bowed as low as he possibly could. Kwon Woo-kyung simply watched him in silence as he folded his upper body almost in half.

Seo Dong-eun shifted his eyes, hardly daring to even take a deep breath. Can I go now? Should I beg more? What do I do? He couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought, his mind overloaded and in complete disarray.

“Who the hell are you?”

Kwon Woo-kyung’s patience did not extend toward a passerby who could neither stand up nor continue speaking. The silence ended there. Kwon Woo-kyung grabbed Seo Dong-eun’s chin, who remained stubbornly bowed with his face hidden. He was hauled up roughly; his disheveled hair fluttered in the wind. With Seo Dong-eun’s face fully exposed, Kwon Woo-kyung leaned in, snarling the words through gritted teeth. He brought his face so close they were almost touching.

Finally, their eyes met. Seo Dong-eun trembled violently, struggling to get away from him, but it was useless. The grip on his chin was so fierce it felt as if his jaw might dislocate.

“……What is this. What is this?”

“…….”

His chin was gripped so roughly that his mouth opened reflexively. Kwon Woo-kyung simply scrutinized every detail as his pale face crumbled into a wretched mess. In front of him, Seo Dong-eun was speechless. It was because Kwon Woo-kyung’s expression was beginning to contort strangely. Those eyes, which had previously held nothing but a dry, bored indifference, were now visibly wavering. This was as if…….

“Who are you?”

“……!”

“I asked who you are!!”

Kwon Woo-kyung, who had been pulling Seo Dong-eun closer to examine him even more intensely, finally barked out. His voice erupted harshly, as if pent-up emotions had suddenly exploded, causing Seo Dong-eun’s body to jolt in shock, but Kwon Woo-kyung didn’t care. He grabbed Seo Dong-eun’s shoulders with both hands and slammed his thin body against the wall. Completely overpowered and pinned down by Kwon Woo-kyung, he couldn’t quite pull himself together.

“Why, why……!”

“Woo-kyung!”

The same words repeated from his trembling lips, coming out like a moan. It was a voice appearing from out of nowhere that saved Seo Dong-eun, who had been shaking helplessly. A large man grabbed Kwon Woo-kyung’s shoulder in one swift motion. Still, Kwon Woo-kyung easily shook the man off and glared at Seo Dong-eun as if he wanted to tear him apart. His eyes, devoid of reason, no longer looked human. Kwon Woo-kyung slammed Seo Dong-eun’s body against the wall repeatedly. As if he could get the answer he wanted by doing so. But each time, the body as frail as a sheet of paper sank toward the ground. His legs were already incapable of supporting him. Seo Dong-eun gasped for air, making choking sounds.

“Woo-kyung, Kwon Woo-kyung! Hey, you bastard. Get a grip! What are you doing?”

The man blocking Kwon Woo-kyung’s path pinned his arm. However, Kwon Woo-kyung did not let go, his stance as fierce as if he were facing a sworn enemy. Instead, he swung a fist at the man and grabbed Seo Dong-eun’s arm, who was beginning to slide down the wall.

His body, already devoid of strength, was easily dragged along. Kwon Woo-kyung paused for a moment and unconsciously muttered a curse as he strode forward while pulling Seo Dong-en. Even the heat of the moment, he noticed that nearby residents were peering out, drawn to the commotion. There was a movie filming location nearby, and a huge van was parked right next to it. Kwon Woo-kyung turned around, gritting his teeth at the blatant stares of onlookers waiting for something interesting to happen. Then, he hurriedly pushed Seo Dong-eun into the car and climbed in after him.

“Hey! Who is that?! Isn’t he just a regular person?”

“Don’t let anyone in.”

Just before the car door closed, Kwon Woo-kyung gave an order to the man, his manager, Han Ho-seok. Intimidated by Kwon Woo-kyung’s aura, Han Ho-seok nodded and quickly stepped in front of him. He acted out of habit, moving exactly as he had been trained to. But the other person was a civilian. He looked so fragile he might shatter at the slightest touch; would he be alright? Unable to hide his anxiety, Han Ho-seok bit his lip nervously and kept glancing around.

Meanwhile, Seo Dong-eun squirmed in the leather seat. His limbs wouldn’t move properly. His thoughts were left tangled at the sudden situation, and he didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. At some point, the pain faded and he became disoriented as his sense of reality slipped away.

Once the door closed, the interior of the car, with its heavily tinted windows blocking the view from outside, quickly grew dark. Or rather, a deep shadow was cast primarily by the man looming over Seo Dong-eun. Kwon Woo-kyung simply stared intently at his small back. Only the perfectly tailored suit rose and fell sharply with the man’s breathing. For a long moment, Kwon Woo-kyung observed Seo Dong-eun as he fidgeted beneath him. There was nowhere to hide from a gaze that seemed to look right through him.

Seo Dong-eun continued to groan with his face pressed into the seat. The pain he had momentarily forgotten came rushing back twice as bad. It was a truly excruciating pain felt deep in his bones. The pain surging up from his legs made his breathing ragged and a ringing sound echoed in his ears.

“Gasp!”

It was just as he finally managed to prop himself up with his arms. Suddenly, his upper body was lifted. His hair was grabbed, snapping his neck back, and Seo Dong-eun found himself defenseless as they locked eyes. No matter how spacious the interior was, it made no difference with Kwon Woo-kyung’s size. It felt as if they were the only two people in the entire world. Not even the sound of their breathing could be heard. Pulling his face close, Kwon Woo-kyung began to examine Seo Dong-eun’s features one by one, as if confirming something.

“……Choi Hyun-seo?”

It wasn’t a question. That low, hushed voice muttered a name. Seo Dong-eun’s breath hitched. His eyes, filled with uncontrolled astonishment, held nothing but Kwon Woo-kyung. That name was a source of fear that threatened to undo everything.

---

Choi Hyun-seo, hearing that name brought him back to his senses. It felt as if his consciousness, which had been drifting in a daze, was suddenly snapped back into place. He could no longer feel the pain. Seo Dong-eun pushed Kwon Woo-kyung away as hard as he could, swinging his fists wildly at whatever he could reach.

“Let, let, let me go……! ……Let go!”

The other man seemed to falter for a moment at the pathetically ragged and agitated voice. Seo Dong-eun didn’t miss the chance. Gritting his teeth, he shoved Kwon Woo-kyung away again. But somehow it was Seo Dong-eun who ended up sprawled on the ground.

“……!”

He managed to fall onto the leather seat, but the sudden impact knocked the wind out of him, as if a fist had been driven into his stomach. Even as he curled his body inward, Seo Dong-eun fumbled to retreat. His scalp throbbed fiercely, as if the hair Kwon Woo-kyung had gripped had all been ripped out. His crushed throat also stung. There wasn’t a single part of him that didn’t hurt. His whole body throbbed as if the pain was spreading like an infection.

Thump, thump, his heartbeat hammered against his ears. More than anything, his heart pounded so violently it felt as if it would burst right through his chest. He feared he might go deaf from the sound of his own heartbeat it was so loud. For a moment, his vision blurred, and a wave of intense dizziness washed over him.

“You.”

But the moment that voice pierced his ears again, both the pain and stimulation faded. Kwon Woo-kyung was right in front of him. Kwon Woo-kyung was watching Seo Dong-eun with a strange expression, devoid of the gaze that had been piercing through him.

Seo Dong-eun glared at Kwon Woo-kyung as fiercely as he could. At the same time, he fumbled behind him. In his frantic movements, his fingertips brushed against the handle.

Click, the lock released.

“Ugh!”

But the door didn’t open. Sensing it instantly, Kwon Woo-kyung reached out. Gripping his shoulder, Kwon Woo-kyung forcibly pulled Seo Dong-eun’s arm away. Breaking an opponent’s limbs was nothing for Kwon Woo-kyung. The physical difference was obvious from the start. Kwon Woo-kyung’s hand was large enough to grip both of Seo Dong-eun’s wrists.

He was dragged just like that. The sound of the door locking behind him followed, and Kwon Woo-kyung tightened his grip on his wrists.

Instinctively, he squeezed his eyes shut tight. He was sure that a hand larger than his own face was about to strike his cheek and he would be beaten to a bloody pulp. Seo Dong-eun deserved to be hit, there was more than enough justification for it. Am I finally paying for my sins? His tightly closed eyelids trembled.

“……!”

As the seconds ticked by, he couldn’t even bring himself to resist, and just as his miserable face twisted pathetically, he felt an unfamiliar warmth. Startled, he opened his eyes to find Kwon Woo-kyung’s face pressed just as close as before. Cupping his chin and cheek, Kwon Woo-kyung was watching Seo Dong-eun. He was merely holding his cheek. But Seo Dong-eun couldn’t even breathe properly, let alone escape. It felt as if the slightest mistake would mean the end of everything. Despite the lack of physical violence, Seo Dong-eun trembled uncontrollably. Kwon Woo-kyung’s expression shifted subtly as he looked down at him.

“……How.”

Kwon Woo-kyung muttered as he turned his head away. He looked bewildered, a stark contrast to the imposing air he had projected just moments before. With a look of utter helplessness, unable to either look at or ignore Seo Dong-eun, Kwon Woo-kyung seemed rather precarious. His gaze, which had been darting around restlessly with nowhere to land, finally settled back on Seo Dong-eun.

“Choi Hyun-seo. You…….”

“W-what are you talking about? Why are you doing this to me? Is it okay for a celebrity to act like this?”

Seo Dong-eun blurted out whatever came to mind as he twisted his body. Kwon Woo-kyung would not tolerate the frantic gesture to escape the car. He grabbed him by the shoulders, pinning his entire body against his massive frame. Sparks seemed to fly from his unblinking eyes. The heat where their skin was touching felt searing, as if it were burning.

“Choi Hyun-seo!”

And then, at the name shouted like a scream, Seo Dong-eun froze again. That was when someone knocked on the car door.

“Woo-kyung! Woo-kyung?! It’s time. You need to get ready for the shoot.”

The manager, who had been on guard, whispered urgently. Only then did Kwon Woo-kyung’s tear his eyes away from Seo Dong-eun. After glaring at the door, Kwon Woo-kyung roughly raked a hand over his face and examined Seo Dong-eun again.

“You’re saying you’re not Choi Hyun-seo?”

He still looked incredulous, but the nuance was subtly different from before.

“I don’t understand what this is all about. I-I made a mistake earlier too, but the car was in the middle of the alleyway, and I was just trying to skirt around it……. Anyway, let’s just act like this never happened.”

In that brief moment, Seo Dong-eun’s demeanor changed. Excuses flowed smoothly, like they had been rehearsed, but the words didn’t feel like his own. He was still dazed and none of it felt real. Still, he had to get out of here first. Seo Dong-eun did his best to put some space between himself and Kwon Woo-kyung. The car shook with loud thuds as the two figures remained entangled. Then, the manager outside seemed to notice the movement and placed a hand on the car door.

“Wait.”

“……?”

“No, just a moment. Sigh. You’re really not Choi Hyun-seo?”

The deep sigh was heavy and dark, as if dragged up from an unfathomable depth. Repeating the question that wasn’t really a question, Kwon Woo-kyung studied Seo Dong-eun’s face once more. His furrowed brow and narrowed eyes became blades that cutting deep into Seo Dong-eun.

“Woo-kyung, I’m opening the door! Seriously, what is wrong with you today? Kwon Woo-kyung! Are you listening?!”

The manager’s restless, hesitant movements outside cast a large, wavering shadow. Please, please just open the door. Unable to even hide his face, contorted from holding back tears, Seo Dong-eun practically pleaded inwardly.

“I’m opening it!”

With those words, the manager opened the door. The outside air instantly rushed into the enclosed space. Kwon Woo-kyung seemed to hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, Seo Dong-eun shoved him. His arms collided with the solid frame and his body, previously weighed down by tension, fell out of the car from the momentum. Kwon Woo-kyung reached out, but Seo Dong-eun was faster. He ran just like that, practically scrambling away. He never once looked back. Behind him, the shrill voice of the manager rang out, desperate to stop Kwon Woo-kyung. Amidst that chaos of curses and shouting, Seo Dong-eun chose to run away alone, just as he had once before.

---

“Hic! Gasp. Gasp…….”

He frantically ran on and on. He only stopped when he had run out of breath and couldn’t run any further. Propping himself while bracing his hands on his knees and lifting his head, a familiar sight came into view. He had nearly made it home before he knew it. How he had run all the way here with these legs, he would never know. Lifting a trembling hand to touch his face, he found it drenched in cold sweat. His reflection in a roadside shop window was pathetic. He wore an utterly vacant expression; his face drained of color like he had seen a ghost.

He had said Choi Hyun-seo. He thought he would have forgotten—or rather, he hadn’t expected him to remember. His heart began to race again, like it would burst from his chest. He had to think. He had to figure out what to do. He had never even imagined in his wildest dreams that he would encounter Kwon Woo-kyung like this. He couldn’t even process the situation, let alone think clearly. Ah, he had to call Wi Du-hong first, because they were accomplices in this matter.

But no matter how much he rummaged through the pockets of his coat or dug through his bag, the old phone was nowhere to be found. Seo Dong-eun bit his dry, cracked lips and gasped for air. His breathing was ragged, unable to calm down. What do I do, what happens if Kwon Woo-kyung really hasn’t forgotten Choi Hyun-seo? The guilt he had been ignoring all along swelled and tried to swallow him. Will he resent me? Hate me? Or maybe…….

“……Hey.”

“……!”

Someone grabbed Seo Dong-eun’s shoulder. His body, which had been trembling violently, went completely rigid. Still gasping for breath, he started involuntarily wheezing. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to turn around.

“Dong-eun?”

Seo Dong-eun’s name was called, and he was slowly turned around by the hand gripping his shoulder.

“Seo Dong-eun?”

It was a familiar face. Someone Seo Dong-eun knew well, and someone who only knew ‘Seo Dong-eun’.

“……Ra Ju-o?”

Upon seeing his roommate, his heart thudded as he dropped to the floor. As relief washed over him, the emotions he had been suppressing erupted all at once.

“Hey? Are you crying? Hey! Seo Dong-eun! What’s wrong with you? What is this state you’re in? Huh? What happened? Dong-eun?!”

Ra Ju-o called out to Seo Dong-eun repeatedly, but there was no reply. Though no tears fell, choking sobs escaped between his lips. His complexion, which had gone beyond pale, seemed truly alarming. Ra Ju-o held Seo Dong-eun’s shoulder and patted his back, continuing to speak to him.

“Dong-eun, get a grip. Huh? Should we go to the hospital? Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“……Ugh. Gasp.”

Shaking his head, Seo Dong-eun could only clutch Ra Ju-o’s clothes tightly. Every time he took a breath, three or four ragged gasps followed, making uttering even a single word painful.

“……Go.”

“Are you okay? Why are your hands so cold? Dong-eun. This won’t do. Let’s go to the hospital. Huh? You really aren’t yourself right now.”

“G-go home. Please.”

Seo Dong-eun kept shaking his head, repeating the same words. Ra Ju-o, who had intended to drag him to the hospital by force, sighed deeply at the sight of Seo Dong-eun, who couldn’t even cry as his eyes glistened with unshed tears. He couldn’t break his strange stubbornness.