S Chapter 10

The unhealed scars from his father’s continuous physical punishment had accumulated quite a bit. Therefore, his plan was to reveal his own wounds first, gain sympathy, and appeal to their shared circumstances to build empathy. He was under his father, and Yang U-dam was at school. The difficulty of what they were both going through, something hard to talk about with others, was the same.

‘Look, brother. I’ve been through this. Are you, by any chance, going through something difficult to talk about too?’

He would create an atmosphere where they could comfort each other. Once the resistance faded, Yang U-dam would surely open up.

“Something you can’t talk about… want to share?”

Snap, his buckle came undone.

“…Between brothers?”

Yang U-dam asked, as if letting it slip.

‘It’s working.’

Indeed, being a psychological counselor isn’t for just anyone. Shin Jukyeong’s eyes crinkled in a happy smile.

“Yes, between brothers.”

The word ‘brother’ coming from his younger brother’s mouth resonated in his heart. Even though he wasn’t a good brother, he was grateful for the recognition as one. So, he wanted to try even harder.

“I’ll show you in detail. It might be a little gross, but-”

While talking about his wounds, ding-ding-ding- the bell signaling the end of class rang. Already? Shin Jukyeong’s heart raced. Just when his brother was about to open up, the timing was terrible. If someone else appeared, his wariness might return.

“I’ll show you quickly before the others come.”

“…Hah!”

Yang U-dam abruptly turned his body. He seemed angry at a glance.

“Uh, uh.”

Only Shin Jukyeong stopped in an awkward posture. Why was he suddenly like this? Wasn’t the atmosphere fine?

“Where are you going?”

After pulling up his disheveled pants, he grabbed Yang U-dam. The advice not to force him came to mind, but his eyes spun at the chance he was about to lose right in front of him, and he couldn’t help himself.

He just needed to confirm the scars. He just needed to hear one word: “Help me.” Then, his brother would take care of everything.

“To wash my hands.”

“Hands?”

Yang U-dam pushed away Shin Jukyeong, who was holding him, then raised and shook his hands.

“Yeah. Touching a rag feels gross.”

“Rag?”

What was he suddenly talking about? As Shin Jukyeong looked bewildered, Yang U-dam slowly scanned him from head to toe. The stare was so persistent that even Shin Jukyeong flinched.

Yang U-dam’s lips twisted into a smirk. His mouth was clearly smiling, but his eyes were cold. Mid-winter would be warmer than that.

“It’d be a problem if the smell sticks. Rag smell.”

Disgusting. Yang U-dam, having uttered the last word coldly, left the Infirmary. There was no hesitation in his steps. Shin Jukyeong, left alone, blinked and thought.

‘Was I on duty?’

Shin Jukyeong was insane.

‘Something you can’t talk about… want to share?’

They said he became half a cripple, but now the bastard’s become utterly filthy, as if his brain was steeped in an idiot’s broth. Even if they didn’t share blood, they grew up as brothers. They were bound together in one category. But what? Yang U-dam was so flabbergasted he couldn’t speak.

“Damn it, that motherfing Shin Jukyeong.”

Of course, the curses came out easily. Unlike his harsh words, his voice was soft and his expression gentle. This was because he had a habit of putting on a facade the more upset he felt. It was all thanks to the Shin family’s rich pig-headed father and son.

‘So he never saw me as a brother to begin with.’

He didn’t particularly want it either, but he wasn’t going to let his brotherhood be denied by an invitation to sleep together. His head felt hot.

‘F, and before that, we’re both guys!’

Yang U-dam shuddered with disgust. It felt like he had just witnessed a swarm of eight-legged insects copulating. He felt sick to his stomach.

‘He must think his life is ruined, so he wants to rebel properly or something… F. But why drag me into this mess? If he wants to do something crazy, he should go sleep with Shin Taekyung! Ugh. I feel like I’m going to vomit.’

In his current mood, he felt like he could easily set the school on fire. Especially that comment he made while taking off his pants.

‘I’ll show you in detail. It might be a little gross, but-‘

“What a rag-like weirdo.”

His vulgar gestures suggested it wasn’t his first time. Was he engaging in ‘compensated dating’ or something? Shin Jukyeong of all people? A model student living a double life? What a shame. He should have just scoffed and left. Or perhaps filmed it and sent the video to Shin Taekyung.

As he searched for a cigarette in his pocket, Yang U-dam unintentionally thought of Shin Jukyeong. That guy who, with an indifferent face, only repeated school, home, school, home. Shin Taekyung’s dog, interested only in the successor position. The ‘usual’ Shin Jukyeong. Such a guy… with a face that looked utterly devoid of sexual desire, spouted such words.

“Filthy, damn it… Homosexual Bastard.”

Yang U-dam shook his head and moved to go to the rooftop. As he turned the corner, Shin’s family’s slave #2 appeared in the distance.

His name was Cha Jae-min. He was the slave kid with a mother. Unlike Yang U-dam, who wore his uniform carelessly, Cha Jae-min was meticulously dressed, even his tie was neatly done. His flaw was that, despite his enthusiasm, his grades weren’t good.

“Hey.”

Cha Jae-min called out to Yang U-dam, who was about to ignore him and leave.

“It’s not ‘hey,’ it’s ‘Brother.’ Cha Jae-min.”

“Where are you going?”

“Wherever Brother goes, Cha Jae-min.”

“What is it? Why are you acting crazy again?”

Hmm… Yang U-dam, relaxing his shoulders, smiled at Cha Jae-min.

“What’s with the ‘acting crazy’ towards your brother? Let’s say your father is a useless bastard who abandoned you and ran… Does your mother teach you manners like that? Madam Cha, I’m disappointed. Does she have no interest in her children’s education?”

“You son of a btch!”

“Cha Jae-min, can you sleep with your brother?”

“From now on, only one of us survives.”

“Then, can you be the bottom?”

“Let’s fight, you little bastard.”

Cha Jae-min clenched his fists and took a step.

“One punch, three teeth out, you bastard.”

“Exactly. This is normal.”

Yang U-dam merely sighed even as a fist came right up to his nose. His troubled face was like a masterpiece, but Cha Jae-min knew the little demon residing within it. A little demon from a twisted hell. Worse than Satan.

“I just met Shin Jukyeong, and he said he wanted to sleep with me.”

“Uh-huh. I see. I have to go to the teacher’s office. Goodbye.”

“Cha Jae-min, I’m talking, brother. Where are you going?”

“Aaaah! My arm, my arm, arm, arm!”

Yang U-dam grabbed Cha Jae-min’s forearm, who was trying to pass, and twisted it. He handled Cha Jae-min, who had a physique surpassing an adult’s due to his hobby of exercising, as if he were a child. His appearance was that of a perfect playboy, but his strength was that of a servant.

“Cha Jae-min, your brother is so confused.”

“Brother… I’m so confused too. What on earth did I do wrong to deserve this…?”

“I was sleeping in the Infirmary, you see?”

“A conversation without mutual respect…”

Yang U-dam quietly crumpled Cha Jae-min and continued.

“He said, ‘Let’s take off our pants and sleep together’.”

“I don’t even know where to begin pointing out the issues. What am I supposed to do…? How is an ordinary high schooler like me supposed to endure this, you crazy bastards…?”

“He also said he’d show me his own.”

“Ugh! Get lost! You demon! Disappear, you devil spawn!”

As Yang U-dam whispered, Cha Jae-min thrashed like an eel just pulled from the water.

“Brother needs to do some personality decoration.”

Cha Jae-min mumbled with a tearful face.

“What’s personality decoration?”

“Decorating your personality.”

“Thanks.”

“Aaaargh! My arm, my arm!”

Soon it would be dismissal time. Shin Jukyeong shifted in his seat. His urgency made his body anxious. He endured the boring class time to go home with Yang U-dam. It was even more agonizing because he couldn’t be as enthusiastic as before.

Unlike his days as a new employee, enthusiastically saying ‘Yes! I’ll do it!’ when asked to present by the teacher, he now put on a ‘5-year PvP Veteran’ vibe, retorting ‘Me? Do I have to?’ Even when whispers came from around him, Shin Jukyeong remained steadfast.

Shin Jukyeong, who used to be the first to arrive at school and the last to leave, had changed. Now, he was the last to arrive and the first to leave. Even if people pointed out that he had lost his original enthusiasm, he couldn’t help it. Because he had lost it.

Ding-ding-ding!

As soon as Shin Jukyeong heard the bell, he shot out like an arrow. However, contrary to his expectation, Yang U-dam wasn’t there.

‘That’s strange. I came down really fast. …Hmm, I see. Did he leave quickly to avoid bullying?’

Drawing his own conclusion, Shin Jukyeong turned around. There were two paths to the bus stop: the main road and a shortcut. He had to take the shortcut to meet Yang U-dam, who had left earlier.

And when he was halfway through the winding shortcut.

“Hey! Friend.”

Some guys who looked delinquent no matter who saw them grabbed Shin Jukyeong. Smoking cigarettes and swaggering around as students, it was a sight that made one worry about the future of this country. There were even many of them. They must be doing group studies in rebellion.

‘Even I’m quitting smoking…’

However, Shin Jukyeong was enraged by something else. He was so incredibly envious of the mass-produced drug, the happy suicide item, they held in their mouths.

‘Damn it, should I ask for just one cigarette?’

He seriously considered it. Shin Jukyeong imagined extorting them instead, then talked himself down.

‘No, I was a public servant, after all… and the number one ranked hunter…’

Even thinking about it again, it was insane self-control.

“Got any money?”

But these bastards kept messing around endlessly. How could every moment be legendary?