Chapter Text
Shin Jaeho observes the small bag with white powder that his friend holds in his hand as he shakes it in front of his eyes. With a gesture and an annoyed click of his tongue, he pushes it away and tries to hide it even though they are alone in the club bathroom.
- Where do you get this shit from?
- State secret. It would mess up the business if I revealed it.
Jaeho lets out a sigh but ends up smiling.
- What is it this time? - It wasn't the first time he had tried drugs that allowed him to enjoy a party more intensely and wildly, but it was more of an exception in his life than something he did regularly.
- With this, you can screw whoever you want.
- Including your mother? - Jaeho mocks - Who do you think you're talking to? I can screw whoever I want.
- Bullshit. There's always some bitch who prefers to play hard to get.
He was about to mock once again his inability to get a woman, but that last sentence made a name flash through his mind, and he just smiled.
- Yes, there's always some, I suppose. What does this shit do, anyway?
- It's a potent aphrodisiac that lasts a few hours - His friend explains while glancing at the door, lowering his tone a bit more in case someone could enter, although the club's music would drown out enough to allow them to shut up before they could hear anything compromising - It makes them horny, totally in heat, and then they wake up without remembering anything.
Jaeho thinks of Jieun and how suddenly he's just a damn bag away from turning his fantasies into reality. He gets excited just thinking about how she would look rubbing up against him, seeking his attention.
- You better not be tricking me.
- When have I ever?
Jaeho hisses and then stares at him silently before asking:
- How much?
-
Days later, he manages to arrange a dinner with Jieun and Jongwoo; just as his friend had told him, some women enjoyed playing hard to get too much, and Jieun was a prime example of that. It was impossible for him to see her alone unless he showed up unexpectedly at her workplace or used the excuse that he wanted to talk about Jongwoo.
Jaeho was convinced that he wouldn't have much trouble getting her into bed if he persisted enough and subtly tried to make her see that a woman like her should be with him, a much better and more promising option than his intern.
Jongwoo's arrival in Seoul and his complaints about the studio where he was staying had caused them to become more distant, and Jaeho had thought he would have the perfect opportunity to stick the knife in and twist it even further, leaving Jieun at his mercy when she sought comfort in a real man.
But things weren't going as he would have liked; Jieun still insisted on her little loser, and Jaeho was beginning to lose patience. Jongwoo wouldn't stand a chance in the city if it weren't for him, but he always managed to attract others with his handsome face and innocent appearance.
Jieun should desire to be with him, not with Jongwoo.
Hopefully, his fixation on her would end once he slept with her. His interest was always at its peak when he tried to charm them into bed; once he succeeded, they lost everything that made them attractive in his eyes.
Afterward, he could tolerate that she had chosen Jongwoo over him. Things would be more balanced then.
There would come a moment in the night when they would have to part ways; Jongwoo would go to that stinky studio far away from everyone, and Jaeho would offer to drive Jieun home in his car, where he conveniently would have a bottle of water where he could empty the bag and offer it to her.
The anticipation makes him shift slightly in his seat as he watches Jongwoo in front of him, drinking his soju while looking away, probably wishing he were somewhere else.
- What time was she supposed to leave? - He asks, hoping to find out how much longer he has to wait for her.
- She should be here any minute now - Jaeho suppresses the feeling of annoyance at the curt response. Jongwoo's tone seems to scream "I wish I could be alone with my girlfriend, what the hell are you doing here?" but he's too cowardly to say it to his face.
Damn ungrateful.
- Jongwoo, you need to stop with that tone. Not everyone has the patience I do.
Jongwoo takes a slow breath as he lightly grips the glass in his hand and focuses his gaze on it, avoiding his boss's eyes. Jaeho will never tire of enjoying how he tries to contain his bad temper to avoid confrontation.
- I didn't respond to you badly, Jaeho.
- I'm advising you. You're not aware of what you're conveying, right? - He says, wishing Jieun were present so he could boast about his wisdom and how he cares for the well-being of the lost cause that is her boyfriend. - You need to...
The sound of Jongwoo's phone interrupts what he's saying, and he doesn't bother to apologize before looking at the screen, probably relieved to have an excuse to not continue the conversation. His expression falls when he reads what seems to be a message.
- Jieun can't come - He informs him, briefly glancing at him before focusing back on the device to type a response. - Apologies, she has a lot of work and lost track of time.
Jaeho suppresses a curse. He had spent days getting the drug, thinking about how that night would be and how much he would enjoy it. Just sitting there thinking about what would happen hours later had kept him excited. The possibility of being alone with her without seeming suspicious or insistent was once again spaced out.
- Damn it, Jongwoo. Doesn't this happen often to you? - He vents his frustration on him. It usually proves effective.
- What?
- How many times have you seen her since you've been here? I'm starting to think the workload is an excuse.
Jongwoo furrows his brow and looks at him as if he's losing his mind.
- What the hell are you talking about?
- Jongwoo, you were supposed to be the smart one - He tilts his head in a gesture of condescension. - You have to recognize the signs when they start to appear. Jieun is losing interest in you.
- Jaeho - There's a warning tone in the pronunciation of his name that he deliberately ignores because he knows it won't get him anywhere. His livelihood depends on him.
- You need to try harder; the man should be successful and provide for the woman, otherwise they look for someone better - He doesn't stop - And for god's sake, stop complaining about that place, you're too sensitive.
There's a tinge of betrayal in his eyes when he realizes that Jieun has talked to him about his fears, which Jaeho savors as if it were cold beer in the middle of a desert.
- You need to smarten up once and for all and give up those absurd dreams of being a writer. I do what I can trying to help you thrive, but you don't make it easy for me.
- Help me thrive? - He looks at him with such a look of disgust that Jaeho feels a spark of anger ignite in his stomach. - The measly pay you give me doesn't even allow me to move to a decent place. You just take advantage, like you do with everyone.
- Take advantage? - He laughs incredulously that he answered him. - I could have anyone in that position, you're not even qualified enough. I'm doing you a damn favor.
- Not qualified enough? - Jongwoo continues, and Jaeho doesn't understand why he hasn't shut his mouth and lowered his head yet. - The idiot you've put as my supervisor teaches me nothing, and you don't care because that way you can keep throwing my supposed ineptitude in my face.
Jaeho feels like slapping him, a blow not too strong but that instantly corrects his attitude; like a dog you remind of its place when it barks too much.
- Don't think more of yourself than you really are. I remind you that the one begging me for help in university to scrape by a passing grade was you.
- Yes, and look where you are now, genius. Under my command - He retorts with arrogance and pride because he can't stand being told what he thinks of him so bluntly.
Jongwoo clenches both his jaw and the fist lying on the table as he looks at him with pure rage. Jaeho wants to tell him to go ahead, to dare to punch him if he has the balls, but the ringing sound of Jongwoo's phone startles them both.
The youngest one remains watching the screen resting on the table, and Jaeho manages to see the word "Mom" before Jongwoo picks it up and stands up, moving away from him and heading towards the exit as he answers the call.
Jaeho notices that his heart is beating faster and forces himself to relax, reproaching himself for letting someone like him disturb him. He knows he will come back because his stupid backpack is still on the seat, and all he feels like doing is telling him not to bother coming back to the office, to return his ass to the hovel he came from, locked up with his poor mother and his retarded brother.
Only then would he realize how much he should be grateful for having helped him have a more dignified life, far from that fishy-smelling flea market.
- Damn bastard - He mutters with a deep sense of annoyance that he knows will take a while to shake off. - You should know your place - He watches him through the windows of the place as he speaks on the phone in profile.
Every ounce of his body burns with rage at his disdain and insinuation that he is a mediocre who has risen purely by luck and needs to be humiliated, needs to regain superiority until he begs for forgiveness.
He reaches into his pocket with the intention of grabbing his phone, and his fingers brush against the small bag filled with white powder that was meant for the water bottle in his car. He looks back at Jongwoo and quickly comes to the conclusion that he deserves it.
He refills Jongwoo's glass with the soju he hadn't finished yet and, making sure no one is paying attention, he pours the powder into the glass and quickly stirs it with his finger.
If he couldn't sleep with Jieun that night, at least he would make sure her boyfriend lost his dignity by behaving like a horny cat with some girl, and he would be there to record it.
When Jongwoo returns, he seems hesitant about whether to approach or not and doesn't hold Jaeho's gaze until he stands up beside him.
“What? Does your mother need money?” is what he's eager to tell him. “Seems like you're stuck with me, you damn loser.”
- I shouldn't have said that - Jongwoo tells him, and Jaeho feels like each word is being painfully torn from him. - I'm sorry. I'd better go - He grabs the handle of his backpack, and Jaeho raises his hand to stop him.
- Sit down, Jongwoo - Jongwoo looks away, exhaling slowly at the authoritative tone Jaeho speaks with, and Jaeho wants to smile. That's it, that's the dynamic they should have. He commands, Jongwoo obeys - Let's talk.
Jongwoo looks at him, and it's more than likely that he would have grabbed his things and left without looking back if he didn't really need that job. He sits down, and Jaeho leans forward.
I'm not going to hold against you what you said; I know you're under a lot of stress - His gaze momentarily drifts to the glass where he poured the powder, and he feels the anticipation from before, the one he had felt when it was destined for Jieun. - I'm speaking to you as a friend; you shouldn't take my words as an attack.
- I know. I'm sorry.
- Never bite the hand that feeds you; it can be very detrimental to you.
Jongwoo looks at the table in silence, and Jaeho notices the tension in his jaw again before he nods. Jaeho smiles and raises his glass.
- Come on, let's toast. To unwind, I'm taking you to a club now.
- No, Jaeho, I can't. I'm tired - He quickly steps in with an excuse that Jaeho won't allow him to take any further.
- Hey, excuses won't do with your boss. I know you have the day off tomorrow. It's the least you can do after what just happened - He insists with his glass raised, and he suppresses a shiver when Jongwoo sighs and takes his.
- Bottoms up - He urges, and they both quickly drink from their glasses. Jaeho can't look away as Jongwoo downs it and then places the glass on the table with a grimace of disgust.
- It tastes different.
- Yeah, it tasted strange to me too this time - He disguises with a hint of irony - Must be that the reconciliation toast has a peculiar flavor.
He wonders how long it will take for it to take effect.
-
Jongwoo leans against the body of his car and closes his eyes, breathing heavily and tensing up. The backpack hangs from one shoulder until it slides down his arm and hits the ground.
Jaeho watches him closely.
- I don't feel quite right - He says, pulling at the collar of his shirt as he swallows, his discomfort evident.
- What's wrong?
Jongwoo shakes his head without opening his eyes.
- I don't know.
Jaeho clicks his tongue in amusement as he approaches.
- Since when can't you hold your drink? - He places a hand on his back, and Jongwoo recoils as if burned, opening his eyes with surprise and looking at him apprehensively. Jaeho notices his dilated pupils and feels like laughing, delighted.
- Get in - He opens the car door - We have a place to go; you'll feel better.
- No - Jongwoo shakes his head urgently - I don't feel well.
- Jongwoo, get in - He exhales impatiently when he doesn't move - Would you prefer me to take you to Eden? - He's struck by the pure, raw fear he sees in his eyes at his question.
- No, Jaeho. Please - He pleads - I don't want to be near them. Near him.
Jaeho furrows his brow slightly, noticing that the drug also exposes his vulnerability without restraint or disguise. He nods slowly, as if understanding why he hates that place so much, although deep down he believes it's just pure exaggeration and a lack of exposure to the real world, failing to understand that there are unpleasant people everywhere.
- Then get in - He finally complies and closes the door behind him with a sharp thud. Then he picks up the backpack from the ground and puts it in the trunk, before getting behind the wheel.
The club where he plans to record him with some girl is twenty minutes away, but as Jaeho drives kilometers, he can verify that his friend hadn't lied about the effectiveness of the drug. Jongwoo has his head thrown back with his eyes closed, sweat running down his neck, while he lets out small moans that he is increasingly less successful in controlling. He doesn't seem to recognize Jaeho's calls, and his excitement is already evident after the tension in his pants.
Jaeho finds it a spectacle and can't help but acknowledge with some displeasure that the sight and moans have aroused his own member with the same intensity. He attributes it to needing a release for a long time. He stops Jongwoo's hand when it's about to go into his pants, wanting to delay his pleasure in hopes that the fun won't end so soon, and the look Jongwoo gives him when he touches his skin is one of absolute desire.
Jaeho mutters a curse when he sees it, and even though they've only been driving for ten minutes, he makes a turn towards an alley that is not as well lit by streetlights and seems less crowded at that time.
He doesn't understand what's happening to him, as it had never crossed his mind that a guy could turn him on, let alone someone he had known for years and who was beneath him. But the truth was that Jongwoo was a pretty boy, perhaps too much so. His soft features, his lips, and his height were more fitting for a girl. It was normal that he could arouse Jaeho's excitement if he acted like a desperate slut.
He turns off the engine while making sure there's no one around, and shortly after, he brings his thumb to Jongwoo's lips while fascinatedly watching him. The way Jongwoo always addresses him is reluctantly, with exasperation, or resignation, so seeing him with that expression of lust, almost as if he wanted to devour him, provokes inexplicable things in Jaeho.
- Damn - He exhales when Jongwoo opens his lips and licks his finger without taking his eyes off him, covering it shortly after to suck it with desire and slowness.
Jaeho is aware that at that moment, Jongwoo probably doesn't even know who he's dealing with. He's just seeking pleasure and release, and Jaeho isn't going to let the opportunity pass.
With his other hand, he urgently unbuttons his pants and lowers the zipper. He releases his hand from Jongwoo's mouth and guides his fingers to the back of his head, tangling them in his soft hair, and guides him towards his uncovered member.
- Come on - He whispers, completely turned on, leaning his head back with tension against the car's headrest as Jongwoo wastes no time in taking him into his mouth.
It's not something he admits out loud, but his member isn't particularly large, so Jongwoo has no trouble taking it all in easily and sucking on it as if it were an ice cream in the middle of a heatwave.
Jaeho can't help but lift his hips, not caring if it hurts or causes gagging, while he places one hand on the roof and grips Jongwoo's black hair even tighter with the other.
Jongwoo moves his mouth away and grabs the base of the cock with his right hand, moving it up and down, licking the pre-cum from the tip before plunging it back into his mouth and starting to give him a blowjob with more speed, accompanying his rhythm with wet noises that, combined with the overwhelming sensation of pleasure, drive Jaeho crazy.
- I should hire you for this, I'd definitely pay you more - He murmurs breathlessly with his eyes closed, laughing as he continues to move his hips, completely overwhelmed by the pre-orgasmic euphoria.
He's going to come in Jongwoo's mouth. His cum is going to fill his mouth as he swallows it eagerly, and he won't even remember it.
He doesn't need much more than that thought to come forcefully.
Jongwoo licks his remnants as his other hand is inside his pants seeking his own release. Jaeho pulls him away by the hair, grimacing at the hypersensitivity.
Despite feeling satisfied, the sight of Jongwoo in that state doesn't lose its appeal. He knows he'll remember him like this every time he furrows his brow and looks at him as if he were an idiot.
- If this could last longer, I would take you home tonight - He says.
The idea of doing it more times seems tempting when he hears Jongwoo moan as he bites his lip and comes inside his underwear.
Jaeho doesn't miss a beat.
-
Jaeho disposes of Jongwoo's underwear and tries to leave him as neat as possible, intending for him to wake up without any alarm and attribute it all to a drunken episode, something he will confirm to him later.
He leans over the steering wheel and observes the Eden looming from up high. Exiting the car, he grabs the backpack, then opens the door and drapes Jongwoo's arm over his shoulders, helping him walk while he leans on him. Jongwoo is awake but completely drowsy and seems to have no idea where he is.
A nosy elderly woman intercepts them at the entrance, and Jaeho is relieved not to have to go further than the entrance when the woman recognizes Jongwoo.
- Oh, handsome boy! What's wrong with him? - She appears concerned. - I'm the owner.
- He's had a bit too much to drink. I don't know where his room is, if you could accompany him, you'd be doing me a huge favor. He must have the key in his backpack.
- Yes, of course - The woman doesn't hesitate for a moment, and Jaeho feels repelled by her quick willingness and how she grabs onto Jongwoo for support.
He hesitates for a moment whether to stay or not when he remembers the fear in Jongwoo's eyes when he told him he would take him to Eden.
- Don't worry, I'll take good care of him - The woman smiles, and Jaeho concludes that he won't be swayed by Jongwoo's exaggerations. He nods and bids farewell with a wave, thanking her.
He takes one last look as they have walked away a few steps, and finally sighs, getting into the car.
Fortunately, he hadn't wasted his night.