Chapter 61

Her throat tightened and he couldn’t breathe. He swayed dizzily following the flickering dimensional portal. He had hoped Domin’s words were a lie, but everything was true.

It was good that he could come here, but Naru wanted the dimensional portal to close tight.

The Previous owner was obsessive. If Naru ran away, he would send people to catch him for days, tie him up in the basement, and beat and brainwash him so he would never think of escaping again.

Because of that, Naru had never escaped for a long time. At shortest he ran for a few hours, at longest for three days. But crossing through the dimensional portal, he had succeeded in escaping for the first time.

He hadn’t realized it while spending happy times with Gyu-yeon. The Previous owner might be going mad searching for Naru by now. If he discovered the dimensional portal and came through here, Naru’s life would be over.

No way, no, that can’t happen.

Hiding behind the corner and watching the dimensional portal, Naru squeezed his eyes shut. Thinking of the horrible situation sent chills through his entire body.

Get away before it gets dangerous. I have to get away.

Turning away, Naru forced his trembling legs to move. His steps were like a newborn calf’s.

“Ugh…”

He retched from intense fear. Pressing his mouth shut, Naru took deep breaths through his nose and left the alley.

The memories of the Previous owner and his atrocities, which had resurfaced the moment he found the dimensional portal, wouldn’t leave his mind.

Being given strange drugs and abandoned, being tied to a bed and whipped, being thrown onto the cold basement floor while the Previous owner mercilessly used horrible toys on him.

Naru couldn’t bring himself to go back to the basement to be abused. No, he didn’t want to. He had learned how to live like a person here; if he were caught by the Previous owner, what would happen? It was obvious without even seeing.

He would want to die. He’d die. He might really die. Because otherwise he couldn’t live.

“Ha, haa, ha…”

Naru, pounding his chest with his fist, let out a heavy breath. Anxiety felt like it was devouring his whole body.

Click!

Tearing up as he moved forward, he heard someone’s hurried footsteps. Naru weakly lifted his head, and as soon as he confirmed who was making the footsteps, he bolted.

“Gyu-yeon…!”

The person who had come running was Gyu-yeon. Coming to find Naru, Gyu-yeon pulled his staggering body into his arms and hugged him. Naru’s arms crossed and wrapped around his broad waist.

Trembling as if he had suffered something terrible, Naru burrowed deeply into Gyu-yeon’s chest. He even whimpered slightly, and seeing him like that moved Gyu-yeon to gently stroke his back and calm him.

“Song Naru, what’s wrong with you? Did someone bother you?”

“Ugh, ugh…”

“I’ll just check if you’re hurt anywhere for a moment, let me see.”

“Ugh-uh!”

Worried that Naru might have been hurt by someone, Gyu-yeon slightly pulled back. First he thought it best to check Naru’s condition.

But Naru shook his head from side to side as if he didn’t even want that. He mumbled petulantly. With no choice, Gyu-yeon hugged him again.

Naru clung to his waist tightly as if afraid Gyu-yeon might run away, sniffing. With his face buried in his broad chest, his scent was strong. Familiar with that smell, his mind calmed a little.

The situation was serious, but his behavior was excessively cute. Gyu-yeon, worried, clenched his fist. This wasn’t the time to feel such things.

“Song Naru.”

“…”

“Naru.”

“I want to go home. I want to go to Gyu-yeon’s home.”

Naru, who hadn’t answered Gyu-yeon’s calling, suddenly changed tack. Wanting to go home like that was similar to the day they first met. His face was full of terror and fear of something. It was an expression he hadn’t seen for months.

Gyu-yeon gently stroked the back of Naru’s head. He didn’t mind going home, but he really wanted him to calm down even a little.

Maybe the close contact worked. Naru, whose face had been buried, finally lifted his head. His damp eyes looked particularly desolate. Gyu-yeon gently kissed him on the eyes and pulled away. It was a half-impulsive act.

“Let’s stop by the Cafe and just say hello before we go. Is that okay?”

“Kheung, okay…”

Gyu-yeon’s brusque tone softened like a squishy pudding. Calming him like a baby, Naru sniffed and nodded. The hug he clung to like an escape was warm and reassuring, and his body slowly calmed.

Gyu-yeon walked with his arm around Naru’s shoulders. Leaning on him, Naru entered the Cafe and stood upright the moment they stepped inside.

Even if it was fine outside, he shouldn’t get too close to Gyu-yeon in the Cafe. Naru tried to keep the promise he made with Gyu-yeon. Even now he wanted to collapse into his arms again, but he held back with all his might.

Gyu-yeon, momentarily flustered by Naru’s behavior, let out a small laugh. At times like this he could pretend not to notice and let him lean, but obedient Naru was both pitiful and amusing.

“Naru, are you not feeling well? Why does your complexion suddenly look like that…?”

“I’ll go inside first, so please finish up.”

“Yes, boss. Please go in.”

Seo-yeon, who had been doing the dishes, looked distressed and worried about Naru. Gyu-yeon answered in his stead and quickly wrapped up the situation. Seo-yeon didn’t add unnecessary words and told them to go inside.

Do-min, slicing bread beside Seo-yeon, secretly frowned at Naru’s condition. He hadn’t realized Naru would be so upset and felt sorry for making things uncomfortable.

Watching the staff, Naru sniffled and approached. Then he reached out his hand toward Do-min.

“Take care…”

“Don’t cry foolishly, just live well or don’t, whatever.”

“Mmm…”

“Your answer’s dumb too.”

“Kheung, yes!”

Do-min gripped his hand hard and gave a vigorous handshake. He teased Naru on purpose. Ruffling him like that cheered him up quickly, and Naru answered loudly.

Gyu-yeon, who had been watching the two of them puzzled, naturally stepped in. Naru stepped aside to allow them to exchange greetings.

This time Gyu-yeon put out his hand. Do-min lightly took it and looked at Naru playfully. The subdued mood instantly lifted.

“It was a short time but good work. I put a bit more in your paycheck, so check it.”

“Yes, boss. I’m so disappointed—can I have one hug?”

“What? No,”

Don’t. Before the sentence was finished, Do-min grabbed Gyu-yeon’s waist and hugged him tightly. He did it on purpose. He stuck his tongue out teasingly at Naru who was behind him.

Naru, who had been sulking a moment ago, glared fiercely at Do-min’s provocation. The two of them bickered whenever they had the chance.

Gyu-yeon firmly pulled Do-min away. His flustered gaze landed on Do-min, then on Naru, repeatedly.

Puffing, Naru grabbed Gyu-yeon’s hand and pulled. It was a signal to go home. Having finished the greetings clumsily, Gyu-yeon had no choice but to be led out by Naru’s hand.

Annoying cat. Ptooey.

Peering through the cafe window, Naru glared at Do-min. Indeed, cats didn’t get along with dogs.

“Get in.”

“…”

Gyu-yeon, who had driven the car, spoke as he got out of the driver’s seat. Standing still, Naru glared at him with a sullen expression.

Yu Gyu-yeon is an easy man. You shouldn’t give your embrace to just anyone. He’s mine.

Naru’s jealousy flared up. Quietly trying to get into the passenger seat, he kicked the front tire hard. He’s probably the only person in the world who treats a multimillion-won sports car like that.

With a thud, Gyu-yeon frowned. Then he said briefly.

“Hey, you’ll hurt your foot.”

“…”

Thud!

Naru kicked the front tire once more. Passersby murmured in surprise at his behavior.

“Oh my, he must be crazy. That clearly looks like an expensive car—can he really kick it?”

“Wow, gutsy. The owner must be furious.”

Naru didn’t know how expensive the car was. After all, there were three other similar cars in Gyu-yeon’s parking lot.

Contrary to people’s murmurs, Gyu-yeon was worried about Naru, not the car. He was stomping the tire in a sulk, and he was anxious he might injure his slender ankle.

In the end, Gyu-yeon approached Naru, opened the passenger door himself, and squeezed her in. He even fastened his seatbelt for him—quite a tender display.

Forced into the car, Naru stared straight ahead. As soon as Gyu-yeon climbed into the driver’s seat, he pinched his muscular thigh hard.

“Ugh!”

“…”

“Song Naru, what’s with you?”

“What.”

So something else bothered him again.

Gyu-yeon, staring at his pinched thigh in disbelief, started the engine. Naru stared intently at Gyu-yeon driving, applying pressure. His gentle face was full of venom.

The signal turned red and the car slowed to a stop. Gyu-yeon immediately turned to the passenger seat, checking on Naru.

“You have to say it for me to know.”

“Yu Gyu-yeon is fucking easy.”

“…What did you say?”

“He’s mine—why are you hugging someone else?”

Naru spat out harsh words in his childish voice. “Fucking” was borrowed from earlier when Domi used it. Gyu-yeon was so stunned he could only gape wordlessly.

Bang!

At that moment the light turned green. Since Gyu-yeon’s car hadn’t moved, a car that had been waiting behind honked. Only then did Gyu-yeon snap out of it and frantically hit the accelerator.

“Wait, I’m driving, so get out and talk.”

“…”

“For the record, I’m really aggrieved, Song Naru.”

“So what.”

He now said “So what” with confidence. Gyu-yeon forced himself to compose and steered the wheel. Whenever Naru acted like this, he felt his soul being shaken out of him.

Come to think of it, as time passed the positions of the two were gradually reversing. At first Gyu-yeon had clearly been dominant, but now it felt like Naru was sitting on top of his head.

Glancing at Naru, Gyu-yeon unconsciously lifted the corner of his mouth. His slightly protruding lips looked like a duck’s.

What can I do—I’ll give in. I’ll cuddle Song Naru.

He felt guilty for thinking this while dealing with a sulking kid.

Pouting Song Naru was seriously, disgustingly cute.