Chapter 7

“What, you’re here?”

“Of course. It’s my store. You should turn right back out.”

The one stepping in was Geonhyuk. He looked nothing like the man Gyuyeon had seen at the club. Instead of his usual wild appearance, he wore a sharp, tailored suit, his hair neatly styled.

The moment Gyuyeon saw him, he waved him off irritably. Already on edge from dealing with Naru, the last thing he needed was another headache.

Geonhyuk was the kind of friend who added weight to your shoulders instead of lifting it.

Ignoring Gyuyeon’s cold dismissal, Geonhyuk shamelessly leaned in and slid into the seat across from him. He even tossed Seoyeon an order for an iced Americano while making himself comfortable.

“Why that face? Oh right, my collar—where is it?”

“Collar…! Ha, fuck. Don’t even bring that up.”

“You didn’t put it on someone else, did you?”

“Shut up.”

As always, Geonhyuk poked exactly where it stung. He’d only asked about the collar he’d left behind, but Gyuyeon’s sharp reaction told him more than enough. Squinting as he studied Gyuyeon’s expression, he grinned, lips curling into a sly smirk.

“I knew it. You’re seeing that nouveau riche guy, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean, ‘seeing’? There’s nothing.”

“Come on, Gyuyeon. Just between us. You know I can tell, right?”

Having caught a whiff of something, Geonhyuk nagged at him like a dog worrying a bone. If Gyuyeon wasn’t going to share willingly, then he’d force the issue.

But as Gyuyeon stirred the ice in his cup with his straw, his mind wandered—back home, to Naru. It hadn’t even been an hour since he left. Surely, in that short time, Naru hadn’t destroyed anything. Yet that innocent face flashed unbidden in his mind.

“You caught that nouveau riche, right? You did, didn’t you?”

“You’ve been spouting nothing but useless crap.”

“I’m just curious. If it were you, you’d already have wrung an apology out of him by now.”

‘An apology?’ Damn it. What apology.

Gyuyeon’s eyes went cold. If he’d gotten an apology, he wouldn’t be grinding his teeth every day. Suppressing a sigh, he downed the Americano in one shot. Finally, he muttered more than a one-word retort.

“Apology, my ass—that bastard’s a total psycho.”

“Oh? Something ‘did’ happen. So what’s psycho about him?”

“Do I need to spell it out too? Enough. You’re giving me a headache. Piss off.”

Uncrossing his legs, Gyuyeon shoved Geonhyuk’s foot aside and stirred his drink again.

Seeing real irritation there, Geonhyuk gave up and rose. But his gaze lingered, sharp and calculating.

Just then, Seoyeon set down his drink—an Americano laced with vanilla syrup, a little extra sweetness she’d paid for herself.

“Oh? Americano…”

“That’s from Seoyeon. A gift.”

“A-a gift?”

“You want a macaron too? Gyuyeon won’t let you have one, so I’ll buy you one.”

Geonhyuk, smooth as always, pushed the coffee toward her with an easy grin. If anyone else had tried that line, Seoyeon would’ve rolled her eyes, but instead she flushed and stammered a thank-you.

Of course, Geonhyuk didn’t stop there. He added a box of macarons and then leaned back in his chair.

But he wasn’t done with Gyuyeon yet.

After glancing around, he bent closer to whisper. Brushed off as disgusting, he didn’t care—he pressed on.

“Gyuyeon, bring him to the club tonight.”

“What the hell kind of bullshit is that?”

“You said he’s a psycho, right? Guys like that need to be put in their place. Let people better than him humiliate him—that’s how they learn.”

The suggestion was vintage Geonhyuk. Cruel, prying, and entertained by others’ downfall. Of course he’d want to see for himself what kind of man could drive the infamous Yu Gyuyeon this crazy.

Gyuyeon sat in silence. Normally, he’d have jumped at the idea—public humiliation was his specialty. But when he imagined it, he saw Naru’s wide, uncomprehending eyes, that dumb look he made whenever Gyuyeon cursed him out.

He wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t flinch. He’d just stand there, looking lost.

And strangely, that thought unsettled him.

What the hell was wrong with him? Had he really grown attached just from a few days? He had to be losing his mind.

Grinding his teeth, he snapped back, “Alright. Now get lost.”

“Then I’ll call the guys. See you tonight.”

Geonhyuk left with a satisfied smirk.

Left behind, Gyuyeon stood abruptly, eyes glinting with cold intent. Even Seoyeon, who was just wrapping up fresh madeleines, shivered at the sight. His sharp, cutting expression always made people crawl.

Driving his new sports car back home, he told himself it wasn’t because he worried about Naru. He just needed to get him under control before the night. That was all.

Probably.

This time, his fingers flew over the door lock keypad faster than usual. He forced himself to look calm as he opened the door.

“What now—”

But the sight that greeted him stopped him cold.

Naru was kneeling at the entryway, smiling up at him.

“You came early?”

He looked like he’d been waiting a long time. Sweat dampened his forehead, his waist trembled with the effort of holding still, but his expression was pure sweetness, eyes crinkled with joy.

“You… what are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you, of course…”

“You crazy bastard.”

It was the most natural thing in the world for Naru. An owner goes out, a dog waits at the door. That was how it worked.

Somehow he’d picked up Gyuyeon’s name and called it often—sometimes with a timid air, sometimes bold and casual, like it belonged on his tongue.

Still standing in his shoes, Gyuyeon reached down, grabbed Naru’s arm, and hauled him up roughly. Naru blinked, startled, legs numb from kneeling too long.

“Who told you to wait here? Pathetic. How stupid can you be?”

“Worry…”

“Why the hell would I worry about you? It’s not like you got shot in the head.”

“…”

Naru tapped his legs to chase away the numbness, then rose onto his toes to meet Gyuyeon’s gaze. Once he had a good look, he tilted his head and examined him—front, side, back.

“What the hell are you staring at?”

“Ah… nothing.”

He was checking if Gyuyeon had been shot in the head.

Insane. Completely insane.

“We’re going out later. Get ready.”

“Going out? Where? For a walk?”

Gyuyeon shoved his forehead back with a finger as he stepped inside.

Naru lit up, trailing him eagerly. Until yesterday, Gyuyeon had barked at him never to dream of leaving the house. Now he was the one suggesting it. To Naru, this wasn’t just going out—it was a date.

‘A date. My first date. What should I do?’

“Do you like it?” Gyuyeon asked dryly.

“Yes! I can see new things outside, and also…”

Fuck. He keeps tugging at my sympathy.

Grinding down the feeling, Gyuyeon led him into the dressing room. If he was taking him out, he couldn’t let him look pathetic. Not pity—just necessity.

“Pick something decent to wear.”

“M-me?”

“Yeah. Find something that fits.”

“Can I really—”

“Ask again, and I’ll sew your mouth shut.”

Naru snapped his lips closed and began sifting through hangers with painful caution. After ten minutes of indecision, he finally plucked out a deep green silk shirt. It would have looked perfect on Gyuyeon, but on Naru’s delicate features it was a disaster.

“Your fashion sense is garbage.”

Rolling his eyes, Gyuyeon picked for him instead—a clean white tee with soft shoulders, light jeans, and a simple necklace. Casual, but perfect.

Naru couldn’t stop staring at his reflection. He looked… different. Almost like he belonged at Gyuyeon’s side.

When night finally fell, he was already at the shoe rack, bouncing with excitement in his new boots.

“Get in,” Gyuyeon ordered, tossing him into the passenger seat of the sports car.

“Wow…”

Naru sank into the leather seat, wide-eyed at the shine, the scent, the sheer feel of it all.

But his high spirits didn’t last. Less than an hour later, the car rolled to a stop.

“What is this place…? What do they do here…?”

The pounding bass, the flashing lights, the hulking men guarding the door—it was overwhelming.

“Come on. Get in.”

“I—I can’t!”

Gyuyeon greeted the bouncer easily and pulled Naru along. The music throbbed louder with every step. Naru covered his ears, shaking his head, fear plain on his face.

He’d never been anywhere like this. The heavy beat rattled his bones, and all he could think was: ‘Will Gyuyeon be okay? This place is dangerous.’

For a brief second, Gyuyeon almost turned back. But no—he’d brought him this far. There was no leaving now.

He descended the stairs without looking back, posture calm as if daring Naru to follow.

“Don’t… don’t abandon me!”

Panicked, Naru stamped his feet, then rushed down after him. Step by step, the light dimmed, the air thickened, and the tension closed in like a vice.