FL Chapter 52

“Uhhh…”

Kangwoo stood at the edge of the bed and grabbed Heewoon’s hair. Heewoon’s scalp felt like it was being torn apart, but he couldn’t scream. He held his breath.

“I was wrong, Kangwoo. I just… really wanted to drink. But I didn’t drink much. I hadn’t been drinking for a while and then, I accidentally had some at the pub. But after I received your call, I went home immediately. Really.”

Heewoon extended his two hands in a pleading gesture, fervently explaining his actions. Kangwoo stared down at him with a cold gaze, his lips quirked into a sardonic smile. You’re really… Hearing the low and rough voice, Heewoon’s face became white in fear.

“So you were drinking when you were on the phone with me?”

“K-Kangwoo…”

“Why are you stabbing me in the back like this?”

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Tears pooled in Heewoon’s eyes, and he glanced fearfully at Kangwoo. Heewoon’s fumbling hand reached up and grabbed the sleeve of Kangwoo’s robe. Kangwoo glanced at the back of his fair hand and smirked. That indifferent smile.

“Heu…”

A sound that was somewhere between a whimper and a sob escaped from Heewoon’s lips.

“K-Kangwoo… Aaack!”

The burning pain on his pulled scalp made Heewoon scream. Tears fell from his shut eyes.

“I was wrong. I did…”

Heewoon couldn’t help imagining something horrifying. This time he might really get his teeth knocked out.

Kangwoo released a long sigh and let go of Heewoon’s hair. Heewoon looked at him, fearing that Kangwoo might be holding pliers or something equally dangerous.

“Kangwoo, just once, please…”

Heewoon grabbed Kangwoo’s arm. Kangwoo frowned and knitted his brow.

“After receiving your call last night…”

As Kangwoo was about to speak, he let out a bitter laugh. Heewoon sniffled and looked up at Kangwoo. The tears that fell from his cheek were creating dark spots on Kangwoo’s robe.

“You’re so pretty. I just kept thinking that I should adore you more.”

Meeting Kangwoo’s chillin gaze, all Heewoon could do was cry. He cried with his chest heaving.

“B-But I was honest with you earlier…”

“That’s right. If you hadn’t been honest, you wouldn’t be begging me now.”

Kangwoo’s low voice sent shivers down Heewoon’s spine. After staring at Heewoon’s face for a moment, Kangwoo pulled his arm free and said.

“I didn’t know that you liked alcohol so much, Sunbae.”

Heewoon watched Kangwoo’s movements nervously. Kangwoo expressionlessly picked up the bottle of strong liquor from the table, opened the cap, and extended it to Heewoon.

“I’m giving you a warning in advance.”

Heewoon received the hefty bottle and stared blankly at it.

“Drink it. There’s still another bottle, so don’t be upset.”

“K-Kangwoo…”

The bottle had over 40% alcohol. Heewoon looked up at Kangwoo with fear in his eyes. Kangwoo frowned as if warning him and said.

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Heewoon brought the bottle to his lips slowly. The nearly full bottle tilted unevenly in his hands. Kangwoo sat down at the desk, watching Heewoon gulp it down.

“Ugh…”

The moment the liquor entered, it burned his nose. Heewoon breathed harshly through his nose as he felt the burning sensation all the way from his throat to his stomach.

“Don’t take your mouth off, keep drinking. You like it, right?”

A voice said with a hint of laughter. Heewoon closed his eyes tightly and managed to swallow. The sharp and fiery liquor felt like it was scraping his insides.

“Ugh…”

He started to feel like he might vomit. His hand holding the bottle was trembling so much that it was visible to Kangwoo. Unswallowed liquor ran down his chin.

Gulping, he took another sip. The spicy sensation rushed up his nose. He felt like he might throw up at any moment.

Swallowing was getting harder. His insides were so hot as if they had been scalding. Seo Kangwoo, with his cold gaze, showed no sign of letting him stop. Heewoon shut his eyes tightly and could barely keep the bottle to his lips.

“Coff-! Urkh, heuuuu…”

A cough erupted from his throat. The tickle was unbearable, and a cough burst out. Liquor trickled down his chin. His vision was already blurry from the coughing fit. His head felt heavy, and intoxication was quickly setting in. The breath he took smelled strongly of alcohol.

He was terrified. He had never drunk liquor from a bottle like this and gotten drunk so fast. Whether it was due to the forced swallowing or his racing heart, he felt a sore pain in his chest. Heewoon clutched his chest.

“I-I can’t drink anymore.”

On his stomach, a small voiced emerged from Heewoon. Heewoon trembled with his head bowed as he heard the sound of slippers approaching.

“Aaack-”

Suddenly, his hair was grabbed, and his head was lifted. Kangwoo’s face was expressionless. Heewoon cried pitifully, but he spoke indifferently, as if unmoved.

“Clench your teeth.”

“Uh…”

Fear filled Heewoon’s eyes, threatening to overflow. Seeing that his cheeks were twitching from the effort of gritting his teeth, Kangwoo slapped his cheeks hard with his palm. It made a menacing sound unlike that of a palm strike.

“Uh…!”

Because he was clenching his teeth so hard, a suppressed groan emerged from his mouth. Heewoon collapsed to the side without realizing it. Kangwoo stared intently at Heewoon, who was trembling on the floor, and said.

“Sit up straight.”

He heard the creepy voice through the ringing in his head. Heewoon staggered to his feet. His vision was spinning.

“I’m going to hit you on the other side.”

“Yes, yes…”

Heewoon realised at that moment that the slap he had received a moment ago was really just a caress.

Watching Hee-woon shakily answer, Kang-woo clicked his tongue. You should clench your teeth properly. Kangwoo slapped Heewoon’s chin, which was wet with tears and alcohol.

With difficulty, Heewoon bit his lips and slowly opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut. His tensed face was trembling as if he were convulsing. Kangwoo raised his other hand and slapped Heewoon’s narrow cheek.

“Uuuuh…”

This time, Heewoon remained upright but wobbled, clutching for support. His head felt dizzy, and a feeling of nausea rose, making it difficult to tell whether it was from the punch or the alcohol. Either way, it frightened him.

“Lift your head.”

Heewoon exhaled sharply and lifted his head. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.

He thought he was going to get another hard slap, but a hand gently touched him under the chin. Heewoon hesitated a few times before opening his eyes.

“Ughhh…!”

This time, Heewoon trembled and his shoulders jerked when his eyes met Kangwoo’s. Heewoon looked at Kangwoo with fearful eyes. With slightly parted lips and a scared expression, Kangwoo’s fingers explored between his lips.

His eyes were filled with fear, and his lips were parted, Kangwoo’s fingers digging between them. Unsure of what Kangwoo was doing, Heewoon kept his eyes on him.

The fingers pressed on his teeth, touched the inside of his cheeks, and then gently withdrew. It seemed like Kangwoo was searching for the right spot to pull a tooth.

“Kang… uhhhh, Woo… Ugh…”

Kangwoo glanced at Heewoon, who was struggling, and then shifted his gaze beneath the bed. Heewoon was intoxicated. What had fallen from his hand when he first slapped him was the bottle of alcohol. The white bedsheet had also become damp from the spilled alcohol. Kangwoo watched the alcohol dripping off the edge of the bed.

“Drink again.”

Kangwoo opened the cap and extended the bottle to Heewoon. Heewoon’s hand, trembling, took the bottle.

Heewoon raised the heavy bottle slowly, and his lips met the opening. Tilting the bottle was terrifying. The liquor trickled between his lips. The intense smell hit him immediately. He felt dizzy. He didn’t know whether it was due to the slap he’d received earlier or the alcohol.

Seo Kangwoo stood right in front of the bed, looking down at Heewoon. Heewoon knew that if he didn’t drink, he’d get slapped again. Getting hit again after the first slap was horrifying. Heewoon clenched his eyes shut and swallowed the liquor.

He managed to swallow three sips or so. After that, he couldn’t swallow anymore.

The chest pain he’d been experiencing since earlier intensified. His vision swayed. He was scared.

“Heuhhhhh… Uh…”

Kangwoo stared at Heewoon, who was trembling uncontrollably, with the bottle held in his mouth, unable to swallow. Both of Heewoon’s cheeks turned red, and even his fair chest was flushed. As Kangwoo watched in silence, Heewoon lowered the bottle.

“I-I can’t drink anymore…”

Kangwoo lightly slapped Heewoon’s cheek. Smack.

“Ugh…”

Heewoon’s eyes were closed, and he sobbed softly. Although he was fumbling with the bottle, he couldn’t bring it to his mouth.

“You like alcohol, don’t you? So why can’t you drink it?”

Upon hearing Kangwoo’s words, Heewoon burst into tears.

“If I drink more, I might… I might die.”

His shoulders shaking and sobbing, Heewoon looked at Kangwoo and pointed to his chest.

“K-Kangwoo, I’m in pain here…”

My head is spinning, and I can barely see anything. Just once, please. Kangwoo, please forgive me just once. What if I really die?

Kangwoo, watching Heewoon with a half-smile, took the bottle from him.

“Do I have to forgive you every time you misbehave?”

“N-No, it’s just… I’m really in pain here…”

Heewoon squeezed his eyes shut against the cold liquid that suddenly ran down his face. Kangwoo had poured the liquor over his head.

The amber liquid flowed over his head, down his forehead, past his nose, and beside his cheek. As soon as the alcohol touched his slightly parted lips, Heewoon clamped his mouth shut. More and more of it covered his face.

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