Winston gently spoke and kissed Yujin on the temple before lulling him back to sleep and stepping out of the bedroom. He made his way down to the kitchen and drank a glass of water, but suddenly furrowed his brows, turning his body in a different direction.
The place he headed to was the bar. The shelves lining one of the walls, once filled with liquor bottles, were now noticeably depleted. A quiet sigh slipped from his lips.
He must have been drinking with friends. If Yujin had made friends and had a good time, wasn’t that a good thing?
You don’t even spend time with him, so feeling jealous would just be pathetic, Winston.
Chiding himself harshly, he calmed his emotions and walked toward the bathroom. I need to take a vacation as soon as possible. Once this matter is wrapped up, he’d take Yujin on a trip, even if just for a few days. Yujin was probably feeling quite lonely. He needed to apologize—comfort him properly.
Where should we go that Yujin would enjoy? He spent the entire shower picturing different places in his head.
***
“Welcome, Andrew. You really came alone.”
Yujin greeted him at the entrance, visibly pleased. Just as promised during his last visit, Andrew had come alone this time. His eyes looked clearer than usual, and his hair was neatly brushed back, giving him the look of someone who could almost pass for a Campbell.
Seeing that he looked well, Yujin couldn’t help but grin repeatedly, genuinely happy to see him.
“Come in. Want something to drink? You’re off alcohol now, right?”
“Yeah.”
Andrew nodded, and Yujin’s cheeks flushed with a cheerful pink.
“Then tea it is! What are you doing, come on in. I’ll make us some. I’ve got this delicious fruit tea.”
With a bright “Come on, come on,” he grabbed Andrew’s hand and pulled him inside. Andrew followed awkwardly behind. Yujin sat him down on the sofa, then hurried into the kitchen, pulling out teacups and tea leaves, bustling about energetically.
“How are you feeling? You okay? I heard it’s really tough for a while after you quit the meds.”
“I’m fine.”
Andrew answered as he watched Yujin’s busy silhouette.
“It’s not like I was addicted or anything. I just tried it a few times, that’s all.”
“Oh, I see.”
Not knowing much about that kind of thing, Yujin simply accepted his words without question.
“Still, I’m glad. It’s a relief that you’ve stopped.”
Now, where did I put those lemons…
While the water boiled, Yujin rummaged through the cupboard for other ingredients. Just as he reached out to return a jar filled with irregularly shaped brown sugar cubes, Andrew suddenly hugged him tightly from behind.
“Hyiiik…!”
Startled, a choked gasp and a scream escaped his lips. The jar slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor, the ceramic pieces scattering along with the sugar, but Yujin couldn’t move at all.
Frozen stiff in an instant, he stood there as Andrew, panting heavily behind him, whispered hoarsely.
“Forget the tea, Yujin. We’ve got something a bit more urgent, don’t we?”
“I… I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
Yujin trembled so violently that he couldn’t even make a sound. Andrew wrapped one arm tightly around his waist and began to move his other hand however he pleased. It slid up from his waist to his stomach and then to his chest. The moment Andrew grabbed his nipple, Yujin nearly fainted. Something hard and unwelcome was pressing against his backside, rubbing against him. He knew exactly what it was—but he couldn’t bring himself to accept it.
“Wh-what are you… What are you doing…?”
His voice cracked with the hint of tears.
Yujin, come here.
A man’s voice—one he thought he had long forgotten—suddenly resurfaced in his mind. The low, subdued tone, the glistening violet eyes—it all came rushing back as vividly as if it were happening right in front of him. He froze completely.
“Haa… haa…”
Hot, damp breath ghosted against his ear. Andrew was grinding himself against Yujin’s rear, whispering over and over.
“This is what you were hoping for too, wasn’t it?”
“N-no, I… ah…”
Yujin was so frightened he couldn’t even form proper words. All that came out were broken sounds, and Andrew let out a mocking chuckle.
“Don’t bother pretending to play hard to get. Oh, wait—is that your kink? Then we’ll do it your way.”
“No—No, stop… Aagh!”
Andrew grabbed Yujin by the hair and flung him to the floor. Yujin screamed as he landed face-down, and Andrew climbed on top of him, forcing his lips against his skin, rubbing and groping him without restraint.
Yujin struggled with everything he had, but he was no match for Andrew’s weight and strength. As terror and revulsion filled his chest, his eyes welled up with tears.
Yujin.
Suddenly, Winston’s face flashed in his mind. A strange surge of strength seemed to well up from deep within.
Desperately flailing his hands to grab onto anything—anything—his fingers finally found a shard of broken ceramic. Without a second thought, he swung.
“AAARGH!”
With a sickening scream, the crushing weight on his back disappeared. Gasping for breath, Yujin scrambled across the floor and turned to look behind him. Andrew was writhing on the ground, clutching one arm and groaning in pain.
Not wasting another second, Yujin bolted for the bedroom.
“You fucking little shit…!”
Andrew cursed and gave chase. Yujin, in a state of total panic, dove into the room and slammed the door shut, locking it instantly.
“You fuckin’ whore, open this door! You’re fucking dead, you filthy little slut! You were the one who came onto me first, and now you dare—!”
The door rattled so violently it seemed like it might fly off its hinges. Yujin shook uncontrollably, paralyzed by fear, his eyes darting around the room.
Spotting what he was looking for, he snatched it up and shouted with all his might.
“I’m going to tell Winston!”
At that, Andrew suddenly went quiet. Seizing the moment, Yujin gathered his courage and yelled again.
“I’ll tell him everything you tried to do to me! I’m calling him right now! When Winston gets here, he won’t let you off—he really won’t!”
His heart was sincere—but reality didn’t care.
Yujin’s phone, of all things, had died. The battery was completely drained, and the power was off. Pale with panic, he frantically pressed the power button, to no avail, and then scrambled to find the charger.
Just then, after a long stretch of silence, Andrew suddenly slammed the door with a loud bang.
Yujin nearly screamed, clapping both hands over his mouth to stifle the sound. As he forced himself to stay quiet, Andrew’s ragged breathing came from the other side, followed by his voice.
“Fine. Then I’ll tell Winston you came on to me.”
“What?! That’s not true!”
“You told me to come alone, didn’t you?!”
Yujin protested, but Andrew immediately roared back.
“I can’t believe I got played by a little slut like you! When Winston finds out, who’s he gonna believe—his own brother, or some cheap whore?”
“Me, obviously! Are you that stupid?!”
Yujin didn’t hesitate to shout back.
“Winston loves me! He trusts me more than anyone in this world—and I trust him too! If he finds out what you did, just imagine what he’ll do to you. You’re his brother, that’ll make it even worse!”
He believed it with all his heart—Winston would believe him.
A tense silence followed. Yujin stared at the door, heart pounding, hands clenched. Finally, he heard a deep sigh, and then Andrew’s voice—now deflated, the arrogance gone.
“…I’m sorry.”
His voice was subdued, weak—nothing like the man from just minutes ago.
“I… I don’t know what the hell came over me. Please, just don’t tell Winston. I don’t care if he beats the shit out of me—but… Damn it, fuck!”
He swore under his breath, his voice laced with frustration and helplessness.
“Please. I messed up. I’m begging you. If Mother finds out, she might throw me out. And if Father cuts me from the will… I won’t get a cent.”
Fear practically soaked every word. His voice trembled so much, it was clear he felt completely cornered now. And with that, a small sliver of calm returned to Yujin. He couldn’t even make the call anyway. If he could get Andrew to leave now, while he had the upper hand, it was the best outcome possible.
“Fine.”
He finally spoke, voice just barely steady.
“I won’t tell Winston. But get out of this house. Now. Don’t even think about trying anything—I’ve got everything on CCTV. If you’re not gone in one minute…”
“O-Okay, okay! I’m going! I’m leaving right now!”
Before Yujin could even finish, Andrew shouted in a panic and quickly retreated, his footsteps loud and frantic.
A moment later, the mechanical chime from the bedroom wallpad sounded—the front door had opened.
Yujin rushed to the screen and watched as Andrew fled the house, practically running. Only after the door shut firmly behind him did Yujin finally let out a long, shaky breath and collapse on the floor.
The sugar…
He suddenly remembered the jar he had dropped earlier.
On trembling legs, he carefully made his way downstairs. Reaching the kitchen, he sank to his knees and began gathering the broken shards and spilled sugar.
Belatedly, the fear hit him all over again. His breath came in ragged gasps.
“Hhh…!”
Shoulders shaking, Yujin sat there on the floor—quietly sobbing.
This whole family ruined his life since he was a kid