As soon as Min Jae swiped the key card and stepped into the room, his eyes immediately fell on a weak-looking body lying on the bed. A boy… he seemed unconscious. Min Jae rushed toward him, but the moment he saw the boy's face, he realized — he wasn't unconscious. He was fully awake… just not in his senses.
His eyes were half-open, but there was no light in them. His face was slightly flushed, like he was burning with fever. Min Jae leaned down and gently touched his forehead — it was burning hot. Burning from the inside out. He still couldn't understand what exactly Mr. Han had done to him.
There were marks on the boy's face — shadows of exhaustion under his eyes, a fresh cut near his lips, and small bruises scattered across his skin. Every injury was evidence of the torment he had endured. His expression was lifeless… but Min Jae remembered. He remembered the boy's smile — that first moment they met, when there was happiness on his face, light in his eyes.
Seeing Ji Ho like this now… something ached in Min Jae's heart. He couldn't explain why he felt so deeply for a stranger. Why was there such pain in his chest?
Min Jae sat at the edge of the bed and tried to bring him back to awareness. The moment he extended his hand, Ji Ho suddenly stirred — it was like a jolt of clarity ran through him. He saw a shadow beside him… someone was trying to touch him.
Everything was blurry in front of his eyes. His mind was fogged by the effects of some chemical. But still — deep inside — he found enough strength to protect himself.
Summoning every last ounce of energy, Ji Ho pushed Min Jae hard and jumped up from the bed, running toward the door.
Min Jae stumbled and fell to the floor. Ji Ho tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. Locked. Panic rushed through him. Sweat dripped down his temples, and his limbs began to shake. His strength was failing.
But his will wasn't.
No matter what, he wouldn't let himself become a part of their filthy intentions.
Min Jae got up and approached him slowly, trying to calm him down, but Ji Ho quickly moved aside. He grabbed a vase from the table and leaned against the wall for support, standing shakily on his feet.
"If you come near me… I'll smash this vase over your head!" Ji Ho's voice trembled, but there was steel in it.
Min Jae raised his hands gently, trying to ease the tension."Okay, okay… I won't come any closer. Please, just put the vase down. You'll hurt yourself. I promise, I won't do anything to you."
But to Ji Ho, those words sounded like just another lie. More manipulation.
Tears rolled freely down his cheeks.
"Lies… You all lie. No one here is good. Everyone only wants to use others for their own benefit," he cried, his voice breaking under the weight of his pain.
His breaths grew ragged. Each breath carried the weight of days of abuse. Every second of agony — it all poured out at once.
Then, in a softer tone — his eyes still wet with tears — Ji Ho whispered:
"I only came here for a chef's job. I was invited. But instead… they had me kidnapped."
Th-that man… he was trying to force me to do all of this. I'm not lying… please… I can't do this… I don't want to do anything like this. Please… just let me go."
His heart felt like it was shattering with pain. His soul was screaming. Ji Ho's sobs had turned into gasping breaths now, as if he was running out of air while crying.And in that moment, Min Jae saw something in his eyes—something that perhaps words could never describe.Min Jae could feel it—just how deeply Mr. Han had tortured him, whether physically or mentally.
Just then, the vase slipped from Ji Ho's hand and crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.Min Jae noticed Ji Ho's eyes slowly shutting. He was about to collapse, his head dangerously close to the edge of the nearby table.
Before he could fall, Min Jae rushed forward and caught him just in time. He quickly placed his own hand on the sharp corner of the table, so that even if Ji Ho slipped from his grip, his head wouldn't hit it.
Then, gently, Min Jae helped him sit down on the floor.
Suddenly, Ji Ho grabbed one of the larger shards of the broken vase from the floor and tried to strike Min Jae.Min Jae instantly caught his hand.
"What are you doing? Stop! Don't touch these broken pieces—your hand will get cut," Min Jae said firmly, gently taking the shard from Ji Ho's hand and throwing it away.
With teary eyes and a trembling voice, Ji Ho said,"You're just like them… You just said you wouldn't do anything to me. Then why are you this close to me now?"
He looked like a stubborn child—one who, no matter how gently you tried to explain, just wouldn't listen.And despite himself, a small smile appeared on Min Jae's lips as he looked at Ji Ho.He picked up a tissue from the box placed on the nearby table and softly began to wipe Ji Ho's tears.
Now, Min Jae wanted to remind him of the first time they had met—hoping that somehow, Ji Ho would understand that he wasn't here to hurt him, but to help him.
Min Jae gently took Ji Ho's trembling hands in his own and knelt down in front of him on the floor. He spoke softly,
"Don't you remember me? Not even a little?"
Ji Ho immediately replied, "No."
Min Jae tried again, his voice calm,
"Try to remember… just a few days ago, I met you at a hotel like this. I'm Min Jae. That day, we even talked in the garden."
The moment Min Jae said his name, a flicker of recognition returned to Ji Ho's eyes.Then, slowly, he reached out with both hands, gently cupping Min Jae's face, pulling it close to his own.
Min Jae didn't understand why Ji Ho did that, or what he intended to do—but he didn't resist.Ji Ho stared deeply at his face for a few seconds, and then softly said,
"Hmm… I think you're telling the truth. Maybe… we have met before."
Smiling at his response, Min Jae replied,
"See? I told you I wasn't lying."
"See? I was telling the truth. And you're the only one here crying like a stubborn little kid, refusing to listen to me."
Min Jae thought that maybe if he spoke more gently, he might be able to win Ji Ho's trust and calm him down.But the moment he said that, Ji Ho started crying all over again.The drugs had heightened his emotions so much that he just couldn't control himself anymore.
Seeing him cry like that, Min Jae softly ran his hand over Ji Ho's head and asked gently,"What's wrong now? Why are you crying again?"
He reached for a tissue and wiped his tears once more.Suddenly, Ji Ho threw his arms around Min Jae, hugging him tightly.Min Jae was caught off guard — he couldn't figure out what had suddenly triggered this again.
He slowly started stroking Ji Ho's hair, trying to soothe him."Look, if you don't tell me what's bothering you, how will I understand?"
In that moment, something deep was forming between them — a bond that didn't need words.It was the kind of connection you feel, not explain.
Still clinging to him, Ji Ho whispered through his tears,"It's not that anything's wrong, Min Jae… I'm crying because… I missed you so much... Min Jae..."
Hearing his name from Ji Ho's mouth like that made Min Jae's heart flutter.For the first time in his life, someone had said those words to him — that they missed him.
He was still lost in that thought, holding onto the warmth of that moment...Until Ji Ho suddenly added something — and ruined the whole magic of it.
"...And I also missed the old uncle in our village who sells Tteokbokki."
Min Jae's expression instantly changed. He looked completely betrayed.
"What?! You missed me together with that old man? Why?!"
Ji Ho, with innocent honesty, replied,"Because he's really kind too… just like you.You know, when I was a kid, he used to give me free Tteokbokki from his stall.He always said I was his favorite kid in the whole village.That's why I missed him too.Because right now… I'm really hungry… and thirsty…But I don't want to drink that bitter water again."
Min Jae narrowed his eyes and asked slowly,"What bitter water? Who gave it to you?"
Ji Ho snapped,"That robot-faced guard!He grabbed my face and forced me to drink it.It tasted awful!These people are terrible… I don't like them at all.I don't want to stay here with them."
Min Jae leaned in and asked,"Did that guard mix something in the water?"
"Ji Ho said to Min Jae with anger."