Chapter 10: Shadows Over New Beginnings

Yoon Heesu was left speechless by that nonchalant tone, which sounded just like someone casually saying, “I’ll do the cleaning.”

Yoon Heesu did not know the exact amount of debt Kwon Seungjae had manufactured.

But it was certain that it was a sum that could not be settled even after exhausting the entirety of his adoptive parents’ substantial inheritance.

From the moment that debt was created, Yoon Heesu had already given up.

Yet he was saying he would resolve it just like that, as if it were nothing.

– …Santa Claus is pretty miraculous, after all.

– Santa?

– What are you talking about?

– Seeing how he’s granting a wish I made so long ago, even if it’s late.

– What wish was it?

– To have your debts paid off?

To let me escape from Kwon Seungjae.

There was a time when he had prayed for that especially hard.

Going so far as to foolishly seek out Santa Claus.

– Yeah, it’s unsettling to have them hanging over me.

– Being unsettled isn’t the problem here.

– It’s the amount.

So he knows the amount is massive.

Then would he now ask what on earth he did to rack up such a huge debt?

Then what was he supposed to answer…?

Just, because I’m an idiot?

– You said you were busy.

– Is it okay for you to stay on the phone this long?

He asked that to preempt Han Suyeon’s questions.

Right on cue, a voice calling “CEO-nim,” could be heard from across the line.

Han Suyeon replied curtly to them, then spoke.

– Make sure to eat your meals properly.

– I’ll have someone check.

– Aren’t you actually free…?

– You seem pretty free.

Han Suyeon clicked his tongue once and hung up.

Whether he had truly squeezed out a brief moment to call, there had been a subtle rush in his tone despite his calm exterior.

Why go out of his way?

He couldn’t comprehend Han Suyeon’s actions in the slightest.

If he just wanted to ask about the debt, he could have called later when he had time.

Moreover, to pay it all off for him…

Did he really fear having nightmares if an Omega who had once clung to him professing his love died a miserable death?

‘Charity work.’

Such words crossed his mind.

A rather expensive act of charity, dedicated to someone who had been something like a friend since childhood.

Then again, estimating the total sum of debt he owed Kwon Seungjae, it might just be pocket change to Han Suyeon.

Since he hadn’t said “settle” the debt, but “take care of” it.

Would the debt truly disappear?

It felt unreal.

What would become of him if that debt were gone?

Would he no longer have to sell his body as Kwon Seungjae ordered?

Perhaps because he had thought too much, his body felt languid.

It also felt as though a fever were rising.

He hovered on the edge of sleep, yet he knew full well he would never actually fall asleep.

One of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting drugs was insomnia.

To begin with, Yoon Heesu had already suffered from insomnia.

At night, he could at least receive sleep aids, but because they were administered alongside treatment, the dosage was strictly controlled and they inspected him to make sure he wasn’t hoarding them.

Even without inspections, he couldn’t sleep without taking them at night anyway, so he had no leeway to stockpile them.

Lying there with a razor-sharp consciousness while dying of exhaustion was sheer torture.

Should I just get up and do something, or call an orderly to go for a walk, but it’s such a hassle…

Amidst such rambling thoughts, a knock sounded and the door opened.

“Mr. Yoon Heesu, it’s time for the small group session.”

At the familiar face of the orderly, Yoon Heesu let out an “Ah.”

Only then did he check the clock, and it was already four-thirty.

The therapy group meeting was scheduled for four-forty.

“I’ll be right out…”

“Yes, take your time.”

They told him to take his time, but they would be waiting right outside the door.

Yoon Heesu slipped limply out of bed, draped a thick cardigan over his hospital gown, ran his fingers roughly through his hair like a comb, and stepped out of the room.

There was a mirror along the hallway, but he had looked into it only a handful of times since coming here.

“You ate quite a lot of lunch.”

“Did today’s food suit your taste a bit?”

The orderly asked.

What had lunch even been?

He had forgotten because what happened afterward was so intense.

But it seemed that because it was seasoned more strongly and spicier than usual, he had managed to finish it all without much difficulty.

Muttering “Yes…” once again, he merely nodded and followed the orderly.

“Well then, have a good time.”

After the orderly said that and disappeared, Heesu opened the door to the group room.

People were already gathered inside.

Even so, it was only six people in total: the therapist, an assistant, and four addicts including himself.

The group sessions were nothing special.

They drank tea and talked about what happened during the day.

Everyday stories.

What they used to do before getting addicted, what their families and relatives did, things like that.

Sometimes they filled out various worksheets they had set up.

At times, they all drew pictures together.

Overall, it was practically a kindergarten.

In truth, Yoon Heesu had very little to say in this setting.

Because even before doing drugs, he had truly been an utterly insignificant human being.

Yet even to an insignificant person like him, these people responded warmly.

Last time, he had mentioned that he could play the piano and even received applause.

The piano—truthfully, even musical scales were hazy to him now.

He had barely managed to decline when they suggested he try playing the piano in the center’s lobby.

Today, somehow, the topic of the piano came up again.

“Heesu, do you really have no thoughts of trying out the piano?”

At the counselor’s words, Yoon Heesu replied with an awkward expression.

“I’ve forgotten everything.”

“Still, maybe a song will come back to you once you sit down to play.”

“I wonder.”

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, maybe?”

“Ah, that’s great!”

“That’s Mozart, after all!”

“…”

He had only meant it as a joke.

Though he did feel like he could actually manage something like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, this reaction…

Why were they hyping him up to this extent?

Yoon Heesu had to break into a cold sweat declining the piano after that, too.

When the long hour passed and he was about to stand up, exhausted in more ways than one, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Turning his head in puzzlement, a member from the same group stood there.

“Um, I’m Lee Doyoung.”

He was the youngest male among the members.

Heesu had heard it during introductions and they had addressed each other a few times, so he at least knew his name.

Even so, he reflexively introduced himself with “I’m Yoon Heesu,” and his face flushed red.

Just as he worried the other might point out his flushed face, Lee Doyoung casually extended a hand.

“We’ve never talked one-on-one, have we?”

“Since we’re both stuck here anyway, let’s get along.”

“…”

“Let’s be friends.”

What was this, was he just an exceptionally sociable person?

Heesu had indeed felt every time he saw him that the boy spoke plenty and spoke well.

But in a place like this.

Unable to ignore the outstretched hand, he simply took it.

How long had it been since he had held someone’s hand without any ulterior motive?

“I don’t have any friends, but to make one in a place like this…”

At Yoon Heesu’s murmuring voice, Lee Doyoung’s eyes rounded.

“Really?”

“You seem like you’d have a lot of friends.”

“I don’t.”

He had never made anyone he could call a friend besides Han Suyeon.

Because Kwon Seungjae had always interfered.

He had vehemently detested Yoon Heesu meeting anyone other than Han Suyeon.

He had hated Han Suyeon too, but that was closer to something he grudgingly tolerated because of Yoon Heesu’s adoptive parents.

“Let’s exchange numbers.”

Lee Doyoung held out his phone.

Yoon Heesu entered his number in silence, and when the call button was pressed, his own phone vibrated with a low hum.

Lee Doyoung grinned and saved the number right in front of Yoon Heesu’s eyes.

With no other choice, Yoon Heesu had to pull up his contact menu as well.

“Still, here…”

“It’s surprising that you’re even allowed to bring a cell phone.”

Even though his own was fitted with things like a location tracker, setting that aside, facilities like this usually banned cell phones from the start.

Lee Doyoung laughed heartily, agreeing with an “I know, right?”

“I hear a lot of people just come here to rest.”

“For that to be the case, there barely seem to be any people.”

Truly, there was nobody here.

Over a period of more than ten days, Yoon Heesu had barely run into two or three new faces other than the members of the small group.

Lee Doyoung shrugged his shoulders.

“Our schedules probably just didn’t align.”

“There are a lot of people.”

“Is that so…?”

He wasn’t so sure.

“I just turned twenty.”

“Can I call you Hyung?”

“Ah, are you twenty by any chance?”

“Uh, no…”

“Ayy, then speak comfortably to me.”

In fact, he didn’t even know which question he had said “no” to.

Being called Hyung—it was the first time someone had addressed him as Hyung since he lived at the orphanage.

Unaccustomed to it, he found the suggestion unwelcome.

Nor was he twenty.

Yet Lee Doyoung, as if focusing entirely on the ‘not twenty’ part as he pleased, smiled and linked arms without reservation, behaving completely like a younger brother.

“Don’t you have any siblings, Hyung?”

“I have three older brothers.”

“Siblings… no, but a cousin I grew up with.”

Still feeling awkward despite being told to drop formalities, his tone came out ambiguous.

“A cousin?”

“Same age?”

Yoon Heesu gave a nod instead of an answer, quickening his pace the moment he spotted the stairs.

Because he knew Lee Doyoung’s room was on a different floor from his own.

At any rate, parting ways quickly was the best move.

He had worried what he would do if the boy followed him to his room, but thankfully, once they reached his floor, Lee Doyoung gave Yoon Heesu a sudden hug before stepping back.

“I’ll text you, Hyung.”

“You have to reply.”

“Ah, I’m a Beta, so don’t worry.”

“Uh, yeah…”

After offering that vague reply, Yoon Heesu scampered up the stairs.

Hyung—it was still awkward.

Though he and Kwon Seungjae were considered cousins, Seungjae was merely a few months older within the same birth year, so they never called each other Hyung or Dongsaeng.

The moment he entered his room and sat on the bed, today’s events flashed by in rapid succession.

Han Suyeon suddenly asking about his debt and offering to pay it off, and gaining an unexpected younger dongsaeng he never asked for in his life.

An acquaintance of a younger brother met in an addiction treatment center—what a ridiculous relationship.

‘Brothers…’

Even if there was no age difference, the person who came to mind whenever brothers were mentioned was Kwon Seungjae.

As he lingered and lay back on the bed, Kwon Seungjae invaded his mind like an intruder.

“Is that boy Yoon Heesu?”

“How fascinating, his last name is the same as Uncle’s.”

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