Grilled Mackerel, Dried Pollack Soup... All of Them.
Grilled mackerel, dried pollack soup... all of them. These were my favorite Korean dishes. The ones I always ordered at Korean restaurants, the ones I made sure to eat at least once a month. On top of that, the food Yoo Soyeon prepared was honestly better than what you'd get at most famous restaurants. So good that I seriously wondered if she had actually cooked it herself.
"You eat so well.... Hehe... Senior. Is it delicious?"
"...It is. Delicious...."
I meant it. But what made it taste good was the fact that I was lifting the spoon with my own hand.
...I had never wanted a meal like this.
She blew on each spoonful like she was feeding baby food to a child, then brought it to my lips with a look of genuine joy. Overcome by hunger and the flavor of the food, I pretended I couldn't resist and opened my mouth. Only after watching my throat bob as I swallowed did she mix in other side dishes and continue feeding me.
'...I really want to die...'
In a word, it felt like my human dignity was being dismantled. I finally understood why the elderly patients I'd seen long ago had refused their caregivers. And the shame of being fed by a junior one year younger than me—opening my mouth like a baby bird, having my lips wiped with a tissue—was beyond description.
"...Ugh, stop. That's enough... I'll stop eating now..."
"Ah, yes...!!"
Yoo Soyeon carried away the now spotless rice bowl with a bright smile. Then she stared at me with an expression that clearly wanted something, so I had no choice but to give her the answer she desired in a voice that barely rose above a whisper.
"...Thank you, Soyeon."
"Hehe... What for? It's only natural for me to do this as your junior...."
She kept stealing glances at me as she cleared the table. Every time she came near, that desire-laden gaze terrified me so much that I kept my head down, desperately avoiding eye contact.
"....Hum~ Hmm~"
It was scary. Just too frightening. I wondered if this was even the same person as the Yoo Soyeon who had smiled so brightly and chatted so happily only a day ago. Her behavior matched the emotional patterns of kidnappers I'd only seen in movies.
'At least it's a relief she doesn't plan to kill me. She's not after my organs or a ransom... She just wants me. If I play along a little...'
"...What are you thinking about?"
"...Ugh, uwa...!!"
"Huh? Why are you so startled, Senior...?"
I steadied my heart, which had nearly dropped out of my chest, and took slow, deep breaths. When the hell had she appeared behind me? I had to stay calm. This was exactly when I needed to keep a perfect poker face.
If I wanted any chance of escape, I had to bring Yoo Soyeon's mental state back toward normal, even a little. In short, we needed a lot of ordinary conversation.
"...No, I was just a bit surprised. Have you learned how to cook before?"
I forced my stiff expression to relax and offered her an awkward smile. She looked at me curiously for a moment, then beamed and answered.
"A long time ago... I learned. Back then it was to survive... but thinking about it now, it feels like I learned for this very moment."
"....."
...To survive? What on earth was she talking about? At any rate, one thing was clear: our attempt at everyday conversation had already died after a single exchange.
She now stood holding a washbasin, toothbrush, and toothpaste in both hands, wearing a faintly excited smile.
...No way.
"Hehe... It's brushing time."
"...Hey."
Without thinking, I raised my arm to push her away, but both my arms were unfortunately bound. I squirmed, trying to escape as she squeezed toothpaste onto the brush and approached.
"You have to brush after eating, don't you...? I need to take perfect care of Senior's body... Mmm..."
"...Ugh, ugh..."
"Now, shall we say 'ah—'?"
She fixed her gaze on my lips and slowly brought the toothbrush closer. The moment the bristles tickled my lips, I yanked my torso back and twisted the chair away.
"...Stop it. I... I don't like this."
It was firm resistance. Yoo Soyeon stared at me as if surprised.
"...But you must... You have to brush three times a day without fail..."
"T-then let me do it myself. With my own hands..."
"....."
I watched her carefully. This was a line-crossing request to remove the restraints—a necessary, indispensable test. I had to find out how far I could push and where the limits lay.
"Yes! I'll untie both arms... Just a moment...?"
'...Huh?'
That easily? She trotted straight over and began undoing the bindings on my wrists. I didn't know what they were made of, but the restraints—some combination of metal and rubber—came off. After being bound so long, I felt blood rush back in, along with a refreshing sensation.
Then she held out the toothbrush with toothpaste already on it.
"...."
...If I shoved her right now, could I escape? My legs were still tied. The room was littered with obstacles that would hinder any sudden movement. Would someone who carried anesthetic syringes really have prepared no countermeasures for an impulsive act?
...And even if I knocked her out temporarily, could I actually get out?
Scrub, scrub—
"...."
I started brushing my teeth. I brushed, took the cup from Yoo Soyeon—who watched me with unwavering eyes—rinsed my mouth, and then let her guide my briefly freed wrists back into the restraints.
"Is it uncomfortable... Senior...? I'll move you to the bed...?"
..... The bed?
She slid both arms under my armpits as if moving a giant teddy bear. I flinched at the eerie feeling and twisted, but she refused to let go and simply dragged me along.
'Kid, am I not heavy...?'
Plop—
"I... have some things to do... so you need to wait quietly, okay?"
"...Uh, yeah..."
Yoo Soyeon gracefully climbed down from the bed and opened the door to the room where I was confined. Beyond it I could see a sink, table, refrigerator—the interior of an ordinary home. It let me guess that this might be a countryside house.
My eyes widened just a fraction. A thin thread of hope. Maybe this was the golden opportunity to escape?
She held the doorknob and looked at me with moist eyes, as if trying to burn my image into her memory until the last possible second.
"....."
"Ah, don't touch the windows or... grab the doorknob for no reason, okay...? Fingerprints will be left behind....."
....
...She knew? About everything?
"....I love you...? I'll be back soon... so you can wait nicely, right?"
'...Just what kind of life has this kid lived?'
If you stay still, you'll go halfway. That old saying wasn't empty. ...Yeah. If I just endured and endured, maybe the police would eventually receive a report and come rescue me. At this point, that seemed the most realistic solution.
Squeeze....
".....?"
I cracked my eyes open at the warm, soft sensation enveloping my whole body.
...What was this situation?
'...When did I fall asleep?'
Moonlight slipping through the closed curtains faintly outlined her silhouette. I had no idea how long she'd been like this, but she was fast asleep in her tracksuit, arms wrapped around me.
"....Wow...."
Honestly, she was beautiful. Lustrous black hair falling to her shoulders. A cat-like face and figure prettier than most idols.
...The emotion I felt this time wasn't fear. It was the primal sexual desire any man would have. The fact that an incredibly beautiful female junior was pressing her body against mine and holding me tight. Just that was enough to make my heart race and my mind grow restless.
To the point that I felt disgusted with myself for letting those desires peek out even in this dangerous situation.
'If I jump her here, I'm really fucked. If I sleep with her and get her pregnant... Then I won't be able to escape, and even if the police come later, it'll all be over.'
'Still... this kid likes me like crazy. ...Wouldn't it be fine?'
The soft sensations all over my body were clouding my reason.
What snapped me back to my senses was none other than—
"Huu.... J-Jinwoo...."
Yoo Soyeon's tearful voice.
"Please live... Please, please live...."
".....?"
I listened quietly. Live? What did she mean? I decided to keep listening to her sleep-talking.
"...Don't throw me away anymore... don't abandon me...."
"Don't leave me behind... don't go...."
'...What is this...'
When I tried to twist away, she locked me in place with both arms as if she would die the moment she let go. Desperately.
Squeeze...
'...Ugh, I can't breathe...'
"S-Soyeon...."
"....."
She must have heard my groan. Her drowsy eyes fluttered open and met mine for a brief moment. Up close like this, I could see the heavy dark circles under her doll-like face. Insomnia?
".....S-Senior..."
Her condition didn't look good at a glance.
".....Mmm, Senior's scent... I like it...."
She closed her eyes again and wrapped her arms tighter around my waist.
...Was this a chance? If I took control here, could I break free even a little from this livestock-like existence where I ate when told and brushed when told?
Even if not, maybe I could soothe her as she tossed and turned with those anxious breaths, unable to sleep properly.
I slowly turned my head to look at her.
....She must still be awake.
The moment I moved, she burrowed deeper into my chest like a child whose favorite doll had been stolen. Yoo Soyeon's excited breaths against my skin, the warmth of her touch—they were stimulating me, but I tried hard to ignore it.
'...Whatever happens, happens.'
I lowered my lips to her forehead as she pressed her face into my chest.
Chu—
"....Ah—"
It was the seed. The strongest card I could play after constantly resisting or passively obeying her. A short, simple kiss. Not the kind that mixed bodies or tangled tongues lewdly—just an awkward peck.
But for two people who had been cut off from romance their entire lives, its meaning was enormous.
The hands holding me began to tremble. To her, drunk on that sweet salvation, I spoke again—slowly, in a low, heavy voice.
"....Sleep well."
".....!!!"
Yoo Soyeon tried to hide her expression by burying her face in my chest, but the tips of her ears burned bright red as if they would burst. Along with the frantic wriggling of her toes beneath the covers—that night, for the first time in a very long while, Yoo Soyeon fell into a deep sleep without nightmares.