The Dog's Choice
The whale fight grinds my teeth until they ache. What the fuck? Smoke pours from the artifact I had tucked behind my ear. The overload is so insane that even the comms cut out. This is going to take forever to fix. "Lee Arin." My head spins. I keep circling back to how cleanly I could rip her throat out. In an instant my mind corners itself. The only person who gets to fuck the dog… is me. It feels like the dog has been dirtied. Stolen.
"Wait a second…" But Lee Arin, you have a boyfriend, right? My thoughts snag on that fact. Right. Lee Arin has a boyfriend. Everyone says they’re the perfect couple, always glued together. And she had sex with the dog? It doesn’t add up. "I heard they were really close." No matter how I look at it, sleeping with someone else while you have a boyfriend makes no sense. Well… I’m doing the exact same thing, but Lee Arin isn’t the type to have our kind of kinks. Was she just trying to provoke me?
"Hmm…" Something feels off. Even though my chest is burning like the floor has dropped out beneath me, I can’t shake this twisted sensation. Who the hell announces they had sex just to provoke someone? Especially right then? Sure, I get that she wants to steal the dog. But why does the provocation have to end with sex? My head is a mess. I don’t understand why Lee Arin is clinging to the dog. During the combat training I saw the dog help her, so I figured they’d patched things up a little… but this suddenly? She’s telling the dog to ditch me and come to the Lee family? It’s way too fast. Even if they made up, the timing is ridiculous. The way she talks, there’s no awkwardness at all—she’s acting like some knight sworn to protect the dog. It doesn’t match.
Hold on. Does that mean the dog lied to me from the start? My fists clench so tight the blood stops flowing. Anger flares. I always felt like the dog was dodging questions like a slippery eel, but I never thought it was actual lies. Fury scorches my chest. At the same time, fear creeps in. Is the dog trying this hard to get away from me? It feels like I’m being pushed into a corner. If this keeps going, I might really lose the dog to Lee Arin. I can’t let that happen. "Haa."
I stand up from the bench and dust off my ass. I’ll call someone to investigate later. First, I need to talk to Han Seokho. I’ll ask casually and watch his reaction. Maybe I’ll catch a thread. Then I’ll tear Lee Arin apart. My teeth grind.
* * *
"I’m not sure." "What?" No answers. I asked everything I could, but he keeps dodging like the dog. All he gives me are the same excuses: “They love each other, so that can’t be true,” “I trust my girlfriend,” “They’re just friends.” It only makes my head spin worse. Is what the dog said true? He’s deliberately avoiding my questions. It feels like they fought. So I ask. "No. We didn’t fight." He answers like a robot. My head feels fuzzy. "Is there anything else you’d like to ask?" "…No." "Then I’ll be going." Han Seokho bows and walks away. What the hell. There’s something there. I can feel it. Something happened between them… "Haa." I shouldn’t overthink it. I pull out my phone and make calls. Lee Arin and Han Seokho. I’ll have them both investigated from start to finish. At least then I’ll know why this is happening. I scratch my head in frustration. If I keep doubting like this I’ll go insane. Wait. "…Ah!" Han Seokho isn’t the only person I can use. Lee Socheon. I’ll hand her a weakness and let her destroy Lee Arin from the inside. I heard she hates her little sister. If I play this right… it could work. Both Lee Socheon and I dislike Lee Arin. We’ll align fast and move even faster. A smile creeps onto my lips. The goal is simple: tear Lee Arin apart. That’s all. Hoo. Lee Socheon. Just wait a little longer!
* * *
"Han Yerin. Say that again. What did you just say?" No. Hold on. "W-well, um, that’s…" "Don’t stutter. Look me in the eye. What did you say?" The air around me turns sharp and cold. My body shrinks under the fear. I can’t even meet her gaze and keep my head down, staring at the floor. Wait, seriously? This is weird. "Han Yerin. I’m not in the mood for jokes. What? You’re going to do what to my little sister?" "Um, well…" "My little sister…" Socially bury her? Yeah. If I tell her that, she’ll definitely… uh, wasn’t she supposed to like that? "S-senior…" "How amusing." "…Yes?" "Say it." "Don’t even think about trying something like that." A chill runs through me. Those words… she means them. But seriously, weren’t they on bad terms? Lee Socheon places a hand on my shoulder. It’s freezing. I feel like a dog locked in a freezer. "Don’t say things like that, even as a joke." Lee Socheon stares at me with wide eyes. I nod instinctively. "Be careful." With that, she slowly walks away. Once she’s completely out of sight, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. "Huu—ha, hah… hah…" It’s summer, so why is it this cold? I rub my arms. A faint puff of white escapes my lips. "This… is really weird…" It really is. Why? How? Didn’t Lee Socheon hate Lee Arin enough to kill her? The way she just spoke, it sounded like she was protecting her little sister… Haa. Nothing makes sense anymore. My head isn’t just spinning—it hurts. Nothing is going right. I’m about to lose my mind. I even felt a flicker of murderous intent. I’m terrified, scared out of my mind… but still. I don’t want to lose the dog. The worst-case scenario is the dog completely falling for Lee Arin. Han Seokho? Lee Socheon? The witch? All of them can wait. My own base is about to be raided—I can’t afford to worry about anything else. So there’s only one path left for me. "Haa…" I let out a short sigh and grind my teeth until they hurt. Right. Lee Arin said she wanted to meet after school, didn’t she? Fine. I’ll accept that challenge. What? She thinks the Lee family is better than the Null Group? Don’t talk nonsense. Does our group look that weak to you? We’re the world’s number-one “family,” yet you’re ignoring the world’s number-one “corporation”? "Ha." Don’t underestimate wealth. I’ll remind you exactly where you stand. If you think we’re equals, that’s just an illusion. "Lee Arin." I’ll crush you head-on. You crazy bitch.
* * *
The storm passes. Right now I’m on the phone with my girlfriend for the umpteenth time. [It’s fine, Taeho. Nothing happened, okay?] Nothing happened? Really? She’s repeated the same line dozens of times. Only after getting her to confirm it over and over do I finally hang up. "Hoo…" I press a hand to my chest. Thank god. She’s alive. I sit alone on the bench, watching the clouds drift overhead. Then a figure approaches from the distance. Small stature, gray hair, hesitant movements, half-lidded eyes. Seola. "Is it over? Nothing bad happened, right…?" Seola sits beside me, looking worried. "Hoo… I’m fine." "You don’t look fine… You were on the phone for a really long time. Who were you talking to?" Seola leans in, curious. Who? "My girlfriend." I smile as I say it. Seola freezes. Her face goes pale. "W-what?" She trembles. Why is she reacting like that? "My girlfriend." "Uh, huh? Girlfriend? Taeho, you have a girlfriend?" "Yeah. Didn’t I mention it?" "N-no…" Seola turns her head toward the sky, kicks her feet, fidgets with her fingers, then drops her head. She stays flustered for a while before suddenly meeting my eyes. "S-so… why are you always so nice to me, then…?" "Because we’re friends." "R-really?" Seola looks flustered. "Taeho… do you like me?" What? Like her? "Yeah." "Um… as a ‘friend’?" "Yeah." "…" A heavy silence falls. Wait. This reaction… Could it be? "Seola, don’t tell me you like—" "N-no! No, no!" Seola waves her hands wildly—more violently than I’ve ever seen her move. Her face is bright red. "I don’t like you that way—" "N-no…! Hic! No, no…" Seola buries her face. She keeps repeating that she doesn’t. She looks incredibly embarrassed. When I reach out to check if she’s okay—poof—she vanishes in a flash of light. Whatever. It’s fine. There’s no way Seola likes me. She’s just shy. Her reaction was weirdly big, but I’ll let it go. There’s no way she likes me. "Haa…" I know my girlfriend is safe, and that small relief makes my exhausted body feel like it’s melting. No. I still don’t know anything. I compulsively pull out my phone to call her again, then stop. I’ve already called more than ten times. Any more would be too much. The relief is only slight. Fuck. I’m still just as worried. And the fact that all I can do right now is worry makes me realize how powerless I am. I really can’t do anything. All I can do is pray. Pray that crazy Han Yerin bitch doesn’t cross the line. "Hoo…" A deep sigh mixes with the sound of cicadas. Right. Lee Arin said she wanted to meet after school, didn’t she? That feels ominous. What does she want to do after school? I don’t know. Not knowing makes it terrifying. "Haa…" Please, after school… let nothing happen. Or at least let it be something I can handle. I can only pray.
* * *
Three-way meeting. After school, as the sun sets and paints the classroom crimson, Lee Arin, Han Yerin, and I sit far apart with only a single desk between us. We exchange tense glances. For ten minutes, only eyes speak. Then Lee Arin opens her mouth. "Han Yerin, I’ll be direct." Our gazes lock. "Hand Taeho over to me." Lee Arin smiles. I feel it instinctively. This is not something I can handle. "Ha." Han Yerin scoffs. Then— "Don’t joke around, you cunt." She spits the insult right away. "Who the hell are you to order me around about my dog? Do you really think I’d hand him over just because you say so?" "How funny. The second I test you, you call him ‘my dog.’ Honestly, it’s disgusting. If anything, I want to ask you—why are you treating Taeho like an object, telling him what to do?" Wait a second. Aren’t they both the same? "When did I ever treat him like an object—" "Shut your mouth, you crazy bitch." "What?" The tension peaks. Lee Arin slowly walks toward Han Yerin. "You’ve done plenty of things, yet you act like you don’t remember and ask ‘when?’ It’s annoying. That’s why Taeho keeps coming to me saying he doesn’t want to see you." What? "Dog? What did you say?" Han Yerin glares at me. Wait, Arin? You’re the one who forced me to come! "You don’t even know what you did wrong, yet you’re panicking because you’re scared of losing him… Don’t you think that’s pathetic? You’ve built up so much that just being near you makes me want to die, but I haven’t. Honestly, I already think I’ve won." "Ha." Han Yerin laughs coldly. "Shut your mouth, you cunt." Another insult. "What?" "You think you’re any different?" Han Yerin continues. "I admit it. I treated the dog like an object. But I refuse to admit you haven’t done much. Let me be honest—you’re rotten from the start. You’re dangerous. You shouldn’t be near the dog." But fuck, aren’t you the same? Han Yerin crosses her arms. "Gaslighting." "…Wait." Lee Arin looks slightly taken aback. "I did a little digging. Since your boyfriend wouldn’t answer anything, I spent some money. Wow, I was surprised. Ruining one person is already hard, but you actually did it, Lee Arin. I was really shocked. How can a person do that?" But you also… fuck. They’re both the same, you bastards! "Four years. You pushed other women away, kept him like a puppet by your side, and called it love? I didn’t know that. I learned a lot today. I feel enlightened. Maybe I should love like that too! …Sorry, just kidding. I was testing you. Why do you look like that?" Han Yerin smiles. "Ah! So it’s true?! I was honestly unsure. No normal person would do something that insane. There’s no way you kept him as a puppet for four years. But it’s real. A little shocking, isn’t it? And yet… if you loved your boyfriend that much, why are you trying to steal the dog now?" "It’s strange. No, it’s downright bizarre. I know everything. When he’s hurt, you nurse him. When he forgets an umbrella, you run to buy one. I thought it was deep, deep love. That’s why the newspapers always call you the perfect couple. So why, now of all times, are you wagging your tail at the dog? Are you in your right mind?" But that’s… you too… with Kim Seokhyun… fuck. "I thought your love was deep, but it’s only as deep as a plate. In the end, you’ll get bored and chase after another man, won’t you? I know everything. A loose woman like you isn’t needed by the dog. And you want me to hand him over? No. I won’t. Never, you cunt." I watch Lee Arin’s expression. She looks ready to explode. "Are you done talking?" "Yes, I am. Do you have anything else to say?" "Yeah." The baton passes. "I never thought you of all people would lecture me about personality. I’ll return the favor. You think your personality is fine? It’s like a rag worrying about a dishcloth, you crazy bitch. Listen carefully." "You and your boyfriend haven’t even had sex, but you’re fucking Taeho on the side?" "…What?" Lee Arin pulls out her phone and shows a photo. The blackmail photo she showed me. …Wait. "Wait, that’s—huh? No, why is that…" "You leave your perfectly fine boyfriend alone and spend all your time fucking Taeho, yet you tell me not to be near him because of my personality? You think it’s normal to keep your boyfriend like a sack and ignore his dick? Even if I did something to my boyfriend, I wouldn’t tell him to just jerk off while watching me fuck someone else." "And what? My love is shallow? You think you’re any different? You’ve been dating for over ten years, yet you’re fucking another man and treating that man like a dog. That’s some impressive shit. Don’t you think? It’s so good I almost want to copy it, but I don’t have the guts. And while praising your own personality, you kill people like breathing. You even gave the dog an artifact just to spy on him?" Lee Arin lets out a short, incredulous sigh. "Why? Shocked? I don’t know the details, but I can at least pull up a list. Among recently ordered artifacts, there was one that cost an absurd amount of money. But fuck—what kind of functions does that artifact have, Taeho? Do you know?" "Yeah?" "Basic location tracking, wiretapping, keyword response, emergency electric shock… and so on. A whole bunch. But instead of helping, they’re all for surveillance, wiretapping, and tracking. You think that’s normal? Hey, Han Yerin. I also gave Taeho an artifact. I didn’t put any of that fucked-up shit in it." "Instead, I helped him. His dream is to catch Fenrir, right? So I gave him a 12.8 billion artifact. Do you really think a 150 billion artifact is more useful than that? And you talk about personality? By what I’ve done, I’ve done more than you." "Also, I heard you went to the gym with Taeho recently and played table tennis?" Lee Arin smirks. "Were you jealous?" I look at Han Yerin’s expression. She’s just as flushed with anger. "Yeah, you must’ve been jealous. Your relationship isn’t even at zero—it’s gone negative and buried underground. You have to do at least that much to recover anything, right? You’re not even friends, just master and slave. Nothing works. And someone like that is nitpicking personality? It’s fucking ridiculous. Don’t forget, Han Yerin." "A master-slave relationship and a friendship are completely different." "And you crazy bitch, you still think you’re on top? No. Absolutely not." Lee Arin holds up her phone again. "If you keep this up, I’ll release this photo." "What?" The conversation suddenly veers in a dangerously wrong direction. "What did you say?" Lee Arin continues, excited. "It’s a master-slave imprint, you crazy bitch. The gun is pointed at you. Did you think I took this photo for no reason? Stop messing around. Take your hands off Taeho. Otherwise, I’ll spread this photo." No, you crazy bitch! If you spread that, I die too! "Ha. How amusing." "You think spreading it will solve everything? No. Absolutely not." Lee Arin and Han Yerin lock eyes. "Don’t underestimate our group’s wealth. Even if that photo goes up online, I can make it disappear. And if you keep acting like this, I have my own methods." An ominous feeling. "I’ll make everything public—your gaslighting, the murders, and the fact that you had sex with the dog." Wait. "Ha, fuck. Don’t underestimate wealth? I have something to say too, you crazy bitch." This fucking—wait! "Don’t underestimate the Lee family’s public opinion. The moment you post something like that, it’ll all be erased. Do you think the Lee family looks like shit?" They’re both insane. I need to say something— "W-wait, fuck, if you post that, I’ll—" "The dog, stay still." "Taeho, stay still." Fuck. "How amusing. Now that words aren’t enough, you’re resorting to threats? Don’t you think that’s pathetic?" "Pathetic? Why is this pathetic? Taeho is suffering. I’m doing this to get him away from you, so what’s pathetic about it?" No, fuck. I’ll die before I can get away! "You asked if the Lee family looks like shit? Then let me ask instead. Does the Null Group look like shit to you, Lee Arin?" "The world’s number-one corporation wasn’t built for nothing. I can erase any photo you post in an instant, and even if it spreads, I can make everyone who saw it disappear in order. Our group spends trillions like pocket change. Do you really think we look like shit? Publicizing it is no problem either. Don’t even think about challenging us like an idiot. Do I need to spell out who’s the rock and who’s the egg?" No, seriously. I’m going insane. Are they really fighting because of me? Why does everything end with me dying?! "I see. So you really do think our Lee family is shit." "The thing closest to public opinion in this world isn’t corporations, countries, or citizens. It’s the Lee family. No matter how much money you throw at it, one piece of public opinion can spread this photo across the entire world." No. Everyone, why are you doing this?! No matter what, I end up dead! "Even if you spread that photo, do you think the dog will go to you? I can hear your pussy flapping from here." "What the fuck?" "I said I can hear your pussy flapping. Should I say it again? Your hole is so loose that even going won’t satisfy you, so what’s the point of going? Why? You said you had sex, right? Was it satisfying? Well, it must’ve been. For you. The dog may look like that, but he likes tight pussy." Once again, the conversation veers in a completely wrong—and extremely weird—direction. "What? Are you done talking?" Sparks fly between them. "My pussy is loose? Is that really something you should be saying? You’ve been rolling around with your boyfriend for over ten years and now you’re comparing pussies? A loose pussy like yours talking shit?" "You’re saying my pussy is loose? I don’t know what you’re talking about. My boyfriend’s dick is so small that the dog can’t even put it all the way in. To get loose, you need to stretch it, but with a dick that only goes halfway, how can it stretch? It can’t. So if you’re getting this worked up over something like this, then your pussy really must be loose, right?" "No. What the fuck is this?" "My boyfriend’s dick is small too. Do you think it stretched me? It doesn’t even go in a third of the way, let alone halfway. But you said it went in ‘halfway,’ right? Fuck. Hey, Taeho. Do you prefer halfway clean or two-thirds clean?" Me? "I just like my girlfriend—" "Shut up, dog." "Just shut up, Taeho." Fuck. "What? And you’re telling me to leave because my pussy is loose? A half-virgin calling herself loose is ridiculous. And when you had sex with Taeho, did you see his reaction? He liked it the same as with you—no, even more." They’re both the same… Haa. I don’t know anymore. "How would you know?" I look at Han Yerin. She’s clearly angry. "Of course I know because I tried it." "You think I haven’t tried it?" Han Yerin scoffs. "Don’t talk shit. My pussy feels better." "No? My pussy feels better." "No, my pussy—" "My pussy—" Their words overlap. Lightning, not sparks, crackles between them. Fuck, why are they fighting over this? "This won’t reach a conclusion." "I agree." They both turn to look at me at the same time. "Dog." "Taeho." Ominous. "Which one of us feels better?" "Which one feels better?" Wait. "Answer quickly." "Answer quickly." How the hell am I supposed to answer this? No matter what I say, neither will be satisfied. I rack my brain like crazy, but no answer comes. "They both feel good—" "Shut up." "Shut up." Fuck. They lock eyes again. "Don’t act cocky with that loose pussy." "I keep saying it—my pussy feels better." Han Yerin glances at me. "I can even prove it." An ominous feeling. A very, very, extremely ominous feeling. Sweat beads on my back. "Prove it? Are you joking?" Lee Arin meets Han Yerin’s gaze. "You want to do it with me right now?" Wait. Han Yerin hesitates, then speaks. "Yes." Wait. This… surely not. "Follow me to the mansion. I’ll teach you what ‘real sex’ is." Ah. Arin. No, right? She’ll refuse, won’t she? "…‘Real sex’?" Wait. "Shut up." "Teaching—that’s my job." Ah. God help me.