The third time Rita woke him up, Jeong Taeui finally came to his senses.

Rita said that she had woken him up twice before, once 30 minutes ago and once 15 minutes ago, telling him to go eat. And apparently, he had nodded both times and said he would come soon.

However, Jeong Taeui had no memory of any of that.

Jeong Taeui remembered the first time Rita woke him up; he had clearly been awake then. But when Rita came for the third time, looking very angry, she said, “I hope you don’t make the same mistake three times.”

She gave him a cold look and left the room. Jeong Taeui said, “I’m sorry,” even though he didn’t remember what he had done wrong. He then stared blankly at the door and sighed.

Even though Rita had seemed to treat him very well these past few days, today it seemed like he had crossed a line. Taeui felt regretful and continued to stare at the door. Then he wondered why he was just standing there in a daze. He turned his head and then stared blankly at the ceiling.

“What’s wrong with you, Jeong Taeu… Get a grip.”

His mind was empty, still in a fog even though he tried to force himself to wake up. Jeong Taeui slapped himself hard enough to sting and opened his eyes. Perhaps because of the sharp pain on his cheek, his mind cleared a little. And as soon as he became alert, Jeong Taeui slumped down on the bed.

The pain hit him when his mind cleared, making him feel like he was dying. He was exhausted. He felt like he couldn’t even walk because his back had no strength left.

Jeong Taeui struggled on the bed with his overworked and tortured body.

Why couldn’t humans erase memories as easily as machines? For the first time in his life, he envied a machine’s ability to delete any data in an instant. Jeong Taeui lay on the bed, sinking into a depressive state. Then, hearing the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room, he reluctantly got up.

If he didn’t go to the dining room this time, Rita would bite his head off.

Even if he felt like his body was being torn apart, he still had to get to the dining room before Rita came back. In this house, Jeong Taeui feared Rita the most.

He cautiously crawled out of bed. The moment his feet touched the ground, his lower body hurt so much that he couldn’t straighten his back, but after a while, the pain eased a bit. Jeong Taeui sighed quietly as he leaned on the table and hesitantly stood up.

Compared to the first time he did it with Ilay, this time was much better. The first time, Taeui had thought he was really going to die. And after that day, he had been bedridden all day, unable to get up. At least today, he was still conscious and could walk. But seeing blood when going to the bathroom today was inevitable. He felt devastated. Being sick was exhausting enough. Thinking about what he did with him yesterday only made him more depressed. Jeong Taeui felt like crying.

That bastard. Even though he had said that if Ilay wanted to have sex, he should just say so. But who would want to have sex with that colossal, idiotic thing of his, knowing it would be like dying?

‘What a jerk!’

Jeong Taeui slowly walked. Every step on the floor made his groin throb. But he could still walk, albeit very slowly. Jeong Taeui thought that the cane he used for his injured ankle would be very useful today.

There was just one thing.

The only thing that could be forgiven was that every time they finished, Ilay would clean him up, when he could only lie on the bed, trembling and unable to move. Yesterday, too, Ilay had carried Taeui, who was almost unconscious, into the bathroom, washed him thoroughly from inside out, and then carefully dressed him again. He cleaned the chair, made the bed, and changed the dirty clothes and sheets.

‘Okay. At least he still did that well, like in the past.’

Jeong Taeui slowly dragged his prickling body into the bathroom, washed up, changed his clothes again, and hurried out of the room before Rita came back.

However, unfortunately, as Jeong Taeui was limping towards the exit, he suddenly saw the full-length mirror leaning beside the door. He instinctively looked in the mirror to check if anything was wrong with him.

“……..”

His face quickly turned red. Not just his face, but his entire head, neck, and ears were burning.

He thought about something he shouldn’t have been concerned about early in the morning. Just thinking about it made him explode.

Ilay. Ilay Riegrow.

He wasn’t just ‘crazy’ anymore, he was on the verge of reaching a new level beyond crazy.

And although Jeong Taeui never wanted to be a stepping stone for this level-up of insanity, in the end, he was the key to that leap.

Jeong Taeui wiped his cheek with the back of his hand; his hand was very hot. Maybe he should wash his face again?

After seeing his reflection in the mirror, Jeong Taeui went back to the bathroom, but hearing someone coming from the dining room, he quickly stepped out.

Even if he limped and walked slowly now, he wouldn’t fear others thinking it was strange, at least at this moment. For the first time, he felt lucky to have an ankle injury. He walked towards the dining room, seeing Rita in the distance, about to step out with a cold expression. When she saw Jeong Taeui, she turned back. Thankfully, if Rita had come and found him still washing his face, she would have exploded in anger. Jeong Taeui thought as he dragged his steps across the floor.

At some point, he vaguely remembered mumbling to himself not to let Rita hate him.

“…..”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head and slowly sifted through his memories. Rita had come to his room three times in the morning, as she had said. The first time she came, he was still in a daze and almost unconscious. So it seemed he had mumbled something like an answer when Rita called, then quickly fell back into unconsciousness.

The second time Rita came, at least he was in better condition than the first time, but his consciousness was still very hazy. He had reminded himself: “You have to get up quickly, or Rita will hate you” but then he fell asleep again. And the third time Rita came, he finally managed to stand here, fully awake.

“….. ?”

Jeong Taeui silently rummaged through his mind, then tilted his head. It seemed there were more than just those three times. Whether it was a dream or reality, it seemed he had hugged someone and cried, sobbing.

“Please, take that guy away.”

That memory existed in a vague, distant place.

“Is that right….?”

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember hugging anyone like that.

There’s no way he could have hugged Ilay and asked him to take himself away, and even less likely to grab Rita; she would go berserk if someone dared mistreat the “little master” of the house…

Was it just an illusion?

Jeong Taeui sighed as he moved step by step towards the dining room.

He couldn’t go to bed with Ilay anymore. It consumed his energy severely. He was made unconscious by him. At least yesterday was better, but because his stamina couldn’t keep up with Ilay’s, he had fainted once. When he groggily came to, he was being held from the waist down and made to do it again.

Jeong Taeui suddenly remembered a terrifying voice.

“From today, every day from now on, you are mine.”

Ilay’s voice whispered in his ear with heavy breath. Just thinking about it made his face burn.

This is impossible, absolutely impossible. He couldn’t believe he would have to do that regularly with him from now on. Jeong Taeui’s expression hardened. He stood there, staring at his feet for a long time.

“…… Not putting it in but doing it many times or putting it in and doing it less, which one is better….”

Jeong Taeui bitterly pondered.

Yesterday, he thought he was going to die. He really thought he would die of exhaustion then.

“No, neither is good…. Indeed, with that guy, neither is possible.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled despondently before stepping into the dining room.

At that moment.

“Who? Who can’t do what?”

A voice with a laugh rang out, and Jeong Taeui wondered if his mumbling had been heard.

When he looked up, he saw Kyle greeting him from the table, saying: “Good morning.”

Jeong Taeui replied: “Ah… Good morning!”, then bowed and sat in his usual seat. He briefly saw the man sitting opposite him.

“……”

“Because Rita is here, you can’t sleep in, huh?”

Ilay casually said, not knowing if he saw Jeong Taeui’s sullen face as he ate his first dish. Rita frowned and muttered a few complaints.

“……”

Jeong Taeui suddenly got very angry. Someone here was feeling like the sky had fallen right in front of them early in the morning, yet that man had no special reaction.

Jeong Taeui feebly chewed his salad without replying.

“So, what about after that?”

“?…. Yes?”

Kyle asked in fragmented sentences while Jeong Taeui was eating in silence. Taeui looked at Kyle, puzzled.

“Didn’t you say when you walked in: ‘Neither is possible?’ So, is something bothering you?”

Kyle noticed that Taeui had forgotten about it, so he asked again. Hearing this, Taeui could only respond with: “Ah”, and couldn’t say anything more for a moment.

How could he possibly answer that?

Jeong Taeui smiled like a pageant queen and shook his head. Kyle didn’t press further. Taeui kept his head down, focused on his meal, and stared at his plate.

He really didn’t want to look at Ilay. That man was the reason for his current depression. Just looking at him made Taeui feel more tired and despondent.

Damn it. Jeong Taeui cursed silently. He could feel Ilay’s gaze fixed firmly on him.

With his chin resting on the back of his hand holding the fork, Ilay’s eyes didn’t leave Jeong Taeui for a second. Openly, brazenly, and publicly. Meanwhile, Taeui could only sneak quick glances at him.

“…”

Jeong Taeui pretended not to notice the gaze for a while but eventually gave in and looked up when Ilay’s eyes showed no sign of looking away, no matter how long he waited. Taeui looked directly at him with a displeased expression, matching Ilay’s unblinking stare.

“Is there something you want?”

“……..no.”

Ilay looked at Jeong Taeui for a moment, then slowly shook his head. Taeui frowned slightly. The way Ilay said: “no”, while looking at him didn’t help ease his mood at all.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

Jeong Taeui glared at Ilay in response. Anyone could sense the silent battle going on between their eyes.

A part of Jeong Taeui’s mind told him: ‘You’re being very bold now’, Jeong Taeui thought: ‘You’ll be leaving here soon.’

Somehow finding motivation, he felt like he feared nothing anymore. If you want to kill me, then go ahead. I’m not scared anymore. Yes. This is the feeling.

After waiting a moment following Taeui’s words, Ilay remained silent, just looking at him. Finally, he pointed his fork at the plate in front of Jeong Taeui.

“It’s nothing special, just that the chicken leg you took was the one I chose.”

“…….”

“…..Should I give it back to you?”

Jeong Taeui looked at the half-eaten chicken leg in his hand, speaking softly as he waved it in front of Ilay. Whatever Ilay was thinking, he just gave a faint smile at Taeui and shook his head.

“It’s fine. After all, it’s mine….—Alright.”

And Ilay explained further with extreme satisfaction.

“Since it’s mine, you can eat it.”

Taeui’s face froze upon hearing those words. Seeing his expression, Ilay smiled contentedly and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

His face burned. Jeong Taeui tried to cool down by rubbing his face with the back of his hand. But his head was even hotter, and for a moment, his whole body was burning.

“You are mine.”

Taeui couldn’t remember how many times he had heard that last night. That voice echoed in his ears over and over, like a nail being driven into his mind. To the point where he wondered if Ilay truly intended to brainwash or psychologically manipulate him.

“That’s what I realize, not you” – Like a madman, those hypnotic words lingered in his mind. Jeong Taeui thought he should break that mirror as soon as he got back to his room.

Jeong Taeui suddenly lost his appetite and set down the half-eaten chicken leg.

That word “mine”.

Jeong Taeui had no intention of putting his life in someone else’s hands. Just as he wouldn’t take someone else’s life, he didn’t want to control anyone’s life or be controlled by anyone.

His life was entirely his own. No one could live it for him. He could have relationships running parallel to his life but didn’t want his life to overlap with someone else’s.

Ilay. He had said he would torment him for the rest of his life, right?

Damn it. As soon as he took his eyes off him, Jeong Taeui would run away again! Let him chase me again if he wants.

But even as he boldly declared this, Jeong Taeui knew that he couldn’t create a new identity now. The previous identity he could use belonged to Kim Young Soo. And Ilay knew that well. Without an identity, he couldn’t work or travel anywhere, not even go to a bank, because wherever he went, Ilay would be able to find his traces immediately.

Jeong Taeui sighed dejectedly.

What should he do now? What would Ilay do?

Jeong Taeui smiled bitterly. Why was he thinking about what Ilay would do while planning his own future? However, the harsh reality was that he was still here, right in this place.

Feeling disheartened thinking about these things, Jeong Taeui only ate a bit more of the vegetables. At that moment, the sound of a phone ringing broke the silence. It was probably a mobile phone. The sound came from the dining room, where there was no landline, next to the table.

The phone belonged to Kyle. He nodded slightly and said, “Excuse me for a moment,” before answering the call. His face lit up, perhaps because he was naturally friendly. He put his fork down, though he didn’t know if the call would be long.

Jeong Taeui continued eating in silence. Then, for a moment, he looked at Ilay sitting across from him, who didn’t seem different from before. His gestures, his expressions, the atmosphere around him. This was what Ilay Taeui knew from the UNHRDO.

Whenever Rita nagged about something, he would frown and wave his hand. And Rita, who had raised him from infancy, would continue nagging. But other times, he was entirely the same.

…. Yes, exactly the same.

Jeong Taeui stared at him, dazed. He squinted and tilted his head. Ilay now looked exactly like the man he knew from the UNHRDO.

A man who seemed very unstable just yesterday, but now had regained his usual calm and composure.

“……”

Jeong Taeui wondered what had happened overnight. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t find any clues. Well, a calm and composed madman was at least easier to deal with than an unstable one.

Jeong Taeui thought as he drank his water, then heard Kyle call him.

“Taei.”

Taeui hurriedly swallowed the water and put the glass down. Seeing him still holding the phone, Taeui nodded instead of speaking, asking – “What is it?”  – Kyle smiled and handed over the phone.

“It’s Changin.”

Jeong Taeui took the phone. Hearing his uncle’s name felt a bit unfamiliar now. It had been a long time since he had received a call from his uncle.

Usually, he was the one calling his uncle. But thinking back, he had never told his uncle that he was here. If his uncle knew, it must have been Morer who told him.

Thinking about that name made Jeong Taeui angry again, his face heating as he pressed the phone to his ear.

“Yes, hello?”

[“Ah. Taeui, right? Are you alright?”]

“Yes, uncle. It’s been a while. How are you?”

It had been a long time since he had heard his uncle’s voice. The last time he called the UNHRDO was also from this house, but that time it was Ilay who answered. Jeong Taeui smiled and asked how his uncle was doing, but his uncle suddenly fell silent.

With the abrupt silence, Jeong Taeui wondered if there was an issue with the phone and added: “Hello, uncle?” He tried again, but there was no response.

He remembered the last time, also in a similar situation when Ilay answered the phone… but that couldn’t be the case now. Kyle had just spoken on the phone, so no one else could have answered but his uncle. Jeong Taeui scratched his head, confused, and looked at the phone, then at Kyle. Kyle looked back with a puzzled expression, wondering what was happening.

“It’s nothing… it seems the call was cut off.”

But just as Jeong Taeui spoke, a small laugh came from the phone. No, it couldn’t be called a laugh. But the faint, high-pitched chuckle continued for a while without stopping.

Jeong Taeui raised the phone to his ear again and looked at Kyle with a puzzled expression. Wondering if Kyle’s previous conversation with his uncle had caused him to laugh before passing the phone, Taeui tilted his head.

“……Hello, uncle~?”

It was embarrassing not knowing why the other person was suddenly laughing.

“Uncle, what’s so funny? If you want to laugh, let me laugh with you.”

[“Ahaha. No, it’s nothing too funny. Just something really interesting happened this morning.”]

His uncle still couldn’t stop laughing. Jeong Taeui squinted and slowly processed his uncle’s words. Something really interesting happened this morning? He had no way of knowing what his uncle did early in the morning.

“Ah…yes?” – Jeong Taeui choked up and rubbed his neck. He didn’t know what his uncle had done in the morning or if his uncle’s laughter during their conversation had any connection, but he somehow didn’t feel cheerful at all.

Jeong Taeui tilted his head, looking confused, and finally, his uncle’s laughter subsided. His uncle spoke in a voice still tinged with amusement.

[“It seems you don’t remember calling me this morning, do you?”]

“…. …Excuse me?”

Jeong Taeui blinked, wondering what he had just heard, and asked again. Calling his uncle in the morning? He had no memory of such a thing.

Jeong Taeui, confused, tried to recall if he had called his uncle. He mumbled to himself. And Jeong Changin laughed again.

[“You called me unexpectedly early this morning… even before my usual work hours.”]

Jeong Taeui was stunned.

He searched his memory. Nothing like that had happened. He rarely called anyone while they were still sleeping. Moreover, his uncle had said it was early in the morning…

While struggling to remember, Jeong Taeui suddenly recalled the time difference. His uncle seemed to realize it at the same moment and exclaimed, “Oh… it must have been midnight where you are.”

However, even with the adjusted time, he still couldn’t recall that part of his memory. Jeong Taeui rarely called anyone late at night, and if he had really needed to call his uncle, he would have remembered the conversation.

“Uncle, but I don’t remember calling…”

When Jeong Taeui spoke cautiously, his uncle laughed.

[“That’s why I guessed you wouldn’t remember calling me this morning. Let’s see… it was around 8 A.M, so it would have been… 1 A.M for you? I received a call from you around that time. You were crying.”]

“…….”