The next day, after that nightmare of a discussion, the first person to appear in front of Taeui was Mark.

“Doing this kind of thing from the start isn’t great……., but my luck with these drawing lots games is always crap.”

He sat down in front of Taeui, scratching his head awkwardly while grumbling under his breath: “How am I supposed to come up with Rick’s good points overnight and present them convincingly?”

And in front of him was Jeong Taeui, completely drained and sprawled out on the sofa like a wet rag after a night of physical and mental exhaustion.

Christmas was approaching, yet life felt so bleak……. He was so tired that he didn’t even have the energy to complain anymore, only able to sit there in a daze. Mark glanced at him, then smiled and lit the fuse.

“Had fun last night? Haven’t seen you in a few days, must’ve been a passionate night, huh?”

“…….Yeah, it was amazing.”

Taeui mumbled with his sore throat, still a bit annoyed in his tone. As if he completely understood, Mark picked up the teapot on the table and poured him a cup of warm lemon tea.

“Living with that guy isn’t easy, is it? I get it. It’s not supposed to be easy.”

Mark nodded in agreement while sipping the coffee in front of him, mentioning that he didn’t like sour things. Only after staring at the ceiling for a while did he grumble: “I’ve known Rick for a long time. Even before joining T&R, I already knew him. That guy has never been easy. He’s got layers, really a lot of layers.”

‘Not just a lot of layers, but every layer possible.’ – Taeui thought to himself, then took a sip of the lemon tea. His parched throat felt soothed as the warm tea coated it.

“But there’s one thing I find really good about him, and that’s that he’s predictable. Rick is actually a very predictable person.”

“…….Ilay?”

Taeui asked back with a doubtful expression, because it was just too hard to believe. Someone as unpredictable as that, no matter how long you’ve known him, could be predictable? Mark nodded immediately.

“When it comes to the fact that messing with him will definitely not end well, I can predict that with 100% certainty.”

…….That damn bastard, even Taeui could predict that from the very first moment he met him. Taeui pouted, then took another sip of lemon tea. Mark’s fluctuating gaze suddenly stopped on Taeui, as if observing something very interesting. That scrutinizing look made Taeui uncomfortable.

“But……. this is something I really can’t predict. Not even in my dreams. I never thought Rick could settle down with one specific person like this. Really, truly, it’s unimaginable.”

“I understand. When I first met Ilay, I didn’t think there’d ever be a day like this. I didn’t think he could live with anyone, let alone that person being me.”

Mark carefully observed Taeui, who was nodding in agreement, then suddenly leaned forward and spoke.

“But when I look at the two of you like this, I can’t help but think that guy must have some sort of special strength after all.”

So, it’s finally come to this. Ha, the phrase: ‘Damn it, that’s why I can’t help but love that guy,’ is about to be said. Taeui braced himself to listen, curious about what special strength Mark would mention.

“Think about it, Tay ah~. Have you ever met anyone bigger than that guy? Not in AV or anything, but in real life.”

“…….”

…….Damn it. The curse words came out, but nothing else followed.

That word ‘bigger’ definitely wasn’t referring to height, and it wasn’t about physique either, so it had to be that……. He hated himself for immediately understanding what this guy was talking about.

Taeui rubbed his forehead, trying to smooth out the wrinkles forming, then muttered, “The special strength you’re pointing out is that…….?” But Mark remained calm and serious as he continued.

“Think about it carefully, that guy was born with a physical disadvantage. With that size, it’s a significant burden compared to others. But, despite that physical disadvantage, that guy is incredibly good at it. Isn’t that admirable? That’s not something you can achieve just by trying hard.”

Taeui was speechless. Yeah, when you think about it, it kind of made sense. It’s true that for that guy, it was a major disadvantage. But…….

Mark’s arguments left Taeui momentarily confused, then he suddenly remembered something and snapped his fingers.

“The guy is a bit selfish during sex, only caring about satisfying himself, but if he really puts his mind to it, he’s incredibly skilled. Back then, I once got stuck with him for half a year in a remote part of South America. It wasn’t that uncommon since we were assigned to the same mission. But at that time, there was also a guy in our team who was famous for being a Casanova*. I must admit, that guy was truly gifted, everything from his speech to his looks was flawless…….”

(*Casanova is a term often used to refer to a man famous for being charming, seductive, and highly skilled at winning the hearts of women (or sometimes people of the opposite sex in general))

Mark began telling the story like this, with a dreamy look in his eyes as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

For more than half a year of being stranded in the wilderness to carry out arduous tasks, the only pastime for the men there was flirting and dating the local girls.

Among them, there was a guy who stood out for always having beautiful women by his side. Let’s call him Don Juan. He had a bright face, a strong physique, eloquent speaking skills, and, most notably, exceptional skills in bed. Moreover, because he genuinely loved women, the number of girls following him wasn’t limited to just one or two.

He often boasted and acted smug about it, which made everyone around him feel uncomfortable. But there was one thing that made him feel inferior and self-conscious, and that was when compared to Rick. Initially, perhaps by coincidence, in a place full of men like that, he happened to see Rick’s naked body. And from that moment on, every time he encountered Rick, his eyes would turn into triangles*.

(*눈이 세모꼴이 되었다: Eyes turning into triangles, in Korean culture, is a metaphor for jealousy, suspicion, and dissatisfaction.)

“But as everyone knows, Rick is infamous for being utterly devoid of humanity. Because of that, Don Juan didn’t dare to confront him openly and only had the courage to badmouth Rick behind his back, rolling his eyes dramatically. However, one day, he was caught red-handed saying something like this,”

“‘If it’s big but you don’t know how to use it, then it’s useless. It’s no different from putting pearls on a pig’s neck. Sexual relations should make both people feel comfortable, not where one person enjoys it while the other suffers. That wouldn’t be a relationship anymore; it would clearly be torture. And it’s true, that guy probably relies only on his size and forgets about technique. When in reality, technique is much more important, tsk tsk…….’”

“Believe in what, believe in that size? Truly nonsense talk!”

While listening, Taeui unconsciously shouted, and Mark raised both hands as if to tell him to calm down.

“Of course, of course. But it seems like he was secretly jealous of that. That’s why he badmouthed like that. Anyway, he had no idea Rick was lying down behind the sofa, and yet he brought his girlfriend to the dorm room, chatting and saying such things, only to be caught red-handed on the spot…………..

The moment he saw Rick stand up from behind the sofa with a smirk, his face turned pale. He froze, unable to say a word, just gaping in shock, while Rick simply tapped his forehead twice with his finger and walked away.

“…………..That’s so typical of Ilay, leaving behind a troubling shadow and disappearing…………..?”

“Exactly! That’s the reaction of someone who knows him well! But that idiot went around spreading rumors that Rick had nothing to say in his defense, so he just left. As if what he said was completely true.”

“Even those words reached Rick’s ears.” – Mark chuckled. Judging by how smug he looked, it seemed like he was already quite detestable on a daily basis. The outcome of this story was bound to be unpleasant, and Taeui swallowed a sip of lemon tea that suddenly turned bitter.

“So…….?”

“So…….”

It didn’t take long. Just three days. The reason it stretched to three days was because Rick was busy with work during that time.

At that time, Don Juan always surrounded himself with a crowd of women, taking great pride in it. Among them, the one he boasted about the most was Carla, the most beautiful and well-known girl among the local sex workers. Carla was known for her haughty and aloof personality, serving as nothing more than a trophy that Don Juan paraded around to show off. However, just three days later, he had to witness her passionately entangled in Rick’s arms.

“I saw it too. It happened right in the living room of our dormitory. It must have lasted around 3-4 hours.”

“3 to 4 hours…….”

Taeui rubbed his chin with a look of astonishment. Yes, if that guy really set his mind to it, he could last that long, but the day after would be pure hell. The next day, you’d be stuck in bed like a lifeless corpse. Just hearing the story made Taeui feel as if his own energy was drained, leaving him speechless.

“The first time I saw a woman faint from sheer pleasure…….” – Mark muttered.

“At first, she kept crying out in pain, but after a while, her reactions completely changed. She started screaming that it felt so good she could die……., ……. Is it the same for you?”

“…….”

“No, really, I’m serious, I’m asking because I’m so surprised. I kept thinking about it and couldn’t understand how such a monstrous size could be something people liked, but then that girl didn’t even pay attention to Don Juan anymore and just clung to Rick’s neck. We talked among ourselves and concluded that she must be a masochist………….. Hm? By the way, that day I saw him and realized his technique had reached the pinnacle, but can that size be compensated for with technique?”

Mark stared intently at Taeui with a genuinely serious expression. Even a physicist uncovering the secrets of the universe wouldn’t look this serious. Pressured by that intensity, Taeui frowned, looked at him for a moment, then turned his head and mumbled a reply.

“…….. It’s possible…….. But it takes quite a bit of time to get used to that size.”

“Really? It’s possible………….. Well, it’s true that he’s very skilled. That’s probably why that haughty Carla clung to his neck like that.”

Taeui unconsciously rubbed his face, which was heating up, and then shifted the topic back to Mark’s story.

“But for Ilay, this could be considered a humane form of revenge. Just proving he’s better and then ending it, right?”

“Huh? Haha, no way. After that, Don Juan saw the scene, got so angry that he charged at Rick, and right there, he got his butt pierced* on the spot. The guy was almost covered in blood and had to be hospitalized……..”

(*엉덩이를 뚫렸지: Literally means ‘butt pierced’, but figuratively, it’s a humorous way of saying ‘defeated’………….. Interpret it however you like 👀 Use your imagination~)

“…….”

“……..”

“…….., but Mark, what exactly is your goal in telling me all this? Are you trying to make me break things off with Ilay?”

“No way! Not at all! That’s not it! That was a long time ago! Almost ten years ago!! Long before Rick even met you!!”

Finally, Mark seemed to realize he had misspoken, jumped up, and waved his hands in denial. He pretended to wipe cold sweat with his sleeve, then took a sip of coffee to calm himself before continuing in a composed manner.

“What I mean is, despite Rick’s physical disadvantage, his sexual skills are astonishingly exceptional, that’s what I’m saying.”

“To that extent, he’s like a machine, a real machine.” – Mark muttered. Then suddenly, he put his coffee cup down and unexpectedly leaned forward. The sudden decrease in distance made Taeui uncomfortable, and he leaned back, but Mark spoke seriously.

“You know, in a person’s life, how important do you think sexual life is? Especially for men. You could say human history was shaped by sex. What do you think?”

“……., Well, uh……., I agree to some extent.”

“If human history is like that, then in personal life, there’s nothing more to say. Especially for people who have to live together for a lifetime, nothing is more important than harmony in bed.”

“No, I think that’s a bit different.”

“But in this world, there are as many people claiming to be good at it as there are grains of sand on a beach, yet those who are truly skilled and recognized by both themselves and others are much harder to find. Let alone finding a top-tier machine like him, do you think that’s easy? It’s easier to find a sesame seed in a pile of sand!”

“……. Of course, finding someone like him is difficult, in many ways…….”

Taeui’s reluctant answer didn’t seem to satisfy Mark. After a moment of silence, Mark asked suspiciously.

“Tay ah~, are you an ascetic?”

“No.”

“Do you hate sex?”

“……. No, not at all.”

“Is there any man who hates it? Maybe indifferent, but hate…………..” – Taeui mumbled, and Mark pressed on.

“So, you’re not interested in sex? You don’t think about it?”

“It’s not like that……. it’s just…….probably normal? Maybe I like it at an average level.”

“Then, have you ever met anyone better than him?”

Taeui immediately clamped his mouth shut. Throwing out such tricky questions, this guy really isn’t ordinary……. Taeui thought it had been a long time since he felt this flustered at his age, and he unconsciously scratched his chin. At the same time, he began to think carefully.

It is very clear that he is very skilled at that. At first, for a long time, because of that enormous size, there was no time to feel the technique or anything, and all you could do was struggle with it. But now, after many years have passed and it has become so familiar, you can be sure that he is truly very skilled, to an astonishing degree.

Perhaps if it weren’t for the unfavorable physical condition (?), you might have been swept away by the physical sensations and unable to stay clear-headed. No, now after many years of living like this, it seems that unfavorable condition is no longer a disadvantage.

‘…….Why do I now feel uninterested in sexual relations unless it’s with him…….’

That thought suddenly flashed through his mind. In the next moment, Taeui was startled by himself and sighed inwardly.

‘Oh dear. That’s it for me. I’m really done for. Thinking that if it’s not him, I won’t feel anything anymore, I’m truly doomed……. Even if forced, I can’t say this out loud.’

While Taeui was stunned by the realization of something he had never thought of before – or didn’t want to think about – Mark continued speaking gently.

“Caring about the feelings of others during sex is not an easy thing to do. Especially for someone with disadvantages like him……. And hey, Tay, this is my honest opinion, he is truly crazy in love with you. In his eyes, there’s only you.”

“Yeah, thanks……. Even though hearing that doesn’t make me feel particularly grateful, thanks anyway.”

“You know, do you know why you’re famous among us?”

Mark glanced at Taeui from head to toe once again. That unbearably curious look wasn’t the first time, so Taeui patiently waited, though not really curious – if it were me, I’d also want to know what kind of strange person could live with someone like that – and asked: “Why?”

“We’ve all witnessed unbelievable situations and then shared those stories with each other, and that’s how you became famous.”

“An unbelievable situation.”

“For example, I had already heard your name before, but I didn’t really feel anything. Then two years ago, I was so shocked that I couldn’t forget your name. Do you know that two years ago, Rick worked for a month in the area near the Karakoram* in Central Asia?”

Hei knows. During that time, Taeui enjoyed the brilliant sunshine of the Caribbean Sea in Havana and lived a truly relaxing life there. However, he didn’t feel like he had truly found any freedom, because every night Ilay would contact him.

“At that time, when the work was almost done, we had a bit more free time, so we decided to relieve some of the pent-up stress. So, we invited Rick to join us, but do you know what he said?”

“What did he say?”

“‘No. I don’t want to.’”

“……. That’s possible, I guess.”

“But the next few sentences were even more horrifying. When we said that it might feel different if he came along, he replied…….”

“…….?”

“‘If it’s not Taei, then no. I’m not interested. Besides, Taei wouldn’t like it, so I don’t want to do it.’”

The moment Mark finished speaking, as if trying to convey Ilay’s words without missing a single one, Taeui was left speechless. Seeing Mark shake his head and say that the shock at that moment was indescribable, Taeui could only blink at him before slowly rubbing his own face.

For some reason, his face felt hot, and there was a slight itch in his chest, an inexplicable sense of embarrassment. No, why would he say such things……. Just as Taeui was about to feel so embarrassed he could die…….

“Right after saying that, he called you. Then immediately switched to a video call and started phone sex. And it seems like this wasn’t just a one-time thing, because you responded very naturally.”

“……..”

The chest, which was just about to immerse itself in the vibration, completely collapsed.

Exactly, thinking back, that’s how it was. Back then, he would call Jeong Taeui every single night without fail. And each time, through the video call, he would force Jeong Taeui to comply with his lewd and chaotic demands. Refusing wasn’t an option, fear of the consequences when they met in person later was too overwhelming……., it was simpler to just resolve things in front of the phone screen, so eventually, Jeong Taeui obediently went along with it…….

“At the time, I was so curious and amazed that I eavesdropped from the side. Honestly, that guy was insanely good at phone sex. I almost came twice just from listening in…….”

“WHY WERE YOU EAVESDROPPING IN THE FIRST PLACE?!”

Jeong Taeui slammed the teacup down on the table and shouted. With that force, the handle of the teacup broke off, but that no longer mattered.

“Every time that guy does those things over the phone, he always says obscene things and makes me do all sorts of things. And I accidentally end up sitting next to him and hearing everything…….”

Taeui’s face, which was already slightly flushed, turned even redder this time, as if it were on fire. After dealing with shameless people like Rick all day, this kind of reaction seemed refreshing, making Mark widen his eyes in surprise before letting out a light laugh.

“Haha, why so worked up? At least I’m not like Alain, asking you to show me. It’s just learning, learning. I also want to pick up a few techniques from Rick. Honestly, I have to admit, he’s really good at it.”

“……., ……., ……., yes, very good, really good.”

Taeui suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him and let himself sink into the sofa. Half of him wanted to quickly end this conversation, and the other half had given up and decided to be honest.

“Having such a skilled partner is a great blessing, Tay.”

“Yes, I’m really very lucky.”

“I’m not joking, I mean it.”

“Yes, I’m not joking either.”

Taeui rubbed his face and let out a deep sigh. Then, he picked up the teacup with the broken handle to soothe his parched throat. Without much thought, if someone were to ask: ‘Does that guy treat you well?’ Taeui wouldn’t hesitate to nod. Of course, there were times when he’d blurt out: ‘Ah, damn it, you bastard!’, but that was something that could happen in any relationship.

In reality, Ilay had given Taeui more than the average, and considering the fact that it was that guy Ilay Riegrow, there was nothing to complain about.

Life is full of ups and downs, and living with that guy had its twists and turns, but looking back now, if he had to choose the word blessing in the phrase blessing in disguise, it probably wouldn’t be the wrong choice.

Moreover……. yes, actually, like the guy in front of him right now, who kept insisting that even his sex life was being enjoyed to the fullest, and perhaps even a bit excessively.

As Taeui was lost in thought and slowly nodding in agreement, Mark’s eyes lit up like car headlights.

“Right? At that point, it’s enough to satisfy the necessary and sufficient conditions for you to cling to that guy, isn’t it?  

“Uh……. well…….”  

“In this situation, you’re still saying ‘well’? I’m right, aren’t I? Alright, let me tell you more. Do you know how crazy he is about you?”  

Mark suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in closer to Taeui. The sudden proximity made Taeui pull his head back slightly, but he could still hear Mark’s whispered words clearly.

“At that time, Rick recorded a video of you two having phone sex. And after that, every night, he’d giggle and rewatch the video over and over. Don’t you find it surprising that he does such cute things? Honestly, I was…….”

Mark’s words were interrupted by Taeui, who had just spat out lemon tea. After that, Taeui coughed violently for a long while, then a few seconds later stood up abruptly and shouted: “AISSHHHH, DAMN IT, THIS BASTARD IS DEAD WITH MEEEEEEEEEE!”

**************************

*Karakoram: is a mountain range in the Kashmir region spanning the border of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwestern extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.