And it can get worse

I can't stop thinking about Jun-Ho. On my way home, his brother added that Jun-Ho struggled with any kind of unnecessary physical contact, as those served as triggers for his more severe reactions. Then, he warned me to be careful because Jun-Ho could become aggressive in the first moments.

— But I'm surprised he was kissing you again, and on his own will. Don't think nobody saw you two at that table that day. Everyone did, and it was the talk of the moment.

— How embarrassing.

— On the contrary, it had a positive repercussion: "Min Jun-Ho isn't impotent, he's just gay."

— On what planet is that a good thing?

— In my brother's life. — He smiled. — But if you don't want anything with him, just walk away. Jun-Ho will have to respect that, I guarantee it.

— It's fine.

It wasn't fine at all. I need to stay away from him. If we spend more time together… I will fall in love. And I can't afford that mistake.

Jun-Ho's brother seemed very kind. They all look like they have friendly faces, but I have no idea what they're capable of. Goden is still a faction like any other, where no one knows what the boss looks like. Well, I kind of know his son. That's terrifying. I used the money to pay off the debts we had with the plantation; everything else went to the treatment, and even then, it wasn't enough.

— Sali. — I heard my brother's weak voice near my bedroom door. — How did you pay the debt with Goden?

— Who hit you? — I asked. Sora looked like a bruised-up tomato. I used to get hurt like that when I practiced boxing, and it's horrible.

It seems they weren't happy with the 5,000.

— It doesn't matter.

— You've been gambling again, haven't you? I already told you to stop!

— I helped us, didn't I?

— At first, yes, but now? We're only alive because of that idiot Min Jun-Ho!

— Min Jun-Ho? — He looked at me, surprised.

— Yeah, that's the name of the idiot who's stuck to me now. I had to do a job for him to pay off the debt, and now we're fine. Or we were, if you hadn't kept burying us.

— Are you talking about Min Jun-Ho? How do you have contact with him? What kind of job did you do? — My brother grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, scared. — That's who we owed money to.

— I know. — Why did my brother look so terrified? Was Min Jun-Ho the one hunting him down? — Do you know him? Was it him who beat you?

— What? No. I've never seen him. Everyone's afraid of him. If we make a deal with Goden, Jun-Ho is the demon who comes after.

— I see… Well, he really did come.

— What?

— He came after you, but you had disappeared, so he stuck to me. In the end, he said he knew me and decided to help me.

Thinking about it, Min invaded my house that day. What would he have done if he didn't know me?

— What did you do for him?

— I did what was necessary, don't worry. The side of him that I know isn't that bad.

The confusion on my brother's face softened, and he seemed relieved.

— How much are they charging you now?

— Thirty…

I sighed.

— I'll do my best to solve this.

My brother stepped back.

— Do you have any medicine?

— I do. — I went to my drawer and grabbed the kit. — Don't die. — I said, handing it to him.

Sora must be really angry. I left home and abandoned him.

(...)

— Thirty thousand, Yom! Where am I going to find thirty thousand? Even if we sold our kidneys, it wouldn't be enough.

Jaemin was waiting for us near the door, but he looked serious.

— Babe? — Yoma got worried about his boyfriend.

Jaemin gave a weak smile.

— I think we're all getting fired.

— Why? You too? Your uncle is firing you? — We asked, distressed.

— Yeah, me too. I don't really know, he suddenly started acting strange. He said he needed to lay off part of the staff.

We walked into that office.

And it didn't take five minutes before they called me in.

"Your performance is excellent. You work well under pressure. But I need to cut the highest-paid employees."

That was the stupidest thing I've ever heard someone say.

— Park Salin, are you paying attention to what I'm saying?

— Yes, I am.

We were fired. And now we're sitting in the square with our things. Who would've thought?

I tried to smile. I no longer had the 110-thousand debt. I was free from that part. But I was still between a rock and a hard place because of my brother's debt and my parents' treatment. Things didn't seem to have gotten any better.

— Come on, do you want me to drop you home?

— No, thanks. I'll just go to the apartment. I have too much on my mind.

I needed to walk. Worst time to be fired. There's no way I'll find another job so easily.

I walked back, thinking about everything I could sell. It wouldn't be enough, even if I sold my body.

— You're his brother? — I raised my head, confused. There was a group of younger men in front of me.

Just what I needed.

— Your brother said you can pay. Do you have the money?

— I can. I'll get my paycheck this week. I got fired, so it's not much, but I'll manage.

They smiled at each other.

— That's great, really great. You know, you're quite cute. — They started teasing while getting into a car.

— Hey, what's with that out of nowhere?

— But he really is cute.

— If he put on a little dress, I'd even get confused.

— Cut it out with the stupid comments. — I snapped at the only man who hadn't gotten into the car yet.

— Sorry, they've never seen a pretty gay guy before. We'll see each other again since you're the one who's going to pay us. If you don't bring the money by the end of the month, your brother will be buried. The message has been delivered. — He said with a smile, motioning for me to look at my building.

And when I did, I saw an ambulance parked there.

A thousand possibilities involving my family ran through my mind. My heart pounded, I ran, and when I arrived, my father was there, leaning on a crutch. His desperate eyes met mine.