Cinnamon Candy

“Oh, I got some hair.”

Kang Yeong-ho, who had been rubbing his pants with his hands, looked inside his waistband to see what was causing irritation. As if he had just remembered, In-cheol took off his pants as well.

“I’m going to go waxing. I need to make a reservation.”

“Ah, screw it, it’s so annoying. Ji-ho, wish me well. I don’t want to do it.”

Among the virtues of the host, the first one is neatness, the second one is neatness, and so is the third one. This was the motto Kang Yeong-ho chanted at the top of his lungs. He used to argue that no customer likes a hairy cock, but he also drunkenly confessed that he thinks even if it’s just a little bit, that a hairless cock looks bigger.

As a result, he was doing hair removal periodically, but that wasn’t the case for Han Seon-joo. He didn’t know whether he was destined to be a host or whether it was just a trick of Creation, Seon-joo’s lower body was as smooth as white of a boiled egg.

Unlike other people who grow thick beards even if they don’t shave for a day, Seon-joo beard only showed up after about four days. While he was feeling ashamed, Han Seon-joo could only look on with envy at Kang Yeong-ho and In-cheol, who are in endless war with their hair.

“I wish I had some hair. I don’t like it because it doesn’t look right. Even when I go to the bathroom or sauna, people keep staring.”

His calves and armpits were also smooth, so changing in front his classmates was a bit of a struggle when he was still in school. It’s also a little hurtful to be an adult and have a customer telling him that he still looks like a child. When Han Seon-joo touched his chin and grunted, Kang Yeong-ho snorted and scolded him for talking nonsense.

“How annoying. Your attitude is shit, man. Hey In-cheol-ah let’s make a reservation.”

Kang Yeong-ho moved to the couch and grabbed his phone in a determined manner. Han Seon-joo also settled in, relaxed and waited for the call.

Since it was a weekday, the shop was more crowded than usual. Even before the store opened today, the boss was sighing heavily and yelled at me that sales had plummeted, telling me to work harder.

When he checked his phone, his inbox was filled with texts from loan sharks demanding he pay up. It’s illegal to harass family members, but the loan sharks don’t care. Whether it was avoiding the law or the lawless area where he was, Han Seon-joo looked for every opportunity to squeeze every last penny out of it. While thinking about it Han Seon-joo stuffed his cell phone into his pocket, hoping not to get another reminder text.

Soon the door opened, and the toadlike employee poked his head in. He scanned the waiting room and his eyes widened when he spotted Seon-joo.

“Hyung! You got an order. The man from another day.”

If you say “the man from another day”, there is only one man. Han Seon-joo covered his face with his hand in annoyance.

“Are you talking about that kid again? Ah, why does that bastard keep coming here looking for Ji-ho? He should go to the omega club. Fucking perverted bastard.”

When Kang Yeong-ho, who was next to him, shouted profanities one after another on behalf of Han Seon-joo, the toadlike employee got frightened out of his wits. Seon-joo patted Kang Yeong-ho on the shoulder to calm him down.

He was relieved to see that he hadn’t visited for a few days, so maybe his interest had faded.

“It’s okay, hyung. He paid me a lot of money.

“If he comes all the way here and doesn’t give you money, will he turn into a new person? It’s your choice, but if you don’t want to do it, don’t go, hyung will deal with him. I’ll bury that little mouse without a trace.”

It may be a bluff, but Han Seon-joo didn’t hate those words of concern.

The toadlike employee impatiently stamped his feet, urging Han Seon-joo to come out. He shrugged his shoulders at Kang Yeong-ho’s gaze, but he was faithful to his job. Han Seon-joo headed out, trembling.

“Thank you hyung, I’m glad I have you. I’ll be back.”

What could go wrong? It grossed him out, but like last time, he just have to make him drunk quickly and slip out while he is asleep.

“Did Kim Soo-chan come alone?”

He asked a toadlike employee who was leading the way. It was because Han Seon-joo suddenly remembered the person he had come with the other day. What was his name? He only remembered his last name, but not his first name. His appearance was still vivid in his memory. The raised corners of the mouth and the dark eyebrows sticking out like twigs.

“No. There are two of them. I think that’s the guys from the last time as well.”

Han Seon-joo eyebrows furrowed. Soo-chan is the one who wags his tail, so it’s obvious he showed up, but is why the man who criticised me for being boring last time, crawling in again? Is he once again going to play the role of a bystander watching two of them do their thing?

He was a man whose eyes were burdensome. I never felt embarrassed when several people were mingling, but the man’s gaze somehow felt as if he was forcibly taking away even a thread Seon-joo was barely holding onto.

However, he had that boyish side that made him look innocent.

“…Hyung. This is maybe just my feelings, but I think you should be careful today. Kim Soo-chan is a little too excited. His eyes are glassy. I think he is on drugs.”

“He is on drugs? But why didn’t security stop him?”

“The manager let him in because he is bringing money to the store. In any case, take care of yourself.”

Up until this point, the majority of the guests were women, so their drug-fuelled rampage hadn’t resulted in much bloodshed, but Kim Soo-chan was a man and an alpha who was physically stronger than the average person. No matter how much security one has, it’s hard to stop things from happening. In the end, Han Seon-joo was the one who suffered injuries.

If he is lucky, he is going to get hit. But if he isn’t lucky it can be so much worse.

Seon-joo pulled his sleeves down and straightened his back. It’s been a while since he received a drugged customer. He had his neck scratched by fingernails, his cheeks slapped, and his thighs stomped on by high heels. Han Seon-joo comforted himself, by thinking that if he stayed alert, he would be able to avoid being injured badly.

After a pause, Han Seon-joo let out a short breath and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Seon-joo hid his nervous expression and smiled brightly. When the dimple on his left cheek was hollowed out, the corners of his eyes were loose, and his lips were pulled up, his usual expression appeared.

He bowed his head and looked at Kim Soo-chan, who looked no different than usual. Usually, he was a person with bright eyes. But today he was more excited than usual, his face flushed and he was watching Seon-joo like a dog on the hunt, but at least he didn’t look like a drugged-out lunatic.

I turned my gaze and looked at Kwon Hee-seong. Just like last time, his eyes were dull. Just childish curiosity flickered in his eyes, wondering how Han Seon-joo would deal with Soo-chan.

Han Seon-joo swallowed hard. Kwon Hee-seong is the only one who can stop Kim Soo-chan if he does something weird, but judging by the way the corners of his mouth turn up, he’ll just chuckle and watch the bloodshed. No one was on Seon-joo’s side here.

“Come here. Why are you standing so far away, come on.”

The atmosphere in the room was different than before, and as I stood there frozen, Kim Soo-chan came over and pulled my arm. He sits down next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders, so I can’t run away.  The way he gripped my forearms was always very unpleasant.

Ignoring unpleasant pain, Han Seon-joo smiled. He quickly filled the empty glass with liquor and placed it in Kim Soo-chan’s hand. Kim Soo-chan emptied his glass without taking his eyes off Seon-joo.

“Ji-ho-ya, your hyung is in a really good mood today.”

“Did something good happen to you?”

“Yes and no.”

Kim Soo-chan smirked and pushed an empty glass. Han Seon-joo followed diligently, pointing at the anchovies with the tip of his chin. Soo-chan bit into them like a bird. Even during the brief moment of drinking, Kim Soo-chan fixed his eyes on Han Seon-joo, so cold sweat broke out on his back. He tried to force a smile, but his face remained stiff.

“It’s my birthday today.”

“Really? Congratulations, hyung!”

“Should I sing a song?”

Seon-joo awkwardly grabbed his glass and tried to distance himself from Kim Soo-chan. Kim Soo-chan stuck to him like a tick. After rubbing his forearm, he touched Seon-joo’s elbow, then ran down his forearm and put his hand on the back of Seon-joo’s hand.

“I want a present.”

Something has to happen. Han Seon-joo swallowed the drink and touched the back of his neck. A man who throws money in the air will not return home with only a few drinks in his hand. There is a reason why men open their wallets.

“Hyung, with a man…”

Pulling his head back, Seon-joo flinched.

“You’ve never done it before? That’s okay, I’ll treat you well.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Han Seon-joo glanced sideways at the seat next to him. If he knows that his friend is going crazy, shouldn’t he at least show some sincerity to stop it?

I hoped in vain. Kwon Hee-seong’s eyes were still as indifferent as if watching a tv show on the screen. His lips, oddly twisted, were halfway between a smile and a frown.

The only person who can overcome this crisis is himself, so Seon-joo twisted his shoulder and struggled to get out of Kim Soo-chan’s arms. The power of the hungry arms that wrapped around my forearms felt crushing. Being an alpha, the difference in strength was overwhelming, even though he was the same man.

“My mind wasn’t ready today, and my body wasn’t ready. I’m beta…next time you come…”

He tried to sweet talk him by saying he would try hard to please him next time, but by that time Han Seon-joow would be long gone from the shop. Pfft! Kwon Hee-seong burst into laughter instead.

“Did you hear it? He told you to come next time.”

It was a futile attempt. Han Seon-joo thought he’d get tired of the constant rejections and walk away, but he stuck to him like a tick. Soo-chan’s breath, which smelled like alcohol, brushed against his cheeks, causing hair to stand up on the back of his neck.

“It’s fine. It can’t be helped.”

He was giggling like a pervert as if something great was to happen. He may have taken some drugs as the manager said. As much as Han Seon-joo wanted to get him drunk and get out of there, Soo-chan didn’t even bother with the drinks. Instead, he put the tip of his nose on the nape of Han Seon-joo’s neck and rubbed it.

Han Seon-joo grabbed a glass of liquor. The veins and joints on the back of his hand stood out. All he wanted was to shake that alpha off and get out, but he was not in a position to do so. The madness in Kim Soo-chan’s eyes flashed as if he was going to get the deed done today. Han Seon-joo urgently needed to figure out what to do now, but his brain was blank and refused to cooperate.

“Then I will do it for you.”