In the guest room.
Angi: "So, what's the game you were talking about!?"
Ever since I knew that Alex was trying to help me, I've been willing to make an effort and forgive him for kidnapping me.
Angi: "Hum… Mister Alex!"
Alex: "…!? Yes! What do you want?"
Angi: "I just wanted to thank you… for helping me ask your little brother for forgiveness."
Alex: "Uh…? Helping you? If that's how you see it, then go ahead."
What did he mean by that? Was I wrong about him? Maybe I should ask him to untie me from the bed!?
Angi: "Mister Alex, could you please—"
Alex: "You're already getting on my nerves!!! Shut up and stay still! I'm thinking! Tch!"
Angi: "…What?"
No, no, no. I knew perfectly well I was delusional with that idea of a 'kind yakuza'. I was trying to stay calm, or I'd go crazy.
The fact that he yelled at me brought me back to reality.
Besides that, I still had no idea where Soren was or what he was doing. I was really worried… but was he even a bit worried about me?
This is all Soren's fault. If only he were like everyone else…
But what am I even saying? I'm no better than a dog, always blaming him…
Alex: "Hey!"
Angi: "YES!!"
Damn, he really startled me.
Alex: "Alright, I'm done thinking. I decided we're going to play a little punishment game."
Angi: "Punishment… game!?"
What the hell was this lunatic talking about?
Angi: "Meaning?"
Alex: "I asked you earlier how many times you wanted me to call my brother, and you said ten times. That means: during those ten calls, if Sohan doesn't answer, you get punished."
Angi: "Sohan!!? So that's his name, Sohan!"
Alex: "…Oops. That was a huge mistake."
So my brother's lover's name is Sohan.
Alex (thinking): I can't believe I slipped. I got distracted. But whatever. Knowing his name won't help him.
Alex: "Anyway, back to our topic."
Angi: "Okay, tell me."
Alex (smirking): "As I said, every time he doesn't answer, you get punished. And I decide what the punishment is."
It's not like I had a choice anyway. I really needed to talk to Sohan, or I'd never be able to apologize. And it's not like Alex would kill me or hurt me too badly… right?
Angi: "Alright, I accept. But first, I want to be untied!"
Alex: "No! If I untie you, it won't be fun anymore. Do you want me to make the calls or not?"
Angi: "…Fine, do as you want."
Alex: "Now that you agreed, there's no going back."
Why was he insisting so much on "no going back"?
It was terrifying. It made me even more nervous.
Alex: "Okay! The game starts now. I'm making the first call."
Beep… beep… beep… beep… beep… voicemail.
Alex: "First call done. No answer. Time for your first punishment, mmh?"
Alex: "Actually, I'll let you choose."
Angi: "Fine…"
I was nervous and stressed, but I wasn't going to break down. It was only the first call.
Alex: "Okay, choose between… a slap or a French kiss."
Angi: "WHAT!?! What kind of stupid game is that??"
Alex: "No going back."
I couldn't believe it… I had thrown myself straight into the wolf's den.
Alex: "Actually, I have a better idea."
Angi: "What? Which one?"
Alex: "While doing some research, I found documents saying you claim to be gay. But that's completely false, right?"
Angi: "!!??"
Oh no. How the hell did they dig deep enough to find that secret? Impossible. I had to deny it.
Alex: "It's useless to deny it. And don't worry, I don't intend to tell your brother."
Angi: "Ugh… thank you…"
I was exhausted. I didn't even know what to say anymore, so I just thanked him.
Angi: "But what does that have to do with the game!?"
Alex (smirking): "Well… I'm not gay either. But that doesn't stop me from being curious."
Where was he going with this?
Alex: "So why don't we pretend to be lovers like our brothers?"
Angi: "What are you talking about!? Are you insane!? How would that help!?"
I was confused. Completely lost.
This man had no limits.
We stared at each other. Then he smiled and stood up, walking toward the bed. He began untying me.
Alex: "No need to panic. We're just pretending for a while. And if you accept, I'll call my brother as many times as you want—no punishment."
Angi: "Really!??"
Alex: "Yes. I always keep my promises."
Once he freed me, I sat up on the bed. The spots where the ropes had been hurt, but at least I wasn't tied anymore.
Alex: "So? Don't you want to know what it feels like to be in a couple with someone of the same sex?"
I had to admit… yes. I'd always been curious why Soren liked men.
But being with Alex didn't excite me at all.
Alex: "For one full year, we'll be lovers. After that, you're free."
Angi: "Really!? You mean that!?"
Alex: "Yes. But only if you agree to be my boyfriend — and you can't tell Soren about it."
Angi: "You… ugh… fine."
He managed to turn everything around.
At first the situation was in my favor, and now it was in his.
For now, I had to focus on getting out of here.
Angi: "Okay… so what do I do?"
Alex: "For one year, we'll act like lovers. Even do intimate things."
Angi: "I-Intimate!!?"
Alex: "Yes. Intimate. You know what I mean."
Angi: "But… how far are we going!?"
Alex: "Don't worry. I don't want to go too far with you either. Just… intimate things without penetration."
Angi: "P-Pene… penetration!!!?"
Alex: "Sigh… I'm guessing you've never been in a relationship with a man or a woman."
Angi: "No, never."
Alex: "Then I'll ask one last time. Do you accept to be my lover for a whole year?"
It's not like I had a choice…
Angi: "…Yes. I accept."
Alex: "From this moment on, we're together. And you have to act like it."
Angi: "Can we make a contract!?"
Alex: "Yeah, later. Right now I want to touch you for a while."
Angi: "Huh!? T-Touch!?"
Alex: "Yes. Now lie down. I don't have all day. And call me Alex — no more 'Mister'."
Angi: "Okay, okay… fine…"
How did things end up like this…?
Here I was, lying on a bed because a man told me to, ready to do things that were far from innocent.
The room was silent…
Until Alex climbed over me.
He leaned down, our lips only millimeters apart.
Alex (softly): "Do you realize what we're doing…?"
I swallowed hard. My heart was beating so fast I could barely breathe.
I placed a trembling hand on Alex's chest.
Angi: "Alex… please…"
I didn't even understand why I was reacting like this.
Was Soren already going further with Sohan?
Alex: "Are you seriously thinking about someone else when I'm right here!?"
Angi: "N-No! I'm just… scared. It's my first time doing something like this."
Alex: "Too late to regret it now."
Then Alex kissed me suddenly.
The kiss was fierce and immediate—
A muffled moan escaped between our lips.
"Mh—…"
Angi: "Hh… Alex…"
I couldn't believe it.
I was the one moaning a man's name.
It disgusted me.