Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 53

"Eek!"

Yujin shrieked instinctively at the sudden voice that struck in such a defenseless moment. His heart pounded as he stared in panic, and in front of him, Winston sat up with complete indifference. With his upper body exposed, Yujin realized he wasn’t wearing anything. Unconsciously taking a step back, Yujin stammered in protest.

“W-What do you mean, strangle you? What kind of thing is that to say?”

Winston looked at him and asked in a flat tone.

“So you weren’t going to?”

“Of course not!” ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Yujin’s voice rose with anger, delayed but sharp.

“I would never try to kill anyone! Not you, not anyone else!”

Though his voice trembled with intensity, Winston’s reaction was lukewarm at best. The apathetic stare he received in return left Yujin deflated. As his shoulders slumped, Winston finally spoke.

“Then what is it? Didn’t you hear that you’re supposed to rest in the other room?”

“I heard.”

Winston frowned. His gaze asked the obvious: Then why are you here? Yujin answered with a subdued tone.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well...”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it was because he was worried. That kind of line would only earn him more mockery. At least, that’s what Yujin believed. But he was wrong. Winston tilted his mouth into a crooked grin and asked,

“Wanted to check if I was dead?”

He didn’t need Yujin to say the word worried to prepare a sarcastic response. He was always ready with one. How could someone be so cruel with words? Yujin thought bitterly. He hadn’t always been this way. Once, he had been so kind.

What’s the point of remembering that now?

A voice inside him snapped. And it was right. Yujin scolded himself. Getting sentimental will only make you more vulnerable. Coming here was a mistake. Yujin steadied his gaze and spoke firmly.

“You might be the type to do something like that, but I’m not. I’m not like you.”

Clasping his hands behind his back, Yujin carefully kept his tone level.

“I just wanted to say thank you for finding Angie. I heard your condition was serious—I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you recover soon.”

Having said what he needed to, Yujin let go of his clasped hands. Winston let out a small laugh and said,

“You know where the door is, right?”

“I’m not planning to stay.”

Yujin gave his final words, turned around, and walked away. He could feel Winston’s gaze on his back but didn’t turn around.

Hoo.

Outside the room, once the door had closed, Yujin finally exhaled. How could someone change so much? The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Even people with deep flaws had some core to them—some root they didn’t stray from. But Winston... he had changed beyond belief.

No—he had seen this side before.

Suddenly, he remembered the time Winston had screamed at him in rage, lashing out with uncontrollable fury. Then came a loud crash from inside the room. Startled by the heavy thud—nothing like thunder—Yujin flung the door open without thinking.

“What—?”

He began to shout, only to clamp a hand over his mouth in shock.

Winston had collapsed on the floor.

“Winston!”

Without hesitation, Yujin ran to him. Dropping to his knees, he grabbed hold of the man, just as Winston, face down, struggled to push himself up.

“What the hell are you doing? Let go.”

Winston snapped, his tone vicious. Yujin flinched but didn’t release him. Despite the angry words, Winston’s face was pale, drained of color, with cold sweat beading at his temples. Swallowing dryly, Yujin asked in a tight voice,

“Are you okay? Should I get Cain?”

“I said let go, goddamn it!”

Winston shouted, yanking his arm away.

“Ah!”

Yujin cried out as he lost balance and fell back. Sitting stunned on the floor, he looked up—and saw Winston’s expression frozen in horror.

...Huh?

As Yujin blinked in confusion, Winston clenched his teeth and muttered,

“...Don’t help. You’ll get hurt.”

The hesitation before he spoke—Yujin noticed it. He couldn’t believe it. Even Winston’s voice was lower now, as if he regretted yelling, regretted the roughness.

That can’t be right.

Yujin forced himself to dismiss the thought and looked at him again. Winston stretched a long arm toward the bedpost, trying to pull himself up. Across his bare back, a massive scar stretched from shoulder to waist.

Yujin’s breath caught in his throat.

No way... because of that day?

His vision blurred. That day’s memory came crashing back—Winston’s bloodied body, unconscious and unresponsive.

“...Haa.”

A low, painful breath yanked Yujin back to the present. Winston was still struggling to get up, his legs unresponsive, his entire body trembling with effort. Sweat poured from him as he ground his teeth.

Yujin couldn’t just watch anymore.

“What are you doing?”

Winston grumbled as Yujin slipped under his arm, bracing his body beneath the man’s shoulder. Ignoring the complaint, Yujin pressed his weight upward.

“I said move. You’ll get hurt!”

Winston barked—but didn’t push him away. He probably wanted to, but didn’t. Because this time, if he lashed out, Yujin would get hurt. Yujin knew it. And he knew that Winston would never really let that happen.

Even if his words cut so deep...

Yujin stubbornly supported his weight, using everything he had to lift him up. At last, Winston gave in.

“Fine. Bring me my cane.”

“Cain? You want me to call—”

“No. The cane.”

Winston’s face twisted with frustration, but he said it slowly and quietly, without shouting.

Yujin blinked, confused. He thought Winston had said the butler’s name wrong—but he meant it literally.

“Where is it...?”

Frantically scanning the room, Yujin spotted the cane leaning against the opposite side of the bed. He rushed over, grabbed it, and brought it back.

Winston reached for the handle, which was carved into the head of a golden lion, and gripped it tightly. With a strained groan, he pulled himself upright.

Yujin hovered nearby, hands half-raised, ready to catch him. When Winston finally sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled, Yujin let out a matching sigh of relief.

“A-Are you okay? Do you want to lie down? I can help—”

“On the tea table. There’s medicine. Bring it.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Winston’s voice was faint [N O V E L I G H T] and worn out. Yujin hurried to fetch the medication and water.

“Is... is this the one?”

He handed over a plain white pill, but Winston shook his head.

“All of them.”

“All of them?”

Startled, Yujin asked again. Winston simply nodded, as if speaking was too exhausting. Is it because of his body? Yujin wondered. Does regular dosage not work for him? He brought over the entire bottle.

Winston poured five pills into his hand and swallowed them in one go.

Yujin watched, then hesitantly asked,

“Would taking less not work?”

He braced himself for being ignored—but Winston unexpectedly answered.

“For others, one is enough.”

The offhand remark made Yujin pause. So these are extreme alpha meds. And even so, he needs that much... Just how bad was his condition?

Winston lifted his legs onto the bed and added bluntly,

“Don’t even think about trying them. Unless you’re suicidal.”

“I—I wouldn’t.”

Yujin denied it quickly. But that confirmed it. And his heart suddenly felt as cold as the rain outside.

“...Was it.”

He watched Winston lie down and forced himself to ask.

“Was it because of that accident... that you ended up like this?”