Rent Boy | Hyunlix

Hurtful

I walked down the street, my thoughts consumed by Felix. The day felt like a blur, my mind racing with the urgency of finding a way to save him. The feeling of helplessness gnawed at me; I didn't know how to approach my father to ask for Felix's release. My heart ached with the weight of my unspoken resolve.

As I wandered aimlessly, someone grabbed my hand, pulling me out of my spiral of thoughts. It was Minho, who was sitting at a café table, engrossed in his notebook. His eyes were sharp with focus.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked, his tone light but his gaze piercing.

"Just getting some air," I said, trying to sound casual. "I couldn't finish the report that the professor sent last week, so I decided to take a break."

Minho's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know you're being followed?" he said, pointing discreetly to a black car parked on the opposite side of the street. My stomach tightened at the sight. I had noticed the car before but had tried to ignore it.

"Really?" I said, forcing a shrug as if it didn't matter. I sat down with him, trying to shake off the sense of paranoia creeping in.

"One espresso, please," Minho ordered for me, his voice calm and composed. I sank into the chair, my mind still racing.

"Do you have any idea who it might be?" I asked, trying to divert my thoughts from the unsettling presence of the car.

Minho shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind. It's just... trashy."

His comment about the car was a distraction from the real issue. "What's going on with you? Ever since that night you went to the ball, you've been different."

I wanted to explain, but the waitress arrived with my coffee. I took a moment to sip it, letting the warmth settle in my hands as I tried to find the right words.

"It's just... I don't want to lie to you, but I can't help but think I've become obsessed with that boy."

"You mean Felix?" Minho's tone was knowing, as if he had anticipated this.

I nodded, feeling a pang of shame. "I can't seem to get him out of my head. I don't know what to do."

Minho's expression grew serious. "Oh man, you're in deep trouble. Your father owns him. It's not just about the money; it's about control. Felix is a possession, and there's a whole list of people who want him. You can't just take him away from that."

"Can you get someone out of the public house?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

"Sure," Minho said, "but you'd need to pay a generous amount to satisfy the owner. And even then, it's complicated. There's a board of big sponsors who basically own the people there. Your father is one of the biggest sponsors. They all share and control the people in that place."

The weight of Minho's words crashed over me. My heart sank. "So Felix is effectively trapped?"

"Exactly," Minho said. "If your father decides to stop sponsoring him, Felix would be at the mercy of others. There's a long list of men who would be eager to take him. And right now, your father is watching you closely. That car? It's him."

I felt a surge of anger. "My father's been following me?"

"Yes," Minho confirmed. "He's been keeping tabs on you. He's got eyes everywhere."

I could feel my frustration boiling over. "I need to see him. I need to talk to him."

Minho's voice lowered, almost a whisper. "Be careful. Felix is deeply ingrained in this world. He might not even know how to imagine another life. If you continue this path, you could end up in serious trouble. It's a corrupt system, and you're up against powerful forces. Maybe it's better to let him go."

The sadness in Minho's words cut deep. I realized how profound my feelings for Felix were. It wasn't just infatuation; it was a genuine connection. "I don't want anyone else. I want to be with him."

Minho placed a hand on my shoulder. "Just remember, there's a chance this will end badly. And if someone's following you, it means you're under someone's watchful eye. Be cautious."

I paid for the coffee, my mind swirling with anguish. I said a hurried goodbye to Minho and made my way back to the public house, my resolve hardening despite the fear.

When I arrived, I found Margaret at the entrance, her smile fading as she saw the determination in my eyes. She started to offer me other options, but I wasn't interested.

"I want to see Felix," I said firmly.

Margaret's smile faltered, and she led me to the back rooms. As I approached the last door, my heart raced. I hesitated before opening it slightly. The sight that greeted me was a knife to the heart.

My father was there, his back to me. Felix was on the bed, his face contorted in a mix of pain and despair. My father was rough, holding Felix's hands behind his back, treating him with an uncaring brutality. Felix's eyes met mine, wide with shock and anguish. Tears streamed down his face.

"I'm sorry, master," Felix cried out. "I was so wrong."

My father's gaze shifted to the door, his eyes meeting mine. The cruel smirk on his face was a reflection of the power he wielded, and the realization that Felix was nothing more than a plaything to him shattered me.

Seeing Felix in such a vulnerable state, subjected to my father's cold, unfeeling control, solidified my resolve. The agony of knowing that Felix was trapped, that my father had the power to decide his fate, filled me with a fierce, burning determination.

I had to find a way to change this. To save Felix from this hell. The world I had once been a part of, the comfort and privilege I took for granted, felt like a distant, irrelevant luxury in the face of the raw, aching reality before me.

I looked through the door quietly, feeling the weight of my father's gaze on my back. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and opposition, but one thing was clear: I could no longer stand by and watch Felix suffer. The battle was just beginning, and I was prepared to fight for him, no matter the cost.