ihwa | hyunchan

01, a regular day

"Hyunjin, hurry, Mr. Kim has arrived." The boy let out a sigh when he heard his manager's voice. He looked at his face in the mirror, his expression showing slight worry knowing what awaited him for the night. Hours of fake laughs and smiles, countless shots of different alcohols, and lots of non-consensual touching. He fixed his shirt and did some final makeup touches. He walked towards the room's door, took a deep breath, and then finally entered.

"Hyunjin-ah, what took you so long?" the man asked.
"I wanted to make sure I look pretty when I'm with you." The boy gave a sweet-looking smile, while on the inside he could feel nothing but disgust toward this so-called Mr. Kim.

But who exactly is Mr. Kim? A middle-aged man, probably in his 40s, married to a lovely woman with whom he has two beautiful kids. He spends his days in a company as an accountant. Little does his family know that he's spending his nights—and lots of money—drinking in a karaoke bar in the company of beautiful, young boys. Not only does he cheat on his wife, but he's betraying her with boys who are so young, they could even be his sons. That's what Mr. Kim is like. Unfortunately, though, there are lots of Mr. Kims, Lees, and Parks. All of them are here for none other than to have some fun with guys who can bring some liveliness back into their burned-out, sad lives.

As for Hyunjin, he is a karaoke bar host. His main job is to look beautiful, sing, and dance for guests, and drink together with them. But on a deeper level, he listens to these old and lonely men. He gives them comfort and some sort of peace, making them feel heard. Those are the better guests who just want to talk or have a party. Then there are men—like Mr. Kim—who are absolute nightmares. Touching the boy's body without him allowing it, unbuttoning his shirt, or totally removing pieces of his clothing.

Mr. Kim is one of Hyunjin's regulars. Every Wednesday night, the boy is ready to welcome his loyal customer. And when the party starts, they are singing and dancing together; it's almost as if the happy feelings were mutual. But of course, they both know the elder is just a source of income for the boy. He's unknowingly paying the younger's rent, bills, food, and clothing. So, in a way, Hyunjin also needs the older man. And he hates himself so much for being dependent on these people. If only he had listened to his parents, he wouldn't be in this shitty situation. He could have a normal job in a cafe or even in an office, or he could just be a college student. He could do anything better than just pleasing old men, but money always speaks louder. Especially if you struggle like Hyunjin.

So the night went on, singing famous ballads and party songs depending on the mood, the two even finishing a whole bottle of whiskey. The boy, being so intoxicated, could have easily been taken advantage of. Luckily, at least Mr. Kim isn't that type. Not like the older man was in a state to be able to do such things. And finally, when Mrs. Kim calls her husband to ask about his whereabouts, the night ends. Hyunjin gets his payment, even some tips if the guest feels like it, and everything's back to normal. Guests go home, fall asleep, then the next morning reminisce about how great last night was. But for Hyunjin, these are his every nights. These nights and situations he so badly wants to escape, but is so deep down in now, changing feels nearly impossible.