The lives of five different men take a dark turn when they're each approached by Choi San, the enigmatic owner of 'The Garden'. A twisted playground where free will is an illusion and desires of the flesh is encouraged.
"I want to go to the ball Lee...
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XII. Strife • Jung Yunho 10 hours until dawn
Yunho couldn't get the image of San and Wooyoung out of his head. It was there every time he closed his eyes like the after image behind your lids when you accidentally look into the sun. He guessed the nature of their relationship after meeting the younger boy that afternoon but nothing could've prepared him for that...
The shock of what had transpired only served to convince him that he didn't belong at a party like this. His hand shook as he lifted a glass of vintage Pinot noir to his lips. He'd sought out some alcohol as quickly as he could in an attempt to settle his frayed nerves. He'd probably need a substantial amount to make it through whatever the night had in store for him.
He wandered from the main hall into other parts of the Garden in an attempt to find a place where he could be alone. All he wanted to do was sit and contemplate how he was going to make it until dawn. He was most assuredly booking the first flight off of the island as soon as the gates opened. Suddenly he missed his boring job, the small apartment he lived in and Rain's sweet soulful eyes.
Yunho walked down a hallway and through every open door there were strangers giving themselves over to their most base desires. He'd never seen more naked bodies fucking in his entire life. Yunho tried to stay calm as a crescendo of slapping skin and low moaning invaded his ears. The smell of sex filled the air of the mansion making it harder for him to draw in a breath. He desperately needed to find a way out into the gardens for some fresh air to clear his head.
"Yunho!" A familiar voice called out to him. He turned his head to see a very obviously inebriated Jongho stumble from an open doorway into the hall in front of him. He gave the older boy a smirk as he zipped up his pants making Yunho clench his jaw. The younger had promised to stay with him but had disappeared into the crowd not long after San's erotic introduction without a word. Feeling irritated he ignored the younger and continued quickly down the hallway.
He felt relief wash over him when he found some double doors that led to a veranda out back. Once he stepped outside he took a deep breath and walked over to lean against a marble pillar. The sun had barely slipped below the horizon casting the night in a blend of dark blues overhead. The stars in the sky shone brightly and a warm breeze tousled his cerulean colored hair. He was just starting to calm down when he heard a voice speak up behind him. A voice that he was afraid would continued to haunt his dreams.
"Yun?"
Yunho felt all the color drain from his face at the sound of his nickname. The deep voice that had spoken it sent shivers up his spine and he slowly turned to see a man in the golden mask of a lion standing in the open doorway. For a second he was completely shocked and unable to answer, his words dying immediately in his throat. How could he possibly be here? No, he couldn't have known where I was. It can't be...
