#gitae kim x reader

Undercover cop Jichang tells Gitae Kim that you have nothing to do with this.

"Let her go? I think you got things backward." Gitae rips you away from the love of your life. Your back hits his chest and he caresses your throat. "She is reason why I kept you alive for so long."

"You son of a bi—"

"What do you want?" you whisper.

Gitae brushes his nose behind your ear. He inhales. "You know what I want."

Undercover cop Jichang yells at you to leave, at Gitae to let you go. But Gitae gets tired of his pleas and kicks him in the chest. Jichang throws up blood. Gitae doesn't care and lifts his leg again, aiming for his thigh. You wrap your arms around Gitae Kim and beg him to stop.

"I hate hearing men talk—it ruins the mood."

"Please stop!"

"I will. But you have to shut him up first," Gitae says, palming your sides tenderly, like he didn't just broke someone's ribs, "you know how, don't you, mi vida?"

Undercover cop Jichang is powerless as you tearfully stuff your panties in his mouth. You apologize over and over before Gitae tells you to stop it—

"He should be grateful. You're the only reason he is alive."

Undercover cop Jichang can only lie on his back while you get on your knees and unzip his pants. You lick and kiss him until he stiffens. You say sorry one last time before taking him in your throat. Jichang can feel your tears on his bare flesh.

Undercover cop Jichang can only utter muffled screams as Gitae Kim bends down behind you. You don't stop sucking your ex-husband, even when Gitae enters you.

Undercover cop Jichang forced to watch as the man he hates the most in the world fucks the only woman he ever loved.

Undercover cop Jichang finishes all over your face. You shut your eyes, but Gitae grabs your cheeks and forces you to look at your former husband. He picks up his pace, the tip of his cock is relentless as it bullies your cervix. You try your best to stay quiet. But he lets go of your hip and snakes his hand between your thighs.

You let out a pleasured scream. Gitae smirks. He twists your chin and kisses you while he stares directly at Jichang Kwak's horrified expression.

Gitae then pulls back and hooks his arms under your knees. Your own arms fold backward, holding onto his shoulders as he opens you up.

You wail and moan, too lost in ecstasy.

He kisses your cheek and tells you to come. Your body shakes but he doesn't stop pounding into you as you orgasm.

Undercover cop Jichang unable to look away as you squirt all over his face.

"You used to work at a hospital. Why the change? Couldn't take the heat?"

"The job market is trash and this place pays decently."

He put his hands over your desk and leaned over you. "Come work for me. I'll pay you so much you can retire before you turn thirty."

"Tempting," you replied dryly as you put on your reading glasses and unlocked your laptop.

"I didn't know you wear glasses."

"I'm not super dependent on them but yes, I do wear them when I need to stare at a screen or read reports like right now, so please go away." Your fingers stopped typing as you realized something. "Wait, how did you know I worked here?"

"I wonder too."

Did he do a background check on you?

Ugh.

You were annoyed at him, at the guard—but above all, you were annoyed with yourself. You should've been more angry than you were right now. You should be cussing him out or calling 911 or calling your brother for help. The old you, the one who lived in the "real world" would have never put up with this kind of behavior. However, it seemed that your boundaries have been severely warped by the handsome faces around you.

"Relax, mi vida. Here." He put something down on the table and slid it forward. It was your missing school ID.

You stared at it, then back at him.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't swipe it from you."

"I didn't say anything."

"You dropped it in the convenience store."

You could have just left it with the guard. "Thank you for returning it." You tried to retrieve the ID, but his fingers kept pressing down.

"What time do you get off?"

"…I have a lot of work today so I'll be doing some overtime. My students tend to get into fights so I need to write reports, do inventory, all that jazz."

"Do you hate me?"

Well, that came out of nowhere. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't have that kind of energy."

"Do you dislike me?"

You tried very hard to pull back your ID but it refused to budge. With a sigh, you slumped in your chair. "I don't dislike you, Gitae-ssi—"

"You keep acting like we're strangers."

"We are strangers. For God's sake, we had sex for one night. You're acting like I'm you're, I dunno, you're ex-wife or something."

"What will it take for you to go out with me?"

"Would you please—"

Footsteps and voices echoed outside.

"Oh, hey, little Daniel! What're you doing here?"

"Hi Vasco. Um, the other Daniel is still sick so I went to school in his place. Hehe…heh…"

"I see, I see. Are you going to meet with Miss Angel?"

"Yeah…"

"Perfect, I'm actually bringing one of my friends here to rest. He got knocked out while we were sparring."

Panicking, you shot up, nearly knocking your chair down. It was one thing for the school to gossip about your love life but if the students caught you with a strange man in your office, you could kiss your job goodbye. If it were Gun or even Samuel, you could probably talk your way out of it, but anyone with half a brain could tell Gitae Kim was no ordinary visitor.

The students knocked on the door—

You rushed to Gitae's side. "Fine, I'll go out with you, but move!" you whispered, tugging his arm. He followed you without protest—ignoring the shock that he actually obeyed, you shoved him under the desk.

"Miss Angel, guess who's here!" Vasco stepped inside. "It's little Daniel!"

You returned to your chair, squeezing your thighs tightly together. You wore a pantyhose under your skirt, but you wanted your intruder to see as little as possible. "H-hi boys," you greeted them with a smile.

"Are you okay, noona?" Little Daniel asked.

"Of course! Anyway, what's up?"

Vasco turned around, showing an unconscious Jace on his back. "Can Jace rest here for a while? I accidentally knocked him out while we were sparring."

"Lay him down on the cot. I'll examine him for any other inju—rieees!?" Dry lips touched your knee.

The boys freaked out. "Noona? What is it?!"

"Leg cramp. I'm okay now." You crossed your legs, deliberately hitting Gitae's face as you did. "Anyway, what about you Daniel, what can I do for you?"

"Um, My mother said to give you this." He placed a medium-sized tote bag on the table. "They're mom's specialty rice cakes. It's a thank you for the green tea you gave us."

"Oh, she didn't have to…" You met Mrs. Park once when she and Big Daniel went to a cafe, then you crossed paths a few more times after that. She was a sweet woman and often told you that you reminded her of an old friend. "Send her my thanks. How's her back? Is she doing better?"

"Yes, the exercises you shared were really helpful." He bowed. "Thank you again."

"Hey, just doing my job as a nurse. Is there anything else I can help you wi—!?" You let out an embarrassing squeal. You covered your mouth as the students blinked, wide-eyed in confusion.

Gitae Kim palmed your outer thighs, sneaking up your skirt like large snakes. His warm hands brought back vivid memories of your night in Tijuana.

"Miss Angel?" "Noona?"

You cleared your throat and rest your heel atop Gitae's crotch—a very clear threat. Above the desk, you gave the boys a bright smile. "I suddenly don't feel well. If there's nothing else, would you boys kindly close the door on the way out? I'll check up on Jace and Daniel? Send my thanks to your mother."

"O-okay."

"Thank you, nurse!"

They bowed one last time before exiting the room. Once the door clicked shut, you rolled back your chair and glared at a blank-faced Gitae. His hands were not only under your skirt, they were cradling your ass now.

"What the hell were you thinking?! Do you want me to hit you?"

"I'll take what I can get," he breathed, squeezing your backside.

You pulled back your knee and then stomped on his groin, springboarding your chair backwards.

Gitae chuckled. Your little attack did nothing but amuse him. You knew you couldn't hurt this bastard even if you tried but it still felt satisfying to step on him.

"So, what time do you get off work?" He grasped the edge of the desk and began to pull himself out.

You got up from your seat. "What?"

"You didn't forget your promise, did you?"

"I—"

Jace groaned and rolled over on his cot.

You jumped towards Gitae, your belly hitting his nose and forcing him to stay under the table. "Jace, you're awake! Vasco, was really worried about you."

"Hm? Oh, hello, nurse. I… how long was I out?"

"I-I'm not sure, actually, a couple of minutes? How do you feel?"

Gitae's breaths tickled you but you managed to keep a straight face.

Jace blinked a couple of times before sitting up. "A little sore, but mostly fine."

"Don't move!"

Your shouting seemed to have woken him up completely.

"Stay right there, y-you could have a concussion."

"I'll be fine, nurse." Jace laughed, wobbling to his feet. "You're acting like this is a new thing. I've had hundreds of concussions since entering J High!"

That's even more concerning, Jace! "You should really stay put."

Gitae rubbed his cheek against you like a stray chasing warmth. You folded your hands over the crown of his head. At least he wasn't groping your ass anymore.

"I don't wanna miss class," Jace blurted out. "If I feel any worse, I'll come back here, I promise. Later, Miss Angel!"

He sprung out of the infirmary before you could stop him.

Jace shut the door behind him and silently screamed. She was totally hiding someone in there! Despite your best efforts, he could spot the jet-black hair peeking from the edge of the table.

He bit into his handkerchief. Don't worry, Miss Angel, your secret is safe with me. Vasco, I'm sorry but you're a blabbermouth so this is something you must never find out!

On the other side of the door, you almost collapsed into a pile of nerves if not for Gitae holding your legs.

Channeling the anxiety into anger, you yelled, "What is your problem, asshole? I could've gotten into trouble. What if the students saw you? I could lose my job!"

He remained pressed against your stomach and said nothing for a while. Then, he finally met your eyes and smirked. "Then I guess you'd have to work for me."

With one hand, you grabbed him by the jaw and pushed his chin further upward. "Listen, I don't know why you're so obsessed with me, but this is my job. I like the people here so don't you ever, ever pull this kind of stunt again."

"Or what?" His Adam's apple bobbed. "You gonna kick me in the crotch again?"

A scoff left your mouth, which curled into a frustrated half-smile. "You said you wanted to hire me? You could offer me a billion won and I still wouldn't work for a pervert like you."[2]

His smug smirk was nowhere to be seen and you gave yourself a pat on the back.

But then he slowly stood up, hands moving from your knees to your thighs, tracing the curves of your hips and the dip in your waist before stopping right below your ribcage.

You'd be lying if you didn't admit how good his touch felt.

He stared down at you.

"What?" you asked impatiently. Anyone could walk in and you wanted nothing more but for him to vanish.

Gitae raised one hand to your face and you were sure that he was going to slap you. You braced yourself, waiting to be murdered, but instead his calloused thumb traced the bottom of your lips.

You opened your eyes and found him smiling down at you like you were a disobedient kitten. Somehow that pissed you off more than his touches.

He leaned forward—

Just as when the combined odor of leather, cigar and cologne almost made you gag, he whispered, "Call me a pervert again."

You wished you could vomit all over him right now.

Gritting your teeth, you put a hand on his chest and pushed—miraculously, he stepped back.

"I get off at four," you surrendered, feeling your soul leak out of your body, "so get out before anybody else can see you."

He unlatched your window. "Estupendo. I'll send someone to pick you up."[3]

The fresh afternoon breeze blew past him and straight to your nose.

"Hey, wait."

"Yes, mi vida?"

"I don't know what you're planning but can you take a shower and not smoke before we meet up? I almost threw up on you."

"…"

"…"

He burst out laughing.

He then reached over to you again, this time to pick a leaf from your hair. "All right. As you wish, dear angel."

And with that, he leapt off the window like an action star.

You rolled your eyes and returned to your desk, where you discovered that he had placed a piece of paper inside the ID case.

You unfolded the paper. It was an up to date summary of his physical exam and lab results. He was healthy as a horse.

You put a hand over your mouth, grinning despite yourself. "Pervert."

***

You had no intention of beautifying yourself for that bastard Gitae Kim, but that didn't mean you were going to meet with him looking like crap, so during your break, you washed your hair and face in the restroom. You applied some minimal makeup you brought with you to school and then styled your hair using a blow dryer one of the teachers confiscated from a student.

As you waited at the school gate, you sent your brother a quick message telling him that you'll be home late to hang out with some work friends. He hasn't been home for days because of work, but you liked to keep him informed nonetheless.

Kiddo: OK. Take care. Tell me if you need a ride home. I'll get someone to pick you up.

Just as you replied with a heart, a black limo stopped in front of you.

A young man stepped out of the driver's seat. He had dark skin, face tattoos and a pair of rectangular glasses.

He greeted you with a bow. "Good day, miss. My name is Isu Jo. Mr. Gitae Kim sent me."[4]

"Nice to meet you, um, sorry but can we talk inside the car?"

"Of course."

He opened the door for you and you tried not to look too rushed when you dove inside.

Once he was buckled up, you asked, "Isu Jo-ssi—"

"Please just call me Jo, miss."

"Okay…Jo." You then introduced yourself and told him that he can just call you normally.

He refused. "You are Mr. Kim's most honored guest, I can't be disrespectful."

You had a feeling he won't budge on the matter so you let it go. "Do you mind telling me where we're headed?"

"Unfortunately, Mr. Kim's residence in Seoul is still under construction so you will be meeting him at Hotel Marisol. It's only thirty minutes away but please feel free to catch up on some sleep."

The hotel name sounded familiar, but it wasn't until you reached the establishment did you realize that it was where Goo discovered your relationship with Gun.

"Is everything all right?" Jo asked when he escorted you into the elevator.

"Yeah, I just didn't expect a hotel." A five-star hotel and you were in your wrinkled nurse uniform. It's a good thing I washed up before coming here, you reassured yourself.

Isu Jo spoke up, "You're the first and only woman Mr. Gitae Kim has ever known by name."

"Huh?"

"He ordered me to make sure you arrived safely and that you were comfortable. He's never done that for anyone before."

Is he trying to comfort you? Are you supposed to feel flattered?

If anything, his statements make Gitae Kim sound like a grade-S douchebag.

There are countless men who treat women like they are disposable. Are you supposed to worship Gitae Kim because he decided that you alone were suddenly special and "not like the rest"?

In your first life and in this one, you have seen this kinda stuff play out so many times to the point of being cliché. Boy meets Girl he can't control. Boy tells Girl she's different from the other girls. Boy treats her well so Girl falls in love. Boy gets bored and leaves Girl heartbroken. Roll credits.

You supposed you can't get too angry. You were no saint yourself. You've had your own fair share of flings that could put Samantha Jones and Blanche Devereaux to shame. (Well, okay, maybe not that far.) [6]

Anyway, you knew the kind of man Gitae Kim was thanks to the webcomic; he and his fictional counterpart may not be a 1:1 match but he was clearly a womanizer just like his father. There was no way he would remain fixated on you forever.

Once he gets what he wants, he will get bored and leave you alone.

For now, you would play ball and hopefully get something good out of this… transaction.

The elevator stopped at the sixty-eighth floor, which you doubt was coincidence.

You followed Iso Jo down the corridor. Upon reaching Gitae's suite he used his keycard and opened the door for you.

"Mr. Kim already ordered room service for dinner. It should arrive soon, but if you want something else, there is a menu on the kitchen counter, right next to the phone." With a bow, he offered the keycard to you. "Please take this."

"Thanks, Jo."

"My pleasure, miss. I wish you two a fantastic evening." He bowed once more before stepping out.

Left alone, you were free to examine the suite. As expected, it was bigger than the commonfolk's apartments. There were more decorations here than in the room you and Goo stayed in.

Normally, you would've kept to yourself when visiting someone else's home, but honestly, considering the boundaries he crossed inside your office, snooping around his temporary place felt like a minor offense.

Unlike most hotel rooms, this suite had a closed floor plan, so the kitchen and bedrooms were separated from the living room. For now, you stayed clear of either bedroom, as you figured Gitae was probably napping inside.

Bossa nova played from the speakers.

They say that a man's trash can tell a lot about him so you peeked into the garbage bins. A large part of you expected to find crumpled up tissues or used condoms, but there were only empty soda cans and bags of chips.

Huh.

You snatched a complementary pencil from the coffee table and lifted the layers in one of the bins. Nothing exciting, just more discarded food and drink receptacles.

"Having fun, princesa?"[5]

"Eep!" The pencil flew from your hands. You tried to catch it but it kept bouncing off you like a slippery juggler's ball.

Gitae caught it with ease before handing it over. "Is rifling through other people's trash a hobby of yours?"

"No." You took the pencil from him. "But you could say it's a habit from a past job."

He quirked his eyebrow.

"I used to collect trash and dumpster dive before Gapryong-nim helped me."

A shadow fell over his face. The wisest move here was to avoid mentioning Gapryong Kim in front of this guy.

But hey, what's the point in a second life if you can't be a little more foolish?

"I've been wondering for a while, but how do you know Gapryong Kim?" you asked, playing dumb.

"He's my father."

He admitted it right away. How boring.

It seemed like he was waiting for your reaction.

"Oh."

Now he seemed offended. "That's it?"

"Well, you do resemble him. Taller and more… brooding, sure, but yeah I can believe that."

"You believe way too easily."

"His wandering eye and penis were no secret to anyone who knew him." Though when you were younger, he seemed insistent on preventing his men from conversing with you about his many affairs. Was it because he thought you were an impressionable young lady who should be shielded from the scumminess of men? He often acted like a father instead of your sponsor. You still remember how, after you prevented Dayoung Oh's murder and befriended Jinrang, Gapryong "jokingly" told the new King of Busan that you were too busy to be in a relationship.

You shook your head at the memory. "Anyway, it's no surprise that he has illegitemate kids."

Gitae huffed. He was… pouting?

"What?"

"Nothing. Come, the food will be here soon." He offered you his hand and you let him pull you to your feet.

Now that you've calmed down, you noticed his hair was down, and he was only wearing a bathrobe.

"You showered," you pointed out stupidly.

"It was your request, right? Since I smelled so awful that you almost vomited."

"I can tell you're expecting me to refute that, but you're right on the money. I can't stand the smell of nicotine and smoke."

"I'm not going to quit," he said coldly.

"Huh? Sure…?" It's not like you asked him to. If it's only one night, you can deal with the smell. If you were drunk, it would certainly help. "By the way, what's for dinner?"

Dinner was Korean fried chicken served with kimchi, musaeng-chae, white rice and ice-cold beer.[7]

You knew you were drooling but…

"Aren't you going to eat?" Gitae asked when he noticed your hesitation.

"Um…" You covered your rumbling stomach. "I kinda have an idea of what we're going to do but I just need confirmation before I decide if I'm going to eat."

Gitae's chopsticks paused mid-air.

He looked at you.

He then put on a smile that reminded you of DG. "Tell me, what do you think is going to happen tonight?"

"Are you really going to make me say it?" What a prick. "I'm not eating this if we're going to sleep together." Fried chicken and fermented food aren't ideal right before… certain strenuous activities.

He put down his chopsticks and covered his mouth. "Pfft."

You clenched your fists over your lap. I'm gonna kill him. I swear to God, when I get on my knees, I'm going to bite it off and watch him bleed to death.

"Don't worry, mi vida. You can eat as much as you want tonight. We're not going to have sex."

"???"

"You look disappointed."

"Baffled is more like it." You were a little disappointed, but only because you haven't had been fucked in so long, not that dickhead over here needed to know that. "If we're not having sex then what exactly are we going to do?"

"Eat first—"

"No." Time to put your foot down. If you weren't getting your orgasm tonight, then what was the point? "Tell me why I'm here, Gitae."

"So you're finally dropping the honorifics."

You got up from the chair. "I'm leaving."

"What makes you think I'll let you?"

You glared at him.

"I have my men stationed right outside this room and there are more on each floor of this building."

"…so what are you going to do?" you asked in a voice that was neither afraid nor angry, tilting your chin upward. "Are you going to tie me down and torture me? Or are you going to sell my organs to the highest bidder?"

"I've thought about it before, but you don't seem to be afraid of death, huh? I wonder if it's because it's literally your job to delay the inevitable."

You stayed silent and Gitae continued, "Even when we first met, you were very combative, but you treated my threats like a minor inconvenience. Will you keep up that tough girl act when I have you chained to this room until I get bored?"

"Are you sure you can handle it?" With blank eyes, you asked, "Can you handle the consequences of hurting me?"

Gun would walk through hell to find you, and he would move the Earth and Sun to get revenge on anybody who hurt you. Knowing Goo, he would be right beside your brother, cheerfully chopping down anyone in their way. And DG, you still don't get him, but you doubt he'll be happy to have someone mess with his plaything.

You and Gitae stared each other down before he chuckled. "I'm only teasing you. Sit down and eat, preciosa. I promise you that no one will hurt you here."

"You have a nasty sense of humor."

"You can't blame me. I wanted to see it again—your pissed off expression is cute, like an angry pussy cat."

"Ugh." You picked up your chopsticks. "Well? What are we doing after this?"

"Let's play cards."

"…cards?"

"Uh-huh."

"As in… poker?"

"It doesn't have to be poker, or even cards, frankly. I have some board games here too."

"I see…"

His eyes widened briefly like a lizard's, and he cocked his head to the side. "You don't like it? We can watch a movie."

"I don't mind playing, but why?"

"Back in Tijuana, you told me that you were lonely, especially since you didn't have friends to celebrate your birthday with you—"

Jesus Christ

"—so I figured, let's be friends."

"Did I have a stroke midway through your explanation? What's with that jump in logic?"

"It's not that big a jump. You see, I'm a lonely guy myself."

"Huh…"

"You said it yourself that you're not interested in a serious romantic relationship, and you seem disgusted whenever I bring up having sex again. I'm not interested in forcing a woman into my bed, but I do want you in my life."

"So you intend to keep me in your life as a friend?"

"Yes." He smirked. "Unless you decide that's not enough for you, of course."

"You want us to be friends?"

"Yes."

What's happening right now? Are you seriously being friendzoned by this sex addict? What even is your life?

Ah. Whatever.

You snatched the beer from its coaster, chugged it down and slammed it back on the table. "Fuck it. Okay. Let's be friends, Kim."

"You sure you don't want another beer?" Gitae asked while the housekeepers put away the dishes.

"I'm sure."

"How about a cocktail?"

"I'll just have some tea." When you drink, things get porn-y. Your guts desperately craved to be rearranged so you knew that if you didn't stop the booze now, you may end up jumping Gitae Kim's bones. You didn't need him lording that over you. "By the way, can you please put on some clothes?"

"Are you afraid you'll lose control and attack me?"

You heard a stifled giggle behind you and you glared at him.

Once the maids left, Gitae rose to his feet. "Follow me, you can choose the board game you want."

He led you inside what you assumed was his bedroom. Unlike the living room and kitchen, you found traces of Gitae Kim in here.

"Let me change first." He then disappeared into the ensuite bathroom.

His beloved leather jacket hung over a chair. His favorite striped red shirt was folded neatly on the foot of the king-sized bed, right next to an acoustic guitar. On the writing desk stood an empty bottle of whiskey and a glass; there was also a faded picture of a brownish red horse, and a Ziploc bag with crumpled Mexican bills and coins—they looked like the 68 Pesos you left him that night.

Chuckling, you opened a drawer, but it only contained hotel stationery.

You opened the other drawer and found a flat rectangular box without a lid, displaying a necklace. It had a thin, gold chain with a single, heart-shaped pearl pendant. Simple but opulent. It looked vintage, too.

You felt Gitae standing right behind you.

"Maybe a raccoon instead of a cat is a better comparison for you."

"I wasn't going to steal anything."

"I didn't say anything."

You turned around and saw him in lounge pants and a white wife beater. He had combed back his hair again.

He glanced down at the drawer. "Do you want it?"

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I don't want one."

"It was supposed to be a bridal gift, or so I've been told."

"You know, in some cultures, gifting pearls at a wedding is bad luck because they resemble tears."

"If you want it, you should take it. Life's too short not to take what we want," he advised, gazing at you from the corner of his eyes.

"Why, so I can inherit the misfortune?"

"I didn't take you to be the superstitious type."

Considering that you were living proof of souls and different realities, it would be odder if you weren't superstitious. "I don't believe in tempting fate, especially since God keeps sending me weird men. Now, where are those board games?"

He laughed and guided you to the walk-in closet. He mentioned having "some" board games, but one side of the closet had shelves with only games, and every single one looked brand new.

He didn't buy this stuff just for you, did he? If so then you suddenly felt guilty, which was silly considering his messed up way of establishing friendship.

"Mi vida?"

"Oh, I'm just surprised. You must really love board games, huh."

"No. I've never played a board game in my life," he stated, in a bored, matter-of-fact tone, like stating that grass is green.

You were then reminded of Samuel and Gun. Of the little boys they used to be, not murderers or criminals, but simply children who didn't receive an ounce of love when they should have had it all.

In the webcomic and surely in this world's history, Gitae was a shameless, remorseless sinner, but at some point, even he was just a little boy who wanted his father's affection.

That thought shot through your heart. This is how bad boys get to girls—

Damn you, maternal instincts!

"Let's play Monopoly. It's a classic! I'll go find it."

You scanned the shelves until you caught sight of a drawer that was slightly ajar. It wasn't on the same side as the board games but with Gitae's clothes.

You crouched down, attempting to close it completely, but then a still-sealed Monopoly box appeared in front of you.

"It was on the top shelf," Gitae explained. "It's this one, right?"

Forgetting the drawer completely, you beamed. "Yup."

He offered you his hand and pulled you to your feet.

"It looks complicated but I promise you, it's not. Don't worry, I'll hold back since you're a newbie."

***

"Are you fucking cheating!?" You slammed your hands on the coffee table.

Gitae turned to the stacks of cash on his side. "I don't think so."

"Why do I keep ending up in jail? And how are you always getting the expensive properties?"

"I honestly don't know."

You scratched your scalp. "Right, right. Sure."

Gitae observed your frustrated expression. He heard somewhere before that the best medical professionals are aggressive and competitive, they're the kind of people you would want fighting by your side.

How adorable.

Once again, Isu Jo's advice was spot on—

"Boss, I don't want to overstep, but maybe you shouldn't rush things."

"I'm not rushing. We've already had sex, remember? I just need to remind her how fun that night was."

"…"

"Speak."

"Um… I'm not saying that you two didn't have fun, but maybe—maybe she didn't… enjoy it on the same level that you did."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Based on my investigation, she's always kept her distance from co-workers, but apparently, she has a notorious reputation. Some people even used unsavory terms to describe her."

"Such as?"

"…such as 'slut' or 'whore'—!" Isu flinched when the glass in Gitae's hand exploded.

Whiskey dripped down his fingers. "Go on."

"She's currently well-respected and well-loved at Jae-Won High School, but according to the students and staff, she is often seen with different men."

"So you're saying that she's moved on from me?"

"…"

Gitae sighed and wiped his hand on his pant leg. "What should I do?"

"How about befriending her first?"

Friends, huh.

Gitae Kim hasn't had a real friend since he was a brat playing in the streets. The friendships he had as an adult were transactional, all business.

"Hey—hey, Gitae."

"Yes, mi vida?"

"I want a different game."

"All right, let's go choose another."

"No, we're playing cards this time. Pusoy Dos!"[8]

"I've never heard of that one before."

"A Filipino nurse taught me—not to brag but I kicked her ass."

"Maybe she felt sorry for you."

"Wha—"

"I'll go get the cards."

He stepped inside his walk-in closet and approached the drawer you almost touched. He would have been in trouble if you saw what was inside.

All five drawers in this cabinet contained nothing but condoms.

Shaking his head, he closed it and then went to find the cards.

Friendship with a woman felt like a sick joke, or a faraway dream.

"I used to collect trash and dumpster dive before Gapryong-nim helped me."

Interrogate—interviewing others is one thing. Gitae wanted to hear the details of your life from you.

So for now, he'll play along. Hopefully, you will fall for him before you realize how much he wants to paint that frustrated face with his cum.

[1] -ssi: a polite and neutral Korean honorific, similar to the English Ms./Mr./Mrs. It's less formal than "-nim."

[2] 1 Billion KRW = around 40 million PHP = 663,000 USD

[3] Estupendo. Spanish interjection for "Great!" or "That's great!"

[4] Pictured above: Isu Jo. He is one of Gitae Kim's subordinates.

[5] Princesa. Spanish: "princess"

[6] Samantha Jones: a main character from Sex and the City. She's the most sexually open out of the four main girls. Blanche Devereaux: a main character from The Golden Girls. She is also the most sexually open out of the four main girls.

[7] Kimchi: Korean. Salted and fermented vegetables. Musaeng-chae: Korean radish salad.

[8] Pusoy Dos: A Filipino card game. I forgot the rules HAHAHA but my groupmates and I used to play it in the waiting room during practical exams.

taglist: @sm3156, @placid-plastic, @mousetrapss, @yin-yun, @ixchelhernandez4, @janeisnotonline, @cocooola, @ficrepostblog, @peachmangoe, @saltyeli, @pauxf013, @sugarrushbell, @sleepingzzzzz, @eyeless-kun, @sh0jun, @kitty-chan33, @elizaliza159, @noxus123, @linasxoxo, @luckyangelballoon, @misshyori, @rosehoneycomb, @sparrowwithaquill, @karinasari, @tronnily, @cherryeden, @chrimsonkitty, @olympianknightwing, @asmaraloca, @vmkl, @akire-slayzy, @mappleppi, @sirairi, @zoros-earring, @jhsluvv, @sirenetheblogger, @xcucumbers, @asharrasand

If you want to be part of the taglist, please leave a comment on the masterlist so I don't lose track. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: The images used are screencaptures from Ep. 586, 602, 555, 547 & 497 - Lookism, Webtoon.

My Baby Brother is the Strongest Character Masterlist

Your child grows up to be a giant momma’s boy. So does his brother. And so does their youngest brother. Yep, Gitae Kim has been blessed with three boys. Carbon copies of Gitae Kim, much to his chagrin. 

“Your little miracles,” you labeled them, because every single one of them was a surprise despite you and Gitae’s precautions. [2]

“Little monsters” is what your husband calls them though, because while the boys hang on to your every word and bristle at the thought of upsetting you, it feels like they only listen to their dad because you tell them to.

Don’t get it wrong, the children love their father. It’s just that if you ever get a divorce, they can survive without Gitae, but they can’t live without their mom.

As for Gitae Kim, he loves his sons. He would take a bullet for them any day. But he really wants a daughter. He wants a mini-you, not reflections of himself and by extension, the father he resents so much.

Despite your guidance and support, the man still finds it difficult to express affection, even with his kids. Maybe with a daughter it would be easier. 

[1] Birth control sponge, or simply "sponge" is a type of contraceptive inserted in the vagina prior to sex. Fun fact: I learned what a sponge is because of Seinfeld.

[2] Gitae does eventually get a vasectomy, when he decides that he doesn't want to put you through another pregnancy despite wanting a girl.

taglist: @ixchelhernandez4, @palekingdomyouth, @mousetrapss, @cocooola, @sugarrushbell, @mizukicidal, @sm3156

If you want to be part of the taglist, please leave a comment on the masterlist so I don't lose track. Thank you for reading!

The images used do not belong to me. They are screencaptures from Ep. 519 & 556 - Lookism, Webtoon.

DG pulled you into a lover’s embrace and said, “Let’s make it official now, noona.”

“Enough already. I’m tired of your jokes.” You tried to get away and like a fly struggling in the maw of a Venus flytrap, you only made it worse. 

His arms squeezed the breath out of your lungs and DG put his chin on the top of your head. “If only I were born a little earlier,” he whispered.

He finally loosened his grip, but didn’t let go. 

DG took a step back and met your gaze. “Noona has the morals of a normal person so I told myself I’ll be patient, but I’ve overestimated my patience… or perhaps I underestimated my greed.”

It was hard to look away from those silver eyes of his.

“I know that you met me when I was just a brat. Maybe I wouldn’t be so impatient if you still saw me as that thug who followed you around. But I’m not blind.”

He cupped one side of your face. 

“I don’t know if you’re doing it on purpose or maybe you’re just dense…it’s pretty cruel of you to give me hope only to keep rejecting me.”

Now that pissed you off. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He smiled. “We’re both adults, noona.”

He then whispered directly to your ear, “So how long will you deny us what we both want?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking abou—”

He was kissing you now. He tasted as sweet as mangoes.

But Diego kissing you was no more surprising than you kissing him back.

You almost lost yourself in his hold if not for the noise of incoming employees, causing you to panic and shove him off.

The staff passed by, greeting you both, but you stayed quiet. You kept your eyes on the floor.

Once they were gone, DG stared at you. “I’m sorry for kissing you so suddenly. This isn’t how I wanted it to happen, but am I wrong to think that you liked it too?”

“I…” You hung your head, too ashamed and confused to face him. “I can’t do this right now.”

“I understand.”

He let you go. “Please enjoy the rest of the morning. I’ll leave first. I assume your brother will pick you up?”

He shouldn’t have to leave. This was his free trip.

“Ja—Diego, wait.”

“Don’t worry about me.” He grabbed your hand and raised it to his lips. “I visit places like this all the time.”

You didn’t see Diego during the remaining hours at the spa.

No more than ten minutes in the sauna, you left, unable to relax as the heat only exacerbated your emotions.

There was no trace of DG when you returned to your suite. 

You felt too guilty to relax so you packed up your things and while waiting for the elevator, you looked up any nearby convenience stores where you could wait for Gun.

Ding.

You stepped inside, focused on your phone.

“...seven-minute walk away…” you muttered. 

“What is?”

“Oh, pardon me, I didn’t mean to—” you finally looked up and your mood soured “—talk aloud…”

Gitae Kim stood before you. Fully dressed this time. There were no traces of lipstick and perfume on him, which made you mildly happy for some reason. (You knew the reason, but you were too proud to admit it.)

“Leaving already?” he asked, glancing at your luggage.

“What gave me away?” The lame quip left your mouth before you could stop it, so you coughed and added, “I figured I should leave early to beat the afternoon traffic.”

“...”

“...”

You didn’t mind dead air, if anything, you preferred it over small talk, but you couldn’t stand the way he looked at you. It wasn’t a gross, shameless leering that many men would subject you to (though there was definitely a hint of lust in his eyes that he didn’t bother to hide)—he stared at you like he was trying to figure you out. Like he had a thousand questions at the back of his throat.

“...”

“...”

Gitae Kim: (⊙ _ ⊙ )

You: (ᴗ_ ᴗ  )

Gitae Kim: (⊙ _ ⊙ )

You: (ᴗ_ ᴗ ᵕ)

You glared at the operating panel. Why’s this damn elevator taking so fricking long?

As if hearing you curse at it, the elevator jittered and shook you off balance.

Gitae caught you by the arms as the elevator stopped moving completely.

You glanced up at the ceiling or whatever its elevator equivalent is called; you kept your poker face but in your head you were raging at the heavens with one word: WHY?

“Hey.”

“Huh?” You remembered that you weren’t the only captive right now.

Gitae was still holding you.

You gave him a nod. “Thanks.”

“...”

You tried to get up to hit the emergency button, but his hands were immovable. “Is something wrong?” you asked.

“Why do you keep avoiding me?”

What do you think, you father-killing gangster?! Plus, who wants to eat breakfast time with a fling? “Avoiding is…” You paused and reconsidered your word choice. Gitae Kim (or any of the Kim men for that matter) was not known for his brains, but he wasn’t an idiot. You were both adults so there was no reason to skirt around the issue like a lovesick highschooler.

You explained: “I didn’t mean to offend you, but as I have said before, neither of us are looking for anything serious. I don’t see the point in making things awkward by forcing us to act friendly when we can just be strangers. Two passing ships in the night, as they say.”

“...”

He was surprisingly untalkative today.

Then he replied, “That still doesn’t explain why you’re avoiding me.”

You take it back. Gitae Kim is an idiot. 

Keeping your calm, you continued, “I doubt you’re interested in a platonic relationship so there’s really no reason for us to spend time together.”

His hands move from your arms to your waist. “Maybe we don’t want a serious relationship, but why should that stop us from having fun?”

Ah, yes. Friends with benefits (minus the friendship). You’ve had similar arrangements in the past, with classmates and co-workers; it was safer than flings with complete strangers. Most of them worked out, a few ended disastrously. But that’s a story for another day.

You scanned Gitae’s form. Strong jaw, big nose. Wide shoulders, perfect for grabbing. A rock-hard torso that tapered down to a slender waist. Thick thighs that were begging to be straddled…

You shook your head. “Nope. Sorry. I think one night is enough for me.” You already rode this dragon and you reminded yourself that Gitae Kim looked more delicious than he tasted. Size wasn’t everything. Actually, it was difficult to have fun when he was so needlessly huge.

But… you stole a glimpse of the bulge straining under his jeans. 

You gulped.

…with enough preparation and sufficient training, he would be perfect…

Calloused fingers snuck under your blouse, dancing over the clasp of your bra. 

Gitae was smirking. “Your thoughts are written all over your face.”

His warm hands on your bare skin was the wake up call you needed.

You smacked his arms away. “Are you insane? You realize we’re in an elevator, don’t you? There’s a camera and—shit, I forgot to hit the button!” 

“Don’t worry, I did it while you were ogling my thighs.”

“I wasn’t ogling you, asshole—!”

He cupped your face with one hand. God, he had large hands.

“W-what?” 

He gave you a small smile. “You’re finally looking at me.”

“???”

“Who is James Lee to you?”

You thought for a moment before answering, “My fiancé.”

“...”

“If I tell you that, would you believe me?”

He looked at you and then he scoffed, “Ha. Not one bit.”

“Good, because he’s not. Anyway, our…I guess our ‘relationship’ is a long story, one that would bore you to tears so if you want to hear about it, go pester DG.” You glared at him even harder. “Now, would you kindly let me go? Your hand smells like potato chips.”

He freed you just as the elevator started up again.

You grabbed your mirror and a wet wipe from your purse.

Gitae Kim quietly watched you dab your face. 

You stared at his reflection, and, after a few more seconds of silence, found yourself speaking again, “You really do look a lot like him.”

That stone face cracked at the mention of his father.

You looked over your shoulder and met his wide eyes. “Though you’re definitely taller.”

The elevator slowed and you faced forward again.

Gitae chuckled.

The door slid open.

You pulled on your luggage, but Gitae snatched it from you. 

“What are you doing?”

“You’re going to the convenience store, right? I’ll walk you there. I need a smoke.”

It felt like he added the last part when he saw you about to say no. Maybe he did, but you didn’t care.

Against your better judgment, you thanked him.

After ten minutes of the manager bowing and apologizing for the incident with the elevator (it would have been much longer if not for Gitae making it clear that he wanted to leave), she let you and Gitae go with a complementary fruit basket and a buttload of gift cards for any beauty product associated with their spa. 

When you arrived at the 7-Eleven, Gitae stayed seated with you inside.

“I thought you were gonna smoke.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Fine. Stay here and watch my stuff.”

You disappeared and then returned with two cups of coffee. “Here.”

“...”

“Do you want cream or sugar?” 

“...it feels odd seeing you be nice to me for real.”

You guess your acting during breakfast wasn’t as stellar as you thought. “Shut up and drink.”

“Ah. Much better.”

The veins in your forehead throbbed. 

Gitae watched you take a sip before he asked, “So, why sixty-eight pesos?”[1]

“You remember that, huh?”

“Kind of hard to forget. I figured a night with me should at least be ten million US dollars.”

“I’m almost jealous of your confidence.” It was almost as megalomaniac-sized as DG’s. 

“Well?”

You took another sip and said, “I was one peso short.”

“Are...are you serious?”

You shook your head. “It was my rating for the night. Six point eight.”

“Out of ten?”

You didn’t answer.

He snorted. “You’re a funny girl.”

“I know.”

He started his coffee, which was sweeter than he usually took. But he saw your satisfied expression and kept drinking.

After a whole minute of undisturbed peace, he asked, in a hesitant tone that felt unbefitting of the Gitae Kim, “What was he like? I mean, with you?”

“He was annoying.”

“Pfft.” 

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. I just…I didn’t expect someone like you to describe him like that.”

“Someone like what, exactly?”

He looked up in thought and then back at you. “Someone normal. Didn’t you say he was your benefactor?”

“Yeah. He forge—I mean, he helped me settle here, in South Korea. I didn’t know the language, I had no money, no connections. Gapryong Kim paid for my schooling and found me a home.”

“Doesn’t sound like a man you would call ‘annoying.’”

You shrugged. “It’s not like he did all those things out of the goodness of his heart. It was payment.”

“Payment?”

“I found one of his men on the streets. There was a gang fight and he was badly injured.”

“What, did you perform CPR on him or something?”

“...yeah, something like that.” It was an emergency thoracostomy.[2] The man had a collapsed lung. But a thoracostomy was an advanced medical procedure that you learned from your first life, one reserved for doctors and something a child had no business performing. 

“Anyway,” you said, changing the subject, “when Gapryong-nim asked how he could repay me, I asked for his help. I told him he couldn’t put a price on a person’s life and a decade of raising me was nothing.”

Gitae let out a sound of amusement. 

“I was busy studying so I rarely saw him, but when I did he kept feeding me and he always sent me new clothes.”

“...how is that annoying?” Your listener sounded almost jealous.

Well, it wasn’t like you didn’t understand. You must have seemed like a complete brat right now.

“It was annoying because it felt like he was trying to use me. Not in a gross way—” you reassured Gitae, who looked ready to punch the table “—he was a man desperately repenting.[5] Whenever he looked at me, I could tell that he didn’t see me, but someone else. It’s weird. I don’t know how else to put it. I guess it’s kinda confusing, huh?”

“A little.”

“Right?” You laughed. “He was annoying to be around, and he was a notorious womanizer despite being married. But…I didn’t dislike him. That’s why I wish I could’ve been by his side when he died.”

You raised the paper cup to your lips, pretending not to notice how his breath hitched. “Maybe I could’ve done something to save him.”

“No.”

You turned to Gitae. He was staring down his coffee. 

“I don’t think you could have done anything,” he said.

You tried to lighten the mood so you rolled your eyes. “Gee, thanks.” You tried to sound insulted. “Did you forget that I saved your ass once?”

“I meant—”

The Imperial March blasted from your phone.

“What the hell is that?”

You checked the caller ID. “It’s my brother.” DG must have messed with your ringtone again.

“Hello?”

“Nee-san, I’m outside the store. Where are you?”

“I see your car. Hold on, I’ll be right out.” You hung up.

Gitae was already on his feet, holding your luggage and the basket. “I’ll walk you there.”

“You really don’t have to.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe you can carry these things?”

He didn’t wait for your reply. He went straight outside.

You died before Lookism ended so you have no clue who would win between Gitae Kim and your brother. But you were sure that it wouldn’t be quick and bloodless.

“Wait!”

You chased after him, but it was too late. 

Your brother stood a few feet from the entrance and Gitae already stepped out the door.

“Gun!” You stepped between them. “Why did you get out of the car?”

“I…was going to grab your luggage…” His black eyes fell on the bag—your bag, which Gitae was carrying.

These two battle freaks were sizing each other up.

“Aw, that’s sweet of you! We should probably go—”

“Gitae Kim,” Gun whispered, “why the hell are you with my sister?”

“Oh, Gun, don’t be rude, sweetie.” You hurried to his side and hooked your arm around his. He wouldn’t throw a punch while you were hugging him.

…right?

“Y-you wouldn’t believe what happened back in the resort. Gitae and I got stuck in an elevator. How hilarious is that?”

Gun’s muscles tightened and you coughed. 

In retrospect, mentioning how you were alone with Gitae Kim wasn’t the brightest move.

“That is hilarious. Lol.” Goo appeared beside you, hands in his pockets and looking like he stumbled into a goldmine.

“Goo?”

“Sup, angel. Looks like you… ‘made a new friend,’ amirite, Gun?” He then cackled. There was no way they didn’t know Gitae’s reputation with women.

He was instigating your brother.

“Gun, I do have work tomorrow so can we—”

Gitae Kim, who was staying still this whole time, finally stepped forward.

Gun gently pushed you backward, preparing to fight.

But instead of throwing a punch, Gitae merely pushed the basket and bag towards him.

“You heard her, she has work tomorrow. Better get moving.”

Taking this chance, you grabbed the basket and shoved it into Goo’s arms, then you took your back and held Gun’s hand.

“Thank you, Mister Kim.” You did your best to sound as formal and distant as possible.

You then dragged your brother back to the car.

Once Gun settled in the driver’s seat, you could finally breathe.

Goo observed your reflection on the rearview mirror. “This has to be the first time I’ve seen anyone more stressed than ever after a free spa trip.”

“...just…” You closed your eyes. “Let’s just go home.”

—thankfully, neither Gun nor Goo asked you about DG or Gitae Kim. 

You expected your brother to react childishly to the whole ordeal, so you didn’t mind his pouting. Frankly, you were grateful for any reaction that didn’t involve violence (living in this world has severely impacted your standards for how men should express themselves). However, Goo was  strangely silent during the car ride and he didn’t stay the night like he usually did.

You rolled onto your belly, your cheek hitting the linen. 

You really wished the weekend had a third day so you could decompress.

“...maybe I should call in sick today.”

“That’s an idea.”

“What the—!?”

Goo Kim was standing over the cot, beaming. 

“Hope you don’t mind, I picked your lock.” He thumbed at the door. “That’s a lie. I just sliced that thing, you know, that metal thingy that keeps it locked.”[3]

“You’re paying for that.”

“Relax, just tell the principal that someone broke in—”

“You did”

“—since this place has insurance. But enough boring talk, let’s go play hooky.”

“Ta-da!” Goo removed your blindfold. 

After some back and forth, you let yourself be dragged to Goo Kim’s “hideout.” It was what you expected Gun’s condo to look like: sleek lines, leather and wood furniture, the latest toys, loads of junk food and alcohol; the ultimate bachelor pad.

“Wow.”

“Is she gorgeous or is she gorgeous?”

“I’d whistle if I could.”

Goo boasted that it was exclusive to “his people,” which included you now, apparently.

You two started with a friendly game of scram.[4]

You won the first four rounds, though you had a feeling Goo kept losing on purpose. He slipped, tripped and missed way too many times for it to just be “bad luck.” 

You didn’t mind; winning was winning, after all. 

And it was…sweet.

You two agreed on a break and Goo ordered buffalo wings, nachos and iced tea.

“See, isn’t this better than rotting at home with that doberman breathing down your neck every two seconds?”

“Gun’s not that bad.” You offered him some wet wipes.

“You need to be firmer with that brother of yours. Don’t you feel bad for your future boyfriend slash husband? I’m pretty sure Gun’s going to live with you guys until the day he dies.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m really not.” Goo cleaned his hands, already feeling sorry for the future version of you. 

He imagined what Gun’s face would look like when you announce that you were dating, and then what he would look like when you declare your engagement. For a split second, Goo snickered at the thought of your future husband peeing himself in front of Gun. 

A normal guy should be the perfect match for you. You lived in the light while your brother, Goo and everyone else in their circle belonged in the shadows. But at the same time, Goo couldn’t help but think that an ordinary bastard had no right to stand beside you.

You were a civilian. You couldn’t fight. You were Gun Park’s Achilles heel. 

But you were smart, funny and mature, and undeniably cute. You deserved a hella lot more than some Plain Jane salaryman, who would never appreciate you.

“Goo?” You were waving your hand in front of him. “Earth to Goo.”

“Huh?”

“You said you wanted to play a videogame after darts.  I don’t like racing so can we do a fighting game?”

He stared at your face. 

“Hello, space cadet?”

“Hm? Oh. Uh, yeah. Sure.”

“...is it really okay for me to be here?”

“I wouldn’t have brought you here if it wasn’t.”

“Cool.” You got up and walked over to his videogame collection. “Fascinating, so you have them separated by genre then arranged alphabetically…”

You were rambling—praising his organizing system. 

For once, he was pleased to hear someone talk more than he was. You didn’t have a melodious or even notable voice; like many parts of you, your voice was adorably average, but Goo found himself loving every word that left your mouth.

You returned with Tekken 6. 

Goo clapped. “Excellent choice.”

“An oldie but goodie.”

After three rounds, you sighed and paused the game. “Goo, you don’t have to let me win.”

“You don’t like winning?”

“It was fun the first few times but now it just feels insulting. I’m fine with you kicking my butt, I’m not a sore loser like my brother.”

He snorted. “He says the same thing about you whenever we play anything. Of course, I never let him win.” Gun sucked at fighting games, which was something Goo liked to remind him. 

“I’m flattered,” you said flatly. “I’m changing my character.”

“Dibs on Lili.”

“You’re already Lili.”

“Well, dibs anyway. I don’t want us playing the same character.”

“Why not?”

“House rules.” One that he made up on the spot.

You laughed and he was happy with his decision.

“Okay, okay. I’ll get Jin.”

A karate practitioner. You originally chose Kazuya, Jin's father and another karate master. Did you choose these men because they reminded you of your brother? If so then…well, maybe Gun wasn’t the only strange one in this relationship.

But then, he remembered that Jin was an illegitimate child. 

“Hey…” Goo drawled. 

You hummed in reply, too focused on the screen.

“Uh…” For the first time in forever, Goo Kim wasn’t sure how to bring up a topic. 

“What is it?”

“How do you know that guy?”

“A name would narrow it down, thanks.”

He coughed, “Gitae Kim.”

Your hands twitched but you kept playing. “He’s just some guy I know.”

“He seemed to like you enough. You guys friends?”

“We’re not that close.” You glanced at him from the corner of your eye. “But you seem to know him.”

“I guess you can say we work in the same field.”

He watched you closely and you seemed to accept his explanation. 

“But,” he said, pausing the game, “you shouldn’t hang around him. That guy’s a loose cannon.”

“Worse than you?”

“No one’s worse than me.” He winked.

You laughed again, the sound tickling his chest. 

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

You put a hand over his.

He looked up; your exhausted features have softened into a small, lovely smile. 

“I mean it, Goo. Thank you.”

“...don’t mention it.”

You let go. “One more?”

“Yeah. Actually, wait.” He put down his controller. “Let me turn on the AC.”

He didn’t wait for you to respond as he shot up to his feet.

He clenched and unclenched his hand. 

It was uncomfortably warm today.

Diego Kang’s personal assistant was getting worried.

Her boss had been locked in his study ever since he returned early from the spa. That was thirty-one hours ago.

Diego was the ideal employer. He paid more than the industry average, he had a strict policy on schedules so zero overtime, and he never raised his voice. Plus, DG always kept his composure. If there was a moment where he felt irritated, the world would have no way of knowing. 

Unfortunately, DG was in a peculiar mood today. 

He didn’t greet his driver or his PA, he refused to pick up his phone, and he hasn’t left his study in hours.

His assistant steeled herself and knocked on the door. “S-sir? I brought you something to eat. It’s grilled salmon. Y…your manager wanted me to t-t-tell you to stop ignoring his calls.”

No answer.

“Um, if you don’t like salmon, then a-at least have some water and I-I’ll get you something else.”

The PA let out a sigh of relief when she heard movement—his footsteps, followed by the door unlocking.

However, her smile froze when she saw the heavy circles around DG’s eyes.

“Thanks for bringing me dinner. Leave it anywhere.”

“It’s actually breakfast but you’re welcome! I will…!?”

She still hasn’t gotten used to the life of the ultra-rich. Even for a penthouse, the study was bigger than what she expected. But that wasn’t what caught her off guard—

Dozens of tiny velvet boxes littered the space. 

Rings. 

DG wore jewelry, so this shouldn’t be a baffling revelation, except these weren’t any old accessories. These were glittering, sparkling, bankruptcy-inducing engagement rings. 

The PA recognized household names like Cartier and Tiffany, but there were also brands reserved only for the one percent like Boucheron and Harry Winston. There must have been at least three rings per brand. Any one of these rings cost more than what the PA could ever hope to save in a lifetime.

“Leave it anywhere,” DG repeated from his seat. He said it so casually, like there weren’t diamonds and sapphires on every surface of his office.

DG didn’t seem concerned that she might steal one of the rings (not that she would). He was bent over his desk, scribbling—no, drawing.

Thinking “what the hey,” his assistant brought the tray over to his side and she discretely (well, she tried) snuck a peek over his shoulder.

“Sir…”

“Thank you. You can take the rest of the night off.”

She was about to inform him that it was morning and the manager would be pissed, but DG’s tone left no room for protest, so the PA bowed and left.

As she got onto the elevator, she thought about DG’s waste bin. It overflowed with crumpled pieces of paper. She wondered if they contained the same thing he was furiously sketching on his desk: wedding bands.

Gitae Kim blew out a stream of smoke.

He hadn’t heard of Gun Park until today, and based on his instincts, he could tell that guy was strong. He wanted to fight him right then and there, but when he saw your face as you struggled to separate the two of them, Gitae let it go.

He glanced at the report his men sent him.

“She’s a yakuza princess but she hates violence, that’s gotta be troublesome.” 

As he mumbled these words, your voice—a memory from years ago—echoed in his head: “She kept saying that she failed and blamed me for being born as a girl.”[6]

He sighed and put down the folder.

You weren’t a princess.

He recalled Gun Park’s tranquil fury, Goo Kim’s silent jealousy, and best of all, James Lee’s blatant possessiveness. Gitae grinned and raised his pipe, thinking of the day when he could steal away his Cinderella.

[1] See "Like Water for Chocolate" TLDR: After their one-night stand together, Noona left 68 MXN on the nightstand.

[2] Thoracostomy: an invasive medical procedure wherein a tube is inserted in the patient's pleural space to drain fluid or air.

[3] He's referring to the latch bolt.

[4] Scram is a two-player dart game. During one round, one player is the "stopper" and the other is the "scorer." The goal for the latter is to score as many points as possible before the stopper claims all the numbers.

[5] For new/confused readers, in this series, Noona was originally reborn during the Pre-Generation Era. She died and was reborn again, but she doesn't remember her time with Gapryong Kim and the Yamazakis. Here is a brief summary of the timelines.

[6] See "If I Love You, Beware" TLDR: During pillow talk, Noona told Gitae that her mother (in this world) killed herself because she wanted a son.

taglist: @sm3156, @placid-plastic, @mousetrapss, @yin-yun, @ixchelhernandez4, @janeisnotonline, @cocooola, @ficrepostblog, @peachmangoe, @saltyeli, @pauxf013, @sugarrushbell, @sleepingzzzzz, @eyeless-kun, @sh0jun, @kitty-chan33, @elizaliza159, @noxus123, @linasxoxo, @luckyangelballoon, @misshyori, @rosehoneycomb, @sparrowwithaquill, @karinasari, @tronnily, @cherryeden, @chrimsonkitty, @olympianknightwing, @asmaraloca, @vmkl, @akire-slayzy, @mappleppi, @sirairi, @zoros-earring, @jhsluvv

If you want to be part of the taglist, please leave a comment on the masterlist so I don't lose track. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: The images used are screencaptures of Ep. 478, 557, 481 & 519 - Lookism, Webtoon.

My Baby Brother is the Strongest Character Masterlist

You gritted your teeth as your thighs squeezed together. 

His teasing never worked on you before, so why now? 

You thought about it and decided that it was because you were close to ovulating. That’s it. 

As you agreed to this reasoning, the light above you dimmed. What happened to the sun?

You looked up and—“Ah.”

Gitae Kim stood behind Diego. 

Of course.

“What’s the meaning of this, mi vida?”

You were too stunned to speak, both at his presence and the audacity.

Diego tilted his chin slightly to face the beast. He glanced over to you. The genius gremlins inside that skull of his worked overtime and his lips curled, like he just heard the punchline. 

“You must be mistaken. ‘Mi vida’?,” he said, pressing a kiss to your ring finger, “this woman is my bride.”

Maybe it’s from spending time with monsters like Gun and Goo, but you have developed the ability to react faster than the average person when it comes to stopping gratuitously flashy, potentially lawsuit-involving fights, so you jumped to your feet and put on your best customer service smile. “G—Mister Gitae Kim, would you like to dine with us?”

Both men chorused a flat “What” and next thing you knew, a new chair was brought in and staff members scattered like frightened ants after setting Gitae’s place at the table.

Now that you wiped the mango sap and DG’s saliva from your hand, you could finally soak in Gitae Kim. The son of a bitch was covered in different shades of red lipstick, from his Adam’s apple to his bare shoulders. Some trailed below his ribs and into his unzipped jeans.

You rejected him, but it hurt your ego that he moved on that quickly. You admit it: you’re a vain hypocrite.

“Like what you see?”

“No,” you said, grinning a little too tightly. “I was just in awe of how big your boobs are.” Major lie. Sammy’s boobs were way bigger.

That made Gitae laugh and you heard a disappointed harrumph beside you. 

How Diego managed to move his seat right next to you without you noticing, you will never know. 

“I didn’t realize you like big chests, noona. Are mine not good enough for you?”

“Shut up, I was joking.” Lies. 

“Mm, that’s true. If it’s too big then it’s just grotesque.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, James Lee?”

“It’s Diego now, actually, and I don’t mean to offend you. I’m just saying, girls are good at acting like they’re having fun when they get paid. We all know that at the end of the day, it all boils down to skill.” Diego turned to you. “Right, noona?”

Gitae sneered. “They say that tiny, insecure guys do tend to overcompensate.”

“Noona’s never had to worry about that. She’s seen every part of me and trust me, I’m the perfect fit for her.”[1]

“Really? ‘Cause she had a lot of fun with mine.”

DG’s smile tightened.

Gitae turned his chin up, looking smug.

The mango felt like rubber in your mouth.

You were going to get a stomachache eating with these idiots.

…You missed Gun and Goo.

Gitae Kim has never been persistent when it came to women. He was a murderer, a thug, a thief, but he stopped all advances when a woman made it clear that she wasn’t interested. For a man as vicious as him, even he had a line in the sand. Besides, with every no he got, there were five yeses just waiting for him. 

You were the first woman who ever made him work for a yes. 

His second-in-command broke his poker face when Gitae had asked him for advice. The daily visits, the ridiculous bouquets, the cheesy lines—they were all suggestions from his men. He got frustrated when none of it worked on you.

Then he found you in that bar, alone, dressed in something else other than scrubs and wearing makeup that could tempt anything with a pulse. You were also drunk as hell.

He hadn’t intended for things to go as far as they did. He preferred his bed partners lucid, but you clung onto him, pouting with lips begging to be kissed. Only a fool would turn you away. 

Gitae Kim has been with plenty of women. Every girl was undeniably and objectively sexy, but you were the only one who left a mark on his mind.

An apparition that refused to leave him.

The faces you made, the way he witnessed your expressions change from utter disgust to raw vulnerability, as you laid your heart bare to him. 

The cold, empty space on his bed when he realized that you left him.

Even as he held countless women—every single one gorgeous and willing to be his, whether out of carnal desire or a lust for power and wealth—memories of you remained in the back of his mind.

No. Actually, not even in the back of his mind.

Your robe-wearing ghost stood there, sneering at him as a random girl bounced on his dick. Lying beside him was her friend, he was squeezing her breast as she massaged her own clit. They were office workers on their day off. He met them right after you told him to leave you alone.

If only you would leave him alone.

“Is that it?” You asked. “You were way harder that night. I know you can get a lot bigger too. Are you worried this one can’t take it?”

The girls moaned and “you” mockingly covered your giggling mouth. “You’re awfully lazy today. You’re usually more proactive. Do you remember? You almost carved me into the mattress.”

You’re right. The older he got, the less effort he put into making things pleasurable for his partners. He usually laid back and let the ladies do the work.

But you brought out a hunger in him that night. He couldn’t get enough of you, he pathetically plunged himself into you like an animal in heat—worse, like a virgin. He had to pay the hotel extra for the bed you two broke.

Suddenly, you were no longer standing beside him but sitting over him. Your robe was undone, your breasts and belly spilling out, begging to be squeezed. 

You bent over him, close enough to kiss, and whispered, “Let’s come together, cariño.” [2]

The girl on top of Gitae yelped as his large hands clamped onto her hips. She moaned as he grew inside her, but he didn’t hear her. Your sounds filled his mind completely.

The woman beside him bit her lip as she watched Gitae push her friend onto her back and folded her knees to her ears.

There was no need for jealousy though, because the curse was broken—somewhat—as your ghost possessed them both.

The girls screamed in unison as the bed faltered, two of the legs broke, but Gitae didn’t notice. 

For the first time in years, Gitae was satisfied. 

The next morning, Gitae Kim didn’t even bother showering as he stalked the halls, looking for you. He was still hungry and no other woman would do.

When he found you, you were with someone else. A man.

Worse, it was James fucking Lee.

***

“Anyway, what can I do for you, Mister Kim?” you asked the thug who had been staring at you like a piece of meat.

“Just call me Gitae, mi vida, and you still haven’t given me your name.”

Your eyebrow twitched but you remained composed. “All right.” Realizing that it would be more annoying to keep it a secret, you finally surrendered your name.

He smiled—not a smirk, not a lazy grin, not a psychotic almost-snarl—Gitae Kim gave you a tiny, genuine smile that was so out of place with his rough features. It took you by surprise. But…not in a bad way.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Now that that’s out of the way, what exactly do you want from me?”

“Let’s go on a date.”

The pink-haired wolf beside you spoke up, “Oh Mister Kim, did you forget? She’s my fiancée.”

“I don’t see a ring on her finger.”

“That’s because I want it custom-made to her preference. The girl I love deserves the best things. A walking toilet such as yourself wouldn’t understand.”

As if the words went through one ear and out the other, Gitae grinned at you. “Besides, engaged doesn’t mean married. Idols like him are a dime a dozen.”

You heard the sound of metal breaking and saw Diego’s fork bent in half. 

Breakfast continued like a fever dream. The two boys volleyed insults, making snide remarks about the size of the other’s penis and sex life. 

It was like you were back in college—no, high school. Ugh.

Your free meal now ruined, you folded your napkin and stood up. 

“Noona?”

“Mi vida?”

“I’m gonna go—” you decided mid-sentence not to tell them where you were going “—and be away from you guys. Bye.” 

You walked out of the pool area but of course, Diego had followed you.

“Noona—”

“Please, I wanna be alone, just an hour would be perfect.” Breakfast was awful but maybe sweating out your stress in the sauna can salvage the morning.

“I changed my mind.”

“About what? For the record, I only have enough money for an emergency cab home so don’t tell me I have to—”

He pulled you by the waist, pressing your chests and bellies together. 

“Let’s make it official now, noona.”

***

Gun flinched. His fingers hovered over the buttons of his navy blue shirt—a gift you lovingly chose for him—which he had taken off, folded and left in his car, where blood and rain won’t touch it while he took care of some bugs.

“What’s wrong?” Goo asked. He flicked his wrist, the blood on his umbrella splattered onto the men around him, eliciting a chorus of groans.

“Nothing.” Gun buttoned up his shirt and gestured for Goo to get back in the car.

“Hey, let’s stop by McDonald’s, I want—”

“No time. Noona’s going to check out in two hours. I promised to pick her up.” 

“Isn’t the spa a thirty-minute ride from here?”

“Yes.”

“I want my nuggets!”

“Then walk.”

Gun didn’t want to risk traffic. Besides, the less amount of time you spend with that miscreant Diego Kang, the better. Gun was certain that the bad feeling he got just now was because of that.

It has to be.

He couldn’t imagine a worse scenario than you alone with one persistent creep.

[1] Just a reminder that James Lee/Diego Kang is confirmed to be huge or at least significantly bigger than average.

[2] Cariño: Spanish. A term of endearment like "honey" or "darling."

taglist: @sm3156, @placid-plastic, @yin-yun, @ixchelhernandez4, @janeisnotonline, @cocooola, @ficrepostblog, @peachmangoe, @saltyeli, @pauxf013, @sugarrushbell, @sleepingzzzzz, @eyeless-kun, @sh0jun, @kitty-chan33, @elizaliza159, @noxus123, @linasxoxo, @luckyangelballoon, @misshyori, @rosehoneycomb, @sparrowwithaquill, @karinasari, @tronnily, @cherryeden, @chrimsonkitty, @olympianknightwing, @asmaraloca, @vmkl, @akire-slayzy, @mappleppi, @mappleppi

If you want to be part of the taglist, please leave a comment on the masterlist so I don't lose track. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: The images used are screencaptures of Ep. 429, 587 & 359 - Lookism, Webtoon.

My Baby Brother is the Strongest Character Masterlist