I’m Not That Obsessive

Chapter 17

Moreover, he couldn’t leave Mitchell and go back home. Mitchell would probably prefer Geon-woo borrowing his clothes rather than leaving the house.

“I’m going to wear your clothes, Mitchell.”

His voice was so small it sounded like he was talking to himself. He wasn’t really asking for permission.

Geon-woo walked down the long corridor and arrived at the dressing room. After a quick glance, he chose a knit sweater and a shirt.

He immediately took off the t-shirt he was wearing and changed into the knit. A luxury brand logo was emblazoned on the chest.

When he held a pair of pants against his body, they were indeed a bit long. After finally finding pants that fit in length, he got greedy for more.

As Geon-woo opened the drawers one by one, he finally found the underwear drawer. He then took out a new pair of briefs that hadn’t even been unwrapped.

He took off the underwear he was wearing and put on the new one. He then put on the pants he had found. Perfect.

“Oho.”

This time he stood in front of the watch display case. Expensive watches were lined up inside transparent cases. After carefully looking at the thirty or so watches, he chose one he liked. A smile automatically appeared as he put it on his wrist.

“It fits me perfectly.”

When you earn a lot and spend a lot, you often lose your sense of money. He had a rough idea of how much the watch on his arm cost, but since Geon-woo’s earnings were also top-tier in Korea, he didn’t tremble at the price of a single watch.

After raiding someone else’s closet like this, Geon-woo leisurely came out to the living room.

The smoke had disappeared, but a faint burnt smell remained. An air purifier was running in the living room where all the doors were wide open. Geon-woo, quietly laughing at Mitchell’s cleanup, went out to look for him.

“Mitchell?”

He checked the kitchen and even went out to the living room terrace. After looking everywhere else, he found Mitchell in the bathroom. He was standing in front of the shower, completely naked. Just standing still, not doing anything.

‘What is he thinking?’

Feeling it wasn’t right to enter now, he turned around. Sitting on the sofa, he heard the sound of water after a while.

None of the doors in Mitchell’s house were ever closed. Even the front door was often left open.

Time passed and Mitchell came out. Instead of a robe, he had a bath towel carelessly wrapped around his waist.

Mitchell looked at Geon-woo sitting on the sofa. At the same time, his head tilted to the side. Mitchell narrowed his eyes and glared at the clothes Geon-woo was wearing.

“Oh, this? These are yours.”

Geon-woo said boldly in response. He grinned, thinking Mitchell wouldn’t be stingy enough to not lend him clothes.

“It’s okay if I wear them, right?”

After a moment of silence, Mitchell suddenly approached Geon-woo. As the distance closed, life returned to Mitchell’s eyes.

“Yeah. Wear them as you like.”

Although he heard a satisfactory answer, Geon-woo felt an inexplicable chill. It was probably because of what Mitchell said next.

“In return, I can take them off as I like, right? They’re my clothes after all.”

***

His eyes kept wandering to the side. Although his head was facing forward, his gaze kept sneaking towards Mitchell, who was driving.

Ever since hearing Mitchell’s terrifying words, the clothes he was wearing felt strangely uncomfortable.

Although Mitchell hadn’t actually undressed him, the thought that it might happen someday kept occurring to him.

Mitchell is an unpredictable weirdo after all!

I tried to act nonchalant. Shoulders straight, head held high. Ready to be undressed with dignity at any moment if he suddenly decided to… No, not that!

“Sigh.”

Mitchell turned his head at the sigh that escaped me without realizing. His car, which had just left the garage, smoothly entered the road.

“Why the sigh? Don’t want to go?”

Mitchell seemed to think I was reluctant to go to the filming location.

“No. It’s not that.”

“Then why?”

“Just, well…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘I’m wondering when you’re going to undress me.’

Why did I have to get involved with a gay guy who sleeps with men? A guy who likes women, likes men, likes anything human!

If only the person receiving my great obsession… no, interest, had been more ordinary.

The closer I got to Mitchell, the more I felt my interest was being distorted. I just had a simple plan to share time with someone and fill their thoughts with me.

But because of Mitchell’s special tendencies, things keep going awry. No matter what I do, it flows into a sexual situation.

‘It’s one problem after another.’

This time I sighed quietly.

“What’s that?”

It was when the car stopped in front of the iron gate. Someone was collapsed beyond the gate, but I recognized him immediately. The clothes he was wearing were too familiar.

“Why on earth…”

It was my brother.

As we reached a certain point, the gate opened automatically. Mitchell, who had been looking at the collapsed man, stopped the car and asked me.

“Someone you know?”

“…It’s my brother.”

“Ah, the one we met that time?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s not dead, is he?”

Sometimes Mitchell would say brutal things so casually.

“Shouldn’t we get out and check?”

“…”

“Should I do it?”

“No.”

I got out of the car, dragging my heavy body. With a thud, Mitchell also opened his car door and came out.

I stood in front of my brother and nudged his body with my foot.

“Hey. Hey…”

Seeing him stir and groan, it seemed he wasn’t really dead.

“Get up. What are you doing here?”

“Ugh… Geon-woo, I’m not feeling well. I’m sick.”

“I get it. Go back to Korea and be sick there. Don’t hang around here.”

I didn’t want to ask how he found out our home address. Only mom knew the exact address. Mom who’s now passed away.

“You’re too cruel, little brother. I feel like I’m dying.”

He really looked like it. His body was covered in dust, his lips were dried up, and his voice was half-cracked. It seemed he had been homeless for a while, looking quite disheveled.

“Little brother. I’m really sorry. I’m sorry for being so worthless. But I’m your only brother. Please save me.”

Unlike his tearful voice, his eyes were dry. Still, his brow was furrowed as if he was wailing.

That’s quite decent acting.

Thinking this to myself, I turned to Mitchell who was standing behind me.

“I’m sorry, but I need to take him to our house and come back, okay?”

It wasn’t because of any remaining sympathy, pity, or familial affection. It wasn’t because I felt sorry for my brother, but solely because of Mitchell. This place is my home but also Mitchell’s home.

If it were just my house, it wouldn’t matter, but this is a shared space. In other words, if people related to Mitchell saw my brother, it could cause problems.

I wanted to remove “that” because of Mitchell. I could just put him away for now, take care of business at the filming location, then come back and get rid of him for good.

“Okay.”

Mitchell gave permission without much thought. As soon as I opened the back door of the car, I said to my brother:

“Get in. Walk on your own feet.”

I didn’t particularly hate my brother. Sometimes I get lost in memories of the past, but now I feel nothing. While the lost time is regrettable, I have no lingering attachment to what I’ve “thrown away.”

“Ugh, huu. Alright.”

My brother acted like he could barely move his body, but then got up on his own. He dragged his feet as he got into Mitchell’s car. However, his feet didn’t seem to be actually hurting.

The car went back the way we came. Mitchell stopped the car in front of our house entrance, and I got out with my brother. I opened the door with the key and let him in.

“Wait here quietly. I have some business to attend to now. I’ll be back around evening.”

“Huh? Oh. Okay. Got it.”

He was limping when getting into the car, but now he walked as if nothing was wrong. It wasn’t particularly surprising behavior, so I wasn’t even angry.

“I’m going.”

There were microwaveable ready-made meals in the house, so I figured he’d find something to eat on his own. I closed the door without even making eye contact with my brother.

I kept my mouth shut even after get ting in the car. Mitchell didn’t ask anything either. I was quite grateful for that.

***

At the filming location we safely arrived at, I met and greeted many people, engaging in conversations. I acted politely and perceptively, occasionally making jokes or idle chatter.

I maintained the same attitude even after filming began. I watched Mitchell’s acting and stayed in my place for a long time.

On the outside, I was acting like a perfectly normal person, but contrary to appearances, my inner feelings were doing a tap dance in a fire pit. It felt like riding a roller coaster without a safety belt.

I prided myself on having some experience in this field, so I thought no one would notice my act, but there was one exception.

“You’ve completely lost your mind, haven’t you?”

Mitchell approached me during a short break. He glared at me as if he would devour me. It was quite fierce, but I know. That’s not a threat, it’s definitely concern.

If he’s perceptive, he’ll know that my relationship with my brother isn’t good, and he might vaguely guess how I’m feeling after leaving that brother in our house and going out.

Come on, Mitchell. Do you pity me?

Then think of me. Fill your head with thoughts of me. I’ll gladly use even my own misfortune to catch you.