I may be a sick Sparrow, but I am still the Landlord chapter 4

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As the kiss deepened, Saewoo felt dizzy.

Each time the man’s thick tongue explored his mouth, it became hard to breathe, almost suffocating.

‘Is this what a kiss is supposed to feel like? Is it always this overwhelming, like I’m being smothered?’

It was his first time, and he had no way to tell what was right or wrong.

All he knew was that it felt like he was going to die.

“…Hngh, ah…!”

The moment the man’s lips pulled back slightly, Saewoo gasped for air, his breathing ragged.

He turned his head to the side, but the man followed, catching his lips again.

The suffocating kiss resumed.

Even when he pounded on the man’s chest with his fists, nothing changed.

There seemed to be no escape.

“Hngh, mm… ah…!”

Only after what felt like an eternity did the man’s persistent lips finally pull away.

Saewoo’s body, pinned beneath the man, was trembling weakly, completely drained of strength.

The panther-like man licked the saliva from the corner of Saewoo’s mouth, his eyes gleaming as he smirked.

“…Why do you taste so good?”

Hic…!

Saewoo shuddered, the deep, husky voice combined with the man’s hot breath sending chills through his body.

But he was too shaken to respond, his body trembling helplessly.

“Nngh…”

But he couldn’t just lie there and take it.

Despite his fear, Saewoo tried to push the man off, his trembling hands pressing against the solid shoulders that were nearly four times broader than his own.

But the man didn’t even budge under Saewoo’s weak effort.

“What are you trying to do?”

The man stared down at Saewoo, as if watching something amusing.

To him, Saewoo’s frantic struggling looked more like a playful tantrum.

“T-This…! Hngh, move… I’m u-uncomfortable….”

“Uncomfortable? Then let’s fix that. Wrap your arms around my neck.”

“Wh-What…! Hey, no…!”

The panther-like man grabbed Saewoo’s arms, lifting them up and wrapping them around his own neck.

When Saewoo opened his mouth to protest, the man’s face came dangerously close.

“That’s right, open wider.”

“Huh! Wa- wa…mmph…!”

Their lips crashed together again.

The man effortlessly subdued Saewoo, laughing softly as he explored Saewoo’s soft mouth.

‘Is he bad at kissing, or is he pretending to be?’

Honestly, it didn’t matter.

Seeing Saewoo pant beneath him, reacting to his every touch, made the man feel thoroughly satisfied.

‘Where did I find such a treasure…?’

Even amidst his daze, the panther-like man was pleased with how well he had chosen.

“Ha… ha…”

Eventually, when Saewoo grew exhausted and gave up resisting, the man’s relentless lips finally pulled away.

Saewoo barely had a moment to feel relief before he felt the man’s hand wandering lower, and his mind went blank.

‘I… I need to escape…!’

He had to get away.

If he stayed like this, it was only a matter of time before the man completely devoured him.

‘Please… someone… anyone… help me…!’

Ding-dong.

As if in answer to his desperate prayer, the doorbell rang again, this time repeatedly, as if the visitor was determined not to leave.

“Ugh, who the hell…?”

The panther-like man, who had planned to ignore it, turned his head in annoyance.

But that was all. He had no intention of answering the door.

‘This is my chance…!’

While the man was distracted, Saewoo reached out toward the lamp beside the bed.

Thankfully, it was within reach.

Gripping it tightly, Saewoo swung it with all his might, smashing it against the man’s head.

“Ugh…!”

It wasn’t a massive blow, but it was enough to stop the man for a moment.

Saewoo seized the opportunity and darted toward the door.

‘Faster…! Hurry…!’

With trembling hands, Saewoo fumbled with the lock.

There was a click, and the door swung open.

Thud!

“Ah!”

Saewoo tried to run out but slammed into something solid.

Looking up in panic, his face turned white.

“What the hell?”

Standing before him were several thugs with rough faces, blocking his escape.

“Hey, boss? What’s going on…?”

The thugs looked as confused as Saewoo, turning to glance at the man inside the room.

“Grab him.”

The man’s cold voice reached Saewoo’s ears.

‘If I get caught now, I’m done for…!’

In that moment, Saewoo’s instincts took over.

“You’re not catching me…!”

Bang!

With a loud squawk, Saewoo transformed into a bird, narrowly escaping the thugs’ grasp as he flew out the door.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

“Aigoo… Saewoo, what are you getting yourself into these days? Jinho’s been going to school regularly now. Should I get you some clothes too?”

“Grandma, I already graduated early. I’ve just been busy dealing with property matters. And, as much as I need clothes, I can’t impose on you for that too….”

Saewoo let out a quiet whimper, flapping his damp wings.

He couldn’t bring himself to explain everything to his grandmother, who was only concerned for his well-being.

“Well, I’m sure you’ve had your reasons… The world’s a strange place these days… Anyway, here, have some fish cake broth and warm yourself up. Don’t sit too close to the dumpling steamer, or you’ll get burned!”

“B-Bwhit!”

Saewoo had been slurping the fish cake broth from a paper cup when his grandmother’s scolding made him jump.

He quickly scooted away from the steaming dumplings.

Satisfied, his grandmother moved to serve another customer.

‘Finally, I can relax a little…’

Sighing, Saewoo rubbed his head with his wing.

Thirty minutes ago, he had narrowly escaped from the panther-like man and his thugs.

He knew he should’ve gone straight to the police, but somehow he had ended up here—at his old favorite food stall near the back gate of Bird University.

The grandma running the stall was always kind, welcoming him with open arms, even during surprise visits.

‘I might as well rest for now.’

He’d barely made it out with nothing but the feathers on his back.

The only person he could rely on in this situation was someone trustworthy—and it definitely wasn’t family.

The character Saewoo had possessed was supposed to have died long ago, and there was no real family left to speak of.

Besides, his role in the story was to be a poor, tragic figure who unrequitedly loved the main character, so he had very few people to turn to in times of crisis.

‘I’ll just… wait here… quietly… until…’

Saewoo’s head drooped, and he dozed off, half-submerged in the fish cake broth.

Despite the warning not to sit too close to the dumpling steamer, he found himself drifting toward its comforting warmth.

Even his ruffled feathers, still damp from earlier, were starting to dry out in the heat.

‘No… I can’t fall… asleep….’

His mind told him to stay alert, but his exhausted body had other ideas.

His eyes grew heavier, and his body slumped, lulled by the warmth.

Just as Saewoo, in his bird form, was about to doze off completely, a familiar voice cut through the haze.

“Saewoo, Jinho’s here.”

“B-Bwhit…!”

A bright flash.

Saewoo opened his eyes to the sound of the elderly woman tending her stall.

Flap, flap.

He spotted a familiar face passing by the food stand and quickly fluttered his wings.

“Chirp, chirp!”

(Thank you, Grandma!)

Saewoo thanked the woman and scanned the crowd of people with animal characteristics.

It wasn’t long before he spotted a small, familiar black-haired figure.

“Chirp!”

Saewoo swiftly flew toward his target, landing gracefully on the narrow shoulder.

“Huh, Saewoo?”

The person who had given Saewoo his shoulder immediately recognized him.

“Chirp!”

(Jinho!)

The boy, with his black hair, pale skin, and youthful face, hadn’t fully outgrown his boyish charm.

He was the main character from the original story, Jinho, a warbler-animal hybrid.

“What happened? Why are you here?”

“Chirp… chirp… sniff….”

“Huh, Saewoo, are you crying?”

Saewoo suddenly burst into tears, overwhelmed by emotions.

He’d been trying so hard to keep it together, even when he had the fishcake soup the stall lady had given him, but now, his tears flowed uncontrollably.

It was so ridiculous, even he couldn’t believe it.

“What on earth happened? Ah… let’s head to my place. You must be cold, come on in.”

“Chirp, chirp….”

Wiping his tears with his wings, Saewoo whispered his thanks and snuggled into the chest pocket of Jinho’s jacket.

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