Double Junk - 107

“I still have something I’m curious about. So, perhaps-”

Seokju couldn’t continue his curiosity. It was because Isunee suddenly stood up and slammed the table with her fist, causing the luxurious table to shake and the teacups to tremble along with it. She seemed suddenly angry. Veins bulged on her forehead as if she was greatly enraged.

“No-this… No, no! Why do you keep digging! Damn it, it was all me!”

“We need to confirm.”

Seokju lit a cigarette and said in a low voice. Isunee pushed her upper body forward, placing her hands on the table.

“What do you want to confirm? Ajin’s innocence? Or…”

“Or?”

Seokju asked as he opened the lid of his Zippo lighter.

“Your innocence?”

“…”

Seokju’s thumb, which was turning the lighter wheel, suddenly stopped. Isunee turned her head sharply, forcing Seokju to meet her gaze. He felt a sensation as if his muscles were contracting in her eyes, filled with madness.

“You’re curious and eager, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You want to know if Ajin did something. If Ajin was at fault. So I can justify treating Ajin like trash. That’s why you’re asking.”

“…”

“You’re really reckless.”

Isunee clicked her tongue. Seokju couldn’t scold her despite her reckless behavior. Isunee’s words hit too close to home.

Why was I, who already knew everything, sitting helplessly at this table? It seemed like I wanted to justify myself according to her words.

Seokju chuckled. He couldn’t help but laugh at how disgusting he looked.

He broke the unlit cigarette in half. Placing the two broken cigarettes on the table, he looked at Isunee and asked.

“So, are the things you did justified? Stabbing Myungjin, setting fire to the back house, stealing medicine? Are you satisfied with that revenge?”

“Yes.”

Isunee affirmed positively as she sank into her chair. Seokju spread out his hands and asked.

“Why? Why are you satisfied when I, who killed Chairman Geum, am still unharmed, without a scratch?”

“…”

“I gave Chairman Geum the medicine, I stabbed Chairman Geum in the neck. How can you be satisfied?”

Isunee glared at Seokju with displeasure at the repeated mention of Chairman Geum’s death. She sighed heavily as if she had to say it with her own mouth, as if to say, “Are you really such an ignorant idiot?”

“Ajin was ruined by you.”

“What?”

“You inflicted wounds with your own hands, you trampled him, you destroyed him.”

“…”

“You lost someone just like me.”

This time, Seokju glared at Isunee.

I lost. Ajin.

That couldn’t be true.

What did I do to keep him from losing? What state is he in in my room? How am I holding onto his ankles?

Seokju firmly nodded his head.

“No. I haven’t lost Ajin.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

That child is still in my house, in my room, in my arms. I could say that for sure, even if I didn’t know anything else. I had done all sorts of ridiculous things for that sake.

As Seokju stared directly at Isunee, she spoke in a subdued voice.

“But Ajin has lost you.”

At that moment, Seokju experienced the world becoming silent. He couldn’t hear the rain tapping on the window. He couldn’t hear his own breathing, nor the sound of Isunee scratching the table.

Seokju seemed to briefly die, stiffening rigidly. He didn’t breathe, he didn’t speak. Only his black pupils seemed to sway greatly. His clenched fist loosened weakly. It felt like all the bl00d drained from his body through his feet.

“Chairman, I really didn’t do it. I didn’t steal anything. I don’t even know what it is. I just… just stayed quiet. Please, don’t do this. Please. Okay?”

Ajin’s voice echoed from a distant place, as if from far away. It was not a lively and energetic voice but a weak, wounded one. Tears were interspersed, and there was a mixture of pain and resentment.

“I… no matter what I say, you won’t believe me, will you?”

“Chairman… h-huh, I didn’t… I didn’t do anything… I…”

“It hurts, Chairman… ugh, it hurts…”

“Chairman, my… d-debt… how much… is left? Is it, is it a lot, a lot? 500,000 won? Or… 800,000 won? If I pay off the debt… will you tell me where Miss Ahjumma is?”

Ajin’s voice, which was becoming increasingly monotonous, soon lost its emotions. Then, yesterday, it marked the end of that loss.

“I hate you, Chairman.”

“You’re a liar, Chairman.”

“I wish you were dead.”

“I hate you terribly. Even if I died and was reborn, I would still hate you. I will continue to hate you.”

Remembering those words, Seokju bit his lower lip. It felt suffocating. He had begged so desperately, so earnestly. Yet, not a single sentence was heard. He was ignored, turned away.

As Seokju’s pupils gradually emptied, Isunee spoke mockingly.

“That fact won’t change in the future. Should I remind you again?”

“…”

Isunee leaned forward. With her lips heavily coated in lipstick, she recited the truth, one by one.

“Ajin…”

“…”

“Didn’t do…”

“…”

“Anything.”

Seokju’s shoulders trembled slightly. Each syllable she uttered felt like an ax striking his forehead. It was tormenting and agonizing. He couldn’t regain his senses at all. He even wished for a cowardly escape, to be shot and killed.

As Seokju’s face turned paler by the moment, Isunee continued to chant the words of truth with delight.

“All he did was diligently wash the dishes, peel onions, oil the floor, and sweep. He liked it when you brought him chocolate, and now he boasts about knowing how to write his own name. That’s all.”

“…”

“Ajin is innocent and harmless.”

“…”

“From the beginning until now, not a single moment has been missed.”

“…”

“He just… likes you. He’s foolish, sensitive to the cold. He was a pathetic idiot.”

Upon hearing those words, Seokju urgently covered his mouth. Otherwise, he felt like he would burst into tears. Seokju’s always firm and broad shoulders slouched.

The hand covering his mouth trembled nervously. He felt nauseous. I was too disgusting.

“You’re a liar, Chairman.”

How miserable Ajin must have felt saying that, how resentful and sorrowful, I couldn’t even begin to fathom.

I was the one who made the promise first. That I would protect him no matter what. That we would be together.

“Like your parents, I won’t lose you. Even if by chance I do, I will definitely find you.”

“I won’t make you feel lonely. I’ll always be by your side.”

“So let’s live like this together.”

Having lured the child like that, I abandoned him pitifully. I didn’t listen to a single word, didn’t believe, tormented, trampled, and even went as far as threatening.

While I was holding onto you so desperately, your hand grasped to push me away relentlessly.

I had you, but you couldn’t have me.

What… have I done until now… how did it come to this…

Seokju’s hand trembled. Isunee pushed her face into his firm gaze. Her eyes were filled with the satisfaction of successful revenge. Her red lips twitched intermittently with amusement.

“Why do you think it turned out like this? Wondering how you got deceived?”

“…”

“President Kang had too many people he loved.”

“What?”

“Ajin, Hwang Myungjin, family, company, organization, he loved them all too much, so he had to choose one. That’s why he let go of Ajin.”

“…”

“If he only loved Ajin, there wouldn’t have been a need to deceive or be deceived. Whatever Ajin did would have been just and reasonable.”

“…”

“In this world, I only mourned for President Geum. So everything was clear and easy. There was no need to doubt or hesitate.”

“…”

“President, in your next life, try only mourning for Ajin. Then at least Ajin won’t lose you, right?”

With a snicker, Isunee sat back in her chair. Then, she swallowed the lukewarm coffee like it was liquor, making a sound as she set down the empty cup.

Seokju stood up, looking at the blackened cup Isunee had left.

“I should… go now.”

The conversation was over. He knew the truth. He had to go see Ajin. He didn’t know what he could say when he saw him, but he had to go.

As Seokju walked briskly through the dining room, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then he turned back to Isunee. Isunee was tapping her chin on the table, crossing her legs. She asked in a subdued voice.

“Why? Did you forget to kill me before leaving?”

“…”

Seokju’s lips closed tightly. If it were before, he would have killed her. Isunee had caused great damage to me, to my business, including Myungjin. But now, he didn’t want to. What was the point anymore? All he wanted was to see Ajin.

Seokju turned his back without a word. His coat fluttered over his shoulders. He walked briskly out of the dining room, but stopped abruptly. Then, Isunee called out from behind, “Oh, Chairman!”

“It’s not you I forgot.”

“What?”

“President Park Ki-heon said he’d give you a gift. It’s a knife.”

“…A knife?”

“Yes. But he said it’s not for President Kang, it’s for someone else.”

Seokju’s forehead furrowed. A knife? Given to whom? Suddenly, it dawned on him. Ki-heon, who had exhausted all other options, would resort to his last resort. He would either target my life or something as valuable as my life.

But I’m still here intact, so there’s only one thing left.

Ajin. Ajin was in danger.

Seokju rushed outside in a hurry.

“…”

Isunee watched Seokju leave alone. When he disappeared, she turned her head to the window. A faint smile crossed her lips as she gazed at the drizzling rain outside.