Double Junk - 113

With his lips pursed, Kiheon grasped his intact arm and held his poem with the other. Since his right hand had been severed, it felt awkward to hold the poem in his mouth and light it up. Nonetheless, he managed to light it up and exhale smoke. Then, fearlessly, he mentioned a name that should not have been uttered.

“Was the name Ajin?”

Seokju stood firm. He stared at Kiheon with cold, steely eyes. His axe trembled as if it were ready to strike Kiheon’s forehead at any moment. Regardless, Kiheon continued speaking, trembling slightly.

“Do you think I killed that cripple?”

“Shut up.”

“Or maybe I threatened him to death?”

“…”

“No, I just handed him a knife.”

Kiheon shivered with fear. Seokju approached him threateningly. Kiheon looked up at him defiantly and spoke.

“I didn’t lay a finger on him. I didn’t even talk to him. He probably doesn’t even know who gave him the knife.”

“…”

“I expected him to use that knife to stab Boss Kang. Because Kang wouldn’t dodge the truth. I thought I could neatly handle Boss Kang without getting a single drop of bl00d on my hands.”

“…”

“But my, he burned his wrist.”

“…”

“Poor wretch. Isn’t his life pitiful? So tormented that he chose suicide over revenge.”

In such a good world to live in these days, trying to die, huh. Kiheon sighed, scratching his burned cheek.

Seokju bit down hard on the inside of his cheek. He wanted to tear off Kiheon’s jaw right then and there. He wanted to shove the axe blade into that treacherous mouth. But strangely, his body wouldn’t move.

Because of that, Kiheon’s torment didn’t seem to end.

“But he still didn’t die properly, did he? Boss Kang survived?”

“…”

“I heard he’s in the hospital now. What will change if he wakes up? Will he immediately burn his own wrist with any knife he sees, or try to cut his own throat?”

“…”

“Is that all? He’ll rush into cars, jump from high places, and dunk his face into water.”

“…”

“Things will be tough for Boss Kang from now on.”

“…”

“Killing people is easy, but saving them is not, right?”

Kiheon chuckled weakly. It was when Seokju’s hand holding the axe tightened. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Strange men’s shouts could be heard. Occasionally, gunshots rang out. Several members, including Deokjae, rushed outside.

A sly smile crept onto Kiheon’s lips. Several minutes ago, it seemed that the answer to the call he made somewhere had finally arrived.

Seokju looked down at Kiheon and muttered softly.

“Why did Ajin… harm himself?”

“Why? Because of who else! It’s because of Boss Kang. He misunderstood, he tortured, he beat, he trampled, didn’t he?”

“…”

“Even if I hadn’t given him the knife, something would have happened eventually.”

Kiheon shrugged. His gesture was infinitely casual. He seemed to think that he had nothing to do with all that happened, including Ajin slashing his wrist.

“…”

Seokju’s adam’s apple bobbed up and down repeatedly, as if swallowing hard. He had never intended to kill him easily. But now, he didn’t want to do it anymore. He wanted to inflict extreme pain.

In this situation, the only innocent one was Ajin. Because of us, me and Kiheon. Due to the greed and stupidity of both of us, Ajin had endured all that pain and spilled bl00d.

He suffered, he agonized, he cried, he endured until he couldn’t anymore, and ended up slashing his own wrist.

He’s a kid who’s scared to go outside because of cars and afraid of dying. But Kiheon and I pushed him to death. Made him think death was easier. Pushed him until he fled to death.

Seokju tossed away his cigarette and brought the axe down on Kiheon’s forehead. The bloody, sticky blade of the axe buried itself in Kiheon’s hair. Kiheon stiffened as if tied to a post, like he had been hogtied.

“B-Boss Kang. Ah, why… Why do this? It would’ve been enough to just cut my arm. W-We can do better. I’ll do better. I’ll give you the business, and, ah, even Seoul. Just spare me. I’ll leave Seoul.”

His stuttering words were sickeningly repulsive. Seokju looked at him with a bluish pallor, observing his weakness, his fear of death, and his lips twitched.

“Right. I’m not innocent. I’m guilty.”

“Boss Kang, Boss Kang!”

“All this happened because of me, right. Admit it.”

“What the hell are you saying! Boss Kang!”

“Still, you can’t say you didn’t do anything.”

You shouldn’t. You, who are the root of all this. You, who blinded me and gave the knife to Ajin. You shouldn’t.

“Die. Go to hell.”

I’ll follow you soon.

Just as Seokju was gnashing his teeth, about to swing the axe,

“Boss! The police are here! It seems Park Kiheon has reported to the police.”

“…”

Seokju didn’t answer. His eyes, aimed at Kiheon’s head, flickered with confusion. Deokjae came from behind and hugged him tightly. And he began to drag him backward. As a result, the axe, poised to strike Kiheon’s head, didn’t split his skull, but thunked into his shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Kiheon groaned. His eyes rolled back suddenly. He who had been writhing to pull the axe out suddenly leaned to the side. But he wasn’t dead. Not dead yet. This wasn’t enough.

“Boss! The police are here! You need to leave.”

“Let go.”

“They’re randomly arresting our guys. We need to get out of here fast. Or we’ll end up in jail without a chance to move.”

“Let go, Deokjae.”

Seokju pushed Deokjae away. At that moment, as if slipping because of the bl00d, the axe slipped straight out of his grip. A bloody welt popped up on Seokju’s forehead. When he reached out again to grab the axe embedded in Kiheon’s shoulder, three other members joined forces to pull Seokju away.

“Boss! You need to leave.”

“Let go!”

Let go, damn it! Seokju pushed the members wildly. He even punched and kicked his family out of anger. Although the members were knocked down by Seokju’s iron-like fists, they got up again and dragged him away.

Seokju grabbed onto the desk, then the sofa, then the door frame of the office, but even if he struggled with all his might, he couldn’t resist the combined strength of four strong men.

Eventually, Seokju was dragged out into the corridor. Kiheon, slumped in his chair, seemed to move further away. How infuriating this was. How unfair. The bl00d vessels in his eyes burst completely.

He looked around with eyes turned red, and caught sight of the scene on the first floor.

Members of the Taeho Faction were facing off against the police who had gathered in a swarm. They couldn’t shoot at the police, nor could they draw their knives. It was a standoff. The police had their guns aimed at the gang members, and some even had handcuffs ready.

“…”

Seokju’s mouth clenched shut like a line drawn. Suddenly, the words Kiheon had said a while ago crossed his mind.

“I heard that kid’s in the hospital right now. What’ll change if he wakes up? Will he still try to slit his wrists at the sight of a knife, or try to cut his throat? Wherever he goes, if he sees a car, he’ll rush toward it; if he’s in a high place, he’ll try to jump off; if he sees water, he’ll probably dunk his face in it. Killing someone is easy, but saving them isn’t, huh?”

Maybe it’ll really turn out like that. Ajin tried to escape through death, and I failed to save him. I didn’t know that it might intensify his desire for death.

Then what should I do? Even if I do my best to stop it, what if, just once, due to a mistake, I can’t stop it? What if I lose him? What if, in the blink of an eye, Ajin dies? What then?

In that case, wouldn’t it be better to eliminate the need for him to attempt death? If I remove the things that cause him pain? Even if I can’t return him to the happiness he once had, can’t I at least get rid of the things he dislikes?

There’ll be a lot to get rid of, but once I’m gone, Ajin will be able to live a little more comfortably. He’ll suffer less, be less miserable.

And then, maybe he’ll start to want to live a little. Maybe he won’t slash his wrists anymore. Maybe he can live happily, sitting quietly with the flower lady, eating cake or something.

Seokju loosened his grip on his limbs. The organization members holding him stiffened their movements. Seokju called Deokjae in a low, gentle voice.

“Deokjae.”

“Boss.”

“Let him go.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s okay, let him go.”

As Seokju regained his senses, the organization members exchanged glances among themselves. Then, slowly, they withdrew their hands. Seokju shook out his crumpled clothes. Then, with his shoulders broad, he started descending the stairs, step by step.

“Boss!”

Deokjae shouted.

“Stay put.”

Motioning him back, Seokju descended all the stairs. Then he stood, shielding his family with his broad back. A middle-aged-looking police officer aimed his gun at Seokju’s face and asked.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kang Seokju.”

“Uh…”

The police officer’s gun wavered. It seemed like he knew who Seokju was. Seokju approached him. Despite the police officers holding guns, they swallowed hard at the sight of Seokju’s towering figure. Some even took a step back.

Soon, Seokju stood in front of the police officer. Then, with his large hand, he grabbed the gun the police officer was holding and squeezed it along with his hand. The fierce grip squeezed the police officer’s hand tightly enough to be fearful.

“Ugh…”

“Take me, and let my family go.”