Double Junk - 12

Chapter 12

Seokju gazed at the frail boy with an anxious expression. His skin bore numerous marks, as if he had been brutally attacked. There were dark bruises and lip imprints so dense that it raised suspicions that he had been manhandled. Additionally, the marks of rough handling were visible on his skin, along with swollen eyelids.

Seokju lowered his head deeply, acknowledging the extent of his own depravity.

“This crazy bastard…”

It was beyond excessive. He had gone so far as to forcefully thrust himself inside someone who had initially refused. Regardless of how shameless he was, there were limits. He was undoubtedly insane.

Under Seokju’s self-deprecation, Myungjin opened his eyes.

“Yes? Who are you? Is this guy here? What did he do to you?”

Myungjin’s buttocks tensed, and he glared at Ajin. It seemed that he was ready to strangle Ajin’s throat at any moment with his broad hands.

“No, no.”

Seokju pushed Myungjin away and pulled a crumpled blanket from nearby, covering Ajin’s naked body. The disheveled figure disappeared from view, yet Ajin’s form still lingered in Seokju’s mind.

Myungjin observed this scene without saying a word, despite being well aware of the change. He didn’t inquire about the reasons behind Myungjin choosing a man over women, their night together, his lack of sleep until now, or anything else.

In any case, if Seokju was unharmed and got a good night’s sleep after a few sleepless nights, that was enough. Even if he had to kill a few gang members to get some rest, it didn’t matter.

Myungjin scratched his scarred chin, shifting the topic as he continued speaking.

“Today, the rain is pouring heavily, so it might be difficult to go to Jongno. What should we do?”

“Just take a break.”

“Yes. The backyard factory is still running.”

“Okay.”

Seokju responded while still keeping his gaze fixed on Ajin’s face, which had become visible from the blanket. Realizing that he should move aside, Myungjin stood up as if he was about to leave.

It’s essential for a gangster to excel in two things to survive. Standing in the right line and reading the situation well. Fighting and wielding a knife are secondary matters. Myungjin had succeeded in both aspects, which had brought him to this position.

Myungjin seemed ready to leave, but when he had barely put his foot out the door, Seokju called him in a low voice.

“Myungjin.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Get two servings of food. Here… for him too.”

Myungjin looked at Seokju’s ‘for him’ with curiosity. A little, insignificant human, who was so lowly and inconspicuous that you might even wonder if he had been here all along. But his presence strongly resembled that of the person at the top of this house.

Myungjin was puzzled but didn’t inquire further. He simply nodded and bowed slightly.

“Sure, boss.”

Seokju, having tightly wrapped Ajin in a blanket, began by cleaning himself up. He needed to sort out his thoughts. His memories of last night were scattered, but as he pieced them together, he grew angrier.

Why had he done that? He had never shown any interest in men before. What was the thought process that led him to decide to have sex with Ajin as soon as he saw him?

Was it because of that mysteriously beautiful face, like the night sky? Had he been enchanted by that face?

No, it couldn’t be. Even so, that couldn’t explain why he had thoroughly penetrated Ajin’s backdoor until the early hours of the morning.

“In any case, one thing is certain—I’m a lunatic…”

Seokju muttered as he unbuttoned his shirt. No matter how much of a hoodlum he was, he had never raped someone who had refused. That was a different kind of crime from killing or throat-cutting.

Rape, that’s what it’s about, isn’t it? The act of the despicable men, the ones with no charm as males, or the idiots who have sold their lives for their desires.

Seokju slammed the closet door shut with a forceful motion. Then, he turned around and looked down at Ajin, who was still covered by the blanket.

“…”

What should he do now? Seokju contemplated, then picked up a soft towel and entered the bathroom. He began gently wiping Ajin’s body, soaked with various fluids, to remove all the traces.

While Seokju was busy trying to dry Ajin’s body, he let out a deep sigh when he saw the many marks on Ajin’s fragile body. He wished Ajin wouldn’t wake up, to avoid facing his own guilt.

However, contrary to his hope, Ajin slowly opened his eyes.

It was breakfast. A table filled with dishes, so abundant that it seemed like an entire fish was in the pork belly soup, alongside white rice, cool kimchi, sweet and savory jangjorim, dried anchovies, garlic stem salad, and two pieces of spicy rice cakes.

Under usual circumstances, he would have playfully teased with spoons as if asking if it was a dream or reality. Nowadays, in Korea, no one starves, and no one worries about their meals, but Ajin wasn’t the one that applied to.

However, today was different. His throat was so dry that the food wouldn’t go down. This wasn’t just a metaphor for his feeling; it was a physical sensation. That’s how dry and sticky his tongue, lips, and the area around his mouth were. It felt as if he had been chewing on fabric, making a raspy, crackling sound.

Therefore, he was only stirring the pork belly soup.

Despite his arrogant posture in front of the dining table, no one scolded him. It was because there was only Seokju there. If there had been someone else, they wouldn’t have known how precious the food was and might have hit him hard enough to bring up everything he had eaten the day before.

“Is it not to your taste?”

Seokju, who was only stirring the soup like Ajin, asked gently. Ajin, with his mouth firmly shut, shook his head. The taste should be good; it was made by Miss Flower. Anything that passed through her hands turned into a delicacy.

“But why aren’t you eating?”

“Just… my mouth hurts…”

“…”

Seokju closed his mouth at those words and ran his tongue along the roof of his own mouth. He knew very well that Ajin’s mouth hurt because of him.

Seokju took away Ajin’s rice bowl and replaced it with his own. He swapped the rice bowls, and then the spoons as well. It was the best way to enjoy hot rice with kimchi and add some jangjorim for a delicious blend. So, he did it. However, today, his throbbing throat and back, which felt like an entire fish had gone in, made it impossible for Ajin to eat.

Ajin’s posture in front of the dining table was undoubtedly very arrogant, but no one reprimanded him. There was only Seokju present. If Miss Flower had been there, she wouldn’t have known the value of the food and might have been hit so hard that she would have thrown up everything she had eaten the day before.

“But why isn’t he eating?”

“I just… my mouth hurts…”

Seokju bit down on his own mouth at those words, then ran his tongue along the roof of his mouth. He knew very well that Ajin’s mouth hurt because of him.

Seokju took away Ajin’s rice bowl and swapped it with his own. He exchanged the rice bowls and spoons as well. This was the best way to eat hot rice with kimchi and add some jangjorim for a delicious combination. So, he did just that. However, today, his throbbing throat and back, feeling like an entire fish had gone in, prevented Ajin from eating.

Ajin sniffled and continued his meal at a snail’s pace. Normally, he would have shoved food into his mouth with his eyes closed as if to hide the act, but now it was difficult to swallow due to his parched throat. Even the precious rice cakes were difficult to melt and eat, and he felt a bit uncomfortable. He couldn’t even touch the kimchi, afraid it might get stuck in his throat, so he didn’t attempt to use his hands.

In the end, he resorted to wrapping the rice in the soup. Even though his throat was like a piece of cloth, he knew he might not have the chance to receive such a meal again. When the opportunity presented itself, he should eat. Regardless of whether his stomach was growling.

As the rice floated in the soup, and Ajin was about to scoop it up, he couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. He sniffled, then let out a sob.

Seokju’s broad shoulders twitched. His hand slipped and the spoon clattered loudly onto the plate. He quickly picked it up and placed it neatly next to the rice bowl.

All the while, Ajin continued to shed tears. Seokju fidgeted, unsure how to console or comfort him. He wasn’t skilled in that department, and any words he might say would probably sound like, “Shut up unless you want to die,” or, “Will crying make it stop?” He kept his mouth shut, thinking it best not to say anything.

Ajin wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves. The fabric of Seokju’s shirt was soaked with tears. It looked so pitiful and… beautiful.

Seokju thought it was absurd to find beauty in such a moment. It was a vile thought. But it was truly beautiful.

Seating a sobbing kid in front of you, he was thinking about how his usual white shirt, the one he always wore, was so pretty and sexy. He had such depraved thoughts that he would be terrified if anyone found out.

Then, Ajin looked up at Seokju. Between his disheveled bangs, his reddened eyes were revealed.

“Boss… I, I, uh, sniff, I’m not a man…”

“Huh? Oh, no? … I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

“Sniif… Uh, huuuh…”

“I wasn’t in my right mind yesterday… it shouldn’t have happened… I should have recognized it…”

As Seokju looked at Ajin, his guilt became heavier and heavier. At the same time, his lower body became more and more erect. He felt like a stranger to himself, and his breath was becoming increasingly constricted. What if Ajin saw his erection? He needed to discreetly move the food closer to his side to hide it.