Double Junk - 139

Seokju knelt in front of Ajin and squatted down. Then he just plopped down on the floor. He brushed his bangs back and quietly called out to Ajin.

“Ajin.”

“……”

Ajin didn’t respond. Seokju licked his dry lips.

Ajin wore a grim expression, as if he was about to burst Seokju’s head, but in the end, he couldn’t kill him and shot at the innocent ceiling instead. Startled by the thunderous bang, he shivered and dropped the gun, struggling to stay on his feet before slumping down.

Seokju had expected this from Ajin ever since he walked in holding the gun.

Although he had handed the gun to Ajin and would gratefully close his eyes if Ajin killed him, Seokju knew Ajin was never meant for guns. Not because he was weak, but because his nature was incompatible with such things. Of course, he wasn’t suited for a ladle or a mop either.

Playing around with a silly grin or scribbling with a pencil in hand suited him best, like the youngest son of a noble family.

“Are you okay?”

“……”

Ajin still didn’t answer. Seokju picked up the fallen gun. Ajin’s thin shoulders flinched. He seemed to think Seokju would threaten him with the gun. But Seokju handed the gun back to Ajin.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked gently. Despite Ajin’s attempt to kill him moments ago, Seokju was exceptionally calm and lenient.

Ajin gripped the gun handle tightly and muttered.

“How could you do that?”

“……”

This time, Seokju fell silent. How could he? It seemed like he had done something to upset Ajin. But he had no idea what it was. There were so many things he had done to Ajin.

But he didn’t want to ask. None of his crimes were minor, and he was ready to accept any reason for a death sentence if Ajin decided to give it.

Ajin murmured again in a low, sunken voice amidst Seokju’s silence.

“How could you… call the sisters again.”

Seokju’s mouth slightly opened at that. He realized Ajin had misunderstood something. He pondered how to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.

No, could he even clear it up? Maybe it was better to let Ajin think what he wanted. Just like he used to, when he tormented and hated Ajin. Maybe it was right to accept Ajin’s hatred now.

The silence dragged on. Frustrated, Ajin lifted his head abruptly.

“M-Myungjin hyung suffered like that, and yet without fear…”

Ajin couldn’t finish his sentence. He felt embarrassed mentioning Myungjin, who had nothing to do with it. That wasn’t the reason he had come. The reason he was angry was because Seokju tried to sleep with someone else, not him. He couldn’t bring himself to say that honestly.

Why am I doing this? What am I expecting here? Ajin’s eyes lowered in despair, and Seokju sighed as he spoke.

“All men are like that. They’ll do anything for s3x.”

“……”

“But Ajin. I’m that kind of man too. However.”

“……”

“Not today.”

“……”

“Right now, I’m a criminal before I’m a man.”

Ajin lifted his eyelids. His navy blue eyes reflected the light from the bulb, shining beautifully. Seokju was reflected in those large eyes. Seokju, feeling a sense of wonder, gazed into them and spoke without a hint of falsehood.

“The one who came into my room was Madam, and I only gave her money. I paid for today’s fee.”

“……”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Ajin’s breathing was quick and ragged. His chest heaved under the slightly open collar of his shirt, his thin collarbones standing out and then softening repeatedly. Seokju wanted to bury his face there immediately, to rub his lips and lick with his tongue.

Seokju, whose gaze was momentarily distracted, hurriedly closed and opened his eyes. Then, containing the rising heat, he finished his words.

“You’re the only one for me.”

“……”

“Since I met you, I’ve never held anyone else, nor wanted to. Not for a moment. Not for a single instant.”

“……”

“I won’t spend the night with anyone else besides you. I promise it will be this way from now on. My words might not mean much since I’m a liar, but I promise.”

Ajin opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again. The anger in his eyes had subsided considerably. Seokju’s heart, which had been trembling with anxiety, also calmed down. He felt relieved that Ajin seemed to have resolved the misunderstanding, though he also felt a bit regretful that it had been resolved so easily.

If Ajin weren’t this angry, he wouldn’t come to my room. Maybe I should have let the misunderstanding continue. Then, he might come every night, pointing a gun or slapping me, and I’d get to see his face.

Seokju licked his lips regretfully and gently stroked Ajin’s wrist, which was holding the gun. Startled, Ajin tried to lower the gun. But Seokju wrapped both his hand and the gun in his own and spoke softly.

“And in the future, when you shoot, shoot from close range.”

“……”

“So I can take the bullet.”

Ajin stared blankly at Seokju. Tears welled up in his mesmerizing navy blue eyes and then flowed down his clear cheeks. Seokju hesitated for a moment before carefully wiping away the tears, letting out a small laugh.

“If you were trying to bring down the roof to kill me, then you’re pretty smart.”

Ajin stared intently at that laugh. How can you laugh in this situation, holding a gun, and talking about your own death?

Even after going through all kinds of hell, I’m scared of dying from a bullet. So why is Seokju laughing? What if I blow a hole in his head right now? Would he laugh even at the moment of death?

Ajin, who was shedding tears like rain, asked.

“Why… are you laughing?”

“Because I’m happy you came to my room.”

“…Crazy bastard.”

“Yeah. I like you, Ajin.”

“You’re insane, boss.”

“Yes. I like you.”

Unable to win the verbal battle, Ajin closed his mouth. In the meantime, his tears stopped. Seokju carefully wiped away the last tear hanging from Ajin’s chin and whispered.

“I like you…”

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached Ajin. He kissed the tear-stained cheek. It was an honest kiss, without any skill or impure intention.

Ajin didn’t push Seokju away.

* * *

“I won’t eat it.”

Ms. Flower shook her head, sitting with one knee raised. In front of her, Ajin’s palm held a handful of medicine. Her voice, though weak, was firm in refusal.

“…….”

Ajin’s lips pressed into a thin line. The hand holding the medicine trembled slightly, signaling for her to take it without protest. Ms. Flower turned her head away like a child.

“I don’t want to eat it anymore.”

These days, Ms. Flower was more prone to whining. She didn’t want to eat, claimed she had no appetite, said she wasn’t hungry, and now she even refused to take her medicine. If she’d just eat something properly, it wouldn’t be so frustrating.

The last proper meal Ms. Flower had was two days ago, when Seokju brought her a roll cake. She ate half of it, which was the size of Ajin’s forearm, and after that, she barely ate anything else.

Ajin tried to persuade her again but then withdrew his hand quietly.

“…Alright.”

He poured the pills into the trash can. It wasn’t an act of protest out of anger. What could he do if Ms. Flower refused to take them? He had to throw them away. Besides, there was an abundance of medicine. The desk drawer was filled to the brim. Ms. Flower often clicked her tongue, saying she might die from taking so much medicine.

Ajin wiped his palm, sticky and dry from the pills, on his pants. He liked the feel of his lighter palm. He didn’t fret about Ms. Flower not taking the medicine.

Ajin was letting go of things, one by one.

While Ajin was tidying up, Ms. Flower climbed onto the bed and lay down weakly. She used her hands as a pillow, and only her feet were tucked under the blanket. The gentle spring weather made people lazy.

“I’m going to sleep. Read me a book, Ajin.”

“Okay. What should I read?”

Ajin knee-walked to the bookshelf. Reading to Ms. Flower was the only thing she seemed to enjoy these days. The bookshelf was filled with books Seokju had bought, and Ajin would read one to her before bed.

Ajin wasn’t a lively storyteller and still stumbled over reading, but strangely, Ms. Flower liked the simple books he read.

“Anything.”

Ms. Flower blinked slowly. Ajin scratched the back of his neck and chose a book. There were stories he had a rough idea about and titles he’d never seen before. After some thought, he tapped one with his fingertip.

“Hmm… should I read Simcheongjeon?”

“Sure.”

Ajin picked up *Simcheongjeon*. Though it was a common story, he had never read it properly.

He sat on the floor next to Ms. Flower’s bed, holding the book. He pulled the bedside lamp closer to illuminate the pages. The densely packed text was daunting, but he started reading, word by word.

“Once upon a time, in Dohwadong, Hwangju, lived Shim Hak-gyu, who was blind. He had a wife named Lady Gwak. This couple had no children until they were in their forties. They prayed devoutly for a child. One day, Lady Gwak dreamt of a fairy embracing her. The child they had was named Cheong, Simcheong.”

*Simcheongjeon* was neither too difficult nor too easy; it was magical and appropriately moving. Simcheong, who lost her mother early and cared for her father alone, sold herself to bring sight to her father’s eyes. She fell into Indangsu but, miraculously, didn’t die and went to the Dragon King’s palace. Impressed by her filial piety, the Dragon King treated her generously and sent her back to the surface when she was of marrying age. She married a king, bringing peace to the land. Eventually, she found her father, Shim Hak-gyu, who regained his sight in an emotional reunion.

Ajin enjoyed reading the story. He had only known the basic outline of Simcheong being sold, but learning the details made it more enchanting.

After turning the last page, he closed the book with a thud. Resting his chin on the bed, he looked at Ms. Flower.

“Auntie, do you think there really is a Dragon King’s palace under the sea?”