Double Junk - 176

“Juhyeok is asking me to come for his birthday. I guess he’s having a party.”

“It’s not a party, it’s a party,” Seokju corrected.

“A party… But who is he?”

Ajin asked Seokju about the identity of ‘Juhyeok’ as if it were obvious. Seokju also answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

“He’s a friend of the boss.”

“…Does he have friends like that?”

“Yes.”

“So this Juhyeok person is his friend?”

“Yes. They’ve been friends since middle school.”

“I want to cut ties with him.”

Ajin slumped in his chair. His mind, which had already become complicated, started to ache. He felt like standing under cold water or running around somewhere to clear his head.

He couldn’t believe that such a butcher-like person had been his friend. He had known that the guy wasn’t normal since he pierced his ears, but he never imagined he had lived this recklessly. Relationships should be formed carefully, after all.

At the word “cut ties,” Seokju chuckled. But he didn’t stop him. If Ajin truly wanted to cut ties, Seokju seemed to subtly encourage it.

“Do I only have one friend, this Juhyeok person?”

Ajin asked, tilting his head slightly.

“No. There are a few more people I meet often,” Seokju answered, setting a file folder vertically on the desk. His long fingers, with visible knuckles, casually moved as he adjusted it. Ajin nodded as he glanced at the movement, relieved that there were others. If Juhyeok, this butcher, was cut off, it wouldn’t matter. After all, he already had three family members.

Ajin pursed his lips and suddenly extended his left wrist.

“But Juhyeok is asking for this as a birthday gift. Is this the Patek… whatever you call it?”

A shiny watch, which had been revealed as his jacket shifted, caught his attention. Seokju usually picked out his watches, and among dozens of options, this one was the one he wore most often. It was neat and sophisticated, not too big, and light, so Ajin liked it.

Seokju immediately shook his head.

“No, that’s a gift the boss gave to you for his birthday two years ago.”

“Jin… Jin is the one who gave it to me?”

“Yes. It’s a limited edition, so it’s hard to find again.”

“What’s a limited edition?”

“It means it’s something that there are only a few of in the world.”

“But this Juhyeok guy asked for it? Is he out of his mind?”

Ajin frowned seriously. He was now more convinced that cutting ties was the right choice. Seokju, however, smiled gently and reassured him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll buy something appropriate during lunch.”

Ajin nodded.

“Then I’ll go now.”

Seokju, holding the file, bowed slightly. He then walked out of the office. Ajin stared at his retreating figure for a moment. After Seokju disappeared, he looked around the empty space. The air, filled only with the cool air conditioner, felt empty. Seokju’s visit had faded, and another illusion of Seokju had disappeared.

Sigh…

Ajin let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. Then the phone lit up with a notification.

[Juhyeokss

7 PM. Cheongdam-dong. Bring Patek Philippe.]

Ajin checked the message with a sidelong glance and snorted.

“That butcher-like bastard…”

He closed his eyes again. And so, despite it all, he found himself about to attend the birthday party—no, the birthday party—of someone he didn’t even know, a friend he would soon cut ties with.

The car entered an unfamiliar parking lot. Unlike the neat parking lot of his house or the spacious one at the company, this parking lot had a strange atmosphere with mixed purple, pink, and white neon lights shining haphazardly.

In the late afternoon, Ajin, wearing the black shirt and slacks Seokju had brought him, looked around the parking lot in wonder, with his bangs neatly swept up.

Seokju seemed familiar with the area as he parked the car with ease. Then, he retrieved a gift box, about the size of a palm, from the back seat. It was the gift Seokju had bought during lunch for Juhyeok.

Ajin reached out to take it. Seokju quickly shook his head.

“I’ll take it,” he said.

“Huh? Are you going together?”

Ajin raised an eyebrow. Seokju mirrored his expression, raising his own eyebrow.

“Are you planning to go alone?”

“Yes. But are you coming, Secretary?”

Ajin asked, confused. The word “secretary” in his dictionary referred to someone who helped with work. Of course, Seokju was responsible for his meals, his rest, and even picking out his clothes, but Ajin had never imagined that this role would extend to such a situation.

Did they really need to go together? And more importantly, Ajin wasn’t particularly comfortable seeing Seokju’s face today. He kept thinking of a different Seokju.

It was also a problem that his irritation kept rising. He wished he could bluntly ask, “Did you sleep with the woman you were with in the elevator this afternoon?” or “Why are you smiling so sweetly at her?” or “Who else have you been with?” or “Did you sleep with her a lot?” It would be easier if he could say it out loud.

He had promised not to sleep with anyone else, but now he felt betrayed. If he told the Seokju in front of him, he’d only look crazy. So, he just had to swallow it.

Ajin tried to take the box from Seokju’s hand, but Seokju tightened his grip. His gaze subtly shifted upward, creating a slight tension.

“Always, we went together.”

“Today, I’ll go alone.”

“But I’m always by your side, sir-”

“It’s okay.”

Ajin snatched the gift box with a slightly annoyed gesture.

“…….”

Seokju gently bit the inside of his cheek. What did he do wrong? Even when he looked back on the day, nothing seemed off. He couldn’t figure out what had upset Ajin either.

Seokju, unsure of what to do, clenched his fist. Then, Ajin unbuckled his seatbelt with a click and asked.

“Ah, by the way, do you get along with my friends?”

“……No. We just know each other.”

“Then it’s better for me to go alone.”

“…….”

Seokju closed his mouth tightly. Logically, it was right. Why would a secretary attend the personal matters of a superior? But between ‘us,’ it didn’t feel right. How should he explain this? Even after thinking about it, he couldn’t find an answer. In the end, Seokju gave detailed directions to the meeting place. Ajin nodded, but then suddenly sighed and muttered to himself.

“Ah, but how will I get home?”

“……I’ll stay here.”

Seokju answered as he leaned back against the driver’s seat. Ajin’s eyes widened.

“You’ll stay here? You’ll wait for me?”

“Yes.”

“Alone? In the car?”

“Yes.”

“Won’t you get bored?”

“It’s okay. I have things to do.”

Seokju nodded toward the back seat. His tablet and documents were there. Ajin blinked a few times before nodding. Since Seokju had said so, there was no reason for him to stop him. Also, if Seokju was nearby, it would make him feel more at ease.

“……Alright, then.”

Ajin gathered his gift and grabbed the door handle. But somehow, Seokju’s gaze stuck to him. As Ajin pretended not to notice the intense stare and stretched his leg out of the car, Seokju unbuckled his seatbelt.

“I’ll go with you to the elevator.”

By now, it was excessive. As Ajin pulled his body out of the car, he let out a dry laugh and looked back at Seokju.

“If I go inside, you’ll be there, right? I’ll go alone.”

“…….”

With Seokju’s continuous refusals, his cheek stiffened. His hands couldn’t stay still, gripping the steering wheel tightly, then tapping his knee, then rubbing his firm thigh. Finally, he let out a deep sigh of resignation.

“Don’t drink too much.”

“Okay.”

“If there’s spicy food, avoid it.”

“Hmm… Okay.”

“Keep your phone close.”

“I got it.”

Ajin answered in a disinterested tone. He just wanted to leave. Ajin completely got out of the car and said he would be back. As he was about to close the door, Seokju whispered in a barely audible voice.

“If you get drunk, you laugh too much, so don’t drink too much… and don’t laugh too much either.”

“What did you say?”

Ajin asked, as if he hadn’t heard properly. Seokju quickly shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“…….”

Ajin stared at Seokju for a while, then closed the car door with an “I don’t care” expression. As he walked across the parking lot, he couldn’t help but pout.

“Don’t laugh? He smiles all the time with the company employees, but why is he telling me not to laugh? Jerk.”

“Really annoying…”

Ajin kicked the ground with his shoes.

Ajin followed Seokju’s directions to the meeting place. After getting off the elevator on the top floor, when an employee approached, he followed them. They would probably recognize Ajin already, so there was no need to announce his name, but if they asked if he was with someone or had a reservation, he would give the name “Jeong Juhyeok.”

Following Seokju’s advice, Ajin easily arrived at his destination.

The employee walking in front of him stopped at a thick and heavy-looking door. They opened it for him. A spacious, yet luxurious room appeared.

The room was sophisticated and looked expensive. The floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the room, offering a view of the Seoul cityscape, and a large, sparkling chandelier hung from the ceiling. The lights, a mix of gold and crimson, flickered here and there, and the room temperature was kept slightly cool.

It was big enough to accommodate dozens of people, but there were only eight people inside.

Four men, presumed to be friends, two women, a bartender, and a staff member.

On the table they were gathered around were bottles of unidentified wine and whiskey, enough to fill six people, along with a towering five-tier cake. Below the cake, there were many boxes and paper bags, probably gifts.

Whoever hosted the party seemed to enjoy luxury.

“…….”

Ajin fiddled with the small gift box, rolling his eyes awkwardly. One of them noticed him.

“Han-Ajin!”