Double Junk - 177

Starting with that greeting, their gazes quickly turned to Ajin.

“Hey, did Ajin come?”

“What’s this? You’re here on time for once? I thought you’d come only after 10.”

“Where’s Secretary Kang? I don’t see him. Did you come alone?”

“Damn it, if Seokju’s not here, it’s a blessing. Come here, come here.”

Everyone was happy to see Ajin. They made eye contact, smiled, welcomed him, and moved aside to naturally make room for him. In that brief moment, Ajin clearly realized that he was friends with them.

His nervousness turned into excitement. Ajin walked toward them, making the sound of his shoes on the floor. He quickly looked at their faces.

It was lunchtime. Seokju had shown a group photo and introduced his friends’ names. The birthday boy, Joo-hyuk, had thick eyebrows, a plump lower lip, and an appearance that contrasted with his rude and foul-mouthed behavior—a handsome face.

Ajin easily spotted him. Joo-hyuk raised his eyebrows and walked over. Then, he suddenly pulled Ajin into a tight hug. Joo-hyuk was big. Not as big as Seokju, but at least a hand taller than Ajin. His hands had veins bulging, so he seemed strong.

“You’re here. It’s been a while.”

Joo-hyuk picked up Ajin and then put him down. His voice, much calmer than it had been on the phone, made Ajin blink. He wondered, “Is this really Joo-hyuk? Did I recognize his face wrong?”

Then Joo-hyuk saw the gift box Ajin was holding and let out a loud, bird-like squeal.

“What’s this? What’s this? Is this a Rolex? Oh, damn. I didn’t think you’d really buy it.”

Joo-hyuk’s butt wiggled back and forth. Ajin’s expression dropped slightly. Seeing him act so foolishly, it seemed like this was the same person he had talked to on the phone. Joo-hyuk grabbed the gift out of Ajin’s hand. Ajin subtly hid his left hand behind his back, still wary. That wrist was wearing the watch his older brother had given him.

“Patek Philippe—”

“You’re joking, you bastard. That’s the one Jeongjin hyung gave you, right?”

“……”

Ajin raised one eyebrow slightly. Was he joking? Maybe Joo-hyuk wasn’t as shallow as he had worried.

“Hey, sit here.”

A woman with long hair pulled Ajin’s wrist and sat him down on the couch when he stood there awkwardly. Ajin smiled awkwardly and sat next to the unfamiliar woman. On the other side, Joo-hyuk sat down, and immediately began unwrapping the gift. Other friends also leaned forward to watch.

“Is this really a Rolex?”

“We won’t know until we open it. Who knows what this guy has done now.”

Ajin, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, tilted his head.

“Joke? Me?”

Joo-hyuk lightly punched Ajin’s arm with his fist.

“Last year, for my birthday, you gave me that Guardian transforming robot watch. It came in a Cartier box. Ah, I went home and opened it, and damn… Ah, anyway, that thing…”

“……”

Ajin blinked. A Guardian, transforming, robot, watch. It sounded really cool, but judging by Joo-hyuk’s face as if he had stepped on something unpleasant, it seemed Ajin had played a prank with the gift. Feeling a little guilty, Ajin awkwardly smiled. The watch box was revealed. Joo-hyuk took the box in both hands like he was about to offer it to the gods, spinning it around before he squeezed his eyes shut and opened it.

The friends all gasped. Joo-hyuk peeked one eye open. Inside the box was a watch, with a mix of dark blue and silver, sitting elegantly. Joo-hyuk’s eyebrows rose in an arch.

“Oh, what’s this? It’s really a Rolex! Damn, you must have spent a lot of money! I guess your company’s stock is doing well lately? Seokju hyung must be really good at his job. Anyway, thanks, friend. I’m really touched. It’s been a while since I’ve received a gift like this.”

Joo-hyuk hugged Ajin and rubbed his cheek on his shoulder. Ajin awkwardly accepted the physical contact, then asked in a small voice:

“…Do you know Seokju hyung?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

Come to think of it, it would be strange if they didn’t know each other. Joo-hyuk said they had been friends since middle school, and Seokju had been around for 10 years. The two must have had plenty of intersections.

Joo-hyuk grinned and immediately changed into the new watch. Ajin looked at him happily. Although it wasn’t the one he bought himself, it felt nice that the recipient liked it. Seokju seemed to have a good eye for this.

After that, the birthday party officially started. A staff member lit the candles on the cake, and the friends sang a celebratory song while champagne popped open with a loud sound.

Ajin, busy observing his friends, ate the cake. The cake melted in his mouth, and it was really delicious. Sweet and soft. He thought about wanting another piece.

“Ahanjin, what’s this? You’re eating all the cake? You, who hates sweet things.”

Joo-hyuk served more cake. Three pieces were piled onto Ajin’s plate. Ajin smiled sheepishly. It seemed Joo-hyuk wasn’t a fool after all.

“Cute little guy.”

Joo-hyuk giggled and patted Ajin on the back of the head.

The party continued in a lively manner. By the time one bottle of champagne, two bottles of wine, and one bottle of whiskey were finished, Joo-hyuk clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Hey, hey. Listen up.”

Ajin, sipping his sweet champagne, looked at Joo-hyuk. Joo-hyuk reached his hand toward the woman with medium-length hair sitting across from him, exactly the woman who was sitting opposite. She smiled and reached out to grab his hand.

“We’re getting back together.”

“Again?”

“Crazy.”

“I knew it from when Dahyun was here.”

The friends shook their heads.

“Are you two dating?”

Ajn, who had put down his champagne glass, asked in a quiet voice. Perhaps because of the alcohol or the time that had passed, Juhyeok had become more relaxed.

“You’re dating?”

“…Dating.”

So the two of them were a couple. Ajn looked back and forth between Juhyeok and Dahyun. The friends around them shouted teasingly.

“How many times has it been? Breaking up and getting back together.”

“Six times? No, seven maybe?”

“They probably don’t even know.”

In response to their blunt teasing, Juhyeok raised his chin and said irritably, “What are you, a pervert? Why would you count that? The important thing is that we’re getting back together. Right, babe?”

“Right, babe. But I’ve counted. This is the ninth time.”

Dahyun said with a sly smile. Juhyeok’s mouth lifted in a forced smile, and the corner of his lips trembled.

“Ah, I see. Our babe has a good memory.”

The two of them were like something out of a sitcom, and the friends laughed. Ajn, still laughing with them, asked Juhyeok again.

“So, you broke up and got back together?”

“Yeah. But this time it was a bit longer, wasn’t it? We didn’t contact each other for a month. This time, I really thought we were done for. I was ready to kneel down.”

Ajn blinked slowly.

“Can you do that?”

“What? Kneel down? Damn, if it’s for Dahyun, I’d do anything.”

“No. I mean, break up and get back together.”

“Why not?”

Juhyeok poured champagne into Ajn’s empty glass and shrugged. “But why are you drinking this? You don’t like sweet drinks. You’re acting weird today.”

Ajn ignored the question and continued the conversation.

“It’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Breaking up and getting back together.”

Juhyeok opened his mouth wide and then pinched both of Ajn’s cheeks.

“…Is this a fight? What’s up with you? You’ve been looking like a dog since you came in. Did you fight with Seokju? No, that can’t be it. You’ve probably been bothering Seokju about something weird.”

“No, we didn’t fight.”

Ajn mumbled while his cheeks were squeezed.

“Then why are you like this?”

“It’s amazing. Breaking up and getting back together, but you both seem… fine.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Well… I mean… It looks nice.”

“Of course, it’s good. We’re back together. What’s bad about it?”

Juhyeok casually spoke and let go of Ajn’s cheeks. Then he grabbed Dahyun’s hand, who was drinking whiskey like water, and kissed the back of her hand. He winked playfully. The friends mocked by spitting in the air.

“Breaking up doesn’t matter. What matters is that we love each other and we’re back together.”

“….”

“And breaking up and getting back together is… kind of… I don’t know, it feels so nice. It’s painful and loving, right? We’ve overcome so many hardships and obstacles, and now we’re in love—”

“Only a fool forgets their anniversary and gets dumped. Dahyun’s a saint, not you, idiot.”

One of the friends mocked. Juhyeok flipped him off.

“Shut up.”

“Shut up.”

The friend raised his chin and repeated Juhyeok’s words. Juhyeok pretended to throw his drink at him.

“And I didn’t forget. I just misunderstood. I thought it was April, not May.”

“That’s forgetting.”

“No, I thought the month before last was April. I was living in May like it was April. I really didn’t forget. I marked it on the calendar, booked the hotel, and even bought the gift in advance.”

There was a brief silence. Ajn stared at Juhyeok with a look of disbelief. He was truly an incomplete friend. The girl sitting next to Ajn shook her head.

“That idiot is so dedicated to Dahyun, but his brain’s just not working, so he gets dumped every time.”

“It’s okay if his brain’s a little slow. He’s cute.”

Dahyun smiled as she curled her lips. Juhyeok twisted his shoulder as if shy. One of the friends threw celery at Juhyeok’s face.

“Seriously, both of you just leave.”

In the ridiculous situation, Ajn quietly laughed. His friends were truly a colorful bunch, all with poor quality.