Double Junk - 206

206

You finally found me.

You came again to kill me.

Should I run? Where to, and how? Where is Seokju? I need to call him, but where’s my phone? Where did I leave it? I think I left it in my jacket. But where is my jacket?

Will Jingeol just let me be while I search for my phone and call Seokju? Won’t he grab my hair and shake me violently like before? Won’t he mock my healthy legs and break one of them? He might slam my head into the ground until my skull shatters while asking if I remember his dead brother.

Ajin was falling deeper and deeper into a dark, bottomless pit of nightmares.

“Guest?”

Jingeol called out to Ajin again. Ajin instinctively stepped back and stared at Jingeol. However, Jingeol didn’t approach him. He didn’t pull out a knife to threaten him, nor did he hurl curses in a coarse voice.

Instead, Jingeol looked somewhat concerned. It seemed like he was a bit nervous, probably because he was attending to a guest staying in the most expensive room in the hotel. There wasn’t a hint of hostility in his gaze or gestures.

“…”

Ajin stared at Jingeol intensely and tried to catch his breath.

No one knows me here. I’ve encountered quite a few people connected to my past life, but none of them recognized me. Not even Seokju, Miss Flower, or Changdu.

So, Jingeol won’t know me either. He’s just someone who looks like him, a different person.

That means Jingeol has no reason to harm me. Besides, unlike in my past life, I’m now someone with money and power. Jingeol can’t recklessly oppress me like he used to.

Ajin swallowed dryly several times and straightened his back. Then, he stepped aside slightly.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Jingeol pushed the cart into the room. Ajin watched the door silently close with fearful eyes, then turned his head with a short sigh.

“May I set the food on that table over there?”

Jingeol pointed to the long dining table in the dining room and asked.

“Yes,” Ajin replied.

Jingeol moved busily. He spread a cloth over the table, placed the food, and neatly arranged the utensils. He even placed the grapefruit ade with ice clinking in it to the right side.

Meanwhile, Ajin leaned against the wall, biting his lower lip. When Jingeol placed the knife down, Ajin flinched nervously. But the food was set up without incident.

Jingeol pushed the cart out of the dining room.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

He bowed slightly and headed to the door. Ajin watched him leave. In his suit, Jingeol seemed oddly different from his past self. His sturdy build remained, but he looked slimmer, and his movements, once careless, now appeared upright and meticulous.

Jingeol opened the door, pushed the cart out, and bowed again before quietly closing the door. The faint sound of the door locking automatically echoed. Ajin was now completely alone.

He stood blankly for a while before turning his gaze to the food Jingeol had left. The vibrant colors of the grapefruit ade and bright yellow mango shaved ice looked incredibly appetizing.

Ajin trudged to the table and plopped into a chair. He tilted his head back, staring at the high ceiling, and let out a small laugh.

Nothing happened.

Nothing at all.

Calmly and unremarkably, he let the nightmare, the ill-fated encounter, pass him by.

Realizing this, he felt strangely proud.

It felt as though he had shed a bit of his past. It was a brief meeting, less than five minutes, but just enduring it made the thorn lodged deep in his chest rise to the surface, ready to be easily pulled out. Perhaps one day, it would come out so easily it would feel anticlimactic.

And then, at last, I’ll be free.

Still slouched, Ajin rubbed his chest lightly. Then his eyes landed on the mango shaved ice. Among the neatly arranged utensils, he picked up the largest spoon. Scooping up a generous amount of mango and milk ice, he brought it to his mouth.

The cold, sweet flavor melted softly on his tongue. Ajin savored the taste and let out a small chuckle.

Seokju returned to the hotel room only at sunset. Ajin, who had enjoyed a hearty meal and fallen asleep after a shower in his robe, woke up to Seokju’s hand stroking his hair.

“Let’s go home.”

Seokju whispered as he locked eyes with Ajin’s drowsy gaze. Ajin nodded and pulled Seokju’s hand close, pressing his cheek against the cold palm. He liked the feel of the firm yet soft hand.

“Is it all over?” Ajin asked in a husky voice.

“Yes.”

“What about the director?”

“He’s drunk, sleeping somewhere in one of the hotel rooms.”

“And Secretary Hwang? Did he cry?”

“Well… no. But he looked like he might cry during the dinner party. He said he was going to drink himself silly today.”

“Dinner party?”

Ajin’s eyes sparkled. He knew what a dinner party was from countless scenes in dramas and movies. Seokju nodded briefly.

“Yes. We usually have one after big events like this. Besides, today’s Friday, and no one has to work tomorrow. They’re probably eating and drinking to their hearts’ content.”

“What about us? Aren’t we going?”

Surprised by the unexpected question, Seokju raised his eyebrows.

“…Us?”

“Yes. A company dinner is something everyone does together.”

“If someone in a higher position attends, it makes the employees uncomfortable.”

“But…”

Ajin’s eyes twisted slightly in subtle frustration. Seokju always used to attend gatherings. Well, that was in the past life. Back then, he never missed any drinking sessions with the Taeho faction. He was the eldest and the highest-ranking, but he always showed up. Though, wait… was that really a company dinner?

But why does he say I make them uncomfortable? What did I even do?

“Am I making them uncomfortable? Why?”

Ajin suddenly sat up. The loosely draped shower gown slipped off, revealing his smooth, round shoulders.

“It’s not you that’s uncomfortable; it’s your position.”

Seokju pulled the gown back up and adjusted it properly.

“…”

Ajin pursed his lips like a pouting child. His expression made it clear he didn’t like Seokju’s explanation. Seokju let out a soft sigh, finding it hard to ignore Ajin’s sulking. He ruffled Ajin’s slightly spiked-up hair and asked, “Do you want to go? You wouldn’t know anyone there.”

“You’re there.”

“…”

“And Secretary Hwang too… Can’t we go for a little while? I want to try it too. A company dinner.”

Ajin swayed his body from side to side, looking at Seokju with wide, hopeful eyes. It seemed he genuinely wanted to attend. After all, Ajin had something to celebrate today too. It wasn’t something to boast about loudly, but he wanted to acknowledge that he had safely endured his encounter with Jingeol.

Looking into Ajin’s sparkling, expectant gaze, Seokju exhaled deeply through his nose.

“Fine, but we’ll just show our faces briefly.”

“Yes!”

“Get dressed.”

At that, Ajin dashed into the dressing room like an excited puppy preparing for a walk. Watching his lively, bouncing hair, Seokju smirked faintly.

They had rented out an entire small, high-end Korean barbecue restaurant. Usually, company dinners were done by teams. The PR team had gone out for wine after consulting each other, while the secretarial team decided that soju was the way to go, ending up at the barbecue restaurant.

Standing outside the restaurant, Ajin instinctively reached for his tie, only to remember he’d left it in the car because Seokju said it would feel hot. Instead, he fiddled with his bangs, brushing them back and then smoothing them down again.

“…”

Seokju said nothing to rush him, patiently waiting behind Ajin for him to gather his resolve.

After hesitating for a while, Ajin took a short breath and pushed the door open. The bell above jingled with a cheerful sound, and the sweet, smoky scent of marinated galbi filled the air. Ajin swallowed hard—whether out of nervousness or hunger, he wasn’t sure—and walked inside.

Following him, Seokju lightly patted his back. Ajin smiled faintly.

As they walked through a narrow corridor lined with pine tree murals and bathed in warm, golden light, rows of tables came into view. Seeing them, the waiting staff members stood up and bowed deeply.

“Good evening, Sir.”

“Welcome.”

“It’s your first time joining a company dinner!”

“Good evening, Sir.”

The secretarial team’s faces weren’t as gloomy as Seokju had anticipated. They weren’t beaming, but at least they weren’t sulking. Taken aback by the warm reception, Ajin returned their greetings with an awkward smile and polite nods.

“Good evening. Hello. Yes, hello.”

Ajin glanced around to find a seat. Noticing his uncertainty, Seokju guided him to the most secluded corner. The restaurant staff quickly set down tableware and side dishes. When they reached for Seokju’s suit jacket, he declined, instead draping it over the back of his chair. Ajin handed over his jacket without hesitation.

After scanning the menu, Seokju ordered a variety of dishes and added the restaurant’s most expensive beef ribeye steak for each table.

Since Ajin’s presence meant this was bound to be his expense, it was only right to splurge a bit. That should also quell any budding complaints.

Soon, bright red cuts of beef arrived, drawing cheers from the secretarial team.

“Thank you for the meal, Sir!”

“Thank you so much, Sir!”

Surprised by the sudden expressions of gratitude, Ajin widened his eyes before glancing at Seokju, embarrassed. He wrinkled his nose slightly in an adorable show of bashfulness, making Seokju chuckle softly.

The restaurant staff began grilling the meat. As the beef sizzled and cooked, Ajin stared at it intently before speaking.

“But why aren’t we drinking?”

Everyone else was. Ajin gestured with his chin toward other tables where drinks were flowing freely.

“Do you want to drink too?”

Seokju raised an eyebrow as he moved side dishes closer to Ajin’s side of the table.

“Isn’t it normal to drink at a company dinner?”

Ajin asked back, genuinely surprised.