Double Junk - 30

Chapter 30

Ajin realized belatedly why he had come to this room.

He turned his body to face Seokju, who had extinguished the lights. However, Seokju’s face was hidden, so it was impossible to see his expression. But it was easy to guess. He was sad.

“Boss…”

Ajin touched Seokju’s cheek, and tears welled up in his eyes. Ajin’s eyebrows furrowed. Regardless of the circumstances, seeing someone crying in front of you naturally evoked sympathy.

Seokju tightly closed his eyes. Thick tears streamed down his handsome cheeks. The dead kept haunting him—family, friends, sometimes even like sons. Those who had trusted him and followed him all the way here.

He had led those people to their deaths. Seokju felt so embarrassed and sorry that he couldn’t lift his head.

“If it weren’t for me, those kids wouldn’t have died.”

“…”

“If I had been a little more careful, if I had known a little better… None of this would have happened.”

Ajin pursed his lips at Seokju’s self-blaming words. But there was no comfort he could offer. He wanted to say, “It’s not your fault, Boss,” but they knew nothing about the situation surrounding the deaths. If it turned out that the young lives were lost due to Seokju’s fault, what then? Saying it wasn’t his fault wouldn’t be comforting, but rather an accusation.

Ajin lightly kissed Seokju’s lips and then let go. In a sweet voice, he whispered affectionately.

“They must have gone to a better place.”

“…”

“Madam said that. She sent them off with smiles, so they must have gone to a good place.”

“…”

Seokju slowly raised his head. In the dark of night, Ajin’s azure eyes were faintly shining. Seokju gazed at them intently.

Seokju didn’t know who this “Madam” was. But he thought, “Well, why not?” It was something to believe in. It wasn’t a bad thing.

Did they really go to a better place? He had sent many younger brothers ahead, but he had never considered it before. He had spent all his time feeling sorry, guilty, and blaming himself. He had been consumed by anger, chasing blood from place to place.

This time, he would do the same. He didn’t yet know how the drugs flowed through someone else and how the factory’s location had been exposed, but he would find out soon and make the one who killed his younger brothers pay.

Seokju’s fingernails dug into his palm until they drew blood. Suddenly, Ajin smiled faintly. Then he spoke softly.

“Because I died before you, in the next life, I might be born earlier than you, Boss. Then, you might even call those people ‘hyung.'”

Seokju, at Ajin’s naïve words, arched an eyebrow. Then, with a chuckle, he burst into laughter.

“…Yeah, that could be.”

Seokju replied in a nonchalant tone, hugging Ajin tightly. He found great comfort in holding the fresh and lively Ajin. It was wonderful to have someone to hold, someone to console him.

“Ajin, you are…”

“Yes?”

“Beautiful.”

“…”

“It’s not just your appearance, but your presence.”

Seokju nuzzled Ajin’s hair. Ajin lifted his face slightly and asked.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You don’t have to. I’m the only one who needs to know. Now go to sleep. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

“…Yes. Good night, Boss.”

Ajin bade a proper goodnight. Seokju held him close and closed his eyes.

“Yeah. Sleep well, Ajin.”

It felt like a dream in shades of blue, a dream resembling the moonlight, the waves, and Ajin’s eyes.

As darkness fell over the world, the sound of bells echoed through the house, signaling the end of the workday for the organization members. After exchanging greetings, they all gathered for dinner.

Amid the bustling atmosphere, Ajin was also busy. He laid out a tablecloth in the dining room and arranged cushions. The members were not to be seated too closely; there needed to be enough space. The tableware had to be neatly placed on the table, ensuring everything was in order.

Ajin, with a serious expression, carefully set the chopsticks in place. Then, as he was about to go to the kitchen to bring out the side dishes, the hem of his robe fluttered, and Seokju appeared in front of him.

“…”

“…”

The two stared at each other for a moment. Ajin was the first to speak, his eyelashes fluttering as he asked, “Why so early?”

“Is it not allowed?”

“No, but…”

It was Seokju’s house, so where else could he go? He might have come early because he was hungry. That was Ajin’s logical explanation.

“No, it’s okay. Take your time,” Seokju said as he stroked Ajin’s head affectionately and took his seat at the table.

He was greeted by the organization members as they settled down, and then they turned to Seokju, who was already seated.

“If you’re very hungry, should I serve your meal first, sir?”

Ajin asked kindly. There was no reason for Seokju to come here early unless he was hungry. In Ajin’s mind, that was the only logical explanation.

“No, it’s alright. Take your time,” Seokju replied.

Ajin set the food on the table, but Seokju’s eyes remained fixed on him. He seemed to be watching his every move. It felt as if he was being supervised, even though he was just setting up the table.

“Does the boss want to watch if I’m doing a good job or not? It’s weird,” Ajin thought to himself.

But Seokju’s unusual behavior didn’t stop there. Ajin continued to feel Seokju’s gaze on him as he arranged the table. Seokju remained silent, focused on Ajin’s actions.

Ajin’s thoughts were confirmed when he was serving the meat broth to Seokju. Seokju’s large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Ajin’s plump buttocks firmly. The sudden touch made Ajin jump and the broth spilled, but fortunately, not too much. A quick swipe with a cloth would clean it up.

Ajin looked at Seokju, his eyes wide with surprise, but Seokju just sat there, staring ahead and saying nothing.

“Boss, you’re really acting strangely,” Ajin thought to himself.

Seokju’s strange behavior didn’t end there. Ajin was about to straighten up to go to the kitchen for some kimchi when a sudden sharp slap landed on the back of his head. A loud shout followed.

“Hey, this idiot can’t even do this properly!”

It was one of the house staff, a man who was close to fifty, and who, despite no official appointment, considered himself the leader. He had a strange personality and liked to act as if he were in charge. With his massive, overweight body, he pushed his way around everywhere.

Whenever Flower criticized him, she would say, “Are you so afraid of filth that you’re avoiding it, or are you so scared that you’re avoiding it?” Moreover, the smell… Oh, how strongly it emanated. Even male servants kept their distance from him.

Ajin winced at the blow to his head, and then a sob welled up. It was strange, but today it felt embarrassing and shameful. The reprimand was nothing, but it somehow felt different in front of Seokju.

Ajin clutched the back of his head with a wince. He was only just realizing that, for some reason, it felt shameful to be treated this way, even though it was just a minor scolding.

The man who hit Ajin on the back of the head laughed, showing a wicked smile. He used his hand to mop up the spilled broth on Ajin’s clothes.

“Uh…”

Ajin let out a cry of pain too late, and tears welled up in his eyes. This kind of treatment was nothing special, but it seemed particularly painful and embarrassing today, perhaps because it was in front of Seokju.

The man who had hit Ajin on the back of the head turned and smiled slyly at Seokju. He wiped the spilled broth from Ajin’s clothes onto his own.

“…”

“What are you waiting for? Go quickly.”

The pig holding Seokju’s broth kicked Ajin’s calf. Fortunately, it didn’t make him fall, but he staggered a bit. Ajin regained his balance and bowed deeply. Seokju then extended his long legs under the table.

His heel caught the pig’s ankle, and with a simple yet powerful kick, the pig stumbled and fell to the floor. His excessive weight made a distinct thud as he hit the ground, almost like he’d fallen into water. The galbitang he had been carrying broke the bowl in half as it crashed to the ground.

All eyes turned to the pig.

“Ugh…”

The pig let out a suppressed groan. Slowly, he raised his head as he struggled. His already flat face looked even flatter now. His nose had been squashed, and a thin line of blood was trickling from it.

Seokju, who had previously said nothing, extended his legs and reached down to grip the pig’s chin. In a hushed tone, he spoke, “This idiot. Can’t even do that properly.”

A few seconds earlier, the pig had said something similar to Ajin. Startled, the pig turned to look at Seokju.

“B-boss?”

His unattractive face, as Seokju had described it, was furrowed according to his own appearance. Even though Ajin had no discerning taste in art, he knew enough to differentiate between something he could or couldn’t look at. This was something he couldn’t look at. How had his appetite disappeared right before the meal?

Myungjin, who understood Seokju’s displeasure, quickly stood up. He grabbed the pig by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease. The pig’s weight was probably more than a whole bag of rice, but Myungjin lifted him effortlessly with one hand.

“This guy starts yelling in front of the boss’s table, and now he’s whimpering,” Myungjin scolded him.

“Uh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the pig said while being held up by the collar. Myungjin walked across the room and headed for the door to the veranda. The organization members who had gathered around opened the door wide, revealing the noisy courtyard.

Myungjin tossed the pig out into the courtyard. Because of his weight, the pig didn’t go very far; he only managed to roll off the veranda and landed below with a thud. He seemed to be in shock.

The pig’s whole body seemed to have gone limp. Myungjin clicked his tongue.

“This guy, just because he’s become a boss, bothers even the youngest one… tsk.”

Eh, Myungjin made a strange noise and turned back. The organization members were muttering as they closed the door.