Double Junk - 33

Chapter 33

Other rumors circulated as well:

“Ajin really has an incredible knack for medicine.”

“Ajin? That guy can’t even handle alcohol? Remember when he drank a glass of whiskey at the gambling den and vomited profusely?”

“It’s different for medicines. It seems like he’s a big help in the Taeho faction’s business. The boss really likes him.”

“Hah, that crippled guy can do all that?”

Or,

“I heard Ajin is the boss’s son.”

“What? His son?”

“Yeah, it seems like they met by chance after he was born. That’s why he’s with him every day.”

“Wow, but they’re so different.”

“Ajin takes after his mother.”

“Where’s his mother?”

“I don’t know. What kind of a woman would a gangster like him marry? She might have screamed all day or been involved in something shady at night.”

“Oh my goodness…”

Or,

“Ajin is… a bandit.”

“What did you say?”

“He’s said to be extremely skilled with a knife. So, when the Taeho faction is trying to take over Seoul by defeating the Jung-ho faction, Ajin is supposed to go cut off the Jung-ho faction leader’s head.”

“Oh, so Ajin is good with knives?”

“Yeah. They say when he swings it, people get chopped into pieces instantly.”

“How is that possible? I used to tease Ajin a lot when he was a kid, calling him a cripple…”

“Did you tease him too? I did. Damn it. Is Ajin suddenly going to come at us with a knife one night?”

“That pig got kicked out the other day. He disappeared overnight without a trace. Did Ajin… did he kill him?”

These were some of the absurd stories circulating, but the only entertainment for the house’s playful workers was to create different rumors every day.

Ajin decided not to take offense to them. The harassment and bullying had lessened, and the workers had suddenly become kinder and more respectful towards him. It was as if he had gained a newfound power, which nobody else could understand. It felt like he had become a true man. Stronger, more powerful, and more successful after overcoming adversity and hardships, like the hero of a classic tale.

Ajin was enjoying the attention and treatment he had never experienced in his life. Every day had been filled with those who found him bothersome, annoying, and disgusting, but now he felt like a person for the first time.

Ajin chuckled to himself, but tried to appear calm as he carried out his duties. He worked hard at cleaning, cooking, and scrubbing the floors. He didn’t try to shirk his responsibilities, even if he knew the tricks and shortcuts. He thought the next person who needed to do the work could learn from it. It wasn’t something he wanted to avoid.

After work was done, as night fell, Ajin would lie in his room and then quietly cross over to Seokju’s room.

Ajin’s footsteps as he crossed the wooden floor had vigor. Unlike before, he didn’t rush down the hallway inside the house. People he occasionally encountered along the way said nothing. Ajin liked that. It felt good to be treated as a true member of this house. He felt like he had become a family member.

Ajin reached Seokju’s door and knocked softly. As usual, the door opened swiftly, and a smiling Seokju appeared.

“Ajin, you’re here?”

It was a moment that was both warm and cool, the beginning of a night shared by the two of them.

These days, Ajin and Seokju have been spending a variety of nights together. Seokju brought Ajin a cola every day and sometimes even washed fruits like grapes or peaches with his rough hands before offering them. Additionally, he would give him mysterious chocolates or caramels, usually two at a time.

Ajin often wondered why Seokju kept feeding him. His face had filled out noticeably in just a week.

Of course, Ajin didn’t mind it at all. Although people said that Korea was more prosperous now than ever in its history, peaceful, and experiencing tremendous economic growth, those were tales from a different world for Ajin. He couldn’t even confirm whether he had been officially registered as a citizen. Nevertheless, he wasn’t feeling hungry these days.

Sitting beneath the eaves, Ajin dangled his legs. In his hand, he held a lollipop that Seokju had given him. It had a completely different taste from the large lollipops the women sometimes brought back from the market. It had the taste of chocolate mixed with milk, and it felt like heavenly candy, with a different sensation compared to cola.

Ajin sucked on the candy eagerly. His teeth occasionally clicked against the candy, making a clinking sound. He would sometimes put the candy in his mouth, round his lips, and then withdraw it while making smacking noises.

Seokju, sitting next to him and smoking, chuckled.

“Is it tasty?”

“Yes!”

Ajin replied with a sparkle in his eyes. Seokju’s thumb lightly brushed over his eye area. The summer heat that had been pressing down on his chest, making his skin moist and refreshing, seemed to have disappeared.

Ajin lifted the leg he had left hanging under the eaves. He rolled up his pants to his knees, revealing his white calves. In the pitch-black night, his white feet stood out even more.

Seokju, exhaling cigarette smoke, occasionally gazed at his feet. The pale soles, smooth skin, slender ankles, and protruding ankle bones were mesmerizing. The smooth skin, which had been engaged in fierce struggles, fights, and combat on many nights, was now impossible to take one’s eyes off.

“Want one more?”

Ajin, having quickly consumed one candy, looked at Seokju and asked. Seokju had already spoken to some American traders a few weeks ago. He offered them a few extra bags of heroin in exchange for a large quantity of sweets.

That way, when a few boxes arrived, he would distribute about half to the members who enjoyed sweet things, and the remaining half he saved to give Ajin one or two candies at a time. He couldn’t give all of it at once, or Ajin wouldn’t come to his room anymore.

“No, it’s okay.”

“Why not? It’s okay to have one more.”

“I can eat it tomorrow. Then I’ll be happy tomorrow too. I’m already happy enough right now, so I don’t need to eat more.”

Ajin said as he carefully nibbled the lollipop with his front teeth.

“…?”

Seokju didn’t particularly agree with that, but he didn’t bother arguing. Eating two candies in one day made you feel twice as good. Tomorrow is another day. However, that’s what Ajin meant. And what that meant was that tomorrow would come too. That’s fine then.

Seokju finished his cigarette. Ajin, while gazing at Seokju with rapt attention, suddenly asked.

“Boss, are you not married?”

“…Why are you suddenly asking that?”

Seokju exhaled, puffing out cigarette smoke. Ajin subtly shifted his hips. Their arms, especially their forearms, occasionally brushed against each other as they moved closer.

Ajin looked around as if he was about to share some big secret, but there was nothing around except the streetlights at regular intervals. After checking the surrounding area where only fireflies made noise, he whispered.

“People say that. They say you sleep with me because I’m your son.”

“What?”

“Maybe you had a son before? Just one son? Maybe I’m around sixteen, seventeen years old?”

“….”

Seokju’s mouth hung slightly open. Was such a rumor circulating? Seokju felt a sting in his conscience.

“In other people’s eyes, I and Ajin seem like a father and son. I think we’re close enough in age. Is it because of our build? If I’m a sack of rice, is Ajin just a grain? Or is it just the face value? No, even so, being seen as a father and son is extreme.

Seokju caressed his cheek with a serious expression. Ajin asked again.

“You were already married?”

Worry creased Ajin’s brow. I was concerned that Seokju might have an unfavorable past. However, contrary to Ajin’s concerns, Seokju shook his head with a grimace.

“No.”

“Then you should get married soon. The person who will become your wife will dislike it if you wait too long. Of course, even if the boss is older, he will still be handsome and attractive, but still, there are discerning eyes… If you don’t do it soon, there will be rumors.”

“If you get pregnant, I’ll marry you.”

Seokju wrapped his arms around Ajin’s waist. Then, with a smirk, he lightly kissed Ajin’s cheek. Ajin was frozen, just hearing what he had said a moment ago.

“……Pardon?”

“I’m saying I’ll marry you.”

Ajin’s mouth hung open. He couldn’t quite understand what Seokju was trying to say. While Ajin was at a loss, Seokju gnashed his teeth in frustration.

“Damn it, what kind of son is he….”

Then he grabbed Ajin’s hand and placed it on his lower body. The hot and solid weight filled Ajin’s palm and then some. It was almost frightening how firm it became the moment his hand made contact.

“What kind of crazy person gets horny over a son?”

“….”

Ajin blinked rapidly. Only then did he realize that Seokju’s words were not a joke but sincere. Ajin forcefully lifted his head. With such close proximity, there was a significant height difference, so he had to tilt his chin up to look at Seokju.

“Boss.”

“Yeah.”

“By any chance…is it foreign?”

“Yeah.”

“Has something like medicine that can make men pregnant been developed?”

“What?”

“Then why do you keep talking about me getting pregnant? Am I pregnant? Then what should I do? Am I going to give birth?”

With the hand that Seokju hadn’t caught, Ajin clenched his own lower body. Holding his own and Seokju’s, it was like a greedy child.

Seokju burst into laughter at the unexpected response.

Ajin’s innocence transcended imagination. It was incredibly endearing. I felt like I could deceive and tease him with dog-like words without him noticing. So, I had an arrogant thought that I could keep Ajin by my side with snacks or candies, as if he were a greedy child.”