Double Junk - 43

Chapter 43

Suddenly, unable to withstand the sharp mental battle, Ajin hunched his back.

“I, I’m leaving…”

Before Seokju could give his permission, Ajin turned his back and limped towards the room where the servants slept.

Ki-heon watched Ajin as he moved away. Perhaps it was because he had seen his face. Even his body, which was revealed now and then through the large robe, seemed thick. Even the gait that he had thought was disgusting didn’t look so bad.

With his hands in his pants pockets, Ki-heon stared at Ajin for a while. Then he turned his head.

“…”

Seokju was also watching Ajin. His gaze was quite different from what they had seen before. The black pupils gleaming restlessly seemed to capture Ki-heon, who had come all the way to this spot, with a penetrating glance.

As Ajin disappeared, Seokju’s gaze turned back to Ki-heon. Ki-heon slightly averted his eyes on cue. A faint smile that seemed to be visible or not appeared on Ki-heon’s lips.

Ajin had avoided Seokju’s room for three days now. He had not slept for three days, and it was uncomfortable and noisy to sleep in Seokju’s room because the servants would gather and sleep together.

Moreover, it was so cold at night in early autumn. His place was right next to the window, and the cold air seeped through the gap between the door and the window. His nose froze. Even though Seokju had given him a blanket, he had wrapped himself up tightly, but he was still shivering.

So he kept tossing and turning, and when dawn gradually broke through the window, he barely managed to close his eyes. Then, when he woke up, he spent the entire day sighing and working. He had no energy due to lack of sleep, and he was disappointed that Seokju hadn’t come to find him for three days. He was also annoyed that Seokju seemed so busy, and he hadn’t even been able to catch a glimpse of his face.

But what bothered him the most was whether Seokju was sleeping well. That was the most important thing. How tired would he be if he hadn’t slept properly for three days? But sleeping well was also a problem. Now that he didn’t have to put up with someone like him, he slept well alone.

Just in case, he had subtly eavesdropped late at night, but it didn’t sound like he was calling a woman. Ajin breathed a sigh of relief.

He repeated such ridiculous thoughts and another day passed. After dinner, which was a simple meal among the servants, Ajin tried to avoid the servants who were making a lot of noise. He was washing dishes when suddenly he heard footsteps from above.

“Ajin.”

Ajin’s shoulders trembled in surprise. His lips dried up for a moment. Ajin urgently closed his eyes and then opened them again. He didn’t even look at Seokju and bowed deeply before he could give permission.

“Hello, sir.”

As soon as Ajin finished his greeting, he quickly turned the basin upside down, and the water splashed everywhere. The water flowing into the ground made it look like waves. Ajin, who was staring at it dumbfoundedly, crouched down and started wiping the basin with a rag.

Then Seokju also crouched down in front of Ajin. His size was so large that Ajin was engulfed by his shadow. Only half of his head could catch the moonlight.

Ajin twisted his lips in annoyance. Seokju had covered the light, so he couldn’t tell whether he was cleaning the basin or the pot. He exhaled a long sigh through his nose.

“Why didn’t you come?”

“…”

“I was waiting.”

Seokju spoke softly. Ajin’s hand, which had been moving busily, stiffened. Tears welled up in his eyes.

This was cheating. To suddenly appear and say, “I was waiting for you,” in such an affectionate voice was cheating. It was really cheating. It was also cheating to pretend as if nothing had happened. It was true that nothing had happened, but it was still cheating. There was no way to feel indifferent like this, even though nothing had really happened. Although it was true that nothing had happened, it was still cheating. Ajin exhaled a sigh of relief.

However, it wasn’t easy. Since the members hadn’t eaten, there were not many dishes. After washing the dishes, Ajin bent his waist and poured the dirty water. Just as he was doing that, footsteps were heard from above.

“Ajin.”

Ajin’s shoulders trembled in surprise. For a moment, his lips dried up. Ajin quickly closed and opened his eyes urgently. Before Seokju gave him permission, he turned his body.

“Hello, sir.”

As soon as Ajin finished his greeting, he quickly turned the basin upside down, and the water splashed everywhere. The water flowing into the ground made it look like waves. Ajin, who was staring at it dumbfoundedly, crouched down and started wiping the basin with a rag.

Then Seokju also crouched down in front of Ajin. His size was so large that Ajin was engulfed by his shadow. Only half of his head could catch the moonlight.

Ajin twisted his lips in annoyance. Seokju had covered the light, so he couldn’t tell whether he was cleaning the basin or the pot. He exhaled a long sigh through his nose.

“Why didn’t you come?”

“…”

“I was waiting.”

Seokju spoke softly. Ajin’s hand, which had been moving busily, stiffened. Tears welled up in his eyes.

This was cheating. To suddenly appear and say,”I was waiting for you,” in such an affectionate voice was cheating.

It was really cheating. It was also cheating to pretend as if nothing had happened. It was true that nothing had happened, but it was still cheating.

There was no way to feel indifferent like this, even though nothing had really happened. Although it was true that nothing had happened, it was still cheating. Ajin exhaled a sigh of relief.

As Ajin bit his lower lip, Seokju affectionately swept Ajin’s forehead with his fingers, revealing Ajin’s large, unseen eyes, along with his jewel-like, twinkling blue eyes. Seokju gazed intently into those beautiful eyes and said,

“Why. You know I can’t sleep without you.”

“…”

“I haven’t slept a wink for three days. It’s unbearable. Please save me, Ajin.”

Seokju lightly caressed Ajin’s cheek with his thumb. Ajin shuddered. However, he didn’t pull away from Seokju’s touch. A small smile played on Seokju’s lips, and he gently tugged at the basin Ajin was holding.

“It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

But Ajin didn’t let go of the basin. Seokju frowned slightly, afraid that Ajin might refuse. Ajin, however, was not as resolute or strong-willed as Seokju feared. He was just a boy who was frail under Seokju’s protection and warmth.

“Just finish this…”

In a voice that was almost inaudible, Ajin said as he rinsed the basin with cold water. Afterward, he shook off the excess water and turned the basin upside down. Then he wiped his hands on his clothes. Unbeknownst to him, Seokju approached, and his cold hand gently touched Ajin’s shoulder.

“…”

Ajin silently stared at it. Then, unable to resist any longer, he grasped Seokju’s hand.

As always, Seokju’s hand was so warm.

When Ajin entered Seokju’s room, he had to let his face be completely swallowed up. He had been swallowed up, literally. From his lips to his cheeks, the tip of his nose, under the chin, forehead, and the area around his eyes, there was nowhere Seokju’s lips hadn’t touched. Why did he stick out his tongue like a clown…

Afterward, Seokju held Ajin tightly, pressing his nose into Ajin’s neck, kissing his cheek, and neatly tying Ajin’s disheveled bangs.

During that time, Ajin didn’t say a word and just stayed still. Occasionally, Seokju would subtly fondle Ajin’s thighs and buttocks, making Ajin open his eyes in a half-moon shape.

“Come on.”

Seokju offered a piece of chocolate. It was the reward for tying his hair. Ajin hesitated for a moment and then slowly took a bite.

Seokju sat right in front of Ajin, scrutinizing his blushing cheeks and lips attentively. Ajin’s once plump, white cheeks had become slightly leaner in just a few days. Seokju grabbed Ajin’s cheek with both hands.

“You’ve lost weight just because you didn’t see me for a few days. How did I fatten you up?”

“…”

Ajin licked his lips. He had lost weight because he couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t eat the snacks he had every night, and he couldn’t even eat dinner properly. He was so worried that he might have fallen ill.

However, Ajin didn’t say a word. It was a kind of protest. He was angry. He was mad. He was sulking. He was disappointed. It was a demonstration to vent his feelings.

Seokju couldn’t have been unaware of it. He grabbed Ajin’s buttocks and pulled him towards himself. Ajin slipped in between Seokju’s legs like a well-fitting wardrobe.

“Are you mad?”

While caressing Ajin’s earlobe, Seokju asked.

“…Why would I be mad?”

Ajin muttered, moving the piece of chocolate he had been sucking on to the other cheek.

“But you look angry.”

“I’m not.”

Ajin was firm. It was an adorable firmness, inexplicably charming. His lips exuded a sweet scent every time he spoke. The way his eyelashes fluttered when he savored the chocolate, the way his lower lip protrudes more than usual while he was lost in thought, all of it was cute.

Seokju smiled lightly and held Ajin in his arms. He gently stroked Ajin’s dry back and spoke with his characteristic low tone.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Ajin.”

“…”

“I should’ve just cut that bastard’s throat right then and there. Who was tormenting you, promising to avenge you, saying he was my person? I’m sorry I kicked you out.”

Seokju accurately pointed out what he had done wrong, as well as how Ajin might have felt.

‘Ajin.’

‘Get out.’

Ajin’s lips quivered as he remembered Seokju’s cold tone from that time. Unfortunately, tears welled up. But unlike before, Ajin wasn’t angry at Seokju.

Ajin realized something now. He was weak to apologies. Whenever Seokju said, “I’m sorry,” for the first time in his life, Ajin’s heart would soften.

Ajin buried his face in Seokju’s chest. Seokju gently caressed his small nape and said,

“You might have been hurt.”

“…”

“I was afraid you might get hurt.”

“…”

“I hated seeing others touch you, whether it was someone else’s blood or your own. In the end, I only ended up with your body…”

Seokju pressed his lips onto Ajin’s carotid artery. In response to the ticklish kiss, Ajin’s neck flinched and then relaxed again.

With a movement resembling a startled cat, Seokju released a faint chuckle. He had never thought about raising animals before. But if he had a cat or dog like Ajin, he could watch them run around, wreaking havoc in the house, and he still wouldn’t get tired of it.

The two of them remained quietly embraced for a while. Ajin snuckily ate another piece of chocolate in Seokju’s arms. Seokju stole the chocolate that had clung to his own lips using his thumb and sucked it in. Then, Ajin used his tongue to gently lick the spots where Seokju’s fingers had touched his lips.

Seokju’s eyes glistened with a meaningful look at the fleeting, disappearing red tongue.

Whether or not he understood that dangerous gaze, Ajin felt much better after eating the chocolate. As he fiddled with Seokju’s kimono, he asked,

“Those people who came back then, weren’t they from your rival faction?”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t those people really bad? They even caused trouble at the gambling den.”

“I’ve heard rumors that they’re low-quality.”

“But why did you invite them to our house? What if they set our house on fire…?”

Ajin stuck out his lips with concern.