Double Junk - 45

Chapter 45

About fifteen years ago, Jin-geol had been employed at a gambling den. His job involved keeping an eye out for police or undercover officers to make sure they weren’t closing in on the place. His remarkable memory and sharp instincts had earned him favor from the establishment’s owner. He had shared the money and food he received with his younger brother, Jinsu, and those memories of laughter together resurfaced.

However, after Jinsu’s death in a traffic accident, Jin-geol had tormented Ajin for years as if he intended to kill him. And then, he had suddenly disappeared.

But meeting him here, realizing that he was here, that he had just come out of Seokju’s room, was unbelievable. Ajin didn’t want to believe it. His knees suddenly went weak, and his bones ached. The pain he had suffered at the time threatened to engulf him once more.

“…”

Jin-geol, too, seemed to recognize Ajin, and he stared at him intensely. His torn and bloodshot eyes blinked rapidly.

Ajin felt that Jin-geol’s gaze was like a well-sharpened knife, slicing into his throat. His body shivered.

It wasn’t Ajin’s fault that Jinsu had died in a traffic accident. He hadn’t pushed Jinsu in front of a moving car or stood by watching as a car came hurtling toward him.

In a way, Ajin was the victim. He had been forcibly taken by Jinsu, who wasn’t even his boss, and had ended up with a lifelong disability.

However, Jin-geol had genuinely believed that Jinsu had died because of Ajin. He believed that Ajin had killed Jinsu.

After that, Jin-geol’s persistent hatred, resentment, and violence had continued for several years. Even though he was only sixteen at the time, sometimes, children can be more cruel than adults. He had been beaten so many times that Ajin had occasionally questioned whether he had really done something wrong.

So meeting Jin-geol like this was uncomfortable. It was as if he had suddenly come face to face with his own hidden guilt.

Ajin and Jin-geol continued to stare at each other, and Myungjin raised an eyebrow in amusement.

“What’s going on? Do you two know each other?”

“…”

Ajin hesitated. Did they know each other? Could their relationship be described as ordinary or formal? While he hesitated, Jin-geol smiled slightly and replied.

“Didn’t I mention that I used to work in Seoul? I used to work at the Gold Hotel. Back then, it was just a gambling den.”

“Y-you worked at a gambling den?”

“Yes. I heard that Tae-Hoe Trading took over the place. I wondered where all the people from the gambling den had gone, and it seems they ended up here.”

“…”

“It’s been a long time, Ajin.”

“…”

“You’ve grown a lot. You were so young back then.”

Jin-geol’s words made Myungjin click his tongue.

“Age doesn’t matter. You’re still a scrawny little thing.”

Jin-geol laughed softly. Then, he extended his hand toward Ajin.

“You know, I used to torment you a lot back in the day. It was because you were so cute. Remember? Meeting like this is fate. Let’s get along.”

Ajin hesitated as he looked at the hand.

It had been a long time since those days, but Jin-geol’s hand felt strangely familiar. Just as familiar as his face. How many times had he been beaten to make that hand so familiar? Others wouldn’t be able to imagine what this familiarity meant.

Ajin didn’t want to hold that hand. But he felt he couldn’t refuse, with Myungjin’s eyes on him, wondering what was going on.

Jin-geol had come to Seokju’s house. Together with Myungjin, they entered Seokju’s room. It suddenly struck Ajin that a few days ago, Seokju had mentioned that it felt like there was one more member in his family. Though he hoped it wasn’t true, Jin-geol seemed like that family member.

Ajin’s mind was filled with questions. What should he do in this situation? The answer was simple.

Ajin slowly took Jin-geol’s hand.

“Yes.”

As their palms met, a shiver ran down Ajin’s entire body.

It’s because he found you cute.

Let’s see each other well, as it’s fate.

Let’s see each other well.

Let’s see each other well.

Let’s see each other well.

Jin-geol’s voice echoed.

“I hate that Jin-geol so much; I could die.”

Ajin, holding chopsticks, ground his teeth as he spoke. The piece of meat he had been holding slipped from his grip onto the table. Ajin picked it up and brought it to his mouth, then chewed it with a vengeance, as if to punish it.

Today was the day for Jin-geol’s “welcome party.” Everyone in the organization, from members to servants, had gathered in the front yard to grill and eat meat. The yard was about to burst with the sounds of sizzling meat, the savory aroma of grilling, people’s laughter, the clinking of dishes, and the clatter of cups being raised and lowered.

Large wooden tables were placed throughout, and charcoal grills were set up here and there. People gathered around the tables to enjoy the grilled meat.

Ajin, along with the female servants, including Flower Lady and Isun, was grilling and eating meat at a table near the end of the yard. The sisters were excited to be at a rare drinking party and toasted their glasses continuously. Ajin also took sips of soju with them from time to time.

Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves, but Ajin was the only one feeling distressed. He stared at one spot as if it were a spectacle he couldn’t get enough of, his cheeks filled with resentment.

He was looking at the large table in front of the main porch, Seokju’s spot. Myungjin was standing beside him as usual, and other important figures within the organization were also present. That would have been fine. Jin-geol, the “guest of honor” at the welcome party, was also seated there.

Ajin didn’t like it one bit, not one bit at all. This was an opportunity to eat valuable meat until his stomach burst, but he couldn’t taste the meat at all.

In the midst of this, Ajin, who was standing, couldn’t stand the discomfort anymore, so he sighed and rolled up his sleeves. He couldn’t just stand there; walking was better. Standing still made his weight shift to one side, and his leg and back felt like they would break from the pain.

Flower Lady, who was standing next to him, picked up a piece of pork belly, dipped it in the oil, and placed it in Ajin’s mouth.

“Why are you acting like you’re dying just because you hate that guy?”

“I hate even looking at him.”

Ajin shook his head in frustration. He wanted to push Jin-geol’s smiling face into the hot coals.

At that moment, Myungjin burst into laughter, a hearty and boisterous laugh. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he chuckled heartily, and Seokju also smiled, tugging at the corners of his mouth. Jin-geol, with a smiling face, said something in response.

“…”

Ajin’s face darkened as he watched it. Jin-geol was truly a bad person. It was bitter to think that he alone knew this, or rather, that everyone seemed to think he was a good person, including Seokju.

Maybe he would become a bad guy again, like when he was at the gambling den. He thought about it and his skin crawled. When he did, his goosebumps popped up on his arms. Ajin hunched his shoulders and lowered his head, and Flower Lady poked his side with her elbow.

“Why are you like this? It’s not your fault. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“…It’s not a lie.”

“Who’s lying? I know you don’t lie. So stop bowing your head like a criminal, you idiot.”

Flower Lady scolded him as she put a well-cooked piece of pork belly in front of Ajin. He dipped it in the soybean paste and ate it. She plucked the water off a fresh leaf of lettuce and pushed it into Ajin’s mouth.

“If you get discouraged, you’ll become a sinner in the blink of an eye. That’s what the world and people make you. So, behave confidently.”

“…”

“If Jin-geol says anything, tell him that your brother died in a Chilean stand-off, and to come to his senses. Will you do that? Will you threaten him like that? Then go and tell the boss.”

“T-tell the boss?”

Flower Lady nodded.

“To the boss?!” Ajin asked with wide eyes. Due to the full mouthful of vegetables, his pronunciation was a bit muddled. Flower Lady nodded in response.

“Yeah. So, you think the boss wouldn’t turn Jin-geol’s life upside down for you?”

Upon hearing this, Ajin chewed his food quickly and swallowed. After washing it down with soju, he leaned in close to Flower Lady and whispered discreetly.

“If Jin-geol… if Jin-geol says… that the boss… died instead of… your brother… would you believe me?”

“I believe you. Besides, the boss is on your side. Look at him right now. He’s glancing at you, as if you’re the only one he sees, like some infatuated fool.”

Flower Lady discreetly gestured toward Seokju with her tongs. Ajin stole a quick glance at Seokju, contrary to Flower Lady’s words. Unlike her claim, Seokju was looking at Jin-geol. There was a faint crease above Ajin’s eyebrows, and he poked at the bones on the meat with his chopsticks while grumbling.

“Why are you even looking at me? It’s like you don’t even know if I’m here or not… And how would the boss know if he values Jin-geol more or me? How could an old lady like her know?”

“Well, I know, you brat.”

Is there anything I don’t know? Flower Lady playfully jabbed Ajin’s cheek with her tongs. Ajin pushed her hand away, shaking his own. Both of them ended up chuckling at this comical exchange.

Right, there’s nothing Flower Lady doesn’t know. His mood significantly improved. It didn’t matter if others misunderstood him as a bad guy. As long as Seokju didn’t misunderstand, that was enough. He hoped that Seokju would value him more than Jin-geol.

Ajin laughed merrily and quickly ate three pieces of meat at once. He dipped the tongs in the sauce and ate it all up. He also clinked glasses with Flower Lady, toasting silently.

Maybe it was because it had been a while since he drank, or maybe because he wasn’t good with alcohol to begin with, but his face quickly turned red. Even though he sipped slowly, he was still blushing.

As the alcohol started taking effect, his emotions began to sway once more. Alcohol had a way of amplifying emotions, making them more intense.

Ajin occasionally glanced at Seokju and Jin-geol and cursed under his breath.

“Why does the boss keep laughing when he looks at Jin-geol?”

“The boss poured drinks for Jin-geol.”

“Just now, the boss patted Jin-geol’s shoulder.”

“Ah, Jin-geol lit a cigarette for the boss. That jerk… he’s acting all high and mighty…”

Ajin’s eyes were now sharp with anger.