Double Junk - 46

Chapter 46

Surely, with a face resembling soft tofu, Jin-geol didn’t look intimidating at all. He was just amusing. The poorly spoken curse words and the constant addition of the term ‘brat’ after Jin-geol’s name seemed rather comical. Flower Lady, who was resting by pulling a rolling chair, called out to Ajin.

“Ajin.”

“Yeah?”

“Do the same thing you just did to the boss.”

“…Have I gone crazy?”

Ajin retorted with disgust. Flower Lady tilted her head and said, “Wouldn’t the boss be thrilled?”

It was a difficult statement to understand. What could possibly be so thrilling in the words I said? Ajin furrowed his brows in confusion.

“…Our boss might be a jerk, but not to that extent, right?”

Flower Lady chuckled at his words. She banged on the table, making a loud noise, and it was enough to draw everyone’s attention in the yard. Even Seokju was among those glancing their way. Their eyes met from a distance, but Ajin quickly turned his body away. Then, he playfully tapped Flower Lady’s arm.

“Are you crazy, ma’am? Why are you like this? Be quiet!”

“Hahaha!”

Nevertheless, Flower Lady’s laughter became even more cheerful. The older sisters at the table also started giggling. Ajin’s face, already flushed, seemed like it would burst with all the attention focused on him.

As Ajin shook his feet in distress, Flower Lady stuffed a wrap into his mouth. Only then did Flower Lady’s laughter subside. The attention that had been on them dispersed.

“Why are you really like this, ma’am? Are you trying to tease me?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Flower Lady nodded vigorously, her cheeks puffed up. Ajin looked at her suspiciously. Flower Lady playfully grabbed his cheeks and then let go, laughing.

The welcome party continued. Ajin, who was standing somewhat awkwardly on his short legs, eventually gave in and sat on the ground. He didn’t care about the meat or anything; he just wanted to lie down and rest. Standing was tiresome, especially with the added effect of the alcohol.

As Ajin reached back to tap his back, he felt a slight touch. He also heard the sound of something being put down. Ajin turned his head as he sat down. There, a light wooden chair was placed. Behind it, he saw Seokju’s figure, moving away with a large tablecloth fluttering behind him.

Ajin alternated between Seokju and the chair. Suddenly, he remembered the words Flower Lady had spoken earlier.

“Like some lacking fool, you only keep glancing at him.”

Ajin’s mouth hung open. He pulled the chair closer and sat down. It was just a hard wooden chair, but it felt as soft as the sofa in Seokju’s room.

Ajin chuckled and picked up some meat to eat. His previously aching back felt nothing. Flower Lady, looking at him, asked with a faint smile on her face, “Should I make you some kimchi stew if you’re craving it?”

“It’s okay.”

“I’ll make it for you real quick.”

Flower Lady got up, but Ajin grabbed her elbow and seated her again.

“It’s fine. You should rest today, so why are you trying to work now? Eat some meat. You barely ate anything.”

Ajin pushed the cooked meat towards Flower Lady. Although he felt the sisters glancing at them, he pretended not to notice.

And it made sense. Flower Lady hadn’t eaten much meat today. Including the wraps Ajin had just made, it hadn’t even been five pieces. It wasn’t that she didn’t like meat, or that she normally ate little. He wondered why she didn’t eat when she was given the food.

But Flower Lady shook her head firmly.

“I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. You have it.”

“…”.

Ajin’s eyes narrowed as he heard Flower Lady’s words. Now that he thought about it, even yesterday and the day before, she didn’t seem to have much of an appetite. He scrutinized Flower Lady carefully. She seemed to have lost some weight. While she was naturally slim, it was still noticeable to the naked eye.

Worry crept onto Ajin’s forehead.

“Why do you have no appetite now, even though summer’s over? Still, eat. It’s meat.”

“I said I’m not eating.”

“…Eat.”

Ajin urged her, rather uncharacteristically. With a deep sigh, Flower Lady reluctantly picked up her chopsticks. Seeing the meat going into her mouth, Ajin finally relaxed his tense shoulders.

At that moment, Myungjin clapped his hands loudly. The sound was loud and resonant, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Well, we have a new family member. Let’s take a picture together, shall we?”

Myungjin gestured to the photographer who had come for the event. The photographer promptly started setting up his camera. The organization members moved the tables aside and stepped back. Ajin also took his plate and chopsticks and retreated to the edge of the yard. Seokju’s chair was placed right beside him.

Myungjin then gestured towards them.

“Hey, where are you going? The workers should be in the photo too. Come here. Stand here.”

This left people puzzled. The organization members had already lined up neatly in rows of five. The front row sat cross-legged, the second row stood up, the third row went up to the porch, and the last row went up to the main hall.

They straightened their disheveled clothes and fixed their hair.

The servants had been whispering all along.

“Why are we taking a photo?”

“We’re not the only ones; we’re taking it together.”

“Yeah, but why?”

“They’re family, family.”

“It’s a bit awkward. They say our souls will be taken if we get photographed.”

“Don’t be superstitious. What do we gain from being in a photo? Just stand still and smile; you can see my face clearly.”

“Will they share the photo with us?”

“They’ll probably hang it somewhere in the house.”

“Let’s just take it. Okay? Smile.”

The servants gathered belatedly. Ajin and Flower Lady slipped in between them. They stood on opposite corners. Ajin found himself standing at the front, in the second row. It was his first time being in a photograph, and he didn’t know what to do.

He was standing there, bewildered, when Flower Lady next to him pulled the end of his shirt down.

“Lift your head up. Don’t squint even if it’s bright. Lift your bangs slightly, yes, like that, just enough. Eyes, nose, and mouth should all show.”

“But, ma’am, will my soul really be taken if I’m in a photo?”

“Then do you think actors on the big screen or the president are all soulless corpses?”

“Oh, I see.”

Ajin nodded vigorously and opened his eyes wide. Then, he glanced back briefly. Seokju was standing in the middle, on the podium. Myungjin handed him a tablecloth and helped him put on a suit jacket.

Soon, the photographer shook his hand.

“Now, look here.”

Ajin quickly turned his gaze forward.

“We’re taking it now. One, two, three, open your eyes wide, chin up, and say ‘kimchi’ with a smile. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“Say ‘kimchi’ now.”

“Kimchi!”

People answered with enthusiasm. Laughter erupted all around. Ajin joined in the laughter. It felt strange and delightful to be gathered like this, doing something together for the first time. Ajin tightly held Flower Lady’s hand, standing beside him. It was just a photo, yet he inexplicably felt nervous.

The photographer plunged his face into the dark cloth attached to the camera. Then, he shouted loudly.

“Alright, here we go. One, two, three!”

“Kimchi!”

Click!

The sound was like a firework bursting, and suddenly, the world became as bright as if the sun had risen.

The welcome party was over. The organization members headed to the main hall or the reception room with their drinks and grilled meat, kimchi, and other dishes. The servants gathered the charcoal and cleaned up the tables. Ajin, too, walked around slowly, collecting empty bottles and putting them into boxes.

He stacked the full boxes one by one next to the kitchen warehouse. Trucks would come from time to time to take away the empty bottles.

Ajin strolled slowly through the courtyard. It would take half a day to make a round to the kitchen from the grand mansion. He sighed deeply.

“I’m so full…”

He had overeated in greed, and now, the meat had risen up to his throat. It was probably just a passing moment. By the time he put things away, washed the dishes, and stacked the cutlery and dishes neatly, he would have forgotten about it, as if it had never happened.

Ajin frowned as he adjusted the box of alcohol. A hand that popped out from the side grabbed the box.

“Oops!”

Startled, Ajin jumped in his place.

“See, it’s sticking out like a pregnant belly.”

Seokju stood there with a grin. Ajin looked at him blankly. Seokju patted Ajin’s protruding belly. It felt as if his warm palm was relieving the tension in Ajin’s tight belly.

Seokju roughly put the alcohol box on the ground. Then, he grabbed Ajin’s hand.

“Come here.”

“Uh…I have to put that down and do the dishes.”

“Don’t do it.”

“But, what’s that…”

Seokju pulled Ajin with force. Ajin tried to resist and brace himself with his heels, but all that was left on the earth was a mark where he had been dragged. Ajin let out a bitter laugh. He couldn’t say it out loud, but sometimes, the boss seemed truly crazy.

Twisting his body a few times, Ajin eventually gave up the resistance. He had felt like he lost Jin-geol to Seokju all day, so he wanted to be by his side even a little longer. Besides, who would say anything when the boss told him not to do the dishes?

Ajin followed Seokju as he pleased. Seokju smiled gently and held his hand.

They stopped in the backyard, where Seokju’s room was visible. The photographer was fiddling with the camera there. When he noticed Seokju, the photographer bowed respectfully.

Seokju wrapped his arm around Ajin’s shoulders and approached him.

“Let’s take a picture together.”