Double Junk - 60

Chapter 60

The seemingly peaceful days continued. The approach of winter was unmistakable, and despite losing a significant business deal, Taeho Faction found itself busier than ever.

According to Myungjin, this time of the year was originally when a lot of drugs were sold. Despite industrialization, there were still many farmers, and once the fall harvest was over, they had more free time, leading to an increase in drug consumption.

Even with the increased workload, Taeho Faction took a day off every week without fail. The members scattered around the house, smoking cigarettes, taking naps with snoring sounds, playing with a ball in the yard, gambling with small amounts of money, and exercising, showing off their bare upper bodies without any regard for the slightly cold weather.

Jin-geol, on the other hand, became busy. He had to deal with the fabric the girls had produced, and in addition to the three meals a day, snacks, and late-night snacks, he had to handle various small matters as well, keeping him occupied.

Ajin was busy with different matters. He was occupied with Seokju, having his buttocks molded and his lips sucked. Only in the afternoon could he finally leave his room. He hobbled busily towards the kitchen. It was undoubtedly due to a shortage of hands.

The kitchen he arrived at was a mess, as expected. Four pots were boiling simultaneously, and the warm steam filled the air. Ajin descended the stairs slowly. Despite being accustomed to using crutches for over ten years, going up and down the stairs was still challenging.

Ajin looked around as he descended to the kitchen. He was looking for Ms. Flower. However, for some reason, her plump buttocks were nowhere to be seen. Ajin asked Isun, who was crushing garlic, about Ms. Flower’s whereabouts.

“Nuna, where’s Ms. Flower?”

“She’s probably by the outdoor cauldron.”

With that information, Ajin crossed the kitchen and went outside to the yard. Unlike the warm kitchen, a cool breeze greeted him. He involuntarily sniffed the cold scent that brushed his nose. Then, as he turned his head to find Ms. Flower, he saw her next to the cauldron beside the warehouse. Strangely, a familiar man was standing next to her.

“….”

It was Jin-geol.

Jin-geol stood awkwardly, with one hand in his pocket, looking down at Ms. Flower. Even at a glance, the atmosphere seemed unusual.

A week ago, Jin-geol, who had burned down Jung-ho faction’s buildings, was still in this house. Despite not being able to blend in with the members, he clung awkwardly, unable to attend the weekly family meeting on the main floor.

Ajin didn’t like the sight at all. There was undoubtedly some hidden agenda, and he didn’t like Seokju leaving it alone either. But now, approaching Ms. Flower! That was unacceptable.

Ajin, who opened his eyes wide, grabbed a large wooden ladle leaning against the wall. Shaking it vigorously, he limped towards them.

“What’s going on!”

At Ajin’s approach, Jin-geol and Ms. Flower turned their heads. Despite Ajin approaching boldly with his awkward gait, Jin-geol’s lips twisted defiantly. It didn’t look like a comfortable atmosphere.

“What the hell! Why are you doing this to our ajumma!”

“What did I do? Ajumma. Did I mess with ajumma?”

Jin-geol asked with a tsk, sticking out his tongue.

“….”

Ms. Flower didn’t respond at all. She just lowered her chin slightly, looking at Ajin and Jin-geol. Ajin moved his body to block Jin-geol’s gaze. Then, he pushed the ladle towards Jin-geol’s chin.

“Don’t mess with ajumma!”

“Ha…”

“Get lost! Otherwise, otherwise… I’ll tell the boss!”

At the mention of Seokju, Jin-geol’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed. He took a threatening step towards Ajin. Ajin’s ladle touched Jin-geol’s Adam’s apple, but he didn’t care.

“You damn idiot… A piece of sh1t like you who can’t even stand up to a fist fight…”

At the long-unheard insult, Ajin’s eyes sharply narrowed. In the past, he used to hear it dozens of times a day, and sometimes he would be called by that name instead of his real one. It used to be nothing to him. But now, it felt deeply offensive. Ajin pressed the ladle against Jin-geol’s Adam’s apple.

“I’m not a piece of sh1t!”

“If your legs look like that, you’re a piece of sh1t, you piece of sh1t.”

“Damn… If it weren’t for your brother, uh, Jinsu bastard, my legs wouldn’t be in this state!”

Ajin lifted Jin-geol’s chin with the ladle. With a snap, Jin-geol’s chin was forced upward, and veins popped on his forehead. His face turned a reddish hue.

“….Damn you. Do you want to die? Do you want another beating like that time? It’s better to get beaten, isn’t it? Should I crush the rest of your legs too?”

Jin-geol shook his large fist and whispered menacingly. Suppressing his voice, as if he didn’t want others to hear, Ajin’s lips burst forth with defiance.

If it were in the past, he might have directly struck the face. Not anymore. Because Seokju is behind me. I am a special person to Seokju. If I mess with me, Seokju will be furious.

Ajin stabbed Jin-geol with the ladle while growling.

“Go ahead. Try it. Do you think the boss will just stand by and watch you?”

Jin-geol ground his teeth with a sneer. He grabbed the ladle, and with a strong force, Ajin had no choice but to let go. Jin-geol tossed it to the ground, glaring at Ajin as if he wanted to chew him to death.

Ajin stepped back, shaking his shoulders with a sigh of relief. His heart pounded at the imminent sign of violence. However, Jin-geol ultimately couldn’t lay a hand on Ajin. Clenching his fist, he abruptly turned away.

“….He’ll die soon anyway.”

With an audible yet indistinct voice, Jin-geol mumbled and distanced himself. Ajin frowned. To die soon. Unlucky….

Ajin picked up the now limp ladle from the ground. Then, he stared fiercely at Ms. Flower, who had been silent all along.

“Why are you sticking with him! What did he say? Huh?”

“I called him over as he was passing by.”

“What? …Why?”

Ajin extended the ladle downward. The tip of the ladle buried itself in the hard earth.

“He had something to say, so I called him over.”

Ms. Flower replied, looking into the steaming pot beside the cauldron. Seasoned pork was simmering with a sizzling sound. Ms. Flower stirred the meat with tongs.

Ajin stood closely beside Ms. Flower.

“What does he want to say?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh, come on. What is it? What is it?”

“Ah, really. Stop nagging.”

“Tell me! Huh? What is it-”

“Just told him to leave the house!”

“What?”

“If Jin-geol stays here, he’ll definitely die. So, I told him to leave.”

“….Is Jin-geol worried about that guy? Does he like that guy more than me?”

“You’re crazy. Stop spouting nonsense. Why would I worry about that guy? He’s not just someone who will die alone; when he goes to the afterlife, he’ll surely drag someone along. That’s why I told him to leave.”

“….”

Unexpectedly, Ajin bit his lip, restraining himself from saying anything. His azure eyes shook nervously. Death, the afterlife. Those were extremely sensitive topics for Ajin.

Ajin picked up the ladle and roughly planted it in the corner of the yard. Then, with a loud shout, he exclaimed, “What if that jerk starts trouble again!”

“How do you deal with a jerk? Gangsters are roaming everywhere.”

“Still-”

“This nonsense!”

Ms. Flower suddenly threw the tongs. The metal tongs made a clanging sound as they were sucked into the pot. Glaring at Ajin with wrinkled eyes, she scolded him.

“You, huh? Ajin, were you afraid that I might die? Is that why?”

Startled by the sudden loud voice, Ajin twitched, lifting his shoulders. Ms. Flower grabbed his wrist and pulled him forcefully toward her. Ajin twisted his wrist to free himself from her grip, but Ms. Flower’s strength was disproportionately strong. The grip on his wrist felt like the strength of a different person.

“Oh, ma’am. Let go of this…”

Ajin became nervous all of a sudden. Whether he said anything or not, Ms. Flower pressed her face close to him.

“If I tell you to leave, you’ll leave this house, right?”

“What?”

“Let’s go. Today or tomorrow. Right now. I’ll talk to the boss, so don’t go showing your face for no reason.”

“Why, why. Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Don’t ask questions, just go and pack your things.”

Ms. Flower let go of Ajin’s hand. Then, urging him, she pushed his shoulders.

Ajin blinked. In the rapidly unfolding situation, he couldn’t seem to gather his thoughts. He had no idea what was going on, why Ms. Flower was suddenly acting like this, or why he had to be implicated in Jin-geol’s death and his journey to the afterlife. He was just annoyed.

Ajin nervously swept his bangs, which were blocking his view. After a brief silence, he stubbornly closed and opened his mouth.

“…I don’t want to leave.”

“Last time, you said you would leave. You said you could leave.”

“That was, back then… Now, I don’t want to leave.”

Ajin lowered his head. He didn’t want to leave. This moment was the happiest in his meager life. It wasn’t often that he had such a peaceful time— not cold even in winter, rolling around while others were working, enjoying delicious food, and even studying. He couldn’t predict when such a fortunate day would come again in his crippled life.

“I don’t want to, really…”

As Ajin shook his head, Ms. Flower burst out angrily.

“Ajin!”

Ignoring her, Ajin raised his voice.

“I’m the one who brought you here, ma’am. From that gambling den. I brought you here, saying I’m good at odd jobs! But now, why are you like this!”

“Back then, I didn’t know! I didn’t know that the boss and that jerk would chew your strings!”

Ms. Flower stomped her foot. In a fit of rage, she even kicked her thigh as if she were about to burst. Overwhelmed by the passionate response, Ajin breathed heavily as if he were having a seizure. He raised his head as if he were trembling.

“No. No… Ma’am misunderstood. Strange, that’s different every time, every hour. How can you know it will be different tomorrow? If you go out and get hit by a car-”

“This idiot! Go pack your things right now!”

“No, I said I don’t want to!”

Ajin turned and ran away. Clumsily running, he tried to get away from Ms. Flower’s vicinity. Ms. Flower reached out toward him.

At that moment, a cold yet powerful wind blew.

“Ajin, you- Uh…”

Ms. Flower’s disheveled curls fluttered as if blown by a gust of wind, then she clutched her left chest. Slowly, very slowly, she crumpled to the ground.

In response to Ms. Flower’s abruptly severed voice, Ajin absentmindedly turned around. Then abruptly stopped.

“…Ma’am?”

Collapsed on the ground was Ms. Flower. At the same time, a pungent smell pierced Ajin’s nose. The black smoke rising from the pot spread out like thick fog, quickly enveloping Ms. Flower.

It looked like the meat was burning.