Double Junk - 61

Tilting Corridor

Ajin paced around the front yard, nervously chewing on his thumbnail. It was an unusual habit, and his chewing looked awkward, but it was the only way to alleviate the uneasy feeling. About thirty minutes ago, Ajin witnessed Ms. Flower collapsing and screamed in anguish. The sound prompted everyone in the house to rush out, and Ms. Flower was immediately taken to the hospital.

Ajin had intended to follow the car taking Ms. Flower to the hospital, but hesitated at the rumbling engine noise and moving wheels. The car didn’t wait for that moment and departed abruptly.

Ajin regretted that moment as soon as the car left. Who cares about the car or fear? The most terrifying thing was Ms. Flower dying. What did all that matter!

Should he go there on foot? Were there buses outside the house? But how many buses should he take? He didn’t even know which hospital Ms. Flower had gone to. He should have asked earlier! Stupid idiot! Stupid idiot!

As he repeated self-blame and regret, Seokju and Myungjin came out of the house. Unlike usual, Myungjin was ahead of Seokju. Following them, several organization members rushed out. Ajin quickly approached them.

“Ar- Are you going to see Ms. Flower, sir?”

“Yeah. Shouldn’t we check on her at the hospital?”

Myungjin, adjusting his tie, spoke. A car entered the yard. Myungjin hastily got into the car. Other members also got in. Ajin awkwardly approached the car. Awkwardly trying to grab the car door. A thick arm wrapped around his waist. Ajin fell out of the car.

“Where are you going?”

It was Seokju. Ajin looked at the departing car as if pleading for that moment. Seokju’s outstretched hand seemed to touch the car door, but not quite.

“Oh, to Ms. Flower…”

“Why?”

“…What?”

“Myungjin will go and call you.”

Seokju pulled Ajin towards the house. While doing so, he gestured to Myungjin. Myungjin nodded in response and closed the car door. Ajin held his breath.

“But, we still need to go and see…”

“That’s why, why bother going now? She’s probably busy with examinations.”

“But Ms. Flower… she’s alone…”

“Myungjin will go. He’ll be by Ms. Flower’s side all day today.”

“But Ms. Flower and I… aren’t close…”

Ajin pushed with all his might against Seokju’s arm around his waist. However, Seokju didn’t even blink. At that moment, the car emitted a rough engine sound and started moving. Ajin stared at the car that was getting further away. The car, leaving without turning back, felt so hateful, sad, and infuriating. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Let go, sir… P- Please let go…”

Ajin watched the car disappearing through the gate, feeling a sense of loss. Seokju turned Ajin around to face him. Tears glistened in Ajin’s large eyes. Even with such a pitiful face, Seokju did not soften his expression.

“Ajin, do you know where Jongno Hospital is?”

“Uh… Jongno, where in Jongno…”

“Well, then, do you know how many roads there are in Jongno, how many cars there are?”

“….”

Ajin pursed his lips. If his concern was his fear, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Right now, he was genuinely more afraid of Ms. Flower’s death than any fear of cars. Ajin stared at Seokju with a determined expression.

“It’s okay. You can go. You can even take a car now. I’m not afraid of cars anymore.”

“….”

But now Seokju’s face looked more stern. He dragged Ajin toward the house. Ajin resisted, leaning against Seokju’s arm wrapped around his waist. However, Seokju’s strength was irresistible.

“Sir!”

Eventually, Ajin was dragged all the way to Seokju’s room. As Seokju brought him in, he slammed the door shut. Then, with his massive body, he stood blocking the door.

“The atmosphere is ominous. You might get caught by those Joonho faction guys if you go out for no reason.”

“But…”

Ajin chewed on his lower lip. He just wanted to see her for a moment. He wanted to know if Ms. Flower is still alive. She has no family, and she might be alone in that scary hospital. He should go. There were many things he wanted to say, but for some reason, they wouldn’t come out.

While Ajin chewed on his innocent lips, Seokju stood close in front of him.

“Get it checked. If it’s serious, I’ll take you there then.”

Ajin’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out at Seokju’s words.

“S- Serious? A terminal illness, what was it… uh, cancer, something like that?”

“It won’t be. It won’t be, so I’ll come home tomorrow or the day after. Just wait for now.”

Ajin lowered his head deeply. His hair flowed forward entirely. Seokju was irritating. Whether something was wrong or not, he just wanted to go and see. He wanted to be there together. Why was it so difficult and impressive to stop him?

With his innocent lips being the only ones chewed, Seokju stood close to him.

“Go take a look at your face. Why are you crying? Were you really that surprised?”

“….”

“Ajin, Ms. Flower will be fine. Even if it’s a severe illness, it can get better with surgery. I’ll make sure she’s treated by the best doctor in our country. Understand? So, don’t cry.”

Seokju comforted Ajin sincerely. However, Ajin, with tears streaming down his face, did not look at Seokju and kept his gaze down. His eyes and nose were red from suppressing his tears.

Seokju gently stroked Ajin’s cheek, trying to console him.

“Look at your face. Why are you crying? Were you very surprised?”

“….”

“Ajin, Ms. Flower will be fine. Even if it’s a severe illness, it can get better with surgery. I’ll make sure she’s treated by the best doctor in our country. Understand? So, don’t cry.”

Seokju reassured Ajin. However, Ajin, with tears streaming down his face, did not look at Seokju and kept his gaze down. His eyes and nose were red from suppressing his tears.

Seokju gently stroked Ajin’s cheek, trying to console him.

“Don’t cry.”

Seokju’s gaze, which was usually full of moisture, was unexpectedly dry. Normally, he would have worried about Ajin and comforted him, but not now.

Rather than Ms. Flower dying alone in the hospital, Seokju found it more unbearable for Ajin to leave his house. While other members went out, met their families, and roamed outside, Seokju wished Ajin wouldn’t do that. Though Ajin couldn’t express it openly, he was glad that Ajin was afraid of cars. Ajin had to live solely in his home, with his products. Only then could Seokju love him and take care of him more comfortably.

Ajin cried for a long time, maybe an hour. He cried his heart out. Amidst the tears full of sorrow, he pleaded with Seokju, saying he wanted to see her and that he was worried, but Seokju just patted him gently and never allowed him to go.

In the end, it was Ajin who gave up. Seokju sat on the sofa, laid Ajin on his thigh, and gently stroked his hair.

Ajin cried, shedding tears intermittently. In between the tears of sorrow, it was strangely cute how he whimpered.

“Ms. Flower… Will she be okay?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve never seen Ms. Flower collapse like that before. She’s strong enough to lift a pot by herself… She has a loud voice…”

“….”

“Oh, she hasn’t been eating well lately, saying her stomach doesn’t feel good. And instead of eating, she just stands still, sometimes goes to bed early, sometimes oversleeps… Maybe she’s just tired, I thought…”

“She might have just collapsed from exhaustion. You also did that last time. It’s probably nothing serious. Let’s hire someone else for the kitchen. Ms. Flower shouldn’t have a hard time.”

Seokju comforted Ajin with a soothing tone. However, Ajin, with his tearful eyes, didn’t stop crying. Seokju gently cupped Ajin’s cheek, and even though he lifted his head to look at Seokju, he did not wipe away his tears.

Brring, brring.

The phone on the desk in the study sharply rang. Ajin abruptly raised his upper body. Seokju, after patting Ajin’s head, stood up.

With his long legs, Seokju walked briskly to the study and answered the phone.

“Uh, is it Myungjin? … Right. How’s Ms. Flower? Uh. What did the doctor say? … Uh. Okay. Can Ms. Flower talk on the phone now? Uh. Alright, let me switch it.”

Seokju gestured to Ajin. Ajin, as if he had been waiting, rushed to Seokju’s side, then to the phone. Seokju handed him the handset. Ajin brought his ear close to it carefully. It seemed awkward as it was his first time receiving a call like this. Since he didn’t know what to do with the handset, Seokju took it and held it for him.

From the handset, there was a sound like the wind. It sounded like dry leaves rustling and colliding. Amidst the noise, there was no voice of Ms. Flower. Ajin, unable to wait, tentatively called out for her.

“Ms. Flower?”

-… Uh, Ajin?

Ajin’s eyes widened. It was Ms. Flower. It was really her. She looked a bit unfamiliar, but her tone and voice matched. Ajin took the handset from Seokju’s hand and pressed it against his ear as if entering the phone.

“Ms. Flower! Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

-I’m fine.

“Is there any pain? You fell so hard earlier. Do you have a bruise on your forehead?”

-No bruise. Just a little dizzy, like after drinking. …Were you very surprised?

“Of course! I was shocked!”

-There’s a lot to be surprised about.

“What did the doctor say? Is it very painful?”

-I don’t know yet. They did all sorts of tests, but it’ll take a while for the results. But seeing how I can walk around perfectly fine now, it’s probably not a serious illness.

“Ah…”

Ajin let out a relieved sigh. He held the handset with both hands, as if trying to push his head into it.

“Ms. Flower! Are you sure? Not lying to make me feel better?”

-Of course, I’m sure.

“Does anything hurt? Is there something I can do for you?”

-Not really. You don’t have to worry. Just wait until the results come out.

“Haa…”

Ajin breathed a sigh of relief. He stroked his forehead with the back of his hand. Seokju watched him silently, his sharp gaze fixed on Ajin.

“When will you come home then?”

-I don’t know. I’ll know once the results are out.

“Should I… Should I come?”

Ajin glanced at Seokju and said, “Should I go?” Seokju’s sharp gaze could be felt, but he pretended not to notice. If Ms. Flower allowed, and if she really needed it, he thought of sneaking away to see her, even if he had to run away in the early morning.

However, Ms. Flower firmly rejected the idea.

-It’s fine. Why come all the way here? What can you do if you’re a doctor?