Double Junk - 63

The meal started late. Seokju suggested that since it was a good day, the servants should not work and eat together. The servants, sensing the cue, set up a table in a corner, laid out the dishes, and helped themselves to the side dishes and meat. Ajin also squeezed into the space between them and found a seat.

The grilled meat over charcoal tasted delicious. The beef was distinctly beef, and the pork was undeniably pork. While the soybean paste stew didn’t quite match up to Ms. Flower’s, its mildly spicy flavor complemented the rice well.

However, Ajin’s chopsticks moved slowly. Other servants, as soon as the meat arrived, ate it as if hiding their eyes. Ajin, on the other hand, chewed on a piece as if it were rubber.

“Is something hurting?”

“If you eat rice like that, your fortune will go away, you fool.”

The servants sitting at the same table spoke, unsure if it was out of concern or a reprimand. Awkwardly, Ajin smiled and swallowed the meat. Because of Ms. Flower’s concern, his throat felt dry. Despite not eating properly, his stomach felt unsettled and queasy.

“I wonder if the surgery will go well. I hope it doesn’t hurt. Must be scary. I should sleep well tonight.” Worries like these choked his breath.

As Ajin let out a sigh, poking at the well-cooked rice, the kitchen door opened, and Isun’s face peeked out. She called Ajin in a soft voice.

“Ajin.”

“…Yes?”

“Come help me carry the seaweed soup.”

“Sure.”

Ajin put down his chopsticks without hesitation. He hobbled down to the kitchen. Although Ms. Flower was lying down due to illness, she found it more comfortable to work than to eat a delicious meal alone.

The smell of seaweed soup filled the kitchen. It was simmering in a large pot, with plenty of seaweed, beef, and eggs, looking quite delicious. With a sip of the hot soup and a glass of soju, all worries seemed to disappear.

Isun ladled the soup into a bowl, and Ajin carried it outside. The weight was quite substantial, but even with his awkward leg, he could handle it skillfully.

Ajin placed the seaweed soup in front of Seokju first, then in front of Myungjin.

“Thanks, Ajin.”

Myungjin said with a smile. Ajin raised the corner of his lips slightly. He tried to distribute the seaweed soup to other organization members, but Seokju gently grabbed his wrist.

Ajin looked at him. Seokju slid his hand down, holding Ajin’s hand.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Oh, I’ll eat after doing this.”

“You seemed indecisive whether to eat or not when you were sitting earlier. Is something wrong? Are you cold?”

Ajin’s eyelashes quivered. He had been sitting in a corner, pretending not to pay attention to the commotion. It seemed Seokju had noticed him chewing hesitantly. Ajin reluctantly licked his lips.

“No, I just don’t have an appetite…”

“No appetite? Why?”

“Just… not feeling hungry. Why?”

“Just?”

“…The soup is getting cold. Please eat quickly.”

Ajin pushed Seokju’s soup bowl in front of him. Seokju furrowed his brows slightly. Ajin avoided his gaze and stood up. Seokju’s hand slipped away, lifeless.

As Ajin placed a bowl of soup in front of each organization member, Seokju stared at him throughout. Even amidst the noise of the organization members clinking their glasses and chatting loudly, Seokju’s gaze felt overly serene. As soon as Ajin finished placing the soup bowls, he hurriedly entered the kitchen.

But before he could even put down the tray, the kitchen door opened again. Seokju, folding his large frame, was coming in.

Ajin shivered, his shoulders trembling. The female servants who were eating rice in the kitchen quickly stood up and greeted.

“Hello, sir.”

“Hello, sir.”

Ajin hurriedly approached Seokju, glaring at him as if scolding.

“Why did you come in here, sir?”

“Because you came in here.”

“The head chef shouldn’t come to a place like this! It’s embarrassing!”

At Ajin’s cringe-worthy words, the female servants turned their heads with expressions of surprise. Seokju, who had unexpectedly been the subject of teasing, raised one eyebrow in amusement. It was amusing how the narrow-minded Ajin found it strange.

“If my pepper falls, aren’t you the good one to catch it?”

At Seokju’s teasing words, Ajin jumped in place. He grabbed Seokju’s wrist and dragged him to the courtyard. Seokju, pretending to be pulled along, followed him.

Ajin pushed Seokju against the shaded warehouse wall in the courtyard. It was quite comical, with Ajin being much smaller in stature. He tilted his head defiantly and made a fierce expression, which seemed rather adorable.

Seokju, with his fists clenched, looked down at Ajin. He pondered whether Ajin would check if his pepper had fallen or remained intact.

“Why are you really like this?”

Ajin shouted loudly. At the sharp sound, Seokju pulled his chin inward and then relaxed.

“I’m worried. Since you’re not eating.”

“I’ll eat. I’ll eat. Skipping one meal won’t kill me. Why make such a fuss…”

Ajin moaned, burying his face in his small palm. Seokju sighed through his nose. Then, he gently pulled Ajin’s hand away and held it.

“I need to understand why. Why you have no appetite.”

“…”

“Speak. Quickly.”

Seokju urged in a low voice. Ajin bit his lip. However, the answer didn’t come out easily. Slowly, Seokju’s grip on Ajin’s hand tightened, little by little.

In reality, Seokju knew why Ajin had no appetite. It was probably because of Ms. Flower. Since she went to the hospital, Ajin had been without an appetite. Even if he tried to give him cola or chocolate, Ajin would play with them rather than eat.

But knowing it discreetly and having Ajin say it out loud were different matters. Seokju wanted Ajin to tell him with his own words. Despite controlling everything about Ajin, he wanted to possess him even more. He wanted to know Ajin better than Ajin knew himself.

After hesitating for a while, Ajin looked up at Seokju with innocent eyes.

“Tomorrow, tomorrow is the day Ms. Flower’s mom undergoes surgery…”

“Yeah.”

“Even if it’s an easy surgery, it must hurt a lot when she wakes up… What if she cries out in pain? There’s no one to comfort her… Of course, our Ms. Flower’s mom won’t cry out in pain, but she might feel lonely in the hospital… She might cry because she’s sad and scared…”

“…”

“I want to see Ms. Flower’s mom…”

In the last sentence, there was a hint of moisture. Even in the darkness, Ajin’s eyes seemed reddened.

Seokju sighed and enveloped Ajin’s cheek. The cheek in his palm felt thin and rough, quite different from before. When Ajin used to eat and sleep well, he was plump and soft. Seokju missed that.

He pressed his lips firmly against Ajin’s round forehead, then pulled away and met Ajin’s gaze.

“Tomorrow.”

“…”

“Let’s go to the hospital together.”

At these words, Ajin took a deep breath.

“Together?”

“Yeah.”

“At Jongno Hospital?”

“Yeah.”

“Going to see Ms. Flower’s mom?”

“Yeah.”

Seokju affirmed eagerly. Ajin’s face brightened all of a sudden. It was as if the moon had risen, shining brightly. Ajin jumped on Seokju with excitement, raising his heels and hugging him. The arms embracing his waist were quite sturdy.

“Thank you. Thank you, sir…”

Ajin buried his face against Seokju’s broad chest. Seokju, who had momentarily stiffened, smiled and embraced Ajin. He lightly kissed Ajin’s temple and gently stroked his thin lower back.

Seokju couldn’t help but close his eyes at the overwhelming freshness emanating from Ajin. Ajin hugging him and Ajin being hugged by him were entirely different. The fact that Ajin willingly hugged first was rare, making this moment particularly precious.

Ajin looked up at Seokju with a beaming face. His bangs slid to the side, revealing the beautiful navy-blue irises more stunning than the night sky. Seokju stared at those eyes as if bewitched.

“Thank you so much, sir… I will definitely repay this favor.”

Ajin whispered. The smile that bloomed on his lips was truly charming. Seokju mirrored his smile. If he had known Ajin would be this delighted, he might have taken him to the hospital sooner. Delaying it until now seemed right; otherwise, Ajin might have insisted on not coming home.

Then, he shook off such thoughts. If Ajin was happy now, that was enough.

“Really? How will you repay me?”

Seokju asked playfully, raising his eyebrows. His mischievous hand had unconsciously started caressing Ajin’s buttocks.

Ajin, who now found the act of massaging his buttocks trivial, moved his tiny Adam’s apple as he seriously contemplated. The slightly indented groove above his eyebrows and his plump lower lip sticking out were incredibly adorable.

Seokju eagerly awaited Ajin’s answer, certain that it would be unexpected. Ajin always managed to turn things around and console him, so now he probably needed to suggest soothing and comforting methods to pay him back. That was what he thought, at least.

Touch.

Something warm and soft touched his chin and then dropped. Seokju, surprised, looked down. Ajin, whose cheeks had turned a deep red, was rolling his eyes provocatively.

“Is, is it like this…?”

In a mouse-like voice, Seokju burst into laughter. At the teasing response, Ajin tried to pull away from his embrace. However, Seokju wouldn’t let him go.

“Just with this? Do you even know how much I spent on Flower’s mom’s hospital bills?”

“Do you want money from me?”

Ajin’s face turned pale. Surely Seokju wouldn’t ask for money. It was nearly impossible for him to repay even tens of thousands of won working all day with his poor physique. Seeing Ajin’s troubled expression, Seokju quickly shook his head.

“No, no. I misspoke. I don’t want any money from you. I won’t take any. Even if you burn down this house and eat, I won’t ask for money.”

“Then…”

“Wasn’t the kiss too light for repaying a favor?”

“But there’s nothing else I can do…”

“Why not?”

“…”

“Stick out your tongue.”

Seokju lightly tapped Ajin’s lower lip. Blinking, Ajin timidly stuck out his tongue. Seokju’s eye turned dark, gazing at the plump, red tongue.

It was a gaze that Ajin had seen countless times. Whenever he thrust himself between those thighs, those were the eyes he saw.