Double Junk - 72

“….”

Seokju clenched the filter tightly in his mouth. The crumpled filter emitted a foul taste, making the tip of his tongue sting. He had no idea what was going on. This was the first time he couldn’t see any clues.

They said the drug was laced in the soup or kimchi. It couldn’t have been done by a Tae Hwapa member. If there was an organization member lingering in the kitchen, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. It would have caught his attention for sure.

Seokju let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like he didn’t need to suspect his family.

However, there was still much to find out.

After the organization member finished speaking, he stepped back, and another person quickly spoke up.

“Unni, I asked our family members earlier, and no one mentioned anyone calling for Unni. So, who could have called and brought Unni here… That person who called might be the culprit.”

“Do we have a spy among us?”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be someone from our group… It could be someone from elsewhere, right, Hyungnim.”

A moment of silence followed the statement. Seokju let out a shallow sigh of relief. He felt somewhat reassured that he didn’t need to suspect his family.

But there was still a lot to learn.

As the organization member finished speaking, he stepped back, and another person spoke up urgently.

“Unni, I asked our family members earlier, and no one mentioned anyone calling for Unni. So, who could have called and brought Unni here… That person who called might be the culprit.”

“Do we have a spy among us?”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be someone from our group… It could be someone from elsewhere, right, Hyungnim.”

Seokju observed the man in front of him and asked in a low voice, “So, who do you say drugged the soup?”

“That guy? Who is he?”

“He’s one of ours, and he was in the kitchen when everyone was in the dojo. I saw him bring seaweed soup smartly. And not just me, other guys saw it too.”

The organization member who was talking suddenly sealed his lips. Seokju, who had risen from his chair, glared at him with a menacing expression. With his tall stature, broad shoulders, and cold expression, he looked like the Grim Reaper.

“So, who do you say drugged the soup?”

Seokju asked in a low voice. The cigarette that had been between his fingers fell lifelessly. Veins popped up on the back of Seokju’s hand. He seemed ready to tear the organization member’s throat out at any moment. The organization member swallowed hard and then shook his head.

“No, no, I was mistaken, Hyungnim. I apologize.”

The organization member backed away with his head lowered. Seokju, who had been staring at him, sat back down and bit down on his molars.

This is the first time I’ve threatened my family. It’s unthinkable to scold and insult my family. They’re family, after all.

Seokju had always been kind to his people. Why was he so agitated today? It was probably because of Myungjin, who couldn’t open his eyes.

No, that wasn’t it.

It was because of the small, white face that filled his mind. Even in the midst of this, Ajin didn’t want to be suspected, so he acted like this. I must look crazy.

“Damn it…”

Seokju muttered a curse and swept his bangs carelessly. As he did, the door to the ward opened, and one of the organization members peeked in.

“Hyungnim, let’s see the doctor.”

Without hesitation, Seokju stood up. The organization members quickly made way for him. Seokju pulled the disheveled hem of his robe and walked out of the ward. Then, following the guidance of the organization member, he strode down the corridor.

“Where’s Choi Jin-geol?”

Seokju asked while staring ahead. The organization member quickly replied.

“He’s outside the hospital, helping distribute money to those who donated blood.”

“Don’t take your eyes off him. Prevent him from entering the hospital.”

“Yes.”

“And go home and get a gun. Bring a pistol. Tell everyone to carry one. Cover yourself with a robe to hide it from the doctor and other patients.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

“By the way, check on our folks, look around, and check if that woman Doeun is still alive. And if there’s any seaweed soup left in the warehouse, examine it closely to see if it’s really drugged.”

“Yes.”

The organization member responded promptly. Seokju seemed like he wanted to say something, then he closed his mouth without uttering a word. After a moment, he opened it again, only to close it once more. The name stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.

Seokju, gnawing at his lower lip, hesitated before finally, as if struggling to vomit, asked, “And… check on what Ajin is doing too.”

“Yes.”

The organization member nodded.

The destination was visible in the distance. A pre-arrived organization member guarded the front of the clinic. Perhaps, it was to monitor if anyone harmful to Seokju was passing by. Whether glancing left or right, the man in a neat suit, passing through the corridor like any other patient or nurse, seemed like a thug.

Seokju let out a deep sigh. He then patted the shoulder of the organization member standing beside him and said, “Tell the guys not to pick a fight with the hospital staff for no reason. Until Myungjin wakes up, we need to be good to the doctor.”

The organization member nodded again, “Yes, Hyungnim.”

Seokju soon stood at the door. The organization member who guarded it greeted him respectfully and opened the door. Inside, a doctor in a white coat could be seen. Despite the winter, he was sweating profusely, and even with thick glasses, his hair, white as snow, suggested he was quite old.

Seokju took a step into the examination room. Then, with an audible “ah,” he stepped back out and looked at the organization member.

“What about that lady, the one from the kitchen?”

“Yes?”

“The lady who worked in the kitchen. She was scheduled for surgery at this hospital this morning.”

The organization member raised and lowered his eyebrows, hesitated for a moment, and finally answered, “Oh, she underwent surgery. She hasn’t come out yet. I’ll report back when she does.”

“Alright. Be careful not to let the story leak outside. Be cautious so that she doesn’t know, and I’ll personally talk to the doctor.”

“Yes, Hyungnim.”

With the conversation concluded, Seokju entered the examination room. The organization member bowed and closed the door.

Another night passed, and the sun rose. Myungjin had two seizures throughout the night. It was called shock, and there was more than one reason for it. Thanks to that, another cruel machine attached to Myungjin’s body.

“…”

Seokju lightly stroked Myungjin’s hands, which had become thin and hollow. The sensation was not the touch of skin but of dry bandages. It felt unpleasant. It was hard to imagine what Myungjin himself might be feeling.

Was he refusing to open his eyes because he didn’t want to live as a disabled person?

Seokju sighed deeply, and as he did, the door to the ward opened, and the organization member entered. It was the same organization member who had been told to go home and come back.

“Hyungnim, I’ve been to the house.”

“Good.”

“I brought guns and distributed them to the guys. Also, about the seaweed soup… all the dishes were already washed. The remaining food was shared among the guys, and there hasn’t been seaweed soup since that day. I checked if there was any hidden drug in the kitchen, but I couldn’t find anything. I apologize.”

“Who said they made the seaweed soup?”

“The female members said they all did it together. When I asked them why it tasted so bad, they replied in a sulky manner, saying they were sorry the food wasn’t good because the lady was absent. It seems those women didn’t take the drug.”

“What about the dishes?”

“Ajin… did them. But normally, Ajin is in charge of the kitchen.”

Seokju nodded in agreement. He often saw her squatting down to scrub the big, heavy pot. It was said that doing laborious or embarrassing work was assigned to men who worked in the kitchen while trying to maintain their pride.

“Let me summarize and report. Ajin… is doing well at home. Nothing special, but he sits at the table for each meal, although he doesn’t eat well. He sleeps on time, though.”

“Where is he?”

“Yes?”

“Where does he sleep?”

“Uh, in the men’s dormitory.”

“…I see.”

Seokju tilted his head slightly, staring out the window. A dry, leafless tree was visible. It must be cold in that room; that was the first thought that came to his mind.

“But…”

“But?”

“Ajin is patrolling around the warehouse.”

“The warehouse?”

“Yes. It’s the parking lot warehouse where Myungjin-hyung confined the woman he stabbed. She’s been watching it for several hours.”

“…”

The organization member pursed his lips. However, he didn’t add anything further. Yet, Seokju felt like he could hear his voice. For days, he had been rehearsing what he would say, blaming, suspecting, in his mind.

Isn’t it suspicious?

Ajin, that bastard, might be the culprit.

We’re hiding a prick like Frakchi in the Joonho faction.

He deceived you and all of us.

The disappearance of the medicine last time must also be that bastard’s doing.

We should seize this opportunity and root him out.

Why are you staying still? Why?

Myungjin-hyung is lying like that.

All because of that cunning bastard!

Well, it might be something like that. Seokju ran his tongue along his palate. It tasted bitter. After a moment of contemplation, Seokju pulled another chair from nearby with his hands.

“Sit down.” With those words, the organization member quickly took a seat. The two of them sat on a similar plane, facing each other.

Looking at him, Seokju asked, “What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About Ajin.”

“…”

The organization member tightly sealed his lips. Just a few seconds ago, it seemed like he was about to spill the words pent up inside him. Twisting his body as if he were about to unleash them, he continued to remain silent. Seokju sighed through his nose. He seemed to have shown a lot of himself that he didn’t want his family to see.

The Taeho faction easily exchanged opinions without regard to rank. There was no need to worry about the superior’s reactions when expressing opinions. However, what happened now was solely because of that time.

Because I closed my eyes and praised Ajin.

So that’s why.

Seokju sighed again, and the organization member, like a soldier stepping onto the battlefield, put on a firm expression. Then, pulling the chair closer to Seokju, he sat down.

“Well… Hyungnim, the truth is, there’s something I haven’t told you until now.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

The organization member bowed with his seated position. Then, after fumbling through his jacket pocket, he took something out.