Double Junk - 83

What will happen once the truth is revealed? How should Ajin seek revenge against Seokju? What about Seokju? Will he apologize to me?

…He probably will. He’s not someone who avoids his mistakes. He might extend a bunch of excuses or apply ointment to the injured parts, repeatedly saying sorry, sorry.

Should I accept it then? Or perhaps give him a good punch in the face?

Ajin kept playing with his futile imagination, pulling his lips and then releasing them. Then, the door opened. Ajin’s shoulders twitched. The only person who could enter this room without knocking was Seokju.

The person who entered the room without a knock paused for a moment. Then, after taking a deep breath, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away. Roughly estimating, it seemed like he went to the study on the opposite side of the bathroom.

As expected, sounds of rummaging followed. The noise of pulling out and putting back a chair, the sound of papers or books falling. The door leading to the yard made an urgent noise, opening and closing quickly.

Afterward, the footsteps approached. It seemed like he was coming across the room towards the bathroom.

Ajin, although clearly hearing the sound, didn’t extend his head or show any sign of acknowledgment. It was not anxiety about Seokju searching but rather anger, as Seokju still saw him as the culprit for hurting Myungjin.

Soon, Seokju rushed into the bathroom. Ajin, leaning against the bathroom wall, lifted his head slightly to look at Seokju.

“Ha…”

Seokju let out a deep breath forcefully, then wiped his forehead with his hand.

Seeing Seokju like that, Ajin, treating him as if he didn’t exist, struggled to stand and exited the bathroom, avoiding him.

Walking was still difficult. Not only was one leg uncomfortable, but the other knee was also causing trouble, making every few steps wobbly like a withering reed.

“Cough, cough…”

Intermittently coughing, sometimes clutching his chest or throat, Ajin managed to reach the center of the room without falling. After that, he picked up the crumpled pants lying around with a sound and sighed shortly.

“Ah…”

How should I put this on? Ajin didn’t dare to bend down and lift his leg. He never had the courage to raise his leg while putting on pants. Even when the wall was close, he leaned his shoulder against it when putting on pants. Now, going all the way to the distant wall to lean on his shoulder felt like a sigh. He felt annoyed as he sensed Seokju’s gaze stuck to the back of his head, revealing only his pathetic appearance.

Looking down at his subtly twisted leg, the knee stained purple, and the foot with many large and small wounds, Ajin was deep in thought. Suddenly, the approaching Seokju snatched the pants from Ajin’s hand.

For such a trivial action, Ajin swayed heavily, as if receiving a blow with a fist. His knee was making a ruckus. While struggling, a fleeting thought crossed his mind, wondering if this knee, already acting up, might be permanently damaged. However, Seokju asked in a low voice.

“Where are you going?”

Ajin raised his head to look at Seokju. Seokju was still imposing. In the past, Ajin envied his huge build and liked snuggling into his broad chest. Now, it was just intimidating. He felt frustrated, realizing he couldn’t even scratch Seokju with all his efforts.

Ajin bit his trembling lips.

“To… work.”

“Work?”

“Yes.”

With a slight nod, Ajin extended his hand toward the pants in Seokju’s hand. The pants, dirty and worn, were the only thing to wear right now. The few clothes he had were burned in the fire. With the absence of the person who occasionally bought him clothes, Flower, now that she’s gone…

But Seokju quickly pulled his hand back. Then, he smirked like a low-class thug.

“Planning to sell yourself to others too? For those guys, even if you charge them, it won’t be more than 30 won, right? Can you handle that? You can’t charge more than a prostitute for other guys, right?”

Ajin’s forehead wrinkled deeply. Seokju was acting strange. He was a gangster, but he wasn’t the type to engage in thuggery. It felt as if another soul had entered his bulky body.

Looking at Seokju with swollen eyes, Ajin glared. Seokju, meeting his gaze, arrogantly raised the corner of his mouth.

“Those guys would probably only pay about 30 won for your services. Are you okay with that? You can’t charge more than a prostitute for other guys.”

Upon hearing the disgusting words, Ajin clenched his fist tightly, feeling a surge of anger. Should he just hit him? Since things had come to this, what reason was there not to engage in such acts? Flower, who used to restrain him, was no longer around. Ajin needed money, and the owner of this house treated him like a man for sale.

In a tired voice, Ajin retorted sharply, “Even if I gather that, it won’t be enough. Even if I sell myself until my backside is worn out, it won’t be enough for a million won. Hurry up and go find clients—”

Ajin couldn’t finish his sentence. Seokju grabbed both sides of his cheeks tightly. Swollen and bruised, with the inner side of the cheek still oozing blood, the painful grip on the already injured area caused an intense surge of agony.

“Ugh…”

Ajin’s entire face was crumpled. Seokju, staring through Ajin’s distorted face, uttered slowly, “Ajin, you can’t leave this room until you pay off all your debts.”

“Let go, let go…”

“So I should call someone for you. Whom should I call? No, I shouldn’t ask you; I should ask the clients instead.”

“Huh…”

“There’s no one among our family who enjoys messing with a guy’s backside. But still, I’ll personally go and ask for you.”

“…”

“How about calling three or four at once?”

Ajin’s shoulders trembled. Three or four at once. For a moment, he imagined being surrounded by unfamiliar men, spreading his legs, just like he was doing for Seokju now. If it’s this painful with just Seokju, then with three or four at once…

Seokju released Ajin’s cheeks, who was imagining the excruciating scene. Ajin slowly collapsed. However, there was nothing to gain by resisting. He couldn’t win. Seokju was too strong and cruel for Ajin to confront.

“Why are you doing this… Why are you going this far?”

Tears mixed with his voice, full of wounds. Ajin thought he had no more tears left, but strangely, tears welled up in his eyes.

His body was in pain, his heart was aching, but the most painful thing was the fact that Seokju hated him so much. Once, he advised him to cover his face when going out so that others wouldn’t see him. When a pretty girl appeared, he warned not to say such absurd things about getting married. Now, he was suggesting gathering several guys to sell his body.

The gap felt too heavy and oppressive. Enduring hatred and contempt was one thing, but being hated by someone who used to like him was a first, making the sadness layered and layered.

As Ajin’s swollen eyes released teardrops, Seokju sat down next to him. Then, grabbing his hair, Seokju directed Ajin to look around the room. The view of Seokju’s room, once a warm and peaceful sanctuary, now resembled a place no different from a torture chamber.

Seokju whispered in his characteristic low tone into Ajin’s ear, “Take a good look, Ajin.”

“…”

“Now, this room is your world.”

“…”

“You’ll keep selling your body in this room until you fill up one million won. Continuously.”

At the cruel notification, Ajin’s mouth slightly opened in astonishment. He carefully examined the room that had become his ‘world.’ As he did, scenes of him and Seokju overlapping in various places resurfaced.

Among them, the most vivid scene was when he first confessed to Seokju about his fear of cars, confessing that he couldn’t go outside. At that time, he complained about the uselessness of collecting money and said that compared to the gambling den, Seokju’s house felt like heaven. At that moment, Seokju comforted him, stroking his head, and said,

“Just stay here.”

“Stay in my room, sit on my lap.”

“Then, I’ll bring the world into this room.”

“You just sit still and enjoy the view.”

With that handsome face, melodious voice, and eyes filled with love, Seokju once said those beautiful words. If Ajin just stayed still, Seokju would bring the world to him, promising unimaginable things. But now, this room was declared Ajin’s world. He couldn’t leave until he paid off the debts and sins he hadn’t committed by selling his body.

Ajin let out a bitter laugh. It wasn’t laughter born out of emptiness; it was scorn. A mockery of himself.

Seokju’s words echoed in his mind, a mocking response to my relief.

If this room is my world, it meant that Seokju wouldn’t kick him out. It meant that Seokju wouldn’t abandon him.

Ajin, like a fool, found comfort in that fact.

“…”

Seokju stared silently at Myungjin, who was closing his eyes with determination. Myungjin hadn’t opened his eyes since the injury. The doctor always offered similar words—a mixture of tragedy and hopeful phrases.

Seokju was grateful that Myungjin hadn’t died. Even if he woke up late, it was fine as long as he woke up. Seokju had even whispered this assurance to Myungjin’s closed ears.

After spending a few hours in the hospital room, Seokju stood up. He wanted to stay longer, but he had things to do.

Draping a cloak over his shoulders, Seokju left the room. The organization members waiting at the door bowed respectfully. Seokju passed through them, walking down the corridor. Robust subordinates followed him.

As they roamed the corridor, patients and nurses who had been wandering stared at them cautiously, pressing themselves against the walls.

As soon as Seokju stepped out of the hospital, he asked for a cigarette. Deokjae handed him a lit one.

“Whew…”

Seokju took a long drag, and the cold, dry winter wind brushed coolly across his forehead. Inhaling deeply, the heat simmering inside him subsided.

However, it wasn’t enough. Naturally, thoughts of the small body in his room came to mind. Despite being stepped on and slightly damaged, it was an irreplaceable body, now cooler than before, perfect for holding and emitting warmth.