Double Junk - 84
Seokju scratched his forehead absentmindedly with his thumb. It bothered him that Ajin kept popping into his mind so unexpectedly. However, it wasn’t something he could easily push away.
Having fooled him into this situation, the result was Myungjin lying there, still not fully conscious. Ridiculous.
Seokju exhaled a sigh along with a puff of cigarette smoke. As he neared the cars parked in the parking lot, he asked Deokjae, “Where’s Choi Jingul?”
Deokjae quickly responded, “I delivered him to the cabaret operated by the Jung-ho faction.”
“And then?”
“He didn’t say much. Just looked surprised. But, to be honest, I think he was more shocked that it was a person’s corpse than Jin-geol’s throat. He didn’t ask where the body was or why he was killed… It’s natural to expect someone to wield a knife when their family member dies, but it’s strange.”
“Yeah, strange.”
Seokju nodded briefly. He got into the leading car, and the organization members boarded their respective vehicles. Deokjae took a seat next to Seokju.
“What about the Flower Lady?”
Seokju rolled down the window as he inquired. Deokjae turned his upper body towards Seokju, tilting his head slightly downward.
“Still… haven’t found her. We’re searching in all directions, but there’s no trace. We asked people around, but no one saw her disappear at night.”
“…”
“The doctor is more worried than ever. She disappeared on the day of the surgery. Even though she’s not in great shape, I had to perform the surgery on her chest. If we don’t examine her properly, something real might happen, the doctor said.”
Seokju bit the end of his cigarette and released it.
According to the doctor, the Flower Lady wasn’t in good condition. When she collapsed and came to the hospital for an examination, the doctor had nothing but bad news. Not only was her heart problematic, but her lungs weren’t doing well either. Immediate surgery was necessary, but even after the surgery, the outcome was uncertain. It would be difficult. Painful. Expensive, and so on.
Seokju hoped for a quick surgery regardless of the cost. Unbeknownst to Ajin, he even spoke to the Flower Lady on the phone. At that time, she said something.
“I heard from the doctor. He said I’m not in good shape.”
“You probably did well to find out on your own, but please don’t tell Ajin about my condition. That guy would cry and make a fuss without any sense of timing.”
“One favor. If by any chance I go into the operating room and don’t come out, please send some money. I’ve saved a bit from working. It’s a bit embarrassing to borrow money and make a separate stash while I’m in debt to the boss, but… please tell Ajin.”
“It’s not a lot of money, and I don’t have a family or anyone to give it to. It’s not much, but if I don’t survive the surgery, please let Ajin eat his fill with that money.”
“He may not have a family, but Ajin has been through a lot. Even though he’s grown up now, he looks like a scrawny little thing. He didn’t eat well when he was young, so he’s skinny even though he looks good now. It might seem fine now, but as he gets older, he’ll look even thinner. And also…”
“…Boss.”
“I’m entrusting Ajin to you. Ajin really likes you.”
“He’s never been used to receiving love and affection throughout his life, so he probably likes it more. Lately, he’s been living with a vague smile, like a person with a lung disease. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“…”
“You probably know, but our Ajin is truly beautiful. Despite living a tough life, he has no flaws, lots of charm, and well… as you’ve seen, he has a unique look, right?”
“Even though Ajin looks tough on the outside and easily gets cold, shedding tears often, who knows. When he’s with you, he might turn tears into laughter.”
“Anyway, please take care of Ajin. I earnestly request it.”
The conversation with the Flower Lady was both the first and last. She was always similar to what he heard through Ajin but also different. He thought she would be a quirky lady with a strong personality, lots of swearing, and an eerie aura. However, she turned out to be calm, genuinely caring for Ajin.
Such a Flower Lady, is she alive or dead? Did the Jung-ho faction let her go?
If the Jung-ho faction took her away, they wouldn’t have left her if she wasn’t originally related to someone from the Jung-ho faction or if she wasn’t an important person to Ajin.
Although their conversation was short, the Flower Lady seemed more than just a ‘relative.’
Above all, she was excellent at her job. That is, her culinary skills were astounding. Seokju, who had no particular interest in taste, food, or appetite, would effortlessly finish a bowl of Gobongbap. The organization members, on the other hand, were determined to eat out after finishing work, insisting on having dinner at home. Myungjin also loved her cooking.
Seokju flicked the last bit of cigarette into the ashtray hanging inside the car door. Exhaling the remaining smoke slowly, he spoke.
“Since Jung-ho took him away with the bed, they’ll either admit him to another hospital or get a doctor for him. If they were going to kill him, they wouldn’t have bothered to take him away. Just stabbing the old lady who couldn’t even regain consciousness would have been enough.”
“Right, boss.”
“Ask the doctor. Find out what medication the Flower Lady needs from the old lady. And check if anyone has bought that medicine by going around the pharmacies.”
“All the pharmacies in Seoul?”
“No, that’ll take too long. Start with the big hospitals first, then move on to the area around Jung-ho’s establishment.”
“Yes, understood.”
After finishing his words, Seokju crossed his long legs. Glancing through the rearview mirror at the organization member sitting in the driver’s seat, he said, “Let’s go to the company.”
“Yes, boss.”
Soon, the car roared and roughened up before taking off. Following his lead, other cars also began to move. The cold winter wind poured through the window. Seokju, gazing at the varied buildings standing tall in Seoul, moistened his lips.
“How much medicine is there at the company?”
“Uh… about 8kg. The medicine we’re sending to Japan next month seems to be sorted out somehow. But the medicine we’re sending to China in the following month or the month after…”
Deokjae’s words trailed off. Seokju responded, propping his arm on the window frame.
“Buy a building near our house. It should be away from the main road and close to the mountains.”
“Yes.”
“Also, check the ingredients again. I’ll double the price, so get it as soon as possible.”
“Yes, boss.”
Deokjae nodded vigorously.
After the brief conversation, Seokju silently observed the passing Seoul scenery for a while. Due to the buildings popping up every day, the landscape seen yesterday was different today. It would probably be different tomorrow.
There were many people on the streets, all dressed in pristine new clothes, happily strolling around. There were no beggars in sight. Instead, various establishments like bars, cabarets, karaoke rooms, hotels, motels, and pubs were thriving. Despite appearing and disappearing like this, there was no place going out of business.
Seokju, gazing at the neon signs twinkling brightly on the streets, called out to Deokjae.
“Deokjae.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Let’s do business in Seoul too.”
“…Huh? Are you going to sell medicine domestically?”
“Yeah. Let’s snatch some of Jung-ho’s stuff, why not.”
Seokju chuckled, and Deokjae stared at him, uncertain if it was a joke or serious. Seokju, still propping his arm on the windowsill, twisted his head slightly, gazing at Deokjae. The face that was laughing just a moment ago had now turned cold.
“Let’s start from Jongno. Divide 50g of high-quality Philopon among the entertainment establishments, bars, and gambling places in Jongno. Call it a taste test.”
“…”
“Don’t forget to give them our business cards. Clearly let them know that the Taihwa faction’s drugs are smartly named.”
“…”
“When they come to buy later, sell it a bit cheaper than Jung-ho’s.”
They’ll probably come. Our stuff tastes better. Seokju, who was speaking for a while, straightened up. Then he raised the window, letting in the wind that roared. The previously noisy car interior fell silent.
Seokju took the lighter from Deokjae’s hand. It was the lighter he used earlier to light his cigarette, the one he hadn’t put back in his pocket.
He lit it by pushing the lighter with his thumb. A bright red flame shot up. Seokju looked at it and spoke with an undulating voice.
“And…”
“…”
“I should bring some guys from Busan.”
Upon hearing that, Deokjae took a deep breath.
Clang, clang, clang.
The sound of the bell ringing loudly in the house awakened Ajin as if he had fainted. It was a familiar sound, a signal that Seokju had returned from work.
If it were before, he would have hurriedly gone outside to greet him, but today was different. His body was immobile, making it impossible. Even if he went out, Seokju wouldn’t be delighted about it.
“Ugh…”
Ajin, who had been crumpled up near the bathroom, twisted his body with a faint groan. His body hurt too much. There was no pain-free area. Each time he opened his eyes, the overwhelming pain surged in a way he couldn’t get used to.
With aching body and tingling spine, a stinging buttock, and a sore crotch, Ajin slowly explored the room with his hands. Seokju’s room, which had not turned on a single light, was entirely dark.
“Ugh…”
Ajin let out a dry laugh. Certainly, the last time he opened his eyes, it was morning. It was a dawn where the blue sky flooded in. He had mixed his body with Seokju until late at night, fainted, and briefly opened his eyes when Seokju left for work in the early morning.
And then he fell asleep again. When he opened his eyes once more, it was night. The day had passed so uneventfully. He even suspected that someone had secretly turned the sun on and off.
The more significant problem was that this seemingly uneventful day had already passed for four days.