Double Junk - 95

Seokju, tapping his cigarette in the ashtray, asked another question.

“How’s Geumtae?”

“Oh, Geumtae is admitted to the hospital right next to you, sir. His abdomen is swollen, but his internal organs weren’t severely damaged. The surgery was quickly done, and he regained consciousness soon after.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. He keeps coming home recklessly. I told him to lie low for a week, so I came here to make sure Geumtae doesn’t bother you and to ask you to visit him often.”

“Well done.”

Seokju drew on his cigarette forcefully before releasing it. After a moment of contemplating something, as if he had nothing more to say, he gestured for Deokjae to leave. Deokjae, tilting his shoulder subtly, asked in a discreet tone.

“Sir, about your arm… Is it painful? Should I call a doctor?”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

“What about dinner? You probably don’t want to come to the dining hall. Should I bring the meal to your room?”

“Yeah, that’d be appreciated.”

“Yes, sir. Take a rest.”

Deokjae bowed deeply and left. He glanced at Ajin, and there were various emotions in his gaze, emotions too negative to express verbally. Ajin hunched his shoulders, avoiding eye contact.

After Deokjae left, only Seokju and Ajin remained in the room. Ajin observed Seokju, who was pouring hemostatic powder onto his wounds, with a sidelong glance.

Even though Ajin didn’t want to hear it, the conversation with Deokjae made it easy for him to deduce that another ‘incident’ had occurred today. At the same time, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to ask about the Flower Lady today.

Seokju rummaged through a box filled with various medications, sprinkling whatever he could grab onto his wounds. Then, he took out bandages. It seemed like he was trying to wrap his arm.

However, it wasn’t easy. The bandage slipped off Seokju’s arm whenever he attempted to wrap it. He muttered curses, puffing on his cigarette. Frustration was evident in the narrowed space between his eyebrows. Eventually, he resorted to forcefully jabbing the bandage into the box.

Observing this, Ajin quietly chewed on his lower lip. Suddenly, he stood up with difficulty, avoiding Seokju’s gaze.

Once Deokjae left, the room was left with only Seokju and Ajin. Ajin watched Seokju pour hemostatic powder onto his wounds, his eyes flickering with a hint of pity.

Though Ajin didn’t want to admit it, he felt a sense of responsibility for Seokju’s current state. He couldn’t shake off the guilt that had settled within him.

Seokju continued to pour various medications on his wounds and, then, took out some bandages. He attempted to wrap his arm, but it proved challenging. The bandage would unravel each time he tried to secure it.

“Damn it…”

Seokju cursed while holding the cigarette in his mouth. Frustration was evident on his forehead, in the narrowed space between his eyebrows. Finally, he forcefully tossed the bandages into the box, giving up.

Ajin, having sensed Seokju’s mood, took a deep breath and approached him. His steps were slow, unsteady, and there was a vulnerability to them.

Breathing heavily after crossing the room, Ajin stood next to Seokju. He reached down and picked up the bandages Seokju had thrown.

“I’ll… do it for you.”

Seokju remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. Ajin interpreted it as permission, considering Seokju would have stopped him if he didn’t want it.

Ajin attempted to wrap the bandages around Seokju’s wounds, but when he got a closer look, the injuries were deeper than he thought. Despite applying hemostatic powder generously, blood still oozed out.

Ajin gently wiped away the blood with a towel, taking care not to hurt Seokju. As he did so, he observed Seokju’s back. The large and small scars covering it seemed to writhe.

Witnessing this, Ajin mumbled in a dying voice.

“I need to stitch it…”

“It’s okay. Just wrap it tightly.”

“Without stitching, wounds like these won’t heal properly. They might fester, and then, you might even have to amputate the arm.”

“…”

“The boss ended up crippled. Like me.”

Ajin blinked as he uttered those words. The smoke from Seokju’s cigarette, which had been flowing leisurely, paused momentarily. Seokju, blinking his eyes a couple of times, chuckled, making a sound like a deflating balloon.

“…I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow.”

“…”

Satisfied with the response, Ajin began wrapping the bandage. His hand movements, pulling, cutting, and tying knots, were surprisingly skilled. Seokju observed him, occasionally sipping on his drink.

The treatment quickly concluded. It was merely wiping away blood and wrapping the bandage.

“Done.”

Ajin took a step back. It felt awkward, realizing it only now after completing the task. Standing with his uncomfortable leg was difficult. However, sitting at the desk like Seokju seemed arrogant, and sitting on the floor was not an option either.

After a moment of contemplation, Ajin turned around. He seemed to be considering going back under the sofa. It wasn’t his place, but it was the only space in the large room where he could rest. It wasn’t conspicuous, slightly shaded, and it wasn’t like he was dirtying an expensive sofa. It was a space like that.

But Seokju grabbed his wrist. His eyes, which were relaxed just a moment ago, now drew a sharp uphill curve.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh… My leg… hurts…”

Ajin murmured, caressing his thigh. His bruised leg was trembling unsteadily.

Seokju sighed briefly and released his grip on Ajin’s wrist. Then, he gently stroked Ajin’s pale back of the hand with his thumb. The gaze directed at Ajin intensified. Ajin, realizing this, shivered.

Moving his eyes left and right, seemingly pondering something, Seokju took a step closer to Ajin. Then, in a soft voice, he hesitantly asked.

“Um… medicine… should we take it?”

Ajin instinctively knew. Seokju likes it when I take medicine. Easy to handle, without rebellion, without whining about pain, just saying it’s good. Becoming more and more like a real pet, and even though it’s terribly dreadful, taking the medicine made me feel relieved. Without the need for complicated thoughts, just shaking my body for the pleasure in front of me, and in the blink of an eye, it’s morning.

Seokju’s one eyebrow rose slightly at Ajin’s unexpected question, only to lower again.

“…After dinner.”

“Yes.”

Ajin nodded lightly. He thought the conversation would end here. However, Seokju pursed his lips as if he had something to say. His hesitation didn’t seem to bring a reassuring answer.

Ajin stared at Seokju, waiting for his words. His fingertips trembled with anxiety. He feared that Seokju might say something bad to him, or worse, bring unpleasant news about the Flower Lady or Myungjin.

But what Seokju said was completely unexpected.

“Um… dinner… shall we eat together?”

Ajin’s eyes widened. After a few seconds of holding his breath, he slowly nodded.

“…Yes.”

It was a predetermined answer to the question. He had no right to refuse. Just a single meal. Whether it had meaning or not, in this room where I am confined, I had to follow Seokju’s words.

If I resist, it won’t be good for me or even for the Flower Lady. And I didn’t want to… I didn’t want to get hit again. It’s been two days since I lay sprawled on the snow, and my cheek still hadn’t healed. Every time I moved my mouth, the torn area cracked a little more, repeating the process. The taste of bitter blood lingered on my tongue.

The taste of blood wasn’t painful or agonizing. It was just sad. I couldn’t forget my situation even for a moment.

Ajin, chewing on the inside of his cheek without Seokju noticing, mashed it with a slight pop. The blood oozed out smoothly onto his tongue.

The next day at lunch. Once again, someone unknown placed a meal on Seokju’s table and left. Ajin, who had been staring blankly at the wall, crawled slowly toward the dining table.

Mealtime was the most anticipated time of the day for Ajin. Not because he was hungry, but because it was the only activity in his day. The rest of the time, whether he liked it or not, he stared into space, grateful that there was something he had to do.

But today’s meal was different. Not in terms of the variety of side dishes, but there was an additional white envelope.

“…”

Ajin cautiously lifted the envelope with his index finger. It was filled with various pills. There were ointments, bandages, and more. Ajin picked up one of them.

[玄星 Chemical Industries <Ointment>

Bruises, veins, burns, sunburn, irritated skin, insect bites, and other injuries]

Observing it, Ajin twisted his lips into a wry smile. It was neither a smile nor a smirk; rather, it was a strange laughter.

Was it given to apply? By whom? The one who just brought the meal probably wouldn’t care about his concerns… Seokju, then?

Did Seokju give it, knowing where and how he was injured? Well, considering he caused those wounds, he probably couldn’t be oblivious. Moreover, yesterday, didn’t he mix his body thoroughly after taking those round pills?

Ajin found it strange. None of it brought any joy. It wasn’t like he was mocking, saying, ‘Give me medicine after losing.’ He seemed indifferent, as if emotions had dried up.

Ajin, who was applying ointment diligently, opened the lid. The distinct damp smell of medicine wafted out. Ajin, squeezing a drop of ointment, gently applied it to his lips.

Since the day the ointment appeared on the dining table. Ajin changed. He started understanding how he could survive, what kind of appearance Seokju liked.

Although Seokju was still detestable and resented, Ajin was weak. Swearing and throwing punches wouldn’t win against him.

That’s how the world works. Ajin had lived like that even in the gambling den. Even though he didn’t kill Jin-geol’s brother, he was accused of being a murderer, trampled for being young, and scorned for being a cripple.

Comparatively, the current misfortune wasn’t special or remarkable. It was a very natural misfortune for the weak Ajin. Thinking like that made everything easier.

Every day, Ajin greeted Seokju with a smile when he returned from work. “Welcome, sir,” he bowed politely, listened to his complaints, and quietly shook the rug. And late at night, he took the round, white, fantastical pill. After that, two to three times. If Seokju got overly excited, they even engaged in intimacy up to five times, and then they slept side by side under the same blanket.

Seokju poured his warmth into Ajin, who was cold, and Ajin absorbed that warmth with his chilly body.

Seokju gradually felt better every day. As a result, his attitude towards Ajin became gentler. It felt like they had returned to the old days without worries.

They became close as if falling deeply for each other, embracing the extremes of each other’s body temperature.

While Ajin’s fortune seemed peaceful, something changed after about two weeks of this play. As winter approached its end, the cold became more severe. Ajin began gradually letting go of his soul, which he had been holding onto reluctantly.