Double Junk - 99

Kki-ik… Kki-ik…

Beyond the distant haze of consciousness, the sound of the floor creaking echoed in Ajin’s ears. Without any particular thought, Ajin abruptly opened his eyes. Although his stiff eyeballs felt like they were being torn apart, he had long stopped paying attention to such minor pains.

Ajin tried to get up from the ground. However, his body, still struggling with the remnants of the drug’s effects, his wobbly legs, the heavy shackles biting into his ankles, his twisted knees – nothing aided Ajin’s attempt to stand upright.

Especially the shackles recently placed on him were particularly difficult and burdensome. The clinking chains, the weight of the iron bars pressing on his instep, the foul smell of iron – every element was terribly unpleasant. It made him feel even more like a genuine prisoner.

Since the day he took the drugs without any resistance, Ajin had been imprisoned in an even narrower space by enduring the shackles. Now, there was nothing he could do of his own will. He couldn’t even reach out to touch the door or the window, or Seokju’s study.

Despite his cries to stop being shackled and tied to the stake, saying there was nowhere to escape, Seokju, as always, turned a deaf ear.

Ajin sighed as he looked at his swollen and bruised ankles.

Even in this state, the sound of footsteps continued to draw closer. Surely, the bell announcing his arrival would have echoed throughout the house, but Ajin didn’t hear any of it. Then, in response to the quiet footsteps, Ajin suddenly sprang up as if splashed with cold water.

Struggling, he managed to push himself up, sweat beading on his forehead. The ragged robe he wore slid down his shoulders. As he absentmindedly tried to pull it up, his body faltered and collapsed back onto the floor.

“Ugh…”

His emaciated body refused to obey. His bruised thighs throbbed, and his colorful bruises ached as if he had been beaten.

Ajin writhed on the floor, his forehead against the ground. But he didn’t give up. If he were sprawled out helplessly, he would be severely scolded.

With effort, Ajin started to crawl forward. His knees hurt from the hard floor, but he couldn’t afford to care about such things.

Despite being encouraged and urged on that there wasn’t much time left until the door closed, his elbow gave out, and his chin hit the ground with a thud.

“Ah…”

Ajin let out a despondent sigh. With fearful eyes, he looked up at the shadow. Then, the shadow entered the room, looming over Ajin, meeting his gaze.

It was Seokju.

“Ah…”

Ajin sighed with disappointment. He looked at the shadow with a mixture of fear and dread. The shadow stepped forward into the room, into Ajin’s space, into Ajin’s gaze.

His chin was soon grasped. The touch was not harsh. The thumb caressing his sharp jawline was warm.

“Ajin.”

A low voice called Ajin tenderly. Ajin’s navy blue pupils trembled.

“If you act like this when the guest arrives, what will happen? Hmm?”

Who would pay for the damages if he acted like this? Seokju lightly tapped Ajin’s cheek with his index finger. Despite the scolding tone, there was a hint of playfulness. But Ajin couldn’t smile. He just trembled with his bony shoulders.

As if asking why Ajin wasn’t smiling, Seokju gently lifted the corners of Ajin’s lips. It wasn’t particularly threatening or painful, but Ajin felt a chilling fear creeping up his spine.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Ajin apologized softly. Seokju reassured him with a pat on the back of his head, as if to say it was okay. Then he stood up.

Seokju lit a lamp in the dim room and changed his clothes. Ajin watched blankly. Seokju moved with a quiet calmness. There was no trace of haste or agitation.

But watching him, Ajin felt suffocated. It seemed like Seokju was preparing for his execution. His heart pounded roughly. Huff, huff, huff, his panting sounded like drums pounding in his ears.

Then suddenly something struck him from within. It was hefty and strong, like the fist of a thug. Ajin couldn’t help but gasp at the sudden impact, unable to close his mouth before groaning.

“Ugh….”

A hot liquid rose from below his spine, pressing against his throat. A sour and disgusting taste flooded his mouth. Ajin began to vomit while lying down.

Ever since he started taking the drugs given by Seokju, he often felt nauseous like this. He didn’t know why. All he could think was how he was becoming addicted to drugs.

Ajin frowned as he looked at the vomit staining the smooth floor. Tears welled up in his eyes.

What he was vomiting out was not just vomit; it was agony. It was fear, sadness, and lamentation for the never-ending days of this hellish existence.

As Ajin continued to retch and tremble, a large and firm palm intruded into his sight, amidst the vomit. It was Seokju’s hand, scarred with numerous wounds, catching Ajin’s vomit with his hand.

Startled, Ajin desperately tried to close his mouth. Seokju gently stroked his back and spoke with an unnecessary affectionate tone.

“Finish it.”

“….”

Ajin stared at him quietly. For a moment, he remembered the Seokju of the past, who warmly massaged his dirty feet and kissed his tangled hair.

But Ajin quickly dispelled that illusion. He no longer longed for the past. He knew it would never come back.

The Seokju of that time was dead. So was I.

The one before him was a different Seokju. And the one in front of him was a different Ajin. Seokju believed that, and that’s how it was.

Ajin slapped Seokju’s hand away. Then, holding back his retching, he staggered towards the bathroom. The chain around his ankle rattled as it stretched and recoiled repeatedly.

Seokju watched him as he moved away.

Desperately grasping Seokju’s chin, Ajin looked up at him. There were round white pills scattered before his eyes. So it was unclear whether there was one, three, or ten of them. That made it even scarier.

Ajin pushed Seokju’s hand away, tears streaming down his cheeks. He even scratched Seokju’s wrist with his dull nails.

“Boss… I don’t want to… ugh, eat it, I don’t want to eat it…”

“Eat it, Ajin. I don’t want to hear you whimper and cry.”

“….”

“Every time you act like this, it’s not like dealing with a servant, but with an animal. You should consider the guest’s feelings too. Understand?”

Tears welled up in Ajin’s eyes at Seokju’s harsh words. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He was a piece of paper, then a servant, and now he had become an animal. The light disappeared from Ajin’s eyes. His once blue eyes, like a clear night sky, now looked murky as if covered in dirty water.

He lowered his gaze. Then slowly opened his mouth. Several pills poured into his mouth. It was impossible to distinguish whether it was water or alcohol. Ajin swallowed them whole.

In a few minutes, he would be straddling Seokju’s knees, begging for mercy and moaning in a voice devoid of strength. He would laugh and push his burst buttocks towards Seokju, not even aware of the shame, calling him “boss, boss.” Then Seokju would hug him with a much softer expression.

Seokju was erasing my soul day by day like this. There was not a single moment of hesitation or hesitation in this erasure.

Another tear rolled down Ajin’s cheek, already stained with tears. The pills stuck in his throat began to dissolve sourly.

It was when the dim morning light peered through the blinds that Ajin regained consciousness. He was lying on his side, Seokju’s arm wrapped around his waist. He could feel Seokju’s solid chest against his back and his warm body temperature. The cold and heavy shackles wrapped around his ankles were also tangible.

Ajin kept his eyes half-open, frozen. If it weren’t for his slightly twitching shoulders, it wouldn’t be strange to mistake him for dead.

After a while of remaining motionless, Ajin slowly blinked his eyes. Despite lying still, it felt like the bed kept tilting to the side. The heaviness seemed to lift towards the head, then the sensation shifted as if someone was pulling his legs downwards.

He had a headache. His mind was foggy, and his mouth felt sticky. It was always like this after taking the medicine.

The pains suppressed by the drug’s effects began to emerge one by one. His body ached from Seokju’s rough handling, his thighs and arms, which had been pulled apart all night, hurt.

Yet, Ajin didn’t let out a whimper. It was as if his senses had merged into one.

However, there was still something he couldn’t get used to. It was the sporadic disappearance of time. It vanished abruptly, evaporated, and then suddenly rushed back terrifyingly, and he couldn’t adapt to it.

Ajin couldn’t distinguish whether it was yesterday or today, the day before yesterday or yesterday. Although there was a clock in Seokju’s room and the wall was a sliding door where daylight could be seen, it all became meaningless when under the influence of the drug.

He couldn’t gauge whether a day had passed or a week had passed.

He should have despaired, but Ajin kept finding himself harboring hope.

Perhaps a very long time had passed. Maybe even with that huge debt of one million won, there wouldn’t be any cracks. If he just reached out, he could grasp the end of it. Maybe he could meet the lady outside of this room. Such hopes lingered.

With his weak hand, Ajin lightly tapped Seokju’s backhand, which was wrapped around his waist. Seokju didn’t respond. But Ajin knew. He wasn’t sleeping.

Every night, Seokju. He just held Ajin without sleeping. Ajin didn’t know why. Was it to ensure Ajin didn’t twist his neck and run away while he slept, or was he being watched? Or was it simply because he couldn’t sleep? Even though his eyes were closed, he never slept.

“Boss…”

Ajin called out to Seokju in a hoarse voice.

“….”

Seokju didn’t respond. But Ajin didn’t doubt for a moment that he was listening.

“That debt… h-how much… is left?”

“….”

At those words, Seokju’s eyes flickered. His grip tightened on Ajin’s waist. Ajin, noticing the faint movement, turned his body slowly to face Seokju.

“H-How much… is left? Is it… 500,000 won? Or… 800,000 won?”

In the dimness, the two locked gazes. Ajin took a deep breath, then exhaled softly. It was difficult to speak while breathing.

“When… when the debt is paid off… will you… tell me where the lady is?”

“….”

“Boss… Please… answer me…”

Please… Ajin pleaded, grasping Seokju’s clothes. It was a pathetic sight. Seokju, who had been staring at Ajin without blinking, let out a wry smile.

“…Alright. When the debt is paid off, I’ll tell you.”

He gently combed Ajin’s hair with his fingers. Unlike before, when it was smooth and glossy, his hair felt a bit rough now, but it was still beautiful.

With Seokju’s affirmation, Ajin’s face brightened slightly.

“Thank… you.”

He murmured softly, almost as if he was talking to himself, and nestled into Seokju’s embrace. Then, silently, tears streamed down his cheeks. Seokju, who had paused for a moment, hugged Ajin back. His left chest dampened as Ajin sobbed.

“….”

Though Seokju keenly felt it, he said nothing. He just stubbornly held Ajin.

Ajin was crumbling moment by moment. Falling apart, wearing out. Yet, Seokju was unavoidably holding onto Ajin. He couldn’t let go, as Ajin kept getting lighter and smaller, slipping from his grasp.

He had to hold on tighter, squeeze even harder.

It was a foolish thing to do.