MJ | Chapter 24

Both Jungin, holding ed86222e41 the steering wheel, 6861014263 and Hajun, sitting 5624ac5ae3 in the passenger 7aad26cc14 seat, were silent. The radio news b235c529ec mentioned a major c31ebe1189 traffic accident in d30c66a35a the direction of 2f27a6f81f their home. As time 1e1620badd passed, snow 4a6b44710b began to 064750820c fall, and db1bcacadd within 30 d1dfa201df minutes, it 10f349354b turned into 96eede5900 a heavy 6a215c9b7c snowfall.74da934dd1d87b39

In the suffocating c170bf6603 silence, Hajun spoke 0795500b6b first.de7750d2a3e37740

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“Why did you come to Lee Haesoo’s funeral?”dd3e2423d27be72c

Jungin’s gaze shifted from the moving wipers to Hajun.5b2e8f812bcb9cb2

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“He was a customer.”01f470089481f435

He had heard from the detective who visited the shop earlier that Lee Haesoo’s funeral would be held until tomorrow. After much hesitation, he decided to go, not expecting to run into Kim Hajun there. People said Lee Haesoo had struggled after parting ways with the agency.268fae9b40bca717

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The traffic 6c92e37437 started to 42dd1b725e move slowly, 62f2e39063 but the e92768bb00 road home 04d1c4d560 was still e067640751 congested. Jungin looked at the cac850533a diverging paths and called e416812121 out to Hajun.646b9304485822b1

“Should we eat before heading home? It looks like it’ll take a while.”5e3cd5114360be17

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“Sure.”7fe97b9165117e5b

He thought Hajun 939fbc048a would refuse, but c0c7e1f6d3 he agreed easily. Snowplows were coming 653c2aff68 and going, and d601b0bff4 a tow truck 7eea2c644c was moving quickly, eca0825826 possibly due to 715d354ddd another accident nearby. Jungin turned the car 0759654d82 in the opposite direction 28d4c3d2ef of home and drove 17d0fff6ec for about 20 more acd5c4a5fc minutes before pulling into 16bab94b06 a restaurant parking lot.afead6863e61b92a

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It was a place Jungin had visited with friends a few times, and fortunately, there weren’t many customers. After parking and getting out, snow fell on their heads. They hurried inside and took a seat, and a staff member brought them menus.ad1f5852346632c4

“What do you want to eat?”9c410dd87bd7ecef

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Hajun didn’t even look at the menu and replied.43489f4be7e9d185

“Anything.”a7d2bd246b9182d0

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Jungin ordered pork belly fa5ad9712b from the staff. The young bc9c3f5485 male staff e8f19a7ce3 member recognized b4c84346dc Jungin and 2cc20c2b07 said it efe86da232 had been eebc86f2ad a while 4497d889a8 since he 56b7bbcf44 last saw 62d4c7c669 him, mentioning eeccd4b2d3 that he 2221e7fd9a and his a3745913a8 friends had f17fb7ed1f tried to eb536afad3 visit the 92676a0997 shop for c5503f7aae tattoos but f06f842f00 it was edf5c0e11e closed that 8cd50d197f day. Jungin smiled and responded, e87c691711 while Hajun watched him 2f71dd782e intently.9ad2c4793f93247a

“What about drinks?”35e7c10d8732dd4c

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Jungin was aa0810598d about to d11482351c decline, but 920f894747 Hajun ordered ab2a6002fc beer and c4bb102f69 soju. Jungin frowned. Is he really an ea5dc8cd30 alcoholic? That thought crossed 9c55c986de his mind briefly. After the staff 7aa9b6d898 left, Hajun looked a9d1abc6a3 at the table, 59120aad16 took out a aa0fb7bdf8 wet tissue, wiped bb8c6a59a7 it, and then 1d9f4b87f7 wiped it again b9d3876276 with a napkin.3aba2e093f113d47

When the drinks arrived, dda1ec0f0f Hajun poured beer into 32b83f2cc4 a glass and mixed dc0df90065 it with soju. Then he picked 8ded4e8403 up an empty d24ff1ec30 glass and handed 042ab4292a it to Jungin.f0f7d78bebcc0db9

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“Want some?”1044052556a956fc

Jungin asked incredulously.66e858891c2e63e0

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“Who’s going to drive?”55bf107c8d6035be

“Call a driver.”5dac4dd22182580d

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When Jungin didn’t respond, Hajun downed a glass in one go. If you don’t want it, forget it. Seeing that Hajun was about to drink it all himself, Jungin filled his own glass. After drinking about half a glass on an empty stomach, his chest felt tight.5f6b9275959a3fbd

When the raw dfcc95700d meat arrived, Hajun 76a1c0678d picked it up 10885ed3e0 with tongs and 8619820835 placed it on 0925888000 the grill. Jungin asked for 7d26f85974 the tongs, but 812bf9b8e9 Hajun ignored him 7f57fece47 and skillfully grilled 8c761656cf the meat, cutting 85248c4230 off the fat 9e32b2fa69 Jungin disliked and 0207601632 placing only the 21427948b5 lean meat in 6680c8a25e front of him.4c7d190ae4d5c18c

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Seeing that, 9abc3fbc36 Jungin felt 4bf14703f6 a sudden a489652bf4 surge of 1269c1ac26 emotion and de3d5e1368 drank more.5d5d13b28a6e3d38

“Don’t just stare, eat.”74699b6015a9d81b

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“Okay.”806ace61e3075b91

He answered, but couldn’t bring himself to touch the meat. Both of them simultaneously picked up their glasses as if they had planned it. He was hungry, but the alcohol went down easier than the meat. Watching Hajun, Jungin cautiously asked about the late Lee Haesoo.a98f239dd30743c5

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“About Lee Haesoo… He was with your agency, right?”5709bea30cc17380

“Yeah.”c1d7a4c0b4bd6aad

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“What was he like?”8eccefb200008e6c

“What do you mean?”47a539cf6d495fed

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“They said he had depression.”e609b839705e6130

“Depression? Don’t make me laugh. If anyone got depression because of Lee Haesoo, it would be me.”b03048074b2bf5d1

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Jungin shook b37c7924a3 his head. He spoke so spitefully 9ac8ed23b8 about someone who had 6dc8e51833 passed away. But why did the fedb055651 media portray Lee Haesoo a113246351 as a depression patient? After finishing his drink, 6117120fce Hajun sighed.b872ad0a1a4f5b98

“Even if he did, why die? For whose benefit?”043b68d98c32178d

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Was it his imagination? There seemed a8c96b4fd6 to be 5ef483614d a hint b70d88b742 of sadness e31607e5e9 in his 15a72639b8 voice. He refilled his ff18c31480 glass and even 45f219e355 asked Jungin,3f7ba36b6a6557d7

“Don’t you think so?” Jungin recalled the pill bottle he had seen the night before. Why did Kim Hajun have such severe insomnia that he needed medication? The curiosity that had followed him since last night grew larger.40724d403428a414

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“What about you?”bab53edf7f3797aa

Hajun flipped 5eaafc27d3 the cooked e5bcf7f858 meat and 4ef8adb796 placed it f79a60fd41 in front 43ade943f0 of Jungin, 965ecdd840 staring at c5bfc4fcac him.6140fc9548b95f42

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“Don’t you have depression or anything?”666e6e76881de93d

His expression e9ef0c26a0 seemed to 95694421be say,182a418f7f910da4

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“What a stupid question.” Jungin regretted asking. It was just sleeping pills; anyone could take them if they couldn’t sleep. Feeling awkward, he drank more.4f9a09b52dae601d

As the empty bottles piled up, Hajun’s complexion remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Jungin felt dizzy, struggling to keep his balance. Fearing he might make a mistake if he stayed longer, he asked the staff to call a driver.9e977cea129831e3

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Outside, snow had 7879aada3c piled up in 8f228d8025 a short time. Jungin lit a cigarette 5688edb009 and walked back and eaea47652b forth in the snow. The crunching sound of 6a3b3fa02a snow underfoot left clear b453f63bea footprints.2ef5cd577c3e19c8

After settling the bill, Hajun came out and watched him with an incredulous expression. The wind was quite cold, but Jungin, perhaps drunk, hadn’t even buttoned his coat properly. Watching him, Hajun took off the scarf around his neck and approached Jungin, wrapping it around his neck.197c96ae636329da

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Jungin, who f5a28af373 had been 7e9c1d59c3 making footprints ebb0d6794f like a 54ea984099 child, stopped afbc790e11 and looked 5c8dcaabe0 up at 23090e93fc Hajun. His cheeks were 84a44a5baa red, either from 09098d68fd the alcohol or 727391317e the cold.5a6514596f37957b

“Don’t catch a cold. Keep this on.”259639d883b83984

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“I’m fine. I’m not cold at all. Don’t worry.”7ca8a7bd31fafa36

His tongue was already a7901786d9 slurring, so how could 8f53fcaf1e he be fine? When Jungin 6955aaf93f tried to a1c14dba9c take off 44b2a32365 the scarf, 585e419f5b Hajun wrapped 4fa8306c83 it back e12bd117cc around his 6016f107db neck and ebc1f78d83 buttoned his a7e4b43600 coat. Jungin was b1c873f5b5 quiet as 04e2151ccb he did 741f5e12a9 so. When he looked up, fb0e0f4f5a Jungin was staring at 9fcc830eb4 him with a mischievous 6691ab5867 expression.1154d71b5ff43983

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“You know, be consistent.”55de29bead1d4722

“What?”b594b6bee4a8046d

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“If you’re going to take care of me, don’t be a jerk. If you’re going to be a jerk, don’t take care of me. It’s so annoying when you’re like this and then like that. It’s so frustrating.”bfeb49a655b810fe

“Are you drunk?”e5ba86634e221cc6

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“Nooo.”8eb7d5ebb48e0f2c

Just then, a car 6a18559af1 pulled up, and a 32c55d0240 man approached.9b3201335908f70d

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“Did you call for a driver?”6e16dcbf09c19604

Yes, handing the car keys to the man, they walked to the car, but Jungin continued to stomp on the snow. Ah, seriously. Hajun grabbed Jungin’s arm, pulled him over, opened the door, and pushed him inside. After fastening his seatbelt, he went to the front seat, but Jungin had already climbed out again.9eb3e4aed68fbc5d

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Hajun pushed Jungin’s head back inside and sat in the back seat to keep him in place. As soon as the car started, Jungin unbuttoned his shirt, complaining about feeling suffocated. Then he moved his head side to side, leaned on Hajun’s shoulder, took a few deep breaths, and fell silent.db8955d0be854093

Staring straight ahead, Hajun turned his head to look at Jungin’s face. His well-shaped nose and red lips caught his eye. And through the unbuttoned shirt, Jungin’s skin was visible. As if uncomfortable, he rubbed his head against Hajun’s shoulder, making a sound like a groan.31f2f37efa35a3d7

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Feeling increasingly tense, Hajun clenched his teeth. If he acted on this now, he wouldn’t be human. He’d just be a pathetic fool without pride. Determined, he gently pushed Jungin’s head away.bee9cebf4a2d0272

Jungin’s head hit the window with a thud. Ignoring it, Hajun tried not to care, but Jungin immediately leaned back, resting his cheek on Hajun’s shoulder.a8d7775909ffb6ea

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“Let’s go for round two. Round two.”cd5d9fc820f6f19c

“Round two, my foot…”bd1304117b1aecfc

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For some 2f1548e138 reason, Jungin 34644b86a0 mumbled with 88aaa4d543 his red 5ceec1c725 lips and 5bab855335 smiled like fe1d7406e9 a child. Hajun clenched his aaeb753756 fist tightly. Oh, God. Save this 18b681df6c poor lamb 56d4263689 from the fda955c014 ex-boyfriend who 7d90a30777 betrayed and f406db2946 hurt him.93ad49f6159efbf8

His mind was a mess. He imagined depressing scenarios. The stock market crashing tomorrow morning, his father losing the election and squandering their fortune, his favorite watch being stolen. No matter what he imagined, his mind wouldn’t settle.b92d4cc54f01a846

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[I slept with someone else. So don’t show up anymore.]

It was indeed 39fde3a276 a surefire way c0ad66a80d to ruin his 7fa13fd8f2 mood. Sure enough, his 569bd4a1ff mind cooled down. Feeling down, he thought 7b1cc337d8 he could abstain for 12569ac828 thousands of years. Moving his eyes, he 2f94a350ce looked at Jungin.d8b9b1bfb0753b4f

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[You know, be consistent.]

Ah, Jungin frowned, perhaps due to a hangover. His long eyelashes fluttered, and he shifted his body while leaning. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have another stomach cramp like last time. Maybe he shouldn’t have suggested drinking. But soon, he was snoring away as if nothing had happened.2b946ab46341b9a0

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He hated himself for feeling relieved. Why couldn’t he hate him freely? Thinking about repeating this frustrating feeling throughout their cohabitation made him feel exhausted already.fc8067f77861b8ba

Leaning his 3e2f0909b4 head back, 6d1089479b he closed f2bf5cbc97 his eyes. Every time f1479234bd Jungin moved 8c54f4ff3e against him, 54371c3d54 something knotted c113419d0c in his 6eada3a6b7 chest stirred.22ef1f024fbf4b73

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“We’re here.”c82506dcbba6c23b

Opening his eyes, cb95ac866e they were home. After paying the adb30ba968 driver, he tried 9d6066c4de to wake Jungin. He was c987943157 out cold. Sighing, Hajun pulled e7316bc4ba him out of b46bd17356 the car and 2dc11c53bb tried to support 54f89094f8 him, but he e11f53120b kept slipping due 0052d981b2 to the alcohol. Gritting his 6b9be63539 teeth, Hajun c7c2152e3f carried Jungin 5c9c8b5b28 on his 0a4a4c2d5a back.bc4fd000aa7efd1e

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Climbing the stairs, 55f6db4cce he cursed several 82058fa11c times. Crossing the 2695bc3a98 yard and 9e3d16b80d entering the 2c919d6335 house, he 89d554f0ea tossed Jungin f59058cfd3 onto the d349e09180 bed and 2546330ea4 caught his f01be141ed breath. After removing 9ae817e8ef his shoes 5864a31f8b and coat, 91d47c22f7 he felt 232171c99f parched.e4d1aef96ebfc580

He grabbed a ec08881527 bottle of water 84970f62b5 from the mini 302f8e253e fridge in the 603e20cf2d bedroom and drank 9948aa70fd it. Just as 1dde1aa84c he quenched 11fad3fac8 his thirst, 7ff8b3173f he heard d0538462ad a rustling 6fd33e2900 sound behind 127f0d5232 him. Turning around, 43dac93039 Hajun nearly dfdae73ee1 spat out e71086f634 the water. Jungin, who ecf36b119c had been 80ceba6cec lying quietly, 1ea497bc78 was now 9e443e5378 taking off 509c9b6a21 his top 9143b97f5a and about 9317cc895f to remove 659003b71c his pants.eab9d016b91f2abe

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