Chapter 41
“He’s mine.”
I couldn’t understand the current situation at all. A sudden claim of ownership… Surely he’s not talking about me? I pondered by myself and shook my head. However, Jang Jae-gyeong, who had completely understood, threw a mocking laugh.
“Are you going on about priority? There were no rules from the beginning. The one who made the first move gets to claim. You, me, we’re all the same.”
The knife was half-drawn. At the same time, the smile disappeared from Jang Jae-gyeong’s face. Kim Doyun, facing him, also had his free hand twitching.
Kim Doyun intends to attack Jang Jae-gyeong. The heavy atmosphere between the two choked my breath. After struggling to breathe, I once again pushed between the two of them. Kim Doyun’s hand, which had seemed like it wouldn’t let go, released easily. I was curious about their relationship and wanted to listen longer, but it seemed like a murder would occur first, so I simply couldn’t stand by and watch.
“Calm down. Calm down.”
As I intervened, the atmosphere that had been as prickly as a needle dissipated. Feeling both men’s gazes focused on me, I spoke firmly.
“I don’t know what circumstances there are, but please think of the person watching. I’m extremely confused right now? I don’t want to see anyone killing or saving anyone either. But if I listen to the story, it seems related to me… is that right? If so, I’d like you to explain it in a way I can understand.”
Of course, even if they gave a reasonable explanation, fighting would be rejected. I glared. It was a gesture I deliberately added because I didn’t think my words would get through, but Jang Jae-gyeong, who had been listening quietly, burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, he repeated to himself that it was amusing.
“I knew you weren’t the type to tremble in fear, but this is…”
I grumbled.
“Is that an insult or a compliment? Your tone is quite ambiguous.”
“It’s a compliment. I like interesting guys.”
“What are you saying?”
I exchanged jokes casually, but cold sweat was soaking inside my body. Though not completely, I could act normal because of the loosened atmosphere… But Kim Doyun, with his lips tightly closed, was pushing my back with his silence. The hidden bomb was ticking away the time. I needed something to wrap up this atmosphere.
“So will you tell me?”
I spoke seriously, putting an end to the joking. Jang Jae-gyeong also stopped laughing, but the smile on his face didn’t disappear.
He examined me and then glanced at Kim Doyun. When his gaze met Kim Doyun’s, Jang Jae-gyeong completely erased his smile and bared his teeth. I hurriedly tried to stop them, but before I could say anything, he backed away.
“Don’t worry, we’re not fighting. It’s just an unavoidable reaction. Something like instinct…?”
Jang Jae-gyeong joked. It’s fortunate they’re not fighting, but instinct…? It’s not like they’re beasts. I looked at Jang Jae-gyeong with an unsatisfied face.
“And about telling you, I can’t.”
“…Why not?”
“Because it would be troublesome in many ways. For me, and for that guy over there.”
Jang Jae-gyeong thought for a moment and then put the half-drawn knife back. Seeing the knife secure with a metallic sound, I felt considerably relieved. He really seemed to have no intention of fighting.
“Also.”
“?”
“You’ll find out as time passes.”
Jang Jae-gyeong, who had been tapping his head, suddenly moved and threw open the door. Rain and wind rushed in fiercely. Because of the rain and wind, which began to ransack the house like monsters waiting for an opportunity, it was difficult to keep my eyes open. The bonfire swayed back and forth, caught in the wind. Right on cue, the sound of thunder beating the sky resonated like a roar. I thought they were like living creatures.
“Then, see you later.”
Jang Jae-gyeong greeted and was about to go outside, and I, surprised, followed him. The weather outside was nothing short of terrible, so I didn’t even dare to venture out. That’s why I believed that regardless of their relationship, the three of us would stay together in this building.
“Jae-gyeong-ssi.”
Hearing me call, Jang Jae-gyeong stopped in his tracks. He, who had been indifferent to the rain and wind, opened his mouth.
“I really hate that guy. It’s a physiological dislike, so don’t ask me to stay together. If I stay with him, I’ll definitely do something.”
“But in this weather… where are you going?”
“Do you think I don’t have a place to go? You shouldn’t forget that I’ve lived here longer than you.”
Thinking about it, that was true. No matter how estranged Jang Jae-gyeong was from the villagers, he couldn’t have endured for a long time without a place to stay. Judging by the people who were expecting his belongings, his place might even be sturdier and better than the building I was staying in.
“Want to come with me?”
The moment I imagined a safe house and felt a little envy, Jang Jae-gyeong asked. And he slowly stretched his hand forward. His rain-soaked hand glistened in the light creeping out from the door.
But I declined the inviting hand with a shake of my head. No matter how safe the house was, I couldn’t follow readily. It wasn’t a matter of weather. The problem was that Jang Jae-gyeong was only calling for me. I couldn’t leave alone the person who had come all this way, struggling to find me. Thanks to the conversation between the two, I had doubts about Kim Doyun, but I shook them off with difficulty.
“That’s a bit…”
“Really?”
Jang Jae-gyeong responded nonchalantly even upon seeing my refusal. But his withdrawn hand lingered for a moment as if regretful. I briefly looked at Jang Jae-gyeong’s face and clicked my tongue. I couldn’t find any such indication anywhere on his face. Now I’m having all sorts of illusions.
“Well, can’t be helped. Instead, I’ll keep staying nearby, to keep my promise as well… So, Seongho, you must keep your promise too, okay?”
Jang Jae-gyeong spoke while looking at me, but his gaze was subtly away from me.
“If that guy tries to do anything strange, be sure to tell me.”
With those final words, Jang Jae-gyeong completely melted into the rain and wind. Despite the fierce downpour, he was full of composure, like someone walking in a drizzle. I couldn’t close the door and just blankly watched Jang Jae-gyeong leave.
My head was pounding because of the sudden commotion. My body complained of fatigue, and my tired head felt heavy. My heart was throbbing as if it had just sprinted. Through the open door, the mischievous weather once again caused a disturbance. Just as I was about to move my hand, hearing the old door creaking laboriously, a hand from behind extended and closed the door.
The moment I saw the large, neat hand, my brain, which had been spinning laboriously, stopped thinking. I looked at him without a word. Kim Doyun was slowly catching his breath. After holding his head with one hand and shaking it a couple of times, he finally noticed my gaze.
“Seongho-ssi.”
Kim Doyun’s smile distorted. For a brief moment, I saw him hesitate.
“Can’t you tell me either, Doyun-ssi?”
I spoke first in the end. I wanted Kim Doyun to tell me, but looking at him, such a wish seemed distant.
“I really don’t have a clue what’s going on…”
I gnawed on my lips. I was disturbed. I had been full of thoughts about explaining the situation to Jang Jae-gyeong when he returned and leaving the village. Then I woke up, and what is this misfortune? To be honest, I’m angry and dying of curiosity that Kim Doyun just stares at me without answering.
But have the two of them done anything wrong to me? Thinking about it, not really. So it’s also ambiguous to get angry. It’s just that the atmosphere between them became confrontational. It’s clear they have a bad history… I don’t know what’s what.
The taste of blood rose from my strongly bitten lips. Kim Doyun, who had still been silent, reached out his hand. Then he gently pressed the corner of my lip with his thumb to release it. The face looking down at me, with its smile gone, was so unfamiliar that I realized I had become quite accustomed to his smiling face.
“…I don’t know what happened between you two. But there’s one thing I know for certain.”
After quite a long silence, I patted my still-tingling shoulder in front of Kim Doyun. More precisely, I patted around it, afraid the wound would worsen.
“You know that I’ve survived until now thanks to you, right? I didn’t starve to death and was fine even in front of monsters. So thank you. That’s all.”
I spoke as thoughts came to mind, but I couldn’t think of a way to conclude. I frowned while scratching my forehead.
“So… the reason you two fought… Well. Even if it’s related to me…”
“……”
“It’s unlikely, but if there’s a circumstance you can’t talk about, and even if I suffer because of it, I’ll overlook it once. …Is that too little? Then twice. I can overlook it exactly twice. But later, if I hear about it and think it was severe, let me hit you once.”
Kim Doyun only looked at me without answering. So I grumbled.
“One hit should be fine, right? It’s not like I’m going to beat you with a club, and to someone who saved my life, surely not to that extent… Ah, there are exceptions though. I just don’t feel that way toward the people in this village.”
I ground my teeth. Yes, whatever Kim Doyun is thinking, could it be worse than these villagers? Someone who treats me this well wouldn’t harm me. What Jang Jae-gyeong should worry about isn’t Kim Doyun but the villagers. Just thinking about what happened here made me grimace. Lost in thought, I was pouting, but when I realized Kim Doyun was still looking at me, I quickly pulled my lips in. Clearing my throat, I continued subtly.
“Ahem, well… please make sure to tell me later. I’m not expecting personal details, just the parts related to me. Promise to talk about that part.”
Kim Doyun’s face gradually began to relax. Then he came in close and embraced my waist. Hugged without warning, I flailed my arms and legs in confusion, but Kim Doyun seemed not to care about my bewilderment at all. He smiled and whispered.
“I’ll definitely tell you when my thoughts are sorted out. Though it might be unnecessary by then… I promise.”
Kim Doyun said something similar to Jang Jae-gyeong. About finding out later, about it being unnecessary by then. It was a strange story. But more than that, I was concerned about Kim Doyun, who was wrapping around my limbs.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
