113.
There wasn’t much worth stealing anyway. Haseo seemed to have different thoughts, but he appeared satisfied after gathering the photos.
“Since I took your photo, you should give me yours too, right?”
“My photo?”
That small box he always carried around neatly wherever he went. Suddenly, Mujin was curious about the photos inside.
“You have some, don’t you?”
“I do have some.”
Though there were only a few childhood photos, he did have them. The two of them left Choi Mujin’s childhood home and slowly made their way down. It was the season when evenings became quite cool. When Haseo shivered slightly, Mujin took off his outer garment and offered it to him.
“No thanks. I don’t want to take clothes from someone who’s sick.”
When Haseo firmly refused, Mujin’s expression became subtle.
“I’m almost completely healed.”
“After being stabbed like that? There’s no way you’re healed.”
He was checking the wound every day, so why tell such a lie? Haseo snorted and lightly hit Mujin’s arm. As he started walking again, he suddenly felt someone watching them.
Haseo flinched and quickly turned his head toward the direction of the gaze. Though the threat of being attacked had decreased since Jang Deokman was captured, you never know what might happen. Above all, Haseo had become more vigilant since what happened to his acquaintances. But when he looked up, he saw an unexpected person.
A tall, handsome young man with neat features was glaring at Choi Mujin.
“Why are you here again?”
At the low voice mixed with wariness and hatred, Mujin smiled lightly.
“This neighborhood isn’t all yours, is it?”
“It’s not yours either, is it?”
“Actually, some parts of it are mine. I told you I was born in this neighborhood.”
“What do I care? You’re such a persistent fellow. And you’re still dragging that person around with you?”
At the man’s words, Mujin placed his hand on Haseo’s shoulder and pulled him closer. Then he embraced him, which made the man’s brow furrow.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, you. Do you know what kind of person that man is and still go around with him?”
Haseo awkwardly rubbed his cheek with his hand at the man’s words.
“I know.”
“You know and still go with him?”
What grudge did this man have against Mujin to growl like that? As Haseo was thinking this, suddenly a blue gate nearby opened and a person rushed out.
“Hey, Yu Hyunjin! Why are you standing here? I told you dinner was ready!”
He was a man whose appearance reminded one of an aspiring idol. He patted the back of the man standing in front and then turned his gaze in their direction. But his brow also furrowed in the same way.
“Oh, Mr. Choi Mujin.”
“Seo Jaewoo.”
“What brings you here again?”
He said the same thing as the person called Yu Hyunjin. Haseo, watching them both carefully, whispered to Mujin.
“Did you wrong these two somehow?”
“I don’t particularly remember doing so.”
Though he spoke as quietly as possible, the others seemed to have heard.
“Wow, what a convenient memory.”
Hyunjin remarked sarcastically.
“Stop it, Hyunjin.”
“But, hyung!”
“It’s all in the past now. Besides, it doesn’t look like he came here to do anything in particular.”
As he spoke, Seo Jaewoo’s eyes fell on Haseo. He seemed to have something he wanted to say to Haseo, his lips moving slightly. Only then did Haseo realize that the person called Seo Jaewoo resembled himself. A moderately handsome appearance, like someone who might have aspired to be an idol. Even the slightly curly hair was similar.
“Just in case, I should tell you…”
At Jaewoo’s words, Haseo nodded.
“I already know. You were the one he liked, right?”
At Haseo’s words, Mujin hastily blurted out.
“Not anymore!”
Mujin seemed worried that Haseo might misunderstand, and earnestly continued.
“It’s a thing of the past, from long ago. Now there’s absolutely no feeling whatsoever.”
As the incoherent words continued, Hyunjin’s expression became more peaceful. Nevertheless, he couldn’t stop glancing at Haseo, apparently concerned. It seemed he had defined Mujin as a bad person and was worried if Haseo was in danger. Jaewoo appeared to feel the same way.
To worry about someone they just met.
‘They’re kind people.’
Perhaps that’s why Mujin had liked someone like Seo Jaewoo. Throughout all this, Mujin’s explanations continued without pause.
“I get it, I get it.”
Haseo finally raised his hand and covered Mujin’s mouth. Then, looking at Jaewoo, he spoke clearly.
“Today we just came to see the house where hyung used to live. So please don’t misunderstand.”
“I see.”
“Yes, it seems to be your dinner time, so enjoy your meal. We’ll be going now.”
And Haseo went ahead down the slope. Mujin didn’t even say goodbye to the two left behind, quickly following after Haseo. Though he didn’t make any more excuses, his restlessness was palpable.
Initially, Mujin must have sought out people who resembled Seo Jaewoo. Perhaps Haseo was one of those look-alikes.
“If you see someone who looks like Seo Jaewoo, will you fall for them again?”
When he asked mischievously, Mujin shook his head vigorously.
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really. You’re the only one who has moved my heart like this.”
Mujin’s desperate attempts to convince him were quite satisfying. It had always seemed like he was the one clinging, but it turned out Mujin could be like this too. So Haseo decided to enjoy this feeling a little longer.
‘A bit of mischief like this is fine.’
How many times had he been anxious because of Mujin? It was time for him to feel anxious too. Even on the way back home, Mujin kept watching Haseo’s reaction.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever pull out a knife again, I’m really going to run away.”
He made sure to warn him thoroughly.
“…No, I won’t.”
He must have been planning to pull out a knife and stab something again. His answer was slightly slower than usual. What should he do with this person who threatens with his body? Haseo swallowed a sigh and entered the house they had now reached.
After taking the elevator up and entering the apartment, he felt a welcome sensation. Even though it wasn’t originally Haseo’s home, it had become so familiar now that it felt cozy.
“Sit in the living room for a moment.”
Haseo said this to Mujin and went to the kitchen. He found a small fruit knife tucked inside the sink cabinet door and came back out, at which Mujin’s eyes widened.
“…Haseo?”
But the surprise didn’t last long. Mujin looked at Haseo as if he had prepared himself for something.
‘The one who should be preparing himself is me.’
To correct a bad habit, one needs to understand why it’s bad. Even between lovers, there are sometimes parts that can’t be understood. The gap that exists because of different life experiences. Haseo wanted to narrow that gap.
He sat down on the living room floor and placed his hand firmly on the table. Mujin was carefully observing Haseo’s movements.
“Hah.”
Before he knew it, Haseo let out a deep sigh, raised the fruit knife, and aimed it at his own hand.
“Haseo!”
Mujin’s voice rose when he saw this.
“I can also threaten with a knife, you know.”
It would hurt if he got stabbed. It would definitely hurt. Although his life hadn’t been entirely peaceful, he had never been stabbed before. But now it was about to happen. Haseo tightly closed his eyes and brought the knife down. But he didn’t feel the expected pain on the back of his hand.
When he cautiously opened his eyes again, Mujin was looking down at him with a rigid face. The hand holding the fruit knife was firmly gripped by Mujin.
“What are you doing?”
His low voice struck Haseo’s eardrums harshly.
“What am I doing? I’m trying to do exactly the same thing you did.”
“Why? What did I fail to do for you? Is there something you don’t like? Then tell me. Tell me and put the knife down first.”
“No. Do you really not know why I’m doing this?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking!”
Haseo narrowed his eyes and glared at Mujin.
“How do you think you’d feel if I got hurt?”
“I’d hate it. My heart sank when I saw you. I’d rather get hurt myself.”
“Forget the last part, just think about the first. And put yourself in my place. When you threatened me with a knife, how do you think I felt?”
“…Like shit, I suppose.”
Now they were getting somewhere.
“Now, let go of my hand.”
“What will you do if I let go?”
“I’ll put the fruit knife back in the kitchen.”
Haseo explained calmly, but Mujin didn’t seem to trust him. He took the knife himself and put it back in the kitchen before returning.
“From now on, every time you hurt yourself like you did last time, I’ll do the same.”
As Haseo made this bold declaration, Mujin’s expression crumpled.
“That’s dangerous.”
“Wasn’t it dangerous for you too?”
“I’ve used knives before, so I avoided vital spots.”
“That’s ridiculous. If that’s the case, I’ve used knives too.”
For cutting vegetables, fish, and meat, but still, he had used them.
“Haseo.”
“Looking at me like that won’t work.”
So now, swear that you’ll never do such a thing again. He had obtained a promise before, but for something like this, multiple promises weren’t excessive.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
