By Zephyria 
Since it wasn’t his, he had to put it back in its place quickly. However.
However, the ring happened to be in the inside pocket of the jacket. It must have spent the entire day pressed against the man’s chest. It would have been stuck right there, like a pair, against a heart that throbbed and beat.
As the thought occurred to him, it felt as if the ground beneath his feet were suddenly collapsing.
“…Ah.”
Eun-myeong looked down at the ring. He stared so intently it felt as if his eyes would be pierced through. He felt as though his pupils were burning in a fierce fire.
He was truly wretched. He had grown up being scolded not to be so covetous, yet here he was, harboring greed once again.
His lingering attachment boiled over. Eun-myeong couldn’t bring himself to let go of the ring case. Only after the sound of water from inside stopped did he finally manage to push it back into the inside of the jacket.
And he never saw that ring again.
“…….”
Eun-myeong acted anxious, like someone being chased. Fearing that a new article might surface, he checked the TV news and unfolded newspapers every single day.
However, nothing more was revealed, and only rumors abounded.
Some said he was targeted by a woman holding a grudge, some said heaven was angry because he had sucked people dry, and others said he had piled up gambling debts and been “concrete-buried” by loan sharks.
The rumors about the Director’s death buzzed through the public for a while, but eventually, they were buried quietly, as if swept away by a wave.
Even so, Eun-myeong felt himself withering. Like a wild grass that had seen neither water nor sunlight.
The fear that the Director’s death might suddenly be brought up again, or that something else might be unearthed, and on top of that, the ring he could no longer even look at…
While Eun-myeong was acting like a puppy that desperately needed to pee.
The man, how should he put it, seemed to be lounging languidly. Only his eyes, however, were exceptionally piercing. The gaze always directed toward Eun-myeong felt as if it were scouting him.
It felt like the calm before a storm. It was flowing. The relationship that had been stagnant in a corner was flowing somewhere.
While wandering aimlessly through his thoughts, Eun-myeong snapped back to reality with a start. Zzzzt, vrrr. The cell phone in his hand was vibrating violently. Looking down, he saw a caller’s name on the screen. Ji Jun-il Hyung.
It seemed he had saved the number when Eun-myeong had left his phone behind.
[Eun-myeong, this is Ji Jun-il ^^ lol. I was wondering if you’re not busy tomorrow and could help me out]
Tomorrow happened to be the day the shop was closed, but… Eun-myeong simply blinked. It felt terribly unfamiliar for a stranger to ask him to do something together.
Moreover, help? Was he the kind of guy capable of helping anyone? He’d be lucky if he didn’t cause a nuisance.
[The rainy season is coming soon, so I need to fix the roof for an elderly person living alone, but my arm is a bit uncomfortable]
As if reading Eun-myeong’s hesitation, a second message arrived. Jun-il poked at Eun-myeong’s chest exactly twice. Once with the mention that an elderly person living alone might suffer during the upcoming rainy season, and once with the fact that the man’s arm was injured.
His heart was already as soft as flour bread. Recently, it had been attacked and hurt here and there, making it indescribably fragile. Every chance he got, the Boss had been poking and prodding at him. Eun-myeong, whose mind and body had become as weak as could be, had no way to resist.
[Yes..]
So, he reluctantly replied that he would.
For the first time in a very long while, Eun-myeong lingered in front of his old house. It was because Jun-il insisted on picking him up despite his strong refusals.
[I’m in the neighborhood anyway lol. I have a disease where I feel guilty if I don’t treat young people well ^^ lol]
He even lessened the burden by telling him to just get a ride without refusing. He was indescribably kind. Since he was such a gentle and good person, it became difficult to refuse further, and Eun-myeong agreed.
Soon, a car approached from a distance, and for a moment, Eun-myeong’s mouth hung wide open.
“Huh, ugh….”
The state of the car was no joke. It was dented here and there as if it had been punched repeatedly; it felt like looking at a boxing athlete who had been beaten severely. Just looking at it made his skin crawl and sent a chill down his spine.
“How did the car get….”
“Sorry, the car’s a mess, isn’t it?”
The Customer slowly pulled up next to Eun-myeong. Looking closer, all the windows were completely shattered.
“I mean, really, some bastard smashed all the windows overnight. They told me it would take too long to repair, so I just came as I am.”
He waved his hand, telling him to get in first. Eun-myeong scurried over to the passenger seat and sat down. He felt like he was losing his mind at the sight of the car being completely open on all sides without any glass windows.
Even though he was inside the car, Eun-myeong’s hair fluttered. Wind rushed straight into his nose.
“Shouldn’t you report this to the police?”
“I already did. They’ll be caught soon.”
Jun-il was, as expected, calm. He then leaned over the passenger seat with his right forearm and fastened the seatbelt for Eun-myeong.
“Ah….”
Physical contact with another person was unfamiliar. Eun-myeong flinched slightly and curled his body. Jun-il laughed awkwardly.
“I’m just telling you to wear the seatbelt.”
With a click, he quickly withdrew.
“If something flies in through the window, dodge it well.”
It was surprising that the Customer remained so composed despite such a serious situation.
But looking now, the corners of his mouth were strangely stiff. Ah, he’s pretending to be okay for my sake, Eun-myeong realized his consideration and awkwardly shifted his hip.
“Yes, I’ll dodge it well.”
Then, gripping the seatbelt tightly with his hand, he murmured faintly.
The car slowly began to move. However, before long, a black bundle flew in and hit Eun-myeong in the face.
“Why did this suddenly….”
Embarrassed by his foolish appearance, he quickly pulled the bundle down. His white face, which had been covered by the black plastic, was all crumpled. Both cheeks were flushed red.
Eun-myeong stretched his arms wide and gripped the ladder tightly. Clatter, the old ladder shook violently every time Jun-il moved above him. Once again, he squeezed his arms tight.
“Can you give me the roof tile underneath?”
At those words, Eun-myeong moved his body quickly. Like the ace of Emperor Palace Seafood, his movements were brisk. He quickly picked up the tile from the ground and handed it over.
“Thank you.”
He slid it into the empty spot very skillfully. He had wondered if he could actually perform the repairs since his arm was uncomfortable. Contrary to his worries, he was very adept.
At this rate, he wouldn’t have needed to bring him along…
The kitchen door opened, and a hunched Grandmother appeared. She scanned Eun-myeong, who was gripping the ladder tightly, from top to bottom.
“Isn’t that the kid from the upper neighborhood? The bride….”
“Now now, he’s not my bride, Grandmother.”
Jun-il waved his hand, denying it.
“Is that so?”
The Grandmother smacked her lips as if disappointed. Eun-myeong felt awkwardly out of place and brushed off his forearm. White dust fluttered like dandelions.
“Eat your fill before you go.”
Once the work was finished, the Grandmother served steamed rice cake and sikhye on a floral tray. Eun-myeong sat on the wooden porch, chewing with his cheeks full.
It tasted like the nostalgic flavor he used to eat. The sweetness seemed to make him feel a bit better, and Eun-myeong’s cheeks turned reddish. His drooping eyelashes cast a soft shadow over his cheekbones.
Zzzzt, vrrr…
Then, a vibration suddenly sounded from across from him, and he looked up. The Customer, looking down at the screen, let out a deep sigh. Eun-myeong wondered who it was.
“Yes, Father.”
The title he used after answering the phone was ‘Father’. Eun-myeong looked at him as if possessed.
Meal? Of course I ate, and I slept well too… Tonic? What tonic, do you know how many kilos I weigh, are you trying to send me to catch a wild boar?
“I can’t go to Seoul for a while, Father. I’ll head up as soon as the work is done, so don’t be too disappointed. I’m sorry. Please make sure to eat well.”
He could feel Jun-il struggling. Seeing him break a sweat when he usually handled everything with such ease felt somehow new. Should he say he looked truly human?
“Parents are always like this.”
Jun-il spoke after hanging up.
“Even with my size, they worry about me. Your parents would be even worse, Eun-myeong. Since you’re so small and slender.”
“Ah,” Eun-myeong trailed off. Most of the people he had met so far knew that Eun-myeong was an orphan. He wasn’t used to how to handle such moments.
“Ah, I….”
Eun-myeong flustered. His white hand gripped the rice cake tightly. A black bean was caught on the tip of his fingernail.
“You brat!”
Just then, the Grandmother appeared from behind and slapped Jun-il’s shoulder. On one tray, scorched rice was piled high.
“Don’t you know what happened to the bride’s parents? He lost them a long time ago.”
“Aigoo, it hurts so much.”
Jun-il curled his body exaggeratedly, complaining that it hurt, and joked about how the Grandmother was so healthy and would be fine for another 20 years. While doing so, he stole a glance at Eun-myeong. Eun-myeong, with his gaze slightly lowered, flickered his lips.
“I grew up in an orphanage, so I don’t really know what kind of people my parents were.”
“I see.”
Silence followed. Eun-myeong shifted his hips for no reason. He became restless, feeling as if it were somehow his fault.
“I’m sorry. I spoke too rudely back then.”
But Jun-il apologized to Eun-myeong. He seemed to be referring to the incident at the pork belly restaurant, and Eun-myeong was quite bewildered.
“I’ve been thinking I should apologize. Did you think I was unpleasant because I don’t act my age?”
He subtly looked at Eun-myeong’s expression, as if trying to gauge his mood. Eun-myeong shrank his neck out of shyness. This was a first. In his life, no one had ever tried to be this considerate of his feelings…
“No, I….”
Eun-myeong’s heart melted like candle wax placed before a fire. Even someone as unsightly and lacking as I am is being treated like a human being.
“It, it was okay….”
And so, he felt better. Eun-myeong’s plump cheeks were stained reddish. The sunset light was falling red across the yard.