By Zephyria Not long after, the man noticed Joo-oh’s presence. He sauntered up to the camera and smoothly delivered his promised line.
―Uh, what’s this? You haven’t gone to the party yet?
Then, a moment of silence followed. Joo-oh’s reply wasn’t heard.
Mu-hae frowned and put his mouth to the receiver.
“What are you doing? Don’t you remember what we practiced?”
Surely he hadn’t forgotten it all in such a short time. He pretended to be fine, but was he nervous?
It was a plausible guess. The tearful face he’d seen at the bar in Taeul District flashed before Mu-hae’s eyes.
Back then, the expression of helplessness, panting for breath, had been disgustingly pathetic.
―Uh-huh. I was going to go with you.
Fortunately, Joo-oh’s voice was picked up by the camera, as if his worries had been unfounded.
It felt a bit limp, but there was no sign of panic or fear.
―That’s good. Let’s go.
The man, having confirmed the deal, gestured quickly, and the background of the video began to change again.
Joo-oh walked from a dark place to an even darker one, from a remote place to an even more secluded one.
―But you know. Why did you dress like that to go to a party?
The man threw out a random question, perhaps to create a smokescreen.
Joo-oh didn’t seem capable of properly deflecting such a question.
Would it be better to remain silent? That might be better than babbling nonsense.
―I’ll get scolded if I take off my hat. They told me to only take it off at home.
However, betraying expectations, Joo-oh opened his mouth. It was an honest answer, without embellishment. Exactly from Joo-oh’s perspective.
Director Gil, sitting next to him, glanced at Mu-hae.
“He’s inviting trouble.”
“Who’s saying what?”
Director Gil shrugged and gestured to watch the video.
―You’re going too far.
―The party can’t be held just anywhere.
―That’s true.
After walking for quite a while longer, the man in the video stopped. He naturally looked around and then approached Joo-oh closely.
They were so close that only the man’s chest filled the screen. Soon, a rustling sound was picked up by the microphone.
It seemed he was putting the traded goods into Joo-oh’s pocket.
Now, all that was left was to say where the money was and get out of there. Then half of the simple mission would be a success.
Just as Mu-hae was inwardly relieved, the man’s question suddenly rang in his ears again.
―By the way, there’s something I’m curious about.
―Yeah.
―Why do you always hide your face?
―…….
His attitude was as if he were dealing with someone he knew. The whole rendezvous concept was like that, so it seemed natural, but strangely, it didn’t feel right.
Mu-hae had a bad feeling for some reason and gripped the receiver tightly.
―You’re the guy who hangs out with Jin Mu-hae, aren’t you? You just changed your clothes?
“Damn it.”
His worries were not unfounded. He thought no one would recognize him since Joo-oh’s face was thoroughly covered.
Looking back, he always did that. Was that why he was so familiar?
The body filling the screen showed no sign of moving away.
The man, who kept rustling something in his pocket, chuckled.
―Why don’t you take your hand out?
―I’ll take it out if you tell me.
―Can’t do that?
―Then I can’t either.
The voices replying back and forth gradually turned into playful banter.
It seemed the other party had noticed something awkward in Joo-oh’s tone.
“Shit.”
Director Gil, cursing, nudged Mu-hae. Only then did Mu-hae, who had been silently watching the scene, clench his teeth and press the button on the receiver.
“Ignore him and get out of there.”
The fact that Jin Mu-hae was obtaining special parts through illegal trade was already known.
He didn’t expect Joo-oh to handle this properly. It was a better option to just quickly retrieve the goods.
―I don’t know Jin Mu-hae. You shouldn’t know him.
But again, Joo-oh chose his own answer.
―I stepped on something Jin Mu-hae uses. He’s angry…….
A sharp intake of breath shook the microphone. It was a voice trying hard not to show that he was scared of causing trouble in secret.
Surprisingly, it sounded quite genuine. Even Mu-hae, who knew it hadn’t happened, was reminded of a similar situation.
―What did you break?
―I don’t know. Something square. But he needs it.
―Are you going to fix it without him knowing?
―Yeah…… I don’t want to get hit again.
However, if he left it alone, the conversation would flow in a strange direction again.
Feeling Director Gil’s gaze subtly from the side, Mu-hae shook his head with a hardened expression.
“He doesn’t hit you.”
“Who’s saying what.”
“It’s true he hit you on the head, but rather than laying a hand on you, it was just…….”
He hit him, but he didn’t strike him? He did hit him once, but he didn’t lay a hand on him?
Somehow, the more he talked, the stranger it seemed. Jin Mu-hae, who had been staring intently at the video in the subtly changed atmosphere, sighed and gave up on explaining.
Fortunately, the man seemed to believe it. The existence of the person behind the scenes, which had almost been exposed, became a little blurred.
Thanks to that, the conversation between Joo-oh and the man was coming to an end.
―The housewarming Gift is in the yellow house at the intersection.
Finally, the camera’s point of view turned sharply, and Joo-oh, having fulfilled his mission, walked briskly.
He was humming a song as soon as he left the alley, making it hard to believe he was the same person who had been hesitating just a moment ago.
Was it only the person watching who was nervous? Director Gil, who had stubbornly started this even while bedridden, collapsed to the side as if falling.
“Why don’t you go inside and rest?”
“No. I have to keep checking until it’s in my hands.”
Director Gil’s voice was even hoarser in that short time. The man, with cold sweat on his forehead, stubbornly kept his eyes open and watched the video.
Joo-oh was walking so excitedly that the camera’s point of view was rattling. After wandering through the dark slums for a long time, he finally arrived at a building emitting a faint light.
In the empty grocery store at a late hour, the camera attached to Joo-oh’s body began to turn quickly.
―Jin Mu-hae.
Joo-oh spoke. As if he knew he was being listened to.
―I’m going to look around here now.
Announcing what he was going to do, he excitedly walked around. The cereal and snacks that Joo-oh had obtained through fraud, and the not-so-varied chunks of red meat, were projected onto the wall in turn.
―You know. You can order food from home too.
Rustle. Rustle.
―I was wondering why a store like this would still be around.
No one answered, but Joo-oh chattered away on his own. The object of the disjointed conversation was clearly Jin Mu-hae.
―But I think I know. It’s more fun to see what you’re eating in person.
Mu-hae held the receiver near his mouth but didn’t move his lips even once.
If he chimed in here, he felt like they would just continue to exchange nonsensical stories.
It wasn’t a difficult task, but for some reason, it felt strange. Director Gil was watching, and he had to accept all of Joo-oh’s rambling…….
―The Tornado is this big. What kind of meat should I get?
“…….”
―I didn’t know Beast Meat would be cheaper than fake meat. This is really cheap.
As closing time approached, Joo-oh’s monologue echoed through the already empty unmanned store.
Was it a problem with the microphone on the camera? His usually thoughtless voice sounded particularly hollow.
―Oh, right, Jin Mu-hae.
Joo-oh, who had been poking at the roughly packaged chunks of meat, suddenly whispered.
The movement of the video stopped for a moment, as if he had been contemplating before speaking.
―Did I do well?
The fingertips holding the receiver twitched at the question that flowed out of the speaker.
Mu-hae inadvertently tried to turn to the side but frowned and fixed his gaze.
“Yes.”
He pressed the receiver button and finally answered him.
The video was paused for a while. There was no sound or movement, and just when he thought something was wrong.
―Haha, heh.
Joo-oh laughed familiarly and picked up the largest piece of meat. Finally, his steps headed towards the checkout counter.
The items in the cart were automatically scanned, and with a beep-! they touched Joo-oh’s Watch and made a payment sound.
Ding-.
A payment message arrived on Mu-hae’s Watch. As he was confirming each one anew, Director Gil moved, rustling beside him.
“I need to rest a bit.”
The man, who had been stubbornly keeping his eyes open, got up from his seat.
He looked at the wall once, then at Mu-hae once, and disappeared into the bedroom with an uneasy look on his face.
“Come to the Electronic Store.”
He wasn’t particularly conscious of Director Gil, but. Only then did Mu-hae’s mouth open.
“I’ll come to meet you.”
―Haha. Okay!
“Be careful who’s following you.”
―Okay. I got it.
A familiar distance began to appear in the video. After passing through the gloomy alley of the dark Starlight Road and climbing up a hill, the Electronic Store with its tightly closed shutters was filmed.
He had only closed the store for a few days due to Director Gil’s health problems, but in the meantime, three dick drawings had been added to the shutter.
Tap tap.
“Jin Mu-hae.”
―Jin Mu-hae.
The same call was heard from inside and outside the building.
Mu-hae put down the receiver, passed through the door connected to the Electronic Store, and slowly raised the shutter.
Black boots tightened to fit, a huge bag in one hand, a newly worn jumper came into view one after another, then, sparkle.
When Joo-oh lowered his mask, a faintly smiling face was revealed.
Mu-hae closed the shutter again and turned around, reaching out his hand. Joo-oh’s hat, which he hadn’t even thought of taking off because it wasn’t home, fell backward.
Was it because he was wearing a cap this time? His hair wasn’t as messy, but the top of his forehead was a little flattened.
“I brought it well.”
Joo-oh rummaged through his pocket and took out the packaged part. It was definitely a genuine product with a serial number attached.
He strode forward and slipped the part into Mu-hae’s pocket. As if imitating the deal he had made earlier.
As the black hair suddenly approached with a faint sweet scent, Mu-hae needlessly looked around at the place where he had scratched him.
He hadn’t even pretended to be hurt back then. He must have felt wronged, though, judging by how often he brought it up.
The palm of his hand, warmed by being held the whole time, touched Joo-oh’s head. He rubbed his thumb to lift the hair stuck to his forehead, and his long, thick fingers dug into the side of his head.
Thump. Joo-oh placed the mountain of a bag on the floor. His eyes narrowed, and he made a happy face.
As if asking to be touched there too, Joo-oh turned his head. His soft ears and cheeks were rubbed under his soft hair.
The smooth texture of his skin was addictive. Mu-hae impulsively stroked his face again and belatedly curled his hand up like a mimosa.
“You did well.”
Joo-oh’s eyes, which had been almost closed, widened at the first compliment he had ever heard.