Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 69

Zhenya, who had been sweetly sucking Kwon Taekjoo’s tongue, showered kisses around his wet chin. When his lips, pressing dotted kisses, flowed down to his neck, Kwon Taekjoo hastily patted Zhenya’s shoulder.

“Hey, calm down. Just a moment.”

At the urgent declaration of a ceasefire, Zhenya’s lips slightly separated. Kwon Taekjoo used the opportunity to let out the breath he hadn’t fully exhaled. Zhenya stared intently at Kwon Taekjoo, who was panting with a flushed face, then suddenly lowered his head and took his collarbone into his mouth. He then gnawed on the flesh covering the straight bone as if he would strip it all off. Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Zhenya’s face with both hands and pulled him towards himself, exasperated by the persistent display of affection, as if Zhenya hadn’t eaten for days.

“Stop for a moment. If you behave now, I’ll definitely give you good service later.”

He made a rather plausible offer. But Zhenya, without much reaction, looked back and forth between Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes. He seemed to be checking the sincerity. He was clearly displeased at having to endure his current thirst by relying only on a verbal promise. Kwon Taekjoo pushed Zhenya’s face away and asked, “Have you only ever been fooled?”

“We both have pent-up desires.”

He didn’t hide his lust. Zhenya gripped Kwon Taekjoo’s hands covering his face and slowly pulled them down. Their gazes intertwined through their spread fingers. Their eyes, fixated on each other, held a subtle heat.

“…Ugh.”

But soon, he winced and moaned. This was because Zhenya had suddenly plunged his teeth into the inside of his wrist. He tried to pull away the arm Zhenya held, but was only bitten harder. A dark hickey remained where Zhenya’s lips had left.

Just then, the sound of the door lock disengaging came from the entrance. His mother seemed to have returned. Two grown men in a cramped bathroom would look unusual no matter how you saw it. Zhenya watched Kwon Taekjoo’s face contort in embarrassment and laughed joyfully.

“I look forward to it.”

He mumbled in a fluttering tone, then calmly closed the door and left. Soon, he heard his mother outside telling Zhenya that she would prepare dinner right away, so he should wait a little. Of course, it was in Korean, which Zhenya couldn’t understand.

After Zhenya’s brief reply, the two exchanged a few more words. The peculiar thing was that his mother spoke Korean, and Zhenya stubbornly spoke Russian. Kwon Taekjoo pressed his ear to the door and eavesdropped on their conversation. He let out a hollow laugh. It was a complete non sequitur. Yet, it was simply amazing that the atmosphere wasn’t broken. Contrary to his worries, they seemed to have been getting along well.

He should just take a shower. He took off the rest of his clothes and was about to head to the shower booth. Suddenly, Zhenya’s unexpected remark made his heart sink.

“Thanks to you, I got something good. I’m going to get excellent service from your son.”

That son of a bitch.

He grabbed the doorknob, then let go. He couldn’t just rush out naked and grab him by the collar. It was a saving grace that his mother didn’t understand Russian at all.

When he emerged after showering, his mother was engrossed in cooking. Zhenya was leaning casually against the counter next to her. With his arms crossed, he didn’t seem to be helping with anything in particular. He just intently watched his mother, who was happily chatting while preparing the meal.

The cooking seemed to be in its final stages, and the air was filled with delicious aromas. Steam rose from both the pot and the rice cooker, warming the kitchen. The occasional clinking of dishes added to the extreme comfort. Just watching them made him feel a lot less tired.

Feeling his gaze, Zhenya turned his head towards Kwon Taekjoo. Kwon Taekjoo, for once, looked at him with a softened, warm expression, which surprised Zhenya so much that he couldn’t take his eyes off him for a long time. Just then, Kwon Taekjoo’s mother picked up some seasoned bean sprouts she was mixing and asked, “Would you like to try some?” Zhenya merely stared at the bean sprouts offered to him. He seemed not to understand what he was supposed to do with them.

Shaking his head, Kwon Taekjoo approached the two. Then, wrapping his arms around his mother’s shoulders from behind, he casually took a bite of the lost-looking bean sprout salad. Zhenya looked at Kwon Taekjoo, who was chewing food that hadn’t even been served yet, with an unfamiliar expression.

“Hmm, it’s delicious. Ambassador, consider yourself blessed. My mother’s cooking is incredible. Not everyone gets to taste it.” 

“Oh, this child, really… No, it’s really nothing special.”

His mother covered her mouth and chuckled, while secretly poking Kwon Taekjoo’s side from behind. It was a signal to set the table. Even though her son had returned after two months, his superior came first. He obediently laid out the spoons and chopsticks and took out the side dishes. With a sarcastic tone, he pulled out a chair for Zhenya, saying, “Please, sit.”

Zhenya, who sat down familiarly, stared intently at the long metal chopsticks on the table. Only then did Kwon Taekjoo realize and pull out the ancient fork, offering it to him.

Soon, the table was full. Zhenya looked over the colorful dishes and mumbled without much emotion.

“It smells strange.”

His mother’s eyes lit up, asking what he was saying. Unable to translate directly, he vaguely improvised.

“He says it looks delicious and he thinks he can eat a lot.” 

“Oh, really? Ambassador, I’ve made plenty of rice, so please eat as much as you need.”

His mother pushed the side dishes closer to Zhenya, encouraging him. Zhenya watched Kwon Taekjoo with a puzzled expression. Kwon Taekjoo smiled artificially and merely gestured at the food with his chin. He even glared, telling him to eat quickly. Zhenya looked at him mockingly, as if he was only showing a different face in front of his mother, then picked up the fork. A hesitant air lingered at the tip of the fork hovering in the air. Soon, he poked the most innocuous-looking cucumber kimchi and put it in his mouth.

Zhenya’s jaw, which had been moving slowly, suddenly stopped. As expected, it must have been a bit spicy for him. He covered his mouth with his fist for a while, without saying anything or moving. The tip of the fork in his hand seemed to tremble slightly. At his unusual reaction, his mother’s face showed concern.

“…Doesn’t he like it much?” “No, he really eats Korean food well. He’s probably just moved because it’s so delicious.”

He again gave that vague answer and picked up each side dish, piling them high on Zhenya’s rice bowl. Then he propped his chin slightly on his arm and smiled at Zhenya. It was a rather benevolent expression, but far from a genuine smile. Under the table, he repeatedly nudged Zhenya’s leg.

Zhenya’s jaw tightened in annoyance. Glaring at Kwon Taekjoo with immense displeasure, he said, “I’ll see you later,” then silently resumed eating. His worried mother’s face bloomed with a smile. She constantly explained the benefits of the ingredients used, urging him to eat everything without being picky. When his glass was empty, she immediately poured him water, happily watching him eat. Seeing that, it didn’t seem like she was merely trying to curry favor with him. She seemed to genuinely enjoy meeting people. It must have been quite tiring for her to be alone at home without Kwon Taekjoo.

He didn’t know how long it had been since the house was so vibrant. In the past, he often went out citing work, and even when he did come home, he would just sleep and leave. Part of it was because he had many things to hide from his mother, but that wasn’t the whole story. He felt he hadn’t been a very affectionate son either.

He suddenly gazed at Zhenya. Zhenya surely had some dark ulterior motive, but should he be a little proud that he had been secretly visiting his mother all this time? Zhenya soon met his gaze, having noticed his prolonged stare.

“Eat slowly and eat a lot.”

He personally placed a piece of deboned fish onto Zhenya’s spoon. Zhenya didn’t eat it right away, just staring at his spoon endlessly. A subtle tickling sensation lingered deep where his hand couldn’t reach.

“You could have stayed the night.”

His mother, who had seen them off to the elevator, expressed deep regret. Zhenya then stared intently at Kwon Taekjoo. It was as if he was asking what this small woman was saying to him with such a pathetic face. Kwon Taekjoo shrugged and falsely translated.

“She says to get lost quickly.”

As expected, a suspicious glare flew his way. He ignored it and stopped his mother.

“Oh, Mother. What’s with all this? Would the Ambassador be comfortable sleeping at our house? Look at him. He’s clearly uncomfortable.”

Zhenya’s face showed no change, but Kwon Taekjoo stubbornly insisted he was greatly troubled. Then, he put his arm around his mother’s back and ushered her back into the house.

“I’ll take the Ambassador home, and then I’ll have a drink on the way back. I might be late, so you should go to bed first.” 

“You will? Alright then. Don’t worry about me, take good care of him.”

His mother readily agreed. Even though currying favor with the Ambassador had nothing to do with his promotion, she was remarkably devoted. His mother watched the two of them get into the elevator before finally going back inside the house.

As soon as the door closed, Zhenya pressed himself against him. Even when Kwon Taekjoo tried to stop him, saying “Hey,” Zhenya ignored him and buried his face in his hair. Every time he did that, it felt less like he was raising an alligator and more like a big dog.

Zhenya’s car was parked in the underground parking lot. It exuded an undeniable presence, much like its owner, making it impossible to ignore. The already narrow parking space looked even tighter. Was that why everyone avoided it? The area around Zhenya’s Bugatti was strangely empty. Anyway, it was good that he didn’t have to worry about parking.

“Am I driving?” 

“I’ll drive.”

He started the car and motioned for Kwon Taekjoo to get in. They sat side by side in the driver’s and passenger’s seats. With a click, as soon as the doors closed, they glided out of the parking lot.

He reclined the seat deeply and leaned back comfortably. Inside the car, where not even the usual music played, only the steady hum of the engine echoed. In the late-night city, there were few cars or people. He stared blankly at the rapidly passing streetlights. He was full, and having showered, he felt weary. The subtle vibrations from the car body also contributed to his sluggishness.

Soon, Zhenya’s Bugatti arrived at his residence. The garage sensor activated, and the shutter opened. He drove the car inside and turned off the ignition. At the same time, the lights that illuminated the interior went out.

“Hey.”

Zhenya, who was about to open the door and get out, turned to look at the quiet Kwon Taekjoo. Despite having arrived at their destination, he showed no movement. Leaning closer to check, he saw that Kwon Taekjoo had completely slumped his head and fallen asleep. The continuous deep breaths indicated he must have been incredibly tired. To get the service Kwon Taekjoo had promised, he would naturally have to wake him up.

“…”

After watching the sleeping Kwon Taekjoo for a while longer, Zhenya got out of the car. Then he walked around the vehicle and opened the passenger door. Kwon Taekjoo’s body, which had been leaning to that side, slid down on its own. Zhenya easily picked him up, draped him over one shoulder, and leisurely headed into the house.

He laid the soundly sleeping Kwon Taekjoo on the bed. As the soft mattress supported his body and the smooth sheets wrapped around his skin, Kwon Taekjoo instinctively rubbed his face. He instinctively wriggled and burrowed under the covers, still unconscious.

Watching him, Zhenya casually unbuttoned his shirt. The corners of his lips curved into a clear, satisfying arc.

Kwon Taekjoo, unaware of what awaited him, plunged into a deeper abyss of sleep.

“…Hmm?”

His eyes flew open. A ceiling that felt both familiar and unfamiliar rapidly filled his vision. How did he get here? He silently traced back the memories of the night. He clearly remembered leaving his house and getting into Zhenya’s car. But he had no memory of getting out on his own feet. It seemed he had lost consciousness somewhere along the way. It was because he hadn’t had proper sleep for a while.

He rolled his eyes, scanning his surroundings. He seemed to be in Zhenya’s bedroom. Having only been there once before his business trip, it still felt a bit awkward. Zhenya was nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t sense him either. Is he not home? He vaguely guessed but didn’t try to get up and check. He just leisurely lingered. Zhenya’s scent lingered strongly on the sheets. Yet, he didn’t mind and buried his face in them.

Then, he suddenly threw back the covers. Even though it was summer, it felt unusually chilly, and he realized he wasn’t wearing a single thread of clothing.

Come to think of it, his head felt refreshed as if he had slept soundly, but his body ached and throbbed as if he had wrestled all night. The uncomfortable sensation was particularly concentrated between his legs.

He abruptly sat up, gripping his aching back. Groaning, he checked his groin. Surprisingly, it was clean. But there were red and swollen hickeys everywhere he looked. The inside of his thighs were purplish, as if bruised. Could he really have been bitten like this and not known? He was dumbfounded by his body’s insensitivity.

He slowly tried to get out of bed, but his legs gave out. As soon as he flopped back down, the inside of his buttocks throbbed indescribably. Even without checking properly, he knew what state he was in.

“He did it, he did it…”

He muttered hollowly. It didn’t feel like it had ended with just one or two rounds, yet he had slept so well.

“Did you enjoy it too?”

He asked, looking down at his deflated lower body. There was no reply, of course. He just knew it by feeling. Given how unrefreshed he felt, Zhenya must have also fallen into a deep sleep, just like him. Damn Zhenya. He was the only one who had a good time, wasn’t he?

He was thirsty. He went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It was empty. He was grateful that there were at least a few bottles of mineral water rolling around. He opened a bottle and quenched his thirst in one gulp. Every time his Adam’s apple bobbed, the skin around his heavily bitten neck tingled.

Wiping his wet mouth with the back of his hand, he surveyed the house. It felt exactly like a model home. The bed, the sofa, even the TV were all in place, but there was no sign of actual living. He wondered if Zhenya had ever properly used them after purchasing them.

He flopped onto the sofa, which still smelled distinctly of leather. Where could Zhenya have gone? Although it was a weekday, he was sure he hadn’t gone to the embassy.

He vaguely waited for Zhenya, but then turned on the television. The noon news was broadcasting. He watched mindlessly, then suddenly remembered his mother. Come to think of it, he had told her he’d be home late, but he hadn’t contacted her until the next day.

He immediately returned to the bedroom and looked for his phone. The remaining battery was less than 10%. As expected, there were missed calls from his mother and messages asking where he had slept and if he had gone to work well. He pressed the call button. Before long, his mother’s voice answered, “Hello?”

“Mother, it’s me. I drank too much last night and couldn’t come home. He wouldn’t let me go until dawn, typical Russian. I went to the sauna and then went straight to work.” 

“Oh, dear. You couldn’t even have a hangover soup.” 

“I’m about to eat one now.” 

“Oh my, how much did you drink that your voice is so hoarse? Aren’t you tired?”

There was another reason why his voice was hoarse, but he couldn’t say it if he had ten mouths. He merely blamed everything on alcohol and assured his mother that he would come home early.

As he was finishing the call, he sensed someone at the entrance. He craned his neck to see Zhenya just entering the house. He was carrying a heavy plastic bag, as if he had been to a convenience store.

Zhenya put what he had bought on the table and stared at Kwon Taekjoo. His face seemed even smoother than yesterday. Kwon Taekjoo finished his call and approached Zhenya.

“Looks like something good happened to you last night?”

“Is it because it’s been so long since I’ve been in there? It felt tighter than before. I only meant to do it twice, but because of your hole…”

He babbled without an ounce of embarrassment or change in expression. Unable to listen any longer, Kwon Taekjoo clapped his hand over Zhenya’s mouth. Zhenya immediately licked his palm deeply. He had already cut off Kwon Taekjoo’s escape route by firmly supporting his waist, as Kwon Taekjoo grimaced in disgust. Zhenya pressed his lower abdomen close to Kwon Taekjoo’s and tightly gripped his buttocks.

“If you’re still yearning for more, we can start again now. A day is very long.” 

“If I try to enjoy that long day to the fullest, I’ll just shorten my lifespan.”

He pushed Zhenya’s chin away, resisting his relentless clinging. Zhenya easily lifted Kwon Taekjoo and sat him on the table. In the process, the items bought from the convenience store spilled out. Some clattered noisily onto the floor.

He instinctively looked back at the fallen items, but Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and turned his face towards him. Suddenly, Zhenya’s face filled his vision. His straightforward gaze seemed quite serious. He often looked at him that way. He felt disarmed every time by that calm face. Unconsciously, he would get swept away, and his heart rate and pulse would often become irregular.

This time was no different. He felt his resolve weaken and relaxed the hand pushing Zhenya away. Zhenya, who noticed the change like a ghost, slowly pressed his lips against his. When their tightly pressed lips parted, a regretful sigh escaped. At a distance where their noses almost touched, Kwon Taekjoo gazed at Zhenya’s lips, and Zhenya gazed at Kwon Taekjoo’s eyes. The faint breaths that escaped trembled unmistakably.

In a subtle standoff, Zhenya lunged forward, pressing his lips against his again. Kwon Taekjoo, in turn, bit Zhenya’s upper lip and cupped his face. His body naturally leaned back halfway, making him seem almost to be clinging to Zhenya. With soft smacking sounds, their lips repeatedly parted and rejoined. Warm breaths were exchanged repeatedly through their gently intertwined lips. Their bodies, pressed against each other, also slowly began to heat up.

It would be good if he could only concentrate on that, but the sound of the television, which he hadn’t turned off, kept reaching his ears. It was news that North Korea had recently conducted a missile launch test under the observation of its supreme leader, and when the government expressed regret, North Korea responded with even harsher criticism. Even though it wasn’t a daily occurrence, he couldn’t help but feel nervous whenever inter-Korean relations became tense. It was an occupational hazard he regularly experienced.

“…Ah, please.”

He muttered as if casting a spell. It was because of a premonition of bad luck. Zhenya, who had been repeatedly kissing Kwon Taekjoo’s chin and neck, finally turned to look at the TV. The screen was showing footage of North Korea’s missile launch. Zhenya immediately went to the TV and pulled out the power cord. He pulled it so hard that the plug dangled. He really had no limits.

Just then, Kwon Taekjoo’s phone vibrated. He checked the caller, feeling uneasy, and then let out a deep sigh.

In the meantime, Zhenya, who had returned, pulled Kwon Taekjoo’s legs, laying him completely on the table. He then leaned over him, twisted his head, and tried to kiss him again. But Zhenya’s lips, which had been coming down casually, touched Kwon Taekjoo’s hard phone instead of his lips. It was because Kwon Taekjoo had abruptly pushed his phone between their lips.

“It’s headquarters.”

He announced, looking displeased himself. Then he lightly pushed Zhenya’s shoulder and got up, stepping down from the table. Zhenya’s displeased gaze stubbornly followed him.

He put on his clothes one by one while on the phone. By the time he had buttoned his shirt all the way, the call had ended. Sensing a gaze, he turned his head to see Zhenya already standing by the door. He conveyed the truly regrettable news to Zhenya.

“I think I need to go to headquarters. It’s a summons.”

Headquarters couldn’t possibly be unaware that Kwon Taekjoo had just returned yesterday. The fact that they had still called him meant one of two things: either there was a problem with the work he had previously handled, or a new urgent task had arisen. Neither was welcome news.

Kwon Taekjoo said he was leaving and walked out of the house without looking back. The door slammed shut. Zhenya was left alone in the large house. He glared at the ramen scattered on the floor with a displeased look. This way, his coming to Korea was meaningless. He seemed to need to come up with a plan.

“Senior. You haven’t rested much, have you?”

When Kwon Taekjoo arrived at headquarters, Yoon Jong-woo was there to greet him. Seeing Kwon Taekjoo’s sullen face, he felt awkwardly self-conscious. Kwon Taekjoo nodded carelessly and casually threw his arm over Yoon Jong-woo’s shoulder. Because he had completely drained the strength from his body, Yoon Jong-woo let out a silent scream. Kwon Taekjoo ignored him, gritting his teeth and groaning, and asked him to lead the way. Yoon Jong-woo, unable to abandon his overworked superior, personally escorted him to the section chief’s office.

The vacant position of Section Chief Im had been filled by Section Chief Kwak. Although he wasn’t a former agent like Section Chief Im, he was a figure well-versed in North Korea, to the extent that he was constantly evaluated as potential Unification Minister. A commonality he shared with Section Chief Im was his harsh treatment of subordinates.

No matter how physically fit Kwon Taekjoo was, not having rested for several months had worn him out. It felt like he was experiencing what overwork death was like. As he reached Section Chief Kwak’s office, he prayed he wouldn’t be assigned a new mission.

He took a deep breath, then knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

After the permission was granted, he braced himself again and stepped inside. When the waiting Kwon Taekjoo appeared, Section Chief Kwak gestured to the chair opposite him. Kwon Taekjoo silently walked over, gave a slight bow, and sat down.

Section Chief Kwak first praised his past achievements.

“You safely completed the last job. You worked hard.” 

“Well, that was my job to begin with.” 

“I heard you have strong pride in your work, and the more I see you, the more I understand what they mean.”

He smiled faintly, then changed the subject, asking, “Did you see the news today?”

“Are you referring to North Korea’s missile test recently?” 

“That’s right. We recently received intelligence that North Korea’s missile launch sites have been extensively relocated. Just yesterday, we also received a report that those launch sites are aimed skyward. And before that, they even conducted a missile test under the observation of their supreme leader, so it’s understandable that the government is closely monitoring that unusual movement. Perhaps related to that, I also heard that a high-ranking North Korean official will be making an unofficial visit to China soon. So, I need you to go and find out what’s being discussed.”

“Right now?” 

“I know you’re tired from returning yesterday. But what can we do when the matter is urgent? We can’t fix the barn after the horse is stolen.”

He even drooped his eyebrows, putting on a very regretful expression. However, he showed no intention of retracting the order.

“Since you’re telling me to go, I will, but I don’t know how to explain it to my mother.” 

“If necessary, I can even prepare an official document for you. You could also get help from the Russian embassy, where you’re concurrently employed.” 

“That’s a bit…” 

“Why? You seem quite close to them, don’t you? You frequent private exchanges.” 

“You know a lot.” 

“I’ve tried my best to get close to my subordinates.”

Section Chief Kwak smiled slyly. It was as if a badger had gone and a snake had come. Kwon Taekjoo silently got up and bowed, lest the conversation drag on. Section Chief Kwak saw off Kwon Taekjoo, who left his office without a word, saying they should have a drink when he returned.

A sigh escaped him spontaneously. At this point, he didn’t know if he was living to work or working to live. He had no motivation at all. He just wanted to rest. It seemed he would have to take a leave of absence after this mission was completed.