Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 87 (End)

At home, his mother was tidying up the kitchen. Even though she had done the dishes beforehand, there was still a lot to do, starting with organizing the plates. He forcibly ushered her to rest and finished tidying up himself.

When he returned to his room after a quick shower, it was past midnight. He threw himself onto the bed without hesitation. He hadn’t noticed it while moving, but then a sticky fatigue washed over him. It felt like he’d been busy all weekend, almost making his recent period of boredom seem meaningless. Though, even that was thanks to the rare leisure he was enjoying.

What he regretted most was not being able to spend proper time with Zhenya. A strange anxiety even crept in, wondering if another emergency would crop up and he’d be dragged away. Had he arrived home safely? Should he call him? Just as he was contemplating and picking up his phone, it suddenly vibrated.

“Open the door.”

It was a message from Zhenya. Just in case, he checked the sent time, and it was indeed sent just before.

“…What is it?”

Unsure, he got up. The only door in the apartment that could be referred to as “the door” was the front door. Unable to shake his suspicion, he slowly walked towards it, trying to call him. As expected, a faint vibration sound came from outside the door. He dazed-ly unlocked the door and opened it. Through the widening gap, Zhenya stood tall. He lowered his voice so his mother wouldn’t wake up and asked,

“What’s wrong? Did you leave something?”

“I told you not to look at me like a dog left behind.”

Muttering something he didn’t understand, Zhenya abruptly reached out both hands and grasped Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Then he pushed him inside and kissed him. The cool sensation of lips touched him first, followed by a lukewarm breath seeping in. Taekjoo patted Zhenya, whispering in a muffled voice,

“Let’s go to my room first.”

He grabbed Zhenya’s arm and passed through the dark hallway and living room. He didn’t breathe carelessly for a single moment. The distance to his room felt infinitely far. He hadn’t felt so anxious even during any infiltration mission.

Only after quietly closing the bedroom door did he let out a sigh of relief. He then chided Zhenya, who had been obediently held until then.

“You startled me, you bastard. Why are you suddenly doing things you don’t usually do?”

“Because, Taekjoo, you told me not to go.”

“When did I say that?”

“If you tell me to go with such a regretful face, dripping with reluctance, does that mean ‘go’?”

“I didn’t.”

“It’s always like this.”

He scoffed with a hint of sarcasm. Taekjoo didn’t understand what he had done. It was Zhenya who always blamed others, shifting responsibility onto them.

Suddenly, Zhenya twisted the arm he was holding and took Kwon Taekjoo’s hand. Then he pulled it close to his lips and provocatively grazed the prominent bones on the back of his hand.

“You looked like you couldn’t sleep alone, Taekjoo. As your lover, shouldn’t I at least give you some warm milk to help you sleep?”

“What? No…”

Their lips met again, cutting off his words. A hot, soft tongue roughly entwined with his tense, stiff tongue. Zhenya pressed down as if to block his throat, then sucked so tightly that the root of his tongue ached. Even when Taekjoo twisted his head to avoid it, Zhenya quickly followed, kissing him again.

When he came to his senses, he was lying on the bed. The bed, which had been perfect for sleeping alone, was now incredibly cramped. As he struggled, he kept hitting his elbows on the wall and the headboard. Yet, the persistent kiss showed no sign of stopping. He resisted fiercely but eventually gave up. Continuing to refuse would only provoke Zhenya’s desire for conquest. It was better to just go along with it and soothe him.

He gently caressed the back of Zhenya’s hand, which held his face with his thumb, and sweetly intertwined their tongues. Zhenya, who had been pushing with only force, gradually became more docile. Taekjoo naturally rolled over. Then he licked Zhenya’s tongue with a little more leisure. He gently sucked and pulled at Zhenya’s upper lip, and also leisurely stroked his thick upper body. Zhenya began to exhale soft, pleased breaths.

He sucked Zhenya’s lower lip with a smacking sound before letting go. Then he slowly traced a line of kisses down his sharp jawline. When he kissed the inside of his neck, Zhenya’s body swayed lightly. He continued to nibble at his neck, gradually lifting the hem of his shirt. He then intimately stroked Zhenya’s tightly built abs and chest in reverse. Zhenya lifted his head, helping Taekjoo take off his clothes. As he ruffled Zhenya’s rarely disheveled hair caught in his collar, he repeatedly took Zhenya’s warm ear into his mouth. Zhenya breathed languidly, his hands tightly gripping Kwon Taekjoo’s buttocks.

He gently took Zhenya’s hands and moved them away. Then he continued to trail kisses down his lips, jaw, Adam’s apple, cleavage, and abdomen. By the time he kissed below Zhenya’s navel, his member was subtly pressed against Taekjoo’s chin. He brazenly rubbed his nose against the twitching flesh, anticipating what was to come. Zhenya’s lips curled into a smile.

“For some reason, you’re doing something commendable.”

“You said you’d give me warm milk.”

Taekjoo glared at Zhenya, unzipped his pants, and pulled out the thick member. The flesh, faithfully erect during the kiss, sprang out and slapped his cheek. The heavy mass made him instinctively frown. Seeing Zhenya’s smirking face, it was clear he had done it on purpose.

“I’m only going to eat it. No fucking.”

He warned him clearly, then opened his mouth and took Zhenya in from the base. Just that alone made the entire flesh twitch like a live fish. He gently squeezed the side of the member with his lips, slowly moving up to the glans. Along the way, he stimulated prominent areas like veins or tendons with the tip of his tongue. Zhenya’s breathing became noticeably rougher. His abdomen also swayed significantly. Covering the constantly flaring urethra with his tongue, his face flushed red, he took the entire shaft into his mouth. With a dense pleasure, Zhenya’s head tilted back slightly. His jawline also subtly sharpened.

His mouth was completely full. He swallowed Zhenya’s member until his uvula was pressed, then slowly spat it out. When only the glans remained, he deliberately sucked on it with smacking sounds. He also gently probed the urethra with the tip of his tongue. His tongue quickly became slippery, and a faint, metallic taste spread. He didn’t mind and once again took Zhenya’s member into his mouth. He held it until one cheek bulged, then slowly moved his head. The sensitive flesh was stimulated in various ways, rubbing between his firm teeth and soft mucous membranes. Zhenya’s member quickly became shiny, as if covered in syrup. He glanced at Zhenya, whose cheeks were flushed peach-pink.

Zhenya reached out and caressed Kwon Taekjoo’s thick hair. His hand then moved down to gently caress his ear. A scattering of goosebumps rose. When Zhenya gripped his earlobe tightly in intense pleasure, even the fine hairs behind his ear stood on end.

“Haa, Taekjoo. Quite…”

Zhenya, who was licking his lips and about to say something, suddenly bit down on his molars. A faint groan mixed with his own breathless sighs. His pale skin was beautifully flushed.

As he watched Zhenya’s changes one by one, he also slowly stroked his own member. Just watching Zhenya moan softly was enough stimulation. His member quickly throbbed.

After teasing the middle part of the large member for a while, he suddenly pushed it deep into his throat. Zhenya’s member twitched, savoring the soft constriction of his throat. Because of that, Taekjoo choked and coughed several times. Every time his uvula was pushed back, he felt nauseous. Nevertheless, he stubbornly endured, lowering his head profoundly to suck the entire member. Every time his breathing was completely blocked by the flesh, his lower abdomen ached.

“Ugh…”

With each deep, swift suck, Zhenya’s head tilted further back. His lower body also automatically bucked, pressing against Taekjoo’s chin. He tried to suppress Zhenya’s squirming thighs, but it was no use. As soon as he half-spitted out the member, Zhenya thrust upwards, enveloping it completely in mucous membrane again. Zhenya even brazenly pushed into Taekjoo’s mouth, so much so that his fingers holding Zhenya’s body were bent backward. Saliva boiled in both cheeks. Some of it went down his throat with Zhenya’s member, while some oozed out as the member was pulled away. His jaw gradually began to ache.

As Kwon Taekjoo’s movements slowed, Zhenya suddenly grabbed his head. Then he thrust his lower body quickly, hard. He relentlessly pounded his member against Taekjoo’s rough palate. With the merciless thrusting, Taekjoo opened his mouth wide and gripped Zhenya’s thighs. Zhenya’s member, which had been hitting his uvula so hard it made him nauseous and going in and out beyond his throat, suddenly slammed into the inside of his cheek. Immediately after, something viscous was sprayed. He didn’t spit it out and swallowed it whole.

Zhenya, who was breathing heavily and watching the sight with satisfaction, reached out both hands.

“Come here.”

He put his hands under Kwon Taekjoo’s armpits and pulled him up as if carrying a child. Then he intimately licked his entire lips, which were wet with saliva and semen.

“Your lips will be swollen, you bastard.”

He grumbled, “You don’t know when to stop.” Zhenya didn’t care, kissing Kwon Taekjoo’s head with smacking sounds and naturally shifting him into one arm. Then he enveloped Kwon Taekjoo’s still un-ejaculated member. Even with just a light movement of his fingers stroking it, Kwon Taekjoo’s mouth naturally closed.

Zhenya subtly stroked Kwon Taekjoo’s member, urging on his excitement, and continuously pressed his lips to his forehead. Before long, Kwon Taekjoo began to squirm.

“This room, the soundproofing must be good, huh? I don’t think I even locked the door.”

Zhenya whispered, squeezing Kwon Taekjoo’s member. At this unexpected fact, Kwon Taekjoo flinched. Then Zhenya deliberately rolled and rubbed the glans, providing even more intense stimulation. Taekjoo belatedly tried to grab Zhenya’s arm, but he couldn’t stop him. He could only groan with his head buried in Zhenya’s neck. Unable to suppress his moans, he even bit Zhenya’s neck fiercely. Zhenya, in a somewhat precarious tone, told him not to stimulate him. Then he lifted Kwon Taekjoo’s chin with his fingers and abruptly kissed him.

Zhenya kneaded Kwon Taekjoo’s chest over his clothes and vigorously massaged his member. Again and again, thick exhales and groans burst from their locked mouths. The desire for the moment to pass quickly and the desire to savor it clashed. All Kwon Taekjoo could do was cling to Zhenya with his whole body and moan.

Soon, Kwon Taekjoo’s body, which had been twitching slightly, suddenly stiffened.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“Shhh.”

He ejaculated into Zhenya’s hand. Zhenya gently stroked his lower abdomen, continuously comforting him. His limbs went limp from the intense exhaustion. His eyelids felt heavy.

He had to send Zhenya away. His mother would surely be surprised if she saw him.

He fell asleep with such worries.

“Taekjoo. Hey! Aren’t you getting up?”

He shot up at the sound of his mother waking him. His mother’s face filled his wide vision. His heart sank. He frantically looked around.

“Mother, this, this…”

He tried to explain why Zhenya was sleeping next to him half-naked. But Zhenya himself was nowhere to be seen.

“…Where did he go?”

“Huh? Who?”

“He came yesterday.”

“What are you talking about?”

He dazed-ly examined himself. He was properly dressed, and his body felt quite refreshed, perhaps because he had slept soundly all night. Was it all a dream?

“You have to go to work. I’ll make you breakfast, so get ready quickly and come out.”

His mother left, and he dazed-ly looked around the room. There was no trace of Zhenya having been there. But it was too vivid to be a dream.

He pulled his pillow closer and sniffed it. As expected, he smelled Zhenya’s scent.

“Taekjoo, my Zayinka.”

And the voice that had whispered all night. It wasn’t a dream.

He left work early after stopping by headquarters. He still had nothing to do, and he wanted to visit the National Cemetery before the holidays.

Just as he was leaving the office, he ran into Yoon Jongwoo in the hallway. Yoon Jongwoo, who seemed to have been looking for Kwon Taekjoo, rushed over to him.

“Senior? Where are you going?”

“Oh, home.”

“Which home?”

“Home is home, what do you mean ‘which home’?”

“It’s the holidays soon, isn’t it?”

“Ah, you’re going to visit the graves? Well, it’s a relief you’re spending these holidays in Korea.”

“Right. This time I won’t have to eat songpyeon in the middle of the desert.”

“Songpyeon in the desert?”

“It’s a long story. I’m going.”

“Uh, wait…”

He was about to say goodbye and leave, but Yoon Jongwoo stopped him again. He seemed to have something else to say, dawdling. He also noticed Yoon Jongwoo holding something in his hand.

“Why?”

“Um, are you not meeting Yevgeny today?”

“Why would I meet him?”

“Because you’re best friends?”

“Who said we’re best friends?”

“Your mother seems to see him often, too, and he seems much closer than I thought.”

If even the dull Yoon Jongwoo noticed, then their guard must have really been down. He didn’t know what Zhenya had told him the day he was with him. Unlike Kwon Taekjoo, Zhenya didn’t try to hide their relationship. Of course, even so, Yoon Jongwoo would never think they were lovers.

He stood with his arms crossed.

“So?”

“Could you give this to Yevgeny-ssi… Or if you meet Olga-ssi, you can give it to her directly.”

He held out what he had been holding. It looked like snacks. Indeed, if Yoon Jongwoo hadn’t exchanged contact information with Olga, he seemed to have no way to deliver it directly.

“It’s nothing special, but Olga-ssi was curious about Korean desserts. So I quickly bought some popular snacks.”

“You’re really trying hard, aren’t you?”

“Just between us, don’t you think Olga-ssi is the embodiment of an elf?”

Are there elves who carry guns on their legs? He was dumbfounded.

“You really. Don’t put so much effort into a kid who’s just visiting, man.”

“What did I do?”

“It’s obvious, stop pretending you don’t know.”

“No, it’s not! I just purely want to promote Korea!”

“Oh, a great patriot has arrived. Shouldn’t we give a reward to a civil servant like this?”

He sneered, snatching the bag from Yoon Jongwoo’s hand. He even said, “I’m going to eat all of this,” loud enough for Yoon Jongwoo to hear.

“You don’t usually eat snacks.”

“Take my advice to heart. Those siblings are nothing without their looks.”

“So, Senior, are you meeting Yevgeny-ssi just for his looks too?”

“……”

He suddenly had nothing to say. It wasn’t entirely untrue, but he couldn’t affirm it either.

“This kid is getting cheeky. Move.”

He pushed Yoon Jongwoo aside and walked away. Yoon Jongwoo followed for a bit, then said again, “Please take care of it.” Taekjoo pretended not to hear him and headed for the parking lot. In the car, he first put the received snack bag safely under the passenger seat.

He had to pick up his mother, so he stopped by home first. As he parked and got out, the elevator happened to come down. As soon as the door opened, he was about to get in but bumped right into someone getting out. He gasped, as it was none other than Zhenya.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“But you’re leaving already?”

“That aide of mine is making a fuss, saying I absolutely have to show up today. He wants to show off just because it’s the holidays.”

It wasn’t that he wanted to show off; he was probably genuinely busy. There were many official events at the embassy during the holidays. Even an ambassador who lived off his reputation had to attend events that solidified peaceful cooperation between the two countries. Unless he truly wanted to be disliked and forcibly repatriated.

He was about to get into the elevator, but Zhenya blocked his way. He also grabbed the safety bar of the closing door and reopened it. One hand was already on Kwon Taekjoo’s waist.

“Should I not go?”

“What are you talking about? Go quickly and come back.”

“You made a regretful face again.”

“I didn’t.”

He removed Zhenya’s hand from his waist. Zhenya rubbed the bridge of his nose against Kwon Taekjoo’s earlobe and cheek.

“Taekjoo. The scent is gone already.”

“Of course, I showered. Hurry up and go.”

He pushed Zhenya’s back, sending him outside. Just as the door was about to close, Zhenya unhesitatingly put both arms through and grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Taekjoo was startled and tried to press the open button, but Zhenya’s face pushed forward and kissed him first.

“Mmm… Hey, you, your arm…”

He pulled his head back, trying to stop him, but Zhenya didn’t care and rubbed his lips against Taekjoo’s. Zhenya pressed down on Taekjoo’s tongue, which kept protesting, then roughly overlapped and licked his own tongue with Taekjoo’s. Helplessly enduring, he barely managed to press the open button to prevent the door from closing. When Zhenya had kissed him to his satisfaction and pulled away, Taekjoo finally hit him.

“You’ll get hurt, you bastard.”

“Hurt? From just this? As if I’m that precious to you.”

He scoffed, grinning. No matter how much he worried about him, Zhenya was always like this. “Go,” he said, pushing Zhenya away, then pressed the close button. Zhenya didn’t leave until both doors were completely closed. It was as if he wouldn’t do that even if he was sending a five-year-old child off alone. Who was more precious to whom? He felt itchy for no reason and scratched his chest idly.

While going up, he tidied his disheveled clothes. He also rubbed his wet lips with the back of his hand to wipe them clean.

“Mother. I’m home.”

He raised his voice as he entered the house. His mother’s voice came from the kitchen. Was she on the phone? He headed that way without suspicion, but then he saw an unwelcome back of a head.

“Taekjoo. You’re early, aren’t you?”

Olga turned around, holding a teacup. Both Zhenya and she visited other people’s homes as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Anyway, you two are really like siblings, aren’t you?”

“Oh? What are you talking about? Are you talking about me and that bastard? That’s rude.”

“No, you two really do look alike.”

When he asserted it, she made a displeased face. She looked as if she had been terribly insulted. He didn’t know for sure, but Zhenya would probably react the exact same way. Even that point was similar.

But Olga’s attire, as she flared up, was unusual. She, who always preferred flamboyant outfits like a chameleon, was wearing a black dress and a black hat with mesh today.

“You… Why are you dressed like that?”

“Why do you ask? It’s proper etiquette to wear a dress code when going to a memorial. I bought it in a hurry, is it okay?”

He looked at his mother with a disbelieving gaze. His mother, oblivious, smiled contentedly.

“She said she wanted to greet your father and brother while she was here. Such a young lady, as compassionate as the ambassador.”

No way. She probably just wanted to be melancholic in a mourning-like dress.

When he looked at her disapprovingly, she urged him on, pretending not to know.

“Hurry and get ready. She said it’s not good to go too late there.”

The tables had completely turned. His head began to ache.

“There are many delicious snacks in Korea, aren’t there? I didn’t expect much since rice is the staple food.”

Olga continuously tore open snacks and tasted them. She also offered some to his mother occasionally. She even put a few directly into his mother’s mouth. The two sat side by side in the back seat, continuing their friendly conversation, which they couldn’t possibly understand. It was so harmonious that Kwon Taekjoo couldn’t find a chance to interject. He just acted as their driver.

He quietly opened the window. It was to air out the unique smell of the snacks. He wasn’t particularly a clean freak, but the crumbs that kept falling and flying around bothered him. Even when he subtly gave her a look, Olga didn’t care. She even closed the window again, saying, “Your hair will get messed up.” It was a problem with those aristocratic bastards.

“So, nothing special happened for a year? I even checked overseas news occasionally, just in case.”

Olga asked as she tore open the last snack. Finding news of a blood relative’s well-being in overseas news – this was truly an extraordinary family.

“Yeah. Since coming to Korea, he hasn’t harmed anyone, and even though he acts like a lunatic sometimes, he listens quite well.”

“…Is that human about to die?”

She muttered indifferently. When she handed the newly opened snack to his mother, she wore an incomparably pure smile. He wondered if that was also a characteristic of the Bogdanov bloodline.

“Or perhaps he met an excellent trainer?”

Olga looked at the rearview mirror and smiled slyly.

“What does a child know…”

“I know where that bastard went last night without a word, and where he was until dawn, don’t I? Strangely, that bastard and his bedroom had the same scent.”

She deliberately leaned forward and sniffed. Soon, a breathy sound came from his ear. A mischievous smile spread across Olga’s face.

“This smell right now.”

“…Is having a dog’s nose also a family trait?”

“I am sensitive to smells. When I met Taekjoo at Aginokki, he reeked of that bastard. I knew they were sleeping together a long time ago.”

“Sleeping together…”

“But if you’re going to give off such suspicious smells and can’t bear to be apart for a night, why don’t you just live together?”

She said anything and everything in front of his mother. He didn’t know if Russians had no concept of etiquette or respect, or if the Bogdanov siblings were uniquely like that.

Just then, they arrived at the parking lot, and he stopped the car.

“We’re here, get out.”

“Oh? Surprisingly shy, aren’t you?”

Olga openly chuckled. His mother, clueless, laughed along. He felt like he had no one on his side.

After parking, he collected the flower basket and alcohol and headed towards the gravesite. Olga slowly followed, taking in the surrounding scenery.

“Is this a public cemetery?”

“Something similar. It’s where those who died in the line of duty are buried.”

“Ah, I see. Your father was a soldier, wasn’t he, Taekjoo? And your brother too. It must have been an honorable death.”

“There’s no such thing as an honorable death.”

He cut her off sharply. His face had hardened. Olga tilted her head and asked, “Is that so?”

“I thought Taekjoo also worked that job to live honorably and die honorably?”

“I just do it. It just ended up that way, and now I don’t know what else I would do.”

“Hmm. Is it a calling, then? Like fate, and sometimes an inescapable cycle.”

Is that so? He couldn’t answer when asked why he did such a dangerous job. He had never specifically thought about the reason. It was something he had done so naturally until now, and it had become a routine, like eating and sleeping. Just as he couldn’t live without eating and sleeping, it felt like he wouldn’t be living if he stopped working.

During their conversation, they arrived at his father’s grave. He poured a cup of alcohol in front of the tombstone and placed the flower basket down. His mother continuously wiped the clean tombstone, murmuring to his father. After watching them for a long time, Olga opened her mouth.

“Still, your parents seemed to have a good relationship in life, didn’t they, Taekjoo?”

“Well, I guess so? It was pretty ordinary.”

“Is it ordinary to miss someone who is already dead and gone like that? I thought that only happened in novels. It’s unthinkable in my family.”

Olga nodded and then brought up an unexpected topic.

“That bastard came to Russia recently, didn’t he? For his mother’s death anniversary.”

“He… did?”

This was news to him. Zhenya had said he was going to Russia for business, but he hadn’t mentioned a single word about his mother’s death anniversary. Even after returning, he had only talked about the engagement.

“You didn’t know? Well, that human doesn’t talk much about himself.”

“When did your mother pass away?”

“My mother?”

Olga looked puzzled, as if she had been asked a strange question. Then she reconsidered the direction of the conversation and gasped with understanding.

“Ah, Taekjoo doesn’t know anything, does he? My brothers and I have different mothers. My brothers’ mother died before I was born, and my mother remarried afterward. That’s why there’s such a big age gap between us.”

“So his mother died when he was young?”

“That’s right.”

“So that’s why…”

He wondered if that deficiency had nurtured Zhenya into a ‘psycho’.

“What do you mean by ‘that’?”

“When he was young, he must have had a strong desire for maternal affection, too. He probably hated being separated.”

“Hmm… Is that so? None of my brothers ever felt their mother’s touch. Their mother wasn’t a very maternal person. As you know, Taekjoo, our family has always had arranged marriages for generations. My brothers’ mother was the same. She was an independent person and had no attachment to a loveless marriage or a family built without affection. So she was rarely home, and she seemed to prefer being alone rather than spending time with her family. She even made a vow with my father that their marital duty was fulfilled after having three sons. She really died not long after that bastard was born. On the sea during a yacht trip. They couldn’t recover her body, so they couldn’t make a separate grave. Immediately after that, my father remarried my mother. There was a lot of talk around. People said my father might have killed my brothers’ mother to marry my mother. He gained enormous wealth and power through another arranged marriage.”

She shrugged, as if such rumors were plausible. Both Zhenya and Olga spoke indifferently about things related to themselves, as if it were someone else’s business.

“It’s not something to boast about, but my father also has a remarkable history with women. Yet, he’s strict about legitimate heirs, so he consistently conducted paternity tests every time one of us was born. He didn’t have children with other women besides his two official wives. Because of that, we don’t have any illegitimate siblings.”

The more he listened, the more surprised he was. Was that how they grew up, without attachment to family, having indiscriminate sex lives, and preferring to be alone? Not all siblings were like that, so their personalities must have been somewhat innate. But if he had grown up in a somewhat normal family, Zhenya might not have been called a ‘psycho’.

He suddenly remembered Zhenya teasing him for being a mama’s boy. Zhenya found his sense of responsibility, duty, and guilt towards his mother strange. He also found it unfamiliar that his mother lived only for Kwon Taekjoo. Just as Zhenya’s family history was alien to Kwon Taekjoo, it must have been the same for Zhenya.

“I didn’t know, he never talked about it at all.”

“Well, it’s not a good story. My father doesn’t observe her death anniversary separately. I don’t know what my other brothers do. But that bastard, every year around that time, he puts aside whatever he’s doing and secludes himself in Aginokki. I don’t know if he’s honoring his dead mother in his own way, or if his heart just feels restless.”

Kwon Taekjoo also couldn’t guess Zhenya’s thoughts. However, he could clearly picture the confusion Zhenya must have suffered every year on his birth mother’s death anniversary. He just felt sorry for the man who didn’t even know the name of that emotion.

“My father seems to think of us as nothing more than racehorses. Even for this death anniversary, he knew that the bastard would return without fail and pushed for the engagement. Did he not tell you about that either?”

“I heard bits and pieces.”

Olga nodded, elaborating.

“As you know, Taekjoo, that bastard has such a bad reputation. What family would willingly become in-laws with him while sober? So for a while, there was no talk of engagement or marriage at all. But this time, it seems they found a suitable match. Just between us, that family is no pushover either. And the person mentioned as the fiancée is not someone easy to deal with.”

Not easy to deal with, what kind of person could she be? Since she was a fiancée, she would naturally be a woman. And around Zhenya’s age?

He had many questions but didn’t ask. He didn’t want to show that he cared. No, he didn’t even want to admit it to himself. It was childish, but that’s how it was.

“Aren’t you curious about what kind of person she is, or how that bastard reacted?”

“Well…”

“Hmm. That bastard never listens to my father’s words. Even when my brothers try to make him do something, he never moves without being bribed. So I naturally expected him to rebel, but surprisingly, he readily agreed? I wondered why he was so humbly accepting the family’s will. It wasn’t that at all. He eventually caused a scene.”

“A scene? What kind of…”

“They hastily prepared the engagement ceremony, hoping that the human wouldn’t change his mind. But then the actual parties didn’t show up. Just when we thought it was falling apart, outside became noisy. When I went out, the two of them had arrived, but they looked like they’d been in a brawl. The cars were all crumpled as if they’d been in a bumper car game, and they even showed up with a string of traffic police, you know? We checked the road CCTV later, and it was practically a bumper car game. Actually, the two of them knew each other since childhood because their families had frequent interactions. Their personalities were exactly the same, so their relationship was terribly bad. Almost like arch-rivals.”

He grew even more curious about the fiancée. A female Zhenya. Just imagining it made his head ache.

“And that wasn’t the end of it. That crazy bastard brought dynamite, saying they should set off fireworks on such a good day. The adults’ expressions were a sight to behold. It’s a shame I can’t show you.”

She looked genuinely regretful. She called Zhenya a crazy bastard without hesitation, but she seemed to quite like his actions.

“He warned them that if they tried to boss him around again, he’d give them a fireworks display first, you know? That bastard is a man of his word. It’s possible he’s already got a missile or two ready for launch somewhere. So it just fizzled out, you see.”

He listened silently, then covered his eyes. There was no basis for Zhenya having caused that commotion because of Kwon Taekjoo. It was simply because he disliked being tied down somewhere, and he just showed his family who was boss for trying to force an engagement on him against his will.

It was definitely that, but for some reason, his ears felt hot. He found himself looking for a place to hide, as if he had been there with them.

He hadn’t known that and had secretly been feeling down. Zhenya had mentioned the engagement so casually, and he had come late without contact because of it, so he had just assumed that was all there was to it.

“If you want to obsess, bind, and control where I am, who I meet, and what I do, then do it.”

“If you don’t like an engagement or marriage without love, then openly cause a ruckus. I’ll find it cute.”

Zhenya’s subtly pleased face came to mind. He felt unnecessarily embarrassed and ashamed.

“Taekjoo, since we’re here, just take one picture of me.”

Just then, Olga held out her phone. She had already unfurled a lace parasol.

“You want to take pictures in front of a grave?”

“I’m sick, aren’t I? I don’t know what might happen tomorrow, so I have to capture and cherish every moment.”

She instilled a strange sense of guilt in him. He had no choice but to press the shutter a couple of times and then tossed the phone back. It wasn’t shaky, and all her features were clear. Yet, Olga scolded him to take it again carefully.

In the end, he had to take dozens of photos in one spot. “Even after all that help, there’s nothing salvageable,” she said. If she weren’t a woman, he would have punched her.

“Well, you worked hard, so I’ll give you this.”

She pulled something out of her bag and handed it to him as a reward. It was a picture of a boy. He carelessly looked at it and let out a low gasp.

“Oh? This kid…”

The child in the picture looked exactly like the one who often appeared in his dreams. He had vaguely assumed it was Zhenya, but he had never seen a picture of Zhenya as a child, so he hadn’t been sure.

“Is this Zhenya, that bastard?”

“Yes. Have you seen him before?”

“…No.”

“Isn’t he pretty?”

“Well…”

“I’ve never seen such a pretty kid in my life. That’s why I carry it around, no other meaning.”

She drew a line, telling him not to think anything strange. Then she arbitrarily shoved the picture into Kwon Taekjoo’s jacket pocket.

“It’s precious, I only have one, but take it.”

“No thanks.”

“Seriously, just take it when I offer. If that bastard pisses you off, you can look at this to calm down. It’s quite effective, actually.”

She gave a thumbs-up, guaranteeing its effectiveness. He scoffed, dumbfounded.

Olga soon looked around at the closely arrayed tombstones.

“Though I haven’t lived longer than Taekjoo, always being one step away from death makes me realize. People always want to be happy and wish only good things to happen, but what fun would life be if it were just like that? Sometimes, you have to experience sadness, depression, pain, and suffering to know how precious ordinary luck and happiness are when they come next.”

In that sense, he’s pitiful, she continued.

“That bastard is a person lacking emotions. In his world, there are only things that interest him and things that are boring; there’s no joy, happiness, sadness, or pain. In fact, this is the first time he’s shown interest in one person for so long. I thought he would live and die like that his whole life, but I’ve started to think he might change.”

“What’s so grand about that?”

“It’s such an astonishing reversal. The hero who went to save the beauty got caught by Koschei. But I like this ending. I know it’s a big ask, but please take good care of him. Taekjoo, even you should pity that monster.”

After her entreaty, Olga followed his mother to his brother’s grave. He stood alone for a moment, then took out the picture from his jacket. Young Zhenya had no particular expression. He looked exactly like he did in his dreams. Taekjoo lightly poked Zhenya’s seemingly stubborn cheek.

Even without being asked, he was already feeling an overwhelming amount of pity, to the point of being absurd. There was someone else he should be worrying about and feeling sorry for, but even he couldn’t understand himself.

Suddenly, he thought of Zhenya. He took out his phone, wondering if he should call him. Just then, it vibrated. It was Zhenya.

The sun began to set. The wind also grew quite chilly. He sent his mother and Olga back first and waited alone for Zhenya. He had just notified Zhenya, who called him as soon as he finished work, to come over here.

Before long, the unique engine sound came from behind the parking lot. He turned his head and saw Zhenya walking towards him, his long clothes fluttering. Except for his face, he was entirely clad in black from his neck to his feet. Taekjoo chuckled, and Zhenya, who was now right in front of him, looked puzzled.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you look like the ‘Grim Reaper’.”

“What’s that?”

“Someone who looks like you.”

He still looked clueless. Taekjoo didn’t elaborate. He just gestured with his chin at the two lilies Zhenya was holding and asked, “What are those?”

“You said this is a place to commemorate the dead. Where your kin are buried.”

“Ah, I see. But what do we do? It’s too late to go in now.”

Zhenya shrugged indifferently. He tilted the lilies he was holding towards Kwon Taekjoo, offering them.

“Unavoidable. Taekjoo, I’ll give them to you.”

“That’s horrifyingly romantic. The first flowers I’ve ever received are for an offering.”

He grumbled, burying his nose in the lilies. A rich, fragrant smell wafted up. He had never received flowers as a gift except for entrance or graduation ceremonies. Even though they were just passed on to him, he didn’t feel bad about it at all.

He fiddled with the unpackaged flowers and began to speak.

“My father and brother are sleeping there. Both of them asked me to take care of my mother. As if they knew they wouldn’t be able to. Now, my mother only has me.”

“Why are you telling me something I already know?”

“Because I feel so petty. You can’t always be my first priority. I can’t abandon everything and only look at you like you do. My mother might be an excuse. I worry about my mother, but I don’t quit the things my mother dislikes. I can’t give up my current job, my mother, or you. I’m just that rotten.”

He reached out and grabbed Zhenya’s sleeve. Zhenya rarely showed surprise. He couldn’t be sure since he wasn’t looking at his face.

“If you’re next to me, your limited patience will constantly be tested. Even so, I hope you, you alone, won’t get tired and will keep waiting. I don’t want to be given up on by you too. I’m selfish like that.”

He looked up at Zhenya. Zhenya’s face was considerably flustered by the unexpected situation.

“…Taekjoo?”

“I’m complaining right now. You said I could. You said it was okay.”

Zhenya’s somewhat dazed face softened instantly. What a hopeless monster, and yet so beautiful. He rushed at Zhenya as if to tackle him, kissing him boldly. Even in the wide-open outdoor parking lot, he felt no hesitation. Their lips pressed firmly together, then slowly parted. A sigh-like exhale escaped.

The next moment, his arms were suddenly grabbed. Then, before he could even step back, he was pulled back by Zhenya. A fervent kiss followed, as if long-separated lovers were making up for lost time. They thoroughly stole each other’s breath, yet reluctantly pulled apart.

“Taekjoo. Do what you want. I’ll do the same. I came all this way to catch you, and even now, every single moment, I’m pursuing you. And I will continue to do so. Sometimes it’s annoying, but one thing is clear. There’s been no greater entertainment in my life.”

He quietly looked into Zhenya’s crimson eyes. Only Kwon Taekjoo himself was reflected in them. The situation in his own eyes would be no different.

He was caressing Zhenya’s chin, about to kiss him again, when his silent phone suddenly rang. He had a bad feeling. He quickly checked the caller ID. It was as expected. He let out a heavy sigh and touched the call button.

“Yes, this is Kwon Taekjoo.”

He listened silently to the other person. The call ended quickly. It was a summons from headquarters, telling him to rush over immediately. He had wondered why it had been quiet for a while.

He scratched behind his ear awkwardly.

“Hey, listen…”

“The little woman will worry again.”

Zhenya muttered to himself and led his hand. Then he bit his finger, pretending to kiss the back of his hand. It stung quite a bit, making Taekjoo frown. After leaving a clear teeth mark on his knuckle, Zhenya let go of his hand.

“I don’t make a habit of it, but I’ll try to come up with a good excuse.”

For some reason, Zhenya offered to help and nodded, telling him to go. Feeling suspicious, Taekjoo slowly backed away.

“I’m going?”

“See you soon.”

He got into the car, leaving Zhenya grinning wryly behind him. But even after starting the engine and turning the car around, he didn’t immediately drive off. He flashed his taillights a couple of times, as if saying goodbye again, before speeding away. It was a blunt man’s adorable farewell. A deep laugh burst from Zhenya, who had been watching.

Another ordinary, yet never ordinary, day was passing.

<End>