Passion Novel - Volume 3 - Chapter 73

After Ilay had fully recovered and Jeong Taeui had fallen ill in his place, Ilay would look into Jeong Taeui’s room two or three times a day. When he was groaning and lying in bed, he would poke his head in as if checking his condition, then leave. Even when Jeong Taeui was well enough to move around and fulfill his duties as a adjutant, Ilay would come to Jeong Taeui’s room every night without reason, babble nonsense, and then leave.

So, inwardly, he had been trying to soothe his resentment, thinking, Perhaps this guy is actually sorry, even if he doesn’t show it outwardly.

But this was the conclusion.

Jeong Taeui sighed, “Hmm.” He was too lazy to argue, and he didn’t expect much from this guy’s character anyway. There was no need to get angry again. Though it would be a lie to say his mood hadn’t soured a bit.

“No contact… You were checking everything anyway, weren’t you?”

Jeong Taeui indicated the phone with his chin and sighed. Ilay looked at Jeong Taeui for a moment, then gave up on beating around the bush and smiled as usual.

“Because they’re such peculiar twins, I thought maybe they could contact each other through some unscientific method.”

“Well, if something like that exists, I’d like to learn it too. It seems like it would be very useful for exams or job interviews.”

He mumbled, thinking that if he could communicate with Jeong Jaeui through unscientific means, he wouldn’t fear anything in this world.

Jeong Taeui abruptly got up from the bed. He was craving beer. He felt like he should go to his uncle’s room and steal a few cans. If he rummaged around well, he might even find soju. He wasn’t particularly fond of soju, but sometimes it was decent when he felt a bit annoyed.

“So, if you contact my brother, what do you want to say? Ask him to make weapons? I heard he doesn’t make them after leaving UNHRDO.”

His uncle had gone to Australia, so his room would naturally be locked, but Jeong Taeui had a key in his drawer that he’d received directly from his uncle. Jingling the keychain in his hand, Jeong Taeui turned to Ilay and he advised him with good intentions.

“Jaeui hyung, once he says he won’t do something, he won’t. He’s a man of few words and a gentle personality, so sometimes people underestimate him and try to persuade him against his will, but there hasn’t been a single successful case. He’s not someone who can be threatened either.”

Adding, “Is it even possible to properly threaten that lucky person?” Jeong Taeui made to leave the room. However, Ilay, who should have shown signs of leaving with him in response to that hint, remained seated in his chair, unmoving, and gazed intently at Jeong Taeui.

“…I’m thinking of going to Uncle’s room for a bit. Are you going to stay here?”

“…No. I’ll get up too.”

When Jeong Taeui spoke, Ilay readily stood up and followed him. Right, this guy’s room was right next to Uncle’s, Jeong Taeui thought, heading towards the elevator. While walking with Ilay about half a step behind him, they occasionally ran into colleagues. Jeong Taeui also bore the full brunt of his colleagues’ hostile gazes the moment they saw Ilay, and even though it was something he was accustomed to by now, he sighed.

Jeong Taeui only managed to escape those grim gazes once the elevator doors closed. He muttered to himself, “But if you think about it, if there’s a monster-like bastard on the enemy’s side, you should fear and hate them, but if they’re on our side, shouldn’t we gladly welcome them? Our combat strength increases, after all.”

“That depends on the monster’s track record. But who is this monster, exactly?” Ilay gently asked back, standing beside Jeong Taeui. Jeong Taeui hesitated, then kept quiet. Indeed, a guy who had wielded weapons—and that monster-like guy’s bare hands were also weapons—countless times against his colleagues wouldn’t exactly be seen favorably even if he joined their side.

Moreover, recalling his memories, even when this guy was in the European branch, the European branch members didn’t trust, follow, or respect him. A fleeting, unfortunate feeling brushed past him. It was a sadness he couldn’t speak to anyone about.

Life was an intricate weave of countless people, threads intertwining one by one, yet this man seemed to stand alone, detached. He, being alone, didn’t know what it meant to be unfortunate. He didn’t know that emptiness. He was a man who had never known such emotions from the start. Perhaps that indifferent heart, which scoffed at such sentiments, was actually a blessing for him. If he hadn’t known it until now, wishing for him to never know it going forward was what was best for him. That was bitter and regretful, though if he told this man, he would just laugh.

“If you’re suddenly stabbed in some dirty alley and collapse, and no one comes to save you and you just die there, I’ll be the only one to mourn you.”

Just before the elevator stopped at the first basement floor, Jeong Taeui muttered. At his blunt voice, which was hard to distinguish between comfort and mockery, Ilay made an incredibly strange face. He stared at Jeong Taeui as if dumbfounded, then let out a “Ha!” He didn’t get angry, unexpectedly. Instead, he laughed aloud as if he’d heard something amusing, merely saying, “I appreciate that.” Seeing him say such things so nonchalantly, Jeong Taeui thought, Perhaps I’ve become quite bold, or maybe prickly, after coming to this place and being knocked around. Maybe it’s a good change, in its own way, and waited for the elevator doors to open.

Jeong Taeui, stepping out as the doors opened, paused. Someone was standing in front of the elevator. While it might be understandable on the sixth basement floor, which had a lot of people, such a situation was rare on the first basement floor, where few people lived.

Rudolph Gentil, the person standing there, also raised an eyebrow briefly, surprised by the unexpected encounter, but then he calmly smiled after confirming Jeong Taeui’s and Ilay’s faces.

“You two will have your work cut out for you starting tonight.”

To his customary greeting, Ilay also gave a customary reply.

“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s only natural to ensure things conclude without a hitch.”

Jeong Taeui, who couldn’t—and didn’t intend to—exchange words with them given his status as a adjutant, silently listened to their rote conversation. As he did, he was greatly surprised. That man can actually speak such polite and formal phrases. Perhaps he even pretends to be a normal person when he goes to a company or other places.

Rudolph, after a brief exchange with Ilay, turned his gaze to Jeong Taeui. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Have you gotten used to life here? You must miss your family, not being able to see them often.”

“Ah… well, we weren’t that close anyway. Thank you for your concern.”

Jeong Taeui replied, recalling his only remaining family. There truly were many people, both here and there, who subtly asked about his brother. Rudolph smiled, saying, “Is that so?”, then ended the conversation appropriately and moved on. Politely seeing him off, they remained silent for a moment even after Rudolph disappeared into the elevator.

“Is it some kind of event week, or something? I don’t know why so many people are looking for my brother these days,” Jeong Taeui grumbled, and Ilay laughed.

“It’s not just these days; it’s always been like that. You just didn’t know. And now that his whereabouts are unknown, it’s probably even more so.”

“Hmm… If there’s any news about my brother, Uncle would surely report it.”

Jeong Taeui tapped the elevator door with his fingertip and turned around. Gentil, his uncle’s superior, was still an inscrutable person. Jeong Taeui didn’t need to know him, but he wasn’t particularly fond of him. Mumbling about getting a few cans of beer, he headed to his uncle’s room, while Ilay, walking beside him with a subtle smile, muttered almost inaudibly.

“Instructor Jeong Changin doesn’t particularly like Gentil.”

Jeong Taeui slowed his steps slightly. He glanced at Ilay, but Ilay wasn’t looking at him. Ilay walked calmly, looking ahead, then met his gaze briefly, chuckled, and lightly waved his hand.

“Just kidding.”

“…”

Jeong Taeui shrugged, meaning it didn’t matter. This kind of talk never led to a good outcome if one thought too deeply about its hidden meaning. It was like that in school, and it was like that in the military.

Well, how many subordinates actually like their superiors? Jeong Taeui decided to take it easy.

Soon, they arrived at his uncle’s room. Ilay’s room was a bit further down the corridor. Jeong Taeui, who was opening his uncle’s door with a key, suddenly realized Ilay had stopped beside him and turned around.

“…Why?”

Although he had unlocked the door, he hesitated to let someone casually into a room that wasn’t his, so Jeong Taeui asked, still holding the doorknob. It meant both, “Is there something else you need?” and “I can’t let you into this room.”

Ilay suddenly smiled faintly, then stretched out his arm and placed his hand on the wall a little distance from Jeong Taeui’s face. Half-trapped between the wall and Ilay, Jeong Taeui frowned slightly. What is he trying to do now?

“It seems you’re well again now.” Ilay whispered, drawing out the end of his sentence subtly. Jeong Taeui glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“It seems you don’t like it that I’m able to walk around properly and finish my duties without a hitch.”

As he spoke with great displeasure, jingling the key, Ilay laughed.

“Starting tonight, you’ll be too busy dealing with the South American bastards for a while, so I was thinking we might as well loosen up a bit. Besides, if we keep too much distance, we’ll never get used to each other, will we?”

“I have no intention of getting used to you whatsoever,” Jeong Taeui said firmly. He felt like he was going to develop a trauma, something he hadn’t had despite living a rough and harsh life. It was so bad that last night, he’d seen sausages the size of his forearm in a dream and was terrified. Thinking of a few days ago when he’d been pale after seeing bloody stool in the bathroom, Jeong Taeui’s face hardened. I can’t possibly see that again, unless it’s like a game of hopscotch… he thought, then flinched on his own accord and shook his head, glaring at the awkwardly smiling Ilay with wary eyes.

“Jeong Taeui. I don’t know if you realize this yourself, but… I never thought your body, which doesn’t seem particularly alluring or gently attractive, would be such an exquisite instrument.”

Jeong Taeui frowned and tilted his head. For a moment, he had to rack his brain to understand what he had just heard.

“What…”

“You suck so tenaciously, I thought I was going to be devoured. And you were like that even while crying that it hurt so much. What kind of thing will you become once you get used to it? Just thinking about it makes me ache… Whoa there.”

Ilay, who had been whispering in Jeong Taeui’s ear, laughed and subtly shifted back. Jeong Taeui, who had swung his hand gripping the key at Ilay’s temple, glared at him with dumbfounded eyes. This guy seemed to be changing his profession from a madman to a pervert. However, Ilay lightly grabbed Jeong Taeui’s wrist and stood close to him. Ilay’s thickly bulging crotch touched Jeong Taeui’s front, who had the door at his back.

“This bastard, I knew he was really bad, but… Is that what you say to someone you’ve overpowered, you son of a bitch?!”

“You’d do well to listen. There’s no man who isn’t crazy about an exquisite instrument, so I’m advising you to be careful about who you play with. It would be troublesome if you planned for a light one-night stand and ended up with a stalker, wouldn’t it, hmm?”

Ilay, who had whispered with a smile, kissed Jeong Taeui the moment he finished speaking. It might be more accurate to say he tried to swallow Jeong Taeui’s mouth. He sucked vigorously at the base of his tongue, then intimately licked from his teeth to his gums, to his lips, before pulling away. He slowly rotated his hips, which were pressed tightly against Jeong Taeui’s, before stepping back half a step.

Ilay, watching Jeong Taeui rub his mouth with the back of his hand, his face overtly displeased, licked his own lips regretfully, then lightly squeezed and released his crotch once.

“I told you not to take it so seriously. It’s just a matter of lightly satisfying desires with someone’s help. You and I have done it several times already, haven’t we?”

“That’s only when you just ‘helped out.’ I almost died with my body split in two, so what kind of desire are you talking about? Is it enough if only you satisfy yours?”

When Jeong Taeui snapped back fiercely, Ilay laughed aloud. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that,” he said, laughing for a long time at Jeong Taeui’s face, who then threw a punch that missed, and Jeong Taeui sighed like a groan.

“If anyone wants to satisfy their desires, they can find someone else, can’t they? As you said, there are plenty of guys I know who lightly satisfy their desires with colleagues.”

Then, Ilay suddenly stopped laughing. He blinked, staring intently at Jeong Taeui as if he had heard something new he had never considered before, then tilted his head and mumbled to himself, “Yeah, you’re right about that too.”

Thinking it would be hard to find someone as self-centered as this, Jeong Taeui shooed Ilay away frantically, then went into his uncle’s room and closed the door.

He felt uneasy. That damn bastard truly had a knack for digging up forgotten grudges.

He pulled out all ten or so cans of beer from the refrigerator and chugged them down at once, feeling a slight release. Instead, his stomach was full, and he had to roll around on the floor.

***

There’s no building that doesn’t have places where people rarely go. In the military, in the academy, in high school, in middle school, and even since elementary school, Jeong Taeui had made it his hobby to find such places. He knew that if he found such places well, he could use them handily.

In elementary school, it was a clearing surrounded by bushes behind the school. He used it to play with a few like-minded friends, avoiding adults or friends who bothered him by asking about his brother. In middle school, it was between the inner shelves of the old records storage room in the library. It was great for skipping boring classes and taking naps. In high school, it was the art room in the closed annex. It was perfect for an occasional cigarette. When autumn lingered, cold winds would blow in, making it just right for stashing a few cans of beer. It was a bit difficult transitioning from the academy to the military, given his status as a cadet and then an officer, and with patrols constantly circulating, but even then, he could always find a spot. He would find a secluded corner and enjoy a leisurely rest.

He got caught a few times and suffered severe punishments, but each time he enjoyed the thrill of finding a new place. That habit followed him everywhere. Even after being discharged and returning home, Jeong Taeui would occasionally bring a chair to the back of the water tank on the rooftop and go up there to relax by himself.

So, it was no different here. As soon as he arrived at the Asia branch, Jeong Taeui explored the building, casually looking around, and had found a couple of secluded spots. This was one of them: a small emergency staircase on the west side connecting the third and second basement floors. Few people used the narrow stairs, which were barely wide enough for two people to pass side-by-side. To the extent that the very existence of the stairs seemed questionable, Jeong Taeui had never seen anyone there during his time here. Besides Jeong Taeui, there seemed to be others who occasionally loitered there, as evidenced by discarded tissue papers, but he had never directly encountered anyone.

Jeong Taeui sat on the stairs, sipping beer, and let out a satisfied “Haa!” Everything tasted like honey when he was hiding in a corner like this, while others were sweating blood and suffering.

A group of hot-headed people with flowers blooming in their minds were making a ruckus somewhere. The voices of his colleagues joining in could also be heard. It had been several days since the joint training began, and that noisy mix of exclamations and shouts could be heard everywhere, regardless of the time. On the day the South American branch members arrived at the Asia branch, a free-for-all brawl immediately erupted, as if it were an initiation ceremony. The hallway became a mess, and several pieces of equipment were damaged. However, it wasn’t the grim fight of the European training, which had seemed to carry even the light of not regretting even killing someone. If the European training was about “I’m going to kill you,” this case was about “You’re going to get it.”

On the first night, the Asia branch members and South American branch members, after a brawl, got together and had a drinking party. It was a rare sight in joint training between competing branches. Jeong Taeui thought the reason for this was about 90% due to the fact that Ilay was the instructor who stepped in to mediate the fight.

“Being an instructor is inconvenient. I have to go easy on those dog-like bastards,” Ilay had said, looking annoyed, after seeing the fight on the sixth basement floor. Then he picked up an iron pipe, wrapped his shirt around it, and muttered, “With this, even if they get hit, they won’t die instantly,” and stepped into the fight. The rest was self-explanatory.

The Asia branch members and South American branch members, who had been fighting each other by their collars, saw Ilay’s demonic figure slowly advancing from the end of the corridor, creating a blood spray, and were terrified, rushing at him. Even groups that originally didn’t get along would naturally band together when a common enemy appeared.

Jeong Taeui saw that political dynamic with his own eyes that day. Before Ilay had even advanced halfway down the corridor, other instructors ran over to pull them apart and calm the situation, but that alone was enough for Ilay, who was widely known throughout all UNHRDO branches and headquarters, to become a common enemy.

“It’s not easy to sow so much resentment, not easy at all…”

In a way, Ilay was truly an outstanding individual. Jeong Taeui shook his head and sighed. This place was also quite something for making such a guy an instructor instead of chasing him away. Where could they possibly send the talent cultivated under such an instructor?

“Ah. Or perhaps to cultivate a strong spirit and sturdy constitution that doesn’t falter under any hardship…”

Jeong Taeui, who had been muttering to himself, suddenly fell silent, feeling depressed. If he were to ask if he himself had become stronger in spirit and more resilient through those hardships, he would say it wasn’t the case.

Just then, the pager in his pocket vibrated. Jeong Taeui shifted his beer can and took out the pager to check the message.

‘Taei hyung, I’ll be there soon.’

He didn’t even need to check the sender’s number. Jeong Taeui put the pager back in his pocket. With the joint training having started, it became very difficult for the adjutant and adjutant, who were busier than usual, to meet. He had been thinking that he needed to talk, to meet and say something, when last night, Xinlu called him on the internal line. So, they had decided to meet briefly this afternoon when they had some free time. In this secluded spot that Jeong Taeui had once told Xinlu about.