I Became the Lousy Side Top - Chap 18

Things were so messed up. How had the story become so twisted?

“You should listen to what I’m saying, while I’m still being nice.”

This was really, really not good! Jaewoo needed to find some sort of escape, but his mind was completely blank. He couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Especially since Mujin was someone who could kill Jaewoo at any time.

A second passed, then two, as Jaewoo stood there frozen. It was then, when he had almost given up, that a familiar voice was heard.

“What are you doing!”

Like a miracle, Hyunjin appeared and slapped Mujin’s hand away from Jaewoo. He wrapped his arms around Jaewoo, shielding him from Mujin’s stare. Within the security of Hyunjin’s hold, Jaewoo was slowly able to calm down.

“It was just a simple job offer.”

“Really?”

Hyunjin asked Jaewoo. There was nothing simple about it, but how could Jaewoo say that in front of them? Jaewoo smiled shakily and said.

“Yeah, I guess he really liked my cooking.”

Watching the two of them interact, Mujin opened and closed his fists. The feeling of satisfaction he got the moment Jaewoo’s small head had come into his grasp still lingered. After all, for him, nothing was better than dominating and trampling on someone.

“You’re not going to accept, right?”

“Of course not.”

Jaewoo took a deep breath and said to Mujin.

“I won’t take the job.”

“Even if I offer you a lot of money?”

“I have enough money to live on.”

No matter how much money you have, it’s never enough. It seems like Jaewoo wasn’t accepting because he didn’t want to get mixed up with a gangster.

‘How annoying.’

Hyunjin was troublesome. If he wasn’t here, Mujin was confident that he could have threatened Jaewoo into complying. But instead Hyunjin just had to meddle, even though he was in a tricky situation himself.

‘If he bothers me, I should take care of him.’

There were a variety of ways to make Hyunjin regret stepping in. The easiest way would be to encourage his father to take out more loans. It’s a strategy that Mujin had used in the past, and it was likely to be the most effective.

Even knowing that it would burden his children, a stupid man wouldn’t be able to help himself. This is why family was nothing more than an anchor, used to drag people down. How long could Hyunjin endure when the burden he was carrying kept increasing?

A smile flickered across Mujin’s lips. In any case, he would definitely return here.

‘It’s a shame.’

Although he hadn’t been here long, this place had grown on him. The warmth of the flooring rising up through your back, and the satisfaction of a delicious meal – everything here was fulfilling in a way Mujin hadn’t expected. He felt as if he could close his eyes and just doze off without worry. Although his insomnia made it impossible for him to sleep deeply, still, it was comfortable.

‘This should be mine.’

Mujin thought selfishly. Seeing Mujin’s face, Jaewoo was seized with an ominous feeling.

‘Look at that vicious smile…’

It was as if Mujin was wearing a mask over his true feelings. It just reminded Jaewoo of what sort of person Mujin really was. It was amazing that such a person could fall in love with Hyunjin. It’s all because Hyunjin was so strong, with a brave and resolute heart. That’s why even such a warped individual couldn’t help but love him.

Jaewoo clung onto Hyunjin’s arm, which was still wrapped around himself. He hoped that Hyunjin could hold on. And that, by the end, he’d get all the good things that he deserved.

“All right.”

Mujin casually raised both hands, giving up. Even so, Hyunjin still didn’t let Jaewoo go. He kept his arms right where they were and glared at Mujin.

‘You can let go now.’

Jaewoo thought so, but the atmosphere prevented him from opening his mouth. It’s not like being embraced by Hyunjin like this was bad. Jaewoo had thought of Hyunjin as someone fragile, that needed protection, but when had he grown so strong? Jaewoo felt eclipsed in his embrace.

‘I thought the book said Jaewoo was an aspiring idol!”

Jaewoo wondered if his own height was shorter than he had thought. Maybe the reason why the old Jaewoo failed as an idol was because of his short stature. It’s not like Jaewoo had bothered to measure it since he arrived here. The idea stung his pride. He wasn’t originally this short.

‘Huh?’

That was another original memory. Jaewoo’s eyes became unfocused and he blinked several times. The memory had hit him suddenly, just like the last time, before settling in his head.

“Are you okay?”

Hyunjin asked Jaewoo. He should have asked him that earlier, but due to the issue with Mujin, he wasn’t able to until now.

“Um, I’m okay.”

Jaewoo smiled at him as he gently moved away from Hyunjin’s embrace. However, his answer didn’t seem to have any significant effect on Hyunjin’s mood. He was still wary of Mujin, glaring at him from across the table.

“I’ll take seconds now.”

The only one who was calm was Mujin.

‘If this keeps up, I’m going to get gray hairs.’

Jaewoo sighed and accepted the rice bowl. Then he patted Hyunjin on the back and said.

“You should eat too.”

“I’m fine. You go get some rest.”

Saying that, Hyunjin took the rice bowl and put it on the floor. Then he grabbed Jaewoo’s arm and pulled him out of the room. Before Jaewoo could protest, they were back in Hyunjin’s bedroom and Hyunjin was in the middle of putting him to bed under his blanket.

“Get some rest. The past few days have been stressful.”

“No, the food…”

“Don’t worry about the food.”

Hyunjin put a hand on Jaewoo’s forehead and gently brushed his hair off to the side. The expression on Hyunjin’s face was complicated. It was like a smile, but there was something else there as well. Jaewoo didn’t know how to explain it.

“I’ll take care of it, so take a break.”

“I’m not tired.”

“You were scared earlier. It takes a toll on you.”

That’s true, but he really couldn’t afford to rest. Jaewoo tried to get up again, but failed, Hyunjin’s hand, which had been caressing his forehead, was now pressing hard against his chest.

“Is it because of that bastard?”

He must have meant Mujin. Jaewoo was surprised. He hadn’t thought Hyunjin even knew how to swear. He had better clear up this misunderstanding before it got too far.

It didn’t matter if that bastard, Mujin, was left alone. Hyunjin was more important to Jaewoo.

“It’s because you haven’t eaten yet.”

“I can handle myself for one meal.”

But what if Mujin did something! Jaewoo paused, realizing that for the plot to move forward, Mujin needed to do something. He closed his mouth with a frown.

‘No…’

Jaewoo felt strangely dissatisfied. Hyunjin was such a nice person, and he’d been through so much already. There were so many things he wanted to say, but none of them came out of his mouth.

“It’s okay, just get some sleep.”

This time, Hyunjin’s hand covered his eyes. Before, Hyunjin would flinch back at the merest brush of Jaewoo’s hand. When the two of them had gotten this close, Jaewoo didn’t know.

Jaewoo closed his eyes as Hyunjin instructed. Then, after only a few moments, everything went dark.

After confirming that Jaewoo was asleep, Hyunjin stood up. Hyeonu and Woohee were still in a deep sleep, so Hyunjin adjusted the blanket over the three of them and then left. As luck would have it, he ran into Mujin almost immediately, sitting on the floor by the table. As soon as he saw Hyunjin, he smiled meaningfully.

‘I hate this.’

“Hyunjin-ssi.”

It was Mujin who spoke first.

“I hate it when people get in my way.”

“I happen to like getting in people’s way.”

“What a shame that we can’t see eye to eye on this.”

Mujin clicked his tongue as if feeling sorry for him.

“Leave Jaewoo-ssi alone.”

“Hmm.”

Mujin took out a cigarette from his shirt pocket and brought it up to his lips. He was feeling around for a lighter when something occurred to him and he put the cigarette back into the pack. It was because Jaewoo had told him this was a non-smoking area.

It had been completely unconscious. Mujin let out a bitter laugh as he realized what he’d done. Was he really letting a little pup like that tell him what to do? He couldn’t help but laugh at himself, but to Hyunjin, his actions looked very different.

“I’m telling you to leave him alone.”

It’s not even funny. What could Hyunjin hope to do to someone like Mujin? He was all bark and no bite1.

“Whether I leave him alone or not…”

Mujin rolled the pack of cigarettes in his hand.

“…It’s none of your business.”

The two of them were connected only by their business relationship of landlord and tenant. Hyunjin seemed to be misunderstanding that relationship, so Mujin decided to kindly point it out.

“In the first place, it’s not like you have a special relationship with ‘Jaewoo-ssi’, do you?”

What gave Hyunjin the right to interfere like this? At Mujin’s words, Hyunjin abruptly realized that, oh. He wasn’t wrong. What sort of relationship did he have with Jaewoo anyway? He’d hated him originally, but it hadn’t been long before their relationship started improving. But still, they weren’t lovers, family, or even really friends. He didn’t have the right to interfere in Jaewoo’s life like this. When Hyunjin realized that, his heart sank.

Hyunjin gritted his teeth and said.

“What does it matter to you?”

“Of course it matters. When a yapping dog insists on getting in my way, don’t I have a right to discipline him?”

A bloody atmosphere flowed from Mujin. Contrasted with the gentle smile on his face, it made him look like a demon.

“Wouldn’t it be great if you just shut your mouth and backed off?”

You want me to leave Jaewoo alone in front of a monster like you? Hyunjin couldn’t do that. He said as much to Mujin.

“I’m not the type to back down easily.”

There are so many people in the world today who don’t know what’s in their best interests2. Well, that was what made the world an interesting place. It was the same with the underling who had stabbed Mujin. Did he think that he could get rid of him so easily? That his life would change once Mujin was gone? It hadn’t worked.

Mujin had been attacked time after time. He’d always lived to retaliate no matter what they tried. Hyunjin would be no different.

“I don’t like dogs that can’t even understand simple commands.”

“People aren’t dogs.”

“That’s debatable.”

Mujin said that and then fell silent for a moment. He fiddled with the pack of cigarettes and then threw out a name, as if he had just remembered it.

“Yoo Junghyun.”

It was the name of Hyunjin’s father.

“Bastard!”

Hyunjin took a step closer and shouted, but that was all he could do, and they both knew it. Mujin knew his father’s name. What else was he capable of? Hyunjin’s feet felt frozen to the ground, and he couldn’t bring himself to move any further. All he could do was stand there, feeling pathetic about himself.

Footnotes
무진이 보기에는 이빨 빠진 개가 짖어 대는 걸로밖에 보이지 않았다. – “To Mujin, it seemed nothing but the barking of a toothless dog.”
하여간 주제 파악을 못 하는 작자가 너무 많다. – “However, there are too many writers who cannot understand the topic.”