I Became the Lousy Side Top - Chap 75

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Jaewoo returned home, one eye on his phone the whole time. He glanced at it while he cleaned, then while he prepared dinner, then kept staring at it to the point where the kids became curious. Before he knew it, there were three pairs of eyes fixed on the phone.

‘When is he going to call?’

He waited for Eunjoon’s call anxiously, but the phone refused to ring. He’d known that freeing Hyunjin wouldn’t be easy, Jaewoo tried to convince himself as he sullenly folded the laundry.

Brrrrrrrr.

Just then, a vibration was heard. It was coming from the cellphone. Jaewoo swooped down like a hawk catching its prey and pressed the call button without even bothering to check the screen.

“Eunjoon!”

Jaewoo shouted urgently, but no answer came from the other end.

‘Why isn’t he answering?’

Jaewoo nervously called his name again.

“Eunjoon, what happened?”

However, the voice that he heard wasn’t Eunjoon’s. It was a deeper and rougher voice.

─ Who the hell is Eunjoon?

It was Mujin. Only then did Jaewoo move the phone away from his ear and check the number. Sure enough, Mujin was the one calling him.

─ Tell me.

Jaewoo tried to settle his nerves. He didn’t know why Mujin was calling, but maybe this could be an opportunity.

“He’s a friend.”

─ I know you don’t have any friends like that.

It looked like at some point, Mujin had investigated his background. Jaewoo hesitated for a moment, then told the truth.

“It’s Jiheon’s real name.”

─You mean Director Yoon? I wasn’t aware that he’d changed his name.”

“I’m the only one that knows it.”

─ I see. Someone who’d kept their real name hidden all this time just happened to reveal it to you and you alone?

Mujin’s voice had turned icy, as if he was in a rotten mood. Jaewoo took a deep breath.

“What did you want to say?”

─ Come to my apartment.

At those words, Jaewoo nearly choked.

“You wouldn’t even let me in last time!”

─ This time I will.

It was already late in the evening, but Jaewoo couldn’t afford to hide himself away.

“I’ll be there.”

The call ended.

“Uncle?”

Hyeonu was watching Jaewoo with anxious eyes.

“I need to leave for a little bit. You guys can wash up and go to bed by yourselves, right?”

“Yes, we can!”

Woohee answered bravely.

“Don’t open the door to strangers.”

“Yes!”

“Do you remember what to do if something happens?”

“Call 112!”

“And you’ve memorized the address of the house, right?”

“We’ve got it memorized!”

Only once the kids had answered him did Jaewoo stand up.

He quickly threw on a jacket and hurried down the hill before catching a taxi. It didn’t take long to arrive at Mujin’s building. This time the security guard didn’t stop him, as though he’d been warned about his arrival in advance.

He took a deep breath and got into the elevator.

The code to Mujin’s door was still the same.

‘He’s obviously not worried about that.’

After all, he was a gangster. Was he the sort of person who’d feel threatened by someone knowing his doorcode? Jaewoo opened the front door and inched his way inside.

The apartment was dark. Jaewoo felt around the wall and finally found the light switch, revealing Mujin in the living room with a drink in hand. Spotting Jaewoo, Mujin put down his glass. When their eyes met, Mujin’s gaze was piercing.

“I’m here.”

“Why don’t you come closer?”

Jaewoo hesitated, then took a few steps forward.

“More.”

Only once he reached the coffee table did Mujin stop beckoning him on.

Jaewoo didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know why Mujin had called for him. As he stayed silent, Mujin finally spoke up.

“What did you offer Yoon Jiheon in return?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yoon Jiheon isn’t prone to volunteering. Doing all this for nothing in return? Not a chance! Even if it was someone he loved, he’s not the type of person that would help without getting something back.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve seen this sort of thing a lot. So tell me: what did you offer him?”

He’d promised him his life, but he didn’t want to tell Mujin that. Instead, Jaewoo avoided it, his voice stern.

“Why do you need to know?”

“You don’t want to tell me? Well, I won’t force you.”

Mujin smiled, his teeth bared. Then he picked up his cell phone from where it’d been left carelessly on the sofa. He pressed a few buttons and a ringtone was heard.

─ Boss! What’s going on?

Even though it was late at night, the other person had answered the phone immediately. Mujin had set the phone on speaker mode, so Jaewoo could hear his voice clearly.

“Tank, is Yoo Hyunjin there?”

─ Yes.

Jaewoo’s face went pale. He’d suddenly realized what Mujin was planning.

“Don’t do it.”

He said, his voice trembling, but Mujin ignored him.

“Wake him up.”

─ Yes!

A rustling sound came over the line.

“Stop!”

Jaewoo rushed at Mujin and tried to take his cell phone, but Mujin was much too strong for him. Instead of grabbing the cell phone, he ended up being pushed away himself. Jaewoo had used as much strength as possible, but Mujin was barely affected. He glared at Mujin, anger in his eyes.

“Are you planning on telling me the truth now?”

Jaewoo opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally nodding. Only then did Mujin disconnect the call and throw his phone back down on the sofa.

“So what did you promise him?”

‘Should I lie?’

For a brief moment, Jaewoo considered the mad idea, but he quickly realized it wouldn’t work. As far as everyone else was concerned, Eunjoon had no reason to help him.

Money? Eunjoon was a third generation businessman; he definitely was richer than Jaewoo. What else? He couldn’t think of anything. Jaewoo had practically nothing… aside from his body.

Truthfully, what he’d promised Eunjoon wasn’t his body but his life, but he knew he shouldn’t say that. So he gave the only answer he could.

“… … Me.”

“What?”

Mujin responded.

“I decided to give myself to him.”

“Say that again.”

This time, Jaewoo remained silent. But to Mujin, that seemed to be answer enough. One of his massive hands came up and grabbed Jaewoo by the hair.

“Augh!”

Mujin dragged Jaewoo by the roots, forcing him down.

“Didn’t you reject that same offer the last time you were here?”

It was true, Jaewoo had refused. He’d reconsidered, claiming that he would somehow pay off the debt through hard work. And how had Mujin responded? He’d tormented Hyunjin and refused to speak with Jaewoo.

Jaewoo had chosen to share Hyunjin’s pain, but in the end, Hyunjin had been the only one suffering. If he could turn back time, he might have made a different choice. The only reason he’d joined hands with Eunjoon was desperation.

“So why? Did you change your mind when you found out that Yoo Hyunjin was going through a hard time? Sure, that makes sense. But why turn to Yoon Jiheon?”

Jaewoo was trembling in the wake of Mujin’s fury. He looked Jaewoo in the eye and spoke each word clearly and deliberately.

“Did Yoon Jiheon sweet-talk you? Or did he just offer you more?”

Terrifying. Jaewoo was so scared his legs were shaking, but there wasn’t anyone that could help him.

“Fuck, if I’d known this would happen…”

Mujin’s eyes were practically glowing. He suddenly stood up, dragging Jaewoo to his feet along with him.

He let go of Jaewoo’s hair, grabbing his arm instead before dragging him to his bedroom.

“L-Let go!”

Jaewoo’s heart was pounding like crazy in fear. He found himself thrown onto the bed before Mujin’s weight came crashing down on top of him.

“No!”

Jaewoo screamed desperately. At the sound, Mujin finally paused his assault. Then he spoke softly in a voice like a growl.

“I’m just as much of an asshole as him.”

Mujin knelt on top of Jaewoo on the bed. Then he said.

“Tell me what you want. I’ll give you anything.”

“I did.”

Jaewoo swallowed around a lump in his throat.

“From the beginning, there’s only one thing I’ve wanted.”

He wanted Hyunjin to be free, and for the two of them to live together while slowly paying off his debt. But that was a dream that would never come true.

That fact was almost enough to make Jaewoo cry.

“I’ll release Yoo Hyunjin, and I’ll clear his debt.”

Jaewoo listened to Mujin blankly.

“So choose me, not Yoon Jiheon.”

With Mujin’s words, a new possibility was born. If he followed Eunjoon, Jaewoo could set Hyunjin free, but he wouldn’t be able to stay by his side. According to their deal, Jaewoo would need to die and return to their original world.

But if he chose Mujin over Eunjoon, wouldn’t he be able to stay here? Mujin didn’t want Jaewoo to die.

If he did that, then he’d be able to see Hyunjin, at least occasionally.

Jaewoo raised his hands and covered his face. When had his feelings become so strong? At first he’d just planned to bring Hyunjin and Mujin together, and live a comfortable life on the sidelines.

‘Why is everything so hard?’

Since he had nothing, he could barely manage to protect the one he loved. He didn’t want much, but there were still so many obstacles in his way. It was painful to see new ones popping up each time he thought he had overcome them.

‘Hyunjin, what should I do?’

“Have you made a decision?”

“… … Yes, I’ve decided.”

Mujin looked down at Jaewoo. Jaewoo removed his hands from over his face and answered.

“I’ll do as you ask, so please free Hyunjin.”

At those words, Mujin frowned.

“This feels disgusting.”

Seeing Mujin behave like that even though Jaewoo was giving him what he wanted made Jaewoo’s temper rise.

“Alright. I’ll release him right away.”

“And you’ll stop lending money to Hyunjin’s father.”

“Done.”

“If you break your promise…”