Adding Insult to Injury (3)
Inside the judo hall was noisy as always. The dull sound of bare feet touching the mat, shouts of exertion and yells.
“Start.”
Simultaneously with the whistle sound, two people became entangled. Sejin’s hand precisely gripped his opponent’s sleeve. Pull, push, shake the balance. He aimed for the moment when his opponent’s weight shifted even slightly forward.
Thud.
His opponent’s shoulder touched the mat first.
It wasn’t a clean ippon, but his opponent froze while gasping for breath.
“Again.”
Sejin corrected his posture without a word. Sweat dripped down his temples. Normally, he would have caught his breath around this point, checked his opponent, and calculated the next move, but today was different. When his opponent rushed at him again, Sejin reacted half a beat too late.
Not missing that opening, his opponent dug in from the inside.
‘Too late.’
His body realized first. His center collapsed, and his vision shook briefly.
Thud!
This time it was Sejin who lay with his back against the mat. Brief exclamations leaked out from around them.
“…Hyung?”
His opponent held out a hand, but Sejin didn’t take it right away. One beat, two beats. Only then did he grasp the hand and stand up. His breathing was rougher than usual.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Sejin, who’d answered briefly, bowed his head once and withdrew to the edge of the mat. His expression as he wiped his face with a towel had coldly settled.
“You don’t look in good condition today. Let’s stop here.”
The director approached and patted his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
The director looked at Sejin once more before nodding without a word. As he got off the mat, his legs strangely lost strength. The hand holding the towel was damp.
“Kim Sejin.”
Dogyeom, the reason Sejin had faltered and the cause of him taking a loss, approached. Sejin pretended not to hear and turned to walk away. It was something that had been repeating every day since the day he’d refused the proposal to live together. Dogyeom came to the dojo and watched him for a long time even though he didn’t answer. He didn’t care about the strange looks from those around them.
He endured without batting an eye even when the members sarcastically asked if he was Sejin’s stalker. It was to the point where the director was troubled.
Dogyeom would watch Sejin until the class ended, then follow along asking for a long time why they couldn’t live together before going back. Each time, Sejin would ride off on his bicycle without even responding. Days and days like that.
Since the day before yesterday, Dogyeom had been strange. Slightly downturned lips, somehow hazy eyes. He’d watched him with a face that seemed to have lots to say. However, when the sparring class actually ended, he’d disappeared without a trace. Sejin felt frustrated.
He’d thought he’d just disappear again today, but he’d stayed. Moreover, he’d even called out to him. He slowly met eyes with Dogyeom.
A brief moment of looking at each other silently. It felt like all the noise inside the judo hall was receding.
“Can we… talk for a moment?”
Sejin quietly turned his body. There was no need to keep repeating a finished conversation. Then an urgent voice stopped Sejin.
“It’s about Jeongbae hyung.”
“……”
When he turned his head, Dogyeom with a tearful face was trembling his lips. Sejin’s eyes widened.
“Hyung isn’t eating or sleeping.”
“How many days?”
“…Three days.”
Exactly since the day Dogyeom had just stared at him silently before leaving.
“Why are you only telling me this now…”
Sejin firmly placed his hand on Dogyeom’s shoulder. Dogyeom’s eyes squeezed shut and as if relieved, he threw himself into Sejin’s arms. Sejin silently patted his back. It seemed he’d been suffering alone properly. He hadn’t known this and had been busy ignoring Dogyeom while looking for his own way out.
“Let’s go. Tell me slowly.”
The gazes in the dojo focused on them, but Sejin didn’t care and stepped out the door while embracing Dogyeom. Even in a situation where Jeongbae hyung was worrying, the fact that Dogyeom had been in his arms for a moment was sweet. He was this much of trash.
“You know Yoon Jaehyuk’s contact information, right?”
It was the first thing Dogyeom said after hesitating and biting his lips several times. Sejin nodded briefly.
“Contact him right now and find out where he is. Don’t say it was me.”
“What?”
“That… rattlesnake bastard. He abandoned Jeongbae hyung.”
Lee Dogyeom’s hands were trembling. The first thought that came to Kim Sejin’s mind was that there was no way. Jaehyuk’s gaze looking at Jeongbae. It was no different from how he looked at Lee Dogyeom. Moreover, he was different from himself. Wasn’t he a powerful alpha who had everything?
“He’s not the type to…”
“Enough! Just find out where that bastard is! Quickly!”
“Dogyeom, calm down.”
“Do I look like I can calm down? He left home just like that and it’s been three days now. He acted like the tongue in a mouth. That crazy garbage bastard…!”
Sejin’s lips slowly hardened. His jaw clenched and twitched.
“Wait.”
Sejin slowly took out his phone. Dogyeom raised his head and met his eyes. His large, clear eyes were looking at him desperately.
***
The place Jaehyuk called Sejin to was a five-star hotel lounge. Riding the bus, the two were silent the entire time.
—Yes, hyungnim. This is Sejin.
—Yes, could I see you briefly? There’s something I must tell you.
—Yes. I know where it is. I’ll go right now.
The scenery outside the bus window was gradually darkening. The more the streetlight lights passed by, the more anxious Dogyeom’s heart became.
‘I have to, I have to solve this.’
Dogyeom tightly clenched his white, smooth hands. His pulse beat rapidly inside his palms.
The hotel lounge they arrived at was luxurious and grand. To the point where even Dogyeom’s breathing felt loud. People in leisurely attire came and went. A bitter smile appeared on Dogyeom’s lips. It was a place as different as heaven and earth from the world where he, Sejin, and Jeongbae hyung lived.
‘Hyung can’t drink a sip of water and is like a cripple, but this bastard is living it up in a place like this.’
Dogyeom ground his teeth.
“Let’s go to the cafe. He said he’ll come down there.”
“What do you mean ‘come down’…”
Dogyeom instead made his gait confident so as not to show he was intimidated. When they entered the lounge cafe entrance, a friendly staff member in uniform guided them. Even though it was a weekday evening, the lounge was packed with people.
The staff member’s eyes discreetly scanned the two. A pretty omega with flashy short blonde hair. The tear mole at the corner of his eye and his pierced ears matched well with his slightly edgy atmosphere. Next to him was a man with an imposing physique even for an alpha. Blunt cauliflower ears and tightly closed lips. Unlike his pleasant-looking eyes, there was no sign of backing down even an inch. They were a combination that would draw anyone’s attention. However, for a couple out on a date, their expressions were too grim.
“I’ll prepare a menu for you.”
The staff member bowed politely and withdrew. Dogyeom briefly scanned the menu left behind. Twenty thousand won for an Americano, thirty thousand won for orange juice.
‘A robber without a knife, nothing more.’
His lips twisted. Sejin was looking at the menu while subtly frowning. It was a face seriously pondering what to order. Dogyeom poked Sejin’s side.
“What are you pondering so much? It’s a waste of money. Don’t order anything.”
“…Still.”
Watching Sejin hesitate, Dogyeom sighed.
At that moment, a presence was felt from the lounge entrance. Tall height and an alpha like a model who’d jumped out of a magazine. People’s gazes openly focused in that direction. Conversations stopped one by one, and hands holding glasses paused. It was Yoon Jaehyuk.
“What, is he a celebrity?”
The sound of a woman at the table right behind them whispering could be heard. Dogyeom’s insides churned.
Right. He was such an excellent person.
Dogyeom said nothing and watched Jaehyuk approach. Sejin, who’d been next to him, shot up from his seat.
“Jaehyuk hyungnim, you’re here.”
Dogyeom clenched his teeth.
“Beagle, you came too.”
Jaehyuk spat out briefly in his usual expressionless manner, then looked Dogyeom over and sat down in a chair. Dogyeom’s expression froze coldly. Jaehyuk, who’d casually picked up the menu, slightly turned his head. The staff member rushed over.
“Three fresh fruit juices. And sandwiches please.”
“Yes. Is there anything else you need?”
“Is there anything else to snack on?”
“We do have simple meals…”
“I’ll eat a separate meal at the restaurant, so it’s fine.”
“Yes, then I’ll bring only what you ordered.”
When the staff member left, silence settled over the table. Dogyeom felt like he’d die of anger but clenched his teeth. He couldn’t ruin things. He desperately held back the urge to immediately punch that leisurely face. Sejin fidgeted as he watched Dogyeom glaring holes into Jaehyuk.
In the suffocating atmosphere, it was Jaehyuk who opened his mouth first.
“I heard it was urgent.”
His gaze was on Sejin, not Dogyeom. As if Dogyeom wasn’t even in his consideration.
“…You.”
Dogyeom took the words while clenching his teeth. As low as possible so his voice wouldn’t tremble. Jaehyuk’s eyebrow moved very slightly.
“So. What’s so urgent?”
Dogyeom’s hand clenched and unclenched into a fist under the table. He caught his breath once more and finally spat out the words.
“Jeongbae hyung.”
Jaehyuk’s expression didn’t change. However, the hand holding the cup stopped.
“Right now, he’s dying.”
Sejin hurriedly added.
“Hyungnim, it’s been three days and he hasn’t been eating properly—”
Dogyeom raised his arm.
“Kim Sejin. Wait. You stay quiet.”
Jaehyuk turned his gaze and this time looked straight at Dogyeom.
“So? You came all the way here for that?”
A sarcastic tone. Dogyeom’s lips trembled. But he didn’t back down.
“Yeah. After driving hyung into a corner like that, I wanted to see how well you’re living.”
A brief silence. Jaehyuk smiled slightly. It wasn’t a sneer or mockery, but somehow a tired smile.
“I expected it, but you’re doing too well.”
“So what’s your business?”
A cold voice cutting it short. A cool expression glared at Dogyeom. Dogyeom flinched briefly at that momentum, but thinking of Jeongbae, he raised his head stiffly.
“Why are you doing this to hyung? What did hyung do wrong? If you were going to change this easily. After acting like you couldn’t live without him all this time. Were you playing with Jeongbae hyung?”
Jaehyuk snorted.
“So, Kang Jeongbae did nothing wrong. And again, it’s all my fault?”
“Yes.”
Watching Dogyeom snap back, Jaehyuk tapped the table with his finger. A movement as if gauging something. As if calculating. As if enduring. Then his handsome lips pressed tightly into a line…
“It doesn’t seem like there’s more to talk about. I’ll be going now.”
Jaehyuk pushed his chair back. The sound rang out especially loudly. Dogyeom’s mind went blank.
‘Ah, you’re going to end it like this?’
Dogyeom took a deep breath. Yoon Jaehyuk’s cold gaze. His hands trembled. This time he had to hold on.
“Hey.”
At the short, rough word, Jaehyuk’s movement stopped.
“You still haven’t said what Jeongbae hyung did wrong.”
Jaehyuk slowly turned his head. His eyes had coldly settled. A brief silence. He looked like he’d leave just like that. Dogyeom’s eyes squeezed shut. The time to make a decision wasn’t long. He could do anything for Jeongbae hyung. Dogyeom slowly moved, pulling his chair back. Then…
“Dogyeom!”
Sejin, startled, shot up to stop him, but Dogyeom’s two knees were already touching the ground.
