Swallow Hunting - Chapter 39.2
“Tell me about it. Are you bleeding him dry properly? Does he pay well? Is he bearable?”
“Everything is fine. He pays more than the market rate, and I think he might even be a bit kind.”
“Kind?”
Yohan repeated the word, wrinkling his nose as if the term was utterly repulsive. After draining his glass in one gulp, Yohan refilled it with fresh liquor.
“In what way?”
Hae-jun tilted his head and fell into thought for a moment. In what way? If he had to be specific, Lee Kang-ju was on the kinder side. Although he was rough in bed, he listened to Hae-jun’s requests quite well.
“He even looks after me with supplements.”
They were supplements for children, and even those were mixed with the ulterior motive that he had to endure well in the future, but that too was a form of kindness.
“He goes to the coin laundry with me, too.”
Hae-jun stared blankly down at his glass. The memories of that day seemed to unfold over the transparent liquid.
The strange tension that made his fine hairs stand on end, the washing machine spinning in circles like a snake biting its own tail, the quiet noise and the stillness of the dawn, and Lee Kang-ju’s palm that supported his cheek before his head could hit the table when he succumbed to sleep—it all flowed by in sequence.
“And…”
Hae-jun snapped back to reality at the sound of a sharp snap from a middle finger and thumb. Yohan was staring at him with a smile on his lips but a cold look in his eyes.
“And?”
“That’s all.”
“Stop lying.”
“I’m not lying.”
Feeling embarrassed, Hae-jun intentionally picked up two pieces of pork belly and stuffed them into his mouth. He ended up choking on them and hurriedly looked for water while coughing. Yohan handed him a cup. He waited until Hae-jun calmed down and then opened his mouth slowly. The voice calling his name, “Cha Hae-jun,” was affectionate yet stern.
“Don’t give your heart to a customer.”
“You said that last time too. Why are you talking nonsense after eating expensive meat?”
“If a guy selling his body gives his heart to a customer, his business is ruined. You’ll end up on the streets. You’re the one who’s supposed to be taking, not giving.”
“Who said I gave my heart?”
Hae-jun continued to deny it. Yohan, having downed more liquor, didn’t listen even when Hae-jun recited like a prayer that such a thing would never happen.
“Besides, you said it’s a man. You have a cock too, so you should know. Is love even possible for guys with cocks? It’s over once they plug it in and come. That’s why they’re males. Creatures with brains attached to their dicks.”
Yohan tapped his own head with his index finger and then pointed straight down to his groin. Their conversation, which bordered on lewd banter, was buried under the loud music the owner had turned up.
“I said I don’t like him.”
“Kindness, my ass. If they want to eat you up, what wouldn’t they do?”
There was no way Yohan was drunk after just a few glasses. Nevertheless, Hae-jun felt extremely uncomfortable with him repeating the same thing. Every time Hae-jun shot back that he had never given his heart, not even a tiny bit, Yohan seemed to have already handed down a final verdict. Cha Hae-jun liked Lee Kang-ju. Or perhaps even more than that.
Just the thought of the word “liking” passing through his head made his throat feel parched and dark. Not wanting to lose to Yohan, Hae-jun poured liquor into his mouth as if pumping water from a well. Even by the time there were four empty bottles, Yohan repeated the same words.
“Anyway, don’t like him.”
“I don’t.”
“If I tell you not to like him, then don’t. It’s the shortcut to getting fucked over.”
Their conversation was an infinite repeat sign without a period. Only endless warnings and refutations hovered over the table.
By the time the empty bottles were stacked on the floor, cleared, and stacked again like snow, Yohan finally shut his mouth. He was a guy who rarely drank to excess, but perhaps he had let his guard down because he was in front of Hae-jun, as his head thudded onto the table. Even in that state, he didn’t forget the warning—lacking both a subject and an object—telling him not to do it.
The restaurant, which had been full, was now deserted. Thinking it would be rude to stay until closing even if he knew the owner, Hae-jun tried to get up from his seat. The owner, who had been leaning against the counter, smiled broadly seeing Hae-jun tidying up the dishes.
“Leaving?”
“Yes. Thank you for today. I enjoyed the food. It was the best pork belly I’ve ever had. The cold noodles with kimchi were delicious too. You’re very talented.”
He gave a thumbs up in praise and pulled out his wallet. When he held out his card, the owner waved it away, saying it wasn’t necessary.
“Oh, please take it.”
“If I’m going to take money, I should take it from that guy. The meanest thing in the world is a guy who says he’s treating and then falls asleep. I’ll get it from him, so don’t worry and go.”
“No. I’ll…”
“I said it’s fine. Put it away quickly.”
The owner refused stubbornly. Losing the struggle, Hae-jun put his wallet back in his pocket.
“By the way, I have ears so I couldn’t help but hear. Are you head over heels for the customer?”
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