A series of violent explosions and explosions struck his ears. His head was hazy, making it hard to tell if it was an illusion or reality. Then, a mechanical beeping sound pierced his eardrums and hit his brain. He opened his eyes after all the noise had died down.
The smell of the chemicals lingering in his body poked his brainstem like an awl. Even breathing in and out felt awkward.
He let out a long exhale and continued to search his dizzy mind. He tried to recall his last memory. He thinks he was raided in the hideout. Did he lose consciousness? Then where is he?
He opened his eyes wide and raised his upper body, then stopped. His head felt like it was going to split open at the sudden change in posture.
"Ugh...."
He groaned involuntarily. He looked around, gritting his molars in annoyance. The space that filled his vision was strangely familiar. Not only the stagnant air and smell in the room, but even the feel of the bedding against his skin.
Is this a dream? This shouldn't be happening.
He instinctively felt his body. The holster was empty. He looked around and saw his gun neatly placed on the table next to the bed. There was no sign of a communicator or cell phone. He
quickly picked up the pistol and checked the magazine. The bullets were full. Was that the time he was attacked, when he couldn't pull the trigger? What on earth happened?
The last memory suddenly came to mind in his hazy mind.
"...Zhenya?"
He encountered Zhenya on the roof of the building he had been hiding in. He hadn't seen his face directly. However, his silhouette, his scent, and even his touch, there was no way it could have been a mistake. It was definitely Zhenya, that guy.
Why and how did he appear there? Did he throw it? Also, when did Kwon Taekjoo himself move to Ajinoki?
The questions continued one after another.
He was confused. Could it be that he had a strange dream? Or that this moment was a dream. In a situation where nothing was clear, the one possibility he hated the most slowly raised its head. He wanted to shake it off as if it couldn't be true, but an unpleasant and cold premonition stimulated his thinking centre.
Soon, a steady sound of footsteps was heard from outside the door. It was a noise so soft that the culprit wouldn't have noticed it, but Kwon Taekjoo recognized it clearly. Just by the weight of the footsteps and the sound of people, he could tell who the other person was. He glared at the door with sharp eyes.
The sound of people getting closer stopped outside the door. Then the doorknob slowly turned. Zhenya appeared through the gap in the door that opened with a click.
The bastard raised his eyebrows as soon as he found Kwon Taekjoo who had regained consciousness. He soon smiled and entered the room. For some reason, instead of his unique body odour, he smelled of a strong flame.
[He always points the gun first. I'll shoot him at any moment.]
Zhenya chuckled as he looked at Kwon Taekjoo's gun aimed at him. There was no problem. It was a calm expression. Kwon Taekjoo's face hardened even more coldly.
It wasn't a mistake that he saw Zhenya right before he lost consciousness. He had hoped it was all a dream, an illusion. When he saw the guy who appeared in front of Kwon Taekjoo, his already complicated feelings became even more agitated.
[What happened?]
He asked in a low voice. It wasn't just because his voice had been hushed while he was unconscious. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Zhenya just shrugged his shoulders childishly.
[First, eat something. If your stomach is empty, your head won't work well, you hungry beast. Silver is usually more prickly. Would you like ramen?]
Zhenya turned his body as if he was going to the kitchen at any moment. The sound of ramen came out in this situation. The back of his neck was pulling painfully.
[I asked what happened.]
He growled at the back of his head that seemed peaceful. Zhenya stopped walking. Then, the guy who turned his head looked at Kwon Taekjoo's hard face one by one. The answer that came out as the result of a long search was very unexpected.
[You've been like that for about half a day.]
[..What?]
[I want to use something mild, but that's all I have as medicine.]
Zhenya leisurely tapped his neck. When he absentmindedly touched his neck, a stinging and dull pain came up. The needle had been inserted so many times, and the wound seemed to have deepened because he had tossed and turned in protest.
[It must be hard to just sit down now, but you're so brave. Should I at least acknowledge your pride?]
Zhenya leisurely smiled. Kwon Taekjoo came to me all of a sudden and ruined all his official duties, and acted like it was nothing. What on earth is so easy and simple about everything? It felt like the scorching heat had suddenly crashed down to the soles of his feet.
[What are you doing?]
[What am I doing?]
Zhenya, who had been pretending not to know and following Kwon Taekjoo's words, made an artificial exclamation of [Ah.]. Then he raised one corner of her mouth and jeered at Kwon Taek Joo.
[Are you mad because I injected you with anaesthesia? That's what you did to me, Taekjoo.]
He grinned as if it was a joke. Kwon Taekjoo's brow furrowed deeply. Even the bridge of his nose was distorted as he suppressed his rising anger.
[Stop talking nonsense and explain properly. Why are you here?]
[Here? What, I came to a place I shouldn't have? It's my island, my home.] [That's what I'm talking about!]
Finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer and shouted. Zhenya's eyes widened slightly at the sudden shout. However, the bastard soon regained his composure. He looked like he didn't know what the problem was.
[You, your little brat shouldn't be here right now.]
A desperate and angry monologue came out. His tightly clenched fists turned white and trembled. Zhenya's pupils constricted slightly, and he sensitively detected each change.
But that was all. There was no change in the bastard's expression. He still had no idea what he had done wrong or why Kwon Taekjoo was angry.
[Taekjoo.]
His voice was incredibly calm.
[Why are you so angry again?]
His tangled head felt like it was being torn apart. His voice, as nervous as it could be, burst out without a moment to swallow.
[I told you not to follow me! This time, absolutely do not follow me! Don't you understand?]
[I didn't follow you. I went to save you.]
[What happened?]
[My lover is about to jump into a pit of fire without knowing what's next, so there's nothing I can do. I have to hold on to him somehow and watch.]
He let out a gasp. How could such an innocent sound come out of a guy who kills people like ants? He felt so depressed that he fell all the way to his feet.
He wondered if it was because of the remaining medicine or because his blood circulation was slow due to the overflowing spirit, but his vision was getting blurry. His legs were shaking and it felt like it would break. His whole body quickly became hot and his breath became stale. He rubbed his wet forehead in irritation.
Zhenya appeared right after an unknown explosion was heard from the Russky Bridge. Based on the timing and the circumstances, he guessed that Foxtrot, who had been excluded from the joint operation, had acted alone. He didn't know if that was true, and if so, whether the items had been secured safely. It was possible that they had been suppressed by the enemies.
What was clear was that the explosion must have made the enemies aware of the spy's presence. It was as if the operation had been revealed to the surface. Sirens blared everywhere, and armed police were rushing to Russky Bridge, the hotel, and Far Eastern Federal University. It was foolish to fight back when they were outnumbered. They had to withdraw for now and wait for the next opportunity while watching the situation unfold. 'He told Sierra to take refuge and was about to turn around in a hurry when Zhenya showed up. He seemed to know exactly where Kwon Taekjoo was. Despite the fact that he had cut off all lines to avoid his pursuit.
He had known for a long time that Zhenya had been spying on Kwon Taekjoo's every move. He had repeatedly advised him to stop, but he also knew that he wouldn't listen to him. So he was even more careful this time. He only used new communication devices, and he even requested a dedicated line and account from the headquarters. He even scanned his entire body to check repeatedly for any possible wiretapping or tracking devices anywhere on his body.
To no avail, Zhenya suddenly appeared before his eyes. Even that wasn't an entirely unexpected development. That was why he had tried to coax and comfort him before coming to Vladivostok, which was unusual for him. He didn't want to fight him, so he tried his best to avoid becoming his enemy. But now that the situation has come to this, he's the only one who finds himself ridiculous.
The thing he was most worried about has come true. He had been warned by headquarters about Zhenya's reckless intervention and promised to be careful and not let him interfere again, but it was just an empty promise. In the worst case scenario, he might have been involved in the inhuman collusion between North Korea and Russia. In fact, there was no reason for him not to have done so.
Kwon Taekjoo exhaled as if he was groaning. Soon, his eyes would glare at Zhenya again. Even his voice, saying
"No way.", became sharp.
[.... Are you in league with them too?] [Them? You mean my blood relatives?]
Zhenya, who had been pretending not to know, snorted. A mockery spread across the face that was staring at Kwon Taek Joo.
[That's all you could think of. Even though he's your only lover, you still don't trust him.] [Or what, you punk.]
[I kept the promise you unilaterally made. This time, for some reason, I wanted to do it.]
Zhenya nodded repeatedly and replied. He blatantly interfered with the operation, so what kind of promise did he keep? The attitude of the guy who seemed to be playing with words made him feel angry.
[What the hell are you talking about! You're right in front of me right now. Is it just a coincidence?]
[No, it's inevitable.]
The guy continued talking in a relaxed tone.
The rest of them were completely out of their minds, but he was taking it easy on himself.
[If you were asking if I didn't know that my brother, my family, was in cahoots with North Korea, then I knew. To be exact, I found out after you left, Taekjoo. Telling me not to interfere with your business doesn't mean telling me not to spy on my brother, right? That's why I didn't deceive you.]
So it wasn't Taekjoo himself who found out about this incident while eavesdropping on Ba-jim?
That could be true. But the current situation wasn't that important.
The biggest problem was that Zhenya eventually showed up at the operation site. This was why the NIS's suspicions could only deepen. He doesn't know how he managed to break through the siege and get to Ajinoki, but if Zhenya had been exposed to the outside world during that process, his family and Russia would have considered him a traitor.
He was a guy who had always been against his family, saying he would help Kwon Taekjoo, but now he had nowhere to go. Everything that Kwon Taekjoo had tried to protect went up in smoke in an instant. His insides were boiling and overflowing.
[Damn... I told you not to interfere! It's my business after all!]
[Taekjoo, if you hadn't jumped into the obvious fire pit, that would have happened. I told you I wanted to, this time.]
Zhenya kept repeating the same thing. No matter how much he said, it didn't get through. It wasn't just this time. Often, the words he said to Zhenya felt like empty monologues. It wouldn't be any more frustrating if he shouted at the wall.
He tried to swallow the emotions welling up deep inside him. He clenched his molars, and a clear vein appeared on his chin and forehead. The voice that came out after holding his sigh was much more subdued.
[You always ignore people like that.]
Zhenya tilted his head at his low monologue. The tone was so twisted and bitter that it was impossible to ignore.
[Fire pit? I don't know what's ahead of me?]
He pressed Zhenya as if to question him. Even so, seeing the bastard's indifferent face made him unable to bear it any longer.
[How can you guarantee that, you son of a bitch! Why are you saying I'll fail? Am I a fool who can't do anything without your help?]
[You're getting strangely angry again. I know it's obvious, but there's no need to go there.]
[Don't show off. It was the same when you didn't have a kid. Do you think I've ever only had it easy? If I wanted to be safe, I wouldn't have even started!]
An angry shout echoed throughout the large house. Zhenya still looked at Kwon Taek Joo with a calm expression. The confusion that had briefly lingered in his face quickly disappeared. Instead, what took its place was a clear laughter.
[So confident? Did you figure out what they were trying to trade?] Zhenya immediately replied [No.] and continued.
[There probably wasn't enough time. The surveillance was so tight that they wouldn't have even been able to approach the target.]
Zhenya tilted his head to one side. It was a gesture as if asking if he was wrong. He got angry and started talking.
[The guys who transported the trade goods from North Korea were wearing protective suits. That must be because the items were toxic substances that should not be touched carelessly. Russia must have planned to use them to make biochemical weapons or develop vaccines to take advantage of this.]
[Yes. Lysine, Novichok, VX, PoloNium-210... It seems that something comparable to it has been discovered, on Baekdu Mountain.]
Rysine, Novichok, VX, and Polonium-210 boasted lethal toxicity. If these substances are absorbed into the human body, the chances of survival converge to 0. That is why they have recently become a more commonly used means of assassination than guns and swords.
A substance with a similar level of lethality to those deadly poisons was discovered on Baekdu Mountain. It made sense why Baekdu Mountain biologist Park Jeong-ho was taken to Russia, and why he had blindly requested rescue from a spy he did not even know.
Zhenya leisurely watched Kwon Taekjoo, who was lost in thought, he pressed on.
[Don't you know? The Kremlin can already use lysine, Novichok, and VX as much as it wants. But they showed interest in the natural substance that North Korea discovered. What does that mean? They calculated that the new substance would be more useful than the poisons already known to the world. If you get infected, there's no cure, and it's not even clear how you die. Did you want to be caught by them and be subjected to a vivisection? Really?]
[Including that kind of threat, that's my job.]
[Huh? You don't care if you die because of that great thing? So I just sit back and watch? When you fell into my hands, you said you would live like that, but you have no regrets for the rest of your life? It's funny to hear that. Taekjoo, don't be stubborn. Is that really true?]
Zhenya's face, which had been smiling the whole time, hardened. He quickly smiled again and hid his agitation, but it seemed that he was starting to feel offended. The twisted tone of his voice was proof of that.
[Foolishly throwing away one's life is a thing... Who would understand that?]
Kwon Taekjoo glared at Zhenya with his lips tightly shut. Zhenya also continued to whine while standing firm against his gaze.
[Huh? Takju. Is that your noble patriotism?]
[Don't laugh at me just because I said I'm worthless to you.]
[Laughing? Who?]
Zhenya shook his head. At first glance, it seemed like he was teasing someone, but he didn't look all that happy.
[I'm mad at you right now, Taekjoo. Your life and death aren't yours alone, are they?]
[....]
[I said I wouldn't die. Trust me.]
Zhenya, who had been quietly staring at Kwon Taekjoo, suddenly approached him. Although his movements were not very fast, his body froze. His instincts were thoroughly recognizing him as a threat.
[I won't risk my life and act recklessly in the future.]
He argued, reciting exactly what Kwon Taekjoo had once said to reassure him. He slowly closed the distance between them.
[How many times have I not told you? Run around as much as you want. I will chase you wherever you go. If you give me that much freedom, you should leave your small life line here. Don't blindly rely on your pride like you are doing now.]
[Look at this. You little punk, you look down on me and ignore me. I don't know what you think, but I've always done my best. When information is lacking, I find what I can do. But, what? A moth? Do you know what's driving me crazy these days? If you knew, you wouldn't be talking like that. I used to rush in without thinking, but now I think, think, and think again. This operation is just...!]
[You're stubborn to the end. Taekjoo, it's not my fault that your home country's information power is that low. It's not my fault that your temporary colleague blew himself up after acting selfishly. So why don't you stop taking it out on me?]
He suddenly grabbed the gun and raised it. Zhenya tilted his head as if he saw something strange.
One of the bastard's eyebrows also rose.
But it wasn't a simple threat. It wasn't a show of taking it out on him. He didn't want to just blurt it out like he usually does. He didn't want to just give up on himself because he thought he wouldn't understand anyway.
He took a proper stance and aimed at Zhenya. Even though he saw the gun barrel aimed at him, the bastard approached without hesitation.
[Don't come.]
A voice that was completely crushed leaked out through his clenched teeth. Zhenya didn't care. He simply reached out to Kwon Taekjoo without hesitation.
[Don't lose your energy. There's nothing you can do right now anyway. Everyone is bloodshot and trying to hunt rabbits. It would be better to rest a little more until the commotion dies down, Taekjoo.]
A large white hand reached out to his face without hesitation. Kwon Taekjoo, who had half-pulled the trigger, couldn't bring himself to shoot Zhenya this time either and grabbed his wrist. He also pushed the jaw of the bastard who had gotten much closer.
[I told you not to...!]
Zhenya tried to subdue Kwon Taekjoo, who was resisting with his whole body, with brute force. He pushed him hard with his knees and elbows. He also punched the arm of the man who was trying to cover his mouth with his fist. The man did not move.
The two were tightly entangled for a while, pulling and pushing each other fiercely. They failed their limbs without stopping, causing large and small scratches on their skin. Their joints were stretched to their limits.
Even so, no one backed down and they continued to struggle for a long time. Soon, their whole bodies were soaked with sweat. The reason this tenacious battle ended was because Kwon Taekjoo suddenly staggered. Maybe it was because of the weak spirit, but their heads suddenly became dizzy.
Zhenya didn't miss that moment and threw Kwon Taekjoo down on the bed. Then, he somewhat violently crushed his arms. Even in the midst of that, he kicked his stomach and sides and tried
to escape, and he also crushed his lower body with his knee. With that, the chaos finally stopped. The two people staring at each other continued to breathe heavily.
Only then did Zhenya's face come into view. In addition to the scratch he had received during the fight a little while ago, he saw a wound he had never seen before.
A small but clear scab formed on his earlobe.
It seemed like the blood that had stopped bleeding had hardened. Upon closer inspection, everything about him was different than usual. Even his hair was dishevelled, and unlike the guy who liked to be so neat and tidy, the sleeves were dirty with dust.
In the first place, it was strange that he smelled the smell of flames instead of his own body odour from Zhenya. He was so angry that he had knocked Kwon Taekjoo unconscious without permission and had ruined his official duties that he couldn't think of how he had gotten out of there. He also didn't know how he had gotten through all that commotion and arrived at Ajinoki safely.
The outside of the island must have already been turned upside down. If the enemies had noticed Zhenya's intervention, they would have chased him and attacked him all the way here. No, he didn't even know that he was already doing that.
He had once again turned his brothers, his family, and his country into enemies. Just to save Kwon Taekjoo himself.
[...Fuck.]
He lowered his head and cursed. His jaw clenched because his molars were clenched. He always gave me a feeling of helplessness. Using his innocence that was not like him as a weapon, blindly.
[Taekjoo. Your breathing is too heavy.]
His own breathing was already quite irritating to hear, and now his chest was heaving rapidly. Even his shoulders were shaking against his will. It seemed like he was hyperventilating due to extreme stress. No matter how deeply he inhaled and exhaled, it didn't get better.
Zhenya, who had been watching blankly, suddenly sat up. He was finally free from him. He couldn't even move a finger.
the room for a moment and came back out put an envelope on Kwon Taekjoo's nose and mouth. Kwon Taekjoo frowned in pain and grabbed the poor guy by the collar. The guy whispered to Kwon Taekjoo, "Breathe slowly."
As he took several deep breaths, his consciousness gradually became hazy. He couldn't tell if it was from the lack of oxygen or the still weak feeling. He frowned and tried to force his eyes
open. His hazy eyelids finally closed in vain. At the same time, the hand that had been holding onto Zhenya fell limply.
[Yeah. Just take a deep breath.] Zhenya's voice grew distant.
***
"...."
When he opened his eyes again, a large window filled his field of vision. The scenery outside the window was strangely calm and peaceful. The season of greenery. The dazzling sunlight pierced through the thick tree branches. A gentle breeze passed by, gently caressing the bushes in the field.
His eyes were blurry, and his senses in his whole body were awakened one by one. Then, just a stone's throw away, he stopped at the feeling of his breath. The body temperature against his back and the strength of his grip squeezing my wrists were familiar.
When he came to his senses, Zhenya's body was completely pressed against his back. His two arms were crossed in an X shape on my chest, and he was holding him, completely blocking his movements. He buried his head in Kwon Taekjoo's neck and his long legs were thoroughly engulfing his lower body. He was held tightly by him, unable to move.
He didn't know how long he had been asleep like that. How much time had passed since he left the operation site without permission?
His head was still heavy, but his headache was gone. It seemed like the medicine that had been in his body had been completely drained.
However, due to the physical fight with Zhenya, he had a new congestion. Zhenya's hand that was grabbing Kwon Taekjoo's arm was also weak.
He let out a long exhale. Even though it wasn't much of a sound, the breathing of the guy who had been struggling stopped. Even without looking back, he could tell that the guy was awake.
[...Let go.]
The force that was squeezing his body grew stronger at the quiet command. Zhenya's forehead was also rubbed against his shoulder.
[Let go.]
The suppressed voice was overflowing with anger. Despite that, Zhenya stubbornly held on. Without saying anything in return, he only held onto Kwon Taek Joo tightly. Because of that, the blood flow was cut off, so his skin turned pale, and even the blood vessels on the back of his hand became clear.
Annoyed sigh escaped him again. Whether it was an illusion or not, the grip that had been pressing him as if it would break his arm slightly eased. In that gap, he pushed Zhenya, who was stuck to his back with his shoulder and hip. At the moment when the restraints loosened, he raised his elbow and struck the guy. It didn't have much effect. His limbs were just a little looser than before.
Kwon Taekjoo tried to escape again, and a silent melee broke out between Zhenya and Taekjoo, who were trying to hold on tightly. They struggled by grabbing each other's hands, pulling them back, twisting their arms, and pushing them away.
Suddenly, a thud sound was heard. It was unclear whether the sound came from Zhenya's fingers or Kwon Taekjoo's wrist. However, the two people who had been roughly entangled immediately fell cleanly apart.
Kwon Taekjoo rolled over and got out of bed. Zhenya also half-raised himself and faced each other.
"Haa, haa..."
[...Taekjoo. Come here.]
Zhenya demanded in a calm tone. Then he was in a state of holding his breath right before an attack, nothing more or less.
Kwon Taekjoo's eyes, which had been glaring at him, turned to his feet. Something hit his foot, and he saw his gun, which he had dropped at some point. He looked up again and stared at Zhenya. Zhenya shook his head silently. His eyes clearly knew what Kwon Taekjoo was thinking.
He picked up the gun while looking straight into his blue eyes. He immediately aimed the gun at Zhenya, who was about to rush at him. Zhenya instinctively stopped and his gaze clashed violently.
"..."
I.....]
The sharp gazes pierced each other mercilessly. Kwon Taekjoo's pitch-black eyes held not a shred of affection or regret for his lover. It seemed as if they had been burned to the brim by the flames that spread to the tip of his head and had been charred without a trace of light.
He slowly pulled the trigger. Zhenya did not try to move away from the muzzle of the gun. He just stared into Kwon Taekjoo's eyes and held his breath quietly. His index finger tightened. Not only the hand holding the gun, but the muscles in his entire body tightened. His bloodshot eyes shook slightly. If he put in a little more strength, everything would be over.
In the midst of the silence, a light rang inside his body. The pressure made his head feel like it was going to burst. Kwon Taek-ju, who had been frowning, finally took his hand away. At the same time, the air that had been tightly condensed was released in an instant.
He strode briskly toward the door. A sharp gaze followed the side of his face. The moment he ignored it and grabbed the doorknob, Zhenya's voice rang out.
[Is this how it's going to go?]
He didn't respond. He only moved his hand, which had hesitated for a moment, and opened the door.
As he was about to walk out without hesitation, the voice of that damn guy rang out from behind him.
[It can't go on like this, Lord.]
It was a tone that felt more resentful than angry. Sometimes it even sounded like resentment.
At those words, the moment he escaped Ajinoki, leaving behind Zhenya who had desperately cried out to him, the moment he left the guy who had gotten hurt while trying to save him and tried to escape alone as a model, the moment he had always put this matter first and left the guy behind to go to work, the moment he had turned away after arguing loudly and making a rude remark as if he would never see him again, and even in the midst of all that, the moment he had found the mala-tang that he had prepared only for Kwon Taek-ju himself came to mind one after another.
The guilt of having repeatedly tried to comfort and appease the guy and have him beggarly taken care of had piled up as much as it had. It sank heavily. As a lover, what could be worse?
He kept his mouth shut. He barely controlled his emotions that were about to explode. Now was not the time to be swept away by such petty emotions.
As he was about to walk again, Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo again.
[I never gave you permission to go.]
[It's not like I need your permission.]
[Ha. You always act like you want to. Have I been too loose all this time?]
The stubborn tone of his speech became bitter. Only then did Kwon Taekjoo's cheeks harden noticeably as he turned to look at Zhenya. The voice that followed was extremely low and cold.
[It's always like that. You act like you're better than everyone else, and you look down on everyone else...]
[Is it my fault again?]
In this situation, all you can say is that it's his fault, his fault, and all that. What on earth is that guy's thought process? His heart was pounding.
[What's so simple about you, brat?]
[You're not unnecessarily complicated, are you?]
[Haa... What am I talking about with you? When could we communicate?]
The sigh-mixed monologue was filled with resignation and self-mockery. It wasn't that he didn't want to, he just wanted to let it all go. He just wanted to give up on everything that made him not himself.
Did he read his feelings? The air in his lover's voice stirred so clearly that he couldn't ignore it.
[Take it.]
There was a chill in his voice that he hadn't felt before.
[Go that far.]
The warning that followed sounded even more chilling.
[I have limits to how much I can endure, so stop acting wild.]
If they tried to argue any further, it would surely lead to a fight. So it was better to ignore them. Right now, both of them need time to cool their heads and emotions. Even though they knew that, they still lost their temper.
[Running? Me? Is that what's coming out of your little shit's mouth right now? What about you? You interpret, judge, and act on everything as you see fit! You fucking ignore other people's positions and opinions, you motherfucker!]
The nervous voice rang out from time to time. The echoes travelled around the mansion and bounced back several times. But Zhenya didn't care.
He stiffened his face and pushed Kwon Taekjoo away. It was like this. [Who's being a slut? Don't you think the whining is too much, Taekjoo?]
[Does it look like I'm just whining to you?]
[No? It sounds like I had to put up with it one way or another. How much are you asking me to compromise? Do you really think of me as a dog just because I gave you a little bit of a kick? Really? I'm supposed to stay home and wag my tail when you come back.]
[Fuck, I told you to quit if you don't like it! That's how it was born! You can't change it!] [No, I won't change. I have no intention or will to do so.]
He was speechless at the sharp accusation. His tightly clenched teeth cracked. An irritated sigh escaped along with the exhalation he had been holding back.
Zhenya's face also grew angry. The bastard slowly shook his head and continued to point out Kwon Taekjoo's behaviour.
[You always try to control me like that. You flatter me, you act brave, but when you're cornered, you threaten me like you did now.]
[Ha... While you were chewing on it like that, didn't you ever think about this once? How old are you? Do I have to coax and comfort you every single day? How long do I have to do this! Even a reckless child doesn't throw tantrums like you.]
He's tired, really.
He swallowed his last words. Did that one sigh, no different from a sigh, cause a ripple? Zhenya slowly sat up, his body that had been motionless the whole time. The bastard seemed ready to pounce at any moment. He struck first at that bastard.
[Alone.]
The bastard hesitated as if the brakes had been applied at the declaration not to approach or follow him. He stopped all actions and focused on Kwon Taekjoo's every move. Even that was too much for him. It was a rare patience. He was in a tangled state again, messing up his hair.
[Give me some time. We need to cool down, get over our feelings, and get things done. I don't think I'll ever see your face again before then.]
He tried hard to suppress his anger and confessed calmly. If we kept provoking each other, it would only build up resentment.
However, Zhenya couldn't easily accept that. He stood up as if he was going to stop Kwon Taekjoo at any moment. That alone made the air tremble greatly. Whether it was an illusion or not, his body odour also became stronger.
[Are you going to go like this? Inevitably?]
[I told you. I need time. Please, just stay here. There's no benefit to either of us staying together right now.]
[If you go alone? Can you handle this properly?]
[What?]
[Look at yourself, Taekjoo. Get a grip on reality.]
He expresses his disappointment aggressively. As if that's the only way he knows how to express his emotions. He was big, but he was so young and ignorant. The problem was that the lover of that dangerous and imperfect being wasn't a very considerate and affectionate person. Now, at least, he wakes them up one by one and Tyler Jul is even more so.
[You little brat, get a grip on reality! Are you and I the only ones who are happy? Are we in a position to play house like that now?]
[That's why I ask. What can you do?]
He tramples and belittles others' efforts and will. He was originally a guy who thought he was the best in the world and that only his thoughts were right. He used to look down on others and look down on them, even if they were his lovers. This time too, he declared to Kwon Taekjoo that he would do something meaningless.
[Nothing will change even if you struggle alone. It has been like that before and it will be like that in the future.]
A sudden thud was heard. It was because Kwon Taekjoo had slammed his fist on the door frame. The atmosphere suddenly froze. The sharp air stabbed his stiff skin. Kwon Taekjoo held his breath while looking straight ahead. His eyes were covered by his bangs, but he could tell he had reached his critical point just by looking at his tightly shut lips.
[Are you done talking?]
The words that finally came out after a long time were not questions, but rather questions. Kwon Taekjoo could not endure any longer and left the bedroom. There was no hesitation in each step he took.
Kwon Taekjoo was just about to climb the stairs leading to the rooftop. A bullet suddenly flew in and blew away the finishing material on the upper step. When he turned around, he saw Zhenya standing there with a pistol. The shadow of the guy on the floor trembled menacingly.
[Taekjoo. Are you going to blow up the National Intelligence Service with your own hands?]
[Try it.]
He replied without hesitation.
[Then I won't see you again.]
He looked at Zhenya clearly and wrinkled his nose. There was no warmth in his gaze. Zhenya also faced Kwon Taekjoo with sharp eyes. He kept his face tense for a while and then turned his head. He stopped for a moment and started walking again.
However, he was caught again soon after. Zhenya had quickly closed the distance between them and hugged Kwon Taekjoo tightly as if he was going to crush him. He was restraining him so tightly that he couldn't take another step. The two arms wrapped around his waist were as hard as iron. He buried his face in Kwon Taekjoo's shoulders without saying a word. He looked like a child who was throwing a tantrum because he didn't want to let go of a doll.
[You can't go.]
He stubbornly muttered and squeezed Kwon Taekjoo's lungs harder. The despair and hopelessness of not being able to persuade him no matter what weighed on his whole body.
[Yevgeny, please!]
A plea close to a sigh flowed out. There was some irritation and even resentment mixed in. Was it unexpected? He felt Zhenya flinch. The strength drained from the bastard's arms that had been restraining his entire body. He sighed deeply and finally stabbed the bastard with a knife.
[It's time you knew. I don't want to hate you again!]
Zhenya's breath was quietly drawn in. The fingertips of the guy who had been holding Kwon Taekjoo were also slightly trembling and unsteady. Even his clumsy movements were frustrating and infuriating. How long would he have to tell him, teach him, and enlighten him one by one? He was overcome with extreme fatigue.
[Haa... Even if we stay together now, we'll just fight, so just let me go.]
He asked, looking as if he was exhausted as ever. Soon after, a cracking sound was heard in his ears. Following that, Zhenya's arms that had been restraining Kwon Taekjoo loosened little by little. His white hands, which were slowly opening, trembled as if they were enduring an extremely difficult task.
He felt uncomfortable watching him, so he just stared at the empty space. Then, when his body finally became free, he shook off his arm and climbed up the stairs. Zhenya didn't follow him any further. All he could hear was the sound of something repeatedly smashing behind him. It seemed like the guy was losing control of his anger and destroying all the furniture in the house.
However, he didn't hesitate even for a moment. In fact, he walked faster. If he hesitated even for a moment, he would collapse.
When he opened the rooftop door, he saw Zhenya's helicopter. One of the steps had been blown away, and there were clear bullet marks here and there. The guy was Kwon Taekjoo it was a flaw that could be expected as he fled from Vladivostok to here with himself.
"....."
He started the helicopter with his mouth tightly shut. For now, the most urgent task was to return to Korea. He had to go there and somehow clean up the mission he had not been able to complete, the work that Zhenya had messed up. Maybe the headquarters had noticed Zhenya's intervention and issued a warrant for his arrest. Russia would not let it go this time either.
In any case, it was better for him to stay here for the time being. He didn't think about any other problems. He didn't have time for that.
The propeller that had been moving slowly soon began to spin rapidly with a loud noise.
A strong wind suddenly rose, scattering dust and shaking the trees around the mansion. However, Zhenya did not chase him to the rooftop. His silhouette was not reflected in the windows of the mansion. Was he really letting him go like this? Or was he really angry this time? He kept looking down, feeling a sense of relief that was both unfamiliar and uneasy.
The helicopter that had taken off slowly left the mansion. As the altitude increased, fragments of shells scattered all over Ajinoki came into view. The wreckage of the helicopter that had crashed in the deep valley was also visible.
Suddenly, the smell of flames coming from Zhenya's body came to mind. As expected, there seemed to have been a fierce battle during the process of escaping with Kwon Taekjoo himself. It seemed that the Russian government had even mobilised military helicopters to pursue him. Has the order to kill Zhenya already been given?
In this situation, it was hard to leave Zhenya alone. On the other hand, he thought that it would be safer for him if Kwon Taekjoo himself was not by his side. At least he would be free from the suspicion of protecting a spy. Looking at the current situation, Kwon Taekjoo himself was stealing the guy's helicopter and running away, so he might be able to get rid of the suspicion of collusion. Being on the same side should be a misunderstanding. That was the relationship from the beginning.
He gripped the joystick tightly and clenched his molars. All the problems he had been worried about exploded simultaneously. He had no idea where to start and how to untangle the tangled threads that had become too tangled to handle. Nevertheless, in Kwon Taekjoo's eyes, staring beyond the horizon, there was only the blind determination to fix everything with his own hands, to make sure to do so.
:))