CH 19.3

“Uh? What? It’s this lunatic?”

Upon entering the garage, the thugs were bewildered. There was also Hashish. He thought Cocaine came alone, but it was still a bummer. Hashish asked without hiding his disdain.

“Why are you here? Where’s Cocaine?”

Cocaine probably had taken this issue off his hands from him. Had it not been for Cocaine, or at least Hashish, he would not have been this miserable. It was as if he had been ripped off while carrying in his arms the savings he had accumulated over the years. Yaba ignored Hashish’s question and got into the car. He stared at Cocaine and Yiseok facing the garden lights. Hashish’s gaze followed. Seeing Cocaine facing Cha Yiseok from a distance, the back of his head stiffened.

Even in an achromatic scenery, the two people with a clear silhouette and a suitable height difference are like a scene from a black and white postcard. The breaths that vomited alternately were like kisses pouring on each other. Cocaine turned and walked somewhere, and the two disappeared into the dark.

Yaba tore at the groove of the car seat with his fingernails and followed their disappearing silhouettes. The cheek that was hit by Chairman Cha was now sore. The dogs barked exceptionally today. The bodyguards worked hard to calm the mad dogs. Wishing the Doberman would break his leash and run and bite Cocaine in the nape, Yaba prayed.

***

Cocaine went to the backyard of the main building and stopped in the most remote place. He grabbed his coat and pulled him into the darker side, pressing down on his hoarse voice.

“Please explain what is going on. How… !”

As Cha Yiseok raised his waist, the coat slipped out of his hand.

“As you have heard. Instead of you, Yaba was the healer.”

“Do you know how surprised I was earlier? What would have happened if I said I didn’t know anything?”

“I was also quite surprised and had to adapt. You’re a smart guy.”

Cocaine was stunned by Cha Yiseok’s audacity. When he thought about what happened a while ago, he felt dizzy. It was a bolt out of the blue equivalent to when he had been kidnapped. From Yaba’s actions, he seemed to have known everything. He never imagined that he would have done something like this in a place without him knowing. But he knew why he had been hanging out with Cha Yiseok, so he was relieved enough that his leg was relaxed.

Cocaine thought so. Cha Yiseok was a person he liked, so Yaba was doing something in vain. From a long time ago, Yaba coveted Cocaine’s stuff, and in fact stole them or broke them many times. When Chairman Kim encouraged him to sing, he panicked, but it wasn’t bad. It was a moment he had been looking forward to since he wanted to clearly show the difference between him and Yaba. Cocaine let out a long sigh.

“How exactly is CEO Cha? You don’t know how nervous I was because I was afraid that Chairman Cha would ask me.”

“It’s gallbladder cancer. The cancer cells have spread to the lungs and liver as well as to surrounding organs, and they say it will take up to two months at most. He’s at the point of grasping some straws, so Cha Myunghwan will contact you soon.”

“What should I do?”

Cha Yiseok only raised the tip of his lips slightly. It would be going against his plans if he took on the job. No, apart from that, there was no hope in the current state of Cha Myunghwan. It was impossible for him to destroy a huge mass of cancer in such a short period of time, even if he hung on. Most people who seek the supernatural power of a healer are driven to the very end. If even the last breakthrough was dashed, all resentment and responsibility will be returned to oneself. He didn’t want to disrupt the smooth life with it.

But what was Cha Myunghwan’s reaction when he sang? And what about Cha Yiseok? During the confrontation a while ago, both Cha Yiseok and Cha Myunghwan focused only on Yaba. He was the one who had never been alienated from the gaze of others in his life. Cocaine asked in a depressed voice.

“Perhaps… did Yaba sing in front of your brother? Since when…”

“About a week.”

“Are you and the CEO the only ones who have heard Yaba’s song?”

“My sister-in-law heard it once or twice, but after that, Cha Myunghwan stopped her from even approaching him. Because of that, the two of them had quite a fight.”

For a moment, Cocaine felt dizzy. They heard Yaba sing, they heard Yaba sing… He stared intently at Cha Yiseok.

“It seems that Yaba has been mimicking me for weeks at a time. I hate it when someone impersonates me. What if he makes a mistake? This is a matter for my honor, and if this happens, I will not be able to work with Executive Director Cha’s mother because it is difficult. What the hell were you thinking about doing that? Without telling me a word… !”

A violent breath broke through the air. Cha Yiseok crossed his arms and rested his left shoulder against the wall. He slowly twisted his gaze and turned to Cocaine.

“Why should I consult with you?”

Cocaine’s lips hardened. Cha Yiseok rolled his eyes languidly and crushed Cocaine.

“Tell me. I didn’t know you had honor? Even if there is, why should I care about that?”

A cold voice scratched Cocaine’s back, making him shiver. His throat was blocked so he couldn’t answer. Cha Yiseok didn’t make jokes like he used to, nor did he have an obscene look. He looked like a stranger from another world. Cocaine grabbed his mask. He shook his head and looked at him with moist eyes.

“But you should have told me first. Am I someone who couldn’t understand such things to the Director?”

Cha Yiseok looked at him with an unreadable expression. Cocaine ruffled his hair fluttering in the wind.

“Take me back. I think there are a lot of things I need to hear as I go. Yaba can be sent by the car I was in.”

Cha Yiseok narrowed his eyes.

“No, even if the sky splits into two today I will have dinner with the cat. Whether it’s cutting at a restaurant with a view or sipping ramen at a convenience store. If not I might really get into a bad mood.”

“Aren’t I the one who should buy you dinner?”

Cocaine spoke firmly. Cha Yiseok’s gaze pierced his forehead. If he went back like this, he won’t be able to sleep. He didn’t even have the courage to face Yaba’s ridicule at the dorm. No, he was not weak enough to be shaken by such ridicule. Yaba should be treated like that at least once. He must have been so miserable and lonely so far, so Cocaine could close one eye to him imitating him. The shadows of Cocaine on the floor staggered in the wind.

“I was miserable enough before. I can’t do anything if I go back after being treated like a scammer. It doesn’t matter whether I’m cutting at a restaurant or eating ramen at a convenience store, so I want to relax and go. If I go back like this, it’ll be awkward for me with Yaba.”

Cha Yiseok had eyes that seemed like they were interested.

“Depending on my answer now, your attitude will change when Cha Myunghwan calls you.”

Cocaine faced him quietly. Eyes ripped open without double eyelids belonged to a slow-drunk drug addict, but often transformed into a reptile on the brink of hunting. The wind-blown coat feathers hit Cha Yiseok’s chin. His lips touched the edge of the collar of his coat, and his lips curled.

“You are quick-witted. Just before I got mad, you stopped at a great timing. Even now, in the line of taking care of your pride, you threw a bait that I couldn’t refuse.”

“Everyone has a different way of life. You can’t blame it.”

Cocaine closed his eyes and opened them with a faint smile. Cha Yiseok murmured as his eyes twinkled.

“I don’t mean to blame you. Rather, it’s the way I like it.”

He pulled his hand out of his pocket and tapped Cocaine’s cheek. His fingers were cooler than the night air.

“You are much more attractive when you wear a mask.”

Cha Yiseok, who put his hand down, was sucked into darkness. A dark gray coat that fell to his knees wrapped around Cha Yiseok’s legs and fluttered.

Cocaine leaned against the wall and stared at him disappearing. He was a man who constantly exuded a damp nature. He just wanted that guy rather than his gorgeous looks or background. That arrogant man no one else could have. He didn’t care if it was a stimulant or whatever he once enjoyed. It would be fine if he played around as much as he wanted once and then came back. At that time, he was thinking of changing him from the inside out.

***

As soon as he turned the corner of the building, Cha Yiseok slammed the wall. He slapped it fiercely with the back of his hand. His breath was scattered over the dull noise. He gnashed his molars. He thought the old man would move, but he didn’t expect him to set a trap like this. He should have moved one step faster. He was careless.

He should have considered the possibility of him going to Chairman Kim. It was his inexcusable mistake. He was stabbed in the back by the old man. Now there was only one thing left to do is return the favor. Cha Yiseok pulled out a cigarette and took a bite to calm his burning blood. It’s hard to control his emotions these days. Now that he was farther away than before when he was soaked in drugs, his brain was rather dull.

The villa, covered in the shade of the mountains, was gloomy. The waiting time was excruciating. As the drug was about to run away, Yaba took the case out of his back pocket. It was given by Cha Yiseok before entering the villa. He took out a dark red pill and poured it into his mouth. One, two, three… It far exceeded what he advised. He chewed and gave himself up to the medicinal energy. The leather seat opened his mouth and began to swallow Yaba. He had to hold onto anything in order not to be dragged away.

Through the darkness in the distance, an elongated figure appeared. He was a certain chaebol by day, and a man who turned into a necrophiliac by night. Cha Yiseok’s hair fluttered in the wind, and the collar of his coat wrapped around his legs. He walked with a slow but definite stride, smoking a cigarette. He made eye contact with him. It was the eyes that were like the pressure of the volcano just before the eruption. Suddenly, Yaba wondered if the validity date was when he got in or got out of this car. That thought lays eggs, becomes an adult, lays eggs again, and reproduces exponentially.

Cha Yiseok got into the driver’s seat. He ruffled his hair and looked at Yaba. Shards of cold color tore his throat. Yaba blinked his eyes slowly. His cold fingers brushed the cheeks that were hit by Chairman Cha.

“Never mind. It’s not the worst yet.”

Yaba opened his chapped lips. There was a remnant of medicinal energy on it.

“… What’s the worst?”

“Of course, that Cha Myunghwan is alive.”

“From now on, will Cha Myunghwan be in charge of Cocaine?”

“Probably. Now, his eyes are turned over at the thought of being deceived, but even because of Chairman Kim, he will be shaken.”

Yaba asked.

“If Cocaine saves Cha Myunghwan, what will happen to you?”

“Well. Variables exist everywhere.”

“I don’t want to think about that…” Cha Yiseok trailed off.

“It is also Cha Myunghwan’s fate. It’s a pity that I can’t see Chairman Cha falling into despair, but there’s not just one way.”

Cha Yiseok took off his long coat. A cigarette-scented coat covered Yaba’s knees.

“Let’s put that aside and have dinner. If you want something to eat, tell me.”

Ah, Yaba sighed thinly. Even though things went wrong, he was telling him to eat instead of being questioned. ‘They laugh when it’s worth using. If they ask for a handshake, then you have to run away without looking back.’ Kang Giha was nasty, but that nastiness was something he earned by fighting the cruel truth of the world.

Yaba wanted to touch Cha Yiseok’s messy hair. He captured the line that fell from his slick nose to his lips with his eyes.

A sad feeling ran through his throat.

“I like anything…”

Then Cocaine walked into the garage and talked to Hashish. Hashish frowned and glanced at this side. Cha Yiseok added something in a voice without warmth. Yaba couldn’t feel anything because the medicine had worn out his senses. Then Cocaine was put in the back seat, and Hashish sat next to him. Cocaine entered the rearview mirror and met his gaze.

Does Cocaine know that Cha Yiseok was not very interested in living people? Did you know that my cold, rotten body elicits more sexual excitement? Someone like him. There was a faint laugh. Yaba grabbed Cha Yiseok’s coat and looked out of the window. The car with engine noise started. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be like this from the beginning?

Like an infinity band that tries to get answers on a twisted road, but gives no answers in the end…

Today’s heroine, who saved the prince from danger, will be crowned with a dinner. After the dinner was over, Cha Yiseok’s kindness would also expire. Now Cha Myunghwan’s room will be filled with Cocaine songs. Cocaine will also occupy the passenger seat where he was at now. It was an obvious story that was nothing new.