CH 24.2

The eunuch singers packed their bags and went into the waiting room. Two thugs following Yaba limped and poured curses. They missed Yaba twice and got beaten up to mops by Kang Giha. Kang Giha didn’t know that it wasn’t because they were stupid, but because he was an excellent escaper.

Kang Giha entered the waiting room. He has been upbeat since he was contacted by Cha Yiseok. According to Imsoo, Cha Yiseok did not spare any comfort and encouragement to Kang Giha. It meant that he could collect allowances for work and put off taking life insurance for the time being. Kang Giha handed the reservation list to Cocaine and walked in front of Yaba. He crossed his arms and looked down with curious eyes. Yaba raised his gaze.

“What are you looking at?”

“It’s a business trip. A designated business trip.”

“Why are you telling me that?”

Giha’s finger pointed exactly at Yaba.

“You. You were designated.”

“Did you eat dinner wrong?”

“No. I thoroughly digested a plate of beefsteak. Whoever ate the wrong thing was the one who called for you.”

The eunuch singers looked at them with puzzled eyes, and Cocaine also showed interest when looking at the reservation list. He was even suspicious of himself receiving the gaze. Kang Giha wasn’t the type to joke around, so it didn’t seem like a joke. Yaba didn’t know why he thought of Cha Yiseok at that moment. Cha Yiseok only looked for Cocaine, and what he did the previous night was just for the price of the drugs. He convinced himself that it couldn’t be, but his heart was pounding as he wanted otherwise.

“… Who is it?”

“Get ready for now. I’ll attach Imsoo and two other guys, go together.”

In the end, Kang Giha did not say who it was. Since Cocaine was almost kidnapped in the past, he was not sent on business trips unless it was a reliable person. This willingness to send a business trip was because he was not Cocaine. Yaba packed his bags and left the waiting room.

But there was a problem. He had to put a song in his scrotum, but it was already full of Cha Yiseok’s breath and obscene sounds, so there wasn’t enough room for the song to intervene. After much deliberation, he could put only one short and easy song.

The place he arrived by car was a large mansion near Seoul. It was also said that it was not Cha Yiseok who called for him. All of a sudden, everything became bothersome. On the other hand, he wondered what kind of person it was. Still, it was more annoying than anything. As he went back and forth like that, he arrived in front of a gate that looked like a castle gate. A bodyguard in a suit first checked the identity of the thugs.

Upon entering, the three German Shepherds barked fiercely at the unfamiliar car. It was the same breed as the dog that Kang Giha had raised in the past. The middle host that first transferred the bugs to him was the dog that Kang Giha was raising. There was a time when Kang Giha was upset because his dog ran away. Kang Giha berated his henchmen as if they were dogs because they couldn’t take care of his dog, but in fact, Yaba took him to the bosintang restaurant while the underlings were distracted. The money from selling the dog helped him buy poison.

When he entered the living room, Imsoo said.

“I’ll be in the living room, so if you suspect anything, scream.”

“You guys are the most suspicious here.”

Yaba left the thugs behind and was guided by the bodyguard to go upstairs. As he climbed the stairs, he organized the grape-colored mask that only exposed his lips. His gloves were tucked into the flesh of his forearm. Today’s outfit was sleeveless, cream-colored velvet, both above and below. He hated clothes that show the curves of the body like this. The cheap designers ignored the dimensions ordered by Yaba and always made them in size M, but they have held up well so far without tearing, perhaps because of their excellent elasticity.

As he reached the door, his neck stiffened. The bodyguard knocked and stepped back. Yaba swallowed his dry saliva and opened the door. The moment he saw the person waiting inside, his eyes wrinkled.

It was Cha Myunghwan who was sitting on the bed. He took off his hospital gown and wore a light blue shirt over a cashmere sweater. He widened his jaundiced eyes. Relying on the oxygen respirator, the sound of breathing was difficult to hear. He looked at him who had a mask on with bleary eyes.

“Are you the scammer?”

“Why are you here?”

Yaba asked. A strange color appeared in the corners of Cha Myunghwan’s eyes, confirming the voice.

“I’m here for a thorough examination.”

“If you wanted a thorough examination, you would be at the villa. Why did you stay here? Do you want to die?”

“This is my original home. My doctor and my attendant are all on standby, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. Don’t argue and come in. The wind is coming in.”

“…”

It looked like he was really determined to get an apology. But even if Cha Myunghwan broke his leg, his knee won’t go down. Yaba chewed his resolve and walked inside.

The door was left open in case of unforeseen circumstances. The room was big enough to fit into a hostel, and there were a lot of classic vinyl records on one wall. It was dotted with the exclusive possessions of the upper class, such as luxurious art and crafts. It would be unfair to die leaving something like this behind.

Cha Myunghwan took off his oxygen respirator and got up from the bed. He sat down on the sofa, dragging the IV drip with his arm on the needle. He staggered as he walked and had a hard time sitting down. Previously, his complexion looked like that of a corpse, but his energy was lively, but now he was shaking enough to collapse quickly. He heard that Cha Myunghwan’s wife called Cha Yiseok, and it was surprising that he had improved because of Cocaine.

Cha Myunghwan poured out a dry cough and then grumbled.

“I had a hard time convincing the boss, he was very suspicious. I told my father to leave you all alone, so why don’t you believe it? After all, there’s no way you guys know that my father is the one who would even pretend to die if it were my words. You don’t even thank me for calling you back, why do I even have to convince him? It’s so annoying that even a hundredfold apology from the scammer isn’t enough! Cough… ! Cough… !”

“Are you proud of being deceived? I guess you don’t know what the world is like because you’re confined to a villa, but now it’s a world where the victim is called stupid.”

“Never mind. Enough with the fuss. First, sing a song.”

Cha Myunghwan picked up a glass from the small table and drank only water. His nervously rolling eyes were as creepy as an iguana.

Yaba didn’t really feel like doing it, but the penalty points are dangerous, and he was a customer. Leaving other things aside, it was the first time someone had ever been so hung up on his own singing. It was also the first time he was called upon.

Yaba licked his lips and sang. It was Schubert’s ‘Serenade’. Cha Myunghwan quickly met his gaze. The shimmering eyes were filled with the emotion of meeting the water in the desert. It was a really strange feeling.

Leise flehen meine Lieder Durch die Nacht zu dir

Softly my songs plead through the night to you

In den stillen Hain hernieder, Liebchen, komm’zu mir

Down into the silent grove, beloved, come to me

Fuerchte, Holde, nichtrack.

My darling, do not fear

It has beautiful rhymes and lyrics, but it is a wet and desperate melody like the cry of a swan on the verge of death. Cha Myunghwan closed his eyes and inhaled oxygen until his chest bulged. Yaba loosened his shoulders like a swan with his neck hanging and dragged his tone.

Lyrics like slime flowed down the floor and into the air. He gathered the muddy sounds and reached the highest notes. He frowned as if in pain, but avoided his gaze. He fills in with a hum in the interlude where the violin goes. Like the corpse of a swan drifting alone on the water, like its rapturous rhythm…

Ah… ah…

Bebend harr’ich Dir entgegen Komm, begluecke mich

Trembling, I await you, come, make me happy

When the song ended, Cha Myunghwan’s dark skin turned red.

“You still sing with your own interpretation. What is the reason for it? You sing this kind of song.”

“If I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have chosen this.”

Cha Myunghwan gave his eyeballs a lot of strength. It looked like a cutlass drawn to the shore. Then he glanced at Yaba’s hair, and his dark tufts of skin changed to a strange color.

“Then I’m leaving.”

Yaba walked away without looking back. As soon as he could touch his doorknob, Cha Myunghwan ran and grabbed Yaba’s wrist.

“Why one song?”

“Because I only have one song in it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Cha Myunghwan slammed the door shut. When he first saw him, he couldn’t even move, but seeing him walking around like this, he wondered if it was because of Cocaine’s songs again. Yaba shook his hand off. Cha Myunghwan said with a slightly angry face.

“It’s hard to see someone so rude and arrogant, but now when I see you, I even respect you. Come back tomorrow.”

“What about Cocaine?”

“He is him.”

“Are you thinking of continuing to be healed?”

“I’ll look at the test results coming out this week. But I don’t believe in healers. So, I’m going to listen to any song I want.”

Cha Myunghwan surprised Yaba in many ways today. He hated being alone with him as much as on his knees. But strangely, his cheeks were itchy. It was a tickling different from the leeches crawling.

“Do you really want to hear my songs?”

“Don’t test my patience, just give me an answer.”

“If you don’t want to tell me, don’t.”

Yaba scratched his forearm and looked away. Cha Myunghwan bit his lips tightly and then turned his head.

“Fine. I want to hear it. I’m going crazy because it’s ringing in my ears all day. Alright?”

He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, seeing the redness in Cha Myunghwan’s ears. Yaba said, looking down at that face that was only covered in leather.

“Tell the boss about the business trips. It is not for me to decide.”

As he turned around, Cha Myunghwan grabbed his arm again. Skinny hands feel like branches being scraped off. Cha Myunghwan’s face looked like it was about to explode. Out of nowhere he reached out and grabbed his ribbon.

“Wha… !”

The mask fell to the floor. Yaba raised his arm to cover his face, but Cha Myunghwan was faster. Their legs were wrapped around each other and they fell to the floor. The IV drip also fell over. Cha Myunghwan grabbed Yaba’s arm and looked at the exposed face. It felt like a boulder was being laid on him.

“Ha… damn. I wasn’t seeing things then!”

“Let go! Let me go… !”

Yaba struggled under Cha Myunghwan as he was crushed. Even though he was twice the size of Cha Myunghwan, he was absurdly pushed out of power. He wiggled his hand, looking for something to hit, but nothing caught on. If the thugs aren’t fooling around, they should hear his shouts and run up. There was only one reason why it hadn’t happened. Because he’s not Cocaine. Useless idiots, people who only freeload. I will stab them all to death.

“Let it go! let go! You lunatic!”

“Stay still!”

He was so strong that it was unbelievable that he was a half-dead person. Cha Myunghwan touched Yaba’s hair and traced his face, then swallowed his saliva as if he had starved for years. His face got closer.

At that moment, someone’s hand violently tore off Cha Myunghwan’s head. Cha Myunghwan was caught in his hair and hung on the wall like a stuffed ornament.

“Ah! Ah! What…! Cough! Cough!”

Cha Myunghwan struggled, saw the person in front of him and flinched. It was neither the thugs nor the bodyguards who grabbed Cha Myunghwan’s hair. It was Cha Yiseok. A low voice was heard.

“What are you doing? Older brother.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a warning tone. Cha Yiseok narrowed his eyes as if he was peeling off the hide of his brother’s head. Cha Myunghwan frowned. The embarrassment of being caught up in such a scene mixed with bewilderment at the gentle change of the younger brother. Cha Yiseok removed his cold gaze from him and threw it at Yaba.

“Put on the mask.”

Yaba felt like an insect stung by a pin. He wondered how he came here at this hour. And that day he found himself in the parking lot… Yaba got up and put on the mask.

Imsoo and the thugs came running late, ran behind the bodyguard to block them. Their eyes widened at the sight of what was happening inside. Cha Myunghwan looked at Cha Yiseok, who was holding his clothes, with stern eyes.

“Let go of me. What are you doing to your brother?”

When Yaba took off the mask and stood up, Cha Yiseok looked at Cha Myunghwan. Then, he loosened the hand holding Cha Myunghwan.

“Seeing you run wild like this, you seem to have improved a lot. I know you did a thorough examination, but when it’s over, you should go back to the villa.”

“There’s a problem. There is no difference in staying at the villa. I’m thinking about getting outpatient treatment in Seoul.”

Cha Yiseok’s eyes twitched slightly. Contrary to his sharp eyes, his voice was soft.

“You don’t have to deliberately prey to the paparazzi when the media is putting pressure on you, right?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be called recuperation when my heart is in a comfortable place? That person and you, why are you two so anxious that you can’t let me go?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Because I want you to get better.”

Cha Yiseok smiled languidly. Cha Myunghwan looked at his younger brother. He was always like a frog standing in front of his brother in front of an anaconda, but today he was like a bullfrog.

“No. I’m going to move my bags tomorrow and get treatment here.”

They exchanged sharp stares. Cha Yiseok’s eyes were like reptile teeth. He choked one’s breath slowly so that he felt the moment he was dying, rather than biting off the vital points like a lion and killing him in a flash. Even if it was a bullfrog, a frog was a frog. Cha Myunghwan withdrew his atrophied gaze.

Cha Myunghwan’s eyes were different when he was with Chairman Cha and when he wasn’t. Although his position and age are higher than that of Cha Yiseok, some instinct seemed to drag Cha Myunghwan down the food chain. When Imsoo gave the signal, Yaba left the room.

“Keep your promise to me.”

Cha Myunghwan said quickly. Cha Yiseok’s eyes turned into a weapon.