BITM Ch20
by soapa“Thank you, Hyung.”
“Oh, I just help out every other day and get a meal in return.”
“You have to acknowledge Jang Hyung’s humility.”
Han Naeyung chuckled softly, being careful not to let his smile show too much.
“But that’s…”
Jang Juntae pointed to the documents in Han Naeyung’s hand.
“Hyung, you seem to have many connections. You said you know someone in the police who will help find the runaway kids, ha ha.”
Han Naeyung fixed his gaze on Jang Juntae, appearing pleased as if this was welcome news. There was no trace of the unease that must have passed fleetingly.
“We are so grateful! Please, come inside and join us for a meal.”
“No, thank you. I have to go soon.”
Han Naeyung stepped back a few paces from Jang Juntae, who glanced at the documents and then smiled broadly at Han Naeyung. Han Naeyung returned the gaze impassively.
His mind raced to find a gap in Jang Juntae’s defenses. One of Jang Juntae’s frequent haunts was the Sarangwon orphanage. He calculated the distance from the church to the orphanage. Even without a pinky finger, one could still drive, so he had to consider the possibility of him using a car.
“Ha ha, is there something on my face?”
Jang Juntae laughed awkwardly under Han Naeyung’s scrutiny.
“You resemble someone…”
Han Naeyung replied calmly, then put the folded documents into his coat pocket.
“I don’t think we’ve met before. If I had seen someone as handsome as you, I would have remembered.”
When the time comes, you will remember. A crime, like a body buried underground, emits a terrible stench as time passes. The dirty smell surrounding Jang Juntae proved this fact.
“I’ll be going now. Take care.”
Han Naeyung quickly turned around to prevent them from following. He did not hear the footsteps of the director or Jang Juntae trailing behind him. He was walking towards Nari’s enclosure when he heard a squeak.
Looking down at the ground, Han Naeyung lifted his head.
“Perhaps because it used to be a fighting dog, it doesn’t get along well with other dogs.”
Jin’s voice suddenly came to mind. Han Naeyung quickly checked the two dogs, hoping his thoughts were unfounded. Nari was on top of the dog from Sarangwon.
Nari was nibbling on the whining dog’s neck and pressing her genitals against it. Han Naeyung quickly picked Nari up. Thankfully, she hadn’t attacked. He sighed in relief and petted the mixed-breed dog.
Nari, now in his arms, calmed down and smacked her lips. Han Naeyung put Nari in the car and grabbed the steering wheel. He leaned his forehead on the wheel to gather his thoughts. If all the information was wrong, there was only one thing to do.
He recalled the neatly arranged medicines on the shelf. Being excluded from the investigation line reduced the risk. Gulp, gulp. It felt like blood was pouring from a crack in his intestines. The rising hatred every time he saw Jang Juntae was getting harder to endure.
‘What are you doing? It’s your turn this time. Are you going to let it slip away again?’
Jaemin whispered. No, Jaemin would never say such things. It was just a hallucination he had created.
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he looked up. Jang Juntae was standing in front of the building, watching him. Narrowing his eyes like a snake, he observed Han Naeyung.
As Han Naeyung’s car passed by, Jang Juntae waved. The sight of his severed, stubby pinky finger flashed by.
***
“Doctor, why is Nari so down today?”
Nari, frustrated from being prevented from mating with the mixed-breed dog, was visibly dejected. The dog, who usually acted as a sort of mascot whenever visitors came, now looked as withered as an old man on his deathbed in the mountains. At the time, she seemed fine when stopped, but…
“…It’s because she’s in heat.”
“Ah, that explains it. It’s just nature, after all. Right, Nari?”
Lee Seolhwa shook Nari’s face playfully.
“What does her owner think?”
“I’ll have to ask him.”
Nari’s guardian was Jin. He would have to decide whether to have her spayed or let her mate.
Han Naeyung held his regular phone, not his prepaid one. As soon as he opened the hospital door, he received a message from Jin saying he would come by at closing time. He probably wouldn’t arrive on time. His voice sounded unusually husky, dripping with fatigue.
As expected, Jin arrived after 8 PM. He rushed in, saw Han Naeyung at the desk, and smiled as usual. Despite her owner’s arrival, Nari remained dejected. She lazily walked over, rubbed her head once, and then plopped down on the floor.
“What’s this new form of protest?”
Jin looked at Nari, who sighed deeply. He cleared his throat as he spoke.
“She’s in heat.”
Jin chuckled briefly, patted the dog’s head, and drew the blinds on the window.
“I’m not feeling great either, so Nari and I are in the same boat.”
“…”
Jin approached the desk where Han Naeyung, dressed in his gown, was standing.
“I think I might be coming down with a cold. Could you take a look?”
If a person is sick, they should go to a regular hospital, not a veterinary clinic.
“Then you should see a specialist…”
“What do you think?”
Jin suddenly thrust his face close, cutting Han Naeyung off. Startled, Han Naeyung inhaled the sweet scent that filled his lungs. He had been enjoying this scent since Jin arrived.
“First, you need to…”
He exhaled the breath he had been holding and spoke.
“Cut down on smoking.”
Jin, wearing gloves, yanked his arm. The faint smell of cigarettes lingered.
Han Naeyung stood there, unable to either embrace or push him away, his arms hanging awkwardly. They had shared intimate moments before, but this simple act of hugging left him feeling even more immobilized.
Jin, feeling playful towards Han Naeyung who remained passive, gave him a tight hug before letting go. Nari waddled over and settled on the floor between them.
“Lately, this little one has been shaking my arm quite a bit.”
Jin looked at his forearm with a slightly troubled expression.
“If you’re planning on getting her spayed…”
“Is that like circumcision?”
“No, it’s neutering…”
Jin furrowed his brow.
“You mean removing the testicles?”
“Yes.” Han Naeyung’s reply was almost inaudible.
“That’s cruel. What happens if we don’t spay her?”
“You either let her mate or help her relieve her urges each time she’s in heat.”
Although some people manually help their pets, he didn’t mention that. Instead, he talked about the stress and diseases that could result from not spaying.
“Hmm, I guess we have to do it.”
“I’ll schedule the surgery.”
Han Naeyung typed on the computer at the desk. Lee Seolhwa handled all the surgery scheduling. Jin, not taking Nari, sat on the sofa with his arms crossed.
“Dr. Han.”
“…Yes.”
Han Naeyung turned off the computer and stepped out from behind the desk.
“It’s strange. I must be in heat too.”
Jin looked at Han Naeyung, who was sitting on the sofa, with a suggestive gaze. Han Naeyung blinked a few times, signaling that he didn’t mind the attention.
“Shall we hold hands today?”
Jin extended his hand as if to interlock fingers.
“Take off your gloves.”
Suddenly, Jin pulled Han Naeyung by the wrist, making him sit facing Jin on the sofa. Jin skillfully unbuttoned three buttons of Han Naeyung’s shirt beneath his gown. Without giving him a chance to react, Jin slipped his hand inside the shirt. Han Naeyung shivered at the cold touch of the glove.
“…Prosecutor.”
It was a whisper, almost a murmur. Jin lowered his lips, kissing from Han Naeyung’s neck down to his collarbone. Han Naeyung blinked uneasily, staring at the ceiling. Jin glanced up at his face before pulling away slightly.
“Dr. Han, did you have a circumcision?”
“…What?”
It was a sudden question.
“When I saw it before, it looked nicely done. I was wondering which doctor did it.”
Jin teased as he stroked Han Naeyung’s thigh.
“I don’t… really remember.”
“I didn’t get one.”
I see.
Han Naeyung’s lips parted slightly. He knew what Jin’s erect penis looked like. It wasn’t covered like an animal’s. Jin guided Han Naeyung’s hand to touch him.
It was already hard.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing…”
Jin, seemingly understanding Han Naeyung’s expression, unbuttoned another button on his shirt.
“Does it look circumcised?”
He said while unzipping his pants.
“As I grew, it naturally retracted. They call it a natural circumcision.”
As Jin’s smooth hand wrapped around his shaft, it twitched and grew even more. Han Naeyung found his lips moving unconsciously. Being around Jin always stirred his sexual desire quickly.
Watching Jin remove his leather gloves, Han Naeyung’s eyes softened. The warm touch on his chest and the familiar breath made him close his eyes. He couldn’t resist Jin’s advances.
Just for today, really just for today. He kept repeating to himself.
