MIM 94

After being abandoned at a bus stop in Mangwol District, where not even buses came, Shin-woo survived countless near-death experiences over more than a thousand nights.

“Hey.”

It was instinct. He just let time pass like that, living day by day. In a place no one looked into, he stuffed stolen food into his hungry stomach and lay down in abandoned rooms. He locked away his heart after countless cycles of anger, depression, and suffering from hunger and threats. Once he got used to solitude, he found his own kind of peace.

Until someone started knocking on the door.

“Shin-woo.”

As soon as his name was called, Shin-woo slowly lifted his eyelids. His body was straightened as the seat automatically raised. His returning vision was filled with the pale one. Having apparently been trying to wake him for some time now, a warm hand rested on his shoulder. Ma Jae-seung, who had been watching the drowsy Shin-woo intently, slightly lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile when their eyes met.

“You slept through everything. We’re here.”

As he turned his body slightly, crimson clouds were visible through the window. The intense color seeping through thoroughly dyed his silver hair.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

The quiet question caught his attention. 

“I went back,” Ma Jae-seung added in a barely audible voice and squinted his eyes. The bright smile instantly dissipated the long, vivid nightmare. Touching the blanket he didn’t remember covering himself with, Shin-woo smiled back.

⚝⚝⚝

“Hey, why is this cabin so small?”

Ma Jae-seung’s first words upon arriving at the cabin weren’t exactly positive. Somewhat agreeing, Shin-woo clicked his tongue and looked around inside. The cabin had looked quite grand in photos, but seeing it in person, it was rather modest in size. Still, the A-frame structure had its charm.

“It has everything, though.”

“Isn’t this a kid’s bed? My feet will stick out. I can’t sleep here.”

“There’s another bed over there. That one looks king-sized. You use it. I’ll sleep here.”

“How can I do that? That bed is much bigger and has a better mattress.”

Ma Jae-seung complained, wondering why they would use completely different mattresses in the same lodging. Shin-woo, who had been too busy looking around the interior to care about mattresses, narrowed his eyes.

“…Did you already try it?”

“You’ll be uncomfortable too since you’re tall, so just…”

Ma Jae-seung hesitated, scratching the back of his head while trailing off. After stalling for a while, seemingly unsure what to say, he finally mumbled.

“Let’s sleep together.”

“…”

“I mean, we’ve slept together several times before, so it’s not like it’s anything new. I’m hungry.”

Though there probably wouldn’t be much difference between sleeping alone in a single bed or together in a king-size bed, Shin-woo found it cute that he couldn’t sleep alone in the better bed and didn’t argue. Ma Jae-seung quickly changed the subject, saying he was hungry, and disappeared from view. Left alone and curious after pondering this, Shin-woo tried lying down on both beds.

Indeed, compared to the single bed that sank deeply as soon as weight was applied, the king-size bed was firm with latex. He laughed, wondering if Ma Jae-seung had checked the beds right after arriving. Ma Jae-seung happened to like latex mattresses.

He had learned about Ma Jae-seung’s bed preferences when they first slept together in the annex bed. Afterward, he had stubbornly insisted on replacing the bed for a while. When persuasion failed, he once even resorted to spilling juice. When told to go sleep in his own room if it was so uncomfortable, he grumbled but eventually adapted and slept well. Buried in blankets mixed with their scents, he stopped complaining after a while.

“Drink.”

While lying down lost in memories, suddenly milk came flying out of nowhere. Catching it, he found it was a small milk carton about half the size of his palm. Ma Jae-seung, saying it was in the fridge, was already holding an empty, crumpled carton. Given the ample expiration date, it seemed the owner had stocked it for them.

The cabin exuded a family atmosphere in everything from its interior design and furniture to even the children’s milk cartons the owner had left in the fridge. One bed for a couple and one single bed, a spacious kitchen designed for cooking, even a dog toilet pad—it was optimized for a family with children and pets.

Well, this atmosphere…wasn’t bad.

Being tired anyway, Shin-woo started unpacking while filling his empty stomach with milk. After just two long sips, the carton instantly shriveled. With the empty milk carton still in his mouth, Shin-woo casually laid out his clothes on the single bed. Looking at everything unpacked, he realized he hadn’t brought enough clothes.

Having rarely gone on business trips, and those not far, always returning right after achieving his objective, he had never carried around cumbersome amounts of clothing. Let alone for travel. Unsure what to bring, he had even searched the Internet for clues.

“Ah.”

After all that trouble, he had still managed to forget something. Shin-woo dropped his head with an annoyed sigh.

Socks. He hadn’t brought a single pair besides the ones he was wearing.

“Let me use your charger.”

Just then, Ma Jae-seung poked his head out and dropped a casual request. After fussing about alone until right before leaving, he had apparently forgotten his charger of all things.

He wasn’t the only one fumbling through their first trip. Shin-woo looked up at Ma Jae-seung while suppressing a laugh.

“Then let me borrow socks.”

“…Socks? You didn’t bring socks?”

“Just lend me one pair. I’ll buy some when we go into town, but just in case I can’t find any.”

“Did you at least pack underwear?”

“Yes.”

After responding to the ridiculous question, he noticed the playful expression on the smirking face. Perhaps because it was his first trip, Ma Jae-seung was subtly excited. He had been scattered since the airport, and on the way here after arriving, he had taken hundreds of photos. They had arrived at the lodging much later than expected because he kept stopping to take pictures every few steps.

It seems like he’s enjoying it despite appearing indifferent earlier. While watching the delighted Ma Jae-seung, his fatigue gradually faded. So excited was he that Ma Jae-seung wandered around the cabin holding Maro, whom he had questioned about bringing earlier. He peered curiously at the fireplace like the one in the annex, then plucked at the strings of a nearby guitar. He teased Maro who wanted to climb onto his lap on the sofa, and got bitten.

“It doesn’t hurt at all. What should I do? You can’t come up.”

While Maro was licking Ma Jae-seung, who wouldn’t let him sit on his lap but lowered his head to offer his face, he suddenly turned toward the door. As Ma Jae-seung’s gaze was about to follow, Maro ran to the door barking loudly.

Knock knock. Almost simultaneously came a knock. Ma Jae-seung, who had been watching Maro, stiffened and turned to Shin-woo.

“Ah. That’s my guest.”

Shin-woo casually checked the time, then strode over and opened the door wide.

A middle-aged man holding a box under his arm stood at the door. He lifted his head from under his cap to meet Shin-woo’s eyes. After quietly looking around, Shin-woo pulled out an envelope from his chest and held it out. The man counted the cash on the spot and after confirming the amount was correct, handed over the box.

The secretive transaction ended with the sound of the door closing. Shin-woo sat on the living room sofa, feeling the sharp gaze following behind him and Maro’s tiny footsteps. Then he set the box down on the table in front.

“You were curious where I spend all my money, right?”

At the sudden question, Ma Jae-seung blinked blankly. Perhaps thinking it was money needed for the trip, the wariness gradually left his eyes. Shin-woo grinned and took out a MacGyver knife from his ankle to cut the tape. The knife he had retrieved first after reclaiming their luggage at the airport moved deftly in his hand.

As soon as the box opened, Ma Jae-seung looked inside and gaped. He seemed quite surprised by the contents, something completely unexpected and unnecessary for a normal trip.

Shin-woo took out two guns and handed one to Ma Jae-seung.

“A gift. It was fucking expensive.”

“…You forgot socks but remembered guns?”

Shin-woo shrugged his shoulders at Ma Jae-seung’s incredulous question. Though hoping for the best, he had contacted a local arms dealer just in case.