14 Healing life of the other world (2/2)
”One more soju please.”
”Two pig broth here!”
Sungjae did not stop talking as they both ate and drank. But, Joonbum found that he couldn't pay much attention to Sungjae's stories.
'It's boring.'
He couldn't find any interest to listen at all.
”I heard those girls trying to be prostitutes. Seolji seems to be traveling out of the country with some old CEOs. They all act clean up front but they're all sluts. I mean, how could they not be frustrated with all these young girls coming into the scene?”
It was the same story over and over. Joonbum knew these stories and felt the same way.
'I loved these stories before.'
He was same as Sungjae in the past. It was the only way of relieving his stress, talking about complaints he had non-stop, cursing, and jabbing at other people's weaknesses.
”Is it? I don't mind them anymore,” Joonbum said as he chewed on the radish kimchi. Sungjae stopped speaking, looking genuinely surprised.
”What? You don't? Are you for real? Are you the same Joonbum I know? Are you that same poisonous toad? What about that bastard, Jinpok?”
Sungjae jokingly taunted Joonbum. Joonbum poured more soju into the glass, watching Sungjae's playful expression.
”Yeah, I used to curse them all night but I'm done with that. They're just not worth my time. Jinpok? He can threaten me all he wants but what can he do? He's not a real gangster. He just pretends to be one. I don't need to deal with him. If he goes overboard, I'll just report him to the police.”
Joonbum spoke without much thought. Sungjae blinked his eyes multiple times in awe, then brightened up.
”Wow! You've grown! Beep, beep, the poisonous toad has evolved into a golden toad! Here, let's drink.”
They kept on drinking until they finished the third bottle and came out of the store and headed for an outdoor cart bar. He complained about soju being bitter but it was back to its sweetness by having it with some fish cake and fish soup.
”This is delicious.”
Joonbum drank the hot soup. It was really delicious and its heat transferred down to Joonbum's stomach.
'But it's still boring.'
Joonbum emptied the glass. The cold soju turned into a fire inside his belly, but that was it. His mind was still cold.
”Dongryul should be serving his time in the army. I heard Jungsoo is working at his father's factory. Well, at least he's got the factory.”
Sungjae updated Joonbum with all his friends, and there were very few. If it was like before, Joonbum would've replied with questions like 'Why?', or 'How is it so?'. However, today, he just answered mostly with yes or no.
”You seem bored.” Sungjae told him, displeased. He wasn't happy with how Joonbum had been reacting.
”No, not at all.”
”Then what's with that face? You don't want to speak to me because you're rich now?”
Sungjae sounded edgy. He was a little bit drunk.
'I've made a mistake.'
Sungjae was having a hard time. He once tried to become a streamer but gave up and started studying to pass the exam for a government job. It was Joonbum who had called him out during his studies. He should've at least tried to make it an enjoyable time.
Joonbum shook his head.
”No, man! Not at all! I just thought that everyone is doing their best now and it felt like we're old, you know? It's making me feel a bit sad. With no girlfriend…”
”Ouch, that hurts.”
Sungjae's mood changed after hearing Joonbum and he exaggerated his actions.
”Couples belong in hell! Let's drink!”
'Whew. That was close.'
They got out of the cart bar while staggering around.
”Let's go for more! More!”
Sungjae shouted mindlessly, but Joonbum dragged him toward a Thai massage shop located nearby.
”Can I sleep over?”
”Sure. You can sleep while getting your massage and stay overnight. If you're too drunk, you can get massaged in the morning. How would you like it?”
A man handed over a small menu to him.
”We'll both get oil massages for an hour and a half. He can get it when he's awake in the morning. I'll receive it now.”
”It's a hundred thousand won. This way please.”
After Joonbum paid with his credit card, he dragged Sungjae who had already fallen asleep and laid him down inside the room. He then changed into a bathrobe and went into a shower room.
The cold water falling on his head quickly sobered him up.
'An inn is too expensive.'
That was the reason he came here. The local inn had increased too much of its price, that it was absurd. Joonbum thought that a massage shop was a better deal since it included a full massage. As he finished taking the cold shower, Joonbum walked into a room and took off his gown, changing to a huge towel. He then lay down face down on the massage bed.
After about five minutes, a short woman came in after a knock.
”Sawadee kap.”
It was a calm voice.
”Sawadee kap.”
The woman unfolded the towel over him and mounted him, starting to massage his neck to his shoulder. He could feel the woman's soft hands through the towel.
”Ugh.”
As she put pressure on his neck, he felt a moan slipping out from his lips. Every tense muscle screamed with pain as the woman massaged them. As the more intense massage began, the towel was removed and the woman applied oil over Joonbum's entire body and massaged every muscle.