15 Healing life of the other world (1/2)

”Nak-nak!”

The woman put more pressure on Joonbum as he requested. She turned on a fan as the temperature rose.

”Mister, turn!”

Joonbum woke up as she slapped down on his butt, asking him to turn.

'When did I fall asleep?'

*

'Refreshing.'

After finishing off with a cold shower, Joonbum came out of the store after checking to see if Sungjae was sound asleep. He felt a sudden empty feeling, which he never experienced before when he visited this place.

'It wasn't bad but…'

There was nothing lacking, but Joonbum couldn't help but feel something was missing and he knew exactly why.

'You always feel the emptiness once it's gone.'

Galfus' departure had left a big hole in his heart. He felt apologetic to Sungjae, as today's hang out was to ease his feelings rather than to encourage Sungjae on his struggles with his exam. But even under the influence of alcohol or a visit for his pleasure, it did not help as it only made him feel more emptiness overwhelming him.

Joonbum opened up a small water bottle he received from the shop and drank.

”Hah, bastard!”

”Oh? Who do we have here? Long time no see, you prick.”

An unwelcoming voice was heard as soon as Joonbum spat a curse to himself. He turned to the voice.

'What kind of cliché is this?'

”Did you just say 'bastard' to me?”

Joonbum frowned. Jinpok eyed him for a second, then let out a long sigh and glared at Joonbum.

”Bastard huh? You just said that right? You called ME a bastard? Are you f-ing out of your mind? To me? You really grew some balls! Have you lost your mind?”

Jinpok exploded at Joonbum. His face reddened as if it was a bomb ready to blow. A built man shouting curses was an intimidating sight, to say the least.

”Hey, is that a fight?”

”They're fighting!”

”A gangster fight!”

Jinpok's shouting grew wilder as he felt the attention of the people around him.

”You ungrateful b*tch, as if it wasn't enough ignoring me! You think I'm some nobody? Huh?”

Jinpok grabbed Joonbum by his collar and started threatening him.

”Jinpok, I didn't know you were there. I was thinking of something else. It's a misunderstanding.”

Joonbum thought it was such a loser-ish excuse and frowned unknowingly.

'Hah, he's giving in! Just a bit more then.'

Jinpok thought of Joonbum's excuse and his facial expression.

Joonbum was elusive these days as his popularity grew. Nobody was able to get into contact with him, and there was a line of female streamers wanting to do a joint broadcast with him. Jinpok utilized this by using his past acquaintance with Joonbum, claiming he could contact Joonbum whenever he wanted, but it soon caused a backlash as he could not keep his word.

[You liar.]

[You're all but talk.]

[I'm disappointed in you.]

[Huh? Oh… I don't have time right now. Sorry, maybe later.]

People started avoiding him as they realized he had lied. Jinpok pulled up his sleeves to find Joonbum himself as he had lost all credibility. But even that wasn't as easy as he thought. Unlike in the past, he could not simply throw a punch without avoiding doing time in prison. In the end, all he could do was a drinking broadcast to show off as always.

[HEY Jinpok, the pig is up!]

[Someone saw him drinking!]

[You wanna know where?]

[I don't think he's going. He's just a show-off now.]

[Physical therapist my ass! You're nothing against the real Russian mafia.]

[I thought you were going to catch Joonbum? No?]

Jinpok didn't want to go. He was going to let it pass, pretending he was drunk, but his viewers increased as the news of Joonbum appearing spread quickly.

'I'll just pretend to look for him.'

Jinpok declared to his viewers that he would find him. It fired up the viewers.

[Hell yeah! Let's find that pig!]

[He is getting too cocky these days. Get him!]

[Time for some pig hunting! Let's go hunting, Jinpok!]

The responses exploded and Jinpok grew pompous. He followed witnesses' reports and searched around. Reports surged as he searched with no success, however, Jinpok felt relief at that.

*

'That fool is so unfortunate.'

That was his first thought as he saw back of the man. His viewers exploded with excitement. He heard a word coming out from Joonbum as he closed in.

'This is my chance.'

Jinpok's mind raced with thoughts as he pretended to misunderstand, threatening Joonbum.

”Misunderstanding my ass! You think I don't know what you said? I heard you right. You ignored me because you're big now after all I did for you? I raised you! This is why you should shut up you fatherless bastard, you mother f-”

”Get off me!”

”What-”

Jinpok stepped back as Joonbum violently shook off Jinpok's grab.

”You didn't do a thing for me. Who raised who? You are not my mother, you bastard!”

”Wh- what? Are you mad?”

Jinpok was confused at the unexpectedly strong resistance.