Chapter 247: The Eye of the Apocalypse
The kisses didn't stop at just one. With each smack of lips that multiplied, the faces of those standing in front gradually morphed into sothing strange. Even his face hidden behind masks twisted ambiguously— half smiling, half enraged. Eventually, Cha Eui-jae narrowed his eyes. They couldn't see it because of the mask, but still. 6
"Turn around." 5
"…"
Bae Won-woo and Hong Ye-seong quietly turned their bodies to face the wall. Mackerel bowed his head, but Cha Eui-jae could sense his sidelong glances. Cha Eui-jae growled. 5
"I can see your eyes shifting."
"…"
Finally, Mackerel also faced the wall. Damn it. Cha Eui-jae adjusted his hold on Lee Sa-young, who was nuzzling his face into the back of Cha Eui-jae's neck. 2
"Where should I lay him down? You must have a rest area."
"Um, yes, well… on the top floor."
So he had to carry him all the way up to the top floor? Despite being a research facility, there seed to be plenty of people here. Unpleasant thoughts of the paparazzi started creeping up. Mackerel, a professional paparazzo himself, seed to be thinking the sa thing, or maybe he was just mindful of his stare, as he started whistling. 1
No, this guy, Lee Sa-young, is he so kind of cat? Why did he like high places so much? Just then, Bae Won-woo raised his hand timidly. 1
"If you don't mind, I… I could carry him instead…"
"…"
If he handed Lee Sa-young over to Bae Won-woo here, he could slip away without the risk of his na or face spreading around again. However, he also foresaw the aftermath when Lee Sa-young woke up; he'd cling, saying things like, "Did you leave behind?" or "I'm disappointed."
'…'
Honestly, these were all just excuses. I wanted to do it. 21
After biting his tongue firmly, Cha Eui-jae spoke.
"Please lead us to the quietest, most discreet, and least populated route possible." 9
***
In front of the building, a beat-up old Damas chugged towards Bae Won-woo, who was slurping on a power gel. Mackerel stepped out from the driver's seat and raised his hand in greeting. Bae Won-woo leaned an arm on the Damas and grumbled.
"Hey, what's with driving around in this junk? Aren't you guys loaded?"
"Junk? This is the beloved long-ti partner of our very own Jang Mi-sook-nim."
"By junk, I ant classy, you know. It's got an antique vibe and looks… physically sturdy." 5
Bae Won-woo gave him a double thumbs-up. Mackerel snickered and glanced up at the building. J, who had carried Lee Sa-young upstairs, had been out of touch for an hour. He couldn't shake the image of Lee Sa-young, who had been clinging to J like a child, uncharacteristically needy. Usually, he was here to threaten him, give strange orders, or ask for all sorts of difficult favors. 1
'Damn, my mind's supposed to be filled with good things only.' 2
His mind felt polluted, as if it had been contaminated beyond repair. The ntal shock was too much to just brush off. Mackerel sighed and held out his hand to Bae Won-woo, who handed over the empty energy gel wrapper. Mackerel frowned. 2
"I don't need trash; I need compensation. dical compensation." 5
"Why would you need dical compensation here? Doesn't look like you're hurt."
"Co on~ I'm suffering from ntal trauma. Ever since I saw that, my head's been spinning, and I can't drive."
"You're just going to get Goldfish to drive anyway…"
"You don't realize how hard it is to handle Goldfish."
"Aw, shut up. dical compensation, huh… Ah!"
Bae Won-woo grabbed Hong Ye-seong, who had been hovering in the back, by the collar and dragged him over. Hong Ye-seong let out a faint, "Ugh," as he was pulled forward. Bae Won-woo gave an exaggerated bow. 1
"Since you're heading that way, mind taking this guy along? I should head back. I snuck out."
"What? You're just going to dump a fugitive on like this…"
"Hey, I'm out here to save the world, so who's going to complain? Just slip him back in quietly."
"This isn't compensation; it's an extra charge."
Mackerel looked Hong Ye-seong up and down as he dangled helplessly. The wise 'artisan' who earlier spoke of encompassing the world now had a vacant look. Mackerel poked his cheek with his finger, and Hong Ye-seong reacted with a delayed "Eh?" Useless. Mackerel clicked his tongue. 3
"He's fried." 1
"Sotis he's like this. It's no big deal."
If this isn't a big deal, what is? Mackerel quickly ran the calculations in his head. Despite the trouble, the residence of a renowned artisan was worth more than his current annoyance. Mackerel, giving in, accepted the dazed Hong Ye-seong.
"Just this once, okay? Next ti, it's cash or a magic stone."
"Yes, yes. I'm sure you will."
While Mackerel cramd Hong Ye-seong into the back seat of the Damas, a dark figure appeared at the building entrance. It was J, clad in a long black coat. His damp, silvery hair glead as it caught the light. He walked over awkwardly and stood next to Bae Won-woo. 2
"Sorry to keep you waiting." 1
"Oh, it's fine… huh?"
Bae Won-woo sniffed the air suspiciously. Mackerel, crouching, turned to glance at them. His indigo eyes scanned J. A loose white sweatshirt under a long black coat, baggy pants, slightly damp hair— all details added up to sothing he really didn't want to acknowledge. Just as Mackerel was trying to block out this new information, clueless Bae Won-woo blurted out. 3
"Oh, that! It's the body wash I left for Sa-young in the bathroom." 4
"…"
I don't want to know! Mackerel fought the urge to clamp Bae Won-woo's mouth shut in frustration. 8
He didn't need this info— that Lee Sa-young had kissed J over five tis, that J had showered in Lee Sa-young's room, borrowed his clothes, and left. He didn't care about their love life! Well, maybe he was a little curious, but he'd rather not know. Knowing might an J would kill him. Mackerel's hand trembled. Yet Bae Won-woo, oblivious as ever, smiled brightly. 3
"Wow, it's still there! Slls nice, right?"
"Haha, yes. It does."
"That outfit suits you, too! Pulling off a student look— really impressive!" 1
Bae Won-woo flashed double thumbs up again. J, feigning a hollow smile, quickly scanned his surroundings. Then he spotted Mackerel clutching the Damas, looking utterly distressed. Without a word, J's intense gaze conveyed everything. 2
We need to get out of here. Right now.
Feeling the sa way, Mackerel quickly opened the driver's door and climbed in. At the sa ti, the Goldfish team threw open the passenger-side door. Mackerel called out loudly.
"Oh, now that I rember, I have a very important client to et~ Need to rush over~ If you're not getting in, I'm leaving."
"Ah, that… that's right. Let's get going." 1
J swiftly jumped into the passenger seat with the agility of a predator leaping toward its prey. As they hastily clicked their seatbelts into place, Bae Won-woo cautiously approached the Damas and asked, carefully choosing his words. 1
"By the way, how's Sa-young?"
"…I laid him on the bed. He should wake up soon."
"Got it. Thanks. Thanks to you, we're done early today… Haha. Have a good night!"
Mackerel stomped on the accelerator, watching Bae Won-woo's cheerful face quickly shrink into the distance until it was just a dot, finally disappearing. Only then did he ease up on the pedal, both of them letting out a simultaneous sigh.
"Hah…"
"Haa…"
The lingering scent of body wash from J's damp hair and neck filled the air. No, I don't want to know. Without a word, Mackerel rolled down the driver's window all the way. The Damas shivered like their unsettled minds. Yet he couldn't stop himself from glancing to his right. 4
And there, it seed he locked eyes with J, who sat slouched in the passenger seat. Or rather, he did lock eyes.
Whether Lee Sa-young had picked out new clothes for him or if he'd chosen them himself, an untorn tag stuck out from his collar. J rolled down his window, letting his hair fly in the wind. After a mont of silence, J rested his arm on the passenger window and spoke.
"Hey."
"Yes, hyung-nim?"
"Pretend you don't know."
"…"
"One word to anyone… Ha, I swear."
J muttered curses under his breath, running a hand over his mask in frustration.
"Anyway, if this gets out… Ha. You'll pay for it with your life, got it?"
"…"
"Why aren't you answering?"
Mackerel swallowed nervously and glanced at J. Years of living as an informant, the instinct to seek out interesting tidbits, surged. And finally, he caved.
"Did you…?" 3
The sound of grinding teeth followed. A strong hand grabbed him by the collar, shaking him roughly. 2
"Would I have?!"
"A-Ah, w-we're driving! We'll crash! Ahh, the car will break!" 4
"Tell Goldfish to take the wheel!"
As chaos erupted in the front seat, Hong Ye-seong, who had been cramd into the back, quietly opened his eyes. His golden pupils began spinning once again.
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