SLC 63

Kim Jinkyung could tell that his friend was trying to comfort him in his own way.

‘Thanks.’

‘If you’re grateful, just… pack your suitcase.’

The flight Seo Sangil booked departed early tomorrow morning. He booked the earliest ticket out of fear that Kim Jinkyung might change his mind, but because it had a layover in Abu Dhabi, the departure time became complicated.

The airport at dawn was quieter than expected. It was originally a 1:30 AM flight, but due to maintenance issues, the departure was delayed until nearly 3:00 AM.

I should go in somewhere and lie down to sleep.

Kim Jinkyung rubbed his brow as he checked the watch. Every stimulus felt exhausting since he had not been out in a long time.

The lights were too bright, and the noise was too loud.

...Was it a similar feeling?

Kim Jinkyung inadvertently thought of Mok Seongha and then shook his head.

Let’s not think. At least not until the plane leaves our country’s airspace. No, until I leave Incheon Airport. …Until I board the plane.

Kim Jinkyung pulled his suitcase.

‘Hey, but your house looks like a thief broke in. Don’t you need to check?’

Seo Sangil asked with a worried face as he handed over the passport.

It must be Mok Seongha. Did he go there to vent his anger?

…It would be nice if that actually relieved his anger.

The thought of Mok Seongha naturally resurfaced even though he had not boarded the plane yet. Kim Jinkyung sighed.

At this point, this unrequited love is terminal.

“Passport, please.”

Kim Jinkyung took the passport out of his pocket and handed it to the airport employee.

“The flight ticket as well.”

“Ah, yes. One moment.”

Kim Jinkyung turned his backpack to the front. He put the ticket inside the bag because he had not boarded a plane in so long that he forgot the procedures.

“I am sorry.”

“It is okay. Please take your time.”

The employee’s attitude was relaxed because there were no other passengers in line at this late hour. Kim Jinkyung found the ticket in his bag and handed it to the employee.

“Here it is.”

“Yes. Have a pleasant trip….”

Before the employee could take the ticket, a hand reached from behind and snatched it away. Kim Jinkyung turned his head because he did not understand the situation, and then he froze.

“…A pleasant trip, my ass.”

Mok Seongha muttered as he gasped for breath. His hair was soaked with sweat as if he had run from somewhere, and his breathing was ragged.

“What do you think you are doing?”

The employee who lost the ticket shouted with a flustered face.

“Just how….”

Kim Jinkyung was equally bewildered. There was no way Seo Sangil gave the information to Mok Seongha. He never told anyone he was taking a plane. He could not understand how the man appeared at the airport.

“For over an hour…from earlier… I ran.”

“What?”

“I only kept running…ugh.”

Mok Seongha gagged and blocked his mouth with his palm.

“Why are you like this? Are you alright?”

The startled Kim Jinkyung quickly bent down to check his condition. Their eyes met while he was hunched over. The golden eyes were cold.

“…Where are you trying to go?”

“…….”

“Where are you trying to run off to, even taking a plane?”

Mok Seongha’s eyes reflected murderous intent. He was poised to plunge his teeth into a prey’s neck and snap its windpipe right now. Kim Jinkyung hesitated and took a step back.

“Excuse me, what are you doing? If you act like this during departure….”

“He is not departing!”

Mok Seongha yelled and then grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s hand.

“Follow me.”

The moment the large hand touched him, Kim Jinkyung pulled his hand back as if he were burned. Mok Seongha checked his hand left in the air and hollowly laughed.

“I am not going.”

Kim Jinkyung managed to say a single sentence.

“Don’t go. Stay with me.”

Mok Seongha snatched the suitcase from Kim Jinkyung’s hand. The latter quickly reached out to take back the handle.

“Give it back.”

Mok Seongha did not even pretend to listen and walked away while pushing the suitcase.

“Give me the suitcase. It is a rental….”

Kim Jinkyung tried to reclaim the suitcase several times, but it was futile. He could not overcome Mok Seongha’s strength, he held the suitcase as if it were a lifeline.

“Fine.”

Mok Seongha looked back with shining eyes when those words left Kim Jinkyung’s mouth.

“Throw it away or do whatever you want.”

Kim Jinkyung gave up on the suitcase and turned around. It only contained underwear, simple clothes, and toiletries. It was a waste of money to buy them again, but they were not items he could not give up.

As Kim Jinkyung walked toward the departure gate again, Mok Seongha rushed over and grabbed his arm.

“Why are you like this? What exactly did I do wrong?”

“…You did nothing wrong.”

“Then why? Is it because I visited too late that day? I wanted to go home right away, but I kissed you, so are you angry?”

“No.”

“Is it because I bit your lower lip too hard when we kissed? Did you feel bad because I grabbed your hand too hard to run at the traffic light?”

His heart ached when he imagined Mok Seongha thinking of such reasons by himself. Kim Jinkyung lowered his head.

“It is not that. Not those things….”

“If it is not that, then what is it!? No matter how much I think, I can’t understand the reason for this sudden behavior! Dammit!”

Mok Seongha shouted and threw the suitcase in his hand. The broken suitcase rolled on the floor. Airport security guards turned their gaze this way. People around them also whispered as they glanced over. It was not good to draw people’s attention due to Mok Seongha’s special nature.

“Let’s talk next time.”

“When is next time?”

Mok Seongha gripped Kim Jinkyung’s arm.

“When are you going to do it next time? You didn’t even pick up my calls. You even took a leave of absence from school. And you say let’s contact next time?”

A spark flashed in Mok Seongha’s eyes.

“After you disappeared like that, do you know how much I….”

Mok Seongha abruptly fell silent mid-sentence. He lowered his gaze. His eyes widened as he noticed Kim Jinkyung’s gaunt, thin wrist.

“What happened to you? Are you sick?”

“No.”

Kim Jinkyung quickly hid his wrist with his shirt sleeve.

“If you aren’t sick, why are you so thin? Did you go to a hospital? Did you get a check-up? No, don’t stay here. Let’s go now. Get admitted and get tested.”

Kim Jinkyung looked up at the face of the man who pulled his hand. Mok Seongha looked haggard; his jawline was more pronounced than before. Mok Seongha was the one who needed to go to a hospital to check if he was ill, not Kim Jinkyung.

“I am fine. I am not sick.”

When Kim Jinkyung refused again, Mok Seongha swept back his messy, disheveled hair and swallowed dryly. He was holding back his anger.

“Even if you aren’t sick, just get a check-up.”

“…I have to board the plane.”

“I will buy you a ticket later. After the check-up.”

“There is no need for a check-up. I am fine.”

“Seriously, why are you doing this? At least give me a reason. You are good at explaining things for me to understand. Hmm?”

“…….”

Because I like you too much.

It was a simple sentence. However, it was a phrase he could not say.

As someone who watched Mok Seongha’s process and determination to get married and have children from the sidelines, Kim Jinkyung could not carelessly impose his opinion on that decision. If the man made up his mind, there was nothing to be done. And Kim Jinkyung was never even given the right.

It was true that Mok Seongha favored and followed him around. But that was all. Through this incident, he realized once again that the weight of their hearts was not equal.

“…Is it boring now, after we slept together once?”

When Kim Jinkyung failed to answer immediately, Mok Seongha glared at him with bloodshot eyes and asked.

“No.”

“Is it because I’m not your type, or because a bastard who is bad at sex clung to you without any tact? Does it feel like shit?”

He felt his head aching. The bright lights of the airport irritated his nerves, and the noise felt like it was stabbing his eyes.

Kim Jinkyung thought he should take the man to a quiet place to talk for now.

“Seongha-ssi, first of all….”

“I will practice.”

Mok Seongha held onto Kim Jinkyung and continued with a serious face.

“You can just practice with me. I will give you the tutoring fees again, so practice with me. Nothing changes even if I get married.”

A snap echoed inside him as the string he barely held onto finally broke.

Kim Jinkyung snatched the ticket from Mok Seongha’s hand. The latter looked down at his empty hand with a hollow face, like a child who had a snack stolen.

“Practice… by yourself.”

Kim Jinkyung spoke in a calm voice.

He no longer wanted to be his practice partner. His feelings had become too sincere to do so willingly.

Kim Jinkyung walked toward the immigration desk. He heard Mok Seongha call out “Hey!” from behind, but he did not stop. He only needed to pass that point. Once he went inside, the man could not follow him.

Kim Jinkyung handed over his ticket and passport.

“Hey! Fuck, Teacher!”

The airport employee heard Mok Seongha’s shout and looked back before asking Kim Jinkyung, “Are you departing?”

“Yes.”

When Kim Jinkyung answered, the employee scanned the passport and ticket with a reluctant expression. The employee compared the passport photo with Kim Jinkyung’s face and returned the documents.

“You may enter.”

The employee’s gaze remained fixed on Mok Seongha, who stood over there.

The employee’s face was filled with doubt about whether it was genuinely acceptable to let this person pass.

“Kim Jinkyung! Hey, you have four times left! The promised kisses, there are four left! Fuck, come back right now and finish them all before you go!”

Kim Jinkyung did not pretend to hear. Mok Seongha screamed at his back as he headed toward the security gate.

“What are you going to do about your debt to me?!”

“What?”

Kim Jinkyung turned his head and asked because the claim was so absurd.

“I deposited the tutoring fee wrong. 4 million won. Repay the debt. Write a contract. Come out right now and write a contract saying you will repay it.”

Kim Jinkyung was speechless. Even if the deposit was wrong, the man never mentioned it until now. Using it in this situation felt like nothing but a forced excuse.

“Send me the account number. I will deposit the money for you.”

“How am I supposed to text you when you got rid of your phone? You can’t go. Don’t go. Write the contract.”

“I will tell Sangil. I will tell him so you can receive the money.”

“It’s 20 million won.”

“What…?”

“With today’s interest, it is 20 million won.”

“…….”

He wanted to ask what kind of calculation method that was, but he felt he would get swept up by Mok Seongha if they spoke any further.

“I will deposit it.”

If he pulled his studio apartment deposit and scraped together all his money, it would roughly match. That money was all earned from tutoring Mok Seongha. It was fine to think of it as money that never existed from the start.

“When?!”

Mok Seongha shouted urgently. Kim Jinkyung pointed toward the immigration desk and replied.

“After I leave.”

“No. Why should I trust you and let you go? Don’t leave. You’re going to meet some ugly foreign bastards and show them your bare hands! Fuck, don’t go!”

Mok Seongha shouted as he ran toward the desk. Airport security guards blocked his path.

“Those without a passport and flight ticket cannot enter.”

“Kim Jinkyung!”

Kim Jinkyung did not feel good. He did not want to say goodbye like this.

No, perhaps this was better. This much should be enough to lose all affection, so the man would never think of meeting him again.

…But why did his own heart not lose even a single piece? Even though he suddenly had a 20 million won debt, he did not resent or hate Mok Seongha.

He felt sorry. He only felt sorry for turning his back and leaving without a proper explanation. However, he was certain he would be caught if he went back.

He always became weak and his boundaries fell apart before Mok Seongha as if it were natural.

Kim Jinkyung entered the security checkpoint.

“Fuck! If you were going to be like this, why did you stay back then?”

Kim Jinkyung paused as he was about to put his belongings into a bin at Mok Seongha’s words.

He realized it right then.

‘You should have just left! You should have abandoned a thing that isn’t even human… and left! Why did you stay and… make me confused…’

“A guy like you…fuck.”

His voice trembled.

Kim Jinkyung eventually looked back. Golden eyes blurred with tears glared at Kim Jinkyung as if he wanted to kill him.

The moment he met those eyes, Kim Jinkyung instinctively knew.

…I’m caught.

A black animal flew through the air. Without breaking eye contact for even a second, the beast jumped over the security desk and slammed into Kim Jinkyung’s body.

He froze the moment he saw the eyes of the beast that pinned his shoulders down and looked at him. The beast did not blink once and only glared at him.

Kim Jinkyung could not even breathe under a gaze filled with resentment and obsession. The beast held the prey he had caught with all his might. Sharp claws pierced through his shoulders, but Kim Jinkyung could not even flinch. He felt as though those teeth would sink into his throat if he moved even slightly.

He heard the rough breathing of the beast. His ears rang, and his vision wavered. It felt as if the surrounding commotion grew distant, as though a veil had been draped around the two of them. A hand of an anonymous airport employee tried to pull Kim Jinkyung out of the unrealistic scene.

“Get away! This way, right now!”

He helped Kim Jinkyung up. Or rather, he attempted to do so. The beast bared his teeth and threatened him, causing the employee to scream and fall back on his backside.

“F-fuck. Where on earth did that come from?”

“Gate 2, we need backup. Right now, a wild animal, no, a predator… I need backup immediately!”

“Evacuate this way! Please come this way!”

The area was a scene of chaos with people screaming and airport security shouting to control the surroundings.

In the meantime, the airport police arrived armed after receiving the report. Kim Jinkyung’s mind went blank with terror. The guns in the hands of the police caught his eye.

No.

Kim Jinkyung did not think twice. He reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around the panther.

“Cease fire! Cease fire! Secure the civilian’s safety first.”

Kim Jinkyung tightened his grip on the panther.

“Don’t do it!”

He shouted and leaned his body down to trap the large beast in his embrace. Even if he had to take a bullet himself, he had to prevent the worst-case scenario.

“Get out of there! It is dangerous, right now!”

A police officer shouted at Kim Jinkyung. He hugged the panther with all his strength and yelled.

“He is mine! He is a pet I raise. He belongs to me, so don’t shoot. Please!”

He discovered that when a person is paralyzed by panic, a finely split pain presses down on the nerves, reminiscent of needles pricking all over your body. Kim Jinkyung repeated the same phrases like a maniac as he tucked the beast’s head into his chest.

“He is mine. He is a pet I raise. You must not kill him.”

With a face pale as a ghost and his body trembling, Kim Jinkyung repeated the same words like a broken radio.

Then, the animal capture team appeared after receiving a late contact.

“Move aside! You must come out!”

“Get out of there quickly!”

Shouts erupted from everywhere. He heard the growling of the beast in his arms. Kim Jinkyung’s mind was white, and he could not think of anything.

Where did Secretary Kang go? Why did he transform there? What if someone saw the transformation? It must be recorded on the airport cameras. What happens if he is dragged away… If he cannot return to his human form and gets locked up somewhere, or in the worst case, gets euthanized?

He could not breathe properly due to fear. Kim Jinkyung hugged Mok Seongha haphazardly and whispered.

Stay still, you must stay still. You must not leave my side.

“Move aside!”

That was the last sentence he remembered. Kim Jinkyung felt a sudden flash of pain and passed out while holding the beast in his arms with all his might.