Kwon Taek Joo wakes up from a long sleep. He moaned non-stop, so not only in his mouth but also his throat was dry. He don't know how long it took, but the night seemed to be very late. It seems that there was a contrabass sound in his sleep, but when Kwon Taek Joo opened his eyes, he was still around. Even that is a dream?
Kwon Taek Joo gets out of bed and goes out. The pain in the hip was still throbbing but he tried to bear it. He went into the kitchen and calmed his dry throat. The calming water flowing through every corner of the body makes the dizziness to clearly wake up.
It took him a while to regain his breath and look out the window. The superficial eyes looked around and then accidentally glued to a place. He thought it was a reflected light, but Zhenya was sitting outside the villa. What is he doing there this late at night?
Kwon Taek Joo took a sip of water and approached the window. Then he openly looked at Zhenya. Surprisingly, the guy did nothing. He just sat there and didn't light a fire. Where he headed was only a deserted snow field. Even the size of a guy who was so big that scared him felt trivial in front of Mother Nature. Is it because of the contrast effect? His eyes followed the shape of the man's back sitting dumbfounded. There is no way a monster will feel lonely, but his back now looks especially lonely.
After all, who is empathising with whom? Kwon Taek Joo shook his head and was about to turn away but the guy suddenly looked back. Two inevitable gazes, touching. Does that kid have eyes on the back of his neck? His heart beat wildly in surprise.
Contrary to expectations, Zhenya did not take any action. He just quietly looked at the confused Kwon Taek Joo. That look was so straight and skinless that he didn't know what he was ashamed of. Unable to stand still like that, Kwon Taek Joo turned his back.
The place where Kwon Taek Joo is heading is not the bedroom but the dressing room. What the hell is he out doing late at night like this? Kwon Taek Joo took out his jacket and put it on while grumbling. He found a bottle of Macallan in the kitchen and took it out.
Zhenya turned his head at the sound of the door opening, he seemed surprised when he saw Kwon Taek Joo.
'I brought some delicious drinks.'
He waved the bottle towards Zhenya, who had been staring blankly at him for a while. Then he came over and sat down beside him with a soft moan. The hip wound is still very painful. Zhenya still didn't say anything until then, and the gaze as if it was about to penetrate Kwon Taek Joo didn't stop.
Without a glass, he opened the bottle of Macallan and drank wine on the bottle. Alcohol is not good for gunshot wounds, but it seems that drinking alcohol will soothe the pain. After taking a breath, he handed the bottle to Zhenya. The guy did not hesitate to put his lips in his shiny bottle mouth.
After giving and receiving two more like that, Kwon Taek Joo is the one who starts the conversation.
'I wanna ask this because I'm really curious, why did you buy an island like this?'
"It's good. Quiet and nothing."
Or is that? Kwon Taek Joo snatched the bottle with a disapproved expression. I've known for a long time, but his taste is quite special.
'Hey kid, don't you have friends?'
Zhenya stared at Kwon Taek Joo without answering the next question. Kwon Taek Joo shook his head confidently.
"There won't be. There's no such thing."
'What about you?'
"I don't know what you mean. I'm the extremely normal standard. When I want to drink wine, there will be a full of people for me to call. 'It's just because of my work that I have to hide many things, so I can't see them often.'''
Kwon Taek Joo by the way added.
"I also have a mother who can't even sleep because she's worried about me. How about you?"
The sentence made him feel a little guilty. However, there were not many changes on Zhenya's face. Of course. He licked his lips again and asked again.
"Anyway, you're a special kid. Is it fun to play alone like this?"
'It's not fun, it's familiar.'
The answer doesn't seem pathetic or pitiful, but Kwon Taek Joo can't be as sarcastic as before. It's just that he feels that way.
He looked at Zhenya's face for a moment. Surely many people have told him to keep his mouth shut and be silent like now. When he is assertive and acts conceited, his words are quite eloquent, as when he brags about the technology of working on the Train through Siberia.
He suddenly stretched out his hand. Zhenya looked at Kwon Taek Joo's hand that was suddenly approaching. Shortly thereafter, his finger touched one side of Zhenya's forehead. It's a position that was injured not so long ago. A mischievous smile spread across his always straight face.
'How many more people are you going to use this to seduce?'
Zhenya took his hand and raised it to his mouth to bite. Kwon Taek Joo's body was pushed continuously and fell on the soft thick snow behind him.
The dark night sky filled his vision. Countless stars embroidered on it seemed about to fall. This is the first time Kwon Taek Joo has seen the stars despite being here for many days.
'A. . . .'
Kwon Taek Joo looked up in air bewilderment and pointed at the void. A purple-blue light flickered like a curtain. It's an Aurora. He was completely mesmerised by the wonderful spectacle that the vast nature brought. No matter what art museum you go to, no work will surpass the current sky.
How long has it been? Zhenya climbed on his body and losed his view. The eyes of the two were close together. Perhaps he was drunk, or he still hadn't regained his spirit that Kwon Taek Joo just stared at Zhenya unavoidably. Blue eyes filled with the image of Kwon Taek Joo showing a pure desire. No way.
Zhenya's face slowly approached before he could recognise it. His lips first touched his chin and then pressed against the bridge of his nose and then pressed against his forehead. He accidentally closed his eyes. The man looked down at Kwon Taek Joo with his lips. Zhenya gently glided his thumb over his neck, Kwon Taek Joo's eyelashes trembling with tickling. That must be why his breathing trembled unstably.
Then Zhenya's face returned, Kwon Taek Joo didn't even think of avoiding, but the moment his breath touched his centre, Kwon Taek Joo suddenly regained consciousness. The two's lips almost touched.
He turned his head to the side so Zhenya's lips just fell on his pointed chin. Zhenya no longer forced to hold Kwon Taek Joo's face as before, he just didn't say a word but looked directly at one side of that indifferent face. Kwon Taek Joo's mood became uncomfortable, he quickly pushed his chest and sat up.
'I don't mean to do this to you.'
He drew clear boundaries and left before the atmosphere became more vague. A stinging look followed behind him, but Kwon Taek Joo pretended not to know.
As soon as he entered the villa, he pull his hair and tortured himself. He was almost completely swept away. Even justifying that it was because of drunkenness, or wanted to see what would happen, it did not comfort him at all. No matter how strongly humans are, animals under the influence of the environment, is not true.
It's not anyone else, it's him who raped, assaulted and planned to kill him many times. It was clear that he was crazy because he was left in the snow-covered space for so long.
Kwon Taek Joo needs to leave this place before the situation gets worse.
***
'Go back now.'
Zhenya gave a one-way order to Olga during breakfast.
"Can't I do it in a few days? Just two days."
'No.'
Zhenya refused immediately. The tough face shows no room for compromise. Olga nodded reluctantly, her face sulkingly and inserted a spoon into a bowl of fish soup.
If Olga goes, only Kwon Taek Joo and Zhenya are remained on the island. He sighed tenderly. Then Olga slyly looked at him, saying 'Would you regret it if I go?' Zhenya's eyes followed.
"Goodbye. Don't look anymore."
Olga pouted indifferently again and grumbled that she had taken care of Kwon Taek Joo in vain. Even then, Zhenya's persistent gaze did not leave. Kwon Taek Joo ignores him and silently eats his food.
He went to Olga's room after dinner. There was nothing to do, so Kwon Taek Joo was going to follow her to borrow a book, but he was called by her to do one thing after another before he realised it. Olga used the excuse that the helicopter was about to arrive and threw the furniture to Kwon Taek Joo, as soon as he picked them up. After being inserted, the handbag could not be closed.
While trying to stuff the outer clothes into the bag, suddenly something caught Kwon Taek Joo's eye. He stealthily watched Olga's gaze. She was busy organising the clothes she was supposed to wear. Kwon Taek Joo hides the things in his hand in his pocket.
'Is it all done?'
Olga suddenly looked back. 'Yeah,' she said, then closed her luggage.
'What time will the helicopter arrive?'
'Um, about thirty minutes from now.'
"Is that so? So let me take this out."
Kwon Taek Joo picked up a suitcase that was about to explode as he placed it in front of the stairs. Then he went straight to the basement. Boxes of benzene for trimming piled up in the shed. He grabbed one of them and went to the bathroom.
He locked the door tightly. His heart began to beat violently. Kwon Taek Joo tried to escape countless times, but failed every time. But maybe this time will be different. At least it's more hopeless than other times. His fingertips tingled with nervousness and expectation.
He put the benzene on the floor and took out a small jar from his bag. It was taken from Olga's bag. The main component of prescription drugs for angina is nitroglycerine, which helps to dilate blood vessels. Nitroglycerine can explode even when dissolved in ethanol or benzene. For that reason, it is also a popular drug used by homemade bomb makers.
Kwon Taek Joo took all the tablets out of the jar and finely ground them and carefully poured the medicinal powder into the glass jar containing benzene. He gently stirred it with the handle of the toothbrush and waited for the powder to completely dissolve. The finished homemade bomb is placed at the entrance to the roof.
When Kwon Taek Joo finished all the work, he heard the propeller spinning. A helicopter was also seen approaching from a distance. As if nothing had happened, he went down to the second floor and ran into Olga.
'It seems to be coming soon.'
In order not to be suspected, Kwon Taek Joo spoke up first. Olga nodded and stepped down from the suitcase she was sitting on.
'It seems that person isn't seeing off me off.'
"What to expect from that bastard? Let's go."
Kwon Taek Joo goes up the stairs carrying Olga's suitcase. She went down the stairs where Zhenya was staying and shouted: 'I am going' and followed Kwon Taek Joo.
Just as the two reached the roof entrance, Kwon Taek Joo was walking ahead, suddenly stopping. He bent down as if to see if anything fell on the floor.
'What's the matter?'
'I owe you this time.'
"Huh? What...."
Olga gasped in confusion. At the same time, her chest fell down the stairs.
Zhenya was adjusting the contrabass, suddenly raising his head from a sudden noise from upstairs. Apparently Olga dropped something while walking around. It's impossible to have a quiet second even if she's about to leave.
He got up and went to the window. Looking outside, he saw a helicopter hovering in the air. It seems that it has arrived for a while but somehow it has not landed and continues to wander the sky.
Zhenya looked at it without a doubt and suddenly he frowned. An ominous feeling ran along the spine, he immediately grabbed the shotgun hanging on the wall and ran up the stairs.
Olga's suitcase fell to the second floor. Something was creaking inside.
'Taek Joo...'
Zhenya mumbled like a moan and rushed to the roof. When he flipped the door over, Kwon Taek Joo was taking Olga hostage, with a large bottle of benzene in his hand.
'Don't come close!'
Kwon Taek Joo shouted with great vigilance. Zhenya ignored and approached, he raised the bottle of benzene.
"Stop. If you take another step, I'll let it explode."
Kwon Taek Joo wrinkled his nose and warned again. However, what you hold is only benzene used to take care of furs, what is that a threat? After a while, a calculation was quickly realised in Zhenya's mind. Olga had angina and a large amount of benzene. This fact is combined to draw the conclusion that it is a 'nitroglycerine bomb'. If it falls and breaks, the entire roof will be blown away. Not only Zhenya and Olga, but also Kwon Taek Joo's life and death cannot be guaranteed.
Zhenya took a quiet breath. He clenched his molars trying to control the emotions that surged in his heart and reached out to Kwon Taek Joo.
'Come on.'
Kwon Taek Joo shook his head and took a step back. As if to show his determination, he concentrated his strength to make his hand hold a bottle of white benzene.
What the hell? Zhenya's eyebrows furrowed. He narrowed the gap as if he was going to try it. Soon after, Kwon Taek Joo retreated and did not hesitate to raise the bottle. Looking at his resolute expression, the words he had just said did not seem to be a useless fanfare. Regardless of whether anyone is injured or not, as long as he can tame Kwon Taek Joo, but Zhenya can't get closer. He stopped again. The anger boiled.
'Damn it, come here when I'm still being nice!'
Even when urged, Kwon Taek Joo shook his head vigourously. Soon the hanging ladder went down from the helicopter. Zhenya's eyes fluttered. The moment Kwon Taek Joo grabbed the ladder, something seemed to be cut off in his head. His body temperature dropped in the blink of an eye. As if forgetting Kwon Taek Joo's warning, Zhenya did not hesitate to rush into the helicopter. A bottle of benzene flew in. At that moment, it seemed that the air around him was sucked in and condensed.
An explosion occurred shortly thereafter. The entire floor was shaken and every corner of the building cracked. One side of the wall is completely destroyed. Zhenya also couldn't stand the pressure and fell. His back hit the wall and it almost break. His skin was also scratched because the debris was splashing from all sides. A beep, tinnitus sounded in his ear. The blood flowing from the head dyed Zhenya's vision red.
He lifted his tattered body and passed the dust. The front of the roof has collapsed to the point where the original shape cannot be recognised. When Zhenya hurriedly looked around, the helicopter flew in the distance, Olga and Kwon Taek Joo hugged her standing and is on the hanging ladder.
Zhenya looked around with the thought of chasing but he had no suitable means. His helicopter sank deep into the sea a few days ago. He can call another helicopter, but Kwon Taek Joo won't wait until then. Even when he stood there helplessly, Kwon Taek Joo continued to drift far in the sky, not looking back.
'Damn it, Taek Joooooooooooooooooooooo...!'
A desperate roar resounded far away.
The helicopter carrying Olga and Kwon Taek Joo arrived on the outskirts of Moscow. The two walked down with calm faces as if there had never been a scandalous hostage-take before.
'Back in Korea, what will you do?'
"There are many things to deal with. The task must be completed, I personally also have some things to learn. I'll be busy for a while."
Olga nodded and offered to shake hands first. A little regret was evident on her face.
'If you go like this, it will be difficult to see you again, right?'
'If we meet again it means I'm going to hell again.'
Olga smiled wryly at the frank answer. Kwon Taek Joo gently grabbed the hand she was reaching out in front of her. Olga shook hands and looked back at the helicopter. The pilot brought a small bag and handed it to Kwon Taek Joo.
'...What is it?'
"I think you will need it to return to the country. Thank you for saving my life twice."
In the pocket there was cash, a neat new shirt and a Colt. Kwon Taek Joo needs a fake passport and money to leave Russia. Olga's support was happily accepted.
"Thanks. For helping me earlier."
"I didn't help you. I sit still because I don't want to be hurt."
"If you want to run away, it's still possible. You have a gun, just shoot one shot and you're done."
'It's not impossible, but if I do, I'll actually die with that person.'
Olga smiled mischievously. A plane was descending in front of the runway passing over two people's heads. Olga looked on the plane and suddenly said to herself.
'As a result, everything ends like Koshichei's story.'
The situation of Kwon Taek Joo, who eventually ran away from Zhenya, is like the beauty who found and destroyed Koshichei's heart and then escaped from his castle. Koshichei's story always ends there.
When the plane's shadow disappeared, she said ''Now let's go''. Kwon Taek Joo looked at Olga for a while and then turned away without hesitation. Olga's face was a little bitter and looked at him striding away. She thinks of Zhenya, who still calls Kwon Taek Joo by the name even though his head has been injured and bleeding. It was as if he had lost something very important right in front of his eyes. This is the first time Zhenya has had such an expression. Even if Anastasia is lost, he doesn't seem to be that sad. His shocked heart at that time was still unable to calm down.
If Kwon Taek Joo didn't carry the bomb at that time, would the result be different if Zhenya dared to shoot him with a shotgun? It is impossible to know.
Olga muttered staring at Kwon Taek Joo who was travelling far away.
'Koshichei's weakness is not a hidden heart.'
Another plane passed over her head. Buried in the noise of the engine, the added words fade without a trace.
'...It's love, Taek Joo.'