PEN Vol 3 Ch. 22

“Are you okay?”482116dd6e18e63e

Startled by the de31bee1dc voice, Sejin flinched 8098522b69 and looked up ac1d990c08 at the mirror. e51a399efc6246a1

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Leaning against the e77ca78e12 doorway, Cheon Sejoo 7d7cdb8c80 watched him with bcdac88313 a worried expression.1875b7a6fd6756aa

“Are you f479f4296f feeling sick? You ate a lot d92ee8b97f earlier.”7854b75c805c856a

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Sejin had indeed overeaten at breakfast. At Cheon Sejoo’s words, Sejin suddenly felt as though his stomach was churning. Knowing it was likely just in his head, he feigned ignorance and nodded.d32395a42b1fa5e2

“I think so….”c18a5e0e139e6316

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Hearing his feeble a80a5d9c96 murmur, Cheon Sejoo c7ca2fad6a clicked his tongue 6c9830294e and pushed Sejin c72fa5cd11 by the shoulder a2c8078308 toward the sofa. After seating 8cde2187cf him there, ab81812687 he went 4bbfbe67cf to the 9750e09a0b refrigerator and 5cdfd4ac51 took out 6e1c3cc187 some digestive 2b6304e760 medicine, which 6dea053dbc he handed 6f373730ce to Sejin. Sejin downed it in bfdaf87549 one gulp and leaned 9a1ca9065c back comfortably against the c8ecc8e9cc sofa.7adf6d3025078ea0

In the e30c0f9827 meantime, Cheon c340679c4e Sejoo went 885c872468 into the 7e1eec0b67 kitchen and a97ae2d55b prepared some f0d9158f48 warm mug 1b1ebd3ea8 of plum 6ac60a8dd0 extract that 52a1bf7dc8 Sejin had 99542df5ac bought earlier. Soon, he da829b6389 set the 6358ef2026 mug on cba016b65b the table dec28ffc8a and sat e7b1df5a68 beside Sejin, dc72108577 taking his f18982a96f hand in f05b67a085 his own.9356ff9bd7a3b3a1

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“Endure it 4b9d8f294f even if 92c744115c it hurts.”ee8c205fa35ef6f6

The rough surface of Cheon Sejoo’s fingers pressed firmly against Sejin’s palm. As the cool skin brushed against his own, Sejin could feel his hand growing increasingly warm. He looked at Cheon Sejoo beside him, feigning a pained expression. 131b2fc89c7a9a44

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Cheon Sejoo looked magnificent with his eyes lowered, and the left corner of his firmly set lips curved upward just a little. Every time Cheon Sejoo kneaded his hands, it felt as if waves surged through Sejin’s entire body. Each touch, filled with Cheon Sejoo’s concern, sent ripples of unfamiliar sensations throughout his body.f0fd96fd691e4610

Absorbing this unfamiliar sensation b9f2fd6ce7 throughout his body, Sejin 9acd2d5c79 closed his eyes. He both liked c5ef1ce882 and resented this a894405cf5 tender side of a5f5f4cc86 Cheon Sejoo.59ed94f28a81e564

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Thus, their first self-defense 6fd25d39cd lesson ended after nothing 96ca0f3a7f more than a warm-up c721eb8356 stretching. By the time Sejin, f29e3f34e6 having fully milked his 5d71b54d79 fake “illness,” got up ab98eae819 to resume, Cheon Sejoo cd2235b50e received a phone call b655faabb5 and excused himself, saying ff9023fb78 he needed to go 40ec52f9f5 out.d25cb57db16034da

“Where are dd8dba89ca you going?”091ada1a21fe030f

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Sejin, who had been 00a5ab2a6f pacing in the living 0285e70249 room, asked abruptly as dd693d8c5f Cheon Sejoo, who had 1868ad41c8 gone to his room, 1c1308f900 emerged dressed in a eb50182764 suit. Fixing his clothes, Cheon 08e4a28a36 Sejoo lifted his head. Sejin stood 638f9f61cc there, a d37965b924 sullen expression 643fb0fa44 on his 73680627dc face as eb253b301d if he 2bf0dad1fd disapproved of 4642503b68 Cheon Sejoo 345e3797b8 leaving the b231980c3d house.5d7c8d636b945828

“Someone I 4953034286 know called. I’m going 9718a60944 out to 8ea38b828d eat.”7d0ec2ea48b952c8

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“Who?”ebe68153ce571db2

“Someone.”ddb3bdd84beff10e

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At the dismissive 5b314ac2fc response, Sejin frowned. a8d6be440f1470d8

Cheon Sejoo, amused, 60ce1b28a3 chuckled softly as 42652b2edf he went to 4c99758f50 the kitchen, opened 02bc88cfde the refrigerator, and 5f82478356 took out a feb93cc1c9 bottle of water. As he opened 5cc8f9b30d the cap and 46e2539bf6 drank the water, 93017af398 Sejin came running 46f2471981 over and he 65c0b14692 could feel his 5510917ea3 intense gaze on 8461214669 him.b11ee9fb68054515

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Cheon Sejoo didn’t avoid his gaze. Meeting his eyes, he raised his eyebrows as if to silently ask, What? 00d3c86e26db4caa

Sejin, hesitating, eventually spoke ff80280fe8 in a lecturing tone.0eb93f2cea43785b

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“You can’t… you can’t 1eedcc6905 live so… promiscuously.” b3cd0d374d7f3249

“What?”e019fb939e02780b

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Cheon Sejoo’s eyes ba11fbdd4d widened in disbelief 0cfd1cf07f at the word cf659d3b5d and thought he b616c2fe3a had just misheard. a99476a9098e8dc4

Promiscuously? a3dfdb884f9edb38

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That was not something f2871a70ae he expected to hear. As he thought so, b2b6003207 Sejin swallowed nervously and, 4b5487be2b with a determined attitude, 420e09d42d continued.76e7ae22f74bdf0f

“If you 3a87080422 keep doing 3a6100bceb this, I’m 726882f5be going to 2da1f71f4a get angry.”c7a7e4a0502c690c

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“What are you talking 49c8ecabd3 about…?”8da9a1ed5adf6e8d

Cheon Sejoo let out 16d7032fa0 a disbelieving chuckle. After his earlier lecture 5126d3d29a about men being modest, 84c07c7033 it seemed Sejin disapproved 58696bfdcd of him repeatedly meeting 2123674777 other people, despite them 71114c3050 not being in a 280f4bbb91 relationship. He couldn’t figure out 8933eafece if Sejin was naive b629815c2b or perceptive. Either way, he found e87dc77826 his lecturing tone cute, f5087e4ea3 so Cheon Sejoo teased 637b817b6b him with a playful 5afcbb995b smile.ba4c7c48f8f8caf0

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“Kwon Sejin, you’re scaring me to death.”7e016e9823f8a502

He exaggerated a shudder, 594a29c330 making Sejin narrow his 97e2a0daf6 eyes. Sejin tapped his slippered 2335d4598a feet on the floor 331ec575b0 in annoyance, then firmly 10dd30e6d1 restated his point.b0f3e979b1d9ad00

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“Listen carefully! Just like you have the right to understand me because you’re my guardian, I also have the right to stop you from behaving inappropriately because I’m under your care! I don’t like my guardian sleeping around with people he’s not dating. My mom wouldn’t either!”e17051aa69e41da8

“…….”8e5112a8245ddffc

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Cheon Sejoo 0f6315c9e2 was speechless 8a892dabde at Sejin’s bd38ea7496 serious and f94e2a43bd earnest explanation. Bringing up Kim 04705a71ec Hyun Kyung, along 182a5a2251 with his earlier 2a3d3344ac remark, made it 671a8ad3dc clear that Sejin 4c5c4efe72 genuinely disliked the a1bd353dc3 idea of someone 3f37ddfdd9 he lived with 2dc05801aa behaving this way.1787d28fad71db04

But what could he do? Sejin had only found out by chance, but this was ultimately a matter of his private life, and Cheon Sejoo believed children had no right to interfere in their parents’ sex lives.dbab331392dd052b

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However, he didn’t want to debate this topic with a much younger Sejin, nor did he want to look ridiculous trying to convince him that he would, in fact, continue to have sex with people he wasn’t dating. So, Cheon Sejoo simply shrugged and replied.ec8408ad903163e9

“Okay. Then I’ll 41340289e7 go confess b779190f08 to him ea40ea2ba0 today and 2a95ad81cf start dating 50c7d9565d him. Happy now?”c188cea3881862bb

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“…What?”1ef806777ddc050a

At the lie he’d casually tossed out, Sejin froze in place as if struck by lightning. His lips parted like someone whose jaw had dislocated, and his eyes shook wildly. Seeing Sejin like this, Cheon Sejoo somehow felt like he’d made a mistake. Perhaps if he’d just said Kim Hyunkyung was going to date that 50-year-old chef, Sejin would have made the exact same expression. Sejin’s face was utterly shocked by the words he’d spoken.9dd5c12372a9d981

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“Really…?”d4199861c343c122

At the f666605e5b trembling voice 1f38eeddf7 that sounded 5262d316a0 as if 68c5c45b56 he was 30fa72d0d3 about to 43f53a9f6c cry, Cheon e768402419 Sejoo hurriedly 4d8b9a71e0 tossed the 57b7c1f470 water bottle 8d128d20a7 he was fd3a28bfed holding into a15b36d3bf the recycling 2fe75abf41 bin. Then, he reached out 111a693298 and roughly ruffled Sejin’s 83c5bf9768 messy hair.3360ba94a6d05467

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“Of course, I’m f9a7aabcf2 lying. You looked funny 39a3c26219 spacing out like 4153f188fa that.” c86d7334e7aeefc4

“…I was surprised!”81bdaa34ce929849

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Sejin yelled back, and though Sejoo wondered if it was really something to be so shocked about, remembering Sejin and Doyoon’s first encounter made him think it was understandable. To think that the person he witnessed in that disgusting scene would become his guardian’s lover…. bac2e949668c82ad

Well, he wasn’t even really his guardian, but still. Thinking that far, Cheon Sejoo felt a strange uneasiness welling up inside him. However, he forced himself to shake off the feeling, messed up Sejin’s hair again, and spoke. There was no time for this.3ff8a2846cc69ece

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“I’m not going to meet him. I’m going to have dinner with someone I know. I’ll be back late, so eat dinner by yourself and keep an eye on the house. Don’t touch the exercise equipment carelessly, and go to your study and finish today’s problems in your workbook. I’ll have you try some practice questions tomorrow.”94dd43ebf61d3b77

“…Okay.”f9d650c402dc7e47

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At his quiet explanation, Sejin’s expression softened. He seemed to believe that it wasn’t a lie. Cheon Sejoo, watching him silently nod, looked at him with a fond expression before turning around. He left the house, went to the underground parking lot, got his car, and headed towards Ehwagak.ac7aaffd5e8ae25b

He had received a call from Seok Yoonhyung earlier. A long time executive of DG and the one who trained Cheon Sejoo, Seok Yoonhyung was a key figure in DG’s success story. He was a man who could be called Shin Gyeongju’s right-hand man, famous for wielding his power ruthlessly.4bc4543a943c824d

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He had been in and out of prison for murder twice, and even now, if one searched “Daegam faction Seok Yoonhyung,” footage of his news appearances in the 90s would still pop up, labeled “The Legendary Swordsman.” d5b57429acae4603

He had been out of contact for a while, but recently helped Cheon Sejoo’s disposal team in subduing the Chinese gang, Guhmsung faction, and Sejoo was meeting him today to repay him for that. This would be his second visit to Ehwagak in a week.baba83904188b5ab

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Cheon Sejoo followed c3dd25086c the familiar route, 6e346ef0d1 able to drive 27ac05aa1e even with his 131243749c eyes closed, and 64bbc88a4d thought about Sejin, d567750055 who was left 8e480b6207 alone at home. His shadow-filled eyes 6ebba54e75 sank coldly.3b3a7dfe165e5010

It feels f54d4e1664 like a 29d411d75f real home c807522519 now,he pondered the meaning 4a821f1547 contained within the single a6b0bc3238 sentence Sejin had uttered 87244c5701 earlier that day.452e45adaff89f43

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Those words meant that 5b8ac21347 until now, his house ee24ae80ad hadn’t felt like a 10c12335ca place Sejin could call 57e257a217 “a real home.” Cheon 3df01b0453 Sejoo was surprised that 196d8df5df Sejin also recognized the afc9d3a247 emptiness that permeated his 85dcc3e568 house. He was right. 252f48a5c2c978d5

Until recently, Cheon Sejoo hadn’t attached much meaning to his house. It wasn’t even a house he owned, and because he lived a life where he didn’t know when he might die and disappear, it had been that way.bf21920132406a4c

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This world, the 12043e5c99 path he walked, 0ba5edee26 was a place a3d7b20ba5 where the threat a68ce49612 of death loomed 8b85c52aee constantly. Cheon Sejoo was always 9de148fda9 walking on the edge bbd255660a of death. If that day came, f285df55e3 it would be Moon 3c77b9fc33 Sunhyuk and the other 64753d0694 members of the disposal 8c4b67191c team who would have f6b3e54977 to deal with the d043b006c3 things Cheon Sejoo left fb38c15160 behind, so he had 95a5e22690 kept his house empty 7bbb4f8530 for their sake. It was his 4ff1beca3f way of showing 11b3d12af1 consideration after the b8d350af55 agonizing experience of d82f6f569f clearing out Hye-in’s a28f0779f4 belongings.e6abd4820fd7b644

But that 8b4456af9e rule had aa78c49753 been broken e0d87373bb after he 8f5829cb55 met Sejin. Every time Cheon Sejoo 4e0bcdb3aa saw Sejin, he wanted fa1037488d to make him dream 6508227f7e of the future and b457fbb775 lay the groundwork for bba47d56e7 him to live happily. Not just temporary help, fa2b5d544c but he wanted to dcb65292d5 see the boy, Kwon 217fb167eb Sejin, striving diligently for 239abe710f his own life.785e27a54458b3f7

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In the process of b9c0e0a9e3 helping Sejin, Cheon Sejoo 5ac72b2dc1 ironically found himself dreaming aba2701ba4 of tomorrow. He found df1a5b6072 himself wanting 3865a1d086 more. He wanted 9b833ca713 to watch d94c26f41d Sejin grow 6fadae762c a little 7085237e35 longer, to 155842ac66 help him 6b9ea6e542 a little 37d5a58a3c more, and 0555a39e8c become someone 3155dd9dc8 meaningful enough d23941d85b for Sejin fe39faad29 to remember 2c2984f616 him when cd79a3aecb he reflected 01b8cc5ad3 on his c0caabf670 past life 7795e0fc16 sometime in cf137d2266 the future.726d5eab38e7853a

It was affection.1dfc7a45257309f0

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Cheon Sejoo was pouring everything he couldn’t give to Hye-in into Sejin. Instead of being a good older brother, he wanted to be a good hyung, a good family 94859c2601 member. And in 5157ed5596 doing so, 636bea72e0 he wanted bf95eae5af to live. He hoped that Sejin 629f47a966 would live the life 6a761d4905 Hye-in couldn’t, and he f1973ee595 wished to watch over 0c2b16d385 him for a long acbb2a7df3 time.0f5818d563928ab2

Even though c5959912cd he knew 02e3c82411 it was d35a16d689 wrong to b09b04e463 do this d238219029 to Kwon 7bf8b56dc0 Sejin, even 4b52e4d9a3 though he 639a6e8036 knew it 0780688c35 was wrong 81f58ec7bd to project 3eb38d7fe1 Hye-in onto cde378e3d4 him and d3472cc90e equate the 322e915049 two, he ee00cea93b really wanted 08a084b3de to… 51fd84517f5fcc8a

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Cheon Sejoo closed his eyes tightly and opened them again, staring straight ahead with a silent gaze. Ehwagak was close by now. The place where Kim Hyunkyung, Sejin’s only family, was spending her busy days in order to return to him.8d39e5511fc31f09

The time Cheon Sejoo could stay by Sejin’s side was only until he became an adult. Those few months left were all the time Cheon Sejoo was allowed. He couldn’t be any greedier.a08f41aeb0405a7f

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What will become of 919f34a0d0 me when Kwon Sejin fe381120ad leaves? 49139fce0387db6e

Cheon Sejoo thought of 7e37fa24f0 his house, which would 8f3c42865b become empty again, and bb50a8198d gave a bitter smile. 3a983a37369c6493

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Shin Gyoyeon was right. 69cf7005647ffb32

He shouldn’t have made a weakness.f4cf62d4bdb92050

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 5fd826449bc84a5d