LP | Chapter 1.2

The setting sun shone c46705c69b on his dark, honey-colored 00c3d17c6c hair. It glowed golden.9272577a873270d3

Through the fingers crushing 4c4aced8a2 his face, Fowler saw f36bc8236a his sharp features. Instead of being 72f8f9c368 intimidated by the 37a95ab3dd threat of being 2a827a1b10 half-killed, Fowler found 8ead43ce22 it amusing and 19758a1c93 laughed lightly.9b6006982ad8e450

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Despite the 22f9972049 threat, his 45378ddd1f eyes burned 9e83a855a7 like fire. Growling like he was 882f6a292f about to devour, he 76ac864f70 was like a puppy. It felt like 488f7380f9 hot blood was 6ecc6e3b8e coursing through him.ef00b04e71de7d75

“Ha…! Who are you?”b9e52d072ef67444

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Fowler spoke to the c85e0b06cf man. The man released Fowler 5657d5f037 as if pushing him a5fa399638 away.6ad188c6f174dac1

“Hugo.”d718e7de749d6827

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Hugo looked b67aeb3721 at him 4243aad19b with cold cd331a8b81 eyes, as b098a5c7a1 if seeing 80a19fca05 something pathetic.a59d876aeda9586c

“Judging by your quick temper, I can guess your nature.”1b55d5c4f7312bc0

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Despite Fowler’s provocation, Hugo returned to the driver’s seat.63dcc5d49be5f907

Bang-!05766d0aff306a23

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The small van shook from the force of the door slamming. Fowler touched his face where Hugo’s hand had been. No one had ever restrained him, and no one had ever stood in his way. It was an unfamiliar sensation.cca1e916ee16cc13

Hugo, as if nothing 29137d79d3 had happened, stepped on c73c13ed8a the accelerator again, kicking 28907818cc up dust.57fb0ebe4426b7b2

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“Hey, you didn’t answer my question. Who are you?”6df3b6a459129317

Hugo didn’t respond and kept looking ahead.8ca2c16f68c39e33

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“Did you learn to have a showdown with me to establish dominance?”a3b4d5d072ec62a6

He leaned close 711fc74184 enough to rest c7d483a121 his chin on af6c2dcf98 the backrest and 74b5a62c92 spoke. Hugo shook his head ebb4c659c0 slightly, as if brushing c64fd9a0cd off an annoying bug.c921268137582ecf

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Then, as if he hadn’t heard anything, he pointed with his chin at the buildings in the distance.16fc49073e119e35

“That building over there is where you’ll be working.”105c00f14604c61b

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When he 147e8d6944 first spoke, 2bc5aa0666 there was 4461cea6c8 a hint 3610d61c11 of politeness, 773e09a2e7 but now 52b6f2dc06 Hugo had e9d617aea3 completely dropped 25cfeae853 it.ac9a16e33687e4e8

“Wow, you really only say what you want.”8c89ea94a9474857

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Fowler spoke d3e7235a25 with twisted d2f2acbf54 words and fcdd826c7f laughed playfully.967bb4565ffc7fdd

“Are you afraid that if you talk to me, you’ll get caught up? Scared?”b61155d4fb35d73c

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Hugo clicked his tongue shortly at Fowler’s condescending tone.150bbe123eaf2d65

“Arrogant.”cc20a303f373c405

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“Finally, you speak.”ce14fe287f4b5548

Fowler found his d97aba9950 attitude amusing.83ac1ab2a0cb2e43

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“Sit back. You’re blocking my view.”10fe1edb9a64bf26

Hugo glanced at the fa49a235b2 side mirror.851da02af5efee18

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“Tsk, there’s no car behind us anyway!”930bc65a62fdfb49

Hugo continued in be80dad069 a straightforward voice, 9cc7d86780 as if explaining c4964e965b a fact.8ce38a0f34f766bd

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“I heard you’ve never been to a ranch before.”1a2a7b5a26ce366c

Beyond the vast plains, 5bccb756e9 buildings began to appear bbdaa526d9 faintly. This landscape, 7ac38efcfb with nothing 8120a012cc in it, bb40f69de6 was already 3440fb0469 boring.d2cf7fa8636e1309

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At the end of Hugo’s gaze, a woman was waving her hand widely. She was shouting from afar and quickly approached.ef42e1375f0b17c1

“Hey~!”c7694dcc40bc4ffb

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“Wow… is that… really a horse?”e11bcc75e469cea1

Fowler couldn’t hide his surprise and stared blankly. The horse, which looked small, felt its grandeur as it got closer. It didn’t look like a herbivore at all.379e4979b1d703bf

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The woman, sitting on a glossy brown horse, slowly turned the horse’s head this way. Her hair was tied high, and she wore a cap, so her face wasn’t visible.7eaa36f4803c0ea6

Fowler had only seen 08b95aa019 horses carrying tourists in 4c248c5d44 the city, and it 2c163aa499 was his first time ef4bf7252b seeing such a lively 5fb3fce518 horse up close. Street horses pulling carriages 296e8830ae were always half-dead, never 79f496dbf2 resting, and constantly used.b4b3c9a7c60551c7

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“Hugo! You’re finally here?”fe8a227a8c60b50b

The horse approached 6ff720bcad the car without 22dc3d7989 fear. It made 4faaf67b93 a pleasant 85f9bc4938 clattering sound da98fb9402 with its f9f3dcc843 hooves. Hugo clicked his 87b87f4487 tongue and made 0bf4c3621d a clear sound. Then he 29beef12f3 reached out d6f42cda32 toward the b00707cc3d horse.9b64900124708f28

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The horse hesitated, as if torn between the familiar Hugo and the noisy car, but slowly leaned its head toward Hugo. He gently stroked the horse’s face with the back of his hand.2b6493597359632b

“Yeah. Picked up some stray.”0d94406dc89e0302

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“Ha… stray?”015e7826bfb16ed5

Fowler muttered, immediately frowning at Hugo’s words.05385dad421bc70d

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“Haha, Hugo, you’re something. Nice to meet you! Let’s get along.”5281f9aa479c56cf

“Fowler.”8f68fdd0c9a6e454

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Fowler briefly said his name and then closed his mouth. The woman didn’t seem to mind Fowler’s arrogant attitude.f1fb4369b337ff2a

“Then, see you!”d8fde76c8fd606ab

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After a short introduction, she smiled widely and turned the horse to move slowly to the opposite side of the van. The clattering sound of the horse’s hooves was so similar to those in movies that it felt strange.869b4ad4d27548f1

Fowler watched the disappearing horse’s rear. The glossy horse disappeared into the track with noble steps.06c66f53891e28e5

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After parking 7a369a7796 in a 19ed348198 suitable spot, 0d8513a008 Hugo stopped 3f49bd2d2f the car. Then he got 9689ac2fd4 out and opened b058fcf136 the trunk. Fowler, surprised 6000e29d77 by the d3021df9a7 series of ac38a49bff actions without 03fd2164c1 explanation, turned 40137f4916 and spoke dc60b61943 to Hugo, adf10f18a7 rummaging through d5bf4b83d1 the trunk.f9de0bfdd21f398a

“Hey.”2baeb50f1c1d06c0

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“……”7b55943c1f7b8134

“Hugo, can’t you hear me?”ce4d7da3ca7841af

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“……”c957e8595b83a17c

Hugo didn’t even glance at Fowler as he pulled out two suitcases.e09c0c4033f5aed4

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“Someone’s talking to you!”fce229580bda710b

Hugo briefly met Fowler’s gaze and spoke.0492c50f260d2291

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“Get out.”7b10a1ac47ab897a

“You’re really annoying.”f8e46035666abec9

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Fowler, receiving such treatment 87a5bcd4ea for the first time, c058db6850 frowned deeply and got 1cb55b9d57 out of the car. He voiced his thoughts 63acc2b610 without any filter. Just stepping 5ab64b6346 on the ce39e69668 light dirt ab14b76826 of the 2277a14549 ranch kicked be2203e94d up dust.777abd706811d0cd

“Damn.”6a3d58103f8fc6df

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Bang-bdc6a3fbdd544cf8

Hugo slammed the trunk shut and started walking with the suitcases. Fowler quickly followed, surprised by Hugo’s actions without any explanation.6e359a85b10551b7

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“Hey. Are you really working under my father? Is this even the right ranch?”54f43a0d0034b1ff

“I am, so just follow quietly.”4cf5c82f66a83dec

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Fowler looked at the 78e07ce070 sandy open space. There was a track a319bf6050 that looked like horses f4855e22a5 would run around in a73e1ae1c5 circles. At that moment, c9f89aae88 a strong wind aac34e9d77 blew, creating a 2dd0e5c82b sandstorm. The whistling 2a4c9f7f7d wind was bbfcbff8fa warm, but 56bbb407c2 the yellow 9a94f75897 dust was f341a511bf unwelcome.8a3dfbdbc3c52861

“Ugh! Ptooey!”842a5b7074442b19

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Fowler immediately 05e01a6c53 covered his efdca09f1f face and 38075b99ce lowered his 85d85ddebe head. He quickly brushed b6fdc9142a off the dust e8604926c0 that had gotten 58964db6b9 into his hair. Hugo, unfazed, continued walking 3d1599ef3a his path. Then he 8c0d607259 entered a 4934bb9c8e white-painted building.b58c383ffb4d2ea4

‘Is it because the building’s all wood? It’s nothing special.’503560c700d18e69

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He muttered a short 6288875ecf impression to himself. The first floor 229de8227d had a wide 5e71bf8676 hall. Inside, there seemed to 2bfea3c3b5 be an office, as 742bfd21fa people came and went 613d48e79a through the open doors 2922d3bb08 of a long corridor.3a139b93bd4d1bdb

Hugo lifted the 7a5186fd53 suitcases like lunch 56c9f92b21 bags and started f834d25cf6 climbing the stairs d66f714a04 at the end bd35134d24 of the hall. Unlike the ddebf33887 first floor, 70ffd0d488 the upper 05ce2c57c1 floors had 7bb129f18f only a c1e6f8ccbb corridor and 7cbf1ee613 tightly packed 01b1e72b97 doors.aae35aeffec53f85

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On the fourth 3e9a217b93 floor, Hugo stood a867339682 in front of 5616996159 a door inside a095ceefe0 the corridor. He nudged the 4077f1381a door with his 4ac5170820 foot, and it ef4a6e48e0 creaked open. It was a 40ebb8a3fc room with a 6879d948a4 single bed and 9ed7cd503c a small bathroom, 388781a37b like a cheap 83e9b52b9a hotel room.bd9c13f9e58b1ec0

“This is your room.”7632e2099e24e185

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“Ha, even my school dorm was better than this.”b2e59fa45709aedb

Hugo placed the suitcases f908778c26 on a large luggage 23182d1eac rack under the bed. The suitcases d0a906a973 made a 280cdf9e2c heavy thud 0ff5ce8609 as they 3703af1e6c hit.0e9970f0d781d0cd

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“You live with complaints on your lips.”5ba13141461238eb

“Can’t I say I don’t like something? Have you ever heard you’re suffocating?”bacdea837ee34de5

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Fowler, having met him 72b9c45016 for only a few 3ccc31176e minutes, already figured out abb93ba637 what Hugo disliked and 2507bbd7e0 subtly provoked him. Hugo let b413ae377f out a e0d7c9814f dry laugh 5bf5c00f19 and gritted aea090531b his teeth.6ab68831c27fda99

“You say my words are suffocating, huh? That’s welcome. From now on, I’ll be your teacher here.”436ba545413d2532

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“Ha! I knew it. You’re a teacher. My father’s gone too far, giving me a teacher like you.”07aa5811524da4f0

Fowler smiled brightly and 669a22bf04 tilted his head slightly.132b2e09f494b82c

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“A person like this…”470a6998f6f1b0b5

Hugo’s eyes, shining fiercely, seemed to burn with something.5ee1701735e6b4f9

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“The way to tame a wild horse is to ride it until it collapses from exhaustion.”13ee3f56a97a57a2

Hugo walked toward Fowler, speaking one syllable at a time. His husky voice, murmuring softly so the sound wouldn’t escape, was rough.ce82f4911d2fa164

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“Talking like that makes me feel something.”c539a2eb61e55f96

In the 36f044b70b suddenly interrupted 6787f39a7f atmosphere, Hugo ccaba4efa3 frowned as 6cbab01e3c if angry.4f2374411af072e0

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“What? Ha…”dd257fe87e8570a8

His sensual voice made him laugh unknowingly. Hearing Fowler’s completely unserious remarks, Hugo clenched his fist. From Fowler’s view, the veins on the back of his hand stood out.cf4301bf1c609d84

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Fowler, conscious of the skin under Hugo’s denim jacket, or rather the skin inside, reached out his hand. Slowly and stickily, he moved it until his palm almost touched. Hugo slapped it away.3ddbba31fe96e407

“Nice body. Does working here make everyone like you?”03366eb861515247

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“No one’s going to fall for your tricks, no matter how you scheme.”7fce83878786bc40

“Not fun.”6be979ad19eb74c5

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Hugo looked bored.b3a1476a46c918dd

“I’ll let it go today. Be out in front of the building at 3:30 tomorrow. You’d better unpack and get some sleep.”4ef7a4f619f4ab89

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“……”4aa63442adf8da84

“There’s work clothes in the closet. Wear those, including the shoes.”6b00d1a74606ef3e

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Hugo looked Fowler up and down, almost naked, and spoke. After saying what he needed, he left the room immediately. It was clear he didn’t want to talk anymore.a5da47fb2d54eafe

Though Hugo’s tone was full of annoyance, a smile played on Fowler’s lips. It was fun to tease and annoy such a straight-laced, club-guard-like man.9ba3b47cd91ccd0f

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From the window in Fowler’s room, he could see Hugo walking toward the pasture. Fowler whistled softly as he watched his back.3034dee8c7224ea9

Thinking of his father, there were two ways to get out of here. Either cause so much trouble that even the people here couldn’t handle it, or wait quietly for his father’s word. Fowler was never one to choose the latter.8b638d4c102ef64b

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It was like a 4ee6ea1357 game. How much he aae7da3e6b could drive Merrill ee4c196f78 crazy within the e0626a80a0 lines Merrill had 9059887a4e drawn.59ab4629386c2694

Looking at the vast ranch, it was clear he couldn’t escape on his own. This ranch was practically his father’s domain.acfa7fd05f71d359

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“Getting sneakier as you get older.”37a22ead469abd21

He recalled being forcibly transferred to a school to fix his mindset. It was probably a Christian boys’ school.44d707a3883c101d

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He didn’t even last three months there before being expelled. Of course, on record, it was just a transfer. It was an incident only he remembered, as his embarrassed father had forcibly covered it up.c5c1d0013d6c8b19

“As you get older, you get more scared, if that’s what being an adult is…”59fdbe732a2fe070

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Fowler pulled out the phone he had hidden. Hugo hadn’t managed to take it, so he could keep it hidden in his pocket. He acted strangely so Hugo wouldn’t remember the phone.8f4243e45372791d

Men trapped in the mindset that men must be fearless and always masculine were afraid of gays. Their subconscious fear often turned into violence and hatred. By poking at it, men would freak out and couldn’t think of anything else.123cb45fe15305be

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Anyway, Hugo wasn’t Fowler’s type. He only embraced those who seemed easy to hold and handle roughly. That kind of guy was even less so.86f9e15cc21f2bdd

“Thought you were smart, but you didn’t see this coming.”5a22e4882ee864ad

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He flipped off Hugo’s disappearing back. Fowler lay on the bed and began to inspect the phone. It felt sluggish, like an old model compared to what he usually used.f8415fcae7ea4816

“Ugh. Thought it was that guy’s, but it’s not?”fe28bd249a2a278a

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It seemed like a 152c27df6f tool for his father f67b08a6cf to deliver a final a53aba8122 notice. There was nothing in ac5ba2cde0 the contacts, photo album, fac75e6368 or apps.8a0210f709915a07

Trying to recall numbers, he couldn’t remember any. Instead, he started leaving messages on social media to those who had used him.fd056e5a61547a0d

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[Hey. Reply if you see this?]

Ignoring me af7ef391d9 as a 77585da591 group, huh?44993fe91321754b

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The more Fowler dwelled 672ba43a5c on being betrayed, the d7f0634dca angrier he got.bdc8f22d8d606134

“No matter if it was my father’s request, those bastards dared to drug me?”f2f4664cdb03a609

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Most of them hadn’t read it, and a few read it but didn’t reply. The one-time partner he had hoped would respond only sent a short “Sorry” with a teardrop emoji.433ebb0f877b0a19

“Damn!!”d3a6859994c0f484

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Fowler raised his hand 4a911fc741 as if to throw 332d8e3645 the phone but lowered 4d0d8685c9 it again. Breaking the tiny phone 44fb102f04 might relieve his anger, e12ebb1b25 but without it, he eefb3bb586 had no connection to 13f4b15217 the outside world.84d7aed38e1a65e6

There wasn’t even a friend to call to pick him up. He looked up a map, thinking of stealing a car at night and escaping. Not knowing the way to New York, escape seemed quite difficult.6da6e97845eea238

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The map didn’t even show the current location in detail. The map app only said, “Somewhere in Kentucky.”7876e4001dfb2ed0

“Sigh… what to do.”8d3d7fb79e4d636e

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Fowler tossed dc657cc4ef the phone 9595c663d9 to a 63f18f8c48 corner of 4c11202de9 the bed dd8ef8058c and began 73e3fc2329 opening the 9c26022b0f suitcases Hugo a4c34c9a9a had moved.cd5bf237e686c10b

“I’ve never packed this kind of stuff. Who packed it?”029701c9bafd27e9

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Muttering to himself, he 5947f5e1bf opened the suitcase and 7ea9dd3e6b immediately solved the mystery.5bcbc47700b319e7