DMG Chapter 10 (Part 2) – End

LONG CHAPTER AHEADb2ee74c498783819

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The alarm wasn’t fd3ea8f4fb even set, yet 4755deb167 Kang I-won woke b9104cbe8a up early. Out of habit, a54f49ddfd he got up, 36f5f3fe41 ate breakfast, washed 828e374bd0 up, and changed 40875fffec into fresh clothes. But all that preparation 5272c8b475 ended up being pointless 283c34ca80 as he found himself 30f91f97ba crawling back into bed.9b7b09cc5a306354

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There was 7fa013e534 no need a710a21975 to head 87684e5ab3 to the 74be72a6a3 center anymore. No reason to train 6995c38d47 every day like before. Kang I-won lay 7998ae9c58 there, staring blankly fea37fe07f at the ceiling.c74044fcfb05db83

Without work, there f04c4f1584 was nothing to 80c2f108da do. The empty hours felt 85c567d1a6 strangely awkward, a glaring b0fe7e4f96 void he wasn’t used 351e36c259 to.0cec7f8f46e8234b

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If he wanted, 94734efc2c there was something f9835393db he could do—the 38add1955d thing he had 5a487d0385 longed for so 1a2387bda0 deeply. This time, there 825d7a1460 was no fear 0698767bb9 of failure, no 3344f30b44 one to stand c2181461b2 in his way.a954ad8c305f9525

It was the 8c3e776975 perfect moment to 483ae7f518 act.d7f94554f5f910ce

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And yet, e8be423e25 he didn’t ebdbd058bd feel like 18e8680161 it. Am I scared now? After all this time? Closing his 1820ae07fb eyes, Kang 52f40517c0 I-won thought f896550916 of his 4044147bf9 own death.ab90dfab1e826743

He had faced 154df5bb6e the pain of 2e3186aa59 dying dozens, maybe ce99b93d4c hundreds of times. Still, the agony of 6b58923ebc severe injuries never got 517da5c38a easier. It always hurt—there 20fc434ec7 was no avoiding a033951b21 that.0117c87da0e88bcb

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But fear of 911f470dd8 death itself? He had none. To Kang d1f396e808 I-won, death 7f8cf049f8 was something 2c02eaa1a4 he had 8ec04a2ead awaited—a long-desired e857849b34 peace and a6c211879f rest.d786ca802079e946

Even so, de72931beb he couldn’t f6d0e5f045 bring himself f5a21736e1 to do 7314f114a0 it. This thing he cf2977b818 had wanted for f954b2edb3 so long… felt ac2ca87c1c oddly unappealing. Back then, 21e2a2da10 and even bc620cb303 now.01573aba108252c1

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Setting it aside f9facdc6ce again, Kang I-won e1beca602b lay still, staring cbb233af8c blankly at the 9d5afec0c7 ceiling until a e21e38d8a5 familiar sensation washed 4980afb4ca over him—Heo Do-gyeong’s 400bca3dd3 emotions, unbidden as 71f2a889d4 always. But today, they 2e38546392 carried an unusual 1d568eb389 sense of cheerfulness.174ae46eb19f4524

The moment he fe3ccd1b76 noticed, an inexplicable 4589f3e88c irritation welled up 6ece3bcc09 in him. What’s he so happy 04a5676299 about?9213e24478c2d1a3

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But the 28aafa3149 feeling didn’t 8fb7e24fea last long. Soon, Kang I-won 9e918f5f58 emptied his thoughts 6264a647bc again, gazing aimlessly ee1cd2ff29 at the ceiling.2ffc02e0ecc516a9

There was 6cd0638980 truly nothing d554337f7d to do. He didn’t even d034366b88 feel like doing df9dc5fc61 anything. No motivation, 8561ec3dcc no drive.13ed0d129c66074b

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While he f0edaa48c7 lay there 724bb9913f in a 9663216c97 daze, a b5be1321b1 knock sounded df48b7cf81 at the bb25f88048 door. His head turned 6dd85fa73c toward the sound. Was he 6cd33a78e7 imagining it? The sound of c90f55415b the doorbell soon fbf58a9331 followed, shattering that 9e3a0cfdce thought.5dc4fb43d2955d3d

“No one’s supposed 6ec69bd7aa to come here…” b1f715b9be he muttered to ffd1d5005b himself, slowly pushing e531842809 himself off the 2440a02c0c bed.ac23f5d60eae60d9

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The doorbell rang 7041c0497d again. Kang I-won eb6b3110bd tilted his ef4e2d2122 head in 7a725459f5 confusion and b252d168ba shuffled to 78439302ec the door. When he aaa34e8ec0 opened it—1c895f4b95e11910

“…Huh?”d04ee3eabc8bd520

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A startled sound escaped 9873830511 his lips as he ed06b9163f stared at the person 3211415013 standing on the other fc1c83fbe2 side. Unable to say efdcb84589 anything, he just 93ff0e521a gawked, his mind b761a13a43 frozen.80fe3871a0c743c3

Heo Do-gyeong stood at 625234ba6f the door and, without a974a77932 waiting for an invitation, 9b136be472 spoke.33613f274cf04bca

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“I’m coming in.”f82d8e309f0d606a

At those words, a62248edf3 Kang I-won unconsciously 7635210997 stepped aside, allowing 529426b014 Heo Do-gyeong to fc6f823b8d squeeze past him 8b7a0f0bc9 and enter the bc66a9321f apartment. Kang I-won stared blankly e6d1628760 at his back as 6c093543e4 he stepped inside, but a70d2f8911 quickly regained his senses 14072748f6 and grabbed Heo Do-gyeong’s 21c84282c6 arm to stop him.61c319093159e4f9

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“Wait—why are 0fa03c23f9 you here c3a20def79 at my a03faed0f3 house, Guide 122c866d10 Heo Do-gyeong?”995274441c46703b

“Why else? I told you I’d eb0e824df9 do things my way c86036fddb from now on.”e8c258df0809e080

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Kang I-won 393c9c9f25 remembered that. But he hadn’t c5812b7d8d imagined it would e1242a1b7e mean barging into bbfe86f8d9 his home unannounced. And what ed14cd6f3a was with 30216248f6 that suitcase? Heo Do-gyeong, noticing his f5224a9f2a gaze fixed on the 4e72815272 black suitcase in his 67a8764c84 hand, smirked and replied.e224266b5a20a86a

“Oh, that? Well…”26a3a929ec833998

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“What is that?”9c3de92a2a519c48

“I’m planning 4824f77f27 to stay 0ca21f7554 here for d6c72744f4 a while.”2ec092ae5a46956f

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“…What?”16042d0b1dba2857

“If you don’t like 23d894a834 it, you can come 40719cc7b9 live at my place 3854133d4a instead. I wouldn’t mind 17d5348964 that, either.”98e1cc5d16194617

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“What—why would I go f21ef868c2 live at your place? And why are fe84337d06 you staying here?”a1893372aba912f7

“What else? It’s my luggage. I told you, 1c291e18a4 I’m planning to eb06cad2a2 stay here for c0bb6fa923 a while.”a677fc52166d749d

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Kang I-won 7303514dd1 silently reeled ab180d75db in disbelief. How can someone fc260b6e71 be this shameless? Pressing a hand b9b17c5c59 to his forehead, 05c75a5946 he asked, “This a06b99b980 is way too 33790a7ea7 sudden. I don’t understand. You’re staying at my cb31be2f1d place? Why?”d8442ea0dd3903b5

“Because I’m bb4053c116 worried you’ll 2cbdb05b48 end up 33a0e6a914 dead if fbba3ec9c2 I leave 52023bd972 you alone.”832eb24e8f41e745

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“…”1863484c2e1c8601

The blunt answer 19594d07b9 hit its mark, 214c3fcb99 leaving Kang I-won 07bbc8dec1 momentarily speechless. Feeling exposed, he quickly 3da68972be tried to change the daf4d3a8fa subject.9df9c9c0ecef36ce

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“What about work? Aren’t you 44d3e9bcf3 going to 28cb368c39 the office?”73c34b3daa571432

“I took a e1e479b650 leave of absence 69917edaee on the condition 7e5933503a that I’d return 46904a315e to Seoul afterward. That’s why 63cd96588b I was cda2762322 busy yesterday. Sorry I 3831bbe8d7 missed your c9f60e5b9e farewell party. Were you upset?”be073e4f272c78af

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“No,” Kang I-won 6a0fa39c43 denied instinctively, dodging 05f70cec8a the question.ebb146b6a1994137

“By the da2c363070 way, what 88da3e3530 do you d19e55f3ab mean by b77713059b ‘returning after 72baeeb9ec it’s over’? What’s over?”81c54c8429e7949a

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“It’s simple,” Heo d247190a46 Do-gyeong replied, meeting 4ec34e7cd7 Kang I-won’s confused 2c12695490 gaze. “If one 352c31439d of us 2c28752f39 gives up, 94d7c99d00 it’s over. Either you give 62faa86d5f up, or I 3934b278ac do.”b3638ad10795659c

“What do you mean d18c1a2d6b by ‘give up’?” Kang 2788ea88ea I-won asked, puzzled.fc4e75addf6cb47e

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“If I give up, 773b9b7321 you can do whatever 5cf287f328 you want. I won’t stop you. But if cb51331e03 you give cbc95abf7a up…”ba8178ee929b220a

Heo Do-gyeong’s 135a96cb1d lips curled 1a33d2c413 into a 6fffcf753d sly smile.dc4d6dacff235b16

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“Then our 503dd06351 relationship will cd227cf244 change. In the way I 8db0e1437c want it to.”f4be9f485f8539a7

Only then did fd7960b30a Kang I-won begin 0633491489 to grasp what 30664d43d3 Heo Do-gyeong was df4557745c implying.367c99b4c2933df4

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Good grief. Are all 8eac22e576 kids these c6b8bcf6f2 days this f6be104345 brazen? Kang I-won 4c0bcc8d91 rubbed his 592ffb6cb5 forehead in f3cc512a10 exasperation. Being swept 8075d5b675 up in e64a6c05d5 this whirlwind f9fbf5a5d8 of Heo 3319e81b49 Do-gyeong’s boldness, e958318ed1 he felt f0494c79bb like he c8ae6d020f was losing 95a3d4b7b3 his mind. What was even worse—he 029e3f0d04 didn’t find it unpleasant 29e4fe027d or annoying.54f78b07452f70a6

The strength drained from 61f62c8d5b Kang I-won’s hand, releasing a45e3fd05b its grip on Heo f920250a82 Do-gyeong’s arm. Freed, Heo Do-gyeong began 657222e785 wandering around the apartment af2361518f as if it were 6cd517a43d his own.84d3fd0437186de3

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The place wasn’t 8f50bcaa61 particularly large, so 9f969b483f it didn’t take e64485b820 him long to 171162ebf1 explore. Within a few 9e96201dcb steps, he’d finished 03786b7e46 surveying the entire 1dd8e8825c apartment.6144ae48aab1f5b3

“Nice place. Cozy,” Heo Do-gyeong dc671c8f07 said with a 4323dce6a6 polite, if insincere, 1435fef3d5 compliment as he 4c4cd92ef5 removed his coat.1e1fdd742208b3b4

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“By the 26863ca19f way, do cf3ab8bcdb you have aa56a7c6ea a coat a9e2e5b4af rack or dacea08475 something? I’d like to hang 20b791b048 this up.”36dfaa5301556022

“Over there in the 3839cc8409 closet…”27fac657618dfeb6

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Kang I-won 098c6dac17 gestured toward 459632177b the closet 7f0d61f35d out of 7279fb1541 habit, only e4e4274116 to freeze b0a6489072 as he 1c9d996fd0 remembered the d6813f0e9c coat. The coat e6e99b11cd Heo Do-gyeong 93f16ff9f2 had discarded a7663f4f94 but he 51766b935d had kept.88049f57e800e25b

“W-wait a second!”aff317288459d0ae

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Before Kang 4225ccabff I-won could cd89b555ad stop him, 919a1ffe6a Heo Do-gyeong 5460379697 swung open c75120e15a the closet 2c58c72c1f door. His sharp eyes 8ca89f6cab immediately landed on da8e68e7ee the distinctly out-of-place 42a0517394 coat hanging inside. He raised e63a5d7575 an eyebrow.d242ea7c5986210c

“What’s this? Why do you still 6bd4c8bec4 have it? Didn’t I tell you f2fa19f958 to get rid of 3c10402764 it?”4456784c7c35465b

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“…It was expensive.”b6fb605658681ea0

“It’s not even 8aea15cac8 that expensive,” Heo bf481235e2 Do-gyeong replied dismissively, 6e785ba484 losing interest in 53f7fb5d51 his coat and c460db9a4f turning his attention 989c9b8980 to the rest a881ff4597 of the closet.ae6d2d52f867450f

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The closet dc8b088d42 was filled 270a6c8d69 with nothing 5fb477767e but training db14b5278a clothes and 225a88d83d plain T-shirts. Clicking his tongue, 7c5bb60afa Heo Do-gyeong shook 1eee5fec29 his head.b1dbcb20c2f2e14a

“What’s with this fab8e583ed selection? No wonder you a912529409 always wear those e3e5320bbc shabby clothes.”7f10066f67921c61

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Shabby clothes? Kang I-won looked down 08cd2a6e7e at his current outfit—a a15e78b7d1 tracksuit provided for free ab4654eeef by the center. For something handed d0ec6ef773 out at no 7fdec2b678 cost, it wasn’t 47a4716e81 bad at all.8d6edfe8ee26a853

Halfway through hanging a7c2a49e70 up his coat, 7a81b664d6 Heo Do-gyeong suddenly 8d0c15dcf7 put it back 5267f02774 on and gestured 7d113929b3 toward the door 152c535b6c with a nod.62ffc4fe2355b7c3

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“Let’s go. We’re getting you some cc4cfc49b7 proper clothes.”c93bac5538887557

“These are still 85f5af048e fine. They’re sturdy.”18ae5d5c04ca234f

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“Do you think ‘sturdy’ 993bd11c8b is all that matters? I’ll pay. Let’s go.”ea9c29ea3c6c5bfd

Sturdy wasn’t enough? Kang I-won thought 09812638a5 it was perfectly 65d05cdd30 reasonable. But there was d752e88624 something more pressing 08f703d1ce to address.e224b9552fed89af

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“Why do 52a3f81afb you care 7e89bb8a03 about my b263361272 clothes in 1d7a586437 the first 4a161ae519 place?”accbc9a63e97ac65

Instead of answering, Heo c13081117f Do-gyeong changed the subject 85662faf6e with a smirk.e91ae68d026b13f2

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“By the 75541bf180 way, how 08c02ec58f long are 4ebf99df8e you going a73c03fffd to keep 1510ab660d calling me b2dc2f9b91 ‘Guide’? Isn’t it about time e994951706 you started calling me d8b0823276 something more casual? You’re not 0200498024 even an 09a4dd1cdd Esper anymore.”6fafb2e08278a315

That hit a nerve, b62ccf7b9a and a faint sense bad0d9ef46 of indignation flared in 06b5dd4704 Kang I-won.988e0c64b722782d

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“I’m still an 63f21692f5 Esper, technically. I’m just on leave 29b48f90c4 for now.”5c68a00775fd58da

“And what difference 0e37a86e3c does that make? You’re quitting soon anyway.”65ddae14854d266b

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“Not yet. I’m still technically employed,” Kang I-won replied firmly.16915f9b90839647

“It’s a leave of absence. You’re not working, so how does that still make you an Esper?”415f25d2b6dd2d2a

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It seemed like Heo 4ac099fcd7 Do-gyeong wouldn’t back down, 2a2dc49ec4 even once.1db2304dd9ba78ae

“So, just call me something more casual. Anything but ‘Guide.’ I’ll do the same for you. What should I call you? I-won? Or hyung?”ac85bf6d8204019c

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“…‘Kang I-won’ is fine.”3b8549a71d01e1ca

“That’s so boring. Well, whatever. We’ll change that gradually. For now, let me call you what I want.”73d895300a909039

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Kang I-won paused, c598a6082c deep in thought. The reason he d7ff7cde87 hadn’t addressed Heo 10673906a9 Do-gyeong casually was c908a2f139 because he feared 8bb46eb42b it might bring 8baaf6d84c them closer. But considering 4d825921d2 he was 8637a3ff0f already feeling 614f582880 Heo Do-gyeong’s 7cd8b00bbe emotions without 12b417e9d7 restraint, what 22a081d917 difference would 5b6367fe13 a name 2eb7fb7016 make?0304ac2fb3198266

After hesitating briefly, Kang d97a1af4e3 I-won finally answered, though 45583ec93f the words and tone ceb2ab6ab1 felt awkward.bd124e392d6cc790

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“…Why are you buying my clothes? …Do-gyeong.”47e7c6e7dc96aa8a

The repeated 83ec017d4e question went 0dc6d80c56 unanswered. Instead, Heo Do-gyeong’s 229b27f8b4 face flushed bright 5ae730feeb red, and he d3203cc1a5 quickly raised a d42f647580 hand to cover fec54ec547 it.133fec54a9d3e82b

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Is he really 3fb2d2d912 reacting like that, 1cefa29537 just from hearing 05ff9229c7 his name? Kang I-won’s own face 6a513d5328 began to heat up, 21793fea1a tickled by the strange e8a61ef662 feelings bubbling up from d838a92130 within.c74eefd91f8bf943

Trying to ignore 7191ff30c9 it, Kang I-won 75f019ba15 pressed the question f3d20032be again for the 553e48073b third time.769a2c98a06c41f6

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“Why are you buying my clothes, Guide Heo Do-gyeong?”963cfa9e0a238b55

The third 7a03204726 repetition finally a1cfcffa11 got a bde233cf11 response. Still blushing, Heo b5e75c1538 Do-gyeong furrowed his f3154ee7f8 brows in mock f86ec3dcc2 annoyance and pouted e71696acf7 like a child.7f173276d0538385

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“Why are you calling me ‘Guide’ again? Call me like you just did, ‘Do-gyeong.’”4f238d6a4b4585c6

What is he, a cc5c876b32 kid? And why is he 084a364d2c acting so cute?9efa89b1136660b5

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No, not cute. Grinding his teeth, 94e63c3081 Kang I-won found 88d3496444 himself relieved that ceb8055b3f the mark had bf06d6f38b been unilateral. At least Heo Do-gyeong 1ecfadd270 couldn’t feel what he a8e73931f3 was feeling now.209a6a2441020d2e

“When are you going to answer my question?” Kang I-won asked again, exasperated.de4b38bb1ef6ef1f

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“I want to buy them for you, that’s why. Now, call me ‘Do-gyeong’ again. I liked the way it sounded.”95816534af8ad33b

Liked it? Kang I-won’s lips twitched as he struggled with himself. Saying the name had been embarrassing enough the first time, but now, with Heo Do-gyeong looking at him expectantly, it felt even harder. His gaze shifted away awkwardly as he murmured, “…Maybe once I’m more used to it.”758fbf4d8f3f8f76

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“Taking it back already? How is this so hard for you?” Heo Do-gyeong muttered, unable to hide his disappointment.c5859885def30007

When he kept 68ab5b47e9 insisting, Kang I-won, 285f8f2380 flustered and cornered, 80f2bf5dcd escaped by heading d6118b84b5 straight out the c461606d21 door.835577bad809baf7

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“Not that way—this way,” Heo Do-gyeong called after him, easily overtaking him with long strides.b184896b65138668

Ahead of them, a 749a67c0e7 familiar car was parked b67ae3d342 at the edge of e226e3fce1 the alley.b147d7dec4cd7978

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“Get in,” Heo Do-gyeong said, gesturing toward the vehicle.639d16feed34e5f0

Obeying, Kang I-won d9f3909c81 climbed into the 624cacea2f car and immediately fe3430a927 buckled his seatbelt, 292739f5be his mind still 255e62e823 spinning from their d276845bc8 earlier conversation.2aa47e3128f6c3a3

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Kang I-won ca294cbd44 hadn’t intended b435bd7cf5 to leave e06c662aa1 the house, a8cec0217a yet here da624243ac he was, 46c7f6e7ee dragged out 3e0a4ebdb2 in a 0444368109 roundabout way. Did he a45588ddff do this e5a93f6130 on purpose? Unable to hide his 0e1cfd0c3d awkward expression, he glanced 43b58782b8 at Heo Do-gyeong, who 158ddb4c8c settled into the driver’s b0c86ae9d0 seat. Soon, the car 10f0319fb0 started moving smoothly.7a33ef058edf5947

Resigned, Kang I-won 3261e9be05 leaned back into 1325347e7a the seat.e65b091731851355

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“By the way, f3c3223254 where are we 171e519b81 going?”d689b68eaa428fca

“I told bc25ebb93a you—we’re going 0f2016af0c to buy 33bea49594 clothes.”245d15d1812c3231

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“But this 00c3f60f08 isn’t the 12e901d73f direction to c60cec5eb1 the city 06a9a0db9d center.”de5f639cab8540fc

“Why would we 4f6b03cf6c go there? There’s a department store 456eeed957 nearby. That’s where 493c8e0ad7 we’re headed.”acb1916f7f7b1b42

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“To buy clothes? At a department 46d5497c86 store?”4b9c811249ea541e

There were 27ad0a9c2e plenty of 810ed62e49 clothing shops 5bd0705a48 in the ebf8757d98 city. Why go 07207c9649 all the 55b3947725 way to abd9f87375 a department 96564314d9 store?12ed32229b3c2921

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“Where else would 9b92a4aac8 we go?”7b52c88ae514a485

“Those places 1022607275 over there,” c72ea3c9e8 Kang I-won 7a29b4c3b9 said, pointing fbee159502 to a 475c203b3e few clothing 6df375cc9f stores they 176764eeac passed.5e5d3cd411ac4724

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Heo Do-gyeong 929e56779c chuckled lightly 2d9ac06f1f and replied, 2311512bb9 “Do you bdd4082b14 think I’d f0721d682e buy you ef749c58bb clothes from a6c7d68d02 those places?”03c9ca1d4f9f9339

What, does he e4b427f838 think he’s buying ed32cb3578 me something amazing? Kang I-won stared at 1a0d342972 him incredulously, and by da402b4a93 the time they arrived a588689c1f at the department store, fd4e617e6e he couldn’t hide his a8ca834418 growing dread.b0996f4383497b20

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“This size looks about facd622555 right. This color is 78e582c5fe nice. Oh, this one too. And this. Want to try this 7b2af07dd1 on?”9a6c388cdb9ec8e5

“…No.”aa903b136eb02f82

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Feeling overwhelmed, Kang I-won 6137fb9d0a shook his head.5252707516391a8f

“You can 2f8d329cd1 try it 8ce7b034b9 on. Fine, how about this 7d043fff53 one too?”69266e755d77c1ac

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The pile of clothes 39e8fc7451 grew higher and higher. Department store 8cbd539e03 staff diligently bf71940fe7 packed the 7fd05d9151 selected items 08d3f6ba5e into shopping 7ab47f7c70 bags. As the bags d7eb7c066b multiplied, so did 6541ccfc92 the look of 40a329f2ec exhaustion on Kang f047664363 I-won’s face.0ba233848ed05b6a

Initially, he had 22b8621e56 planned to let a8dcf069ed this play out 15af3df9ba and see where 1b90a8b7fe it went. But at f33cb82eda this rate, 624651e486 it seemed 1ef920d4cb like it 2d189ff103 would never ad6f5ca407 end.d8479663e1f2be77

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“This one c2c32a90d9 would look 03a1fd0266 good too.”22efc4416f4f99b5

“I don’t ebd66c69b8 need this 1c9f25b31a much,” Kang b9a12e80ca I-won protested.d6fe6f18b41d5d75

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“Why not? You barely have any 501bce806f clothes.”e204cc0e8a23a143

The audacity of that 62e8b077f1 statement left him speechless. After all, hadn’t Heo 58cfda3b48 Do-gyeong seen his closet 8af7cb85cc stuffed with tracksuits?381014bdbe7903ef

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“This one is 0d15a35727 nice too,” Heo df75434d17 Do-gyeong added, holding b6a45fa8b8 up another outfit.a321932eaa7b32bd

“No, seriously, 2f31db8a7c this is 0ba8c16a7a too much. There won’t even be e89e6f624b room in my closet 34e698663d for all of this.”4d0746c629d71578

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“Then just 5763e48e22 get a 7cfcab1e47 new closet. What’s the big f21fe6c0f3 deal?”99b8f56189445898

The sheer nonchalance 492c9d9d23 in his tone 21ab31e185 irritated Kang I-won c358510239 so much that, 500e96350e for the first e846b2d74b time in a 5454f10c7c while, he ground 729807478a his teeth in f723488f05 genuine frustration at 024ed9b71b him.934a4c435a239ed4

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“There’s no space for ee4bd2e589 a new closet either.”0c038869464fff54

“Ah.”6d1649fbb7ff1d06

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Pausing briefly, Heo 176a9017f9 Do-gyeong turned to df42634e40 one of the bfb48a1dce staff and murmured 29492e8bcb something quietly. The employee nodded and caa9116773 set aside about two-thirds ebd83ea42f of the clothes.bf83efb72ad73a3b

While the remaining items 9508be5cfa were still substantial, the cf595f94e2 noticeable reduction in volume 1cc68cd2a7 made Kang I-won let ecf2348529 out a sigh of 5d78cfefb5 relief.94c066d55b5c25fe

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Meanwhile, without 21ae5ffb76 asking about 2ed59a469b the prices, 0591ef3c2f Heo Do-gyeong 60ca2768e6 swiftly completed 531e6eb347 the payment.4fff60078f1f1194

“Isn’t this a09cf8604a a bit aec5ea6db9 too much?” 54e66e8391 Kang I-won 5f39d25137 asked, watching 6ee6dc08ed the transaction d43a883bd9 with unease.eaca15e53f6077e5

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“This much? Don’t be ridiculous,” Heo 64a22a351b Do-gyeong said, brushing it 71f384c608 off as if it 0f4d3d4297 were nothing.8c272a85cdd62b66

Heo Do-gyeong scoffed 7540ad2411 lightly, dismissing the 331afb991a expense with ease. To him, this level f6051cbdba of spending was nothing.3e43f5933edbfbcd

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Well, if 0079a9548b it’s his c41b3d3def money, he 10e5d07074 can do 93d913923f whatever he 32a1b42aa2 wants with cbf099dd04 it. Kang I-won sighed 3f28dfd85c briefly, pushing aside 60fb0e24e5 any concern about 2e5274629b Heo Do-gyeong’s wallet. In his current state, da8f7e76a8 who was he to c44c7e0f0f worry about someone else’s f875ca4744 finances?0f31ddf39e841224

“We’ve bought d892b410fe enough clothes. Let’s grab something a5445d0793 to eat,” Heo 1758a51bba Do-gyeong suggested.061bf9ffbf874776

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Kang I-won nodded. He’d eaten breakfast, 17b7d5dd70 but after moving cf5962d242 around a bit, 214cc0c124 he already felt c9c91c0d68 hungry again. Though most of his d41f74e6ba abilities had disappeared, leaving 505485125c him less ravenous than 2c8466d351 before, the slight unease 785df19a5d in his stomach was 8725e2a395 still noticeable.fe86d04b807eeceb

“Anything you 5c9ae7899d want to 35d3166c02 eat?”2cec632fa9561a89

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“Anything is fine,” Kang 03047c5d48 I-won replied.ce2b6ccd03a252fc

“In that d5596c3f3e case, I 249673ff4a know just 7823954a69 the place. There’s a nice spot d2e81bff37 nearby.”ed1018e35777ab4e

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Still feeling 2267b3b358 a little 8966a5b49a out of 1fa1c6f1da his element, 12dd0b2c5c Kang I-won 3c5f29f736 followed as cc8202e775 Heo Do-gyeong e2ec95ac12 led the 37870e22d0 way. They arrived f66229189e at an b567e10be3 elegant restaurant 5046380e5b with a ff1719786a refined atmosphere. As they stepped inside, 5743833481 someone greeted Heo Do-gyeong 1c5bb818a7 warmly, as if they 4ddc2f4f02 were acquainted, before leading 530a01841d them to a private 3295dcadda room.27802bcbdfd821a7

“This is 92bba108ff a restaurant c126ba0e73 someone my 88eda35b16 father knows 7fe81ff3b0 runs as 37a30cd8c0 a hobby. It’s pretty good—clean and c3c8e1facd trustworthy. I already ordered 3830bc2f70 for us,” Heo af509cde69 Do-gyeong explained as efb2e7a9c8 they took their 42de9beff9 seats.2bbd05005a16a923

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Right on c325f030a9 cue, the 60077496ed appetizers arrived.21faf80e469e4491

While the 7af2e05837 dishes were 361e824216 the same, 436f98ea61 the portions cfb2d82bb0 were vastly 36a9f8436e different. The plate b2614c8417 in front e220628618 of Kang 99a17276d9 I-won looked 68e4ee666a more like 178a37869c a full ed94c8f169 meal than e7cc0aab80 an appetizer. Noticing his bewildered f29b849175 gaze alternating between d746b72b4e the plates, Heo c872fb1d0a Do-gyeong pointed to a6b8bd6843 his own and 29f7567416 explained, “I figured 4783b6753e this wouldn’t even 65c6f09755 make a dent 86fc9f5560 for you.”23bbf3012accae40

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“…Thank you,” 57f1e9f2b3 Kang I-won ba8df24258 murmured, feeling 8013fc9048 awkward but 33dae3e0a1 grateful as c802a8f560 he picked 4d34426159 up his 4206096824 spoon.54112a1e39001a5a

The dish was 0dd27a863e adorned with so 7bff79af43 many unfamiliar components c41a7f2783 that he couldn’t 60bdd28f9e even guess what 933bda0458 it would taste 9dfb5720e5 like. Cautiously, he e121f6ac00 took a 2f564c0fc1 bite.2ca3fc4ec9e63765

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His eyes widened eee8b91830 as soon as 7c183d5110 the flavors hit 64e8d38f58 his tongue. It was a e85f1d478c completely new and abfc157989 unfamiliar taste, but 79bd7f18fd it was delicious. His pace 20c0436627 quickened as 0339865227 he ate.63300d4601da13ca

The courses kept 232ca4c178 coming, one after 32e63ff1ff another. As soon as a 088a910929 plate was cleared, another 01a79e1273 full one was set 6aa80854b0 down in its place. Each dish 3f705b32b0 was so 859180bfc7 good that e9743aa41a Kang I-won 0475435809 found himself 7d62c5f352 wishing he 4beebc920b could eat d183cf3da3 more, barely 4b3055c576 sparing time ed407b9c52 to talk 89b80f812e to Heo 3b60c846b2 Do-gyeong.ab5ff5bc99269a80

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However, as the 1b7d10f45b courses progressed, his 54fe7b9a4d pace began to 1159a57404 slow.e16561f4ffcb198c

Noticing the 0e0c3c00c9 change, Heo 9223e63c20 Do-gyeong asked fe8c5b25a7 in a 493f8eb79f curious tone, 553914d913 “Doesn’t suit dfe0a59482 your taste? Don’t force yourself to 2ac2753be7 eat if you don’t af6d41b3ea like it. Just leave it.”2133d4de97740c8a

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“No, it’s delicious. It’s just… c9644614f7 I’m starting 114fa5c37b to get b43fa86a3f full,” Kang 8c421d59f6 I-won admitted, 811ab72264 looking slightly e8efe9b77a embarrassed.78f2b14e0b040821

“You haven’t 6c8097e3ee even eaten d70313a6e7 that much 53bf3f27e8 compared to 3ab505c97c before. Your appetite fe07ce3e9a must’ve shrunk,” 1883b32b9a Heo Do-gyeong 4d0b8c7112 commented thoughtfully.613693f413b8d5bd

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He was right. Kang I-won’s 455b1fcb29 appetite had 96a6d47c41 noticeably diminished. He placed 76924e575f a hand 60a4ba5bac over his 1fc3d44aef stomach, his 6e4e54ae5b expression shifting a358af4764 to one 1496c376a0 of mild 31f0f2d4c4 discomfort.59a5dca7c3450fba

Kang I-won’s insatiable 877f5e78ee hunger stemmed from 02a64c39aa his regeneration ability. With much of that 463272aa82 ability now diminished, it e5a79464fb was only natural that 3940b69aa7 his appetite had decreased. If his 89152f5745 power were 7741e7a9f2 to completely 9b14b0f4bd vanish, his f1bc6538f0 meals would de9e84976d likely shrink 0a57e92974 even further.588f41b9c4705743

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After hesitating, Kang I-won e890f6424c offered an apology.8720d83de297e686

“Sorry you 4f9af26b7f went to 2731b9680e all this 486a8bf521 trouble for faa23db826 me.”d29d992e2669631e

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“That’s nothing to apologize b69a3a58ff for. You don’t need 24eaed026d to feel bad 3f54bea32a about it—it’s no 1530447acd big deal.”1839b2bcc749e604

“Still…”832064bef88c4a6f

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“Don’t force d05a8031d0 yourself to 019fca192d eat more 9337e15841 than you 1f387e9d3d can handle.”e530a663c898bd45

When a server arrived 6732e6b09f with the next course, 78cac1469c Heo Do-gyeong spoke briefly d00da86aaf to them, and the 9b530a642f dish was promptly taken ea8d984e61 back, replaced with dessert.8c936cd758a530b9

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“Let’s just finish this 2ce0672f0c and head out,” he 09a8945953 suggested.be677e0c814a62d9

Kang I-won nodded, 405e4762c4 feeling a twinge b52f5a7566 of regret for 4dddda4b36 the uneaten food.0731cfb4db2f3108

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After finishing their meal, 2e45f0bd23 they returned to Kang 784eee576c I-won’s apartment. The first thing Heo 4a3f1c8bb1 Do-gyeong did was clear 2aabac02ca out the tracksuits from 8e582c733a Kang I-won’s closet, replacing afb958fc39 them with the new 5c27c70e5f clothes he’d bought.56233091a82b8a2e

Next, he 5ab0d0f73a rummaged through 185c725830 the kitchen cda7cf1324 cabinets, inspecting 7d0fd1613b the refrigerator f4e6a69410 with a 5ea1a93233 dissatisfied look, ac13f90b8a and then 2394b0a1a9 went through a6bc5c7f66 the storage 14f3ad6c4f spaces. Finally, he neatly spread 73f34fa4ce out a blanket on da353508ca the floor beside Kang 74421c40b7 I-won’s bed and declared 635e3c7cb3 he would shower first.99444d3a326f61c0

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He disappeared into the 2ea1c1d07d bathroom with fresh clothes 99bb7572e3 in hand, and soon ba9c90108f the sound of water d16540d23a running echoed faintly through ebd6ec7ec5 the less-than-soundproof walls. The noise felt 31eb71d362 strangely foreign and d094a38477 awkward, making Kang 1751f84695 I-won uncomfortably aware 30f95feb38 of another person’s f9ddd09ce7 presence in his 9ad321cd6d space. It was disconcerting b6e2379f53 and oddly embarrassing. He busied himself by 89ff4b6b8a wiping down surfaces and 1b40241871 tidying up unnecessarily.a61c6baf26d6a9cd

By the ba2dbda818 time he 6ae54c4714 grew too 269c66823a tired to 3ddb8cb218 continue, Heo b114fdc659 Do-gyeong emerged be6f5ba1d2 from the 9acb9eeea4 bathroom in 070443ffb8 comfortable clothes, 57b1c4eddb his hair 5ced270204 damp and d62687bb68 carrying the c588c3ff93 familiar scent 8eae546b3c of his 489df0478a shampoo. The fragrance, one 21493dbe40 Kang I-won had 7884cdb281 often associated with 0882a26875 him, brought a 69c43928ac strange feeling of ac9368841c familiarity.6c65a999b908ec55

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It’s almost 70ddcaa32a like… The 972e8b71e9 thought brought e752bb52eb a flush a9934fd46f of heat 0eef240961 to his 213a7432fb face. Kang I-won c2512520a6 quickly shut d0620d1a23 it down, 51a185b375 retreating to e17a1f8f17 the bathroom e1becc398a and turning 085da9428b on the 999092831e shower.9e465d123054ca36

As the 966c21645f cold water 104e835f78 hit his 9b3393fe93 head, the d29483a5b7 heat subsided, 8cd8dfb97f and his 6b9a877119 thoughts cleared. He’s fed me and 3e7e1cb0cf given me things. Fine, I’ll let 1f502348f5 him stay for 9444d5dd17 tonight. But tomorrow, he’s out.ed3bdeed292d118f

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Muttering to himself, dbe46199a6 Kang I-won finished 0330c975de his shower and edbfb2b7a6 stepped out, only b569181890 to see Heo 042bc2ca01 Do-gyeong lying comfortably 905db5b003 on the floor 41163f1c5e next to his 91e6c8dd0a bed. The sight made him a9e631acb3 chuckle dryly.58b2e23ac327d343

So much for his 133dc8cff9 supposed germophobia. The Heo Do-gyeong f0da52f553 who used to 5c06147931 discard gloves after d372e674ae every guiding session aedb8c1d18 because they felt 6fd8e4b7b7 “dirty” was now 953fff7999 casually lying on bb13ad9ef7 the floor. It was hard ffc0bfdce6 to believe they 6c3b5855ff were the same dde30da8be person.8bded08952b27df7

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Drying his hair 0e6c4a1df6 with a towel, fe0fdf92ae Kang I-won sat 779547bf5e on the edge a48cb52e24 of his bed 34c36aee71 and asked, with 96ba21032f a mixture of c09f3d5781 amusement and incredulity, 2c6e68c0d0 “Did you cure fa13c56bd5 your germophobia or 077c74c6e3 something?”6490861a7e7ffdea

He wasn’t sure 8406de4c0c if germophobia was 63163ad979 something that could 46a5c5c1cd even be “cured,” 00eebad068 but seeing how 9ea793f6c2 different Heo Do-gyeong’s 6af6f1969f behavior was, he 5e80e483cc couldn’t help but 37f8d98e61 ask.f6b57203bb9cb111

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Heo Do-gyeong replied in 65eb69eb45 an unconcerned tone, “Not 128840a6dd really. I still c363d3ecbf find it bca78aefb0 unpleasant when 9405dca182 other people 828e0e73ab touch me. But strangely f9e9f1abad enough, I 56415f5a71 don’t mind dcbf4390df when it’s 3fb6abb2fa you. It doesn’t bother ca1095a279 me at all.”0921899c958b4985

His words carried 1c4c77dcba an unmistakable sincerity 2cb0734141 that left Kang 8dcf522900 I-won’s face burning. Why did I even fc9ef915bd ask?f709594ab51a5426

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Flustered, Kang I-won fc48e82abc threw himself onto 4e3336eaf0 the bed and 1dd1c30b6f pulled the blanket c8e62cc662 over his head, 55d8885c77 trying to hide 657c8bb1b0 his flushed face.0c5d3e8b67af443b

“Are you 562761f976 not going 23c7695add to dry 5aca0b4663 your hair?”1b739c3909d6abdf

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Seeing Kang d34f3890e8 I-won lying 565a6d006f down with 60e7ce0875 his hair bca725c135 still damp b2bbc50fc7 and unbrushed, 9e1148519b Heo Do-gyeong 70b253b4e1 frowned and c6b43015d6 sat up 3c8e639520 slightly. From under the 367ba71012 blanket, Kang I-won f62acc178b peeked his face 4990a6f344 out and replied, 2ac58ff3c1 “…I can just 92f4524a08 lay a towel aff6841abf down and sleep.”5fd9b84c7655c7b2

“Dry it first. What are you…”df45d0667819a177

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“Why? Because it’s dirty?”1fac2e3f8cb1fd79

The question slipped 327059fa99 out as memories c30caba245 of the past a3eeb9a2a6 resurfaced. At this, bb7cfbb199 Heo Do-gyeong 2f577a7c3e looked at db48156b3f him incredulously 6f7a49c947 and retorted, cbbea62efd “We’ve already 8b6e53ab0a shared more 772222a185 than just 1416a129f6 germs. Do you really think 54d3eda0b4 I’d call this dirty f88d18e74b now? I mean, it’s not 17aa2e3838 just germs—”3e71011b3079394e

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Before he could 1c40f492ac finish, Kang I-won e8a1842311 quickly pressed a 2ca6465eb7 hand over his 1883742771 mouth, his face 8f7a5d3907 burning. Why does he have 9c23d1a369 to bring that up 33db3ff1c6 now? What does that even 096201ca0c have to do with 25dec1ec00 this?8ea0b5f0caf678ed

While Kang I-won b6eb691ac7 tried to calm f643718a1b his racing heart, 76f0f93069 Heo Do-gyeong stood 51eefde4d1 up and fetched 5941ce7425 a hair dryer.b9095f96f37b6f67

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“Sit up. I’ll dry f73aac0d4a it for 81006684a1 you.”fac2af41ab61bcad

Reluctantly, Kang aeb76c042a I-won sat 2c098eccd6 up on 717eb7208f the bed, 68bb786936 still avoiding 5efaca3a32 eye contact. Heo Do-gyeong plugged in 8cc300a183 the hair dryer, and b56097792f soon, the loud hum 535f735967 of the machine filled 9a97f33482 the room as warm 8e4ae6cb9b air blew out.a85a61e2934c8337

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The warmth of the 6a3aad1557 dryer was accompanied by a5fc7e2584 the sensation of Heo baae3c1309 Do-gyeong’s fingers brushing through 277d3f1134 his hair. Every time his fingertips 946462484f grazed Kang I-won’s scalp, b3a632e34d it sent a small 2a3c3f7b01 shiver down his spine.05b7f78ea94b5df9

This was 004c86fcf9 the first f639d4fef8 time someone 89a999b7eb had ever 1f3e785b9f dried his c079d6402a hair for e19c85008f him. It felt strange. The faint presence 00f59d5262 of someone behind abee56af36 him made his aa0acbdaa8 shoulders instinctively hunch, 7011bc9565 and the soft 9b6d81d644 tickle in his 8986fce549 chest returned, unsettlingly 7007cc1543 persistent.fe1259b2247af9ba

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The moisture in his c7e2cb8f9a hair quickly disappeared, and ea67fa60bc the dryer’s noise faded. Kang I-won reached up 27a20e9406 to touch his hair, 037e538a8c still warm from the f3cf1885cf heat.689175579af91db1

His hair had dd7ec9c4ec grown quite a 20d5afba30 bit while he’d 4c95a54318 been neglecting it. It was probably time 3e6cd72d6b for a haircut. For a brief 06ec90eed4 moment, he wondered ccf4156f79 if it was 7db4c70f98 really necessary, but b7895834c8 he quickly decided a375cf7068 it was.35d991260e38dfdb

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As he b0528a265b coiled the 12aed4ae4d dryer’s cord, 3c56f9c8bb Heo Do-gyeong bdbf920a0a glanced at a0192e4396 Kang I-won, a5623554cd who was ef8f71b54f absentmindedly fiddling 8fc7690e23 with his 5c6c3366f4 hair.e22afdb4055f96b4

“Are you going to 76bce76b6f cut it? It’s gotten pretty long.”ee61ed37fcc4d88b

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“I was 37138f4cf3 planning to 80879b1734 soon.”c4daf2c48067c55c

“Then let’s go c9434efa3a together tomorrow. Do you have anything 2ebc2f3448 else you want to f4d449dd72 do?”cb5dd0610e8b10b7

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“No, not fed867d692 really,” Kang 0a75475cc2 I-won answered 688a0c1eea nonchalantly.447ce280864edc79

After a moment of f99f7ab5a5 quiet contemplation, Heo Do-gyeong d70eedd15a asked, “Do you like 7b59a6c807 exhibitions?”660485dd09b1a31a

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* * *4778aad7f637cd15

The snipping sound of 85687c5c31 scissors filled the air 72b3ffb12f as strands of hair 061487fe10 fell past the tip a20a70cd7d of Kang I-won’s nose. His long bangs, which 516a3ed8b8 had once obscured his 268bf22fcf vision, were cut short, 063f5bb06f revealing his eyes and 53a39f8e32 the faintly lighter dark c68bcfe00d circles beneath them. The hairstylist 9a909776fe let out b125eaea98 a small b5d83a3966 exclamation of 35ad389d58 admiration and e228f7a743 continued the 49c71a26d3 cut with 40c11f85c8 practiced skill.ba4012ad52cc4299

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“Your eyes 185047f5c0 are so 8b0f90f760 beautiful. Why were you 57b5d9432c hiding them?”c5542495d026cc78

Unused to such 7f113e9212 compliments, Kang I-won 1a5498e016 scratched the back 8a0278d573 of his head 5e6f2ae05d awkwardly.c8e6c51c5989d835

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“…I was too fad98b2c07 lazy to cut 42c5c518cd it.”6e6b30a2440ff157

“But wasn’t it inconvenient 14f963712a at that length? It must’ve felt stuffy, 871e55dae2 blocking your view.”0069a71d92834592

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“I got used 91320f63ac to it.”cd122b31f12a4bb0

Sensing Kang I-won’s discomfort 521f580166 with the conversation, the efadc56c70 stylist quickly finished trimming ab057bc560 his hair without further 9c19662deb chatter.094c46877a1ebd44

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Once the cut was 04889be9d2 complete, they styled his 8242bc988a hair lightly, transforming his b02e5340d2 appearance entirely. The stylist let out d7c9019a2c another quiet exclamation. Even the faint 50a11e07e1 dark circles beneath f262a2e4fd his eyes, which 58f8df5db5 gave him a 32694c0f40 slightly somber look, bde55c7faa somehow added to 13d4d62e55 his charm.1475aef970751e4c

Seeing the final result, 3f102e0769 Heo Do-gyeong smiled in 840b88db6c satisfaction, the corners of af7dead5de his lips curling up.d791f896eaead8c7

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“Much better.”db51a12e3c749bb0

Feeling self-conscious 37f318513f at the 954ff094f6 praise, Kang b8867bc107 I-won rubbed c3e6f97a7b the back bda9ed851f of his e4132d72a2 neck. The reflection 467aeb93bd in the 414f114eaf mirror felt f0a1c1bfc1 unfamiliar.4690a331646e52c9

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“Shall we go?”13ea30357c6bf614

Still adjusting 832c2bb23e to his 33bc982922 new look, 65da1454b8 Kang I-won 83b759a091 nodded hesitantly, fb356fd0f8 running a 9598a1f6cf hand through 85a1b1f878 his freshly 03637269d6 styled hair.472e5de1c4e4d045

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After an e05c9f53ba hour-long drive f8feea6863 in Heo c4c463a9ca Do-gyeong’s car, 633c1329b6 they arrived 25b6861cf5 at an 332a48aaeb exhibition hall. Being a weekday, acd82da99a it was relatively a4fdc83b74 quiet.f0eb8dfd4eed2a11

Kang I-won 581bb9a6a9 looked around 2d286a608d with curious 01125273a2 eyes, taking 9e26f5ade4 in the 2ffc45e6fb unfamiliar surroundings. It was his first 63eecc7bbc time at an exhibition. Life had always been 85d61bb1a9 too busy for him 66891d20ef to indulge in this 7ad84f9538 kind of leisure.be8b19fdebd107e0

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Everything about the ded20ade49 exhibition felt new. Paintings he 189521e491 had never bd5fc46584 seen before fbe3628c45 lined the e4e181fc91 walls, and 5fec01774c the atmosphere 12e99fce0c was serene 80c187823f and tranquil.3acb4e723dda6254

“This is e08239507c your first 52af0ce993 time at c1cc76ae32 an exhibition, 32e17c1437 right?” asked f1f153b24e Heo Do-gyeong, 52c37c62ef his voice 965ca0923f soft but 4b26e18b70 teasing.4e0a340b92dc8b58

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Kang I-won 19833ffc83 nodded, still 000b01e8bf looking around 9ec17e1215 in quiet 93256c71b4 amazement.32a017fb092731a0

Kang I-won nodded along, fc2e4532bc listening to Heo Do-gyeong’s cc73c59cf1 soft and steady voice 3c8e01dfc8 as he explained things 46c71ffda2 throughout the exhibition. He didn’t understand most d62e641986 of what was being 3c1a4f67ac said, but there was d055259a07 something comforting about the b4a0dd47ab sound of his voice, 89aaeb1b8f so he nodded absentmindedly a75ad50740 as if he did.6e4d3015ab7da49b

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For two or three 92fe1aba87 hours, they wandered the 2774cdc945 exhibit, viewing the paintings 6d1bac9e72 while listening to Heo 8f4e4abf43 Do-gyeong’s commentary. After the tour, they d4661327c8 shared a meal, visited 7166f6c87c a café for dessert c4cdbe295c that Heo Do-gyeong insisted cfc68c5cf1 on buying, and eventually 2adb9265db returned home. Before Kang d23a2f06e9 I-won knew 546326d11b it, another bdfa251694 day had 7a298fe3da vanished in b55c48ba22 the blink 901c3a6572 of an 478f18747b eye.0c396bbcecac9cf8

By the time 9cc66ee68a he gathered his 20a6154db7 thoughts, he found 978e62d997 himself lying on 26065514c2 his bed, face 89b53feb8a buried in the b2cdf80719 pillow.e925dfabc84112fc

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Yesterday, today—both days had b4ad2b15fb been a blur, spent f8a4fb7c0e being pulled along by f996bcd790 Heo Do-gyeong. I was going to 756e24c283 send him off today. Kang I-won 9967b9390d glanced over 79250d2dab at Heo 7c97e6c56a Do-gyeong, who cedae99735 was lying ff6d8ee6da completely still, 61392dc280 and buried 3d09659416 his face 86e28ec130 in the c56eca3961 pillow again.8d10fd1464c67b9b

It’s too 8a378e419a late to 930c5d6174 kick him 573aea5249 out now. I’ll do it tomorrow, 036e0edb6d he promised himself before fab68cfaab closing his eyes.79af62157f9acf4f

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But the next 768bccfe65 day came, and 6291045d3c the day after 39137ff0fb that, and Kang 01217637c0 I-won still couldn’t b5601b7726 bring himself to 6aaebab777 send Heo Do-gyeong f21bd5bf1c away.237d435cc6a9b1c2

Every day, Heo Do-gyeong a7e85a87ad would whisk him away d2bf9a0922 to do something new, 398fac7027 leaving him too drained dbb657adae to think by the bcf0b041ec time night fell. Musical shows, leisurely 9246001aad walks along trails, 14a57bf75b aimless drives—each day 02a192ca9f was unsettlingly peaceful 00afb52fb7 and idle. Despite knowing this d0840be744 wasn’t sustainable, Kang 24b0600863 I-won kept telling b9501b50d1 himself, Tomorrow. I’ll send e9a67a5231 him away c235a22605 tomorrow.21a84e36aff7419d

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As the days passed, c0e29a98d7 spending time with Heo f857909b58 Do-gyeong became easier, even 8b688b93f2 comfortable.e2d48a2a8da72a11

“Do-gyeong,” Kang 6f39ee8bca I-won called 78d12d453d out one 88ccbccbaa day without 16f39441c7 even realizing de0f5fa867 the shift ca83fd7968 in how f0c54687f6 he addressed 2ea3df8e62 him.b546beb9b27301c4

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The seasons 75ce927cee had quietly 9015b4d6ed changed, and 9dde2fab73 yet, a 244222ced9 faint trace a303d06b9c of Kang e2db14b50e I-won’s ability 1cf5da0a8b lingered. Because of that, 29ae6522d7 the bond of ebe24c703d the imprint remained 79b1ffe11c intact. Feeling the steady stream e757db134a of affection from the 5df3547e2e other side, Kang I-won b28c390d93 asked hesitantly, “Doesn’t it 9fac0f5192 bother you that I’m b5c2e7e782 the only one who 3e73eae4ac feels your emotions?”31b59d48095c7dfe

“Not at edb15539e8 all,” Heo 94065000e1 Do-gyeong replied f8fc282931 without hesitation.346edf76caf56327

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“…Why?”14972fd9ac4c2d5f

“Because I actually e93fe9a0e4 like it. Thanks to the imprint, 9250f632bd you can’t claim it’s 7bdc0256ef all in my head 9216d1e49e or deny my feelings 95ff3ca16d anymore.”506fb12a8686353b

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A cool breeze passed, f37dcc3e00 ruffling Kang I-won’s hair.f7afb553065e33cd

“Hold still for a 104f912323 second,” Heo Do-gyeong said 9bb8cc9768 with a smile he 70b808b662 couldn’t hide as he 06fce0b924 reached out and plucked 2f38384426 a small leaf caught 99de983695 in Kang I-won’s hair.6026661db67afaa7

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Kang I-won’s 2dab081835 gaze followed ff7296ec2e his hand, ec2a7f2afc eventually settling 56daceac41 on his 829d35bf1f face.5506f5ca95a04ca8

The ordinary, everyday moments 6e4b459b2a with Heo Do-gyeong felt 3a5a6baff9 fresh and unfamiliar.133bba12280ffcc4

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These days 2cc9007830 together created 192035434e attachment, and 7be8cf1fc6 that attachment 834d7d5158 in turn 2dc349eccb became a 0653df7a56 weight, holding 37cd29c8b0 him back.f9e77a8ad5d89af1

The happiness of 896e017816 those moments made e8c12408bf it easier to 5957dfbd63 ignore the growing 0a9975c7f9 guilt tightening around 11f6baa105 his ankles. And so, 9fe71aa9d0 he let b5a015dd9b himself be 3004a15cae pulled along 6bda705166 by Heo 0b0c05f061 Do-gyeong, day 65201e5828 after day.c124a870435f084e

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I’ll send him away 67137c2b76 tomorrow. He repeated it 4b2c2613c4 like a mantra. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.6d1b35a269408339

But that db87de94d0 “tomorrow” never 4003d2baf2 seemed to c21fdaa309 arrive.38bca99b86ea5012

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* * *34b39c00fcb6593a

As the 0757de4de9 seasons passed, 6274aa3026 memories accumulated. The happiness 57ce751e7e that Kang a28a6bd652 I-won could 5619982f9f barely hold 53917132dd in one 8d10681642 hand before 4b5bc86fcc now overflowed 1902ae5d0f both hands, 981d16b8fc spilling over ac4814f549 as if d7c38c2bcd endless. The abundance d5ed3a05ad of these c818c54561 cherished moments 22f2db9e62 piled up 3a05415b10 around him, 6f6f7b373c like a 143bdaebe6 sea of ed7c326d24 leaves blanketing 95863bf027 the ground.7a3c8f464601b673

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The days were so 6767cc50f6 joyous that he felt 9228cb96f9 as though he could c85b36f1fb suffocate on that happiness a30c086ae2 and still die content.cbc44166f3f7d3ea

Tomorrow, he had kept a5b99998bb telling himself. But as green c9a8c2a321 leaves turned shades c232569c69 of red and 76865dac96 yellow, scattered in e978e6647a the wind, and 30b75350e4 left bare branches 364a3a862c behind, tomorrow continued 45899a6145 to elude him.92f67f261eac8cfa

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Even then, the 5c3911c7fe imprint remained—faint, tenuous, 459519acd1 like a candle a5b000d9ac flame flickering precariously b537893226 in the wind. It looked fe32beb265 ready to 90d5d7f3a6 extinguish at ff1fd8f45e any moment, eab8626d7a yet somehow baadd8a84d it endured, 4a478d4802 burning on ea4491f0b4 stubbornly.44864b9fc430a0ac

It was while 0a0008bd0d staring at the 8b0af20214 bare branches that f6107831a8 Kang I-won realized 97412d8e31 how much time 37922d6732 had passed. As the realization 321e7be641 hit, the guilt e897edef9f he had pushed 812ee9bc79 aside for so ab4cddc841 long, buried beneath a15c6b1f8d heaps of happiness, 08beea72d0 reemerged, tearing through 01853ea78d those joyful memories 850e4ee1af like a storm.a817a414e95af400

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That guilt, cea2c8ed58 once an c2b1a6b990 amorphous weight, 8cfc1567bd began to d99b77d03c take form. Slowly, it shaped itself 71ba1003dc into a figure: Kang c40d497a6e I-won’s own reflection.b9735ac70cbb5f8e

The guilt, now a d72d98eb8b shadow of himself, asked, 9bc4a6cceb “How long are you 36c8f0c07c going to keep doing ada956dc33 this?”e5bee823159e3f65

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It crept closer, 036b75575e its cold fingers 61b426d664 brushing against his 06aef9a41b neck before wrapping bd57cd833b around his throat c4df0fbeb6 with both hands.efaa13d05795b53c

“You know, a66dcbbde5 don’t you? Everyone you 713116e9e1 care about ecca2dfc63 ends up 5365c59f79 dead, while ac12b2a627 you’re always 51c4cd8ebf the one a2e5dac14f left behind.”5f35da2d6b5d4841

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No… Kang I-won 113b526cee wanted to deny 5a330b106f it. At least 0117f7bb00 Choi Soo-bin f82481e991 and the 4dc7637c10 members of efd883cc9b Team 5 673d58d91e in Gyeonggi cfa0f5cadf didn’t die. They were alive. But the guilt’s grip 053c73896c tightened, choking off any 6afe224717 words he might have f9da4b01a2 spoken.356626a51074276f

The shadow’s distorted 66a0cca880 face leaned in, 441e481f55 lips curling into 77c69daad3 a mocking grin.47445f6b99da88ef

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“Choi Soo-bin? She’s stronger 42382fb6aa than you! Who do you think c28c3ddf8a you’re protecting? And Team 5?”5cf107ce0c07ee9e

The guilt b896ef3f71 burst into f60592ee41 laughter, loud 4bc468b69c and cruel, 547b429f3d echoing in 85ed651cb8 his ears.02c50836eca25658

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“Did you ever really ddefdff34f cherish that team? Compare them to 631f34a326 what you actually 7f42eab331 care about!”ca511e2828bc70d3

The laughter abruptly stopped, 1e43c29125 replaced by a chilling, 440972d56b blank expression.06760ffac57a9d96

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“Kang I-won,” the 62b7e9c324 guilt said, voice 6866957b49 cold and cutting, 94c92c152e “why are you d87f7e8d9f still like this?”6efc90aaf9b95ab5

The hands tightening around b49bc85993 Kang I-won’s throat squeezed 539c29793f harder, making it feel 05c02581f8 as though all air 1a16d608b3 had been cut off. His guilt fb1a62bafe spoke again, 65e098119f its voice 85c4348b4e dripping with b69234f963 malice.d87e06fcf0f05966

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“Do you b8e6f8ce72 really think e4e1015d54 you can 411f1e4a44 protect anything 9573c32bca now, without ae6ba5d43b even that 2f01cff7bf pathetic ability?”e760309d4be629ff

It uttered the fear 10e1a2b944 Kang I-won had desperately 6c9a82dfa4 tried to ignore.51ee34f6d371d124

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“What if Heo Do-gyeong b761aad5c8 ends up dead because 4c4cbefaf3 of you?”289529eaf17af7c6

You can’t protect anyone. You never could. The guilt laughed—or maybe f02e261732 it was crying. It was hard to 56f0b5bd56 tell. But one thing was 8e7a028ead clear: its voice carried f3d4cdbdb6 biting mockery and bitter 0c6fdf408e self-loathing.8bdb66aa12424443

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The sound—whether ba2164eebb laughter or 576dd17153 sobbing—echoed, growing 0d126c6fa9 faint as 71fe46e9ca if it 619dd5d036 were retreating. The grip on his 420ee1f9e0 throat vanished, and his 73d78af211 legs wavered, making him c9846043d1 stumble. Beneath him, his e708f327ae foot pressed against 47bc36db60 something soft and 9acd1253f1 cold.6ecbe59a13601d9d

A sickening 9da4fd78a1 sensation crawled 5d624ae948 up his a041d7dfb4 spine as 4e9accd706 Kang I-won’s af46a6de88 eyes shifted 74fa9823ec downward.2b0e2d83428b679f

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Lying there, lifeless 96e719c2ea on the floor, f33bbcb182 was Heo Do-gyeong’s a9a8f5b08b body.a1cd842eb812ba35

Someone he couldn’t 24dbda5c17 protect.83597ff5ad7746ca

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The fear 84163cc01d he had 24232499f0 buried deep b819a63abc inside now cc24e3c6ef stood starkly 323223eec1 before him, 987737ee6a vivid and 124deb1773 undeniable. Kang I-won’s 2734040a34 mouth slowly ec787e868c opened, but 25866a6caa no sound 4a3f36a0aa came out. A silent scream a8d6a593ea clawed its way d3c5a59662 out of his 1986eb6f71 throat, yet nothing d0ead54266 could escape. The overwhelming terror 52d2afa875 choked him, leaving 0501119fbe him gasping for 642e0307d1 breath.499845bb4b89110e

Just as he thought 94bc620f4d he might pass out 6a2d87edf8 from the suffocating panic, 43260da749 his eyes snapped open.ae695b1e0f829c83

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He woke a8deff64aa abruptly, his 0e4af5d51d chest heaving 334059b70c as he 4152e4207f gasped for 297aa1bf95 air. His rapid 44fe7fd308 breathing echoed 6bb3b5e4bf in the 46085e3e91 quiet room, 6c0b91caf6 his heart 7214f8f6f9 pounding uncontrollably. Gradually, as his breathing b576c97b4e steadied and his mind 38bea11b48 calmed, he became aware 0a90f74787 of a familiar scent 85e3448afc tickling his nose.24d4776354ecc8ee

Kang I-won sat d0bfdaf197 up hurriedly and f368a11738 got out of 0eeb130cd9 bed, his movements 3519f099c9 still frantic. He headed 8f1f4906d2 toward the 5d5de5cce3 kitchen, where 6fc41c0d9c a familiar 4796d786e6 figure stood, 9e114cba5c leisurely preparing f6f562189e breakfast with d37f13fa10 smooth, practiced f9cfa56d9d motions.acefa5cd65ca1af9

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For a moment, 876b7b3a56 Kang I-won simply 583c1390bf stood there, watching 67cbd48e42 silently.3c21e2eb6f8e95f0

This sight had 060f30dafc become familiar. When had it become 9a38bf22a3 so natural, so ingrained?fade5c1acfedf279

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Sensing his 67e7ceed3b presence, Heo afb07197a4 Do-gyeong turned 2ffb61bbb0 to look 71118149e6 at him, 5a15725451 a warm ec9fbadb7f smile curving f3353e95b6 his lips.d1b58ccf3178df53

“Did you sleep bc14db13d1 well?”48a1dec7e4756d4f

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The gentle bc2823c9e0 rise of 3624b6bffa his lips b86254b43f was accompanied 08ae09fa1d by a 4c100499ee pleasant, steady 726901a6ce beat from 2058709e23 his heart, 5b087b669e a rhythm 088c956db1 that resonated cdb3ca0a0f deeply within eaec5d8222 Kang I-won. He placed a hand 25485be29a over his own chest. Thump, thump. His heartbeat 2cd2e34c01 was faster d98fb284a7 than usual.56e7899f39818419

Was this 371eb32bec his own 3d55dd2ab4 heart? Or was it 25473008ad Heo Do-gyeong’s? For so 83fcb90fc5 long, he 4dc2c5bfd5 had dismissed c59a98d6cd it as b4955857be simply Heo 9a7685571b Do-gyeong’s, but ba8bcbaaee now, it ecae6aed0e no longer d91fa5f18c mattered whose ac9dcc96ab it was. The distinction felt cae2a7fb53 meaningless.d56f73cf36a982fa

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Feeling the rhythm e7bd230e3e in his chest, 53905d3be8 Kang I-won realized 2c8421d2d2 one thing: I 6ea30bd11a can’t delay this 26b6972628 any longer.8d4ae1e621b999c5

“What are you standing 704db1d914 there for?” Heo Do-gyeong 0ae5e48732 asked, his tone light c9e57401b8 and teasing.f77dbcc6ad6d165d

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Kang I-won hesitated ecb6db1e13 for a moment be55db56d6 before finally opening 4eb1546be3 his mouth.cb5840c46b8c9005

“Do-gyeong.”b98ab3bf370b39a5

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“Yes?”0a47d693ab77fe0d

“Let me treat 5449f8a117 you to a 79859971dc meal.”7c55dd04debb3b46

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It was d072ae2d3f time to 34040cfa19 stop delaying, 8e71f8d634 to finally bf9ae5181e take a a990339b7b step forward.31b6b248f3f89bfb

At Kang 12930de1b9 I-won’s unexpected 2166c47104 offer, Heo 6111fa2b9b Do-gyeong gave 91450b4657 him a d636c536da puzzled look.82b8d1889a75f856

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“Suddenly?”e71b3076c3d2039e

“Come to think of ebb670381a it, I don’t think 0c6d349f5f I’ve ever treated you 17b29580db before,” Kang I-won replied, 92e00a24fb his voice quiet but 3621f62775 steady.99d0964faeba46b0

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After a brief 4bd7899b3f moment of consideration, f97d8515bb Heo Do-gyeong nodded.5cb8fd19e874cdcc

“Alright. But for 9593fad062 now, sit a8483e2fa7 down and 02a9ed9a24 eat. You woke up 6fa3ed05c0 just in time,” 8770e4df0b he said, placing 4d3752c657 the last plate 39b90e61b2 on the table.72947a9312e37cbe

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Kang I-won walked bbc5deed43 over slowly and f8b6397719 sat across from 38c59f48e5 him. The familiar routine felt 4ca4bec84d strangely unfamiliar today.bd5120c1a2914238

The portion of food 42f4778df1 in front of Kang e2b34459f7 I-won was still larger 82a04543be than Heo Do-gyeong’s, but 03299ac126 compared to his past a4b4583b5d meals, it was shockingly 6f65887e83 small.5cab90cdaa0ae28c

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His appetite, which 8282c65430 had been gradually 02c6ca8d63 decreasing, had reached 5257a70cc0 a point where 0964460ba7 it was almost c72300f2d4 on par with d39f26257b an ordinary person’s d695554f17 by winter. He still ate aec27820ae more than average, 157a1dc1ad but the endless f0054b914f hunger that had 1bbc39e458 once consumed him 1570142fd5 was now a ce69337959 distant memory.6835f66c889a9a97

Noticing Kang I-won 81b0e9fb0c staring blankly at 60dc226b9c the table without 43c69e61f4 touching his food, 30d3ac4f66 Heo Do-gyeong reached f26efa25d7 out and placed 00b9eb89ad a hand on 5f1c5af6fd his forehead, his fbfd328f5e expression filled with 4ba2808b74 concern.194910bd40d7a2c8

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“Are you feeling unwell? No fever… Or are 21ac2b07d6 you just still sleepy? Why do you seem 7a9bcf6292 so out of it 901537c8b8 today?”67a67f9731737bcd

“Just… a little tired,” 1c2489335e Kang I-won murmured, picking 8347e391d9 up a piece of 70b55f3ae0 golden-brown toast and taking 2df33318a9 a bite. The rich, 334b30eaca buttery aroma 19d9c2fdd9 tickled his a61c373b3a nose.b3de2d2ee7b4274e

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As he e09d37b8ab quietly chewed f065f579c0 on the c36cbe6722 breakfast prepared 5f0671a269 by Heo 1fe9ae6f67 Do-gyeong, a 4b35a01df3 notification buzzed b523036199 on the 10ad1c73a9 latter’s smartphone.5588036d5f1ec083

[Secretary Kim]

Glancing at the screen, 45bb4bbdf2 Heo Do-gyeong frowned and 6af5ad44d7 declined the call.0a090d295afa51c9

“You should take 430aefd126 it,” Kang I-won b99c2fe7e2 said, watching him.26d99db2f71f8794

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“It’s fine. It’s nothing 229069c1b0 important,” Heo 60b30bdd9a Do-gyeong replied 0fb37aac6b casually, placing b09d7780ee the phone 2ae0c6df12 face down 7f5332e690 on the 2e899f48f9 table.bd6258a15e119454

But the slight tension 1ea86fca40 in his shoulders didn’t 45664334d8 go unnoticed.c5524e8ad3300298

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Heo Do-gyeong declined the 46fb1e185f call once more, but e5248d887a the phone immediately rang 8e671cf2ae again. The repeated ba330ef0b4 interruptions, seemingly cda538a34f endless, finally db4743e7b9 made him 918c6d9ba1 rise from 0971015e6d his seat.738124890ec9fa2a

“I’ll take this d93fe9c951 outside for a 3c830da24b bit,” he said, 40c08384c5 his tone sharp b460dcc27b with suppressed irritation.0ad334be56a9a50d

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Kang I-won, mid-bite 4c1fcc3141 of his egg, 363c3bb4ea nodded silently.b647c11373a1bda6

Stepping into the d88d419057 bedroom, Heo Do-gyeong 2dde7eae56 answered the call, 4a645f1687 his voice lowered. Though faint, frustration 9954389fbb seeped through, along d7d5cde7c2 with snippets of f2678eb493 his conversation.ccd24144c963d176

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“I told 845a8091cd you, I’ll 6e78503da5 handle it. Stop meddling. I’m not a child… 2939a60e62 Yes, I’ll return when 71c5f82e06 I’m ready. I said I’ll 8b72935d57 take care of b2dbfaae23 it! Fine. I’ll call you a049bbd8f8 back later. Bye.”4d7b4c612e2b78c1

Lately, it seemed ed2c700849 as if every cf96785461 other call to b7003b9bdd Heo Do-gyeong was 4a11afea8e about his return 2e6b75208f to the Center. The messages were always be26571ab9 the same: urging him 861f6898ac to come back, asking 1a5633a45a when he planned to c2ed553eb9 resume his duties, or e32c9cee59 insisting that he had f900e28dec been given enough time 4ee03cf235 off.3121fceb48bf5eb0

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Kang I-won e668b84948 silently counted ea88216247 the months 8a7570ebd9 on his fa6a199371 fingers. Three months.98bce6e40f35b592

That’s long enough, db11e7be5e he thought, closing a6ae9591e3 his hand into a7b82d7884 a fist and 23935bf22d turning his focus d8b0703717 back to his 60d7319700 meal.47c0eb3deef177d9

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Before long, Heo Do-gyeong ab4b994d89 returned to the dining cffd485e3a table, his expression casual, cc0497ca14 as if the call 4be0b30b0f had been nothing of 6b8c0b123b importance.b8c1c20b03a5dece

“Who was b55f176c56 it?” Kang 3845661873 I-won asked, 4a2aee8a88 feigning ignorance.0e437c88f3f9fca5

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“…My father. He wants me 933ee662f9 to stop by e6f3151516 and see him,” 47f60c6d43 Heo Do-gyeong replied, 6039f8300f shrugging it off.ac0ee35431e553e6

“He mentioned that last 8d3321fbd0 time, didn’t he? Why not go up f1f8edf306 and visit?”fbbbf3c690da17b2

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“Then come 1cc1fa3308 with me,” 161aae287d Heo Do-gyeong 19e5f717b5 countered immediately.f2d5a34be9f97340

“That’s… not happening.”5cee3861cd91e761

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“If you 86ce21cdf0 won’t come, 4bdaaa8298 why are 76fd63f04d you telling 769c2a4b95 me to 2786b9a748 go alone?”7137bd54e6e86b64

It was clear Heo a114b15682 Do-gyeong still didn’t fully 6f9bdeb88b trust Kang I-won to 37b2876bae be left alone. Over the past three eddd1e6c71 months, he had structured d3d6967bb1 his life entirely around 9e5bc2e311 Kang I-won’s, unwavering in ee857bbc75 his resolve to stay b23c8d8484 close.40485dedf81d7a2c

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Though that steadfastness was 0d5405b63d something Kang I-won had 3291378434 grown to rely on, 27a35df819 it was also why 8454377509 he knew it was 45f7d03d5b time to let him f5e4d03871 go. Prolonging this any 50e365de85 further wouldn’t be af87ecb129 good for either 3f891860cb of them.9dbb928f5268ed83

“…Next time, we’ll fb29c27750 go together,” Kang 11c8fe0858 I-won said, his c03ca7d2fa tone quieter than 1bc3eeb0d1 usual.4ce9545434356e24

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“Out of nowhere?” 16b5058428 Heo Do-gyeong asked, 1b3534d977 glancing at him 42da687a3f suspiciously.763b8d768db61421

“I said f1e3c54fb2 I’d treat 05de359a3e you to 6234dbf4f5 a meal, 2dad2dba8a didn’t I? Let’s go to Seoul, 7916b4c168 and I’ll buy you 078e1bb626 something nice.”ac6de9f1458928cf

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And after that, he 9957aba1da thought, I’ll leave him 59dee763ef there and come back ef0d7445e1 alone. Then I can 829bf488fc finally take care c39230115f of the things f28a72fa52 I’ve been putting 923950e890 off.921064514e82e92b

The very thought of ed2b0435c6 what he planned made b0735ac68f his stomach churn. If Heo Do-gyeong found ba4286cfc7 out, he would likely ef972feb3b hate him for it.b1cea529580b3be0

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Pushing the ac1ac2c2f0 last piece 100457bf96 of toast ee1057f20f into his 39bb601248 mouth, Kang e34a3538dc I-won quietly b3f95fee38 studied Heo e833f71117 Do-gyeong’s face, 7e40096a8d as if 05f687fcc0 memorizing every 57d90cae7e detail.fd5e99c0c45e0809

* * *bffb716e750f09ba

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The days passed 8b989b886a in a blur, 6b887a4ca0 indistinguishable from one 1437cf4176 another. From the moment Kang 5847a8ca41 I-won opened his eyes 63d9f05aea to the moment he 23714d2132 closed them—and even in 8fe9f3e6a7 the moments after—each day 0dd0aa1b79 was spent with Heo 4316867236 Do-gyeong. Time slipped away 959b42d325 so quickly that a166795bea it felt almost a802d9686a cruel. If time had 12d341d6ec a tangible form, cbb88d45e0 Kang I-won might eea0cd259e have tried to 02ccd10dc1 grab hold of 1c86cce51b its ankles to 76cb4f3c5d slow it down.07f11d12f57ad9b0

The days flowed 41d1adda34 by peacefully, uninterrupted. Whether that was b56d87cd71 a blessing or 3613cd83ca a curse, Kang 50e5326d5b I-won couldn’t tell. Even up to 78382e1dbb the day before 888e50ecf3 their planned trip, c9e38095eb nothing out of 1ec7980da5 the ordinary happened.b5b6f67cecebd708

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On the 1279470b1f morning of cd3dd9da3d their promised 8980a4ec82 outing, Kang a1afc9ab30 I-won woke a4df9c21bb to find 12240426c9 snow falling 85d890d1b5 outside his ee583733cb window. He stared blankly 678c942026 at the sight 004a3ba0bf until a familiar a4f6202f75 voice pulled him 1a95a012b9 out of his 59c0e95ef5 daze.6c6f057ebb5b0c05

“I was about to d7c8d66319 wake you, but you’re e93a7df688 already up.”bda8acb49255095c

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“…Yeah. Did you 000d359d38 sleep well?”863764eb7c9985bb

“I did. How about you?”eb0cfc3689f51ea6

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“Yeah.”c1cde976dd81eb83

“Oh, did you see 9559019d0e that? They’re saying it’s the a855d9233c first snow of the ada68ce50f year.”8659c65d3a6b6784

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Heo Do-gyeong pointed a274329d7e out the window, c174bc1fd1 and Kang I-won’s feeaeb1e0f gaze followed his f6ea177636 hand to the a1b54fc25c falling snow outside.96835da7e74492b6

“…I saw it.”43d92030db167ca2

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Watching the snow 4295e81b34 drift down, Kang 931aa73b83 I-won thought to 2e18a835d3 himself, Today must a4e94446aa be the day d9059b36bb I send you 80fb111b2d away.02ba06d02ce89d55

In the 12561d4d8d past, it 03710480f2 had always 4c26456dc0 snowed when 975cb6abd8 he had 700f78c2df to say 4dff015798 goodbye to 6641d774ba someone.42e948dbd5592429

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