PRT | Chapter 1.11

His fingers traced the ugly red marks. Despite the menacing aura that seemed ready to choke him, his touch on the skin was gentle. Heeseo, giving his neck to Yigyeom, only trembled.

“I think I know what you want.”

“…”

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“Would you like me to remove the leash around your neck?”

Ah, can a human voice carry poison too? Those heartless yet kind words sounded sweet.

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“Tell me what you want, and I’ll do it. I’ve become interested in listening because I’m glad to see you.”

“… Let me live as Kim Heeseo, wholly.”

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“If that’s what you want.”

A single, concise word seemed to be enough for Yigyeom. He spoke quietly, extending his hand.

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“My proposal is simple.”

A large, beautiful hand unfolded before his eyes.

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“Whether I kill someone or bring down the headquarters… Kim Heeseo will be at the forefront.”

“If that’s the price…”

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The hesitation was brief. Heeseo grabbed Yigyeom’s hand tightly. As the rain grew heavier and his body trembled, the hand he held was warm. The hand that had always held on alone finally touched another.

Yigyeom’s hand, now warmer, was large enough to cover Heeseo’s entirely. Rather slender for a man’s hand but solid, making its masculinity clear. The touch of straight bones against his hand was felt.

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“…”

His nerves stood on end, and a shiver ran down his spine. The raindrops falling between their clasped hands seemed like sweat. Yet, Heeseo looked at Yigyeom’s hand as if enchanted.

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A hand extended to me, not to harm me.

He had come here, suffocated by all the pressure around his neck, but Yigyeom willingly offered his hand. Even if his intentions might eventually lead to harm, he had to take it.

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As he blinked in a daze, Yigyeom’s gaze wandered. His indifferent eyes slowly moved up and down, as if examining him. Oddly, his eyes seemed to shine brightly.

Heeseo tried not to tremble as he met his eyes. Then he realized. Yigyeom was quite interested in him. How long this interest, which could be a double-edged sword, would last was uncertain.

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The rain tapping on his body grew heavier. So did the blood flowing from Yigyeom’s wound. His sense of reality, once blurred, returned. Trapped in his sight for a moment, Heeseo tried to pull his hand back, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Your wound… seems like it needs treatment.”

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“Looks like you’re in more of a hurry than I am.”

As he spoke quietly, Yigyeom finally let go of his hand, laughing like a breath.

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“I prefer to keep mine around for a while.”

Finishing his cryptic statement, he casually wiped at his wound. Blood stained his hand and dripped onto his shirt collar. His movements were so ordinary that they were almost eerie.

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“Ah… it’s a mess.”

Yigyeom spoke calmly about his state, testing the water with his hand before taking the first step.

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“I’ll take you. Follow me.”

Heeseo hesitated for a moment before following him. The familiar back view made him imagine even the expression he would have. He’d probably have that same uninterested look as always. While vaguely picturing this, the person turned around at the sleek sedan, his face similar yet different, as if the emotions were diluted.

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“Get in.”

Heeseo paused at Yigyeom’s nonchalant demeanor. His gaze naturally drifted to the side. Even without knowing much, it was clear this was an insanely expensive car. If he got in while completely soaked, it would be a mess…

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“I told you, we’re both in a mess.”

Yigyeom, noticing even this brief hesitation, filled the silence again.

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“If you’re not waiting for a ride, just get in.”

“…”

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“If you need help, move.”

It seemed like he might jump over the hood any second. Startled, Heeseo quickly got into the passenger seat. Yigyeom then took his place in the driver’s seat and started the engine but instead of driving off immediately, he just turned up the heater.

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“Hold on a bit. There’s nothing to wipe you down with in the car.”

“It’s okay.”

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“You don’t look okay.”

As he said, Heeseo was indeed cold to the point of feeling his skin sting. Having been out in the rain in the dead of winter, it was an expected reaction. He was sure to catch a severe cold, and it was surprising how Yigyeom seemed unaffected.

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“Are you okay, Guide?”

“I’m tougher than I look. And I’m used to it.”

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Without a sign of trembling, Yigyeom took off his suit jacket and tossed it into the back seat.

“You should take off your coat too.”

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Feeling the gaze on him, Heeseo also removed his coat and placed it on the floor. The car was filled with warmth, yet his body still shivered. Meanwhile, the car remained parked. Why isn’t he driving? Heeseo blinked in confusion, realizing he hadn’t told Yigyeom where he lived.

“Just drop me off anywhere near the headquarters. Thank you.”

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He didn’t want to go back home today, but he had no other choice. Going to his parents’ house in this state was out of the question, and he couldn’t ask Yigyeom to let him stay over. Even after his quiet words, Yigyeom remained silent.

A silence akin to night fell. The space grew warm, but Heeseo’s body and mind were equally uncomfortable. Sitting stiffly for a while, Heeseo, exhausted, leaned his head against the seat.

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Only then did Yigyeom start the car, moving silently and smoothly. Not like this… Heeseo, expecting a different kind of driving, looked out the window puzzled.

Various lights, intensified by the moisture, flickered. The day seemed as long as the stretching lights. It was hard. The feelings he had been ignoring and pushing away suddenly surfaced. Having exhausted his body all day, confronted the real culprit, been choked, and finally sought out Yigyeom on his own feet—it was quite an absurd day.

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Heeseo chuckled as if exhaling a sigh, seeing his reflection in the window. The more he blinked, the clearer his disheveled appearance and the bruise on his wound became. At that moment, the person beside him caught his attention.

“Why aren’t you asking anything?”

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Yigyeom had noticed the marks as soon as they met but asked nothing. Just like when they met in front of the elevator, he was merely indifferent.

“I’m not curious. I feel like I know even without asking.”

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“Is that so…”

Responding weakly, Heeseo laughed again. This situation was quite strange. Here he was, somehow feeling reassured in Yigyeom’s car. His body was still trembling, but unlike before, he didn’t feel like he was on the edge of a cliff.

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“I always seem to show you this side of me.”

“…”

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“But I won. Though I know you’re not curious, I don’t want to feel wronged…”

At that moment, it was Lee Chilhyeon who got angry and couldn’t contain his frustration. Even though Heeseo was the one hurt, the victory was clearly on his side.

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“Then why are you trembling now?”

The one who had been silent posed a different question. Heeseo slowly turned his gaze. Just then, the car stopped at a light, and Yigyeom glanced at him. His cold eyes seemed to cover the lights outside the window.

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“I’m curious about this.”

It wasn’t unreasonable to be curious. The car was warm, and the situation had passed, yet the trembling wouldn’t leave his body. As Heeseo started to speak, Yigyeom quickly averted his gaze.

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His attitude was plain, as if the answer itself wasn’t important. Was it just a question worthy of about three seconds of attention? Watching Yigyeom, Heeseo also turned his head back.

The rain beating against the window grew heavier, almost turning into snow with the cold. The silence filling the car deepened, bringing a drowsiness akin to sleep. His eyelids grew heavy, yet a sense of relief from fatigue set in.

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“…”

Feeling a strange sensation, Heeseo looked at Yigyeom, wondering if he was guiding. But his expression was terrifyingly unchanged for that to be true. No, it couldn’t be. Yigyeom wouldn’t do that so often…

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Glancing at him, Heeseo concluded it was just his tension easing. He had been using his abilities frequently lately, which made his body unusually tired and sore, and all of that had erupted and then subsided at once.

“Why did you get hurt, Guide?”

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Resisting the drooping eyelids, Heeseo broke the silence first. Yigyeom wasn’t at ease, but Heeseo had the courage to ask. He even held a presumptuous, audacious belief that Yigyeom wouldn’t get angry.

“When someone hits you, you get hit. What can you do?”

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As expected, Yigyeom answered straightforwardly. It was just an unexpected response. Surprised, Heeseo asked, “What?” but this time, Yigyeom didn’t answer. It was as if to say this was the limit of the conversation.

Reading the mood, Heeseo kept quiet. Looking out the window while imagining the situation beyond Yigyeom’s words, he suddenly realized they weren’t near the headquarters. Just as he slightly lifted himself from the seat to look outside, Yigyeom stopped the car in front of a towering hotel.

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“Why here…?”

“To me, it seems like this should be the starting point.”

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Yigyeom finished his sentence with a nod towards Heeseo’s injured neck.

“You said you wanted to be whole.”

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His voice was low, revealing no inner thoughts. Heeseo nodded quietly. He wanted to live as Kim Heeseo, free from false accusations, proud and unharmed by others’ scorn.

“I don’t know what you think, but this is my way.”

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“…”

“Get rid of everything in front of me that makes me incomplete.”

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“What should I do?”

“Nothing.”

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Yigyeom said calmly. His resolute tone also seemed to say, ‘Your opinion isn’t needed.’

“Start with treating your wound. Then, get used to your abilities.”

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“I’ve been training every day.”

“Then do it harder.”

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Yigyeom, with one corner of his mouth lifted, looked up, meeting Heeseo’s eyes directly.

“The rank assigned to you by the headquarters is above S-class. I see it that way too.”

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“…”

“So, for now, live like that.”

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His dark gray eyes shone with a strange light.

“I want Kim Heeseo to become a unique existence.”

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His usually sharp eyes narrowed slightly. Ah, he smiled. Heeseo, without realizing it, stared at Yigyeom in a daze. Was it because of the relentless rain? His whisper sounded particularly rich.

“I’ll create an environment where Kim Heeseo can be safe even if you just stay still.”

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Seeing Yigyeom genuinely smile was mesmerizing.

“You can handle the check-in by yourself. Go in and rest.”

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As if confessing, Yigyeom handed over a black card with the same casual air. Heeseo, caught off guard, took the card close at hand. With the task now done, Yigyeom’s face returned to its cold state.

“Unless you’re asking to go in together, get out now.”

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“… Thank you. Goodnight.”

With a nod, Heeseo watched Yigyeom drive off. Heeseo was the only one standing there, not moving until the long trail of taillights disappeared.

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The card in his hand felt particularly heavy.