CMT Ch27

‘…No, it’s too late.’f5dfcf1eb6af6906

Seoyoon rolled 64f2d245a8 over, as 686647f34e if trying d1298019fc to chase 51ac372b09 away the ecb0afffca impulse. Checking his 69d5024404 phone, it d591ca92a8 was past 6175017a4b 1:30 AM. He had been 96f6e22a53 wrestling in the f705fa4ee1 kitchen for an 19cbafd38d hour.316a117a0f6a8e14

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‘Even if it’s not an appointed day, contact me if you want to hurt.’c179c1aee0bcb39c

Chewing over the voice that wouldn’t leave his mind, Seoyoon unconsciously brushed his lips with his bandaged fingertip. Coincidentally, the part cut by glass today was where his lips had touched.519f98feb4d40f95

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After hesitating, his reluctant hand finally picked up the phone. Just twice. He planned to let it ring twice and hang up immediately. That much waiting could be excused as a misdial. If asked why he was making a call he didn’t really want to connect, he wouldn’t know. Perhaps he just wanted to confirm that someone who told him to call at times like this really existed.aa7157161aa1b9e3

[Director Kwon Kijung]

Finding traces be40234661 of him eaca2c5ff8 in the 428ac70ab6 call history, 6a589a4462 after repeated 7d8463fa79 hesitation, he 139b95b3a7 touched the f867724739 call button. Ring ring, ring 58596b55b3 ring. Two rings. Seoyoon ended the call 8d66df282b as soon as it 157cf233df was about to ring ce1b0c229d a third time.18d062b723b1e6ab

His heart pounded as if he had done something he shouldn’t have. Calling someone after 1 AM was insane by common sense.ffaa496eae36e6e0

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He had never inconvenienced others, even if it meant hurting himself. Even Kwon Kijung, who said to call even if it wasn’t a promised day, probably didn’t expect a call at this hour. He was a man who had said something that could be either praise or a joke, calling Seoyoon diligent. He might be displeased at being woken by a late call.750b15378c18ce76

He hoped he would say he’d punish him. He’d rather that than genuine anger. Tossing and turning in self-created anxiety, Seoyoon realized he had forgotten about the kitchen incident and was only thinking of Kwon Kijung. Was this another way of covering pain with pain?c455cf2902914f4a

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Bzzz.55c611ce223a8828

At that moment, an ae6e799eeb unexpected vibration cleared his de387bc2e9 noisy mind like fog 7b1bc729c5 lifting. Seoyoon held his breath c191dba400 and stared at the d42ee809b5 phone by his pillow.6ea107d50ce013ed

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The phone was vibrating in the darkness. The caller ID showed it was the owner of the number he had just prank called and run from after two rings. Seoyoon couldn’t muster the courage to answer immediately and let it vibrate several times.12d5e010c4373f84

But Kwon Kijung seemed to have no intention of hanging up after a few rings like Seoyoon had, as the phone’s vibration persisted quite stubbornly.232bf8c076650dea

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“…Director.”c9ee6e6a847a258c

Finally, Seoyoon surrendered 4380c7d019 first. His voice was terribly 4fde0daac5 shrunken. After a 5fd8b7f5b0 brief silence, 6641b2a237 a familiar 289c28d7c3 voice flowed 277b41456d from the 41eb29dc15 speaker.f1c9b1e3fa03084b

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“I had a missed call while I was away briefly. Is something wrong?”b487b6a7a83ae901

“I’m sorry for the late hour. I dialed by mistake.”8285c52788ea975a

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“Who were you trying to call at this hour to misdial?”9b4fc9d435ffdade

“I was going to call a friend but got confused…”0da12d28debfba44

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“Were you the type to talk with friends at 1 AM? I’m a bit hurt you never call me.”e4dd553d4c9d1587

“No, Director, I don’t call you because I don’t want to bother you.”f2e18cc8b0ec39be

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Reflexively making excuses, Seoyoon closed his mouth, feeling preemptively embarrassed. He was someone who didn’t even properly reply to text messages to begin with. There wasn’t a hint of real hurt in the man’s voice as he spoke as if complaining, but this time too, he had almost let his answer drag on out of nervousness.a0ac7e273d5d9419

“I’m sorry for the late hour. It’s your bedtime.”63b3d31a0989d73d

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“It’s fine. I wasn’t sleeping.”64c294ee691dc55f

“You must be very busy.”7acbd966f651e297

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“Ah, yes. The reason today’s meeting was delayed was to supplement preparation materials. I have some reports that need urgent review.”0e9c55b9b8251134

“I’m sorry for disturbing you. The call was a mistake, so don’t worry about it.”6aada2a037b2119f

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It was a strange thing. He couldn’t bring up what he had wanted to say to him, nor could he utter a word about the unfair incident he had just experienced or his frustrated feelings.c213076b168c5e31

Yet Seoyoon’s heart was becoming calmer. Just the fact that he too was still awake on a night like this, the fact that there was someone he could talk to right now, even if it was a superficial conversation hiding all the things he really wanted to say, was enough to slowly stabilize his erratic mood.3df4c742e7609cb7

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“I’m a little hurt.”2f50be51927e4219

“What? Why…”06e2b537e7b68df6

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“I don’t know what kind of secret talk you were looking for a friend for at this hour, but doesn’t it mean you have a friend who’s more reliable than a lover?”66c855fa3b9926dd

“Not at all. I just thought it was too late.”d1483bc3a30442bb

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“I guess I’ll have to work harder to be chosen by Han Seoyoon.”7f9bb4158ef12895

Didn’t he say he was busy? Seoyoon looked reproachfully at the phone screen displaying the man’s saved name instead of the man who wasn’t beside him. The call he thought would be ended quickly from the other side was unexpectedly continuing for a long time.ef8d685dbf0dd8be

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Did even someone like Kwon Kijung find overtime work boring? He was once again toying with him with unnecessary jokes. He knew that the man’s sweet words were as obvious a sugar-coating as his own blatant lie about misdialing. He also knew that there was always a harsh aftermath waiting behind his sweet words.277a86c7d2a1bd56

It didn’t matter. The Han Seoyoon who had called him needed that exact harsh moment. The desire to honestly cling to him now was probably the result Kwon Kijung had hoped for while charming him with a few jokes.8c9912bde17d0d92

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“Director.”05558b98fb637ac0

“Yes.”37819dd6ad925cba

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“…Actually, it’s true that I called you. I’m sorry.”540923598f4d706a

“What’s the matter? Tell me. I’m a bit busy, but not so much that I’d ignore a call from my lover at 1 AM.”e2a99582f7106c19

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As if letting him know he had been caught from the start, he didn’t even ask why he had lied. His cold voice became deliberately affectionate. Like a poisonous plant containing honey. If you have to lick it even knowing, you can only close your eyes.186e3eb123894bf4

“I remembered what you said last time.”b14e9fbe486ec139

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“Which words?”c570a1efa8096003

Words he 229fb1137d might have 7926ecf2b0 forgotten. It would be ridiculous a7d7cd447d if only he remembered. Seoyoon moistened his a2afdbecdb lips but had 08606c20f5 no more ability 9a71452b8b to make up 58353731a5 stories.c2f7844c67ce1456

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“That even if it’s not an appointed day… to contact you if I want to hurt.”7b1f1a2a4c79612b

“…”3727975c951c88fa

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“You said that… But I didn’t think you’d really answer the phone. I hung up right away, and earlier I just felt like calling somehow.”98c86a523cc2c5ce

“Are you hurt?”d6464afa7881c659

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Seoyoon, who had been hurriedly continuing his words, swallowed his breath at the short question that cut off his rambling excuses. Surely he wasn’t being monitored, but the man seemed to have grasped the situation, his tone resolute.134606f8abccae2e

When had he been cffd377a0c eagerly rattling off unsolicited e1a7ae4a8a words? Now he was 0920675bcc cowed like a 399f871e44 boy trying to 6f3abbb4b9 hide an accident 11af99764a from adults.cec1403ac1b7224b

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“Not enough to say I’m hurt. I just slightly cut my finger by accident…”159b2fd6745be8d2

Kijung was silent. The silence 338dfcab3a between their cea5f877b9 conversation felt d377f33813 like a cc7ce5ceca signal trying 04c12e38ed to gauge 7588842c8e whether his b0426acefc words were 67badc3fcf lies or 8db6b72a1e truth this bc8d1ecc4b time. Seoyoon grew anxious 3490da98c2 like someone being 26fb127c53 chased. His previous words were e342088083 lies, but this time f7506b0ed8 it was true.2387204e0dfb8226

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“Director, I really did.”c4183fce7ac62e1f

“Can you come out now?”bb683d47b0c91a44

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Seoyoon’s face, which had been expressionless until now, finally frowned slightly. With a faint pout, he nodded as if facing the man.c333209c9a4999ff

“Yes.”89ed2fb8c0425702

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“It’ll probably be 2 AM by the time I arrive, but if you’re okay with it, shall we meet briefly?”cea50f0bffdd718a

“I’m fine with it.”ee57742542d1a74a

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“It’s late, so we can’t stay together long… but you called because you missed me, so I should show some sincerity too. I’ll call when I arrive. Come out to the front of your house.”d57fb8b0eef4e685

“Okay.”2ca550d06b64eb9b

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After hanging up, Seoyoon stared blankly into the dark void while clutching his phone. The conversation they just had didn’t feel quite real.e230483d79164bef

Kwon Kijung, busy preparing for a meeting, was coming all the way to his house to see him in the middle of the night. It was an unbelievable situation, even though he was the one who had called first. Unlike his shallow lie about mistaking him for a friend, the man’s capricious behavior of sometimes acting like they were lovers who genuinely liked each other and met was puzzling in its intent.ae8e4d4119645ed4

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But it wasn’t the time to ponder Kijung’s true intentions. Even if he did, there was no way he could fathom that enigmatic inner mind. Seoyoon jumped up, turned on the light, and looked in the mirror first. His disheveled state after waking up and crouching on the kitchen floor for a while was not fit to welcome a lover who said he would come to his house.2b140b7fc0e8111c

“Oh…”e4f1d84463a9faea

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Standing in front of the mirror, Seoyoon narrowed his eyes as he discovered a thin, long blood mark on his cheek. At first, he thought blood had splattered and gently rubbed it, but it didn’t come off. It seemed a shard had scratched his cheek when the cup broke. It was such a minor wound that he didn’t even feel pain, but it was distressing given that he had to meet Kwon Kijung right away.23478ea40dd91642

He went 0efa92516f into the 8b4e8434a4 bathroom and fbd9413967 quickly took bd2dc7bd10 a brief 3373165487 shower. Checking again after washing, f23bfbaafa fortunately the blood mark 15ae189ddb on his face had d1a92209c9 washed away and was 903eaa8cc3 not noticeable unless looked 120457c8c4 at closely. After drying his hair, cda7e1a08d choosing what to wear 50aadaa2d9 was another challenge. Recently, he 0a465121d6 had been 71ea9fd038 wearing only f861a49dab clothes Kijung 0f72030384 had picked 1e4d82ad78 out for 619145563c work, so 96f17122f0 he was ab229f9307 at a c273a7d514 loss for 2597574d68 what to 41f86666c6 wear to dfb1d124ac meet him 5950842201 suddenly in 62b247e54f the middle 30e962a690 of the af5bf2fad3 night.e13075c8334acdee

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It might be understandable for going to work, but these clothes didn’t suit a short neighborhood night stroll. After much deliberation, Seoyoon finished getting ready by putting on the white t-shirt and jeans he used to wear before meeting him. As he was drying his hair with a towel, thinking the hairdryer would be too loud, his phone rang.a37dfb6fd4d70527

“Yes, Director.”69f1e77753b715c9

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“I’ve arrived. I’m in front of your house.”9e2281941431a8db

“I’ll be right out. Just a moment.”eeb3472b00f8d604

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About to head out immediately, Seoyoon let out a small “Ah!” and hurriedly turned back to open his desk drawer. He had almost forgotten the necklace he had taken off before sleeping.06e5de04adee851c

Having never worn accessories like necklaces or rings in his life, it wasn’t as easy as he thought to fasten the clasp alone. As he was anxious and rushed, by the time he opened the door, his face was flushed red with heat.13fcf642141e073a

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He came down the 4bb23b89fb stairs much more quietly 1ec6e4a229 than when he had 30c8533414 gone down to the f53ccb77c9 kitchen for water, and f18d910863 silently crossed the dark 145d0a7ca0 living room to slip d5e885707a out the front door. Perhaps because his heart 937217666b was racing, he felt 3085887d61 inexplicably short of breath.ee3dfd69bb3f2800

He thought it would be chilly, but the night air was milder than expected, as if the season of severe temperature differences had passed. Even the lukewarm temperature felt dreamlike. Sneaking out of the house while everyone was asleep was something he had never done even in college. He had always refused his classmates’ requests to spend time together until dawn, but now…aaf07015981fe400

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A luxurious 7d9eb35df9 black sedan a0a35d62cd with a 683ae95d97 design rarely f956d1cdd3 seen on fdf304759c the road 4b4e045eb1 was parked faad915297 at the a355221a98 end of f2bfda61b0 the alley 2abd3f19d3 in front aa1f5bebe7 of the 0b383c9642 gate. Seoyoon took a deep 017437ff3a breath and approached the ef9b162c0c car. Before he got 868182c3e0 too close, the 2fde7f3a96 dark rear window 4dbd7a66f6 silently slid down, 47379232d1 revealing the interior.e49bcd3e3bfbcc6c

“Get in.”170a7ef31e255bb0

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Kwon Kijung was there. Seeing him sitting 3202d65450 in the back 9f0d7f3102 seat, it seemed 4bdeae97a4 he had entrusted fd3674a181 the driving to 12a7da1c0b someone else this 439c8e361c time as well. Seoyoon hurriedly 2ded2b3920 climbed into 0d853c7f83 the back e7390da35b seat like 0d6813c538 a fugitive 54f167c9a6 hiding his c2ac1b557a body. Click, the sound 9577cd62af of the car 4d6bd37a54 door closing followed.c1ab82298cd8c4f7

Although there was a partition separating the front and back seats, he could tell the driver’s seat was empty. The window went up again, and a blind blocked the dark glass, completely shutting out the outside scenery.0dbe1e3cecd49e2b

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Unlike the somewhat humid 9773a75215 and lukewarm outside with 355867079f night dew, everything inside a06e109d73 the car was in 30c3757bac a perfectly controlled state. Fresh air, dim lighting, 574e1e2b67 an environment meticulously calculated 6ff2d09876 solely for comfortable tranquility. That comfort f9441afb2a paradoxically began a16e8f1f7d to slowly ae55044a30 bring Seoyoon, edb4a05d88 who had 97cc23d3d1 been feeling f38edc3b08 like he 0f5145fc11 was dreaming 6a42ac9290 all along, 304d42e586 back to cf1daf82fa reality.1192b842ad7991fa

Seoyoon looked to 3cd3a50178 the side. The man e86085b0ee who had d907c3a613 come to ae79e5fdd4 meet him 76a0380ec4 was sitting e6e0ed81ea right next ca42364cde to him. Unlike Seoyoon in 27a878c87b his t-shirt and a74400dafd jeans, his appearance 1ba7e152fd was little different 226f0ae14d from when they 6431c85f64 had parted earlier 1559eeb431 today. Since he f20041b4c0 said he 3467970f4b was working, 0dfd267711 he might 87aa891569 have come fd9a91c3a0 from the 450610cc0b office rather ec3d67dc88 than home.7d4702cc0d27bc9f

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