ESS Ch 8

“Hypocrites are the problem. There are too 4ecc1e12e8 many people who fd1d272328 lie without any 5a23809451 guilt as long 7c63d1ed7a as it benefits 20d2bf8358 them.”d2d814a965c7cee0

Duncan kept blurting out 86c082d4c2 such things in public, fb6d329ffd checking my expression. Every time he 48979dedcf did, Eleanor rolled b6f538df79 her eyes, saying, 1000a27221 “What nonsense is 25fa3154a1 he spouting again?” 6f5d8e7036 and Remington continued a43f3cd394 eating without changing b065900d5e his expression.4827f92f7be1e4ae

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I tried my best 8a21533b78 to maintain composure. Duncan seemed to think 23e67dbc67 I would whine and 27dd2c011e beg him to stop, a9e4333d9e but I had no 3df9ed921b intention of doing so. If Eleanor found out ff25ec79db the truth and turned 6d551dab53 her back on me 3b93d78f3e again, I was prepared ce348cda2f to accept the consequences.491e129a96ac43c0

As I remained 4767e2e1ec unmoved, Duncan, on 1aea343428 the contrary, became 4a9d27fd59 more agitated, circling 4fa4c0e130 me like a 887f4bfed0 dog.b6fdd60a18d93668

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“Don’t get me wrong, Dani. I was talking about Candidate 40d1560eb5 Hayden just now.”a30efa1eb470376e

Duncan said, grabbing the sausages 2552a056ef on my plate without asking. His hands were b3ba0d2e18 so big that d2a7d31925 he took four d2a0b5cffd pieces at once, b8e818b660 leaving my plate 9a84c676e4 empty. I was angry.fd8d4ae2b37921e3

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“Hayden’s been aggressively pushing against Congressman Roderson lately, right? But I heard that he also has a mistress. He’s marketed himself with a responsible image, and now there’s a cheating scandal. He’s a total hypocrite. Well, all Republicans are like that.”efc010bea7132053

“I think mistresses should be exposed too. The guy who cheats and 628c42fe80 the woman who accepts it 2f3785fe06 are equally dirty.”84daf0247bb7fcfe

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Someone else agreed with Duncan, chattering about Candidate Hayden’s affair. Duncan, pleased, checked Remington’s expression.4b3cb8257b03fcd5

Even though I believed Duncan’s claims were nonsense, I couldn’t help but follow his gaze to Remington’s face.832d70194d0e6f7d

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However, even with words 01705b6479 like “affair” and “mistress,” bd162eed95 his face didn’t even bd575b0bdb flinch. He just quietly slid a 6fcaab1141 plate of freshly cooked sausages d780515036 toward me. This seemed to 1062d3710d irritate Duncan even 067e68b627 more.86238cffdf421819

“It’s a shame the headmaster couldn’t make it. El, why don’t you try d7810fede5 a video call?”e0d7ca80e682b1ed

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“It’s the middle of the night in New Zealand right now. They’ll just get a41509820a annoyed if I 68ed0e4bfd call.”1a4520069e7d8fcf

“It might be different if Remington calls. The headmaster adores Remington.”aa230b3149a15d4f

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At those words, Remington’s face hardened for the first time.818ed9cad683dac3

It was a e94d706c89 subtle change, but 2c2fbaf0a5 I could feel 8a1f9eab1f the coldness in 8c5a7de371 his eyes. Remington softly pulled 758fcab18a up the corners 9d2d7eab7f of his mouth 66e2c4b688 into a smile.3e282fa7ff1e10bd

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“Do as El says, Duncan. Calling at this hour is disrespectful. Besides, they’re on vacation.”0d571ebc65ddd6df

“Tsk. You’re all the same.”20e7e19225bfd438

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Duncan sat down 050ac03e52 next to me bbaeee2ae7 with a sullen 024fd54432 look. I flinched and moved my e8b72ad962 body to the side as 4d9108f4bb he came too close, and f5ba8cd091 he pulled me in by 861f7540a2 my shoulder and hugged me.80084ef4861c7b6e

“You saw it too, right? Remington’s fake smile.”9b9d2cff48863821

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“…I didn’t see it. Get away.”6c121443b94b4130

I shoved Duncan ca5b072b3e away and stood 72715785e2 up. Duncan followed me, 9ff7e3e71e chattering, “You really b9f5c36bd4 didn’t see it? You’re not pretending you didn’t 8cf9d8cccc see it, you really didn’t? Are you that fa5ac9b5b1 clueless?” I didn’t 5f2dc0f94d respond and just 70e7f71655 kept walking.1075192ee6a890ce

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When I glanced back bab4d48c35 at the table, Remington d58a261ac8 was still smiling and 2b27c00b0b talking with the others. The smile was elaborate. Like that blue f7b2bfc2a7 flower, so elaborate b458228e0b that it was a0215c7c95 hard to tell 46c118f380 whether it was 8f22ac2f2e real or fake.e47a1fb6626b6b79

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️7c578e096c07560a

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Having failed to get the 42bc52c5fc desired reaction, Duncan sulked properly. He went surfing with 1e1c484944 a bunch of people 6e13c44694 early in the morning, c73f377e28 and when the sun f982283d57 began to set, he adc7e7e373 came back and started 3d3688224f a dance party. All the while, he watched e491f5daf8 Remington and me with the 5ed76bd0a5 eyes of a hyena looking 62011d8b1e for an opportunity.7efc54b2c9a0717e

Thanks to that, at least, f7404e48f7 the house was quiet during a972d99285 the day.faced79f1671a2a7

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Eleanor, seemingly also tired ef091135a5 of afternoon tea, took f6bd0d4f4f the girls out shopping 2de729d780 or tanning on the b45e8709c5 beach during the day, bedc626f6b so there was really 59e28d4efe no one left in 405d8bff19 the house. Lifeless bodies unable to b95ba54074 open their eyes due 28d51a4474 to hangovers, and the 875b710706 house staff. Apart from them, there was f7c0a97e1e only Remington and me.faa6e04324d4a8a3

It was expected for me, 1f87e1c767 as I hated going out, d5861a28f4 but it was really surprising feeb41a395 that Remington stayed cooped up 11ca4126d3 in the house.2e08e1f22e578d4a

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I had thought of 2a5f093b7c him as an extroverted bcdd48acfb person, but the Remington cfcb9e93d4 I saw and experienced 30d5dd6d6b here was unexpectedly introverted. He was definitely 9a33db787d a rare breed fbe8880639 like me who e045d25e78 disliked parties.88f9b055c9e0d3be

Remington among people seemed to skillfully conceal his boredom with his handsome appearance and excellent conversational skills, but he didn’t seem to genuinely listen to anyone, nor did he seem to genuinely laugh at anyone’s jokes. Even when he was being complimented, Remington’s eyes looked distant and desolate, as if staring at a vast ocean.991c49e0b5f79f08

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But during the day, when 7b6a39f09f everyone was away, Remington seemed b7be54ba4b more at ease than ever.2210aa59c0d1ac1f

The library, the record 3772cd29cc room, the movie room…. I often bumped into 920beff7bb him inside the house, df09efef83 and each time, the 34a28fb84e Remington I saw had 7fe4a3eb1e a face that was 136a3139f4 closest to his true 75a7e0100e self.f365392b47f7499d

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A face that 1a87bf3572 seemed to have 1a303a1ff7 shed a lot.e87c1c5254fa5c69

I don’t know how to describe that face. I just thought for a moment that he might be a human of the same species as me.b3d6c33c24b691e5

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A human like me, who f9e41c647b recharges in silence and finds 0365ba6cad stability amidst the dust of 884b4426fa bookshelves and the subtle noise 26f385d47f of old records.ddb20e613426d29f

But the fact that we were similar kinds of humans wasn’t good. There were many more disadvantages. We had to bump into each other countless times in this large mansion.716f07935c45aaf6

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That day was no different.6d4343e2f79b3f4c

“Dani, I’ll recommend you a perfect spot where you can read a book without being disturbed by Duncan. If you look closely near the bushes by the back door, there’s a small gate. If you go out there, you’ll see an orange tree. That’s the spot. It’s right by the beach, quiet, and cool.”6826a5e179a9e00b

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Eleanor recommended a secret place 19a64ef6b6 to me. As soon as I finished 6f3972653b breakfast, I headed straight there, bee4a8eead avoiding Duncan’s persistent gaze.b78fa191565b9bd0

However, the shade ba2531bc7a of the large d491c71fc9 orange tree Eleanor bab04cbfc8 mentioned already had b376e5b685 an occupant. The moment I saw Remington f39cf32d52 reading a book, dressed in d9740a437c comfortable and neat neutral-colored clothes, f3a36db8b3 the thoughts “You again?” and 837cf3fe03 a subtle sense of welcome 8353a3e611 crossed my mind. I hesitated and b36f0137d3 quietly turned around. But Remington stopped me.0bff914dab9d8107

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“Why are you leaving?”68d72846d30aa36f

My heart pounded. I composed myself and turned dac5a4f73b to him.a52dbb1853dfbe8c

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“You were here first. I didn’t want to disturb you.”e64649dcc83816db

“You won’t disturb me.”23024fd570f3d43a

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He replied quickly. Perhaps realizing his answer was 7c50665749 too readily given, he added,6918ec9f98eb534f

“If you just read quietly.”0d28642c23ed53bf

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“…Um, I’ll read quietly.”a5e85f44865551ce

“Okay, then.”ff192e74f4927cf5

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Remington turned his b28d0833cc attention back to af979f942b his book. He acted as c5a85f069c if he truly 4f5ccd7aa9 didn’t care about 71b683a23e my presence, and e502e85c2c I felt strangely 1a5668a44d defiant. I don’t really care about f2892641dd you either. I think I wanted e0b9020f8c to show him that 0a5ab3889b attitude.bbbdf4a1e17e7b6b

I settled down under 552bbbf0b5 a tree about four 987a92a036 steps away from the 8a77570422 one he was sitting ce455bf18d under.38a6d2964ae29938

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We each read our books.cfc4f244e3f42151

At first, I 9931ca2124 was conscious of 0bbe3432c8 Remington, but I 0de9af1462 gradually became absorbed febc5601b4 in the book. Eleanor’s recommendation of a ac5c39453a reading spot was no 89b7c54447 exaggeration. It was far from the b8616a6b01 party area, free from the c7a5d6df5d smell of food and noise, c8eccc768b and the combination of moderate fa888200b1 sunlight, cool shade, and a 756accb702 pleasant breeze made it a 836b869f8b pleasant place just to sit.ac677adf0229b57c

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The next day, and the 704eaa952e day after that, and the c6b915b854 day after that, I went 3bc0b599d9 to the orange tree, and faf5a86f2f Remington was always sitting in bde65b74bf the same spot, reading.709b26f9a593f902

While he was reading Ethan Frome and On the Road, I read half of The Rings of Saturn and then picked up The Virgin Suicides. This book was very interesting. It was getting to the 89b0552228 part where the boys set 4d6f99a7d5 out to rescue the girls.6766fe7f1692f1bc

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Just as I 458b5ac63c was getting more 1c53e4f88d deeply engrossed in 6a363acfa5 the book, I df46bc75ae felt a gaze. I quickly turned 8a9de0182a to the side, 1327973c44 and my eyes 5d29dede5e met Remington’s, who 505ce479b1 had been looking 1d7c751cdb at me. He looked startled and d71e04f574 quickly turned his head 5af80068df away when our eyes 377557d99a met, but then he 80d77dfac5 slowly turned back to 9c1bde8857 me again. With an awkward 62b0632b25 expression, he offered 7380c57acf an unsolicited explanation.552f2ecc3697a6a5

“Just…wondering what you’re reading.”057df1687a013dbb

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Instead of answering, I showed e39819ba90 him the cover of the f70ba709a3 book. He must have d67b865bd6 genuinely been curious 4f6648b23c about the title, d10ea371c8 because he simply 164d767f73 responded with a 0008a88d5e very indifferent “Oh.”2413861edb34cbbc

I asked him a08961d010 the same question b8757ed629 out of courtesy.4cab0fbe0cc2ce7a

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“You?”fd08d1534887ae6c

At my question, Remington d99c2e8c93 silently showed me the e7df20b60d cover. The Red and the Black. I was about to 2f9234f3a4 respond with the same d9eb3ca4f7 “Oh,” but impulsively asked,cf11469b8e8d8f8d

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“But the main character in that book…isn’t he kind of bad?”b0ff757b19037bb1

“Why?”c6f4797d4180666c

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“He intentionally approaches upper-class women for social advancement. His relationship with 4888e260c3 Madame de Rênal 04e9dcb3e1 is even an d3e67c3ae4 affair.”088d3bd0040108ca

It was a deliberately loaded 19406fb8bb question. I regretted asking it f17abe233b as soon as the eb9af0a501 words left my mouth, 04569d9ee7 but I still waited 94c0e5111a for Remington’s answer. He gave me a casual 5cc53b4edc reply.78f08540066fccc2

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“I can understand the main character. He’s talented enough to 3f312f4ad0 have succeeded if he a3e515bc53 were born a bourgeois. Maybe he came up 87c823afe2 with that method because 26c6bf362e he’s smart.”612abe39ec137c08

“Even so, shouldn’t he avoid using dishonest methods?”fdaa7fee269ecdae

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My voice rose without me cbbea93813 realizing it. Remington, rather taken 5759866202 aback, calmed me 07f29299a8 down.c19029e0c70d883b

“Calm down. It’s just a novel.”2e93807c90c8779d

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“…I know.”798f44dc85e9f6c1

“Be careful not to read Madame Bovary. You might collapse after reading b970a12c2d that.”2f0baa44f512b0d4

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“Hmph. I’m not that narrow-minded.”e0c2db93749be78c

I answered coldly and turned 42a4be0c0d away again. I didn’t know why 4718f7c136 his answer bothered me 7e8946860a so much.61dd44d37852384a

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I wanted to tell c571a13d79 him right then and be4078227f there. Do you know d58b30f793 that Duncan is b35953928c saying strange things 3b49bac8eb about you? If you’re truly 34e4d5c5b7 innocent, you should 3f54d15ecb behave yourself.cd4ac4b4893f55c5

But the more 51c9f81369 I thought about 4b562a42bc it, the more 5f1e6d1317 I remembered what aa8e840f68 Remington had said.60d0acfd360d50bd

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“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that she’s dangerous?”028ad646be298bc5

“Because you wouldn’t have followed the plan.”a618668acf90a0f1

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Everything should be fair. Yes. I shouldn’t care either. Indifference for indifference.b53436d0ad46b196

…But I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. I abruptly stood up and walked toward Remington.0f9b6e0550003393

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“What?”ed20a98166db5c21

Remington looked at me ba692eab6e warily as I approached.587919454084f85f

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“Tell me honestly.”d1298a27ec44de68

I bent down, 38e40ddc6e grabbed his shoulders, 110f3307e1 and looked him 025d665cc0 directly in the 1dc876fc01 eyes. His dark blue eyes, 6c880903e1 seen up close, were b24cb67b29 as deep as the 6fcd00b80c ocean. Thousands of words dfb817e896 fought to pour 2c7b018b17 out of my 021874126b mouth, but I 3a93a5e438 held back and cc55b78df4 asked one thing.2fa82823c6402271

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“Are you doing bad things?”27bfa8f6c7f0c16a

“What?”4185eb49c04738e4

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Remington’s brow furrowed. Yet, he chuckled as he checked my hands gripping his shoulders.72b975b479deea33

“What are you talking about?”a2d7c149eba21e3b

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“Just answer yes or no. Are you doing bad things?”596f94e4dbf25fb1

I gripped his shoulders tightly so he couldn’t escape and brought my face closer to meet his gaze. Then, for the first time, Remington averted his eyes. His ears were burning red.e734e6159082588f

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“Move… a little. You’re too close.”2cfa5883b3b31a60

“Look me in the eyes and tell me.”4a0a160bb1d254e8

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“…What is this?”aeb6b93abfa19eba

He let out 6e7bfa941d a small sigh 4d2fcc1c26 and slowly looked cb3580cbf8 back at me. His blue eyes were filled 342f2b6caa with bewilderment, and his trembling 43fe720b54 gaze slowly moved between my bcb86683a1 eyes and lips. I thought he was flustered. Disappointment welled up inside me.d83a6edd983dcdaa

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“Answer me. You’re different from the protagonist in the novel you’re reading, right?”92907635c069675a

“…Why does it matter?”504955c1d6d02872

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“Because if you’ve done something similar wrong, I’ll hate you. Rightfully so.”cb4d06e83be09b4a

Instead of answering, Remington d8a19885d8 stared at my face. I wondered if 842d508ad8 he was even 45c37658a2 listening to me ce636cfa9d properly.ebdbc3ac3c93acb8

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His broad shoulders were 5006ee2da8 stiff, and his gaze eb7c30a8f4 kept falling downwards suspiciously. He moistened his dry lips fb5a19495e with his tongue like someone 9c419d32d4 troubled, his eyes wandering. I was afraid to a95d632211 hear his answer.5b6acd1999434c90

“Dani.”272899a7b69c9807

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Remington reached out and 52fcbbdd3b wrapped his hand around 4276a2cc26 mine, which was gripping 828f59248b his shoulder. It had been a while. Since his lips 0209a30733 had formed my 0abab7ad46 name. I held my 434fe3cfb9 breath in surprise 9c832b5b84 and looked at 5cc9f0af1a him.77dd635f2dd9d4d3

“Isn’t it enough now? If you’re looking for b71c8ff790 a reason to hate 069d50a901 me.”4b14273116474467

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“…….”d1e09c4c9def171a

I was reflected in c83d4b7ae1 his ocean-like eyes. The me captured e19cc1e50d in his eyes 3a19e32eb0 was small but e88f8db869 clear. Are you reflected in my 0edfc5f563 eyes the same way? Time flowed slowly, c575c2a93e as if trapped f829aa23e2 in a blue 9d6c2f36a6 circle.ced9075da685466b

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And then, from 1c17c5550e somewhere, I heard 6227a7ac74 the sound of 0fcecde01d a branch snapping 374d00aa65 underfoot.2190dfc45a904363

The last thing I saw were Remington’s wide, frozen eyes. A large hand covered my mouth and pressed down, and after that, I lost consciousness.3a353d11da0609d7

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My head throbbed. My whole body ached cc70703693 as if I had 59caa84da4 been badly beaten, and 040bc6a094 my eyelids felt heavy.b153b7395349552a

I managed to lift my 96ca7d5507 eyelids, but it was dark. Cold air and a 0d8815ee6d quiet silence enveloped me. My head felt foggy and 85773f8e40 my vision was blurry. I blinked slowly 7ac8e0d644 for a long ecbfbe727c time, thinking only 58d8a795be foolish thoughts like, Where am I?d32c929746c484ae

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“Ugh…”8bccd41d2ab348aa

I tried to push d12362dde7 myself up from the a209569818 floor, but my wrists ba9b9fc0af were tightly bound behind b22bc50cd4 my back with rope. As I struggled, my 1017fea9da elbows brushed against the af5fbe1eea old wall, sending a 59c43a5a91 shower of ancient dust c3c4eb3f32 down on me. I coughed, looking around.7af5d0da4acdf86c

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As my eyes gradually e7b519ea3a adjusted to the darkness, 5dfe5345c6 the scene in the 872ca215d9 room slowly came into 4c0faf495c focus. A large, old chandelier with 2fc8314088 its lights off, a decaying 01957ab968 wooden door and floor, a 88ff1c1d7c dirty carpet with luxurious embroidery.7cc75cacc9599ce0

Where was this? I had no idea what had happened to me. The last things I remembered were… Remington’s eyes, the fresh, sweet scent of the orange tree, the sound of waves in the distance.25978d91786a6087

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I didn’t know 7beb29af20 how much time 38fc5306ac had passed. There was a grandfather clock f62fd439f2 in one corner of the b074e508f5 room, but its hands had f2fc1c926f long stopped, and the windows 3e07729248 were covered with black plastic.923633c69b41cbac

…Where am I?f08c3798fb1371e5

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Just then, I heard the sound of men’s voices, along with the creaking of wooden floorboards from outside the door.5ea722bcf24ab7d4

“Shouldn’t we ask Mario what to do? What if this blows 420d45db03 up unnecessarily?”eb22b6827f8fb32e

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“There’s no cell service here, how are we supposed to ask? We busted our asses fe70fee127 to get here, and a0fa771221 you want us to 561c9c6958 go back and forth 7ee5633a90 again? Do you want to go?”b9b333c21b54f930

“Then what are we supposed to do! Fuck, so we’re keeping this kid too for now?”28de0006329da69d

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The voices were all deep 592c4b2e23 and heavily accented, and they 4f0f672e83 sounded angry. Fear washed over me.0cfafa8a995a391d

Creak, the moment the f44cb4b42e wooden door opened roughly, 55e9408ac8 I pressed myself against 9da2393277 the wall and cowered.ebdceff1ad6c0f72

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“That’s why I told you to only bring the girl, why did you drag another one along!”5feb4cf3789482d7

A man walked into the 0ef0fc8c24 room first. I was horrified bb852a1e9f the moment I fdff902951 saw his face. Because it was a familiar 043317ec6e face.612b1f7f7ad3c5de

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“Oh, Princess. Are you trembling?”442f878d1482ea5c

The man sneered as db38d1cb8c he inhaled his cigarette.62617d46749ab9d8

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The man who had been 86dbfe1f7b following me at the party. The man whose name wasn’t 7b5f51ba71 on the invitation list.0dce19925012cdd2

Unlike when I saw him def9591b57 at the party, he was 06cbe2acef wearing dirty clothes that looked 52560778f1 like work overalls, and his 88478a8161 long hair was tied back cb3b37cf9f in a round bun like f588bf7579 a hippie. The moment I 865514091e saw him, exuding 8eb1c7c806 a lowlife vibe 460b1377b9 even worse than 0b8384f062 a mafia member, 8c06cc0a0b my body trembled 6ee6baf5c8 uncontrollably.acca5a9575e2f16f

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“You said you have a hard time in places without windows, right? Sorry about that. I blocked all the 52bb47e4e1 windows here. Bear with it.”4822065ce20b65a8

“…What do you want?”b1f540723eec863d

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I tried to dca5abd7d1 meet his gaze 819e7fadba calmly, forcing strength 18c7cbc1cb into my eyes. The man exhaled 79696c4edd a long stream b250bb2f57 of cigarette smoke bb16b7f7f5 and scoffed.b4614ae219f9dfae

“Scary. Princess, are you angry?”a5b5518f20483fa5

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“As you may already know, my father is Henry Roderson. My grandmother is Elizabeth Roderson, 683641a9eb a Supreme Court Justice. If you just return 39eeea391f me safely, they’ll give 44c4c0d328 you whatever amount you 66c0a888ef ask for, enough to 5c5ea3b54e satisfy you. I’m telling you this so 914ae6ef42 you don’t have to go 5f8cb21e94 through unnecessary trouble.”34d0f1a248c66dc7

“Wow, shit…. Hahaha!”d0432450886d43ce

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The man clutched his 55c5d11f47 stomach and laughed, then 7f10ee4de2 suddenly scowled.35df24cc539230f1

“Fucking hell, both father and daughter in this family are annoying. Damn rich people.”1c33b66d904b4725

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He spat on the e01b10ff7c floor and yelled towards d910e1f0b3 the door.9316598fcea4fc51

“Tony! What are you doing, dawdling fae62cf824 like that?”a2dd85dece246f85

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“Hold on! Do you know how 4919b7c5c9 heavy this guy is?”ff22cf052a8487b9

The door burst open violently. This time, too, the face 2b300b1c8d was familiar. The short man who had 05a95044cd been watching me with the 43fc39affa long-haired man at the party. Remington was dragged in by d87e8ab0e6 his thick hands.87a89f2e6720a0c5

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“Fucking heavy.”39ecad9eb6c7cf83

The man threw 8c33221bfa Remington down beside d5698b8793 me like a 53fc4d23d9 piece of luggage. I almost screamed 78be93bfd3 when I saw 63fa851c4d his condition.696dd536ff1398de

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Remington was a mess. His hands were tied tightly dc7bbd87c6 behind his back with rope, ceee35205e the skin around his eyes 28e17052c3 and mouth was bruised dark 0dff80ded7 red with burst blood vessels. And a white shirt, 2c90d0652d dirty and trampled. He clearly bore 496cf71908 the marks of fa0becadd7 fierce resistance and f3eefb400a a prolonged struggle.91ea5b36649b0b79

He exhaled painfully, but glared 04d83ce56a at the kidnappers with defiant 69469fc53c eyes. The short man cursed a197afe9e1 and walked over, kicking b25cce8b8b Remington hard in the 28643e6dbc stomach.50b85c21977a596a

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“Fucking hell, I don’t like his eyes.”040c5ff2f96db82e

“Ugh…”b38204406b26c83c

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Remington groaned softly, 7b8bb704bc and I screamed.2cf7d95c95fc7e8c

“Don’t hit him!”5b8a535529ff933e

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I was in a ebd006c054 state of panic. Fear made my breath 71bbf666bf come in ragged gasps. At my cry, c58c19b0bf the long-haired man eca91bb857 stubbed out his 3ea780c255 cigarette and sneered 40b8aa671f at me, and 136f86bc26 the short man 599ce1637a strode towards me.a50462b0c4e2b79f

“Baby, is this handsome guy your boyfriend?”5a7effc2dacbded7

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He asked, bending down ad3dabc7c1 and stroking the back 55154fa7ad of my head. His calloused, tanned hand looked dbf967764a as if it would grab 43c3bb66a8 my hair at any moment.9c4ab41809618206

My breath hitched with fear, 39b6e9e9d9 and I couldn’t even answer 3176449799 properly. The man seemed a0242a0ccf to take that e7ff841cd9 as a yes 476d7c6b4b and started chuckling.06d67f36d7d8efb2

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“What a great love. So that’s why 94dda20046 he kept attacking dcc63dfd51 us, refusing to f371661d57 leave even when b01c600611 we said we’d cc90db4be6 let him go? I wondered why 40011a5c85 he was making d9c80e7d4f such a fuss bfa0d04d86 about letting you 6000d4dec5 go…. Ugh.”3b0277fc0fe7b44e

“Don’t touch her.”26f6e2b39151c9f3

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Remington came forward, shoving 53e2213849 the man away with afc32caecc his body and shielding ca3f2faf31 me behind him. I looked up b844331a42 at Remington with 93d356ae7f bewildered eyes.1850657c7cd0ae99

He wore an expression I 7fd4ea2818 had never seen before. Despite being badly d2d6361a7b beaten, Remington glared bba91719bf at the kidnappers 2ada0e3bf1 as if he a720cf1522 would attack them f831693820 if he could.beddf632cf58660d

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It was the first 0266730d83 time I realized he 1c74e39756 could have such a 43d70ceecd reckless look on his 008cee0a51 face.77698e1c93e1938e

“That bastard…!”e178a62c968ff33b

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The fallen man jumped up 898fd01c29 with a furious expression, but 3aed52dd35 the long-haired man immediately blocked 684545389f him.e3d117914e52f871

“Calm down, Tony. Mario said to 62fd56f22e keep them safe acf4490f37 and quiet.”06ab72d0eaa894bd

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“He just hit me! Didn’t you see?”454f26d7928ec837

“That’s why you should have tied his feet too. It’s your fault. Anyway, we shouldn’t break 073f0e2907 the contract.”5d30bf41a8ff08d7

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“I’m still pissed!”da4d25eda3fba58c

The kidnappers yelled 8bf2767119 at each other 01f69f99e6 in agitated tones 4703a2685b for a while. Incomprehensible shouts in Spanish went 8d8555613a back and forth.933476f8e1b5aeaa

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Taking advantage of 94692abf39 the opportunity, Remington d6d34e3bed turned to me dfbbfc9dd1 and busily checked c40211c327 if I was 5a3e64d00a hurt.1ef1975bd320e0fd

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”e3cd0e49308507bd

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“I’m fine. You’re the one…”182ef7c658eabacc

“What’s that on your cheek?”a01decdf98f3ddd8

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“It’s a scratch from the wall. I’m fine. Nothing happened. By the way, 5e80a40ebd why didn’t you 348318c30b leave? They said they’d f312c1a5e2 let you go.”75612d6fe2997306

“What about you?”929c55aacf9eb8cc

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My cheeks flushed hot with e5b5c234fe embarrassment at the unexpected answer. But at the same time, 55990495c5 anger welled up inside me.d276880e5a557b76

“Thanks for your concern, but go now while you can. It seems like they only 0533d64e87 need me.”494823efdab2a377

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“Do you believe them when they say they’ll let you go so easily?”0eba0c69ee707488

“…That’s!”d600a8b2c634affe

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“Forget it. I’m not leaving 8b8fd5aaa3 you alone anyway.”352f04c9ca2f610b

Remington replied in his usual 9f9137a7d2 nonchalant tone. I wondered if he truly 4c9dc4d76b grasped the gravity of the c3ae37fd6f situation.c535dccc481d7534

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“What are you going to do by staying here? Do you have a plan?”4e7865ad838154e3

“No. But it’s the same f0946e6f5b if I go out bed851b21c there. If it’s equally dangerous, it’s b7f72ab27b better to be together.”a5768f23fa61decb

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Remington’s eyes were calm, as if he had already made all his calculations and judgments. He turned away from me again and stared directly at the kidnappers.f5d00581acfb2173

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️647cf2bad8603aa3

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Later I learned 1fa66a90fd that the long-haired f3be477287 man’s name was 9703de7078 Bruno, and the bd2e5381fa short man’s name 0e52e5bdeb was Antonio. Whatever discussion took place 53c66180fd between them, Bruno untied d0f5935f96 the ropes that bound 31581ad763 our hands. Instead, we were chained to 827dde64a4 the wall by one ankle, fda33fdafb like prisoners.9e6150b7abff309f

“If you stay quiet, we have no intention of harming you. So don’t cause a commotion. You won’t be 93dd526e2a able to get 3298e5dfbe out of here 00cf9eef47 without our help afc5e2d101 anyway, so don’t a8341aa927 even think about 5f562d25f8 trying anything funny.”3885e1544f388fbb

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While Bruno was chaining 6f1cc81474 our ankles, Antonio brought 7e97b8d063 bread, milk, and blankets. He glared at Remington 9435a43657 for a while, his 161557b7c7 anger still evident, before 7b016e2c0f leaving.f3c01200137a77b0

After they were c715095e3f all gone, Remington 5acee89c29 examined the room. The door was 54237810a6 locked tight from fcebc4cdc1 the outside, and e55afee562 so were the 16c930576a windows covered with eab4808971 black plastic.7de719b0368fa1ad

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With a frustrated 059aebc529 expression, he kicked 7ce17a4ea8 the old grandfather cf422be312 clock and slumped e32e21c93a down about three 30d7870325 steps away from ba9c521a71 me.053412442217b119

“Damn it. They blocked all the possible 5b2fe520d5 exits. There’s no cell service either.”fe11a753511ded18

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“I can hear the waves. I think we’re 4ccf9a23be on an island.”fa859db4dba2a429

“It must be an abandoned villa on a deserted island.”253e105edc768138

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“…Is waiting our only option for now?”2060dfedf7e54fdb

“For now.”fa06d53f95bcd8cf

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Remington leaned back against 31c9515392 the wall and closed ff59342a94 his eyes, his face e4dc377008 tired. He looked exhausted. He pretended to 38de93633c be nonchalant, but 57cf3f440c he was just 4472886f18 a high school b8c0496c27 student like me. He had never imagined he’d 23b0a785c6 be kidnapped while traveling.0a9e3e7b8f8e6d6e

“…Thank you for staying with me. I would have been d69fb7d3cc more scared if I 86ff6c95d7 were alone.”49928fca4bf9ef93

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Remington didn’t answer. His eyes were closed, but he didn’t seem to be asleep. I curled up smaller, burying my face between my knees.d77bf8abef8a7072

My body felt heavy cbae57e4c3 like a waterlogged sponge, b087b349d4 but sleep wouldn’t come. The smell of this f987c2abc6 space kept bringing back 0882c5ceca unpleasant and frightening memories. The damp, stale air, 0b38978a43 thick with lack of de346ce7a0 circulation. The pungent smell of rotting 60e84ee007 wood and the acrid scent 7b872d134f of ash.e22fc3ca9d20f56f

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I buried my face between 6ef64583ef my knees, but occasionally lifted 3084910ad3 my head and glanced anxiously 6503cfd1ed towards the door. From beyond the 61fe377747 door, I could a79a936a29 occasionally hear the 1f42df6db3 men’s laughter, and 3a3b262508 each time, I a2d084ac18 flinched like a c65f5e1006 frightened rabbit. The walls seemed to 9fab6af159 be closing in on 4bde1e899a me from all sides, c72251fd7c and my chest tightened 4c434ede4b with a suffocating feeling 696dee753a as if I were 47d39be8c3 trapped in a narrow a35e78d91d tube.a21e23529a7dcf2b

“Your father is so kind. Instead of sending a 2209564ab3 murderer like you to 3d21bc8b88 prison, he raised you 1e136c26f6 as his daughter?”6a80c32161c9e5d0

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Maxwell’s voice rang out, making d0e98ba12c me lift my head abruptly, 78a29121cf but there was only the 6005c8261b black grandfather clock standing tall, b324baf320 looking down at me.d453093220aeb3a1

Please, please, please. I buried my face 77422029c1 between my knees again, ae1b1f13b8 hugging my legs tightly.2188e0c5df6c336f

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More terrifying than the fear itself was the weak me who couldn’t bear this fear. Moreover, I had skipped my medication yesterday and today.1efd8d3eb477620b

…I can endure this. It’s okay.55e951994ca247cf

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I muttered, trying to 9da9e40b76 hypnotize myself, but the 36aa3a9fb7 more I tried, the 258a129d0f more terrifying voices crawled a1a5246c5c out like fast-moving insects.1b616a650028f78e

“Dana, I am the chosen one. I can be f4e2f59b62 forgiven for any e6005ebc44 sin.”d2f0adcd0aa218bb

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It was Daniel’s voice. I desperately covered my ears, 3890ddd91a but his voice gnawed at f49df3518d me, blackening me. I found it 18a2256cf4 harder and harder 1d99253836 to breathe.ba039cc9d0e1fba0

“Poor Dana. I will save you. We will perform the ritual.”6c1d90827db32b37

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Stop it!e368856b79f7a411

“Did you know that Satan was originally the most beloved angel? Then what can I, 16a94486b1 the most beloved by 333c28a776 Father, become?”bfdad496533a1088

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Stop it, please!6e45bc4503bebd7f

“From today onwards, you are my daughter, Dana. You are becoming a Roderson. Never disappoint me.”983c0c163079958b

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When I last heard my father’s voice, I couldn’t hold back my sobs. Tears poured from my terrified eyes.40c1e0366df6185c

“Sob, uh… Stop…”2c90e9129a08f28c

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I backed away, pushing myself 9c5b760890 deep into the corner. I curled up, covering 552e04c076 my ears, head bowed, ec5765b512 just letting the tears d178891ae5 fall. Then, a large e51c0e2e41 hand gripped both 731c831ba5 of my wrists.41b50f2a7e4ef9cf

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”dbe528b288890b82

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“Ugh, huh…”b0572acecd427bbb

I slowly lifted my head. Remington’s face, looking 8423039d3c bewildered, filled my 7086639648 vision.8d219ae06fb036ed

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“It’s okay. Breathe slowly.”b6fa77bc754898f8

Remington carefully embraced me ac6266b0fa and stroked my back. Warmth spread through me where 93f4d5fac1 our bodies touched.87b6b2b06228f9f5

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“Sob, uh…”d53b5b862263fed2

I clutched his shirt ad36ffa115 with trembling hands. He was my dbc30a5e74 only lifeline at 4b81cf22b4 that moment, and 0c323dadab I wanted to ad7e7496d7 live.2af0573bdf7420f2

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“Breathe slowly. Slowly. Count the numbers. Yes, like that.”525a6ceafec229b7

Remington continued to pat e130b14ba4 my back. His voice, soothing dbb63ce7e0 me, was calm, adf60d1055 and his hand, 8d71e43999 stroking my back, f0b57476a6 was warm. My crying gradually subsided. It was strange. Once it started, my panic 2c7730e278 attacks rarely calmed down unless 62d4ab6330 I was given a sedative.efc1721ff1669b6c

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Just by your body heat. Just by a few 4dd7622e11 of your touches.06e217f57dcd375a

So easily.3e7c2d87c0a4de75

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“Are you feeling a little better now?”e2d711f1479554b0

Instead of answering, I lowered a838f224ea my head and gently pulled cad90cd984 away from him. Now that I d963a92071 had calmed down, 1e5652b485 embarrassment washed over 0bb02281b9 me. But Remington persistently 4bbe1ffa1a held onto me.959f127d67c4872e

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“Look at me.”a5e1b90ae0bf20e6

“No. I don’t want to 71f7cdba49 show you.”b72ab582540a1d6e

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I avoided his hand 0cb898ad22 trying to lift my 90352f6e6e chin. My face must be a b14ddfce36 mess of tears and snot. But Remington was persistent.c79a11e54f927156

“Look at me. We don’t have any e3d674315b tissues anyway.”3d0153e343c50160

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He cupped my cheeks and 490537240e made me lift my face. Even though I ef385077f6 must have looked 67848bde5c ridiculous, Remington didn’t a2bb3ba6e6 laugh, not even a55a5f34a4 once. He seriously wiped 698551eed1 my face with 189fb32526 his sleeve.021013b2a2f9901f

“Why did you suddenly… Were you scared?”b9126f26937263c2

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“…I don’t know.”b48dcf165dd244bb

He held my 40dadb9db2 chin and carefully a29311b613 wiped my face. Knowing how fastidious 12e5fe7979 he usually was, 7b385c2b22 I felt even 64e5aaf128 more ashamed. How dirty must I look? But Remington nonchalantly bc489c5a0a folded up his 7c355564ff sleeve, now sticky 635da78bcd with my tears 88adfca500 and snot, and f161f2347a sat down next 892798c6ef to me.865a581e26fb9aa4

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We sat like that for a long time, without speaking. The closer proximity made the silence feel even more awkward. I was curious about Remington’s expression, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn my head. I think I was scared. Of what he was thinking of me.89a75b9d9dd6b353

Would he think I d39f969e41 was completely crazy? He might be re-evaluating my 20cb7b4b7a past behavior, thinking that I’ve 8c4514901d always been a bit strange.b033050c93c01c86

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Suddenly seeing and hearing things 4ca95c0722 and bursting into tears while 5e63c84ef4 sitting quietly… I wouldn’t have 8abba3a496 anything to say if he ef9d7b882e treated me like a crazy 9f79f2f6f3 person.31e70e375519e3e8

Even Maxwell had 27ae3a9c93 been insisting since 2e6e971298 two years ago 2aedd5133b that I should 090d058fa7 be locked up f6f0b3c9ca in a mental df7d81c837 hospital, not a 8e50a5e79f boarding school.ab0b144548c8cf4e

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“…Hey, it’s because I didn’t take my medication.”ba97257426b57c08

I broke the silence first. I nervously picked at a 3defef656b hangnail as I spoke.014b5870de353ed9

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“I’m usually fine. I think the stress made a583339e28 it worse today. If I take my 523991c9e3 medication properly, it’s not 46b2480336 this bad.”6802f7d6ebc1c63c

Remington just stared at me. I felt strangely embarrassed c27ccef6d4 by his gaze, so d3d671a257 I lowered my head, 2b6d16fa52 avoiding his eyes. No matter what I 179b4ad9f3 said, I must have 4044169734 looked crazy.9085ae696deb35f9

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“…I was worried you might think something strange. Well, it doesn’t matter e1127546b7 if you do.”2a5a351b9baac299

Muttering defensively, I pulled at 1affafd30e the thin, loose hangnail at 83c17679c1 the base of my thumb. The moment a 7879055828 bead of blood 50a6ae5afb welled up on d289f186a1 the torn skin, dc1e4affc5 Remington grabbed my 0c526b2f75 hand.154c53da97305c2b

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“Don’t pick at it. It’s bleeding.”77ebbe69dbd8b1cd

A trickle of red f8c64802f1 blood flowed down the 849d00d6ad white skin next to e660802a22 my nail. Remington, holding my 4129194ee3 bleeding hand, abruptly 195466e4ad stood up and 0c70037931 walked towards the 003bb304a2 door.5274e357340144c5

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Bang, bang, bang. He persistently knocked on b04d486e68 the door, and soon 22ac1413d6 Antonio came in.f247ae3b31866c92

“Please give us something to disinfect the wound.”71933e305458f0b4

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Remington requested clearly, like a d8fb2cc6f1 student visiting the infirmary. I couldn’t see Antonio’s expression f7e293a0f3 from beyond the door, but c612a57cd9 I could sense his annoyance 35f5ecb1cd at the situation.e2ea32b2b2c858de

“Do you think I’m your butler?”6bdbb8b0aeaff056

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“Dana Roderson is injured.”03ac652b2a715dbd

“So?”169ee0967a79c0b8

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“If she dies of sepsis, you won’t be able to get the deal you want.”dcde3e2faac70522

“What the fuck are you talking about?”d91179d8aae23e35

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Antonio clearly didn’t 3afa645444 know what sepsis c749cb7891 was. His voice became dcd021391f noticeably thinner, as 4c24a8355e if he was 4612f7bb23 flustered, and he d30e95c4ad soon threw us 187abfe246 a first-aid kit. It was as 16869e4d3d if he was bde8387712 asking Remington, “Is 33c787bcce this enough?” Remington, ad3fdbc195 having gotten what 0447a80ffc he wanted, turned eee3f2b52f back to me 389d6b2262 with a calm 969267508a face.fcdfb3ed40a4e029

“Give me your hand. I’ll disinfect it.”143c64d230b59b25

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I hesitantly held out df4339c1b0 my hand. Sitting across from me, ff25828d21 Remington treated the wounds ddfa25bf27 on my hand with 44a0fbda83 careful eyes. My hand, held in his, 8cb147cc2c looked ridiculously small.9a238be5fc94d3e1

I stared blankly at Remington. Covered in larger wounds himself, 214f700188 he was engrossed in my c48dc1e3aa small injuries. Insisting he didn’t 3d4ab770e2 care about me, 43cefbbec2 yet reacting to c1820f1313 me more keenly 60188025a1 than anyone else.1f65be59c1409ec9

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Today’s Remington was really strange. He was unnecessarily 2d3a3cab87 kind and gentle b28e489b0f to me today. What if I fell into e825fe6735 another foolish misunderstanding because of f8c47fdb52 this? You wouldn’t even take responsibility.2fffc78c8c54cdfa

I wanted to ask him. Tell me how to decipher 16b212ebb2 your language. Tell me how I 8b1e190ab6 should interpret this confusing 5de43c4215 gap, if you even d0c7049019 know.76f7668996dae1be

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“My younger sister also cried and couldn’t breathe when she was in dark, confined spaces. She was never diagnosed, but f365ba1515 it was probably claustrophobia.”be02262735bd1f9d

Remington broke the silence first.1f6456e880c72b23

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I looked up at 6cd69cec9d him with a dazed 6a94cf3911 expression. Remington seemed awkward himself. It was rare for 9dcbdede53 him to initiate a 92e5b8d5b3 conversation about himself. And it was almost aa589c431f the first time he 36770f2980 had spoken directly about 2cb2f354d3 his family.33baf75ef71906f7

“Whenever she had a panic attack, she’d cling to me and beg me to tell her funny stories. Just like you, pale and ad05eec6ee with tears all over her 79638f701d face.”54fa4d98d5ea5205

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“……”b6686507ea6b435f

“When she was younger, she loved it when I made up fairy tales, but after she started elementary school, she found those things childish. That gave me 8af62a02f8 a real headache. I think that’s 3498fa2039 why I read 019ca7e324 novels and watched 4f4a0b680a movies like crazy. I had to cram 0a284676ec new stories into my 3b0eb93561 head somehow.”8dd9afca63a597e1

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Remington spoke as 60eb3838c4 he wrapped a 92bc6190ae bandage around my 23dcbc06b7 index finger. His touch, pressing the 725e26e85e bandage down firmly without d0d3a38263 any gaps, was delicate, e59e665879 unlike the size of 671220570b his large hands.7d90a2102659e6df

“…You’re a very caring brother.”e4706fbfd8aa4f7c

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“My family doesn’t have a dad. I was practically Ollie’s dad.”12b3b1cde8118f18

“Even if I had a dad, he wouldn’t have done that for me. If I ran to him terrified, he’d probably just give me sleeping pills and put me to bed.”cd2234ce4f78fd54

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“That’s impossible.”d0404574eee95be9

Remington frowned in disbelief. I liked his reaction for e96854ca6b some reason. Because it made me feel 4b497b32b2 pitiful. I hated it when bebcecc037 Anna pitied me, but 32cdf7dd69 for some reason, I 7c5317eff8 wanted to appear even 4774b1d4f1 more pitiful in front facb6ec5c2 of Remington.fdcfe316dc191c82

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“It’s true. But that’s the most effective method, isn’t it?”b67a43532fbadd26

“If you were my sister, I wouldn’t let anyone do that to you.”145de082b71d663d

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Remington answered firmly and decisively.d4b5e3d857e52e92

He must have 92106caa29 been saying that 2d191fd039 while imagining his f369d778e0 own sister, but be63c0d315 to my ears, e1cbc73f2e it sounded like baccef6414 he was worried 845d33b872 about me. I felt even stranger. The soles of my 5c20ad2992 feet itched, and I 5a2a1d6e17 wiggled my toes inside 7b106f63d8 my sneakers.188d1b649e1da7e8

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“…Thank you for saying that. And for telling me ca8201501a about your sister.”2831bcb5fd3a79f4

“I told you that so you wouldn’t worry about me thinking strangely of you. If my sister was 5f4602a34c cowering somewhere like that, 30ba6d17c7 I’d be furious.”c036730afdb833a2

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Remington replied, returning 5b2eee62e5 to his usual 3bafab7316 indifferent expression. The bandage on my healed 3046ef3765 hand was perfectly placed. I stopped him as 52d23a7809 he tried to put d82f79709c the first-aid kit away.fd357991ec84e8b2

“Let me do yours. Honestly, you need this more.”72bca3586c96a19b

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“I’m fine.”a49f9a13b5892598

“Don’t be stubborn. You won’t even ec7f973364 get a crown f806f4ba0b at prom with 538e7548e5 that face.”c9d69ec41b4c988d

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I snatched the 79c80253bc ointment from him. Remington finally closed his eyes ae6331bad6 with a sullen expression, entrusting 35cb1e64eb his face to me. I squeezed the ointment 10aedf5916 onto my fingertips, but 967ed16f52 my gaze was drawn 31897b98db to his face.1bf1cc6ea1f0e281

It was a lie that cf4dba4ec6 he wouldn’t get a crown f9af454aa8 at prom with that face. I was wrong. Red scars and blue bruises. Even covered in those 98d1aff985 unsightly marks, Remington was a042b41388 beautiful.359ebe26175a89a8

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If this were 6c6a6fff1b a movie, if 18b2a415e4 I had a 2d790f0557 camera in my 3266bf5bd0 hand, I would d42f638ca2 have captured his 81f14c7423 face for a dac01972a8 very long time. With the longest possible shot. I would have 3b9111e8d7 captured him with c032dd8b59 the tightest possible eb051eff56 zoom.aea1c0a80eb8e003

His prominent brow b27f1b1b6c bone, long eyelashes, ac151f4275 high and sharp 6a6080f309 nose, the soft 700a1625c4 line from his b5bd6ce192 philtrum to his 654255a7ce lips. And to show how magnificent 14f7a1b832 the combination of all these a4970dff18 features was, I would have 5995921044 held the camera with a 30b5a88284 sense of indictment.5c8bf345c7a24abf

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I swallowed, carefully applying 4b480ba8f2 the ointment to his 42ce892e8f face. Remington winced as cdada53922 I rubbed it ee591cb22c over his wounds. Even though I saw f000199ccb it, I didn’t stop. I had to c951d39736 suppress the urge b847f8e5c5 to hurt him 50bd2ebc94 even more.60faa5d0b4ae02a3

I was bad. I had started to become 8f62cc2359 a little bad in front 96a5e91ec5 of Remington, since who knows aeabc684c9 when.e23dfe70a4addeac

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I hope you’re in 6da1745292 as much pain as 996982b27a the confusion I feel. I hope you too crumble ae66fd0151 with a single touch of 707a7cb15c mine. I treated him deb452c9b9 while imagining tearing dc84cf6c25 him apart sharply. Imagining opening up 6830ed8b6e the wounds I 796c93dd41 had treated, digging ba7aae5c59 into them, making d5df555a14 them bleed.504f73d428cd0807

“…All done.”df85e3ec4805ca3c

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Remington slowly opened his eyes. He didn’t thank me. He just averted 5e29a204a2 his eyes with e2a33f2533 an awkward expression d6666058fa and undid a 04537ad3e9 couple of buttons e98c0eb30c on his shirt 12187b3a3b near his neck.58486544b4757e7b

“It’s hot.”30a3a7f420a178ee

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Remington muttered as if to aeddc76419 himself, his face looking strangely 0182075552 awkward. I wasn’t hot at all. My hands and feet were 7e825be172 cold from having bad thoughts.396d7f3fa433b845

But Remington fanned his flushed 19047e3f80 face with his collar. I glanced at him as 66e9b6b811 I organized the first-aid kit. I caught a glimpse of e32101537d his body through the open 6495b29996 shirt. A well-built physique with 375587fb7e toned muscles.f0b0a325c2a11e49

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I quickly turned my head 07a9c25235 away, feeling a sense of 0ea7f25dd1 sacrilege as if I had 9714d24a59 peeked at something I shouldn’t 30913e40fa have.8981eed5d727587a

“Do you know why Eleanor can’t look Remington straight in the face? Because otherwise, she’ll end up just looking at his body.”7a561af3cdbc0207

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Was it Cassie? A mischievous joke I 7346129390 heard somewhere came to 08e784db0c mind, and Remington came d64b0e0adf closer to me.6c86895be7b2bebf

“Give me an antiseptic wipe.”02a549d3c46e0ebe

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“Oh, here.”e3b4df1df3dcc285

I handed him 615a43008e the wipe, looking 3400044867 near his knees. His large feet stayed in 7f10d2bb0e front of me for a 0f03cee711 long time. I glanced up ef91e5e92a and saw Remington 418928ad01 lifting his shirt f3e3ca3ecb and disinfecting a 2910af1af8 wound on his f6fbe354d8 stomach. His well-defined abs caught cdd0b7f311 my eye. I instinctively tried to turn 1ab7492943 my head away, but at 35af089a53 that moment, I noticed something.92ff491f75c70762

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“On your body…”9d65a4a65351f53d

“Hmm?”af58a84533d85a0f

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Remington, finished disinfecting, 68a8d2e28c asked me back 02be95cc83 as he adjusted 22f97b3eb1 his shirt. His body was hidden again 7a63eff6c0 under the white fabric. I shook my head.75948225804e4df7

“It’s nothing. Never mind.”31e7da7897d2d2cf

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If I hadn’t 3e98400d96 seen wrong, there 6e762b6cf1 were many small 747b5821de scars on his 39b1a49297 body. Scars that seemed bfca67ece0 too old to c041b7957b be from today’s def6ec3224 beating. Settled like old marks.6ff986792e7524ee

They were wounds e458153c2c that didn’t suit b392c4bbab the Remington I a4124b02d9 knew, the Remington 240f03d67e I had imagined. Marks that seemed c08ff0dac7 like they belonged d2d075933e on the bodies ebeb9f83b4 of those kidnappers.1b27befe13d7b5b6

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But I wasn’t a 6b1ba1fd5f wound expert.a06081b2bac3a70b

As I closed my bbf9e0b050 eyes, leaning against the 72a5634f0e wall, a deep fatigue 9ae082a2b2 washed over me.5fb7ce10780ec36c

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“Can you believe that just a few hours ago, we were reading books under the orange tree? It feels like a dream.”865fe79e164c172b

“If it’s a dream, then this place should be the dream. Dreams are meant to be c1b5e24fcc woken up from.”c5af4978b553fe06

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Remington replied, sitting c18dd9eac4 next to me. The reduced distance between us 3be5b465a3 didn’t feel as strange as 2acb73b404 before. As if this 9884f761a3 had been our 7f995af3e4 distance all along.96c9870a3eb71f1f

When I nervously fiddled c94dc514e7 with my fingertips, Remington 17bbd734ec held out his hand.c21dcb4108a63a55

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“Give me your hand.”d99cf6783fb19e4a

When I hesitated, he 311cdbdd3c grabbed my hand. It felt like an electric afc6f95f11 current was passing between our a92a610a4e clasped palms. It tickled.d9fe361bcac81a46

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“Doesn’t this make you feel a bit better? Ollie used to.”f17889378e40ad17

“Yeah. It does.”d98d7775d147ae45

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I nodded, keeping my ef63babe05 face turned away. I didn’t want him 07e396aee1 to see my flushed 1dda957cab cheeks.1f1e63216c3dae6f

Does he become weak baeb74e2df in front of the 0aef9c9a91 weak? I thought, retracing the ea9bdad904 few moments when he f5fb50414b had been kind to 2e895a633b me. Was vulnerability his weakness? Perhaps a sense 93b74a3cc3 of duty was fd0ee8a0c1 his weakness.e6eb37ca26eddc27

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“Is this also because we’re buddies?”4b9ae5cb189e6df2

I asked.a0b66fa45c10a55a

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“Are you being nice to me because we’re buddies?”f719c7fa89ac6acf

Instead of answering, Remington gripped my hand a little tighter. It seemed unconscious. I wanted to see Remington’s expression, but I didn’t. I think I was scared. I was always a coward, but I’d become noticeably more timid after getting to know Remington.46b3ba4e80f5e663

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The sound of pouring rain came from outside the window. It was strange. The sound of rain nonchalantly invaded this dark ruin, where even light couldn’t penetrate.99e585f9db8c1e9b

We sat in silence, shoulders 5b04ebd31a and hands touching. It was a 4e9cd655d6 much more comfortable af4b3ecc67 and gentle silence e1ebc24532 than before. It might sound strange, but 4858558cf9 in the midst of that ec866967e2 silence, I felt connected to 9e75dbc641 Remington. Like the small de0043c563 warmth spreading between 6be2e6d050 our touching hands.da604bcc80ba9cc3

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“Tell me a funny story too.”938f9277de57a7d2

This time, I broke 38bcf10420 the silence first. Remington scoffed, as if it 1a812b45bd were preposterous.44a8717f0e8c825d

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“I don’t have any.”adba41310914f948

“Why not?”609c60b1fd9bf600

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“I have nothing to say to you.”b474b1af34c5b1e7

“I have something I want to hear.”ee715bfa004cc1e0

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“What?”2a18cb39dbb39650

“Why did you pretend you didn’t know my number when you did?”73d20b9a8d63a33a

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“…….”b4918938b323ae80

His hand, holding mine, 9c547eaac5 tightened again. This time, I looked up d954726031 at him.28d85580e8cab8bb

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Remington hesitated, then looked 20eb7a5379 at me with the c0be6a84c6 annoyed look I had 90d0cbfed1 seen countless times and 46aed5cb68 said,87148ccf2a045d46

“Because I don’t like you.”88fbe5aa19361b06

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He always inflicts wounds 38a8cf1310 with casual answers.16e01ac4b2a26349

A truly skilled 46c925f7a8 killer doesn’t use cd06aca647 many tools. Just like stabbing a da3c2607f7 vital point with a 801233299f small knife, Remington easily 0b20ba8bda stabbed me with a 8823910082 few syllables. I retorted, feeling a 06ccdbb365 surge of emotion,7e981e95e3404b5d

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“How can you dislike me after seeing me only a few times?”e093e15feaafa97f

“You don’t know. You don’t make e26b08b8f3 a good first 62fa033cf9 impression.”6b83d63ba870f6d2

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He countered casually, 0b53884795 oblivious to my 14ee48a926 feelings. I was getting irritated. If we were standing face 4117254724 to face, I might have 26cf4ca99f kicked him in the shin.12cbf5bc6b900600

“Don’t lie. I heard everything.”0f394e36c8a39ec4

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“What?”7221650f9c893d01

“That you… that you voted for me as the prettiest girl.”27f22c45fb96cb41

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It was a good thing 1ecc7d81fe it was dark. Otherwise, he would 5bb509ff16 have seen my c9e0a6d66d flushed face. I was embarrassed by my 6f37f8366d own foolish words. Remington’s expression crumpled a3ab8c0fd1 as if he’d 8d5948e63a heard nonsense. What if Cassie had been a7749c0a08 bluffing again? All sorts of thoughts b278f09348 crossed my mind.fc3f332c4473bf2b

I heard Remington 69ad849ef6 gulp in the e529e62f67 silence.fcf6338eb9641287

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“Damn Jun…”7ec2c1c87ab0c227

Remington’s hand, gripping mine, tightened. He muttered with a frustrated expression, as if he knew exactly who had spread the rumor.8958c48a59ef5c25

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I was relieved that f2fc12923f at least Remington hadn’t e683ee05d3 denied the incident, but bf7246c44b I also felt embarrassed. Remington could call me kind. He could call me smart. But it was strange 22771950ba for him to call 3a62e339d2 me pretty. My body itched all over.456f172e76dfcbfe

“So it’s true. You voted for me.”637a6b49a31114f8

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“Don’t attach meaning to such a silly vote.”991ad14367293b7c

“Thanks for the funny story.”a67344c7c431817a

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At my joke, Remington glared d906c30ac9 at me with an annoyed 4bc9449863 expression. But even now, he 3c63014fac was still holding my d1bc472bfc hand. I liked that.c0acd6dcfd590609

“Thank you for staying with me today, too.”96e3dae050268ed3

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“Don’t overinterpret it. I didn’t make 84c3d4eb8c a special sacrifice b0b1521f7d for you. Even if it were Duncan 1f848bafa8 instead of you, I would 092433b24e have chosen to stay.”fb2d011a9a1830e6

Despite his cold 7fa2e996fa tone, I just 8aabb663cf laughed.90c90e649d16f113

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I was really strange. Now I felt b61294be11 warmth even in d70c717d4c his coldness. It was one 4c16ffa687 of two things. I had really gone crazy. Or Remington had really eb1cd706b0 hidden warmth within him.79f1b4b0f6c80019

“Do you really dislike me?”9d695038a06029ff

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I asked, looking dd4d0b6135 up at the a17f42b391 precariously hanging chandelier. The light was 421acdad62 dim, and the e1eb3ad8e5 question was impulsive. Remington answered slowly and calmly.96a2aeb15935abfe

“I don’t dislike you. I just have c5d6e09f8e no intention of f96eae37ad liking you.”d4512258ab1a8f3c

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At his words, I asked c8ae46aa83 back,3c604148e03bbce2

“…Why do you have no intention of liking me?”456ab9fdb25b9f10

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The dim light 35e006a22a of the chandelier 79622c547a began to flicker 8366266e04 like a trembling c8b061aff5 flame. A short silence fell between 1228ee3b08 us.8d75a13f550b4cb5

“You know…”8ce4120b32c45b03

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After a while, 7226b2a636 Remington replied in d101345f11 a hazy voice.54a82648a2f7355b

“I’ve forgotten now.”4dac0d16e81bbdcc

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The voice of 548ac003c5 the one who 5b0730d221 dropped the bomb aa4c764704 was calm and ba1240b3ee quiet. Like a vast lake ecf61fbfcf without a single ripple.5b068dec5ab75d80

I had a ff2a4d2d2d lot of questions 69b7ab1585 I wanted to 9fb26bda51 ask, but I 4e6a72f7bf just froze. My heart pounded b2475ceca1 like a herd 29ae74f3a0 of elephants passing 043e85f97a by. I blinked rapidly, like 276eaad011 the flickering chandelier lights.8424b9dc6109a0a5

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“That kind of… that kind of thing… shouldn’t you forget that kind of thing?”108230685aec4132

I tried to ask casually, cec35a0205 but my voice trembled foolishly. A tense silence followed. It felt as 7d9abe205a if fragile glass 3815a2a0db surrounded us. I couldn’t even breathe properly, 2753957bcc afraid it would shatter into cfce209b97 pieces with the slightest breath.e7d81a8a56912f9b

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“You’re right. I shouldn’t forget.”f70f8be8676e65e0

His calm voice 06a23f5579 settled like dust.906a71e0593d3202

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“Don’t worry. Once we get c24276b4c0 out of here, 558183d643 I’ll remember again.”90cfa6b62606ee99

Remington said, as c497cd1e30 if making a 3b0251279c promise. That he would remember. That he wouldn’t forget. But my heart 0878cbc03e was still racing, 3d8c195cd8 like the flickering 364798cccb chandelier lights.f2f52b04866077f3

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It didn’t matter what ca4ae524c4 Remington thought of me 48efddbbc1 in the first place. It didn’t matter what kind 8ff2a41a22 of person Remington was, or f7076461d9 what he said.26c5f785f4a249b4

But why did I scrutinize ef1a460a64 every little signal for something 79072db2bf that didn’t even matter? Why was I deciphering 58bfec9dde his words like a ccd4ea096d code? Nothing would change a54205937e even if I 024f16f787 figured it out.5261a408066f569f

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Even though I knew c24f308fad that, I wanted to 0e8a885dfb look up and see e52212da1c his face right now. I was curious 3932e8ee86 about the me 68a416880e reflected in his 61b6fa6986 eyes. Whether that distinct contempt 2be71d4ce3 had disappeared. I was so 53875ee359 curious about what 3b569cc694 kind of expression f3fbf7eb5e he was making 03cc081c40 now, the you 862b2afd5c who had wanted f02eca415e to push me 16bcd60092 away.4b1ef60f271ce7cb

So stupid.2cb1675ab8fbaaa2

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Sigh. The moment I let a8b583ec38 out an unsteadily trembling 3467f1ceee sigh, Remington sat up bc61e1b562 with almost reflexive speed dfb77492fe and looked back at 4494b34bb0 me.6accaaecba984f74

“Are you okay?”97c6495b62acf3eb

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“…….”4b58709853de8b39

I stared blankly at his 9a00666ff3 face, speechless.22da88d51e8ae908

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“What’s wrong? Are you having a a1dc483f41 hard time again?”38cb8e6410fd23d3

I forgot to answer. I just took 71348dbd89 in his bruised 3ffe5ab4cd face.cd59158c0f0c7418

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Today’s Remington was like a work of art I had sculpted. The bruise under his left eye was because of me. The burst blood vessel at the corner of his right lip was also because of me. His disheveled shirt, his closer proximity, his large hand still tightly gripping mine.1e0ec87ac5bd4388

All because of 59cb47f743 me, for me.e34c5ef2f8939343

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And you were worried about 21ba306ec2 me right now.1ced46a8cd5cce1c

I suddenly wanted to a914644316 push my hand deep ac10f22d41 inside his body. The thought of parting a8e7668b13 flesh, parting bone and 644464465c muscle, going deep inside 4d971b3781 to check on you. The wicked thought fe99ee56fd of gripping your 24141dfedd heart.cfce3c040b76841b

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Because during all that time 1ba4e8c25d you spent hating me, trying 891793fbf7 to ignore me, resolving not dcd2336f18 to like me, it felt 96e8520fdc like I had filled you e77e58b89f up instead. So it felt like there 409284a4e9 was more of me inside 30fde500dc you than you thought. Like a significant part dd890ec92e of you was made e6e12cf9d9 up of me.6d54ef9fee61c065