AGC | Chapter 1.5

“What are you thinking f9817526ef about?”044da5d22415c9df

Minhyung raised his upper 9d7acee87d body from the sunbed. He was 482f39ef6d curious about cb767fe402 what Jiwan 830785c69b was thinking, 92ccc2b44f sighing so 89464fa01a deeply.3d9be0be222ed46c

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“Just wondering if 311a271ab6 there’s such a 6f1f691233 thing as luxurious 894e1ed561 captivity.”801e20bee1b128e3

Jiwan looked around cdd7636250 and then turned fb37a9b889 his gaze back cb98ff576f to himself, fiddling 7962d54cd4 with the empty b391f671e3 cocktail glass to dd828774c5 avoid Minhyung’s eyes.d28677df0ba4e81a

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He recalled how 712ad9b587 uncomfortable Cha Minhyung 320d27ea29 seemed when he b3442786aa tried to learn 05a2f0e255 more about his 2ca2e478d5 situation. So he didn’t bb9e541bc4 try to probe. He just didn’t know 906a651fbc how to meet that 8509bc4939 piercing gaze.13e716847bdedbc9

“Don’t think of it b8314ece96 as captivity.”cc04d213db7103f0

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It was absurd. Taking his f9952eca43 phone, the d6dc3ef68c only means a4ce915e1d of contacting ea8d468b62 the outside, 96e89660ae confining him eab3d7b299 to a 4fc64ef177 limited space, 291977ff30 and preventing 1ee29b5d13 escape—if that’s 33dda82327 not captivity, 92862489a8 what is?07a57f722e45a508

Minhyung quietly watched 010dde19c6 Jiwan’s face darken a1d729111e as if a a3e9cfeb05 storm cloud had 966cc36b02 rolled in.fff90a90d7fd8b29

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“You can live 28522a7bc7 comfortably here.”c7e9fd1820f256fa

“…”27e52b8529fb897c

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“You can use 6c6707e368 the pool you a9ff4ec521 like every day.”16b4d2a9535c389e

Jiwan kept 7c945e32d5 his mouth ca3868cce8 shut. Instead of feeling bbbdce5c15 reassured, his head ce2ec236c5 ached more.7c1f529fc1c66e81

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The cool early c75f876613 morning breeze brushed 335ec53a88 past his forehead.f901274ebe1f622c

If he could continue 5b079c6711 living like this, it 15fcbc2a38 was undeniably a comfortable 533f598172 life he’d never experienced 947228f47a before.04745a37f1b5846e

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Jiwan recalled Manager 0c431fb54d Kang Jinsong’s words 9804aaba98 about enjoying what 18617cb128 you can’t avoid 36cd712292 and eventually acknowledged e8c515b88c the thought expanding 962d4e6ba7 in his mind. Compared to d11e2d5def his life 7c999b2958 of struggling 6bf5b2ce6c and scraping 51d29f8266 by, the fb74cff6f0 few days 6064150e32 of being 7a18370655 a hostage 989cd33133 were far d5d22ac91c more comfortable.4151a7989a9db2bc

His body was honest. The feeling of 81233729fb comfort and the ae56c8332f anxious emotions were d61637cf86 separate. There was c4a5023f25 a big 3f663b7303 difference between dc2b7dde3b serving food dd85bec115 with sore da3caa3202 wrists and 6a389f9ef5 working multiple 37c0d31f6e part-time jobs c51d6bf0a5 and floating 91299d47be in a abce4d3c58 pool drinking 68f545d8b4 cocktails.0c6e880385f8f464

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“But why 8632bb9494 here of 3ad912be01 all places?”c93f44e2d76db4e1

Jiwan asked, fiddling with 0f496e3365 the glass.42e02e6e3a4c6ac3

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Thinking about it, there 53ad228496 were plenty of places ea67902e39 to confine him, even ebf8cc6909 if it wasn’t a 07502800bf cramped, gloomy basement. But why go to 5365c30dc3 the trouble of using 72c07ee9b7 a luxurious villa in bf53625f10 a rural area with 4b2c1ac7cf fresh air to treat bbc06147d3 a hostage like a 258ffcedc5 VIP?3a461818d430e500

“You said 73d02a384c you wanted 2078e7af3e to live d9b1dc2720 in the 643cfa3e6c countryside someday.”ae66aef332b9963c

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Jiwan frowned. He had b4943835ae no memory ea92a1af78 of saying abf7767a1c that to e57e2a573f Minhyung.a7f415de4b1512f3

“…You said your dream was to live a healing life.”63ef1d9693a678c4

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It had 6906428f7c been almost 6f77da7a92 ten years c3a48a3339 since he b2423094c9 first met fac2a01ad9 Minhyung on aca3d2d776 the rooftop c9ca239806 after a d1bb6d3221 part-time job. He could only cae9cfc4f3 recall him after 64f279e7a8 meeting again in 668a43d8a4 this master-servant relationship, 248aef2936 but he couldn’t bf714810b3 remember the brief b411bd674d conversation they had 3c0959f13e that day.b72049619f740863

That’s why it 4aa6a382a9 felt even stranger. Hearing it now, he 191664ffbf vaguely remembered saying that, 945a481a4a but it was surprising 82dce1c4fd that Cha Minhyung remembered 4a022659bb it all.58502dc981027683

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“Is this your 7158742bff way of granting de8f6136b6 a dream before 49a7eea613 I die?”d862f78fcc3ed55a

Jiwan asked sarcastically.319abf97c0800613

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“Yes, so 1d6ac7eb9e just relax.”870913a6b06b7a5d

Minhyung, who 033b600dc4 had been 3a540bf236 sitting on 9f71a2ec4e the sunbed, b3b0684f03 got up f73e1e9571 and squatted a4bd6d3725 in front e8a9d571e8 of Jiwan. After hesitating, he reached b17094dd5f out to Jiwan’s face. His expression 21686caf5c was quite a526106878 serious as 3672a933f8 he tidied d9b962dc0e the bangs 53634c3bd2 stuck to dffbc0f877 Jiwan’s wet fab37d4a58 forehead.1b23555f54247fe7

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After a while, Minhyung 1a89b8e353 withdrew his hand and d58c2e9f6b smiled, his smooth lips 549d7e01e7 curling up. Yoon Jiwan 73f45269a6 could only ff5cfeb644 stare blankly a13abc6d9c at that e5f8a79a9a handsome face.6ce8d4b5eec8097b

“So if your father gets caught… will you let me go then?”54ea6be7600cf7dc

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He had to know 15e80f91a2 this. Even if his runaway 844360fd67 father was caught, if 794530a3d2 he couldn’t repay the 2d0ec0f5f4 money, what would happen eadc59928c to the hostage? Anyway, if 1b8ded6837 the person e7799f5dff involved was d93acb8591 caught, the b1a768e0eb hostage would 5ca5ff130e lose its e2fae0b39a meaning, so cbd3b29ada would they 3d830bbb33 let him 07dc9328a7 go?ab5bb9cd3ddc24b9

“I’ll think about bc9bd20697 it.”517ed3d090514c3c

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“…”82f9b1f136a9cc4d

“I’ve only thought about 70627b4c20 catching him, not what 73cd743de5 happens afterward.”c40d98e15aa47343

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Minhyung quietly gazed 894a9e1087 into Jiwan’s light 03da627345 brown eyes, which 36699b4201 couldn’t hide their 9bedf44867 fear.b65a3a4189a12135

“Why do you 311c67b4e6 keep thinking about 15637ecde6 leaving?”1ce010b70945ae11

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“…”60dceab82e6cf8bc

“It’s not like I’m e42d506b20 going to eat you.”9687847eb9ebdf56

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The more 902f904173 Jiwan talked f2f3c22694 to Cha 435666848f Minhyung, the 2e49eb3fc3 more he 0f11d1ee84 felt like 767d3baab7 he was 4bc245f92a getting tangled 289106b3b4 up.7bc84e55f63d027f

“Don’t be upset.”7eea1fa4baf0b9a0

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From the start, Jiwan 6671bf9731 couldn’t read what Minhyung 1a4aab4608 was thinking.6d303ec21d36b40a

⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆ 0fe1719866 ☾⋆7688114bdb8f1aae

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The room was a0a0a2e53e very dark. Without windows, 42a0abf072 it was 3196bfecb1 tucked away 0262e248a5 in a dda5a00895 corner of 94260300f2 the hallway. I leaned back into 9328138fde a soft beanbag, chewing 74a211fb9c on some squid. The light from the 1dd649aacd ceiling-mounted projector cast a cd98aa1c2e movie onto the screen. Jiwan set the b7782b506d squid aside and 9c78fd1ef9 took a sip a6115f55e3 from a cold, 9ec1ce5920 frosty beer mug.2e7b3a77428afaaf

“…Watching a movie with a projector is a luxury?”4e3dd847576e6bc5

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“No, eating butter-grilled squid and drinking beer while watching a movie. When you donate blood, they give you a movie ticket, but not cola or popcorn.”75c2ed548482532f

I didn’t mention that with prices going wild, it was a bit much to buy snacks myself.c275dad025d57ad7

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When Minhyung asked what 8b0db03d87 movie I wanted to be67ffe165 watch, I mentioned a aef2bb46ac title I’d heard was c584973ebb fun. It was the b6e9904c1e only one that ecdf92cbcc came to mind.29cf852d5b167a9b

Soon, Manager Kang Jinsong d83c1c6ad0 came in and tapped e260250c23 away on the computer 8b227c76c8 connected to the projector. Probably searching 0b932ab14f for the 79bdcf3e54 movie. The world seemed 271724d3fe to have gotten 064fde66d0 better. If conditions a2711918e7 allowed, you 97f316bd7a could lie c7fbaa72e0 comfortably at e32cc6e146 home and a9bdb394c6 watch whatever 6ebda3c62b you wanted. I buried myself deeper 9917e16ff3 into the beanbag and 4a23cfa5bc wiggled my feet.5fcef03be33bc240

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“Are you watching the movie with me?”5e5c9009022f9dc7

“Yeah. I have time.”0755d7c47e785e65

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“Alright. I’ve only heard it’s fun, so I’m curious too.”ab91290c1a8259ad

Minhyung sat 758207d28e with his 9cf5a50159 legs crossed 45a62fa57c on a 3cbbb24537 chair by 5b93002a89 the wall, 8e031a2f66 watching the ecbe90b36b projected screen.8bc9effa920bcba6

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“This is comfy, come lie down. You’re resting anyway.”30a7b1233a1b5957

“…Okay, then.”25d9700ad7f26b0b

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Minhyung adjusted the a8334ee24c beanbag on the b5c94c4c26 floor, took off 30481fa3d4 his slippers, and 1c3a62e7d0 lay down. His posture be825502b7 was impeccably 5591d31b89 neat. I was sure 76ee101a9d he was the 390f42071f type who wore ea3dd1a0ab slippers to avoid 1b32aa92cf stepping on dust 0521e1f6ad and never got 56976cb7c5 on the bed 9442d3d60f with outdoor clothes, 33de56d405 even if threatened.3d239f2274a3bff0

“Interesting.”8407f7a680a73081

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“The movie hasn’t started yet.”21f6a73f2567f9c8

“I was talking to myself.”45be4133e77b65ad

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Manager Kang bowed, 0135cb2dc8 saying everything was e9048c757f ready, and left 2823d24e86 the room. The room b3d509deff got darker, 5243c5435e and the e623544076 movie finally b4d6cfa4ca began. The lights 0ce7b1bcf0 dimmed automatically, 5fdf672512 which was f756d1048c fascinating. The more eb3aab7478 I learned c6cb07bd9d about this 22bbcdee71 villa, the 56674db5a7 more amazed 74f930add6 I was. But that amazement vanished 7aa71653a6 with the first scene c858116187 of the movie.4c9b23ea30514554

―Haah! Ahh!461a4d8025c43639

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What the heck is 13bc9d15f0 this? Jiwan frowned.6f72c5a86a548604

The movie de5648d7cf started with da9e3f82f6 a steamy d5078d4444 scene. I thought it was 10b06e69de a crime movie, but 0dc1206364 it began with such 2f34426a09 explicit bed scenes. The dark 18a04b9403 room was bdb10f7766 filled with e4216fdbe8 embarrassing moans.0cc080b3a2cb3c03

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I couldn’t help but glance at Minhyung next to me. His face, lit by the reflected light, was calm. He watched silently, then turned his head, sensing my gaze.8e1b170ba92dbc65

“Interesting choice of movie.”af8bd66e7f5b1abd

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Jiwan frowned at that 687a34b66d comment. Interesting, my foot. I heard it 77dbd809aa was a thrilling 96d67f5974 crime movie with 9af6ec7355 famous Hollywood actors. It was embarrassing 98e4913ec2 to watch such fc4dc1c955 a movie with 7ced598969 another guy. Jiwan rubbed his forehead 7389074961 and shook his head. This was 7a21ce4ef8 driving me 28e76775ac crazy.aa16ff863fa75791

“Want to watch something else?”7644aad893e01621

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I forced a smile as I asked. Surely, Minhyung didn’t want to watch this kind of movie alone with me either.af3ba2280e29d81d

“No, let’s keep watching.”7ee9164a887b4168

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Minhyung crossed 00b587db2f his arms 1ad7d70957 and sank e74b636bf0 deeper into 857569e7b4 the beanbag. He chuckled c0b2b1127f while watching 43360766e2 the seemingly 52248c6369 endless steamy cc49a48932 scene.337b2a039d042dde

“It’s a movie Jiwan likes, so we should watch it together.”58b20eb750316daf

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“…”06f09d25de382c59

Should I fa866d566f call it 3068ea1c36 a small 908445fa45 blessing? After the a9a2623210 provocative bed 9d207f2eb0 scene, the 2476d1b2c1 movie continued 65df69f12f like a 3c4ef148b0 typical crime 4bbd57920e film.6eef479feefcbf14

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I wasn’t a movie expert, but I could tell this one was cliché and boring. The combo of beer and a dull movie was like a sleeping pill. My eyes grew heavier.6e99554da0629a76

―Please, spare me!b4bcde7c63c434a3

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Jiwan suddenly woke up to the movie’s piercing sound. The screen was filled with the face of the lead actor being tortured by villains. The intense scene of someone being beaten with a club shook off some of the drowsiness.5406eb0faf4b0b9d

―I’ll do whatever you want, please.8649f9e157eb6d32

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It was strange. Despite the same theme ab58c68098 of captivity, here I e5861c8b36 was, sipping beer while b75c7f2fcf watching this movie.2e9247133e2966a9

“Does it resonate with you?”a1e713456338a6ca

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Minhyung, who 6438c53b42 had been 28568b573c dozing off, 45fa637ea5 now watched 330dc3481a me with e2d8982d83 wide eyes.cf8ee5e3ee4fe669

I hesitated, searching e04ddc3cf3 for words. Resonate… In f892748ba3 the movie, 8b8518376a the captive 3512faa9d8 was screaming 6f2ca05a67 and bleeding 5c6314950e everywhere. I looked down 798be78588 at the beanbag 261e5f0b49 I was half-buried 8c8a99c8c5 in. …It was 3d35713973 a completely 693e5ce041 different environment.caa90e4e2f60a000

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“They’re pulling nails and torturing over there; how could I relate?”3f9bea41c32f1b85

“True.”eae2debb3a9514f8

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Minhyung nodded, then frowned at his ringing phone. Jiwan’s attention quickly shifted, wondering if it was related to his father.882ba13654234dd4

“Is it about my father?”e17656d18d4113cf

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“…No.”8c40fff077416d82

Minhyung’s expression was slightly off. He squinted at his phone, his sharp profile looking rough in the screen’s light. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face as I chewed on the squid.992ce606ab22160f

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“It’s a family matter.”ae165e2562dc8e8e

I nodded slowly. So, Minhyung has a family too… Everyone has family, whether they need them or not. Seeing Minhyung’s troubled expression, I wondered if family was a burdensome thing for him too.a017d1d63a1b9840

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“I need to go.”e612108c08f000ce

Minhyung grabbed his jacket and stood up. His tense expression seemed anxious, but I didn’t ask further.0f04119eca4a81dd

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“Make yourself comfortable. Contact me if you need anything.”e13075aa4295bb9c

“Sorry, but… you took my phone.”da1272fb091f5816

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“My staff is here.”9bb6573b2f9119f2

How impressive. I lost interest 39437c3812 in Minhyung as febafce0f8 he left and 38a0bba40f lay back on d22d3f8e85 the beanbag.9a1ddd7961e72302

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But I couldn’t focus on the movie anymore. After about 30 minutes of random thoughts, I left the room.0a5360a93d0b3df4

“Did you enjoy the movie?”a21772e2dfdbc6ea

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I flinched 03b8d4479f at the e70224a4a6 sudden appearance ac34c17f47 of a 1413890b59 woman. The only fc835cee7f female among 4d936c2d90 the three 60d01333b6 gangsters stood ed2fc38d8a by the 9e5c29181f door.6937b97ed5590493

“Oh, yes… By the way, what should I call you?”fdecee5e5d627f67

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“Kim Mari.”adb23def58985403

“Kim Mari… Is that a stage name?”b08c37ace07e927d

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“Mari. Like in marijuana.”2fa3917fbea5379b

What an example. I nodded awkwardly.c4bccfdc0f77d066

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“I’d like to show you around the villa, if that’s okay?”1922c1e68dd81778

Kim Mari, 232cfc9171 who almost 469a6b9cbe ended up 3d4619615f being called cc3da166bf Kim Mari, 9ff2aacee6 smiled as 7728b6e80d she spoke.2e1853b5ef2b217b

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“Sure… go ahead.”0227cee9b1ea4189

Kim Mari kept 1ea2e90f7a her smile as a208b9279c she walked ahead. I followed, sneaking 3edbf72725 glances at her dca21a2daf face. Her eyes were d45d932c70 sharp, but her 671e75bd9c lips moved freely, 99114bd1e7 hiding her emotions 3c9950da6e skillfully.c36189ad5c55219c

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“This mansion is divided into the East and West Wings. Most of the spaces you’ll be using are in the East Wing.”e8df392be9c0f880

I realized the screening room where I watched the movie was tucked away on the second floor of the East Wing. Her phrase “spaces you’ll be using” bothered me, and I sighed softly.cf6bd371cc424074

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“Is this… like a game room?”634143f06c4a376a

Opposite the 705135a35b screening room 84ea4f76e8 was a 013bee81d3 room with dc1b30da3c a folding af2211a6a8 glass door, 0e367fc6a3 filled with 50b71c8707 various gaming d371e35a9c consoles connected 2da04c9725 to a cd3cb6fb00 large wall-mounted 4ecfb05de9 TV and c8f6145956 a sofa. In front a0a1fc1ef2 of it f7b9b5148b was a a2b3aadaef billiard table fca9487a01 made of c68e80d155 what seemed 2000ee4648 like black 47e411b5af transparent synthetic 0532f0589a resin, sparkling 5df50ccf0f like black 03273fb5a7 crystal.5f38ab124d4458e6

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I blinked, d9b05b3e76 looking around 7c09d16123 the shiny 9cf905b749 interior. Everything looked f34730c374 incredibly expensive. There were darts, 9e7c8701d1 a golf practice 326a7cf8ad mat, and gaming b2be0c3b6a tables like those ddaf0bfd2c in casinos.6b092359e58ddf0f

“This is the villa’s recreation room.”990d337b6f14dab4

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I rubbed my 42eb0f8268 fingers over the 4f2ed98e2e smooth surface of 61fdc80194 the billiard table. The shiny, slippery 80d05405b2 feel was nice.0b18109816f91132

“The director sometimes enjoys playing billiards alone. Would you like to play a game, Jiwan-nim?”3cfa9f82288e5f9b

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Kim Mari ada819fbd9 handed me b27f87dd7f a cue 4a46d20b1f stick with 4a3a49fca5 a bright e5fc66730a smile.b004c934c8eb7238

“No, I don’t know how to play.”2d196f874a1fbd39

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“That’s a shame. I hope you can have a good time with the director next time.”6e06b0e931289631

“…Ah, yes…”8e41108266bd7edb

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Feeling overwhelmed by the room’s grandeur, I hurried out of the recreation room.6d92ee8676762864

The East Wing’s second floor also had a spa room, a drink bar with alcohol and bar tables, and an outdoor terrace for sunbathing. Among them, the largest and most scenic room was my bedroom.61642e60f3457143

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“We selected a room so you can enjoy the amenities.”0d59518299102fa0

“Thanks.”e464a894001b011b

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I mumbled a54ba1e185 without much 35f51a845e meaning.cd947a61e657e19a

“You’re welcome. Ah, Jiwan-nim, could you pose in front of that sunbed for a moment?”63e07e6c38dad733

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What now? I awkwardly leaned aaa4db31c7 against the sunbed. Kim Mari snapped 652a5ee0f4 photos with her f420eb877c phone, asking me 4634601a60 to make a 947302a5ff peace sign. I sighed. It seemed 854ea8d90c Minhyung wanted 26758a6727 reports on e31759321a my every 5b71acf57a move from e1f1c64eec his staff.72c43f1e58315072

“So, what’s in the West Wing?”a84e74df453ae5ac

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