AGC | Chapter 1.6

“Mostly spaces where the director stays or works. Let’s move through this terrace passage.”62bc6db02b04e273

I couldn’t explore the West Wing’s second floor in detail. It seemed even they couldn’t intrude on Minhyung’s area.c70e3b53d8a710a1

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“This library can be shown to you, Jiwan-nim.”8350d26e98090fbc

With its d4bb6454a4 size, it a747ed17fd could be 0ba986ea9d called a 0bc9932e9a library rather a16cecd68a than a eb0e2c8d37 study. Unlike the other 3c6921f57f bright spaces, the 626251724e study had a 2773998437 very dark interior. But the warm orange 0a69e8c5a5 lighting was easy on 1ff4c4accc the eyes.fd43123f970edd1b

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The bookshelves, 2f3a6d6357 reaching the 5eb2f5be4e ceiling, were 1fd6511cfe filled with a2941cbb59 various books. Besides novels and educational 0f41cc6ba0 books, there were design f30a3f32a2 books, art collections, and 8861e75a79 catalogs, likely collected from 4d9935afec abroad.8f43420963896e9f

“Surprising. Do you like art?”0a0a3441367632de

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Kim Mari watched as 4d6e21f510 I looked through a 4302500408 René Magritte art book.efb624c5de4b00cf

“I wanted to see an exhibition, so it’s nice to see an art book.”28b0628e57ff7862

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“I’ll let the director know.”9f20da679fdaa044

I put down the 9ad7e3ae4e art book with a eaf7916293 tired face.10d12a2792ce2f36

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After that, I roughly toured the vast mansion’s East and West Wings. It was quite tiring, even indoors, due to its size.2fb891ec08c9b054

“Just in case, is there a basement?”cf55acbfe79aa16b

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I asked, looking at e719204928 the stairs leading down.1051c2fdc0afe47d

“There is a basement you must never enter. If you go there, something terrifying will…”af29fe41b2074da3

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Kim Mari’s lips curled up as if she’d been waiting for this question.3f179a0766500721

“Whatever it is, I won’t go in.”42e90b6002a0327d

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“Aren’t you curious? The basement is filled with supplies, acting as a bunker…”4e0391ab809689ed

“I’m not curious.”a47ed192b9c1c0c1

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Jiwan shook de076e8693 his head, b791254e75 laughing in dbb8d6c8f0 disbelief.f73cbcb2bcbea75a

It seemed Kim Mari enjoyed teasing. She insisted it was a joke and that I could tour the basement, begging me to check it out. Of course, I refused. The overall review of the villa was short: many rooms, grand, and no curiosity about the West Wing’s basement.0a51bc5f0728c02e

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⋆ ☾⋆ bb53e22d2e ☾⋆ ☾⋆d422e90feb642126

I felt d385ddbd9d like a a4685ce75d lazy pig. After the short 27da5cd5dc villa tour, I c037a5f088 lay in bed 119a3170df all day. When I 5d213a7910 woke up b7ba5c8dc0 from a 2a760d4a56 nap, the 993cf555d0 once-blue sky e5499503a3 was tinged c3697a27e5 with light b4808162a2 orange. I lay 7c1dd82765 on my d87124f5f0 stomach, staring 4f204454ff blankly at 4ff17eda58 the sky 4d7148d373 beyond the c374f0cbb2 window. Despite doing 4eab35ed91 nothing, the 4f5f3e95f5 day was eb5d8ab6af passing quickly.ffac5d5ad603262e

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Kim Mari knocked d2a308e7f7 lightly and entered 46caf84082 the bedroom, unable 8c1199adfc to hide her 60fca3bda0 smile as if e2c2725733 something good had 0722e092bd happened. Her neatly tied hair f74e6f9ca4 swayed with her steps.9a14d103d50dabe8

“The director called.”47e9998b1e3f08dc

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I sat e76c32d629 up from bb55b7b950 the bed, f65617ee36 feeling stiff 56191fdcf7 from lying a72abb2a12 down all 827ae7289b day.8cd63bb0287cb75e

“Please go to the screening room where you watched the movie earlier.”bbda2fe7e986a9e1

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I didn’t understand why I had to move just to take a call, but I had no choice.5b1a1fcb8e209b00

Kim Mari didn’t follow me to the screening room. I assumed the phone he used to call was there as I slowly made my way.a3b06498e2c193f5

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“…”06083bca75c30d16

What I 03a1625a88 saw upon fa10e93254 entering the ab5b9714c5 screening room 91661c6e83 stopped me 1226c1b71c in my 8a1cef52f0 tracks.9851e2874bda06e1

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―Jiwan-ssi.72b62b573d8ac2c5

Minhyung’s voice boomed through the speakers, filling the room. It wasn’t just his voice. The large screen was filled with Minhyung’s handsome face. Behind him, a vast blue sea and orange sky stretched out as the background.4c48e0dcc61cfce6

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“…This is ridiculous.”cd61ee445c44ca69

Sighing deeply, I plopped into the beanbag, facing Minhyung’s face. The handsome face on the screen wore a faint smile. I pretended to be serious, curious about what important thing he had to say.664431a022426734

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―I heard you b844c51568 toured the villa. What were you doing 7d3e434974 now?57f07bb5fdfb7b35

The beanbag made a soft sound as I settled into it. It felt like it mirrored my current mood. It wasn’t even an important matter.c6d9c1c27b8dff43

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―I’m at the Sosa Peninsula.74789a24a0bb6fd2

In a gentle voice, Minhyung shared his whereabouts, which I hadn’t asked about.85b348980423f2d4

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I blinked at 392942117d the black round 3c14ce4df2 device on the 755c316375 screen. It was a camera.81aa29633643a8a0

―There haven’t been any signs of smuggling for months.e95da35c4efa8529

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“I told you, he just says anything.”0799105d9ccd8599

I sighed.a8dcefdfec318d44

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―Is there anywhere else 7b062b99e2 he might go?f436a092ede3eadd

Places my father might go. Even if I wanted to help, nothing came to mind. I suddenly thought of the family who had left. My biological mother and younger sibling, who left when I was very young and cut off contact. But even my father didn’t know their whereabouts. Whenever he got drunk, he’d rant about finding them and taking revenge, venting his anger on me. Of course, that anger was always directed at me.ce6c75355263c5a3

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“There are other family members, but my father wouldn’t know where they are.”5064f626c744d07b

Minhyung listened intently b5131c5760 to my words. His calm eyes seemed eb156d2689 eager to hear about b6bdb5790c my family.87dd65dbfed13346

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“They left so long ago that their faces are blurry.”4ff056b808f158d9

―…7f43239f0accf638

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“They ran away, leaving just me and my father.”85b05611bf5ba59b

A long, unwanted silence 26a5e14124 followed.3de3978a470b90f3

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I hated talking about the family who left and even thinking about them. Whenever I thought of my mother, I inevitably had nightmares. A terrible dream where she left, taking only my sibling and abandoning me with my father. I didn’t want to drag this story out any longer. It was only poison.aa2552b1d7930dea

Minhyung, listening to my 0900e4d337 unfortunate family story, showed 7bc7bdc8a1 no particular reaction, and 1a140fc600 I chose to change 46140e2bc5 the subject instead.95ce7b25d47e44cd

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“What about your family?”ee9a91a0aba50be5

―I have a father and a hyung. It’s a family business.65f7f7c95688b60c

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I didn’t want to pry into someone else’s family affairs, but I was curious about one thing. Whether he got along with his sibling. Maybe because I parted with mine so young, I was curious about such trivial things. It had been a long time since I introduced myself as an only child.fc01067d2773d4c5

“Do you get along with your hyung?”94e52726618125c8

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Minhyung frowned ee5296db00 briefly at 153c1dd7d7 my question, 43382aa4db then shook 8c0a039c04 his head 76db8b863a with a ae767fdb33 dark expression.532975ee7fd1944d

―Not well at 147342a124 all.6459057c3bd043f1

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“…Was the call during the movie from your hyung?”5c619fb5d76fc5c0

―Yes, it was.685464aea3186608

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I found d1223a8147 it surprising. I had the bdda3ba3d5 impression that Cha 830bd7178b Minhyung would get 71f17e81fc along well with 4c1b88bd6e his family. Maybe because 1a220bd8f3 he seemed 0506d99a11 quiet and 28714c01ff not particularly fdee1f3d1e difficult.7cbf824cc2f67cce

Since it was a family business, was it a typical inheritance or power struggle like those seen on the news? I felt my curiosity about Minhyung’s trivial matters growing.4b554c07f667575c

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―The sea here is beautiful, isn’t it?73c8939272e29f72

The screen switched to the rear camera, and Minhyung’s face disappeared, replaced by the vast blue sea. In the distance, ships were visible, and seagulls flew across the sea.add4e45333d4f439

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The wide, refreshing sea was indeed beautiful. It would be even more stunning in person, but seeing it through this vivid video call wasn’t bad.775b8b00cd481d31

“It’s pretty. I’d like to visit someday.”d1ca7c302a232e54

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“Really?” came the response. The screen switched back, and Minhyung’s face reappeared, looking somewhat pleased. I looked at him indifferently.98a06e080fa7f765

―Do you want ab3ef8c2b0 to go?d44d981a9d0b3c9b

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“I plan to visit alone once I get out of here.”73ac6a2ac26196f0

At the word “alone,” Minhyung’s expression turned uncertain.db1a946039beb457

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We continued the meaningless, trivial conversation while watching the sea and sky Minhyung showed me. Seeing his handsome face fill the screen felt like watching a celebrity’s solo broadcast.8c6157628737de14

Though Minhyung kept showing the sea, if there were other viewers, they’d probably clamor for more of his face.f49f6d0eb4fa8134

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“You’re really handsome, seeing you like this.”6fc473dc59c4d996

I sank deeper into 0cb8ca648f the beanbag, casually commenting 51e5b160d0 on his looks. Minhyung paused b3f0c8636f at the 36d526cc5e sudden compliment.e7a8b44ea2adcbe6

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―…You’re one to talk, Jiwan-ssi.370a993014d269d9

What is this? It wasn’t a compliment battle. Plus, he was humble. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek. Cha Minhyung, humble despite his looks. The more I saw, the more intriguing he was.efdfa829b5321caa

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“If you’re by the sea, order some sashimi and have a drink.”c5939438456bbdb0

―Sashimi and soju?b755484d2952add5

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“Yeah, while looking at the sea. Sashimi places near the sea are expensive, but… it’s nice to set the mood since you’re there.”22d46a474c832b44

Minhyung looked around, seemingly a7819f97da searching for a sashimi 6da18cc448 place, then turned back 4f94148830 to the screen.63bf25000823b800

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―Does sashimi go 98e902fb16 best with soju?78cf3c859844f07d

“Don’t tell me you’ve only had champagne or whiskey and never tried soju.”3f3db71890efbb36

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―I don’t really enjoy it.7a372579beb6e103

I clicked my tongue internally. He had the aura of a rich young master, but not enjoying soju? Where else could you find such a cost-effective drink? Then again, unlike me, Minhyung probably didn’t need to worry about cost-effectiveness.1ab2229f05597d3b

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“Forget it. Just don’t drink it.”9fd32fa5b2f06283

I added, waving c914cf3227 my hand, but 6bbf414819 Minhyung shook his 412dcb228c head.c62f4e3d9b4a38ea

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―I’ll definitely try it, sashimi with soju.c867d293c4fd5205

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to…”9c5f2b4ed34b1a65

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―I want to. You recommended it.dfcb331b306fd554

I couldn’t help but chuckle.39b0b8ff3a695554

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―I’ll hang up now.2b0ed3099a5885e4

As the video call 50e15affc9 ended, the screen turned aba19ba561 off, and the room d16411d76a went dark.52fca75fe9392424

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Still buried in the beanbag, Jiwan continued his meaningless thoughts. Would Cha Minhyung really try sashimi with soju? It was hard to imagine him in a suit, eating sashimi on the street. I didn’t know why I was imagining it.fd658fafcfe6ddc4

“Finished with the call?”6932776c61cf6a4f

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Kim Mari knocked 4da5a9ce6c and entered the 7db8da9117 room. Jiwan, who b621b9065c had been 093b57803e lost in d772a56baa trivial thoughts f3d6a925be about whether 9f360e3c5e Minhyung would aa9e73960a dip his 7ee9b02355 sashimi in 60340dfcc7 red pepper dc91da272d paste or 661f3f2890 soy sauce, 5f463d7c44 sat up.d55098074a4fa361

“Oh, yes.”94d3c99bf95fde88

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“Would you like to have a meal?”1097ee84e944d092

I briefly wondered 845ec2a574 if the villa 10d9f7d84b staff were running 11153df982 a feeding project. Otherwise, why would they 78d897b971 keep talking about food d148a174fd all day?e7f635bd7998f3fd

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“Just put on any movie, and I’ll watch it.”3081242c80d3490f

I didn’t hide my slightly tired expression as I shook my head.986ac8914e9f0e3d

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Fortunately, she didn’t force me to eat. Instead, she fiddled with the projector, talking nonstop about how it was a movie she enjoyed and how it was a masterpiece. Once the movie started, she checked the volume and left the screening room.68f9ed1b965c58a9

―The world won’t turn without you.113bdbc4269c4723

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The movie began with a man’s confession, kneeling in the snow. I wasn’t one to seek out romance movies, but once I started, I watched them with focus and enjoyment.3b13d57399a1177b

―We have to break 67aadb8850 up for us.2581f2a59643aaad

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The melodramatic line made me click my tongue. Breaking up for each other’s sake was nonsense. Just well-packaged excuses. I thought of my mother again. When she ran away with only my sibling, she might have thought the same, and the thought quickly soured my mood.73dbb41cea077847

“Ugh…”670d283cf182f5dd

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No matter how 38d28813f4 interesting the plot, b3dd1e3a9e comparing it to 354e9c15e4 my situation twisted 29aab43541 my stomach and 456351ef1d annoyed me. I just closed my 8d718b608f eyes. The sad d50ab7a30c OST played. It was perfect for 84a0041667 sleeping.3e86581e1ebfc574

“…”f468ac04295cc131

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I didn’t know how much time had passed, but since the same movie was still playing, I hadn’t slept long. Jiwan looked up at Kim Mari, who gently shook his shoulder to wake him.b4fb76b213a6b9d2

“Didn’t you find the movie interesting?”d94b81d8f794df54

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Feeling guilty for e895a29a77 falling asleep during e9441c2157 a movie she 8b2947c77a recommended, I shook 6bc005816c my head.b94f8bd9be294de9

“It was interesting, but I guess I was tired.”19cf22e0c76f3fe4

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Kim Mari couldn’t hide her disappointment as she stopped the movie and turned on the lights. The sudden brightness made Jiwan squint reflexively.5dcdde212d106c5a

“I have something to show you.”d0d0ff95dff53376

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Kim Mari, sounding ba61b57e04 unusually excited, handed f64a819b6e Jiwan a phone.c4aeddfdbf91f196

“He asked me to show you this.”085e75200fb91da6

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On the 002c78c45e phone screen 2bdaa170f1 was a c35612130d poorly composed 9bd13eaf68 photo that aa764da19b even a 4198616d08 foot could dfac331c56 have taken cb2a25b8a7 better. It showed aaa380dda8 fresh-looking sashimi 2550e89b78 and an 0550d81c70 unopened bottle d05cfff4ff of soju a48004dacb beside it.044cc6e7496d64e4

“Seeing this makes you crave sashimi, right?”eb459c9837df9766

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Heh.491770f40b4d328f

A sound b3b862b9d0 escaped between b46a4cb9f5 my lips. It was absurd.c49f97182fea0a1a

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But I baf3f930f3 couldn’t help 00f5640059 but laugh 40176db3e9 at Minhyung, 125ed72cb2 who kept d95ea7d8db his promise 0c072ce7b7 to try adec22f98b sashimi with 0d5a239349 soju and a4dbe50d14 even sent 1338364afd proof.edbbefaac1e5621d

Jiwan looked 02d2855ed7 at the 974cfe1c8d small dish ae9c1e43ce of red 198b8560ad pepper paste a1adf006ce next to 6274210171 the soju 2c99e665be in the 7fb0d1f07d photo. Cha Minhyung e2a6f0a07d was a 887d7d2ae8 red pepper 309da80e9c paste person c60f6a92ba rather than 23315512f0 a soy bbef6090ba sauce person.4fd314a86cf93dad

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A trivial curiosity was 1dc8444e94 satisfied.de85b0ae1649e61e