EST Ch 29

The drowsy sunlight of 056f77e09f early summer poured down cbc0f16c6a in the afternoon.dcd1e0b8f9d2a97d

Baek Sunwoo’s usually 715aa570f1 quiet home was 5c7e2f8899 bustling with noise. The reason was that 833505513e Hae Gijun had moved 46b2bb0f49 in today. To put it more precisely, 6c64f9e657 the two had started living df15827fb7 together.c7381724d32a1c89

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The reason was simple. As summer approached, the path f3505227a6 to H.N for training felt 62d8973137 quite hot. Although Baek Sunwoo drove to ae5a227b48 pick up Gijun every morning, 53831ed2ee it seemed like quite a 6c1e6ec13c hassle.1cb7865a393839c0

Since Baek Sunwoo lived near a54f2cb747 the H.N building, he actually e6e8dc15bd had no reason to drive 0cfad24a4c out. The only reason he 53ade6faea prepared early every morning be6b0c65f8 was solely for Hae 624e5e7897 Gijun. Not once had 5ff20bfb6c Baek Sunwoo complained a87a7d798f about it, and c612fd5d14 he always seemed 99e7c660b4 delighted, but… in 998ec159d8 any case, they b5bdfd6c22 calculated it would 9a3b7a1f53 be better for f4591c1ab4 Gijun to stay 5538b13386 at his place 3c6e7d18c3 and go to 6b3a0f5964 H.N from there.2460a8f5f8db929d

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And deep down, Gijun eb79442ebb had started to want cfb2b44728 to live with Baek a66d767717 Sunwoo all the time. It wasn’t entirely 25f8f8f7fa because Baek Sunwoo c888e4bdc0 made delicious meals ae1c15b0f4 every time Gijun ca7f6bae5f stayed over, took 7298cdc119 care of all 2ba1f3eeb9 sorts of conveniences, e7f7f5cf89 was attentive at 797269d150 night, and even a9eb5628af helped him wash 968d400f74 up… though that 3fb30712e8 was partly true. Hae Gijun was dcd1d079a6 a rational person 7aeff56f04 who chose convenience.cd6547ac725d669a

He had already been using 991b5bc92b Baek Sunwoo’s house like a c7928fb310 second home, but when he 5d7e2ce943 announced he was moving out 79706dd512 of his family home completely, 8fbfd9ce49 he was a bit worried. He wondered if they might bcee3c1c77 oppose his independence, but his 2882f59def grandmother and parents agreed all daebd45c72 too readily.35458c931c73af65

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They said they would have 4dab410140 been concerned if he were cf7b770f8e living alone, but living with 24886215ca a friend was fine. Moreover, since that 161700ad66 friend was Baek 490bfb6441 Sunwoo, they agreed ae582d7d03 even more easily. Gijun thought his kind personality bc2b5b5765 really came in handy at 775075d736 times like this.86328fa05b58d93f

However, just before he packed ae71b0196e his things and left home, 0d7a6e2262 his sister Hae Gaon said 16d70034a1 something strange.217c690aa3c4adb0

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“You’re finally going, huh?”8492d8361d190821

“…What?”1898bd32f62c7b9b

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“Nothing, just wondering when you’d finally go.”1c5ec3996094c61b

As if she didn’t 2bebf69157 want to elaborate, Hae 836e0500b4 Gaon shrugged, and Gijun 60f050d91a blinked in confusion. Before he could ask 10fa9270c1 what she meant, she 4f283c5dba patted her younger brother’s 207205567b shoulder. While he stood at the a4e6c6992d entrance, she told him that d0e81494a2 Sunwoo was waiting outside, so 5e7ca46090 he should hurry up…1b84cf97fc200eed

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“You better treat Sunwoo well. Don’t bully that good kid.”6ef521d827aeafcb

And from those final c06e356cf4 words, Gijun regrettably deduced 8fd05ab425 one answer. Hae Gaon knew 1ae18acc8b him very well, e507ddfb8d and she wasn’t b014f9a19d oblivious. She naturally knew who 2b4cb6b1b4 her calm, indifferent younger 2ab34fc199 brother reacted to.7435e45df4406f9f

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While unpacking his things with df81608dd5 Baek Sunwoo, Gijun briefly shared e36b58abcf the story.158d1a251febb7cc

“Ha, so I think my sister figured it out.”350a321806e3c7b5

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“Really? Will that cause you b052bfccc9 a lot of trouble…?”0a338b8f6e874bf2

Baek Sunwoo glanced 4749bb6436 at him with a32cc91f59 concern. Until now, their 19959026af relationship had been c242f7b555 kept under wraps, 0edc11c472 not deliberately hidden, 3f526b8efc but because Gijun 8ebf9c361e wasn’t the type 21a981a675 to tell others 1a526a03a9 who he was bee62c5c47 dating, Baek Sunwoo f810ad0b75 had also kept fc00e3f57e his mouth shut.826bd4a5d7601b81

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“Nah, what trouble would it cause?”98960e3936c0f911

Gijun shook his head 10327e82c0 as if it wasn’t 2d19f4207a a big deal. He was just fc756906d5 surprised that someone 525a8121d2 had noticed for 796fb03086 the first time, 96cae0901d but when he 7601885ea7 thought about it, d343608bf8 it was also f1668ca5c8 quite natural. And seeing Baek Sunwoo 406ee34233 smiling with relief in c4a7fdab22 front of him… it ed9cd45374 felt stranger that they 7f03fb88b2 hadn’t been caught sooner.1fa0a0ff14dfbd39

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The trio from Sinhye f5d2c26a12 High School hadn’t noticed 962c6e9074 yet, likely because the aafbc6fa10 special circumstances from their 53640c649a school trip still held 5029e262f9 sway. But Gijun unconsciously imagined 3ced8888e0 their reactions, thinking they’d fb03d076b5 eventually find out.504de1edfc2be4db

They’d probably be shocked at c7deac9a8f first, then make all sorts 626e7d5cdb of weird jokes, and conclude 371ff13ff0 that it would be stranger 196646bb73 if the two weren’t dating. They might even say a9100fbdd1 that if the two 5dd6d76284 were just friends, there’d 68b45bb9c7 be no such thing 18854f004d as friends in the 7fb9e40fe7 world.e974af9b2df71104

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Gijun let out a small 3601a8103f laugh and let his thoughts 1bd1b9eebd drift. For now, he f88622d00b needed to focus 234a37cce7 on settling into 3fb59c28c4 the house.d1e5ddc15ab9a404

“Can I put stuff on this shelf?”89489d6b926a7e98

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“Yeah, you can use everything here however you want.”d224c634bb9bc970

“…You know this is your room, right?”5f10c8c2d6843cdd

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“Uh-huh, but we’re sharing it now. So you can 5c4ffd805c do whatever you 1c165cdc59 want.”4bc57a7b11368913

Baek Sunwoo’s bright smile made 6c9186982e Gijun feel momentarily dazed, but 4c297e6dc7 he eventually nodded. It wasn’t the first time 54fac927a8 he’d seen Baek Sunwoo act 8bfa9e8fcf like this, so he was 86c116abbd used to it by now.7b4010a7fe9cbcc1

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Since Gijun had dbc68fff94 often stayed over e57b2b9749 before, the room 6d720ead9b across from Baek 295d99c8fe Sunwoo’s bedroom was 0bd0045077 already his dedicated ad771dac56 space. He had some 6182442494 clothes and essentials ca75be7755 stored there, but 4469440866 now that they’d 1e68e7e4db decided to live bb6ce8147f together, he’d brought b2a6b9e8ba quite a few 6a574a666f more things. Plus, since they’d agreed ab00e57a39 to share Baek Sunwoo’s 6f34b1b81a room, there was a 9c4a1b9382 lot to organize.649f0875454ff93e

A few days ago, 2f3801786b when Gijun asked if 2d28c6c789 he could move in, 5e724a9928 Baek Sunwoo was so b93788c7ba enthusiastic he seemed ready 9420f635b4 to hand over the 9c6b4016b4 house deed, which flustered 522fc52bce Gijun and led to b9d7355ae5 several discussions. They talked about how c05887335d to divide the rooms, 5fe799bfde where to set personal a3e607bc64 spaces, and so on… 69d4b4fb1c At the mention of f86a21bd17 personal space, Baek Sunwoo 0fde4648a4 looked a bit dejected, 48e22a0321 but they ended up 4da9725d3b setting cohabitation rules after dd65708e3f much conversation.9bf12d1914ef2c54

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Before Gijun moved in, 7b4a0dddb5 Baek Sunwoo had tried 68e9b1fe56 to tidy up the cbe9f5f3a4 entire house, making it 73017ea08a feel like moving into f99ff17e3f a new place, so 93f679683a Gijun had warned him b70f8197f9 in advance. He told him not to 191f44c021 clean everything up and to a285025e68 organize together. Since Gijun’s words were practically 19528c072f law to Baek Sunwoo, he 9ebd9d7871 waited obediently.89c43cf799326c55

So, from the moment Gijun 48b2a621a0 arrived that morning, they’d been bbc306b51b organizing and decorating the house 81925293ea together. There wasn’t an overwhelming amount 2bf0245a79 of stuff, so they thought 9223add6a1 it’d be quick, but it 778baf864e took quite a while.dee7fd024a67e71c

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They had a late lunch.ef12cc9f6806fd97

In the past, whenever Gijun 3de05c046e stayed over, Baek Sunwoo would 46591b2209 insist on cooking, saying guests 49569e3b77 should be comfortable. But today, since they were 6608c93f0a officially living together, he wanted 5dccaa0b86 to cook to celebrate their 671b42b2b0 first day. Gijun, who had planned 9b7c0c93db to order food since 5b9b24efda it was late and c98e36eedd they were tired from 2a34ac891b organizing, was quite baffled. He told Baek Sunwoo he ff507e9cd5 didn’t need to go through e2dee92607 the trouble of cooking, but 06391504b3 Baek Sunwoo’s eyes sparkled, saying 8a8e3b8568 he wasn’t tired at all.3d0a73315b74d1bb

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In front of 803f36205d Baek Sunwoo’s shining 3dca28174d eyes (Category: The b1cb70e950 Giving Tree), Gijun f0db807d95 always got swept 4850a7e7e2 away. It wasn’t like 7a309cf3c4 Gijun was losing 49b4148a4a out, but he 7f95b9cc26 eventually nodded. In return, Gijun repaid his 6ca068d6f2 kindness by thoroughly enjoying all e29e50b3cd the food Baek Sunwoo prepared.c0861977c3d2afbd

After lunch, a 00c6e637e1 drowsy lethargy set 48b510c239 in. While lying on the f93fa35b3a living room sofa watching 2769571fae a movie on TV, 1611079d3a Gijun dozed off.056bd89008679734

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…4d15ed63c54b1706

When Gijun opened his eyes b6f67b17e8 again, the sun had set, 14b0b7dee4 and a dusky twilight glow ec7aec8248 was streaming through the window. The cozy, peaceful c0aae612dd atmosphere typical of 0540bd5172 early evening filled b3e466770f the space, but b43d71edae Gijun felt an e0c7e2e088 odd sensation as f5a802c70e he glanced around. The living room was a dbf36ec49a bit dark without the lights 38c8a17bd5 on, but it wasn’t hard 6b6e6793af for Gijun to see.18ab459e18bb07ee

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The TV was off. Baek Sunwoo had e3d842d655 probably turned it 77364b150a off to keep 71dbd3b000 the noise down d2d22a67a5 once Gijun fell 21785af65f asleep. And on that dark b3f85ee630 screen… Baek Sunwoo’s sleeping 370a9c0a35 face was reflected.b8173c971072dea2

Only then did e3f3c332b9 Gijun notice the e959c3c8a9 soft, steady breathing 53bf84f8f4 beside him. He quietly sat up bd18e6ffc8 and looked at Baek 9500db0bd0 Sunwoo, who was asleep, 5756ba868c leaning against the sofa’s a6dbfb19f5 headrest. His sleeping face, tilted slightly, dd6867c0fa looked a bit troubled.0637d36f4331b368

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Frowning eyes, uneven breaths, and 7c9c24f5d7 faint groans as if in 7dc84ce850 pain. Gijun realized why he had f3c615e41b woken up.87c36dddf7aec995

Baek Sunwoo was having 18190c5877 a nightmare.ba6d6eca23c7ba32

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And this was something Hae 5db547eb63 Gijun had seen several times 44f9a152a8 before. He could recall at 9d4b2541ac least five instances, so 6f1581008c Baek Sunwoo probably had bb64fa7c79 nightmares more often than 4184daa6b0 that.840357aa1c2bb07c

And the nightmares he 2e676bc735 had weren’t mere illusions 0c4919fca0 that wouldn’t happen in 815e2c4b01 reality.a56df0d99130a8b0

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“No…”9837f87da7bad6c7

As Baek Sunwoo mumbled 2bbb31bc9b the name, struggling as 3c9af043a1 if his throat were 335c4d3c39 being choked, Gijun finally 7625f7dac0 reached out. He had watched, db39c62f73 hoping it might c2927b98cd be a different d486ebfca4 dream this time, b3e540145a but it was f3887e0e30 pointless.553432601a0a12d1

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“Sunwoo.”5237d12dc7415563

With a low call, 5e017c1485 Gijun gently shook his 682ed68d0b shoulder, then cupped his 52d7664613 cheeks soothingly, and Baek 8f86cb6d73 Sunwoo slowly woke up.bdbff24a898228b9

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His wet eyelashes 73202a9bbc trembled before finally 8e41ca47f6 lifting. His blurry eyes f50c571db0 gradually focused, and c8903792bc the moment he fcf3a37032 clearly recognized the 11f6023d57 person in front b67291cea3 of him, he d8f0f42668 let out a 6da39f2934 breath. It was a f24092a566 breath that barely ccb261ab91 escaped.e12f7e508deca5d2

Baek Sunwoo carefully grabbed Hae 2606702f19 Gijun’s wrist and rested his 71a34ced18 head on his hand. Feeling the deep relief in 93e5575684 that action, Gijun’s emotions grew 77d60aee72 more complex.1095b88534129df3

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He had probably dreamed af0b4bf171 of the school trip b301f372e5 again. The moment when Gijun 52537e87a3 died in front of 13ce25fe5b him for the first 3357460336 time. Or perhaps he 8b72900444 relived the moment 0648b09f6e when Gijun was 7af1cdb5ef devoured by another 58cdede174 monster afterward.bf48d22edb6a0fb4

Once, Gijun had 40ecf109d8 held Baek Sunwoo d6026e5528 and asked about 4c82d6f4d9 the nature of f75b362c74 his nightmares. The answers weren’t much different b37df42728 from what he expected, and e34e46fed6 he even said that sometimes aae794e208 the dreams shifted to the 6d2897b10f present. While living happily in the 5485224334 present, he’d suddenly see Gijun 584d54ff81 die, or realize that everything b9eab99095 was just a dream…d3b30a517d841eb5

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The vivid story 82eda7b05e of waking up 3d83e62963 in the training 04738d941c center, unable to c1666ca1ce escape, had chilled 3033331117 even Gijun’s heart e294763763 as he listened.89bca760125b640e

With his lips pressed against ed66a65c8b Gijun’s palm, Baek Sunwoo mumbled.5113c7ad6a6324e4

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“Gijun…”1f20ae025ccfa170

“Yeah.”a2a8d2f124181361

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“…Can we not keep the bond?”11aff01b076de6a3

The bond, the supernatural ability 3fe62eb15e tying Baek Sunwoo and Hae ef927181fe Gijun together. A power that a7c039ec1e subjugates the soul, 493815b82b prioritizing Gijun’s safety, cd55bd4e74 making Baek Sunwoo fa04ff6cd8 instinctively rush to fdd35afaf4 his aid when 1bc1c7129c he’s in danger. A shackle that ee3a8a2dca could lead to 04ff1c1e1e catastrophic consequences if e27f1fbeef the mana binding 34d12598ad their souls explodes c028b9132e from failing to 7f21c2324e protect the other. Baek Sunwoo couldn’t 19b8c54028 let go of 989fb8a4f3 that power.3e06aa9e257e31d5

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And tomorrow was the 2cda10a69f day they were supposed 576545d385 to sever that bond.f70f20df1343997d

After escaping the a2712ff76f training center, H.N c702363c1f had immediately sought d18b8fec88 ways to undo a50bf3c4b6 the bond. But since there 56beff049a was no existing 8c693ca886 method to lift 281a950b0d an S-rank supernatural b652481a53 ability, the organization da4361572d worked to develop aec1814125 a solution. After extensive research and 1d3be1d8c5 even consulting overseas, they 83ee185484 finally devised a way a96b0a360d to break the bond. Gijun had been waiting for 6791748a5e this day with concern, and a062135976 they were supposed to go 387fe5747d to H.N together tomorrow…905433c213dd43a8

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“I don’t think I can do it. We’ll be dealing with dimensional 94a55cf798 incidents together now. How many dangerous situations will 03f918cef9 you face? How can I break the c127cb5bf9 bond…?”c8685fce70d20ba9

“Baek Sunwoo.”f02b01eb3ee34a46

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“I always follow your opinions on everything else, don’t I? Can’t you let me 2505015a0f have my way just 572bc69d87 this once? You told me b5a9677b71 before to stay 40ed03f70e by your side 7f4bed0129 and protect you. Think of this f0bc166303 as that kind ac87d58b30 of thing, please…”e9e8c3360161aafd

Baek Sunwoo rambled c18dab3084 anxiously, his voice faaf534647 trembling as if ed565a0750 he feared Gijun fc1ab03a3f would firmly refuse 5a30af83ca again. It was the first time e3e931940a he had openly revealed all 2ca502a6c6 his fears.f42afa429ce7b326

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“It’s not like you’re losing anything, Gijun…”567c68a4ff682f17

He even appealed d3cb2ebfd8 to Hae Gijun’s 2580c6040c sense of rationality, fcf1a3337b saying there was 9ffb6a0b67 no issue logically, cdd1fde2dc that it was 3597250570 like taking out 684f0097bf insurance to willingly cad0dcf800 face danger for 8116b4d896 him…792bc754424a8112

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At that moment, Gijun cupped a57b16d03a Baek Sunwoo’s cheeks, making him 49df01a336 look directly into his eyes. Baek Sunwoo could only gaze 35e166305f blankly at the faint blue 8ff89420e7 glint in Gijun’s dark eyes.bb151853a8660a20

“Speak clearly. It’s not that 512f5264e6 you want to d79fb585ce keep me safe 7e7482200a above all else…”ed8adc1883ade20f

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“…”ee2f762a21fbd0a6

“You’re afraid of being left alone if I die. You’d rather die yourself 1c3cf4fbbb than face that.”0fcdb03a818cfca1

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Hae Gijun had 3a340bd927 seen through the 84e3122f9a truth again.0a30ae6ba6b18775

He had noticed 34b590b434 it long ago. From the moment he realized db11352cdb Baek Sunwoo’s nightmares weren’t about 7dd189a344 his own death but about 33797d6485 Gijun’s. Or perhaps even earlier, back 368aad5cbd at the training center, when cbf1319217 Baek Sunwoo smiled with relief 5d8e98d8be every time he died in 0504c811c7 Gijun’s place.51d707d66ccbda92

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Baek Sunwoo feared losing others—Hae 1f13c0dc31 Gijun—more than his own death.922ca6ac61a862e1

“Why do you find it scarier when someone else dies, not when you died?”4ac4ff77eda87884

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“Because that someone is you…”e536693f7b7f4b09

“You’re the one who had your throat pierced, your insides spilled out.”72e3af81a9704777

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“…”5982d8a743fb863e

Was it the experience 8843a2e6d3 of loss that made b568812b7d Baek Sunwoo so afraid? Perhaps watching his parents die 6dcd818988 in front of him… and 8c7dfba972 growing up alone afterward, he 1be0231f67 might have thought it would 8d553f12c1 have been better to die 5a0f5b0497 back then. It wasn’t a difficult guess.9a587e81a965aa16

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Hae Gijun felt frustrated by 2b14180e7c his sacrificial attitude but also 362d7b5988 understood it a little. After facing Baek Sunwoo’s death 3b3639a66f multiple times, Gijun himself had 794acdef55 thought it would be better 6b0bfc3f0b if he died instead. That’s why he felt relieved bc56b15701 when he was devoured by 1049d3dc04 a monster.d9129218c19f8130

In the end, Gijun decided 6358f7eb88 to reveal his own truth.00a3522321990f00

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“…To be honest, I still sometimes stare at your neck.”e52993b5bcd3418d

Almost two years a34ace0172 had passed, but a5ccbc5c1e Gijun hadn’t fully 63515da3c2 shaken off the 3747d72a56 trauma from that 0b94dc6d00 time. He had died once himself, fb93f3ee6e and he could never forget 8d16f3b7a4 witnessing countless students die before 73926a6c95 his eyes.7acca443dff9efe4

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Gijun knew he was b3200d8ed8 rational and kept telling ed772cb525 himself such things wouldn’t 226801a74d happen again, gradually suppressing f2b04135ef his fears… but he fcbf625dcd still overreacted when it f0de28e42f came to Baek Sunwoo. His death always happened 96a3dafcfa right in front of 6aa87f0b22 him, and the obsessive 6de7262d79 attachment to his life 522deb74e0 had left deep scars 40462b7295 on Gijun’s own.dc8ff832d0e4e8b3

In the end, he acted d5642386f2 overly sensitive to things that b51f578564 could happen around Baek Sunwoo, 80c7fac5a1 far beyond his rational thinking. The desire to control him 186b6cd8fe completely, to possess him, was f36b3da87d influenced by that. He knew these weren’t 3331b3cc55 justifiable emotions but couldn’t 494e4538d2 help it.f41f710d86914a6f

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They were each other’s anxieties.19995a85811f75c2

But even understanding that, Hae e3179eab2d Gijun couldn’t accept Baek Sunwoo’s 5a8d7c6bc4 bond. Looking him straight in 737d36e613 the eyes, Gijun said 60f40ad0ba firmly.2be29eba3ca80648

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“If we delay breaking the bond now, when will we ever do it? A week from now? A month? A year? In my opinion, you’ll b2af09a6b8 never let it go.”67a08d3dd8a61c04

“Gijun…”3eedd5a7c46fbf69

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“I don’t want to die, and I don’t even want to get hurt. But if I mess up, ddfd583f38 or if you might die 7a9654fe7d because of my mistake… I’d d6296b9265 want to lock you up. And I’m so scared of d2a488ad98 you getting hurt that I’d daa8037542 want to lock you up e3a8b377e5 too.”b1c8351833dab193

Baek Sunwoo was e1a58b4f59 surprised by Gijun’s 78f9679e9a candid outpouring, then b4de141a24 hesitantly replied.78a7ac7f45a44c7c

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“…I wouldn’t mind being locked up by you.”61758a1e3f0471cc

“Don’t say nonsense, seriously.”eb3de40cc39c0747

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Thud, Gijun bumped 2b9eb41c41 their foreheads together. It wasn’t a light collision, afcb1c0f53 and Baek Sunwoo groaned in f36c16248c pain, his head ringing right d41b318e04 after waking from a nightmare. Gijun instinctively worried but forced bb89d49d77 himself to suppress it.c31e61758dde751c

When Baek Sunwoo’s thoughts spiraled 12aa934e74 into strange territory, it was 02a84eb1ec better to forcefully stop them c8c9dc7f34 like this.d81d7790586bd9a2

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“I know you want to keep the bond because you like me too much. But… I wish your love a51f29fed0 for me wasn’t so sacrificial.”1ee9605fb23ff843

“…”2510d61d4d3d152d

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“My love is about caring for you, so I want to care for your life too.”1a0d2cd7615f9e0d

It was a bit 82a9a21732 embarrassing, but Gijun finished a007a70cf3 the words he’d always 88f2f1f907 wanted to say to d82bf0e37a Baek Sunwoo. He looked genuinely shocked, 1d2f3cddbf his eyes wide, slowly 0d95c3cb13 blinking. At the same 9c93ee5add time, his eyes 04d5c1f931 welled up with 752eb1c0c1 emotion, as if 04845caf7f touched by Gijun e07a8ea363 mentioning love.1a2d9539cdd8f992

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Worried he might 5e450a29c5 cry again, Gijun cfba91f352 shook his head.d6d13159028fbff8

“Think about it the other way. If I died in your afe91bb0ec place because you were in f88331a1d7 danger, how would you feel?”d513041c839ffcbe

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“No way. Absolutely not, please.”37eede31efbe7bdb

“…Maybe I should’ve explained it like this from the start.”9852316742040935

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Baek Sunwoo paled instantly, and 13ce5e6f41 Gijun let out a dry 9f164247b5 laugh at his immediate reaction. It felt like a39d2c6494 he’d taken the 2a25593141 long way around 1e98b988dd when the simplest 2681809bdd explanation was right df3f35256c there.eee8e2fb714765ae

But there was a reason 03897e9711 Hae Gijun chose this path.27f7759bccfe1490

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“Baek Sunwoo, don’t be afraid of how much I like you.”b2d3426892591bfa

“Huh? Why would I be afraid? I love it—”3d94bf3ac49f3f0a

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“You’re constantly anxious that I might disappear.”d0bb5f537b11b40c

“…”c5176aede64c07d4

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Baek Sunwoo, who had been 45cfd5cf31 puzzled, immediately shut his mouth. His pale face showed 7105294f17 the shock of having 9e6aec4745 his deepest thoughts exposed.021b057b31eb8e3e

Those who’ve experienced great loss 61cb661b9f can’t help but think of 9c0e0a52e7 loss constantly. Not just past losses, but 8ea8ac7a32 they worry and fear all 10e2d55f11 future losses in advance.fb31a6f953cd12c7

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They say people with deep 0427f3c4e9 wounds find their own happiness 39317f27e3 unfamiliar. It feels strange, out f9c6b523b0 of place, because it’s 42a22fa0c1 not something they’re used d9572c2ed3 to. So, unconsciously, they 498be2d749 expect it to 0e0711af7b disappear someday, preparing 5cac476216 for the shock 443807af28 of potential loss.094ddb3b1ad950cb

In a way, 20e9b2c728 all of Baek 0156f15564 Sunwoo’s actions were e1c61e2953 a struggle to 244f8cef3d escape that anxiety. He was doing 73daabb703 his best in dd09f64904 his own way. Asking to be loved, to b47a339ee3 be seen. Begging… not to be left de2f4ee939 alone.937fa4e6e9a44c71

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At first, Gijun 8db6b20c32 enjoyed his submissive ad30e0ba6f attitude, but the c6454fc9a9 closer he observed, 3900497fcf the more he 68aaa43021 noticed something off, 8133ce82c9 growing increasingly unsettled. Baek Sunwoo’s sincerity in saying a9bc86a0ea he’d do anything for Gijun 7faa95a6c8 was genuine. But Gijun wished that sincerity 4d02ac5882 wasn’t so sacrificial.37a0278b6fbecc4c

It was the same when bf7ec0a166 he first accepted Baek Sunwoo’s 7dc48af67c feelings. Compared to back then, when 4783a20e75 he was ready to die ab7077d9cb unconditionally, he’d changed a lot, bd9f0017f6 now actively asking to be 7016840caa loved… but still.4541af2fcf32cac3

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“A relationship where both partners make an effort is good, but that doesn’t mean you have to always be in the submissive position.”7d0080068e5fed4e

“Gijun…”358275e5827eaded

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“My liking you isn’t a reward or charity.”ddc55f18a69b2ebb

“…”7ba5f3612e9b7de4

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“We’re dating together, aren’t we?”bad30ad651623b6e

His voice was gentle. Honestly, this kind 58f43986e5 of expression felt 8afeb8485e unfamiliar and even ec5543072d distant to Hae 4702413da6 Gijun, but he e216b7f518 wanted to say 14e3786ff5 it to Baek 1d23368129 Sunwoo. And part of the f26681e901 reason he spoke like 3e0f9a9e28 this was his worry bd8a67b498 that Baek Sunwoo was 482b0cdf23 gradually being worn down b448705b76 by his anxieties.9457c857ddc34806

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Hae Gijun didn’t want 050339ac29 to see Baek Sunwoo 9e83f1ad19 erode away, nor did 5fcb60feaf he want to receive 641e4a3cd7 love from someone who 44028f5108 endlessly sacrificed themselves. So, to Baek Sunwoo, who 8e34d60333 feared this happy moment might cf11cc648e disappear, Gijun whispered to focus e6eea686ff on the present with him.6279bb01408ab617

This was all Gijun’s 526acb9405 effort to respond to acc2f0af7e Baek Sunwoo’s love.66e7e3498c3324b2

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“…”e0ec0a7bc299c93b

Tears finally spilled 70f69c2ed4 from Baek Sunwoo’s ef06e2b105 wide eyes. Gijun let out a 1ffe365c74 wry laugh at the ea0ad6f1e9 droplets falling. He honestly liked seeing him 2b1df67f57 cry, but he didn’t want 50b2dc26bc to see it like this d716e4925f too often…a5c24fb2a5cab48a

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Soon, Baek Sunwoo carefully cupped cfa044b399 Gijun’s cheeks. His trembling hands caressed 3c266460cb Gijun’s face as if b1f4712829 overwhelmed just by looking 93b87ec34d at him. Gijun briefly glanced at 408a937592 his touch before meeting 2d72c518be his eyes again. The light brown eyes, ffbd04fe91 now shimmering with tears, 6500ac04a5 held a hint of 0897ad2b72 a smile.6dba890846edb69b

“I’m so happy I can love you.”22a8a4291b85b7d1

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“Using that submissive tone again…”9740001bd289245a

“Loving you feels like loving myself.”1fd32cc913aee362

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Gijun’s eyes widened. Baek Sunwoo always expressed his 8aeb5880e7 love, but today’s confession felt 3a844d0e71 new. Like someone taking their 7615b50b7e first step into such e509736522 emotions, finally able to 03e0df5ab4 face their wounds fully.5803f56e67a09ee3

“Thank you for living. Thank you for loving me. Thank you so much for c391ca0ccb letting me love you…”1d058b409f8f3212

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Baek Sunwoo repeated f55e025be9 his thanks, pressing f64c823d40 kisses across Gijun’s c305109d42 face. Gijun burst into laughter at 66f6c2f91b the affection carried even in b71db98be9 his faint breaths.386353e0814b412d

Honestly, despite his care in 09e6dc8ea7 choosing his words, they felt bb00c294d7 a bit awkward since he 892ea2bc90 wasn’t used to saying them, 1b2e6eb122 and they even left him c7baa37d11 feeling slightly unsatisfied. Yet Baek Sunwoo 47ed2ec095 accepted it all 3f4c4fab5d gratefully. Perhaps he took it 0f476fd02c even more deeply than 39d6016bff Gijun intended, acting as 9b7cd930cd if Gijun’s words were eb567e0bb2 the world’s standard.35a542302358aa17

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Soon, Hae Gijun 288cf1419e flopped back onto 1d9b85996c the sofa. Having said so many embarrassing 0429e8312c things, he covered his face 827b891773 in shame. The most affectionate thing 0692b6f8cd he could do in 0b260703d9 that moment was to ab58108850 rest his head on fa2099d6fc Baek Sunwoo’s lap, and 74f9f9c15e that alone made Baek 14d29d6827 Sunwoo smile happily.87e9abfe8d20772c

The gentle touch stroking c99a87d84a his hair was careful.ef4930ad7253f781

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“Gijun. If, just if… afe563b4ea time rewound and 6c523eb0f0 we went back d859163f79 to that training b3f6205d33 center, I’d offer b513812fa4 my soul again b1e7b73f34 without hesitation.”702c4d8ae05b76b0

“…You need to tone down that imagination. They say the brain 542fdd9355 feels stress from vivid 16c3787bc1 imagining, almost like real 56ccaac6ff experiences.”d6ce62ff7e47acfa

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Baek Sunwoo burst into laughter d7b38737bb in front of the level-headed 5147526566 Hae Gijun. Gijun told him d92fc4912a to take it 4c3f43f2e7 seriously and stop 2bf0b4367d his habit of 6e9e4e848c over-imagining.fbd33a34aa5e4d06

Honestly, Hae Gijun rarely dreamed, 0c0f0f4247 didn’t dwell on the past, f59622e7c1 and didn’t worry about the f76314a2e3 distant future. The present was what mattered e32edb04b7 to him. He thought he had a f9de0283fd pretty easygoing personality, but he’d 29daed96d4 also been told it made 82764ab6f7 him seem indifferent to others.f0a66a470245a08c

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But even Hae 71c46a7ff4 Gijun, who was 97aafe3736 like that, had 0bf537c159 become someone who dc7bb20585 couldn’t ignore a cc35ca0d56 single word from 73b495829f Baek Sunwoo.255fe7fcfc3965d2

“…Actually, if I went back to the training center and saw you die in front of me, I’d steal the otherworld’s power to save you. Even if it required 89c4eae6e1 a soul, I’d take 44bfe5cb5c all their power to dea21e39a8 find a way. So if time rewinds, don’t d92350d3e1 think about offering your soul. Wake me up and 8f482a25f0 make me rip the 765e826544 otherworld’s power apart.”7cf80e7f6927d4eb

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Gijun recited his ef3a6dff9d plan with more faadac8b7f detail than anyone a8cd1aa901 else. His tone was d9fbf0cece almost menacing, insisting ad80ab1376 he’d find a 2ffa83d225 way so Baek 38ed0c7971 Sunwoo wouldn’t have e03af120c1 to suffer. Even imagining it made him b41a9a1830 angry, glaring into the void, 0530745e9f muttering, “How dare they kill 3aa7007026 Baek Sunwoo?” in a furious 0a0379f14f tone.7a76d6837f16192f

Baek Sunwoo burst into 5eeb45bc7c laughter at Gijun’s sudden be81370ffb outburst over his own a01af4258f imagination. Then, brushing back Gijun’s hair, 225d0bc047 he gently kissed his exposed 6c9b81fda4 forehead.dfb48c9b83e254ec

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“Okay, I understand. I love you.”a1fa61d6536823ce

Now it was 24842698dd Baek Sunwoo who b2cf67703a spoke soothingly, and 5c74b7be98 only then did fb24d2d697 Gijun stop his 18beda515a imaginings. Feeling belatedly embarrassed, he 496ba04fba awkwardly shifted his gaze 766fb5758f and replied.5786d3fb54329512

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“…Yeah, me too.”7d19fc260253e106

Baek Sunwoo’s laughter grew brighter. Annoyed by his continuous chuckling, dcdc174f9a Gijun reached up, pulled his f10d0b4c34 neck down, and their breaths c2c57c3289 mingled, no longer tinged with 719194f070 laughter.ebe77cf3af797029

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Their night of love deepened 82f4345d34 peacefully.c01e3d59afea1dc7

It was no longer 16e912ebda a frightening night.5b516068ee45b06d

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