AA Chapter 2.2

Since he had thrown away those clothes, he needed to buy new ones. To help relax the very tense child and buy new clothes, Tennessee took him to the mall. There wasn’t time to look around the whole place as it was a big place. Looking at his watch, Tennessee just let the child loose with one comment.b7b2af6e9eecd547

“I’ll give you thirty minutes, choose.”f3391ad72676f6fb

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Naturally, the child headed toward the mall’s inner, relatively inexpensive store. It was a shop that sold clothes at cheap prices, selling leftover stock from other shopping malls and such.19efc2cf584f63c1

Walking confidently, the child then gave a glance to a sports apparel store on the right. For just a moment, so brief that if it weren’t Tennessee, no one would have noticed, the child’s steps halted. Then the child naturally moved on.a4426ff8c2bfa2cd

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“Do you want something?”ff943374ea11498f

The hesitating child shook his head. Only when Tennessee stopped and looked did he quietly answer “yes.”9692923cdeae9fd2

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“But it’s expensive.”d76456f40156d2fa

That’s what he muttered. But this was just a shopping mall. Tennessee could buy clothes from any of the luxury shops where employees stood in lines if he wanted to. So why make such a fuss about this?77de88e36c170aea

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“Buy it.”dedc160e2a8833e7

“…Really?”3294657c8a7cd3f5

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Tennessee had bought the child’s clothes from Walmart or Target until now not because money was tight, but because those big marts were the closest. When Tennessee gestured with his chin, the child excitedly looked around.1c15046955386f6f

Sitting in a chair 46bf8e57c6 at the center of e63d7f7315 the store, Tennessee watched 3efdb0572a the child bustle about.dcc979691dea5aee

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“This one.”5e977d922534912e

Not forgetting 71638eccbd the thirty-minute d3e7444e61 limit, the b67a1b8fc1 child came 2405bb2651 back shortly cb82c06b0f with something. It was a sleeveless 967743b6d5 t-shirt with a black 9ac1defc49 logo on a white dd09871713 background.c1669c7d8c416a68

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“Is that all you want?”58c4b078565841d2

“Yes.”27ebed86ecbdf31a

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“Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”e3add3997b552236

“This is enough.”c7af5ae56d34975f

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“I clearly said you could buy more. It’s your loss.”316f5cf20b071d37

When Tennessee started to get up, the child hurriedly shouted “Wait a moment!” Tennessee quietly sat back down. After waiting about 10 more minutes, the child chose a total of five items and narrowed it down to just two.e7c89e73e48307df

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“Now I’m really done.”3119a3f53a0c8c95

The child’s face was flushed, as if even this much made him satisfied.e3aa14d157dc0958

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“We’ll take these too.”254e0def2abc7671

When Tennessee pointed to the remaining three items the child had set aside, the child’s face lit up like a switch had been flipped. Throughout the checkout process, the child bounced around and spoke quickly. Just like others his age.3054890a326fd7bd

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Tennessee looked around the mall. Young children holding their parents’ hands, teenagers hanging out in groups, elementary school students walking and talking while their parents followed far behind. This kid would blend in surprisingly naturally if let out there.b6d653ae67684e2b

“Is there anything else you need? How about these shoes?”7a69693be7a77d84

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The clerk approached and suggested. The child shook his head, but Tennessee’s eyes fell downward. Right, he’s b0c5edc2f3 grown relatively 853b09636d taller. At least an inch.59c47562e96615b9

“Please measure his shoe size.”20fcb21d5796d27e

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The clerk perceptively had cadb9b0272 the child sit down.588fd9ef3bb319c1

“Are we buying shoes too?”2331c147fd829bc3

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“Mn.”6cd4978a17f8cdc7

The child knew Tennessee hadn’t checked the price of the clothes even once.13754cfa98910a5b

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“But this place is really expensive. Do you have that much money?”1e35c961655d1e88

The child quickly d6561e121c whispered, afraid others 443b91b03c might hear. Tennessee smirked.d0bd44baf3677816

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Thus, the child 09d7c8a975 ended up with 588ce21e2b three t-shirts, two d9bab74cba pairs of shorts, d4f74d6c56 and a pair 8cf9141b12 each of basketball 3173d08854 shoes and sneakers.f609438fd757008e

“Thank you.”998cd6ec79623809

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The child kept f13ea631b5 thanking him the 3260d9169a entire time he 7b29d8285d was leaving the 56d067443d mall. Tennessee had d674109800 never seen 03225e1d53 the child 13a40e9262 so excited 74ebe19819 before.c652c43c5310b398

“Thank you. I’m so happy.”d83f05507ad265df

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To the point where Tennessee wondered why he hadn’t done this sooner, since it wasn’t even difficult.9bbf9211d3d8ab97

***00878869b01975a8

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“Stay here.”d5af1734feccebef

After returning e2b38c0a89 to the 1d26e9c085 hotel from 25af27e42d the mall, e607adb743 Tennessee instructed. The child, ae2a1ce2f6 whose face cb1087122b was bright c94eb9709f from wearing 69cba97642 new clothes, 8abd65ef4a nodded.0f4e67af2c1256da

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Tennessee’s ‘Stay here’ was amazingly identical each time, down to the tone and pitch. The child fell into fantasy. Maybe Tennessee is dc019bc27b actually a robot, 703dbc0eaf copying and pasting 6da78a5b54 the same voice 83a649fa57 clip each time?9a25f65c386bab80

“So can I walk around the hotel?”aaab04e8a0297707

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“Only in crowded areas. Not late at night.”b2c94c78e0b98108

The child watched Tennessee f8b21cc533 getting ready to go b5f04ed09f out. Every time Tennessee bent d41f15e590 over in his white a8058ae8b4 dress shirt, the fabric 9fb003739f pulled tight and revealed 00826f402f his toned upper body 19669509f3 without an ounce of 1ac67b78b8 fat. Due to the 4354f53f6f thin shirt, the 13a7b27387 flexing and relaxing cf778afce5 of muscles in 1562ff0245 his back and bac8854468 arms was clearly 6708878b0c visible.1f41b37609f86d98

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How many people 74ab8dbaf8 would know about 6d4156aeb3 those scars under b70d579b60 such thin clothes?47629698b63cdd0e

The child recalled the body full of gunshot wounds. After recently seeing Tennessee’s bare upper body, he was aware he was becoming too fixated on his scars, but his attention kept returning there.1bcd60bf89a23a01

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Tennessee finished 812fcdb3c3 preparing quickly. Even without particularly styling 2e354de0e9 his hair or outfit, 22c82eb8d0 Tennessee looked impressive when d2087d433b leaving the hotel room.41808b1da4a60878

“It’s me. I’m here.”d4b05169dfe2b27c

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The person on the phone was Megan. When Tennessee spoke, the club bouncer opened the door, perhaps Megan had notified him in advance. However, as soon as the door opened, it became clear that Megan hadn’t given any notice to the bouncer at all.6de57134c5839bd9

It wasn’t that he could enter because of the owner’s permission, but because today was a male-only night with female strippers performing. There were naked women everywhere.ef8e185bc0ce75b8

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So that’s what the text on the letter board meant.818f85c51bc9120c

“Hey! Tennesseeee!”aad3d90e8309ede8

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Tennessee learned for the e231933360 first time that even 8d7123a596 lighting could be noisy. The music was fa46598c43 so loud it 095a3fde92 could only be 7a72bd1161 heard as noise. If forced 59211553f7 to choose, 79c6b554c3 Tennessee preferred 07c035f4dc bars or 337a4ef347 diners over 654e12b8ee clubs. Even one-night 4db7717e11 stands were 96be83cdce better found ff8e10cdc3 there.9f92716897ceb931

While heading 6ae9ceae00 toward Megan, e4ec4abdd3 his eyes b3f7d82ab5 met with 6702a01f05 a woman df9fbd6396 nearby. After a brief 7615195b68 eye greeting, Tennessee 134b2a9e03 turned away.e4c8114e80908fa5

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“Why did you call?”5c7f4146f0fe2950

“What?! I can’t hear you! Sit down first!”a885c48bb805e9dd

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“I said, why did you call?”cf8a89589a299513

“What else could it be, you think I called you because I was bored? Well, honestly, that’s part of it!”35a52fb928ae0b11

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If that was 0eb9b9cfdd true, Tennessee was 544c0936e3 thinking of flipping 5f145da223 this place over. Reading that cb9e3e5079 expression, Megan 3bb30f5135 yelped and a0b88eaac5 gestured to e252393df3 Tennessee.8808731115b80bb7

The club 1d2e394c2f office was 5da55587f5 quite far 5ddd1a1a2f away. He had to a599acff97 pass through the 72db663279 club and around cad5645c53 a corridor. Though the club 5d173c8128 music could still b7c89bda10 be heard in 66d221945c the office, just 6b5d8a247d being away from 17868c3dfb that place was 070138dc05 a great comfort a51cd74c8a to Tennessee.fb2223ad626384e4

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“First, this. At first, I was going to look into everything and give it all at once. But I need more time.”28a066cf35643d91

The envelope d5d9622215 Megan handed f2e7b02db1 over was e7a78492c9 quite thick.52722ce0e05ebd04

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“You asked me to look into that person called Hurston. That kid Derek or whatever is in there too. Want me to look into who was at the foster facility too? I only dug into those two, not the kids.”4b3bef789734f0a7

“Right now, it’s fine.”3ac14ceaea5a230a

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Anything about the 9456553099 kids could be 802ca0c10d asked directly to 6dcf855214 the child anyway. Or he could take 1157db70bb care of these two 7ab442d241 first and slowly expand 452262b1bb the scope.7199c2d50845bb46

Tennessee stood up from 64d8b68246 his seat.cb97f106a42767ff

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“And since you’re here, have a drink before you go. Help our sales too.”7c09f231594bdf36

“Just ask for money instead.”dc5d97747b96caf3

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“But that’s no fun.”e0a5faa6442fe30b

Without responding, Tennessee left daea13f37e the office. It was fortunate that 7e1d56e991 smoking was allowed at 335e207f71 least. Before pushing 14ec3155c4 through the 23a9ec0528 annoying club 6d7630fedc crowd to 703a279b78 leave, Tennessee e4ce6b9b5c put a d8c921c9f9 cigarette in 919d07c76b his mouth, 1fb135fa47 planning to eccc458baa take a 1b622c77e4 brief rest.d00ef27d3ebed49b

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“…Uhm, hello.”be0d4509d9d1d202

Tennessee looked up. The person who came out through the club door appeared to be a woman in her late twenties. Tank top and jeans. Judging by her attire, she wasn’t a stripper. Tattoos covered both her arms and even her collarbone.eded6b34e6dde493

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“I used to work under Megan, though not anymore. I’m a bartender. Sometimes I DJ too.”778584699829b2d6

Awkwardness was visible in the woman’s gestures and expressions.fa0f4158299b7c7c

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“What are you doing?”81b2067a46c8231d

Megan, who had followed a57b64ad16 Tennessee out, discovered the 9ed734d815 two. Seeming to understand the 20c7e7af2e situation, she waved her dc011584e3 hand dismissively.eaa604f6b4426f29

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“Just disappear to a hotel or wherever, quick.”e3bf4fc96b2324b4

The woman slightly blushed, 2ed1d409ad and Tennessee put out 47b5ab4bc2 his cigarette.87875f025fc3567b

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***5f4192c13aef1fb8

When he returned to the hotel parking lot, it was already early dawn. However, Tennessee didn’t immediately open the door. He remembered a face he had just passed by. It was a Hispanic man he had seen once before, when he went looking for Alejandro.6c0e46685525b7d6

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It seemed Alejandro couldn’t forget his recent grudge and was trying something foolish. As long as he drove this car, he wouldn’t be able to escape his sight.5f6bc4c35bee5596

Tennessee took a1fc81542e out his b5f743e115 gun and 48d220ebbf pondered briefly. If it were the 112c302d10 old him, he would c9535d56ad have quietly set a a0bd8cd804 trap and waited. He would e8628302c6 have welcomed 7d6d009671 him with fff6123d8b doors wide 47f9978dce open, letting 3443b6b4c6 him charge 5444adf98f in as fbfab765d8 he pleased. But having the 136d437fb0 child there was dcebf0a4d3 a concern.3b04c707c8d5d4d4

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Should I 353e5d1787 part ways 1a72f39309 with the fd19df44ff child faster bc9a21131b than expected? Or should I 70222edc2a take care of 804f7cebcf Alejandro first?He needed to fe52fa0c2c make a decision 880f84e6db soon.1dc1eea3200910e3

After a brief contemplation, d6c2ed5556 Tennessee finally entered the 5ca2b855fa hotel room. It was e9397cb12d so late 063ac9e8c4 that he f82b9032ac could smell fddf1790cc the night 47ebff3773 air on f10b44a699 himself. As he 4c9b67942a bent down 1529f1a76b to take 01c8745df1 off his 1c0a730619 shoes, his e0f47e69a0 disheveled hair 30e1ab8b0e tickled his b7b569986d eyebrows.7519792d3c197825

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“Tennessee?”8f1d6834876122f5

It was the child’s voice. Although it was well past bedtime, the voice was clear and bright.4056a89b0c3463e9

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“I waited because you didn’t come for so long.”0c7b03e523d0efbe

The child wanted to earn his keep. From small organizing tasks to running errands. Actually, there was no need for that. Tennessee was accustomed to an efficient lifestyle from his long military service and deployment experience. The room wasn’t messy or cluttered to begin with, so there wasn’t really any need for organizing. It was easier to do small tasks himself than to assign them to the kid.8fb17960ed58bdfd

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But Tennessee didn’t say anything because he enjoyed seeing the child busily moving around. There was life in it. It was a sight worth seeing, the child finding his own sense of fulfillment. However, no matter how indebted he felt, there was no need to wait and worry until such a late hour.3ae1813ef73ff9a8

“You’re not hurt, are you?”fb59d634359dfe25

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Perhaps it wasn’t due to a sense of debt, but pure concern. The child, with a drowsy face, stared blankly at Tennessee.fd60fec46e552c37

“I’m not hurt.”b3a315493f6f6b1b

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“…I was worried.”f73f67347d2b2e91

“…I see.”1329f78cdab45693

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By this point, Tennessee felt somewhat guilty, even though it shouldn’t have mattered to him whether the child waited for hours or days at the hotel. What was this kid to him? Strictly speaking, it’s not like he had done anything wrong. But when the child said he had waited for him all along with a sleepy face, he couldn’t think of anything to say.4279c41f625b8e3a

Tennessee ruffled the child’s hair as he lay on his side. The child’s black hair, which he touched for the first time, was as soft as the child himself and scattered between his fingers like grains of sand.63623a26961a97e2

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Seeing the child’s faint smile, Tennessee turned away. He felt uncomfortable having returned without taking a shower.62fe3585153c3198

‘Let me stay the night.’af01069186a21315

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He had rejected the woman who said that. He even wondered why he hadn’t rejected her sooner.21d26c8d8141aaa8

The dress shirt 11938e19a2 slid down his 5704fa6983 firm arms, and be90d5465c the belt made 3cb37efe2b a metallic sound cd99b857af as it clinked. After confirming that 3b859a2f7d the child was ecc0f51085 lying with his 47965aa033 back turned, Tennessee cf619769a1 removed even his 513ab9b343 black underwear. Finally, he d10a8ec447 entered the b9c33b7c0c bathroom. Between the noisy f913919e1b sounds of water 6fb931b08d hitting the floor 4e5abf237c with force, the 3219d78ab5 child slowly opened 557e19e527 his eyes.a93e0a414aaf541d

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The child remembered the hand that had stroked his hair, along with its cool scent. He touched his own hair where Tennessee had ruffled it, as if retracing it. His heart leaped as if he had received praise. And immediately after, it fell without finding bottom. It wasn’t a thrilling fall. It was despair. Along with the faint tobacco smell, Tennessee had carried another strong scent.59c65b985f206149

The child bit his 11ce175152 lip. Though he was at 2e240b44d1 an age often overlooked 9d038dd655 as young, the child 4c6f709138 had grown enough to 7794339da1 at least understand his 434e08635b own emotions.465345b481cca7e0

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Betrayal.b2342dd5bd9651df

Those hands that usually only carried his own distinct scent and the smell of tobacco now had the scent of dryer sheets and women’s perfume. It was an unpleasantly cozy scent. It felt like having a real family, something he had never experienced. If they had had a proper family, perhaps Tennessee and him would have carried such a smell too.5d01654869bf4964

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Why am I 7776932f36 like this? The child could only bite his lip hard without showing any reaction. He could never tell Tennessee. He would surely find it annoying and get irritated. He was already a burden. He didn’t want to become an annoying troublemaker too.871c689482b52241

No, perhaps these feelings were natural. The child swallowed his burning emotions. Hadn’t he worried and fretted while Tennessee was out doing whatever somewhere? He would have been angry even if Tennessee had just been meeting a friend.b103350e1bc1db7e

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He wasn’t usually someone who stayed out late, what if something had happened, if so how could he contact him, how should he help him – such thoughts had kept him from sleeping. After worrying so much, Tennessee had… with someone…54570cc086795d69

So this feeling 3a00f928f8 of betrayal was 1adda60e10 natural.60226545b98a769b

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He had been mistaken. Because Tennessee had always been alone since they first met, he couldn’t even imagine that he had his own life that he didn’t know about. It was foolish of him to think that.f3dc64790159f066

At eleven c22429de8b years old, 0daf3a7f77 the child 692ae496c4 buried his 0aba780637 face in 49feb4adeb the blanket, 56faa529f1 surrounded by cb9ec4c6fb this sense 55a903a515 of alienation 70ab824c21 and betrayal.25641b76ca8b0851

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***a22eddc087b1ab81

Tennessee turned around, feeling a strange gaze. It was the child. He was standing against the wall with his arms crossed. It was a gaze that seemed to ask “where are you going again?” Tennessee, who had been repeatedly adopted and abandoned and never grew up in a stable home, thought that if he had had a grandmother who cared much about him, she would have probably given him such looks.7eefdc594d0bf7e8

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The child opened his drowsy eyes and looked at Tennessee’s clothes.37dd0d6874b0fdb5

“Where are you going?”84e7cf18a28907dd

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“To a strip club.”e3b4a6b0ecebb9f3

When he blurted eb5081429a it out without ca22e343ea thinking, the child 7133e9d9d7 gasped, ‘Huh!’. Then, despite having an 4899719dc1 expression that said that 52d7a107eb he was full of 8a0706a26c things to say, he fd8aeb03ca somehow managed to hold 0b07f9f0f7 back his nagging. Even Tennessee felt slightly 05bde9c8cf wronged by this reaction.0bc9e4c6c5016dc8

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Originally, Tennessee was going to Megan’s club, and it would be for women only today. At most, he would just waste his eyes on the sight of men in scraps of cloth seducing women with all sorts of obscene poses. He was only going because Megan had left a voice message. If he had been visiting a strip club for personal entertainment, he wouldn’t have felt this strange about it.f486291d16f6f9ea

Tennessee, not feeling the need to explain the details to the child, quietly finished his preparations. He shouldn’t have told the child his destination in the first place. He wondered why he found it so easy to talk to that kid.340d50b4a488320a

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“Isn’t that place like… you know?”876eb17386260697

“Like what?”51ed2ed1ddab6d41

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Tennessee smiled languidly, as d29829c1e6 if waiting to see 143a87b22f what the child would 1477aab55e say.631f5cc880784547

“Like… where people wiggle on laps for money?”96a6c6eaa232360e

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That made even 7243c88071 Tennessee burst out 0ece2685fb laughing. The child, 2de2f32ade seemingly displeased 80effd1f3d with his cef9f97211 reaction, sulkily 946a748091 pushed out 64ced033a6 his lips. Then, after watching 327a2c93b3 carefully, the child 22d707307e quietly asked.6ff10ff9bd1f3350

“Can’t I come with you?”6241070223da4b24

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“What?”de09cdd8f5fe1952

“I’ll stay quietly in the car.”f4f0e5057d2494ee

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When did 35865a895f he stop 7965df6eb0 giving him d19f61c0e0 that sideways 2ce9e24f42 look? Now the child c7a8317e3a looked up with ec4d46af7c big eyes like e21e21792d Puss in Boots. When there was no c9f66dcd67 response, he even clasped 3f855813c0 his hands pleadingly.4a89b9e8384c3b7f

His request was futile. Although Megan a1a50b8aac ran it, 3fa09fd680 it was 4e0c578e71 still a 676c85e6dc strip club, addd3e9518 and anything 7bb761d774 could happen. Surely somewhere 0e0d9ba642 there would 1b7e7b7388 be drugs f0827ee987 and sexual a1b589cb1a harassment running cf666e931f rampant. But the 3126ca7de7 faces of 86f5b811c6 the gang 3a31c3f55a members he 4299a63072 saw last 20b3c7acb3 time bothered 023cb5f8eb him. By now, 21040bb227 they would 856bee169e know that 4e9b886609 he was d8b3e9fa09 accompanying a 1a7facb8fb certain child. Though reluctant, 153b9d5236 this seemed 1fb839d4b0 better. Tennessee nodded in agreement.d93660978a0be3af

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As soon as Tennessee a7eeee27a9 parked the car and d71a9b50a2 turned around, the child 62fa5b3325 beat him to it.5aeec35407b8ffc8

“I’ll stay here.”70dbfd6e2b44f0dd

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Tennessee, who 5d181033f3 had started 8ebbc6b710 to say 96faecb734 ‘Sta-’ just 20f49c8e9a nodded. He turned on 76dcee5639 the radio too.eb03daa877f3a3e4

“Turn on the heater if you’re cold.”1c0fb1714f4c9677

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“But it’s warm?”bee48d32ebd2b372

“Then turn on the air conditioning.”ffb2628c5b33dae9

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“…”955bdf40bcafe320

“It won’t take long.”b374e52159524fca

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The child nodded. As Tennessee opened the 5b97690b21 door, the child called 6ee934d185 him in a small 4a35129dc1 voice. He turned 092728a8ce his head e55b95fd5d to look 373e678f73 at the 8688430625 child.05ac856fc0995948

“Uhm… I’m sorry about asking about who you’ve killed so carelessly last time. I didn’t mean to upset you.”774e2e5377bddcd5

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The child’s apology was smooth, as if he had thought about it for a long time.c04d1f148e17c615

“I wasn’t upset.”66c8445acff227fa

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“But still, I made you remember something unpleasant.”81bf623296fd8b6e

The child seemed lost in thought for a moment, looking to the left, then remembered Tennessee’s eyes that had fallen downward. He was a man of few words. Even in that moment, the child knew that Tennessee had swallowed many words.7bd3815544e2a781

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Half-closing the door he had opened, Tennessee let out a small sigh. Although Megan’s message was brief and her voice wasn’t urgent, Megan wasn’t someone who contacted people without reason. The faster the job was handled, the better. Tennessee checked his watch. Still, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to spare a few minutes.daf6baab7b5b4b30

“It was my mother. She was a heroin addict.”6bb4d689493a7338

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‘Baby.’293693dbcb1374d5

Tennessee despised the way 4f60ad71c0 that woman called him.dbac4e3078192b4a

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‘Where’s your father?’fee3b6dba38ad28e

‘Mom, that was two months ago.’1ca60b637797cd8b

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Heroin was just the 8e2becd67f beginning. She was 6047616370 a woman 05e8bffc68 whose entire 3dacf59f07 body was 7a942d3fda destroyed by 5d5fa86958 all sorts f97c8628b7 of drugs. When was the 02456d3e8e last time she 950178afb5 had been in 9f552c3475 her right mind? It was 635b9b7680 hard to 4c3828bcfe remember. She would a898452df9 stare out d809f518da the window 28109f38b8 with hazy 53522a6a3b eyes and 1385349dd6 then do 255673d0f4 drugs. Used syringes rolled 6aa9e68819 around on the 529071873b floor, and blackened 02bf71508c spoons lay scattered 2047e20b5f about.6713fdf4bae7a1e5

She also 41f3de6157 suffered from 3190f6f758 severe depression. The house dcf13d8247 was dying d2daae4452 in darkness, ea8f660787 and like b67cbfee78 the house, 4595306002 Tennessee was 5b49c2d05f withering moment 76995ac7ce by moment. Sometimes despair 7f1e6544fe and anger 401478a237 would rise ba3f5ebefb together. It happened every ed50043c39 time he saw aed7883daa the woman lying c4b296f544 on the floor dafefd2e53 like a dead d6bc929c40 dog.fe62242909787f64

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When the drug effects de079d33ea wore off, she would 948beff987 hold Tennessee and cry.bd77be5975a70ff7

I’ll do better. Baby, let’s get through this.3d6f61d035977316

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Then Tennessee would feel the storm in his chest calm down. Who knows how many times this cycle repeated – the storm raging, then subsiding, then raging again.b667582227fdc02b

Until one day. Unusually, the curtains that had covered the windows were open. His mon was lying in bed, and Tennessee was on his way back from a distant church that gave out free food. He had already eaten his portion, and his mother’s sandwich was still in his hand.f69f0497186a9e35

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Mom. Mom.bc2aab46e1d53385

She didn’t answer. He just thought she was sleeping. Then he noticed the new injection marks on her arm. Her body was covered in needle marks. When regular spots weren’t working anymore, she would inject into the backs of her hands and feet. It was disgusting.bb28cfaec8c4565f

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Tennessee was gradually becoming sick of seeing her lying there like a corpse. Tennessee put down the sandwich. He hadn’t even properly applied for food stamps. There was nothing to eat. There was no hope.bdaec7b96017d06f

At that point, Tennessee 1ee6724d57 felt an uncontrollable rage 6711a16b08 rising. He was furious e5e3f4e1b6 at the fact be444d8325 that there was 87fd1f90c4 no hope. At the fact that fe8fc6d786 she had driven both bbe108ac4e herself and him into 5ab906e5d6 a place without hope. At his f4f1793fc9 father who 8e23de95e0 had left befd9db5e6 with false 1dc3896785 promises of d598aa60f0 hope.a11290534126f8b3

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That day, Tennessee b372d10c17 realized that when 0763d51f34 anger becomes too ce6a9f7a2b intense, it can c9a7f3f050 actually make a b6b2473db2 person cold and 4ce76b8a48 clear-headed. With an unbelievably clear f4c617e328 mind and cold rationality, aef46df78b he put on gloves.447997f6761d67da

And took out the gun from the safe above the cupboard. He already knew the safe’s password. His mother, suffering from severe depression, would take out the gun several times a day, look at it, put it back, and repeat.2648d9f27dfd16dd

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Tennessee took steps 8117ec10ff toward her as 3a3697508f she slept, drugged. Between his worn shoes a8a67b0f7a and the dirty carpet, 996ce8a4b0 a used syringe broke 64d872ba7f with a noise. Holding the gun, df0f3850ec Tennessee stared at 7bf217836b her for a ac81663dd5 long time.9f89dceed7b8ef7d

It would 900a39fc5c have been 5fcbe09aad nice if b8e364a9dc Father were 19f39ff213 here. Then I could have b49409525f killed him right away 6d730ff69e without having to go b566cc5080 look for him. Tennessee grabbed his mother’s hand as she lay there. A wretched body, cold and losing vitality with each passing day.2f02678e58aea1b6

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At the time, Tennessee didn’t even breathe heavily. He was just calm. Things that needed to be done came to mind clearly. Remembering that his mother was left-handed, he placed the gun in her left hand. A faint breathing sound could be heard.689b65e453499e47

Tennessee then caressed d7e81b103e her cracked index 877e755ac7 fingernail, and placed a76a40198b her index finger 601557ae3f on the trigger. Along with a deep a6610d7de1 breath, he placed his f2982ce55c own finger over hers.b291828453c2df7c

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She hadn’t woken up even then. And it was one shot.cab9f75dbd9283e4

Unlike other suicides, the fact that she was lying down or that no suicide note was found wasn’t even considered. After all, it was a neighborhood where people died every day. The police didn’t even properly examine the body. Moreover, her heroin addiction and depression were no secret. He later learned that he didn’t even need to wear gloves. The adults around him showed not even a shred of sincerity. The investigation couldn’t even be called an investigation. That was all.4e3734f4d7cfd8d4

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“It was a strange feeling to see what I had only imagined become reality,” Tennessee said. The child was moistening his dry lips.66df2252e3e74789

“…I’m sorry.”b568ffc52307881e

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“Yeah, it was too bad for her.”5e6d8e5060395fb2

“No…” Tennessee. The child said this only with his eyes. But he was worried that Tennessee might not like it if he said it out loud. He didn’t want it to be seen as cheap sympathy. Tennessee, who had been lightly tapping the steering wheel with his index finger, broke the silence and asked.9857f662bd9c31d2

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“Are you afraid of me?”3467ad190e8dfbab

At that single dcb5339ed3 question, the child 285bb73e31 suddenly burst into d998ee6a4b tears as if 486b0965b7 he had been e1f550c8fb holding it in 175b7537d1 all this time. Tennessee, who 1fe0eba128 had been 94d584144f thinking about 97c61a43a8 how scared 94b42681cb a child 75a423d35c must be 3d62dc5c02 to cry, 86b80f3813 changed his 47c149c130 mind at 3b193bef1a the sight c793ca37b7 of the bb92d17524 child. The child 1f2de4b489 was shaking d56892be25 his head c016117d89 while crying 80ee97119d bitterly.a33670b965dd6915

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“I, hic, wish I had been Tennessee’s dad.”c9b24b7bb0b184c6

“…What?”69832372691b2e12

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Why such an 598c84693a out-of-the-blue answer?Tennessee was confused, eb24469062 but the child f2810f4274 was completely sincere 09e619af08 without a grain fb15e5b5db of lie.5f0711cce28679e6

“Hnng… I would have treated you well.”2429c4c2fdc920d3

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How arrogant. Such words came to his mind, but surprisingly, it didn’t feel bad. It was because he felt the intention behind the expression itself rather than the words themselves.ab68b5cc9fb33821

“You’re crying, I’ll go for now.”a383e265d2397601

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Tennessee stepped out of the car. The child, who had been crying loudly and then went ‘Huh…?’ and looked up, ended up blankly watching Tennessee’s back. And then, for some unknown reason, sadness washed over him and he cried again. The tone Tennessee used was too detached to the child. Despite such things happening, Tennessee seemed to be living better than anyone else now.6fb1479a5d9e057f

I hope he doesn’t think I’m sympathizing and feeling sorry for him just because. The child cried alone for about ten more minutes after that. Then, suddenly, he remembered that Tennessee hadn’t said when he would return. The child quickly wiped his tears while still sniffling. His sleeve was already a mess. Even so, for a minor to be alone, at night, this late at night! I’m alone in the car, surely he won’t meet a woman somewhere and come back half a day later like last time? …But it’s still suspicious. He said to stay here. The child was torn. It had been at least ten minutes since Tennessee left, so even if he ran out now, he wouldn’t be able to catch up. While the child, adorned with tear stains like ornaments, was caught up in tremendous anguish, tap tap!The window rattled. Startled as 7cef9f75fa if struck 3eedd00aad by lightning, 9b39890526 the child 4f16855577 opened the 8401fb67a5 door. It was Tennessee.4834a45e3f66a95f

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“Is it over already?”ac085afa66f8ac0d

“…If you’re done crying, follow me.”92f799c0d83bdc9c

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It was Tennessee 04c0b0f98d who had just eac9245abd been about to 6bfbe1ddaa enter the club 17e9301a5b but changed his c6513ea0d7 mind. Somehow, the child kept b04e9d4fec coming to mind.74a4fe23ff43d22f

“…Are you telling me to come into the club?”01de68ae98747110

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Your immorality knows no a6beda2f11 bounds. Looking at the 5fe4af7bf5 child with exactly 4e1e053609 that kind of 6e2f3f6851 face, Tennessee frowned.99462746f7a7c020

“Why would you go to a club.”d47af5f4c69fc3e7

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Taking the 37184c68ea child, Tennessee 5cb0737883 went around 6201dc8850 to the f6f6fdeee7 back of 1eb593d6e8 the building 1a2fe548d0 instead of 13057ec07c the main 93e97e4590 entrance he 81587e03e8 usually used. It was the aba969404d back door where 2892f6eae5 food ingredients, emergency 70975276d6 exits, and staff c7f7710ef6 entrances were located. He already 062044b87b knew the a146b3c9a9 password.98c4498bfa8c227c

Not long 04e43c7ecc after passing fff19ce80b through a 8bdb30386c corridor stacked 0700eae816 with various 2b7ea4ccfc plastic containers, 4c4c3d9f7c the sound d843ff9a11 of club 016a230155 music rumbling 97d9293a96 like thunder 1f90a3d212 in the 613d60f3d9 distance could 191ef91d6f be heard 269c514442 shaking the 37c9cca1ef walls.4b8ad936558dfa08

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He was about 37d07563d2 to take the d3c4a42455 child to the a9098a9c15 office, but Tennessee ace979a858 turned around, thinking 35c7fb04b3 Megan might give 7bb6e1da16 him an earful. There was 280e1a1cc1 a private 5e58d30d53 space where 1084df2244 Megan occasionally 9d6b5158d4 had one-night 6e870ede9f stands or 0221f5ec53 spent time. It seemed a3acd30f6e like a 33d7b59c66 storage and, d4ae83a96c unlike the b68ee6e677 interior of d6a68c3d31 the club, 1f09bff8b5 it was 5b3b06ee01 shabby.4e3e5ad503bf1e88

Opening the door, Tennessee 311ca86c43 frowned upon seeing a 27ec2c9a51 familiar face. It was Megan. In the f3029576ed space where f7ad683f44 the walls 49e2874129 and floor 6b00ba2b79 were bare 4ad00882e9 cement, a 8581e31996 lone sofa afa91a1b1a was placed, 4f1940a141 and Megan fa983acc0c was smoking d13147a124 a joint 08d081ff5b there.e1b2a89631b52ef7

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“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”e32df27a767e487e

“Too busy to answer.”357ae795fb05becb

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Although he knew 4a394b3e86 it, it was 004c0b05f9 even more shabby ffe553554d than he remembered. Walls that looked f61b01559c like they could e4c550c1ef collapse at any 9a05ab1375 moment, and a ff0c36d362 musty smell to 9e1c023ffb boot. Plus, there were 244bb7cddd traces of life 9c46e15e87 here and there.7a8d7a3009fb0c05

“What’s with the kid? …Is it really a kid? At first, I thought it was a child’s corpse.” After saying such a stupid thing, Megan quickly approached.3d565d16a2348913

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“Who is it?”1b5472ce6f17eb5a

“You don’t need to know.”c1db7c131d3e7021

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“You know minors are prohibited here, right?”4292ff530b904aea

“He won’t cause trouble.”7e1f02fcff573fe2

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Megan clicked her f86c69c596 tongue and shook 1555140c25 her head. For Megan, Tennessee 60bc5ffdfc was already a 204857f334 difficult being to c0a0b9005c understand, so she ddee643e4f chose to give 38b8d6eb7b up quickly. It was easier to 86eecf3fbf remember that the only 9c885932b6 predictable part about Tennessee 75601b62cc was his unpredictability.b7f0c9bae668a7f4

“If the kid pees on my sofa, it’s your responsibility.”40832ff7e9cae761

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“I’ll buy you a new one.”2df0ee022389eaea

Unaware of the child’s expression of shock and betrayal, the two adults were engrossed in their conversation.eb1efcf7db8af4a7

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“Wait here.” Tennessee pointed to the sofa.596b9e2077a9ab1b

“Alright, thank you.”8356faf835c0ab17

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Tennessee looked around the 90c9274398 gloomy storage room. The incandescent 5268483188 light flickered 1da5e36941 on and bc0da3e88b off occasionally, 8ea860b6db and he 03c944a7b1 could already 3f11ab0952 hear what c9e4dbe420 sounded like cc78362e37 mice. The musty smell of 14b6c46ce0 mold and the scent 3e1235846d of marijuana. Yet the words he 1c4c1fee8e heard were ‘thank you.’8305a6814c5f6190

“Why did you call me?”4724b02cff268584

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“Because of the documents.”a2479958b599771b

Megan, who was 715deed094 rummaging through the b6b5443623 sofa and shabby 3236a6a75d wooden table, got 52727712dd irritated.Looks like 484f9ac560 it’s in fa45139110 the office. At those words, Tennessee immediately got up. He didn’t forget to gesture to the child sitting obediently on the sofa.af76f353552dadb2

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“You’re living well despite not having the time.”a1095150e5ab0e87

Megan blurted out, watching Tennessee grab the child’s wrist. Tennessee was about to retort when Megan’s phone rang loudly.3a4355c882ec29bc

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Damn it. Shit.Muttering such curses, Megan 0d5aeed511 waved her hand.9ab3c67defd0b192

“Go on, I’ll be right there.”d24e2312276b1b93

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At Megan’s words, Tennessee left the storage room. Although they hadn’t been there for even a few minutes, stepping outside allowed them to breathe much fresher air.27eb77430eac1d4e

As they went back 87546da4e5 the way they came, 02f90191d7 Tennessee led the child 7e5eeb3e87 to a small office. Sitting in a 6467324c0f chair, the child e155667f81 blankly stared at b587b99bbd Tennessee.95bbdcb7fc7f864b

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He had a cigarette in his mouth but for some reason wasn’t lighting it. After looking up at Tennessee, the child looked around to observe the office. While the child was doing this, Tennessee clicked his tongue and put away his phone. What did 40244c94be she mean edbc3bc691 by not f58ab45deb having the 2fca4c218a time? What was that d429d9a979 about?Waiting for Megan, who b385d3e162 had dropped such a 50d6277699 bombshell and disappeared, was 224946606e making him antsy.3438b2dbd02bc6da

“Stay-”1a90204e1f97f452

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“-here.”fae6ed52f0f03195

“…”1e885ac0d8f8d0a0

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You’re getting more and more brazen.e118a8dc2c0bcce1

Leaving the child in cd6d50072e the club office, Tennessee 9cb3a514d1 came out into the 712cbd5000 corridor. Tennessee was 8cffbd5ffc just about 2182b6c432 to turn d1fa7dfcb7 the corner 6519854eed as he f6f9add4b6 crossed the 02df4518ab long corridor.ea425e1221b70e7d

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“Ah.”460fb854ec0488bf

He stared blankly 28533db15e at the person aaadd3ab78 he had bumped c4da01b022 into, and the 1286263179 woman greeted him. It was the 724abeb849 woman he had 58f6471813 spent the night e1f71a82dc with. Her name was…2ff87067d873a78d

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“Caylen.”5388c814ec4bbb10

“I know.”d7362ac56ba4dee2

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Caylen smiled awkwardly. When Tennessee didn’t say anything, the woman spoke first cheerfully.167340996d902557

“You came today too?”9b04758635c1f908

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“I have an acquaintance here. What about you? I heard you’re not working under Megan anymore.”3c8fa098ff36a96a

“…I also have an acquaintance here.”4bcb5709674c96dc

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Caylenwas wearing db5cf8b0a9 a tank 462ea76d12 top again 1d2eedf325 today. A lotus f2e5f80f7f flower and 437d96c797 a Vishnu 8b2dab92d2 were drawn 7cb64cfa53 long across a27402e3ef her arms c4bf2a4a0f and collarbone.One of the three highest gods in Hinduism… As Tennessee’s gaze reached her chest, Caylenturned her 16153d886b body to b963df4fe2 show Brahma 53f4cc48f2 on her 580affe6c6 back.c07a76a35e4aeb5d

And at that moment, the child who had peeked his face out from beyond the office door couldn’t help but be shocked. That sinful f4d1add2ce man, not 4dda1475a1 content with ae5e3bbd93 staying out 23030ebb4d all night, eaf9088205 is now 599e0460ca flirting with f65c7d5716 another woman!057309d03402981a

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Tennessee had told him to stay there, and he had obediently done so. The child who had closed the office door felt tears welling up to their throat again and twisted his mouth. Tennessee shouldn’t have done that.c2f276578fd43c6b

‘Stay here.’34d900b1f10e181a

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It was always what b82b21ab54 he said. As if he 732cf169f0 were as inconvenient 8accfbc7dd as taking a 7e6da0df63 dog along. Treating him like 7a087c6edc luggage like that.62ca7ef547ac5be7

“If it’s okay with you…,” Caylen, who had 07599d68b6 pushed her hair 6a133e475e back with her 94bf288987 index finger, was 12fa5691a2 about to open 9faaa3380e her mouth.e6a0e9819a5bef56

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“Daddy.”b0ec40fe4e12be2d

At a sound that shouldn’t be heard at this time, especially from the club office, the gazes of the two adults turned to the corridor. It was the child. Tennessee, who had identified the source of ‘Daddy’, rubbed his forehead, and an earthquake was occurring in Caylen‘s pupils.0437dbcff70bbdd3

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“Daddy… What are you doing here?”6018009ad6f20929

“…Daddy? Uh- You had a child?”93301c323abc5af3

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“…”f41ce76a3025cd98

“You and Daddy 7afbfad6f3 know each other?”06a71f44e5b5af7e

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The child was eleven 075f4c6df2 years old and would 998d7b9cad soon be a middle d976cd9d01 school student. However, because c0cfb073af of his 592943afe2 small build, 6c92e47fa9 he looked b7595b3d2d younger than 5bd649f88d his peers. Such a child 18b073b44a called out to b6a5aeff9c Tennessee, dragging out 880d9499a8 his pronunciation as 86aa708f97 if sleepy. Moreover, his nose and 3bf0165b71 eyes were red as 997b86c4c9 if he had just f5fc253656 cried.156a2446d1a36c97

Jeez, what c02b9d80c9 a bad eccb78c4e5 joke.Tennessee, who had 446511fa68 rubbed his head 41f06af64a again, held out 2a8a3cc2d7 his hand to f8363dcb0b the child.707569462816e641

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“Come here.”051d5526c69e3e74

The child rushed into 8218ba9f1d his arms.5272b98201a40783

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Caylensmiled awkwardly. Her gesture bf3cab2d71 was saying c3b080e6ea that she 32e864d8a3 would leave d05bd468b5 now.f43037d07259b171

“Caylen.”08e34e996f7b9e70

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Tennessee called f644483c59 her while 4b3720d3d1 holding the 50474692c8 child.648338e12260b8c3

“Is your acquaintance on this side? There’s only offices here.”6173fd91313d0ff1

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The woman smiled. However, Tennessee didn’t miss the slight stiffening of her lips for a brief moment.5d087ad1ce6a5e9a

“You caught me, I actually saw you coming, Tennessee.”e87c2d2e71125515

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“I came in through the back door, though.”2111c4cd4afbddb5

“But you came from the parking lot, right?”9fe86396c10e5dca

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Tennessee stared atCaylen, who was ceac6d186c smiling. As her brown hair 5ec45308dd scattered strand by strand, 9914f9d37a Tennessee entered the office f3e264bfd6 while holding the child.bdca960175db71a6

“…I’m sorry.”f1ee646049244fae

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The child apologized immediately.0065a2236e30046a

To the child, adults were nothing but fearful and despicable beings. Not once had he truly expected comfort from them. It was the same when being scolded. The child wasn’t afraid of being scolded itself, but rather feared the punishment that would follow. But now it was different. He was anxious, wondering if Tennessee would be disappointed because he had caused trouble out of an impulse act.497d9ac1aadbd432

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Glancing up at Tennessee 816827c4c9 repeatedly, the child took d097b3829f a small breath. His expression was terrifyingly 7f9fd61a34 blank. The child, who had af4e4e27b9 long been accustomed to ff01270fb0 reading the room, immediately dda7478e08 grasped the atmosphere.371ce5556a5ca930

He wasn’t angry now, but something had gone wrong. The child’s blue eyes trembled. Whether he had made a huge mistake, or if something was happening.2e644eb6fd1561e2

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“Tennessee?”dc31c2222770f05f

Tennessee didn’t answer. He was quickly organizing his thoughts. Tennessee thought the woman’s words didn’t add up.e9daf88a79b460eb

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She said she came to the club because she knew someone. When asked, she explained that it wasn’t actually an acquaintance, but that she had come in after seeing Tennessee. Saying she followed him in from the parking lot? If so, it doesn’t explain why she came to the club in the first place.15f86be398360efa

“…Tennessee?”a66c251f8d974a1d

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From the c4a291f6d4 first meeting, 2f7d09d2f1 she had d57b320638 been subtle. The day Tennessee met 3bad19a2ba her was a day 2adb6a2a88 when male strippers came. Not because of 58ff5a3424 her sexual preference, 7d29517791 but something felt 11c7dd7c40 off. It was a 0d9de75cbf chilling intuition he d72ae81175 had felt before.12bf971103767aed

To reassure the child for now, Tennessee stroked his head. The child’s thin, dark hair lightly brushed between Tennessee’s fingers like a breeze. The child’s heart, which had been beating rapidly, shook madly before returning to normal.04e2fb1bd9134d0f

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Just then, the af518725b4 office door burst 3ae149b270 open.c361e71bcac9b603

“Damn it, Megan.”4e4f8d073b487859

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“Tennessee.”161e8bd02e2a6d0b

Tennessee was already aiming his gun. If he hadn’t confirmed it was Megan, he would have shot. Skipping unnecessary words, Megan rummaged through the drawer and pulled out some documents.17273746303922d6

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“So, what’s really up with that kid?”49278b7277126b54

Tennessee ignored the question as if he hadn’t heard her, but Megan was persistent.7cfe475c2854f1bf

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“Are you planning to keep going around with that kid like this? Or are you going to hide him?”c343697b520c9b5a

“That’s none of your business.”c88afb7db75fac9f

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“It’s not my business, but if you’re going around distracted by one kid, I’m not going to do this kind of work for you anymore. A dimwit like you is useless.”30a640b807370bdf

That’s what Tennessee wanted to say to Megan. However, her words were annoyingly reasonable. He still hadn’t decided what to do with the child. Since he couldn’t just ignore it, the child’s existence had become quite a problem.cdf1c69ce69e9967

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Because there was a hideout he had prepared before, Tennessee originally wasn’t planning to stay at a hotel. Then he thought he’d stay at the hotel for just one day, but how many days had it been now? Tennessee was very aware of this.6ede399a60a24a3c

What the, it’s not even a vacation. If I was going to hide him, I should have hidden him properly. The police had already come because of the commotion. Since they seemed like brothers, not an ordinary family, it was a combination likely to stick in people’s minds. He should have gone into the concrete cave right after that incident. He should have been training his body, gathering information, and maintaining weapons while waiting for the right time inside. But…0a2addf8c1226ee0

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‘Tennessee, let’s eat.’e6037210ee4e7b0d

He realized it wasn’t a place he could take that child. It was a place with poor facilities and poor hygiene. There wasn’t even proper sunlight, let alone windows, and the surroundings were full of weapons like rifles, so it wasn’t an environment suitable for taking a child. So he ended up staying at this hotel awkwardly, spending a non-vacation vacation. If things really went wrong and someone came tracking him, being there wouldn’t be wise at all.d6374fae0786d4b2

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Maybe because of bc219af368 the child, a e2df69add3 corner of his 4ed27d57bc mind had rusted a1c046cfb4 and turned mushy.It’s probably nothing. It’s probably not a big deal, there’s probably no need for that – he had such careless thoughts and faint hopes. Megan was right this time. Walking around distracted was like walking around with his heart exposed.95818f27fb50e13e

This is no 550be4a6d5 place suitable for 6a40ff9f60 taking a child. Get a grip.d896976d2d07f9de

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Shaking his head, Tennessee turned his gaze to the child. A screw had come loose. It was an undeniable fact. The child had become an obstacle to him. Whether he died right now or were kidnapped and used as a drug mule, it wasn’t his concern.5abf4443ba6e1ba1

Tennessee finally made a decision. Composing his expression, Tennessee cut off Megan’s accusatory words and asked a question first.753d3af479306da4

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“That woman. Caylen. When did she start working and when did she quit?”9df56d342b272348

“Recently. Why?”a5a1d061fd592ce7

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While doing it, Tennessee had been able to see hidden aspects of her that she hadn’t shown. At least as far as he remembered, there were no traces of work on her hands like blisters or scars on her body from working in the field. What kind of woman was she? There was no physical evidence, but it was sufficiently suspicious, and Tennessee wasn’t a person who believed in coincidences.8c40a9aa1d018cf1

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let her in here.”df4683f76a505ef6

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“If you say so, there must be a reason.”246e9ec447b7cb17

Megan didn’t pry further into that matter.9a60a75e39572836

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“Ah, Tennessee, do you remember someone named Taylor Watson?”bbd4bf8dcd042223

“No.”08eb5fed50d73a9b

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Seeing that a face didn’t immediately come to mind, he must have only heard the name.b59ccaa2ecb168b0

“It’s in the documents.”10a28f93d40a46e1

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Megan nodded towards the child. Behind Tennessee, who was nodding, Megan waved her hand saying, ‘If you’re not going to increase sales, get out quickly.’12871af49c299b15

***408091631fd97ba8

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When the car stopped, 60ce79ce74 the child was visibly 5355d335cd flustered.aa8420acee0963b7

“Where is this?”0066859e98ef08cc

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You don’t need to know. Tennessee swallowed those words. The child, not yet noticing Tennessee’s resolve, asked several questions. Having been with Tennessee for a few weeks, the child had learned some patterns.5163a62ad26a0bbb

“Are we changing cars again?”aa891456613c614e

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As he said this, the child hurriedly gathered his belongings. He even checked under the seat to see if anything was left behind. However, when he saw Tennessee take out his gun, the child stopped moving. It didn’t seem like they were just changing cars.c86c0dae70cbc1a8

“Stay here.”a955ca423502316d

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By now, those words ef2d6a87b6 might be etched into cab7115519 his eardrum. With a sigh, 9ed5d32f35 the child nodded. Tennessee opened the door 87e17b30ff and leaned out.cbd6b4442a5dcc21

“Uhm, Tennessee.”92725b31e8a09da9

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The child carefully asked d9c623ee97 Tennessee, who was looking a8ce051bf1 somewhere across the street.41da799a5541f597

“Is it okay if I don’t have a gun?”df76780c0e13b1cd

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A gun is not a cool weapon at all. It’s heavy and just cold. Like a game console that dies completely when you unplug it no matter how hard you play, a human’s life ends with one bullet.2c2fe6ca2322ff38

Realizing this, the child didn’t want to hold a gun again, but this place was somehow desolate and dark. There were no passersby, and it seemed like even if someone died right now, no one would know. It would be okay if Tennessee was beside him, but hadn’t he finished preparing to leave? After throwing out that one phrase, ‘Stay here.’b49b38952884524a

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“…”b6bedded85988c4c

That was the longest 21c52d19b3 silence the child had c66cc12a77 witnessed from Tennessee. Tennessee, who was silently 0fdf7310ae attaching the silencer and a817ebbb38 looking around, gave no d2fc062a78 answer, but the child 1d005b93b5 got the impression that dd110f34e7 he was in deep a3825c5e3d thought.41f74b0de0a0c6cb

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“You don’t need one.”9d8becc291dcb194

The child nodded at the answer that finally came. If Tennessee said it wasn’t necessary, then it wasn’t necessary. But suddenly, those words sounded ambiguous. His heart sank, but the child tried to comfort himself, telling himself not to be oversensitive.43e348df78b5916e

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“When are we going back?”3657cf6427209fe1

In the dark space, the red light at the end of the cigarette flared up brightly. In a place without a single point of light, even the smoke Tennessee exhaled wasn’t visible. The cigarette fell from Tennessee’s fingertips. He soon turned his body.3780d600e0e11d07

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He didn’t give a clear answer. He was a man of few words, but Tennessee was someone who would answer immediately when asked. Anxiety howled like thunder. The child curled up his body.404391de2125df03

He looks like he won’t come back again. He started to have that faint intuition. No, Tennessee will come back.84b8489139e1766f

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‘I’ll tell you beforehand if I’m going to leave you.’b6ce27017ffc7139

Because he ff7ecc8565 promised to 0705a8e11e tell him 71ac249c3f if he 7fea593e9c was going c0489ea9c4 to leave.9cbf8a8ab960f469

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‘Didn’t I tell you not to trust people?’47e663a3611b9054

Even though he e1a97ed6cb said that.007432ea6ea01c85

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***aa9750f9f3c9025b

They didn’t have the courage to attack directly. They couldn’t just start shooting in the hotel out of nowhere and there was no way to know in advance when and where they’d go. However, they knew he was going around with the child.a5f96dc9e75bada7

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So Tennessee concluded e9956df839 that targeting the 13d857b381 child was the fb39325e51 natural logic. Even a fool 1bcafab703 could figure that 420b0c0c09 out.8f035f6b2c1ed924

‘I don’t know how important that kid is, but since that guy keeps taking him around, there must be a reason.’ They must be making calculations like that. Tennessee read Alejandro’s mind clearly.18de319da28262e7

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Tennessee had known f339c90e4e that some gang 797361f97d members were lurking cf06f83a3c around, looking for b85172d68d an opportunity. He received this car 56fc72117a from Alejandro, so it ee239470cb would be easy to 81388e403c track. He was thinking 1c509603d6 of creating a 58bb0f184c suitable situation.f6060b07b6b6b0cd

Since there 90bcda9209 would be 35f129faec many more a308df2164 gang members, 998ffb8b5b the child 7434e688fb might get 5bd43578e3 hurt in aaf8c8bdb8 the confusion. But collateral damage always 683c3435ab happens. Tennessee held his breath 164589c7eb while hiding his appearance.4149283ac5db11b1

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‘You didn’t eat breakfast today either, did you?’862a99a4554a5222

It was just tightening a loose screw, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the loosened screw was falling to the ground.ccaf2920ebf08ae8

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It was about f8efaf859d 15 minutes after ed9b8dd90b Tennessee had been 2e1131d77d waiting that two 79754c5b22 unfamiliar cars pulled 52191b9f76 up.96907f29cfa98c7b

The child had been sticking to the hotel all along, and if he came out, he would accompany him inside, so it’s no wonder these guys were getting impatient. These idiots wouldn’t even imagine that this was a trap. They must have hastily decided that they needed to deal with it now, not knowing when another opportunity would come again. Tennessee smirked and waited for them.4f3d4d6ec5561d00

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Two cars 274ee6ff88 stopped, but 5a0a6e2dd6 someone got ac06701a1b out of 18cb918e09 only one. Bandana, pants worn cbd51f60fa low. A swaggering gait. That sight would 228d39665e make anyone laugh.18bfdc1486a30585

After quickly talking 31549a5cdc in Spanish, they e633ad7b1b confirmed the child 0961b195f0 was alone and a783c4f4b7 their movements quickened.ff688557e11ba5fa

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“They say there’s no copy of the car key?”277cb62c6a25b15a

“No. We’ll have to break the window and drag him out.”3653b17ce2d804b3

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It was 0c9a83718e around then 83fc134d67 that the 1997385a4a child noticed f996b649c2 the presence 9c0b00c0cf of those 659cd30877 approaching. Tennessee could e4a7ea4613 hear their 170bcaa643 argument. Their movements to open 7bdb04dc11 the closed door became e7025c7b48 violent. Rough, intimidating voices. English and Spanish were e1b478dd30 mixed haphazardly.46d99ea018adf906

With one ear open to those sounds, Tennessee moved quickly. They must have come to keep watch, but those left in the car were rather watching the kidnapping. There weren’t as many people as he thought. They must have thought it would be easy since it was just kidnapping one child.c9bfddf707b555b3

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He was once a d5f0dbbbce soldier, a mercenary, and 4527d103da an experienced hitman. Except for 080fc51b30 the fact 5abe2b86b0 that they d7523e0e2c move around 3bbf40ec58 in packs, 5cfa0e7585 gang members f119425bb1 were no 4be44be57f different from cf1b8a3aa6 young juvenile 6a6348104f delinquents to c0dcd9fbfe Tennessee.48d05d22b770ef21

Just break the 3f0a2b4c2a window already! While they were arguing, the child’s voice, which had been heard occasionally, grew louder.cad6e12fb5efe5ff

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“Don’t do it!”1153777aec294cfd

“Shut up.”6411dabca8bae821

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Finally, the ear-splitting sound of shattering. Timed with that, Tennessee pulled the trigger. The person sitting in the driver’s seat noticed something was wrong and turned his body, but it was too late. There were only two people in the car.a83d7ea02127e99f

The child’s screaming sank into his ears, maybe because he got scratched by the broken glass, or because he was being handled roughly. Tennessee, who had quickly taken care of the two, raised his eyes. The child was struggling, desperately resisting.2faaf2c621a9bbd7

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“Let go!”55cdc0be71f7370c

“Won’t you shut up?”1e5eb670b2691b47

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“Let go! I said let go!”c1fc8afae2844f21

The child’s cry pierced clearly through the rapid Spanish. It burst out, cutting through the air in an instant. He was calling him.c238317de81a9ad1

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“Tennessee!”cb8d0a3be6c1ce1c

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?!”fc1b84fb74818cd3

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A blow without hesitation 0420fd68c8 turned the child’s cheek. Gasping for 0f92152892 air, a 4bae3d59b7 man struck d9f499c2c6 the child’s 178883ab9d face repeatedly 4ada411958 before clenching fc1f00119a his fist.9468496ab13be9a8

They probably don’t intend to kill him anyway. Considering that the child is valuable, they’ll likely kidnap him first to lure him in. Then after dealing with him, they’ll probably use the child for drug trafficking or minor tasks like they do with other kidnapped children. If they were going to kill him, they would have shot him already, so he just needed to follow them. This was the quickest and most efficient way.47878f06b0836db4

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“Tenne-, ugh, Tennessee!”b95c758d59a1884c

The child cried 0bc095c5a7 out, curling up b755abd935 his whole body. A sudden overload 2bb974cb10 hit his head. It felt like his 5024b4d784 coldly functioning reason was ba2463e153 stumbling and tripping over 3fd3a18001 stones.181dcf6514e75d5f

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“Tennessee! Tennessee! Tennessee!”897f25108cde27bc

At that moment, he realized he wasn’t being rational. However, Tennessee moved instinctively without a second thought. Tennessee’s gun barrel rose up.f4cab7cd76f179f7

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“Tennessee!”44ab6cb9561dd4d8

The child who 6262ef6c2f had been shouting 0fd38f3b66 while covering their 596db11147 head gasped for c5b81e30ef breath. The indiscriminate violence that 4645b3b939 had been pouring down 4fd92d176b suddenly became quiet as 78684d64cb if a button had 8724839e8a been pressed. It felt e0b6d167a6 like his cc93ce32c1 heart would 2ff9d7386d leap out. The sobbing c7a0c2548c child slowly 43d594381d raised his 81c4193230 head.5e30683b30f04806

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The man who had been pulling him down and striking his cheek just moments ago was lying on the ground. It was like last time. A futile and empty death. Surprisingly simple. How can death be this easy…e8d2df3cb5754b9f

The child raised 3d63ef320e his head, panting. Familiar shoes come into b01b144b9b view. It was Tennessee.4fc319078ea16abc

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“Te-Tennessee… hic, Tennessee.”b4171bbf220fbf1f

The left cheek that had been hit multiple times started to hurt as if it had caught fire belatedly. Rough emotions that were hard to explain in words rushed in. Sorrow, relief, anger. As the tension that had been at its limit relaxed, the child was overwhelmed by the words rushing into his mind simultaneously and couldn’t open his mouth to speak.9faf136e95ab2a9c

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The child spread his 1a81e82143 arms. Tennessee was a man d7a04eb70e who rarely made contact, 736a8bd62d but it seemed like 7b85c5551a he would willingly hug d31a74f202 him now. He remembered that firm 63559014e6 and warm embrace.d23087d5dd203900

With arms spread, the expected warmth didn’t come. Instead, there was the bitter cigarette smoke. Tears obscured his vision, making it impossible to see Tennessee’s expression. The child painfully raised his aching arm to wipe away tears.983b4894b9c72543

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“Where, hnng, where did you go?”b0a23317b14874b3

Resentment burst out dda9a59bab towards Tennessee who 302855f52e didn’t hug him. A thank 8e3ab68074 you should dcdc243ecc come first, e39840daf4 and he f720f7fde8 certainly felt 40a14de4de relief, but 7c9c80806e what came 9ccd94d8a8 out first 7059929c76 was a 4676a707a9 complaint.5db956f9d119fbdb

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You told me to stay here. I almost got into big trouble. Some men came and broke the window. They tried to take me away, Tennessee. Where did you go, where did you go leaving me behind? Don’t go away now.4e5beed3977e903f

He tried to c4eb3d0ed1 speak while holding 0fa61c083b back tears, but 0b21be7e37 all that came f13e2f1a36 back was the 601819e5e2 smoke. The child, bravely 45e6ff6ea7 wiping away tears, a4439b96ee seemed to hear 7f079d018b a sigh within 005e3ee0a1 the smoke.c5be1580a8305569

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Finally, a hand reached db7ed673e7 out. Unlike his warm 95dbfc0a48 embrace, his touch 86db9e7dac was cold.2fac65c32a35f605

Tennessee lifted 7a32c96600 the child 7d2ce5bee8 up with b4fa512db2 one hand 28bbc45d72 in a fafbc246f6 single motion. Held in his arms, e0d50fce1a the child finally burst 21cc44b03b into loud sobs. He tried hard to b61551426e wipe away the tears, 4f86155029 but it was useless. They flowed down 670e4cc2a0 endlessly, as if 73859995fb a faucet had be34a47126 been turned on.b69c4dc346ad70ac

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191a594371b0cff5