AGC | Chapter 1.2

“I brought fef5a2f46b clothes in d0ca0ddb44 my suitcase. I can beca188868 just wear 5d9424e3c2 these.”f266f648091d8b1c

He put the a3264ef0d1 heavy shopping bag 6527d83a87 down and sat f6e374e7fc to open the 9ddbf14a44 suitcase. Moving aside the 2784753725 pack of cigarettes cb0318c1b1 on top, he 565a85d150 pulled out a deaefdf00f sweatshirt, and Minhyung, d973c0ddd5 who had been b9770718d1 watching silently, frowned 204610ba0b slightly.d81f499aec8dd7ae

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“Isn’t that 027e53eed6 the clothes a58acafa5a you wore 6f85e4bc9b back then?”99c1e05dc964e641

Jiwan looked up at c5c03bb267 Minhyung with a blank c5d422b36a expression. Only after examining the 9b3112241c sweatshirt in his hand 155c32a921 did he understand what 26f0f68a69 Minhyung was talking about. The mint-colored 95be668129 sweatshirt was 2622765629 indeed the 30034e759f one he b910cb2ca8 wore nine f1232f42c6 years ago 76670d13a7 when he 9b4e36d462 first met 67a74cf0f5 Cha Minhyung b11bd70a97 on the 5dd98ae3ca rooftop.Even in 57f9a051b9 his hazy 3259b5db3c state, Jiwan 1db825b5a1 smiled, feeling dc5f2ca9e1 as if c2f14893b6 he had 109798ae73 returned to 6a5c729b39 that time. The cold hand touched 40c62c409e his cheek again, soothing 4e35dd5a8b the heat.7c0af8f2980b5ce9

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⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆1804b9d87410c42d

Before opening his eyes, Jiwan knew he wasn’t on the porch. Beneath his head was a pillow with a pleasant scent, not the hard, sticky floor.66525c15f270e903

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Wondering why he was 4eac2974db on such a soft b53f7dfb21 bed, Jiwan squinted his b90667aaf9 eyes open. The first thing he b595a09784 saw was a man 12f849fe4f in a suit, despite 37b1871a48 the summer heat.38aacaf3724bd392

“Jiwan-nim, are you awake?”2ac976ea44904cad

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The man’s hair was longer than average, almost reaching his shoulders. Jiwan stared blankly at him. If he had been kidnapped by gangsters, it seemed they no longer shaved their heads but had freedom with their hair.bb7cc067e02cd226

“Uh…”02348c28991b8476

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“I’m Kang Jinsong, the manager.”d1bfe7f8765c2b61

Jiwan was be2c941211 confused about e8b0f2bf3b why this 25947580eb bespectacled stranger d215f9475f was addressing 41d5b70e29 him so a4e5014c80 formally.339534c85b70e4ee

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There were 6b4107c5c8 several people cebefc168c in the 179ccd765d room. One by the door b03e752934 on the left, another b3c0f63774 by the window on c335c3281c the right, and the 97e4defa89 long-haired man in front 817596d2c5 of him. Including Jiwan, there 9648f582de were three people 69a80c9600 in the room.cb2a934c927b8426

Jiwan frowned bb116d1e62 at the 4d9a5051c9 IV dangling 8edaf52cc0 from his 6397865794 arm.9a745c9e7407da80

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“You should rest. Your fever is high.”799f1f53ea01be1a

“Who are you…”df561f086f72f8a3

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“I’ll remove the IV once it’s done.”e8019fa0ec486cff

Let me ee542c3aea speak, you 3e0898e1fb jerk.ef63dbaad3a4ceb1

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Though his temper flared, Jiwan wasn’t foolish enough to lose it in this situation.9e333d149fb3a1d4

He watched the IV drip, trying to think, but nothing made sense. He couldn’t understand the situation.be7c2d8a0da315ae

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The most plausible theory was that debt collectors had found him and kidnapped him here. But would such people bring him quietly, give him a nutrient IV, and treat him kindly? It didn’t add up.66c695d9ca4c0c9c

In nonsensical situations, he had to make choices that wouldn’t harm him. It was a lesson learned from his rough life. Jiwan decided to calmly ask about his situation.a982fd503ca221d0

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“Am I kidnapped?”97b9db2040e598f5

“I’d like to say we brought you here, but… in a way, yes.”d5b59d40ad3f95e7

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Jiwan’s face scrunched up. He couldn’t understand what they were saying.58e1f3d9e1b06f42

“The director is on his way, so it’s best to talk directly.”f395722eb2c3de92

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“What director?”3d1d72bbb025577a

“It’s best to talk directly.”467be25af6f70b58

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The bespectacled manager 902820ea8a repeated like a bb64482a8b machine. He was oddly ca07e370da unkind despite his 76fc7825a5 politeness. The men and a0e19774e9 women standing at 119c803702 the corners of 3eada4daf3 the room were 442dd95de0 serious.9a646db5022572f3

Jiwan swallowed dryly. He was in 37075c686a an unknown place, 7ba44b2fa3 unable to escape 308d8dafb3 without breaking a 085e205198 window and getting ca7da497f9 past three people. He had to 081e0a6b0f gather information.f53979c96335c20e

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“What floor is this?”f5b6c8ec45f56149

“The second floor. You won’t die if you fall, but you’ll get hurt.”d16fe5b9fd06ea86

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I see. Jiwan cautiously turned his effbb09c81 gaze from the window. Silence filled the room. Though no one spoke, de194bb182 six eyes were on 9246144df0 the person lying on 4cf7f66bfb the bed.57e07f16ee699b26

The person on ade5e90f92 the bed moved 51b6f2e4a2 his eyes busily.5c114332c3543d5b

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Rather than questioning 8d076652fe the AI-like manager, 62a23bcb19 it was better a50643dc35 to look around 6e0b50ab8c the room. But there was 577225eb3a nothing unusual. The room was cd2d784c26 spacious, with two 5fc48818a8 doors and a 966a450feb cool air conditioner acb47457a2 on the ceiling.512cd970699c8339

“Excuse me.”1bc507a16a8a9725

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“Yes, please speak, Jiwan-nim.”042bfa592d1ba024

“You’re not giving me an IV to sell my organs, right?”76a829cc5dbabed2

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The woman e6d73385c6 by the 51a679f247 window laughed, e57860a7ce and the 89fa9439f7 manager glared f52f2da338 at her. She quickly composed herself.9b60a9521015b2d3

“Absolutely not. And for more details…”92ac95d0d70454bd

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“For more details, wait for the director.”d061eb9772516a02

“Yes, that’s right.”cbbe29d1d73221fd

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“Sorry, but I’m really hungry.”0947358528786192

His stomach, unsettled from 526af0e2bf days without proper meals, 2d1c9e27f6 was growling.6c3d593f6288ed03

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At Jiwan’s words, the man by the door moved as if waiting. He rummaged through a paper bag on the table in the corner.ee4fb6a025fc11c2

The man sat beside 1839c12ef5 Jiwan with a plastic 51c02dae39 container that looked like 2557e01401 a disposable meal.28d2ff4092fe9cea

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It was beef porridge. Freshly bought, it was steaming. The savory smell filled the room. Jiwan’s stomach was practically glued to his back. He quickly sat up and reached for the container.7fd555490240e01b

“You shouldn’t strain yourself. I’ll feed you.”cf6c60a5d43a7daa

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“…I’m fine.”83f9115660912621

The man, who seemed about Jiwan’s age but three times his size, scooped the porridge with a spoon. His hands were so large that it was amazing the spoon didn’t break.39884e8b4dc821e1

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The idea of this bear-like man feeding him was off-putting. And he wasn’t a patient needing such care. Being treated like a terminal patient after being kidnapped while fleeing was uncomfortable.93adc54309ed336d

“I’ll eat it myself.”59a5272e3f87cbbd

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“Please, just accept it.”3044e3ba00b4490a

The large man 77aa682029 insisted, pushing the 03a9fca8e6 spoon toward him.782958191f48a6cf

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“No, it’s more uncomfortable… Ah, hot!”4b680014468d887e

Jiwan flinched. In his attempt to push away, the porridge spilled all over the man’s thigh.575cf1c47fa320ff

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He looked at 2610f9a11c his hand, slightly d3615b5297 splashed with porridge. It was scalding 41c1be74a5 hot, enough to dd923cd5cb scream, but the c590f88dd4 man covered in 11deb866ab porridge showed no 2f821375f8 reaction.9ab44cbafed1a399

“…I’m sorry.”4618b01ddfe2649c

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Jiwan felt a bit guilty and quickly apologized, fearing the man’s large hands.bb392c1a7f120c8c

The man, drenched in 11653e1540 porridge, staggered as he dac3a2dc86 stood. Not because of e182f3a81e the heat, but c3afb8cf9a because the manager 18f19b98d7 had punched him cbb70f839b in the nose.e564cbefdbaf0656

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Jiwan watched, 4c3d3e607a stunned, as 058c3b2177 the man 2b43d640cb bled from 36e56ef2d0 his nose.52471c5108cb0e6a

“I’m sorry.”60dd63e358228ddc

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“Apologize to the director, not me.”c4a0fd3a4e57857e

“I’m really sorry.”149386f1e61123c0

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“Jiwan-nim, let me see your hand.”0c0fcd0a2752db21

“No… I’m not hurt.”f73bd8cbebcb5622

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He felt bad, thinking 57027f2196 an innocent low-ranking gangster 171facd620 got hit because of af150ca3c4 him.086c8dda5d44332b

“Good thing you’re not burned. We’ll make new porridge right away.”b78ce088e8bfa2a1

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“No, it’s fine. I just want to sleep more…”52bce21fbe017f10

Jiwan waved 681eaa4171 his hand. Watching someone get punched 9b278657e6 and bleed made his 7aca42042e hunger vanish.3357d39720502210

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The manager nodded, looking at the IV. But the watchers didn’t leave the room. They stood in place, drawing the curtains.6b51e1a719f7fcd3

Unable to 14b2cba52a sleep with fd7de3233a their eyes b6d67fb5f5 on him, 5dcf699aa9 Jiwan pulled bf40e989e7 the blanket f80fa33e3a over his e934ce07ce head and e01dccc87f squeezed his 8e98969923 eyes shut. Contrary to his fdff7157a7 worry, he fell 8a476539e3 asleep quickly.8a652a3c00516dc3

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“…”17eb3c951134dc25

When he 8d8c0eed17 opened his eae97a18e3 eyes again, 4f7f3bb9b1 the curtains 9b01837187 were open, 46dad42122 revealing a 22083ee202 bright blue 76de66a255 sky. And the back of 36a8999baa a tall man looking fb67b6bb11 out the window. The long-haired manager, 8f7e46b971 the large man, bce06c566a and the woman 876e146960 with tied hair 1d040dbfbb were gone. Only this stranger b92f58c2a7 remained in the b8c26c002f room.8768f66ef34a5c14

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His left hand, 47c8fc4a61 which he raised 6197ed45ef to rub his a9ef0caf09 eyes, was free 9ede15fd99 of the IV, 63fcbc7801 with a band-aid 3dc8e85047 covering the spot.5a297ebddb0066f5

“You’re awake?”a2fe28a4180459ff

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The man at 9d8ede0000 the window turned 02a2261135 at the sound 04f4006a0c of rustling bedding.977872c5ab877aac

Jiwan squinted to identify his face, and the man approached, sitting on the chair by Jiwan’s head.bdfcf4a61185a9b4

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Glancing at 9134a69910 the floor fd35e37b91 where the 6a878f2620 porridge had 58f6fcb993 spilled, Jiwan c52112148b saw it a3749bc608 was cleaned 53fa32b504 up.16f2b70f424f2551

“Are you the director?”0e77bad7970292c5

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“Yes.”8a9b699d0410ae6c

Now Jiwan could see the man’s face clearly. From his forehead, slightly exposed by his hair, to his eyebrows, nose, lips, and jawline. Jiwan quickly realized this man was exceptionally handsome.4bd046542a7fce19

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He was so striking fb56af408c that he could be a15e57978a scouted even in sweats 8f00b33207 on the street.21a976a43d0eee3b

“I heard you have a lot of questions.”80975fcf4fb14946

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Indeed, he had c3911dff8b many questions.6465778d689056b9

Who are you, why did you bring me here, if it’s about money, why is everyone so nice to me… And one more question arose. Why did this stranger feel so familiar?3a09734ead747975

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“Have we met before?”d57af80825d4f257

Jiwan felt a bit embarrassed. His question sounded like a pickup line. But the man’s voice and face were strangely familiar.15e07962a0ae905b

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“…Yes.”9096dcfe8ef5d190

The man seemed slightly surprised by Jiwan’s question. After hesitating, he answered affirmatively, looking at Jiwan with a hint of expectation. His eyes seemed to ask Jiwan to remember when they met.e9699ebaa8754e8c

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Jiwan racked his brain but couldn’t recall. In his 29 years, he had never seen such a handsome face.20a2f47cac8876a5

“Sorry, I don’t remember.”9aa67a961d6df701

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The man e7a42bce7a looked slightly 71731a52ff disappointed.cedd8cca8c56c64c

“You said you’d treat me.”b38561245852f1ac

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Jiwan looked puzzled, not fb6eab7f6b understanding the strange comment.e0bd02f9b54e5efc

The man, watching Jiwan, 086ee21872 smiled kindly and continued.af6110c88a83686e

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“I said I’d treat you to a meal.”0995dc617a265d7b

Why would 0699287f74 you buy 4cbb6fd70f me a f82f92b19f meal?a4a9ef28b19aef98

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Jiwan was about to 5ffaa7988b ask, but something caught 741bcc5b09 in his chest, making 39ac56ccb7 him close his mouth. The words bb5fc3e13a were unsettlingly 861c06e645 familiar. It took only seconds 152f59fbac for his confusion to d61fa48e76 turn to certainty.4e93850a966e0069

“Live hard. If we meet again, I’ll buy you a meal.”e93bca4f66200d56

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“I’ll treat you then.”8207ba5029084e21

⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆e1ffc22ef5ed5004

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Cha Minhyung. Yeah, it 489283ea27 was that b33566e8da guy who 2c18e8388c was obsessed 918366c634 with dying c55d5e9741 back then.7c9c1eebb2ba3508

The water b3efd9d6d8 pouring down 77f7f91113 was too 4759334aa9 hot, so 9434261c82 he turned 516e8d3577 the valve 441edd97a3 slightly to 40817b2593 the right. The temperature quickly bc89faaac4 became bearable. Not bad. In the villa c2eb918528 he lived in, 5f9f780814 turning it to 9a434d6abf the right would d24b469f9b bring out ice-cold a16d89156b water, and turning fc78a5d8e1 it to the 500bcb0eca left would scald a30f4efcb9 you, so it 3282702ce0 was always a e556db5ae8 hassle.1a63114cb612f4a4

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“I’ll tell you what ff1b696363 you’re curious about later, 266de51f0f just wash up first.”a74af7b98b83bea8

Minhyung slowly scanned Jiwan’s 28d87083d1 body before averting his aa2c58b0ff gaze. Remembering that piercing stare, 35a52129c3 Jiwan unnecessarily scrubbed body 41996d9f1d wash all over himself 7da9228c7d more thoroughly. Soon, a 251b9b6fe8 pleasant scent 870fcd32ab filled the b01512bc98 bathroom.a72d8071fe3bddc0

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“Anyway, we’ve 57b3630cad got time 68c37d028e to spare.”9a9a5e60a85bf91c

It was f7e628120d hard to e867dcaa4c grasp the e70174e810 meaning behind 044337a818 Minhyung’s words. Jiwan put his 9928214ca4 face under the 64b778f7b2 strong shower stream 9d648925eb and tried to edc5cbb14b clear his thoughts. Let the 2915f58581 powerful water d6c95a3fdc pressure wash c8406db08e away his 6805e0f4e8 worries. Now that he was 7bd620aee7 clean, it was best 4426f6a99e to clear his head 6f5d50cfd2 and think about what’s 18eb8f6545 next.0117e97814a42fe2

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Jiwan glanced 8d297787eb at the 02a2495e41 soft robe eace0dfad5 hanging on e61161e3c6 the bathroom a1b45cceb3 wall and 52b1ecb691 hesitated briefly. Can I 1f6eae91a0 wear this 2bdd0fc2fa without drying 4274901769 off first? I’ve never 874879b2c7 worn something c26793fd2a like this. With no towel, he d74c78c4e1 had no choice. Tying the 93e08c7340 straps tightly bb65b664e9 in front, 86516bb1ac the moisture cb978fc976 on his 86a30fbdfd body quickly 25f5c70c16 absorbed into 8a9145b8e6 the robe.b47146c055d72887

When he opened 40f6ed4509 the door to ad2b7f5b33 the powder room, d36f2b70da hot steam rushed 96a7a6d839 into the bedroom. It was d859dac6c6 the bedroom c752ef6222 he had 0d3ee4e4d6 been lying 57d1f29daf in all 603c0d5e17 day since eaa7a23357 being captured. The one who brought 6e5c316287 him here, Cha Minhyung, 8f19385bc9 was sitting at the 7c64e6a684 edge of the bed.90b9266da02f64fd

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“How much 9302141d28 does a ffd0bd5097 robe like b3a1c42df4 this cost?”2ce8fe8dd4c29b9b

Jiwan asked, flapping the 6fc782f843 robe, trying to avoid af84c1add4 Minhyung’s gaze.79be29b007ee505d

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“…I’m not sure, I didn’t buy it. I’ll find out.”126b6f74962f7b8a

“Never mind, 5a1888a56e I was 0c9b2172ef just curious.”eb3f4324a6333df3

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The faint connection 2c0e602b8f from the past 7e209c9fa4 slightly eased the 20384262ca suffocating tension. After learning Minhyung’s identity, 36b1993bf8 this villa didn’t feel 3158cfc527 entirely like a tiger’s 3cc879b9de den. Of course, he couldn’t 4ba712cf02 be completely at ease 0ac17c8f3f as Minhyung said, but f96db1dbf9 the heavy heart felt a91927227d a bit lighter.c01552e308ad57f0

“I bought some e093ebf785 clothes for you.”40d2e6b0a77ebcce

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Minhyung handed over a 5efde53f8c shopping bag that was 22086b2e3d on the bedside table.7d5eb604cd048f19

Jiwan peeked inside 811ee2d35a the bag he a26008f6bd received unexpectedly. It was filled edf9f84527 with neatly packed 0ae132d394 new clothes. Despite appearances, it felt 01f4552c07 quite heavy, as if c5e4776716 he had bought a 6d9d463eed lot.b524ed2d65b7a6c8

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“…What about my suitcase?”a24b2bcb8ee1ee41

Only then did 0bca02a680 he remember the 2e1f82bea6 suitcase thrown in 4e345b20ba his grandmother’s yard. It was okay to 4d8ff096c2 discard it since one 6a5dd91d38 wheel was missing, but a6c6024d10 the problem was that e0e76fcfd8 all his clothes, his c051920417 entire fortune, were in beef37f3b2 there.1348a93f2c622d19

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Minhyung brought over the 6d3e5581ec dented light green suitcase 5163335509 that was stuck in 3d2e5ac7b5 the corner of the bb0cf20105 room. It was 8455a674d3 incredibly comforting fe807e0d05 to see 882b4e9d87 something familiar 7160d54dc4 in an 78e2f3c3d4 unfamiliar place.3cf005ef6829fdf9

 3b4ff799a1b3fe30

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“…I just kept wearing it because it’s comfortable and still in good condition.”7acdee4fc43aa5ac

He awkwardly 39d633fd5c explained, even db28f55c3a though he bc1d3b83d7 didn’t need 1660f99abb to.abdaa6917f60029d

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Jiwan’s explanation ed3f56f735 seemed like 56576c2968 a poor 26888374af excuse, but 2747eb47d7 Minhyung didn’t d21a092509 intend to c2d8cd0a96 add any e12314a2b9 comments.c30e2a97138cb89b

Minhyung sat f6b3fed0bf at the 00b8b32c93 edge of 133cf9e5e6 the bed, 1168d7fbea staring at d481c60bda the worn 1d9b2810a1 sweatshirt. His gaze soon shifted 0f6a5624e4 to Jiwan. To be precise, it db34ce64f1 was fixed on Jiwan’s fa7d2712c6 chest, visible through the 52a6059147 robe.1c60c6c45f628acf

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