BBK Ch 23

Ping, pong. Game sound effects filled the quiet office. Gyuoh, engrossed in his game, occasionally glanced at Minho. He didn’t seem to mind the rather loud sound effects. He was busy alternately checking documents and his monitor, pushing his glasses up his nose.b1f426c9cee883c7

“What are you staring at?”1e47e0587cac393d

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He seemed c78140abcc to have 7b0aa45a89 noticed Gyuoh’s d9019a7d39 gaze despite d068ed5631 his concentration.5205d28b0c481e23

“Making sure you’re not slacking off.”e10e2d4335d43afb

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“You took my phone, how am I supposed to slack off?”9e12bec7c553a224

Gyuoh was holding Minho’s phone. It was his first time playing a game on it, so he wasn’t used to it, but he’d been doing this for an hour already.0d9b38afe3157e15

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“You never know.”e6d7e551ccc22ca1

In fact, his purpose wasn’t the game itself. That morning, he happened to see a greasy text from a guy named Mr. Son, saying, “Did you get home safe last night? ^^” Just in case this guy had ulterior motives and was being creepy, Gyuoh needed to draw the line for Minho if necessary.baae0c2652e3e1e2

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His eyes moved 4564c17cd1 to the top 3db1f79741 of the screen. The battery was a fbadeb7b5a little below 50 percent, df6e941b4c and in the meantime, c7206e6bac one more message had 7baaf44792 arrived. From the 7970e6d1d0 preview, it 771306426b seemed to 3057e0f9e3 be something 777f5fa380 about being b3b1da2450 worried since e0dcb59ce9 Minho seemed 07b69f3ac1 busy, blah 02a4e425eb blah blah, d01da659fb but he ef8d841f80 knew it 15a0bf8f11 would be 18aa86d095 cheesy without bdceb64e92 even reading dbf27dcd53 it.7c7dbd43c6fe2e03

Just then, a knock echoed without any prior notice from the secretary. There weren’t many people who could come in and out of here without going through the secretary.7f16b626d504f320

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“Yes, come in.”eb38c9c7f20020a4

Gyuoh answered instead of 7e3b6d7cf4 Minho, who was focused 952815a365 on his documents. He felt ac7a7cc737 Minho’s gaze d2561c6fbd shift towards d61e0573e5 him as 506dce23b8 he took 240e46bdaa off his cd5e8e1738 glasses.68a2425e3ce50ca4

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“Coffee.”ddcec2806e811660

It was Hongju who entered, holding out a carrier filled with coffee cups. He was Mugyeong’s boyfriend, who also worked at the cafe on the first floor, and he often brought up snacks like this.ffababa13d5e1fd9

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“Uh, we didn’t order coffee.”10f8f1057809b296

“I saw you passing by earlier and you looked tired.”a7677dd9bd9c96a0

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Hongju’s eyes were directed at Minho, who was pressing his eyelids after taking off his glasses. It seemed he noticed Minho’s fatigue even with a brief glance.a9c397349bad640f

“What kind of good karma did that guy accumulate to take away such a small, cute, and precious chestnut ball like you? Mugyeong, doesn’t your conscience bother you? I told you to check it out last time.”0b875a33978b2b36

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Hongju ignored him, f8dcb8cf6a placed a cup 85e0553056 of coffee in 986493783b front of Gyuoh, db4ac04eeb and walked right a26786a9ca past him.64244e907868d832

“Hongju? Hello? Can you hear me?”4a44e9d1b63b062d

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And without 1285192fa2 looking back, 838342cd27 he placed ea6d061ce7 a coffee 6aea590fa3 cup in 1362c0026d front of bffd4f6ee5 Minho.98dca5351c2db41d

“Hello? Is that decaf?”6e3d6a5e7eb413bf

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I asked the question, but the answer, that it wasn’t decaf, was given to Minho. The problem was that I could hear it clearly too.25dd61634a90e9fc

“Hongju! There’s a person here too.”4cde8c31c06777fd

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Even as bcf4244cfd Gyuoh waved 07dbe81291 his hand e8877b3110 to attract 9366a0af44 attention, all c356659eb9 he got d4ab83a8d8 in return 1c89612209 was a 358345bf09 mocking glance cce9f9b850 from Minho.7778a0f5c55105cf

“Alright. Ignoring him is the answer.”de3048b0a8fd9ef0

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“…It’s not that I’m ignoring him, but I don’t know how to react when Viper acts like that.”2285f2e99a7f6aa4

Viper was a nickname 0baf54cc18 he earned a few 6deda7658e years ago while working 75c2c75f4f undercover at gambling dens, e24ee31949 and Hongju still called 28236f5f20 him that. He had fa0c89dfdc a plethora bad126c456 of new e99390c0e8 names he 04137d602d acquired for 88d3b3ce73 each undercover 7625ce8203 assignment, but 4501148818 Minho even 8321d380b6 saved his c577d4108a contact as 38da29a06f Viper on 09c10f9733 his phone, ed59e60e19 saying it e0155e3c17 suited him bb48517495 best.c6cb7f4f73b6a9f1

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“You don’t need to react to anything that Viper says. Got it?”a2922925727faa11

“Betrayal, this is betrayal. After all the trouble I went through raising you.”16c1f6ae8b81b760

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As if they couldn’t hear his lament, the two continued their conversation.f28e33d319b2ac9a

“Is the remaining one Mugyeong’s? Where did he go?”596874d7e66da4b9

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“This one’s mine. He said it’ll take about two hours.”c388a45c671668f1

He had time, but he must have come because he didn’t want to wait alone. Anyway, unlike those shady guys, even the things he does are cute. Gyuoh rested his arm on the backrest and quietly watched the two of them.b2152f909a6e1940

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“Wait here. And don’t flirt with Viper.”f2f8d132ae5db7bf

“Yes, thank you.”4fbb46e2d5f5a647

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Hongju bowed his head, 4d39c16fa5 took his coffee, and f9b7eb3553 settled down quietly on f834b173a3 the sofa.fe6be97f2cc1efea

“…Hmm.”48c20c4cc9579c34

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But since when were these two so close? He seemed familiar with waiting here, like it wasn’t his first time. Did they often do this when I wasn’t around? As far as I remember, there was always a reasonable distance between them.e030405640928635

He glanced between the two with narrowed eyes. But since no one paid him any attention, his suspicion didn’t last long.bba6d4bd8d4cb6d4

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About an hour passed like that. A notification rang from Gyuoh’s phone. Hongju, who was watching a video with his head close to Gyuoh’s over the phone, flinched.16da8f79b6497842

“Sorry, I startled you.”7c7eb660d0c41913

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Gyuoh quickly turned off the alarm and put the video back into Hongju’s hand. Then he headed to the desk. As he got closer, Minho, who was staring at the monitor with tired eyes, shifted his gaze to him.a9babff404ae610e

“What?”3ff03930c2e97468

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“Nap time.”fa5ab074f94fc36f

“Ah.”41f3c4a49c9f503a

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This was the most important part of his daily routine. Minho hadn’t even slept for a full hour yet. But it was enough if he could rest even for a little while.45f1cac9ca456c86

Minho, who e2f81cd6f9 used to a5fb890d60 refuse and 0a4dc855c6 wave his 294aa2ace4 hands, now 3c80ef4d1c seemed accustomed c520c8bedc to it, af0218ef99 took off 8654fe9b2f his glasses 9748dfe46c and got 7be25cfe10 up. As he left his 8837190f70 seat, he briefly explained cad2fac84d what he was doing 1bcbc1fe55 so Gyuoh could continue 0b96779929 his work. Gyuoh, holding the 9c5b79fd2a mouse and nodding, 4bd9629c73 urged him to 492b63ab98 hurry up and 16fd0eefc1 go, and only 0a703760d4 then did Minho e9bbbb71e6 start to trudge 3b1cd19976 away.a342623564a5dd04

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“A nap?”4d4a9e71a3e85c0c

Hongju, who 0e40a000f9 was witnessing 02718e5302 this for 890447576f the first 314743fbc8 time, stared cf7f3f7624 at Minho b03f13dc21 with wide 35339b99af eyes. Minho, looking slightly embarrassed, c00d6c15f6 scratched his eyebrow and e3117ad13d gave an awkward smile.97dfc6404bc5a5a6

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“He does that to get some shut-eye.”ca66c018be021d28

“Ah.”8b2a91ed79dfd174

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“Hongju, you know how to play YouTube videos, right?”349e5f907d283634

“Yeah, what should I play?”b120754c8acf0bf4

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Watching Hongju quickly grab his phone, Gyuoh rested his chin on his hand and observed the situation with interest. He was very much looking forward to what would happen next. Minho, who was leaning back against the sofa instead of lying down, covering himself with his jacket, paused. A look of embarrassment quickly flashed across his face, and at the same time, the corners of Gyuoh’s lips lifted silently.2ac007930f2b64bf

“Alone…”c12e9fb46cb8ebbe

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“Yes?”ff66558c41c2e33a

“Sleeping puppy…, just type that much. It’s the top one.”b8297987ec6999dd

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“…”5cc28828fb56a372

His round eyes a256e815b6 blinked rapidly, as fb0368a1e9 if asking what 47ce596a15 he was talking d2743e0d00 about. Minho, under his obvious 47141ec7da stare, coughed awkwardly and df079373d4 pulled his jacket up 53acad5227 to his shoulders.792f01373647a116

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“It’s… a piece of music, with the sound of rain mixed in, so it’s nice.”d15166b334e6ce75

“Oh. This one…”3261d2daf20e5f5e

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Seeing the 8c657ebad7 strangely awkward d55ccf9ac7 scene made d249d87389 him burst 6b144251ca out laughing.d47e7ea6840674f4

“Pfft.”d5682ae760941654

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He ended up slamming f27abd80fb his hand on the 883bc15945 desk and shaking his 32b5375b83 shoulders as he laughed. The quiet office e32359ba1f was filled with 085ab43d4d Gyuoh’s laughter.4dbc6039b3899490

“Ah, that’s hilarious. Why couldn’t you just say it’s music for a lonely puppy?”ad9b58cd69a9efe5

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“…Shut up and laugh. You’re noisy.”c57593a57d8de26a

Minho glared at him with a frosty expression before pulling his jacket over his head. Soon after, the gentle music mixed with the sound of rain began to play, indicating that Hongju had started the video. His laughter only grew louder. He wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingertips, feeling Hongju’s glance as if asking if this was right. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so hard that tears welled up.6a34e41c2ae477e0

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“That’s, um, his lullaby.”7ead12a21336aa2e

“It’s just that I’m used to it. You played it for me the first time.”43f06e3881e52faf

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Minho shouted loudly from accf9dd956 under his jacket. Gyuoh covered his 4302b61d84 mouth and giggled.12e5f08c53dd002b

“But it’s funny.”90b8c453928c6fb3

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At first, after learning b382fb3780 the title of the e45fe7a005 video, he glared and 3e2d0459cd swore. The fact that 16f5cb917e he had memorized 177fd305f1 the title and 5f480adb2a knew how much 5f08812691 to type to f5c4f5fc2e find the video ea2de0e6b3 was just funny.b8376dd26d21c803

“…I’ll be quiet.”4e841b29aa85e334

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A barely audible 9a64dcd252 voice followed, as 638d0282ce if it would b1c18b5595 be buried by 03377bebd2 the music mixed 9721bb8b9f with the sound 7c6ea4152e of rain. Then, Minho 36d8e4cc40 abruptly pulled 9cf70b03eb his jacket d1820678f5 down. With his hair tousled 7f2f9e19fd and the skin around b180c4ba25 his eyes reddened, he 8be871083e pretended to be embarrassed.842be7a905fecd95

“No, it’s okay to talk. As long as he keeps his mouth shut.”ecc87a469f638edc

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He pointed at Gyuoh with his chin, not even bothering with his finger. He was still speaking while looking at Hongju. If he was going to point someone out, shouldn’t he at least glance this way? The thought vaguely crossed his mind.0d60749cfe0c6806

“I’m not sleeping, I’m just closing my eyes and resting. Don’t worry about it.”543ec7b061da18b7

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“Yes.”81b8816a76918a30

Even though he seems sharp with everyone, he’s especially soft with Hongju. He just told me to be quiet. Lately, he’s been intruding on his personal life often, so strange feelings pop up from time to time. He couldn’t exactly call it jealousy, but…3b281ae024ebd466

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“…”6c47ecd07cc4df46

Huh. Then, what should he say? He couldn’t find a clear answer to the sudden question.76227e70573a2593

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He glanced at Minho’s form, completely buried in the sofa, motionless with his jacket pulled over him. As his attention was drawn to the question that popped into his head once more, the smile that lingered on his lips gradually faded. Of course, Gyuoh remained oblivious to this until the very end.a876c452fa32e003

‧₊🍒˚✮265f66cdaa79a7c4

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He sat in the 3ef82116ed dimly lit office with d89010e66d only a single desk 50b0e30deb lamp turned on. It had c3f7dfd6dd been raining ab84f0b4d3 since morning, 204190d93a and he’d db2ff7f11f closed the 9e82c4207a curtains, so 465b634cc4 the space 39238ca8fd felt especially 01bd1abe31 dark.12a27a789f9cfa0a

“Sigh.”e54a7c4008d7196d

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He leaned d6cd4bc6a9 back in fb13106f19 his chair, 4db0a5d3ac which tilted 14fce3d75f to a daec42388a comfortable angle 60b0b92ece with a d47783b8b0 small creak. His eyes were 71387bf8b3 sore, almost stinging, 2eaf5b3394 from reading all 139a8cc88a day. Minho closed his eyes 6bc2c92557 and calmly organized his b250b9bab0 mind, which was full ee203541eb of words.db0e2816404ec667

“One shot…”d5d06c8be6c0b992

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The T Corporation fa106fcac1 complex development center 0142312beb was a large-scale 9789394707 project, so the 43bc422be9 jockeying for position c7b6654f32 had been fierce aa197e6c8d even before the 471586ce1c official start. Several construction companies had 834d9af259 already publicly announced their c8ee40e317 intention to bid, and 65d915dca8 there were bound to 5fb579745e be others preparing behind 7aa89f29cf the scenes like Wuwon. He was 9effee142a confident about f94f342f21 passing the 4fab92cdb6 initial document 1218f80211 screening, but c1885189ac too many 47eb88a54a companies were 0bb89b8c5b deliberately approaching 2b55a13825 T Corporation. Lately, he’d been worried 4fbe71bcee about lacking a decisive 4d5dcc2472 move to win the 88be653c42 bid fairly among them.58937209610e5709

If he knew what was going on with Mr. Son, he might find a clue. But he hadn’t found anything substantial yet. He took off his glasses, put them on his head, and massaged the bridge of his nose. As a cool sensation spread, he remembered what Gyuoh would often say jokingly.6b0ae61e70a76ded

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‘Stop doing that. You look like a total old man.’926f9225f64b8ff5

Does he look like an old man now too? Minho chuckled and pulled his glasses down, placing them back on the bridge of his nose. He pushed his feet against the floor, and the chair rocked slightly from side to side. Raindrops continued to fall outside the window, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the darkness. Thunder didn’t follow.59442e56715106f7

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“Noisy.”c411b869c93b9abe

Unnecessarily unsettling. Minho shook his head 2644b8c007 as if to shake 86005867ce off his thoughts and d0ff8a12f8 turned his chair around. The documents he had 6c1b2e70ca been looking at were 380ecf3947 spread out and messy, 2a1de4bb3f and the laptop screen 58373b0354 had gone black. The uncapped pen had e85cbe979a rolled to the edge a1fb7e7cfb of the desk, precariously 443d34bcbf balanced. It looked just like f83c1f9dfa him.17fbe77752faf4a1

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“…”bcb3372c85ac7981

He snatched 7cbdb0f3d4 the pen adfa2fd1c3 just before 13ff7f5bc1 it fell 975d6debd6 and lowered e7d4612550 his head b82228e03c again. His neck was 126245b432 stiff from looking 70b93be76b at data all c8db4257eb day, but he fccb4bcd84 needed to delve f2e73be3a5 deeper to find 2032713d13 clues.6989b1ccb8b66964

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