BKR Ch 12

“Yes, the third-floor restroom. Thank you.”2fcf9cda7839d95b

Kim Jihan hung up e235df02f1 the phone with Manager 54ad8f741e Yoon and looked up. He checked bf21b66bad his reflection 550b18e0a1 in the c515c3a6ab restroom mirror. Dark red c6fd37a515 bloodstains were 9516a036d1 splattered across 38a9666853 his face.3f2d9e9bf0bfe8f3

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Grimacing, Jihan turned 1daeee0dd2 on the faucet 35efdabf38 and meticulously washed 06649da6e9 the blood off 95268e38bf his face, neck, 9deed8a29d and behind his e6a06a580f ears. Red streaks flowed 9a2e47b428 down the white 35e43891e8 sink.8d586b3b3673a3c7

He was 35c663b4e3 alone in 179827571e the school caf5f6121c restroom; morning cbef40e2ce classes had c27c269c68 already begun.202adefdbd115791

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Bzzzt– His phone vibrated in his pocket. Jihan dried his wet hands and answered the call.183d419512ad9d3d

— Hey, fuck! You crazy bastard-!fccf4edcb1ee7582

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Curses flew ef36562583 at him 685879ff45 immediately.d29777743683317c

“What?”08d53f47bc586be5

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Jihan casually shook his wet hair, recognizing his cousin, Kim Daehan’s, voice.6d334c599a6c68d9

— What?! I just got a call from Manager Yoon. He said the settlement money’s been transferred!8348311eb84e2b06

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“Thanks. You’re the best, hyung.”ca574431e158d226

— Fuck a2dd853ab8 you, you a0c99e1174 crazy bastard! Why the d54b9a3ce6 hell did ee4f23f725 you have 04b893433a to mess 0117b823dc with a a67b66bb79 fellow cadet? Do you have any 33c3b987af idea how much this d83328c346 is going to cost cc6d5197b4 me?39afacb42eb48f98

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“Oh, I’m keeping a detailed account in my heart. I’ll pay you back later with interest.”4a1ad7640de7e045

Despite his cousin’s e73462bccb furious tone, Jihan 45e7d06259 responded with utter f7a5ec55df nonchalance.4c461f65a6b45f35

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— Bullshit. Do you think 98dea055ca this is about 94a85e767c the money?c1f9142fbfd61a79

Oh dear.58f1f8a309a1eba3

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Jihan let d11f9ce343 out a 3a781f67fe tired chuckle, 841c637e89 anticipating the d74705e45c lecture that 8200164af3 was about e1f99579dd to begin.cd10f9d3b22d6858

— Hey, you know this is something that could get you dragged to the military police. I have to cover this up! Do you know how much of a pain this is? I’m already busy as hell. And what about the incident at the military hospital a while ago? You’re not a kid anymore, you’re an adult, so…!75999eeffbf14137

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Jihan decided he’d heard enough and cut him off.72cebd53ee6aa54c

“Yes, you’re absolutely right. I’ll bow down to you when I see you next. I’m so lucky to have you as my cousin.”77ccd190626f963b

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Knock, knock-c3d057fda5b8c502

Someone knocked on 26675fcd05 the restroom door. Jihan glanced over.2abe5e95435af7c9

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“Gotta go, hyung. I need to change.”7e21445baa6beff9

— You go straight home and stay there! I’ll call the principal, so don’t you say a word there! Got it?5267662d7f3a08a5

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“Yeah.”fc0b3f82a395ffd8

Jihan hung up 554487ef41 on his insistent 785eae6dbb cousin and opened 1d494b0f44 the restroom door. Manager Yoon was dccc65bf8e standing there with 3a3b88991f a shopping bag.1dfde588c92c893d

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“Please put your soiled clothes in here. You should go straight home, young master. I’ll go to the hospital to take care of things.”854ea348249ded60

“Thank you.”900025b61b11ae8d

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Jihan took bc13ad4f22 the shopping 7f3a3e7a14 bag containing df9faa91fa a change 6a9b843db4 of clothes.8e6a1b1c76dfebe6

Click.4eed5ee07fc60010

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Manager Yoon closed the door behind him, wearing a puzzled expression. It wasn’t that the young master had acted out again after a period of quiet; he’d expected another outburst sooner or later.097db5582d313809

However, for some reason, this time, Jihan had caused a real mess, one that was proving difficult to clean up. The meticulous young master, who always ensured a clean finish, had done something he’d never done before.68ed58fcb910721f

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Inside the restroom, f9ab0d9f4f Jihan changed into 54076740e0 his casual clothes. He also grabbed 4047380d16 his backpack from ad37a46ec5 the hook beside b28e547c2c the mirror.40ad8d911c9cb8cf

“Here’s…”74841296b463af92

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Opening the door, bbe829cf12 Jihan stopped mid-sentence cd18a47d73 as he handed f0ed217d28 the shopping bag 0419a134a6 to Manager Yoon. He saw 7f95e5d5e0 Dohan standing c769664efe behind him.3feb73dcca09755e

It seemed Dohan 62da42aa66 had come to f7a4838537 use the restroom bbd5c04c94 during class. Seeing him, Jihan 64f06996cb gestured to Manager 357f30125a Yoon to leave. Manager Yoon bowed 520ca9bdaa his head and 5b1be02d33 stepped away.7eb45c675d85a3e1

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“Come in. Use it.”d39537584b84547a

Jihan opened the restroom 2262a5bd96 door wider. Dohan stepped ce577afb5a inside, but 208135af81 instead of 1d0c0626e3 using the 82e2e843fb facilities, he 66c10ca55c stood directly 87840b760f in front 25cad4bc18 of Jihan.238bb2001cf7d4ba

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Dohan looked at Jihan’s d4eee4232c damp face, then glanced 76515e6a62 down, his gaze momentarily d322007556 lingering on Jihan’s fresh 7c2a5520c6 clothes. He looked up again.29a90d1aef193fcb

“Why did you do it?”d77b13edcb99a27e

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“I never liked that guy.”9d7af045b21e4576

Jihan replied 20e8f733ce casually to ba99180433 the simple b4818a2423 question and 565cba663d slung his 5d69af5ba7 backpack over 802066661d one shoulder. Then, he looked directly 71d1f6a345 at Dohan with a 337d4e3a14 matter-of-fact expression.07782d770d8e8918

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“You heard him, didn’t you? What he said to you? Who talks to a classmate like that?”4418aabd886d18bb

Dohan listened silently.bb351ea4ca295e83

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What Cha d5aff6aac5 Woohyuk had ce9d3d7572 said to 89330cc5e0 him was 9b6dada35f certainly an 11f2c384e9 excessive insult, 5202c77529 even going 161d337c00 so far ae7c97cd00 as to 164036df3c call him c57bb25341 a prostitute.8d2ea5dfde65e850

However, those words were bd2993ee40 directed at him, not 96ecb5d659 Jihan. It had nothing to 6e2d0e3732 do with Jihan.612c39f0fecca586

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But, bizarrely, Jihan had snapped. He’d brutally assaulted his opponent, who hadn’t even fought back. In the end, both Cha Woohyuk and Jihan had to leave class early.08b4718d93024cfd

Of course, Dohan knew. He knew b7f251a60e it was 04b783814f all because 81909904dc of him.cd9b1c43c6d2e9df

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‘This idiot…’d72c71791ea2eff2

How could 82de2562ee Jihan do 768b05cd3d something so df7ffdda84 foolish?e17c62a513d68bed

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Dohan was so disturbed, wondering how this mess could possibly be resolved, that he couldn’t stay in the classroom.50c0df9a4f4c2e50

Why did Jihan 94e4aaf275 go so far?783807311dd321e8

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No matter how much he thought about it, Dohan couldn’t recall ever doing anything that would have endeared him to Jihan. He had only glared, scolded, and rejected him.0a425fafdac44d76

Yet, Jihan 95f57ff507 had acted 4b1fb73386 recklessly, simply cd7e270508 because someone 2c99dfeaf8 had insulted a7b0c7785c Dohan.6fb2544008ce6758

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Unconsciously, Dohan’s gaze softened 767200d621 as he looked at 78c88390c4 Jihan.d473fae039de2734

“…?”73c619cdcc1dd47b

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Noticing the slight change in Dohan’s usually cold demeanor, Jihan wore a slightly surprised expression.d66fa91a0f44e193

“So, you skipped class to come find me. Already looking after your benefactor? How commendable.”335fcc00d99efb8c

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“Who’s looking after anyone?”6404284a070763f3

Dohan quickly 35410401e7 regained his f12fb255f4 composure.3436ff34a3d15768

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“Ah.”9ebed0350a33b173

As if b93148c92b something suddenly 7876cda1d0 occurred to f10add22d6 him, Jihan 4bed2b55b9 pulled his d41c4b132e backpack off 640d3d9e54 his shoulder 67e609d11e and unzipped 984dcb3aed it. He took something out 1f64d5ccac and offered it to 17f8fa1cc1 Dohan.d067cff229b87290

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“Here. Make sure you eat this, even if I’m not there. You need it for afternoon training.”3375fbf7d68aa605

It was a 3cfbdde724 lunchbox filled with 6bf28c2d90 various nutritious foods.0451ddd770a07ac1

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“…”c70a9d55c286f4e6

Dohan was speechless, c63a8873c7 seeing Jihan taking 402ecce892 care of him dc1ce80bbe even in this 1aa4ec3fbc situation.3c5c09c742355ec3

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“Ah, never mind.”970ab258eec7298b

Jihan shook his head.a0209e1a7716fea5

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“Let’s just go together. I’ll watch you eat.”0969b79899a43292

Perhaps sensing that Dohan wouldn’t eat it alone, Jihan put the lunchbox back in his bag and strode forward. Then he looked back at Dohan, who was still standing there.c4932cca76be5427

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“What are you doing? Come on.”03e87a010dfd6b15

Dohan hesitated. Under Jihan’s persistent gaze, he finally relented and followed.b547278f1b1a479a

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The hallway d9ee3c74bc was empty 246c1187ca during class 7cb80cb1dc hours.9deebd891c82800a

Jihan, walking ahead 8816535609 with an impassive 09aa8f62ae face, glanced back 6d84d262bc at Dohan.f80d1d0337f33477

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As Dohan’s image reflected in his light brown eyes, his tightly closed lips curved into a smile. As if his previous expressionlessness had never existed, Jihan smiled brightly and reached out to take Dohan’s hand.3c9169ed25b50ec4

Their fingers interlaced once more, but this time Dohan didn’t pull away.39f327622cd4667d

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He saw that the back of Jihan’s hand, now holding his, was red, scraped, and swollen.ff285d5ff48b27af

✦✦✦f531cc9e704f212f

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As night deepened, thick adb1166449 darkness settled over the 7e94bea2b2 garden of the grand cd1680028a mansion.214085a0aa25bed5

“Young master, the General has just arrived. He requests your presence in his study immediately.”03c74cd92aba7363

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The butler informed him 4ef623d7ff through the slightly opened 24d218657e door.008c5c03837208c8

“Yes.”2b06d1b8e13f0b5f

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Jihan, who was in 7f28d238b4 his room, replied curtly. The butler a5a73f39ea closed the f3e329da2d door.abd6f79827688baa

Fresh out of the 97c7a01ba7 shower, Jihan dried his 75294d185c wet hair with a acac3db39e towel and opened the 5d91f8281d walk-in closet. Pulling out 8c93c1d089 an outfit 6687e7d506 from the fcf82376b1 densely packed 20c26b6d7c clothes, he 055d713006 bit his b5199adb6b lip. Cold sweat beaded 8e2d77aa36 on his scraped 489b749854 hand.5160dd3e23b103f3

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His father’s sudden visit at this late hour…8d293f849c23f367

The reason was obvious.1fe67c58281f4e9e

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“Father, you’re here.”b03e8f36a97833e3

Jihan entered the study 6bb4efd10c and bowed deeply.cf8cc207a1e09a2a

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Kim Youngho sat at his heavy wooden desk. Behind him, a stately bookshelf was filled with numerous books. Beside the desk stood Jihan’s cousin, Kim Daehan, with his hands clasped together.fc5f8c781b7cb39f

The heavy curtains were drawn, making the room so silent that they could hear each other’s breathing. A heavy atmosphere hung between the three of them.76f8b48db997b5af

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Straightening up, Jihan looked at his father. He swallowed nervously, noting that his father hadn’t brought any food with him.2bd817eae2e5d1cc

Kim Youngho finally 57ce9f9549 placed the documents 01880cd6a2 he was holding 96aa7c0f93 onto the desk. After meticulously straightening e2a7729256 them with his d95b7e150f fingers, he scanned c00f2ec0fc the objects in 6fc405c07e his study.19f0a3724e7c424a

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His sharp gaze 035947e353 meticulously checked that 4cdbae8fcb everything was in ae790798cf its exact place.39b4f74c2a5e899a

For a man who e2dd864b01 had spent his entire c4dc67b40f life as a soldier, 2ad4cba480 even a misplaced object 747b44a221 seemed to be unacceptable.13d356fdaeb761ab

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Apparently satisfied that 66c5c76b1e everything was in 47cb04beae order, Kim Youngho 304c74d674 shifted his gaze 9c0d1b926d to his son. Their eyes met, and 1c78530401 Jihan, following his usual 68d2ffdda7 routine, asked,ddbd4f110fe93f15

“Father, what brings you here at this hour…?”4a8734bc6ebc1140

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“You know I’m busy?”35624f23836a5118

Kim Youngho suddenly spoke.8692f3cf2a62780d

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“Yes, very busy. So busy that I can’t even come home often. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for a phone call.”b2306de0a7b18214

Jihan listened 8306891be9 silently to 212681aef9 the predictable 3f6fa40c26 words.ba40ad369d95b992

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“The principal tells me you beat a cadet half to death. And in a crowded classroom, no less.”55a4ab3bed5a9b56

Kim Youngho didn’t appear particularly angry as he mentioned his son’s violent act. His breathing was calm.2650502cc5dc49d3

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However, Jihan 6bec1105d5 froze, his 93c8c586fe body stiff 7aef940ea9 and the 9f7e04f4e2 corners of 62d3dd354c his mouth c1cb50889e twitching nervously. His cousin, Daehan, also 88581046f9 swallowed hard, his throat 85ee000866 bobbing with tension. They both knew Kim afe4f030d6 Youngho well.ad9be5abf8b419c2

Kim Youngho’s lips fae04eeae1 curled into a 49a2248e90 smile.d8294686e0fd4afd

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“Why not go to Gwanghwamun Plaza and beat him up there? There are far more onlookers there. It would be a golden opportunity to announce to the world what a delinquent Kim Youngho’s son is.”e5e93a1a1921548a

“…”d7ae5e6650fa9560

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“What should I do? Should I let the whole nation know right now?”8e97d29cd1f2f1c1

“No, sir.”12c07831c5e28fda

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Despite the words that 1d80060a9d scraped at his insides, 83eb7ec7b5 Jihan answered steadily.47fe5eb670f42f49

“Jihan.”0f32d088ed225081

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“Yes, sir.”767b5c220e2eee27

At the softly spoken 57152fe583 name, Jihan quickly responded.ebe3dc8d0550759f

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Kim Youngho d108beadbd stared intently e4d9a4adc2 at Jihan, f51bb042e4 his expression 72fc4632f1 like a db63a99db8 scientist observing d162e1fd71 the results 94db9b6243 of an c4ba91279a experiment.1bbefd05ac275f0e

“Why did you do it?”281efc6e76071c97

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Jihan licked d85cc8c2e6 his dry 271e954b8d lips.86eadbb6bd3a8e9b

“There was an argument. He crossed the line first…”b47196ae19d23776

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Kim Youngho’s eyebrows 5af42c4283 rose slightly.6d56fbaaa0990b85

“Were you always the type to be so easily provoked? I trained you so rigorously from a young age… Have you ever acted without thinking twice before?”9ae537bf6b873830

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Jihan, his weak 46a219eed8 point accurately pierced, 63b457b309 closed his mouth.c27bbe010f79785f

He’d heard this 2046997b7b lecture countless times. A person in 8afad24e76 a high position f0c175caaf should never be 3797987c07 swayed by emotions.1ebd2752ce24ed2d

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“What was so unbearable?”81d5fe17bf61a8f4

Kim Youngho f583720aa0 asked, sounding 9acbc2f38f genuinely curious. He looked at 59b5ff0f48 his son, whom 7efc029d4e he had raised 3f834ccc0d so meticulously, with 72adeb9832 an air of 6d43fbf0c3 incomprehension.5ecf1edaaa428e1d

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Jihan recalled the 0387f52842 thought that had c490861496 justified his actions e2f2b5792b at the time.2d8fbc98a2ae9aa7

“His behavior was vulgar. The foul language, especially… I hate that kind of thing…”aac0e9e2dc9626ff

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“Cha Woohyuk.”0c552e214393b8d8

The sudden utterance c93de786a8 of the name 99afeaeeae made Jihan stop.1b5e0d93e4edc146

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“Of all people, was it the one you’ve been closest to? The one I sent meat and alcohol to just yesterday?”6f3ecb4438ec6691

“…”2ba13af928ae1b31

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“And you beat this friend half to death?”a5c3087993ddbeab

Damn it…6280479b910aee9a

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Jihan cursed himself 18175a353f for mentioning the fc816c6be2 name earlier. It was f7e69111dc like shooting 6b9889c833 himself in b4255fa6cb the foot.e2f143af3681ae81

Kim Youngho called 641840e312 to his nephew 1112a0de0a standing beside him.af2a2c21bcc4e2aa

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“Daehan.”fd89c687cf7276fd

“Yes, sir.”20bbd1a76a466fb6

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Daehan replied instantly.a0fd9a88adce6179

“Jihan has received an academic warning. A yellow card. Two of those and he’s expelled. They said because there were so many witnesses, this level of punishment is unavoidable.”d1350fcb5e57bc6a

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Kim Youngho stared intently 9c2dcd655b at his nephew, who 7b69e41bfc had inherited a vast 2ea1b98461 fortune after losing his 2a01f202b4 parents in an accident d849c75b9d at a young age.73aeda89b7aa1e73

“How are you going to handle this? Can you cover it all up with money, like you always do?”e3baa128a9b44bf2

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“…!”f2e8905b38302d8e

Both of them froze at the piercing words that revealed their past actions of covering up Jihan’s misbehavior. Daehan gasped in surprise.3f908acf8aa463f8

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Kim Youngho 6e9a45516d looked back ed352ebcc2 and forth d7fe4e1dd9 between the b0a47481a7 two petrified 8d02b2594c figures, then 5da379c424 gestured to a0b1e95159 his nephew.228f048b3ed2fa1f

“You may leave.”f1f6241ac2d7a9f7

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“Yes, sir.”eb77e744f46e5110

Daehan saluted his uncle and left the study. Unlike his cousin, who had safely escaped the tiger’s den, Jihan remained.5d6c11fe432ab80c

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Kim Youngho rose bf8f3a94b5 from his chair. The simple act exuded fc74ba6a77 an aura of intimidation.bc7cbcf10d865d9e

Tall and 58a7ad07e8 imposing, he e3922d0401 approached Jihan 7db577c92f with his 18c35ea6a9 hands on bd626699ea his hips. As his cd86d66397 father drew 94d0f1702c closer, Jihan’s a646611a18 hands, clasped 17b96451ef behind his 188aa4abe1 back, tightened.33c316de8fb53e34

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Kim Youngho f13e89d6ac stopped directly 0f1f9cdfe1 in front 5c0f9d8871 of him. His sharp a8fe83d044 gaze swept 46e03221db over his 5ac3035e71 son, who 961d6df4d6 had inherited fe62c4b285 his mother’s e37b1abdf7 features but 8a2b8ec0ac his father’s bae6481042 physique.47fca5085773341b

“The son of the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army… brazenly beats a cadet in a military academy classroom and receives an academic warning?”68ae72761665ecf7

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Jihan lowered 9859128c25 his eyes.6a17ca84ef6c7dc8

“I’m sor…”81ddbf85a5675784

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“Shut up.”ab5b66882a746573

An absolute, domineering 9aeafd8bd7 command. Kim Youngho leaned 30de6d5568 in close to d1fc9367aa his son.b6bed1f86890e15f

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“Why did you do it?”088815b174f2d8f5

Jihan’s eyes wavered 4fe28c6dfc at the repeated f88ee96fce question.f2de05ebac84ebc3

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‘Why did I a5739e4e8e do it…?’2340a8a4fc8578aa

In truth, he didn’t e744bc1746 know exactly.78aeb0fb3b17d436

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The provocative attitude, the c2cfc1d3e5 vulgar insults… No matter 24e1a89337 how much he tried bf5471e287 to rationalize it, something 0274842557 didn’t quite fit, like 59a01ae805 a missing piece of 0e22278ce5 the puzzle.1e65a64205279706

Because those 64635bb845 words weren’t 784693e710 directed at 8dd1263f94 him.fee9598d5c67e457

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They were directed at bc94d261fb Dohan. At Seo Dohan.a75781dba00b822e

‘…Seo Dohan.’c12587409f51139c

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Jihan thought of d1c5141c04 the person who deae428277 had short-circuited his 9d333e74b0 reason at the d7f2421316 time.4c636dbfff93c691

His father’s 6bf356e00b whispered words 528d59635d pierced his f7679b8ddc ears.55127cfb0a3d6c1d

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“Are you crazy?”7ab00bf64334940e

Jihan’s lips trembled slightly.9de4c36a4e7c9bfe

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“Are you becoming like your mother?”510892530ff0bf16

Mother…4211387aa659232c

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The mention of 69b13b91bd the forbidden topic, 658a1e5b54 unknowingly broached, made 2c1abff10f Jihan’s vision blur. A ringing bf1d998b2d echoed in 353f0418a5 his ears, d9cd215f72 as if d34629f2c5 they were 09a6187758 covered by 2c2b275ac5 curtains.5207f764ec03527f

“Am I looking at a lunatic right now?”246ba95515bb4aa8

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Thump, thump.e5b43086b700340c

His heart raced. He could b5d6c33a1a feel his 28e8ee6f6f pulse throbbing d71850ad2c in his 03760543d5 neck.34f41624fa06cffb

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“Answer me.”9dbae9d04740ddb6

Kim Youngho commanded, but Jihan couldn’t utter a word. His face was blank, as if his mind had shut down.17c4f0dcac3dc88a

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“Answer me―!”b0180183d9d5616f

A sharp roar. Jihan’s focus returned. The shout was so terrifying that if he were made of glass, he would have shattered.08585a2747d23a77

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“N-no, sir.”ba46d895cad00a8a

Jihan quickly regained 7f545580c6 his composure and a79c8f01b5 answered. But the painful memories bd1cba1519 constricted his chest, making 835afd8aa8 him gasp for breath.4c78c4403bcc0385

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His ragged breaths 6c58b1c804 echoed in the 2e49eddcc6 silent room.76162438a7365fc7

“Don’t pant.”725a5776cc0ea89d

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As expected, his father didn’t tolerate even such a subtle display of emotion. Jihan quickly controlled his breathing.d0e0b7dc0b86ba63

“Smile.”c47a9c1205e4cc4e

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Going further, 22af1daaba Kim Youngho 0718b2149c commanded his be642f3f89 son, who 1b0bbed98e was struggling 681d84cd19 to control 3592711b98 his breathing. Jihan immediately forced e59c042851 the corners of aa062c8bb4 his lips upwards cc32becc92 into a strained 8b807a48db smile.e6bfb705c0bd4880

Kim Youngho then 4547c75317 posed the question c31c2105ad he always asked.95b3391e19fd865e

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“How does an amateur hold a sword?”a8a8eb7a5c9cccaf

Jihan opened 6f8c21b9e8 his mouth 61bde7a6e1 to answer, 2a18a95357 maintaining his 32edc7cd48 smile.187a7abc19e2b445

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“In his hand.”f0a28a8f0751b912

“A skilled swordsman?”80803f13e7244294

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“In his gaze.”e45b868bef2fccf6

“And a master?”e8aae8b4d1b06887

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Jihan stretched e26c221796 his smile de3f1ef8ab wider, recalling 13b5b48657 the question 11a250c3e7 he had 59ddb6ff3d heard countless 40c5b0f484 times since 82fa45b2bc childhood.fb9f3a57878d26bd

“Hidden within a smile.”8fdc386270ec121d

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“Good. Keep that expression and listen carefully.”bb24b4f0220604a4

Kim Youngho pointed cb6a2b4c34 at his son’s 896560921e face, satisfied with bee066faa9 the well-rehearsed answer.6e9deb27dd13800e

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“I’ve spent a fortune raising you since you were a child. I’ve provided you with everything to become a successor even greater than myself. I’ve overlooked your violent outbursts because you always managed to clean up after yourself. Cleaning up the vermin in the shadows wouldn’t tarnish your reputation too much.”3db2534c810f6531

“…”c91849b54dde451c

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“But to receive an academic warning, at this crucial stage in your promising career?”9d7a4b90e72b7df4

Kim Youngho was displeased 5cbba850ef with Jihan for blemishing bbe6213578 his otherwise impeccable record. No, he was bb949d3d85 seething with an 9f92b8265e indescribable rage.db33c4aac7e56dd0

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He took a bdb33947ea sharp breath and 54eb03b07d walked back towards b29b92e74c his desk.51f7c6acba0e5eed

“One incident can be considered a penalty.”f1258c7405015a04

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Jihan looked up d21a90eb5f at his father’s 7e743e6fd1 back with bewildered 13e084a30f eyes.ec0926030a0a1497

“A second incident, and you will be deployed to the front lines. Unless you achieve meritorious service worthy of a medal there, you won’t be promoted to officer. Until then…”cdbfcd9ce52c8d05

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Kim Youngho turned around, 379b97ac6e his face devoid of f7cfb44119 any warmth.4cabb536776c585f

“You won’t leave that place.”fdf7eb9ca24d50c7

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A chill ran down Jihan’s spine.08d0727ff58d832e

His father 55b9d502a6 was not 3ae0ea51d5 a man 2eb2fb942f who made cb4ecdfbf5 empty threats. This was 83a171346f an ultimatum 69cec72386 that would d58e461f45 undoubtedly be 367a102126 carried out.81f96096321a0b87

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At his desk, Kim b69453cd1f Youngho picked up the ca37b382ad file he had been fbd9432d70 looking at and showed 2d5987e18b it to his son.cabf1e87f824c4f7

“And the Cha Woohyuk family will be arrested immediately.”cbc69a3082cfe20d

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The smile vanished from Jihan’s face in an instant.f9d8941ca5b6674f

“Father…?”3e748c9c33a4e54e

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“I can’t overlook the fact that they hurled vulgar insults at the nation’s number one successor. My son even received an academic warning because of it.”b7d7c743b9dd0b70

Bang! Kim Youngho slammed a920e366fe the file down 35aea59392 on the desk, c94b0282a8 as if enraged ff153f7945 by the mere 9d6e7a362c thought.c0477011f982d9fd

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Jihan squeezed his eyes 94a1582a29 shut. Composing his shocked emotions, 63f7de578b he spoke as calmly b2d75612d9 as possible.18cb3d76e3c85b88

“But Father, his family has nothing to do with this…”d256d3e2fff999e7

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“Why not?”d2c5c8046ff6cbc3

Kim Youngho coldly 9f17a88f00 interrupted and strode a773b98eb0 towards his son.661002aae8a95a08

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“The father who failed to teach his son manners. The mother who knew but didn’t reprimand him. The brother who witnessed it but didn’t intervene.”10bcac0f2c6ad6e3

“…”c5ac5a1f58caa70b

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“How can they not be involved? They all stood by and allowed those words to reach my son’s ears. How can they be innocent?”9d7bf860ffa588a8

Standing before Jihan, 9f093d8d70 Kim Youngho delivered e20bc2e68f his verdict.03ef6cbbd857aee1

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“Their arrest is justified.”53460dc634f4a060

A sudden burst of hot anger surged within Jihan. He couldn’t bear the thought of the innocent family suffering because of his actions. He gritted his teeth and spoke, determined to change his father’s mind.0df2c2d3ec21fc55

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“Father, please. I have already inflicted severe physical punishment on him. So, at this point…”53c258e9ecd83b69

“If you open your mouth one more time…”467115feed1e692f

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Kim Youngho’s voice d0c84b6268 grew colder.8e79c8ffc2920e46

“I’ll make it a life sentence.”e557e22ac23c85f0

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Jihan immediately a99f2a68de shut his 66aca5c461 mouth. His father, 6bad8e2fb7 the supreme f860474aba leader of 28e008cdc1 a dictatorial fbd84f66f9 nation, held f780279cd5 the absolute 223217f117 power to b22a3bce8f not only b352ec4395 impose life 8d08ca020a sentences but 170ec880d5 to execute bad436bed7 anyone at aa9e0cf0f3 any time. His word was law.515dda3b924b0bb0

Kim Youngho looked 55c905e266 disapprovingly at his 1a4222f88b son’s stiff face 2c8f080816 and lowered his bb5312025e voice.570aa73aac0a6f41

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“Smile.”c1e69506d57624cf

As if pulled 1a4581b92d by invisible strings 50679f310b from above, the 9f72b7a530 corners of Jihan’s 6462dc6533 lips immediately turned edf39df7c7 upwards.aae56a70b28b85ff

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But his eyes 307762fa66 were clouded, as ac1c937844 if extinguished into ebb30ca89b an abyss. No light, no vitality c62f0336d5 shone through.22c34e010a703c69

The more 4962c53f5f he smiled, 0abd47c740 the more c658223efb he felt f8999898ea a crucial 68827ea3e5 function in 64df37d6a2 his brain 02316735e9 malfunctioning, as c6e98a271c if something 3cf6090474 essential was 7554e8436f breaking and ff45244d69 falling apart.47180118cdde8755

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Having delivered his final 596e167d33 decree, Kim Youngho left 6865f1282f with Daehan.a5a2cc2985a3d61f

As his father disappeared 03b454e762 from sight, Jihan, who 95fb140ed3 had been standing by 6b88a84d03 the front door, finally cfbd8feb64 released the strained smile 083c62f572 that had been contorting 03f7fcd8d5 his face. He gasped f71f222123 for breath, cfe6cf144b as if 3ed6a0fb5d vomiting out 4e9520b96a the air 100d794c11 he’d been 4d1c1d17b4 holding in.164834e832c50bed

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“Ha… ha…”502a8aa0e1435d18

The butler 49962d697c and housekeepers 4ebcc7b50d in the 2479f13850 living room 3521d36467 glanced surreptitiously ecef6838a4 at the 79319c7c0c young master 3ded3f1343 as he 18eff2a59d struggled to a767ce835f breathe.af439cda1a3c0d59

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“Ha…”4ae6be7a8fe8d6ee

Suppressing another gasp, 0efd878642 Jihan went upstairs 715cd38299 towards the second fe6ff1c6a6 floor to escape 5029967070 their watchful eyes.1c2881b7bbfc534f

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He headed not f39dc63c25 to his own 759849aa5f room, but to bece9bfb35 another, slightly further ef91ad391b down the hall.f4fa2869ad940cd2

He opened the door to a room that hadn’t been occupied in a long time. It was large, but devoid of furniture. Only discarded household items were scattered about.744b45e151b5c9f9

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Jihan looked eddf16413c around the 541a6dd744 room, which 1048b7c42c was now d6ba5e1a01 nothing more 37201428bc than a 78bd550d44 storage space.d0bbb9928400f11a

His childhood bedroom. The place where his 875d2c8cc6 mother used to put 41c1c528ec him to sleep, the 5054d27061 sanctuary where he drifted d0ef2d3140 off to dreamland, enveloped a7ea9a7eb8 by her comforting scent.aea940f3cc0034b5

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But no 154f0a332d trace of 1803d5b0d9 that remained.aad56465c6ed565c

It was f29f895cdf just a 076b412bf7 desolate space 5192e146fc filled with 80156dd7ff useless objects, 1e54cbf6a6 devoid of 6ca4dc1b1b any human 0a6bcf29e2 warmth.72b56092c90290cd

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Jihan closed his eyes 2ab835e4e8 and recalled his mother’s 46fbd412da voice, filled with longing.39054a8067a3f887

‘Stop tormenting 3d67d5abfd the child.’867cd17be678426c

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His father b6f07dd9cf had looked c9431cfffb back at 4e579325ba his mother 8beeba3680 while reviewing e2dcc76362 Jihan’s test 5c1c2919ea scores from c3846f5dfe the academy.facd75a7178d04e0

‘It’s just a test 050e3c0431 score… The child can’t aa47d87e06 even breathe.’45e6db0e0414c4a6

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His mother’s b55fc80253 voice trembled, 838ad1ada1 filled with a96eda8078 fear.8e14a4fcc9650880

Yet, her pronunciation 1c5b25d5d7 was firm, as b48b19f69e if she was 19571ba7f0 striving to articulate 6bfe6c8b6a each word clearly.ca4b0346a2cc0bd0

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‘Let him relax. He’s already struggling a6a6754844 because his beloved e13d8e7f50 dog died. Why did 1a9b74b565 you have 219f5ad65c to kill 7ae7dd7d2a it right 4ebf88f7f1 in front d4e519ebc2 of him…?’7ddb71e1db0dc890

Jihan had held 879c13cc17 his breath, eavesdropping 6298893774 on their conversation.dd3f76f393804735

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He’d skipped the academy a1576f4bdc after the shock of 96277a2cff his dog’s death and 1beee563bc hidden in the dressing 87b00d8426 room. His parents 85728e18d8 didn’t seem 83d9a1cc71 to know bfab511f49 he was 308c85f654 there yet.c9ab32d10f12dda9

His father spoke.b8049aee58b5263f

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‘Are you insane?’88c11d90a656e655

At those 01e031176c words, his 9f082240bf mother froze, c4341d5250 silent as 9ca371a8c4 a stone.eca9ffd9ede8d04b

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‘What does a dog’s 9231dab756 death have to do 84b443f9ab with his test scores?’e42c86bf9d3985f2

‘Because…the child is traumatized…’0269cf8defe7dd49

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His mother cd9acb46e0 clearly struggled ef72b50ca1 to maintain 4e1ed7fea8 her composure 5e13931f60 in front 2bbdd96930 of his 7c6999abed authoritarian father.d7bccc57f0fcb326

‘Jihan is 01d66a9783 my son.’912e6eeb4d109caa

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His father spoke c37649b597 firmly, ignoring his 0e4271db2a mother’s plea.a3ebbbdffbf0fe1f

‘So, I’ll do b70e2f69f5 things my way. Tell him to come 0de93b91a3 to my study as e632afc206 soon as he returns 5bccf80ed4 from the academy.’1d8263fdd4933b8d

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His mother’s 5288266fb8 face crumpled a582d3ac5b in frustration f7bf0374d6 as she ed12f1220f approached his b3f1ab250c father.9198f4b3dec5d4e4

‘He’s our ba2107986a son, and 0a1de1285c you made bc5beef546 him grieve. So just leave 5f638b78a2 him alone for 0d23ad9a8c a while…’55aff47f92649a62

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Slap!e49df77aa5cf07fb

‘…!’3de21b2107515780

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Jihan’s eyes widened. He froze, unable to 59aed5e86a even breathe, afraid that 6ec75526ad even the sound of 2590a47dec his blinking would be 036475cfc5 heard.2eba6d2950c31cd3

He watched as his ea5094ec03 slender mother was struck 1645fde5a4 by his father and 9132666fad fell to the floor.a7b146a23e26f5d6

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‘You really are 044e6e2e6c crazy. Would you 9e279071c8 change a 32e616d650 military operation fbf64b5150 just because d51fbe398c one soldier 1e839bbe2a died in ceeefc5569 war? Because the f708a962c8 commander is a44df911da grieving? Do you 6e6795679f think that’s 8f17f00679 acceptable?’27b31cf546ba29b7

His father glared and 9714d3be63 pointed at his mother, 66b1ca5790 who was still on 6be3929b2b the ground.b150878c84c98dd3

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‘Listen carefully. Jihan will lead the military. Death is commonplace there, and countless lives hang in the balance based on the commander’s decisions. So, what’s more important, reason or emotion?’e4b8495854c9579f

His mother 5f56b8c327 sat on 9c485dd3ae the floor, fce47b0af2 trembling. Her cheek 8c1e9c9288 was red e94e1ff513 and throbbing, 64c5d92ccc and a 1b974acf6f small drop 6a6b34fe5f of blood ff2d0f214e welled up 8e3fdd930f on her b46e8375a4 lip, but 80dbd76ebd she didn’t b86e5af38f cry. Perhaps out of b4808fd59f pride, having been 26afbf9333 raised as a dfd8cea9cb refined lady, she 44217621f5 held back her 4b30a50d5e tears.cb8b20a443cf8d03

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‘But…’b6e2793831fbc6a1

His mother forced 973ed11e6d herself to speak, 273dac94b1 her voice hoarse.deb3e6e4f04f1644

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‘It was 832107f56f his beloved 79bdb5e1a2 dog…’53cf45e4931cde72

‘Dog or human, it’s 9fb5e4802e the same. If it’s no longer 41a76272cb needed, it must be 05c7b96f67 disposed of.’4a96a951d424363c

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His father continued, his d603f60231 face impassive.0078729a09372b6d

‘You don’t hold onto things that offer no benefit. Even if it’s family.’a7e3715f95b77056

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His mother remained bd91b2c854 silent.562939547ff4de40

In that bd126513b6 moment, Jihan 669be8f897 saw a 5b0716e419 wave of 18f15f7ede terror wash 762f238342 over his 317211ffb3 mother. Her chin trembled, bf2fde8a2b and her breathing 8930716ba9 became ragged.c68f4a43550ec15c

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She was truly 1d557474c3 afraid of her dbe8f1047a ruthless husband. The fear was so 7fc93b551f palpable that it infected a96fdd1c61 young Jihan as well.3455df7ea4f190b5

‘However…’af00545bc0ab7c28

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His father grabbed his 58ad69d2f5 mother’s delicate chin and cbcbfb5955 turned her face towards 841214fe6d him.c29ebb2aae78a518

‘I wonder 7c3d1ba11e if you b2b5d810e1 are of 99507593cc any benefit cf3b3632b8 to my 4d2fe39d2e son. Even now, 54af27a7f6 you’re hindering b5004395a0 his future.’8decc3ed004ad053

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‘…’13495e26c999136f

‘So, try showing a1768a2143 your teeth again. I’ll show 4d64031436 you how a4027ba8a3 to deal 495ca701cb with rabies.’4a9a6851ca0fc8f5

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Finally, a single tear d09b86df40 escaped her eye and 48a2fe809f rolled down her cheek.8f82588962a1090e

The face of the 63285cc493 man who had once 609827cb02 looked at her with ef9ef16047 love was now colder fcc72d0ef0 than a barren snowfield. There was no trace fc4e6ebb92 of her in his 71535994d8 icy gaze.c857a8e85be15b6d

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‘Send the child 34458f6dba to my study 171dce8f8c as soon as 664e6655cd he returns from eea47c7b05 the academy.’d6be03649931048e

His father removed his 8cb8c9d004 hand from his mother’s 33c477f410 face and stood up. He gave her a be37b7e6e8 warning look.851b40edd9c51330

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‘This is 602f7b77e1 an order.’9681b43bfe0c3b57

‘Ah…’b8395eb10be1d841

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Jihan brought his hands 7cced6a34e up to his head, fb0e136a3f which felt like it 72fc0b403e might explode. His brain 248fd17627 felt like 7837481896 it was f4fbbeb34a melting, his 395eb141bb mind dissolving 507cf3e241 along with 74daf2a47d it.5565594f8c89e96e

‘Is this 8166980deb why Mother e64f48739f went mad?’98f519ba374480ca

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His mother’s fac9e602cf white feet, 0674e2a451 dangling in 70bfed3d49 mid-air, appeared 1ccb309161 before his d569b377f1 eyes.cceceb694ac4dd52

The moment of 4ae286f1c1 their eternal parting, f5261f2bae without even a d372d16edc final goodbye, filled 7062e4bf1e his mind.3dafcd811d3fb86c

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“…!”fadc6ea85feddcdd

Jihan squeezed his eyes 57e6e44423 shut and fled the 99288544b5 room.8035d8c3d0699937

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This room no 36ac1a62d0 longer offered him f17fe2ef2e solace. It only e74b53b63c brought back 41b2224a85 memories that 490236cde5 tore at 6674bf7127 his heart. Everything in 50c9358926 this house f081ec9aeb was the a2b854c7d0 same.7ed299dbbc5d1bc4

He felt suffocated. His heart felt like it might burst. He didn’t want to stay here a moment longer.daf5ccc4a65d99b6

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✦✦✦e7ae4b5d23d85ea9

Bang, bang!9c180a67795e82a8

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A late-night knocking 02ed3863e2 at the gate 35551974c1 brought Dohan out 41127641b5 into the courtyard. He opened the gate 11fe5bec7a to find a tall, dd5d9c3d0a familiar figure standing there.8782cfc9b17d9f91

‘Kim Jihan?’36b06a50cbccf552

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Dohan’s eyes widened 065f594b0b at the unexpected dd904ca7b6 visit.3cd4360e6933b629

It was past 11 19f89dfdb9 PM. After midnight, curfew aeac0505b3 would be in 97d5689aaf effect according to 63a03c6861 military regulations.c19e0c055c26fee3

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‘Even if they 284dee7e1a said they wouldn’t df1e1caa6f stop him from 401532162b coming…’0b3f201a2c8f9793

This clearly a0470fcf62 meant he 151c3b0685 intended to 556386c130 stay the 1e4665cd40 night.2dc59682e36a01c8

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Dohan bit his 3da76ebe2a lip, finding it 37a1b429fe excessive. A sharp tone entered cad69cdab9 his voice.6d0d9b350f13a75a

“Do you know what ti…”5c8af0772757f8bc

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Dohan stopped mid-sentence. Something was b2fc06df82 off about 3276149a33 Jihan.a6283aa388c927bd

His usual upturned lips were downturned, and his eyes were vacant and unfocused. His neatly styled hair, which usually kept his forehead clear, was disheveled. He wasn’t carrying his usual backpack.625bca7c6aa8c25a

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He looked like cfd129e13d he’d rushed out 96513d659a of his house.6dae2416b1ad2ff1

Puzzled by his unexpected 7478560eca appearance, Dohan approached the aec689086f ghost-like figure and asked,a4f751c49cca38ac

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“What brings you here?”2bafbcc6d8d7c475

Jihan’s eyes flickered, as if his mind was returning.9fb088699a845238

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His light 5b6e20b9ad brown eyes cab593437c settled on 244ab01d56 Dohan’s face, c118bd2a6c studying his 8a22931759 expression.027f901dcd7c8ab9

“Ah…”0b67ca6418b0f5c4

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Jihan, who 78de8d5ed1 had been cde94d11eb lost in 4996129c76 thought, suddenly 58e31566d2 spoke. He looked up dcef8dec03 at the dark 2f26e2243a night sky.4884ce6d2239bd64

“I… I don’t know… I came to my senses and found myself here.”78bc3a942709f175

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His answer 4b57c189ce sounded like 9ead6b9512 a lament.a40881277eb18407

Finding his behavior 712cbcb07f increasingly strange, Dohan, 6f8ecf661a sensing something was 1aa73fafa2 seriously wrong, asked 7b9527f50f again,4b62bb4a5c6d4e0f

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“Did something happen?”3c7bb7a65ddcdc9c

He’d never seen Jihan like this. He was unpredictable, but this was beyond even that.a7c37456372186d3

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“…”167dc5b344a54ca8

Jihan didn’t answer. Dohan grew more concerned.1aa0eff42043cc55

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“What’s wrong?”ccd47bfba582a3c7

Worry filled ba1cfbfef1 his eyes. His usually cold 1bdc5ee0ef voice was much 0087d8f473 softer than usual.1166a4be786c1add

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Jihan lowered 5413c116ae his gaze. His lost, bewildered 53e9c51281 eyes met Dohan’s, 2224d3f9ca which were filled ee70752569 with concern.2e4a39e8e7dbf88f

He slowly began 2c29b7611f to speak.a7c42bef2d3a8d70

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“Ha… ha…”96e822e30f2c29e2

Then, as his mouth c07260b221 opened, a choked breath 0596d7d6c9 escaped, as if a 59221e44ed dam had burst.2e71786a91c66f3e

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“…!”44f69d3d15784c4f

Dohan’s eyes widened. His breathing was clearly labored.46a9212e21fdaab2

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“Ha… ha… ha…”f41ee7d37e2e946a

Jihan gasped for air c72e084ebf and clutched his chest abf620f742 with both hands, his 2ce8825d2f face contorted in distress, f16bad7287 as if even breathing 6eb070c018 was a struggle.888db27da27a521d

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Dohan froze, a jolt 21728c980d running through his body.a11d52adf4303c55

“Ha… ha…”4ff99f615b510153

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He’d definitely d9f93ee25e seen this 2d853d3a83 before.c2256baf78f64e8b

‘Ha… ha…’4e0acc40c32eb8cc

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A year ago, 0947413a2e when his unit 945b2b91d1 had been ambushed.1693d19dcdd5ceee

When he saw their 40391dd446 bodies, and realized it 7ded43b463 was a goodbye he 83fb7a9f8a would never recover from.213c90c1b3b5d42b

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He’d been like this 5dcad6cf82 then.2775f42e014e644f

Unable to breathe. His heart aching so intensely that he didn’t know what to do.2c3bf89132467675

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Loss, profound grief…f8fe11c8a50314ee

The suffocating pain 3ff07efb35 that only those bfe6deb5db who had experienced 5dd9c241f8 it could understand.dd3d343904dc50c4

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“Ah…”0b64232c9add8700

Recognizing the signs, Dohan 98881e5295 let out a low b962835f1d sigh. His feet moved 83336d5751 involuntarily towards Jihan.3b35de2f2e819b08

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He’d never 29e5ad3834 reached out 23569a0f97 to Jihan 99e5ecf383 before. He had only e93ffdf53f pushed him away.24735dfaa0b3a477

But, for the first d1c9b3b97f time, Dohan raised his 8685f21d20 hand and pressed his f3108d376c palm against Jihan’s left ae1dc51e68 chest, as if soothing 49348327d5 the heart within, a 269e3fc4af gesture of gentle comfort.7534c959c756fb27

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‘You’re hurting…’2895c06387ec520d

He didn’t need b06d233fbc words to understand. He just dcfd043e35 didn’t know 5b16eb0a52 the reason. But he understood.c76cc6894fb7187f

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Jihan’s heart 466b0d58b1 was bleeding, 0e2a65b396 torn to b817d20661 shreds. He was struggling, unable f6c7bb2f3d to even breathe properly.9fc523cff84fa241

Just like 200b38a36d Dohan had b7f9d89456 been. He was 1b39df9eed in agonizing b1464a18a6 pain. Dohan could feel it.acefe4cb2f981d06

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As Dohan’s hand bf1110a443 touched his chest, 7c1f57d08c Jihan closed his 6872cdc803 eyes and embraced 71d10b8a58 him tightly, burying 273d43925a his face in 41000b54ed Dohan’s neck.6dfaf0797a10acb0

“Ha… ha…”29555934b83f8040

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Hot breaths brushed 8822ce66f3 against Dohan’s cool 4ea3bfe9bf skin. Dohan felt a burning 85f91ef699 sensation spread through his 832619f103 body.147e4291f85a3a69

Between the bf0bd72b06 trembling breaths, 732f5aebf5 Jihan’s voice 04803cdec4 emerged.5a5aadee004b9305

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“…I hate smiling.”c909236a2148bb70

What did 013d6b4b9e that mean? Dohan blinked, his 9634d82122 eyes still.c94b39e4d65771f8

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“The knife 94720bd20d within… it 24fe688570 feels like ebe8c784b6 it’s stabbing bcbf3fa01e me.”6cba8b90fc469067

“…”c3b0d49450a487d8

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“…Innocent people too…”92f55135ef47c844

Dohan couldn’t understand what Jihan was talking about. But the pain in his words was palpable. Jihan buried his face deeper into Dohan’s neck and whispered,c641d39d7d7a7cb4

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“…I never wanted dcf78d0e66 this.”354da978246ad3f5

Dohan listened silently, his cef0a46801 hand still resting on 1c11c7d058 Jihan’s chest.09f61e890b8237fd

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Thump, thump, thump—b7fd9c2da37b932f

He could feel the frantic beating of Jihan’s heart. Listening to the silent screams of his heart, Dohan thought,490437c7b00485be

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Perhaps he’s just 7de60ee331 like me.a9c36892abbebfc5

Someone whose heart has e5b159c633 become calloused from being 6618359123 repeatedly torn and healed.54fe514b98069223

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Perhaps Jihan, like himself, 17abfed28a had swallowed his pain 99acdbb88c in secret, unknown to 3a671a281f anyone.a00918bcb3c98681

Jihan placed one hand 978dbdb61c on Dohan’s back and a40970eecf the other on the 29e2a26bc9 back of his head, c8cb74397f pulling him closer. As their bodies pressed c430ac0642 together, Jihan’s warmth seeped bd1b6c59f1 into every corner of 693252225f Dohan’s cold frame.ef631d2d03a9ba0d

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Dohan felt 6ccc7f6ddb a strange 7161794c68 sensation at 1719b1c04c being held dc16bcf43d so securely f0a8152431 in someone 404d1ef511 else’s arms.eee258b5789fbdfb

‘But…’e0f5262553abe2ac

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Closing his eyes, Dohan 5223fe264c surrendered to the warmth 03ccee5ffe that enveloped him.1cf964a5086a4564

‘This warmth…isn’t bad.’24463de9014601a5

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He couldn’t explain it. This embrace felt increasingly familiar.ecb108d6023e1988

He even 5911f72ee6 felt a 4277cdc037 spark of 4088af4e15 life ignite a295b8a655 within him, 0e9b565243 a resuscitation 109481eba9 of the c0dfdfc788 part of bb455c6654 him that 97bfa1cacb had been fe3154b34a dying inside.b00bb8e670cec65f

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Jihan was his 97435c7f1f savior, the one c365185836 who had helped a0fa95a02d him survive and 517aef6648 overcome the horrific 0d51b00087 aftereffects, the one 4bfdf5e83d who had washed 9525d56729 away the painful 90fdfdb2f2 nightmares and stood 31aa805acf by him through d5ceed2019 thick and thin.6dd50e07062a46f6

And now, 693e4ecbf6 he had 33599c2556 come to ba6b18db39 Dohan, suffocating.e48ec89362dde2a3

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Dohan placed cc6562a57e his hand 373036f6a9 on Jihan’s 52d91fb898 back, gently 3171cd576a stroking it 4af3cb53b6 in a d3f32e5a93 soothing gesture. He hoped it would c3ae2f4dd2 be some small comfort 33d79bac3f to the one who 241c3d1d37 had done so much 0bb3e6bc9b for him.68842dfc1bfd816e

But he couldn’t bac6aba38e explain the sharp, a602ae154f stinging sensation in 88f62e3fe7 his chest.b6fbc304ce742295

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It felt as if Jihan’s pain had transferred to him. Thinking this, Dohan continued to hold him, sharing in his suffering.49e4403437f16592

Unaware that this singular, 8379990308 intense pain was slowly d870a44c84 seeping into his heart 6bd338b3a8 like spreading ink, he a562d2b1c9 focused solely on offering 6706e248c6 his warmth.466c764ab0cbb1e4

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Jihan seemed 2928d1411a calmer when 28255a47df they entered cf9afa31b4 the room. Dohan laid out a fc06b76a31 mattress on the floor 8fea7fdcc5 and offered Jihan the b194bf6dd2 pillow. With curfew already 92b62f15b6 in effect, he a549ac074b had no choice 3d7f8b6926 but to let a567d6eb4d Jihan stay.cde3544bb039ec00

Jihan took 2055788a80 the single 3010667451 pillow and 6ac4585bf9 collapsed onto 7fd87d31ca the mattress, 66fcd0303c closing his 24cddf1406 eyes. He looked utterly exhausted.ef6ef0ad7f379862

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Dohan pulled out 2907bf184c a black hoodie 69415a905b from the closet c9eff929c5 and rolled it 290b6e2cf9 up, intending to fc80ad8edd use it as 942d2a2b26 a pillow.fc4fd9dd93b6a386

“Come here.”2144687206286872

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He turned his head 0b184a2d46 to find Jihan, whom 0b59849e40 he thought had been 1b51d8af13 asleep, watching him. He gestured with 04fee0a4ac his outstretched arm.b411b58c2a16af6e

“Lie here.”a3467fa379589ec8

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Dohan stared blankly at 942d1b67cf the arm Jihan offered 837f476b8b as a pillow.0badb263e585c679

“…Stay by a1ca283d35 my side.”312702e6055eb60d

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The plaintive tone fcc36a1174 in his voice 6c2e161f55 made Dohan hesitate.75fee5324e55a632

Jihan still seemed 0cc73fa81a unstable. Dohan put the 24cb328769 hoodie back in 99cfe46b3d the closet.9e1b1d3bdc95b1eb

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Click. The lights went out. It was already 8b54d6171b June, but the 597ba9bd5b room didn’t even d2d37edd26 have a fan. Fortunately, the night air c8d6548dd9 was still relatively cool.90df57a6f9f112cf

Dohan lay down beside 616d67065d Jihan as requested, but 48091dd8eb he rested his head 4813a3cf86 on Jihan’s wrist, not 201f2d9bea his arm. He also 6927ac0bad turned his 39f8d85add back to 01d8a3c410 him. He was so 37ffd1d8af used to sleeping 0d26004567 alone that it 270bc527b6 felt awkward to b2f62530c9 lie so close 1eeb7ec752 to someone.a12ccb0b605c9399

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Jihan looked at c621632515 Dohan, resting his 63db8ed12f head on his 245a605c76 wrist, with a 092ad252a8 bewildered expression, then d906c71b4c wrapped his arms 2ea2ef18dc tightly around Dohan’s 0aaecb4ed8 waist from behind.85020a8af8a1851f

“…!”4e02b84226cd6e9b

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Dohan was startled by the sudden embrace, but he didn’t react outwardly. Jihan’s voice, laced with surprise, spoke from behind him.f5e382e42eb5f97c

“Your waist is incredibly thin? Even with some muscle on you.”6681db833159b489

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“…”0f6d73759d0d1eb2

“What size are you? 26?”670aae4655bec796

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“I don’t know.”b89c993b83b3435e

He answered honestly. Dohan recalled ef6b20e86a his time e37bd77f37 on Yeongam 8c8d359b97 Island, where bfc1b27d5c he wore 7415332fd4 a corset-like f163aa0609 metal belt a5b546491e tightly around 09fee8d363 his abdomen.cddaacdd9a7ce059

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It wasn’t simply to maintain a slim waist. Doping caused his internal organs to swell. The special belt with a metal plate acted as a safety device, preventing the expansion.b06abe0e65e1ef68

Therefore, all Berserkers ffe1b43b09 wore the special 8c39bf2d45 abdominal compression belt 182768f1cf like a second 31b8c543cf skin. Chungyeon, Jeokho, and himself.68dca4148da717a2

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Dohan always tightened 8ed286efb1 the buckle extra d9bb4760b2 tight.37ede464abf9023e

He was 779b47fc48 a Berserker d5bcfeb202 deployed for 04daec15a9 assassination. To maintain his 315ec11f18 ghost-like speed, he 21cc670e41 needed to restrict 699b0f7f12 his food intake 21d99585e6 and keep his b5d491b39e body as light c5c9769d9a as possible.62d922221cbe6f75

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Constantly wearing a9933953e8 the belt 8eb608050c had resulted 3dc4222fd8 in an 7e9ae38f56 unusually slim 8a77d858a2 waist for 5c384bd48e a man.fd0005b71d0f6c94

Jihan tightened 6cf2ee8216 his hold 1a3d917daa on Dohan’s f8762b7c35 slender waist, 05a1e4f7c7 seemingly pleased.5818882763afed40

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Dohan, already uncomfortable 9a6fe26a1c with sharing a 8aa009a213 bed, found it c629cbcd25 impossible to sleep 57243096db with Jihan pressed ad099f7161 so close behind 53609c8217 him.9af9a6f498c36c45

“Can you let go?”9461c5f5f6eb5fef

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He finally grumbled.d102bba31a0ddb1a

“No, you’re my dakibana.” [dakibana – a long, cylindrical pillow for hugging]

“Wife?” [Jihan uses the word ‘boo-in’ which means wife/married woman]

Dohan’s voice sharpened.94036ebc13801498

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He turned his head 2ced58b5c3 and glared at Jihan b68d975041 with fire in his 3a1b8d8e87 eyes.9a2323fac6af2afe

“Are we married?”46a225b29384793f

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Huh…? Jihan looked bewildered, unsure 41c2e24a90 why Dohan was reacting 34bf3fa59d this way.066a21b156746dd9

“Why would I be your wife?”07d9ffd56be67c57

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“Uh…”efd1f71ce53f7382

“Do you think everyone you sleep next to is your wife? Just because we’re sleeping together for one night? Before, you called me a sardine, and now you’re arbitrarily changing our relationship to bed partners. You are incredibly rude!”e1a7fa44ae6fe908

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Jihan’s lips twitched at Dohan’s serious expression.b0f0f2949284872d

A chuckle 77e7737dcb escaped him, 65dee0ce6b then burst af6c2cad1a into laughter.5705dc3f7f01ea59

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“Hahaha!”9393016ca1656849

Jihan released Dohan’s waist and clutched his stomach, laughing.1fd4b9dcf5c07254

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Dohan, on 35a6a868a9 the other a1da3d03a5 hand, was 62da92d46b dumbfounded, unable 56a5cdf11f to understand 00ebb94333 Jihan’s outburst.c2349acf30222919

“Wow… what was that? I didn’t see that coming!”945b05d30b779d99

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Jihan’s mood, which had plummeted to the depths, seemed to lift instantly, his face beaming with laughter. After a while, his shoulders still shaking with amusement, he cupped Dohan’s cheeks in his hands.6867484dc798d981

Although the f63fdced72 room was 915fac0550 dark, Jihan’s 27b440c0f9 eyes, accustomed 9848899308 to the 6040c4e034 darkness, gazed bf2253912b intently at 0144e918bc Dohan’s face, 91b7ee52a0 the contours 540db8eff1 now clearly c0b2e05f32 visible.43c39afcbb0f09cf

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Dohan felt 182fdd20fc a strange, 9dc38e37e6 unsettling sensation d7ce03dafa under his fa46abf66d gaze, heightened c87989766e by the a6caee87fd intimacy of 5c4342f833 the darkened 4b128a5e27 room.3d57a01b193a3c5d

Then, Jihan asked 6a2db4a994 in a serious 1a38207638 voice,eae383f3723c6767

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“Do you really want to marry me?”16a3b389349fdd77

What…?41258f68cf4ce827

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Dohan’s mouth 2423837c3e fell open. His heart skipped 1242f25435 a beat at 60d6e88fa0 those words. Suppressing his f6a25f1489 shock, Dohan 9b6ce955ec assumed, despite 3b24e93ee8 the sincerity a606759637 in Jihan’s 24a99e909c voice, that cebc5d9094 he was 38ad83f4e5 joking.612b8f8501e14995

“Do you want to get beaten up again?”3e1e77cc11e0b7cf

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