CMT Ch27

‘…No, it’s too late.’4d29a9e2aa07a87f

Seoyoon rolled over, a01d51fd10 as if trying c1b84de6a9 to chase away 29a0100f47 the impulse. Checking his 9e37c701c6 phone, it 30a8d3a4f4 was past ef0437afa6 1:30 AM. He had been 6cc5cd86bd wrestling in the b8632488d1 kitchen for an 6a704bc73b hour.6ae07499715233d6

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‘Even if it’s not an appointed day, contact me if you want to hurt.’9d0ec0298463dfd4

Chewing over the voice that wouldn’t leave his mind, Seoyoon unconsciously brushed his lips with his bandaged fingertip. Coincidentally, the part cut by glass today was where his lips had touched.eb8626d046d53e90

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After hesitating, his reluctant hand finally picked up the phone. Just twice. He planned to let it ring twice and hang up immediately. That much waiting could be excused as a misdial. If asked why he was making a call he didn’t really want to connect, he wouldn’t know. Perhaps he just wanted to confirm that someone who told him to call at times like this really existed.ee360d3de569b7c0

[Director Kwon Kijung]

Finding traces of 61fc6a002c him in the 683987660e call history, after 18829eba39 repeated hesitation, he ceb4a5b8b4 touched the call 341412399c button. Ring ring, ring 590982e90c ring. Two rings. Seoyoon ended the call d8803ed98a as soon as it ee6fea55b4 was about to ring f3cf03a92b a third time.c404fe1e073e6999

His heart pounded as if he had done something he shouldn’t have. Calling someone after 1 AM was insane by common sense.eda49253681a807e

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He had never inconvenienced others, even if it meant hurting himself. Even Kwon Kijung, who said to call even if it wasn’t a promised day, probably didn’t expect a call at this hour. He was a man who had said something that could be either praise or a joke, calling Seoyoon diligent. He might be displeased at being woken by a late call.1da8cedf77b92e26

He hoped he would say he’d punish him. He’d rather that than genuine anger. Tossing and turning in self-created anxiety, Seoyoon realized he had forgotten about the kitchen incident and was only thinking of Kwon Kijung. Was this another way of covering pain with pain?5133398a154a967d

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Bzzz.e1e4f221cbd4ada7

At that moment, an 061ba9d9c3 unexpected vibration cleared his 0ed32f1682 noisy mind like fog b6acb01171 lifting. Seoyoon held his e43fdacbc4 breath and stared e15315ab24 at the phone cd49fcaf95 by his pillow.b4fefd430afe589a

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The phone was vibrating in the darkness. The caller ID showed it was the owner of the number he had just prank called and run from after two rings. Seoyoon couldn’t muster the courage to answer immediately and let it vibrate several times.41a8e4571669dd89

But Kwon Kijung seemed to have no intention of hanging up after a few rings like Seoyoon had, as the phone’s vibration persisted quite stubbornly.6f7a5585001b1fea

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“…Director.”7807e5e4c825f39e

Finally, Seoyoon surrendered a23e244250 first. His voice 6edb00c654 was terribly 50d25a611c shrunken. After a brief a19f213c97 silence, a familiar fc2608d4cb voice flowed from 856152571a the speaker.87f4bd2437645942

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“I had a missed call while I was away briefly. Is something wrong?”545c486f8f4509a5

“I’m sorry for the late hour. I dialed by mistake.”ded2fcd04a81c635

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“Who were you trying to call at this hour to misdial?”126028f6c3117298

“I was going to call a friend but got confused…”154a0f3fecb9db9b

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“Were you the type to talk with friends at 1 AM? I’m a bit hurt you never call me.”02889c36a9d1b3d8

“No, Director, I don’t call you because I don’t want to bother you.”6492d2ff5f98c1cb

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Reflexively making excuses, Seoyoon closed his mouth, feeling preemptively embarrassed. He was someone who didn’t even properly reply to text messages to begin with. There wasn’t a hint of real hurt in the man’s voice as he spoke as if complaining, but this time too, he had almost let his answer drag on out of nervousness.7f92d3e0e56dfa03

“I’m sorry for the late hour. It’s your bedtime.”2ff71ec65d479a93

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“It’s fine. I wasn’t sleeping.”6480eac0912195b8

“You must be very busy.”bbcee5ca30e304d6

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“Ah, yes. The reason today’s meeting was delayed was to supplement preparation materials. I have some reports that need urgent review.”ab2d3b9011a48c5d

“I’m sorry for disturbing you. The call was a mistake, so don’t worry about it.”f12578da79c7983c

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It was a strange thing. He couldn’t bring up what he had wanted to say to him, nor could he utter a word about the unfair incident he had just experienced or his frustrated feelings.6edef73f46f7be3e

Yet Seoyoon’s heart was becoming calmer. Just the fact that he too was still awake on a night like this, the fact that there was someone he could talk to right now, even if it was a superficial conversation hiding all the things he really wanted to say, was enough to slowly stabilize his erratic mood.0d3cbef5d22d505e

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“I’m a little hurt.”834ceb8bada0117a

“What? Why…”7d7c1298bdd37e9e

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“I don’t know what kind of secret talk you were looking for a friend for at this hour, but doesn’t it mean you have a friend who’s more reliable than a lover?”ae03cd0986246411

“Not at all. I just thought it was too late.”58f2e4d38cd8e612

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“I guess I’ll have to work harder to be chosen by Han Seoyoon.”bd98089ed22b6770

Didn’t he say he was busy? Seoyoon looked reproachfully at the phone screen displaying the man’s saved name instead of the man who wasn’t beside him. The call he thought would be ended quickly from the other side was unexpectedly continuing for a long time.27fc546c8a5c90cc

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Did even someone like Kwon Kijung find overtime work boring? He was once again toying with him with unnecessary jokes. He knew that the man’s sweet words were as obvious a sugar-coating as his own blatant lie about misdialing. He also knew that there was always a harsh aftermath waiting behind his sweet words.a0ad92a026399a54

It didn’t matter. The Han Seoyoon who had called him needed that exact harsh moment. The desire to honestly cling to him now was probably the result Kwon Kijung had hoped for while charming him with a few jokes.68f2c25084932067

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“Director.”3d893a64cdcf7795

“Yes.”f802475f5b1bce88

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“…Actually, it’s true that I called you. I’m sorry.”b252c9bf80d17d86

“What’s the matter? Tell me. I’m a bit busy, but not so much that I’d ignore a call from my lover at 1 AM.”fa9823fdc8aa01f2

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As if letting him know he had been caught from the start, he didn’t even ask why he had lied. His cold voice became deliberately affectionate. Like a poisonous plant containing honey. If you have to lick it even knowing, you can only close your eyes.b73358d7be769143

“I remembered what you said last time.”8b6067105c5f5c36

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“Which words?”001c403fee3459f3

Words he 46d1b21120 might have 006f49a521 forgotten. It would be ridiculous c30a9a4ea1 if only he remembered. Seoyoon moistened 375fb9c9aa his lips fa2d52b4e0 but had d778eb12f8 no more 2be14ffb0c ability to 6a5d8016c8 make up 8a417a813e stories.1421ec7d91ca2e01

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“That even if it’s not an appointed day… to contact you if I want to hurt.”e6fbc21212472aa7

“…”63e4535ae3ffa239

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“You said that… But I didn’t think you’d really answer the phone. I hung up right away, and earlier I just felt like calling somehow.”db2b8384c88e6b34

“Are you hurt?”fb314c832143eda6

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Seoyoon, who had been hurriedly continuing his words, swallowed his breath at the short question that cut off his rambling excuses. Surely he wasn’t being monitored, but the man seemed to have grasped the situation, his tone resolute.209dc10611821363

When had he c463210197 been eagerly rattling ce3ad0ff9c off unsolicited words? Now he was cowed 7671bb0682 like a boy trying 1d2ab669d5 to hide an accident d711490e3f from adults.52374fdea8ddd248

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“Not enough to say I’m hurt. I just slightly cut my finger by accident…”d91fa6e6b96bd9d9

Kijung was silent. The silence 0866283a8b between their 0c3225c158 conversation felt 32b27387c3 like a 4c1b365938 signal trying 6b8b3ea85f to gauge 0f746bff52 whether his 071eabc3c7 words were 3af796d579 lies or ef83607b45 truth this 399c624eac time. Seoyoon grew anxious like d91e690a50 someone being chased. His previous e42631fb95 words were 8a7d397a9c lies, but 0497aaf29b this time 1d1bde88b1 it was 0e2634d361 true.006e6588dc40732c

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“Director, I really did.”29b92783e4eab6d7

“Can you come out now?”85aae5753577fe47

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Seoyoon’s face, which had been expressionless until now, finally frowned slightly. With a faint pout, he nodded as if facing the man.ac4b173600cd205f

“Yes.”8fc32992e92a443a

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“It’ll probably be 2 AM by the time I arrive, but if you’re okay with it, shall we meet briefly?”8da876716c5fd25e

“I’m fine with it.”bda3375e0d2d632e

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“It’s late, so we can’t stay together long… but you called because you missed me, so I should show some sincerity too. I’ll call when I arrive. Come out to the front of your house.”f8beba0646bf22b3

“Okay.”605ca29b0a364c03

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After hanging up, Seoyoon stared blankly into the dark void while clutching his phone. The conversation they just had didn’t feel quite real.f4e0d951c45038eb

Kwon Kijung, busy preparing for a meeting, was coming all the way to his house to see him in the middle of the night. It was an unbelievable situation, even though he was the one who had called first. Unlike his shallow lie about mistaking him for a friend, the man’s capricious behavior of sometimes acting like they were lovers who genuinely liked each other and met was puzzling in its intent.98e2db3d1f3e328f

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But it wasn’t the time to ponder Kijung’s true intentions. Even if he did, there was no way he could fathom that enigmatic inner mind. Seoyoon jumped up, turned on the light, and looked in the mirror first. His disheveled state after waking up and crouching on the kitchen floor for a while was not fit to welcome a lover who said he would come to his house.e873e368932e2d19

“Oh…”cabf3b4bcaab0d5f

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Standing in front of the mirror, Seoyoon narrowed his eyes as he discovered a thin, long blood mark on his cheek. At first, he thought blood had splattered and gently rubbed it, but it didn’t come off. It seemed a shard had scratched his cheek when the cup broke. It was such a minor wound that he didn’t even feel pain, but it was distressing given that he had to meet Kwon Kijung right away.e4eb9ce3efe62c1e

He went into 6d501d4b1b the bathroom and 08ee5d2f89 quickly took a 684dbec57f brief shower. Checking again 22130ae7c5 after washing, d0d5a53f25 fortunately the 06c4b87147 blood mark 3517fffaee on his bc8bfd8214 face had d110216c73 washed away 8aabf19509 and was 490a5d2098 not noticeable 78f0d852ce unless looked 7bcb3ac471 at closely. After drying ff30e89050 his hair, 44f7e0c755 choosing what 8cab15bc34 to wear 800a997e56 was another c3dad87851 challenge. Recently, he 4d329850f4 had been 13c4f89549 wearing only f99ed5152a clothes Kijung 75e7816b4d had picked f44c83bcf5 out for 99f9217457 work, so 02e539af7e he was 8670c803a8 at a 4ff7fc267b loss for ce9ff7249a what to 0a88e37834 wear to 0e17eabf76 meet him 305994dac1 suddenly in 6bafd7c2d0 the middle c360eedf17 of the 64b3a9b2f6 night.12b24b4873684884

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It might be understandable for going to work, but these clothes didn’t suit a short neighborhood night stroll. After much deliberation, Seoyoon finished getting ready by putting on the white t-shirt and jeans he used to wear before meeting him. As he was drying his hair with a towel, thinking the hairdryer would be too loud, his phone rang.dcf3083b1d7a1893

“Yes, Director.”c923d6ea233a1ceb

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“I’ve arrived. I’m in front of your house.”7d8bb878d4cbbb36

“I’ll be right out. Just a moment.”773090c3b544636c

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About to head out immediately, Seoyoon let out a small “Ah!” and hurriedly turned back to open his desk drawer. He had almost forgotten the necklace he had taken off before sleeping.f9f12c0f68404bed

Having never worn accessories like necklaces or rings in his life, it wasn’t as easy as he thought to fasten the clasp alone. As he was anxious and rushed, by the time he opened the door, his face was flushed red with heat.65a7f587155f3bca

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He came 86fa25b61f down the cbef81575d stairs much b6175de56d more quietly 4cb798d5d1 than when 9b1db80d87 he had 6b9dd28ccf gone down dc644bac18 to the 7a6f7ebe3d kitchen for 67513925d7 water, and 363dac6b3f silently crossed e145ed883e the dark 5ea92200d5 living room 4b7f7f1e8e to slip 0250208e03 out the 3e7b07945a front door. Perhaps because his heart bea5825e52 was racing, he felt 63ec96095d inexplicably short of breath.08509228a2f3258c

He thought it would be chilly, but the night air was milder than expected, as if the season of severe temperature differences had passed. Even the lukewarm temperature felt dreamlike. Sneaking out of the house while everyone was asleep was something he had never done even in college. He had always refused his classmates’ requests to spend time together until dawn, but now…7a4f5915ee929e97

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A luxurious black sedan dacd847aef with a design rarely 74b1f9b2a0 seen on the road 5e16067f5c was parked at the 18bb2dbdf3 end of the alley 963693af60 in front of the 074fdfee80 gate. Seoyoon took a deep 07773c7e77 breath and approached the ded92b0784 car. Before he got 9afd9af23e too close, the ccdf420458 dark rear window 5c508620ea silently slid down, 091f1c914d revealing the interior.eaacfda5e401b681

“Get in.”b022eb91d81093ac

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Kwon Kijung was 168cd255da there. Seeing him sitting 2fde0901d5 in the back a2f12955ff seat, it seemed 45f1973064 he had entrusted c69b142bb8 the driving to 6c8041db7d someone else this 31b19ea594 time as well. Seoyoon hurriedly 2d3099fda9 climbed into e9a0f5b80b the back 3e7ef97b65 seat like d5708e4f25 a fugitive 1dcc1049f8 hiding his 39ea9a1e70 body. Click, the sound 5a2defa59c of the car 0ad3ede9c9 door closing followed.d4657d3f54a954c0

Although there was a partition separating the front and back seats, he could tell the driver’s seat was empty. The window went up again, and a blind blocked the dark glass, completely shutting out the outside scenery.cf18de6d2aea88f5

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Unlike the 8a81e3e912 somewhat humid a79ee736dc and lukewarm 998cc6ed7e outside with e072aa210e night dew, de918b830a everything inside b7e716c068 the car ea93f7d0e2 was in 0c46e9135c a perfectly 170c920550 controlled state. Fresh air, dim 2f088bcf4d lighting, an environment 50fa0134a8 meticulously calculated solely 637ecb2b22 for comfortable tranquility. That comfort paradoxically began 2df7cb7bfe to slowly bring Seoyoon, 6ad0e9b06a who had been feeling 120b0a2d57 like he was dreaming d128d3c761 all along, back to 9a0f2aa791 reality.c029184c9c107248

Seoyoon looked 12525f0980 to the f674dee2a1 side. The man 3a53709a30 who had bd554a89ae come to 87c5898ebe meet him bbd8dfd558 was sitting f08fd471e7 right next 7ef0e1efd6 to him. Unlike Seoyoon in e2d838f888 his t-shirt and 235dbf9dd1 jeans, his appearance b3b79a618e was little different 00089f2c49 from when they a795b702d7 had parted earlier e19f524fe6 today. Since he said he 91a07837be was working, he might f341f5cedc have come from the 77c63b4a3b office rather than home.3d5e8a590463202e

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