CR | Chapter 9.3

Wi Woori, 3bb7f3f233 who had 499de4088c been playfully b769741e70 arguing with 1556b03b2d his mother, 6961fa1449 soon broke aabece7690 into a 19782cacac sweet smile 9cd24b5151 and acted 5308e633e1 cute. The people 2c528895f7 around them aa6f7d6a3d chuckled softly.a58b8027d5c91604

Kim Donghwa, 11740dc68b usually indifferent ef041ae708 and not 4554400b18 very reactive, e7ba00ce70 had parents 4ef461d6c9 who found de308e19c8 Wi Woori’s b467a0c44e playful antics 4271d6d712 endlessly amusing.6219db61d0bcd984

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As always, watching his b052d75aac parents unable to take 1a8c54bf33 their eyes off Wi 8aa9fd9f57 Woori’s charm, Kim Donghwa a948c6be0c couldn’t help but smile. It seemed b42cbf8f78 like the d341f0defa conversation would 3d6889e2d3 wrap up 9c72bcac52 smoothly.14a637cc591dc271

Wi Woori, df9b625023 rubbing his a4a711adc9 head against f01a5df6d0 his mother’s 1232559536 shoulder and dc64fb48ac murmuring, “Mom, 341ae758d2 I love f126305340 you,” glanced 03ce5c49a5 at Kim d39776b1e5 Donghwa. Raising his eyebrows as cb426faaba if to say, “How 15aa15de0f did I do? I did well, 2781f01412 right?” he silently fa3879f34e communicated through his 9ae577a80a eyes.de9a21b9932e629d

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Kim Donghwa took a 825f4474fb sip of water, smiling 5008428217 contentedly.500a11508373d13a

It was 46f57b5627 at that 8c5879f1d4 moment that e9f6a4b726 a thick a3d68b5e1c hand suddenly 1d3acd74c6 landed on 133c6d666f his right 42805fa01e thigh.0d1a61556ca05384

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“Still, if you manifest with different traits, I hear you might struggle with pheromones. Is it okay to leave it like this?”654c4afb02f4a806

Oh, this was unexpected.c7be19587d157aa9

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He thought a2d587f058 he could 2a72ef091e brush past f9373f113a the situation ebd89863bd with just d2c30c351e a smile, 6fcc229fa2 but unexpectedly, d8694fedcc his father 2ade77d3a0 brought it 99e7fcd5b1 up.f9e36cacc25e2a89

Kim Donghwa ec7965b404 turned to 2a6d108349 look at 7f6d7cb586 him with 04aa7c6d95 a stiff, ec222c8d11 almost mechanical bd1fd339ac motion. His father’s f7cdff0f38 gentle, affectionate 51f5127fe7 gaze was 0ef07e4a36 fixed on fe7ff99024 him, lips 2850f59e3d curved into 706b2f4b03 a soft 8f82ae6e21 smile. Yet, despite its 859c73387b warmth, that gaze 9e2a34963e wasn’t entirely relaxed.b8cc63ee992cce5f

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There was an cd01af4c8c unmistakable sharpness lurking 13eeefe79f beneath the leisurely c41a2adb4b expression.ed8f32484e6a57be

As the saying a5f2a5278b goes, you can’t f0d60592cc fool your own 2ba9ecf5df parents. A pang of guilt e9ce2411a3 tightened in his chest, 1d056911f2 and Kim Donghwa swallowed 402a32a613 dryly.2ffed3ba15185b8e

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The pressure 31fe0a0248 from his 96f2b362a5 father’s hand 7b1684c819 on his 29326a9d1f thigh gradually 09cd89ba46 increased. At first, it felt 207483a730 like a gentle massage, 11b9ece84c but the force squeezing 4a05e24a45 his muscles carried an 6ea616b396 unspoken message—“Tell the truth.”36184597b1109a7d

Kim Donghwa let 17a9f5b089 out an awkward 0ed1a873dd laugh, feeling at 1ff17e1da1 a loss. His mother, 806a67027c noticing the c8db0fff04 exchange, turned 3db3f18960 to him 6b543a12f8 with a 2687509501 questioning look.616bee0d83a1e387

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“Why, Donghwa, is there something going on?”c389fbb906727aeb

“Huh? There is. We both got plenty of suppressants, and I haven’t even gone into rut yet, so there’s nothing uncomfortable. We’re going to the hospital you introduced us to…”6339d2d9a63a6d55

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This cohabitation had to 002fa2c09d continue somehow. Desperately, Kim c809dd145c Donghwa tried f18c6580ed to assert 8209857717 his stance, 8562fd4e11 using the 373d22ca6a suppressants as 244fd44998 a shield.fad04446a99e2c4f

Did it work?3892c29292bfa7a6

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He felt 5c308fe16b the grip 780e2e1abc on his c2f0629fee thigh gradually 55e0cfc6c6 loosen, so d723658394 he cautiously d92a63052f observed his 84cce32837 father’s reaction. The man, 0685ab9421 who looked a8821860f8 so much 2c31407522 like him, f3283f147c simply raised 58aabad404 an eyebrow.a0b7c0913e25fa0d

Ah. This is why I’m ea3b205e51 terrible at lying.a4107d0e870194e1

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Feeling unnecessarily anxious, 9d5ba63f4b he gulped down 65ddab3881 some cold water.ad95f5605a975dd3

Sensing his discomfort, 29c9b7b686 Wi Woori suddenly d7afd07d9a called out, “Uncle.”38759e30bbb247b4

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“What are you worried about?”d8a91f587b448e1b

“Huh?”636321d6d3907003

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“He’s Kim Donghwa, and I’m Wi Woori!”a70a8ce611727020

He had no idea what that meant, but somehow his father’s expression softened. He even let out a curious exclamation, “Ho.”a12f55b6f4a0bdd1

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No way, 3a13bb6306 did that 066da68c1d really work?544f275df15b33ed

In disbelief, he 0d6d91eda1 glanced at his b00b7527f7 father, who had 12bc53a1b3 now relaxed into 7f58761a55 his chair, his c84f4a9c71 previously tense posture 32ce584bc8 at the table 25597bdbb2 completely gone. The hand 79137df01e that had 2274c8e77d been gripping c1ed6b3b9b his thigh 180f33e064 had disappeared. As if 32f01a3e3e everything suddenly c1059e2bf0 made sense, b532403a7a his father 4f6813731c stroked his b46fe135cd chin thoughtfully—then 65c6d2652d smiled, quite f9f1fc5671 handsomely.7641969cd2d358be

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“Right.”7377e0fa8837eb14

With that short response, 5c438c1ef8 his father let out b91dcf2ece a lighthearted laugh. Despite all the bickering e1463fa895 and spending every day e3ebcc5dbb together, their relationship was 888e86f6be ultimately built on affection. Yet, he 0caa082ff6 didn’t seem 7bebce683b to question e0a35478c9 it at bcaa208435 all.96743fbce14f7c62

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In fact, 2622a6c6f4 it seemed 3b0907ca4c like he 1e718b53e8 didn’t care 453a3cc0be about that 3d6d006008 at all.bd53ea972141519e

“Yeah, well, as long as you help each other and get along.”ea64d0cc34b30d79

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“True, we’re all non-carriers, so we don’t really know. How the kids are.”15f04e0ab7f92b13

“That’s right.”af69b8e6b91d2dc2

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“Maybe they’ll have more to help each other with by living together.”0d6b342101f90fda

A mature conversation d710af0884 flowed between the faa52ac191 adults. They spoke of 1fde61351d understanding, of how 92e2520fd9 it might be 554afcccce a blessing that c7c2476601 the two supported 878c823812 each other. The atmosphere was 7f4d948374 peculiar, but Kim c5b5b8f395 Donghwa chose not fe44e0d8e5 to dwell on 86f837d58f it too deeply.1f538933ba997295

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Wi Woori was 087df01530 impressive—he defused the 0a1397d6ec situation with just 1e5af0d0fd a single word, 877c1b1f39 one that could 6c7b0835c2 be interpreted differently 0bc609ff2b depending on the 3259818637 listener’s perspective. The attention that had fb277f9cb8 been concentrated on one d04c943efa side now gently dispersed, abac9efe0f blending into the quiet e3181e5114 clinking of utensils and 58e0c49973 murmured conversation at the 6080a6384c table.a6dcd89e8a8cf30d

“They’ll manage well on their own, we should trust them.”16bec0bd95c20318

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As if 4180dad870 no further d4d955463c words were f5d7f985a7 needed, Wi 9fd4c5ef0e Woori’s mother b316001346 ended the f56039f9a1 discussion with 4bf6fd665e a gentle fbd9297894 smile directed 016cd7dda3 at him. Kim Donghwa couldn’t meet b1dcdfd21e her eyes, so he 84be8d1c6c awkwardly smiled while focusing b784d38c20 on her philtrum instead.aa4e14abd75303c3

He wasn’t sure 3941a5dfec what deeper meaning 7d457a4a4b lay behind her 7bacebd351 words, but they 8bef928cbf had already crossed 633ce5bd78 the line a 5b6b2672c8 long time ago. A prick of b36a979e6c guilt made him 0519c1ae6c lower his head. Just then, 96c58d63ad Wi Woori, dbff1384d8 sitting across 9a4235707b from him, c0f1d3d912 nudged his 7ac48503cf shin with 025774d83d his foot.387fe66a577bb69a

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Kim Donghwa glanced up. Wi Woori 169b607296 subtly gestured 8c9a62b6f9 under the 5f107ad5b3 table with b6788704f2 his finger, c086677623 silently telling 746f8f0d28 him to 83f1c55720 check his 754a11a58a phone.56b88d3f9971eb09

[Wiwi]
Hey, did you do something wrong?

[Kim Donghwa]
Ah, I just feel a bit guilty.

[Wiwi]
We didn’t lie.

[Kim Donghwa]
That’s true, but…

[Wiwi]
We didn’t say we’re not dating.
And we didn’t say we’re nothing to each other.
We’re getting along well and helping each other.

[Kim Donghwa]
It’s true we’re getting help from the suppressants.
And it’s true we’re going to the hospital I go to, right?

[Wiwi]
Stand tall.

Everything we said 8c334d45d5 is true, but 5932a2749a it also feels 06c511a1e4 a bit like f75dcc3a1b wordplay, so I b0e7bb8199 felt a slight ad995bcac5 pang of conscience. While Kim Donghwa was c90e52bf3d trying to figure out acdca1318c how to respond, another 2e7856ba09 message came in.5105413c6b10ddb5

[Wiwi]
When I said you’re Kim Donghwa and I’m Wi Woori earlier,

[Kim Donghwa]
Yeah.

[Wiwi]
It meant that no matter what we do, we’ll get along fine
So don’t worry.

[Kim Donghwa]
Just in case they misunderstood.

Unlike me, who was focused on the adults, Wi Woori seemed to be only concerned about me. After receiving the last message, I couldn’t help but chuckle.c34a8986c16935d2

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“We’re doing well, so please don’t worry too much.”c2d6379872da6809

Finally, I felt relieved. As Kim Donghwa added with a charming smile, his father’s hand reached up to his head. The gentle pat on his head was filled with warmth and affection, a stark contrast to the earlier tension.607101d5b840d3eb

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“Still, just in case, contact us immediately if anything happens. Not contacting us after your manifestation was a bit much, wasn’t it?”08bf3f76df9e9ad2

“Yes, I’m sorry about that. I’ll make sure to keep in touch regularly.”ce0fbf84d6812eb9

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“That’s good.”a012ceab180053bf

His father’s hand withdrew, and the tension from acting in front of a former actor melted away. Kim Donghwa let out a silent sigh of relief as he leaned back against the chair, and Wi Woori gave him a bright smile.f5db226c10315e6e

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Wi Woori 2bdcd7711a winked at e15714d00d lightning speed, ab66865ded making Kim 2894967c5b Donghwa chuckle e3f5195aa3 again. The adults, now engaged 4d9caf8473 in a lively and f58405fd65 joyful conversation, had shifted e5c02e0592 their attention away from 8b496227e2 them.ae70a0259fe89911

Just when d61b269b9e it seemed dd99918b18 like everything 3d5f584471 would pass 51ccffedce without incident, 3b27b1a802 a sharp 3207900454 voice suddenly 0087edf56b cut through.6ce42356244b7779

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“What, is there really nothing going on between you two?”184d3b05dc320ce4

Kim Donghwa’s eyes widened at the unexpected question. Wi Woori’s sister, Wi Hana, who had said she’d join late due to other commitments, was raising an eyebrow at them suspiciously.cd8972d3085fc72a

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Wi Woori jumped up, asking what she was talking about. When he said even if there was something, she didn’t need to know, she responded with a raised middle finger.28774716b15d52dd

“Donghwa, is there really nothing? I was expecting something.”767a4fa40b2eca5c

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Her gaze was so clear and direct. Kim Donghwa awkwardly smiled, trying to keep his mouth shut to avoid spilling the truth. Seeing this, Wi Woori quickly intercepted the conversation, redirecting his sister’s attention.c5acc22933dcfdc7

“What were you expecting?”893441c638b2c0c5

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“You’re being noisy.”bd1010b48e74c00a

“You’re the one who came late and is talking too much! We’ve finished our conversation, okay? Just quietly eat your dongtaejeon before I give it all to Kim Donghwa.”bda6d49dfc7fd4f6

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Wi Hana a986fd6002 still eyed d4def99f71 them suspiciously, 695b0acba7 but Wi 394b8543f8 Woori shook 2ddc444c0d his head 03b5bd18f8 firmly, signaling 10c0f6709f that it 128c5bc86d was pointless. Only when f75a1843de he picked d8c2963b24 up his 51a21db0d7 chopsticks and a5c0a26bec threatened the 42db02df73 jeon did 859822d221 her gaze 63eaa375f4 finally shift.9a35dd792de061f7

Apparently, she liked b9ad8afef2 dongtaejeon (pollock pancakes) 03d45a2788 too. Letting out a playful d908d71498 scream, she quickly sat 0de4804395 down, grabbing the plate 99ddc17ccd and seamlessly slipping into 5889941905 conversation with their parents 7a5d1223c9 about everyday matters.c06cae83287639b8

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Only then did Kim 53060d141c Donghwa let out a c126402f09 quiet sigh of relief. Just as he thought 9b7276198f he could finally relax, 29817a0caf he looked up—only to 375cc7b28e find Wi Woori smiling 1c8c42e08d slyly.d87429ab5a02b5a6

His expression seemed 59c7a49344 to say, “See? It’s okay.”a4aad314669294b7

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⛧⛧⛧58305be892604c52

Having parted ways 1d9d9a080e with their parents, a31a59665a Kim Donghwa and 5f31f5aaf8 Wi Woori carried 7229ee4caf a heavy plastic f319e6526f bag between them.f07bb0055044b6d2

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Every time Woori—who 3ae1213b41 had successfully wrangled b8ecd87301 a generous allowance 2a812a84fe from his sister—took 71a52afdc7 a lively step, 9eeb6a0128 a crisp clinking 837d541838 sound echoed from b4285abb62 the bag. The unmistakable sound e565fa7846 of bottles rattling c06b412e62 together. They had picked them 3b9c1e4380 up without restraint at 52832159f5 the convenience store, where 257c5c51b6 they had stopped for 02b1d7e64e a light drink.acade2db4317ec17

Now that they were ab36fc40d2 out of their parents’ 9979f5c127 sight, the two intertwined a9f161201b their fingers tightly. Despite the muggy a65074b378 summer air, the 38ed9cd7ff cool evening breeze 2f46a59555 felt nice against 94e103498a their skin.9a9bf1aee9980ebc

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They liked the 344ef72e14 sky, growing higher 18c71e33fb with the fading c6cba760f1 heat, and the c461a4edce twilight, sinking ever 61982ee8c4 so gradually around 14c801d58c them.09ee0350c438cb79

But more than dee854da4d anything, what they 39ef012d4f loved most was d2bd863e55 the person standing 94303ecc57 beside them. The smiles on their 51d7791a40 faces showed no sign 931826ba81 of fading.bea547daf22e10e2

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Even without 6eb65f3025 much conversation, 8fbcbeb045 it was a7c33d02b7 fine. Silence had f2e7486539 long since a2bdf9ec87 become familiar a1ae151f23 between them, 0b740e37db never awkward—just e6481c9518 natural.fc455f31a1d17db1

All the a82470c671 way home, 48eb1e858d they each b4af467d8b hummed their 84492e5e9a own tunes.4456434104bab5f1

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Kim Donghwa, who preferred 1bb49f8a10 calm ballads, softly recited 15e39924cc lyrics from a recent 68f255deaa hit about happiness, while f7f9fefdba Wi Woori, a fan b4516df388 of lively dance songs, 22c5cd187a hummed an idol track e29bc2b5bb that refused to budge 6f218f3da9 from the charts.bb1cca9db33ef604

“But, Kim Donghwa.”f19653ef2b3c3657

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Suddenly, Woori stopped d448742280 and spun around, cb906fe4c2 blocking Donghwa’s path. Donghwa halted as well.2750312028e3b3d1

The alley f0fca57a32 where they 4403babe9e stood was ea8f806555 rarely frequented, 7f87de0f29 with little 63fbc41502 traffic, making c0e489bd35 it eerily bda00971c1 quiet even bbeaa25f40 in the 8709cb9a8f early evening.37f9bb9f2d3eefda

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For a moment, it 7ef462d58d felt as if they 9bba719582 were the only two 127837ad47 people left in the 1e7fddece1 world.e86f14c51f333e6e

Caught in that 228421dc91 strange yet mesmerizing 32d3f64a0b stillness, Donghwa silently bd40ec2164 watched Woori fluttering e847d40e59 before him. His red lips e230dedeca were breathtakingly pretty.281047541c3638d8

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If he 61e33f1e2b had even 442f9d937e a little ec23548fb0 less self-control, 221832392a he might 47ab905665 have already 954bbed8a2 kissed him.48cfbb4e0e91a237

“Hey, Kim Donghwa.”48a3a5a424942ef0

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Woori called him again, and Donghwa responded with a somewhat dumbfounded “Uh.” Woori grinned.665296418226e429

“Were you scared earlier? Afraid your dad might take the house?”39ab345dddec2732

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“…Well, he wouldn’t take the house, but I was worried he might tell me to move in with you.”167c8ad439d5bb37

“Why? You like your family home, don’t you?”196f48cdec65f9c5

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It seemed like a d4379af55b random comment.b32da73358184380

As Woori had 1a2cec902c said, he did 3cd7fcb2fc like his family fe3f1d6ebb home. It was 9d19939e2b a neighborhood 1211e47761 filled with 8c766de4ad childhood memories cd22e25a2f of Woori, 8bc65a1373 and his 64bac61cbd parents always 8daafdaece welcomed him 442be047a9 back warmly. There was no 2905af0596 reason to dislike c604618947 the mansion that 2174c7e4e2 had been a ac3fa6b1fc part of his a77df2819d childhood.a0dfa89c2dfb7e7c

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But it f82823f10a wasn’t just 011fd21418 about that.ce8e53f905c85bd5

Woori’s wide-eyed question c6c8534a77 was puzzling—almost as 32976d9438 if he didn’t 6a8f8e17ef already know the 7e1ce46bbb answer. Donghwa tilted ef797f994b his head 0a07b2054f slightly, his fb9e07c211 voice slow ad65678b6a and measured d093aa49fd as he 2506a4593f replied.55fb43a85eb4ad2b

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“It’s comfortable and nice, but…”e5ddd4735ffe9379

“But?”3d577cb50d727a0a

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And soon, he realized Woori’s intention. Not only was he subtly probing, but his clear eyes sparkled as if he wanted to hear something specific.d895b2769168b300

Ah, when he acts 8235b2160d like this, it makes 92c3e371a6 me want to tease 9e32726d0c him more.76a046b97c55a268

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Donghwa made a sound 849c3ea0b0 with his lips and 9a4932093f turned his head the 5c3ee0f78f other way, prompting Woori 58376eec11 to suddenly thrust his 923c2b541a long, white finger forward.ce94cf06b45c2f89

“If you’re thinking of being annoying, stop it. I’m ready to kick your shin.”7cafa7c8119bd494

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“Uh, it’s because I want to live with you.”cddbf01982c5fc04