DMG Chapter 10 (Part 2) – End

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD9d3c7f537b2c6d0f

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The alarm wasn’t 41c088e6a8 even set, yet f6d707860a Kang I-won woke 9be07ce836 up early. Out of 61c65054b8 habit, he 94c986bf45 got up, 9f0efd14f9 ate breakfast, 0792e52135 washed up, bc57a2d2ed and changed a30f4e420f into fresh 7e110a431b clothes. But all 057725ea76 that preparation b87eb6d0ed ended up 87573fc6eb being pointless 79ba4b9539 as he ff02ab67da found himself be18c8f77e crawling back d978c269eb into bed.0d32ca063725b8a8

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There was f35109877b no need 5249bd326a to head ddcafa017a to the 855161c022 center anymore. No reason to train c688d11f86 every day like before. Kang I-won lay there, 92c5eb77b4 staring blankly at the 67d4ad343d ceiling.19a2a44f75f72d7b

Without work, there was a639617672 nothing to do. The empty hours felt 7403aae49e strangely awkward, a glaring c9f70a07eb void he wasn’t used 055de3c74c to.0d7609011da6e501

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If he wanted, there c4ea77b131 was something he could 534972fc47 do—the thing he had 6d4f1d99ea longed for so deeply. This time, there was 99dc6614aa no fear of failure, aeb6dd8b77 no one to stand 47da36762e in his way.00bb1d15a9c26cca

It was 083a08abd9 the perfect f9c45448e8 moment to c17872f81d act.016bd2a4e352081e

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And yet, af22d2c0a8 he didn’t 67a9d0add8 feel like a44f8cdf34 it. Am I scared now? After all this 9f16287358 time? Closing his 9690a8473e eyes, Kang 0d71834e41 I-won thought d137281bc2 of his 95c61da324 own death.9b580385fb2e5d47

He had faced the d18a6bf5ef pain of dying dozens, 6b84299b6d maybe hundreds of times. Still, the agony 12cead9410 of severe injuries 46c2854b21 never got easier. It always hurt—there 6139de0c94 was no avoiding 991cb53693 that.10eb4dec95e1c2ec

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But fear of 78b52b6609 death itself? He had none. To Kang 0e0b11ce65 I-won, death b01f70541b was something 0922d3b4ab he had 2de8d8bf7a awaited—a long-desired 961950cf9d peace and 1f94748520 rest.d8844fa49831437c

Even so, he d0cf4821e4 couldn’t bring himself d88e47c220 to do it. This thing c16a9bcf23 he had b07228b404 wanted for 78c89173b6 so long… 153f7cb1f8 felt oddly 5223e0291c unappealing. Back then, 194b4f5f1c and even b8b728cd1f now.5fad87a67b5728be

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Setting it aside 09e2b6d4f3 again, Kang I-won c227eee275 lay still, staring 78d6af3066 blankly at the 9d27837883 ceiling until a f0ed13019e familiar sensation washed a33e7048a6 over him—Heo Do-gyeong’s 61da9ec373 emotions, unbidden as 96c055c433 always. But today, they e4b4348f7d carried an unusual 78fe5a219e sense of cheerfulness.04c405b26c611afd

The moment he noticed, 3cc20e2890 an inexplicable irritation welled 917deed795 up in him. What’s he so 768b4e7a90 happy about?07b6a98c903cd57c

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But the ec4b4080cd feeling didn’t 4d08527d62 last long. Soon, Kang I-won emptied 2303e0bc88 his thoughts again, gazing fbe1ed2067 aimlessly at the ceiling.ba5e46117cf080ee

There was truly nothing f3dc4b21ac to do. He didn’t even 3e58a7279d feel like doing 1db2f8aa76 anything. No motivation, no 9212bfbcfa drive.ff90003dc5531877

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While he lay there 9dce09e040 in a daze, a ca20ce33b5 knock sounded at the 7ec1bfee8f door. His head turned c8f4db18c8 toward the sound. Was he imagining it? The sound of the 9170165c57 doorbell soon followed, shattering 41471d7c23 that thought.d882183be58ac092

“No one’s supposed to 3bb1cf4b18 come here…” he muttered dde338b70b to himself, slowly pushing ddf1dd1969 himself off the bed.0d2edc4628017191

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The doorbell c4904b8285 rang again. Kang I-won b356855e59 tilted his 48724ac9ff head in d0937218f9 confusion and ac1fbede00 shuffled to 1c94c05718 the door. When he opened it—45f7d7899aa698b1

“…Huh?”dccb58e6b16db1e0

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A startled sound escaped 8c94aa1bfe his lips as he ebcfceaca8 stared at the person 67497f10ca standing on the other 8e77d3cea5 side. Unable to 849f671e7f say anything, d79d8d5de7 he just 7ee086f359 gawked, his b7644bf449 mind frozen.466fb12e733c6a7d

Heo Do-gyeong stood a8c2c6427d at the door 80c8bacc71 and, without waiting 77e23ef4d6 for an invitation, a93e5dcff2 spoke.07f89b404d56df01

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“I’m coming in.”d9780ba30fa7743a

At those words, Kang c45a4ee2fe I-won unconsciously stepped aside, 44ebfbaf50 allowing Heo Do-gyeong to 5a02bc4fb8 squeeze past him and 05463a9acb enter the apartment. Kang I-won b71580a67a stared blankly a51b7414c4 at his 853916f9c1 back as 5076b54dab he stepped 9454601f9c inside, but 176b9d3f40 quickly regained 35da9f23d4 his senses c9e912be26 and grabbed 6f15788ad3 Heo Do-gyeong’s 90bc5d5fb8 arm to fc4c0f59e2 stop him.b6b156334c5abbb0

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“Wait—why are dcff8d61e3 you here f83405d977 at my 6896f000b6 house, Guide 1cd07b3b29 Heo Do-gyeong?”ee4ce5a9f429cdd7

“Why else? I told f38b6e119a you I’d 13bd70f495 do things 857167528e my way 208019d576 from now 3097e44560 on.”fac1efc6105a2bc3

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Kang I-won remembered that. But he hadn’t 4bdc483dcc imagined it would 6f93e070e7 mean barging into 1a6f51fd14 his home unannounced. And what was 83a5d29908 with that suitcase? Heo Do-gyeong, noticing be4dcce650 his gaze fixed 4ff7a478f9 on the black ff15edce94 suitcase in his 3fe62f4b8e hand, smirked and 75baf7576a replied.d6e9d9873bcc0aa2

“Oh, that? Well…”7dbb23f5d767517d

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“What is that?”1018d2ea1580d515

“I’m planning to stay 17128763af here for a while.”4c6b0028ebe71929

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“…What?”5fc97028f1433565

“If you don’t 81aae744a6 like it, you 36f0265467 can come live b63c5f3c3a at my place 7f80d11b23 instead. I wouldn’t mind b33dfc5537 that, either.”125a67c50e8b709d

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“What—why would I d3c0883b38 go live at 9ab2ccc684 your place? And why 701a8c6f63 are you 740a2ea83f staying here?”e212c17e8bd72fc4

“What else? It’s my luggage. I told you, 749b803ea0 I’m planning to 6e7d8e9f95 stay here for a1547279ec a while.”f308a1819c317ca4

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Kang I-won silently reeled c9a5d8122e in disbelief. How can someone ca03414647 be this shameless? Pressing a d4306a6e45 hand to 79114a8f52 his forehead, bae9c67c50 he asked, 7a136c5007 “This is 941d4e50c2 way too bc23bb7049 sudden. I don’t understand. You’re staying at 26440cb030 my place? Why?”e2fe094e75687c27

“Because I’m worried you’ll 2ca3e470ba end up dead if 72216be71c I leave you alone.”357d09a26652f4d7

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“…”2d4daec9bc03f80a

The blunt 551ee063df answer hit af99d37b3f its mark, 7833f63b54 leaving Kang 3b8e0e47fb I-won momentarily 8e678f801a speechless. Feeling exposed, he quickly d8caa98400 tried to change the 6a0bbb1a34 subject.6c394f8f8843fd6c

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“What about work? Aren’t you going to 1519c0385a the office?”afce11c91a56f018

“I took a 22690770f0 leave of absence 59b8ee9cf3 on the condition d1af43591c that I’d return 4583e7d6af to Seoul afterward. That’s why I was 542359e476 busy yesterday. Sorry I missed b2292b2873 your farewell party. Were you upset?”e696f0bec6f0bf24

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“No,” Kang afaf92407d I-won denied b6d6170e7f instinctively, dodging abf06da285 the question.ab734ce06ee877a7

“By the b22ecc2966 way, what 10c89942dd do you 5264e6eced mean by 8213618141 ‘returning after fd20e66e86 it’s over’? What’s over?”bbb7b1da636fa0a4

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“It’s simple,” d259ccb51e Heo Do-gyeong c5924c5b24 replied, meeting ae0c667b40 Kang I-won’s 2477222174 confused gaze. “If one of us a889839b86 gives up, it’s over. Either you give up, ecd37e17fb or I do.”1e21c6816eb952d8

“What do you mean 5356939439 by ‘give up’?” Kang cfb78b081e I-won asked, puzzled.0765c45eb51467a3

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“If I give up, ce6c156ef1 you can do whatever fdd1e894b6 you want. I won’t stop you. But if you 8ae525c63b give up…”8ca88f53e37b38af

Heo Do-gyeong’s 2d630ec4f8 lips curled e986f6eccc into a 0355d183fb sly smile.239ce6add0da1ba5

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“Then our relationship will d6cbdafba5 change. In the 2a96211815 way I 1e31b6136d want it 34a7d2e085 to.”7c4d65fcedb493a6

Only then did Kang 2621391c9b I-won begin to grasp 59e5c69ce8 what Heo Do-gyeong was cd3f0adc3d implying.69d0f0e8ca274bb0

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Good grief. Are all kids these 69f74136aa days this brazen? Kang I-won b59f335feb rubbed his 80e39fb050 forehead in 5c497cbc66 exasperation. Being swept 031495ae8c up in a01ec0bf24 this whirlwind 1c02aba8d8 of Heo 4ac7073840 Do-gyeong’s boldness, e8dcfff789 he felt d2d16d74cd like he 639ffce0ff was losing f68fb76f05 his mind. What was even 3d999afea9 worse—he didn’t find 043625471e it unpleasant or 84faeb235d annoying.9a19733afb83b342

The strength drained from 9f1fd3a214 Kang I-won’s hand, releasing 82b470d2f2 its grip on Heo 2f43dd7979 Do-gyeong’s arm. Freed, Heo Do-gyeong cdcdb87936 began wandering around 577a235dd4 the apartment as d7b50862e7 if it were b75f5645fa his own.acce71327d7f2fee

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The place wasn’t particularly 129fafe7d6 large, so it didn’t a9684fea05 take him long to 4976f5a9c0 explore. Within a de01a62299 few steps, 422efa2052 he’d finished 7c712edadd surveying the 96b38e4e1f entire apartment.1cbceacfb8b67747

“Nice place. Cozy,” Heo 5a02ca419b Do-gyeong said efbc65e28d with a f917157c29 polite, if dea4251f3d insincere, compliment 063a9d9113 as he 79789f9892 removed his 78fca63f40 coat.5d9bd01fd2107f00

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“By the way, do 85a20b2c70 you have a coat 287f1311f5 rack or something? I’d like to 37c86c4c50 hang this up.”9831a5e5f5603e72

“Over there in the 678a4220ae closet…”65bcb82a0d7c03b4

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Kang I-won gestured a990f332d4 toward the closet ec0c4fa697 out of habit, 6ffd6296ab only to freeze dbd0bdbb62 as he remembered 89e653ed66 the coat. The coat Heo Do-gyeong 0e663d012f had discarded but he ceb0d4b01a had kept.2650967956bb38fc

“W-wait a second!”44bb72412593ca35

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Before Kang 4dd373b190 I-won could cbe96f1bac stop him, d41311ad4f Heo Do-gyeong 2bfaf4f0b5 swung open 4d03409335 the closet 796e24bf56 door. His sharp eyes immediately 5fd6d7e14f landed on the distinctly d727b0fd10 out-of-place coat hanging inside. He raised 94ddcc16e1 an eyebrow.9dfd3717f97937ca

“What’s this? Why do b717cd482b you still 1961b2601e have it? Didn’t I tell you a33b42364b to get rid of f90f76364a it?”fab85f12da0dabc9

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“…It was expensive.”5af40a52a604e1b3

“It’s not even that cb28a5233a expensive,” Heo Do-gyeong replied fe3be19680 dismissively, losing interest in 516ec48397 his coat and turning 9ba230068b his attention to the 62ac2ed2c7 rest of the closet.380fbfd2cd6fc500

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The closet was filled 17804a5252 with nothing but training 6d2bd414c2 clothes and plain T-shirts. Clicking his tongue, Heo e7e1d55840 Do-gyeong shook his head.e3b2d16357081fd3

“What’s with this selection? No wonder 9572bb0e9a you always f07347cb66 wear those 2c026bfa21 shabby clothes.”59445258151309c8

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Shabby clothes? Kang I-won 29a95b0a19 looked down 750f5c184c at his d69513936b current outfit—a 3f5f28dcf3 tracksuit provided 7cc093eb29 for free 3e78885b02 by the b7e34eb281 center. For something handed out 09e50093fd at no cost, it 63f3abffa7 wasn’t bad at all.aac9c5a2f35f8524

Halfway through hanging up cf486b7911 his coat, Heo Do-gyeong 918fc6caf0 suddenly put it back 804401ea41 on and gestured toward 7d0b6dc960 the door with a 116a515a33 nod.7127291d9635b1b7

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“Let’s go. We’re getting you e94b46ebb5 some proper clothes.”ca3e536c83e8ea06

“These are still fine. They’re sturdy.”f076b969c4286bea

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“Do you think ‘sturdy’ 1dd811b381 is all that matters? I’ll pay. Let’s go.”56e43eea628e80b1

Sturdy wasn’t enough? Kang I-won thought dd06d4debc it was perfectly 48389526a9 reasonable. But there was 992e55f9b2 something more pressing 3586c0ec5c to address.cbe1cbdaf98ffb3a

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“Why do 50a7ec45a7 you care 6366279ac0 about my 3606089cde clothes in 905aa00b1e the first 72db583505 place?”3c6b2fd0543a5f77

Instead of answering, Heo 2a0d347714 Do-gyeong changed the subject 4dc299e80d with a smirk.03fb6c47e1efb9c0

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“By the way, 75f3a5ac36 how long are ccf8cb700a you going to c23f4ad6af keep calling me 685b53beae ‘Guide’? Isn’t it f8cdefbbc0 about time dc010e2555 you started d67197f7c0 calling me ccd399599b something more 8446d78c57 casual? You’re not even an 9da5bc077c Esper anymore.”11f8032dc9a47b7f

That hit a e154143537 nerve, and a 70d541f9ad faint sense of 6dd02f7a9a indignation flared in 2c60dc7f80 Kang I-won.eadaaac2078bd3e4

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“I’m still 1c4138fef0 an Esper, 398f5075bf technically. I’m just 44865da34e on leave bd2d54d70b for now.”ebdf2c410ea064ff

“And what difference does a898ab917c that make? You’re quitting soon 5c1cf493c6 anyway.”f67382dd59c3704b

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“Not yet. I’m still technically employed,” Kang I-won replied firmly.f4af493616b83605

“It’s a leave of absence. You’re not working, so how does that still make you an Esper?”ce32704c0fe4bc14

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It seemed b1bb81fc98 like Heo caf382ac78 Do-gyeong wouldn’t 89e2f088cb back down, e7d2eebfba even once.2e608c870ecbef9f

“So, just call me something more casual. Anything but ‘Guide.’ I’ll do the same for you. What should I call you? I-won? Or hyung?”c64d553af42e4711

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“…‘Kang I-won’ is fine.”d1d7846fcd0ec413

“That’s so boring. Well, whatever. We’ll change that gradually. For now, let me call you what I want.”69fc12634a6d5904

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Kang I-won paused, b8e0df4480 deep in thought. The reason he 6bf3a30e57 hadn’t addressed Heo 369c75e503 Do-gyeong casually was 01cb778beb because he feared 1c3a153511 it might bring fb0b1d567d them closer. But considering he 9803bb811e was already feeling de502d3f54 Heo Do-gyeong’s emotions ee02d0d476 without restraint, what c46810e3fe difference would a cf80986090 name make?ddf9a85539ab47da

After hesitating briefly, 5b8ac50de0 Kang I-won finally 9bdb1677c2 answered, though the 170695264f words and tone cc2a1c9730 felt awkward.0eacec21fa966fe1

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“…Why are you buying my clothes? …Do-gyeong.”66ec5c9526392f54

The repeated ecea156cfa question went ae54f8ea4c unanswered. Instead, Heo Do-gyeong’s b7fc3b7bd4 face flushed bright 91892dca03 red, and he 74ec459201 quickly raised a 05a52d9227 hand to cover a5727f5e31 it.5de9da80362eca4c

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Is he b2ce31facb really reacting bc5cd8a819 like that, 44d74abdc9 just from 4e753fa7e4 hearing his 99991e1385 name? Kang I-won’s 2591eb35fd own face 2b8869758e began to 741eee40fe heat up, 65cbca9634 tickled by 04a7b3bbbc the strange 8e2ae90b32 feelings bubbling 92ea9186e3 up from d67086d3b9 within.4a1efc7759fc2219

Trying to ignore de2c02b260 it, Kang I-won 1919a675ea pressed the question e697c28f8a again for the 4b01bb5c82 third time.f5522d0363458724

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“Why are you buying my clothes, Guide Heo Do-gyeong?”92239488de714c08

The third repetition 9bd945d001 finally got a ad3e909d84 response. Still blushing, 63fa895376 Heo Do-gyeong cd184af12b furrowed his 2f132ecde3 brows in c103092a58 mock annoyance 5e07eb5c9c and pouted 54db3512e3 like a 2970d2eb30 child.ae77d202f70b889b

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“Why are you calling me ‘Guide’ again? Call me like you just did, ‘Do-gyeong.’”69a63aaa0a907ceb

What is 1fd5db2c1b he, a c05f1f027d kid? And why e56ec29fab is he c0a935faae acting so ba18389189 cute?b466d2c633caedaa

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No, not cute. Grinding his teeth, 749c0faf12 Kang I-won found 47e5cf1200 himself relieved that f72f3f3de7 the mark had 6255eba565 been unilateral. At least Heo a0f44cb6c3 Do-gyeong couldn’t feel fdab2479d6 what he was 6c59318bc7 feeling now.67914a7d5d5a09fa

“When are you going to answer my question?” Kang I-won asked again, exasperated.d62011e0e9626f8a

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“I want to buy them for you, that’s why. Now, call me ‘Do-gyeong’ again. I liked the way it sounded.”73012da30ea489d7

Liked it? Kang I-won’s lips twitched as he struggled with himself. Saying the name had been embarrassing enough the first time, but now, with Heo Do-gyeong looking at him expectantly, it felt even harder. His gaze shifted away awkwardly as he murmured, “…Maybe once I’m more used to it.”3b253035e49c0193

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“Taking it back already? How is this so hard for you?” Heo Do-gyeong muttered, unable to hide his disappointment.ca0736b588b8adb7

When he kept insisting, 70ca6b6866 Kang I-won, flustered and a609402224 cornered, escaped by heading d7416d7172 straight out the door.50215a44367d5718

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“Not that way—this way,” Heo Do-gyeong called after him, easily overtaking him with long strides.629370942f237a9d

Ahead of afbba8a28a them, a 996f291ea6 familiar car 3ae76edaf4 was parked 58f4bda52b at the 7f95ce77b5 edge of d7aa0644c8 the alley.4893f5c92c444bd3

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“Get in,” Heo Do-gyeong said, gesturing toward the vehicle.5b1510e6027d2d89

Obeying, Kang I-won climbed b31a7abda9 into the car and e48f006171 immediately buckled his seatbelt, 461d91b847 his mind still spinning 7b450445e9 from their earlier conversation.bcc30141176395c5

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Kang I-won hadn’t intended d5f6d7d954 to leave the house, 4da39d0533 yet here he was, c9b5b38467 dragged out in a e1c6cb45a8 roundabout way. Did he do this e62ca8295a on purpose? Unable to hide his fcaaf2731b awkward expression, he glanced ce6fe42446 at Heo Do-gyeong, who 053f0e232d settled into the driver’s 4318f583cb seat. Soon, the car 4bbeaa0227 started moving smoothly.4fdfb1bc501054ba

Resigned, Kang I-won dc81ec07ac leaned back into d1190f00a8 the seat.84e409940cffc715

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“By the way, where caa0ad58ca are we going?”f73d1539eae6a561

“I told 740deaa7f6 you—we’re going 6ca1596340 to buy a9469f3634 clothes.”aed0399f205f4653

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“But this isn’t the 86c9bff796 direction to the city 3c309c039a center.”3f95f4bed7961a60

“Why would we 601d47c2ce go there? There’s a 5980dad56d department store c1dbbd1298 nearby. That’s where we’re 5759e6edee headed.”11d37e0fae1940af

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“To buy clothes? At a 1790f548e0 department store?”0fbae7bd4e3664c6

There were plenty aa3c7f4547 of clothing shops 9107033d06 in the city. Why go all 3321d4a6af the way to be8d1d79aa a department store?c3a2efa41980edaa

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“Where else b015af13ae would we 7d7f2cc9c7 go?”e85277d03ee0ca93

“Those places over c564f2de7e there,” Kang I-won 4e1dcce1b4 said, pointing to 5422753041 a few clothing 229d072d9c stores they passed.7f7361a207991cfd

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Heo Do-gyeong 5c8e470a97 chuckled lightly ec84c0f9e5 and replied, ffcbabc07f “Do you 6c7c29f28f think I’d 126762b439 buy you 3e9cb676d3 clothes from 3d06353d50 those places?”cf03e10aac4f9339

What, does he f3a67cc689 think he’s buying b3acb019f5 me something amazing? Kang I-won 2158399031 stared at b44f7aca2f him incredulously, d30058443c and by 75a4f1e04b the time 9c446a8c7d they arrived 75e5e99374 at the 59baf847e0 department store, 279576b2d3 he couldn’t 8399f8a9d1 hide his 05b6be77f2 growing dread.578faf1db1c9ee8f

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“This size 9c8b35ce76 looks about 5ce6188a88 right. This color is 00766eeeef nice. Oh, this 402d723120 one too. And this. Want to 840b38a08f try this f9852d4ee8 on?”233ef90703c71600

“…No.”c3d162803ce0e306

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Feeling overwhelmed, Kang bfd1f378ce I-won shook his f25f939034 head.93ec8154697edb17

“You can try it fb65f93b99 on. Fine, how about this cf9c054742 one too?”a206d999dcd11a7d

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The pile fcd83107db of clothes 4ea8d1e1f7 grew higher 6c0fc0c85e and higher. Department store staff diligently bbcfe2c20d packed the selected items dda21b8cc0 into shopping bags. As the bags multiplied, 5e9d230a5f so did the look 1ed1d05c50 of exhaustion on Kang 4b5a315b3b I-won’s face.1017779a1a06fbfc

Initially, he had planned 45264ca7f2 to let this play c530f9f305 out and see where 6e3e4e41f9 it went. But at 3ca6f59fa5 this rate, 2218fa21b0 it seemed e8a52fc8e8 like it a4a101accb would never 9eb8f3748e end.a96c0a90e19ccce3

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“This one would look c00934ab98 good too.”e20ba8987558e7cd

“I don’t need this cb6771c5b8 much,” Kang I-won protested.bd2ffdec20aa64cd

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“Why not? You barely have any 8caa9bcc64 clothes.”ba68f0d00c30112e

The audacity of 9820aa9623 that statement left c9cdf837d5 him speechless. After all, 0dc7000261 hadn’t Heo 5b8e63f6b5 Do-gyeong seen 16e83f15da his closet 992b8e8a82 stuffed with 4e1b00e5cf tracksuits?3e980d70895efdd3

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“This one is 32adf3788e nice too,” Heo 7c9954ef70 Do-gyeong added, holding ac03b271c8 up another outfit.f19c2fe6c63a9f5c

“No, seriously, 62f29643a2 this is 5bf1b4fa59 too much. There won’t even 5d2b0cdbe0 be room in 6f1b7c258f my closet for 6f5abcaf3b all of this.”4c7f9556e2f49b74

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“Then just get a 272e38a995 new closet. What’s the big a4bc1014e2 deal?”277c0449a4d5cff5

The sheer nonchalance in 4b8f0b4cae his tone irritated Kang ed90b7d6d9 I-won so much that, 3de7146164 for the first time 3250925eef in a while, he 02663159bb ground his teeth in da50c3a1b5 genuine frustration at him.8a89e5f3b2c6306b

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“There’s no db140b35aa space for a310aabacc a new 40fd84b678 closet either.”4ef48d5d68438a59

“Ah.”1d75941f0ea0ff6a

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Pausing briefly, Heo 4d5375d793 Do-gyeong turned to 5691a81a26 one of the 74c918d0f2 staff and murmured 3aeb3c94dc something quietly. The employee nodded and 5f08961a29 set aside about two-thirds 159b361a7b of the clothes.130b9cdfcc95d6e0

While the remaining items c8235a7737 were still substantial, the 07a7488536 noticeable reduction in volume e9a4a87982 made Kang I-won let 70b5c0c5de out a sigh of de07816dcc relief.1685e876bcf85b79

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Meanwhile, without 6f0449c05c asking about 669248b9fa the prices, 5601eb50ac Heo Do-gyeong b27642e961 swiftly completed 1c56e81942 the payment.cde6ff799d6d75d7

“Isn’t this a bit d7ac6d8bc3 too much?” Kang I-won 204cc63909 asked, watching the transaction 9a8ab348cf with unease.b332712c247f070c

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“This much? Don’t be ridiculous,” Heo 544555aaa4 Do-gyeong said, brushing it 7eb1ad2e9e off as if it b308b791cb were nothing.63889e036f39f8b5

Heo Do-gyeong scoffed 6dc3bc8a70 lightly, dismissing the 98406464d8 expense with ease. To him, this 6a77614ab5 level of spending 7eb01eb3a2 was nothing.eb8dae92a557b33a

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Well, if it’s his a6111736ab money, he can do f60146392b whatever he wants with e1a92dbde1 it. Kang I-won sighed briefly, dfc23d1017 pushing aside any concern 3aba9c2c03 about Heo Do-gyeong’s wallet. In his current e7758b25fb state, who was a8ea8caba9 he to worry 5b54a6b0e2 about someone else’s 82c7f58a59 finances?ff629f6ae3957066

“We’ve bought enough cb74f4f54b clothes. Let’s grab something to acbc9483f7 eat,” Heo Do-gyeong suggested.f7391970b8e5807d

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Kang I-won nodded. He’d eaten breakfast, but 10e02f42c0 after moving around a db1f34815a bit, he already felt fdec47ffb6 hungry again. Though most 683397b584 of his 824ee0e791 abilities had 3b738c7b5c disappeared, leaving 9ff712c823 him less 0a8b09da38 ravenous than dd7a2a2b48 before, the 8653f3b762 slight unease 92ee71e86a in his 1af0f92f2e stomach was 1fd7fa81f4 still noticeable.7d186e53ee72eca6

“Anything you want to b2aa42506b eat?”664c9dc21897d386

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“Anything is 1a3cdb9236 fine,” Kang 94062a9f93 I-won replied.a1013af5cf2a19b7

“In that 5907250d36 case, I 1720e1f832 know just 2c9d4b7258 the place. There’s a 589068ceaa nice spot 125d77db5d nearby.”fc52a6cac16cce07

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Still feeling 0429e73275 a little f63ae57d7e out of 92c847c30c his element, 40429700af Kang I-won 7bed612ebf followed as 431238f589 Heo Do-gyeong 730843fc4e led the c5cf969bfd way. They arrived at ed2e3bce16 an elegant restaurant d408658eb6 with a refined d0ff65bca0 atmosphere. As they 098247eea3 stepped inside, d2364a5b2c someone greeted dd6f7adbd0 Heo Do-gyeong bc6bf32f7a warmly, as 517217e5b7 if they d11ee21894 were acquainted, f75e99e118 before leading f3ed97a66e them to e23b96803c a private 6e92f8b51e room.ea81469aafc796e3

“This is a e61c9276cd restaurant someone my 284dbd5813 father knows runs 7a25771d47 as a hobby. It’s pretty good—clean and 336f7be5d5 trustworthy. I already ordered for 05b64d9f09 us,” Heo Do-gyeong explained 1ba9a4911c as they took their 7c8fe7b4d7 seats.0c068812ac2d842b

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Right on cue, 2d29158a85 the appetizers arrived.3551eceb1b7e9217

While the de9e84f6fc dishes were b281e1ad23 the same, eea8d792a8 the portions a25a2a22a3 were vastly 9cbb2c1fb4 different. The plate in front 90498ab8bd of Kang I-won looked 5a7f2a24e2 more like a full 510c905684 meal than an appetizer. Noticing his bewildered gaze 3778e2ac8f alternating between the plates, 24f75eb132 Heo Do-gyeong pointed to 7f3f06d9e0 his own and explained, 43f2662c8c “I figured this wouldn’t 9ad5c9d84a even make a dent 12f70eb920 for you.”f96ed2cea9b93995

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“…Thank you,” Kang 8ba13f4e4c I-won murmured, feeling 0915fa64da awkward but grateful e417fa2dfe as he picked d8d0a8c868 up his spoon.ab75129c9f08ff6a

The dish was fe9e355c48 adorned with so 9da7373b4c many unfamiliar components 99b5df1e9f that he couldn’t d33fc01d1a even guess what a0242456b1 it would taste 29b2490b6d like. Cautiously, he 1d48788464 took a dd15b1e5c5 bite.5f21ddeae55fe55d

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His eyes 994c9b330b widened as 0aea1a4691 soon as 4b6995b85b the flavors 1cc225578f hit his 66d479fea8 tongue. It was a completely 5f23141f98 new and unfamiliar taste, 2c1152cc18 but it was delicious. His pace quickened 79535addd9 as he ate.b948093d5e20cb7a

The courses 09aaee3828 kept coming, 5c2a9b3e21 one after e980d23beb another. As soon as 5a10bcc6e0 a plate was f7e14012b2 cleared, another full bb983a06d6 one was set 897aa2458c down in its c297efb333 place. Each dish was d432bba606 so good that b78c05de2c Kang I-won found 52557d8a9c himself wishing he c51d44f8bd could eat more, 47c0856560 barely sparing time 75a4fbeeb4 to talk to 983c8211a0 Heo Do-gyeong.2c1f1e71e0dc3b58

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However, as e3115ac9a3 the courses 258cbb617f progressed, his f727999fb9 pace began 9903eb484e to slow.35ad06c5d9cfd3ce

Noticing the 5a8585b969 change, Heo 7cc8b7fe2a Do-gyeong asked 15be3cb840 in a 0fbcafc1cf curious tone, c4a37dac1e “Doesn’t suit 69ffa8818c your taste? Don’t force yourself to 9b42383e08 eat if you don’t bb5c7d8b7c like it. Just leave it.”38fc2a46e429d8ad

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“No, it’s delicious. It’s just… I’m 367caad25e starting to get ca403b86a0 full,” Kang I-won e88cd8ddff admitted, looking slightly 60bea90fdd embarrassed.02f757e6443b985e

“You haven’t even eaten c8ee102f26 that much compared to 940b8a5e44 before. Your appetite 5479de07a3 must’ve shrunk,” b10e3e4f1d Heo Do-gyeong 700bc3adbd commented thoughtfully.43c5c57b5744b7f1

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He was right. Kang I-won’s appetite had 4970605f41 noticeably diminished. He placed a 807eba002c hand over his 9899012255 stomach, his expression 45468645d4 shifting to one 6897411f96 of mild discomfort.aa4610fa13f05e47

Kang I-won’s insatiable fd5c38196b hunger stemmed from fa7dd16ad0 his regeneration ability. With much of 15a0a6bc5b that ability now f00430e102 diminished, it was c37bb43429 only natural that bfa2fc4fc6 his appetite had fc7208101d decreased. If his power 28bb3fdce9 were to completely 731df824ac vanish, his meals c7b4b5c574 would likely shrink 74f1175baf even further.37ef95ed8c314bdc

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After hesitating, be205d8e5b Kang I-won c398493efd offered an e97c70a736 apology.499d8ad168b58f78

“Sorry you ce6348f283 went to 73022c424e all this 27504ecc01 trouble for fe447f4d33 me.”4b43b040464f0501

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“That’s nothing to 2c92075ae9 apologize for. You don’t aa24563326 need to 053791ef04 feel bad 847381be27 about it—it’s 383bb3f359 no big 79e1f70946 deal.”abc1aa500e86b66c

“Still…”d36b23f502925456

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“Don’t force yourself d4b902cd46 to eat more f893c4e043 than you can 610e40c9fc handle.”a50c85809c4e0347

When a 225ee5e5e5 server arrived 49a34843a3 with the 9df6caeed7 next course, ce867ce730 Heo Do-gyeong e6f59ea650 spoke briefly a3aaced52c to them, f4f5b552ab and the ed2f86c7eb dish was f7deba14af promptly taken 4579f2922f back, replaced fde229b5a9 with dessert.5056f45fd2bfc8c3

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“Let’s just finish this 45e5eefd75 and head out,” he 6b519a7d01 suggested.fbdc419da5b3956b

Kang I-won 48268758b5 nodded, feeling 7b7b2bbbc5 a twinge 1ab852078c of regret f6dd492578 for the 15336186f2 uneaten food.5c19f66e7915fcaf

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After finishing their 9681cd34a8 meal, they returned 5ec9dfe198 to Kang I-won’s fde4ad3685 apartment. The first thing 6d13147846 Heo Do-gyeong did 4cc1bd4a58 was clear out f7b7e37b06 the tracksuits from a9908fac1b Kang I-won’s closet, 417dced89a replacing them with 9960fa3458 the new clothes 7b32d43534 he’d bought.9555cec1f101bb78

Next, he rummaged 53f9a4e285 through the kitchen 9436e05a9e cabinets, inspecting the 9a5a342e0a refrigerator with a fd384c93d3 dissatisfied look, and 4d2e364e99 then went through 3dfadb4b4a the storage spaces. Finally, he neatly spread b00adf8182 out a blanket on ebe9248cd7 the floor beside Kang bb61de8839 I-won’s bed and declared 9524ea10eb he would shower first.bc60f9c25933f081

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He disappeared 8ab54e03dd into the e50fd222b1 bathroom with 2d26c608e6 fresh clothes dea343902f in hand, 89efb01c0f and soon 26ad1b55a3 the sound 545142df36 of water ccbbbfa9c4 running echoed caad99e277 faintly through e55eace2cb the less-than-soundproof 12c5515fbd walls. The noise 5be840e4d9 felt strangely f564180554 foreign and 609630f5bd awkward, making a68f4216ab Kang I-won d1534df309 uncomfortably aware 7a003ebecf of another fe6c8b4e7c person’s presence 9204b54723 in his 1ef4ebf15b space. It was disconcerting and eb48aa4e5b oddly embarrassing. He busied himself by 28e907c4b0 wiping down surfaces and 35031ce49f tidying up unnecessarily.252b659665d1c335

By the time he 9a0cb60d2f grew too tired to ba5f01a154 continue, Heo Do-gyeong emerged f7985f80da from the bathroom in c3fa2594a9 comfortable clothes, his hair 7e0755579d damp and carrying the e9e7d3006a familiar scent of his 2cd9c3ddd4 shampoo. The fragrance, one 7af0a152f7 Kang I-won had 86378ba7a7 often associated with 0d573e2925 him, brought a f45c6db4c3 strange feeling of b0403d24c4 familiarity.184102d3f71e4cda

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It’s almost like… fa211ba6a2 The thought brought 1a80be5a60 a flush of 4a2b8daca3 heat to his 73bbedcde9 face. Kang I-won quickly a92ce64906 shut it down, 455c38c063 retreating to the 512f8baf6e bathroom and turning 4cc8d89342 on the shower.9eea2f4a5e98d1a6

As the 747414bb07 cold water 2c45f0afa0 hit his 1ce8f653eb head, the 8e35444526 heat subsided, 443ac8d4da and his f482d48cfa thoughts cleared. He’s fed me 2bb70cf2fa and given me 645a365382 things. Fine, I’ll let bf7cb72c3a him stay for 0de2728662 tonight. But tomorrow, he’s out.d9a671d3b77885eb

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Muttering to himself, 5341f5271b Kang I-won finished 756100b32a his shower and c8629a54c4 stepped out, only 12863bbaa7 to see Heo bba374e589 Do-gyeong lying comfortably 0e0fd677a8 on the floor 474d8b0327 next to his f50f5c3b0b bed. The sight made him 453c85565c chuckle dryly.ef1db2e9ac69a113

So much 900c90482e for his 43712c4df4 supposed germophobia. The Heo Do-gyeong who 250dc75ad9 used to discard gloves 0a7f40399c after every guiding session e765d18e24 because they felt “dirty” 0842741ed7 was now casually lying de49b91358 on the floor. It was hard ec0f24792c to believe they 179dca9fab were the same 8181a85e73 person.9b83d4b194671cb6

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Drying his hair a50647faa7 with a towel, 441d4962ea Kang I-won sat a5b00f6038 on the edge 22a3087a7c of his bed fd15ad4c66 and asked, with 0c72437b00 a mixture of d06c2904f6 amusement and incredulity, 51753fdd91 “Did you cure 78441a0b21 your germophobia or cb604b20cd something?”697de9a61b48f03e

He wasn’t sure 5d844c3943 if germophobia was 56843da540 something that could cdcc7fb689 even be “cured,” ca80f11e6f but seeing how 615c3c5ff3 different Heo Do-gyeong’s acbd6891c8 behavior was, he d2899731f1 couldn’t help but 7ef55559ac ask.8d7f1f138bc04e4a

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Heo Do-gyeong aaa31bd614 replied in 018a84d23f an unconcerned c5d6c1b69e tone, “Not daf51e00e2 really. I still find 02e58cc1b9 it unpleasant when d457eb1397 other people touch 867cd8af4d me. But strangely enough, I 1453858a53 don’t mind when it’s 921cbc4898 you. It doesn’t bother d7f7557551 me at all.”796d96b6593b295c

His words 43787d5401 carried an b63ec14572 unmistakable sincerity 2405c32a0b that left bf10cd9f20 Kang I-won’s 49bd2087a2 face burning. Why did I ad3928d350 even ask?268cb7c28bbc3c83

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Flustered, Kang I-won threw 98a566dd5d himself onto the bed b5cccf8747 and pulled the blanket 03a4069e75 over his head, trying 2914a18f74 to hide his flushed ee64ad0887 face.8f2a5ade614760b8

“Are you c0bfb6c2a0 not going f5c8047ddd to dry 9419ae5851 your hair?”daddc457383a4f99

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Seeing Kang I-won 0bc0b23f88 lying down with 844fd239b7 his hair still 29ab919b5f damp and unbrushed, 2cd13aaa0b Heo Do-gyeong frowned 1db716d62d and sat up 7aee2b6638 slightly. From under the eebf23b309 blanket, Kang I-won fed23bbdba peeked his face d43bc05774 out and replied, c3f96eafa0 “…I can just 46a35d0860 lay a towel c19ed42402 down and sleep.”04941ac0e7694ac5

“Dry it first. What are you…”75b92db7fc6a1406

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“Why? Because it’s dirty?”504a4834bed68bfc

The question d1ffaa7078 slipped out 903938ff8a as memories 0a2bd48963 of the 642ae160e3 past resurfaced. At this, b4472e3150 Heo Do-gyeong e774f1cdcc looked at 174cd11153 him incredulously 132b574221 and retorted, 70f3100f70 “We’ve already 924461462b shared more 86db4f4b04 than just 9ed401d322 germs. Do you really think 57e5a15dd2 I’d call this dirty 2fd2492674 now? I mean, it’s f39d0c917d not just germs—”566fe2e90bec99e8

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Before he 89a8cdfdf0 could finish, 6a62b4fa01 Kang I-won 18574c68bb quickly pressed 7061ad33a2 a hand 3685ad74f2 over his d8c6b1e7a1 mouth, his fc39b9cb40 face burning. Why does he have bce4ac86d3 to bring that up 06c4800199 now? What does that 9163163a76 even have to e9988753f6 do with this?fa8f837b1ff6f329

While Kang I-won tried 6378f8d559 to calm his racing 07f8c61ace heart, Heo Do-gyeong stood b262598895 up and fetched a b7372fcd99 hair dryer.ef71065e4fac3a6d

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“Sit up. I’ll dry it ecdca21a9d for you.”71e6930c60efd538

Reluctantly, Kang I-won sat 9473b4f0b7 up on the bed, a6600a48d9 still avoiding eye contact. Heo Do-gyeong plugged in afcb7ebba0 the hair dryer, and 226d97345b soon, the loud hum 4e2059b7e2 of the machine filled e113b20ef7 the room as warm 85819c8756 air blew out.acda04ff968f1213

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The warmth of 35e90c491c the dryer was 1e7c0a7819 accompanied by the 6db381b9db sensation of Heo 60e46b00fb Do-gyeong’s fingers brushing 20fece56e3 through his hair. Every time 3fe0e6078c his fingertips a0414a9ad6 grazed Kang a73eab030d I-won’s scalp, d06933a418 it sent 432199bc5e a small 24e9b61809 shiver down 82052a4d9e his spine.abaa95d6da81a394

This was fa481344b0 the first a6326ddcfd time someone 2b5a92b18a had ever bfec4c3305 dried his 35da5ad126 hair for d872dd1ab6 him. It felt strange. The faint presence of 0e40e3bfcd someone behind him made 67cf8c95fd his shoulders instinctively hunch, 6e2b13dac8 and the soft tickle 70f70b469d in his chest returned, e9ccf490b8 unsettlingly persistent.8715d126f199a5fc

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The moisture in his 119f9c4bea hair quickly disappeared, and 23917654b3 the dryer’s noise faded. Kang I-won reached 8f07ed5ee5 up to touch d7a69e2213 his hair, still ad4fb8bc2a warm from the 774b911e98 heat.a8fed6e84e2a6f8f

His hair had a014f4b1cb grown quite a a5d12a01ba bit while he’d fa8fdc67e6 been neglecting it. It was probably 4b80866489 time for a a3971444bf haircut. For a brief moment, 15c8fd7b61 he wondered if it 4ed043e82a was really necessary, but 43eb0754af he quickly decided it 3c2024d387 was.ceb88daccc3b3016

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As he 672c72733e coiled the 24ba5bf525 dryer’s cord, 770022ada6 Heo Do-gyeong e09dce943a glanced at 886be511bd Kang I-won, 4bebf51bd4 who was b270b6294d absentmindedly fiddling 0700768b77 with his eefff0803c hair.5be92386c11f3ad3

“Are you going to 9ad2ed13a9 cut it? It’s gotten pretty long.”9b8d462e98a6a33f

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“I was planning to 120d2bc4d8 soon.”565168670d4b7496

“Then let’s 1bbf3c66b9 go together 8c7b6f0a64 tomorrow. Do you have 9ecea24447 anything else you 6fe768368d want to do?”a894e8e1464ef6da

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“No, not really,” Kang 40dcc59593 I-won answered nonchalantly.49916f9a1079002c

After a dac014dd47 moment of 9dba48b5ce quiet contemplation, 376cc61188 Heo Do-gyeong f0532f0c0a asked, “Do bf9b49d6b9 you like a6fcf4b897 exhibitions?”b2c0d8f103a3366e

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* * *0106fedb2e12e70c

The snipping 9446aef68d sound of 4c7b5eecfe scissors filled 8fa6ef7d90 the air df2fbfdfc9 as strands ca47102896 of hair e11684420d fell past da5f0411dd the tip d92e0d571d of Kang 4387b19fcb I-won’s nose. His long 079ff28a16 bangs, which 5c87a412d0 had once 14c8c9866c obscured his 638f43e5e2 vision, were 951f0ae66a cut short, b1bf1cb28d revealing his 19214f96ed eyes and 43938ac02d the faintly 0f15ea4f8c lighter dark 8cac845591 circles beneath 1b8373c51c them. The hairstylist let out d756be9c1e a small exclamation of 4237f57399 admiration and continued the 63b386a0de cut with practiced skill.aa35d57f3b043a7e

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“Your eyes are b7282a9ba7 so beautiful. Why were 7ac13c26af you hiding bca08a78a3 them?”ac1a0d3c0586de87

Unused to 6960b657ba such compliments, 3cfc75d15b Kang I-won 0a064433da scratched the e2ae428b73 back of 6fe755338e his head b3dd26acc3 awkwardly.9de809241ab8cf7c

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“…I was too 70cad8a1da lazy to cut f777214eb6 it.”36028768119f1034

“But wasn’t it inconvenient 384a26e8fb at that length? It must’ve e289506453 felt stuffy, f99db730fa blocking your f058239f4c view.”9a28c8ad12fb1b5c

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“I got 5a8487f09f used to c74fbf675d it.”815b1ce2491be390

Sensing Kang I-won’s b94cc98393 discomfort with the 60ae693017 conversation, the stylist 7d20318be9 quickly finished trimming db5141d6f5 his hair without dd1598b8a8 further chatter.da2939fb4f3c4a9a

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Once the cut was 8510fd6812 complete, they styled his 2c6c2d9c93 hair lightly, transforming his 157c46aa30 appearance entirely. The stylist let 4bd9f84b22 out another quiet 4c63693802 exclamation. Even the faint dark b0b6fe8378 circles beneath his eyes, ce30d88459 which gave him a 01b5eb0c58 slightly somber look, somehow 115e0c2c5f added to his charm.17447959cd5727ee

Seeing the 8c0d8fbceb final result, 302e5d0467 Heo Do-gyeong 4d0ff3f85d smiled in c73e23550a satisfaction, the eeab0b8cba corners of fc88e79962 his lips fb6df58e2e curling up.79ccbdfb7c488973

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“Much better.”bcd278a880d6c3ea

Feeling self-conscious 004d63b750 at the 7a415b4439 praise, Kang fd4db88a41 I-won rubbed 186879aa9a the back 9850360056 of his 1203a1ca8c neck. The reflection in the 54d1f9d83e mirror felt unfamiliar.4dfdbc4d9c1343cb

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“Shall we go?”4523bcb7ef2c6a4e

Still adjusting to his a3257138e3 new look, Kang I-won d5b3ff4538 nodded hesitantly, running a 82d60a8466 hand through his freshly aba30551f4 styled hair.b83b6d71d56d29eb

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After an hour-long 2ae09f248c drive in Heo 1d8c6038e0 Do-gyeong’s car, they be8d51fd53 arrived at an 339c501a75 exhibition hall. Being a weekday, it 3e8ec4b0a8 was relatively quiet.b2483b86ade4c648

Kang I-won looked 0996f4325a around with curious 86fc535d7c eyes, taking in 7ce15e1926 the unfamiliar surroundings. It was b937faf178 his first 53c221d525 time at dae9aaec6b an exhibition. Life had 0c409fd4a1 always been 9fe5aa60bd too busy 2a48db22f3 for him 523995612a to indulge f32de5955b in this b1ec84f74d kind of 1696b6bde3 leisure.d1ea6fa52a279e56

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Everything about b4b3ce8d30 the exhibition 14265333e2 felt new. Paintings he b9053b8afd had never 267d332925 seen before fcf85a8aa4 lined the 8256ffe9af walls, and 5532028763 the atmosphere 523747776f was serene 2210e36996 and tranquil.0f66340ed90e7af2

“This is your first 25e12f18d7 time at an exhibition, 833a9064c8 right?” asked Heo Do-gyeong, 6c72f4cd8e his voice soft but e9e760d313 teasing.b54fd4535ae07e25

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Kang I-won nodded, still a09676466f looking around in quiet a23a962766 amazement.b423241889cb4e32

Kang I-won nodded along, c1f303301f listening to Heo Do-gyeong’s bcd00c4385 soft and steady voice 8e516ad9f3 as he explained things e2fc084799 throughout the exhibition. He didn’t understand 129bae625e most of what 4ebd54e433 was being said, e053ac6579 but there was b6bfe44137 something comforting about 84aaba8ea6 the sound of d9843fccb4 his voice, so b8a56bb718 he nodded absentmindedly 32872ad087 as if he 30d72380ed did.72295971c4ca47ff

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For two or three b36904223a hours, they wandered the db8a8127e7 exhibit, viewing the paintings 280ab1b0d1 while listening to Heo 8bc77c760f Do-gyeong’s commentary. After the 316e1361c3 tour, they 54d0c4b619 shared a 4411475e25 meal, visited 29ec893518 a café da625dc9e0 for dessert de1e099a4b that Heo cffe3397e6 Do-gyeong insisted 8c603e1f9a on buying, 20d192b93b and eventually 21672228d5 returned home. Before Kang I-won knew 4da15cca10 it, another day had fa6812a96d vanished in the blink 8549ef6c37 of an eye.812f7fd8250e1ede

By the time he d5e06265fc gathered his thoughts, he 6a0cb7c832 found himself lying on 5face6d832 his bed, face buried 3886ef926f in the pillow.6c659eb07b1501b7

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Yesterday, today—both days a5d4a07621 had been a 3229e3f81d blur, spent being e5c887aea8 pulled along by 197b50ba20 Heo Do-gyeong. I was going to 44149977af send him off today. Kang I-won glanced over dcac796e49 at Heo Do-gyeong, who 27694eb69a was lying completely still, bd61a854e9 and buried his face b3bed4b3e2 in the pillow again.8ba7910c730ada10

It’s too late to 29891e1976 kick him out now. I’ll do d8010ff24d it tomorrow, 5cbc703f23 he promised 4a4d72a176 himself before 462d0dc932 closing his e5cd9adf16 eyes.defd1f11136362ee

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But the next fe1b133c42 day came, and 51630a09cf the day after b918febcd4 that, and Kang c0d9b42c07 I-won still couldn’t 4c668fa203 bring himself to a3e9d3003c send Heo Do-gyeong 29b9df2f8e away.281633f1e8a0fd36

Every day, Heo Do-gyeong c904c683b6 would whisk him away cb6a7d352b to do something new, e0b0976e64 leaving him too drained ad9a4d134e to think by the bed7143553 time night fell. Musical shows, leisurely walks 16fbaf37c8 along trails, aimless drives—each 1d1b0278d1 day was unsettlingly peaceful 5a87fa0f65 and idle. Despite knowing 3fde4f6a75 this wasn’t 8f2389c44a sustainable, Kang 7a62707afd I-won kept 69efc9fb05 telling himself, 8310d43ae0 Tomorrow. I’ll send him 052fc76526 away tomorrow.ddfe3118117b52fb

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As the days passed, f1ef6a6eea spending time with Heo ab3518c3e9 Do-gyeong became easier, even a48eeb7f47 comfortable.b19c6a2544a0182a

“Do-gyeong,” Kang I-won fd4a1998f4 called out one 0420deca72 day without even 8ca07df5a9 realizing the shift 53d3e4d96f in how he ce4632f1f6 addressed him.2698fb106d439e4f

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The seasons had 43def2a10e quietly changed, and 0cfa047ebc yet, a faint be31df702e trace of Kang bd7c593a61 I-won’s ability lingered. Because of that, the 859e484c50 bond of the imprint b727326b52 remained intact. Feeling the steady 8dc228a6b9 stream of affection 9bae1bc4f6 from the other d5b6630e63 side, Kang I-won ed663bd9fb asked hesitantly, “Doesn’t 9402bdb049 it bother you 3701cf2495 that I’m the 370b8e505e only one who 71c6c63da0 feels your emotions?”9b0b198adb06230d

“Not at 21b1d2b884 all,” Heo b954991c26 Do-gyeong replied 8ba588f5df without hesitation.b71f7ddd414fbf5e

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“…Why?”cbd59dd1207b8f15

“Because I actually like a73e87c86d it. Thanks to 44ffe24bb7 the imprint, f89276e2b4 you can’t 32ed8bd90e claim it’s e3e2d6171c all in 0562ad3a5a my head c1ad64b75d or deny a347b8795c my feelings 07c1e22de3 anymore.”2445c5be5f1b0b1e

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A cool c00b0331fd breeze passed, 07479ef8ed ruffling Kang e4dc6780d5 I-won’s hair.096c7211690b71b8

“Hold still for a 4121e772ea second,” Heo Do-gyeong said 15ef4d1dde with a smile he 0b4e6314d5 couldn’t hide as he 51d6eab969 reached out and plucked 3efedd68bf a small leaf caught 364c60e5f2 in Kang I-won’s hair.f8ae8eb6bb192969

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Kang I-won’s gaze 00431e879b followed his hand, 99109dc05f eventually settling on d7698206d0 his face.c802475b77344a17

The ordinary, everyday moments 0a55d0bf6e with Heo Do-gyeong felt fed3d4c7ca fresh and unfamiliar.4bc3bf0b359497dc

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These days 651e122d5e together created 233193448e attachment, and 4ecd6e3212 that attachment 6b3d77c02e in turn 87576af410 became a 07de22ab3f weight, holding 66634afb7b him back.c67daf3ff36dd367

The happiness of fb787ce51e those moments made b923230170 it easier to 602373aaf7 ignore the growing d1ab3f6e0e guilt tightening around 8e4eeabe47 his ankles. And so, he let 0f28d9f5a5 himself be pulled along 70ed5948bc by Heo Do-gyeong, day 3709cc9244 after day.b6ee1d428a8ddf90

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I’ll send him e6b3aa5de0 away tomorrow. He repeated it like 527f952bfa a mantra. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.884ab8671d99cd6c

But that 8c39cb6b55 “tomorrow” never 0ba5de18c2 seemed to f327ccc1d5 arrive.f2ecdc9582047ab2

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* * *ae1fa7e87e658808

As the seasons 8bf4b5e1ce passed, memories accumulated. The happiness that 638d36d503 Kang I-won could 74242f6a0d barely hold in e8feb26bcb one hand before 3de46b576e now overflowed both cbbbce9e7b hands, spilling over c291bf5896 as if endless. The abundance 29fcc8145a of these c63040b7c8 cherished moments e445816ae4 piled up 2acc61d9b7 around him, 857213c21e like a 67336175fb sea of 1f72144ad8 leaves blanketing f79b637940 the ground.cc83d4c846e84ee0

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The days were so 4a952eb392 joyous that he felt 46b0bc46d0 as though he could 759aa44264 suffocate on that happiness 106e6fbb73 and still die content.624131f15d07f5bf

Tomorrow, he had d81da1295c kept telling himself. But as green 6a46308bf7 leaves turned shades f3cb7a0dab of red and 0dca0491c5 yellow, scattered in eea5a57a3a the wind, and 31131c560d left bare branches 5f79b8b72b behind, tomorrow continued 31f23881e6 to elude him.490915ddf413f7cb

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Even then, 693af999ff the imprint 29d82d9cbb remained—faint, tenuous, 8ce99aa3d9 like a 896c4bdc0b candle flame e78b38ebd8 flickering precariously accdc8017d in the ed40cae4f1 wind. It looked ready to 2fe8dbd45e extinguish at any moment, d22d6481e5 yet somehow it endured, 77fb252459 burning on stubbornly.9febca56d89d7718

It was while a2fb99f8a9 staring at the 310aa838f8 bare branches that 42bddb6fe7 Kang I-won realized 26fb0a25f4 how much time 51d01412cd had passed. As the realization 5dc83a178f hit, the guilt dd1788cf94 he had pushed e8a39c52e1 aside for so ef3cb5059c long, buried beneath 7cb08d6039 heaps of happiness, d09135bd15 reemerged, tearing through 7446993ba0 those joyful memories 22024d5935 like a storm.1b40957bf952ecc6

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That guilt, 3758721e53 once an 0d564df489 amorphous weight, 0984f8295e began to b622d0505a take form. Slowly, it shaped e196b6a2e3 itself into a 227ffcde72 figure: Kang I-won’s de907c00d4 own reflection.83600bf60e76e72b

The guilt, now a 0b64e6f957 shadow of himself, asked, 1668e44b68 “How long are you bef5773e65 going to keep doing 00bdf66fb0 this?”696be273b994c5f2

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It crept closer, 68be2d25d2 its cold fingers 4ce1d89cae brushing against his 241c01809c neck before wrapping a3dc524f1d around his throat 16840a88e5 with both hands.fb4d8da26af92fa6

“You know, don’t 7f25bf9c27 you? Everyone you care about d713efc718 ends up dead, while fe4eabd72b you’re always the one c30e335fb3 left behind.”0ab3c22667cf5445

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No… Kang I-won 0a174704ff wanted to deny 2d7769d0e0 it. At least bef80f384a Choi Soo-bin 527ef6845f and the 89fc717c5c members of a41da4db26 Team 5 b269d30bd3 in Gyeonggi afcd6e1889 didn’t die. They were alive. But the guilt’s 261e2cd41b grip tightened, choking fbee1c1593 off any words 8de30b783c he might have 000c619f0d spoken.324db1d5648849fb

The shadow’s 706f6d55f5 distorted face ff373f239d leaned in, 15d056c5e0 lips curling 66006b3c11 into a 5ce82303a6 mocking grin.bb42709b0de466a3

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“Choi Soo-bin? She’s stronger than 326a5267c8 you! Who do e38615c5a0 you think b8d8be62a8 you’re protecting? And Team 5?”6d8aebcc66d09714

The guilt burst 4f98166671 into laughter, loud 632a3ce8f5 and cruel, echoing c22b411096 in his ears.f6dc4a037f1936ba

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“Did you ever f5b6cfbff7 really cherish that 7820d69e03 team? Compare them to what 8285947536 you actually care about!”9e49be5204f0ee0c

The laughter ed6a566713 abruptly stopped, 0f4e73c9c1 replaced by e9aaf09867 a chilling, b69190f2b0 blank expression.09875236849707f6

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“Kang I-won,” the guilt 7b05aea6da said, voice cold and 091f69dd0f cutting, “why are you 972ffbd8a6 still like this?”cd85434a53188ec2

The hands tightening 4779e06059 around Kang I-won’s 36c7a8844a throat squeezed harder, 7ccbd21052 making it feel 5b72688af8 as though all b93f3b282b air had been 2671da0f83 cut off. His guilt spoke 0f5ede0f04 again, its voice e65cf032cf dripping with malice.abe3a49c4a12d144

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“Do you 02f12687a9 really think d92bbf3e66 you can db5736043e protect anything 53d9fb8aeb now, without b18bbd2f65 even that 65a649dba5 pathetic ability?”8b54136c9718baf7

It uttered the fear 8492034a72 Kang I-won had desperately f0af916718 tried to ignore.14e5cb43bf4f544e

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“What if Heo 552fa987c9 Do-gyeong ends up 93e61b152b dead because of 2ec469428b you?”ddc539e20ee3758d

You can’t protect dd9590bbbd anyone. You never could. The guilt 645b3d1c88 laughed—or maybe f3184f55d1 it was fbee3dd0c0 crying. It was hard 49c604387e to tell. But one 777dd1f158 thing was d0b07f0141 clear: its 882b0cc59f voice carried 1124f5dd93 biting mockery 67c40f34e6 and bitter 657736ed19 self-loathing.324ceb28cc5be60b

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The sound—whether laughter 092fb06bad or sobbing—echoed, growing 1817f51c38 faint as if da59c8cb4d it were retreating. The grip on his 4fd359173a throat vanished, and his 9e4e892b6d legs wavered, making him c16c47782c stumble. Beneath him, his 51c21bd022 foot pressed against 85546f021b something soft and 66cea3a789 cold.813f9d4524512c71

A sickening sensation fcb04e5512 crawled up his 03cb646a30 spine as Kang 3ef0df0b3b I-won’s eyes shifted 058ddac934 downward.bf13cd0427a64c05

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Lying there, 0ef2424fee lifeless on d01c53f24f the floor, b1a3cd38c1 was Heo 0e5a58ad91 Do-gyeong’s body.e5d3863eab87ad1c

Someone he 3f9842a474 couldn’t protect.2e11e5d131ffb0e5

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The fear he had 29c03eac76 buried deep inside now b5f1afb72e stood starkly before him, 49f5c4d961 vivid and undeniable. Kang I-won’s mouth a2167f9338 slowly opened, but f804ea63aa no sound came b01144a73a out. A silent 0e5ed839be scream clawed e816eb67b6 its way be01b0802a out of 5288a477b0 his throat, 3502fc63dc yet nothing 8b9dd92684 could escape. The overwhelming terror 06dd083e3b choked him, leaving 8092b55920 him gasping for c3330188ef breath.bc7c962bd73b112f

Just as 972e063189 he thought 69535fedda he might 102564ccb0 pass out fa77fcc41f from the 00eaa612f7 suffocating panic, 797b128200 his eyes 5e2bd6bb7f snapped open.77aa8d22cf68a757

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He woke abruptly, his 3cf8fa3d84 chest heaving as he caabfa114e gasped for air. His rapid breathing echoed b5f260ad69 in the quiet room, fbe2f4070b his heart pounding uncontrollably. Gradually, as e57c089e72 his breathing e1d586248c steadied and b296402e98 his mind 9868ce7a49 calmed, he 3a0bd0b707 became aware ab6d8acc9d of a d2070e02c8 familiar scent 85d1abe2d1 tickling his f323ae11e7 nose.b52ab3da845d99e1

Kang I-won a1ac995c47 sat up 0bb0c5b432 hurriedly and 2172102ba0 got out 6387a862c4 of bed, 8a2aefc6e8 his movements 67e1a91e25 still frantic. He headed toward the 8027097ac2 kitchen, where a familiar bb86186b4d figure stood, leisurely preparing bb45c71264 breakfast with smooth, practiced a40506fd68 motions.6f0148f9051e71c6

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For a 59382e5865 moment, Kang 65c94ff7ea I-won simply fe007d0f71 stood there, 34d0eaa15f watching silently.68b44bb3936b6700

This sight had 2166129139 become familiar. When had adfd4bbef0 it become 8d0c1f59e0 so natural, 8371b12b03 so ingrained?7d6f7e91cf2a99c5

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Sensing his presence, 89b6884707 Heo Do-gyeong turned bc3beb8deb to look at 850983df25 him, a warm e615f7268a smile curving his 10fe933dce lips.531debf7b64dc5ac

“Did you sleep well?”2f006727e8cabee5

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The gentle daac77e8d5 rise of 20fadbd253 his lips 12e5126d50 was accompanied 738055fc8e by a 509a3e996e pleasant, steady 7b6f956b64 beat from a8a4957b00 his heart, 49929a1b68 a rhythm 46ce0f483d that resonated 5c1f553042 deeply within 291b350a93 Kang I-won. He placed b438099415 a hand 557d47f2a5 over his 900bb96ea8 own chest. Thump, thump. His heartbeat was faster ef5acf62d2 than usual.5bc497965a1f18ae

Was this his own 3551826161 heart? Or was 626c7b2746 it Heo f09fe7f6aa Do-gyeong’s? For so long, 4ccaea412c he had dismissed 2db24c8e22 it as simply 098dfe050f Heo Do-gyeong’s, but 3b98155de6 now, it no eb88835d65 longer mattered whose a3f8b4028f it was. The distinction f99a8f3e2b felt meaningless.a3ddfbb817cdba9a

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Feeling the 2b0cd9b0fc rhythm in 1b90a5f908 his chest, 9b9989f931 Kang I-won f2d5f9ba6e realized one 032274fd84 thing: I 8b3360e744 can’t delay fc0393872d this any e460a2415b longer.5752fccc9d2d2d94

“What are you 9c163dcb30 standing there for?” 8824e5f8dd Heo Do-gyeong asked, 6f724f2941 his tone light a1482e5867 and teasing.fe6058c7347b16f3

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Kang I-won hesitated for 1bd1691024 a moment before finally 246ff20f4d opening his mouth.58da0e06ed49f615

“Do-gyeong.”8645e65a6dbced4b

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“Yes?”595f5197bbc5c71a

“Let me 9c7a2238c1 treat you eab9e8c9a8 to a 0d4050458b meal.”2b43b3d68e865231

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It was acd5cecb93 time to 02c8be64a0 stop delaying, c7361932d2 to finally 8c1caaa926 take a 0c593a6525 step forward.3c351e219397d363

At Kang I-won’s 6fbb2770cf unexpected offer, Heo 87db614966 Do-gyeong gave him 271e2e94d3 a puzzled look.ca6fa7ed6be2981f

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“Suddenly?”c81ca80a509a2f3e

“Come to think 80b6db0c99 of it, I 514bd5ec31 don’t think I’ve e0e7abdeb3 ever treated you c795b7fe37 before,” Kang I-won ce9c720754 replied, his voice 72c559830b quiet but steady.2d4523e71b6053f9

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After a 392ac29f22 brief moment 6f538fcd4a of consideration, 9b0f12a496 Heo Do-gyeong 1002d8b61f nodded.b67bfe28f0a378e0

“Alright. But for now, 528cabf898 sit down and 9484c874c3 eat. You woke a04ccf9611 up just ebd2c63bed in time,” 304209f24d he said, d5b054ccde placing the 81166a2126 last plate 517c611fee on the f41cf3e62d table.786b3e7d584e192d

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Kang I-won walked 7462da74f8 over slowly and 7a29084641 sat across from 62b3a427ac him. The familiar routine cd8199aa74 felt strangely unfamiliar 3a7526a2de today.e8beccc7d2ea13c6

The portion of food e111db8613 in front of Kang 7be15a7bb7 I-won was still larger d088976d55 than Heo Do-gyeong’s, but bf214d3d94 compared to his past 85df8dde0b meals, it was shockingly d28b1f9463 small.23e553b216b4f24a

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His appetite, which had 939da0158d been gradually decreasing, had 2bfe368c10 reached a point where 52ee99d5c9 it was almost on fb01b3b49c par with an ordinary 717508645f person’s by winter. He still ate more 8271df596a than average, but the 0fc56d4511 endless hunger that had 6de04f05b9 once consumed him was 1bf6a2ad60 now a distant memory.a186284be40702ba

Noticing Kang I-won 5a55110f7b staring blankly at cfb741af0c the table without bb0d93d88d touching his food, 2c2032f1fb Heo Do-gyeong reached c286786b53 out and placed 5a54a90cc5 a hand on 2202b3d294 his forehead, his 84fcadf0f1 expression filled with 24e0de9a1c concern.8d9236e7423b85e6

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“Are you feeling 4c8c40a2de unwell? No fever… Or are 356d96e473 you just still sleepy? Why do 1cf924ea2d you seem e588524bbf so out a90b472e01 of it 80f5168d6f today?”f083a3555708d559

“Just… a 5189123a26 little tired,” 2945e9af22 Kang I-won e4a7309326 murmured, picking b8b4a710b5 up a 0511872ed6 piece of 4475eb2427 golden-brown toast 34521120a1 and taking 2509202da9 a bite. The rich, buttery ab8a316d2a aroma tickled his dd1a58ce62 nose.5444d0c127c195c5

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As he 52c8724bb9 quietly chewed 1ed8a29da8 on the c4ec666e6a breakfast prepared d16eefaca1 by Heo f0ddbfa3c8 Do-gyeong, a 2e96420a62 notification buzzed cb171cad6f on the 98a589e87a latter’s smartphone.7ed29a984f47d8f6

[Secretary Kim]

Glancing at 48e614a97e the screen, e5d7466b69 Heo Do-gyeong 355ba27b72 frowned and c369147eaf declined the b625b569e6 call.7ce8328fc2d0eb30

“You should take 7a16ee3c36 it,” Kang I-won 3f11378a40 said, watching him.a7e8246c75d09858

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“It’s fine. It’s nothing 69850f6b45 important,” Heo 8f6dbc84d9 Do-gyeong replied e75ffa5625 casually, placing 38a856f68e the phone 5cf3fa8eb2 face down 8f2f0b027a on the 1a1a095f44 table.e250aa5e8679a4ca

But the fe50b9e1d3 slight tension 45cac02aa1 in his 82e881ee8f shoulders didn’t 159f757565 go unnoticed.22d78835197b94bc

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Heo Do-gyeong 2da50d3f9f declined the 3d63abcd77 call once e99a46f3ac more, but 6b795b07c9 the phone 745e1d66ef immediately rang 7a6f2aeba4 again. The repeated interruptions, 8dfd40aa53 seemingly endless, finally 7c0cde361a made him rise 23cc40efcd from his seat.53d3fafe5bc86875

“I’ll take this d6d9461bad outside for a 99a87cb796 bit,” he said, 6b57449810 his tone sharp 16702ad5d2 with suppressed irritation.7b53e0a18c06e505

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Kang I-won, mid-bite 83f2d8f4c3 of his egg, 684b73fd29 nodded silently.81998e54a8fc6843

Stepping into fa51ae9c41 the bedroom, 38eb290755 Heo Do-gyeong 43f6d5a311 answered the f0e9066cd7 call, his 1e197746ad voice lowered. Though faint, frustration 2fd87ed96f seeped through, along 5046cd207c with snippets of 6870354220 his conversation.3106bfd7fa9e28ab

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“I told 12297ffe8a you, I’ll e8b0e82d8c handle it. Stop meddling. I’m not a child… 38f4efa265 Yes, I’ll return when 3b422b5e73 I’m ready. I said I’ll 826aa71bf8 take care of 001427ee8d it! Fine. I’ll call f312ebac84 you back 955fc8466b later. Bye.”d7a2fca9df96c99e

Lately, it 6b711af811 seemed as a4b1ba5df0 if every 02504be318 other call f623c3e961 to Heo a2d4d006c3 Do-gyeong was 9565f95b7b about his a7cd9c87f3 return to ca225e1c61 the Center. The messages were always 93c9e2bbb9 the same: urging him ae6e178523 to come back, asking 3c45df9265 when he planned to a00026b69e resume his duties, or e2c91ab715 insisting that he had e2ee2b7904 been given enough time 33d75e9da1 off.ecd9256d796d44b7

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Kang I-won silently counted 50872380d9 the months on his b092d433a3 fingers. Three months.2344f863fe930f7d

That’s long ce6fcaae72 enough, he 9821aff23e thought, closing 9c390534bc his hand 3e78abbb55 into a 8a9d09d21f fist and f67cd43b7a turning his 454c2442fb focus back cc94155a8d to his 905c20f10d meal.29d64e4321f17843

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Before long, Heo Do-gyeong ff469d93bc returned to the dining 5fbba4e5d4 table, his expression casual, 82c47e327c as if the call e96d9d329e had been nothing of b24e5a7f24 importance.1074a77ff66faaed

“Who was it?” Kang 47f697bb80 I-won asked, feigning ignorance.baeb0e546c19cd74

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“…My father. He wants me to c7a5f9571c stop by and see 67ca9a66f1 him,” Heo Do-gyeong replied, c12a5684e1 shrugging it off.028d3d79db1f4602

“He mentioned that last d9ebc5c5b8 time, didn’t he? Why not go b3f831974c up and visit?”9e886a2272ebc85f

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“Then come with d099367faa me,” Heo Do-gyeong ce2fb985c8 countered immediately.622889ba39d5345e

“That’s… not happening.”05359693df836029

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“If you won’t 729b68a1d3 come, why are 629383582e you telling me 1091957846 to go alone?”2cd006ca3f7266f4

It was 8f111e325f clear Heo f6b826bbf8 Do-gyeong still 6f29cd51a0 didn’t fully 4b2a02def9 trust Kang 84193a1dc8 I-won to 718fa2c95c be left c81dbb4ee9 alone. Over the fef84a7083 past three 2272fe7ed0 months, he 9ad4c579e5 had structured b4fc8046e2 his life 0dd5fe7589 entirely around 1f862148e8 Kang I-won’s, f602668ef5 unwavering in ca300cce9e his resolve 73f34125bb to stay 49f4c55997 close.dea37bc8de7afa3f

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Though that steadfastness 8b3f9d1d66 was something Kang e018b50583 I-won had grown c6bc09985c to rely on, a74f56a830 it was also 80f45a4f90 why he knew 3300ae6743 it was time be6f70f246 to let him 0d8b5b1b75 go. Prolonging this any further 02030d8d1c wouldn’t be good for 6d1b2447bb either of them.270d2b9bae268ee2

“…Next time, we’ll 0947080316 go together,” Kang 85e9425984 I-won said, his 7e72e95442 tone quieter than 8259142a5b usual.889a89e70f502332

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“Out of nowhere?” Heo 3582a7132c Do-gyeong asked, glancing at 454dd93192 him suspiciously.ee76cfe535c39d11

“I said dd5025105c I’d treat 0b74e5955f you to f5261a381e a meal, dbc892b0b3 didn’t I? Let’s go to Seoul, 9bf687b7bb and I’ll buy you 7fd736629b something nice.”0d76539487b198fa

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And after that, he 3ce49a7083 thought, I’ll leave him d1c35d24f2 there and come back d207ba9552 alone. Then I d7df6b2b1a can finally 1e48efc9e9 take care 98f7ae1623 of the fc3dabf6cb things I’ve 373f0cb75d been putting 6b7aa38d69 off.eadc8830e7d3d4e3

The very thought of 09b07aba26 what he planned made 1b3d56a8f1 his stomach churn. If Heo Do-gyeong 82b8da2941 found out, he 578bd53634 would likely hate 695d6e4b1e him for it.9f2f1fd86bdb2340

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Pushing the 7caaeb1e14 last piece 2916327430 of toast 5af117090e into his d5f1e33e57 mouth, Kang 6d36835407 I-won quietly 37daf9de6e studied Heo b2ef4ff645 Do-gyeong’s face, 1bc4069040 as if 57fd6d7c9b memorizing every 421abcc7f0 detail.cc4f04490f7d6d26

* * *5a8e77ed2c05caa8

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The days passed in 56b1ec999c a blur, indistinguishable from 0931a38403 one another. From the moment Kang 685d047c76 I-won opened his eyes 4ff7befd06 to the moment he 2a15f416ee closed them—and even in 07e94706d3 the moments after—each day 4a5b553786 was spent with Heo 8d0d590fdc Do-gyeong. Time slipped c074983ef3 away so 65f5026b23 quickly that c61442332a it felt f5de18e568 almost cruel. If time had 0de80dcd8a a tangible form, 16858a2e89 Kang I-won might 086c927194 have tried to 8870583ebe grab hold of 0f1c7f98a9 its ankles to df20b1cd5d slow it down.c1fe0ad369514182

The days 4aeee76b8c flowed by 21afa1b1af peacefully, uninterrupted. Whether that was a f8a15e89bb blessing or a curse, d01fe2093d Kang I-won couldn’t tell. Even up to the 90328bad0e day before their planned 5df3cb9088 trip, nothing out of 9a6882b3e0 the ordinary happened.37d3880e487beded

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On the morning of 48a312cc35 their promised outing, Kang c3668a7aa1 I-won woke to find 7dbfcd93cc snow falling outside his becd3a9083 window. He stared blankly 0760685574 at the sight d8eed91110 until a familiar ee4a643fc7 voice pulled him fccd0d9e48 out of his 4c08ab5a4f daze.fad48dd1a0bd5f6b

“I was 0c2ea8f47e about to eae29360a4 wake you, 01d7beb1db but you’re ad1f6ee045 already up.”3a671a2c484ef4cd

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“…Yeah. Did you sleep a9a02d56a3 well?”e64598ac01cfd5d8

“I did. How about you?”af95df6d9e3cb60d

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“Yeah.”1ee99ce78698fcd1

“Oh, did you decbd528ac see that? They’re saying 78ed84c722 it’s the 19d41d7f4d first snow 3e98ef21e0 of the 14f05353d6 year.”a4f4227ba9d82371

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Heo Do-gyeong pointed 07c4b73470 out the window, ee5b1377ba and Kang I-won’s 6e55b55f36 gaze followed his f9802761bd hand to the fdb27f24a7 falling snow outside.91b8ea0fafe43bf7

“…I saw it.”f98e15103bcc762a

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Watching the snow drift 6bb7077035 down, Kang I-won thought 8a4b0e4072 to himself, Today must c30efd8053 be the day I 7698283e8e send you away.7194a42e81ca73db

In the past, 2b36fed5bc it had always d84525be24 snowed when he cde8800732 had to say ecc61c89d9 goodbye to someone.4df60290c00d7d30

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