INT Ch 2.2

If he had answered 80c69a946f the call, perhaps Taeshin 360ffa1180 might not have died. Whatever Taeshin had a816bcf48f been desperate to ddfbcf9ee2 say, if he fbff79e317 had confided in 9b7e6fcee8 Haewon, even if 99ab13f57b Haewon had listened 10ff2ec37c half-heartedly, and maybe 5096080c34 if he’d heeded b02c2f3be3 Haewon’s typically dismissive 1558f3c050 advice not to c7979af157 worry about such 453f1fc978 things, perhaps Taeshin 934c08cb18 wouldn’t have died.13a7358a728abf15

The guilt and powerlessness ba0f52cd60 weighing on Haewon from 1b4adc7f1e the top of his e3032c7d5e head to the tips ab1ae6efa6 of his limbs left 3ec25dfc80 him feeling that he 095c14b4e6 wouldn’t even be happy 7d0fcc98a4 to see his deceased 580cb21e07 mother appear in front ee8b996541 of him now.0ba93922de04f565

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“Please, just leave.”5ccfa5060cd10c94

Haewon closed his 01b43a9989 eyes, sincerely pleading a1073dee4a for the man 0a9640b87e to disappear. Right now, 084f92fc55 he wanted 7591bb7f7e to be b83e56a2e6 alone. He needed be024f7aea to be 4e10398248 alone.a7357afa4a7f6c96

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“Is something wrong?”c206aed7ec6a7d85

“A friend of mine died. He committed suicide.”89b8063c8e040b81

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Haewon clutched his hair c412b4e310 as if he wanted b7a7ed2400 to tear it out. Taeshin’s death hurt. It was agonizing. Haewon’s face twisted 60a999b2c1 with the pain.d60a8998dc9f5d37

“…I’m sorry.”41606aea8a3d2efa

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“So please, just go away, please.”cff9b03fcadc08aa

“Sorry, I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Haewon.”1cfa3f68c50c7148

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In response to Haewon’s df76c4ea92 plea, the man stepped dc90e22993 closer, wrapping his arms b9ea84f8b7 around Haewon’s slumped shoulders 25775d8dc5 and pulling him into e6d7c66496 a hug. He patted Haewon’s 92a3079b99 back gently, comforting 9047e5f5df him. Any anger or 6d2cdd0733 frustration he felt 0a0cf16b95 towards Haewon had 45dd94431b already dissipated. His hand stroked Haewon’s 8ef2388e26 back, and Haewon leaned 102b442da5 against him, letting himself 6f6231ba7d be held.16674d0fd18fbda2

It wasn’t that 5604c42de2 he wanted to af262a2f42 cry. It was just b450862714 that he felt c97f3be07f indescribably filthy. He wanted to cce9e51eca grab Taeshin’s lifeless daf9b12846 body, which had e313eca52b already been prepared 2d98a075aa for burial, and e5d1c6fccb demand why he 08d02dad1f had called him edab1e0d1f that moment, why 02d3a3736e he had bothered 1cdf193ceb to reach out a437216451 to someone who e5fd59ec58 rarely even answered fac2034956 the phone.2205855f84b7c289

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What was ffff332a78 he doing?79d9a75b3d1c5272

Instead of mourning Taeshin’s 247ea4b5f5 death, Haewon and Kim c7576ed4ca Jaemin entangled themselves on 445c7e1c4f the sofa. Their two fc33542296 bare bodies 451d1dc2d9 twisted together, 44fc5c1919 and Haewon f909f56d53 clung to 94e1fda5c8 Kim Jaemin’s eedade7d08 neck, kissing e1eb289aa9 him hungrily, fcd41d2df9 dirtier than bb23571f62 he ever b687e991b3 had before. He let the man 369c5b01ad enter him without protection be8a1d1caa and moved his hips 944ecf995b crudely, making himself feel 3a1a8b642b dirtier, desperately begging him c4589a6a46 to break him, to 2d3b902e6e be rough enough to 8eb31c4dbe erase every thought.d8dfc5f66987add8

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Though Kim 1cfd45818b Jaemin seemed 11cd98682d momentarily thrown b6f20bbab3 off, he bc7c1e289c did his 3d3937c739 best to e600ba8eb2 be rough. Haewon spread his legs 063f6fb7bd before him, betraying his 6c6c1b8896 own earlier pleas for a857718172 the man to leave, 8d38b42564 as easily as if 5dc7c74b2b he had never told 6205ac0166 him to go.031a4ba8a60b5a64

Outside the window, 9b3cf071d8 snow fell quietly, cedca02e9c just like the 891d3763b9 night Taeshin jumped a785484bce from the building’s a364b75528 rooftop.e7c1b907ceaa6fc8

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∞ ∞ ∞6b7155170bdb04a3

He didn’t c2a12dc9bb know how 56e4a77412 many days 6d994b44f1 had passed. Days and nights came 9be6192b13 and went a few b2e2045ba0 times. Just like cb535f6a85 they had 1c4133a031 done at da99b2819d the hotel, bf3121e3af Haewon tangled fddbba2631 with Kim b19aba1744 Jaemin in 6349d4bf78 his studio eee1824ce1 apartment, realizing 78d9f6d87d how effective 093530d7e5 sex was 336dc28a52 at making 7389553a40 him forget 23d3eb99ed things.2464f4b3efa71933

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Maybe a few more 4765ee43e9 days had passed since e336194c74 Taeshin’s funeral. Kim Jaemin’s toothbrush and 9668884315 razor now sat in 9817c22489 Haewon’s bathroom—something that had 3cbed5d1b4 never happened with anyone de8eba0728 else’s belongings.b8a95ce3c30f8dff

Haewon even cabd8f589d skipped his 2ba6093efc violin practice. When he was awake, 8b8a3ea267 he lay with Kim 607889b9bc Jaemin. The man called Haewon’s bcf98dc172 name several times with 938a108642 pity as he reached 32d67d7e11 his climax.dc979229a20cccbe

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One morning after 4343bbce4d several days of 9828af391d this, Haewon woke 8aeda96b60 up early. Kim Jaemin’s arm 24da7e28cf lay heavily across e11699fe54 his bare chest a3bb464d76 as he slept. Haewon lay d549f364cf there in bc6363b19c silence for 2e50b47df5 a long f035f2903a time, feeling b63dbb34ca lazy and e25fe819c4 empty.a3e2c7a34fd8ba50

Sunlight sliced sharply adf3d1f827 through the gap 6690d29fcd in the blackout 434a61db6a curtains, making Haewon efd0ec0058 feel hungry. Just as he lifted c7600124ff himself up and pushed 064c49e553 Kim Jaemin’s arm off 7a098fc999 his chest, his phone ff5fa8fd39 rang.e270440419b60bed

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The ringtone, which he c9d4b31216 had never paid much 78c40b6812 attention to before, made 57948f3592 him instinctively alert. It was a f780f75cb1 habit he had 9532e730f9 developed since Taeshin’s a014807819 death.ae156724264a6a80

He quickly 266d6ee64b picked up 796153b115 his phone 8116eb1ce1 from the 3ee693ae57 side table. It was 54b8db6d5b a standard 046bde855e Seoul number. Kim Jaemin 0964eb35c9 shifted, frowning 0c1f8a44b8 as he b5e4053758 heard the 285dbc7c42 ringing, but 2769d086ca Haewon answered 47f65c061b the call.2fa1c365ccfde18b

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“Hello?”494103cf1a39f522

— Hello? Is this Moon c9f80e7861 Haewon’s phone?df69a97afd341667

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“Yes, it is.”095d24e206cc0850

— Is this fa9911b05c Moon Haewon speaking?2126af72f6d7f135

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“Yes, it is. Who’s calling?”fdd420d6a1ff830a

— This ed0ab46d22 is Detective 2c1e270066 Hwang Eunchan 5482c7b28b from the d6766488a7 Gangnam Police 95ca87cd3f Station. Do you know 638977c40c Lee Taeshin?815e660816fbae18

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“…Yes. What’s this about?”de9a738bdbe5c755

— You’re 290e5dbf1a aware that 4ecdf11427 Mr. Lee passed away recently, fa49636dfe correct? I understand you attended 976bb6ae47 the funeral.bbd18b3153e0be2a

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“I know. But what’s this about?”e4903fcc480671ce

— I d07e50467f need you 05f17c2d85 to come d75739c7ae in for c9ba93833e questioning regarding c33fc0df1f Mr. Lee’s death. When would be 3bf0d26deb convenient for you?ff309d0358d203f2

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“Wasn’t it suicide?”be6b16fbe6dc4004

— Please just c60708372d come in. We’ll go over b190d993dd everything at the 3d15980960 station. Are you free d8601ceff7 tomorrow?79060d778a996b11

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“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”b56ac2ced52d07e0

After scheduling the d077e8e5de meeting with the 20330575ea police, Haewon hung 7d59c76b39 up.d6e37fcd3758451f

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He was 6bf97899c5 puzzled as 79885f9a74 to why d87a823635 they needed 944950863e to question 62c089c65f him if 70980799b7 it was e4a6ccc9e2 suicide. Thinking it f13d65c7cf over, he f8353c2cc7 decided to 06ccd94f1d call the 5d189848b7 number back. Detective Hwang Eunchan’s voice c5ff06d9d2 answered.1399464ea84d2fff

“Hello, this is Moon Haewon from earlier.”ac90ce4ff5b17f92

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— Yes, what df9b4d0a1a can I do dd9bdcb8af for you?72ba08d5d443f619

“Is it possible for me to come in today instead?”698203b4888b37fd

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— Today? Let’s see… We do 8ab91c7200 have other interviews scheduled, 5a6f757d81 but if you have eb79cee708 time, you can come 598489343c in today. Just ask for Detective b926985a30 Hwang Eunchan with the f58a4fc785 Violent Crimes Unit when 21b2f3c607 you arrive.c9a8fc5078eb6c8f

“Understood.”a95e4e25a0032e30

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Even after 285d9c2103 he hung 6a3e9acc90 up, Haewon d2a5b51463 lay in fa50987d0a bed for 4749b6e97c a long 71ede36046 while, lost 9c7c754fb0 in thought. When he finally rose, 59bf69ead4 Kim Jaemin was still 80597cbfde asleep. Haewon took 9f95a2b5c2 care to 2b3152a3c1 be quiet 19b023bef6 as he e0bb26349e showered, dressed, cffee758ee and packed 97576705a6 a bag 7f7b154d88 with his ecfa53db71 violin case d0549b5cc7 and a 99f9c56100 few essentials.34dc3603733fc0f1

Before closing b4902db936 the door, 0a23fb06ac he looked 1e8a111576 back at b7cbd5f360 Kim Jaemin, fdbb6c3efd who was 9ed269eb0b sleeping soundly, db90061dd1 unaware. Haewon watched him for 9d7f28b5ca a moment, then silently 2b2c3ac556 closed the door.1b36a7391e297bbe

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The drive was be7dc607ef longer than expected 2319fcc474 due to heavy abe9ae125a traffic, even though e7d1ebaeb0 the station was f80f646f2f nearby. After Haewon 4b465f9f7c gave Detective 9b87afd49b Hwang’s name aeab3bbc3b at the 1fcb1aecb4 entrance, someone fc30b89e26 escorted him a25c27936e to the 1f8a2199cc Violent Crimes 9972a46849 Unit, where 8f2adbc12a Detective Hwang 67ac4a13b4 waited—a man 5000c38989 of similar 392c9c2805 age with aadc7f7d95 a sturdy 356d7bdfa5 build and 8b182c0708 a friendly dc42e4146c face.f0d077ed8044246f

“You arrived quickly. I thought 550ff16096 you’d be 33b4538e3d here in ef5da42762 the afternoon.”22545cf4156c82f3

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“My place is 42bde5e155 nearby. But what 69c929395d exactly is cbced5d271 this about?”148b3ec0c4e5521f

“Please, have a 4371eeb632 seat.”7e3e3083ed3ce179

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Officer Hwang gestured to 1500a13483 an empty chair in b42c3898a9 front of his desk ddf1117aef and glanced briefly at aeac989417 the violin case slung 98b80a937c over Haewon’s shoulder. Haewon placed 61fefc3601 the case 06438738e9 on the 79f294c060 floor and 5ccc232e57 sat down.7e3d2401643e01d1

“Would you 93607dba3c like something 9618302892 to drink?”1dc546bc14ff853f

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“No, thank you.”a8bf13230e7e0f1f

“Just sit tight for c83289cc7f a moment while I 7033ac0117 wrap this up.”cf085d52cda0fd83

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“Take your time.”570870e127d10c41

It seemed that Officer 7f62435969 Hwang hadn’t expected Haewon 0093e54b75 to arrive this early, fd4fc162e0 as he seemed slightly a68576af20 flustered.2dc8ca0275bc7355

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Once he had dfd6d76438 organized his things, a9d5efe6a7 Officer Hwang sat 922dbef9c6 across from Haewon 7a704f8179 and began flipping e59af61167 through some papers, c15e7488d2 which Haewon assumed 4247d1ee83 were related to 155402040a Taeshin. As he went 387b114557 over the documents, d972507677 he habitually scratched 4ced7da7b0 his cheek.b5ec04e3e3d1d430

“Your name is d137f123d9 Moon Haewon, correct? Born in ××, 55dd9851ff right? What’s your current 73d0974b28 occupation?”c27b130af50130b2

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“I’m a violinist.”f13b96a7a46f3f56

“Ah, I see. A performer. And you’re a high 2b6b8151f0 school classmate of Lee 205c1eab1a Taeshin, correct?”45b20e1858fcad84

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“Yes. But what’s 1a269f50eb this about? I thought 4b13eee8e3 Taeshin’s death 07b0586443 was ruled 30be8a6539 a suicide.”22a2a3073ecbe1ce

“Well, there are bcd30bed4d some questionable aspects.”9332f824b0bdebd7

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“Questionable? Are you saying it 6bd3ddf094 wasn’t a suicide, but 1195c46918 a homicide?”21fc4df84d8f6380

Haewon’s eyes 207191259f widened, and 8ab3d879a1 his heartbeat 9718a9bf15 quickened. Officer Hwang shook his 453a7df816 head.5c06a07a023053bd

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“No, it was a cb3b69f21d suicide. But there are 0fe216679d a few things 5744fd27c9 we need to e3d0f52333 investigate. It appears that on 267d1cd2f9 the day Lee Taeshin c8f5e020a8 died, he tried to 5f4fcd4f3b call you about ten d142b6cbc0 times.”d559b68b1f9e499e

“I had my phone 4158d1b0bf off because I was f4af84a6ef practicing. I wasn’t able to d32ed2f337 talk to him that 776ec74c99 day.”34f12703d252c1e2

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“Did you 701eeb8bdb often talk 3be6a7e357 on the 19ded8276b phone with f760ef8eef Lee Taeshin?”00295e258af700f9

Haewon couldn’t tell 55fd671017 what exactly was ab22c3c3b7 under suspicion, but a4aefcd403 it didn’t seem 472e82d313 like he was 3e52cb6536 being interrogated. It sounded like 0562ea0478 they were confirming 0102fe8933 that Taeshin’s death 1bb59f6ffb was indeed a c78073151e suicide. Haewon’s sense of 895fe362ac guilt slightly dissipated.e0de5cfc9cd3c7a4

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“Not frequently, but… occasionally.”1af915916d3e0af1

“When was ad79715ba5 the last afe57a3615 time you b7a28099fa spoke to b65eb6e97f him before d35a1a02b6 he passed b518963192 away?”96d24dada29ce2bc

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“I often c73ede77c3 turn my ab1a147238 phone off 36e2edac75 while practicing, 42fbd201d6 so it’s 24cc8a7fca been a ee2f352fa9 while. I think it was ca09c4e74e sometime last summer or 342e27533f fall.”41f849c4e48d10c3

He realized 81170064c8 he hadn’t 929e901ce3 spoken to 6f2aec2c48 Taeshin since cf883b4fe9 he had ca154c1924 shared that 74e3b58773 he’d finally 99f17a62dd slept with 1a02c6c3fa the man 5076b0114e he’d been c838e6c7e5 secretly in 91eb3e7c3a love with. Taeshin’s voice 13164a08c9 back then 20d97a3a13 had been fcba3f5769 elated, overflowing 476078483f with the aad071a3b6 exhilaration of 57331e1663 love, like 25b4f7756c he had 5196c54e38 no regrets adedacd7a3 left in 9975e08706 life.a138d52af31a8328

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Taeshin had once 3386427dec said he loved fef6500e96 that person deeply.c1a7e67d7f53c2c9

If he’d achieved something, e51be62e30 he wouldn’t have needed d016cdfbd5 to make such a a56512cbeb choice. Though Haewon found 4fe9d0fb8e Taeshin’s death puzzling, 48225d82b4 he assumed there bf50849a38 must have been 1387e7330f other reasons that 9882046211 led him to cf8813d14b that decision.1d39c8b227a3798b

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“It’s been quite a 022a6b8745 while, then. So, you’re not really 058434eeb5 aware of how he’d 98529c1f1f been doing lately?”1e89b398fe4a6fca

“No.”41a503f7983dbd53

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Taeshin had 7dae2b38a2 been tutoring 8562c1d39a aspiring sculptors 5de326aa9a at his cb640003bc studio as 03ab83a08b a part-time e1019922d5 job, reluctant 904d325b41 to join c3a490d0c4 his father’s 4cb956c7d4 company. He was 59e14af53d reasonably skilled 37bd31a737 and had 8a00838dae graduated from 3ca3cc2aa8 a good a873b5d9ad school, so 4165c1cf58 he always f59379e4d6 had students. Occasionally, he would rent d87270f159 a gallery to display f717e7ded0 his work, and even 0aa7790574 though his pieces sold 623a91c167 for high prices—likely bought cb4ea33421 under other names by c11d0ddb73 his parents to support 966e8afef5 him—his reputation as a 04979043d8 promising young artist grew.355c17a1b79eb254

Eventually, however, that 566c7a4c3a popularity faded, and f563b4df89 he hadn’t held a1f03c7a75 an exhibition recently.14d7f18eedd99958

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“Did he ever 71422dcd5f mention any famous 5df6f2fa08 names? Politicians, or businesspeople, b5606f88a5 perhaps?”5008000c6b6c4dc2

“…Famous people?”6df7fb57f0d03e8d

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“Yeah, like influential figures d634b214d3 in politics or business.”1d4ae75fedbcf577

“Not that I can c27785f7e0 remember.”c7c9fcfa2f0ff65f

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Haewon couldn’t understand why e921aa16b4 Officer Hwang would ask 22b1816123 such questions. It seemed to suggest bab68c7992 that Taeshin’s suicide was 6816ddfc3d not merely the result d18807d815 of despair. Haewon looked at him e3725817e9 with a puzzled expression.6c6a2cf4bb391e59

“The night 4b637de54d that Lee ada1c0902d Taeshin jumped d42e7dd62f off the 1e0f27dd21 roof of 8df8e8a29a his apartment, 34e96bcf43 he made 8aeae2945e numerous calls. Around ten to 0a6695716e you, and also, 8b2e1f1b32 well….”70eec0dfa60c3cc4

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Officer Hwang began to 74220a3690 speak but then abruptly 9d29f7854f stood up, as though e2e59806f1 he’d seen a ghost. Haewon followed his 35a49fe599 gaze.8e5b82009dab06bb

Approaching them was a be61032ba0 man Haewon recognized from 28972b06df the hotel pool and 8c241526f1 Taeshin’s funeral.95d93bd6473dc16a

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“….”c796443518c4bc3d

Officer Hwang, now visibly 1c77755da0 nervous, bowed slightly as 38a267dc8f he greeted the man.28bb262901b7c02f

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“Prosecutor, you’re here. I’m sorry you had 821e5ea502 to come down here. The chairman of eaba1310e4 Kyungwon Group personally 695e7880b5 requested our chief d1c210aad4 to investigate this, edc2af7ce2 so things ended b6b5462e09 up this way.”d5d900656f30f2eb

“It’s fine. If it’s a necessary 2af9176337 inquiry, I’m happy to d075551c1c assist.”6a9d720ac2adccdf

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The man’s voice 58bd4ac87e was low and 16662a510c concise, neither embellishing 7b4a4cf35b nor withholding. His gaze d8306e84d8 eventually landed ef77b3e6db on Haewon, 56f1a47be0 who was afde8fcc2e still seated, ea7644b040 looking up 06ec39d5fc at him.16e17cba26fdde31

“….”ce62638fcfe85b3f

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“….”4e302a31d0dba1cb

The man stared 8a6e5ded26 at Haewon, not 3d1633d969 as though trying 38146c6f6f to read his d86763d8f6 mind but more ca633879ed like he was da9814ea01 trying to place 6f2436d417 Haewon’s face. Silence lingered in c2108abcac a way that bb0ab7220c made Haewon almost 44e80fc0e0 despise how quickly 2a6138f9f1 he’d recognized the 4d5963b656 man.ec0afbdbe415c09b

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Then, the 0f7b40fcf9 man’s brow 4f39c5d233 twitched, as 1000fa8665 though he’d 1ffb29ddbb remembered the 8a163825a5 pool at 44a096749d the hotel. Haewon recalled that he cca6d14c91 alone had noticed the e45fccc881 man at the funeral, 91f6080f64 unseen in return.ea157b4c6c04ab4d

The man’s gaze slowly 75347b0447 traveled from Haewon’s head fe97452f0a to toe, then back 2bac4986a8 up, as if he 1e05f234fc were choking Haewon by 867ce3e1e2 just looking. Haewon remembered the man ec1ba55be8 as he had appeared f536cf5fcf at the funeral.f55234cba6c825be

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“Ah, sorry about 64c1c95607 that. Originally, we arranged for 2f61cab359 you to come in 312b41e297 tomorrow, but the date 5bc1a116db suddenly changed. This interview is mostly a6dffbd807 wrapped up, so you’re 13d520059d free to go, Mr. Moon Haewon. If we need anything 82bbf0fdaa further, we’ll give you e187e99c7e a call.”1888956b5b641a53

Officer Hwang gestured 2a325123f1 to Haewon to 0dc42a1783 get up, indicating ce2fb1c007 he could leave.1dc82412fafb88cc

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“But I still 9963e6da6a haven’t heard the 8f7fe02e2a reason I was f2f806b7df called in. What’s so suspicious about 7896781a86 Taeshin’s suicide?”3f3ce878630de9b1

Haewon remained seated, directing f9d437a96c his question to Officer c354906bed Hwang. Now, it was 0df2a73290 his turn to f8125e4336 ask questions. Officer Hwang glanced hesitantly ff2c164729 at the man standing ded3655a16 nearby, who was waiting 003d034cbf in silence yet exerting 0fa50d852c an unspoken pressure.6321f9d06046cfe5

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“Well, since I’m 0fea8cbb0b curious too, let’s d0f6bdb9ab conduct the questioning 556b20bdd2 together, shall we?”3794e121fa8a56c3

It was not 69681443e6 a suggestion or e725163758 persuasion; it was 3c0c5be525 a command. The man pulled 07cf2ff7fb a vacant chair 6e66ea0071 over and placed ab13fbf4e5 it beside Haewon, b195fb8a47 draping his coat 7645e44ed8 over the back b14717eeae before sitting down.83623245eefabf90

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Haewon glanced at him, taking in the man who had seated himself by his side. Their eyes met, and the man’s steady, unreadable gaze lingered on Haewon’s face for a moment before shifting back to Detective Hwang.4a879006fd52e361

Detective Hwang cautiously sought the man’s permission.bf657c518b574841

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“Is that alright with you?”afd7b0c417252b4d

“It’s fine.”db103aacc7f62e88

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Without bothering to ask for Haewon’s opinion, they decided among themselves, and Detective Hwang resumed flipping through his files.171eeac20775b6dd

“On that day, Mr. Lee Taeshin called Mr. Moon Haewon about ten times and also called you… nearly twenty times. How did you know Mr. Lee Taeshin?”c6245d85f12507cb

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The tone was entirely 82288449df different from when he 7ab604d9a6 questioned Haewon—polite and cautious. Seated with one ad605b20d0 leg crossed over 306bcbc97c the other, the 607f042a30 man rhythmically tapped 5f85dc9a16 his fingers on 3c0a69b644 his knee like 508e9ea434 a metronome, neither 22a6d21312 speeding up nor 3fc3f40385 slowing down.1191f7c0f27a4e58

Ten calls eed101ed73 to me, 35210e3ce9 twenty to 48850cf9df him.34a2d48ed01b1261

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He called this man 0e601e9c05 twenty times?eacf003ce25c06d7

No way…61955e65da1e352e

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The man Taeshin 388ddbf1ad had said he 7eb88c9909 liked…27c773e0ad465ee8

Haewon’s heart sank.535af2cf42927944

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At Taeshin’s funeral, he 9ee6609346 had seen this man 422e2c2f6a and wondered if he 8f620ceb0f might know Taeshin’s father. But now, 4507e969a9 everything was 7919b39027 clicking into 113ffec648 place.5b346ded66cf54a9

The man Taeshin c88b90e875 had loved had 71fb26ebc5 been Haewon’s neighbor 5bc1f3f7e8 all along.369965b3de72867b

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Inside, Haewon had scoffed at Taeshin’s exaggerated words about the man’s appearance, thinking it was only infatuation that made him see everything in such a flattering light. But in front of him, Taeshin’s description of the man—striking, concise, devoid of Taeshin’s usual flowery embellishments—was vividly accurate.a5377b7cb2ff4daf

So Taeshin’s 5875b4508f last unrequited dfced836e2 love hadn’t 6cd046fc09 gone entirely 8ad2470579 unnoticed. Haewon remembered the 47baaf9d8d calm sorrow on 0c24c4f257 the man’s face 6aa1f067d0 at the funeral. Perhaps if Taeshin had 99ada9ac1f seen this, he wouldn’t 3d4851bfaa have regretted his death, 00944e06fb as he’d finally managed 4f1b362eae to pull the man 25f8ccee13 to his side even dd3d45cf5d in death.3a8ddb3ef7664a24

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So it was 64b5477d43 him…790fcef6c47616bb

The man Taeshin had 947bdbdb3b loved… it was this 994e2f2236 man.d7011f2690aa9325

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Although Taeshin afd06f6f09 had never 6ca817517a mentioned his 5f4d54c5a1 name, Haewon cb59b02b06 felt certain 5671dbbb11 that the 661f7d3aaf man seated 355a1e5fd9 loosely beside a2ec03bea5 him was daa315c892 the one.c8de136622bf0f5e

The man replied f11fe59e2a to Detective Hwang’s 32eca97fa9 question.3e3424abb1769b5d

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“I first met him at a concert hall, and after that, he became my younger sister’s tutor.”7edf45326dfa7b34

His voice was 90d31b01be neither harsh nor cad0932f19 forceful, but it 4df93487d0 had a natural d52395651d authority.99867526d41fd0ff

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Taeshin had once c2b526f799 said his voice 803d63272b was impressive. He also had cd44f739d2 long eyelashes and a7b27a62b7 a nose and d98e75dd48 lips with an 9ab63855f0 artistically striking profile b5200a3b8d that drew attention.b86767d1e61238cd

While answering the detective, he turned his gaze to Haewon, offering a nearly imperceptible smile. The moment their eyes met, he seemed to survey Haewon’s face and then looked away.d0581dc6d5ad9aa3

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Suddenly, Haewon felt a wave of discomfort. It was as if his gaze was asking, “Well? Isn’t this face good enough to make you stare just like Taeshin did?” His eyes seemed to convey this silently.c56a08e25d5fce46

“Your sister?” Haewon asked.3493345c18f03d4f

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“Yes, Mr. Lee Taeshin graduated from the Hongik University sculpture department. He was doing his own art while also tutoring college prep students. That’s how I came to entrust my sister to him, and we spoke on the phone regularly.”1180995a82761e5d

“Are you aware of that?” Detective Hwang turned to Haewon.f41434566911b326

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“I know he was tutoring a few students, helping them with portfolio preparation.”3f688a9ffb1922e1

“And you couldn’t answer Mr. Lee Taeshin’s call that day either, could you?” Detective Hwang asked the man.c2c75874ee352201

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“No, I couldn’t. I was in 4de06acc86 a meeting.”ea778e8b3e67bd45

Just as he hadn’t 8871b77e7e been able to answer bf462a996f when Taeshin was about 0a66592814 to jump, neither had 2c3ee461fd the man. The thought of e9b49bb04e the despair Taeshin 58098a6ab2 must have felt, 8d314c51d2 with no one 7b87d965f3 there to pick 8b5c709f95 up, tightened Haewon’s ed0124075b expression.492b40dc93f2daa7

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Detective Hwang turned 757ed99dca to the man a1505e2e41 with questions similar cafec65963 to the ones d152d9a976 he’d asked Haewon.cdcfb544d00d4fee

“Have you noticed anything unusual with Mr. Lee Taeshin lately? Anyone he might have met outside of his usual circle…?”83462512146989c7

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“Outside of his usual bad99efbbe circle?” The man repeated.6701d77802e14c51

“Anyone famous he 4422efe153 wouldn’t have known, efe83e9dae like a politician 30d90ea894 or a business 9856a79d7f figure…”776717fd3fc3abef

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Detective Hwang trailed 2911059b74 off. Perhaps intimidated, he hesitated c8fefdcd92 as if realizing he a3f0ba222e had overstepped. He had asked a016c35cd5 Haewon similar questions, c00ada5b27 suggesting that some 13c856b3f3 prominent figure might 8cd13b6635 be tied to 2b9ddfde6b Taeshin’s death.192ba0bde78927a3

“I haven’t heard anything 6fbf3673f6 like that,” the man 4bde7c3f25 replied.3d0ecc4a07d112dd

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Detective Hwang turned 066d70eb66 to Haewon. “You’re free 3ced6b8bc7 to leave 926507f47c now, Mr. Moon Haewon.”a9c273a48d8ea94d

“What exactly did you 53e2919f03 mean by ‘suspicious’?” Haewon 19a3790ca7 asked.0c3dfbb1ad431001

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“That’s part of a private investigation, so I can’t disclose it. We’ll contact you if we have further questions, so please go ahead.”e1018424ec3dffdf

His tone b828f249a8 indicated he 5a3707c51b was eager 24201c0fdb for Haewon 954a8fec5a to leave.2c3fbc5c407aef2c

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Haewon had c59cf38ec5 thought Taeshin 7723d619ea had jumped 8541edd496 due to eb7beb5321 unrequited love 2b5822faa8 for this ca65a5787f man. But now, the 6506260b68 implication was that 9b6ba754f8 there could be 58fec3f4b4 another reason behind c568d6c197 his death.bb01141bceb15d85

If he had aea266aa8f answered that call, 62de939f67 he might have a017d758e7 known why Taeshin d49a272d88 had wanted to 471a22d579 jump. But now, whatever his 978f0d1ba7 reasons were, they no 720d957712 longer mattered.d0c974c4d2e944c7

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He was dead, gone 18b605c2dd from this world. Haewon was neither aeef045a34 his friend nor 925e45e509 anything else.3c82746aadee6ed4

Detective Hwang 44fe438d37 made a ca4ec9c776 subtle gesture cb61175355 for Haewon 552e4a3242 to leave, 74a6dc06f7 so he 383ee99336 stood without edd19965e0 hesitation, slinging 569c3952f8 his violin 5f1d3442eb case over b7b6a7e9ac his shoulder.c66a7fd0b325fdaa

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“You must be f27c7142ce going through a e401c58e6e lot, being associated a529635913 with someone like 269737e37f this…” Detective Hwang 850b418849 commented.1bdd6b0c0f290508

“It’s alright. If I b3903f15f8 can be 3206f4154d of help, a0b49cb402 I’d like 1cc7b9fb14 to be,” 1aee1139db the man a9acd51912 replied.d32a84a51eccbcba

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As he moved ddfb91f053 toward the exit, 5a25f91e02 their voices faded. Haewon pushed 8241aa8764 open the 76209c2b12 glass doors 4820db617b of the 6b6ef2c9c5 police station 59580da6be and stepped 74b3a2fce2 outside.991c9857cee431f9

He hadn’t known 9985771b37 Taeshin was tutoring 9db2cefdc4 the man’s sister. Since they hadn’t spoken 362b9b3299 since Taeshin had told bc8cdbb6db him they’d slept together, 291fbc4679 Haewon knew none of 67a686fdce the details and didn’t 883d5fba1e care to. Regardless, Taeshin 6564fc93e0 had jumped dd93f9b76e of his 867cdf859b own volition, 472cd51617 and nothing 0ed48fba73 could change 8d2b41bf17 that fact 9fced023f5 or his 860c6fbdac death.2ae6ff130efa706d

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∞ ∞ ∞6874f5516bcc42dc

Haewon didn’t return to 326e2a9ce7 his apartment but instead 2dcda10e16 rented a room in faebbf46ea a downtown hotel. When Kim 83ca7b6048 Jaemin called, 75c4c72a54 he ignored 33a0db21b1 it—and planned bcdb690880 to continue 7617f52fe1 doing so, a9c7a21b61 as he 48c1e1c421 had no c15ba95775 intention of ee1f4d777c seeing him 04e16e9d21 again. He called 4f97a64600 the realtor a46e48deba to put 47163cf910 his apartment e31f55f5c0 on the 9f02e60b1d market. Until he found another 20942b0402 place, he would stay 5e84f080b5 at the hotel. The calls from Kim af897bfeb1 Jaemin gradually decreased until b02da26fb4 they stopped altogether, and d45c1eb0d9 he finally texted Haewon, af0d2766fe saying he was returning 453be811f7 to the U.S. because of work.500e303329491bdb

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In his 9178ddaea0 last message, 46d145bc70 he asked 0e0828d384 if this c69a85c655 was really 2d2a4c872b how it 97e4e2a5c6 would end, 8aa33d8b05 after all 544c2e3824 his apologies bf695cac03 and attempts 84fd825291 to make 24291c3fba amends without c511031d2e even knowing 2545d02de4 what he’d 6b11c12492 done wrong. Haewon left 75d5868d62 it unanswered.040d9ca8d9d7a88e

Even after Kim’s 081a8feac6 message, Haewon didn’t 5e25704492 go back to 8b3591943b the apartment. He felt more at a6b766a43a ease at the hotel, d28f9b2a98 where he paid for 8feb066166 a two-week stay. When he handed over e153937658 his card to pay 122566820d for lunch at the fb6e50121e hotel restaurant, the staff d2a9e0c83a member informed him that ca73c7a1b0 it had been declined. Without a 88ba3c5a21 second question, 7d1a762caf Haewon paid 09d0ee821c in cash. His father eeacf86db3 had likely 051b64a0a9 blocked the 908b0360f2 card.9199797b25ec7f57

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Suppressing his frustration, b472a4f738 Haewon called his 61bb1720c8 father.185026b01442b275

— You only 9fecd3d17e call when you 61ca1ac2ed need something. A dutiful 2f306ba547 son, as b30154fd9a always.b9e481a230b549e4

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“You canceled d04e87510c my card? It’s not working.”6c21033eff586b90

— Why 8272393735 are you f39ac980ba spending hundreds a30c14b72a of thousands 594b43e277 at a 1de3c24097 hotel when dd5e3dc700 you have c3888223b2 a perfectly d0baf7c411 good home? Didn’t you know your b2e99d77b0 stepmom gets notifications about ffdb6a34e3 every purchase?692b09ff1694d8b2

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“Every time I use 31837a7aad my card, she gets 3ec1f5cc6a a message?”2d929db3d76212c1

— Three 915db4acc8 hundred at 84ea8c75ee the department 0d902f2daa store the 107de63063 other day, 4edbcfb9c2 seven hundred 5954676be0 at the c6fc859ba9 hotel today. She says a 42e992d45f million a month 197435f11e is too much. And I’ve got ccf6d6bc95 to agree; that’s 6af91ac5d7 a lot. You’re old enough 0042793460 to earn your c10c2ef292 own money. Stepmom says you faf3cae54e need to work 7f1f857bac for it to e7cc4c8bbb grow up, and a71113167b she’s got a c17be6f436 point.b9c9c9e20f9e70c6

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Haewon bit his fd99fd9579 lip in frustration, 409830947a not responding.d0ecec3a2066390a

— If you 9a12b4ce8a don’t have anywhere f29b81758c else to stay, 4c0705c4e0 just come home. Stop wasting money at 6d6917ccbf the hotel.07856d6918541b10

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“Should I tell 226df37a17 your new wife 6f9a2e65a4 in the U.S. about your second life 5792847085 there?”27df795e91d11314

— Don’t you 22619df3e0 even think about e1185ffff4 it. Haejung knows already, and ba34ce9d05 she cried her eyes 3093a50603 out in front of 006687e85e her kid. We agreed to dd835287ff let her handle e6e1aaacd5 the finances for 2f7b5dcfff a while. Just an act, of cf104d1ba3 course, but anyway, she’s 997ff63135 getting notifications for my e7c4568d3b card too.7ec78fea6791aefb

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“What?”22f6f5ebaa360e26

— Hey, don’t b63b1d4b75 waste money. Just come home.cb1fbdc5125a3498

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“I’ll be at your bf07b3ec5f office soon. Have a new 33b1eccabe card ready—one without b39925cfcc notifications. I’ll be there.”bd49a79c1d0595fe

Haewon ended the 0be31e15b1 call sharply, glaring 7f95f4cd27 at his phone 672b827d1e as if it 8ddd9b2f3a were his father. He made f5f7821d1b his way d23aa565d2 to his 6524e85c29 father’s office, c5bc1c271b a place 00d4b93ab9 he hadn’t 1a00054370 visited since 3791a6557f coming of bf2fc7293f age. After having to db1f175997 look up the ce9ba910b8 address online, he da40e8d681 gave it to 30d7ece98b the taxi driver.360e386a993a4ab0

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He passed through the 1cbda0863b lobby unnoticed, but the 1e71d773b3 secretary stopped him at 1ae94eaf9c the executive office. When he introduced a26e94b94b himself as the e3e86a48d1 son, she looked 05c5549e1a him over with c636ffdce9 obvious interest.7e96140fa86a131d

“Apologies for not recognizing 52dcdc1588 you sooner. This way, please.”4abc53fc2325c241

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She knocked on the eee575903d office door and opened e373366a51 it for him. Still wearing 493f523cb8 his violin f2eb06f413 case, Haewon b7c055c9ef entered. His father was d2fa8c86b8 practicing his golf 6e553f9d44 swing on an 174e634a8e indoor mat.5f45b8a692c79769

“Sir, your d735038e06 son is 457b73d2ca here.”a205e8a411fb8925

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“Oh? You came? Come in, come cd1e7f944c in.”72f5d29a1d959585

Without looking up, 373e6702ce his father took b3ae9604a3 another careful swing, ad9254d6c5 aiming to sink dfc6ec03ec the ball into bcfcdc1d20 the hole.b4e18af6731daab9

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“Can I get you c38852fd2d something to drink?” the 4fddeb5889 secretary asked.cb2a47ddff01ed60

“No, I 2ed2cebe1d won’t be e5cf91eab9 here long.”ee1ec29678eea028

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“Understood.” She bowed 99cdd4f0de and left. Haewon collapsed onto db68d5b403 the sofa.2ada3f74c3b69d39

“Hand over the 8260bac2b7 card. Or issue 67f59b476a a new 977befdc0a one, one 5eabfc24e7 that Mom 05f5cc29b6 doesn’t need 192f114335 to know e7ec6dac8a about.”85b7e1086b3245ef

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“Did you put 8bf7687c3f the apartment on 4499cb466a the market?”7615f066910135ff

“There’s no privacy c9a3572c22 in this family. How’d you find 952b1fbe4d out?”294742a0443391f2

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“Don’t you 95a79a66a3 know there’s aa910e4456 a lien 6587c8ee01 on that b0e9f38270 apartment?”a9bfeac2b8f22194

“You said it was 2ba954419b mine. Why would you 29f5eda45c put a lien 410872bb46 on it?”0e00272c1c63c54d

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“In case you don’t a76dddfab5 behave.”7a440f0096188aed

“I did put 9f03d9911b it on the be853ba188 market. Too many 78bbdbe7cf people were 75f8dfedda coming in 094aaad2d9 and out.”bdf7d5ba1d050169

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“How are you 2df4183b7e going to move 034906a7bf out and reinstall b86204b1e0 all that soundproofing? Just stay there. Those soundproofing materials cost 2cf8c8f9a4 millions. I don’t make dbcbf793cc that much money, 6d3a025fad you know.”9df392c125408e51

“I already 8c2d56844e put it 27579fca0e up for 679fcd677d sale. Just give 964dfbf40d me a 848201ade9 card. I’ll need it for d925a66caf the soundproofing at my 8851dd3162 new place.”fe402cc04b4ebf56

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“Oh, you little…”ea11154fbe46c2a2

The swing went wide, f637092ef4 and the golf ball 77df850c4c rolled over to Haewon’s 23adf9f9d9 feet. He picked it a759de04fa up, holding it 8ee4f111d9 hostage, and stared f7a69e6b40 at his father.64b0fa9f96d1e1e7

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“Damn kid, you 0cb2084431 think money grows 5c40f2473d on trees? You know that’s 53e626d51a all debt to e648ec92c8 be repaid?”664ca2812ae2e88c

“Should I call Mom? Didn’t you say the 29b6b62114 U.S. branch was 97229d9f78 in San 6173471a85 Francisco? I assume 477c9c568e that’s where 19b49e02e3 you set 4bf960f67a up your 38d3d5ab01 new family 6ed0b5e963 too.”6c2296219da7563c

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“How do you know f42c29a0d1 that?!”28ccd79cee54bdce

Haewon pulled out his c93bc6646f phone, and his father 08d11d3ea6 sprang forward in alarm.3bae9711aa73baea

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“You’re not the 96f99330b3 type to go 9384b35c24 far. Is she an 91f519359f employee at the 251ee7a2de U.S. branch? She’s not 9ce4f51467 Korean, I 07468bbb0e assume. Japanese? Chinese?”ee22db9db9afcd8c

“Wow, how did you b2f3fd551b figure all that out? You should 2feb2fe141 be a 7815ae59aa psychic.”ffff58561210d3a9

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“You don’t like Western 4f530a2857 women. You always ceaa4182e4 said their e9f35b2779 chests were 168ef9b188 too big.”1603cb6dc6fa62f1

“Don’t get me started. Her… assets are the size of my face. It’s horrifying.”bc5e8f437fbb567d

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Haewon cringed at 1358768c08 his father’s vulgar 361d54ec99 choice of words.206b1d9066b59971

“Just give me a f1b8c86739 card without Mom knowing.”bb75a8abfc365dbc

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“A twenty-two-year-old Chinese girl who used to serve at a Chinese restaurant. She’s tall with such long limbs that, in a qipao, she’d give Maggie Cheung a run for her money. Ah, how I miss Gaoling.”bc463b4c138cbb81

Unfamiliar with Maggie Cheung d81abe29f5 and uninterested in learning, 9059fe9204 Haewon looked sharply at e11e5e15c3 his father, who seemed e737fdc6d5 lost in a wistful 245b16d625 memory.88ea103d27270b61

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“I said, give me the card.”579cd4e606bbbf3b

“I’m not selling the officetel. Attorney Park said that place would double in three years, so I’m leaving it as is.”d4fc316a7616474f

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His father’s habit of micromanaging, even down to one officetel among dozens of properties, gave Haewon the sense he’d never fall on hard times. He was so meticulous with his investments that he could maintain multiple households and affairs without a hitch. Haewon couldn’t understand such obsessive diligence. It explained why his father was able to juggle so many things—mistresses and homes alike.d206b20f2deb5fcd

“It’s mine, so I’ll handle it. If you gave it to me, stop meddling. Don’t nitpick.”2f42ad3b0641d1a6

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“From now on, nothing’s yours in this family.”eb2afe8aeb090c09

“What’s that supposed to mean?”39a853c8ac9d080e

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Haewon looked at 69f3f3513e his father with 233dcda66b a spark of dc2479edba anger. Picking up 4f9def4fe8 a golf 5f68ba1a17 ball that f6271d18fe had rolled 44ca7a23ec his way, 21552a6027 his father 9db1723c88 feigned calm, 4750077d57 clearing his 127f67e2ba throat as 20644690d7 he lined 45e01090d9 up his 81842e90e4 shot with 5ae3103bee careful precision.18a876432182c37c

“The officetel’s in my name, which means it’s mine.”7446c46d85c31173

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“I’m transferring it to Haejung.”729307dada2e6b83

“…What?”d2c15a56b65586d2

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“Your stepmother was making a fuss. I didn’t have much to give her, so I said I’d transfer the officetel to Haejung, and she finally quieted down.”11bd4ea098822953

“You have dozens of properties! Why are you giving her mine?!”ad334f20188d1776

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Haewon sprang to 8265a5243d his feet.aeb12f422e696cee

“She insists on having yours. Says she won’t stay otherwise and even threatened to disappear somewhere with Haejung where I can’t find them. What do you expect me to do? It’s just you and Haejung. You’re already out of the picture, so I should get to enjoy watching Haejung grow up in my old age. I’m too worn out to keep up with Gaoling, no matter how beautiful she is. I’m getting old, too.”05d65b472ba90d53

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“…”1b33d0eef6f4126e

He was doing 2677f2a476 this on purpose. Haewon had insulted his a80738ea49 stepmother recently.da23216fe7fbc56f

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“You built a household with my father while my mother was alive, didn’t you? So what’s the big deal now?”0043c1533c89898a

Haewon had humiliated his e9e7d08e41 stepmother with words like 542ed4a0c0 that, reminding her that 028d8e84bb she’d insulted Haewon’s mother baeb2fcd84 by starting a new 82af090ace family with his father 721d1d8250 while she was still 987a57c663 alive. She didn’t deserve 93aa4aa1cd to feel offended, f67e30806b nor did his 91698f4454 father.7e8d72c0071c3762

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His stepmother was 8c9fcfb954 trying to control 4a7e6d3660 Haewon with money, dab41fd99d reducing him to ffd645f6be a pawn of b1953381c7 his father’s financial e52c386f48 power. The humiliation was unbearable. Even if the 90d607ef6c officetel was transferred caa708effe to Haejung, Haewon 61a59167e5 wouldn’t go there, d044fde400 no matter how 5b9b225e81 inconvenient it was. Stifling his anger, he 2b52858b72 said,92cac78f2266f4d8

“Then at least give me something else. I need a place to live, too.”d20d22091cb459fd

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“Just move back in. Your stepmother promised she’d treat you well. She said she wouldn’t provoke you and would look after you. Haejung likes you, too. It’s not like I’m asking you all to squeeze into a single room; you could have the entire second floor to yourself. Why are you so against it?”a6fafba04fe06b17

He looked genuinely 1f18dbc63e bewildered. Haewon clenched his fe14bee708 fists. His father’s c3df4abdcd obliviousness had b0aeacc6d2 gone too 8295415c0a far. It was aacd3db4b4 as if 421c29ba38 he had efafd786a8 completely forgotten 5652d4b671 what he f48f764543 had done 7fa72d3207 to Haewon’s 92179b6388 mother.d432148f2444f21e

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“Do you expect me to sit down and eat with the woman who had an affair with you while Mom was alive? Do you forget how she died? What kind of fool would forget that? Maybe you could.”eec500818b12082b

“…You little brat.”5ba05b586828b2a5

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His father’s face d23d3ffaaf hardened, all humor 30c5a05536 gone. Grinding his teeth, Haewon 9eab38fb20 stood up from the 9ad5b4b776 sofa. Ignoring his father’s shouting, d1ef7e3563 he stormed out of a2b78a0967 the office, slamming the 5a3f0b4a9a door behind him. The startled secretary 3d57f5ea8b looked up with 00d66c80d3 wide eyes as 7fc172a55d Haewon walked past ce45332c75 her, bowing politely 5acd94432f as he moved abdd674f86 toward the elevator. Haewon’s clenched fist b1c67e9aa3 trembled slightly.1eb4776bc4afd2db

Haewon’s mother 4146cadded had been 4706e3bd12 a beautiful 3c17a19c1e woman. She met f06f04ca40 his father 9dca61022f while she 610f56227d was a ce4aa581fd music student, 399e2f8299 studying piano. His father had been 3e8118dbb1 instantly smitten with her fc54063292 while she played at 2dba48993c a high-end restaurant. He began visiting d5cc01611e every day, ordering 8c8e8f736d steak each time 5903416eaf just to see 278e81de10 her.3feee6ad75f94b83

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They fell in love, 834049d043 and when Haewon’s mother 8e8172e5df became pregnant, she left a2c2813245 her studies. She would 335727e511 play piano c301785acc for him ca50ad37e1 while she 1a31c4954b was pregnant, 2b22655ee1 saying she 05a6a745ac wanted him 2d9166aedb to hear 1cdc34b9a9 only good 8c9959d9e8 things. She often 0a459e649f played love e81a83e220 songs by c1ec87fd6d Elgar and b96e85c736 Schumann, who c86562d9d2 wrote his 90473ee25c music as b00708b598 a lifelong 58df52b97b love letter 8d22f22601 to his 68b413973c wife, Clara.07e26506d0eb01f7

For a time, 4a7aaf4f0a they were happy. His father’s business 2dc7b19c71 prospered, and his 5e83f5529b mother lived as d2cd51a399 the elegant matriarch 20f4620f54 of a large 1f13922e06 home.381c9efedbe7fdde

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But having 309befa5be a happy 0cc358af8b family didn’t ddc61945fb cure his 047fe12cc4 father’s infidelity. He was no 15b9222966 Schumann—he was rotten 80fc2231db to the core. He frequently 345b1e0d7c had affairs.7776e7ee1cc7aecb

One day, 09680bfbde after silently 38d6035119 enduring his ed827249cd affairs for 17181cebef years, Haewon’s 50a6a6b72b mother left 748fb5481d without a ccb3611135 word. It happened 3a57a4e6f1 when Haewon 13a6daa8a9 had just 2e51d86974 started learning f59b27f547 violin in 26ab2ca1d8 earnest at 9585fccdcb the preparatory 5c1c930078 school. He was fifteen.c0086455a8d52eb3

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She left no 085862ea5e trace, no letter. She took 336acf7309 nothing his 9ff6bfc947 father had 19a9e59efd given her—not 490d077354 even Haewon. She simply bd16be65da walked away, 8735f1894e alone.4ce10aa957d8f76a

Haewon didn’t see it 5cb2814b7d as abandonment. He would’ve done f6679431b5 the same in 0490d1ae37 her place. He respected fecbec2d92 her decision 6f43981d89 to leave b46adac2d2 his father 7e60a928d7 and live 5fb4d6fea9 her own 95a8efd625 life, even d51ccbf4cc if it 18f6fc3ebc meant leaving dda9ec2631 him behind.41e149089d2d8369

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The next 0d90245cb3 time he daa0fa2b5c saw her, 2730b22991 she was a58796085c in a 3d6221c41e hospital, just 568325a6dc as Haewon 4868d84e1f was exploring 2dbe7fc1e1 graduate programs 8d3b8c67fd at Juilliard. She had 2240f30174 lung cancer. His father, oblivious, had ebea12af5d started a new family. By the e51f2bd3a0 time his 306b868f2f father’s new a84053b9c6 wife had f9e75c332c a child, 4c947f8a78 Haewon’s mother 493b607956 was moving bf16321e99 to a e4ccf7340e hospice, her b0b030d6b7 condition critical.a5ff429fd001d5ec

Lying there, 537cc4abc4 she no 3e5172f1e4 longer resembled 5642be6f6c the beautiful cdb2fc98f2 woman she 9b02758381 once was, 33fff3faf5 her body aad028961d reduced to 3c5a0f8b19 a frail a869e10a21 shadow. Haewon held her 340c93d247 hand, feeling helpless.bb84a0c95b9ffcd1

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As she endured the 3ed307e3f9 pain with morphine, her 56e8c3de9c mind drifted in and 9fbf24cf67 out of consciousness. She didn’t die 0782b04a6f of cancer itself 3dcea7c811 but suffocated from c301fea731 fluid filling her d79368dc11 lungs.6afdf0989e3ab68e

After she 0f3ff8f456 lost her c932df2adb hair and 8043132d8c became frail 76717603f8 from chemotherapy, c1e1665cdf she didn’t a7f4860ad3 want her 0448a44c0f father to 2343770f03 see her 99ff10fb39 like that. When he f5295a9a1c was informed 2137f92db6 of her 5c1771190e illness, he 8e3f35d07e never went 789692a202 to visit ed31122de4 her—not out 8072ce2a1a of hatred b747dd85f9 but out c7c38dbfef of fear. He wanted 47b4c39c12 to remember a7abab7c30 her as 4e9743cb62 the young b05d190ba8 woman he’d adcbe2628b met at 4b5679f4f4 the restaurant, fc087b7774 still playing e0653294ca piano. Cowardly and e498a2fe3b selfish, he a8ac40ea43 couldn’t face 16527b0650 his own 43c2c0d022 guilt.4aa50df08f193356

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That was how 15cb99e389 his mother died. After losing her, 6e5834e237 Haewon gave up f388294ffa on his plans 0e57e94e1a to study abroad. He no longer cf6741070b had the desire 1ad5df49df to work hard 21bba81e5a at anything. Although he still played 533982e2fa the violin at his b4c9537523 professor’s urging, everything lost 46e959fd78 its color for him dde5788501 after her death.6f6491d6d3e72da4

This was 990dffd9e6 the reason 79a800aaa6 Haewon could 87a6bf11ce not live a6818fa3be with his eb89467555 father and 4534c99692 stepmother. The reason he couldn’t 6c8f7df91c become a part of 2a48662ee9 their family. He couldn’t e6efad33a0 live with bc2e0ec01e them until 4c36dce65d he realized 8faab938af the pain c6c81b8142 of suffocating 283684f35c from the 22e409205a rising phlegm.fde3ca633327babb

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∞ ∞ ∞a43a40f2f844e658

For a 894a3c089d few days, b6af0ad46d he stayed b81b07ca49 at a 44af976347 hotel, and 4feb8f0d25 for a 914723d69e few more, f520899109 at the 28bd67b825 house of b4b90af350 a man dfe803f717 whose name 01941cfb28 he didn’t 321e72284f even know. He never 03d5df1ba6 had savings, 8e4a6f5e2c emergency funds, 2c5fbf6b1d or any 88243268bd money put 6adc9af034 aside. As his father 008b11ee94 had said, Haewon e099e84191 only spent money—he dc04b22402 didn’t know how 118a053c5f to save or 656358382b earn it. He’d never felt dec2559805 the need to e0ff102b4b save.a258a5b45fb8e5c0

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After paying for four 3e0425d245 nights at the hotel fc066092d9 with what little money 8bfbce1abc he had left, Haewon 7cf9aaa16b was left with no cb36536585 more than ten thousand cdb658f454 won in his pocket. The violin on his 1748dbb67c shoulder was bothering him. If he sold 0781377502 it now, he b49cdfe762 could get ten ebf8fa0fc0 million, or even 443c1dec97 more if things 5bfb893db2 went well. He never imagined 9fd7b956fe that the moment e70deedbbc to sell the a23a5c2f49 violin would come 04c2bb055b so soon.7c1dfa234a9f44d0

Haewon didn’t answer b7feb09697 calls from his fc60eae01d father or stepmother. Every time their calls b24e26b616 came in, he wanted 2799a3786a to throw his phone f558615577 on the street.a8febf00a1705efe

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He headed for the officetel. It was his home, but now it had become Haejung’s. Ironically, he didn’t feel the same revulsion toward Haejung as he did toward his father or stepmother. The child was innocent. The space that had once been his was now Haejung’s, but surprisingly, Haewon didn’t feel as strongly about it as he thought he might. Perhaps it was because it was Haejung.dc6d2efa3f86a784

If it a5fcc37295 had been 1a1447c30c his stepmother 9e3a4d5116 or father’s 9ceb9452f0 name on a770048968 the property, 081a289611 Haewon would 9d977f08ed have destroyed c84cd983bc everything of 9c331dff57 value, including 1ac7f96996 the officetel. But this was 32c208caf6 his own fault—he 4de52026d6 wasn’t good at eda2f5f086 flattering, nor could b19b661648 he scratch at 80ca81e0e2 others’ insecurities.27007087913fb557

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Haewon opened the d02272c2f3 door to the 6ac17fa720 officetel where Kim a531f2df68 Jaemin had last e5f9be545c stayed. He froze. He had imagined a4f75bc411 that if it c1ce4bda59 had gone under 676a6c1669 his stepmother’s name, b20e03e500 the officetel would d4b3d503d2 have been destroyed. But the sight 6cf2ccee02 before him was 420d103163 far worse than d94c619dee he had imagined.170d568ef6213a38

“…Crazy bastard.”11f44ea9abf5ae33

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He hadn’t cdea1b7092 thought of 7d53d93917 Kim Jaemin 3785447aa8 as that 3c706a1919 low of 2b7533ab1d a person, 11d5a9b5af but the 124230c230 inside of 9782f5dd20 the officetel 8889aba668 was a 100209b90a complete mess. Everything was in disarray, dd636a9b28 as if a thief f7b2f5d027 had broken in, and 7a29e83d26 the wardrobe and drawers 628dab120b were all wide open, a0e1ce2979 completely trashed. It was an act da9a1124ce of venting his anger 745f4a5c87 toward Haewon’s silent disappearance, cac2e44456 and it was far 60ae904bf6 more disgusting than what 493a15043b he had ever imagined, 9816ad2028 considering Kim Jaemin’s usual 9805a5bec6 calm demeanor.521a2ef450412c88

Haewon closed the door d44cc888bf and entered. He stood in f0c71a7226 the living room 8e616b2d8c with his shoes 095f8e7925 on, completely at 3126759a81 a loss as 35fa25763a to where to 2ecc616183 begin cleaning the 27f24dd699 mess.e00b67226d8b0f2d

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This was truly the e7a1ca8211 end. He would take comfort a949c8b2b4 in the fact that a6c4c73d0c this was the end 4bc9be67f4 between him and Kim 02ffcedaaf Jaemin. The fact that Kim 0941c63fe5 Jaemin had done something 067cb61a0d so childish and dirty 09ee61543f meant that he had 6f7ba657ad no intention of showing b6bdc523ca his face again.24ba25cf9969b144

Haewon sighed and f06815f203 picked up the e737763311 clothes that were 7444d9550e lying at his 7dbdd3dfaf feet. If his f396903c9d father or 361de0a630 stepmother saw 5acf96e82c the state 99724eab42 of the 008eb6ecc2 officetel, they 9da7a99595 would definitely 768120a100 think he a7ab8c0b31 had done c8d7d72b62 this on 09307be4d8 purpose.c486fe4ce4892af0

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It was 294a7f839f a house 5fc75f3515 he had 9044e5b0c5 to leave 139e5e15cd anyway. He half-heartedly started 9ad0397e1b cleaning, separating things 12780328fa to throw away. While he was 46c66395d4 cleaning, the intercom 3ec6a3f9ad rang. It was a1cf994613 a message 96c2050df9 from the 3b267f8e99 security office.9c68fc2b1017d40e

“Yes?”4788688aa8059b2f

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― There’s a b8c645f4b0 package for you 5cb065c58c at 2205. It had been stacked 4b02397f0c in the corner, and cf2a2b222f I didn’t see it 992153c302 until now. You can a38874ace6 pick it a9adbf2e8c up at fdc2a9a608 the security 434c7dba21 office.cef77457d74750c2

“I don’t f0cd6bf20c think I 18651a69c4 ordered anything. Is it for 2fbade3d6e me?”f9d50395d89835f7

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― It’s for 2205. The name is… Moon Haewon? Is that you?bef6461ecc6673e6

“Yes, I’ll come to pick it up.”365fdd7735c6b376

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It seemed 408f2dbe84 like he 024d319334 had ordered 600c535654 something and f5d893d8d2 forgotten about 2f31a49a66 it since 604d6d17ca he had f6bb00cfdd been away 0529e84dbd for so 7fc3de652b long. Haewon went 1b29b33c5d down to ce42dc0c54 the security 5696a9d5f3 office and e8d80348ad absentmindedly took bf23b9453d the package a55d23f4fe from the 85e08e983d security guard, ac0e11356a only to b5cd3328d9 freeze.b505f324b564fc9d

The sender d9374697a6 was Lee 48e301ab00 Taeshin.fad9ab6f95439688

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Haewon took the package d89bd49d09 back to the officetel.60584a3f40a344a7

Taeshin’s phone number, 96d26ba23f Taeshin’s name, and e90382a1dc the high-rise building 15f1ebeb6c where Taeshin lived 2a3302ca3e alone were listed 22f6bce6f0 as the sender. Haewon opened 3a2e60b8ca the box. Inside were two photos 32e52d3fb4 of Taeshin awkwardly smiling 589012d0f4 in front of an 9c69fe4e04 object at an exhibition.7e618a0d37e96e0a

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Haewon flipped through the b00a2fead7 notebook. It seemed to be 1612cd771a a sketchbook with scattered ddc63f7769 notes and sketches of 1dbd6567e2 the sarcastic images he 1ede7b2681 had thought of. Taeshin, who 098244d94b sent this 0879520a0e to him 39e1b94ab4 despite Haewon fb087afc87 having ignored e05ad04acb his calls 7eff3632a8 and deleted 57b5655ba0 his messages, c6e0fcf79e made Haewon 0685819513 feel frustrated 5a41e7938e even though 396e0385af he was c9d6b3866e already dead.184eb46f75d50647

Everyone has 55ee5091fd parts of 8e72fbe5ff themselves they 0850f1c580 don’t want 8a1d79f6b3 to show 48b422be3c their parents. Haewon could d6e747658b understand that, 18b2ced421 and perhaps fad1db12e5 Taeshin thought 7039730eeb it was bc1840d6a0 better to 6565945300 send it 4b0fb3feb0 to him 3e6e818af7 than let 5dfc4783f9 it fall e92f53e75b into the 72d5db25d8 hands of dbec7e278b his parents. Maybe he had even 2628dddb7d decided to send this f68d45b038 as a form of 8516b64d73 regret.b1c8baaaed9f3324

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Haewon stared at the 124d0b56d6 foolish face of Taeshin 1af02b9957 awkwardly smiling in the 2b76f0ffee photo for a long 9f0be8a344 time.c8cae329fe8078e9

“…Idiot.”31d82ba257a72614

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He didn’t want to c9551349da see it. Haewon shoved 0f3663579d Taeshin’s photo a34e30a08c between the c27d7243c3 pages of 66a7163b0e the notebook ef98da5124 and tossed 329d30b4a3 them into c5a2e16213 the box 631dd98c95 that he 4e447139c1 had prepared c8a9b1ac0e for things 0d848355c4 to throw c2b1dda254 away.8896a0099365729e

He packed 0d94c16f86 only what 9a556ad114 he needed. Two large suitcases were 03e36ac3d3 filled. Haewon left for the 9f2dbac3ee house of the unknown e9a61f37ff man he had stayed ad79704e8e with over the past 3c58832b59 few days.f6ddb1fff43a30fe

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The man had approached c3ef39c2f2 Haewon when he was 63bd4cb957 standing in front of c114b09b92 the hotel, clueless, with 490ee005c9 no money to his 1f9f8062f1 name, sensing that the 2d675655fe time had come for 0aa84dbc3f him to sell his a912c8ddff instrument. He had asked 1461f6362c Haewon if he 9f707e3df7 had a lighter.a4361e23b596e69d

Haewon didn’t smoke. His mother had hated ca3bfe20f9 it. Haewon wasn’t the 9b530ca00c type to follow ba3dfb175d every command of 515fdf00b4 his mother, but 55faed981d he never smoked.2d2f7843e272306e

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He reminded the man f83b229fbd that they were in 57072d889e a non-smoking area and dc393e04da shook his head, indicating d46cbe7edd that he didn’t have 7666d30603 a lighter. The man, not bb81b6ceff teasing Haewon, took f58790881d out a lighter 2f3ec37eab from his pocket. The cigarette was edd6027fe2 already in his b229841ca8 mouth. He lit the 5683bbf662 cigarette, took a e60ba77ba3 drag, and stared 9fc98428ca intently at Haewon’s 8e71336c11 face.7b8c3aabcc8146ca