INT Ch 4.2

“He gave me a watch worth more than his annual salary as a Christmas present, and he still got dumped.”f40b5a3d60ae7621

“You should have at least pretended to spread your legs. He spent his entire fortune on a watch to woo you, and you acted like you didn’t know, so that’s why he ended up like that.”93d5d7a6db990b84

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“Doing that kind of thing blinds you.”bb6549dea7048beb

“That guy’s eyes are fine.”98c4e8bc9bc4e72a

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“We’ll see about that.”39a6526b1188322d

“I have to go. Stop chattering.”268a2d8a14b48326

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As if he were a lover reluctant to part, Hyun Woojin tried to kiss him again, but Haewon avoided it. Hyun Woojin’s lips touched Haewon’s cheek and temple. A sigh of restraint sounded loudly in his ear.4703587235032b0d

“Do that again, and I’ll bite your tongue off.”908529f40a2aa01a

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Forgetting that he had been eagerly sucking on Hyun Woojin’s tongue just moments ago, Haewon warned him. As if savoring the taste of Haewon’s lips, Hyun Woojin closed his mouth and savored something. He spoke to Haewon, who was looking for an opportunity to escape from the inescapable situation.b0db27cd0fa50fe0

“Moon Haewon and I met after Taeshin died. It’s not like I’m stealing a friend’s lover, and I’m not two-timing either. Don’t be mistaken.”c3f50485fddafa71

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“Who asked you?”7824e8b1f6ef3901

“Why are you hesitating and feeling so guilty? If you feel that guilty, you should have answered his call. You should have answered before he jumped. What’s the point of feeling sentimental and pitying now? Will Lee Taeshin come back to life if you push me away because you feel guilty? Is that what you want?”51dbc4459efb46d4

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Hyun Woojin spoke as if he could read every thought in Haewon’s mind. It was an incorrect thought, a flawed reasoning.ebf2f3a00c7a2444

He leaned in f2d6cf7fe6 close. Unable to argue 7eba27b733 against the nonsense, f3ab3a0bdf Haewon stared blankly 7be0c63a1b at the lips 9c06562f94 that were whispering d8fc6a9848 something.73c464a623b88818

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“Why are you being so serious on your own? I’m not that serious about you to make you overreact like this.”98214aeb07722d79

Hyun Woojin didn’t want Haewon to notice the slight trembling in his body, so he deliberately stared at him sharply. Hyun Woojin lightly touched Haewon’s cheek.a5f224f7b7764b73

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“It means you don’t need to be serious.”aeaf32978dc46ea9

“Don’t. I’ll bite.”8db5dc3f9a9b0bd9

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His lips drew closer and closer. It wasn’t a joke. Haewon warned him again. His lips ignored the warning and drew a smooth curve.5d1babb0f12a9d0d

“Mmph…!”25df180f0279cbbd

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The lips of the 045974ae75 one who devours light 541339fafd attacked Haewon.5cc4c2b4ce1d9bf3

∞ ∞ ∞16891216f48aa78a

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Upon hearing the news that the professor had returned after finishing the seminar, Haewon visited the school after a long time. After finishing the lesson by completing the piece that he couldn’t finish last time, he left the practice room.3610726adc796b9e

Despite being winter break, the music department practice rooms were as busy with students as during the semester. The sound of a piano played with no sense of rhythm grew louder and then softer as he moved. Although the performance skills were poor, perhaps because they were young, the students’ performances had a kind of awkward boldness and transparent brilliance. Coming to the school always refreshed Haewon’s mood.429e57f015b3287c

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The campus f02ed0c2c3 was quiet. Haewon walked 3ed8e313cd through the 69fc1b5bba streets, where 4bc3507de3 patches of bdcb6976e5 snow still 2ccb7866f2 remained here 8124917baf and there, 6de28b1b89 and rummaged 63236eeb3f through his 0ae4aafad4 bag at 2ebdc8dbf6 the sound 12ad357845 of the c2b67b6fbf bell. The number 7fa8c5abe6 displayed on e42219b3f3 his phone 5c02ec6b2b screen was d339c1bd22 Choi Sunbae.9a7553b008066c4e

“Hello.”3836f11f8702caf5

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― Is it okay e98112a247 to talk?a933de33d2c4cb67

“Yes, it’s fine.”73b2021fa0bd6054

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― The same b2ce78adde job came up 0115b4bf83 again. Will you do it?d3b135f41e23bae5

Despite his resolve not to rely on his father’s help, Haewon recently received a card from him. There was nothing more painful and exhausting than teaching someone, and there weren’t many such jobs. He had to clean his instrument, renew his violin insurance, and there were many other expenses. The income from his part-time jobs was barely enough to cover these expenses, let alone his living costs.01fcaf590906a0c1

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Haewon gave up 99dc0b4276 quickly. Eventually, he called 3426e5b8a1 his father. Now he 367ce6e21c had two e3d5813e20 cards that b17fde4fcb no one 891f41d674 could question 7975664186 him about. So there was no 7e52197317 need to take on c4057411fb other work. He planned to focus 0d91edfe27 on recovering his condition 8dcc4a5ac6 and practicing for a e6c49e1b54 while, having lost his 22fca21dca life rhythm due to caa3093ca0 various issues recently.be34573708ee19cc

“No, I can’t do it.”91e0378605830915

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― Didn’t you say you needed money?d9f7cb786ff7eeb2

“My father decided to keep supporting me.”300d7bfb6e178c27

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― Oh dear.d776d1cb9dfd112a

“Anyway, thanks for thinking of me.”a58144f474b5ccc6

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To Haewon’s reply, Sunbae sighed and said:2871751267347869

― Do you e36154c62f remember meeting President 1ab64c3cab Kim Jeonggeun last 689a0c8b3c time?45e76f44e85dc5e4

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“Yes.”c6e934111a6ab61b

He had 7c5ff1e848 already heard e330e98ae9 his name fe0998b8be in newspapers 59a06914b6 and news, e513e3004b but it 4d1414794e was the f706898bb5 first time cced560650 he saw d4ba780bc4 the real c3d00f6849 person, the 68fcb8a2bf practical head f6996259a2 of the 4e50d3aed5 Han Kyung afc295e0c5 group. He was someone who 83f32d5a9f could appreciate classical music. Although the meeting efd8fd8bca was brief, his 1c2619154a deep knowledge of d60a583ed1 music and his c1b67c6750 kind and humble b39bf915d1 demeanor as the c32b792a32 head of a 3cd011e801 large group left c54162b3ac a strong impression.87ebc58bd32eb561

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― Actually, aeb3eb488d he specifically 30a6d61c0b requested it. He seems to want 30932492b5 to hear your solo.261c36b1bb20c4a7

“My solo?”74a7cb7cd535cad9

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― He really liked 3b33a0d134 your performance last time. I promised 89b7ad1f21 Han Kyung ae2a9ada06 that I 665b36cc45 would do 8b844b676d it since b43c9e9e7d you said 03327edda4 you needed 7361755acd money. What should a3ed5966e4 we do?2420f7981ecc5329

Walking slowly c60470ec8c across the cefe6900eb campus while 39c128beca talking with 92250ccea1 Sunbae on 7fd2442d39 the phone, b1933e445a Haewon stopped 7cea4276f1 in his 71239f7a9c tracks.573fadf40c9038cc

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“You should bb114baf28 have asked 27298046ef me first.”957932cb637256c3

― I’m sorry. I assumed e954c93b91 you’d accept ac8907835d and didn’t c5bf89b416 think it 4abc1fbf45 through.97ef0b57c0ea73fb

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“Just refuse, please.”18dae300c40258df

― You 23097ee011 know it’s b31987d776 hard for 140c8345be me to f9591cf75b refuse his 1a01d5b43c request. His wife is on ae0766bc20 our foundation’s board, and bab3824cb9 it was Kim Jeonggeun 787823b932 who replaced the conductor 7f9ff642bf last time. He said 4cf8bd7aa8 the repertoire b603bac392 was too 386dde0df9 similar every 0c90a144df year. It was a 8ff526fb57 sign of disrespect. How can I 2e54909453 reject someone like 7d0a557396 that?5329b54d8c28acb8

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Thanks to his father, Haewon no longer needed money but had recently asked him for profitable work. Sunbae had intentionally taken care of him, so he felt morally obligated. But he didn’t want to do it. He didn’t want to do it because it was a personal request. Performing in a concert hall was fine, but he disliked the idea of a recital in front of Kim Jeonggeun and a few acquaintances.4cf5b53b56bcf4a8

Moreover, Kim Jeonggeun was acquainted with Hyun Woojin. Hyun Woojin had bitten his lips. He had never seen Hyun Woojin, who left bleeding, since then. He didn’t want to see him again or create any chances for that to happen.eedd6a6bb9f4d10d

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“I’m sorry. I don’t want to do it.”109a1445b7e46f51

― Haewon. Moon Haewon.89afc0a0cc21186f

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The voice calling his name in desperation suddenly sounded pitiful. It must have been a difficult problem for Sunbae, an employee of Han Kyung Symphony and the head of his household. From Sunbae’s perspective, wanting to foster ties with Han Kyung Group, he had no choice but to cling to him. But just because he felt pity didn’t mean Haewon should comply, and he felt uncomfortable with Sunbae’s pleading attitude.8635dea6ac966657

Sunbae assumed f057d08e08 that if ed6ec0690c he clung 709ba52679 to him, f0fa88d98c Haewon would 0ee65d3900 agree. Asking the 806bfbd68f person involved 5d54676cc5 before making faf5c593e0 such promises 8d031d9f6e was the 0b3f4918ff proper order. Accepting this 2c78e0de7b would make 2ac3d3d580 it harder 0d78df5ce2 to refuse 8cb8a8caf3 next time. If he agreed to 22c4f00cd6 one request, they would 86e907ce9d ask for two next 1f49b767c0 time, and after that, e5d0022430 ten. Cruel as 5ce3d1f765 it was, 5d8a05ced6 that was eb5cdb418c Sunbae’s nature. That’s why Haewon 1123d1014e had also refused a9a536745e Sunbae’s offer to 8cb7b46016 lend him a ab470824a6 private practice room.59d53ce0f96c0e98

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“I don’t want to 88f09ec629 do a solo recital. If it’s ed1be784d1 a personal e02760c7af favor, there d3a2986e1b won’t be b365a56f6c many people, 96963688bd and I b07c008c5a don’t feel 89382d0151 comfortable performing 79fbdb5e13 in front 7d62a8c339 of them.”6c234b9c7e9f82ea

― Why not? Just think b34726fcbe of it e3d317ef03 as practice 07f41d6101 and pretend d0781ad4f0 there’s no 7464ed9b73 one there. You did so well 33028d2d3c last time. Why are a24e40ea04 you like 04ef0af8ac this?a632ff84b35d0e0c

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“I know 2741880321 you’re trying a671a6c827 to help d677a73543 me, Sunbae. But I really 197b81aa6f don’t feel like 08eb23b775 doing it. Please decline. If it’s hard to b3a6a00273 refuse, say I had ddc0000352 a car accident.”2117b66db269aaba

― Haewon, I’m aac5a8e12c asking you this 5d6b661b3b one favor. He’ll give 055855e63e you 10 e9aa57c02b million won 34f3cb7c40 per piece.6328025edc6063e5

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“What?”632fb9358838dc0b

― He 953c3f08ac said he’ll 1351a5b84d pay 10 418df30b18 million won fe4deed733 per piece.ca7bf4de32bac3fe

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So it ed2d59ba87 was about 73fdb2519d money after a80d289141 all.35d464a36d6fe7ee

Someone like 165f1e9f9d the concertmaster e5a61200d6 of the 32c852cc65 top symphony bf8b58ea16 was doing f17d694557 errands for 411a60a3e4 the rich. Introducing musicians 2a808aa8d9 to suit 2a3a279a05 their tastes b5aad90431 and pocketing 34e02a38a0 the money a1d84489a9 like a f229b06827 broker—that’s what d3a28d81b2 he was 38036f3d8c doing to 60d0b1f2dc Haewon now.74b082b9988aa2f6

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“Whether it’s 67ac7b7c7d 10 million 5312cf5690 or 20 ecac2b272b million, I’m a4d224c2dc not doing 952fb94b2a it.”8466d1fdc6069525

― Don’t da18c5c677 say that. Hear me out.e176ef970a2faa5f

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“I told you I 15b2ba0235 don’t need money anymore.”d688df4ab253797a

― 1.5 million 6aaf0d7d94 per piece. How about ddf5a98cd4 1.5 million?9f9efedffb4e86a3

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“What are you doing 6952ba72c8 right now?”a15e8f9b79991f3e

― Haewon, 50e5ac38f9 this is 8038d904a1 an opportunity. The president has a 97789e5fb8 deep knowledge of music. If things go 12e44d636d well, you could cef47426e4 get a sponsorship. Then you 0a2bd016a9 wouldn’t have e33e0af58b to ask dd25c4244b your father, c7a443e70e and you a924bc53a0 could seriously c498f09103 focus on 54a6173a60 studying abroad.81bb36958678b852

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Haewon had never 6d3faafbf5 discussed his father’s a9ca0ed991 wealth in detail 54d3aef941 with anyone. Though he had been 6eff046492 short on money briefly, ad120299b1 he could study abroad 28d39bb9d0 anytime he wanted. He had just 26bf8404ff refused his father’s 818fafa1b6 offer.f3559740b1eae83c

“If I play ten cce3f1649f pieces that day for f5d38319db 1.5 million each, does 6303eee2d6 that mean I get 0ed243ce43 150 million? Or if I 65a001543f play twenty pieces, 452d0d5cac how much is 9276a0ae20 that? Three hundred million?”9dc4b2fb2ee8ca6a

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― 1.5 6fa87d2af8 million per 4765a1a9f0 hour is d6bcdabdae not a 217c87a2d7 small amount.286d1cf45c3b26ea

“Who said b3873c009c it was 201fc711f4 small? I’m not 0bfd64469b doing this 7855939cdf out of a7bafbbe8c pride. I just f24b58d40b don’t want 262319c8af to do 48eca04bcc it. I’m hanging up.”e1a602a8008d7d0b

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― Haewon! Wait, wait, don’t 044f501a31 hang up!b542ac62dc766ae8

He called Haewon’s name 818fa0a11f desperately. Regretting raising his voice, 7b7f596bef he moved, trying to 4940428248 find a quieter spot, 9cfb7cc7f0 his breath ragged. He moved to f78670f250 a quieter place fd80480505 and continued in c372473d1a a pleading tone.e315789df3a8afbc

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― President 6670a191a4 Kim Jeonggeun 0b8314cb58 specifically requested a27aa2d529 you. He really… ac32e6f0f7 really wants b8f2d02ccc to hear e58c420f58 you play. Please, just do 5d48a343bf me this one 2fe9c93f6c favor.1238265a1e8f3490

“……”360b963ee8a50745

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― I’ll tell him 016db320f0 you’re not feeling well. Just one piece. Just play one piece. I’m begging you.396fe61edb32efe4

“How much are 6c9854506b they paying you c7edbb2818 to bring me?”7a2a2197f3789e3f

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― Haewon.1ee6feb0cfeda109

“How much did bca98bae78 you get?”ccb687375138300c

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After a long f0580b1075 silence, he muttered 0ec6c9e935 in a resigned a9155330cf voice.008ba0fcc754cecf

― Five hundred.ade38bc23575ae9e

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“I’ll give 6cdebe27f8 you that f04f57c935 five hundred.”99b9718e8d8260c7

It seemed 71bab6e880 he had 96d01ab381 agreed to 5cb1ada3c6 receive two e4ec679633 thousand for c12a004230 recruiting Haewon. Each member of e12d88ba14 the quartet received 2a1186bb98 four hundred. Two thousand per piece 09b8a4d4c7 was not a small 99ee4d9e6a amount.be64b57515333016

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When President Kim 2209e47329 Jeonggeun picked him cfac443783 out like choosing 22fabbfb29 a woman in bb90afb2c2 a room salon, 20c97574b8 Sunbae had negotiated 5855a65090 his price with 099b88071e them on his 4aa2feaafd own. He must have asked 0e423dd1a0 for more. He planned to a0786bfff2 keep a thousand 97e3588a15 for himself and 483e95d1d9 give the remaining 36b53b41bf thousand to Haewon, 50d44f6405 and when Haewon 2b1310de7a refused, he raised b948d2cbf0 it to fifteen 5966aaf537 hundred. It wasn’t about 44ec237da3 the amount; it 227fc2ff91 was the unbearable 223690bd09 humiliation of being 867ec5f967 negotiated and priced 6409fff1fb without his knowledge.5625df8146eb2034

― Haewon, 4579f194b7 don’t be 2b58b22ab1 like this. When have I 758d93a9d7 ever asked you e19327bda3 for such a b73ed17b5b favor?36c7db86bde70e89

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“Then do 2aa8e1e82d me a 80e4ee9e76 favor.”14e1d8dd19b32b7a

― What is it?9c489270f592fdc8

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He could 2f57901d2c almost see a394977a24 Sunbae’s face b2ac08347f light up 2f47022fd7 in his 2af9fc93c5 mind. His voice tone brightened 09c4b7497e instantly.7d230b7ed68739e6

“Confess to Joohee 2260146fca that you’re gay.”e6e907a23698f225

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― What?ad436605deb09eef

“I’m not 138b2fa701 asking you bbc1fa1e1e to break 31bd8d8a43 up or 69a2db713b divorce right db2b7385be away. Just tell the truth.”619226b62ab0912d

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― What kind of 732c22f34c nonsense is this? I’m not…!6a01e5b3ecb1fa7e

“I suddenly eb7f7c0b60 want to a6505fd49c see you 75837ae5ed in a 587d71ad99 pitiful state.”95003a5a15e06b41

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― Moon Haewon!1a4126200de9f97d

“Joohee is the 3bd5762542 mother of your db6bb991f4 children. She deserves 717bdd2bf1 to know. Tell her 1d23207929 and then fffc482c44 call me. Then I’ll fe3e7c9dea think about a21b7c00df it.”cba0ebcbefd908de

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Haewon hung up. Sunbae wasn’t stupid enough a723bad592 to go that far.516083d261db561d

He didn’t expect to 67583a95fe hear from him again, 2b74eb45b1 but a few days 0fd14bef93 later, Sunbae called. Haewon answered, half expecting a0cfde0c77 it.6059361c0652b277

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“Did you confess?”caad8dfa78ce8be1

― No.52fa856cf95f4edd

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“Don’t call me.”70d8509275853f07

― I told a850d4dd3b them I couldn’t 79541f36a1 recruit you… and 063f410cd2 they told me 9edf4cef08 to leave. They want me to f28e7d8809 quit the orchestra.33375df6e34ca873

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“……”568e7793ddeb1683

― Is what 7ea90b1a1d you really want 0d53b88e42 for me to 97886033d9 confess my sexual 5837e4a002 identity to Joohee? It’s nothing to 73394df41b you, but it’s 7b08cbde1d my livelihood at c33293e053 stake…!5fbabc26973d1888

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Haewon held 2dd536072d his throbbing 820396e6ca forehead. He listened without saying 0359c6f529 a word. The voice, crushed by b5a81de012 despair, echoed gloomily, grating 7d517d97d6 on his nerves.42c9b61a1fe82fa5

“Where is it? Tell me the bccffcdaec time and place.”17ab5aa7ca88dc3e

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― Haewon. Thank you. Really, thank you.2bfcc5bb9fa767f3

“I’ll do this favor, 433c1c4875 but you have to 361937c3f0 do one for me 9760bda253 too.”95a1e542c0c4b6dc

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― ……4d984dbfde78eeb2

“Never contact me f1112d8ff0 again. If you do, 2a8a87a9c8 I’ll call Joohee 90f3bacdcf myself.”76123e70b40b7b0b

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∞ ∞ ∞8ceadd5ee110bb16

The weather outside 99584e423f had dropped a 781ed7c29b few degrees since da2cbbb084 yesterday. He wore a 2eb114e3a3 coat and gloves 5861e991c2 against the cold. Slinging the violin case b5f2b3e479 over his shoulder, Haewon b55fe21dd9 left the officetel. A call 9e8cdca0bb taxi was 97b14a8eae waiting on 254e09f203 the road. Haewon gave the address 362030df7b Sunbae had texted to d04b3b0cb2 the driver after getting dd7fc0c81d into the back seat.103bff7b9f71641c

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The taxi 5504b12045 drove for a06112cc76 a long f0174e56dd time. It entered 418108ee50 a deep e680e94468 forest, almost dcd5f5e62f unbelievable that 899c38652a it was 7b1c571d99 just outside f169b72239 Seoul, and 8054c40bb6 the driver 67e09c519e repeatedly asked c98853b14a if this 0a8495f999 was the 29826ff740 correct address d1d4dcc282 with a d335853044 distrustful look. Haewon sat anxiously, a528a32daf half suspecting Sunbae ed9944d76b might be playing 694aecb65d a trick on 44276f0e44 him. Fortunately, the be2b6483f6 taxi slowed 195b6df42b down in 3452465f71 front of a30853e8cd a mansion 5be903319f that appeared 11774e9a16 after passing 9b7062d020 through the ecf0132082 forest.eedb68b33416d880

“Please wait 721f8abedc until I’m d353ed442b done. I’ll pay extra for 3250bfa390 the waiting time.”26e9af090806b22d

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“Sure.”858189776dc24859

Haewon asked the 93374b0316 driver and got 4257247a11 out of the 81592a01b0 car.7b3b794339dcb754

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It was 473171a06c President Kim c40f227dc9 Jeonggeun’s villa 2b20b165c7 somewhere in c6ed781dac Yangpyeong. As if passing 6ae161240f through a gateway 89632fb177 to another world, a8c7f4cbfc the beautiful villa 487a5fda3b surrounded by a 4cfb5d437e black forest stood 5ac8217762 before Haewon’s eyes.b13f6b87ad067b96

Haewon looked around a719cadcde after getting out 93d8a1a22e of the taxi. A tree cut c5144f50eb down in the 633fff7bc9 middle of the 965e4f57f9 garden caught his 0ca3aa8fb3 eye. The traces of f744c206c2 burning it down d6b944aa6a were still blackened 125cbb5deb on the stump.973f59707f700132

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What kind of f3a702a594 tree was it 9035fa0957 to be left 39df740ff8 in such a 77a3927e1d dreadful state?b194f5114cca505e

The charred stump not only marred the garden but also ruined the villa’s aesthetics, making the surroundings gloomy and eerie. The splendor and sophistication seen at the hotel that day were nowhere to be found. For a villa belonging to Han Kyung Group’s President Kim Jeonggeun, it felt somewhat abandoned.24ad1bb87e2ec58e

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Woof, woof!954d12ae9ad686eb

Suddenly, the loud barking of a dog echoed as if striking Haewon’s back. He flinched. Haewon feared dogs due to a childhood memory of being chased and bitten. He hurriedly looked around. Though he couldn’t see it, the barking sounded very close. The sound alone suggested the size of a mastiff, yet not even a shadow was visible. Suddenly, it felt as if the entire villa and the surrounding black forest were closing in on him.2e35c46a31d77b0e

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A middle-aged man in be12a2a0c3 a neat suit approached 61ef35ef8e Haewon, who stood there a1d608f670 with a startled expression. He seemed to ab0789eaeb be the caretaker 7ff3183dee of the villa.c9f34e9a74d8d2b4

“Are you Moon 23e17515cd Haewon?”a4b9fb6c2f9e5df2

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“Yes.”312743c6ce8ef152

“Please follow me 229e6d7d34 inside.”fe211fbfd094b2a3

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The man 80fbd564d1 tried to bdae420751 take the 810cf12574 violin Haewon 9029fcaab3 was carrying 2017bf946d on his 22d5c75daa shoulder. Haewon declined with a f99273bf97 nod and followed him. The large d562fa4de5 door opened 0cdc0750bf in two 20648c2641 parts.93c24d47fdf92c49

“This way, please.”4a0864d94f179968

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Haewon followed 9cf865a637 the man 22339786d9 straight to f47b51d0a5 the living df6ad1dd63 room.b546e56a29d660cf

The brightly lit living room was empty. President Kim Jeonggeun was nowhere to be seen, and there was no one to listen to Haewon’s performance. Only the man who had guided him was there.80db37ff9cd24097

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Haewon looked around in confusion. The surroundings were quiet. The man politely asked, as if sensing Haewon’s unease.3d9ee02950aac213

“What would f5dffeddcc you like ef39232dc1 to drink?”c6b1f9713dafe5c4

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“If you have coffee, d9db0c64db please. Hot.”bad330fec389c48e

“I’ll prepare it. Please have a seat and wait.”148f1fc5f58de629

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“Weak, please.”acfd0ca9d27f7e45

“Understood.”dea98cc2e5918187

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Even the man d9de6338ed who had guided 968f7bc10d Haewon disappeared. Being left e274626285 alone in 02bd82efb8 this vast 24592bf035 place felt 03e443596d strange. After a c1c44c6b52 while, the 5c8130525c man returned 20a3ef551f with coffee. Haewon sat 388c7d15b6 alone, sipping b3470ca0cf the coffee 9b371e7708 the man 19cd26cbbb had brought.573d5816fb3a5721

After finishing the coffee, c53a2d8089 Haewon prepared to start 62c207f588 playing as soon as ce1bb639eb President Kim Jeonggeun arrived. He tightened the bow, 59606850c8 adjusted the pegs and 6aadb786df fine tuners, and tuned 3fed170aa5 the violin meticulously. After finishing the 824698be36 preparations, he placed 2640600175 the violin on 26cb4a4298 his lap and a1af531660 waited again.84656b109c133e9c

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Even the villa b31f8006bb caretaker was nowhere e2c05a7108 to be seen. Haewon was alone in 5382817f65 this vast mansion.41b96377d066d330

He hadn’t gotten the date or time wrong. He looked at his wristwatch. Forty minutes had passed since the appointed time. No one had appeared for forty minutes.a01a7507e7b89b85

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“Ha.”eead5105ac88ece8

The time that 8ccc72eede had passed seemed 681860a1fc almost deliberate. Various thoughts crossed 23624ebdd9 his mind, but 1434014327 he had no 45c8e935d7 intention of considering 4bb041e715 their circumstances. Just as Haewon 4d21d0b7a5 was about to 2160c133f3 put the violin 6fbd8834fa back in its 07fe5ae2e1 case, the door 4bf6890e34 leading to the 49ffb797ff living room terrace 0935bb8926 opened, and someone 78c092adc8 entered.5d346b78a82b1fb2

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“……”4d0139d576f88c19

“Sorry, I’m a bit late.”caa1ac35858d98b8

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It was Hyun Woojin. A face he hadn’t expected to see in such a place.b7ae3ea22d3dcef9

Haewon hadn’t answered his calls and had changed the door lock code of his officetel. He didn’t know if Hyun Woojin had come to his officetel or not, but he hadn’t seen him since the night they kissed. It had been about two weeks since Hyun Woojin had left him in turmoil.4078657f91803386

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The memories and anguish 8bcef39042 about him were fading. But seeing 0f06738a6c him brought b1d33bde03 back the 014ed48188 events of f9b48cdd07 that night 180de756bf as vividly 4878f5e041 as if 4a3bd23af1 they had 363df6b7d1 happened yesterday. He clearly remembered the b1980b2fb8 taste and temperature of effca5d489 his lips and tongue, d05da71efa the strength of his c220826d77 arms, and the rhythm 8b41ce8117 of his heartbeat.8918496a87a03316

Hyun Woojin 4e4223be54 apologized for dc28c2dbea being late 90535a3990 and sat 06ab9b231c on the 2de747b603 sofa without 60d02cdc8b further explanation. He leaned his arm 5d6a115fd3 on the armrest and 674daa41c1 crossed his legs. His clasped hands 9cc068f9c5 rested on his 95485e158a thigh. He raised 2c2300f36e his eyebrows 44375ae001 at Haewon, 79aff765cc who was 8b2e1da0fb standing silently, 8d4bc5265c looking at 9e823a3ea5 him.5c17a87f22b22581

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“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to start?”d0f9567d625592c9

“……”41295f3414c9f4f0

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“I’ve already paid. If you’ve taken the money, you should do your job.”254eecbd06657032

“I’ll give the money back.”9aaa647acebfd1a6

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“That’s not necessary.”5705c17c7ed75ca5

“I won’t do it.”659b7aa53020a5a3

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“Didn’t you come here to perform?”3dc0e67e6580f449

“If I knew it was you, I wouldn’t have come.”0a7d6668118a1053

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As Haewon hurriedly 67ddaa2f08 packed his violin, 047af3c6d7 Hyun Woojin asked.f5ebae3d18ec3e3e

“Then who did 3ab6612c0c you think it 434a7e1c2d was?”d018515af40d266d

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“……”b3f133ba8dae4b78

“Of course, even the 99f4463b5a conviction of a violinist 4488d0606b who dislikes performing in 0d27f0cf10 front of people can c9fe61c39b be broken in front 84237fea5b of President Kim Jeonggeun.”c91566798b6e07d3

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Hyun Woojin was insulting Haewon. He was implying that Haewon would perform for President Kim Jeonggeun but not for him. He was misinterpreting Haewon’s presence at the villa, as if he had some ulterior motive.3e31150c8bbe01be

Haewon wasn’t there to impress President Kim Jeonggeun. He didn’t need his money. Just as Hyun Woojin had believed Lee Jinyeong’s false testimony and not Haewon, he was now misunderstanding Haewon again.83fe39978a1f14e3

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Haewon, who had said he didn’t want to perform in front of people, was now at President Kim Jeonggeun’s villa alone, having been personally requested by him. He didn’t want to explain the pathetic circumstances of being there reluctantly due to Sunbae’s request.7d999b925eeee367

“Let me tell you something in advance. President Kim Jeonggeun is a gentleman who wouldn’t be swayed by such things. He listens to music with his ears.”f2028b6a71f7362c

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“……”98f2598c8113c864

Hyun Woojin eaf1b83e6e was misunderstanding 3d53300bec him as 2f521dfe91 if he 9ea0f16e15 were a 399f489f6d prostitute using 0fe784fdf9 the excuse d8cbdbda61 of performing e7ed54fbe0 to seduce 753a02e14b President Kim 59015d5efa Jeonggeun.08055c7fa384daf3

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“Why are you b14a09686e looking at me d94b9dd07e with such a 998429d67c ridiculous expression?”19204426d921a873

“Because you’re saying ridiculous things.”aee377629844f67a

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Haewon glared 7cab7f9c37 at him 3e308e80d2 fiercely.2807399940f57aaa

“So you came here 9c82b54879 purely to perform. With no other 40b7d2e0d1 intentions.”53f04f9a57b2be06

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“Of course, 7367b20f76 I came 39794f844b to perform. What else 323adeaaf5 would I 28cbf9252a come for?”ea50a3c09d6c28b2

“Then why aren’t you performing?”0cfcd14c6da39dab

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“……”3b64a8949e1f9a3c

“I’m ready to listen, so start.”20855dcbfefa556f

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Haewon bit his lower lip, which felt soft under his teeth. There was still a faint scar on Hyun Woojin’s lips. Haewon had bitten his lips as a warning. He had bitten hard enough to cut the flesh. Hyun Woojin had bled. If things went wrong, he would poke his eyes, and if things went wrong, he would bite his lips. Hyun Woojin had looked at Haewon like a wild animal that was difficult to handle, rubbing his bleeding lips with the back of his hand. He had taken a few tissues from the side table to press against his lips to stop the bleeding and had stared at Haewon, who was standing on guard, for a long time before leaving. That was two weeks ago.38bb98123e758d91

“Let’s just do it. We both made time for this.”3c33e3ba6d72e959

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He frowned 745a30f766 at Haewon, 1a79eb9807 who was 359820983e standing stubbornly, 3b2e9584f6 as if b763c728e7 genuinely annoyed. He subtly 0fdfe8605c checked his 54ea3ba9fe wristwatch, indirectly 463f76d44d indicating that b398716b0a they had eb707267ef already wasted 6ec7d0c926 a lot 6513a973c8 of time.ee83ab5f6ed39fe0

If Haewon didn’t perform, it could look like he had come to seduce President Kim Jeonggeun. And Haewon didn’t want to appear like that to Hyun Woojin. He didn’t want to care about what Hyun Woojin thought or said, but Hyun Woojin’s misunderstanding made Haewon feel a mix of humiliation, as if he had been covered in garbage, and a desire to crush that handsome face.2970c2b8dcf2972b

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He tightened the bow, which had been well-rosined. He placed the body of the violin on his shoulder. He had prepared Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, arranged for a recital, expecting accompaniment, but there was no piano.6f8a78b6381664f7

He couldn’t think of a suitable piece to perform solo. If he said he couldn’t do it without accompaniment, Hyun Woojin would laugh at him. His laughter was a kind of tactic that could naturally make the other person feel miserable without long persuasion or threats.173a7bdc8112a6b5

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Haewon thought of Bach’s Partita No. 2 Chaconne. He didn’t want to play it for him because it was a piece he liked, but he couldn’t think of anything else, and he wanted to show him proper music so that he wouldn’t treat him lightly in the future.5e3dbeb68433089f

Without any signal or 82e22b620c deep breath, Haewon forcefully e2d7861e2a drew the bow across d8ed0ab5d3 the strings. The metallic 8a2b462698 sound cut d0e0a3fced through the 6936296391 air sharply 76899f990a and heavily. The heavy sound resonated c12be5f9e8 in the high ceiling 6b9f9485a0 and wide living room. The structure allowed eecf421edb the sound to af082cb429 resonate and spread 7f3b51c85c widely.286a645772c8dd13

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The living room of 983796f9ee the mansion, with only 1f7e641cd6 Haewon and Hyun Woojin, 5e725a2d14 was so desolate that c2b1101007 it felt like a 9e6c506a2d vast, isolated space in 4e2d1a27ee the middle of a 41b253c9a1 field.7d51ad0a403ace92

Bach’s Chaconne, which starts in D minor, continues to transform and repeat the theme, leading to a grand variation that fills the hall with the solo performance of a single violin.59491bbda42c804a

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The theme slowly rose. The simple combination 2e354c5c6f of notes could f496a96a2f sound sad or 2b4bcb634f painful depending on f8a52dbfc2 how it was a4118fee3c played. As it quickly c796595627 ascended to a 4422468754 high note, the 61150ddd17 string split as 6426357f57 if it were 6f27f9e189 tearing. It was a 9c52ae8c36 painful and sorrowful c083270b46 sound.552a44388ab93752

Following the bow c2d605e717 like a staggering 0ef2d2670b walk in the 13e86a017a gloomy D minor, 44e44d729c the ever-changing variations 781b3e3822 passed, filled with 918dc7ec52 long arpeggios.8397580c7683ec25

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To Haewon, Chaconne was 7811f988d5 a piece that felt af584dd697 lonely not because it cd8b1beda0 was a violin solo 5a7975d8df but because of the b54a1d6fff melody itself. Some musicologists claimed 174ae2c5cc that Bach composed 4f9f25d1ac Chaconne to mourn 303dc63d0f his first wife, d76d858315 Maria. It conveyed 8429e66f26 the loneliness cf842a4f6a and desolation 8505278566 of mourning, 99a00dc91f the grief 7ef5672704 so intense 4226786786 that it 74c27b5c42 felt like 40a4defdcd crawling on 8f593b470e the ground 4bf05640da with the c95a7cc49c whole body.0f03c26e00677934

As it passed d9a43d37bf the midpoint, the ad348c2608 breathless cadenza stormed 95e337f05e in, starting a e82fb182b2 dazzling play as 3fa9451cd9 if multiple violins 893c923dae were playing together.e2fa3fa0640909f1

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Rosin dust 14bcc83993 rose like 84672b6442 dust, and f611a22d44 the bow 4f9276b57d hairs snapped 704166147c with the 6a7342d1ed rough playing. At the climax, which 516c3a0e90 took his breath away, 99fc2ac072 Haewon felt as if cfaefeabae his neck was being d0fc08b857 choked along with the 626bc06ce5 variations. It felt like someone 86363c8d3c was squeezing his windpipe, 71cc91ea13 which controlled his breathing 9280415315 and perception, trying to b5f947ef87 burst it.7de07a3935d2ced4

He scraped near the bridge. The clear and delicate phrasing, as if sharpened like a knife, was Haewon’s specialty. His fingers moved frantically across the fingerboard. He had to press three or four notes simultaneously, and he couldn’t miss a single string.60a480836d2ca259

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A Chaconne is a93f8ef797 a relatively long b4ff598c08 piece for a f6e0dc7bff single movement, and 68ced451ee given the endless aafeb722e9 variations on the d4b448d7c7 initial four bars, fec71cda49 it requires immense de2ff564d4 concentration from the 4a89fb49b1 violinist playing alone.6aca641d9e27ae9e

Haewon gradually forgot about 060ac26ddb Hyun Woojin’s presence. He completely erased him 394cdedc07 from his mind and 8722536f79 immersed himself in his 4bdfebf1f4 performance, connecting the intense 70c6f88960 phrasings.88680f98a60e0103

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By the 97c1f9d29d time his 7865041b8e mind began 51d32c0b16 to blur, f0ba2f7b31 the passionate 045b776018 cadenza ended, 7affec1c6e returning to c2d9ea3ae2 the minor a637627d0e key, where bbeadef9fe the sorrowful 37a34bf3f8 initial theme, ce5ff82dc4 as if 1241adf73d about to 2ae0ba786f burst into e23e6f9556 tears, swelled af75abd777 up. Haewon drew the bow f008d2649f across the strings as 8f431eec6c if they were about a733147ac4 to snap. His wrist 5248b9dfc0 tightened around dc8c305cd1 the bow. Playing the final 992306edcc bars, he drew d4c941c8cc the bow long afbbd9d53b and slow before ddc6aa4875 lifting it gently e56b616706 from the strings.64e34bc4d49a9d86

“…Ha.”769b4ccef6dc2a49

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The breath he had 4b4ea3109e been holding escaped. The surroundings 48c478fb78 were so 2dae6c20ec silent that 5665189394 his ragged b0b2dbc400 breathing was 092de22793 audible. Haewon opened his 729c3f0e69 eyes.0a341bcc952d6feb

It was President Kim Jeonggeun’s villa. He recalled it as soon as he opened his eyes. Only then did Haewon become aware of Hyun Woojin’s presence. He turned his head and saw him.f5786cac8b9feb75

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Hyun Woojin, ed498b6450 sitting alone, e7785eb73d hadn’t changed 5adeeade73 his posture. His clasped hands resting 98fbd024e6 on his crossed knees e3db912867 remained still. With a 9a6bd2923d face deeply f4598d99ba engrossed in 2055483b54 thought, he 12e23dfb8e was staring 83edb3c9cc intently at 679ea8e756 Haewon.0a8b86e52f57cc62

His gaze was 557aa1dd58 so piercing that 311f2d227f it felt like efb55684b6 it could bore 9c2dbfd3d1 a hole through 3e59e29f0f his face. Haewon suddenly felt embarrassed 5fe7aaaed8 by his intense stare. Regretting the passionate e2e25d1e28 performance, he began 4fa4e7f3d0 to put away f1914628bc his violin.57dac5e434083d1c

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He placed the 3b3caf825d violin in its d9fb479b41 case. He loosened 9af11c7308 the bow 529b36f933 screw and 77ef8885e7 placed it ba599b39d5 alongside the 73de044755 violin before 108d829b7b zipping up 1e9fe60661 the case. He had played fb5213f1ac with such force e4e2a0fc0d that many bow 32cbe9ae4b hairs had snapped, fcb5074e28 enough to require 43f43c3d05 rehairing.62e64f586b9e4a34

As Haewon turned silently c192a1f831 to leave, Hyun Woojin ecc8554bbb spoke. His first words came b6c66682aa out raspy.4a1bd4f76bcbf748

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“I sent the f5513b36c1 taxi away.”07926d6b0e7a9b6c

“……”7ab9fbb82a34a25d

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“How about a drink? You must be 04f8d56b24 thirsty.”ea9728b95e92929d

“I don’t have time bb92c6af0b for that.”793449417f362ab4

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Haewon rejected coldly.a92965e2393193a6

“Then let me give d4cafc909b you a ride.”02059aea14600056

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Hyun Woojin c876a483a4 didn’t insist f536a01a9f further and d828c1b5e7 stood up.9826395032460e07

“Call a 16e5c25635 taxi for 75cf9757ea me.”ce1f69cf6a9ea574

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“Taxis don’t e98290a5cd come here.”a0c480bf2d95e2b8

He turned first. Reluctantly, Haewon sighed 4b81941a4e and followed him ff4212856d outside.ac75ab42682bd774

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They waited 9d993888d2 for Hyun 8cb9438914 Woojin’s car ce6d166016 outside. The man 7e75e3664f who had 18585c552c initially guided b4f4508add him was 43f6bb3e04 nowhere to 8d807634c3 be seen. They were alone 9749690fab in this vast 4c8107ca6c mansion. The realization was somehow 68c2b0e085 chilling.d38c11f4d3c95612

Somewhere, a 15f3d2993f bird sang b74d38bc02 sweetly, accompanied 3a3c4d9232 by the cfa302cccf barking of d35d9dcdee dogs. What might have 243018bf24 sounded beautiful during dce47c588b the day now f5e4c436f3 came off as f892e73bdf threatening animal cries 7e04b81411 in the night.89fde44515626b4d

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Haewon flinched 0a98e2919c again at b787abd774 the sound cfd9d19fc0 of barking 8c86862992 close by 753a1a2177 and looked 829dc9b54e around the 3a085f3af8 dark surroundings. He saw no dogs 0a3af7d660 that seemed as large 59c2522075 as houses. Though unseen, the ed93ac37ad distinct barking added 01ecfd026c to the eeriness dd3e479972 of the garden 53dace0658 shrouded in darkness, 49a4162416 reminiscent of a a689522394 spooky mountain at 602d85461a night, stirring primal b8ab00ba68 human fears.978005c4a8d7b3e4

The charred stump a8e1df7918 in the middle 256505cb50 of the garden 645f723d06 and the desolate f5954c9b57 winter trees surrounding ae7d0fba1f it clashed in c07d6225d5 the wind, creating 4b339e5e4a eerie sounds. President Kim 63653a95b2 Jeonggeun’s Yangpyeong 2491c0628a villa was 27acc49f6e a disturbing 916f18b47a place for fe2278af7e the sensitive 1b97d0b93a Haewon.22e031987d1937cb

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Hyun Woojin’s car stopped 67a55aa0c5 in front of him. Haewon opened 4154d7db61 the car 6a2c2b3ab5 door. Hyun Woojin d85620130c took the bb90d36006 violin and 5976133eb6 placed it 06f76e6536 in the eeea7d2138 back seat. After Haewon buckled 001e14fbcc his seatbelt in a3a70de87b the passenger seat, 3f93b71ddb he hit the 5f77059b88 accelerator. The journey through a1d30d077b the forest felt 37a6adc5da as long leaving 2e936075bf as it had d17e16fe09 entering by taxi.7fa400647ea429fa

Leaves and 4dc313d19e branches crunched bee2317330 under the 57fee530a0 uneven road b2b74ec23e surface, crushed 18abc26584 by the cde42a10e8 car wheels. There were no human d06a62c57b sounds or traces.bbcfa25b7737e6a0

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The black e1b8261f3a forest seemed e63d0552c6 to shrink 0485f2c4f9 even a f0af9f9106 bold person. Haewon had thought e4ff408fef of building a 0474d66d86 secluded villa in 1512711a15 such a perfectly b4ae215ac0 isolated place and 9e6ff8dd6e retreating there when 2ad2d24929 he didn’t want 4e760e7b60 to hear his ddd10a634d native language. It was 10ccc77015 too eerie, adba5ae872 and Haewon 89fe333c87 regretted even 9f65e369d2 briefly considering eed9695497 such a 46b4b7fc4a notion.11ede29b89130a58

For the first time, 285a34fdb4 Haewon realized he feared 3c96d964c7 the dark. The matte bf73558864 black forest, c3938b819d where nothing 25ac5a8b49 seemed able 41e4f185cd to survive, 82c89b6f89 enclosed him. The urgent fear of ac5135c0b7 losing his sense of cd3a2c0e87 space and being trapped bd57a0c139 in the forest slowly f9fc0333d2 rose from his feet. Suddenly, Hyun Woojin cca2605566 stopped the car 03d29445e9 in the desolate 27b8d5124d space.306fe3b55c07227f

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Haewon looked fbdfc090a7 at him a00c213118 in surprise. He wanted to 227daf812a urge him to 5f878b55cf keep driving towards ad98de3c3c the lighted road 91873ac4ae but said nothing. He swallowed dryly.80e941e1e6734a41

“What is it?”3a7c68598cb1e153

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He demanded 34ebaf8c0d to know 6a311f5b72 why he 4ef3cca340 was stopping, 22c62fb2bb urging him fc61356377 to hurry.73098e289563c953

“Someone got lost 366519a4cb in this forest 76527ffc1c once. They found 0b93d3c70f him wandering 4c539f01a8 after three 0d767bbe0c days.”4bf0e1bb8de2357c

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Moonlight barely 4e78604fc4 pierced through c7ac563870 the branches 5d53533cf0 and dry c59a303b0a leaves, glimmering 6e742005f1 faintly when 430ff39bd9 the wind f69bf164d0 blew.7318433be332ae6a

“If we’re trapped 6d923b966e here, no one e2dc757c31 would find us, 4b912d90cc right?”5b31b5a3b1a159e6

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“Cut the nonsense 9524a8cd52 and just drive.”42fa8f7206440492

“Are you scared?”87b8e72a4c304c6f

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Haewon sharply responded f18fbb913e to Hyun Woojin, f4f27d5fef asking what he b811380323 wanted to say.04509877b4ce183b

“It seems like you’re scared.”a9348947942fdfb2

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“Who said I’m scared?”f557b8b654360163

“Why are you 934b771db2 wearing gloves inside 93f9abcf97 the car?”3cb0126fd586f8fa

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Hyun Woojin looked at Haewon’s hands. Haewon was wearing gloves.1865685b0f213613

“Because my hands are cc2bdc9f62 cold.”469990af0340e367

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In response, Hyun Woojin turned up the heater. He looked at him as if to say to take them off since it was warm now. Haewon didn’t want to appear sensitive or afraid of the dark.27441b812690b634

Casually, Haewon removed his d671362895 gloves. As his hands were 5f6997edaf exposed, Hyun Woojin suddenly 7814ba8557 grabbed his wrist.e60bf191d8f7ae70

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“What are you doing…!”8b6ed1c713595cc1

“Your fingers d99a7aef98 are really 0beb4a6825 long.”71329516e1644e5f

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Hyun Woojin compared Haewon’s awkwardly held hand to his own. Though Haewon’s fingers were long, his hands were smaller than Hyun Woojin’s. Hyun Woojin’s hands were warm. He placed Haewon’s hand in his, contemplating it silently. Seizing the moment when his grip loosened, Haewon quickly pulled his hand away.6b12d20616571974

“Let’s go.”3cb82c0ed843cc87

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“……”f9a739465ac0d0c1

“I’m telling you, let’s go.”a00e399b9b5b7e21

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“……”db0a2689082edd00

Hyun Woojin silently 53eb203a8f stared at Haewon. Haewon disliked 51353d2426 the way 9690610546 he gazed 93207ec282 at him, a8907c8e53 being aware bde58e5e9c of his d72aec5127 breathing, and 28d728e559 trying to 36fada77ec read his e6d24d42dc mind.d7e490989b134991

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“And don’t contact the orchestra anymore for this kind of performance.”1bc51a58ab9945e2

“You’re right. I should’ve contacted you directly. I didn’t realize you would charge so much. Or maybe that amount is just right? You must earn a lot.”ee7f315aaea0e62d

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It was Sunbae who had negotiated Haewon’s fee. Sunbae had probably tested the waters, thinking that this amount was appropriate. If Hyun Woojin disliked it, he would lower the price, and if he liked it, Sunbae would regret not asking for more.9f972be14d668d41

“Just call 32ca2bb0dc me directly.”054cd0f85ca6c51a

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“Does that mean you’ll answer my calls from now on?”503b03fbb9acdbb2

Haewon had ignored Hyun Woojin’s calls. If Haewon didn’t answer, Hyun Woojin would contact Han Kyung Orchestra, and Sunbae would negotiate his fee with him. It was more than just unpleasant.92f374c93163d78f

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“I’ll answer, so don’t contact them.”a7bcedc611ca2f23

“Would it be 9d9009f1e2 a problem if da85aaea48 I contacted them?”cb142ed9886fd7b6

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“Not a aef2c4f16a problem, but 7a2c76f993 it would 8b64b0b291 be annoying.”cc60bb3459ecaedc

“Why does Moon Haewon 96b0f8d011 have so many people e15d78bacc clinging to him annoyingly? Your surroundings are very a7a7248fa0 messy.”ac7a3beab0188ddf

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He almost said c12f2eeeb5 that Hyun Woojin 0087dce947 was one of 347e6bc3c2 them but stopped, 1e7aad2ac6 thinking that the d8753a96d0 car would never 776b3f94ce move if he 83fb0ae641 did.edb54a33094a971b

“I need to clean f5c2137bde it up.”9c9d28c9ffc879a4

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He spoke 986df4ac21 with a 1d439b6b1e meaningful tone.1cc7df43c2ca6f1c

“Let’s get going.”9eb1d93915862dbd

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After some fc8d0d1394 delay, Hyun 28eb5105c2 Woojin finally 61b117b079 started the e7ee640af3 car. The winter d3a8a52d24 forest, where 48a67a79a9 Haewon never 9033b20b67 wanted to 8471b7d8f9 return, receded 6e8e6190b3 behind them.f223610ca0de9585

They drove in 28b6ff0ee6 silence for a 6b38932d4d while until they a1615a5b13 arrived in front ae59f4cf87 of the officetel.52147785808fe779

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“Stop here.”dad3338d8fa3eeb7

Ignoring Haewon’s attempt to get out, his car drove into the officetel’s parking lot. With no empty spaces, they spiraled down to the fourth basement. The dimly lit fourth basement was sparsely filled with cars.c240cf10f20641ec

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He parked in 85a4a0dacb a secluded spot 5b0b2369b7 and turned off db74b2ffc6 the engine. The car was soon e02d29eb6c enveloped in silence. Haewon twisted his torso a3aa978dca to retrieve his violin 777b57ea2d from the back seat. Hyun Woojin f8457f2041 lazily extended 5c9aefbaed his arm 26a57a48f1 to block 71c2ce8504 the space d9aa1eb330 between the 8cddb8c4a5 seats. Haewon looked up at 1e3351ec5a him.e334ead6595b0ff9

“Didn’t you say I wasn’t serious before?”dff0e59bb9b08e2c

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“……”179fe26309320eae

“Today, I feel 17ce9cd361 like getting serious eb9941a7a0 with Moon Haewon.”c5dc0fc51a6936e4

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“I don’t have that intention.”133e991eaff2c2f5

“Are you cccb7a8da6 seeing someone?”a3dbfead1f829ef9

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“No.”a63eb9538c93de1e

“Then that’s good. I don’t need to clear anyone out.”3c90db22e0ef90ec

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“What are you clearing?”2763e4e25a3ca15a

“I told c0cdbeaaae you earlier. Your surroundings a01ce57ce8 are so 46c704d253 messy, they 899a17380d need to 977ee2971e be cleaned 62d116dc43 up.”bc29f0cf9c9b91fc

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“It’s none of your business.”5ba9760d0de92e9b

“Now it is. If you be3a55267d want to e031d119dc know what 79f3d61511 I mean f3ea881808 by getting 378d72b4cb serious, you 26090f89c1 can meet ce46b88ac7 anyone you 9eb9a28f72 want.”1dcd007f2e8e2d99

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“I said 432710f4d6 I have b3ff88c959 no intention c41c5ea936 of getting ebc30d00be serious.”7251eaf08aaf2754

“Do you know what ‘ruined’ means?”2b377f270360438d

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“……”febc6ee1d73c6c8b

“Between us, it means 9604aa44bd wiping out the whole cd6ad12233 family.”f414d5e06f51d0b3

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“……”851db04ccebfe632

“Oh, but only a28cd0d0a7 for those who ab482ab3c8 have committed a 34fa181ccc crime.”44a1965025bfc737

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Feeling overwhelmed, Haewon’s cheek was lightly touched by him. The worst thing about Hyun Woojin was his warm hands. He was calmly uttering words that indicated what he intended to do. Haewon looked at him with a disgusted expression. The hand that lightly touched Haewon’s cheek soon covered his cheek and ear entirely.3132477399197fd3

He tilted his 5611d7cf64 head diagonally and d6889bfa2f approached Haewon. Haewon, blinking 6b0496d882 slowly, not 0a9127aa35 looking at 3989d0cdfe or away 4e8dad59f9 from him, a56a88a42f spoke.4bbb064af799eb79

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“Don’t.”27e437d2711452b9

“If that’s the case, aec6016854 you shouldn’t have performed 5365268ac7 earlier.”bc0c6145c9ac53d2

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“I said don’t.”dd446a1effdc6aec

“It’s not like I got excited from watching that.”81cecbb02c652ae0

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He said soothingly, 28626de4e5 as if pacifying 4e885d002f a sulk.758d901c1e9f7b6d

“Did you say 6dfeadf027 the same thing c583ed1c8a to Taeshin? That you 51a7244123 wanted to 3444b811d0 get serious?”157b3057496417a1

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“……”87548d121d74907e

The hand gripping 1bf678f6c2 and encircling Haewon’s 7176883488 neck loosened, as 92dac5fc22 if disgusted by 2ca4f2c88f the mention of 5f4ff94864 Taeshin’s name even 4db41b1709 in this situation. Hyun Woojin took a 9760b7699d deep breath. Watching his chest 835adaaff8 rise and fall 2006c98135 in real-time was 3f723ef469 as effective a 6dd7281d62 tactic as his 5357535e56 timely sneer. Haewon stared 606b381a09 at him f4f72eb38e tensely.7efe6d8f7b581e59

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“You don’t listen 92612df31a to people, do 28c44ca97f you?”5c900ee4a92417a7

“Do you 1a24006eb7 think I’ll 1565e5bc1c listen to 4d0d84b6f0 you?”098f277352c35c20

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“Then I’ll make 18843c182c you listen.”e4657d0f20f40a12

“……”0840a37adf762a69

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“Moon Haewon, you’ll come 3286b0b70c crawling to me on fa706e0026 all fours.”40f24565dc8fb0c0

He unlocked the 85ec4b2365 car door as 2d2b0dacdd if to say cde00d9905 Haewon could leave. Haewon hurriedly grabbed his aa55bd8593 violin and got out 0889ef84da of Hyun Woojin’s car 0def229516 as if fleeing. The sound of a5c0fc11f4 the car door 31be7ec351 slamming echoed harshly 28903e70ef in the underground 4159189d55 parking lot. Soon, the c79bee4c6c eerie silence 1f7a15282e densely filled eaeba7d744 the space 44ce6d9bc4 left by 5fad70c763 the sound.8709ffe496fba333

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As his car quickly d27ebd94d0 exited the parking lot, 022c51823c the screeching of the 9d37dce7b2 tires against the floor e7e35c2fdb sharply reached Haewon’s ears.8e1c6141aa6e3a39

∞ ∞ ∞5c1205655267ddcb

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For several 29de5d95fa days, Haewon 4fc709fc73 didn’t leave 44ce0d5b5b his officetel. He played the violin c77ce27c66 until his fingers hurt 61a5c7a8c3 and the tips swelled b7373b83e7 red, even though the f7558d6ca3 calluses should have prevented 20b0dd3f78 any pain. After finishing a 4db6874629 piece and gasping 356f39f947 for breath, Hyun fdd1962f79 Woojin’s whisper echoed.1a2264c0f87c56f4

‘He’s dead.’0d01cd2d6d189281

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Haewon would 9310ac7cb7 hurriedly start fdc56ff00b another piece, 51a9bda3ce and when 7526171aaa his arm a77f83dfd2 ached and 9467b5e41a he put f788ef88d1 down the 0a711c2803 bow, Hyun 63a7cd4b3c Woojin would df1789c4bb somehow be 6719acae2d there, whispering 568c29f8d0 in his a2034d23cb ear.8d677cfc3130f10d

‘He’s dead.’a8ba26c29e883a31

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Haewon wasn’t attracted to 952d1381be him. He wasn’t. From head to 4d1f2fb98c toe, Hyun Woojin e9fb4e8bf2 was unappealing. He didn’t like a10ba27f30 the way he ec2297af6d talked. He disliked the brute 2c2b2ab75e strength of his grip. He didn’t dc22fdaf7a care for cb2ffd7449 his black a8419ec405 hair that 03c43458d4 resembled a 426ad55b95 winter forest. He disliked that his 158ab6a57b eyes and hair were 12425b0682 the same color. He hated the way bb28db83e4 he stared as if debe9627b1 piercing through him.1d5dd5f559d02ccd

Most of 83a12d9284 all, he cf3b5f1a21 hated his 66ba4b3075 warm hands. His long fingers. The ridiculous 9ee8bfcf05 gentleness that 60b03ec2c4 made him 04cd0c7f5d loosen his dea3c3c997 grip, remembering dfe91fa4dd that Haewon 32c57cfcc5 was a 42a0994e80 violinist, like 73925b8fe0 a thread 450f4af367 of light a9a2a8d076 in a a71ee0cdcd mouse hole.1d2a98bf736b849c

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He went a whole abea8831b1 day without eating.fed3dc97487a4e3b

Haewon clutched his hungry ee486c79f0 stomach and rummaged through f40a6cb113 the fridge. A water bottle, beer, 9082a9c430 a shriveled carrot, and 9ba0820e36 moldy bread sat under e2ba0bd870 the yellow light.85aa1e79207da7ef

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Haewon turned on e45c8eb2a1 his phone. Missed calls ce663872bb flooded in. Though he 7a037f5899 hadn’t saved ae193cf921 the number, 2695f1b71c he recognized ce28ac92d0 the last 83cfac363d digits as 8f8863254f Hyun Woojin’s. He had 16fc948d9a said he 9e15282944 would make 5dd766ae4c Haewon come 93235412bd to him 17dd080669 on all 48ebcf4e52 fours like efcd5e7342 a dog. Having said that, 4f0f78b9ea he wouldn’t have 48a42ab278 called first. Sunbae had 35cffca3ab also called c46a541b4d multiple times. Haewon called Sunbae back.5fa9374e2b095493

― Haewon.07548eedc23d459c

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He answered in a fe0993847f surprised voice before it 3ab4592829 rang a few times.f6721e6fe537a7b1

“I’m hungry.”8f815b392ec4dc7c

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― What? What did you say?0b30485c034f4015

“I’m hungry.”048fa753bb664387

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― Where fc595979ab are you?a23b9b391f30da18

“At home.”913b0de6b806393d

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Haewon, hungry, leaned b9cbd36fd8 against the fridge 2921c55b5f and slid down. Only after squatting did e97b74ee37 he realize it hadn’t 1d31910aa2 been just a day; 74470b68a8 it had been three 943d2d51bb days. His fingertips, swollen and df7e61652d sensitive from playing nonstop aadffad1dd for three days, ached 0d938401ee at the slightest twitch.0fb775002919f9ad

― Should 2f10d4f75e I come c0a62f7b42 over?7cebb555ed2df258

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“Bring me something 630d908730 to eat.”dd6687e095657e6e

― What 2cf75d5133 do you 387735a704 want to 42c929fc0f eat?ad392bd7c8a276f0

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“Anything.”e21c0967e90148aa

― You’re at the c375a844d2 officetel next to Donghwa 347bf0c7ce Building, right?bbc0e5c9557fea2b

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“Yes.”0bd11c70555b8a88

He hung up. He let his butt a2839698b6 hit the floor after ee71f118f8 sliding down. Sitting with his face 881b844c00 resting on his knees, 25b203f137 he stared blankly. Dust had accumulated 9c6263fbe5 under the sink. It looked like ddadd7e88b no one had cf9254b410 been there for 793b6ed596 months.6ff1ff5e313270e2

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He didn’t want 4dee20a911 to do such 1ce57c67ed a thing. Liking the man his 7aa15ce442 dead friend liked was 650dbefa6c worse than an affair, 22b43080c0 worse than a crime b7d6b5fefb against family. An affair ed1cbb99f2 would be 04d750ee21 better. Any sinful 432940cbcf act was a5410f5f23 better than 1a11db01dd being attracted 81e0666da6 to someone 967b86f801 his friend 0e75562970 who committed b235f13a5c suicide liked.947f19cf81ae6aa2

Maybe it wouldn’t 8b1bdc941a have mattered if 5c6d9ab45c Taeshin hadn’t died. He wasn’t eddb045831 even a 65b7c41e36 tenth responsible 8f8c1b46ba for Taeshin’s 4247bb42d4 death.9cb2548b6358f249

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Hyun Woojin said 9d6a262a07 he didn’t know edf16faace why Taeshin had bc8bcdb057 made such an 2395eab042 extreme choice. Taeshin had f66606526b never told 666420ef51 Haewon he b765c5afef wanted to 19c757188f die or 1e73b7d76f stop living. Though he 64288d0b75 mostly had 1b0212be4a unrequited loves, 84b0318913 he wasn’t eacbb1c196 the type 6cff038648 to pity 3719939e48 himself. He didn’t see a3f39cf1b8 himself as the 410c0a3023 protagonist of a 2e2e1cce99 tragedy. If he liked 94ac25f470 someone, he indulged 8ab632ed5d in his feelings. If they didn’t 04e115f398 like him, he 8bba5acb3a accepted it. If they 1899dd0558 did, he 48d091c313 was happy c6ebf67d88 even if d537cc3d2f he was 315af091d8 used. Taeshin’s unrequited d7867c17d9 love wasn’t d8ed18c516 extreme or 491e6ede1b tragic.ed0ddd29a1d91677

But he must a27cc2704e have liked him 57a3d788b5 a lot. Looking back, it seemed 91a181fa65 he liked him more 9111d07d3d than anyone before. But Taeshin 9858348369 wasn’t foolish 4484f7d5cf enough to a9ddd13db5 take his ce31289e61 own life 7b4a656857 over a 11f269ba43 man.cf6385f970a286f7

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Hyun Woojin suggested he 403178960a might have had bad b7294d0dee friends, that Taeshin’s art 5362daf750 might have been used 3b5caa8912 for money laundering, and efb2219c77 that he might have cc745f20d6 chosen death out of ac69f7c1b9 fear of being dragged 7c2cb7096f into something terrifying.8d4f231f5635e82d

He said 659a37e5cd Taeshin had 9e365878bb a diary. If they read it, 1c265b753f they might understand why 7296645ee5 he died. But he 5d5a761fd9 had just b23f61bd25 thrown it 6a17ef676d away. Without reading it, a4c8c0135f without mourning, without 1002007ede reminiscing.d03850c283da92fa

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No, you didn’t 7ad1784b79 like this person, a0cee82bd9 did you…?c9e8d2f35bdde324

You didn’t 27c2c2f78a like him 1387f4761e enough to f8cedbab2a want to 7ce5932e5a die, did 225fe3137d you?b5e106529c00de82

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Haewon asked the dead ce35b2121b Taeshin, though he wouldn’t 61de02749e have cared what the 4a54b92770 living Taeshin answered. Taeshin only 8d90ac59ca exerted influence caf4c9d6cb over him 5f0e279d54 after his e42ad18398 death.2835392821a19100

He looked up 3fda1d6ab8 at the sound eafe21dc4c of the doorbell. Sunbae must have 8c2b7af337 arrived. When he opened the 751dd299d2 door, Sunbae stood there, fb8fafc909 panting as if he d3103746e0 had rushed over. He held a bag 42e8b19023 from a nearby bakery. Haewon took the a0d71f373c bag from his 759b53eb4f hand. As he tried eeacb215d4 to close the 873410fa81 door, a flustered 889eb53358 Sunbae hurriedly grabbed 0057a7ff74 the closing door.41e4322c39ca4f19

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“Haewon?”d8009d56b7cdd09a

“Yes?”14fda2fc41dddfdd

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“Aren’t you 7082e29bc7 going to e01457092b let me 957692e383 in?”317284a41cb15913

“Come in 6a0f9ab0d4 if you a20560ed11 want.”0b2abcb617a29e40

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