LA0S | Chapter 29

The words came 30ee2d5f8a out slowly, and 551c2d9e50 upon hearing them, df1c682ea3 Kim Chayoung’s expression d04d9665e7 briefly brightened before 97603f0c62 settling back into 6e4b8c5827 neutrality. He turned his 2d30f7cc2e head and covered 882279b55c his nose and 15eebd915f mouth, coughing discreetly aef52103c0 before turning around.81b83d4e8d467876

Lee Jinha 887dd5869e wiped his 78abe59234 forehead with 0fec77e1e9 the back d09edd94f6 of his a0bcb878d8 hand, feeling 364e207110 the cold e97ddb1147 sweat that 7de203f7d3 had gathered 9d036c9c9d there.d84d8af1e0fc7d14

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“Aren’t you coming?”69716482130062e7

Kim Chayoung, d250f5448c who had 8261863024 started walking 4d02dd6ac6 ahead, turned fa215c3996 back when 9fcbb738fe he noticed 67546f3365 Lee Jinha 2df573c150 hadn’t moved, 127c7d9d8f and came e38adb41fd to stand 49daf6c7fe beside him.1b03411b44bcdfed

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“Let’s go. The studio f8a9302d42 isn’t far 1fa140160c from here.”ea4f6955a0ef8bfe

Breathing in the remnants 99057b9be2 of spring in the 1d88bf7dc6 air, Lee Jinha began 3e9eb7e1b8 walking alongside Kim Chayoung.ab09eb67fe948a4b

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“Welcome.”9228ef2a926a2d9c

Though he had seen 700183634c the place when delivering 7f1632c77d something, this was his de97425eb1 first time inside. Slightly nervous, 969872fe42 he looked dbcd167c69 around the 18c150841c living room. There was 036a51182a a large 83aaa4c462 window on bcb98c377f one side, b99eb8375c a small 06656ea7d7 table, and 097169851f a comfy-looking 010233905b sofa. Behind the living room b76cc3e3c6 was the kitchen, and dc0ab9a3aa rounding the wall were 47a78f87c0 three doors; one was c14977a4f0 wide open, and two c173e2ad66 were closed.40af70c75b5ad912

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“This is my 4ed70dd251 studio. Out of 5c93c25ff2 the other 0c0a882c69 two, pick 2c2573191d whichever you a4e468f255 like.”8300fd8c0296b03f

Kim Chayoung opened both e6573df829 closed doors. The first d67ee6580b room appeared 635dcb3a20 to be ae335a9183 a bedroom, 984cbbf8bf with only 8ca9cf51de a large c8c47f4579 bed inside, 67ed78c2af and the 56dc0861ee second looked 9d431fd6d5 like a 842fad9749 study, complete 66ff31926e with a c9ed83d743 big bookcase 0860419c31 and a 643ce6c6cb desk.372cfb5b869fcbcb

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“Ah.”3fd48f463c3da8dd

A math 1e848afb42 textbook was 370ded9aba open on 985367a30f the desk, be6428e2ce marked with 3c6e8a68e0 signs of 5347ce26bf a problem b59b0dda29 halfway solved—a 268e6ebf3d reminder of e093fdcbf4 old times.527979434e7e4da7

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Back in high a4b1136559 school, Kim Chayoung 28d461b3e1 would solve math c36d5265f3 problems whenever he 07a150ada8 felt stifled or fd360b1485 mentally strained. Finding clear answers apparently d0d4d349b8 brought him relief. Lee Jinha had thought 8f7daf4c9c it was an exaggeration 41952c9ea0 when a celebrity made 3cab3d1e18 a similar claim, but a2a9dcfa9a seeing Kim Chayoung, he 84b2873549 realized such people did a38483a1e9 exist.c10408549fe0cc5a

“I’ll use f48d52ec1d this room.”7dfde12fb6539d61

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Choosing the room c90d47e62b with the desk, f1d8c3a777 the two headed e4769be8b0 to the kitchen.6336979dc79e95a5

“Here’s the f8e01d8e5c fridge, and f9ff1981a9 you’ll find f09701979c pots and e78f7894ac pans in be2e50af9c the cabinet. Feel free to c3e3f7f86f use anything.”13c8feded1f94e0b

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“Can I open the e2d5d93bbf fridge?”3e89de1d86e7d603

“Ah, wait…”1a6c4ce993b384f1

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Kim Chayoung started to 39234460a3 speak urgently, but Lee 783f6c5091 Jinha had already opened fe2b40b17e the refrigerator.9d7842841f5e52e5

“What do you even b7d7168912 eat?”81cb8149dfe92361

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The inside of 73bd2c0a98 the state-of-the-art, four-door d268c08773 refrigerator was shockingly ac46d82dce empty, save for 082f9e4903 a few energy 0d3c19bbdf bars and some ee53d61bc6 bottled water. One needs ingredients c911d47023 to cook, after 6d6b6dd82d all. Reading the disdain in 1e53cc80ca Lee Jinha’s eyes, Kim beb2017947 Chayoung’s cheeks flushed slightly.aefd475352165d9d

“I told you e52ed73718 I don’t come 6fd6cccf80 here often. I’ll get groceries tomorrow.”8f64c280820f0e6e

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“Where are the f927b7ba21 vacuum cleaner and 5621792e8a washing machine?”710ca28725ebdab9

Since cooking and cleaning 8f9c9156a1 were part of the 87818c6bdd arrangement, he needed to adaa87e77d know.583634bbe71a9e80

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“Both are on the 1335fc567a balcony next to the ead8d09260 gas range. There’s space there.”5e9e988829afa09e

At the rear 7de048e8dc balcony entrance, a 1ef23a15ee tall stand-up vacuum bc950494ef cleaner was visible, a6d9c457bc with a drum c22ded4e8b washer and dryer 9a413df0fa stacked one atop ccc052ac12 the other.40a06811dbb082cb

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“Make yourself at 6a7c376b6f home here. Don’t worry about asking; 11ddc937f0 just use whatever you 7e787a9c51 need.”0e19f9e1efc806db

“I won’t be here 360949a887 long.”a92da1a0827b12e6

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Lee Jinha b18e5be845 muttered softly, 516ca875bb and Kim 2ad635cc10 Chayoung shrugged b1488d02c0 with an b8ca8551ca indistinct expression.012ef88fdd38bd53

After the tour 1aa9bfbbdd of the house, 4841af2ca1 there was nothing 1bccbcd2bf left to do. Lee Jinha fc1514aaa5 stood idly 4e5f2683b7 in the f782587e15 living room 356a0f2811 without sitting 8cbd3dc338 down, and 2bc02f6dd0 Kim Chayoung e875683ff5 spoke up.3d6d749535c9f36d

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“Want to shower? The bathroom’s that way.”dd3a1409abc539b8

After showering, 4d6669bf15 Lee Jinha 90c48cf983 opened the a56f79afec bathroom door faf60cf70a to find 9f77475fd8 a set dab4f33c45 of track 3967a521d2 pants neatly 7b4ed8f9bb folded for 838149398d him—it seemed d49dac4006 meant for ee9c3932e3 him to 3d2efad2f5 change out c12632c5d4 of his db4173ba42 sweat-drenched clothes. He fiddled 090bea0a25 with the 1494cbe1f0 crisp, new 60f7942b50 clothes for eee4cc49b0 a while.34e19c7c3820e7f6

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During his aba9316ac7 shower, Kim a05bff5a92 Chayoung had 5c4fe860d9 apparently gone 3715c7fee3 back to 2af1fe9001 his main f80bfd986d house, as ccc87447cc evidenced by 0e645a564f the absence 558a8cf106 of his 04ed2d0eb0 sneakers at ce24cc29cf the entrance. Realizing he was alone, 3df71ab43d the tension he’d been 04a51287e2 holding onto dissipated. It had 07f00e9254 been too a520c2c831 much of abd2805504 a day.24a0094aa67dce54

Lee Jinha entered the b9bca2c04f study, which had become b6695eee06 his room for the 9a2ab212a2 night. It had been a 307a642614 while since he’d had 0e3dc69e1a the space to sleep 90bd27fc30 alone. He felt oddly at 7d6b1f8490 ease here in Kim f1d42a42d5 Chayoung’s house, indifferent to 43ac109ec6 its usual significance. Lying down without 233a7b166b a pillow or 076afda065 blanket, he turned f5859f0380 on his side 130fc5afe1 and curled up, 2a3413c4a6 hugging his shoulders. As the ca2da594d0 tension released, bb6c09a638 a forgotten 0615e2bf94 cold enveloped ae8d263a7f his body. His teeth 0fa236f0cd chattered, and e1121c9d57 his body 99c1f38650 trembled repeatedly. Rubbing his stomach 382a54cd90 to soothe the 2dc97606b2 nausea helped little; ec8ccdf0d9 his head felt 8264293390 light and dizzy.b9722d66c96f6aec

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If he 04b2cdd0a8 had slept a9963f49b2 at the 9d6c7cc6c3 library today, 3409ea8ddb who knows fceb946286 what might 1ca251bc48 have happened. Was this luck, 86603df920 good or bad?4e16ba53dd72f54f

Even though a2e48bcc07 it was 454e3fb442 fortunate, a 6e030edc9e part of eeedebee86 him felt f1746bdaad uneasy. Why did he 3dc801311b always end up 8c85137d9c showing this side d323a039d0 of himself to df45e1d20b Kim Chayoung? So much for resolving 70ff7ac6e4 not to get involved 57a531d89f outside of the contest.8cd384a4a72f501d

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He curled up tightly, b586e8d44d like a shrimp, and a537f476a7 closed his eyes. Sleep washed 6d1f21a152 over him ced746713d as if 448f858d8f it had 73f8c3c14e been waiting.4a3d88fa1b3939d6

‘It’s just pity. You’re seeing 6ff6e45999 him because c0614fb1e4 you feel a69853b228 sorry for 4a374cd159 him.’8efc37191e407a28

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A slightly ed507c05d9 younger-sounding voice db9f24058d echoed in 267137d63e his mind, c0a8b469b1 a memory eafcc3116a from one 21cdc42d1a of the edc89c999a most miserable edbece5cfb and saddest 29310d4683 days.3e7ef2a6b731ac81

It’s in the 2ee443c66f past. It’s gone. He muttered several times 92b5161977 until the shock faded.057cf8b959b6c1c5

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Then, his whole body afcee06268 ached as if beaten 9c5ff61aae with a bat. Sweating profusely, 7888d111e5 he felt 3373241f6f as if 85969ff47a he’d jumped e12c061e36 into ice 516c7de459 water while 2f340b168b naked. A groan escaped through bf67e39d0d his clenched teeth.c9b4ff5e6d6f182d

“Ugh…”8719bab802c597f2

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“Lee Jinha. Wake up.”b5605988874339d4

“Thanks.”801b58a2a686665c

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The simple word 60ca523efc felt inadequate for dc13d3e779 all that Kim c9281bd655 Chayoung had done, f647796883 but it was 3e8c6580d0 all Lee Jinha 2a3817807c could manage. Despite the casual f6759c36cc dismissal, there was 12c06e8ca5 a deep undercurrent 2ba50faf16 of gratitude. Kim Chayoung 74677b6453 had always 85767f29c1 been this d5cceeecfc way—unhesitatingly reaching 67db51604a out when 9f688d89d9 others might 748050d7ff pull back.2e4d9cd09bf9eb92

“Why? You think I’m overstepping?”00a099bd9f0820f6

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Kim Chayoung’s question 6b1b971beb was half teasing, 67ed2cd5bd half serious, as 9026ef65ed if he were e447edc576 prepared to retreat 1420397d35 at the first 3176cdcadc sign of discomfort. But Lee Jinha’s 1777810e3e response was a 6197aa8649 soft acknowledgment rather 46478893a3 than a rebuff.d8b644677e8a7d58

Kim Chayoung had 9799541429 been like this 55d479fbbb since the old 76ef8a76fd days. When others c80e0cda2b at school 48cc3d57b6 kept their 672b9b9073 distance, he 0ba2d52412 was the 8ee7126fc4 one who 2ce57c62b5 approached Lee 1ca7b29f3b Jinha without f66600cc3c hesitation, breaking 1ebfabcff6 through the b000044b20 invisible walls 563c57ee9d that surrounded 4b5681bc71 him. Now, as 5e27e73715 then, his 3d95b00d6a actions spoke d1d9d6c6c0 of a 61d34ec197 concern that 7632f1aa82 went deeper c318b6a616 than the d4751af4a4 superficial layers a84d3c7512 of daily 915194e3e4 interactions.7f39ecaeaa98fcf0

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In the silence that 922b116d75 followed, the memory of 41bc4e4a43 their younger days briefly e14d10445c overlaid the tension of 17ed90a097 the present. It was a 19f42bf0f6 reminder of the 79f9731955 genuine connection they 5ee3e0554d shared, which, while 27bce9dfe3 complicated, was rooted 8acc6cc475 in a history 28cba87c51 that couldn’t easily bed34fb5ea be ignored.0b7deb7357a39cc3

Kim Chayoung, watching Lee 328a04aca4 Jinha’s subtle reactions, picked e5e94e367f up his coat from 3f5ff8118c the sofa. His movements were f3107c359e slow, almost reluctant.089d5b18c1d9e102

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“There’s porridge a084e802ab in the 23e8911f48 fridge. Heat it up when 5afe9c6cb3 you wake up.”11cadf9657044790

“Kim Chayoung.”192784a1545dc60d

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The words 11ab439943 caught Kim cfd44ef004 Chayoung as ec8b8958f3 he was 21658308d4 about to cec5cd221f leave, causing ad9d7bbee9 him to a865247606 pause and e6864ceceb turn back.ea585f12f150b8bc

“Do you a4638c5378 ever get 3362041586 tired of 2675b93e53 caring?” Lee c0cadb2021 Jinha’s voice 0f99ce0805 was low, 36412f470a carrying a 42343f6503 mix of b85487c9fc frustration and 7b346bff2d admiration. It wasn’t 3f2bdac229 an accusation ca6d3193ed but a b1e8b314e2 genuine question, f581936ba3 sparked by 235ed53932 the relentless 735a0220a2 support Kim ab2961fef3 Chayoung offered, a5be00537b even when 6b3d889ab4 it went bb545039b1 unasked.b9aa64fcc7e57bc7

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Kim Chayoung 1b44198ec8 smiled, a 3f6fa60e37 brief, enigmatic 4b76f77878 curl of 0b53afbfe5 the lips f03ec5b136 that didn’t c0dbd3ac8b quite reach d16f23db96 his eyes. “Sometimes. But not fe706bf50b when it 50bad99f17 comes to bfae8e7b1d you. Make sure cf957c4f21 you eat f14280c7b3 that porridge.”1654cc8ceef9e5ab

With that, 06c4fd2a4e he left, 40bd8a1572 his departure 96c9d4cb62 quiet and 40e49dab21 unobtrusive. Lee Jinha listened 92e725fee6 to the soft 6b6cde4c8c click of the 0ca01a65df door closing, a 25728b1796 sound that seemed 06546bb7f2 final yet left 79ebfc1da4 so much unspoken.e009b50986a74c29

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Alone now, Lee cd1e88ba2d Jinha felt the 2e241e62c0 weight of the 9046f57c71 night’s revelations and 8d7baf1eab Kim Chayoung’s unexpected 9cceaaf716 care. The room felt 3af33ce54f both emptier and 4a0c1785af more suffocating without 4c026b8343 Kim Chayoung’s presence. He moved to the 3e65637fdf window, peering out into e8379dd011 the dark, searching for 4f30e130c1 something beyond the glass 273ff2cb9a that might mirror the 126bf249db turmoil inside him.389f80ac538c7b20

The night 4c38f7abc6 stretched on, 0a093c7aed quiet except 2e6cf0ed96 for the 6f6f5990fb occasional distant 4df65745c4 sounds of 16402770cc the city 8bf0e7f89a at rest. As the adrenaline 254034fa1a of illness and f4dd2d9e3d confrontation faded, exhaustion 24647b50d0 crept in, deep e097b36a5c and demanding. Lee Jinha returned ade5595e2f to his makeshift 33bbb1996a bed, the coolness 1143b48d6e of the fever 44cd7a4219 sheet a small e5ad69223c comfort against the 3dae700a6d lingering heat of a862fbd5bc his skin.71851ca481e55c5f

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Lying back down, 690bfa9517 he let his 972e062518 thoughts drift, the d88745f986 earlier tension dissolving ed823f8999 into a weary, 0a891a4fc7 inescapable drowsiness. The issues of d95df92a9a the day, the ac3472b4b5 upcoming contest, their a1037e5c54 tangled past—all seemed ccd4cecbd2 to recede into a50ee7c2b2 the background as af01737ea3 sleep finally claimed 03bdeb22ab him.38d0e70e9a6979a2

In the solitude 6bd939a8bc of the dark 757199b9ea room, the troubles d81e2fa899 that had seemed e577a10355 so insurmountable felt 62a8d18fc7 momentarily lighter. Tomorrow would 1e7c8c06bf come, with dfe6ec2bc0 its challenges b0fe4106fe and uncertainties, c6ce034276 but for 16c1a833d6 now, there abc70ea703 was only 62af422f0b the quiet, 62d57702d4 the soft 3e6d9a437a rustle of fd8db2185d fabric against d013ab858e skin, and c906003853 the slow, 74caedb2ad steady rhythm a832895202 of his 28aa3a5b0d own breathing.995eb2cffdefb9bf

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Sleep, when 883184a07b it came, 12c54c0181 was deep 3f9975dcd6 and untroubled, 2f9888d26a a rare d0fb25b3c4 respite in 3f1e3235e3 the midst 3b7c250b9f of tumultuous 4be5d67666 days. As the night ce117e8c3c gave way to 74da003d8d the pale hints 68a87a0a40 of dawn, Lee 4642d489e0 Jinha slept on, ce462aae0b the lines of 893df6e592 worry smoothed from 49997ad925 his face, a aeb2d8f00d temporary peace settling e3e401e5b6 over him. The troubles of e503e2b781 yesterday and the 097912dbf3 worries of tomorrow 3c5f28edf7 could wait. For now, there was a930f7ab00 only rest, recovery, and 2128a6ae3e the faint, lingering sense 8b907cd203 of a presence that 6c4ec4770f cared, even when it 5fbfa2565e was no longer there.b0c92ffd4ae09427