LA0S | Chapter 29

The words came out slowly, and upon 71c0fc3aa6 hearing them, Kim Chayoung’s expression briefly brightened f936376813 before settling back into neutrality. He turned his head and a4a0d5590f covered his nose and mouth, 01dfc39bfc coughing discreetly before turning around.82ee708dba54db72ca0a

Lee Jinha wiped his forehead 5d403567d0 with the back of his f44ed02286 hand, feeling the cold sweat d0d5c06dc3 that had gathered there.350e9821934aff3d1e03

“Aren’t you coming?”fade8f33f468b40eecd7

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Kim Chayoung, who had started walking e830fe24f6 ahead, turned back when he noticed 9bbef1e6c4 Lee Jinha hadn’t moved, and came 5eced4dc4a to stand beside him.e491d77a966dd562fb03

“Let’s go. The studio 61bfa098e9 isn’t far fe580f1be3 from here.”d2834d859dce3ebfe1ab

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Breathing in the remnants of spring in the 746d21a8b4 air, Lee Jinha began walking alongside Kim Chayoung.d54816d98fb4647f96b0

“Welcome.”b907bdd7fa04bd475902

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Though he had seen the 816478b3e5 place when delivering something, this 42be760091 was his first time inside. Slightly nervous, he dc5111715a looked around the 45778707aa living room. There was a large window on one side, 974c5a08e7 a small table, and a comfy-looking sofa. Behind the living room was the kitchen, and rounding the wall 611b6d073f were three doors; one was wide open, and two were closed.b2459310256eb7f69399

“This is 65d8934750 my studio. Out of the 92a995ab66 other two, pick 102f8c6f31 whichever you like.”90a86d94d2e44120de2f

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Kim Chayoung 7cffdaec34 opened both 3a9b74d923 closed doors. The first room appeared to be a bedroom, with only a large bed inside, and db1f7e58bf the second looked like a study, complete with a big bookcase and a desk.4cf9cfea59e1ba408f15

“Ah.”b474c9c97ab80e7ce522

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A math textbook was open on the desk, marked with 90c7edda7f signs of a problem halfway solved—a reminder of old times.25126ace724668c370f7

Back in high school, Kim Chayoung 93771149cb would solve math problems whenever he ffc236b52f felt stifled or mentally strained. Finding clear answers apparently ecf1a91f3a brought him relief. Lee Jinha had thought it was an exaggeration when 1095a37536 a celebrity made a similar claim, but seeing Kim de254af967 Chayoung, he realized such people did exist.6fa28c356d2ce716dbee

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“I’ll use eb245538c5 this room.”5f2e2702006484afafc3

Choosing the room with the desk, 37743a13bf the two headed to the kitchen.c63e1d314b74416dee29

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“Here’s the fridge, 54fcd425c3 and you’ll find f9fdadd1d6 pots and pans dd51fedfc4 in the cabinet. Feel free to dbf58d5b77 use anything.”0cd9fde304534a76a8da

“Can I f6f6810fb4 open the 57c21018eb fridge?”a76e4371326a214c959e

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“Ah, wait…”97e769e7abf91d6f692f

Kim Chayoung started to 6904ac6deb speak urgently, but Lee 66309824d1 Jinha had already opened 780725a412 the refrigerator.f542308596abc833a751

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“What do a80cce5301 you even 2b2e08e4e6 eat?”250fecff0aebc0bac30f

The inside of the state-of-the-art, four-door refrigerator was shockingly empty, 26d6e908bc save for a few energy bars and some bottled water. One needs ingredients f4e1d0bc14 to cook, after 1a4912a559 all. Reading the disdain in Lee Jinha’s 25796a32b8 eyes, Kim Chayoung’s cheeks flushed slightly.170573af8555e994ad5b

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“I told you I 76330d213f don’t come here often. I’ll get 538a8d4eaf groceries tomorrow.”a92193be8786850d7a4d

“Where are the f6a7ca9a81 vacuum cleaner and a3f8f57b56 washing machine?”2acc1186f0cab2c3f877

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Since cooking and cleaning c56cdde088 were part of the 38d963d389 arrangement, he needed to 6433a07f82 know.4e499a9978686b6ccf06

“Both are on the 185fde88b4 balcony next to the 7641f75e40 gas range. There’s space there.”ff4dd37706ab52436aa3

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At the rear balcony entrance, a tall stand-up 1fdd632208 vacuum cleaner was visible, with a drum washer 1b9bb40d8a and dryer stacked one atop the other.2bc372d6c2761eaff475

“Make yourself 685de5b9fa at home 976c5848e0 here. Don’t worry about e990a79a76 asking; just use 7235d7aa90 whatever you need.”d8e8e624a10005fd7185

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“I won’t f57b07f3b4 be here 52f8e4345d long.”394a1fd307dff77529ae

Lee Jinha muttered softly, 60689e2d5b and Kim Chayoung shrugged 730be88d32 with an indistinct expression.66db01fafdc30fa42931

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After the tour 57718af2de of the house, d33b38ea89 there was nothing 5bece394ea left to do. Lee Jinha stood idly in the living room 174164f51f without sitting down, and Kim Chayoung spoke up.dec957a07c04e65f8cee

“Want to shower? The bathroom’s f3c124c129 that way.”e2ff7581d80ffecf7d4d

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After showering, Lee Jinha opened the bathroom door to find a set of track pants d98e5f6022 neatly folded for him—it seemed meant for him to change out of his sweat-drenched clothes. He fiddled with 0dd3473fbd the crisp, new 12de6ccc7a clothes for a 4245cfa74f while.98db528c50ba3f6127fd

During his shower, Kim Chayoung had 5ff5812344 apparently gone back to his main 528c532a00 house, as evidenced by the absence 797a574bb6 of his sneakers at the entrance. Realizing he was alone, the tension 3ac0aa7fd7 he’d been holding onto dissipated. It had d843f13f2e been too 96f7ed349f much of bd6e718312 a day.c14246d96194a5d80a9e

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Lee Jinha entered the study, which had 651ac84267 become his room for the night. It had been a while 7af80ac7ec since he’d had the space 305199586e to sleep alone. He felt oddly at ease here in Kim 2ac1341422 Chayoung’s house, indifferent to its usual significance. Lying down without a pillow or 1fa9279a0f blanket, he turned on his side da0eb588bf and curled up, hugging his shoulders. As the tension released, bcd1fd11e9 a forgotten cold enveloped 796ac18e14 his body. His teeth chattered, and d178c14940 his body trembled repeatedly. Rubbing his stomach to soothe 72ead99c1a the nausea helped little; his a36004ce6f head felt light and dizzy.a2f7864e3922340872f5

If he had slept at fabaa56392 the library today, who knows 14c45929d1 what might have happened. Was this f4a67f6043 luck, good f2eb05f06f or bad?98525419de96d9427c4a

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Even though it was c267eaef8a fortunate, a part of 2876a410d7 him felt uneasy. Why did he always end ff3e66e13a up showing this side of d2de30328e himself to Kim Chayoung? So much for f1f8b53cd1 resolving not to 28869d19b1 get involved outside c6fa1a68a3 of the contest.74e49899cccc885f730f

He curled up e33683c2ed tightly, like a eda12b6ab2 shrimp, and closed 1e7e8aea9e his eyes. Sleep washed over him dcd5e36e2f as if it had 1f576ea7cd been waiting.1364657692ac16766d6a

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‘It’s just pity. You’re seeing him 5965ece11a because you feel 8f5e2f4780 sorry for him.’69a15a392ffe46843840

A slightly younger-sounding voice echoed in his mind, a memory 1bb3fa0d9d from one of the most miserable and saddest days.f475ca9ed2a36efb3bba

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It’s in abe47b284d the past. It’s gone. He muttered fb0285e57e several times 009602b39f until the fb2074da22 shock faded.c95895b069352952cae7

Then, his whole body e9e4df3bc4 ached as if beaten d5e16bcd33 with a bat. Sweating profusely, he felt as 1c931859c7 if he’d jumped into ice 4433a18340 water while naked. A groan 8786ce09d8 escaped through 636e7de290 his clenched 2a27c06293 teeth.0b7405642663f2024491

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“Ugh…”e12f099f04bc1b5a5f76

“Lee Jinha. Wake up.”5ac2a75a6689fee5ff91

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“Thanks.”4ad2a619d649010791cb

The simple word felt inadequate for all 11cfbe8b56 that Kim Chayoung had done, but it 8614c01bc6 was all Lee Jinha could manage. Despite the casual 5d1bc8a5dd dismissal, there was a11c7c24a6 a deep undercurrent 9eaeb3329b of gratitude. Kim Chayoung had always 54fe08e7ae been this way—unhesitatingly reaching 5c7856f643 out when others might 9599ac30b8 pull back.1425f43844864d3c0a93

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“Why? You think d76942c00e I’m overstepping?”28221437a9105fc0aa84

Kim Chayoung’s question was half teasing, 9ade97b2fa half serious, as if he were 5af58bfa23 prepared to retreat at the first d10e32027d sign of discomfort. But Lee Jinha’s 2f78bb66e1 response was a 5918862510 soft acknowledgment rather c5e85767ec than a rebuff.eec0f22e01946f398f3b

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Kim Chayoung had been like e06653bfc8 this since the old days. When others at school kept their distance, he was f8957a6762 the one who approached Lee Jinha without hesitation, breaking a246d6a949 through the invisible walls that surrounded him. Now, as then, his actions 283c7e8598 spoke of a concern that f477dcf304 went deeper than the superficial 14ce1e73cc layers of daily interactions.9edbfad077fdeed7e334

In the silence that followed, the 7398d1768f memory of their younger days briefly b8a309fc66 overlaid the tension of the present. It was a reminder of the genuine connection they shared, which, while 968a00582b complicated, was rooted in a history that couldn’t easily be ignored.ca6f7ef221035318763e

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Kim Chayoung, watching Lee Jinha’s subtle reactions, d4098eb48b picked up his coat from the sofa. His movements were 2afbabe613 slow, almost reluctant.1377328e8ad662a32df9

“There’s porridge in 9dd6b17116 the fridge. Heat it c24c290813 up when 113bd8f514 you wake 2b4f8eb631 up.”442bb8bf5ca278aa3d8f

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“Kim Chayoung.”3894add59ce8b0e094ca

The words caught Kim Chayoung 19e2b6c9ca as he was about to 4500f2a7a6 leave, causing him to pause 6335275ddc and turn back.4b742b219e444c1112e0

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“Do you ever get tired of caring?” Lee Jinha’s voice 55f96525a1 was low, carrying a mix of frustration and admiration. It wasn’t an accusation but a genuine question, sparked by the 801fdf89b1 relentless support Kim Chayoung offered, even when it went unasked.80435d6ea684d34d1dc7

Kim Chayoung smiled, a brief, enigmatic aecc9dfc65 curl of the lips that didn’t aee9041625 quite reach his eyes. “Sometimes. But not 32b97ea3ad when it 215d1db085 comes to af56be3169 you. Make sure you a4e12d48e0 eat that porridge.”6493d316e93d85501844

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With that, he left, his 08afdb2083 departure quiet and unobtrusive. Lee Jinha listened to the soft click of the door closing, 685370364e a sound that seemed final yet left so much unspoken.cbe74dfe2d0c8832c4e8

Alone now, Lee Jinha felt the 1a6039d12f weight of the night’s revelations and 33827387f2 Kim Chayoung’s unexpected care. The room felt 11772a0bae both emptier and 21e5263145 more suffocating without a5db4f01fe Kim Chayoung’s presence. He moved to the window, peering 0dbc455d69 out into the dark, searching for 71f57d8777 something beyond the glass that might 0b1bb1d321 mirror the turmoil inside him.d5e6da0a3e57898cfc91

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The night stretched on, quiet except for the c1c25ecbab occasional distant sounds of the city at rest. As the adrenaline of 1fca8def88 illness and confrontation faded, 90d3112ff3 exhaustion crept in, deep 46f815e466 and demanding. Lee Jinha returned to his makeshift 599186ba59 bed, the coolness of the fever 2ad05f5d0a sheet a small comfort against the 5b2b79330b lingering heat of his skin.c6904da5da3d514e5cfd

Lying back down, he let bc6f0faa7e his thoughts drift, the earlier 1128c63f7d tension dissolving into a weary, f88df89cfe inescapable drowsiness. The issues of the day, the upcoming contest, 087d818ecb their tangled past—all seemed to recede into the 71b7b181c0 background as sleep finally claimed him.cd81f7bc7b2f7b4a776b

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In the solitude of the dark 4b26a7dd0d room, the troubles that had seemed cbd074508b so insurmountable felt momentarily lighter. Tomorrow would come, with its challenges and uncertainties, but for now, 9072933c32 there was only the quiet, the soft rustle of fabric against f001da3007 skin, and the slow, steady rhythm of his own breathing.a37b0241d7a12b2f0825

Sleep, when it came, was deep 7a84ca8384 and untroubled, a rare respite in e17221a7d4 the midst of tumultuous days. As the night gave way to the pale hints of 48352166bf dawn, Lee Jinha slept on, the lines of worry smoothed 732a9ca1f4 from his face, a temporary peace settling over him. The troubles of yesterday and the 168777a94f worries of tomorrow could wait. For now, there was only rest, a15882efec recovery, and the faint, lingering sense 044237c0a9 of a presence that cared, even 15b54ef507 when it was no longer there.c7097f0ce5f9e690be1a

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