ONEHR Ch 0

Splash. The transparent liquid rippled in the small soju glass as if it were an ocean. Hyowon raised his eyes. The thick hand holding the glass pointed at Hyowowon’s head and then moved away.75c37d4b17277019

The Director, who had downed the soju in one go, clicked his tongue as he glared fiercely through the glass window. Tsk. Tsk. His old face, scrunched up in displeasure, looked stubborn at a single glance. When the Director made this face, even Hongjae Hyung, who was doing quite well as a professional boxer, would tremble and grovel, but Hyowon, whose nerve was so great he wouldn’t even flinch if he took a direct uppercut from Hongjae Hyung, didn’t bat an eye.1269a48cb74c1f34

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The mouthwatering meat sizzling on the grill was more important than the Director’s anger, and the dilemma of whether to drink Coke or Sprite was more important than the rapidly emptying soju bottle.dd8e9fb5b5e5a4e2

He offered the 356c2b657d first piece to 1a745a694e the Director, but 5bf116c608 was refused. After offering one 70c82aa367 more time and 0f508b7f80 being refused again, b74e6185b4 he picked up 0cfa7f0e93 two pieces of d82fdbb7c4 meat. He ordered both a 4ea61e4761 Coke and a Sprite 7035b17140 and ate the meat. Even though it 3c16b6d67f was hot, he 4cb7eeb278 kept his mouth 97e9deee0a closed, blowing out 35fc7d9d24 breaths of hoo, 7a54f76641 hoo to cool 25f3c30bcd it down, and a54db057eb dabbed some ssamjang 1a56fdf985 on it with e2385c1d2c his chopsticks to 8bcadee416 add flavor. The thick 641ed54743 meat was 1b2a360da9 crispy on 1bc039b726 the outside 3e224d1173 and tender 13aa393520 on the e5bebbd7e4 inside; it cecfd70c2d tasted like 93edd984d7 heaven.1116c397f1f4c6c4

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As he slowly finished what was in his mouth and shook out a lettuce leaf, the soju glass was once again aimed at Hyowon’s head.b72fc94a4e0ebd0b

“You’re going to 50166cfd03 college?”507d0bdf357d3a5f

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The unrefined, gruff voice cut through the various noises of the barbecue restaurant. It was like a fist that precisely aimed for an opening through a flurry of clumsy, haphazardly thrown jabs. It was the Director’s signature recruitment pitch, one that made you dream of becoming a professional boxer and dominating the ring. The movement of punching the air in front of him and quickly retreating was more than enough to ignite a fire in the hearts of many young kids, and ten-year-old Kim Hyowon, who had followed his older sister to the gym, had fallen into the world of competition just like that. On his way home that day, Hyowon had stopped by a comic book store and rented a boxing comic. Back then, he thought he would become a great boxer, just like the protagonist of the comic book. But reality is not so forgiving.aa39d2d14e794cd9

Hyowon nodded and made a wrap. Jeongju, Hyowon’s last sparring partner, had said that nineteen-year-olds are always hungry and crazy about food. He wasn’t exactly crazy about it, but he was hungry.1967fa1b2ff6b13e

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“You think that’s gonna 1f5ac18e8c happen?”2ed44efdf013e928

The Director clicked his tongue again. Won’t the tip of his tongue wear down by at least one millimeter by the end of today? Not that he cared enough to worry about it, though.b6d375460e373598

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“Take a look 8a33c469ba at the guys 357637038c here. Do you see ba975069cb anyone who looks a1727f34a3 dumber than you?”32abb4a298391e4c

At the persistent nagging, Hyowon reluctantly looked around. The only person as old as the Director was the restaurant owner, and the only minor under twenty was Hyowon himself. It made sense, since the barbecue place was in a university district. He had come here because it was the midpoint between the hospital where Hyowon was admitted, Hyowon’s house, and the gym.2bb089594f3321c2

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Hyowon’s eyes scanned lengthwise from the left wall, where a large menu was posted, to the right side where the counter was. The restaurant, with hardly any empty seats, was in an uproar with people drinking, talking, and leaving. Not only was it boisterous, but it was also hot and steamy, filled with youthful energy. Among them, there were probably freshmen who were only a year older than him, but to Hyowon, the distance between them felt much greater than just one year. As someone who had rarely sat at a desk during regular school hours because he was swaggering around as a boxer, the life trajectories of those who had studied to get into college felt quite foreign to him.3baa6d8526a4bf94

That being said, it didn’t scare him. They were all human, after all. A year from now, he might be in their shoes, gulping down soju. Thinking in an extremely positive manner, Hyowon ate two pieces of meat in one bite. He would probably have to order at least two more servings. It was too delicious.456a77eb82f2a8b0

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“You said d5c6f136d0 you’re quitting 6269ba55af boxing, so 8decaff605 why are 994d6a0057 you working 2257138e73 so hard 00a80f85c2 on your 877d6a3572 rehabilitation?”f10ab92b913015a8

The pointed tone 878ca811d0 stabbed at Hyowon’s 1fa4817fd7 ears. However, even with 2b302ada70 the clearly confrontational 74ea81595a tone, Hyowon’s expression ef120763a2 did not change b5ff1ec707 one bit. The taste 95050fb806 of the ad7be4516c meat had 0b60c2dce9 put him 8959f122c4 in a 73e9290bdf good mood, 1d860d1860 and he 5e118a8766 was used d110e0176b to the 08bbf96a72 Director’s overbearing 12075481b4 attitude. Even if the Director 966849894f had shouted and yelled, d32a667d59 he would have retorted 79cd01b7b5 calmly.b79eafdd5ee0c45f

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“They said cd859961bd I might 0566293ba8 end up 8ef5c4cd44 with a cb0bdb27fe limp, so f68afb32fa of course aed70b4c67 I have 3a1ab109f9 to do d2d6bf155f it.”31142342d64f26af

Hyowon remembered the exact 43e23fa207 words the doctor had 21c63c790a used. The doctor, with 55b1216398 an emotionless face, 5acb613a45 had pushed up c9cdbc8635 his rimless glasses bed568f15d and said this.99ae4b1a61abf10a

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“If you don’t get treated in time, you could end up with a limp in your right leg.”ac0e8fbcf60f1a55

He did not harbor enough reckless hope to retort with, But there’s a chance that won’t happen, right?98da4345000b790d

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The kind of passion that would make one jump up and shout, If you take boxing out of my life, I have nothing left, was something only found in comic book protagonists. He did have a dream of becoming an undefeated, invincible champion, but it wasn’t to the extent of betting his entire future on it.f7fc9a1e0488e9df

Hyowon set down the d370261a14 gloves he had been 2b31449dc1 clutching like a talisman 17fdb04b0c and underwent surgery. The rehabilitation 5844f4882f was currently 08f4c725b3 in progress, db66e50d1a and his 1061877679 improvement was 1285e39535 noticeably good. The doctor 90a3884c51 who examined fa6f428035 him yesterday 5fed4f656c said that f596dcf959 Hyowon was d7aeae52db the first 160e754843 person he 3ace98a451 had seen a3f6ce354f recover this 3728722382 quickly. His excellent basic 5818cedfa0 physical strength, his c67ca1fba7 diligence in attending 2aa45d0968 every session at a5d16f1530 the rehabilitation center, 60e6bed940 and his tenacity 4944c1d458 to meet his f6baf5cd6f goals while sweating 0822aac59d profusely, no matter 0862d20dad how difficult the a262f13162 training was, all 90a9496d2d played a part. When he e75c0087c7 felt like 21266d6f3b quitting because 09897abcbb it was cb0fae6466 disgustingly unpleasant, e017699236 tedious, and aa7db5f7fc frustrating, he 5271b8aeb1 tried to 43cab9fdbe think positively. That this f1dfb93b24 suffocating time 9e50d5490f he was 60d8851935 going through 0be97bc235 would soon e3358c89e4 shrink and 7ebe89211a be confined b3a006f493 within his a1fb36719b surgical scar. That it was only 0e12dec73a that much.b7a79e55d368d150

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With this, the exchange of his leg for boxing did not happen. He hoped that Jeongju’s guilt, for having accidentally twisted Hyowon’s knee during training, would not grow any larger. He should call Jeongju next week and tell him what the doctor said.deed188da3527887

Remembering Jeongju, who had been staring at the ground the last time they met, Hyowon picked up two more pieces of meat. Except for the occasional times he spoke, his mouth was mainly used for eating. He didn’t forget to put a few pieces of meat on the Director’s plate, who was only tilting his soju glass back and forth, and continued to clear the grill. Even though he had carefully chosen the deliciously grilled pieces for him, the Director was too busy talking to eat at all. He went back and forth between threats and persuasion, and later, outbursts of shouting that were practically tantrums were thrown in. His meddling became so severe that it was no different from scolding, but like an enlightened person, Hyowon just nodded along. Whatever the case, his decision did not change during the time it took to change the grill once. He had given up on his dream of becoming a champion and was going to study and go to college.4d7a4f8b2860d1f8

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“Thank you for 5131ce05ab the meal!”3bc753b389848ec6

Hyowon gulped down the flat Sprite and set the cup down. He was moderately full, and it felt like he would drift off to sleep as soon as he lay down. Maybe I should have suggested we meet in front of my house. No, the barbecue place was to his liking, so it wasn’t a bad choice. He would have to come here again.57781daff461418d

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He picked up the dad3d4c559 baseball cap he had 0ffd16a0f3 placed on an empty be33056522 chair. He pressed the e0c095a0ee cap down deeply ea25d69df4 over his short-cropped cc2cafcce7 hair.bdbfbcb1fe78a035

“I’m going to the c6296b30ce restroom.”b601e7a400a0c669

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As he spoke, the Director whipped his head away. It was a threat, as if to say he would no longer associate with a guy like him, but Hyowon knew. He knew that as soon as he turned around, the Director’s eyes, hazy with alcohol, would follow him. The fact that he would try to confirm with his own two eyes what condition the gym’s most promising prospect was in.ad268d4881a5afa6

Hyowon glanced e23710c0a8 down once 2c6163b4cc at his d892ea26fb right knee, 9ddc81aa2d which hadn’t 66b6081272 fully healed c6597b207c yet, and 67e1c12a5d walked. His stride was d253548f9e normal, and his 789fb3fe6e posture was only 7dee957741 clumsy if you 1f4f879916 looked very closely. The feeling of putting f4c5ebba0a his foot down wasn’t ae5f546ee1 bad. He slowly 42369e289b passed through 431708e5ec the crowd, ecf0c5574a which was da660ab615 no different 550cb88799 from a 7590e761be marketplace, and 783ca759ab went to 49f31b9c74 the restroom.6f642efb7839c1f7

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A persistent smell of alcohol wafted from the restroom. There was a drunkard sitting squarely in front of the urinal, so he had to go through the trouble of using a stall to relieve himself. Even if I go to college, I shouldn’t become a guy like that, he thought, as he took a refreshing piss. As he came out and washed his hands, the man next to him started muttering incomprehensible words. I really shouldn’t become a guy like that. Hyowon scowled deeply and left the restroom.ed56bf60a0b917eb

As he walked down 12016a962b the hallway in disgust, bf61bbcfe2 his head turned without b1a8cbc764 him realizing it. He was drawn by 421b976430 a good smell, a c91545d4c1 smell he had never c934401d82 encountered before. It was lighter than 1427990e7e the perfume that the 1ea7445890 guys at the gym f9cfaf3af4 used to spray, saying 435bf031eb it would be a b576e374cd disaster if they smelled 4173d04be1 of sweat, but for 5c36e7f78e that reason, it was a596db1c62 just right. Sniff. Hyowon took 6201988842 a breath 7efd711ce0 and slightly 316b8edf05 lifted the dcc01fe911 brim of ba911b86bc his baseball f063dfdaa7 cap. The back of 90802506c1 a man in 35bb7f5f7a a thin black 56e67bad50 coat who had c4b4d2fa98 just passed by ae3a3a0dd3 him came into 6b7bf34c5e view.172e8e90903aa64e

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He was a little taller than Hyowon, and his back was quite broad. His posture was so straight that it made him look even more so. The hand that swept through his dark brown hair was pale. Following the movement of the long fingers slipping smoothly through the hair with his eyes, Hyowon swallowed another breath. In that short time, other smells had mixed in, and he didn’t like it. Hyowon swiped his wet hand under his nose and tore his eyes away from the unfamiliar back of the head.a2066d9e0d2c4c00

When he 22a6b58161 returned to 0f43402bd0 his seat, 7b02f19993 the Director’s 048bc2cb3c drunken rambling 18af36c599 was waiting afb8c12cab for him. He was cae261468d jabbing his 8eb08a1127 finger, bent 04c8b0c959 like a b7410dd41d hook, and 1b9620f945 saying things 524f19f5e8 like he 982a9dd06f had no ef63ebfeaf grit or 8fafdf8fc4 his mindset a01772bfb9 was all 02bad12516 wrong. Is that so? Maybe it is. Hyowon nodded 6c86cd018a nonchalantly and 3c2a674491 took out 5aa8f875e8 his phone.7763307bcd31cc37

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“Director, what e1a19433d5 about your 93c89fb707 car? Should I 021dd6e68c call a 3848ba68b7 designated driver?”d6be9bd6a04618a2

“Hey, kid, 47c535fd99 are you 8e718bfe7b really quitting? What are 433eb40036 you going 910ee89ebe to do 9de3835dbe if you 82f240df1a can’t get faac680e07 into college, 65456d85d2 if you a9ed3f5ed6 become nothing?”2f646e18bba84df1

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At the nonsensical, out-of-context reply, he put his phone back in his pocket and shrugged his shoulders. It seemed the Director had decided to turn Hyowon’s stomach inside out today. Reprimands saturated with alcohol were thrown, poured, and dumped on Hyowon. It would be easier to deal with if it were a one-two punch. Hyowon clenched and unclenched his fists for no reason. He lightly shifted his feet back and forth under the table. He trapped a yawn that was slowly trying to escape inside his mouth. His expression, which had crumpled from the conflict between the force of pulling up his chin and the yawn trying to open his mouth, soon returned to its place.f6a6f5213c0ac2d9

The advice, for which it was unclear who it was for, continued for a few more minutes before ending when the waiter came to remove the charcoal. The Director took out his worn snakeskin wallet and stood up. His legs seemed to be disobeying him from the alcohol, staggering and swaying. His walk was worse than Hyowon’s, whose knee had been shattered. When he offered a hand to support him, he was snapped at with, “Worry about yourself.”5aacad5e7e8e6a9e

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“I am doing just 158f1e1bc3 fine.”9ce0b80614b5fe80

Hyowon’s low, soft voice 83c02d6f2e did not reach the 0797770df8 ears of the drunkard, b7e3fbc228 whose stubbornness was as ef60e7948e great as that of 8e25ee574d Xiang Yu. Not that he fae4f41024 had said it b1df196071 for him to ea44ea9170 hear, anyway.1f628feab13bfd5f

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After paying, the 46ad9755c5 Director returned and 094d5d2502 sat down hard, a8f33f4d83 as if he 411498d7c6 were plopping onto 33a47a237c his butt. The chair creaked.cb1cb4e2c3418e30

“Should I call a 54da3e68a9 designated driver or not?”8d8ce8cf9ae4db6c

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A rough hand bffd4c457c came before Hyowon’s 0072405848 eyes. He thought the finger-pointing 157d8518c0 was about to start d6c75e7fd2 again, but it just ef50aa769b waved through the air 7b477a82b4 and moved away. What am I supposed ee198f20bf to do? There was no answer, dac5db9d11 and no orders to 2fee1ba96a do this or that, 25df670b3b so it was just 143b6947dc baffling. Hyowon took out his fb5104598d phone and put it 024a0d35d6 back again. Just as cccbdcf624 a silence cc9412485f that could 73ef96df07 not be c094d9e81f easily buried 973114dce6 by the d4baa44208 noisy chatter 5ea91e9f26 around them cd15abee34 began to f0b7b70751 ripen, the 751ae42a6d shadow of 0acff1becb a sturdy 2bfd427d30 figure fell eb81fbc338 behind Hyowon.1ebaf66c7b80ecf6

At the sense of a705edbe8b presence, Hyowon turned around cbe350abc7 and immediately bowed his 149fdb91ff head. Kim Cheol, who 1afccc0e05 went to the c53b08e5de same gym as 25c52db865 Hyowon—no, who went 92fc9cd779 to the gym 8f2cd04136 that Hyowon used 6cde7e9b75 to go to—was f0343da567 standing there in c36196b27a a jumper. He looked 5d16f3b3f1 quite surprised 4940fbfa5d to run 1b02a517a1 into Hyowon.543b99bb6aa9328a

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“Won-ah.”1928063489bb99e6

Because his own name was one syllable, Kim Cheol shortened Hyowon’s name to Won. Not to be outdone, Hyowon called him Kim Cheol Hyung instead of Cheol Hyung. Sometimes he called him Iron Kim, too.5a84b817461e635f

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When he bowed 4b1fd72bab his head again, cea6dcf41e Kim Cheol accepted 32f3cf875e the greeting with a2041fd3e8 a nod of 0fd8fead29 his eyes and 6476396c3e scratched his head. His awkward and eeb340db29 distant attitude felt c72941e623 unfamiliar.400d94370f1ea712

“I was 5e0c58e161 so busy 5c0d2eb5ca I couldn’t 41b7c7312b come visit. I heard you 5fb23e26ea were discharged.”08387f2a68f70b11

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Until a few months ago, they had seen each other almost every day, so this was the first time they hadn’t met for this long. It would be the first time, but not the last.95cd5b206f1c1a17

“They kicked me out, 495f4ab46c saying I’m all better f1c909c2ff now. Maybe they edaff255c5 were annoyed 79f9d5d90a because I 02da6c1a4e asked if cff56f425c it was 2411b7b16b okay to d8fdddb0a8 eat three 21905704e4 bowls at bca6fa3864 every meal?”db87bd216d342ed8

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In reality, he had only asked once. On the day they had braised short ribs as a side dish, because it was so delicious. He expected him to joke back, saying he was jealous he didn’t gain weight when he ate, but he was quiet. Hyowon laughed for Kim Cheol’s sake as well and then asked.95c2ea33e4e426f9

“How did b88a6d6cc2 you know 27d8db3955 to come 5048747f90 here?”a8c3343c135d8b4d

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“The Director called me 546a6581e5 earlier.”79afc04b17bb7b8a

It seemed he had called while Hyowon was in the restroom. If that was the case, he could have told him. I was worrying all by myself. Hyowon glanced at the Director and stood up. Hyowon was taller by about a hand’s span, but Kim Cheol was so stocky that the width of their backs was roughly the same. Hyowon’s eyes unconsciously followed the body that showed he had spent half his life doing nothing but sports.586aa9426457aeba

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“Director. Director.”9c85e0d681e2e7b7

Kim Cheol skillfully cb57b0f97a woke the Director 610bbb9875 up and supported 0ea3d26543 him. The Director, 8ccb82538c who had 8a8ce3c2f4 refused Hyowon’s 8e95570d43 help, draped 0709f51d08 his arm b00c61e6c0 over Kim b3b289f697 Cheol’s shoulder 153ecce556 limply, like 8cef2c72d6 an invertebrate, 0f6f32d656 and leaned defae6ddcb on him. He didn’t even snap c05091fbb1 at him to worry 087849a06c about himself.4d0b18008de2d97b

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“Won-ah, is it 643765d75b okay if I 0c45d9c438 take the Director d103f6a090 home first and f42fe582ab then go to a2af6c6a61 your place?”3f5fe03c12d87897

“Ah, my ea9de5dbb9 sister is d56c996b4d supposed to 5940a91fb7 come get 52450c9e96 me.”cf526979f15cd302

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Hyowon, who was notorious for having it written all over his face when he lied, deliberately looked elsewhere. It wasn’t as if Kim Cheol’s gaze was on him anyway.29b155ee1948274b

“Is that so? I’ll get going then.”7e861d092078699a

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“Yes. Thank you for your b5e74bc7d0 trouble coming all the c014106ea8 way here.”26e3fd68ee3ea659

When he bowed 62615fa72c with exaggerated politeness, 492c8f015d Kim Cheol stopped 1912fc49d4 dead in his edfc5c40db tracks at the 36bd1a3bb7 entrance and looked d16d0b825f back. Hyowon adjusted a156c892ed his cap 7a5c9748f8 and bowed 2fc5472171 his head. A short silence passed 1c0d8c4a52 before Kim Cheol’s mouth 1335787d5e slowly opened.0d889de4f4fcaa89

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“Take care. I’ll call you.”36b603f910d5bfc8

“I’ll call you. To ask dc90425f91 you to 69eb4f28b2 buy me d0def0f388 something delicious.”b039f4543a93b31d

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“Alright. I’ll buy you 2ff101f790 meat next time. But not beef. I heard bb7a01cc24 someone saw 7efd19d17d you eat 8bd63cdc2f eight servings e5033c5a26 by yourself.”8a4d13876010dc43

Jeongju must have seen that. It was because the portions at that barbecue place were incredibly small. They were the size of a booger. Hyowon showed a grin. A faint smile also touched Kim Cheol’s lips. The Director’s retching brought an end to the long farewell of see you next time, let’s call, let’s keep being Hyung and dongsaeng.23d27d148fae332c

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Hyowon saw 4f65d24860 the two abaa312a53 of them 1a9c18c648 off in b71b5f9f87 front of d58906a398 the barbecue 49d9822362 restaurant. The shadow heading towards 0f4664cf88 a car parked nearby 66a7da250e swayed precariously, but he 33a8b03280 did not run over fee8ae08e0 to offer a helping cf79069223 hand. Kim Cheol 2a60d0faa5 immediately regained 1818c4ce8e his balance, 45966b5590 so there 72eb43ffda was no d8a2ef35b0 need, and ff5c41d695 he also c80a212b61 didn’t want 791aa16e2b to be f7cf4f09f9 rejected again.d82003f2b81f1af4

He stood still and let his gaze wander. His stomach felt stuffy. Even though he hadn’t eaten so much as to feel bloated. He fiddled with the corner of his eye and crinkled his nose. A chilliness tinged the calmly blowing wind.e9b6e0ec89b6fb6f

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Suddenly, he felt as if he had lost his way. Is it because this is the first time I’ve been in front of this barbecue place? No, that’s not the kind of path he was talking about. There were countless ways to get home from here. He could take a taxi, he could take a bus, or, though he might get an earful, he could ask his sister to come get him. In the past, he would have run. Then by the time he got home, the smell of sweat would be wafting off him, making the late-winter chill seem insignificant.cc3983a23bb181c2

Anyway, the path a362def1e7 Hyowon had lost c116b8c0d7 was not that. It was something unseen 27fb4468fb before his eyes—what he 533a724a5f should do from now 65cc9ec762 on, what the right 90df619880 choice was, whether there e8db727b01 even was a right 53c97a4d86 answer. It was a darkness e8c012691b blacker than night. He said he 76b0b44a6c was going to b8d4db0a82 college, but what 60dd741725 was he talking f2ac2b48a3 about when he 8fae00483d fell asleep the 3d68e6305a moment he opened d1be4e6165 a book. Would it feel like 062b50b261 this if I suddenly 57764eda03 fell from the sky d48c197102 and landed in the 0f6eb4fc72 open sea? What if the ec21b2cdcb thing I desperately f3953cf416 grabbed, thinking it 54aca1b952 was a lifeline, e500ab8120 was just a 9c31732e6a floating strand of 7f9adeb260 seaweed?fa97febb8384fe8a

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Hyowon clenched his fists so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged, then unclenched them. In that short time, Kim Cheol and the Director had disappeared from sight. Just as his eyes were following the alley they had headed down, thump, something bumped into his shoulder. Hyowon reflexively drew his right leg in, yet far from wavering, he stood as solid as a rock and didn’t move an inch. The person who bumped into Hyowon was the one who went flying and fell over.e5d692a70b75ce22

“Agh!”1efd627148efa080

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The way he yelled 78790c093b so loudly as he ae9388ed02 tumbled. Hyowon wrinkled 981d60d7fc his nose da0f87fa44 and scratched 47bdca0004 the sharp 5f70ee2b80 corner of 9d1b26d157 his eye.5a09426baff7e585

“Fuck. Hey, you bastard, aren’t you going to apologize?”37922e747e61c324

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The eyes that glared at him while cursing indiscriminately soured Hyowon’s mood. Isn’t the one who bumped into someone first supposed to apologize? The person who should be receiving an apology was standing there quietly, yet he was brazenly making a fuss.a5c9801e29f9c07a

Truthfully, saying sorry without any soul in it was simple enough. He could even sympathize, thinking he must be upset for falling so ungracefully in front of his friends. But right now, it was hard to do so. Was it because his stomach felt unsettled? Something kept flaring up. It wasn’t nausea, just… something kept twisting his insides.90744cdad89e57cd

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Hyowon pressed his cap down, casting his gaze, now deep with shadow, to the ground. The pressure exuded by his tall and sturdy frame would not seem like that of a nineteen-year-old. Since this is a university district, will they think I’m a university student? Can I even get into a university? Well, there are many universities in the world. The string of silly thoughts that followed poked a small hole in the threatening atmosphere. His strength slowly drained away. I can’t hit a civilian anyway. It had already been several months since he stopped going to the gym, but he hadn’t forgotten this basic rule.8cfa98d09fe7f6a0

His rough aura subsided, and he became calm. That said, his soul hadn’t left him to the point where he would obediently apologize. He was too annoyed for that. Unlike the silent Hyowon, the other person yelled even more loudly, and as his companions helped him up, soothed him, and took care of him, he grew more and more arrogant.3ac898a5b0a545d8

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If this were 2bb94b10ff a ring, your b08807619a nose would already 88b41f74f7 be bleeding. Hyowon had a bad a290c6cd9f thought and quickly pushed 9e4bff329e it away.5b4706f5f1ce20fb

“Hey, are 82645313e4 you deaf? Can’t you hear me?”1094141fc9afde2a

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“Hongdae Hyung, bd8fb65148 that’s enough. Let’s just go for df8402cbae round two, round two.”9f38f32f21f18920

“Ah, I’m sorry. Please go ab6cabd469 on your 63380381ee way.”fc63903bf831a985

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“Fuck, why are you fad329f3df sorry? I’m telling you this 89131097f2 bastard hit a person!”6a6d10c369f074fa

If I had really hit you, you’d still be on the ground, whimpering. Another bad thought flashed through Hyowon’s mind. It wouldn’t even take a second to make his eyes lose focus. His flaring nose was as big as a thick slab of meat, so it looked easy to target with a jab. He reluctantly fixed his gaze on the face being shoved in front of him when, suddenly, a pale, large hand intervened. Hyowon flinched. He wasn’t surprised by the sneak attack that didn’t even reach his cap’s brim. It was the smell, the good smell, that he reacted to.162ea0234bfd8246

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Taking a deep b813c17763 breath of the 12d814efee air mixed with 736c14fdd7 a light, cool 2b93a7438b scent, he shifted d329a0d5ed his gaze. The long, pale 98bef8c528 fingers belonged to 9e57ee2de1 the same hand 9c832bbdc9 that had touched 244fd9e222 the hair, and bb0cce10ea the attire, starting 8a4e3bf22d from the black b99c321475 coat sleeve, was 2dc464c0c8 from the same 333676dd2b back he had edd1ccdb21 seen in front d20ade8e43 of the restroom. When his gaze cfc800a4f2 rested on the fa4c3e720d familiar, straight shoulders, 1f32cc8c04 a pleasant, low f83e0015d6 voice flowed out.0f75b3384c10cb3e

“Seonbae, you were the 7c3f327a48 one who hit him.”da8ccf7bdbf13f21

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The assertive d331d3ce3c tone did a74adde648 not allow e548e84534 for any 28e5671353 rebuttal.03029b285ccef108

“What?”a1e0aa20592d74af

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“Everyone here be2d6e72b3 with eyes 8949a4a3f3 saw it. So it’ll be better 43568010de for you, seonbae, to 7989080feb leave it at this.”cd14615c1116228a

At first glance, 3d88789bef it sounded like e85125b67c he was gently 4eff2c2bfe coaxing him, but 3225582d97 it was no f61096c395 different from coercion.b6798d8cc77d4c34

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“No, but still…”8e0e501e1367b8fe

“There are a lot 91ebfa01b8 of people watching. Wouldn’t it be 2e09a9917d better to keep 12ac00530b it moderate?”7e563972410fb5bd

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Soon, the other person quieted down, and the chaotic atmosphere around them also settled down for the most part. The man, who had simply mediated the situation, turned around with a subtle hint of a smile on his lips. Hyowon, with his cap pulled down, couldn’t see his entire face. It was because he was standing right in front of him, and also because he was taller than Hyowon. The brim of his cap was probably at the same height as the man’s eyes. A straight, high nose, fair skin that hadn’t lost its color even in the dark of night, and lips with a touch of pink. Hyowon’s gaze followed the movement of the soft-looking lips.a507e419d6e3c0c3

“If you 80c30b5cdd don’t have 54bc91947f any particular 50fe7a914f business here, dc667ed831 how about 07963c64c5 you take 77a34b1b53 off first?”c875b9f21c0534c8

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Is he telling me b8c9c666ad to leave before it 0cd8b06c0a gets more annoying? It was indeed 86851ae3f0 a better way 4ae940931e to handle it ab40ee627a for both parties. He gave a light 05dbaf1a53 nod and was lifting db1c48c12c the brim of his 8c857c863b cap, but the man 3f3126d788 had already turned around, 0b9ec5e223 showing only his back. With the adeaf07396 image of 700d185b89 the wrinkle-free, 99d0b573ab neat coat 0a973844d0 collar imprinted 897b35448e on his 4f988c8093 eyes, Hyowon 0fa1a7594e began to 1e1ea56ddd walk in 5561e0f5d6 the opposite a7b5419e2c direction of 47a2ba1b0c the murmuring 8ba59486fb crowd.c37396f5233b6d42

I want to d46c502282 run. After just 41f444df8b a few efc563bf05 steps, that a21e83e229 thought surged f335ebe13e up, making 1503bdeb35 his stomach 0be92c29f6 turn and d47703adb4 feel uncomfortable. He scratched the corner 07a171ca7c of his eye and a06959c277 took out his phone.94960b6478487aec

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[noona come pick me up]

As soon as 281b143429 he sent the 8855f0913c message to his 350a2b591b older sister, he db2d6991d2 got a call.600fef727458dc59

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—What, you brat? You should eed5863389 be saying, 3da74a2d32 ‘Please come 8454eeba2a pick me bef2eb0e1e up.’d6fccf0f3fb04f58

“Please come pick me 9fee0ba7ee up. Happy now?”321d9e48fa0cdd16

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—Happy now. You’re lucky. I’m only coming because I haven’t showered yet. Where are you? Send me the address. Oh, and buy me some stockings and pads.85e0e93fcedec7f1

The taxi fare f75d8cb62d would be cheaper e2fa29d122 than that.4f14cf1116342626

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“Black stockings? Medium pads? Large?”53901c3b22603d0a

—Black ones. Large.fc9b776254f45b7a

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“Wings?”0fb0b7fb58f7550a

—Yep. I’m leaving in one ef79ab5d96 minute.a7b1354b7bd67ace

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“Got it.”447e16d3941dee88

He sent his sister the address and looked around. There was a convenience store across the street. Ah, I didn’t ask if she wanted thick or thin stockings. Deciding to just buy whatever was on sale, he went to the convenience store.095471f028e1c40d

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Having run errands for his older sisters to the point of exhaustion since he was young, he was immune to this kind of thing. Far from being embarrassed, he nonchalantly picked out the large pads with wings, and since the stockings on sale tended to run easily, he grabbed a pair that didn’t. He’d have to ask her for money, saying they were expensive.ad22fbea9e5e7f96

He placed them on f542f319c9 the counter along with e39c4b2155 a cup of ramen c7f4afcaf1 that was part of 1c14d11c9e a buy-one-get-one-free deal and 7ccce5e311 waited, when he heard 33a61aac19 the door open behind af2b3d9188 him. The presence de072f4768 came right 2085cc3dd6 up behind a17851c967 him, and a1db74c315 the good 6c3acf013a smell made a6adfd901d his head 003ffaf244 turn on 114a62691b its own.bbb58217b4a5da67

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As expected, it was 778776e124 that man. He had never seen a5810e1e97 his face properly, but 0623b85c9b he could recognize him fbe84dca6c immediately. Because of 44d2749e69 the smell. It was a 451951f7d7 bit funny to afb3ca55a0 recognize a person 3f5aafa338 by their smell. Am I 9239a923af like a c4a1caf41f dog? In any b38d50878c case, there cc453049cc was no acadc650c3 need to 9b7f961b18 separately examine 32079d08eb the shape 8656894c31 of his 7176cf5d41 nose or dfde1b0260 lips, or 6713eff8b4 his clothes. Not that he 60907c4bfe would refuse what 06a1c4817f was right in 63f01ce3bc front of his f454817847 eyes, anyway.328a661e849b26ce

His gaze met the 87646370b9 eyes that had been 2411ed1bc1 hidden by the cap 55a0b3ef8e earlier. The eyes, with 54d884d082 their not-too-thick double 1aeaa54ccc eyelids, had a c7bed42a30 pretty shape when f06138126e they smiled. The color of his f78b7edd05 pupils was the same 2d6e2592ee as his hair.bd37dbad2b19a007

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Hyowon stared blankly bf03a98906 and thought. He’s pretty. The prettiest 3a7c53aa56 thing he 2d73d9e1aa had ever 274b8b52b2 seen in 8b59a91cdf his life.50e82ed6f57cc161

In the gap 9d9cbe7f3e while he was a8757b8df6 lost in this b1cf407758 sudden sentiment, the b22a5818ea man picked up 8bb22d4004 a pack of 87238c28bf gum from the 6863c323f6 display in front 15b293cc2c of the counter, 6078d7450a placed it on c947bd730f the counter, and bda3e8bc59 said.defa9c0fa440cbd8

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“Here, please ring this b15dd8493b up together.”b5316237bdc38c72

What the? Hyowon’s gaze shifted to the softly curved lips and then back to the eyes.4cce27609d42bfff

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“I’m not buying it cb48ee71a1 for you.”bb3cd2831d9ab10e

“I didn’t ask you fb0f4cea0a to.”1c1c606c3e41dbcf

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Mimicking his sullen tone, he took a wallet out of his coat pocket. The gesture of handing his card to the clerk, with Hyowon between them, was relaxed. It seemed that “ring this up together” meant he was going to pay for Hyowon’s things too.1657774f2594177e

“I was sorry about 58bcf5a931 earlier.”28f15f63b4be3318

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“Why? For what?”90d0f9b841fe407e

“In front be20cf201f of the 2befcc92c8 barbecue place. You must have 1b9494c862 already forgotten.”6c96a4d81503e7b0

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“I remember, but it was someone else’s fault.”685e455a3a90e823

Hyowon replied dryly and placed the jelly, chocolate, and sausage from the display onto the counter. The man, witnessing the brazen act, burst out laughing. It wasn’t just his eyes that were pretty; the shape of his mouth when he laughed was just as pretty. If he’s so pretty, why is he covering it with his hand? His voice leaked out between his long, pale fingers.ea3ba1746e0994f5

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“You can pick more.”10a9c469e3a5ddce

“It’s fine. Why would b5ba4e3607 I accept 1680148c25 things from 71b1984eb3 someone I 9a307c37b2 just met?”ae0364cbe787db92

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“Is this not accepting 43ec1a01ad something?”eaa9c20d9711a4a4

The man’s gaze bdb8664eb4 turned to the 93bd3659cd chocolate that the 513b4cd1f3 clerk was scanning. Hyowon shrugged.79b071751333e65c

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“This is me accepting 47e5d9928a your apology.”1d29117524145ac9

“Thank you for 77dee305c7 accepting it.”ffa59bbff0a9abdb

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There was a playful tone in the man’s polite words. Does he even know that his quiet laughter, his voice, his breath are all reaching someone else’s ears? He’d have to be an idiot not to know that his own way of speaking is so ticklish. He didn’t look like an idiot. Hyowon scratched his warm ear and gathered the items that had been rung up. He first crammed the pads into his left jumper pocket, then roughly shoved the stockings, chocolate, and jelly into his right pocket, and held the sausage and cup ramen in his hands. The clerk, who had taken out a bag, looked at Hyowon, flustered.b537bb6b267530a4

“Ah.”3b2d6e745643afb9

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I don’t really need one. Hyowon took the bag, put the lone pack of gum that was on the counter inside, and handed it to the man. Rustle, rustle. The sound was louder than what was inside. The man, who looked dumbfounded, soon took the bag and gave the clerk a friendly nod of his eyes. Does he just smile at anyone like that? Then again, Hyowon was also an “anyone.”043366dac707c525

Since they were strangers, they left the convenience store like strangers, without a word. Hyowon checked to see if he had a message from his sister and crossed the street. The man also followed him across the street. His long shadow half-overlapped with Hyowon’s, so every time he stepped on the ground, he would step on the shadow’s chest or stomach.891c28601d5e3763

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The area in front 3c2633b0de of the barbecue restaurant, 7da381cf16 which had been teeming cc6b03918a with people, was now 742f9aea3d quiet. The commotion that 9a4809259f had bothered Hyowon c31ed30011 was gone without 4df90f9e30 a trace, and 250abcef83 through the glass e1a281bae4 window, he could 270f3c84e7 see that the 294de85a90 seat where he 24c4681c58 had been sitting 90d5764a9f was now occupied a5f5a3a39a by new customers.52052b7960f4c0bf

When he c11cf3e77f stopped in ace953fa75 front of e47248c22f a darkened 8d8380255b restaurant next 1be8141b0f to the 63142793ca barbecue place, d83df0db34 the man f2bdef6614 who had e77dd7c54f been walking d734097938 behind him, 3dc3f118e2 with the 2a827d8507 rustling sound 338657e107 of a 15692f3896 bag in 920b24a165 the wind, b2c6484208 hesitated. But he soon d26324f6e1 moved his feet, 37ac45e446 and Hyowon, when 4550883679 the end of 3c9782563b the shadow—that is, 960582a1c2 the tip of 5046538b36 his foot—reached his 47620740f4 own, spoke in f891867660 a tossing tone.245f940b82bd24df

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“What’s that smell?”97734c0b5b22e324

The man, 192acfc535 who had 298056bd00 willingly let deb993a300 himself be 3940b997e5 caught, tilted ff5279e687 his head.94d86c3f33c5f243

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“Smell?”03943b2ad2fe91af

“Is it perfume? Can I smell 87e2d11977 it?”0fdcdacf0232eee7

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“What?”b65b998775d786ee

A voice asking back cbd5f0a86d as if surprised and 5352d98830 a low chuckle mingled aef6cbf4c2 together and drifted on 58803d0a3d the wind. After a moment e116514aac of hesitation, the 4be3219a3a man nodded his 286cfdbc5f head. His soft-looking hair flew d7700a8df2 slightly and became disheveled 345424b546 over his forehead.7562f7751ccd5a59

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“You can, but……”61ea1abdc3168220

The man a89ae982f6 trailed off. The hand that had c154c04875 been sweeping back his 8ae4872363 hair stopped. The moment Hyowon 3dcbe02cce strode closer. When he took off a456f66284 his cap, brought the 0179686c14 tip of his nose df2086bd86 to the nape of 30b47e6a25 the man’s neck between aab5091e06 his coat collar, closed 7b72cac516 his eyes, and inhaled.ae4b9ba30713b027

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It smelled even better up close. To the point where it was a shame that he couldn’t properly describe it with his simple powers of expression. They had come out of the same barbecue restaurant, yet not a hint of the meat smell clung to him, it wasn’t the smell of sweat, and it didn’t seem likely that a person’s natural scent could be this fragrant. As he took another breath, the man gave his shoulder a light push, signaling him to stop. Hyowon, who opened his eyes immediately, raised his head, stepped back, and put on his cap. He readjusted his grip on the cup ramen and sausage, which he had almost dropped.d32d1b23e8c79464

He looked b29f9bcc0b up at db9adc7002 the man 0cc09d15af from under 671b0bc2dd the brim 3687baffa9 of his 8394a1bef7 pressed-down cap. He finished tidying his a107cd3046 hair, scratched his chin, e65b41325c and rolled his lips 6ec1f0621f in and then released def7b108c7 them. The light of 2a6c3660d7 the night moved c9e2637faf along the contours b6b2de4945 of his pretty 855c91ed8f face. A flustered expression, 887fb8488e a small smile d6fed3e8d4 filled with curiosity, b7e0c140ce eyes that were 6fa738be13 openly observing Hyowowon. A voice was carried beb1ad43c5 on the night breeze 8ff8ecc26d that brushed past those b616cc23d3 small movements. The outline e942e32b59 of the 84fa69d7e2 voice was a8041c51c8 soft.41ef392ed57e3677

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“Should I tell you 36e11323fa what perfume it is?”71e3489a370d4e5c

“No. I don’t think it 50aa17338f would suit me very ce82c9324c well.”7b96c6aeae0c4ae9

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Hyowon answered immediately and 83d685a580 asked something else.2791672c940bd8e3

“What’s your name? Your name, Hyung. Ah, you’re b5d002c3f3 not a 042ea4c9a0 Noona, are bcf639366d you?”d571bfc54a5f6726

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“I guess I don’t bc192f3273 look younger than you.”2275034c9411effa

Well, this 0fb62fc732 was a 4a722f4bf3 university district, 561ea0a97e the person 09fa749d7a he had a8f201a51a called seonbae ff6e0eb2d2 looked old, 28ec3c1d0b and Hyowon 4ea69fd1ab was nineteen. The man, who 91767daa4e looked like a 81e10a8b4a university student, would b25e439fae be older than e6fa997fd5 Hyowon unless it 4bb58d60e9 was a special 478f948c73 case.1b82d6d521b577f4

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“Why are 5f9b368378 you speaking 8aeb0529be informally right c673dc2c79 away?”f78b28a84124f494

“If it bothers bdb4eaed4f you, you can 3b561de004 do it too.”44ae4ebf5bdb6486

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“It’s not extremely 5e4da198d7 bothersome. A little?”920f2d493a1acf17

He waved 4bc2730688 the sausage b35132918f in his e7456bd64a hand. This much? A little less 2e34e9ee5e than this? The man let out 0dece3519e a small laugh and 45872b6f50 asked.ebaa28e1bf93a286

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“What will e086ff4479 you do eaa0951b89 for me cbe8215d11 if I 457f6eeceb tell you 894d208cbf my name?”adc51fbc803a88b8

Do for him? There was nothing 91706510e7 like that.3a467344ffe23ac6

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“Forget it, then.”b1a45a41c3cc90a1

Hyowon shrugged his shoulders a7e7eea01b and peeled the wrapper 078b3779d6 off the sausage. As he 9eadb91182 put the e302364112 finger-sized sausage 8bf12c8ccb in his 6a9def1cb3 mouth, peeled 390b5b4acf off the cc2e8b140c wrapper, and a6b3d6eb1d put it e152a10777 in his 29c5b886d6 pocket, the 281e586c51 man laughed. Prettily, again.e830541c7107765f

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“You’re a good kid. Not even throwing f22f0b11a6 your trash on d1494bce36 the ground.”2cd1c5a0e576935b

What’s with such obvious 7c7e7c96bf common sense. When he bowed his 39176745ba head, the man, perhaps bc05c87bc8 taking it as a ece2517550 greeting, waved his hand. Hyowon, while 54ddfe8130 munching on 45259be845 the sausage, 190ff59d84 bowed his 3634c9d652 head again.89e15cac183b672d

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“Bye.”ded1fa150f8229f3

The affectionate farewell receded, and the shadow that had been overlapping with Hyowon’s shadow detached itself. Rustle, rustle. When the sound of the bag holding just a single pack of gum grew smaller and smaller until it was buried in the surrounding noise and could no longer be heard, Hyowon took a long, deep breath of the cool night air. The good smell was gone, having moved far away with the sound of the small bag and the man’s retreating back, which had shrunk to the size of Hyowon’s pinky finger.290714b2ebc4d37d

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It was a little disappointing that he couldn’t give a name to the scent that had tingled inside his nose. The smell that soothed his unsettled stomach, the smell that made him briefly forget about his injured knee, the smell that pushed away his gloomy mood, the smell that kept his shoulders from slumping, the smell that made him lift and lower his feet, the smell that made him close his eyes and rest, the smell he wanted to throw away the large pads and stockings and jelly and chocolate for and put in his pocket instead, the smell that suited the man walking over there, the smell that was good but had no name to call it by. It was because he couldn’t describe it coolly that he had tried to attach the owner’s name to it at least.368d1611f97bb122

Hyowon clenched that disappointment in his fist and lifted his chin. Should I throw a jab at the dim moonlight? Would a hook not land because it’s too far? But his feet could not move, and he was only being struck by the light, defenseless with no guard raised. The bridge of his nose tingled slightly.999ec05ab6b522ec

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