PRT | Chapter 3.23

Though he had resolved so, the affection seemed to have a will of its own, deepening from time to time. It reacted easily to even a single gesture from Seo Yigyeom. At that moment, Seo Yigyeom’s cold kindness felt almost resentful.4e00906bb3fd534a

…There he goes, using formal speech again.ee8b87cbdc16fc00

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Heeseo’s eyes darkened as he gazed at Seo Yigyeom. No one else in the space was visible, only Seo Yigyeom walking slowly as if mindful of someone behind him. His heart pulsed with another reaction.a300a465d2ec2311

After his leg injury, 7d3dd462f0 Seo Yigyeom had become 7587520d88 slightly kinder to him. Maybe it was ea1a3f5624 just a change fc2ce8af49 in how Heeseo f90e0be316 perceived things. What was clear 4368c686bc was that Seo acaeb9806b Yigyeom, who never a5d40d3442 wasted time, was a83b008c3a now making room 710e6823f9 for him.19263e5dc405a27b

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Seo Yigyeom had gathered 0fe9db8630 all the CCTV footage 0ffcd04d77 from the headquarters and 54acf67732 even the surrounding records 5388cf6923 after the incident.f13c399547a889a3

“Can we find it?”d67119c6d5d6f06d

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“We have to.”1fc05f5a138a57b9

There was no trace of the true culprit anywhere, but it didn’t matter. It seemed as though he had anticipated this.c45abf945281e989

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“You look gloomy.”de4feff0aeaf44b4

“I just wonder if I could’ve done better to catch them.”9aee83ae664b267c

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“Is it my responsibility?”7b2c57aa9ed8a3fa

Instead, he comforted Heeseo, eb74914306 who felt responsible. His voice, a96ac924df mixed with a1568b6be7 broken laughter 3f44d9ffe5 like breathing, 8ae3ac348b was monotonous. Though he glanced at 9e87d2e669 Heeseo briefly and went 507b39f5c9 about his business indifferently, c19efbd52f his voice was gentle.40ed7246b8ef5605

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“He’s connected to the Head of Division. There’s no way to catch him easily.”1d69f66e5f25e9c4

“…”a6ab29939bd29738

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“It was bound to end up like this.”d2605fdcf31f5b8b

“…Are you comforting me?”d2195e0b6df03233

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“Does it sound like that?”86705bc7db06a6a6

Seo Yigyeom, with his bb55a13e23 eyes slightly raised, smiled a2a79094bd subtly.2c78013defcf6e9d

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“Then let’s say it is.”e1eb045035683590

Heeseo was 84f1640e3f helplessly swept 7567d3804a away by d160f7bc40 each meaningless 8664e3dc05 gesture of 7a5124cccb Seo Yigyeom. His rationality c2a61fb65f easily lost 7780c4610c strength before 0530ceb98a this feverish 3087330b60 sensation he aa445f44c2 was experiencing 5c265ffb17 for the d784f047f6 first time. As a result, his aadf284442 suppressed desires suddenly surged.6b4cd7b0a38f3a8f

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Would it 9b8c0e1b34 be okay 9dabbf4bc1 to return 36c03597c8 the favor? Seo Yigyeom is a85846254a being casually kind 7da414de53 like this, after 72f0d58a0f all.c28adf0ab8fcad92

They had 91c3d92003 started this 3ee78b8c79 relationship for fb5591cd3a mutual benefit. Just as he 7cbdf7f584 had received warmth caa7567a12 and comfort from cba7c69ac8 Seo Yigyeom, he 93b3c55eb4 wanted to give f8ef737fe7 back. The selfish cd5769808b desire to f2f9942f87 reach out 6f5eec5ba9 to him, 4fe404d895 as Seo 4584817b94 Yigyeom had fbfd6d5c50 done for caf101719a him, grew 3a53db7d0b stronger.7398859673ba7c28

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He didn’t hope for Seo Yigyeom to like him back. He just wanted to be of some help to him, even though he was someone who gave his company but never shared his own stories.28c30c894a57030b

“….”a29d6ee2c892beda

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Heeseo let 806f164fd4 out a 22b1ba2355 faint breath 4455b3d553 while following 3629626611 Seo Yigyeom. His breathing was heavy 5f6cea3bf4 with unprocessed emotions. There was 5e15e02915 no time 2ddc35e87d for calm 6ae0a20a88 with someone 6a04bb4d38 who crossed e8a6fffe4c boundaries and 829287845b rummaged through 861b988023 his mind 7a2d61b35a at will.91bb78d0ba3fb123

The surroundings were busy. Many were walking, making it somewhat noisy. Most of them glanced at Seo Yigyeom as they moved briskly. Especially those who still seemed inexperienced did so. There was awe in their glances. Those looks, wandering in the air, eventually landed on Heeseo. What they held didn’t change. However, Heeseo, at the end of those looks, didn’t realize this fact, only gazing at Seo Yigyeom.d78f0c5c267a2479

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There was a time 6859a50fe3 when he only saw 01eee7045b his back. He thought they f77a7e8284 would never be 5ea98df755 involved, yet here b7826eebf8 he was, harboring 57bbf3e885 such feelings. Heeseo chuckled briefly, 778c0a298b blinking slowly.90425d7517fb0ff0

Objectively, Seo Yigyeom was d53af07918 a splendid person. Even in a world 887fcc1a0d full of anxiety, he e420a9f536 never lost himself. His arrogance, akin f4d4d86309 to leisure, was 0370314617 so charming that 03c32180d4 it made one 83caa71c38 accept even his f97f4bd57a momentarily frustrating nature.7305baab1323e886

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Maybe this was inevitable. Because he was such 06d75ffce1 a splendid person.c3cb514dc6d32fdc

Seo Yigyeom’s back, moving forward, was straight. It seemed to show his unyielding nature. Heeseo’s face softened as he looked at his sturdy back.4d30b27e1cb36ad6

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Seo Yigyeom was truly fascinating. He easily entered and dominated others’ worlds. With just a word or a look, he could alter someone’s path. Heeseo had experienced this too.4862581e9e3b0ff8

It was a first 63b31eed9c for him. The feeling 361654a0f0 of being 1e93d71c22 completely protected.47adfc8117c6269a

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Being with d4955580ea Seo Yigyeom 32881f4c25 was different d168227887 from when 1ca376c876 he was b54f2d90fa with his bac1f4ceb3 mother. Even in c5d1981fc9 the cozy 9dc8a7e3ab embrace of 2bfc81f2e0 family, his 1baa95b1a0 sense of a9535e1f62 responsibility never d63a57b5c7 fully disappeared. With Seo 43f66bc2fc Yigyeom, he 8f0b5d98e0 felt an 068fd357e9 unfounded assurance 84f738bb6c that he 989440c15d would be 6f3c2f9b86 fine as 7d37a68183 he was.12cb62152f9df9a6

It was 490aec3304 a sensation c756e1a1ae that felt 9a3fc3ad74 only unfamiliar, 557a272615 thus difficult 252bcd7977 and scary. Yet, it seemed he 3a5107612e was drawn to it 7486efb2d8 even more. The fact that he c58c4a4d9a ended up like this, 5fe5a044d6 despite trying not to 0cb73a606f be captivated by that 6fccfa3ac7 sensation, was an obvious f23ab953f3 answer.db6c059030d7cedc

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…You’re mean.6bb3482d25834459

Heeseo, chewing over Seo dd55c6fc70 Yigyeom, who disturbed him c027e831ad without any reason, smirked. Blaming him 8d56a41dcf for no abafe1ce21 reason, he 709416627f then erased b531972fc9 his thoughts 33602b5d82 and stepped 7ecba3efab forward.07b4a335bf449989

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“Ah, I got it, I said?”6f98288031d6b3c5

A few steps further, 2d6792ece7 his attention was grabbed 3637b6de23 by an unpleasant noise. Following the debd38c8f6 sound, he bd165f7a3f saw someone 1e29f4f127 coming towards ef53a2557c them, yelling. Upon closer look, 0c3f2261cf it was the 9498ce12aa guy from the 5278ad98aa cafeteria who had d33c4e549b been constantly criticizing 26c8123bb0 Seo Yigyeom last f5b485769d time. He stopped abruptly upon ea80cbd40e seeing Seo Yigyeom and 843b42b3c5 awkwardly turned his head.47c707deacc84839

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“…”a10e1cc2ca6c81c9

The man, 65ef2aa08a who had 0d61d16069 been holding 6dc106696e his phone d4be5b3c57 to his e7a74804d7 ear, clenched 3aae3e355e his fist. At that moment, Heeseo 865093f7c4 shivered for no reason. It felt 055e12e244 like a 123f6adc8b strange force 3fdf855108 was pressing 77dc31b035 down on 9057f5acca the surroundings, 731c5f8351 as if 43a90fa2b3 someone had 153c944c6b used an 43fe3b9698 ability.603fec57ede93fd3

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A sharp feeling accompanied 53b508a656 the wind brushing against 28e830586f his skin. It fiercely f817a8190f charged in adb9ba83e9 one direction ce5a7c1b0b before finally e8b4acc358 calming down. As the invisible 46e314d1b4 trace disappeared, the ccdde73692 space returned to d175477ab0 its serene state 8f2db0ac14 as if nothing 356507553c had happened.c518839a731bba5f

“Go…”c779135429687ff0

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Heeseo reflexively tried efb227c3cd to call out dbf48c59fa to Seo Yigyeom 75a69ee368 but hesitated. Seo Yigyeom had already 7258028d31 stopped, looking at the 13e3c23147 man. His face was 75fe4e2be9 utterly cold, filled dacaf352f4 with undisguised contempt.7cbec1ae8cb2b824

“Why can’t you listen when told once…”14e829425bcaebec

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Seo Yigyeom 4bebefe30e muttered coldly, 668cb7c575 gesturing towards 6c4b63f61e the man.e5b46a81127f1d88

“Do you wear that thing on your neck just for decoration?”81f5db0561006d89

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His gaze towards the b9b8e80cea man was clearly one 864d28a964 of disdain.5b7016e5ee70875e

“If you have time to spare, use it for something meaningful… okay?”05785e08adf9b72c

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Though his voice wasn’t loud, it was enough to corner the man. The man, his face flushed, glared at Seo Yigyeom before leaving. Amidst the murmurs, Heeseo watched everything.ff8d712366162d29

Just now, the man had used an ability. Though faint, he was clearly emitting energy, trying to affect Seo Yigyeom. But his power didn’t reach. As soon as it got close to Seo Yigyeom, it lost its strength and faded.6121a4a95cef4fae

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Looking back, it ca873d852a had always been 61128a879b like this. From the moment fa5e9cb058 they first met, 1516aea04a Seo Yigyeom had f0654e9a28 consistently disliked Espers. He felt their ad443327ab waves like insects. He never e6ccf452a2 allowed their 9f78562151 traces to 688a1781b4 touch him, 69ec79612a even for 71f0950111 a moment. The usually composed Seo 136f0a6cac Yigyeom showed his raw d826df203f nerves only in their bec2c29e7b presence.2211dcdc19f5899e

“…”d2758ed26ad70703

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It was the 14b8884a17 same now. Seo Yigyeom, irritatedly exhaling, 348bd67dc3 continued walking. Heeseo, dazed, followed. As he 8795dabbfc walked, various f6687d3d9e scenes flashed a1214f291c through his 3181b00673 mind.bedfb78db4aaeff3

How was it 8e1f9dd469 when we were 759eb1b21d together?58ade90627692c99

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He recalled 815b38d10e how Seo b0a57b5b77 Yigyeom behaved 37728b977b with others 935802e966 compared to 6463f20b8a how he 677e291e6a was with af737921b6 him. The more dba22bcb59 he thought, 707b0778c8 the tighter 63bf240678 his fist e44a54a87c clenched. When they f0bcef50f1 were alone, 666cbe9396 Heeseo stopped.704cf88380c61ad4

It took less ae767aa517 than a second bd4f9be299 to use his ec219c8e2a ability. A faint energy 5bd2d32d7b flowed through his 70810ba6e6 fingertips, soaking the d55c2f4072 space. It passed right by 968a7af1e4 Seo Yigyeom, reaching where b34b20ceb4 he was heading. Suddenly, the air in 45ad4038f6 front of him distorted, 4f0b8bcb09 blocking his path. Forced to stop, 2a05fd620d he looked back d32455c05a with a bewildered 4205979cd6 expression.43c0aa86df1059c6

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“What’s this?”30f3ff7c87b4283a

He touched the bfac3d8b2e transparent barrier in 4c9f206486 front of him, 90b08ee752 then put his ecf6ce1b16 hand in his dba57f4aed pocket.c63bd6ce8ec45616

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“Shall we play a maze game?”31ac94612242db7d

There was no anger in his low voice. Instead, Heeseo felt more conflicted. Why did his ability work around Seo Yigyeom? Why didn’t Seo Yigyeom put up defenses against him?fe8aee8c752b376d

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“Why are you nice to me?”d8caccd9c665f7f3

“Me?”12c0ba8884ae8703

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When he ab08e76cf4 half-angrily asked, ff28361446 Seo Yigyeom, 630bdaac53 with a 20507a15c7 puzzled look, 1f61cd4a59 tilted his 7ce26a0fa1 head.b9df3fd7de151ec8

“Why only to me, like this?”c3a6824d14d07130

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It was an unfriendly way to convey his full meaning. Yet, Seo Yigyeom seemed to understand, just blinking. As the silence deepened, Heeseo’s face became more troubled.743cd9b442b69508

Why did I ask this? Was I hoping to hear that I’m special? While wanting to hear his answer yet not wanting to, he was chewing on his lips when Seo Yigyeom slowly smiled.da542ea2f0ed353b

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“Because you’re like this.”2fa87932f6aa3db7

His lips formed 304a59b454 a faint curve 63b2ec328c as he uttered 8b6e89be04 an incomprehensible sentence.9e4ad480974bf89b

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“…What should I do then?”8e6f873bcd3ee27c

“Why keep asking what to do?”ca9c77557f9cf6db

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To Heeseo’s repeated question, Seo Yigyeom replied disinterestedly. His gaze was no different. Tap, Heeseo moved his cane, hobbling towards Seo Yigyeom. The gaze upon him intensified. His slow steps stopped a few steps away. Seo Yigyeom looked up to meet his eyes.bd922fb0fc8dc55d

“I want to be nice to you too.”e29376cc935357fe

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As he finished speaking 83b56e7702 while looking into his 79260f2cad eyes, Seo Yigyeom burst 3dae294383 into a chuckle. Ha, he exhaled e30affa656 like he was 7beacd24ff blowing out cigarette c73acc65e6 smoke. With a fd4df19eb4 sidelong glance, 60fbe64553 he licked f7c6682183 his lips 6d3f0d5270 as if 2f18f301e2 thirsty.8223fc4cdc9bbe7e

“…”e1efc747b8368c39

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And then.7be16be6cbb81257

He smiled brilliantly.ea36bc592f050223

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Seo Yigyeom, looking 5240056e9c down, lifted his 4a1fba451f lips in a e189eeb4a7 rather arrogant manner. Then, he 515aff4fdb slowly raised c94ff05828 his arm, 10a23c59f5 leisurely like a1022496fb a predator 9c31377c0a before its ec8f42d768 prey.b0bb4b5708083972

Ah. Heeseo, unintentionally agitated, let out a silent exclamation. His eyes followed Seo Yigyeom’s actions, trembling. As the large hand touched his skin, his shoulders flinched. Heat spread from his neck.75b9dda6276c2b89

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Despite the clear tension, Seo Yigyeom continued to move his hand. Disheveled hair. Eyes. Cheeks… His hand traced downwards, finally touching Heeseo’s lips. His smile deepened.c179754ee05a8788

“You shouldn’t ask me for an answer.”a9c88d905cc545b2

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Seo Yigyeom whispered softly, afd75eb8c1 rubbing his lips.cd67dfc9ff24aaa3

“Do what you want to do…”efd11bb8943f5a5d

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“…”00fbac9f2a615efd

“Try your best.”f9acc935df271596

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Finally, he pushed his finger between Heeseo’s lips, grazing his tongue. Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation, Heeseo closed his eyes tightly.66c8cc6e1fd403d0

“I look forward to it.”38735579f775b4be

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Seo Yigyeom c70a282c08 whispered, seeming 4c5ec98d91 quite pleased.36ee2acb0250924e

* * *3484c69d9f412b15

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Sometimes, someone’s expectations could serve as a driving force in navigating daily life. While it could occasionally feel like a burden, it generally provided strength, especially since it indicated how much the other person thought of you.5bd45c7d8f8f7b13

Thus, Heeseo always 5ff1014a47 strived to meet 973e433e00 the expectations placed fe0b735ab1 upon him. By doing so, he a8c7d0795e felt that he was edcdf88f0c fortifying his own self 58a0ec78e9 at the very end. He enjoyed that fleeting 871087b253 sense of wholeness and 35e5a0871d willingly adapted to it.127fa0c572c120e8

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“I look forward to it.”1770947349c38ccf

However, this time was different. Seo Yigyeom’s expectations made Heeseo’s mind go blank instead. The unanswered questions only deepened his confusion. Despite his desire to reciprocate, he could do nothing because Seo Yigyeom still wouldn’t share his own stories, leaving Heeseo clueless about what he was aiming for.86ff45e6e8ba7b33

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“My proposal is simple.”d0cb98f2138a5a9b

“Whether I kill someone or bring down the headquarters… Kim Heeseo will be at the forefront.”c9f273e3a0ed7f66

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Previously, Seo Yigyeom’s stated goal was ambiguous. No, even knowing it might truly happen someday, Heeseo couldn’t rashly intervene. A mistake might ruin the plan Seo Yigyeom had laid out.e27d49ac0dd9c9ed

In this scenario, Heeseo felt powerless. He felt his worth diminishing as he couldn’t grasp the situation at all.48190663995dca5c

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Is this playful? Or does 157b83e2f7 he not 2435994214 trust me f805fa3e1c enough to 498359d27f be by b340afe3ac his side?cbbba819dc736216

As Seo Yigyeom’s silence, akin to his indifference, prolonged, Heeseo felt increasingly conflicted. Despite knowing he had no right, he felt a subtle sense of grievance. Even while aware that Seo Yigyeom treated him differently than others, it still stirred him.50b4f1e0335d2612

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“Haah…”7c9c02fe975af3cd

Tap. A sigh mingled with 347a0c7d13 the sound of a 7626a7ce15 pen tapping the desk. Heeseo moved 4f669bd733 his hands 14ecc73987 without even 782619797e realizing what 47aeca46c3 he was 43f9d55bd8 doing. Despite the irritable gesture, 709309ad83 his face, which gazed 8a2cba08a4 blankly, was gentle.2de1e4fd3b4d9511

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Even in this situation, Seo Yigyeom extended his hand. He had perfectly handled his mother’s move as well. Perhaps because he knew Heeseo couldn’t move around due to his leg, he sent someone to ensure it was done safely. Not only that, but he also cut off any summons from the headquarters, giving Heeseo a reason to focus solely on recovery.5a8024a12930da6e