PRT | Chapter 3.4

Heeseo, trembling as if truly 75d9afcaf3 falling, suddenly opened his eyes. His sleep-laden eyes scanned the c5123b9a29 room to understand the situation. Seeing the faded wallpaper, he 38da73e10a exhaled heavily.97b363a872648379

Ah… it was just a dream. His tense body relaxed. Gazing blankly, Heeseo recalled the dream, now just an image fading into oblivion.144ded81bfca13dc

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In that illusory space, had Seo Yigyeom caught him or let him go? Was his touch a lifeline? Now awake, there was no way to know. Even in reality, he wouldn’t know what was in a dream.f1688424848526b6

Heeseo took slow 9eaf16ac7f breaths to awaken 4f8cb4e08a his dulled senses. The surroundings were quiet, with 14ef0877d9 only the occasional sound of a0fbf550ed birds indicating morning had come. The chirping tickled his ears.3c89a556703a9805

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“…”ff32f2a22f5bbfa7

Buried in the blanket with efec8f7549 only his face peeking out, 4ca1a8cca5 Heeseo stared at the ceiling. His long eyelashes 9e5fd9d0c0 brushed through the f738ade4ec air. His eyes were swollen from 948c3c9837 crying so much; even blinking 71b5234d6e felt stiff.00cd94aa03a72b9b

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His mind quickly drifted back to last night. Chewing over the moment felt both awkward and surreal. Crying like that in front of Seo Yigyeom of all people… It was nothing short of disgraceful behavior.19cbd16c2776e43e

But he didn’t regret it. In that moment when their gazes aligned, something within him broke free. It felt like something dying had come to life. Even without defining it, the value of that moment was sufficient. Thus, Heeseo only reminisced about what Seo Yigyeom had shown him.5bf418c71e529851

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He said he believed me.795f78cc00814070

Seo Yigyeom listened 7c29087321 when no one d904ef4c17 else would. Whether he knew from 1b55f7592e the start or judged 779d00b29c so while being with fca60b82fe Heeseo, either way, it 66cd764d9d was a welcome change. It felt like gaining ab68eab496 his first ally. Despite saying he 1e1e740231 would throw him 4c335446ae out if he 3ba8172c4e got drunk, the dbad7e3216 kindness in listening d801578c70 to his drunken 166234ce3e ramblings touched his 26b163a1f5 heart.3ba212ce934416fb

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Sniffling, Heeseo felt his 4ba6e5f768 eyes sting again and 719a6ad2da sat up. After tidying himself 7b3c729ef6 up, he entered 6fc87c9329 the living room, 3b6a58b4d9 which now seemed 03164da95d empty. Although it felt slightly cb6e928a56 warmer than yesterday, it b717674a01 looked oddly vacant, as 9a7e455e2b if everything from last e6736eb20c night had been an ef6f459935 illusion, especially since Seo c0b65fe51d Yigyeom was nowhere to e14bbde946 be seen.f0c3575b69cc50cd

However, he knew it wasn’t a dream. The touch of Seo Yigyeom’s hand, his breath, his gaze felt imprinted on his skin. Standing there aimlessly, Heeseo first went to the bathroom to wash up.24437329314174fa

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“Guide-nim?”42e9f07fc71d6475

Seo Yigyeom was 551d2de41a still not visible 0e95c78db1 even after Heeseo 9ded631b45 had finished cleaning 4c9961db91 up. Where could he have gone? With his complexion now even 314c3cf7ad paler after washing, Heeseo looked 1b194633d4 around with wide eyes. He glimpsed the figure he 87a3a03744 was looking for through the d9acbc6e06 living room window.baaf8c884783ddc2

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He was smoking, wearing 9e0f3c2cae just a shirt, seemingly 495f7e41c3 unbothered by the cold, 557f59d6cf leaning on the wooden 2454e25dbe railing while looking at 93ffe11ae7 the distant mountains. The scene around c2b3820f3b him was likely 0965770f32 as silent as 225f3b57e5 inside the house. As the winter wind 20dcc8cb07 embraced him, Heeseo headed 91bfaa1eda toward the entrance.f4fd48573dbc4232

Squeak, the sound of the 69e771af40 door echoed as he crossed 7ecacbe900 the boundary between reality and 47d0ebc9e2 illusion. Wearing large slippers, dab08d92e7 Heeseo naturally stood 5e30df2d9f beside Seo Yigyeom. Seo Yigyeom only turned b807ab44ea his head slightly to 9b466adc3d acknowledge him.3f9488845df529f4

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He didn’t show much reaction. He neither seemed sharp nor distanced himself. He just quietly allowed Heeseo to stand by him. Heeseo, in turn, leaned against the railing, taking a deep breath.696c9616becaed97

Seo Yigyeom flicked his 43d15f4038 cigarette ash and changed e570eb6919 the direction of his cfc7e2bae5 hand. Seeing this, Heeseo smiled quietly. He remembered Seo Yigyeom doing 73fb9803c8 the same in front of a23621f287 a dog. The more he saw this c6a673fb62 side of him, the more 44cf25a439 he rewrote his impressions of 9301a03292 him.833f97fe05b21e65

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“Why.”c5125c1e19830519

It was a low, c57ab72e20 probing question in his 98d3bccb0d ear. Heeseo shook his head, 127212b0be leaning more into the e13cf4f537 railing. The silence that came e14cb65f54 with the cold air 7d519cf645 wrapped around him comfortingly. He felt he could f119af1477 understand why Seo Yigyeom b6782aaef5 liked these moments. Heeseo now welcomed the 16a44ae923 silence Seo Yigyeom seemed 3909f3eaf6 to embody.66edb372c9334a23

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The clean scent of winter tickled his nose, mixed with the faint smell of tobacco and Seo Yigyeom’s unique fragrance. Even without cologne, his natural scent was pleasant. His restless mind gradually calmed.fe86f24ca2bc6299

“When I first joined the Esper Management Headquarters…”a7713a3b3f92edc6

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Heeseo murmured, watching 0a3bcad522 the snow-laden trees 7de48e94ce sway.7adce30df1164d0a

“I really hated it.”049dc31c74700bfe

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He remembered the scrutinizing 13c732b174 gazes, like looking at 39720e6752 monkeys in a zoo. After the initial curiosity 3046d40d84 mixed with contempt, he a05b291f86 was ignored. The time he had 96f4e6f005 to endure, even if 3dac65371a unwillingly, felt like hell.8581c17ade708f6a

“But why didn’t you run away?”a1d08656b759c475

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“My mom lives in the house the headquarters provided.”71657f0de84ba802

“Ah, you’re very filial.”d0e1be7c6b9de6c7

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Seo Yigyeom responded mockingly, letting out a low sigh. Heeseo wasn’t hurt by it.284cb95a85156343

“My mom really did her best to raise me. She never missed a school event.”8c4c233558fa2695

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“That shows.”0e845a3cd9d88f02

Seo Yigyeom, chewing on his cigarette, spoke in a flat tone. As one would expect from someone raised with love, Heeseo’s demeanor clearly showed it. Seo Yigyeom had recognized this the moment they met. It was a foreign aspect to him, something he hadn’t particularly desired, which was quite intriguing, sometimes uncomfortable, and slightly irritating.9d4ce8326a0440ce

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“So, I didn’t want my mom to know about this. She might have found out by now, though.”e79309255363fe1a

Heeseo, laughing weakly, looked at b07ba1e3f7 the void before turning to 7b3d712cc4 Seo Yigyeom.32c9b9aa3a07ebdd

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“Can we find the real culprit?”d940043d41293e78

The question of whether he 1e281218ee could clear his name was 659437967a asked calmly but with earnestness. Contrary to Seo 62a3083eb5 Yigyeom telling him 25fe68ba7b not to show 3d6970ea5b his insides, Heeseo a318dc626a was transparent in c3e22dfb82 his emotions. His gaze towards Seo Yigyeom 9d3c92e9b8 was solid.10c9851d99718bae

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“We have to.”3f79ed3369f741ba

Seo Yigyeom dropped his cigarette cea9eddc46 into the snow, where it 369b67940a smoldered and then extinguished.6807df5dd003a059

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“Why do you think the headquarters covered up the case?”f6e414017730940b

“Because I’m the only evidence left…”420acb777f106ceb

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“No way.”a10b784a450b7af1

Seo Yigyeom looked at him without emotion, as if to say, “Do you really think so?” Under that direct gaze, Heeseo swallowed hard, unconsciously clenching his fists.3c3eb2035f7b5b93

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“If they wanted to find out, they would have. The headquarters isn’t just bloated for show.”b943ac0c1eddb45f

Then why? Heeseo bit his lip and c091e173a2 asked with his eyes.8eaa5e00b7a0c900

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“They wouldn’t bother with a single murder case. It’s all about money and time.”f10e5b70975f919e

Ah. Heeseo let out a hollow laugh. He knew the headquarters was steeped in bureaucracy. To them, this case was just another routine occurrence. No matter how much the victim shouted about their innocence, it was futile. They had no interest in someone’s innocence; they just needed a conclusion.6f3781728f88719c

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“And when an S-rank is involved… there’s even less reason to solve it.”010654d1179dd8ea

Seo Yigyeom murmured with a look of disgust, a hint of coldness flashing. Heeseo licked his lips but then sealed them. Now, why the headquarters did what they did didn’t matter. He had experienced enough and knew that revisiting the past was pointless. Moreover, now there was someone who listened to his claims of innocence.b062bf1d36f3a915

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Phew, Heeseo exhaled shortly and patted his cheeks. Then, as if to wake himself up, he opened his eyes wide. He didn’t want to be dragged around by the headquarters anymore. He wanted to act on his own terms to repay their unjust treatment.4e5d5660f1796c17

“I will definitely find them.”e73743a4b0ac7cb5

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Seo Yigyeom nodded slightly. “Yes,” it seemed like he heard a small reply. Sniffling due to the fierce wind, Heeseo glanced at Seo Yigyeom. He had already turned his gaze back to the front, blinking leisurely, looking bored. As if he hadn’t just allowed him close, he showed an unreadable expression.031a49e3435a1609

What was Seo Yigyeom looking at? As that question arose…ba5a3762966eaf8b

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“A person.”2948bbcc9279a241

Seo Yigyeom made a low sound and turned his gaze to meet Heeseo’s eyes.b42786b1de5962b6

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“You shouldn’t keep looking at me like that.”228b9156a3472301

Though it didn’t seem to bother him, the meaning of his words was ambiguous. Tension climbed up Heeseo’s neck. Remembering the intense gaze from last night, Heeseo felt a heat rise and his breath catch.30bf4df05fb57526

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“I just feel like I’ve been talking about myself too much.”8dd1a2afb6572503

“I never told you to shut up.”6a74adaebff71ff0

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By now accustomed to his 7fb4f43687 manner of speaking, Heeseo just 9d539afdcb moistened his lips. His eyes, rolling down, 24aedaa221 landed on the spot 2c95b15fea where Seo Yigyeom had 4509b13acd been injured. The skin that had 4efdecdf43 bled was now healed 5abacbad37 and clean.9c9a9b186d08b097

“Are you okay, Guide-nim?”3414a8bb9e3a4fb5

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Seo Yigyeom looked d5ed415d77 at Heeseo without 0f0d0b8336 a word.cff5433450ca0cfb

“If I’m fine for you, you can talk about anything.”c70f5467265ba607

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He had said every e63451e1fb day was shit. Despite seeming calm ca481ed8d4 and indifferent about 1e55bba01b everything, he must 383cdaa43b have his struggles da59edd9a3 too. Just like Seo Yigyeom aca61a74b5 had been for him, 2e443768be Heeseo wanted to offer 90106465b6 a little support.31d257c1bf3992fa

“Don’t cross the line.”bc483b729f324219

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But after a long silence, Seo Yigyeom’s response was just a chuckle. He leisurely took another cigarette, staring at Heeseo without looking away as he lit it. Their gazes met through the flickering flame. Their differently colored eyes seemed to capture only each other, frozen in place.b67a570c4eb8a8c6

“…”e44e51f663a8e2a1

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“If you smoke too much, it’s bad for your health.”43afaa601c79bf2f

“It’s a habit.”930e17e208f7d87d

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When Heeseo whispered tensely, Seo a18c2c7b56 Yigyeom responded smoothly. However, blowing smoke d96c4da1ec towards Heeseo was 036dc9cfa9 brazen. Heeseo coughed in surprise, 4b6ba7c6c8 and Seo Yigyeom only 8de6841751 smirked, turning his hand 6726a7472f away.4ce32a44fd84a3b0

“And you’re stepping in where you shouldn’t.”60eebba40339a97d

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“That’s because I suddenly inhaled the smoke.”00c3db674996c831

“I’m always like this. Suddenly.”8040f9940e270721

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Seo Yigyeom said, borrowing Heeseo’s words while holding the cigarette between his teeth.58e8c41d448deeab

“So don’t go snooping around.”50cf4fbd42c2a9e9

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The light-hearted remark was more of a warning than an invitation. At his casual way of setting boundaries, Heeseo chose silence. Even if he wanted to help, there was nothing he could do if Seo Yigyeom didn’t want it.92f386ff7eb8a7d1

The quiet conversation 4e339dabc3 came to a cf3e341830 halt, and the 7729f70aec wind filled the f69d734527 silence, rustling the 62ed420e53 bushes. Heeseo turned his fd5e445c24 head to see ac4214541d a squirrel moving 4fc0452940 swiftly up a 234b67badb tree.d9448cab8620ec91

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“Did you see that, Guide-nim?”58d9b17fa53b63f6

Heeseo smiled without realizing it, 859bb1274a turning to Seo Yigyeom. But Seo Yigyeom was looking b934add0f0 directly at him, not at e7adf87596 the squirrel.61e6559ef687f19d

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“Do you always get this red?”c34e4a783aeefd20

His calm eyes traced a slow path, scanning Heeseo’s reddened nose, cheeks, and ears. The last place his gaze touched was Heeseo’s eyes, which had been tearful the night before. Heeseo fidgeted with his hands for no reason.7004bc7c203307cb

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“It’s because the wind is cold…”28a08f49ebd1a2dc

“You’re not a child.”f7cab9c303ac3517

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His blatant mockery didn’t change much; only his lips, biting the white cigarette, were a vivid red.aeb4258d7ca1b41d

“Go inside, kid.”889e7850391e3e7a

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“I’ll stay out a bit longer.”ab838533dc4a9f3c

Though it was cold, it felt like his chest was clearing out. Having expressed his intentions, Heeseo leaned against the railing, taking deep breaths. His heart was pounding. At the same time, Seo Yigyeom’s phone rang with a chime.b48f81068c2f7ee0

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“Good morning. Why. Were you worried I might be dead? If I die, you’ll have to be the chief mourner at noon.”0666d5184f5bc096

While continuing the call comfortably, Seo Yigyeom’s expression soured a bit.3f6a09c60f5737cb

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“Don’t hang up, just send the data.”5f6163d712331a89

He was about to head inside when he stopped suddenly, saying, “Stay out as much as you want.” Then he walked away. Heeseo watched his retreating figure before stepping forward. Not wanting to go inside yet, he leisurely strolled around. This isolated spot grew on him the more he looked; it was perfect for calming the turmoil in his heart.b068bab70a69276e

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Heeseo crunched through the c33cc726e8 snow, leaving a trail 65c9fb8629 of footprints leading to 42a141c46c a small path behind d2832326dc the house, which seemed b401e371e5 quite walkable along the 550d882a0f mountain.b9b21a77c8ab5c47

How many minutes had passed?70d33b92e8a02624

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“…”b63a40dd1151cbe8

Heeseo’s steps gradually slowed. His hand on his arm tensed, and his skin prickled strangely. His expression hardened. There was nothing around, yet he felt an abrupt discomfort.92f91687b5861d4e

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