PRT | Chapter 3.4

Heeseo, trembling as if truly 8ff7424de1 falling, suddenly opened his eyes. His sleep-laden eyes 2339a7f6da scanned the room 908caf8d87 to understand the 6659617d2d situation. Seeing the d9152afdcf faded wallpaper, 9fb7b06bd7 he exhaled 1706778b44 heavily.6d6e4a97c1bc41f3c77e

Ah… it c88f3a5ac7 was just 1955c4b929 a dream. His tense df53eb296d body relaxed. Gazing blankly, Heeseo recalled the dream, now 88acb355b5 just an image fading into oblivion.7a24557250b52aeb85c3

In that illusory space, had Seo Yigyeom 5792a2f13d caught him or let him go? Was his 336aa7f38b touch a f49f5d2e86 lifeline? Now awake, there e53e3d7781 was no way 6b44305846 to know. Even in reality, 4466708c2b he wouldn’t know 9c98a5b602 what was in 3842a741ec a dream.9150082edccee07344bf

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Heeseo took slow breaths to 08290bbe41 awaken his dulled senses. The surroundings were quiet, with only the occasional 6bc80f74d6 sound of birds indicating morning had come. The chirping tickled fa4fbe0f6d his ears.c5532a47babcb6802073

“…”be7d420e1e10ed03fe36

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Buried in the blanket with only his face e5c4a36e32 peeking out, Heeseo stared at the ceiling. His long eyelashes brushed 18d6c3ed50 through the air. His eyes were swollen 7a709a3834 from crying so much; cec5718734 even blinking felt stiff.686238482596642c2614

His mind quickly 17ad68fc98 drifted back to ac6e0ecf79 last night. Chewing over the b42051aef4 moment felt both bb58d35b9f awkward and surreal. Crying like that in front of bc0489577e Seo Yigyeom of all people… It 1803bb3964 was nothing short of disgraceful behavior.b07f00f1692c151f18e0

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But he e11c9056eb didn’t regret df95f20dc7 it. In that moment when their gazes cde77ee66e aligned, something within him broke free. It felt like 82323c81cb something dying had 6e14f0a8ff come to life. Even without defining it, 0b5cb3fcd6 the value of that 51cfba47b1 moment was sufficient. Thus, Heeseo only 4a76a2de04 reminisced about what cffc2303a3 Seo Yigyeom had 41a6d41f01 shown him.e95c80ce9dfa7db8555c

He said he 61cea1fdfe believed me.ed3e832e21089672b2d2

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Seo Yigyeom ca5d5a19cb listened when 12de62ffc1 no one 49d847b298 else would. Whether he knew from the start or judged so while e492f40135 being with Heeseo, either way, it was a welcome change. It felt like 7a9c82472d gaining his first 029427a8b5 ally. Despite saying he would throw him out if he got drunk, 3e6437864f the kindness in listening to his drunken ramblings touched his heart.10b5f64b696937737c9c

Sniffling, Heeseo felt his d15cd1fce2 eyes sting again and 253baf10f8 sat up. After tidying himself up, bf5345ffbe he entered the living 36e45056c1 room, which now seemed e77d741e2f empty. Although it felt slightly warmer than yesterday, it looked oddly vacant, as if everything from f6e2620d2f last night had been an illusion, especially since Seo Yigyeom was nowhere to be seen.b2dabe0041a4e6a0a020

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However, he knew a909752a78 it wasn’t a 8415227c80 dream. The touch of Seo Yigyeom’s hand, his breath, 91d79fe5e4 his gaze felt imprinted on his skin. Standing there aimlessly, Heeseo 5e06000b94 first went to the 945900a7a0 bathroom to wash up.34e946a32a7f9e8b1a9f

“Guide-nim?”1d0de22b620a508197cf

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Seo Yigyeom was still c4ae70e541 not visible even after 54ddff5541 Heeseo had finished cleaning b6f44aa68b up. Where could he 296ebd00fc have gone? With his complexion now 3ffbbe1984 even paler after washing, 260ad68eb7 Heeseo looked around with 52887ce102 wide eyes. He glimpsed the figure he was looking 4fc3327d98 for through the living room window.187a945e9290f09e4ccf

He was smoking, wearing just a e9468228c8 shirt, seemingly unbothered by the cold, b7227e2b00 leaning on the wooden railing while 6338a94f96 looking at the distant mountains. The scene around him 108a4e7571 was likely as silent ad8dd51fcb as inside the house. As the winter wind embraced him, 4833700c84 Heeseo headed toward the entrance.795d3b4ce5abfabd1231

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Squeak, the sound of the door fe6b6f3558 echoed as he crossed the boundary 13b2c19ed7 between reality and illusion. Wearing large slippers, 28816d8fda Heeseo naturally stood 572d097f86 beside Seo Yigyeom. Seo Yigyeom only 94d7137687 turned his head 6d371378b9 slightly to acknowledge 7cfdb9f006 him.90f5b58de0d2e4751c47

He didn’t e3e9159d3f show much 7ac180d231 reaction. He neither seemed sharp a1b11bedf7 nor distanced himself. He just quietly b67778ec67 allowed Heeseo to 33b5002ef7 stand by him. Heeseo, in turn, leaned 99d56f7fdf against the railing, taking 0f1b031d98 a deep breath.e23cca1b036b095bda07

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Seo Yigyeom flicked his 0aac4e2f68 cigarette ash and changed 3e99cb03c7 the direction of his 53039f0792 hand. Seeing this, 7b6c7eea0c Heeseo smiled b06f625e43 quietly. He remembered Seo cd502a5376 Yigyeom doing the ab635e3b4b same in front 026d5b0361 of a dog. The more he saw dee2d7974c this side of him, 23c655f79d the more he rewrote 46c6a84cfd his impressions of him.13dd846ea075fc05ed37

“Why.”dabd6327f94618533c58

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It was a 0d4468e04b low, probing question dae1e6f597 in his ear. Heeseo shook his head, leaning 445eb9c76c more into the railing. The silence that 7bface6ac4 came with the 4cf2133811 cold air wrapped 8091162abc around him comfortingly. He felt he 16555fb486 could understand why 8a1a758d91 Seo Yigyeom liked c991cff99c these moments. Heeseo now welcomed the silence 12b90a9e0a Seo Yigyeom seemed to embody.e64a8dc7621d61539182

The clean scent of winter tickled his nose, mixed with e298e25278 the faint smell of tobacco and Seo Yigyeom’s unique fragrance. Even without cologne, 121a64a04c his natural scent 9bf199e048 was pleasant. His restless 2385d6b9ab mind gradually f29add3c58 calmed.695fee2ed723ecc8944b

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“When I first joined fe51e568c0 the Esper Management Headquarters…”8eced057c3869950f750

Heeseo murmured, watching c0ced68861 the snow-laden trees 15565f2994 sway.5f4eb12bc5d910fb781d

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“I really 6f81cc8a6f hated it.”5de4c67513b04c648cb6

He remembered the scrutinizing gazes, like b8a2bc4a5d looking at monkeys in a zoo. After the initial curiosity mixed 8efbc71ced with contempt, he was ignored. The time he had to endure, f6afb2e1f0 even if unwillingly, felt like hell.f8f8bef1ec9796275c34

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“But why didn’t 2cc11cbbcb you run away?”9f3729e2979aa3b57941

“My mom lives a87077eb08 in the house d43cbd6bc7 the headquarters provided.”bf9912e72bdf9af47c65

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“Ah, you’re 5925f77705 very filial.”b0fe51afb8554dafc68a

Seo Yigyeom responded 9d418b8cda mockingly, letting out 304757b674 a low sigh. Heeseo wasn’t c9217bccd4 hurt by a5c3948d33 it.84c0de50ea538517f9c2

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“My mom really a23e735fde did her best 1e89806227 to raise me. She never missed 49d684de4d a school event.”18fbd6ffb01acfdba130

“That shows.”8c871b4e1a6f795308ef

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Seo Yigyeom, chewing on his cigarette, 5658eeacc3 spoke in a flat tone. As one would expect from 8f25e638b6 someone raised with love, Heeseo’s e3a8cc58d0 demeanor clearly showed it. Seo Yigyeom had recognized this 0e63bcc26e the moment they met. It was a foreign aspect to him, something he hadn’t particularly c96a3b9c6a desired, which was quite intriguing, sometimes uncomfortable, and slightly irritating.048dc13c7c8bb82344df

“So, I didn’t want my 594e61f1f8 mom to know about this. She might 5c4787b2e2 have found ff22b77362 out by a495c0f676 now, though.”9893f8664ab9669d2dc5

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Heeseo, laughing weakly, 7b71f13a3c looked at the 080490ea30 void before turning ab622896c0 to Seo Yigyeom.e9cc1e3c0213e3a1b4c1

“Can we 3c961fee7a find the f11d218dba real culprit?”e64003fbc527644383f4

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The question of whether 53c6ad8b34 he could clear his 234787fdfc name was asked calmly cb207cab0a but with earnestness. Contrary to Seo Yigyeom telling him fd51e31906 not to show his insides, Heeseo a94c806672 was transparent in his emotions. His gaze d1e790285b towards Seo eb33daaecf Yigyeom was e501ec1dd7 solid.9c84e2bbde68d22c6b26

“We have to.”d815e24dee0cb55b0bf9

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Seo Yigyeom dropped his cigarette into the 1ffd9f9d64 snow, where it smoldered and then extinguished.7d4fefa7e2762fb5a86f

“Why do you d722df48f1 think the headquarters b3d49e5857 covered up the 6050d6c8f2 case?”93f09246a95d9f9c44ab

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“Because I’m 2924f7bb2f the only 5038557204 evidence left…”669cffca5af643b44cb2

“No way.”37a34e887c86f5630537

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Seo Yigyeom looked at him without emotion, as if to say, “Do you really c9739ffb87 think so?” Under that direct gaze, Heeseo swallowed hard, unconsciously clenching his fists.1b6b56f5374fc4e15091

“If they wanted 5b03a578fc to find out, 38aa7849d1 they would have. The headquarters isn’t 73ea5aaf0c just bloated for 073ae57d0e show.”391051ae1686d256ce2c

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Then why? Heeseo bit his 6d4f4ccb0c lip and asked dfe61e4907 with his eyes.5ad1365b77a54b7ffdb7

“They wouldn’t 28927249c0 bother with 754b779161 a single a8f50cf970 murder case. It’s all 4db72c96e7 about money 6fa4cde7e1 and time.”3fada9c83a0058dd0d28

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Ah. Heeseo let a829961ffa out a 8bd94510b4 hollow laugh. He knew the headquarters 2a940bee12 was steeped in bureaucracy. To them, this 8378c92ce2 case was just edb50d7223 another routine occurrence. No matter how much 2043bdb4f4 the victim shouted about 4178ef2b6f their innocence, it was 6fb49ef209 futile. They had no interest in someone’s dadce48772 innocence; they just needed a conclusion.177044567f71da8258a5

“And when an S-rank d869e842ac is involved… there’s even 3d1e00aa87 less reason to solve 90cea73e67 it.”c14190ba965b7d1d2627

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Seo Yigyeom murmured with a look of bf5a0fc451 disgust, a hint of coldness flashing. Heeseo licked his e40b5c7357 lips but then f97b487837 sealed them. Now, why the headquarters did 9ae1e50690 what they did didn’t matter. He had experienced enough bda0caea44 and knew that revisiting 7f957d798f the past was pointless. Moreover, now there 4b49acc931 was someone who 22687ce16b listened to his 4a7d188479 claims of innocence.b9cca41abcd518bb36d1

Phew, Heeseo exhaled shortly c30416f663 and patted his cheeks. Then, as if to d0eb0fdc55 wake himself up, he a0ee57af9d opened his eyes wide. He didn’t want 3ffef71b33 to be dragged 2ca66dd8b2 around by the 6539a2e263 headquarters anymore. He wanted to act on his own 840f69ba67 terms to repay their unjust treatment.d9e161a0d073be1497d0

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“I will definitely a397a700b0 find them.”c618f682571d67f986d5

Seo Yigyeom be5eefaad9 nodded slightly. “Yes,” it seemed like he bb56a17338 heard a small reply. Sniffling due to the a7c83cca51 fierce wind, Heeseo glanced 86380e3581 at Seo Yigyeom. He had already turned f33034650e his gaze back to 9957f76177 the front, blinking leisurely, d34fa8c994 looking bored. As if he hadn’t just 382ef682d2 allowed him close, he showed 1fe80ccd4d an unreadable expression.6e1ae63912557e0d60fd

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What was 33763de7a9 Seo Yigyeom d096a23ff1 looking at? As that 6fb0a76e7f question arose…908caeb14b1999c5ed7d

“A person.”b772f08906d86b4e4e38

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Seo Yigyeom made a low sound and 0370475401 turned his gaze to meet Heeseo’s eyes.ef98605cb329bed596dc

“You shouldn’t keep d5f650ccc2 looking at me 5503b4713d like that.”0ad5f535099fc78c313e

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Though it didn’t seem 69cc38c6a7 to bother him, the 56e0a60bc0 meaning of his words 259f88526c was ambiguous. Tension climbed 8cf3bff8e2 up Heeseo’s eec51d5e76 neck. Remembering the intense gaze 8a6c43ae67 from last night, Heeseo 7e312ff0d9 felt a heat rise 4b025f05dd and his breath catch.1365852fd948a94169c7

“I just feel like I’ve been 180d412136 talking about myself too much.”9e1316d0e42c80674bbf

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“I never 7cc8e45088 told you 12372bfd46 to shut 03d8db6882 up.”6403bc652173722a56fb

By now accustomed to 45ae0d8679 his manner of speaking, cb6eab5e96 Heeseo just moistened his e50871b6b7 lips. His eyes, rolling down, 76877b7963 landed on the spot 79c0745cea where Seo Yigyeom had 5e3c122544 been injured. The skin that 63ffe75f20 had bled was b814b3e418 now healed and f612ecd922 clean.5049cd7638d29ebf34c5

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“Are you bbe4996cd2 okay, Guide-nim?”babb3be26f5179dc5226

Seo Yigyeom looked 7f9ae2793d at Heeseo without 80582af77b a word.8f7b1c87f9aa7d5400b2

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“If I’m fine for 912077cb81 you, you can talk 0dcff17461 about anything.”38f1a59bd09a053579d2

He had said c25c9b9eb0 every day was bc36bc9050 shit. Despite seeming calm and 7ef7c52ad3 indifferent about everything, he 752b9192ed must have his struggles 872b36a8e0 too. Just like Seo Yigyeom had been for him, 570cba0c67 Heeseo wanted to offer a little support.48d6bd524630460bf1a0

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“Don’t cross ad855e965f the line.”154c507320788541eec0

But after a long silence, Seo b876899bf9 Yigyeom’s response was just a chuckle. He leisurely took another e7ce1569ca cigarette, staring at Heeseo dcd9038cdc without looking away as 167cd4463f he lit it. Their gazes met through f2fc6928a1 the flickering flame. Their differently colored eyes c6dbb6ea0b seemed to capture only a78b0a6085 each other, frozen in 16adc9320f place.dffdb8cc7db940ce1cb5

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“…”ffa46669f499a1cbd2fb

“If you smoke too ba6ef2577c much, it’s bad for 593360c718 your health.”45af18577928265452bf

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“It’s a habit.”4b19efb515db6a47851b

When Heeseo whispered tensely, 2148b5b370 Seo Yigyeom responded smoothly. However, blowing f094ac1fd7 smoke towards 9df010ef4c Heeseo was 915808f670 brazen. Heeseo coughed in surprise, and 40498bcc6d Seo Yigyeom only smirked, turning fd6b6b2cdc his hand away.7b1ab1fd8ac08eaa8e77

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“And you’re a4e36e5d9c stepping in 981705d35d where you 1e9544c3d1 shouldn’t.”5004046669228d0f7ece

“That’s because I 1ba1a043da suddenly inhaled the ca7b665295 smoke.”68ac78ea12ebc2d19d4b

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“I’m always 8cfb1d4d8e like this. Suddenly.”2338f91d22fbe509def3

Seo Yigyeom said, borrowing Heeseo’s words while d3ea0f99c1 holding the cigarette between his teeth.634d1ee8355f9fb825f3

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“So don’t de5715b087 go snooping 1b947a4752 around.”26da177ed7a0e1731242

The light-hearted remark was more of 5b1705538d a warning than an invitation. At his casual way of 1c4758311b setting boundaries, Heeseo chose silence. Even if he wanted to help, ab89bd08b0 there was nothing he could do b456d8c6a2 if Seo Yigyeom didn’t want it.d394c68440685ed2da73

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The quiet conversation came 5d73438a1e to a halt, and 700856ff53 the wind filled the 1f61eac785 silence, rustling the bushes. Heeseo turned his head to see a 1052ad909d squirrel moving swiftly up a tree.a6318907029c0a2489ef

“Did you see c1a04213e9 that, Guide-nim?”8bfd72b9706762114323

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Heeseo smiled without 23749ac4f7 realizing it, turning 0712b6144d to Seo Yigyeom. But Seo Yigyeom was 6cf53da687 looking directly at him, 9c001c25c7 not at the squirrel.26ce7f041469a78523ae

“Do you always 632d6788a3 get this red?”3347e0f90449776de0c3

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His calm eyes traced a slow path, fba51b3f3b scanning Heeseo’s reddened nose, cheeks, and ears. The last place his bf0b209aab gaze touched was Heeseo’s dde246c076 eyes, which had been 14cf272fac tearful the night before. Heeseo fidgeted with 79a4570f1c his hands for 2e87391f37 no reason.eb4cc1476384a20102dd

“It’s because d1ef13da81 the wind 149d8dfa24 is cold…”b78bde1cd653e5b3b760

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“You’re not 8c8ef375c4 a child.”282a469b006796affd6b

His blatant mockery didn’t change much; only his lips, 800c20c995 biting the white cigarette, were a vivid red.36e2ca015a4e6b3184e5

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“Go inside, kid.”f022cd4c2a173de43db7

“I’ll stay 5dfd146a27 out a 9db5a3b56c bit longer.”12091a4da3ca3d7771c8

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Though it was 0c08cf37e3 cold, it felt ff426e8d0c like his chest 42f07245a9 was clearing out. Having expressed his intentions, Heeseo leaned e6af378774 against the railing, taking deep breaths. His heart 7359f84b14 was pounding. At the same time, 1fcc94fa70 Seo Yigyeom’s phone rang c7771b83ec with a chime.c0a07ebcb8cd2a6b570d

“Good morning. Why. Were you 039e046fa6 worried I 4d44c95884 might be 10128d56b7 dead? If I die, 44c3259c06 you’ll have to ccda3d8d3d be the chief ed09f1299e mourner at noon.”e82482046afb409a6f68

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While continuing the call ba09c780da comfortably, Seo Yigyeom’s expression b4d086bf13 soured a bit.8baae6807236a49333b0

“Don’t hang up, just 520050a903 send the data.”74ab3f00534176ffcdd8

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He was about to head inside when he stopped suddenly, saying, 653eec17a3 “Stay out as much as you want.” Then he walked away. Heeseo watched his retreating 4cfc27c342 figure before stepping forward. Not wanting to go 2343704362 inside yet, he leisurely 2c3828ab7b strolled around. This isolated spot grew on him the more he looked; bbae1d5b2f it was perfect for calming the turmoil in his heart.7578dce89e1951ce4e6f

Heeseo crunched through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints leading to a c2eb532f3a small path behind the house, which seemed quite walkable along the mountain.a571e0287a0ad639e584

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How many 7bf7bada3c minutes had a1231a849d passed?a09aa31eb593ea3037a4

“…”69fd297b5d8e42ba7dba

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Heeseo’s steps 147068f2c7 gradually slowed. His hand on 9e5c88a07f his arm tensed, d89766bbc7 and his skin 311cd6c63a prickled strangely. His expression hardened. There was nothing around, fe7f6c92e0 yet he felt an 81e5247efc abrupt discomfort.486cb70b8f17591c9117