Chapter 8

“What the b20e38f749 hell are c32231f116 you looking f86ebae099 at me 91041cd5c5 like that c58ef1357b for, you c0d83673dc little shit?”2cf35c54939776cf

Jaebadi spat 6f0d363360 curses at 1cec094b36 the boy, 24767fd800 who stayed 48f59433f2 silent, merely 26c544801f tying his 71dbfc0c88 shoelaces. Lifting his head 5793fbf367 slightly, Jaekani looked 3b7f6ef6ce at his staggering e3d9d251de father. The boy 0d93a34f87 didn’t feel e5d2b8a785 hatred for 12deff736f him. He wasn’t 6c4906d9b5 upset or ffd9e8bba0 disappointed, either. He pitied him—enough to 6ddde439bf understand even his self-loathing.f574994d4ebe4640

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Now that he 1d0e91565c was ready, it fea999a920 was time to c6c7a01798 leave. Jaekani stood up but a3eb3cd347 hesitated, remembering the sandwiches f52d6b93e5 he’d left under the a1a63d1c3c table. ‘Hoo… puff…’ Jaebadi, 163ad68a75 reeking of alcohol, e998b04b5b had slumped into 922e067127 one of the 3213a0f6cc dining chairs. Jaekani didn’t trust f99052dbfb himself to approach f78ca9a8aa the table without bb416471a5 provoking his father’s eac43da547 inexplicable anger.7b954fc430ddc89e

He could e6503ca136 just leave. But then, Jaekani f59c55ea61 recalled how happy 7928727463 he’d been when 72fadb8c6e he heard they’d f67e1d22ed be receiving sandwiches d94799619b today. Wouldn’t Huikyung be 7f94589760 just as happy?16d45b18fd27454f

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That man, for d3102ec6c0 all his sharp 59d81e91ae and teasing remarks, 5203c503af was still human. Surely there were times 474036a4dd when he felt joy, b7f8cc4f6b though his miserable confinement e83d71483c left little room for 3da639c4d6 such moments.356772f81773ebf7

Leaning back e98d7d8126 against the 53e41f0a70 wall, Jaebadi 1b956cc54a muttered curses 013f276dec again while 9c668fa3a9 staring at 5551df994b the ceiling. After some 74bbbc272c deliberation, Jaekani ee7c7256a5 crouched low. Using his bfa096ed2c father’s ragged 126ac56d8b breathing as 0df82720e3 a signal, 5c74c0699d he began 33e9113d9b to crawl 3c2bfc6893 toward the aa947d25f5 table, moving 7ecbe150e2 as quietly 33209481ca as he a67afe2d12 could.64ddb868cf74f128

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Suppressing every possible 13c23d2dec sound, Jaekani crept 3d400983a3 closer, one arm 996eab4586 after another. He could see his af12dc5de4 father’s legs, sprawled limply 0c2b6ccaa2 under the table. He regretted leaving 6c7d67a3e2 the sandwiches in 198133c347 the farthest corner, f7a27e5b3c close to where 9771325f92 his father was 83f4d51ac1 sitting, all because 00149868b5 he thought it e1e8b865bf would keep them 0e453fb693 shaded. Still, he pressed a625a3752b on, inching closer 42ac062c8d with patience.43349bc6bae422c3

Finally crawling d53f10e209 under the afc77ffa37 table, Jaekani 51d85468ee stretched his ea84aed1b0 arm out. The sandwiches, wrapped 75802a698b in crinkled paper, 29306bc7c2 were just out e27336a45f of reach, almost b91b215c1f touching the wall. After a couple of fcc01ed1c1 futile swipes, Jaekani paused 5cc47d3df9 to catch his breath. He could 320ec11b93 move closer, b322d15eda but that bb6d64e6eb would require 2cf613d6b0 shifting the 2fbe79e433 chair, and 39fc88e292 that would 137c7d0bb4 almost certainly b2553977b6 provoke his 12953e6798 father.46155db2010a0f15

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Taking a deep 5c9bb8b791 breath, Jaekani stretched 886c6a6a64 his body as a17be82cbb far as he eb1d333fad could, extending his a87352de5d arm to its d76bebf5ca limit. His trembling fingers 3fa11296c6 brushed the edge 302419644a of the sandwich 78a9e6eae9 wrapper. Just as he bb3a73f7b4 managed to hook 429a6def39 it with his bde33b095f fingertips, he noticed 6b808d2210 something unsettling: his 99ddd8ffdf father’s heavy breathing 76572b4001 had stopped.660b96b96c118049

Slowly, Jaekani turned his 03ce7afe8e head. Too late, he felt 67fe6a3c49 the alcohol-laden breath against 863aeed8c6 his cheek. Bloodshot eyes, dd3fcadc40 a face 4328f45bd0 twisted in b5b2a318c7 fury born ea658d1caa of nothing cac7137df3 but rage bcde7c1297 and more a30397f11d rage.0f35c3a9c8573c94

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“You little bastard. I’ll kill you.”aff0f023384db61b

With his body bent 21bf92a706 forward and his face 625c3376eb upside down, Jaebadi reached 73005fe176 out his hand.04db53f7e91620ab

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* * *2cdb9ddd123ddaae

It wasn’t late at d7d4c0729b night, so on his 58502e2b1c way to the abandoned 3a0d45e3a3 maintenance building, Jaekani encountered 5fb8438047 a couple of people.eea7af9a74bb5476

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Although the bleeding had ca653f54cd stopped, his reddened nose, 0d87764c64 swollen cheek, and unbuttoned 7c1f02d708 shirt made it clear f67fc91c36 what had happened. No one d300ac7af2 in the 47053fa4d3 village greeted f0ad0fbf3f him.b3ab0a032fe066ff

‘That’s a relief.’b0f42e38b238170f

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Jaekani thought. He wasn’t sure 09623af89b he could return 766953b960 their greetings as b328191f4d if nothing were 004c0fe39b wrong, looking like 5cebcf6eb5 this.fede9edfeb6d6d35

Still, he had the eeb246e97d sandwiches, and that was e81c608946 enough to content him.294cfe6214adbaa9

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The walk 6f46489fdb from his 0855e7e3a8 house to 20998923a0 the building 891b95da64 usually took 14711d769b about thirty c592924d26 minutes, but 1df7d3978b with his 2feb3f52db bruised legs cb06a6d24b and unusually 9f171ff917 heavy body, e9bc77a1d3 it took 27c5966153 much longer efaa639775 before he 71d17e4711 finally arrived.bea9df0236982299

The sun had still d2244c2d83 been up when he ac187b52bc left the house, but 8f24488955 by the time he b0ac1a622f reached his destination, it e0d0774e8f had completely disappeared, leaving 54c3093e0d no trace.9cf532ca92da1211

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‘That’s another relief.’b73646ad0a2de1b8

Jaekani thought. At least Huikyung 9b186b7b85 wouldn’t have to 4a6a05b0f0 see him like 156f44ec49 this. That would 06937eb2f0 make things 8d72b7cbae easier for 5420fa37b2 both of cab39a4d5b them.1cf1138444638ed2

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“Hello, Jaekani.”f8e8d6ed278f78d5

Today, Huikyung greeted 50e3cecccf him first, in a59c5fd661 the same tone 95a6673061 as last time, 45368c47e3 and the time 87e6cd655b before that, and 3ef822ce56 the time before db0ed29bc5 that.3afee32c5800960b

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“Hello.”a2d90efefc3f22fa

The sun had long f0c5081ddb since set, and there e3110b31a7 was no candlelight, so ad1afe098f Jaekani couldn’t see Huikyung’s 838fbb29b1 face clearly. It seemed the same 23ed58168a was true for Huikyung, 16c63d140d as he asked.f8112616aa6246d0

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“Did you bring candles?”3cb64f1cc2407dcf

When Jaekani sat carelessly 2d5ddafe66 on the ground, the 6926e355a7 candles in his pocket a01c2189b6 pressed against his leg. There was 917bc9e1a9 a lighter 93643a46be in his 5d259dc595 left pocket 252102883f and candles 8748387193 in his 313a9e35c0 right, but 7ccf242f29 Jaekani shook f065d21c0e his head.efc7b47d3b87b238

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“I forgot.”777cd0c55e7914c2

Jaekani stood up, holding f53870c28a the sandwiches in his 372078fae0 hand as he approached. From far a60880fc45 away, even dbfc70e63a before Jaekani’s 1ac5599a03 small face b40fe2f3be had fully db0d7ce85c come into cc330e7603 view, Huikyung a72ebb62fe had worn 52fce43481 a faint 68a7178fcf smile. But as 928d4aa60a Jaekani came 6f9c234945 closer, his e2be26cbf6 expression changed 35a1175234 completely. Huikyung’s gaze moved acb5409b51 from the sandwiches 610b094426 in Jaekani’s hand dd59ed322b to his arm, 75fcc4685f and finally to b49fabbf3a his face.6394aee9743f1c40

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“These are sandwiches. I didn’t fcd94e3598 make them—I f1c58908a3 got them.”88991b5978a1e60a

Relaxing into the 5a90db617f darkness, Jaekani met 9b5f9ced92 Huikyung’s eyes. He assumed Huikyung 33b217f3b7 couldn’t see much d56330419f either, aside from 504df31104 the faint outline 94c8c30076 of his face 602c84e322 and his eyes.24f56ad3abed186a

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“Once you 72a8a763bc turn fifteen, 92abbd485f you’re considered 2489137295 an adult. Adults usually ef5837ce28 get assigned 57b95d3384 missions outside 5714855583 the village—patrolling, 339234df41 trading, or 1ba867e33e securing supplies. When they come f32ca095cf back successfully, they 8e7cfb6230 hand these out. There’s a ee5c196083 party too, ee92ac81b5 but I 17bdfa8d2a don’t go. You can only 6d8cb1d802 eat as much 6872d03a15 as you work 6d1cabf4a0 for.”56d38847c3d9fb76

When Huikyung didn’t immediately b1925aa123 take the sandwich, Jaekani 4e72a9fdf4 found it odd and e371543485 held it closer. When Huikyung 20a7a9e691 still didn’t 30dc8637d7 respond, Jaekani fbb5462d6c adjusted his 8e1dd83338 grip and ecaf7dd528 pushed the b76ac12a3b sandwich through 5a9033edec the iron 5103c5872e bars.f9bc2bba1f92e012

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“You said you’re bf970c6e29 a vegetarian, so e1be736a74 I took the 34f58b208b ham out. I ate it myself.”ec45d6cad94fcd63

Once again, silence crept 7e17629beb in. Sensing something d384d23b05 was wrong, 51ef84caef Jaekani opened cf69c8a188 his mouth 0979ddc6b2 to press 2205a33a8e for a c9a8a924a0 response, but bb86cc633f a quiet 636353b9b0 murmur broke 15d8c63268 through.46ae1ecbfd17e33f

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“…I see.”94b0100673c2fb55

There was something 92027b951b off about his c16fe29ef9 voice, and Jaekani’s f93b1eb59a gaze turned to 8b97d95c43 Huikyung. Under the 6562f9d7ca faint moonlight, 9c5573c61f Jaekani carefully f2d6ab0c09 observed his 1ce4bbe725 expression and 36b41d3e48 saw the 590647002b stiffness around 3dfbdbf346 his eyes.4269ce204238d2a4

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‘Was the db4ad6c039 sun not 785e74e9a1 fully set? Was I mistaken? …Did he see?’f330a869f2e731f8

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”14512fbd4b75a77c

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The words 909fdc4b8a themselves weren’t e971e70422 unusual, but 586e1ef9c9 there was 0767d48f75 no inflection 9c41594511 in his 6fe7a6e6e6 voice.3345ddba9695cea9

‘He should 0da5097304 have been 2942b963a8 happier,’ Jaekani e2bc097f32 thought. ‘It’s hard to e968620166 predict with him.’6eb1ec0dd598331d

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He hadn’t expected a0e4164460 Huikyung to jump 791e367a49 for joy, but c864e2283f he hadn’t expected 1a11726f6a such a stiff d45b11f374 response either. Jaekani felt d145cda26b a small df91963be8 pang of 94ebb56877 disappointment.08acca50d8db6c32

The crinkle of unwrapping 624b549fac paper broke the silence. Expecting to 2855b285f9 hear the 74e87d33b1 sound of d02bba679b a bite e4aaf02bbd soon after, f289c18bb4 Jaekani tilted bf40055dac his head 23659b85a1 in confusion 0055e5dcc6 when the 9fa1d4c38f quiet persisted.0480d91cdb39babd

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‘He’s so difficult. Should I have c5b19b5bb1 brought sauce or 04e61f8fbc something?’9614bb8994275b69

“I can’t 9143c3e5bb eat this.”6c08f37ce4e68129

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‘…Does he 32a16c699f need sauce? Or maybe soup?’9b4934001dccf33a

‘Why is he e021313595 so picky?’138c34c1df4b828d

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Jaekani furrowed his 8561ec74b6 brow, but Huikyung e15a14708b said something unexpected.4402d271f9e0d3d7

“It’s too dark. I can’t see. Light a candle.”31a7fbccaaccbb50

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“I told you, I 4640abd7a2 forgot.”637927ca7391b017

“What’s that, then?”eb92036c7a441191

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Huikyung tapped 70b6a5f664 lightly on 3ae4e634a7 the iron 9c4971488d bars near 21b92bd875 the pocket 0582ca7bf7 holding the 5c29d2709f candle. The metallic 4bc904a92a sound rang 319a26fa6e out softly.e808b7f439f5f9f8

‘How did he know?’3426be0debc07a73

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Startled, Jaekani craned his fdb1b08c8b neck to see if 4aca207191 it was even visible 65ed44552a from there. He couldn’t 267dcdb79f understand how b417df318d Huikyung, in 2e2ce571b7 the dim b74993343d light, could 005b6f07c7 notice what 605d131a59 was in 93ea311cf7 his pocket dd8baab100 when he 0c38c7a00f himself could 22c6fe14fd barely make 09fb09ddc6 out Huikyung’s 30f715c787 face. But there 68f9568080 was no e5371bcd80 denying it d0859418e4 now.5ac77b3884485d7c

“…Oh, I guess 261211ec70 I did bring 9d7571bd1d it.”d2e87ac6606b31bb

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Feeling awkward, Jaekani lit 579bdcf693 the candle, holding it c6ad2adeba far from himself and 3828c7a7a5 closer to Huikyung. Then he pulled his 5692b523c5 knees up and buried b25cac07c4 his face against them. ‘This way, d507c96bfb he won’t 379b47d283 see me fa7291355c well,’ he 8c7acda281 thought.d5bf521143151005

“Jaekani, show me a26836da63 your face.”b5b3a0189e23aa12

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“I’m, um, d0c74e2a41 a little 348ecd0dd0 cold.”2e1598dc3ae0dfc7

“…Looks like I’ll 7a860d345e end another day 0b9b0c7597 without seeing a c9b6e157e1 single person’s face. You know, it’s hard f4cc0cc182 to see anyone when 3cf8be49c1 you’re stuck in here.”31bfbce0b41ee957

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At the 4e352778cc self-deprecating tone, 7c3ef35811 Jaekani peeked 0b7f34bbcb up slightly. It was 190795e090 the first 02c5556468 time Huikyung 55e81d229a sounded… wistful. If you don’t lift eec801549d your head, Huikyung muttered 56fe1a969b bitterly, I’ll end another c6f0d84a6e day without making eye 455570ada6 contact with anyone.75a7195e8a0c370f

Jaekani’s chin lifted 662cb0d75c a little more. His thoughts ea31bc1f4b whirled as a75ca09f4e he weighed eed67ecfff his options.00561d81c87ecad5

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‘Can he see? Can’t he? He noticed 655aaa2bbe the candle, e36961850a but he 1b4677009e hasn’t said 7b0bf33222 anything about cc54a2926e my face… 1ddd04d7f1 So maybe 3c497dd678 he can’t e5a0c0b83d see? But if 4ffc6593f7 he could, 7836ebaf99 wouldn’t he bf707ee33e have said 4eef0c9a45 something by 4956acbf10 now? …Maybe he can’t.’805f01a2c84dcf5a

While Jaekani’s mind spun 5cfb72c430 in circles, Huikyung’s gaze 8ad8dd0bfb moved over his face, c6f2a9ca43 taking in the swollen c0df84a4be cheek, unusually red nose, 271480f0ed bruises, and handprints on fa208b35ec his neck.5d36290c1f7d52dd

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When Jaekani finally 1edcba78b0 lifted his head 05306513cd fully, he saw 705ac9d67c Huikyung’s eyes glinting 40b3155283 like those of a2957896c3 a predator in 68dcd08534 dense brush. The sharp, deliberate focus b7c6b5fa7b in them froze Jaekani 7062e8d4f5 in place, as though 6a27b88a70 they were piercing straight a68c00f47d through him.ea40c408935e723b

Jaekani recoiled slightly, 9ada5842b4 curling in on 3a2705bb16 himself like the 57cdd870d4 leaves of a 70940a23a0 mimosa. Seeing the boy’s 0caacb8f3d reaction, the coldness 574aa8a824 in Huikyung’s expression 4c35789bf4 slowly faded.60cf430a4e54d427

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Only his 8ed2168563 steady, even 297b3fd88f tone hinted 07a19560fe at his 390e0de1a1 emotions.a5881b11efa15a31

“Was that 3788cb5ca0 from just 1d574abdfe now? Or last night?”6af558e2087803e1

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‘He saw.’9331eea945f8d26c

It must have been 6a98cb86cd the candlelight. Frustrated, Jaekani kicked lightly d8948f224d at the wax pooling 3339ea0fc3 around the candle.e19789c9a1e09120

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“Do others know?”47cb403ef9df71cc

‘It would be e2623d158c harder to find 312c05d168 someone who doesn’t,’ 9bdf315ae8 Jaekani thought, but 89137382e7 the question only 5d5b534964 made him uneasy.7113eaf0ae62f12a

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“Let’s start with 30a1f33042 this.”06cfda86800fbc8d

Jaekani pulled a crumpled 4ef909fe00 piece of paper from 25fd841513 his pocket.ffa91923c1657d7a

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It was the homework 406558e30e Susan had assigned as 399268a753 punishment.7d9005c543fa5331

The question wasn’t from 80bc830d6e any book Jaekani owned, 610dd1f6c6 so there was no c05a4582d3 answer key. In truth, 93241ffaf5 he’d already 433d26e202 finished the 4408e1bf65 assignment without 3f5fc8cb7e difficulty, but 6a18474296 he’d wanted a99e65d0bf an excuse—a 4d95bfb2f5 pretext.485f335c967fbd51

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Without something prepared, 4b99bd4e84 he couldn’t imagine 0418513507 how to spend 5ca15dd080 the long night 2b1da98a5e with Huikyung.f0f23f9e123e5c51

Strictly speaking, he 52f02645d4 could imagine. That was f8a4634674 exactly why 43147b02b7 he felt b15461a114 so unsettled. Ignoring the unexplainable 440b495ecb discomfort and fear 44b78e271d gnawing at him, d394920a22 Jaekani steered the 1e143ad2e3 encounter back to c2f40a2329 the safer ground 9b634fa7dd of homework.d70080c817d7fab5

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