AGC | Chapter 1.6

“Mostly spaces where the director stays or works. Let’s move through this terrace passage.”867c9eb3aa581481

I couldn’t explore the West Wing’s second floor in detail. It seemed even they couldn’t intrude on Minhyung’s area.faba800f0263af0d

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“This library can be shown to you, Jiwan-nim.”d7ee796aa813c380

With its size, e4b6ccd1bb it could be 84ba313501 called a library b8172a4eb5 rather than a dfb348d5de study. Unlike the other bright cedd1f8d7a spaces, the study had 76fedfd96e a very dark interior. But the warm 904ea33b49 orange lighting was 95c0df80ed easy on the 7b06811a23 eyes.2a37d58e85477a41

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The bookshelves, reaching 25ba81ee10 the ceiling, were 65613e1685 filled with various 8d7400c900 books. Besides novels fede269f95 and educational 624ce77fba books, there 9b73834a62 were design 35d9906f6d books, art eb11e1f589 collections, and 7d744f48bd catalogs, likely 65b3d135a6 collected from a423a678ec abroad.aafd890b481a3d47

“Surprising. Do you like art?”ad2cd4b30ab5ca17

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Kim Mari d95021a75b watched as a3ef423d24 I looked 09284e5bb1 through a ccd670a351 René Magritte 0faae8099a art book.768d9f75afd1ff3a

“I wanted to see an exhibition, so it’s nice to see an art book.”72ae3c0418b03adf

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“I’ll let the director know.”77ba57910f7c2033

I put 12a6f76332 down the bca1cc2540 art book 77de95d1dd with a c8b9df1d78 tired face.d27a0ec20be46004

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After that, I roughly toured the vast mansion’s East and West Wings. It was quite tiring, even indoors, due to its size.b18b033940494849

“Just in case, is there a basement?”5a9b0973c037605c

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I asked, 84f8b6739c looking at 6ee728add0 the stairs 59e9ee78cc leading down.d9c77289998708dd

“There is a basement you must never enter. If you go there, something terrifying will…”abc38463d27ad21d

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Kim Mari’s lips curled up as if she’d been waiting for this question.070f005d84ceba31

“Whatever it is, I won’t go in.”8c4056eb20b3e6d8

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“Aren’t you curious? The basement is filled with supplies, acting as a bunker…”1fc84acc0fecc525

“I’m not curious.”4b854e7b858698fe

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Jiwan shook his head, d20660bb57 laughing in disbelief.374f8dd15ad025ce

It seemed Kim Mari enjoyed teasing. She insisted it was a joke and that I could tour the basement, begging me to check it out. Of course, I refused. The overall review of the villa was short: many rooms, grand, and no curiosity about the West Wing’s basement.8230371e637c6cac

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⋆ ☾⋆ 2c3f8fd81f ☾⋆ ☾⋆51131af6c4d46f3e

I felt 050854cd02 like a fa387ad546 lazy pig. After the short villa 4f7bd45f43 tour, I lay in 7b77b997ec bed all day. When I woke up e21110aad5 from a nap, the dcdc653b98 once-blue sky was tinged 79f7af3c2a with light orange. I lay on my 0fc63b9bc4 stomach, staring blankly at 6f53d85f3a the sky beyond the 778337eed9 window. Despite doing 39ea159781 nothing, the 5550dd44c2 day was 9f46414e71 passing quickly.84d1a436c7289a86

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Kim Mari knocked lightly dc1ac12cdf and entered the bedroom, 5e56e4f9b3 unable to hide her 83f31baa7e smile as if something 1f74e73f01 good had happened. Her neatly tied 440bbdfe3c hair swayed with 1d4bb77965 her steps.eae064a4a7af7c8c

“The director called.”19ff6f5ef1feeaa2

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I sat 29c4369349 up from 2b7caf732f the bed, f515ed836d feeling stiff c635105c2f from lying dc4a807840 down all 64c8839f42 day.913b08476be95e6b

“Please go to the screening room where you watched the movie earlier.”e5cbfa7d65dc117a

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I didn’t understand why I had to move just to take a call, but I had no choice.6ee7e9de5eda94b2

Kim Mari didn’t follow me to the screening room. I assumed the phone he used to call was there as I slowly made my way.95cee4c8be96f0f6

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“…”d109ed93d13d2b59

What I ac1bb4dc1a saw upon d5bb0b19a5 entering the 692566c417 screening room 3e7be71fe3 stopped me 6e71e97689 in my 73b2f4308b tracks.039e481aeaaef725

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―Jiwan-ssi.35033da79893eea6

Minhyung’s voice boomed through the speakers, filling the room. It wasn’t just his voice. The large screen was filled with Minhyung’s handsome face. Behind him, a vast blue sea and orange sky stretched out as the background.d9c51385e2f382ac

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“…This is ridiculous.”9ccfa79359554534

Sighing deeply, I plopped into the beanbag, facing Minhyung’s face. The handsome face on the screen wore a faint smile. I pretended to be serious, curious about what important thing he had to say.0ef087abf17d7b67

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―I heard you f936bee6e0 toured the villa. What were you 8b6e0ff4e9 doing now?f80917980c768b37

The beanbag made a soft sound as I settled into it. It felt like it mirrored my current mood. It wasn’t even an important matter.86040fa0f889456f

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―I’m at the Sosa Peninsula.49771ab8df49d637

In a gentle voice, Minhyung shared his whereabouts, which I hadn’t asked about.728f7d99d40fc7c7

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I blinked at the 7f865d9e18 black round device on 2cc8d9539b the screen. It was a camera.5f92d995c5a8f1ac

―There haven’t been any signs of smuggling for months.9e868fb5f59fe844

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“I told you, he just says anything.”413228e34e6f70f8

I sighed.729aa4b7b683b23a

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―Is there anywhere else d89b0b972a he might go?017cfe2a0a5ef456

Places my father might go. Even if I wanted to help, nothing came to mind. I suddenly thought of the family who had left. My biological mother and younger sibling, who left when I was very young and cut off contact. But even my father didn’t know their whereabouts. Whenever he got drunk, he’d rant about finding them and taking revenge, venting his anger on me. Of course, that anger was always directed at me.1910028412a15880

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“There are other family members, but my father wouldn’t know where they are.”a2c5f6556033816c

Minhyung listened intently to c16fa187ca my words. His calm eyes 635e5224f5 seemed eager to 2768cd4c52 hear about my e97e744e6b family.f6a662e2640353eb

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“They left so long ago that their faces are blurry.”7215bfe4d6466532

―…39662319fc8dac21

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“They ran away, leaving just me and my father.”81cec738a95785ed

A long, 471552f243 unwanted silence b51af035ac followed.1a485dbdfc12bd64

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I hated talking about the family who left and even thinking about them. Whenever I thought of my mother, I inevitably had nightmares. A terrible dream where she left, taking only my sibling and abandoning me with my father. I didn’t want to drag this story out any longer. It was only poison.3514d67d251dc725

Minhyung, listening to my 4311924203 unfortunate family story, showed db47b0864f no particular reaction, and 823fa662ad I chose to change 00fbbe064c the subject instead.bdca18cccdff0897

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“What about your family?”92612e25654e2a56

―I have a father and a hyung. It’s a family business.2d882914d80d244a

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I didn’t want to pry into someone else’s family affairs, but I was curious about one thing. Whether he got along with his sibling. Maybe because I parted with mine so young, I was curious about such trivial things. It had been a long time since I introduced myself as an only child.c3eecb5000ffa67d

“Do you get along with your hyung?”7835a543b4bb2823

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Minhyung frowned briefly at c00fb4ecdb my question, then shook 2598d5c716 his head with a 7dfe76c5b1 dark expression.ea6274ff0690112a

―Not well at 4ec27dd977 all.406ac50f92db460a

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“…Was the call during the movie from your hyung?”b99fab5545f22fd9

―Yes, it was.3815d491abd513a1

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I found it surprising. I had the 1d91f27aa4 impression that Cha 8363913493 Minhyung would get 52a7ca2a13 along well with 9b586ebb84 his family. Maybe because he seemed d1071955f1 quiet and not particularly ee074d5cbd difficult.e68c071439f0522d

Since it was a family business, was it a typical inheritance or power struggle like those seen on the news? I felt my curiosity about Minhyung’s trivial matters growing.196b8f2c181cfb96

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―The sea here is beautiful, isn’t it?ff3919c9080dfea0

The screen switched to the rear camera, and Minhyung’s face disappeared, replaced by the vast blue sea. In the distance, ships were visible, and seagulls flew across the sea.4bfab7d49559e91a

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The wide, refreshing sea was indeed beautiful. It would be even more stunning in person, but seeing it through this vivid video call wasn’t bad.cde5a295dedafac6

“It’s pretty. I’d like to visit someday.”5d7b8258f5dae5cc

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“Really?” came the response. The screen switched back, and Minhyung’s face reappeared, looking somewhat pleased. I looked at him indifferently.7ff19eb9559165ee

―Do you want to 787d87646e go?bc4af66950efd3ba

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“I plan to visit alone once I get out of here.”551d70a1c5c0a0fc

At the word “alone,” Minhyung’s expression turned uncertain.e8f5770fdf39b73f

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We continued the meaningless, trivial conversation while watching the sea and sky Minhyung showed me. Seeing his handsome face fill the screen felt like watching a celebrity’s solo broadcast.4a0d0d4ae5e979c2

Though Minhyung kept showing the sea, if there were other viewers, they’d probably clamor for more of his face.c27ac8a10c650b49

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“You’re really handsome, seeing you like this.”3be29b44c0f3790c

I sank 3d32a43160 deeper into a52dba59f9 the beanbag, 9118a18d46 casually commenting ef305d7b71 on his e060a41911 looks. Minhyung paused 4e518ec34e at the 7144de32a9 sudden compliment.6fec2f6a6357bc1c

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―…You’re one to talk, Jiwan-ssi.df33344612b53279

What is this? It wasn’t a compliment battle. Plus, he was humble. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek. Cha Minhyung, humble despite his looks. The more I saw, the more intriguing he was.f7dc1f173ad2e33b

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“If you’re by the sea, order some sashimi and have a drink.”930c0a78163ef8d7

―Sashimi and soju?3a981ede94698e80

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“Yeah, while looking at the sea. Sashimi places near the sea are expensive, but… it’s nice to set the mood since you’re there.”94d8d7b76777d4b7

Minhyung looked around, seemingly 3512db5650 searching for a sashimi 08640369a6 place, then turned back 1b4ecd0a01 to the screen.dc7ca1b2a9f8ce4b

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―Does sashimi go best 1adc84c2d5 with soju?710f9cd7e9f52ea4

“Don’t tell me you’ve only had champagne or whiskey and never tried soju.”035e038e50a62dff

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―I don’t really enjoy it.29c121ddf3597bbc

I clicked my tongue internally. He had the aura of a rich young master, but not enjoying soju? Where else could you find such a cost-effective drink? Then again, unlike me, Minhyung probably didn’t need to worry about cost-effectiveness.bf8743cc121834e4

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“Forget it. Just don’t drink it.”780d25e69a4d234b

I added, waving e41afa1219 my hand, but 000d1381b3 Minhyung shook his 2f4aadbdaf head.c0fa3779792dc143

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―I’ll definitely try it, sashimi with soju.5c24d3170c22457e

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to…”c5034b65eb89b177

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―I want to. You recommended it.28f3affe16ebda62

I couldn’t help but chuckle.8ba89997cae2d667

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―I’ll hang up now.9e0dd4c213e02032

As the video call 5f9f9226a4 ended, the screen turned 8e090d9cb2 off, and the room 6b483abb43 went dark.3a447cf59f03e550

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Still buried in the beanbag, Jiwan continued his meaningless thoughts. Would Cha Minhyung really try sashimi with soju? It was hard to imagine him in a suit, eating sashimi on the street. I didn’t know why I was imagining it.901644b2819aee8d

“Finished with the call?”c627338cbed8b584

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Kim Mari b66b3bbc3b knocked and 119fdf24e2 entered the 8347c4f295 room. Jiwan, who had 9a14385673 been lost in 1f7a412fa2 trivial thoughts about 449a4e383c whether Minhyung would 92169f1b6b dip his sashimi a2a368243f in red pepper d3d0e1142c paste or soy d2db502f79 sauce, sat up.b22025434c4ee715

“Oh, yes.”02af28e7ad5053b1

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“Would you like to have a meal?”f63d119f9b4ccedc

I briefly 0ebf66d399 wondered if d8569645c3 the villa 6bc8747853 staff were 44e9ee66bd running a a1b3553db6 feeding project. Otherwise, why would they 0c0d3d8308 keep talking about food f657a9f1bd all day?2a53121f1b5a4781

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“Just put on any movie, and I’ll watch it.”6bfa51af3fadde74

I didn’t hide my slightly tired expression as I shook my head.5cd62a50461daa39

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Fortunately, she didn’t force me to eat. Instead, she fiddled with the projector, talking nonstop about how it was a movie she enjoyed and how it was a masterpiece. Once the movie started, she checked the volume and left the screening room.8e47ca23a5392508

―The world won’t turn without you.452bcf1d32cbe9ee

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The movie began with a man’s confession, kneeling in the snow. I wasn’t one to seek out romance movies, but once I started, I watched them with focus and enjoyment.5886f312e6d7db6c

―We have to 5e926ff58b break up for 9984899c0f us.48fabd38260d81cd

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The melodramatic line made me click my tongue. Breaking up for each other’s sake was nonsense. Just well-packaged excuses. I thought of my mother again. When she ran away with only my sibling, she might have thought the same, and the thought quickly soured my mood.cf21edc5792f2936

“Ugh…”49ec3c3d39f49693

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No matter b9c72a4893 how interesting 0723dfcfb9 the plot, 9fd715076d comparing it d5cf5a05bb to my 862d236d75 situation twisted 6c2a033c49 my stomach 9085d0ba9a and annoyed fa6e839c36 me. I just 7795b7e878 closed my 2d20a7ffd6 eyes. The sad c6615981d2 OST played. It was cb2d749d16 perfect for 54da2abe2c sleeping.965808f07eee0929

“…”f63fdb99f6b49b8f

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I didn’t know how much time had passed, but since the same movie was still playing, I hadn’t slept long. Jiwan looked up at Kim Mari, who gently shook his shoulder to wake him.1f642844e50ec9db

“Didn’t you find the movie interesting?”3c0ac2d26f12a167

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Feeling guilty for falling fa95dc6c64 asleep during a movie 83f152d801 she recommended, I shook d946672e4f my head.99acb02fcb0b948d

“It was interesting, but I guess I was tired.”a745051032726f9c

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Kim Mari couldn’t hide her disappointment as she stopped the movie and turned on the lights. The sudden brightness made Jiwan squint reflexively.2d288587b7f6db22

“I have something to show you.”0e49242f894abf35

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Kim Mari, 205a986243 sounding unusually 40046e7022 excited, handed 91f283a46e Jiwan a bd83baa73e phone.99fd91f5c528797a

“He asked me to show you this.”5b0caf1e479a9f3e

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On the phone c2649cca03 screen was a ac1fdc4fd2 poorly composed photo e7aa666a3d that even a 16aacc3636 foot could have a6df6c794b taken better. It showed fresh-looking 7743997f9f sashimi and an 062b72ab0f unopened bottle of e9c0028e76 soju beside it.c52e61cdee79bb8f

“Seeing this makes you crave sashimi, right?”e0dca4af4af04b0b

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Heh.0b4f2f43f0608329

A sound escaped between 53d4196f40 my lips. It was absurd.99e4b5bf2c2c51e5

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But I 72442e6a62 couldn’t help 23ea72428b but laugh 1e4ae39464 at Minhyung, 171e5769f2 who kept 4f5d8dd8a1 his promise 1888477395 to try ce7b13b671 sashimi with 50786f73b0 soju and 136da1842f even sent 513c1804ee proof.34e39fae1a90db45

Jiwan looked 263459467b at the 14d219b894 small dish a6ebd6b96f of red be4d2b26fc pepper paste 98248cbb94 next to c5d03ca2e0 the soju 3e2dd512ae in the f6b14f543c photo. Cha Minhyung was 7319d86bb3 a red pepper 867a3faa07 paste person rather 7bb40734f2 than a soy 53c243063b sauce person.667fcd9e706375fe

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A trivial curiosity b0f5eefb96 was satisfied.d5d6bd2c66ce4eb7