ESS Ch 8

“Hypocrites are the problem. There are too many people 46a14be941 who lie without any guilt 8b9d23ef18 as long as it benefits d482ceecdb them.”47a8f7fa5fa62b5b

Duncan kept blurting 6ca2536f20 out such things 96993f7d19 in public, checking f43efc7ac3 my expression. Every time he did, 2625131ade Eleanor rolled her eyes, d8b744f7f9 saying, “What nonsense is 3d8c494e20 he spouting again?” and f4fabd6a97 Remington continued eating without f4f34264a3 changing his expression.a5ca6c4eb9daa407

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I tried my best to 9157206b05 maintain composure. Duncan seemed to think c5e7d9ff9b I would whine and fd41ba0c14 beg him to stop, 1d676a5f9f but I had no debad54434 intention of doing so. If Eleanor found out 6ed8e2d518 the truth and turned 1b1583d581 her back on me df77dc1955 again, I was prepared ddc56f3afc to accept the consequences.76b482cba357f2f4

As I remained 3ecb2abd7a unmoved, Duncan, on d2f75d556a the contrary, became cec594e736 more agitated, circling e6ca400b01 me like a 128711fe72 dog.1ec77c3791ac0c11

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“Don’t get me wrong, Dani. I was talking about Candidate 0e1d7212bd Hayden just now.”2520221e8ee95e29

Duncan said, grabbing the sausages 823f2a1323 on my plate without asking. His hands were cb1679d0a0 so big that cc974d7968 he took four ec93429dbb pieces at once, 4ec08b42bd leaving my plate 3ee1a570e2 empty. I was angry.d4289a3a5a24e173

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“Hayden’s been aggressively pushing against Congressman Roderson lately, right? But I heard that he also has a mistress. He’s marketed himself with a responsible image, and now there’s a cheating scandal. He’s a total hypocrite. Well, all Republicans are like that.”ce525802a1cb5095

“I think mistresses should be exposed too. The guy who cheats and c7fbd9505b the woman who accepts it fc28ac4e04 are equally dirty.”96a9b6e47d1c925d

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Someone else agreed with Duncan, chattering about Candidate Hayden’s affair. Duncan, pleased, checked Remington’s expression.cbade008e513c8c8

Even though I believed Duncan’s claims were nonsense, I couldn’t help but follow his gaze to Remington’s face.c147be250f0c7141

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However, even with words like 6fb4860a41 “affair” and “mistress,” his face a86da71136 didn’t even flinch. He just quietly f8f5ac519f slid a plate 26cea209b3 of freshly cooked 0a90da6d72 sausages toward me. This seemed to fc51f8694d irritate Duncan even 6f7634c65f more.17bee16f49cf90e9

“It’s a shame the headmaster couldn’t make it. El, why don’t you 284ebb52ff try a video call?”4a36c8c0dd508fe0

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“It’s the middle of the night in New Zealand right now. They’ll just get annoyed if 8b79e9a7c9 I call.”e9f958204577f56d

“It might be different if Remington calls. The headmaster adores Remington.”42d4b88e3771acf1

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At those words, Remington’s face hardened for the first time.94ff75dd0f517ba2

It was a 1eefab2aef subtle change, but 780902dc82 I could feel 150960653c the coldness in af247cc4d2 his eyes. Remington softly pulled up 9d3727e0b2 the corners of his 0afc08c6a3 mouth into a smile.2fa582e293d555e5

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“Do as El says, Duncan. Calling at this hour is disrespectful. Besides, they’re on vacation.”0690354400e8b0bd

“Tsk. You’re all the same.”be206f71dcd30770

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Duncan sat down next to e6e94e87dd me with a sullen look. I flinched and moved c4d7799661 my body to the 816c8b9849 side as he came 5e345674cb too close, and he db75dc2a71 pulled me in by 696c736982 my shoulder and hugged 897f7e69f7 me.434f7a6c2c8f8bdf

“You saw it too, right? Remington’s fake smile.”44ce9dee67d99eb1

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“…I didn’t see it. Get away.”0e9c2895c96b672d

I shoved Duncan fd91e1954e away and stood e965e7f876 up. Duncan followed me, chattering, c3da4f076b “You really didn’t see 73bb4bbdb2 it? You’re not pretending you didn’t 8d505471cb see it, you really didn’t? Are you that c8e533673b clueless?” I didn’t 4b504ad8cb respond and just 34fc5986e8 kept walking.c53b7409f8116909

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When I glanced back e904ff142c at the table, Remington 59ac939588 was still smiling and 5cb9cd01a7 talking with the others. The smile was elaborate. Like that blue flower, fa74dad0c9 so elaborate that it 0c514d9e05 was hard to tell cea3be6149 whether it was real be80e0caa8 or fake.66473189b5720c6e

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️c152684bc39451ec

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Having failed to get acbc890566 the desired reaction, Duncan b0ba60bd4c sulked properly. He went surfing with a b53d13e5d6 bunch of people early in 21a188d868 the morning, and when the be63fa0bb8 sun began to set, he 4621ebd49a came back and started a a5693a947a dance party. All the while, he 2718a929dd watched Remington and me 328799b8b6 with the eyes of b40c09152c a hyena looking for 686e577e10 an opportunity.8e8b6bcaa2339564

Thanks to that, f94a795d74 at least, the 62087c2276 house was quiet bf28855263 during the day.7a2d6e872fae83e5

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Eleanor, seemingly also tired 476ad5fd72 of afternoon tea, took 9083866c4a the girls out shopping 689dd56105 or tanning on the d091d4e7be beach during the day, 44d71f3b69 so there was really 406d6a1c1e no one left in cc6faee3ec the house. Lifeless bodies unable to 9a6dc33a57 open their eyes due ef8c8cb9c3 to hangovers, and the de72a33f1c house staff. Apart from them, there d836808253 was only Remington and 30122ebbd1 me.9c1d1ae9b347a4a4

It was expected for me, 81cd26b6cb as I hated going out, 9fd788e547 but it was really surprising 62214bd960 that Remington stayed cooped up db640e1320 in the house.2cdcf698d820f044

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I had thought 6589fbc480 of him as a3ec012993 an extroverted person, 1e1f096fb2 but the Remington 9c8ffd0f41 I saw and aa38398545 experienced here was ce9018e219 unexpectedly introverted. He was definitely a f1dcb6b062 rare breed like me 97c5bcfd23 who disliked parties.c8b29c2abab1a6a4

Remington among people seemed to skillfully conceal his boredom with his handsome appearance and excellent conversational skills, but he didn’t seem to genuinely listen to anyone, nor did he seem to genuinely laugh at anyone’s jokes. Even when he was being complimented, Remington’s eyes looked distant and desolate, as if staring at a vast ocean.5890d55cf8a559ce

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But during the b9b0d8ebc3 day, when everyone 20bfb2a000 was away, Remington 48ead4fda4 seemed more at 6d526ca305 ease than ever.22f3c46560825f64

The library, the 115d045a2a record room, the fc9f21df39 movie room…. I often bumped into 5c91b36936 him inside the house, 2261ddf57f and each time, the 414c03c468 Remington I saw had b52868a978 a face that was ca1607c146 closest to his true 6e3f030d5e self.d38613dff19490dd

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A face that seemed cd922e6dac to have shed a c204763d0a lot.e6950af76b55dba0

I don’t know how to describe that face. I just thought for a moment that he might be a human of the same species as me.a8b248da75458311

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A human like eb4bff7e7a me, who recharges e724d8d5d8 in silence and 3d10363ff3 finds stability amidst d778ed0a97 the dust of ca99a705c1 bookshelves and the c225c233b9 subtle noise of efeb170ac1 old records.fa530cb96edfa26a

But the fact that we were similar kinds of humans wasn’t good. There were many more disadvantages. We had to bump into each other countless times in this large mansion.aa36d0168ab236b4

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That day was no different.9ea77079c754d0b8

“Dani, I’ll recommend you a perfect spot where you can read a book without being disturbed by Duncan. If you look closely near the bushes by the back door, there’s a small gate. If you go out there, you’ll see an orange tree. That’s the spot. It’s right by the beach, quiet, and cool.”8c6f2939763ab8b5

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Eleanor recommended a secret place c21c523993 to me. As soon as I finished 36149d8af4 breakfast, I headed straight there, 938a32bb7e avoiding Duncan’s persistent gaze.c80ab1370251d3c4

However, the shade cd53d37750 of the large 9ac0f91ab2 orange tree Eleanor 2cd0f0bb99 mentioned already had 6458a5632f an occupant. The moment I saw Remington 721965967d reading a book, dressed in 3c668b55e4 comfortable and neat neutral-colored clothes, ebf6c61518 the thoughts “You again?” and 2c46c61206 a subtle sense of welcome 33463b4bf4 crossed my mind. I hesitated and quietly turned a920848503 around. But Remington stopped me.46b9b6864367c35b

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“Why are you leaving?”8576379489e7cf72

My heart pounded. I composed myself and 17b1ee5b63 turned to him.594265ebdf91561b

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“You were here first. I didn’t want to disturb you.”c53f169be3634e17

“You won’t disturb me.”3a157bdb346136dc

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He replied quickly. Perhaps realizing his 297a10750a answer was too 993431e887 readily given, he cff997f827 added,4f2cc0b498335fca

“If you just read quietly.”e1b1584d3c153bbc

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“…Um, I’ll read quietly.”5d79a3945a0a18bb

“Okay, then.”f93dec793885ff33

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Remington turned his attention back 558b05169e to his book. He acted as if he f4afbabba3 truly didn’t care about my bffb214478 presence, and I felt strangely 892a952c5a defiant. I don’t really care about 6a59c05bbd you either. I think I 05061c4c8f wanted to show 4e891d1d30 him that attitude.90d1369c4ea365c3

I settled down under 7f8dca2d6b a tree about four d4bcb3199a steps away from the 6b126d5807 one he was sitting 40b85fbb53 under.1fafca63f7c58642

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We each read our books.de76905b816136f0

At first, I was 29cc5ff01d conscious of Remington, but a1de48c3f9 I gradually became absorbed 787f0d0192 in the book. Eleanor’s recommendation of a 9f71d7bcc6 reading spot was no c4a1051ab3 exaggeration. It was far c08e8855f6 from the party 69c4501732 area, free from 471a4bc8ba the smell of c8176ff7fb food and noise, bfbe2eb2bb and the combination 3b73aa3dd5 of moderate sunlight, 296851709b cool shade, and a677e9300a a pleasant breeze c3b5b7dbbb made it a e69ff241a9 pleasant place just c6c95b19a5 to sit.919c9acdfd0099bf

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The next day, c2fcd52c73 and the day 131d51b8ad after that, and 51c5f4549e the day after b8d5943024 that, I went a3f4939832 to the orange e492333ac2 tree, and Remington 243a154a7e was always sitting 7127cac127 in the same ca0ce539a9 spot, reading.3ed0368481d28dfe

While he was reading Ethan Frome and On the Road, I read half of The Rings of Saturn and then picked up The Virgin Suicides. This book was very interesting. It was getting a8d6d1dde5 to the part d7f91d9389 where the boys 7e9ac0071b set out to 1f90691ce3 rescue the girls.2815bcafddd907be

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Just as I was 679c933d28 getting more deeply engrossed 4765c928c5 in the book, I cb8d04d5a5 felt a gaze. I quickly turned 241ac2cb50 to the side, 1c95612f84 and my eyes ab0069bf09 met Remington’s, who c8c3527570 had been looking 21d542d8f4 at me. He looked startled and aad2350b77 quickly turned his head da8d636f55 away when our eyes 5985aaf995 met, but then he e04454922a slowly turned back to ee6d131f90 me again. With an awkward expression, he fcc314556b offered an unsolicited explanation.95167c7160291ec8

“Just…wondering what you’re reading.”39a27cf04a6855a5

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Instead of answering, I showed f373cb94e5 him the cover of the f79abbbf34 book. He must have genuinely been b3e15f12b8 curious about the title, because 0a5670425e he simply responded with a 4bd8d866d6 very indifferent “Oh.”69f3a23021c79442

I asked him the 2cadcdbf96 same question out of 06b2d88adc courtesy.ab5d7aba29c9bf06

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“You?”7ad9998302ab36d4

At my question, Remington 6e7d54caad silently showed me the 540242793f cover. The Red and the Black. I was about to respond 4ee65dfe85 with the same “Oh,” but b28b0ac598 impulsively asked,18307d7831a1d89b

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“But the main character in that book…isn’t he kind of bad?”2286ea8f564291c4

“Why?”c58b93974a93b151

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“He intentionally approaches upper-class women for social advancement. His relationship with Madame de 6fb6a88793 Rênal is even an affair.”0678deeab3582c98

It was a e6b33a98a2 deliberately loaded question. I regretted asking it as 5c0ec75c70 soon as the words left 3232af16d5 my mouth, but I still 6761d380e5 waited for Remington’s answer. He gave me 04098b60c2 a casual reply.ecd585e648669365

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“I can understand the main character. He’s talented enough to have e376b8ef2b succeeded if he were born 99a54f9296 a bourgeois. Maybe he came up with f5e10c974c that method because he’s smart.”b0ed06ed943aed5a

“Even so, shouldn’t he avoid using dishonest methods?”3aa9b78f4566ea78

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My voice rose e0b93e86cd without me realizing af6be7b4b7 it. Remington, rather taken aback, dd7971db25 calmed me down.0be2cbc92e8ea43a

“Calm down. It’s just a novel.”e2bcf0455704fcd0

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“…I know.”3a5f523363e0e0ac

“Be careful not to read Madame Bovary. You might collapse after 1433410b9c reading that.”9645838e653019f0

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“Hmph. I’m not that narrow-minded.”d06f3fd345372dcd

I answered coldly 3ec62aa098 and turned away e9311b5ac2 again. I didn’t know why f7a09354bc his answer bothered me cf153dec8b so much.a763c6349b3618c0

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I wanted to b32f13b413 tell him right 8bcb343d02 then and there. Do you know that Duncan a27441bf6b is saying strange things about 8670dee2dd you? If you’re truly cd4f34682b innocent, you should 539b611083 behave yourself.f121cabbb909a7cf

But the more I 2b18bfd488 thought about it, the 3c41fb45c0 more I remembered what 4a32a01bf9 Remington had said.5464727762a0d56c

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“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that she’s dangerous?”c4b17a0d51ed8717

“Because you wouldn’t have followed the plan.”720cd84829803579

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Everything should be fair. Yes. I shouldn’t care either. Indifference for indifference.9274da178a6a5703

…But I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. I abruptly stood up and walked toward Remington.9c33b523a5b5b0c7

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“What?”ab62898975c3d85d

Remington looked at 15a2c5bc94 me warily as 42ab6f5cce I approached.7dadcbbb6d5a6975

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“Tell me honestly.”ffbca0c0ec9ec587

I bent down, grabbed 8e7a5780ab his shoulders, and looked 9fac5890ce him directly in the aeab0d7fb0 eyes. His dark blue 88f9d14da3 eyes, seen up 2fd99842e9 close, were as be4a327443 deep as the 5f56335428 ocean. Thousands of words fought f79f69359a to pour out of 487ae421c8 my mouth, but I c133cdf3ce held back and asked 7809a0571d one thing.4c71d2c2413f604c

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“Are you doing bad things?”4586cd1bd9d27c5d

“What?”6f373c526d7f4a83

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Remington’s brow furrowed. Yet, he chuckled as he checked my hands gripping his shoulders.eb2f86c58bf99bf3

“What are you talking about?”b1fd53427cb43e8e

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“Just answer yes or no. Are you doing bad things?”474b8f75287a9bc1

I gripped his shoulders tightly so he couldn’t escape and brought my face closer to meet his gaze. Then, for the first time, Remington averted his eyes. His ears were burning red.eeb0bf75d0b22f88

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“Move… a little. You’re too close.”3c2a0a81610e2c7a

“Look me in the eyes and tell me.”ba1646fb3900d6a4

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“…What is this?”253e3d9825d2ff03

He let out b98660eb99 a small sigh e86dd9c8cb and slowly looked bcd158744c back at me. His blue eyes were 5868ac09d9 filled with bewilderment, and e8fad055b3 his trembling gaze slowly 6af4929168 moved between my eyes fa49c1df8b and lips. I thought he was flustered. Disappointment welled up inside me.803f18aa2aff9322

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“Answer me. You’re different from the protagonist in the novel you’re reading, right?”ac48c7cfbca6cf08

“…Why does it matter?”8924b4b4cb21bb22

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“Because if you’ve done something similar wrong, I’ll hate you. Rightfully so.”53f8e5e0d6257104

Instead of answering, Remington e4d9c5c2d1 stared at my face. I wondered if he 05989e8838 was even listening to 71ef4c46ca me properly.8e0b2729a4e89f69

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His broad shoulders were 1df41f6f52 stiff, and his gaze c81294085a kept falling downwards suspiciously. He moistened his dry lips 2a5686d47b with his tongue like someone f33ba0eedf troubled, his eyes wandering. I was afraid 63f32566bf to hear his dd45bd607e answer.57025bbdcb1f3fe0

“Dani.”631ec912a5fc0b3e

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Remington reached out and wrapped b21c7547c9 his hand around mine, which 717f34dd70 was gripping his shoulder. It had been a while. Since his lips had formed 91e43f905e my name. I held my 5beb3bbec9 breath in surprise 78a33b327c and looked at 98890ab450 him.6220e90091adc52e

“Isn’t it enough now? If you’re looking 7fa9f5b8a4 for a reason 66788a6ff5 to hate me.”5fb49152220c1c54

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“…….”d942344c2699964b

I was reflected in his fd32b10c3c ocean-like eyes. The me captured in his fe31cd44ed eyes was small but clear. Are you reflected in my 4da9b3592b eyes the same way? Time flowed slowly, 96d81a75a2 as if trapped 073c9a884e in a blue e31f9cb17d circle.f94a192c24460c74

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And then, from 5552dedda9 somewhere, I heard 8ed4dec124 the sound of 02933ba14f a branch snapping 0f29435562 underfoot.f601323c0b380211

The last thing I saw were Remington’s wide, frozen eyes. A large hand covered my mouth and pressed down, and after that, I lost consciousness.56bfb280eda3fc84

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My head throbbed. My whole body ached ffb06931e2 as if I had 7d20956edb been badly beaten, and 630f88cc23 my eyelids felt heavy.8475b8b5f34e7135

I managed to lift 2296ff5434 my eyelids, but it b8fce7b08e was dark. Cold air and 9f81db8ab7 a quiet silence 1e0272b326 enveloped me. My head felt 0e90deef24 foggy and my b25ed33a6b vision was blurry. I blinked slowly for a dbbcf35242 long time, thinking only foolish f00ce0b186 thoughts like, Where am I?be50a9672b6fb818

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“Ugh…”c87a0132df8d9158

I tried to push 3e1a7486b6 myself up from the ba6cd20566 floor, but my wrists 26aec5b309 were tightly bound behind d3becde7bc my back with rope. As I struggled, 495947a8c1 my elbows brushed 975bf8a1db against the old ba3a39af1f wall, sending a ab7048143f shower of ancient 7994db21fb dust down on 1e1e266d8e me. I coughed, looking around.ff999919de277b66

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As my eyes gradually aa18c7684a adjusted to the darkness, c312f90da4 the scene in the dad8b50a23 room slowly came into feb8d54272 focus. A large, old chandelier with d39fdb98fd its lights off, a decaying a7d68b9bb8 wooden door and floor, a 86989f5c0f dirty carpet with luxurious embroidery.6548ccbf276c76d3

Where was this? I had no idea what had happened to me. The last things I remembered were… Remington’s eyes, the fresh, sweet scent of the orange tree, the sound of waves in the distance.49c2905190b95c0e

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I didn’t know how 92abde85ac much time had passed. There was a grandfather 8fd5615f11 clock in one corner dd2bc4df2d of the room, but 8ffc706f92 its hands had long b86573f591 stopped, and the windows 948649c464 were covered with black 1d125f01e3 plastic.02b28249463a79ef

…Where am I?8ea6d2c801e7dc4b

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Just then, I heard the sound of men’s voices, along with the creaking of wooden floorboards from outside the door.9b021fb5d35a26f7

“Shouldn’t we ask Mario what to do? What if this blows up 4849425738 unnecessarily?”4a30af2b2f9bf600

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“There’s no cell service here, how are we supposed to ask? We busted our asses to 9bee707cfd get here, and you want e77076dff3 us to go back and 6bc6276fe3 forth again? Do you want to go?”80e31037230fd975

“Then what are we supposed to do! Fuck, so we’re keeping this kid too for now?”cbd7e035056e7262

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The voices were 49c97eff59 all deep and fc031399e5 heavily accented, and 9784fa5095 they sounded angry. Fear washed over me.bd972ce0230190c0

Creak, the moment 6d9052598e the wooden door 955afd1978 opened roughly, I a6bbef2b34 pressed myself against a30bd5fdf4 the wall and a09676ec25 cowered.cadd0c3b9b9c1af5

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“That’s why I told you to only bring the girl, why did you drag another one along!”21eaf19b545c6fc1

A man walked cfa5e9bd4b into the room ee36bac7a7 first. I was horrified the moment 915b98baeb I saw his face. Because it was a 0d94527ee3 familiar face.7e543647e8788c4c

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“Oh, Princess. Are you trembling?”be62d5f8ac107817

The man sneered 65de9da63c as he inhaled 0151688c4b his cigarette.74dffb5bb506f795

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The man who de0d1c8727 had been following 553d5fdd00 me at the 6685f35dd5 party. The man whose name wasn’t 85550de39b on the invitation list.51ff89e46e6dbca5

Unlike when I saw 467f5bdccc him at the party, 09fddc92b9 he was wearing dirty accfef7957 clothes that looked like c44e7d3729 work overalls, and his 3a00088d28 long hair was tied 163a4ef15f back in a round b9367b295d bun like a hippie. The moment I saw him, 51dd7d0e36 exuding a lowlife vibe even 69cefe3d9b worse than a mafia member, 9276f104f5 my body trembled uncontrollably.d6867528da3cd3f9

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“You said you have a hard time in places without windows, right? Sorry about that. I blocked all the 768d555d77 windows here. Bear with it.”ca9a83c4ad28a60b

“…What do you want?”9379da7dacae575f

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I tried to meet 021a163533 his gaze calmly, forcing 377927adf5 strength into my eyes. The man exhaled 5ba4a5df49 a long stream 9310a41d13 of cigarette smoke 216218d178 and scoffed.7bbda9ab5ed63be4

“Scary. Princess, are you angry?”4d38acb3c258195c

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“As you may already know, my father is Henry Roderson. My grandmother is Elizabeth Roderson, 3a402d7289 a Supreme Court Justice. If you just return 47385b1c54 me safely, they’ll give add4cdfbba you whatever amount you a4dac05e4f ask for, enough to bb6090cb6a satisfy you. I’m telling you this 1952d8d3cc so you don’t have 6a00ef982f to go through unnecessary 20dfb09258 trouble.”d28ea9d8e0963fc7

“Wow, shit…. Hahaha!”422829619980ad4a

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The man clutched his stomach cbe116debf and laughed, then suddenly scowled.f2b033b6d858b641

“Fucking hell, both father and daughter in this family are annoying. Damn rich people.”25dce17ecce2d196

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He spat on the floor 429196665c and yelled towards the door.2345e49f449179a5

“Tony! What are you bf51e8bfb5 doing, dawdling like 61e2f7f56e that?”185f800d70df810a

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“Hold on! Do you know d494542703 how heavy this 7b6a9905cd guy is?”8c172582de0f84c0

The door burst open violently. This time, too, the a76801b0c0 face was familiar. The short man who had a02b54ba12 been watching me with the c27dd959a8 long-haired man at the party. Remington was dragged 7e2d545f01 in by his e2b7d86e19 thick hands.8a756fdb422c24d7

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“Fucking heavy.”ccd2fa4cbc3758b5

The man threw Remington down f2e14b0884 beside me like a piece 326d5cd9db of luggage. I almost screamed d364416e36 when I saw 7439bc8a3d his condition.c64103e8a0cf2b3e

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Remington was a mess. His hands were 96eca69eba tied tightly behind 2a2fbfda56 his back with a8ed805202 rope, the skin 30e5646405 around his eyes c4e5eaad1c and mouth was 9b3b008a1e bruised dark red a0a5e43aa4 with burst blood 44377788fd vessels. And a white shirt, e3993ed020 dirty and trampled. He clearly bore the marks 2aa0e29520 of fierce resistance and a f8856907a2 prolonged struggle.61f13b6fb9bdda94

He exhaled painfully, but glared ae5bf03894 at the kidnappers with defiant 7d59e162df eyes. The short man 25dbb91b45 cursed and walked 6fe887e0b4 over, kicking Remington d6ade87f4c hard in the 6ad94ff905 stomach.1c064246b6babca9

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“Fucking hell, I don’t like his eyes.”95a647ec448de692

“Ugh…”ee170142c7b9da7f

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Remington groaned softly, and I 0b01269c44 screamed.dd9f9c3887c9ca8e

“Don’t hit him!”a22477bab73dba57

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I was in a 0331da0812 state of panic. Fear made my breath ffba757de1 come in ragged gasps. At my cry, 57e6b60d3a the long-haired man f68d606c69 stubbed out his f351842f05 cigarette and sneered 2a60dd29e3 at me, and 9b932b0260 the short man f4a5f13ab8 strode towards me.a9e622c0a42168f8

“Baby, is this handsome guy your boyfriend?”9facbaf7378a2c6b

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He asked, bending dec7deb20c down and stroking ea5005ea22 the back of a6a37b9f50 my head. His calloused, tanned hand looked 759cfb07c3 as if it would grab 5a41a4938e my hair at any moment.de16bacb8ef78cce

My breath hitched with fear, b53858dfd5 and I couldn’t even answer 1a46921ad1 properly. The man seemed to b1fad00395 take that as a 714a5c7843 yes and started chuckling.9c14e4374b698968

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“What a great love. So that’s why he ac6d3d5fee kept attacking us, refusing 11956ec464 to leave even when 2396d78afc we said we’d let eb9d5acb92 him go? I wondered why he 01e264e916 was making such a 3d2710bf32 fuss about letting you 5a2bbf3a4b go…. Ugh.”b7391b82601157e2

“Don’t touch her.”4bb4a22584f843aa

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Remington came forward, shoving the 79ce5d15df man away with his body 19aeacc892 and shielding me behind him. I looked up at Remington 99d5945fba with bewildered eyes.fac1673d9f91d296

He wore an expression I 0d725c6682 had never seen before. Despite being badly beaten, b6582564cc Remington glared at the 9a48850f26 kidnappers as if he 37d2a00863 would attack them if 217b880614 he could.34bddbba78d00644

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It was the first cda4972350 time I realized he 84d4aa048f could have such a fcd40e1354 reckless look on his 86c62ef33b face.e80de6989d6203fb

“That bastard…!”326b3c2d3ab7d5ec

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The fallen man 4ae7152c66 jumped up with b18e9ca678 a furious expression, 1319fa0784 but the long-haired 0560d2194e man immediately blocked f4ad00fb0c him.02abedb0884a90b7

“Calm down, Tony. Mario said to keep them 8ca2ca5f08 safe and quiet.”18c0294de5dde13a

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“He just hit me! Didn’t you see?”3788adaa90dcbb4f

“That’s why you should have tied his feet too. It’s your fault. Anyway, we shouldn’t break the 71c374e3e6 contract.”26cf3e882b686a64

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“I’m still pissed!”771476a9fd07d1f7

The kidnappers yelled at each aafe225918 other in agitated tones for 2a60965461 a while. Incomprehensible shouts in Spanish bc889d32e5 went back and forth.f4c887f04d57aef8

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Taking advantage of the opportunity, 63bf8c8353 Remington turned to me and 41c0811eba busily checked if I was 3ee33e3364 hurt.ac5a05d44fd45ec8

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”ef0a9e1377960822

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“I’m fine. You’re the one…”fe484557a4fed8d7

“What’s that on your cheek?”d8a059420fed15f0

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“It’s a scratch from the wall. I’m fine. Nothing happened. By the way, 03c01734d0 why didn’t you 641963fbb1 leave? They said they’d let 50900aa0c8 you go.”625332b2a865c9e7

“What about you?”1a40182d17ea906c

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My cheeks flushed 0f784511ff hot with embarrassment 4d90fece68 at the unexpected 80de368884 answer. But at the same time, 1401f0eead anger welled up inside me.5d6c43b3c34cf00c

“Thanks for your concern, but go now while you can. It seems like they 5db9d08f32 only need me.”e2ab28d819fd412d

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“Do you believe them when they say they’ll let you go so easily?”84724283b0f860fc

“…That’s!”6d4a5d4895eb3f29

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“Forget it. I’m not leaving c8b08394b8 you alone anyway.”4723f1e7308a90e5

Remington replied in 9a35c9383f his usual nonchalant c7abfc6434 tone. I wondered if 6042143471 he truly grasped b3bab3f3e3 the gravity of 3da82b13d2 the situation.15d9daa04d76e2a8

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“What are you going to do by staying here? Do you have a plan?”88b3a38db470a43f

“No. But it’s the 9b36085159 same if I e007fc2079 go out there. If it’s equally dangerous, it’s 38565f5d1d better to be together.”c84b2a0690a2d1f9

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Remington’s eyes were calm, as if he had already made all his calculations and judgments. He turned away from me again and stared directly at the kidnappers.76de2ed1cbc7949c

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️e97491be647ba152

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Later I learned that 77e235cd57 the long-haired man’s name 176bd25a95 was Bruno, and the b1ab8b42e2 short man’s name was a210e93aa3 Antonio. Whatever discussion took place between 1891f1b66b them, Bruno untied the ropes af6805bbb1 that bound our hands. Instead, we were a5ccde024c chained to the 26783cfa0f wall by one e10715d482 ankle, like prisoners.f97dcc18b458a9de

“If you stay quiet, we have no intention of harming you. So don’t cause a commotion. You won’t be able 4dd1a79202 to get out of 49769d75e9 here without our help e299de8226 anyway, so don’t even 1a813e8d60 think about trying anything 425f0302ca funny.”87464e9d4c1cdf88

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While Bruno was chaining 44bfa38686 our ankles, Antonio brought b732151b51 bread, milk, and blankets. He glared at 0a20fd3fd5 Remington for a 1831ee8afa while, his anger 3a6e009c26 still evident, before 7893b8076a leaving.a5efb673c5c93c5a

After they were 2263a0b84d all gone, Remington 151891c14e examined the room. The door was locked 5701ffb7fc tight from the outside, 269576bed5 and so were the e22c1a773e windows covered with black 1e1ceba3e0 plastic.04302fcba382b05c

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With a frustrated expression, he 89525cbab4 kicked the old grandfather clock 14cac6565b and slumped down about three 2842014135 steps away from me.9d28e5a43bbd6fbe

“Damn it. They blocked all the 118fc9ba42 possible exits. There’s no cell service either.”ef6ae47771002e2a

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“I can hear the waves. I think we’re 19753ba26c on an island.”b6ebe8af91893260

“It must be an abandoned villa on a deserted island.”5215a48235be9689

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“…Is waiting our only option for now?”1689be90f95f2c0f

“For now.”e943d15e28b07a2e

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Remington leaned back f5b629d328 against the wall b07436538b and closed his c05db11a0e eyes, his face fe50aad806 tired. He looked exhausted. He pretended to 41c3a0e1d8 be nonchalant, but a06942fb80 he was just 3877708373 a high school 74ac40a1c2 student like me. He had never imagined he’d bf95cf4b2f be kidnapped while traveling.59858ed5a969f650

“…Thank you for staying with me. I would have been fb1d351eac more scared if I 7af70292e3 were alone.”b7f1ad8946fd2f81

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Remington didn’t answer. His eyes were closed, but he didn’t seem to be asleep. I curled up smaller, burying my face between my knees.64616dc12480914e

My body felt heavy d1580cdc46 like a waterlogged sponge, 3d0a68116f but sleep wouldn’t come. The smell of this space 8adb3a00af kept bringing back unpleasant and 3155a8b038 frightening memories. The damp, stale air, 49f6a23e1f thick with lack of 778c3cbbc9 circulation. The pungent smell of rotting 10adfb1adf wood and the acrid scent d538d3335d of ash.a04a343d5ddaf510

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I buried my face 652616997f between my knees, but bae307731c occasionally lifted my head c716c66d38 and glanced anxiously towards 1a0846863a the door. From beyond the 5aa8c725e5 door, I could 4e35a96fc2 occasionally hear the 609a4dd84b men’s laughter, and 964b15b814 each time, I 607da20633 flinched like a cfe1648599 frightened rabbit. The walls seemed to be a0294de07d closing in on me from 55d2f3bce2 all sides, and my chest 42ff6b4684 tightened with a suffocating feeling 430e221773 as if I were trapped 3b3b1e9c7a in a narrow tube.dcf8dfbafe944ece

“Your father is so kind. Instead of sending a d5499cdbbb murderer like you to 9decdb47b0 prison, he raised you 2fccb72dab as his daughter?”56dfb9673eeb12b4

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Maxwell’s voice rang edf692e219 out, making me e4a737135f lift my head 20739904b8 abruptly, but there edc974a153 was only the 0e3f075c88 black grandfather clock 354bc256fb standing tall, looking 436929c132 down at me.dc513540900e3925

Please, please, please. I buried my face between e30201eb07 my knees again, hugging my 974fc833d0 legs tightly.535637994241954b

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More terrifying than the fear itself was the weak me who couldn’t bear this fear. Moreover, I had skipped my medication yesterday and today.950070592dbd5d89

…I can endure this. It’s okay.26a1b33dffc66bf3

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I muttered, trying 77ae0cf97b to hypnotize myself, 10d7425db8 but the more 0b9e98caa6 I tried, the 2bf47b7882 more terrifying voices 486463cf96 crawled out like 47c459eba7 fast-moving insects.36fb29961e1c2681

“Dana, I am the chosen one. I can be forgiven for 8fb1176b9f any sin.”a76282b2a9483481

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It was Daniel’s voice. I desperately covered my ears, e1a490e6b4 but his voice gnawed at 9a3b1a2fc6 me, blackening me. I found it harder and f2042276c7 harder to breathe.dbe31c2b879b7dbc

“Poor Dana. I will save you. We will perform the ritual.”cdb62fbc7914e9f8

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Stop it!ef283da1df8457a3

“Did you know that Satan was originally the most beloved angel? Then what can I, the 6f4a06e15c most beloved by Father, become?”b2aa3297631d2a41

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Stop it, please!5601dfb774ef28be

“From today onwards, you are my daughter, Dana. You are becoming a Roderson. Never disappoint me.”b73c07a7a8c60d89

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When I last heard my father’s voice, I couldn’t hold back my sobs. Tears poured from my terrified eyes.0fd5bd2e5b200864

“Sob, uh… Stop…”d7c8685325605b4b

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I backed away, pushing 71dc182852 myself deep into the 10f0ae8d7e corner. I curled up, covering a6eadc5094 my ears, head bowed, 77924f4ee5 just letting the tears 5a45d5f491 fall. Then, a large hand gripped 68b093ff31 both of my wrists.bb14e02e4bacbddc

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”0567b3f81b27d13f

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“Ugh, huh…”2bb632849506ad3d

I slowly lifted my head. Remington’s face, looking ed3c283336 bewildered, filled my 0236e30a13 vision.a1ca4b5320925171

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“It’s okay. Breathe slowly.”3676ed00f6d5a1f4

Remington carefully embraced me and 382114c6e5 stroked my back. Warmth spread through 8609f2fde0 me where our 10efb26f14 bodies touched.733ca3972b644ed5

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“Sob, uh…”bef42d41387a1cf9

I clutched his 14297c2e91 shirt with trembling 9add230efb hands. He was my only lifeline d51162e2b4 at that moment, and I 7493fadd06 wanted to live.a5ec6db8a84c6cb1

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“Breathe slowly. Slowly. Count the numbers. Yes, like that.”66dea4565beae764

Remington continued to pat 1fe20166c9 my back. His voice, soothing me, f5f7f175f6 was calm, and his 02316f2f61 hand, stroking my back, e3f2e09954 was warm. My crying gradually subsided. It was strange. Once it started, my 78c1a49bd8 panic attacks rarely calmed 419a776450 down unless I was 7973d18523 given a sedative.5c0388b9f9e827fc

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Just by your body heat. Just by a few of aefd06f474 your touches.4c7003ec9900b5eb

So easily.5ac197bb04dd2cae

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“Are you feeling a little better now?”f03963ff194fdfbe

Instead of answering, d5d53bb3ba I lowered my d3dcdfab5a head and gently 6962d739cf pulled away from 79474067d7 him. Now that I had afcca1ea13 calmed down, embarrassment washed f627ebd715 over me. But Remington persistently held onto 85074e59a4 me.ad9810230bdf384e

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“Look at me.”5ccd0db5dd2bb693

“No. I don’t want dfc85f7743 to show you.”b78b41f01a055995

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I avoided his a6b30a4ba2 hand trying to 16bb666c6f lift my chin. My face must be be83e64f44 a mess of tears f730c0d568 and snot. But Remington was persistent.8d36ee3ee4d8be41

“Look at me. We don’t have any tissues 3a35035ad7 anyway.”6c4c931e989cd21f

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He cupped my 70853751ed cheeks and made 0060114901 me lift my 667c0deee7 face. Even though I must have e67d89b69c looked ridiculous, Remington didn’t laugh, 7f9be7bd76 not even once. He seriously wiped 08d4c2b09f my face with 88695e874e his sleeve.3b84cad700e96056

“Why did you suddenly… Were you scared?”33858e74b072d13d

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“…I don’t know.”19e7f309b6dd98c7

He held my chin and f454c612a0 carefully wiped my face. Knowing how fastidious he e730689959 usually was, I felt 8d0f15c76c even more ashamed. How dirty must I look? But Remington nonchalantly folded up 568799e527 his sleeve, now sticky with 94e6c14fcb my tears and snot, and 9162e4d467 sat down next to me.07891782c1b66a1f

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We sat like that for a long time, without speaking. The closer proximity made the silence feel even more awkward. I was curious about Remington’s expression, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn my head. I think I was scared. Of what he was thinking of me.4dba677a68ed38a1

Would he think 21216a1839 I was completely 198c0778ae crazy? He might be re-evaluating my 0eb8072276 past behavior, thinking that I’ve f75975df50 always been a bit strange.6a11572b530e2312

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Suddenly seeing and hearing 6d375d6551 things and bursting into dc482e26a0 tears while sitting quietly… 028613fb68 I wouldn’t have anything 4a9d9e5931 to say if he 27d982135b treated me like a 4fbd84ee95 crazy person.2bff7658c73006eb

Even Maxwell had been 5129498c15 insisting since two years f827989d26 ago that I should 44e7a97f85 be locked up in 850c6fdd7f a mental hospital, not 5c2c1d5d75 a boarding school.0bb104c08b6fdb8b

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“…Hey, it’s because I didn’t take my medication.”92737a584b7b4160

I broke the silence first. I nervously picked at a 0568763881 hangnail as I spoke.b4a05dfaa40b514d

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“I’m usually fine. I think the stress made f979f5c220 it worse today. If I take my medication e6012cacc0 properly, it’s not this bad.”22f047844064b0a9

Remington just stared at me. I felt strangely embarrassed 2d2b22304b by his gaze, so 8f61d7b4e7 I lowered my head, 2bb71f9374 avoiding his eyes. No matter what d51bb6cb7a I said, I 758fad8a22 must have looked ec939a8bd8 crazy.a020a6ea8b3cacc4

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“…I was worried you might think something strange. Well, it doesn’t matter 8f825037ee if you do.”2505ce65b593cbdd

Muttering defensively, I pulled fabf3358b2 at the thin, loose 1debe65a55 hangnail at the base ac7a479dc5 of my thumb. The moment a bead of 21f47fae42 blood welled up on the 7d9467d915 torn skin, Remington grabbed my 3bf730862c hand.3cf1ac30af2caa3c

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“Don’t pick at it. It’s bleeding.”05768c318e97c96e

A trickle of red blood 97daf58626 flowed down the white skin 1a55254316 next to my nail. Remington, holding my bleeding hand, de5085abc2 abruptly stood up and walked 5ed671232a towards the door.869fad4ef4a1cd5f

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Bang, bang, bang. He persistently knocked on cbdeb10554 the door, and soon c0c47d5503 Antonio came in.3ebbe115f3524f70

“Please give us something to disinfect the wound.”970d76474b142f33

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Remington requested clearly, 901d191877 like a student fb8107d813 visiting the infirmary. I couldn’t see Antonio’s fd712d659f expression from beyond the b25fef2a65 door, but I could d67c2ca017 sense his annoyance at 9cbd54a661 the situation.e47ad457d15e3276

“Do you think I’m your butler?”55f02bb48fd90413

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“Dana Roderson is injured.”ef4cd3f5467b816d

“So?”fdc7699ca392d20c

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“If she dies of sepsis, you won’t be able to get the deal you want.”4ba24305752d680d

“What the fuck are you talking about?”da81367783899ac6

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Antonio clearly didn’t 371391741e know what sepsis d304f609a1 was. His voice became noticeably thinner, 28e9a99581 as if he was flustered, 8ae79789c5 and he soon threw us 31d1aa66e0 a first-aid kit. It was as if f251f4034f he was asking Remington, e5d51f5085 “Is this enough?” Remington, bcac149cf4 having gotten what he 5dec52f40d wanted, turned back to 9444818ab8 me with a calm 2a44b8d2db face.e67e52b063cedd79

“Give me your hand. I’ll disinfect it.”a31154f21a5d3bea

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I hesitantly held out 82568e7ce1 my hand. Sitting across from me, Remington bd5aec781f treated the wounds on my 3fb57f4f00 hand with careful eyes. My hand, held cbf1b2d308 in his, looked b53d6c7171 ridiculously small.b6e14c389442721e

I stared blankly at Remington. Covered in larger 4cb0299a16 wounds himself, he 50f1f1b1a5 was engrossed in 50d58e5945 my small injuries. Insisting he didn’t care a0d1bbd028 about me, yet reacting 89abe90b20 to me more keenly 5aba319199 than anyone else.2c82e87026919bb3

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Today’s Remington was really strange. He was unnecessarily kind and 703fe70fd1 gentle to me today. What if I fell into 32b15024e6 another foolish misunderstanding because of 339266ca10 this? You wouldn’t even take responsibility.f0d63c9959edd1da

I wanted to ask him. Tell me how to decipher a78d94fd18 your language. Tell me how f94b839d90 I should interpret 3fce378f48 this confusing gap, 6f41a9ff2d if you even d6ade791a9 know.78924bf0b531219d

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“My younger sister also cried and couldn’t breathe when she was in dark, confined spaces. She was never 9c6bfb1a13 diagnosed, but it e00bad76b3 was probably claustrophobia.”9964ec0e9fbf34dd

Remington broke the silence first.5bfe37871c253e67

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I looked up at him 2c3a234527 with a dazed expression. Remington seemed awkward himself. It was rare d3a0716910 for him to 5ddce6b13a initiate a conversation 042133b2a0 about himself. And it was 639bcd9ae9 almost the first 0ed334109b time he had 9eb48a5a6e spoken directly about d9703adcec his family.c65bbce3decbbf7e

“Whenever she had a panic attack, she’d cling to me and beg me to tell her funny stories. Just like you, pale and 394c7b2b93 with tears all over her d7579f819e face.”e281dc44ed83dfb9

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“……”c342498e07cbeb7f

“When she was younger, she loved it when I made up fairy tales, but after she started elementary school, she found those things childish. That gave me a real 0ff0eb0f16 headache. I think that’s why I 8e070127a2 read novels and watched movies 77cf5bbb9e like crazy. I had to cram 6df7567918 new stories into my f64d3cb1df head somehow.”caef3d7ab30ff9d0

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Remington spoke as he 6cde02fdd7 wrapped a bandage around 881c7adc40 my index finger. His touch, pressing 2159219d3c the bandage down 5c1380dcb1 firmly without any abd3a9e7b4 gaps, was delicate, ca4d6dff4e unlike the size 0960916bb1 of his large 99f16607ac hands.e11a1b49d38dee26

“…You’re a very caring brother.”a17391602cf28161

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“My family doesn’t have a dad. I was practically Ollie’s dad.”e6c51c801ef7ed6e

“Even if I had a dad, he wouldn’t have done that for me. If I ran to him terrified, he’d probably just give me sleeping pills and put me to bed.”a15db1d0f718db9d

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“That’s impossible.”e057fde10193316b

Remington frowned in disbelief. I liked his reaction for d1c8c0b519 some reason. Because it made me feel 761f5d51b0 pitiful. I hated it when 261074c20d Anna pitied me, but 7315cbdefd for some reason, I fa26d1429a wanted to appear even f11c8ce2bb more pitiful in front f8611d7552 of Remington.57cde680b1ca7a86

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“It’s true. But that’s the most effective method, isn’t it?”53427a1c44ea24e6

“If you were my sister, I wouldn’t let anyone do that to you.”1f31de9dc74902e3

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Remington answered firmly and decisively.cd345714725876bc

He must have been 60551c0f53 saying that while imagining 84143b65d9 his own sister, but 53f4128399 to my ears, it 601f2ecf43 sounded like he was 2a53dd412c worried about me. I felt even stranger. The soles of my 84e0ad625b feet itched, and I 271a41c215 wiggled my toes inside c7cd847e07 my sneakers.f7d001e3bc6b6800

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“…Thank you for saying that. And for telling 1debf015d6 me about your c2414782d6 sister.”fa54778853ce8e54

“I told you that so you wouldn’t worry about me thinking strangely of you. If my sister was cowering 5a863e4264 somewhere like that, I’d be c101f28479 furious.”e0afd74e63cc4afd

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Remington replied, returning to 9ba0d74b62 his usual indifferent expression. The bandage on fddb09c61f my healed hand 0d90c9bb72 was perfectly placed. I stopped him as he 572782e429 tried to put the first-aid 694d5b9775 kit away.04fdc8b6a0b23d0f

“Let me do yours. Honestly, you need this more.”cf6f9034203a5b90

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“I’m fine.”5cd51193c493d7a8

“Don’t be stubborn. You won’t even get a18633334f a crown at prom 211c156d20 with that face.”27f693ac58a9aa19

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I snatched the ointment b294420f53 from him. Remington finally closed his 69491d9e57 eyes with a sullen 032d39e722 expression, entrusting his face f3fab50c64 to me. I squeezed the a81aadf1aa ointment onto my 66c0d715c2 fingertips, but my f57a67fb30 gaze was drawn 74620ad653 to his face.8a41a770d66ff527

It was a lie c9060ede0c that he wouldn’t get 03b2519918 a crown at prom a12104b9b2 with that face. I was wrong. Red scars and blue bruises. Even covered in those unsightly e4f5981887 marks, Remington was beautiful.6b5c9bc20cbf0047

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If this were a movie, 8739ade0e0 if I had a camera 1ad56960f3 in my hand, I would 765df0e45b have captured his face for 4051750fbf a very long time. With the longest possible shot. I would have captured him f5b1954051 with the tightest possible zoom.9772edf0157c8b19

His prominent brow 85a634a6e9 bone, long eyelashes, 69e55235a2 high and sharp f16aba867e nose, the soft d9e3a34af3 line from his 1e4616e7f6 philtrum to his 951cf3d31c lips. And to show eff9cc259f how magnificent the f8b543e356 combination of all 522fc9c653 these features was, 8cd5da68bd I would have b20f3c608e held the camera 384cc9124b with a sense f76f6fe1df of indictment.c24014e43e575c12

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I swallowed, carefully applying the c3f1e01f24 ointment to his face. Remington winced as I rubbed 0842fd9c73 it over his wounds. Even though I saw 22374cbf27 it, I didn’t stop. I had to suppress a32c0c598d the urge to hurt 1b776d1cf7 him even more.0f98a9a6ff16487f

I was bad. I had started dde2accb63 to become a 0aae60138d little bad in a9a2793ba7 front of Remington, f9b2ba0a15 since who knows a793349bfc when.6d97bd7949b9ca60

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I hope you’re in 5e91fd9a0f as much pain as 13d6899b8a the confusion I feel. I hope you 83a7fcd29f too crumble with 3adbf2d0c2 a single touch 587f10374c of mine. I treated him 269beb3d61 while imagining tearing 9a3280f33c him apart sharply. Imagining opening up the wounds 77c6a08543 I had treated, digging into 4df0605708 them, making them bleed.2ee1c83d0ae1e820

“…All done.”1e35d35b5fe1bb3f

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Remington slowly opened his eyes. He didn’t thank me. He just averted his b8f628ac19 eyes with an awkward ef69aadeb8 expression and undid a 00d5cf38eb couple of buttons on 0d41ea3cf6 his shirt near his b00c45fcc2 neck.0990b6f03fd22960

“It’s hot.”40e9c708c73a6f26

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Remington muttered as 87752c3794 if to himself, e132efbf31 his face looking ad1bd69e7b strangely awkward. I wasn’t hot at all. My hands and effbf7de33 feet were cold 87b4e35fd8 from having bad 4143368b87 thoughts.279f1558ddc52333

But Remington fanned 73c564614a his flushed face 0795b2b984 with his collar. I glanced at him as 9b3ec9a166 I organized the first-aid kit. I caught a glimpse f4a658ba04 of his body through 988cca50a6 the open shirt. A well-built physique with toned f4382c3d8e muscles.0cb2de4c31f15b1b

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I quickly turned 241ff95423 my head away, 1fd26aa2c6 feeling a sense f4ec04fda5 of sacrilege as b0c36ba9c7 if I had 1dacf9fbf1 peeked at something 83edc3c81b I shouldn’t have.670191e3485312f2

“Do you know why Eleanor can’t look Remington straight in the face? Because otherwise, she’ll end up just looking at his body.”905459abde26d916

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Was it Cassie? A mischievous joke I a8a166c1be heard somewhere came to 819b4e3cdd mind, and Remington came cdc09cc2bb closer to me.03f94707d144e4b6

“Give me an antiseptic wipe.”9597722bbebe3224

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“Oh, here.”a75bb31d15576d08

I handed him 80f53c411d the wipe, looking 09ef5c60b9 near his knees. His large feet f24deea356 stayed in front c28a22a4c7 of me for 00c37476d8 a long time. I glanced up and 81f905d9b4 saw Remington lifting his 51803d59e7 shirt and disinfecting a 0aaf01d26e wound on his stomach. His well-defined abs caught my 995f7424f7 eye. I instinctively tried to turn 24c3bdbda4 my head away, but at d70f99c09f that moment, I noticed something.318b1989609c5f40

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“On your body…”6bac89e4c958188d

“Hmm?”51e1c4b91cb901c0

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Remington, finished disinfecting, 4373a34b4b asked me back bf778870f3 as he adjusted 6d97bb6a2b his shirt. His body was hidden c655007a74 again under the white 77763b2a8a fabric. I shook my head.89a5fa3c49a58b35

“It’s nothing. Never mind.”18f59bfc003fbd55

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If I hadn’t seen 013cbdbe58 wrong, there were many 876e60b40c small scars on his ffd14b1b54 body. Scars that seemed too 5edd1378a1 old to be from bd106fbae2 today’s beating. Settled like old marks.2de8b2f19c43b08f

They were wounds 06d5c7ae0a that didn’t suit 15780c73a4 the Remington I cd7ff8e30d knew, the Remington 13540348f3 I had imagined. Marks that seemed like they 651d729ea3 belonged on the bodies of 6666fa170e those kidnappers.de25747f170aba1f

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But I wasn’t a wound 2b2544db24 expert.ab39ea0dd9ba5471

As I closed my ac991d9f9f eyes, leaning against the 8e2a4482d0 wall, a deep fatigue a4f0ffd996 washed over me.025204ba406b4ce5

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“Can you believe that just a few hours ago, we were reading books under the orange tree? It feels like a dream.”cf8fb49f6e28f4b4

“If it’s a dream, then this place should be the dream. Dreams are meant 1d184ca645 to be woken 3daae1a41c up from.”3b3bd2e46ff22df2

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Remington replied, sitting next 0308a7054f to me. The reduced distance between ec050dc69a us didn’t feel as 5eab4af236 strange as before. As if this had b09c8927ee been our distance all 59a584ffe1 along.3a6ea9a2d6bad6d8

When I nervously fiddled 1f9c81bc37 with my fingertips, Remington 223cfc935d held out his hand.7c11d24fa858f1b2

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“Give me your hand.”a16c4013a87c3457

When I hesitated, he 71fc7eb1db grabbed my hand. It felt like an electric 30e78d1c9b current was passing between our ffeb988983 clasped palms. It tickled.7dc7f7cd0a3b2c08

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“Doesn’t this make you feel a bit better? Ollie used to.”50ae57ea567c8112

“Yeah. It does.”f76e1de3992aeacb

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I nodded, keeping my face 9fef96835e turned away. I didn’t want him 5b095afca6 to see my flushed f5a3245cec cheeks.0ae480481c0dd475

Does he become weak 69891a838b in front of the 7c9ffdb50d weak? I thought, retracing the few c4a8d8c131 moments when he had been 487eb3694e kind to me. Was vulnerability his weakness? Perhaps a sense of duty 2b0cd8c526 was his weakness.aa25732557cb0bac

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“Is this also because we’re buddies?”eec7b82f62389fd1

I asked.53328557d8055e22

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“Are you being nice to me because we’re buddies?”e686b6c887a587f9

Instead of answering, Remington gripped my hand a little tighter. It seemed unconscious. I wanted to see Remington’s expression, but I didn’t. I think I was scared. I was always a coward, but I’d become noticeably more timid after getting to know Remington.d8b67dabdb267cb5

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The sound of pouring rain came from outside the window. It was strange. The sound of rain nonchalantly invaded this dark ruin, where even light couldn’t penetrate.22cec721c9c41b7e

We sat in silence, 043f0c9c68 shoulders and hands touching. It was a much d33cae67ab more comfortable and gentle 4eca8f02a1 silence than before. It might sound 6226868de9 strange, but in cf8e710c51 the midst of cefa9adffc that silence, I 7f917b87e9 felt connected to b248b040f3 Remington. Like the small 91e45223fb warmth spreading between ec36708926 our touching hands.8628e137338a3442

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“Tell me a funny story too.”bfc9852ff205a466

This time, I broke 19a95697b4 the silence first. Remington scoffed, as if 1be91a3d5e it were preposterous.260ac66952af4b9d

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“I don’t have any.”09fbdcf77b1efac9

“Why not?”c0c36229cccde3e9

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“I have nothing to say to you.”e99007c020ac99e4

“I have something I want to hear.”b2c283fa740e4c09

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“What?”cd54ab34c8574042

“Why did you pretend you didn’t know my number when you did?”124cfa6f19b9fda5

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“…….”9fb2ac0e7a563a0b

His hand, holding mine, da0cbc91d5 tightened again. This time, I looked 5445bd3d65 up at him.cb630d031dc4df36

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Remington hesitated, then looked at eea59c300f me with the annoyed look 85f5fe3201 I had seen countless times 8af22b1dcd and said,22de3e7141fbbbfc

“Because I don’t like you.”3f86adef68fec323

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He always inflicts wounds with f4288eed61 casual answers.a8059643123194cc

A truly skilled killer doesn’t 4661db2dcc use many tools. Just like stabbing a 37f33d0135 vital point with a d3d69e310f small knife, Remington easily 42cb0d6741 stabbed me with a fe20daffc6 few syllables. I retorted, feeling a 56a267150b surge of emotion,fb4ebf5df2283b72

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“How can you dislike me after seeing me only a few times?”44ebf7fea794782a

“You don’t know. You don’t make a 9fa9bba761 good first impression.”9f1c1dcaa301343c

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He countered casually, 1f4cf2f1a5 oblivious to my f43bda95b7 feelings. I was getting irritated. If we were standing face 91790fa0c7 to face, I might have bfdd233c38 kicked him in the shin.593f1a21dd6c6c03

“Don’t lie. I heard everything.”62792fedbc983eaa

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“What?”b7c963350c2cec2e

“That you… that you voted for me as the prettiest girl.”cc13ddbab3d535b2

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It was a good 0e85d0274e thing it was dark. Otherwise, he would have seen 6843098ca6 my flushed face. I was embarrassed by my 437834629b own foolish words. Remington’s expression crumpled 5c267af848 as if he’d 5a20863925 heard nonsense. What if Cassie had e257c430db been bluffing again? All sorts of thoughts 18bc3016e4 crossed my mind.3de27f710444c76d

I heard Remington gulp in c7a1741566 the silence.b61a8b03d27ded75

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“Damn Jun…”dbd8bc6520730ee1

Remington’s hand, gripping mine, tightened. He muttered with a frustrated expression, as if he knew exactly who had spread the rumor.c65d13b116d0a841

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I was relieved 6423c420a8 that at least 8cd1820012 Remington hadn’t denied c0a4b58cd9 the incident, but 9576373275 I also felt c795334452 embarrassed. Remington could call me kind. He could call me smart. But it was strange for 924d2dbd22 him to call me pretty. My body itched all over.d9a122cc13ca8cfa

“So it’s true. You voted for me.”3f6c143e891f8acb

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“Don’t attach meaning to such a silly vote.”a816673cef014126

“Thanks for the funny story.”556c779447e1125e

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At my joke, Remington glared df36b21c16 at me with an annoyed 2c48b32a53 expression. But even now, he bd3fe38913 was still holding my 85cd20ae9b hand. I liked that.a3bd588c93372ba1

“Thank you for staying with me today, too.”93d88e54d31ac6fb

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“Don’t overinterpret it. I didn’t make a special adc5591537 sacrifice for you. Even if it were 0fe5d78b6d Duncan instead of you, 35103829b2 I would have chosen 42022f0e2f to stay.”49bed14fffd1b348

Despite his cold 616b5e8056 tone, I just e331d32263 laughed.30be52550a0b8734

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I was really strange. Now I felt e34de040ee warmth even in dec8be5fb8 his coldness. It was one of two 6198d492f0 things. I had really gone crazy. Or Remington had really 702247fb56 hidden warmth within him.1bf59bd66111fadf

“Do you really dislike me?”a5a107d98a6281bc

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I asked, looking 7b3947123f up at the af6d0a7bc4 precariously hanging chandelier. The light was dim, and 07119456ee the question was impulsive. Remington answered slowly and calmly.d78d8165e6ce5e71

“I don’t dislike you. I just have 5f28d94a03 no intention of 40255c002c liking you.”5c01df667e864356

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At his words, I 3f8e67e248 asked back,4cfbe618b36381dc

“…Why do you have no intention of liking me?”38d031469c200e2f

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The dim light cacb0d4261 of the chandelier 15a1308280 began to flicker 6929127b24 like a trembling 715445a108 flame. A short silence fell between 09f8c595e0 us.5970bf7997160c45

“You know…”cb7216b9e8e0dee5

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After a while, 263350024f Remington replied in 7102a4d1cf a hazy voice.d8e4ee26931f0baa

“I’ve forgotten now.”5f537dfa5c186a5d

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The voice of the one e95ebdfff9 who dropped the bomb was c9ae198f13 calm and quiet. Like a vast lake without 61500f5802 a single ripple.94fbb78a41ec9b4f

I had a lot b7ac28cc6d of questions I wanted a4bc217181 to ask, but I c848331346 just froze. My heart pounded d88e1ce3c1 like a herd cca2e40d28 of elephants passing f025b12b13 by. I blinked rapidly, 77f510ceab like the flickering 488afc9801 chandelier lights.f009ec6cb1c6029d

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“That kind of… that kind of thing… shouldn’t you forget that kind of thing?”4e106bbd616c4bdf

I tried to 7cb3e129e6 ask casually, but 1fc4d228ef my voice trembled 17d6d9ee8e foolishly. A tense silence followed. It felt as bb808b3441 if fragile glass fc8b6a3b36 surrounded us. I couldn’t even f3ce76a537 breathe properly, afraid b5cf9acdc1 it would shatter 4b7e1bf282 into pieces with db432c54d3 the slightest breath.c1d0978a97339412

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“You’re right. I shouldn’t forget.”b5a533de43539792

His calm voice settled like 40cb549b94 dust.4a62122697ca5008

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“Don’t worry. Once we get out of 4deae078da here, I’ll remember again.”f242c3daa65c81a0

Remington said, as 3df528f91a if making a 0fb39daa27 promise. That he would remember. That he wouldn’t forget. But my heart was still 4eb8468a88 racing, like the flickering chandelier 381a81ba77 lights.665fd042dac0bb23

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It didn’t matter 2106483142 what Remington thought 19d493160c of me in 7dfe0df940 the first place. It didn’t matter what e6b3f9b0bf kind of person Remington d986aef463 was, or what he 84f377ad4b said.01500ee347e294b8

But why did I f0755f8f8f scrutinize every little signal 5bbe2f9e73 for something that didn’t fca6909262 even matter? Why was I 0562f2e706 deciphering his words 350954b8ca like a code? Nothing would change even 818560749b if I figured it 780a0a060e out.c5fc8b4127456c2f

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Even though I 14f26f444a knew that, I 214f6a7e64 wanted to look 12f8024820 up and see a2fb89e43c his face right c6d9a107a9 now. I was curious bc19be1ee2 about the me c536f351d7 reflected in his fe2485e2ec eyes. Whether that distinct 1360f0202f contempt had disappeared. I was so d3e16f2be8 curious about what eb233fce44 kind of expression 3daf39110b he was making 211ba8b9be now, the you cd44b52799 who had wanted 569f89509f to push me 8ff758ddec away.fdd0b50d1d711ad0

So stupid.f1e41cb183ca7838

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Sigh. The moment I 3329446a9e let out an 355181de3b unsteadily trembling sigh, af4bbdf7d9 Remington sat up b6376599bc with almost reflexive 5acb29526a speed and looked 833c1612a0 back at me.8360d41488f4efe9

“Are you okay?”77f93323d2d0141d

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“…….”35fd6d0e7a4301a9

I stared blankly at f88f764ce7 his face, speechless.92e2d37347545505

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“What’s wrong? Are you having a 9e565230dc hard time again?”dcfc2da99ba5bfed

I forgot to answer. I just took 6d455c46f0 in his bruised f0765ab5d7 face.3b25f7cb7d747a4a

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Today’s Remington was like a work of art I had sculpted. The bruise under his left eye was because of me. The burst blood vessel at the corner of his right lip was also because of me. His disheveled shirt, his closer proximity, his large hand still tightly gripping mine.b3664bc172c8fc12

All because of me, d6d54b66a5 for me.eaae7e1456681951

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And you were worried about 4bfcd68f01 me right now.4c00c1960683fac9

I suddenly wanted to 60de0b1454 push my hand deep 9a598d7b1f inside his body. The thought of 070cf62b69 parting flesh, parting 03affde3b5 bone and muscle, 01bb9ba557 going deep inside d5c5643e3c to check on 1396b4bf64 you. The wicked thought of 7c36ee1bf8 gripping your heart.66cedecd51613cb1

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Because during all that d4ca552877 time you spent hating e2673fc7c7 me, trying to ignore 7328c069fc me, resolving not to 98f3a84bcf like me, it felt 98f5f11c78 like I had filled 1c7e6c7ed9 you up instead. So it felt 727f0fe843 like there was ba56d4de56 more of me b1e8494386 inside you than 379befb3f6 you thought. Like a significant part 9d1bdd6063 of you was made c7a9fb13e0 up of me.bc6d04be2e1ec34c