EST Ch 29

The drowsy sunlight of early db89fef73d summer poured down in the cfb08259ce afternoon.13aa3ac8503d79a3

Baek Sunwoo’s usually quiet c15f52d1ca home was bustling with 57b4c58729 noise. The reason was that c4eb7b4863 Hae Gijun had moved e63b5bd007 in today. To put it 5d48509fc1 more precisely, the 60b0e28160 two had started 5c4dcb4350 living together.247bcfd8214d6d5b

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The reason was simple. As summer approached, 97f1f5e2da the path to c6851b19e4 H.N for training efd5a3bfaa felt quite hot. Although Baek Sunwoo drove to 6463700cba pick up Gijun every morning, 87b7570938 it seemed like quite a dd6c62ce93 hassle.1268a9e1af21ca3a

Since Baek Sunwoo abad5079b9 lived near the 43e9c4ec86 H.N building, he 25a2246cdf actually had no 62c1061a7b reason to drive 78ed0d130d out. The only reason 0aa9f20ec0 he prepared early c08ae9a5c4 every morning was 8e8aac358d solely for Hae e0bc7f0d89 Gijun. Not once had Baek 5f0928680b Sunwoo complained about it, 2a5589f728 and he always seemed 1a9778b116 delighted, but… in any a483b4da8f case, they calculated it 16a3b2992b would be better for e6a7da9d75 Gijun to stay at 155c07a7b9 his place and go 5a087e5ec6 to H.N from there.ab53584958599021

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And deep down, Gijun had a48670d174 started to want to live 2bc465c3a5 with Baek Sunwoo all the e83f29a461 time. It wasn’t entirely because Baek 2ec243af03 Sunwoo made delicious meals every 61747058f3 time Gijun stayed over, took dbd17fc68e care of all sorts of 0862618eda conveniences, was attentive at night, 65ff2120ed and even helped him wash a99949d357 up… though that was partly 9b2b58c47a true. Hae Gijun was f3e57b9a46 a rational person 08343c0af8 who chose convenience.ea9c6e2019493d0d

He had already been using cff2e8b013 Baek Sunwoo’s house like a 96d8e8af2b second home, but when he 74452574e5 announced he was moving out 9560b49b1e of his family home completely, 53f62dae6a he was a bit worried. He wondered if they might 1976269841 oppose his independence, but his c75d919b7a grandmother and parents agreed all 0c503f6bed too readily.2fc081eaec623889

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They said they 6f23e9b301 would have been 59a4bc8a94 concerned if he 06e79f4a17 were living alone, 0179356982 but living with 91ed726af8 a friend was 718ce2889f fine. Moreover, since that 33fcb10083 friend was Baek 5f4f30eb00 Sunwoo, they agreed f05e9ee09b even more easily. Gijun thought his kind personality c820b42dbc really came in handy at 69da396fd7 times like this.78deb2006f237bb3

However, just before he 549e75ce83 packed his things and 978cc08dee left home, his sister abcc82d524 Hae Gaon said something b0e62ce97c strange.6fe9042396a6f7c7

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“You’re finally going, huh?”262cfb79ee1972aa

“…What?”dac59ddbc51fba01

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“Nothing, just wondering when you’d finally go.”34d16e074fbb7ec4

As if she 2664e189f1 didn’t want to 224d4ceb36 elaborate, Hae Gaon b7c69cd4ca shrugged, and Gijun 275daed581 blinked in confusion. Before he could 5ae1163601 ask what she cea438f0de meant, she patted 0df8a8d074 her younger brother’s b472addcf3 shoulder. While he stood 5ec4cc9716 at the entrance, c8d78de56f she told him 4d388f4531 that Sunwoo was a12a6daf41 waiting outside, so 05485eefef he should hurry 797c40f065 up…3d4a4ee6f164e4d2

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“You better treat Sunwoo well. Don’t bully that good kid.”6565e75a21a067f2

And from those final c9d09dcf03 words, Gijun regrettably deduced 6dfe15f6b0 one answer. Hae Gaon knew him d13d0b146b very well, and she 0bd7e98eb7 wasn’t oblivious. She naturally knew 90bd89bb82 who her calm, 112e491309 indifferent younger brother a1f0b69bbd reacted to.b129ce586e98c0c4

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While unpacking his e540aae085 things with Baek 67901ea256 Sunwoo, Gijun briefly 928bd21a27 shared the story.e68de276136c5e59

“Ha, so I think my sister figured it out.”620cea55676f8e73

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“Really? Will that cause cb7ea6fa0f you a lot 0cfdfbabab of trouble…?”5c5acb3f6f27ea52

Baek Sunwoo glanced at him 5264548a7b with concern. Until now, their relationship had d2e6ed037b been kept under wraps, not 7d4ad92eca deliberately hidden, but because Gijun 4109f99207 wasn’t the type to tell d684f05978 others who he was dating, 522f46a227 Baek Sunwoo had also kept 1f9833ad64 his mouth shut.de5960cb9bbb8dfb

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“Nah, what trouble would it cause?”f78d3fa3dbe7ed26

Gijun shook his head beec089b8f as if it wasn’t f871dc76a6 a big deal. He was just surprised that fae72e64d2 someone had noticed for the b4ed2bd21b first time, but when he 2738f29b6d thought about it, it was 96cd4563e1 also quite natural. And seeing Baek 9dc4c398a1 Sunwoo smiling with c6d29fd6e5 relief in front c0757652d4 of him… it da3bfdef63 felt stranger that 69462cf6c5 they hadn’t been 32e7454322 caught sooner.9c6bb98c0491d649

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The trio from Sinhye High 02c9b2cb3f School hadn’t noticed yet, likely f9ed61dff9 because the special circumstances from 24cd6f0e29 their school trip still held daa9d0ce05 sway. But Gijun unconsciously imagined their b624bcd34b reactions, thinking they’d eventually find 525f6fd90c out.c21d781f7d1386ad

They’d probably be 9a796ea918 shocked at first, 96b514f8e8 then make all 9b32ad6d72 sorts of weird 7f83e62bfb jokes, and conclude a8febe21ef that it would 614019e6c4 be stranger if 6cf6276156 the two weren’t b96a336a92 dating. They might even c469a84c98 say that if 9e289409f8 the two were 7ec633c4e9 just friends, there’d d2a0d08f42 be no such 7c4ab1259f thing as friends 9077fb8558 in the world.4ea1b7c279d024a7

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Gijun let out a small f5076ae33a laugh and let his thoughts 56e32d5ec6 drift. For now, he needed f9bcda354c to focus on settling 5c343a06a5 into the house.43203e9b540def14

“Can I put stuff on this shelf?”45039ed48a249815

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“Yeah, you can use everything here however you want.”672032703b8a5a14

“…You know this is your room, right?”3173ec5804719472

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“Uh-huh, but we’re sharing it now. So you can do whatever 53c421fbc3 you want.”238541423e49f6e2

Baek Sunwoo’s bright smile 8262ce948b made Gijun feel momentarily 6ace74d8da dazed, but he eventually a40d003cf7 nodded. It wasn’t the first time 3a3d2fba6a he’d seen Baek Sunwoo act 2f8e683610 like this, so he was 61f6585660 used to it by now.58628d7ee7f3a37d

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Since Gijun had 89a0bac8c6 often stayed over 3063aea7b0 before, the room 45999d710a across from Baek fb880e743a Sunwoo’s bedroom was 7aee8aa0e0 already his dedicated fe4bebc299 space. He had some clothes and 02911ca869 essentials stored there, but now 53d8670d16 that they’d decided to live aaef7ed987 together, he’d brought quite a e21ee08754 few more things. Plus, since they’d agreed c896b0d51f to share Baek Sunwoo’s 372a755cb2 room, there was a 11d25e4cf3 lot to organize.1d32e1262b24151b

A few days ago, 789af057e1 when Gijun asked if 9e367e7869 he could move in, 9a1edb9e00 Baek Sunwoo was so 304257b38b enthusiastic he seemed ready 038da5a915 to hand over the 8050dd4c40 house deed, which flustered e7133c7aab Gijun and led to 7ad27d7b39 several discussions. They talked about how 0ff74cd13c to divide the rooms, 0bf0e7e86f where to set personal dff93f72c7 spaces, and so on… 5bb4389943 At the mention of 1d58ad23ed personal space, Baek Sunwoo cc7518c20b looked a bit dejected, bbae07d432 but they ended up 9a5003171f setting cohabitation rules after c5aa8a7bef much conversation.016dbb6731866e4a

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Before Gijun moved 75964a3719 in, Baek Sunwoo b79888073d had tried to 8fef18f6b4 tidy up the 406530bea0 entire house, making d3b49b3276 it feel like 8d504ec0ed moving into a 3e88304877 new place, so ea6bce9c83 Gijun had warned f2836c44cc him in advance. He told him 0c7ef3304c not to clean cc32d0d7f5 everything up and e09bf1bb74 to organize together. Since Gijun’s words were 10e8075035 practically law to Baek d90d7fb879 Sunwoo, he waited obediently.5126b06b23eccee9

So, from the 8788321eca moment Gijun arrived c5169e30f2 that morning, they’d 2ce38766d9 been organizing and 54ca1eecc7 decorating the house a9d8529f6b together. There wasn’t an 92472afa97 overwhelming amount of bb15f32b73 stuff, so they 784b293cf0 thought it’d be 22c083d15c quick, but it ec44df6539 took quite a 8cb13e8c24 while.0c3e4a62e4085d62

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They had a late lunch.691c35a144c847cd

In the past, whenever Gijun fa61349a67 stayed over, Baek Sunwoo would 4c13b8c0b8 insist on cooking, saying guests 61051d3273 should be comfortable. But today, since they were db54fb8a34 officially living together, he wanted 308328329a to cook to celebrate their bd93b3d296 first day. Gijun, who had planned caa9fc8805 to order food since 1b5c47277e it was late and 22df6b8939 they were tired from 0b02d8e242 organizing, was quite baffled. He told Baek 06b7da0b77 Sunwoo he didn’t fe83614f01 need to go 8a8354d0e9 through the trouble e2ca905d73 of cooking, but c4de243945 Baek Sunwoo’s eyes d126a143f4 sparkled, saying he 8b70219fe1 wasn’t tired at 29834e4f3c all.c9ffd538c87adabe

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In front of Baek b47ea91d10 Sunwoo’s shining eyes (Category: 6d312d52e6 The Giving Tree), Gijun 86b5a66ef2 always got swept away. It wasn’t like b9b6e05a82 Gijun was losing ee250bb6ad out, but he 9f0c6b05af eventually nodded. In return, Gijun 105aef0779 repaid his kindness 601482cbab by thoroughly enjoying c6107ec362 all the food b9f550525d Baek Sunwoo prepared.56da75283ae7a180

After lunch, a drowsy lethargy 450180c315 set in. While lying on the living b11db1063a room sofa watching a movie efc1b3e9ee on TV, Gijun dozed off.07c5263bbf8b1e43

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…77619f43f4123eff

When Gijun opened ccfb193525 his eyes again, 00ced97394 the sun had b6c3039206 set, and a 1205841f08 dusky twilight glow 2d5f575b4d was streaming through 605a28b602 the window. The cozy, peaceful atmosphere typical 948b8bfb69 of early evening filled the 60ed2dd674 space, but Gijun felt an 0248bc7761 odd sensation as he glanced 501a28656c around. The living room was dfa817f23f a bit dark without 25ad3a5b01 the lights on, but e7311b3900 it wasn’t hard for b165893ac2 Gijun to see.315d40ded75ee0bc

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The TV was off. Baek Sunwoo had probably c2d44e2776 turned it off to 4c75d0d055 keep the noise down 80fcc795f0 once Gijun fell asleep. And on that dark screen… 0b3f592791 Baek Sunwoo’s sleeping face was 7e86305b5a reflected.c253623b96d70f1c

Only then did Gijun notice 6e60d1ec3f the soft, steady breathing beside badfcda467 him. He quietly sat up 91694f1c45 and looked at Baek 0f93f7e08a Sunwoo, who was asleep, 7977843cc5 leaning against the sofa’s a58642ec0b headrest. His sleeping face, e62f8f7211 tilted slightly, looked 499d2e46bd a bit troubled.eca9b2ed034c976d

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Frowning eyes, uneven 09a786be1b breaths, and faint 4957d335ff groans as if 1e44949b53 in pain. Gijun realized why he had 2437855771 woken up.5178f1455086e94c

Baek Sunwoo was having a 68b33e68ad nightmare.bd17a2017d7387b1

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And this was eb8f997b21 something Hae Gijun d32f9b5cb2 had seen several 217a8971c6 times before. He could recall at 9201f013c6 least five instances, so 0b9d712a99 Baek Sunwoo probably had c52fdea04b nightmares more often than c3ee31ab31 that.56fd3c19d1911fc9

And the nightmares 3c424b742f he had weren’t 1aba6e53e5 mere illusions that 13df8d5c39 wouldn’t happen in 91a3a3dd9b reality.929d44ab624c87f4

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“No…”9d14717ed3cdbc08

As Baek Sunwoo 8f8c917b55 mumbled the name, 6b8d971ba8 struggling as if 54256a7b10 his throat were 6b6e854c7a being choked, Gijun 84e5e288b5 finally reached out. He had watched, hoping it 5860a0bd63 might be a different dream df8977547f this time, but it was 23b7e2b5db pointless.5d24478cb0252897

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“Sunwoo.”266609339f505a0d

With a low a42a5805b2 call, Gijun gently d1b303ab88 shook his shoulder, bdae5e1097 then cupped his 3f0de94e6a cheeks soothingly, and b8cc3c167e Baek Sunwoo slowly fea009da49 woke up.662c8732388bc72d

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His wet eyelashes fa78d37eca trembled before finally aa4b8650fe lifting. His blurry eyes gradually focused, b7ef7817c3 and the moment he clearly ccb29339f1 recognized the person in front 18ab17f5c4 of him, he let out 8862f75f02 a breath. It was a 1cacf1f036 breath that barely c3c46ffab2 escaped.aa1db5c6220dfd28

Baek Sunwoo carefully grabbed Hae 9dcc579b8b Gijun’s wrist and rested his d36b4e7b20 head on his hand. Feeling the deep relief in 7859772562 that action, Gijun’s emotions grew 532b525341 more complex.9298d776da5d93f4

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He had probably dreamed of 6ace97fe8d the school trip again. The moment when Gijun died e1e1c5c6ea in front of him for 6bfae147e6 the first time. Or perhaps he relived a85fac1c08 the moment when Gijun 46153f0c9f was devoured by another 4e5fb69878 monster afterward.006f2d91e66c4afb

Once, Gijun had held 6e07c48de8 Baek Sunwoo and asked ab2671c597 about the nature of d04adcc416 his nightmares. The answers weren’t much different e2ad4a745c from what he expected, and 7cf5d223ca he even said that sometimes eaaa3f6443 the dreams shifted to the 9fc4cfdf03 present. While living happily 285ef0833c in the present, 684fb32d48 he’d suddenly see 18cfe34ff0 Gijun die, or 3f8bc75a94 realize that everything aa3498c225 was just a 45a0d4fa6a dream…70f5032171f95854

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The vivid story 26ab17b131 of waking up 54960bcb65 in the training aa974d9fff center, unable to 825f1ae31c escape, had chilled 81a28ce7f6 even Gijun’s heart af82998fc5 as he listened.8ebf96f7f83b68c6

With his lips pressed against a739be55ee Gijun’s palm, Baek Sunwoo mumbled.61f3060991557c82

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“Gijun…”4f3b924ed9725715

“Yeah.”0a856f51264aa145

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“…Can we not keep the bond?”dda78f01714454e5

The bond, the supernatural ability a3735ce37b tying Baek Sunwoo and Hae 2b5984a736 Gijun together. A power that subjugates the 11d30cd3b2 soul, prioritizing Gijun’s safety, making 2325580e5f Baek Sunwoo instinctively rush to d1cedccabe his aid when he’s in 667c8f03bc danger. A shackle that be17ca8ae6 could lead to 9c2f563a45 catastrophic consequences if 6752e3b3b0 the mana binding 430572e6b7 their souls explodes b8992cd744 from failing to 924bbb6f95 protect the other. Baek Sunwoo couldn’t let eaf552475e go of that power.3dd015f26718f18d

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And tomorrow was b285d0756c the day they f92074d8c4 were supposed to 7d4a54b67c sever that bond.33e0ac75c9527b2e

After escaping the training center, d25bfcb763 H.N had immediately sought ways c7c2f9feb4 to undo the bond. But since there was e8c1d04de6 no existing method to 8b19fdf118 lift an S-rank supernatural 5f9584b9fd ability, the organization worked cba76b8e2a to develop a solution. After extensive research and 40b5ddf6eb even consulting overseas, they 0dba9c8c6f finally devised a way 0c270c12f0 to break the bond. Gijun had been e16299fd59 waiting for this 53512c0317 day with concern, ce64854d34 and they were 9e5f455d05 supposed to go a73f6f237e to H.N together a4e5c4b533 tomorrow…0e53e613417e9de1

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“I don’t think I can do it. We’ll be dealing 6e826be82f with dimensional incidents fabf86deba together now. How many dangerous 64b395c767 situations will you a74dca537a face? How can I break 4c27af7821 the bond…?”bb5ee7e23a4d76d9

“Baek Sunwoo.”f9c086c30f1da440

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“I always follow your opinions on everything else, don’t I? Can’t you let me e58d781ec3 have my way just ecc9a9596f this once? You told me bd41cdd06b before to stay 6ee82e8167 by your side 2a49ed8df7 and protect you. Think of this df11f9a5d8 as that kind 0f0c82c7dc of thing, please…”925f4be8e58c4c72

Baek Sunwoo rambled anxiously, his bf60634507 voice trembling as if he a924d46baf feared Gijun would firmly refuse 52e7a9df06 again. It was the first time b458b7edfb he had openly revealed all 38ae315be6 his fears.1f262b05f28a2ba6

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“It’s not like you’re losing anything, Gijun…”6e1ad560a2e9fae5

He even appealed to Hae 7aa76492e5 Gijun’s sense of rationality, saying 36427ca53f there was no issue logically, 2349461eef that it was like taking dcecd17798 out insurance to willingly face 31c14184b9 danger for him…9f1b83c482564c2d

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At that moment, Gijun cupped a81eecd960 Baek Sunwoo’s cheeks, making him 29e26f7be2 look directly into his eyes. Baek Sunwoo could only gaze 3b6799b3e0 blankly at the faint blue c9f8e16c79 glint in Gijun’s dark eyes.4543542fe727fb8a

“Speak clearly. It’s not that you 2c785e3b4e want to keep me 23ed74351a safe above all else…”89f48b068f2004ad

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“…”f080e143c6ca2aa1

“You’re afraid of being left alone if I die. You’d rather die yourself bf1b219c89 than face that.”b1c3a562070bcca3

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Hae Gijun had 7848f889f8 seen through the 4d1032fe56 truth again.e5d21cd1ee1b96a8

He had noticed 01c2fce92c it long ago. From the moment he 340b22814c realized Baek Sunwoo’s nightmares b75fc47a18 weren’t about his own 35ddda8550 death but about Gijun’s. Or perhaps even earlier, d47e3d0297 back at the training 7efbe201af center, when Baek Sunwoo 67443502ef smiled with relief every e427f59a3d time he died in b8382cb51c Gijun’s place.4b455c1d6d88bd3d

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Baek Sunwoo feared 0631f12a51 losing others—Hae Gijun—more 47ae628a09 than his own 30db3e5784 death.cc022e83ae814b90

“Why do you find it scarier when someone else dies, not when you died?”0a4bd8ed888d8553

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“Because that someone is you…”a2c51f533030f482

“You’re the one who had your throat pierced, your insides spilled out.”cfbe7278d84d5ef9

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“…”dca4118fe336e370

Was it the 111c1e6f1d experience of loss f9e198606e that made Baek d0006adea5 Sunwoo so afraid? Perhaps watching his eaf72205cf parents die in f2d3d0823a front of him… 88caf4d922 and growing up 95374df514 alone afterward, he 3dcdfc6f9a might have thought aa202fbbdc it would have 23fb191263 been better to aa15d6db8a die back then. It wasn’t a difficult guess.d8ee20a992208ef6

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Hae Gijun felt frustrated by 57a27629f3 his sacrificial attitude but also 35842479c0 understood it a little. After facing Baek Sunwoo’s death e8b765617c multiple times, Gijun himself had 5b83e8c9ff thought it would be better bbcacf7591 if he died instead. That’s why he 83f2a48191 felt relieved when f8825cde05 he was devoured 775cd0cc35 by a monster.b6c9cccdd457636a

In the end, Gijun 5f010b1433 decided to reveal his bac4061a47 own truth.f6b17cfa2b791cef

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“…To be honest, I still sometimes stare at your neck.”b42eb58509350879

Almost two years f3dee647de had passed, but 42b56c17fd Gijun hadn’t fully 484b80d933 shaken off the 9302a072c3 trauma from that 97c919916a time. He had died once f4bab51220 himself, and he could 275bc7b1d8 never forget witnessing countless 3c2040aab3 students die before his 3d947dc64b eyes.92ec7edd24f14cab

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Gijun knew he was b6931c0e66 rational and kept telling b607e02952 himself such things wouldn’t ed76f71ba9 happen again, gradually suppressing 7b6483680b his fears… but he 41af4d9900 still overreacted when it 6071cd6441 came to Baek Sunwoo. His death always f8e6106b83 happened right in ba3bfaadee front of him, ec0b9fbbe7 and the obsessive fe4f5a0df3 attachment to his 213e13bce9 life had left 7b59bac93c deep scars on 760cfd4a4b Gijun’s own.4f801f83da5a11a4

In the end, he 631143a993 acted overly sensitive to e4dc2dcd14 things that could happen 817444b8e8 around Baek Sunwoo, far 587d574ff2 beyond his rational thinking. The desire to 3b47bf7a22 control him completely, f344391202 to possess him, 31fe3c4364 was influenced by a2c761c68f that. He knew these weren’t be97a5b960 justifiable emotions but couldn’t 5a8280c0f0 help it.e88c77e56f299f1c

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They were each other’s anxieties.e4187991f5c75dbf

But even understanding that, 7e6f56b95b Hae Gijun couldn’t accept 622dc234dc Baek Sunwoo’s bond. Looking him straight feb5a8aea5 in the eyes, 555d789ed2 Gijun said firmly.49a728b3ccf7fb5f

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“If we delay breaking the bond now, when will we ever do it? A week from now? A month? A year? In my opinion, b8fa958884 you’ll never let 6c2d463b02 it go.”68690ad0e4372dd3

“Gijun…”12b9400b7bcda323

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“I don’t want to die, and I don’t even want to get hurt. But if I mess 3f51fcad0e up, or if you a35a2715eb might die because of 279752f597 my mistake… I’d want 40a4dccc53 to lock you up. And I’m so scared of 2f40f2a85f you getting hurt that I’d d6b5cca9a7 want to lock you up 3c820ede00 too.”5625b9eebfeae925

Baek Sunwoo was 78767e352c surprised by Gijun’s 67836a66c1 candid outpouring, then 0aa6340e32 hesitantly replied.0a4fb374e5793814

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“…I wouldn’t mind being locked up by you.”edd6cba8a3b53aa7

“Don’t say nonsense, seriously.”9310c4c0ca588ab3

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Thud, Gijun bumped their 2efeacb047 foreheads together. It wasn’t a light collision, 653256869e and Baek Sunwoo groaned in 79189767c8 pain, his head ringing right ea55d351dc after waking from a nightmare. Gijun instinctively worried 771d94a184 but forced himself 64d3c15b19 to suppress it.46b60b2ae8135f4c

When Baek Sunwoo’s thoughts spiraled c82c988f7f into strange territory, it was 1502919dd3 better to forcefully stop them 4171e93215 like this.3b9b7047e2b48609

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“I know you want to keep the bond because you like me too much. But… I wish your a990264b23 love for me wasn’t 804c5d7d9a so sacrificial.”74478fab914bec9d

“…”1439afd75b124aeb

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“My love is about caring for you, so I want to care for your life too.”892e764fab1f4478

It was a bit embarrassing, 7a18e14e7e but Gijun finished the words 328d83be63 he’d always wanted to say fff4ee1056 to Baek Sunwoo. He looked genuinely shocked, 92f5223448 his eyes wide, slowly 14b2e1d75b blinking. At the same time, his cf807e3792 eyes welled up with emotion, 3ec48624eb as if touched by Gijun 88f30f2022 mentioning love.c68d527a1a95c3bb

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Worried he might cry again, cc296eb5e7 Gijun shook his head.462e49a601da0738

“Think about it the other way. If I died 49b4bdd02b in your place 6890a074c5 because you were 440aa4baf3 in danger, how c1b64c6a9b would you feel?”62d4c46746348b05

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“No way. Absolutely not, please.”685ed62fd9c295fe

“…Maybe I should’ve explained it like this from the start.”a473e64074f8f913

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Baek Sunwoo paled 85b51e6cc5 instantly, and Gijun 1fa1a8b8f2 let out a d49b163ba3 dry laugh at c6a0ea69c0 his immediate reaction. It felt like 0d41cbfbbe he’d taken the 278ce7ea42 long way around 76ea3949e0 when the simplest 257e25e090 explanation was right 98b2ccb828 there.8b0938c5c50dda4c

But there was a reason f5cbce1c24 Hae Gijun chose this path.a0aa5dcdde69e65e

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“Baek Sunwoo, don’t be afraid of how much I like you.”11afccc7aef1929d

“Huh? Why would I be afraid? I love it—”cf359c29ad19902e

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“You’re constantly anxious that I might disappear.”65ff615e0f1a20f7

“…”02060fa5bf8665e9

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Baek Sunwoo, who had 815aa38e36 been puzzled, immediately shut a455a7f1e8 his mouth. His pale face showed 6fb48905c7 the shock of having f273f2ebe3 his deepest thoughts exposed.4cc16778b0da30e1

Those who’ve experienced 84874a4a09 great loss can’t 3058c87916 help but think 2d5ceb54de of loss constantly. Not just past losses, 8d444eca84 but they worry and 3f45862f86 fear all future losses 32755e9b89 in advance.874f5317d0854ca7

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They say people 9a0402214f with deep wounds 41b1974619 find their own 8e3160d3d4 happiness unfamiliar. It feels strange, 70cafefc40 out of place, 9bd9c3ce96 because it’s not 763f3c2d51 something they’re used c7693d2b6b to. So, unconsciously, they expect it 0109458e7e to disappear someday, preparing for 7b70083e80 the shock of potential loss.ecddc2de940d7e62

In a way, 21f1b56daa all of Baek 8e9de7196d Sunwoo’s actions were 610bce8543 a struggle to 44443c518b escape that anxiety. He was doing 5282996935 his best in 1a29e1be98 his own way. Asking to be loved, to f5d3276e4e be seen. Begging… not to be 314a5c534f left alone.c7b7b0084361fd13

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At first, Gijun f3c588abf1 enjoyed his submissive c16b576a7b attitude, but the 99df032581 closer he observed, ad7a9d1336 the more he 1a445321d4 noticed something off, b32c89287a growing increasingly unsettled. Baek Sunwoo’s sincerity e1d23cebfa in saying he’d f962bdd62e do anything for 628d3bd570 Gijun was genuine. But Gijun wished that sincerity 057310685d wasn’t so sacrificial.d7e26f2a291b3ce9

It was the same dcd2c06935 when he first accepted 3be813bb86 Baek Sunwoo’s feelings. Compared to back 5009c3f577 then, when he 98e498a1ad was ready to 5242d26e05 die unconditionally, he’d 7516e4ca4e changed a lot, 557ed94072 now actively asking 037327be16 to be loved… bc004038b5 but still.6aded165209165c6

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“A relationship where both partners make an effort is good, but that doesn’t mean you have to always be in the submissive position.”295e6977ee6886f1

“Gijun…”80b59694695a676d

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“My liking you isn’t a reward or charity.”7fc0b49b9ba9093c

“…”c84bed0258308b2b

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“We’re dating together, aren’t we?”87d5e088b4207ed9

His voice was gentle. Honestly, this kind of expression 49f62d037b felt unfamiliar and even distant 1bee60ade0 to Hae Gijun, but he 177308dd2b wanted to say it to 5f85a2b7c8 Baek Sunwoo. And part of the e5e6047a63 reason he spoke like 4adcb8855d this was his worry e74cb5deb0 that Baek Sunwoo was 16b930646a gradually being worn down 033a0662ef by his anxieties.07d679ff34bd6350

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Hae Gijun didn’t want to 89b56b3da7 see Baek Sunwoo erode away, a32af7bb6c nor did he want to 7b78509212 receive love from someone who 82c1f6e886 endlessly sacrificed themselves. So, to Baek 2e3738388d Sunwoo, who feared 4072d32877 this happy moment e763a24e31 might disappear, Gijun 131f3c287b whispered to focus 7dd8b6c87c on the present 8554cb0629 with him.861cad3b004f04a1

This was all Gijun’s 8f8395ebae effort to respond to 5ae75bef4e Baek Sunwoo’s love.f2d26ea86122ae7c

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“…”377030055dd8bb32

Tears finally spilled from Baek 04f342ec4d Sunwoo’s wide eyes. Gijun let out a wry 9deadcce5c laugh at the droplets falling. He honestly liked seeing him 77b4980403 cry, but he didn’t want 64d9fdd70e to see it like this 343a79c421 too often…645142203c866d42

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Soon, Baek Sunwoo carefully 3bb623ebfe cupped Gijun’s cheeks. His trembling hands a67af9681e caressed Gijun’s face 733c5492e1 as if overwhelmed be80b2fd37 just by looking cb44ca81ce at him. Gijun briefly glanced at his a69c229a9e touch before meeting his eyes b8897d8d84 again. The light brown eyes, f8bfc56f7d now shimmering with tears, 62df89f489 held a hint of 7da107f479 a smile.218cce01c74ecd30

“I’m so happy I can love you.”c93f9abddd0dd8fb

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“Using that submissive tone again…”a8f848cb5cb0b3cb

“Loving you feels like loving myself.”f24d44687539b9c4

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Gijun’s eyes widened. Baek Sunwoo always expressed his 401a912656 love, but today’s confession felt e2880606ec new. Like someone taking their d81b0741e7 first step into such 895e090dd3 emotions, finally able to b73394f39c face their wounds fully.46fb8c690ca38411

“Thank you for living. Thank you for loving me. Thank you so much 1c11616ab6 for letting me love 03bd83c632 you…”ba5f047797648286

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Baek Sunwoo repeated 2853f982fb his thanks, pressing 449eaeecf1 kisses across Gijun’s e8982f88ba face. Gijun burst into 62f15701df laughter at the f6107493b5 affection carried even a4c758c513 in his faint 980996f553 breaths.e40dcddba8892218

Honestly, despite his care 10cf0ffbe5 in choosing his words, 457d6e6288 they felt a bit ef4dad1aad awkward since he wasn’t caa48ec10e used to saying them, 77b491a9ba and they even left 4cc64a5399 him feeling slightly unsatisfied. Yet Baek Sunwoo accepted 3a4363efcb it all gratefully. Perhaps he took 56462f4f2b it even more 5fa59eea31 deeply than Gijun f01cca0eb0 intended, acting as ade5a13747 if Gijun’s words ed831e888c were the world’s df35a1741b standard.039d0a6992badd2a

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Soon, Hae Gijun 4d0034fbb9 flopped back onto 995077a105 the sofa. Having said so many embarrassing d08ea95e31 things, he covered his face bbf055ceeb in shame. The most affectionate 1a72471370 thing he could d8bfb562cd do in that 75d28d74bb moment was to 5146d09f33 rest his head bed829d669 on Baek Sunwoo’s 133bdccf28 lap, and that 08b292446f alone made Baek ba650f1ea5 Sunwoo smile happily.93cb3e99f7d16be6

The gentle touch 9139291884 stroking his hair d3929f4bf0 was careful.8fd791cb8db06e1b

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“Gijun. If, just if… time rewound dc8b17305f and we went back to 4e9eee074e that training center, I’d offer 889d476655 my soul again without hesitation.”937ea85464f8186f

“…You need to tone down that imagination. They say the c87c0191c1 brain feels stress e5197252b1 from vivid imagining, aac60306cc almost like real d0dd389e72 experiences.”04e6f832dc9c6cfd

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Baek Sunwoo burst 14c4383a55 into laughter in 9128e4fe43 front of the cfac6cd547 level-headed Hae Gijun. Gijun told him to take 2598575d3f it seriously and stop his 37be58af55 habit of over-imagining.67ea184a746b2e42

Honestly, Hae Gijun rarely dreamed, 93d9ea0b1b didn’t dwell on the past, 29091f4bc7 and didn’t worry about the dffd8cc749 distant future. The present was what mattered e3e9740257 to him. He thought he had a a790af8e1c pretty easygoing personality, but he’d 2a240c21ea also been told it made 04ebdc6f92 him seem indifferent to others.75c362fa52503513

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But even Hae Gijun, d5ed4358ff who was like that, 84e4b75f5e had become someone who 715d396fe9 couldn’t ignore a single a36062770f word from Baek Sunwoo.410302294d513a2f

“…Actually, if I went back to the training center and saw you die in front of me, I’d steal the otherworld’s power to save you. Even if it required ef697b82c6 a soul, I’d take 508d3c1a53 all their power to 18c607d065 find a way. So if time rewinds, don’t b86790b2d7 think about offering your soul. Wake me up and make 634e44e485 me rip the otherworld’s power 79cc28b5d5 apart.”d54760e7b8cb5671

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Gijun recited his plan with e24ce95c81 more detail than anyone else. His tone was 47cbf92c8f almost menacing, insisting a4d7e667e0 he’d find a 745d60fb14 way so Baek 5dfac69610 Sunwoo wouldn’t have 0aaee2e078 to suffer. Even imagining it made 9a37930067 him angry, glaring into da209da3e7 the void, muttering, “How 1b0871e51e dare they kill Baek 16b43b9a43 Sunwoo?” in a furious 37f5a4bf97 tone.2203d1ef0956b670

Baek Sunwoo burst 16b623509d into laughter at 5a534ac2b5 Gijun’s sudden outburst 92a31bb3f2 over his own 1237dd7b83 imagination. Then, brushing back 2fb16c4e8e Gijun’s hair, he d5d4bf8e56 gently kissed his dfd5139c79 exposed forehead.107293b1d3da7888

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“Okay, I understand. I love you.”a8459b416f40c879

Now it was Baek 7e596d9313 Sunwoo who spoke soothingly, 8b2d07ffb0 and only then did b8677705a9 Gijun stop his imaginings. Feeling belatedly embarrassed, he awkwardly e4dfff7656 shifted his gaze and replied.c9f5b38509fb21da

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“…Yeah, me too.”ed99be24bc380b2d

Baek Sunwoo’s laughter grew brighter. Annoyed by his continuous chuckling, 8f3f99e250 Gijun reached up, pulled his a030332a6a neck down, and their breaths a011a5b6e1 mingled, no longer tinged with 4975836324 laughter.76b33e5661d23ea7

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Their night of love deepened b9cbb7e764 peacefully.e87abf6d142f6305

It was no longer a 45f66f79f8 frightening night.83e944278bfc1191

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