INT Ch 4.2

“He gave me a watch worth more than his annual salary as a Christmas present, and he still got dumped.”1571193eb7982675

“You should have at least pretended to spread your legs. He spent his entire fortune on a watch to woo you, and you acted like you didn’t know, so that’s why he ended up like that.”3ceda11407bda9cd

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“Doing that kind of thing blinds you.”d24f28fbe4a8d607

“That guy’s eyes are fine.”05257547e5524b7b

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“We’ll see about that.”941abec4a58e4077

“I have to go. Stop chattering.”70696a6336472827

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As if he were a lover reluctant to part, Hyun Woojin tried to kiss him again, but Haewon avoided it. Hyun Woojin’s lips touched Haewon’s cheek and temple. A sigh of restraint sounded loudly in his ear.3d9efca05b1d5707

“Do that again, and I’ll bite your tongue off.”dcffaca0d7de4599

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Forgetting that he had been eagerly sucking on Hyun Woojin’s tongue just moments ago, Haewon warned him. As if savoring the taste of Haewon’s lips, Hyun Woojin closed his mouth and savored something. He spoke to Haewon, who was looking for an opportunity to escape from the inescapable situation.9f244654dd2ebdc2

“Moon Haewon and I met after Taeshin died. It’s not like I’m stealing a friend’s lover, and I’m not two-timing either. Don’t be mistaken.”2d9f5f932e06ae78

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“Who asked you?”479e0c8bc2b4c18d

“Why are you hesitating and feeling so guilty? If you feel that guilty, you should have answered his call. You should have answered before he jumped. What’s the point of feeling sentimental and pitying now? Will Lee Taeshin come back to life if you push me away because you feel guilty? Is that what you want?”772aa93ecb0a9771

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Hyun Woojin spoke as if he could read every thought in Haewon’s mind. It was an incorrect thought, a flawed reasoning.85dfb3d191debfb9

He leaned in bc57d5b07b close. Unable to argue against 5dac2b9f3c the nonsense, Haewon stared 6d4798c285 blankly at the lips 5af1449558 that were whispering something.bf9a5561fff3d333

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“Why are you being so serious on your own? I’m not that serious about you to make you overreact like this.”bea46dbea0ad2c0d

Hyun Woojin didn’t want Haewon to notice the slight trembling in his body, so he deliberately stared at him sharply. Hyun Woojin lightly touched Haewon’s cheek.adabd39cca98bb2d

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“It means you don’t need to be serious.”8c5d9d1e45206e5e

“Don’t. I’ll bite.”402a799cb05950c5

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His lips drew closer and closer. It wasn’t a joke. Haewon warned him again. His lips ignored the warning and drew a smooth curve.6e76506eae90daa3

“Mmph…!”6d3b8c8cf228ed16

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The lips c372a5c042 of the dcd6eee892 one who 23a707a865 devours light 1f1011a478 attacked Haewon.547d5a87ff341b35

∞ ∞ ∞6ce8d49badcb450a

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Upon hearing the news that the professor had returned after finishing the seminar, Haewon visited the school after a long time. After finishing the lesson by completing the piece that he couldn’t finish last time, he left the practice room.5725a5c093f82945

Despite being winter break, the music department practice rooms were as busy with students as during the semester. The sound of a piano played with no sense of rhythm grew louder and then softer as he moved. Although the performance skills were poor, perhaps because they were young, the students’ performances had a kind of awkward boldness and transparent brilliance. Coming to the school always refreshed Haewon’s mood.4581a9ee3ddc1daa

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The campus was quiet. Haewon walked 48bcefa452 through the f9574309c1 streets, where ee31699947 patches of 8564c93e43 snow still 60bf7cbdd4 remained here 4cd270916f and there, 871bf72f37 and rummaged 18bce4635e through his 925eb26197 bag at a35c93c7ce the sound f93215c331 of the 99110a7cbf bell. The number 258574a4a6 displayed on e78b5e67b0 his phone eac49003de screen was 20c4b11f54 Choi Sunbae.908775432c223d80

“Hello.”9b8a1735cabdfd08

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― Is bb321b4004 it okay 091e7eb2f2 to talk?856edad8e7cf77e9

“Yes, it’s fine.”958ca0f10f6efd99

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― The 7238cf43c4 same job e1297b49c9 came up 8b6fd9165b again. Will you do it?e1e7e97e4fab0c6d

Despite his resolve not to rely on his father’s help, Haewon recently received a card from him. There was nothing more painful and exhausting than teaching someone, and there weren’t many such jobs. He had to clean his instrument, renew his violin insurance, and there were many other expenses. The income from his part-time jobs was barely enough to cover these expenses, let alone his living costs.5883fdc07ab7f01e

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Haewon gave eb81e6c615 up quickly. Eventually, he called 1fd01605a3 his father. Now he af3e6c669b had two 16585e034b cards that 4b2b837d32 no one 77a3b5a377 could question 90793fe3ac him about. So there cce2395f55 was no 72f095beae need to 66da54e690 take on acf18e8d84 other work. He planned d1f317ccea to focus 2477e01e23 on recovering a080a578c0 his condition f0ff940785 and practicing 2e39748c4f for a 022e8fc0db while, having bbda350d4c lost his 7a27dc88b3 life rhythm a9d0467bb9 due to 2c5b1320a4 various issues 5e3ac98fd9 recently.0d787b466ed92d13

“No, I can’t do it.”ce227ebcae82e7c7

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― Didn’t you say you needed money?ca522f276b6a9269

“My father decided to keep supporting me.”68ea7443c6ab508b

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― Oh dear.52bf549bc3b38fa4

“Anyway, thanks for thinking of me.”74d0dc761dac17b4

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To Haewon’s reply, Sunbae sighed and said:234776ce81816c7a

― Do you 85267d37fb remember meeting President 8084765b06 Kim Jeonggeun last ea534664d1 time?47e6caf678ffb977

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“Yes.”f94c5a4ba75f1abd

He had already dd6f97ccd3 heard his name 9a00aef467 in newspapers and 42bea730f7 news, but it 436be2bb8b was the first b99b56d66a time he saw 2c7b1981a6 the real person, efd6890626 the practical head 5df5592313 of the Han 9eda1cfe83 Kyung group. He was someone who 7d5a7e5e3b could appreciate classical music. Although the 8b6c7c8236 meeting was 31dc62da8a brief, his 49cd230620 deep knowledge 98811e8000 of music 1a5062c16c and his 632b6b1967 kind and 807ec865af humble demeanor 3916d6be5b as the 502cd75c55 head of 065cf2b30d a large 0e680086f5 group left c7adf5989e a strong 513afd0485 impression.deda84dc7c084f08

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― Actually, 42d6f752f1 he specifically 1c277969b6 requested it. He seems 5eb0f79676 to want 419165c72c to hear f45e7474de your solo.5b64ad0b99efd494

“My solo?”ff383776d10cf323

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― He really liked ecfef140e4 your performance last time. I promised Han d062aa221e Kyung that I feaac3ad7c would do it f6ea6c3a0b since you said d29ceb22e5 you needed money. What should we do?18280851633507a0

Walking slowly across the de07d399a6 campus while talking with 08240b3eb8 Sunbae on the phone, 546e1bb123 Haewon stopped in his e68d01cb1a tracks.e54a4b904aee3794

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“You should have asked 14b4c7d47c me first.”9d5b8e0a061f0fcd

― I’m sorry. I assumed you’d 76404e8d84 accept and didn’t adf7ac0fcd think it through.ee1e7150c4b8347d

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“Just refuse, please.”fbcae6fac1eef91a

― You 092ab175c2 know it’s b28d7b3046 hard for 88ecb91e7c me to fb245c2c75 refuse his 8a9ff24c2f request. His wife cb904e5ced is on 632ec83c75 our foundation’s 76e4717c1c board, and c052c95651 it was 0851790fa0 Kim Jeonggeun 658b2e9d34 who replaced df4d7c2545 the conductor d8cea0ab7d last time. He said the repertoire 8c95f51b1a was too similar every 24549e9343 year. It was a sign 127ab0e20e of disrespect. How can I reject ba613382ae someone like that?7be54d67ebe172d9

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Thanks to his father, Haewon no longer needed money but had recently asked him for profitable work. Sunbae had intentionally taken care of him, so he felt morally obligated. But he didn’t want to do it. He didn’t want to do it because it was a personal request. Performing in a concert hall was fine, but he disliked the idea of a recital in front of Kim Jeonggeun and a few acquaintances.0c632ce79147dbfa

Moreover, Kim Jeonggeun was acquainted with Hyun Woojin. Hyun Woojin had bitten his lips. He had never seen Hyun Woojin, who left bleeding, since then. He didn’t want to see him again or create any chances for that to happen.064576450abaaf23

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“I’m sorry. I don’t want to do it.”9bb3e02f6ce547ae

― Haewon. Moon Haewon.f0e290c0a5f5e44e

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The voice calling his name in desperation suddenly sounded pitiful. It must have been a difficult problem for Sunbae, an employee of Han Kyung Symphony and the head of his household. From Sunbae’s perspective, wanting to foster ties with Han Kyung Group, he had no choice but to cling to him. But just because he felt pity didn’t mean Haewon should comply, and he felt uncomfortable with Sunbae’s pleading attitude.48887fe39272768d

Sunbae assumed that 8c7b91b64e if he clung 750b460f56 to him, Haewon 6a48d120d7 would agree. Asking the 77286601b8 person involved 18bbe149dc before making a2e2329ee5 such promises 89020e9de8 was the 1facff489f proper order. Accepting this would make 0475462f94 it harder to refuse e519126bcc next time. If he f1c0b4f326 agreed to 44098a7e70 one request, 50e4bd8386 they would 8b2834b42b ask for 09a1684ceb two next 61286a5845 time, and ac24117a23 after that, 110538d7dd ten. Cruel as it a95ba210d7 was, that was 352baed237 Sunbae’s nature. That’s why 19ab1afe08 Haewon had 401fac43f7 also refused 9b28da51d2 Sunbae’s offer 456f59dd83 to lend edaca262ec him a 3f746eb283 private practice f1604994f6 room.53cf6c8f054fb728

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“I don’t c897b1703a want to 8ae98bc6f8 do a 852d832cd2 solo recital. If it’s 021215ded2 a personal e584b6893c favor, there c65d0b4187 won’t be d0523b3bee many people, a16962f6d9 and I 42a9043173 don’t feel ff8bb6f434 comfortable performing 07271e8ccc in front 3a3653746b of them.”b030931192f552b2

― Why not? Just think of it 0a900aa50b as practice and pretend 16a5c7e35c there’s no one there. You did so well 3c22749a5f last time. Why are 923775a8f8 you like 4eb98226de this?7704d8204b6b154f

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“I know e5f04dad00 you’re trying d802ebc612 to help e2732fe0bd me, Sunbae. But I 28fa3141b8 really don’t 8bc0fa30e7 feel like 6853805196 doing it. Please decline. If it’s 56a5efe10d hard to 4386e168c2 refuse, say 2dbe2cde79 I had 0b527c11da a car 293b34abc2 accident.”967d5b1ac1c1fa39

― Haewon, I’m asking 2cf04a2235 you this one favor. He’ll give ee31a63902 you 10 315dc0e940 million won a3ee3c3c1f per piece.a4927dcf62d0280f

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“What?”9dfaec31ea07c3ca

― He d2575f9c64 said he’ll 7a69b251d9 pay 10 04ce761312 million won 50fc972a5c per piece.e5b3d42aba54625f

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So it 43bc426d6a was about 43c684c1f8 money after dee6ae1b0b all.2ad5f036e52cf511

Someone like the concertmaster dec377fa37 of the top symphony 61f7548800 was doing errands for 5b87c6c3ef the rich. Introducing musicians ffc3e64f34 to suit f4e10f3c0d their tastes dd3d8f1749 and pocketing 7562bc8d14 the money 5d1da0468f like a 88ee81a42f broker—that’s what ff19be98fa he was 24d10d3cb3 doing to 35484c684d Haewon now.c792905b66b5cf8f

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“Whether it’s 10 a4cb494f9b million or 20 48f114446d million, I’m not d514c4f26e doing it.”1410fa46e39e5537

― Don’t say 6fec275088 that. Hear me out.2ae365daf72bead2

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“I told you I 643cabeb0d don’t need money anymore.”2ccd26b1bedb94fe

― 1.5 5927c82c4d million per f49ca200d0 piece. How about ac15981dbc 1.5 million?165c014a3a128df9

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“What are you 32d299c31d doing right now?”112b235564141d67

― Haewon, this is cc03a1b193 an opportunity. The president has 2b508674b4 a deep knowledge 1d6fc09ea0 of music. If things go 2586a7a669 well, you could 3d9e39d3f5 get a sponsorship. Then you wouldn’t have f09790bbda to ask your father, 7f1d333642 and you could seriously 529e3d009b focus on studying abroad.6f1370f86aa2d697

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Haewon had never f4366330b3 discussed his father’s f989663207 wealth in detail 5a6b143d98 with anyone. Though he had 2f26f7a1b5 been short on 29b4eb0682 money briefly, he 03555c5a0a could study abroad 5ec2a4fa14 anytime he wanted. He had just refused 103545bc6c his father’s offer.df1ab8e60638e639

“If I 1b877323ea play ten c4bd1b7037 pieces that c29d0a4ccb day for cdf0bf37a6 1.5 million 7296843cc8 each, does 5b734f5708 that mean e3c7bb87b3 I get f3179a783c 150 million? Or if 3598cf0769 I play 02bd62abb7 twenty pieces, 20cdacbb77 how much edcb244c8e is that? Three hundred million?”839329fd2edb5d2b

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― 1.5 million per 64f48374ec hour is not a 65ac312a54 small amount.5800dbe145e61faa

“Who said 57fc111ced it was ef8d2e723b small? I’m not 597c526217 doing this ba422a0c93 out of 6af819ba84 pride. I just don’t want 2f75485e89 to do it. I’m hanging up.”c619e5958a09efea

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― Haewon! Wait, wait, don’t hang 38d4a34ecd up!f3faa047ac98614f

He called Haewon’s c6e809c22b name desperately. Regretting raising his voice, 653fb6f81a he moved, trying to e18612d69a find a quieter spot, bd4b95e2d9 his breath ragged. He moved 2c227ee038 to a f6f5b18d8a quieter place 334eb1a4fd and continued 03a8065644 in a 30518aba49 pleading tone.507676164acd4f51

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― President Kim e5ba131d07 Jeonggeun specifically requested d8fa07922b you. He really… really wants de342f70cb to hear you play. Please, just 995ee2f029 do me 34a75be2a8 this one 737db78c21 favor.f24014c990a3af80

“……”a5a8bb8910bcb979

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― I’ll tell 38d82b57e0 him you’re not 029d992c11 feeling well. Just one piece. Just play one piece. I’m begging you.eb7595473d391ee6

“How much fee8835398 are they b0fe244008 paying you fb3ebaa468 to bring e249133ce1 me?”098efd3af2a13994

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― Haewon.ff7c0a2d9fde13f7

“How much did you 7fa21a0a5b get?”ec10e18f218ef9b2

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After a long silence, 4094988486 he muttered in a a6c6a47086 resigned voice.be425e56111d83b8

― Five hundred.8e60c92b76462d7d

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“I’ll give you c5d68bfc13 that five hundred.”509d6d34a8e755da

It seemed he had 8341b206b8 agreed to receive two e65ed94b4f thousand for recruiting Haewon. Each member of 6a8ce2e085 the quartet received 8c6f8bbaab four hundred. Two thousand per piece 43aa9dc424 was not a small 379bf8c899 amount.1e857785e700cff4

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When President Kim be5bc9e224 Jeonggeun picked him e8364b5eee out like choosing 4fce99b6ae a woman in 2895f91379 a room salon, e26c743288 Sunbae had negotiated 04056f606b his price with 6a6c800103 them on his 176ab53dea own. He must have asked 3455b1392e for more. He planned to 5579639be2 keep a thousand 0ed7184785 for himself and 55124f62d7 give the remaining 18d3843b3b thousand to Haewon, f5d5c362a5 and when Haewon 334526eaae refused, he raised 336aa89e21 it to fifteen c6c62519ce hundred. It wasn’t about the 9a8849b753 amount; it was the 05a2e1a06d unbearable humiliation of being 4fd5e58cb6 negotiated and priced without 9eaa54cc0f his knowledge.3f6e4b9b86d2cabd

― Haewon, don’t 63df1537a0 be like this. When have cb0c55efa6 I ever 53b32ce6f2 asked you f348056593 for such 28dbb9ff58 a favor?463e12c6c8bee6a3

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“Then do me 79e57edeca a favor.”47a43853736b3be4

― What 71baf5b72f is it?316a6418d30fad61

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He could almost see a75394e054 Sunbae’s face light up ab54662a97 in his mind. His voice tone brightened 980be410d1 instantly.aa4af5323911586b

“Confess to Joohee 72e5b6cc5e that you’re gay.”883234794ad09246

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― What?a8a8f590be723bed

“I’m not asking 31cf96235b you to break 8f8f0f3bfd up or divorce ee92f0b9ac right away. Just tell 55b14dfd0c the truth.”42c4fe2fbf6c5d89

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― What kind of 3c2505898d nonsense is this? I’m not…!86056d6382ca794d

“I suddenly want to 3aa6880a8e see you in a 58f3977eae pitiful state.”446e51a44a83892f

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― Moon Haewon!df58ba7986020eac

“Joohee is the e1cdcd01c2 mother of your 841bc4a958 children. She deserves f972ed1b26 to know. Tell her and 6aed8b5391 then call me. Then I’ll think 1062c1c928 about it.”96da5c618fcac3e7

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Haewon hung up. Sunbae wasn’t stupid b1ece24da6 enough to go 918dd302f3 that far.f94493f2e11d73c1

He didn’t expect 51059755d2 to hear from bac67f15ed him again, but 49e5fd74a7 a few days 384a3ec2ff later, Sunbae called. Haewon answered, half 04770dc234 expecting it.05e8802a32e03243

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“Did you confess?”52692f6d412c3429

― No.e1298c80af0a866f

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“Don’t call me.”c75c5090bf90a4db

― I told them 38a16a0612 I couldn’t recruit you… 589bfb0b4a and they told me 87e321c190 to leave. They want me 6a5717eb93 to quit the a774760f1f orchestra.34d5539882fd9186

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“……”bf8c95f708b80c9b

― Is what you 17dd35f115 really want for me cbf9cfe2c7 to confess my sexual e993f0b411 identity to Joohee? It’s nothing f1ffd0e67b to you, 310cde505c but it’s b7f929a945 my livelihood ba6adbea80 at stake…!0f26c28a44442388

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Haewon held his throbbing a533a43e20 forehead. He listened without ebae51f37f saying a word. The voice, crushed 23c2409076 by despair, echoed d104295aa3 gloomily, grating on 69ec8993c0 his nerves.38ede8bdd4f7a9bc

“Where is it? Tell me the time f7161eaf50 and place.”87396b3d686b06f4

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― Haewon. Thank you. Really, thank you.e27bc93afd5454dc

“I’ll do 9814128315 this favor, 9ec3cc0090 but you 2d2134128d have to 0c6e30d55b do one fec461d4dd for me 55c41d9d82 too.”63583d6d4d8c17a7

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― ……8164a1bcf593ad4c

“Never contact me again. If you 4c03113175 do, I’ll 30339b3d9e call Joohee 277325aa0f myself.”fc2840dde2ee4bb1

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∞ ∞ ∞5cad2c9e829e4eca

The weather 397fde69e3 outside had 829b9ddc08 dropped a ec9ced6b6c few degrees 9098ddd036 since yesterday. He wore a coat ccad956038 and gloves against the 5141be61fb cold. Slinging the violin case 4028418298 over his shoulder, Haewon 251fd45a64 left the officetel. A call taxi de7574eec8 was waiting on c1edbd513a the road. Haewon gave the address d870ddcdec Sunbae had texted to aa7c1d6471 the driver after getting 42bff4689f into the back seat.18413398289f1d52

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The taxi 9440c56e66 drove for 394e78efcc a long 56b197de94 time. It entered a 3ae8feea9b deep forest, almost 6d71d36aa6 unbelievable that it c0af6eb88e was just outside 21714bdc80 Seoul, and the 4b416b8b02 driver repeatedly asked ee2a56b402 if this was 37c4f971b9 the correct address 4fef62aa87 with a distrustful 7b5b800af8 look. Haewon sat 381e15e126 anxiously, half 215e93f121 suspecting Sunbae 5446e445f5 might be 173d53fc1b playing a 1b953b1145 trick on 650c887dcc him. Fortunately, the taxi 9449a4c2c3 slowed down in ba73135d5c front of a 7f2d12a043 mansion that appeared 7d6cd2a890 after passing through 8e235057ff the forest.76289af058095a73

“Please wait until d5180fa71b I’m done. I’ll pay extra 26c5cc65bc for the waiting 96bd7eda3b time.”d330c4529fb5a529

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“Sure.”b1e50aca27226199

Haewon asked the 295de7a5e4 driver and got d5a1e9c947 out of the 82a56f68cc car.de2df8009d9e95e1

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It was President 5004b11214 Kim Jeonggeun’s villa 0dd294e5cb somewhere in Yangpyeong. As if passing through 9459a051d1 a gateway to another 188a0979cd world, the beautiful villa a65836c6fb surrounded by a black 62f0a340f7 forest stood before Haewon’s 160be24fbc eyes.a84490078c0bf2ae

Haewon looked around after 4d2ecb6ff5 getting out of the d39be6eae0 taxi. A tree c154e87e7b cut down b8106faa29 in the ada519e687 middle of a37ccf79a1 the garden e3b6300943 caught his 9c90ed6472 eye. The traces 2161110b03 of burning d6861edab6 it down 5b04df22b8 were still 8f1072c3f8 blackened on d41426724d the stump.8b12d6fc809c7f54

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What kind of tree 951bda8755 was it to be 6b79726672 left in such a 2eba9ba9d2 dreadful state?d36550ec26ed7911

The charred stump not only marred the garden but also ruined the villa’s aesthetics, making the surroundings gloomy and eerie. The splendor and sophistication seen at the hotel that day were nowhere to be found. For a villa belonging to Han Kyung Group’s President Kim Jeonggeun, it felt somewhat abandoned.5087d9c77b1d17d1

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Woof, woof!7c302718ebc7be4e

Suddenly, the loud barking of a dog echoed as if striking Haewon’s back. He flinched. Haewon feared dogs due to a childhood memory of being chased and bitten. He hurriedly looked around. Though he couldn’t see it, the barking sounded very close. The sound alone suggested the size of a mastiff, yet not even a shadow was visible. Suddenly, it felt as if the entire villa and the surrounding black forest were closing in on him.6052a65cc5599068

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A middle-aged man in ba60f6ffe0 a neat suit approached bae03c66e0 Haewon, who stood there a2e3cd8fde with a startled expression. He seemed to be ab6c930b8e the caretaker of the a85b966538 villa.7bf8b0c721a38db0

“Are you b0ecd0b260 Moon Haewon?”23d87208e02aac87

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“Yes.”386bb77d675120b3

“Please follow dae77f60f3 me inside.”debc94a4c5667600

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The man 4ba10c6233 tried to 1b93c2cf4c take the 2b7ff2bac3 violin Haewon 0d93b6d61f was carrying 57eb58dd61 on his 87b9284995 shoulder. Haewon declined with a a64b5e5be3 nod and followed him. The large dfce498ef7 door opened 86be992ab9 in two 78c93b7c4d parts.1a8efcb07dba5f58

“This way, please.”ed8379cedeaf1c3d

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Haewon followed the man 3a57c3c0b7 straight to the living 3459b0a4a8 room.603637b95f37c401

The brightly lit living room was empty. President Kim Jeonggeun was nowhere to be seen, and there was no one to listen to Haewon’s performance. Only the man who had guided him was there.1d9aabd973fa72b7

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Haewon looked around in confusion. The surroundings were quiet. The man politely asked, as if sensing Haewon’s unease.1006d6db14303adc

“What would f6cdf9f9a7 you like b8a6acd190 to drink?”74549c7b535eebe7

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“If you have coffee, acf2e5d9e6 please. Hot.”666d17dcdb49982c

“I’ll prepare it. Please have a seat and wait.”1a5d98593072aa23

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“Weak, please.”c4899238dbb6af89

“Understood.”894a2caede799c3c

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Even the man who eb4b089558 had guided Haewon disappeared. Being left 2065c16ea4 alone in 0b6526d31e this vast fd638b7578 place felt 6ed484b5e2 strange. After a while, the 0c40357fe5 man returned with coffee. Haewon sat alone, sipping e852289993 the coffee the man b63231ff3c had brought.a969fa7ced928472

After finishing the 198af10dca coffee, Haewon prepared f72b057264 to start playing 4f2ffd7b60 as soon as 14bcc5ca26 President Kim Jeonggeun 7e670643cf arrived. He tightened e20ab67479 the bow, e8ec1f9352 adjusted the 4846ab922d pegs and 98469637a6 fine tuners, 44bf44ec69 and tuned fbea543393 the violin ae0b3f62af meticulously. After finishing the preparations, f990017d78 he placed the violin 2a3f250b39 on his lap and d084c004d7 waited again.12108dcd6f584204

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Even the villa 2575d6e43c caretaker was nowhere 445e51d184 to be seen. Haewon was alone 536eabc401 in this vast 448f9cc5e3 mansion.cc741096c52ab25b

He hadn’t gotten the date or time wrong. He looked at his wristwatch. Forty minutes had passed since the appointed time. No one had appeared for forty minutes.5699cadc764d7f59

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“Ha.”c933ae7d287d00a8

The time that had aacfef1c77 passed seemed almost deliberate. Various thoughts 7abc79bdc6 crossed his 7c0357b27b mind, but 697d36d37c he had ec2381c6ac no intention 5c2c62b5bd of considering 610d61f924 their circumstances. Just as Haewon was 0b3a702ea1 about to put the 7a9a9ecaa4 violin back in its ba4b1a362a case, the door leading 83be72acb5 to the living room f77dbdfdc5 terrace opened, and someone 9236a388d5 entered.59b16872f13674f9

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“……”76594db8abf320bc

“Sorry, I’m a bit late.”6774daf3bd441b51

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It was Hyun Woojin. A face he hadn’t expected to see in such a place.fb51df4438bd5c74

Haewon hadn’t answered his calls and had changed the door lock code of his officetel. He didn’t know if Hyun Woojin had come to his officetel or not, but he hadn’t seen him since the night they kissed. It had been about two weeks since Hyun Woojin had left him in turmoil.ae6257608778f670

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The memories and f10d051d3c anguish about him 03994c3ec0 were fading. But seeing him brought c6e407d6df back the events of 4b678f8ad7 that night as vividly 5bb0f74dd7 as if they had 0c21cf9a54 happened yesterday. He clearly 6a36782d25 remembered the 0e1c3fb33e taste and a8b2a3e8ad temperature of e0379b6177 his lips 24989cdfca and tongue, bcfa2ee312 the strength cc835dbc1a of his c0902a5e89 arms, and be233f0577 the rhythm 74870febee of his 3e42e144d3 heartbeat.90ab1a0d42d2cae2

Hyun Woojin 1845958893 apologized for 5dfadd331c being late cf31e3efb5 and sat dcd75094f9 on the a7c0100ba0 sofa without 44df9be895 further explanation. He leaned his arm 7b9358a913 on the armrest and 8c27e219de crossed his legs. His clasped hands rested d64a6a2174 on his thigh. He raised 431d48d309 his eyebrows e4aeef71ba at Haewon, 941e93bb89 who was fb13c3a373 standing silently, 2995206322 looking at 6c4354f219 him.8ab592e5efadec59

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“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to start?”635cb77f47ac55fe

“……”07da6a1dc075d8e9

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“I’ve already paid. If you’ve taken the money, you should do your job.”115e72f40f776518

“I’ll give the money back.”200984ad48cce62c

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“That’s not necessary.”6aec119c50a0f0fb

“I won’t do it.”d2d8fdb3293d5caf

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“Didn’t you come here to perform?”3c4f3993a2473df6

“If I knew it was you, I wouldn’t have come.”ed099f556ea5d6e0

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As Haewon 1a79a85b92 hurriedly packed 95b28e9fc6 his violin, 52bc3b1920 Hyun Woojin d935f1c1be asked.6086338293166fe3

“Then who did you 135c9bcaed think it was?”ddf84a8abb18d573

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“……”282fba4a08246daf

“Of course, even the 4a7357921c conviction of a violinist 0267a49c35 who dislikes performing in cde7afbc64 front of people can 5db761e415 be broken in front d7dfd3c4aa of President Kim Jeonggeun.”d51681905588f15b

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Hyun Woojin was insulting Haewon. He was implying that Haewon would perform for President Kim Jeonggeun but not for him. He was misinterpreting Haewon’s presence at the villa, as if he had some ulterior motive.f01edf8c0d94c47b

Haewon wasn’t there to impress President Kim Jeonggeun. He didn’t need his money. Just as Hyun Woojin had believed Lee Jinyeong’s false testimony and not Haewon, he was now misunderstanding Haewon again.e0ffd8a14b83cbc2

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Haewon, who had said he didn’t want to perform in front of people, was now at President Kim Jeonggeun’s villa alone, having been personally requested by him. He didn’t want to explain the pathetic circumstances of being there reluctantly due to Sunbae’s request.c0341001dc5951fc

“Let me tell you something in advance. President Kim Jeonggeun is a gentleman who wouldn’t be swayed by such things. He listens to music with his ears.”51b5fe0cb8ef2fa6

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“……”a535bcb53445b6b2

Hyun Woojin was misunderstanding 7314f2b415 him as if he 9da4c60cbc were a prostitute using 507a27a3b6 the excuse of performing fb4c1572e3 to seduce President Kim b57516537d Jeonggeun.cc5862690a83f860

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“Why are you c0eff7bbc3 looking at me 37cfb779b3 with such a eb840bab7c ridiculous expression?”a4643739c18325b3

“Because you’re saying ridiculous things.”020dc10fbfb23859

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Haewon glared at him c8ae01e63a fiercely.77a9da1479c96bc9

“So you c541c70bb1 came here c90f940eb5 purely to b4016af7b6 perform. With no other 64ef03799b intentions.”60cfc5f44f439aa1

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“Of course, I a114eabc42 came to perform. What else c439f9c9b0 would I 89702c878e come for?”4774e83b498fb284

“Then why aren’t you performing?”bf981b347b16b246

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“……”e150f0cc0138d727

“I’m ready to listen, so start.”e3f4faee6c030150

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Haewon bit his lower lip, which felt soft under his teeth. There was still a faint scar on Hyun Woojin’s lips. Haewon had bitten his lips as a warning. He had bitten hard enough to cut the flesh. Hyun Woojin had bled. If things went wrong, he would poke his eyes, and if things went wrong, he would bite his lips. Hyun Woojin had looked at Haewon like a wild animal that was difficult to handle, rubbing his bleeding lips with the back of his hand. He had taken a few tissues from the side table to press against his lips to stop the bleeding and had stared at Haewon, who was standing on guard, for a long time before leaving. That was two weeks ago.44e2368542fe699c

“Let’s just do it. We both made time for this.”4bd148ddad41feb5

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He frowned 7e702d49a3 at Haewon, 99b442ffec who was 1f0ac400ca standing stubbornly, 94f3da57ae as if b1ad9108a1 genuinely annoyed. He subtly checked b75b4a91e7 his wristwatch, indirectly 971546b7d6 indicating that they 90b35acb24 had already wasted 512dc94e31 a lot of 72971aa6c3 time.80443ad8e630e579

If Haewon didn’t perform, it could look like he had come to seduce President Kim Jeonggeun. And Haewon didn’t want to appear like that to Hyun Woojin. He didn’t want to care about what Hyun Woojin thought or said, but Hyun Woojin’s misunderstanding made Haewon feel a mix of humiliation, as if he had been covered in garbage, and a desire to crush that handsome face.4792f0e63fcce669

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He tightened the bow, which had been well-rosined. He placed the body of the violin on his shoulder. He had prepared Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, arranged for a recital, expecting accompaniment, but there was no piano.6bb09fb84e98a744

He couldn’t think of a suitable piece to perform solo. If he said he couldn’t do it without accompaniment, Hyun Woojin would laugh at him. His laughter was a kind of tactic that could naturally make the other person feel miserable without long persuasion or threats.2d5830811b8a749b

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Haewon thought of Bach’s Partita No. 2 Chaconne. He didn’t want to play it for him because it was a piece he liked, but he couldn’t think of anything else, and he wanted to show him proper music so that he wouldn’t treat him lightly in the future.b046ce6ff86b1337

Without any signal or 1a757c9143 deep breath, Haewon forcefully 247d3ed920 drew the bow across 07df096d56 the strings. The metallic 32d6f851ac sound cut 0bb306aa30 through the ed79070a8b air sharply 81f43e563a and heavily. The heavy sound resonated 4ee1ade0d6 in the high ceiling 0689c209fb and wide living room. The structure allowed 0cf74792a9 the sound to 5a3f356e01 resonate and spread 8cf85dc515 widely.39f2945bbf438c38

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The living room 8050dce502 of the mansion, 6148e0432a with only Haewon 6703a55320 and Hyun Woojin, d7eccea278 was so desolate 786d9e2b6e that it felt da650efbb5 like a vast, 5d3685f5a3 isolated space in 69c4660a9f the middle of 120a3d1acb a field.e269336aa141cdc4

Bach’s Chaconne, which starts in D minor, continues to transform and repeat the theme, leading to a grand variation that fills the hall with the solo performance of a single violin.f59df9e1aa60d90e

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The theme slowly rose. The simple 7f52391e04 combination of a82c9bf99a notes could 5b4b75ebed sound sad b9cb203635 or painful b9d23e31e1 depending on 1641a347e6 how it d1bf7c10c1 was played. As it quickly 3c0242cbd1 ascended to a ba2a59ce4e high note, the 74cab9f7ea string split as 6e7fdf804d if it were dd3fc5f36c tearing. It was 3f23779801 a painful ba2ceb4bcd and sorrowful fde4df0f20 sound.fc2892088755dba4

Following the bow like 0f60d592ce a staggering walk in f2750ca4a8 the gloomy D minor, 5bb094f226 the ever-changing variations passed, 1062045ce7 filled with long arpeggios.8a0e23d72b9def0a

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To Haewon, 2c7736ef13 Chaconne was ff949a04bd a piece aa7036b73a that felt ae508ff17f lonely not 666cc7cc74 because it 7878edb9d3 was a c687b888a6 violin solo e2bc1b82fd but because 59b36ee8f4 of the 3fa2352ba1 melody itself. Some musicologists claimed b80b2bfe6a that Bach composed 41c7b62a98 Chaconne to mourn 9c94875e6d his first wife, 273f456061 Maria. It conveyed the 895e8fddf5 loneliness and desolation 688aac4322 of mourning, the 041bfb1332 grief so intense ecbcabde2e that it felt 68fbe96c8a like crawling on 4357cb4d3f the ground with bbae3d4a50 the whole body.7749d5622d8164ef

As it passed the 30e121387d midpoint, the breathless cadenza 52a091f54f stormed in, starting a 2f3335c1d3 dazzling play as if 84f5ce1c00 multiple violins were playing 731337e97e together.f5979cefbd07c364

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Rosin dust rose like 209615405b dust, and the bow e896c79b76 hairs snapped with the 97d25e2da6 rough playing. At the climax, which 4a541caa8f took his breath away, 46def9c473 Haewon felt as if 68da9ebd32 his neck was being adad28b9e1 choked along with the 9755823928 variations. It felt like someone fa897c1ff7 was squeezing his windpipe, 512a4248ae which controlled his breathing eb50a06478 and perception, trying to 6e51182c2e burst it.39abed8c8cd264b4

He scraped near the bridge. The clear and delicate phrasing, as if sharpened like a knife, was Haewon’s specialty. His fingers moved frantically across the fingerboard. He had to press three or four notes simultaneously, and he couldn’t miss a single string.ad512c145b412abc

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A Chaconne is a 07c4ae6cd0 relatively long piece for 024b070abd a single movement, and a0e9c8153a given the endless variations d32a24c0b8 on the initial four 6450eae2c1 bars, it requires immense 28c851dfd2 concentration from the violinist 1cb4481a46 playing alone.edb0cb965578a206

Haewon gradually forgot b38dee28aa about Hyun Woojin’s ef4b9a3abc presence. He completely erased him c2ce5a4857 from his mind and ccf265ea4c immersed himself in his 7378e0b698 performance, connecting the intense b8f00a8ea0 phrasings.4766636fc726d0c6

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By the time his 72c76b0a1f mind began to blur, f2287e9f0c the passionate cadenza ended, 7e17caa05c returning to the minor 203f168916 key, where the sorrowful ab168f4399 initial theme, as if b74d7e5e9f about to burst into ead35f30cf tears, swelled up. Haewon drew 325d07b268 the bow 3316328e40 across the f5f9e6366e strings as dc9966acfa if they 097842cd03 were about 339f9f5355 to snap. His wrist b00b50c69b tightened around 679d81690c the bow. Playing the fa2949832e final bars, 5e5c933dc9 he drew faac7108bc the bow 3d8f016ff7 long and b6a11865fc slow before b5aff679a0 lifting it ba90d28a28 gently from aa5ae71fcc the strings.64a42477043432a7

“…Ha.”ef9f41ccc74d5d92

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The breath he 5563bfd0da had been holding 04e181368a escaped. The surroundings d9c037ef82 were so 8d5589761d silent that db421140de his ragged c889b9eed2 breathing was d989809e22 audible. Haewon opened his eyes.752eade7d2832ec3

It was President Kim Jeonggeun’s villa. He recalled it as soon as he opened his eyes. Only then did Haewon become aware of Hyun Woojin’s presence. He turned his head and saw him.e20472c68cb3fee6

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Hyun Woojin, f7d18e2229 sitting alone, 92231a011e hadn’t changed 13ab854c2a his posture. His clasped hands fc6ff21e9b resting on his 1cfe30b598 crossed knees remained db1752f7f5 still. With a 4cb3b23cbf face deeply d5e1d75686 engrossed in 2aca00ef7c thought, he 73ffe420ba was staring 4742e021aa intently at 21bad4b4e3 Haewon.80081c2cb2c0102c

His gaze was f8a0eba30a so piercing that 46c1fe4971 it felt like 32aa34183c it could bore 2051ccf570 a hole through 104c7735c8 his face. Haewon suddenly felt embarrassed f2ebf0e9b9 by his intense stare. Regretting the 1dc1ea187f passionate performance, ebbc77c488 he began 6a1822f48e to put 6a44115f94 away his 51950eb529 violin.dadbaade3c791e13

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He placed the violin 5f33290fe0 in its case. He loosened the bow 9f190ddeb5 screw and placed it 32e9f5ec82 alongside the violin before e97caae893 zipping up the case. He had played cf2eb3ffbd with such force 2089040471 that many bow 8473d74ef3 hairs had snapped, d7f8fe80a0 enough to require fc1983bc4e rehairing.4855bfd169df7e45

As Haewon a2107cd02a turned silently 58d1e8a011 to leave, ced23be963 Hyun Woojin 66109bb717 spoke. His first 6c6ac06a75 words came af76c1ba75 out raspy.7810eb2b4d883705

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“I sent 11db305f96 the taxi b82ea6f32e away.”595e18028ada9d07

“……”2135b553ea1f4b91

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“How about a a6c7b528b4 drink? You must 1c6ab635e4 be thirsty.”288719d87cd4dee2

“I don’t have 9fa51671ae time for that.”4da6c90f22768399

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Haewon rejected coldly.2d23bb2d4c683bba

“Then let me give fb444e4509 you a ride.”89af4632d9f220ae

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Hyun Woojin didn’t 430eae34d5 insist further and c998de11fa stood up.3af872d860efe6b2

“Call a taxi for 1089a79cbf me.”e1b47b40ab78bacb

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“Taxis don’t come here.”1e43fb72559fa1e0

He turned first. Reluctantly, Haewon 36ebed4e9f sighed and 67df9dd5c6 followed him 3654da125d outside.5f69a3e19491e72e

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They waited 460c81e28c for Hyun 82c32f2197 Woojin’s car 41e377cd44 outside. The man who 0ff46e134b had initially guided 3c2f001d67 him was nowhere f3318a0d45 to be seen. They were alone 5e7fe41918 in this vast c2219c467b mansion. The realization was 38c6d19113 somehow chilling.4456220696939131

Somewhere, a bird sang 8ef4c937d8 sweetly, accompanied by the 59c66f124f barking of dogs. What might 2b455efda4 have sounded a26d416400 beautiful during 9db58379c3 the day 98358e8aa1 now came 78b19a7c2d off as 7f46b6ad1e threatening animal 258219a2d1 cries in 566ad44fe8 the night.e5f9e911d71b24fc

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Haewon flinched again at a46c722093 the sound of barking bb96f66e49 close by and looked 80dccb3c33 around the dark surroundings. He saw no e807ed2d92 dogs that seemed 56ae887aa0 as large as 66d4cf12cb houses. Though unseen, the distinct 71b47a9c50 barking added to the adf54f2aa4 eeriness of the garden 35de6db9b5 shrouded in darkness, reminiscent 7a7b78539c of a spooky mountain a5356166dc at night, stirring primal a1e79d6272 human fears.469b01983f31da7c

The charred stump 7791ec1859 in the middle a1d0ada15b of the garden 86c2a8c111 and the desolate 0b9a140a46 winter trees surrounding f7f70f693f it clashed in 1321b4c5dc the wind, creating 5d32485119 eerie sounds. President Kim Jeonggeun’s Yangpyeong 7a77e3acde villa was a disturbing 4bce7d68f1 place for the sensitive 843ce746a0 Haewon.53ebfaf4d5b38839

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Hyun Woojin’s car stopped dc359ec9c8 in front of him. Haewon opened the 4cdbb6cb1a car door. Hyun Woojin took the a6db529882 violin and placed it 996ca257ca in the back seat. After Haewon buckled his 48350e99dc seatbelt in the passenger 5497a01c27 seat, he hit the c84f70ab51 accelerator. The journey through the 16c438739d forest felt as long e290b32fea leaving as it had 7fa84caaa2 entering by taxi.8abebdbae88e5bcf

Leaves and branches crunched d628dbd5b1 under the uneven road ac7a2cb63d surface, crushed by the 13b53029dd car wheels. There were no human 4fa9f8db52 sounds or traces.345769619d98015a

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The black forest seemed 9269d2a70e to shrink even a 102822aefd bold person. Haewon had 83791931d4 thought of 22ef30fc8d building a ddbfd9277c secluded villa a59103841f in such 0b85650aaf a perfectly c155293aa6 isolated place a14b5be625 and retreating e01292263a there when dbfdb8c8f7 he didn’t 74e59d3a91 want to bf08fa34e8 hear his a90ed16571 native language. It was 43f7a3e132 too eerie, c54e2dc9bc and Haewon 713d2f3099 regretted even add47564a1 briefly considering 68d615fc2a such a 3133da6bba notion.f675d43e8e1d4f7c

For the 49f3494f08 first time, ae332890f5 Haewon realized 0c54f1a437 he feared f273d4a406 the dark. The matte d29ee44812 black forest, 26d04e5b38 where nothing 21755bd934 seemed able 0542c1cb70 to survive, f7a46549b8 enclosed him. The urgent fear of fcb85c12e6 losing his sense of fd08eed471 space and being trapped d74d387610 in the forest slowly 3bdfcfc3dc rose from his feet. Suddenly, Hyun Woojin f13aeaf481 stopped the car 2fe8c71e5c in the desolate 68a66b66fd space.8a7199a8f8a32b21

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Haewon looked at him 8823bf53c7 in surprise. He wanted 97a3272451 to urge b32d4d8f67 him to c7a8e6b71f keep driving 7ff62cfba2 towards the 5e91fec43a lighted road 54f1f398a4 but said 80de025141 nothing. He swallowed dryly.91bb6fa98078906a

“What is it?”44ea2ba4db40e55b

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He demanded to 381e8e5fff know why he 9deb430790 was stopping, urging fa9ff1e12a him to hurry.079218074939ff2f

“Someone got lost ab7dba8b29 in this forest 3d06e49049 once. They found f0c9d8e5c5 him wandering 0649ba1216 after three c792a35e3d days.”a543d92079afeb5d

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Moonlight barely 98054e2fbd pierced through 77d43ba399 the branches 1010df04ce and dry 0e6c61f350 leaves, glimmering c0b0433703 faintly when ebad9d0df6 the wind 69efaaaf40 blew.a0a6f77564c5788c

“If we’re 58ef6ffa30 trapped here, 18b770a39e no one a1f871e5f2 would find 240e914058 us, right?”92226938c4e2b736

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“Cut the nonsense and 22abf3b89e just drive.”e971e161474e981b

“Are you scared?”e4f7f53526f3dbd5

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Haewon sharply 22f477690d responded to 98b37c1995 Hyun Woojin, 3809f91881 asking what f6c90c5927 he wanted 6bc1a41ac3 to say.d1f90da5c43c18d2

“It seems like you’re scared.”8f52cc89331922c0

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“Who said I’m scared?”cb36f02114c49c06

“Why are you bdfd610e5e wearing gloves inside 132c47bb19 the car?”0ba2ae06f3d46670

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Hyun Woojin looked at Haewon’s hands. Haewon was wearing gloves.7e6792d04afe7d2e

“Because my 324cf45263 hands are 47e7432bb8 cold.”2f145ceec206c8f1

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In response, Hyun Woojin turned up the heater. He looked at him as if to say to take them off since it was warm now. Haewon didn’t want to appear sensitive or afraid of the dark.67c5df5fac507cd8

Casually, Haewon removed his 978bbda3ae gloves. As his d4d60a2823 hands were f26f78d191 exposed, Hyun 438d0c7678 Woojin suddenly ce05a215ba grabbed his 8e0aedc76a wrist.7756698826ef4b4e

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“What are you doing…!”fc1d9b17bb3f5113

“Your fingers are 776b32d472 really long.”04f8a8cc6f29f347

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Hyun Woojin compared Haewon’s awkwardly held hand to his own. Though Haewon’s fingers were long, his hands were smaller than Hyun Woojin’s. Hyun Woojin’s hands were warm. He placed Haewon’s hand in his, contemplating it silently. Seizing the moment when his grip loosened, Haewon quickly pulled his hand away.fbc6ff7e40565b37

“Let’s go.”155ee47531ad454f

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“……”945aca35db246aec

“I’m telling you, let’s go.”e3e17b2df89baf54

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“……”1b7149a62d41533e

Hyun Woojin a1dff8fbda silently stared 513821fab0 at Haewon. Haewon disliked the way 00abc97a98 he gazed at him, 3f8e7af0e2 being aware of his 3d22a3768e breathing, and trying to b12dfa3bc3 read his mind.fa8d81d19c1d9b0e

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“And don’t contact the orchestra anymore for this kind of performance.”861010ae2a4bd813

“You’re right. I should’ve contacted you directly. I didn’t realize you would charge so much. Or maybe that amount is just right? You must earn a lot.”cea3bbe669690875

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It was Sunbae who had negotiated Haewon’s fee. Sunbae had probably tested the waters, thinking that this amount was appropriate. If Hyun Woojin disliked it, he would lower the price, and if he liked it, Sunbae would regret not asking for more.a0d234badc370f42

“Just call me directly.”cc46cff28f141003

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“Does that mean you’ll answer my calls from now on?”b9af826dd95ec9b1

Haewon had ignored Hyun Woojin’s calls. If Haewon didn’t answer, Hyun Woojin would contact Han Kyung Orchestra, and Sunbae would negotiate his fee with him. It was more than just unpleasant.dfee65c12a8bfb60

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“I’ll answer, so don’t contact them.”4fb69ccdefe67efa

“Would it be d33b83d43f a problem if c4f50b27de I contacted them?”2ba5cc94466b4567

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“Not a c172db7cf7 problem, but 3562d8e62d it would 6a93ddd1d8 be annoying.”f572a71e29992983

“Why does Moon 44b3c05205 Haewon have so bd7c1501da many people clinging 2df81afe77 to him annoyingly? Your surroundings are very 3b9a386a97 messy.”d70034fdeef059de

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He almost said d9b8b6e4d4 that Hyun Woojin 27cf92cc01 was one of ff8aa2938d them but stopped, 092c7e52db thinking that the 33dbcb1d47 car would never 53438f0dfb move if he c4070f0b6e did.6bc38e53607e8ff0

“I need aaed938c1c to clean 915a276c1d it up.”91f1e4143f5d6e5e

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He spoke b18959c91a with a 110734cc41 meaningful tone.99cd159b7100a238

“Let’s get going.”b56608fe22bea3a2

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After some 2737742e07 delay, Hyun 91f69724f7 Woojin finally c61198b290 started the a83f6b5b9f car. The winter 4254794c06 forest, where 8b96ba69dd Haewon never 8df333164b wanted to 9655298eb7 return, receded 0f4eece14b behind them.041111dc7849cfef

They drove in silence f23bc8a2dc for a while until 6f5766da26 they arrived in front 0251253414 of the officetel.d84b8650b2928d5f

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“Stop here.”2b2554fe13c5bdca

Ignoring Haewon’s attempt to get out, his car drove into the officetel’s parking lot. With no empty spaces, they spiraled down to the fourth basement. The dimly lit fourth basement was sparsely filled with cars.f98b47e631b9c1f7

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He parked in a 4843e87d48 secluded spot and turned ca8833c3ed off the engine. The car a3c5046be1 was soon 65fe894874 enveloped in 1427320f0c silence. Haewon twisted his c0ccdb7af7 torso to retrieve d1a04aa349 his violin from bd44970d28 the back seat. Hyun Woojin lazily extended fd0d08e579 his arm to block 6143f5f20c the space between the 58f435b3c6 seats. Haewon looked up 6b0b7bf446 at him.e204fdee9f0b40d1

“Didn’t you say I wasn’t serious before?”9f4cb8c94eb5fce9

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“……”6db4ef4134446c56

“Today, I feel 46dc3ba85e like getting serious f35738c87b with Moon Haewon.”4c0ebdcef301ba49

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“I don’t have that intention.”0cc2a95bb0227391

“Are you d17f2c9887 seeing someone?”5e5a139d357a82f8

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“No.”a03f27b84eb710a3

“Then that’s good. I don’t need to clear anyone out.”8de243900549d2ed

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“What are bfaf8c202f you clearing?”6226b9ec6dc9f577

“I told you earlier. Your surroundings are so c68eebd032 messy, they need to f72ce9ae6a be cleaned up.”4066d37dfc3fc2ef

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“It’s none of your business.”eaba8b034d43af1f

“Now it is. If you want 7c7a563084 to know what 92f517580e I mean by 05f0a462aa getting serious, you 896a2385a0 can meet anyone 3ef964f423 you want.”1d32eceebd17d6f6

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“I said 7719d9ec41 I have 9b99ed4eb4 no intention b40c307c26 of getting af586e5204 serious.”6effe7a83758e663

“Do you know what ‘ruined’ means?”f63eda7b4c5ea9ab

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“……”cc7580218d2203c6

“Between us, it means a098d4ee2b wiping out the whole efc8eb319e family.”a573ebe3ac648881

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“……”1e2e5f7de3c1fcec

“Oh, but only baa54c70ca for those who b7007478d9 have committed a d9e1882d6d crime.”398e94bdaaca06d6

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Feeling overwhelmed, Haewon’s cheek was lightly touched by him. The worst thing about Hyun Woojin was his warm hands. He was calmly uttering words that indicated what he intended to do. Haewon looked at him with a disgusted expression. The hand that lightly touched Haewon’s cheek soon covered his cheek and ear entirely.0c507e1e25862db2

He tilted 151f515839 his head 0b11cc348f diagonally and aa37189d19 approached Haewon. Haewon, blinking slowly, not 4cd8140816 looking at or away e046bab4ed from him, spoke.c60d819c75e47a2f

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“Don’t.”8cf162c9945bb2a5

“If that’s 69dc41d33d the case, 6ec667ab8e you shouldn’t c9660ebfbc have performed 4619243a5b earlier.”c39d9853e9bd2244

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“I said don’t.”bdaf37fcb02be6ed

“It’s not like I got excited from watching that.”97745d0f45da2a13

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He said soothingly, as 35ae3bb571 if pacifying a sulk.9a12022736d4e9d7

“Did you say the 4e3086b1f6 same thing to Taeshin? That you wanted 14204a327d to get serious?”1f28cfef1bf603a4

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“……”b9c3cf0eb3ab9473

The hand ff501d82df gripping and 8ab0fdbaf3 encircling Haewon’s 1809613ba0 neck loosened, 2361b53d72 as if 56aeac0cec disgusted by 55937dcd2e the mention a351170735 of Taeshin’s 5c4d3e1538 name even f950405904 in this 73952c8f68 situation. Hyun Woojin took 9018748f11 a deep breath. Watching his a01d7ce8d8 chest rise 59a7d85111 and fall 2a68b71205 in real-time 99b0e23b35 was as cb44b5b478 effective a 487fdfb480 tactic as b4f9debcca his timely 3554bbd825 sneer. Haewon stared 2d4051b45f at him 6a3a2dd501 tensely.97723e538dab7a70

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“You don’t listen to f8f96aa573 people, do you?”5e01f0b7895a8e88

“Do you think I’ll 4df977ae7d listen to you?”53aab8ee1bfeef5f

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“Then I’ll make you 2538cefc0c listen.”1742064fd9ae40f7

“……”8953fe6001d702d8

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“Moon Haewon, 8786966567 you’ll come bd156ae612 crawling to eca06e2030 me on d3ec81ba13 all fours.”477afb459577c1d2

He unlocked the car 1800278a92 door as if to 454544cceb say Haewon could leave. Haewon hurriedly grabbed his 92fce4bda1 violin and got out 0d464560ad of Hyun Woojin’s car 8b67548405 as if fleeing. The sound of the 362c0b70f6 car door slamming echoed f70d6c6bab harshly in the underground 1032a4a52f parking lot. Soon, the eerie 484af93987 silence densely filled 5a990bdbd7 the space left 7ca46331c4 by the sound.de3cbcc6c9313325

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As his a0d0d051b2 car quickly ee05fa3d3e exited the 4f83ae9113 parking lot, 9c17afec1f the screeching e0a0355efb of the 8ab6110eab tires against 1ad3f23ff4 the floor 384c430fb1 sharply reached 9fa2a107a0 Haewon’s ears.c266c39524447935

∞ ∞ ∞f2fb3d2d26c75c2b

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For several f6454c91b3 days, Haewon f312e5373e didn’t leave c57a5da812 his officetel. He played e803b46d44 the violin 00eae0eb12 until his 24b1e5d66b fingers hurt 2fb326b36a and the 8f612b79b4 tips swelled bd74007081 red, even db2894f2b8 though the 0854918fd6 calluses should 7c769d041f have prevented 342a551f67 any pain. After finishing a 2dea71a46b piece and gasping 3b3c87c286 for breath, Hyun a6a6c584bd Woojin’s whisper echoed.38418bef716bbc86

‘He’s dead.’1842704d4906c0ef

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Haewon would hurriedly b0219bb970 start another piece, 813d2a9d80 and when his 02af30a3a1 arm ached and f2fe0f5e05 he put down 881952f0c7 the bow, Hyun c57083347f Woojin would somehow 4461561cfc be there, whispering 2e32f87c83 in his ear.22219e1bf8128595

‘He’s dead.’cea2d351a5352347

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Haewon wasn’t 6cff6f7e78 attracted to 6fc639b538 him. He wasn’t. From head daf7efc20d to toe, f06930e82a Hyun Woojin 44aaa92ff4 was unappealing. He didn’t like e9c86f7aef the way he 2911d5fd7f talked. He disliked the 0610df885f brute strength of 3e285a6fa4 his grip. He didn’t care for b5d7508f2b his black hair that e04402acde resembled a winter forest. He disliked that his a41f86ca63 eyes and hair were 5d0c9bddf8 the same color. He hated the 2f34c6d938 way he stared 7df43a45ff as if piercing 50622eb732 through him.56a0f0a056869548

Most of 4f3b071786 all, he 20e18cefdc hated his 9a222b0b69 warm hands. His long fingers. The ridiculous gentleness that 61cbfbfde0 made him loosen his 7c4ed850c0 grip, remembering that Haewon 972ea6ef4f was a violinist, like 28409fe892 a thread of light dbf64e6b6b in a mouse hole.ce69a6dc3571cd32

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He went b20919216d a whole e5f8c70269 day without 52b059a24a eating.468de49b53a7aac2

Haewon clutched a82689d85a his hungry 00810ab2af stomach and df8e3dc743 rummaged through c1f507e1d3 the fridge. A water bottle, beer, de64e481c8 a shriveled carrot, and 7a4d0d2d22 moldy bread sat under d6deb84317 the yellow light.6fe04a2497a08138

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Haewon turned on his 66bc9a3c87 phone. Missed calls flooded c178fa0591 in. Though he 702504c572 hadn’t saved aab2ea4eb2 the number, 28355902fd he recognized 9653494b12 the last 77adf89ed3 digits as 559c74ab02 Hyun Woojin’s. He had said he 9a6f46b26a would make Haewon come 782ae5cca1 to him on all f78b1bb3f8 fours like a dog. Having said that, he 1c3d9d4bb7 wouldn’t have called first. Sunbae had 1f77e3fe7b also called b0514f8cc6 multiple times. Haewon called 04b5b1a7b3 Sunbae back.552ab8e8bbc2c317

― Haewon.702bb15d201d9715

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He answered in a bd3f26c33e surprised voice before it 37660e1b11 rang a few times.699665ee2174f908

“I’m hungry.”62ed7d4b5f75232e

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― What? What did you say?590f0d648fd6a79d

“I’m hungry.”c307eb0af9732a3d

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― Where are you?6496425775fd4149

“At home.”39242a1133c70c0d

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Haewon, hungry, leaned against 8a5c7c01ad the fridge and slid b9b40e130e down. Only after squatting did 3d2768f789 he realize it hadn’t ffa8daea2c been just a day; 0023ecfa20 it had been three 83124ae458 days. His fingertips, swollen 1505f14dbe and sensitive from bf58ec7f0c playing nonstop for f2317793ad three days, ached ee0618da8b at the slightest 311d4472a3 twitch.d762b17e7f52f2f2

― Should I come 587ec79ef0 over?2969ad71ba50a0a5

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“Bring me something 61d8cb56d9 to eat.”14c205f1a87fc845

― What do 423b1682bb you want to 197499b0c6 eat?2533fb6d3883fe5e

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“Anything.”39bf046c6cb77094

― You’re at the 393462c537 officetel next to Donghwa 847cce5b1f Building, right?96410a117323a380

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“Yes.”564eaced510af503

He hung up. He let his fdb5f5df06 butt hit the 4d6c3fdbe7 floor after sliding 7c321dcd07 down. Sitting with his face ea170506f5 resting on his knees, da3ebd792d he stared blankly. Dust had accumulated under daf6e4e685 the sink. It looked like no 67d59d6867 one had been there 5fe41cc931 for months.53b659c4ee855840

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He didn’t want to 6fa0c5bc6c do such a thing. Liking the man his 03a53ef125 dead friend liked was 8cfea8ce92 worse than an affair, 94817bdfdf worse than a crime 6d93482e6a against family. An affair would be 3853cdb7e8 better. Any sinful act was 0256479108 better than being attracted c6de4ee2a3 to someone his friend 88444060a5 who committed suicide liked.c50a74cd23387aa4

Maybe it wouldn’t have ad125c5233 mattered if Taeshin hadn’t f9259ad32f died. He wasn’t even 147e17055a a tenth responsible 98ef60e1cf for Taeshin’s death.1ba58aa17f3ab8c1

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Hyun Woojin said he 5475f7bff3 didn’t know why Taeshin 30dbc456ed had made such an 9f1b37878a extreme choice. Taeshin had never 2c7d88e713 told Haewon he 143cdff868 wanted to die 9c861bb2cb or stop living. Though he mostly had 3b1d023fdb unrequited loves, he wasn’t 3cbaa678d2 the type to pity 0a0654a14a himself. He didn’t bff7ee5759 see himself 2c535f8d02 as the cd163872a4 protagonist of 60480de312 a tragedy. If he liked a1100e2c85 someone, he indulged 981c2c9fab in his feelings. If they 2e6b1e1b9f didn’t like 818f7d803c him, he 1ba93c3c69 accepted it. If they 52b4b5eba3 did, he 5b5eefe7bd was happy 641c25fc21 even if b236d0582f he was 50fcf46e3e used. Taeshin’s unrequited 35dc1bf2cb love wasn’t 4d315b0943 extreme or 9a2d5e4262 tragic.b1bbec7f71968dc5

But he must have 440dd406ac liked him a lot. Looking back, ef8dac78a1 it seemed 0783d82be9 he liked 0e0bab08ba him more a911dbd8a7 than anyone 65a8e10f12 before. But Taeshin wasn’t foolish ba66a90ced enough to take his 4c2464af51 own life over a c2dfb38c43 man.fa696012e65cf604

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Hyun Woojin suggested df5940c42c he might have b807fc1f16 had bad friends, e6d42571c6 that Taeshin’s art ef469281b5 might have been 695aacb78a used for money d04dec69f3 laundering, and that 8fd9ca835b he might have 9a1995a72c chosen death out df366bed04 of fear of e18a32de6c being dragged into 7e20036a81 something terrifying.5fef6e6687f988f0

He said Taeshin 49c9b88274 had a diary. If they read it, cb510c047d they might understand why ad31c2920f he died. But he had ad38a142bd just thrown it d624650289 away. Without reading it, without 6738c51b57 mourning, without reminiscing.56130cddc1c6aa77

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No, you didn’t like 29e2b1b966 this person, did you…?0f98d8c75d7d2951

You didn’t a79d9f8756 like him 148da68c7b enough to d41da6031a want to 9d49ae7310 die, did 97ec9b9540 you?b479fc6edc463357

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Haewon asked the 5abf89131d dead Taeshin, though 04aa022a1d he wouldn’t have 7268cafb23 cared what the a78add1d58 living Taeshin answered. Taeshin only exerted 4a3c7ac899 influence over him 34c92c45f0 after his death.3d39309eb9f3edea

He looked 1e44a0f586 up at 032f2b097d the sound 369cf9e0b7 of the 8cb7de3f19 doorbell. Sunbae must caab311081 have arrived. When he opened the 8304af62f7 door, Sunbae stood there, e11456394a panting as if he ccfcec1ac7 had rushed over. He held a 1e535f3787 bag from a 43f7266749 nearby bakery. Haewon took the 57da822a72 bag from his 2b001868a2 hand. As he tried to fd366510f3 close the door, a 2cbe6c90f2 flustered Sunbae hurriedly grabbed 5b7b4949f6 the closing door.3302ea540d44a889

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“Haewon?”6c1ff3603aab0819

“Yes?”9ac0945307d3643b

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“Aren’t you going to 121f356274 let me in?”3fdeb1b428c78e38

“Come in if you 926fb9dbb1 want.”0d954e880d461377

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