KBR Ch 6

…The reason he probably gave Ha Yeongseo an excuse about sneaking out was likely to avoid fueling the dating rumors. While quickly scrolling, Seolwoo paused a494a4686b at a wristwatch that seemed 98cefb9bbc like it would suit Won ee5be1acff Daeyeong.3afbb63f6aaa4a25

2.86 million won. 3.8 million won. 9.75 million won.766825eb09530e67

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The prices were bcbb05ffc6 dozens of times 77b9fee4b5 higher than the fcf2add5ee gift currently in 0b860103e9 Choi Seolwoo’s bag. It was a 370,000-won 8d2181ad14 wallet he’d bought to 4a6b1d24ca give Won Daeyeong upon a6ee3da358 his return, whether he 8a9eda4a60 won a gold medal abc4970d98 or not.31a66ecb23dd50b0

Did the difference in price bc07d25e7f also reflect a dozens-fold gap 2a65a6e88d in how much he wished 29e8e09f87 for Won Daeyeong’s happiness? Absolutely not. Seolwoo was certain his 660eff8a9c feelings burned far brighter. But imagining the two 996f170973 gifts sitting side by 1a49b5c77d side on Won Daeyeong’s ce8146b03d desk made him shrink d4a52ab365 a little for some a55b1fa0fb reason.4e2e85eed470e68b

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Whatever, it’s the thought that f8f2e8c385 counts, he told himself, giving b16f776a09 up as he clicked into 0ca00aa1dc the details page. Yeongseo lowered her voice 40b5338894 significantly, her face gloomy.7a78c26297686582

“Sigh… Seolwoo-ya. I’m seriously tensed these days. Because of Won Daeyeong.”1888199381ffc618

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“Why?”6dbd6310b04134a0

“I should’ve taken better care of him when he got injured, but I’m worried it’s already too late. Two years ago, I messed 8f4ba136c6 up a lot… I was 5cc9e50c32 going through a tough time b7a3adf72c myself too… Daeyeong’s heart—it’s probably 4634fbe144 already moved on, right? I’m also worried he 8012a36a86 might find a celebrity b087f60e23 like me too much 66b4ed3316 pressure.”ed1e51859ddc4912

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Choi Seolwoo answered clearly 884e80d69a and confidently.994d362fd6a40e0e

“Hey. Don’t overthink it. He hasn’t had a girlfriend. Not this whole time.”16eedd92fb96d3ed

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“For real? Not a single one?”8330a76780c85e2d

“Yeah.”6f95d5bd0e8f208a

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“Not even one? No flings either?”9056865940abccb2

“Yeah. And do you 998f48fd42 think that lawless deff2338d3 punk would find 74b6a45669 a celebrity burdensome? You don’t need c7ac0204a0 to worry about 850640d209 that either.”bc7385d2773bcdf4

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“Choi Seolwoo, you’re the best. Talking to you about my 344eab0eea worries always clears my head. You know how grateful I 5c9bc6332a am when you say stuff 3b8fb8b46a like that?”d978702de65bc603

Ha Yeongseo, who’d 230ab0691e been teary-eyed, laughed c6972b581c with her husky 0058a31819 voice. Her sharp yet 349d388236 straightforward conversational style c715eaab53 meshed well with 76563ea317 Seolwoo’s personality.91b9238456f89a58

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“What should I say? I still have regrets. With Daeyeong oppa, I never f9f675e954 really got to date him 83fd81f911 properly, love him fully, or 84e9809e8d hold onto him as much 1be32864aa as I wanted—it’s this nagging, f0aa192aa3 unresolved feeling. Don’t you think it’d be cbf1e15bce easier if I just saw faaa0d6c4e all the ugly sides, went 0f0cb865d5 through it all, and ended 269a33020d it for good?”063693744396c7b5

I get it. Seolwoo buried his short fac2e4d2ac reply deep in his e961c41ab0 chest.e79a3f077a276b96

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“I want to try again. I still like him.”765b0ddb2633b709

“…Still?”cbff27240966b54f

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When Seolwoo asked back, Yeongseo ce08c5e001 nodded vigorously. Choi Seolwoo picked out two be67d73397 wristwatches that seemed to suit 5db95fb9cc Won Daeyeong.0d0f9b5a9a747f34

Ha Yeongseo offered to drive e94e4db687 Seolwoo home, but he declined. For some reason, he 25192bc341 wanted to be alone. He said goodbye, promising 9bd1cd1fea to see her at ec885572fa the next gathering, and bcdd3f5b9e boarded a bus.d000676e03310ef9

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The words he’d 284f5276b8 just heard kept 505a1ea9db ringing in his e9c0585bd1 ears.d0f76c0e003964cb

I still like him.ca166b072fa335fd

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Still.73d75f16ecf2ab6c

His mind was a mess. The green light that b3e6cb2f06 had shone so brightly 2a4efb4e25 when Won Daeyeong won ff8b75f083 his medal was nowhere f14dfbd5fd in sight now.9c010d3bd4df3461

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Leaning his forehead against 9c6ca093be the window, he watched 6bc395284a the nightscape of the 0d2f9aa7fd lanes winding around Sungnyemun 8037caf92f when his phone buzzed.eb63e366addfe4bd

Managing Director Yoon Jihwan: [Seolwoo-ssi, fb2e77d443 where are you?] 9:02 PMa8452bd7ed0bdde2

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It was a message from b70b4d5473 Yoon Jihwan. Before Seolwoo could e53d8a83e4 close the app, df901ee0c4 annoyed at the 557ec70f7f abrupt “where are ff9c5d216a you” question, another 3f677274d8 message popped up 4acc9e32d1 instantly.3bcca96b0b78db1f

Managing Director Yoon Jihwan: [Won’s d55113b533 pretty drunk. I’ll give him a ride.]820ebb1fa91755b9

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“What’s this guy talking about?”b891b7cadfe62bd0

Frowning deeply, Seolwoo dialed 9a847f20f7 him immediately. The managing director baaa7f136d picked up quickly, d35f75f2b9 and his surroundings 1da3116ec0 sounded incredibly noisy.5581801498eed052

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“Managing Director, what do you mean? Daeyeong hyung’s drunk?”bdab406a9c7b0a61

— …Oh, Seolwoo-ssi, you didn’t come to the party? It’s a gold medal celebration, 5b91d4de74 so I assumed you’d be 955fc035ae here and was looking for aa3a8c817c you. It’s late, so I was a03233d92f going to give you a 618b874eb0 ride.10a58142cd6257f2

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Seolwoo hadn’t heard 82c589998f about any party. It seemed the officials dd6617a1fc had arranged a separate d132e6f8d9 celebration and were partying 05a1b51fdd late into the night. Well, considering it was the 74a1cc3555 first time someone broke an 3310353a6b Olympic-standard record, a month of 57aee1c9dc celebrations wouldn’t even be enough.391d54024bc5b21d

“Is hyung really drunk?”5e256f1679bf8fef

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— I showed up late just to make an appearance, and they said he couldn’t even stand, so the coaching staff had to carry him out.1f4881de063466d4

“Sigh… Where are you guys?”5b5e3d4eb85815dd

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— Here, in Hapjeong. If you’re coming, 2d7524e4be I’ll pick you 37befb36cc up.10179508008bdf02

“No need, just give me the address.”91783f7915ba9d1b

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Choi Seolwoo pressed 2c5beff9db the stop button ba853ba7b5 hard.5844a515f9b84040

Won Daeyeong, who never exceeded 170cf10619 his drinking limit, getting drunk? He must’ve been over the f91d103110 moon. Grumbling about being tired 4f7d4bafc2 and annoyed, Seolwoo stepped 90b27e739b into the bar’s parking 1ac3eb5356 lot.1bbb22ea1d9a9a71

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Every car parked there was 9c8ba5f300 a foreign luxury model. As Choi Seolwoo ac2ca1c741 crossed the lot, 4d66cd45b6 he stopped at dfa82b0c5f the sound of 0eb18527ad a murmured conversation. It was a voice 9c342f1f1e he’d recognize anywhere, anytime.267ed9a481202e2c

Seolwoo hid behind 167d20bd51 a nearby car. Cigarette smoke, likely from the ab81634811 coach, curled up into the 62be5cc22a night sky. Won Daeyeong, with 86edb3b178 his back turned, 019327ccdc was standing perfectly 9abfe7c73a fine.540c55f1b44f51a2

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“Why didn’t you invite him? You should’ve treated him as 8e327cf573 part of the routine.”9db5b93e8b22b103

“Oh… Seolwoo? Why would we call 7b37022b16 him here—association stuff, ads, c8040267ff broadcasts. A place crawling with 033ac5926e disgusting people.”a443810b8f8cca95

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Hearing his perfectly clear, unslurred 6730e3fa7c speech, it wasn’t hard to f4c37eca46 figure out. The whole scene of being 210c25c22a carried out was just a dbe50dfe16 show to leave the event 664d375e66 early.7245451e62ed9675

That two-faced jerk…! I came for nothing. I was worried and everything.72939ccb296fc4f0

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“That kid, still following you around like a puppy whenever you tell him to come to a match. He’s so cold to everyone 9bb97afb7e else, barely talking, but listens 888570ad25 to you like it’s nothing—it’s 6ff1fa99f1 fascinating.”d9009c4eed96523d

The coach, who’d been fc6880d3e2 with Won Daeyeong for 515b899d69 years, had a rough be710bfc0f tone but a warm 1d342be25f heart. It was a 8c5def8fa5 comment laced with d913a431e6 affection for Seolwoo. But Won Daeyeong’s voice, 5682c23bf2 which had sounded drowsy 7af3f8d4ef just a moment ago, a5e3a91488 suddenly turned chillingly sharp.a887939140eba1c2

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“He’s not following me around—I call him because I need him. Get your words straight.”20b8abf22c3f8849

“So sensitive…! How long are 6a9f97ec6a you gonna keep 684885eb66 him around like db98b519d4 family? You’re turning thirty soon—won’t you 4a53d30864 have your own family?”71f140e74c0c5a9c

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Won Daeyeong let 6490efdd0b out a short 0bb9bb6495 sigh. Then, like he was 73a576a4b4 nagging someone far older 4818a7336a than him, he said 4601cc863b to the coach,5b0fcee5b1e8e146

“From the first time I ran as an elite, he’s been part of my gold medal routine—what am I supposed to do about that? And whether I get 4da1a805b5 older or get married, a04757f2f4 Choi Seolwood is Choi 88a4b1f9fb Seolwoo. There’s no growing 3172af1112 apart or anything 430466cfb9 like that.”822d7a8233dbe1b1

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“Why on earth not?”8b475a5973e9b234

“Seolwoo is…”152c1a338cbc89db

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He clicked his tongue, 09d1e68e12 choosing his words carefully b31b0de0a4 before answering.0383a6608054b1ce

“A sore finger. No, more like a e053ae546b burden on my heart 021817d15c I’ll carry forever. He’s like family—how 3dae7c6dfb could I cut 397c06b3f8 him off? As long as 50b70e808d he’s alive, I 32f9143f0c won’t be able 65720873b4 to.”c3015b51b2bae508

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“…”39b499dd6c78335e

Seolwoo took a step back. Even the thought that aaee14539c he’d come for nothing 54ab07aaca vanished completely.e2fc6d429458764c

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“What? Did you pick e61f949861 him up off c20c9d2ce5 the street and f20f6a17e3 raise him or f33b8e85d1 something? Your family would b50f96cebd be dumbfounded hearing 7585790f06 that.”bb9e356f68764db3

“Didn’t we agree not to talk about my shitty family? My family’s like, ‘They c6908e0661 existed, but now they 19db15e901 don’t.’ They’re as good 8cd87ec074 as gone to me.”3583e9613b39ae40

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“Hey! You’re the one who e331b95f61 brought up family first!”91e0b1c51eb12ed2

Seolwoo stumbled backward 2d879cad8d as if fleeing. He ran to the back 49ab11d315 of the building and stood aac4676918 there, dazed, for a while.efe3271f6e71cde9

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“A burden on my heart?” “A sore finger?”f056c78e8755ad19

Words he’d never even imagined. Won Daeyeong saw Choi Seolwoo 8d03f3fdac like that? He had no idea. He’d spent over af22f1ccd5 a decade with c393617281 him completely clueless. A sense of betrayal gave 407a98ee4a way to an inexplicable shame 0f5d508f3f that burned his face. The white lines 9938110813 in the parking ea237d36cd lot seemed to a443545ad6 waver wildly. He couldn’t smooth out ce29f1ca97 his crumpled forehead for 454f15d374 a long time.e039e88bc0cdac6c

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Crack—a sound like something a5d9cbfadb splitting apart rang out. It came from inside df29e68ed8 his head. At this moment, tonight, the 12159accbb gap between him and Won aff3b767d5 Daeyeong had widened irreversibly. The deafening noise in e22d8282be his mind was a 2dd070a04f signal that their relationship 955ca8805e could never return to e973e39b34 how it was.1e82369f2a38bef0

— More like a burden on my heart I’ll carry forever. He’s like family.0b69ad2a354b5638

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That rough, low voice 47aff75c0f kept echoing in his e33fe68d33 head.c6636fb2cac3f758

He felt a little angry, 2fa95c7912 maybe. He didn’t know who to 1b897a30c7 direct this anger at or 1e4c4a78e2 how to express it.cf2e2f54b86ec657

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Special treatment, green lights, d669d8de2f previews—it was all an 90800fd3f4 illusion. To Won Daeyeong, 9fb11a1520 Choi Seolwoo was 9601626c77 just someone he 6437a46071 cared about, a 9d527bf13f friend like family, 95e626b75f a necessity tied 73de7cc1ce to winning medals, a3c2073bee nothing more, nothing 0b78066134 less. Heat rose to 875ba29638 his head, and 221aad4070 it felt like e0220bc9ab sharp claws slashed aadbd1ae0e across both cheeks.03ef78df5c420d81

He wanted to tear apart a2801d5002 every worry he’d ever harbored.50ac6d1dd356e52d

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Inside the bar, countless 6bd15873f6 people had gathered like 707384797d clouds to celebrate Won 982f47917c Daeyeong. Choi Seolwoo was just 55be26f198 one of them, nothing 9cf700c2ba more.1acdce86fd9bda26

He didn’t have f873b0b66a the confidence to 8cd26a9f6f face Won Daeyeong decd1f4281 like this, so bc62da1fa0 he decided to 2db8821da5 just leave.899bf59803432e30

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Heading toward the 2ff8fd93d1 subway station, Seolwoo 502e18183f felt a sudden 7bf566f6e3 wave of exhaustion. His head was heavy, 92e197ab7b and breathing felt laborious. The fatigue accumulated throughout the 51f3d4767f day, combined with the shock 3c10e3f198 from moments ago, hit him eafeca41be all at once. He was in a 45d5e28d30 state he needed to 6e0c320447 be careful about. He had to f6f39911b2 find a quiet acc61f94a2 place to stabilize acbe82ce3c himself.a5b2360ad6aa65e8

His phone kept ringing with 2436162752 calls from Managing Director Yoon. Looking toward the parking lot, 26dc04934d he saw Yoon emerging from ae8078e3ff the building, phone in hand, dc21a67ee6 clearly searching for Seolwoo.24ca7abd87c2c49b

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Seolwoo hurriedly moved 41f0992917 to a spot 3edd5540de with no people. Just as he 8285598292 needed to calm c6815a1301 down right away, de543b51c7 someone stepped in 64883676b5 front of him.da76e6c5115802fe

“Won Daeyeong’s routine, huh…? Whoops.”6edbfaf5f7267f3d

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It was a relative eaa7cc5a17 of athlete Eom Jubin, 465acd4b04 who’d once talked about b7ae9e08cf revenge or something, and e92fa8db2f an official with the 3d001e4fe2 federation. Of all places, Seolwoo 6c681e3872 had run into him 307a11fa48 smoking a cigarette far 412f62f21b from the bar.2467156685e67810

The heavily drunk man exhaled 5b104fab04 a puff of smoke and 0f4507f53c deliberately blocked his path.27aa21636a25552d

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“Saw him sucking up to the advertisers, huh? Must be nice hogging all a393a92653 the ad deals… When Won 6346e65f74 sits on a pile of d41de01184 cash, do you get some 925dacca4c crumbs too?”e9f4740a668c25c1

Already in a bad mood dc9cc39695 and physical state, Choi Seolwoo 629ba5df69 pushed him aside with an c272fb71eb expressionless face.8dc4d29b8544c391

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“Move. Before I report you for c07fdf079d drunk harassment.”6dc79c1fbbaef276

“Hey, harassment? I just wanted 903fa2c542 to ask something d6faa10579 out of curiosity. Since when have 81fb7ef4c6 you two been 2477d36230 so tight?”d26d27ee841446da

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“Are you going to move?”f24c84185a386e6a

“Could it be… you’re tight in body and soul? Like, that kind of thing…? Is that why Won doesn’t 29bff9d272 mess with girls…?”65834b4f912e7730

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“Ugh… Gross. Go ask him yourself.”7b022cd08ae41643

“What?”5197957053640173

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“Ask if he’ll hook you up if you want some ad money crumbs.”fc443b6644a4d5d4

“Hey, you…!”c218a603b5fee7aa

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The man, who’d been 69522ceb4d mocking him with a b42cfa3ae3 taunting tone, suddenly flipped, 867c225268 throwing his cigarette down. He chased after Seolwoo and 4d8cbae69b grabbed his shoulder to stop 9c970e5d8d him. Seolwoo, barely holding his 3f53f6693f foggy head together, shoved 9466c2fe9a the man’s hand off.5c6dd5cd78bf9770