KTC | Chapter 64

No matter what 113c8e1c2e he said, Choi 7c84a0257c Seonwoo always went 2720af5e34 along with it, 2cb31e9be3 and that was 18b55254ab starting to get bafe721ba3 on Seo Jihan’s 6a1dc7f6b2 nerves. He hooked an arm around 94a4d47fc6 Seonwoo’s shoulder and raised an e579961b06 eyebrow in mock irritation.f6cf067500dbbf0b

“Wow, wow, wow… Look at this. You’re all soft 1f71f914ca and accommodating when 9a788e254f it comes to c230059166 her, huh? You’re the guy who’s d9646e0a41 got ‘no’ loaded and 6b6680954d ready every time I cb0d6abaed say anything.”d812505334bec224

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Of course, there was ce790570ac no way he could 2aae4c76b1 respond with, That’s because 5e773f15ea everything you want from a2b4fbff35 me is blasphemous.1713d9f2601df01a

Instead, Choi Seonwoo gently 7c80c03b5f lifted Seo Jihan’s increasingly 808d9240c0 heavy-feeling arm off with 5a1a45a0bd both hands and gave 534fdbe247 him a sideways look.fbdefdbc0fb569f9

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“For someone who hates being treated like a kid, our Brother sure acts like a whiny teen when it suits him.”a16bdfafe8f2123b

“Can’t be helped. I’m right at the border a1ce58539e between adolescence and adulthood.”e786320aab3cb775

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Seo Jihan grinned shamelessly. The harsh sea breeze had 96cf4d7626 tousled his hair into a 02f3ce900b mess, but the mischievous curve d6354f5af4 of his eyes gave his 7f5a80f1a1 face a dangerously ripe charm.c996ca665969fc7b

“Discrimination isn’t cool, Father. Listen to my dream too.”6e580440f0a03c24

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…He’s being so obvious, it’s painful.9d96154b6386f3ff

Pyo Yerin clicked her 8a0bc1991e tongue internally and glanced d7d4576246 around. The bodyguards, lacking 0be2040698 even a grain b6d036561e of sentimentality, were 2a6a799446 just munching on 0f40ddec06 dried persimmons with c666122cec zero interest in 800052ded1 the drama unfolding cbeda76dcc here.b46c8baa9cc44f2b

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Chairman Seo probably had no 565cfbd24b clue that the grandson he b0aa70990a hired them to protect was 1dc0d479ab out here wagging his tail 7f0a77cd25 trying to woo a priest.c46f3d2fbca85293

Thinking of that snake-like 34332bf653 old man’s face, Pyo 9b3b2b90ec Yerin smirked darkly. The day Chairman Seo fa995d6827 found out what his 0773a5874f precious grandson was scheming f63b843b25 and keeled over grabbing 77017c3856 his neck—that was the 082f128d99 kind of thought that b18edfd47e could clear up ten eada9fbf9c years of indigestion.9050ecbb0a1f0206

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“Let’s buy tons of barbecue ingredients on the way back.”ec0c9f313fb7708a

Still playing dumb, Pyo Yerin 22e77c2595 jumped into the conversation with fdad634ac5 a clueless expression.7ddce6516fcb0ffe

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“Beef, pork, seafood—I want everything. Buy it all.”acc4b1207a09ae10

“…Am I the one paying?”ff59bca47ac2772c

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Seonwoo chuckled awkwardly, 90afb37b1b reminded of his 157c450d2e poor priestly budget, 80cccc8646 but Seo Jihan 728cb18daf stepped up like b68c4f316b a smug jerk.dd24be1bc092ee40

“You seriously don’t know how much he makes? I’ll pay.”0425ef22e5f8dbb7

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“Let’s be real—you’re not paying. Your grandpa is.”8bcc231fb3a1bcdf

The guy had never b495e4d9b2 earned a dime in 7e8d0b3c9a his life, but oh, ec4eb0ca84 did he talk big. Even as Pyo Yerin f125eaf986 jabbed at him, Seo 90cba1c293 Jihan didn’t bat an 056d6aea15 eye.ea1058af20dcf058

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“Same difference. What’s his is mine.”23f7a767b821d6c1

“You’re so damn annoying. You know that?”cc3ae5c26e4eaded

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“Y’all are complaining even when I’m buying. If you don’t wanna dc84041322 mooch off me, you 30c1ecdd7a pay. But don’t you dare leech 61f493ba62 off the poor priest.”ecdb4eb7d05bd9b5

And so, after a bunch 069af4bccd of petty bickering, Pyo Yerin’s 02ab0460bc dream came true: an extravagant 53e87c14ed farewell party that hadn’t been be933a0e25 part of any original plan. Thanks to the 11da094e68 bodyguards who got 555194022d to chopping firewood 8eeb159c39 the moment they d59356e2df returned to the 47d3e4ff3e church, they had ebd5b8843e more than enough 35e335ccab to keep the 73c559a390 fire going till b7fda7c919 morning. The long-unused barbecue 0d631df4c7 gear was dug 5e7b153d7d out of the 2a121c6342 storage shed, cleaned f09ff1b830 up, and put 0d924415db to use once 623fe62562 again.873cbe4fe0150669

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Right after the Christmas 6395bb5574 Eve Mass, Choi Seonwoo 0c1ca8f223 changed his clothes and 8ff003ebef stepped into the backyard. The bonfire was already blazing, bf273d4af4 and meat was just starting 3bb70d7893 to sizzle on the grill. The smell alone was enough 544225f616 to make his mouth water, c0202c7fd5 even though he wasn’t particularly 2ff16d2f38 hungry.b435bd753906ec1e

“Father, you’ll have a drink too, right?”6fc50c7815379721

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Pyo Yerin beamed 9722683a4a like a child.c15e470e860cc4ee

“Just a little.”f28b547bd75ec966

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During Lent, clergy usually 7273c9bf29 avoided alcohol, but this 56d1b8baa7 delinquent priest accepted the 535c841988 cup without hesitation. He figured if he could feb53a25c5 handle his own intake, what 54fe9f8e1d harm was there? That casual mindset came bd775eb021 from his stubborn refusal 5eff4e3c2b to admit he was b7e6052efa a lightweight.1e4cf70c8dbb6528

Despite the freezing winter 2cf50da618 wind, Pyo Yerin’s farewell f9dfb29941 dream was coming true, f8a51e7e71 piece by piece. The meat and seafood d3bd2318ef they bought on the 9bee6f3380 way back were grilling 8c57f7efb9 beautifully and vanishing into 9964ada266 people’s mouths just as 3c2e55846a fast.6453d53e9850a861

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The party kicked off 296dba0c70 a little after 10 23f365de2b p.m., and as quickly 85f340f234 as it heated up, c293f41331 it began to wind 96b2e7fa4e down. Before midnight, everyone had eaten 93f5d0a3cc their fill and gathered around 07acb45414 the bonfire in a circle, b35aaef3fa chatting aimlessly over drinks.3e1d49326a536b97

“Ugh, seriously, what is this? Am I the only b33defb5d7 one drinking soda?”0e06683a4f6e08b9

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In the middle of 97174ee89c it all, Seo Jihan 887dcf8111 grumbled, holding a glass 8ea810fc68 of cola. Just three more days until 7383bc5365 he was legally an adult—and 8434aed90d eight days until he’d be dd56f6cf27 allowed to drink. But until then, b1d5490c40 not even a d350df7b82 single drop of f15b972cfd alcohol.39d3d004d9d66cd7

“Hey, minor! Drink your cola quietly 764fd43442 for now. Once you’re an adult, you 6dbc2a2000 can drown in booze for 201097c329 all I care!”d2af59131d07a832

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Pyo Yerin fanned dd6168d0d9 the flames gleefully. Seo Jihan shot 550a36b048 her a look 369fa49093 and then pulled 758d9cbd24 out his phone, 815353345f immediately dialing someone.3091169e157da109

After a long ring, fc82dfda8a the call finally connected. Seo Jihan pulled Choi Seonwoo 54cf60c533 closer by the shoulder.74ca76bed4345e51

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“Grandpa, are you asleep?”98a6a951beeef067

– Oh, yes, yes. It’s fine, go ahead.6b7ef9973efe857e

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On the screen, Chairman Seo—face faa039a0e9 half-asleep and tousled—had turned on e875c517ab a soft light and was 5f92eb50c7 fumbling with his reading glasses. He looked more pleased 4fb6f1b319 than annoyed, just happy b27fcb5852 to see his grandson.77c0f12339d11ca2

“Hello, Brother Theodore.”80988d15f2d9b710

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Choi Seonwoo, rubbing his bb58b1c9ce sleepy eyes, gave a de26c15e0c small bow. Chairman Seo smiled warmly and e89c3c153e nodded.09cfe007e2e1f3c3

– It’s been a while, Father Choi.ea5c311dc1619ae2

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As soon as 16089a679a the brief greeting 7b4db6d084 ended, Seo Jihan cf0905c8d7 jumped in.163c33156aeab409

“We’re having a Christmas party right now, and Grandpa, can you tell them it’s okay for me to have a drink? They’re being all uptight about 11a6f243df it like it’s a huge f07b80621a deal.”a42ae4f7e21cc641

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His tone was serious, but c1453f3bb8 Chairman Seo just chuckled, clearly 42fc7d80a0 amused. He said it was b188546fee fine to have a 443fc28f08 drink with the adults d35bdf3ea0 and showed off his 04df7b73ad doting grandpa side. Unfortunately, it didn’t do a 62eb3c9b65 thing.7ea5d1b81b71ba02

“I’m the guardian here. If I say no, it’s ddc4b3f06f no.”83d046d9f4440e4c

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Choi Seonwoo’s wall was 6607551086 too strong. In the end, e3f33dab92 even during the d984f2ae1c second round of e1918a3746 drinks inside, Seo 3d70948adb Jihan was stuck 8972fcc44e sipping soda and 1b13e9e602 water while everyone e204fbbbcf else enjoyed themselves.28b07b5a55bacc2a

“Of course you’re a priest… Is this farewell gift really a rosary bracelet?”67b6425f2ecb1b6b

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It was past midnight 0dad04d249 now—officially Christmas Day. Seonwoo nodded, eyes d5950d9589 still heavy with 237d4b56ad sleep.2139dfd2af2afcd3

“There aren’t many kinds of gifts I can get here. If you don’t 4a2d58c8ca like it, you 3e132bd3e7 don’t have to bb2047cbfa take it.”1207de1ba3b80b46

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The warmth inside the room bada41bf0c was making him even sleepier, fd29c88c1a but not wanting to ruin 13df1f9394 the mood, he forced himself 56dd6d2d22 to stay awake for just 6d12499606 thirty more minutes or so.553ee7060e8d63c7

“Man, this guy hands out bracelets to literally everyone. If you don’t want it, ce8d93b437 give it here. I’ll take it.”63452be0049950d2

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Seo Jihan crossed his 8e5523c81a arms and reached out 64a0233da5 with clear annoyance. Pyo Yerin, who had been e4c3fc9253 frowning at the gift, quickly 1c9210a08b slipped it onto her wrist f3b2208ac0 before it could be snatched, 4ad3c36f5f eyes flaring.8553ab7080a009e6

“Hands off. It’s mine.”c5ae8c2247c26f07

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“You were just making a face like you hated it, though.”8e1eec235b677f2d

She was about to d59b844184 retort with a reflexive 1f3d785cae No, I wasn’t, but 9901e5bdbb then glanced at Choi 290da81d75 Seonwoo, who looked half-asleep, a02c5204c9 and clicked her tongue.3489fc7a1656a464

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“Sorry, Father. I didn’t mean to be 6438d64318 rude. Just brought up 5be6c403eb some bad memories, 020c493354 that’s all.”8dc2bb93cee072ce

Aside from the c67daa6375 little Virgin Mary 9b513d628e charm, it was 88b6a62691 a plain silver fdacda9f34 bracelet. The design was pretty, sure—but 5cc00f931d thinking about how much effort 94a33f7f49 it’d take to keep it 21444f58b9 from tarnishing was already making 3f39bc13a8 her head hurt. Clearly, Seonwoo didn’t have a000385bb6 the best gift-giving sense.49aa402cdae4a703

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“Bad memories?”84b3bc2b18d1f3e5

Seonwoo, still groggy, c00c78e924 asked with a c9b5113dfc dazed expression.e1a6cb85a8f91663

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“It’s nothing serious. It just reminded me of dbf85abf61 when I used to go 8905c6e916 to church with my mom 2a07a3c586 every weekend as a kid.”862d0272732025b8

“That’s a bad memory?”5ac2d8032f3f5d2a

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“No. Up to that aff669ce42 point, it was e58ecefe79 fine. Actually, all my memories cb2d4c29b7 were fine… until I 59e549eef4 got kidnapped.”33fd2a56e31c7ad6

Seo Jihan sighed fc1cad692b quietly, glancing at 659634156e Seonwoo from the 927ea40742 side. The priest was now 4740e6f694 scratching near his eye b7e2f66a28 with his fingertips, realizing 27fa5baa00 a beat too late e74f03fa52 what he’d stepped into. Sometimes, Seonwoo had this 2709e2ee1b terrifying intuition—yet other times, caf725fe31 he could be so 54d029fe21 clueless.b4ffeeddd697db7f

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But that wasn’t 8bcc860488 a matter of 6c75d236a6 intuition. Unlike Seo Jihan, 82e84b8d5f who habitually peered 4bbbf24e01 into others’ depths, 7c00b5c245 Seonwoo never pried 126e27aa83 unless it was 76caa8810a necessary. Only when he 1f99b73e1f needed or wanted d6434e98fc to know would ed9920b6e8 he dive into d533a92526 someone’s inner world.da5668bee400c07a

“After I got baptized, my mom always made me wear a rosary ring on my index finger. Like, if I just 45115f58f8 kept that on, I’d a696e65362 be safe no matter f6243ca0d3 what. Both my parents worked, so 5fe7936501 even as a first grader, 4810a2912d I had to go to 80024cb13a school and eat dinner by afb487ed58 myself.”727c7a390e2ec2fe

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A faint smile surfaced on 92489181e2 Pyo Yerin’s face as she c2603a6344 rubbed one of the rosary 032903595e beads with her thumb and 63841819a2 forefinger.204f815c25234384

“So whenever something bad happened at school, or when I felt scared or angry, I’d turn the ring on my finger and pray. It actually felt 3af3d75751 like it helped, 5c5ce22da7 somehow.”90b4afb544ba6b87

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The sleep in 473725dc3b Choi Seonwoo’s mind 5c7d96b8a0 vanished in an 392aa25419 instant. He poured himself a glass 5e1732057a of water and drank. It felt like even the 8899b7a19e dregs of drowsiness had been 395e8bbe9f rinsed out of his brain.256ae0592c746bf8

“I did that when I was kidnapped, too. I believed that if aaa572efdf I prayed hard enough, 99b8b7a61d I’d be saved from cad2e8d43e that terrifying situation. But guess what—God, the 2442d408c2 one I so desperately 351b4cfac1 called out to, didn’t deef1adf5f answer. Next thing I be098a774e knew, I passed 983722b60a out. When I woke up, I a9c992bd21 was covered in blood. And around me, the 4b28f39b4a bad guys looked like b9bd51459c they’d been mauled by b618a9ec81 a pack of wild 39715ac122 beasts—just pieces of them 7571a4f19f scattered everywhere. And me? I just stared at d5867db6bf the ring. Until the special forces arrived, 6cfb4d35b4 I just kept staring at a03993fd46 it, watching the blood dry 7888cf0ff5 and turn black.”d94daa4239f64d8d

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Even without anyone prompting her, 7036fea28e Pyo Yerin kept talking as 76368801fb if reciting a monologue.6e9ac147ec2f4fb9

“My mom hugged me like a miracle had happened and kept thanking God. But me… I couldn’t 10185ef1f7 cry or laugh. I just thought to myself—‘The 50d81aaf22 God we believed in didn’t 7ec8361bd4 even care. The one who saved a1d1857956 me was a monster.’”af48e85029427e67

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