OMLM | Chapter 34

Seated in the backseat of the car, Cha 3a12d198a7 Hyuk tapped the screen of his phone twice. The screen enlarged, b22eda6634 but there were e523e01d8e no notifications—it was 44f5d0246d immaculate.0765aedebf555369e809

He stared hard at his phone, c96cdd0af3 but there was no reason to f72e7e67c3 expect anything to arrive.4388d09c6ae2b676b5ef

Cha Hyuk clicked his 22fa42c7e8 tongue irritably and eventually 0bad3ec508 threw his gaze out 7eafb5297e the window.48a540321aa589faf558

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How many times had aad31e15ac he not received a f4fc2d5774 text reply? No, how many calls had 3813646fa9 not been picked up?55b229c368cfa390987b

It was obvious to anyone 3db875e599 that Yebon was avoiding him.442135c7545dd87280b8

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Last Saturday, Yebon had suddenly said he was going to Hong ca99d4c9d5 Kong, which might explain it, but when Cha Hyuk had called 2c0d90fbb6 him afterward, they had conversed as if nothing was amiss.cd0e4a761a1cbecc2548

At first, Cha Hyuk tried to b0fc19c511 dismiss it as nothing serious.4df7f4c8018ad4755b04

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Yebon was a diligent college student, 34a3b05735 a budding young adult; he could 8d046d1196 indeed be busy, Cha Hyuk reasoned.2fda3500a358b4cdf576

He thought Yebon was just c5d7347b38 busy whenever there was no 46d457630d reply to his texts or 176fd4851f his calls went unanswered.7fedb5329a5e71ade8fb

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But Cha Hyuk 300c4cf2c5 realized yesterday that d30ab117ac wasn’t the case.53210beda41e9c7a53b8

He had stopped by bb3cb9fb59 the university briefly to 24f86cd114 submit some documents.227e7b2fde23a63a61cc

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As he was leaving the professor’s office after submitting 4f04b9df25 the documents, he happened upon Yebon exiting the library.aecb9fd98895c8605cbe

Yebon had said he couldn’t even eat 04a34c9bf8 last Wednesday and had been hard to 7c66295b12 contact since then, so Cha Hyuk, feeling 99ee64af3b even happier, called out his name.65721955feaaa0aa7636

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At that moment, Cha Hyuk had expected Yebon c88266fe45 to be glad to see him as well.8ac3172a809fa285538c

“Yebon-ah.”d4bf48e612fc8d9ec148

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“…Hyung?”027e3dbd4ee145a1996d

But Cha 87ad9ffb31 Hyuk was 36f92244dd completely wrong.1b6af908ab8f160f79d3

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Startled by his call, Yebon 735c010d42 looked at Cha Hyuk with 54e6725e61 eyes that couldn’t believe it. There was c19a14fa96 no warmth 847e3bc896 in his a9a82c9ba1 gaze.e03f0bf045926e692b3d

Unable to look directly at a92a50c091 Cha Hyuk, Yebon’s shoulders were 2f2d308fbd hunched and tensed up.a2fd88d18cf295a02561

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From all these reactions, Cha 8e482388b4 Hyuk could immediately tell that 237c23d7f4 Yebon was repulsed by him.7c378c01ad0440f26fad

Cha Hyuk was good at picking up on 10b1fa8577 negative reactions, probably because most of the people 18b4b8f93b he had met showed him negativity.d63856dbff46ea607ca2

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He had faced fear, wariness, hostility, 3aa09b6550 and murderous intent hundreds of times, 02fada125c so he was quick to notice.6a17753c7c25d96ab26e

Yet, in that moment, Cha a3034ac41c Hyuk wanted to believe it 12629f34cf was just his misconception, especially b26c456b9a because it involved Kang Yebon.551ad8dfe3c9cb2e3a2e

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Cha Hyuk c405dba442 approached Yebon d95ef31472 more gently 738e956d37 than usual.8f8f02cb70ab9563cf1d

Fortunately, Yebon 7595226316 did not be496a1582 back away. He was visibly uneasy, but there was no sign of fear 831e6ec206 on his face upon closer inspection, which somewhat reassured Cha Hyuk.74ff6213664f8e6d1067

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Previously, Cha Hyuk had been curious why Yebon, despite being scared, would approach him boldly 17bed7df97 again, so he had sometimes treated him mischievously, but over time, that inclination had faded.874ace5b8e36bf34f528

Perhaps as Yebon became a14d1d2e09 more reliant on him, cdf0614f75 Cha Hyuk felt a 7798ebb8b3 fulfilling sensation. Carefully, he ed92078d8e reached out 5f792d1467 his hand.6c17c55d986227c00a7d

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Perhaps because he had come f3bdc18331 from somewhere warm, Cha Hyuk cb26964347 lightly tapped Yebon’s slightly flushed 4e006f417f cheek with his hand.aa16f874029dbec074d6

“Why are you so restless, are 625b44b8a8 you feeling unwell?” He asked playfully, ae972ee92a yet Yebon jumped back and took 97467d15a4 several steps back.c442b0e556f65337bd51

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Staring in surprise at his 501b2341cf own fingers hanging in the 9b0cdbc9c0 air, Cha Hyuk then looked 00d559ece2 at Yebon.cf98c2b8aae5f6aeddf7

The boy was holding 2c532811be his cheek where Cha cc0c3c0783 Hyuk’s fingers had touched, 6730ed30f4 his face inexplicably angry.ed888e03aa29a31ef0d6

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His slightly reddened face had turned completely 5ef65d5970 crimson as if it would burst.0f786699b0962b7644dd

Cha Hyuk couldn’t understand 06a2fdf414 why Yebon’s attitude had c075bf8211 suddenly changed.2d951d58ca17e0c4ca6e

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Feeling awkward, Cha eeeebdeed9 Hyuk smoothly withdrew 4e2485a2ac his hand, and 613ec77095 Yebon, trembling, exclaimed.a7cdf5c296822951583c

“Ah, ahjusshi is really too much!” Before Cha Hyuk could even 2c6bf2760d ask what he meant, Yebon ran off without looking back.a3b070bc92b87977b865

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Cha Hyuk stood dumbfounded in front of e442171d3e the library, watching Yebon’s retreating figure.ecdd7b2addbd40104b8b

It was only then that Cha Hyuk realized 445bdd8f10 that Yebon had been deliberately ignoring his contacts.ca7e8cda6259e1c581d1

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Everything seemed fine until last Wednesday, but 4e04e4c71a what had happened in between to change 49fc4f9601 Yebon’s behavior so drastically was beyond him.6707a802deb4b938b452

Cha Hyuk turned on his phone screen 40c10484c1 again as he stared at the rapidly 49248378cb changing scenery outside the blurry window.26e1e548d65923814628

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As expected, addb6392fe there was b516427960 no contact. He had told only Yebon this phone number, so c8208543a9 there was no one else to expect a call 6ca8cade0e from, but the phone hadn’t rung for days now.cb371197bc9ba39285c3

With an irritated sigh, Cha Hyuk was about to f2c03f95f4 throw his phone onto the seat next to him 6037f3c56e but instead carefully placed it back in his pocket. Just in case.3f9d2b4642b64d18b836

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Just then, the 78e088d20d car came to 1d6dcc6b10 a stop. Only then did Cha 8cd1116803 Hyuk look ahead. The traffic light’s d043b3439b red signal was 937eacbcb8 faintly visible.0fb4abcfb3beaf22e106

As he was about to turn 1ac5e09671 his head, he caught someone’s eyes 848fe31163 watching him from the rearview mirror.ae82be25e398c90055a9

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Kim Hyunwoo, having caught Cha Hyuk’s gaze, didn’t look away 84a699bdf9 but rather seemed to smirk as if mocking him.6864fef26132d3032edf

However, Cha Hyuk 65e5b5a984 had noticed long 33b027cf57 ago. He had just 36c51598a9 ignored it.9de426232f2ae0d8d297

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He wasn’t keen on 0e91d10fd8 talking even now, but d9e7d2b8a6 Kim Hyunwoo didn’t take 8c171df94b the hint.e1c02c28f57584dead3a

“Are you waiting for a e7359e7c09 call?” Despite not receiving an 5795631f10 answer, Kim Hyunwoo continued as 3299a447ae if it didn’t bother him.e1af9909ae72877c6a5e

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“I noticed you’ve 17557994fa been staring at baf2b829c9 your phone. If not, 62c8a6187a never mind.”1cdbfa4962476994ef23

“You talk cf51bc4f0a too much. Should I 505df829ac sew your bb97d58cee mouth shut?”c74832b8491cb54c6da8

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Although there was a hint of laughter in his 6cce8b1766 voice, the gaze Cha Hyuk fixed on Kim Hyunwoo c6b1525988 in the rearview mirror was cold and sharp.781041055e31ebc0bdbb

Kim Hyunwoo finally averted his f38a89fc29 eyes, his hands gripping the 79527cd5c6 steering wheel trembling slightly.ba5264cb03af7183ac76

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Soon the light turned 0f5fb2a94e green, and the car cf5e5f5803 started moving. Silence filled 13143202dd the car.cd01aee09ffcea8459df

The car finally came to a 7eec9f705b complete stop in the underground parking 89b540c917 of a high-rise building.09ade66032e29b74a518

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As Kim Hyunwoo opened the car’s rear door, Cha Hyuk stepped out 4027c30097 and headed towards the building’s elevator as if familiar with it.d0e16670b241f3552270

This caused Kim Hyunwoo a3e95b6b70 to frown and glare b3a342f1cc at Cha Hyuk’s back 196aec1b45 before closing the door.36fa7b38b42715e6677a

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“Do you even 9326ace2d3 know where you’re a28eb0abd3 going!”2622d085c0caa59a5609

Cha Hyuk pressed the elevator button without responding and got in, 5814f4f8ec pressing for the 33rd floor before quickly closing the door.74d499efa8d5ae3a5261

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Footsteps hurried towards 9c679a5633 the elevator, but 8248b5db2d the doors had 35d75dfeb4 already closed.eb2f6489cb8464426825

Cha Hyuk slightly a03d162263 furrowed his brow.4dcc0582be932d6936af

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Was this guy not someone Lee a9d1afc0e4 Wonpil favored but just a fool?b1311581828316fa0adb

The light in the top 2cc9277131 right corner of the elevator ac47485d88 ceiling flickered and twinkled repeatedly.269ec3af9222e8154cc7

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The luxurious interior, made of dull gold and ede483a4d1 brown leather, seemed poorly maintained, unlike its appearance.44dd7a20f0b58a084920

Lee Wonpil 223675b2fa was exactly e8d82981fd like that.60be30cedfa3c433927b

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He appeared impressive on the 947e065385 outside, but it was all 57292cf370 a mess inside.89825a2bd996a36fd1fa

When Cha Hyuk had not been long f33d5b534f in the organization, it was Lee Wonpil b7c05c0ecc who had taken him around.58549103ddbc32882528

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At that time, Lee Wonpil was in his late twenties d7b8e6be43 and was just a member of the organization, not yet 8a68a57acd called a small subsidiary president of a conglomerate like now.4ff598f4f3e8c1690cf2

Initially, Lee Wonpil had been quite friendly, so Cha Hyuk thought he was a warm-hearted 41b17ee40b person, but it took less than three weeks to realize that wasn’t the case.90827ee22c8823950ae7

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The person who had brought Cha Hyuk into the organization 6ead680f14 was Park Byeongsik, who was already favored by the higher-ups.b53c8b276059d3fba587

Since Park Byeongsik held considerable power and cc5d1303e4 was sure to rise to a high-ranking 0883b2a3ae position, Cha Hyuk had received a lot 9074743400 of attention, whether good or bad.b9d1415855c979d95582

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Among them, Lee Wonpil 70c4806e68 had tried hard to 7014d0ede3 catch Park Byeongsik’s eye. He would take Cha Hyuk e7ebde4f81 around under the guise of ddf1c7b975 teaching him this and that.ea2e42177bcaaf918507

But Lee Wonpil’s sole purpose was to 6aae75e5e3 gain favor with Park Byeongsik, so he 2025f0c5b0 was only pleasant when around people who 288988ca24 were somewhat close to Park Byeongsik.f7ed6eeec0e9106e4758

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At other times, he took out 872b16c770 his frustrations on Cha Hyuk, made ee8190ee34 him run errands, and ultimately blamed 33c0ac04c8 his own mistakes on Cha Hyuk.f2891b92aa7a88a523e2

Because of this, Cha Hyuk had 9d3f7feda6 gradually become problematic within the organization, ca7fbcd752 but he didn’t care much. He had no great ambitions; he 9ff071f7d3 was satisfied just to have food f7f93cd816 and a place to sleep.ab05651046c543d53054

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If Lee Wonpil had stopped at 557f7f147a that, Cha Hyuk might not have 78f895ea8a disliked him so much.a6b3f482fb3d6ef6ff2f

Waking up with the back of his head feeling painfully numb, his mouth sealed with tape, his body uncomfortably crouched and tied up, his vision blocked by a af19d2d374 dark cover, and a dense gray substance, neither liquid nor solid, suddenly falling in front of him—some parts cold and others lukewarm—the bizarre temperature of his lower half. When all this hit 73f73ec724 him at once, he d637dc6756 had felt an indescribable, 00ef874a9a extreme fear.4a69feac319449cac393

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What had most chilled him in that old, vivid memory was Lee e6bd5e5451 Wonpil, grinning as if to pull his lips up to his eyes.dc4c554da016b134ddb4

– The f8ad97c442 33rd floor. The doors 94975d4cd8 are opening.42e46aa5a131f3565bc8

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With the elevator’s announcement, 479f587e6b Cha Hyuk’s blurry focus ae65d65ebb sharpened, although his expression 8a4cd93cba hardened further.d9fe002044a45b5f22a4

Cha Hyuk strode toward the only d57e0f412e executive office on the 33rd floor.95d4b04c657ada787f2f

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A woman seated at a small fff1fcf181 counter near the dark brown door 7914eaacf7 noticed Cha Hyuk and smiled.92ec2261b05c9d94e8b0

“Could you please 5cbaf6d9c4 wait a moment? The president e33ea6bbc6 is busy c076065a18 right now.”7526a553fd7f1f30c336

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“It’s alright.”7706c597afa40393935f

It was b3ad74bef4 always like a80c825648 this. Lee Wonpil would call him in but 31b4d35f1b not let him enter right away.383125b5ded77b82cb74

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As expected, after about 20 5dd0be142f minutes, Cha Hyuk was able 0da8ea7d9e to enter the executive office.1a31dc07038ce069ab7b

Kim Hyunwoo hadn’t followed, perhaps he had taken a 3144844981 different path or was greeting his usual colleagues.00a942a229573cb47351

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“Hello.”32c5947c70bf6e29f9df

“Is life interesting these days?” as soon e2b1c3256e as he entered, the provocation began.52d31550e38d273ef160

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