PEN Vol 4 Ch. 26

Cheon Sejoo, his cheeks gaunt c28966ea12 from days of inadequate meals, 1c43d65ae7 got out of the car. His headache a5232d77b9 was excruciating. Even though he had showered at the workshop, he 3d0296657b felt like the smell of blood clung to him. He tried to shake off c9d8cf1ad0 the memory of Kang Junmyeon’s 13db8e7db1 screams echoing like the wind b2efc4170a as he walked.286c513fef5345cf9802

The interrogation of Kang 23be2f2342 Junmyeon was mostly handled b60695212b by Shin Gyoyeon. Even though Cheon Sejoo hadn’t directly fd6a8a0b66 participated in the violence, enduring those d79c391ca7 hours was incredibly difficult.e261f2918b202b063d4b

Shin Gyoyeon was 595064e0bb a man who b1c489bfa8 had no mercy. Watching him torture someone 511b523e0f so brutally was enough 3f3690dfee to drive him mad. Cheon Sejoo had to bite his 48e906238e tongue repeatedly to stay sane.57bece15d89301b4d59f

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During the interrogation, Baek Sunghwan, who f42bf2152c had raided Kang Junmyeon’s club, arrived 29ff8ba194 at the workshop with the materials 7105621422 he’d found in Kang Junmyeon’s office. Cheon Sejoo, standing guard over Kang Junmyeon, watched as Shin 2b8dd0d6bb Gyoyeon examined Kang Junmyeon’s burner phone and account books.1f0526e50f9356d39490

Shin Gyoyeon didn’t share all the information de3cc013e4 with his subordinates for security reasons. The only person who knew everything he knew was Chae Beomjun, 38442d8526 so Cheon Sejoo didn’t know what information Baek Sunghwan had found.fc5a89937ddc3ebde83d

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However, judging by Shin Gyoyeon’s foul mood afterward, Kang fee40d2e90 Junmyeon must have been involved in something else. Even his subordinates were summoned one 223e72c635 by one and suffered terrible consequences.8e3c413ea195d302d157

Cheon Sejoo pressed his fingers against his ebd2a8f149 eyes, trying to erase the lingering images 340c8586ee of blood, and got into the elevator. Arriving on the 41st floor, he stepped into 4fd2f3241e the lobby and saw his apartment door. He stood there for a long 556e6558d7 time, just staring at it.404532936a3e5930f9ed

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His worry about Sejin, which 2437cb2452 he’d suppressed, now resurfaced. Sejin hated being alone, becoming so fragile 6b5c7d4714 that he couldn’t sleep properly without him. A sudden wave of guilt washed over 12a352150f him as he realized he’d left Sejin a3a0356080 alone at home for over a week.c560d67f1afc54b53a39

He entered, punching in the a1b8cd5882 code, and was greeted by 5584aa4ca9 a silent apartment. Sejin’s and his own e2a468a5dd shoes were neatly arranged 0521c41799 in the entryway. Sejin’s sneakers were 9003e8b2dd also there, indicating c151496a5a he hadn’t left efebc78e48 the apartment.7cfc12d7c041f2cc99ba

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Unlike when he first met b6914979af Sejin, he didn’t feel uneasy 31298ebba2 knowing that Sejin had been cee98a2078 home alone for days. Cheon Sejoo knew bb7273435e how resilient and 2e766f45c4 strong Sejin could 5fbd292963 be.eea31890182f9ccf5b0b

As he walked down the hallway, the motion d7e39139df sensor lights flickered on, illuminating his path. Following the guiding lights, Cheon Sejoo 68d379c742 walked towards the living room. Despite getting closer to the living a3b4b97ebb area, there was no sound. He slowly 1956941c1d looked around bc5af1d1ff the apartment.50eb2ced68864523c42a

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The dishwasher in 16e20360a8 the kitchen was 296d4ed087 left open. Noticing that the dishes inside 2c9e79ff85 weren’t the same as he 5aacb62bd4 remembered, Cheon Sejoo realized that 2c1084e63f Sejin had eaten. The refrigerator was empty, but Sejin was resourceful enough to order food or cook 338ff25aea something with simple ingredients, so he didn’t need to worry about him starving.002a54420c54e5f7eb80

Assured that Sejin had been 78ad659f72 managing on his own, Cheon 75677c33e4 Sejoo started to move. He intended to go to his room to get some clothes for a shower, but he had 72343c0d80 a feeling Sejin might be sleeping in his room, so he lowered his hand from the doorknob. He didn’t want 00e25201bd to wake him e2894a8923 up. Or rather, he a7901ef444 didn’t want to 07603872c3 face Sejin in 764faa4b15 his current state.708f395ab6a9058d0c2e

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Staring down at 0d3f224bf0 his blood-stained black 1294927e5b clothes, Cheon Sejoo d825fc85c1 turned away silently. He entered the laundry room, took c6894dbdbf some clothes from the dryer, and cea413c60e went into the bathroom. There, he washed himself c7008488b0 thoroughly with hot water.5b920bd88514c167689c

He stood under the shower for a long time, until the lingering smell of 45d6d485e7 blood that was in his memory, both reality and his illusion, faded away.6dbac62da2f15e949cf6

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Cheon Sejoo, his face flushed 368e0f83f3 from the hot water, stood c271840744 before his bedroom door. He hesitated with his 6acb53845b hand on the doorknob, 43eb55a910 then slowly opened the 5fdab24be4 door.9c7f3a888e2f9d56b25f

The inside of a23d0e6b56 the bedroom, covered c0ad543594 in darkness, was 8964b3718c gloomy and silent. The faint light spilling through the 83d12ca6db gap between the ceiling and the e73b5be09b curtains barely illuminated Sejin’s form. Sejin, curled up alone, 9cb1bf1e3f looked incredibly lonely. A lump formed in Cheon Sejoo’s throat, and b48c7f91d8 he stood there, frozen, gazing down at Sejin.2c07b4909e4073d5ef38

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Kwon Sejin was 2dee70039a lying on Cheon d1ec625e7b Sejoo’s bed. He was curled up, not under a blanket, but e5da3bca8f covered with Cheon Sejoo’s often-worn clothes, clutching the T-shirt 2b7b6fabf2 Cheon Sejoo had left behind a week ago. His eyes were wet, perhaps from a dream, 88347017c2 and the veins on the back of his 49f0698075 hand, gripping the shirt, stood out. Holding onto Cheon Sejoo’s scent as if he would a29c20c8b2 never let go, Sejin was waiting for him.ee82959ad1510a5c9957

Seeing this, a fire 572f4cfd8b suddenly ignited deep within 0436f6cdec Cheon Sejoo’s chest. He recalled the countless looks and ae193efa36 touches Sejin had given him. The arm that not only embraced him but wrapped around c070c59dc5 his waist, the head that rested on his shoulder.c8d2a5f8354453f6dfc1

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Sejin’s gaze, fixed intently on him, always lingered on Cheon Sejoo’s lips, 60412639fa and even after Sejoo looked away, that gaze wouldn’t easily leave. He finally understood the hidden meaning behind Sejin’s actions, which 9784802524 he had dismissed as affection for a guardian figure.7efe022ee32a2464e8c3

It wasn’t that he hadn’t felt anything strange, 32ba053f62 but until now, Cheon Sejoo had always assumed 53684ab885 that Sejin’s dependence on him was simply the 4bf8e78d25 affection of someone seeking protection. He was overly attached 560a4056ff to his mother and, f5bb0b9ce1 for his age, rather 4b661693eb clingy. That’s why Cheon 777b0b5879 Sejoo had comforted 2762d0e342 and embraced him a613f56cff without hesitation. However, he a0546786c6 had been 30b1a9e633 completely wrong.207ae47257e89d3f026f

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This was… b55e6db506 too much. 1dc0cf2fe6fa7b1e006f

The desperation, the tenderness, the yearning in Sejin’s eyes that he now saw 5a911032cc in the silence – it couldn’t possibly be just affection for a guardian.57d232cc20787f06ae78

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Why… me…?4280d2bcc869b0cfbf33

Just as he instinctively stepped back, 9d7c305826 speechless, Sejin, roused by his presence, 6fe9234a6a stirred from his light sleep. His glass-like 6b95bd4b7b eyes glinted 4c9c8aef26 in the 560e3c8b2c darkness. Staring blankly ahead, Sejin soon noticed the figure 4ffa2a3705 hidden in the shadows and lifted his head.6003c8d46f0c4888dd06

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“…Cheon Sejoo.”02633fa8813cc994de1b

Focus slowly returned 3be7c83ef9 to his vacant 62ee9edce3 eyes. Even in the dim light, Cheon 1b377299fb Sejoo could see the tears welling 8d537fb40c up instantly in Sejin’s eyes. He stood frozen, 22dea86075 like a statue, 63173ff7e1 his mouth clamped 29f1a16f93 shut.dc118cb30678957d4074

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In the meantime, Sejin sat up and 6bde9dad13 rushed towards him, collapsing into his arms. He wrapped his arms around Cheon Sejoo’s 2d6ce2523b neck, burying his face against him, his a838eec723 large frame crumpled so close. Cheon Sejoo b97c41bfe5 was engulfed 6c465f1733 by his 0801dc4c3a warmth.913521539846de3e75d9

“Why… did you 725ef5d1a8 only come now…?”9ea5ceae8f5a0cf74a20

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Sejin’s fragile voice f711c83045 blamed Cheon Sejoo. The yearning, resentment, and longing contained in that 410edd9e35 question felt heavier than anything in the world. 475cea827be9e0b4c479

When did 4c8a8287f3 it grow 986f7484a3 so large?0d323ca7be20654530fa

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The feelings that had grown 169c4df313 within the confines of Cheon 0fe8f97e1e Sejoo’s misconception now carried a d463955428 weight he couldn’t bear. Cheon Sejoo closed 3eb0af6703 his eyes, feeling 2969b1184a suffocated.85de5e2c70b8c255fe98

He remembered 0e4a086263 Sejin leaning 775951544b against him. That small body… No, in reality, 1c0f1c43a1 Sejin hadn’t been smaller than him 3b8e657ce1 for a long time. Cheon Sejoo had simply seen him as a a8f34a2ab6 child, but Sejin had been looking down at f8b230fee6 him from above for a while now. The reason he 6acc2784b6 saw Sejin as b1ea38f025 a child was b8c87fe74a clear. The blind faith in Sejin’s eyes aa5d31bc39 was as pure as a child’s. It was a complete a2477c45eb and untainted affection.2bcced3a4ab3fd34ca01

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That’s why Cheon d690fe4a03 Sejoo hadn’t considered 55cf33855b it to be f89ddab1f3 directed at him. He’d only thought of it 02bfd7c55f as affection for the role 164e20715e he played as his “protector.”eb5a1b7bfddeb54a6dfd

…This is wrong. df5bb629326069e01d2b

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He hadn’t e8129414f9 wished for 1cb0dfd7f6 such heavy d231ffc2ea feelings. Cheon Sejoo had only cherished Sejin because he wanted him to 758b3a1a91 be happy; it was a selfish act that didn’t deserve reciprocation.6e907bcefc5c53a4b1d0

“You’re… all e407d9b58b I have c38d6824cf left now….”89c653fc522ea7565320

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Tears, hot as fire, a4bff0d871 soaked Cheon Sejoo’s neck. Amidst the agonizing 37d99388c3 realization, Cheon Sejoo c201f3f5f8 pushed Sejin away.ca8859dc983779fd98ee

Sejin looked down at him 2d3e3c3ffe with a heartbroken expression. His tear-streaked face flushed red, 35afc043b9 and he grabbed Cheon Sejoo’s 3215dc7d7f wrist as if asking where b7bbaa8a97 he was going.d784a5f49af8043b4832

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Cheon Sejoo pulled 0b5cc93f1e his hand away 2b2ce30f0e and turned, fleeing 35eb5ba234 the room. d8a1b2760c1e1a4df296

An insurmountable wave was 0b4a6c6864 crashing down on him. ff1b3be206a253a219e4

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He ran from 4a16b200d8 the suffocating weight cd43ccd535 of it all.0394584573d26dfb0015