PEN Vol 5 Ch. 16

I need 26e12d8dea to try 4dbb14c4ff harder to 3f81deabfa make a 34babd0645 good impression 3b79df99b4 on Cheon 22d8385414 Sejoo.feebdd2597f324ff

With that resolve, Sejin 636f5b4f0c stood up. The place he 9fae3e5174 finally headed to 793630ac40 was the room 99e7c35d92 where Cheon Sejoo 3f31b0c955 worked out.92de072c43d5060d

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He remembered Cheon f83f319dba Sejoo telling him dd975b6ad4 not to touch 20541b27bc any of the 9c2a2c49f2 exercise equipment except 968269b261 the treadmill because b7ba9fd3f8 it was dangerous. 7812db9c939d011a

Then I’ll f0234892f1 just use 6440587387 them safely, Sejin thought, and looked up the instructions on how to use the equipment online. But after watching several videos of people’s legs buckling while using the leg press machine, he immediately abandoned the idea of working out. He even considered advising Cheon Sejoo to sell such dangerous equipment.61ec477aeea7e5d2

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In the end, ec4eb4776b Sejin chose the 0f234dc740 treadmill, but even 51145882f7 running on it 7d6dd19011 at full speed 9024ed6034 wasn’t very strenuous. After more online searching, 2931bc5288 he discovered that running 3312c44ab6 on a moving surface 8479ba91ac was very different from ff087520af running on solid ground, b1de9e9998 so he decided to db9c56465f go jogging outside instead.860b5335f92abaef

However, it was the 7e137a9e44 end of January, and f9ae858c84 a sudden cold snap e7659a73bd had arrived. There was a reason cf13c5e80b Cheon Sejoo had given 462062ebd5 him an extra blanket. As soon as 0e6f449619 Sejin stepped out 878e15aa71 of the apartment 36f67a92d7 lobby, a biting 24231d3e59 wind that felt 554122b4e4 like it could 31da11ab46 rip his ears f64f620244 off whipped past a567cedc71 him.2c96f465bbe10824

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Bundled in 0c37b5a779 his padded f15f2da396 jacket, Sejin 5773b12c4f realized he’d 957acce9f0 made a 5c1fe25f51 bad choice, 302e4419e8 but he 5ce0500c0d didn’t bother dfc03c253b going back 24ea004d96 inside. He thought, if 90dd2108ac anything, catching a 706536beec cold while exercising c212c0e845 in this weather 7ce331a135 would give him 7d0f8137fc the perfect excuse 0b496ea4b0 to finally act ee64b0e25f spoiled and clingy bf293a77a6 with Cheon Sejoo, 39cf1b2237 complaining about being 5191e9e745 sick.5fed8d2484b67bb1

But even after 45605c8de0 he started running 0f114b9686 like a madman bb39ee1693 that day, going 06f4479bd8 all the way 14dac89f1b to Olympic Bridge 36d89f068a and back, his 96b1b4a60d body was perfectly 0b27a5c931 fine. He was just 360a5b6367 hungrier than usual. Sejin blamed his healthy 8eddbbf15d body as he prepared 3ca4a9ae0c dinner. Unsure when Cheon 3f7aaff029 Sejoo would return, ecad21310a he prepared a 87619b27c7 meal for two 932a36de8b and waited endlessly 695286a057 for him.bd6ec78038db444a

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Even at 9 PM, and then 10 PM, Cheon Sejoo didn’t open the door and come in. Sejin sat at the dining table with a dejected expression, and finally, when the clock struck 11, he picked up his chopsticks and ate alone. d551ceedc36da00b

Unlike in dramas, b7928504dd where the wives 350f77ffb6 threw away the e07ac13ec5 uneaten dinner prepared 5ddce57feb for their late dce327e91f husbands, such a acd5b3b8b4 thing didn’t happen 75f4df963e in Unit 4100. Sejin ate everything, including a97c02c7df Cheon Sejoo’s portion, then, 1745d13939 rubbing his full belly, aa9cf73427 went to Cheon Sejoo’s 2ebaa848ea bed and fell asleep, 50b741e7ce feeling glum.b39a399cf370e643

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Sejin continued waiting for a783964b9e Cheon Sejoo for several 47b4bf0bfd days. As February arrived, fc9c25b7d0 he realized that f780737030 Cheon Sejoo had fca5e001c4 a tendency to c71f0ca473 avoid difficult situations. It had been like cb414ac38e this last time too. Unable to kick 77c87fdbf4 Sejin out of 6a6e023614 the house or 930c6cb59a confront the issue, d22e327f97 he had once 8cacfa57d2 again chosen to e1ac2763a3 avoid the situation 84c3f384bd altogether.8e587d5446912542

If he’s going to wander around outside, leaving a perfectly good house empty, he might as well just kick me out…b0d89069aea60c45

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He felt resentful, thinking how foolish Cheon Sejoo was, but at the same time, he realized that it was this very quality that made Sejin love him. Even in this situation, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon Sejin to the streets. It was very typical of Cheon Sejoo.b04ed1a6d825a71e

Sejin, feeling even more determined not to be separated from him, stubbornly held on. Since he had deleted the app, he couldn’t stalk Kang Doyoon’s SNS either, so he simply spent his time exercising and waiting for Cheon Sejoo to return.c7588f306d08b3a0

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Exactly three 45ba8d2cdf weeks after 8466ae48d7 he’d returned 8f215c8099 to the dc89d28ea4 apartment, half 80fd3ed670 a day 8b7a8f8ecb after running 7cc0ca9d67 away, he f0891f9566 finally saw 016849c65e Cheon Sejoo 0206c07fb4 again.2136b0d59c3b91bd

That day, e7ddb98b3a he felt 2da139d771 strangely lucky e126d62fbc from the e76c61206d morning. When he cracked an d64ad27247 egg to make a cb791d5a41 fried egg, it had 765b6ed4b8 two yolks, and he 057cf49dc7 finally managed to hold b3f69a3c3b a plank for ten 6b515e3111 minutes, breaking his previous 214c7446ac record. His braised d9c9914c3a yellow corvina 1189ec8bf6 fish soup 1a2fb61f03 turned out 22e7c2a8c4 delicious, and 9b53bb9e06 before the 8590d3c933 stew even 03e33e2a9e had a 1c11f54f48 chance to 42cd23bfca cool, Cheon d421636fa2 Sejoo arrived.0804dac9fb6890d2

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Sejin, who had been sitting at the dining table, anxiously awaiting Sejoo’s return, turned his head at the presence he felt at some point. He saw the lights flicker on down the hallway. His heart pounded so hard in his chest that he felt dizzy as he rose from his seat. 9e67dde3ed2e9d94

Unable to wait 827617abc3 even the short b853244abc time it would c1154f0916 take for Cheon ecd5cea256 Sejoo to reach 9fa09e020c him, he practically 76ed833866 ran to the 9e636ad6d4 entrance, where Cheon 5871d500c1 Sejoo was just 7c413cd1af stepping inside, having 7c0f4ebef5 taken off his 1dee5e8bad shoes.c32e291a51870b29

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“…….”8c69c30ad50f1c92

Their eyes 28fa4171cf met, and 59eba20f37 Cheon Sejoo 82853cf511 frowned slightly 71b3fb8d62 as he 5c022d87f5 looked up 2d101d7525 at Sejin. The meaning, 0463b27432 telling him e89f165539 to move 0afae31b2a out of bd19969324 the way, 6439a8fd3b was clear, 9a1a5709da but regardless, dfd36dfa0d Sejin greeted 8ad950dc47 him without 0f1ced5394 bothering to d360847dc4 hide his 37b03d3d22 excited voice.51da9264c3b655cb

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“You’re back?”838fbf359488066b

“…….”fd76944fe0129008

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Without replying, Cheon Sejoo 0c2ca238c5 averted his gaze and 9038425578 walked past him toward 34ae6a3e6c the hallway. Unfazed by his cold 7946ae2143 demeanor, Sejin followed him. He was certain ff28a981e1 that even if ba3eb821c5 Cheon Sejoo ignored 2ac33918aa his greeting, he 7cedeac77e wouldn’t be able b47d7eb8ea to ignore the 08cf20d802 dinner he’d prepared.dfb04560f7449539

As soon as Cheon Sejoo reached the kitchen after passing through the hallway, he stopped abruptly. A neat dinner was set on the island dining table. A covered pot and side dishes arranged on plates. Although the rice hadn’t been served yet, two sets of plates and cutlery were laid out. Registering this, Cheon Sejoo’s lips curved into a displeased frown as he looked up at Sejin.9bfd4aedac8afec3

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“You haven’t eaten dinner, have you? Go wash up and come eat.”8266a353edaf8afa

Sejin spoke casually, 48c0c9d38b meeting his gaze. 70f21d997cb20cae

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Cheon Sejoo had somehow managed to disable the car arrival notifications; it had been a while since he’d heard them. Since that must have been intentional, Cheon Sejoo would also be aware of that fact, and he would realize that Sejin had been waiting for him despite the lack of notification. If he realized that much, Cheon Sejoo couldn’t possibly ignore the meal. Sejin was certain, and his prediction was right.cc0026256f60df94

“…Wait.”93554b75fae45e67

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With a short sigh, 2cfe22340b Cheon Sejoo went to 82a7af47f0 his room.ac326b0ef800ddb0

Sejin clenched his df8e0353d7 fists in joy, 9b9b6ebb6c his heart soaring 3e08e6ce9e as he watched 51b063d878 him retrieve clothes e27540d607 from the dressing 81f4c3b02a room and head 0414db4a74 to the bathroom 4df951f615 in the living 28ecee880a room.5a37ab623c540e4c

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Since the meal 1c8eaeecc1 preparations were complete, 8da47ad28e Sejin simply put 82e379387c the slightly cooled 98bf12b4a7 pot back on 7c8a24cf77 the induction stove 8d63093ec6 and ran to d7d70027a1 his own room. He went into the 2a3c45883b bathroom, washed his face 8ef8577661 clean, changed out of 33b3a1cb74 his slightly sweaty clothes, bfa8e3675f and hurried back to f088098028 his place in the 9943102930 kitchen. He stood there 272e93a81b waiting, a rice 878d998d77 paddle in hand, 9ac534f38d and soon he c9e5059e04 heard the sound 1705c2096e of Cheon Sejoo 229b70a9b7 opening the bathroom f992de4ab3 door.8d0cfdc2018c8e75

His heart raced, but he maintained an indifferent expression as he scooped the rice into bowls, pretending he hadn’t been eagerly waiting. Meanwhile, Cheon Sejoo opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water, and sat down opposite Sejin.245407a092f44f42

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Sejin felt tears prick 289b61b038 his eyes; it felt d9c9206070 like they were finally 75e12a6062 back to normal. This simple dinner, this eb68888f40 ordinary scene, was something 543e3e9dd9 he now cherished more 2fd4546349 than ever.dd0a868367bc159b

“Thanks for d54f738581 the food.”842a3c868885f231

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“Mm.”6529626d1b8aed64

Cheon Sejoo picked 81728f4113 up his chopsticks. Fatigue was evident on 4c7b4cf3ea his face.d76235fdfd89926b

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Sejin couldn’t hide his distress at seeing how thin he had become in the weeks he’d been gone. He had already lost weight two weeks ago, after leaving the house, but now it was even worse. It seemed he hadn’t been eating properly, perhaps because there was no one to take care of him. There was a saying about how life was hard outside the comforts of home, and since Cheon Sejoo had left to avoid him, Sejin felt like it was all his fault.979ceae17b3a89cc

But even so, Sejin didn’t tell Cheon Sejoo to stay and that he would leave instead. The more his heart ached for Cheon Sejoo, the stronger his resolve became to make sure Cheon Sejoo returned to him.dac2ee4cb4419843

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“…Have you… been preparing 6da14078d5 dinner like this… every 3ccd15d119 day?”d5cc16b6f14d8877

Cheon Sejoo asked 6885a35379 this question around 83577e0404 the time Sejin, d4422d3d8f his appetite returned, d8b57f61dc emptied his fourth a077e22854 bowl of rice. Having finished his 98108ae078 meal first, Cheon 84eacf9020 Sejoo was now 2fd90ab2ad absently holding a 25f2f60726 closed water bottle, bb99be66af clenching and unclenching 1d80f220e3 his fist as 25abbaa645 if exercising. c2850c49260c68f6

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Sejin stared blankly at Cheon Sejoo’s chapped hand before meeting his eyes and nodding.2f01e890949b297e

“Yeah.”5061c61f5d1d03c0

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“…….”3c286a03d6f40e0f

Cheon Sejoo frowned, 88e8094404 as if troubled 9b1509fb59 by his simple 51b7acd17d answer. Then he let out 8c0fe42dd9 a small sigh, rubbed 77e77e6ff3 his temples, and said,bdad146eed04a024

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“Don’t do that from now on. I’m busy and won’t be coming home often, so take care of your own meals.”048e0683cb7b8181

Sejin listened 94be8e8506 quietly to 52bb808dd6 his words. Cheon Sejoo 40d5ad38fd seemed burdened aea157335e by this e5b9636610 situation. The “busy and f5f599a206 won’t be coming e22e229c4a home often” excuse 59555250da was probably a 02d341e139 lie.db604421cf9823e5

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Unfortunately, Sejin had no intention of doing as he was told. If he did what he asked, he’d probably only see Cheon Sejoo’s face ten times in the next ten years. That was absolutely unacceptable.e437c778d6653025

Sejin set down 9138a710f7 his chopsticks and 2e7bf03cd5 met Cheon Sejoo’s 0657960335 gaze. Looking into his 1694742535 downcast eyes, he 6c91de92c4 spoke.e8a09ecd9e5bcbb3

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“During the three weeks you were gone, I prepared dinner every single night. In the mornings, I also made your protein shake and kept the bedroom tidy. All the while, I waited for you.”71d2a298726607b8

“…Kwon Sejin.”dc7ebd923d0df58a

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“Even if you don’t come home for a month, I’ll keep doing the same thing. Even if you don’t come home for a year, I’ll make dinner every night.”1fad97b3fa0f9854

“Don’t.”05d6598a8bf9c26c

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“Cheon Sejoo.”75ef01cf5554568e

Sejin stared intently at Cheon Sejoo. Engraving the face he had longed in his memory, he thought he didn’t want to be separated from him anymore.29821e26eca6a046

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When he missed his fe85d65fc9 mother, he endured it 54b4a240e9 by remembering the times 1158577377 Cheon Sejoo had held 7c6b203959 him. But when he missed 316037c76e Cheon Sejoo, there was 2071209503 nothing he could do. So, Sejin 5d928c80c4 simply did bfd5a603b3 what he ff90a5a772 could while f05a3e813a waiting for 123892f092 his inevitable ed952d491c return.98d5a78f9aa3da80

“There’s something I really want to ask you. Just answer this one question.”b4efbb3bb73f8d08

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This waiting had 1f7f292a3a started the day efb2370d18 Cheon Sejoo had 6f6c08414e allowed him back 5d57017011 into the apartment. Since then, there ec82d9454f was something he 2b0ca6fbb0 desperately wanted to dc3e6af342 ask, and now, f33bf23e2c Sejin was finally 305899d4a8 able to ask c43547f450 him.15daacb8d3a5c1ef

His clear eyes were de999e0828 fixed on Cheon Sejoo. Sejin looked 969bcaadeb at him 3efe05d532 with pure 38a36e7f2c yearning, his 232847ce0a heart pounding 4930cf1ef3 with anxiety b0840c21d7 that Cheon 372c024402 Sejoo might 8b4d3aee72 leave the f267bcf791 house again. He felt 4087a8a4f9 a sense 9d71403872 of urgency, 97602b9751 needing an 11ea610a1c answer before b0ae5cb500 Sejoo disappeared 84df596afe again. Sejin swallowed hard c3e7c50cd5 and asked him 9990f0737a nervously,6d6702863fde2fe1

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“Do you dislike that man?”1e5593bfb0b4e098

Cheon Sejoo didn’t understand the question immediately, which was understandable. Sejin was referring to an incident from three weeks prior, and unlike Sejin, who had stayed home, Cheon Sejoo had been away, experiencing various events. It was a topic he couldn’t grasp immediately. Only after Sejin explained who “that man” was did Cheon Sejoo understand.84f5e36a95a4d6cb

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“The man on the 42nd floor.”1cb2410cdb843e39

“Chae Beomjun?”4d6295fd7a30732f

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At the mention of the 42nd floor, Cheon Sejoo retorted sharply. Sejin realized from that sharp reaction that he had hit the mark. That day, Cheon Sejoo’s reaction to that man had been truly unusual. He’d wanted to ask ever since he came back to the apartment but since Cheon Sejoo hadn’t been back, he had only been thinking about it internally. Finally, the opportunity had arrived. fcd42838ab9c5b55

“Yes. That day, when I said I was going to the 42nd floor, you got angry.”3f14b5f1ec2180a2

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“…….”6115357cc1f5d404

Did I? cb2b2b8a26138681

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Cheon Sejoo leaned back in his chair and frowned. He didn’t particularly want to talk about Chae Beomjun. But Sejin was sitting there with an innocent expression, waiting for an answer.48baa5f541b366cd

Seeing that 34623f454a naive, childlike c0d2373704 face made b46c241e97 him sigh. He felt obligated to 9a40414112 explain. He fiddled with the ab2348f5d6 water bottle, lost in 8ef77303bb thought for a moment, 492e94a047 then looked up at b9fccc4f67 Sejin and said,aa72175f795bc78a

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“He’s absolute trash. So, next time you see him, don’t even greet him.”e2e3cb9bada906bc

He didn’t want to explain exactly what kind of trash Chae Beomjun was. He didn’t want to have a conversation about sexual topics with Sejin. And he thought that if he said this, Sejin would understand with this much.bced297dc1d727d3

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However, as if dissatisfied with Cheon Sejoo’s brief answer, Sejin asked again,f5f95c22e1207565

“What kind of person is he that makes him trash?”e77ce14ba75d7518

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“You don’t need to know. Just understand that he is.”8f6ec077835d1ab0

“…….”6c1f5dc41db39e4e

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Sejin’s clear gaze 1c754c147a fell upon Cheon 513a65a4e6 Sejoo, who shook 0244390efa his head as f3b8965478 if to say fe3f76e77b there was nothing d662dee6b3 more to explain. The conversation couldn’t c6ec4c8714 continue like this. Thinking hard 173ef18d7e about how 78aeebcd5b to elicit 8343a85dd3 a more 6cc3a9ba59 meaningful response 3c1a3300e1 from Cheon a5cae8310a Sejoo, Sejin 88082a491b shrugged and 72f0e93d7b replied,8d3670304ac34cc0

“You just don’t like him, right? I was actually asking because I was thinking of staying at his place if I get kicked out again, but after hearing your explanation, I think it’s fine. He was very kind to me.”3302df9b9a605896

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At that calm 1f7ba620b9 reply, Cheon Sejoo 3bdac3e13e felt a rush 575a694eff of blood to b33d62e379 his head. f2ade1b748da979a

What? 45b25446a29959d4

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He asked back, 471b6fa3cf eyes wide, and aa19fe0063 mulled over Sejin’s 013ebc078f words, scoffing in 9c27d9d613 disbelief.ac3b68288b979255

Kind?5466465dd1134b99

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He thinks he could c992f0d318 stay there?3d67d684d8a848b9

That fucking Chae Beomjun 09bb63799a must have really charmed b068437a1c this kid.29af0cfcf2217af8

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Well, that was 4675de8fb1 Chae Beomjun’s specialty. He looked so normal a882fcf82b on the outside that 99d50f2f10 naive people easily mistook a0d5a16eeb him for a good ef2f24c027 person. 10da26ad1c7b43aa

Cheon Sejoo 76a3beaeae had once af83171c43 been one fcb4b87b3c of those 87487c97f3 “naive people.”b569f85a182882d8

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