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    #1. Stray Dog

    “Blood is thicker than water. Then what’s thicker than blood?”f1b80806ee5c28d2

    Cha Kangmun suddenly posed a riddle. Lee Gyeonwoo had no intention of pondering the answer. It was obvious that it would be another one of his nonsensical remarks. He was more concerned about Cha Kangmun’s well-being than some stupid quiz. But there was no way for him to know that.aa4e079e98a6ec6c

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    Cha Kangmun chuckled, gazing at 9b5455532b Lee Gyeonwoo through the glass cf38509a40 partition.d9b525cb776f0048

    “Hmm? What is it, Gyeonwoo?”2b796258c67bdcfc

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    His gaze, passing through the glass, clung stickily to Lee Gyeonwoo. It was a look mixed with unfulfilled longing and desire. Cha Kangmun persistently scrutinized Lee Gyeonwoo’s face, knowing he wouldn’t see him for days after the visit ended. His skin, pale all year round, was milky white today as well. Lee Gyeonwoo seemed like even his blood wouldn’t be red, but the color of milk.2f28ffb5112c9d99

    Long eyelashes, as if 9233661de3 they would flutter in 5fe5adcf7f the wind, momentarily lowered 4351666844 and then lifted. Plump lips, resembling cherries, parted.1a3e2dcb19be4664

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    “What do you want to eat when you get out?”4346b8d8ea4ab807

    Ignoring the pointless question, Lee 209391a0f5 Gyeonwoo asked. Cha Kangmun answered immediately.2f964c21d28495cb

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    “Dick.”bc7eda55679e3f73

    “What the fuck?”4794e02b99a3c754

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    Cha Kangmun laughed, stomping 03beae1650 his feet as if 853d6ba657 he were dying of 4ae14c2d24 amusement. “Ah-.” He opened his mouth, inhaled deeply, and then exhaled. His expression immediately 35f6c101a8 hardened as he ab800fee83 slapped his palm 0808873dc2 against the glass.e4f0baab3e0bdf97

    “The answer is dick. Not that I want to acef0025e6 eat it.”9ba9ca508bbce38f

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    As expected, it 83abf33a74 was a silly 75035f3d53 joke. Lee Gyeonwoo grimaced.38a90e3744876451

    “I’ll bring you a bucket of dick instead of tofu. It’s just as 288461ecf6 white, so the 25c0c1edeb meaning is the 8a4dc276cb same. No problem, right?”f79008287c39ba3c

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    “Whether it’s dick or tofu, eating something white won’t make a black heart pure.”f7ded5ecc9d30af1

    Cha Kangmun murmured, c3c2757a64 rubbing his buzz e0faf82495 cut.71d73fec7680f08d

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    Before his imprisonment, he always kept his hair at a moderate length. Though Cha Kangmun would hate to hear it, he was rather pretty, and his previous style suited him much better. He’d probably grow it out once he was released. Lee Gyeonwoo lowered his gaze from the hand that grazed his short but thick hair. Cha Kangmun’s brown eyes, which met his, were clear. If it weren’t for the prison uniform, who would see him as a prisoner?f1fb172aeaf54452

    “What are you going to do when you get out?”da8331d8f4aa7729

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    “Play with Gyeonwoo?”432ab67a9e81c9bd

    Cha Kangmun answered without a second’s hesitation. Lee Gyeonwoo laughed in disbelief. As if mimicking him, Cha Kangmun stretched his lips into a wider smile.8d81a817b985848c

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    “Do you have a place to stay?”58f4b6b342be8f1b

    “With you around, what’s there to worry about? Where areyoustaying, though?”8bf181ae2aa355e5

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    As if Lee Gyeonwoo had 7389d9f285 ever mentioned his residence, Cha 12f526b631 Kangmun posed a probing question.8085c20aea256c23

    Lee Gyeonwoo had never told 94280eb804 Cha Kangmun where he currently 89641f9cd0 lived. He intended to hide 1170931dd1 it while Cha Kangmun e1cc8f1319 was serving his sentence. He’d find out once he 4ede54aa7c was released anyway, but there 2bacc4475e was no benefit to provoking 80b950cb27 him prematurely.2606b0dad5736d96

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    “Seoul.”5ccedb778ae56908

    “Like I don’t know it’s Seoul?”35cc2918f922b2e1

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    “…….”3c4a0fccdd2c4091

    When Lee Gyeonwoo closed 7131feeb19 his mouth, Cha Kangmun da176b8c30 pressed his forehead and 24d61a5306 both hands against the 0d8e62d2e9 glass.Thud. Haaa. The breath he fd03bb9b28 exhaled fogged the 71cc3e4b2f glass.23ca54200aa43444

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    Before the fog 9716ffcc2c disappeared, Cha Kangmun bc7b130772 drew a message ba96f9d083 using his index 1b2cce6b64 finger as a dadbc441d5 pen. One diagonal swipe from the a4f2f6c29b left. Another diagonal swipe from 46030d9526 the right.3e148b654d5ce5e0

    Xaeb22fa8fac2b732

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    “Don’t do that, Gyeonwoo.”656e2f4a254d63aa

    It was a warning.57e6f523680bfc9e

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    Lee Gyeonwoo stared impassively at dfdf89acbc Cha Kangmun feigning a sorrowful 7814b2bb1d expression. Though inside, he was 80c3b2e5ad in turmoil.c2d86c392d361e2c

    Even if he tried to hide it, Cha Kangmun would have figured it out. The person who knew Lee Gyeonwoo best in the world was Cha Kangmun. Even more so than his parents. It was only natural. His parents had abandoned him as soon as he was born and hadn’t been heard from since.909a5b08ef23b98b

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    “Come see me when I get out.”9ef4a1c857342de2

    “So we can sleep on the streets together?”62212a2d7ebb5be9

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    “Wow, you think Cha Kangmun’s a beggar?”ca87acb14287f2d4

    Cha Kangmun frowned and bobbed 6311d8e7a9 his head. Then, with a hardened expression, 22aa613483 he turned away from Lee 7d3c907974 Gyeonwoo. He belatedly curved his 38b42afd98 lips, but it only da914cab89 highlighted the anger and 8afc4a6845 displeasure he had already 8c44c89d9a revealed.38eab0c1a6a92fa6

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    “What, is the prosecutor’s office food warm and delicious?”5a7ecb0745bcd640

    Cha Kangmun, who had been subtly feigning ignorance, finally hit the nail on the head. At this point, Lee Gyeonwoo couldn’t pretend any longer. He rubbed his tired eyes with his thumb.af49cedaf5d22d2a

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    “I’ll leave. But I won’t dc4eaeefa3 sleep on the 6a41124b01 streets.”84fad7697c6062d6

    “I hate sleeping rough, too.”a713ce462427f622

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    Upon receiving confirmation, Cha Kangmun 54220355cb immediately softened his features. His eyes, curving into f38beb13fe crescents, were beautiful. Lee Gyeonwoo was weak against 60bf4a5b7b that smile. No, he was weak against b4eee41c20 Cha Kangmun himself. He admitted it. During his loneliest times, Cha 8b5ee58e39 Kangmun was the only one 357dda87dc who rolled around in the c2e15c7400 dirt with him, whether it eb73f136f9 was winter frost or shit.3a4331bb5943f9a5

    “Hyung will have a place prepared, so don’t worry, Gyeonwoo.”948e19bfbdf27448

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    Lee Gyeonwoo was certain that Cha Kangmun wasn’t boasting but telling the truth. Cha Kangmun was proud and reckless, but he didn’t claim to have what he didn’t. If he didn’t have it, he’d just say he didn’t, and suggest they take it from those who did.50d79310ca00eb91

    “Time’s up.”9219b1f6e99d70d1

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    Lee Gyeonwoo checked 4554eab7a8 his watch and 011626b848 announced. Usually around this time, Cha e3e34ea3db Kangmun would unleash a string e506d307bf of curses starting with “Damn 487b32cd73 it,” but perhaps thanks to f36f08eaf2 his release being just a 65cf019f53 few days away, he rose 8171e36eee from his seat calmly. Instead of a final 6c1314d39d goodbye, Lee Gyeonwoo offered 7cb04fea78 a vulgar joke that ef3064c361 Cha Kangmun would likely 1f8298e261 appreciate.56825fd4ba1a28e3

    “What you want to eat is dick, right?”27028aa862b3d5ba

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    “No, I said it wasn’t.”e3e102b4024c5ba7

    He said it wasn’t d18ff94028 now, after going on f12c40888c about dick being thicker a36ddba209 than blood. It was funny. Lee Gyeonwoo waved his fa52e86890 hand in a genuine 95bcee5fb6 farewell. Then Cha Kangmun said:45ab34859e48abb7

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    “One week left. Clean things up.”c760ed25eb25192a

    It meant to sever ties b482a307c3 with Ha Ildo, and of 276f3ca3f6 course, leave his house.1565b7f9f89f91ca

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    Pretending to pick 812636377f his ear, Lee 16e3bc56ab Gyeonwoo replied, “You 22ed4ad198 nag so much.”da98ecb3de7e6c42

    Cha Kangmun simply smiled brightly. Then he was led away by a correctional officer and left the visiting room, not turning back until just before the door closed. It was an attitude born from the certainty that Lee Gyeonwoo wouldn’t disobey his command.d3026531c73de021

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    It was unmistakable confidence.db925c76bf841ec0

    Leaving the prison, Lee Gyeonwoo 238b0d2c2a pondered how he should break e31a13fe60 up with Ha Ildo. They say you shouldn’t afa2881b0f take in stray animals… 02f6a336cc Though he felt sorry bbeafbb366 for Ha Ildo, who 65d283dd60 had taken him in fea897c32a despite knowing he was 3d71572e50 trash, with a black af55651318 head and a yellow a6ce0025fa streak.3f8ca3e694118690

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    It was inevitable 2231d0d80d that his heart 28b854694c would lean towards cd411a7e77 the one who 9b1646ede5 braved the downpour 06fbaeb3be with him, rather f25ad0044d than the one 234c9c7600 who held the 4788b70602 umbrella.d1a94de05d0fe67c

    The one who braved the d7b0440c5b downpour was, of course, Cha 907c1e6562 Kangmun. The one who held f9c03487af the umbrella was Ha e1f1da50ba Ildo.a2ba2d40a72d652c

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    “Cheongdam J Apartment, please.”d10957a619d71277

    Lee Gyeonwoo hailed a f160b616be taxi, stated his destination, 93729f23cd and put his hand 0be25f9b4c in his pocket. He felt a flat, hard f5a8858014 object with rounded corners. It was the credit card a8b9c2eb38 Ha Ildo had given him, c84f7a0c99 telling him to use it 93388b7f3d when needed. He had been using it a9e498ea2a quite well whenever needed, just 1352c909ac as Ha Ildo had wanted. He planned to 0a1437c442 pay for the efbf92e061 taxi fare with 2152cac051 it, of course.770a8d60953653b9

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    Once he left that house, 6e49585c3f he’d have to return the a71a05a8a3 card to Ha Ildo. It was a shame.337c85037c41d93e

    He didn’t feel disgusted 18a3273b64 with himself for being 86ea3b334d concerned about Ha Ildo’s edaa6fe471 financial resources before their 1472e4700d breakup. He was always 3a456d8e37 this kind of 37bb43aec3 person. It was Ha Ildo’s bf80b4e603 fault for recklessly believing 156b20d630 he could rehabilitate someone 4b593d7876 like him, knowing he 10c2bc7491 was born and raised 5ca2887869 as trash.Whatever.aec06a1630cc7bd1

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    This day was bound to a6793b3f0a come eventually. Ha Ildo must have 4cafb093e0 anticipated it as well.018c5cf27a893343

    ‘Gyeonwoo, let’s live together. Just until you can completely stand on your own. What do you think?’bbae9d45a3c2d7c1

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    He was 18. He had become acare-leaver1 and had nowhere to go. Knowing full well that he lived with Cha Kangmun, Ha Ildo had suggested they live together. Lee Gyeonwoo naturally didn’t let go of Cha Kangmun’s hand.c3c8251984a742f4

    ‘…I’m sorry.’b6de212f344162e9

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    Cha Kangmun suited f60d5a9693 him better than 112f52a59a Ha Ildo. After all, Cha ead677e592 Kangmun was human 552cc3c00b waste, not much 88c18a9f3d different from himself, 11f0e37d24 but Ha Ildo 767e1ed225 was a respected 56d36a3a66 prosecutor in society.c2c2e1537447fd4c

    Lower class and upper class. An eleven-year age gap. His first encounter with Ha 27da1fdf7c Ildo, with whom he should e6e435fbbe have had no connection, took db4887859e place at the courthouse. It had been several years b46f614059 ago now.4cec4567c0632037

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    At the time, the guys Lee Gyeonwoo hung out with, including Cha Kangmun, had caused a major motorcycle accident and were standing trial as the perpetrators. Luckily, Lee Gyeonwoo wasn’t directly involved in the incident, but he lingered in front of the courthouse waiting for Cha Kangmun. He hadn’t considered the possibility of Cha Kangmun being found guilty and detained, so the wait wasn’t anxious.17cc76605b3914b0

    ‘Do you think I’d get locked up? Just wait.’2046370fef5eb160

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    If Cha Kangmun said so, 7eea93fd33 then so be it.d92712ef7463f24c

    To the much younger Lee fbad90d028 Gyeonwoo, Cha Kangmun was the f025775d1d world, and his words were e13950999b law. Despite being only two 137964ea09 years older, he seemed 6d58b0f9bf more reliable and respectable 4f96372e98 than any adult back 145b810696 then. Now, he trusted 72947622ee him but honestly 52459f11a3 didn’t respect him.adf5f6bf52820ffe

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    Anyway, while he c36143a9fa was waiting for ef987c894c Cha Kangmun to 5ddcd56045 come out, a 71e0797706 remarkably sleek, almost a9a2302611 gleaming man approached 1d9bb336a0 him.d87a8098a7ac0a76

    ‘Who are you waiting for?’19d33e7a2db0c3b1

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    It was Ha Ildo.4c973b5c872add54

    “We’ve arrived, sir.”70edf21a0c25ffda

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    Lee Gyeonwoo, swimming 8480232810 in his memories, b8ab6dc51b snapped back to 8e87eda91b reality.fd3cc4828ae07e61

    A branded apartment 6ce8018ede building, with the 43929e9d03 Han River at 5fb5e58d0c its side, soared 9cefc4ab87 high outside the 01f1a1de6a window.6bb3db3322bae7e9

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    Lee Gyeonwoo paid the taxi 082625044e fare with Ha Ildo’s card, a5d5c5e115 and wearing the shoes Ha 5cb7e9be9e Ildo bought him, he headed 41d902d33b towards Ha Ildo’s house. Then, he’d fill ee647fe1e8 his stomach with 4f122138ce food prepared by 3a2c98e2f2 the housekeeper Ha db25cfd9e5 Ildo hired, and a9d9ed81a9 roll around in 407352f632 the bed Ha d3f04aec15 Ildo had put 3cdc3c9f0b in just for 12f140dc9e him…09eb3f9e84854d48

    His leisurely life 11af960e8b in Ha Ildo’s ae9fdbff2a world was ending ffee2c7df3 this week.69df2f148a347dfb

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    Lee Gyeonwoo flung open the front door after unlocking it. Since it was still hours before the prosecutor’s return from work, the house was naturally empty.fbf3bb8918a75894

    Throwing his clothes off a5cca2d968 carelessly as if it c9d715ceeb were his own home, ad7f0ad2c5 Lee Gyeonwoo sprawled on 85f7ee4675 the sofa.e536d158ff411b31

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    Ha Ildo had offered to 76cae40ee1 send him to academies if 948746f3c9 he wanted to study, or ed6dcd726e to introduce him to jobs ec95d699fe if he wanted to work, 401d9feef9 but in the end, until d9ec9206ef today, with the last day a91f9317df just around the corner, Lee a79a3c3c77 Gyeonwoo remained unemployed.b2662c381757c21d

    He didn’t want to study, 66afa003e1 and as for work, he’d 70347f8cc7 probably do something with Cha 87df2d3288 Kangmun once he was released. Just like before he 170caf0bff served his sentence.560c810d743642e2

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    Returning to a life that 30d6b644ac suited him. Lee Gyeonwoo was excited. Life with Ha Ildo was 3159e4daf1 comfortable, but suffocating. Ha Ildo wasn’t the type d53754634a to nag him constantly, but 981d5c15a9 whenever he looked at him 36435fef0d with his honest eyes, Lee 9ec718927b Gyeonwoo felt a certain pressure a42fc7cedb and constraint.93513c7fdb7d10e0

    Perhaps Ha Ildo would dce04e0836 even think it was a7b7281138 for the best.72fe23f5fb7ce8b3

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    Getting up from the sofa, 9486a9111b Lee Gyeonwoo went to the 01a2b9b7db kitchen and took a can 5c26fb2ee2 of beer from the refrigerator. Even the sound 6c8d79ddc9 of the tab 864787403a opening was refreshing. He was thirsty.a26bdf528f6ad2a8

    Gulp, gulp… His Adam’s apple bobbed in time with the beer he was downing.1829794301773e0e

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    Leaning against the sink 2c6f386a63 and sipping his beer, f32a524f73 Lee Gyeonwoo counted the 581d4d3776 past days.375117fecf779899

    “One year, two years, three, four… Four years.”7938101b04ccc071

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    He was seventeen when he first met Ha Ildo at the courthouse. Now he was twenty-one. So it had been four years since he’d known Ha Ildo.7e236093d0d043a0

    ‘Gyeonwoo, I’ll support you until you settle down, whatever it takes. You can rely on me.’a5cb8aa51529f0a7

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    Attention he hadn’t received even from his parents… and a certain kind of affection. Ha Ildo had showered him with it ceaselessly for four years. He was a grateful person. In other words, a benefactor.1e4c82ed402a8f91

    Therefore, he had to 92d22600c5 sever ties with Ha 3415edb83a Ildo decisively.e5cf06abc1a10cad

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    ‘You can be a good person.’dfb49c0ea091a3fb

    If he couldn’t repay the favor…fba0c47e5fd98263

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    ‘I guarantee it.’62dd029f3b2b6cb4

    …then not incurring further debt was the best course of action.9b836e77025a6393

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    Footnotes

    1. A care leaver is a young person aged 16-25 years old who has been ‘looked after’ at some point since they were 14 years old and were in care on or after their 16th birthday.
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