Eventually, it started snowing. Seo Dong-eun, who ended up meeting the first snow of the year on the street, had no time to indulge in sentiment. It had already been over 30 minutes since he left the cafe, and he had only just managed to board the bus.

His body temperature was rapidly dropping as snow melted into water the moment it touched his clothes. Hae-su's coat was heavy and poorly insulated. Seo Dong-eun's light, warm padded jacket would be worn by Hae-su inside the cafe.

Meeting Hae-su today was purely to lose the watchers.

There was one last thing he had to look into. Although the implications of most of what he knew were already clear, Seo Dong-eun still wanted to confirm. To do that, he needed to evade the eyes of those monitoring him. Observing keenly, he noticed one or two strange things around him. Men following him in similar patterns, a car that appeared without fail wherever he went.

That was enough. It was obvious they were the watchers Wi Du-hong had mentioned Kwon Woo-kyung had placed on him. In such a situation, it was dangerous to move while dragging them along. How could he lose them? After thinking it through, he decided to set up a decoy.

Someone whose appearance could be mistaken for his. No matter how hard he racked his brain, there seemed to be no suitable answer. Then Hae-su suddenly came to mind. Among the people he knew, Hae-su had the most similar physique. Fortunately, Hae-su hadn't moved yet and readily agreed to Seo Dong-eun's request. He also happened to get in touch with Park Jae-hoon. The two participated in the plan without even knowing the reason. They would probably be waiting at the cafe for Seo Dong-eun to return right about now.

Time was tight. In less than an hour, the snow had piled up, painting the whole world white.

His chest felt tight. Even though he clearly felt cold, he felt suffocated somewhere and had to take deep breaths several times. On the bus heading out of the city outskirts, there was only Seo Dong-eun. Wiping the window fogged by his breath, Seo Dong-eun swallowed hard. Meanwhile, the bus neared the last stop. It was the detention center where Park Jeong-tae was imprisoned.

Since he had come recklessly, he had been prepared for the possibility of not being able to meet Park Jeong-tae. He might refuse, or, since the number of daily visits was limited, someone might have visited him before he did.

However, Seo Dong-eun was able to face Park Jeong-tae more easily than he had expected. Park Jeong-tae didn't refuse the visit, even though he knew the visitor was Seo Dong-eun.

“……That……”

“Why are you here?”

He wondered if he should say hello, but the words 'how have you been' didn't seem to fit. Futilely, it was Park Jeong-tae who spoke first. Director Park Jeong-tae, as Seo Dong-eun remembered him, was an ordinary middle-aged beta, always soaked in fatigue. A boss who found everything annoying and had many complaints, yet was polite to his superiors and not particularly distant from his subordinates.

The person in front of him now was far from a typical office worker. The location, a detention center, was unfamiliar, but the Park Jeong-tae he met after several months looked even more foreign. Was it because of the prison uniform? Was it because he looked messy from not shaving properly?

It seemed more like those eyes were the problem. His eyes, which flickered with a strange light, seemed as if he had given up on everything long ago, yet they also looked oddly anxious, and they resembled someone Seo Dong-eun knew.

“Why did you do that?”

“What.”

The uncle, before he sold his nephew to Wi Du-hong, and Wi Du-hong himself, who had appeared penniless and vowed revenge. Their images were also present in Park Jeong-tae. Across the iron bars and the partition, Park Jeong-tae picked at his ear. From the way he sat crookedly to the smirk on his face as he glanced at his visitor—his behavior was far from apology or reflection. Assistant Manager Yoo, who had informed him of the facts Park Jeong-tae had confessed, clearly said it was all his fault and that he had said he was sorry to Seo Dong-eun.

“Why, why did you drag even me into this? You weren't even particularly close to me, Director. I still don't really know what you did. But why me, of all people?”

He hadn't come to receive an apology. He didn't expect conventional words of regret. But he didn't expect it to go this far. Park Jeong-tae was clearly mocking Seo Dong-eun.

“Did you come all the way here just to ask that? You must be bored, Dong-eun!”

“You were bribed to do it, weren't you?”

“What?”

“I thought it was strange all along. Why did you give that task to me, of all people? I tried to brush it off, thinking I might be an easy target because I was a temporary worker, but there were too many odd things. You wanted that incident to be discovered through me from the very beginning. Leaking secrets and embezzling funds were just tools to achieve a goal. You did all that, Director, just to get me into trouble.”

“……Even if that were true, what are you going to do about it now? I even turned myself in. The final trial is coming up. My lawyer said it was a good thing I confessed. He said it would work very much in my favor. Even at the trial, I said I was sorry, that I was so sorry, over and over. Is that what you want too, Seo Dong-eun? Why? Should I say it for you? It’s not that hard. I’m sorry, okay? Happy?”

“Is it Lawyer Hwang?”

“……What?”

For the first time since they had faced each other in the detention center, Park Jeong-tae’s eyes wavered. His slick, indifferent demeanor shifted. Only then was Seo Dong-eun certain his hunch was correct. He had taken a shot in the dark when Park Jeong-tae mentioned a lawyer.

“It’s Lawyer Hwang Bo-su, isn’t it? That lawyer’s name.”

“H-how did you know that, Seo Dong-eun?”

Park Jeong-tae leaned forward so sharply that his forehead thudded against the partition. His wide, rolling eyes were incredibly murky and bloodshot. The stench emanating from the man could not be blocked out. Even though he had experienced similar things several times already, he never grew numb to these sensations. It was a desperate feeling.

“How much did they say they’d pay you to frame me with those charges? What did you agree to receive?”

He didn’t ask because he expected an answer. He was simply curious about the extent of the ill will Kwon Woo-kyung harbored toward him. How far Kwon Woo-kyung was willing to go to throw Seo Dong-eun into the abyss. He likely hadn’t approached Park Jeong-tae while fully revealing his identity. That would have been a huge risk for Kwon Woo-kyung, and there was probably no need for it. Was he playing a prank, or was he just sick of seeing him stubbornly clinging to life? Or was he simply trying to watch him fall into trouble and be driven into a corner? He still couldn't be sure of anything. However, there was one thing he thought he understood.

So you hated me enough to go this far.

While Seo Dong-eun organized his thoughts, Park Jeong-tae babbled incoherently. He claimed his child was sick, said he had a lot of debt, and then grew angry, asking why he had to tell him all that. As a commotion broke out, the guards forced Park Jeong-tae to his feet. Seo Dong-eun also stood up readily. Whatever he had received, whatever his reasons, none of it mattered to him anymore.

‘I only did what I was told! You must have done something wrong for someone to hold a grudge like that! Still, that should be enough! Did I kill you? Did I hit you? You were just a contract worker anyway!’

Chewing over the words Park Jeong-tae screamed just before leaving the visitation room, Seo Dong-eun exited the detention center. The snow had stopped falling at some point. The snow that had covered the world in white was now trampled and crushed by those coming and going, turned into a muddy slush. The afternoon sunlight slowly passed over the wet, muddy mess. Even a dirty mud puddle sparkles when it catches the light.

His chest still felt tight, and the day was cold. Though he felt heavy-hearted, no tears came. Instead, a hollow laugh escaped first.

‘If you’re thinking of relaying the fact that I came to visit or the conversation we had here to that side, you’d better stop. I know exactly where your family is, Director.’

Hoping his threat had worked on Park Jeong-tae, he waited for the bus back. A sudden gust of wind blew. Seo Dong-eun turned his body and closed his eyes. He thought, as he calmly rubbed them, that it was just the sudden wind making his eyes sting and fill with tears.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Just as he had when he left the building, Seo Dong-eun deliberately took a long way around to the back of the building. Between the low-rise buildings packed tightly together, there was a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. He saw the piece of brick he had used a few hours earlier lying there undisturbed. Seo Dong-eun stepped on the brick and pulled himself up lightly. After crawling through the small, half-open bathroom window and finally lowering himself down, he was fortunate to find the building's bathroom was quiet. If the bathroom window had had security bars or if there had been people inside, he wouldn't have even dreamed of doing this.

“Hyung!”

As soon as his feet hit the floor with a thud, the inner bathroom door opened. Startled, he looked back as Hae-su came running toward him.

“Why are you here? Did something happen?”

“No, Jae-hoon hyung said he had to leave. I felt awkward being alone. I was thinking of calling you. But here you are!”

Hae-su smiled, dangling Seo Dong-eun’s phone. Realizing his mistake, Seo Dong-eun reached into his pocket and found Hae-su’s phone.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t even realize I took your phone. Were you bored?”

“Just, you know. Hehe, since I helped you today, will you buy me a meal next time?”

“Yes, of course.”

Fortunately, whether by luck or not, Hae-su told him that no suspicious people had approached or signaled anything unusual while Seo Dong-eun swapped clothes with him and went to the detention center. After changing back into his own clothes, Seo Dong-eun sent Hae-su out of the bathroom first. When he thanked him several times and said he would contact him later, Hae-su actually looked embarrassed. Only after confirming through the crack in the door that Hae-su had left the building was Seo Dong-eun able to leave as well.

A car was diagonally behind him, and two men were following him. The watchers' movements remained unchanged.

Seo Dong-eun walked briskly. The streets where the snow had melted before it could accumulate were the same here as on the city’s outskirts. Every muddy step felt heavy. Because he had been tense all day, the fatigue in his legs was immense. His mind was still a mess, but one thing was clear. Everything that had happened over the past few months had occurred under Kwon Woo-kyung’s plan. He thought about why Kwon Woo-kyung had done it. He had been pondering it ever since his suspicions first began, but even now that everything had become clear, he still couldn't reach a conclusion.

However,

“……Oh.”

Lost in thought, Seo Dong-eun stopped walking when a building with a flashy exterior came into view. Out of habit, he had returned here. He had returned, as if it were the most natural thing, to the hotel where the man who had done such things—and whose feelings toward him he didn't even know—stayed.

Even after confirming it with Park Jeong-tae, he still hadn't decided on anything. Why was Kwon Woo-kyung doing this to him? Was he trying to get revenge, as Wi Du-hong had warned? To him, just as he had to his father and to Wi Du-hong. But then, what were all those gestures and actions he had shown until now? Were those moments, those instances, all a lie? Would Kwon Woo-kyung go that far just to deceive him?

Seo Dong-eun vigorously rubbed his dry face and shook his head. Why wouldn't he go that far? Hadn't he already confirmed everything? He had taken away his job, ruined his life, and sent a thug to his house. It was all Kwon Woo-kyung’s doing. Whether it was revenge or something else, it was clear that Kwon Woo-kyung’s feelings for Seo Dong-eun—for Choi Hyun-seo—were impure.

He resumed his reluctant steps. He suddenly became aware of the eyes watching him again. Whatever he decided, it wouldn't be here on the street. His familiar steps headed straight for one place.

“You’re here?”

It was the moment Seo Dong-eun, panting as if he were being chased, opened the door to the residence. He heard a voice as if it had been waiting for him. For a moment, Seo Dong-eun inhaled and felt his throat tighten. He bought time by slowly taking off his shoes and changing into indoor slippers. In the meantime, Kwon Woo-kyung had come closer.

“……Yes. You’re here.”

As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He was afraid Kwon Woo-kyung would notice something strange in his tone or meaning. But Seo Dong-eun had returned here only because he had assumed Kwon Woo-kyung wouldn't be there. He had definitely mentioned earlier that he would continue late-night filming until the end.

“Why, are you disappointed? Did you wish I wasn't here?”

“No.…… I must have misunderstood.”

“I was a bit tired, so I came back early. Filming was delayed as well. It seems you had fun with your friends, Mr. Dong-eun.”

“Pardon?”

As he asked back, a hand reached out to him. His shoulders stiffened in surprise, and the back of his neck went rigid. At that moment, their eyes met. Was it his imagination, or did those eyes look fierce? An eternity passed in an instant. Seo Dong-eun had no idea how to respond. In the meantime, Kwon Woo-kyung withdrew his hand.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s not like it’s the first time.”

Kwon Woo-kyung shrugged as if it were no big deal and held out his hand. A dried leaf lay on his palm. It seemed to have been stuck in his hair. Seeing that, Seo Dong-eun’s face stiffened noticeably. The leaf’s shape was very similar to those of the trees planted along the wall of the detention center.

“Walking around with something like this on you.”

Kwon Woo-kyung smiled as he closed his fist again. It was as if he were enjoying the sight of Seo Dong-eun trembling before him, but from another perspective, he looked no different than before. It was the face that had confused Seo Dong-eun. The gaze and actions that had made him wonder, one out of ten or a hundred times, if he was being sincere.

“Have you... eaten?”

So, at the very least, he had to be the same as he had been then. Seo Dong-eun licked his dry lips and caught his breath.

“No. And you, Mr. Dong-eun?”

“Not yet.”

“Good. Let’s eat in today then. Since I’m tired.”

A smile was laced into his words again. Seo Dong-eun nodded and moved his legs.

“Ah, right. It snowed during the day. Did you see it?”

“……Yes.”

His toes were still cold from the chill that had frozen and hadn't quite melted. His Converse sneakers were vulnerable to moisture, and after walking outside all day, they were a darker shade than usual. Seo Dong-eun stopped walking and turned his head. Kwon Woo-kyung was leaning against the wall, leisurely watching him.

“I only watched it.”

“I see. But why is your face so pale? Like someone who’s been out in the cold. Go wash up first. I’ll order something.”

After nodding readily, Seo Dong-eun was finally able to enter the bathroom. He felt eyes on his wet socks and on his legs as they dragged across the floor, but he didn't dare look back.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

“Hey, Ju-young.”

As Seo Dong-eun was changing clothes and leaving the breakroom, he stopped and called out to the part-timer for the next shift. Having seen each other almost every day, they had grown close enough to call each other by name.

“Yes? What is it?”

“By any chance, was that car there when you arrived too?”

From the cash register, the outside wasn't fully visible, so one had to lean forward to check outside the store.

“Yes.”

After confirming which car Seo Dong-eun was pointing to, Song Ju-young straightened back up and answered nonchalantly.

“Have you seen that car before?”

“I don’t know. Isn’t it a pretty common car? ……Wait. I have! I saw it! An old man who lives on the top floor of this building was yelling at them for parking like that, and the car that had been sitting still started moving as if it had been waiting. It scared the old man so much that he started swearing even more. But back then, the car wasn't there; it was parked behind the alley.”

“When was that?”

“Maybe two or three days ago? Around the time I was coming to work. It’s been at least a few days, I think.”

“Ah, I see. Thanks.”

With a nod, Seo Dong-eun left the convenience store. And then he walked. He headed toward the subway station as he usually did. Christmas was just around the corner. Large shops had trees set up in front, and small decorations or cute garlands, wherever he looked, enhanced the festive atmosphere of the end of the year.

The watchers were still following behind Seo Dong-eun. He was especially on edge because of the paper in his pocket. He put his hand in his pocket as if nothing were wrong and felt the crinkled paper. His eyes flickered anxiously. Seo Dong-eun bit his lip hard.

He had received this paper while he was busy working at the convenience store.

After a customer who had been sitting at a table in the store left, this crumpled piece of paper was left on the table. At first, he thought it was trash and didn't think much of it. As he was about to gather the trash and throw it in the bin, Seo Dong-eun suddenly clutched the ball of paper. Knowing that no one could see inside from the outside, he stuffed the paper into his pocket as if someone were watching.

He walked straight to the subway station without a single glance elsewhere. Normally, he would have boarded the subway without delay. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and the day after was Christmas. Perhaps because of that, the streets and the station were more crowded than usual.

Inside the station, at the moment the billboard screen changed and went dark, the reflection of the man following him appeared. Seo Dong-eun turned immediately. Because of the large crowd, it was easy to blend in. He quickened his pace and entered the ticket gate in the opposite direction. Just walking that far left him out of breath. Even so, he didn't have the luxury of catching his breath properly. Luckily, he was able to board a subway train that had just arrived. Still unable to feel at ease, he got off at the next station and ran straight to the bathroom. He locked the door and suppressed his thumping heart.

His heart was pounding as if it were about to leap out of his mouth. With trembling hands, he pulled out the crumpled ball of paper and smoothed it out.

<It’s your uncle, Hyun-seo. Let’s meet again at the place we met before in two days. You haven’t forgotten what your uncle said, have you? I’ll be waiting.>

At the bottom of the paper, there was even a number scribbled hastily. It looked like a phone number. Uncle, Hyun-seo. In any case, there was only one person in this world who would call him by that name, who would refer to himself as his uncle. Wi Du-hong—even when he had come to find Choi Hyun-seo ten years ago, after he had been reduced to an unidentified person without a name, he had called himself his uncle. And he had given Choi Hyun-seo a new name and identity. That was the beginning of the debt Seo Dong-eun owed. The fee for using a new identity, the price of a new name, hospital bills, medical expenses, and living expenses. All the money used to make Choi Hyun-seo into Seo Dong-eun remained as pure debt.

Compared to his grand appearance on the day Seo Dong-eun learned the truth about Kwon Woo-kyung, Wi Du-hong had disappeared with surprising submissiveness. But he had certainly said he would contact him first. Was he really planning to take revenge on Kwon Woo-kyung, and was it now his turn to be used as Wi Du-hong’s tool for revenge? Even though he knew the truth, he had stubbornly crawled back to Kwon Woo-kyung’s hotel, faced him, and eaten with him. This was the end of his reprieve. Seo Dong-eun slowly sank to the floor. The pathetic piece of paper was becoming even more crumpled in his pale, trembling hand.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

The residence, where the lights had been turned off early, was silent and dark. Being alone in there made him think of his childhood. Ten years ago, back when he still hoped for and wanted something. It was a day when the uncle who had locked him up had been away from the house for several days, and Choi Hyun-seo had summoned his courage. Let’s run away, I can’t live like this anymore. Choi Hyun-seo was an eighteen-year-old recessive omega who couldn't even go to school properly and wandered the back alleys doing errands. Though he was a boy of few words, he had ears to hear, but the adults thought a child who didn't speak also didn't listen. The voices whispering about him behind his back were still fresh in his ears.

‘That’s the kid Choi Seong-geon is trying to sell. They say he’s a recessive.’

‘I heard he’s been poking around every shop, trying to sell his own nephew.’

‘If it were me, I would have run away long ago. Is he missing something in the head?’

The reason he hadn't run away sooner was that, even then, he was held back by that damn word, 'family.' To the young Choi Hyun-seo, who had been even younger and safe within the family's fence, his parents had urged him. Still, we are family. Hyun-seo, your uncle is a pitiful person, too. Neither his father nor his mother could have known what that pitiful uncle would do to his nephew after they had passed away. Because even he, the one experiencing it, didn't want to believe it until the very end.

Only after confirming that his uncle had really planned to sell him was he finally able to stand up. He packed his bags and slipped out of the house in the middle of the night. Choi Seong-geon had installed several locks on the front door, both inside and out, to keep the young recessive omega confined. But perhaps because they were cheap, they broke easily after being struck a few times with something heavy.

That was how he had fled, but as soon as he left the house, he was caught by Wi Du-hong. Back then, Choi Hyun-seo had not yet realized why Choi Seong-geon had no choice but to be away for days. It was only much later that Choi Hyun-seo learned he couldn't come home because Wi Du-hong had beaten him within an inch of his life over mounting debts. Thus, he was sold to Kwon Tae-seok’s mansion, where he met Kwon Woo-kyung. If he had managed to escape successfully back then, would he have been able to avoid the situation that forced him to run away again ten years later?

Sitting quietly on the sofa, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, Seo Dong-eun recalled those old memories anew. However, he soon stopped. There wasn't much time. Christmas morning would soon break.

‘To make a choice you won't regret, you should think carefully. Instead, let's see each other with a smile on Christmas.’

Those were the words Kwon Woo-kyung left behind when they last faced each other two days ago. He said he wouldn't be able to return to the residence in order to wrap up filming. Kwon Woo-kyung smiled and told him to use that time to think carefully about his proposal. It was an attitude that showed he had no doubt Seo Dong-eun would follow his words.

A smile, Christmas. Such things didn't suit him. Seo Dong-eun stood up. He slung the bag he had brought from home over his shoulder and checked his clothes. He had packed everything he needed. He had gathered all the cash he could. He hadn't told anyone. A scheduled text was set to be sent to the convenience store where he worked, and he planned to contact Ra Ju-o later, as soon as he had the chance.

Faint auxiliary lights were palely illuminating the interior of the residence. After looking around the place where he had stayed with Kwon Woo-kyung, he checked the time. The short hand had passed nine. He could no longer linger. He felt even more composed than he had expected, which, conversely, felt bitter. Perhaps they were the kind of pair for whom things like goodbyes didn't suit, both ten years ago and now. So leaving like this was the right thing to do.

With that final thought, Seo Dong-eun opened the door. He didn't bother looking back as the door closed behind him. He deliberately avoided the elevator and took the stairs. Over the past few days, he had already identified the watchers' movements. One car, two people watching in close proximity. Usually, they seemed to move in teams like this.

And for some reason, they didn't follow him inside the hotel. Even though he tried not to be nervous, his mouth kept going dry. His hand naturally went to his backpack strap. After trying to make himself less noticeable, step by step, he managed to reach the lobby floor. He took a breath and placed his hand on the emergency exit doorknob. When he slowly opened the door, he saw the hotel lobby bustling despite it being near midnight. The timing was good. Seo Dong-eun had only learned after coming here that hotels and restaurants were in their peak season at this time, but it didn't matter. There were quite a lot of people coming and going around the large Christmas tree in the center of the lobby. The same was true of the cafes, restaurants, and bars that were open late. Blending in with the crowd was relatively easy. He finally merged with the throng and headed toward the back door.

A large stone wall surrounded the hotel grounds, and if he went a little farther from the backyard, there was a small side door mainly used by employees, along with a temporary parking lot. The passages where goods moved seemed similar whether it was Wi Du-hong's bar or here. Nevertheless, he didn't forget to hide in the shadows every now and then. If Kwon Woo-kyung had gone so far as to attach watchers, he must have had something in mind as well. Whatever it was, and no matter how Wi Du-hong acted, he didn't intend to be swept away anymore. If what Kwon Woo-kyung had done to him was revenge, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. But if Wi Du-hong was involved, it became a different story. In that case, it was better for him not to be there.

Standing at the edge of the building, he checked his surroundings. As expected, there didn't seem to be any watchers this far out. Because whenever Seo Dong-eun went in and out of the hotel, he had deliberately used the main entrance and the lobby.

Once he put on the hat he had prepared and pulled up the large hood attached to his field jacket, more than half his face was hidden. He pulled the zipper up to his chin and took several deep breaths. Just then, he saw a large truck about to exit through the back gate. Seo Dong-eun waited until the truck was close before stepping out. Thus, keeping his body as hidden as possible, he was able to escape the hotel.

Many taxis were waiting around the hotel. Getting into one of them, Seo Dong-eun stated his destination. It was a night deep into Christmas Eve.

The taxi driver didn't think it was strange for a passenger with his hat pulled down low to ask to be taken to the express bus terminal. He said it would take about twenty minutes. Since he had already checked the express bus schedule, there was nothing to worry about. Yet his lips kept going dry with a strange sense of anxiety. His hands began to tremble, to the point that his composure inside Kwon Woo-kyung's residence felt pointless.

While he repeatedly wiped his dry lips, the taxi pulled to a stop. Handing over the fare and quickly getting out of the taxi, Seo Dong-eun looked around and ran toward the terminal. Even though he knew there was still time before the bus departed, he couldn't shake the sense of urgency that surged within him. After purchasing a bus ticket for his destination, he bought a simple bottle of water. He checked the boarding platform on the electronic display and took a sip of water. Even though there were only about ten minutes left, he was endlessly anxious, which was nothing short of an ordeal. Everything else was fine. Because Seo Dong-eun was on his way to his parents.

It had been a very long time since he had visited the columbarium where his parents were laid to rest. To be precise, he hadn't dared to go since he had become Seo Dong-eun. He was still the same, only his name had changed, and that was how it should be. At first, Seo Dong-eun had also made up his mind and visited the columbarium just once on a day he missed them unbearably. After that, he never went there again.

He realized, upon seeing his parents, that it was because he felt ashamed. If his parents were to find out, if they were watching, what he had done, what he had done in exchange for never seeing his uncle again for the rest of his life. When such thoughts occurred, he couldn't even lift his head. That was the last time. Since then, no matter how much he missed his parents, no matter how unbearably lonely he was, he simply endured it.

The large digital clock in the terminal announced the departure time. Seo Dong-eun boarded the late-night express bus. About six hours ahead. Let's start over from there, he promised himself. He hadn't decided anything yet, but somehow he felt he could do it. No one would care about Choi Hyun-seo's parents, nor would anyone be able to know. After taking his seat, Seo Dong-eun closed his eyes. The pitch-black night sky, where not even a star rose, stretched out endlessly.