#Side Story, In Heat - 8
Fortunately, Mu-heon hadn't questioned his attitude so far, but could he be certain that it would continue to be so in the future?
"Now that we've both apologized, let's be friends. My name is Kang Mu-heon."
The memory from over 10 years ago was still vivid in Seung-jo's mind. It was what Mu-heon had said with a smile under the yellow sunflowers in the burning summer sun.
'Do I still look like that version of myself in your eyes?'
From then until now, Mu-heon hadn't changed at all, but he himself had changed so much. Not only had his sense of defeat and jealousy worsened day by day, but far from having consistent feelings towards his friend, his mood swung up and down several times a day because of Mu-heon. Now, no matter how he looked, he couldn't find any trace of the child who, though stubborn, was still somewhat pure.
The self from that day when Mu-heon had asked to be friends was gone now, but was he still Mu-heon's friend? Seung-jo couldn't confidently say yes.
Seeing Mu-heon's face sleeping comfortably, unaware of his worries, suddenly made him angry. Seung-jo unconsciously reached out and tapped the tip of Mu-heon's nose.
Though he frowned and turned his head to the other side, there was no particularly big reaction. He seemed to be in a deep sleep thanks to the hard training. Seung-jo smiled faintly and carefully stroked Mu-heon's cheek, trailing down to his neck and over the bare skin of his shoulder. As usual, he had slept with his top off, and the exposed skin felt cold but smooth against Seung-jo's palm.
After staying still there for a while, catching his breath, Seung-jo slowly moved his hand down, parting the blanket to place his hand on Mu-heon's left chest. He could clearly feel the heartbeat. Somehow, it felt like he was holding Mu-heon's life in his hand.
It was a strange feeling, but not at all unpleasant; rather, it felt joyful and even satisfying.
But then, suddenly Mu-heon stirred and made breathing sounds as if he was about to wake up, startling Seung-jo into removing his hand. When the body heat disappeared from his palm, a strange sense of loss came over him, even if it had been just a brief moment.
Seung-jo scratched his head and got up, leaving the room. He still didn't particularly want to see him, but he had to meet Young-ui, if only to understand the nature of these feelings.
"Have you thought a lot about what I said yesterday?"
Young-ui asked as if he had been waiting, sitting down on a dining hall chair. Seung-jo didn't answer, but Young-ui could read his own kind of anguish on the face that was turned away.
Young-ui didn't wait long for a response before speaking again.
"Do you realize that your behavior today wasn't much different from what I talked about yesterday?"
Seung-jo clenched his fist under the table, then barely managed to relax it. It was something he already knew himself, but having it pointed out by a third party was extremely unpleasant.
"I know."
"Huh?"
"I said I know."
Finally, Seung-jo spat out, grinding his teeth.
"Let's say, as you said, my feelings are just jealousy or... something like that, which is of no help to Mu-heon. I'll admit I have possessiveness. So what do you want me to do?"
Thinking he would kill Young-ui if he suggested ending the friendship, Seung-jo caught his breath. Young-ui shook his head with a strange smile.
"You're naive. You'll only admit to jealousy and possessiveness? Those are just like slices of a pizza. From what I see, the emotions you're showing are much more than that. Much more. You need to admit to all of that."
"If you're going to spout nonsense..."
Just as he was about to tell Young-ui to get lost, twitching one eyebrow,
"Jeong Seung-jo, have you ever heard of the word love?"
Feeling as if he'd been hit with another direct blow, Seung-jo's words retreated on their own, and Young-ui's smile grew even wider as he looked at him.
"Isn't it strange? It's something every Tom, Dick, and Harry talks about, but when you actually try to say it yourself, it feels heavier than anything else."
"You, surely..."
"'You're not going to apply that word to me, are you?'"
Seung-jo stared at Young-ui, who had casually intercepted the words he was about to say, with trembling eyes. Increasingly, the guy in front of him didn't seem like an ordinary guy. An expression that one might make after swallowing something very bitter appeared on Young-ui's face.
"Look at me straight."
Unconsciously, Seung-jo looked directly at Young-ui's face. His outline was blurred, hidden in the darkness. What he could make out was the slightly pale complexion contrasting with his black hair, and the darkly sunken eyes.
Young-ui, who had been staring at Seung-jo for a while in the same way, moved his lips.
"Try to think of me as Kang Mu-heon."
"That's nonsense..."
"I said try to think it."
Seung-jo's instinctive resistance subsided under Young-ui's strong tone. It was strange. It seemed crazy, but as he stared at the face that wasn't properly visible in the darkness, the hidden parts gradually seemed to ripple and change into that familiar face he knew so well. No, had Young-ui's features resembled Mu-heon's from the start?
The eyes projecting strong will, the calmly closed lips, even the body that was lean without much muscle but adequately sturdy. Young-ui gently raised the corners of his mouth as he looked into Seung-jo's eyes, which couldn't hide their agitation even while knowing who the real person in front of him was. Even that seemed like his friend's smile, and Seung-jo couldn't suppress his rough breathing.
"What... is this!"
"Jeong Seung-jo."
Young-ui in front of him, no, Mu-heon in the darkness, said with a smile. Immediately, Mu-heon's hand touched Seung-jo's face, which had turned pale white in hesitation. His face, trembling with agitation, looked as if it might bite at any moment, but in the end, he couldn't push it away.
Mu-heon, who had been sitting across the table, slowly pushed his chair back and stood up. The hand touching Seung-jo's cheek remained there. And, and, he slowly bent his upper body forward, that face coming closer!
Seung-jo realized he couldn't move a finger, as if his body was tightly bound. His trembling fists screamed. The breath was getting closer and closer.
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Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.
– I’m never attending school, ever again!
‘What do you wish to achieve in life?’
‘I wish to play around and live comforta-‘
‘You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!’
‘Patriarch!’
My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!
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