이 포스팅은 쿠팡 파트너스 활동의 일환으로, 이에 따른 일정액의 수수료를 제공받습니다.
# Chapter 206: Shadow of Death
Min-jun started to rise from his seat, then sat back down. His hands trembled violently, and his eyes never left Junho’s face. Junho’s fingers mirrored the same tension—as if two people understanding each other in a moment of crucial decision, their hands spoke what words could not. Min-jun’s gaze remained fixed on Junho’s face, and his eyes, glistening with unshed tears, seemed to hold an unspoken burden.
“Someone died?” Min-jun’s voice barely escaped a whisper. Yet Junho heard it. His eyes turned toward Min-jun, searching, as if trying to understand something profound in that moment. Min-jun felt his chest tighten at the sight. His heart raced, and his trembling intensified.
“For that person… for you… I would do anything.” Junho’s voice remained steady, but Min-jun caught something beneath those words. They were directed at him. They were asking something of him. A heaviness settled in Min-jun’s chest. His thoughts spiraled into confusion, and his emotions grew turbulent.
Junho’s hand gripped a small glass of water, his eyes reaching toward darkness—a testament to what he could no longer see. Min-jun felt pain pierce his chest at the sight. His hands still trembled, and his eyes held the look of someone desperate to speak of something crucial, yet unable to find the words.
Then the café door opened. A new customer entered. Min-jun looked at their face, and his heart eased slightly. The customer smiled at him, and that smile brought further comfort. The aroma of coffee still lingered in the air, and Min-jun found himself steadying as he breathed it in.
The customer approached Min-jun and took his hand. It was warm—Min-jun felt understood in that touch. Looking at their face, his heart found a moment of peace. The customer spoke, and Min-jun’s heart eased further at the sound of their voice.
“Hello, Min-jun.” The customer’s words brought comfort. Min-jun held their hand, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. Yet his mind remained tangled, his emotions still volatile.
“Hello,” Min-jun replied. The customer’s hand remained in his, and Min-jun looked at their face, finding solace there. He tried to organize his thoughts, but they remained fragmented, his feelings still turbulent.
“What should I do here?” Min-jun asked. The customer smiled. That smile only deepened Min-jun’s confusion. His thoughts remained chaotic, his emotions unsettled.
“You must do something,” the customer said. Min-jun felt his heart ease slightly at the words, yet he still struggled to gather his thoughts. The confusion persisted.
“What must I do?” Min-jun asked again. The customer smiled once more, and Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“You must speak the name of the dead.” The customer’s words struck Min-jun like a shock. His heart grew more confused. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
“Whose name?” Min-jun asked. The customer smiled. That smile only confused Min-jun further. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“The name you wish to know,” the customer said. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
“I don’t wish to know,” Min-jun said. The customer smiled. His heart grew only more confused. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“You do wish to know,” the customer replied. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
Then Min-jun’s fingers began to tremble. Holding the customer’s hand, he couldn’t understand why. As if something demanded he make a choice, his fingers shook uncontrollably.
“What must I do?” Min-jun asked. The customer smiled. His heart grew only more confused. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“You must speak the name of the dead,” the customer said once more. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
Min-jun held the customer’s hand, his confusion deepening with each passing moment. Looking at their face, his heart only grew more troubled.
Then Junho approached. “Min-jun, let’s go,” he said. Min-jun felt his heart ease at those words. Still holding the customer’s hand, he stood to leave with Junho. Even as they left the café, he could not let go.
Outside the café, Min-jun still held the customer’s hand. Looking at their face, his heart found a measure of peace. Yet his thoughts remained tangled, his emotions still volatile.
“Who are you?” Min-jun asked. The customer smiled. His heart only grew more confused. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“I am your friend,” the customer said. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
“I have no friends,” Min-jun said. The customer smiled. His heart grew only more confused. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“You do have a friend,” the customer replied. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.
Then Min-jun’s fingers began to tremble again. Holding the customer’s hand, he couldn’t fathom why. As if compelled to decide something, his fingers shook with increasing intensity.
“What must I do?” Min-jun asked once more. The customer smiled. His heart grew only more confused. His thoughts remained complex, his emotions heightened.
“You must speak the name of the dead,” the customer said. Min-jun’s heart grew only more tangled. His thoughts remained scattered, his emotions turbulent.