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“It means if you don’t separate me from this human, he’ll die,” Sinhye croaked out.

“Don’t try to talk,” Junu said. “Save your strength.”

“Trust me, that’s what I’m trying to do, but you all keep jostling me around and it hurts.”

Miyoung shifted to let Sinhye sit on her own. “What are we going to do?”

“We have to get Sinhye out. Having two souls is making Jihoon weak, just like when he had the bead inside of him. It’s making it impossible for him to heal right now.”

“How the hell are we going to get her out without the sansin?” Somin asked, wiping furiously at tears streaming down her face.

“You know what we’re going to do,” Junu said.

Somin turned to him, at first confused. Then her face fell. “No. That’s not an option.”

Warmth radiated through him at her insistence. But it alsoworried him. He never thought he’d have the chance to die knowing someone would truly mourn him. But he realized he didn’t want that for Somin. He didn’t want her to be sad because of him.

“It’s for the best,” Junu said, making his voice light and conversational. “I’ve been messing up this whole time, and others are paying the price.”

“No,” Somin said again. “I can’t let you go. Not this soon.”

“Maybe we’ll meet in the next life,” Junu said softly.

“I don’t want to wait that long.”

“I’ll make it worth the wait. I promise.” Junu smiled. “In the next life, I’ll work my hardest to be a person worthy of you.”

Somin shook her head, but she didn’t say anything; instead, she held on to him. He worried if she didn’t let go, then he’d lose the courage to do what needed to be done.

“Just being yourself makes you worthy.”

Now Junu felt the burn of tears behind his eyes, but he held them back. He knew that if she saw him cry, it would only make her hurt worse.

“If I’d known it would make you say such nice things, I’d have gladly sacrificed my soul earlier.”

That made Somin choke out a laugh. “Of course you would say something absolutely ridiculous at a time like this.”

“Be good,” Junu said, leaning close, and gave her a gentle kiss. He could taste the salt of her tears on her lips.

She moved back just a centimeter, so they were only a breath apart, and said, “Don’t tell me what to do, Jin Junu.”

His laugh was a low rumble. Then he finally let go of Somin, and after a moment of tense hesitation, she let go, too.

“Okay, first things first. Let’s call that bead.”

“Junu, I can’t—” Miyoung began, but he shook his head.

“It doesn’t need discussion, I made up my mind.”

“This doesn’t feel right.”

Junu laughed. “Well, you’ve never really approved of anything I’ve ever done before.”

“Stop it. I’m saying that I don’t think you need to do this. We’ll find another way.”

“Jihoon doesn’t have time to wait. And I was the reason you lost your mother. I won’t be the reason you lose him, too.”

“You’re not. I never really thought you were. I was just so angry all the time, and you were an easy target. And my mother.” Miyoung paused, taking a deep breath. “My mother made her own choices. That was never on you.”