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   The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the park, turning the world into a wash of fading gold and muted greens. Beomgyu sat slouched on a wooden bench, his legs spread wide as if anchoring himself to the earth. His hands hung loosely between his knees, fingers twitching idly against each other while his gaze remained fixed on the gravel path beneath his feet. Tiny pebbles scattered in uneven patterns, and he found himself staring blankly, following their erratic shapes as if they might form answers to the questions swirling in his head.

   He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting there. Long enough for the warmth of the sun to shift into a cooler breeze, brushing against his exposed skin and sending a shiver up his spine. Long enough for his eyes to sting from exhaustion and salt, remnants of the tears he had furiously wiped away before stepping out of the house. His reflection had been a mess — red-rimmed eyes, flushed cheeks, and the faint bruises still darkening his skin from Yeonjun's assault.

   Beomgyu had worked quickly. Ice first to reduce the swelling, then makeup hastily dabbed onto his face to cover what the ice couldn't erase. But no amount of concealer could hide the truth. His eyes were glassy, his expression hollow, the edges of his resolve crumbling more with each passing second.

   When he had first arrived at the park, he had held himself together. Barely. But now, alone on the bench with only the sound of distant laughter from children playing and the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the fragile facade shattered. His chest tightened painfully, and before he could stop it, a tear slipped down his cheek.

   He clenched his fists, squeezing his eyes shut as if willing the tears to retreat. "Get a grip," he muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse. "Come on, Beomgyu. Not here."

   But the ache wouldn't be silenced.

   Soobin's words echoed relentlessly in his mind, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.

   "Taehyun is really right. You're planning something. Even on me, aren't you?"

   "What do you want so bad that you even took Yeonjun-hyung away from me?"

   Beomgyu swallowed hard, his throat tight as the accusations twisted into something far heavier — doubt, confusion, and a sense of betrayal so sharp it made his heart feel as though it had been cracked in two. He thought back to the way Soobin's eyes had burned with hurt and anger, to the venom in his voice.

   It didn't make sense.

   What does he mean by 'Taehyun is right'?

   What does he mean by 'taking Yeonjun away'?

   Beomgyu's mind spun, trying to piece together a puzzle he didn't have all the pieces for. He had been so wrapped up in the storm of accusations and fists that he hadn't even had time to understand what he was being accused of.

   His thoughts raced to Yeonjun, to the fierce grip and harsh words in the bathroom — the fury in his eyes, the relentless questioning that had left Beomgyu battered in more ways than one.

   "What are you planning to do to Taehyunnie?"

   "You think I'll believe that? You think I'm fucking stupid, don't you?"

   What did they think he was doing? What could he possibly have done to make them think he had some kind of sinister plan?

   The confusion and the weight of it all pressed down on him like a suffocating fog. He had always been loud and reckless, sharp with his words and quick with his comebacks — but right now, he felt small. Small and hollow and so very tired of being misunderstood.

   A sob built in his chest, and he bit his lip hard enough to taste blood, trying to choke it back. His fingers dug into his thighs as if the pressure might ground him, keep him from unraveling completely.

   But the tears kept falling, silent and unrelenting, streaking down his cheeks and dripping onto the gravel below.

   He hated this.

Hated how weak he felt.

Hated how much it hurt.

The world blurred around him, and he let his head drop, staring at the ground as his shoulders trembled. He didn't hear the footsteps at first, too lost in the storm of his own thoughts.

It wasn't until a shadow fell across him, blocking the sun, that he finally looked up.

A silhouette stood before him, dark against the fading light.

Someone familiar.

Beomgyu didn't need to look up to recognize who the silhouette belonged to. The tall frame, the confident stance, and the way the shadows curled around him like they were drawn to his presence — it was Yeonjun. He'd been expecting him.

He remembered the text.

'We need to talk.'

Beomgyu had stared at those words for a long time before deciding to show up. His thumb had hovered over the screen, doubt gnawing at his resolve. But something inside him — pride, maybe, or desperation — had pushed him to come. He figured that Yeonjun wanted to continue their conversation from earlier, and possibly get more beaten up than before.

However, Beomgyu wants to stand for himself. If Yeonjun wanted to talk, Beomgyu was going to prove himself.

When Yeonjun finally moved, stepping into full view and sitting down beside him on the bench, the silence between them felt heavy and strange. Beomgyu kept his eyes down, his fingers playing with a loose thread on his pants. He heard Yeonjun inhale, a quiet, steadying breath before the first word came.

"Hey."

Beomgyu didn't answer. His throat burned too much to trust his voice, so he sniffed quietly, brushing the last remnants of his tears away with the back of his hand.

Yeonjun glanced sideways. A brief, assessing look. He didn't need much more than that to see how red and swollen Beomgyu's eyes were, the faint streaks on his cheeks betraying the depth of the breakdown he had tried to hide. His lips parted as if to say something immediately, but he hesitated, gathering his words.

"I'm sorry."

The words hung in the air, simple but weighty.

Beomgyu's head turned slightly, a small, disbelieving hum escaping his lips. It wasn't quite a question. More of a bitter, incredulous sound, as if he wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.

"I mean it." Yeonjun shifted, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "I took some time last night to think about everything. I went through what you said — the way you said it." His voice softened. "You weren't lying, were you?"

Beomgyu shook his head slowly. His shoulders tensed, and for a long, stretched-out moment, he didn't speak. Fury bubbled low in his chest, hot and restless, but it didn't rise to the surface. His anger felt spent, dulled by exhaustion and too many unanswered questions.

When Yeonjun glanced sideways again, the corners of his mouth twitched into the barest hint of a smile. "You're mad at me."

"No shit. I got fucking beaten up by you." Beomgyu muttered, his voice raw from earlier crying.

Yeonjun let out a breath of laughter, almost like he'd been expecting that exact response. He sat back against the bench, one arm lazily draped along the top, and for a second, the casualness of the gesture made Beomgyu want to punch him.

"You were right," Yeonjun said, running a hand through his dark hair. His eyes turned upward, gazing at the thinning clouds that drifted lazily across the sky. "I should have known better."

Beomgyu didn't speak, but his silence wasn't one of indifference.

"The way you look at Taehyun," Yeonjun continued, a soft chuckle threading into his voice. "I'm a dumbass for not seeing it. Every time you talk to him, your whole face lights up like you've been waiting your entire life just to be in the same room. Even when you're arguing, it's still there. That.. that spark."

Beomgyu's lips twitched into a reluctant smile, a quiet snort escaping before he could stop it. He turned his head slightly, hiding the grin behind his hand.

Yeonjun's eyes lit up at the sound. "There it is!" He grinned, pulling Beomgyu closer with the arm slung around his shoulders. The weight of it was familiar and warm, a reminder of easier times before everything had gone to hell. "I made you laugh. Don't try to deny it."

"I'm not denying it," Beomgyu mumbled. His words were soft, but the edge of his smile remained.

Yeonjun leaned in conspiratorially. "See? You can't stay mad at me for long."

"Don't push your luck," Beomgyu shot back, quoting on of the phrases that Taehyun had said to Beomgyu himself. Even if he had said something disrespectful, the bitterness in his voice had ebbed, leaving only something raw and tired and a little more open than before.

Yeonjun let out a deep, exaggerated sigh of relief, the kind that made his shoulders rise and fall dramatically. He leaned back against the bench, the corner of his mouth twitching into a playful grin as he watched Beomgyu's guarded smile linger just a little longer. The tension between them had lessened, just a bit, and Yeonjun wasn't about to let it creep back in.

"You know what else I'm stupid for?" Yeonjun asked, his tone light but with a hint of something more behind it.

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow, tilting his head toward him. "Do I even want to know?"

Yeonjun chuckled, encouraged. "I actually never noticed that you and Soobinnie are brothers."

Beomgyu blinked, a slow and confused reaction that quickly turned into something closer to disbelief. He gestured wordlessly for Yeonjun to keep going, his lips pursed like he was preparing for whatever nonsense would come next.

"My darling got angry at me today," Yeonjun confessed, "and he mentioned something about you being his brother. I swear, it was like a switch flipped in my brain. Everything suddenly made sense. No wonder you started snorting that day in the cafeteria when I was talking about him. It's almost embarrassing how slow I was." He shook his head, chuckling to himself before adding, with a deadpan tone and serious eyes.

"I really want to be your brother-in-law, you know?"

Beomgyu whipped his head so fast to face Yeonjun that it could've given him whiplash. His mouth fell open, and for a moment, no words came out as he just gawked. Then the floodgates burst.

"No." Beomgyu said, voice firm. He shook his head, then shook it again for emphasis. "No, no, no! You? My brother-in-law? Oh, please. In no way, shape, or form. That is never happening. Nuh-uh."

Yeonjun burst into laughter, doubling over slightly as he clutched his stomach. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he soaked in Beomgyu's horrified reaction. "Come on," he teased. "Think about it. It wouldn't be so bad. We can finally hang out like some big family together! Overseas holidays, game nights, me crashing your house—"

"Absolutely not," Beomgyu cut him off, still shaking his head vehemently. His cheeks had started to tint pink with a mixture of embarrassment and irritation. "This is some weird alternate reality you're dreaming up. Keep me out of it."

Yeonjun wiped at the corners of his eyes, still chuckling. "You know what else would be funny?" He leaned in, his grin widening as Beomgyu narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"If Taehyun ends up being my brother-in-law too."

The words landed like a splash of cold water, and Beomgyu's face immediately flushed a deep, furious red. Beomgyu definitely knew what the older meant. He opened his mouth to protest, but all that came out was an indignant sputter. "I- uh, wait- what?"

Yeonjun didn't let up, the smirk in his voice as clear as a neon sign. "Since you're so set on this whole 'marrying Taehyun' thing—"

"Hyung!" Beomgyu finally choked out, flustered beyond belief. He covered his face with both hands, groaning into his palms as if he could block out the entire conversation.

Yeonjun threw his head back with a cackle. "I'm just saying! You brought it up back at the cafeteria, and I can't help but connect the dots."

"There are no dots to connect!" Beomgyu mumbled through his hands, his ears burning. He peeked between his fingers, his eyes narrowing as Yeonjun waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You're impossible. Absolutely impossible."

"You love me," Yeonjun teased, nudging Beomgyu playfully with his shoulder.

Beomgyu sighed, dragging his hands down his face and glancing sideways at the older boy. Despite his frustration, there was a glimmer of reluctant amusement in his eyes. "I tolerate you."

"Close enough." Yeonjun grinned, leaning back comfortably as if he'd won some grand victory.

Beomgyu let the conversation lull for a beat, the warmth between them filling the quiet. He exhaled a slow breath, and though the heaviness from earlier hadn't completely disappeared, it felt lighter now, less suffocating.

"You really think I.. sparkle when I see him?" Beomgyu asked suddenly, his voice soft and almost shy.

Yeonjun turned his head, a gentler smile touching his lips. "You do." He didn't tease, didn't make a joke out of it. His voice was sincere, steady. "It's written all over your face. You're all in, Beomgyu. It's kind of adorable, honestly."

Beomgyu's chest tightened, his heart stumbling over itself. He swallowed, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thanks," he whispered.

"Anytime," Yeonjun said. "And for what it's worth..." He paused, his eyes twinkling with mischief once more. "I think you'd make a pretty good brother-in-law."

Beomgyu groaned, laughter spilling out despite himself.

⋆｡‧˚ʚ RULER OF MY HEART : 2o ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Beomgyu felt a lightness settle in his chest as the two of them eased out of the teasing banter about brother-in-laws. Yeonjun stretched his arms over his head, sighing contentedly as if he had just taken a victory lap around the park. The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the bench where they sat. The weight of their earlier tension had finally lifted, replaced by something easier, something closer to normal.

"Man," Yeonjun said, drawing the word out with a dramatic flair, "I can already picture it now. We'd be the cutest little friend group."

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways with a suspicious grin. "Oh? Define cute."

Yeonjun turned to face him fully, eyes alight with mischief. He began ticking off on his fingers, one by one. "Me and my darling Soobinnie. You and your beloved Taehyunnie. And of course..." He smirked, pausing for effect. "Hyuka. The fifth wheeler."

Beomgyu laughed, a sharp, genuine sound that escaped before he could hold it back. "Poor Huening," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement. "He's going to hate that."

"Oh, he's here now," Yeonjun said, his eyes suddenly flicking past Beomgyu's shoulder toward the bushes behind them. He nudged his chin in the direction of their not-so-hidden observer.

"Right, Hyuka?"

Beomgyu followed Yeonjun's gaze, his smile spreading wider as he caught sight of the unmistakable messy blond hair and wide, startled eyes of Huening Kai crouched awkwardly behind a thick shrub. The younger boy's attempt at concealment was laughably poor—his shoes stuck out at an odd angle, and his hoodie snagged on a branch, rustling as he tried to move silently.

Huening froze like a deer caught in headlights when both Beomgyu and Yeonjun locked eyes with him. His lips parted in horror, and for a moment, he seemed to contemplate making a run for it.

"Come on," Beomgyu said, turning fully in his seat with a smirk that oozed mischief. "You didn't seriously think we didn't notice you, did you?"

Huening opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. His knees buckled, and before he could catch his balance, he tumbled backward out of his crouch. His limbs flailed as he landed flat on his rear, hands braced behind him, an audible thump echoing through the park.

Beomgyu couldn't hold back the grin tugging at his lips. "Nice landing! Maybe make it a 'lil more elegant, yeah?"

Yeonjun burst out laughing, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Hi there, Huening. Planning to write a novel about us?"

The younger boy raised one hand in a hesitant wave, his face flushed red from the tips of his ears to his neck. He stammered, voice cracking slightly, "H-Hi...!"

His sheepish greeting only made Yeonjun laugh harder. Beomgyu, too, shook his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Really?" Yeonjun asked, leaning back with a grin that bordered on pity. "I thought you said you were supposed to be the sneaky one. This is the best you could do?"

Huening scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt off his jeans with exaggerated urgency. "I wasn't spying!" he blurted out defensively. "I was just... I was... observing!"

Yeonjun's laughter quieted just enough for him to speak. "Observing?" he echoed, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Observing what? The back of our heads? Because you were doing a great job at it."

"Shut up.." Huening mumbled, tugging at the hem of his hoodie and avoiding their gazes. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just... curious."

Beomgyu crossed his arms, eyebrows raised. "Curious, huh? About what exactly?"

Huening shuffled his feet, looking everywhere but at his two friends. "You know... stuff."

"Stuff?" Beomgyu pressed, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"You guys are so mean," Huening muttered, his cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Especially you, Yeonjunnie-hyung. You're always dragging me into your weird conversations. Even before!"

"Hey," Yeonjun said, standing up and clapping a hand on Huening's shoulder. "I wouldn't have dragged you into anything if you didn't voluntarily show up in bushes to listen to us."

"Exactly," Beomgyu added, biting back a laugh. "You brought this on yourself."

Huening groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I'm never living this down, am I?"

"Not a chance," Beomgyu and Yeonjun said in unison.

Huening sighed, the resigned expression on his face making both of them laugh even harder.

Beomgyu leaned back, tilting his head as he scrutinized Huening with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Alright, Huening. Spill it. Why are you really here?"

The younger boy fidgeted, pulling his hoodie's sleeves over his hands and twisting the fabric nervously. "I told you already," he muttered, looking at the ground.

"No, no, that was your excuse," Beomgyu pressed, gesturing with both hands. "We want the truth. What's with all the bush-hopping and sneaky business?"

Huening sighed heavily, cheeks puffing out before he finally spoke. "I was on a walk, okay? Really. Just a normal walk, like any other day." He glanced at Beomgyu, then quickly looked away. "And I might have passed by Beomgyu-hyung's house... just as you were leaving."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. "And your first instinct was... what, exactly?"

Huening's ears turned red as he mumbled, "..To jump into the nearest bush."

Beomgyu barked out a laugh, holding his sides as he doubled over. "You're telling me you just dived into a bush? No thoughts, no hesitation? What even possessed you—"

"I panicked, okay?!" Huening interrupted, throwing his hands up. "I didn't want you to see me! It's weird to run into someone randomly like that!"

"Yeah, totally," Yeonjun drawled sarcastically. "Way less weird to hide like a garden gnome. No wonder your hair is fucked up."

Huening groaned. "Anyway," he said pointedly, ignoring the jab, "once I was in the bush, I kind of... just... followed you."

Beomgyu straightened up, narrowing his eyes. "What? You followed me? All the way here?"

"Yeah," Huening admitted with a sheepish shrug. "I hid behind a tree when you sat on the bench."

"Why?" Beomgyu asked, genuinely curious now. "What did you think I was doing?"

"I didn't know!" Huening exclaimed, exasperated. "That's why I followed you! You were just sitting there, staring at the ground. I thought something was wrong." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "And then he showed up," he added, jerking his thumb at Yeonjun.

Yeonjun grinned, clearly unbothered. "Nice to see you, too, Huening."

"I wasn't happy to see you," Huening said, crossing his arms. His eyes darkened slightly. "Especially with everything going around school."

Beomgyu furrowed his brows. "What are you talking about?"

Huening blinked, his lips parting. "Wait. You don't know?"

"Know what?" Beomgyu asked, his tone sharpening with suspicion.

The younger boy exchanged a glance with Yeonjun, who suddenly looked far too interested in the grass beneath his feet. Huening sighed. "You really don't know."

"Huening," Beomgyu said firmly, his voice a low warning. "Just say it."

Yeonjun winced but stayed silent, leaving it to Huening. The younger boy took a deep breath. "There's a rumor," he started cautiously, "about you and Yeonjun."

Beomgyu's eyes flicked between them. "What kind of rumor?"

"The bathroom one," Huening muttered. "About... you two being seen together in F3's bathroom."

Beomgyu's frown deepened. "So? What's wrong with that?"

Huening hesitated, then blurted, "People think you were hooking up in there."

Silence hung heavy between them. Beomgyu stared, unblinking, as if the words hadn't fully registered. Then his expression twisted into a mix of confusion and disbelief. "..What?"

"It's all over school," Huening explained. "Some boys saw you two coming out of the bathroom together, and now everyone's talking about it. They're saying..." He trailed off, biting his lip.

"They're saying we hooked up?" Beomgyu finished, his voice rising.

Huening nodded slowly.

Beomgyu turned to Yeonjun, his face incredulous. "Is this why Soobin's been acting weird? Why he's saying that I took Yeonjun-hyung away or something?"

"Yeah," Yeonjun said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Pretty much."

Beomgyu groaned, pressing his palms into his eyes. "I can't believe this."

Yeonjun tried for a smile, but it came out weak. "It's not that bad—"

"Not that bad?" Beomgyu snapped, glaring at him. "People think I'm..." His voice faltered as he clenched his fists, trying to contain the boiling frustration in his chest. His jaw tightened before he exploded again, the words finally breaking free.

"People think I'm hooking up with my possibly future brother-in-law?!"

At that, Yeonjun bursted into laughter. The sound was so sudden and loud that it startled Huening, who had been sitting quietly, watching the exchange unfold.

"Brother-in-law?" Yeonjun gasped between fits of laughter. "Seriously? You're actually considering it? Oh, that's gold."

Beomgyu shot him a murderous glare. "Do you find this funny? I'm being accused of some kind of scandalous, forbidden affair, and you're laughing?"

"Uhm, I guess?" Huening interjected, raising an eyebrow with a half-shrug. "What were you guys even doing in there anyway? The boys said they heard grunts and shouts. Kind of hard not to assume the worst."

Beomgyu's glare darkened, and he pointed an accusing finger at Yeonjun. "Oh, hmm. I don't know. Maybe getting beat up by this fucking prick right here?!"

Without another word, Beomgyu yanked the hem of his shirt up just enough to reveal a dark, purple bruise on his abdomen, the discoloration vivid against his skin. He kept his gaze locked on Huening, the storm in his eyes demanding acknowledgment of the truth.

Huening cringed at the sight, hissing through his teeth as if he could feel the pain himself. "Ooh... yikes. That's... yeah, that's pretty bad." He glanced away, his expression twisting with discomfort. "Well, uh, that seems to be your problem, not mine."

Beomgyu dropped his shirt with a frustrated scoff, folding his arms tightly across his chest. The three of them fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of the rumors and accusations pressing down like an invisible force.

"But, um.."

The youngest started in an unsure tone, gaining attention from the two. Huening sat back on his hands, his face a mixture of nerves and pity as he watched Beomgyu process the information. His lips twitched slightly, trying to find the right place to start, but the words still came out hesitant and clumsy.

"Hyung," he began, "there's... more to this whole mess."

Beomgyu let out a short, bitter laugh. "Oh, great. More rumors?" He rubbed his temple as if trying to massage away a building headache. "Just tell me. I'm ready for whatever else this stupid school is making up about me."

"It's not a rumor," Huening said quietly. "It's... kind of complicated. And personal."

Beomgyu stilled, lowering his hand and turning toward Huening with a skeptical look. "Personal? About me?"

"Kind of," Huening said again, fiddling with the hem of his hoodie. "It's actually about.. Taehyun."

At the mention of Taehyun's name, Beomgyu's brows furrowed deeper. His heartbeat quickened, and he sat up straighter, a mix of dread and anticipation swirling in his chest. "What about him?"

"Well..." Huening sighed heavily, glancing briefly at Yeonjun before locking eyes with Beomgyu again. "There's this girl, Hyeonji."

Beomgyu's stomach twisted. He knew Hyeonji — pretty, smart, and popular. She always seemed to have a flock of admirers trailing behind her. He even helped her in the printing room! And even saw her yesterday! But what did she have to do with any of this?

"What about her?" Beomgyu asked warily.

"She... asked Taehyun about you," Huening admitted, his voice soft. "Because she likes you."

Beomgyu blinked, his breath catching. "She likes.. me? What? Why?"

Huening nodded. "I don't know, don't ask me! But— yeah! She's interested in you."

A cold, sinking feeling started to spread through Beomgyu's chest. "And Taehyun?"

Huening paused, biting his lip. "Taehyun likes her."

The words hit Beomgyu like a punch to the gut. His breath hitched, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. His throat felt tight, and his heart ached with a sharp, almost unbearable pain.

He finally found his voice, though it came out strained. "Taehyun... likes her?"

"Yeah," Huening said, glancing down. "And it really hurt him when she brought you up. He... he's been struggling with it. And he thinks..." He hesitated, knowing how delicate the next part was. "He thinks you knew about it. That you're getting close to him because you're messing with him."

Beomgyu's mouth fell open. "What? No. I'd never—"

"I know," Huening interrupted quickly. "I believe you, Beomgyu. I do. But Taehyun doesn't see it that way. He's... upset. Really upset. And he's planning something. I think he's trying to get back at you."

Beomgyu clenched his fists in his lap, his whole body tense. "So that's what Soobin meant," he whispered, his mind racing back to his brother's accusations.

"I didn't believe the rumors about you and Yeonjun," Huening said. "I stayed neutral. I didn't want to be a part of some war. I wanted to believe you two— you and Taehyun. But it's hard." He sighed, looking between the two older boys. "I'm just trying to understand everything. You guys are my friends."

Yeonjun shifted uncomfortably, staying silent as he watched Beomgyu's expression darken. The pain was evident in his eyes, the weight of the truth crushing down on him.

They both waited for Beomgyu to say something — anything. They expected anger, frustration, or even a desperate plea for understanding.

But when Beomgyu finally spoke, his voice was soft. Broken.

"Taehyun..." He swallowed, his throat dry.

"Taehyun likes someone else?"

Yeonjun's and Huening's eyes widened in surprise. They honestly thought Beomgyu was processing the love triangle, but I guess not!

"Oh, Beomgyu-hyung..." Huening started, his voice filled with concern.

But Beomgyu didn't look at either of them. He stared straight ahead, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths as his heart shattered into pieces.

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