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Wet lips brushed against his reddened ear.
“Let’s bond.”
Every time Siwoo blinked, his long eyelashes tickled Geonho’s cheek. But Geonho didn’t budge.
Siwoo pushed Geonho’s unresponsive shoulder and climbed on top of him. He moved swiftly before Geonho could stop him.
“I don’t mean right now. Just promise me we will.”
Siwoo sat on Geonho’s stomach with a fierce expression. Though his thighs were spread wide, revealing everything below, he showed no embarrassment. The time for being shy about nudity was long past.
“Hurry.”
He pressed on Geonho’s firm chest muscles, urging a response. But Geonho’s lips remained sealed.
After saying he would grant him anything, his attitude completely changed as soon as “bonding” was mentioned.
“Want to get hit?”
“I’ll take it.”
Geonho spread his arms. His attitude of “hit me all you want” made Siwoo frown even more.
Originally, he had planned to bring this up once his body fully recovered. He didn’t want to discuss bonding with a body that frequently ran fevers and felt weak.
Siwoo acknowledged his physical weakness. He was still far from having a body suitable for his SS-class status.
Unlike espers, guides weren’t transcendent beings. They were just ordinary humans with the ability to restore espers.
In other words, a high rank didn’t make the body stronger. Unlike espers who could demolish buildings and lift dump trucks with one hand upon manifestation.
“I’ll get stronger.”
Siwoo confidently vowed.
“I can take responsibility for all of you.”
It was a significant statement implying he would bond with everyone. Geonho listened attentively to his declaration and ran his hand over his face.
“…Won’t you do it with me?”
Siwoo lay flat on Geonho’s upper body, leaning against him. It was a posture as if he thought he was in his cat form.
Instead of answering, Geonho placed his hand on Siwoo’s chest.
A thick scar ran across his snow-white chest. It was a wound Geonho had made.
That day when he had transformed into his true form and gone berserk, losing his reason. Geonho had torn Siwoo’s chest with claws sharper than knives.
The injuries sustained by espers Jihan and Seojun had all healed, but not Siwoo’s. The traces from that day still remained.
“Just answer me.”
Siwoo pulled Geonho’s hand to touch his face. Then Geonho touched Siwoo’s heart with his other hand.
“It hurts here.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“I mean when you’re guiding.”
Siwoo, who had been ready to counter any statement, paused.
“Your heart hurts after days of heavy guiding.”
Unable to deny it, he averted his eyes. After looking down at Geonho’s hand caressing his left chest, he finally moved his lips.
“It doesn’t hurt much.”
“Normally, it shouldn’t hurt at all.”
Siwoo’s eyes sharpened. His look asked if that meant he was abnormal.
“You’re weak, Han Siwoo.”
Geonho sat up and faced Siwoo.
“I know you’re excellent at guiding, but your body is weak.”
“I said I’ll get stronger.”
“Even if you do.”
Siwoo hit Geonho’s forearm and huffed. Not satisfied with one hit, he also slapped his thigh with a smack. But it only hurt his own hand.
“The doctor said it, didn’t he? That bonding isn’t possible for you going forward.”
“Doctors always say things aren’t possible.”
Geonho chuckled and took Siwoo’s hand, swinging it soothingly.
“We don’t want to do it with you.”
He pressed Siwoo’s hand firmly with his interlocked fingers.
“Just holding hands with you clears our minds completely, so why would we need to bond?”
Bonding doubled the effect of guiding. It also placed a great burden on the guide’s body. That’s why guides usually bonded with only one esper.
“Even without being tied by something like bonding, we’ll stay by your side for life, and only receive guiding from you.”
“I know that. But bonding makes us closer.”
“We’re already close. There’s no way we’ll drift apart.”
But Siwoo wanted a more definite relationship. When Siwoo expressed his eagerness for bonding, his attending physician came to a conclusion after much deliberation.
Since bonding with all guild members would destroy his heart, he should only bond with one person. Of course, Siwoo didn’t listen at all. He would bond with everyone.
“If you really must do it.”
Geonho paused briefly and buried his nose between Siwoo’s fingers. After inhaling the tender scent of his skin, he pressed his lips to the back of Siwoo’s hand and said:
“Do it with my brother.”
A faint smile played at the corners of Geonho’s mouth.
“He’s different from us.”
Siwoo’s lips parted, but he averted his eyes again. Geonho embraced Siwoo’s slumped shoulders and tilted his head toward him.
“Look. We’re all over you, biting and sucking, but my brother doesn’t even come. Because he’s worried about you.”
He kissed Siwoo’s tensed jaw. Siwoo avoided answering until the end.
“You want to do it with my brother too.”
“…I want to do it with all of you.”
“If you had to choose just one, it would be my brother, right?”
Geonho smiled as if he knew and understood everything.
“My brother doesn’t know how to protect himself.”
The hand that had been gently stroking Siwoo’s snow-white hair moved down to his cheek. Geonho, who once hurt Siwoo because he couldn’t control his strength well, now skillfully handled the delicate body.
“He needs someone to protect him.”
Embracing Siwoo’s curled-up body, he entrusted his brother to him. Since he would protect Siwoo with his life forever. Instead, he softly whispered for Siwoo to protect his brother.
Leaning against the broad, firm embrace, Siwoo silently nuzzled against him. As their cheeks touched, he suddenly remembered something from the past.
‘You’re our family. Shiro, you know that.’
Back then, Kang Geonho had said the same thing. He had melted Siwoo’s firmly closed heart with the word “family.”
“I love you, Han Siwoo.”
Siwoo always weakened at Geonho’s outpouring of affection. Both then and now.
“You know I fucking love you, right?”
To Siwoo, who had always been alone, he was the one who provided the warmth he needed most. He couldn’t help but weaken.
“Yes, I know.”
* * *
Secretary Nam Dongkwon, having filled his empty stomach with a protein drink, diligently moved alongside Taebeom, who had just returned from the site. With winter joint training scheduled, there was much to prepare.
“Since the number of trainees has increased, it seems we’ll need to prepare another training facility in the annex.”
The secretary handed over the report and asked if they should go check it out now. Taebeom quickly scanned the report and nodded.
Just as the secretary was about to call a teleport esper, welcome news arrived. It was about Siwoo.
“The guide had his final checkup today. There are no issues.”
The secretary’s face brightened as he checked the text message several times. He felt like he could fly even if he continued working without food until tomorrow.
With a happy face, he called the teleport esper again. As the secretary was about to move to the training facility, Taebeom suddenly gave an unexpected instruction.
“What?”
The secretary tilted his head, doubting his ears first.
* * *
Siwoo returned to the dormitory with the espers after completing the checkup. Since it was the final checkup day, everyone except the leader stayed by Siwoo’s side throughout.
Fortunately, the test results were good. Siwoo had received permission to guide as much as he wanted.
But before he could rejoice, a small problem arose.
“Guide, you need to eat.”
“I bought something delicious. I’ll prepare it right away.”
“Want a snack? A snack?”
Siwoo, who had hurriedly gone under the living room sofa as soon as they arrived at the dormitory, was thoroughly angry. To show he didn’t want to talk, he remained in cat form even after returning to the dormitory.
The one who had made him angry was none other than Geonho.
“I was wrong. Next time, I’ll check properly before making promises.”
“Yes, Guide. Stop being upset. Geonho always makes promises without thinking, you know. With no sense of responsibility.”
“You shut up.”
Jihan avoided Geonho’s telekinesis by teleporting away first. Seojun observed Siwoo, peering under the dim sofa.
“Do you hate injections that much?”
Siwoo, who had curled his body into a ball and was hitting the floor with his tail, turned to face the wall. Hmph! At his forceful exhalation, Geonho flinched and prostrated himself until his face touched the floor.
“I’m sorry. I thought you really didn’t have to get an injection.”
Before going for the regular checkup, Siwoo could barely eat due to the thought of meeting the doctor. Watching this, Geonho had made a promise he shouldn’t have.
[You don’t need an injection. Don’t worry.]
[They say I have to get one today.]
[No. I already talked to the doctor.]
[…Really?]
[Yeah, if they try to give you a shot, I’ll break it all.]
But blood had to be drawn for the final test. It wasn’t something that could be stubbornly argued against.
Siwoo, who had trusted Geonho and relaxed, got the injection in a moment of carelessness, thinking all tests were finished. He was so startled that his screams echoed throughout the hospital corridor.
If he had known from the beginning that he would get an injection, he would have at least mentally prepared himself.
Siwoo, who had been happily contemplating what to eat for dinner, felt a tremendous sense of betrayal at the sudden needle. He was also annoyed that the doctor had pointed to the window, saying “Look at the sparrow flying away,” to prevent him from seeing the syringe.
I’m not a child. Why deceive people like this?
“Han Siwoo, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
Geonho grabbed a toy fishing rod and gently waved it toward Siwoo.
Does he think I’m really a cat?
Nyak!
Siwoo shouted at him to get lost and ran to his room. He stayed locked in his room all evening. He hadn’t intentionally avoided coming out, but he fell asleep.
Fatigue hit him due to the tension he particularly felt at the medical center. After sleeping soundly and opening his eyes, only a small mood light was on.
Squeak—.
The mouse doll that had definitely been beside his pillow before he fell asleep was now squeaking in his arms. He squinted his eyes, wondering who had placed the doll between his arms while he slept.
First being treated like a cat, and now like a child. It was so absurd he couldn’t even laugh.
Squeak—. Squeeeak—.
With a face still not fully awake, he bit the fluffy mouse. While absent-mindedly chewing on its long tail…
Suddenly feeling a gaze, he turned his head and was dumbfounded.
…It’s Kang Taebeom.
The moistened mouse tail dropped from his mouth. Taebeom was sitting in a chair near the bed.
Even after seeing Siwoo wake up, he didn’t say anything, just silently watching.
Siwoo also didn’t make a sound. After blinking a few times to erase his surprised expression, he swung his tail once forcefully.
Hmph.
Then he turned to face the headboard. Tightly hugging the mouse doll to his chest.
Siwoo did not welcome Taebeom, who was visiting his room for the first time since his discharge. He had his pride too.
During this time, Siwoo had made various efforts to approach Taebeom. He had often visited his office and waited to give him guiding.
But Taebeom consistently refused contact guiding. At most, he permitted radiant guiding, and even then, he would tell Siwoo to leave after just 30 minutes.
Communication was always initiated by Siwoo, and he barely received replies. So it was natural for Siwoo to be sulky. He couldn’t help but tire of Taebeom’s cold and insensitive attitude.
He had continued to wait for him, and he was glad he had come, but he didn’t want to welcome him without showing his hurt feelings.
“Eat something before sleeping.”
Siwoo, who had missed dinner because he was sleeping, ignored Taebeom’s words. Seeing him made his appetite disappear.
He just bit the innocent mouse doll making squeak, squeak sounds and flicked his tail. It meant he was angry now.
“At least drink some water.”
Squeak—.
He bit hard on the mouse doll’s snout, imagining it was Kang Taebeom. His white ears folded back more and more, indicating his mood wasn’t improving.
Siwoo resented Taebeom. He had broken even his promise to receive guiding after leaving the gate. He didn’t contact Siwoo as if he had no interest in him and didn’t visit the dormitory.
Nothing had changed from the past. Not a single thing.
“Han Siwoo.”
Taebeom got up from the chair and approached the headboard. Siwoo clenched the mouse and continued to pretend he couldn’t hear.
He planned to sleep more if Taebeom left again. He thought Taebeom would leave soon anyway, since he had many important things besides him, but…
“I’m sorry.”
Something long touched Siwoo’s fingertips with a tap. Along with a deep voice that, once heard, could never be forgotten.
“I’m sorry, Han Siwoo.”
Taebeom gently placed a red, elongated object on Siwoo’s white, round hands. The moment he saw it, Siwoo’s angry expression dissolved helplessly.
It was a Churu. A premium Churu with a cat picture that resembled Siwoo.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
