Chapter 78
The person who called Siwoo repeatedly was the Guide Team Leader, Team Leader Yoon, Siwoo’s superior.
Siwoo’s new phone didn’t have his number saved. Because of this, Siwoo and Seojun had a small misunderstanding, but they quickly apologized to each other after recognizing each other’s voices.
Team Leader Yoon said he thought for a moment that Siwoo’s phone had been stolen when he heard Seojun’s sharp voice. Knowing that Siwoo had no friends or close colleagues, he misunderstood that someone who had stolen the phone had answered.
After receiving the phone from Seojun, Siwoo was scolded by the team leader for a good 10 minutes. Siwoo’s ears stung from the loud voice demanding to know how he could not contact them even once.
The team leader told him to come to his office immediately. He had a lot to say to Siwoo.
Siwoo obediently agreed. Knowing he was in the wrong, he listened quietly. He didn’t have any urgent tasks to do today anyway.
“Hey.”
Siwoo frowned after leaving the dormitory building and walking for a while. His dissatisfied gaze fixed on Seojun, who was walking beside him.
“Why are you coming? He only called for me.”
“Because I want to go.”
Seojun replied shamelessly, matching his pace with Siwoo. It would take quite a long time to walk from the Baekya Guild dormitory to the Guide Team Leader’s office.
“You should have said it was this far. We could have moved in my car.”
Siwoo ignored Seojun and breathed in the outside air. It was a bit hot, but the weather was suitable for walking. The streets were quiet as it was lunchtime. Everyone would be gathered in restaurants.
Thanks to this, Seojun could walk comfortably too. It was comfortable without people coming to greet him pretending to know him.
Seojun matched his pace with Siwoo, who had slowed down to look at an unusually shaped cloud.
“By the way, Guide.”
He casually opened his mouth.
“Why do you leave unknown numbers as they are? They keep calling.”
“They seem like prank calls.”
Seojun’s eyebrow slightly raised at the brief answer that came immediately.
“Then you should block them.”
“It’s useless. They’ll just come again even if I block them.”
Siwoo said something incomprehensible about how blocking would make more calls come. Seojun looked down at Siwoo silently and slowly closed his mouth. Then Siwoo looked up at him.
“When do you want to receive guiding?”
He decided to set a guiding schedule while at it. He had given up on the idea of disappearing. Although it was awkward to meet Yoo Jihan, he could tolerate it considering the high salary. Still, he wouldn’t be alone with him for a while.
“Am I second?”
“Yes.”
As Seojun was about to continue the conversation, a group of Espers greeted him from afar. Seojun bowed his head in return.
“Where are you headed?”
“I have some business to attend to.”
“Ah, I see. You look amazing today as well!”
Siwoo glanced at Seojun, who was naturally smiling with his eyes while saying thank you. It was fascinating how his face, which had been almost expressionless when talking to Siwoo, instantly softened as if a button had been pressed.
“Hello, Esper Ha Seojun!”
“What brings you here?”
As they got closer to the office building, more people recognized Seojun.
Siwoo was secretly impressed watching Seojun greet everyone without missing a single person. While it seemed admirable, it also looked terribly bothersome.
“Why did you come along anyway? You should have just stayed at the dormitory.”
He couldn’t understand why Seojun had followed him without any business of his own.
“The hyungs would get angry if we let the guide go around alone.”
“What?”
Siwoo paused and suddenly frowned.
“What business is it of theirs whether I go around alone or not?”
“It’s not unrelated. You’re the exclusive guide.”
“I always go around alone!”
Siwoo shouted loudly with a determined face.
“If that’s the case, don’t follow me.”
Siwoo walked ahead quickly. It was a surprisingly fast pace, but Seojun caught up easily by widening his stride with his long legs.
“It just means the hyungs are worried about you that much.”
“Tell them to worry about themselves. I can take care of myself just fine.”
A fierce glare flew his way when he chuckled a bit, finding it funny that Siwoo was saying this himself. Seojun rounded his eyes, pretending to be gentle with Siwoo. Of course, it didn’t work at all.
“I told you not to follow me.”
“I’m going to see the Guide Team Leader. I need to apologize to him.”
“What apology?”
“I was rude on the phone earlier.”
Siwoo looked up at Seojun, who shrugged his broad shoulders. He hadn’t been angry enough to warrant a separate visit. And hadn’t he already apologized enough on the phone?
“I’m going for my own peace of mind. Keep leading the way.”
Seojun curved his eyes and gestured with his chin to Siwoo, whose pace had slowed. There were many eyes watching around them.
Although Siwoo glared at his fake grinning face, he increased his speed. As they entered the building, he could feel the attention focusing on Seojun with his strong presence.
“Isn’t that Esper Ha Seojun over there?”
“Where? Oh my, oh my. It is.”
As more people recognized Seojun, more people approached to talk to him.
“Esper Ha Seojun! What brings you here?”
Seojun brushed off the questions with eye smiles. When he was sparing with his words, no one pressed him persistently. Everyone just seemed happy to meet Seojun.
Siwoo walked with his head down, avoiding the incoming crowd. Seojun also walked quickly, pretending to have urgent business.
“Which floor is it?”
“Fifth floor.”
Fortunately, only the two of them got on the elevator. Siwoo inwardly chuckled as he watched Seojun quickly press the close button.
“You can laugh out loud if you want.”
Seojun leaned against the elevator wall and spoke, noticing Siwoo’s hidden laughter. The gentle smile that had been fixed on his face disappeared the moment he was left alone with Siwoo.
Siwoo actually preferred Seojun’s expressionless face. Perhaps because he knew his smile was all an act.
“Why do you go that far?”
Siwoo asked bluntly, pretending to look elsewhere disinterestedly. He had been curious for a while but hadn’t found the right timing to ask.
“It’s a habit.”
At the brief answer, Siwoo’s blue eyes turned to Seojun. Seojun was looking at the indicator panel, not at Siwoo. His golden eyes, reflected in the elevator light, looked particularly bright. At least on the surface.
“You…”
Siwoo trailed off, scratching the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t sure if he should ask the random question that had just occurred to him.
Seeing Seojun’s golden eyes, he suddenly wanted to ask. What’s your true form?
He was curious about what animal was Seojun’s true form, which he hid as thoroughly as his real personality. It was information that didn’t come up even when searched on the internet.
Siwoo carefully observed Seojun’s shining silver hair. What animals have silver fur? Nothing came to mind.
“What about me?”
Just as Seojun tilted his head askew to look at Siwoo, the elevator doors opened and an enormous shout flew in.
“Han Siwoo!”
Team Leader Yoon, who had been waiting for him in front of the elevator, had a face like the King of Hell. Siwoo almost repeatedly pressed the close button, just as Seojun had done.
“You bastard, I—!”
A large body approached in front of the shouting team leader. The team leader, whose gaze had been fixed only on Siwoo, hadn’t noticed Seojun yet.
“Hello, Team Leader. It’s been a while.”
Seojun approached the team leader first with a smile, blocking his view with his large body. The team leader, who had instinctively stepped back, received the greeting with a flustered face.
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
“I’m sorry about earlier. I was rude on the phone because it was an unsaved number and I thought it was a strange call.”
When Seojun apologized, even bowing his head, the even more flustered team leader waved his hands saying it was alright.
“It’s fine! How could Esper Ha Seojun be at fault? It’s all Guide Han Siwoo’s fault.”
Team Leader Yoon rolled his eyes, looking for Siwoo. The distinctively white guy was nowhere to be seen, as if he had run off again.
This bastard. Thinking Siwoo might have run away, his blood pressure started to rise again. Before he could shout again, Seojun beat him to it with a grin.
“It’s time for me to head to the field now. Please take good care of our guide.”
Our guide…?
Team Leader Yoon was at a loss for words at the overly affectionate term. As he was doubting his ears, Seojun turned his head and spoke to Siwoo who was hiding behind his back.
“Guide, call me when you’re coming back.”
The team leader’s eyes widened even more at the ensuing conversation between Seojun and Siwoo.
“It’s still hot outside, so don’t walk for too long.”
“Are, are you leaving?”
“Of course, I have to go.”
Seojun smiled gently at Siwoo, who was standing close behind his back. Siwoo was hiding, using Seojun’s broad body as a shield.
“If you call, Jihan hyung will probably come to pick you up.”
He whispered in a small voice that only Siwoo could hear. He told Siwoo to contact Jihan, apparently not intending to come himself.
“Have a good talk with the team leader, and get home safely.”
Seojun was about to step aside. However, before that, Siwoo lightly grabbed the end of Seojun’s sleeve.
What happened to getting irritated and asking why he was following? It seemed Siwoo was desperately holding onto him, afraid of getting scolded by the team leader if Seojun left.
“Are you… very busy?”
The corners of Seojun’s mouth twitched as he looked down at his sleeve held by Siwoo.
“I am busy. It’s already time for me to be working.”
Siwoo rolled his eyes downward at Seojun’s words that he was already late. If he was already late, couldn’t he be a little later? Not much, just a little more.
“Have a good talk. The team leader seems to have been very worried.”
Seojun gently patted Siwoo’s drooping shoulders. Although Siwoo looked like he wanted Seojun to stay, Seojun pretended not to understand.
“I’ll be going now.”
He bowed his head to the team leader one last time. Team Leader Yoon, dumbfounded, just watched Seojun and Siwoo with a blank face. He was too shocked by the unexpected scene to respond.
“I’m really going now, Guide.”
“Okay, go…”
Siwoo mumbled weakly as he let go of Seojun’s sleeve. He couldn’t keep holding onto someone who had to go to work.
Seojun quietly gazed at Siwoo’s white hand moving away with a sigh. He didn’t leave immediately, looking at Siwoo as if waiting for something. Then he slowly turned his back and walked away.
If only Siwoo had asked him to stay, he would have stayed for a while.
