Baek Seo-ha and Han Ju-oh boarded a flight to Korea the moment they stepped out of the Gate. There were still plenty of uncleared Gates, so there was always the chance they’d be deployed again as an Esper and Guide pair. But for now, during their break, they just wanted to rest. They both agreed—it was better to head home and unwind properly.
Only Moon Roi remained behind with Ian. He said he wanted to stay a bit longer to keep an eye on him since Ian was still unwell. But really? From Seo-ha’s perspective, it wouldn’t be surprising if the two of them showed up together again before long.
With just the two of them returning to Korea first, they went straight to the hospital. Even after leaving the Gate, Han Ju-oh had only received the bare minimum first aid—just enough to keep his wounds from getting worse. It must’ve been painful hauling around injuries like that, but he never once showed it.
Maybe it was sheer stubbornness—but Han Ju-oh had something he could rely on: Seo-ha, who never once let go of his hand, guiding him constantly. Thanks to that, by the time they arrived at the hospital, some of the wounds had already healed completely. After getting proper treatment for the worst injury—the large gash on his side—Seo-ha got behind the wheel and drove them himself.
“Try to get some sleep.”
Han Ju-oh, who had been staring quietly out the window, obediently closed his eyes at Seo-ha’s voice. Whether he actually fell asleep or not, Seo-ha didn’t know. But at least he didn’t have to watch him veer off into dangerous territory again.
They didn’t exchange a word, but their presence beside each other had become so natural, it was like breathing. Their expressions couldn’t have looked more relaxed.
When they arrived at their destination, Seo-ha looked around at the still-unfamiliar neighborhood before glancing at Han Ju-oh.
“Han Ju-oh, wake up.”
At his voice, Han Ju-oh opened his eyes. He hadn’t been asleep at all. His gaze was alert, focused straight ahead.
“You knew I was about to take a detour, didn’t you?”
Seo-ha narrowed his eyes, suspicious of Han Ju-oh’s completely unfazed expression. Han Ju-oh answered casually.
“Even with my eyes closed, I’ve got other senses.”
So yeah—he knew.
“If I’d known, I should’ve just blocked you completely. No—knocked you out cold.”
Not that Han Ju-oh was the type to pass out that easily. Still, the regret in Seo-ha’s voice was real. Just before getting out of the car, he spoke again.
“Open the glove box.”
Han Ju-oh didn’t resist. He did as he was told and caught the case that tumbled out. As he turned it over in his hands, examining it, Seo-ha leaned against the window frame and idly scratched at his forehead and brow.
“If you’re curious, go ahead and open it.”
Seo-ha’s tone was off—less like his usual self, and more like someone with too much money showing off: I’ve got cash to burn, so I’ll buy you anything you want. That’s how it came across. On the surface, at least. In truth, he couldn’t stop glancing at Han Ju-oh or swallowing nervously. He was clearly on edge, waiting for Han Ju-oh’s reaction.
For his part, Han Ju-oh found Seo-ha’s awkward anticipation far too entertaining to interrupt. Still, he couldn’t stall forever. After drawing it out just enough, he finally opened the case.
“So… do you like rings or something?”
Even as Seo-ha scratched his neck and mumbled the question, Han Ju-oh didn’t take his eyes off the necklace inside. Hanging from a tightly strung cord, the pendant looked like a miniature black hole.
“But if I give you a ring now, what do I save for when I actually propose? Just be happy with a necklace for now.”
It was his way of saying he’d gotten it for Han Ju-oh. And for once, Seo-ha looked genuinely embarrassed.
“I’ve confessed before, sure, but I’ve never done it like this—with a gift and everything. Still, I found something that felt perfect for us, so I bought it.”
He was clearly nervous, fidgeting restlessly. Then, deciding to just go for it, he opened the car door. As he bent forward to step out, the necklace around his neck slipped from under his shirt. It was the exact same one he’d given to Han Ju-oh. Quickly straightening up, Seo-ha hurried ahead.
Han Ju-oh stepped out too, following close behind.
“If you’re giving me a necklace, shouldn’t you be the one to put it on for me…?”
Seo-ha turned to look elsewhere, and Han Ju-oh followed his gaze—only to freeze in place.
It was a house. One he’d never seen before. And yet, for some reason, he couldn’t look away.
“I bought it—well, technically only the bathroom’s on me—but I got it because I wanted to live with you.”
Seo-ha immediately regretted what he’d said. ‘God, that sounded so lame. Why’d I bring up the bathroom? I should’ve just said, “Let’s live together.”’
He’d prepared the whole thing in secret, which wasn’t like him. And now he was acting even more unlike himself. Rubbing the back of his neck, he continued:
“You’ve never cared much about your place. I remembered how I had to buy you curtains, plug in your fridge… I didn’t want to stay in Center housing after I transferred, so I started looking around.”
As he rambled on, Seo-ha finally stopped and turned to face Han Ju-oh directly.
“I want to live with you.”
If he still didn’t get it after that, he really was dense.
“Start with the necklace. I’ll think about the house after.”
Han Ju-oh held out the necklace. Even though Seo-ha was clearly flustered, Han Ju-oh’s calm, composed energy steadied the moment.
“Come here.”
Seo-ha reached for the necklace and stepped forward. Rather than turning around, Han Ju-oh leaned in, resting his head gently against Seo-ha’s chest. Seo-ha let out a quiet laugh and fastened the necklace around his neck.
“Good thing I went with the necklace.”
‘Since I can’t exactly hand you something with a ring inside it.’
Seo-ha’s heart fluttered with anticipation. Han Ju-oh wrapped his arms around his waist and pressed a firm kiss to the side of his neck.
“…Thanks.”
It was a fleeting response, the kind that could easily be missed—but to Seo-ha, it struck like thunder. He couldn’t help but break into a warm, radiant smile.
“Then let’s head inside. We’ll make it romantic—coffee, grilled meat, just the two of us.”
“This is what you meant by coffee and grilled meat?”
Han Ju-oh sipped from the steaming cup and glanced at Seo-ha. Despite having gone so far as to buy a house for them to live in, the two were currently tucked inside a tent pitched in the yard.
“Exactly. I thought I was done with tents after all the times I had to pitch them in dungeons. I was so sick of them.”
Seo-ha took a sip of his overly sweet instant coffee, loaded with three sugar packets.
“But when I saw you being carried back unconscious, I thought—hell, I’d pitch a thousand tents if it meant you were okay. And it doesn’t have to be some dungeon either. Spending time like this, somewhere peaceful… it’s actually kind of nice.”
As he spoke, Seo-ha turned his gaze to the side.
“A tent this big means we can sleep comfortably, sip our coffee at our own pace… And I think even things I used to find boring start to feel good, just because you’re here.”
Han Ju-oh listened quietly, then gave him a soft smile.
“That’s a great mindset.”
“Han Ju-oh, don’t you have anything to say?”
His eyes were a little too intense, so Seo-ha hurriedly changed the subject.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to survive and live with you. At least until that old house crumbles.”
The words, spoken as he looked toward the house, might’ve sounded dramatic, but they made Seo-ha feel warm inside.
“We’ll probably fall apart before the house does. But hey, I like the idea of growing old together.”
Seo-ha pointed at the yard.
“When we retire, let’s start a little garden.”
“Sure, give it a shot.”
“Oh, I will. I’ll grow perilla leaves and put them on your plate every day. You better eat them.”
“I’m doomed.”
Han Ju-oh let out a groan, then chuckled—his expression soft, as if he wouldn’t mind eating the same thing every day. Watching his relaxed face, Seo-ha suddenly let his thoughts slip out.
“Maybe everything I went through… was just so I could meet you.”
While Han Ju-oh tried to make sense of that, Seo-ha thought back to who he used to be.
“Even when everyone ignored me or laughed behind my back, I held on to the belief that one day, my Esper would show up. Sure, I couldn’t take it anymore and ended up resigning… but in the end, there you were. If that’s not fate, what is?”
The days he spent overwhelmed with self-doubt, dragging himself through what felt like a tunnel with no light at the end—when he thought of all of it as the path that led him to Han Ju-oh, his past didn’t feel so bitter anymore.
“Thanks for holding on to me. Ugh, saying all this out loud is seriously embarrassing.”
Seo-ha smiled as he bared his heart.
“And thank you… for staying with someone like me—unstable, reckless, ready to fall apart.”
Han Ju-oh ended his playful reply with a kiss. It tasted sweet, like coffee, but quickly deepened—pulling them both into a heat that left no room for words.
Maybe it was thanks to Seo-ha’s insistence on buying a tent thicker and better than anything they’d ever used in a dungeon, but not even a silhouette showed from outside.
“Ugh!”
“Ah—sorry, I didn’t mean to press on your side…”
“It’s okay. Come here.”
“Maybe I should be on top? Just in case I kick again without realizing it.”
Their voices leaked faintly through the tent.
“Han Ju-oh, I…”
“Shh.”
Han Ju-oh gently covered Seo-ha’s mouth.
“I want to say it first.”
“And what makes you so sure you know what I was about to say?”
“Let’s get married.”
Seo-ha grumbled, clearly annoyed that Han Ju-oh had beat him to it.
“I said that before the Imprint, remember? That maybe we could get married someday…”
But the rest of his words were swallowed by another kiss.
“I love you, Baek Seo-ha. Marry me. Let’s spend our whole lives together. Think we’ll still be taking down monsters by then?”
As the never-ending confession continued, Seo-ha couldn’t hold back his laughter.
<The End>
Ahhh so sweet!