His eyes landed on the hospital gown.
Bite marks and bruises peeked out from beneath the collar. There were traces of IV needles on his wrists. The sight alone made him feel like he was going to lose his mind. His head burned—so hot it felt paralyzed. Jung Tae-seok gripped the bars in front of him, knuckles white. A loud clang echoed through the Disciplinary Committee room.
“You should’ve just gotten mad. Cursed me out. Told me to go fuck myself for treating you like that!”
His fist slammed into the bars again, the heavy thud shaking the air.
“Do you have any idea how much I want to kill myself right now?”
“……”
“I’m so pissed I can’t breathe, but I still miss you so bad it makes me sick. I know you’d be better off without me in your life, and that thought alone is driving me fucking crazy!”
“……”
“What the hell kind of mental state do you think I’m in right now…!”
Just then, a hand reached through the bars.
Just like he had at the Gate, Eun-jo didn’t hesitate. He cupped Jung Tae-seok’s cheek with both care and certainty.
“Was that a confession?”
“What?”
Jung Tae-seok blinked, stunned. Eun-jo answered again, calmly this time.
“You just said you like me.”
“……”
“Didn’t you?”
His mind screamed at him to shove Eun-jo’s hand away, to deny it, to say no. But his body wouldn’t move. It was like someone had smacked him upside the head—his whole body went numb.
Eun-jo’s hand gently stroked his cheek. Warmth spread from that touch—across his face, down his throat, into his chest. Holding his gaze, Eun-jo smiled softly.
“You like me, don’t you?”
Eun-jo’s eyes curved sweetly, full of quiet confidence—like he already knew the answer. His face, so heartbreakingly beautiful, held Jung Tae-seok captive. He couldn’t look away.
Slowly, Eun-jo leaned in, gently guiding their faces closer. And like an obedient, well-trained dog, Jung Tae-seok moved toward the bars without hesitation. The distance between them vanished until they could feel each other’s breath.
Shyly gripping the cold metal, Eun-jo tilted his head even closer. And when their lips finally met, Jung Tae-seok couldn’t help but let out a soft groan.
The Imprint reacted. Heat bloomed inside him, spreading through every nerve like a burst of light.
Ah…
The light that saved him again—was Yeo Eun-jo.
His hands clenched tighter around the bars. Breath mingled between parted lips. Tongues met and danced.
It was a kiss that felt real—like they were truly sharing something that mattered.
His heart ached with desire. He wanted to pull Eun-jo into his arms, hold him close, kiss him deeper. Wrap his arms around that slender waist, nuzzle into his chest, and breathe him in.
“Mmh… ah…”
The sound of his cuffs clinking against the bars betrayed just how badly he wanted more.
Eun-jo laughed softly into the kiss, tongue still brushing against his. Hearing that laugh, Jung Tae-seok finally pulled back.
“What’s so funny?”
“I just realized… sneaking kisses like this isn’t so bad.”
Eun-jo’s lips curved into a playful smirk, glistening in the light. He could feel Jung Tae-seok’s gaze, heavy and unblinking, locked onto him. It only made him smile more.
“Maybe we should do this more often. Kissing through the bars.”
“If you want me dead, sure.”
Clang.
Jung Tae-seok rattled the bars like he might rip them apart with his bare hands.
“Makes it easy for you, doesn’t it? You could kill me without even lifting a weapon.”
I already feel like I’m dying.
Eun-jo faltered, caught off guard by the bitterness in his voice. He offered an apologetic look.
It worked. Jung Tae-seok calmed instantly.
And once things settled, Eun-jo began to talk—softly, like he was unraveling a secret just for him. He told him everything that had happened while they were apart: how even the Guide Center Director came looking for him, how Lee Sang-heon and Park Se-yul took turns standing guard like sentries, how the medical staff had been especially kind.
When he spoke about the endless tests, Tae-seok’s face twisted in anger, as if the pain had been his own.
Jung Tae-seok stayed quiet, nodding from time to time, listening to every word.
He’d wanted to know. Needed to know how Eun-jo had been.
Nothing could’ve fascinated him more than this—watching Eun-jo’s lips move as he spoke, taking in every detail. As he gazed at him, something caught his eye.
I Imprinted.
Just above Eun-jo’s earlobe, a faint mark stood out. He must’ve done it without realizing—back at the Gate.
An Esper’s Imprint could only be detected by the Esper themselves. Sure, a Center machine could scan for it, but otherwise, even other Espers couldn’t tell. The same went for the Guides.
It’s too early.
Watching Eun-jo puff his cheeks like a little hamster, Jung Tae-seok steeled himself.
The Imprint didn’t affect the Guide. But for Espers, it was a matter of life and death. That imbalance made many Guides hesitant, even fearful.
If a Guide refused them, the Esper couldn’t receive proper Guiding—and would slowly waste away until they died.
Once an Esper Imprints, they could only be Guided by that one person. If their Guide died, they died too.
Outside the Center, people romanticized it—called it fate. But to Jung Tae-seok, it was nothing but cruel, one-sided violence.
If Eun-jo finds out, he’ll try to Guide me no matter what.
He was the type who’d try to care for both his teammates and his Imprinted Esper. Someone who carried the weight of responsibility without hesitation.
You should be selfish for once.
That’s why… he couldn’t tell him. Not yet.
Slowly, Jung Tae-seok reached out and poked his soft cheek with a finger.
Eun-jo blinked, startled. He fell silent, lips slightly parted.
“What? Did I interrupt?”
“No.”
Jung Tae-seok gently wrapped his hand around Eun-jo’s, still clutching the bars tight. The warmth that passed between their skin was soft but unmistakable.
“Hyung.”
Hm? Eun-jo looked up at him at the sound of that gentle voice. Their linked hands fidgeted awkwardly—nervous, hesitant.
“So… does this mean we’re dating now?”
“W-What?”
“I mean, I confessed.”
“……”
“Didn’t I say I like you?”
Eun-jo’s mind went completely blank.
He wasn’t wrong. But actually dating Jung Tae-seok right now? That was a whole different issue. To become an S-Rank Guide, he needed four Imprints.
So what the hell am I supposed to do about the other three?!
Lost in panic, Eun-jo didn’t respond. Jung Tae-seok gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“You’ve gotta take responsibility, Hyung.”
“W-Why would I have to…?”
Jung Tae-seok’s brows lifted in disbelief, as if Eun-jo had just said the most outrageous thing.
“So what, you’re gonna make someone fall for you and then just walk away?”
“……”
“Did you leave your conscience back at the Gate or something?”
What kind of logic is that?!
Eun-jo’s eyes darted in every direction, completely thrown by the absurdity of it all. The Imprint part had gone fine—but now everything else was unraveling fast.
Tae-seok shook their joined hands slightly, like he was nudging him for an answer.
“You’re not gonna say some dumb shit like ‘I need time,’ right?”
Eun-jo flinched.
“Because if you do, I swear I’ll tear this place apart. You know I could do it without even trying.”
The threat was casual, but he meant every word. He tugged Eun-jo’s hand through the bars and pressed it to his cheek. Then, like he was being cute, he nuzzled against the back of Eun-jo’s hand.
“Hyung.”
Only when he wanted something did he call him that. The sound alone made Eun-jo sigh.
He’d only thought about the Imprint—never once considered what came after. All he’d focused on was surviving. But this moment had been inevitable.
Realizing that made it feel just a little easier. His thoughts began to clear.
I can’t reject him. But I can’t date him openly either.
There was only one solution. Eun-jo slowly closed his eyes, took a breath, and opened them again.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
Jung Tae-seok’s lips pulled into a slow, satisfied grin.
“Hyung—” He was just about to say something more, but Eun-jo cut him off.
“But it’s gonna be a secret.”
“…What?”
“Let’s keep it just between us. If people at the Center find out, it’ll turn into a mess. And Team A…”
He rushed through the excuses, voice quick and clipped—until he suddenly hesitated.
“I… I don’t want to cause trouble for them.”
“……”
Jung Tae-seok didn’t respond right away. He just squeezed Eun-jo’s hand, brow furrowed in thought. Seeing that hesitation, Eun-jo reached out and gently stroked his cheek. And then—he dropped the bomb.
“Even if I’m working on Team A… I’m still your boyfriend.”
At the word boyfriend, the tension melted from Jung Tae-seok’s expression.
Eun-jo noticed right away and repeated it.
“And you’re my boyfriend too.”
“……”
“Right, Tae-seok?”
His cheeks flushed pink, but he still managed to say the words clearly. There was no way Jung Tae-seok could fight that. Admitting defeat, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Eun-jo’s hand.
“…Just for now.”
“Okay.”
“When we get out, first thing we’re doing is watching a movie.”
“A movie?”
“Yeah. That’s what couples do when they start dating. Not that you’d know—since you’ve clearly never been in a relationship before.”
Says the guy in the same boat.
Holding back a laugh, Eun-jo thought about how it always went in romance novels. When he didn’t answer, Jung Tae-seok’s expression twisted suspiciously.
“Wait, hold up. Don’t tell me—you have dated someone before?”
“N-No! Of course not. I’ve been busy working at the Center…”
Still looking doubtful, Tae-seok added with a grunt,
“We’re watching a horror movie.”
“Okay.”
“I’m carrying everything—the couple set, the drinks, the popcorn. All of it.”
“Mm-hm.”
Satisfied, he gave Eun-jo’s hand one last nibble—like he didn’t want to let go—before carefully slipping it back through the bars.
“Alright. You should go.”
He turned away without hesitation. If he stayed any longer, forget rules or punishment—he was going to break down that damn door. He sank down onto the blanket. Immediately, he could feel Eun-jo’s gaze on his back.
If you’re leaving, just go already. Clingy boyfriends are the worst.
That was the exact moment Jung Tae-seok’s body froze.
Boyfriend…?
He’d just called Eun-jo his boyfriend—in his head.
Heat surged through him. His ears were burning. For the first time, he was honestly glad to be stuck in the Disciplinary Room.
Not that he noticed Eun-jo watching everything.
So cute.
Eun-jo’s eyes had long since adjusted to the dark. He could see it all—Tae-seok’s flushed ears, the red creeping down his neck and even along his back. He didn’t need to check to know it probably went all the way down.
His vision was practically legendary—so sharp even entertainment shows had tested it. Both eyes had perfect scores.
Watching the overcooked sweet potato stew in embarrassment, Eun-jo finally stood up. As he turned toward the exit, a low voice floated from inside.
“If you’re not around, Hyung… I’m gonna die.”
It was practically a threat.
Eun-jo didn’t respond. He just kept walking.
Day one of being a couple.
Two full weeks left until the punishment was over.
