“Puppy, are you—”
I returned to the hotel and looked around, but the puppy was nowhere to be seen. The place was completely quiet, and the bowl I’d filled with food that morning still sat untouched in the corner.
Seriously, where the hell is he? What’s he been doing all this time?
They say you don’t notice someone’s presence, but you always feel their absence. It was just one day—just one day without him running up to greet me at the door like usual—but the emptiness it left behind clung to my chest like a shadow.
Whatever. I’ll shower first. He’ll come back when he’s ready.
Trying to shake off the hollowness, I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Warm water trickled down my skin, slowly washing away the fatigue of the day.
As the steam fogged up the mirror, my thoughts drifted to Kang Biso—who’d come earlier for Guiding.
The way he’d pouted over the ring Kim Seong-gyeong gave me, how desperately he asked me out on a date, and that bright, boyish smile when I said yes…
Is it just ‘cause he’s good-looking?
His face kept floating back into my mind, haunting me like an afterimage.
After finishing my shower, I flopped down onto the bed. Even then, all I could think about was Kang Biso.
A date… With Kang Biso, huh.
He called it a date, but what does that even mean? Just a normal dinner and hanging out? Now that I think about it, Kim Yong-ha also invited me out to eat.
It caught me off guard—how he stopped me just as I was heading home—but I never expected him to ask me out like that. Said he wanted someone to talk to, that he felt lonely. Guess there are plenty of Espers who want protection or Guiding, but not many who stick around just to offer company.
Yeah… it must get suffocating, constantly being under a spotlight.
Wherever he goes, he’s stuck with the “S-Rank Guide” label like it’s tattooed on his forehead.
I don’t mind lending an ear for a bit. Maybe I’ll stop by to see him tomorrow.
There’s been talk lately—rumors that things aren’t going so well between him and Yoon Yi-hyeon. I only caught bits and pieces in passing, but if that many people are saying it, there’s probably some truth to it. Honestly, I’m not surprised. Those two are the only ones who’ve stuck to the original plotline.
Speaking of which, what’s going on between him and Kim Seong-gyeong now?
If things were progressing like they’re supposed to, they should be getting closer around this time. But with me barging into the story, the whole situation’s gotten tangled.
Not that I can do anything about it. For now, all I can do is watch how it unfolds.
…Getting sleepy.
As those thoughts faded into the background, so did my consciousness.
***
While Hwang Seol-bin was fast asleep, the front door clicked open. Baek Beom stepped inside, casually scratching his head.
He tossed the book he’d been carrying onto the dining table and headed straight for the bedroom—where Seol-bin was already curled up in bed, fast asleep.
“Tch. Knocked out already, huh.”
Well, it was getting late. Even though I hadn’t seen him for just a day, I’d missed him more than I expected.
“Didn’t even wait up for me? Guess I don’t matter, huh?”
Muttering under his breath, Baek Beom couldn’t help feeling a little offended. Still, worried he might wake Seol-bin, he tiptoed toward the bed on the balls of his feet.
Once he reached the edge, Baek Beom stared down at that peacefully sleeping face, soft and serene beneath the dim light.
Damn… that face really is something else.
Sure, his personality was a pain, but that face? Right up my alley. A familiar thirst stirred inside him, and he licked his lips unconsciously as his eyes drank in the sight.
What would that face look like crying in bed?
That normally calm, stoic expression twisted with tears rolling down his cheeks…
“Mmngh…”
Just then, Seol-bin stirred in his sleep, brows furrowing. Whatever dream he was having, it didn’t seem like a good one.
Frowning slightly at the sight, Baek Beom reached out to smooth his brow—
“Urk!”
In a flash, Seol-bin’s hand shot up and gripped Baek Beom’s wrist with shocking strength.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
He tried to pull back instinctively, but it was already too late.
The next thing he knew, his face was shoved down into the mattress. Just like last time—caught off guard, taken down in one swift move.
“What the…”
A dazed voice mumbled above him. Seol-bin, still half-asleep, had climbed on top of him, pinning his arms with both hands like it was second nature.
What the hell is this guy? He’s supposed to be a Guide, not some damn combat Esper.
Even among Espers, pulling off a move like that while asleep is insane. But Seol-bin? He did it like he was brushing his teeth.
At this point, calling him a Guide felt wrong. He was basically an S-Rank Esper in disguise.
Baek Beom barely managed to turn his head. Seol-bin’s face was slack with sleep, clearly out of it.
…Christ. How am I even supposed to make a move on someone like this?
No—maybe I should just count myself lucky I didn’t get punched in the face.
“Baek… Beom?”
“Yeah, it’s me. So… mind letting go? Seriously, that hurts…”
Still groggy, Hwang Seol-bin blinked slowly as he processed the situation. Then he loosened his grip on Baek Beom’s wrists and backed off, putting some space between them.
Freed from the hold, Baek Beom sat up and relaxed against the bed. His gaze dropped to his wrists, which were already turning from red to a bruised bluish hue.
All that raw strength…
Who in their right mind would call him a Guide? He looked more like a body-type Esper, built for physical combat.
Still… the fact that he was the only one allowed to be this close to Seol-bin while he slept? That felt pretty damn good.
Baek Beom started to smile, the kind of smile that would make anyone back away in concern. Naturally, Seol-bin’s face twisted like he was staring at a lunatic.
***
I was definitely asleep, but when I opened my eyes… there was Baek Beom, pinned under me.
…Do I seriously sleepwalk?
I tilted my head and let him go. I’d been feeling a little guilty for pouncing on him in my sleep, but that weird grin spreading across his face like a creep wiped out any shred of guilt I had.
I subtly scooted farther away from him and asked, “The book?”
“Over on the table.”
He got up and headed toward the dining table. I followed him, and sure enough, there was a book sitting there. Baek Beom picked it up and held it out to me.
“This is the one, right?”
“Hmm… It does say Book of Wishes…”
The title was printed clearly on the cover. If this really was the Book of Wishes, what would it say inside? My curiosity flared, and I instinctively reached out.
“Uh-uh!”
Just then, Baek Beom quickly pulled the book back and hid it behind his back.
I froze mid-reach.
“What the hell?”
Why wasn’t he giving it to me?
I narrowed my eyes at him. He grinned smugly.
“I’m not handing this over for free. Guiding first—come on.”
“…We agreed. Once a week. Fridays.”
“This is separate. I went through hell to find this. You can’t give me a little bonus session?”
He even patted his shoulder dramatically, like he’d just returned from an epic quest. He was so full of himself I wanted to smack him. It was obvious he wasn’t giving up the book until I gave in.
“Well? You want the book or not? You’ve been dying to get your hands on it.”
…Should I just take it by force?
That would get me out of doing Guiding—but if he tore the book in the struggle, that would ruin everything. Better to play it safe and take the diplomatic route.
“Fine. But you know the rules.”
His face fell immediately.
“…Do we really have to?”
“Rules are rules. No exceptions. Otherwise, no Guiding.”
I shook my head firmly, and he finally realized pouting wouldn’t get him anywhere. He scowled and muttered under his breath.
“Man, you’re stubborn.”
Grumbling, Baek Beom’s body began to shrink—and moments later, where the man had been, a small fluffy puppy now stood.
“Woof!”
When it came to Guiding, he had to be in puppy form. That was one of our non-negotiable rules.
As he trotted over, tail wagging, I picked him up. His soft fur and warm body settled into my arms—and with that, the strange emptiness I’d been feeling all day disappeared.
Maybe this is why people keep pets. It fills that lonely space inside you. If I’d known it’d feel like this, I would’ve made him stay in dog form all the time—though when I first brought it up, he’d flipped out. We compromised—dog form only during Guiding.
“Woof! Woof!”
I was petting him absentmindedly when he started barking again, clearly impatient for me to start.
But then my eyes caught the book on the floor. I stopped stroking him and bent down to pick it up.
The Book of Wishes. I finally had it in my hands.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
As soon as I picked it up, he started squirming, yapping up a storm, but I ignored him.
“Yeah, yeah. Stop rushing. I’ll do it.”
Once I sat on the edge of the bed and set the book down beside me, Baek Beom finally calmed down. I placed him in my lap, and he curled up comfortably.
Once he was settled, I began the Guiding—soft strokes through his fur, steady and slow.
His condition wasn’t bad. Probably because I’d been Guiding him regularly ever since we started living together.
His tongue lolled out and his eyes fluttered shut. He looked completely at peace.
***
Once Guiding was done, I glanced down at the puppy sprawled across my lap, half-asleep, then turned my attention to the book beside me.
Its red cover was thinner than I expected, embossed with elegant patterns and star designs. It looked like something straight out of a fantasy novel—an enchanted tome that could actually grant wishes.
Is this really the Book of Wishes?
It looked so blatantly magical it almost seemed fake. But somehow, that only made it feel more real. I felt nervous. Excited. Maybe a little scared.
I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
I opened it slowly. The title appeared again on the first page. I flipped to the next, where a preface was printed in tiny, old-fashioned script:
[There are five volumes of the “Book of Wishes.” Collect them all, and any wish can be granted.]
And right then, I knew—it was real.
The faded ink, the worn pages… it felt ancient, like I’d unearthed some lost artifact. My heart pounded harder the longer I held it.
I swallowed and turned the pages carefully, one by one.
But the deeper I read, the more my hands started to tremble.
[If Hwang Dae-heon doesn’t at least pretend to read this, Dennis will come back and start nagging. “Did you read it?” “How could you ignore my gift like that?” He’ll throw a fit.]
…What the hell is this? What kind of book is this supposed to be?
