Luckily, there was only one reservation for Guiding that morning. If Kang Biso had shown up just a little later, I probably wouldn’t have been able to focus at all.
He sat there chewing on cookies with one hand still wrapped around mine, and my heart wouldn’t stop racing. I couldn’t bring myself to look away, even if I tried.
This is driving me crazy… Where is he even learning this kind of stuff?
I smiled back at Kang Biso’s bright, innocent grin, but there was no hiding the sudden warmth spreading across my cheeks. I was so flustered, and yet he spoke so casually—telling me how he’d been working nonstop all weekend and missed me even more because of it.
It’s like I’m the only one caught up in this…
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and watched him chatter away like he always did—until something began to feel… off.
The more I looked at him, the more I realized something wasn’t right. His complexion seemed worse than usual.
Even during our last date, he hadn’t looked particularly well. But today, it was even more noticeable.
His face is completely pale… Is he really okay?
“Kang Biso-ssi. You don’t look so good… Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Me? Of course I’m fine!”
He said he was fine, but his face had gone ghostly pale, his hair looked dry and brittle, and there was a faint sheen of cold sweat on his forehead. He definitely wasn’t okay.
Had he been overworking? Was he pushing himself too hard? Or was there something bothering him?
I thought it over carefully, and suddenly, something clicked.
…When was the last time I Guided him?
Espers rarely got sick. The one time their condition worsened was right before a rampage, triggered by a prolonged lack of Guiding.
That’s when I realized—it had been quite a while since I last Guided him.
Even though he’d been coming to the Guiding Room regularly, all we’d done was talk. Not once had I actually performed Guiding. Things had been hectic lately, sure, but I hadn’t realized it had gotten this bad.
Why didn’t I notice sooner? If I’d just paid a little more attention, I would’ve seen it right away.
Was I so caught up in my own head after his confession that I failed to see what was right in front of me? Even now, he looked like he was barely holding it together.
Guilt surged through me, heavy and suffocating.
For an Esper, Guiding was vital—nothing could take its place. And yet, Kang Biso had chosen to delay it, putting me before his own well-being.
More important than avoiding a rampage… was me?
“…”
Overwhelmed by guilt and gratitude, I quickly held out my hand.
“Kang Biso-ssi. Give me your hand.”
“…Huh?”
“…Let me Guide you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Kang Biso looked surprised, then slowly touched his own face.
“Do I really look that bad?”
“Yeah. You really do.”
“Now that you mention it… I do feel a little weak.”
He slumped his shoulders like a child sulking, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. When he saw the worry in my eyes, he gave me a small smile.
“But seeing your face makes me forget I was even feeling sick.”
That only made me feel worse. Forgetting any embarrassment, I grabbed his hand without hesitation. I was just about to begin the Guiding when—
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“We’re dating now, right?”
Kang Biso pulled my hand closer and rubbed the back of it against his cheek. I could feel the warmth of his skin and, more than that, the sincerity in his touch.
He tilted his head slightly and rested his chin on the back of my hand, looking up at me with soft, pleading eyes.
“Can we do it in bed? I don’t want to just hold hands during Guiding anymore…”
…What?
It was a bold request—borderline manipulative—but I couldn’t bring myself to say no. We were dating now, after all. Physical affection beyond hand-holding was practically expected. If we weren’t in a relationship, it’d be easy to decline. But now… I couldn’t think of a single excuse.
Especially not when he was looking at me like that, clearly unwell and practically begging.
Still, the word bed made me tense up. What if I got swept away again like last time, back when we Guided in that motel?
…Not that I’d hated the Guiding. Or the kiss.
“Hmm? You don’t want to?”
Kang Biso must’ve noticed my hesitation. He rubbed my hand against his cheek again and again, whining softly. His pale face and the desperate look in his eyes broke down the last of my resistance. I sighed under my breath and gave a slow nod.
“…Sit on the bed.”
“Okay!”
At my words, Kang Biso suddenly sprang up like he’d never felt sick at all and headed straight for the bed. The speed of it left me speechless.
“Hyung, come here already!”
Kang Biso patted the empty spot beside him on the bed, looking way too casual for someone in his condition. I blinked, momentarily thrown. I didn’t even know how to begin. We needed physical contact for Guiding, sure—but was I supposed to start with a kiss on the cheek? Or just… go straight for the lips?
…No matter what, it felt like a kiss was inevitable.
My eyes drifted instinctively to Kang Biso’s mouth. Slightly chapped, but still soft-looking, flushed, and inviting. My chest tightened. Damn it. Why was I thinking about kissing when I should be focused on the Guiding?
He said he didn’t want to just hold hands—but that didn’t mean I had the nerve to take the lead.
I had no choice. Honestly, just holding hands seemed like the safest option right now. Anything more and my brain might short-circuit from sheer embarrassment.
I sat down beside him with stiff, robotic movements and quietly reached for his hand. As soon as I did, he laced his fingers through mine without hesitation, locking us together.
It was such a familiar touch… but still, my heart skipped a beat.
I’d held hands with plenty of Espers during Guiding before. But now? Just this simple contact, in this setting, with him… it rattled me more than it should’ve.
…Get it together.
I had to focus. Kang Biso looked seriously unwell—this wasn’t the time for wandering thoughts. I closed my eyes, tried to clear my mind, and slowly began to channel the Guiding.
“Haa…”
A heavy sigh slipped out of me the moment it started.
His condition was worse than I’d thought. Honestly, it was a miracle he’d lasted this long without collapsing.
The more I felt it, the less worried I became—and the more angry I got. Why hadn’t he said anything? If it was this bad, he should’ve asked for help.
I swallowed down the frustration and kept the Guiding going, carefully, steadily. His fingers tightened around mine.
“Haa… it feels so good… really…”
His voice came out low and breathy, sighs mixing with something that sounded way too close to a moan. The sound sent a strange heat curling up my spine.
I cracked one eye open to look at him.
He was staring right at me, dark eyes intense—like he was reading my every thought. Then, slowly, deliberately, he ran his tongue across his lips.
…Shit.
I swallowed hard. The dryness in my mouth wasn’t from concentration anymore.
The deeper I pushed into the Guiding, the more overwhelming the tension became. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding. We were dating now. That fact alone had my nerves on edge, and the way he looked right now—flushed cheeks, that slight gulp of his throat, and the way he bit his lip like he couldn’t take it anymore—was enough to shatter what little composure I had left.
“Haa…”
He kept letting out these ragged, quiet moans, one after another. Then, suddenly, he pulled our joined hands and wrapped his arms around me.
“K-Kang Biso-ssi…!”
I called out his name, startled, but he didn’t answer. He just pressed his lips to my neck—gently, but firmly.
“Nngh…!”
Even the softest brush of his lips had my body jolting like I’d been shocked. Seeing my reaction, he shifted forward and pushed me down onto the bed.
Still holding me, he kissed my neck again. And again. Then, lifting his upper body, he climbed on top of me like it was the most natural thing in the world. His gaze—half-lidded, hazy with heat—locked onto mine from above.
“…”
I could’ve pushed him off. Could’ve slipped free.
But I didn’t.
Those dazed, fevered eyes held me still. He didn’t speak. Just stared. Then slowly, silently, began to lean down.
His lips were inches from mine when I turned my head away, almost on instinct. It just felt like—if I kissed him now, I wouldn’t be able to stop.
But—
“Kang Biso-ssi. Wait, let’s just calm down for a sec—mmph!”
I barely got the words out before he cupped my chin and kissed me—deeply.
“Mmph! Nn…!”
His tongue slipped past my lips without hesitation, moving fast, hungry. I couldn’t fight it. He was already inside, exploring every inch of my mouth.
“Haa…”
Our breaths tangled hot and fast. His tongue curled around mine, dragged along my teeth, pressed against the roof of my mouth.
I flinched each time he touched somewhere sensitive—but he didn’t let up. He kissed me harder, deeper, his mouth dominating mine without pause.
It felt like I was drowning.
Desperate, I pushed at his shoulders until I finally broke free.
“Haa… haa…”
Kang Biso panted above me, staring down, lips glistening with spit. He licked them slowly, then moved to kiss me again—but I pressed my hands to his shoulders and stopped him.
“K-Kang Biso-ssi…!”
“Seol-bin… just once more. Just one more time. Please?”
His eyes had darkened, the earlier daze replaced with full-blown arousal. He was shaking with need—and clearly had no intention of stopping. Knowing I’d affected him this much made my chest twist with something close to pride, but I couldn’t let it go any further.
I reached up and gently pressed a hand over his mouth.
He frowned.
Only briefly.
Then he grabbed my hand, kissed it again and again, then—before I could stop him—slid out his tongue and licked my fingers.
“Ahh!”
What the hell was this?!
My eyes widened in shock.
He took my fingers into his mouth, licking slowly, thoroughly, like they were a piece of candy. His tongue curled around them, dragging upward before his teeth lightly grazed them. With every slow suck, my heart beat faster.
Every time his lips parted, that bright red tongue flicked into view—and I couldn’t look away. My throat went dry, and saliva filled my mouth.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
Kang Biso’s eyes crinkled in a soft, satisfied smile.
I’d completely forgotten we were still Guiding. At some point, it had stopped—but his heat hadn’t faded. He was still looking at me like he wanted to devour me whole.
I squeezed my eyes shut to avoid that burning gaze. But then he nibbled on my fingers again, dragging my attention right back.
This is bad…
If this went on, we were definitely going to go past just kissing.
I turned my head sharply, hoping it would cool things down. He didn’t like that. Without warning, he grabbed both my wrists and pinned them above my head.
I froze.
My arms were restrained, completely defenseless, and Kang Biso just stared. Then, slowly, he smiled.
With that satisfied grin still on his face, he lowered himself and buried his face in my neck.
“Haa…”
He took a deep breath, like a puppy sniffing its owner’s scent. Then, in a low, trembling whisper, he asked—
“…Can I keep going?”
