A few days had already passed since I’d fled the rooftop like I was escaping a nightmare.
Just remembering that conversation with Kim Yong-ha was enough to send chills down my spine. I kept catching myself brushing my arms, as if trying to wipe away the lingering discomfort.
“I love you, Sunbae. So I won’t give up. If I get the chance, I’ll use any means necessary to make you mine.”
That line wouldn’t stop echoing in my head. The more I thought about it, the more unease crept in. And whenever that anxiety welled up, I couldn’t help but wish Kang Biso were by my side. But seeing him right now? That was out of the question.
…How long is he planning to tail me like this?
Ever since my meeting with Esper Kang Hak-gwan, I’d had a bodyguard assigned to me—supposedly for my own protection. Normally, I would’ve brushed it off as temporary overkill, but they clearly weren’t letting the recent attack on the Center slide. They wanted that intruder caught, no matter what.
The guard followed me around like a shadow, sticking so close it felt more like surveillance than protection. From the moment I stepped out for work in the morning until I returned to the dorms at night, I was under constant watch. With that kind of tail, I couldn’t even text Kang Biso freely, let alone meet up. These days, I could only reach out to him in secret once I was back in my room.
This is getting ridiculous…
I had already warned him not to come, just in case. Still, considering I’d said so confidently that I’d swing by the Center before we parted, being reduced to this was… a little embarrassing.
But I didn’t expect them to go this far just for a D-Rank Guide.
Now that I can’t see him, I want to even more…
I hadn’t realized how much I’d taken it for granted, seeing him so often. Now that I couldn’t, he kept popping into my head without warning.
─ Knock knock knock
Just then, a knock came from outside the door. Was it that time already?
I hastily called out, “Come in,” while flipping open the chart on my desk. Someone stepped inside slowly and offered a polite greeting.
“…Hello?”
The voice was so familiar, I instinctively looked up—and froze in place.
Messy bangs, oversized glasses hiding most of his face. But there was no mistaking it—it was Kang Biso.
I was so stunned, his name slipped out before I could stop myself.
“Kang Bi—!”
“Shh—!”
Kang Biso pressed a finger to my lips and lowered his glasses slightly, winking at me.
Stunned speechless, I clamped my mouth shut and glanced down at the documents in front of me. The name listed on the chart wasn’t Kang Biso’s at all—it belonged to someone completely different.
Now that I thought about it, every time he’d come to the Center to receive Guiding from me, he’d always gotten in using forged paperwork. It was a little disheartening, sure—but at the same time, if it meant I got to see his face, I couldn’t complain too much.
I took a deep breath, reined in my emotions, and spoke in the same flat tone I used with other Espers.
“…Have a seat. We’ll start the Guiding now.”
Kang Biso took the seat with his usual air of nonchalance and extended his hand toward me. At some point, he’d already taken off the glasses. His large, double-lidded eyes fixed on me, and a gentle smile curved his lips.
If he was going to pull this, he could’ve at least warned me ahead of time. I shot him a sharp glance, but still reached out and took his hand. Since he was here, I figured I might as well give him a proper session. I was about to focus and channel the energy through our joined hands when I noticed him staring intently at me.
“…Is there something on my face?”
“No. You’re just… really beautiful.”
I let out a soft, incredulous laugh at his teasing tone. Kang Biso grinned, his dimple deepening, then laced our fingers together without hesitation.
“This is…”
I paused. A strange tension passed between our hands, and I noticed the pale cast to his face.
…Wait. Why does he look so drained?
There were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin looked rough—far more than usual.
Right. A few days ago, he’d gone all-out to protect me. He must’ve pushed his powers way too hard… and I hadn’t had a chance to guide him since.
With that thought, I focused and began the Guiding—stronger and deeper than I’d intended.
“…Haa.”
As the energy flowed between us, Kang Biso let out a deep, relieved breath, like someone finally able to breathe again. I could see the difference almost immediately—his dull skin began to regain its usual glow.
“Haa… ha… It feels so good.”
His expression softened, eyes fluttering like he was drunk on the sensation. It was dangerously easy to get swept up in it. Whenever I guided Kang Biso, heat always crept through my entire body too. If I wasn’t careful, I’d get caught in the pull of his desire—dragged past the boundaries of Guiding into something much deeper.
“More… Give me more… haa…”
His hot breath grazed the space between us, and the warmth in our joined hands kept building. He started pleading for more, and my body—already flushed—leaned toward him on its own, inch by inch.
“More… I need more…”
At this rate, we were going to cross a line. The heat that had been scattered throughout my body now pulsed in my head, clouding my thoughts. I knew I needed to stop—had to stop—but…
Locked in each other’s gaze, both of us overwhelmed by the same heat and urgency—
─ Beep beep beep.
“……”
“……”
Silence.
I was the first to come to my senses. Before I knew it, Kang Biso was right in front of me, barely an inch away. I quickly pulled back, putting space between us.
“…That’s enough Guiding for today.”
“…Can’t we go just a little longer?”
“No.”
Kang Biso looked at me with a pout, clearly disappointed, but I firmly shook my head. He scratched at the skin beneath his reddened eyes a few times, then slowly rose to his feet. The way his gaze clung to me—full of longing—almost made me falter. But I was too scared of what might happen if we pushed things any further in this room.
“…It’s a shame, but… alright.”
With his shoulders slumped and his eyes brimming with regret, Kang Biso dug into his pocket, pulled out his phone, tapped out a quick message, and quietly walked out the door.
A second later, my phone buzzed where it sat on the desk.
I picked it up and saw a message from him.
[Hyung~ I really wanted to stay longer… It feels like we barely had any time together T_T I miss you so much. Can we meet for just a bit tonight? Please?]
His affection spilled out from the screen, and despite myself, a smile tugged at my lips.
I touched the corner of my mouth, trying to hide the grin. I was about to text back, tell him no—that it was too dangerous and he couldn’t just show up whenever he felt like it, not with people actively searching for him—but then a better idea came to me.
If the surveillance was only meant to keep me from escaping… couldn’t I just disguise myself and sneak out? He’d done it plenty of times before. Why not me?
[If you wait at the playground where we met last time, I’ll come to you.]
***
After work, I returned to the dorm and waited for night to fall. While I disguised myself—changing clothes, slipping on a mask and different glasses—only one thought kept circling through my mind:
Can I really get away with this?
I pulled a cap low over my face and stepped outside. Almost immediately, I heard a voice nearby.
“So, yeah, today I…”
I ducked behind a vending machine. The voice was still talking—probably on a call—but it drifted off quickly and disappeared.
Okay. Clear.
Getting caught sneaking out at this hour would only lead to trouble. I moved quietly, using the shadows and nearby structures to my advantage. I’d done this sort of thing plenty of times in the past. It didn’t take long to reach the dorm entrance.
I was almost out… but then I saw them—surveillance agents posted just outside the dorm building. I hadn’t realized they were watching even here. Still, it didn’t look like escaping would be that difficult.
They were chatting, yawning, clearly distracted. If I couldn’t slip past this, I had no right to call myself a former Special Agent.
I circled wide, made my way to a secluded spot far from the entrance, and quietly climbed over the wall.
“……”
There was a soft thump as I landed, but it wasn’t loud enough to draw their attention. They were still busy gossiping.
And… I’m out.
Success. That was almost too easy. I stretched, enjoying the rush of liberation. For the first time in a long while, I felt free. With light steps, I headed toward the playground where Kang Biso would be waiting.
─ Creak… creak…
The rusty chains of a swing squeaked softly.
Kang Biso sat on one of the swings, his messy wig and glasses tossed aside, a black cap pulled low over his face.
“…Hyung!”
He spotted me and shot up from the swing, running toward me like he couldn’t wait another second. Even though I was already walking his way, he sprinted all the way up to me, flashing that dimpled grin I hadn’t seen in days.
“…Did you wait long?”
“Of course I did! I missed you so much.”
Just like always, he clung to my arm, full of energy and affection. I looked down at him and finally brought up what I hadn’t been able to say at the Center.
“I didn’t get a chance to say this earlier, but… seriously, what were you thinking? Showing up when I’ve got surveillance on me? Do you know how desperate they are to find you right now?”
“You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to get caught. No chance.”
He said it with total confidence, like it wasn’t even a possibility. He really wasn’t planning to stay away from the Center, was he?
I stared at him, ready to scold him again—but then I finally took a good look at his face.
He looked so much better.
The Guiding had worked. The dark circles that had hung so heavily beneath his eyes were gone. His complexion had brightened. Even his expression looked lighter, more relaxed.
“Anyway, let’s go for a walk! Just standing here feels like a waste of time.”
“…Alright.”
He squeezed my hand tight and led me to a nearby park—the same one we’d tried to visit before. Back then, we’d been interrupted and had to leave early.
“Ah…”
I’d remembered it being beautiful, but at night, bathed in soft lighting, the place felt… tranquil. Serene.
It really is different at night.
The flowers, glowing under the ambient lights, created a soft, dreamlike mood. Sculptures hidden throughout the park blended so naturally with the scenery, it made the whole space feel like something out of a painting.
“How is it? Pretty, right?”
“…Yeah. It is.”
I nodded in agreement. Kang Biso smiled, clearly pleased, and began strolling ahead with an easy, relaxed pace. Our fingers were still laced together, and I let myself be quietly led along.
He plopped down on a bench and patted the spot next to him. I sat beside him—and suddenly, he leaned his head against my shoulder.
“…What are you doing?”
Nuzzling against me, he murmured softly.
“I always wanted to try this.”
“…Leaning on my shoulder and rubbing your face against it?”
I gave him a blank stare, but he shook his head.
“No. Sitting on a bench with you, talking, laughing. Just being close. I’d see other couples doing it, and I was jealous. I wanted to try it too.”
He wanted to do couple things…?
The thought made me smile before I could stop myself. It was such a Kang Biso thing.
He tilted his head, still resting against me, and glanced up with a quiet smile.
“Being here like this with you… it makes me really happy. What about you, Hyung?”
“…Yeah. I like it too.”
“Right? I knew it.”
His eyes sparkled, and he leaned close, whispering sweetly by my ear.
“Next time, let’s come again. Or better yet, let’s go somewhere nicer. The beach, the mountains… or even a trip. Just the two of us.”
“……”
He was talking about the future like it was already ours. Whispering dreams and plans. But I didn’t respond right away.
…Will I even still be here by then?
That thought crossed my mind—quiet, sudden, heavy.
***
We left the bench and began walking again, this time in silence.
Maybe he noticed I wasn’t saying anything, because Kang Biso didn’t speak either. He just stayed close, walking beside me without a word.
But we couldn’t stay like this forever. I knew that. Yet every time reality crept back in, it felt like something was pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I was about to say something—anything—when suddenly…
“Where do you think you’re going, Hwang Seol-bin?”
A familiar voice cut through the quiet from somewhere behind us.
