When I flinched, Shim Tae-seong silently backed off. It was as if he had sensed the presence beforehand—his face showed not the slightest disturbance. Joo Cheong-gyeong, who had been standing with his arms crossed, smiled with only his lips.
“Go ahead. Why stop?”
The air had turned so cold and tense it felt like it could kill someone. The fierce gaze that had just raked across Shim Tae-seong settled on me with unsettling calm. But Shim Tae-seong, as if to shield me, grasped my arm and gently pulled me behind him. The motion was instinctive, practiced—it came so naturally that it was enough to provoke Joo Cheong-gyeong.
The faint smile vanished from his pale, delicate face.
“Eun-soo.”
Joo Cheong-gyeong opened his arms.
“I need you too.”
It wasn’t a lie. Espers who had fought monsters typically cleaned up the aftermath before either receiving guiding or heading home to rest, so the fact that Joo Cheong-gyeong had come home this early meant he had just returned from combat. He probably did need guiding.
…Still, it was kind of funny. There were times he’d been in far worse shape and didn’t ask for guiding, but now he was making a fuss over some slightly tangled wavelengths. Honestly, it just looked like he was pissed.
Of course, it wasn’t like I had any intention of rejecting Joo Cheong-gyeong. From the moment I accepted this half-imprisoned lifestyle, I had already taken on the care of all the S-Class espers. I never once picked and chose who got my help and who didn’t.
But… just because guiding was distributed equally didn’t mean the relationships were the same.
Unlike earlier with Shim Tae-seong, when I had taken the initiative to kiss him, this time I didn’t move right away. Even in the face of my hesitation, Joo Cheong-gyeong remained still. Though he seemed arrogant and imposing, he was clearly waiting—for me to approach him of my own accord.
That kind of restraint was new, sure. But that didn’t mean I was about to open up easily. If he wanted that, he shouldn’t have locked me in a damn cage in the first place. Never mind the fact that I’d secretly enjoyed some of what happened back then—looking strictly at the circumstances, who could possibly feel warmth toward someone who shoved them behind bars and then violated them? And don’t even get me started on all the things that came before that.
“…Young Master,”
Shim Tae-seong called out to me in a low, hushed tone. The way he stood, it felt like he’d step in to stop me if I tried to go. There was a quiet plea in his voice, a wish for me to turn my back on Joo Cheong-gyeong.
But I simply gripped his arm for a moment… then let go.
Joo Cheong-gyeong’s lips tightened ever so slightly as he watched.
I walked toward him slowly. The moment I reached out a hand, he grabbed it with a swift pull, interlaced our fingers tightly, and drew me into his embrace. Then, without pause, he buried his face into the crook of my neck. His lips grazed my skin, sending a ticklish shiver down my spine.
He took in a deep breath, inhaling my scent, and it made my back go cold.
“Ugh…”
His teeth sank into my exposed skin—firm, unrelenting. There was no pain, but the sudden jolt of stimulation made me bite my lip. Joo Cheong-gyeong, sinking his teeth into my neck like he wanted Shim Tae-seong to see it, slid a hand slowly down my waist. There was no mistaking what he wanted.
This bastard, who always gave into every craving whenever we were together under the guise of guiding or desire, had actually held back for a while now. He must have been backed up to the brim. And I was no different.
The thought of dragging Shim Tae-seong into this and doing it with all three of us filled my mind.
Oh… that’s fucking crazy.
“Wait—mmh, wait a second.”
I quickly shoved Joo Cheong-gyeong’s body away. He pulled back without resistance, just as he was kissing the side of my cheek. I turned toward Shim Tae-seong with a slight tremble under my eyes, unable to ignore his presence. Sure enough, Shim Tae-seong was staring us down like he was about to burn the whole place to the ground.
His fists were clenched so tightly, his knuckles pale under the tension, and the dark look on his face made the whole thing feel like a scene from some messy love triangle. Still, it was a marked improvement from how things were in the early days of our cohabitation. Back then, if I so much as hugged someone, the others would practically team up to rip that person apart with killing intent. So yeah, this was progress.
“Let’s do it in the bedroom.”
I swallowed the second half of my sentence—Why not go all the way tonight?—and spoke while avoiding his gaze, my voice tinged with shame. Joo Cheong-gyeong, the pervert, memorized the expression on my face with laser focus. Then, without warning, he lifted me into his arms and started carrying me to the bedroom.
Living with espers who treated carrying me like a reflex made daily life feel practically weightless. It wasn’t like I was even that short… but I’d gotten used to it a long time ago. The ride was always smooth, so I didn’t complain—but still, I couldn’t help feeling a bit pathetic sometimes.
Once inside, Joo Cheong-gyeong gently laid me down on the bed. Then he pulled the blanket up and tucked it around me—meticulously.
…He tucked me in?
“You used your powers earlier.”
He brushed my hair back with his fingers.
“You probably had another nosebleed today, huh? Just sleep for a bit, Eun-soo.”
The S-Class espers were always fully aware of the missions the government assigned to me, so the fact that Joo Cheong-gyeong knew my schedule wasn’t all that surprising. What was surprising was the way he was treating me—like he actually gave a damn. I parted my lips, pretending to be confused by his sudden consideration. Telling me to rest…? What’s the point in setting the stage if you’re not going to follow through?
“I don’t need this kind of kindness.”
I grabbed his wrist and pulled it down.
“If you want something… just ask for what you need from me.”
“……”
“It’s too much.”
When I said that—looking straight into his eyes—his expression darkened.
He didn’t seem angry, but his mood had clearly sunk. Watching him get rattled every time I rejected him so directly? Honestly, it was more satisfying than I cared to admit. For someone who treated other people’s lives like garbage, seeing him hang on my every word was a twisted kind of reward.
Especially since what I’d just said had come straight from the heart. It probably hit him harder than usual.
Serves you right, asshole.
The mood had already cooled, and with both Shim Tae-seong and Joo Cheong-gyeong obsessing over my rest, I genuinely started wanting to sleep. I turned onto my side, turning my back to Joo Cheong-gyeong.
“If you’re not here for guiding, please leave.”
I added quietly. Joo Cheong-gyeong kept his mouth shut and stared at me in silence for a long moment. Then, finally, he turned and walked out of the room with heavy footsteps.
So anticlimactic. It was nice that he was being cautious around me, but… I kind of missed when he’d come at me like a lunatic.
I closed my eyes and listened to the soft click of the door shutting.
***
I woke up suddenly, sensing someone watching me. I must’ve dozed off hard, even though I only meant to nap for a little. When I opened my eyes, my brother was sitting next to me. Looked like he came in right after getting off work.
“Hyung.”
“Did I wake you?”
He gently cupped my cheek. Still half-asleep, I shook my head.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
I shook my head again. But even so, his cool hand moved across my forehead, behind my neck, and various other places, checking my temperature.
“You don’t have to worry. The person I saw today just had a hurt arm.”
I reassured him while pushing myself up. Relief spread across his face. We had agreed, from the start, not to take on patients with severe side effects because of the risks involved. My brother had even come with me the day we signed the contract. And yet, every time I got called for an ability session, he acted like it was the end of the world. It was pointless worry… I didn’t exactly enjoy burning myself out either.
From the outside, we probably looked like a doting pair of siblings—concerned and caring. But in truth, our relationship was no longer as unconditionally loving as it used to be. We’d been through too much.
Even the way we lived now, in this weirdly compromised cohabitation, couldn’t exactly be called normal. As a result, I barely talked anymore, and although my brother remained kind, he carried a lingering sense of guilt when it came to me.
The dark, twisted emotions we’d already built between us hadn’t disappeared. We were just living with them.
“If you’re up, you should eat dinner.”
“I’m not hungry at all.”
“I brought sushi.”
…Sushi did sound tempting. Appetite kicked in out of nowhere. I told him I’d head to the bathroom first, and he nodded and left the room ahead of me.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I stepped out to find the living room completely quiet. Given the size of the building, it was impossible not to have staff around—but I’d never run into any of them. The cleaning staff always appeared like ghosts at set times, did their work, and vanished. Same with the gardeners who managed the sprawling grounds outside.
Well, technically, I had seen someone once—from behind. It was one of those rare times I got up early to grab a glass of water, and I’d walked out to find someone cleaning the living room, scrambling to flee the second they noticed me. I was so stunned, I couldn’t even speak.
In that moment, I felt like I really was some kind of monster. It had to be the S-Class’ doing. No doubt they’d made a rule to keep staff from ever crossing paths with me.
“Let’s eat.”
Hyung pulled out a chair and had me sit at the dining table. A beautifully arranged tray of sushi, glistening with sheen, greeted me.
I picked up the chopsticks and brought a piece to my mouth. I barely chewed it, and yet it melted on my tongue. Sitting across from me, Hyung silently watched as I ate.
“Ah.”
I paused when I spotted a cup sitting nearby. It was the iron supplement I hadn’t taken before falling asleep. Hyung followed my gaze and spoke.
“You didn’t drink it today, right? Take it about two hours after you finish eating.”
“Okay.”
“How’s the food?”
Did he even have to ask? Anything he either made himself or bought for me always matched my tastes perfectly. He was, after all, the one who knew my palate best in this place.
“It’s good. Really delicious.”
I nodded as I replied. Lately, I’d gained a little weight. Everyone had been relentlessly making sure I ate and rested, like they were on some coordinated mission.
Honestly, I was getting too healthy—it was almost a problem.
