The truth was this. Just as Min Yu-hyun had decided to confess to Yoon Do-jae, Do-jae had been planning to confess to Yu-hyun as well. But Yu-hyun already knew Do-jae had once liked Kang Chi-yu, and that he himself had been disliked by Do-jae. Of course, Yu-hyun hadn’t been particularly fond of Do-jae either. Still, when the other person knew you inside out, a confession wasn’t something you could just blurt out.
So Do-jae went to Beom Do-il for advice. Do-il suggested the most foolproof method: give him a Couple Ring and shackle him with it.
After starting a relationship with Lee Jun-hyung, Do-il himself eventually exchanged Couple Rings with him. Following Do-il’s advice, Do-jae went to buy one—but of all people, he ran into Hyun Tae-oh, who was there to recharge the Ability Condensation inside his own Couple Ring. Do-jae hadn’t thought much of it. Tae-oh was usually indifferent to others and hardly the type to gossip. But the man’s lips turned out to be looser than expected.
For over a week, Do-jae carried the ring in his pocket, waiting for the right chance. In the end, he figured it was better this way and shoved the ring into Yu-hyun’s hands.
“I’ll take care of you. Let’s be special to each other.”
It wasn’t romantic or touching, but it was enough to bring Yu-hyun to tears. Yu-hyun, who hated crying more than anything, ended up sobbing. Do-jae slipped the ring onto his left ring finger and confessed once more.
“I like you, Yu-hyun.”
Even though Yu-hyun was two years older, Do-jae never once thought of calling him hyung.
***
After clearing up the misunderstandings with Hyun Tae-oh and Min Yu-hyun, the two officially became a couple. Lee Jun-hyung marveled that every member of A Pair is Born Season 2 had found a partner, and both Chi-yu and Do-il nodded along. The BGNK Channel Director wasted no time securing Yu-hyun and Do-jae as the third couple to appear on the show.
That meant all six members would now be part of the Season 3 special broadcast. Although Tae-oh and Chi-yu’s filming was still underway, Jun-hyung’s couple and Yu-hyun’s couple would occasionally make appearances, subtly setting up the next storyline.
Because of this, everyone agreed to gather for a birthday celebration for Hyun Tae-oh. Like with Do-il’s birthday, they’d celebrate together, while Chi-yu’s private surprise gift would come later that night, just the two of them. Tae-oh grumbled, asking what the point was in making such a fuss. Given that he had never spent a birthday with anyone other than Chi-yu, it was understandable.
Though he wore a serious expression of annoyance, when Chi-yu said it might actually be fun, Tae-oh reluctantly gave in. Unaware of the surprise in store, he ended up spending the noisiest birthday of his life—and grew slightly sour about it. Still, he kept it hidden from Chi-yu as best he could.
The staff’s party room had a cake with candles matching Tae-oh’s age, along with gifts from each member—an ordinary, scripted birthday party on camera. When the showy celebration finally ended, it was just the two of them again that night.
Chi-yu hurried about preparing his surprise. Meanwhile, Tae-oh played with Catdog and Hayangi using the cat fishing rod Beom Do-il had given him as a birthday present. Catdog going wild for the toy was expected, given its feline instincts. But why Hayangi the alpaca flailed his short front legs in excitement was anyone’s guess.
Because Chi-yu told him not to enter the bedroom until called, Tae-oh had to wait in the living room. Finally, the reward for his patience came—Chi-yu’s surprise gift.
When Chi-yu called for him, Tae-oh tossed the fishing rod aside to distract Catdog and Hayangi, then rushed into the bedroom. Even a short distance had been enough to make him crave Chi-yu’s scent.
As he flung the door open, Tae-oh’s eyes widened. Chi-yu was sitting demurely on the bed.
“S-Surprise,” Chi-yu murmured, spreading his arms a little.
Tae-oh froze. Chi-yu was wearing his shirt, nothing else. His eyes fell to those pale thighs. The oversized shirt draped over them, but it was clear there was nothing underneath.
Tae-oh’s throat bobbed visibly.
“It’s your birthday present… Do you like it?”
“…God, you’re driving me crazy.”
He strode forward and pushed Chi-yu down onto the bed. Biting Chi-yu’s lower lip, he pulled him into a kiss that left no room to breathe.
The birthday surprise was nothing short of extraordinary.
The next day, Tae-oh hummed to himself, working through filming in the best mood possible. He was so cheerful he didn’t even argue with Yoon Do-jae, who usually snarled whenever they crossed paths, nor did he grumble at Beom Do-il. He even greeted Jun-hyung and Yu-hyun with a smile.
Of course, at night he still turned into a beast, taking Chi-yu until he whimpered that he couldn’t take anymore. But thanks to that birthday surprise, Tae-oh kept himself in peak condition. Seeing him so happy, Chi-yu thought maybe he should prepare that kind of surprise every now and then.
***
“Now, we’ll begin the interview for Paired with My Childhood Friend.”
The Production Director addressed Chi-yu, seated nervously before the camera.
“First, the question fans are most curious about. You and Esper Hyun Tae-oh were longtime friends who recently confirmed your feelings and became lovers. How does it feel, going from friends to lovers?”
“…Well. Honestly, I had a crush on Tae-oh for so long that sometimes I wake in the night wondering if all this is just a dream. It still feels surreal, but becoming lovers after being friends has brought far more positives than negatives.”
Chi-yu paused briefly, then added:
“I think it’s because Tae-oh treats me so well, to the point where I can hardly remember what it was like when we were just friends.”
The director nodded.
“From a fan’s perspective, the way Esper Hyun treats you is astonishing—especially since he was famous for his severe mysophobia. Rumor has it he’s changed a lot lately. Could that be thanks to dating you, Guide Kang?”
Chi-yu shook his head.
“I’m not the one who changed him. I think it was the complicated situations he’s gone through and the bonds he formed with his comrades that made the biggest difference.”
“As expected, Guide Kang, you’re always so humble. Next question. Among your many stories with Esper Hyun, fans are most curious about one in particular—the incident where you gave him your underwear. It was mentioned briefly during the A Pair is Born 100th episode special. Could you tell us a little more about that?”
“Ah… That’s a bit hard for me to talk about. I think it’s something Tae-oh himself would have to approve of, since it concerns his childhood privacy.”
“I see. Then we’ll save that for Esper Hyun’s interview. Last question: do you have plans to Imprint with him?”
Asking about Imprint was the same as asking if he intended to spend a lifetime with Hyun Tae-oh. Chi-yu had been thinking about it since the day they signed the Pair contract. He had never considered any Esper but Tae-oh, and never would. He was certain the same went for Tae-oh—if anything, Tae-oh probably wanted it even more.
So Chi-yu nodded confidently.
“Yes, I do.”
And with a smile spreading across his lips, he added:
“Because the only lover, friend, and Esper I want to spend my whole life with is Hyun Tae-oh.”
That final question gave him clarity. He realized he had always wanted to Imprint with Tae-oh, and he felt certain Tae-oh wanted the same.
Of course, Tae-oh had been pestering him about Imprinting for ages. Even back when they signed the Pair contract, he’d said Imprinting would be better than just being a Pair. But Chi-yu hadn’t believed it was completely serious—not because he doubted Tae-oh, but because of the immense difference between Pair and Imprint.
An Imprint was a bond that could only be broken by death. It was worlds apart from a Pair, which could be ended at will.
For Chi-yu, it had always been Tae-oh, and always would be. But he hadn’t been sure Tae-oh felt the same.
After all, Tae-oh had mysophobia. Since childhood, Chi-yu had been his only friend. He had never formed bonds with anyone else. It was only after A Pair is Born and the mutant beast incident that he grew closer to Yoon Do-jae, Beom Do-il, Min Yu-hyun, and Lee Jun-hyung. Before that, he simply disliked people.
So Imprinting was something to approach with caution.
What mattered to Kang Chi-yu wasn’t whether he could Imprint with Tae-oh and never regret it. It was whether Tae-oh could Imprint with him and never regret it.
Chi-yu feared that someday Tae-oh might regret it—that the culmination of his lifelong crush would become something the other resented. That was why he chose to remain a Pair instead of rushing into an Imprint, to give Tae-oh time.
But in the end, he realized time didn’t matter. The certainty was already there—that neither of them would ever regret it. That the wish to spend a lifetime together, without parting, wasn’t his alone.
So he resolved himself. He would Imprint with Hyun Tae-oh. He would confess, asking him to become his lifelong partner.
Tae-oh had been the one to first reach out his hand and ask to date. So this time, the hand extended to promise forever would be his own.
That was the vow Kang Chi-yu made.
