“You don’t need to worry about him.”
As if he could read Nabin’s heart, Hayan let go of the steering wheel with one hand and gently covered Nabin’s cold, trembling hand, wrapping it like a warm blanket.
It was such a small touch of warmth, but the moment Hayan’s hand rested over his, Nabin’s anxious thoughts melted away, dissolving like morning mist under sunlight.
Hayan only let go when he needed both hands for driving, then immediately clasped Nabin’s hand again. Even when Nabin fidgeted, wiggling his fingers at the fluttery feeling in his stomach, Hayan never released him.
If Nabin had truly disliked it, he could’ve pulled his hand away. Instead, even when Hayan let go, he left his hand there, waiting silently for him to take it again.
And whenever he did, a shy blush spread over Nabin’s pale cheeks, like fingertips stained with balsam. Hayan’s lips, without him even noticing, softened into a faint smile.
The car pulled into the parking garage of the largest department store in Seoul. As one of the country’s few S-rank Espers, Hayan was automatically ranked among the top VIP clients at every major department store.
But he wanted his time with Nabin to feel ordinary. So he had called ahead to ask the staff not to come greet them. Otherwise, the moment they entered, employees would’ve rushed out to receive him.
“Guide Kim Nabin, you can get out now.”
Nabin started to step out of the car as Hayan opened the door for him but then stopped, glancing up at him. He was certain it wasn’t just his imagination—back at the mansion, Hayan had called him Nabin-ah in a warm, gentle voice, speaking to him informally. Hayan might not remember the moment of Manifested Guiding, but he remembered clearly the way his name had been called.
That warmth was part of what had helped him regain his composure then. But now, Hayan was back to addressing him stiffly as “Guide Kim Nabin.”
Very few people ever called Nabin by his name. To be honest, he usually didn’t care how others addressed him.
But after hearing Hayan say it, he couldn’t help wishing he’d continue.
Being called Nabin-ah in that warm voice made his chest tighten with a soft, unfamiliar warmth that “Guide Kim Nabin” never gave him.
“…Do you have something you want to tell me?”
When Nabin hesitated, lingering at the door without moving, Hayan realized he had something on his mind. He bent on one knee so Nabin could meet his eyes more easily, waiting gently as Nabin fumbled for words.
“It’s okay. You can tell me anything.”
The corners of Nabin’s eyes were still tinted red. Though he had stopped crying, he was fragile enough that tears could easily spill again.
His face still carried the traces of sobbing, and Hayan wasn’t sure he could stop himself from pulling that thin body into his arms if it happened once more.
Encouraged by Hayan’s kindness, Nabin finally let go of his bitten lip. He felt safe enough to speak his heart.
“…I’d like it if you didn’t speak so formally with me.”
“……”
Hayan hadn’t expected that. Nabin’s cheeks—and even his neck—flushed crimson, embarrassment blooming like fire across his skin.
The sight squeezed Hayan’s chest tight. The pressure surged to his head, scattering his thoughts. He clenched his fist to restrain the reflex to reach out and, instead, gave the words Nabin wanted.
“…Nabin-ah.”
“Hhht—”
It wasn’t hard. In truth, no one wanted to be closer to Nabin than Hayan did. The real difficulty was fighting the reckless urge to close the distance between them.
But Nabin’s reaction was far stronger than expected. He sucked in a sharp breath, his whole body flaring red—not just his face and neck, but even the tips of his ears glowed as if they might bleed color.
He seemed startled by himself. Covering his mouth with both hands, his wide, round eyes made him look like a frightened white rabbit.
Hiccup.
Even his diaphragm spasmed, breaking the silence with an abrupt hiccup. No matter how tightly he pressed his lips shut, the sound kept slipping out, his large eyes darting in panic.
By now, Hayan’s own neck was flushed the same color. At that moment, he wasn’t sure he had the strength to keep his hand from reaching for Nabin.
Just then, a dark brown sedan screeched to a halt nearby. Startled by the sound, Nabin’s hiccups gradually quieted.
“Esper Lee Hayan!”
The one stepping out of the luxury car was Ryu Soh-an. If it was coincidence, it was a cruel one. Hayan ruffled Nabin’s hair once, then stood, naturally positioning himself to block Soh-an’s view.
Even though Nabin seemed fine now, he feared he might break down again like before. After crying to the point of exhaustion at the mansion, fainting again could be dangerous.
But Hayan’s effort was wasted—Soh-an stepped forward anyway, leaning to the side to greet Nabin.
“Guide Kim Nabin, hello. Do you remember me?”
At least he didn’t come too close or reach out his hand. He only smiled warmly and spoke gently.
“…Yes.”
Maybe because there was no touch, Nabin didn’t react as violently as last time. Even that small reply made Soh-an’s face light up. Nabin hadn’t smiled or anything—just answered—and yet Soh-an’s heart pounded foolishly.
“I was planning to visit the mansion tonight. Were you out with Esper Lee Hayan?”
But that was the only answer Nabin gave. Even though Soh-an’s gaze overflowed with kindness, Nabin pressed his lips tight and clutched the hem of Hayan’s sleeve, unwilling to face a man whose looks reminded him of another.
Seeing this, Hayan immediately stepped in front of him, pushing Soh-an back with a sharp glare. Realizing Nabin didn’t want him near, Soh-an’s expression crumpled and he obediently retreated.
“Can’t I come along? I’m pretty good at shopping—I’ve got an eye for it…”
“No.”
Since Nabin seemed to lean on Hayan, Soh-an asked him instead, but Hayan’s firm refusal cut him short. Looking dejected, Soh-an backed away slowly, glancing back again and again, pitiful like a drenched puppy.
“Nabin-ah, let’s go inside.”
“…Okay.”
Both of them turned away from Soh-an. Nabin took Hayan’s hand and stepped out of the car. Now, holding hands felt natural—closer than before.
Hayan’s fingers slid firmly but gently between Nabin’s slender ones. This time, instead of freezing, Nabin moved his hand, returning the grip with quiet determination.
“Let’s start with clothes. Do you have a favorite brand?”
“I’m not really sure…”
Nabin couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been in a department store. Everything here was far beyond his means, and a place like this was never somewhere he could casually enter.
“Then how about we go to one I usually shop at?”
“…Alright.”
The embarrassment faded, soothed by Hayan’s calm suggestion. Since it wasn’t a busy time, the store wasn’t crowded.
Still, compared to peak hours, it only seemed quiet. Plenty of people still wandered the floors. For Nabin, it had been far too long since he’d been in such a bustling place.
The Center was lively too, but with far fewer people for its size.
Since his teens, Nabin had had neither time nor money—working endless part-time jobs to cover his stepfather’s loan shark debts that grew like snowballs.
At twenty, he was trapped in an illegal guiding business, stripped of any chance at ordinary life. The only times he went out were the rare visits to his mother’s hospital.
Even after being matched with three S-rank Espers and moving into their mansions, his world was still a cage—narrow and confined. The people he met were just as limited.
Families laughing together, couples overflowing with affection, friends shopping in groups—people of all ages and styles mingled peacefully everywhere he looked.
But all those cheerful faces twisted, stabbing into his eyes like a distorted, grotesque mosaic.
“Uhh… ahh…”
They were just ordinary strangers with no connection to him. Yet suddenly, it felt like every gaze in the crowd was fixed on him.
Smiling faces warped into demonic glares, bearing down on him. Whether they were moving closer or his own body was swaying, his vision spun out of control.
