#9
Their blissful relationship took a temporary break due to Seung-oh’s afternoon training. Ui-jin, who had reached climax multiple times to the point of losing his senses, unwittingly fell into a deep sleep.
When Ui-jin opened his eyes, his lower body, which should have been sticky, was neatly cleaned up. Even though Seung-oh must have been pressed for time, he had done the usual aftercare before leaving. The thought of him doing that with his expressionless face made Ui-jin feel oddly embarrassed. Looking around, even the clothes that had been carelessly strewn across the living room were neatly folded on the sofa table.
“Just like a house fairy.”
Having reminded himself of his embarrassment with unnecessary words, Ui-jin gently ran his palm over the oversized jumper he was wearing. It was Seung-oh’s Esper training uniform, saturated with his scent. Ui-jin’s face, tinged with a pink flush, broke into a bright smile before he quickly shook his head. This really feels like we’re dating!
‘Ju Seung-oh, really…’
Having been unable to properly enjoy the feeling of dating for the past few days, the current situation felt even more embarrassing. Was Ju Seung-oh always this sweet? Ui-jin’s heart pounded heavily.
“Ui-jin-ssi, are you all right?”
“Ah, Trainer-nim.”
Do-hoon suddenly approached Ui-jin as he entered the examination room. Unlike yesterday, seeing Ui-jin fidgeting, Do-hoon gently placed his hand on his forehead. A cool sensation, like a winter sea, brushed against Ui-jin.
“Hmm… Your face is red. You might have a fever.”
“What? No… No! My condition is good today. Absolutely perfect.”
At Ui-jin’s flustered response, Do-hoon looked at him as if he didn’t believe him. Then he pulled his hand from Ui-jin’s forehead and carefully stroked his cheek. Ui-jin’s body trembled slightly at the unfamiliar coldness. When he raised his head at the chilly sensation, he saw Do-hoon’s warm smiling face.
“That’s a relief then.”
Do-hoon, who had been making eye contact with Ui-jin, turned around and continued checking the machines. Ui-jin, sitting on a small bench swinging his feet, looked at Do-hoon’s back before rolling his eyes. The spot where Do-hoon’s hand had touched still felt ice-cold.
“…Hmm.”
Even actions that should have been noisy felt calm when Do-hoon performed them. It was like meditating just by watching him. The tangled thoughts were unraveling one by one. He definitely has a strange power. Ui-jin secretly nodded.
Because of this, it seemed like Do-hoon would give wise answers when concerns were shared with him. At first, when Seung-oh had made the proposal, fear had been great, but after a brief period of emptiness and their intimate relationship yesterday and today, his heart had tilted a bit. Even if he were to send Seung-oh alone, he couldn’t ignore the guilt either… He wanted to share his complex feelings, pleasant yet complicated, with Do-hoon.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“Yes, Ui-jin-ssi.”
“I have a concern.”
“What kind of concern?”
At Ui-jin’s words, Do-hoon turned around while maintaining his smile. Since there was still some time until training began. In a space where only the two of them existed, Ui-jin lowered his voice just enough for Do-hoon to hear.
“Do you know about that rumor? That people from ‘The City’ are kidnapping Guides…”
Do-hoon stared at Ui-jin for a moment, then lowered the blinds and nodded.
“Yes. I’ve heard. In fact, it’s also why I came here.”
“Then you must know well. What kind of operation they’re preparing up there…”
“To some extent. Is that your concern?”
“Ah, actually… My partner friend is likely to be assigned an important task. But as you know, Espers absolutely need Guides. I should go with him, but I’m scared. But I’m also afraid to let him go alone.”
Do-hoon set down the clipboard he was holding on a small table. Then he sat next to Ui-jin and rummaged through his coat pocket. He took out an individually packaged tea bag, took Ui-jin’s hand resting on his thigh, and placed it in his palm.
“This is the tea I drink when I have a lot on my mind. Make sure you try it, Ui-jin-ssi, steeped in warm water.”
“…Thank you.”
“It might be presumptuous to judge, but you two are quite close, aren’t you? The look I saw then wasn’t something you’d see between ordinary partners.”
The gentle voice was warmer than the sunlight blocked by the blinds. Ui-jin smiled, recalling Seung-oh’s jealous gaze from their encounter in the lobby. Then, stroking the tea bag, he nodded.
“Yes. We like each other. That’s why I’m even more conflicted.”
“I completely understand what you’re feeling. It’s natural. Who would want to go into danger?”
“The truth is, while I am scared… I feel more sorry towards Seung-oh.”
The light amber eyes turned towards Ui-jin. With an unreadable expression, Do-hoon stared at him for a long time before averting his gaze. Ui-jin carefully continued speaking to Do-hoon, who stood silently.
“It’s because I ran away first saying I was scared, when it’s only natural that Seung-oh would be scared too.”
“…”
Do-hoon wondered. Was Ui-jin’s capability solely directed towards Seung-oh? Even without checking specifically, Ui-jin was an indispensable figure for ‘The City’s’ goals. However, Do-hoon somehow hesitated.
‘Is it regrettable?’
With his head bowed, Ui-jin looked visibly complex with numerous thoughts. He wanted to follow Seung-oh despite the risk, but he also didn’t want to walk directly into the clutches of ‘The City,’ which tore apart every Guide. Then he felt a hand gently resting on top of his head. The cool sensation helped Ui-jin regain his composure.
“Don’t worry about what happens in ‘The City.'”
“…Pardon?”
As always, Do-hoon smiled. And sitting beside Ui-jin, with his hand on Ui-jin’s round shoulder, he said:
“Rumors that pass from mouth to mouth tend to be greatly exaggerated, don’t they? It’s probably using the fear of Guides, who are vulnerable to self-defense. An Esper without a Guide is nothing more than a weapon with limited fuel. Of course, that’s from their perspective.”
Do-hoon gently stroked Ui-jin’s warm brown hair and smiled with his eyes crinkled.
“Besides, Ui-jin-ssi is an excellent Guide.”
“…You think so?”
“Of course. You’re the most skilled at Guiding among all the Guides I’ve seen.”
“Oh my, when you say it like that, I feel somewhat embarrassed!”
Without asking for permission, Do-hoon slowly reached towards Ui-jin’s training top. Ui-jin felt oddly shy at the quiet but firm approach. What is he trying to do? Did he fall for me because I’m too cute? While unnecessary thoughts crossed his mind, Do-hoon showed Ui-jin a neatly folded square package.
“This tea. I think I should brew it for you now. You look like you have a lot on your mind.”
“…”
“Shall we move to my office for a moment?”
Do-hoon, who had taken the tea bag out of his pocket, asked softly.
“Ah… Yes!”
Do-hoon’s personal office, previously used by another trainer, was a cozy space of about 5 pyeong. While boiling the electric pot filled with purified water, Ui-jin sat on the single-person sofa, fidgeting meaninglessly. Do-hoon closed the blinds that had been letting in fractured sunlight and turned to ask Ui-jin:
“Do you like black tea?”
“I don’t seek it out, but I don’t dislike it.”
“It’s good with freshly baked scones, but unfortunately, all I can offer today is the tea.”
“That’s fine, I’m grateful for this…”
When the just-boiled water was poured into the low teacup, the tea confined in the tea bag immediately steeped its color. Do-hoon, still maintaining his smile, served the tea to Ui-jin. Ui-jin’s face softened at the mysterious aroma of the black tea.
“I think you’re really kind, sir.”
No matter how much he blew on it, with such high temperature, it would surely burn the roof of his mouth. Ui-jin, carefully holding the teacup with both hands, spoke while watching the ripples in the small lake in his palm. Do-hoon tilted his head, observing Ui-jin who seemed drowsy, perhaps due to the tea.
“Me?”
“Yes. Actually, all the Guide trainer teachers were uniformly strict. They told us until our ears wore out that everything would go wrong if we didn’t do things properly. Ugh. But you somehow feel different. What should I call it, warmth… coziness…”
Do-hoon had received such expectations and pressure before. When he first manifested as an Esper as a child. When his abilities weren’t yet determined, everyone around him, including his parents, unanimously said: “It would be good if you could handle fire or lightning. You could wipe out the enemy lines from the very front.” And so on.
Living up to expectations, Do-hoon was classified as a healing-type Esper. However, the eyes full of expectation soon changed. After all, Do-hoon’s ability was a self-healing ability useless for anything else. It didn’t bring honor, pride, or financial stability.
“Not at all. But Ui-jin-ssi is doing well now.”
“Nah, it’s just a coincidence. I’ve rarely thought of it as my ability.”
Do-hoon put down his teacup and looked down at Ui-jin, who was fidgeting with his hands. Coincidence? Was it similar to the coincidence of him meeting Cheonum and finding his value in existence? Moving silently to Ui-jin’s side, Do-hoon carefully took the place next to him.
“Ah, anyway. If I hadn’t met Seung-oh, I would have lived feeling extremely uncomfortable about being a Guide. So, I should be helping Seung-oh…”
Do-hoon patted Ui-jin’s back as he slumped his shoulders, and took a sip of the black tea in his cup. This was the first time he had met someone with such a range of emotions. Just when you thought they were going uphill, you’d turn to find them walking downhill.
Do-hoon looked at Ui-jin with an interested face. He knew Cheonum was listening, but somehow he felt like touching on something Ui-jin lacked. This was curiosity towards a target. Curiosity that was merely simple observation.
“Ui-jin-ssi. If you don’t feel like it, there’s no need to force yourself.”
“What?”
Do-hoon looked at Ui-jin, who was staring at him with a blank face, with a smile.
“Don’t go on the operation with your partner. I don’t want Ui-jin-ssi to get hurt.”
“Sir…”
Ui-jin suddenly hugged Do-hoon tightly. Do-hoon didn’t panic and glanced sideways at Ui-jin who was pressed against him.
“You’re the only one who says things like that to me!”
As expected. Do-hoon smiled warmly as he patted Ui-jin’s back.
*
A dark city. A gray sky where day and night were indistinguishable. Do-hoon climbed to the top of the laboratory where Cheonum would be, facing the low-lying sandstorm. When he placed his foot on the rectangular entrance without a designed door, the man sitting in a chair turned around.
“Found it?”
“Yes. Coincidentally, it was the Guide I was assigned to.”
Cheonum, dressed in a skin-tight leather suit, rose and approached Do-hoon who was standing at a distance. Cheonum excelled at concealing sound. Even the sound of shoe heels hitting the marble, which should clearly be heard, was silent. He pulled Do-hoon’s tie and inhaled the scent of sunlight emanating from his nape. It was a natural fragrance unattainable here.
“They seem to have selected an Esper and Guide to track our base. Naturally, those two are planned to be the promoted S-class Esper and his partner.”
“Hmm, they’re planning tiresome things.”
“If they leave the Center, bringing the Guide becomes easier.”
“And it also becomes easier to dispose of the Esper who will be left high and dry.”
“Exactly.”
Cheonum snickered and tucked Do-hoon’s tie neatly into his vest. Having only drunk black tea with a haggard face here every day, it was amusing to see his face looking so presentable after just sightseeing in Seoul. To Cheonum, Do-hoon was no different from a foliage plant growing in the sun.
“Build a sufficient relationship of trust with the Guide. After that, bring the Guide yourself. Use the deep sleeping hours of dawn after you’ve distanced yourself somewhat from the Center.”
“…Understood.”
“But from now on, don’t tell the Guide unnecessary stories. Luring with sweet words, it’s not like a doctor, but it almost made me laugh.”
“I apologize. Breaking down wariness… I inadvertently made a slip. Please forgive me, Cheonum-nim.”
I trust you. Cheonum, who stroked Do-hoon’s lips, smiled faintly. For a moment, Ui-jin’s face flashed through Do-hoon’s mind. That face with its densely packed fine hair on the rounded cheekbones, smiling prettily.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
