Looking at him whose attitude had suddenly changed, I narrowed my eyes suspiciously but for now took a seat in the position furthest from him, diagonally across.
Do Wonjin seemed displeased with where I chose to sit, his eyebrow twitching, but he didn’t say anything in particular.
“I’m sorry to go back on my word after expressing my intention to contract in advance, but I need a guide who can be active immediately. I’m sorry about your hospitalization, but public and private matters should be clearly separated, which is why I’m saying this.”
My brother had mentioned rumors that Do Wonjin’s guiding was rough, but from my brief direct experience, even without receiving his guiding, Do Wonjin was clearly someone who should be filtered out.
If at first I had been reluctant to contract with someone who was hospitalized, now I was almost glad he was hospitalized. I didn’t want to be stressed by his promiscuous private life that knew no bounds of time and place, especially when he wasn’t even going to be my dedicated guide.
“What are you talking about?”
At my words, Do Wonjin’s expression completely stiffened. I hadn’t noticed because he had been wearing a friendly smile the whole time, but when he erased his smile, his fierce features were revealed. Thick eyebrows, sharply upturned eyes, a chiseled nose bridge, and tightly pressed lips. It was a frighteningly cold impression.
“If you must have a temporary guide, it would be faster to look for someone other than me.”
But I had no reason to back down either. Even temporary, a guide was still a guide. In a relationship where physical contact was essential, I didn’t want to forcibly hold hands and hug someone I didn’t like.
Do Wonjin’s face crumpled like a piece of tissue. I was momentarily startled by his savage appearance, but I was an Esper. If he was trying to intimidate me, he had chosen the wrong person.
Without lingering, I stood up and turned around, and Do Wonjin also rose from his seat following me. Footsteps were approaching from afar, perhaps for rounds.
“Jeongjae. Wait.”
I scowled at Do Wonjin’s voice from behind. I was so surprised that I momentarily stopped in my tracks.
‘What the hell, why is he calling me in such a greasy way?’
He had been acting slick just a moment ago, but now he was using a desperate voice as if calling a lover. I rubbed my goose-bumped arms and moved my feet toward the door again. In situations like this, ignoring was the best strategy. Just as I reached the door, there was a thud from behind.
“I!! Was wrong!! Don’t go, Jeongjae!!”
It was an incredibly loud voice. Truly, I’m not exaggerating, but a shiver ran from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, causing me to turn my head. He was on his knees behind me, in a deep apologetic posture.
“You’ve been…”
Clack.
I was about to ask why he was acting this way.
At that moment, the sound of the door in front of me made me turn my head, which had been directed at Do Wonjin, back to the front.
“Esper Woo Jeongjae.”
Jo Hail, who had appeared with the contract, was looking at me with a shocked face. I realized that I had fallen into Do Wonjin’s trap.
‘Realizing it wasn’t a doctor but a government official coming for the contract…’
I suddenly turned my head toward Do Wonjin and clearly saw his downturned lips trembling as he tried to hold back laughter. Jo Hail, standing at a distance, must not have seen that smile, as he calmly spoke, as if trying to calm me down.
“Shall we go to our seats first?”
I wanted to push Jo Hail aside and run out, but I couldn’t leave such a huge stain on my life as an Esper who was just about to start my activities. I clenched my fist in frustration, but my body obediently followed his words.
Jo Hail, watching me carefully, also advised Do Wonjin to sit down, and he, as if he had been waiting for this, dusted off his knees and sat down. Knowing that I disliked it, he deliberately sat right next to me.
“I committed a great discourtesy, so Jeongjae is very angry.”
While the situation seemed to be wrapping up with Jo Hail’s calm response, Do Wonjin, with his loose lips, began to say whatever came to mind.
“He said he wouldn’t contract unless I apologized like that…”
I cut off Do Wonjin’s words, which were full of potential for misunderstanding, and conveyed the facts.
“No, I said I wouldn’t contract, but I never said to apologize like that.”
“I misspoke. I did it because I felt you wouldn’t contract with me unless I did something like this.”
“Did Guide Do Wonjin commit a serious wrongdoing?”
Jo Hail asked me, and Do Wonjin’s actions toward me flashed through my mind. It’s not that he didn’t do anything wrong, but it was too messy and trivial to say with my own mouth. If I handled it poorly, I felt like I would look petty.
“He did act disrespectfully toward me.”
I omitted many words and just said one sentence. I could feel Do Wonjin’s gaze, but I continued with a sigh.
“But we’ve already concluded the discussion about the contract…”
“When Jeongjae arrived, I was guiding another Esper with whom I hadn’t contracted. Having come to make a contract and seeing such a sight, it’s only natural to be upset. I’m reflecting deeply on this matter.”
I was momentarily dumbfounded and turned my head with a whoosh to look at Do Wonjin.
Cleverly intercepting my words that the contract had been terminated, Do Wonjin was bringing up an issue that had already been resolved. I could just dismiss it as nonsense and ignore it, but one word in his speech made my lips part involuntarily.
“How was that guiding? Why don’t you just honestly say they were lovers?”
Even with the most generous interpretation, their conversation and actions were the kind that would only be exchanged between lovers. I was so angry at him calling it guiding that I blurted out one sentence, only to soon realize my mistake. I heard the sigh of Jo Hail, who was watching us from across the table.
Suppressing the emotions that had suddenly risen, I expressed my opinion that Do Wonjin had cut short.
“I’ve been repeating myself, but I have no intention of contracting.”
“I won’t guide any other Espers again. Don’t be angry, Jeongjae.”
But every time Do Wonjin opened his mouth, the essence was blurred regardless of my intention. With just one sentence from him, I had become the embodiment of jealousy, an Esper who was trying to terminate the contract because of emotions. I felt like a fool, being the only one who knew his true face.
No, how can someone make a person feel so petty?
I felt like my insides were burning black with indignation.
“Hmm, Esper Woo Jeongjae.”
While I was just inwardly beating my chest in frustration, Jo Hail, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, cleared his throat and called me. The heat that had risen to the top of my head rapidly cooled when I saw Jo Hail’s expression. With a mature smile, he spoke to me as if admonishing a child who knew nothing of the world.
“Originally, it’s not a contractual issue for guides to guide anyone before contracting. Additionally, this is a temporary guide, not a dedicated one, so even if such a thing happens after the contract, it wouldn’t be a violation. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I precisely understood the point Jo Hail was trying to make.
But it was content I already knew without him telling me.
I had already contracted with two guides, Yang Garam and Jeong Seyeon, so surely I wouldn’t have done so without reading the contract.
“I understand. However…”
“As you know, Esper Woo Jeongjae, even if you look for another guide, there won’t be one with a better matching rate than Do Wonjin. I don’t know what made you angry, but the other party is also reflecting a lot…”
What I was taking issue with was Do Wonjin’s character and behavior that suggested a chaotic private life.
Of course, Jo Hail hadn’t seen that side of Do Wonjin, so I understood why he was talking like this. There was nothing wrong with what he was saying from his perspective. It would have been a truly peaceful situation if only I wasn’t feeling like my blood was boiling.
I closed my eyes tightly, letting Jo Hail’s words go in one ear and out the other. Ignoring the feeling of Do Wonjin’s persistent gaze, I thought calmly.
‘Let’s think objectively. From Jo Hail’s perspective, what would he think of me?’
If I insisted until the end that I couldn’t contract, Jo Hail would have no choice but to try to find another guide. But because of this incident, in his mind, I would be remembered as an Esper with a very strong sense of possessiveness and ownership toward guides.
There were indeed Espers who were particularly fixated on guides in the relationship between Espers and guides. But the problem was that their reputation was not good among both Espers and guides. They were the number one Espers to be avoided by guides, and from the perspective of fellow Espers, they were treated as having personality issues. I couldn’t allow myself to be saddled with such a stigma because of Do Wonjin, especially as I was about to begin my activities as an Esper.
‘But if I contract, I’ll end up with a piece of shit like Do Wonjin.’
Both options were negative.
‘I never thought I’d find myself in such a filthy situation.’
Jo Hail probably wouldn’t go around talking about this incident, but if even a little bit leaked out, misunderstandings about me would swell like dried seaweed in water, which was as clear as day. After all, people who loved to talk about S-class Espers were everywhere.
‘It’s just a temporary guide anyway, right? Wouldn’t it be fine to just contract and then terminate it? It might be shit, but it’s temporary shit. Like Joo Seolhyeon.’
I reached what could be considered the most rational conclusion. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Just then, Jo Hail’s long speech was also nearing its end.
“Fine. I’ll contract.”
I interrupted Jo Hail’s words and answered, and both his and Do Wonjin’s faces instantly brightened. Jo Hail congratulated Do Wonjin, saying things had worked out well, and Do Wonjin scratched his cheek with a bashful expression. I found their behavior so distasteful that I turned my head the other way and crossed my arms. I had thought it was the most rational choice just moments ago, but seeing Do Wonjin’s delight, my guts twisted.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
