Chapter 27
That night, Dowoon had a dream.
Seoyul appeared in his dream. He was wearing the pure white hoodie and shorts he had worn today.
He was still cute, and his fresh atmosphere was so captivating that it was hard to take his eyes off him.
Whoosh.
The cool breeze through the wide-open window ruffled their hair. Fresh green leaves fell and landed on their heads.
Dowoon smiled softly and reached out his hand. He parted Seoyul’s hair and removed the leaf, satisfying a bit of his personal desire.
His heart fluttered as much as the feeling of the hair gently brushing against his fingertips.
Why had only one leaf fallen?
With a tinge of regret, he clicked his tongue as he withdrew his hand. Then Seoyul gave that beautiful smile he had seen that day and said softly:
‘Thank you.’
His heart trembled at the smile that was beautiful no matter when he saw it. Is it okay to be this cute? Is it okay to be this pretty? Is it okay to be this lovable?
While various emotions crossed his mind, Seoyul continued:
‘Hyung.’
Thud.
Dowoon’s heart sank.
* * *
“Gasp!”
Dowoon woke up startled. Since that day, he had been having the same dream repeatedly.
It was a good thing to have consecutive dreams about Seoyul, but the last word he uttered kept bothering him.
“Damn it. Who exactly is he saying that to?!”
Dowoon writhed, tearing at his hair. At first, he thought Seoyul was talking to him, and his heart had plummeted.
Hyung… of all things.
Since Seoyul always respectfully called him “Esper-nim,” it made him feel suddenly closer, which pleased him.
But as the dream happened for the second and third time, he began to notice troubling things.
First was the setting.
The place where they were standing in the dream was a school. A place at the school Dowoon had attended and where Seoyul would soon attend.
It wasn’t a place where Dowoon and Seoyul would likely stand together in reality.
And the second point was whether the person in front of Seoyul was really himself.
Seoyul called the person in front of him “Hyung.” But Dowoon’s current title wasn’t “Hyung.”
So he couldn’t help but doubt.
‘What if I’m not the protagonist of this dream…?’
That’s what bothered him.
It might be someone else’s dream, not his. Thinking like that, he began to feel increasingly anxious.
The Seoyul in his dream was still too pretty, and the real Seoyul was needless to say, too lovable.
“Haaaaaah…”
Dowoon let out a long sigh and roughly rubbed his face. He thought this wretched dream would torment him until the end.
Beep beep beep!
At that moment, the phone by Dowoon’s pillow rang loudly. Irritated, he turned off the alarm and checked the time.
[AM 7:30]
Today was the fateful day when Seoyul would go to school for the first time. Hoping there wouldn’t be any troublesome guys at school, Dowoon got up with a heavy body.
But his mind was still filled with the image of Seoyul calling someone “Hyung.”
“Aaaaarggh!!! Seriously!!”
Dowoon screamed, still tearing at his hair. And he blamed the innocent Seoyul.
“Ah, really! Why are you so pretty and making me suffer like this?!”
If Sunjeong and Munjin had heard this, they would have clicked their tongues, but unfortunately, only Dowoon was here.
* * *
‘Finally, today’s the day.’
Seoyul felt his heart racing arbitrarily. Today was the day he would go to school.
Though he had felt nothing special yesterday, now that the time was approaching, he seemed to be excited.
But it wasn’t just excitement.
Based on his current age, he had been a student until just a few months ago, but in reality, he hadn’t properly mingled with people for seven years.
And what about his three years of high school?
That period was a time when he had to deal with longing for his mother, the Guiding medicine, and studies all at once, so he hadn’t even had a proper conversation with his classmates.
‘My personality… also played a part.’
He remembered always being alone due to his timidity. Though he was now trying to change his personality, it was still difficult to speak comfortably with strangers.
Nevertheless, Seoyul steeled his resolve.
“I can do it!”
He thought that since he had done it once, he could do it again with effort.
As he readjusted his mindset, he began preparing for school. Since Dowoon had said he would take him to school, he didn’t want to keep him waiting.
Seoyul washed his face with warm water, neatly fixed his hair, put on the clothes that Sunjeong had given him, and slipped his arms through the straps of his bag.
Before him stood a youthful person who looked unmistakably like a student. The realization that he had returned to the past struck him anew, and he was caught up in a mixed feeling.
‘Let’s stop thinking about it.’
Fearing his thoughts would endlessly chain together, he shook his head and went to the living room.
The living room was quiet. Wondering if he wasn’t done preparing, Seoyul tilted his head at the tightly closed door.
‘Should I… keep waiting?’
It was possible that Dowoon had forgotten. Since there had been no mention of it until yesterday, Seoyul nodded and thought.
That he would wait for about 10 more minutes, and if he didn’t come out, he would just go alone.
‘It might be better to go alone.’
Dowoon was such a famous person that if he took him to school, they might attract attention. Seoyul had adamantly declined, but Dowoon had insisted on taking him just today, so they had reached a compromise.
So going to school alone should have been reassuring. But a lingering feeling of regret continued to circle in his mind. If Dowoon came with him, he might have a little more courage…
‘Hup!’
Seoyul hurriedly covered his mouth as the thought surged.
To think he was relying on him this much. He couldn’t rely on him forever. He was already causing various inconveniences, so he had to show that he could do well on his own.
‘It would be better to go alone after all.’
Just as Seoyul had made up his mind and was about to turn around to leave, the bedroom door flung open, and Dowoon appeared.
“Huh?”
Dowoon’s hair was wet. Since he was the type to shower before bed, it was strange to see his hair wet.
‘Did he go to sleep without showering yesterday?’
Since that was the only explanation he could think of, Seoyul approached with understanding.
“Good morning, Esper-nim.”
Seoyul greeted him with a welcoming smile. Now that he saw him, he felt genuinely glad.
“Esper-nim…?”
But Dowoon was just staring down at him with an indescribable expression. Seeing that Dowoon’s state seemed strange, Seoyul tilted his head and called him once more.
But still, there was no response.
‘Uh oh…’
The piercing gaze made him uncomfortable. Seoyul rolled his eyes, trying to avoid the stare.
Then suddenly, it occurred to him that maybe Dowoon was like this because he lacked Guiding.
‘That’s it!’
Having made an arbitrary conclusion, Seoyul fidgeted as he approached and held one of Dowoon’s fingers. Then he gently began to infuse Guiding energy.
After a short while, Dowoon covered his face and let out a long sigh.
“Haaah…”
Is this… not it?
Seoyul fidgeted, wondering if he had done something unnecessary. Dowoon carefully unfolded Seoyul’s hand, held it in his, and said softly:
“You can stop the Guiding now.”
“Ah…”
Though the content was indifferent, his voice sounded fine. Only then did Seoyul feel relieved and smiled sheepishly.
But contrary to Seoyul, Dowoon’s heart was troubled.
‘Ah, really!’
The action of gently checking on him and providing Guiding with those small hands was unbearably lovable. Dowoon was bewildered as his previously troubled and anxious heart instantly melted away like snow.
To think he had to send this cute and lovable person to a place crawling with wretched people.
Anxiety welled up again, but seeing Seoyul smiling brightly without knowing anything, his heart melted once more.
“Ahem. Let’s go. I’ll take you.”
“Yes!”
The energetic voice completely softened his heart, and a smile broke out.
Right. All he had to do was be a bit more patient, move more diligently, and actively block those wretched people.
Thinking so, Dowoon adjusted his grip on Seoyul’s hand and said:
“Your Guiding is leaking.”
“Ah!”
Startled by those words, Seoyul quickly withdrew his energy. It seemed that due to his relief, energy had been continuously leaking out.
Seoyul could now control his energy quite well, but occasionally it would come out unconsciously, like now.
“Can you really attend without getting found out?”
Dowoon asked with concern. Knowing what he was worried about, Seoyul confidently nodded and replied:
“Yes! I can do well. It’s only because it’s you, Esper-nim. I’m not like this with others outside!”
“Still, be careful. There’s nothing good that can come from being exposed yet.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
Seoyul felt warmth in his heart at the words of concern. So he smiled gently and nodded. The fact that someone was worried about him gave him a feeling of fullness in his heart.
The feeling of the empty space being filled by Dowoon was really too good and appealed to him.
‘I should study hard. Very hard.’
Since one of the reasons he had decided to attend school was Dowoon, he intended to remember his purpose and work hard.
He also pledged to pass the exam in one go and stand proudly beside him next year.
Somehow, he had a feeling that everything would go well. Was that why?
In the car filled with Dowoon’s scent, he naturally hummed a tune.
The weather was bright, everything seemed to sparkle, and his mood seemed to get better and better. He even wondered if it was okay to feel this good.
He felt like Guiding energy might burst out because he felt too good. It definitely seemed like his energy was amplified when he was happy and joyful.
‘Since only Esper-nim is here, wouldn’t it be okay? Or would it bother him since he’s driving?’
He wanted to provide Guiding. As a gesture of gratitude for waking up early and taking him to school.
‘Good. Let’s Guide him when the car stops.’
Seoyul made a firm resolve and clenched his fist. He didn’t forget to tightly gather the overflowing Guiding energy in his fist.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
