# Chapter 14
Domin, who said he would come in the morning, gave no news even after ten o’clock. Maybe because of that, Jeongyun’s thoughts were entirely focused on Domin throughout the Guiding session.
As morning passed and lunchtime came, Jeongyun checked the list and let out a deep sigh. The number of lines crossed out was significantly fewer than usual.
This had never happened before, and it felt strange to be unable to focus on work.
‘This isn’t good.’
Even while thinking this, his mind was still filled with thoughts of Domin. Jeongyun shook his head lightly. It’s not like Domin’s thoughts would fly away along with the motion.
Knock knock—
During his moment of self-reflection, Jeongyun looked toward the sound of knocking with eyes full of expectation. Slowly the doorknob turned, and the firmly closed door opened.
“Yeo Jeongyun.”
But the person who came through the open door wasn’t Domin, it was Wooyeon. Jeongyun didn’t want to reveal his disappointed eyes, so he smiled awkwardly.
“Why did you just leave yesterday?”
Wooyeon’s face was full of hurt as he asked bluntly. Wooyeon had a right to be angry since Jeongyun had ignored all his messages that arrived right after work.
“First, sit down here.”
Jeongyun pulled out the chair that Wooyeon always sat in and set it down carefully. Wooyeon, with his lips slightly pouting, sat down and crossed his legs.
When Jeongyun sat across from him, it looked like an interrogation scene, but appeasing Wooyeon’s hurt feelings came first.
“I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything yesterday.”
“And for not answering my calls?”
“Yes, I’m sorry for that too.”
Wooyeon easily forgave Jeongyun after his sincere apology. Uncrossing his legs and sitting comfortably, Wooyeon took a breath and asked Jeongyun:
“So, did you talk to him well?”
“Yes, it went well.”
Wooyeon’s eyes sparkled at Jeongyun’s positive answer. Leaning forward after removing his back from the chair, Wooyeon gestured with his chin as if asking for more details.
After hesitating, Jeongyun continued with a shy smile.
“I’ve decided to sign a dedicated partner contract with Esper Choi Domin.”
“Are you seriously crazy?!”
Wooyeon shouted, jumping to his feet. Even though Jeongyun asked him to sit down again, embarrassed, Wooyeon couldn’t easily calm his excitement.
Not just anyone,
but Jeongyun, a C-grade Guide,
becoming the dedicated Guide
for Choi Domin, an A-grade Esper.
“You’ve been crazy about Choi Domin, and now you’re finally making a move!”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Hmm. Half compliment, half insult.”
Wooyeon, who had seemed angry, soon smiled playfully. Jeongyun narrowed his eyes at first, but then joined Wooyeon in laughter.
“The things people do for love. What a struggle.”
Wooyeon patted Jeongyun’s back lightly. Though mixed with playfulness, it was Wooyeon’s sincere encouragement, and Jeongyun nodded his head emphatically.
“You know you’re getting a lot of criticism, right?”
“Yes, I’ve prepared myself mentally.”
Normally, just providing Guiding to an Esper who already had a dedicated partner would be cause for reproach, but Jeongyun would make the same choice even if he could go back.Â
If he had just endlessly waited for Ju Saeon, who might never come, and something had happened to Domin, that would have been a bigger regret.
“Well, what do you have to be afraid of now anyway?”
Wooyeon shook his head with a deep sigh.
His friend blinded by love might not realize it, but the situation was heading toward the worst. The B-grade Guides were strongly protesting, even though they weren’t directly involved, saying they needed to find the Guide who had imprinted on Domin one-sidedly and disappeared, and discipline them.
Moreover, adding fuel to the fire, Ju Saeon still hadn’t come out of the Guiding room today. The more Saeon sank into sadness, the more aggressive the B-grades became.
With the headquarters atmosphere at its worst, if news spread that Jeongyun was the Guide who had imprinted on Domin and that they were signing a dedicated partner contract, what would follow was all too predictable.
This wasn’t just Jeongyun’s problem; it could escalate into a fight between B-grades and C-grades.
“Don’t worry.”
Jeongyun smiled as he read Wooyeon’s expression. Wooyeon tried to brighten his face, but once a worry had surfaced, it wasn’t easy to make it disappear.
Wooyeon shook his head lightly and smiled, patting Jeongyun’s back.
“Well, as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. If anyone bullies you, tell me. I’ll bite them all.”
Wooyeon pretended to bite something like an angry dog. Jeongyun barely held back his laughter and cleared his throat.
“…Thank you.”
At this embarrassing thanks, Wooyeon rubbed his arms vigorously and urged Jeongyun to go eat lunch.
Jeongyun, about to follow Wooyeon who had already left the Guiding room, briefly paused when he saw the clock had already passed 12.
‘He’ll contact me, right?’
There had been no contact from Domin all morning. After checking his still-silent phone, Jeongyun locked the Guiding room door and headed to the cafeteria, urged by Wooyeon to hurry up.
“It’s unusually quiet today.”
Maybe because Ju Saeon was stuck in the Guiding room and not coming out, none of the noisy B-grade Guides had come to the cafeteria today. The cafeteria was peacefully quiet for once.
A few B-grade Guides were sparsely seated, but they were people who didn’t discriminate based on grade, so they could choose comfortable seats.
“I wish those jerks would stay away forever.”
Jeongyun nodded at Wooyeon’s blunt statement. He hadn’t noticed when they were around, but now that they were gone, the usually chaotic cafeteria was rather peaceful.
“Yeo Jeongyun, look behind you.”
“Huh?”
When Jeongyun turned around after hearing Wooyeon’s words, Deputy Director Hyun Semin and members of the Gray team were entering the cafeteria. The peaceful cafeteria began to stir at their appearance.
“What’s the Deputy Director doing in the company cafeteria?”
“He probably came to eat, duh.”
“I guess. But S-grade really is different. Even his appearance shines.”
After hearing Wooyeon’s comment, Jeongyun looked at Hyun Semin more carefully. He admitted the man was handsome, but didn’t see any “shining.” Perhaps his eyes, trained on Choi Domin, had become desensitized to such stimuli.
‘I really have it bad.’
Even at times like this, he wanted to see Domin. He had said he’d come early, but morning had passed and he hadn’t shown up. Jeongyun wondered if he would come at all before the day ended.
Had something urgent come up? Or had he suddenly changed his mind overnight and wanted to act like nothing had happened? The more these thoughts piled up, the more anxious Jeongyun became.
“Are you done eating?”
“Huh? …Yeah, I’m done.”
“Then let’s go. It’s getting noisy here too.”
The cafeteria quickly became rowdy with Hyun Semin’s appearance. Since lunchtime was almost over anyway, the two returned to the Guiding room with coffee from the cafeteria vending machine.
“Yeo Jeongyun.”
Jeongyun, who had been looking for his key card in his pocket, looked up. Wooyeon rubbed the back of his neck hesitantly, then eventually smiled and said:
“Hang in there, don’t get intimidated.”
“…Thank you.”
As soon as the words were out, Wooyeon, seemingly embarrassed, went into the Guiding room first. Feeling better from Wooyeon’s encouragement, Jeongyun was about to take out his key card but checked his phone first.
After turning on the screen and checking for missed calls or messages, there was still no contact from Domin. But unlike earlier, he didn’t feel anxious.
“I should contact him.”
The hallway was open on all sides, so someone might hear his voice. He was planning to go into the Guiding room to contact Domin.
‘If I can’t reach him, I’ll leave a message. I’ll say it’s fine even if he’s a little late, he can come whenever it’s convenient.’
Just as he was collecting himself and about to enter the Guiding room, with a rustling sound, a large bouquet of flowers landed on his right shoulder.
As he slowly turned around to the rich floral scent, there stood Domin in a wine-colored suit that matched the magic-like red rose bouquet.
“I’ve been missing you all night, Guide Yeo Jeongyun.”
Domin greeted him warmly, placing the rose bouquet he had brought into the confused Jeongyun’s arms. Jeongyun was speechless, surprised by Domin’s sudden appearance and the affectionate greeting.
‘This isn’t a dream, is it?’
Jeongyun pinched his thigh to confirm this wasn’t a dream but reality. His thigh hurt, but Choi Domin didn’t disappear.
Domin, facing Jeongyun whose face was turning redder than the rose bouquet in his arms, said in a playful voice:
“Aren’t you going to greet me?”
“Ah, hello.”
As Jeongyun belatedly greeted him with a slight bow, Domin covered his mouth with his lightly curled hand and laughed out loud. Jeongyun tried to laugh along, but perhaps due to nervousness, his mouth corners trembled and he couldn’t smile properly.
“I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”
Since the promised morning had long passed, Jeongyun couldn’t easily say no.
Domin passed by the hesitating Jeongyun and entered the Guiding room first. Adjusting the bouquet in his arms, Jeongyun quickly followed after him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
