# Chapter 40
After Jeongyun’s repeated refusals, the Center Director reluctantly backed down. Of course, they hadn’t completely given up, but in the current situation, they couldn’t continue to pressure him.
“Contact me anytime if you change your mind.”
The Center Director handed Jeongyun their business card. Jeongyun bowed his head and accepted the card with both hands. He couldn’t refuse this much.
Jeongyun lightly rubbed his thumb over the gold-embossed number on the black background and carefully placed it in his pocket to avoid creasing it.
“May I leave now?”
Although there was no call from Domin, it wasn’t good to leave the Guiding Room empty for too long. In the eyes of other Guides who worked without breaks, it might look like he was slacking off.
Fortunately, the Center Director smiled and said he could leave anytime as they had finished talking. Jeongyun immediately stood up and bowed deeply to the Center Director.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
“Let’s meet again next time.”
Jeongyun wanted to say there wouldn’t be a next time, but he didn’t bother to add that.
As soon as he left the Center Director’s office, Hwayeon, who had been crouching and waiting for him, jumped to his feet. He looked exactly like a dog greeting its owner.
“Are you done?”
“Ah, yes. I’m done.”
Unlike the delighted Hwayeon, Jeongyun couldn’t even smile because of his complex feelings. Learning that high matching rates could exist despite grade differences made him keep thinking about Domin.
Domin’s matching rate with him had been barely over 10% before Imprinting—absolutely terrible. After Imprinting, it had only risen to 30%. Compared to Hwayeon, his compatibility with Domin was truly the worst of the worst.
‘It keeps feeling like I’m being told that Domin and I aren’t meant to be.’
Even though he tried hard to deny it, his thoughts kept drifting there. Now that his feelings had been rejected, Guiding was the only connection he had with Domin.
So, if he didn’t try harder—
“What are you thinking about?”
Hwayeon asked, thrusting his face forward. Startled, Jeongyun stepped back, but Hwayeon tilted his head and followed him. Soon, Jeongyun’s back hit the wall.
“I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
“…That’s not true. Your expression was serious.”
Hwayeon furrowed his brow, mimicking Jeongyun’s expression. It looked serious to anyone who saw it.
When Jeongyun denied it and forced a smile, Hwayeon pouted.
“When you’re with me, can’t you only think about me?”
“…Huh?”
Jeongyun’s eyes widened at Hwayeon’s sudden words.
Hwayeon probably didn’t realize it, but what he just said could cause serious misunderstandings if others heard. It was the kind of thing only lovers would say. Of course, Hwayeon probably hadn’t thought that far when he said it.
Hwayeon, who was about to naturally take Jeongyun’s hand, hesitated. He probably remembered the earlier warning about not touching without permission.
After repeatedly clenching and unclenching his empty hand, Hwayeon roughly messed up his own hair. Making groaning sounds, he eventually straightened both hands and asked Jeongyun:
“Can I touch your hand?”
“Whose hand?”
“Your hand, Jeongyun Hyung.”
When Jeongyun hesitantly raised his hand, Hwayeon smiled broadly.
It seemed less like he was touching for Guiding purposes and more like he simply wanted to make contact with Jeongyun. An Esper touching a Guide without Guiding as the purpose was strange in its own way.
“I need to go now.”
“Where?”
Hwayeon, who had been happily holding Jeongyun’s hand, asked with wide eyes. Jeongyun gently pulled his hand away and said he needed to go to the Guiding Room.
Hwayeon’s face crumpled badly.
“Don’t go.”
“I can’t. I’ve been away for too long.”
“Then take me with you.”
“That’s not possible either. You can’t leave the center yet.”
Without a choker, Hwayeon couldn’t go outside the center yet. Despite this, Hwayeon stubbornly insisted on going with Jeongyun. He might have a grown body, but he was acting just like a child.
Could this also be due to his evaporated memories? Jeongyun wondered, looking at Hwayeon’s tearful face. Indeed, his behavior was too childish for his age.
“I’ll come again next time.”
“When? You’ll say that and then not come back for ages.”
Hit right on the mark, Jeongyun couldn’t respond. When he avoided eye contact, Hwayeon moved to the side to meet his gaze again. If Jeongyun turned his head the other way, Hwayeon would move there too.
Jeongyun found this behavior from Hwayeon burdensome. It was uncomfortable that Hwayeon followed him unconditionally despite not knowing him for long, and how he openly showed his feelings without hiding anything.
As the Center Director said, if this was all due to the Imprinting effect, it was obvious that Hwayeon would continue to rely only on Jeongyun. Unfortunately, Jeongyun, who had already signed a dedicated contract with Domin, couldn’t take responsibility for Hwayeon.
“Find another Guide besides me.”
“…No.”
Though he probably didn’t understand what Jeongyun meant, Hwayeon immediately rejected the suggestion. Whatever else he might not know, he clearly understood that Jeongyun was trying to leave him.
Taking a deep sigh, Jeongyun pushed away Hwayeon’s shoulder, which was too close to him.
If he couldn’t take responsibility, it was right to firmly push him away. No matter how high their matching rate was, Jeongyun couldn’t be in charge of Hwayeon’s Guiding.
“I’m going now.”
After saying goodbye, Jeongyun turned around. Hwayeon tried to grab Jeongyun as he walked away, but remembering the rule about not touching without permission, he just stomped his feet in frustration.
“D-don’t go!”
Hwayeon shouted, and sparks flew from his fingertips. In that moment, a huge wall of fire rose up in front of Jeongyun.
From the heat of the blazing flames, Jeongyun staggered backward. If he hadn’t paused when he heard Hwayeon calling, he could have been seriously injured.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
The flustered Hwayeon tried to extinguish the fire, but his control was still undeveloped, so it wasn’t easy. Meanwhile, the flames were gradually consuming the building, and the sprinklers activated due to the rising smoke.
When the fire alarm sounded, researchers in the center rushed outside. But the path down to the first floor was already blocked by the fire Hwayeon had created.
“Fire extinguisher! Bring a fire extinguisher!”
“Min Hwayeon’s fire doesn’t go out with water!”
“If we leave it like that, the whole center will collapse!”
While people were running around in confusion, Jeongyun, drenched by the pouring water, went back to Hwayeon. He grabbed the cheeks of Hwayeon, who had frozen in shock at the unmanageable situation.
“Calm down, and let’s put out the fire first.”
“H-how?”
“I’ll help you, focus.”
Hwayeon, whose pupils had been darting around, soon looked at the fire that wouldn’t extinguish despite being soaked with water.
Jeongyun closed his eyes, concentrating on his hand that was holding Hwayeon’s cheek.
‘You can do this.’
Perhaps thanks to their high matching rate, even with just this level of contact, he could somewhat stabilize Hwayeon’s erratic power.
After the efforts of both of them, the flames that had been fiercely burning the building gradually began to die down. The water pouring like a downpour also stopped.
“Is it okay now?”
Hwayeon asked urgently.
Jeongyun opened his eyes and nodded instead of answering. No matter how high their matching rate was, his body was starting to strain after multiple Guiding sessions.
‘I think I need to rest.’
Since it was still far from closing time, he thought he should get some sleep after returning to the Guiding Room. It would be fine anyway since Domin wouldn’t come due to his overseas business trip.
“Be careful.”
As he tried to take a step, his feet tangled because of the water pooled on the floor. If Hwayeon hadn’t quickly caught him, he would have fallen face-first onto the floor in an embarrassing way.
“Thank you.”
Jeongyun put strength in his legs and stood up straight. He refused Hwayeon’s hand that tried to support him. Though disappointed, Hwayeon obediently backed off.
When Jeongyun lightly fluttered his clothes that were sticking to him from being soaked, water droplets flew everywhere. If he returned like this, people would obviously ask what had happened, but without a change of clothes, there was no alternative. He’d just have to go back as quietly as possible.
“Are you really leaving?”
As Jeongyun was about to turn around, Hwayeon quickly blocked his way and asked. His pale face was full of fear, probably worried he might make another mistake.
Jeongyun could have firmly pushed him away, but seeing Hwayeon looking dejected while soaking wet made his heart soften. Though coming every day would be too much, maybe visiting occasionally would be okay.
“I’ll come again next week.”
“When?”
“When I have free time.”
“When will that be?”
Hwayeon kept asking for an exact date, but Jeongyun wouldn’t give a definite answer.
Hwayeon quietly approached and grabbed Jeongyun’s clothes. Since this wasn’t physical contact, Jeongyun didn’t push him away.
“You promise to come next week?”
Jeongyun nodded.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
