# Chapter 34
Hajin raised his eyebrows as he watched Lee Doyoon blushing and fidgeting. After checking the time, he said to him:
“Let’s go now.”
“…Okay.”
Hajin nodded to Cha Jinwoo as well to say goodbye and left the dormitory. Lee Doyoon, who had been fidgeting until then, immediately reverted to his usual self once they stepped outside and stood beside Hajin.
“How long are you going to work out?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll decide once I get there, but don’t wait for me.”
“Tch.”
Having enjoyed their chance time alone together before, Lee Doyoon had hoped to spend time alone with Hajin again while the team leader was away.
But his attempt was preemptively blocked by Hajin, causing him to click his tongue.
Hajin, who had already decided to go around with Han Jiwoo rather than with Espers, didn’t back down.
One might think it would be fine with just Lee Doyoon, but Hajin hadn’t forgotten how the other Espers had somehow found out and swarmed around them last time.
Who knew what might happen? Han Seungho and Baek Jaan might also coincidentally run into them on their way back, just like Lee Doyoon had.
“Thanks for taking me there.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Lee Doyoon lifted his chin dismissively at the words of gratitude.
“I’ll be back before dinner, so don’t wait and go home.”
“…I got it.”
Hajin had repeated himself just in case, but Lee Doyoon’s weak response as he turned away suggested he might have indeed been planning to wait secretly. He looked quite pitiful.
Unable to give up his only free time, Hajin merely decided to buy snacks for him later, rather than calling him back.
Leaving Lee Doyoon behind, Hajin finally entered the training facility.
Meanwhile, Lee Doyoon, who had been walking slowly with slumped shoulders, clicked his tongue again with a “tch,” straightened his shoulders, and returned his pace to normal.
He did have a wish coupon he’d won in a game, but he planned to use it for a more important moment, so today he was backing down.
* * *
As Hajin entered the fitness training room that Han Jiwoo had shown him earlier, gazes once again converged on him.
However, perhaps because Han Jiwoo, who was essentially their focal point, had changed his attitude, they merely glanced at him occasionally without approaching or speaking to him.
Hajin found a suitable spot and began warming up. After heating his body and starting his workout with the equipment, he dedicated himself solely to exercise until his predetermined time.
His once dry body gradually became soaked with sweat, and his breathing grew rough from exercising after a long break.
After finishing his cool-down and stepping off the treadmill, Hajin’s eyes met with Han Jiwoo, who was opening the door to the training room.
Thinking they weren’t close enough to exchange friendly greetings, Hajin was about to pass by pretending not to see him, but Han Jiwoo approached first with a bright smile.
“Hyung, you’re here.”
Hajin stopped, feeling guilty for trying to ignore him when Han Jiwoo greeted him so warmly.
“Yes. I see Han Jiwoo-ssi came to work out too.”
“My body’s been feeling stiff lately, probably because I haven’t been exercising.”
“I just finished, so I’ll be going now.”
As Hajin tried to naturally distance himself, Han Jiwoo followed behind him.
“Are you going straight back to the dorm?”
“No. I thought I might walk around a bit.”
At that, Han Jiwoo spoke as if this was fortunate:
“Then let’s go together. I said I’d introduce you to some good places to eat last time, remember? It’s lunchtime anyway, so I’ll treat you.”
“What? No, that’s not necessary…”
As Hajin hesitated and tried to refuse, Han Jiwoo looked down at the slightly shorter Hajin with a pitiful expression.
“I still don’t feel right about just apologizing with words… won’t you let me treat you to a meal…?”
Hajin considered it. He had thought he’d rather go around with Han Jiwoo than with the Espers. But he hadn’t expected that moment to come so soon.
‘But it would make a good excuse.’
If he didn’t contact them, they would surely come looking for him, claiming concern for his safety.
But if he said he was with another Guide, they might complain but wouldn’t be able to follow.
To be honest, he could think this way because Cha Jinwoo was among those remaining at the dormitory.
If the combinations had been Han Seungho and Lee Doyoon, Lee Doyoon and Baek Jaan, or Baek Jaan and Han Seungho, he wouldn’t have even attempted this.
Moreover, seeing how Han Jiwoo was acting, it seemed like even if he declined now, he would persist in trying to have a meal with Hajin someday.
And it would be impolite to keep refusing the invitation of someone who had reflected on their actions and approached humbly.
“Alright, let’s do that. But didn’t you just arrive to work out?”
Seeing his obvious exercise clothes, Hajin asked, and Han Jiwoo waved his hand dismissively.
“I can work out later. You need to shower, right? I’ll wait.”
In that short time, his sweat had cooled and become sticky. Hajin nodded and headed to the shower room.
After washing off the sweat and roughly drying his wet hair, Hajin followed Han Jiwoo’s lead as they walked.
Of course, he didn’t forget to contact the Espers, who would surely come looking for him if he didn’t, to explain the situation.
Though he didn’t mention Han Jiwoo by name, saying he was with a Guide made them back down somewhat.
In Lee Doyoon’s case, he grumbled about being sent away while Hajin went out with “some other guy.”
So when Hajin promised to buy snacks on the way back, Lee Doyoon, while complaining about being treated like a child, honestly added what he wanted to eat.
The restaurant Han Jiwoo led him to had excellent food.
When Hajin made a small exclamation at the juiciness of the meat with each bite, Han Jiwoo spoke up:
“It’s good, right?”
For once, Hajin nodded without hesitation. As he said, the tonkatsu before him was the most delicious he had ever tasted.
If he had another opportunity to dine out, it would be good to come here again and try a different menu item.
Contrary to his concerns, Han Jiwoo turned out to be quite a pleasant dining companion.
He refrained from unnecessary conversation during the meal, but also didn’t remain completely silent, which would have made the atmosphere awkward.
And when they did converse, he avoided personal topics and only brought up light subjects that were easy for Hajin to respond to.
As his perception of Han Jiwoo improved, Hajin found it fascinating.
‘Even such a decent young man can change so much when consumed by jealousy.’
Moreover, Han Jiwoo seemed well aware that Hajin was still drawing a line with him.
After finishing their meal, he only accompanied Hajin as far as the café where he was going to buy snacks for Lee Doyoon.
Despite surely knowing through their conversation that Hajin’s perception of him had changed, he understood what the appropriate boundary was.
It was strange. Before becoming a Guide, Hajin’s relationships had always been this straightforward.
The kind of relationship where they shared meals and casual conversations, but didn’t share personal time.
But the Espers who had appeared in Hajin’s life didn’t know the first thing about being straightforward.
Although it was supposedly for safety, it was surprising that the total time Hajin had spent without an Esper since coming here didn’t even add up to 24 hours.
Of course, he didn’t find their concern annoying. Knowing that their expression of him being more precious than life wasn’t an exaggeration, it would be selfish to insist on his own lifestyle with them.
‘Still, I should be able to have this kind of free time occasionally.’
It was a moment when Han Jiwoo’s favorability rating rose a little more in Hajin’s eyes.
* * *
Upon returning to his own dormitory, Han Jiwoo immediately ran to the bathroom and vomited everything he had eaten. The undigested food came up with stomach acid, making his throat sting.
“Ugh, keh-hack.”
He vomited until there was nothing left to come out, but his stomach still churned.
It was because he’d been constantly smiling sweetly at Hajin and even sharing a meal with him. Even he was surprised by his body’s stronger-than-expected rejection.
But Han Jiwoo had no intention of stopping until he completely broke down Hajin’s defenses.
In fact, when he imagined that moment, not being able to digest his food and getting indigestion seemed like a small price to pay.
With eyes watering from the physiological response, Han Jiwoo’s mind drifted to the past.
* * *
Han Jiwoo’s day had been a complete mess. Actually, that wasn’t particularly surprising.
It had always been that way since the appearance of Hajin. But today was especially chaotic.
After his conversation with Hajin, Han Jiwoo was scolded for not properly focusing on his Guiding.
If it had just been a scolding, he might not have been so angry, but of all people, the Esper who reprimanded him was one who had previously attended Hajin’s class.
“I want to meet that Guide again…”
He would have preferred to hear that his Guiding was terrible.
But that Esper just stared into the distance as if Han Jiwoo didn’t exist, longing for someone else.
“Fuck, that damn Lee Hajin!”
With his insides boiling, Han Jiwoo couldn’t hold back and spat out a curse. How amazing could this so-called S-class be to cause such reactions?
“If I take that drug…”
I could become S-class too.
Han Jiwoo was startled as if doused with cold water. Regardless of the effectiveness, did he know what would happen if he was caught collaborating with anti-government forces?
Han Jiwoo shook his head to dispel such useless thoughts.
“No matter what, that’s, that’s…”
But the slight hesitation that remained kept tempting him.
If he succeeded, he could reclaim his previous life. No, he could even surpass that and grasp what belonged to Lee Hajin.
No one would dare compare him to anyone else, and countless Espers would bow their heads and crave his affection for Guiding.
“Well? Have you made up your mind now?”
The voice of someone who shouldn’t be there was heard. But this time, he wasn’t surprised. Han Jiwoo turned to look at Seo Juan with strangely gleaming eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
