# Chapter 84
“…A week.”
Hajin had thought it would be at most two days, or maybe three or four days since they had different stamina than ordinary people. Even that had seemed long.
But a week?
Even that couldn’t have been accurate. There must have been times when it went beyond a week, but no matter how superhuman they were, how could anyone sleep only once a week?
And getting by on just energy bars for meals.
‘I never thought I’d be relieved that they at least received Guiding from Han Jiwoo.’
It was no joke—Hajin was genuinely relieved they’d received Guiding at all. If they hadn’t, surely one of them would have been engulfed by the risk of a rampage.
Hajin pressed his forehead. Despite having eaten well and slept properly himself, he felt guilty and somewhat angry that they had been searching for him without caring about their own bodies.
Yet seeing how they were watching his reactions just from the change in atmosphere, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
How could he be angry at them? If he were to be angry, it should be at the forces that kidnapped him.
“Haaah.”
Hajin finally let out a long sigh to release his emotions.
“…From now on, take care of yourselves too. It doesn’t make me happy to see you neglecting your health.”
It could have been taken as a cold statement. But knowing the concern underneath his words, they felt a ticklish joy in their chests instead.
“We’ll rest at least three days a week.”
He meant they should get the minimum amount of sleep daily, but thinking this was already a big concession on their part, Hajin nodded with a light sigh.
“Let’s eat now. It’s getting quite late.”
Hajin went to Cha Jinwoo, who had set out whatever ingredients were available, and helped with the preparation. Having lived alone for a long time, Hajin was reasonably skilled at cooking.
He couldn’t always order delivery, and eating the same few dishes got boring quickly, so he had no choice but to improve his cooking skills.
“What were you planning to make?”
“I was going to make noodles.”
“I see we’re out of rice too.”
Cha Jinwoo subtly averted his gaze. Hajin naturally pushed him aside and took over as the main chef.
“Eggs, we have those. Could you crack three and beat them?”
Cha Jinwoo skillfully handled the tasks Hajin requested. The food was finished quickly once Hajin took over—unlike someone who had spent hours making porridge and kimchi fried rice.
He was going to prepare something for Baek Jaan too, but Han Seungho said he wouldn’t wake up even if a bomb went off next to him, so they had no choice but to leave him out.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Unlike Hajin and Cha Jinwoo who had tasted the food while cooking, Han Seungho and Lee Doyoon were impressed with the clean yet savory broth when they tried it for the first time.
“Wow! What is this? It’s delicious!”
Their amazement wasn’t just because Hajin made it. The noodles were excellent even to their palates, which were accustomed to food prepared by skilled chefs.
Hajin smiled softly at their praise. He had always cooked for himself, never realizing how satisfying it could be to have others enjoy his food.
“But there were still many ingredients left at home? I thought we used everything yesterday.”
Han Seungho was surprised that such appetizing noodles could be made when he thought they had used up all the ingredients in the refrigerator.
“I had requested some non-perishable items before.”
Though he hadn’t needed to cook for himself since joining the Association, Hajin had prepared for times when he might want to make something—a decision he was now glad he’d made. Of course, no one else had ever tried cooking.
“Is there anything Hajin hyung can’t do? This is really delicious… Make it again next time.”
Having already emptied his bowl, Lee Doyoon licked his lips regretfully. Hajin willingly nodded. Han Seungho, who had gulped down even the last drop of broth, lazily smiled with satisfaction before breaking into a mischievous grin.
“That Baek Jaan bastard is going to be dying of hunger. I should rub it in.”
Hajin wondered if he should stop him. It wasn’t a problem if Baek Jaan came running, begging for food with teary eyes.
“…Just don’t fight inside the house.”
Knowing they wouldn’t listen if he told them not to tease each other at all, Hajin could only ask them not to fight dangerously indoors.
“Ah, but first we need to get checked.”
As he nodded to Cha Jinwoo who was collecting the empty bowls, Hajin remembered an important matter he had forgotten.
The peaceful moment had made him forget temporarily, but Alpha Team still had unidentified drug components in their bodies. And the Association’s Espers were in even worse shape.
Lee Doyoon and Baek Jaan had received Guiding through a kiss, but two people remained. Reproaching himself for forgetting something that could cause them pain, Hajin hurriedly brushed his teeth.
When he told the two to quickly brush their teeth as well, they seemed to have an exclamation mark pop up over their heads before instantly brushing and returning to the living room.
“But why are you here? Get lost. You already got your Guiding.”
“I could get more. Hyung, I think I’m feeling a bit tired.”
Despite having already received Guiding, Lee Doyoon, who couldn’t let go of being the first one, tried to act cute with Hajin.
Though Hajin knew it was a shameless ploy, he was inclined to let it slide since it wasn’t particularly difficult.
However, even if Hajin was okay with it, the others wouldn’t stand by and watch. Before Han Seungho could growl, Cha Jinwoo spoke up.
“Lee Doyoon. Don’t bother Hajin-ssi.”
At Cha Jinwoo’s stern voice, Doyoon immediately raised his voice, acting wronged.
“I know you guys and the team leader have kissed him two or three times each without me!”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“Yeah, listen to the team leader.”
When Han Seungho, usually the most disobedient among them, said that, Lee Doyoon felt like he could die from the injustice.
It was bad enough being treated like a child for being the youngest, but losing out to his hyungs in this area was particularly unpleasant.
‘Think I’ll just give up like this?’
Just as he was about to express his opinion despite the united front against him, Hajin entered his field of vision.
As if trying to catch his attention, Hajin was looking at Doyoon, and the moment their eyes met, he slightly closed one eye, giving him a signal.
What other reason could there be for winking at him specifically in this situation? Doyoon huffed and pretended to reluctantly give up, though he felt wronged.
The wink meant that later, Hajin would give him what he wanted privately. Hajin had hesitated until the end, wondering if this was really okay, but he didn’t reverse his decision.
His conscience raised its head, questioning if it was right to kiss Lee Doyoon, who was nine years younger than him. But when Doyoon felt hurt at being pushed away because of age, Hajin had no choice but to grant his wish.
‘Am I too soft…?’
Even he was surprised by how yielding he was to Alpha Team. There were plenty of reasons, and they made sense, but it was still surprising.
“Hajin-ssi?”
“Ah, yes. So who would like to go first?”
Lost in thought momentarily, Hajin snapped back to reality at the sound of his name. Suddenly, he felt embarrassed about kissing in front of others.
While he had grown accustomed to kissing, he wasn’t quite confident enough to do it casually with someone staring.
“If you’re uncomfortable, we can do it separately in a room.”
He suggested changing locations, pretending it was out of consideration rather than his own embarrassment, but Lee Doyoon vehemently opposed the idea.
“Does this hyung still not get it? Do you know what might happen to you if you go into a room with them?”
Doyoon was so shocked that his polite speech completely disappeared as he insisted it absolutely couldn’t happen.
At that, the other two, especially Han Seungho, licked their lips in disappointment, but they also didn’t trust each other, so they agreed with Doyoon’s opinion.
“Do it in front of me. That way I can pull them off if they try to cross the line.”
While that was incredibly reassuring, Hajin’s embarrassment remained unresolved. Han Seungho sat down in front of Hajin first.
Living up to his impatient nature, he cupped Hajin’s face and pressed his lips forward before Hajin could even say he was ready.
“Mmm…”
Their lips met and a tongue entered without even giving Hajin time to breathe. But by now, Hajin didn’t freeze in shock anymore. Awkwardly breathing through his nose, he infused Guiding through their entangled tongues.
He regulated it just enough so they wouldn’t fall asleep, since they needed to go for a check-up afterward. This caused Han Seungho to become increasingly excited. Radiative Guiding was good, but it couldn’t compare to Guiding through a kiss.
“Nngh!”
Han Seungho briefly pulled away, confirmed that Hajin instinctively caught his breath, then pressed his lips back again.
Tilting his head as if to devour him, Han Seungho savored Hajin’s lips for a while before being pulled away by Lee Doyoon.
“What! I barely did anything!”
Han Seungho glared at Lee Doyoon, full of discontent. But Doyoon replied as if he was even more exasperated.
“Barely? You were about to push him down and climb on top of him.”
At those words, he turned his head to see Hajin half-lying down, his waist held by Seungho. He seemed out of breath, his chest rising significantly, and his lips were flushed red.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
