While waiting for Yoo Ji-ho to return, Hye-seong stepped into the study.
It had been just yesterday that he entered the room for the first time, and to him, it felt like heaven.
The massive bookshelf stretched across an entire wall, packed to the brim with books.
“Are all of these yours, Yoo Ji-ho?”
“Not all of them. Some of them belonged to my parents—I just moved part of their library here.”
“Wow.”
It was like a small private library. The room was built unusually spacious, and the towering shelves reaching up to the ceiling left him overwhelmed.
Every book he’d ever wanted to read seemed to be sitting right there.
When Hye-seong wandered around the study with sparkling eyes, Ji-ho had told him he was free to come in and read anytime, even when he wasn’t around.
He wasn’t in the mood to read right now, but he found himself drawn to the atmosphere of the place and wandered in again.
Clutching an interesting-looking humanities book to his chest, he sat down on the single-seater sofa and experimented with various positions.
Eventually, the sofa turned out to be too comfortable, and he ended up lounging with his legs draped over the side.
“Whoa.”
It was so comfy.
He rested his neck on the armrest and let his body relax—suddenly the whole world looked upside down.
The wall of books looked the same even when flipped over, and that made it strangely fun.
Sinking deeper into the plush chair, Hye-seong found his thoughts drifting.
To Ji-ho, this place must feel like home.
It didn’t seem like the kind of temporary housing you’d furnish this thoroughly just for the sake of work.
From what he knew, Ji-ho’s parents were still alive and well—
so what was the story behind that bookshelf? He couldn’t help but wonder.
Could he say it now? That he was going to head home?
They’d been living under the same roof for nearly a week.
It felt a little awkward to just blurt out that he was heading home.
It would’ve been nice if he had something prepared to thank Ji-ho first.
“…Yoo Ji-ho?”
Hye-seong’s head popped up. He sensed someone’s presence outside the room.
When he stepped into the hallway, he saw a familiar silhouette—warm and welcome.
Ji-ho stood with his back to him, head slightly bowed.
“Ah!”
Hye-seong had started heading that way without thinking, but then suddenly turned on his heel when he realized Ji-ho was unbuttoning his shirt.
He hadn’t realized that’s what Ji-ho had been doing with his head bowed.
Trying to slip away quietly, Hye-seong froze when Ji-ho’s voice called from behind.
“Come back.”
“…Yes.”
How did he know?
Sheepishly, Hye-seong turned around again.
As he approached, Ji-ho tossed the shirt he’d just taken off into the empty basket beside the burn-it bin and said,
“I thought you’d be napping. Did you finish your lunch?”
“I did. Did you finish all your schedule for today?”
“Yeah.”
Hye-seong met his eyes and replied as naturally as possible.
Ji-ho grabbed the black short-sleeved shirt hanging nearby and slipped his arms through the sleeves as he asked,
“You weren’t bored being alone?”
“I read a bit, so I wasn’t bored at all.”
Only then did Hye-seong realize he was still clutching that thick humanities book.
He pulled it out of his arms and held it up.
Ji-ho gave a soft chuckle.
“Good. I brought snacks, so let’s have some later.”
“…Okay.”
Even with his packed schedule, Ji-ho hadn’t forgotten about snacks again today.
Hye-seong licked his lips, hoping it would be something with strawberries and fresh cream.
Based on his experiences so far, anything with “strawberry fresh cream” in the name was guaranteed to be delicious.
Though admittedly, he’d only had it a handful of times.
Now wearing a fitted T-shirt instead of his uniform jacket and button-up, Ji-ho smiled and said,
“Let’s go for a walk.”
“Ah, yes! Let me just put this away first!”
Right! The garden walk.
Looks like Ji-ho hadn’t forgotten that either.
Eagerly responding, Hye-seong turned back to the study to return the book.
Still, something about the earlier conversation had left a subtle, indescribable sense of discomfort.
Regardless, he quickened his pace.
That garden walk had been something Ji-ho promised him that morning.
It felt like a good final moment before going home.
He figured he should probably head out before Ji-ho sat down for dinner.
Then, his steps came to a sudden halt.
“Ah… the dessert…”
He would just have to let it go this time—with tears in his eyes.
Ji-ho could enjoy it instead.
He wouldn’t be seeing Ji-ho like this again anytime soon.
But that had never been something he was entitled to in the first place.
Though he was sad, what mattered most was that Ji-ho had remembered their promise.
Just that alone made Hye-seong’s heart race with joy.
***
The two of them walked hand in hand through the garden attached to the private wing.
Technically, it was more like a yard, but it was spacious and beautifully landscaped—perfect for a stroll.
It felt like they were walking through their own private park.
Getting to walk through the garden he’d been so curious about, and helping ease Ji-ho’s fatigue with some Guiding—
it was killing two birds with one stone.
Since Ji-ho had attended a national holiday-related official event today, his fatigue must’ve been pretty severe.
Whenever Ji-ho had to deal with people all day at public functions, his wave patterns went haywire, even without fighting any monsters.
Sometimes it got even worse than after an actual battle.
“You don’t take care of this yourself, right?”
“People come regularly.”
“That’s a relief.”
Ji-ho raised a brow at the softly spoken words.
After a moment’s hesitation, Hye-seong continued, gently and carefully.
“Seeing all this makes it clear that the Yeouido Center really values you. That makes me… genuinely relieved.”
Then he smiled a little and gave the grass beneath his feet a playful tap with his shoe.
He could feel Ji-ho’s eyes on him, but he was too shy to look up.
“Wow…”
Just then, he spotted a sparrow hopping nearby. It was adorable, and he watched it for a while.
“Your place is so peaceful. You can actually hear the birds.
Even though it’s right in the middle of Seoul, it feels like I’ve come to the countryside for a little getaway.”
“I’m glad it suits you. Since you’ll be staying often.”
“Right.”
He’d need to come by frequently now that he was officially Ji-ho’s Guide.
Hye-seong nodded and fidgeted with the long sleeve that hung down over his hand before quietly speaking up.
“Yoo Ji-ho.”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve probably already heard… I think it’s time for me to go home.”
Their slow pace came to a halt.
Ji-ho stopped first, and Hye-seong followed.
They now stood in front of the garden bench swing.
“Why? The door repairs probably aren’t done yet.”
Ji-ho sat on the bench with his legs crossed, looking up at Hye-seong with an innocent expression—genuinely curious.
“Oh… so you didn’t hear. I got a text earlier saying the repairs were finished.”
“……”
“It’s already been several days—I’ve stayed long enough. It’s time I head back. Thank you for everything.”
He even bowed politely, but Ji-ho frowned and shook his head firmly, refusing the gesture. A clear no.
Hye-seong’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
Huh…?
Even as Hye-seong blinked in confusion, Ji-ho reached out and gestured.
“Guiding.”
“Ah, right.”
I should at least finish what I came here to do before I go.
He really was bad at reading the room sometimes.
Obediently, he stepped forward and sat on the bench as Ji-ho directed.
Ji-ho casually patted his lap, motioning for Hye-seong to sit there.
It was a familiar position—one they’d used often in recent days for comfortable Guiding sessions.
As Hye-seong turned his body and got settled, Ji-ho smiled softly and said in a smooth voice,
“There’s no need to rush, is there? Everything you need is right here.”
“But this isn’t my home.”
Hye-seong answered firmly, placing both his legs across Ji-ho’s thighs in a practiced motion, following his gestures.
Ji-ho stared at him silently.
Then, as if frustrated by how resolute Hye-seong looked, he bit his lip.
Still, with a firm expression, Hye-seong spoke again.
“I’m not someone who clings where I’m not welcome. I think it’s really time for me to go now.”
“……”
“Thank you for everything, Ji-ho.”
He knew better than anyone how kind Ji-ho was.
Even now—despite the repairs being done—he was still offering him a place to stay.
But he couldn’t afford to get used to that kind of kindness.
If Ji-ho wouldn’t be the one to draw the line, then he needed to be the one who knew when to leave.
He had steeled himself for this moment.
“Pfft.”
But Ji-ho, completely oblivious to what Hye-seong was going through, just lowered his head with a quiet laugh.
“…Why are you laughing?”
Hye-seong asked, his eyes wide, still trying to hold his ground.
Ji-ho met his gaze, his eyes still filled with amusement.
“You’re not going anywhere, Hye-seong.”
“…What?”
His firm expression crumbled in an instant, his eyes going wide.
His heart thudded in confusion.
What did he mean by that? Was something wrong? Did something happen with the repair?
But Ji-ho didn’t care whether Hye-seong was flustered or not.
Then came the words that made Hye-seong freeze, still holding Ji-ho’s hand tightly in his own.
“You’re not leaving.”
“……”
Ji-ho just traced gentle circles on the back of Hye-seong’s hand with his finger—smiling sweetly, as if nothing could be more natural.
