“Don’t you think Yoo Ji-ho’s draining you dry, Hye-seong? He’s not actually mistreating you, is he?”
“What? No way—it’s not like that.”
“Are you sure? Can I trust you? You know I still think he’s suspicious, right?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Ji-ho’s actually a really good person.”
Even though Hye-seong had cleared it up thoroughly before, it seemed Choi Yoon-sol still hadn’t let go of the memory of that strange note. Hye-seong, eyebrows drooping, said again:
“It’s true. Ji-ho’s not a bad guy at all. He’s… a good person.”
“Alright.”
Though his eyes narrowed as if still suspicious, Yoon-sol eventually looked away with a teasing grin. He scooped up a big bite of rice topped with a thick steak cut.
As always, seeing him eat so heartily, like he could get full just by looking, made Hye-seong smile faintly. He glanced down at his own bowl, barely touched.
I told myself I wouldn’t force it…
He honestly wanted to put the spoon down. But now that someone had commented on how skinny he looked, he didn’t want to make anyone worry more. He didn’t want Ji-ho being doubted, either…
Thinking of Ji-ho suddenly brought up a question. Staring down at his rice, Hye-seong cautiously looked up.
“Um, sunbae… there’s something I’ve been really confused about lately…”
“Hmm?”
Even though Yoon-sol didn’t know the details of what was going on between them, maybe he could give advice—at least as a senior Guide. As long as Hye-seong kept protecting Ji-ho in the process.
“…It’s about my friend, Ha-jin.”
He would absolutely, 100%, buy Ha-jin something really good to eat. Five times over.
“When you start to like the person you’re working with… I think the one who caught feelings first should be the one to quit. Don’t you think so too, sunbae?”
“What about the other person?”
Unexpectedly, Yoon-sol didn’t pry for more and instead asked a sharp counter-question right away.
Rather than answer, Hye-seong simply shook his head. A bitter smile crept across his face.
“So that’s how it turned out.”
“…Yeah.”
“Damn, I guess when an Esper’s too exceptional, even that becomes a burden…”
That’s true. Hye-seong nodded glumly.
Now that he heard it out loud, it really was true. This whole situation must’ve been more of a burden for Ji-ho than it was for him. There must’ve been others like Hye-seong before, too…
The way Ji-ho had said “it’s fine whether you like me or not” still rang in his ears.
When a Guide he’d finally gotten used to suddenly tried to quit, it probably just felt like a nuisance. That’s likely why Ji-ho had said such hurtful things without hesitation—because he was frustrated.
“Ahem. So what’s your friend planning to do now?”
“He tried to be honest and said he wanted to quit… but the other person keeps trying to stop him. He… doesn’t understand why. My friend, I mean. Ha-jin.”
“Hmm… well, if it were me, I wouldn’t let him quit either.”
“Huh?”
Yoon-sol swallowed the bite in his mouth and looked just as conflicted.
“If someone tells me they want to quit their job because they like me, how could I just let them? That’s their livelihood. I wouldn’t be able to comfortably say, ‘Sure, do what you want.’ It’d weigh too heavily on me.”
“Ah…”
If it had been the old him, those words would’ve shaken him. He would’ve immediately thought, Maybe I’m burdening Ji-ho by quitting. He would’ve tried to understand.
But the way Ji-ho had spoken to him that day—so cold, so unlike himself—proved that wasn’t his intention at all. Thinking back to that moment still made Ji-ho feel like a completely different person.
Is that why he was so obsessed with getting a clear answer from me? Saying he wanted me to move on quickly, yet never leaving my side…
“Yeah… it’s a tough situation.”
“……”
“But, Hye-seong.”
Still deep in thought, Yoon-sol spoke in an unusually serious tone.
“Sticking around for a hopeless one-sided love… that’s torture.”
“…Torture.”
“Even if the other person feels bad about it, that only lasts a moment. The person with the feelings is the one who needs distance to start letting go.”
Will distance really help let go…?
“…Ah.”
The thought hit him like a blow to the head.
He wasn’t even sure he could let go after leaving Ji-ho’s side.
And yet he’d somehow convinced himself he could adapt if he stayed by it.
How ridiculous.
“It’s seriously hard, I get that. But still, I think quitting is the best thing for both people.”
“……”
Listening silently, Hye-seong finally spoke in a calm voice:
“Sunbae… I think so too.”
“…Really? You think I helped?”
At the surprised question, Hye-seong smiled softly and nodded.
“Yes. You really helped. A lot. Honestly.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Even though he’s right next to me… I don’t think I can not like him.”
“……”
Lately, he’d been questioning himself multiple times a day—wondering if he was wrong, or just being foolish.
But Yoon-sol helped him turn that doubt into clarity.
“Tell your friend to hang in there. And not to worry too much. Everything will work out.”
“…Yeah.”
“Chin up!”
“Yes, sir!”
The answer had been there from the start. All that was left was to organize his own wavering heart.
***
“I’m heading out now.”
Tying the laces of his sneakers tight, Hye-seong stood up and looked back at Ji-ho.
Since his work hours were fixed, there were days like this when Ji-ho would see him off. Ji-ho reached out and gently ruffled his hair.
“Take care.”
“Oh, right—Ji-ho, I’m planning to head out for a bit after work today.”
“Again? With who?”
“Just by myself.”
Hye-seong hesitated under the sudden silence. Ji-ho finally asked, in a clipped tone:
“Why?”
“I need to pick up a few things.”
Ji-ho’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. For some reason, it made Hye-seong feel tense.
Maybe it was because of all the crying. Or because of that “I’ll try” he’d muttered the night before.
Since that night, Ji-ho hadn’t reached for him again. Still, during the day, he acted the same as always—gentle, kind, familiar.
“Want me to come with?”
“Nah, you’d just draw too much attention and get tired.”
Hye-seong smiled as he gently declined the offer. Ji-ho stared at him for a moment, then nodded. As if remembering something, he added:
“Oh, and I’ll probably be home later than usual today.”
“Okay. Hope everything goes well. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
“……”
With a bright reply, Hye-seong carefully freed his hand from Ji-ho’s and turned around.
The image of Ji-ho seeing him off was familiar by now. And yet, it always felt a little strange.
When he arrived at the office, he had no idea how many drafts he’d written and torn up.
In the end, he chose the shortest, cleanest version, folded it neatly, and slipped it into a white envelope.
Tucking it into his jacket pocket, his chest felt unsettled.
Will I really be able to give this to him? Can I?
“…No. Don’t think about it.”
He shook his head to cut the thoughts short. There was no point overthinking it now.
Afterward, he threw himself into his reports, swung by the lab to chat briefly with Dr. Na Hye-yoon, and even looked things up online in preparation for the outing later.
After finishing his morning work, he had a second meeting with Dr. Na over lunch. Once their discussion wrapped, he walked toward the Center’s front entrance.
And then, for some reason, he stopped before going outside.
It was a door he’d passed through every day before becoming Ji-ho’s Pair Guide—just a regular part of his commute. But standing here now, about to step through it alone, it felt strangely unfamiliar.
