25
“…What kind of place do you think the Center is?”
Hoyoung’s face was quite serious as he asked the question in return. His tightly closed lips made him look somewhat angry.
“What kind… of place?”
What kind of place is the Center? Jihwan thought.
“It’s an institution that supports and manages espers and guides, and espers save people, while guides help espers…”
Jihwan was unconsciously reciting the definition and history of the Center that he’d learned when he first arrived, but suddenly he stopped. He remembered the question Eunjeong had asked him in passing earlier.
“Do you know a bit about how things work around here?”
Yes, I wonder how things work. Strange. For some unknown reason, the answer that had come easily until recently was no longer simple.
“Um… I’m not sure.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not sure what kind of place this is, sunbae.”
Espers save people, and guides help those espers. It’s a space filled with people doing such wonderful work, so why did Sunbae Minjae say such things? Jihwan felt tightness in his chest. It felt like he had swallowed a stone.
“Me neither.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m not sure either.”
Hoyoung laughed bitterly.
“Sunbae.”
“Yeah?”
Did you also not want to become a hero?
Jihwan didn’t ask. For some reason, he felt afraid to ask that question. So instead, he asked something else.
“Do you know where I can buy a waterproof suit?”
“…A waterproof suit?”
When Jihwan changed the subject, Hoyoung stared at him with a complicated expression for a moment before going along with the new topic.
“Yes, I need one.”
“They’re probably expensive even if you can find one. And wouldn’t it prevent sweat absorption anyway?”
“It would be useless, right?”
Jihwan laughed awkwardly and shrugged his shoulders. Hoyoung grinned and playfully ruffled Jihwan’s hair.
Don’t try to use tricks and just work hard in training. Hoyoung gave some casual advice like a proper senior. Jihwan just smiled and nodded in response.
***
Wooseok had a difficult day. Not only did he have to act as Minjae’s babysitter—Minjae found Wooseok’s frequent visits annoying, but Wooseok believed Minjae needed him—but a major incident had also occurred in the guiding room.
Wooseok sank into a chair and called Eunjeong.
[Helloooo~]
“Are you drunk?”
Eunjeong’s voice sounded about twice as cheerful as usual.
[Yup! Want to join, Director Choi?]
“I’ll pass. Anyway…”
Wooseok began explaining the whole situation to Eunjeong.
Due to the nature of the job, which involves physical contact for guiding, detailed rules are necessary for guides’ human rights. Therefore, light contact, such as holding hands, is generally recommended when guiding, unless the parties are in a romantic relationship or have completed imprinting.
If necessary, guides can inject guiding into the back of the neck, near the spine, or below the heart to allow it to spread quickly through blood vessels and the nervous system, but this method is mainly used in emergencies.
The problem lay in “ambiguous emergency” situations. An esper who wasn’t completely out of his mind but was at a dangerous guiding level had lunged at an inexperienced guide.
The esper claimed he was scared of dying, but Wooseok didn’t trust that statement either. Since they couldn’t leave the esper without a guide, he prescribed guiding medication and assigned an experienced and skilled junior guide to the esper.
[Is he crazy? Why does he even have a head? Weren’t there any guiding pills?]
“He did say there were some… Anyway, rather than scolding too much, could you educate all the espers to make sure they carry guiding pills? Tell them not to endure but to come in properly for formal guiding at the right time.”
[Got it. I’ll gather them together, why not.]
“…Thanks, Eunjeong.”
[No problem. But really, aren’t you coming?]
Eunjeong invited him to drink together again, but Wooseok declined. Today, he didn’t want to drink with anyone.
“No, I’m good. I’m tired.”
[Alright. I’ll call you later then.]
After hanging up, Wooseok sighed.
The guide who had experienced their first matching in such a way was completely terrified and kept repeating that they didn’t want to do guiding anymore. Wooseok recalled the interview he’d had with that guide.
“You’ve… received a B-class assessment.”
Wooseok, while flipping through the chart, held his head. Yes, well… Wooseok hesitated, unable to easily begin speaking.
“Can I resign?”
At the guide’s words, Wooseok was at a loss for words.
Guide. Someone who doesn’t have the same superpowers as espers, but possesses different wavelengths than ordinary people, capable of enhancing espers’ healing speed and preventing their rampages.
Guides didn’t have superpowers, but they weren’t ordinary people either. That’s why they had to be forcibly affiliated with the Center. Unlike regular companies, they couldn’t quit the Center.
“…Director, I don’t understand any of this.”
Sharing something invisible and not easily felt, like energy, with someone. It’s a strange thing.
When he first entered the Center, young Wooseok prayed to the heavens every night before grade assessments. Please let me get a useless grade. Please let me be discarded from this place.
Then came the day he received the result slip stamped with SS-grade. Everyone looked at Wooseok differently. Wooseok was terrified of those adults.
“I don’t know if this will comfort you, but I understand how you feel.”
Wooseok felt like his mouth was constantly going dry.
“…You understand?”
“Being assigned to emergency might be even harder. Many espers in conditions like earlier come in there.”
“……”
“Instead, I’ll have another guide accompany you during your first matching, and if you don’t want to, I’ll change your matching as many times as you need.”
The guide, who had been hanging their head, looked at Wooseok with resentful eyes. Wooseok swallowed a bitter smile.
It was getting dark outside. Wooseok, still slumped in his chair, shook his head to clear his complicated thoughts. Today, he thought, he needed to drink alone.
***
Ojun was dreaming. In his dream, Ojun received a call from the hospital.
“Your mother has woken up.”
His mother, who had always been bedridden, had somehow awakened and was reassuring Ojun. I’m okay, son.
His mother, looking healthy, ate meals with Ojun and went for walks.
“I’m thinking of trying something new now. You’ve been taking care of me since you were too young.”
So is it over now? Mom, does this mean I don’t have to be careful with what I say and put up with things I don’t like at the Center anymore? Ojun sobbed loudly.
He did so even though he knew it was a dream. Because it was a dream, he didn’t want to miss this opportunity even more.
Ojun went with ten resignation letters tucked in his chest and flung them one by one like throwing stars at the Center Director’s face. He even dumped water fetched from the toilet bowl on him.
“Go to hell, you bastard!”
Seeing the Center Director’s face wrinkle up gave Ojun a feeling of elation. Now he was done with the life of standing guard and being mindful every day, and done with those espers who used to nag at him! Damn, this feels amazing!
Just as Ojun was savoring this happy moment.
“…Secretary Yoon?”
Someone called him. I’m not a secretary anymore! Ojun thought as he opened his eyes and came face to face with what he presumed was an empty wine glass.
It was such a good dream. Ruined now. Ojun muttered.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Ojun raised his head to check who had called him. Damn it. It was someone he really didn’t want to meet.
Ojun quickly lifted the corners of his mouth in greeting.
“Hello, Director Choi Wooseok.”
Director Choi Wooseok smiled back at Ojun. His grinning face seemed irritating. It’s all your fault! Ojun, still under the influence of alcohol, wanted to shout that out.
“Do you come here often?”
Wooseok asked as he naturally sat down beside Ojun. Don’t sit down! Don’t you dare sit down! Ojun desperately cried out, but only in his mind, so no one heard him.
“Not often… just occasionally.”
That was a lie. He had been stamping his attendance card at this bar for several weeks because life sucked. Now that he had met this guy, he wouldn’t be able to come anymore.
Why did he come to such an out-of-the-way bar? Ojun found the current situation extremely uncomfortable.
“You seemed to have dozed off a little while ago… You must be very tired.”
Wooseok said. Yes… Ojun replied in a small voice. Actually, his alcohol limit was one glass of wine, so he had briefly passed out, but he didn’t want to mention that. Wooseok ordered two glasses of wine from the bartender.
“You’re a busy person, so let me buy you a drink.”
Since you don’t reply to messages well. Wooseok said with a faint smile. On the day Ojun had reported the damned press release to the Center Director, Wooseok had texted to ask if he was okay. Since then, Wooseok occasionally sent messages checking in on Ojun. Of course, Ojun hadn’t replied since he saw no reason to.
Apparently sensing the awkwardness, Wooseok hadn’t visited the Center Director’s office for a while either. But now he’s being sarcastic, right? Ojun felt a bit angry but held it in.
“You don’t need to buy me anything.”
“Please accept it.”
Wooseok picked up the wine and pushed the glass toward Ojun.
“This is a bribe. Please answer next time.”
It seemed like a statement with multiple meanings. Ojun didn’t reply and just stared at Wooseok.
“…I’m also grateful for some things. Think of it as a small token of thanks.”
Wooseok was smiling in what seemed like a kind way. Ojun couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or mocking him. But what was clear was that Ojun felt awful right now.
It was just as Wooseok was about to say something else, starting with the word “Also.” Ojun downed the glass that had been pushed toward him in one go.
“Oh my.”
Wooseok pretended to be surprised with a voice tinged with amusement. Ojun smiled back and then grabbed Wooseok’s glass too, downing it all at once. Wooseok let out a hollow laugh.
“Am I that funny to you?” Ojun asked.
“…What? No-“
“It’s okay. I find myself funny too.”
“…Secretary Yoon.”
“Getting a job where I can’t be fired and just playing hero.”
Ojun glared at Wooseok with all his might. Wooseok stared back at Ojun with his mouth agape, looking shocked. His face showed he’d been hit hard. And Ojun felt like he had delivered a solid blow.
“Is it too rude to speak like this?”
“……”
“But it’s the same for you, Director.”
“……”
“If I could quit, I would have done so ages ago.”
Wooseok’s eyes wavered as if taken aback by Ojun’s words. His expression was as if he’d received a huge shock. Ojun felt a slight sense of satisfaction.
“You know?” Ojun asked needlessly. He could feel the wine he had gulped down in quick succession rushing to his face.
“Secretary Yoon, I’m truly sorry.”
What? Ojun stared at Wooseok’s lips as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“Ah, um, no… I’m really sorry.”
Wooseok looked like he didn’t know what to do.
I didn’t mean it that way just now. I was just joking to lighten the mood after seeing your expression. You must have found it unpleasant. I’m sorry. Wooseok apologized again.
“I was actually going to apologize just now too… I acted without discretion. I apologize.”
Ojun, who hadn’t expected such a direct apology, felt a bit embarrassed. But soon, he had to cover his mouth with both hands due to a sudden wave of nausea.
Urgh!
After throwing up the red wine, Ojun discovered Wooseok’s now-wet pants and closed his eyes.
“Secretary Yoon, are you alright?”
Wooseok’s voice could be heard. How could he be alright? Ojun desperately wished that this situation, like before, was just a dream.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
