28
Taehyun found it difficult to raise his head. The back of his neck felt hot.
Eunjeong said she had chased Taehyun because she thought he was a pervert lingering outside Seoyeon’s room. He had only gone there to secretly check on the dormitory because he was worried about his noona’s well-being, but getting caught had resulted in this awkward situation.
“Well, you should have just said so!”
Eunjeong hit her chest as if frustrated.
“Though Taehyun may not look it, he’s actually quite timid and sensitive.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Seoyeon smiled kindly and defended Taehyun in response to Eunjeong’s words. Taehyun had to apologize with an awkward expression.
Eunjeong muttered, “He wasn’t so timid when he was throwing up yesterday,” but nodded and accepted Taehyun’s apology. She also offered a handshake, saying she didn’t know Seoyeon was his sister.
“Hyung, what’s going on? You could have told me too.”
Last night, Taehyun had simply grabbed Jihwan and asked him to fly away while escaping from Eunjeong without giving any explanation. Jihwan kept chattering, feeling left out, then greeted Seoyeon.
“Sunbae Seoyeon, I’ve heard a lot about you! Hyung Taehyun has been so worried about his noona that I was curious what kind of person you were. It’s nice to finally meet you!”
“Oh, really? You’re Esper Jihwan, right? Taehyun bragged about having a good friend, so I wanted to meet you.”
“Huh? Really?”
The tactless Jihwan kept blurting out unnecessary things. Seoyeon looked at Taehyun for a moment before continuing her conversation with Jihwan. Excited by Seoyeon’s polite words, Jihwan repeatedly poked Taehyun with his elbow.
Someone please end this situation. Taehyun kept his gaze fixed on the floor.
“Hey, what are you all doing?”
Just then, a new voice was heard. Minjae, who was walking down the corridor, approached the group and spoke to them.
“Oh? Sunbae Minjae!”
Wow, I’m saved. Taehyun thought the SSS-class Esper Director had never looked so cool as he nudged Jihwan slightly.
“Didn’t you say you had something to show the Director?”
“Oh? Right, Sunbae! Could you spare me some time?”
“No. I don’t have time. Yeo Eunjeong, you come with me.”
Minjae flatly rejected Jihwan’s request and beckoned to Eunjeong with a finger.
“I’m with Seoyeon right now…”
“No, go ahead with the Director.”
When Seoyeon spoke gently, Eunjeong pouted. Ugh. Acting cute despite her size. Taehyun managed his expression and subtly moved closer to Seoyeon.
“Who do we have here? Hong Gil-dong? Did your dispatch go well?”
Minjae greeted Seoyeon as if he had just noticed her.
Taehyun had heard from Seoyeon that Director Woo Minjae called her “Hong Gil-dong,” a character who appears here and there like magic in Korean folklore.
She said he often couldn’t remember people’s names well, so he called them by “unfunny” nicknames that he made up for his own reasons.
“Thanks to you. How have you been, Director?”
“My well-being is in the news, isn’t it?”
Minjae shrugged smugly. It was a somewhat arrogant joke. But Seoyeon laughed cheerfully as if she had heard something funny.
“I’m glad you look well.”
“Really? Your observational skills must be poor.”
Seoyeon burst into laughter again. Minjae’s attitude seemed quite familiar to her. Minjae raised his hand and placed it on Eunjeong’s shoulder.
“Since I can’t drag you, would you mind being dragged along?”
“Sunbae is mean.”
Eunjeong slumped her shoulders and stood next to Minjae with a sullen expression.
“Um… Sunbae?”
Jihwan hovered around, calling Minjae pitifully. Taehyun felt a bit sorry for him.
You can come too. When Minjae finally gave this half-hearted answer, Jihwan grinned widely and gave Taehyun a silent wave goodbye.
Yes, please leave quickly. Taehyun nodded in response.
“Well, I’ll be going now. Get some rest.”
“See you later!”
After saying goodbye to Seoyeon, Director Woo Minjae walked away with two large lumps attached to either side of him.
After the three of them had completely disappeared around the corner of the corridor, Seoyeon looked at Taehyun. Just as the nervous Taehyun was about to carefully call out to Seoyeon, she let out a sigh mixed with laughter and pulled him into a hug.
Seoyeon stroked Taehyun’s head. Taehyun finally relaxed and buried his face in Seoyeon’s shoulder. He could feel the guiding flowing into his body. Taehyun took a small breath.
“Oh my, were you worried about your noona?”
“You didn’t answer any calls… What about where you got hit earlier?”
Seoyeon smiled, saying it was fine.
“But you…”
Seoyeon hesitated before speaking. What if she’s upset that I was outside her dormitory without any tact? Taehyun tensed up again, waiting for her next words.
“Why did you run away when you first met Eunjeong? Were you really scared?”
At those words, Taehyun’s tension completely drained away. In Seoyeon’s eyes, Taehyun was clearly still a little kid about 9 years old.
Taehyun thought he needed to choose his words carefully. I didn’t want to interfere with noona’s work. I wasn’t sure if it was okay to reveal I was noona’s brother. Actually, I just didn’t want to say anything.
“I wasn’t sure if I should say anything…”
Taehyun mumbled. At his words, Seoyeon let out a small laugh as if she found it absurd.
“What’s that about? Are you ashamed of being my brother?”
He was. But that was something Taehyun should never let her find out.
“No!”
“That’s mean. I like having Taehyun as my brother.”
Seoyeon teased him with a smile, her eyes crinkling.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Ah, how sad~”
Seoyeon made a crying gesture like a baby, bringing her fist to her eyes. Ah, that’s unfair. Taehyun muttered.
Seoyeon seemed to enjoy teasing him. Taehyun liked Seoyeon’s face the most when she looked like this. As if he couldn’t help it, Taehyun burst into laughter along with Seoyeon.
***
Minjae needed to detach one of the two lumps attached to him first.
“Go wait in the training room. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Really?”
Jihwan asked, his eyes sparkling.
“Are you questioning me right now?”
“No!”
At Minjae’s words, Jihwan immediately closed his mouth and started running toward the training room. Minjae sighed and looked at Eunjeong.
“Why were those kids with their heads bowed yesterday?”
“Oh, you saw that?”
Tsk. Eunjeong clicked her tongue and briefly explained the situation. After finishing, she glanced at Minjae, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Did I overdo it?”
“No, you did well. It’s something I should have done, but you went through the trouble.”
“It’s fine. You need to maintain your image, after all.”
But I think I might have a talent for disciplining. Eunjeong joked. Her words made Minjae feel even more sorry. It felt like he had unfairly passed the villain role to someone with such a tender heart.
“Do the kids actually fear you?”
Having seen Eunjeong since she was quite young, Minjae couldn’t imagine her disciplining others. She may be big in size, but she’s sensitive and affectionate. With that thought, Minjae added a word of concern.
“Tell me if the kids don’t listen.”
At his words, Eunjeong seemed to feel awkward and nodded with a disgruntled face.
After sending Eunjeong away, who said she had something to do, Minjae opened the door to the training room where Jihwan was. And he came face to face with a bucket.
Jihwan was holding the lower part of the bucket in a way that made it cover his face.
He’s still practicing flying even though he doesn’t know when I’ll arrive? Minjae leaned against the door and watched Jihwan.
Jihwan occasionally increased his speed slightly or changed direction, and his way of using his body had become quite smooth. The water splashed a little but didn’t overflow severely. At least it didn’t seem to create a flood like when Minjae first saw him.
Jihwan, with the bucket on his head, floated towards Minjae.
“You’ve improved a lot?”
At Minjae’s words, Jihwan stopped. Huh? That’s Sunbae’s voice. Are you here? Jihwan mumbled like an idiot.
“Why don’t you put the bucket down?”
At Minjae’s suggestion, Jihwan slowly lowered the bucket. A face with wet bangs from water splashes peeked out from above the bucket. His cheeks were red, perhaps from having his face buried in the bucket and feeling suffocated.
“I really worked hard, you know.”
“…I see.”
He must have put in effort, seeing how his flying skills had improved quite rapidly.
“Now we can do outdoor training.”
“…Together?”
“Well, would you rather do it alone?”
“No! I want to do it together!”
Jihwan grinned from ear to ear. Water dripped from his wet bangs, running down his chin. How can he be so easily pleased? Minjae felt a slight sense of emptiness.
“By the way… don’t tell me you lost my card.”
“What? No?”
“Then why aren’t you using it?”
Despite giving him the card to buy drinks after training, Jihwan had never used it. No payment notifications had been sent to Minjae.
At Minjae’s question, Jihwan looked flustered and couldn’t give an answer, continuing to mumble. Well, I guess it would have been awkward for him to use the Director’s card alone. Minjae extended his hand toward Jihwan.
“Just give me the card. I’ll treat you later or something.”
“I!”
Jihwan suddenly shouted and took a step back. This caused the water in the bucket to overflow, soaking Jihwan’s chest. Anyone watching might think Minjae was trying to extort money from him.
Minjae was bewildered. What is he doing now?
Noticing Minjae’s expression contorting, Jihwan continued nervously.
“Can I… use it more slowly? It’s too precious…”
“No, I mean, I’m not saying I won’t treat-“
“I can! I can use it!”
Jihwan’s expression was solemn. His face was full of determination not to let Minjae take the card away from him.
Is he really crazy? A laugh escaped from Minjae’s mouth. Was he actually really grudging about buying me that drink? Minjae tried not to show his confusion, but he couldn’t hide the disgruntled tone in his voice.
“…Fine.”
It wasn’t a big deal if he didn’t have the card right now, anyway. And it wouldn’t look good as a senior to demand something back that he had given in the first place.
Minjae lowered his extended hand. Jihwan visibly relaxed, which somehow made Minjae feel a bit upset.
“Thank you!”
Oblivious to Minjae’s feelings, Jihwan smiled brightly. Are all kids like this these days? Having given up on understanding, Minjae just nodded vaguely.
***
Minjae was sitting on a bench near the lobby, waiting for Hoyoung. Last night, Minjae had received a message from Hoyoung.
-Sunbae, this is Hoyoung from Team 1. Would you happen to have time for a meeting tomorrow?
It was unexpected coming from a junior who usually contacted him with a casual tone, asking if he had time or requesting a meal. Because of this, Minjae was tense.
“Sunbae!”
Hoyoung approached Minjae with a bright face, greeting him. Minjae nodded in acknowledgment. As Hoyoung came closer, he handed Minjae a shopping bag.
“What is this?”
“My mom asked me to give it to the Director.”
Inside the shopping bag was a large bottle containing a red liquid.
Somewhat shocked by the visual, Minjae quietly looked at the bottle, not knowing how to respond. Hoyoung then burst into laughter and explained the contents.
“It’s bokbunja wine. She asked what you liked, and when I told her you enjoyed alcohol, she said if you’re going to drink, you should drink medicinal liquor, and she made this.”
“Ah… Please tell her I’m very grateful. I… really love bokbunja wine.”
In fact, Minjae had never tried bokbunja wine before. Even more so, it was his first time receiving homemade alcohol as a gift. Is this the right way to respond? Minjae watched Hoyoung’s reaction.
Fortunately, Hoyoung smiled at Minjae’s words.
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might not like it… Even though I tried to stop her, saying it was presumptuous, my mom was insistent.”
Hoyoung scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed. No, to give such a heartfelt gift. I’m really grateful. Minjae squeezed out what seemed like appropriate words of gratitude from his mind.
Minjae put the bottle of bokbunja wine back in the shopping bag.
Minjae often forgot Hoyoung’s name, and now he was even receiving such a gift. His conscience pricked him. Somehow, the bottle felt heavier than it did just a moment ago.
“The reason I requested a meeting… part of it was to give you this, but there’s also something I’d like to ask.”
“Oh? Ah, yes, tell me.”
Hoyoung’s lips trembled. It seemed like the words he wanted to say were having trouble coming out. Minjae patiently waited for Hoyoung to speak.
After quite a long silence, Hoyoung opened his mouth. His voice was trembling uncontrollably.
“Sunbae, would it be possible for you to make me your partner for the upcoming flight demonstration?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
