55
Ojun was organizing the mail addressed to the Center Director. The Center Director, who had recently conducted an interview using the anticipated questions Ojun had prepared, seemed to have succeeded in transforming his image. The thick pile of sponsorship inquiry letters that had accumulated recently was evidence of that.
He had managed to kill two birds with one stone: creating the image of a righteous politician advocating for the rights and protection of esper children by utilizing the Crow incident that had shocked citizens, while also portraying the image of someone who “properly educates” the espers within the Center to dedicate themselves to rescue operations.
Ojun genuinely wondered if all politicians were this cunning by nature.
[Secretary Yoon.]
“Yes, yes!”
The Center Director’s voice came through the speaker on Ojun’s desk. Startled, Ojun bit his tongue but tried to respond with the most normal pronunciation possible.
[Bring me the list of the children who were rescued this time and their status check documents.]
“Yes, I understand.”
[Right now]
“Yes.”
He meant for Ojun to go to the relevant department immediately and get them. The Center Director quite frequently made Ojun retrieve materials directly, perhaps thinking that Ojun would inappropriately open them if they were sent by email.
Ojun gathered the mail he’d been organizing to the corner of his desk and got up. He went straight to the Ability Testing Room and was given a printed file containing the children’s list, their abilities, and ability levels.
Next, Ojun headed to the guiding room to get materials related to the children’s guiding.
Would Director Choi Wooseok be there? Although they occasionally exchanged messages, it had been quite a while since they’d met in person. Moreover, whenever he encountered Wooseok inside the Center building, the situation was never good.
Even outside the Center, their relationship was neither here nor there. They had been physically intimate, then Wooseok had confessed but Ojun had rejected him, yet things hadn’t ended—it was a strange relationship. Thinking about it that way, it seemed quite like a makjang drama.
Ojun entered the guiding room with an unnecessarily awkward feeling.
“I’m from the Secretary’s Office. I was told to come get the documents with the guiding level status checks for the children who were rescued recently.”
“Ah, the Center Director asked for them?”
“Yes.”
The guiding room staff said that the director was absent, but they would inform him and return with the organized materials.
I worried for nothing. Ojun felt a bit embarrassed. Left standing alone at the entrance of the guiding room, Ojun decided to move to the side.
“I heard he came yesterday too?”
“Really? So it is true.”
Two staff members were talking in front of the counter where Wooseok had been standing until just before. Judging by the yellow warning lights flashing on their wrists, they seemed to be espers.
“Well, he’s always been famous. Who at the Center doesn’t know that the two directors have been a couple for a long time?”
“They must really get along well. Don’t they get tired of each other after being together for so long?”
“They grew up together, plus one’s an esper and the other’s a guide. Maybe that makes it different.”
Director. Esper. Guide. The three words stuck in Ojun’s ear.
There weren’t many directors at the Center, and among them, there was only one director who was a guide.
Director Choi Wooseok and Director Woo Minjae are dating? Ojun’s thoughts became tangled in confusion.
“Yesterday too, they were saying they missed each other… it was so tender.”
“Ohh…”
Rumors were just rumors. They could be exaggerated or distorted.
But were they completely made up? The espers at the counter were excitedly gossiping about the recent lovey-dovey behavior between the two directors.
Ojun recalled the coffee that had no longer been placed on his desk and the less frequent messages. Perhaps they had started dating recently.
That could be it. It was possible that as Wooseok began a new relationship, he naturally grew distant from Ojun who had rejected his confession. Since they weren’t dating in the first place, there was no reason to specifically inform Ojun about starting a new relationship.
‘Still, after making such a fuss, he just moves on right away?’
What if, as the rumors suggested, the two directors had been long-time lovers? A small possibility crossed Ojun’s mind. Maybe Wooseok had just found Ojun pathetic and worthless and was playing with him.
Ojun scratched his palm with his fingernails. He felt disgusted. Ojun had no right to feel disgusted. After all, there was nothing between him and Director Choi Wooseok. But thinking about that made him feel even more disgusted.
***
-What are you having for lunch today?
Wooseok kept staring at the message window with no reply. After being too busy to contact him for several days, now that he was trying to, he couldn’t think of what to say and had squeezed out this question.
It felt a bit awkward to ask what he’d been up to, given the time that had passed. And it seemed silly to suddenly explain his own situation while making excuses for the late contact.
They weren’t the type to exchange many messages in the first place.
Still, he usually replied promptly to such trivial, easy-to-answer questions. Maybe he couldn’t have lunch today? Or perhaps he left his phone at home?
“Oh, Director. Someone from the Secretary’s Office came by this morning requesting the records of the guiding status for the rescued children, so I gave it to them.”
“The children’s records?”
Why are you telling me this now? Wooseok swallowed the words that were about to burst out.
Fortunately or unfortunately, none of the rescued children seemed to have abilities rare enough to catch the Center Director’s eye.
But after giving an interview about children’s rights, it was unclear what kind of despicable move he might make next.
“Yes… Should I not have given it to them?”
“No, it’s fine. What can we do if the Center Director asks for it?”
The junior staff glanced at Wooseok nervously before greeting him and disappearing.
Wooseok looked at the message again. Recalling the recent atmosphere in the guiding room, he sighed. It was obvious that he had heard something. Whatever context he had interpreted it in, it clearly wasn’t good.
-I heard you came to the guiding room, why didn’t you look for me?
Wooseok sent another message. Again, no reply came.
***
The Center became busy with a somewhat lively atmosphere as it entered the visitation period. Although visits were normally possible, permits were more easily granted during this period, so most people aimed for this time.
Espers and guides within the Center weren’t prohibited from going outside, but especially for espers, frequent meetings with close ones outside could risk making them targets for terrorism. Therefore, the Center generally recommended meeting through visitation within the Center building.
Minjae headed toward the reception area where visits were conducted. Since it was a space the Center Director opened once or twice a year for briefings and roll calls, it was opened to welcome guests during the visitation period.
Ordinarily, this would have nothing to do with Minjae, but this time, the parents of two team members were scheduled to visit. He had received black raspberry wine from Hoyoung’s parents, and since Jihwan was working as his pair, he thought he should at least make an appearance.
“Hello.”
“Oh? Sunbaenim.”
Minjae spotted Hoyoung sitting relatively close to the entrance and approached to greet him. A kindly-looking couple saw Minjae and stood up.
“Oh my, you must be our Hoyoung’s team leader.”
“Please, stay seated. I really enjoyed the black raspberry wine you sent before. I wanted to come and thank you.”
He had considered bringing a gift but decided against it, thinking that his presence alone would draw enough attention. Fortunately, Hoyoung’s parents didn’t seem to mind such things at all.
Hoyoung’s mother held out a small scrapbook to Minjae. They were photos of espers at deployment scenes. It looked like they had cut and pasted images of Hoyoung, who appeared small in the corner. There were several such photos.
It was clearly something filled with expectation and love for their child. Minjae’s heart grew heavy as he remembered Hoyoung asking him to participate in a flight demonstration.
“This photo turned out well, don’t you think?”
“Ah, Mom. Come on.”
Hoyoung tried to cover the scrapbook with an embarrassed expression. Minjae gently pulled the scrapbook.
“It did turn out well. Hoyoung is skilled, and I rely on him a lot in our team.”
The couple smiled broadly at Minjae’s words, saying they were relieved. Thank you, Hoyoung said in a small voice.
After offering a few more appropriate compliments, Minjae stood up. It would be inconsiderate to stay too long when the family had gathered for a rare occasion.
Minjae moved to find Jihwan’s table. Fortunately, Jihwan’s table was easy to spot. Again, as he approached with a friendly greeting, Jihwan’s parents continued the conversation cheerfully.
“Is he not causing any trouble?”
“Not at all. Esper Jihwan seems to adapt very quickly. He’s also a fast learner.”
When Minjae offered these flattering compliments, Jihwan looked at him with shining eyes. Really? He even asked for confirmation. Minjae ignored Jihwan, keeping his gaze fixed.
“This child… is still young. It worries me that he’s going to dangerous places… oh my.”
“Oh, Mom. I’m doing well, I tell you.”
Having joined the Center not long ago and already experienced several incidents that made the news, it was understandable for parents to be worried.
“I’ll take better care of him.”
However, all Minjae could do was listen and offer these noncommittal, nice-sounding words. After killing some time, Minjae said goodbye and got up.
Each table in the auditorium was occupied by families. Some parents were still cradling and stroking their adult children as if they were babies, while other families were blushing at seeing each other after a long time.
In the middle of this scene, Minjae felt like he had dropped into another dimension.
“Sunbaenim Minjae.”
Someone called out to Minjae. When he turned his head, he saw Jihwan waving. After waving, Jihwan quickly ran over to Minjae.
“Your parents?”
“They left.”
“Did you see them off well?”
“Yes. Sunbaenim, thank you for today. For coming to say hello… and for complimenting me…”
“It’s nothing.”
Jihwan’s face was all smiles, seemingly happy to have met his family after a long time.
“I want to greet your parents during their visitation too, Sunbaenim. When are your parents coming?”
Jihwan asked.
Minjae had never had a visitation since his manifestation. He had waited for about two years, but after that, he gave up and forgot about it. He could have probably found out where they lived if he had looked, but he never did. Since he didn’t know if they were alive or dead, it was as good as having no one.
“I don’t have any.”
“…What?”
Jihwan asked again, confused by Minjae’s short answer.
“They’re not around.”
“Ah…”
Jihwan blinked slowly. His face showed he didn’t know what to say.
Right now, Jihwan was probably racking his brains trying to choose appropriate words. But today, Minjae didn’t want to say or hear any more nice-sounding words. He was tired.
“What’s the cafeteria menu today?”
Minjae asked. Jihwan hesitated for a moment, then began reciting today’s menu. They naturally directed their steps toward the cafeteria.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
