Ho-eun escaped to the veranda, letting the breeze cool the heat that had risen to his face. His heart was still pounding like a runaway train.
Do In-ho’s face was dangerous. No—was it just his face? Everything about him, from his actions to his tone of voice, was overly stimulating.
“I’m such trash.”
Today was the moment Ho-eun truly came face-to-face with In-ho’s raw sincerity. Ever since the 63 Square incident, he’d thought In-ho’s behavior toward him resembled that of a newly hatched chick imprinting on someone—and clearly, that hadn’t been a misunderstanding.
In-ho’s life had been sharply divided into before and after the Ability Overload. And now, he was clinging to Kwon Ho-eun for the reason behind that change.
Ho-eun rubbed his cheek with his palm and bit down on his lips.
He hadn’t known In-ho was carrying thoughts like that. That Kwon Ho-eun had saved his life—hearing that had sent a shiver up his spine from the base of his neck.
It felt like he’d become a god. The same feeling he’d had when he arrogantly opened his mouth back then, saying he’d save In-ho.
If he hadn’t pulled himself together immediately, he might’ve been too late to challenge what In-ho said. All he’d done was fulfill his role as a Guide. Esper care. That was the duty assigned to all Guides.
There was no need to puff up with pride over doing something so basic. He knew better than anyone that feeling this kind of thrill was just arrogance.
Everything In-ho had said was directed toward Guide Kwon Ho-eun, the one who had taken care of an Esper. Not toward Ho-eun himself.
“I know that…”
But the heat that had subsided surged again, completely out of control. It felt like steam might rise from his scalp. Even though the words hadn’t been meant for him directly, he was fluttering without permission. Even knowing exactly how this would end.
“Just for a little while…”
With a resigned tone, Ho-eun brought his hands together as if in prayer, lifting them before him. Closing his eyes, he whispered his confession like a man seeking penance.
“Just until I sort out my feelings—let me stay in this delusion.”
Even though he knew there was a swamp waiting ahead, one that would drag him in deeper the farther he went, Ho-eun still took that step forward, telling himself he could make it out.
Even if he ended up completely swallowed by it and couldn’t escape again.
At least for now, this moment… he wanted to step into that swamp.
***
Why do weekends fly by so fast? Ho-eun brushed his teeth while checking his reflection in the mirror.
Other than the slightly darker circles under his eyes, he didn’t look much different than usual.
Still, his body felt heavier than normal—maybe because it was Monday?
“Ptooey.”
Spitting out the toothpaste, Ho-eun rinsed his mouth and stepped into the living room. Do In-ho had already showered and changed. He was dressed in a black suit with a green employee ID clipped on.
Seeing Ho-eun emerge, In-ho pulled clothes out of a shopping bag and hung them neatly in the dress room.
Yesterday, which had been Sunday, they’d gone shopping at the department store together. Since Ho-eun had come to live here for his internship, he didn’t have many clothes. Rotating through a few shirts and slacks had been manageable, but since moving into In-ho’s place, he’d ended up borrowing his clothes far more often than he realized.
Calling it “borrowing” might’ve been generous—In-ho didn’t even seem to notice half the time that Ho-eun was wearing his stuff.
He’d decided he needed new clothes on Saturday night. The laundry they’d hung on the balcony that morning hadn’t fully dried. Once again borrowing In-ho’s clothes, Ho-eun noticed the white T-shirt he threw on felt unusually large.
Adjusting the shirt that was slipping off one shoulder, he walked into the bedroom—only to feel the unmistakable weight of someone’s gaze, like it could pierce through his skin.
“Guess the smaller clothes didn’t dry.”
“Smaller clothes?”
In-ho, lying on the bed, pulled Ho-eun toward him and sat him on the edge. His eyes fixated on the exposed area around Ho-eun’s collarbone, and he slowly reached out to brush it.
“Ugh…”
“I figured this would happen if you wore my current stuff, so I laid out mostly the smaller ones.”
Ho-eun tensed, raising his hand to cover the vulnerable space between his nape and collarbones as if to shield it. So In-ho did know he was wearing his clothes.
All this time, Ho-eun had been under the delusion that he was being sneaky.
The size difference between them was too obvious. In-ho’s broader shoulders and chest meant his clothes were naturally oversized on Ho-eun.
Those clothes In-ho had pulled out? They were brand-new—bought years ago, before a growth spurt left them untouched. And he’d set them aside specifically for Ho-eun.
So really, they were practically his already.
In-ho gazed at Ho-eun with a greedy look, openly appreciating how he looked in his clothes. A strange tickle stirred in his lower stomach.
It felt like his Ability Core was simmering, like something deep inside was about to bubble over.
His eyes fell to the pale hand covering his nape—flushed with embarrassment. Maybe it was because that’s where he’d kissed him in the car. He found himself wanting to touch it again. To mess up his lips, to bite into that freshly washed, sweet-smelling skin.
“This won’t do. I definitely need to buy more clothes tomorrow.”
Quickly ducking under the covers, Ho-eun yanked the blanket up to his chin, throwing In-ho a look of awkward defiance.
In-ho licked his lower lip slowly and forced down his lingering desire.
Not yet. Like a crocodile lying in wait underwater, In-ho smoothed over his hungry gaze and blinked with feigned innocence.
“Let’s go together.”
“Should we? While we’re at it, we can pick up some stuff for the house.”
“Sounds good.”
With the lights off, In-ho slipped under the blanket and pulled Ho-eun’s slighter frame into his arms.
In that comforting scent, all the dirty, obscene thoughts seemed to fade for a moment.
Ho-eun still clung to the belief that they were like a crocodile and a plover bird—mutually beneficial. He didn’t realize the crocodile was just biding its time, and had already pulled him into its embrace.
The next day—Sunday.
With his paycheck in mind, Ho-eun calculated how much he could afford to spend and set off to the department store with In-ho.
He’d planned to buy a few casual suits from the streetwear section. But In-ho had pulled his cap down tighter and smoothly led him into the VIP lounge like he belonged there.
It was a place Ho-eun had never entered before, and he sat awkwardly on the sofa, clearly out of place.
“In-ho… are we even allowed in here?”
“We’re here to buy clothes.”
“R-right, but… we could just go to the 3rd floor.”
“If someone recognizes you and a crowd gathers, that’ll be a serious problem. We still don’t know exactly what the anti-government group is after.”
“Then should I just buy online?”
Afraid he’d be asked to pay just for entering the lounge, Ho-eun stood up and sat back down over and over. In-ho just shook his head and asked if he wanted a drink. Though he’d initially thought, How could I drink anything right now?, when he saw the words “fresh fruit juice,” he instinctively ordered a strawberry banana latte.
“Mr. Do In-ho, it’s been a while since you last visited.”
“……”
As the staff member left after delivering the drinks, Ho-eun widened his eyes again at the entrance of someone who looked unmistakably like a luxury boutique employee.
“This must be the person you mentioned on the phone?”
“I’d like to look at suits and casualwear.”
Ho-eun watched as the two conversed seamlessly. He kept moving his head, trying to make sense of what was going on.
The employee left after saying everything would be prepared shortly.
“In-ho, what the hell? We’re really buying clothes here? Isn’t it too expensive? I mean, I don’t need anything fancy…”
“You’d look good in anything.”
In-ho’s gaze ran down Ho-eun’s body, sharp like a snake coiling tighter.
“But I don’t want to put you in just anything.”
Muttering something cryptic, In-ho turned and opened the door.
“We’ll take you to the private fitting room.”
Apparently, everything was ready. As soon as the staff spoke, Ho-eun automatically rose and followed close behind In-ho.
Inside the private room, the hangers were lined with full outfits, shoes, and even bags—all from luxury brands Ho-eun actually recognized.
Ho-eun tapped In-ho’s shoulder and whispered so the staff wouldn’t hear.
“In-ho… this all looks too expensive. I was just gonna grab something from a fast fashion brand…”
In-ho tilted his head and gave him an innocent look, as if to say, Why would you wear that?
When the employee approached to help dress him, Ho-eun visibly paled. Meanwhile, In-ho handed over his card.
“Please charge the selected outfits to this card.”
He didn’t bother saying, I can afford this much, or I’ve got money.
Truthfully, In-ho had never cared whether he was considered rich or not.
Everything he did came naturally. The way he handed over his card looked like he could keep bringing Ho-eun here for the rest of his life and not bat an eye.
The employee, glancing briefly at the clearly uncomfortable Ho-eun, accepted the card without hesitation.
“Right this way, sir. I’ll show you to the changing room.”
Dragged off nearly by force, Ho-eun spent the next three hours trying on outfit after outfit like a living doll before he was finally freed.
He’d planned to scold In-ho about it, but by the time they were driving home, his soul had half-departed his body.
“In-ho… I don’t think I’ll need to buy clothes for the next ten years…”
“Glad to hear it.”
“And I’ll pay you back. I’ll earn the money and repay you.”
“Consider today’s expenses as my repayment—for all the meals you’ve treated me to.”
Watching In-ho steer the wheel smoothly, Ho-eun thought back to the past. He used to threaten In-ho never to pay for meals. That had been a matter of pride—five years older and all.
Right… rookie Guides make around 100 million won a year. In-ho’s been going on dangerous missions, so he must be well-off.
He was also ten years into his career. If he’d saved properly, this really might’ve been pocket change to him. Still, it stung Ho-eun’s pride just a bit.
To make himself feel better, he offered to buy dinner—that was the last memory he had of the day.
***
Standing in front of the mirror, Ho-eun chuckled.
Is this what I went shopping for?
When he stepped out wearing the suit In-ho had bought, he found In-ho already in the living room—wearing the exact same brand and design.
Seeing the faint smile on In-ho’s face, Ho-eun finally burst out laughing like a kid.
“What the heck? If you wanted to match outfits, you should’ve just said so.”
“I-it’s not—it’s not like that! It’s just to identify us as teammates…”
As Ho-eun playfully lunged at him, laughing, In-ho opened his arms with a helpless expression.
What started as a joke ended with Ho-eun naturally falling into that wide, welcoming embrace.
Their laughter blended together until it was impossible to tell whose was whose.
