# Chapter 29
Hajin knew that Doyoon, as an Esper, made much more money. But somehow, the thought of freeloading off him made Hajin uncomfortable.
He couldn’t help being old-fashioned. Better to be called stuffy than to spend the young Doyoon’s money.
Doyoon felt like beating his chest in frustration. Before he could make another impression on Hajin, the sandwiches and coffee they ordered arrived.
To make matters worse, Hajin mentioned he was planning to leave after finishing his food, so Doyoon should order quickly. In the end, he had no choice but to use Hajin’s card.
‘Damn, he’s totally treating me like a child.’
It wasn’t that he disliked it. But he didn’t particularly like it either. While it was nice that Hajin was paying special attention to him, he didn’t appreciate being looked at like a child who needed taking care of.
Out of stubbornness, Doyoon ordered an americano he didn’t even like and a sandwich as a snack.
He was about to crumple the receipt as usual, but considering it was evidence of Hajin buying him something for the first time, he neatly folded it and tucked it into his pocket.
“Here you go. You’re treating me this time, but next time I’ll pay.”
Hajin smiled, finding Doyoon cute as he pouted and grumbled.
Doyoon couldn’t help but blush at that gentle smile infused with the scent of coffee.
‘He’s really beautiful.’
He wanted to say it aloud but feared Hajin’s smile would disappear. If he could, he’d preserve this moment in his mind forever.
Perhaps he could find a mental-type Esper to help with that.
Doyoon stared at Hajin’s face in a daze, like someone intoxicated by the moment.
The corners of Hajin’s lips, which had risen noticeably, gradually lowered with time, but like the lingering scent of coffee, a trace of his smile remained.
They weren’t having any conversation—Hajin looking one way and Doyoon another—but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Rather, Doyoon felt a sense of complete fulfillment, as if he had naturally melded into Hajin’s space.
Meanwhile, Doyoon’s order was ready. He looked down at the pitch-black coffee in front of him, trying hard not to furrow his brow.
Although he had impulsively ordered the same as Hajin, Doyoon actually preferred sweet things. He typically despised bitter flavors.
With his taste preferences, an americano without even a drop of syrup was unlikely to suit him.
Moreover, since becoming an Esper, his senses had become more sensitive, making bitter tastes several times more unbearable.
‘Maybe I should add a little…’
He glanced toward the syrup station but quickly shook his head.
He was already being treated like a child because of his age; if he couldn’t drink the coffee because it was too bitter, he wouldn’t be able to protest being treated like a kid.
‘Haah…’
With determination, Doyoon grasped the cup and swallowed a sigh. The coffee aroma around Hajin had been gentle and pleasant, yet somehow the scent rising from his own cup felt like poison.
But there was no backing down now.
Doyoon pretended to be relaxed and took a sip of coffee.
“Ugh…”
The bitter taste on his tongue made him involuntarily let out a sound, but feeling Hajin’s gaze on him, he swallowed the sound along with the coffee.
Gulp. His Adam’s apple moved prominently as he set down the cup, his face looking pristine—whatever was happening inside was another matter.
“Well, it’s decent enough.”
Hajin suppressed a smile as he noticed Doyoon’s subtly furrowed eyebrow. Since Doyoon seemed to think Hajin wouldn’t notice, it seemed polite to pretend not to.
‘I should buy him ice cream later.’
If Doyoon had known what Hajin was thinking, he might have loudly protested that this wasn’t the kind of attention he wanted, while secretly being pleased that Hajin was considerate of him.
“There you are!”
At that moment, a voice so clear it could be heard from outside made both Doyoon and Hajin turn their heads.
Seungho was watching them from outside the window. Or more precisely, he was glaring fiercely at Doyoon.
Behind him, Jaan was seen heading toward the café entrance. Seungho quickly moved to enter the café as well.
‘So much for a peaceful break…’
Hajin could handle one of them alone, but when two or more gathered, they became unmanageable. Of course, that was only when Hajin was present.
Without Hajin, they wouldn’t pay much attention to each other, regardless of whether two or three of them were together. Even though they had been a team for a long time.
Hajin would have felt quite offended had he known, but he had no idea what these Espers were like when he wasn’t around.
“How sneaky, having fun just the two of you?”
By this time, Seungho and Jaan had approached.
Jaan pulled over a chair and claimed the spot next to Hajin, making Seungho grind his teeth. Doyoon smacked his own forehead, realizing he should have done the same.
Regardless, Jaan, now seated beside Hajin, asked with a gentle smile, “We were worried when you didn’t show up, hyung.”
“Ah… that’s true. I’m sorry. My training ended early, and I thought I’d spend some time alone, but I guess I caused you worry.”
Hajin felt a moment of regret, wondering if he had been too self-centered.
After that kiss disguised as Guiding, he had been so preoccupied with avoiding them that he hadn’t considered they might worry about him.
“So, hyung, could you give me your number? I realized I still don’t have it.”
And Jaan wasn’t one to miss such an opportunity. Hajin obediently entered his number into Jaan’s offered phone.
Then the other two quickly held out their phones as well. Hajin had to save his number for them too under their insistence.
‘Indeed, never a moment of peace.’
He wasn’t upset, just…
“Huh? Can’t you drink bit—”
“Hyung, these sandwiches are good, try some.”
“Uwah! You crazy— mmph!”
“Hyung, do you like coffee? Should I buy you a coffee machine?”
As more people gathered, it became chaotic. Hajin set down his cup, his appetite gone.
“You crazy bastard! I thought I was going to choke!”
“Choke then! Just choke already!”
They were becoming a nuisance to the café. In the end, Hajin had to apologize to the counter staff for the disturbance and leave the café, abandoning his half-finished sandwich and coffee.
The Espers naturally followed him.
“Are you going back to the dorm now?”
“Or should we walk around some more since we’re out? If you’re tired, you can send these guys away.”
“Don’t talk bullshit.”
Hajin, who had been considering staying out a bit longer, now seriously contemplated returning to the dorm.
People’s gazes were already focusing on them, even though they hadn’t been outside long.
The already-famous Alpha Team making a noisy scene with Hajin in the middle was bound to attract attention.
“Haah…”
When Hajin finally sighed audibly, the three fell silent.
“Wait here.”
With those words, Hajin went back into the café for some reason.
The three reflexively tried to follow him but remembered his instruction to wait and managed to stop themselves.
It was fortunate that the café had clear windows; otherwise, they might have sneakily followed him. Soon, Hajin returned with ice cream cones in his hands.
Doyoon, quick to notice, ran over to open the door. Hajin nodded in thanks and handed him an ice cream.
“Eat this.”
“Is this for me?”
“Yes.”
After giving ice cream to Seungho and Jaan as well, Hajin dusted off his hands. He had no particular intention.
He had been thinking about buying Doyoon ice cream anyway, and if this could keep the three quiet for a while, all the better.
As expected, the three behaved themselves while eating their ice cream.
Watching these large men earnestly eating ice cream, Hajin felt like he had somehow ended up raising three children.
But then he recalled that he had shared intensely passionate kisses with two of them—kisses that would be embarrassing to show in public—and quickly banished the thought.
How perverse to think of men he’d kissed as children.
“But hyung, aren’t you having any?”
Jaan, who was eating the ice cream Hajin bought as if it were precious, taking small bites, asked. If the ice cream hadn’t been melting, he probably would have nibbled at it for a long time.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t you like sweet things?”
Jaan was always best at naturally prying into personal information.
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t particularly like ice cream. Though it’s not just ice cream.”
“Why?”
Seungho cut in, as if he couldn’t let Jaan have a conversation with Hajin alone. He had already finished his ice cream, cone and all.
He ate that so quickly. Hajin swallowed his disappointment at the brief peace.
“There’s no particular reason… I just don’t like the feeling of my insides getting cold. I enjoy cool things, but I don’t like things that are too cold.”
The three nodded, mentally noting this newly acquired information.
“Then what do you like? Let’s go eat together next time.”
“Seungho, why would Hajin hyung go out with just you?”
“You, get lost.”
“You guys are the ones who should get lost. Hajin hyung and I were having a good time before you barged in.”
At Doyoon’s words, Seungho lunged at him.
“You’re the biggest problem! Did you put a tracker on Hajin hyung or something? How did you know to be there?”
Despite facing a large, fierce-looking man, Doyoon snorted derisively instead of cowering.
“That’s something Jaan hyung would do, not me.”
“Seems like Doyoon isn’t afraid of anything anymore…”
A chilling voice interjected, but Doyoon continued without paying attention.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
