Chapter 109
“Bring him here.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The door closed, and the secretary disappeared. Less than a minute had passed, but the atmosphere had completely changed from before the door opened. Leaning back comfortably on the sofa after sitting upright, the Guild Master smiled faintly as if he had never frowned.
“An Esper will be an Esper.”
“What do you mean?”
At the Deputy Guild Master’s question, the Guild Master’s smile deepened.
“According to Secretary Park, the research institute has already leaked the news to the media. If that information reached Song Ji-hyeok’s ears, his eyes would roll back and… Seems like he’s here.”
My head turned involuntarily at the commotion coming from beyond the door. Then, with a loud bang, the Guild Master’s office door flew open as if about to break. I saw Song Ji-hyeok, visibly furious, and behind him, the secretary hopping from foot to foot, unable to stop him.
Striding over, he asked me through gritted teeth, making no effort to hide his anger. He looked ready to grab me by the collar.
“Is it true you’re going to America?”
“Ji-hyeok…”
“Why aren’t you answering? Is it true?!”
“Song Ji-hyeok!”
Suddenly, a thunderous voice struck my eardrums. It was so loud that my ears felt momentarily deafened.
The person who called out to Song Ji-hyeok in that commanding voice was the Guild Master. With a gaze that looked like he could tear someone apart, yellow aura actually swirled around his right hand. Seeing that, I instinctively stretched out both arms to shield Song Ji-hyeok.
“You dare behave like this in front of me?”
The blazing energy remained. As I tried to poke Song Ji-hyeok’s side to signal him to be careful, fortunately, he bowed his head first, though belatedly.
“I apologize.”
“For what?”
“…I apologize for my disrespectful behavior.”
“If you act like this one more time, be prepared to give up a limb. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“…Yes. I understand.”
The brutal exchange made my heart pound so hard I was breaking out in a cold sweat. In this world, insubordination was absolutely forbidden, and if someone dared, they could get seriously injured beyond mere disciplinary action and have no right to complain.
Moreover, although the Guild Master and Song Ji-hyeok were both S-class in terms of rank, there was a difference greater than heaven and earth in experience and expertise. It was too terrible to imagine, but if these two were to actually fight, it was obvious who would be left standing at the end.
Thankfully, Song Ji-hyeok read the situation first. But true to his fiery nature, he didn’t completely back down. Though he slightly bowed his head toward the Guild Master, he spoke with an unintimidated voice.
“Please give me some time to talk with Senior Su-hyeon.”
‘Don’t do that, just sit down first. Be careful one more time.’
Sending desperate telepathy inwardly, I grabbed Song Ji-hyeok’s hand, trying to seat him beside me. My eyes anxiously monitored the Guild Master’s expression.
In fact, the Guild Master’s gaze was directed at Song Ji-hyeok, not me. At least the energy that had been blazing as if ready to shoot had disappeared, but his expression remained terrifying.
“Are you planning to grab him by the collar once you take him away?”
“Absolutely not.”
“For someone who says that, you came charging in like you were about to kill someone.”
“…I was worked up. If I ever lay a hand on Senior Su-hyeon, I will cut off my own hand on the spot.”
Song Ji-hyeok interlaced his fingers with mine, which I had been holding to seat him beside me. Only then did the Guild Master’s gaze turn to me.
“Have you made your decision?”
Though he didn’t specify what decision, I immediately understood the Guild Master’s words and answered with a firm voice.
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“You haven’t told Song Ji-hyeok yet?”
“No.”
“Well, you probably didn’t have the chance.”
After a small mutter, the Guild Master showed the magnanimity of a great person.
“Then talk to each other first, and when you’re done, come back. The secretary will guide you.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as I bowed, Song Ji-hyeok pulled my hand. Going through the half-broken, tattered door, the secretary guided us somewhere.
Following behind him, I finally calmed my startled heart. Though it was just a moment and merely a threat, witnessing a confrontation between S-class Espers up close felt like it had shortened my lifespan by half a year.
“Please go in.”
The secretary who had stopped walking opened the conference room door. As soon as we entered and the door closed, Song Ji-hyeok grabbed my shoulders, turning me to face him.
“Are you really going to America?”
I couldn’t readily answer his direct question. Unable to wait, Song Ji-hyeok asked me again urgently.
“You’re not, right?”
Was it my imagination that I could feel the desperate hope in his voice?
It wasn’t just his voice. His face also wore an expression I had never seen before.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Song Ji-hyeok finally raised his voice. But even that seemed more like anxiety being expressed rather than anger.
Then his large hands firmly gripped my shoulders. In place of my silence, Song Ji-hyeok swallowed his tumultuous emotions and spoke again.
“You absolutely cannot go. Absolutely not.”
Only then did I slowly move my lips. I let out the words that had tormented me countless times over the past few days.
“Why?”
I felt Song Ji-hyeok momentarily freeze at my quiet question.
“What?”
“Why are you saying I can’t go?”
“That’s…”
I looked away first, unable to maintain eye contact. Taking a deep breath, I continued with forced calmness. I felt like crying out of resentment that I had to say these words myself, but I didn’t deserve to show tears.
“You know too. I can no longer provide you with the best guiding. Side effects appear even with just a kiss.”
“Senior…”
“So what’s the point of staying by your side? …You might be uncertain now, but once you accept reality, it’s only a matter of time before you abandon me…”
“What are you saying?!”
I flinched at his vehement retort and looked back at Song Ji-hyeok.
“Who says that? That I’ll abandon you.”
“…”
“Why are you making assumptions about something I’ve never even thought about? Why?”
“…I told you. Because I can no longer provide proper guiding…”
“What does that have to do with me abandoning you?”
I could hardly understand Song Ji-hyeok’s words that came like a whirlwind. More precisely, I was confused by statements that deviated from the cause-and-effect relationship I had anticipated.
As I tried to reconsider, turning his words over in my mind, Song Ji-hyeok called out to me and took my hand.
“Senior, do you remember the last time we had sex?”
“…Of course I remember.”
It wasn’t even a week ago.
We were at home. After having dinner together and watching a popular drama, somehow the mood shifted, and Song Ji-hyeok pressed his lips against mine. I responded to his kiss while embracing his neck, and we naturally went all the way after moving to the bed.
“Did I ask you for guiding then?”
“No.”
I don’t remember any such request. Since Song Ji-hyeok was in a stable state at home, I didn’t even think about guiding.
“What about before that? When you didn’t have issues, did we ever have sex without guiding, or not?”
“…We did.”
“Why do you think I did that? No, why did you do it? Why didn’t you reject me but accepted me even though you weren’t providing guiding?”
“That’s…”
I felt my heart racing, but for a different reason now. As I tried to turn my head away, unable to handle Song Ji-hyeok’s direct gaze, a firm, resolute voice reached my ears.
“I’ll be straightforward. I think I like you, Senior. No, I do like you.”
“…”
“I don’t know since when, but I just came to enjoy and like being with you. Even so, I hadn’t thought deeply about my feelings, but I realized after you collapsed. The fact that receiving guiding from you isn’t something to be taken for granted, and that cracks like this could form between us.”
“…”
“So I was going to tell you as soon as I returned today. That you don’t have to provide guiding, that I like you regardless of that, that I want you to stay by my side.”
I realized I couldn’t even breathe properly. As I looked at Song Ji-hyeok with trembling eyes, he also took a short breath. Then I heard his voice, carrying a slight tremor.
“So… don’t go. I can’t do it without you now.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
