115
“I’m going to take this chair.”
An Esper suddenly approached Siwoo’s table and took the chair without waiting for a response. Siwoo blinked in surprise, looking at the space where the chair had been, then turned to sit facing the wall.
Siwoo was the only guide alone in the break room. Today too, Siwoo was alone.
From the start, there were hardly any people alone in the exam venue. Everyone was either gathered with colleagues or with their assigned Espers.
He was used to being alone. He had lived thinking it was more comfortable that way. Rather than enduring uncomfortable atmospheres with others, he much preferred moving about freely on his own.
But why was he feeling this way now? It should be so convenient to have a whole table to himself. He could even stretch his legs as much as he wanted.
Disliking the sudden melancholy mood, he just stared at the wall. If there had been a window, he could have at least looked at the sky, but the window seats were already taken by others. Siwoo had chosen the narrow table next to the trash can where no one sat. Still, it was comfortable as it drew less attention.
Let’s just focus on doing well in the next test.
To lift his dampened spirits, he swallowed some saliva instead of water and pressed the corners of his mouth with his fingertips. Then he tilted his head, fiddling with the corner of his mouth. Come to think of it, the small scratch that had been there had disappeared without a trace.
When did it disappear, without even applying any medicine? He only noticed now that the wound was gone, as he rarely looked in the mirror. How strange.
“Hey there, pretty guide.”
As Siwoo was fiddling with the corner of his mouth like dough, someone lightly tapped his table and spoke to him. In a very greasy voice, playfully.
“There are no chairs, so can I sit with you?”
Siwoo quickly looked up at the person addressing him. He was just tall enough that Siwoo didn’t have to tilt his head back much for their eyes to meet.
“You…”
Even without looking around, Siwoo could feel that everyone in the break room was staring at his table. Used to such intense gazes, Jihan leaned down and whispered so only Siwoo could hear.
“Your lap would be fine too.”
Crazy bastard. Siwoo muttered softly, blinking rapidly. There was a reason all eyes were on Jihan. Even if he hadn’t been from Baekya Guild, everyone would have turned to look.
Yoo Jihan, that bastard. Why did he come dressed like that?
Siwoo pressed his twitching lips together and snatched the cool water bottle Jihan was lightly shaking. Even so, his eyes didn’t leave Jihan.
His hair looked especially well-groomed today, and his combat uniform was as clean as if it were new. His skin looked even brighter, as if he had applied something to his face, making it look like a peeled egg.
In short, he came looking incredibly handsome. To boost ‘our guide’s’ morale.
“Excuse me, Esper Yoo Jihan. Please use this chair.”
The Esper who had taken Siwoo’s chair quickly ran over, bowed his head, and retreated. Even though they recognized Jihan, no one dared approach easily. They were busy just looking at Jihan and whispering quietly among themselves.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Jihan took the water bottle Siwoo was just holding blankly, opened the cap, and handed it back. Siwoo shook his head as he put his lips to the bottle’s mouth. He could smell a faint cologne from Jihan, who was sitting close to him. To think he even put on cologne despite being busy.
“Are you going to a photo shoot or something?”
Up close, it really did look like he had applied something to his skin. The dark circles that had been under his eyes were completely gone. His lips looked redder than usual too.
“I looked too awful last time, so I put in some effort to make up for it.”
Jihan ran his hand through his gel-fixed hair and winked one eye.
“How is it? I cut down on sleep to dress up.”
Siwoo’s sharp gaze pierced Jihan, who was grinning as if asking if he looked better now.
“Why did you cut down on sleep? Go get some rest.”
Despite his words, Siwoo’s face looked like he’d be disappointed if Jihan really left. Jihan could now read all of Siwoo’s hidden feelings behind his sulky expression.
“I was just joking. Don’t worry, I’m getting enough sleep.”
Jihan took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Siwoo’s forehead and neck. Seeing that the sweat hadn’t dried yet, it seemed he had worked excessively hard again.
“You should take it easy. Why are you working so hard that you’re sweating?”
He fanned Siwoo’s flushed face, saying he was terribly upset. Seeing this, the onlookers’ mouths fell open, and someone even dropped their phone. Everyone knew about Jihan’s caring nature, but it was the first time they had seen him openly take care of a guide like this.
“I completely failed. I might get a low grade.”
Siwoo muttered in an unconfident tone. He didn’t push away Jihan’s hand even as he touched his cheek in front of others. He just quietly sipped his water.
“No way. I know our guide’s skills.”
Jihan massaged Siwoo’s slumped shoulders, assuring him that he would definitely score high. It wasn’t just empty comfort, but sincere belief. Even if he messed up the physical test, he would surely be confirmed as A-rank.
In fact, with Siwoo’s level of skill, he probably could have passed the first exam just by standing still and breathing. While physical condition is important, the most crucial factor was guiding ability. The innate energy, potential, and sense within a guide were the most important.
All of these were things Siwoo was born with. Though he didn’t seem to realize it himself.
“Did you just come out briefly?”
Siwoo’s expression softened at Jihan’s praise assault, and he asked casually. He wondered if Jihan had to leave again soon.
“I’m okay for about 5 minutes.”
Jihan crossed his legs as he sat, grinning and spreading his arms wide, telling Siwoo to look at him as much as he wanted.
“There’s not much time, so take a good look and remember.”
Siwoo glanced at the smug face smiling shamelessly, then turned back to face the wall. Jihan pleaded that he wouldn’t do that and took out candy to try and get attention.
Does he think I’m a child? What’s with the candy.
Siwoo checked the lollipop from the corner of his eye and just drank his water. Having just eaten chocolate, he didn’t crave candy. He wanted something salty rather than sweet.
“Ah, I made a mistake.”
Siwoo, who had turned to face the wall, turned his head at Jihan’s words. Jihan, leaning on his arms folded on the table, was sighing deeply with a regretful face. What mistake could he have made?
“I was trying to cut down on the jokes. I totally failed.”
“What are you talking about?”
Siwoo sat back down facing Jihan. At this, Jihan’s smile returned as he cleared his throat with a “Ahem.”
“You know, Guide.”
Despite his wide smile, his eyes were quite calm. He naturally had a smiling face, but he seemed to be trying to be serious in his own way. What nonsense was he going to spout now?
“I’ll try to be a bit serious too.”
Siwoo tilted his head at the sudden statement. Jihan smiled and placed his hand on his left chest.
“I was really impressed by what you said. About reflecting on my attitude first.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yeah, you did.”
Jihan nodded and tapped his chest.
“Encouraged by those words, I’m trying to be a bit more serious too.”
He smiled with his eyes, an expression far from seriousness, and gently opened his narrowed eyes. Siwoo filled Jihan’s brown eyes beneath his long eyelashes. It was amazing how he seemed to become more beautiful the more you looked at him. A face that seemed carefully crafted by God. After carefully examining the face that was interesting just to look at, his gaze moved to the phone on the table.
Siwoo was using a different phone from the one Jihan had bought him. It was the same model but a different color. He stared blankly at the dark black phone, not the color he had chosen. He smiled again.
“So from now on, feel very burdened. It’s all sincere.”
With this incomprehensible warning, he unwrapped the candy and put it in Siwoo’s mouth. Siwoo, who had opened his mouth reflexively as the snack approached, frowned as he sucked on the lollipop.
It seemed like he was playing with words again, but it was hard to understand. Did he mean he was going to act burdensome? How would he have time for that when he was too busy to even come to the dorm? Siwoo ignored him and just continued sucking on the sweet candy.
“Eat a good dinner today. Don’t just fill up on snacks.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Jihan chuckled and tidied Siwoo’s slightly damp bangs, preparing to leave. Five minutes was too short to appreciate this face.
“Sorry I couldn’t contact you. I didn’t have time to check my phone.”
“It’s fine. Just focus on your work.”
Siwoo waved the lollipop, telling him to go. Jihan rested his chin on his hand and smiled, pretending to be hurt. But before teleporting away, he left one last comment.
“That phone doesn’t suit you, Guide. It’s too dull.”
He didn’t ask the obvious question of who had given it to him. Geonho didn’t even know how to buy his own phone, and the youngest didn’t have the mind to care about such things. If Secretary Nam had bought it, he would have mentioned it when Jihan asked him to deliver a new phone.
So it must have been a gift from the leader.
“It’s not dull…”
Siwoo, left alone again, shoved the phone deep into his pocket. He had been wondering what to say if Jihan asked about it. Fortunately, Jihan had coolly let it go. It seemed he didn’t mind that Siwoo wasn’t using the one he had given.
I worried for nothing.
He shrugged and checked the time. He wanted to rest a bit more, but decided to get up as he was now the focus of everyone’s attention in the break room.
Everyone, without exception, was glancing at Siwoo. But no one dared to approach and speak to him.
* * *
Siwoo went to the bathroom before heading up to the fifth floor. The test method was very simple. It was conducted in the same way as the matching rate test, which made him deeply relieved. Having done it once before, he felt confident he could do well.
It was conducted only with radiative guiding without contact, and the partner would be randomly assigned, they said. It was a test to see how quickly one could stabilize an unfamiliar Esper’s wavelength using only radiative guiding.
I’m confident in radiative guiding.
Siwoo stretched and stood in front of the room door as instructed by the guide. It was the same room door as when he took the matching rate test. They said it was a specially made room to prevent wavelengths and guiding from leaking out.
After finishing his mental preparation, he turned the doorknob boldly. Momentum was important in radiative guiding. He entered with strength in his eyes, thinking that he shouldn’t be overwhelmed by an unfamiliar Esper from the start.
“…”
However, the moment he entered the room, his legs froze as he saw the man already sitting at the desk.
A cool expression with a heavy atmosphere. And sharp eyes resembling a snake’s.
“Sit down first, Guide Han Siwoo.”
Siwoo instantly remembered who he was.
