84
“Are you okay?”
Siwoo blinked away his tears at the familiar voice. He then clearly saw Seojun’s face, who was holding his wrist.
“You…”
Seeing Seojun, who had entered without a sound, Siwoo first let out a sigh of relief. Now he noticed that the door was wide open. Seojun, who had just arrived at the lodging, had rushed in after hearing Siwoo’s scream.
“Guide, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
Siwoo, who had put his feet on the floor, stumbled, unable to maintain his balance properly. His legs were fine, but he was so startled that he couldn’t muster any strength.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Siwoo leaned on Seojun’s arm and turned his eyes towards the bed. Geonho, who had been hugging him tightly just moments ago, was now sprawled out like an unconscious person.
Upon closer inspection, a large syringe was stuck in his neck. It was a special stabilizer made for S-class or higher Espers. It was a dangerous drug that was prohibited for use on lower-class Espers. Its effect was immediate.
“Is that okay?”
The veins around where the syringe was inserted were bulging. It was worrying enough to think his neck might burst.
“Is it safe?”
“Guide,” Seojun coldly murmured as he turned Siwoo around.
“I asked if you’re okay.”
Siwoo’s shoulder, gripped by Seojun, felt stiff. Seojun looked like an angry person.
“I’m not okay! Does this look okay to you?”
Siwoo, upset at Seojun’s cold expression, shook off his hand. His heart was already racing, and now Seojun was angry too, making him feel even worse.
“I asked because you don’t look okay.”
Seojun supported the still wobbling Siwoo, letting him lean against his body. Siwoo tried to push him away, waving his arms, but soon calmed down. The energy he had while struggling with the Esper had long since drained away.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
“No.”
Siwoo grumbled sullenly, his gaze returning to the bed.
Geonho had his eyes tightly closed as if he had fainted. The huge tail that had filled the bed was now gone. His excited lower half was hidden by his thighs, so its condition wasn’t visible. Hoping it had died down, Siwoo swallowed hard.
“Put your pants on first.”
While Siwoo was eyeing Geonho, Seojun picked up Siwoo’s pants. He leaned Siwoo against the wall and stretched out his arm to hand him the pants.
Only then did Siwoo realize he was in his underwear and hurriedly put on his pants.
“Is he asleep? Or unconscious?”
“Probably both. He won’t wake up for two days. It’s a drug with some side effects.”
Seojun approached the bed and pulled out the syringe stuck in Geonho’s neck. With a ‘pop’ sound, the needle came out covered in red blood.
To think such a thing was stuck in his neck. Siwoo, who was zipping up his pants, was horrified, unable to even breathe.
“Isn’t that bad for his body?”
“It’s not good.”
Seojun covered Geonho with a blanket and put the syringe in a zipper bag. It was an item that needed to be returned, so he kept it in his pocket.
Siwoo uncomfortably looked at Geonho, who was sprawled out like a corpse. Even after the syringe was removed, the bulging veins on Geonho’s neck and jaw were still twitching. His parted lips and jaw were also trembling slightly.
It was natural that a drug that could instantly knock out an SS-class Esper would be harmful to the body. As immediate as its effect was, it sometimes came with significant side effects that could strain the heart.
“Then… don’t use it.”
Seojun tilted his head slightly and looked down at Siwoo. With a somewhat exasperated look.
“You’re worried about Geonho hyung even after what happened?”
“No, it’s just because you said there are side effects.”
“You were in a more dangerous situation, Guide.”
Seojun’s golden eyes sank coldly.
“Without this, we can’t control Geonho hyung.”
He looked at where Geonho’s black tail had been and then led Siwoo out of the room.
As Siwoo kept his eyes on Geonho until he crossed the threshold, Seojun forcefully closed the door. The loud ‘bang’ made Siwoo blink and glare at Seojun.
“If you can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”
“I’m fine.”
Uncomfortable with the sulky maknae, Siwoo tried to walk away from him. He thought he could manage to walk if he held onto the railing. His heart still hadn’t calmed down, making his chest ache.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
Seojun, who had been silently watching Siwoo struggle to walk alone, suddenly picked him up. He put his hands under Siwoo’s waist and thighs, supporting him with both hands to prevent him from falling.
“I’ll take you to your room.”
“I said I’m fine!”
“Why didn’t you call?”
Confused by the sudden question, Siwoo frowned. He had already used up all his energy dealing with Geonho, so he had no choice but to be carried. In fact, he didn’t have the strength to walk.
“…What call?”
“I told you to call when you finished talking with the team leader and were coming back.”
Oh, that’s what you meant. Siwoo rubbed his aching chest and glanced at Seojun.
“You said to call Yoo Jihan.”
“Anyone. Why didn’t you?”
“What does it matter whether I do or not.”
Seojun’s lips twitched, but he quickly closed them. Like someone trying to control their anger, he went down the stairs silently for a moment before briefly saying,
“Next time, call. Me or Jihan hyung.”
“I don’t want to. Why should I?”
“Right now, you’re the only new guide walking alone in the center.”
New guides who couldn’t detect Espers’ wavelengths well always moved in groups. Even after gaining a lot of experience, the atmosphere was to move in pairs whenever possible.
“What if an Esper with unstable wavelengths suddenly attacks you?”
“I’ll avoid it.”
“What if you can’t?”
“I can avoid it.”
“Wow, really.”
You really don’t get it.
Swallowing a curse, Seojun stopped walking. They hadn’t even gone halfway down the stairs yet, as he was being careful.
“Guide, who do you think I’m saying this for?”
Siwoo avoided his gaze and just swung his feet. It seemed like he was telling him to shut up and go down quickly, which made Seojun even more frustrated.
“I’m saying all this because I’m worried you might be in danger.”
“I don’t go to dangerous places.”
Ha, Seojun let out a mocking laugh, his lips curling up widely. However, his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
“For a clumsy new guide who can’t even control guiding, everywhere is dangerous when you’re alone.”
Seojun gripped Siwoo’s thigh tightly as if warning him. Siwoo flinched at this and glared at Seojun as if he would scratch him.
“If you’re new, you should be careful with your body. Don’t you agree?”
Seojun didn’t even ask for details about the situation. The moment he opened the door to Geonho hyung’s room, he could clearly picture everything that had happened.
It was obvious that he had recklessly given guiding to the deeply sleeping Geonho hyung. While that action itself wasn’t problematic, the timing was a big issue.
“Hey, let go.”
Siwoo wiggled his gripped thigh, trying to walk on his own. However, Seojun ignored Siwoo’s weak struggles and gripped his thin leg even tighter.
“Do you want to die?”
Siwoo’s hand, which was trying to grab the railing, grabbed Seojun’s collar instead. Even that was more like placing his hand rather than properly grabbing.
“I said let go.”
“No.”
Seojun mimicked the stubborn Siwoo and continued down the stairs. The bare skin exposed beneath the shorts clung to his palm. He deliberately stared straight ahead, trying not to be conscious of that soft sensation.
“I said let go, you bastard!”
“Stay still. Before I throw you.”
Seojun’s brow furrowed slightly as he muttered lowly. For a moment, he realized his mistake.
He had meant to keep that thought to himself, but he accidentally blurted it out. Usually, he could swallow even harsher words that he piled up inside, but not this time.
“You fucking bastard…”
Before Seojun could take back his words, a sharp curse flew at him.
Siwoo, gripping Seojun’s collar even tighter, breathed heavily. He moved his lips as if loading more curses, but only for a moment.
His breathing gradually became watery, and his eyes started to turn red.
Seojun silently watched Siwoo, who was blinking rapidly and lowering his head. Surely he’s not crying? Just as an uneasy feeling arose, transparent liquid formed under the guide’s chin.
“Guide…?”
Just as he thought Siwoo might have drooled, the guide’s thin shoulders began to shake. Seeing this, Seojun’s mouth opened wider as he lowered his head towards Siwoo.
“Why, why are you crying?”
He even stumbled over his words, surprised by the unexpected reaction. If he had made him cry, that would be one thing, but Siwoo wasn’t the type of person to show tears in front of him, so he was greatly bewildered.
“You, bas… hic.”
Siwoo just mumbled curses until the end. He hit Seojun’s chest, who was leaning his face closer, while letting out muffled sobs.
Seojun quickly went down the stairs and ran to Siwoo’s room. Seeing him cry with even his shoulders shaking, his mind went blank for a moment.
