Blossoming (1)
“Chae Do-min and Sa Hae-geon, get on the bus quickly.”
“Yes.”
Sa Hae-geon and I tried to act as naturally as possible as we followed Jong-hyeok hyung’s instructions and boarded the bus. The large bus was filled with not only Field Team 1 members but also those from Field Team 2.
The teams weren’t particularly close, but we exchanged light greetings with people we normally interacted with and sat in the empty seats. I thought we might have to sit separately since we arrived just in time, but the bus was so large that there were empty seats scattered throughout.
Sa Hae-geon naturally sat down next to me, then reached for my seatbelt. Although there were glances from others pretending not to observe us, they had no effect on Sa Hae-geon. I was the only one feeling embarrassed, my ears turning red.
But among those glances, one stood out particularly. It was from Yoon Seon-hoo, an Esper from Field Team 2, sitting across the aisle from Sa Hae-geon. Unlike others who stole glances while being mindful of their surroundings, he was almost blatantly staring at us.
When I first arrived at the center, he kept approaching me and asking for handshakes, making both Sa Hae-geon and me uncomfortable, so I was concerned. I found myself checking Sa Hae-geon’s expression.
But contrary to my expectation, Sa Hae-geon’s face remained as usual. Surprisingly, he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to Yoon Seon-hoo. And as soon as I had that thought, Sa Hae-geon grasped my hand. There was an indescribable sense of security in our firmly clasped hands.
I could vaguely guess why Sa Hae-geon was showing no particular reaction to Yoon Seon-hoo, unlike before. Perhaps as our relationship progressed, Sa Hae-geon’s emotions had naturally stabilized. His previously anxious mind seemed to have found some peace. Of course, it might just be my conceit, but that’s what I felt.
With a contented feeling, I leaned back against the seat, trying to find the most comfortable position, when someone hurriedly boarded the bus, causing it to shake slightly.
“Oh my, I’m sorry for being late. The traffic was a bit heavy on my way to work.”
The person who appeared, apologizing in a loud voice and in a fluster, was from Field Team 2—the same Esper who, on the morning I was “kidnapped” by Sa Hae-geon, had shown great interest in my pairing, saying things like “it’s darkest under the lamp” and that I should find a good match nearby. As he passed through the aisle, he noticed Sa Hae-geon and me, and our clasped hands, and frowned deeply.
It bothered me slightly, since his expression was as if he had seen something dirty. Sa Hae-geon had a sensitive heart and seemed to get hurt even by small things.
However, Sa Hae-geon spoke to me with a face that showed no awareness.
“What’s wrong? Are you tired?”
“…No.”
I shook my head. Bringing up what had just happened to Sa Hae-geon, who seemed genuinely unaware of the Field Team 2 Esper’s rudeness, would be like scratching where it doesn’t itch. Besides, it wasn’t worth mentioning.
Sa Hae-geon tilted his head at my response, then rested his head on top of mine.
“It’s heavy.”
“You’re too light, hyung.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Even though I’ve been feeding you so mu—”
I hurriedly covered Sa Hae-geon’s mouth and looked around. Everyone else was either chatting with the person next to them or busy catching up on sleep, so they didn’t seem to have heard what Sa Hae-geon just said. Sa Hae-geon, whose mouth was suddenly covered, looked at me with wide eyes.
“How can you talk like that in front of everyone, Hae-geon?”
When I whispered in his ear, Sa Hae-geon shrugged.
“If others noticed something, it would be because of you, not me.”
“What?”
“I’m just sitting quietly, but you keep acting suspiciously. Like someone with a secret.”
Annoying as it was, Sa Hae-geon was right this time. The more desperately I tried to hide it like just now, the more suspicious it would look.
“Though I like you that way too.”
Sa Hae-geon said something embarrassing as naturally as breathing. As if only the two of us were on this bus.
“Well, it looks like everyone’s on board, so let’s depart.”
The Field Team 2 leader said as he sat at the very front. The wide-open bus door closed, and the vehicle started moving. It took about an hour by car to reach the headquarters of the Ability User Management Bureau. Considering it was rush hour, it would take about an hour and a half to be safe.
Others seemed to plan on taking short naps or chatting among themselves during that time, but I felt like I would have to bow my head and avoid Sa Hae-geon’s gaze with a flushed face the entire journey.
* * *
The bus, which had been running for quite some time, stopped in front of the headquarters of the Ability User Management Bureau. As the bus door opened, the Field Team 2 leader and Jong-hyeok hyung stood up and spoke loudly.
“We’ve arrived. Everyone wake up!”
“Exit in an orderly fashion.”
Hwang Ji-hyun, who had been sleeping with an eye mask, yawned widely and stood up from the seat diagonally across from Sa Hae-geon and me. Lee Seong-rok, who was sitting next to her, followed behind with a swollen face and unsteady steps.
We should follow them too, but… Sa Hae-geon’s head was still resting on top of mine. As I remained silent with my head down, he had fallen asleep at some point while holding my hand. Sa Hae-geon was in a deep sleep, even making soft breathing sounds.
I watched as others disembarked first, then patted Sa Hae-geon’s thigh.
“You need to wake up, Hae-geon.”
“…Are we here already?”
Sa Hae-geon sighed softly at my touch and asked in a voice not yet fully awake.
“Yes. We’ve arrived. Let’s get off quickly.”
“Okay…”
Sa Hae-geon, who had answered obediently, straightened his body that had been leaning toward me and stood up. As I followed him through the aisle, I heard a conversation between Field Team 2 Espers from behind.
“Are those two a pair? I don’t think I’ve heard about it, but they’re always sticking together? Are they close?”
“What? If they were a pair, there would have been an announcement.”
“Right? The center wouldn’t have allowed it. Guides are so rare.”
“True. Especially that one is premium personnel. Top-tier talent that even S-rank Espers can’t easily get. The center must have paid a lot to bring him in, so they won’t easily let him go. They must have bound him with a special contract, right?”
“Special contract? Ah, the one that all S-ranks have?”
“Well, don’t most Guides have special contracts even if they’re not S-rank? Even A-rank Guides probably have special contracts.”
They seemed to be discussing Sa Hae-geon and me. It wasn’t particularly offensive, and I had heard many discussions about pairs and special contracts before, so it didn’t bother me much. But it seemed different for Sa Hae-geon.
He turned his head abruptly to check where the voices were coming from. Those talking behind us must have noticed Sa Hae-geon’s gaze, as their whispering suddenly stopped. Sa Hae-geon stared at them for a while, then turned his head back, firmly grasped my hand, and strode off the bus.
Unlike before, he looked somewhat displeased. I wondered if he was okay. As we left the bus and headed toward where Field Team 1 members were gathering, I asked Sa Hae-geon.
“Hae-geon, are you okay? That must have upset you.”
“Yes. It upset me.”
“I thought so.”
“I don’t like other people talking about you that way.”
Sa Hae-geon’s voice was deeply subdued. His face, which I checked from the corner of my eye, was also rigidly set. The fact that the reason for his displeasure was me… made me feel strange.
“As if you’re some object.”
Sa Hae-geon mumbled with a furrowed brow, then, sensing my gaze, firmly closed his lips. Then, exhaling, he asked:
“Doesn’t it bother you at all?”
“Well, for me… it’s something all high-ranked Guides and Espers hear.”
“As expected, I’ll keep prote—”
“…Hey, stop.”
I covered Sa Hae-geon’s mouth with my palm again as he was about to casually say something that might raise suspicions from others. Sa Hae-geon looked at me with dissatisfied eyes, then lowered his gaze at Jong-hyeok hyung’s gesture.
With Sa Hae-geon and me being the last, all the members deployed from Field Team 1 gathered in one place. Field Team 2 was also gathered near us, talking among themselves.
“Everyone be respectful once we go inside.”
“Yes.”
“Especially be careful not to clash with people from other centers or guilds.”
“Come on, as long as they don’t provoke us first, we’ll behave.”
“Ji-hyun.”
“Okay, I got it. But what if they provoke us first? Should we just take it like pushovers?”
At Hwang Ji-hyun’s question, Jong-hyeok hyung frowned, then spoke.
“You know I don’t mean for you to be a pushover. Handle it with discretion, appropriately.”
“Ah, you should have said that from the beginning. If you speak so indirectly, I won’t understand.”
Hwang Ji-hyun grumbled but still smiled brightly, seemingly satisfied with hyung’s answer. Somehow, I could feel Sa Hae-geon’s hand tightening around mine.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
