A Small Boat on the Sea (11)
Could he possibly have experience wearing ability control devices? I was curious, but since the perception of these devices was generally negative, I hesitated to ask directly. Eventually, after observing his behavior, I decided to approach the subject indirectly.
“Um… most people struggle with ability control devices when they first use them. But Hae-geon, you seem to have adapted quickly?”
At my words, Sa Hae-geon blinked a few times before responding in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Oh, it’s not my first time. Shortly after my awakening, when there wasn’t a Guide with a matching wavelength, I always wore ability control devices. It felt a bit unfamiliar and uncomfortable wearing one again after so long, but I didn’t have any trouble during training.”
For a moment, I could only sit there in silence. No words came to mind. I felt that anything I might say would be inappropriate. I couldn’t offer belated comfort to someone speaking so calmly about it, nor could I praise him for enduring such a thing.
Sa Hae-geon must have noticed my internal struggle because he handed me a large, firm Shine Muscat grape and added:
“Just praise me for doing well. I always want to show you my best side.”
I’m sorry to Sa Hae-geon, but hearing that only deepened my concerns. Even if he himself wanted it, I didn’t want to just mindlessly praise him without considering his feelings. Surely he needs comfort sometimes too.
When I remained silent, Sa Hae-geon cautiously spoke up.
“…hyung?”
“Hae-geon.”
“Yes.”
I had called out to him, but I still hadn’t sorted out what to say. However, amid my confusion, there was one thing I really wanted to ask.
“Wasn’t it hard for you?”
This time, he was the one at a loss for words, blinking repeatedly. Sa Hae-geon looked at me with a confused expression before eventually stammering a response.
“I-I was fine. It wasn’t hard at… all.”
Sa Hae-geon’s lips trembled as he muttered his reply. Somehow, moisture had welled up in his eyes. Like a lake filled to the brim, about to overflow, his eyes glistened with wetness.
He pursed his lips for a while, either suppressing his emotions or choosing his words, before finally speaking.
“I was definitely fine back then… But it’s strange. Now that you’ve asked me, suddenly…”
Sa Hae-geon’s voice trailed off as he closed his mouth weakly. Then he rested his head on my shoulder and murmured.
“I wish I had kidnapped you when we first met.”
Since this was such a disconcerting statement to make in such a serious moment, I pretended not to hear and just chewed on the Shine Muscat grape.
* * *
It was already my third day back at the Center. During these past three days, I had become completely accustomed to commuting with Sa Hae-geon. The team members had also mostly adapted to Sa Hae-geon, who moved almost as one body with me.
And during that considerable time, some Espers had even started speaking informally to Hae-geon.
“Hae-geon, looking for Do-min again?”
The first to speak informally was Lee Cheol-min, the eldest Esper in Field Team 1. Lee Cheol-min treated Sa Hae-geon like a nephew. He took a seat at the break room table where Sa Hae-geon and I were sitting opposite each other and put his arm around the boy’s shoulder.
“You know, if you keep following Do-min around like this, you’ll get scolded by the Guide Center Director.”
“Because I’m bothering hyung?”
“No. Because other Espers are becoming reluctant to receive Guiding from Do-min since they keep having to be mindful of you.”
“Isn’t that good for hyung?”
“It might be good for Do-min, but not from the Center’s perspective. It’s not like Do-min only Guides one or two Espers.”
Sa Hae-geon’s face was sulky, seemingly not understanding Lee Cheol-min’s explanation. He looked at me as if asking me to take his side.
“But everyone still receives Guiding just fine even when I’m by hyung’s side.”
“…Ah, Hae-geon is right about that. The Espers who couldn’t receive Guiding were from other teams.”
“Is that so? Still, you should follow him around in moderation. You’re not a duckling following a mother duck.”
“Please don’t scold him too much. I think he’s like this because I’m his first Guide.”
“Wow, first Guide… That’s a term I haven’t heard in a while. I also had someone who was my first love and first Guide.”
Seeing Lee Cheol-min’s suddenly wistful eyes, I had an ominous premonition. The very ominous feeling that I was about to hear a story I’d already heard dozens of times. Of course, Sa Hae-geon, for whom this was the first time, looked at him with interested eyes.
Normally, he wouldn’t have shown much interest in other people’s stories, but he seemed thoroughly captivated by the notion of a first Guide and first love.
“21 years ago… Yes, when I was eighteen. Back then, the training schools were schools in name only; they were practically detention centers for ability users. Anyway, on a rainy summer day, I was returning home after playing outside with my classmates, evading the eyes of soldiers and police officers on night patrol.”
Lee Cheol-min’s eyes grew moist as he continued. He stared into the distance as if recalling his past, starting his story in a quite dramatic tone.
“There were no sounds of insects or passing cars, so except for the rain, the alley was completely quiet. As I was carefully taking steps because it was late, right then and there, a small dungeon occurred in that alley.”
Despite the fairly long introduction causing Sa Hae-geon’s face to gradually show signs of boredom, Lee Cheol-min resolutely continued his story.
“And one nearby row house was swept into the dungeon. That’s where I met them. My first love and first Guide. Who would have thought I’d reunite there with my first Guide, whom I had met during training school practice two years earlier?”
Lee Cheol-min smiled sheepishly as if that day was still vivid in his memory. Just as he was about to get to the most important part of the story, the break room door swung open and Jong-hyeok hyung entered. He quickly surveyed the room, and upon spotting Sa Hae-geon, beckoned to him.
With just one brief gesture from Jong-hyeok hyung, Sa Hae-geon jumped to his feet and walked over to him. Seeing Sa Hae-geon so disciplined was both unfamiliar and cute.
“Hae-geon, done with your break?”
Jong-hyeok hyung was also one of the Espers who spoke informally to Sa Hae-geon.
“Yes. I’ve rested enough.”
“Good. Then let’s go battle.”
“Yes… Wait, what?”
“What? Battle?”
Like Sa Hae-geon who repeated the question foolishly, I also shouted in surprise. How could they jump to battle when training had just begun? The teaching pace was completely different from other Espers. Even though Sa Hae-geon was quick to learn, had natural combat sense, and could execute Jong-hyeok hyung’s rigorous training schedule without complaint, this seemed too extreme.
Hyung opened his eyes wide in surprise when I, who had never before interfered with Esper training, stepped forward.
“Why are you surprised, Do-min?”
“Well… the pace seems a bit fast.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’m not taking him to a dungeon right away. Field Team 2 suggested a mock battle earlier. I thought it would be good experience for him and agreed, but is it still too early?”
“Too early? Not at all! Considering how fast Hae-geon learns and his good sense, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Wait… Chae Do-min, aren’t you being overprotective? By the way, I heard they got a new member too. Where was it from… ah, right. They said there’s one who spent about a year at the Western Center before transferring here.”
Overprotective? How is this being overprotective? I ignored Sa Hae-geon’s particularly shiny gaze and changed the subject.
“Overprotective? No, it’s just that his progress seems different from other Espers. Why did that Esper transfer?”
“It was originally a three-year contract, but the kid was a bit…”
“A bit…?”
“Apparently, they went around hitting on everyone—Guides, Espers, women, men—causing all sorts of trouble. So they paid the penalty fee and transferred to our Center.”
“What?”
“I heard they started yesterday. I briefly ran into them earlier, and they seemed polite and friendly, but who knows. There’s a saying that you can see through ten fathoms of water but not one fathom of a person’s heart.”
Sa Hae-geon nodded in agreement.
“Reading what’s in water is easier than reading what’s in people.”
“Right, you’re so smart. Anyway, you absolutely cannot lose to someone who takes love lightly. Understand? Field Team 1’s pride won’t allow a loss!”
“Yes. I’ll definitely win.”
Perhaps influenced by Lee Cheol-min, Sa Hae-geon nodded with uncharacteristic fighting spirit. Jong-hyeok hyung seemed pleased with Sa Hae-geon’s attitude and lightly patted his back. While they clenched their fists with determination, I alone was subtly out of place among them.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
