Side Story. The Perfect Connection (2)
Looking up slightly, Chae Do-min saw Sa Hae-geon’s face, wearing a satisfied expression despite having eaten very little. From morning, he seemed full of energy, and Do-min could read the subtle anticipation in Hae-geon’s eyes as he gazed down at him. Do-min bit his lip.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved by Hae-geon’s face, which was unfailingly beautiful today as well. However, having been exhausted by him until the late dawn, Do-min found it difficult to respond eagerly. Moreover, once Hae-geon was ignited, he would pounce without hesitation. Recalling the chilling yet satisfying sensation of being devoured by Hae-geon until his entire body ached, Chae Do-min swallowed dryly.
He didn’t dislike Sa Hae-geon’s ravenous side during their intimate moments. Rather, it was problematic because he found it so endearing and lovable.
Instead of answering that he was also anticipating it, Do-min reached out, wrapped his arms around Hae-geon’s neck, and Hae-geon smiled faintly, pulling him closer. Do-min stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss on Hae-geon’s cheek with an audible sound. Despite engaging in far more intimate acts without hesitation, Hae-geon blushed and became flustered at even a simple peck.
Soon after, Do-min found himself carried in Hae-geon’s arms toward the bedroom.
“W-wait, Hae-geon. L-let’s at least brush our teeth first. At least brush our teeth…!”
Do-min’s protests followed behind them like an invisible tail, abruptly cut off as the bedroom door closed. Before long, moans bordering on screams leaked from inside.
* * *
I want to form a Pair with Chae Do-min.
Sa Hae-geon couldn’t pinpoint exactly when he started feeling this way, but he thought it was probably right after he had perfectly mapped out his life roadmap with Chae Do-min. He exhaled languidly, holding the unconscious Do-min, who had finally passed out after being tormented by him, tightly in his arms.
When Do-min had asked if forming a Pair was his objective, he had firmly shaken his head, truly having no interest in Pairing at first. He even found Espers who obsessed over Pairing, which was ultimately just a relationship on paper, to be pathetic. For them, it might have been a matter of receiving Guiding or not, but to Sa Hae-geon’s eyes, they appeared to be nothing more than pitiful criminals throwing tantrums like children.
To think they would try to form Pairs through such base and violent methods as kidnapping and threatening Guides. How effective could such inhumane methods possibly be? Did they see themselves as handsome crime bosses from noir films?
Yes, he once thought that way. Of course, his opinion hadn’t changed much even now. Threatening someone and forcing them to form a Pair was truly a despicable act.
Sa Hae-geon wanted to form a Pair with Chae Do-min from a very pure heart, unlike those others. To perfectly achieve the life roadmap he had planned with Do-min, forming a Pair was necessarily required, and there was also no guarantee that Do-min would continue to provide Guiding exclusively to him forever.
It was an urgent matter. The successful conquest of the S-class dungeon had been completed. Until now, the Central Center had provided conveniences allowing him and Do-min to stay together almost like a Pair due to the circumstances, but things would surely change from now on.
Perhaps he wasn’t so different from those Espers he found pathetic. His pure intentions were nothing more than an ugly obsession to monopolize Chae Do-min, whether officially or in reality. But if Do-min, who nodded in agreement to whatever he said, agreed with his thoughts this time too, it might not remain just a wish anymore.
Sa Hae-geon kissed Do-min’s forehead as he slept.
He remembered Do-min once mentioning that he was bound by a special contract with the Central Center, preventing him from forming a Pair for 10 years from the contract date. His adorable lover wasn’t just an A-class Guide but an S-class Guide, so it made sense that the Central Center would want to keep him by any means, even through such underhanded methods.
Even someone as self-willed as Sa Hae-geon understood that special contracts couldn’t be easily broken. However, Chae Do-min was both a hero included in the S-class dungeon conquest team and a victim who nearly faced great danger due to the inadequate response of the Ability Department, including Deputy Minister Han Yoon-jung. To think he was almost kidnapped by a dungeon boss inside the dungeon itself.
Worse yet, the Ability Department and the Dungeon Research Institute had some inkling of this but kept quiet. If they had given prior notice, preparations could have been made. Was Do-min not a trusted figure to them, if no one else?
Giving only a month’s vacation as compensation to Do-min, who couldn’t wake up even after consuming potions made by the research institute, was an utterly inconsiderate action. Additionally, as one of the few S-class Guides in the country, Do-min deserved special treatment. In short, the rewards should be substantial for the vast amount of work demanded of him.
Sa Hae-geon intended to emphasize precisely this point.
‘Do you want to form a Pair with Guide Chae Do-min?’
Of course, if the conditions previously offered to him by the Esper Center Director of the Central Center were still valid, there would be no need to exert any effort at all. Also, since he wasn’t yet bound by any special contract, the Central Center might welcome with open arms his condition of staying there permanently in exchange for forming a Pair with Do-min.
In any case, as long as he had his eyes wide open, Sa Hae-geon would absolutely not tolerate Do-min providing Guiding to other Espers, even through broadcast Guiding, so he was willing to use every method at his disposal.
“Mmm…”
Lost in these thoughts, he must have unconsciously tightened his arm around Do-min’s waist. Do-min groaned and shifted in his sleep. When Sa Hae-geon loosened his grip on the waist that was slender yet firm compared to his own, Do-min’s face seemed to relax a bit. Sa Hae-geon idly passed the time, quietly observing Do-min’s clear face, which occasionally furrowed its brow or parted its lips as if dreaming.
Looking at Do-min, there was no room for any other thoughts to intrude.
It was about two hours later when the sleeping Do-min opened his eyes. Letting out a small yawn and lifting his eyelids, Do-min was startled by Sa Hae-geon’s face right in front of him, but soon smiled with the corners of his mouth turning up. Hae-geon, filling his field of vision, smiled back.
The dull ache in his lower back was bothersome, but it was still pleasant to see Sa Hae-geon first thing upon opening his eyes. He reached out and gently kneaded Hae-geon’s slightly flushed cheeks. Quietly enjoying the touch, Hae-geon moved his lips.
“Hyung.”
“Hmm.”
“Should we form a Pair?”
“Huh? A Pair?”
Blinking at the sudden proposal, Do-min stared at Hae-geon, who had unexpectedly brought up the topic of Pairing, and asked:
“Didn’t you say it was fine not to form a Pair?”
“I truly was fine with it then.”
“And now?”
“Now… I don’t like the idea of you providing Guiding to other Espers besides me. And since the S-class dungeon conquest is over, we’ll probably have fewer opportunities to be together.”
“Well, that’s true…”
Could that really be the only reason? It was hard to believe Sa Hae-geon’s words at face value. If he truly felt that way, with his personality, he should have been making demands from his first day at the Center. But Sa Hae-geon hadn’t said much, had he? He had shown dissatisfaction when seeing Do-min provide broadcast Guiding to other Espers before, but that was it. Do-min fell into contemplation, looking at Sa Hae-geon who seemed to have been waiting only for him to wake up to have this conversation.
But that didn’t last long. Soon, another reason flowed from Sa Hae-geon’s lips.
“When your vacation ends, that vicious bunch at the Ability Department and Central Center won’t leave someone as capable as you alone. It’s obvious they’ll work you to death as much as they let you rest. But if you form a Pair with me, you’ll have fewer occasions to enter dungeons. You’ll have more time to rest too.”
“…”
“Of course, I can’t say there’s no self-interest involved. It’s true that I want to be with you as much as possible.”
“…”
“For that to happen, you need guaranteed rest time, but the Ability Department and Central Center won’t stand by and watch you work comfortably, so forming a Pair with me seems like the most reasonable option.”
Despite mixing in some self-serving words midway, Sa Hae-geon was presenting quite a logical argument. Do-min, who had expected him to just stubbornly insist and cling, could only blink in bewilderment at this unexpected situation.
“Of course, I remember you mentioned being under a special contract that prevents you from forming a Pair. But surely the Central Center can do at least this much for you, after you participated in the S-class dungeon conquest and suffered such an ordeal there? And even if they refuse, I’ll make it possible. Even if I have to tear down the Ability Department and Central Center.”
Seeing Hae-geon speak with such a serious face, Do-min shook his head, at a loss for words. Sa Hae-geon, who usually perplexed him with strange remarks and outlandish claims, was now presenting a reasonable argument for once, naturally leaving Do-min persuaded. He really wondered if it could be true.
“Also, you might be fine now, but who knows when PTSD might come and overwhelm you. Having me overwhelm you is enough; I can’t let something like that trouble you.”
Despite the strange remark in the middle, these were words spoken out of concern for him. Do-min nodded as if entranced. For someone like Do-min, who had prepared to be everyone’s Guide and be used throughout his life regardless of Pairing, Sa Hae-geon’s argument sounded only welcome.
Of course, the self-interest was transparently visible, but this was Sa Hae-geon after all. At the very least, it was clear that Sa Hae-geon wouldn’t lead him in a bad direction.
Convincing the Ability Department and Central Center would be the biggest challenge, but with Sa Hae-geon by his side, wouldn’t they somehow find a way through? With such leisurely thoughts, Do-min kissed the left corner of Sa Hae-geon’s mouth. Hae-geon blushed, lowering his gaze shyly. Finding that adorable, Do-min pressed his lips to the other corner of his mouth as well, only to be completely devoured by Sa Hae-geon, who suddenly turned his head.
“Hmm…”
Except for the occasional wet sounds, it was a very peaceful and leisurely afternoon like any other.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
