# Chapter 32
Outside the Rift, the sun had already set and it was dark. As I descended the mountain with Heerim’s support, I could see the Director and Jeongmun who were searching for us.
“You two! What happened?! Why weren’t you answering your phones?!”
The Director ran toward us, shouting. Her voice sounded angry at first, but her face was full of concern. I bowed my head. It was right to apologize since this happened because of my carelessness.
“I’m sorry…”
“We were briefly sucked into a Rift.”
Heerim cut off my words. Having missed my chance to apologize, I stared blankly at him. Heerim was talking about being sucked into a Rift as if it were nothing unusual.
“What? A Rift? A Rift appeared here too?”
“Yeah. I never expected those bastards would create a Rift near an apartment complex. Don’t worry. I sealed the entrance properly before leaving.”
Those bastards?
Who is he talking about?
“What do you mean by ‘create a Rift’?”
When I showed curiosity about their conversation, Heerim smiled brightly and suddenly looked at Jeongmun.
“Hyung, what about the dog? I let it out of the Rift, did you find it?”
Are you deliberately changing the subject to avoid my question?
I looked at Heerim with a bewildered face, and he gave me an expression as if to ask why I was acting that way. At his feigned innocence, I just shook my head saying it was nothing.
“I found the dog as it was coming down from the mountain.”
Jeongmun pointed to the child standing behind him. The dog, which I had sent out first, was in its young owner’s arms, wagging its tail vigorously.
“Big brothers! Big sister! Thank you! I have to go now because it’s almost time for my mom and dad to come home.”
“Oh, okay. Take care.”
Jeongmun waved to the child who disappeared after politely saying goodbye.
“So now today’s job is finished, right?”
I slumped down on a nearby bench, unable to properly say goodbye to the child. Having experienced such an unbelievable and surreal event, I was completely exhausted. It felt like I had spent the entire night struggling through a terrible nightmare.
I sprawled on the bench like melted pudding and rolled my eyes to look at Heerim. He was explaining to the Director what had happened on the mountain, looking as energetic as if he had consumed an entire box of health supplements. Unlike Heerim, I was completely drained and smiled bitterly. Just sitting still made me feel like I had aged ten years from fatigue.
“Can a Guide not receive Guiding…”
My body and mind were so tired that I just mumbled meaningless words to myself.
“Guiding a Guide?”
Heerim, who somehow heard my muttering, sat down next to me.
“I’ve heard it’s possible. Reverse Guiding.”
“Really? Then please do it for me.”
When I promptly extended my hand with an exhausted expression, Heerim smiled awkwardly.
“Why not? You said it’s possible.”
“Well… I’ve heard it’s possible, but Espers don’t have the ability to control energy like Guides do. If I were to do it, I’d have to pour out all the energy within me.”
“What happens if you pour out all your energy?”
“Hmm. I’d probably die? But if you want me to do it, I can. Shall I Guide you?”
“…No thanks.”
I glared at Heerim and hid the hand I had extended to him behind my back. Though his lighthearted tone suggested he was joking, I didn’t want to play along with jokes about his own life.
“But why is it so quiet when a Rift occurred? Shouldn’t there at least be emergency text alerts? Last time I didn’t see any news either. Is the Rift detector broken or something?”
“That’s because it’s a Rift that needs to be hidden from the public.”
“You hide Rifts? Why?”
Heerim had been saying incomprehensible things from the beginning. As I recall, about three years ago, Director Kim Hyungjin of the NECC announced through the NECC’s official internet channel that they had developed a Rift detector with Korea’s excellent technology. He said that Rift detectors installed nationwide would operate 24 hours a day for the safety of citizens. Moreover, the government invested hundreds of millions of won in the NECC for the smooth operation of the detectors. Shouldn’t they then actively inform people about Rifts found by operating detectors?
“Do you really believe those detectors exist, hyung?”
“Heerim. That’s enough.”
The Director, who had been silent, interrupted Heerim’s words. Heerim closed his mouth with an expression that suggested he had slipped up.
“…”
What’s going on? Did he say something they shouldn’t tell me?
I read the strange atmosphere flowing between the two and kept my mouth shut. I wanted to ask what they were talking about, but I didn’t think they would tell me even if I asked.
“Jaeo. You worked hard today. You must have been very shocked by this unexpected accident. Don’t come to work tomorrow and just rest well.”
“Is that okay? Then I’ll do that. Thank you.”
“How will you get home? Should I tell Jeongmun to drive you?”
“What? No, no! I’ll take the bus!”
My body, which had been slumped, tensed up at those words that instantly cleared my mind. No matter how tired I was, I didn’t want to ride in a car driven by Jeongmun.
As I hurried to leave for fear of being caught by Jeongmun, Heerim entered my field of vision. He seemed somewhat restless. Wondering why he was acting that way, I kept staring at him, and he slowly approached me.
“Jaeo hyung. What you said in the Rift about not avoiding me anymore… was that real?”
“Ah…”
So he had been bothered by the way I’d been avoiding him these past few days.
It wasn’t because I disliked Heerim, but because I had presumptively accepted his kindness and then arbitrarily felt disappointed. I’m not sure why I was disappointed. I just felt an indescribable, complex emotion every time I saw Heerim lately. Perhaps I wanted to avoid feelings that even I couldn’t understand.
“I’m sorry for acting sensitive these past few days. I guess I was just tired. I didn’t intentionally try to avoid you.”
I couldn’t explain my confused feelings, so I spoke vaguely. Fortunately, Heerim nodded as if he understood.
“And thank you for today. If you hadn’t come to save me, I would have been in real trouble.”
“It’s not something to thank me for, it’s only natural. I’ll always come to save you whenever you’re in danger.”
Heerim smiled brightly. At that innocent smile, my heart fluttered again for some reason.
***
Though the Earth Peace Research Institute didn’t have a fixed work schedule, I tried to maintain a routine of arriving at 9 AM and leaving at 6 PM unless something special came up.
Perhaps because of that habit, I opened my eyes as soon as it became 8 AM today as well.
“Oh, right. I don’t have to go to work today.”
Just as I was about to get up, I remembered the Director telling me not to come to work today and to rest well, so I lay back down on the mattress.
“So what should I do today…”
Resting my head on a pillow that had lost its fluffiness, I wondered how to spend this unexpected holiday. Usually on my days off, I would just lie around all day doing nothing. I didn’t really have any hobbies or friends to meet, so there wasn’t much choice. Still, I didn’t want to spend this free day just lying down.
“Hmm. There’s nothing to do.”
They say only those who’ve tasted meat crave it. No matter how much I racked my brain, nothing suitable came to mind. Just as I was wondering if I should just lazily hang around at home, a decent idea suddenly flashed through my head.
After leaving home, I changed buses twice and rode for about an hour before getting off in front of a large apartment complex on the outskirts of the city. It had been almost four years since I last came to this neighborhood.
“Wow. A large supermarket has opened here. What? The alley comic book store is gone?”
I didn’t think four years was that long, but a lot had changed without me realizing it. I walked, tracing my past memories. This was the neighborhood where the orphanage where Jaeyeon and I grew up was located. Since this was the first time visiting the teachers after leaving the orphanage, my heart was pounding needlessly.
Lost in my own sentiments as I walked, I soon saw the orphanage building. I approached the main gate, feeling quite nervous. I saw someone nearby bending over and watering the flower beds. Sensing my presence, the person straightened up and looked at me. It was the youngest teacher working at the orphanage.
“May I help… Oh? Oh! Who do we have here!”
“It’s been a while, teacher. It’s me, Jaeo.”
“Oh my! Jaeo! How long has it been!”
“Probably about four years.”
“My goodness, you’re still so handsome. Do you have a girlfriend?”
“How can you ask something like that as soon as you see me? Haha… This isn’t much, but I brought it for you.”
“Oh dear. Why did you bring something like this? You didn’t have to.”
If I had known she would welcome me this happily, I would have brought desserts like macarons from a café instead of vitamin drinks from a convenience store.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
“I haven’t come to pay my respects since Jaeyeon and I left. I had some time today so I dropped by briefly. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay! This is perfect timing. There are college students who came to volunteer today. Help them out a bit.”
“What? Ah, yes.”
Oh no. I was just planning to greet the teachers and leave…
Suddenly faced with unexpected labor, I decided to willingly do it, thinking of all the care Jaeyeon and I had received over the years. Following the teacher into the building, I saw three or four college students she had mentioned.
“They’re social welfare students from Hanguk University. They’re probably around your age, so take this opportunity to make friends.”
“What opportunity? I’m not without friends…”
I felt a sting as the teacher poked me in the side. How did she know I don’t have friends?
The teacher introduced me to the college students as someone who had come to volunteer individually. After awkwardly exchanging greetings with them and waiting for work assignments, I somehow felt someone’s gaze fixed on my cheek. When I turned my head toward the direction of the gaze, I saw a man wearing horn-rimmed glasses among the students, staring intensely at me.
What’s this? Why is he looking at me like that?
I furrowed my brow at that blatant gaze and stared back at him equally. Then the man approached me. After hesitating for a moment as if he had something to say, he carefully opened his mouth.
“Strawberry cake… right?”
“What?”
“You gave up a cake for me a few days ago. At that café.”
“What? Cake…? Oh!”
His words reminded me of a forgotten memory. The café near the company building famous for its cakes. He was the man I met there who I suspected might be a religious recruiter.
“Wow. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Neither did I…”
Due to my lingering suspicion toward him, I unconsciously responded coldly. Despite my attitude, the man didn’t seem to mind much.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ha Suan.”
“Son… Jaeo.”
Ha Suan smiled brightly and extended his hand to me. It was a kind smile that could easily win people over, but somehow I felt uncomfortable and didn’t want to take his hand readily. Just like when I first met Heerim, I wasn’t used to people who expressed their liking for me without reserve. This was because I had been so busy making money that I had never built proper relationships. Moreover, I had actually been approached by religious recruiters and multi-level marketers many times.
“Won’t you shake my hand?”
He made an embarrassed expression and opened and closed his outstretched palm once. I smiled awkwardly and took Ha Suan’s hand.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
