#6
“…I absolutely must go. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
“…Sorry.”
The usually confident voice drooped lifelessly. Seung-oh tried to shake off his disappointment with a deep sigh. Understanding had won. Seung-oh covered Ui-jin’s hand resting on his folded thigh, spreading his palm over it. Though their bodies touched, he couldn’t feel Ui-jin’s guiding wavelength. Probably a reflection of his complicated feelings.
But a new meaning had been added to this touch. In the name of lovers, in the name of affection.
“It is dangerous, that’s true. I’d probably be anxious too. If you were beside me.”
“…Ju Seung-oh.”
“Don’t apologize, just be yourself. Shamelessly. That’s your specialty.”
Seung-oh chuckled as he interlaced their fingers. Ui-jin couldn’t laugh at those words, instead biting his lip nervously. Seung-oh quietly rested his head on Ui-jin’s shoulder. Due to Seung-oh’s considerably taller height, his hunched posture looked comical. Ui-jin, who had been gently stroking Seung-oh’s fingers, continued speaking.
“…So you’ll go with another guide?”
“I suppose so?”
“Haa. This is maddening. I don’t like that either.”
“Come on. What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know. You should only be paired with me…”
Arghhhh! Ui-jin frantically pulled at his hair with his free hand before slightly rising to sit on Seung-oh’s thigh. Through his disheveled bangs, his amber eyes stared intently at Seung-oh.
“Can’t we think about it later?”
Their gazes met, each reflecting the other’s image. Many emotions played across Seung-oh’s face. Expressions that Ui-jin wouldn’t have been able to distinguish before were now perfectly clear. Anxiety, impatience, regret—negative emotions. Between them, tenderness, affection. Emotions bound by love shone like densely packed stars.
Seung-oh slowly raised his hand to caress Ui-jin’s face. The given deadline was one week. He had no intention of trying to change Ui-jin’s mind. He disliked being forceful. If Ui-jin said no, that would be the end of it.
“Whatever you want. Do as you please.”
“I’ll give you an amazing celebration for your rank promotion. So, for now, let’s not think about it. Okay?”
Ui-jin captured Seung-oh’s lips before he could even answer. Slowly, Seung-oh reclined onto the sofa as the kiss deepened. Like ordinary lovers. Like any fresh couple who had finally discovered each other’s feelings.
*
As their tangled tongues parted, Seung-oh showered Ui-jin with light kisses, then reached out to gently stroke the delicate skin around his eyes. Ui-jin’s long eyelashes fluttered at the tender touch.
Seung-oh understood Ui-jin’s anxiety. It would be a lie to say he understood everything. The sense of mission that had been constantly instilled in him since manifesting as an esper was something only Seung-oh felt. After all, not long ago, guides were merely classified as healing agents for espers.
Their interests had been different from the start. Still, it was fortunate that considering Ui-jin’s innate temperament and the current situation, this seemed like the most positive response possible.
Seung-oh noticed a drop of blood forming on the tip of Ui-jin’s thumb and immediately brought it to his mouth. Ui-jin blushed as he watched Seung-oh unhesitatingly suck the blood with a slurp. After swallowing the tangy scent, Seung-oh spoke with a casual expression.
“Don’t feel too burdened by what I said.”
“……”
“I won’t force you either.”
Ui-jin looked down at the large hand covering his own. He felt somewhat embarrassed by the contrast between his pale hand and Seung-oh’s sun-tanned skin. Glancing up at Seung-oh, he slightly turned his head and pulled his hand away. The pointed tip of Seung-oh’s tongue still seemed to linger on his thumb.
“But if you change your mind, tell me anytime.”
“…Okay.”
Ui-jin scanned Seung-oh’s now-calm gaze. As a guide, he could read nothing but emotions laced with affection. It was a moment of confirming Seung-oh’s love for him.
The television, which had been showing fear-inducing news, was now filled with loud advertisements. The broadcast frequency differed from areas where ordinary people lived, usually containing only public service announcements, but today featured a condom commercial. The voiceover actor enthusiastically claimed that the product had high thermal conductivity, reproducing the exact sensation of genital surfaces.
“……”
“……”
On a normal day, they would have continued kissing while making meaningless jokes, but today their conversation ended with just moistening their dry mouths.
Their lips remained heavily closed, complicated by various thoughts. Ui-jin escaped from Seung-oh’s embrace and rubbed his eyes needlessly.
“Ah, I’m tired! Why am I so tired today? Seung-oh, I’m going to bed first.”
“Oh, alright. Sleep well.”
“Mm. You too. Dream of me.”
“Yeah. I will.”
Seung-oh smiled slightly at Ui-jin’s silly joke. Ui-jin also stretched his lips tightly, slumping his shoulders as he walked into the bedroom.
After reaching the room in ten steps, Ui-jin buried his face in the bedsheet, which smelled of light cotton, and groaned, “Ugh.” Then he abruptly turned over to stare at the ceiling.
‘Criminal organization The City….’
It was a name he had heard countless times in the news and at the Center. Stories of guides being kidnapped, dissected, and eventually murdered.
But he had never heard what happened while they were dying. Materializing a guide meant finding the source of guiding hidden somewhere in the body. They would cut open the abdomen, sever blood vessels, and turn out the internal organs.
“…Urgh. I seriously feel like throwing up. Those crazy bastards, really….”
Ui-jin’s hair stuck to the pillow strand by strand as he shook his head.
“But if I refuse… is Ju Seung-oh thinking of taking another guide?”
Ju Seung-oh with another guide. That was something else he’d never considered before. Before meeting Ui-jin, Seung-oh was famous for only doing kiss guiding with other guides. The reason given was that there was no need to see more when the matching rate tests consistently showed minimal figures.
To be honest, he had felt a sense of achievement. About his ability to have secured a high-ranking esper that no one else had been able to touch. Though that was only momentary. Pure affection had stirred within him, captivated by Seung-oh’s amazing sexual technique, the tender gaze that clung persistently with each climax, the low voice that seemed audible only at the edge of dreams, and everything else.
“Hmm….”
In an extreme situation, would even Ju Seung-oh mix bodies with someone else to survive? They say that pheromones released in emergencies make you lose your mind, so what if he forgot about me… Though he likes me so much now, he might come to hate me as time passes. Strange thoughts fractured inside Ui-jin’s mind.
“Aaaaargh. I don’t know. I don’t know… I hate all of this!”
His lean body repeatedly bounced on the firm mattress. His long limbs sliced through the air repeatedly before he suddenly sat up.
“It’s too difficult a problem for me.”
Ui-jin tossed words that wouldn’t reach Seung-oh beyond the closed door.
*
“An esper at the Seoul Center has been promoted to S-class.”
At Do-hoon’s words, Cheonum turned his head from the dark gray cityscape of ‘The City.’ His pointed ears appeared even more distinct with his hair tied tightly in a single knot.
“That unremarkable place must be filled with joy for once.”
“Yes. Apparently there was quite a commotion.”
The headquarters of ‘The City’ was surrounded by a strong barrier that made it difficult to detect. Military complexes and laboratories had been established inside. From the top floor of the laboratory used as the main base, Cheonum commanded everything. Hatred, death, loyalty. Do-hoon bowed his head deeply as he watched Cheonum slowly forming a smile.
“The Seoul Center is indeed different. Unexpected. Everything we’ve seen until now has been mere garbage.”
“……”
“I know Dr. Do-hoon’s skills well. The reason we haven’t succeeded in experiments until now must have been because of them.”
His low voice was monotonous with no variation in pitch. Which meant his emotions were unreadable. Just like his smile that had disappeared in an instant. His crossed arms tapped rhythmically against his arm.
“However, based on the poor transmission of information about the promoted esper and partner guide, it seems our planted spy has been discovered. The last information update was two hours ago….”
“……Hmph.”
At Do-hoon’s words, Cheonum covered his mouth and chuckled. Whenever Do-hoon saw Cheonum laugh, he was reminded of the elves he had seen in a movie art book as a child. Beautiful elves that bewitched people and disturbed their minds.
“No. That’s not it. He hasn’t been discovered.”
Cheonum’s clear voice pierced directly into Do-hoon. As an esper who controlled sound, his voice contained the strongest power.
“After living in the dreary ‘City’ his whole life, he must have found it quite entertaining to mingle with ordinary people.”
“…That means…”
Do-hoon, who had been listening attentively, hardened his expression.
“He leaked part of our ‘City’s’ plan to some guides at the Seoul Center. So I eliminated him. He was of absolutely no help.”
Unfolding his crossed arms, Cheonum reached out and removed Do-hoon’s round glasses. His light amber eyes gleamed brightly once freed from the thick lenses.
“Did I tell you? Dr. Do-hoon has a trustworthy face.”
“…I’m honored you say so.”
“Therefore, go into the Center yourself and find them.”
“……”
“The S-class esper and the remarkable guide who promoted him. Both of them. And,”
Cheonum, who approached right in front of Do-hoon, could hardly be described as merely enchanting. He had a face that looked innocent like a fairy tale character and a beautiful voice that seemed crafted meticulously syllable by syllable. Regardless of distance, Cheonum’s voice always felt sensually whispered into Do-hoon’s ear.
“Bring them. The guide who will bring us victory.”
Cheonum grasped Do-hoon’s nape with his hand as he moved closer. The cold chill emanating from him spread under the skin. Do-hoon’s eyes slowly closed as he gazed at the beautiful face demanding submission. No noise could be heard in his ears.
Cheonum kissed Do-hoon, parting his lips. Following the thin connected breath, Cheonum’s whisper flowed into Do-hoon’s lungs.
“It’s been a while since you’ve gone out.”
“…I don’t assign meaning to it. Simply because it’s a task you’ve given me, Cheonum-nim.”
Cheonum smiled as he gazed at the impossibly composed face. Now Do-hoon’s life was in his hands. Through the whisper Cheonum had delivered to Do-hoon, a sticky energy had sunk into his body. It swam throughout his body in an invisible form, possessing the power to burst the body with high pressure when he desired. Immediate annihilation was also possible if wished.
“I believe you won’t betray my benevolence.”
Do-hoon knelt and carefully grasped Cheonum’s hand. He professed his loyalty by pressing his lips to the bony, thin hand.
“You can rest assured that won’t happen.”
Do-hoon’s face as he slowly rose from his position was serene yet somehow determined.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
