Looking back now, it really was insane. They hadn’t even been alone.
In front of Kang Min and countless others, it wasn’t just a light kiss—they had shared a deep one, their tongues entwined.
Sure, he could argue that they were an Esper and a Guide, and that it happened during a Guiding session, but none of that made it any less humiliating.
How am I supposed to face Esper Kang Min after this? The whole Association probably knows I like Yu Je-hyun now…
Maybe it was because Lee Haru was both strikingly handsome and an active S-rank Guide, but even before he ended up in this body, he’d been at the center of everyone’s attention.
And in that situation, he’d shown them a scene of him crying while kissing Yu Je-hyun. If even one or two of the Espers present had started talking, that rumor would’ve spread like wildfire throughout the entire Association.
Ugh. So embarrassing.
Honestly, he didn’t really care what other people said about him. He could just ignore it.
If he were the type to worry about others’ opinions, he would’ve had a mental breakdown not long after ending up in this body.
The bigger problem right now was Yu Je-hyun. He was still watching Haru closely, gently stroking his hair with incredibly soft hands.
“Your face is still red. Is looking at me really that embarrassing?”
Yu Je-hyun’s voice carried a hint of laughter. He must have figured it out by now—that Haru’s flushed face wasn’t from being unwell, but from sheer embarrassment.
“Lee Haru.”
Ugh, it wasn’t even his real name, but just hearing Yu Je-hyun say it in that low voice made his stomach flutter.
Yu Je-hyun brushed Haru’s trembling lashes with his thumb. The skin against his palm was warm and soft.
He gently stroked the plump skin beneath Haru’s eyes, then, unable to resist, leaned in.
With a soft smooch, their lips met, and Haru’s already large eyes grew even wider.
“Finally, you’re looking at me. From now on, every time you avoid my face, I’m going to kiss you.”
That dazed expression, rubbing the lips that had just been kissed, was unbearably cute.
Yu Je-hyun’s gaze overflowed with affection, and just as Haru looked away again, he felt that familiar sensation—the gentle press of lips against his own.
His black pupils quivered uncontrollably.
This time, Haru quickly covered his mouth with his hand. His face was still burning, and Yu Je-hyun wasn’t giving him a moment to adjust.
Yu Je-hyun’s long, narrow eyes curved mischievously. Haru tried to pull away from that playful gaze, but his weakened body only sank deeper into the bed.
Yu Je-hyun’s lips brushed the back of his hand, then moved slowly over his fingers with wet smooching sounds. The moment a slick tongue slipped between his fingers and brushed against his lips, Haru raised his voice.
“S-Stop…!”
Yu Je-hyun didn’t seem to have any intention of going further. He pulled back obediently but took hold of Haru’s hand that was covering his face.
Their fingers intertwined, Yu Je-hyun’s larger knuckles fitting easily between Haru’s slender ones. As he tightened his grip, his other hand reached up and playfully tousled Haru’s hair.
Haru could only open and close his mouth, unable to form words.
“Holding hands is okay, right?”
Haru gave a small nod. Holding hands, at least, wouldn’t make his face any redder.
Yu Je-hyun smiled faintly as he fiddled with Haru’s fingers. That shy expression was something Haru had never seen before, and the ticklish flutter in his stomach intensified, making his toes curl.
“They said I survived thanks to you. My Rampage Risk Index must’ve been pretty high. I was badly injured, lost a lot of blood, and even went into cardiac arrest. If your Guiding had been even a little later, I would’ve ended up in a coma.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
Even for an S-rank Esper, death didn’t come easily. But a coma wasn’t something you could brush off, either.
“I owe you my life. Thank you, Lee Haru, for saving me.”
Haru had never imagined he’d save someone’s life. Especially not someone he had feelings for.
As Yu Je-hyun spoke, the red that had started to fade from Haru’s cheeks came rushing back. His ears, especially, turned a deep, ripe red.
Yu Je-hyun swallowed dryly. Honestly, more than saying thank you, he wanted to confess.
Like a fool, he’d let time slip by without ever properly expressing how he felt—and before he knew it, he’d been torn away from Haru.
In that stretch of time that felt like years, he’d regretted it deeply. He swore that if they met again, he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d show his feelings freely. He’d confess, properly this time.
“Lee Haru.”
“…Yes.”
But now that he was finally looking Haru in the eyes and saying his name, he couldn’t get the words out. Just four little syllables—I like you—but the courage he’d had moments ago had completely vanished.
When he said nothing after calling his name, Haru stared at him. A moment ago, he looked like he was ready to die of embarrassment, but now he seemed much calmer.
Even his earlobes had lost most of their redness. Instead, the embarrassment had transferred to Yu Je-hyun. He opened and closed his mouth several times.
“…You know.”
“Say it.”
As Yu Je-hyun kept stalling, Lee Haru gently squeezed their joined hands, as if to say it was okay. That small gesture made his heart tremble all over again.
If he backed down now, even after making up his mind, who knew when he’d work up the courage again? Yu Je-hyun swallowed dryly one last time and finally opened his mouth.
“I… I li—”
Knock, knock, knock.
He was about to say I like you. But of all times, that was when an ill-timed knock interrupted him.
“Who could that be?”
Lee Haru’s gaze shifted naturally toward the door. Yu Je-hyun had no choice but to swallow the words that had risen all the way to the top of his throat. Haru looked up at him, puzzled.
“Didn’t you have something to say?”
“…I’ll tell you later.”
He had barely summoned the courage to speak. He never imagined it would crumble so easily at the sound of a knock. Yu Je-hyun moved his fingers in frustration.
The doorknob turned. The door opened suddenly, and the person outside froze mid-knock, caught off guard.
“Oh, Esper Yu Je-hyun is here too.”
Realizing he wasn’t alone in the room, the man quickly understood why the door had opened—despite it not being automatic.
“What’s this about?”
The visitor was a staff member from the Association. A man with an ID badge bearing his name, title, and photo stepped inside, clearly a little hesitant.
“Apologies for disturbing your rest. I’m Assistant Manager Lee Hyun-jae from Team 1 of the Guide Management Department. I’m currently assigned to Guide Ji Yeon-woo.”
At the mention of Ji Yeon-woo’s name, Lee Haru immediately sat up. The last time he’d seen him, Ji Yeon-woo’s condition had been anything but normal.
And now, for the staff member overseeing him to show up like this—it made him uneasy. Did something happen to Ji Yeon-woo?
“It’s just… Guide Ji Yeon-woo’s psychological state is extremely unstable. He’s refusing to speak with anyone—including me and the medical team. But he’s insisting he wants to see you, Guide Lee Haru. I know this is sudden, and I hate to impose, but… would you be willing to visit him?”
Even as he explained, Lee Hyun-jae kept glancing nervously at Yu Je-hyun. By now, rumors that Lee Haru and Yu Je-hyun were actually in a relationship had spread widely through the Association.
It had become a hot topic—how Yu Je-hyun, who was famously cold toward Lee Haru even while receiving Guiding from him, had started acting differently.
Combined with the unusual tenderness in how Lee Haru now treated Yu Je-hyun, speculation about the two of them was rampant.
And since Yu Je-hyun was known for being difficult, the staffer discreetly wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.
He’d heard that Lee Haru had collapsed after Guiding Yu Je-hyun and had been hospitalized since. And now, to ask him—when he hadn’t even recovered—to personally check on a Guide Lee Hyun-jae was supposed to manage… Of course he felt uncomfortable.
“Of course I’ll go. Just give me a moment.”
Lee Haru even began to get up. Yu Je-hyun’s brows furrowed in open displeasure.
“You’re still sick. Where do you think you’re going? Stay put.”
“But…”
To Yu Je-hyun, Lee Haru was still a patient. It hadn’t even been that long since he’d regained consciousness.
Even now, his body swayed unsteadily with each movement. And remembering the warmth that had once existed between Lee Haru and Ji Yeon-woo made his irritation bristle like thorns.
“You know this too, Esper Yu Je-hyun. Guide Ji Yeon-woo still hasn’t found a place he can feel safe in.”
Yu Je-hyun nearly snapped back, What if that place ends up being you?—but stopped himself. Out of Haru’s line of sight, his fist clenched tight.
The metal cuff around his forearm began to tremble, reacting to the surge of mana building beneath his skin.
