# Chapter 11
Bang! The door opened with a rough sound.
Junyoung, who had been waiting, was about to ask Domin if it was over as he came out, but quickly closed his mouth when he saw his deeply furrowed face.
Junyoung had been waiting just in case, since Domin had been making a fuss about killing any Guide who did one-way imprinting and ran off. But the conversation had gone more pleasantly than expected.
Seeing Domin acting strangely polite, unlike his usual self, Junyoung thought they might be able to get through this quietly. But from the looks of it now, something had gone seriously wrong.
“Haaa…”
Veins bulged on Domin’s forehead as he ran his hand through his hair. Judging by his hollow cheeks, he was desperately trying to control his anger.
“Damn it, that bastard doesn’t know his place.”
His voice was too loud and clear to be just muttering to himself. Junyoung cautiously moved only his eyes to check on Jeongyun who remained inside.
Sure enough, the already delicate-looking Guide’s face had turned completely pale after hearing Domin’s mumbling.
“Mr. Choi Domin, I…”
Bang! At the sudden loud noise, Jeongyun turned his gaze toward the sound. Junyoung, equally startled, looked in the same direction.
The potted plant in the corner of the Department Head’s office had been shattered to pieces. Jeongyun wouldn’t know, but Junyoung immediately recognized that Domin was the one who destroyed it. This is what people called a waste of ability!
“Domin, calm down…”
“Shut up if you don’t want to get crushed.”
Domin didn’t like anything—not Junyoung anxiously watching him, not Jeongyun with his pale face, not even his own body that had started aching after breaking just one measly plant.
Domin clenched his tingling fingertips and clicked his tongue softly.
“Guide Yeo Jeongyun is free to kick away my offer, but if you refuse, I’ll return the pain I have to feel when erasing this damn imprint ten times over, so be prepared.”
“…What?”
“I’m not dying alone.”
It was a menacing threat just to hear.
They said that when removing a one-way imprint, an Esper must endure pain like having flesh completely cut out and scraped away. That alone was terrible, but ten times that pain?
‘What should I do?’
Domin turned back to the frightened Jeongyun, roughly grabbed his chin, and looked him in the eyes. As this was unauthorized contact, naturally, no Guiding occurred.
“Damn it.”
Domin’s face automatically twisted as the pain in his fingertips intensified. Making an effort to smooth his expression, Domin released Jeongyun’s chin. There was no reason to touch a Guide when there was no Guiding.
“I’ll give you a day to think about it. That should be enough time.”
“…A, a day?”
“Should I wait longer? When Guide Yeo Jeongyun is the one who made the mistake?”
“N-no.”
“Good to see you understand.”
Domin said while lightly dusting off his hands.
For now, Jeongyun as a Guide still held the initiative in Guiding, and Domin as an Esper had to follow that.Â
But if Jeongyun became Domin’s dedicated Guide, things would be different.
Why would he go back to someone like Ju Saeon when he could have a convenient Guide who would do as much Guiding as he wanted if he just sweet-talked them a bit? Domin wasn’t a fool who would throw away such an opportunity.
“I think I’ve explained enough, so let’s end here for today and meet again in a day.”
“…”
“I hope you’ll make a wise decision.”
After finishing what he had to say, Domin turned around and disappeared through the door.
Junyoung, who had been watching the two while holding his breath, approached Jeongyun and handed him something. It was a note with a phone number written on it.
“You can contact me at this number.”
“Thank you…”
Junyoung nodded slightly before following after Domin. Left all alone, Jeongyun could only come to his senses after a long while.
“Ah…”
As Jeongyun tried to stand up from the sofa, his legs gave out, and he sat back down. Thump, thump, his heart was racing. He raised his trembling hand and placed it on his left chest. It wasn’t easy to calm down even as he tried to take deep breaths.
“What should I do…”
Jeongyun closed his eyes tightly.
Last night, perhaps because of the difference in their ranks, simple contact had been useless. If they hadn’t gone all the way, he wouldn’t have been able to save Domin.
The memory of that helplessness was so clear that Jeongyun had refused to become his dedicated Guide.
But despite his refusal, Domin had not given up and proposed several times that he become his dedicated Guide. Although his approach was intense, he had even given a day’s grace period.
Domin wanted him, a C-ranked Guide, instead of the B-ranked Guide Ju Saeon who had been by his side all this time.
“…Calm down.”
One breath in, one breath out.
Only after repeating deep breaths several times did Jeongyun manage to calm his racing heart. He leaned back deeply against the sofa. As his complicated feelings settled down, even his reason began to change his answer.
“Would it be okay for me to be greedy?”
But he still couldn’t give a clear answer.
* * *
“D-Domin!”
Junyoung, who had followed behind, called out to Domin who was walking straight ahead without saying a word. Domin pretended not to hear and quickened his pace.
If he didn’t leave this place quickly, he might turn around and go back to Yeo Jeongyun at any moment. Then, true to his nature, he’d probably break his neck.
Don’t cause trouble. Domin repeatedly told himself the same thing in his mind, trying to find his reason that was attempting to run away.
“Choi Domin, stop for a moment.”
Junyoung finally ran up and blocked Domin’s path. Domin stopped and tried to push aside Junyoung who fearlessly stood in his way.
“Ugh…”
But the moment he tried to use his ability, the throbbing pain intensified, and it didn’t work. Seeing Domin’s twisted face, Junyoung quietly removed the protective barrier that had been shielding his body.
“Shut up and let’s go.”
“You still haven’t returned that.”
“What are you—”
Junyoung gestured with his eyes toward Domin’s left pocket. Only then did Domin remember the pager belonging to Department Head Jung Yona that he had put in his jacket pocket.
Domin took the pager out of his pocket and tossed it to Junyoung. Junyoung, who caught the pager in surprise, opened his eyes wide.
“Return it.”
“…Me?”
“Would you rather I go?”
Frightened by the menacing voice, Junyoung quickly disappeared.
Domin was about to head to the parking lot first but realized he hadn’t received the car keys and stopped in frustration. However, Junyoung had already gone too far to hear his voice.
“…Damn it, nothing’s going right.”
He would have to wait somewhere suitable until Junyoung returned. Looking around, Domin spotted a break room in the distance.
He remembered seeing it before. It was the same break room that had been playing the same advertisement from years ago even now.
[Waiting in the break room]
Domin took out his phone and sent a message to Junyoung saying he would wait in the break room. Since Junyoung didn’t check it right away, he was probably getting scolded by Department Head Jung Yona on Domin’s behalf.
If Domin had a conscience, he might feel a little sorry for Junyoung, but unfortunately, he had no such conscience.
“Choi Domin.”
As he was heading to the break room, a familiar voice called out to Domin. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Domin sighed deeply.
“Choi Domin!”
When Domin showed no reaction, the other person raised his voice. The sharp voice echoing through the quiet corridor caused Guides in the Guiding rooms to show interest one by one and come outside.
That bastard always tried to gather attention from others to put him at a disadvantage. Knowing this trick all too well, Domin reluctantly turned toward Ju Saeon who was calling him.
“What.”
At Domin’s nonchalant response, Saeon’s face twisted greatly. He must have been crying a lot, as his already unpleasant face was swollen and ugly.
What reason did he have to cry?
Domin had reluctantly played along with the pathetic lover act because Saeon had blackmailed him with Guiding, but now Saeon seemed to be under the illusion that they had actually become lovers.
Saeon, who had walked up with large strides, boldly pushed aside Domin’s suit jacket and ripped open his shirt buttons. After completely exposing Domin’s shirt, which instantly became like a tattered rag, Saeon checked the deep imprint on his chest and burst into a hollow laugh.
“…Who is it?”
Instead of answering, Domin just shrugged his shoulders. Holding back his rising anger at Domin’s shameless face that was clearly lying, Saeon grabbed him by the collar and asked again.
“Who’s the bastard that imprinted on you?”
“I have no reason to tell you.”
Saeon’s eyes shook greatly, surprised by Domin’s cold attitude that clearly drew a line. Domin lightly brushed off the hand holding his collar. Giving up on his ruined shirt, he put his disheveled jacket back on properly.
Now Saeon had lost his weapon of Guiding. So there was no need to play along anymore.
Though Domin wanted to twist his neck right then and there, he couldn’t waste his ability when he hadn’t yet persuaded Jeongyun.
“You, remove the imprint right now.”
He still didn’t understand the situation and continued to cross the line.
With a deep sigh, Domin approached Saeon and placed a hand on his shoulder. Then, bending down to match eye level, he spoke in a low voice.
“Read the situation. You’re not my dedicated Guide anymore.”
How much had he wanted to say this? Seeing Saeon’s miserably distorted face, Domin couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Instead of laughing out loud while holding his stomach as he wanted to, Domin patted Saeon’s trembling shoulder.
“You should have treated me better before.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
