# Chapter 13
Domin whispered affectionately. Jeongyun swallowed what he was about to say and looked up to check the clock on the wall. It was already past 10 PM.
“…N-now?”
Because of the Guide Protection Law, Jeongyun had never gone out late at night since becoming a Guide. Reporting his movements was annoying, and there was also a big risk of meeting unregistered Espers at night.
The answer was already decided, but his trembling lips were full of hesitation. But a private meeting? This was a chance to be the only fan who could meet Choi Domin, who didn’t even hold fan meetings.
‘Since Mr. Choi Domin is the one asking to meet…’
Even if it was troublesome, he could go out if he reported his movements. He wanted to stop the second hand that kept moving toward later hours without pause, even during this moment of deliberation.
Just as Jeongyun was about to speak after much consideration, a small laugh came from the other end of the phone.
[I’m joking. It would be impolite to ask to meet after 10 PM.]
“Ah. R-right.”
If Domin had spoken a little later, Jeongyun would have answered that he wanted to meet. Jeongyun rubbed the back of his neck, which was warm with embarrassment, and forced a laugh.
At this moment, he was thankful that this was a phone call and they weren’t face to face. Otherwise, Domin would have seen the disappointment he couldn’t hide.
[Did you perhaps hope I was serious?]
“N-no, not at all.”
[Then that’s good. Sleep well, and I’ll see you tomorrow at headquarters.]
Click. Domin hung up after finishing what he had to say. Jeongyun closed his lips, which had been about to speak, and fiddled with his phone for a long time after the screen went dark, feeling disappointed.
He had wanted to say good night, but the greeting that had been circling in his mouth dissipated helplessly at the tip of his tongue.
‘I should have spoken a bit faster.’
After putting down his phone, he lay down lengthwise on the sofa. He hadn’t even changed clothes, let alone showered. He had spent hours preparing himself mentally just to call Domin.
‘It feels like a dream.’
Although only a few minutes had passed since hanging up, it felt like a distant dream. Jeongyun picked up his phone again and looked at the number clearly marked in the call history.
If it wasn’t a dream, this was really Domin’s number.
“Ugh—”
Jeongyun stamped his feet excitedly, then turned his body to the side after lying on his back looking at the ceiling.
Trying to calm his racing heart, he grabbed the remote control and turned on the television. As if by fate, Domin’s commercial was playing once again.
“Is this a new one?”
Unlike the previous commercial where the background was a refreshing sea, this one was immersed in deep darkness all around. Small stones scattered among the ruins of a collapsed building, and from far away, Domin in a deep navy suit was walking toward the camera.
As the camera slowly zoomed in on Domin approaching, a relaxed smile spread across his previously stiff face. When Domin raised his right hand, the stones floating in the air stopped, and beneath them, deep white letters appeared.
[We are your HEROES.]
It felt like watching a well-made action movie trailer rather than a commercial. Even after the commercial ended, Jeongyun was deeply immersed in the afterglow for a long time.
He only realized later that the screen had changed to an unfamiliar drama after the commercial ended—that’s how lost in thought he had been.
Now he could see Domin, whom he had only watched on screens, closer than anyone else. After tomorrow, he would really become Domin’s dedicated Guide.
Tomorrow was the day his long-cherished wish, which he thought would only remain a dream, would come true.
“It feels like a dream.”
He raised his hand and pinched his cheek hard. The pain was so clear that he let out an “ouch.” Jeongyun rubbed his aching cheek, then rolled over on the sofa and stamped his feet hard.
Since it was nighttime, he couldn’t scream, but if that wasn’t the case, he would have shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Stay calm. I need to calm down… but I’m so nervous.”
He would calm down for a moment, then smile again, then try to calm down again, repeating this cycle. Suddenly looking at the clock, he saw it was well past midnight, but his heart kept pounding hard.
There would be no sleep for him tonight.
* * *
Even after ending the call, Domin stared at his darkened phone screen for a long time. The conversation had flowed pleasantly, but something seemed to bother him.
If Jeongyun was going to change his decision in a day, he should have given the answer Domin wanted from the beginning. Domin deeply sighed and furrowed his brow in rising irritation. Perhaps because of the initial refusal, he wasn’t feeling good despite getting the answer he wanted.
“Here.”
Throughout the entire call, Junyoung had been anxious that his phone might meet the same fate as Domin’s phone that had been shattered to pieces earlier today.
Fortunately, no accident occurred, but the foul-tempered Choi Domin handed over the phone using his telekinesis rather than his hands, keeping it precariously balanced.
Thus, Junyoung had a dramatic reunion with his phone, which returned without a single scratch. It was a precious device with 12 monthly payments still remaining.
“I’m going to headquarters tomorrow morning.”
He had planned to rest comfortably as he had no schedule for a long time, but now that he had an appointment with Yeo Jeongyun, he had to go to headquarters even if it was bothersome.
Moreover, the procedure for changing a dedicated Guide was very complicated. Normally, he would have had to talk things through with Ju Saeon and get his consent, but Domin planned to terminate the contract unilaterally.
Since he had decided to end it anyway, he wanted to completely screw over Ju Saeon with all the emotions he had built up over time—that would make him feel a bit better.
“What time?”
“As early as possible.”
Junyoung’s face filled with confusion about what “as early as possible” actually meant. Domin ignored his desperate look asking for a specific time and got up from the sofa to return to his room.
“Domin, are you really going to form a dedicated partnership with Guide Yeo Jeongyun?”
Junyoung, who had been observing the situation, asked carefully. Domin paused for a moment, then nodded instead of answering.
Junyoung thought about Jeongyun. Although they hadn’t spoken much, Jeongyun was different from Saeon, who only looked out for his own interests. He would probably be pushed around by Choi Domin.
Even with training, Guides were closer to ordinary people, while Espers were basically ability users with specialized physical capabilities. They weren’t normal people, in other words.
Domin would surely demand Guiding to his satisfaction, but could Jeongyun handle it? Moreover, Domin was an A-ranked Esper while Jeongyun was a C-ranked Guide, not even a B-rank.
“But, the rank difference—”
“They say imprinting increases the matching rate, so I’ll bet on that. Well, even if it doesn’t work, I can just increase the contact.”
“W-what about Ju Saeon?”
Did Kim Junyoung have tact or not? Asking such a question when he knew all the rumors spreading around headquarters.
Feeling frustrated, Domin ran his hand over his face and let out a deep sigh.
“I’m going to dump him.”
“But still, after being partners for several years, there should be some attachment—”
“He should be grateful I haven’t broken his neck.”
Domin muttered while rubbing the back of his neck. Junyoung closed his mouth when he noticed the slight murderous intent in Domin’s eyes as he stared into empty space.
Just lifting a phone made his fingertips ache. What good was having strong abilities when he had to crawl before a Guide because of these damn aftereffects?
‘The desperate one has to crawl, right, Domin?’
The list of past offenses he had suffered from Ju Saeon was endless. What Domin had done just to please that guy who acted all high and mighty for simply holding his hand once. The mere thought of it made his teeth grind.
But now, the days of pathetically crawling on the floor just to receive Guiding were over. Once he officially formed a dedicated partnership contract with Yeo Jeongyun, it would be completely over for Ju Saeon.
Would Ju Saeon be able to hold his head up after hearing that he, a B-rank, had lost to a C-rank? He had to see that pride-filled bastard crumble right before his eyes.
“Pfft.”
Suddenly, Domin’s shoulders shook as he started laughing.
Hearing the eerie laughter that sounded like he had lost his mind, Junyoung carefully got up from his seat without even breathing. In situations like this, the best strategy was to quickly leave.
“…I’ll come early tomorrow.”
Junyoung greeted him in a small voice and fled from Domin’s house. Left alone in the living room, Domin laughed heartily and then leaned his relaxed body deeply into the sofa.
“I won’t be pushed around anymore.”
What Domin wanted was the decision-making authority in Guiding. The authority to control everything—the frequency, intensity, everything about Guiding—as he wished, even if the Guide didn’t want it.
Normally, no Guide in their right mind would give up decision-making authority to an Esper, but Yeo Jeongyun might be different.
No, Domin intended to get it no matter what. And he had a good excuse now with the one-way imprinting.
“I’m really lucky.”
A pleased smile remained fixed on his face.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
