# Chapter 23
Domin left the Deputy Director’s office with documents tucked under his arm and headed straight to the Guide wing. The thought of seeing Ju Saeon’s face already annoyed him, but he had no choice since he needed a signature.
Semin had hoped for a smooth resolution, but Domin had different thoughts. If Saeon refused to sign again this time, he would snap his neck. He had long forgotten about the consequences.
“Well, look who it is, Choi Domin.”
As soon as he entered the passage to the Guide wing, a familiar voice hit his ears. When he turned around, several faces he recognized from somewhere were approaching with cocky attitudes.Â
They were Espers from the Black Team, the same team he belonged to.
‘This is going to be annoying.’
The Black Team that Domin belonged to was home to the strongest Espers after the Gray Team. As they operated on the front lines, it was also a team that took on many life-threatening risks.
But Domin had only been with them for the few months when he first joined the Black Team. After that, he had been busy working in the entertainment industry as part of the “Esper Hatred Mitigation Project.”
Perhaps because of this, they had many complaints about Domin. Unlike them, he faced fewer life threats and only did glamorous work, yet he still boasted about being part of the Black Team—it was understandable that they found it annoying.
Though he understood their feelings, it wasn’t Domin’s fault. He had politely asked to leave the team as soon as he was assigned to the “Esper Hatred Mitigation Project,” but the higher-ups kept him on the team, saying even this could be used for marketing.
‘I guess I’m the easy target.’
Domin couldn’t help but chuckle watching his teammates who couldn’t say anything to the higher-ups but came to pick on him instead. How could these be considered grown adults?
“When you come, you should stop by the team to say hello.”
An Esper approached and lightly tapped Domin’s back. Domin looked down and saw the ID tag hanging from the Esper’s neck.
Ju Minseong. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t remember the name.
“I’ve been very busy.”
Domin smiled brightly and naturally avoided Minseong. His temperament would have made him instantly break the hand that touched his back with telekinesis, but since they were on the same team, there was no need to be completely hostile.
“You think you’re the only one who’s busy? We have a lot of work too, kid.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I’ll come by next time.”
Though he had no intention of going, he needed to leave this place first. The urgent matter was getting Saeon’s signature. Once he quickly took care of this, he could reclaim his day off.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
But they didn’t seem willing to let Domin go easily. Using his telekinesis to gently push away the hand holding his shoulder, Domin wiped the smile from his face.
“I’m busy.”
He turned away from his teammates, swallowing the words that followed—so get lost. He could hear them badmouthing him from behind, but thanks to anti-fans, his mental resilience was strong enough to easily brush this off.
“Fuck.”
Of course, feeling bad was a separate issue.
If it weren’t for Ju Saeon, he wouldn’t have had to come to headquarters today. Then he wouldn’t have met the Black Team people, and his mood wouldn’t have been this terrible.
Domin stopped walking and placed his hand on his forehead where veins were bulging. If he met Saeon in this state, he might twist his neck before even asking for a signature.
Domin continued his steps only after taking deep breaths for a while to calm his mind. When he reached the floor, he was about to go to Saeon’s Guiding room when he noticed something.
‘What’s that?’
There seemed to be a physical fight in the break room, with several Guides entangled.
Momentarily forgetting about Saeon’s signature, Domin headed toward the commotion. The next most interesting thing after watching a fire was watching a fight, and he couldn’t miss this.
“Yeo Jeongyun! Stop it!”
“Saeon, calm down and stop!”
Despite the noise, it seemed only two people were fighting while the rest were busy trying to stop them. Arriving at the entrance of the break room, Domin identified the faces of the two people in the midst of fighting.
It was Yeo Jeongyun and Ju Saeon.
‘That’s unexpected.’
While it might make sense for Saeon, he thought Jeongyun looked too well-behaved to get into fights. But he was holding his own surprisingly well.
Domin wondered if this person throwing punches at Saeon with gritted teeth was really the Yeo Jeongyun he knew. Why did he only blush foolishly in front of him? This unexpected side slightly piqued Domin’s interest.
“Wow, what’s going on here?”
At Domin’s single comment, the fight stopped like magic.
Jeongyun was the first to regain his senses. Gone was the image of him frantically beating Ju Saeon, replaced by his return to a stupid face as he straightened his appearance.
Jeongyun’s eyes were solely focused on Domin. Since he seemed to misunderstand that Domin had come looking for him, Domin easily crushed Jeongyun’s expectations.
“Ju Saeon, get up.”
Saeon’s eyes shook greatly at the unexpected choice. He must have thought Domin would naturally go to Jeongyun. It might have been the case at another time, but right now, Domin needed Ju Saeon.
“Quickly.”
Saeon, brought back to his senses by Domin’s urging, took his hand. Though he wanted to avoid contact without Guiding, waiting for Saeon to get up while stupidly sprawled on the floor was even more of a waste of time.
“Can’t you walk properly?”
“Tch. I twisted my ankle when I fell earlier.”
It didn’t seem to be a lie, as Saeon’s steps were wobbly and precarious. With no choice, Domin put his arm around Saeon’s shoulders and allowed him to lean against him. This was solely to get to the Guiding room quickly.
Once I get this signature, this tiresome relationship will be over, he thought. While enduring the unpleasantness with this thought in mind, an unexpected obstacle appeared.
“Mr. Choi, Domin.”
It was Jeongyun.
Domin stopped walking and turned around. Everything Jeongyun said while awkwardly smiling was foolish. Asking if he needed Guiding, why he came, and so on.
Not wanting to extend his contact time with Saeon, Domin spat out a cursory reply. He forgot what conversation they had as soon as he turned away.
It wasn’t something worth paying much attention to.
Leaving only confusion behind, the two entered Saeon’s Guiding room. As soon as they arrived where people’s gazes couldn’t reach, Domin pushed Saeon away forcefully.
“Aack!”
Naturally, Saeon, unable to maintain his balance, tumbled to the floor. Tsk, Domin clicked his tongue lightly and immediately tossed him the documents he had brought. He didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Sign it.”
“…What?”
Saeon sharply asked back, though he clearly understood. Domin nudged the documents with his foot. This caused the torn envelope to spill its stack of papers all over.
Saeon picked up one of the scattered documents from the floor and began to read it carefully. Meanwhile, Domin brushed off every part of his body that had touched Saeon.
“…You, you came here for this?”
Saeon’s voice trembled heavily as if he had been betrayed. Domin stopped brushing his clothes and looked at Saeon’s miserably contorted face.
‘…Oh, what should I do?’
Seeing Saeon completely broken down, Domin could barely contain his laughter from escaping.
“Why, did you think I came because I wanted to see you?”
Saeon’s face turned bright red, as if hit right on target by the sarcastic remark. There should have been no reason for such a misunderstanding, but Ju Saeon was still as self-centered as ever.
Taking a step closer, Domin bent his knees to match Saeon’s eye level. Then he picked out the documents that needed signatures and kindly placed them in front of Saeon.
“Sign it quickly.”
“You, why would I—”
“Ah, a pen.”
With a flick of his finger, a pen rolled smoothly from the desk. As he was about to place it in Saeon’s hand, Saeon rebelled roughly. The pen Domin had brought flew far away.
“Choi Domin, aren’t you going too far? How can you… ask me to sign this?”
“Because I don’t need you anymore.”
“…”
At Domin’s cold words, Saeon froze. Domin retrieved the pen that had flown away and placed it calmly in Saeon’s hand.
Just sign it quickly, but then a clear drop of water fell onto the paper. Thinking it couldn’t be, Domin looked at Saeon and saw he was crying. Immediately, an annoyed sigh burst forth.
“Fuck, of all the—”
Before he could finish speaking, his collar was grabbed. After momentarily losing his senses from the sudden attack, Domin barely avoided Saeon’s face rushing toward his lips.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Why! I begged you so much just for this one thing. Now that I’m willing to do it, why are you avoiding it!”
Saeon, who lashed out in frustration, began to cry sorrowfully. Domin shook off the hand gripping his collar and couldn’t hold back a curse when he saw his severely wrinkled shirt.
Coming just to get a signature, and now this. While considering how to end this increasingly irritating situation, Saeon grabbed the hem of Domin’s pants.
“You can break the Imprint, right? Come back to me. I’ll do better. I’ll do Guiding however you want. So please—”
“Hah…”
This was the first time he had seen Ju Saeon so submissive. Until now, Domin had been the one begging miserably, but now Saeon was the one begging to let him do the Guiding.
The situation had completely reversed.
“I’ll do well. Domin, you know I like you. Just Imprint with me instead. Okay? Not one-way Imprinting, but mutual Imprinting. I’ll only Guide you too…”
Saeon was desperate. If this would bring Domin back, he could beg any number of times.
Right now, pride or anything else didn’t matter. If he could avoid signing those documents, he could even give Domin the Guiding decision rights. As long as he didn’t lose Domin, he could do anything.
“Ju Saeon.”
At Domin’s call, Saeon raised his tear-soaked face. Then a large hand came forward and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
A small hope sprouted at the gentle touch. Sure enough, Choi Domin felt the same way he did. After all, how could they break apart so easily after spending so much time together? Saeon smiled along with Domin, who was smiling brightly.
“Didn’t I tell you this before?”
Feeling uneasy at those words, Saeon’s face gradually distorted as Domin cruelly said:
“It’s too late.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
