# Chapter 27
## Chapter 3. Unrequited Love
[Where are you?]
[Almost there]
[Hurry up -_- My neck is going to break from waiting]
[Sorry, I’ll be there soon]
After sending a reply to Wooyeon, Jeongyun quickened his pace. Being unfamiliar with going out after so long, he had paid attention to too many details, and by the time he left home, he was already definitely going to be late.
According to the Guide Protection Act, going out required a complicated procedure, so even on holidays, Guides mostly stayed at home unless there was something special.
But today, he planned to enjoy a leisurely time outside with Wooyeon as a change of mood. They would go to a crowded restaurant, visit a café—just normal everyday activities.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
The busy district was full of holiday excitement. The faces of people enjoying weekend freedom after escaping the tight weekdays were very bright.
Naturally blending in with the crowd, Jeongyun entered the shopping mall where Wooyeon was waiting. Perhaps bored from waiting, Wooyeon was holding a half-empty coffee.
“You never used to be late for work.”
“I’m sorry.”
Wooyeon sighed deeply and grabbed Jeongyun’s arm, saying they’d be late for the movie. The first place the two headed was the movie theater inside the shopping mall.
Inside the darkened theater, people were seated densely. According to Wooyeon, this was the most anticipated film of the first half of the year, so the theater was completely full without a single empty seat.
“Here it is.”
Wooyeon, who was walking ahead, gestured.
Jeongyun followed the lights up the stairs and sat next to Wooyeon. They seemed to have arrived just in time, as the advertisements ended and the movie began.
‘It’s just ordinary.’
Though it was supposed to be a superhero movie, it wasn’t much different from Espers fighting terrorists. Fire coming from hands, ice from mouths, and among them was even a hero using telekinesis like Domin.
‘He hasn’t contacted me since then.’
That day, Jeongyun had again lost consciousness due to excessive Guiding. And when he opened his eyes, as expected, Domin was gone.
The first thing Jeongyun felt when left alone was sadness toward Domin.
It was painful that Domin had pushed him until he fainted despite Jeongyun saying he was sick, but what troubled him even more was that the image of Domin leaving with Saeon remained in his mind like a lump that wouldn’t disappear.
Though he wanted to ask why, Domin didn’t even give him the chance. Well, even if he had asked, would Domin give a proper answer? He would probably say not to cross the line.
While ruminating on that miserable reality, Jeongyun turned his gaze and discovered medicine carelessly placed on the desk. It seemed like Domin had left it behind.
After standing there for a long while, Jeongyun ultimately couldn’t take the medicine Domin had left. Instead, he put it in the desk drawer and looked at it whenever he thought of Domin.
It was confusing. Was Domin’s true feeling the lack of concern when Jeongyun said he was sick, or was it leaving the medicine behind?
The only person who could answer this unknown question was Domin, but it had been nearly a week since then with no call.
‘The movie’s almost over.’
While thinking about Domin, the movie was rushing toward its end.
At the end, all kinds of heroes appeared to defeat the enemy and restore world peace. As always, it was the same ending.
“That was really fun.”
“Yeah.”
Wooyeon was very satisfied, saying the movie was as enjoyable as expected. Jeongyun couldn’t remember any of the movie’s content, but he pretended to have watched it attentively and agreed with Wooyeon.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything.”
“Then let’s eat something we don’t usually have at home.”
As Wooyeon wanted, the two ate Thai food that they didn’t often have, and then went to a café right next door.
Since the weather was nice, they sat at a table on the terrace rather than inside the café. The moderate sunshine felt very good. It was also fun to watch the people filling the streets.
‘This is really relaxing.’
Before becoming a Guide, this was just an ordinary passing everyday life, but now it had become a special day that required a big decision to go out.
There were countless inconveniences, but Jeongyun had never once regretted becoming a Guide. He had wanted to meet Domin, and finally had. He had achieved the dream he desperately wanted.
So, it should be okay.
“Look over there.”
Just then, Wooyeon pointed somewhere with his chin.
When Jeongyun turned his gaze, he saw people particularly gathered around one man. Some people were deliberately picking fights with the man or even bumping his shoulders.
“He’s an Esper.”
The man had a choker on his neck indicating he was a government-affiliated Esper. It had become a stigma that singled out Espers in crowds and caused discrimination.
Unregistered Espers strongly opposed this very choker. They could not accept putting chokers on people’s necks like dogs and forcibly revealing their Esper identity.
“But we’re fortunate, aren’t we? We don’t have to wear those things.”
“…That’s true.”
Although the “Esper Hatred Project” had been going on for several years, despite numerous attempts, people’s perceptions hadn’t changed. Domin had become famous, but that was all.
People didn’t distinguish between government Espers and terrorists. To them, Espers were just mutants who destroyed cities and harmed people.
“Get lost! You murderer!”
“I don’t want to be in the same space as an Esper bastard!”
“Just die already!”
Meanwhile, the crowd was becoming increasingly intense.
The Esper, who had been backing away, was eventually driven off the street. After being pushed to the road where cars were speeding by, he finally left the busy district as if fleeing.
People cheered as they watched the man’s retreating figure. Jeongyun felt extremely conflicted seeing them rejoice as if they had driven away a monster.
‘That person must be the same as us.’
Just as he and Wooyeon had made a big decision to go out and enjoy the holiday, that Esper probably had too. But Espers couldn’t freely enjoy ordinary daily life because of discrimination, and Guides because of safety concerns.
This Esper hatred also made Guides in the crowd hide themselves more. Though not as much as Espers, Guides also had to endure sharp gazes from people if their identity was revealed.
Some even hated Guides who helped Espers in the same way. Like Jeongyun’s own family, whose attitude changed immediately after hearing he had taken the Guide test.
“People are really too much. If it weren’t for Espers, we would all have died a long time ago.”
“…Most people don’t think about that.”
“Well, to people, government Espers and terrorists are probably the same thing.”
Wooyeon laughed weakly and drank the rest of his drink in one go. After silently fiddling with the empty glass, he stood up saying he would go to the bathroom.
Left alone, Jeongyun looked at the scene that had returned to a normal busy district after the Esper had disappeared. It was strange. The atmosphere was so different just because one person had gone.
‘To people, Espers and Guides are probably the same.’
Perhaps because of the coffee, a bitter taste lingered in his mouth. Turning his gaze from the street, Jeongyun finished the rest of his coffee, which had become weak as the ice melted.
“What day is it today?”
Wooyeon asked as he sat down after returning from the bathroom. When Jeongyun asked what was going on, deep irritation and dissatisfaction appeared on Wooyeon’s face.
“You really didn’t know? They say Choi Domin is doing an interview here.”
“…Huh?”
Jeongyun couldn’t easily believe it. For good reason—unlike other celebrities, Domin rarely appeared before fans because he was an Esper.
Even though perceptions had changed a lot, Esper-phobics existed everywhere, so it was to prevent unnecessary accidents. As a government Esper, Domin couldn’t attack citizens who attacked him, which made it even more so.
Because of this, even simple interviews were mostly conducted in securely protected studios. But now Domin had appeared in the busiest district on a weekend, of all days.
“No way…”
“Look over there.”
Wooyeon kindly told the disbelieving Jeongyun to look behind him. As Jeongyun slowly turned around, he saw Domin getting out of a car.
‘It really is Choi Domin.’
Jeongyun unconsciously stood up from his seat.
When Domin emerged, waiting people crowded around, but thanks to his height, which was a head taller than most, Jeongyun could spot Domin from anywhere.
“Do you want to go?”
Wooyeon asked Jeongyun, who seemed entranced. Retrieving his far-gone thoughts, Jeongyun sat back down embarrassedly.
“No. I came to hang out with you today.”
Though he tried to speak in a bright voice pretending to be fine, the perceptive Wooyeon knew Jeongyun was feeling very regretful.
Meanwhile, Domin had gone inside the building, but fans wouldn’t leave the front. In fact, even regular people who had heard the rumors gathered, and the street became so packed that there was no room to step.
If he went now, he could still see Domin doing the interview, but he couldn’t leave Wooyeon behind. After much deliberation, Jeongyun decided to focus on spending time with Wooyeon.
“Wow! Yeo Jeongyun choosing me over Choi Domin, I’m touched?”
Wooyeon, who was in a good mood, playfully poked Jeongyun’s side. While they were bickering with Jeongyun telling him to stop, suddenly a loud explosion was heard from somewhere.
BOOM!
The clear sky was covered with black smoke, people were injured, and solid buildings collapsed.
And so, the busy district that had been full of holiday excitement turned into chaos.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
