# Chapter 35
Jeongyun, visiting the cafeteria after a long time, was quite excited. For the past few days, he had been skipping lunch because he didn’t want to be alone, but now with Wooyeon around, he could enjoy his meals comfortably.
After filling his tray with food, Jeongyun found an empty seat and gestured to Wooyeon who was following him.
As Wooyeon sat across from Jeongyun, he asked:
“You seem to be in a good mood today?”
“Hmm, maybe it’s because you’re here.”
“…Please stop saying creepy things.”
Wooyeon waved his hands in horror. He told Jeongyun to stop the unnecessary talk and start eating, placing a spoon directly in Jeongyun’s hand before starting his own meal.
Jeongyun picked up a rolled egg from the pile he had stacked like a mountain on his tray and put it in his mouth. The savory taste filled his mouth. The cafeteria’s rolled eggs were always delicious, but they tasted especially good today.
“There are no B-grade guys today.”
At Wooyeon’s words, Jeongyun finally looked around. He thought the cafeteria seemed quiet, and it was because the noisy group wasn’t there. His mood improved even more.
“Is Ju Saeon’s group not bothering you anymore?”
“They’re the same, really. But at least they’ve stopped doing childish things like coming over and bumping into my shoulder.”
Wooyeon recalled what he saw of Jeongyun that day. The sight of the usually quiet Jeongyun rushing at Saeon had been a big shock to Wooyeon too.
He knew Jeongyun had a bit of a personality behind his calm exterior, but his fierce responses without backing down were unexpected. Despite having spent a long time together, Wooyeon realized then that he might not know Jeongyun as well as he thought.
“Of course. They’ll be careful if only to avoid getting hit by you.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Your soup’s getting cold. Eat your rice first.”
Wooyeon quickly ended the conversation and hurriedly ate the rice on his tray. Just as Jeongyun was about to continue his meal, the Pager in his pocket began to sound an alarm.
Beep-beep, beep-beep.
As the loud noise filled the cafeteria, people started looking over. Jeongyun fumbled to take out the Pager and immediately pressed the confirm button. Only then did the noisy alarm stop.
“What timing.”
As Wooyeon pointed out, it was lunchtime. It was considered rude to contact a Guide during their only break time.
However, since Domin had an irregular schedule, Jeongyun couldn’t simply ignore the call. After looking at the food remaining on his tray, Jeongyun finally stood up.
“Are you going?”
“Yes, I think I have to.”
After apologizing to Wooyeon, Jeongyun cleared his tray and headed straight to the Guiding room. In that short time, the call rang again.
He thought it would take Domin some time to arrive, but it seemed he was already here. After pressing the confirm button, Jeongyun hurried his steps.
He quickly climbed the stairs and reached the floor where the Guiding room was located. As he opened the heavy iron door, he saw an empty corridor without a single person.
Following the line of rooms, Jeongyun spotted Domin standing in the distance. Dressed in a colorful suit again today, Domin was shining all by himself.
“Choi Domin—”
Just as he was about to greet him happily, an unexpected person appeared from behind the wall blocking his view. It was Saeon, who had been notably absent today.
The two were talking in front of Jeongyun’s Guiding room. Unlike Saeon, whose eyes were red as if he might cry, Domin was looking down indifferently.
‘Should I go?’
As Jeongyun hesitated, he slowly approached the two. Just as he was about to call Domin’s name again, his eyes met with Saeon, who had turned to look to the side.
Saeon let fall the tears that had been barely held back and bit his lip hard. Then, grabbing Domin by the collar, who hadn’t yet noticed Jeongyun coming, he pulled him forcefully.
Right before Jeongyun’s eyes, their lips met precisely.
Jeongyun froze in shock. Domin seemed the same, standing still with his eyes wide open. Seeing this, Saeon tried to deepen the kiss even more, as if to make a show of it.
“What are you doing?”
When a hot tongue licked his lips, Domin finally came to his senses and pushed Saeon away. Saeon stepped back weakly and looked to the side instead of at Domin. Following his gaze, Domin also turned his head and finally noticed Jeongyun.
“…Oh, hello.”
In a situation where no one could easily speak, Jeongyun chose an awkward greeting. It probably looked foolish, but his mind had gone blank and he couldn’t do anything else.
“…Shit.”
Domin cursed harshly and glared at Saeon. Even in this terrible situation, Saeon was smiling broadly. Well, he would be satisfied since he had planned for this to happen.
With his mind turning bright red, Domin felt that if he stayed there any longer, he might really twist Saeon’s neck. After letting out a deep sigh, Domin approached the hesitant Jeongyun.
“Give me your key card.”
“…What?”
“The Guiding room key.”
Jeongyun fumbled in his pocket and took out the Guiding room key card. Taking it, Domin grabbed Jeongyun’s hand, which was frozen like a fool’s, and headed straight for the Guiding room.
“I’ll deal with you later.”
Of course, before going inside, he didn’t forget to leave a brutal warning for Saeon. Though Saeon moved his lips as if he had something to say, Domin closed the door without looking back after those words.
Only after they were completely cut off from the outside did Domin release Jeongyun’s hand. Then he turned around, but Jeongyun was still in a daze. The scene he had just witnessed must have been quite shocking.
“Guide Jeongyun.”
“Yes?”
At Domin’s call, Jeongyun barely regained his senses. Though he tried to smile as if nothing was wrong, the corners of his mouth trembled slightly. Despite his feelings, his expression wouldn’t change easily.
He knew it. That what just happened was an accident.
Since Saeon had unilaterally pulled Domin in, there was nothing to misunderstand. He just needed to accept the situation as it was.
Yes, he understood that logically.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine—”
Suddenly, something wet trickled down his cheek.
Raising his hand to touch his face, Jeongyun belatedly realized it was tears. He didn’t know why he was crying. He really was fine, or rather, he should be fine.
“Haah…”
A deep irritation could be felt in Domin’s sigh.
Jeongyun wiped away his tears with his sleeve. Though he smiled and said he was fine, Domin’s distorted expression wouldn’t ease.
“Sh-should we start the Guiding?”
Jeongyun asked while watching Domin’s reaction.
Domin didn’t give any answer. After hesitating, Jeongyun barely gathered enough courage to reach out his hand, but this time Domin stepped far away.
“No. Today doesn’t seem like the right day.”
His cold voice drew a firm line.
Unable to look at Domin’s face, Jeongyun kept his gaze down. The toe of Domin’s dress shoe that had been facing him turned around.
If he let Domin go now, Jeongyun would keep replaying what he had just seen until the next call, and he’d be hurt the entire time. So he wanted to get a clear confirmation from Domin.
“…You and Ju Saeon aren’t in any kind of relationship, right?”
At Jeongyun’s sudden question, Domin stopped walking. He let go of the doorknob and turned around. Jeongyun also raised his lowered head to face Domin.
“Is that so important to you?”
After hesitating at Domin’s question, Jeongyun nodded honestly. Even if it meant nothing to Domin, it wasn’t the same for him. He hated the idea of Saeon continuing to be entangled with Domin.
“I was waiting for Guide Jeongyun when Ju Saeon came, and as I was trying to send him away politely, that bastard suddenly kissed me. I was just a victim. Is this the answer Guide Jeongyun wants?”
“I…”
“Do you know what I hate the most?”
Domin asked as he stepped forward. With the suddenly changed atmosphere, Jeongyun felt afraid of Domin for the first time. He unconsciously took a step back.
Domin followed the retreating Jeongyun and gave the answer to that unknown question:
“People who meddle in my business just because they like me.”
Tap, Domin’s fingertip touched Jeongyun’s forehead.
Feeling a chill, Jeongyun’s shoulders trembled. Though Domin was smiling now, it wasn’t really a smile. He was quietly angry.
‘What was I hoping for?’
He thought Jeongyun would be different, but he wasn’t. In the end, he was just like Ju Saeon. Using the excuse of liking him to slowly cross the line, and eventually trying to dominate him.
Rather than repeating the same mistake, it was better to crush any such thoughts from the beginning. This was why he had chosen Jeongyun, who was only a C-grade, in the first place.
Yes, the problem was that he had been too lenient with a Guiding battery that he had only brought to use when convenient.
“If you want to have a one-sided crush, do it quietly by yourself. Don’t expect anything from me.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
