# Chapter 45
Leaving the Guiding room in anger, Domin stopped after just a few steps. But by then, the door had completely closed, giving him no chance to return.
Domin considered going back to twist Jeongyun’s neck but barely managed to calm his anger.
Yes, the one who deserved to be cursed out now wasn’t Yeo Jeongyun but Kim Junyoung. If that damned Junyoung had just done his job properly, everything would have been fine.
“Fuck…”
Domin took out his phone and quickly dialed Junyoung’s number. After the connection tone rang a couple of times, the clueless Junyoung answered cheerfully.
Domin didn’t hold back his curses.
“You bastard, can’t you do one damn job right without fucking it up?”
[“…What are you talking about?”]
“I thought Yeo Jeongyun just took the gift and kept his mouth shut, but it turns out the flowers I sent never got delivered—did they fly to the sky or sink into the ground?”
[“What? The delivery didn’t go through?”]
“Yeah, you bastard. Because you messed up, the flowers that should have gone to Yeo Jeongyun didn’t arrive.”
[“That can’t be…”]
Junyoung protested his innocence, saying he really didn’t know anything about it.
Cutting off Junyoung’s offer to forward the message from the delivery company, Domin ended the call.
Even if he showed him that message now, it wouldn’t make the flowers that never reached Jeongyun suddenly appear, so there was no point in listening further. Either way, the fact that Kim Junyoung had screwed up the job wouldn’t change.
‘This is bullshit.’
Junyoung called back, but Domin didn’t answer. After several more irritating vibrations from his phone, Domin was about to smash it but barely contained his anger.
Brushing up his disheveled bangs, Domin looked back at Jeongyun’s firmly closed Guiding room door. You’d think someone would come out at least once after leaving like that, but all remained quiet.
What could have happened during the week he was away on his overseas schedule that changed Jeongyun’s attitude? He couldn’t understand at all. Yeo Jeongyun, who had been as transparent as looking through a glass marble, had suddenly become opaque.
‘All that talk about respect, but in the end, he just wanted to stand on top of my head.’
That day, he’d been unusually generous and listened to all of Jeongyun’s chattering, so Jeongyun must have misunderstood something. The relationship between superior and subordinate would never be reversed, not even over his dead body.
Domin was considering going back to remind Jeongyun of that fact, but then turned away from Jeongyun’s Guiding room. Even at this moment, staring at the tightly closed door made him feel like he was the only one getting worked up.
‘Why should I feel this way?’
He’d even sent a gift trying to get along better, but the result was disastrous. Indeed, it was because he did something out of character. Domin firmly resolved never to do such a thing again.
By now, Guides had gathered around, watching for a chance to speak to Domin. Casually ignoring their glancing gazes, Domin walked through the corridor and arrived at the elevator.
He pressed the button and was waiting for the elevator when he heard someone running. As he frowned at the annoying sound, someone grabbed his arm.
‘Is it Jeongyun?’
Of course, Jeongyun wouldn’t let him leave like this.
Feeling better, Domin relaxed his fierce expression and looked to the side. But contrary to his expectation, it wasn’t Jeongyun who had grabbed him.
“When did you get back?”
Saeon asked with a bright smile.
First, Domin was extremely disappointed that it wasn’t Jeongyun, and second, he was angry that it was Saeon who had grabbed him.
While Domin was restraining his rising fury, the oblivious Saeon moved closer and tried to rest his head on Domin’s shoulder.
Domin pushed Saeon away in alarm.
“Choi Domin, you just—”
Saeon, pushed away, glared at Domin in disbelief.
But Domin paid no attention and brushed off the part of his clothes where Saeon had touched him. It was brief, but extremely unpleasant.
“Please refrain from unauthorized contact, Ju Saeon Guide.”
It was a tremendous insult for words that a Guide would typically say to come from an Esper’s mouth. Saeon clenched his fist tightly—though hitting wouldn’t even hurt—and his body trembled.
“You crazy bastard…”
Saeon was about to get angry but quickly lowered his voice, conscious of people watching.
Domin smirked at Saeon’s consistently predictable behavior. Shrinking under Domin’s cynical reaction, Saeon cautiously asked:
“…Didn’t you want us to get back together?”
“What nonsense is that?”
“You sent me flowers.”
So that’s where the missing flowers had ended up.
What name had that idiot Kim Junyoung written as the recipient that the flowers meant for Jeongyun arrived at Ju Saeon’s door? It was beyond pathetic—it was astonishing.
“Why would those go to you?”
“Among the Guides in Attack Team 2 that you know, who else is there besides me?”
Saeon clearly thought the bouquet was meant for him.
Domin sighed and swallowed many words.
Since it would look bad to take back what had already been given, it seemed better to just consider it thrown away. Above all, he didn’t even want to touch the flowers after they’d been in Ju Saeon’s hands. He could always buy another bouquet anytime.
“Just keep it.”
“What?”
“Think of it as something I’ve thrown away.”
“What does that…”
Sensing something odd, Saeon stopped mid-sentence.
As he slowly processed Domin’s words, Saeon’s eyes widened in shock. The idiot seemed to have finally realized that the flowers he received had been delivered to the wrong person.
There was nothing more to say and Domin could have just left, but he didn’t. Instead, he unnecessarily drove the nail deeper into Saeon, who was already suffering from realizing the truth.
“Ju Saeon, stop the delusion. Why would I send something like that to you?”
“…!”
Saeon looked up at Domin with a glare but seemed on the verge of tears. Seeing his face flushed red with shame, Domin smiled with satisfaction.
Releasing his tightly bitten lips, Saeon asked in a trembling voice:
“Don’t tell me… those were meant for Yeo Jeongyun?”
“…Do I need to answer that?”
Saeon immediately recognized the answer hidden in that brief silence. It was bad enough that the bouquet had been misdelivered, but to make matters worse, it was meant for Yeo Jeongyun. He couldn’t believe anyone could be so cruel.
“Why have you been like this lately?”
“Like what?”
“Why do you keep—”
Saeon abruptly stopped speaking and covered his face with both hands. His small shoulders heaved once before he began to sob loudly.
Domin sighed wearily.
Whenever Saeon was at a disadvantage, he always tried to make Domin the bad guy to gain people’s sympathy. The best method was exactly what he was doing now—crying openly in front of everyone.
At first, Domin had been flustered and tried to comfort him, but after falling for it more than once, he now remained indifferent. No, he was tired of it. Tired that he still had to deal with Ju Saeon like this.
How long had it been since they ended their Dedicated contract, yet Saeon kept picking fights with him?
Domin actually knew the reason but tried not to think about it. He didn’t want to care about Ju Saeon’s feelings.
‘This is so tiresome.’
This is why he hated it.
People who imposed their selfish emotions always exhausted Domin. He’d almost prefer those who cursed and despised him. At least they didn’t try to manipulate him.
‘Then what if I don’t want it?’
‘I wonder if there are unusual exceptions.’
Well, that was something he’d have to observe further. Even if not now, who knows when someone might change like Ju Saeon? Domin didn’t trust people, especially Guides.
“Saeon…”
B-class Guides who had been watching the situation approached to comfort the crying Saeon. Domin watched them with emotionless eyes and reached out to press the elevator button again.
The elevator that had already arrived quickly opened its doors. Stepping inside, Domin pressed the lobby button and waited for the doors to close.
Seeing Domin coldly turning away from Saeon, who until recently had been his Dedicated partner and had even received a bouquet gift lately, the B-class Guides started adding their comments one by one.
“That’s too harsh when someone is crying.”
“Was Choi Domin always like that? I’m really disappointed.”
“Good thing you terminated the Dedicated contract. It’s better not to take trash like that even if it’s offered.”
The elevator doors hadn’t even fully closed yet, but these cowards who couldn’t say anything to his face were already muttering insults about Domin.
But Domin didn’t care. The only thought in his head was to quickly leave the headquarters and go teach that idiot Kim Junyoung a lesson.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
