# Chapter 55
“Why do you get so irritated as soon as you pick up the phone?”
-What were you thinking just going there, huh?
It wasn’t just Haegang who suspected that Dohyun had deliberately allowed himself to be captured.
In truth, the connection between the fire at Dohyun’s house and Jiwhan’s direct visit was ambiguous, and while there were suspicions that something might happen to Dohyun, nothing could be confirmed.
That’s why Dohyun spent time improving his abilities as preparation, not knowing what might happen to him. Haegang, who trained with him, objectively judged that Dohyun could escape, but from Chan’s perspective as a friend, that wasn’t the case at all.
Chan’s voice continued to flow from the other end of the phone, but Dohyun dropped the phone and checked on Haegang. Technically, the kidnapping had targeted Haegang, and the person they had intended to summon was Dohyun. Haegang wasn’t unaware of this fact. Since the enemy was likely an Esper, they couldn’t send Haegang, so instead, Handam, an Esper, had gone—there was much to confirm in this situation.
“Stop arguing. Can you check what’s happening with Esper Ye Handam right now?”
-Sigh… Are you changing the subject?
“Yes, I’m changing it, so tell me quickly.”
-I’m talking secretly, and we’re continuously monitoring the situation. We’ve been tracking the location from the beginning. It’s not far from where you were taken.
It was strange. The people who kidnapped Dohyun were merely acting on someone else’s orders, and the kidnapping itself was actually bait to lure in an Esper. In fact, because they mistook him for a Guide, they even discussed where they should release Dohyun so he could be found quickly, trying to minimize their crime.
But the place where they tried to lure the Esper was not far from where they had hidden the Guide?
“The kidnappers were anxious about facing an Esper’s wrath, so they were talking about taking me somewhere I could be easily found by people? And there was no difference between that point and where they called the Esper?”
-Yeah. The location that showed on your phone and where Handam hyung was headed to are probably within a five-minute walk of each other.
“…Then they’d be discovered.”
-That’s what I’m saying. If they didn’t deliberately try to lure someone to where the Guide was, they should’ve dropped you somewhere you wouldn’t get involved.
The kidnappers were only responsible for sending the Esper to a designated location. Because their own safety was important, they tried their best not to harm the Guide. Such people wouldn’t have chosen a location so close.
“Where is it?”
-Don’t think about going. They were targeting you in the first place; it’ll get complicated if you go.
“I won’t go. Just tell me where it is.”
-You say you won’t go, but then ask for the location—just how much of a weirdo are you, you Baektoarai bastard.
In response to Dohyun’s words, Chan, who had been pressing down his words in anger, finally seemed to give up and told him where Handam was. After confirming the location, Dohyun ended the call before Chan could say anything more.
“Mr. Baek Dohyun.”
“Even if you try to stop me, I’ll…”
“No. Let’s get in the car.”
I had no intention of stopping you. At Haegang’s calm words, Dohyun momentarily looked awkward.
As Dohyun followed Haegang out of the abandoned building, he kept tilting his head with a strange sense of déjà vu before turning his gaze away. Once they got into Haegang’s car, Haegang checked the location from Dohyun and immediately stepped on the accelerator.
Since it was a place not far even on foot, it didn’t take more than a few minutes by car. Near the building, it was a place not easily visible, but once they came out a little, they could clearly see where Handam might be.
“It’s dangerous to get out, so just stay here.”
“Yes.”
Despite Dohyun nodding and answering, Haegang had an expression that suggested he didn’t really trust him. It was understandable to receive such a look, given that it was just yesterday they had talked about being careful.
Because Dohyun had allowed himself to be taken without resistance despite knowing it was a kidnapping, he was able to capture not only those who seized him but also the two other kidnappers waiting. However, there was a safer way to catch them in advance and check if there were any other accomplices. Dohyun had stayed still because he wanted certainty, but it was true that he had walked into danger of his own volition.
At that moment, Dohyun noticed a battle taking place in the vicinity. Smoke was rising from quite a distance. However, not knowing the situation properly, he couldn’t rush in recklessly.
“Um… maybe…”
“Esper Ye Handam didn’t go alone. Esper Baek Dohyun doesn’t need to worry.”
Though relieved, he couldn’t completely relax since he couldn’t see what was happening. He only knew something was happening from the occasional explosion sounds. That was also because Handam’s ability produced loud sounds.
Dohyun sat in the car, endlessly staring out the heavily tinted window. Would Haegang get angry if he asked to go outside and come back? Haegang noticed Dohyun’s expression but deliberately didn’t make eye contact.
Dohyun had been staring at what seemed to be the place where the battle was occurring, when suddenly he tilted his head at a thought. Thanks to the improved memory after becoming an Esper, most memories remained quite clear. Of course, if he didn’t properly recognize something, he wouldn’t remember it and could live as usual, but if he recalled a memory, the scene he wanted to think about would be vividly remembered.
Conversely, memories from before becoming an Esper were blurry. It was hard to remember easily unless they were particularly painful memories, and Dohyun didn’t particularly try to recall them.
But for some reason, this area wasn’t unfamiliar to Dohyun. With a feeling like a blurry buried memory was overlapping, Dohyun continued to stare intently at the place where Handam might be.
‘Where was it?’
Why did it seem like he would remember? What kind of place was this…
‘Seonwoo.’
Dohyun’s eyes widened as he quickly opened the car door and jumped out. Haegang, who had been answering a ringing phone, looked at Dohyun in confusion. Dohyun stood in front of the car, checking his surroundings with trembling eyes.
“No way, no way…”
Haegang, who was about to stop Dohyun, thinking he might run toward the battle, was confused when he saw him turning back the way they had come.
“Esper Baek Dohyun!”
Haegang shouted for the first time, but Dohyun had already disappeared from sight.
❖ ❖ ❖
Dohyun stood in front of the building, swallowing his breath. It wasn’t just a simple sense of déjà vu. It was a place clearly imprinted in his memory. It wasn’t uncertain because it was a memory from before becoming an Esper. He had pushed it deep into his memory and tried his best not to recall it.
It wasn’t a good memory. It was a place he had been avoiding because he didn’t want to remember it anymore. Dohyun grabbed the wall with trembling hands.
‘Han Seonwoo. You should listen to hyung.’
‘Seonwoo. You’ll be good today, right?’
Young Seonwoo was pushed against the wall and grabbed by the collar. The grip around his neck was so tight that he could barely breathe.
‘Hyung clearly told you to put it well, right?’
He wanted to cry but couldn’t. Tears welled up but didn’t fall. Young Seonwoo was more accustomed to enduring than crying, so he had no choice but to swallow his breath and endure the shower of malice. Not seeing that he was choking and gasping, the one holding Seonwoo only tightened his grip.
‘You just need to place it there. That’s what hyung said, our maknae.’
While not really thinking that way, the boy who looked almost like an adult pretended to adore Seonwoo. Not thinking that way at all inwardly, yet pouring out all kinds of affectionate words. The boy, Han Jiwhan, was like that.
When Seonwoo dropped a tear, Jiwhan threw him to the ground and flicked Seonwoo’s tear that had fallen on his hand into the air.
‘You wet hyung’s hand.’
Seonwoo curled up, saying he was sorry. It would soon pour out again. Indiscriminate violence. It was a given for Seonwoo.
‘Our Seonwoo, did you really hate it that much? Did hyung’s words not sound like words to you?’
It was a frightening question. Dohyun remembered the blows that followed the question of whether his words didn’t sound like words.
The only person who noticed and frowned at the increasing wounds on Dohyun’s body was that teacher. But how could Seonwoo point a spear at the only person who cared about him with his own hands? Seonwoo kept his mouth shut.
He couldn’t deny Jiwhan’s words because he didn’t want more wounds. Even if he couldn’t say he didn’t want to do it, he could endure—Dohyun clenched his fist.
In Seonwoo’s hand was the document Jiwhan had given him. He didn’t know where Jiwhan had gotten it from. But he sensed that if he placed this document in the teacher’s drawer as Jiwhan had instructed, a big problem would arise.
If only he could die like this. It was a thought too terrible for a child to consider, but Seonwoo desperately hoped for it. For the darkness to deepen just like this.
‘Even if it’s not you, there are many who will do it.’
‘Our Seonwoo is so kind that you give your affection to the wrong places.’
After the pain subsided to some extent, Jiwhan would stroke Seonwoo’s hair. Then, in a voice as if looking at the most lovable thing in the world, he would whisper: Hyung, will you forgive me? To this question filled with certainty, Seonwoo would only nod helplessly.
No one helped Seonwoo. Even when he was pushed and fell because of his hyung and noonas, adults would laugh and say that pranks should be done in moderation, sending Seonwoo back into their arms.
‘Our maknae. Our pretty one.’
When the one who had made it so he couldn’t cry even in pain called him as if he cherished Dohyun more than anyone else, that voice suffocated him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
