Jumping into thin air without any safety net, putting absolute trust in one person, gave me an odd sense of calm—so much so that it felt like I’d grown wings on my back.
As I fell toward Baek Tae-beom, I felt a shift in my body. The discomfort I’d been feeling, like wearing clothes that didn’t quite fit, gradually faded away, and I felt like I was returning to my true self.
Baek Tae-beom caught me as I dropped. I’d expected an impact—after all, it was a considerable height—but I landed securely in his arms without the slightest pain. It made me once again realize just how strong he was.
Instinctively, I breathed in the faint scent of skin mixed with the cold air. My gaze traveled from his thick brows to his smooth forehead, and then our eyes met—those eyes, shining like gold, beautiful and radiant. He held me tightly for a moment, then slowly lowered me to the ground. Once my feet touched solid earth, I took a step back.
Baek Tae-beom raised one eyebrow as he watched me pull away. I avoided his gaze, suddenly feeling awkward for no reason.
We quickly got into the car and left the area. Baek Tae-beom drove for a while, putting distance between us and the pursuing Hunters, until he stopped the car on a deserted roadside.
Leaning against the steering wheel, Baek Tae-beom spoke.
“What about the data?”
“Here.”
I held up the USB stick.
“I’m not sure if it saved properly, though.”
Everything had happened so fast that I hadn’t had a chance to check. Part of me regretted not holding out until the very end.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Baek Tae-beom asked with concern. I nodded.
“I’m fine.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Why?”
Suddenly, Baek Tae-beom leaned over toward me. I shrank back, clutching the seatbelt, and my head bumped against the window.
“What are you—”
“We agreed you’d call me first if things got dangerous, remember, hyung? So why didn’t you call me, even when things got this bad?”
I pressed my lips together tightly. Why didn’t I call him? What kind of excuse could I possibly offer now?
Because your attitude changed? Because I felt like I was relying on you more than I thought? Because… it felt like you didn’t care about me anymore?
That’s why?
‘It’s not like we’re even dating… There’s no way I can use that kind of excuse.’
It was a ridiculous justification from the start. I lowered my gaze, speaking slowly so I wouldn’t get caught making up a lie.
“…I didn’t think it would get this serious.”
“Really?”
I nodded. Because I was looking down, I could see the back of Baek Tae-beom’s neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. His neatly placed hand extended toward me.
Baek Tae-beom cupped my chin, gently guiding me to lift my head. Caught off guard, my eyes widened.
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
In the end, I had no choice but to meet his eyes. Damn it—they were too beautiful. It was a blasphemous thought, but those eyes, fixed solely on me, were far more captivating than even Apollo’s golden light.
“Why does it matter whether I look at you or not…?”
“You’ve got something to say to me.”
Baek Tae-beom asked persistently, leaning even closer. His face filled my vision, so near our noses nearly touched. I tried to lean away, but the back of my head was already pressed against the window—I had nowhere left to retreat.
Instead, I shoved his hand away, irritated. Baek Tae-beom let go without resistance. I grimaced.
“Aren’t you the one who has something to say to me?”
“Me?”
“You…”
‘The way you treat me has changed.’
That’s what I wanted to say, but just trying to put it into words made me feel pathetic, so I clamped my mouth shut. I buried my face in my hands and sighed.
‘I must be out of my damn mind.’
Getting hung up over something this trivial…
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You know you look unbelievably frustrated right now, right?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I know, so stop giving me advice.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Ga-hyeon~ In times like this, you should just say everything~]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Ask him why his attitude changed. You can do it! ⸜(ˊᗜˋ)⸝]
Every single one of them was noisy and useless. The urge to shut off the chat window was stronger than ever today.
“…Forget it. Let’s just go back to the guild.”
But what came back was a flat refusal.
“No.”
“What?”
“Tell me. Everything.”
Baek Tae-beom spoke with a tone that made it clear he wouldn’t back down. His unwavering gaze stirred something in me. Everything, he said?
“Why should I?”
“So you’re just going to sit there, saying nothing, with that expression on your face?”
“What expression?”
“Hyung. Did you notice something was off since this morning?”
Baek Tae-beom furrowed his brows, his face showing a flicker of gloom.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“…You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Then why are you acting like this? Even lying to me.”
I bit down on my lip.
Why? That’s what I want to ask you.
Frustration welled up, and I ended up shoving Baek Tae-beom’s shoulder and yelling, my voice tight with irritation.
“You really want to know? Why I’m acting like this?”
“Hyung?”
“Yesterday… your whole attitude changed, and it messed me up. It hurt, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? Once I started noticing it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it—and now I can’t even look you in the eye!”
I could feel my face heating up, probably turning bright red, but I didn’t care. I spit it all out.
“I’m sure I did something wrong, but you won’t tell me what. Then this morning you were suddenly acting like your usual self again—but yesterday’s still stuck in my head! It’s pathetic, right? I know that! But what the hell am I supposed to do when I can’t stop thinking about it…!”
“Hyung, wait—hey, hyung.”
“You damn brat, you knew I was bothered by it and still acted that way—”
“Hyung. Hyung. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry, Ga-hyeon-hyung.”
Baek Tae-beom pulled me into his arms as I fumed. I buried my burning face into his shoulder to hide it. My ears felt like they were on fire. The heat coursing through me made my whole body feel flushed. That scent I’d inhaled earlier—his skin, the cold air—returned, tingling at the tip of my nose. A wave of unfairness washed over me.
Oblivious to all that, Baek Tae-beom whispered with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“So that’s why you got all prickly? Because I wasn’t acting like usual and didn’t dote on you?”
“Shut up…”
“Is that what you want me to do? Always think about you, only care about you?”
The more he talked, the hotter my head got. I could feel it burning all the way to the crown.
“Let me see your face, hyung. Yeah?”
“If you so much as try to look at my face right now, I swear I’ll never look at yours again.”
I growled the warning through clenched teeth. Baek Tae-beom let out a soft laugh.
“I just had a lot on my mind back then. It wasn’t because I was mad at you. Never that.”
“…That’s it? That’s all it was?”
“Yeah, that’s all.”
“So I didn’t say anything wrong to you?”
“Of course not. How could I ever hate anything you say?”
I exhaled slowly. Baek Tae-beom gently patted my shoulder, his tone warm and soothing.
“Even if you say something harsh to me, I’d never hate you, hyung. So don’t worry.”
“That’s not something you just say…”
[Your Contractor expresses affection toward you.]
A message popped up, almost mockingly. Instinctively, I gripped Baek Tae-beom’s arm.
“Hyung, why do you think I stay by your side?”
“What kind of fundamental question is that?”
I mumbled, still burying my face in his shoulder. Baek Tae-beom chuckled and answered.
“Simple. Because I like you.”
[The Constellation ‘One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction’ synchronizes with the Holy Vessel.]
“I like you, so I stay right next to you.”
“…Cut it out. It’s embarrassing.”
I pushed his shoulder away. Baek Tae-beom let himself be pushed and laughed. My face still felt hot as I sank deeper into the seat.
“You’re embarrassed?”
“Yeah.”
“Then… can I ask you for one thing?”
“What?”
“Promise you’ll say yes.”
I glanced at Baek Tae-beom. He was still smiling—the most genuinely happy smile I’d seen from him so far.
“…Fine, I’ll listen.”
“Let me hold your hand until we get back.”
I blinked, stunned by the completely unexpected request. Then I asked again to make sure.
“What?”
Baek Tae-beom repeated it word for word.
“Let me hold your hand until we get back.”
And he held out his palm. I could only stare at that rough, scarred hand in disbelief, before letting out a faint snort.
“What are you even trying to do with me?”
“I’m asking to hold your hand.”
“Why the hell would you hold my hand?”
“Because I like you.”
Are you out of your mind? The words reached my throat but I barely swallowed them down.
‘What the hell is that even supposed to mean?’
The way Baek Tae-beom was acting right now—he looked exactly like someone in love. I tried to calm myself, forcefully rationalizing. There’s no way he meant it like that. He must’ve meant just that he liked me—as a person, nothing more.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.
“……”
Slowly, I placed my hand on his palm. Baek Tae-beom wiggled his fingers, weaving them between mine until our fingers laced together.
And just like that, he started driving while holding hands. Watching him steer the wheel with one hand so easily made me want to melt into the seat and disappear.
‘Damn you, Baek Tae-beom…’
Just try bringing someone home later saying they’re your girlfriend or boyfriend. I’ll make sure to tease you so hard you’ll regret it.
