It would have been nice to make money through archery, but after the Olympics, whenever he competed in tournaments, his heart would race and his vision would blur, making it impossible to shoot properly. After accumulating two years of garbage results, he finally reached the conclusion that he had to quit archery just to survive. His coach, who had watched him for those two years, knew his circumstances and couldn’t hold him back.
“How are you going to make a living? The only thing you know how to do is shoot arrows.”
“I awakened as a Guide. I guess there’s no law saying I should just die.”
The year Do Wonjin turned 20, he awakened as an A-class Guide, which became the decisive factor in quitting archery. And it turned out to be quite suitable for him. For someone starved of affection like him, the skin-to-skin contact required for Guiding gave him a great sense of security.
He still suffered from nightmares every night, but by using Guiding as an excuse to sleep with Espers, he could temporarily forget his nightmares. That’s why he continued private meetings with Espers even after their contractual relationships ended. Among them were those who approached him with feelings other than for Guiding, but such reasons weren’t important to Do Wonjin. All that mattered was that they needed him and that this allowed him to escape his terrible nightmares.
Then, a temporary Guide contract offer for an S-class Esper named Woo Jeongjae came to him. Although this would be his first male Esper, he knew that the higher the grade, the more money he would receive, so there was no reason to refuse. Rather, thinking of his younger sibling and mother, he had to take it.
‘He looks like an easy mark.’
It was quite amusing how he would heat up like an aluminum pot after being teased a few times. Though Espers and Guides engage in intimate activities like couples regardless of gender, Do Wonjin had no intention of going that far with a male Esper like Woo Jeongjae. Since there were many others seeking him out, he planned to just provide adequate Guiding and collect the money.
‘This seems to be his first time experiencing Guiding. I wonder what expression he’ll make when he properly receives it in bed?’
Due to his character that couldn’t stay tied to one person, he had always worked as a temporary Guide, but this was the first time he felt attracted to an Esper in this way. He realized that the skinship, which started as a playful gesture, was becoming more sincere on his part around the time when he began living together with the four Guides.
After contracting with Woo Jeongjae, Do Wonjin cut off contact with other Espers. Since his first impression had been negative, he was cautious, knowing it would be troublesome if Woo Jeongjae heard about him fooling around with other Espers.
‘I hope the other Guides don’t touch him first while I’m not around?’
But when he was left alone at the hospital, this concern bothered him more than the thought of calling another Esper. Already unable to sleep due to nightmares, and now burdened with these unnecessary worries, Do Wonjin impulsively left the hospital.
He hadn’t expected it, but when Woo Jeongjae offered him a place by his side, he found it surprising. But soon, when he realized it was because Woo Jeongjae, like himself, suffered from nightmares every night, he felt compassion for someone else for the first time in his life. He had always craved affection but never thought about giving his heart to someone else. Yet somehow, he found himself seeking out Woo Jeongjae every night, not for his own sake, but for him.
On nights when he held those hands smaller than his and provided Guiding, he too could sleep without nightmares, just like Woo Jeongjae who slept with a peaceful face. His connections with other Espers, which he had only planned to temporarily suspend, naturally faded away without much thought.
The emptiness that couldn’t be filled even when spending nights with different partners each day felt like it was being filled when he was with Woo Jeongjae. Even without receiving love from him, he was happy just knowing he was needed and could do something for him. This lifestyle was immensely satisfying for Do Wonjin.
That’s why he was sometimes afraid. Because whenever he felt happy, misfortune would arrive without warning.
* * *
I felt sorry for him as he calmly unfolded his story, which was by no means light, and when listening to his monologue that was no different from a confession, I was even more nervous, gripping the bedspread tightly. I didn’t know what to say or what expression to make when the story ended, but Do Wonjin, with his usual mischievous smile, said to me:
“That’s why I felt a twinge inside when you were talking about contract termination with Joo Seolhyeon earlier. I wondered if I might also be subject to contract termination.”
“I’m not that heartless.”
“I know, our Jeongjae is so full of affection. That’s why your name has ‘jeong’ in it.”
The Chinese character is indeed that ‘jeong’, but I didn’t expect him to interpret my name this way. I was about to make a remark about his name too, but then I remembered that his grandfather had named him.
‘Better not touch his name.’
It would be best to keep the conversation positive, as an ambiguous remark might hurt his feelings. Normally, I would have casually retorted, but after learning about his past, I became cautious with every word.
“Did it upset you that I mentioned your name?”
“No, I was afraid you might feel bad if I talked about your name. No, that’s not it. Did I just say what I was thinking again?”
“I’m fine with it. You can talk about it.”
“I didn’t ask if you were okay with it.”
I had made the same mistake while drinking with Joo Seolhyeon, and now I was doing it again. My head started to ache, and I pressed my forehead.
“When I saw your face turning red after just a sip of baijiu, I thought you couldn’t handle alcohol, but you lasted longer than expected, which surprised me. But you were definitely drunk, mumbling a lot to yourself.”
“Those mumbles were me blurting out my thoughts.”
“Ah, so that’s what it was? I left you be because it was amusing, but it must have been embarrassing.”
Just now, what I thought I was thinking in my head came out through my lips without me realizing it. I tried to clear my head by shaking it and straining my eyes, but my consciousness was loosening faster.
“Sleepy.”
“Before you fall asleep, can I ask for one favor?”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Love me.”
“That’s not something I can control. You’d need to have some lovable qualities…”
“Then what about me loving you?”
In the middle of speaking, Do Wonjin raised his body from where he was lying. I trailed off and turned my head due to the sudden shadow on my face. He was looking down at me obliquely, with his arm leaning against the wall.
“That doesn’t matter, right?”
Do Wonjin’s hand came up to my cheek. He caressed it carefully while blatantly staring at my lips. I was about to say, ‘How could that not matter?’ when I noticed Do Wonjin’s black eyes glistening with desire. His lips overlapped with mine as I was about to speak.
As soon as our lips met, I realized this wasn’t just simple skinship but Guiding. Do Wonjin eagerly sucked on my lips and inserted his tongue, exploring the narrow inside of my mouth. Instantly, my drowsiness vanished and I became fully alert. I raised my arms to push against his shoulders, but they were immediately caught by Do Wonjin’s hands. Though my mind was clear, my body, already intoxicated with alcohol, helplessly crumbled under the pleasure and Guiding he was giving.
Do Wonjin’s hands released my weakened hands and wrapped around my waist. With a pulling sensation, my head touched the pillow. Lying on the bed, I gasped for breath while receiving his kisses.
‘How is he so good at kissing?’
I had only kissed Jeong Seyeon and Yang Garam before, but his skill was incomparable. To be precise, it was a kiss specialized in arousing his partner. It felt so good that heat was already pooling in my lower abdomen just from the kiss.
“Ugh, w-wait.”
I turned my head away, pushing back Do Wonjin who was nibbling on my lower lip. I could see the clothes I had been wearing scattered on the floor below the bed.
This bastard knew what he was doing.
I felt a sense of danger I hadn’t experienced even when defeating an SS-class dungeon.
“What’s wrong, was my kissing that bad?”
Do Wonjin kissed my exposed cheek as I turned my head, smiling impudently. Straddling on top of me with our bodies pressed together, he must have noticed my arousal, yet he deliberately teased me like this.
“Should I just kill you right here?”
“When you say such dirty things, it turns me on too.”
He whispered in my ear and bit my earlobe. It must have been an erogenous zone, as a tingling sensation sent shivers down my spine. Do Wonjin’s lips moved up and nuzzled the nape of my neck just below my ear. I hurriedly covered my mouth, feeling like I might involuntarily moan, but Do Wonjin pushed my hand away.
“Let me hear your voice.”
Smack, Do Wonjin kissed my palm and smiled. Unlike before, seeing his face without its usual composure made me feel urgent too. If I got more entangled in this, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to face the sun tomorrow morning with a clear mind.
Knock knock.
“Hyung, it’s me, Garam.”
While considering whether to use force right now before getting caught up with the quick-handed Do Wonjin again, I heard a knock at the door.
“Serubi called me to come, but is something wrong? Can I come in?”
Imagining Serubi’s expression as she would be cradled in Yang Garam’s arms beyond the door, my heated body instantly cooled down.
“Do Wonjin, move.”
Even Do Wonjin obediently got up, realizing that the sudden intruder was none other than Yang Garam. Yang Garam was the type who would break down the door and enter the room even if I didn’t say anything. I picked up the clothes that had fallen to the floor below the bed and put them on, but I had to hurry to open the door as I could hear Serubi’s claws scratching at it impatiently.
“Always interrupting.”
Yang Garam’s eyes turned triangular as he instantly scanned Do Wonjin sitting on the bed with a displeased face, my disheveled appearance, and the smell of alcohol emanating from both of us.
“What did you do to him?”
Yang Garam growled fiercely as if he was about to grab Do Wonjin by the collar, while Serubi, upon entering the room, circled around me, sniffing.
“Even if I did do something, I wouldn’t feel wronged about it.”
Do Wonjin shrugged his shoulders, and Yang Garam’s aggressive stance, which had seemed ready for a life-or-death confrontation, eased slightly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
