‘He’s becoming more and more like an old man.’
As soon as he saw me, he looked me up and down with a satisfied smile, but I wasn’t sure if it was my sour mood or his impure gaze that made me feel uncomfortable.
“This kind of event might be unfamiliar and awkward for you, but despite its formal name, it’s just a social networking party. Nobody’s going to eat you, so feel free to enjoy yourself.”
The Center Director spoke with a smile, perhaps noticing my emotions on my face. But he was completely off the mark.
“Yes, I understand.”
I didn’t have the courage to tell him that he was the reason for my discomfort, so I just said that one sentence and kept quiet.
Upon arriving at the venue, the Center Director kept me by his side as he greeted many people. He introduced me to some of them, but whenever people showed interest in me, he would change the subject, leaving me with few opportunities to speak for myself.
Either the Center Director was very well-connected, or his social status was higher than I had expected, because people kept coming endlessly. I knew that the Esper Association was large enough to have branches overseas, meaning they had many Espers and researchers, but I hadn’t expected it to be to this extent. Just standing next to the Center Director was draining my energy.
“Bored?”
The Center Director must have heard me sigh as soon as the university professor and researcher he was talking to moved elsewhere.
“Yes.”
Since it was true that I was bored, I nodded without denying it. The Center Director patted my shoulder and said,
“Now that everyone here knows you’re my person, you can walk around on your own.”
I glanced at my shoulder where his hand had touched, wondering why he was making such a disgusted expression when I hadn’t even asked anything. The only person who had touched me was the professor who had been talking with the Center Director earlier.
“Do whatever you want—meet people, rest in a room. Just come back to me within an hour.”
I immediately turned away, saying I understood. Then I headed to the bathroom to relieve myself, something I’d been holding in. If the Center Director had been alone, I would have excused myself long ago, but there hadn’t been a single moment when he wasn’t surrounded by people. And even for me, saying “I need to use the bathroom” in such a setting was embarrassing. But when I tried to leave without saying anything, he would grab my hand whenever I attempted to move away, so I had given up after several tries.
While washing my hands with a relieved expression after finishing my business, my phone rang. Feeling something hard in my inner pocket, I thought it was my phone and pulled it out, but my wallet came out with it. I placed the wallet on the sink and searched for my phone again.
“It’s Jeonghyun.”
When we lived together, we checked on each other daily, but since moving apart, we’d rarely been in touch. I had also not contacted him first, thinking no news is good news.
“Hello?”
—Hyung.
His voice was low and hoarse, but it didn’t sound like he had just woken up.
‘Has he been crying?’
“What’s wrong?”
The proud Woo Jeonghyun would never admit to crying if I asked. I inquired about his situation to assess what was happening, and after clearing his throat with a “hmm,” he said,
—I’ve messed up.
A bell rang in my head.
Jeonghyun was a known troublemaker in middle school. While everyone goes through puberty, his was particularly intense, causing trouble almost every day. His behavior made our mother say she wanted to run away from home. The most frequent problem with Jeonghyun was assault. He also caused issues with running away from home, drinking, and smoking, but these were mostly passing curiosities. But not assault. Back then, Jeonghyun would fly into a rage at even the slightest eye contact on the street. And he never tried to suppress his anger. Tall and strong like our father since middle school, Jeonghyun knew he was good at fighting. Because of him, our mother spent more time rushing out to clean up after his messes than staying at home.
“You… you didn’t kill someone, did you?”
Given his impressive history from middle school, I secretly hoped not, but for him to say he’d “messed up,” it must be something serious.
—Hyung, is that what you really think of me?
I rolled my eyes as I heard Jeonghyun’s trembling voice, as if shocked by my question.
“I’m basically asking if you beat someone to near death.”
This time the line went quiet, suggesting I was right.
“So where are you now?”
My brother had reformed after seeing our mother crying while holding our father’s picture when he entered high school, but I had always suspected this day might come again. Still, now that it had actually happened, I couldn’t help but sigh.
‘He never had accidents like this before the regression, so what on earth happened?’
Thinking there must be a reason since he’s not a middle schooler who throws punches based on his mood anymore, I left the bathroom. I scanned the area looking for the Center Director while repeating the location Jeonghyun had given me in my head.
In the meantime, I spotted the Center Director talking with someone else again.
‘He looks like he’s having such a pleasant conversation, and here I am about to spoil it.’
The other person was partially hidden behind ornamental plants, but the Center Director appeared more cheerful than at any other point I’d observed him today. Although I don’t like interrupting conversations, my situation was quite urgent, so I quickly approached where the Center Director was. Sensing my gaze, he looked directly at me. Our eyes met for a moment, and a flash of inconvenience crossed his eyes. But he acted as if nothing had happened, wearing a friendly smile as he excused himself from the other person and beckoned me over.
“Back so soon? This gathering must be more boring than I thought.”
His reaction when our eyes met had been suspicious, but seeing him introduce me to the other person so naturally made me wonder if I had seen wrong.
“Ah, so this is him! Nice to meet you, Esper Woo Jeongjae!”
Lost in thought while looking at the Center Director, I turned my head toward the sound. Only then could I see who the Center Director had been talking with.
Long black straight hair, large dark eyes with a prim look, plump red lips on snow-white skin. A woman so beautiful that anyone would turn to look twice. It was Kang Sohyeon, the daughter of the Esper Association’s chairman.
Even five years back in time, her appearance remained the same. The moment when Joo Seolhyeon had handed me contract termination papers to go to her flashed through my mind, but surprisingly, I felt nothing—almost to the point of emptiness.
“Nice to meet you.”
I greeted her with a slight nod of my head. Kang Sohyeon looked up at me with bright eyes and suddenly made a fist and held it out to the Center Director.
“How does it feel to have such a splendid Esper as your partner?”
“It feels good.”
“Oh, so bland! That can’t be all, right?”
“That’s all. I’d like to socialize more, but your partner is glaring at me, so I’d better go.”
I was anxiously watching their friendly conversation, unable to find the right timing to interject, but fortunately, the Center Director sent Kang Sohyeon in another direction. The woman who had been watching us from earlier appeared to be Sohyeon’s partner.
“Now, tell me.”
I wondered why he’d sent her away when they were conversing so well, but evidently, the Center Director had noticed I had something to say.
“Something’s come up with my brother, so I need to go see him now.”
The Center Director’s expression became subtle.
“Is your brother hurt?”
That was probably his way of showing concern, but since it was the opposite situation, I hesitated to answer promptly.
“No, you don’t have to tell me if it’s difficult. If it’s urgent, you should go.”
“Yes, thank you.”
If he had pressed further, I was planning to just bow and leave without a word, so this was fortunate.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
As I bowed and turned around, the Center Director grabbed my hand.
“Center Director?”
“I didn’t mean for you to go alone.”
He strode toward the exit while holding my hand.
“What are you—”
“I’ll drive you.”
I almost stupidly asked what I had just heard, unable to comprehend. I pulled my hand free from the Center Director’s grip and stopped in place. We had moved so quickly that we were now standing in an empty corridor outside the hall.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m fine, Center Director.”
“Isn’t it urgent?”
“It is urgent, but causing disruption to your schedule because of my personal matters…”
“Do you know what my schedule is?”
‘How would I know that?’
Answering in my mind, I kept my mouth shut, and the Center Director gave a proper answer with a silent laugh.
“I had something to discuss with you, and since you suddenly need to leave, I thought I’d drive you and take care of my business at the same time.”
Only then did his uncharacteristic behavior make sense. The Center Director was someone who never moved without interwoven interests. Even if he had suddenly wanted to show pure kindness for no reason, it would have been an uncomfortable situation that would give me hives.
“Let’s go then.”
This time I followed him without resistance and took out my phone. I quickly searched for the nearest cafe to the police station where Jeonghyun was. Fortunately, there were many cafes due to the nearby K University.
“Where should I take you?”
“Please take me to A Cafe in K District.”
“Good thing it’s not too far.”
I felt asking to go directly to the police station would only arouse the Center Director’s curiosity, so I naturally changed the location. After fastening my seatbelt, the car started to drive smoothly. The Center Director, whom I expected would immediately discuss his business, was surprisingly focused only on driving. I was fidgeting, feeling awkward. Just then, the traffic light in front of us changed, and the car stopped at a red light.
“Esper Woo Jeongjae, do you know that saying?”
He tapped the steering wheel, keeping his gaze fixed on the traffic light as he began.
“Shi ahn gyeon yoo shi, bul ahn gyeon yoo bul ui (豕眼見惟豕 佛眼見惟佛矣).”
It was an abrupt question.
“What does it mean?”
“It means ‘a pig’s eye sees only pigs, and a Buddha’s eye sees only Buddhas.'”
The Center Director, who had been looking at the traffic light, turned to face me.
“How do I appear in your eyes?”
He was truly a cunning person. Was he indirectly calling me out for not seeing him in a good light? But no matter what, I wouldn’t suddenly start seeing him as a good person.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
