After Jeong Seyeon’s brief conversation ended, Yang Garam raised his hand next.
“Does Jeonghyun hyung currently have a contracted Esper?”
When they sat around the dining table, Woo Jeonghyun had introduced himself and revealed that he was also a Guide, so Yang Garam’s question wasn’t inappropriate. But since Jeonghyun was having problems with his Esper relationship, it could be a sensitive question, so I watched my brother’s expression carefully.
“Yes. And it’s an exclusive contract.”
But Jeonghyun answered casually and even smiled slightly.
In truth, it wasn’t common for someone Jeonghyun’s age to become an exclusive Guide. This is because exclusive Guides inevitably become tied to their Espers in many ways, and people in their early twenties, when they have many things they want to do, tend to prefer being temporary Guides. But while it wasn’t common, there were several cases where people signed exclusive Guide contracts at twenty due to matching rates.
“If you’re interested in being an exclusive Guide, should I give you some advice?”
Thinking that Yang Garam was already under contract with me and wondering why he would ask such a question, I unconsciously looked at him, only to find him nodding enthusiastically with wide eyes. For a moment, I thought I had seen wrong, but watching Yang Garam even making separate plans with Jeonghyun, I felt a tightness in my chest.
‘Even if it’s temporary, how can he talk about other contracts in front of the Esper he’s already contracted with?’
Yang Garam had never expressed any intention to me about being an exclusive Guide. That meant I was just temporary, and he was thinking about guiding someone else exclusively, which suddenly made me feel depressed.
‘Since when? He seemed so happy when I said our matching rate increased.’
I recalled how I had confessed to Jeonghyun last night that I didn’t know who to choose as my exclusive Guide. I had been counting my chickens before they hatched.
‘Why did I automatically assume they would all want to be my exclusive Guide? They could refuse first.’
I became too embarrassed to look up. I quickly shoved the rest of my meal into my mouth and stood up first, drawing everyone’s gaze. Only then did I realize how unusual my behavior had been. Embarrassed at my immaturity, I hastily made excuses.
“I have an appointment, so I’ll leave first.”
“What appointment? You didn’t mention anything.”
Woo Jeonghyun asked with chopsticks in his mouth.
“I found the wallet I lost yesterday.”
The appointment time was 2 PM, but saying I had to go find my wallet wasn’t a lie.
“Is the timing all right?”Â
It was just before 10 AM after finishing breakfast.
“I think it’ll be fine if I hurry.”
Usually, we eat breakfast earlier, but weekend mornings vary depending on when everyone wakes up. Today was partly delayed because I had slept in. To avoid the stares directed at me, I made up a reasonable excuse, and Jeong Seyeon stood up with me.
“I’ll drive you.”
‘There’s no way he’s finished his meal already.’
Jeong Seyeon, who chewed his food thoroughly, wasn’t a fast eater. Sure enough, there was still rice left in his bowl. He was getting up in the middle of his meal because of me, even though he hated leaving food uneaten.
“I’m fine. I’m meeting nearby, and if I start getting ready now, I won’t be late…”
As I tried to get Jeong Seyeon to sit back down, Do Wonjin, who had been quiet the whole time, threw in a comment.
“Jeongjae isn’t a kid, hyung. That’s overprotection.”
Wondering if he was actually saying something helpful for once, I looked at him, and Do Wonjin gestured to me while clearing his empty bowl.
“I have something to do outside as well, let’s go together.”
A slight wrinkle appeared on Jeong Seyeon’s expressionless face, but Do Wonjin just said what he wanted to say and slipped out of the kitchen. Taking advantage of the distraction, I also said “Thank you for the meal” and quickly darted up to my room on the second floor.
[You’re back.]
Serubi, who had been playing with Joo Seolhyeon all night, raised himself from where he was rolling around on the bed when he spotted me.
[You abandoned me and had fun by yourselves.]
Apparently upset that I had left him with Joo Seolhyeon, Serubi wouldn’t meet my eyes and kept hitting the floor with his tail. I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Serubi’s head.
“But you had fun with Joo Seolhyeon, didn’t you?”
However, Serubi seemed displeased with my response and threw a meow-punch. I drew back my hand that had been hit by Serubi’s front paw and looked at him with a surprised expression, asking what was wrong. Serubi turned away from me, sat at a distance, and started muttering to himself.
[After talking with you and coming into his room, Juju was completely out of it the whole time. I even showed him the jelly he likes, thinking it would cheer him up, but rather than being touched, he just looked even more stupid. I was left to play alone while Juju was broken, and it was very boring. So I went back to the room, but the door was closed. I kept calling from outside the door, but there was no answer. I thought it was strange, and then I found he had even put up a barrier. That was betrayal.]
“Okay, I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
Someone watching would think I had stabbed him in the back.
I cut off his lengthening speech and lifted Serubi up. He dangled from my hands with his body stretched out, and as expected, he was full of resentment. He looked so cute that, contrary to Serubi’s mood, I felt the discomfort from downstairs melting away.
“What can I do to make Serubi feel better? Hm? Tell me. I’ll do anything you want.”
Since Serubi looked so small and cute, I often forgot he was a magical beast and indulged his whims, but after speaking, I had a slight regret.
‘What if he asks for something strange?’
As I was thinking I should take back my words, Serubi’s ears perked up.
[Then a song.]
Looking at his golden eyes sparkling with anticipation, I asked, “What?”
Instead of answering, Serubi twisted his body in my grip. I carefully put him down on the bed, and he promptly jumped off and ran toward the piano. Then he sat on the piano bench and stared at me.
[I want to hear the song that Juju sang for me again.]
He was asking me to play the same piece that Joo Seolhyeon had played. Fortunately, it wasn’t a strange request, but it was still impossible. I told Serubi with a slightly awkward face.
“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. I’ve never seen Joo Seolhyeon play the piano, and I don’t know what he played, so how could I play the same song?”
Disappointment appeared on Serubi’s face.
[You said you’d do anything.]
“I can do something else instead.”
[Will you sing for me?]
“Yes. I’ll sing a different song for you.”
When I phrased it the way Serubi had, his eyes started sparkling again. His appearance was so lovable that I clutched my heart, but then there was a knock at the door.
“Jeongjae, get ready and come down. I’ll wait for you on the first floor.”
It was Do Wonjin, who had offered to go together.
“Okay, I’ll be right down!”
He apparently had no intention of coming in, as I heard footsteps receding immediately after my answer. Serubi seemed to understand with his animal instinct that the conversation with Do Wonjin was turning unfavorable for him, so he ran to me right away and bit my pant leg.
*Growl!*
[I know you’re trying to leave me again.]
A rumbling growl rose from his throat through my pant leg. When I lifted my foot, Serubi was lifted into the air.
“I’m sorry. I’ll sing for you when I get back.”
I carefully opened his jaws to free my clothes without hurting Serubi’s teeth and held him in my arms.
[Jeongjae, you’re mean.]
Serubi whined as he burrowed into my arms.
“I’ll buy you Churu treats on my way back instead.”
Serubi’s whining, begging me not to go, stopped abruptly.
[I’ll let it slide just this once.]
As if he’d never been clingy, Serubi neatly slipped out of my arms and groomed his fur. I was dumbfounded but getting ready to go out was more urgent, so I decided to let it go for now.
Downstairs, four men were gathered closely, chatting.
‘Why is Seyeon hyung mixed in there?’
I could understand Yang Garam and Do Wonjin getting along with Woo Jeonghyun, but seeing Jeong Seyeon in that group made me feel strange. Wondering what they were talking about, I approached them, and the conversation stopped when Do Wonjin spotted me.
“Shall we go?”
I nodded slightly to Do Wonjin’s question as he approached me, but I noticed Woo Jeonghyun sitting on the sofa with no intention of getting up.
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Seyeon hyung said he’d make haesintang for dinner, so I’m going to eat dinner and then leave.”
Haesintang. It had been a long time since I’d heard that menu. Unlike me, a meat-lover, Woo Jeonghyun preferred seafood, so our mother would often make haesintang to prevent us from fighting. But after mom went missing, it became a meal we could never have at home again, and after I started living with Joo Seolhyeon, it was a food I avoided even more.
‘When did they get this close?’
I wasn’t sure how they got to talking about haesintang, but I didn’t think Woo Jeonghyun would have blabbed about our family affairs. Still, it was surprising that they could have such conversations in such a short time since breakfast.
“Really? Then I’ll be going.”
Since Jeong Seyeon wasn’t the type to order people around, and if he said he’d make it himself, I didn’t feel the need to add anything more. I just nodded and went outside with Do Wonjin.
“Where’s the meeting place?”
Do Wonjin asked as soon as we stepped outside, pulling down the hat he was holding.
“Near the Esper Union Building.”
“That’s a bit far from here.”
I answered without thinking, then remembered I had told Jeong Seyeon I was meeting nearby, so I felt a bit awkward around Do Wonjin. Fortunately, he had no particular reaction and just kept looking ahead.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
