# Chapter 44
‘He said he missed me… Surely he doesn’t think I came because I missed him?’
Lee Seungwoo seemed to have a strange misunderstanding. But Ko Eungyo couldn’t deny it because Seungwoo…
‘This guy… why does he look so relieved?’
His face hadn’t looked particularly serious until he spotted Ko Eungyo. Though he must be tired from just clearing a gate, he didn’t appear exhausted from overusing his abilities or in any pain. It wasn’t that kind of gate anyway.
That face changed dramatically when he saw Ko Eungyo.
It was difficult to believe that Lee Seungwoo had been emotionally dependent on Ko Eungyo all this time. What kind of change of heart made him open up so easily…
“…”
Yes, Lee Seungwoo seemed to have… opened his heart.
Ko Eungyo, surprised by the thought that flashed through his mind, blankly looked down at the unfamiliar man acting clingy while pushing himself into his arms.
When Lee Seungwoo had visited Ko Eungyo’s apartment before, he had unconsciously initiated physical contact, then pulled his hand back in embarrassment. At that time, Ko Eungyo, understandably, had no desire to let Seungwoo get close to him. Seungwoo probably sensed those feelings. That’s why he had tried to keep his distance despite coming so desperately.
‘Now… does he think I’ve opened my heart too, so he’s acting like this?’
It was understandable why Seungwoo might misunderstand. Ko Eungyo had shown up with his car to pick him up without even being told that he was entering a gate.
Just like a regular Guide would… do for their Esper.
He glanced around awkwardly at the sight of Guides taking their Espers.
So maybe that’s why Lee Seungwoo felt comfortable enough to act clingy… and somehow that felt a little pitiful. After all, the Ko Eungyo of the past would never have shown such a side to Lee Seungwoo. Not just Ko Eungyo, but no Guide would have ever…
‘No, wait.’
While awkwardly patting Lee Seungwoo’s back and opening the car door, he tilted his head.
‘Even if not a Guide, he could have… someone to act clingy with.’
Like a girlfriend… or parents.
His tender feelings toward Lee Seungwoo, as if he were something special, quickly vanished. All that remained in their place was slight embarrassment.
After roughly pushing Lee Seungwoo into the back seat, Ko Eungyo returned to the driver’s seat and started the car. The destination was the Center. He planned to drop Seungwoo off there, reveal that he was a Guide with an on-site Guide—temporary license, and then go home.
“Will you be Guiding?”
“Pardon?”
He had planned to push Lee Seungwoo into the treatment room and wait until the gate comprehensive examination (a series of mandatory tests all ability users must undergo after clearing a gate) was complete. As he took the chart from the doctor to submit it to the reception desk, the staff member who received it asked.
“Looking at the chart, it seems like Esper Lee Seungwoo might need Guiding… Oh, I assumed you were planning to do it anyway. I was going to book a Guiding room for you now. I thought it might be convenient to handle everything at once since you’re already at the reception desk.”
“…”
He hadn’t thought about Guiding, but it was true that this helpful staff member wasn’t wrong.
From the beginning, Lee Seungwoo had been in desperate need of Guiding. And now that he’d just returned from a gate, his condition would have worsened, not improved.
‘Come to think of it, why did he go to clear a gate in this condition…?’
Of course, not participating in gate operations continuously could be problematic for one’s career. But Lee Seungwoo was still young and a high-ranking Esper, so he shouldn’t need to be so obsessed with performance. There was no reason to push himself when there were plenty of gates that couldn’t be cleared without him. Perhaps he didn’t know better because he was a newcomer.
Anyway, Ko Eungyo nodded. Building achievements at a young age would definitely help later. A wealth of experience ultimately becomes a guarantee for an ability user. He understood why the Director had taken care of Lee Seungwoo. It must be because he was so diligent in everything.
Now that he thought about it, during that presentation class, Lee Seungwoo had promised to fulfill Ko Eungyo’s unreasonable demands. Of course, he ended up missing the actual presentation class… But Seungwoo was also a student whose preparation reports and exam answers were nothing short of perfect.
This was quite welcome news. Since he liked building his own achievements, he was the perfect partner Esper.
“Yes, please.”
“Room B276.”
Since he had decided to take responsibility for Lee Seungwoo, officially registered him in his ‘my’ list, and might need to work consistently with Seungwoo in the future…
He felt the need for their relationship to improve. It would also be good to clear up Seungwoo’s misunderstanding while he was at it.
He would need to keep taking care of him in the future anyway, so what’s the big deal about taking care of him now?
Thinking it wasn’t a big deal, he sat in the Guiding room and waited for Lee Seungwoo to finish his basic examination and treatment. Not long after, Lee Seungwoo opened the door and entered.
“Professor.”
As always, with a smiling face, Lee Seungwoo approached and…
Before he could say welcome, Seungwoo gripped his shoulders and lowered his head. The words he was about to say disappeared, blocked by lips. Instead, a soft tongue pushed its way in between.
“Mmph, wait…”
Since their lips were pressed together, the sound came out strangely muffled, but he couldn’t help but object. However, despite clearly hearing the objection, Lee Seungwoo didn’t immediately pull away but lingered reluctantly.
Taking advantage of that moment, he quickly slipped his hand between their lips. He felt a soft, moist sensation on the back of his hand.
“What… are you doing right now?”
“Hmm… greeting?”
What kind of greeting is this? This is South Korea, not France.
With a palm between them blocking the kiss, Lee Seungwoo answered with a smile, showing no sign of embarrassment.
“You were waiting for me outside the gate.”
As if he was touched by that.
Unable to hide his bewilderment, he said, “That’s true, but I had something to say… right now I waited to do Guiding.”
“Shall we not do this?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to.”
“…”
What’s wrong with this guy? If he doesn’t want to, why did he ask “Shall we not do this?”
He was about to ask if he was trying to mess with him when the hand gripping his shoulder released, and Lee Seungwoo embraced him in a round hug.
He must have just returned from a gate, but Lee Seungwoo smelled like a woody cologne.
“I’m joking.”
“…”
“Is just hugging okay?”
Lee Seungwoo murmured near his ear. The Guiding hadn’t even started yet, but it felt too strange. Being embraced like a small doll was… really… so awkward that he almost pushed Lee Seungwoo away.
‘Ah.’
He decided to treat him well. If he wanted to use Lee Seungwoo, he shouldn’t forget his original goal.
Remaining stiff, he made a gesture of patting around Lee Seungwoo’s shoulders a couple of times. Then he carefully opened his mouth.
“Hmm. Excuse me, Seungwoo-kun. No, Esper Seungwoo.”
“Yes.”
Perhaps because he was called while being embraced, Lee Seungwoo answered softly. Somehow, it felt like the conversation would go well. After clearing his throat, Ko Eungyo continued, trying to sound as natural as possible.
“I have an on-site Guide license.”
“What?”
“So you don’t have to enter gates alone from now on.”
“…”
He omitted the word “temporary,” but it didn’t seem necessary to provide such detailed information.
He thought that even if Lee Seungwoo didn’t jump for joy, he would at least give a word of approval. It might not be appealing at first to have a rookie Guide, but once they started working together, he would realize that his partner Guide was superior to most on-site Guides.
Lee Seungwoo remained silent.
Could he have fallen asleep?
Tilting his head back to look at his face, he saw an expression whose meaning he couldn’t comprehend.
“I don’t understand why you have such a thing.”
“…Pardon?”
His response came a beat late due to confusion. Lee Seungwoo spoke in a gentle tone.
“Professor, gates are dangerous.”
Though he spoke kindly, his eyes looked as if he wanted to take away his Guide license immediately. Like an adult looking at a child holding something dangerous.
“I hope you never have to use something like an on-site Guide license… ever in your life.”
“…”
“You won’t, right?”
Lee Seungwoo subtly pressured Ko Eungyo with a gentle voice. Ko Eungyo realized that Lee Seungwoo not only disliked clearing gates with him but strongly opposed it.
“So…”
“Yes.”
“You mean you’ll continue to enter gates alone?”
Lee Seungwoo frowned at Ko Eungyo’s words. It was closer to an expression of not understanding the true meaning of his words than one of displeasure.
“I don’t enter alone. Gates are entered as a team.”
“If I join that team…”
“It’s horrifying just to imagine. Please don’t say such things.”
“…”
Ah, I see.
I should just buy a plane ticket to Jeju Island.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
