Chapter 39
Those painful yet blissful three hours for Dowoon passed both slowly and quickly. That time was truly agonizing yet so good that he nearly went crazy.
The Guiding that Seoyul continuously poured into him was filled with happiness, which greatly satisfied him.Â
If there was a problem, it was that it satisfied him too much and might lead to an awkward situation.
‘If I show a reaction here, he’d think I’m a pervert, right?’
What Esper could remain composed after receiving such intense Guiding? This was only possible because Seoyul didn’t know what kind of Guiding he was pouring into Dowoon.
He’d heard that when the matching rate is high and trust builds between two people, emotions can be transmitted through Guiding, and this moment seemed to be exactly that.
Seoyul cherished and had affection for him. Of course, that affection was different in nature from his own, but that alone was enough to drive Dowoon into excitement.
‘Should I tell him?’
After that, Seoyul would often initiate embraces and pour out affectionate Guiding.
He seemed to be trying to be more attentive out of gratitude for helping him with his exam studies.
‘Maybe I’ll… postpone it a bit?’
Right. With the exam approaching, there was no need to confuse him by revealing his emotions now.
Dowoon indulged in his own desires and pleasurably absorbed the energy.
Of course, he had to be constantly worried that Seoyul might notice his impure thoughts and bodily reactions. But thanks to his sufficient caution, the unfortunate situation of Seoyul discovering it didn’t occur.
Scratch, scratch.
With the exam approaching, Seoyul was completely focused. Now he was multitasking, saying he’d show how he could study and provide Guiding simultaneously while being in Dowoon’s arms.
In fact, the energy he transmitted remained at C-grade. But for Dowoon, that was fortunate. He wasn’t confident he could handle S-grade energy filled with emotions in this position.
“Done!”
Having finished today’s portion, Seoyul shouted happily and put down his pen. Dowoon, now accustomed to this, slightly shifted his hips and said:
“Good job.”
“Thank you again today, Esper-nim!”
Seoyul smiled brightly and took both of Dowoon’s hands in his. With eyes tightly closed, he began pouring out S-grade energy generously.
‘This is driving me crazy, really.’
He wanted to pull him close and kiss him. He wanted to bite those lips and mess them up completely.
But knowing Seoyul would be shocked, today again he endured and fully absorbed the ecstatic Guiding. As the painful yet blissful Guiding gradually raised his body temperature, a natural physiological reaction occurred.
Dowoon thought this was getting too difficult and gently stopped Seoyul, saying:
“You’re tired, so let’s call it a day.”
“I’m fine. You’ve been busy with work lately, and you’re twice as tired from looking over my studies. Let me do a little more for you.”
“No. You’re the one who’s more tired. Go in and rest now.”
“I really am fine! Really, really, really!”
“…”
What should he do with this cute and innocent creature…
Dowoon felt resentful that Seoyul didn’t understand how his heart was withering from restraint. But at the same time, he was touched because he liked him so much.
‘Haa… should I consider this a good thing or…’
Dowoon sighed softly in bewilderment and buried his face in Seoyul’s shoulder.
“Then… do it just a little more.”
Right. No matter how difficult, it would be better in many ways if he endured.
* * *
Time passed, and the exam day approached where Seoyul would prove his hard work.
“It’s tomorrow, right?”
Sunjeong asked with a grin, hiding a small box behind her back. Seoyul had been dragged to the lab without knowing why, but he was happy to see her after a long time and responded with a smile.
“Yes! I studied hard, but I’m not sure if I’ll do well.”
“It’s enough that you tried your best. Don’t be nervous and just do as well as you have been.”
“Yes!”
Sunjeong looked fondly at Seoyul, who must have worked hard, and presented the gift she had been hiding behind her back.
“Here, this is my gift.”
“A gift?”
Surprised by the sudden present, Seoyul’s eyes widened. The box, beautifully wrapped with a red ribbon, was like those often displayed at stalls during special seasons.
Having never received such a beautifully wrapped gift before, Seoyul asked with a dazed expression:
“Is this for me?”
“Of course. It’s to wish you good luck on tomorrow’s exam.”
“Wow.”
A pure exclamation came out first. Seoyul carefully received the box and gently opened the lid.
“Wow!”
Inside were candies, chocolates, and cute packages of yeot (traditional Korean taffy) with a small card saying “Fighting!”
“Eat these and may they help you pass. Sweet things give you energy too.”
Sunjeong said as she proudly watched Seoyul’s delight. Then, with a deeply moved expression and blushing cheeks, Seoyul exclaimed:
“This is my first time receiving something like this! Thank you, Team Leader!”
Seoyul’s bright smile clearly showed how genuinely happy he was. And to think this was his first time receiving such a gift.
A sense of fulfillment rose in Sunjeong’s heart.
“Really?”
“Yes. Something in such a pretty box…”
“What?! Your first time?!”
Just then, a voice interrupted Sunjeong’s joyful reply. It was Dowoon, who had been unable to hide his displeased expression.
“Pardon?”
Seoyul blinked and looked up at Dowoon when he suddenly raised his voice. Dowoon shouted with a voice full of disbelief, shock, and regret:
“Why didn’t you say so!!”
“Pardon…?”
Startled by Dowoon’s fierce cry, Seoyul frantically tried to figure out what he had done wrong. But since he hadn’t done anything wrong to begin with, there was no way he could know.
Sunjeong, after watching them, slapped Dowoon’s back hard with an annoyed expression.
“Again!! Are you going to keep shouting without any context?!”
“Ah! Really!”
Dowoon’s face scrunched up in irritation. But seemingly having more to say, he shouted at Seoyul again:
“If it was your first time, you should have said so earlier! Then I would have given you something first!”
“…Pardon?”
“Damn it. I didn’t know that. Lee Team Leader, give that back right now. Why are you giving gifts without my permission? Hey, let’s go. I’ll buy you something else.”
Dowoon grumbled unreasonably and grabbed Seoyul’s hand. Seoyul stood bewildered, unable to decide what to do between Dowoon and Sunjeong.
Sunjeong also shook her head at Dowoon’s childishness. Just then, the lab door opened, and researchers began pouring in.
“Yul!”
“Guide Seo!”
In their hands were boxes similar to Sunjeong’s or candies and chocolates wrapped in cute packaging.
“I heard your exam is tomorrow? Here, a gift.”
“Me too. Me too.”
“Team Leader, why are you only telling us this important information now?”
“Guide Seo, do your best on your exam tomorrow!”
Everyone started giving Seoyul gifts, big and small, while adding their own words of encouragement.
“Uh…”
Seoyul began awkwardly receiving the gifts in confusion. Dowoon, with a shocked expression, tried his best to block them and shouted:
“Stop! I’m giving him something first, so everyone go away!”
“What does it matter who’s first?”
“Right. You’re worrying about the strangest things.”
But these people had known Dowoon for a long time, so his efforts weren’t very effective. Besides, they had become immune to Dowoon’s fierce glares lately.
“Uh, this is too much.”
Seoyul muttered quietly, overwhelmed by the growing pile of gifts. Yet his cute appearance, arms full of presents, made the researchers continue surrounding him and adding to the pile.
“Ah! Really, won’t you all go away?! Seoyul! Seoyul!”
Dowoon tried hard to drive them away, but being outnumbered, he was gradually separated from Seoyul.
He considered using his ability to pull Seoyul out, but that would clearly make him a laughing stock again, so he couldn’t do anything but watch helplessly.
‘Ah, really! If I had known this would happen, I would have given him something earlier!’
Dowoon regretted bitterly. Actually, he had already prepared a gift for Seoyul. He was just waiting for the perfect timing to give it to him impressively on the morning of the exam.
But to think it was his first time, his first time!!
Since Seoyul had received a gift from Sunjeong before, Dowoon hadn’t anticipated this at all.
If he had known Seoyul would consider this his first gift, he would have given his first.
‘I should have been the first!!’
For Dowoon, who desperately wanted to catch Seoyul’s attention, this was a painful mistake.
“Um… are you really giving all this to me?”
Seoyul asked, arms full of gifts. His face showed the same level of gratitude as when he received Sunjeong’s gift.
‘Ah, damn. When he’s this happy, I can’t even take them back.’
Dowoon gave up trying to block the gift offensive in despair. Everyone excitedly added their words of encouragement as they continued building the gift tower.
“Of course we’re really giving them to you. Would we give fake gifts?”
“That’s right, Guide Seo. Please eat all of these and do your best tomorrow.”
“Yeah, Guide Seo. Let’s meet officially after you pass.”
As the gifts piled up and began to block his view, reality finally hit Seoyul.
It was his first time receiving gifts wrapped in such pretty paper, and he had never dreamed of receiving so many at once.
“Thank you so much. I’ll really do my best tomorrow.”
Everyone smiled warmly at his slightly teary voice and patted his head.
“Sure. If you’re grateful, make sure you pass and come back.”
“Hey, why are you putting that kind of pressure on him?”
“Manager Kim, you shouldn’t do that.”
“What? Am I the bad guy here?”
Seoyul took each of their jokes to heart. He was grateful for their thoughtfulness and felt his heart warming with their support.
“What do you think, Yul?”
“You can be honest.”
“If you pressure Guide Seo like that, how can he speak freely?”
The youngest researcher shook his head and joked. Seeing this, Seoyul couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Everyone watched his reaction with fond smiles. After finally stopping his laughter, Seoyul carefully spoke:
“Thank you all… so much.”
He wasn’t just talking about the gifts. It was a feeling built on accumulated interest, encouragement, and trust.
Seoyul looked genuinely happy and pleased. The others who received his gratitude felt the same way.
But in this gathering, only one person—Dowoon—had a sulky, swollen face of discontent.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
