An uncomfortable silence hung heavy in the air. All Lim Haeyul could do was roll his eyes around.
“Ha.”
Cha Jae-woo’s mocking laugh broke the silence, which hadn’t lasted long.
Lim Haeyul’s already tense shoulders slumped even more. If he could, he would have disappeared into thin air.
“It’s good to see that Esper Cha Jae-woo is okay, Haeyul,” Kim Sol said to him, his voice laced with sarcasm.
“Um… I think I… lost my composure for a moment….”
“Oh, really?”
“What did I do…? I think I lost my memory along with my senses….”
Kim Sol’s gaze was sharp and disapproving as he looked at Lim Haeyul, who was visibly shrinking. There was a hint of concern mixed with the disappointment. This made Lim Haeyul feel even more guilty.
“I’m sorry. I really… lost my mind for a moment….”
“Even if you lost your mind, did you have to make it so dramatic?” Kim Sol retorted.
As Lim Haeyul bowed his head in apology to Kim Sol, Kim Geon-ung suddenly burst into laughter, interrupting the moment. Lim Haeyul felt even more embarrassed, his face flushing with humiliation.
“……Shut up.”
Lim Haeyul gritted his teeth and muttered to Kim Geon-ung, who seemed completely unfazed.
“Quiet down.”
Cha Jae-woo’s single command cut through the tension. He had been pressing his temples, perhaps nursing a headache. Lim Haeyul was concerned but kept his mouth shut, simply straightening his posture.
Cha Jae-woo was the last person he wanted to upset in this situation.
“Let’s go. Why are we all gathered here?” Cha Jae-woo asked.
“The Esper needs to explain the gate situation. Difficulty level, monster types, gate map—everything needs to be explained in detail,” Kim Sol replied.
“But Cha Jae-woo looks tired—” Lim Haeyul tried to interject.
“You, be quiet.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lim Haeyul was quickly silenced. Given the circumstances, he had no choice but to comply.
These suddenly appearing gates often have unique structures, and it’s crucial for the Esper who has been inside to explain the details. Cha Jae-woo had reported that the gate had an unfamiliar structure, making his explanation necessary.
Lim Haeyul wondered why the explanation couldn’t wait, but he understood that memories can fade or distort over time, making immediate reporting a standard procedure.
Kim Sol had called Lim Haeyul for a simple reason. The gate’s difficulty was unpredictable, and Cha Jae-woo had entered it. Kim Sol was on standby in case Cha Jae-woo needed assistance upon his return. However, Kim Sol knew his guiding skills wouldn’t be much help, so he contacted Kim Geon-ung, who seemed to be Lim Haeyul’s friend.
Lim Haeyul explained in a barely audible voice that he thought something serious had happened because of Kim Sol’s persistent attempts to reach him. Kim Sol clarified that he had only been trying to contact him because he sensed Lim Haeyul’s presence nearby. It was a bizarre explanation, but Lim Haeyul accepted it.
‘He must have really wanted to see me.’
Kim Sol’s intense smile made it clear that Lim Haeyul had no choice but to accept whatever he said.
However, Kim Sol was unaware that another Guide was scheduled to replace Lim Haeyul. He briefly expressed his frustration, wondering why he had been called in the first place. Lim Haeyul could only force a smile, feeling utterly embarrassed about rushing to the scene without knowing the full situation.
Lim Haeyul had loudly and clearly confessed his feelings for Cha Jae-woo, shouting so loudly that the entire neighborhood could hear.
To make matters worse, just as Lim Haeyul finished his confession, Cha Jae-woo emerged from the tent with a terrifying expression. The memory of that moment still made Lim Haeyul’s legs tremble.
“Ha…….”
Cha Jae-woo let out a long sigh. He didn’t even glance at Lim Haeyul, which was actually a relief. Lim Haeyul was already so nervous that he couldn’t bear the thought of Cha Jae-woo’s gaze right now.
‘Idiot.’
If he could turn back time, Lim Haeyul would slap himself repeatedly.
Of course, even if he had heard Kim Sol’s explanation, he would have been worried about Cha Jae-woo and rushed over without thinking. But the confession—that was going too far! And why did he have to blurt out something about jealousy? Even if it was a side effect, it was utterly humiliating. And Kim Geon-ung had witnessed the whole thing!
“Go explain everything and come back. It won’t take long. I’ll keep an eye on Haeyul here,” Kim Sol said.
Kim Sol’s tone was so stern that Lim Haeyul almost preferred to follow Cha Jae-woo out of the tent. But Kim Sol’s glare kept him rooted to the spot, unable to move a muscle.
Meanwhile, Kim Geon-ung seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation. Lim Haeyul wished he could make him disappear. He knew Kim Geon-ung would never let him live this down.
“Now, Haeyul.”
“……Yes.”
“Cha Jae-woo is gone. You have something to explain to me, right?”
Kim Sol stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Lim Haeyul. His usually kind face seemed intimidating today.
“Ha ha, well…….”
“Don’t try to laugh it off.”
Kim Sol was sharp, and Lim Haeyul was sweating profusely. He glared at Kim Geon-ung before forcing a smile at Kim Sol. Despite being told not to laugh it off, Lim Haeyul noticed Kim Sol’s expression soften slightly.
“I, uh, I temporarily lost my sight…….”
“I know. Never mind that. Tell me why you said you like Cha Jae-woo.”
“Oh…….”
“Do you really like Cha Jae-woo?”
Kim Sol’s voice seemed to continue, even though Lim Haeyul hadn’t said anything more.
Lim Haeyul quickly waved his hands.
“No, no! It was the side effect. You know, the side effect.”
“……You know it’s a side effect?”
“Of course! You warned me so much, how could I forget?”
Kim Sol raised an eyebrow, seemingly concerned that Lim Haeyul might actually have feelings for Cha Jae-woo.
“Thanks to you, I realized what was happening quickly. At first, I was confused, but then I remembered what you told me, and I thought, ‘Ah, this must be the side effect’—”
“Excuse me, but what side effect?”
Kim Geon-ung interrupted, grinning.
‘Oh right, he’s still here.’
Lim Haeyul had almost forgotten about Kim Geon-ung’s presence. He scowled at him, and Kim Sol also looked taken aback.
“But who is this guy?” Kim Sol asked, a bit too late.
“I’m the owner of that phone number,” Kim Geon-ung replied promptly.
“Ah…….”
Kim Sol’s expression turned awkward. He had clearly thought Kim Geon-ung was a bit odd, and now he was standing right there.
“He’s… my friend. Sort of. He just followed me here,” Lim Haeyul explained.
“He grabbed my phone and ran off. What was I supposed to do?” Kim Geon-ung retorted.
“You could have just stayed put. It was an emergency,” Lim Haeyul argued.
“An emergency for you, maybe.”
“…….”
Lim Haeyul was speechless. Kim Geon-ung had seen everything and heard the explanations, so there was no use arguing.
“Ahem, well… shouldn’t you be going? How long are you planning to stay here? You got your phone back!” Lim Haeyul said, trying to get rid of him.
“Nah, I don’t wanna. When will I get another chance to be here? It’s fascinating,” Kim Geon-ung replied.
“Ugh, you’re such a pain.”
“Says the guy who was shouting about liking Cha Jae-woo!”
“Gah……!”
Lim Haeyul’s face flushed with embarrassment. He knew Kim Geon-ung was right, and there was nothing he could say to defend himself.
“Stop it. Why are you two fighting?” Kim Sol intervened, trying to keep the peace.
Fortunately, Kim Sol intervened and cut off the conversation. Lim Haeyul huffed and turned his head away from Kim Geon-ung, who was still chuckling. He tried to ignore the sound.
“So, Haeyul’s friend?” Kim Sol asked.
“I’m Kim Geon-ung.”
“Ah, I see. Kim Geon-ung.”
“Just call me Geon-ung. Haeyul and I are the same age!”
‘What’s with the “ye”? Did he cut his tongue or something?’ Lim Haeyul thought, but he held his tongue. As much as he wanted to pick a fight, he knew it wouldn’t do any good right now.
“Anyway, this area is restricted to authorized personnel only, and the conversation we’ve had is also confidential. I know it’s a bit late, but I must ask you to leave,” Kim Sol said politely.
“Oh, sure. I should get going. But Kim Sol, can’t you at least tell me what this side effect is about?” Kim Geon-ung asked, his curiosity piqued.
Kim Geon-ung’s friendly demeanor seemed even more exaggerated than usual. Lim Haeyul nudged him with his foot, signaling him to leave, but Kim Geon-ung didn’t budge.
“It’s confidential information…” Kim Sol started to say.
“But Kim Sol, I just found out my friend likes a guy. Shouldn’t I get some explanation before I go?” Kim Geon-ung pressed.
Kim Sol hesitated, clearly swayed by Kim Geon-ung’s words. Lim Haeyul could see that Kim Geon-ung was just enjoying the drama and had no real concern for his feelings.
If Kim Geon-ung had asked Lim Haeyul directly if he really liked Cha Jae-woo, Lim Haeyul would have admitted it was just a side effect. But Kim Geon-ung was asking Kim Sol, clearly wanting to prolong his stay.
“Well, you see…” Kim Sol glanced at Lim Haeyul, who forced a smile. He couldn’t bring himself to kick Kim Geon-ung out, knowing he’d face Kim Sol’s wrath afterward.
“The thing is, Haeyul was guiding and, well, this might be a bit misleading…” Kim Sol stumbled over his words, trying to explain without revealing too much.
Lim Haeyul looked away, pretending not to notice Kim Sol’s struggle. He felt a gaze and turned to see someone familiar—the Guide who had a 34% matching rate with Cha Jae-woo. The Guide nodded at him, and Lim Haeyul nodded back. Any initial jealousy he felt had long since vanished.
‘But why do I feel so uneasy?’ Lim Haeyul wondered, rubbing the back of his neck. He watched Kim Sol, who was still trying to explain the situation to Kim Geon-ung. The discomfort lingered, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.
Suddenly, Lim Haeyul wished Cha Jae-woo would return quickly. He wanted to go home, even if it meant facing the consequences of his actions.
