Why is Cha Jae-woo here?
No, he couldn’t be. I didn’t hear him coming. If he had arrived, it would mean everyone had gone home, but the house was still noisy.
Maybe I was so drunk that I was seeing things? Given my current state, it seemed like a plausible thought. It wasn’t something I would think if I were sober.
“……What, yes?”
I tilted my head and squinted. It was impossible for Kim Geon-ung to look like Cha Jae-woo, but I thought it might be possible since I had drunk so much.
“Are you running away?”
Unfortunately, the person in front of me was still Cha Jae-woo. The miracle of Cha Jae-woo’s face turning into Kim Geon-ung’s did not happen. I had essentially declared to Cha Jae-woo that I was going to run away.
“Um… Who, said that?”
It is said that running away should be done secretly. I shook my head with that thought. I intended to feign ignorance.
“Who, said you were running away?”
Fortunately, my mind was relatively clear right now. Otherwise, I might not have recognized Cha Jae-woo and kept muttering nonsense about needing to leave.
“No? I didn’t, say anything, like that…….”
I nodded at Cha Jae-woo as if to reassure him.
“Huh.”
Perhaps feeling a bit reassured, Cha Jae-woo let out a small laugh.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since I saw Cha Jae-woo smile. I held back a laugh that was about to follow his. Cha Jae-woo is a scary person, so I had to be careful with every move.
“Anyway…… Yes. You’re back early………. You should rest…….”
I bowed my head, but my body lurched forward. Fortunately, Cha Jae-woo placed his hand on my forehead, preventing me from hitting my head on the floor.
I quickly straightened up and moved away from his hand.
“I’m sorry!”
Then I apologized right away.
I thought I had bothered Cha Jae-woo. Come to think of it, Cha Jae-woo must have been the one who took me out of the bathroom. Did he need to use the bathroom? Did I cause him inconvenience? Oh, I did something annoying again.
“I’m sorry, again…….”
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, an apology came out first. Was there anything else I did wrong? If so, I needed to apologize quickly. That way, Cha Jae-woo’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt.
“What for?”
But somehow, it seemed like Cha Jae-woo’s feelings were already hurt. Well, it was understandable that he would be unhappy with a Guide who couldn’t even guide properly.
“So, you should bring another Guide…….”
Why is he making such a fuss over me?
I know I’m good at guiding. I haven’t guided many Espers. Besides Cha Jae-woo, it was just Jung Hyun-soo and Lee Jae-hoon.
But I admit that my guiding has something special about it. So, it’s understandable if he likes it. If he wants to keep me by his side.
“But, I’m trying, really hard, but I’m not good, so why, do you insist, sir…….”
But it’s strange that Cha Jae-woo is still waiting for me to improve. At the very least, he could receive guiding from someone else for now and then come back to me once I’ve improved.
“……Feels bad…….”
The thought of Cha Jae-woo receiving guiding from another Guide made me feel sick to my stomach.
Come to think of it, I was also a bit strange. I was afraid of Cha Jae-woo. That fear had consumed the feelings I once had for him. But I was just hiding it. I knew that too. Stupidly and horribly, I still had those feelings.
How could that be? Cha Jae-woo is a cruel person. I shouldn’t like someone like that. There had been enough incidents to make me dislike him.
Yet, why do these feelings persist? My true feelings are gone, but is the side effect of initially liking him still lingering?
“I don’t know…….”
I rubbed my face vigorously. It was frustrating that thinking about it wouldn’t solve anything. Of course, getting angry wouldn’t change anything either.
“Lim Haeyul.”
My head, which had been hanging low, jerked up at the sound of Cha Jae-woo’s voice.
Huh……? When did he get there? Startled, I blinked blankly and felt a sudden chill. I slowly backed away, clamping my mouth shut.
“…….”
Simultaneously, Cha Jae-woo’s brow furrowed deeply. To be precise, it was already furrowed, but it grew even more irritated.
I had made him angry.
Realizing this, I felt a shiver run down my spine, and my breath quickened. I turned around hastily. Without even trying to stand properly, I attempted to run away from him.
“Ah!”
“Where are you going?”
However, my escape attempt was futile. Cha Jae-woo grabbed my left ankle and dragged me back. I struggled desperately, but breaking free from his grip was impossible.
“Let go! Let me go!”
“Lim Haeyul.”
“Let go of me! Let go! I have to go!”
Fear can overwhelm the mind instantly. That’s exactly what happened to me. All my previous thoughts vanished.
I wasn’t thinking about how I shouldn’t act this way. I was only focused on escaping Cha Jae-woo’s grasp. I believed I could break free and run away.
“Ha…….”
Even as I heard a deep sigh above me, I continued to struggle and scream, hoping someone would help me.
But who? Who could stand up to Cha Jae-woo? No one could. He was too strong for anyone to challenge.
“Ugh…….”
Realizing this, I quickly covered my mouth. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt trying to help me.
“You’re really something else.”
Unfortunately, my behavior seemed to anger Cha Jae-woo even more. He flipped me over effortlessly.
Suddenly facing his cold gaze, I felt my stomach twist. Tears welled up in my eyes, a natural response to the overwhelming fear.
“I’ve been very patient with you.”
My body was dragged along by Cha Jae-woo’s grip. He began to move backward, pulling me with him.
My previously struggling body now felt frozen, unable to move. I was being dragged along without any resistance.
“But if you don’t improve…….”
The ceiling moved above me, and my back scraped against the floor. I had no idea where we were going. I couldn’t even ask; I couldn’t speak.
Cha Jae-woo said nothing more. Tears streamed down my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying desperately to block out the fear.
* * *
The memories of what happened next are hazy. Whether it was because of the alcohol or because I chose to forget, I can’t be sure.
I was dragged into Cha Jae-woo’s room and forced onto his bed. He commanded me to say that I loved him, that I cared for him, over and over again. He pressed against me, his touch and lips roaming over my skin.
At first glance, it might have seemed like he was forcing me to guide, but it wasn’t.
“Block the guiding. Make sure not a single bit leaks out.”
That was the first command Cha Jae-woo gave me as he put me on the bed. Even as tears streamed down my face, I nodded and tried my best to block the guiding.
Then his lips pressed against mine, my clothes were torn off, and his lips and hands roamed over my skin. He repeated the acts he had done when we were together, as if trying to make me love him again.
As if…… he was begging me to love him again. As if he yearned to return to that kind of relationship.
“……Ha ha.”
It was a fleeting illusion. I laughed bitterly at the fragmented memories of last night.
My clothes were torn and stained with marks where Cha Jae-woo had bitten and sucked all night. My entire body ached.
“I love you, ah…. I love, ah, you…….”
The memory of whispering those words all night at his command lingered in my mind. I laughed hollowly again.
Cha Jae-woo had no intention of letting me go. I could tell from the hazy memories of last night. I was already his possession. That’s why he bit me and marked me, making it clear he would never let me go.
“Asshole.”
I no longer worried that Cha Jae-woo might kill me. He would never do that.
Now I understood clearly. Cha Jae-woo…… had no intention of giving up my guiding. He planned to keep me by his side forever.
