“Kwon Jae-jin, what do I do? Dating… I didn’t know a proper relationship was like this.”
Seo Eui-woo murmured absentmindedly.
“Guiding too—I didn’t know what proper guiding was, did I…? Then, thanks to you, I found out for the first time. Right now, I feel exactly like I did back then.”
The euphoria and exhilaration he had felt when receiving proper guiding for the first time were strikingly similar to the emotions he was experiencing now after discovering what a real relationship was. Unable to contain his excitement, Seo Eui-woo wrapped Kwon Jae-jin in his embrace and floated into the air. His ability spread throughout the exhibition hall, lifting the two of them together.
“That’s right. Jae-jin, you and I—we have to do everything properly.”
“Eui-woo, wait, hold on! Eui-woo! Control your ability properly. If you damage the paintings, that’d be a waste. Those are all originals.”
“Answer me first. Do you understand what I’m saying? We have to do everything right!”
“Understood. I get it! We’ll do it right! Dating—let’s do it properly. That was my intention from the start.”
“Mm. The real relationship we didn’t get to have even after four years—let’s do it all, everything. Not a single thing left out. Just the two of us, Jae-jin and me.”
“Well, I told you, didn’t I…?”
“Jae-jin.”
“Yes…”
“Jae-jin, Jae-jin…”
Seo Eui-woo smiled in a way Jae-jin had never seen before.
His long, almond-shaped eyes softened beautifully, and his cheeks flushed with that familiar hue unique to him. It was undoubtedly a face he knew, yet it was one he was seeing for the first time. In the dimly lit space, his face seemed to shine even more radiantly.
Suddenly, Jae-jin had the illusion that the world had grown brighter. As if the brightness and saturation of everything around them had shifted, centered around Seo Eui-woo.
“Haah… I feel overwhelmed.”
“…….”
“Why do I feel choked up? This is strange. If something is too good, does it make you feel like crying?”
Seo Eui-woo started spinning in slow circles. Right in the middle of the exhibition hall, he held Jae-jin close and turned languidly, just as he had done on the open sea. Like a music box figurine, his ability traced a perfect arc through the air.
It felt as if they were dancing together.
Jae-jin’s gaze landed on the paintings scattered along the whitewashed walls. He had never been interested in art, not even after seeing these paintings for four years. Yet now, the rich colors and intricate depth of the brushstrokes held his attention.
For some reason, every painting in the background felt more beautiful than before.
The painting of a deep green meadow was lush and vibrant, while the one depicting a group of people was dynamic and full of life. The yellow hues felt lighthearted, while the purples carried weight and gravity.
“…….”
Kwon Jae-jin quietly melted into this world, one that seemed a little brighter and a little clearer than it had been yesterday.
And at the center of this new world stood Seo Eui-woo.
Seo Eui-woo, who spoke of massacres without hesitation for Jae-jin’s sake.
Seo Eui-woo, who told him to throw away a promising future and run away together.
Seo Eui-woo, who practically threatened him, insisting they have a proper relationship.
Strangely enough, Jae-jin also felt as though his eyes were growing red. Not enough to sob, but like the mild sting one gets when chopping onions—a subtle, creeping warmth at the corners of his eyes.
The frustration that had built up over four years, pounding against walls alone and suffering in silence, unraveled like cotton candy dissolving in water.
The terror of suddenly becoming a mutant overnight, fearing execution, dissipated because Seo Eui-woo had declared, without a second thought, that he would slaughter any awakened ones who tried to kill Jae-jin.
The sorrow of having his ordinary, 26-year-old life as a civilian stolen from him faded away because Seo Eui-woo, without hesitation, said he would abandon his own 20-year-long life as an awakened and become a vagrant with him.
The twisted relationship of the first timeline—born of love and hatred, a connection so warped it couldn’t even be called a real romance, even as an empty lie—was undone by this Seo Eui-woo, who was now wildly excited, insisting with manic fervor that they do this right.
And then, it was bright. As if the curtains had risen on a grand stage.
The suffocating trauma, tangled in fear, sorrow, and resentment, lifted, and in its place, dazzling light poured in. Seo Eui-woo looked like the rising sun.
So overwhelmingly brilliant that Jae-jin could do nothing but stare.
Their first date. At first, he had thought it was a disaster. But it wasn’t. It was perfect. There was nothing more he could ask for.
***
After the commotion in the exhibition hall—the wild frenzy that had unfolded—Kwon Jae-jin had to soothe Seo Eui-woo over and over again, nearly to the point of hyperventilation.
It felt like watching a massive dog, leashed all its life without ever having had the chance to run, suddenly set free in a field for the first time—so overwhelmed with joy that it couldn’t stop bounding around.
‘No, if he likes it this much… I feel bad.’
For even a moment, he had doubted Seo Eui-woo, and now he regretted it. Of all people, Seo Eui-woo—the same Seo Eui-woo who was obsessed with sucking holes, slamming his cock in, and pissing on things just for the thrill—Jae-jin had assumed that something as simple as dating or wearing matching rings wouldn’t excite him.
‘Damn it, haah… Seriously, damn it…’
With a reflective sigh, Jae-jin patted Seo Eui-woo’s broad back. The smooth fabric of his suit felt unfamiliar, starkly different from the stiff texture of his combat uniform.
“Eui-woo. Seo Eui-woo. Let’s calm down now.”
“Yes, yes… Jae-jin.”
“And, just in case you forgot—we’re not done with our date yet.”
Jae-jin had meant that they still hadn’t finished exploring the exhibition, but Seo Eui-woo took it another way.
“Ah, yes, that’s right. It’s not over yet.”
Seo Eui-woo suddenly lifted his head. The two of them were still floating in midair, bathed in the soft glow of downlights.
“Jae-jin, what do you want to eat?”
“What… do I want to eat?”
“You said dating is about wearing nice clothes, going to nice places, and eating good food.”
They had already dressed up and gone out. That only left the food.
“I’ll make it for you. Whatever you want to eat. I’ve read a lot of cookbooks and practiced a lot, too.”
And so, the two of them headed to the kitchen together.
Seo Eui-woo kept asking what Jae-jin wanted to eat, and Jae-jin chose the most typical, classic first-date dish: steak.
“Steak?”
“There should be ingredients for it.”
Jae-jin hesitated for a moment.
If he didn’t clarify things in advance, Seo Eui-woo might throw a fit later.
“Steak or pasta is a common choice for first dates. Since they’re neat to eat.”
“Really? I see. But Jae-jin, you always eat neatly, no matter what it is.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I just eat like a normal person.”
“I think it’d be nice if you ate a little messier. Just once, I’d like to see that.”
“Why do you insist on seeing even my sloppier sides, Seo Eui-woo?”
“Because it’s you, Jae-jin.”
What kind of answer was that? Jae-jin had no idea.
Meanwhile, Seo Eui-woo took off his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt to his elbows. As he stood by the sink, washing his hands, he looked surprisingly comfortable and adept in the kitchen.
As he marinated thick cuts of beef tenderloin with oil, herbs, and salt, he spoke casually.
“Cooking is fun. I still don’t feel hunger, but when I think about this food becoming a part of you, Jae-jin, it makes me happy.”
“I’ve told you over and over, we’re only four months in. You’ll develop an appetite before we hit the six-month mark.”
“I doubt it. Hunger or not, I think I’d still enjoy feeding you more.”
After that, he washed and carefully sliced the vegetables for garnish—asparagus, kabocha squash, carrots, and tomatoes.
Jae-jin’s gaze landed on the kitchen knife in Seo Eui-woo’s hand. It was his favorite knife. But how had it ended up in Seo Eui-woo’s hands? He had no idea when that switch had happened.
“Look, I’m not just making steak right now. I’m making Kwon Jae-jin. This food is going to become your blood, flesh, bones, and cells.”
“What kind of fresh nonsense is that…?”
“I’m personally crafting the future Jae-jin. So, of course, I have to put my heart into it.”
“Yeah, yeah… sure.”
“Hold still. Eui-woo is going to make it delicious for you.”
A generous amount of olive oil was poured into the pan, and as it was heated over high heat until it smoked, a large cut of meat was placed onto it with a satisfying sizzle. The rich aroma spread instantly through the kitchen. The silent ventilation system automatically activated, detecting the rising heat.
Seo Eui-woo let the steak cook untouched for a moment before stepping back. But instead of standing idle, he used even that brief pause, leaning in close to Jae-jin and whispering into his ear.
“So, once this meal is over, does that mean our date is over too?”
“It could be, or it might not be.”
“What do you mean? Is there something else left to do?”
“No, it’s not exactly that…”
Jae-jin, standing with his arms crossed, glanced up. As he did, the tip of his ear barely grazed Seo Eui-woo’s lower lip, which had been lingering close while whispering.
“Ah.”
Jae-jin flinched slightly. In the past, he would have jerked away or frozen up completely, but now, he didn’t feel the need to do either.
Instead, he slowly tilted his chin up, pressing his ear more firmly against Seo Eui-woo’s lips.
A soft, slick sound marked the contact between their skin.
“…If we feel like it, we could have some physical affection too.”
“…….”
“Nothing is set in stone.”
It was about time to flip the steak.
But Seo Eui-woo didn’t move away from Jae-jin.
Worried about wasting the ingredient by letting it burn, Jae-jin shifted his head, pulling his ear away from Seo Eui-woo’s lips.
But Seo Eui-woo simply followed after him, burying his lips deep against the curve of Jae-jin’s ear, pressing a lingering kiss there.
