“…Kang Biso. Brace your core.”
I barely finished speaking before I drove my fist hard into Kang Biso’s stomach.
—Thud!
“Guh…!”
He didn’t even have time to react. Letting out a strangled groan, Kang Biso doubled over and dropped straight to the floor, clutching his gut. The fact that he couldn’t get up right away told me the hit had landed exactly where I wanted.
Hopefully, that would knock some sense into him…
“Ugh…”
He stayed hunched over, groaning for a long while. When the pained noises finally started to fade and his arms slowly loosened from around his stomach, he looked up at me with a pouty, miserable expression.
“Hyung… that was way too harsh…”
As expected—sometimes a good punch is the only way to snap someone out of it.
“…Feeling any calmer now?”
“You punch me like that and then ask if I’m calm?”
He sulked, lips sticking out, looking exactly like the Kang Biso I knew.
“This is why I keep asking—why are you suddenly acting like this?”
At that, his expression twisted with frustration, and he practically exploded.
“Ugh… But how can I not be jealous?! You’re saying someone else was here before me?! Just the thought of it makes me lose my mind!”
…Jealousy?
That word threw me for a loop. I hadn’t expected that. Not even a little.
All of this chaos… because he was jealous?
In the original story, he’d gone completely off the rails like a deranged Villain. And that was because of jealousy?
Surely, he didn’t mean he was jealous of me… right?
I didn’t know how to react. My head was swimming with one thought: Why would he even be jealous?
After wrestling with it for a while, I opened my mouth—awkwardly.
“Ah… W-Well, I’ve finished packing everything, so I guess I just need to carry it out now. Thanks. You really helped speed things up, Kang Biso.”
“……”
I chickened out and changed the subject.
Grabbing my bag, I hurried to the door. I could feel his gaze burning into my back—so intense it felt like it might actually scorch my skin—but I forced myself to ignore it.
Just as I reached the front door, Kang Biso suddenly appeared beside me and grabbed the handle of my bag. He smiled gently.
“Let’s carry it together.”
I glanced sideways, catching a look at his face. He looked exactly the same as usual—and for some reason, that calmed me down a little.
“In that case, could you take this one?”
We divided the luggage and left the hotel in silence. Neither of us said a word the entire way.
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“Ah… It’s fine. It’s not that far—I’ll be home in no time.”
“But you’ve got luggage. Carrying it must be a hassle. Let me drive you.”
“I really don’t mind—”
“If we go by car, it’ll be a lot easier. Come on, just ride with me. Okay?”
Honestly, after what had just happened, the last thing I wanted was to be stuck in a small space like a car with him. But I could tell he was just trying to be nice, so rejecting him outright felt too cold.
In the end, I gave a small nod and followed him to his car parked near the hotel.
He loaded the bags into the trunk, and when I slid into the passenger seat, he leaned in close to buckle my seatbelt himself, carefully checking that it was secure.
Even once we were on the road, the silence continued. The quiet inside the car was deafening—and that same question from earlier crept back into my mind.
Were we really close enough for jealousy to even make sense?
Sure, he’d kidnapped me once… but lately we saw each other often. I’d Guided him a few times, he called me hyung, even acted cute sometimes. And we’d even gone on a date.
But still—jealousy?
If the situation were reversed… what would I do?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure. But something about it would definitely get under my skin.
If Kang Biso spent the night at a hotel with someone else… would that piss me off?
Caught up in my spiraling thoughts, I turned my head slightly—and saw Kang Biso, eyes locked on the road.
Damn, he really is good-looking.
Even while driving, his side profile was enough to make anyone stop and stare. Tousled black curls, deep double eyelids that weren’t too heavy, a sharp, straight nose, lips with a faint red tint, and that deep dimple that always drew the eye. His looks were the kind that made you do a double-take every time.
To the point that I’d sneak glances at him even now.
I took a deep breath to settle my racing heart—but then I noticed something.
Huh? His complexion…
He hadn’t looked great earlier, but now he seemed even paler. This wasn’t just a little exhaustion—he looked like he needed to be in a hospital, not behind the wheel.
Worried, I opened my mouth to say something—but then, a thought suddenly struck me like lightning.
Wait… when’s the last time I gave Kang Biso a Guiding session?
I remembered doing it before our date… but after that?
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t recall another time.
Shit…
Kang Biso used to come for Guiding almost every other day. At that pace, it was clear—he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for it. So if he’d gone a whole week without a session, it made perfect sense that his complexion was shot.
It wasn’t like I’d done it on purpose, but seeing him like that made me feel like I’d caused it somehow. I hurried to speak up.
“Hey…”
“Yeah?”
“Kang Biso… it’s been a while since your last Guiding session, hasn’t it?”
“…Yeah, it has.”
“Pull over. You really don’t look good. I’ll give you a quick session.”
“Next time…”
“…What?”
“I’ll get it later. It’s not critical yet. I’ll just swing by the Guide Center when I need to.”
The silence in the car came back like a weight.
I hadn’t expected him to turn me down, and I couldn’t hide my confusion. He looked like he needed Guiding badly, and I didn’t even have to touch him to tell. So why refuse?
“We’re here.”
I was still tangled up in worry and questions when Kang Biso’s voice snapped me out of it.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll carry your bags in.”
“No, it’s fine. Only Guides are allowed inside the dorm anyway. And besides… you’re not looking so great yourself.”
“…That’s too bad. I really wanted to see where you’d be staying.”
He glanced up at the dorm building with a pout of regret but gave up without a fuss. He helped me unload the trunk and handed over my bags.
“Well… I’ll head out now, hyung.”
“…Already?”
I froze the moment the words left my mouth.
I hadn’t meant to say that.
Kang Biso blinked, clearly surprised that I’d even tried to stop him. But then a slow, gentle smile spread across his face.
“Oh—uh, I mean… I was just wondering if you’re really okay without a session.”
“I’m fine. Besides, you’ve got unpacking to do and a ton to sort through, right? I’ll leave you to it.”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll come by for a session soon, so you better make up for skipping today, alright?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll text you later—don’t leave me on read.”
“Thanks again. Really.”
He gave me a polite little bow, then waved as I headed toward the dorm. It was clear he had no intention of leaving until I was safely inside.
I could feel his gaze on my back the entire time.
When I stepped through the dormitory door, the first thing I saw was Baek Beom sprawled across the sofa, scratching his stomach while watching TV.
“Yo. What took you so long?”
He didn’t even offer to help with my bags. Just complained.
Compared to Kang Biso—who’d helped me pack, carried my luggage, drove me here—that lazy attitude of Baek Beom’s made me sigh.
After setting the bags down, I pulled out the T-shirt and toothbrush—the two items that had caused a fuss earlier—and walked over to him. He gave me a puzzled look.
“What? You gonna give me a session or something?”
I didn’t even respond. I just tossed the T-shirt and toothbrush straight at his face.
“…These are your things. You deal with them.”
“Pft—! Hey! You seriously just threw that at my face?!”
He flailed on the couch, but I ignored him and made my way to my room.
“The hell’s with you? You’re the one who came home late, and now you’re picking fights? Hey! What about my Guiding?! You said you’d do it when you got back!”
I shut the door behind me, pretending I didn’t hear a word. Behind it, I could hear him grumbling and cursing under his breath.
I tossed my bags carelessly onto the floor and collapsed on the bed. I should’ve been unpacking, but my head was full of Kang Biso.
His face as he waited for me outside the hotel.
The way he’d grabbed my shoulder and said he was jealous.
That little smile as he waved goodbye.
I kept replaying those moments over and over, and before I knew it, my face was burning.
What the hell is happening to me?
My cheeks were on fire. I fanned myself with both hands, but the heat wouldn’t go down.
Every time I closed my eyes, his face came back into view, more vivid than ever—and my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. I tried to breathe, to calm down, but it only made things worse.
What is this? Seriously, what the hell is this…?
***
While Hwang Seol-bin disappeared behind the dormitory doors, Kang Biso stood there for a long time, staring after him.
Then his phone rang.
“Yeah. What is it?”
[“Hyung. Did you see Seol-bin? I was just checking if the session went okay.”]
“…Yeah, I saw him.”
[“Wait, don’t tell me you didn’t get a session.”]
Kang Bijun’s voice sounded suspicious. Kang Biso didn’t answer right away.
Did he want a session? Of course he did.
But there was no way he could’ve handled it in the state he was in. That jealousy—burning like acid in his chest—still hadn’t faded. If he’d tried to receive Guiding like that, something awful would’ve happened. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Seol-bin’s surprise punch back at the hotel, he might’ve completely lost it.
“…Forget that. I need you to look into something.”
[“Huh? What is it now?”]
“You know the hotel where Seol-bin was staying? Find out who’s been in and out of his room.”
[“What? Why? That’s out of nowhere.”]
“I’m curious. It’s important. Don’t ask questions—just find out.”
[“…Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”]
“Thanks. Talk later.”
[“Hey—Hyung! I wasn’t done—!”]
Kang Biso ended the call and looked up at the Guide Dormitory again.
A younger brother, huh…
According to everything he’d dug up so far, Seol-bin didn’t have anyone like that. No siblings, no real friends to speak of. Maybe a couple of coworkers he got along with at the Guide Center, but no one he met outside of work.
And yet… the hotel room showed clear signs of someone else living there. The worn-out toothbrush alone proved it wasn’t just a one-night guest.
“…Fuck.”
Just thinking about that unknown bastard made his jaw clench.
Forget Guiding. There’s something more important right now.
Whoever the hell that guy was—he needed to find him. Fast. Then he’d deal with him. That came first. Only then would he be able to go back to Seol-bin, act sweet, and get his Guiding session like nothing ever happened.
Taking a long breath, Kang Biso reeled in his emotions, climbed back into his car, and typed out a text.
[Did you get home okay? Hope unpacking’s not too rough. I’m really sorry about earlier. You must be exhausted… Just take it easy, eat something nice, and get some rest.]
He hesitated for a moment, worried Seol-bin might be scared and ignore the message.
But not long after he started driving, his phone pinged with a reply.
[Yeah, I’m okay. Sorry for hitting you so hard. You might end up with a bruise—make sure you stop by a pharmacy. Thanks for everything today. Get some good rest too, Kang Biso.]
A little stiff, a little polite—but kind. So typically Seol-bin.
Kang Biso smiled.
Yeah. It had hurt. It probably was going to bruise.
But still… it felt good. Knowing Seol-bin had left a mark on him—it made his chest flutter.
…Shit. I’m so into him.
Just one text, and all the heat boiling inside him melted away like snow.
He read the message again.
And again.
And again.
So many times that he didn’t even notice the car behind him honking until it got aggressive.
Shaking himself out of it, Kang Biso hit the gas and finally headed for the hideout.
