Kang Biso flashed a dazzling smile as he asked me out, and before I knew it, I nodded like I was under some kind of spell.
“So you’re saying yes to my request, right? Right?”
I realized my mistake a beat too late. Kang Biso was already grinning ear to ear, our fingers laced tightly together as he shook our joined hands with way too much energy.
I let out a soft sigh and gave another nod.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Yes!”
He let out a sudden cheer, catching me off guard. My eyes widened as Kang Biso pulled me into a hug and spun me around in a circle.
“We’re really going on a date! This Saturday! You better not forget!”
“I won’t, don’t worry.”
“Yesss! Then I’ll get going for today! See you tomorrow!”
With that, Kang Biso skipped out of the Guiding Room. The whole thing had happened so fast, I just stood there, completely dazed—until laughter started to bubble up from my chest.
To anyone watching, it probably looked like I was the one who’d asked him out.
I couldn’t help but smile remembering how bright and carefree he’d looked, but that smile didn’t last long. A twinge of regret crept in.
A date with Kang Biso, huh…
Was saying yes really the right call?
It hadn’t even been that long since I reminded myself how I could never stay composed around him. And right now, I should be out there chasing down the other copies of the Book of Wishes—not playing out some childhood fantasy like this.
I still had no idea where the government was keeping its copy, and there were two more I had to find beyond that.
Realistically, I shouldn’t have time for a date.
But his smile… the warmth of his hand in mine… Before I knew it, I’d said yes.
Once again, I hadn’t been able to push him away.
“Still… since it’s already happened, just one more time.”
Just once. If I met him one more time, maybe I could finally figure out what this feeling toward him really was.
— Knock knock knock.
Just then, a knock echoed through the room. It was the next Esper scheduled for Guiding after Kang Biso.
After a brief greeting, we got started. But all throughout the session, the Esper kept glancing at my face.
“…Is something wrong?”
“Did something good happen today?”
“…Huh?”
I flinched at the question and paused the Guiding. The Esper seemed disappointed by the sudden break, but still smiled as he spoke.
“You’ve been smiling the whole time. You look really happy today. You’re usually so serious… I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you smile like this, Guide.”
Wait—was I really smiling just now?
All I did was think about Kang Biso… and I’d been sitting here with a goofy look on my face?
I quickly forced my expression back to neutral.
“Ahem… It’s nothing. I’ll resume the Guiding now, so please stay focused.”
I really need to work on keeping a straight face…
***
It’s already been four days…
Turns out Kang Biso wasn’t kidding when he said he’d come every day. Since that day, he’d submitted a Guiding request without fail—every single day.
Each time, he’d bring snacks I liked, and we wouldn’t even do a session. He’d just sit with me and chat, then leave.
One day, when he looked especially pale, I tried to insist on Guiding him. But he just smiled and said he’d rather keep talking with me, and politely turned it down.
I didn’t mind the time we spent together. Sure, I worried whenever I saw his face drained of energy from the lack of Guiding, but our casual conversations were actually… nice. Pleasant, even. Maybe that’s why, lately—I found myself looking forward to his visits.
He should be here soon…
— Knock knock knock.
Just as I was glancing toward the door, almost on cue, a knock came.
At this hour, there was only one person it could be. I took a breath to calm the flutter in my chest before speaking.
“…Come in.”
“Sunbae!”
“Ah… Kim Yong-ha.”
But the one who walked in wasn’t Kang Biso—it was Kim Yong-ha.
The moment I registered that fact, a faint feeling of disappointment hit me.
…Disappointed? Seriously? But Kim Yong-ha didn’t do anything wrong.
I quickly schooled my expression. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like he noticed. He smiled as he handed me a drink and took a seat.
“I thought of you, Sunbae, so I brought you this.”
“…Thanks.”
Caught off guard, I took the drink without thinking. Kim Yong-ha gave me a bright smile in return.
Feeling disappointed in someone who brought me a drink just because he was thinking of me—that thought hit me with a sudden wave of guilt.
“It’s almost time for the next Esper, right? I’ll come back during lunch.”
“Yeah.”
I gave a nod, and Kim Yong-ha stood up like his business here was done. He bowed politely, turned to the door, and reached for the handle—
—Knock knock knock.
A knock echoed through the room.
This time, it had to be Kang Biso. No doubt in my mind.
Wait—hold on.
If Kang Biso and Kim Yong-ha ran into each other right now…
What if Kang Biso ended up liking Kim Yong-ha?
The thought hit me out of nowhere, and I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I just sat there, lips parting uselessly, and then—
The door burst open.
“Hyung, I’m here—”
“Ah…”
Kang Biso stepped in right as Kim Yong-ha was about to leave. The two of them froze for a moment, eyes meeting in the doorway. Kim Yong-ha took a slight step back and spoke first.
“You must be here for Guiding?”
“Yeah… something like that.”
Kang Biso gave a casual nod and walked right past him, heading straight toward me with a bright, unshakable smile.
“Hyung! I brought chocolate today. It’s from this super famous dessert shop. Let’s eat it together!”
“Sure. Sounds good.”
I’d been bracing myself for some kind of awkward tension, but Kang Biso came right over like nothing was out of the ordinary. Honestly, it threw me off more than I expected.
I could feel Kim Yong-ha watching us, but Kang Biso’s eyes never left me—not even for a second.
He’s supposed to be the protagonist… Is it really possible for him to show zero interest?
…Meanwhile, Kim Yong-ha definitely seemed curious.
His eyes weren’t as vague and unfocused as usual. They were sharp, watchful. Maybe not with warm intentions—but there was interest there, no question.
Kim Yong-ha walked closer, casting a sidelong glance at Kang Biso, then turned to me.
“Sunbae.”
“Yeah?”
“I was wondering—”
“It’s my turn for Guiding now. Why are you still here?”
Kang Biso cut him off flatly, his tone laced with annoyance. It was a far cry from how he usually spoke to me.
Kim Yong-ha didn’t take kindly to that. His brows pulled together in a tight frown as he turned a sharp look on Kang Biso.
But the moment our eyes met, his expression smoothed over like nothing had happened. He lowered his voice and spoke calmly.
“I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll head out now, Sunbae.”
“Alright.”
Without even sparing Kang Biso a glance, he turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
…Was it just me, or did that door close louder than usual?
“Hyung, come sit. I’ll unwrap it for you—try it while it’s fresh!”
While I was still staring at the door, Kang Biso had already unwrapped the chocolate and was holding it out with expectant eyes.
“Thanks. You should sit too, Kang Biso.”
The way he acted so naturally, so cheerfully, made me let out a short breath of relief.
…Wait, was that relief?
I froze.
Did I really just feel relieved that Kang Biso didn’t show any interest in Kim Yong-ha?
That was… not something I wanted to admit. Not even to myself.
Why would it be a good thing for him to ignore someone else?
What if he had shown interest? Been friendly?
“……”
Just the thought alone was enough to sour my mood and make my chest ache in a way that felt strangely unfamiliar.
I turned my head to shake the feeling—and found Kang Biso suddenly right in front of me, holding a piece of chocolate up to my lips.
“Aah~”
“…Huh?”
“Aaah~”
“…Ah.”
As soon as the chocolate touched my tongue, it melted instantly, spreading sweetness across my mouth like a warm wave.
“Good, right?”
“…Yeah. It’s good.”
He smiled and tapped my cheek with his finger as he asked, completely derailing any coherent thought I might’ve had.
“Hey… that Guide from earlier—are you two close?”
“…The one from earlier?”
“Yeah. He didn’t seem like an Esper, but he was in your room, so I figured maybe you two were tight?”
Kang Biso still had that sunny expression on his face as he asked, voice light and easy.
Why the sudden interest? Is he curious now?
I didn’t answer right away. I hesitated.
And that’s when I saw it—in his eyes. That flicker. That glint of something unspoken.
His eyes looked so pure—completely free of any ulterior motive—that I ended up answering him without hesitation.
“…Yeah. He’s just a junior who follows me around.”
“Got it…”
Kang Biso nodded, but his expression turned a little distant, as if lost in thought. Watching him like that, I picked up a piece of chocolate. Mimicking what he’d done earlier, I held it up to his lips and mumbled softly,
“…Ah.”
“Ah?”
His eyes widened in surprise, glancing between me and the chocolate. Then, a bright smile broke across his face, lighting up his features. He popped the chocolate into his mouth with one bite, his cheek puffing out adorably as he kept repeating how good it was.
Guess giving him that was a good idea…
…Not that I was trying to keep his mind off Kim Yong-ha or anything.
…Seriously. Not at all.
***
The day started with a strange kind of energy.
I woke up earlier than I did on workdays and finished getting ready before most people were even out of bed. I stood in front of the mirror for a long time, checking over my reflection.
Lately, I’d seen him almost every day, so I hadn’t been putting much thought into what I wore. But today, nothing I tried on felt right. I kept changing outfits, one after another, until I finally settled on the clothes Kang Biso had bought for me. Even then, I couldn’t stop fussing over every little wrinkle and fold.
…This should be fine, right?
“What the—where are you headed?”
Without so much as a knock, Baek Beom barged into the room, scratching his head and blinking groggily.
“…You’re up early.”
I must’ve woken him with all my noise while getting ready. On weekdays, he could sleep through a stampede, but on weekends, he always woke up when you least wanted him to.
“It’s the weekend. You seriously going to work today?”
“No. I’ve got plans.”
I fiddled awkwardly with the hem of my yellow shirt as I answered. Baek Beom looked me up and down slowly, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously when I avoided his gaze.
“What the hell? You always wear black, and now you’re in yellow? You look like you’re going on a date or something.”
The word date left his mouth, and I immediately froze. I couldn’t say a word. Just stood there awkwardly.
Baek Beom’s brows furrowed as he stormed over to me, clearly picking up on something.
“Wait, seriously? You’re actually going on a date? With who?”
“…I’m heading out. Watch the place while I’m gone.”
“Hey!”
He shouted after me, but I didn’t stop. I moved quickly toward the front door, shoving on my shoes.
“I might be out for a while, so make sure you eat. And it’s the weekend—you can order delivery if you want.”
“Hey! I said who are you going on a date with?! Answer me!”
I ignored his protests, opened the door, and stepped outside. Just before leaving, I glanced back.
He stood there glaring at me, lips jutting out in a full pout, his expression practically oozing disapproval. With that kind of face, if I left him like this, he’d definitely throw a tantrum while I was gone.
So I paused at the door.
“If you stay put and behave, I’ll give you some Guiding when I get back. Okay?”
I kept my tone as gentle as possible, then quickly shut the door before he could reach for me.
…Not following me? Good.
Thankfully, Baek Beom didn’t chase after me. If he had, I was ready to smack him.
Where are we going today, I wonder? Will Kang Biso already be there…?
My heart fluttered just thinking about meeting him.
He wouldn’t show up like last time, right? Flashy red sports car, weirdly loud designer suit…
The memory made me grimace a little. But then again, if he did show up dressed like that again, it’d be a good excuse to go shopping together. That could actually be kind of fun.
…What’s he going to look like today?
My steps grew quicker without me even realizing it, excitement building with every block I passed.
