“Hyung, over here!”
Kang Biso, already waiting at our meeting spot, waved at me with a bright smile.
“You got here early.”
“No, I just got here too.”
As I quickened my pace toward him, I noticed he was wearing the outfit I’d picked out for him on our last date.
We were both dressed in the clothes the other had chosen. That small coincidence made it feel like we were somehow in sync, and my heart fluttered without warning.
But while the feeling was sweet, the situation itself felt awkward as hell. Still, Kang Biso looked like he was enjoying even that, smiling even more brightly.
“You’re wearing the outfit I got you! It looks amazing on you. I’m wearing the one you gave me, too. We really are on the same wavelength, huh?”
“…Yeah. It suits you well.”
“Bright colors really make your face pop. I should buy you more clothes.”
“Don’t. I can buy my own.”
“Hmm, then how about we just keep picking stuff out for each other like last time?”
“Hmm… I don’t hate that idea.”
“Alright, let’s get going then.”
Watching how giddy he was, I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. It had been a while since we went out together like this, so I’d been a little tense, but Kang Biso’s casual, friendly vibe helped me relax.
…But where exactly are we going?
I was following him, but he hadn’t told me the destination, so I kept glancing around. Noticing, Kang Biso pointed ahead.
“There are a bunch of good places to eat around here. I made a reservation at the one with the best reviews. We’re headed there—sound good?”
“Sure.”
Starting the date with a restaurant wasn’t a bad move.
We walked side by side, and on the way, Kang Biso threw out question after question like he was determined to learn everything about me—what my hobbies were, if work was hard, how I spent my days off. I didn’t mind the attention. I answered sincerely, and the conversation flowed easily. The atmosphere stayed warm and light.
Before I knew it, we’d arrived.
“We’re here. This is the place.”
Already? I hadn’t even realized how far we’d walked, too caught up in our chat. I looked up to find a restaurant with an elaborate sign and an entrance that clearly had money poured into it.
This place is massive…
Now that I thought about it, the place I went to with Kim Seong-gyeong was somewhere nearby too. Just like Kang Biso had said, this area really did have a lot of trendy restaurants.
As soon as we stepped inside, the elegant interior caught my eye. I’d barely ever set foot in a place this high-end, and my gaze darted around, trying to take everything in. Meanwhile, Kang Biso went straight to the reception desk, where a neatly dressed waiter greeted him with a professional smile.
“May I have the name on the reservation?”
“Kang Biso.”
“Confirmed. Please, right this way.”
As the waiter gestured for us to follow, Kang Biso turned to me.
“Hyung, come on.”
“…Okay.”
I followed Kang Biso and the waiter across the spacious hall and toward a private room tucked deeper inside. Along the way, I noticed most of the customers were dressed in tailored suits and elegant dresses.
That’s when I started feeling self-conscious. It felt like we were the only ones who didn’t belong.
Did I dress too casually for this?
I adjusted the hem of my clothes and glanced at Kang Biso, but he didn’t seem even remotely bothered.
“This way, please. Enjoy your meal.”
The waiter opened the door to our private room, and the inside was just as extravagant. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling bathed the room in a soft, golden glow. The table and chairs had a vintage charm, and every piece of décor, down to the intricate patterns and rich colors, screamed luxury. Just looking around felt like a treat for the eyes.
“Hyung, sit here.”
Unlike me—completely out of my element—Kang Biso looked like he belonged in a place like this. He walked confidently to the large table at the center of the room. It was a four-seater, way too big for just the two of us. He pulled out the chair by the window and gestured for me to take it.
Escorting someone to their seat like this… it was something I’d only seen in movies, usually reserved for women. It was a little embarrassing, sure—but I didn’t want to refuse. If anything, it just made me realize how thoughtful Kang Biso was being, and I couldn’t help but find that charming.
“Thanks.”
I sat down slowly as he pulled out the chair, and instead of sitting across from me, he naturally took the seat right next to mine.
I blinked, a little confused, and looked at him.
“…Why are you sitting here?”
“This spot has the best view. Plus, I get to sit closer to you.”
His shameless answer made me let out a soft, incredulous laugh.
Honestly, I’d assumed we’d be sitting across from each other. But with Kang Biso suddenly settling right beside me, so close our shoulders nearly touched, I froze for a second—flustered and unsure where to look. I turned my head away, pretending not to notice.
“Being out like this really is nicer than staying cooped up in the Center, huh? You think so too, right, hyung?”
“……”
His playful tone had vanished. That soft, low voice brushing against my ear sent a tingle straight to my chest, and I couldn’t come up with anything to say.
Knock knock—
Just then, a knock at the door saved me. A staff member entered, dressed sharply in a white shirt and black vest.
“I’ll begin setting the table.”
With a polite bow, he stepped in and started setting up with swift, practiced hands. Once he’d laid everything out, he wished us a pleasant meal and left quietly.
Our course meal began with an appetizer, and one dish after another followed. Each plate was beautifully presented, the variety impressive and everything looking absolutely delicious. But still… something about it all felt oddly familiar.
Huh? I swear I’ve had these exact dishes before…
“This place is way better than the one you went to with that Esper—Kim Seong-gyeong, was it? The food here’s fancier, and the vibe’s way better too, right?”
At Kang Biso’s casual comment, the memory clicked. These dishes were exactly the same as the ones I’d had with Kim Seong-gyeong.
No wonder they didn’t feel unfamiliar…
This little bastard… did he dig into my past again? He did it with Baek Beom before, and now with the dinner I had with Kim Seong-gyeong too? At this point, isn’t he doing it way too often?
“…You ran another background check on me, didn’t you?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, my voice loaded with irritation. Kang Biso squirmed under my glare, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
“But what if… some jerk tried to hit on you while I wasn’t around?”
“……”
“I just… couldn’t stand the thought. I was too anxious…”
Hands folded in front of him, voice trembling, he looked like he was genuinely remorseful. But I couldn’t just let this slide.
Sure, I wasn’t an active Special Agent here, but I had been one. Letting someone dig into my movements this easily meant I’d let my guard down—and if it were anyone else but him, they’d be paying the price right now.
I gave him a sharp warning, voice firm.
“Still. No more background checks.”
“But—”
“I said no.”
“…I’m sorry.”
He looked like a scolded puppy, reaching out to take my hand in both of his. His fingers softly brushed over the back of my hand in slow, gentle strokes.
What the hell is he doing now?
The skinship was so smooth, so casual—it completely threw me off. I stared at him, caught off guard.
But even now, he wasn’t promising not to do it again. Just kept apologizing with that same sheepish smile. He’d definitely pull this stunt again.
Fine then. I’d get a solid promise out of him right now.
Just as I opened my mouth to demand an answer, he beat me to it.
“More importantly, let’s eat before the food gets cold! Come on—ah~”
“Wait—mmph.”
As if he’d anticipated my protest, he stuffed a piece of steak straight into my mouth. With my mouth full, I had no choice but to shut up and glare at him while chewing.
Should I just let this go…?
He stared at me like I was the cutest thing on the planet, his gaze fixated on my lips.
Once I finally swallowed, he immediately moved to feed me again. And again. At this rate, I was going to end up eating everything by myself.
Panicking, I quickly cut a piece of steak, stabbed it with my fork, and held it out toward his face.
“Ah.”
“…Ah?”
He blinked, surprised. Then slowly opened his mouth, and I slipped the piece in.
“You keep making me eat alone. You should eat too, Kang Biso.”
“……”
He didn’t chew right away. Just stared at me, stunned. Then he broke into a radiant, sun-like smile.
It had been a spontaneous move, but seeing that smile made it feel worth it.
We kept feeding each other like that, slipping in light teasing and small talk between bites. By the time we left the restaurant, the air between us felt warmer, more comfortable. Then Kang Biso spoke up.
“There’s a park nearby. Want to take a walk? Good way to help digestion.”
“Sure.”
I’d been thinking of stretching my legs anyway, so I nodded—and he immediately reached out and grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together as he led the way.
The park was close by, and the moment we arrived, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
It was huge. Wide open. And completely blanketed in colorful flowers. With so few people around, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
“This park is beautiful… and really big.”
“Right? I stumbled on it by accident the other day. There’s a fountain deeper in too—looks amazing with all the flowers.”
I looked around again, slowly starting to walk. Kang Biso still hadn’t let go of my hand. Walking side by side like this, just the two of us…
It really felt like we were on a date.
…No. We were on a date.
The moment I consciously accepted that fact, I found myself gripping his hand just a little tighter. A fluttery warmth spread through my chest.
Maybe he sensed the change in me, because he suddenly slowed his steps to match mine.
And then… he went quiet.
The silence between us made me even more tense.
Why’s he suddenly quiet? It’s making me nervous… I should say something…
I glanced at him from the side. He wasn’t looking at me. His expression had shifted from playful to calm, contemplative. He wasn’t smiling.
Seeing him like that brought back the memory of the day he confessed.
What had he really been feeling when he told me how he felt?
“…I like you. From the moment I first saw you. I like you so much… it’s driving me insane.”
The way his voice trembled, the desperate honesty in his eyes—it had cut deep, impossible to forget.
And not once had he pressured me for an answer. Even now, more than a week later, he hadn’t brought it up again. He just kept showing up, acting like usual. Never once asked for Guiding. Never made it seem like he was only doing this because of our roles.
Why me? What does he see in me that’s worth all this?
I couldn’t understand it—but still, my heart kept racing. My eyes kept drifting to him.
Maybe, once today was over… I’d finally understand. Finally figure out what this feeling was.
Just then, Kang Biso shifted his grip—and interlocked our fingers.
The sudden intimacy made my heart skip a beat.
His cheeks were flushed as he turned and looked at me. Something about that gaze—so open, so sincere—made me feel like I could finally tell him what was in my heart.
“Kang Bi—!”
“Oh my!”
But before I could even finish saying his name, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out from behind us.
