What the hell am I even looking at right now…?
“K-Kang Biso…! There’s someone here…!”
The sound of the door opening startled Hwang Seol-bin, and he instinctively tried to push Kang Biso away. But Kang Biso only pressed in closer, deepening the kiss. Worse, he tilted his head slightly, as if to give the intruder a clearer view of Seol-bin’s face—like he knew Kim Yong-ha had just walked in.
“Shit…”
A surge of rage shot through Kim Yong-ha. He stormed across the room toward the bed where Seol-bin and Kang Biso were entangled. The moment he reached out to shove the shameless bastard off—
—Grab.
Instead of pushing him, his wrist was snatched midair, gripped tight in an iron hold. Kang Biso slowly pulled his lips away from Seol-bin’s, as if savoring the last second, then turned his head and locked eyes with Yong-ha.
“…What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The murderous tone made Yong-ha instinctively shrink back, but he couldn’t let himself retreat now.
If he backed down here, Hwang Seol-bin would be completely taken from him before he even had the chance to put his plan into motion.
That thought consumed him, blinding him to the danger in front of him. The fact that the Esper standing there could snap his neck on a whim didn’t even register. Gritting his teeth, Yong-ha yanked his wrist free and shouted without hesitation.
“Get off him!”
“What?”
“I said get the hell away from him!”
Kim Yong-ha grabbed Kang Biso’s shirt and screamed like a man unhinged. Kang Biso responded with a low, mocking laugh. That laugh only made Yong-ha’s fury boil over, and just as he was about to lash out again—
“That’s enough!”
Hwang Seol-bin’s voice rang out, clear and firm.
“But—!”
Yong-ha’s voice was still trembling with anger, but Seol-bin let out a deep sigh and gently pushed Kang Biso away before sitting up.
None of this made sense. No—it shouldn’t make sense.
Why had Seol-bin raised his voice at him?
Why had he been kissing Kang Biso?
Why wouldn’t he even look at him?
Every part of it felt like something he refused to understand.
Seol-bin wiped his lips with the back of his hand and spoke in a calm, almost emotionless voice.
“Kim Yong-ha, what brings you here this early in the morning?”
His tone was soft, but distant—cold, even. There was something in it that made Yong-ha’s chest clench. He finally looked into Seol-bin’s eyes—and what he saw there made his stomach drop.
Not a hint of affection.
All he could see was awkward embarrassment from being seen in such a compromising position… and discomfort. That was it.
No. No, this isn’t right. There’s no way Seol-bin would ever look at me like that… Why did I even come here?
Then he remembered the drink in his hand.
Right. He’d come to give it to Seol-bin. He was supposed to have him drink it, knock him out, and take him away…
“S-Sunbae…”
His voice shook as he called out, then hesitantly held out the drink.
“After everything that happened yesterday… I thought maybe we could talk. So I brought you this…”
Seol-bin stared at the drink in silence, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he accepted it—reluctantly. But he didn’t open it. Didn’t drink. He just held it and gave a flat word of thanks.
“…Thanks.”
No. It can’t end like this. If he doesn’t drink it, everything falls apart.
“Th-that’s actually my favorite… You should try it. It’s really good.”
“Ah… I’ll drink it later.”
“No, come on…! Just try it now!”
In his growing panic, Yong-ha raised his voice without meaning to—and instantly realized his mistake.
Shit. I shouldn’t be forcing him like this…
If he pushed too hard, Seol-bin might get suspicious. And Kang Biso was still right there. Even if Seol-bin drank the whole thing and passed out, there was no way to sneak him out with that guy watching.
The whole plan had already gone off the rails. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner?
Biting down on his lower lip, Yong-ha wracked his brain for a way out.
“Hyung, I’m kind of thirsty… If he’s not gonna drink it, can I have it?”
Kang Biso spoke before Yong-ha could say anything. And if he drank it… it’d all be over. But Yong-ha couldn’t just rip it out of his hands either.
No way. Seol-bin wouldn’t give it away. I brought it for him. He wouldn’t just hand it over to someone else… right?
That’s what he thought.
But reality wasn’t so kind.
“Sure.”
For a moment, Kim Yong-ha thought he misheard.
The always-considerate Seol-bin—someone who never ignored a kind gesture—had just dismissed his, without hesitation.
And to prove it, he offered the drink to Kang Biso without a second thought.
Shocked, Yong-ha yelled in protest.
“Why would you give it to him?! I brought that for you, Seol-bin!”
“What? I can’t have a sip too? That’s not fair, is it?”
Kang Biso gave a lazy shrug as he spoke, completely unfazed. Seol-bin responded with a quiet nod.
“I do appreciate it, Kim Yong-ha, but… I’m really not in the mood right now.”
“You heard him, didn’t you?”
With a triumphant grin, Kang Biso took the drink from Seol-bin and twisted the cap open.
And then—
“Give it back!”
Kim Yong-ha suddenly lunged forward and yanked the bottle from Kang Biso’s hand. The liquid sloshed out, soaking Biso’s pants. But Biso didn’t even flinch. He didn’t wipe at the spill or react in any way—just stared coldly at Yong-ha.
“……”
“……”
Haa…
The tense silence stretched until Seol-bin finally let out a long sigh.
“Kim Yong-ha.”
“…Yes?”
“I’m sorry, but… could you leave now?”
“I’m sorry, what…?”
“I asked you to leave, Kim Yong-ha-ssi.”
“Sunbae…!”
“This kind of behavior from you—it’s making me uncomfortable.”
The words hit harder than a slap. Kim Yong-ha’s hand went limp, and the bottle slipped from his grasp. It hit the floor with a sharp crash, shattering into pieces.
Just like him.
Uncomfortable…? Me?
But Seol-bin wasn’t finished.
“And going forward, I’d prefer if you didn’t show up like this without warning. After everything that happened yesterday… I’m not exactly eager to see you right now.”
“Th-that’s not…”
“Also, Kang Biso is—officially—my boyfriend. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t treat him so carelessly.”
The second Seol-bin said it, Kang Biso turned his eyes on him with soft affection, all trace of earlier irritation gone—as if he were looking at someone precious.
Kim Yong-ha felt like a stain. A useless, unwanted presence that didn’t belong here.
But he told himself it didn’t mean anything. Forced the memory out of his head like it hadn’t happened.
He couldn’t give up. Not now. Sure, he’d retreat for the time being… but he’d try again.
Seol-bin said he was uncomfortable—but that was only because Kang Biso was watching, right?
Next time, he’d fix the holes in the plan. Next time, it would work.
That thought had barely settled when he felt it—a suffocating, unmistakable surge of bloodlust.
“Ugh…!”
He froze. That same gaze that had seemed teasing before now burned with deadly intent, and it locked onto him like a predator sizing up prey.
Yong-ha couldn’t say a word.
Cold sweat trickled down his back as a primal sense of fear overtook him.
Why am I scared? I’m a Guide. He’s just a D-Rank Esper!
But his body wouldn’t listen. He took a step back… then another. And another.
He had to get out. He had to.
Something told him that if he stayed, Kang Biso really would kill him.
Terrified and cornered, Kim Yong-ha finally turned and ran, slamming the Guiding Room door behind him.
“Haa… Haa…”
He ran straight back to his own Guiding Room.
It hadn’t been far, but he was already breathless by the time he got there. He collapsed into a chair, heart pounding and lungs burning.
Once he caught his breath, he clenched his fists hard.
He ran. He’d run from a D-Rank Esper. Like a coward.
This won’t do. Even if he waited until Kang Biso wasn’t around, the plan to abduct Seol-bin had to be foolproof.
He needed a better strategy. Something tighter. More precise.
How should I do it…?
—Knock knock knock
Just then, someone knocked on his door.
“Um… Guide Kim Yong-ha?”
Before he could answer, Kim Hyun-joong opened the door and peeked inside.
The guy who always hovered around him like a watchdog, spouting pointless chatter under the pretense of being security—Kim Hyun-joong was a constant nuisance.
Not to mention the weird crap he kept saying about Seol-bin. He was honestly one of the people Yong-ha liked least.
“You ran in here pretty fast. Did something happen…?”
As expected, Hyun-joong couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
But then, an idea sparked.
Hmph…
What if he included Kim Hyun-joong in the abduction plan?
He was an Esper. If Kang Biso got in the way, he could use Hyun-joong as a shield, or at least a distraction.
He was always sticking close, eager to help. And most importantly, he’d already been rambling about Seol-bin nonstop. That could be turned into leverage.
…Yeah. He could actually be useful.
With that conclusion locked in, Kim Yong-ha stood up and walked over to him.
“Esper Kim Hyun-joong.”
“Huh? Yeah?”
“There’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Regarding Guide Hwang Seol-bin… Do you have a moment?”
***
After Kim Yong-ha left, Kang Biso wrapped his arms around me from behind and refused to let go.
“Um… Kang Biso?”
“……”
I called his name a few times, but he didn’t answer. Worried he might actually be upset, I cautiously tried again.
“Biso?”
“…Yeah. Hyung.”
His voice was low and grumbly. Yeah, he was definitely sulking.
Still, I thought it’d be easier to talk if we were face to face, so I tapped the arms that were still holding tight around my waist.
“Would you mind letting go?”
“…No.”
He mumbled the answer and nuzzled his face into my shoulder.
I wasn’t sure if he was just annoyed by Kim Yong-ha or if it was something else, but even this clingy side of him felt weirdly adorable.
God, I really am a mess.
“…Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
After a brief silence, Biso spoke again—this time more composed.
“I was actually going to tell you I couldn’t come tomorrow… I have a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
He probably meant one of those secret ones he’d snuck off to before. I nodded, showing I understood.
“But I decided not to go.”
“Wait, what?”
That kind of meeting—can he really just skip that?
I turned around to face him, startled. You’re the Captain. Can you just… not go?
Locking eyes with me, Biso spoke quietly.
“Hyung… you didn’t notice that bastard’s eyes earlier, did you?”
“You mean… Kim Yong-ha?”
“Yeah.”
His language made me flinch a little, but I thought back to the look in Yong-ha’s eyes.
It wasn’t the usual dazed, spaced-out stare. It was darker. Sharper. Unstable.
“That bastard… had the same eyes I did. Back then.”
“The same as you?”
That didn’t make sense.
Kim Yong-ha was the original protagonist. He hadn’t even gone dark yet. There’s no way his eyes looked like Kang Biso’s—the eyes of a Villain.
Confused, I stared at Biso’s face. But his gaze had dropped.
He was looking down—at the shattered glass on the floor. The broken remains of the drink Yong-ha had tried to give me.
His eyes were cold. Unmoving.
“I’ll always protect you, hyung… but it doesn’t hurt to stay cautious, either.”
