“I never thought I’d end up telling Ha-cheol.”
He shared a secret with Cho Ha-cheol—one only a select few knew and had kept tightly under wraps. Sure, Ha-cheol would inevitably repeat every single word Seo-ha said to whoever, whenever. But that didn’t worry him.
“Who would even believe him?”
Anything that came out of Cho Ha-cheol’s mouth.
Even if someone did believe him and passed it on to someone else, would it even spread? A few might believe it, but most would just dismiss it.
Everyone already knew how hard Seo-ha had worked to raise his matching rate. It was practically common knowledge. Despite undergoing countless matching tests, he couldn’t break past 3%. And on top of that, he’d even gotten caught in a Gate explosion—so people were even less likely to believe it now.
“Then our dear Ha-cheol must be dying of frustration.”
He chuckled, already imagining the expression that would twist Cho Ha-cheol’s face. That idiot had actually told him to come back just so he could curse him out again, so this small bit of revenge seemed more than fair.
Seo-ha had thought stepping all over Ha-cheol with his words would feel satisfying, but he merely rested his chin in his hand, looking unbothered and bored.
“Why are people so hellbent on tearing others apart?”
Why was it that others’ misfortunes became their entertainment? It’s not like gossiping about someone else helped them clear dungeons any better.
Knowing Cho Ha-cheol was suffering actually felt good. He hoped he’d continue to feel that way. At least as much as Seo-ha had gone through himself. Not once did he think to offer the empty phrase, ‘I hope he’s doing well.’
“Still, meeting that bastard wasn’t entirely bad.”
His head had been a mess, but thanks to Cho Ha-cheol, he’d been able to distract himself. He still couldn’t believe that something as intangible as a psychological factor could change his matching rate. The fact that that was the reason left him feeling strangely hollow. He had desperately wanted a higher matching rate…
It was hard to describe the feeling.
But after seeing Cho Ha-cheol…
“The fact that there’s someone who actually raises my matching rate.”
They said it was because Han Ju-oh had feelings for him, and that emotional connection was influencing it—but he’d almost let that pull distract him from the real essence.
“It’s not about chasing numbers. I have to focus on Han Ju-oh.”
Taking care of him had to come first.
“But seriously, what’s taking him so long?”
Seo-ha glanced toward the bathroom Han Ju-oh had entered and muttered.
Meeting Cho Ha-cheol had been the day’s biggest event. After that, he just passed the time and clocked out. Being with Han Ju-oh for guiding had become second nature by now, so Seo-ha got up from the sofa and casually walked toward the bathroom.
“Did he pass out or something?”
It wasn’t like he was on the verge of going berserk, but the accumulated strain on his body might have taken a toll. They said five sessions would fully purify Han Ju-oh’s system, but that didn’t mean it could fix his exhaustion.
And to make things worse, Han Ju-oh kept using his abilities, preventing a full, proper cleanse during guiding.
“Ever since we partnered up, there hasn’t been a single full purification.”
If Han Ju-oh had collapsed, he’d need to go in and get him out.
Seo-ha hovered near the bathroom door, and just then, it swung open. Han Ju-oh stepped out, and their eyes met dead-on. Seo-ha immediately raised both hands in an innocent gesture.
“I wasn’t trying to peek. I was just worried and waiting out here.”
“The longer the excuse, the guiltier you sound.”
“Really? But still…”
Seo-ha’s gaze unabashedly swept down Han Ju-oh’s damp form.
“What’s with those eyes?”
Han Ju-oh, clearly uncomfortable, tried to brush him off, but Seo-ha only clung closer, undeterred.
“Shouldn’t you be flattered that I’m looking?”
“You want me to get embarrassed?”
“Not exactly, but…”
His voice trailed off as he turned around.
“Come here for a second.”
It was about time for guiding anyway, and there was something he wanted to say beforehand. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Seo-ha motioned him over. Han Ju-oh came and sat down opposite him.
“So… things between us have gotten pretty tangled.”
Originally, they were supposed to work together without any feelings involved—even kissing and holding hands if needed. But now, one of them had developed actual emotions. That meant they needed to maintain boundaries. Seo-ha was trying to clear the air in case that balance started to tip.
“Let’s focus on the reason for guiding. I’m not doing this for my own satisfaction—it’s to take care of your body.”
Seo-ha zeroed in on Han Ju-oh.
“So if you ever feel like you can’t hold back during guiding, just say so. Forcing yourself to endure it can be a burden in its own way.”
He didn’t want Han Ju-oh to feel cornered or emotionally trapped, so he emphasized the point.
“If you’re gonna spout useless crap, just get on with the guiding.”
Han Ju-oh cut him off coldly, like there was no point in continuing this conversation. But Seo-ha held firm.
“It’s not useless crap. We’re in the prime of our youth, aren’t we?”
Han Ju-oh’s face contorted with pure exasperation.
“How many times did you get aroused?”
“Do I have to answer that?”
“I noticed it stiffen a few times, you know?”
Han Ju-oh scoffed at Seo-ha’s mock offer to give him a chance to confess.
“You’re one to talk.”
The arrow flew right back at him, and Seo-ha paused, unsure how to respond. But then Han Ju-oh suddenly stood up—and climbed on top of him. Not just the sofa. On top of Seo-ha himself.
“You reacted too, didn’t you?”
“I’m in the prime of my youth, what do you expect?”
He said it like he knew everything, and Seo-ha couldn’t exactly deny it. So he gave a small nod.
“Let’s say I got aroused because I like you. Then what about you?”
“I…”
“Are you just some horny beast with no self-control?”
“It’s not like that, okay?”
What did he take him for, some kind of animal? Seo-ha gave Han Ju-oh a resentful look.
“Then I guess we should find out.”
“Huh? Hey, hey—what are you doing lifting my shirt!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, his t-shirt was pushed all the way up to his chest, and Seo-ha flailed in panic.
“It’s time for guiding, remember?”
Han Ju-oh pinned Seo-ha’s squirming down with just a few words, then lightly dragged his fingers between Seo-ha’s pecs.
“Hh!”
Seo-ha twisted to the side, trying to shake off the sensation, but honestly, that touch had hit him hard.
“In the end, you’ll have to make a choice. Either you couldn’t control yourself—or you felt that way because you like me too.”
“Why are there only two options?”
Seo-ha tried to come up with a third option, but Han Ju-oh didn’t give him the chance.
***
They moved from the living room to the bedroom. The blackout curtains shut out even the red glow of the evening sky, cloaking the room in a dim light—barely enough to make out each other’s shapes.
“Hh…”
Seo-ha let out a breathy moan, as if trying to suppress it. Han Ju-oh had laid out one condition: while guiding him, pull the energy out into a fine thread and channel it into him without letting the flow break, not even once.
It wasn’t something Seo-ha had to agree to, but the moment he shook his head and said no, Han Ju-oh’s hands grew unbearably provocative, making it impossible to refuse.
As he pushed energy into Han Ju-oh, Seo-ha had to fight off the pleasure threatening to overwhelm him. He forced his eyes open over and over, trying to stay alert and not get swept away.
“Ahh… hngh—don’t pinch there…”
But when Han Ju-oh grabbed his waist in both hands, giving it a sharp squeeze, Seo-ha’s eyes clenched shut. His waist was narrow for a guy, but Han Ju-oh’s hands were so large it looked like he might be able to touch his fingers together if he squeezed just a bit more.
And especially when Seo-ha twisted his body like a coiled rubber band, it only stoked Han Ju-oh’s desire further.
“You’ll let me go once the guiding’s done, right?”
Seo-ha asked, needing a clear answer. Han Ju-oh nodded like it was nothing to worry about. Seo-ha had been concerned that Han Ju-oh would lose control, but now he realized he’d been entirely wrong about who was in danger here.
‘I’m the one who’s about to die…’
Seo-ha knew exactly what would happen if Han Ju-oh really let himself go, so he stayed hyper-focused, clinging to the thread of tension in his body. Only that would keep the energy flowing.
From Seo-ha’s point of view, 20% was a significant increase—but in objective terms, it wasn’t a massive amount. And yet, channeling that much energy felt like an eternity. It was like he was funneling every ounce of his usual focus into this single moment.
‘If I lose control here, I’ll have to choose between the two.’
Either admit he has no restraint… or admit he likes Han Ju-oh.
‘But I don’t…’
He couldn’t definitively say he liked Han Ju-oh, but his body betrayed him—he had already had a few dangerously close calls. Thank god he was still wearing pants.
‘Just hold on. I’m almost there.’
He had almost pushed through the entire 20% worth of energy. The moment he confirmed that the number on his watch had hit 20, Seo-ha exhaled in relief, finally letting go of the tension.
But then—
“…Huh?”
The energy was still flowing into Han Ju-oh’s body. And just then, Han Ju-oh pounced on the opportunity, dragging his fingers across Seo-ha’s most sensitive spots—from his chest to his side, targeting every vulnerable inch.
Seo-ha, who had just relaxed, was hit with his biggest crisis yet.
His abs clenched hard, and the part of him trapped inside his pants grew unmistakably stiff.
