#054
Just as Eunseok was about to say “Go back,” Park Sunwoo’s gaze suddenly shifted over Eunseok’s shoulder. Almost simultaneously, Park Sunwoo suddenly hunched over as if hit in the stomach by a large hammer and flew backward. Park Sunwoo, who had flown about 2-3 meters, spun his body in mid-air and landed on the ground.
Screech-.
Park Sunwoo’s shoes scraped the ground for a long distance, unable to fully absorb the impact. After sliding another meter, Park Sunwoo straightened up.
“Fuck. Why are you throwing punches without warning, you old bastard?”
Park Sunwoo cursed, throwing a hostile glare over Eunseok’s shoulder. Only then did Eunseok turn around. He saw Choi Hanseo striding through the main entrance.
Choi Hanseo, who walked right up next to Eunseok, slowly looked him up and down. After confirming there was nothing wrong, he turned his gaze to Park Sunwoo.
Park Sunwoo closed the distance he had flown, walking with a swagger like a delinquent youth.
“Why did you hit me, you bastard?”
Park Sunwoo hurled insults at Choi Hanseo as he approached right in front of the guards.
“I thought you were a stray dog, flirting disgustingly in someone else’s front yard.”
Choi Hanseo replied slowly. Eunseok looked at Choi Hanseo with surprise. Apparently, he was capable of such language.
“Is this the first time you’ve seen an esper flirting with a guide? And is Lee Eunseok yours? What does it matter to you if I flirt or not?”
“Stop mouthing off and go home, kid. Before I blow your head off.”
Choi Hanseo’s tone was relaxed and calm, but Eunseok sensed a sharp, well-honed killing intent within it.
“You confident you can blow my head off?”
Park Sunwoo asked with a crooked sneer. But despite his provocation, Choi Hanseo showed little reaction and put his arm around Eunseok’s shoulder as if embracing him.
“Let’s go inside.”
The arm around his shoulder seemed to be claiming ownership. Although it felt slightly uncomfortable, Eunseok had no reason to entertain Park Sunwoo’s advances, so he obediently turned around.
“Wait a moment!”
Park Sunwoo called out urgently from behind. Eunseok glanced back. Park Sunwoo was waving his hand vigorously, poking his head out between the guards.
“My name is Park Sunwoo! You have to remember me, Guide! Let’s have coffee sometime!”
“Don’t listen to that nonsense. Let’s go in.”
Choi Hanseo said, practically dragging Eunseok along as he walked again. Eunseok straightened his head and entered the guild building.
“Guide! Eunseok hyung! I’ll definitely make you my pair guide! I’m younger and stronger than Choi Hanseo! Really!”
Park Sunwoo shouted loudly from behind. Eunseok noticed a slight vein popping on Choi Hanseo’s forehead beside him. It was interesting to see Choi Hanseo getting annoyed at what was just a young kid’s ramblings. Seeing the vein on his forehead made Eunseok feel a bit fond.
“…Why are you smiling?”
Choi Hanseo asked, looking at Eunseok with a sideways glance. Only then did Eunseok realize he had been slightly smiling.
“Just because you’re cute.”
Eunseok answered honestly. But Choi Hanseo seemed to misunderstand his words.
“Do you find that kid cute?”
“…That’s not what I…”
As Eunseok was about to say that it was Choi Hanseo, not Park Sunwoo, who was cute, Choi Hanseo suddenly grabbed Eunseok’s wrist and started walking briskly. With his long legs and large strides, Eunseok was practically dragged along. Eunseok was about to pull his wrist free but, conscious of people’s focused stares, quietly followed Choi Hanseo.
In an instant, they were practically dragged into the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, Choi Hanseo pressed the top floor button.
The tightly gripped wrist felt like it might break. Choi Hanseo, staring silently at the elevator doors, was not in a mood to be spoken to. Of course, Eunseok wasn’t the type to be cowed by such things.
“Choi Hanseo-ssi.”
“……”
“Choi Hanseo-ssi.”
“Keep your mouth shut for a moment. Unless you want to be kissed here.”
Choi Hanseo warned in a low voice. Threatening to kiss in the elevator? It was a ridiculous threat, but Eunseok couldn’t ignore Choi Hanseo’s warning. He knew that Choi Hanseo’s words weren’t empty.
Finally, the elevator stopped at the top floor. As the doors opened, Choi Hanseo pulled Eunseok by the wrist and strode into the penthouse.
“Choi Hanseo-ssi!”
There were no onlookers now, and no chance of someone suddenly barging into the elevator. Eunseok stopped in his tracks and called out to Choi Hanseo instead of being dragged further. Choi Hanseo whirled around to face Eunseok.
His muscular body pushed Eunseok towards the wall. Then Choi Hanseo’s hands planted on the wall on either side of Eunseok’s head.
“What are you doing?”
Eunseok asked in an unpleasant voice, disliking being trapped between the wall and Choi Hanseo.
“What are you doing, Lee Eunseok-ssi?”
Choi Hanseo countered.
In Choi Hanseo’s eyes as he stared at Eunseok, there was irritation, bristling temper, and a strange urgency.
“I don’t think it’s time for you to be losing your temper. Shouldn’t I be the one getting angry after being dragged along like that in front of people…”
“Why did you go out to meet that bastard?”
Choi Hanseo cut off Eunseok’s words and asked. No, it was more of a rebuke than a question.
Eunseok had a give-and-take personality. Naturally, with Choi Hanseo acting like this, Eunseok’s irritation and temper also flared up.
“Do I need your permission to meet people now? I don’t remember that clause being in the contract.”
The words came out sarcastically on their own. Choi Hanseo’s jaw tightened.
Eunseok couldn’t understand Choi Hanseo. It’s not like he was alone with Park Sunwoo, and there was no physical contact or guiding involved. They just had a brief conversation, yet Choi Hanseo was interrogating him like a cheating lover.
As Eunseok glared back with eyes clearly showing his temper, Choi Hanseo, after maintaining eye contact for a moment, suddenly let out a clouded sigh.
“…Lee Eunseok-ssi.”
The voice calling his name had softened considerably. At the almost whispered voice, Eunseok’s gaze also softened.
“Go ahead.”
“Park Sunwoo… He’s still young and very inexperienced.”
“Of course, he just became an adult.”
“And he’s in a situation where he’s struggling day by day without proper guiding.”
“……”
“What do you think a guy in that position, living with a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment, and moreover, a young kid who’s not good at controlling himself, thought after receiving your guiding?”
Eunseok couldn’t respond.
“‘Ah, finally my destiny has appeared. This person is my only salvation. This is the only ray of light I can live by. This is mine. I must have it even if it kills me.’ Don’t you think he’d have thoughts like that?”
“…Choi Hanseo-ssi.”
“The fact that you went down right away when he called, and that you talked face to face with him… Please have some awareness as an S-class guide. What if something goes wrong? What if an S-class esper decides to kidnap you and disappear? Have you thought about what would happen then?”
In truth, words of rebuttal rose to the tip of Eunseok’s tongue.
He was aware of that much. That’s why he was about to turn back after just a brief conversation. And he wasn’t someone who could be easily manipulated. There was much more he wanted to say.
But Eunseok kept his mouth shut and refrained from arguing. It didn’t seem like they would reach a conclusion by arguing about this issue. And… above all, he could sense Choi Hanseo’s deep worry and concern.
Irritation and temper were still bubbling up inside him. But Eunseok tried to calm his mind. From the perspective of an ability user, Choi Hanseo’s concerns were valid.
It wasn’t just Eunseok trying to calm down. Choi Hanseo also seemed to be trying to calm himself, slowly rubbing his face with his hand.
“…From now on, don’t meet guys like Park Sunwoo without me. He’s… dangerous.”
After saying that, Choi Hanseo paused for a moment before adding:
“If you must meet him, tell me. If I’m there with you, I won’t stop you that far.”
That seemed to be the most Choi Hanseo could concede.
Eunseok had no intention of building a personal relationship with Park Sunwoo or meeting him separately anyway. He just felt his temper rising because it felt like his actions were being restricted.
“…I understand.”
When Eunseok agreed readily, Choi Hanseo’s eyes noticeably softened.
