Episode 18.
“So what? I’m working too, you know?”
And so it was. The man who would always delay and delay, only coming reluctantly when called, had latched onto the research lab together with Seoyul.
Of course, Seoyul moved about briskly and helped with the work, but he simply lazed around like a grasshopper—either sleeping or sneaking glances at Seoyul while he worked.
“You’re still getting your guiding. Why do you keep loitering around here making Yul uncomfortable?”
“…….”
Do-un was silent at Seonjeong’s words. It seemed even he didn’t think his behavior was particularly justified.
They had formed a pair, but that didn’t mean they had to stick together constantly. They had formed it solely to focus on each other, so as long as they completed the guiding properly, the rest of their time was free to use as they wished.
Because of this, forming a pair offered more convenience in daily life than dealing with countless unspecified Guides.
Seoyul also performed guiding at a set time each day and spent his remaining time helping with the lab work.
“Hmm…….”
Seonjeong narrowed her eyes silently. She found it annoying, but she had a pretty good guess as to why Do-un was behaving like this.
“Right. Well, you do have your pride, so it must be hard to say it aloud. It must be so tough for you.”
“…….”
At those words, as if she’d noticed something, Do-un flinched and opened his eyes.
‘No way…….’
Anxiously turning his gaze slightly, he found Seoyul looking this way with a tilt of his head, not knowing what was going on.
‘It looks like he hasn’t caught on, thankfully.’
The reason Do-un stubbornly latched on despite such harsh abuse. It was precisely because of the radiation guiding that occurred whenever Seoyul worked there.
“Ah, right. You don’t need one of these anymore, do you?”
Seonjeong giggled as she tossed a rolled-up blanket at him. She was clearly trying to tease him about the past, about him being unable to control his excitement.
“I don’t need it!”
Do-un snapped, veins bulging as he shouted fiercely. But she merely snickered again and said,
“Huh? Are you angry right now?”
“…….”
Damn it.
In the distance, he could see Seoyul looking this way nervously, wondering if a fight was breaking out.
‘Damn it. Damn it.’
Unable to show even half his usual personality, Do-un docilely curled up and lay back down.
‘Sigh. Why am I…….’
A sigh escaped him. Why on earth was he hanging around here, being treated like an unwelcome guest? Irritation surged up inside him.
But after a short while, the reason he was lingering about began to reveal itself.
“Yul. Can you help me with this?”
“Yes!”
Seoyul’s bright voice rang out. The two began talking about this and that, and soon after, he heard a voice saying “I understand” followed by a voice saying “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I’m doing this because it’s fun.”
When Seoyul laughed bashfully with a hehe, guiding energy began bubbling forth from him at a frightening speed.
‘Ah…… damn it.’
Do-un lay motionless, absorbing the energy. The density was on a different dimension from anything he’d felt before, his body going limp as his mind emptied out blankly.
‘Insane.’
It was too good. Perhaps because the guiding changed according to the intensity of Seoyul’s happiness, a thrill ran through his entire body.
Once he’d had a taste, there was no pulling away. It felt as though Seoyul’s energy swept through his entire body, caressing him.
The sensation of his knotted, stiffened body being loosened in a ticklish manner was insanely good. The dense radiation guiding of an S-Class Guide.
The lab filled with his energy, and the irritation that had been surging in his mind gradually subsided.
“Hoo…….”
A satisfied sigh escaped him. It was so ecstatic and pleasant that he found it difficult to continue any coherent thought.
Even so, simply calming his body, which was trying to heat up, was overwhelming enough.
Half of him wanted to properly receive this energy as soon as possible, and half feared what might happen if he did.
“Ha…….”
Do-un let out another small, satisfied breath. Yet he didn’t want anyone to catch on to the fact that he was so flustered because of it.
How ridiculous he must look. Of course, he probably looked ridiculous enough already, which was why he wanted to avoid being found out all the more.
But…….
“Do-un. Do you really not need this?”
Seonjeong smiled brightly and tossed the blanket at him again. At that, veins bulged on Do-un’s forehead once more.
“Argh, I said I really don’t need it!”
Watching Do-un vent his frustration with all his might, Seonjeong burst into a loud “Wahaha!”
‘Damn it.’
* * *
Seoyul didn’t know why Do-un was sticking to the research lab.
Seonjeong tormented him every day, relieving her stress by teasing him. Of course, it was all in jest, but Seoyul knew Do-un didn’t like it.
So why did he keep staying in the lab?
‘Is he bored?’
Well, Do-un had been excluded from all missions because he needed to recover. Seoyul was spending his time helping with work like this, but Do-un had nothing to do.
“Um. Esper-nim.”
2 PM.
It was time for one-on-one guiding with Do-un.
Seoyul called out to Do-un as he continued the guiding.
“What?”
“Um…….”
He waited patiently for Seoyul, who was struggling to speak. Ever since getting thoroughly scolded by Seonjeong once, he’d been trying to rein in his temper when in front of Seoyul.
Perhaps because that was paying off, Seoyul opened his mouth with relief.
“If…… if you’re bored, would you like to try working with me?”
“…Together?”
Do-un’s brows narrowed slightly. Though he was intimidated by that look once more, Seoyul opened his mouth to properly get his thoughts across.
“I know you’re staying at the research lab because you want to recover even a little faster, Esper-nim.”
Seoyul knew. He knew that whenever he helped with the lab work, energy would occasionally leak out.
Helping with the lab work was enjoyable and fulfilling. Especially when he was praised and thanked, he felt like his heart would soar into the sky.
Though it had only happened a few times, he had felt his energy suddenly surge. Do-un was likely enduring such harsh abuse to remain in the lab for those very moments.
“And…… I thought you might be bored just sitting still…… and if you helped out together, the Chief might not pick on you as much…… and I’d also like it better if you helped, Esper-nim…….”
After barely getting the words out, he glanced cautiously. Then Do-un looked at Seoyul with somewhat dazed eyes and opened his mouth.
“You’d like me to join you?”
“Uh…… yes. The work will go faster than doing it alone, and doing it together is more fun.”
If they did this and that together, they’d likely grow closer. He was quite used to the work now, so he could help Do-un, who wasn’t familiar with it. Just thinking about it somehow lifted his spirits.
“I’ll show you. Let’s do it together. Esper-nim.”
Seoyul suggested with a bashful grin before he knew it.
At that moment, he felt a surging sensation as a massive amount of energy rushed into Do-un.
“Huh?”
—Bam!
With a loud noise, Do-un’s head dropped onto the table.
“E-Esper-nim. Are you okay?!”
Do-un’s face was flushed bright red, at a complete loss. Seoyul, smiling as he suggested they do it together and that he would teach him, was maddeningly cute.
His heart ached dully and pounded fiercely, leaving him flustered. That alone was enough, but for some reason, S-Class energy came surging into his body.
It felt as if the energy was saying it was happy to be with him, rendering him unable to lift his head.
He had thought he was quite used to it by now, but Do-un had collapsed helplessly.
“Fine…….”
“Yes?”
After a long silence, Do-un finally spat out the words. At that, Seoyul tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what he meant.
He could no longer feel the massive energy. But Do-un still couldn’t raise his head and muttered,
“Let’s do it together starting tomorrow.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. You…… teach me.”
“Yes! I’ll teach you!”
What could possibly be so good? This time, radiation guiding bubbled forth and spread all around.
‘Aah…….’
That softness, that happiness, was gently melting Do-un’s body and mind.
Ironically, Do-un only realized it then. That he had already fallen completely, utterly, for this Guide.
* * *
‘Just when did it start?’
When had this Guide started looking so cute?
Thinking back, he had been like that from the beginning. Even when they first met, he’d thought Seoyul was cute. It seemed he just liked soft and round people like Seoyul.
‘Besides, Seoyul is cute no matter what he does.’
Unbelievable, but Seoyul was cute when eating, cute when talking, and even cute when simply staying still.
Among them all, when Seoyul looked at him and smiled softly, he was especially lovely.
‘Esper-nim.’
When he recalled that bright, smiling face, a foolish smile broke out. But Do-un, completely unaware of it, continued the thought.
‘All the hardships until now were probably so I could meet Seoyul.’
When he thought of the painful memories as the price he had to pay to meet Seoyul, he felt nothing but happiness.
‘We were destined.’
Otherwise, how could they have met so perfectly when he had been pushed to his limit?
Having fallen in love, Do-un became a fatalist and smiled broadly. Everything surrounding the two of them felt like pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly, and his mood was great.
‘I want to see him soon.’
Do-un closed his eyes, looking forward to tomorrow.
* * *
“Hoo? What kind of spectacle is that now?”
A strange scene was unfolding in the research lab.
“It seems Guide Seo has a tight grip on Esper Cha.”
“Hoo.”
The lab’s youngest member conveyed his opinion to Seonjeong without hesitation. It looked that way to her eyes as well. It seemed the guy had finally realized his own feelings.
“Esper-nim. You do this like this here.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. That’s right. You did well.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
…It was an utterly unbelievable sight. Cha Do-un, meekly following someone’s instructions? And that face was practically begging for praise!
“Unbelievable. I’ve never seen Esper Cha so docile.”
“Right. I don’t think he can even hear us right now?”
An Esper’s hearing was good, perhaps too good. No matter how small the sound, he could pick it up, so normally a glare would have flown their way, telling them not to talk nonsense.
But what about now?
“Hmm. It’s nothing special.”
“As expected, Esper-nim is amazing! You really seem to learn quickly.”
“Of course! I’m good at everything.”
…It was like a large dog, wagging its tail and puffing up proudly at its owner’s praise.