Chapter 29 : The Following Gaze (5)

“If you feel anything unusual with your body, retreat immediately. Got it? Don’t overdo it. Don’t ever think about sacrificing yourself.”

Hyunwoo smiled softly at Jisung, who was chattering nonstop beside him while he changed his clothes.

“Okay, I will.”

Jisung, who was worriedly looking at Hyunwoo who was nodding and answering, also reminded the two people standing behind him.

“You guys don’t overdo it either, and if it’s dangerous, just run away.”

“Don’t worry, Hyung.”

But as if he still wasn’t reassured, Jisung’s gaze fell on his own clothes hanging in the corner of the closet. At that, Hyunwoo firmly closed the closet door.

“No, I don’t want to go either. I don’t want to go, but…”

But sending only the three of them made his heart heavy. If it were a normal mission, he wouldn’t be so worried, but this time it was a crime foretold by a high-ranking terrorist. His head was already full of worries.

Hyunwoo hugged Jisung tightly. As their bodies touched, they could feel each other’s heartbeats. At that, Jisung’s anxiously beating heart gradually calmed down, matching Hyunwoo’s.

Jisung took a long, deep breath and then hugged Hyunwoo’s back tightly and said.

“Go and come back.”

“Yeah, I’ll go and come back.”

Hyunwoo smiled and nodded slightly.

Jisung, who had pulled away from Hyunwoo’s embrace, turned his head at the ardent gaze that was looking at him. Then a Center employee was looking back and forth between him and Hyunwoo with a moved expression. Jisung narrowed his eyes at him, who was sparkling as if he had seen a scene from a youth movie.

‘This is the bond between an Esper and a Guide…! He’s thinking something like that.’

Perhaps because he was a rookie, he seemed to have a stronger sense of admiration for Espers than fear, compared to the other employees. He hoped that he would not forget that Espers were not just scary and fearsome beings, but people not much different from us… Then Hyunwoo’s and the other Espers’ lives would be a little better than now.

“Hyung, just a moment…”

Sunwoo, who had approached Jisung, checked his surroundings. Hyunwoo and Yuaan were receiving the mission from Minseong. It seemed like it was originally the employee’s role, but since he was too nervous, Minseong was telling them instead.

Sunwoo took out a small box from his bag and handed it to Jisung. As he took it with a puzzled expression, Sunwoo said.

“It’s a gift.”

“Suddenly?”

“I was originally planning to give it to you today, but I didn’t know an unexpected mission would come up. I always wear it too, so please wear it continuously, Hyung.”

“Oh, thank you. I’ll use it well.”

Sunwoo, who had nodded, took out a watch from the box and put it on Jisung’s wrist himself.

“It suits you well.”

“This must be expensive.”

“A Guide’s salary is high, you know.”

Jisung chuckled and stroked Sunwoo’s head. Then he thanked him once again. Jisung, who had seen the three of them off to the hospital’s main entrance, returned to the hospital room with Minseong.

Minseong opened his mouth as he saw him sit down on the bed with a worried expression.

“It’ll be okay. All three of them are strong.”

“That’s true, but I’m still worried.”

Bae Yejun, a high-ranking member of the terrorists and an Esper with the ability to manipulate iron. He was said to be one of the Espers who could fight on equal terms with Hyunwoo in the days when he didn’t have a Guide. Of course, after Jisung came, he was pushed back by Hyunwoo’s overwhelming power.

“Hyung, you know.”
“Hmm?”
“You hate dangerous things.”
“Uh, that’s right.”
“Long and prosperous. That’s your life motto…”

‘How much of my personal information has been leaked?’

Jisung stared blankly at the ceiling at Minseong, who knew his life motto that he hadn’t told him. ‘Should I sue?’ It was a ridiculous thought, but he didn’t like the Center’s action of digging through his information as they pleased.

‘I met Hyunwoo, Sunwoo, and Yuaan because my personal information was leaked… But that’s that, this is this. It still feels bad.’

“But how can you continue to work as a Guide?”
“Huh?”

Jisung, who was momentarily lost in thought, snapped out of it at Minseong’s question. At the sight of him staring at him, Jisung rolled his eyes for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“I hate dangerous things, but I hate it more when the person I like is in danger.”
“The person you like… are you talking about Park Hyunwoo?”
“Hmm? Uh, that’s right. Sunwoo and Yuaan too.”

Minseong’s pupils darkened at Jisung’s reply. He slowly blinked his eyes and then looked up at Jisung again.

“You haven’t even known Hyunwoo for a year, can you risk your life for someone like that?”
“I don’t think time is very important when it comes to liking someone. Just as knowing someone for a long time doesn’t make them more precious, not knowing each other for a long time doesn’t mean they’re not precious. In the end, what’s important is whether you get along well.”
“Then are you confident you won’t regret it even if you die because of Hyunwoo, Hyung?”

Jisung looked at him at Minseong’s question. His calm pupils were so quiet that he couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Jisung, who had been staring at him, then answered.

“I would regret it.”

Minseong’s eyes widened. As he quickly opened his mouth, Jisung continued.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t have regrets at the moment of death? It depends on when and how you die, but first of all, I’m worried about Hyunwoo who will lose his Guide, I’m worried about Sunwoo and Yuaan, I’m worried that my parents will be heartbroken, I’m worried about everything. I have regrets too. Of course, even now!”

Jisung clenched his fists.

“I was happy to be resting without any missions, but why did a dangerous mission like this suddenly have to happen?! I can’t even rest comfortably because I’m worried about the kids!”

Minseong, who had been staring blankly at Jisung, then burst out laughing. He said to Jisung with a look of resignation.

“You’re really you, Hyung.”
“Hmm?”
“Being a Guide, you really don’t regret it, do you?”

Jisung nodded at Minseong’s somewhat serious expression.

“Yeah, I don’t.”
“I see.”

A small smile formed on Minseong’s lips. At that, Jisung chuckled and said.

“What, were you worried?”
“If, by any chance, you wanted to quit being a Guide even now… I was thinking of helping you.”
“Why, suddenly?”

Minseong lowered his head and clasped his hands together.

“There were many Espers who were sacrificed in the last mission.”
“Ah…”

Among the Espers who died in the last mission, there were many who were close to Minseong. He couldn’t ask, “Are you okay?” Because he couldn’t possibly be okay. How could the sadness of losing a close one be okay? So Jisung, instead of saying anything, hugged Minseong.

“Hyung?”

Minseong’s flustered voice was heard.

“I’m guiding you. You look tired.”
“I hope you don’t die, Hyung. I’m serious.”
“I won’t die, I won’t die.”

Jisung touched his side and smiled.

“I have a long life line. And I’m surprisingly tenacious!”
“That’s right. Not surprisingly, but just by looking at you…”
“What did you say?”

Minseong smiled and waved his hand at Jisung’s widening and flashing eyes.

“I didn’t say anything.”
“Hmm.”

Jisung, who had been looking at Minseong with narrowed eyes, then leaned against the bed. Minseong, who had smiled at him, got up from his seat to drink water. And at that moment, a voice was heard from the walkie-talkie on Minseong’s waist.

[Sentinel Shim Minseong, please come down to the hospital’s main entrance for a moment.]

The monotonous voice repeated the same thing when Minseong didn’t answer. Minseong, flustered by the sudden call, asked.

“What is it?”

[I’ll tell you the details when we meet in person.]

Jisung and Minseong looked at each other’s faces. ‘What in the world is going on?’ ‘Did something go wrong?’ Worry slowly crept in. Minseong grabbed Jisung’s shoulder and said.

“It’s probably nothing. I’ll be back soon.”
“Yeah…”

Minseong, as he left the hospital room, reminded the two Espers who were waiting outside and left. Jisung, listening to Minseong’s fading footsteps, looked out the window. His grip on his phone tightened. There was no sound of an explosion, and there was no contact on his phone.

As he was taking a deep breath, thinking that it was probably nothing as Minseong had said, he heard the voices of the two Espers from outside the door. It seemed like they were arguing with someone, and then he heard something fall to the floor. ‘What was that?’ As he was getting up from his seat in a fluster, the hospital room door opened.

“Hello, long time no see.”

Jisung’s expression, which had been staring blankly at the man who was cheerfully greeting him, gradually filled with horror.

“You, you…!”
“It’s even nicer to see you for the second time.”
“Bae Yejun?!”

At the voice calling his name, Yejun grinned broadly. Behind him, the fallen Espers could be seen.

“You, why are you here?”

The person who had sent the threat letter to the Center was now standing in front of Jisung’s eyes.

“To see you?”
“What about the Center, the threat?”

Yejun smiled beautifully at Jisung’s question.

“You shouldn’t believe everything your enemy sends you.”