Chapter 67: Why Do We Have to Run?

Four years ago, I chose to run away to avoid the Special Abilities Support Agency.

Truthfully, even back then, I knew Jaeyul secretly wanted to enter the Academy, but I deliberately ignored it.

That’s how immense my animosity towards the Special Abilities Support Agency was.

‘I’ve catered to Jaeyul for years, so just this once, let’s do it my way.’

With that convenient rationalization, I took young Jaeyul’s hand and set off on the run.

The result, in the end, was a four-year separation.

If you ask me if I regret that choice, honestly, the answer is no.

Jaeyul was somewhat grown by then, old enough to forge his own path.

I had absolutely no desire to get entangled with the Center, the Academy, or the Support Agency, so even if I were to go back, there’s a high probability I would have chosen to run.

No, that’s what I would have done, had it not been for the conversation with Jaeyul just a little while ago.

‘What are you so afraid of that you keep trying to run away?’

Something I’m afraid of….

The precise reason is loathing.

But thinking about it now, I suppose I was secretly scared.

Perhaps I was afraid of the people who were certain to hurt me again.

The ugliness of those humans who ultimately drove me to my death… was terrifying.

‘Why, why do we have to keep running away?’

And so, I chose to run.

If we didn’t get involved, we wouldn’t get hurt.

But was that really the right choice…?

The wounds Jaeyul received during our four years apart might have been my misjudgment’s fault, in the end.

“Hyung, you buttoned your shirt wrong by one.”

“Huh? Ah, you’re right….”

I must have spaced out while changing into the shirt Jaeyul brought from home.

Each button was fastened one hole down, making me look ridiculous.

Jaeyul undid the buttons one by one and fastened them into their proper holes.

We were performing such a mundane action, yet a slightly cold air flowed between us.

It was because of the small argument we’d had last night.

Perhaps because of that, Poppy refused to come down from the top of my head.

“But why did you suddenly tell me to change clothes?”

“We’re going home.”

“Are we allowed to go? Don’t I have to retake the awakening examination…?”

The date on the compulsory execution warrant was for tomorrow.

I was supposed to stay in the hospital room until then.

So, of course, I was bewildered when he suddenly said we were going home.

“I told you. I said you don’t have to worry about a thing, hyung. I can handle something like this now. Though… I’m sure you still don’t find me very reliable.”

“No! Jaeyul-ah… what I said yesterday, that’s not what I meant….”

The kid.

He seems properly sulky this time.

With his expression so stiff, I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my back for no reason.

I think he was pretty cute when he pouted as a kid….

I first tried to soothe Jaeyul and clear up the misunderstanding, but he just finished tidying my clothes and grabbed my wrist.

“Let’s talk at home.”

“Wow, our Jaeyul is so capable! How on earth did you get the examination canceled overnight? Huh? Right?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s not something you can do so easily, is it? Not just anyone could pull that off!”

I praised Jaeyul in a deliberately more exaggerated voice.

Did the effort pay off?

The corner of Jaeyul’s mouth, as he hid Poppy in a bag before leaving the room, seemed to twitch just a tiny bit.

A few more words of praise and he might completely cheer up.

Sigh, what a life.

I feel like I’m raising a grown child.

Still, this is better than continuing this cold relationship, so let’s try a little harder.

“That’s why I’m telling you not to worry about useless things. I’m more capable than you think, hyung.”

I decided I should discuss the matter of quitting the Center after some more time.

Even I, after our talk last night, had doubts blooming in my mind about whether that was truly the right thing to do.

I needed time to sort out my own chaotic feelings.

On top of that, I hadn’t even heard the real reason why Jaeyul was so devoted to his work that he neglected his own body.

I felt I had to first figure out what it was he was pursuing, putting the Center’s work before his own well-being, before I could tell him to quit or not.

If I had my way, I’d want to address this part first, but bringing it up now would probably make him clam up again just as he was starting to loosen up, so I would have to investigate cautiously.

“Where are you going now, Seon Jaeyul… Team Leader?”

Just as we were about to leave the 2nd Center’s lobby, feeling relatively lighthearted now that the troublesome compulsory execution issue was resolved.

A voice I really did not want to hear stopped us in our tracks.

It was Nadongchan, that son of a b*tch I had seen from a distance when I came to give Jaeyul a lunchbox last time.

This time too, he blocked Jaeyul’s path with an arrogant expression and voice.

Racking my memory… it was the voice that had been in a physical scuffle with Oh Seonggyu, threatening to release gas into the isolation room when Jaeyul was rampaging.

This bastard, Nadongchan, had taken the lead in trying to kill Jaeyul.

“I am on my way home.”

“Who asked you that? I’m asking why you’re leaving with this thing right now.”

Nadongchan’s chin pointed at me.

It was an incredibly insolent gesture, as if he were referring to an object.

Perhaps because of that, Jaeyul’s grip on my wrist tightened.

“…You made a promise with me yesterday, Director.”

“A promise? With me? What promise did we make?”

Nadongchan said, shrugging his shoulders with an exaggerated gesture.

Even watching from the side, I wanted to smash my fist into the bastard’s face.

How could someone be so detestable from head to toe?

“Don’t tell me, you’re talking about that?”

“Director!”

“That I’d nullify this one’s compulsory execution warrant in exchange for you joining the subjugation squad for the A-rank gate that appeared in Yeouido last night?”

“……”

Ah….

So that’s why Jaeyul was dispatched before his body had even recovered from the rampage.

He must have recklessly entered in an incomplete state, which resulted in casualties.

And because of that, the team members must have vented their unfiltered complaints at him.

With the hint Nadongchan provided, I deduced what must have happened last night.

“I didn’t expect you’d be audacious enough to attach conditions to my orders, either. But what can you do?

What makes you think I should keep my promise to someone who came back after getting three team members killed? You need to have some shame, you bastard.”

Poke, poke, poke.

Nadongchan pushed Jaeyul’s chest with his index finger, mocking him with a sneer.

“That is why I said from the start that I would enter the joint subjugation force alone. It was you, Director, who decided to send in the entire team.

Therefore, you must keep your promise. The one who lost three team members at once is me, their team leader.”

It seemed Jaeyul couldn’t hold back this time either.

He snatched Nadongchan’s wrist as it pushed him and shot back with a fierce glare.

Of course, his voice remained level, not sounding emotional.

“Ha, look at this punk? I don’t think I can help you anymore, can I?

The more I think about it, the weirder it is. Seon Jaeyul, who always obeyed without a word, laying down conditions. Isn’t that peculiar? What on earth is this thing to you?”

This is dangerous.

Nadongchan’s gaze fell on me.

Recalling that bastard’s personality from the past, I could undoubtedly become Jaeyul’s weakness.

An already easy target, Seon Jaeyul, and the person that same Seon Jaeyul is trying to protect.

Could there be a better hostage to exploit?

Nadongchan… no, it was the kind of picture the higher-ups at the Center loved most.

Grabbing someone’s weakness and working them like a dog.

Jaeyul, oblivious to Nadongchan’s inner workings, solidified his suspicions.

He pulled my wrist, yanking me behind him to hide me.

“He is a civilian who has nothing to do with this.”

“We’ll see. We’ll find that out at tomorrow’s examination. Still, you worked hard yesterday, so go home for today. It would be best for you to show up on time for the test tomorrow.

Unless you really want to be forcibly tested with physical force.”

“Director!”

“Stop being insolent, you bastard. Where do you think you are, raising your voice. Shut up and get out.”

Nadongchan turned his back on us first and walked away, dismissing Jaeyul as if he were pathetic.

“Jaeyul-ah….”

Was it because he didn’t have as much experience being backstabbed as I did?

Jaeyul looked more shocked than I expected.

No, his face was filled with rage.

He was glaring at Nadongchan’s retreating back with dangerous eyes, as if… he might cause trouble right then and there.

It was at that moment.

A pure white orb began to form in front of Jaeyul’s chest.

“Seon Jaeyul!”

This crazy bastard!

No matter how angry he was, to try and use his powers inside the Center.

And to kill a person, no less.

If he attacked Nadongchan, it would be an incident impossible to contain.

I quickly grabbed Jaeyul’s hand and pulled.

“Let go. I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“Will you be quiet? What if someone hears you…! Just follow me quietly.”

Whack, whack.

A beating is the only medicine for someone who’s lost their senses.

I slapped Jaeyul’s forearm and forcefully dragged him out of the Center.

He was someone I could never beat in a contest of strength, but my words, stripped of any playfulness, must have had an effect, as Jaeyul allowed himself to be pulled by my meager strength.

***

“…I’m sorry, hyung. I tried to handle it somehow, but it turned out like this. Haah….”

Only after we returned home did Jaeyul’s state calm down a little.

The first thing he said was an apology.

His face, as he scrubbed it with both hands, was filled with frustration.

He must have fought, willing to risk even the sacrifice of his teammates, believing only in Nadongchan’s promise.

So to be backstabbed like this, it would be hard to maintain his sanity.

“I’m fine. And it’s not your fault to be sorry for.”

“No. This time, let’s do what you want, hyung. Yes… I’ll quit the Center. Whether we run away again, or whatever it is, I’ll do as you wish.”

The same kid who, just last night, had gotten so angry at me and said he wouldn’t quit the Center, must have felt the betrayal keenly.

Or maybe he was just trying to break his own will because he felt he had no shame before me.

“Get a grip, Seon Jaeyul.”

But that was not the Jaeyul I wanted to see.

“What did you say yesterday? You asked why we always have to run away, right? What have you done wrong now to be running away?”

Jaeyul’s gaze asked the question.

What on earth are you talking about.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to get the examination tomorrow.”

I will not let Jaeyul give up on anything.

I will let him have whatever he wants, and I will help him stay in whatever place he wishes to be.

I will no longer run; I will stand and fight.

The past me couldn’t do it, but this time, I will.

While protecting every single precious thing, without losing anything.

“I… am going to join the Center too.”