Chapter 20: Under the Sound of Rain

Without fully understanding how, So-won nearly ended up returning to his parents’ house—but amid the torrential rain, he managed to arrive safely at Tae-woo’s place.

The moment he stepped out of the car, it took only a few steps to the front door for him to be completely drenched.

As soon as they got inside, So-won headed straight for the bathroom.

Since he’d only washed hastily in Tae-woo’s private room earlier, it bothered him, so this time he washed thoroughly, taking a bit longer.

When he came out, hunger hit him.

It would still be a while before the person who usually prepared meals arrived, and with the downpour, they might not come at all today.

After poking around the kitchen, So-won found some food in the refrigerator and reheated it.

Once he’d eaten his fill, he lazed around for a bit—and before he knew it, time had flown by.

He’d planned to start guiding as soon as they got home, but for all those reasons, it ended up being delayed.

He really hadn’t meant to put it off….

Standing in front of Tae-woo’s room, So-won gave an awkward smile, then composed himself and knocked.

“Tae-woo, may I come in?”

[Please come in.]

The moment he heard the reply, So-won opened the door without hesitation.

Tae-woo, who had been standing by the window, turned to look at him.

The clothes Tae-woo had worn when they came in, soaked from the rain, had been changed into indoor wear.

It seemed Tae-woo had showered again as well—the room carried the faint scent of the same body wash So-won used.

“What were you doing?”

“It’s raining heavily, so I was watching outside for a moment.”

“Then… may I start guiding you now?”

“Yes.

Please.”

So-won naturally climbed onto Tae-woo’s bed.

Only after settling in did he realize he’d done so without asking permission.

He stole a glance, then relaxed when Tae-woo said nothing and sat down beside him.

When So-won held out his hand, Tae-woo carefully placed the back of his hand against it, just like last time.

Once again, that familiar wave flowed in.

Perhaps because his condition had worsened after returning from the gate, the energy showed no sign of calming down.

“I’m sorry for showing up yesterday without permission.

I tried contacting you, but you didn’t reply…”

“No, it’s fine.

Thanks to you, I’ve improved a lot.

I’m sorry for showing you such an unsightly state.”

So-won fell silent.

He couldn’t understand how Tae-woo could describe a condition that severe as merely “unsightly.”

Unsightly?

Wasn’t it closer to dying right in front of me?

He swallowed the words he wanted to throw back at him and, suppressing the impulse, asked instead,

“Is it always like that after you come back from a gate?”

“There are days when it’s not.”

Tae-woo answered as if making excuses.

With low-rank gates, he could clear them without even using his physical enhancement.

After those, his body would ache a little, but his condition wouldn’t worsen.

And yesterday hadn’t even been particularly bad compared to usual—just a mild case that would settle after two or three days of staying still with a guiding machine attached.

But Tae-woo didn’t tell So-won any of that.

A violent gust shook the window hard before passing, and the rain began to pour down even more fiercely.

Though it was midday, the sky darkened as if night might fall at any moment.

“So-won…”

Tae-woo hesitated for a long time, as though debating whether to speak.

“…Are you afraid of me?”

It was a foolish question.

That was what Tae-woo thought.

No one wouldn’t be afraid of someone who might lose control at any moment.

On top of that, So-won had seen his horrific state after returning from the gate just yesterday.

Anyone else would have run away by now.

Curious that So-won remained by his side, Tae-woo had asked without thinking.

Seeing So-won hesitate to answer, Tae-woo regretted it.

But words once spoken couldn’t be taken back.

“I’m sorry.

You don’t have to answer.”

His eyes—deep and calm like the night sky—fell away weakly.

So-won looked at Tae-woo.

He could see dark red blood vessels.

Grotesque—no, not grotesque, just prominently raised veins.

Since when…?

So-won thought about it.

He wasn’t afraid.

At some point, he’d stopped being afraid of Tae-woo entirely.

The large and small veins spreading around his eyes, the thick metal collar around his neck whose purpose was unknown, the dark red blood vessels bulging beneath skin his clothes couldn’t fully hide—none of it scared him.

Just yesterday, when he’d gone to see Tae-woo, he’d still been afraid.

And now, he wasn’t.

He didn’t even feel the constant tension he always did when near him.

After seeing something so terrible, to think he wasn’t afraid anymore—it was unbelievable.

I can’t even believe it myself.

Would he?

So-won couldn’t answer Tae-woo’s question.

***

Tae-woo woke at dawn and looked at So-won, who was clinging to him.

Yesterday, and the day before that, So-won had come in the middle of the night saying he’d guide him—only to fall asleep not long after.

Tae-woo hadn’t woken him.

Instead, he’d closed his eyes quietly beside him.

Then, every morning, he’d wake to find So-won hugging him like a giant stuffed animal.

To keep from startling him when he woke, Tae-woo would slip away each time—but freeing himself without waking So-won was a struggle every morning.

Today as well, Tae-woo managed to disentangle himself without waking him.

When So-won seemed restless at his disappearance, hugging a large pillow soothed him almost instantly.

Watching that, Tae-woo quietly left the room.

Monday.

On a normal day, he would have gone straight to the Esper Association upon waking to write the gate report from last week—but today was different.

Tae-woo sat in the living room, passing time, waiting for So-won to wake.

It had been two weeks since So-won became Tae-woo’s Guide.

Tae-woo recalled the words his attending physician had repeated so insistently:

The interim checkup.

Today was the day for that checkup.

By 10 a.m., So-won and Tae-woo were supposed to meet Tae-woo’s physician at the Esper Association.

But Tae-woo’s house, located on the outskirts of Seoul, was far from the Association.

Even driving would take at least forty minutes, and So-won didn’t seem to have a car.

Public transportation wasn’t convenient either—if So-won went alone, it would be an exhausting journey.

In that case, even if So-won found it uncomfortable, it was better to take him along.

Yet even as departure time approached, there was no sign of So-won waking up.

After waiting and waiting, Tae-woo finally went into his own room to wake him.

So-won was still sound asleep, hugging the pillow Tae-woo had given him, breathing softly.

His face, as if caught in a pleasant dream, made Tae-woo’s conscience sting at the thought of waking him.

“So-won.

Mr. Lee So-won.”

Afraid of hurting him, Tae-woo didn’t shake him—he just kept calling his name.

“Mm…”

Only after a long while did So-won respond.

His eyelids fluttered, and he blinked sluggishly, as if waking was difficult.

“Just a little longer…”

And his eyes closed again.

Startled, Tae-woo tried to wake him once more.

“You really should get up now.”

So-won frowned, mumbling as if he didn’t want to wake.

Tae-woo was at a loss, looking down at So-won, who had turned his back and buried himself under the blanket.

He stared at the unmoving So-won and hesitated.

Though the physician had emphasized it, skipping an interim checkup wouldn’t cause immediate problems.

It would be a bit annoying to deal with calls from the department and doctor later—but Tae-woo chose to let So-won sleep a little longer.

He spoke up.

“Please sleep some more.

I’ll be going now.”

At those words, So-won’s eyes flew open.

“You’re leaving?”

He shot upright, staring at Tae-woo as he headed for the door.

Dressed in clothes fit for going out, Tae-woo looked as though he truly was about to leave.

“Today is the interim checkup, but you may rest more.

I’ll postpone it by a few days.”

“Ah… the interim checkup…”

Only then did So-won realize it was Monday—the day of the checkup.

He belatedly checked the time.

It was already well past when Tae-woo should have left.

He must have waited for him instead of going ahead.

So-won climbed down from the bed with an apologetic look.

He’d kept Tae-woo waiting—but fortunately, it wasn’t too late yet.

“No, it’s okay.

I’ll get ready quickly.”

He hurried back to his own room.

So-won had shamelessly slept in Tae-woo’s room again last night.

But he had his reasons.

The day he returned from Tae-woo’s private room, he’d tried sleeping alone—but the typhoon outside was fierce, and whenever he closed his eyes, frightening thoughts surfaced.

Without Tae-woo beside him, he couldn’t sleep.

For two days now, he’d been using the excuse of guiding to fall asleep next to Tae-woo.

It was a bit embarrassing… but there was nothing he could do.

Still, the typhoon had finally passed over the weekend, and the blazing summer weather had returned.

Maybe it’ll be better starting today.