Chapter 122: Who Are You Close With

Whether it was thanks to the sweet dessert or the story Yeon Yeok told, Bodam’s heart felt a good deal lighter.

“Yeon Yeok-ah, wait a minute.”

Before leaving the cafe, Bodam quickly went to the car and handed Yeon Yeok a gift.

One of the luxury shopping bags he had admired in each hand.

“Huh? These were for me?!”

“Yeah. They’re yours.”

It was the same model as the shoes Bodam was wearing, which Yeon Yeok had complimented when they first met at a team dinner, just in a different size.

“I-I just said they were cool…”

“I just bought them. If they don’t fit, exchange them. The receipt is inside.”

“Hyung-nim, how can I wear these? They’re so expensive… I’ll sleep with them at night.”

Bodam, who had nothing to do but look for an apartment to move into or binge-watch dramas while lazing around in the waiting room, had recently gotten into online shopping.

His eyes had been opened to luxury goods after Ji Oh, who was an expert, had gifted him clothes and shoes.

“Give this to Jo Yeon. He doesn’t accept things I give him easily. Make sure to tell him I already took the tag off.”

“Wow… Dam-i hyung-nim, where are you? I can’t see you because of the light…!”

Bodam, who had handed all the shopping bags he had brought to Yeon Yeok, smiled with satisfaction.

It was rewarding to give gifts when they were so enthusiastically received.

‘Cute Yeon Yeok. To think he’s the same age as Kang Yi Jun.’

Yeon Yeok, with his endlessly bright and cheerful energy, invigorated even those around him.

Although he looked a bit like a delinquent at first glance, one quickly realized how friendly he was just by greeting him.

…‘Could Yeon Yeok become friends with Kang Yi Jun too?’

“Yeon Yeok-ah. Are you a good fighter?”

“No joke. I can beat anyone except an Esper. Let me know if anyone bullies you!”

Yeon Yeok’s fist, as he playfully threw a jab into the air, was no joke.

Had he said he was a physical education college entrance examinee?

If so, it might be worth introducing him to Kang Yi Jun—.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

The thought that had suddenly occurred to him was cut off by the vibration of Bodam’s phone.

As he sent off Yeon Yeok, whose time had come to leave, Bodam asked him one last time to take good care of Jo Yeon.

He smiled, saying that it was all a bribe.

A bribe given with the meaning of asking him to protect his Esper friend well.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do as well as you, hyung-nim.”

Yeon Yeok, to whom Bodam’s sincerity was conveyed, nodded his head reliably and replied.

Bodam, who sent Yeon Yeok off with a wave, thought it was a relief that Jo Yeon had a good guide with him.

Since his friend Jo Yeon was a better Esper and superior than anyone else, he hoped that a guide worthy of him would be with him for the rest of his life.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

‘A new dedicated guide will be assigned to Attack Team 3 as well. After I leave.’

Bzzzt—.

“Hello.”

Bodam answered the phone just before the vibration stopped.

His voice came out indifferently for no particular reason.

– Did you call?

“You called me.”

– I got a missed call.

“I misdialed.”

– Ah, did you eat?

When he replied that he had, Tae Hwan continued to ask if he had eaten a snack.

He had been worried because his wavelength readings were high, but fortunately, Tae Hwan’s voice was the same as usual.

It also seemed to be coming from a little closer.

“Want to eat more?”

Tae Hwan, who had suddenly appeared from behind him, opened the car door.

He had just sent off Yeon Yeok and was about to get in the car.

Bodam, who was startled, dropped his phone, and Tae Hwan quickly caught it and apologized.

“Did I startle you?”

“You think I wouldn’t be startled!”

Bodam, who hit Tae Hwan’s arm and snapped at him, glared and got into the car.

He also snapped at Tae Hwan, who was hesitantly looking to see if he could get in too, to hurry up and get in.

“How did you know I was here?”

As Bodam had expected, Tae Hwan gestured with his chin towards the driver’s seat.

He had thought that if the driver accompanied him, his location would be known to them.

After hitting Tae Hwan again for rudely pointing at an adult with his chin, Bodam held out his palm.

It was to check the condition of Tae Hwan, who had been out in Sector 4 since early yesterday morning.

“You, keep your readings below 60%. Don’t get excited.”

“I probably didn’t go over. I controlled it a lot this time.”

“What do you mean you didn’t go over? It hit 63%.”

“…Were you watching?”

Bodam, ignoring the touched Tae Hwan, asked the driver to go to the Center’s main building.

Tae Hwan, who seemed reluctant to just go back, asked if there was anything else he wanted to eat.

To this, Bodam said that if he wasn’t going to receive guiding, he should go and play by himself, and Tae Hwan’s mouth closed with surprising firmness.

***

During the car ride, Bodam did some people-watching for the first time in a while.

Perhaps because of the sunny weather, there were an unusual number of people out and about.

Seeing people walking in groups of three or five, or even alone but talking to someone on the phone, made him think various thoughts.

They were all smiling.

Talking to the person next to them very happily and comfortably.

“Lee Tae Hwan.”

“Yeah.”

“Who are you close with?”

Tae Hwan, who was sitting quietly on the living room sofa in the waiting room receiving guiding, tilted his head.

Bodam squeezed the hand he was holding and repeated the out-of-the-blue question.

“Who are you close with? Colleagues or friends.”

“…You?”

Bodam, who was somewhat shocked to see Tae Hwan answer seriously after rolling his eyes, asked back, “Me?”

He had a feeling he didn’t have any friends, but he didn’t know he had none at all to this extent.

“What about the friends you knew before coming to the Center? Friends from when you were in school.”

“I haven’t contacted them since I manifested. We’re not in a position to see each other anyway.”

In any country, S-class Espers were only free within the Center.

Those below A-class could go to civilian areas relatively easily with permission, but they had to spend their entire lives within the Center unless they were on a dispatched mission.

So it was only natural that friendships would be cut off.

“Were you curious about that?”

Tae Hwan, who seemed pleased that Bodam was showing interest in him, waved his hand slightly, telling him to ask more.

He had never once thought of Yoon Bodam as a friend, but since he had suggested it, he accepted.

Bodam, who swallowed a sigh, just sent out more guiding.

The fact that he didn’t have a single friend within the Center to confide in didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

Bodam, too, had only his family if he left the Center, as his friendships from his school days had been cut off.

‘Still, I’m fine since I have a bright future ahead of me, but these guys, really.’

Bzzzt—.

“Lee Tae Hwan, you have a call.”

At the vibration coming from Tae Hwan’s pocket, Bodam stopped his guiding and tried to let go of his hand.

Tae Hwan, who squeezed his hand as much as Bodam had loosened it, insisted that he didn’t have to answer.

“Answer it quickly.”

“It’s fine. It’s not important.”

“The vibration is annoying.”

“Okay.”

Tae Hwan, who let go of only one hand and took out his phone, narrowed his eyes slightly.

He stared at the screen briefly before turning it off completely.

“Who was it?”

“An unknown number.”

“Then why did you turn it off?”

“I’m receiving guiding.”

Tae Hwan, who took Bodam’s hand again, closed his eyes as if to concentrate on the guiding.

Bodam didn’t press him further and continued the guiding.

Wondering a little if it was the person he had been talking to earlier.

Thanks to Tae Hwan closing his eyes, Bodam, who was now able to look at him comfortably, found his gaze naturally drawn to his features.

His sharp features, which were suited for a protagonist in a noir film, were quite neat upon closer inspection.

He had heard rumors that Attack Team 3 had nothing to be criticized for in terms of looks, but he hadn’t acknowledged it…

‘He’s handsome, he really is.’

“Yoon Bodam.”

“Don’t open your eyes.”

Bodam, who blocked Tae Hwan’s twitching eyelids, blinked instead.

It was awkward to make eye contact at the exact moment he was staring at his face.

“Why?”

“Just keep them closed.”

“Then can I ask you something?”

Bodam nodded at Tae Hwan, who asked carefully.

However, even though he had received permission, Tae Hwan couldn’t ask right away and just moved his lips.

“What is it?”

“No, I mean…”

“What. Say it.”

“Why do you only do it in the living room for me?”

Tae Hwan finally asked the question.

He had wanted to ask all along, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask easily and had just been harboring the question.

Ever since that day he was treated like a pervert, Yoon Bodam had only done his guiding in the living room.

While he called Min Ji Oh and the Team Leader to their rooms.

“I really didn’t do anything that day.”

“I told you not to talk about that day!”

“Because you’re uncomfortable with me—.”

“I’m not uncomfortable! I don’t think anything of it!”

Bodam, who had raised his voice, soon lost his voice.

He froze in surprise at Tae Hwan, who had suddenly pulled the hand he was holding and closed the distance.

“See. You are uncomfortable.”

Tae Hwan, who had gently opened his eyes, said as he faced Bodam with a hand’s breadth of distance between them.

Bodam, who didn’t push his hand away or avoid him, just widened his eyes, seemed genuinely flustered.

‘Am I that repulsive to him that he freezes up like that?’

“That perverted bastard again!”

At that moment, Ji Oh, who had opened the front door and appeared, cursed at Tae Hwan.

He had promised Bodam to use the door instead of teleporting when entering the waiting room.

He had been startled by Min Ji Oh’s sudden appearance from thin air more than once.

“What did you do again! You son of a b*tch!”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Why are you so close when you’re just holding hands and guiding! Shit, you pulled him, didn’t you!”

Bodam, who took advantage of the gap while the noisy duo was arguing, escaped to the stairs after shaking off Tae Hwan’s hand.

It was a relief that Tae Hwan didn’t seem to notice, thanks to Min Ji Oh.

His own momentarily quickened pulse.

“Ha… What’s wrong with me.”

Bodam, who blushed as he recalled the mucosal guiding, felt a great sense of humiliation.

He was flustered by his unprofessional behavior.