Chapter 14 : Rampage (1)

“To the sea?”

“Yes…”

Hyunwoo slowly nodded at Jisung’s question. The four of them were currently reviewing their vacation plans. Jisung, who was about to book a hotel after deciding on all the places to go, looked at Hyunwoo. While the three of them were discussing various things, Hyunwoo had just been sitting quietly. As if it didn’t matter where they went or what they did. So, Jisung even worried that he might dislike traveling.

“To Busan?”

Hyunwoo, who had been hesitating and moving his lips as if choosing his words, finally nodded. His calm eyes were quiet, as if lost in thought.

“We don’t have to go if you’re busy.”

“No, not busy at all.”

Jisung pushed aside the paper filled with their detailed plans. It was an opinion Hyunwoo had finally voiced after much hesitation. Even if his weak body gave out and he collapsed, Jisung wanted to grant Hyunwoo’s wish.

“The sea is great. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Busan. Should we also relax at a hotel while we’re there? For sure, you said we can use a five-star hotel suite for free, right?”

“Yes, though I never thought the day would actually come when we could use it.”

Sunwoo nodded and replied. Most of the benefits the Center had offered were like fake listings. When would they, who were too busy to even rest, ever get to go to a hotel suite? But thanks to Jisung, the fake listings were no longer fake.

“Now that things have turned out this way, we have to enjoy it to the fullest.”

Jisung checked the schedule. Should they book a hotel for all the itineraries that required travel time?

“Hmm…”

Jisung stroked his chin with his hand. As he was contemplating how to make the most of it, his gaze fell on Hyunwoo. His expression hadn’t been very good since he brought up the sea. His body was here, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Jisung, who had been watching Hyunwoo quietly, finally called him.

“Hyunwoo.”

“…Huh?”

Unlike usual, his response was slow. Jisung’s eyes narrowed. ‘He seems to have something on his mind, but he doesn’t seem to want to talk about it…’

“Is there anywhere else you want to go?”

“Huh? Uh-huh.”

Hyunwoo slowly nodded. Jisung replied, “Okay,” and smiled gently.

“If there’s any place you want to go, anything you want, just tell me. If it’s something I can do, I’ll grant it.”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened at Jisung’s words. After a moment of hesitation, he smiled quietly.

“Okay.”

“Alright, then let’s first search for nearby restaurants…”

Just as Jisung was about to type on his laptop, Hyunwoo suddenly hugged his waist. Then he lowered his head and leaned on Jisung’s shoulder. At Hyunwoo’s affectionate gesture of rubbing his head against him, Jisung leaned his head back slightly.

“My back is going to break, you little rascal.”

Hyunwoo chuckled softly at Jisung’s words. After hugging him quietly for a moment, Hyunwoo whispered in a small voice.

“Thank you, Hyung.”

What was he thankful for? For going to the sea? Or for not asking any questions? Or both? Hyunwoo rarely voiced his wants or desires. As if he was used to giving up…

Jisung was very concerned about Hyunwoo.

He didn’t want to make him get used to giving up. He wished he would speak his mind more and smile brightly. Was taking it slow the only way?

“Oh, Gwangjang Market! We have to go here. And then pig’s feet…”
TL Note: Gwangjang Market is a traditional street market in Seoul, South Korea. Pig’s feet, or Jokbal, is a popular Korean dish.

[Ting.]

Just as he was engrossed in searching for restaurants, his smartphone chimed. Thinking it was a spam message as usual, Jisung checked it and frowned.

“A meeting?”

It was a notification that a meeting would start at 7 PM today. ‘Suddenly?’ Jisung, puzzled, scrolled down the message. Then the detailed content was written there. Jisung’s expression hardened as he read the long text.

He looked up. He met Hyunwoo’s eyes, who was looking at him.

“A terrorist hideout, why now of all times…”

Jisung ruffled his hair. He read the message once more. To summarize the content, it was like this: This morning, a report call came into the Center. The content was about the discovery of a place suspected to be a terrorist hideout. Contact was lost with the Espers who went to check the hideout to confirm the facts, and tomorrow morning, all personnel will be mobilized to attack the terrorist hideout. A group meeting will be held at 7 PM, and all S-Team members are required to attend.

“Tomorrow? Isn’t that too rushed, even if it’s an urgent dispatch? It’s not even certain that it’s a hideout yet, is it?”

“If it really was a hideout and we let them get away, the media would be chomping at the bit to eat us alive. Public opinion would be bad too.”

“Isn’t the opposite true as well? If it was a false report and we mobilized all Center personnel only to come back empty-handed, we’d look ridiculous, wouldn’t we?”

Sunwoo answered Jisung’s question.

“It would be ridiculous, but it would still be much better than letting a terrorist group escape. Even if it’s a false report, we can show that the Center is going to such lengths to catch terrorist groups. But if it really was a terrorist hideout and we let them get away while the Center was dawdling to confirm the facts, we’d be criticized as incompetent, tax thieves, so we choose the safer option.”

“…So you’re saying we’re dispatching tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

At Sunwoo’s answer, Jisung grabbed his hair with both hands.

“Why tomorrow of all days? Why, why?!”

For a major incident to occur just a day before their vacation, Jisung bit his lip at the unbelievable reality. And of all things, it wasn’t something trivial, but a terrorist hideout… Considering the mission and the cleanup afterwards, their vacation would be postponed by at least a week.

“This is so annoying.”

As he was grinding his teeth, Hyunwoo’s hand brushed his lips. Startled, Jisung’s eyes widened. At Jisung’s dazed look, Hyunwoo smiled faintly and stroked his head.

“You’ll get hurt.”

“My teeth aren’t so weak as to get hurt by this.”

Hyunwoo smiled shyly at Jisung’s words.

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll take care of every single one of them, quickly. Let’s go play as soon as it’s over.”

When Hyunwoo said it, it didn’t sound like a joke, but a sincere promise. Jisung already knew full well that it was possible, having witnessed him easily wipe out enemies several times. But still, missions were always fraught with danger. He never knew when or where something unexpected might happen.

“Don’t rush, the most important thing is your life. We can go on vacation later, leisurely. You can’t get hurt because you’re rushing for a vacation. Got it?”

Hyunwoo stared quietly at Jisung, who was looking straight into his eyes as he spoke. The words of concern were still unfamiliar and pleasant to him. He loved that Jisung prioritized his safety above all else.

A soft curve formed on Hyunwoo’s lips.

“Yes. I got it, Hyung.”

Jisung watched Hyunwoo’s beautifully smiling face, mesmerized. As he always thought, he was truly handsome no matter when he saw him. Jisung himself was aware that he was quite good-looking, but Hyunwoo was so handsome that even another man would think so.

His thoughts slowed down. As he stared blankly, forgetting to even blink, Hyunwoo’s head tilted slightly to the side. ‘Hyung?’ He heard him calling his name. Only then did Jisung snap out of it and reply in a flustered manner, and the corners of Hyunwoo’s eyes turned up.

Startled by Hyunwoo suddenly appearing in front of him, Jisung stepped back. But Hyunwoo’s hand wrapped around his waist, so he couldn’t run far.

“Ah, you scared me… Why, why?”

“You like my face, don’t you, Hyung?”

“Huh, what?”

Hyunwoo chuckled softly at Jisung’s reaction.

“Hyung, you always say ‘What?’ when you’re flustered.”

“…”

Jisung couldn’t find any words and closed his mouth. Was this what they called dying of embarrassment? He was so embarrassed that he had been caught staring at Hyunwoo’s face. When Jisung covered his face with the back of his hand, Hyunwoo smiled and grabbed his wrist, pulling it down. Jisung tried to resist, but there was no way he could win in a contest of strength.

“People are naturally drawn to beautiful things!”

“Am I beautiful?”

Jisung bit his lip hard.

‘He’s doing this on purpose, right?!’