Chapter 28: The Lunatic Who Declared “My Exclusive Guide” in Public

Haejin turned away like he didn’t care if the guy cried or not.

Lee Chae was about to sit down—show over—when the guy’s desperate voice rang out.

“They say some stupid D-rank guide comes and goes freely, so why can’t I? I really don’t get it. What does hyung lack that he has to stick with a D-rank…”

In that instant, the coffee in the guy’s hand shot up like a fountain and soaked his shirt black.

Haejin had used his ability.

“Ah! What the hell! Using powers on a guide is grounds for disciplinary action!”

Haejin’s voice was ice.

“F*ck, if a nobody insults my exclusive guide, he should be ready for at least that much, right?”

“Y-your… exclusive?”

“Yeah. That D-rank guide you just trashed? My exclusive. What’re you gonna do about it?”

The guy’s face turned blue.

Yet Haejin kept going.

“I’m so desperate I’m sticking to my exclusive—what’s your problem?”

The guide’s face was turning red—literally. If Haejin kept the ability active, he’d get burns.

Lee Chae had just heard every insult in the book from a stranger, yet… he didn’t feel that bad.

“F*ck, tell Yoon Jae-hyung to choose his friends better. Hanging with trash like you drops the class.”

Thankfully Haejin stopped there.

The guide just stared blankly, soaked in shock and fear.

Lee Chae briefly wondered if he should intervene, but getting involved with Cha Haejin never ended well.

He quietly returned to his seat.

But something felt off.

Haejin’s words kept looping.

“My exclusive. What’re you gonna do about it?” “I’m so desperate I’m sticking to my exclusive…”

“…Ha… f*ck.”

Good thing the classroom was empty—class didn’t start for thirty minutes.

His cheeks burned.

He pressed cold hands to them, took out his book—then froze.

“Your energy feels cheap. Means you have no skill as a guide.”

If Haejin rejected people for lacking ability, did that mean… he thought Lee Chae had ability?

He actually acknowledged him?

All the pain of living as a D-rank with “insufficient” power came rushing back.

“Thank you. Because of you.”

He’d thought it was just polite.

That’s why the well-mannered moments stuck in his memory.

But no.

Since the day he guided at the cleanup crew, Haejin’s words had kept resurfacing because they were sincere—and because they recognized his ability.

Lee Chae took a deep breath, pulled out the book, and tried to calm his fluttering heart before class.

But strangely, even ten minutes before start, nobody came.

Something was wrong.

“What are you doing here all alone?”

Haejin.

The guy who’d just looked ready to murder everyone was now grinning mischievously in front of Lee Chae.

“What do you think? Waiting for class.”

Haejin laughed, strode over, planted both hands on the desk, and leaned in.

Breath-close.

Heat rose.

He stared straight into Lee Chae’s eyes.

“W-what…?”

“Lee Chae-ya, you don’t have friends, right?”

What kind of nonsense—

He turned away to ignore him.

Haejin snickered.

“They sent a message—class canceled after exams. You didn’t get it?”

“…F*ck.”

Again.

This had happened before.

No phone = no last-minute cancellation notices.

Usually there were one or two others in the same boat, but today—of all days—empty.

Humiliation in front of Haejin soured his mood.

Haejin, oblivious, kept talking excitedly.

“Perfect! We’ve got time—let’s go watch that movie we couldn’t before. Yeah?”

“…Watch it alone.”

Lee Chae answered in a low voice.

Only then did Haejin realize something was wrong.

“Did I mess up again?”

“No.”

“Then why the sudden mood drop?”

“I said it’s nothing.”

He sighed.

Normally he’d just ignore and leave for his shift, but standing up felt impossible.

Why?

Because of yesterday’s survey?

Because of the “my exclusive guide” from earlier?

He looked up.

Their eyes met—Haejin instantly curved his eyes into that melting smile.

Thump, thump—heart going wild again.

It’s just a physiological reaction to a high-compatibility esper…

He forced the feeling down.

“I’m not in a bad mood. I just don’t have the mental space for a movie.”

Yesterday’s survey floated across Haejin’s face.

Hate seeing them but anxious when they’re gone. Don’t want to separate when together… I’m really going insane.

If he stayed any longer he’d say something stupid.

He grabbed his bag.

“Sorry. I’m going first.”

“No.”

Haejin watched his movements and spoke firmly.

“If you really hate it, fine, go. But if you’re avoiding me—no.”

“What does that even mean? Avoiding you? Why would I—”

Haejin suddenly yanked his wrist, picked up the already-packed bag, and walked out.

It happened so fast Lee Chae couldn’t stop the lunatic.

“Cha Haejin! Where are you going?!”

He shouted, but Haejin didn’t look back.

“I’m really going to lose it!”

He had no choice but to chase.

All his textbooks and notes were in that bag.

If Haejin pulled the same “hostage” stunt again, he’d have to go to Legion and suffer the mental damage all over.

He ran full speed, but catching an S-class was impossible.

Students glanced and whispered—looked exactly like a desperate guide chasing an esper.

“F*ck! Give it back! How many times are you gonna do this?!”

He yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.

Haejin didn’t even twitch an ear and kept running.

If he really wanted to escape, he’d be gone already.

He was deliberately keeping just the right distance.

It felt like pure mockery—mood worsened.

“STOP!”

The more he ran, the more stubborn he got.

When was the last time he’d sprinted this hard?

Distance closed and widened repeatedly.

Finally Haejin stopped and turned.

They were at the quiet Jeongja-dong pavilion—high altitude, few students.

“I’m always standing still. The moment I see you I stop, and I’ll always stand by your side.”

“Cut the bullshit! How far are you planning to run?”

“Until you’re honest.”

Lee Chae stared in disbelief.

Haejin flopped onto the pavilion bench and patted the seat beside him.

Lee Chae approached to snatch the bag—tugged the strap.

Haejin held tight.

After a brief struggle he gave up and sat.

Haejin naturally slung an arm around his shoulders.

Telling him to stop or just give the bag back was pointless—he wouldn’t listen.

So Lee Chae changed tactics: sweet-talk the lunatic.

“What do you want?”

“A kiss.”

“…Stop joking.”

Keep playing and I’ll punch you and run.

He clenched his fist, ready.

But Haejin suddenly turned serious.

“You busy? It’s a canceled class… you can spare this much time, right?”

“I told you—I don’t have the mental space. I said if I don’t work, my family starves.”

The hand on his shoulder slid up his nape, combed through his hair, gently stroking.

He was getting used to it—less annoyance, more strange tingling in his chest.

Another physiological reaction?

“Our Lee Chae is so good. So good it’s trouble.”

“…”

“I won’t take much time. Just talking is okay, right? I won’t ask for a kiss.”

“…Do whatever.”

Haejin suddenly acting normal threw him off.

He scanned for hidden motives—face looked the same as always.

“Why were you trying to run earlier?”

“I told you—mental space. I wasn’t running.”

“Bullshit. It felt like avoiding, not hate.”

“Answer already decided? Believe people when they talk.”

Haejin narrowed his eyes.

The gaze felt like it could see through his skull—shoulders flinched.

“Is eating with me really so bad you’d rather have a public chase in front of everyone?”

Direct hit.

Lee Chae answered in a crawling voice.

“…No.”

“Be honest. Do you really want me to stop following you completely? Like strangers?”

He opened his mouth to say stop following me—but the words wouldn’t come.

For some reason Haejin’s eyes looked cold.

If he said it, Haejin might actually do it.

He could think clearly when Haejin wasn’t around.

But face-to-face, confusion took over—like a different person.

Like he was being controlled.

Lee Chae told himself: this feeling wasn’t because he liked him.

It was psychological defense—if he rejected too hard, Haejin would cling even more.

That was the only explanation for why the words wouldn’t come out.