Chapter 73: A Quiet Two Hours

By the time the flashy opening sequence passed, So-won subtly checked Tae-woo’s reaction.

However, Tae-woo’s expression was as impassive as ever, making it impossible to tell whether he was enjoying the movie or not.

From the moment the film started, not a single word was exchanged.

Quietly watching the screen, So-won thought it might be a good idea to do some guiding during the roughly two hours the movie would run, and gently leaned his body against Tae-woo’s.

Unlike the chilly living room, Tae-woo’s embrace was warm.

As So-won nestled a little closer to his side, a soft wave flowed in, welcoming him.

Feeling that warmth spread through his entire body, So-won slowly looked around the house.

It had changed a lot from the past.

Traces of So-won scattered everywhere, Tae-woo always within sight if he just turned his head, and things like the newly bought large, sturdy sofa.

The house that once held only coldness now felt lively.

A home where Tae-woo and So-won lived together.

This place was no longer a prison where a monster lived, but a comfortable refuge for So-won and Tae-woo.

So-won now preferred being with Tae-woo to being alone.

Even guiding had become something he did because he wanted to, rather than out of obligation or responsibility.

Only now could So-won accept it.

The feelings he had toward Tae-woo were not simply gratitude born from Tae-woo’s kindness.

Holding Tae-woo’s warm hand, wrapped in his broad embrace, So-won wanted to share that warmth.

He wished to become someone special to Tae-woo, not just an Esper and Guide bound together by a matching rate.

He wanted to be the kind of person who didn’t need to use guiding as an excuse every time he wanted to touch him.

But he knew he shouldn’t harbor such feelings toward the man he had once led to his death.

The only emotions So-won was allowed to feel toward Tae-woo were guilt and regret.

To want to be loved by Tae-woo, whom he had neglected for eight years, was deception even by his own reckoning.

He couldn’t bring himself to voice his feelings.

But So-won was bad at hiding things.

No matter how hard he tried, his heart inevitably seeped into his actions, moment by moment.

“…..”

So-won stared intently at Tae-woo’s profile.

Tae-woo, who had been focused on the movie, noticed his gaze a beat late and turned his head.

“Tae-woo.”

So-won lifted his hand and drew Tae-woo toward him.

He hadn’t pulled with any force, just lightly, but Tae-woo sensed the feelings So-won himself hadn’t even realized and leaned down toward him.

Watching their faces slowly draw closer, So-won closed his eyes.

“Mm….”

Their lips met softly.

Feeling the warmth against his mouth, So-won parted his lips slightly.

At such close range, their breaths mingled, and their lips gently locked together.

His heart began to pound, the rhythm gradually speeding up.

All they were doing was brushing their lips together, yet that alone was enough.

Just being with Tae-woo made his chest feel full.

Unable to hold back, So-won opened his mouth first and drew in Tae-woo’s lips.

Tae-woo accepted the needy So-won, firmly supporting his waist so he wouldn’t lose his balance.

Even so, he periodically pulled away just enough to let So-won breathe properly.

But as if he didn’t want to be separated even for a moment, So-won immediately pressed his lips back again.

“Nng, ah… haa….”

A thick tongue parted So-won’s damp lips and slipped inside.

So-won willingly opened his mouth and accepted Tae-woo.

The tongue that entered traced over his teeth, exploring every corner of his mouth.

As their tongues tangled, lewd sounds leaked out, but mixed with the noise from the TV, it didn’t feel embarrassing.

“Hff….”

The tongue filling his mouth was hot and large.

His jaw ached from being stretched wide, and his breath grew tight, but So-won didn’t push him away.

Instead, he pulled Tae-woo closer, holding him even tighter.

“Ugh, Tae-woo….”

As he accepted the thick tongue, saliva he couldn’t quite swallow spilled and ran down his chin.

So-won flinched slightly, but Tae-woo gently stroked his back, as if to tell him not to worry about it.

Even when kissing, Tae-woo was quiet and tender.

Feeling the careful hands that treated him as something precious, So-won’s heart thudded endlessly in his chest.

He liked Tae-woo like this.

He liked him so much that his head was filled with nothing but thoughts of Tae-woo.

After a long while, Tae-woo slowly pulled back.

So-won wiped his saliva-slick lips with his sleeve and tried to calm his flushed face.

At some point, the movie was racing toward its conclusion.

The original purpose of watching a movie together had long since disappeared, but it didn’t really bother him.

There would be plenty of time to spend with Tae-woo from now on.

Even after their long kiss ended, So-won didn’t move out of Tae-woo’s embrace.

Until the end credits rolled, he stayed there, sharing warmth with him.

It was the most peaceful weekend he had had in a long time.

***

The short break ended, and Monday arrived.

As soon as he reached the Association, So-won headed to the attending physician’s lab with Tae-woo.

They needed to check Tae-woo’s condition after his overseas assignment.

There was no real need for So-won to come along, but he was curious about Tae-woo’s condition and didn’t want to be apart from him even for a moment, so he followed him in the end.

As they walked together toward the lab, So-won looked around.

Today, there seemed to be an unusual number of outsiders wandering about.

Construction noises echoed here and there, making the place rather loud.

“It feels especially chaotic today.

Do you know why?”

“I’m not sure either.”

He had asked on the off chance Tae-woo might know, but it seemed he didn’t.

After briefly glancing around in mild confusion, So-won soon lost interest and resumed following Tae-woo.

“Ah!

Guide Lee So-won, welcome!”

As soon as they entered the lab, the attending physician greeted So-won warmly, as he always did.

Since So-won had become Tae-woo’s Guide, they had seen each other quite often, and each time the physician welcomed him so enthusiastically that it almost made So-won, the one being welcomed, feel burdened.

“How was the overseas assignment?”

“It was my first time dealing with foreign gates, so I was worried, but it turned out better than I expected.”

“I heard you were quite unwell after returning to Korea.

I’m glad to see you’re doing better now.”

So-won tilted his head.

He hadn’t mentioned being sick, yet the physician spoke as if he already knew.

Seeing So-won’s puzzled expression, Tae-woo explained that he had told him.

“Ah, right….”

As if something suddenly came to mind, the physician began rummaging around his desk.

Soon, he pulled out a black lump from a drawer.

What So-won initially thought looked like a “fluffy little ball” turned out to be an ordinary doll.

The physician handed it to So-won.

“…..?”

Why was he giving this to him?

As So-won simply blinked while staring at the doll, the physician continued.

“This is a product the Association produces and sells every year for Esper promotion.

In Esper Kang Tae-woo’s case this year, it’s a doll.”

“Oh, I see….”

“Normally, once the items are made, we give one to the person themselves as well.

But while Esper Kang Tae-woo was overseas, I accepted it on his behalf.

I doubt Esper Kang Tae-woo would be particularly interested, so I’ll give it to you, Guide Lee So-won.”

Only then did So-won nod and accept the doll.

The small black doll, about the size of two cupped palms, wore a fierce expression, as if it were meant to capture Tae-woo’s stoic face.

At a glance, he noticed a black ring hanging around the doll’s neck.

Tae-woo’s bomb had already been removed long ago, but since the doll still had it, it must have been produced before that happened.

The ring had once been one of Tae-woo’s defining features, so it was also possible they had deliberately included it.

So-won wasn’t particularly interested in dolls either, but since it vaguely resembled Tae-woo, he decided to keep it for now.

“I heard that previous items always ended up with leftover stock, but this time, it sold out surprisingly quickly.”

That Tae-woo’s doll had sold well was unexpected.

Still, it seemed less about Tae-woo’s growing recognition and more about the doll’s cute appearance.

And when he heard that the staff had originally produced a small quantity, assuming it wouldn’t sell, So-won found himself agreeing.

“Then, Esper Kang Tae-woo, we’ll move to the examination room now.”

Tae-woo nodded and stood up.

While Tae-woo and the physician were briefly out of the room, So-won took out his smartphone and searched for the items sold by the Association.

The products were being sold on the Association’s website.

As he scrolled down, So-won’s expression grew increasingly awkward.

There were occasionally items for other S-rank Espers or famous ones, but most of them were related to Si-hyeok.

It was the moment he became certain that the staff member in charge was a fan of Si-hyeok.

Among them all, there was only one item related to Tae-woo: the doll So-won had received from the physician.

The unassuming black doll was tucked away inconspicuously among the flashy products.

Curious about what had been sold in the past, So-won continued searching for Tae-woo-related items.

Just then, Tae-woo and the physician returned to the lab.

As if he’d been caught doing something wrong, So-won instinctively hid his screen and hurriedly tapped the back button.

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