Chapter 8: A New Reality

I opened my eyes again to the sound of the doorbell, and the room was already bright with the morning sun.
My eyes were so swollen from crying myself to sleep that they wouldn’t open properly.

I wanted to close my eyes again, but the incessantly ringing doorbell forced my heavy body up and towards the front door.
I felt the dried tears on my cheeks and wiped them with my hand as I called out.

“Who is it?”

Thinking it might be Taewoon, I moved closer to the door.

“It’s Manager Kim Jinho.”

But the voice that came back belonged to the manager, not Taewoon.
Feeling a pang of disappointment, I opened the door.
The manager came in with bags in both hands.

“Guide-nim, did you sleep well? I brought the phone you mentioned yesterday and a few other things.”

It was the phone I had been waiting for, so I quickly took the paper bag and looked inside.
Inside was a box for an Association-issued Awakened-only phone.

“As per the contract, you can’t contact the outside world for six months. And I will accompany you whenever you move.”

I hadn’t read the contract carefully, so this was the first I’d heard of such a rule.
It seemed I would have to review the contract in detail.
I had to be careful not to make such a mistake again.

“I brought the uniform based on your physical information size, so please try it on now. If it fits, I’ll bring a spare tomorrow.”

I wanted to check the phone right away, but at his words to try on the uniform first, I ended up taking the clothes and going into the bedroom.
The uniform was white and fit me perfectly.
Aside from my school uniform, I had rarely worn uniforms or suits, so it felt unfamiliar.
I fiddled with the stiff cuffs and awkwardly came out.

“I think the size is right.”

The manager seemed to think so too, as he said the uniform suited me well and that he would prepare a spare.

“Now, let’s have lunch and then go to the Center.”

At the sight of him taking out a lunchbox, I shook my head and said I would eat later.
I had no appetite because of yesterday’s events, and I was sure I would just throw it all up even if I ate.

Seeing my listless state, the manager looked at me with concern and told me to let him know if I got hungry.

In the end, I had no choice but to head to the Center without even touching the phone.
The Center was a 15-minute drive from the Guide dorm, so we went in the manager’s car.

“When we get to the Center, I’ll first introduce you to the team you’ve been assigned to.”

“Do I have to join a team?”

“Yes. Normally, C-Class and below, and newly awakened individuals can’t join teams, but since you’ve become Hyun Taewoon’s exclusive Guide, you’ve been assigned to the same 01S team.”

I had thought I would be guiding him from his house as I had been, so the news of being assigned to a team made me worry.
I wasn’t confident I could do well on a team.

The thought that the team members, like Taewoon, might dislike me for being a C-Class scared me.
It seemed his actions yesterday had left me with some trauma.

“Unlike Hyun Taewoon, they are all kind. Don’t worry.”

The manager soothed me, looking at my tense face in the rearview mirror.

“Yes…”

At my words, he continued to explain the schedule from now on.

In the morning, I would have Awakened theory classes, guiding training, and physical training.
In the afternoon, I would do gate simulations or joint training with the team members, and on days when a gate opened or when Taewoon requested guiding, I would provide it.

The packed schedule was daunting, but I was relieved to hear I could meet Taewoon.

After arriving at the Center, I followed the manager to the team’s exclusive room.

The team room was on the third floor of the Center, and the manager opened the door without giving me any time to prepare myself mentally.

“Guide Lee Shinui is here. Guide-nim, please greet everyone. I’ll be back after taking care of something.”

“…Okay.”

The 20-pyeong team room had partitions for each team member’s desk, and on the right, there was a team leader’s office, a reception room, and a pantry.
The rooms were divided by transparent glass walls, so the inside was clearly visible.

As if they already knew I was coming, the team leader greeted me first.

“We’ve been waiting for you. I’m Park Jeongwon, the team leader of 01S.”

“Hello, I’m Lee Shinui.”

We exchanged formal greetings and a handshake as I looked around.
Taewoon wasn’t in sight, so it seemed he hadn’t arrived yet.

The team leader introduced me to the team members one by one.
There was one Guide, and three Espers, including the team leader.
All of them were A-Class.

I worried if it was okay for a C-Class like me to join a team of only A-Classes, but everyone welcomed me, and they all seemed kind.

My seat was next to the A-Class Guide, Choi Minseong.

“Let’s get along well as fellow Guides.”

I returned Minseong’s kind smile with one of my own.
Then, looking at the empty desk that seemed to be Taewoon’s, I asked.

“Please take care of me too. By the way… when is Esper Hyun Taewoon coming?”

“Esper Hyun Taewoon won’t be coming today. He doesn’t usually come here.”

“Ah…”

“Come to think of it, you’re Esper Hyun Taewoon’s exclusive Guide, right?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t know how Taewoon had been living at the Center until now, but whenever his name came up, everyone looked at me with pity.

Finally, Minseong pushed his chair closer to me.

“You must be having a hard time because of Esper Hyun Taewoon, right?”

“…No.”

“I know everything. That his personality is sh*t.”

He whispered as if confiding a secret.
He also told me that he had also had a hard time because of Hyun Taewoon when he first joined the team.

“He always acts on his own and never listens. If you have any problems, just let me know anytime.”

“Thank you for your concern, Guide Minseong.”

My last words seemed to displease him, as he shook his head.

“The expression ‘Guide-nim’ is too formal. I’m your senior, so just call me ‘sunbae’ comfortably.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. We’ll be living together from now on, right? I don’t like being formal.”

“Then okay, Minseong-sunbae.”

At my words, Minseong smiled, pleased to have a junior, and returned to his seat.

Since I had no work yet, I just sat quietly at my desk.
Being surrounded by A-Classes made me self-conscious, and I worried about making mistakes and being disliked.
But contrary to my worries, all the team members helped me adjust.

The team leader also paid extra attention to me, as I had joined midway.
He even made a training schedule for me related to field gates and kindly explained it in detail.

I was grateful to them for treating me without regard to my grade; it would have been really tough if the team members had been cold as well.

At quitting time, I took the manager’s car to the dorm.
Taewoon must have known I had joined the team, but since he didn’t come, I could tell he was still angry.

I wanted to meet and talk with him, but since I couldn’t, I grew more and more anxious.
Eventually, I asked the manager.

“Manager-nim, when can I meet Taewoon-ssi?”

“I’ll ask him tomorrow.”

“Yes…. Um, does Taewoon-ssi just hate C-Class Guides?”

The way he had sneered at the word ‘C-Class’ yesterday kept bothering me.

“He doesn’t hate them without reason.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

“It’s a bit difficult for me to say…. Ask him later. Though he probably won’t tell you…”

“…I understand.”

If he hated them without reason, I would have been devastated, but if there was a reason, I might be able to change it.
I held onto a small sliver of hope and tried to think positively.
Lost in thought, I found myself in front of the dorm.

“I’ll be here at 8:30 from tomorrow.”

“Okay. Get home safely.”

I watched the manager leave and forlornly entered the dorm.
But then, the thought of the phone came to mind, and my steps quickened up the stairs.
I could finally unbox the phone.

But then I remembered again that I didn’t know his number.
After some thought, I took out the manager’s business card and sent him a message.

It had only been a day since I’d been separated from Taewoon, but I missed living with him so much.

My life as a Guide wasn’t much different from before.
Days of commuting between the Center and the dorm instead of the factory continued.
In the morning, I spent my time training according to the Center’s curriculum, and in the afternoon, I trained with energy weapons under the team leader’s guidance in the team’s exclusive training room.
Time passed quickly, and in the meantime, there was no contact from Taewoon.
Even when I tried to call him, he didn’t answer, as if he knew it was my number.
It was upsetting, but I continued to wait for his call.

Today, too, I came straight back to the dorm after work.
As I was opening my door, the door to room 201 opened, and a boyish face popped out.

“So someone did move in. Hello.”

“…Hello.”

I was surprised by the sudden appearance of the man, but I greeted him back.

“I’m Choi Jihwon, and I’m 21 this year. What about you?”

Before I could be surprised by Jihwon suddenly appearing and introducing himself, I answered without thinking.

“I’m Lee Shinui, 23 years old.”

“So you’re older. We’ll be seeing each other often, so let’s be friends.”

“Okay.”

I gave a short greeting, went inside, and locked the door.
I was surprised by his sudden appearance, but since he was right next door and also a Guide, I thought it would be good to become friends.

As soon as I entered, I changed into my casual clothes and checked my Guiding Watch.
Taewoon’s guiding level had dropped from before I left work.

I should be guiding him…
But it was a relief to be able to check on him like this.
And at the same time, the reality of our separation hit me even harder.

My life with Taewoon had begun like a dream, and it had faded away just as distantly.
Right now, I just wanted to talk to him again and see his gentle face from before.