Chapter 95: A Transparent Ploy

“…No, it’s not that. I don’t have anything I’m worried about. I just can’t sleep, that’s all.”

But instead of asking Tae-jun those questions, Chaewon simply gave a small smile and offered a vague reply.

He didn’t yet have the courage to ask Su-ha about these things outright, but at the same time, he didn’t want answers from any guide other than him.

Even if he were to hear something from Tae-jun, it wouldn’t be Su-ha’s heart.

In the end, any answer that held no real meaning for his relationship with Su-ha wasn’t worth hearing just for the sake of momentary comfort.

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

Instead, Chaewon expressed his gratitude for Tae-jun’s kindness in looking out for him.

The measured distance in his words left a faint bitterness in Tae-jun’s chest, something Chaewon, of course, did not realize.

“…Is it because of Guide Jin Su-ha?”

Rather than stepping back quietly, Tae-jun found himself blurting out that name.

Jin Su-ha.

The name that irritated him most these days.

Rumors had already spread throughout the Center that Su-ha had been forced into pairing with Chaewon and had treated him coldly because of it.

Ever since Tae-jun began taking an interest in Chaewon, he had asked around about the two of them.

According to one member of the management team who had observed Chaewon’s training, there had even been a time when Su-ha coldly pressed him on while he was coughing up blood in the training room.

Recently, whenever Tae-jun saw them together in the physical training room, Su-ha’s attitude did seem to have changed.

But the fact that Su-ha wanted to become Min I-hyeon’s guide likely hadn’t changed at all.

And Tae-jun was certain that must have affected Chaewon’s insomnia.

At the question, Chaewon looked flustered and answered hastily.

“No. Why would it be because of Su-ha…? There’s nothing, nothing at all, for me to worry about because of him.”

His stumbling words and excessive fluster made it obvious to anyone that it was indeed about Su-ha.

From Chaewon’s perspective, everything ultimately did connect back to Su-ha, so the question had struck the mark.

But Tae-jun interpreted that reaction entirely differently.

As if confirming his suspicions, he added gently,

“…It’s just that Guide Jin Su-ha could go to Team Leader Min at any time, right? That’s what’s making things complicated for you, isn’t it?”

At those words, Chaewon’s large eyes widened as he stared blankly at Tae-jun.

It was true his heart had been in turmoil over Su-ha all evening, but he suddenly realized the reason Tae-jun mentioned had never once crossed his mind.

Until not long ago, every moment he saw Su-ha, he had tried to help him break free and do as he wished as soon as possible.

Strangely enough, now those days felt impossibly distant.

“That…”

Chaewon steadied his breathing and spoke carefully.

“That’s something Su-ha has to decide. And in the first place, I’m the one who suddenly intruded into the situation. I don’t think it’s my place to say anything about it.”

Whatever the topic, he didn’t want to talk about the most important matter of Su-ha’s life in his absence.

“I really appreciate you thinking of me… But it’s truly not like that, so you don’t need to worry.”

Chaewon’s tone remained gentle, but the clear boundary in his words made Tae-jun finally realize he had overstepped.

He quickly retreated.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude…”

“Yes. I know you were just concerned about me.”

He wasn’t angry at Tae-jun, he simply wanted to be respectful toward Su-ha.

So Chaewon smiled softly, the corners of his eyes curving, to keep Tae-jun from feeling overly guilty.

Tae-jun returned the smile and rose to his feet.

“…Then I won’t disturb you any longer. It’s late, so you should head in and rest.”

“Okay. You too, get home safely.”

Chaewon stood as well and gave a polite farewell.

Smiling faintly at that courteous attitude, Tae-jun turned and took a few steps away.

Then, as if recalling something, he turned back to look at Chaewon and spoke again.

“There’s still something I want to say.”

“…?”

“You were paired up without regard for your own will too, weren’t you?”

At that, Chaewon let out a small, startled sound.

Although he too had been paired by order from above rather than by choice, he had never once considered that fact.

The words felt strangely unfamiliar.

Tae-jun continued.

“So the opportunity to choose isn’t only for Guide Jin Su-ha. It’s equally yours as well.”

“…”

“I hope you don’t forget that.”

‘And that I’m within the range of choices you can make as well.’

Tae-jun couldn’t bring himself to say those final words and simply turned away.

If he said more, his intentions would become painfully obvious.

Taking comfort in the expression on Chaewon’s face, one of someone who had just realized something important, Tae-jun slowly walked back toward the dormitory.

Earnestly hoping that tonight might become the starting point between them.

****

“Oh, Chaewon!”

“Eunho, hello!”

On his way alone to the physical training room, Chaewon spotted Eunho approaching from afar, waving cheerfully.

He returned the greeting with a bright smile.

Eunho walked quickly up to him and examined his face with a worried look.

“Are you feeling sick?”

“Huh? No, I’m fine…”

“No, your complexion doesn’t look good.”

At that, Chaewon let out a short sound of realization.

That morning, he had been startled by how pale he looked in the mirror.

He had barely slept at all, practically staying up through the night.

His condition wasn’t actually that bad, but he could understand why Eunho would worry just by looking at his face.

With an awkward expression, Chaewon lightly rubbed his cheek.

“I’m not sick. I just didn’t get much sleep.”

“Why not? Did you overdo it yesterday?”

He had meant it casually, but Eunho’s expression only grew more serious.

He looked ready to drag Chaewon straight to the infirmary, and Chaewon hurried to stop him.

“No, no. After training yesterday, I fell asleep… but I didn’t wake up until evening. So I couldn’t really sleep at night. That’s all.”

“…That’s really all? You weren’t in pain or anything?”

“Really, I wasn’t. Actually, yesterday’s guiding was… the guiding was so effective that I feel pretty good.”

The moment the word “guiding” left his lips, the memory of kissing Su-ha surfaced in his mind, making him falter briefly before finishing as if it were nothing.

Only then did Eunho look slightly reassured.

But soon, as if recalling something, he glanced around Chaewon and asked,

“By the way, where’s Su-ha?”

“Ah…”

“He’s been glued to your side all day lately. Where’d he go?”

It was true.

Despite once being the one who made Chaewon suffer the most, even as his guide, Su-ha had, at some point, begun staying by his side as if that had never happened.

Every time Eunho saw that, he felt a faint urge to demand why Su-ha had been so cruel before if he could act this well now.

But since the two seemed to be getting along fine, he held back.

Chaewon answered,

“Team Leader Woo asked to see him for a moment. He told me to head to the training room first.”

“Ah, Team Leader Woo…”

Eunho’s expression stiffened slightly.

He could guess why Ye-seon might have called Su-ha.

Not missing that brief hesitation, Chaewon looked at him and asked,

“…Is something going on?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Nothing like that… He probably just wanted to hear more details about your condition after yesterday’s training.”

“Hmm…”

Even with that answer, Chaewon still looked thoughtful.

If it were truly about his condition, shouldn’t both of them have been called?

Until a moment ago, he had thought nothing of it, assuming Team Leader Woo had something to discuss with Su-ha.

But seeing Eunho’s reaction, he couldn’t help wondering if it was something else.

“Chaewon…?”

Eunho called him carefully when he remained silent.

Lifting his lowered gaze, Chaewon looked back at him and smiled as if nothing were wrong.

“Ah, then I’ll head to training now.”

With his voice light again, Eunho finally smiled comfortably and nodded.

“Okay. You didn’t sleep, so don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I won’t. Thanks, Eunho. See you later.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you at the checkup.”

After saying goodbye, Chaewon watched Eunho’s retreating figure for a moment.

There were things he wanted to ask.

But judging by Eunho’s reaction, it didn’t seem like something he could easily speak about.

And Chaewon had no desire to put him in a difficult position.

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