GOL Ch 13

“I-It’s, it’s embarrassing…”

“Am I embarrassing you?”

The end of his voice cracked coldly, like the glaciers of the Arctic.

“No! It’s not that, it’s just that if I say we’re dating, people will ask questions and stuff…”

“Is that so embarrassing?”

I quickly nodded. Joo Seunghyuk chuckled and rubbed my cheek.

“Lee Yeonsoo, you’re such a baby.”

Being called a baby by someone younger than me wasn’t unpleasant at all.

I was just relieved that the chilling mana that had been constricting my body had disappeared.

“Class is over, right?”

“Yes.”

Even as I answered, I wondered how Joo Seunghyuk knew my schedule.

Did he check my schedule that night while arbitrarily saving my number in his phone?

I wanted to ask, but I kept my mouth shut.

In mystery novels, supporting characters who find clues to the case often get killed by the culprit for showing off their knowledge.

This place was a world of dark, obsessive confinement, several times more dangerous than a mystery novel.

Provoking a BL’s obsessive male lead is a hundred times more dangerous than provoking the true culprit in a mystery.

“Then shall we go on a date?”

“Yes.”

༺♛༻

We went to a restaurant called “Pungyeon,” located a short distance from the school.

It was one of the most famous restaurants in Seoul, and it was said that reservations had to be made a year in advance.

Actually, as an S-rank Guide, I was used to high-end restaurants.

I often had opportunities to meet with high-ranking people, and it was common for them to suggest grabbing a meal at a nearby restaurant, only for it to turn out to be a hotel restaurant.

So, I had been to almost all the famous places, but I had never been here.

We followed the waiter’s guidance and entered a private room.

“The atmosphere is nice.”

“I originally wanted to come the day before yesterday, but I postponed it to today because you said you were sick.”

It seems reservations aren’t as difficult as rumored, no, it must be possible because he’s Joo Seunghyuk, the youngest son of Sunghan Group and an S-rank among S-ranks.

Actually, my concern right now wasn’t the atmosphere or the taste of the food, but the price.

I couldn’t help but accept the clothes this morning, but I didn’t want to be indebted to the obsessive male lead any further.

Knowing that Lee Yeonsoo in the original story died tragically after abusing Joo Seunghyuk’s wealth and power as if they were his own, how could I do something similar?

But the moment I saw the menu, I realized. This wasn’t a price where splitting the bill was possible.

The cheapest item on the menu, cola, was 50,000 won.

Is there gold in the cola? Is it infused with mana? Is it some kind of potion?

It was the most expensive cola I had ever seen.

Unlike me, who was in a state of panic, Joo Seunghyuk smiled brightly and pointed to an incredibly expensive course meal.

“This course is the best here.”

“Okay. Then let’s have that…”

I nodded blankly, looking at the numbers written behind it.

After ordering, Joo Seunghyuk reached out and took my hand.

“I missed you.”

We were apart for a few hours?

It’s only been about three hours since he dropped me off at the dorm? I was dumbfounded, but my mouth instinctively found a way to survive.

“Me too…”

The corners of Joo Seunghyuk’s mouth curved upwards. Fortunately, he seemed to like my answer.

“School is such a bother. Shall we skip school?”

I gulped.

Did I enter a dating simulation game instead of a novel?

As soon as I managed to give a single answer, as if I were in a dating simulation game with no choices, an even more difficult question flew at me.

Moreover, Joo Seunghyuk was originally a habitual confiner, and he had a history of confining Kim Jun for the entire summer break.

I have to answer carefully here.

“But attendance is important. Many professors don’t give credit if attendance is low.”

“Are you worried about your grades?”

“Well, of course.”

“You’re so diligent.”

Was it a compliment, or was he being sarcastic about my clumsy lie?

High-ranking espers usually weren’t interested in grades. They already had their affiliations decided before entering school, and with their ranks alone, countless places would be begging them to join, so there was no need to be concerned about grades.

At the Supernatural Ability Academy, an A-rank Guide with all Fs was much more valuable than a B-rank Guide with all A+s.

So, even if I, an S-rank, was concerned about grades, it would sound like a clumsy excuse.

“Since I’m attending anyway, it’s better to get good grades. Besides, it’s not my money; it’s taxpayer money, so I have to work hard.”

Tuition was waived for all students at the Supernatural Ability Academy. Dormitory and meals were also free.

“I’ve never seen anyone care about that.”

“Haha. Really?”

I smiled as gently as possible. I wanted to appear as a model student genuinely concerned about taxes.

“Then shall we blow it up?”

“What?”

“If I destroy a building or two, the school will close, right?”

“…”

Crazy bastard. He’s definitely not sane.

Not wanting to be investigated as an accomplice in destroying the director’s office, I tried to persuade Joo Seunghyuk as rationally as possible.

“What if someone gets hurt if you do that?”

“Is it okay to destroy it if no one gets hurt?”

Crazy bastard.

“The building was also built with taxpayer money.”

“I’ll pay for it. Whatever.”

He’s a real lunatic.

“Don’t do that. What if you go to jail?”

I tightly clasped his hands.

Obsessive male lead-nim, please, I beg you, don’t cause any major incidents. Don’t cause any trouble because of me. I just want to live quietly.

“That’s true.”

Fortunately, he seemed convinced. Even the obsessive male lead who fears nothing in this world dislikes prison.

“If I have to deal with a bothersome investigation, the time I spend with you will decrease.”

“…”

“I don’t want to be separated from you for even a second.”

“…”

That’s the scariest thing I’ve heard today.

“You think so too, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, feeling his chilling gaze. Joo Seunghyuk smiled and intertwined his fingers with mine.

“It’s amazing every time I touch you. You’re a Guide, but I don’t feel any mana.”

I completely blocked the flow of mana when I wasn’t guiding. This was a unique ability that only I possessed.

“Do you want to guide?”

Joo Seunghyuk shook his head.

“No. If I do it now, I think I’ll get too excited. It wouldn’t be good to get any more excited here.”

“…”

That means he’s already excited!

I was startled and pulled my hand away.

I unknowingly shook off the obsessive male lead’s touch. I regretted it instantly, but thankfully, the door opened and the food arrived.

“Looks delicious.”

It wasn’t just a polite remark; it truly looked appetizing. The dishes were neat and elegant, and the aroma was wonderful.

I put aside my fear of the obsessive male lead for a moment and tasted the food.

“Wow.”

A sound of admiration escaped my lips the moment I ate it.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes. It’s incredibly delicious.”

It was truly worth waiting a year for.

Actually, after seeing the price of the cola, I thought the famous chef or whoever it was must be a total rip-off, but now that the food tastes this good, I’ve changed my mind.

This wasn’t just food; it was art. It’s the best food I’ve ever had.

Perhaps the chef set the price of cola at 50,000 won so that people wouldn’t ruin their palates with carbonated drinks while enjoying such exquisite cuisine?

It wasn’t about greed; he didn’t intend to sell it at all. Such a great chef wouldn’t charge 50,000 won for cola just to make a huge profit.

As I continued to express my admiration for the taste that made me want to defend even the price of cola, Joo Seunghyuk breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s a relief.”

“Huh?”

“It’s our first date. I worried a lot about where to go. I’m so glad you like it.”

“…”

Joo Seunghyuk’s face flushed slightly. His shy demeanor felt so innocent that it gave me a strange feeling.

“I like it. It’s really delicious. I could eat this every day.”

“I’ll let you eat it every day.”

“Oh, no! I didn’t mean it like that.”

He smiled without answering. This guy, he’s not thinking of kidnapping the chef, is he?

“You should eat a variety of foods considering nutritional balance. It’s good to eat Korean, Western, Chinese, and Japanese food in rotation.”

“Okay. Then tell me when you want to eat it.”

“Okay. I will.”

“Eat quickly.”

“You too.”

“Yes.”

Joo Seunghyuk stared intently at my face throughout the meal.

Feeling his intense gaze, which made it burdensome to eat, I clearly realized one thing.

Whether Joo Seunghyuk truly valued that night’s encounter, whether he was trying to avenge what happened seven years ago, or whether there was another reason, he didn’t seem to intend to end our relationship as a one-night stand.

In the original story, Joo Seunghyuk had relationships with many people. Mostly for guiding purposes, but also simply to satisfy his desires or to anger Lee Yeonsoo.

Even now, there were countless rumors about Joo Seunghyuk sleeping with Guides. So I thought his interest in me was also for mockery or brief amusement. I hoped so.

Even after that night, when I felt signs that I might have taken the main character’s position, I tried to ignore them.

But I couldn’t do that anymore. I decided to accept reality.

Joo Seunghyuk was fixated on me. Currently, the obsessive male lead’s obsession was directed at me.

It was a desperate situation where I might be trapped in a cozy trash can, but there was still a glimmer of hope.

“Seunghyuk-ah.”

“Say it again.”

“Huh?”

“Call my name again.”

Did I say something wrong? I was anxious, but I carefully called his name again.

“…Seunghyuk-ah.”

“I like it when you call me.”

His eyes crinkled softly. Seeing his gentle smile, my heart fluttered strangely again.

But I shouldn’t be fooled by that expression.

This guy was an obsessive male lead whose daily life was violence, hobby was confinement, and specialty was murder. I pulled myself together, remembering Joo Seunghyuk’s atrocities from the original story.