PRT | Chapter 1.9

He continued the guiding with an impudent attitude, washing away the accumulated fatigue while making Heeseo’s heart heavier. Someone known for being picky wouldn’t give guiding without reason, especially not once, but in this situation.

“Why are you giving me guiding? It’s not just out of kindness, right?”

“You’re perceptive. Or maybe Kim Heeseo is suspicious too.”

“…”

“Think whatever you want.”

When Heeseo was about to counter the irresponsible answer, his smartwatch beeped. It was a notification for scheduled training. Since Seo Yigyeom was wearing the watch, he could see the details too. After a few minutes of silence, Seo Yigyeom finally let go of his hand.

“…Thank you.”

Despite the confusion, gratitude was genuine, and he thanked him. Seo Yigyeom’s expression softened slightly. Heeseo felt his body lighten and stood up.

“I think I should go now.”

“Yes, let’s go. Lead the way.”

“What?”

“I said lead the way.”

“Why?”

“I don’t feel the need to explain everything to Kim Heeseo.”

Though it felt like an overbearing claim, there was no room for rebuttal. Unable to find a proper response, Heeseo led Seo Yigyeom to the training room.

“Hello.”

“Today, just do… Gasp.”

The trainer, who usually just checked attendance, widened his eyes. Seo Yigyeom didn’t care if he was greeted or not, only scanning the room with a face devoid of interest, casting a dry look.

Heeseo glanced at him before stepping through the transparent glass. Why did he follow him here…? Already confused, his consciousness blurred under Seo Yigyeom’s gaze, but he tried his best to ignore it.

Ignoring the trainer who was hovering around more than usual, he focused on drawing out his ability, meticulously assembling his senses, mindful of every nerve and cell.

Crack!

The space distorted with a loud sound the next moment. His ability manifested more perfectly than ever before, much like when he faced Seo Yigyeom behind the school at sunset.

“Ah…”

Heeseo marveled at what he had done, his breath catching briefly before resuming. His wide-open eyes blinked slowly. The bright eyes that had been watching turned to look elsewhere.

Heeseo, beyond the awkwardly clapping trainer, looked at Seo Yigyeom standing tall. For some unknown reason, his gaze was directed there, and he found himself trapped in Seo Yigyeom’s already lingering gaze.

How long did they look at each other? Feeling suffocated, just as he thought, Seo Yigyeom turned away without hesitation and left the training room. Heeseo stared blankly at the now empty spot.

…He seemed to be smiling just now.

“…”

The last Seo Yigyeom he saw was smiling, like someone who had obtained what they wanted.

The scent of Seo Yigyeom that remained in the space felt like it was enveloping him.

* * *

Harsh cold kept coming one after another.

It felt like each day was climbing over rough, rugged ground. The biting wind added another layer of exhaustion. Kim Heeseo Heeseo turned his once pale cheeks red every day as he ran along the path laid out before him. His round nose tip and small ears had no time to regain their color.

The destination he aimed for was not visible at all, but that was okay. He could endure it because he had prepared himself for it. Just occasionally, his heart felt cold. The chilly wind seemed to reach deep inside him, making him sniffle for no reason.

At the end of days that were unbearably sad, Heeseo deliberately waited for tomorrow. Thinking that if another day passed and the sadness washed away, he might find the energy to struggle with all his might.

“…”

In the meantime, a new habit had formed – seeking out an empty training room. He created his own solitary space and whenever he found the time, he would test out his abilities. Even if it was an unwanted power, being able to wield it as he wished was quite appealing. It also meant he had gained the strength to protect himself.

Heeseo finally let go of the lingering resentment he couldn’t erase today. He accepted himself as an esper, becoming one with the others who filled this place, much like a vast cage.

After meeting Seo Yigyeom, his abilities, which had been working well for days, stopped listening after some time passed. It seemed to be related to Yigyeom’s guiding. Of course, this was just a guess. He had never shown such a reaction when guided by anyone else, though no one had given him a proper guiding effect before.

The question remained, but there was no way to find an answer. Yigyeom probably wouldn’t answer willingly, nor did Heeseo want to face him.

Heeseo’s feelings towards Yigyeom were complicated. Thankful yet uncomfortable, fearful yet unconsciously drawn to him.

He didn’t know why it was like this. Was it because this was the first proper guiding he’d experienced, making him instinctively seek it out? Or perhaps because Yigyeom was the only one in the headquarters who had helped him, or because he was the first to reach out?

“It’s so annoying.”

The prominent emotion was anger. Heeseo, muttering this softly, frowned unwittingly. It was because of this guy who always acted on his own that he even had dreams about him. Even in moments without Yigyeom, he found himself thinking of him.

“…”

In a world that was nothing but a dream, Heeseo went to Yigyeom’s office to threaten him. Ridiculously, in that dream, he used his powers on him to ask for help. Perhaps Yigyeom might be the most dangerous person here.

He didn’t know what expression Yigyeom had in that subconscious mimicry of reality. All that remained was the image of red lips drawing an arc beyond a space darkened without a speck of light.

“You’ve come to find me yourself.”

Was it a voice that matched the serene, settled night?

“Why don’t you try acting cute?”

“…”

“Perhaps my heart might move.”

Though it felt strangely realistic, it was an empty dream because he had no intention of threatening Yigyeom. There was no way threats or his abilities would work on him anyway.

Exhausted from his powers not coming out anymore, Heeseo sat down at the desk. The world outside the window beside him was gloomy, dark as if rain would pour down any moment.

Was it because there was no light in the weather? The headquarters felt particularly desolate today. With fewer people, it seemed twice as empty. In the late afternoon, he had accidentally seen Yigyeom heading outside. Looking like his mood had hit rock bottom, he disappeared with an ominous air.

Threatening someone like that? No way it would work.

Feeling a chill for no reason, Heeseo stayed holed up here, continuing his training. Before he knew it, night had fully descended outside. With the windows rattling from the gust and feeling drained, it seemed like this was the end of his training for the day.

After tidying up the disorganized space, he stepped outside only for a terrifyingly loud thunder to strike, illuminating the outside. At that very moment, all the lights inside the building went out. Heeseo, startled, gasped for breath.

“What’s this…?”

A small voice echoed back through the space. Being such a remote place, there was no bustling noise. Only Heeseo was there, fumbling in the darkness, feeling around the walls. He had left his phone in the office, making things pretty inconvenient.

Being cut off from sight was more unsettling than he thought. For Heeseo, whose night vision was poor, it was as good as having his feet bound. He swallowed hard, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness by looking out the window.

Tap, a sound like a drop of water falling on the ground where water had pooled came then.

Someone’s light humming brushed against his ears. With his gaze fixed outside the window, Heeseo froze as if turned to stone. Beyond the invisible window, behind him, the scent of someone he had smelled before seemed to pass by.

“…”

The stench mixed with a horrifying smell of burnt things. It was the trace of that day he could never forget.

The real culprit.

It felt like all his senses had stopped. For a moment, he even forgot how to breathe, coughing out his blocked breath.

“Excuse me.”

In an instant, his composure crumbled. Heeseo, pale with fear, stepped forward without thinking, like someone who couldn’t make sense of things, into the path where nothing was visible.

“Excuse me!”

His pathetically trembling voice echoed through the empty hallway. Heeseo, holding his eyelids that felt like they were falling shut, looked around. Just managing to capture the outline of the space, he eventually tripped over something with a loud crash.

“.. Excuse me!”

There was no time to feel pain. “Ah,” Heeseo let out a sigh like a scream, trembling finely. He wanted to shout and grab hold of the person, but he didn’t even know his name.

Where does this path lead? Was there CCTV here? Who’s outside? What about security? His thoughts were a chaotic mess. Heeseo, awkwardly standing up, did his best to get outside.

“…”

When he finally stepped out, the outside was silent. Only the distant streetlamp blinked weakly, casting long, stark shadows beneath it, in stark contrast to Heeseo’s pale, almost collapsing face.

Confirming that the power inside the building was back on, he immediately went to the office. Beyond the handle he desperately turned was Ha Jaewon Ha Jaewon. Without time to think about his own appearance, Heeseo approached him.

“Please help me.”

Jaewon, who had been looking at documents, stopped. His gaze towards Heeseo was as refined as ever.

“The real culprit was here. It smelled exactly the same. I can’t check the records by myself… Please help me just this once. I beg you.”

His voice was hoarse like his throat was being squeezed. His clenched fists belied his trembling body. On the other hand, Jaewon’s response was just cold. He looked puzzled, frowning slightly.

“Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

His voice, after a brief silence as if continuing his thoughts, was also emotionless.

“The real culprit.”

The two emotionless syllables fell like a death sentence.

“The true culprit of that incident is Esper Kim Heeseo. All the evidence says so, and you should know it too.”

“…”

“Even if there was a mistake, would it be worth it?”

“… Worth it?”

The talk of worth chilled his blood. Framed unjustly as a killer, and now talking about worth? The pent-up emotions burst like an egg.

“I… because of that incident, every day is a mess. You know this, Team Leader. You’ve turned a blind eye even though you knew.”

Just looking at his treatment in Team 1 was enough. Was it a coincidence that he was late or absent for every meeting? Was it a coincidence that he always ate alone because no one would eat with him?

“I’m not asking you to catch the real culprit. Just check the video room records once. That’s not even hard for the Team Leader, right?”

“Whatever Esper Kim Heeseo expects from me, don’t.”

“…”

“We don’t have the luxury to consider Esper Kim Heeseo. There’s no reason for it. If you’re done, leave.”

How to define the feeling at that moment? It felt like all strength drained from his body. It was more accurate to say his will vanished. Heeseo, feeling utterly hopeless, staggered out.

His trembling body wouldn’t stop. He kept shrinking inward as he moved forward. While walking with his mind half gone, he suddenly felt a strong grip pulling him, banging him into a wall.

“Ugh.”