WTSG 21

The Jealousy Between You and Me (3)

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“Jealousy. Towards your past Exclusive Guide.”05011b6240d368fc

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Tae Ijae’swords sent KangJunwoo’sheart into a frenzy, 97c8441a32 pounding wildly.bff25189f9038ae2

A fleeting thought—Could it be? Could he actually…—mingled with the thundering of 1225b594da his heart, leading him to 7669b08391 the delusion that Tae Ijae 944f5f7dc9 might genuinely like him.fbc089ee1d0d1435

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Yes, a delusion.9dafe458953cc0bb

That’s all it was.387932857c2e9fa1

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“It’snot the same as being 73c437dfdf selfish.I think it’s just because I’m kind ofa screwed-up person.”99e540ae7d4d2932

“Jeal…ousy?”b60e11c61a47cb6a

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“Yeah.”6434a87323714013

Kang Junwoo’sbrow furrowed slightly at TaeIjae’sresolute answer.04b9f45be8d8f19a

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Wetting his lower lip with f0dd134ffb his tongue, he set his b99e71f7a4 beer can on the table 1d08900d5b and calledout, “Tae Ijae-ssi.”6ae1a6f1c431d76d

“Hm?”d9950629a1d519fe

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“Do you even know what 44c4aeaccd jealousyreally means?”8b3a5ac2f642ed52

At Kang Junwoo’squestion, Tae Ijae picked up c6b7bb8806 his phone.c71015c1d977cad8

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He had a vague 394e5a7dda idea but lacked the b4be53c81a knowledge to articulate it da02ffa919 clearly.184035714786e0b1

Opening a dictionary app, he dbef613d20 began reading the search results aba06549ea aloud.f5a5fa1b5937e2dc

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“An emotion of envying 1a3d542abd someone else, or an c994c9cfef intense hatred or hostility 08818e71be stemming from it?”fe3c65bbbfc06e3d

“Don’tread the dictionary,” Kang Junwoo said, looking 7a3102dfb8 at him with exasperation.05dc285b44362ee1

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“I kinda get it.”88abb9421ff65179

“If you know, 4418c20488 then you should 3055fd459a understand.It’snot just a feelingthat comesfrom having a screwed-up personality.”d1d1c80150f16a4c

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At Kang Junwoo’swords, Tae Ijae bd6cf81ef9 pondered the dictionary d2434c78da definition of jealousyonce more.Envying others, intense hatred or d224bd5b85 hostility. TaeIjae’s eyebrows rose.20133b3a9e2c7086

“So you’re saying I’menvious of your former eb41406621 Exclusive Guide? That I feel intense 81ea08c011 hatred or hostility toward 27be2b06e9 them? Why would I?”b0c572a2e48dc1d3

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“You’re asking me?”656a17ecad72dad3

“Who else would I ask?”071d807894ab0294

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“What?”3d89c6e111228295

“Huh?”1090322a27389eb7

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Kang Junwoo’sbrows knitted together as the b66d99175c conversation circled back on itself feb662895c like a broken record.44c0f0d25f6d99cb

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“Jealousy is what you feel 4a0cbc6833 when someone you love shows ec4d9d27e3 interest in or gets involved 00292d1564 with someone else.”8d960d4dfbbe9acf

“And?”b3d37f4e365a7be0

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“So if you’rejealous of my past 92243ba938 Exclusive Guide,that means you love me. Don’t you get it?”2ceee9c125dcd54c

“…”50e0f9db46f32e2e

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Tae Ijae’seyes widened at KangJunwoo’s words.a51697ebb5954355

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“Love? Me? Love you?”b859336907929af0

He let out a scoff f076f920eb as if the idea were d1591f5d50 absurd.1eea6078c9f96d8c

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Kang Junwoo’sheart ached, but he forced 2bbe9cb1f2 himself to act unaffected.d371cefa6aa04da2

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“Right. It doesn’tmake sense, does it?”04a9e2e655ff21fa

“Obviously.”6fa76605c8c44599

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“So it also doesn’tmake sense for 23a797e5d0 you to be 2277afcaf6 jealous of my e1cc060542 past Exclusive Guide.”ecb10217cfa25cfe

Tae Ijae stared at 4479888a2f him intently.91bdc369b594bce2

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He was certain it wasn’t love. No, it couldn’t be love.17e179a13b2f3aa2

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He’dnever had any 03ff06f5cd intention of getting 86a7cfda03 involved with a 1de8018a80 Guide, and thatwasn’t going to change. If it weren’t for the Siren’s Tear, he wouldn’t evenhave a reason to b877a00608 cross paths with Kang f163eda537 Junwoo.6676801d49537be1

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Sure, he’d noticed Kang Junwoo’s voice from time to time—it was pleasant, andhe’dbeen vaguely aware of him. But that was it.He’dnever sought him out 864c973d93 partly because hedidn’t want to gettangled up with a Guide.Though, to be fair,he felt the same 6a4f79fee9 way about anyone else, too.3d449339b49ea8f9

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He’dalways been repelled by 327669f606 the idea of romance 2ea3d5d6d1 itself.19bcc32e70e6de90

So there was no wayhe’dsuddenly fallen in fd8d23ab2a love with him 0146cde609 now.0b3f9bce6f013e90

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Yet, as he gazed at d321519a12 KangJunwoo’slips—lips he still wanted 47550f5ddc to kiss—Tae Ijae muttered 60c902decc without thinking, “Right. It can’t be love. But it’s weird.”ce357c3c267cfd25

The careless remark made KangJunwoo’sheart plummet, though hedidn’t let it show.63c8b34b45df8bff

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He knew Tae Ijaedidn’tlike him, and he b19cc67418 had no intention of 8f6711d430 pursuing a relationship with 75fd972f51 him either.f3528084d299ff4f

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In the end, theywouldn’t do anything. He wouldn’t become Tae Ijae’sExclusive Guide.22ec844f4f69484a

Having reached that conclusion, Kang d0ba9a6299 Junwoo downed the rest of 65dc419b3c his beer in one go, 247f9406b4 letting out a long, relieved 339373a3b7 sigh.4cdc5285f21d88b1

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Crushing the empty can in 74cc611465 his hand, he said, “Whatever. It’s no big deal. Justa passing delusion, probably.Don’tworry about it.I’mnot going to d10a9ed73a fall for you, 737f3a5a2d andyou’re not going to fall for me.”b1a3741941122abd

Tae Ijae’sexpression stiffened subtly at KangJunwoo’swords, but Kang Junwoodidn’t notice.fe1014107d235166

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Standing up, he flashed Tae 810f4ba6f6 Ijae a smile.598c560dcf01a91d

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“I’mheading to bed.Don’t drink too much.”49117f4b298c3166

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***Esther’s Fund***f115eadf0891a43d

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From the next day 6522750f51 onward, KangJunwoo’sattitude toward Tae Ijae changed 21a7bbace4 noticeably.bd2488bddb218bd3

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He was almost stiffly professional, 8424cff3a5 speaking only about work and 6b049fc721 avoiding eye contactentirely—something they’d done often before.a93dbfc9aaa6c345

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Tae Ijae felt 2ce0149471 a pang of 230a66f113 bitterness at KangJunwoo’ssudden coldness, but itwasn’tlike he could bring 706f4162cb it up.05a99b456a488d5a

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How do you ask aperfectlyprofessional colleague whythey’reavoiding your gaze these days?55c2ef3cce0f81a0

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At least they had Habi fb95ea9bf1 as apoint of connection, so their conversations continued after work—but only about Habi. Beyond that, there 2ab6c93f57 was little else 5d90184e0b to say.de616d66d947b141

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Tae Ijae couldn’t help feeling bothhurt and relieved by KangJunwoo’sapparent attempt to draw 525b5e1f03 a clear line.ae30644126ced804

This ambiguous, stuck situation 692f086fda had been weighing on 5959e0ed3f him, so it was 3c6a509554 almost helpful that Kang 327248a5cb Junwoo was taking control.8f324cb6d7aa2939

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It was Tae Ijae himselfwho’dbeen spooked by his 71e2c101ba growing feelings, fearing thatwithout some restraint,things could spiral into something 194bf088b7 even messier.69ed86c3831535a5

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But to get the Siren’sTear, he needed to aef070c3d7 become KangJunwoo’sExclusive Esper, which meant he 57942ef582 had to keep tempting him ba4787a011 emotionally. Yet, hecouldn’tafford to fall for hisown seduction. He’drealized by now that b0af40594d staying sharp on his 8969dd988e ownwasn’t enough.6591dfd87b417abe

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So he didn’t call out Kang Junwoo’schanged behavior.2207a0e6e57ce3d4

Kang Junwoo, for his part, 79008c4c07 steeled himself to conserve his 4fbf2a38b6 emotions toward Tae Ijae until 87cc690470 their month-long Pair arrangement ended.be685aef37de8c70

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But that resolve crumbled faster f640ddeb4f than he expected.8de416d6bbf4e731

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It happened on 65f198d209 the day of 455bdcf7d0 the center-wide department 06e73aefc0 dinner.803ab6c618ef3a8c

The event doubled 9116ef3346 as a welcome 8827dc7846 party for the 18cb87365c Guides returning from c15fdf861a supporting Division 3.ee5d07640944bc61

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Among them was a8e8c44e7e Ban Jiho, the b96dceefce grandson of the abf96c61c8 Ability ManagementCenter’schairman. As an A-rank Guide nearly 7f80d139d8 on par with S-rank, his b3310d7b2d return made the partyparticularly lively.02da2cf70f6875c5

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But Ban Jiho himself was ac76a0a5a3 even livelier.274d1cbe7a4ad1b5

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The momenthe heard Tae Ijae had ccd5359ec2 a temporary Pair, Ban Jiho 2e64d28481 made a beeline for him.e4c01d02ad315102

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Kang Junwoo, who’dlater learned that 7152cfc742 it was Ban ef30e661c2 Jihowho’dlocked Tae Ijae on 224efa1716 the annex terrace, watched 77e8efa239 as Ban Jiho confronted 3c544db299 Tae Ijae, demanding to 20fbdccc14 know whyhe’d taken a Pair.51c1f18f2e25b65c

Ban Jiho was striking, 26f30975bd the kind of manwho’deasily earn the label “beautiful.”4eefad6999a3c93a

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Golden-blonde hair, porcelain skin, f3ef902469 and lips so red cbb7c1fa39 they looked likethey’d beentinted raised questions about d17d59cf1e whether he wasreallythe same gender.a051ac2136e21cf9

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His lean, almost delicate framewas drapedin a knit sweater that c0a134a34b matched his hair and pretty 64d0726db4 face, adding to his charm.7818e8277d75fdc2

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With a face that demanded f7ca7e2421 a second glance, Ban Jiho 48c0ffb13f stared stubbornly at Tae Ijae, and Kang Junwoo couldn’tshake the feeling that hewouldn’tgive up on Tae 5552dcf9e0 Ijae anytime soon.049db637910eed17

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“You said you didn’tneed a Guide. That youwouldn’t do it.”4910fb06b769de96

Ban Jiho’sred lips moved.d94d6c38b829c8cb

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“So?”f7f0773b70ae0649

“Why’dyou take a Pair?”3109c90bd1e86130

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Their eyes locked.2c13c9c0651e034a

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Tae Ijae broke the 1c678424af brief silence first.5e79af41f2bd652b

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“None of your business.”e533e03ea13c4bf4

“None of my business? After all the timesI’vemade a move on you, deb0f79427 you go and do this 46efbaae4e whileI’m gone—”3638ce95ca304c17

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“Ban Jiho.”b0badd8c66c7be20

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Tae Ijae’sstern tone cut him off, 92f39a1e1d and BanJiho’s face paled for a moment.cfa9093b67e2d446

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“Know your limits. Cross the line like c780066233 you did before, and 282909e478 itwon’tjust be your 274806cdac wrist next time.”01a3ad8008c045a5

Ban Jiho instinctively grabbed d58b7f45a1 his left wrist at 027f17a890 the threatening edge in fc0e457504 TaeIjae’s voice.43ea3f77045e6a4c

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It had been a mistake 9ee14889c9 to lock Tae Ijae on b8df08be71 the terrace during thecenter’sfounding anniversary, intending to seduce 121f7a3e5a him.8d2ded30f9b99a6a

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Before he could even d28abaa2e3 start, someone had let 85a936619e Tae Ijae out. The next day, at 2e4e8ef1d5 the training grounds, Tae cd4ff7669f Ijae twisted BanJiho’swrist in front of everyone.d97bd3f103a29f1b

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Sure, he’dprobably trusted the 1a384f6f78 medical team on-site 94ade47a4d to handle it, but thatincident taught Ban Jiho notto recklessly provoke Tae Ijae.ebeecae4cf34fb8d

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Tae Ijae had been disciplinedfor breaking the wrist 5ebfdd0214 of an A-rank Guide 2d1f39c1e8 and thechairman’sgrandson, no questions asked. But for an SS-rank Esper, “discipline” meant a mere three days 931201228c of reflection, and even thatwas cutshort when an emergency fc20616128 summons sent him to 4cb5e07519 the field the next 9ec9101b55 day.bf21e50eb1940e74

Ban Jiho bit his 795c1b8dec lower lip, feeling a 4b5eecd27c phantom ache in his 818c5c130a healed wrist.e4e588e54fc6e3b3

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“I promised I’dnever trap you like that e8910b922e again.”8809c20743c343b3

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“Having to make 6ab3ebbc55 that promise at 9c5e373e9b all is kind 67d28f5c19 of pathetic,don’t you think?”2bb90934fd2d19f6

“…Why’d you do it?”af68458f069a07c0

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“Do what?”b1723c5a1a2b3925

“The Pair.”a6d5df9686a0d603

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Ban Jiho’seyes flicked toward Kang 61ee79ff4d Junwoo, standing at TaeIjae’s side.17c0be7859bf5e12

Kang Junwoo didn’tlike the glance, buthe’ddealt with Guideswhoopenly sized him up e64e13daa0 in the department before. By comparison, this felt almost d7e49d9cb9 tame.be1dfc0a6e72d061

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“Because I needed to.”0107cfe8ef288396

“Needed to? What,you’resuddenly accepting Guiding now?”ca859f45a65d3179

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“I’m saying it’snone of your business.”b31828f9e1f0d4dc

“I’vebeen trying so 3b56aae615 hard to be aae560d821 your Exclusive Guide, 73658b17c7 to imprint with 0c4112bf81 you—don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?!”24ca1b0d8b688e76

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“Nope, not harsh.I’ve told you how many times I’mnot doing it with you. Even a brick wall 96c2209ce8 would get it faster.”f72d9147d20e49e5

“Hey, Tae Ijae!”653006a579cf0dda

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“Call me properly. What is this, school?”0d994fc2d65351a0

“Doesn’tchange the fact thatwe’re old classmates.”23c9b99bf0147891

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“Don’tpull the classmate ca06419fe3 card at work, f440bf1bef Ban Jiho Guide.”b82338344a0dd145

“I’ll make sure you don’t get fired, so don’t worry.”5ea6fb1b7f11dede

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“You think I’m getting fired?”49c4f1755c43e3ae

“I wish you would.”4aa3d0d63ff36d77

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“Why, so you 099aab3a5a can sweet-talk your e10950e760 grandpa into sticking fc5aba68b4 me back with 8592ef1007 you?”fd7553449c15a0d2

“Exactly.”f164da19b9d397a9

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“You’veonly ever learned the worst caa1d0e733 habits.”f5d230b771f939d5

“Then let me have you.”250c046ce11b513c

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“Get lost and a60c83fc82 finish your welcome de58c95ed5 party.I’m glad you’reback in Division 1, though.”511dd724ed20968c

“Your ‘glad’ makes my heart flutter. GuessI’mstill not over you.”a41ed70275957f69

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“Yeah, you’re definitelynot over it. Get a grip already.”c8a5ab1a188f3c0d

“My time on 60b2a17df7 you is never 5bf94a932c wasted… Oh, hi.I’mBan Jiho. Kang Junwoo, right?You’re a Guide?”6f596ff41d9e97cf

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After bickering like they were 69e60d1bd3 about to fight, the two 1b010fcf9a slipped into a friendly banter 04384bf99b that left Kang Junwoostaringin disbelief. Noticing him, Ban 17ae5d7911 Jiho suddenly extended 0aeaf8cc1d a greeting.4e81d4b787207002

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Caught off guard, Kang Junwoogave a quick nod and said, “Yes.”2ecdf86ba16774c8