WTSG 26
by Luci PearlMatching Rate and Guiding (2)
Taking three times longer than usual to clean up, Tae Ijae emerged, glanced at Kang Junwoo still asleep on the bed, grabbed his phone, and stepped outside.
Staring out the window, he called Moon Taejoo.
“It’s me.”
—“Are you hurt?”
“Ribs.”
—“I’m coming now.”
“Hyung.”
—“Yeah?”
“Even when you’re unconscious, receiving guidance is painful, right?”
—“Varies by person, but for you, yeah.”
—“Yeah, you woke up vomiting, total mess.”
“Right, that’s how it was.”
—“Why?”
“Nothing. Just hurry—my ribs are busted, and it’s hard to breathe.”
—“I’m on my way.”
After finishing his call with Moon Taejoo, Tae Ijae immediately called the Esper department head. He cut straight to the point, asking if Kang Junwoo’s sample was still in the Esper department.
“Kang Junwoo’s guide sample? Of course, it’s there. He’s S-rank.”
“Run a matching rate test with my sample.”
“What? With Kang Junwoo’s guide? Are you finally considering receiving guidance?”
“Just do it and get back to me.”
Tae Ijae hung up without waiting for a reply.
There was no other explanation for his condition except that Kang Junwoo had Guided him while he was unconscious.
Kang Junwoo knew full well how painful Guiding from other Guides was for Tae Ijae, whose bloodline Imprint had been severed. Yet, if he’d Guided Tae Ijae on the brink of going berserk, it explained his current state.
Moreover, if their matching rate was over 90%, it would explain why receiving guidance wasn’t painful at all and why Kang Junwoo’s scent had become particularly pleasant since he first lost consciousness. Tae Ijae became curious about Kang Junwoo’s intentions, who had deliberately created a situation where he might be blamed.
And if Guiding from Kang Junwoo wasn’t painful, the Siren’s Tear might be irrelevant—a thought that set his heart pounding.
***Esther’s Fund***
“You’ll need about three days’ rest for your ribs to heal.”
Moon Taejoo said after finishing Tae Ijae’s treatment.
Waking just before Taejoo arrived, Kang Junwoo changed the sheets at Tae Ijae’s request and checked his condition.
As expected, Tae Ijae showed no signs of pain.
Convinced that Guiding him while unconscious caused no harm, Kang Junwoo figured he could do it whenever Tae Ijae was on the verge of going berserk.
“Don’t get hurt so bad you need medical leave—too many sick days look bad.”
Moon Taejoo said, preparing to leave.
Tae Ijae fiddled with his phone, looking bored.
“But, you.”
Moon Taejoo called out, standing with his packed bag.
Tae Ijae glanced up, and Taejoo continued.
“Are you receiving Guidance?”
Kang Junwoo reached for a water bottle in the fridge and dropped it with a thud.
Tae Ijae and Moon Taejoo’s eyes snapped to him.
“I’m not,” Tae Ijae replied indifferently, lowering his gaze back to his phone.
“But how come your eye color hasn’t changed despite everything? Did you just take the hits without using your abilities?”
“Ugh, go already. You’re annoying.”
As Tae Ijae gestured for Moon Taejoo to leave, Moon Taejoo mouthed a curse at him before turning away. Just as Taejoo was saying goodbye to Kang Junwoo, Tae Ijae’s phone rang. It was the Esper department head.
“Yes.”
“Hey, did you know?!”
“Just tell me the result.”
“It’s 98%.”
Tae Ijae’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wow, I can’t believe such a matching rate actually exists. If I’d known, I would have tested the matching rate earlier and paired you with Kang Junwoo Guide…”
Ignoring the rapid-fire words from the department head, Tae Ijae looked at Kang Junwoo. As Kang Junwoo turned back after seeing Moon Taejoo off, he met Tae Ijae’s gaze and stopped in his tracks.
“I understand, I’ll hang up now.”
After abruptly ending the call with the still-talking department head, Tae Ijae fixed his gaze on Kang Junwoo and spoke in a low, resonant voice.
“You knew?”
“…Knew what?”
“You and me—98%.”
“…! …”
“Did you know when you Guided me?”
“…!! …”
Kang Junwoo’s eyes, already wide at the mention of 98%, grew even larger at the question of whether he had guided knowingly. His gaze was filled with confusion and unease.
“Ah, I-I…”
“Try the radiation guidance.”
Kang Junwoo was taken aback by Tae Ijae’s sudden demand to perform radiation guidance on him.
“It-it might hurt if you’re awake.”
“It’s 98%. Not 90—98.”
“…”
“I didn’t even know a rate like that existed.”
“…Neither did I.”
“So try it. Let’s see if it’s really okay.”
“What if it’s painful…?”
“Then stop. It’s simple.”
“…It’s not simple.”
“Why’s stopping hard?”
“…What if I do radiation guidance now, and it hurts you? What if I Guided you unconscious, and it’s just as painful when you wake up?”
“…”
“Luckily, Guiding you while you’re out doesn’t hurt when you wake up.”
“…”
“But if I stir up trouble and it does hurt, then what?”
Kang Junwoo took a deep breath, struggling to continue, swallowing hard before speaking again.
“I’m sorry for Guiding you without permission. No matter how urgent it was, I shouldn’t have. You told me your situation, and I still did it. I know it was wrong.”
“You were trying to prevent a berserk episode, so it’s not really…”
“I knew how you were taking medication and making efforts to avoid going berserk on your own. Yet, I guided you on my own accord. It’s not that I didn’t consider the possibility that you might be in pain when you woke up.”
“…”
“But I really wanted to help. I hope that help lasts. If I perform radiation guidance or first-level guidance now, and it causes the previously painless guidance during unconsciousness to suddenly become painful, that would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?”
“…”
“Guidance itself involves touching every nerve and regulating every wave. No one knows what might cause those delicate and sensitive nerves to suddenly change. That’s why I’m cautious and scared.”
Tae Ijae listened quietly to Kang Junwoo’s words, meeting his gaze before finally asking him, “Why?”
“…”
“Why are you cautious and scared? Do you dislike seeing me in pain?”
“…I don’t.”
“Why?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“…Normally, you wouldn’t, but right now, I think you do.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re not just worried about a Pair or colleague.”
At that moment, Kang Junwoo’s eyes widened. Tae Ijae continued, staring intently into Kang Junwoo’s eyes.
“You said it’d make you flustered, didn’t you?”
“…”
“I’ve lived with people’s affection aimed at me since I was a kid. I’m pretty good at reading what someone feels for me.”
“…”
“Right now, you look exactly like someone who likes me.”
“…”
“Do you like me?”
Tae Ijae’s blunt question caught Kang Junwoo off guard.
But he met his eyes and answered calmly.
“There’s probably no one in the Guide department who hasn’t had a crush on you, Tae Ijae-ssi.”
“…”
“I had a crush on you too.”
“‘Had’ is past tense.”
“…”
“I’m asking about now, hyung.”
“…”
“Does it make you flustered?”
“…”
“Do you like me?”
“…I like you.”
In that moment, Tae Ijae’s heart thudded loudly. He had received countless confessions before, but none had made his heart resonate like this. More often than not, he felt indifferent or even annoyed. But Kang Junwoo’s confession was surprising, exhilarating, joyful, and made him happy. Tae Ijae tried to calm his pounding heart, swallowing hard.
“Because I like you, seeing Tae Ijae suffering from not receiving guidance weighed on my mind. Even if it meant waking up to you grabbing me by the collar, I guided you forcefully.”
“…”
“Thankfully, you didn’t suffer when you woke up, and I was relieved. I want that relief to stay.”
“…”
“So I won’t Guide you while you’re awake.”
“……”
“If it’s needed, I’ll try Guiding you when you’re asleep. Please be okay with that…”
“…That sounds like a confession.”
Tae Ijae’s eyes blazed.
“Tae Ijae-ssi.”
“Do it. If it’s you, I’m okay even if it hurts.”
“…Do you realize that also sounds like a confession?”
“It was.”
Kang Junwoo’s eyes wavered precariously at Tae Ijae’s words.
“Tell me immediately if it hurts.”
Tae Ijae nodded once.
Kang Junwoo hesitated for a moment before initiating the radiation guidance. A refreshing and invigorating scent filled the entire room. It wasn’t painful at all. In fact, it felt pleasant. The 98% matching rate was truly astonishing.
“Are you okay?”
Kang Junwoo asked with a worried expression, and Tae Ijae took a step closer to him.
Instinctively, Kang Junwoo took a step back, but Tae Ijae wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him closer.
“Can I kiss you?”
“…Can I guide you?”
Their lips met.
“Do it.”
Tae Ijae’s lips, still moving, enveloped Kang Junwoo’s lower lip.
With a smack, he tugged it firmly.
“Hn…”
As if intent on tormenting it, Tae Ijae licked and sucked Kang Junwoo’s lower lip, making wet, smacking sounds.
The blatantly suggestive noises set off fireworks in Kang Junwoo’s mind.
While his lower lip was teased, Kang Junwoo cautiously attempted Guiding.
As the cool, pleasant scent spread, Tae Ijae’s movements grew rougher.