WTSG 10

The Beginning of the Pair (4)

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“Your eyes…”

It was Kang Junwoo who broke first under the persistent gaze. Lowering his head again, he focused on his porridge while commenting on Tae Ijae’s eye color.

“They’ve turned black.”

“Yeah, that’s their original color. I feel refreshed, so maybe the injection is more effective than the pills.”

A mix of relief and slight disappointment washed over Kang Junwoo due to Tae Ijae’s misunderstanding. Regardless, he had no intention of revealing that he had guided Tae Ijae, as it was a secret he intended to take to his grave.

“Is your body okay? Any pain or discomfort?”

“I told you, I feel refreshed.”

“That’s a relief.”

“What about you?”

“…Pardon?”

“Is it a relief for you too?”

“What do you mean?”

“When my eye color returns to normal, I become something else.”

“…I don’t understand what you mean…”

Kang Junwoo looked up at Tae Ijae again, puzzled by the cryptic words, only to find him smirking playfully. His eyes widened.

“They say I look so good it gives people chills. That it suits me. Since you’re the one facing me now, is your heart holding up alright?”

At Tae Ijae’s words, Kang Junwoo’s face visibly twisted. He already knew Tae Ijae was full of himself, but this level of narcissism was beyond imagination.

Well, he wasn’t wrong. Whoever had said that was spot on. But hearing him say it about himself was irritating beyond reason.

So Kang Junwoo chose not to respond and instead focused on eating his porridge.

“Isn’t it true?”

Tae Ijae asked Kang Junwoo again.

“Am I not handsome?”

“…You were handsome even when your eyes were yellow.”

“That’s true.”

Tae Ijae agreed too easily, his confidence unwavering. That only made Kang Junwoo more annoyed.

“Tae Ijae Esper, you lack humility, don’t you?”

“Even if I had it, could you handle it? No matter how humble I am, this superiority can’t be hidden.”

“Hah.”

“Aren’t you the same, Hyung?”

“……?”

“You’re handsome too. And pretty.”

In an instant, Kang Junwoo’s face flushed red. He had heard compliments about being handsome or pretty as often as being asked if he’d eaten. Yet, hearing those words from Tae Ijae’s mouth made him feel embarrassed and fluttered. Even being called “Hyung” made his stomach twist.

“And your voice is nice.”

“Please stop.”

He was going to die of embarrassment.

“And you smell good.”

“Tae Ijae Esper.”

“Uh… why do I suddenly like your scent so much?” Tae Ijae looked puzzled as he stared at Kang Junwoo.

Recalling that an Esper, once imprinted, would become intensely attracted to their guide’s pheromones, Kang Junwoo wondered if this was a side effect of his secret guiding.

“My, my scent? What kind of scent…?”

“I don’t know. It’s kind of sweet. Or maybe fresh.”

“What does that even mean?”

Kang Junwoo muttered, lowering his head, burying his face closer to his bowl to hide his burning face. His spoon stirred the porridge mindlessly.

Tae Ijae simply stared at him.

***

After finishing the meal, Kang Junwoo cleaned the table and washed the dishes. As he dried his hands with a towel, he glanced towards the living room. He carefully observed Tae Ijae, who was sitting in the middle of the sofa with his long legs stretched out, gazing out the window.

Claiming it was the price for making porridge, Tae Ijae abruptly used his abilities to move the dishes from the table to the sink, causing Kang Junwoo to panic and push him away. In a situation where he could go berserk at any moment, using his powers for such trivial tasks was dangerous. After practically shooing him out of the kitchen, Tae Ijae sat on the sofa with a somewhat dejected expression. Finding it oddly cute, Kang Junwoo chuckled to himself while doing the dishes.

“I’ll apply some ointment, turn around,” 

Kang Junwoo said, holding a medicine box as he approached Tae Ijae, who was lazily leaning against the sofa and looking out the window. Tae Ijae glanced at the medicine box and scoffed.

“I don’t need it.”

“Your wounds haven’t healed completely.”

“Most Espers don’t bother with minor injuries like this.”

“But Tae Ijae Esper isn’t an ordinary Esper, So Apply it.”

Ignoring the raised eyebrow Tae Ijae shot him, Kang Junwoo opened the medicine box, squeezing out the ointment given by Moon Taejoo onto his index finger

“You’re not even getting a proper guiding, so I’m telling you not to use your ability to heal your wounds, you’re on leave anyway. Take it easy.”

“……”

“They said this ointment is really effective. Hurry up and turn around.” 

Seeing Kang Junwoo wiggle his finger impatiently, Tae Ijae reluctantly turned his back to him.

“Could you lift your shirt a bit?”

At that, Tae Ijae grabbed his shirt and pulled it off entirely in one motion. Kang Junwoo was momentarily caught off guard but kept his expression neutral, focusing on the long wound down Tae Ijae’s back.

“It’s almost healed.”

Since he was an SS class, the wound that had once exposed bone was now nearly closed. Seeing the healing speed, Kang Junwoo understood why Moon Taejoo, had said three days of rest would be enough.

“It’s already…”

Kang Junwoo murmured as he noticed the clock pointing to 3 a.m. After having a very late dinner and applying the ointment, it was almost morning. Realizing he needed some sleep before work, Kang Junwoo tidied up the medicine box and stood up.

“I have to sleep since I have work tomorrow, so if you’re can’t sleep—”

“What?” 

Tae Ijae abruptly turned his head before Kang Junwoo could finish.

“Work? You have three days off.”

“That’s only for Tae Ijae Esper. While you’re resting, I have to report to the center.”

“What? Why?” 

Tae Ijae asked, raising an eyebrow. Kang Junwoo explained that it was standard procedure.

“When a paired or dedicated esper goes on medical leave, the guide is reassigned to support guiding. That’s how it usually works, except for imprinted pairs.”

Tae Ijae frowned slightly, clearly unaware of this. He took a deep breath, appearing deep in thought. With his shirt off, his broad shoulders and well-defined chest muscles were fully visible. Below his firm chest, his eight-pack abs and indented navel moved sexily with his breathing.

Feeling a sudden tightness in his throat, Kang Junwoo swallowed dryly and turned away. As he moved to return the medicine box to its place, Tae Ijae quickly passed by him. Tae Ijae swiftly entered the bedroom, seemingly making a phone call.

Curious about who he could be calling at this hour, Kang Junwoo tilted his head in wonder as he continued on his way.

He froze when he heard the word “Director” come out of Tae Ijae’s mouth.

“Why not? I said I’ll keep my pair with me.”

– “No, you brat. The company rules clearly state—”

“You said I didn’t have to follow those. Are you contradicting yourself now?”

– “That’s not what I meant—”

“Director, what did you say when you put me in the first team? You said I could do whatever I wanted. You promised to accommodate all my wishes. Was that a lie? Did you deceive me? Am I being taken for a fool right now?”

– “You brat! That was about not having to receive guiding if you didn’t want it!”

“Why do you keep calling me a brat? Am I your child?”

– “Sigh, do you even know what time it is?”

“I’m in pain. My back is wounded.”

– “I heard about that already. I approved your leave, so of course, I know. Taejoo said it’s not too severe but warned to be careful of going berserk. Are you taking your medicine properly?”

“That’s why my pair needs to be with me. To take care of me.”

– “Did you injure your hand or your leg? If you need someone to care for you, I’ll send someone else…”

“Why would I call someone else when my guide is here?”

– “Does an S-class guide really need to be stuck with you just to nurse you?!”

“Wow, ‘just’ huh. So I’m just a caught fish to you, Director?”

– “No, it’s not that. It’s just that we’re already short on guides at the center…”

“Alright, got it. Then.”

– “Okay. I’ll arrange for someone to—”

“Process my resignation quickly.”

– “Hey!!!”

Tae Ijae abruptly ended the call and tossed his phone onto the bed in frustration. Kang Junwoo, who had been standing at the door listening to their conversation, looked at Tae Ijae with a bewildered expression. Sensing Kang Junwoo’s gaze, Tae Ijae turned to look at him.

“What?”

“Well, you mentioned resigning…”

“Yeah.”

“Are you serious? Why? Just because I’m going to work tomorrow?”

Kang Junwoo asked as if he couldn’t believe it would be over something so trivial.

Tae Ijae simply stared at him in silence.

“I didn’t know the rules were such bullshit.”

“……”

“Especially for guides.”

“……Well, that’s because there are far fewer guides than espers. But still, why would Tae Ijae Esper resign over that??” 

Kang Junwoo asked, sounding bewildered. Tae Ijae stared at him silently. Sensing that Tae Ijae might actually be serious about resigning, Kang Junwoo cautiously asked him.

“Are you really planning to resign?”

“I’ll stay with you.”

But the answer he received was entirely different. Tae Ijae’s words about staying together made Kang Junwoo’s eyes visibly tremble, and his pale face quickly turned red. Tae Ijae had the sudden urge to reach out and touch Kang Junwoo’s burning cheek, but he clenched his fists tightly, holding himself back.

Brrr— Brrr—

Just then, Tae Ijae’s phone, which had been tossed onto the bed, vibrated. As if expecting the call, Tae Ijae bent down to pick up the phone. As soon as he answered, the angry voice of the esper director echoed through the receiver.

– “Just three days, okay? No more than that!”

“What? I told you to process my resignation.”

– “Hey, you punk!”

The esper director’s shout, almost a scream, echoed throughout the room. Kang Junwoo thought about how incredibly loud the esper director’s voice was and and pictured the Guide department director in his mind.