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TG Ch 5 Part 9
by Canaan“What did Yoo Seunghwa do to you?”
Ignoring Sijin’s pleas, Jeong Taeyul sat up, the blanket falling away to reveal his toned chest and sculpted abs. Sijin’s eyes widened as they moved closer.
“We just… talked. Nothing happened.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
‘Why do you get to decide?’
Sijin wanted to rebel, the childish urge fueled by his deflated expectations.
But he didn’t have time. He had an afternoon schedule to keep. He pushed aside his emotions and said, “Esper Yoo Seunghwa made me walk on ice. I just held her hand so I wouldn’t fall.”
“…..”
Jeong Taeyul didn’t reply. He simply stared at Sijin’s hand, his gaze making Sijin squirm.
Finally, he ran a hand through his tousled hair and said, “You just held hands. Fine. I understand.”
He then picked up his tablet and, right in front of Sijin, sent a message to Ham Geonwu. It was a string of numbers – most likely a mission code.
Sijin watched him, confused, then realized that Jeong Taeyul had just scanned his entire body with his wave energy. ‘You just held hands.’ It was evidence.
‘He’s terrifying…’
Even B-rank Guides couldn’t detect such subtle traces of contact… Jeong Taeyul had sensed it. It was a chilling reminder of his acute sensitivity.
Sijin felt exposed, as if Jeong Taeyul could see right through him. He shouldn’t have touched an A-rank Guide so casually. He muttered, fiddling with his own hand, “A-rank Guides really do know everything…”
“Yes, I know everything. So, don’t touch other guys so casually.”
“At this rate, I’ll never be able to date.”
“Of course not.”
Never. Jeong Taeyul’s grin widened, a flash of his shark teeth showing. Sijin glared at him, then said, “…Just lie down and rest. I have to go.”
He tried to push Jeong Taeyul back down. He couldn’t let him work when he was supposed to be resting.
Jeong Taeyul, observing Sijin’s futile attempts, finally relented, lying back down. Sijin felt a wave of self-deprecation at how weak he was.
Then, Jeong Taeyul muttered under his breath as he settled onto the bed, “You made me angry at Ham Geonwu… and now you’re holding hands with Yoo Seunghwa.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
He was nagging again. Sijin stared at him, a mixture of annoyance and bewilderment in his eyes, then hastily grabbed his tablet.
“I have to go. I have a lecture for the trainees. Rest, okay?”
“Yes.”
His obedient answer made Sijin suspicious, but he was running out of time. He tucked the blanket around Jeong Taeyul again and hurried out.
He found Shin Dayoung and briefed her. “Dayoung-ssi, keep an eye on Shark’s readings. If they don’t improve by 5:00 PM, suggest guiding. If he refuses, administer a tranquilizer.”
“Got it! I’ll keep track of his readings.”
“Thanks.”
Sijin thanked her and rushed out of the examination room.
And the moment he stepped out, he ran into a handsome man in full gear.
“Ready to go?”
Ham Geonwu stood before him, his posture perfect. Sijin smiled, a mixture of surprise and delight on his face.
***
“Geonwu, why are you here? Aren’t you busy?”
Sijin asked, a smile on his face as he walked down the hallway. Ham Geonwu, armed and looking every bit the imposing bodyguard, walked beside him. He seemed relieved.
“Captain ordered close protection. I’m here to carry out my top priority mission.”
‘So, he just abandoned his work…’
Judging by Ham Geonwu’s carefree expression, Sijin could guess what had happened. Though it seemed odd that Jeong Taeyul would issue a close protection order for something so trivial.
‘What exactly is the Alpha team’s mission priority?’
They were the best team in the country, yet here they were, babysitting him. Did he really need close protection just to give a lecture?
Flipping through his lecture notes, Sijin asked, “You don’t need to protect me… Want to rest, Geonwu? It’s just a lecture for the trainees.”
“Yes, at Doctor’s lecture.”
‘So, he’s coming…’
That was Ham Geonwu for you. He might seem laid-back, but he was dedicated when it came to his duties. Sijin decided not to push it and focused on reviewing his notes. He hadn’t had much time to go through them properly.
“Doctor.”
“Hm?”
“…..”
Ham Geonwu suddenly called out to him, then fell silent. Sijin, looking up from his notes, glanced at him, puzzled. Ham Geonwu simply stared at him, a patient smile on his face, as if waiting for something.
“What is it, Geonwu?”
Sijin asked, a gentle smile on his face. They were walking along the beautiful lake on the Center’s grounds.
Ham Geonwu, who had been quietly trailing behind him, asked hesitantly, “Am I… special to you, Doctor?”
“Hm? Yes. Of course you’re special, Geonwu.”
Sijin replied absentmindedly, still focused on his notes. Ham Geonwu was quiet for a moment, then blurted out, “…Then give me a pen.”
“A pen? Why a pen…? Here.”
Sijin fumbled in his pockets and handed him the pen clipped to his breast pocket. He didn’t even look at what he was giving, too engrossed in his notes.
Then, he heard Ham Geonwu say excitedly, “Oh… Doctor gave me a pen.”
“…..?”
“A pen. He gave me a red pen. I’m going to brag to that bastard, Jeong Tae.”
“…Geonwu.”
Sijin stopped in his tracks.
He finally understood why Ham Geonwu had been hovering around him, observing his every move.
“Did… Shark brag about the doll?”
“No… It wasn’t bragging, per se.”
Ham Geonwu said nonchalantly, using his telekinesis to make the pen spin in the air. His eyes, however, held a hint of sadness.
“He just… said it was a special gift because he’s special, and that I’m insignificant and worthless…”
“…Why do you guys…?”
“He said I’ll probably be abandoned on a deserted island if I ever have an outburst because I didn’t even get a doll…”
“…..”
It was the Shark’s fault. He had completely crushed the poor Killer Whale’s spirit.
Sijin finally took a good look at Ham Geonwu. He looked utterly defeated, his eyes filled with sadness as he stared at the red pen. He could only imagine what Jeong Taeyul had put him through. Ham Geonwu was now using the red pen to scribble, ‘Jeong Taeyul, asshole for 10 years,’ on a scrap of paper Sijin had discarded.
‘That damn dolphin…’
Sijin wondered if he shouldn’t have covered for the trainees. He hadn’t expected the consequences to be so severe.
He chuckled, sighing. The F12 Center, the most prestigious facility in Korea, suddenly felt like a playground for teenagers.
“Geonwu… I gave him the doll because… there were circumstances.”
“Yes… You were covering for the trainees who snuck out, right?”
“Ye– H-Huh…?”
He hadn’t expected Ham Geonwu to know. He assumed he’d be too busy to notice, but he was wrong. It was moments like this that reminded Sijin that Ham Geonwu was a seasoned agent.
He had to comfort the dejected Killer Whale before him. He looked like a kicked puppy.
“So… Geonwu, you understand there were reasons, right? So, you have to be understanding this time…”
“Yes… I like red pens, too…”
“I-I’ll get you one. I’ll get you a doll too, when I get the chance.”
Sijin attempted to placate him, but failed. However, the promise of a doll finally lifted Ham Geonwu’s spirits. He smiled, his sadness replaced by a look of hope. It seemed a little manipulative, considering his handsome face, but Sijin felt guilty, remembering how Jeong Taeyul had treated him.
He returned to his lecture notes, frowning slightly.
‘I should have reviewed them myself, even if I was busy.’
The junior examiner had a talent for creating chaos… Sijin wanted to yell, but he held back, reminding himself of the general checkups and searching for a solution. In moments like this, it was his ability to improvise and find suitable examples that saved him.
And he just happened to have the perfect example walking right next to him. Sijin stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
Ham Geonwu asked, puzzled.
Sijin stared at him, his eyes gleaming. He was a rare and precious A-rank Esper. He might be expensive, but it was worth a shot.
“Geonwu.”
He spoke softly, approaching Ham Geonwu, who beamed at him.
“Yes?”
“Would you mind helping me with my lecture?”
“Oh, what is it?”
Thankfully, Ham Geonwu seemed receptive. Relieved by his positive response, Sijin unfurled his notes. The topic of his lecture was ‘imprinting,’ and he needed a demonstration subject. He showed Ham Geonwu several pages from his notes.
“I’m going to talk about guiding and imprinting. Is that okay?”
“Um, well… What do I have to do?”
“Just… demonstrate with me.”
“What? In front of the kids?”
“Yes.”
“Ah~ well, I don’t mind, but…”
Ham Geonwu agreed, thankfully. Sijin, relieved, marked the pages with examples.
He would have sighed in relief if not for Ham Geonwu’s next words.
“If I do this, will you give me a doll too?”
“Oh my… Fine, fine. I’ll give you one. The same one.”
Sijin surrendered. He didn’t have the energy to argue with him.
“I’m going to brag to Jeong Taeyul.”
Seeing Ham Geonwu’s genuine delight, Sijin couldn’t help but smile. This was why he couldn’t stay mad at him.
“But, um… Are you sure about this, Doctor?”
“What?”
Ham Geonwu seemed restless. He coughed nervously, fiddled with the collar of his field jacket, then asked Sijin in a hushed voice, “If we’re demonstrating guiding, um… how far are we going…?”
“…..?”
Sijin’s pen froze.
He looked at Ham Geonwu, who was feigning shyness, but his eyes were gleaming with anticipation.
Guiding, imprinting. Sijin’s mind instantly jumped to the most scandalous scenarios.
He fought back a laugh. So, he hadn’t even bothered to look at the examples. Classic Ham Geonwu.
Sijin, trying to keep things PG-rated for the sake of the healthy Esper, said calmly,
“Geonwu.”
“Yes?”
“It’s not going to be anything inappropriate.”
“…..”
Ham Geonwu’s face fell. Sijin suddenly felt like he’d offered a gift then snatched it away.
“What? What kind of guiding is that?”
“Listen, what if our teacher…”
Sijin paused, stifling a laugh as he buttoned up Ham Geonwu’s open jacket. He was supposed to be a wholesome example for the lecture; it was best to keep his toned physique concealed.
“…is trying to dispel the misconception that guiding always leads to something s*xual?”
“…That’s heresy.”
“I guess our Geonwu doesn’t understand the meaning of that word.”
Sijin said gently. Ham Geonwu continued to pout, then, after Sijin pleaded with him again, his expression softened. He had agreed.
“So, you’ll help me?”
“Yes…”
His unenthusiastic reply made Sijin chuckle. He could only imagine what Ham Geonwu, a man who loved anything exciting, had been hoping for. To think he’d mistaken it for an ‘adult lecture’… Only Ham Geonwu would make such an assumption.