TG Ch 7(1) Part 2

Anger, hot and sharp, surged through Sijin. His eyes narrowed dangerously.

“You… you… I told you I hate it when you do that.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. My stomach hurts from laughing. Are you mad, Doctor?”

“Don’t laugh. I told you I don’t like it when you do this. Why do you keep doing it?” 

“What should we do? Our puppy’s really angry. I’m sorry.”

Ham Geonwu wiped at his lips, trying to contain his laughter. He then stood up and pulled Sijin into a hug, his laughter subsiding as he patted his back soothingly. Sijin, still fuming, kept his eyes shut.

Ham Geonwu finally confessed. “I don’t do s*x guiding with him. Who would want to do that with that grumpy asshole?”

“…Are you serious this time?” 

“Yes, I’m serious.”

Ham Geonwu sat back down, a mischievous glint still lingering in his eyes.

He pulled out a disposable spoon and explained, “That bastard, Jeong Tae, hates physical contact, let alone s*x guiding. He didn’t tell you?”

“You two always submitted your guiding logs… so I wasn’t sure.”

“I guess people assume we do it if we don’t say anything.”

Ham Geonwu said casually, as if it were a common misconception. Sijin nodded slowly, taking it all in.

So, they hadn’t… It made sense, considering their personalities, yet he had assumed they had, thinking it was natural for Ability Users.

And to think Jeong Taeyul never engaged in s*x guiding at all? It was surprising, even though guiding crystals had made it unnecessary.

‘That’s so Jeong Taeyul…’

Come to think of it, Jeong Taeyul’s guiding logs had always left that section blank. Relieved, Sijin took another bite of his porridge.

Then, another question popped into his head. He glanced at Ham Geonwu, who was looking through his tablet. 

“Do you… not engage in s*x guiding at all either, Geonwu?”

“…What?”

“It’s for your examination. You can answer honestly.”

“You think saying that makes it okay to ask such personal questions?”

Sijin simply smiled. It was a sensitive question, but it was crucial information for managing an A-rank Esper like him.

Ham Geonwu, looking flustered, piled more food onto Sijin’s spoon, trying to change the subject. Sijin simply ate his porridge, patiently waiting for an answer. He knew he wouldn’t be able to resist spilling his secrets. 

“I… damn it… um… maybe once… once a month?”

“Be honest, it’ll help me with your readings.”

“…..”

Having been through so much, Sijin was surprisingly calm now. The shock therapy had worked, in a strange way.

Ham Geonwu avoided his gaze, rubbing his face, then covered his eyes with his hands and mumbled, “Once… or twice a week.”

“Hmm… I see. Thank you for your honesty.” 

Sijin nodded, taking it all in. It was a normal frequency for an Ability User. And it wasn’t Sijin’s place to judge him for it. He was an adult. In fact, it would have been more unusual if he hadn’t at his age. He had finally mastered the examiner’s poker face.

Ham Geonwu, however, seemed flustered by his calm demeanor. He fidgeted, glancing at Sijin nervously, then blurted out, “But… I haven’t… for about a month.”

“…..?”

“It’s true. Seriously. That bastard Jeong Tae… he’s the weird one for not doing it at all.”

“I know, I know.”

Sijin chuckled. He had never seen Ham Geonwu so flustered. He was usually so confident, but he seemed shy about this. 

Beep, beep.

“Oh, a mission call.”

Ham Geonwu’s smartwatch buzzed. Sijin flinched, startled. He felt like he’d been abruptly woken up from a pleasant dream.

Ham Geonwu frowned at his smartwatch, then sighed.

“Looks like I have to go. There are two Alpha Team members guarding the door, so don’t worry.”

“Oh… Okay. Take care.”

“I sneaked some cake into the fridge. Make sure you eat it.”

Ham Geonwu whispered, his voice close to Sijin’s ear, making Sijin flinch. He chuckled, sharing a secret smile. Ham Geonwu, still reluctant to leave, rested his head on Sijin’s lap.

“Geonwu, you have to go.”

Sijin coaxed him, finally getting him to leave.

“Call me if you get scared!”

Ham Geonwu called out cheerfully as he left. Sijin waved goodbye, a smile on his face.

Click.

And the moment he left, Sijin’s smile vanished.

It felt like he was suddenly facing a dark, suffocating anxiety that had been lurking behind the closed door. He looked around the room, his heart pounding.

“…..”

He felt out of place in this sterile, unfamiliar environment. And there was nothing to distract him from his anxiety. He got out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor.

He began pacing, his anxiety growing.

The silence, amplified by Ham Geonwu’s absence, felt oppressive. He tried to calm himself, taking deep breaths, but the white walls seemed to close in on him, amplifying his unease.

He stared out the window for a while, then collapsed onto the bed.

‘Huh?’

He felt something cold against his neck.

He reached up, surprised, and his fingers brushed against something hard. 

‘A platinum necklace…?’ 

Platinum. The only metal that repelled monsters. More valuable than diamonds, it was a treasure passed down through generations or exchanged as wedding rings between loved ones.

And he was wearing one. The chain was so long, he hadn’t even noticed. He examined it carefully.

‘Who gave this to me?’

He turned it over, his eyes widening as he saw the engraving on the back. It was a dragon, a design reminiscent of ancient Eastern royalty. He had seen it somewhere before.

Then, it hit him. He clutched the necklace in his hand, a smile spreading across his face. 

‘It was Geonwu…’

He pictured Ham Geonwu, his mischievous grin flashing before his eyes. A sad smile touched Sijin’s lips.

He had given him something so precious, without a word. And he was the one facing monsters, risking his life… Had he been worried about him?

The thought made Sijin’s smile falter.

‘…I have to return it.’

He was grateful, but he couldn’t accept something so valuable. Not only because of its worth, but also because platinum was a gift reserved for family, for those you wanted to protect. He couldn’t accept such a profound gesture. Lost in thought, he fidgeted with the necklace.

‘When did we become so close?’

A warning bell went off in his head. He couldn’t let their relationship develop any further. Ham Geonwu was traumatized, and he could easily misinterpret his feelings, especially towards an examiner he relied on.

And Sijin carried the burden of his father’s guilt. He stared at his father’s ring, his jaw clenched.

‘Geonwu… is an Ability User who needs my help.’

Getting romantically involved with someone like that was dangerous.

He had to draw a line, return the necklace, and explain things clearly. He forced himself to think rationally.

“Huu…”

He sighed, curling up on the bed. It seemed harsh, dismissing the possibility without even considering it, but he had no choice.

‘Jiwon’s going to lecture me…’

His friend, Kwon Jiwon, would probably tell him to just go for it, that it wasn’t a big deal. After all, as an examiner, it wasn’t uncommon to date Espers. Sijin had received a few confessions himself.

But romance wasn’t something he took lightly, especially at his age. His cautious, old-fashioned nature made it even harder.

He pictured Ham Geonwu, his bright smile etched in his memory. 

‘Ham Geonwu…’

Did he like Ham Geonwu? Yes. He was his savior, after all. He felt happy and comfortable around him.

‘Geonwu is fun to be around… but he’s still young.’

But he couldn’t confide in him, couldn’t be truly vulnerable. It was one of the main reasons why he couldn’t see him as anything more than a friend.

He was drawn to maturity, to those who offered him intellectual stimulation, rather than impulsive attraction. His previous relationships had all been with older partners.

‘I guess it’s because I crave stability…’

He had lost his parents at a young age, and the traumatic event had left him with a deep-seated anxiety. He clutched the necklace, lost in thought.

‘…..’

But he wasn’t looking for someone to fix him, to take away his anxieties. His past relationships had taught him that loneliness and insecurity were burdens he had to carry on his own.

He simply wanted…

Someone who understood his fears, someone who could offer him comfort without judgment.

‘You don’t have to pretend to be okay with me.’

Someone like… Jeong Taeyul.

To be continued in Volume 3.