SOG Ch 204

In truth, Jae-chan had been secretly preparing a surprise event for Woo-jin without letting him notice.

He found Woo-jin endearing and was grateful that he always made time to visit first, even though they couldn’t go on a proper date. If Woo-jin was okay with it, he wanted to spend the whole day together, as if making up for all their missed dates. Although the hotel charged a considerable amount including event costs, Jae-chan, who rarely wanted to buy things for himself, felt no expense was too much for Woo-jin.

And… he wanted to properly ask him to live together.

Coincidentally, one of the restaurants Woo-jin visited was inside the hotel where Jae-chan had made reservation inquiries. Jae-chan pointed at the tablet screen.

“Did you know? You can get this as room service too. They say it’s just as warm and delicious.”

Jae-chan whispered.

“I’ll make the room reservation. Let’s eat in the room.”

“…”

“I want to spend that whole day just with you.”

And let’s not leave until the next day. As Jae-chan was about to add this, he became anxious. Although he had checked the training schedule with Espers Chae Seong-hwan and Hwang Guk-hyeon, Woo-jin might have appointments that even they didn’t know about. Or maybe the sudden suggestion might be burdensome.

“Of course I’d love to.”

Woo-jin answered while embracing Jae-chan.

What do I do? Woo-jin let out a quiet sigh over Jae-chan’s shoulder. Knowing that Jae-chan had thought of him even during his busy days and seeing that fleeting moment of worry on his face made Woo-jin feel both heartbroken and charmed. There was no way he could take back his positive answer. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to lock themselves in a hotel room immediately, indulging in something far warmer and tastier than food.

Visibly relieved, Jae-chan excitedly replied that he would make the reservation. Naturally, Woo-jin could only agree.

Thus, his regret about the kiss seemed to fade momentarily. There wasn’t much time left until the exam, and Jae-chan had promised to spend the whole day together. Woo-jin once again suppressed his growing desires that he had been ignoring.

Jae-chan focused intensely on studying for the exam during the remaining days. Woo-jin also cooperated fully, knowing his lover needed to concentrate. He believed without doubt that sweet rewards awaited afterward.

So when Woo-jin checked Jae-chan’s message on the exam day, he was in a good mood.

[Check-in at 6 pm hehe

8:33 AM]

Woo-jin finished the mock strike operation training so quickly that his colleagues were amazed. Around afternoon, he drove to the Intelligence Bureau recruitment exam site. Although the meeting time was 6 PM, he wanted to congratulate Jae-chan briefly the moment he finished his exam.

The exam was held in a separate exam room within the Liberal Arts Building.

Due to additional recruitment tests for Guides and Espers to fill positions left vacant after the District 5 incident, there were more people than usual from outside. After taking longer than usual, he arrived at the relatively quiet Liberal Arts Building.

While waiting in the car, Woo-jin passed time looking at photos he had taken for Jae-chan’s exam application. Jae-chan had asked him to take passport-style photos, standing against a gray wall with a smile. The failed shots before the final one remained as delightful memories in Woo-jin’s phone gallery.

About thirty minutes passed.

Woo-jin spotted Gyeong Chang-hyun among the people coming out. With his newly bleached hair and flashy track top, he was impossible to miss.

He found it strange for a moment. Though he expected him to come out with Jae-chan since he usually clung to him like a child, Gyeong Chang-hyun was alone.

Woo-jin dismissively thought they must be leaving separately.

And Jae-chan never came out.

“…”

Even until the last exam-taker emerged with their hair flattened on one side from possibly falling asleep.

Woo-jin called Jae-chan. The automated message played immediately: ‘The customer’s phone is turned off…’ After thinking briefly, he started the car. He planned to find Gyeong Chang-hyun whom he had passed earlier.

While waiting parked in front of the Guide Bureau, Gyeong Chang-hyun came trudging up the slope with his hands stuffed in his red track top pockets. Upon noticing Woo-jin, he smirked with his scratched eyebrow. Woo-jin asked about Jae-chan’s whereabouts.

“Why are you asking me that? Seon Jae-chan should obviously be…”

Blinking his eyes, Gyeong Chang-hyun suddenly looked back the way he came. “Don’t tell me, you-” he asked puzzledly.

“Were you waiting for Seon Jae-chan in front of the Liberal Arts Building?”

Chang-hyun’s eyes glanced at Woo-jin’s convertible parked over there. He was sure he had seen that sleek car when leaving the exam. He couldn’t fail to recognize it since he had been quite indebted to that convertible’s back seat the day he woke up in a new motel after being drugged by Jeong Yeon-oh’s group.

“Did you think he was taking the Intelligence Bureau exam?”

Woo-jin could only respond with silence. Gyeong Chang-hyun’s expression became even more peculiar. Then he grinned, showing his canine teeth.

“Seon Jae-chan never even applied in the first place.”

What, you didn’t know? Chang-hyun felt pleased in front of Go Woo-jin for the first time in a while.

Of course, Chang-hyun was also surprised by the current situation. He never expected Seon Jae-chan, who prioritized his lover above all else including brotherly friendship, would hide this from Go Woo-jin.

Blinking in bewilderment, Gyeong Chang-hyun opened his mouth as if to finish what he was saying earlier.

“Seon Jae-chan should be at the Research Building by now… running errands for the team leader these days.”

Hmm, or maybe not. At this hour, maybe he went to substitute at the Emergency Guiding Center? Gyeong Chang-hyun tilted his head. Woo-jin replied in a monotone voice.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Ha, I guess friendship trumps love after all.”

After Chang-hyun left with that sarcastic remark.

Woo-jin made one final call. Jae-chan’s phone was still off. He had to accept the conclusion before him.

Jae-chan hadn’t taken the Intelligence Bureau exam.

He checked his message list just in case. There were no messages from the security company he’d arranged with Jae-chan’s consent either. Woo-jin suppressed the urge to interrogate the security guard about Jae-chan’s whereabouts. Gyeong Chang-hyun had also asserted that Jae-chan would be at work. The guards were there to protect Jae-chan, not to be used to track his movements.

Though he didn’t understand what was happening… one thing was certain – he would definitely meet Jae-chan in three hours.

‘6 PM.’

He recalled their appointment time. Before uncertain speculations could overwhelm his thoughts, Woo-jin got up. He moved with slightly unsteady steps, thinking he needed to do something until their meeting time.

*

At the training room, Woo-jin moved slower than usual.

He languidly poured boiling water instead of cold water into his protein shake, and while carefully opening a protein cookie, he almost threw away the cookie instead of the wrapper.

“Hey, Woo-jin… did something happen?”

Chae Seong-hwan, who was using the training room on his day off, asked strangely, but Woo-jin shook his head. He managed to save the cookie he’d nearly dropped and deliberately drank his protein shake slowly and calmly, despite its taste having gone off from the heat.

After finishing his protein supplements at an incredibly slow pace, he approached his strength training with what he considered ultimate composure.

Woo-jin’s peculiar behavior continued quietly until five o’clock. Whenever Chae Seong-hwan shouted, “Wind’s blowing! The wind’s blowing…!” Woo-jin checked the time while suppressing his power that unconsciously responded to his anxious state. He was just internally cursing about how damn slowly time was passing.

Then Jae-chan called.

“…!”

Woo-jin checked his phone with lightning speed.

“You left messages. Was there something urgent?”

That familiar voice, slightly breathless and mixed with worry.

It seemed his two missed calls had worried Jae-chan. Woo-jin blinked blankly before asking:

“Why was your phone turned off?”

After a brief silence, Jae-chan replied.

“Ah, I just finished my exam.”

Turned off his phone for the exam?

Woo-jin became more confused by the bright voice saying it went well. Gyeong Chang-hyun had said Jae-chan hadn’t applied for the Intelligence Bureau exam. He hadn’t been among the exam-takers either.

Was there something that needed to be hidden?

There must be a valid reason. Woo-jin rubbed his unpleasantly racing heart with his fist before speaking.

“Where are you now?”

“Leaving the Research Building.”

The Intelligence Bureau exam was in the Liberal Arts Building. Though his confusion deepened, Woo-jin grabbed his coat. After nodding goodbye to Chae Seong-hwan, he got back in his car and headed to where Jae-chan said he was.

Jae-chan was indeed in front of the Research Building.

He was sitting alone on the most visible bench, his long legs stretched out. Woo-jin parked nearby and approached him.

“You’re here?”

Facing his lover who greeted him cheerfully, Woo-jin didn’t know what to ask first. Aware of his own malfunctioning state, he carefully chose his words.

“Earlier… I was surprised when you weren’t there.”

“…Wasn’t where?”

“When people came out after the exam.”

Jae-chan blinked.

“But I’ve been here the whole time…?”

The mid-October wind, which had grown notably chilly, swept between them. Like autumn leaves tumbling in the wind, they both realized they were talking about different things.

Jae-chan furrowed his brows and asked first.

“First, where did you go?”

“…The Liberal Arts Building.”

“Why there?”

“Because that’s where you were taking the exam. Intelligence Bureau.”

Jae-chan was startled but found the quickest way to explain. He pointed to the guide sign by the lecture building entrance. And to the large banner fluttering between parking lot trees.

[Esper Additional Recruitment Exam Test Site #3]

“That’s the exam I took.”

Jae-chan explained. 

“Oh,” Woo-jin’s lips parted slightly in stunned silence. In that moment, all of his confusion dissolved.