SOG Ch 10

A coat-style shirt was worn over a white tee and black jeans. His broad shoulders and well-developed triceps stood out even in a casual outfit. Despite the fact that he was wearing a black ball cap tightly, he recognized him right away. Jae-chan’s heartbeat throbbed as he looked at his tightly closed lips under the shade of the cap.

It was Go Woo-jin.

“…”

Could Go Woo-jin has been present at the scene on the day Kim Geun-won died? It was when Jae-chan’s mind went blank as a result of the unexpected situation.

Pajijik-.

The three of them looked up at the sparks flying above them. It happened in an instant.

Huh, avoid it! Telephone poles collapsed alongside the Espers’ screams. Sparks explode like fireworks from the tangle of wires.

*

“Hey! I thought I was going to die!”

It was what Kim Geun-won said.

The smell of electrically ripened cement was acrid, as was the hot smell of burning clothing. Due to the sudden gust of wind caused by Go Woo-jin, the telephone poles that had been pouring down were slowly sinking to the ground. The shorted electric current was quickly absorbed by the Esper in charge, who has an electric attribute. Because of his attribute, Esper Jung Da-heum was initially in charge of handling telephone poles. The impact had left the black snake-like wires tangled around it crackling.

“No matter how much electric Esper you have, why did you do it without turning off the power?”

Kim Geun-won grumbled and pulled out his phone. He suddenly thought that it would have been nice if Seon Jae-chan had been moderately swept away as he texted Team 5’s team leader to request a power cut. Even if the poor boy is slightly injured, Esper will heal him first. Kim Geun-won paused his texting hand while cynically looking back.

Seon Jae-chan had just risen to one knee. He patted his back and shoulders as if he had just rolled over and gotten up. In a location just outside the danger zone where the utility pole was expected to fall.

When did he go there? Was that bastard that quick?

“…”

On the other hand, Seon Jae-chan was hiding his disapproval gaze at Kim Geun-won. Unlike himself, who had avoided it once due to his experience as a member of the intelligence agency, Kim Geun-won did not even cover his head while standing. He’s acting as if he knows Go Woo-jin will protect him.

‘What if Go Woo-jin wasn’t here?’

It was then his stomach got a little twisted. The electric attribute Esper, who had been stunned, suddenly came to his senses.

“A… are you okay?! Is everyone okay? It could have been a big deal!”

“I’m fine, so let it go. It’s not your fault, it’s a field problem. I asked the team leader to cut off the power supply.”

Kim Geun-won answered by waving his mobile phone.

“Oh. I’m so sorry! You’re an esper, right? Thank you…”

Jung Da-heum, an Esper on his way to greet him, blurted out his words. He tilted his head. It was because the face beneath the ball cap appeared to be familiar. Kim Geun-won grabbed Go Woo-jin and pulled him away as soon as he noticed that gaze.

“Thank you for your cooperation in filming. If you’re having a hard time, be sure to go to the guiding barracks!”

We’re leaving! The two turned their backs on each other without saying anything. Seon Jae-chan noticed the two quickly moving apart and realized that Go Woo-jin had come here unofficially. Actually, if he had known Woo-jin was present, he would have informed Team 5’s team leader. For the time being, he must follow them.

As he turned around the corner of the typhoon-damaged alley, Kim Geun-won noticed him and belatedly wearing the insulation suit that Go Woo-jin had given him.

‘What’s with that bastard?’

Kim Geun-Won’s eyes blazed up. He avoided the Esper, but a more pricky one caught up with him.

Seon Jae-chan was the one who smiled all the time with a clean face. He smiled when their gazes met. A teardrop-shaped dot on his white cheek jumped up in the middle position. He widened his stride and approached in that state. He ignored Kim Geun-won and went straight to Go Woo-jin.

“Why aren’t you wearing an insulated suit?”

Go Woo-jin took care of the bear-like man carefully. Despite the fact that he was Esper, Jae-chan was still concerned about Go Woo-jin, who didn’t look after himself.

“Don’t worry about the Esper, why don’t you wear that one?”

Kim Geun-won said this while shoving the insulated suit into Jae-chan’s chest. It was one of the items brought by Woo-jin. It seemed like the ugly guy had no choice but to serve rice cakes. Of course, he quietly told Go Woo-jin to put it on as well.

Jae-chan only clicked his tongue when he saw Go Woo-jin, who had a cool face and was dressed in a crisp yellow suit. In fact, it was because he had bean pods in his eyes, but Go Woo-jin is just as distant as Kim Geun-won. He had no idea he was at the scene on the day of Kim Geun-won’s death. 

Woo-jin looked tired. I hoped he had rest. Jae-chan thought as he slipped his military boots into his insulated suit.

‘It’s because of that uncle.’

Go Woo-jin couldn’t even sleep on his days off because of that troublesome man. Kim Geun-won received the pointer again. The human who shoots randomly and dies in front of Go Woo-jin today. Go Woo-jin must have been heartbroken in the past. Jae-chan, who had been silent due to his upset stomach, raised his head in response to the gaze he felt on his cheek.

“Do not misunderstand. I didn’t follow you on purpose.”

Jae-chan, whose eyes met with his beneath the ball cap, said what he had been meaning to say earlier. It was humiliating to appear right away on a subject he had stated he would never see him again.

There was another silence. Only the sound of Go Woo-jin and Seon Jae-chan adjusting their insulation clothes rustled for a while.

“Guide Seon Jae-chan. How many field jobs are you doing today this year?”

Kim Geun-won, who was standing with his legs unbalanced, asked. He had also closed the handy cam he was holding. Go Woo-jin raised his expressionless gaze as well. Seon Jae-chan, who had turned his back on the half-ruined road, responded.

“It’s the first time.”

“Aha. And Go Woo-jin happened to be in the field job that you volunteered for the first time? And yet please don’t get you wrong?”

It couldn’t be helped, but it was the truth. Jae-chan nervously pulled the string of his insulated suit and tightened it.

“I did not know.”

“Why don’t you know?”

Kim Geun-won’s spirits rose.

“You’ve been doing all sorts of things so far. Didn’t you see our Team Esper earlier? That way, someone may have seen Woo-jin here, and you may have been gathering information.”

“Your words are harsh.”

Seon Jae-chan pulled his chin briefly.

“I’m Esper Go Woo-jin’s pair guide. It was a coincidence this time, but what’s wrong with the guide finding his pair Esper’s location?”

“It’s a problem that you didn’t even show up when Woo-jin asks for you but just shows up when you want to!”

Kim Geun-won raised both hands in disappointment. Jae-chan felt sorry. Avoidance of the site. He was certainly disqualified as a pair guide in the past. He wouldn’t have been able to keep this position if it hadn’t been for the unspoken and cowardly pact he made with Go Woo-jin’s stepmother. 

“… It may have seemed that way. I’m sorry.”

The strap twisted tightly in Jae-chan’s meekly subdued hand. True, A-class guide Kim Geun-won had kept Go Woo-jin on the job instead of himself. Seon Jae-chan belatedly thanked the perplexed-looking bear man before casting a hesitant glance at Go Woo-jin.

“I’m sorry for you too.”

Only the shaking wind left by the typhoon stayed between the three people for a while. An awkward silence ensued. Kim Geun-won, whose shaggy hair had been blown over, blinked and regained consciousness in the headwind.

“Huh! Now you’re sorry, what are you sorry for?”

“I’m really sorry. But I think I know now.”

“What do you know!”

What. For a brief moment, Jae-lips chan’s were closed. He wished he could convey his sincerity, but he lacked confidence, so he lowered his gaze. Just like Go Woo-jin, he inadvertently kept his gaze on the classic low sneakers and responded by lowering his head even further.

“No matter how coincidental, to you and Woo-jin, I will look like a red-class typhoon or a telephone pole falling overhead. I’m well aware that I’ve made numerous mistakes. So I apologized.”

“…?”

“I also know that there is no need for Woo-jin or you to unconditionally accept my apology. I’m just sorry.”

Kim Geun-won wasn’t sure if this was high-level sarcasm or not. Looking at his apologetic demeanor and eyes, he appears sincere, but what he has done thus far must have been so sick.

Meanwhile, Go Woo-jin looked bewildered at Seon Jae-chan. It was because of Jae-chan’s previous apology at the emergency guiding center.

‘It’s been hard on you because of me. sorry. The only thing I can do is apologize… I’m sorry.’

He thought it was just a whim, but the same thing happened twice. Was he serious? It was when Go Woo-jin’s frozen mind was filled with thoughts.

“Gosh! Oh, Jae-chan-ssi! They said you could have been in big trouble!”

People ran around the piled up rubble of buildings. It was the team leader. After that, the team members under direct control came with him panting.

“You don’t know how surprised I was when I got the call from Kim Geun-won!”

The team leader of Team 5 said while checking Seon Jae-chan over the yellow insulation suit. Go Woo-jin looked back at Kim Geun-won. Kim Geun-won patted Woo-jin’s shoulder a couple of times and stepped forward, saying, “I was going to make Guide Seon leave.”

“Team leader. As you can see, Guide Seon Jae-chan is fine. Did you cut off the power?”

“What’s wrong with Esper Jung Da-heum?”