TS 043

With a single word, Yoon Taehwa drove the other into the bathroom and then sat down on the sofa. His long arm reached out and picked up the wine bottle placed neatly on the table. A check of the label revealed it was quite strong. It was definitely Yoon Taeseon’s doing.

He lightly rolled the wine bottle in his hand, listening to the faint sound of water that he could barely hear without concentrating.

He had sent him to the bathroom, telling him to wash up, but he had no intention of actually taking off his t-shirt for some eye candy.

‘Han Suryeon probably knows that.’

That was why he had thrown a spare set of clothes to the ruffian who had rummaged through his house without permission. He could have kicked him out, but the hassle was greater right now.

‘Or maybe it’s because I’m tired…’

The act of digging through Pavel’s head might have brought an unexpected pressure. He had been aware of Monomorium’s existence for a while, but confirming it directly was another matter. The thought of having to bust his ass for the time being brought a wave of fatigue, making his head throb.

“But being dragged around by the higher-ups is more of a hassle.”

Yoon Taehwa muttered to himself, leaning his head against the sofa. The wine bottle swayed precariously along the curve of his hand. It looked like it would fall and shatter with the slightest misstep, but it would surely be snatched before it hit the floor.

As his gaze lifted, the ceiling came into view. Even if he closed his eyes, the remnants of light would surely pierce through his eyelids. Yoon Taehwa began to organize the events that would happen in a few days at the earliest, or a few weeks at the latest. There was no need to predict them. It was obvious.

The debate over whether to inform the public about Monomorium’s presence in Korea would be the first topic of discussion. Since it was a matter of national security, it would ultimately be handled privately.

‘It’s all politics in the end…’

The reason why an obvious outcome couldn’t be reached quickly was purely because people were involved. It was only natural for opinions to clash sharply since everyone’s interests were at stake.

In any case, the recipients of information about Monomorium would have to be limited. He thought that at least up to Team 2 of each team would be informed.

‘Esper Team 2 is A-class, so they’ll mobilize them too.’

Other than that, the S-class team leaders would be the ones to receive the information.

“Ha…”

A sigh escaped him on its own. Yoon Taehwa tried to shake off the work-related thoughts drifting in his mind. He had been receiving Guiding regularly lately, but stress was not good. The chances of going rampant due to simple stress were close to zero, but now was the time to clear his head.

‘Well, he asked me if I was a Guide, so I just wondered.’

When he consciously excluded thoughts of work, he found himself chewing over a familiar voice. Han Suryeon, who had posed that question, naturally came along with it. He couldn’t understand the context in which he had asked Yoon Taein if he was a Guide.

“Is this your shirt, Team Leader?”

Yoon Taehwa, still leaning his head against the sofa, moved only his eyes. He had felt the approaching presence, so he wasn’t surprised. Han Suryeon asked, slightly lifting the t-shirt.

“Yeah.”

He had given him a slightly loose-fitting shirt, and it fit him perfectly. The sweatpants also seemed to fit more or less. Pitch-black eyes skimmed over the pale ankles.

“No wonder it smells like you, Team Leader.”

Han Suryeon brought the lifted t-shirt to his nose and smiled broadly. It was nothing short of a perverted act, but unfortunately, perhaps thanks to his innocent appearance, he didn’t look like a strange person at all.

“You’re not a dog.”

With a soft chuckle, he slowly raised his head, and Han Suryeon sat down on the rug under the sofa. Right at Yoon Taehwa’s feet.

“You put a leash on me last time.”

“Dogs don’t drink.”

“Mmm…”

“And they don’t pretend to be drunk.”

“I wasn’t pretending to be drunk.”

“I’m sure you weren’t.”

Yoon Taehwa gestured with his chin toward the table. Like a well-behaved dog, Han Suryeon reached out and brought the glass. Instead of taking it, Yoon Taehwa tilted the bottle, and the red wine tumbled into the transparent glass. Perhaps because the house was all monochrome, the wine looked dark red.

“Drink.”

“This is bitter… But if the Team Leader tells me to drink, I have to drink.”

Han Suryeon slowly sipped the wine. Yoon Taehwa, propping his elbow up and resting his head on his fingers, simply watched him.

‘His cheeks did turn red.’

He became curious whether he was really drunk, or if he was just pretending to be drunk to pull some tricks.

“By the way, Team Leader.”

Han Suryeon slyly placed his arm on his thigh. Yoon Taehwa squinted one eye. He had wondered why he was sitting at his feet instead of next to him for a change; it seemed this was his intention.

“I washed up, so why is there nothing?”

“What should there be?”

“You promised you’d give me some eye candy…”

“I didn’t go so far as to promise. I said I’d take mine off if you took yours off first.”

He had no intention of taking it off, but it wouldn’t have mattered if he did.

The showers at the Center were all equipped with private stalls, but when you’re rolling around in dungeons and in the field, you see other people’s bodies countless times. Even if that weren’t the case, it wasn’t shameful for fellow Espers to see each other naked.

“The clothes smell like you, Team Leader, so I don’t want to take them off.”

“Don’t take them off, then.”

“You got a man’s hopes up and now…”

“It’s not that I got your hopes up, it’s that you got your own hopes up.”

“Was it obvious?”

As if he had decided to openly act cute, Han Suryeon pressed his body a little closer to his leg. It was just amazing how he could contort that large frame.

“Give it.”

With a flick of his hand, Han Suryeon, who understood his meaning at once, handed over the glass he was holding.

Yoon Taehwa fiddled with the thin stem of the glass before taking a sip of wine. The moderately bitter taste went down his throat with a heavy weight.

‘I don’t really like drinking in front of other people.’

Even though he smoked often, he rarely touched alcohol. He knew how to enjoy champagne and wine to some extent due to occasionally having to attend events as a member of Taeseong, but if it wasn’t for such cases, he rarely sought out alcohol himself.

Yoon Taehwa sought alcohol for very limited reasons. One of them was when he felt work-related fatigue, like today.

“Are you going to have more?”

The wine had dwindled to the point where it barely coated the bottom of the glass. Yoon Taehwa unconsciously lowered his eyelids. When their eyes met, Han Suryeon gently softened his eyes and let out a crinkly-eyed smile. Taking the glass that had been swirling meaninglessly, he began to fill it with wine.

“Is this your taste in wine? The alcohol content is pretty high.”

“It’s my sister’s taste.”

“You don’t seem to drink much at home.”

“I don’t particularly like it.”

It was good for clearing his head.

Yoon Taehwa accepted the glass Han Suryeon offered. When he took another sip, the liquid that wet the tip of his tongue felt sweeter than before.

‘I should probably drink in moderation.’

In fact, Yoon Taehwa was a lightweight. He had never drunk to the point of blacking out, but he tended to get drunk faster than others. That was why he didn’t drink outside, and why he rarely touched it.

The only advantage was that since he got drunk quickly, on tired days, it was convenient to drink it as a substitute for sleeping pills.

“You asked Yoon Taein if he was a Guide.”

Yoon Taehwa asked, handing the half-empty wine glass to Han Suryeon.

“Yes.”

Han Suryeon nodded, drinking the remaining wine. His face, looking up while leaning his arm on the thigh, was quite gentle.

“I’m curious why you suddenly asked something like that…”

“I asked to seduce you, Team Leader.”

“What does that have to do with being a Guide?”

“I’d be jealous if they were your Pair, Team Leader.”

“I don’t have a Paired Guide.”

Yoon Taehwa faintly furrowed the front of his brows.

There were a few pairs of Espers and Guides in a Paired relationship at the Center, but it wasn’t common. In the first place, meeting a partner with a high matching rate was extremely rare, and with the development of Guiding medication, the dependence on Guides had decreased.

‘Not many people want to have their lives mortgaged.’

It might seem romantic, but for both Espers and Guides, it was practically a shackle.

“You never know, the Team Leader might be hiding one.”

The whining voice couldn’t hide his languid eyes.

“What are you going to do if I am hiding one?”

Han Suryeon leisurely rested his chin. Right on Yoon Taehwa’s thigh.

“Can I be honest?”

“Speak.”

“Our Team Leader has to receive Guiding… so I’d let them live, but…”

“‘Let them live, but…’”

Han Suryeon slowly blinked his eyes, like a drunk person.

“Ah… No matter how I think about it, I don’t think I can. I’ll find you a good Guide from Russia. The Pair, I’ll have to kill them.”

For someone declaring he would kill a Pair in front of an Esper, his face looked excessively innocent.

What on earth is this guy thinking? He couldn’t understand the reason why he kept sticking to him. As if his blatant question was written all over his face, Han Suryeon lifted the chin he had been resting.

“I told you I’m going to seduce you, Team Leader…”

“Try your best to seduce me.”

Yoon Taehwa smiled thinly. Figuring out Han Suryeon’s objective would ultimately be his responsibility.

“Then can I do as I please?”

His ankle was grabbed from under the sweatpants. The fingers rubbing his Achilles tendon held a clear intent. This time, too, Yoon Taehwa twitched his lips upwards. Putting strength into his captured ankle, he lightly pressed down on Han Suryeon’s thigh.

“I told you to try…”

The sole of his bare foot pressed against a piece of flesh that was as hard as a thigh, but unlike it, hot.

“Han Suryeon.”

No sooner had the name fallen than the body heat on his ankle disappeared. Lips parted, and hot tongues tangled sloppily.

“Uht.”

At the pressure on his thigh, Yoon Taehwa unknowingly frowned. It was the other thigh, not the one another’s chin had rested on just before. A smooth hand, without a single scar, gripped his leg and pressed down on the genitals hidden under the sweatpants.

‘Honestly…’

For some unknown reason, a low laugh burst out. As if he could feel the mocking laughter through their touching lips, Han Suryeon pulled his lips away and tilted his head askew.

“The Team Leader is definitely hard too… Why aren’t you focusing on me?”

“You’re right, I am hard.”

He was dumbfounded by himself. Yoon Taehwa gripped the back of Han Suryeon’s head and growled.

“So, Suryeon-ah.”

“..…”

“How about you suck on my tongue for a bit.”

The piece of flesh tasted the same as the wine he had drunk.