Chapter 19

About an hour ago.

Haon tilted his head. It was because he didn’t understand what he had just heard. No, he did understand, but he couldn’t accept it.

“So… Director Han’s said…”

“At the center, Cha Yugeon and Park Haon are supposed to live together.”

“Why…?”

“The two of you have significantly higher compatibility rates compared to other guides or espers. However, as mentioned, your resonance is on the lower side, so that needs to be improved. Thus, the Center judge that living together is deemed helpful.”

“…And if we refuse?”

Haon gathered the courage to ask. If he had to live with Cha Yugeon, that troublemaker, he couldn’t simply agree without any resistance. Some form of protest was necessary. Haon swallowed dryly and looked at Director Han. When he glanced at Cha Yugeon, the latter remained silent for some unknown reason.

“I hope you can accept this arrangement.”

“Is that a threat?”

“…I hope you don’t see it that way.”

Haon burst into a bitter laugh at Director Han’s words. Even though he said not to consider it a threat, ultimately, it was no different from coercion.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“What should I say?”

“…Never mind.”

In a final attempt to press Cha Yugeon, Haon tried to urge him, but the evasive response was far from satisfactory.

Living together, that Cha Yugeon probably hates it as much as he does, so what on earth was that blank reaction?

Haon couldn’t fathom what Cha Yugeon was thinking. He stared at him, trying to grasp his intentions. However, no matter how intensely he glared at Cha Yugeon, he was not a psychic capable of mind reading, so there was no way he could know Cha Yugeon’s thoughts.

“…Sharing the same accommodation might be a bit inconvenient.”

Haon couldn’t give up. He expressed his opinion once again.

He didn’t want to share his living space with Cha Yugeon.

“…Is using the same building acceptable, then? We can consider combining accommodations later, but for now, we’ll arrange for you to move quickly since your current residences are quite distant.”

“…It’s acceptable.”

After a brief contemplation, Haon accepted Director Han’s suggestion.

It seemed like Director Han had compromised to some extent, and Haon felt he had to accept this to avoid further complications.

Following this, Cha Yugeon, who had been silent, chimed in, “Okay.”

Cha Yugeon complied without any resistance.

Director Han let out a sigh of relief, seemingly satisfied.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

Director Han exchanged brief greetings and stood up.

If it were the usual Haon, he might have politely said goodbye, but right now, he wasn’t in the mood for courtesy.

Haon remained silent as he watched Director Han leave.

“What’s up? Aren’t you leaving?”

“Cha Yugeon, what on earth are you thinking?”

 “What are you talking about?”

Cha Yugeon furrowed his brows as if he were annoyed.

Haon’s already uneasy judgment was now even more distorted due to this reaction.

“Didn’t you hate me, right? Then why didn’t you say anything when they suggested us to live together? No, in the first place, Why did you stay silent even when they told us to engage in skinship? Do you like me?”

Haon regretted the last question that slipped out in his frustration. It was an unintentional remark driven by the stifling emotions.

This was all because of Hyeon Siyun. Due to his pointless remarks yesterday, Haon found himself making equally unnecessary remarks without even realizing it.

Haon directed the arrow of blame towards Siyun.

It wasn’t that he said something unforgivable, but Haon felt Cha Yugeon’s gaze pierce through him.

To his dismay, Cha Yugeon was looking at him with a vacant expression.

“Park Haon, are you crazy?”

“…”

Unable to respond to Cha Yugeon’s seemingly incredulous question, Haon could only stay silent.

He wished he could turn back time, especially after uttering such thoughtless words.

“Do I like you? Is that even possible? Unless I’m insane, why would I like someone like you?”

Haon’s expression, clouded by regret, crumpled at Cha Yugeon’s sarcastic tone.

 He knew that Cha Yugeon would be displeased, but hearing the words “someone like you” face to face was far from pleasant.

“Enough, forget it. I must be losing my mind. I spoke nonsense, that’s all.”

Haon only wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation.

Then he swiftly pushed open the door of the meeting room, leaving it behind.

“Fuck.”

Swearing involuntarily due to the unresolved frustration, Haon quickly headed towards his accommodation.

Director Han had mentioned that the Center’s staff would come to Haon’s dorm  today.

Though he didn’t know exactly when they would arrive, he couldn’t allow them to handle his belongings freely.

With these thoughts, Haon hastened his steps.

“Damn it.”

Arriving at his drom, Haon let out a deep sigh of frustration.

He had heard noisy sounds from a distance since turning the corner of the corridor, and though he hoped otherwise, it seemed to be true. Still, he couldn’t believe that the staff would move his belongings without permission.

However, reality was never on Haon’s side. The door to his dorm was wide open, and several people were carrying boxes one by one.

Since furniture was an optional addition to the accommodation, there were only a few personal items, clothes, essentials, and a few books.

Yet, considering the time he spent living at the Center, there was quite a bit of luggage.

Filled with dissatisfaction, Haon approached his dorm. The closer he got, the more absurd it seemed.

The dorm was almost completely emptied. Haon couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, hello. Are you the owner here?”

“Yes. But who gave you permission to move my belongings?”

“Director Han instructed us to move them.”

Without hesitation, Haon chose to respond with rough breathing.

Meanwhile, the staff continued to move his belongings busily. Haon followed them, partially resigned.

The destination was the most recently built dormitory within the center. As it was newly constructed, the facilities were excellent, and the space was wonderfully spacious.

Hence, all awakened individuals in the Center wished to use this new building. However, due to high demand, not everyone could move in.

The lottery was conducted for top-tier awakened individuals, and the new building was a dream accommodation for them.

Of course, Haon was no exception. Whenever he passed by this building, his heart would flutter.

He had even thought about living in such a place someday.

However, it wasn’t like this.

To move here because of Cha Yugeon made the situation unbearable.

“Where should we put the boxes?”

“Anywhere is fine.”

He responds with a sense of despair, the staff placed Haon’s belongings in one of the three rooms on the first floor.

In an instant, a stack of seventeen boxes piled up inside the room.

The staff left the accommodation after a brief greeting.

Haon sighed deeply and lay down on the bed.

How much time had passed? It seemed like he had dozed off for a moment.

Haon got up from bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Earlier, he was too preoccupied to explore the new dorm, but now he was curious about every corner.

“What’s this…?”

There was a door on the balcony.

Haon cautiously turned the doorknob.

Upon opening the door, he found the interior of the building, similar to where he had just been.

“What is this… Why did they construct the building like this?”

Haon instinctively thought he shouldn’t come back here.

It seemed like a door connected to someone else’s accommodation.

In the brief moment he decided to turn back before the original occupant appeared, he encountered an unexpected sight.

“Oh my god!”

Haon was disgusted when he saw a person naked body.

The protagonist of the embarrassing scene was none other than Cha Yugeon.

With water droplets falling from his hair, he seemed to have just taken a shower.

His large, firm chest and broad shoulders caught Haon’s attention.

Unintentionally, Haon scrutinized his body.

“What are you looking at?”

“You were naked, so unintentionally I took a look. Why are you wandering around naked? Are you a pervert?”

“This is my dorm.”

“What? Oh, damn… Director Han is really…”

Only now did Haon understand why Director Han had willingly agreed to this.

Although their accommodations were separate, there was only one door between them.

Haon decided he needed to lock that door and place his belongings in front of it to ensure there would be no coming and going.

“Uh…”

At that moment, the towel wrapped around Cha Yugeon’s lower body slipped down. Time seemed to slow down as Haon tried to avert his gaze. Even though he thought he should avoid looking, Haon couldn’t turn his head because ‘that’ caught his eye.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung heavily in the air.

Haon alternated between glancing at ‘that’ and Cha Yugeon’s face, and soon, he burst into laughter.

“Hey, you don’t really have it?”

“Hey, you fuck! It’s not gone, It’s just not visible, okay?!”

“Hahaha, this is insane, really. Have you been living like this? Hahaha!”

Haon saw ‘that’ for sure, but there was nothing there.

It was a truly bizarre sight, but as Haon, who knows the inside story, he couldn’t help but laugh.

As he laughed until he teared up Cha Yugeon approached, narrowing the distance.

“Damn it, Park Haon. Take responsibility.”

“Cha, Cha Yugeon… What are you doing?”

Haon took a step back, looking at Cha Yugeon.

Several thoughts crossed his mind. He began to doubt whether this situation was real or a dream. Is this really happening…?

“Take responsibility.”

“Uh… Why do I have to?”

“This happened because of you!”

“Well, I don’t really understand why it’s because of me…”

Watching Cha Yugeon closing in, Haon trailed off.

As Haon stepped back, Cha Yugeon took one step closer.

So when Haon stepped back one pace, Cha Yugeon closed the gap by two paces.

Before long, the distance between the two had significantly shortened.

* * *

Hey, you, damn it, it’s frustrating.

Haon muttered curses under his breath, walking wherever his feet landed.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd and frustrating it became.

Cha Yugeon had shown him his transparent d*ck and approached him slowly.

he was so scared that he ran away, but now that he thought about it, he didn’t understand why he ran away.

“Ugh, you scumbag.”

Haon muttered to himself while gripping his head. He had escaped from the Center, but it wouldn’t last long. He would either return to the Center on his own or be caught and taken back; there was no other outcome.

Haon plopped down on the first bench he found.

How long had he been walking? His legs were sore.

He didn’t realize he was in pain, but considering the tingling sensation, it had been a considerable distance.

Haon absentmindedly leaned against the bench and looked up at the sky.

The sky, without a single cloud, showcased a beautiful blue hue. Watching the clear sky, Haon’s thoughts involuntarily twisted, wondering if he was born with a twisted fate.

“Everything is so annoying, really.”

At that moment…

Beep, beep, beep!

Siren sounds echoed in all directions.