044

Given that there were over a hundred known members of the National Assembly before the invasion, any clue was necessary. Ha-gyeom wanted to know how many of those like Representative Kim held power but remained unknown.

When he asked boldly, Baek-sa pulled him closer by the neck, their lips nearly touching as he whispered.

“Correct.”

“……”

“Is this the answer you wanted?”

It was wordplay. He knew when to be cautious and when it wasn’t necessary. Just because Baek-sa had told the truth up to now didn’t guarantee this answer was genuine.

Knowing that Ha-gyeom was from the center, Baek-sa couldn’t help but play along. Instead of arguing, Ha-gyeom changed the subject.

“Aren’t you upset or sad about losing your memory?”

Baek-sa paused for a moment. He pressed his lips to Ha-gyeom’s excited skin, moving from his lips to his jaw and neck.

“How can I be upset or sad about losing something when I don’t even know what it was? Isn’t that right?”

It wasn’t wrong. Losing one’s memory meant also forgetting the people in it. If you didn’t know who you missed, it was natural not to feel the longing. Ha-gyeom almost envied Baek-sa for that.

Within himself, Baek Seung-woo was still very much alive. He never even tried to forget him, but there were times he wished the memories weren’t so vivid.

As their bodies pressed together, Ha-gyeom felt his energy stabilizing. It made him wonder if Espers and guides should have been created as one being in the first place. Whoever caused the emergence of these abilities must have had a reason.

“It’s me who lost my memory, so why are you making that face?”

Because it’s heartbreaking. Especially the fact that he didn’t remember Ha-gyeom, who he once treated so dearly, was unbearably despairing.

The joy of finding Baek Seung-woo again was fleeting. Accepting and adapting to his changed self in this place, which he never wanted to return to, wasn’t easy.

“I don’t know. It just feels weird that someone who seems to know everything about the world doesn’t remember his own past. Technically, you’re not thirty-one but more like five years old.”

After a half-hearted excuse, Ha-gyeom wrapped his arms around Baek-sa’s neck. Baek-sa hugged him back and pinched his waist gently.

Anyone watching their physical affection might think they were destined to be together. However, the thirty-one-year-old he imagined and his twenty-one-year-old self were not like this. Baek Seung-woo was not a man he could touch, kiss, or hold so casually.

“Haah…”

As the contact grew more intense, a faint moan escaped through Ha-gyeom’s teeth. Startled by his instinctive reaction, Ha-gyeom realized he wouldn’t be able to get any useful information in this state.

“How long are we going to stay like this?”

“Why, don’t you like it?”

Despite the sharp tone, Baek-sa spoke with a mischievous voice. He then slid his hand into Ha-gyeom’s hair and warned in a low voice.

“If you behave, you won’t get hurt. Don’t do anything noticeable and just stay quiet.”

“For your sake?”

“What’s wrong with that? Other guides are desperate to get my attention.”

Before Baek-sa could pull his hair, Ha-gyeom shifted his body. Pushing hard against Baek-sa’s chest, he managed to make him step back.

As Baek-sa stood watching silently, Ha-gyeom scanned him from head to toe. Even without his memories, it was undeniable that Baek-sa was an attractive man. It was a complicated situation, not quite Baek Seung-woo, but close enough to ignite possessive feelings.

Finally, Ha-gyeom voiced a buried question.

“What did you do to that new guide that made Dr. Cha so disappointed?”

He worried it might sound like a sneer. After all, he wouldn’t bring it up if he didn’t care.

Avoiding eye contact, he waited for a response. Baek-sa smirked.

“When you want something, you really bristle up, don’t you?”

“Now you’re calling me a cat?”

Baek-sa chuckled at Ha-gyeom’s retort.

“You could say that. As for the guide, it wasn’t anything special. The match rate just wasn’t good enough.”

“Really? Nothing special?”

“Nothing special. Just a poor match. But I guess you’re enjoying this?”

Ha-gyeom’s mind raced. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Baek-sa was hiding something more. The way Baek-sa shifted topics and avoided deeper answers left Ha-gyeom suspicious but also painfully aware of the power imbalance between them.

“Well, unlike others, I don’t need to compete for your attention, right?”

“That’s true. You’re unique.”

Ha-gyeom sighed internally. The conversation had revealed little, but the physical connection was undeniable. Perhaps, over time, the answers would come.

“Fine, I’ll be patient. But don’t think I won’t find out everything eventually.”

Baek-sa’s eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and something else, something deeper that Ha-gyeom couldn’t quite read.

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

The tension between them simmered as Ha-gyeom felt the weight of Baek-sa’s words. It was a game of patience and persistence, one he was determined not to lose.

“If you look like that, you wouldn’t even need to put in any effort.”

“What effort have I made?”

“You’re already acting desperate for attention.”

Effort? Desperate? Those were ridiculous words. Even though he had a habit of giving his all in everything, he had never tried or acted desperate to get his attention.

If it were for Baek Seungwoo, maybe. As he tilted his head in genuine confusion, Baek Sa approached quickly and pinched his cheek. When he brushed his chin with the back of his hand, Ha-gyeom couldn’t help but squint one eye.

Baek Sa looked down arrogantly and said, “If you want to be my exclusive guide so badly, just say so.”

“…Ha. Ridiculous.”

“If you don’t want me sleeping with other guides, just say that too.”

“Not like you’d listen anyway.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t?”

When he responded nonchalantly, an unexpected reply came back. A chilling sensation ran down his spine. Ha-gyeom couldn’t hide the deep blush spreading across his face. Come to think of it, why had he assumed it wouldn’t go his way?

After all, he was Baek Sa, but also Baek Seungwoo. If it were Baek Seungwoo, he was convinced that no matter how high the matching rate was, he wouldn’t take him as his exclusive guide. At least, the Baek Seungwoo Ha-gyeom knew wouldn’t readily accept guiding someone he had taken care of like a younger sibling.

Even if Baek Sa had such intentions, Ha-gyeom figured he would have commanded him like he did when he told him to come to his room at midnight every Friday, rather than asking for his opinion.

But then.

“Are you saying you’d do as I wish?”

“There’s no law against it, and in a world where laws are now meaningless, what Esper would miss out on a guide with a 99% matching rate?”

“…….”

“Of course, a backup is necessary, but I’ve never once said I didn’t want you as my exclusive guide.”

Whether it was a blessing or a curse, Ha-gyeom couldn’t tell. It might be better to be one of the many guides dealing with him. Being the exclusive guide to an exceptional Esper was a significant responsibility. When the opportunity finally came, Ha-gyeom felt himself shrink back.

However, that was only for a moment. Seeing Baek Sa in front of him made his mind go blank with urgency. It was only natural to seize the chance to monopolize him until he regained his memory or an opportunity to get him out of here arose.

If Baek Sa liked even a small part of him, should he consider himself lucky? Ha-gyeom was deeply worried about what would happen after Baek Seungwoo regained his memory.

How would he feel about guiding someone who knew he had lost his memory, and would he feel repulsed upon realizing they had a physical relationship? Just imagining Baek Seungwoo reflecting on him moaning under him made his heart sink.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Baek Sa asked. Although Ha-gyeom’s mind was a mess, he decided to deal with the person in front of him, Baek Sa, first.

“Yeah.”

Seeing the confident look in his eyes, instead of feeling hurt, he was just thrilled. Ha-gyeom grabbed Baek Sa’s t-shirt and pulled it slightly towards him. Despite his strong build, Baek Sa was easily drawn in, smiling with a look devoid of any kindness.

Contrary to the previous teasing, their lips met without hesitation. Following his lead was overwhelming, and Ha-gyeom quickly gave in.

After a long, messy kiss, Baek Sa pulled away and said, “Now it’s my turn.”

“…For what?”

Just from the kiss, Ha-gyeom was already dazed. Looking at him with hazy eyes, Baek Sa added with a smirk, “Never mind the guiding experience. Have you ever dated anyone?”

“…What?”

“A boyfriend, a lover, whatever. Have you had one? Or do you have one now?”

His mind snapped back to clarity. Why was Baek Sa curious about something like that? Since Ha-gyeom had no dating experience, he could only open and close his mouth.

“That’s a privacy issue. Why should I answer that?”

Having always focused on Baek Seungwoo and not being of a gentle nature, he had never naturally come to like anyone. Above all, as a guide, he was extremely wary of entanglements with anyone at the center.

“Your questions to me haven’t exactly respected my privacy either.”

Baek Sa seemed to have a knowing look. Not sure why he felt uneasy, Ha-gyeom didn’t want to tell the truth.

“What does it matter? Whether I have one or not, it’s hard to meet again anyway. Don’t tell me you have some peculiar value system where you don’t touch someone with a lover, being an Esper?”

Knowing that snapping back would only highlight his discomfort, he spat out the words without breathing. Catching his breath, Baek Sa raised an eyebrow and said, “That wasn’t my intention, but since we’re on the topic, whether you have a lover or not, your top priority must be me.”

“…Priority?”

“Even if you’re with your lover, if I call, you must come immediately.”

That was a guide’s duty. Even without emphasizing it, he was already prepared for it. Ha-gyeom asked with a skeptical face.

“Are you saying you wouldn’t mind if I had a lover?”

Baek Sa nodded. Staring at Ha-gyeom’s lips, already wet with saliva, he added.

“I was just curious.”