62

“…Stay within the boundaries?”

Ha-gyeom was sickened by Baek Sa’s unabashed need for control. For a moment, he didn’t even notice the heat spreading beneath his nose as he locked eyes with Baek Sa. Soon enough, Baek Sa’s fingers reached up to touch his upper lip.

“I don’t want you to get hurt. And it’s not just because of the matching rate, so don’t get the wrong idea. Also, you should think carefully about who’s keeping you alive here.”

Ha-gyeom couldn’t respond, only blinking as he looked up at Baek Sa. Baek Sa swiped his thumb across Ha-gyeom’s philtrum and showed him the blood that had smeared onto it. It was a nosebleed. Though not much, the color was vivid even in the darkness.

…Was that why he suddenly kissed me? Ha-gyeom’s eyes widened, realizing he hadn’t felt any pain until just now.

“It seems like you’re still inexperienced at managing your energy. Reduce the waves.”

Baek Sa looked up at the large aura surrounding them and spoke clearly. After wiping his hand with a clean cloth and stepping back, the warmth that had enveloped Ha-gyeom’s body quickly dissipated. Despite his still-swollen groin, Baek Sa returned to his original position, leaning back as if nothing had happened.

“Yeo Jin-joo was under the influence of drugs.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even in that state, she’s far more skilled at controlling her waves than you are.”

Ha-gyeom’s pride was wounded. He hadn’t felt any strain on his body, so it was all the more frustrating that his nose chose this moment to bleed. It was the first time he’d gained such a high level of energy, and the first time he’d tried to manage it, so it was understandable, but still….

After managing to sit up and reduce the energy waves, his nose stopped bleeding. Ha-gyeom wiped his reddened nose and moved to the far end of the blanket, away from Baek Sa, pulling the blanket over himself.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence ensued. Ha-gyeom’s pride was further hurt by the fact that he couldn’t help but be conscious of Baek Sa’s presence. He suppressed his rebellious thoughts and sharpened his senses, focusing on Baek Sa, who was now out of his line of sight.

‘I don’t want you to get hurt. And it’s not just because of the matching rate, so don’t get the wrong idea.’

Ha-gyeom knew in his heart that it probably didn’t mean much, but his mind kept replaying the words. Despite all the forcefulness, warnings, and disregard, he knew that Baek Sa, like Baek Seung-woo, was ultimately protecting him.

Ha-gyeom recalled Baek Sa’s sharp eyes once more. There were clearly new layers building upon Baek Seung-woo’s shadow. However, accepting it emotionally was a different matter.

While fiddling with the worn-out blanket, Baek Sa checked his wristwatch. During their confrontation, the night had deepened. Only then did Ha-gyeom close his eyes and focus on the energy coursing through his body. Though no internal injuries had started, his condition had deteriorated due to maintaining the energy waves for so long.

Thinking it might be best to rest his eyes for a bit, he started to burrow into the blanket when Baek Sa suddenly reached out with both hands. Sliding his hands under Ha-gyeom’s armpits, Baek Sa effortlessly lifted him. He hesitated, then offered his knee instead.

Caught off guard, Ha-gyeom found himself lying on Baek Sa’s lap. The floor was cold, but Baek Sa’s body heat and the blanket he carefully covered Ha-gyeom with kept the chill at bay. Ha-gyeom looked up at Baek Sa through half-lidded eyes, unable to straighten his messy bangs.

“Just a moment ago, you looked like you were about to devour me….”

What was meant to be a thought slipped out as words. Baek Sa didn’t respond to the rebuke; instead, he covered Ha-gyeom’s eyes with his large hand. When Ha-gyeom reflexively grabbed at Baek Sa’s fingers, he relented and started to gently stroke Ha-gyeom’s hair.

The gentle touch was unfamiliar, contrasting sharply with Baek Sa’s cold, dawn-like eyes.

If Ha-gyeom had gone on the mission with Baek Seung-woo, would they have ended the day like this? If the man before him was Baek Seung-woo, Ha-gyeom knew he wouldn’t have been able to control his trembling. He would have loved the unique kindness that he found so frustrating.

But in the end, it was all just an illusion. Ha-gyeom closed his eyes in silence.

9. Reunion

On the map that Baek Sa spread out, Incheon Airport, Gwanghwamun in Seoul, and a warehouse in Yongin were marked. These were all locations where anomalies had been reported, and Baek Sa had chosen Gwanghwamun as their next destination.

Since Yeo Jin-joo still hadn’t recovered by morning, Tae-seong ended up driving their vehicle. As Ha-gyeom sat alone in the Humvee with Baek Sa, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the city, which seemed frozen in time, as they neared Seoul.

In the years following the invasion, the remaining humanity had tried to clean up the bodies left on land and repair the destroyed roads. But as the radiation contamination worsened, more and more zones concluded that such efforts were futile.

With even those recovery efforts abandoned, every place humanity had once inhabited was left to decay, as if time had suddenly stopped overnight.

The roads leading to resource points were kept open just enough for a single vehicle to pass through. In contrast, other areas were still clogged with abandoned cars. Baek Sa had to swerve the vehicle several times to avoid collapsed sections of the road.

Unlike the previous day, dark clouds were rolling in from the east. By the time they approached the last bridge on their route, Banghwa Bridge, it was already noon.

Baek Sa remained silent until they reached Seoul. He was alert, his eyes scanning the sky and surroundings as they moved toward their destination. The atmosphere had become so subdued overnight that Ha-gyeom didn’t dare break the silence, merely watching Baek Sa’s expressions.

The first time Baek Sa openly glanced at Ha-gyeom was when he opened the window after they left Incheon Airport.

As the car sped up on the bridge, Ha-gyeom naturally wanted to feel the wind on his face. Without bothering to ask for permission, he leaned out slightly. Despite the overcast sky, the spring air was palpable.

“It’s dangerous.”

Only then did Baek Sa finally speak. He abruptly grabbed the back of Ha-gyeom’s neck and pulled him inward. Complying without resistance, Ha-gyeom closed the window halfway.

Baek Sa didn’t pull away after that. Ha-gyeom couldn’t help but be distracted by Baek Sa’s fingers, which were now buried deep in the back of his head, further tousling his already disheveled hair. It was also puzzling that, unlike before, there was no sharp edge to Baek Sa’s words, which had sounded more like a warning.

“…It’s been a long time.”

Ha-gyeom offered an excuse for no reason and rubbed his now-tingling ear. For a long moment, both of them idly touched his ear before Baek Sa finally withdrew his hand. Though Baek Sa’s expression had returned to its usual tight-lipped seriousness, it didn’t seem like he was mocking him.

Ever since waking up after falling asleep on Baek Sa’s lap, Ha-gyeom found Baek Sa’s persistent kindness rather suspicious.

Before his thoughts could wander further, Ha-gyeom turned his gaze back to the window. Though a considerable amount of time had passed, Ha-gyeom still remembered life before the invasion vividly. Even if it wasn’t the place he had lived, he knew that the Han River he was currently looking at ran close to where he had lived. The river was visibly much drier than it had been before.

The forest of buildings in the distance looked like nothing more than ruins. Where the monsters had grazed, the buildings’ skeletons were fully exposed, and the places they had gnawed on were left with blackened holes. There were countless buildings that seemed to be standing only by a miracle, leaning precariously as if they could collapse at any moment.

The eerie absence of any signs of life in a place filled with remnants of civilization sent a chill down Ha-gyeom’s spine. Despite the openness of the bridge, a tightness formed in his chest.

As they entered the heart of the city, the obstacles increased. Eventually, Dr. Park had to get out of the following vehicle and start clearing the debris on foot.

“Damn it. There’s no end to this, no end at all!”

Even as he cursed gruffly while making his way forward, Dr. Park was still feeling the effects of the drugs. Watching the cars bounce away like crumbs under Dr. Park’s hands, Ha-gyeom could only gape in astonishment.

By the time they reached Gwanghwamun Square, it was almost 2 PM. Though smaller in scale than Incheon Airport, there were three gaping holes where the monsters had emerged. The creatures slithering out of the holes, like snakes, were just as grotesque as before.

Without thinking, Ha-gyeom covered his mouth in disgust. Watching Dr. Park stare at the holes with a manic gleam in his eyes was equally unsettling. Needing to clear his mind, Ha-gyeom fixated his gaze on Baek Sa as he stepped out of the vehicle.

Baek Sa, with the machine gun slung over his shoulder, observed the monsters’ movements for a while. Then, as if surveying the area, he scanned the surroundings. How on earth were they supposed to locate the espers in this vast place?

But that concern soon proved unnecessary.

Bang! Bang!

Baek Sa, having drawn the Glock from his waist, fired several shots, aiming somewhere within the building.