DL Episode 78

#78

Ha-gyeom’s voice trembled with frustration as he spoke, his words tinged with hurt.

“At that moment… I just didn’t want to see your face.”

Baek Sa traced the shell of Ha-gyeom’s ear with his fingers, brushing against the heated skin of his nape. The tremor that ran through Ha-gyeom’s body was palpable.

“Outside… you were so cold to me. You lied to me, and on top of that… you knew how much I missed you… and you still….”

His voice broke, laden with emotion. The word ‘missed’ resonated strangely in Baek Sa’s mind. He wasn’t unfamiliar with that relentless, aching feeling—it had gripped him in the early days of his time here, gnawing at his resolve. But even that yearning had eventually dulled, leaving only a hollow ache.

Now, as a sharp pain spread through his chest, it felt foreign, almost unbearable.

“You made it sound like… you wanted me to leave,” Ha-gyeom murmured.

Baek Sa remained silent, even as he gently caressed Ha-gyeom’s soft skin. Despite the soothing touch, Ha-gyeom’s wounded words persisted.

“Like you could live just fine without me….”

Pressing his lips softly to Ha-gyeom’s warm skin, Baek Sa eventually met his gaze. Ha-gyeom’s usually gentle eyes held a faint edge, like a blade dulled by uncertainty.

“I thought it was better to hurt you than to put you in danger,” Baek Sa admitted.

Ha-gyeom’s brows furrowed, his dark eyes filled with confusion and rebellion. It was clear he didn’t fully understand what Baek Sa meant, but the words left him unsettled. Baek Sa, unbothered by Ha-gyeom’s discontent, pressed on.

“Yet, in the end, I brought you here… knowing it’s hell.”

Ha-gyeom might never realize the selfishness that had driven Baek Sa’s decision. Even as Ha-gyeom’s gaze wavered with hints of reproach, Baek Sa continued, his tone resolute.

“However much it hurts because of me, don’t even think about seeking comfort in another Esper. You’re my dedicated guide, and only I can make your energy whole.”

No other Esper could attune to Ha-gyeom’s energy the way Baek Sa could. To recover from his internal injuries, Ha-gyeom needed him—needed the refinement of energy that only a guide could provide through their shared connection.

As Baek Sa’s intense gaze locked onto him, Ha-gyeom bit his lower lip but said nothing. Though Baek Sa had no intention of taking things further for now, Ha-gyeom’s vulnerability was apparent.

The hesitation in Ha-gyeom’s body spurred Baek Sa to approach carefully. Lowering his head, he captured Ha-gyeom’s lips with his own, tasting the sweetness that lingered there. The resistance he felt was faint, a fragile push against him.

“Mm… wait… just a moment…”

Rather than deepening the kiss immediately, Baek Sa paused, his sharp eyes observing Ha-gyeom’s trembling pupils. It wasn’t the first time he had seen such fear in Ha-gyeom’s eyes, but this time it was different—there was something raw about it.

Ha-gyeom nervously licked his lips, his discomfort evident as his hands pressed lightly against Baek Sa’s chest. The realization of their situation was clear in his expression, the tension almost suffocating.

“I… it’s hard… knowing it’s you,” Ha-gyeom whispered, his voice faltering.

The feeble resistance was nothing more than a fleeting sensation to Baek Sa, insignificant against the emotions coursing through him. He took in the sight of Ha-gyeom’s flushed nape and tearful eyes, moving closer without hesitation. Ha-gyeom, as expected, failed to stop him.

Soft, lingering kisses landed on his jaw, his neck, and the delicate line of his collarbone.

Smack, smooch.

The sound echoed in the quiet room, leaving Ha-gyeom helpless to do anything but endure.

The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with unspoken desires. Ha-gyeom’s trembling voice broke the silence, his words barely audible yet saturated with vulnerability.

“I… I imagined being with you,” he admitted, his breath hitching as his hands roamed over Baek Sa’s body, tracing the contours of his chest and neck.

Baek Sa’s dark gaze bore into Ha-gyeom, the weight of his confession resonating deeply. He could feel Ha-gyeom’s body trembling against his own, the intensity of the moment evident in every labored breath and uncertain touch.

“Imagined doing… things with you,” Ha-gyeom continued, his voice faltering but his hands steady as they explored Baek Sa’s firm, scarred physique.

Baek Sa’s jaw tightened, his fingers digging into Ha-gyeom’s slender waist. He fought to maintain control, the raw honesty in Ha-gyeom’s words stoking a fire within him that he struggled to contain.

“Did you?” Baek Sa’s voice was low, almost a growl, as he tilted his head to meet Ha-gyeom’s gaze.

Ha-gyeom nodded, his cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “Every night, I… I thought of you. Missed you. Wanted to be with you, like this.”

For a moment, Baek Sa was silent, his grip on Ha-gyeom’s waist tightening as he processed the younger man’s words. He had always known that their connection ran deep, but hearing Ha-gyeom’s unabashed confession was something else entirely.

“You shouldn’t have,” Baek Sa said finally, his voice tinged with an unfamiliar mix of frustration and longing.

“But I did,” Ha-gyeom countered, his tone firmer now, his hands moving to cup Baek Sa’s face. “I couldn’t help it.”

Baek Sa exhaled sharply, his resolve wavering. He pulled Ha-gyeom closer, their foreheads touching as he closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing.

“You’re making this harder than it already is,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ha-gyeom’s lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. “Then don’t fight it.”

Baek Sa’s eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto Ha-gyeom’s. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the space between them charged with an electric intensity. Then, with a low growl, Baek Sa closed the distance, capturing Ha-gyeom’s lips in a searing, desperate kiss.

This time, there was no hesitation, no holding back. Their movements were clumsy, driven by raw emotion rather than practiced skill, but neither seemed to care. Ha-gyeom’s hands tangled in Baek Sa’s hair, his body pressing against him as if seeking solace in his embrace.

Baek Sa responded in kind, his hands roaming over Ha-gyeom’s back and shoulders, pulling him closer still. He could feel the younger man’s heart pounding against his own, their breaths mingling as the kiss deepened.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Baek Sa allowed himself to let go, to give in to the emotions he had tried so hard to suppress. And in that moment, nothing else mattered.