DP Episode 107

Deep Pivot Episode 107

Seo-joon, having escorted Hee-min out of the hospital room, led him through the hallway until they were well away from any prying ears.

“We’ve got approval, Seo-joon.”

They had reached the employee lounge next to the emergency stairs. After ensuring they were alone, Seo-joon finally turned to look at Hee-min.

“Major General Park was furious at first, but he was thrilled when he heard we were heading to NASA for a summit on ending the Gates.”

Hee-min, who no longer avoided Seo-joon’s gaze or fiddled with his glasses, looked noticeably more at ease.

“It’ll be just the two of us, strictly confidential. Since it’s an unofficial classified meeting, you’ll be going as a researcher.”

Not having to lie anymore seemed to have lifted a significant burden from his conscience. After all, Hee-min was never good at deceit. Seo-joon nodded and asked,

“So, will we be able to meet their No-named?”

“Oh, Eric Donovan? You want to meet him? It would be good to see him in person, considering this isn’t an opportunity that comes often. I’ll have to discuss it with them.”

As Hee-min nodded, a different worry crossed his face. At IGTS headquarters, there was someone he despised—the deputy director.

“I’ll have to discuss the schedule with their director.”

At least, while they were there, Hee-min intended to keep the deputy director at a distance. He had no intention of bringing Seo-joon into proximity with that madman without proper safeguards.

In their previous call, the deputy director had mentioned wanting a discussion with higher-ups.

Hee-min no longer wished to be involved with the deputy director. If he wanted higher authorities, so did they. Now, it was time to contact the IGTS director.

The silver lining was that the IGTS director was Korean. Although the deputy director managed the day-to-day operations, the final decisions rested with the director. The saying that ‘a compatriot is more likely to understand’ might hold true here.

While Hee-min was lost in these thoughts, Seo-joon broke the silence.

“Do you really think we’ll find an answer there?”

The skeptical question lingered in the air. Their gazes met through the clean glass of Hee-min’s glasses. Hee-min responded calmly,

“I’m not going there to find an answer, Seo-joon.”

Despite the fatigue that still clung to him, his eyes were clear.

“I’m going there to make one.”

Seo-joon bowed his head, swallowing a sigh. He respected Hee-min’s professional dedication, but to Seo-joon, it seemed like arrogance or selfishness.

After all, wasn’t this essentially holding hundreds of lives hostage to save him alone?

He gave Hee-min’s arm a light slap.

“You sound like a movie character. It’s cringe-worthy.”

Hee-min chuckled weakly at the teasing.

“A guy with a face like mine has to make up for it with words. You, on the other hand, wouldn’t understand even if you lived twice.”

Despite the serious context, the lighthearted banter brought a conflicted smile to Seo-joon’s face, one that was somewhere between a grin and a grimace.

✽✽✽

With the higher-ups’ approval, everything proceeded smoothly. The timing was perfect, as the IGTS deputy director was on a business trip to another NASA base, making it an opportune moment for Hee-min to act.

“I want to go too.”

“I’m sorry, but we have to keep the team as small as possible.”

Seo-joon caressed Yeon-woo’s cheek, smiling awkwardly.

“Are you upset because you can’t travel abroad?”

“No, it’s because I have to be away from you. Can you handle missing me, Lieutenant?”

Although officially going as a researcher, as a No-named individual, Seo-joon couldn’t stay abroad for long. In reality, they would only be there for about a day.

“Anyone would think we’re going away for months. You only need to endure for three days.”

However, even with a direct flight without layovers, it was a 15-hour journey. That meant nearly two days would be spent traveling.

“Three days is too long. I can hardly stand the hours apart when I’m at school, how will I manage three days?”

Seo-joon laughed as he tried to console his pouty lover.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’ll do video calls often.”

“Don’t worry about the time difference, just call me whenever. I’ll stay awake even if it’s late.”

“And how will you manage school?”

Seo-joon’s affectionate hand brushed through Yeon-woo’s hair, memorizing the feel of his eyelids, cheeks, nose, lips, and chin with his fingers. He instructed earnestly,

“Take a taxi to school. It’s quick if you call one in the morning.”

“I can take the bus.”

“What’s with this bus? What if you get lost?”

Yeon-woo made a puzzled expression, blinking slowly as if he didn’t understand.

“…I always used to take the bus, Lieutenant.”

Oh, right. Of course, he did before he met me. Seo-joon often forgot that Yeon-woo was a fully capable adult man.

It hadn’t been long since Seo-joon got used to driving him to and from school every day. Although it was only for three days, thinking about Yeon-woo going to school alone felt like leaving a child in the middle of a swollen river.

What if some crazy person was on the bus? Or what if someone followed him because Yeon-woo was too pretty?

Buses are enclosed spaces where strangers have to stay close until they reach their destination. Especially during rush hour, the crowded bus would mean standing tightly packed, not just face to face but body to body.

…No, it’s too dangerous. The more Seo-joon thought about it, the more the bus seemed like a dangerous place for Yeon-woo.

“Still, take a taxi. And send me the car number each time. Don’t go with anyone offering you something nice.”

Yeon-woo’s pouting lips moved up and down. He looked like he wanted to argue, but his response was one of compliance.

“Okay, …I’ll do that. Not that anyone’s going to offer me anything, but …I won’t go with them.”

Only then did Seo-joon feel reassured as he started packing his suitcase.

“Go straight home after school.”

“Yes.”

“Send me a picture when you get home.”

“Yes.”

“Lock the doors well when you sleep alone.”

“Yes.”

“If you hear any strange noises outside, call the security guard immediately.”

“…Can I just crawl into your stomach, Lieutenant?”

Seo-joon’s hand, which had been hastily packing clothes, stopped.

If only it were possible. If he could, he would swallow Yeon-woo whole from his small, round head to his beautifully shaped toes, hiding him where no one could see. Then he wouldn’t have to worry like this.

“…Just endure it for three days, Yeon-woo.”

Considering the limited time they might have left together, even three days felt like too much. Swallowing a sigh, Seo-joon closed his suitcase, trying to suppress his complicated feelings.

✽✽✽

The similarity in the bio-wavelength patterns of Deep Pivot (resonance) and Over Pivot (just before runaway), deformation curves … (omitted) … mainly occurs probabilistically during the orgasm stage through penetrative sex.

Cases of mutual resonance healing that involve intense unity based on the bond and trust between matching partners … (omitted) … This can be influenced by various conditions such as environmental factors, psychological factors of the parties involved, making it a very rare occurrence.

The fundamental limits of healing through Deep Pivot are still unknown, and in extremely rare cases, it has been documented to regenerate lost body parts of espers … (omitted) … Thus, in some cultures, it is referred to as ‘Resonance of Life.’

“Hyung…?”

Hee-min, who was staring intently at the laptop screen, looked at Seo-joon with bloodshot eyes. Realizing belatedly that Seo-joon had spoken to him, Hee-min replied blankly.

“…Oh, Seo-joon.”

“I asked if you got any sleep. And you haven’t eaten, right?”

“I slept. …and ate.”

Hee-min’s gaze returned to the paper on the laptop. Seo-joon, who leaned in to glance at the screen, abruptly closed the laptop.

“Hey, what are you doing? Why?”

Hee-min, who had suddenly been deprived of what he was looking at, protested, snapping out of his daze.

“Stop looking at the paper and get some rest.”

Taking the laptop from Hee-min’s lap, Seo-joon placed it far away.

“Not looking at this for a while isn’t going to cause a disaster.”

“Hey, you… Just give it back. I was planning to rest after looking at this. I need to review it now to go to headquarters later―.”

“At this rate, you’ll die before me.”

Seo-joon interrupted him. Hee-min, silenced by the mention of death, looked at Seo-joon seriously. However, Seo-joon had no intention of correcting his statement.

In fact, this time was for him to slowly accept reality. Perhaps this was the final page allowed in his life. The likelihood that he wouldn’t be able to celebrate the 1st or 2nd anniversary with Cha Yeon-woo was high.

Before accepting that, he wanted to meet and talk with someone like himself. Seo-joon now understood why Eric Donovan was so eager to talk to him.

The emotions he was feeling now could only be empathized with by another no-name like himself.

“Hey, we’re almost there, Seo-joon. Look over there.”

Hee-min pointed out the window. They could see a vast expanse of land in Ohio, with a giant dome-shaped roof and surrounding white buildings.

It was a view often seen on domestic news or in science magazines. It was the NASA-Korea IGTS research base.