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    Deep Pivot Episode 19

    The morning road, with its unique energy, was filled with a mix of leisure and urgency. Yeon-woo stared blankly out the window. A bus passed by, packed with students in the same school uniform as his.

    “Please drop me off at the intersection. It will be difficult to turn around if you go further.”

    “It doesn’t matter. But if I drop you too close to the school, you might feel embarrassed.”

    “That’s not what I meant…”

    Seo-joon smiled and turned the steering wheel. After smoothly making a left turn, the car stopped briefly at a red light.

    “You’re almost at school. Did you forget anything?”

    “…What?”

    Seo-joon glanced at Yeon-woo. Those bright, sparkling eyes looked at him, resembling a clear lake where even a single grain of sand could ripple visibly.

    “Your lodging fee.”

    He couldn’t help but feel a mischievous urge to tease.

    “Um… lodging fee?”

    Ripples spread across those clear eyes as expected. Seo-joon soon burst into laughter.

    “I’m just kidding.”

    “…I pretended to fall for it.”

    The previously tense atmosphere inside the car loosened up a bit with that simple joke. They exchanged small questions and answers about school, like whether late-night study sessions were still required or if there was still a zero period.

    The school gate gradually came into view. As they neared the school, the street became crowded with students heading to class. Stopping at a crosswalk, Seo-joon glanced over at Yeon-woo, who was rustling around in his pocket.

    Yeon-woo handed something to Seo-joon and gave a slight smile.

    “…Your lodging fee.”

    Seo-joon looked down at the small packet of gummy bears in his palm. Chuckling, he fiddled with the packet.

    “Where did you get this?”

    “Someone gave it to me yesterday.”

    “I’ve thought about this before, but you seem to receive things quite well from here and there, Yeon-woo. Like with the candy.”

    “…The people at the Center are kind.”

    Seo-joon knew that this kindness was likely due to Yeon-woo’s appearance and demeanor. Even if the people at the Awakener Center were nice, they weren’t so familiar as to hand out snacks to a new recruit they’d just met.

    First, his attractive face drew attention, and then his gentle attitude won people over. In other words, people wanted to give him things simply because he looked so pleasant.

    He probably wasn’t fully aware of this trait himself.

    “Thank you.”

    “Thanks for the jelly.”

    Seo-joon smiled and shook the packet of jelly bears at Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo got out of the car and bowed.

    “Take care getting back.”

    “Have a good day, Yeon-woo.”

    Seo-joon leaned out slightly and waved through the passenger window. As Yeon-woo walked away, some male students recognized him and approached. Seo-joon watched for a moment before closing the window.

    The jelly bear he impulsively put into his mouth was overly sweet and sticky.

    ✽✽✽

    Have a good day, Yeon-woo.

    Have a good day, Yeon-woo. Have a good day, Yeon-woo…

    Yeon-woo couldn’t shake off the memory of Seo-joon smiling and waving, even through the end of his seventh-period class.

    All day, his school uniform smelled like fresh dryer sheets, and every now and then, when he turned his head, he caught a whiff of shampoo. It was Seo-joon’s scent. The thought that Seo-joon must be carrying the same fragrance made his heart flutter unbearably.

    “Class president, come to the staff room after dinner. Yeon-woo, follow me now.”

    After leaving these instructions, the homeroom teacher left the classroom. As Yeon-woo packed his pencil case and notebook into his bag and stood up, a few male students approached him casually.

    “Hey, man! Is that Bentley that came in the morning coming back this evening?”

    “Is he a guide too? So now you get to ride in a Bentley?”

    Yeon-woo smiled and said no.

    “You probably won’t come to school much anymore.”

    “But shouldn’t you still come until graduation?”

    “My cousin knows an esper who quit their job right away.”

    Yeon-woo smiled as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

    “I’m not an official worker, though.”

    “So, are you not staying for dinner?”

    “No.”

    “Hey, the teacher’s waiting. See ya, man. You’re so lucky! Becoming a guide!”

    Yeon-woo didn’t have a close-knit group in his class. He frequently skipped evening study sessions due to his part-time job, and he didn’t have time for after-school hangouts at PC rooms or karaoke. He never had the chance to build close friendships with anyone.

    Still, he got along well with everyone. At a school where students of similar backgrounds gathered, no one really stood out.

    Even as an adult repeating a grade, he didn’t seem particularly special. While students at other schools could use family trips for school credit, students here had more attendance records filled with absences and tardiness.

    In a place where common backstories didn’t attract attention, awakeners were sensational in a different way.

    “So what time did you get home yesterday?” asked his homeroom teacher after listening to Yeon-woo recount the previous day’s events.

    “Around… 2 a.m., I think.”

    “If you washed up and all that, you must have gone past 3 a.m. You must be exhausted. It’s amazing you woke up this morning.”

    “…I think my stamina improved after my awakening.”

    His homeroom teacher laughed lightly, but a sigh soon followed.

    “At least I’m less worried now, Yeon-woo. I don’t have to worry about your attendance anymore. I was concerned you’d repeat another year.”

    Despite the words, a hint of concern remained on his face.

    “But this isn’t all good for you, Cha Yeon-woo, understand?”

    The young male teacher, in his early 30s, set aside his usual gentle manner and put on his sternest expression.

    “I saw yesterday’s Hyoseok-dong incident on the news. There’s nothing enviable about the benefits and salaries of the awakened. It’s all the price of life.”

    He wondered if it was too harsh to pour cold water on a kid who was just beginning a new phase in life, but since Yeon-woo didn’t have anyone else to give him this advice, someone needed to temper his excitement.

    “Always keep your wits about you. Stay safe, Yeon-woo.”

    “Yes.”

    “From now on, you don’t need to report to me every time. When you left early yesterday, the Center sent me the paperwork. With that, you’ll be marked present, so just text me once you’re safely home.”

    “Yes, thank you.”

    “So, did you quit all your part-time jobs?”

    “No, not yet. I told them I was leaving, but I still have to help train my replacement. Today is my last day at the convenience store.”

    “You’re still going to the convenience store? After all that happened at the disaster site yesterday?”

    The teacher chuckled. There are stories of guides quitting their jobs by simply sending resignation letters via courier as soon as they were assessed. This earnest young man seemed too honest for his own good.

    A gentle student might be easy to handle, but the teacher knew that being too kind often led to being taken advantage of, especially in this era where disasters and accidents are constantly happening.

    There’s a saying that kind people are taken early because God cherishes them. The homeroom teacher hoped Yeon-woo wouldn’t be one of those cherished by God too soon.

    ✽✽✽

    Under the streetlight, small insects buzzed around erratically. The streetlight’s glow clung to Yeon-woo’s head as he ascended the stairs bathed in an orange hue.

    It was a lukewarm night as he walked home from work. The convenience store owner had let him off early to commemorate his last day, giving him some discarded food along with a pack of toilet paper.

    “Yeon-woo, there’s a package for you.”

    At that moment, Jeong-sook, who was taking out the trash, waved to him.

    “A man in a black suit came looking for you. He asked me to give you this.”

    With a curious look, she handed the box to Yeon-woo. She wanted to know what was inside, but it wasn’t something she could open. Thanking her, Yeon-woo went inside and carefully examined the box.

    He tore off the seal that read “For recipient only,” and opened the box to reveal a phone and a watch. These were devices provided by the Center. The matte black phone, in its simple design, had the Awakener Center logo engraved on the back instead of a common S or A brand logo.

    Unlike regular consumer devices, these were said to have a special security system and contained a sophisticated GPS tracker. The Center could monitor the location in real-time, remotely activate the camera even if the phone was off, and check on the user’s current situation.

    This protective system was introduced after the body of a Korean esper who went missing in China was found mutilated. After this incident, awakened individuals were no longer allowed to travel abroad. Interviews with the media and any activities that could reveal their identities were prohibited.

    When Yeon-woo turned on the phone, corporate messenger notifications chimed in succession. In addition to group chat invites like “Agile SAU” and “Unofficial Elite SAU,” he received messages from several people.

    The unfamiliar user interface, unlike typical messaging apps, was custom-developed. Out of curiosity, he clicked around, and at the top, he noticed “Ji Seo-joon” displayed.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [Yeon-woo, you’re finally online.]  

    12:21 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Hello, Lieutenant.]  

    12:21 a.m.

    Yeon-woo stared at the screen, feeling a bit excited. The few seconds it took for the three dots to appear and disappear repeatedly felt like the longest time in the world. Soon, Seo-joon’s message popped up.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [Did you stay awake during class today?]  

    12:22 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Haha, yes.]  

    12:22 a.m.

    Still in his school uniform, Yeon-woo sat against the wall, blushing as he tapped the screen.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [I paid attention without dozing off.]  

    12:22 a.m.

    It was a lie he couldn’t have told to Seo-joon’s face, but the phone screen made him bold. Setting the phone on the floor, Yeon-woo rested his cheek on his knees and stared at the now quiet screen.

    He knew waiting wouldn’t make the response come any faster, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. After some time, the three dots finally appeared in Seo-joon’s message box.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [Is Dr. Kang training you tomorrow?]  

    12:28 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [No, he hasn’t mentioned it.]  

    12:28 a.m.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [You haven’t checked your messages yet.]  

    12:29 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Oh, hold on.]  

    12:29 a.m.

    Just as Yeon-woo was about to exit the chat window, the next message appeared immediately.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [Come to the research center by 1 p.m. tomorrow.]  

    12:30 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Okay.]  

    12:30 a.m.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [I’ll be there too.]  

    [Learning to handle all the combat gear and armor properly.]  

    [It’s important to get this down.]  

    12:31 a.m.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Yes, thank you so much.]  

    [I’ll study hard.]  

    12:31 a.m.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [Want me to pick you up?]  

    12:33 a.m.

    Yeon-woo’s heart sank and then soared again. His fingers hovered nervously in the air, unable to touch the screen. “It’s okay, I can take the bus,” “I’d be grateful if you could,” “It might be inconvenient for you, so no need,” and many other texts were typed and erased repeatedly.

    After a fierce internal struggle, Yeon-woo finally bit his lip.

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Yes.]  

    [If it’s okay with you, Lieutenant,]  

    [I’d love that.]  

    12:36 a.m.

    “Ah.”

    Yeon-woo let out a short scream. His hand slipped, and he accidentally attached three emoticons at the end of the message. They were smiling faces with red heart eyes.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [You’re really happy about it.]  

    [I’d have felt bad if I hadn’t offered. Right?]  

    12:37 a.m.

    Yeon-woo hurriedly typed and deleted several messages in a frenzy: “Pressed by mistake,” “Sorry,” “I hit the wrong button.”

    Cha Yeon-woo:  

    [Mis…]  

    [Thank you.]  

    12:38 a.m.

    Ji Seo-joon:  

    [See you tomorrow.]  

    12:38 a.m.

    Thud. The phone dropped to the floor. Yeon-woo’s large frame collapsed onto the neatly folded blankets. He pounded the unfortunate pillow repeatedly that night.

    “Ah, I blew it…”

    SIDE PAGE

    🌐 Welcome to SAU!

    This file is encrypted with a security system. To view each section, please enter the last 7 digits of your Social Security Number + CVC code from the back of your ID card.

    1. Welcome Message ◀

    2. SAU Founding Principles and History ◀

    3. Safety and Health Training Manual ◀

    4. Insurance Coverage Guide ◀

    5. Regular Off-JT (ATT/RCT) Schedule ◀

    6. Awakener Management Center Guide ◀

    7. Device & Watch Usage Guide ◀  

      7-1. User License Legal Notice ◀  

      7-2. Personal Data Collection and Usage Consent Guide ◀

    8. New Guide Team Member Assignments ◀

    9. SAU Emergency Contact Network ◀

    10. SAU Esper Positions and Code Names ▽

    Note: New guides must fill in their codename field on the attached form and return it by 8/12.

    – Be careful when registering your codename, as it cannot be changed once submitted.

    – If your codename duplicates another awakener’s, you will be notified via a separate email.

    – Codenames must be five syllables or fewer.

    Please familiarize yourself with the following list to avoid confusion between positions and code names on site.  

    If you must register the emergency contact network on a civilian device, be sure to use codenames.

    ◆ Lieutenant Kang Chae-won (29)  

    Grade S Berserker  

    Code: Rapunzel  

    Assigned Guide: Min Ji-hye (25)

    ◆ Lieutenant Hong Yeong-gyo (29)  

    Grade S Salamander  

    Code: Beatles  

    Assigned Guide: Jin Cheong-oh (29)

    ◆ Lieutenant Gil Tae-hee (29)  

    Grade S Tamer  

    Code: Valkyrie  

    Assigned Guide: Park Min-gun (36)

    ◆ Captain Yoo Si-hwan (42)  

    Grade S Clouder  

    Code: Go Gil-dong  

    Assigned Guide: Bae Jun-hwi (27)

    ◆ Lieutenant Yoon Do-young (26)  

    Grade S Binder  

    Code: Huggy Wuggy  

    Assigned Guide: Kim Seong-eon (29)

    ◆ Lieutenant Han Min-gyu (29)  

    Grade S Controller  

    Code: Mateo  

    Assigned Guide: Lee Seung-yoon (30)

    ◆ Lieutenant Jang Su-ho (27)  

    Grade S Blinker  

    Code: Ghost  

    Assigned Guide: Chae Ga-eun (27)

    ◆ Lieutenant Choi Dong-ha (29)  

    Grade S Blood Bomber  

    Code: Hong Mae-hwa  

    Assigned Guide: Im Ro-un (26)

    ◆ Lieutenant Ji Seo-joon (29)  

    Grade S ■■■■ ■■■  

    Code: Agnes  

    Assigned Guide: Min Seon-wook (deceased)

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