IDESGI Chapter 27

Chapter 27

When Ihan suddenly started to take off his sweater, Yeoul was startled and grabbed at it. Even though a static shock stung his hand, he ignored it and yanked the sweater back down.

“W-what are you doing! Why are you taking that off?”

“You said it looked weird on me. So taking it off would be better, right?”

“Forget it! Keep it on!”

Seeing Yeoul’s face turn bright red as he snapped at him, Ihan let out a quiet chuckle. Yeoul pouted and shot him a glare.

“Why are you laughing!”

“No reason. I just like this kind of thing. It’s been a while.”

“Quit talking and drive. Where are we going?”

Yeoul turned his head away and asked bluntly.

“Hmm, where should we go? Since this is our last date outside, maybe somewhere like a movie theater or shopping center?”

The words “last date” made Yeoul’s chest ache. Without letting it show, he muttered,

“Do whatever you want.”

“Okay! Let’s do that.”

‘If it’s the last one, why does he look so happy about it?’

Yeoul forced down the swell of emotion in his chest.

At the mall, they decided to watch a movie first. There was only one showing that fit their time, so they bought tickets for it.

It was a typical action movie about a hero saving the world.

By the time they came out, it was past lunchtime.

“Yeoul, what do you want to eat? Want to get pasta?”

“Let’s just eat at the food court.”

“Still, it’s our last time. I actually made a reservation at a hotel restaurant.”

When he even had a reservation ready, Yeoul simply nodded at the mention of it being their last.

“Alright.”

While they waited for their food at the restaurant, Ihan smiled and brought up the movie they’d just watched.

“What did you think? You like action movies.”

“It was alright. Hero movies are predictable.”

Even with the short, half-hearted reply, Ihan nodded and eagerly agreed.

“Yeah, it was predictable. Especially the part where the hero hesitates between saving the one they love and saving the world. That was so dumb.”

“It’s understandable. If he saved the heroine, the world would have been destroyed. Well, in the end, he saved both.”

“That’s just because it’s a movie. Normally you can’t save both. Choosing to save the world was stupid. He should’ve saved the one he loved.”

Yeoul, who had been staring idly out the window, turned his gaze to Ihan. When their eyes met, Ihan smiled softly.

“What is it, Yeoul?”

Over Ihan’s smiling face, a memory overlapped.

One day, Ihan had returned from a mission, standing in front of Yeoul’s home with blood dripping from him.

“Yeoul, did you see the news? I saved the world again today. I did well, right?”

He forced his lips into a smile, but he looked so precarious that Yeoul couldn’t say anything.

“Ten thousand people almost died today. Luckily, I was there to save them.”

Yeoul had seen the news too. The media called him a hero for saving ten thousand lives. The hour-long special was filled with nothing but stories about Ihan, and the fact that three Espers had died was only briefly shown in a subtitle.

“I did well, right, Yeoul?”

Like a child seeking reassurance, Ihan asked again. But Yeoul didn’t answer. It wasn’t his place to judge. Instead, he hugged Ihan and said,

“Welcome back, Ihan. I was waiting for you.”

For a moment, Ihan just stood there in a daze before burying his face into Yeoul’s shoulder. In his embrace, the body that carried the weight of the world felt so small and fragile. Yeoul simply held him tighter.

I’m always waiting for you. No matter what happens, you’ll always have a place to return to, Ihan.

Don’t be so afraid.

That was the feeling he put into it.

Seeing that same lonely smile now tugging at Ihan’s lips, Yeoul unconsciously spoke his mind.

“I don’t think it’s stupid.”

Realizing what he’d said, he quickly added,

“Movies are just movies.”

“Yeah, true. But I’m not going to make that choice twice. It’s way too stupid.”

His face held a soft, gentle smile, but it carried a shadow of sadness. Ihan would sometimes show that expression, and each time Yeoul glimpsed a darkness in him that he could never fully fathom.

Yeoul had always wanted to embrace that pain Ihan carried. He’d wanted to be the home Ihan could return to and rest, the only person who understood his fears.

Now, knowing he could no longer be that for him — that he might become the greatest wound in Ihan’s life — filled him with sorrow.

When the meal ended — a meal whose taste Yeoul couldn’t even recall — Ihan stood and took Yeoul’s hand.

“Yeoul, will you guide me? Just once more here at the hotel.”

The way Ihan looked up at him, his eyes glistening with moisture, made Yeoul frown inwardly.

‘What is he thinking?’

There’s no way Ihan really meant it when he said things like “the last time” or “just once more.” Narrowing his eyes, Yeoul asked,

“What are you planning? Spending hundreds of billions all of a sudden, talking about a last date…”

“I just… decided to accept the fact that you want to break up with me.”

“All of a sudden?”

“Just this once outside. Okay? Is that not allowed?”

The way Ihan looked, like a puppy whining to go for a walk, made Yeoul hesitate to answer.

‘Since I’m going to die soon anyway… maybe I can allow myself this much greed?’

If Ihan said he’d give up on his own after this, it wasn’t like he’d be missing an opportunity. It could be a lie, but whether it was or not, Yeoul was going to die soon.

Just once before dying.

“…What’s your level at?”

Ihan smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around Yeoul’s waist.

“Thanks, Yeoul. I love you.”

“Keep your promise. This is the last time.”

His tone was curt, but the meaning behind it was earnest.

This will be the end. No more regressions, no more repeating Ihan’s death.

Even Han Yeoul’s life itself.

The moment they entered the hotel room, Ihan’s lips crashed down on his.

“Mm!”

A rough, urgent tongue tangled with Yeoul’s, devouring his lips and teasing them. Pushed down onto the bed, Yeoul pounded his fists lightly against Ihan’s shoulders.

Straightening up, Ihan loomed over him, breathing hard as if ready to devour him whole.

“Hah… haah. Slow down a bit.”

“Yeoul, we’re going until you pass out today. Just… don’t fall asleep too quickly.”

“What are you— mmph!”

Before he could answer, his lips were sealed again. For someone kissing so urgently, Ihan still leisurely traced Yeoul’s neat teeth with his tongue.

Yeoul clutched at Ihan’s sweater, trying to push guiding energy into him through their contact.

Then Ihan chuckled warmly and pressed his knee heavily against Yeoul’s crotch.

“We haven’t even started properly yet, so why are you already so excited, hmm?”

Feeling the stiffness below, Yeoul turned his head, too embarrassed to deny it. Ihan looked down at him with an amused grin, his flushed cheeks making him look like a sulking squirrel.

“What am I supposed to do with you?”

With a low, heated tone curling in Yeoul’s ear, he murmured, “How am I supposed to hold back when you’re this cute?”

Yeoul glared lightly and muttered,

“…Like you were ever going to hold back.”

“How did you know? I’m going to eat you up today — from head to toe, not leaving a single part.”

Before Yeoul could protest, his clothes were swiftly stripped away. Ihan’s hands were so quick that in moments, Yeoul was bare.

Ihan pulled off his own sweater next, revealing a firm, sculpted body with sharply defined abs. Like always, he looked like a living statue.

Yeoul swallowed unconsciously, and Ihan, catching it, grabbed Yeoul’s hand and placed it on his abdomen.

“You can touch me, Yeoul. I’m yours.”

“S-stop!”

When Yeoul tried to pull his hand away and turned his face, Ihan smirked wickedly and flicked his fingertip against Yeoul’s nipple.

“Ah!”

The sudden sensation made Yeoul clench his fists.

“How can even this be so pretty? Yeoul, maybe you were born just so I could eat you up. Otherwise, there’s no way you’d look this tempting.”

“T-that’s… ah— not true!”

“No, Yeoul. You look way too delicious. Who told you to be this indecent?”

Tracing the sensitive spot lightly with his nails, Ihan then took the nipple into his mouth. He sucked, bit lightly, and rolled his tongue over it until muffled moans slipped through Yeoul’s clenched teeth.

“Hnn… ah…”

“This is mine alone, Yeoul. Don’t forget it.”

His voice was sweet, but there was a chilling undertone to it.

Not that Yeoul had the composure to notice.

‘Please… just do something to me…’

Under Ihan, Yeoul writhed helplessly, letting out weak, breathless sounds.