IDSEGI Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Eunha frowned slightly, as if puzzled.

“But why are you asking something like that?”

Yeoul smiled and gave a vague answer.

“No reason. I was just wondering what it would be like in that kind of situation.”

“I thought you weren’t into stuff like that. Making up impossible ‘what if’ games and imagining things. You’re kind of a realist, aren’t you?”

“Me?”

“You’re actually kind of cold. Didn’t you know?”

Eunha widened his eyes in an exaggerated way, as if teasing.

“Your cold attitude has hurt me more than once, you know. Honestly, how can someone be that cold?”

“I didn’t mean it like that, but if I hurt you, I’m sorry.”

When Yeoul offered a sincere apology, Eunha looked a little taken aback. He quickly added in a defensive tone,

“I don’t mean you’re a bad person or anything. I know you’re kind. You just don’t pick up on things sometimes.”

“Yeah, I guess I am a bit dense.”

Yeoul muttered the thought, recalling how he hadn’t realized Yoon Geon’s feelings until he confessed. At that, Eunha blinked in surprise and stared at him.

“That’s progress. How’d you even realize you’re dense?”

Just as Eunha opened his mouth to tease him again, the lab door opened. Seeing the man walk in, both Eunha and Yeoul froze.

“Hello.”

‘I… Ihan.’

The man standing in front of Yeoul with a refined smile was Ihan.

“Yu, Esper Yoo Ihan? What is Esper Yoo Ihan doing here?”

Eunha was so shocked he bit his tongue, not even having the chance to feel embarrassed. Seeing Ihan in person like this felt almost like a dream. Just like on TV, Ihan’s lips curved in a gentle, polite smile.

“I heard you sent me a research cooperation request. From someone named Researcher Kim Eunha.”

“I’m Kim Eunha. That request didn’t get approved, so it was canceled… I really had no idea you’d come.”

“Was I wrong to come, then?”

When Ihan looked as if he might be inconveniencing them, Eunha shook his head vigorously.

“No! Absolutely not! I’m really a huge fan of yours, Esper Yoo Ihan. I even joined your fan café, and I’ve been sending you letters and gifts every month. By any chance, do you know me? My nickname’s ‘GalaxySeed’?”

Eunha looked at him with hopeful eyes, but Ihan only looked apologetic.

“Sorry. I can’t remember all the names.”

Even after all the gifts, it must have been hard to remember him. Though disappointed, Eunha decided to be satisfied with the fact that Ihan had come to Zone 5 in response to his request. That alone was something he could brag about in the fan café for at least five years.

“That’s fine. With fans all over the world, it’d be a miracle if you remembered me. I’m still a huge fan, though!”

“Thank you. And this here…”

Ihan’s gaze shifted to Yeoul. His eyes, a pale golden hue, fixed on him. Not the warm glow of sunlight over a wheat field, but the quiet gleam of moonlight at midnight.

“It’s been a while.”

“…”

“Didn’t you miss me?”

The soft curve of Ihan’s eyes made Yeoul’s breath catch. Ihan. It was Ihan. The Ihan he had longed for so desperately was standing right in front of him…

“I missed you a lot.”

To Yeoul, the smile on Ihan’s face felt slightly unfamiliar. A smile that kept a certain distance — the smile Ihan showed to someone he hadn’t yet opened his heart to. Realizing this, a cold clarity swept through Yeoul’s mind.

The Ihan in front of him didn’t know him. He was Yoo Ihan who had no memory of the two years they had spent together. It was painful, but he couldn’t forget that fact.

‘I have to keep my distance from Ihan.’

Hadn’t he already decided to stay away for at least two months? After that, maybe he’d have to get closer again for the sake of the research, but now was not the time. For now, he had to pretend he didn’t know him.

Yeoul deliberately replied with coolness.

“I don’t think we’re close enough for you to say it’s been a while. Isn’t this our first meeting?”

“No, it’s not. We’ve met before.”

It seemed Ihan was talking about what happened at the concert. Did he realize the person who guided him back then was him? Yeoul had worn his cap low, thinking Ihan wouldn’t recognize him — but maybe he had.

Unaware of how much trouble the Zone 1 Espers had gone through to find him, Yeoul assumed Ihan had simply seen his face during the concert.

‘Just deny it.’

If Ihan had come all the way here, it meant he was sure of something, but Yeoul still had to play dumb. Ihan must have sensed the imprinting when they made contact during guiding at the concert. If he asked why they were imprinted, Yeoul would be the one in trouble. For now, he couldn’t let himself be found out.

Yeoul lowered his gaze at an angle to avoid Ihan’s eyes. His chest was pounding wildly. Just the fact that Ihan was standing in front of him made his heart ache with how hard it was beating. He wanted to wrap his arms around him right now and feel the sound of his heartbeat for himself.

Are you really alive, Ihan? Is it really you, alive and here?

But to keep Ihan alive, he had to suppress that desire. Ignoring the gaze drilling into him, Yeoul spoke to Eunha instead.

“Eunha-hyung, I’ll be going now.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

Still distracted by Ihan’s presence, Eunha gave a half-hearted reply. But as Yeoul started to leave, Ihan stuck his foot in front of Yeoul’s leg to block him.

“That’s fine. We can just get to know each other from now. I’m Yoo Ihan.”

Ihan smiled and held out his hand to Yeoul. His smile was a little different from before—gone was the faint wariness, replaced by curiosity.

Sensing the change, Yeoul pressed his lips shut and said nothing. What had caught Ihan’s interest? Yeoul knew all too well that Ihan loved him, but he never understood what it was about him that made Ihan feel that way.

Why does Yoo Ihan love someone like me?

He had always wondered. Compared to Ihan, he was lacking in every way, both in his own eyes and by any objective measure. When he asked Ihan why he loved him, Ihan never gave a specific reason.

‘I think I just liked you because you were you. No matter when or where I met you, I would have loved you.’

That was what his Ihan would say.

“Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

When Yeoul kept silent, Ihan urged him. Instead of answering directly, Yeoul tried to dodge the question.

“You know it.”

“I don’t. Our story is that we’re meeting for the first time.”

Ihan’s eyes curved playfully. So he wasn’t going to let this go. Suppressing a sigh, Yeoul reluctantly answered.

“Han Yeoul.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Ihan reached out for a handshake, and after a moment’s hesitation, Yeoul took it. But Ihan immediately pulled him closer and whispered in his ear.

“Knew it was you. I could tell the moment I held your hand.”

It felt like his heart dropped straight down. Yeoul quickly pulled his hand away and feigned ignorance.

“How can you tell just by holding my hand?”

“I can. I thought about this hand so much it made my shoulders ache.”

Yeoul’s face flushed at Ihan’s smooth words.

“W-what are you saying!”

“I cleared my schedule to come here. Worked so much at once my shoulders are sore.”

That’s not what you meant… Yeoul pouted and shot him a light glare. Ihan chuckled lowly.

Yeoul stared blankly at Ihan’s smiling face. Seeing the lively, playful expression of his adorable lover made his eyes sting, and he bit down on the inside of his cheek to hold back the tears.

Unaware of his feelings, Ihan casually asked,

“What’s your type?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Even when Yeoul snapped, Ihan looked delighted.

“So I can match it exactly.”

He had asked Yeoul this same question before. Back then, Yeoul had answered, “Someone polite and kind.”

And Ihan had been exactly that—respectful to elders, caring toward his colleagues. But this time, Yeoul thought it would be better to name a type completely opposite from Ihan.

“Someone who swears all the time, thinks fists work better than the law, and lives full of themselves.”

Yeoul described the opposite of what he thought Ihan was. Ihan’s eyes widened in surprise at the extreme answer.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

But instead of being disappointed by a type so unlike himself, Ihan smiled brighter than anyone.

“Then we’re a perfect match.”

He beamed as if it was the best news. Yeoul had no idea why that made him so happy.