PV Ch.5 Part 1

#5. A Life Not Going As Planned

When he’d first lost consciousness, his memories were like a faded photograph, shrouded in a thick fog. He could vaguely recall the intoxicating pleasure of sex, followed by the agonizing drain on his energy as he Guided Song Jaeho.

It had been excruciating, far more intense than any previous Guiding session with him. The pain had escalated until it felt like his very essence was being ripped apart. Fear had gripped him, a primal instinct screaming that he was in mortal danger. And then, just like that, everything went dark. 

Instead of waking up in a hotel room, he found himself in the sterile white confines of the Association’s Treatment Center. 

“Just wait for Esper Jin Gyugeon…” he muttered to himself, repeating the nurse’s words.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. In the original story, Bomin had never been admitted to the Treatment Center. While he’d struggled with the demands of Guiding the powerful Espers, he had never experienced anything this severe. 

“Three whole days unconscious…that’s a first.”

Aside from the occasional flu during the changing seasons, Bomin rarely got sick. He wasn’t used to the sterile scent of the hospital, the way it seemed to cling to everything. The smell of disinfectant, usually a comforting presence, felt like needles pricking at his temples. 

“My phone…” 

He slowly pushed himself up, his body stiff and sore. Thankfully, his phone was in the top drawer of the bedside table. He checked the battery life with a sigh of relief. It was still charged.

“Song Jaeho, what a surprise.” 

He’d half expected Song Jaeho to just leave him there, passed out and vulnerable. But it seemed that Song Jaeho had, at the very least, brought him to the Treatment Center. The man’s single message stood out amidst the empty chat logs.

[Song Jaeho: Let me know when you wake up.] 

Bomin stared at the message, unsure how to respond. Song Jaeho’s uncharacteristic concern was unsettling. 

“Should I reply right away, or should I wait?” 

He was rattled, there was no denying it. The sudden collapse during their intimate moment had shaken him more than he cared to admit. Up until the point when Song Jaeho had saved him from that club, Bomin had managed to maintain a sense of control, a detached amusement at the absurdity of it all. 

But the events that followed – the blindfold, the restraints, the way Song Jaeho had used him – it was a stark reminder of the man’s true nature. And yet, here was Song Jaeho, sending him worried messages, acting like he actually cared. It made Bomin doubt his initial assessment, the carefully constructed walls he had built around his heart threatening to crumble. 

“Is this the right time to pull him closer, or push him away? It’s not an easy decision.”

Normally, he wouldn’t hesitate. Bomin lived life on a whim, going wherever the wind took him, unconcerned about the consequences. But this world, this life he’d been thrust into – it wasn’t a game. It was a dangerous game where one wrong move could get you killed. And unlike the characters in the novel, he wasn’t invincible. 

“Guide Lee Bomin.” 

Bomin’s contemplation was interrupted by the arrival of the very Esper he’d been thinking about. Jin Gyugeon, the A-rank healer. The nurse had said he would explain everything.

The Esper was tall and imposing, despite his youthful appearance. His sharp eyes, magnified by his rimless glasses, held a hint of weariness that belied his age. He had the aura of someone who had seen more than his fair share of pain and suffering. 

Bomin found himself captivated, his current predicament momentarily forgotten. He didn’t even flinch as Jin Gyugeon’s large hand gently pressed against his forehead, checking his temperature. The touch lingered even after the Esper withdrew his hand, sending a strange warmth through him.

“Your fever has subsided. Your focus seems clear as well, especially given how intently you’re observing me. Any discomfort?” Jin Gyugeon asked, his voice calm and professional. 

Bomin shook his head slowly, his fingers brushing against his forehead where Jin Gyugeon’s touch had been. It was strange, the way such a simple gesture could leave such a lasting impression.  

“I’m afraid I don’t have much time. I have another appointment to attend to, so I’ll get straight to the point. You’re familiar with Magic Shock, correct, Guide Lee? It’s something every Guide should be aware of.” 

To be honest, Bomin’s knowledge about this world was still quite limited, pieced together from fragmented memories and snippets of the novel. But the term itself sent a shiver down his spine. 

“Of course,” he replied coolly, hoping Jin Gyugeon couldn’t see through his facade. 

“Interesting. You seem rather calm,” Jin Gyugeon noted, his gaze sharp. “Most Guides are terrified of experiencing Magic Shock.”

He was right. It was one of the most frightening conditions a Guide could face. But it was too late to feign fear now. Instead, Bomin shifted his gaze, letting it fall slowly down Jin Gyugeon’s form, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. 

Bomin’s gaze dropped, coming to rest on his own hand, still clutching his phone. He began to nervously pick at the skin around his thumbnail, his other hand balling into a fist. Soon, a bead of blood welled up, bright red against the pale skin. 

“Excuse me,” he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. 

Jin Gyugeon, who Bomin had initially pegged as aloof and reserved, almost as intimidating as Yoon Bisam, surprised him with his reaction. His expression softened, concern replacing his usual stoicism.

“Apply pressure until the bleeding stops,” Jin Gyugeon instructed, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. He knelt down, gently pressing the cloth against Bomin’s injured finger, his touch surprisingly gentle. 

Jin Gyugeon didn’t get up right away. Instead, he held Bomin’s gaze, their positions reversed now, with Bomin looking up at him. Bomin had always assumed, based on the Esper’s dark hair, that his eyes would be brown or black. But up close, they were a striking blue-green, the color of the sea after a storm. 

Looking into those eyes was like peering into the depths of the ocean, a vast and uncharted territory. 

“You experienced Magic Shock, Guide Lee,” Jin Gyugeon stated, his voice calm but firm. “During your Guiding session with Esper Song Jaeho. While you were unconscious, we ran some tests. Your compatibility rates with all the Espers you’ve Guided before… they’ve dropped significantly, by 20-30%.”

Bomin’s heart sank. So his premonition had been right. He’d known something was wrong, but this… this was worse than he could have imagined. His high compatibility rates, that was the only reason he was valuable to these powerful Espers. 

A 20-30% drop… that meant his compatibility with them was now in the 60-70% range. Not terribly low, but considering he was only a B-rank Guide, two whole ranks below them… it was a disaster waiting to happen. Guiding them even at 90% had been excruciating. At this rate, another attempt at Sex Guiding would probably land him right back in this bed, or worse. 

“This is the first time you’ve experienced Magic Shock, and fortunately, Esper Song Jaeho brought you here in time. But repeated exposure to such a shock could permanently damage your heart, Guide Lee. Even recovery potions wouldn’t be able to reverse the damage.” 

Jin Gyugeon’s voice was low and serious, a warning bell ringing in Bomin’s ears. Was he expecting Bomin to continue Guiding these S-rank Espers even with his diminished compatibility?

Bomin bit his lip hard, tasting blood. He hadn’t even had a real taste of Won Seongwoo and Yoon Bisam yet. And Han Biseong… that bastard had treated him like a s*x toy, literally tossing him aside on that rooftop. 

“Is there… is there any way to increase compatibility?” he asked, clinging to a sliver of hope. He vaguely recalled something about this from the novel, but the memories were hazy at best.

“There’s no scientifically proven method,” Jin Gyugeon admitted, his expression carefully neutral. 

“But?” Bomin pressed, refusing to give up. He had a feeling Jin Gyugeon knew more than he was letting on.

“Emotional connection,” the Esper finally conceded, his gaze dropping to Bomin’s hand, still gripping his own. “If both the Guide and the Esper open their hearts to each other, there’s a chance the compatibility rate might increase. It wasn’t inherently low to begin with. Something caused it to drop, and we don’t know what that is. There have been unofficial experiments conducted by the World Ability User Association, and some Ability Users have shown improvement.”

Bomin’s mind raced. This was definitely a deviation from the original plot. In the novel, Bomin’s compatibility rates had never wavered, not even in the face of his impending death. 

Song Jaeho might be worried now, but the others… they wouldn’t hesitate to discard him once they realized his diminished worth. He would be nothing more than a broken toy, useless to them. 

He felt like he was standing at the edge of a precipice, with no way to turn back, and a treacherous path ahead. 

“For now, focus on resting here,” Jin Gyugeon advised, gently prying Bomin’s hand off his sleeve. “It’s still too early for you to be discharged.” 

He paused, his hand hovering over Bomin’s hair for a moment before he withdrew it, as if sensing Bomin’s distress. He left as quietly as he had come, leaving Bomin alone with his thoughts. 

***