SOG Ch 49

It had been since last summer. Somehow, the feelings that he had vaguely sensed during the guiding had changed. The desire to monopolize and selfishness that had been burdensome before was no longer there. It has become a kind of soft and affectionate touch. It was like the soft touch of his lips, the exchange of their breath, and the sweet sensation of their tongues touching.

At that moment, Woo-jin seemed to be able to understand the reason why he kissed Seon Jae-chan.

“…”

Just… Perhaps he just wanted to feel that again. He wanted to taste that firm and cautious emotion that he had experienced only once on Mentor Island. The overwhelming warmth was directed toward him.

It was confusing.

Where and what had happened, the sudden and gentle change in Seon-jae-chan’s demeanor, and even himself being influenced by him.

How could he dwell on such tenderness.

Was he such an immature person? To even be affected by Seon-jae-chan’s warmth to this extent?

A sigh of frustration escaped him. The warm breath that seeped from Woo-jin’s stiff lips faded into the cold winter air. The temperature of his jet-black eyes went down even further due to his confusion.

As was often the case when he felt stifled, Woo-jin rummaged through his pocket.

He searched for his wallet out of habit. After his firm thumb slipped erroneously several times on the knit fabric, finding no pockets, Woo-jin belatedly realized something.

“…”

He had given Seon-jae-chan his coat…

In addition to the unfortunate marks on his neck, he realized that Jae-chan was wearing an unusually thin coat. It was inevitable that he had taken off his coat.

His wallet was right inside the jacket pocket.

Woo-jin abruptly stood up. An expression of bewilderment started to form on his face as he quickly adjusted his steps.

*

About 20 minutes earlier, Seon-jae-chan, who had been left alone in the runaway prevention strategy room, was once again struggling with self-objectification.

Even if it had been someone other than him, Woo-jin would have naturally extended a helping hand. Giving him the coat was probably due to Woo-jin’s inherently kind nature.

But what about that kiss?

No matter how much he thought about it, that wasn’t guiding, it was a kiss.

A kiss.

Seon Jae-chan’s hands, which were tightly gripping the pillow and suppressing the beating heart, gradually tightened even more. This wasn’t like when he was overwhelmed by his Esper’s instinct on Mentosa Island, but rather a kiss with a completely clearheaded Go-woo-jin…

However, the time soaked in the overwhelming reminiscence wasn’t long. Dingle-ling. The sound of a received text message chimed. It was the sound he had been waiting for, meticulously setting a distinct notification tone to make sure he didn’t miss even a single opportunity.

Jae-chan took out his cell phone from his coat pocket and checked it.

[Sender: ★ Team Leader Han Tae-hoon (Guide Team 1) ★

Let’s meet for a moment.]

The weighty formal tone. Even the definitive period at the end. While in the past, it had been a deeply respected manner of speaking, now, at the age of twenty-seven, Seon-jae-chan couldn’t help but feel that Han Tae-hoon’s way of speaking was overly refined. In fact, considering Han Tae-hoon was just thirty-three himself.

[Team Leader, I will be on my way down.]

Seon Jae-chan also returned a polite reply. He immediately got up. Before leaving the room to meet the man with the weighty way of speaking, he paused in front of the mirror.

‘… Ah. The mark.’

That damned Sun Eun-soo. Seon Jae-chan wiped his reddened skin and pulled the zipper of the overcoat Woo-jin had given him to the tip of his chin.

Woo-jin’s coat was a black high-neck jumper with large white lettering printed on it. Seon-jae-chan inspected his appearance in the elevator. While there was a bit of a difference in physique, wearing a half-coat over it didn’t look too odd, as the hem only slightly peeked out.

Han Tae-hoon was seated in the lounge area located half a floor above the lobby, designated for hotel guests. He looked up as he sensed the approaching footsteps on the stairs.

“What is the purpose of giving this to me?”

With his back to the ornate chandelier, Han Tae-hoon asked directly. His eyes carried an enigmatic, somber yet self-assured gaze.

“It’s a new year soon. I wanted to give you a New Year’s present.”

Seon Jae-chan responded with a composed posture.

“Arrogant, I see. Just like your reports.”

Thud. Han Tae-hoon let out an emotionless voice as he tossed the heavy file onto the table with one hand.

‘… What. Has his taste changed?’

Perceiving the unexpected coldness, Jaechan discreetly observed the team leader’s reaction.

He had expected some words of praise. At this time in the past, Han Tae-hoon would frequently offer casual words of praise for even minor achievements. Jaechan couldn’t fathom why things kept slightly shifting away from the past, creating this subtle disconnect.

He couldn’t figure out why it kept subtly departing from the past. He opened the ‘Esper-Guide Special Training Curriculum Proposal Report,’ which had been laid out, and placed it back on the table. He concealed any trace of embarrassment he felt.

Although delivered by Gyeong Chang-hyun, the proposal had Jaechan’s name at the end. Han Tae-hoon had called him immediately upon reading the document in sequence, and Jaechan had taken it as a signal for approval. However, the situation now seemed far from favorable.

“According to this proposal, you seem to regard me as some sort of national hero. I’m not that great.”

Han Tae-hoon crossed his legs deliberately. His long legs were wrapped tightly in a tailored suit that clung to his figure. He leaned his wrist against the armrest and rested his cheek against his hand, his voice carrying a disinterested tone.

“If the person I was hesitant to keep by my side turned out to be the son of a national hero, I wouldn’t mind.”

“…”

“However, aren’t you not?”

He uttered in a lackluster tone as if he were watching a boring movie. His gaze was the same

While Seon Jae-chan was flustered by the situation that was different from what he expected, it was only then that he realized why Han Tae-hoon acted differently than in the past.

To Han Tae-hoon, it was because he had no value at all.

A young guide without any backing, just a twenty-something kid.

Saying that Jae-chan wasn’t the son of a national hero was exactly that. It was a statement about Seon Min-yeol, who had been implicated in the lawsuit of Seon Eun-soo and the incident of Esper Heo Moon-gi. Most people wouldn’t know, but given Han Tae-hoon’s information network, he might have caught on that Jae-chan’s relationship with his father was different from what was publicly known. Seon Min-yeol, was always one of the influential figures Han Tae-hoon kept an eye on.

Furthermore, Han Tae-hoon’s casual revelation of such a materialistic calculation, different from his past behavior, had to be understood in context. While he wouldn’t expose his innermost thoughts to his subordinates, he easily revealed his vile intentions to a powerless shoe polisher boy like him whom he would never see again.

Having resolved his doubts in a short moment, Seon Jae-chan swallowed a sigh.

He didn’t know that Han Tae-hoon was so concerned about his background.

‘You are like me.’

Did that mean something like that? In the past, Jae-chan had been someone who scrutinized people’s backgrounds and conditions before befriending them.

He forced a bitter laugh. He had to admit it. Since the point when his relationship with his father, Seon Min-yeol, had deteriorated, he had been completely excluded from Han Tae-hoon’s interests.

“Even the tone of the report is insufferably arrogant. Isn’t it too hasty and assertive for a mere twenty-year-old guide to claim such things? Predictions of the emergence of monsters from this era, a terrorist organization of a superpower, and the preventive measures.”

He was referring to the proposal’s introduction. Keeping in mind the rise of Black Swan.

Of course, Jae-chan had also been concerned that his words might sound arrogant and vague, so he kept the comments short and concise. However, Han Tae-hoon had precisely seized upon that part.

Jae-chan was about to burst out laughing. Despite the fact that it was a report handed to him by Gyeong Chang-hyun, Han Tae-hoon was not the type to read it if it did not pique his interest no matter how important it was.

In other words, Han Tae-hoon’s reaction was proof that his proposal was so good that it led to Han Tae-hoon’s thorough reading. Seeing that he couldn’t say anything except for that paragraph, it was said that Jae-chan’s report had no faults besides that.

For now, Jae-chan seemed to be recognized as a slightly capable young man.

However, just receiving a few short comments was not satisfying enough.

“If you’re not going to become a national hero.”

He had to leave a different impression on Han Tae-hoon for the future.

“Are you aiming for the next presidential position?”

Han Tae-hoon didn’t show much reaction. He blinked his cold eyes as if he had heard something insignificant, and then promptly stood up.

“I’ll take my leave then.”

He didn’t even mention a later time. Han Tae-hoon rose smoothly from his seat empty-handed.

It was when he turned around like a man in a hurry. Jae-chan, who had acted a little faster, blocked his path. It was when Han Tae-hoon’s eyes flickered with a slightly surprised expression.

“Then would you like to sleep with me?”

Jae-chan suggested that. Surprisingly, the pointed index finger was pointing at the lobby ceiling, where the light from the chandelier was spreading. To be precise, the number of rooms above it.

Han Tae-hoon’s eyes were soaked in absurdity without even realizing it as he realized he really meant ‘that,’ and then cooled down again.

“I didn’t realize you were so hard on yourself that you were willing to give yourself away.”

“Please. I am too generous with myself.”