SS 2 Part 3

“…Thank you for the food.”

“…Yes.”

Kim Seohun’s eyebrows drooped. Bomin was using formal language with him. He was so used to Bomin’s casual tone, it felt… strange. 

He watched as Bomin averted his gaze, his large eyes darting around nervously. It was cute. But it also hurt, knowing that Bomin had no recollection of their shared memories.

After the chaos of the previous day, they had moved to a nearby pension. The mansion was too damaged, and renovations were underway.

They had all requested leave from the Association to stay with Bomin until his memory returned, but they were called away to deal with an S-rank dungeon that had emerged in Chungcheong-do.

Fortunately, Kim Seohun, as an A-rank Guide, was exempted from the mission. And so, he ended up being the only one who could stay with Bomin.

He had initially been happy. He thought that if he spent enough time with Bomin, his memories would return. 

But as the days passed, his hope dwindled.

Tears fell onto his untouched pasta. He lowered his head, biting his lip, trying to stifle his sobs.

He didn’t want to pressure Bomin. It wouldn’t be fair to burden him with his own pain when he was already struggling. 

But his emotions were overwhelming.

“Look at me.”

“S-Sorry…”

They were having lunch together. He had tried to be quiet, but Bomin had noticed his trembling shoulders. 

Bomin, with a sigh, got up and sat down next to him. He gently rubbed Kim Seohun’s back. 

“Hng, uh… Bomin-ah…” 

Kim Seohun, overwhelmed by the comforting touch, hugged Bomin. Bomin, instead of pushing him away, rested his hand on Kim Seohun’s back. 

He couldn’t remember anything, and yet… Kim Seohun’s embrace felt… familiar. Like déjà vu. 

“Please remember me… It hurts so much… to think that you’ve forgotten me.”

He knew he shouldn’t be saying these things, but he couldn’t help himself. It was just… too painful.

Bomin was right here, in his arms, his warmth so real, and yet… he couldn’t remember him. It was unbearable. 

“…Don’t cry.” 

Bomin, worried that Kim Seohun wouldn’t stop crying, pulled away. Kim Seohun’s face was a mess. 

He gently wiped away his tears. 

It was the first time he had touched anyone besides Jeong Hotae with such tenderness. He was supposed to be Kim Seohun’s lover, but… he only wanted Jeong Hotae. 

He felt guilty. He understood the pain of unrequited love, how it could consume you.

He had unintentionally hurt them, those who claimed to be his lovers. 

“How about… we go out?”

“Go out…?”

“It’s depressing, being cooped up inside.” 

Bomin handed him some tissues. Kim Seohun, his expression confused, blew his nose. 

“Since we’re in another world… I was thinking it would be nice to explore.”

The others had learned that Bomin wasn’t from their world.

They had found it hard to believe that their world was simply a novel in his, but they had accepted it after Jeong Hotae confirmed it. 

And it was hard to deny, given how Bomin’s world was similar to theirs, yet different in many ways. 

“Um… but…” 

“Just say it.”

Kim Seohun hesitated. He wanted to ask something, but he wasn’t sure if he should. Bomin, sensing his discomfort, took his hand. 

Kim Seohun, encouraged by the warmth of Bomin’s touch, looked up. His gaze might have been different, but Bomin was still kind. 

“Can you… at least speak casually to me?”

It hurt, every time Bomin used formal language with him. Bomin smiled softly. 

“Okay.” 

Kim Seohun, his tears drying, smiled back.

* * *

“Wow, it’s amazing! It’s like… we’re in a world of magic.” 

“Magic?” 

“Yeah! Can you fly too?” 

“No, I’m just a Guide… all I can do is guide Espers.” 

Bomin’s eyes sparkled as he watched a figure flying through the air. He was a low-rank Esper, his ability suited for everyday tasks rather than fighting monsters.

He was carrying a piece of a broken tree trunk towards a truck. 

Bomin and Kim Seohun had stopped to watch the cleanup crew. A dungeon break the day before had left the area in ruins. 

“I’m a Guide too, you know?” 

“Yeah, I know.”

“I’m… curious about how guiding works.” 

“You usually… do s*x guiding.” 

Kim Seohun’s voice dropped to a whisper as he said those words. Bomin’s expression changed. It seemed like he had been quite… promiscuous in this world. 

He had multiple lovers, and… well, adults rarely limited themselves to purely emotional relationships. He had woken up covered in marks, after all.

“Do you… do s*x guiding too?”

“No! Not since we met! I only… hold hands now. Really, you have to believe me…”

Kim Seohun jumped as if he had been burned. Bomin chuckled, patting his shoulder.

“I believe you.” 

It wasn’t like he had any other information to rely on. 

“I… never did s*x guiding… before I met you.” 

Bomin looked at him, intrigued. He had initially thought of Kim Seohun as a younger brother, not a lover.

But the way he was looking at him now, his grip on Bomin’s hand tightening, his voice firm… it made Bomin’s heart skip a beat.

“And I’m not going to do it again.”

Bomin suddenly wanted his memories back. He had been content with just Jeong Hotae, accepting the situation. 

He wasn’t unhappy. He had Jeong Hotae, and he had decided to focus on their relationship. 

But… he was starting to feel… differently. Their sincerity was affecting him, changing him. 

“Okay.”

He squeezed Kim Seohun’s hand. The strange unease he had been feeling slowly dissipated. 

He spent the next few days revisiting the places where he had apparently made memories with Kim Seohun. He then did the same with the others. 

And after spending a day with Shi Yu-hyeon, he finally fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, he relived the moments he had spent with each of them since losing his memory. 

It was a jumbled mess, but it all led to that night on the rooftop. And as he saw the shooting stars, their light filling the sky… his memories came flooding back.

“Ah…”

“You’re already awake? It’s still early.”

Jeong Hotae, hearing him stir, gently stroked his hair. Bomin had been having nightmares ever since he lost his memory. 

He would never remember what they were about, but… He refused to share a bed with anyone, and Jeong Hotae, worried, would stay up all night, watching over him.

He knew Bomin was still fragile. Stress always made him sick.

He would doze off, but he would wake up at the slightest sound, his hand instinctively reaching for Bomin’s forehead to check his temperature.

“Did you have a bad dream?” 

His hand moved from Bomin’s forehead to his cheek. Bomin met his gaze, and tears streamed down his face. 

Jeong Hotae, careful not to hurt him, gently wiped away his tears.

“I… miss them…”

His voice was thick with emotion, his throat tightening. His head throbbed as his memories returned, the pieces finally falling into place.

He felt a familiar heat building in his lower abdomen. But he wanted to see them, now. 

“…You remember.”

“Yes…”

Jeong Hotae knew. Bomin’s eyes, which had only been able to see him, now held a newfound clarity. There was room for the others again.

He felt a pang of sadness. He had wanted Bomin to regain his memories, but… a selfish part of him had hoped that Bomin would only ever see him. 

“You’re burning up. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“They’ll be waiting.”

Bomin’s fever was high. He suggested that Bomin take some medicine and rest, but Bomin shook his head. 

“Okay.”

He gently lifted Bomin out of bed. He could see their faces in his mind, their longing evident. 

“…Why am I so nervous?” 

Bomin took a deep breath as they approached the door. His vision was blurry, his tears mixing with his sweat. 

He remembered how he had acted when he had lost his memory, and his heart sank. He could see their pained expressions in his mind. He was both excited and terrified to see them.

“They feel the same.”

The footsteps outside the door stopped. They were sensitive. They must have sensed the change in him.

The door opened, revealing their tired faces. They had all been waiting for this, their hearts aching for him. 

“I…”

He wanted to tell them that he remembered, but the words caught in his throat. He bit his lip, his eyes filling with tears. 

“You don’t need to say it… We know… We’ve been waiting.” 

Song Jaeho, his hand trembling, reached out to cup Bomin’s cheek. Jeong Hotae released him, and Bomin, stepping forward, wrapped his arms around Song Jaeho’s neck, his lips pressing against his.

Tears streamed down Song Jaeho’s face. Bomin could feel his body trembling.

The past few months had been hell. He had wondered… if he could even survive if Bomin never regained his memory. 

He had tried to make new memories, but… his heart had ached every time Bomin had looked at him with those empty eyes. 

It was a chaste kiss, their tongues not touching. He pulled away, after lingeringly kissing Bomin’s lips.

“I swear… I feel ten years younger.”

“…Thank you… for coming back.”

Han Biseong and Won Seongwoo approached Bomin, pressing light kisses against his temples and cheeks. 

Bomin, seeing that Shi Yu-hyeon and Kim Seohun were still standing back, opened his arms. Kim Seohun was already crying, his nose red.

Shi Yu-hyeon simply stared at him, his eyes wide, his gaze fixed on Bomin’s bright smile.

“My arms hurt.” 

“Bomin-ah…!”

“I’m so… glad.” 

Kim Seohun threw himself into Bomin’s arms. Bomin stumbled under his weight, but Shi Yu-hyeon, catching him, steadied him. 

Bomin wrapped his arms around them, his gaze meeting each of theirs. He smiled. 

“Should we go to the rooftop?” 

Ever since that night, Bomin’s suggestion to “go to the rooftop” had become a code, a secret invitation for a night of shared pleasure. 

And no one could refuse him. Shi Yu-hyeon lifted him up, his arm securely around Bomin’s waist. 

Bomin, instead of being startled by the sudden change in height, simply held onto Shi Yu-hyeon’s shoulder, his other hand reaching out to caress Kim Seohun’s cheek. 

Kim Seohun, like an obedient puppy, nuzzled against his hand. 

Bomin’s laughter filled the air as they made their way to the rooftop. Laughter turned to moans, and the air, heavy with lust, settled around them.