SS 6(2) Part 1

Side Story #6. Secret (2)

As soon as day broke, the person Bomin sought wasn’t Kang Yihan, but Yoo Min.

He thought it would be more effective to use Yoo Min, Kang Yihan’s lover, than to approach Kang Yihan directly to talk to the Bomin in the original story.

“…Min!”

And Bomin’s prediction was correct. Kang Yihan, who had been walking to meet Yoo Min, spotted Bomin, his eyes widening in shock before he ran over, his face pale.

“Yihan-ah, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Yoo Min also seemed worried as Kang Yihan’s condition appeared strange. His touch, as he brushed Kang Yihan’s sweat-beaded forehead, was gentle.

“Ah, no… Did you talk to this person about anything?”

Kang Yihan grabbed Yoo Min’s arm and pulled him behind him. The way he glared at Bomin was chilling. A killing intent leaked from him despite being an A-rank Guide. Bomin was just brushing away the goosebumps that rose on his arms when…

“Bomin-ah.”

“I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“…Why are you two here?”

Now it was Bomin’s turn to be surprised. At the familiar voice from behind him, Bomin quickly turned around. Jeong Hotae and Won Seongwoo were standing there, dressed in Esper uniforms.

Bomin quickly checked Kang Yihan’s complexion. Kang Yihan’s gaze was now fixed on Won Seongwoo, frozen. His already pale face was now ashen.

“Won Seongwoo… Why are you…”

Kang Yihan’s voice trembled like an aspen leaf as he called Won Seongwoo’s name. Only then did Won Seongwoo’s gaze shift from Bomin to Kang Yihan.

“Names. I don’t particularly like being called by my name.”

The gaze that had been as soft as a warm breeze when looking at Bomin now gleamed coldly, like a predator facing its prey.

“Reacting like that just because someone called your name… seems rather rude on your part.”

Yoo Min’s amiable expression hardened. He pulled the disoriented Kang Yihan into his arms. He enveloped the trembling body and made Kang Yihan bury his face in his chest, shielding him from the gazes of others.

Kang Yihan raised his arms and wrapped them around Yoo Min’s waist. This was someone who had been shy even to hold hands in public.

Yet now, Kang Yihan clung to Yoo Min desperately, like someone falling from a cliff grasping at a branch.

“It doesn’t seem appropriate to continue here. Let’s move to the conference room.”

Following Jeong Hotae and Won Seongwoo, Shi Yu-hyeon appeared and calmed the noisy scene. The Swiss ability users and Swiss Ability User Association staff were watching with curious eyes.

Perhaps feeling the tension in the air, thick with killing intent as if a battle were about to break out, more than one person began to raise their abilities.

“Yes. I have something I must discuss with Guide Kang Yihan. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t avoid me.”

Bomin approached Kang Yihan and spoke in an earnest voice. He seemed to understand what Kang Yihan was afraid of, and he wanted to quickly alleviate that anxiety.

After first opening his eyes in this world, Bomin felt a sense of kinship with the Bomin of the original story. He was someone who, like himself, was destined to live an endlessly lonely life and meet a tragic end.

“…What is it that you want to talk about?”

Kang Yihan, who had been calming his startled heart by inhaling Yoo Min’s scent, spoke in a sharp voice. His glare at Bomin was quite fierce.

Despite the chilling expression that contrasted with his cute appearance, Bomin did not avert his gaze. If he were to give up over something like this, he wouldn’t have sought out a psychic in the first place, nor would he have made the arduous journey from South Korea to Switzerland.

“A story where both you and I can become happy.”

“What…?”

“It’s not a story where you’ll lose anything. So stop being scared and let’s talk openly.”

Perhaps Bomin’s words were unexpected. Kang Yihan’s eyes wavered intensely. As Kang Yihan became visibly agitated, Yoo Min gently stroked his hair.

“Yihan-ah, it’s okay. I’m here.”

Kang Yihan’s lips twisted. As his large eyes quickly filled with tears, Yoo Min frowned as if he were the one in pain.

“…I won’t talk for long.”

“That’s what I want too.”

Bomin smiled as Kang Yihan lifted his head from Yoo Min’s embrace and spoke while looking at him. Bomin also wanted to quickly resolve the matters related to Kang Yihan and return to South Korea.

It wasn’t as if he had spent a long time in Switzerland, but he was already missing the mansion. Jeong Hotae and Won Seongwoo had followed Bomin, but Yoon Bisam, Song Jaeho, and Han Biseong were still in Korea.

He wanted to gather everyone in the living room, watch the flames flicker in the fireplace, and sip Vin Chaud made by Shi Yu-hyeon.

“This way.”

Seeing that things seemed to have calmed down between Bomin and Kang Yihan, Shi Yu-hyeon led the group to the conference room. Inside, the room was bare, furnished only with a long table and chairs.

After confirming that everyone had entered, Shi Yu-hyeon locked the door and took out an artifact from his pocket.

“From now on, what is said in here will not be heard by others.”

It was an artifact he had brought along just in case. With Bomin’s increased abilities, the eyes of the world would be focused on him. And there might be those in Switzerland trying to gather information about him.

“Kang Yihan, how trustworthy is this person?”

“What?”

“I’m talking about Esper Yoo Min.”

Before starting the main discussion, Bomin looked alternately at Kang Yihan and Yoo Min. Kang Yihan currently didn’t want his true identity revealed. The fear Kang Yihan held was likely related to Yoo Min.

“…I could give him my life.”

Kang Yihan reached out and took Yoo Min’s hand. As if waiting for it, their fingers intertwined, and Kang Yihan soothed his trembling heart.

The person sitting in front of him was clearly his past self, yet he felt strangely unfamiliar.

It was probably because, unlike himself, he didn’t seem anxious, and his eyes shone brightly.

His trembling gaze also landed on Won Seongwoo, who stood protectively beside Bomin. Before, when looking at him, Won Seongwoo’s gaze had been worse than that given to a pebble on the road, but now, his eyes were filled with affection and worry, evident even to a stranger.

The disparity made Kang Yihan bite his lip in frustration.

“Yihan-ah, don’t cry. I feel like I could fly because of the confession you just made.”

Apparently, tears had streamed down his cheeks without him realizing it. Without releasing their clasped hands, Yoo Min raised his other hand and wiped away the teardrops from the corners of Kang Yihan’s eyes with his thumb.

Kang Yihan was very shy. Even though Yoo Min had confessed his love countless times, Kang Yihan would only nod slightly, never returning the confession.

However, when he proposed the pair contract, Kang Yihan readily agreed, so he thought that was the best expression of affection Kang Yihan could show.

But just now, Kang Yihan clearly told Bomin that he could give him his life. Although it wasn’t a love confession, it was a statement that made a corner of his heart ache.

“I’m so happy right now.”

“…What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

Watching Kang Yihan and Yoo Min, who looked like a loving couple, Bomin started the conversation. He spoke about being so happy. He was relieved that Kang Yihan had found his true love.

He didn’t know Yoo Min well, but just by looking at the way he looked at Kang Yihan, he could tell how much he cherished and loved him.

“You’re happy right now, too, right?”

“…..”

Kang Yihan hesitated, unable to readily answer the question that followed Bomin’s words, despite having frowned at them. It was at that moment that Yoo Min’s grip on Kang Yihan’s hand tightened.

“So happy that I wouldn’t want to wake up if it were a dream.”

Contrary to his hesitation, Kang Yihan’s voice, which emerged after a moment, was steady. At his firm voice, like a scholar stating an immutable truth, the tension in Yoo Min’s hand slowly eased.

“Then that’s good. Let’s continue to live like this.”

“…What?”

“You said you’re happy. You wouldn’t want to break that happiness, would you?”

Bomin wanted to talk frankly with Kang Yihan, but he hesitated because he didn’t know how much he had told Yoo Min. He was also afraid that something he might say would cause a rift between the two.

Bomin deliberately chose vague words to continue the conversation. Doubt continued to cloud Yoo Min’s face, but he thought that if he truly loved Kang Yihan, he would surely wait until Kang Yihan told him the truth.

“This is my phone number. Call me anytime you want to talk.”

Bomin took out a business card and handed it to Kang Yihan. Kang Yihan’s gaze lowered to the name “Lee Bomin” printed on the card, his expression darkening.

It was a name he thought he had forgotten. Yet, the person who had taken over his body appeared before him without warning. At first, he thought Kang Yihan’s soul had entered Bomin’s body.

He thought that, since there wasn’t a single good thing about living in that body, Kang Yihan couldn’t stand it and came looking to reclaim his original body.

However, seeing him seemingly loved, unlike his past self, a feeling difficult to describe in words boiled within him.

“…The sky here is really beautiful.”

Before getting up from his seat, Bomin talked about the sky to Kang Yihan, who seemed troubled. Just like the sky that had appeared on the original Bomin’s phone wallpaper, the Swiss sky was particularly clear and blue.

“I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m sorry for suddenly appearing and causing confusion.”

Did the meaning of Bomin’s words get across? Kang Yihan’s complex expression relaxed considerably.

“Let’s go now.”

Bomin led those standing beside him out of the conference room. Kim Seohun approached Bomin’s side, taking and gently rubbing his hand, cold from tension.

“Is it okay to leave it at that?”

“Yes. The situation isn’t good for talking any further, and I saw him happy, so that’s enough.”

Kim Seohun and the others knew why Bomin had made this long journey to Switzerland. They all breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that things seemed to be working out better than expected.

“Has everyone eaten? Let’s go get something delicious. Switzerland is famous for fondue.”

“I heard there’s a good restaurant nearby and I already looked up the location.”

At Bomin’s words, rubbing his stomach, Shi Yu-hyeon mentioned the restaurant he had reserved. It was a restaurant serving traditional Swiss cuisine, including fondue.

“Then let’s go there.”

* * *