TDG Ch 7

All of our afternoon schedules were canceled, and Han Jihyuk and I returned to the dormitory. Even if we wanted to continue, all the related facilities had been burnt down or destroyed, and there wasn’t a single functioning piece of equipment left.

Han Jihyuk refused the dinner I brought and clung to me until late at night. In the end, I was stuck to him like a comfort doll until he finally fell asleep, and only then was I able to slip away. My wrist, which he’d been holding onto the whole time, was probably going to bruise.

Han Jihyuk is a special case, and this kind of “dedicated partnership” has no precedent, so I should have been more careful with everything. I had been too complacent.

According to the report from the researcher whose hair had been completely burnt off in the fire, his stable brainwaves started to fluctuate uncontrollably the moment he realized I was gone.

Maybe I should’ve mentioned his dependency issue. If I had, maybe this whole catastrophic mess could’ve been avoided.

I wish I could pull him out of his pit of anxiety with the same soft yet firm affection that Jung Ahyoon used, but that kind of skill is probably something only the female lead is capable of.

So all I could do was give it my best while avoiding any reckless moves. That was the wisest course of action.

To get back to the dorm, I had to pass through the building’s cafeteria. A quick glance at the clock showed it was already eleven.

The dining hall, long closed, was filled with nothing but silence and darkness.

My stomach growled. Since Jihyuk wouldn’t eat, I couldn’t bring myself to eat either. I ended up grabbing a cup of ramen from the vending machine and pouring in hot water.

Sitting alone in the empty cafeteria, waiting for the noodles to cook, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of gloom. Then someone called out to me.

“Guide Seo Juwon?”

I turned around, only to see the last person I wanted to deal with standing there, adding fuel to my already troubled mind.

Kwon Minwook?

What the hell is this bastard doing here at this hour?

“I’m Kwon Minwook. Guide from Team 1. Nice to meet you.”

He held out his hand. Just the thought of catching some villainous germ from him made me not want to touch it, but in terms of seniority, he was a senior far above me. No matter how unpleasant, I had to be polite. I stood up, shook his hand, and greeted him with all the formality I could muster.

“Hello, I’m Seo Juwon from Team 2. I’ve heard of your fame even before entering the center.”

He lifted his chin with a smug look, as if that were only natural. Unbelievable. I’d half-hoped he might have some hidden charm, but I guess I was too optimistic.

He tapped his wristwatch and showed it to me.

“I was called in on an emergency. Just getting off work now.”

Yeah, sure. Good for you. But what do you want from me? It’s not like we’re even on speaking terms. Other than working in the same place, we have absolutely nothing in common.

Without so much as a word from me, Kwon Minwook pulled out the chair across from me and sat down like he owned the place. What the hell? I throw one polite compliment his way, and now he’s acting like he’s in charge?

“Don’t mind me. Go ahead and eat. People like us rarely get to eat on time, after all.”

His sudden appearance put me on edge. This bastard only puts on that kind smile when he’s thinking the darkest thoughts.

“You probably don’t know much about the outside news, living in the dorm these days, right?”

Wow, even keeping tabs on what the rookies in other teams are doing? Must be real bored.

It was unpleasant and uncomfortable, but given our jobs, I couldn’t openly show my dislike to a senior. And Kwon Minwook, clearly aware of that, kept the slick smile on his face as he continued talking.

“How’s the new Esper? Is the ‘dedicated partnership’ going well?”

He spoke kindly, pretending to be concerned, but there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in his voice. I couldn’t help but stay on edge, half-expecting him to kick me under the table at any moment. His intent to dig up some dirt on me was so blatant, it wasn’t even worth a hollow laugh.

“It’s difficult to say because of the confidentiality clause.”

“I hear he’s got unprecedented potential.”

Even after I’d clearly emphasized the confidentiality clause, Kwon Minwook kept running his mouth as he pleased.

“And where did you hear that, if I may ask?”

Kwon Minwook lifted his chin with a smirk.

“I didn’t realize someone so young could be so shrewd.”

Who the hell am I even talking to…?

Is this supposed to be a conversation?

This bastard never intended to actually communicate with me in the first place, did he?

Suppressing the urge to pour the steaming cup of ramen straight into his face, I answered calmly once again.

“Are you talking about me?”

“That’s right. You were already well-known before. The way you go all out to build up your record.”

Impressive. I didn’t know a total rookie who’s barely been here a month could already have a reputation.

The guy who wouldn’t touch Division 7 with a ten-foot pole is now saying whatever he wants, just because he’s got a mouth.

So that’s what this is. This jerk’s trying to put me in my place, do the whole senior-crushing-the-newbie routine. The way he’s watching my every reaction with that fake smile makes it clear that it’s not his first time pulling this kind of stunt.

When dealing with people like this, there’s no point in asking who said what or trying to clear up a misunderstanding. He’s the one spreading the rumors, and what he really wants is to see me flustered and scrambling.

Too bad for him. He picked the wrong target. If I were the type to be hurt or shrink back from that, I’d have been ejected from Division 7’s orbit a long time ago.

Widening my eyes as if genuinely surprised, I raised my voice slightly.

“Really? I guess all that effort paid off! I’m honored that someone like Kwon Minwook sunbae would even notice!”

His eye twitched. I put on an over-the-top display of innocence and got ready for the next round. He looked a little thrown off, his expression saying, ‘What the hell is this kid trying to pull?’ Then, determined to regain control, he took another jab.

“…Well, I just didn’t expect someone so results-driven to be this reckless about it.”

“You’re absolutely right! That’s because you were my role model, Kwon Minwook sunbae!”

When they try to put you down, playing clueless is always the best move.

Finally, he went silent. He tried to act indifferent, but his face stiffened, and the corner of his tightly pressed lips twitched ever so slightly.

Why even start a fight if you’re going to fall apart after two exchanges?

His provocations were so childish and pathetic that I felt like he could use a crash course from someone in Division 7.

“Guide Seo Juwon, you sure are… cheerful.”

Still trying to get the last word, huh? So petty. Are you done now, you pathetic bastard?

“Haha, I get that a lot. I’ll keep working hard, Sunbae.”

With that, I lifted the lid off my ramen cup and started slurping it down. The sheer anger radiating from him across the table was so intense it was almost burning a hole through the lid, but who cares? If he’s got nothing else to say and all he can do is glare at me like that, isn’t that just the trademark look of someone who’s lost? 

“……”

After a brief, silent battle of wits, Kwon Minwook stood up abruptly with a stiff face.

“Well then, take care, Guide Seo Juwon. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunities coming your way.”

I responded with a beaming smile, noodles still dangling from my mouth.

“Thang yoo vewy muh.”

A faint crack of disgust spread across Kwon Minwook’s smiling face.

After he left the cafeteria, I put down the cup of ramen and spat the noodles back out. They were so overcooked and tasteless that I thought I’d choke trying to force them down.

Seeing Kwon Minwook go out of his way to come harass me like that, it hit me—Han Jihyuk causing a scene just because I wasn’t around suddenly felt like a piece of unintended foreshadowing.

I had been planning to start putting some distance between me and Jihyuk, but the moment he realized that, he clearly lost his temper.

Kwon Minwook was probably plotting some scheme, thinking that once Jihyuk stabilized and became independent, I’d leave the dedicated partnership and switch to open matching. That’d be his chance to make a move.

Time to wake up from your delusions, you damn Kwon family bastard.

As long as I’m alive, you won’t even get to touch a single strand of Han Jihyuk’s hair.

Not while I’m here. Never.

* * *

I woke up wrapped in a cozy warmth that felt blissfully comforting.

Even in my half-asleep state, I could immediately sense a gaze fixed on me. As my vision slowly cleared, what came into view was Han Jihyuk’s flawless, sculpted face, practically glowing.

“Did you sleep well, Hyung?”

Waking up to a stunningly handsome man’s radiant smile was the kind of luxury that would make even a sultan of a harem jealous. So naturally, my lips curled up, and a dopey grin slipped out before I could stop it.

Drifting in that happy feeling, I almost dozed off again… until it suddenly hit me—why is Han Jihyuk in my room? How did he even open the door?

“How did you get in here?”

Jihyuk raised his wrist and showed it to me.

“It opens with my watch.”

Right… I use mine to enter his room, too. So it makes sense that he’d be able to do the same.

“What time is it now?”

“Six o’clock.”

Six? That means there are still two hours before work. My tension faded, and I let my body relax again.

Unlike his room, my bed is small. It’s fine when it’s just me, but definitely not big enough for two adult men. So Jihyuk was lying on his side, pressed up right against me. I tried to scoot away a little, feeling the closeness was a bit much, but Jihyuk tightened the arm around my waist like he wasn’t having any of that.

As we shifted slightly together, the bed springs groaned under the weight. This single bed was truly struggling to bear the load of two full-grown men.

“Why aren’t you in your room? If you’d gotten up, I’d have gone over.”

“Just… I woke up at dawn.”

“When did you get here?”

“Ten minutes ago.”

Ten minutes?

My brow furrowed instinctively. For ten minutes, he looked far too comfortable and settled in. Honestly, it felt like he’d been lying in my bed for much longer than that.

Seeing my furrowed expression, Jihyuk chuckled softly, then reached up to grab my glasses. I hadn’t asked for them, but I guess he misunderstood my frown. Either way, I let out a long yawn and took them from him.

“Let me see your face.”

Both pupils were normal. The vitals on the watch checked out, too.

Once I finished examining him, Jihyuk’s body, which had been wrapped around me like a cave, slowly shifted to lie on top of me. He was a bit heavy, but the weight was just enough to feel secure, not uncomfortable. As I sank into his arms, a random thought popped into my head.

It’s like being sucked into a vacuum cleaner.

He’s clinging even more than he did yesterday.

Guess I’m stuck being his comfort doll again today. His breath tickled softly against my neck.