TG Ch 7(2) Part 2

Later that evening, Sijin went to the examination room.

“Doctor, are you sure about this…? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“It’s just a bruise. I’m fine.”

“Not the injury… You were attacked by a monster!”

Shin Dayoung said worriedly. But Sijin was genuinely fine, and he knew that work would pile up if he wasn’t there. Besides, he had something he needed to do today.

“I’m only here for a short while, without the Shark knowing. I’ll just review the data and leave. Is there anything urgent I need to look at?”

The examiners, hearing his request, hesitantly presented him with a stack of documents – mostly lists of Ability Users with abnormal readings.

Sijin spent an hour reviewing the data with them, then, as it got close to their quitting time, he made a request to Shin Dayoung.

“So, all I have to do is send a notification to Captain Shark?”

“Yes. Just send him a notification and go home. I’ll handle the examination.”

If Sijin, who was supposed to be resting, sent the notification, Jeong Taeyul would either ignore it or get angry. That’s why he had asked Shin Dayoung to do it, to lure the Shark to the examination room. It was part of protocol for him to be examined after a mission anyway.

“But Captain Shark will be angry…”

Shin Dayoung said, worried, but she agreed. Getting off work on time was a priority.

“Then, Doctor, I’ll leave work first. Next time, make sure to call Captain Shark when I’m around!”

“Okay. Go home and get some rest.”

Sijin smiled as he watched her leave. He sent the other examiners home as well, assuring them he could handle it.

Soon, he was alone. The Research and Examination building was quiet, the hallways dimly lit after the evening lights-out. Sijin began reviewing Jeong Taeyul and Ham Geonwu’s readings. According to the records, they had guided for twenty-two minutes on the day he was hospitalized.

[Ham Geonwu +49%]

Ham Geonwu’s readings were within the normal range – +40% to +60% – for an Esper after guiding.

The problem, as always, was Jeong Taeyul. 

[Jeong Taeyul -60%]

‘Why are his readings still abnormal, even after guiding…!’

Sijin groaned, his head in his hands. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen Jeong Taeyul’s readings within the normal range since his arrival. -40% to -60%. It was a range most Guides struggled to even reach, yet Jeong Taeyul was consistently outside it. How was this even possible? Guides, being fewer in number than Espers, were usually overworked, their readings constantly low. He sighed, exhausted.

Usually, a slight deviation from the normal range wasn’t a cause for concern. He would either monitor it or pester the Guide to do more guiding.

But Sijin’s concern was much deeper. Jeong Taeyul’s readings showed no sign of improvement, even after guiding.

What if his guiding efficiency continued to decline, and he got injured or experienced a major emotional setback?

It could trigger a Guide outburst.

An Esper outburst was characterized by readings of +100% or higher, while for Guides, it was -100% or lower. This was considered stage one.

At stage two, readings of +150% or -150% or higher, the Esper or Guide began to lose control, their ability to regulate their energy diminishing. They would become a destructive force, their actions dictated by instinct rather than reason.

And beyond that, at +200% or -200%, an irreversible catastrophe known as a full outburst occurred.

He might seem overly cautious, but ignoring even the smallest signs could lead to a disaster. As a diagnostic examiner, it was his duty to prevent it.

Click. 

The door suddenly opened, startling Sijin.

It was Jeong Taeyul, his expression unreadable as he stood by the door, his hand still on the doorknob. Sijin was sitting in a dimly lit corner, hidden from view. 

He stared at Jeong Taeyul, his eyes widening, then quickly ducked behind the partition.

‘He’s in casual clothes?’

Perhaps it was because he’d just come back from a mission, but Jeong Taeyul was dressed in clothes he had never seen before. He was wearing a simple denim jacket and a black cap, the shadow from the cap obscuring his eyes but accentuating his sharp jawline.

Even in casual attire, his broad shoulders and impeccable physique made him stand out. But it was less intimidating than the suit he’d worn during their first meeting.

‘Why is he here so early? I haven’t even set up the equipment yet.’

He must have flown here, judging by the time. Sijin, caught off guard, panicked.

Then, Jeong Taeyul walked towards him, his voice cold, “We had an agreement, didn’t we?” 

Sijin, huddled behind the desk, looked up. Jeong Taeyul towered over him, his eyes shadowed by the cap.

“Don’t you know the meaning of rest?”

“That… Jeong Taeyul… Long time no see.”

Sijin, trying to appease him, forced a smile. It had only been two days, but it felt much longer.

“Long time no see?”

Jeong Taeyul scoffed. His eyes, as he looked at Sijin, were sharp, the dark circles beneath them as prominent as during their first meeting.

Sijin knew he was in trouble.

But he couldn’t back down. He had to run some tests today, no matter what.

He asked cautiously, “Would it be okay… if we ran a few tests? It won’t take long.”

“No. You’re supposed to be resting.”

Jeong Taeyul said, his voice cold, his eyes as sharp as a predator’s. But Sijin was determined.

“It’ll only take an hour.”

“You want me to drag you there myself?” 

“How about thirty minutes…?”

“One.”

“Just a few tests.” 

“Two.” 

Jeong Taeyul began counting, his voice stern. Don’t treat me like a child. Sijin wanted to argue, but he was desperate. He could only look at him, his eyes pleading.

Jeong Taeyul, as if to make good on his threat, took a step towards him. Sijin, shrinking back, blurted out, “Y-You bit me on the neck!” 

“…..”

Jeong Taeyul stopped in his tracks, his frown softening into a look of surprise. He seemed speechless.

This was his chance. Sijin pressed on, “You bit my neck… when you were on tranquilizers.”

“…..”

“And your readings dropped a little after that… So, I just need to run a few tests.”

“Ha.”

Jeong Taeyul sighed, turning away. He took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair, as if frustrated. Sijin, though a little ashamed, felt a surge of triumph.

Then, Jeong Taeyul turned back to him. “I… I apologize for that.”

“…What?”

Sijin’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected an apology. Jeong Taeyul avoided his gaze, then looked up, meeting his eyes.

He had never seen him so flustered. Sijin couldn’t help but chuckle. Jeong Taeyul, in casual clothes and avoiding his gaze, looked like a college student regretting a drunken mistake.

It wasn’t something to apologize for. Sijin chuckled and asked playfully, “I don’t mind. No excuses?”

“…No.”

“….?” 

Sijin stared at him, puzzled. Jeong Taeyul sighed again, then walked into the darkened examination room.

He seemed genuinely embarrassed. Sijin, finding his reaction unexpectedly endearing, felt a shift in his perception. For the first time, Jeong Taeyul seemed closer to Ham Geonwu’s age.

Jeong Taeyul gestured towards the examination table, “You said thirty minutes, right?”

“Uh… yes. We’ll just run a few quick tests. Nothing painful…” 

“Just do it.”

“…What?”

“I said, just do it.” 

Sijin was speechless. He’d put up such a fight earlier, yet now he was agreeing so readily…

‘Is he really that embarrassed?’

He was more conscientious than Sijin had expected. It was a relief. 

“Hurry up.”

“Yes, yes.”

Seeing Jeong Taeyul’s fatigue, Sijin quickly got to work. Jeong Taeyul was already shirtless, his toned physique on full display.

Sijin prepared the equipment. He didn’t need the complex patches today; just the large ones that measured wave energy in real-time. He placed them on Jeong Taeyul’s shoulders and arms.

He checked his readings. 

[-66%] 

‘His readings have worsened again…’

Perhaps it was the fatigue from the mission, but they had dropped again. It wasn’t alarmingly low, but still… Sijin logged the data.

Jeong Taeyul, seemingly willing to cooperate, simply observed Sijin as he worked, his gaze following him around the room.

“Then… Jeong Taeyul.”

Sijin glanced at the clock. Six minutes had passed, just with the setup. Jeong Taeyul had only given him thirty minutes.

“Let’s make this quick. I’m not giving you more…”

Jeong Taeyul stopped mid-sentence.

Sijin had hugged him.