TDG Ch 25

The second place that captivated me was the bedroom.

Attached to the living room and sharing a full glass window, this room was extremely spacious. Yet with only a single large king-size bed placed squarely in the center, the way the space was allocated felt overwhelmingly bold.

“Jihyuk-ah, look at that bed! From now on, you’re sleeping here all by yourself!”

“…By myself?”

“Yeah! By yourself!”

I shouted excitedly. Just imagine rolling around alone on something that huge. Wouldn’t it feel amazing?!

As the arms that had been wrapped around my body loosened, I ran over energetically and dove onto the bed. The mattress seemed to swallow me up before showing off its distinctive bounce, pleasantly springing me back up. The soft, springy sensation I felt through my body was beyond what I had imagined. The blanket laid over it was thick and cozy as well, giving me an intoxicating sensation as if I were floating on a cloud.

While I was hugging the plush blanket and enjoying the texture, I noticed Han Jihyuk still standing stiffly at the entrance.

“Jihyuk-ah, what are you doing! Come lie down too. It’s super soft and feels so good!”

Instead of coming closer, Jihyuk crossed his arms and leaned crookedly against the doorway with just his shoulder touching it. Maybe because he was tall and broad, even that alone made the doorway feel completely filled, like there was no room left to pass through.

“Hyung, are you going home?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? You need to rest too, and if I stay late, you won’t be able to.”

“Why can’t I rest if Hyung is here?”

Because Han Jihyuk kept repeating “why” curtly like some question-mark killer^[1], I couldn’t help but feel quite flustered. Where did the version of him go who had been happily touring the house with me just moments ago? Why had his mood suddenly dropped?

“Well… Jihyuk, you’d probably want to be alone today, right?”

When we lived in the dorms, there was almost no privacy. After all the hardship, his abilities had been recognized, and he’d gotten such a great house. I thought he would want some time to himself for once, that he’d welcome it… Did I get something wrong?

Jihyuk stayed silent after my answer, which only made me tense. But soon, he let out a small sigh, uncrossed his arms, walked over, and held out his hand.

“Then at least eat dinner before you go.”

His expression was no different from usual. Then why had he acted so curt just now? Feeling slightly bewildered, I took his hand and got up.

When we opened the imposing refrigerator in the kitchen, we felt a small sense of dismay. There was nothing inside but water. It seemed food hadn’t been stocked since it spoiled quickly and depended on personal taste. It was too late to order delivery, so we went down to the convenience store on the first floor of the building and bought triangle kimbap and various other things to eat. 

Eating triangle kimbap, sandwiches, and packaged retort meatballs while looking down at the Han River night view from such a luxurious penthouse. Somehow, the mismatch made it even more fun.

As I brought over the food heated in the microwave and diligently set the table, Jihyuk placed something down next to me with a thud.

“Wine?”

Jihyuk pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the wine cellar.

Right, of course. This place had that too. There was a full lineup of wine, whiskey, brandy, and distilled spirits, varied and abundant.

A commemorative first night meal made up of only convenience store food would have been a little disappointing, but having good alcohol eased that regret. If not now, when would we ever indulge in this kind of mood again?

Cradling the wine bottle, I pressed the opener Jihyuk handed me into the cork.

* * *

Beep beep beep—

The alarm bell kept ringing nonstop, like the sound of a train running along a distant rural track.

Stop it. My head feels like it’s going to split open. The sound keeps crashing around inside my skull.

Even blocking my ears with a pillow didn’t help. Groaning without even opening my eyes, I stretched out my arm and groped around for where my phone might be. But no matter where I touched, the blanket and sheets didn’t seem to end. What is this vast expanse? Was my bed always this wide?

I forced my glued-shut eyelids open and lifted my head. An unfamiliar room. A place I didn’t recognize at all. Startled, I braced my arms and tried to jump up, but then I spotted a familiar handsome man sleeping beside me and finally felt at ease.

This was the master bedroom of the penthouse that had welcomed us yesterday. It was also the very super large king-size bed I had admired so much.

“When did I fall asleep…”

I muttered as I brushed aside the strands of hair scattered across Jihyuk’s cheek. A rough, hoarse voice came out, startling me. My throat felt dry and scratchy, like a desert swept by sandstorms. This was obviously all because of the heavy drinking last night.

The homeowner stayed perfectly composed, yet the guest alone got swept up in the mood and drank recklessly, pouring it down without restraint, and this was the result. The wine was sweeter than I expected… and why did the liqueur taste so good too? I paid the price for mixing everything together and drinking without moderation, only now, the next morning. The clanging sound ringing near my temples since earlier felt like a mocking laugh, saying this was all self-inflicted.

Damn, this hangover is brutal. This headache is going to kill me. While groaning and clutching my head, I suddenly stared at the sleeping Jihyuk for a long moment and tilted my head.

But why is this guy naked?

Don’t tell me he took everything off? My heart dropped as I hastily flung back the blanket, then quickly relaxed.

“At least he’s wearing pants…”

Of course he is. What was I even thinking? And anyway, we’re both guys, so what if we were naked?

Han Jihyuk’s missing top seems to be the one I am wearing. The light sky-blue striped print was exactly the same. It looks like he changed my clothes after I fell asleep. Worried that I might catch a cold, he stayed in just his bottoms and put his top on me. His thoughtfulness was incredible. Honestly, I was touched.

And what about me in comparison? What did I do? I said I’d let him rest, but my greatest contribution was probably making him clean up after his drunk, rampaging hyung. I’m too ashamed to lift my face. I didn’t cause a scene, did I? If I did that too, ugh, I might as well just go die…

Careful not to wake him, I quietly slid my butt back and crawled off the mattress. At that moment, something like a claw snagged my ankle and roughly yanked me back.

“Eek!”

At some point, Han Jihyuk had woken up and pulled me on top of him. Wrapping both arms around me, he rested his chin on the crown of my head and muttered in a voice still heavy with sleepiness.

“Where are you going…”

My heart almost stopped. Suddenly grabbing and pulling someone without a word. I shook off Jihyuk’s arms, climbed onto his stomach, and smacked his chest.

“You scared me!”

“You were the one trying to sneak away first, Hyung.”

In response to my scolding, he did not back down and retorted while raising an eyebrow. What is he saying? This was the most novel case of shifting blame I’d ever heard in my life.

“What? Sneaking away? Then what, was I supposed to wake you up and formally report before leaving?”

When I smacked the other side of his chest too, Jihyuk suddenly grabbed my wrist. Oh, so now he wants to settle this with strength? Then… Then I lose! As I twisted my body and tried to get my butt off him, Jihyuk clasped both my hands in one of his and pressed down on my thigh with the other. His palm, sticking to my bare leg, felt unusually hot.

“Let go, let go. You’re not letting go? Huh?”

“I’m asking where you’re going.”

“I have to get up. It’s seven o’clock!”

Jihyuk snorted as if that was all it was, then tugged my wrist and practically knocked me over to lay me down beside him. He even wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me tightly against him. After finishing that whole series of actions, he spoke again.

“He said we just need to show up by twelve.”

“Who? Esper Song Hyunho?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t hear that.”

“He contacted me on my watch while you were drinking, Hyung.”

He told us to come by twelve? Looks like the other Espers are coming then. Trapped in Jihyuk’s arm like a criminal caught while trying to escape, I gave up any further attempts at fleeing and smacked my lips.

“Jihyuk.”

“Yeah.”

“By any chance… last night… I didn’t… throw a drunken tantrum, right?”

“……”

Why aren’t you answering? Why aren’t you answering?! …I did, didn’t I. I did. I caused trouble while drunk!

Getting drunk and acting up in front of my dongsaeng, then even blacking out… I’ve always known I have a weak tolerance for alcohol, so I’ve always controlled myself well, but this time it feels like I completely lost restraint.

Holding back the urge to cry from shame and humiliation, I spoke in a stern, serious tone.

“You rest and come out at twelve. Hyung has work, so I need to go to the office.”

“What work?”

“I need to stop by the office, say hello to the sunbaes since it’s been a while, and take care of some paperwork.”

“Is it urgent?”

“Not really, but…”

“Then don’t go.”

Hey, this brat.

Do you think everything works just because you plead with that handsome face full of melancholy?

“Ahem. Don’t do this. Hyung has to go.”

“Don’t go.”

“Nooo…!”

I struggled with all my might, but this punk Han Jihyuk did not budge an inch, like a boulder. On top of that, he was crushing me with half his body and burying me into the mattress, which made the situation even more unfavorable. Unlike me, who was struggling so hard my breathing had grown ragged, Han Jihyuk had his eyes closed peacefully, as if asleep, without a hint of strain, which somehow made it even more infuriating.  

This punk is taking his hyung lightly… I’m at a loss for words. I kept calling him cute and pretty, and now this is what happens… Hey, Han Jihyuk, you little punk! Are you really not going to listen? If Hyung gets truly angry…!  

Just as I was about to glare and shout, Jihyuk opened his eyes and leaned his face in close.

“Don’t go, yeah?”

Damn it. This is driving me crazy.

* * *

I was completely knocked down by Han Jihyuk’s ultimate move that fully exploited his looks, and in the end, I had to lie there for another thirty minutes. Once I regained some of my rationality, I succeeded in prying him off me through desperate persuasion and negotiation skills. Though saying I pried him off might not be entirely accurate.

“You’re really going to come with me?”

Jihyuk replied while pulling his head through his shirt, “How could I send Hyung off alone?”

I managed just fine on my own for five years when you weren’t around.

He insisted on going to work with me and got up to follow me out. If I tried to stop even that, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to leave this house at all, so I reluctantly decided to go together. Once we got there, I could probably just drop him off somewhere near his office.

…That was my plan, but once again, it was derailed by something ridiculous.

—“Hahaha, sorry! I forgot to register Jihyuk’s information in the security system!”

What are you even saying? There are some things you don’t just forget. I stared silently at the tightly shut door of Esper Team 1 and spoke into my watch.

“Then how are we supposed to get into the office?”

—“You can’t! Our team members will arrive at twelve, so until then, Guide Seo Juwon, please protect him! Please!”

“What? What did you say? Team Leader Song! Song…”

…The call ended.

This guy said what he wanted and then just hung up. Jihyuk is not a lost child, so what protection is he talking about?

Watching Han Jihyuk, who seemed perfectly content just holding my hand regardless of whether the office door was open or closed, I went through a brief but intense inner conflict.

What do I do? Is it okay to sit an Esper in my office?

I haven’t been working at the Center for that long either, so I don’t know the detailed regulations well. We use the same building anyway, so there shouldn’t be a reason it’s not allowed, right? Thinking alone wouldn’t get me an answer, so for now, I decided to just bring him along.

When I scanned the card and went inside, Yoon Soojung sunbae casually stuck her head out from behind her monitor, then jolted in surprise and sprang to her feet. 

“Oh my, Juwon-ah!”

“Sunbae, it’s been a while. Have you been doing well?”

Soojung sunbae even dropped the documents she was holding and hurried over to grab both my hands tightly.

“My goodness! It’s really been so long! Isn’t this the first time since you went to become someone’s dedicated Guide?”

“Haha, I stopped by the team at least once a week, but every time, you just happened not to be here, Sunbae.”

“I heard about it from the team leader and Hojin, too. Really, somehow only our schedules never matched up, right?”

“That’s right. Nothing unusual happened in the meantime, did it?”

“For me, not really. Same as always. You look like you’ve lost some weight. Your eyes look hollow. Didn’t you sleep?”

That’s because I drank like crazy last night…