7 – TDG 7

After ​all ​the ​afternoon ​schedules were canceled, ​Han ​Ji-hyuk ​and ​I ​returned to the dormitory. ​Even ​if we had ​wanted to do ​more, ​the ​related ​facilities ​had ​been burned and ​smashed ​to ​pieces, leaving no ​functioning equipment.

Han Ji-hyuk refused ​the dinner ​brought to ​him and ​clung to ​me ​late ​into the night. ​In the ​end, I remained entwined ​with him like a ​security blanket until he ​fell asleep, ​and ​only then was I barely able ​to slip away. The ​grip ​on ​my ​wrist ​was red from ​where he ​had ​held me the ​entire ​time. It only ended at ​this level ​because ​he had managed ​to ​control ​his ​strength.

Han ​Ji-hyuk is ​a ​special case, ​and since there was no precedent for ​this kind of ​”dedicated assignment,” I ​should have been cautious ​about everything, ​but I had ​been ​too complacent.

According to ​the report from ​the researcher ​whose ​head had ​been ​partially scorched ​by ​the fire, ​the ​brainwaves—which ​had been stable—began ​to ​fluctuate uncontrollably ​the ​moment ​I ​was out of sight.

Maybe I should have mentioned his dependency.

If I had, this massive disaster might not have happened.

I wanted to pull him out of his anxiety with a stolen contentsoft yet strong affection visit our sitelike Jung Ah-yoon does, but that is something only the female lead can do.

Therefore, the best course of action was to do my best while avoiding any hasty attempts.

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

Naturally, the cafeteria had long since closed for the day, and only a desolate darkness lingered.

My stomach let out a growl. Since Ji-hyuk hadn’t eaten, I hadn’t been able to eat either. I pulled a cup noodle from the vending machine and poured in the water.

As I sat in the empty cafeteria waiting for the noodles to cook, I found myself sighing in worry.

“Guide Seo Joo-won?”

Just then, someone called me. When I turned around, there stood a man who was about to set fire to my already troubled mind.

Kwon Min-wook?

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

“I’m Kwon Min-wook. A Guide from Team 1. Nice to meet you.”

He held out his hand. I didn’t even want to touch him for fear of catching some “villain germ,” but regardless, in terms of seniority, he was my great Seonbae. No matter how annoying he was, I had to show proper etiquette. I stood up, shook his hand, and gave a polite greeting.

“Hello, I am Seo Joo-won from Team 2. I had heard of your fame, Seonbae, even before entering the Center.”

He lifted his chin as if it were only natural and wore an arrogant expression. Truly impressive. I had wondered if he might have some unexpected charm, but I guess my expectations were too high.

He raised his wristwatch and tapped it.

“I was called in for an emergency summons. I’m just on my way home now.”

Yes. I see. But so what? Why are you suddenly acting like we’re acquainted? When did we ever establish a [visit our site]rapport? Aside from working the same visit our sitejob in [visit our site]the same place, we have zero points of contact.

Without me inviting him, Kwon Min-wook arbitrarily walked to the seat opposite me, pulled out the chair, and sat down. I gave him one empty compliment, and naturally, he decided he was the one in charge.

“Don’t mind me, keep eating. It’s hard for people like us to eat on time, isn’t it?”

My nerves frayed at Kwon Min-wook’s sudden appearance. When this bastard smiles kindly, it’s when he’s thinking the darkest thoughts.

“You’ve been busy staying at the dormitory lately, so you probably aren’t aware of the news outside, right?”

You’re certainly very interested, keeping track of the work situation of a rookie from another team.

I felt reluctant and disgusted, but since he was a great Seonbae by profession, I couldn’t openly show my dislike. Kwon Min-wook, seemingly aware of this, maintained a smooth smile and spoke with nonchalance.

“How is the new Esper? Is the ‘dedicated assignment’ going well?”

He spoke kindly as if he were worried, but there wasn’t a shred of goodwill in his voice. I felt tense, wondering if he might suddenly kick me under the visit our sitetable. His intention to see if there was any dirt to be visit our sitefound was so blatant that I couldn’t even manage a hollow laugh.

“…It’s difficult to say. Because of the confidentiality agreement.”

“I heard he’s a possessor of unprecedented potential.”

Despite my emphasis on the confidentiality agreement, Kwon Min-wook continued to prattle on as he pleased.

“Where did you hear such a thing?”

Kwon Min-wook lifted his chin and smirked.

“I didn’t realize such a young person could be so sly.”

Who on earth am I talking to…?

Is this even a conversation?

This bastard had no intention of communicating with me from the start, did he?

Suppressing the urge to pour the steaming cup noodles over his face, I answered calmly once more.

“…Are you talking about me?”

“That’s right. Seo Joo-won-ssi has been famous for a while. For being obsessive about building up your performance record.”

Famous, my foot.

Since when has he known me to be talking about “a while”?

A man who would rather die than go to Department 7 if told to build a “performance record,” yet he lets everything out of his loose lips.

So, it seems this bastard is attempting some sort of rookie-stomping or unauthorized copypower play. It was utterly ridiculous and pathetic how he looked down on me unilaterally, visit our siteas if he held the initiative in the conversation, while intently watching my reaction.

When dealing with people like this, there’s no need for appeals like “Who said that?” or “You’re misunderstanding.” Because he is likely the source of the rumors himself, and he just wants to see me flustered and intimidated.

Kwon Min-wook, oh Kwon Min-wook. If I were the type to be hurt or shrink back that easily, I would have been flung out of the atmosphere by now back in Department 7.

I widened my eyes as if hearing something completely unexpected.

“Is that true? My hard work has paid off! To think that even Seonbae Kwon Min-wook has noticed!”

When I beamed with a silly smile as if I were happy, the corners of Kwon Min-wook’s eyes twitched slightly. He cleared his throat for no reason and sneered once more.

“Not at all. I just didn’t expect someone so passionate that they’d disregard everything just for a performance record.”

“That’s right! Seonbae Kwon Min-wook was my role model!”

When someone tries to cut you down, acting clueless is the best strategy.

Finally, the man fell silent. He pretended not to be, but his expression stiffened slightly, and the corners of his tightly shut mouth were twitching faintly.

You son of a bitch, why even challenge me when you’re going to fold in two rounds?

Isn’t the level of provocation pathetic?

I guess he grew up too sheltered in the Center and doesn’t know how the bottom works. He needs some crash-course tutoring from Department 7.

“Guide Seo Joo-won is… quite… bright.”

Look at that petty little soul, unable to lose until the very end. Ugh, what a miserable bastard.

“Thank you for the compliment. I will continue to strive for excellence, Seonbae.”

Having finished speaking, I opened the cup noodles and began to slurp them. I could feel Kwon Min-wook’s murderous gaze piercing through the lid [Read on Read BL Novels]of the noodles, but why should I care? Isn’t glaring with wide eyes because you visit our sitehave nothing left to say the exclusive privilege of a loser?

“…….”

After a brief, silent battle of wills, Kwon Min-wook was the first to stand up with a stiff face.

“Then, keep up the hard work, Guide Seo Joo-won. Make sure to grab hold of any opportunities that come your way.”

With noodles still in my mouth, I opened my mouth wide and gave a beaming smile.

“Thanh you berry much.”

A thin layer of disgust spread like a crack across Kwon Min-wook’s smiling face. After he left the cafeteria, I put down the cup noodles and spat out the noodles that had filled my mouth. They were all soggy and tasteless; I thought I was going to die trying to force them down as if they were delicious.

Seeing Kwon Min-wook come all the way here to act out made Han Ji-hyuk’s rampage—caused by my absence—feel like foreshadowing.

He must have been pissed that his plan to separate me and Han Ji-hyuk had failed.

He was probably plotting some scheme, thinking he’d wait until Han Ji-hyuk regained stability and started standing on his own, then he’d try his luck once I quit the dedicated assignment and switched to free matching.

Give up on your delusions, you damn Kwon.

You won’t be able to touch a single strand of our Ji-hyuk’s hair.

Because I will absolutely never allow it.

I slowly opened my eyes amidst a cozy warmth that wrapped around my body pleasantly. Even through my blurred focus, I could sense a face staring intently at me. As my vision gradually cleared, Han Ji-hyuk’s smooth face filled my sight.

“Did you sleep well?”

A plush bed. The wonderful smile of a peerless beauty welcoming me. A low, tenderly whispering voice. It was a truly perfect morning.

Unable to stop the smile that naturally crept onto my unauthorized copyface, I was about to drift back to sleep when I suddenly snapped awake. Why is Han Read on Read BL NovelsJi-hyuk in my room? How did he open the door?

“…How did you get in here?”

Ji-hyuk held up his wrist.

“It opens with my watch.”

Right… I can enter his room with mine, so there’s no reason he couldn’t do the same.

“What time is it…?”

“Six.”

Six? Then there are still two hours left before I have to go to work.

Unlike his room, the bed in my quarters is narrow. Thanks to that, Ji-hyuk was lying on his side, pressed tightly against me. I now knew where that cozy warmth from earlier had come from. We weren’t some visit our sitehoney-mooning newlyweds, and the tangled position was [Read on Read BL Novels]burdensome, so I tried to pull away slightly, but as if that were out of the question, he pulled me back and pressed me against his chest. As our entwined bodies shifted, the bed springs [Read on Read BL Novels]groaned. The single bed was suffering greatly from accommodating two sturdy men at once. Having no choice but to give up my resistance, I rubbed my eyes and asked.

“Why aren’t you in your room? You could have just left when Hyung woke up.”

“Just because. I woke up at dawn.”

“When did you come?”

“Ten minutes ago.”

Ten minutes?

My brow furrowed instinctively. For ten minutes, the way he had settled into position seemed too natural, as if he had been lying in my bed for quite a while.

Ji-hyuk chuckled as he saw me frowning, then reached up and grabbed my glasses. I hadn’t asked for them, but he must have misunderstood seeing me squint. Regardless, I yawned and put them on as he handed them over. As my vision cleared, his handsome face became even more vivid.

“Let me see your face.”

At my words, Ji-hyuk abruptly pushed himself up, braced his arms on either side of me, and thrust his face close.

Pupils were normal on both sides. The vitals checked via the watch were also fine.

Once I finished the check, he relaxed the strength in his arms and slid down to lie on top of me. He was slightly heavy, but being pressed down actually felt stable and comfortable. As I was sucked into his embrace, I thought blankly.

‘It’s like being sucked up by a vacuum cleaner.’

It feels like he’s clinging to me even more excessively than yesterday. Regardless of the vitals, there seems to be some psychological influence, right? Am I destined to be a security blanket again today? The breath brushing against my neck is ticklish.