Chapter 58 – GOY 58

#58

As ​I ​stepped ​out ​of ​the ​restroom, I saw ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk ​standing ​alone ​across from me.

He hadn’t ​gone ​to the restroom, ​nor had he ​bought ​any ​food, ​so ​why ​was he out ​here?

As ​I ​gazed at Joo ​Seung-hyuk, who looked somewhat ​lonely for ​some reason, ​I realized ​my mistake.

Come ​to ​think ​of it, Joo ​Seung-hyuk had ​helped me, yet I ​hadn’t said a single ​word of thanks. No ​matter how ​much ​of an Obsessive Madman he was—someone ​who might even kill ​me—I ​shouldn’t ​treat ​someone ​who helped me ​this way.

After ​checking ​the time, I ​hurried ​toward the rest stop convenience ​store.

What would ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk like?

In the ​original ​story, ​he ​only ​drank Americanos. ​But ​he unauthorized copywas ​still in the [unauthorized copy]third year of middle ​school. An Americano ​felt wrong for ​a child.

I passed over ​the cheap ​canned drinks as ​well. ​He might think ​it was some ​trashy drink ​given ​by a ​trashy ​beggar.

As I ​quickly ​scanned the ​beverage ​refrigerator, ​a line of ​high-priced ​fresh fruit ​juices ​caught ​my ​eye. The label read, ‘100% Cold-Pressed Fresh Fruit Juice.’

Perhaps because of that, a palm-sized juice was more expensive than a large one-liter bottle.

I would never buy it for myself, but it seemed appropriate as a gift for Joo Seung-hyuk.

But which flavor should I pick? Orange is a definite pass. Tomato is also no good; people either love it or hate it. Isn’t pineapple too sweet? I think Joo Seung-hyuk would hate it.

Every single one had a disqualifying factor. Meanwhile, time was ticking away. I had to make a decision quickly. That’s when I saw grapefruit.

‘This is it!’

Grapefruit was suitably sophisticated and not too sweet. I quickly paid for the grapefruit juice and headed outside.

Joo Seung-hyuk glanced at his wristwatch and was turning to walk toward the bus.

It was already 51 minutes past the hour. I hurried after him and arrived at the bus exactly at 52 minutes. However, there were still many people who hadn’t boarded.

“Is everyone here? Who’s missing? How many people are left? Please let me know if the person next to you or behind you hasn’t arrived yet!”

The person in charge kept shouting, and amidst the noisy atmosphere, I fidgeted with the grapefruit juice. For some reason, it didn’t feel like the right moment to give it to him.

Eventually, the bus departed right on the hour. I could hear the sounds of people eating food bought at the rest stop, but it was much quieter than before.

‘If I don’t give it to him now, I won’t be able to until we get home.’

I looked at Joo Seung-hyuk.

This was the first time I had spoken to him since the day I rejected the exclusive contract. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“Um…”

Joo Seung-hyuk, who had been looking at his smartphone, turned his head.

“Thank you for helping me.”

I used polite, formal language. When I didn’t know the original story, I had spoken informally, but I couldn’t do that anymore.

I had no desire for an ending where I was murdered by the Obsessive Madman for pretending to be close.

“This is just a small token, but please accept it.”

Joo Seung-hyuk stared intently at the grapefruit juice. His neat brow twitched.

Was he displeased simply because a villainous sub-uke like me spoke to him? No, if that were the case, he shouldn’t have sat next to me!

I felt wronged, but I didn’t dare argue with the Obsessive Madman.

“Ah, you don’t like it. Then you don’t have to force yourself to take it.”

As I spoke as politely as possible and tried [stolen content]to Read on Read BL Novelsput the grapefruit juice back in my bag, Joo Seung-hyuk snatched it away.

However, he didn’t drink it. He continued to glare at the grapefruit juice.

Does he hate juice?

I recalled the image of Joo Seung-hyuk being drenched in orange juice in the past. Perhaps he hated not just orange juice, but all juices.

I should have just gone with an Americano. A third-year middle schooler is at an age where drinking an Americano isn’t strange. Even if he’s young, he’s only a year younger than me, and he’s taller.

Moreover, knowing full well that Joo Seung-hyuk originally only drank Americanos, I had made a misguided choice while rushed for time.

I debated whether to ask for the grapefruit juice back, but in the end, I couldn’t muster the courage and didn’t say a word until we arrived at the gate.

That day, the Gate Raid was said to have concluded smoothly thanks to Joo Seung-hyuk’s performance.

To be honest, I didn’t know the detailed situation. Not long after arriving in Buan, the high-ranking officials from the Center rushed over.

They apologized for the unpleasant incident that had occurred on the bus.

“Our Center always prioritizes the safety of Guides. We are different from corporate guilds where company profit comes first. Such incidents usually do not happen. This will never happen again. I promise you, Yeon-soo, on the name of the Korea Ability User Center.”

It didn’t seem like they rushed over because they were worried about me or sincerely sorry, but rather to make excuses in case this incident damaged the Center’s image. After all, they wanted me to come to the Center.

Claiming that it would be too much for me to perform Guiding since the shock must have been great, they sent me home. I told them I was fine, but since they had already sent a Center limousine, I had no choice.

I heard later that the Esper who had been hitting on me had his ability user license revoked.

He had always been a problematic human, but he had survived because he was A-Class and had good connections; it seemed he was permanently expelled due to this incident.

After that day, I only rode the Guide-only bus during national gate raids. Naturally, there was no chance for me to share a bus with Joo Seung-hyuk.

I thought Joo Seung-hyuk would have forgotten about that incident. But he remembered.

I looked at Joo Seung-hyuk. He was much taller than he was in middle school, and his build had become firmer. The youthful face had vanished, and he exuded the scent of a man.

‘Seung-hyuk-ah, do you remember the things that happened with me? [stolen content]Did you [stolen content]not hate me back then?’

After our first relationship, we were always together. However, we rarely brought up the things that happened before that.

It was a taboo. There was nothing good to be gained from talking about it. Especially from my position, it was a conversation to be avoided at all costs.

But suddenly, I wanted to ask. About Joo Seung-hyuk’s memories, his thoughts at that time, and his feelings for me…

“Seung-hyuk-ah.”

As I spoke impulsively, a sharp voice flew in.

“Aren’t Espers and Guides supposed to sit separately?”

Aaron was glaring at us with his arms crossed.

Why is that guy Aaron here? I thought he had just left since I hadn’t seen a trace of him since the first day…

Is he participating in the Read on Read BL Novelsfield training? Even if he might naturalize, is [Read on Read BL Novels]this allowed for an outsider?

I had doubts, but this must have been something Professor Oh permitted.

First, I tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

“Actually, we were going to sit separately…”

“Isn’t that the rule in Korea? Just because you’re S-Class, does that mean you can act however you want?”

Before I could say anything, Aaron snapped coldly.

No, I told you, I was planning to sit separately! Listen to me!

Furthermore, if you’re doing this because you’re jealous of the relationship between me and Joo Seung-hyuk, please stop! You’re making a huge mistake!

I had not yet given up on my plan to pair the second villainous sub-uke with the Obsessive Madman and escape the original story. Regardless of how annoying Aaron was, I hoped things would go well between him and Joo Seung-hyuk. If that happened, I would be able to escape the Obsessive Madman. I was willing to push them together as much as my power allowed.

However, Aaron’s current remark was attacking not only me but also Joo Seung-hyuk.

‘If he’s going to target someone, he should just target me; why is he provoking the Obsessive Madman like that!’

Sure enough, Joo Seung-hyuk’s gaze had frozen coldly. At this rate, instead of getting together with Aaron, a corpse might end up here.

Just as I was about to stop Joo Seung-hyuk, Ji-hee noona intervened.

“Ah, that’s usually the case, but those who are bonded or dating are exceptions. We separated them because there are guys who hit on people forcibly, but if they’re dating, there’s no need for that.”

“Well, it’s not like it’s a law. Just let them have a date. You’re so clueless.”

“I’m jealous! I wish I had a lover to sit with!”

“You, shut up.”

Other Seonbaes also chimed in. Everyone was speaking under the premise that we were dating.

Everyone had thought we were dating unauthorized copyanyway, but they had still stolen contentbeen cautious with their words in front of us.

However, after the article about our public date at the department store was published, they began to treat us openly as the official couple of the Esper Academy.

‘Ah, I need to escape as soon as possible…’

Aaron’s poking was annoying, but the Seonbaes’ words, mixed with congratulations and envy, were terrifying.

Somehow, we had become an official couple. At this rate, I might end up in a wedding hall without even realizing it…

“Guide Aaron, there’s a seat here, so please sit.”

While everyone was buzzing about my relationship with Joo Seung-hyuk, Kang In-ho pointed to the seat next to him in an indifferent voice.

Aaron bit his lip hard, glared at me, and then got off the bus.

I had intended to sit separately from Joo Seung-hyuk, but because Aaron intervened, I completely missed my timing.

In the end, we ended up sitting side by side.

Four years ago, only silence had lingered. But this time was different. Joo Seung-hyuk leaned his head on my shoulder. I accepted it naturally.

Joo Seung-hyuk looked at my hand and fiddled with the ring on my ring finger.

“You’re wearing it well.”

“It’s precious. It would be a disaster if I lost it.”

It was a ring worth the price of two buildings. This ring was one building, and the Pistol of Horaitron inside it was another.

I was scared to wear something like this, but I was also scared to leave it in the dormitory. It would be a disaster if it were stolen.

“If I knew you’d wear it so well, I should have made it a couple ring.”

A couple ring with an Obsessive Madman? Please keep such terrifying words to yourself.

“I feel like this ring is particularly comfortable.”

“It’s comfortable?”

“Yeah. I usually can’t wear rings, but this one is comfortable without being bothersome.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Joo Seung-hyuk took my hand and interlaced his fingers with mine. Then the conversation stopped. I naturally looked out the window.

It was quiet, but it was different from the past. Back then, I couldn’t even turn my head for fear that our eyes might meet. Even if I did nothing, my whole body felt stiff.

But now, I felt a sense of comfort even in the silence. I am becoming accustomed to the presence of the Obsessive Madman. I am afraid of this coziness.