Chapter 80 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

Regardless ​of ​Jeong ​Si-jun’s ​anxiety, ​time flowed heartlessly.

There were ​barely ​two weeks left. ​Yet, Jeong Si-jun ​still ​hadn’t ​confessed ​the ​possibility ​that he might ​have ​performed ​a one-sided imprinting ​on Yoon Ki-hyun.

If possible, ​he wanted ​to hide ​it until ​the very ​end. ​He ​was already firmly ​in the ​bad books; bringing up ​the one-sided imprinting wouldn’t ​bring him any benefit.

‘If ​it were ​just ​a look of “of course you ​did,” that would be ​one ​thing.’

Having ​met ​as ​an Esper and ​a Guide, ​their ​ill fate had ​piled ​up layer by layer.

To describe ​it specifically, ​it ​was like a ​giant ​comprehensive ​set ​of ​misfortunes stemming ​from ​Jeong Si-jun’s ​arrogance in not valuing Guides.

In his heart, ​he wanted to ​just scoop up ​the sharp-tongued Yoon Ki-hyun ​and bring ​him into his ​own ​home. However, kidnapping ​and confinement were ​illegal acts ​with ​no room ​for ​excuse.

Gazing blankly ​at ​Yoon Ki-hyun’s ​face ​as ​he sat before ​him, ​Jeong Si-jun ​focused ​back ​on ​peeling the apple.

“Si-jun.”

“……!”

Jeong Si-jun snapped his head up.

“Yes, Hyung.”

Yoon Ki-hyun, who used to call him “Team Leader” religiously, had started to recoil and act out within less than a week once Jeong Si-jun decided to cling to him.

Of course, it wasn’t that strangely embarrassing atmosphere from before… but he wondered where this was leading.

“I’ve been thinking.”

That kind of preamble was always ominous.

Jeong Si-jun stealthily lowered his gaze. As he focused on peeling the apple again, Yoon Ki-hyun abruptly asked something that felt obvious.

“Why are you so obsessed with me?”

“That question again?”

“I mean, I tried to understand, but I just can’t.”

Yoon Ki-hyun asked that question every chance he got. He said there was no value in spending this much money and time on a Guide who couldn’t even perform guiding.

“I told you I’m fine with you not working as a Guide. I told you guiding doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

“I managed to understand [Read on stolen contentstyle="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[visit our site]Read BL Novels]up to that point. But I’m saying this because I’m really not boyfriend material.”

“…….”

“Don’t waste your time and money clinging to me when you have a bright future ahead of you.”

“You always… do you know you sound like a fifty-year-old man sometimes when you talk?”

Jeong Si-jun frowned and sliced the apple into bite-sized pieces. After a moment of hesitation, Yoon Ki-hyun picked up a fork and popped a piece of apple into his mouth.

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s just because I like you?”

“That’s why I’m asking what you like about me.”

“Hmm…….”

Jeong Si-jun sank into thought for a moment.

‘Do I need a clear trigger or reason to like someone?’

Of course, he felt a natural gratitude stemming from the fact that Yoon Ki-hyun had saved his life twice. Even a beast feels gratitude toward the being that saved it.

But that wasn’t the fundamental cause of his affection. If he had to pick something specific, it would be the face, as expected.

It was a face he could look at for hours without realizing unauthorized copystyle="position:relative;display:inline;">[unauthorized copy]time was passing. To be honest, it was the type that incited an impulse to make him cry.

Whether it was because he had gone through so much in a short time at the Center, or if his personality was just like that to begin with, Yoon Ki-hyun was certainly indifferent to everything. Or perhaps that was just how he wanted to appear.

“Yoon Ki-hyun’s face isn’t the kind that needs a reason to be liked.”

Jeong Si-jun replied with a shrug. Honestly, the feeling of liking someone usually didn’t start with anything as grand as that.

Regardless of time or place, how many people actually hate a beautiful person?

“So you’re just a face-hunter?”

“Probably? My standards are fucking—I mean, very high. After spending time with you, most people don’t even catch my eye.”

“……Aha.”

“So it would be even better if you took responsibility for that.”

“That’s none of my business. Anyway… I see your taste is weird.”

“Ah, is that so? Should I peel another apple or not?”

Jeong Si-jun asked, leaning back in his chair. Yoon Ki-hyun glanced at the nearly empty plate and shook his head. It seemed he was full after just one apple.

‘He really is picky.’

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem like Yoon Ki-hyun would accept his feelings.

Since the stubborn leech—who rarely communicated well—had promised to detach himself in a month, it felt more like he was just enduring the situation.

Since he had no intention of accepting his heart, he probably threw away the trivial honorifics and didn’t hesitate to treat him poorly.

But if there was one thing Yoon Ki-hyun overlooked, it was that Jeong Si-jun was the kind of bastard who enjoyed even those reactions.

Recalling the time when Yoon Ki-hyun would only answer “yes” or “no” to anything he said, this kind of reaction was almost like a reward. That was why he could smile even when Yoon Ki-hyun glared at him in annoyance or snapped at him to stop it.

“Hmm…….”

Having finished the plate of apples, Yoon Ki-hyun slowly lay down on the bed as if drowsiness were hitting him. Covering himself up to his neck with the blanket, he still glanced at Jeong Si-jun, who was sitting beside him.

“I’m going to sleep. You leave now.”

It was an outright order to get out.

Jeong Si-jun gazed blankly at the face buried in the pillow. Seeing him twitch an eyebrow as if asking why he was staring, he found it hard to leave.

When awake, Yoon Ki-hyun frequently glared and was anxious to kick him out of the hospital room as quickly as possible. But when asleep, Yoon Ki-hyun fell so deeply that it seemed he wouldn’t wake up even if someone carried him away on their back.

Looking at the face sleeping quietly with soft breaths, he [visit our site]wm: visit our site -->could lose track of how the stolen contentday was passing. He couldn’t give up such a precious sight.

“I’ll leave after I see you fall asleep.”

“I can’t sleep well when someone’s watching me.”

“Why? You slept just fine using my arm as a pillow last time.”

The memory of that day, still riddled with regret, was vivid for Jeong Si-jun.

Despite being in an unfamiliar place, Yoon Ki-hyun had fallen asleep quickly when he held him and patted him. Not only that, but he had subtly burrowed into his embrace, which had been quite an ordeal.

If he could date Yoon Ki-hyun, he could have coaxed him into living together in his house and started every morning in ecstasy…

‘Fuck. If only I’d kept my mouth shut then.’

If he had known that one slip of the tongue would tangle things up this badly, he would have rather taken a vow of silence.

Jeong Si-jun mumbled, still cautiously reading the mood of the glaring Yoon Ki-hyun.

“I’ll be quiet. If it bothers you that much, just think of me as a teddy bear sitting next to you.”

“Where is there a teddy bear that looks as fierce as you? What nonsense…”

Just as Yoon Ki-hyun frowned and scolded him, realizing it wasn’t a very persuasive argument.

“I know you’re going to dump me in two weeks anyway. So let me watch a bit longer. Please.”

For a moment, the other was speechless.

“……Honestly, I don’t really know why I’m clinging to you like this either.”

Jeong Si-jun muttered with a faint smile. He had intended to spout any random nonsense just to avoid being kicked out, but a truth disguised as a casual tone slipped out.

“I just had a gut feeling. That if I let you go now, I won’t be able to date properly for the rest of my life.”

“…….”

“And my intuition is usually spot on.”

“…….”

“I guess I just can’t give up.”

“…….”

“Hurting you alone, apologizing, confessing. It’s a total mess, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Look at how fast your answer is only at times like this.”

Laughing hollowly, Jeong Si-jun stood up.

In his heart, he wanted to watch him sleep to his heart’s content, but he felt embarrassed for rambling such unexpected nonsense. He also felt that continuing to be unilaterally annoying like this might start having a reverse effect.

“I’m leaving now. Sleep well.”

“Yeah, leave quickly.”

“I’m going to eat dinner alone at home, so if you wake up and think of me eating miserably by myself, give me a call.”

He knew Yoon Ki-hyun wouldn’t call first, but there was always a one-in-a-million chance.

Jeong Si-jun couldn’t let go of the string of hope yet, and he habitually added the pathetic request to call him if he thought of him.

“I won’t call. Just go.”

“Seriously, you don’t give a person any room at all.”

Because he felt lingering regret, he found it hard to leave. However, there was a limit to lingering when told to get out. Jeong Si-jun made a gesture to pull up the blanket Yoon Ki-hyun was covered with, only to be rejected instantly.

“Stop the bullshit and leave.”

“Something was sticking out, so I tucked it in.”

“Sticking out my ass.”

“You don’t believe me.”

Jeong Si-jun turned around without lingering. Today, too, there were no significant results.

At this rate, he would undoubtedly have to get lost in front of Yoon Ki-hyun in two weeks. Whether it was one-sided imprinting or whatever, he could just quit the Center, but…

‘I’ve raised my standards to the max, and if he dumps me, what am I supposed to do?’

He let out a long sigh as he walked down the hallway outside the hospital room. His chest felt tight.