By Zephyria 
“Not an assistant, but a candidate. My family was struggling a lot financially back then, and somehow Woo Eum-yeong found out and took care of my family in exchange for taking me in. They continued their support even after it was revealed that I wasn’t a suitable assistant.”
“So according to you,” Park Hae-jun raised his hand, interrupting Seo Ji-hun. “You lived with Lee A-gon for a year as an assistant candidate when you were young?”
“Yes.”
“And you were let go when assistance proved ineffective?”
“Well, I wasn’t fired. I quit voluntarily.”
“Were there others like you?”
“I heard there was one before me, but I’m not sure about after. But I imagine they kept trying. Since you’re here now. You’re also an assistant hired for Lee A-gon’s household, right?”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re right.”
There was no need to hide it anymore. Park Hae-jun confessed with a thin sigh, “Yes, I’m an assistant. I was hired by Lee A-gon’s household to assist him.”
“I knew it. As you know, Lee A-gon has been rejecting assistance. His mother, looking for the reason, was told by an expert that the child might have unilaterally formed a pair bond. After that, Woo Eum-yeong searched among people from Lee A-gon’s childhood for an assistant, and I was one of them. An assistant who once treated Lee A-gon kindly.”
“What’s a pair bond?”
“I don’t know exactly. But my guess is… it’s like imprinting. He somehow imprinted himself to receive assistance from only one person in his childhood. A kind of self-brainwashing.”
The moment he heard those words, Park Hae-jun’s heart thumped heavily. Seo Ji-hun’s words confirmed that the reason Lee A-gon couldn’t receive assistance was indeed because of him.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. I’m certain because I heard it when I was with Lee A-gon.”
“But no one knows who it is?”
“That’s right. Even Lee A-gon didn’t know he had done such a thing.”
Seo Ji-hun paused and looked at Park Hae-jun quietly.
“I thought it would be impossible to find everyone Lee A-gon had met in his life, but I was wrong. Woo Eum-yeong really did find Lee A-gon’s pair assistant.”
“Look, I’m not some pair assistant. This is all a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“…There’s just something.”
Park Hae-jun gave up trying to explain. To explain that misunderstanding, he would have to explain why he had hypnotized Lee A-gon in the first place.
Fortunately, Seo Ji-hun didn’t seem particularly curious and didn’t press further. Instead, he carefully asked, “But are you okay with it?”
“With what?”
“Lee A-gon’s ability. Aren’t you afraid?”
Is he talking about how Lee A-gon can control his body at will? Why would that be scary?
“Not really.”
“Really? You’re truly not afraid?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Why, you ask? That’s…”
Seo Ji-hun drew in a breath and looked amazed. Park Hae-jun was puzzled.
What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just a dislocation show.
Of course, he was quite surprised when he first saw Lee A-gon removing and reinserting bones at will, but it wasn’t scary.
“You’re really something. I was secretly worried that he would never find an assistant, or if he did, that the assistant would dislike Lee A-gon. But you two don’t seem to have that problem. That’s really great.”
“What do you me—”
Park Hae-jun’s attempt to ask what he meant was interrupted. He felt a hand pulling him from behind, and then Lee A-gon’s head appeared over his shoulder.
With a displeased expression, Lee A-gon scanned Park Hae-jun and Seo Ji-hun, asking in an ominous voice, “What are you two doing?”
“Oh, you’re back? How was the audition?”
“I asked what you two are doing.”
Park Hae-jun could feel the tension in the fingers draped over his chest. He tried to remove Lee A-gon’s hand as he answered, “What do you mean? We were just greeting each other. Seo Ji-hun told me you two lived together before. We were talking about that time.”
Despite the explanation, Lee A-gon still seemed displeased.
Facing his silent glare, Seo Ji-hun smiled awkwardly and greeted him first, “Hello, Lee A-gon. Long time no see.”
“……”
“Have you been well? I didn’t expect to see you at an audition. Haha.”
“You can’t have Park Hae-jun hyung. He’s mine.”
At this sudden declaration, Park Hae-jun jumped up and slapped Lee A-gon’s back. “Hey, what nonsense are you saying all of a sudden!”
Regardless, Lee A-gon continued in a voice full of wariness, “Don’t be interested in Park Hae-jun hyung. Don’t approach him. Park Hae-jun hyung is in a relationship with me. We don’t need other men.”
“Lee A-gon, will you seriously not be quiet?”
Geez, this guy really…
Park Hae-jun tried to push Lee A-gon away. Lee A-gon stood firm, continuing to glare at Seo Ji-hun.
“Look, I’m an assistant too.”
Seo Ji-hun carefully explained to the bristling Lee A-gon that he was also an assistant. He thought that would explain everything, but Lee A-gon’s wariness didn’t subside.
Seo Ji-hun had no choice but to continue, “I’m not interested in Park Hae-jun. I’m an assistant and Park Hae-jun is an assistant. assistants aren’t attracted to each other. Just like you’re not interested in ability users.”
“……”
“Plus, I’m dating someone now. They’re an ability user too. In short, there’s nothing to worry about. Do you understand? I’m not interested in Park Hae-jun and never will be… oh man.”
Seo Ji-hun’s voice trailed off. He wore an expression of disbelief, as if wondering why he was even explaining himself.
Park Hae-jun couldn’t stand by any longer. He forcibly pulled Lee A-gon away and quickly said to Seo Ji-hun:”Seo Ji-hun, I’m sorry and it was nice seeing you. Let’s have a meal sometime when we meet again.”
It was his way of saying they should part ways now. Fortunately, Seo Ji-hun understood Park Hae-jun’s intention and awkwardly waved goodbye before disappearing.
“Are you trying to embarrass me again?”Park Hae-jun scolded Lee A-gon with a stern voice.
I really can’t live with the embarrassment this guy causes.
“Seo Ji-hun has no interest in me, so why are you getting all defensive for no reason?”
“Are you going to contact Seo Ji-hun?”
“No.”
“Then why did you say you’d see him later?”
“That was just a social courtesy.”
“You asked him on a date right in front of me and then claim it was just social courtesy?”
“…When did I ask him on a date?”
Lee A-gon gave Park Hae-jun a reproachful look.
“Just now. You told Seo Ji-hun in front of me. That you’d see him later. And that you’d have a meal together. That’s asking for a date, isn’t it?” Lee A-gon’s face was full of hurt as he said this.
Park Hae-jun held his forehead before responding calmly, “How is that asking for a date? Didn’t you hear him say he’s dating someone? Besides, I don’t even know his phone number, so I couldn’t meet him anyway.”
“…Give me your phone.”
“There, see?”
When Park Hae-jun handed over his phone, Lee A-gon quickly checked if any new numbers had been registered. Of course, Seo Ji-hun’s number wasn’t there, but Lee A-gon remained suspicious.
“Did he write it on paper for you?”
“No.”
“Then did he recite it for you to memorize?”
“I said no.”
“I got it. You must have given him your number.”
“Hey!” Park Hae-jun finally shouted, “I told you Seo Ji-hun isn’t interested in me. And why would I ask him on a date? We’re both men and both ment… you know.”
“……”
When Park Hae-jun got angry, Lee A-gon clamped his lips shut like a clam.
Park Hae-jun continued, speaking rapidly, “I’ve told you repeatedly. People aren’t interested in me. Last week when the bakery worker asked for my number, it wasn’t because they were interested in me but to check for a point accumulation. And when the convenience store asks for ID, it’s not them making a move on me, it’s because you have to show it to buy alcohol! When I told Seo Ji-hun today that we should have a meal sometime! It was just social courtesy, social courtesy!”
His voice grew louder with each word.
“Please stop saying ‘he’s mine, don’t touch him’ every time someone asks for my number for point inquiries! I’m too embarrassed to go to the neighborhood mart!”
At that moment, Lee A-gon’s eyelashes trembled, and tears began to flow.
Shit. Park Hae-jun looked up at the sky, trying to steady his breathing.
“I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.”
“……”
“I was wrong.”
Park Hae-jun exhaled deeply. Then he forced his voice to soften, “Lee A-gon, I have no intention of seeing any man other than you. So stop being so insecure. You were gone for 10 to 15 minutes at most. There’s no way I could have cheated on you with Seo Ji-hun at that time. Why don’t you trust me?”
“I know.”
Lee A-gon looked up. The tip of his nose and his eyes were red. The tears in his large, dark eyes glistened in the sunlight.
“I know you didn’t do anything. But what can I do when that image keeps appearing in my mind?”
“What image?”
“The image of you coming out of a room with a man wearing only underwear.”
Lee A-gon clutched his chest and trembled slightly, as if remembering that scene made his heart ache unbearably.
“Lee A-gon, I explained to you that nothing happened then.”
“I know. I know that. But what can I do when it keeps appearing in my mind? I want to trust you, but what can I do when I can’t?”
Tears streamed down his face with a pattering sound. Lee A-gon roughly wiped his cheeks. He seemed wounded in his pride, crying and talking like this in front of Park Hae-jun.
“You said men can drink together naked in the same room when they’re close. I don’t understand it at all, but I accepted it. Because you said so, I accepted it. But every time I see you alone with another man, I can’t help but remember that scene. When I recall that moment, my heart races, and I become so anxious that I can’t bear it.”
With those final words, Lee A-gon sobbed bitterly. As Lee A-gon buried his face in his palms and began crying loudly, Park Hae-jun couldn’t hide his bewilderment.