But how do people even wear such suffocating stockings? And these heels—he felt like he’d never be able to wear them again. He’d underestimated 5 centimeters, but that was a mistake. Ilkyung found everything uncomfortable—this dress that squeezed his waist tight, the stockings that pressed against his crotch, and the heels that made his heels hurt as if they’d been butchered. For a moment, Ilkyung wondered if he’d lost his mind doing this.
However, the noonas praised Ilkyung in his women’s clothing until their mouths went dry saying he was pretty. That made sense because if Ilkyung had been too tall or bulky, it would have felt off, but Ilkyung was on the shorter side for a man. He claimed he was 175 centimeters, but no matter how you looked at it, he didn’t seem to be quite that tall. Moreover, since Ilkyung was on the thin side, when they put him in an A-line dress with a wide, flaring skirt, even though his chest volume was small, his cinched waist made him look like he had a voluptuous figure.
What was there to say about his face? Ilkyung originally had delicate, pretty features anyway. His large eyes and brown irises gave a gentle impression, while his high nose bridge left a distinct impression. His white skin and red lips that looked like he was wearing lipstick created a mysterious atmosphere, and when they put makeup on that face, he looked even cuter and prettier.
“What if the other person falls for you?”
While the noonas said this, Ilkyung only found his current outfit uncomfortable. No matter how much he wanted the sports car, what had possessed him to agree to go to this meeting in someone’s place?
“Ah, fuck!”
Ilkyung threw a fit before entering the hotel.
“I swear, no matter what he looks like, I’ll break this off in one second!”
Ilkyung ground his teeth as he entered the hotel.
But a few minutes later…
Wait, hold on! This is cheating! Nobody told me he looked like this!
“Miss Woo Minkyung, is that you?”
At the voice heard from above his head, Ilkyung raised his head. And in that moment, he thought:
Noona, I think we’re screwed!
“Ah, hello.”
With a dazed expression, Ilkyung awkwardly rose from his seat and bowed. Ah, I think I flailed a bit while getting up just now. Haah, how embarrassing. They said 5 centimeters, but heels seemed to be something he could never get used to.
“My name is Ha Daehoon. I’m a bit late. There was an accident up ahead.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Please sit.”
At Daehoon’s words, Ilkyung clenched his toes tightly, then suddenly lost strength. Then he plopped down in his seat. Ah, I’m fucked.
Daehoon sat down in his seat as well, staring intently at Ilkyung without even asking if he was okay.
They said if I wear 5-centimeter heels, I’ll be about the same height as the other person! But this man is endlessly tall? When he stood up to greet him, comparing them showed Daehoon was much taller than Ilkyung. He seemed to be over 185 centimeters. He was what you’d call a door-frame man.
Ha Daehoon had legs so long you couldn’t tell where his waist would end. He crossed his long legs and looked at Ilkyung. His gaze seemed to be carefully examining him piece by piece, making Ilkyung grip his skirt tightly. He felt inexplicably nervous.
Will he figure out I’m a man? Those cold-looking eyes stared at him piercingly. If I get caught here, I’ll become a pervert! I have social dignity! I absolutely can’t get caught. Ilkyung nervously bit his lip slightly then released it.
But Noona, won’t you regret this? He’s really handsome though. Ilkyung looked at his youngest noona visible over Daehoon’s shoulder. Minkyung was staring blankly in this direction. What should we do, Noona? Are you going to marry him? This person seems too excellent, what will you do? Do you want to just go on the blind date yourself even now?
“Coffee… you ordered. You must have come early.”
“Pardon?”
Ilkyung was busy by himself—evaluating Ha Daehoon’s appearance and exchanging telepathy with his noona about whether to continue with the blind date or not. So he missed what Daehoon said.
“I asked if you came early.”
“Ah, yes. I came early.”
Ilkyung spoke primly. He needed to find fault from now on.
But this man had a shining appearance no matter who looked at him. Even trying to look at him with a twisted mind, he was objectively excellent.
His straight nose bridge and sharp jawline were works of art. His eyebrows were thick but not burdensome at all, and though the corners of his eyes turned up, his eyes were large overall so he didn’t look cunning. His lips were plump and red, and his skin was on the fair side, so his overall atmosphere was cold yet mysterious. He had looks that kept drawing your gaze.
Wait, but didn’t they say he was an S-rank Guide back then? I’ve never seen this face before? Ilkyung slightly frowned.
Espers and Guides had to register with the country’s Central Center immediately upon manifestation and receive management from the Center. Besides the Central Center in Seoul, there was one Center in each region, and there were even ones overseas. Like embassies.
But at first, you absolutely had to register your name at the Central Center and receive education for several weeks. And Ilkyung worked at the Center that managed those ability users.
It had already been four years since Ilkyung started working at the Center. Among his duties, Ilkyung matched Espers and Guides according to their levels and matching rates. Because of this, Ilkyung knew most Espers and Guides. Of course, he couldn’t know all the overseas or regional personnel, but the fact that this man before his eyes was a precious S-rank Guide yet he’d never seen him once at the Central Center was strange.
“…would you?”
“Pardon?”
He missed it again.
Daehoon, whose eyes met his, was staring intently at Ilkyung. For a moment, boredom passed through those eyes.
“You keep thinking about other things?”
Ilkyung lifted his coffee and moistened his lips.
“To tell you the truth, I’m uncomfortable with this meeting.”
Thud, the noonas all looked at Ilkyung at once. Minkyung outright sighed and put her hand to her forehead. But Ilkyung couldn’t help it. No matter how much he racked his brain this way and that, he had nothing to say. This man—there had to be something to find fault with.
And it wasn’t anything else—Ilkyung wanted to escape this place even one second faster. The stockings kept strangling his crotch and his toes were gradually losing sensation. How do people even wear and walk around in these things? Are they all masochists?
“Ah, to say that when we haven’t even been sitting here for 5 minutes, you’re quite honest?”
“Yes, I can’t help it. I don’t know how Ha Daehoon-ssi feels, but to be honest with you, I came to this meeting because of my mother’s orders.”
Come to think of it, Daehoon hadn’t even ordered anything. Only Ilkyung’s coffee sat forlornly on the table before them. Since this was a meeting he came to refuse anyway, what would be the point of drinking coffee together side by side?
“Hmm, I didn’t come to this meeting because I liked it either…”
Daehoon smiled, raising the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, really? That’s great. Then I’ll tell my family that the meeting fell through because Ha Daehoon-ssi didn’t like me.”
Ilkyung smiled brightly, not knowing things would work out this easily. Then he put strength in his toes to stand up from his seat, but Daehoon’s voice made Ilkyung plop back down in his seat.
“You should listen to the end.”
“Pardon?”
Ilkyung made a face asking what he meant.
“However, I liked Miss Woo Minkyung, so how about we try meeting once? Meeting an S-rank Guide isn’t such an easy thing, is it?”
Ilkyung blinked his large eyes. Ugh, these cumbersome eyelashes are driving me crazy. The false eyelashes and mascara were too heavy. He felt like he’d fall asleep any moment and it was too uncomfortable. Ilkyung wanted to throw off these high heels right now and run out of this place, S-rank Guide or whatever. He desperately wanted to hurry home, remove his makeup, and just lie down on his bed.
“S-rank Guide… But I’m curious about something—you’re not at the Central Center, are you?”
The place where Ilkyung was now was the Central Center, and no matter how much he tried to recall, he had no memory of seeing this person at the Center. Isn’t saying he’s an S-rank Guide a lie too? Even if he’s in a region, if he’s an S-rank Guide, there’s no way Ilkyung wouldn’t know.
“That’s right, I’m not at the Central one. But is that a problem?”
“Well…”
Ilkyung mumbled his words. No, but I need to escape this place quickly, yet this man keeps making me talk. Ilkyung thought he needed to escape this place quickly.
