# Chapter 67
“I can’t wait any longer.”
The emotion that burst out like an explosion was poured onto Jaehee. Words stained with deep emotion were saying he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“I tried to wait…”
Dohyun said, gritting his teeth.
“I was going to quietly endure until you told me, just like that…, I was going to wait like that.”
Dohyun lowered his head. Then he muttered softly.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
As if unable to contain himself, Dohyun spat out the words.
“I can’t hold back anymore.”
Dohyun took a step closer to Jaehee.
“I can’t take it anymore.”
As the large body approached, casting a shadow, Jaehee unconsciously stepped back.
“I need to hear it now.”
And Jaehee’s back touched the wall. Dohyun had cornered Jaehee against the wall. Dohyun looked different from usual. He seemed unable to control his emotions that had finally burst after being suppressed.
But when his back touched the wall, Jaehee came to his senses. That wasn’t what was important right now.
“Dohyun, first let me guide you…”
Bang! Before Jaehee’s hand could reach him, Dohyun hit the wall, trapping Jaehee between his body and the wall. He cornered Jaehee, preventing him from escaping.
“Tell me.”
Dohyun dismissed Jaehee’s words.
“Dohyun!”
“I said tell me!”
Dohyun had no intention of listening to Jaehee. He ignored the pain tearing through his body. The only thing that mattered to Dohyun was Jaehee.
“I won’t accept guiding until I hear it.”
Dohyun showed his determination that this time, he absolutely would not let it slide. He was determined to hear it no matter what.
“So tell me.”
Dohyun said in a low voice.
“Why you’re acting like this.”
Dohyun’s body moved closer to Jaehee.
“What is that guy…”
As if his emotions were taking control, Dohyun cut off his words. Then he spat out the rest through gritted teeth.
“What is he to you!”
Finally, his voice exploded. Dohyun clenched his jaw as if trying to control his anger. He removed his hand from the wall and turned aside for a moment.
“Ha…”
Dohyun exhaled hot breath as if trying to suppress his anger. The veins in Dohyun’s arm, with his fist clenched, turned red as he forcibly pushed down the emotions that kept bursting out.
“What Choi Geonwoo is to you that makes you act like this. Let me finally hear it.”
But even so, eyes full of uncontrollable emotions were directed at Jaehee. Dohyun looked at Jaehee.
“Lee Jaehee.”
Dohyun’s eyes gradually wrinkled.
“Lee Jaehee.”
Repeated calls continued, and Dohyun’s expression changed.
“…Jaehee.”
Dohyun’s anger changed to another emotion.
“Why you’re doing this, why you’re acting in such an incomprehensible way.”
Dohyun said with a sigh, as if frustrated.
“Why… you’re acting so recklessly. Please, just tell me now.”
Please tell me. Dohyun’s words resembled a plea.
“I’m close enough to you to hear that much, aren’t I? Right?”
Just as you’re my only family, I’m yours too.
The only person to whom they could openly share their pain and hardships. The shelter of family.
‘We’re each other’s only shelter. We’re the only family we have.’
Why not this time?
Dohyun couldn’t control his emotions. When it came to matters related to Jaehee, it was difficult for him to control his own feelings.
Dohyun was abandoned the moment he was born. At the orphanage, everyone feared him because he had the potential to develop as an Esper. All the children were quick to treat Dohyun with fake smiles. Adults weren’t much different. Their smiles were meant to exploit the young Dohyun.
So Dohyun couldn’t trust anyone. He didn’t let anyone close. Among people who treated him with falsehoods, Dohyun grew up building a huge wall.
For such a Dohyun, Jaehee was the first person who made him think it might be okay to let someone close. He was the only being who made him understand what loneliness was, how happy it was to create and keep someone precious by his side. Dohyun, who used to shout that he didn’t need family, wanted the shelter of family for the first time, and created his own family.
That’s why Jaehee was precious to Dohyun. Dohyun absolutely couldn’t stand by and watch Jaehee in danger.
“Lee Jaehee.”
So Dohyun was waiting for Jaehee to open up. But Jaehee didn’t say anything. He just moved his lips with a frustrated face like Dohyun’s.
At this, Dohyun gritted his teeth. He turned around, trying to leave the room. Then Jaehee urgently grabbed Dohyun’s hand.
“It’s because of guilt! That’s why.”
But the words Dohyun heard weren’t what he wanted.
“Guilt?”
Dohyun repeated Jaehee’s words.
“Just guilt?”
Dohyun let out a hollow laugh. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t possibly be just guilt. Dohyun had seen Jaehee crying and calling for Choi Geonwoo so many nights. That desperate calling couldn’t be explained by the emotion of guilt alone. It was the result of something deeper, more intense, and accumulated emotions.
And yet… just guilt…
Dohyun’s eyes distorted. He turned away from Jaehee. With his back turned, he said,
“That thing you’re hiding.”
Dohyun continued in a low voice as he walked toward the entrance.
“If you don’t want to tell me, don’t.”
Dohyun was in a more emotional state than usual. There was Jaehee’s issue, but the pre-rampage state had been going on too long. Because of that, Dohyun’s nerves were stretched so tight it wouldn’t be strange if they snapped at any moment.
“If Choi Geonwoo dies, I won’t need to hear it anymore anyway.”
At those words, Jaehee’s eyes widened.
“Dohyun!”
Despite Jaehee’s call, Dohyun didn’t turn around. He didn’t allow Jaehee to come close. Dohyun used his ability to prevent Jaehee from approaching him.
‘I should have been like this from the beginning.’
Dohyun came to that conclusion amid the pain tearing through his body and the headache that felt like his head would split open.
‘No…!’
Seeing Dohyun like this, Jaehee was anxious. He couldn’t give Dohyun what he wanted.
Why do you care so much about Geonwoo?
Why do you rush so recklessly into Geonwoo’s affairs?
What is Geonwoo to me?
How could he say it?
‘Geonwoo died because of me.’
‘I ruined his future by desiring someone I shouldn’t have desired.’
‘The person I love… I made him that way.’
None of it would come out of his mouth. Even if he said it, it would be hard to believe.
No, it was impossible to say it before that. He knew how Dohyun would react. If he revealed everything he was hiding, Dohyun would certainly try to stop him.
‘Could you understand me… trying to accept a sad fate for Geonwoo’s happy future?’
No, he wouldn’t. Dohyun wouldn’t do that.
And if he misspoke and Dohyun got entangled in this matter, his future could go wrong too.
The fate of the original story didn’t wish for the happiness of Lee Jaehee, the villainous sub-bottom. The numerous incidents that happened before the regression were proof of that. Small misfortunes continually followed Lee Jaehee, the villainous sub-bottom, and they reached their peak with the appearance of the main bottom. Like a sign saying to faithfully play your role and disappear, the appearance of the main bottom made the unfortunate accidents even bigger. So it was natural that people around Jaehee got hurt. Jaehee feared that.
So he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t tell Dohyun what he wanted to hear. Because of that, he couldn’t stop Dohyun’s footsteps. So Jaehee used another method. It was an extreme method, but there was no other way. He couldn’t send Dohyun to where Geonwoo was. Worried that his concern would be discovered, he’d left without properly checking Geonwoo’s pain. He had no idea what state Geonwoo was in, if he was okay. What if he sent Dohyun too? No, what if Dohyun had a rampage before that?
Either way.
‘I absolutely cannot allow that…’
So Jaehee, feeling Dohyun’s ability blocking his path, drew up the energy within him. Looking at Dohyun’s back, he released the remaining guiding energy inside his body. The guiding energy spread in an instant. Then Dohyun stopped.
“Lee Jaehee!”
A fierce call burst from Dohyun. Dohyun saw Jaehee performing radiant guiding and raised his eyes sharply. The already scarce guiding energy was flowing out of Jaehee’s body. To Dohyun, this was an immense pressure. As the guiding energy spreading through the room became more intense, he felt as if Jaehee’s life was withering away.
“Ugh!”
But at the same time, Dohyun felt the waves inside him boiling. It was responding to Jaehee’s guiding energy. The rationality that Dohyun was barely holding onto became blurry. His instinct whispered to take the guide before him, to take his guiding energy.
