# Chapter 98
We agreed to date Suhyun.
Then the next thing for Jiwon to do was simple.
To reach out and touch Suhyun, whom he had been desperate to touch all along.
“Haah…”
Jiwon had no doubt that things would go smoothly. Honestly, he didn’t even think about the possibility of someone interrupting them.
At that moment, he had forgotten all about dungeons and everything else, focusing solely on Suhyun.
“Isn’t this too much? We just came back from a dungeon earlier. And Esper-nim even stopped by the Association!”
But as if to say this wasn’t the time for that, an uninvited guest intruded. Jiwon’s phone rang loudly.
He wanted to ignore it, but it was a call from Jo Wooyeon. If it had been like before, when he would frequently call to check in, Jiwon would have turned a blind eye and pretended not to know. But these days, Jo Wooyeon only called when there was something truly necessary.
So he had no choice but to answer.
“Why is he calling us in again…”
Jo Wooyeon asked them to come to the Association right away, and Jiwon and Suhyun had no choice but to leave home immediately.
“He must have discovered something.”
Jiwon’s thoughts were the same as Suhyun’s. But that didn’t make his feeling of disappointment go away.
“It seems Esper-nim doesn’t even feel disappointed about our time alone being cut short.”
“…”
Jiwon grumbled, imitating Suhyun’s way of speaking. He felt let down, as if he was the only one feeling disappointed, given Suhyun’s voice that showed no sign of dissatisfaction.
‘I’m really pathetic.’
It wasn’t even something to be disappointed about in the first place. After stopping by the Association, they would go back home and be together again, and even if they went to a dungeon, they could still be together.
He was being peevish because he was too excited and greedy.
“I should control myself, but why is it so difficult?”
Jiwon tried to cover up his petulance with an awkward laugh.
But Suhyun didn’t give any response. Just then, the car that had entered the Association parking lot made a loud screeching sound.
‘Is he angry?’
Feeling as if the car had answered for Suhyun, Jiwon glanced at him cautiously.
‘Am I being too desperate?’
It also seemed like he couldn’t control his pace properly.
The fact that Jo Wooyeon specifically called them to the Association probably meant it was an important matter, so would he seem pitiful for complaining like this?
“…”
A dry swallow went down his throat with belated regret. Although the driving was somewhat rough, the car was now neatly parked.
As soon as the car stopped, Jiwon was going to simply acknowledge that he had said something unnecessary and apologize.
“I, mmpf!”
But Jiwon didn’t have a chance to speak properly.
This was because Suhyun, who had unfastened his seatbelt, suddenly leaned his upper body toward Jiwon and kissed him.
“Mmph…!”
The kiss was brief.
After lightly biting Jiwon’s lower lip and then soothingly brushing it with the tip of his tongue, Suhyun returned to his original position.
“Uh…”
Since it happened so suddenly, Jiwon just stared at Suhyun with a dumbfounded face. He had already forgotten what he was going to say.
“If I asked to go straight home now, would you agree?”
“…Pardon?”
At Suhyun’s question, Jiwon momentarily lost his words. He couldn’t believe the words coming from his mouth.
“Why do you make me expect things when you’re not going to be irresponsible?”
Suhyun’s tone was calm, but to Jiwon’s ears, it sounded somewhat curt.
“…”
This made it seem like Suhyun was the one more disappointed about their time alone being interrupted.
“Uh…”
Jiwon couldn’t hide his confusion.
He didn’t expect Suhyun to say something like this. He truly thought Suhyun wasn’t disappointed.
Suhyun had said he had liked Jiwon much longer. But Jiwon thought his current feelings would be stronger. That he liked Suhyun much more, that is.
So he thought he was the only one who was more disappointed and desperate.
‘So it’s not that he doesn’t care…’
But Jiwon’s thoughts were wrong. According to what Suhyun had directly said.
“…Let’s go now.”
Suhyun, who had returned to the driver’s seat, said in a somewhat subdued voice. It might seem no different from usual at a glance, but maybe because of what he had said, it was very apparent that he was holding back.
“Wow…”
Jiwon couldn’t help but exclaim. Then he first grabbed Suhyun’s arm.
“Let’s do it one more time before we go.”
Jiwon’s eyes sparkled as he watched Suhyun’s eyebrows twitch.
“No, maybe twice? Anyway, a bit more. If it’s urgent, they’ll call again.”
If Suhyun was disappointed, and he himself was no less desperate, was there a need to rush up?
At least Jiwon didn’t want to.
“I know you’re far from being irresponsible too. How late could we possibly be? So…”
Jiwon pulled Suhyun towards him and wrapped his arms around his neck.
“Let’s stay like this until we feel a little less disappointed.”
Jiwon chuckled and gently held Suhyun’s lips. The moment the soft lips touched his, a thrill ran through him as if it had been waiting.
“But why are you so beautiful? It makes my eyes go crazy.”
At the playful tone, Suhyun laughed as if he found it absurd.
Soon, Suhyun pressed the back of Jiwon’s head and kissed him again.
***
The long kiss that began as if to say “whatever happens, happens” only ended when the phone rang again.
Contrary to expectations, even after spending much more time, they didn’t feel any less disappointed. Thanks to that, now facing Jo Wooyeon, Jiwon was in a very sulky state.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Haah…”
A sigh came back in response to Jiwon’s curt words as he subtly avoided Jo Wooyeon’s gaze, which seemed to know exactly what they had been doing to be late.
‘His lips have gotten redder.’
Jiwon glanced at Suhyun in the meantime and thought as he tucked in his own lips.
Suhyun’s lips were much redder than usual. His own lips were probably not much different.
Although they had tried to tidy themselves up before coming up to the Director’s office, it was impossible for Jo Wooyeon not to notice the current flowing between the two.
“What is it, Director-nim? What’s the matter?”
So Jiwon acted brazenly. Of course, he knew Jo Wooyeon was concerned about him. Jiwon also planned to think enough about that part to ensure no problems arose.
Actually, he had forgotten about it today, but he would work hard on it from now on. Since today was a historic day, wasn’t it okay to let his guard down just a little?
‘Am I rationalizing too much?’
Jiwon shrugged his shoulders slightly. He did so because he didn’t want to admit it right now, even though he knew. Right now, Jiwon’s mind was full of disappointment.
‘I want to go home quickly.’
There must be a reason why Jo Wooyeon called them. He wouldn’t call them all the way to the Association without any reason.
But Jiwon couldn’t think of why he needed to call both of them right now.
Because the Research Division probably wouldn’t have immediately discovered something about Riska.
‘I think he called us to talk about the guiding rejection reaction.’
It was tiring just to think about it. Why didn’t he think of this when Jo Wooyeon first called? If he had realized sooner that this was the only reason to call both Suhyun and himself, he would have ignored the contact.
‘We could have just turned around from the parking lot…’
It was a waste of time in many ways.
Jiwon swallowed a sigh that was about to come out and waited for Jo Wooyeon to open his mouth. The sooner he heard whatever harsh words were coming, the sooner he could return.
“…You said you saw Riska’s base.”
Fortunately, Jo Wooyeon, who had been looking at the two with an unreadable face, soon brought up what seemed to be the main point.
“…Yes.”
It was different from Jiwon’s expectation that he would first inquire about their relationship. Jiwon nodded slightly.
‘Did they really find something already?’
Jiwon’s face finally turned serious.
“You said you saw dark red gems inside.”
“That’s right.”
There were dazzlingly many dark red gems. It was especially vivid since it had happened less than a day ago.
“Did the research team find out something?”
That’s too fast…
While wondering, Jiwon explained exactly what he had seen and heard to Jo Wooyeon.
“They said it’s the source of Riska’s power. That it was created for them.”
“…”
“But it looked familiar to me. I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere, but I just can’t remember where.”
Had they found it quickly by luck?
Jiwon had never entered a dungeon before the Riska dungeon outbreak. That meant he had seen it in reality, not in a dungeon.
Perhaps it’s a gem that can be seen frequently. That’s why the research team might have found it quickly. Anyway, if they could find that gem quickly, it would also speed up the eradication of Riska.
“…Is this the dark red gem you saw, by any chance?”
Jo Wooyeon suddenly extended his hand in front of Jiwon, who was having somewhat hopeful thoughts. Jiwon’s eyelids widened as he checked what was in Jo Wooyeon’s palm. It was because the gem Jiwon had seen was in Jo Wooyeon’s hand.
“That’s right. How does Director-nim have this? Did we see it together?”
Jiwon’s voice rose with a mixture of surprise and joy.
“…So it is.”
But Jo Wooyeon’s reaction was completely different from Jiwon’s. He should be happy to have immediately found the gem that was their source of power, but his face was only devastated.
He rubbed his face, which had turned pale in an instant.
“Jiwon-ah.”
Jiwon stiffened at the familiar form of address that Jo Wooyeon rarely used. He asked with a somewhat sad face as he looked at Jiwon.
“Don’t you remember?”
Jo Wooyeon, with a face that looked like he might cry, firmly tensed his trembling legs. And the dark red gem in his palm.
With a feeling of déjà vu that he had definitely seen it somewhere, Jiwon blankly blinked his eyes.
And just a few seconds later.
“Ah.”
A scene flashed through Jiwon’s mind, so clear that it was surprising he had forgotten it even momentarily.
“Esper Choi Young…”
“…Yes, it’s the gem that person brought.”
Jo Wooyeon was right.
The dark red gem was what Choi Young, who had reached the point of going berserk because no guide’s guiding worked on him, had been holding.
The image of Jo Wooyeon crying endlessly at Choi Young’s funeral, tightly clutching the dark red gem, came to mind next.
It felt as if someone was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe. It was as if someone was reproaching him for how he could forget that moment.
