# Chapter 25
But then, someone appeared to disturb their time together.
Geonwoo’s expression suddenly changed as he remained frozen with his entire body flushed red.
He sensed someone coming. But it wasn’t the examiner or a Guide. The feeling was different. His senses, revived by the Guiding, responded with frightening sensitivity. That the one coming was an Esper like himself.
“Esper Choi Geonwoo?”
So Geonwoo hid Jaehee. He wrapped him completely in the blanket and hid him behind himself. So that Jaehee couldn’t be seen. He reached his hand back and firmly gripped the blanket-wrapped Jaehee.
It was an instinct to protect his Guide from another Esper.
Knock knock.
Soon the sound of knocking at the door was heard, and an Esper appeared through the open door crack. He was a large man, befitting an Esper. Standing at the doorway, he scanned the room and then,
“I heard Guide Lee Jaehee was here, is that not true?”
He asked the examiner in a voice that seemed somewhat urgent.
In response, the examiner showed a troubled expression all over his face as he glanced at the bed. Soon, Jaehee’s voice was heard from the direction of the bed.
“I’m here.”
At that sound, the Esper’s gaze fell on Geonwoo and the blanket bundle hidden behind him. Seeing this, he could easily understand what was happening.
So he strode into the room while keeping his eyes on Geonwoo. He approached the bed where Geonwoo and Jaehee were at once.
As the distance shortened, Geonwoo glared at the Esper with a fierce look, as if ready to pounce.
The Esper frowned briefly at Geonwoo like this, but soon dismissed it as insignificant. He wasn’t weak enough to be concerned about Geonwoo, who was in an undeveloped state. Because there was a clear difference between a manifested Esper and an undeveloped Esper.
But a standoff did occur. He needed to see Jaehee, but Geonwoo wasn’t showing Jaehee.
That’s when Jaehee intervened in their confrontation.
“Esper Choi Geonwoo. Remove your hand.”
Jaehee said this, but Geonwoo didn’t listen.
Then Jaehee added,
“It’s stifling.”
Only then did Geonwoo release the strength in his arm that was wrapping around Jaehee, startled. The blanket lowered slightly and Jaehee raised his upper body a bit. Only then could Jaehee properly see the Esper who had entered the room.
It was Hyeono, who had stood by Jaehee’s side at Dohyun’s request.
Why was he? Here?
Jaehee showed his puzzlement.
Then Hyeono,
“Um… ah, well…”
He ruffled his hair a bit as if troubled by something, then suddenly extended his hand to Jaehee. There was a phone in his hand.
Only then did Jaehee realize his mistake. In the confusion, he had left his phone in Dohyun’s quarters. But the phone Hyeono was offering wasn’t his own.
“Just take it first.”
That was all Hyeono said. Jaehee stopped Geonwoo who was trying to block him and received the phone. On the screen was a call in progress with Dohyun’s name displayed.
Dohyun was looking for Jaehee.
For a moment, several emotions crossed Jaehee’s face. Jaehee, slightly furrowing his eyes, hesitated for a moment before holding the phone to his ear.
“Hey. It’s me.”
Jaehee tried to sound as normal as possible. As if nothing had happened.
Then a familiar voice flowed from the phone.
-Lee Jaehee.
It was Dohyun.
-Where are you right now.
Dohyun asked Jaehee this. But it wasn’t a questioning tone. He seemed to already know. Otherwise, there was no way to explain the anger felt in his voice.
The situation automatically formed in Jaehee’s mind.
Rumors had already spread throughout the Center. About the Center’s upper management, and about Geonwoo and himself. So it was possible that those rumors had reached the ears of Espers and Guides who had gone to the provinces.
Looking at Dohyun’s reaction, such thoughts became more certain. He had heard, clearly.
Despite this, the reason Dohyun couldn’t rush over immediately was probably because he was at a gate. He couldn’t leave before clearing the dungeon.
-I asked where you are right now.
Dohyun’s voice lowered compared to just before.
Jaehee thought briefly about how to answer, and Dohyun didn’t wait for him.
-Choi Geonwoo. You’re at that bastard’s place, aren’t you?
Dohyun’s voice mentioning Geonwoo was so cold. His anger was palpable.
“Well…”
-You said you’d break the mark. You said you never wanted to see him again! So why are you there?
Dohyun’s voice came loudly through the phone. Loud enough for Geonwoo, who was next to Jaehee, to hear.
At this, Geonwoo’s eyes darkened. Who was this to shout at his Guide? Who was this to casually mention their mark?
“Dohyun.”
And soon, Geonwoo learned his name. Through Jaehee’s lips.
But Jaehee, focused on Dohyun, didn’t see Geonwoo’s expression.
Dohyun’s voice continued.
-Return to the quarters.
A faint sigh escaped through Jaehee’s teeth. The situation was so complex, tangled upon tangled. He had no idea how to explain this. Jaehee looked troubled.
“I can’t. Right now, that’s…”
Jaehee paused as he was about to speak. There were too many ears listening to continue. And Geonwoo was right beside him.
Finally, deciding it would be better to go out and take the call, Jaehee tried to get up. Geonwoo blocked him.
“Guide-nim… where are you trying to go?”
Geonwoo’s voice was transmitted to Dohyun through the phone. The sound of teeth grinding could be heard from the receiver.
“I’ll just make a call and come back.”
Leaving only those words, Jaehee left the examination room. After finding an empty room and entering it, he took a deep breath and held the phone to his ear.
“Dohyun.”
-…
Heavy silence flowed from the other end of the receiver. Dohyun was just listening quietly. It was as if he was saying, go ahead and speak.
“You’ve probably heard already, but something happened. Because of that, Geonwoo’s condition isn’t good. My Guiding is absolutely necessary in this situation. So now…”
But that wasn’t the answer Dohyun wanted, apparently. As if he didn’t want to hear such words, a chewing sound burst from the receiver.
-Get out of there right now.
At Dohyun’s firm words, Jaehee’s eyes contorted. He moved his lips and chose his words, but they didn’t come easily.
What should he say? What could he say to make him understand this situation?
But Dohyun’s current attitude wasn’t in the mood to listen to anything. No matter what was said, his desired conclusion would be one thing.
To leave Geonwoo and exit the examination room.
To return to Dohyun’s quarters and never see Geonwoo again.
So Jaehee said he couldn’t do that yet. And then,
“I know… what you’re worried about. But…”
He tried to somehow reassure Dohyun. But.
-You know and you’re still there?
Instead, Dohyun’s tone only became harsher.
Jaehee hastily opened his mouth.
“It’s not like that. I came here to break the mark too.”
-If you’re breaking the mark, why do you need to be there?
If you’re trying to break it, you shouldn’t be near him, you should avoid seeing him altogether. That was what Dohyun meant.
So Jaehee carefully explained the current situation. Since he would find out anyway, it was better to tell him directly. Jaehee told Dohyun everything about Geonwoo’s dangerous condition that required Guiding, and what he was doing now to break Geonwoo’s Guiding rejection.
Immediately, a fierce growl was heard.
-Lee Jaehee, are you in your right mind?
“The thing you’re worried about won’t happen. I’m wearing the Guide ability control device. You know. Once you put this on, it can’t be removed except by the user. So.”
-When you wear that, does your Guiding energy not come out at all? No, it does! A little bit still comes out! And you’re still doing this? Why? Because you’re worried about that guy? Or are you trying to make the mark completely solid?
Dohyun’s last words were extremely fierce. There was also a mocking tone mixed in. In response to Dohyun’s words, Jaehee’s voice also rose.
“You know that’s not true! Why are you…!”
-Lee Jaehee!
Dohyun’s loud voice was heard. Jaehee’s words were swallowed by Dohyun’s.
-You, I!
As if something had surged up, Dohyun hesitated briefly after starting to speak. Then he slowly continued his words. With emotions he ultimately couldn’t hide fully buried within.
-I… Have you forgotten how I acted when I one-sidedly marked you?
As if speaking with difficulty, Dohyun’s voice was deeply sunken. It was a story not easily brought up. Because it was almost taboo between Jaehee and Dohyun.
-And now you want to repeat that mistake?
The story Dohyun brought up was a mistake made long ago when two ignorant children tried to protect each other. An unforgettable, enormous accident.
But the one who remembered it more painfully was Dohyun. Because he had hurt Jaehee with his own hands. Because that memory remained so vivid, Dohyun’s words were infinitely harsh.
Dohyun spoke in a rushing manner.
-That guy will be worse than me. When he manifests, he’ll try to make the mark complete!
There had never been an Esper who maintained a one-sided mark from an undeveloped state until manifestation. Except for one, Kang Dohyun.
And it was extremely dangerous. If, after manifesting as an Esper, the one-sided mark is made complete, they can no longer receive Guiding from any other Guide. Despite it not being a mutual mark, they can only receive Guiding from that one Guide.
If that happens, would the Esper ever let go of that Guide?
And if that Esper had power that no one could touch?
Who would stop him?
Who could fully protect that Guide from the hands of that Esper?
‘And if… he gets hurt like that time? Then Jaehee will…’
Dohyun gritted his teeth. Such a thing must never happen again. So Dohyun spoke firmly.
-No more talk, return to the quarters.
“Dohyun, I can’t. Right now Geonwoo’s condition is…”
-Lee Jaehee.
Interrupting Jaehee’s words, Dohyun’s voice sank ominously.
-If when I return, Choi Geonwoo is beside you.
Each word, emphasized forcefully, constricted Jaehee’s body.
-I’ll break that mark for you.
An Esper breaking another Esper’s mark.
That meant… the end for Geonwoo.
