# Chapter 38
After that sorrowful night, several days passed.
“Guide Lee Jaehee.”
During that time, Taeyun visited the examination room where Geonwoo and Jaehee were at the same time every day.
Geonwoo’s treatment was the superficial reason. But in reality, Taeyun paid more attention to Jaehee. Because Jaehee was essential if he wanted to put a leash on Geonwoo through bonding.
That’s why Taeyun tried to get closer to Jaehee. It would be more convenient in many ways when using him.
“If it’s difficult, shall we take a break and continue later?”
So when Taeyun went to the examination room where Jaehee was, he tried to spend as much time as possible with him. He made an effort to have many conversations and tried to appear as kind as possible in front of him to gain Jaehee’s favor.
“It’s difficult, but I can still manage.”
And this was the result of his efforts so far. Jaehee showed him a smile that he rarely showed to others. As each day passed, Taeyun could feel Jaehee gradually opening up his heart.
‘Was it this easy?’
There were many people in the Center who had tried to get close to Jaehee. But in the end, the only person Jaehee had allowed by his side was Kang Dohyun. So Taeyun had worried whether he could get close to Jaehee. But Jaehee opened his heart so easily that it made his worries seem unfounded.
‘I worried for nothing.’
And the reason Jaehee opened his heart so easily was likely because of the situation he was currently in. At a time when everyone opposed being with Geonwoo, it would have been difficult for Jaehee to keep his heart closed to the only person who stood by his side and helped him wholeheartedly.
‘Well, thanks to that, things have worked out easily.’
Taeyun drew a satisfied smile on his lips. He liked the current situation. Now he just needed to keep a good hold on Jaehee until all preparations were complete from above.
“Guide Lee Jaehee, we’re here!”
But there was one problem. There were annoying people. Their voices reached Taeyun’s ears as the examination room door opened. At that sound, a very subtle crease appeared and disappeared between Taeyun’s eyebrows. Because of these annoying people, Taeyun’s smiling face kept threatening to collapse.
“If you keep guiding like this every day, when will Guide Lee Jaehee ever rest?”
A Guide who visited the examination room without missing a day, as if clocking in for work, said so. Every day, he insisted that Jaehee should rest. And he looked at Taeyun with pity. Taeyun found that extremely annoying.
“The treatment is progressing well, so how about practicing keeping some distance little by little?”
In addition, the examiner who managed the physical condition of power users was even worse than the Guide. Even though he clearly saw that Geonwoo’s wavelengths would skyrocket crazily if Jaehee moved away even slightly, the examiner did not give up and kept advising Jaehee to distance himself from Geonwoo. He, who should have managed Guides and Espers equally, only thought of Jaehee.
‘Is an S-class Guide more precious than an undeveloped Esper, is that it?’
But it wasn’t just those two. Everyone who came in and out of the examination room gave Jaehee concerned looks. As Geonwoo’s treatment continued, Jaehee’s condition worsened, so the concentration of those worried gazes deepened, and numerous tireless concerns endlessly clung to Jaehee.
Taeyun hated it. He became nervous about those people stirring Jaehee’s heart.
But he couldn’t afford not to receive Jaehee’s guiding either. Since Geonwoo’s condition was more serious than he had thought, he needed Jaehee’s power to enhance his abilities further. He also needed to find out the ability that Jaehee was hiding.
“I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry. Besides, Esper Choi Geonwoo’s treatment is the most important thing right now.”
Fortunately, unlike other Guides who had abandoned their Espers, Jaehee didn’t lean on people’s concerns. He faithfully showed his determination to take responsibility.
‘Well, of course. After feeling so guilty and suffering, he wouldn’t let go of that guilt over a few words like that. Especially since Choi Geonwoo’s condition is serious.’
Looking at Geonwoo’s body, whose recovery was noticeably slow, Taeyun thought it was actually a good thing. Jaehee’s expression when looking at Geonwoo was a succession of suffering day after day. So, he thought it would be more difficult for Jaehee to let go of his guilt.
‘I just need to drag this out. I need time to prepare anyway.’
Thus, Taeyun’s plan was progressing steadily without any major problems. That drew a spontaneous smile on his lips.
“Ah, by the way,”
It was then. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Jaehee looked at Taeyun and spoke up. There was a faint expectation seeping into Jaehee’s face.
“What happened with that method you said you found last time?”
At Jaehee’s question, Taeyun’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ah… that method?”
Soon, Taeyun’s eyes wrinkled a little, and his expression hardened.
“Well… I investigated the materials a bit more, but unfortunately, it’s not a method that can be used on Esper Choi Geonwoo.”
Taeyun spoke as if he was regretful.
“Ah… is that so?”
Had he had high expectations? Jaehee’s face was full of disappointment.
“…This time too… it wasn’t the one…”
As if tired from the disappointment of unfulfilled expectations, Jaehee lowered his head powerlessly to the floor.
At that, the end of one of Taeyun’s eyebrows rose slightly. Jaehee didn’t look good. So Taeyun immediately put on a smiling face and said while looking at Jaehee.
“But don’t worry, Guide Lee Jaehee.”
Jaehee slowly raised his head at Taeyun’s words. Eyes that looked devoid of energy turned toward Taeyun.
Meeting such Jaehee’s eyes, Taeyun spoke in an even brighter voice.
“I’ve found that there are many good materials. It will take some time because there’s a lot, but I think I can find another method there. So please wait a little. I’ll definitely find a way to safely remove Esper Choi Geonwoo’s bond.”
Taeyun shrugged his shoulders to indicate that Jaehee should trust him, a healing-type Esper.
At that, the emotion in Jaehee’s eyes changed.
“Thank you, for helping me this much.”
After saying that, Jaehee paused for a moment, hesitated, and then continued.
“Honestly, I was at a loss about what to do, but thanks to you, I feel like I can breathe a little.”
Jaehee showed both gratitude and apology all over his face.
Looking at such Jaehee, Taeyun just smiled kindly. While inwardly ridiculing Jaehee.
‘What a fool.’
Taeyun periodically told Jaehee that he seemed to have found a method, just like now. Every time he said that, Jaehee would look like he had seen hope, just like a moment ago. Then he would pour guiding energy into Taeyun more diligently for Choi Geonwoo’s treatment.
But Taeyun had no intention of telling Jaehee the method now. It was still too early. Much time was needed for thorough preparation.
So during that time, he needed to treat Geonwoo, hold onto Jaehee, and find out Jaehee’s ability.
To do that, to prevent Jaehee from getting exhausted and falling away, he would give him hope when he seemed tired, take it away when he revived, give it again when he was disappointed. He repeated this.
Jaehee didn’t even suspect this and was just grateful. Taeyun found Jaehee’s behavior amusing. But since he couldn’t show such emotions, he wore a mask of a smiling face when dealing with Jaehee.
However, Taeyun wasn’t the only one performing a false act, hiding another face under a mask.
“I’m really fortunate that Esper Cheon Taeyun is by my side. I wouldn’t have been able to endure alone.”
Creating traps while wearing a mask—Jaehee was doing the same.
‘He doesn’t intend to remove the bond yet.’
Jaehee noticed this by observing Taeyun’s behavior.
And that was probably because…
‘It’s because they’re in preparation. If they fail clumsily again this time, they’ll never be able to target Geonwoo again. No, it’s obvious that even the positions they sit in would be in danger. So they’re trying to just hold me without using me until all preparations are complete. While treating Geonwoo’s wounds.’
If so, until when?
Jaehee wasn’t affiliated with the upper ranks. He couldn’t know their plans.
But he didn’t need to know.
‘I have no intention of waiting idly until the upper ranks complete all their preparations.’
They were trying to use him to take Geonwoo. Jaehee had no intention at all of stepping onto the stage they had created. Rather, Jaehee intended to put them on the stage he had created. That was why he was doing this now.
Moreover, unlike them, Jaehee had no time.
Jaehee felt anxious every minute and second when looking at Geonwoo. Because it felt like he was ruining his life again by being next to him. Because it felt like he kept inserting himself into Geonwoo’s narrative.
Plus, since that day when Geonwoo suffered and shed tears, Jaehee’s mind had become even more complicated. That one scene connecting the past and future kept holding Jaehee back.
‘Even if someone other than me had done it, maybe Geonwoo would have stopped crying…’
Jaehee tried to think like that and divert his attention elsewhere, but it wasn’t easy. He couldn’t understand why a small puzzle piece of the narrative that existed between Lee Jaehee and Choi Geonwoo before the regression still fit into the same position now. Jaehee was confused and afraid of this. He didn’t know how to accept this fact.
That’s why Jaehee had to hurry more. To completely eliminate this worry itself, to ensure there was no room for that small puzzle piece connecting the future and past to fit.
He needed to completely sever the narrative of Choi Geonwoo and Lee Jaehee.
