# Chapter 53
Jaehee became confused by Geonwoo’s words. His pupils shook back and forth, unable to find their way.
‘Always alone…?’
Jaehee recalled the time before the regression. He remembered what Geonwoo had said then. At that time, Geonwoo hadn’t said that. He clearly remembers Geonwoo saying he had a happy childhood.
“Geonwoo, how was it when you were young?”
Jaehee, who had only been inside the Center, belatedly heard about what life was like outside for Espers before their manifestation pain.
“When I was young?”
“Yes. I’m curious about what it was like when you were young.”
While manifestation pain typically comes after becoming an adult, Esper potential assessment could be confirmed much earlier. There were cases where assessment results came when children were young, and cases where tests were done and Esper potential was assessed only after manifestation pain began in adulthood.
So everyone said they had somewhat difficult experiences before entering the Center. Jaehee had asked about it after hearing this. Though Geonwoo seemed like the protagonist of this sweet story who would have grown up happily, Jaehee asked just in case.
“When I was young, I was extremely happy.”
And Jaehee heard the answer he expected from Geonwoo. It was also then that he properly learned about the person precious to Geonwoo.
“There was a Hyung I was really grateful to.”
At Geonwoo’s words, Jaehee recalled Geonwoo crying and calling for “Hyung” and asked.
“That person? That person you call Hyung?”
At that question, Geonwoo looked a bit surprised, but soon smiled brightly and said,
“Yes, that Hyung made every day happy for me.”
Geonwoo then told him various things about that person. After hearing it, Jaehee understood why Geonwoo called that person precious. He said that person had protected Geonwoo’s bright smile.
So when he saw Geonwoo saying that person was his first love, Jaehee felt grateful first rather than feeling awkward jealousy. Since Espers were often isolated among pre-manifestation people. Moreover, Geonwoo was assessed to have Esper potential when he was only 10 years old.
Furthermore, since the original story began when Geonwoo entered the Center at 20, Jaehee couldn’t know about his past except for what Geonwoo had told him.
But now Geonwoo says he had a difficult time when he was young. That there was no one by his side.
‘…Why… Why is there a difference?’
Jaehee’s regression was clearly when Geonwoo was 20, so he couldn’t understand why the past when he was 10 was different. He felt like he was missing something.
What on earth could it be?
Jaehee bit his lower lip. His eyes were full of confusion.
Leaving Jaehee like that, Geonwoo also compared the dream and reality. The dream created by the one-sided bond.
‘It’s different…’
It was the same that Jaehee was a Guide at 13, but the real Jaehee says he has never been outside the Center.
‘So it was just a dream after all…’
Come to think of it, there were many differences. The Hyung in the dream was pretty, but he had a strong sense of being big and cool. Someone Geonwoo could rely on and lean on. Geonwoo clearly remembered that broad back that carried him firmly.
Geonwoo’s gaze turned to Jaehee. Geonwoo examined Jaehee bit by bit. It was different. The real Jaehee wasn’t someone who would protect him. Rather, he looked so small and weak that Geonwoo felt he should protect him.
‘The face is really similar though…’
Then suddenly Geonwoo became worried. He had heard that the higher the grade when manifesting as an Esper, the higher the probability of manifesting as a dominant alpha, making them fierce. During heat periods, they could even hurt omegas.
Geonwoo carefully placed his hand on top of Jaehee’s. Jaehee’s hand was completely covered by one of his and wasn’t even visible.
‘Too small…’
He was surprised enough to hear belatedly that Jaehee was a Hyung. Being this small. Then suddenly a thought arose.
‘They said ability users manifest as either alpha or omega upon manifestation… then…!’
With widened eyes, Geonwoo asked.
“Guide-nim!”
“Yes?”
“Were you okay?”
At Geonwoo’s sudden worried question, Jaehee showed puzzlement.
Then Geonwoo said,
“If you manifested as a Guide at 13, you’ve been an omega for a long time, right?”
Being this small and pretty, with many Espers inside the Center, where alphas would be crawling all over, was he okay? Geonwoo’s eyes shook severely.
“Ah…”
Even without saying more, Jaehee seemed to roughly understand what Geonwoo meant to say.
‘Was the 20-year-old Geonwoo like this?’
It might be because of the regression, but the current Geonwoo had a strong cute feeling. He seemed like a younger brother too. It felt different from the Geonwoo before the regression, who always felt like a Hyung.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Geonwoo around this time. Never met him either.’
Geonwoo following Jaehee around saying, “Guide-nim, I like you,” was after he manifested as an Esper. So Jaehee didn’t know Geonwoo from this time.
‘Rather… before manifestation, there was even a feeling of avoidance…’
When everyone was whispering about the appearance of an Esper with top-tier potential, Jaehee was also curious and would sometimes visit the unmanifested Esper building, casually looking for Geonwoo. But strangely, every day Jaehee went, Geonwoo hid his presence. It might be a coincidence. In Jaehee’s memory, he hadn’t met Geonwoo during his unmanifested period.
When such a person manifested as an Esper and followed him everywhere, to the point where their eyes would meet whenever he turned his gaze, saying he liked Jaehee, he was initially taken aback.
‘I wonder if the Geonwoo back then, when he had just turned 20, was like this too?’
While Jaehee was recalling the past, Geonwoo behind him was continuously examining Jaehee. As Jaehee remained silent, Geonwoo’s expression gradually darkened. Geonwoo’s body stiffened.
Only then did Jaehee recall at what timing he had stopped speaking. Then he immediately said to Geonwoo.
“Esper Choi Geonwoo, I-“
That was when the examiner entered the room. He spoke before Jaehee.
“Guide Lee Jaehee-nim is.”
And he made an incredible statement.
“Not an omega.”
At those words, Geonwoo’s body stiffened completely.
“G-Guide-nim. Not an omega?”
He was so surprised that he even stuttered. Geonwoo’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had occurred. Geonwoo looked at Jaehee as if asking if it was true. Jaehee nodded slightly.
“Don’t Guides usually manifest as omegas?”
Geonwoo’s gaze landed on Jaehee and then quickly moved to the examiner. The examiner, touched that Geonwoo was asking him without showing hostility for the first time, opened his mouth.
“No, not necessarily! Most Espers manifest as alphas, and Guides as omegas, but there are exceptions!”
At the examiner’s words, Geonwoo’s gaze fixed on his face. Geonwoo’s eyes were gentler than usual. The examiner, feeling an inexplicable sense of pride, continued.
“Then… is Guide-nim an alpha?”
Geonwoo’s expression became serious. He also looked grave. Jaehee found it difficult to know how to answer this. So as he was about to open his mouth, Geonwoo, faster than him, turned his gaze to the examiner and asked.
“Espers can also manifest as omegas, right? Then?”
At those words, both Jaehee and the examiner’s expressions changed. Their faces revealed complete surprise. After all, what Geonwoo had just said was virtually a declaration that if Jaehee was an alpha, he would become an omega.
“Ah… yes. Espers can also manifest as omegas.”
The examiner, though surprised, faithfully answered the question.
“Esper Choi Geonwoo.”
Geonwoo, who had been somewhat relieved after hearing the examiner’s words, focused on Jaehee’s words.
“I’m a beta.”
At those words, Geonwoo’s eyes widened.
“A beta? Then you haven’t manifested yet?”
That’s when the examiner intervened.
“He might never manifest! Such cases exist too. There are also cases where manifestation happens late, but those are extremely rare. And when manifestation happens late, the pheromones are often stronger and the traits more pronounced, making it difficult for many.”
The examiner said that to Geonwoo as if showing off his knowledge.
Hearing those words, Jaehee recalled the time before the regression. As the examiner said, Jaehee had manifested late. He remembered Geonwoo and Dohyun being extremely worried about it.
‘Lee Jaehee. You… you, just try going out alone one more time. Then you’ll know you won’t be able to leave the dormitory at all!’
‘Hyung, you can’t be separated from me. This period is dangerous. Even if it’s stifling, please endure it a little.’
He also remembered being scolded all night after sneaking out without listening. Eventually, during his heat period, he cried so much under Geonwoo.
‘Hyung… Jaehee Hyung. It’s okay, so hold onto here. Don’t cry.’
It’s just a past that’s gone by. Jaehee shook his head as if shaking off old memories.
It was then. Knock, knock. The sound of someone knocking on the door was heard. The gazes of those in the room turned to the door. Soon, the door opened, and a Guide entered. But his expression seemed a bit surprised.
“Guide Lee Jaehee-nim!”
The Guide, with a somewhat urgent expression, looked at Jaehee and said,
“The Vice Center Director wants to see Guide Lee Jaehee-nim and Esper Choi Geonwoo, and has come here personally.”
