Three people were hiding near the convenience store, observing the inside.
“Wow, jackpot. I think those two are dating!”
Yoon Jihyuk from the Alpha Team that Gu Baekyoung belonged to.
“That manager is really Kang Onyul? But Gu Baekyoung all scrunched up is hilarious. Why is he crammed in that cramped place?”
Cha Hyeran, seeing the manager for the first time.
“……I was the one who brought up reincarnation though.”
Lastly, it was Na Geonwoo, who had mentioned reincarnation.
Even if others didn’t know, the Alpha Team members that Gu Baekyoung belonged to knew that he secretly visited the convenience store in disguise.
Today too, as soon as Gu Baekyoung closed the gate and rushed to the convenience store, they couldn’t contain their curiosity and followed him.
That’s how they ended up witnessing Gu Baekyoung seated at the counter while embracing the problematic manager.
Was that really the same Gu Baekyoung who wouldn’t let even his teammates get close? He was embracing the manager with such a gentle appearance.
The Alpha Team members who witnessed that incongruous scene clicked their tongues.
“Na Geonwoo, be honest. Did you really think Kang Onyul would reincarnate when you placated Gu Baekyoung?”
Cha Hyeran, who was the same age as Na Geonwoo and got along with him like a friend, smacked Na Geonwoo’s shoulder.
It was a question mixed with criticism, asking why he said such useless things and made the kid like that.
“I’m a realist. I don’t believe in things like reincarnation.”
After uttering one sentence, Na Geonwoo pushed up his square glasses and continued.
“But I just used socialized realism, pulling in even unrealistic things to pacify a crazed, rampaging beast.”
“Oh my, what are you going to do about that? What if Gu Baekyoung finds out that manager isn’t Onyul? Are you going to let him rampage again?”
At Cha Hyeran’s rebuke, Na Geonwoo’s eyes narrowed.
“I can’t let him rampage. If he rampages again, he’ll cause damage not only to the center but also to civilian areas.”
“…….”
“I’ll solve it. I just need to use socialized realism again.”
Na Geonwoo’s gaze, having quickly come up with a solution, was fixed on Onyul, who was sleeping like a child.
***
Onyul came to his senses only when midday arrived. He was still held in Gu Baekyoung’s embrace, which was as firm and cozy as last night.
He belatedly tried to push away Gu Baekyoung’s large arm that was tightly wrapped around his body, but he didn’t budge. All he could hear in his ear was Gu Baekyoung’s soft breathing.
When he lifted his head, he could see Gu Baekyoung’s face with his eyes closed. He was sleeping without the slightest movement.
‘He’s sleeping well in such an uncomfortable position.’
He’d called him to work the night shift, but instead of watching the store, the part-timer was asleep. You’re fired, you punk!
But he couldn’t wake him. Because Gu Baekyoung’s sleeping face looked so peaceful.
His complexion was much better than last night.
He looked exactly like someone who had received guiding, so even Onyul couldn’t help tilting his head. Wondering if there really was an energy that stabilized mind and body coming from him, as Gu Baekyoung and other ability users had felt.
Even if that were the case, since he’d promised to help prevent him from being admitted to the center, those words were quite reassuring.
His body was comfortable, warm, and since he’d slept deeply for the first time in a while, even his condition was good.
Right, that must be why. The reason he couldn’t wake Gu Baekyoung and was obediently staying in his embrace.
Of course, if a customer burst in, he would have no choice but to wake him. But fortunately, it was quiet right now.
Onyul’s head, which had been waiting for customers, began to droop down again.
‘I’m hungry though…….’ was his last thought. Drowsiness was far more dominant than hunger.
Onyul fell into a deep sleep once again.
“…….”
As soon as Onyul fell asleep again, Gu Baekyoung’s eyelids opened. He had actually been awake since Onyul started fidgeting.
But he pretended to sleep because he didn’t want to separate from Onyul. The foolish Kang Onyul fell for it and stayed quietly in his embrace.
Should I take him home like this? An impulsive thought arose.
Gu Baekyoung hated seeing Onyul living in a cramped, shabby place where he couldn’t even sleep properly.
He wanted to take him to his own home, which was spacious enough to give a lonely impression, prepare delicious food for him, and let him sleep comfortably.
How nice would it be to embrace him and sleep every night?
Having thought that far, a blush appeared on Gu Baekyoung’s face.
Something was getting stiff, and if Onyul hadn’t been asleep, he might have felt the uncomfortable sensation of it poking his buttocks.
Hoo, Gu Baekyoung, who let out a deep breath, buried his breath in Onyul’s nape. As expected, the cozy scent that reminded him of Kang Onyul flowed smoothly to the tip of his nose.
At that moment, a noise that shattered Gu Baekyoung’s peaceful time was heard.
Ding-a-ling. The door that hadn’t opened for quite a while opened, and familiar people entered through it.
“……Team Leader?”
Not only Na Geonwoo, but Cha Hyeran and even Yoon Jihyuk were together.
“Wow, it’s been a while! My chocolate milk!”
At the sight of Yoon Jihyuk, who walked over familiarly and picked up chocolate milk, Gu Baekyoung’s brow furrowed.
When should I dunk that bastard……?
“Gu Baekwon, do you even know how to ring up purchases?”
……First, I should smack the back of his head or something, Won.
Gu Baekyoung glared at Yoon Jihyuk while scanning the barcode.
“Be quiet. You’ll wake my honey.”
“……Honey?”
“I decided to date the manager.”
Of course it was a contract relationship with conditions attached, but there was no need to mention that far.
“What? You’re dating after meeting only a few times?”
“Shut up. I warned you to be quiet.”
“Wow, but the rumor is true. I can faintly feel a strange energy in this convenience store.”
But despite Yoon Jihyuk’s fuss, when even Cha Hyeran made noise, Onyul finally woke up.
Soon after, Onyul, who opened his eyes, began staring at the Alpha Team members as if flustered.
Gu Baekyoung unconsciously emitted killing intent toward the team members who woke Onyul.
But the Alpha Team members were also aces on par with Gu Baekyoung. They deflected that killing intent skillfully.
It was then that Na Geonwoo, who had been observing Onyul without saying a word, stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you, Manager Kang Ian. I’m Na Geonwoo, the team leader of the Alpha Team that Baekyoung belongs to.”
“…….”
“I know that our Baekyoung has been bothering the manager lately, so I took the liberty of coming here. Could we talk for a moment?”
The answer flowed from Gu Baekyoung.
“No. Don’t interfere with us, Team Leader.”
“Baekyoung, since you know how to ring up purchases, you can watch the convenience store for a bit.”
“What are you going to talk about?”
“At least it won’t be something bad for you?”
At Na Geonwoo’s words, Gu Baekyoung became lost in thought.
He didn’t know about the other team members, but Na Geonwoo was the person he trusted next after Kang Onyul. He didn’t think he would forcibly separate Onyul and himself.
But before Gu Baekyoung’s thoughts could finish, Onyul, who belatedly grasped the situation, finally opened his lips.
“……Alright. Let’s talk for a moment.”
Onyul escaped from Gu Baekyoung’s embrace and faced him.
“Gu Baekyoung. I called you for part-time work, but you only slept last night. Watch the convenience store for a bit as compensation.”
Gu Baekyoung’s hand gently grabbed Onyul’s wrist. Even though he knew nothing would happen, he didn’t want to let Onyul go.
“……You’ll come back, right?”
“I won’t go far.”
But still, Gu Baekyoung didn’t let go of his wrist.
“Why?”
“Tell me you’ll come back.”
It was a statement that somehow made his heart stir. Because it sounded like he was holding onto someone who, once they left, would never come back.
It was just going outside the convenience store, so why…….
But Onyul didn’t ask for more reasons and acquiesced.
“Yeah, I’ll come back.”
At those words, Gu Baekyoung let Onyul go.
***
“That’s the best-selling item in our convenience store.”
At Onyul’s words, Na Geonwoo, holding a drink where the grapefruit flavor could be felt as it was, nodded slightly.
Contrary to his impression of someone who would only drink bitter coffee, it was a menu he chose because he couldn’t drink coffee at all.
On the other hand, Onyul was holding coffee, but he couldn’t drink it comfortably. It was because of Gu Baekyoung’s persistent gaze felt through the glass window.
‘Should I have sat somewhere Gu Baekyoung couldn’t see?’
The two of them were seated facing each other on an outdoor bench in front of the convenience store. Onyul’s seat happened to be facing Gu Baekyoung, which was very uncomfortable.
When he glanced over, Gu Baekyoung was fidgeting restlessly with his large body crammed into the counter. He seemed ready to burst out of the convenience store at any moment.
Onyul deliberately avoided that intense gaze and only looked at Na Geonwoo.
He felt glad to see him. Because although not as much as Gu Baekyoung, he had gotten along quite well with Na Geonwoo too.
As he was thinking it was fortunate that Na Geonwoo seemed to be doing well without any injuries, his lips opened.
“I know that Baekyoung thinks of the manager as an Esper named Kang Onyul. That’s why he must have asked you to date him with conditions you couldn’t refuse.”
Na Geonwoo spoke as if he had inferred everything.
Since he was such a smart person, it wasn’t strange that he had grasped the situation, but what he had to say to him couldn’t be gauged.
“I’ll speak straightforwardly since I don’t know when Baekyoung might interrupt.”
“……Yes.”
What was he going to say? Could it be that Na Geonwoo would also bring up things like reincarnation to try to confirm that he was Kang Onyul?
But the words Na Geonwoo uttered were unexpected.
“Please pretend to be Kang Onyul.”
……What?
Not asking whether he was Kang Onyul or not like Gu Baekyoung, but asking him to act as if he were Kang Onyul?
It was an absurd request, enough to make him drop the coffee he was holding, but before long, the intention was understood.
It was a request that anyone who knew Na Geonwoo could fully understand.
