# Chapter 18
It was unexpected for the story to start from Kim Haewon’s perspective. That’s because Episode 7 ended with me making eye contact with Nam Ihyeon. Why would they suddenly tell Haewon’s story without revealing the culprit? I began reading with this question in mind.
Haewon tapped the report pages lightly. The report detailed Garam’s health condition. It said his recovery ability had improved significantly compared to when he was C-class. But to Haewon, an SS-class esper, the pace was too slow. Shouldn’t even a non-esper ordinary person be fully recovered and running around a field after a week?
‘Did I really fail to control my strength? How weak are ordinary people anyway?’
Haewon looked down at his hand. The sensation of gripping Garam’s neck was still vivid. He thought he had applied very minimal force, just enough to be threatening. But that wouldn’t serve as an excuse now.
Haewon was lost in thought for a while, then pressed a button to call Changho.
“Yes, Esper-nim. Do you need something?”
“Are the compensation documents I mentioned last time ready?”
“Ah, yes. I prepared them with the amount you specified.”
Changho found the relevant document on the tablet PC he was holding. Then he showed it to Haewon. Haewon skimmed through the document and continued.
“What do you think, Secretary Hwang? Will he like it this time?”
Calculations ran quickly through Changho’s mind. ‘This time?’ What do you mean? You haven’t done anything before! You didn’t even visit the hospital, and you never contacted him! I only showed my face there once!
But if he spoke like that, he obviously wouldn’t be able to collect even his bones. Pass on that.
Then he needed an answer to the next question.
Would Guide Park Garam like the compensation he was offering? Changho sighed deeply. If he were that guide, he didn’t think he would feel good about it, no matter how large the amount.
I snorted. This narrative style was designed to be as considerate as possible to help understand Haewon’s character. As if that bastard was actually worried about me. It was as I expected. I scrolled down with a bitter smile.
“Be honest.”
Haewon spoke as if he could see right through Changho’s mind. Changho continued, sweating profusely.
“H-honestly, I don’t think he’ll like it.”
“Why?”
“Well, wouldn’t most people feel that way? The amount is too large…”
“Isn’t more money always better?”
Changho felt the words ‘That’s different, you idiot!’ rising to the tip of his tongue. Sure, who would refuse free money, but at least there was such a thing as context and situation. Right now was the perfect timing for Garam to misunderstand. But Haewon’s expression showed he didn’t understand Changho’s opinion at all.
“Then reduce the amount.”
Haewon’s solution was heading in the wrong direction. Changho laughed awkwardly while wiping his sweat. The best option was to agree and then slip away.
“Yes, I’ll lower the compensation amount to a more appropriate level.”
Haewon was quite stubborn, and Changho knew it would be pointless to suggest another way to show gratitude. Just as Changho was about to leave with an awkward bow, Haewon spoke again.
“Have you heard anything else? About that guide, I mean.”
“Pardon? What kind of news do you mean?”
“No, well…”
Haewon scratched the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have something specific he wanted to hear, but Changho couldn’t figure out what it was. Changho mentioned what he had heard from the Management Department.
“Ah, I heard they’ve increased security personnel. Seems like there have been some strange incidents recently. I didn’t hear the details though.”
“Strange incidents?”
“Apparently there’s an intruder entering Guide Park Garam’s hospital room without permission.”
“An intruder?”
Haewon’s face became sharply creased. His expression and tone suggested he couldn’t believe Changho’s words. Changho wiped his sweat and continued.
“The information is from the Management Department, so it must be correct. I don’t know the details though…”
“It’s definitely true?”
Changho sensed the storm about to break in his expression. Whatever it was, he had repeatedly pressed Haewon’s anger button.
Hmph, ridiculous.
I was exasperated. The “goodwill” he mentioned was adjusting an amount with his secretary so I wouldn’t feel burdened. It was surprising that this huge sum was the adjusted amount, but even more surprising was his attitude, completely devoid of social awareness. It was pathetic to think about what I had expected from such a person.
Right. This is exactly the kind of person he was. A deficient human whose charm was draining away with each word. The kind of person who remains in society’s upper echelons and thinks nothing has exchange value except money, fame, and power.
The scene that followed was something I had already experienced. I encounter Nam Ihyeon in the hospital room and am convinced he is the illegal Santa. While we are talking, Kim Haewon appears.
He leaves after misunderstanding the situation between Nam Ihyeon and me.
“Esper-nim. A-are you okay?”
“Nam Ihyeon and Park Garam are in a temporary guide relationship? What does that mean?”
Hwang Changho, who had been waiting in the VIP ward’s first-floor lobby, fidgeted with his lips before continuing.
“Ah, well… After completing the matching rate test with you, Esper-nim, they also conducted a matching rate test with Esper Nam Ihyeon. It came out at 90%. Since there are more S-class espers deployed to domestic gates, there was some pressure on Guide Department 1, it seems.”
“You’re telling me to share my pair guide with another guy?”
“I can see why you would think that… but since S-class guides are limited, it was unavoidable…”
“Contact Director Cha immediately. No, should I do it myself?”
Director Cha Hyeonseok was Haewon’s longtime colleague and senior, as well as the director of Esper Department 1. Hwang Changho wiped his sweat and continued.
“I-I’ll contact him first through official channels. W-what should I tell him?”
Haewon’s face was distorted to a degree rarely seen lately. He continued, swallowing a growling sound.
“Tell him my guide cannot be shared with anyone.”
Changho felt a stream of sweat running down his back. It was a chilling feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Sensing his anger flaring, Changho just nodded. Haewon left the hospital in a fury, and Changho could only watch his back.
Well, well, here comes the young master from Cheonghakdong. What kind of view did he have about guides that made him think about morality first? I couldn’t help clicking my tongue in disapproval.
“My guide? Give me a break.”
A guide wasn’t anyone’s possession. They were individuals belonging to the association, just employees. Of course, the same applied to espers. Our pairing could be dissolved tomorrow if our matching rate dropped.
The reason Kim Haewon and I became pairs overnight wasn’t because we were soulmates, but because my regular checkup results had changed.
No matter how I read it, it was irritating. Episode 8 ended with that line from Kim Haewon. I clicked on the comments section with a dissatisfied expression.
[Reader1] The seme who denies his feelings, so tasty~
⤷ Isn’t the tsundere seme and petulant uke combo rare?
[Reader2] Kim Haewon isn’t the main seme yet, right? Let me buy some stock in the sub seme~
Seme who denies his feelings? Tsundere seme? Petulant uke? What did all these terms mean? Seeing these unfamiliar terms continue, I looked them up directly in the knowledge Q&A section.
After skimming through several posts, I learned what seme and uke meant, and what the adjective-like expressions in front of them signified. They were terms that made my face turn red. I wrapped my hand around my forehead and stared quietly at the laptop.
Now that I knew their meanings, I needed a moment before reading the next comments. The world of these BL maniacs was so vast and grand… it was almost too much to take in. After taking several deep breaths, I was able to move on to the next comments.
[Reader2] The illegal Santa is obviously Kim Haewon, right? Seems like he’s sending gifts secretly without his secretary knowing, then getting mad when his button is pushed ㅇㅇ
⤷ └Huh? Nam Ihyeon came out from the window~ How are you reading this and thinking it’s Kim Haewon? lol
Opinions were exchanged about who the illegal Santa was. This was obviously Nam Ihyeon, beyond any doubt. It seemed that because the author portrayed Kim Haewon too favorably, people thought Kim Haewon was the Santa.
[Reader3] Ihyeon landed in my heart the moment he appeared
⤷ I know right222 Wow-nam can come to my room
[Reader4] Haewon, what are you… becoming?
People were strange. They didn’t recognize Kim Haewon or even Nam Ihyeon. It was like they were in a different world. Not just Kim Haewon, but Nam Ihyeon was enjoying popularity almost on par with idols. There’s no way they wouldn’t know them.
But readers don’t see Kim Haewon and Nam Ihyeon as anything more than characters. The same was true for me. To them, everything I was living in was a fictional world, a false world.
What kind of world had I fallen into? How would Kim Haewon, Nam Ihyeon, and the other characters think about this? How could I return to my ordinary life as a C-class guide?
I had no lingering attachment to being S-class, nor any expectations for the pair relationship. When I recalled Kim Haewon’s cold face, even the feelings I had were disappearing.
Even though a warning message saying “This is the last episode” appeared, I continued scrolling down. Only the same warning repeated.
