“Yes, well. That’s right. That’s what happened.”
Dawoon let out a deep sigh and nodded his head roughly. He didn’t even have the energy left to react to Ryu Taeha’s direct expression without any filter. Honestly, it was the truth anyway.
“Are we done now? Move aside.”
Even though he’d told him the secret he wanted to know, Ryu Taeha didn’t clear the way. He continued to stand blocking Dawoon’s path, just staring intently at his pale white face. And then this is what he said.
“Come on, that’s quite a joke.”
“…It’s not a joke.”
Even though Dawoon confessed the truth, Ryu Taeha didn’t take it seriously. He just laughed lightly like someone who’d heard something amusing and even shook his head from side to side.
“Dawoon, I don’t play jokes like that either.”
Dawoon, who had only told the truth, frowned involuntarily. No, if you’re not going to believe me even when I tell you, why did you even ask? He almost actually took off his gloves due to the fatigue that suddenly rushed in.
However, since he couldn’t attack a person, he barely held back.
“It’s true. I and… we decided to become partners. Starting today.”
Ryu Taeha’s face, which had been wearing a light smile, slowly became calm. It seemed he’d read sincerity in Dawoon’s serious face.
“You formed a sex partner relationship with Yeoul?”
“……”
Dawoon nodded instead of answering. He even added eye signals meaning to please get lost now, but Ryu Taeha didn’t budge.
“Why?”
As if he had no intention of ending the conversation, persistent questions continued.
“Dawoon, you like older guys. Yeoul is three years younger than you—do you really feel like doing it with him?”
“Yes, I do. I have feelings, so I did it.”
Ryu Taeha’s long eyes narrowed slightly.
“You have feelings for Yeoul? Since when?”
“That’s…”
Dawoon, who hesitated at the unexpected question, gathered his resolve and hardened his expression.
“Guild Leader doesn’t need to know.”
Waving his hands dismissively as if shooing away a fly, he escaped toward the stairs. Instead of grabbing Dawoon, Ryu Taeha trudged up the stairs together with him.
“Think about it again. You’re sick right now, so your judgment is clouded.”
Dawoon maintained his ignoring stance, but Ryu Taeha stuck close to his back and chattered endlessly.
“Yeoul is too young. He doesn’t know anything.”
“……”
“When are you going to teach him everything from one to ten? It’s much better to just meet someone who’s already good at it.”
He tried to ignore him to the end, but it just wasn’t working. Unable to listen anymore, Dawoon stopped firmly in the middle of the stairs with a deep sigh.
“Guild Leader, please respect your guild members’ privacy.”
Indifferent eyes with no emotion looked directly at Ryu Taeha.
“I don’t think I have an obligation to report even this to Guild Leader. We’re not family or anything.”
Even if they’d been intimate frequently in the past, they were over now. Dawoon emphasized his relationship with him and drew a thorough line.
“I’m doing this because I’m worried.”
Ryu Taeha, who had been looking intently at Dawoon, lowered his voice quite seriously.
“My heart is sinking right now. I’m worried you two might have a falling out and say you’re leaving the guild.”
Ah, so that’s why he’s being so persistent. Because he’s worried it might harm the guild.
“Is that all?”
Dawoon’s expression, which had been maintaining an indifferent look, froze for a moment. It was because he was surprised by his own words.
“No, never mind. Pretend you didn’t hear that.”
‘Is that all?’ Why did I suddenly ask something like that?
He hurriedly climbed the stairs again, biting his lips hard. Earlier he’d felt strange, and now words beyond his control were even popping out.
It must be because his condition is bad. He tried hard to think of it lightly and moved his steps quickly. Ryu Taeha’s footsteps followed a little later.
“If you follow me into my room, I’m leaving the guild.”
Before opening the door, Dawoon firmly warned Ryu Taeha who was following him.
Only then did Ryu Taeha stop at a distance of a few steps away. However, he didn’t let Dawoon go easily.
Click.
He turned the doorknob, but it was locked. Dawoon’s face scrunched up. That damn multi-ability bastard.
When he glared at Ryu Taeha, who had locked someone else’s door with his ability, a brazen smile came back.
“I’ll pick out a proper new partner for you. Someone who fits Dawoon’s tastes perfectly.”
He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t even speak. Dawoon forcibly turned the doorknob click-click while ignoring Ryu Taeha.
Ryu Taeha, who blocked this with Telekinesis, whispered uncomfortable words.
“Matching bodies is more troublesome than you think. Do you know how hard it is to find someone sexually compatible?”
“Guild Leader, please mind your own business. I’ll handle it myself.”
Eventually breaking the doorknob, Dawoon irritably threw the broken door handle at Ryu Taeha’s feet. Ryu Taeha, who picked it up, strode toward Dawoon.
“Not Yeoul.”
Dawoon, who was about to curse, hesitated when he saw Ryu Taeha’s serious expression.
“He’ll definitely hurt you.”
He was used to his bullshit, so normally he would have ignored it, but perhaps because his voice was unusually heavy, he couldn’t just brush it off.
“…Why do you think that?”
Does Ryu Taeha also know about the violence inherent in Yeoul? Or is there another reason?
It was when Dawoon’s thoughts were about to deepen along with worry that rushed in like a tidal wave.
“Because Yeoul is clumsy in everything and overly emotional.”
Dawoon’s stiffened expression relaxed. What was I thinking? That level of reason was natural. It would be stranger for a twenty-one-year-old to be mature.
“Can’t help it since he’s young.”
“That’s why Dawoon likes older guys. Older guys who are good at it.”
Ryu Taeha, who subtly leaned his body toward Dawoon, murmured in that signature slimy tone of his.
When Dawoon, his brow deeply furrowed, pushed hard against his solid shoulder, only the part his hand touched momentarily turned to smoke and dispersed.
“The guide list will come out within this week. Try looking for one there.”
Ryu Taeha, who returned his gasified body back to normal, smiled with a composed face. He added that having a new partner who was a Guide would be better for Dawoon too.
“Espers and Guides often form partner relationships. It raises guiding efficiency and manages heat cycles too. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Dawoon pretended not to hear his words at all and kicked the closed door with his foot—bang! When he glared at him to open the door right now, Ryu Taeha lowered his voice even more softly.
“If you need it, I’ll do the handover for you. As much as you want.”
“Fuck, really…”
Unable to bear it anymore, Dawoon cursed and just plugged his ears.
“Or we can do it with three people too.”
However, the Esper’s excellent hearing didn’t miss Ryu Taeha’s bullshit. Exhausted to the limit by his perverted remarks, Dawoon made a fed-up face.
“Let’s stop now. I’m really tired right now.”
It wasn’t just something he was saying—it was sincere. His condition, which had been surprisingly good during the day, had rapidly deteriorated after returning from the animal hospital. The nosebleed said it all.
“Okay, I’m sorry.”
Ryu Taeha, who had been quietly looking at Dawoon, finally took a step back. After restoring the broken doorknob to its original state, he personally turned the door handle for him.
“Just one more thing.”
Before opening the door, Ryu Taeha asked one last time.
“What were you trying to say to me during the day?”
The daytime situation briefly flashed through Dawoon’s mind as he rubbed his tired face. Thanks to that, he immediately understood what he was asking.
‘Um, by any chance…’
That’s how he’d started. With a meaningful face as if he was going to ask something important.
Then the conversation had fizzled out at the cat’s coughing sound, so it was natural to be curious. Dawoon sighed, mulling over the daytime conversation he’d briefly forgotten.
“If you’re tired, you can tell me next time. Go in and rest.”
Ryu Taeha, who had been examining Dawoon’s face with darkened under-eye circles, opened the door gap. When was it that he said he couldn’t sleep if curious and was being annoying, and now he’s pretending to be considerate.
“Sorry for keeping you so long. Sleep well.”
Then he smiles softly, saying to call him anytime if needed. In his calmly shining golden eyes, affection rippled along with warm energy.
Dawoon stared directly back at his gaze looking at him, then slowly opened his mouth.
“Guild Leader.”
“Yeah.”
Ryu Taeha reacted immediately as if he’d been waiting. It was clearly conveyed that his every expression and gesture was entirely focused on Jeong Dawoon.
That’s why Dawoon couldn’t help but be confused. If he hadn’t spouted the bullshit about doing it with three people, his doubts would have already hardened into certainty.
“Tell me. I’m all ears.”
Ryu Taeha’s smile as he playfully touched his ear and laughed dimmed for a moment at Dawoon’s following question.
“Do you like me?”
