Actor Cha In-ho Manifested as a Guide... 'A Very Rare Case'"
[Asia Good Day - Reporter Kim Min-seong]
Actor Cha In-ho has manifested as a guide. According to his agency, Planet Day, on the 13th, Cha In-ho, who had been complaining of a fever, was found to have manifested as a guide following a hospital examination.
Manifesting at the age of 26 is a rare occurrence globally, leading to suspicions that Cha In-ho might have been hiding this fact until now.
It is still unknown what grade of guide Cha In-ho is.
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Comments (462)
"Hundred percent he was hiding it until now and got caught, lololololol."
"Cha In-ho, I enjoyed your movies! It's fascinating to see someone manifest as a guide after 20. Good luck!"
"Thank goodness he's not an esper..."
┗ "For real, if he were an esper, his acting career would be over."
┗ "Is it that serious? Aren't there espers who are active like celebrities?"
┗ "Only the useless D-grade ones or the elite SS-grade ones manage that. A- and B-grades are too busy with their duties, lol."
┗ "Nope, B-grade Jang Chan-hwi went viral with photos from the field on social media and appears on TV a lot."
┗ "Those cases are rare..."
┗ "A guide for espers… they're just people who sell themselves to espers to make a living."
┗ "Yeah, guides help espers because it's necessary. Guides hate going to the centre regularly and meeting their quotas; it's a hassle."
"I'm so jealous of espers. Fans dream of just touching their finger, but espers get all that and more for free, damn it."
"Cha In-ho is going to get so close with espers now, lol."
┗ "There's a moron here who thinks guiding is always about sex. Didn't you learn about non-physical guiding in school?"
┗ "What are you going to do now that you're not a guide? No one will ever have sex with you, lol."
┗ [Comment reported and deleted]
"Cha In-ho... My daughter likes you, so we watched your latest movie, Meteor, together... Haha. I think you played an esper in that one, right?"
┗ "Yes, that's correct."
┗ "Now that you mention it, he won Best Supporting Actor for an Esper role, lol. The irony is strong."
"Aren't there quite a few celebrity guides? Why is the reaction so intense?"
[Comment deleted]
"What happens to the movie he's currently filming?"
┗ "Since he's a guide and not an esper, it shouldn't affect it much."
"I'm a B-block staff member and saw Cha In-ho yesterday, lol. He's super handsome."
┗ "Really? What was his grade?"
┗ "Can't say, might get sued. There will be an article soon, but it's not very high.
"If I pretend to be an esper and hang around the centre, I could totally meet Cha In-ho and hold his hand or hug him, lol."
┗ "Don't underestimate the centre; it's not that easy."
┗ "2222, the centre isn't that lenient, lol."
┗ "333, Block B is strictly controlled for guide safety, unlike Block A with its gift shops and stuff."
"Esper monsters! If anything happens to our In-ho, even a scratch, I won't stand for it."
"Is it even possible to manifest this late?"
┗ "It's extremely rare, but it does happen. However, it's much more likely he was hiding it and got caught."
[Comment deleted by the author]
[Comment deleted by the author]
┗ "Nonsense, lol. Block C doesn't even exist, so how could he go there?"
┗ "Please, just ignore the trolls. It's obvious bait, why keep feeding it?"
* * *
The Esper-Guide Center was largely divided into two main sections: A-block, which had everything from museums to accommodations, and B-block, where numerous guides come and go daily.
However, within the centre's vast grounds, there was a lesser-known section—Block C. Hidden away, only a few were aware of its existence.
A long trek up an unpaved mountain path led to a checkpoint, beyond which was built a tall barbed-wire fence. The barbed wire, occasionally adorned with stray feathers swaying in the wind, enclosed a large grey building. Other than the climbing vines along its walls, the building was entirely monochromic, with barred windows on every side. Despite its aged and grim appearance, the structure was sturdy and secure.
This place, which resembles a prison, was the elusive Block C and also home to Joo-hyun. It's fitting, considering that Shin Joo-hyun was a runaway esper. Calling it a home was generous; it's more of a confinement, a place where living seemed more akin to being imprisoned.
* * *
"Don't say anything unnecessary or act suspiciously. Got it?"
Joo-hyun quietly looked down at the centre manager, who was half a head shorter than him.
He was a middle-aged man who loved money immensely and, for a civilian, wasn't particularly afraid of runaway espers. This might have been because he could control them with just a flick of his finger.
Joo-hyun briefly considered asking what unnecessary words and suspicious actions were, but he simply nodded instead. His black hair, slightly covering his eyes, swayed lightly.
Today, Cha In-ho was coming to the desolate Block C. Recently, there had been quite an uproar about Cha In-ho manifesting as a guide at the age of twenty-six.
It was said that Cha In-ho, an actor who often appeared on the only TV in Block C's lounge, was coming here to find a matching esper. When Joo-hyun and his colleagues first heard the rumour, they thought it was a ridiculous piece of gossip.
"No way! Did you really hear this?!"
"Who in their right mind would want to match with a runaway esper? Would you do it?"
"No, I wouldn't."
"See?! Beom-gyu, bring us some more plausible rumours next time."
"But I'm sure I heard it..."
Other espers clicked their tongues at Beom-gyu, who scratched his shaggy hair while insisting he overheard the staff talking. Joo-hyun, who had been quietly listening and flipping through pages, casually commented,
"If he's an actor, he probably has a lot of money. Why on earth would he come here? Only a truly crazy person would even think of it."
Everyone agreed, further berating Beom-gyu.
That had happened exactly four days ago. And now, Joo-hyun was heading to the guiding room to meet this "truly crazy person."
A runaway esper referred to an esper who had ran out of control.
An esper who overused their abilities without receiving proper guiding could, if extremely unlucky, became a runaway esper when their levels dropped to a critical point. Typically, they would fail to control their power, destroying everything around them and eventually themselves. In other words, once they went runaway, they were considered as good as dead.
However, on very rare occasions, a runaway esper could receive guiding and stop their outburst before dying. This was considered extremely unfortunate because the life of a surviving runaway esper was often so miserable that death might have been preferable.
Runaway espers inevitably caused casualties and property damage. They had to live with the guilt of actions they didn't even remember committing, and worst of all, the label "runaway esper" followed them for life.
The biggest reason runaway espers were avoided was their instability; once an esper went runaway, there was no telling when they might do so again. They were ticking time bombs, literal killers, and extremely dangerous beings that no one wanted to be near.
There was no way society could let such monsters roam the streets. This was why Block C existed. It was meant to isolate runaway espers who had somehow survived and make them atone for the rest of their lives.
Naturally, no guide volunteered to handle runaway espers. Those who came to Block C were mostly criminals sentenced to community service or guides with peculiar tastes.
There had never been a runaway esper with a dedicated guide, known as a matching guide. Even if an esper had a matching guide before they went runaway, the partnership ended the moment they lost control.
But then Cha In-ho came. With the absurd news that he intended to match with a runaway esper.
Joo-hyun's distinctively dark red eyes, typical of a runaway esper, sharply observed the grey corridor. The sunlight streaming through the barred windows cast eerie shadows on the floor.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and move along," a Block C staff member, always armed and ready, pushed Joo-hyun from behind with force. Joo-hyun, who could kill the man before he even pulled the trigger, quietly continued his stride.
Since he ran away at the age of fourteen, Joo-hyun had been living in Block C for eleven years. Although he occasionally went outside for missions, he never wandered around crowded places like everyone else. So, he had no idea who Cha In-ho was or how famous he might be.
Therefore, he didn't care about being sorry, interested in celebrities, or feeling shy like other people. He had no intention of cooperating with whatever this guy named Cha In-ho wanted.
"Follow the rules or you'll end up in prison," the staff member whispered in a low voice. It was a threat that didn't hold any weight for Joo-hyun, who was already living in a place worse than prison.
As usual, with an emotionless expression, Joo-hyun walked into the guiding room as the staff member opened the door. Despite the strong push, the runaway esper crossed the threshold with a leisurely pace.
Cha In-ho was seated on a worn-out chair. Despite the dreary grey walls surrounding him, he seemed to radiate brightness, illuminating the surroundings.
Not just handsome or pretty but truly beautiful, one could say. The man, praised for his beauty crafted meticulously by the gods, wore a look of surprise and confusion, a strange expression as if he were startled.
Thud. The heavy sound of the iron door closing echoed. Left alone with the guide who was no different from an ordinary person, the runaway esper slowly approached the table.
Cha In-ho sat quietly, looking at him. A familiar pager sticked out from his left fist. Pressing it would summon the staff to subdue Joo-hyun, so the safety precaution wasn't a bad idea.
"Hello-"
Creeak!
The high friction noise between the chair and the floor interrupted Cha In-ho's greeting.
Sitting on a squeaky chair, Joo-hyun crossed his long legs and looked at the guide with a bored expression. Cha In-ho's strikingly beautiful appearance was still surprising upon second glance. However, Joo-hyun's life was already difficult to act foolishly.
Even though Joo-hyun didn't have an actual label of a runaway esper, he knew he gave off quite a threatening impression. The height of 184 cm, a body full of actual muscles, not too rugged but solid, and the dark red eyes like a stigma of a runaway esper.
Due to his turbulent childhood, Joo-hyun was adept at intimidating others with just his gaze. He raised his chin slightly and tapped his elbow with his fingers meaninglessly.
Cha In-ho seemed tense, whether because of Joo-hyun's threatening demeanour or simply due to the situation of facing a runaway esper, was unclear.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Cha In-ho."
A scar-covered hand slipped into the pocket. The cigarette with a blue pattern on it, bought last night, was already half gone.
Mocking the fact that lighters were not provided, out of safety considerations, Joo-hyun exhaled deeply as he lightly teased the only shop in Block C that sold matches.
"I know. Cha In-ho. Twenty-six years old. Shall I list the movies you've been in?"
Two days ago, the staff had thrown a paper filled with Cha In-ho's profile and told him to memorise it. It seemed like they had managed to coax quite a few envelopes out of the Centre Director, who couldn't resist money.
"They said to memorise it dearly, warning that if I upset you or even touched a hair on your head, I'd be sent to jail."
The smoke emanated into the air covered Cha In-ho's face for a while, and then dispersed.
"I can't believe I'm going to jail because I hurt you a little. It's a scary world."
The runaway esper narrowed his dark red eyes, not bothering to hide his smirk as he revealed his pointed fangs. Usually, just that alone was enough to make people cower as if facing a ferocious beast.
But Cha In-ho didn't. Far from being intimidated, he calmly whispered in a soft tone, his gaze unwavering as he observed Joo-hyun's face, his fingers, and the cigarette dangling from them.
"Did they really say that? Seems like the staff members tend to exaggerate."
"Why did I get the feeling it wasn't an exaggeration?"
"I couldn't say."
As Joo-hyun shifted in his seat, the worn-out chair creaked faintly.
Silence followed. Cha In-ho, gazing at Joo-hyun with an expressionless gaze, soon sighed as if resigning himself. Even his face became a picture, yet it didn't evoke any sympathy from Joo-hyun.
"If you're tired, you can go back."
"No, I was just... surprised because it's just a little different from what I thought."
"What were you thinking?"
There was no answer, but it was obvious even without hearing it. Perhaps he was silently contemplating like a monster, bowing his head in guilt, or maybe he was unsure whether to be pleased by the guide's arrival.
Indeed, Joo-hyun—along with all the espers in Block C—suffered from chronic guiding deficiency. Because of this, he could feel his headache easing somewhat just from the faint radiation of guiding flowing from Cha In-ho.
However, Joo-hyun was too proud to acknowledge this. He was the type of person who would rather jump into the flames, knowing he would die, than be seen as a worm grovelling for a small favour.
His sturdy boots kicked the chair beside him, sending it clattering across the grey floor with a sharp noise.
"Sorry for not dying, being a runaway esper and all."
There was a loud noise, but the armed staff outside did not enter. The rule was not to open the door despite any noise or violent behaviour until the pager is pressed.
Without giving the fallen chair a glance, Cha In-ho's eyes softened as if nothing had happened. His annoyingly beautiful face looked even more attractive when he smiled.
"Not something you need to apologise for."
Once again, it was clear that no sane guide would willingly come to Block C. As Joo-hyun exhaled smoke, he reminded himself of this undeniable truth.
Although he didn't know what the guiding rooms in Block A or Block B looked like, they were probably different from those in Block C.
The guiding room in Block C consisted of an old table, old chairs, and an old but large bed. There was even a small attached bathroom, making the room resemble an outdated motel room, which Joo-hyun disliked. While any esper might have appreciated a guiding room, for the espers in Block C, it was akin to hell.
Sitting face-to-face with a guide and doing nothing in such a place was a new experience for Joo-hyun. He looked at Cha In-ho indifferently.
The guide had a deep, contemplative expression, his fingers twitching nervously, and he clutched the call button tightly. It was clear he wasn't here by choice. For some reason, he didn't seem like he was going to form a match. How could someone who was so reluctant meet regularly for guiding?
Relaxed by this predictable reaction, Joo-hyun leaned back in his chair.
Cha In-ho neither talked about the matching nor stood up to leave. He must have his own reasons for being here.
Of course, whatever those reasons were, they had nothing to do with Joo-hyun. It was inconceivable that he had come to actually match with a runaway esper. Eventually, he would leave, claiming the runaway esper was too dangerous and uncontrollable.
When the news got out, Mr. A, the runaway esper, would get all kinds of criticism, but it didn't matter since none of them really knew Joo-hyun.
Joo-hyun tilted his head back to look at the dull, stained ceiling and exhaled smoke, then closed his eyes without any hint of resignation.
Runaway espers, despite their duty to protect citizens as espers, caused casualties instead. Because of that crime, they were required to serve until death.
They undertook extremely hazardous missions and received a substantial risk allowance, but there was a law that required them to return a significant portion of it to society. It was almost half, but since they had little to spend money on, they managed to save some.
The probability of an esper to runaway was smaller than a speck of dust, and the survival rate among them was less than half of that.
Typically, younger espers, who were less adept at controlling their abilities, were more prone to going rogue compared to their more experienced counterparts. Consequently, there were no espers over forty in Block C. There used to be, but they had long since passed away. Many didn't return from missions, and some were found dead in their rooms.
Joo-hyun was currently the runaway esper who had been in Block C the longest, a full 11 years. He had grown so accustomed to these grey walls that he no longer felt any nostalgia for the outside world.
Even though he didn't watch TV often, the fact that he knew about Cha In-ho indicated that Cha In-ho was indeed a very famous celebrity. However, here, he was just an ordinary guide.
Joo-hyun, an esper whose life depended on guides but didn't particularly like them, stared unemotionally at the cracked table.
Eventually, perhaps out of boredom or a desire to pass the time, Cha In-ho started talking to him.
"You smoke, I see?"
When Joo-hyun glanced at him, Cha In-ho was wearing a surprisingly serious expression. It wasn't quite concern, but it wasn't displeasure either. Not understanding the reason behind that look, Joo-hyun pressed the filter of his cigarette with his thumbnail and replied.
"They don't sell alcohol here."
"Yet you cling to something that's bad for your health."
"I'll die before I get lung cancer, so it's fine."
A small puff of smoke quickly dispersed into the air. When he had first started smoking, it had made him dizzy, but now he felt nothing.
Cha In-ho, frowning perhaps due to the acrid smell, crossed his legs and spoke.
"Are you always so pessimistic?"
"You're more curious than I thought."
"Yes. I have a lot of questions about you."
"Why?"
Cha In-ho didn't answer. The bright face, seemingly untouched by hardship, didn't fit in with the grey walls of Block C. He likely wasn't here by choice, but then, neither was Joo-hyun.
"Normally, around this time, I'd be playing chess with Beom-gyu or Se-hwa in the lounge. Or maybe Gomoku. Or just lying around taking a nap"
The cigarette almost burned to the end. The shop in Block C only sold one type of cigarette. It was so strong and low-quality that no one would buy it even if it were stocked in a convenience store, but there were no other options.
Cha In-ho was staring at some point on the table with an inscrutable expression. He didn't seem particularly angry, but he didn't look pleased either.
In contrast, Joo-hyun's body was gradually feeling better thanks to the subtle radiating guidance from Cha In-ho. His body, always starved for guidance, was rejoicing even at this minimal level of it. Joo-hyun disliked himself for that and also disliked Cha In-ho for making him feel this way.
But Cha In-ho probably disliked Joo-hyun even more, so Joo-hyun simply waited silently for time to pass.
"How much of a performance would be necessary? Would it create more of a sensation if the runaway esper caused a scene? Enough to overshadow the suspicion that you've been hiding the fact that you're a guide all this time?"
However, Joo-hyun was not considerate enough to spend a week in custody for someone he saw for the first time.
He'd never meet Cha In-ho again anyway. Soon, Cha In-ho would leave with the gossip of having met a runaway esper, and Joo-hyun would continue living his days as he always had.
Having finished his thoughts, Joo-hyun stubbed out the burnt-down cigarette butt against his wrist.
To justify himself, it wasn't that he enjoyed the pain. Nor was it to draw Cha In-ho's attention. It was simply a habitual action. He couldn't even remember the first time he smoked; it was in his childhood. Initially, he did it to punish himself, and it became a familiar routine.
He got hurt so often that this level of injury didn't even register, and with guidance, such wounds disappeared quickly. Besides, there were no ashtrays in the guiding room.
The people in Block C were already used to it, and more importantly, they were too busy enduring their own personal hells to tell Joo-hyun to stop. So, he was genuinely surprised when Cha In-ho suddenly stood up and shouted.
"Shin Joo-hyun!"
Cha In-ho approached with a frown but stopped without reaching him.
Given that he'd probably read the file detailing Joo-hyun's entire life, it wasn't strange that he knew his name. But calling him so familiarly was indeed odd.
While Joo-hyun hesitated, unsure of how to react, Cha In-ho had already stepped closer, lowering his head with a hardened expression. His distorted gaze was fixed on the wound on Joo-hyun's wrist.
Noticing this, Joo-hyun grinned. His sharp eyes softened, his cheeks lifted, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Oh, have I finally upset you? Am I going to prison now?"
Joo-hyun tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes. The red eyes of the runaway esper gleamed with mockery. Considering Cha In-ho was a normal person until recently, rather than being trained as a guide from a young age, it wasn't surprising he wasn't used to seeing injuries right in front of him.
Since Joo-hyun rarely had the chance to meet 'normal people', he had just teased him lightly. Despite the strangeness, Cha In-ho didn't seem like a bad person who would deliberately badmouth Joo-hyun to the staff just to spite him.
However, instead of looking annoyed or flustered as Joo-hyun had expected, Cha In-ho, with a resolute tone, asked, "I need to provide guiding; may I touch you?"
Joo-hyun paused, exhaling slowly. The serious look on Cha In-ho's face made him think as if it were the most natural question.
He thought, 'I'm the esper, and you're the guide, so ultimately, you're the one who holds the leash regarding this wound.' No one had ever asked a runaway esper for permission to touch them for guiding. Joo-hyun, accustomed to violence rather than mere physical contact, blinked rapidly.
In Cha In-ho's back pocket, hesitantly extended hand in the air, was a taser similar to the ones the staff usually carried. It was, of course, far more painful than a small cigarette burn.
Despite this, Joo-hyun found it amusing that Cha In-ho was worried about such a minor wound. Suddenly, he reached out and slowly wrapped his hand around Cha In-ho's hovering fingers. Even with a surprised expression, Cha In-ho's face remained beautiful, and Joo-hyun savoured the soft guiding energy spreading from his fingertips.
The small burn mark healed in an instant. Although his pride made him reluctant to admit it, the proper guiding he received for the first time in a while felt like a breath of fresh air. For a B-grade guide, the wavelength was distinct and pure.
"Is it alright now?"
As Joo-hyun released his hand and asked, Cha In-ho nodded, still looking somewhat bewildered. Noticing a small speck of dust on the tip of Cha In-ho's slightly swaying hair, it caught Joo-hyun's attention.
When Joo-hyun reached out, Cha In-ho flinched, startled by the sudden approach of the scarred hand. Then, click. The faint sound of a button being pressed was unmistakable to Joo-hyun, a sound he knew all too well.
Bang! The door burst open violently, and in an instant, Joo-hyun was pinned down, his face slammed against the table. The heavily armed staff efficiently and swiftly twisted his arms behind his back and secured them with thick chains.
The impact was so forceful that the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, seeping from his nose. Crimson drops began to trickle down onto the table.
"Stop! It was an accident!"
"Weren't you threatened?"
"No, it was just a mistake. So, please, undo this…"
Clutching the pager, Cha In-ho, now visibly upset, tried desperately to stop the staff. His furrowed brows and outstretched hand aimed at restraining the staff. Joo-hyun watched this scene until a blindfold covered his eyes.
"It's regulation, we have no choice."
With a gag in his mouth, Joo-hyun complied with the rough handling of the staff. His meeting with Cha In-ho ended that way.
Even after being returned to his room, still bound at the wrists and lying on the bed, Joo-hyun blinked absently. His eyelashes brushed against the blindfold, tickling slightly. The arm pressed beneath him ached from lying on his side, but at this point, such pain was trivial.
He spat out the blood that had run from his nose into his mouth and let out a breath too faint to be called a sigh. In the stillness and darkness that made it feel as if everyone in the world had disappeared, the esper quietly pondered.
"Did you get caught trying to touch him pretending to remove the dust?"
The recent guiding had felt exceptionally good. It was especially so because it was a guiding without any ulterior motives.
The guides Joo-hyun usually encountered would press the pager to punish him or amuse themselves, then mock the esper as they were dragged away. It was the first time Joo-hyun had seen a guide so flustered and apologetic, trying to stop the staff. Honestly, it was a bit funny. Watching him panic after pressing the button himself was amusing.
However, he would probably never see that man again. A wealthy celebrity had many options other than a runaway esper. Who would voluntarily step into such a dreadful place again?
Joo-hyun was genuinely fine. He was used to being left in this state overnight and to people looking at him with disdain. So, he simply hoped for a cigarette as he thought in silence until morning.
* * *
Joo-hyun was wrong. Cha In-ho was a stranger than he thought.
"From now on, I will be your matching guide, Joo-hyun. Please take care of me."
Cha In-ho spoke softly, extending his hand. Just as before, his cool, slender fingers with prominent knuckles were right in front of Joo-hyun.
Suppressing the instinctive desire to grasp that hand and indulge in the guiding, Joo-hyun turned his head away.
Beside him, a staff member was reviewing the esper-guide exclusive contract documents, and across from him, the man who had introduced himself as Cha In-ho's agency president sat with a stern face. When Joo-hyun looked back, Cha In-ho was still extending his hand, smiling slightly.
A runaway esper's matching guide. What anyone would have dismissed as a ridiculous rumour had become reality.
* * *
"Recently, there's been a lot of buzz about this news. How do you feel about manifesting as a guide, In-ho?"
"Haha, I'm still a bit bewildered, but I'm gradually getting used to it."
Cha In-ho smiled shyly as he crossed his long legs. Rather than appearing intimidated, he straightened his back and confidently raised the corners of his mouth.
"They say it's quite late to manifest as a guide, isn't it?"
"Yes. I was surprised too. I spent hours being examined at the hospital and the centre. Thankfully, everything came out normal."
"Wow, that's such a relief. It's said to be a rare case globally, so I can imagine how anxious your fans, as well as myself, were."
Cha In-ho squinted slightly at the interviewer's high-pitched chatter and then laughed playfully. The exchange was so natural that there was no hint of it being a pre-known question and answer.
The interview flowed smoothly. They talked about a film in which he had previously played an esper, and seamlessly promoted the current project he was filming. It was also a declaration that despite manifesting as a guide, his career would continue unabated.
As the interview was drawing to a close, the interviewer, flipping through her papers, feigned a surprised expression. Her acting was top-notch, pretending not to know what she clearly did.
"This just in: there's a hot rumour that In-ho has signed an exclusive contract with a runaway esper. Is it true?"
"Oh, has the rumour spread this far already?"
Cha In-ho slowly adjusted his posture. For someone answering a shocking question, his movements were remarkably composed.
He met the gaze of the interviewer, who appeared eager, and deliberately narrowed his eyes. Then, he subtly blushed and tilted his head. His expression, simultaneously shy and excited, made him look like an innocent angel.
"Since I've manifested as a guide, I thought I'd use it for a good cause."
His expression, posture, and tone were all carefully orchestrated. The same words could convey vastly different meanings depending on the surrounding non-verbal cues.
In an instant, Cha In-ho transformed from a guide whose late manifestation was questionable to one who, out of his own volition, sacrificed himself to guide a notorious runaway esper. He became a guide who was naïve but brave and kind.
"Damn it. Does guiding espers count as doing a good deed?"
With a soft thud, the bulky TV switched off. A woman, carefully placing down a remote wrapped in blue tape, crossed her arms and sank into the worn-out sofa.
Block C was quite spacious, but due to the small number of residents, only a few places felt inhabited. The lounge was one such place, as it was the only area with a functioning TV, ensuring there was always at least one or two people around.
There were two people in the lounge today. Joo-hyun and Se-hwa, both dressed in the standard-issued indoor clothing.
Se-hwa, with short chocolate-coloured hair and slightly lighter red eyes than Joo-hyun's, was an esper for just over six years. Not as much as Joo-hyun, but for a runaway esper, she endured a long time.
"I hate that bastard."
"I don't particularly like him either," Joo-hyun replied from a nearby sofa, barely glancing up from the worn book with an unreadable cover he was pretending to read.
Of all the runaway espers, Joo-hyun was the only one with a matching guide. A few days ago, In-ho had come to finalise their contract, and despite neither looking coerced nor resigned, he hadn't seemed particularly happy about it either. Joo-hyun, not being someone who cared much about making people smile, didn't pay it much mind.
What bothered Joo-hyun the most was why In-ho had decided to be his guide in the first place. Maybe it was curiosity or something similar. Joo-hyun's colleagues couldn't come up with any other explanation either, shaking their heads in bafflement.
Matching a runaway esper to get some attention was like cutting off a finger trying to cure a thorn in it. It's too much for what you get.
Not knowing the reason made Joo-hyun more wary, which naturally heightened his nerves. However, Joo-hyun never expressed any objections while signing the thick contract. It wasn't like he had any say in the matter anyway, as it was a decision made by those above him.
And to be honest, the radiant guiding emanating from In-ho, who sat closer this time, felt really good. Though it wasn't abundant, the subtle lightness in his body made Joo-hyun wish the contract signing would never end.
However, the thick stack of papers was quickly signed, and Joo-hyun had to rise from his chair. He wasn't angry at In-ho for ending the handshake in a mere second; he was angry at himself for being swayed by such a minimal amount of guiding.
In-ho, who hadn't even provided a proper guiding session, gave Joo-hyun a lingering look before leaving the room with the staff. The meaning behind that gaze was still a mystery to him.
"He seems like a strange guy."
"He must be strange. Like I said before, if he were normal, would he have matched with a runaway esper?"
Se-hwa's sharp words were followed by her flopping back onto the sofa. The sofa, patched up with blue tape over its torn parts, was old but relatively comfortable.
Eventually, with nothing better to do, Se-hwa turned the TV back on. In-ho's face filled the small screen. He was smiling, but it was different from the smile Joo-hyun had seen a few days ago. The remote clicked, and the channel changed.
Joo-hyun shifted his gaze and silently turned another page.
* * *
"Hello. It's been a week, right?"
Joo-hyun glanced at Cha In-ho with a vague smile and nodded vaguely.
"Yes."
"The weather is quite hot today."
"Yes."
"Did you have lunch? I saw a nice-looking restaurant on the way here."
"Yes."
"Do you hate me?"
"Yes."
The eerie dark-red eyes and the black ones met. Joo-hyun, who inadvertently let out the words, briefly pursed his lips and remained silent. It wasn't technically an incorrect statement.
The well-received actor, who rarely hears the word "dislike" to his face, chuckled as if finding it amusing. His handsome eyebrows arched, his beautiful eyes crescented, and his perfectly drawn lips seemed to lift slightly.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the direct gaze, Joo-hyun subtly averted his eyes.
"You don't say it's a mistake."
"Because it's not."
Cha In-ho shrugged, instantly wiping away the insincere expression from his face. His bright smile and casual questions seemed like a practiced technique for building relationships. Despite knowing that most people would easily fall for his smile and charm, In-ho didn't act as if he expected instant favour from anyone.
Adjusting his posture as if the chair was uncomfortable, Cha In-ho leaned a bit closer to the table. Simultaneously, his guiding seemed to intensify.
While it could be imperceptible for typical espers, even a drop of water was precious for someone always thirsty. In Block C, living in a drought, Joo-hyon felt like even that could help him survive.
However, naturally, Joo-hyon didn't show it. Instead, he intentionally put on a nonchalant expression and leaned back.
Eventually, with nothing better to do, Se-hwa turned the TV back on. In-ho's face filled the small screen. He was smiling, but it was different from the smile Joo-hyun had seen a few days ago. The remote clicked, and the channel changed.
Joo-hyun shifted his gaze and silently turned another page.
* * *
"Hello. It's been a week, right?"
Joo-hyun glanced at Cha In-ho with a vague smile and nodded vaguely.
"Yes."
"The weather is quite hot today."
"Yes."
"Did you have lunch? I saw a nice-looking restaurant on the way here."
"Yes."
"Do you hate me?"
"Yes."
The eerie dark-red eyes and the black ones met. Joo-hyun, who inadvertently let out the words, briefly pursed his lips and remained silent. It wasn't technically an incorrect statement.
The well-received actor, who rarely hears the word "dislike" to his face, chuckled as if finding it amusing. His handsome eyebrows arched, his beautiful eyes crescented, and his perfectly drawn lips seemed to lift slightly.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the direct gaze, Joo-hyun subtly averted his eyes.
"You don't say it's a mistake."
"Because it's not."
Cha In-ho shrugged, instantly wiping away the insincere expression from his face. His bright smile and casual questions seemed like a practiced technique for building relationships. Despite knowing that most people would easily fall for his smile and charm, In-ho didn't act as if he expected instant favour from anyone.
Adjusting his posture as if the chair was uncomfortable, Cha In-ho leaned a bit closer to the table. Simultaneously, his guiding seemed to intensify.
While it could be imperceptible for typical espers, even a drop of water was precious for someone always thirsty. In Block C, living in a drought, Joo-hyon felt like even that could help him survive.
However, naturally, Joo-hyon didn't show it. Instead, he intentionally put on a nonchalant expression and leaned back.
At the same time, there was a clinking sound from the handcuffs around his wrists. They weren't as crude as the ones used during apprehensions, but handcuffs were still handcuffs. Uncomfortable, annoying, and slightly painful.
"But why are you wearing that?" Cha In-ho finally brought up the main topic, his expression devoid of emotion as he lightly touched Joo-hyon's wrist, a faint hint of concern that could be mistaken for worry. It was like watching a rabbit worry about a tiger. Of course, the rabbit was free, and the tiger was slowly dying in the cage.
Yet, admitting that fact would mean acknowledging that all Joo-hyon had was his pride, so he replied with a sharp tone, "It's a safety precaution. You pressed the call button last time."
"Even though it's been ten days already?"
"It's a rule. For the next three times, I have to wear then every time I meet you."
Uncomfortable, but he had already gotten used to it. Some guides had even refused to guide unless the restraints were applied from the beginning, citing fear and anxiety. There was no intention to treat runaway espers like criminals or judge them as such. But anyone who could kill with their mind was inherently frightening.
"It's a ridiculous rule."
Yet for some reason, Cha In-ho reached out without fear, touching the cold metal. In the process, his smooth fingers lightly brushed against Joo-hyon's hand.
"...For safety," he replied calmly.
"I don't feel any safer with this thing around."
Half true and half false. The handcuffs on Joo-hyon's wrist were special restraints designed to suppress an esper's abilities. While they couldn't completely block their powers, they caused intense pain. So, if Joo-hyon wished, he could end Cha In-ho's life in an instant.
However, Joo-hyon would also suffer in the process. There was no reason to do it and he didn't want to endure the pain. But it was a fact that flimsy restraints like these couldn't fully control an esper.
"And I don't think I'll be any less safe without this."
As Cha In-ho spoke, he lightly stroked the spot where Joo-hyon had stubbed out a cigarette last time. The faint scent of smoke lingered, mixing with the guidance flowing from the matchmaker.
At that moment, a click echoed in the guidance room. Joo-hyon, suddenly alert, grabbed Cha In-ho by the collar with his bound hands.
No matter how big he was, against the power of an esper, he was powerless. Pulled closer by the force, Cha In-ho briefly held his breath at the faint smell of smoke wafting in his face.
"Do you see me as some damn dog on a leash?"
"..."
"You better not let your guard down like this. It could get you in big trouble."
In the gaze of the runaway esper, flames flickered. Cha In-ho's delicate face was etched into the fiery red eyes.
Honestly, Joo-hyon had prepared himself for the possibility of the pager being pressed again, but it never happened. Instead, Cha In-ho's hands didn't even go near the pager or the stun gun. That's what complacency looked like.
With a fierce smile, as if about to devour prey, the rampaging esper slowly released his grip. As Joo-hyon backed away, Cha In-ho stumbled a little.
Actually, Joo-hyun didn't like Cha In-ho very much, but he didn't hate him enough to threaten him. He just found Cha In-ho's overly familiar approach uncomfortable.
The reason why runaway espers were dangerous was because no one knew when he would runaway again. He might go berserk tomorrow and turn the surroundings into chaos, so it would be a big problem to get entangled with him just because you thought he wasn't a monster after matching.
"I'll pass on killing innocent civilians in another runaway."
There was nothing a guide could do against a runaway esper. It meant that In-ho had to remain vigilant by his side at all times in order to save his life.
By now, this man, who had lived as an ordinary person all his life and was suddenly thrown into the world of espers and guides, must have come to his senses to some extent.
Joo-hyon took out a cigarette from his pocket with an uncomfortable hand. Lighting a match was something he had done thousands of times, so he could do it even with his eyes closed. Smoke rose.
"Oh, thanks for your concern."
ha In-ho, who seemed unable to distinguish between concern and stupidity, laughed. Not understanding the meaning behind that smile, Joo-hyon turned away and took a deep drag of the bittersweet smoke.
The tingling sensation in his throat was addictive. The dry tip of his tongue licked against his sharp canines.
Joo-hyun realised that Cha In-ho was a very good actor. It's not that he had a good personality or behaviour, but rather that he was good at 'acting'.
With a lifetime of being sensitive to others' animosity, Joo-hyun knew that the guide in front of him didn't like him very much. He couldn't help but notice the sinking pupils, the subtly tense shoulders, and the pager still in my pocket.
Cha In-ho's pretence of being a good person for the sake of the matched topic, especially when smiling as if dealing with an ordinary person rather than a rampaging esper, was irritating. No matter how pretty the smile was, it was unpleasant to see.
"Anyway, shall we start guiding? Is there anything you'd like me to do?"
Unless they were really close, no guide would give all the decision-making power to an esper like this. Looking at the guide that seemed to have erased the fact that he had just been threatened, Joo-hyun moved his lips and let out cigarette smoke.
As the smoke drifted over, Cha In-ho blinked, his eyes feeling a bit itchy, and he smiled awkwardly. It was like the smile of someone unsure how to deal with a mischievous child. It infuriated Joo-hyon.
"Yes. There's a wound here."
"Where?"
The guide approached a bit more. With a self-satisfied smirk, Joo-hyon crushed the cigarette butt in his palm and glanced at Cha In-ho.
The smile vanished completely from his face, after seeing a rough, round mark where the skin had melted. A hint of shock and discomfort clouded his worried expression, tainting his pretty face.
Feeling pathetic for feeling a sense of victory over something like this, Joo-hyon looked at the red-eyed esper, who smiled.
* * *
The Esper-Guide contract between Shin Joo-hyun and Cha In-ho was a little different from a normal contract. Among many parts, it was particularly noticeable how carefully considered the guide's position was.
Just twice a week. At first glance, the clause that the guide should come on the day he wanted didn't seem to be a big deal, but in fact, if Cha In-ho were to exploit it maliciously, Joo-hyun would be left without any guiding for over ten days.
In addition, the matching guide was given top priority when an esper urgently needed guiding, but in the contract between the two, it's written that it could be refused depending on the guide's circumstances.
Yet, like a normal contract, the clause to give a portion of esper's income to the guide went in without missing.
He didn't mind the clause and wouldn't say a thing against it even if he had been asked. Joo-hyun knew that even if offered the same deal to any other guide, he would be rejected. Because it was offered by a runaway esper.
No matter how good the conditions could be, there wouldn't be any guides willing to match with a runaway esper. Well, there hadn't been any.
"The book is very old. Is it your favourite?"
Joo-hyun rolled his eyes irritatingly and looked at the man sitting across the table. Cha In-ho was still smiling. Yet, there was no laughter in his eyes as if he wasn't interesting in the topic.
"The books here are all old."
"Oh, is there a library in Block C?"
"No."
A hand wrapped in handcuffs flipped the page.
Of course, there wouldn't be any convenience facilities like a library in Block C. The books here were either personal belongings brought by runaway espers or donated as discarded items.
Joo-hyun, who didn't want to be caught reading what others had thrown away, remained silent. Cha In-ho smoothly changed the topic.
"By the way, I went to Block A last time, and it was incredibly spacious. There were a museum and souvenir shops, and there were also kindergarten kids on a field trip, probably because there were a lot of other things to see."
Then why don't you go there instead of staying here?"
Cha In-ho casually brushed off the blunt response and took something out of his pocket. He stood up and placed the small box in front of Joohyun.
With a gesture to open it, Joo-hyun cautiously took the box, still wary. Seeing his cautious demeanor, Cha In-ho even made a compassionate gesture. Suppressing any hint of unease, Joo-hyun opened the box.
"...."
"This is medicine."
Glancing at the contents, Joo-hyun raised an eyebrow and gave Cha In-ho a suspicious look. The impeccably smiling man chuckled, but Joo-hyun couldn't bring himself to smile back.
"I'm a celebrity, so I shouldn't smell of cigarettes."
The box labeled 'Nicotine Patch' was crumpled and rolled towards Cha In-ho. Not expecting any gratitude, Cha In-ho showed no sign of disappointment even when the gift was practically tossed in front of him.
"That's your problem."
Joo-hyun smiled widely. A calloused hand pulled out a cigarette. Chick! The match sparked, and the flames were transferred to a cheap cigarette. Beyond the scattered smoke, the eyes resembling dry blood flashed with delight. The smoke veiled the worn-out cover of the book and drifted across the room.
With a slightly nauseated expression, Cha In-ho waved his hand to disperse the smoke before taking the patch box.
"You really have a bad temper."
"Would you obediently say, 'Yes, let's stop' when asked to quit your only hobby?"
"Does smoking usually fall into the hobby category?"
"Don't come here to think about what's usual."
There was nothing ordinary about Block C, where even Joo-hyun's eyes gleamed like those of a beast.
Seemingly having no desire to press further, Cha In-ho simply nodded. The patch box disappeared back into his pocket.
As Joo-hyun held the nearly finished cigarette, contemplating where to extinguish it, his gaze met Cha In-ho's. There was something firm and almost reproachful in his eyes.
It was a familiar gaze, and though it didn't hurt or itch, Joo-hyun somehow disliked the idea of receiving guiding treatment after receiving a gift like a nicotine patch.
The thought that Cha In-ho might be trying to make him quit smoking to avoid unnecessary guiding might be speculative, but considering Cha In-ho didn't choose to match himself with Joo-hyun, it was quite plausible.
In the end, Joo-hyun dropped the cigarette butt on the floor and rubbed it with the shoe. The floor and shoes became dirty.
While Joo-hyun appeared displeased, Cha In-ho seemed rather satisfied, nodding in apparent contentment. Joo-hyun, who had been pondering how to avoid guiding by being unwilling, simply sighed and reluctantly unfolded the book with his uncomfortable, bound hands.
Unfortunately, he couldn't recall the page.
* * *
Unless abilities were used, no one could tell whether the person in front of them was an esper, a guide, or an ordinary person. Because it's not the part that was externally visible.
However, espers clearly has different powers from regular people. To reveal this, the committee gave espers a uniform that could be recognised at a glance.
Basically, the uniform was black and had a lot of pockets for convenience, and had a silver logo on the chest that symbolised an esper. Of course, in private occasions, they wore plain clothes, but the clothes that espers usually wore the most were the uniform.
Since it was wore almost every day, espers could customise it to some extent. Most didn't change it much, but a few made big changes, such as wearing shorts instead of trousers or adding a cloak.
Among them, Joo-hyun was on the side of not touching the clothes that were provided. There was no reason to change it because he couldn't go out in the first place, and above all, the association didn't allow it.
Nevertheless, Joo-hyun's, or more precisely, Block C esper uniform had a difference from those of typical espers. From shoelaces, pockets, belts around the arms, to scarves around the neck, everything was in red. It was an intense bright colour, like a warning to run away from a dangerous runaway esper.
When an esper's guiding index dropped to a dangerously low level, their pupils turned red. The colour gradually spread with the feeling of being consumed by malice.
Especially when an esper was on the edge, both eyes would turn completely red, which was also a part of a runaway esper's notorious reputation; the transformation gave an esper a lot of strength. There were many who feared esper red-blazing eyes, which were rampaging in all directions, looked devilish.
And even if an esper survived a runaway, the red colour wouldn't be erased completely, leaving a mark on an esper's eyes. A stigma that could never be cleaned. The lack of guiding remained as an indelible inscription of sin.
So for an esper, red was like a symbol of impending doom. Every esper and guide knew the meaning behind the colour, but Cha In-ho, who was an ordinary person until just a month ago, didn't even know.
"I've been wondering for a long time, what is this?"
Although he didn't want to admit it, it was a day when his metrics were much lower than usual. It was also the first day he met Cha In-ho without handcuffs.
The guiding flowing into his captured hand healed the wounds and cleared his mind. The desire to continue like this and the wish to never feel it again crossed paths and passed by.
Joo-hyun shifted his gaze to where Cha In-ho indicated with his chin. He was curious about the red belt that wrapped Joo-hyun's arms around.