"Now that I think about it, where's In-ho? He used to stick by your side saying he had to guide you."
"He won't be coming anymore."
"What?"
Seo-chan asked with a puzzled expression and hurriedly stood up to gather his things as the small speaker announced the end of visiting hours.
"Anyway, it's a relief you survived. Get well soon."
Click. As Seo-chan left, the hospital room was engulfed in silence. It felt quiet and lonely, as if Joo-hyun's hands were tied and his eyes blindfolded, though they were not.
The hospital room in Block A was worlds apart from Block C, no, it was more like the difference between space and the deep sea. Everything was clean, white, and filled with machines he had never seen before. Thinking about how many comrades might still be alive if such things had existed in Block C made his stomach churn.
He simultaneously felt the urge to get up and start working and the desire to be hurt even more so he couldn't think at all from the pain.
However, what troubled Joo-hyun the most was not the helplessness or self-loathing, but the fact that Cha In-ho would never come for him again, no matter how much he hurt, even if death was at his doorstep.
Ah, he thought dramatically, I might finally be able to die.
If the matching had ended naturally as originally planned a year later, Joo-hyun wouldn't have had such thoughts. He felt like a puppy abandoned on the street, biting his lower lip hard.
He wasn't afraid of dying, but why was he afraid of being abandoned by him? Was it because he instinctively clung to his guide as an esper?
Maybe it was because Cha In-ho was an unusual person. Strangely kind, smiling at Joo-hyun as if he knew him well, making Joo-hyun feel a sense of familiarity without realising it.
In fact, it might be natural. It would be strange not to feel affection for someone who had saved your life multiple times.
Unable to handle the rising emotions, Joo-hyun closed his eyes. There was no one to disturb the completely dark world.
* * *
Joo-hyun stayed hospitalised for four more days before being discharged. Although his wounds hadn't fully healed, Block A had firmly stated that further hospitalisation was not possible, leaving him no choice.
Joo-hyun didn't feel disheartened. In fact, he was almost glad. The doctors and nurses who occasionally entered the room looked fearful even when he just breathed, and being alone in the pristine space constantly brought bad thoughts. Returning to Block C might slow his recovery, but at least he'd feel more at ease.
However, just before leaving for home, he was told someone had come to visit, so he sat back down on the bed. The door opened with a light knock.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm glad to see you're much better."
Joo-hyun didn't know why he felt disappointed seeing Beom-jin's smile, even though he knew the answer.
"I should have come sooner, I'm sorry."
"No, it's my fault for going out recklessly and getting caught up in it."
Joo-hyun knew that many people had been affected because he had left the dining hall and wandered around recklessly, fearing he might go on a runaway spree that day. But he didn't regret it. Without him, a more capable and stronger esper might have caught the monster, but the potential for casualties before that was unknown.
He consoled himself with the thought that someone's life might have been saved because he intervened.
Otherwise, losing Cha In-ho without any compensation would have been too much to bear.
"You're being discharged today, aren't you…?"
Beom-jin's voice trailed off as he looked at Joo-hyun, who was still wrapped in bandages here and there.
The fear of the medical staff, the waste of manpower for monitoring, the inconvenience to the espers—it was too much to explain one by one, so Joo-hyun simply shrugged.
"I was actually planning to give you this after you were discharged, but since I might not see you then, I came today."
Beom-jin took a small USB out of his pocket and handed it to Joo-hyun. Though it had been unfamiliar to him before the runaway, it had become quite familiar after numerous illegal missions.
The sleek black USB rested in Joo-hyun's palm.
"This part won't be broadcast. It's too personal."
Beom-jin, having said that, reached out. After a moment's hesitation, his hand gently brushed Joo-hyun's hand.
"I have no right to say this, having coldly cut ties even with my younger brother because of a runaway..."
Beom-jin looked exhausted. His eyes were dark, and he had a stubble on his chin. Nevertheless, there was a clarity in his eyes.
"Joo-hyun, please know that someone thinks of you."
With that, Beom-jin left the hospital room. Left alone, Joo-hyun stared at the USB in his hand. He had no idea what it contained.
Back in Block C after several days, the place felt as dreary and gloomy as ever. Still, to Joo-hyun, it was the most familiar and home-like place.
"Looks like you've come back in tatters."
"It's enough that you're alive."
"Joo-hyun, you did well. I saw the news. It was a mess."
Se-hwa, Bom-i, and Chae-kyung greeted Joo-hyun as he hobbled along on crutches. Joo-hyun smiled faintly and nodded. He didn't even want to think about how it was portrayed on the news.
Lying on the hard, narrow bed, Joo-hyun inexplicably felt the same sense of suffocating pressure in his chest. He had thought it would subside once he left Block A.
Still lying there as the sky brightened, he felt a foreign object in his pocket and reached in. The black USB got caught on his bandaged fingers.
"Joo-hyun, please know that someone thinks of you."
What did that mean? To find out, he had to see what was inside.
That night, Joo-hyun sneaked into the centre director Doo-sik's office through the dark corridors. Though his body was still healing and he had to use crutches, it was a simple task for someone with his abilities.
Ignoring the advice to use his powers sparingly, Joo-hyun turned on the desktop. The sudden light piercing the darkness stung his eyes, but he couldn't stop.
He inserted the USB. There was only one file in the folder.
"A video?"
He turned the volume down low and played the video, recognising the familiar setting. It was the very building Joo-hyun had been buried under not long ago.
His red eyes widened, and his chapped lips parted slightly.
The video showed many people. Spectators, residents of the collapsed building, a child hugging his younger sibling, and among them, the most noticeable was, of course, Cha In-ho.
He was crying. Standing there, hugging something covered in bright red blood, pleading desperately with someone, he looked so unfamiliar.
"Please, please. No, please…!"
Touching the red-stained cheeks, kissing the forehead, pressing his ear to the lips to check for breath, ignoring the dirtying clothes and the flying dust, he was clearly desperate.
"Joo-hyun…"
Joo-hyun flinched at the soft utterance of his name. Only then did he realise that the person Cha In-ho was holding was himself.
Cha In-ho's tear-streaked face was heartbreaking to watch. Just a runaway esper dying, nothing more. Joo-hyun, whom no one wished to live, was finally walking towards hell, and yet...
"Why…"
Why was he so sad? It seemed as if Cha In-ho regretted Joo-hyun's death. As if he wanted Joo-hyun to live. Their relationship was purely contractual, driven only by mutual benefit.
The video continued playing, oblivious to Joo-hyun's shock. Cha In-ho, trembling, cupped Joo-hyun's cheeks and kissed him without hesitation.
Licking the blood and dust off his lips, struggling to deliver guiding energy, he was relentless. Watching him, Joo-hyun instinctively touched his own rough lips.
It was a cloudless night. The unusually round moon poured light through the window. If someone had entered the director's office, they might have seen Joo-hyun's reddish cheeks illuminated by the moonlight, but fortunately or unfortunately, there was no one here except the runaway esper.
As he watched the video in a daze, Joo-hyun heard someone's footsteps with his keen hearing. Quickly shutting down the computer and pulling out the USB, he crouched under the desk.
"Is anyone there?"
The voice behind the light knock was that of a familiar staff member. He had unlocked the door with his power but hadn't locked it again, so if the staff member opened it now, he would be caught.
"Did I hear wrong?"
After confirming the retreating footsteps, Joo-hyun exhaled in relief. Opening his clenched hand revealed the black USB.
Wiping his face, Joo-hyun swallowed hard. He wanted to ask what it meant. What those tears signified, what the tender touch meant. Did all matching guides act like that?
After rubbing his warm cheek a few more times, Joo-hyun staggered to his feet.
There was no point in asking, and it wasn't necessary. He wouldn't meet Cha In-ho again, and hearing it would change nothing.
he walk back to the room was slow and painful. The night guard patrolled every two hours, and since they had already made one round, the corridor would be empty for the next two hours. Despite knowing this, Joo-hyun couldn't use his powers because he no longer had a guide. There was no room for indulgence.
Without even crutches, Joo-hyun was slowly walking, leaning against the wall. Before he realised it, he found himself standing not in front of his room, but in front of the lounge. To be precise, he was standing in front of the public phone attached to the lounge corridor wall.
The hesitation was surprisingly brief. Joo-hyun picked up the receiver with his bandaged hand and stared down the hallway, hoping the guard wouldn't discover him.
Of course, there was no guard. Joo-hyun dialled a very familiar number slowly. This was the first time he had called Cha In-ho since the latter had left the hospital. Despite knowing there was a high chance he wouldn't answer, a sliver of hope persisted.
Joo-hyun twisted the phone cord with his free hand and bit his lip until he tasted blood, eventually letting out a sigh. The longer the dial tone went on, the colder the heat in his chest became.
"Beep, after the tone, please leave a message."
He knew this would happen, yet he felt a crushing sense of defeat. He scolded himself for feeling this way. The cold grey floor made his feet ache.
"...Hey."
How awkward his voice sounded. With a bit of embarrassment, he hunched his shoulders and gathered the courage to continue.
"You said I didn't value my life, right?"
Cha In-ho was the first person to say this in anger, not as a passing remark like his colleagues in Block C. Joo-hyun leaned his shoulder against the grey wall, struggling to remain on his feet.
"You were right. No one would cry if I died, and no one would laugh if I lived. Even I don't care about my own death. It's so insignificant that I never learnt to value my own life."
Sometimes, he went on missions intending to die. The world that hated him so much never granted his wish.
"But Cha In-ho..."
Joo-hyun had seen his tears. He had seen Cha In-ho holding him, covered in blood, crying like a child. He thought again how good it would have been if he had died then, hearing In-ho's weeping and dying in his warm arms.
That chance was gone now. Cha In-ho had left forever, and he would never again receive such tender mourning.
Once was enough. With his eyes closed, Joo-hyun slowly curled his lips into a faint smile.
"Thank you for everything. I hope you get matched with a better esper."
The receiver clattered back into place. Standing in the corridor filled with silence and darkness, Joo-hyun tried to forget the now-useless number. It didn't work, but he would keep trying until he succeeded. Maybe someday.
* * *
A runaway esper always caused casualties and property damage. Thus, an esper who survived a runaway episode must dedicate their life to paying for their crimes. Lying in bed because of injuries was not an option.
"How long can we wait when he keeps saying he can't come because of some circumstances?"
The staff member grumbled, his expression twisted in frustration, while Joo-hyun walked silently, staring at the floor.
"I knew it wouldn't last long when they said he'd be matched with a runaway esper. He looked like a pampered pretty boy."
The self-congratulatory staff member grabbed Joo-hyun, who was lagging behind without crutches. Joo-hyun stumbled but didn't fall, clenching his teeth. The staff member chuckled, lightly tapping Joo-hyun's cheek.
"Are you going to snap out of it? You don't have that esteemed matching guide anymore. One more glare from you, and who knows what kind of guide you'll get next?"
Currently, Joo-hyun was on his way to meet a guide to heal his injuries. As before Cha In-ho came, a criminal under community service order would be waiting in the guiding room.
"If you understand, lower your gaze and follow quickly."
With no energy to resist the voice that mixed threats and amusement, Joo-hyun moved his legs a bit faster.
His still-healing hands were forced behind his back, bound by handcuffs, causing pain from his fingers to his arms. Due to lack of proper guiding, his recovery was slow, and his broken ribs hadn't healed, making every breath a sharp pain.
Hoping the guide wasn't rough enough to handle a bandaged patient carelessly, Joo-hyun slowly entered the guiding room.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Joo-hyun reflexively squinted at the face he saw immediately. The staff member ignored him, shoved him hard, and closed the door. The man sitting on the bed in the corner of the room grinned.
Cha In-ho had never sat on the bed. Dismissing the sudden thought, Joo-hyun slowly approached the guide.
"Do you know how much I missed you when I heard you got a matching guide?"
Suppressing the nausea rising from the touch on his cheek, Joo-hyun, as always, endured it with a blank expression, subtly moving his face.
Slap! The thick hand struck Joo-hyun's cheek hard. With a single blow, blood vessels burst, and a nosebleed trickled down his philtrum.
"I told you not to dodge. Do I need to teach you from scratch again?"
His cuffed hands clenched into fists. Joo-hyun, who could kill the man in front of him without lifting a finger, slowly shook his head. The man, examining Joo-hyun appraisingly, smiled and pointed between his legs.
"Come here."
Understanding immediately what he was commanded to do from past experiences, Joo-hyun bit his tongue and approached.
"Sit down."
He had no right to refuse. In the guiding room, no one would intervene until the pager was pressed. Knowing that hesitating would only prolong the painful time, Joo-hyun slowly knelt.
Pain shot through his broken leg. He broke into a cold sweat but didn't show any pain, knowing it would only please the man. He dug his nails into his palm and endured.
"So, how was Cha In-ho? Is he as good in bed as he is on TV?"
Joo-hyun didn't answer. If he said that Cha In-ho didn't do such things, the man would surely hurl even more humiliating insults. Instead, he intended to silence the man by burying his face between his legs.
Satisfied, the man laughed, pulling Joo-hyun's hair.
"Do you know how angry I was when I saw you on TV? Who kept you alive despite guiding deficiencies?"
There was no need to tell him there were many other guides besides him. Joo-hyun quietly closed his eyes and opened his mouth. He faintly heard the sound of the door opening but couldn't confirm due to the hand pressing his head down.
"That bastard tried to steal what's mine."
"Why do you think he's yours?"
Amidst the man's coarse and rough voice, a pleasing yet firm voice intervened. Suddenly, there was a thud, and Joo-hyun was released from the hot, heavy hand.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The man, not noticing someone had entered, clutched his swollen cheek and stood up abruptly.
Still dripping blood from his nose, Joo-hyun looked up and saw the face of Cha In-ho, realising what he looked like when truly angry. His eyes, distorted with fury, glared at the man. The fierce aura made the man hesitate despite his initial aggression.
"I asked why my matching esper is yours."
Cha In-ho's voice growled like a beast. That voice, which frightened the man, brought Joo-hyun a deep sense of relief. His matching guide took a step closer, as if to protect him.
Joo-hyun knew he was much stronger than Cha In-ho. Yet, he couldn't understand why he felt safe behind him.
"Matching esper? That's ridiculous! You're just using him temporarily until you throw him away anyway, pretending-"
The man didn't finish his sentence. Cha In-ho grabbed him by the collar, dragged him to the door, and threw him out into the hallway. Despite his size, the man tumbled across the floor.
Click. Cha In-ho locked the door before the man could get up. Ignoring the pounding and curses from outside, he finally turned around.
Joo-hyun flinched, and their eyes met in mid-air.
"..."
"..."
"Ha..."
Cha In-ho let out a long sigh as he looked over Joo-hyun's bloody philtrum, swollen cheek, and bandaged body. Quickly approaching, he knelt before Joo-hyun.
"What am I going to do with you?"
Pulling out a handkerchief, he gently wiped away Joo-hyun's nosebleed. Joo-hyun opened his mouth but found no words and remained silent.
"You cause trouble whether I'm here or not. Can't you live without getting hurt?"
For some reason, Cha In-ho meticulously wiped his lips more thoroughly than his dried philtrum. He then gently caressed Joo-hyun's cheek, soothing the pain with his guiding.
It had only been a few days, but it felt like a long time since he had felt this warmth. Joo-hyun instinctively closed his eyes and leaned into the palm. The hand hesitated before cupping his face. Fingers brushed his earlobe, and a thumb tapped near his lips.
"Has it always been like this?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Have you always been guided by scum like him?"
Cha In-ho wore a slightly angry expression. However, since the anger wasn't directed at Joo-hyun, it wasn't frightening.
"Yes."
"..."
"That man is still better. He doesn't beat me to the point of breaking bones."
As Joo-hyun added this defensively, Cha In-ho's expression darkened further. Clicking his tongue softly, he carefully helped Joo-hyun to his feet.
Leaning heavily on his painful leg, which had worsened, Joo-hyun barely stood up as Cha In-ho supported him to the bed and sat him down. Kneeling before Joo-hyun, In-ho gently guided him, tending to his injured leg. It felt oddly like their roles had reversed from earlier.
"Why are you smiling?"
When In-ho glanced up and asked, Joo-hyun hurriedly pressed his lips together. He hadn't realised he was smiling. Seeing that it wasn't a question requiring an answer, In-ho continued guiding without pressing further.
"I'll take off the handcuffs later. I came in without even asking the staff."
After a moment of consideration, Joo-hyun used his ability to unlock the cuffs lightly. The clinking sound echoed behind him.
Most people felt reassured when a runaway esper was restrained. They believed they were safe with thin pieces of metal that any esper could easily tear apart.
However, Joo-hyun had a peculiar certainty that Cha In-ho wouldn't be afraid even with his limbs free. He observed In-ho, who, as expected, showed no fear and seemed somewhat relieved.
"Why are you here?"
In-ho's hand paused. When it resumed, it felt somehow gentler.
"Well..."
The excruciating pain in his leg gradually eased. For a B-grade guide, the speed was impressive.
"I initially came to end our match."
"..."
"If I stayed by your side any longer, I felt like I would die from stress."
The way In-ho gently massaged his leg, as if handling fragile glass, felt ticklish. Thinking it wasn't enough guiding, In-ho pressed his lips against Joo-hyun's knee.
That sight brought back memories of the video Joo-hyun had secretly watched on Doo-sik's computer a few days ago. A blood-soaked Joo-hyun and In-ho kissing him desperately, crying amidst the swirling dust. What had been on In-ho's mind as he embraced his limp body?
"...Are you really going to end it?"
Unintentionally, a weak voice like a dejected dog came out. Unable to meet his gaze, Joo-hyun fixed his eyes on In-ho's pretty hands wrapped around his knee.
"I don't know."
In-ho's hands were covered with several plasters. The wounds peeking out from beneath them looked as if they had been severely abraded by something, like someone had dug through collapsed concrete rubble.
"I really don't know."
In-ho murmured again, burying his face in Joo-hyun's leg. It seemed like he might cry, but Joo-hyun didn't feel any moisture.
"You're always difficult, Joo-hyun."
When In-ho raised his face, he was smiling. A resigned, affectionate smile too dazzling for Joo-hyun to handle.
"You can do as you please."
Joo-hyun, his eyes narrowed as if smiling or holding back tears, gazed at the sky split by the bars.
"I know I'm a bother, that I have no future, so just..."
In-ho's hair was remarkably soft as it brushed against his fingertips. Joo-hyun briefly wondered if it was like the fur of the cat he used to stroke long ago, now barely remembered.
He didn't say he had already given up. His pride was still too strong to openly admit he wanted guiding, that he wanted In-ho. Instead, he more boldly tousled the soft hair, hoping it would appear as though he was seeking guiding to heal his hands.
Perhaps his wish was granted, as In-ho said nothing. He didn't brush Joo-hyun's hand away, just buried his face in his knee again.
They had never been so intimately close before. It felt almost absurd that this would be his last day seeing In-ho. Ignoring the video replaying in his mind, Joo-hyun gently touched In-ho's scalp with his fingertips.
"I'll just guide you today and then leave."
After a time that felt both short and long, In-ho murmured and stood up from the floor. He caressed Joo-hyun's cheek a few more times before slowly turning away.
The guide who had been kicked out by In-ho was gone, not visible beyond the door.
"So... take care of yourself."
Whether he would return or definitively end their match, In-ho gave no clear answer and left, making Joo-hyun feel anxious.
Left alone, Joo-hyun took a deep breath, feeling his body, now much improved.
The staff member who entered with a disgruntled expression, as if disappointed Joo-hyun wasn't in worse shape, led him back to his room. In his now familiar white hoodie, Joo-hyun lay on the bed.
In-ho had come, his wounds were still not fully healed, he didn't know if there would be a next time, and all he could do was curl up miserably like a dog waiting for its master. Yet, despite it all, he didn't feel bad.
He remembered In-ho's voice crying over him amidst the swirling concrete dust. Was it wrong to feel joy at another's sorrow?
Joo-hyun, who had never been a good person, pulled his hood up and savoured the comfort. As long as the guiding lasted, he could pretend he still had a matching guide. Comforted by this thought, he closed his red eyes.
* * *
A week had passed since the last guiding. Joo-hyun walked through the corridor, following the staff member, unaware of who was in the guiding room. The current staff was taciturn, with almost no expression, providing no information.
Joo-hyun decided not to expect anything. Hope was another word for greater despair, and hope always lurked like a swamp, waiting to pull him down. The cruelest aspect of hope was its persistence, the more one tried to drive it away.
The emotion filled his chest, ready to swallow the desperate whole and tear them apart with sharp teeth.
So, Joo-hyun imagined the worst. That the guide who had hurt and frightened him most was beyond the door. Only then did he feel hope recede a little.
The staff member opened the door. Joo-hyun bit his tongue, staring at the floor.
'Maybe the guide who enjoyed beating me heard the news and came. Maybe the person who especially liked me is back. Maybe a sharp whip...'
"It's been a week, hasn't it?"
Joo-hyun looked up. Cha In-ho was sitting in a large, comfortable-looking chair, smiling faintly.
Tap. The staff member who had lightly pushed Joo-hyun closed the door behind him. The room was now just the esper and the guide, alone.
For the first time, hope remained just hope, leaving Joo-hyun speechless and standing there. Cha In-ho, seeming to recall something, tapped the armrest of his yellow chair.
"I've thought for a while that the chair was too uncomfortable. Since I'll be coming here regularly, it's better to have a comfortable one."
The large chair, which could pass for a single sofa, was placed opposite a table, facing each other.
"It was quite a hassle to bring it up here."
In-ho's easy smile seemed somewhat shy.
Joo-hyun slowly walked over and stopped in front of his chair. He picked up the brown cushion not present on In-ho's chair, squeezing the soft padding with his palm.
"There was a broadcast yesterday. Did you see it?"
Episode 10 of Gate Date aired yesterday. Other colleagues had suggested watching it together, but Joo-hyun had declined, saying he already knew everything. Despite the flimsy excuse, no one had insisted.
Joo-hyun didn't want to see himself acting clumsily on screen, especially not the version of him happily matched with In-ho, unaware of what was to come. For these reasons, he had avoided watching the broadcast.
"No, I didn't see it."
The runaway esper, now cautiously seated in the chair, looked at In-ho. The guide blushed slightly, clearly indicating that bringing such a large chair must have been quite a task.
But Joo-hyun suspected that In-ho's flushed cheeks weren't just from exertion—another name for this suspicion was hope.
"I'll keep striving so that you don't lose the thought that we're a good match," Cha In-ho added earnestly.
With that, he smiled softly, almost childlike. In that smile, Joo-hyun saw a glimpse of a seat that seemed to evoke some kind of memory, stirring the emotions.
For the first time, Joo-hyun returned a sincere smile to Cha In-ho. The guide's eyes widened in surprise. The upcoming summer was palpable. Joo-hyun wondered if he was battling these feelings alone or if there was something more he needed to understand.
Chapter 7: Fingers Crossed
"Does anyone know why the end of Episode 10 of Gate Date was cut?"
First, let me say that I just watched the rerun, noticed something weird, went to the broadcast station's website, bought the episode, rewatched it, and then wrote this post.
The end, where the esper fought the monster in the city, was completely cut. Why?
It was definitely in the original broadcast. There were lots of posts about it, but why did they cut it from the rerun?
862 comments
It's obvious, hahaha. They had to cover up the monster escaping due to their gate mismanagement. How could they leave it as it was, hahaha.
┗ 2222 There's no other reason.
I also watched and thought, huh? The Association probably ordered it cut.
But I only realised after watching that broadcast that two monsters escaped, haha. The news only kept saying that the espers quickly captured the monster that had sneaked into the city.
┗ Yeah, I also thought there was just one monster before watching the show.
┗ It's crazy that not a single article mentioned this.
1. They were already getting flak for the monster escaping. If people found out there were actually two monsters, it'd be chaos. 2. They obviously didn't send any espers because it was a dump, trying to hide that, haha.
But why did they show it in the original broadcast? They should've cut it from the start.
┗ 22 If they were going to cut it, they should have done so from the beginning.
┗ I heard they aired it without the Association's consent?
What? I missed the original broadcast. Please explain what was cut.
┗ After the mission, they went to a staff dinner. Stepped out for a moment, encountered the monster that escaped from the gate, and fought it. There were other monsters to deal with, so no support came, and he ended up defeating it alone. The monster caused a building to collapse.
┗ Thanks. Wait, what? The building collapsed?
┗ Yes, but Joo-hyun used his powers to prevent casualties. However, he got trapped under the rubble.
┗ ?????? Is he alive?
┗ They said he is, but not sure exactly.
Honestly, I think cutting it was the right decision. Even though it was blurry and distant, it was too scary and brutal seeing him trapped under the rubble.
┗ Honestly, agreed. Watching with my family, we all gasped. The scene ended without showing his rescue, leaving everyone wondering what happened.
Wow, it's true. All the clips have been taken down.
What's with people complaining about no espers sent to the dump? Obviously, it makes sense to prioritise high-density areas to minimise casualties.
┗ 222 Priorities, duh.
┗ Still, sending no one at all is crazy.
┗ Come on, people live there too.
┗ If Joo-hyun hadn't been nearby, imagine how many would've died.
┗ Isn't it good if those trashy people die, haha.
┗ ?
┗ Troll, don't feed it.
I also watched the rerun, and they really cut it, haha. Instead, they increased the salamander screen time, haha, so cute.
* * *
"..."
"..."
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't keep staring."
At the brusque tone, Ga-ram clicked his tongue lightly. With a flick of his hand, the monster lunging at him was instantly charred black and fell to the ground.
"You look pretty intact for someone who was trapped under a building."
Joo-hyun finally understood the meaning of his stare.
A month and ten days had passed since Episode 10 of Gate Date had aired. Recently, Joo-hyun had ended up watching the rerun with the espers from Block C. As with Wednesday Film, it was quite embarrassing to see himself on screen.
"Look at that expression. He looks so downcast."
"He must have been nervous. Cute."
Se-hwa and Chae-kyung commented as they had watched the tense Joo-hyun stiffly moving on the screen. When the salamander-like monster was unleashed, Seung-cheol jokingly had nudged him, teasing about neglecting his duties.
Normally, he would have faced significant punishment, but the monster incident in the city had fortunately overshadowed it.
The neatly edited video ended abruptly, leaving a strange sense of disjointedness. Everyone's eyes had been on Joo-hyun's broken leg and the bandages still wrapped around him.
"They cut the whole ending."
"Yeah, but I think it's better. That scene was… scary."
Except for Seung-cheol, who was away on a mission, the colleagues who watched the original broadcast with him agreed it was a relief the scene of Joo-hyun being trapped under the building was removed. Their concerned faces made him feel both embarrassed and somewhat pleased.
In any case, the documentary co-produced by the Association and the broadcaster had ended like that. Though Joo-hyun's injury scene had been cut, a black screen had appeared with a notice that the esper in question had been undergoing treatment, before cutting to adverts.
"Those who watched the original broadcast probably thought you were dead."
"Or that you were barely clinging to life."
Bom-i and Se-hwa's voices were filled with discomfort. Honestly, Joo-hyun had thought he would die back then, too. Yet, Beom-jin's words about protecting Joo-hyun's and maybe even Cha In-ho's privacy were not lies. Satisfied with that, Joo-hyun turned the channel without regret.
It was Ga-ram who had dredged up the forgotten matter.
"My guide is skilled."
At the softly spoken words, Ga-ram was initially shocked, then pulled a disgusted face. As Joo-hyun's foot aimed for Ga-ram's shin, he easily dodged and struck down another monster with lightning.
The thought of many people seeing him getting beaten up by a monster made Joo-hyun feel embarrassed, but he knew the interest wouldn't last. Who would care about a runaway esper for long? They'd just laugh at him once and quickly forget.
Especially since it seemed the rerun had cut the entire ending, fewer people would even know about it.
Ga-ram, looking slightly dissatisfied, eventually shook his head and took down the remaining monsters.
"But what is this for?"
Joo-hyun murmured as he extracted an opal-coloured gem from the corpse.
Today's mission was to collect these gems. They were embedded in the monsters' foreheads, so Ga-ram quickly killed them, and Joo-hyun collected the gems.
"They'll probably sell them to the rich."
"Why?"
"Because the rich want them."
Ga-ram, glaring as if to say stop asking, glanced at the cast on his arm and clicked his tongue loudly again.
Ignoring him, Joo-hyun squatted down and held the gem up to the light. It did look quite pretty, changing colours depending on the angle. One rounded, multi-faceted gem slipped into the runaway esper's pocket unnoticed.
* * *
Even after surviving, Joo-hyun's daily life hadn't changed.
In fact, standing at death's door had happened more than once, so nothing much was different. At most, the guiding room now had a cosy yellow sofa instead of a hard chair, and the cracked table had been replaced with a smaller, cleaner glass one.
"You don't smoke much these days?"
Cha In-ho, leaning lightly against the round table, spoke in a curiously cheerful voice.
"…I haven't gone to the store recently."
Red eyes briefly glanced at the floor before rising again. Fortunately, it seemed the lie wasn't noticed.
"I hope it stays that way."
Feeling slightly offended by the earnest words, Joo-hyun crossed his legs and sank back into the sofa. The snugness of the sofa made him worry that Cha In-ho might take it back after their matching contract ended.
Of course, Joo-hyun had no intention of voicing this anxiety. He slid his hand into his pocket, feeling the mixture of smooth and rough surfaces of the stone.
What punishment would he face if caught? Would they lightly overlook it as a minor infraction or treat it as a serious offence for embezzling the Association's property?
After a moment's thought, Joo-hyun felt an inexplicable certainty that he would never find out. Because Cha In-ho wouldn't report it to the higher-ups.
After hesitating for a while, Joo-hyun nonchalantly took out the gem and tossed it to Cha In-ho.
"What's this?"
Cha In-ho deftly caught the pebble-sized stone and raised an eyebrow. The peculiar stone, shimmering with various colours, gleamed in the guide's hand.
Feeling suddenly awkward, Joo-hyun diverted his gaze to the green leaves outside the window, frowning slightly.
"I picked it up during a mission… I heard it's valuable."
"Are such things just lying around beyond the gate?"
Joo-hyun glanced at Cha In-ho, worried he might have figured out he had secretly taken it. But he merely examined the gem with a pleased expression, showing no sign of mockery. Even though it wasn't a deeply meaningful gift, he had picked it with his guide in mind, and his delighted look made Joo-hyun feel bashful.
Scratching the back of his neck, his nails tapped against the choker.
"If you don't need it, you can throw it away."
"Throw it away? Joo-hyun, you gave it to me. And where else would I get something like this?"
"It's nothing special. Just a common stone…"
The monster's gem was far from common, being valuable enough for the Association to send S-grade espers to retrieve them. But there was no need for Cha In-ho to know that. Joo-hyun didn't want him to realise how much he cared.
Pride might not put food on the table, but it could make a possibly rejection less painful. Joo-hyun's foot tapped anxiously against the floor.
"Thank you. It's a gift I never expected."
Joo-hyun, who rarely received gratitude from others, parted his lips but then bowed the head. He wasn't sure if Cha In-ho saw his faint nod. However, he guessed he did because he heard a small chuckle above.
Nothing had changed since the chairs in the Guiding Room of Block C were replaced. The table had also changed, and the excessively soft cushion made him feel a peculiar anxiety whenever he sat there.
"Can I process this?"
When Cha In-ho was in front of him, nothing changed except for the strange warmth at the nape of his neck.
"...Do as you like. It's yours now."
Joo-hyun bit his lower lip out of habit as he glanced at the guide's gentle smile. Though the esper's lips were often chewed raw, it was a behaviour that came unconsciously whenever his mouth felt idle.
While he was fumbling with the cigarettes in his pocket, Joo-hyun felt the guiding before the warmth. The only reason he didn't push away Cha In-ho's approaching hand was because of the familiar guiding.
Cha In-ho lightly pressed Joo-hyun's lower lip with the thumb, freeing it from his front teeth, and grinned. His smile hadn't changed—it had always been consistently beautiful since their first meeting, yet recently it had started to quicken his heartbeat.
"Your lips will get hurt."
It was a consequence of changing the table to a smaller one. Cha In-ho retracted his arm, showing no sign of embarrassment.
If you get hurt, can't you just heal it? Joo-hyun didn't say that aloud. The jewel in Cha In-ho's hand sparkled, the sunlight glinting off the glass table, and his smile shone as well.
Hiseyes ached with a rising heat, so the runaway esper closed the eyelids silently. It was an ordinary Tuesday.
* * *
"There's someone you need to meet."
Focused on his sudoku, Doo-shik scratched his temple with the tip of his pen. Standing stiffly in front of him with both hands behind his back, Joo-hyun barely twitched an eyebrow.
"He's been a real bother, insisting he must meet you even if you refuse. And since he caught the eye of an SS-grade guide, we can't just ignore him."
"Who is he?"
"What was his name again?"
It was clear Dusik didn't even bother trying to remember. He tapped his desk with his fingertips, frustrated by the numbers.
"Anyway, go see him. Just handle it appropriately."
"Yes."
Joo-hyun suppressed the urge to question how he could handle something appropriately when he didn't even know who the person was. Since Doo-shik was never considerate enough to let him prepare, he was sure he had to leave immediately.
Sighing inwardly, Joo-hyun turned and walked towards the door. The moment the door closed, Doo-shik, having finally found the right number, scribbled with his pen and muttered to himself.
"It won't hurt to show he's getting along with the others."
The car journey was long. Joo-hyun had mostly recovered from his injuries, but his left arm was still in a cast. His leg and abdominal wounds had been particularly severe, so guiding had been focused on those areas, leaving his relatively better arm to heal slower.
Of course, if they engaged in a deeper physical relationship like in a typical matching, the healing would be faster. But that wasn't the case for him and Cha In-ho. The deepest physical contact they had ever shared was a hug.
"..."
Dust swirled around, Cha In-ho sobbed, a hand caressed Joo-hyun's cheek, and he kissed him... Joo-hyun, unaware he had been touching his own lips, started when the car abruptly stopped.
"Just wait here. Keep your mouth shut and don't say anything unnecessary."
The staff member, speaking in a threatening tone as if he had a reason, turned off the engine. Without responding, Joo-hyun got out of the car and felt the distinctive freshness of the wind blowing through the trees.
He had arrived at a park, a neglected one overgrown with weeds. Meeting in such a place suggested the person wasn't very high-ranking.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Joo-hyun sat on an old bench. The Block C where he lived was also surrounded by trees and grass, making him feel slightly cosy.
After waiting for a while, he heard the sound of a car engine from a distance. Joo-hyun opened his eyes, stood up quickly, and adjusted his appearance. He brushed off the scarf and straightened the wrinkles in his clothes before looking up.
"It's good to see you outside."
Sunlight streaming from above turned Cha In-ho's hair golden. It was the first time he had seen him standing under the blue sky.
Staring quietly into his lighter-than-expected eyes, Joo-hyun watched as Cha In-ho approached and sat on the bench he had just been resting on. His gesture to tap the spot beside him felt natural.
After hesitating for a moment, Joo-hyun sat down, leaving a slight gap between them.
"Why are you here?"
"They requested it. They said it's for safety, that a matching guide is necessary."
Joo-hyun realised Cha In-ho knew about the person he was meeting, even though he didn't. It always felt uncomfortable being excluded from something where he was the focus. It also embarrassed him that Cha In-ho had been contacted because he was considered dangerous.
As he looked down at the ground, picking at a hangnail, he heard a very soft voice.
"It felt good to be considered a set."
Cha In-ho's playful smile caused Joo-hyun to smile back involuntarily. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted.
"Wait, Woo-ju!"
A sharp, worried voice turned both their heads.
The person running toward the bench was small. Joo-hyun instantly knew who had persistently requested to meet him.
"..."
"..."
"Um, hello?"
Cha In-ho's greeting, breaking the silence, was cleanly ignored.
The child, now sporting shorter, tidier hair and slightly fuller cheeks, had large eyes with an upturned tilt. This was the boy Joo-hyun had saved from the monster that appeared during the filming of Gate Date at the rubbish dump.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Joo-hyun sat on an old bench. The Block C where he lived was also surrounded by trees and grass, making him feel slightly cosy.
After waiting for a while, he heard the sound of a car engine from a distance. Joo-hyun opened his eyes, stood up quickly, and adjusted his appearance. He brushed off the scarf and straightened the wrinkles in his clothes before looking up.
"It's good to see you outside."
Sunlight streaming from above turned Cha In-ho's hair golden. It was the first time he had seen him standing under the blue sky.
Staring quietly into his lighter-than-expected eyes, Joo-hyun watched as Cha In-ho approached and sat on the bench he had just been resting on. His gesture to tap the spot beside him felt natural.
After hesitating for a moment, Joo-hyun sat down, leaving a slight gap between them.
"Why are you here?"
"They requested it. They said it's for safety, that a matching guide is necessary."
Joo-hyun realised Cha In-ho knew about the person he was meeting, even though he didn't. It always felt uncomfortable being excluded from something where he was the focus. It also embarrassed him that Cha In-ho had been contacted because he was considered dangerous.
As he looked down at the ground, picking at a hangnail, he heard a very soft voice.
"It felt good to be considered a set."
Cha In-ho's playful smile caused Joo-hyun to smile back involuntarily. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted.
"Wait, Woo-ju!"
A sharp, worried voice turned both their heads.
The person running toward the bench was small. Joo-hyun instantly knew who had persistently requested to meet him.
"..."
"..."
"Um, hello?"
Cha In-ho's greeting, breaking the silence, was cleanly ignored.
The child, now sporting shorter, tidier hair and slightly fuller cheeks, had large eyes with an upturned tilt. This was the boy Joo-hyun had saved from the monster that appeared during the filming of Gate Date at the rubbish dump.
"It's been a while."
The boy, momentarily widening his eyes at the whispered words, nodded. His limbs were still too thin for his age.
"Woo-ju!"
The earlier voice called out again. A middle-aged woman with bobbed hair hurried over, her face showing relief at the sight of Woo-ju. She flinched upon seeing Joo-hyun but then approached calmly.
"Hello, I'm An Mi-hee, Woo-ju's guardian."
Joo-hyun stood up quickly, intending to greet her, but found his mouth unwilling to cooperate. Seeing her trembling hands, barely suppressing fear, made him want to flee.
If she had been a guide or an Association staff member, he could have handled it. But what could he say to a clearly terrified civilian? Anything he did would only increase her fear.
An awkward silence stretched on until Joo-hyun, sensing her puzzled look, clenched his fists. Just then, a warm hand gently gripped his shoulder.
"I trust you know who we are."
"Yes, yes, of course."
"Do we look better in person?"
Cha In-ho's playful remark brought a smile to Mi-hee's face. The tension dissolved instantly, leaving Joo-hyun blinking in surprise.
"I'm Cha In-ho, and this is my matching esper, Shin Joo-hyun."
The natural introduction prompted Joo-hyun to bow slightly. My matching esper. It was the first time he had been introduced that way. It was curious how it made the dangerous runaway esper sound like an ordinary one.
"Woo-ju, you need to greet them."
"...Hello."
Even as he greeted, the boy's eyes remained fixed on Joo-hyun. Joo-hyun, too, quickly scanned Woo-ju from head to toe. Thankfully, he didn't seem to have any visible injuries.
"You wanted to meet me?"
Despite his persistence in contacting them, his response was lukewarm. Mi-hee, sensing this, moved closer and gently rubbed his back.
"This is Song Woo-ju, he turned twelve this year. Woo-ju, you wanted to say something, right? Can you say it now?"
Joo-hyun was surprised. The boy looked too small to be twelve. He had thought he might be around ten at most.
Woo-ju took a step forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for saving me and my sister."
An unnamed sense of fulfilment surged through Joo-hyun's chest. He felt anger that this tiny child had to face such danger and, at the same time, an old feeling of having done the right thing resurfaced.
Not knowing what to say, Joo-hyun wanted to hug the boy but couldn't bring himself to do it. As he fidgeted with his fingers and stared at his cast, Woo-ju spoke with clear, prematurely mature eyes.
"Hyung. When I manifest, match with me. I'll be your guide."
His bold statement left the three adults momentarily stunned. Mi-hee's sharp intake of breath suggested it wasn't something prearranged.