The first thing he noticed was the sound: the thin whisper of wind, the presence of someone nearby, his own breathing. Then, with the sharp scent of antiseptic, a familiar shampoo fragrance brushed past his nose.
Joo-hyun realised that he had survived. He couldn't distinguish whether the rising emotions were relief or disappointment. Perhaps it was both, or maybe neither. All he felt was a slight sense of weariness and the thought that he was tired of everything.
His eyelids felt so heavy that he thought he could sleep forever, but laziness and complacency often led to mission failure.
Joo-hyun opened his eyes. He immediately reached towards the presence he had sensed next to him. Whoever was lingering by an injured runaway esper couldn't be a normal person.
"You sure know how to startle someone," Cha In-ho said in a slow tone, who had been abruptly pulled closer by his wrist. He looked a bit tired, with unkempt hair and dark circles under his eyes, quite unlike the usually neat Cha In-ho.
"Why... why are you here?" Joo-hyun asked, his voice hoarse. When he released his grip, Cha In-ho rubbed his face and replied with a tired voice.
"I got a call. They said my matched esper was dying."
"I thought you were busy."
"Should I have let you die then?"
Cha In-ho glanced at Joo-hyun with narrowed eyes, almost staring. His expression suggested that the question was obvious.
Although other espers might have been different, Joo-hyun was a runaway esper, and anyone would welcome his death. He swallowed that thought instead of voicing it.
Despite being incredibly busy, which he rarely mentioned, Cha In-ho had come immediately when he heard Joo-hyun was dying. Joo-hyun didn't know what to make of this.
Still, it wasn't a bad feeling. It was like receiving an unexpected gift—surprising, bewildering, and cautiously welcomed.
"...What limits?" Joo-hyun asked as he adjusted the splint on his broken bone. It seemed to have healed enough to move slightly.
According to the contract, the level of contact required for guiding was entirely at Cha In-ho's discretion. Joo-hyun was curious about the boundaries Cha In-ho had set. It didn't seem possible that his injuries could be treated with mere hand-holding.
"How far are you willing to go for me?" Joo-hyun asked, his lips curving into a playful smile. His voice sounded almost teasing.
The guides who had helped Joo-nhyun in the past fell into two categories. There were those who pushed through from start to finish, and those who, trembling with fear, barely made contact with him. Where did Cha In-ho fit in? He didn't seem afraid, but the clear boundaries he set suggested he leaned more towards the latter.
"I'm not sure what misunderstanding you're under," Cha In-ho said, still looking tired and slightly irritated, rubbing his dry eyes. His fine brows furrowed, and his long eyelashes were a tangled mess. The wristwatch he wore was stained with dried blood, though whose blood it was remained unclear.
"You don't like when people touch you without permission," he added.
"...."
"Let me ask you instead. In situations as dangerous as today, how far can I go?"
Suddenly, Joo-hyun remembered the first day they met, when Cha In-ho had asked if it was alright to touch him for guiding. Was he the type to always seek permission for even minor touches, or was it just because it was Joo-hyun?
Having always been at the mercy of others, Joo-hyun rarely had the chance to make choices for himself. As he absentmindedly fiddled with his half-broken, blood-stained ring finger nail, he replied softly, "Do what you want."
Joo-hyun suddenly felt curious about who had cleaned his sweat, dust, and blood-soaked hair and skin. "After all, you hold the power in this contract."
It was the first time a guide had asked him such a question, and he wouldn't admit that he had no idea how to respond. He meant that In-ho could do whatever he wanted, but In-ho's expression darkened, looking even more displeased than before.
"Do you say that to anyone?"
"Huh?" Joo-hyun was taken aback.
"I asked if you tell any guide to do what they want?"
Cha In-ho asked, his expression stern. Despite his hardened face, he reached out and gently touched Joo-hyun's broken nail. The wound, which had been slowly oozing blood, healed instantly, and the pain vanished.
This was precisely why Cha In-ho was so difficult to figure out. He spoke and acted as if he were wary of Joo-hyun, yet he stayed by his side, holding his hand.
Not knowing his true intentions kept Joo-hyun on edge. Being next to someone so suspicious was stressful, but oddly, he didn't dislike In-ho.
Most espers were apt to become attached to their guides, who alleviated their pain and provided a sense of stability. However, every guide that came to Block C had such significant personality flaws that Joo-hyun despised them.
Then there was Cha In-ho. The gentle warmth of his hand covering Joo-hyun's, the way his eyes would soften when they met, the tired face that stayed by Joo-hyun's side...
Honestly, Joo-hyun was afraid of becoming attached to In-ho. At most, their contract would last a year, and then In-ho would leave. Joo-hyun didn't want to be left alone, feeling miserable and forlorn.
"Why do you care what I say to others? Besides, most guides don't even ask me things like that."
He half-expected Cha In-ho to get angry, but he didn't. Instead, Cha In-ho enveloped Joo-hyun's hand more fully and smiled faintly.
With his head bowed, In-ho smelled like the same shampoo Joo-hyun used. It was cheap shampoo provided byBlock C, yet for some reason, the scent seemed different on him.
"Do you act this obnoxiously to everyone? I was worried for no reason," In-ho said, his tone light.
Worried? Was that really worry? Was Cha In-ho worried that Joo-hyun might tell another guide t 'do what you want'? ...Why?
When Joo-hyun pulled slightly on his hand, Cha In-ho released his fingers without a word.
"Seems to me you've probably heard you're obnoxious far more than I have," Joo-hyun countered.
"Is that all you have to say to your life-saver?" In-ho replied, still calm.
If Cha In-ho hadn't come, Joo-hyun would undoubtedly be dead. The guiding drugs had their limits, and there were few guides willing to handle a runaway esper.
Despite his busy schedule, Cha In-ho had postponed his work to come to Block C for Joo-hyun. From a general perspective, it was a huge favour that a simple thank you wouldn't suffice. Besides, it wasn't as if Joo-hyun was a typical esper who could nonchalantly demand such things from his guide.
At times like these, it would have been best to just casually say something. Unfortunately, Joo-hyun could feel his cheeks growing embarrassingly warm.
"...Thank you," he mumbled.
"I can't hear a thing," In-ho responded.
"Thank you. Not that I needed it." Joo-hyun said more clearly.
"If I hadn't come, you would have died, wouldn't you?"
When Joo-hyun remained silent, Cha In-ho sighed as if exasperated. However, the sigh was so exaggerated that it wasn't hurtful.
"Honestly, you're so stubborn..."
Cha In-ho trailed off, glancing at his wristwatch stained with dried blood.
A quick glance showed the short hand pointing to one. Judging by the dark sky outside, it was undoubtedly one in the morning, meaning nearly six hours had passed since Joo-hyun lost consciousness.
"You must be busy, so you should go," Joo-hyun said.
It was the first time he had spent so much time with a guide. Honestly, he couldn't understand why In-ho had stayed even after he'd pulled through the worst of it. The more time they spent together, the more Joo-hyun didn't understand.
"Do you want me to leave?" In-ho's voice was calm. The question could have meant whether Joo-hyun needed more guiding as an esper or something else. He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out.
Would In-ho stay if he said he wanted him to? Did Joo-hyun even want him to stay in the first place?
In the end, the esper remained silent, lowering his head. After a brief silence, a sound similar to a chuckle filled the room.
When Joo-hyun looked up, In-ho was smiling. It was a gentle smile, almost like that of someone looking fondly at a child. Even in the dimly lit room, his breathtakingly beautiful face didn't lose its radiance.
"For now, that's enough," In-ho said.
Before Joo-hyun could ask what that meant, Cha In-ho's hand gently pushed him back onto the bed. Normally, he wouldn't have let himself be laid down so easily, but he had no choice in his injured state.