If people simply believed that Joo-hyun was delayed because of mission complications, he could survive this day and see the next one. Strangely, the fact that this didn't bother him made Joo-hyun nervously lick his lower lip, trying to sound composed.
"I have to go now because of a mission. It was nice talking to you..."
"Wait, did you really call just because you thought of me?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that it's not allowed..."
Looking around, the outside had become a bit darker, and the crowds had significantly thinned. Joo-hyun's face brightened.
"If I get swayed by things like this..."
Cha In-ho's voice, muttering distractedly, was so faint that Joo-hyun could barely hear it.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Be careful on your mission and see you tomorrow. Use your abilities as much as you like; I'll come for guiding. I enjoyed our call too, Joo-hyun."
With that, the call ended. Joo-hyun stood holding the receiver for a moment before contacting the staff, saying there had been a slight issue but the mission was completed.
On the way back, using his psychokinesis, Joo-hyun soared through the sky, his cheeks flushed with the glow of the sunset, full of life.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, Cha In-ho would come to guide him. A warm guiding, not painful or unpleasant.
Joo-hyun, who now found himself enjoying the view from the precarious tower, realised he had indeed been ruined. Memories of scoffing at movies and dramas where espers went mad with obsession over their guides flashed through his mind.
But it wasn't as despairing as he had thought. Maybe because he could get sweet guiding for a while longer.
Living was still painful, but suddenly, Joo-hyun thought it might be okay to breathe a bit more.
* * *
Joo-hyun woke to the sound of raindrops pattering heavily against the window. Though summer was approaching, the rainy season hadn't quite started yet, so it would stop soon.
"I wish they wouldn't give us missions on rainy days. We don't even have umbrellas."
Chae-kyung, lying on the sofa, said languidly. His sunglasses, worn indoors and even at night, made it hard to tell if his eyes were open or closed.
"Tell the monsters not to come through the gate when it rains."
Se-hwa, flipping through a newspaper dated four days ago, didn't even bother to look up.
Se-hwa, flipping through a newspaper dated four days ago, didn't even bother to look up.
"I envy your ability, Joo-hyun. You don't need an umbrella, do you?"
Joo-hyun, who had been re-reading a page he liked, looked up. It was true that he could avoid getting wet if he used his power.
"I don't use my ability just to avoid rain. It's wasteful."
Since manifestation, Joo-hyun had never had enough guiding. He saved his power for critical situations, never for trivial matters.
"Isn't it okay now?"
Chae-kyung adjusted his sunglasses, his fingers trembling from withdrawal from guiding drugs, and added,
"You have a guide now, no need to save it."
"..."
"Someone I knew never lifted a spoon himself. Take this chance and use it to your heart's content."
Receiving guiding twice a week was far less than the average esper, but for a runaway esper, it was a rare opportunity.
Psychokinesis was one of the most useful abilities in daily life. Turning switches on or off, retrieving objects—all could be done without lifting a finger. But for Joo-hyun, branded dangerous upon manifestation and thoroughly indoctrinated in safety, it was different.
Avoiding Chae-kyung's gaze, Joo-hyun pretended to focus on his book and replied,
"I use it plenty on missions."
"Use it for yourself. It's your power."
Fortunately, Joo-hyun didn't have to respond. Chae-kyung, who had twitched as if shocked, sighed deeply and got up.
"I just said I don't want missions on rainy days."
Muttering, he left the break room.
Joo-hyun, who had been keeping an eye on Se-hwa, discreetly took a square card from his pocket. The orange phone card, often carried by Beom-gyu, reflected the dim fluorescent light.
The reason for buying the phone card was simple. Just in case he got curious about the weather sometimes. Or maybe to call a customer service centre... Unable to be honest even with himself, Joo-hyun hastily shoved the card back into his pocket.
After completing a mission that involved leaving documents on the Association officer's desk in Block A, Joo-hyun reported to the staff that his identity had been strongly recognised by the esper, Choi Kang-hoon. Though he was punished by Tae-seok for this, the mission was deemed a success as the esper, Hyun Shin-joo, was reported dead during the mission.
The next day, Cha In-ho, who came to Block C for guiding, seemed slightly annoyed by Joo-hyun's bruises but completed the guiding in a relatively pleasant atmosphere.
Despite the well-finished mission, why was Joo-hyun now lingering in the corridor outside the break room, near the public phone?
Since Beom-gyu's death, the public phone had gathered dust, unused.
Joo-hyun, glancing at the old, grey phone, paced back and forth a few times before entering the break room.
He repeated this several times until Se-hwa, who was reading the newspaper, looked up with irritation.
"What's wrong? Do you need something?"
"No."
"Then why are you pacing like a dog needing to pee?"
Feeling embarrassed, Joo-hyun realised he must have appeared that way to others.
In truth, Joo-hyun didn't know why he was so anxious and hesitant. If calling Cha In-ho was so difficult, he could just not do it, but he kept finding himself attempting it, puzzled by his own actions.
After buying the card, he couldn't return it, and throwing it away wasn't an option. Making up excuses, he ignored Se-hwa's narrowed eyes and left the break room.
Finally, gripping the receiver, Joo-hyun's hand was slow and awkward, though dialing was easier than the last time he had called Cha In-ho from outside.
Back then, Cha In-ho hadn't seemed annoyed by the call. He had even seemed pleased. Of course, it was probably just polite conversation, but it had been reassuring for Joo-hyun.
"Apparently, we're being called in advance for the next mission briefing. Luckily, today we can relax-"
Bang! Laughing, Chae-kyung entered, and Joo-hyun hung up the receiver at lightning speed, startling Chae-kyung.
"Wh-what's wrong, Joo-hyun?"
"There was a bug."
"Really? Did you catch it?"
"No, it got away."
"Wait, I bought something for this."
Joo-hyun, unable to stop Chae-kyung, sighed as he hurried away. Thankfully, the receiver wasn't broken or cracked.
Chae-kyung returned, proudly holding bug spray, something he must have coaxed out of Hee-rok, the store manager.
The spray hissed, spreading acrid liquid everywhere. Watching the black receiver glisten with the spray, Joo-hyun thanked Chae-kyung, who pretended to wipe his brow with satisfaction.
All further attempts to call Cha In-ho failed. Though it shouldn't have been embarrassing, Joo-hyun found his fingers twitching, making it impossible.
One day, Seung-cheol caught him lingering by the phone, giving him a compassionate smile before disappearing into the break room, making a reassuring gesture before closing the door, as if understanding Joo-hyun's dilemma. This made Joo-hyun harshly hang up the receiver again.
As time passed, his desire to call his matching guide waned. Alone, his thoughts grew more negative, and a week after the mission, Joo-hyun concluded that calling Cha In-ho was utterly foolish.
The phone card was shoved into a drawer, the phone left to gather dust. Yet, three days later, Joo-hyun found himself once again standing in front of the grey public phone, card in hand.
* * *
"Actor Cha In-ho was involved in an accident around 1 p.m. today while filming a movie, crushed by equipment."
Everyone in the break room froze at the TV announcer's voice. Even Se-hwa looked up from her newspaper, but Joo-hyun couldn't focus on anything. The announcer's words seemed to bypass his eardrums entirely.
"Currently hospitalised and receiving treatment, the accident was caused by equipment malfunction..."
"Joo-hyun, Shin Joo-hyun!"
A sharp voice snapped Joo-hyun out of his daze. Looking up, he saw Bom-i's worried face.
"Are you okay?"
What was there to be okay about? He wasn't hurt, just resting in the break room. But no words came out. Bom-i, Se-hwa, and Seung-cheol all watched him with concerned expressions.