They had asked him to capture a part of his daily life in photos. Joo-hyun, who had received the photo, couldn't take his eyes off the picture of his own face. The runaway esper, with a somewhat melancholy aura, parted his lips slightly before handing the photo back to Cha In-ho.
"Thank you for the guiding. Thanks to you, the pain has disappeared."
"That's my job."
Cha In-ho, who had put the photo in his pocket, rose leisurely from his chair, and the screen transitioned back to his home. The camera, reflecting the night sky with a rising moon, captured him in his pyjamas, lying in bed before returning to the studio.
"In-ho, you go to bed early?"
"After guiding, I feel a bit more fatigued than usual. Though it's nothing serious."
He answered the host with a light laugh. After a few more exchanges, it was time for the last segment of Wednesday Film, the photo selection. It was a segment where the guest would choose their favourite photo among those capturing their daily life. Cha In-ho looked genuinely troubled as he stared at the array of photos.In the end, he chose a picture of a black stray cat.
"Isn't it so cute?"
Seeing Cha In-ho shake the photo with a smile, Eun-a didn't need to see to know that her friends were probably screaming in delight.Eun-a stretched as the broadcast was nearing its end, downing the now lukewarm beer in one gulp.
"Huh?" She realised that the photo of the runaway esper wasn't among those displayed on the screen. She wondered if she had missed it, but upon careful inspection, it was indeed missing.
"A personal keepsake...?"
It could have been left out for various reasons, though that seemed most likely...! As Eun-a reached for her phone with slightly trembling hands, the screen lit up with her friend's name, accompanied by a vibration.
"Hello?"
"Eun-a... our In-ho is dating someone."
Her friend's voice was filled with despair, skipping even the usual greetings.
"With a runaway esper? Nobody's perfect, but doesn't he have any better sense?"
"Hey, that's enough. Cha In-ho has a good eye."
Defending Joo-hyun instinctively, Eun-a realised she had just stepped into a world of trouble. And not just with a celebrity, but with a runaway esper, no less!
After a brief argument with her friend over differing opinions, Eun-a hung up and immediately checked her social media, adorned with a bluebird mascot. To her relief, she wasn't alone in her sentiments. Real-time trends were flooded with Cha In-ho, Wednesday Film, and the runaway esper.Although no one seriously believed in Cha In-ho's genuine affection, many realised that his pairing wasn't purely business.Saving a gif of the esper's face, Eun-a collapsed onto the sofa.
* * *
At the same time, in a rest area of Block C, a place unknown to most, a runaway esper with red eyes glared at the small TV with a mix of anger and confusion.
"What is this?"
Seung-cheol, sitting next to him, laughed loudly at the tone of Joo-hyun's voice.
"Seriously, what is this? You look like a total coward."
"Our Joo-hyun must have been really nervous. I find it kind of cute."
Ignoring Se-hwa and Chae-kyung's remarks, Joo-hyun turned up the volume with a glimmer of hope, but Wednesday Film ended in less than a minute.
Watching the broadcast with his Block C colleagues, except for Bom-i, who was on a mission, Joo-hyun felt utterly wronged.Trying not to appear too friendly with Cha In-ho, he had come off a bit awkward, but they had made him look like a timid coward. He had consciously tried to be assertive and rude, but those parts were all cut out, making him look like a strange guy obsessed with romance novels.
As a runaway esper, he didn't expect to be portrayed as kind and heroic. He would have accepted being depicted as a dangerous killer, but they had gone completely the opposite way.
"Cha In-ho said not to worry."
Frowning deeply, Joo-hyun harshly pressed the power button. Se-hwa, who had taken the remote from him, protested, but he crossed his arms, clearly irritated.He vowed never to appear on a show again, but, as always, the world did not revolve around Joo-hyun's wishes.
* * *
https://tolkyard.net/1429985660
Well, I found it, but it's really basic. There's barely any information
Name: Shin Joo-hyun
Age: 25
Surprisingly, that's it lol. Sounds like a joke, right? Sorry, it's not....I mean, I have a friend who works with the Association, so I can find out some things, but there's really nothing;The only definite thing is that he's been a runaway for at least 8 years. Less than that, and there would be more records.
Given his age, even if he went runaway late, he was 17 at the youngest
Everyone knows how poorly runaways are treated, right? He's completely covered up, and the only exposed skin was his hands, which were scarred
I finally found my favourite, only to realise he's a runaway esper?????
Ah... I keep taking screenshots and making gifs because of his face, but how am I supposed to be a fan from now on?
Comments: 529
Even though you're saying it's hard, you're not saying you'll stop being a fan
┗ Exactly! But I'm the same
┗ Damn, me tooㅠㅠ
┗ Seriously, they even gave him a nickname and then say it's hard hahahaha 17? Too young to be a runawayㅠㅠ
Why does it sound so perfect
Thinking of a 25-year-old guy reading Pride and Prejudice and tucking leaves in as bookmarks makes me feel so giddyㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I love itㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
That red scarf is so eye-catching, it looks amazing hahaha
┗ The red patterns on his clothes and the scarf are mandatory to signal he's a runaway esperㅠㅠ
┗ Really?
┗ Yeah, didn't you learn in school to run away when you see it? But didn't Cha In-ho seem to really like Shin Joo-hyun?
┗ 222 It's the first time seeing him like that I thought a runaway esper would be really scary, but what? That melancholic kitty? And why was the actor petting his hand like that? It ended like that hahaha Listening to him, he sounds like a heavy smoker, but I bet he looks really cool smoking lol. Just imagining it is so intense
┗ 22 They say espers don't get harmed by smoking or drinking, so I'm jealousㅠㅠ
┗ But they also don't get drunk lol
┗ Oh, that's a no for me lol What's his ability? I'm really curious because it seems coolㅎㅎ
He's so good-lookingㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
why couldn't he just be a normal personㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Joo-hyun ssi ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
But seeing him constantly fidget because he's a runaway esper made me feel really sorry for himㅠㅠ
┗ True... it was sad seeing him say people would be scared Are his eyes not lenses? They're so pretty
┗ Yeah, red lenses are banned because they can confuse people with low guided espers He's getting popular everywhere, I hope he appears more on TV My mom was cursing him out for being scary at first, but later she was smiling watching him lol Hey, what's up with people saying he's just okay? Are their standards really low?
┗ If he's just okay next to Cha In-ho, then he's really handsome, what are you talking about
┗ Exactly lol. Most people next to Cha In-ho don't even look human hahaha Why wasn't Joo-hyun's photo in the final selection on Wednesday Film?
┗ Maybe the person who took it kept it? Hey, did you see Yoon Ga-ram's guide post something and then delete it?
┗ Who's Yoon Ga-ram?
┗ The S-rank guide?
┗ Yoon Ga-ram, right?
┗ Yeah, he posted something new, check his social media for it But still, runaway espers are a bit...ㅠ
┗ 222 No matter how gentle they look, they're still runaway espers.. too dangerous
┗ Why even look up their profile if you're going to say stuff like that?
┗ Can't I share my opinion? The censorship is getting ridiculous
I bought a red scarf..lol. It looked so pretty. I know I won't pull it off like him, thoughㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Seeing the actor gently hold the esper's hand like he was kneading dough haha. Anyway, it was nice to see them look close. I hope this show ends the rumour about him having a cold personalityㅠ
Yoon Ga-ram's guide posted something on Instagram and then deleted it:
https://tolkyard.net/1528725140(Screenshot_034824.jpg)
It got deleted right after I captured it. Comments: 386 Wow, that's unexpected Oh my God, I wish it was true lol If he went on a mission with S-grade Ga-ram, his grade must be high, I think.'
What's this? My Wi-Fi isn't working, and I can't see the picture. What does it say?
┗ In the main comment, it was written, "The person who appeared on Wednesday Film today is a truly amazing esper! He saved me when I almost died last time (crying face emoji)."
┗ T And in the follow-up comment, it said, "I almost got into serious trouble during a mission, but he appeared out of nowhere and lifted me up into a tree, distracting the monster and saving my life." Why did they delete it? Is it because they can't share mission details? He lifted the guide into a tree, hahaha. But still, guides are in danger no matter what safety measures are in place.
┗ Yeah, unlike espers, they have no powers..."
Why do I like Joo-hyun so much? I don't know why, but he seems so likeable. A poignant handsome man! Red eyes!!! Broad shoulders and long legs, a quiet personality with a hobby of reading romance novels, and when he smiles, he looks like an angel but is actually at least an A~S-grade esper??? Is he planning to ruin my real life??? Damn it! You crazy guy!
┗ Why are you so angry? Calm down, haha.
┗ Looks so excited but uses perfect spacing like a true fanatic, haha. Espers appear in magazines and on TV like celebrities, making them seem approachable, but whenever mission stories come up, you realise they're a different breed altogether. Not only is he handsome, but he's also good at his job? Why does the Association keep pushing someone like Choi Yoon-geon into the entertainment industry instead of someone like him?
┗ Why bring Yoon-geon into this? It makes no sense.
┗ Stop the hate.
┗ But honestly, I agree, haha. Everyone knows Yoon-geon's personality is awful.
┗ Yeah, report it too. The comment had been deleted.
┗ How sweet of you. It's not like he wanted to become a runaway esper.