Churu for the Angry Guide

53

“Are you going to keep staying here?”

Seojun looked down at Siwoo with his usual artificial smile. There was an underlying tone of “When are you leaving?” At least, that’s how Siwoo heard it.

Seojun had thought Siwoo would leave soon. When he first brought him to the accommodation, he expected him to leave in two days.

However, the guide didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving. It appeared he had gone to see a new place with the secretary, but there was no news of him moving out.

“No, I’m going to leave.”

“When?”

Siwoo put down the bag of nuts he had just picked up. It’s not like Seojun had told him not to eat them.

“I’ll move out this week.”

He said this in a cold tone and then dashed into his room.

Left alone in the kitchen, Seojun immediately dropped his smile. His complexion seemed darker than usual.

Lately, Seojun’s condition was at its worst. It wasn’t his body, but his mind that was at rock bottom.

Seojun was about to return to his own room when he stopped abruptly.

The empty drink can Siwoo had left on the table bothered him. He was in such a sensitive state that he couldn’t just ignore it.

He picked up the can and strode towards the back of the stairs. He flung open Siwoo’s room door without knocking, wearing a bright smile.

“What the-!”

Siwoo, who had been lying on his side on the bed scratching his bottom, jumped up startled. He didn’t even have time to feel embarrassed.

“You left this.”

Seojun tossed the flattened drink can at Siwoo’s feet. There must have been some drink left inside as a sloshing sound could be heard.

“I don’t need it! Get out!”

“Oh, was it trash?”

Siwoo told him to leave quickly without even looking at the can. He felt uncomfortable having his space invaded without warning.

“Then you should have thrown it away properly. The housekeeper only comes once a week.”

Seojun thumped the wide-open door once as if to emphasize his words. Faint veins started to appear on his thick neck despite his bright smile. Even his distorted wavelength was starting to seep out. It was an Esper wavelength that Siwoo couldn’t read yet.

“Or are you telling me to throw it away now?”

Seojun pointed to his chest with his fingertip, rounding his eyes. His smile didn’t look like a smile at all. Siwoo’s expression hardened as he looked up at him.

“Then just say so. What else should I throw away for you?”

“Hey, I told you to get out.”

Ignoring Siwoo, Seojun kicked at the pile of snacks on the floor. Some of them must have been open as their contents spilled out.

“Is this all I need to throw away? Tell me if there’s more to throw out.”

Seojun’s voice, which had been flowing softly, gradually turned cold. He gathered the cookies and chocolates with his foot and then crushed them.

Siwoo frowned as he watched Seojun’s sudden violent behavior.

He didn’t seem to be in his right mind. Though he was maintaining his rationality, his emotions felt out of control. His expression had seemed off.

“Don’t take us for granted just because the hyungs and the secretary are being nice to you.”

The veins on Seojun’s neck grew more prominent. The emotions pent up inside him were boiling like lava. His pupils shook roughly, as if he couldn’t control himself.

“We’re all just holding back.”

Even the corners of his mouth, forced upwards, trembled faintly. Seojun looked very tired. He had been like that since they first met.

“Ha Seojun.”

With Siwoo’s low voice, a warm energy gathered around Seojun. The moment Seojun sensed the guiding seeping into him, he couldn’t continue speaking.

“Shut up and stay still.”

Siwoo enveloped Seojun with guiding, thinking to himself, ‘As I thought.’ Seojun’s wavelength was very sensitively tangled. His twisted emotions were conveyed through his wavelength, as if something unpleasant had happened.

Ah, is it because of me?

Siwoo, leaning his back against the bed headboard, pouted his lips. Seojun, who had slowly backed away, also leaned against the wall. He seemed quite surprised by the unexpected guiding.

“I didn’t throw it away on the table. I just forgot and left it there.”

Siwoo shook the drink as proof. A sloshing sound could be heard from inside the crushed can.

“I never leave anything I’m eating.”

Since childhood, whether it was food or drink, he always finished everything once he started. Unless it had gone bad, he never left anything. It was a habit formed from living without much.

Seojun silently accepted the guiding. Siwoo had planned to report to the secretary if Seojun refused his guiding. He knew well that Seojun tried hard to maintain his pure concept in front of others, except for himself.

He didn’t know why Seojun lived like that. He didn’t have the heart to pry. Everyone has their own circumstances.

“Sit down and receive it.”

When Seojun didn’t listen, Siwoo emitted the guiding more strongly. Seojun, who had slightly parted his lips, stared at Siwoo.

Although he wasn’t without wariness towards Espers, he was uninhibited in his guiding. To emit guiding so freely in this small space, and in a room with a bed, no less.

“I said sit down, you idiot.”

A pillow flew at Seojun’s face as he stared intensely at Siwoo. Seojun didn’t dodge the pillow and used it as an excuse to plop down on the floor.

“Stop the violence, Guide-nim.”

“Bullshit.”

Siwoo snorted and crossed his arms. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated on guiding.

Seojun sat with his knees folded, resting his chin on the pillow Siwoo had thrown. It was originally his pillow. The guide’s scent was now mixed in with his own faint smell.

He fiddled with the pillow quietly before burying his face in the soft fabric.

The guiding continued in the calm silence that settled.

Siwoo slightly opened his eyes to check if Seojun was receiving well. He looked quite comfortable with his head buried in the pillow. He was also diligently absorbing the guiding.

Not bad, it seems.

Relieved, Siwoo smiled with satisfaction and released the guiding more widely. Deciding to do it properly while he was at it, he caressed Seojun’s wavelength more deeply.

Seeing that the kid’s condition wasn’t good, he intended to lower his wavelength much more than it was now. It was the dedicated guide’s role to calm down an agitated Esper.

He approached very slowly and discreetly to unravel Seojun’s tangled wavelength. As he tried to focus on enveloping the core of the curled-up wavelength, Seojun, who had been quiet, suddenly stood up.

“That’s enough.”

“What the hell?”

The red glow of sunset seeping through the window tinged Seojun’s face. He looked down at Siwoo, who was pouring out guiding without knowing moderation, and swallowed a hot breath. Then he tried to leave the room without even saying thank you.

“Give me back my pillow!”

Siwoo shouted loudly before Seojun could open the door. Trying to take the pillow naturally, huh.

“It’s mine!”

Siwoo got up from the bed himself and snatched the pillow. His attitude suggested he had forgotten that Seojun had given it to him.

Seojun stared at Siwoo’s thin back as he climbed back onto the bed. The snow-white legs exposed under the thin shorts looked smooth. It didn’t seem like he had applied anything. He wondered why the skin looked so glossy. Were all cat beastkin like this?

“What are you looking at! Get out!”

Sensing Seojun’s gaze, Siwoo quickly hid the mouse plushie that had fallen beside his leg. That wasn’t what he had been looking at. Siwoo must have thought he was eyeing the plushie.

“You’re not going to drink this anymore, right?”

Seojun approached the bed and picked up the drink can he had thrown earlier. He also gathered all the snacks he had messed up on the floor, cleaning up without leaving anything behind.

“I’ll bring you new ones.”

“No need.”

Siwoo lifted his chin and stared directly at Seojun. As if examining Seojun’s complexion, he stared intensely before finally leaving a low warning.

“Don’t take your anger out on me.”

He also said not to enter the room without permission ever again.

Seojun nodded with his eyes lowered. As he was opening the door to leave, he suddenly poked his head back into the room.

“I’m Ha Seojun.”

Siwoo, caught trying to hide the mouse plushie under his pillow, cursed with his eyes. Undeterred, Seojun repeated.

“Not Kang Seojun. It’s Ha Seojun.”

Then he closed the door and left without waiting for a response.