Huiyeong turned to Taeseong with an incredulous look, but Shinyul immediately cupped Huiyeong's chin again and turned his face back toward himself with a smile.
They were so close their noses almost touched.
Beneath his long eyelashes, Shinyul's golden eyes shimmered.
"I can't receive Guiding from anyone except my princess. And besides, you came to the Center because you liked me too. You never refused."
How the hell could I refuse when nobody told me I even had a choice!
When Huiyeong had first arrived, he'd immediately asked to be matched with a female Esper.
The staff had flatly told him it was impossible.
Because of that, he'd never once considered being matched with another Esper.
Huiyeong was so dumbfounded he thought he might actually drop dead.
I thought joining the Center automatically meant becoming the Guide of your assigned Esper. If I'd known I could choose, I'd have asked to be matched with a woman!
He fumed silently.
Of course, Huiyeong's situation was unusual.
The Center generally respected and prioritized a Guide's wishes above all else.
That didn't mean there were no exceptions.
Haram's Guiding wavelength was broad enough to care for a large number of Espers, making him far better suited to remain a Center Guide. And since there were several Guides capable of Guiding Taeseong, the Center respected Haram's decision.
Shinyul, on the other hand, couldn't receive Guiding from any other Guide.
And Huiyeong was Han Shinyul's one and only compatible Guide.
He had no choice.
"More importantly, Princess... leaving me behind to play with another Esper... that's so mean. I think I might be getting a little angry."
"Angry? I'm the one who's losing my fucking mind! Fuck, put me down right now. I'm going straight to the Center and telling them to change my partner Guide assignment—"
"Huiyeong."
Shinyul's voice suddenly dropped.
It became frighteningly cold.
Even Huiyeong, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, instinctively clamped his mouth shut.
"..."
"..."
Silence settled over them.
As even Huiyeong stopped struggling and his ragged breathing quieted, all that remained were distant conversations, the wind, and the rustling of grass.
Watching the two of them cautiously, Taeseong quietly got to his feet.
Whether he disliked Shinyul or not had nothing to do with it.
He knew Huiyeong's words had deeply wounded an Esper.
Feeling sorry for Shinyul almost as much as he pitied himself, Taeseong silently wished him well before quickly slipping away.
Even after Taeseong disappeared into the distance until he was nothing more than a tiny dot, silence remained between them.
The always-grinning Shinyul, who was usually full of cheesy nonsense, simply stared at Huiyeong expressionlessly.
Fear slowly crept back into Huiyeong's chest.
That look again.
Again.
The eyes of a predator watching prey trying to crawl out of its grasp.
Without looking away from those icy eyes, Huiyeong suddenly noticed something beneath them.
Faint traces of hurt.
And anxiety.
Shinyul was clearly angry.
Yet the arms holding Huiyeong did nothing but cradle him gently.
Only then did Huiyeong realize just how cruel his words had been.
He'd gotten carried away and blurted out exactly what he was thinking.
His true feelings.
Because that was what they were.
The truth.
Huiyeong genuinely wanted to end his pair bond with Shinyul.
He understood perfectly well that Shinyul's circumstances were tragic—that only he could Guide him.
But those same tragic circumstances had become chains around Huiyeong's own neck.
Being beside Shinyul felt burdensome.
He hated it.
He worried Shinyul would interfere if he ever managed to return to his original body.
And he hated how Shinyul kept awakening feelings of sympathy he didn't even want to have.
Huiyeong wasn't the kind of person who sacrificed himself for others.
If he'd been that kind-hearted, he never could've survived as a gangster.
Yet...
Now that those wounded eyes were right in front of him...
The tiny scrap of conscience he still possessed stabbed painfully at his chest.
That's why dirty thoughts were supposed to stay inside your head.
You acted on them.
You didn't say them out loud.
Ah... why the hell doesn't this guy have another Guide...
Pricked by guilt, Huiyeong somehow ended up blaming Shinyul instead.
No, I'm right, aren't I? If he could get along with another Guide, he wouldn't be clinging to me like this or looking so pitiful over a few words.
No matter how hard he tried to justify himself...
His mouth had gone dry.
Still looking at Huiyeong, Shinyul's eyes slowly softened.
His eyelashes trembled.
His gaze fell to the ground.
The beautiful face before him became unbearably forlorn.
Anyone would think he'd just had his heart broken.
"If it isn't you... I'll die, Mister..."
His voice was damp.
"Do you want me to die?"
"Do you hate being my partner that much?"
"N-No... I... I..."
Hearing Shinyul's trembling voice, Huiyeong stammered helplessly.
Seeing Huiyeong looking utterly guilty, Shinyul lowered his eyes even further, looking even more miserable.
His face looked ready to burst into tears.
Huiyeong admitted it.
This time...
He'd been wrong.
Those words should never have been spoken.
Not to someone whose life literally depended on him.
No matter what he truly felt.
"H-Hey... are... are you crying? I mean... what kind of grown man...! No, that's not it! You know what I'm like. My personality's garbage. I wasn't saying I wanted you dead. I wasn't saying I hate you either. I just... I got pissed off at those staff members for never explaining any of this to me, so I misspoke. Got it? You're a grown man. You should know that."
It was unquestionably the staff's mistake.
They'd never explained how different Huiyeong's circumstances were from those of ordinary Guides.
Even considering how extraordinary his case was and how overwhelmed they'd probably been, the confusion Huiyeong had gone through was still the Center's fault.
But...
The truth he'd blurted out...
And the hurt it caused Shinyul...
That was entirely Huiyeong's responsibility.
Panicking, Huiyeong desperately tried to take back what he'd said.
Still safely cradled in Shinyul's arms, he awkwardly tried to comfort him.
He knew how ridiculous he looked soothing someone while being carried like this.
He simply didn't have the mental capacity to care.
Listening quietly, Shinyul hugged him even tighter.
Then he buried his face against Huiyeong's neck.
"...Mister..."
"Don't abandon me..."
"..."
Huiyeong couldn't answer.
He could've lied.
Just one sentence.
"Okay."
That would've been enough.
But the conscience that had been tormenting him ever since their conversation began refused to let him tell another lie.
Somewhere deep down, he realized that false reassurance would only make Shinyul cling to him even harder.
So...
This silence...
Was the last kindness he could offer Shinyul.
Completely unaware that it would only entangle his own life even further.
Huiyeong almost laughed bitterly at himself.
Trying to act according to his conscience.
He'd always been like this.
Even as a gangster, that tiny scrap of conscience he couldn't get rid of had often made him suffer.
And he hated himself for suffering because of it.
With a self-mocking sigh, he gently patted the enormous body clinging tightly to him, rubbing Shinyul's back awkwardly.
His lips still wouldn't move.
Shinyul stopped acting spoiled.
The tearful eyes he'd shown Huiyeong disappeared the instant he buried his face against Huiyeong's neck.
His expression, hidden from Huiyeong, became far colder than before.
Without receiving an answer, he slowly tightened his arms around Huiyeong's slender body.
"Cgh...! Ah...! I... I can't breathe...! My ribs...! They're breaking!"
At first Huiyeong endured it, worried about Shinyul's feelings.
But as the pressure kept increasing until he could barely breathe and sharp pain exploded through his ribs, survival instincts finally won out.
He shouted and repeatedly smacked Shinyul's muscular arm.
It didn't move an inch.
Fuck... is this bastard actually trying to kill me because I didn't answer?
I should've just lied!
Still regretting everything, Huiyeong struggled desperately.
Only after squeezing him painfully one last time did Shinyul finally set him back on the ground.
"Hah...! Haaah...!"
I... I seriously thought I was gonna die...!
Once again, Huiyeong realized just how monstrously strong Shinyul really was.
And just how much Shinyul had been holding back every time Huiyeong picked fights with him in this fragile body.
Holy shit... one tiny mistake and I'm dead.
His legs nearly gave out as he remembered brushing against death's doorstep.
Yeah... I really need to run away from this bastard...
Yet after feeling that strength firsthand...
His mind had never been clearer.
Fuck.
I'd better start behaving.
At this rate I'll die before I ever get my original body back.
Quietly watching the unsteady Huiyeong, Shinyul finally spoke.
"Huiyeong."
"...What."
Even though Shinyul addressed him only by name, Huiyeong didn't scold him for being disrespectful.
He simply watched him cautiously.
Shinyul gently took Huiyeong's limp hand into his own.
Carefully stroking the small hand resting inside his palm.
Watching him, Huiyeong clenched his teeth.
Is he gonna hit me?
Fuck... can this body even survive it?
Maybe if I kneel and apologize he'll forgive me...
Then he noticed Shinyul absentmindedly rubbing his hand.
A faint stream of Guiding naturally flowed between them.
Little by little...
Shinyul's expression relaxed.
In this situation... even if he asked me to Guide him, I'd have to do it without hesitation.
Ah, screw it. I'll do it.
No matter what it took, Huiyeong wanted to get out of this uncomfortable, dangerous situation.
He'd even steeled himself to kiss a man right here outside if necessary.
Fine.
I'll do whatever you want.
Now calm the hell down.
You're not the petty type who holds grudges... right?
Seeing Huiyeong's determined expression, Shinyul finally smiled.
Slowly...
His eyes traveled from head to toe over Huiyeong's body.
"Want to go to a dungeon?"
"..."
No.